Author: Game Infliction

CoD: Warzone’s Controversial Covert Exfil Feature Delayed After Community Backlash

Activision and Raven Software are altering their plans to include the new Covert Exfil feature in Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 Reloaded.

Raven made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), promising to rework the Warzone gameplay tweak after announcing it only a few days ago. The team says the decision arrived after seeing fan feedback about Covert Exfil’s inclusion.

However, Raven still feels strongly about the potential the addition could add and isn’t ready to give up on it yet.

“We believe that Covert Exfil and the gameplay loop it provides, paired with the Weapons Case, will make for an exciting addition to #Warzone,” the post explains. “That said, we’ll instead launch both of these features in an upcoming dedicated mode.”

Information on how Covert Exfil will be reintroduced is being kept under wraps for now. Raven adds, “We’re looking forward to the new challenges that these features will provide and to your continued feedback once the mode is available.”

Covert Exfil was revealed as a feature that essentially allows players to leave a Warzone game early by purchasing one of only a few available exfil opportunities available to players each match. In other words, if you pool your money quickly enough and make it to a Buy Station, you can have a successful game without being the last team standing.

With the added possibility of exfiling with a Weapons Case full of goodies, many players worried that Warzone was becoming less of a Battle Royale and more like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s DMZ mode. Players are relieved to see Covert Exfil plans reversed, but they might be even happier to see that Raven is listening to its fans.

“This reactivity is amazing!” Warzone Loadout said on X. “Good compromise to first test it in a dedicated mode.”

“This is why I love Raven Software,” CPreds said. “Community feedback is welcomed and listened to. Keep up the great work!”

Warzone is meant to be an ever-evolving mode, so time will tell if and when Covert Exfil will make a comeback. Until then, Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 1 Reloaded is set to launch on January 17.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Review: Pocket Auto Catch Light – Petit Pokémon GO Companion Packs A Punch

Small but mighty.

Pokémon GO auto-catch companion devices are a top-tier way to ensure that you never miss a ‘mon while out and about. Since 2016, these devices — which automatically spin PokéStops and catch the critters you pass — have come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with designs to wear on your wrist, clip to your bag, or (in the case of the Poké Ball Plus) carry in a tight grip as if you were Ash Ketchum himself.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha Skip-Ahead (2408.240110-2000)

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring today.

It’s important we note that some updates made in these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.

Details can be found below!

Xbox Insider Release Notes

System Update Details:

  • OS Version: RS_XBOX_DEV_FLIGHT26027.1002.240110-2000
  • Available: 2 p.m. PT – January 12, 2024
  • Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – January 13, 2024

New Features and Experiences

We have exciting news! Alpha Skip-Ahead users can expect something new coming to their Xbox Update Preview.

Xbox Wireless Controller – Thumbstick Calibration

For users in the US who have independently replaced the circuit board on their Xbox Wireless Controller and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 or users in all regions experiencing minor thumbstick issues, we now offer a user-guided self-calibration tool for thumbsticks through the Xbox Accessories App.

  • Note: The support article linked at the end of the experience is currently unavailable. This will be available in the future.

Fixes Included

Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:

Games

  • Additional fixes to address unexpected loss of saved game progress in various titles.
  • Fixed an issue where syncing game saves would not complete.

Home

  • Fixes to improve unexpected errors loading Home during sign in.

Installation

  • Further improvements to address unexpected issues when installing or updating various titles.

System

Known Issues

While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.

Audio

  • We have received reports of users experiencing intermittent issues with audio across the dashboard, games, and apps. If you have experienced issues, be sure you have the latest firmware updates for your TV and other equipment. If you’re unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance.
    • Note: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware updates, please submit feedback via Report a Problem immediately with the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”. Be sure to include as much information as possible:
      • When did the issue start?
      • Did you lose audio just in the game/app or system audio as well?
      • Does changing the audio format resolve the issue? If yes, what was the format before and after?
      • Does rebooting resolve the issue?
      • What does your setup include? Equipment, layout, etc.
      • And any additional information you can provide to reproduce the problem.

Networking

  • We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to their network as expected on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.

As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

What Happens to Your Feedback

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha Skip-Ahead (2408.240110-2000) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 476: Games For A Change

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS, or download here

Hey y’all! This week the gang returns for the first episode of 2024 to talk oh-so-sweet video games, including a discussion on God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla. Plus the team answers a listener letter with tips for your first Baldur’s Gate 3 play-through.

