Gaming

After years of waiting, Age of Mythology is finally getting the remaster treatment with Age of Mythology: Retold, which aims to go beyond the excellent definitive editions of the Age of Empire series. This new release is only a few months away from launch and is already available for pre-order on PC and Xbox Series S|X. Though, if you want to play Age of Mythology: Retold early, here is how you can do that.

To play Age of Mythology: Retold a week early, you need to pre-order the Premium Edition or purchase the premium upgrade.

Apart from early access, the Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition also includes the following content:

• New Gods Pack: Freyer
• Legacy Deity Portraits Pack
• Expansion 1
• Expansion 2

There are only two editions available to purchase, and the premium edition grants players a week of early access. If you own the Age of Mythology: Extended Edition on Steam, you will receive a discount when purchasing the premium edition. In terms of pricing, the Premium Edition costs $20 more than the Standard version, but it does have 2 upcoming expansions as well as legacy portraits and an additional Norse God.

Age of Mythology: Retold is coming to PC, and Xbox Series S|X on September 4, 2024. The standard edition will be available day one on Game Pass for PC and consoles.

Early access locked behind more expensive editions is becoming an increasingly common trend with upcoming releases, which we hope is discouraged down the line. It’s an incentive that can lead to FOMO and impulsive purchases. Similarly, Life is Strange: Double Exposure can be played up to two weeks early thanks to a different edition.

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With just four days in Seoul, South Korea, I filled my maps app with pins of restaurants, Buddhist temples, must-see attractions, scenic parks, market streets, and more to visit. I clocked around 10 miles of walking daily and think I saw as much of this massive city as possible with my allotted time. My journey from east to west, north to south of Seoul was only possible by the city’s expansive public transportation network of buses and trains. And while I listened to “Magnetic” by K-Pop group ILLIT more times than I’ll admit (when in Korea, right?) through headphones on these trains and buses, I spent much of my time observing how others spent time waiting for their stop.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, everyone is glued to their phones, myself included. But unlike me, doom scrolling on X (formerly Twitter) before switching to Instagram before switching back to X, a lot of people were playing games I recognized, like League of Legends’ auto chess spin-off, Teamfight Tactics. But there we also plenty of other games I didn’t know, like Light of the Stars, Soul Strike, and more. While touring one of Nexon’s Seoul-based studios, Magnum Studio, I asked its head, Beomjun Lee, if mobile gaming is as popular as my public transportation travels had me believe. His answer was a quick yes. A study published by Statista Research Department in February concludes that, according to its 2022 survey, 63 percent of South Koreans play mobile games, with the market having an estimated worth of 14 trillion South Korean Won (or $10.2 billion) that year.

Nexon, the company that invited me to its studio, has plenty of mobile hits, like FIFA Mobile and MapleStory M, and a good amount on PC, too. Based on how many PC cafes I saw in Seoul, I’d guess PC is the biggest gaming market in South Korea or close behind mobile. But its staple of console releases features just two so far: KartRider: Drift and last year’s The Finals. With its PC and mobile gaming on lock, Nexon is slowly aiming West, looking to break into global markets and focusing on console releases alongside its usual output to do so. And what better way to do that than with a free-to-play (easy entry), third-person (ripe for customization), looter-shooter (a genre popularized by the likes of Destiny and Warframe that continues to dominate a large mindshare of games)?

Ambitions In Albion

Ambitions In Albion

The First Descendant is just that, and though I was weary of another free-to-play game, and another looter shooter at that, after an hour of hands-on time, I’m excited, antsy even, for its release this summer when I can play more.

Revealed last August as part of Gamescom 2023, The First Descendant is in development at Nexon’s Magnum Studio with its sights set on a Summer 2024 release. I pushed for a more exact release date, but the team wasn’t ready to share; it’s clear it’s working hard to polish it up in these last few months, and for good reason, too – the team has lofty ambitions with The First Descendant.

“The main feature of The First Descendant is the PvE co-op element,” Lee, who is also the lead producer of the game, tells me through a translator. “It’s an online shooter RPG, and we consider it the next generation of looter shooters.”

