Tag: Video games

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Mobile Syrup

New Pokémon Violet and Scarlet games to release in late 2022

The Pokémon Company is having a huge year already with Legends Arceus, and now the company has announced two new mainline games set to come in 2022: Pokémon Violet and Pokémon Scarlet.

The titles are set in a new region in the Pokémon universe and feature three entirely new starters. Violet and Scarlet feature a grass cat-like named Sprigatito, a Fire-type croc called Fuecoco and the Water-based duckling, Quaxly.

Sprigatito has the Overgrow ability, Fuecoco has Blaze and Quaxly is equipped with Torrent. You can learn more about the starters on Nintendo’s website. Strangely, the main characters in Scarlet and Violet will wear different outfits. This seems strange to me given the last few titles in the series allow players to customize their outfits anyways.

The character models look more detailed than they have in other Pokémon titles and include subtle shading on characters’ cheeks, clothes and legs. It also appears that Game Freak might avoid any tree-based controversy this time around, as the screenshots show off a wide variety of flora in the new region.

The game is set in an open world where Pokémon roam free, similar to the recently released Pokémon Arceus Legends. We haven’t seen any gameplay of the new titles yet, so it’s unclear if they’ll play more like Arceus or a more mainline series game.

With a 2022 release date, it’s likely Pokémon Violet and Scarlet will release before the holiday season, but we’ll have to wait for Nintendo or Game Freak to reveal more information in the coming months.

Image credit: The Pokémon Company

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Mobile Syrup

Pokémon meets Converse in new collection

Pokémon and Converse are collaborating on a new line of sneakers.

Though the sneakers originally launched back in January, the Converse x Pokémon Collection is in celebration of the company’s 25th anniversary that’s now officially coming to an end.

Converse has selected styles from the original 150 Pokémon, including notable Pocket Monsters like Bulbasaur, Charmander, Meowth, Pikachu, Squirtle and more.

Adults

Kids

The Converse x Pokémon Collection is only available for a limited time.

Image credit: Converse 

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Mobile Syrup

Elden Ring competition in U.K. grants you the official title of Elden Lord

This competition isn’t available for Canadians, but it’s interesting, nonetheless. Elden Ring’s publisher Bandai Namco is hosting a contest in Scotland where 100 winners will be rewarded with titles and a small patch of land.

Winners will get the title Elden Lord or Elden Lady, which isn’t the same as an official hereditary title but can be used on legal documents. Now, the land for these Elden Lords and Ladies will be a piece of land at the Highland Titles Nature Reserve near Glencoe in Scotland. Winners will be able to walk on their land, but that’s practically it.

If you’re a reader in the U.K. or Ireland, to enter the contest, you need to email eldenlord@bandainamcoent.eu and explain why you’re deserving of being part of the Elden Royalty. Additionally, the competition is available until March 11th.

Now for our Canadian readers, Elden Ring releases on February 25th and is available for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 and PS5. You can expect our full review and more in the coming days.

Source: VGC

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Mobile Syrup

Valve’s official Steam Deck dock won’t be available at launch

While orders for Valve’s anticipated Steam Deck are close to shipping, the handheld’s official dock won’t be available at launch.

According to a recent blog post from Valve, the dock will arrive in “late spring.”

“We are also looking forward to getting the official Dock for Steam Deck into customers’ hands,” said Valve.

Not much is known about Valve’s official Steam Deck Dock beyond the fact that it connects the handheld to an external display, works with USB accessories, powers the console and, of course, props up the Steam Deck on a stand. Valve says that the Steam Deck can also output to a television or monitor through any powered USB-C hub and that it doesn’t require the official dock.

Along with details on the Steam Deck Dock, Valve also outlined that “first batch” reservation holders will receive an email regarding shipping at 1PM ET/10AM PT on Friday, February 25th. Pre-order holders who receive the email will then have 72 hours to complete their purchase. Those who cancel will have their reservation released to the next person in the pre-order line.

To find out when you’ll receive your Steam Deck pre-order, check out Valve’s reservation queue. It’s also now possible to check what titles in your Steam library are already compatible with the handheld.

MobileSyrup will have more on the Steam Deck in the coming weeks.

Source: Valve Via: The Verge 

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Mobile Syrup

Apex Legends Mobile launches in 10 countries next week, but not Canada

If you’re a Canadian Apex Legends fan, prepare to be disappointed.

After debuting in closed beta last year, Apex Legends Mobile is releasing for free in a “limited regional launch” on iOS and Android. Initial launch countries include Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Colombia.

Strangely, despite often being included on initial launch lists for mobile game/app betas, Canada and even the United States don’t make the cut this time. It’s likely that the title will make its way to Canada and the U.S. at a later date and that this limited launch is focused on server stress.

“We’ll be sharing updates on global launch once we’ve made informed decisions coming out of the limited regional launch,” said EA in a statement. “If you’re in one of the participating test countries, pre-registration is now open. We’re still actively testing the app around the world, and we can’t wait for more players to join the fun at launch!”

Unlike Fortnite, Apex Legends Mobile is designed specifically for smartphones and doesn’t feature cross-play with the console and PC version of the popular battle royale title. This approach to the mobile version of a popular franchise isn’t unusual. For example, PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile are both independent titles that don’t feature cross-play with other platforms.

Despite the game being available in a closed beta, not much is known about Apex Legends Mobile. However, in this upcoming limited regional launch, players will be able to play as Wraith, Bangalore, Octane, Mirage, Pathfinder Bloodhound, Gibraltar, Lifeline and Caustic.

Image credit: EA

Source: EA, (1)

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Mobile Syrup

These four Switch titles are on sale at multiple Canadian retailers

Nintendo Canada, along with several Canadian retailers is discounting four Nintendo Switch games, namely The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Splatoon 2 and Pikmin 3 Deluxe.

