Game Empress

Author: Christopher

  • Get Over Here! New Gender-Swapped Ninja Infiltrates Mortal Kombat 1

    Get Over Here! New Gender-Swapped Ninja Infiltrates Mortal Kombat 1

    Mortal Kombat 1 just got a new DLC character, Ermac, today. But there’s a potential leak about another DLC character coming in the future.

    A model and fashion designer named Jiwon Ra posted something interesting on Instagram. She said she provided the face model for Harumi Hasashi in Mortal Kombat 1 and hinted that she’ll be in the game as a female version of Scorpion.

    Mortal Kombat 1 DLC Characters Release Date
    Image Source NetherRealm

    It sounds like this version of Scorpion might not be a fully playable character. Her post suggests picking Harumi as a “Kameo” (cameo), using the hashtag #Kameo. This likely means she’ll appear in the game but not as a main character.

    If this leak is real, it could mean a new Scorpion Kameo is coming in Mortal Kombat 1’s Kombat Pack 2, which hasn’t been officially announced yet.

    This wouldn’t be too surprising since they did something similar with Janet Cage in Kombat Pack 1, making her an alternate version of Johnny Cage.

    In the original story, Harumi was the wife of Hanzo Hasashi (Scorpion), who was killed along with their clan. But in Mortal Kombat 11’s timeline, Harumi is alive and married to Kuai Liang (another version of Scorpion).

    For this Kameo, it looks like they’re exploring a different timeline where Harumi becomes Scorpion after Hanzo’s death. We don’t know yet how her moves and appearance will differ from other Scorpions, but it seems she might focus more on using swords.

    Remember, this is just a leak and hasn’t been confirmed by NetherRealm Studios or Warner Bros. There’s only Jiwon Ra’s post as evidence for now.

    We’ll probably have to wait several months for an official announcement, possibly around June at Final Kombat or later this summer after the current DLC finishes with Takeda.

  • GTA 6 Publisher Take-Two Slashes Workforce, Cancels Unannounced Games

    GTA 6 Publisher Take-Two Slashes Workforce, Cancels Unannounced Games

    According to The Verge, Take-Two Interactive, known for games like Grand Theft Auto and NBA 2K, is cutting costs by laying off about five percent of its global workforce and canceling some projects.

    GTA VI Release Date Rumors Point To Possible 2026 Delay
    GTA VI Release Date Rumors Point To Possible 2026 Delay

    The company explained in a filing with the SEC that it is restructuring to reduce costs and won’t be hiring as much in the future. This restructuring could cost up to $200 million but is expected to save the company more than $165 million each year. The layoffs are expected to mostly finish by December 31, 2024.

    A five percent reduction means around 579 out of their 11,580 employees might be affected. Take-Two hasn’t said which teams or projects will be affected. However, likely, big upcoming games like Grand Theft Auto VI won’t be affected.

    This news comes during a tough time for the gaming industry, which has seen many layoffs since 2023. Take-Two is also buying Gearbox, the company behind Borderlands, for $460 million.

  • Activision Swings the Banhammer: 50,000+ MW3 & Warzone Cheaters Face The Wrath!

    Activision Swings the Banhammer: 50,000+ MW3 & Warzone Cheaters Face The Wrath!

    Call of Duty has been battling against cheaters for more than ten years. In 2021, Activision introduced a special anti-cheat system called ‘RICOCHET’ to fight against cheating in the game. Despite ongoing improvements to their anti-cheat technology, cheating remains a problem in games like Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) and Warzone in 2024.

    Just before Season 3 started, Activision announced that they had banned 27,000 accounts due to cheating. They mentioned that more bans were expected. On April 10, they confirmed that they had indeed banned another 58,000 cheating players. This means that over 85,000 accounts were banned within just five days.

    An Activision spokesperson explained to CharlieIntel that players should not trust cheaters who try to sell subscriptions to cheating tools. They emphasized that their anti-cheat team, Team RICOCHET, is actively targeting cheat vendors.

    As Season 3 began and more ban waves occurred, some players in the community complained that they were wrongly banned. This was especially true for those who used unlock tools, which can lead to permanent bans.

    In response to these complaints, Activision clarified to CharlieIntel that permanent bans in Call of Duty are not mistakes. They stated that all permanent bans are final, and there are no false permanent bans according to their policies.