That term caught me by surprise. It’s a bold statement, almost braggadocious, but after talking with Lee and creative director Minseok Joo and playing the game for an hour, I understand where the team is coming from. In my early hands-on impressions, the First Descendant feels like a mish-mash of other greats in the genre. Taken literally, it’s also a looter shooter made exclusively for the “next generation” of consoles as it’s coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S alongside PC, with crossplay and cross-progression, too.

Going Hands-On

Going Hands-On

Dropped to an Earth-like sci-fi world where humanity is on its last leg in a city called Albion, my chosen character, Viessa, is searching for something called the Ironheart. She’s joined by an ally named Bunny (yes, her suit’s silhouette is that of a bunny). Immediately, weapons are crunchy and tactile. I sense every bullet in the controller and the on-screen recoil, and it feels great. It helps that the entire game, developed from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, is gorgeous. I joke with Lee that I’m happy the team is making a console version of the game as The First Descendant will melt my PC, which is admittedly due for an upgrade. Seeing words like “frame generation,” “ray reconstruction,” and “ray tracing” in the options confirms my belief.

The weapons aren’t anything special, though. In my play session, I encounter machine guns, submachine guns, shotguns, grenade launchers, and long-range snipers. They all feel great, but The First Descendant isn’t doing anything new here. Each character’s magical powers are what makes combat distinct. Viessa has access to ice, with a passive skill that creates spheres of ice around her body to damage and slow enemies that get too close, and four active skills that do area-of-effect damage, increase running speed and shield, and more. She can even place a snowstorm onto the playfield, damaging and immobilizing those caught within.

Her abilities are wildly different from Valby, the water-based character I’d play as later. Valby consumes less mana when standing in water and has moves to create puddles, making for a rewarding ability loop. She can even liquify the area around her, allowing her to move through enemies with increased defense and speed. Viessa’s moves are more straightforward, but Valby’s is more rewarding as part of a co-op experience, even if it takes longer to get my sea legs.

As I progress through the prologue, I encounter Karel, The First Descendant’s big bad. He immediately, seemingly, kills Bunny, and it’s clear he’s not mincing words. He will do whatever he must to obtain the Ironheart.

Unfortunately for Viessa, at the ready to avenge Bunny, Karel dips, leaving a Gravewalker tank boss behind. This boss fight (and the Stunning Beauty boss I’ll take on later while playing as Valby alongside a developer from Magnum Studio) is the highlight of my time with The First Descendant. Each boss has its own set of moves and mechanics to follow, including checks that require more strategic work, but how I, the player, fight them most intrigues me.

The First Descendant is fast. The characters move swiftly, and abilities, which fly loosely, allow them to zip around in combat. I can imagine the magical chaos that ensues with a full team of four. But the grapple hook excites me most about the possibilities of The First Descendant’s combat.

While fighting enemies, I scan by clicking the right stick to find weak points highlighted in blue. After shooting them enough, they turn yellow, meaning it’s time for my favorite part of the game: grappling up to the yellow part and ripping it off. It’s an awesome mechanic and takes an experience I’ve played hundreds of times in looter shooters – shoot the boss a bunch – and makes it more dynamic. It’s not just about shooting; it’s about blasting a weak point long enough that I can grapple to it and then work to yank it right off, shedding the boss’ layers as I do.

Crafting Your Descendant

Crafting Your Descendant

Outside of combat, the game offers plenty of customization that powers free-to-play experiences, though I don’t know how microtransactions will play into the game. You can customize loadouts for every character, each with their own weapons and abilities. There are a ton of costumes, ranging from maid outfits to fire brigade uniforms and more, and you can customize various areas of your character with unique chest pieces, Fortnite-style back pieces, and more. You can test out all of this in Albion’s Lab, a test field with customizable dummies to check your loadout’s damage output, feel, and more. Speaking to the team’s commitment to the game and its community, this Lab was recently added following feedback from a recent beta.

“This is my first time seeing it,” Lee says while showing it to me, indicating just how recently it was added. He says players can expect the game to change and grow with the community in this way.

I’m always nervous about free-to-play games and the associated monetization, but if The First Descendant sticks to cosmetic-focused microtransactions, as opposed to letting players pay to perform better in combat, for example, Magnum Studio is on the right track with the wealth of options I see for character customization.

