January, as usual, is not full of many interesting game premieres. The debuts of smaller productions predominate, among which The Medium, the horror of the Polish studio Bloober Team (Observer, Layers of Fear or Blair Witch), and Hitman 3 definitely stand out. The latter definitely does not belong to small titles. The new stealth game from the Danish studio IO Interactive is to be the culmination of the World of Asassination trilogy started in 2016, in which we travel through many wonderful locations together with the bald-as-knee Agent 20. Along with the premiere of Hitman 3, there will also be a special version of the game, which is intended for users of PlayStation VR virtual reality glasses. The VR mode, which was presented on the new gameplay, will receive not only the latest version.
Hitman 3 on release date (i.e. 20 January 2021 of the year) will receive a VR mode aimed only at PlayStation headset users. New gameplay fragments from both the classic mode and the one intended for virtual reality glasses owners have been made available on the web.
Game releases in January 2021. What to play? New products include stealth Hitman 3 and survival horror pt. The Medium
Hitman 3 is not going to be a revolution. Studio IO Interactive follows the path set in the first installment of the new trilogy, trying to perfect the formula of the game. At least when it comes to the classic version of the game, because the developers will prepare a real attraction for fans of virtual reality. A foretaste of what awaits us in VR mode, in which we will play FPP, has been illustrated in the latest video material, published below.
Hitman 3 on a new trailer. In-game even 300 NPCs simultaneously
As announced several months ago, Hitman 3 – along with the previous two installments – it will receive VR mode on the release date. Unfortunately, it is intended only for owners of PlayStation VR glasses. Therefore, it will only work on PlayStation 4 and PS5 consoles (however, to run the VR story campaign on a newer Sony console, you will need PS4 copies of the game). Will this mode also come to PC? At the moment, IO Interactive studio is silent – it is possible that the company has a temporary exclusivity contract. Players who are not interested in VR can also take a look at the gameplay on new gameplays that have recently hit the web. Hitman 3 premieres 20 January 2021 year on PC and old (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One) and new generation (PS5 and Xbox Series X and S) consoles.
2021 The year has barely begun, and the network is already receiving reports of first slides games. I am talking about the Outriders shooting from the Polish People Can Fly studio (creators of, among others, Bulletstorm and Painkiller), the premiere of which has been regularly postponed since the beginning of last year. A cooperative TPP action game with RPG elements in a science fiction atmosphere was originally supposed to appear on the market in the summer 2020, after which it was delayed for the pre-Christmas period, which the creators and publisher, Square Enix, also failed to do. According to the latest official reports, Outriders was supposed to make its debut at the beginning of February 2021, which will not happen either, because People Can Fly announced on its profile on Twitter that the title will appear on April Fool’s Day (not a joke).
The premiere of Outriders from the Polish studio People Can Fly suffered another delay. The cooperative shooter will debut on April 1 2021, and before that, players will be able to test the extensive demo for free.
Outriders delayed again. There’s a new release date and trailer
People Can Fly announced that they need more time to refine Outriders. For this reason, he decided to postpone the premiere of the cooperative shooting from February 2 to April 1 2021 of the year, which is practically equal to two months. It’s not a major slump, but there are plenty of those, so we’ll be playing Outriders almost a year after our originally planned debut. The game will appear on PC and PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X / S.
The Outriders game is supposed to be a dirty sf: screenshots, gameplay and new news
As a delight, the creators will prepare a demo version, which will be available for free to all players, without the need to pre-order the game. Demo Outriders will be available on 25 February 2021 the year in which it will be possible to test a large fragment of the game, enough for even a few hours of fun, both solo and in the online cooperation mode. Users will have access to all four character classes and will then be able to transfer their progress to the full version of the shootout.
Matthew Wilson 23 hours ago Featured Tech News, Software & Gaming
Back in October, we learned that Nintendo isn’t the only company facing lawsuits over gaming controller issues – there was also a case brewing against Microsoft over Xbox One controller ‘stick drift’. Now, that class-action lawsuit has come to fruition, but Microsoft is hoping to keep things out of the court room.
The lawsuit was filed last year on behalf of a number of Xbox users, alleging that Xbox One controllers suffer from stick drift issues due to a design flaw that was undisclosed to customers. The complaint was amended a few months ago to add more plaintiffs and demand a jury trial.
As reported by VGC, Microsoft has responded to this amendment by filing a motion to compel arbitration and as a result, avoiding a jury trial. Microsoft says this is in accordance with the Services Agreement agreed to when buying an Xbox One controller, a similar clause is included in the service agreement for Xbox Live.
Due to these service agreements, Microsoft can argue that the plaintiffs agreed to not bring such a case to court. Whether or not a judge rules in Microsoft’s favour remains to be seen.
KitGuru Says: This isn’t an issue I’ve encountered with Xbox One controllers personally but I’ve known people who have been affected. Have any of you encountered stick drift issues with an Xbox One controller before?
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According to industry sources, Sony’s new generation PlayStation 5 console would have sold a quantity close to 3.4 million units in the first month after its launch, which is a milestone by surpassing releases like its predecessor, the PS4, as well as the Nintendo Switch or the Xbox One.
Ahead of PS5 manufacturing would have allowed Sony to sell more units than Microsoft
Its direct competition, the Xbox Series X, would have sold over 2 million units. The reason that Sony’s console is in the first place would have to do directly with the production capacity of the Japanese, who started before with production in a market that, today more than ever, has problems meeting demand.
In fact, the stock of these consoles sold out quickly and the new units have also done so in the middle of the Christmas season. This situation has been helped by the emergence of bot networks and resellers who insure the units that are going on the market to resell them later on portals such as Ebay for prices significantly higher than the official ones.
The Sony plans to reach a figure between 16, 8 million units and 18 million units once the close 2021 is finished to get to beat the PlayStation 4 and make the PS5 their biggest hit.
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Antonio Delgado
Computer Engineer by training, editor and hardware analyst at Geeknetic since 2011. I love gutting everything that comes my way, especially the latest hardware that we get here for reviews. In my spare time I fiddle with 3d printers, drones and other gadgets. For anything here you have me.
We’ve finally reached the end of the Epic Games Store Christmas and New Year promotion, under which 15 Tim Sweeney’s store was giving away free PC games. For the last two weeks, you could adopt such productions as the economic strategies Cities Skylines and Tropico 5, surviving The Long Dark and Stranded Deep (early access), the extremely atmospheric Alien: Isolation, Metro 2033 Redux and Inside or roguelike Darkest Dungeon. Although indie games prevailed, the donated horse is not looked into the teeth, especially since the titles are not too bad. At the very end of the action, Epic Games Store launched Jurassic World Evolution, a relatively fresh strategy from the makers of Elite: Dangerous and RollerCoaster Tycoon. Unlike the previous offers, this time around, no rush is required.
