Author: Rahul Khaira

NetherRealm Studios has officially revealed the lineup of six DLC characters for the first Kombat Pack in Mortal Kombat 1. The DLC characters’ anticipation has been a significant talking point among fans, although NetherRealm Studios has remained tight-lipped about the rumours.

Despite the lack of official comments, the rumoured character names have garnered a positive response, indicating immense excitement for the upcoming reboot. The Mortal Kombat community is actively engaged in speculation about the final roster.

Recently, a supposed leak of the Mortal Kombat 1 roster surfaced, hinting at including several obscure characters in addition to the iconic ones. These rumoured names include long-unseen characters, fueling even more excitement.

Although the leak remains unconfirmed, Ed Boon, the co-creator of Mortal Kombat, has dropped hints and clues about potential characters the developers may include in the game.

However, there is good news for fans eagerly awaiting new content. Mortal Kombat 1 has officially announced the six confirmed Kombatants for its first Kombat Pack, ending some speculation surrounding the downloadable content.

In the official Kombat Pack roster reveal trailer, we catch a glimpse of Invincible’s Omni-Man making an appearance, and shortly after, Ermac, DC’s Peacemaker, Quan-Chi, and Takeda are unveiled on-screen.

To top it off, The Boys’ Homelander makes a grand entrance at the end, confirming the authenticity of the earlier Mortal Kombat 1 leak. This diverse and exciting cast of characters in the pack suggests that NetherRealm is attuned to fan reactions and committed to reviving lesser-known names within the Mortal Kombat universe.

However, one of the most unexpected aspects of Mortal Kombat 1 is the inclusion of Peacemaker, a character with a surprising resemblance to WWE Superstar John Cena, who seems to be the official DCU version.

John Cena has gone all-in with his portrayal of Peacemaker, even attending events dressed as the character, blurring the line between the surface and the actor.

NetherRealm did an excellent job securing the license, although it remains uncertain whether Cena will also lend his voice to the character. Nonetheless, this unexpected crossover will likely be a real treat for many fans.

To balance out the roster, classic Mortal Kombat characters Takeda, Quan-Chi, and Ermac make an appearance. While some fans may have hoped for the inclusion of non-MK super-powered guests in NetherRealm Studios’ Injustice series, there’s been no official announcement for a new game in that franchise.

In recent years, NetherRealm has found success in releasing a mix of collaboration characters from significant franchises alongside the series regulars, and they may want to continue this trend.

With this announcement, the concerns about the roster are likely to be alleviated, and excitement for Mortal Kombat 1 will undoubtedly build up.

Mortal Kombat 1 is set to be released on September 19, 2023, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

A new chart has been released in the Phase 2 version of the Spiral Abyss for update 3.8 in Genshin Impact, revealing players’ most frequently used characters.

The Spiral Abyss is a unique domain where players face various enemies to earn valuable rewards, including precious Primogems for acquiring characters and weapons.

The Spiral Abyss comprises 12 challenging floors, with each subsequent floor being more complex than the last. Floor 12 is particularly notorious among these floors for its high-stamina enemy waves.

A Reddit user named soapz231 shared an intriguing chart that ranks the playable characters in Genshin Impact based on their usage rate in the current Phase 2 version of the Spiral Abyss for ongoing version 3.8.

3.8 New Abyss Usage Rate(July 16 – July 31)
byu/soapz231 inGenshin_Impact

At the pinnacle of this list, we find the immensely popular Dendro Archon Nahida, introduced in update 3.2. She currently holds a dominant 91.12% usage rate, making her the most favoured character.

Her strength primarily stems from her ability to adapt to any team composition requiring Dendro damage. Furthermore, she excels as a main DPS, although players are encouraged to unlock all her constellations to unlock her full DPS potential. Her Elemental Burst, the Illusionary Heart, summons an enormous dome that provides various buffs based on the elements it interacts with.

Read more: Genshin Impact Version 4.0 Leak Five-star Characters

In the list of characters, the second position is occupied by Kaedehara Kazuha, a five-star Anemo support featured in a recent update banner. His ability to control the Anemo element grants him remarkable versatility as a supporting character, as his elemental damage won’t disrupt other reactions within the team.

Following closely in the third spot, we find Sangonomiya Kokomi, a Hydro catalyst user with an impressive usage rate of almost 80%. She is set to be featured in the upcoming Limited Character Banner for the second part of Genshin Impact update 3.8.