The discounts amount to $25 and are applicable until February 24th at GameStop, and till February 23rd at all other participating retailers.

Check out the deals below:

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

$54.95 at Amazon

$54.99 at Best Buy

$54.99 at GameStop

$54.99 at Indigo

$54.99 at London Drugs

$54.99 at Staples

$54.99 at The Source

$54.96 at Walmart

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

$54.95 at Amazon

$54.99 at Best Buy

$54.99 at GameStop

$54.99 at Indigo

$54.99 at London Drugs

$54.99 at Staples

$54.99 at The Source

$54.99 at Walmart

Splatoon 2

$54.95 at Amazon

$54.99 at Best Buy

$54.99 at London Drugs

$54.99 at Staples

$54.99 at The Source

$54.96 at Walmart

Pikmin 3 Deluxe

$54.95 at Amazon

$54.99 at Best Buy

$54.99 at GameStop

$54.99 at Indigo

$54.99 at London Drugs

$54.99 at Staples

$54.99 at The Source

$54.96 at Walmart

Image credit: Nintendo
Source: Nintendo
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Mobile Syrup

Sony’s upcoming PS VR2 will be slimmer and lighter than its predecessor

Sony confirmed earlier this year at CES 2022 that its upcoming virtual reality headset is called the PlayStation VR2 (PSVR2).

Now, the Tokyo, Japan-based company has unveiled the new headset’s design and offered a look at its PS VR2 Sense controllers.

Shared by the senior vice president of platform experience Hideaki Nishino, PlayStation’s blog post outlines how Sony has intentionally designed the headset and its controllers to look similar, with both sharing an “orb” aesthetic. According to Nishino, “The circular orb shape represents the 360-degree view that players feel when they enter the virtual reality world, so this shape captures it nicely.”

While not much was revealed about the upcoming headset’s tech specifications, the blog post does mention PlayStation VR2’s new lens adjustment dials, an overall slimmer and lighter design, a built-in motor for headset feedback, along with an updated design to promote ventilation and airflow.

Nishino also mentions that the PS VR2 will offer a single cord setup, making it easy to get the headset up and running.

From what we already know, the headset will feature an OLED display with a 2000 x 2040 pixel resolution per eye, a 90Hz to 120Hz refresh rate and a field-of-view of roughly 110 degrees.

Sony didn’t share when the new VR headset will hit the market or how much it will cost, though previous rumours have indicated PSVR2 will launch in 2022.

Image credit: PlayStation

Source: PlayStation

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Mobile Syrup

Pokémon Trading Card Game Live to launch in Canada first

The Pokémon Company has announced that Pokémon Trading Card Game Live will launch a public beta exclusively in Canada across desktop and mobile.

Trading Card Game Live players will be able to collect cards and battle other players. Codes for virtual cards will be distributed through real Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) card packs.

“Similar to the tabletop version of the Pokémon TCG that fans have loved for over 25 years, Pokémon TCG Live features fan-favourite activities like building decks and battling with friends, as well as gameplay modes and daily quests for all types of players regardless of their skill level,” writes The Pokémon Company in a recent blog post.

The card game’s beta will only be available to Canadian players on iOS and Android. Strangely, the title isn’t coming to the Switch. It’s unclear when the final version of this new virtual take on TCG will release.

Source: The Pokémon Company

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Mobile Syrup

Valve’s portable Steam Deck is more repairable than you think

Though Valve initially informed Steam Deck buyers that repairing the handheld console themselves likely isn’t a great idea, that might not entirely be the case.

Teardown experts iFixit dismantled a production Steam Deck to confirm that the portable is actually pretty easy to repair — at least for the most part. The device opens easily, features clear white labels on most major components and is even pretty modular, allowing you to fix or replace components without taking the entire Steam Deck apart.

For example, the SSD can be replaced with one screw, thumbsticks easily pop out and even the display just requires a suction cup and minor heat to remove. That said, iFixit also says that replacing the Steam Deck’s battery is a “rough” process and that its USB-C port/microSD card slot are attached directly to its motherboard.

“But, we also found a lot to like. The opening procedure is simple and straightforward; there’s above-average modularity for most components; and you only need one Phillips screwdriver for all your repairs,” writes iFixit in its blog post regarding the Steam Deck’s repair process. “The storage solution here outclasses a lot of current laptops. Overall the Steam Deck nets a 7 out of 10 on our repairability scale.”

iFixit says that it will sell official Steam Deck replacement parts on its website. Valve’s Steam Deck starts at $449 and is expected to start shipping towards the end of February.

Image credit: iFixit

Source: iFixit Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Cyberpunk 2077 is nearly 50 percent off on several digital stores

CD Projekt Red (CDPR) dropped the Cyberpunk 2077 version update 1.5 along with the current-gen Xbox Series X/PlayStation 5 patch earlier today.

The update comes in at roughly 50GB. PC and Xbox Series X/S players will receive an update to the existing game, while PlayStation 5 users will need to manually install a separate current-gen version of the title. The update is also available in the Stadia version of Cyberpunk 2077.

All updates are free to those who have already purchased the title. If you didn’t get your hands on Cyberpunk 2077 when it was first released  here are some of the best deals available on the title right now:

Xbox

$39.99 at Microsoft Store (Xbox One/Series X/Series S)

$34.77 at Amazon (Xbox One)

$79.99 at Best Buy (Xbox One/Series X/Series S) (full price)

PlayStation

$29.99 at PlayStation store (PS4/PS5)

$36.98 at Amazon (PS4)

$39.99 at Best Buy (PS4)

PC

$39.99 at Steam

$20.49 at CDKeys

Check out everything new added to Cyberpunk 2077 in CDPR’s patch notes here.