On the final day of the Epic Games Store Christmas / New Year promotion, you can get Jurassic World Evolution for free, a strategy from the creators of Elite: Dangerous and the iconic RollerCoaster Tycoon series. The offer is valid until January 7 at 17: 00 Polish time.
Metro: Last Light Redux available for free in the GOG store – we invite you to play in the Moscow metro
According to the leak, the last free game in the Epic Games Store action is Jurassic World Evolution. To assign it to your account, go to this address, click on the “Download” button and confirm the order. The offer is valid until January 7th 17: 00 Polish time. Epic Games Store only released the basic version of the game. DLC add-ons, some of which add new dinosaurs to the Jurassic park, and some develop the storyline in the campaign missions, can be purchased separately (unfortunately, they are not at promotional prices). The title is available in English, without Polish subtitles. It is not yet known whether the Epic Games Store intends to continue to release regular free games in in , but it has already been announced that from January 7 to 14 January will be giving out roguelite Crying Suns.
Steam Winter Sale 2020 has started – Christmas promotions for PC games. There are also sales in the Ubisoft and EA Origin stores
Jurassic World Evolution is an economic strategy that was released in June 2018 of the year on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One (this year there is also a complete edition for Nintendo Switch). Frontier Developments studio is responsible for its preparation, well-known not only from such classics as RollerCoaster Tycoon and Zoo Tycoon, but in recent years also from Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo and the Elite: Dangerous space simulator, which was also given away for free by Epic Games Store. As the name of the game suggests, Jurassic World Evolution is based on the license of Jurassic Park and World movies, and the fun is to manage a park filled with dinosaurs of various species. The game received decent reviews, although it gained more in the eyes of players (83% of positive reviews on Steam and 7.4 on Metacritic) than the critics (the PC version has an average rating 69% according to the Metacritic aggregator).
(Pocket-lint) – Time doesn’t ever stop flying by, but that also means that there are plenty of new games being announced all the time. Even if the PlayStation 5 is finally out, the PS4 still has a host of great games coming down the pike.
We’re expecting to see plenty more in 2021 and beyond. There’s a lot to get excited about!
Here, then, are the cream of the crop, with release dates and trailers for each game. You’ll find them listed in chronological order according to their release date, so that you can see what to put on your wishlist next.
Also check out our list of the very best PS4 games that you simply must own
Biomutant
Release date: 2020
PS4 exclusive: No, also PC and Xbox
Publisher: THQ Nordic
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Biomutant is a brilliant looking open-world action RPG that will allow players to combine mutant powers and a wealth of weaponry to customise their characters into the ultimate hero or villain. The fate of the world is in your hands.
Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines 2
Release date: 2021
PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PC
Publisher: Paradox Interactive
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It’s only taken 15 years but a sequel to Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines is on its way. It is an in-depth, first-person RPG, like the original, but this time on consoles as well as PC. We can’t wait.
Kerbal Space Program 2
Release date: 2020
PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PC
Publisher: Private Division
You can once again attempt to send Kerbals into space with a bigger, friendly sequel to one of the best tongue-in-cheek simulation games of all time.
Psychonauts 2
Release date: 2020
PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PC
Publisher: Double Fine
See the official site
Double Fine studios is finally returning to one of its game franchises that people remember most fondly. Hurrah!
Rainbow Six Quarantine
Release date: 2020
PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PC
Publisher: Ubisoft
See the official site
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Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Quarantine is a three-player tactical co-op FPS coming in 2020. It appears to be a spin-off from the Rainbow Six Siege Outbreak mode that made an appearance in 2018 – maybe even a direct sequel. It’s set in the near future where a mutated alien parasite is infecting human hosts and causing no end of problems. Players must team up to battle it out against the environment and survive unpredictable missions.
Away: The Survival Series
Release date: 2020
PS4 exclusive: No, also on PC
Publisher: Breaking Walls
Playing as a Sugar Glider flying mammal, you have to avoid predators and other dangerous beasts in order to survive in this third-person action-adventure game.
Outriders
Release date: September 2020
PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PC
Publisher: Square Enix
See the official site
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Outriders is a new co-op shooter created by the same team that worked on Gears of War Judgement and Bulletstorm. It’s a drop-in-drop-out affair with a dark and desperate sci-fi vibe. We don’t have much to go on at the moment, but it certainly looks intriguing and a whole lot of fun to play with friends.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Release date: 2021
PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One, PC and Switch
Publisher: Warner Bros.
See the official site
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Love Star Wars and Lego? Then we’ve got good news. This new Lego-themed Star Wars game that’s set to let you play through all nine Star Wars films in one massive adventure. One potentially awesome highlight will be the ability to travel to any planet, in any order, at any time.
Elden Ring
Release date: TBC
PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PC
Publisher: FromSoftware
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Elden Ring is a new fantasy RPG that’s bound to be incredibly punishing and intriguing too. It’s the result of a collaboration between George R. R. Martin (author of Game of Thrones) and the team behind Dark Souls. Expect a wonderful fantasy game with a whole lot of death and mayhem.
Skull & Bones
Release date: 2021
PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PC
Publisher: Ubisoft
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A classic example of why not to show games at a major show too long before they are ready, Skull & Bones didn’t even make a reappearance at E3 2019 or Gamescom in the same year. That put its previous “2019” vague release date into the realms of unlikely. We might see it at in 2021 instead, it is thought.
Beyond Good And Evil 2
Release date: TBC
PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PC
Publisher: Ubisoft
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Announced during E3 in June 2017, Beyond Good and Evil 2 is long overdue, especially considering the first was released over 15 years ago, and we still have no clue when it might be ready. The game’s other-world setting – where multiple species communicate and interact – is quirky, cheeky and stunning. Think The Fifth Element in video game form and you’re halfway there.
Starfield
Release date: TBC
PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PC
Publisher: Bethesda
We know nothing about Starfield apart from the fact that it will be the first all-new IP from Bethesda Softworks for 25 years. Some are suggesting that it will be a sci-fi epic RPG: Skyrim in Space, basically.
The Elder Scrolls VI
Release date: TBC
PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PC (probably)
Publisher: Bethesda
Never has a logo created so much excitement. The sequel to Skyrim might not even be for this generation of consoles, but we’re still tingling with anticipation nonetheless.