Stuff We Talked About

  • Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – PS5, PS4
  • Bulletstorm VR – PS VR2
  • PS Plus Game Catalog January – Resident Evil 2, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, Hardspace: Shipbreaker and more
  • Cult of the Lamb Sins of the Flesh DLC Blog
  • Helldivers 2 PC specifications Blog
  • Listener letter
  • God of War Ragnarök

The Cast

Tim Turi –  Manager, Content Communications, SIE

Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE

O’Dell Harmon, Jr. Content Communications Specialist, SIE

Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.

[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter looks like a promising indie successor to Danganronpa

It’s been almost seven years since Danganronpa V3 brought a close to the trilogy of gloriously twisted murder-mystery visual novels. With several of the series’ biggest names going on to release their next game as an exclusive for the Nintendo Switch, there’s room for a properly good successor on PC. Or why not successors? Last year’s exceptional Paranormasight is definitely in the running, and 2024 is already looking promising thanks to the reveal of Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter.

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Suicide Squad Planning ‘Hundreds’ of Possible Build Combinations Along With Major Post-Launch Support

Rocksteady Studios is teasing major post-launch support for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League while explaining how its RPG gameplay works in greater detail.

Information on the game’s core elements comes from Game Director Axel Rydby, who clarified the project’s features and offerings in a post in its Discord server. When one fan asked about build possibilities for Task Force X team members like Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, and King Shark, Rocksteady teased “hundreds” of possible build combinations.

“Well, first of all, when we designed the game, player choice and player freedom was one of our core design philosophies,” Rydby said. “We really want you to feel like you can make each character your own, and build it to suit your playstyle. But if you take the leap and really play into the gear, you can find truly crazy powerful combinations.”

Rydby continued, explaining that, while players will start with enough possible combinations to kill a superhero, post-launch content will help shake things up even more.

“At launch, we’re looking at hundreds of possible combinations and permutations for builds across our four characters, and this is something we’re adding A LOT to in post launch. We’re not supposed to talk about that today though, but I’m really excited for you all to see the cool stuff we’ve got cooking.”

Rocksteady names a few “core parts” of builds that will allow players to customize their playstyle, including things like gear and eight loadout slots. Things like Afflictions, meanwhile, can then be applied to melee weapons and grenades, creating effects, such as Deep Freeze and Diablo Blaze, based on other DC characters.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League players can also toy with Talent Trees and traversal mechanics, which allow players to make the most of their villain’s abilities. Rocksteady seems confident that fans will have plenty of options when it comes to how they choose to build each character. Rydby’s entire explanation can be seen below:

Though it seems Rocksteady isn’t interested in referring to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League as a live-service game, the team has at least confirmed that players can expect post-launch offerings to include seasonal updates, new playable characters, new story content, cosmetic items, and more. The Batman: Arkham Asylum studio’s latest won’t arrive for a few more weeks, though a few select players did get their hands on it late last year. Rocksteady recently lifted an NDA tied to that experience, allowing players to openly share their thoughts.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League launches for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S on February 2. We published our Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League preview earlier this week but did not enjoy our time with what it offered. At the time, we said, “Not only is Rocksteady one of my favorite developers, but this genre is one I’ve spent far too much time in across Destiny, Anthem, and yes… even Marvel’s Avengers. But while there is a story here that makes me wonder where the heck all this is going, I left the preview event less optimistic than when I came in.”

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

I wish I could cheat Reigns: Three Kingdoms like a Choose Your Own Adventure book

The two best parts of a Choose Your Own Adventure book are when you initially feel out the shape and paths at the start, and then when you grow tired of dead-ends and faff and just start cheating. The same seems true for Reigns: Three Kingdoms, the latest in the decision-making story series, which arrived on PC (and Switch) yesterday after a year exclusive to Netflix’s inexplicable library of mobile games. Once again, you will decide the fate of a kingdom (this time, China) by swiping left or right on binary decisions. Unfortunately, you cannot cheatily flick through to interesting parts nor use your finger as a bookmark. Not even if you jam it into a USB port. I did try.

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New Outer Wilds Update Now Available Switch, Here Are The Full Patch Notes

Nomai goodness.

Developer Mobius Games has released a brand new update for Outer Wilds on Switch, marking the game’s first patch since the highly-anticipated title blasted onto the console last month.

The new update seems to be mainly focused on getting rid of some pesky visual bugs, though there are a handful of gameplay and technical tweaks to be found in this one as well.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com