While she was previously considered one of the weaker five-star characters, the introduction of Dendro elemental reactions has significantly boosted her popularity, making her one of the most sought-after Hydro users in the game.

Read more: Genshin Impact Leak Reveals Arlecchino’s Unique Ability

Claiming the fourth place is another Hydro character named Yelan, boasting a usage rate of 70.9%. Yelan’s double banner, alongside Hu Tao, holds the title of the most successful flag in Genshin Impact history, particularly in generated revenue.

Genshin Impact is currently available on Mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5, with a Switch version currently in development.

Six new five-star characters have been uncovered in a recent leak from Honkai: Star Rail, signalling exciting additions to the beloved sci-fi RPG in upcoming updates.

Fans have eagerly awaited the inclusion of renowned units like Jingliu, and their wishes will soon be granted. HoYoverse, the developer behind Genshin Impact, has already witnessed remarkable triumph with the release of their latest game.

Following the journey of the Astral Express crew, this RPG quickly garnered over 20 million downloads within a mere day and achieved comparable profits to its predecessor through gacha banners. Now, players can anticipate the arrival of even more highly-anticipated characters shortly.

Honkai: Star Rail initially debuted with over 20 playable characters to obtain, while HoYoverse has consistently expanded its character lineup in subsequent updates.

In Version 1.1, the game introduced Silver Wolf, Luocha, and Yukong as three fresh characters in its first update. The forthcoming Version 1.2 will follow suit by adding Kafka, Blade, and Luka as new cast members. Recent leaks suggest that Star Rail’s character selection will continue to expand significantly in the upcoming updates.

Dimbreath, a reliable HoYoverse community source, recently shared an update regarding Honkai: Star Rail, unveiling the release order of six new five-star characters.

New 5 star release order should be:

* Dan Heng IL
* Fu Xuan
* Topaz
* Jingliu
* Huohuo
* Argenti

There will be 4s released alongside these too, there may be re-runs in between them.

Subject to change.

— Dim (@dimbreath) July 15, 2023

According to the leaked information, the upcoming Version 1.3 will introduce two confirmed characters: Dan Heng IL, Imbibitor Lunae, and Fu Xuan. Moving forward, Dimbreath discloses the subsequent group of five-star characters, namely Topaz, Jingliu, Huohuo, and Argenti, who are slated to be released after Version 1.3.

Following the established pattern in Star Rail, it is highly likely that Topaz and Jingliu will be unveiled in Version 1.4, while Huohuo and Argenti will follow suit in Version 1.5.

The character release order for Honkai: Star Rail has been revealed, coinciding with leaked gameplay footage of some of the upcoming roster members. Early teasers of Topaz have surfaced, showcasing her appearance, element, and Path, confirming her role as a Fire character specializing in DPS-oriented Hunt Path.

Moreover, leaked videos from Honkai: Star Rail’s in-development server have emerged, demonstrating Jingliu’s gameplay, including her unique Transcendence mechanic, Basic Attack, and Skill.

To accommodate the influx of new characters in the upcoming patches of Honkai: Star Rail, HoYoverse has introduced various methods for players to earn more Stellar Jades.

Leaks have indicated that Version 1.2 will incorporate a trial run for all of the game’s Standard five-star characters, granting Stellar Jades as rewards upon completion.

Additionally, the update will introduce several new elements to the permanent content, such as a World for Simulated Universe and a weekly boss. Honkai: Star Rail is poised for substantial expansion, featuring fresh characters and content in future updates.

Honkai: Star Rail is currently available for PC and mobile devices, with a PS5 version slated for release in Q4 2023.

Following the Federal Trade Commission’s unsuccessful appeal, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $69 billion is expected to be finalized soon. In light of this development, Sony and Microsoft have recently entered into a “binding agreement” to ensure that the Call of Duty franchise remains exclusive to PlayStation.

While it remains unclear whether this agreement mirrors the previously offered 10-year deal from Microsoft or involves a different duration, the focus is on securing the franchise for PlayStation.

In a tweet, Xbox boss Phil Spencer expressed his satisfaction: “We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. We look forward to a future where players globally have more choice to play their favorite games.” 

We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and @PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. We look forward to a future where players globally have more choice to play their favorite games.

— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) July 16, 2023

Microsoft president Brad Smith added: “From day one of this acquisition, we’ve been committed to addressing the concerns of regulators, platform and game developers, and consumers. Even after we cross the finish line for this deal’s approval, we will remain focused on ensuring that Call of Duty remains available on more platforms and for more consumers than ever before.”

Last December, Microsoft invited Sony, urging them to sign a 10-year agreement to guarantee Call of Duty’s release on PlayStation devices. Similar arrangements had already been made with Nintendo and the PC platform, Steam.

However, Sony decided not to sign the deal due to concerns about potential issues and glitches affecting the PS5 and PS4 versions of the game. They were also worried about the possibility of an increased price point for PlayStation players, limited multiplayer access, and the potential exclusivity of future Call of Duty entries to Xbox Game Pass.

With the impending $69 billion acquisition, Sony has finally agreed to a Call of Duty deal with Microsoft. It remains uncertain what will happen with other properties like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, and Activision Blizzard, as Sony has been primarily focused on ensuring the availability of Call of Duty on its hardware.

An adolescent hacker, who gained fame for his attempt to extort Rockstar Games by leaking Grand Theft Auto 6 to the public, has been deemed mentally unfit to face a trial by a panel of psychiatrists.

This teenage hacker, known for infiltrating prominent entities such as Uber and Nvidia Corp, has caused quite a stir. Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the highest-grossing video games ever and the most commercially successful work of fiction, accumulating a staggering revenue of nearly 8 billion dollars.

Given the monumental success of GTA 5, it’s safe to assume that Grand Theft Auto 6, despite lacking an official trailer, ranks among the most highly anticipated games of this decade.

Consequently, fans eagerly latch onto every rumour surrounding GTA 6, while Rockstar Games endeavours to intercept any leaks that might reach the public eye.

However, the last thing Rockstar Games likely anticipated was a young hacker attempting to extort the company by exploiting the anticipation surrounding the upcoming title.

Arion Kurtaj, an 18-year-old individual affiliated with the hacker group Lapsus$, made an audacious move to blackmail Rockstar Games by releasing the source code of Grand Theft Auto 6 on the internet.

Kurtaj has a track record of hacking into major corporations, as exemplified by his release of private information that inflicted approximately three million dollars in damages upon Uber.

A group of psychiatrists has now concluded that Kurtaj is mentally incapable of standing trial. Consequently, determining whether he committed the alleged crimes rests with the jury, who will assess the evidence and deliver a verdict based on his guilt.

This narrative gives off a distinct Grand Theft Auto 6 side mission vibe, but it’s entirely factual. Kurtaj and an unidentified accomplice demanded a staggering four million dollars in ransom from EE, a prominent British mobile company.

These two hackers were recognized as essential figures within Lapsus$, a widely-spread group suspected of having a well-structured organization. Lapsus$ has targeted significant corporations such as Samsung, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Ubisoft.

Kurtaj is facing charges on three counts of blackmail and nine additional offences, including fraud. His partner, whose name remains undisclosed, is on trial for two counts of fraud and two counts of blackmail.

Furthermore, this individual faces charges of three other interconnected crimes despite maintaining innocence. Rockstar Games has not made any official statements regarding these events or disclosed any information about the release date of Grand Theft Auto 6.

A leak for Honkai: Star Rail has exposed a fresh method of acquiring Stellar Jades, much to the excitement of dedicated players eagerly awaiting the game’s upcoming Version 1.2 update.

This update will introduce Stellaron Hunters Kafka and Blade as the five-star banner characters. Version 1.2 of Honkai: Star Rail has many new features and events planned as it continues the mainline story.

These thrilling updates include additional areas in Xianzhou Luofu, four formidable bosses, and a series of limited-time events where players can gather materials and Stellar Jades.

The leak suggests that Honkai: Star Rail may not have disclosed all the content in Version 1.2. According to the leak from prominent source Blednaya via HSR_stuff1 on Twitter, players can obtain over 100 Stellar Jades through a new Character Trial feature.

The Stellar Warp will allow players to test all seven Standard five-star characters in this rumoured feature, with each trial granting 20 Stellar Jades, resulting in 140 Stellar Jades.

Although HSR_stuff1 did not provide further details, it can be assumed that the Character Trial will resemble the Aptitude Showcase, enabling players to try out banner characters before summoning them.