Dying Light 2
Release date: 2020
PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PC
Publisher: Techland
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One of our favourite zombie games of the last decade returns with more first-person parkour fun and even scarier nighttime runs. One of the other new features is a dynamic game world that shifts and changes based on your choices during key missions. Your game, therefore, can end up being very different from another player’s.
Writing by Rik Henderson and Adrian Willings. Editing by Britta O’Boyle.
It’s not easy to make it to a library right now, and with a long winter stuck at home looming ahead for many of us, there’s never been a better time to hunker down with a good book. If you’ve been lucky enough to receive a new Kindle (or a non-Amazon-branded e-reader or just a device with an e-book app on it), you might be looking for some new books to read.
To help, here are some of the best new science fiction books released in 2020 (along with some additional recommendations for other books in a series, where applicable), which should be the perfect pairing with your new e-reader.
We’ve rounded up our favorite and most-used games, apps, and entertainment. Check out our app picks for iPhones, Android phones, Windows PCs, and M1-equipped Macs; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass; and our top choices for gaming PCs, the PS5, Xbox One and Series X / S, Nintendo Switch, and VR. We’ve also listed our favorite streaming shows on Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus, and Netflix; some great sci-fi books; and exciting new podcasts. (Note: pricing was accurate at the time of publishing but may change.)
The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
N.K. Jemisin is best known for her astounding Broken Earth trilogy (which is well worth adding to your reading list, too). The City We Became — a novel-sized spinoff of an earlier short story by Jemisin — reimagines New York City as a living, breathing entity, personified by a diverse collection of people from across the five boroughs as they fight to save the city from an otherworldly foe.
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
If you haven’t read Gideon the Ninth, the first book in Muir’s Locked Tomb trilogy, read that first. You probably won’t need any encouragement at that point to dive into the second book, Harrow the Ninth, which picks up right where the first book left off, while managing to outdo its predecessor in baffling puzzles, inventive sci-fi horror, and Muir’s personal brand of crackling style and wit.
Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis
This debut novel from video essayist Lindsay Ellis images an alien first contact event in an alternative version of 2007, capturing both the political and cultural flavor of the time period while examining what it really means to be human — or alien.
From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back
A love letter to The Empire Strikes Back (much as the original From a Certain Point of View is to A New Hope), From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back features 40 short stories from 40 authors, diving into new facets of the film, from the Wampa ice creature to Boba Fett to Willrow Hood.
A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green
Another sequel here, so you’ll likely want to seek out Green’s first book, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, before you dive in. (Think of this as two recommendations for the price of one!) Both books examine the fallout that happens when April May encounters a strange, alien statue (named Carl) — while also exploring how social media and fame can change how we interact with and view the world.
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini
Paolini’s first novel since his popular Inheritance Cycle moves on from dragons to deep space and from YA novels to a more adult audience. Xenobiologist Kira Navárez encounters a strange alien relic, and things quickly spiral into a war that could decide the fate of humanity’s interstellar civilization. At nearly 900 pages, it’s a perfect book to hide away in over the holidays.
The Hidden Girl and Other Stories by Ken Liu
Liu has already become one of the biggest names in sci-fi and fantasy short stories, dating from his first collection, The Paper Menagerie. The Hidden Girl and Other Stories, his latest collection, features 17 new tales that look at artificial intelligence, classical mythology, and more in a new light.
Subcutanean by Aaron A. Reed
Subcutanean may be the most unique book of 2020 — or perhaps ever — literally. Reed describes it as a “permutational novel,” with each copy of the novel containing its own unique text. Some differences from copy to copy will be big, others small, even as the overall story stays largely the same.
Network Effect by Martha Wells
Murderbot — a self-aware artificially intelligent killing machine — is one of the best sci-fi heroes in recent memory. Murderbot has already been the star of Wells’ Murderbot Diaries novellas, but Network Effect gives a proper full-length novel to the cynical TV-marathoning robot who just wants a break. Best of all, it’s a standalone, so you won’t have read the first few novellas — but you probably should, seeing as they’re just as excellent.
The Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds by Suzanne Collins
The return to The Hunger Games’ world of Panem comes almost a full decade after the release of Mockingjay. But instead of another action-packed dive into the arena, The Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds is a prequel that focuses on the future President Snow’s rise to power — and the political and social forces that forged the Hunger Games.
Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett
Shorefall is technically a fantasy novel, but I’m including it anyway because it’s set in a magical world that’s based far more on computer coding and AI than it is on swords and elves. It’s an almost cyberpunk take on the genre in a city filled with sorcerous computers and augmentations. Practically everything in the city of Tevanne is a programmed AI of some sort, and massive, looming megacorporations spar with each other as they rule the city. Start with Foundryside, the first book in the series, before you head to Shorefall, which ratchets everything up another notch.
If you received a virtual reality gaming headset this holiday season, congratulations! Whether you’ve got the newly released Oculus Quest 2, one of the last few units of the now discontinued Oculus Rift S, or another headset like the PlayStation VR, there are a ton of video games for you to explore with your new head mount display. Here are ten games I personally enjoy and think are worth your time and money.
We’ve rounded up our favorite and most-used games, apps, and entertainment. Check out our app picks for iPhones, Android phones, Windows PCs, and M1-equipped Macs; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass; and our top choices for gaming PCs, the PS5, Xbox One and Series X / S, Nintendo Switch, and VR. We’ve also listed our favorite streaming shows on Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus, and Netflix; some great sci-fi books; and exciting new podcasts. (Note: pricing was accurate at the time of publishing but may change.)
Half-Life: Alyx
Half-Life: Alyx Image: Valve
Yeah, it’s not Half-Life 3. But the fact that Half-Life: Alyx even exists is truly a blessing and is a great addition to the Half-Life franchise. Set five years after the events of Half-Life 2, you control Alyx, who is tasked with taking a super weapon that belongs to an alien empire.
Star Wars: Squadrons
Star Wars: Squadrons Image: EA
When I was a little girl, I always wanted to pilot an X-Wing. I thought it was so cool to be soaring through space and blasting Tie Fighters out of the sky. So when EA announced that Star Wars: Squadrons would have VR support, I knew I could finally fulfill my childhood dream.
It’s a very difficult game, and you don’t need a VR headset to play. But it’s also a very rewarding game that fully immersed me when I strapped on a virtual reality headset.