  • PS Plus Alert! Don’t Miss This 9/10 Gem Before It’s Gone Forever

    PS Plus Alert! Don’t Miss This 9/10 Gem Before It’s Gone Forever

    PlayStation Plus subscribers should try playing a wonderful, short indie game before it leaves the service next month.

    Sometimes, there are so many great games available on PlayStation’s subscription service that some gems don’t get the attention they deserve. Luckily, fellow PlayStation Plus subscribers often recommend games that are worth playing before they disappear.

    Are any of the leaving soon games worth playing?
    byu/jeffreythrowaway inPlayStationPlus

    This month, many users on Reddit recommended trying out a charming indie game called The Artful Escape before it leaves the service. Here are some comments from the community:

    “The Artful Escape is a short indie game. Easy to play. Very nice mix of colors and music.”

    “Also, I recommend The Messenger, Abzu, and The Artful Escape.”

    For those unfamiliar with The Artful Escape, it’s a short platform game where you control a guitarist named Francis exploring a world filled with music and melodies. Along the way, you’ll battle bosses as you help Francis escape his world.

    The game is relatively short, lasting just over four hours for a single playthrough according to HowLongToBeat. It’s also a good way to earn PlayStation trophies.

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    PlayStation Plus subscribers have only a short time left to try out The Artful Escape before it’s removed from the service next month, along with a few other titles.

    Give it a try before it’s gone! It’s a delightful game, and with its short playtime, you can easily spend an hour trying it out and see what you think.

  • Mists Of Pandaria Remix Loses Steam: World Of Warcraft Removes Key Feature

    Mists Of Pandaria Remix Loses Steam: World Of Warcraft Removes Key Feature

    World of Warcraft made changes to their WoW Remix: Mists of Pandaria event announcement. Originally, they mentioned adding more character slots for players.

    This would have been useful for those who already have 60 characters on their account. However, they quietly removed this part of the announcement.

    Now, players who want to join the WoW Remix event will need to use one of their existing 60-character slots. Even though Blizzard might still add more slots in the future with Patch 10.2.7, it’s uncertain based on the announcement change.

    Most players don’t have 60 characters, especially all at maximum level, but some who love having many characters (“altaholics”) may need to say goodbye to one to participate.

    The WoW Remix: Mists of Pandaria event is a popular throwback experience with faster leveling and lots of new rewards. It connects to the Dragonflight lore with Infinite Dragons, making it exciting for collectors, raiders, and lore fans.

    Meanwhile, the Plunderstorm PvP event is ending on April 30, but there will be double Renown gains in the last two weeks. Players can still enjoy this pirate-themed event before Patch 10.2.7 arrives around mid-May.

  • Lightsabers Are Back! Everything We Know About Fortnite & Star Wars Day 2024

    Lightsabers Are Back! Everything We Know About Fortnite & Star Wars Day 2024

    Since 2019, Fortnite has teamed up with Star Wars, and it’s been really popular. The first crossover happened when “Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker” came out. They added Rey and Finn skins and special Lightsaber weapons to the game.

    Every year since then, Fortnite has had Star Wars crossovers. They’ve brought in characters like The Mandalorian, Luke Skywalker, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, and others.

    Now, in 2024, they’re doing it again for the fourth time. This new collaboration is coming just before Star Wars Day on May 4th.

    Here’s what we know about the new Star Wars x Fortnite collab in 2024.

    Fortnite & Star Wars Release Date

    Epic Games just put out a trailer for the new Star Wars crossover in Fortnite. The trailer starts with the line, “I’ve got a good feeling about this…”, which is a famous line from Han Solo in the movies.

    They also announced that the crossover will happen on May 3, 2024, just a day before Star Wars Day on May 4th. The trailer hinted that the Star Wars stuff will be part of LEGO Fortnite and the Fortnite Festival, not just the usual Battle Royale modes.

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    Fortnite & Star Wars Leaks

    In the current Chapter 5 Season 2 of Fortnite, data miners found Star Wars-themed items in the game files, suggesting they might come out in May. Now, with the official announcement of the upcoming collaboration, these rumors and leaks seem more likely.

    According to leaks by HYPEX, the collaboration will include a new powerful weapon called the Wookie Bowcaster, outfits for Rebel Leia Organa and Chewbacca, the return of Lightsabers and Force Abilities, and new LEGO Fortnite stuff.