Many Honkai: Star Rail fans in the replies expressed their appreciation for this addition, mainly since the Standard Stellar Warp guarantees players their chosen five-star unit after 300 pulls.

One fan mentioned this would be an excellent way for players to decide which guaranteed character to obtain. Naturally, some skeptics cautiously approached the rumour, as is customary with any Honkai: Star Rail leak.

Neither Blednaya nor HSR_stuff1 disclosed when this rumoured Honkai: Star Rail feature would be implemented, but it can be assumed that it might already be available once Version 1.2 is released on July 19.

There is also a possibility that the Character Trial could face a delay, similar to the in-game chat feature in Version 1.1. Thankfully, there will be several other methods for players to acquire Stellar Jades without spending real money, such as daily activities and completing Simulated Universe levels.

Honkai: Star Rail Version 1.2 promises exciting content for fans and is expected to answer lingering story mysteries. One of these mysteries involves Dan Heng’s past and connection to the new five-star character, Imbibitor Lunae.

Additionally, the conclusion of the Xianzhou Luofu storyline and the future whereabouts of the Astral Express Crew remain intriguing. Fans only need to wait a few more days to uncover the secrets of Honkai: Star Rail.

Honkai: Star Rail is currently available for PC and mobile devices, with a PlayStation version currently under development.

PlayStation gamers have something exciting to look forward to this summer as Sony has announced the date for its highly anticipated 2023 Summer Sale. Starting from July 19, players can avail themselves of fantastic discounts on a vast selection of PS5 and PS4 games.

This annual sale event has become a tradition for PlayStation, offering gamers the chance to expand their game libraries without breaking the bank.

Limited-Time Discounts on Thousands of Games

The PlayStation Store is known for its frequent sales, and the Summer Sale is one of the year’s most anticipated events. Gamers can purchase their favourite titles from July 19 to August 16 at discounted prices.

PlayStation’s official Twitter handle posted a tweet:

Grab your sunnies. Summer deals are on the way ☀️

Expect thousands of PS5 & PS4 discounts to roll in thanks to Summer Sale. First details: https://t.co/AnwB7fqIAz pic.twitter.com/khRoUfLMeP

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) July 14, 2023

However, it’s worth noting that certain games will be removed from the promotion on August 2, so players should keep track of the titles they want to buy. Sony understands the importance of convenience for its players, and to ensure that no great deal slips through the cracks, gamers can add their desired titles to their wishlists.

Additionally, the PS5 will notify users whenever their selected products go on sale, not just during the Summer Sale but for future promotions.

Excitement Builds as Players Await the Game List

Although the start date for the Summer Sale has been revealed, Sony has left players in suspense by not disclosing the list of games that will be included in the sale. The complete game list will only be unveiled at 12:00 AM local time on July 19.

Fans can expect diverse offerings, from popular first-party and third-party games to indie titles. However, it remains unclear if PS VR2 games will be included in the sale, so PS VR2 owners must wait for more information.

Recalling Last Year’s Summer Sale

Looking back at previous Summer Sales, it’s evident that Sony consistently provides impressive discounts on various games. Last year’s promotion featured substantial price reductions on games such as LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and The Quarry, to name just a few. Sony also surprised gamers by adding highly anticipated titles like Horizon Forbidden West to the lineup mid-sale, making the event even more exciting.

Membership Discounts and Expectations

While Sony has shared details about the Summer Sale, there is no mention of whether PlayStation Plus memberships will be a part of the sale. Users interested in subscribing or extending their memberships may need to wait for further information.

PlayStation Plus memberships typically go on sale during specific periods such as the Days of Play and Black Friday promotions. Gamers eager to take advantage of membership discounts must stay tuned for potential future announcements.

There has been some buzz surrounding a supposed leak of a portion of the map for the highly anticipated game GTA 6, developed by Rockstar Games. However, it’s important to note that the term “leak” is used loosely here, as its authenticity is highly questionable.

While it is very likely to be a fake, it’s worth considering that similar situations have occurred. Notably, the map for Red Dead Redemption 2 was leaked online before its official unveiling, and at the time, many believed it to be a forgery, only to discover later that it was genuine.

Although it’s unlikely that the current map leak will have the same outcome, it’s still worth being mindful of the possibility. The leak originates from a Twitter account called GTA 6 Spam, which lacks any credible history of leaks.