Real VR Fishing
Real VR Fishing Image: Miragesoft
When I was growing up on the eastern shore of Maryland, fishing was (and is) a very popular activity in the summer. There’s something great about casting your line with a cold drink in hand while on the water, and the challenge and patience it takes to reel in a fish. Now that it is winter, I needed something to fill the void until the warmer season returns once again, and Real VR Fishing does not disappoint.
Void Racer: Extreme
Void Racer: Extreme Image: Coplanar Games
Void Racer: Extreme is a sci-fi racing game that gives me the same adrenaline rush that I get from games like Wipeout or Sprint Vector and combines it with an aesthetic like that seen in the film Tron. If you are looking for a fast-paced racing game and love sci-fi vibes, this is the game for you.
Dreams
DreamsImage: Media Molecule
Sure, there are no true PS5 games released yet, but the PlayStation VR still has a solid library of PS4 titles that you can check out, including Media Molecule’s 2020 game creation title Dreams. It’s not a video game in the traditional sense — it’s more of a game about creating games. Dreams strongly encourages players to embrace their creative side, and you would be surprised by what type of user-generated content you can create.
Rez Infinite
Rez Infinite Image: Enhance Experience
Rez Infinite is a techno-fueled shooter with sublime and trippy graphics that is truly a breathtaking experience. It’s released on practically every virtual reality gaming headset, which makes it very accessible to play.
Beat Saber
Beat SaberImage: Beat Games
Although Beat Saber was originally released in 2019, this is still one of the best VR games around, and it’s one that every VR headset owner needs to experience. A rhythm game where you use lightsaber-like drumsticks to slice through musical beats? You can’t beat that. The game has also expanded to a slew of content packs, which include original songs and some licensed songs from bands like Linkin Park and BTS.
VR Shoot Around
VR Shoot Around Image: BoninblueDesignLab
Among the many things I missed this year because of the pandemic is sports. Namely, the ability to go to a basketball court and shoot some hoops. After some asking around, I heard about a really decent VR simulation title called VR Shoot Around,and it did not disappoint. Oh, and did I mention this game is only $5?
Trover Saves the Universe
Trover Saves the Universe Image: Squanch Games
Like a few games on this list, Trover Saves the Universe was not released in 2020 (though it was released this year for the Oculus Quest). Developed by Squanch Games, this game is one of the goofier titles available on VR headsets. And if you are a fan of Rick and Morty,you will surely get a kick out of this game — in fact, it was created by Justin Roiland, one of the co-creators of that series.
Like its predecessor, Pixel Ripped 1995 is a love letter of sorts to the decade it is set in: the ‘90s. It’s a sequel to Pixel Ripped 1989 and will make anyone who grew up during the 16-bit or 32-bit era of gaming feel nostalgic.
This year marked the introduction of the first Macs to be powered by Apple’s own silicon instead of Intel chips. As is evidenced by our reviews of the M1 MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini, these machines are incredibly powerful and offer wicked fast performance. This is especially true for apps that are designed to run natively on them and take full advantage of Apple’s latest technologies.
So in that vein, this year’s Mac apps list is going to focus on some of the software that has already been optimized for this new era of Apple hardware. Last year’s picks remain just as relevant and useful today if you’re on an Intel machine. But if you’ve been gifted (or are gifting yourself) one of these new speed-demon Macs, these are a few great ways of sampling what they can do.
We’ve rounded up our favorite and most-used games, apps, and entertainment. Check out our app picks for iPhones, Android phones, Windows PCs, and M1-equipped Macs; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass; and our top choices for gaming PCs, the PS5, Xbox One and Series X / S, Nintendo Switch, and VR. We’ve also listed our favorite streaming shows on Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus, and Netflix; some great sci-fi books; and exciting new podcasts. (Note: pricing was accurate at the time of publishing but may change.)
Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator Pro is one of the very best image editing apps for the Mac. It has the usual set of RAW editing tools, presets, sophisticated layer editing, and photo filters, and makes it easy to control every detail of your images. What sets Pixelmator Pro apart are the automatic adjustments it can make through a machine learning algorithm that has been trained with over 20 million photos. The latest update also allows greater customizability over the interface, letting you put everything where it makes the most sense for your workflow. And in a world where many creative apps demand a subscription, I really appreciate the one-time $19.99 price for everything this app gives you.
Pixelmator Pro’s iPad app ($4.99) is also wonderful — especially if you like retouching things with your Apple Pencil, which is how I edit many of my review photos.
Lightroom
Lightroom
Lightroom is the first of Adobe’s hugely popular apps to be optimized for Apple’s M1 silicon. And for many people, it’s the default choice for editing and organizing their photo collection. Now the app has been updated to leverage the power of Apple’s M1 chip to make that editing go even quicker.
Keep in mind this is the regular version of Lightroom; Lightroom Classic doesn’t run natively on M1, but Adobe says there are no known issues running it through Rosetta 2 translation. In my experience, Lightroom Classic feels very similar to its performance on Intel Macs.
A native M1 version of Photoshop is set to follow sometime next year, but Adobe hasn’t given release time frames for other apps such as Premiere Pro.
Google Chrome and Firefox
Google Chrome
Two major browsers, Chrome and Firefox, have already been updated to run natively on M1 Macs, so you shouldn’t encounter any issues or irregular performance drops when using either. In the case of Chrome, just be sure that you select “Mac with Apple chip” when downloading — otherwise you’ll end up installing the Intel version, which will still run, but not as efficiently.
Microsoft Edge currently has M1 support in its beta channel, so that shouldn’t be too far off either.
Fantastical
Fantastical
If Apple’s built-in Calendar app isn’t doing it for you, then Fantastical might be the more advanced alternative you’re looking for. Its natural language parser can turn normal sentences about your plans into a perfectly formatted appointment entry. You can set your calendar view in exactly the way you want, and Fantastical also has widgets that you can pop into your Mac’s “Today” sidebar. There is a basic free version; the Premium version, which starts at $4.99 a month, offers additional features such as the ability to add tasks, full screen views, and calendar syncing.
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365
Microsoft has quickly updated its entire Mac suite to fully optimize Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and OneNote for M1. So you should notice very speedy performance when doing work with any of them. I’m sure many people will prefer these over Apple’s own productivity apps like Pages and Numbers.
Twitter
Twitter
Hear me out: the Twitter app for macOS has actually gotten very good. It took some polishing and bug fixes to reach this point, but Twitter for Mac is now full-featured, responsive, and not nearly as crash-prone as before. If you haven’t given Twitter’s native app a chance yet, now’s a great time.