    Also, it’s been revealed that John Williams’ Cantina Band music will be in the Fortnite Festival on May 3, 2024, as part of a special musical collaboration. There are also leaks about a Rocket Racing track and a Star Wars-themed car.

    Epic Games hasn’t given all the details yet. Players are expecting more news with the next Fortnite update on April 30, 2024.

  • Xbox Just Dropped A Massive Update – You WON’T Believe These Changes!

    Xbox Just Dropped A Massive Update – You WON’T Believe These Changes!

    Microsoft is sending out an update for Xbox consoles this month with some useful features to know about.

    The update is being sent to consoles now. It will download automatically for most people who have background downloads turned on, so you don’t need to do anything to install it.

    Xbox Drops A Beauty Stunning New Console Hits Stores Soon!
    Xbox Drops A Beauty Stunning New Console Hits Stores Soon!

    One new feature is Discord soundboard interactions. If you use soundboards on Discord while playing, this lets you hear and use sound clips straight from your board. You can turn this off by going to the Xbox guide, then into settings, and finding the soundboard section.

    Another handy update is for people who save their gaming pictures and videos to OneDrive. Now, Xbox will let you know if your OneDrive is low on space, which is helpful if you don’t often check your storage.

    For families sharing a console, there’s a new option to control who can download games or apps. You can block some users to save space or protect younger players. To do this, go to settings, then system, and access restrictions.

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    Microsoft is always working on updates for Series X and Series S to make them better or add new things.

    Also, Microsoft is updating PCs this month with Game Hubs, which gives you info about your favorite games, like on Xbox.

  • Say Goodbye To Always-Online! No Rest For The Wicked Launch Trailer Promises Freedom

    Say Goodbye To Always-Online! No Rest For The Wicked Launch Trailer Promises Freedom

    I’m a big fan of Ori And The Blind Forest, so I’m excited for Moon Studios’ new game, No Rest For The Wicked. This game is an online action RPG that’s quite different from Ori—it’s all about intense fights against creepy monsters covered in mud and gore.

    In a recent early access release trailer, Moon Studios announced that there will be no microtransactions, no always-online requirement, and no anti-cheat software bundled in the game. This is great news for players who prefer straightforward gaming experiences.

    The game features a variety of cool weapons like fireball staffs, curved blades, bows, claymores, spears, fiery broadswords, and scimitars.

    The monsters you’ll face are also pretty unique—lots of tall, thin creatures with floating tendrils and capes, almost like they could have been basketball players if they weren’t so creepy-looking.

    No Rest For The Wicked will launch on Steam early access on April 18th. The early access version will include the first chapter of the story, many weapons, bosses, additional quests, and a dungeon called “Cerim Crucible” that you can play over and over.

    If you want to read more articles related to other games, you can also read these articles:

    The game will also have four-player co-op, PVP (player versus player), new map regions, and more features added before it’s fully released.

    If you’re curious about how the game plays, you can check out Katharine’s preview from Rock Paper Shotgun (RPS). She found the game very challenging but also compelling and exciting. Despite tough battles and scary enemies, she couldn’t wait to dive back in and explore more of the game’s world.

  • Pokemon Go Gets A Makeover! Map Update And New Visuals On The Horizon

    Pokemon Go Gets A Makeover! Map Update And New Visuals On The Horizon

    Pokemon Go, the popular mobile game, is approaching its eighth anniversary in July. To celebrate, Niantic has announced the “Rediscover Go” campaign, which will bring significant changes to the game.

    The campaign will update the in-game map, encounter screens, battle screens, and more to give the game a fresh new look tailored to your location. The update will also introduce enhancements to avatar customization and the Style Shop, offering more options than before.

    One exciting feature of the update is the Snapshot function, which will allow you to take pictures of up to three Pokemon at once. This feature will enhance the fun of capturing Pokemon in the real world.

    Niantic has shared a schedule for revealing more details about the Rediscover Go update:

    • April 17: Rediscover Yourself
    • April 22: Rediscover Your World and Rediscover Kanto
    • May 7: Rediscover Your Reality

    These reveals will give players more insight into the changes and additions coming to Pokemon Go. The game is available for both iOS and Android devices, so players

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  • Helldivers 2 Ditches The Dress-Up: CEO Says Transmog Doesn’t Fit The Game

    Helldivers 2 Ditches The Dress-Up: CEO Says Transmog Doesn’t Fit The Game

    Many Helldivers 2 players were hoping for a system like transmogrification, which lets you keep the stats of one gear while making it look like another. However, Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt made it clear that this won’t happen. He said, “We are not doing transmog.”