While this is a noteworthy concern, it’s worth mentioning that some of the most significant leaks in history have come from anonymous sources without any prior track record.

Regarding notable leaks, last year, an early version of GTA 6 was leaked online, revealing some aspects of the game’s map or, at the very least, an early iteration of it—the recent leak attempts to expand upon this previous leak by introducing new information.

In the accompanying Image below, the left side of the map corresponds to the area featured in the leak above, while the right side, displaying fewer markings on the screen, is entirely new.

Notably, there are suspicions that this new section is generated by artificial intelligence for several reasons. Firstly, if this portion were genuine, it would likely have leaked alongside the previous leak. Furthermore, noticeable differences include indications that the image is computer-generated, such as unusual text.

Here’s the tweet:

GTA 6 Leaked section of the map pic.twitter.com/uQ5ZEfPR31

— GTA 6 SPAM 🍸 (@GTA6posts) June 27, 2023

Currently, it is impossible to provide a definite confirmation regarding the authenticity of this information. However, all indications strongly suggest that it is false.

Therefore, it is advised to approach it with skepticism. It is important to note that this is an unofficial source, making it even more likely to be untrue. Nonetheless, rumours are circulating about the potential unveiling of GTA 6 sometime this year.

If this rumour proves accurate, there might be a chance to glimpse its map. However, it is more plausible for such a reveal to occur closer to the game’s official launch, which is unlikely to happen this year.

The upcoming update for World of Warcraft: Dragonflight will allow Forsaken and Night Elf players to engage in stylish battles throughout Azeroth as their highly anticipated Heritage Armor sets debut.

Known as Fury Incarnate, the update will introduce unique quest lines for Forsaken and Night Elf players, allowing them to acquire their unique Heritage Armor sets.

Additionally, both races will gain access to new customization options. Forsaken players will have the opportunity to choose from five new skin colours, while Night Elves will be able to select from a range of new face and body tattoos.

Although Blizzard has not yet unveiled the appearance of the Night Elf set, the Forsaken put aptly embodies their undead nature, featuring an abundance of spikes, skulls, and coffins.

World of Warcraft shares a tweet:

Fury Incarnate rolls out to the PTR today.

👀 Night Elves, Forsaken, and More
🛡️ New Heritage Armor
❗ More Quests & Rewards pic.twitter.com/xwEUdvpN0K

— World of Warcraft (@Warcraft) July 13, 2023

In Patch 10.1.7, a new public event will be introduced called Dreamsurges. These events will involve portals from the Emerald Dream appearing across the Dragon Isles, allowing players to fight against rare creatures and event bosses.

By defeating them, players can acquire powerful new gear. The update will also bring new story quests that will set the stage for the game’s 10.2 update later in the year.

Based on the addition of public events and clues found in previous data mining, it is likely that the 10.2 update will involve players journeying to the Emerald Dream itself, serving as the game’s final major update for 2023.

A series of quests will also be an epilogue to the recent Fractures in Time update, focusing on the Bronze Dragonflight events. The ongoing Reforging of Tyr storyline will continue as well.

Here you can check some latest information about World of Warcraft:Dragonflight: 

• World of Warcraft 10.1 Patch Notes Unveiled Before Release
• World of Warcraft Exile Reach Takes You on a Journey to Discover Dragonflight

The Fury Incarnate update will soon be available for testing on the game’s public test realm. With the inclusion of Night Elf and Forsaken Heritage armor sets, only a few races in the game are yet to receive their own Heritage Armor sets: Trolls, Draenei, and Pandaren. Blizzard had previously added Orc and Human Heritage Armor sets in patch 10.0.7.

Blizzard has remained faithful to their initial 2023 content roadmap for World of Warcraft, leading to higher player retention and granting the development team more flexibility.

WoW, game director Ion Hazzikostas confirmed that the game’s Trading Post currency would not be offered as a standalone product for purchase. Instead, it may be included in expansion deluxe editions or specific shop bundles.

The Fractures in Time update for WoW was released on July 11 and introduced a new megadungeon. In patch 10.1.7, this megadungeon will be split into two Heroic dungeons. Additionally, a new support-style DPS specialization called Evokers will be added.

World of Warcraft is currently accessible on PC.