If you still prefer a third-party app, Tweetbot remains the go-to, and it’s also universal and M1-ready.
iMazing
iMazing
iMazing is a great device manager for digging into everything residing on your iPhone or iPad. You can create backups (different from the regular Apple ones) and grab your messages, photos, music, and more right off the device.
But it was also discovered soon after the launch of M1 Macs that this software can be used to “side load” and install iPhone apps — even those that have not yet opted in — to macOS. If you’re experimenting with this, just expect that not everything will work flawlessly.
iMazing also recently added the option to clearly see which apps on your system are universal or developed for Intel.
Bartender
Bartender
If you’ve got a cluttered mess of a menu bar at the top of your Mac’s screen, Bartender can help you bring order to things. A longtime favorite macOS utility of ours, this app lets you neatly hide everything under one menu bar icon to ease up on the chaos. You can also set triggers so that certain icons only show at those times when it makes the most sense.
Neural Mix Pro
Neural Mix Pro
Neural Mix Pro is an app that lets you separate the various parts of a song — vocals, instrumentation, and beats — and listen to them individually. You can also change up the tempo of a song without ruining the pitch. A handy tool for DJs and musicians, it also just appeals to my inner music nerd. The end result can still sometimes sound a bit phase-y (like most vocal remover software) and have some artifacts, but it does a better job than other apps I’ve tried for this purpose. Just know that it’s pricey compared to other recommendations here; you’ll have to pay $50 to unlock the app.
BetterTouchTool
BetterTouchTool
If you’ve got the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Apple’s M1 chip, well, that means you’ve also got the love-it-or-hate-it Touch Bar above your keyboard. There are ways of customizing it to your liking in macOS settings, but BetterTouchTool is a utility that gives you even greater flexibility over what goes where when using the Touch Bar, allowing you to quickly tap useful shortcuts for your most important apps.
A few weeks after the tumultuous launch of Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt RED is “victim” of a lawsuit brought by its own investors. Among the reasons we find the misleading statements with which the developer described the performance of the game on the PlayStation and Xbox.
by Pasquale Fusco published 28 December 2020 , at 13: 41 in the Videogames channel CD Projekt Red
You know, the launch of Cyberpunk 2077 was not one of the best: quite the opposite, were it not for the sales figures – which speak for more 13 millions of copies sold – could be considered one of the worst debuts in video game history. The role-playing game of CD Projekt RED suffers from obvious technical problems, has countless bugs and its optimization on “last-gen” platforms borders on disaster.
Put simply, the public is not happy at all, as are the investors themselves. The Polish firm begins to pay the consequences, as demonstrated by the legal case filed in the USA against CD Projekt a few days ago.
CD Projekt RED: “We will vigorously defend ourselves against these accusations”
According to the latest reports, the law firm Rosen Law Firm has just launched a class-action against CD Projekt, as requested by investors who claim to have been ” damaged “by what happened with Cyberpunk 2077.
supported by the New York studio, CD Projekt RED has made false or misleading statements regarding the fact that Cyberpunk 2077 was playable on current-gen systems, PlayStation and Xbox. The removal of the game from Sony’s PlayStation Store is also cited, as well as the offer of refunds by Microsoft and the developer itself, events that have triggered the collapse of the shares by CD Projekt .
The response of the Polish developer was not long in coming, and last weekend he released a further statement in which he responds to the above accusations.
CD Projekt RED therefore stated the following: “Plaintiffs ask the court to judge whether the actions taken by the company and its board members regarding the publication of Cyberpunk 2077 have constituted a violation of federal laws, that is, misleading investors and, consequently, causing them losses “. The Warsaw firm finally stated that will defend “vigorously” from such allegations .
The matter is somewhat thorny, but we will follow any developments related to the class-action. As we said, Cyberpunk 2077 has already sold more than 13 million copies , an impressive achievement for the game launched on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Google Stadia. The role-playing game can also be played on PS5 and Xbox Series X / S, where it can guarantee a much more stable performance than seen on last generation consoles.
The CD team Projekt RED continues to work on patches that will correct the numerous problems already highlighted. Two different hotfixes have already been released, including patch 1. 00 which solves the corruption problem of bailouts.
An investor has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against the Polish studio behind “Cyberpunk 2077”. In the run-up to publication, CD Projekt had aroused expectations that the finished product did not meet. As a result, investors suffered financial damage.
CD Projekt managers made false and misleading statements, the investor’s lawyers write in the complaint. The on 10. However, the video game published in December is technically in such bad condition that it is practically unplayable, especially on PS4 and Xbox One.
Investors suffered “significant” damage due to the poor technical condition and the expectations raised the lawyers argue. The share of the Polish games company has plummeted by almost 40 percent in the weeks since its release.
(Source: Cyberpunk 2077) The lawsuit against CD Projekt is designed as a class action – other shareholders could join it if it is approved. According to a report by the New York Times , a class action lawsuit against CD Projekt could also arise in Poland.
Technology problems “Cyberpunk 2077” was at 10. Published December after several postponements and controversies about working conditions. In addition to bugs and glitches, gamers mainly criticize performance problems on PS4 and Xbox One: The game sometimes only runs on these consoles with frame rates below 20 FPS at low resolution. In addition, many players criticize the lack of role-playing elements.
The main complaint, however, is the technical condition of the open-world Shooters. After consulting with CD Projekt, PS4 manufacturer Sony even decided to remove “Cyberpunk 2077” from the official Playstation store. Xbox manufacturer Microsoft has not taken this step, but just like Sony is granting all buyers refunds. CD Projekt promises to defuse the problems with patches in the coming months.
According to the CD Projekt, “Cyberpunk 2077 “so far 13 millions Times sold – refunds are said to have already been deducted from this number. The sales figures are strong in themselves, but fell short of analysts’ expectations.
In prior years, if you needed a last-minute gift, you might run out to the store and brave the crowds, but in this year of pandemic, that’s not a good idea. Besides, it might not even be safe or practical to visit your giftee in person. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to buy and deliver last-second gifts that arrive instantly, via email, even on Christmas day.
The easiest, but least thoughtful, thing you can do is either send money or buy an Amazon.com gift card, which is almost as universal as cash. But a better idea is to purchase a digital gift that speaks to your giftee’s love of PCs, maker gear or gaming. Here are some digital gift ideas for the tech enthusiasts in your life.