    Transmogrification, or transmog for short, is a feature seen in games like Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV, where you can change the appearance of your gear without losing its stats.

    Pilestedt explained on Twitter that in Helldivers 2, gear looks different because it has different effects. He used a funny metaphor about an apple tasting like bacon to explain why swapping appearances wouldn’t fit.

    While the transmog idea is off the table, there might still be room for tweaking how gear works. For example, players could have the option to swap out perks for specific alternatives within the existing system.

  • Grenades Going Rogue? Helldivers 2 Update Points To Automaton Sabotage!

    Grenades Going Rogue? Helldivers 2 Update Points To Automaton Sabotage!

    A new patch for Helldivers 2 is out now, and it’s addressing some issues with weapons and game mechanics.

    The latest patch, version 1.000.203, focuses on fixing problems with armor passives, particularly for heavier builds like the CE-27 Ground Breaker armor. Arrowhead, the developer, has also fixed crashes and made stability improvements to the game.

    However, the patch notes also mention several ongoing issues. Some weapons and mechanics aren’t working correctly after this update. For example:

    • The Superior Packing Methodology module doesn’t work properly, which is frustrating for players who spent resources unlocking it.
    • Damage over time (DOT) effects might only work if applied by the host player, meaning auxiliary Helldivers might not cause Bleed or Burn damage.
    • Bleed damage doesn’t count toward Personal Orders.
    • Specific weapons like the Sickle can’t shoot through trees, making them less effective on certain planets.
    • Scopes on weapons like the Anti-Material Rifle are misaligned, leading to missed headshots.
    • Arc weapons can misfire, and the Spear’s targeting system is inconsistent against larger enemies.

    The good news is that explosions currently don’t cause limb damage, although colliding with objects might. The developer hasn’t given a timeline for fixing these issues yet.

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    As a precaution, you might want to rethink your loadout before your next mission. Choosing a reliable weapon like the Stalwart or Machine Gun could be a good strategy until these problems are resolved.

  • Tekken 8: Sharpen Your Skills! Version 1.03.02 Update Arrives Today With Server Maintenance

    Tekken 8: Sharpen Your Skills! Version 1.03.02 Update Arrives Today With Server Maintenance

    Tekken 8 recently got an update (Version 1.03.01) that added Eddy Gordo and a battle pass, but it also brought some new problems to the game.

    Now, Bandai Namco is releasing another patch (Version 1.03.02) today to fix those issues. To do this, they need to do server maintenance.

    The maintenance will start tonight, April 15, at 6:30 p.m. PDT / 9:30 p.m. EDT and will go on until about midnight PDT / 3 a.m. EDT. During this time, online features like matches, lobbies, leaderboards, shops, and rewards won’t work.

    The patch itself will be available to download at 7 p.m. PDT / 10 p.m. EDT on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. We don’t know how big the patch will be yet.

    After the update, you won’t be able to watch replays or tips from the previous game version of Tekken 8.

    The patch notes mention fixing issues with Rage Art and Heat Burst moves, and changing Tornado moves back to how they were before. They’re also making adjustments to Azucena, Eddy, and Zafina.

    Bandai Namco is planning another update (Version 1.04) for May. This update will focus on making weaker characters stronger, but some stronger characters might get nerfed too.

  • A Legendary Swordsman Awakens! Get The Full Story On Fate/Samurai Remnant DLC ‘Record’s Fragment: Yagyu Sword Chronicles’

    A Legendary Swordsman Awakens! Get The Full Story On Fate/Samurai Remnant DLC ‘Record’s Fragment: Yagyu Sword Chronicles’

    The magic around Edo is drawing strange things, like a highly skilled murderer and a mysterious deadly blade.

    Miyamoto Iori and Saber are investigating this under Sukenoshin’s request when they encounter a very skilled swordsman—a Servant named Yagyu Munenori. They wonder if he’s the feared Tsujigiri. But instead of attacking, Munenori introduces himself as a wandering swordsman from history.