1. Newegg Gift Card
Though it sells everything from crock pots to clothing, Newegg is known for having the best selection and often the best prices for computer components. With Amazon credit, your giftee may end up buying non-tech stuff like toilet paper or cat litter, but if you give them a Newegg card, they’ll almost certainly use it to treat themselves to new hardware or software.
Newegg Gift Card ($10 and up)
2. Adafruit gift card / Adabox
(Image credit: Adafruit)
If your giftee loves doing electronics projects with Raspberry Pi, Arduino or other single-board computers — and if they don’t, they should start — a gift certificate from Adafruit could be your best option. Not only does Adafruit stock all the major computers and controllers — every version of Raspberry Pi, for example — but it also has an entire universe of add-on boards, RGB light setups, robot kits and more. The company is not just a seller: as most of its custom boards and accessories are manufactured in its New York City-based factory. The company’s Braincraft HAT won our Raspberry Pi accessory of the year for 2020.
If you buy an Adafruit gift certificate, you can also feel good about supporting this amazing business. Founded in 2005 by Limor “Ladyada” Fried, Adafruit employs over 100 people and is dedicated to helping everyone learn more about STEM. The site has a vibrant community and over 1,000 tutorials to help you do everything from creating an LED sign to soldering or designing RGB clothes.
You can also give a subscription to Adabox, which is a blind box filled with everything you need to build an electronics project and comes out quarterly.
Adafruit Gift Certificates: Available in any denomination and emailed.
Adabox Subscriptions: Starting at $60
3. Digital Game Store Gift Card
No matter what platform your giftee plays on, there’s an associated digital store with downloadable games. PC Gamers will almost certainly find something they love in the Steam store. For console players, get a card for the PlayStation Store, the XBox or the Nintendo eShop, depending on what system they use. Most cards start at $10, but I recommend spending at least $20, the cost of many lower price games.
Xbox Gift Card ($10 – $70)
PlayStation Store Card ($10 – $75)
Nintendo eShop ($5 – $70)
Battle.net Store ($50): Lets you buy any Blizzard game (Warcraft, Overwatch, etc)
Steam Store ($5 – $100)
4. Minecraft Game or Minecoins
(Image credit: Amazon)
Minecraft is a huge hit with kids from five to fifty. The game lets you explore and create worlds filled with 8-bit adventure and you can even use it to learn about programming. The game itself is available on every platform you can imagine, even the phone, but if your giftee already has it, consider getting Minecoins. Minecoins are used to buy all kinds of add-ons within the game.
Minecoin Pack: ($9.88)
Minecraft Windows 10 Starter Edition ($29.88)
Minecraft Dungeons for PC ($19.99): New Minecraft-based game
Minecraft Java Edition ($26.95): Good for Mac or PC (even Linux)
Minecraft for Xbox One ($19.99)
5. Individual Games
(Image credit: Amazon and Microsoft)
If you know what games your giftee wants and is likely to play, you can buy them a direct download. Here are some ideas for PC gamers.
NBA 2K21 ($29.99): The ultimate basketball game, NBA 2K21 features the latest players and teams.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 ($59.99): One of the most popular games of the year, flight simulator makes you feel like you’re flying a real plane in very realistic parts of the world.
Cyberpunk 2077 ($59.99): The game of the year has been slow on XBox One and PS4, but runs great on any PC that meets the Cyberpunk 2077 system requirements.
Star Wars Squadrons ($23.99): Fly an X-Wing or a Tie Fighter.
SimCity Complete Edition ($7.49): Who wouldn’t want to build a city? Includes two different games and five content packs.
Battlefield V: Definitive Edition ($14.99): This World War II battle game looks absolutely gorgeous, whether you have a GPU that supports ray tracing or not.
The Sims 4 ($4.99): A great game for giftees who like simulation games and have older PCs, the Sims 4 will run on a CPU as old as a Core 2 Duo (over 10 years old).
6. Streaming subscriptions
Whether it’s music or movies, there’s nothing quite like the gift of content. Here are some services you can buy.
Disney+ ($69.99 for a year): A great gift for anyone who is not already a Disney+ subscriber, this service features all the Star Wars, Marvel, Disney and Pixar content you can imagine.
BritBox ($69.99 for 1 yr): The ultimate gift for fans of British TV, especially Doctor Who, BritBox is the only place in the U.S. where you can stream all 26 seasons of Classic Doctor Who. It also has all eight seasons of Red Dwarf and a slew of British mysteries.
Netflix ($25 – $200): The good thing about this card is that, even if your giftee already has Netflix, they can always use this to either upgrade their plan or pay some months in advance.
Spotify ($10 – $60): The most popular music service has something for everyone. If your giftee already has a single-user subscription, they may want to use the extra credit to move up to a family ($14.99 / month) subscription.
Hulu ($25 – $50): Get access to a slew of movies, network TV shows and original programs like The Handmaid’s Tale and Castle Rock.
HBO Max ($69.99 for 6 months): WIth all the new Warner movies coming straight to HBO Max, this makes a great gift. However, there’s no gift code so you’d have to basically do it for someone with their knowledge.
7. Online game services
Sure, your giftee has a powerful game system with lots of games, but do they have the subscription they need to play online and broadcast streams? Here are some subscriptions that can help them. Unfortunately, the best offerings here are primarily for console gamers.
XBox Live Gold ($59.99): This service not only connects you with other gamers online and lets you stream to Twitch, but it also provides free games and huge discounts.
PlayStation Plus ($59.99): If your giftee has a PlayStation 4, this membership will allow them to play multiplayer, online games, store data in the cloud and even get a couple of free titles a month.
Nintendo Switch Online ($19.99): Play multiplayer Switch games and free access to some classic Nintendo titles.
Hang on, didn’t we recently review two gaming headsets from Corsair’s HS product family? Indeed, we did—the HS60 HAPTIC (reviewed here) and HS75 XB Wireless (reviewed here) launched in October. They were quickly followed by the third and final addition to this award-winning gaming headset series: the Corsair HS70 Bluetooth. Coming in at $100/€110, the HS70 Bluetooth is the least expensive and most versatile of the bunch in terms of connectivity, which will make it the most attractive gaming headset in Corsair’s entire HS lineup for many.
As its name implies, the Corsair HS70 Bluetooth offers Bluetooth connectivity, making it wirelessly pairable with smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other Bluetooth-capable devices. Additionally, it has an analogue 3.5-mm jack plug and a USB-C port. The latter isn’t only for charging its built-in battery, but also another way to communicate with your PC if you do want to use analogue or Bluetooth connectivity. Using it via USB makes it fully configurable in iCUE, much like any other Corsair USB gaming headset.