    Munenori, also known as Yagyu Tajima-no-Kami Munenori, joins Iori and Saber in their quest. Together, they explore the dangerous streets of Edo.

    To play the extra content “Record’s Fragment: Yagyu Sword Chronicles,” you must reach Chapter 3 in the base game, where you can freely move around the Edo Map. Then, select “Record’s Fragment: Yagyu Sword Chronicles” on the map to start playing.

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  • Ubisoft In The Hutt’s Den: Developer Responds To Star Wars Outlaws Season Pass Backlash

    Ubisoft In The Hutt’s Den: Developer Responds To Star Wars Outlaws Season Pass Backlash

    Last week, there was news about the game Star Wars Outlaws that left many fans disappointed. The game, which is a single-player adventure set in an open world, will have what’s called a season pass.

    This season pass costs an extra $40 on top of the game’s price. If you buy the Gold Edition of the game, which costs $110 in total, you’ll get this season pass.

    Star Wars Outlaws
    Star Wars Outlaws

    What does the season pass include? It gives you access to two expansions that will come out after the game’s launch, some cosmetic items to customize your characters, and a special mission called “Jabba’s Gambit” that’s only available on the first day.

    Some people were upset about this special mission, thinking it might be the only mission involving Jabba the Hutt in the game. But a representative from Ubisoft clarified that Jabba and his gang, called the Hutt Cartel, are important parts of the game for everyone who buys it, no matter which version. The “Jabba’s Gambit” mission is just an extra mission you can play if you have the season pass.

    It’s frustrating that some parts of the game are only available if you buy the season pass or a more expensive edition. But rest assured, if you’re excited about Jabba the Hutt, you’ll still get to experience that storyline whether you buy the extra content or not.

    In addition to the Gold Edition, there’s an even pricier Ultimate Edition for $130. This edition includes more cosmetic items and a digital art book. The writer notes that this setup, with different editions offering various extras, is simpler than what they’ve seen with some other games from Ubisoft in the past.

    Overall, while it’s disappointing that some content is locked behind extra purchases, the core Star Wars Outlaws experience will include Jabba the Hutt and his crew for everyone.

  • It’s Here! Free FF14 Dawntrail Character Creator With The New Race!

    It’s Here! Free FF14 Dawntrail Character Creator With The New Race!

    The new Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail character creator and benchmark tool is out now. This tool lets you check how well your computer can handle the upcoming expansion. It also includes exciting scenes and a character creator for the game’s new playable race.

    You can use this tool to make your character look awesome and test different settings on your PC. Even if you’re not caught up in the game like me (I’m still in Stormblood), you can get ready for the Dawntrail release in three months.

    The benchmark shows off the new expansion’s graphics and includes cutscenes with your character. You can create a new female Hrothgar character and see how she looks in action.

    This tool is free for everyone, even if you’re new to the game. You don’t need to sign up or pay anything. Take your time to create and test your character before the expansion arrives.

    The Live Letter also talked about new features, like a blacklist for safety in the game. Check out the benchmark tool and start creating your character today!

  • Forget The Tab Targeting! World Of Warcraft VR Mod Is A Full-Blown FPS Adventure

    Forget The Tab Targeting! World Of Warcraft VR Mod Is A Full-Blown FPS Adventure

    Whether you’re strolling through the tranquil streets of Silvermoon City or relaxing with a drink at the Lion’s Pride Inn, Azeroth from World of Warcraft remains captivating despite the game’s aging graphics.

    However, experiencing this world through a virtual reality (VR) headset is a whole new level of immersion. While MMORPGs haven’t made it to our best VR games list yet, a VR version of World of Warcraft would be an exciting addition.

    After ten years of development, modders Streetrat & Marulu from Flat2VR have brought this vision to life. Flat2VR recently announced the mod, packed with features that VR enthusiasts will love, including head-tracked positional audio and smooth analog movement.

    The most transformative aspect is the first-person perspective, where Azeroth feels like a living, breathing world in an immersive FPS (first-person shooter) style.

    However, there are a few downsides to this mod. It only works with patch 3.3.5a, the final update for Wrath of the Lich King.

    This means it won’t work with Classic or modern versions of WoW. Despite this limitation, it’s a great option for those seeking a private VR adventure in the world of Azeroth.