Also worth mentioning is the fact that the HS70 Bluetooth is able to use its Bluetooth, analogue, and USB connections simultaneously. This opens it up to a couple of interesting use cases. For example, you can connect the headset to your PC through USB or your console through the 3.5-mm jack plug while keeping it connected to your phone via Bluetooth in order to be able to answer phone calls without taking the headset off. Perhaps you want to use Discord’s mobile app while gaming? No problem—just open it up on your smartphone, connect to your server of choice, and chat away. Another interesting option is to connect it to your Nintendo Switch through the analogue 3.5-mm interface for the game while utilizing the Bluetooth connection to your phone for voice chat in Switch games that don’t support it natively. Of course, nothing prevents you from exclusively using the HS70 Bluetooth as a Bluetooth headset, but its wired connectivity is just as important a part of the equation.
In every other respect, the Corsair HS70 Bluetooth is nearly identical to the rest of the HS lineup. You probably already know what that means—it’s nicely built, comfortable to wear, and fun to listen to. Let’s dig in!
Specifications
50-mm dynamic drivers (neodymium magnet)
32 Ω impedance
20–20,000 Hz frequency response (specified by the manufacturer)
We’re now at a point where you can comfortably describe the Nintendo Switch as “mature.” It’s no longer a new device, but one several years into its life, with a robust and varied line-up of games available. There’s a good chance you picked up a Switch to play one of Nintendo’s tentpole franchises — whether that’s Super Mario, Animal Crossing, or Pokémon — but there are a lot of different kinds of experiences available on the tablet. That includes big social titles, classic games, and inventive indie releases. Heck, one of my favorite experiences this year has been relearning chess on the Switch.
If you’re new to the Switch ecosystem, here are 10 great games to get you started.
We’ve rounded up our favorite and most-used games, apps, and entertainment. Check out our app picks for iPhones, Android phones, Windows PCs, and M1-equipped Macs; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass; and our top choices for gaming PCs, the PS5, Xbox One and Series X / S, Nintendo Switch, and VR. We’ve also listed our favorite streaming shows on Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus, and Netflix; some great sci-fi books; and exciting new podcasts. (Note: pricing was accurate at the time of publishing but may change.)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New HorizonsPhoto: Nintendo
With New Horizons, Animal Crossing went from a quaint and charming life sim to one of Nintendo’s most important franchises, up there with Mario and Zelda. It’s still a game about carving out a humble, cozy life on an island full of animals, but the addition of online play, more robust customization tools, and the fact that virtually everyone in the world was stuck at home this year, turned it into an important cultural touchstone. New Horizons brought people together, caused family drama, and touched on communities ranging from Twitch streamers to streetwear enthusiasts. And it’s still going strong, with (free!) seasonal updates that add more depth and texture to its pleasant world.
Clubhouse Games
Clubhouse GamesPhoto: Nintendo
Sometimes you just need something familiar, and Clubhouse Games fills that niche perfectly. It’s an incredibly simple concept: a collection of more than 50 physical games, from chess to darts to bowling, that you can play on your Switch. The package was clearly put together with lots of love and a level of care and attention to detail that makes this more than just a simple collection. Each game has a pleasantly tactile feel, despite being a digital recreation. Clubhouse Games is full of familiar favorites but will likely also introduce you to new games from all over the world. It’s the perfect thing to pick up and play in between other, more complex experiences.
Coffee Talk
Coffee Talk Photo: Toge Productions
The name Coffee Talk couldn’t be more apt: this is a game about both talking and coffee. You take the role of a barista at a late-night cafe in an alternate version of Seattle, one full of magical creatures, all of whom bring their own personal problems with them when they enter the shop. From behind the counter you’ll hear all of the drama, occasionally chiming in with some advice, all while making sure to serve the perfect latte or hot chocolate. It’s warm and comforting, and it’s a great way to spend a cozy evening.
Hades
HadesPhoto: Supergiant Games
Ever since its debut with Bastion, developer Supergiant Games has released a steady stream of hits, from the cyberpunk Transistor to the magical Pyre. All of the studio’s work features incredible 2D visuals, deep and engaging worlds, and a gameplay hook that makes it hard to step away. Hades feels like a culmination of the team’s past efforts. In your efforts to escape the underworld you’ll die a lot, but each failure is a chance to explore new techniques and learn more about the incredible cast of characters. Get ready to lose some sleep.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildPhoto: Nintendo
No Switch collection is complete without The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Nintendo’s first true open-world game upended the genre, with an experience that feels vast and deep, yet leaves much of the exploration and discovery up to players. In a world full of games with copious signposts and mini-maps packed with points of interest, Breath of the Wild lets you move and learn at your own pace. It could be both thrilling and quiet, overwhelming and subtle, all at the same time. I’m still learning new things about the game more than three years after launch. Even better: now you can dig further into the story with the spinoff Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.
Murder By Numbers
Murder By NumbersPhoto: Mediatonic
Sometimes two things go together so well you have to wonder why no one tried it before. Such is the case with Murder By Numbers. It’s a silly-yet-touching crime drama that plays out like a visual novel, one that’s packed with lovable characters and surprising plot twists. But it’s also a puzzle game, one where you complete sudoku-like challenges in order to find clues and solve crimes. It may not make a lot of sense on the surface, but in practice these two halves fit together just about perfectly.
Pokémon Sword and Shield
Pokémon Sword and Shield Photo: Pokémon
There are few things that match better than Pokémon games and Nintendo handhelds, but Sword and Shield go an extra step by also being great console experiences thanks to the Switch’s hybrid nature. The base game that launched last year remains one of the best roleplaying games available on the Switch, and it’s since been made even bigger thanks to two significant expansions that add new storylines to dissect, locations to explore, and — most importantly — pocket monsters to collect.
Ring Fit Adventure
Ring Fit AdventurePhoto: Nintendo
Ring Fit Adventureisn’t just a great game, it’s also one of a few ways to get a decent workout, thanks to COVID-related restrictions. It also does something very rare: makes the tedium of a workout fun. Ring Fit is structured like a fantasy roleplaying game, one where you travel to distant worlds fighting all kinds of magical creatures. But in order to attack, you’ll need to do yoga poses, squats, and a whole lot of planks. It’s exhausting in the best possible way, and Nintendo has also released an update that turns Ring Fit into a rhythm game complete with classic Super Mario tunes.
Streets of Rage 4
Streets of Rage 4Photo: SEGA
Sometimes you just want to hit things. Streets of Rage 4 is here to oblige. The newest entry in the classic beat ‘em up series doesn’t change the formula: you still play as one of a handful of heroes, exploring side-scrolling levels while pummeling every street punk in sight. This time, though, the 2D visuals look incredible, and the gameplay has been streamlined so that it feels a bit more modern. Surprisingly, the best part might just be the music, with an incredible soundtrack that includes new tunes from famed composer Yuzo Koshiro.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Super Mario 3D All-StarsPhoto: Nintendo
This collection brings together three of Mario’s most influential 3D adventures: Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. Not every element stands up in 2020, so you might find yourself frustrated with 64’s relic of a camera, or the awkward controls of Sunshine’s water pack. But for the most part, each game in Super Mario 3D All-Stars remains fun, and playing through them today is a great way to see how Nintendo’s design philosophy has changed over the years. You’ll never look at Super Mario Odyssey the same way again.
Whether you’ve just gotten a new Windows-based gaming laptop or desktop, or you just want some new game ideas, we have ten suggestions to make your gaming experience fun. Not all of them are new or the most graphically demanding, but they should provide you with hours of enjoyment.
Unlike gaming on a console, there are several ways for PC gamers to get their fix, from Steam and the Epic Game Store to GOG and Xbox Game Pass. It’s important to know that not all platforms offer the same games due to exclusivity rights. But in most cases, you can (and should) shop around — you might find a better price at one storefront versus the other.
We’ve rounded up our favorite and most-used games, apps, and entertainment. Check out our app picks for iPhones, Android phones, Windows PCs, and M1-equipped Macs; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass; and our top choices for gaming PCs, the PS5, Xbox One and Series X / S, Nintendo Switch, and VR. We’ve also listed our favorite streaming shows on Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus, and Netflix; some great sci-fi books; and exciting new podcasts. (Note: pricing was accurate at the time of publishing but may change.)
Hades
HadesImage: Supergiant
Hades is the latest game from Supergiant, the developer of Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre. Fresh out of early access this summer, Hades offers tons of depth, the writing is excellent (and often funny), and the controls are responsive. It doesn’t seem at first like there’s much depth, but I’ve had 60 runs and counting with no end in sight. If you want an idea of just how deep Hades’ rabbit hole goes, check out my colleague Nick Statt’s piece on how the game continues to unravel its secrets even after you’ve “beaten” it.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077Image: CD Projekt Red
Cyberpunk 2077, the latest open-world RPG from CD Projekt Red, was released just a few weeks ago. While buggy in its early days, it seems like a worthwhile adventure to take if you’re into the idea of strolling through a neon-lit cyberpunk universe filled with unusual quests and upgrades. It’s a stunning game, too, built to take advantage of the latest Nvidia graphics cards with ray-tracing effects.
Star Wars: Squadrons
Star Wars: SquadronsImage: EA
EA built the definitive Star Wars-themed dogfighting simulator in Star Wars: Squadrons. Whether you’re playing on a traditional monitor or through an Oculus or SteamVR virtual reality headset, you’ll likely get plenty of excitement both from the single-player campaign and the multiplayer. One thing, though: it’s not a simple game to play.
Amnesia: Rebirth
The latest game in the Amnesia series is the direct successor to Dark Descent, the first-person horror game that put the series on the map. While the stories are somewhat linked, Verge reviewer Adi Robertson says that Rebirth “tweaks the original game’s design and themes in compelling ways.” Its setting is more awe-inspiring, taking place in a variety of locales that Dark Descent doesn’t. Though it still retains its ability of making you question what awaits you in the darkness.
Among Us
Among UsImage: InnerSloth
Among Us is perhaps the most popular game of 2020, judged on buzz alone. It’s so popular that even politicians like AOC stream it on Twitch, and the premise of the game makes it easy to see why. You join a group of other workers tasked to maintain a spaceship — except one of you is an imposter. Your role as the imposter is to blend in and not let anyone find out who you are. The fun lies in making everyone else betray each other in their efforts to figure out who is playing the imposter. It’s a simple, yet nuanced Clue-like game that costs only $5. Get some friends, buy the game, and have fun.
Persona 4: Golden
Persona 4: GoldenImage: Atlus
Why is a game from 2012 on this list? Well, it’s because Persona 4: Golden, a JRPG masterpiece from Atlus, only made its way to the PC in 2020. It’s nothing new content-wise for folks who have already played the game on the PlayStation Vita, but it has enhanced graphical options for the PC. And really, it’s special to see some memorable characters on the big screen looking sharper than ever, with the earworm beats backing the experience.
Fortnite
FortniteImage: Epic
Fortnite is Epic’s ever-evolving battle royale game that deserves a spot on most gamers’ hard drives. It’s free to play, so there’s your main reason to at least give it a shot. Epic Games brings new content and cosmetic updates (including God of War’s Kratos, along with many other branded character skins) to the game on a frequent basis, so if you have friends who play, there will likely be something new to enjoy together each time you play.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight SimulatorImage: Microsoft
In a year when traveling was something most of us couldn’t do, Microsoft’s new Flight Simulator felt especially timely. It’s a super-detailed flight sim where you simply pilot airplanes. There are challenges to complete, but really, it’s about relaxing, enjoying the view, and appreciating the globe from a birds-eye view. It’s also a very intensive game, so you can really stress test your new components (or consider upgrading if you really want to max out the graphical settings).
This game is available for purchase through Microsoft or Steam, and it’s playable with a subscription from Game Pass for PC (which costs $1 for the first three months for new subscribers, $14.99 per month otherwise).
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Horizon: Zero DawnImage: Alloy
If you’re a PC gamer who’s been wanting to play the PS4-exclusive Horizon: Zero Dawn open-world game, you got lucky this year. The game has come to digital storefronts with all of the graphical options you might dream of. While it had stability issues at launch, most of the kinks seem to have been ironed out, so now is a good time to enjoy Aloy’s debut adventure before Horizon: Forbidden West hits the PS5 (and hopefully the PC) in 2021.
Valorant
ValorantImage: Riot Games
League of Legends developer Riot Games launched competitive first-person shooter Valorant this year, and it quickly took hold as an esports staple. While it’s class-based like Overwatch, with each character having their own unique abilities, it’s more reliant on twitch-based skills and tactical gameplay a la Counter Strike. It’s a free-to-play game, downloadable only through Riot’s own launcher, and you can pay cash for costumes and weapon skins if you want to customize the look of your characters.
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