I like that each character so far feels quite different, and leveling each up individually, instead of focusing on a single character for months or years, seems like a smart call in contrast with the genre. Knowing that three friends playing will have various Descendants to choose from, allowing for multiple strategies in how we approach missions, is exciting.

As for keeping players engaged beyond the game’s initial launch, Lee says the team is taking a seasonal approach, with new battle passes in each drop. As is now the standard in the live-service genre, each battle pass will contain season-specific cosmetics, and you’ll need to play through the new content to obtain them.

With an hour of The First Descendant playtime behind me, including a studio tour and interview with the team’s leads, I am (im)patiently waiting for its release this summer. Despite my initial love of Destiny and attempts in Warframe at one point in my gaming history, both (and many others in the genre) have passed me by. Jumping back into them is too daunt- ing and too confusing today. But The First Descendant is giving me what I want from those games, with variations on the formula, too. I still have questions, but Nexon still has time to answer them. For now, I’m crossing my fingers I get into the next beta.

This article originally appeared in Issue 366 of Game Informer.

While the Descendants themselves steal the show, with their unique abilities and appearances, it’s the weapons that will help push you to new heights. If your primary rifle is weak, you won’t be able to push end-game content. Well, here is where to get new weapons in The First Descendant!

There are multiple ways to acquire new weapons in The First Descendant. You can unlock powerful guns via the game’s battle pass, earn them by completing missions and defeating bosses out in the world, and by purchasing guns and other equipment from Deslin on Albion.

Deslin is the easiest way to acquire new weapons in the game. He sits just down the staircase leading to the left-hand (when looking at the map) portion of Albion. You can’t miss him, as he’s marked with an icon of two crossed rifles and his odd appearance. He wears modified welding goggles and a pilot’s cap.

While the weapons he sells prove inexpensive and readily available, you’ll likely visit him to buy Reactors. You’re more likely to unlock new weapons by completing missions out in the world. They’re bite-size content that rewards you after a few minutes of combat.

The First Descendant features a system in which the more you use a weapon, the more powerful it can become. You earn Proficiency XP for every kill and mission you complete, and as your weapon levels, it unlocks Module slots. You absolutely want to slot Modules into your weapon, as they alter the gun’s fire rate, damage type, critical hit chance, and more.

As such, even if you find an end-game weapon that’s more powerful than anything you’ve used previously, you’ll want to grind out missions and enemy kills to upgrade it further!

After you pick up a new weapon, learn to use the emote wheel to show it off! But before you go, why not sign up for the Insider Gaming Newsletter?

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We had the lucky opportunity to be among the very first in Joburg to experience the Museum of Illusions before its official opening on Saturday, 6th July. This unique museum, dedicated to optical illusions and interactive exhibits, is something I’ve always wanted near me. My fascination with optical illusions—both their power to trick the mind and their sheer anarchy—made this visit a dream come true.

The experience was unlike any other I’ve ever had the privilege to enjoy. Optical illusions fascinate and terrify me with their ability to trick our eyes and brains into seeing and believing anything. It’s anarchy in the most profound way. I had one of the greatest nights with some of my closest friends, taking the coolest photos and capturing epic perspective shots during our walkthrough.

If I had to sum up my whole experience at @museumofillusions_joburg, this would be it:

I cannot GEEK out enough about this photo. We truly, truly had SO much fun! This place is such a VIBE! My giddy laughter could probably be heard throughout the whole exhibit as we marveled at effects like people appearing larger or smaller than they are, a million more Enricohs, or even secret rooms (Shhhhhh).

My mates eagerly ushered me into the vortex room, anticipating my reaction. This room oscillates constantly while you try to navigate a bridge across, totally upsetting your balance. The resulting walk across is hilarious, making you feel like the whole room is shifting around you. It was an unforgettable and amusing experience.

One of my childhood dreams was to experience upside-down furniture, and the museum brought this dream to life. There’s so much to play around with in this room, and the resulting photos were amazing. They literally made my childhood dreams come true.

The museum is way more entertaining than I ever imagined. It felt like the adults had even more fun than the kids, and everyone’s photos and videos turned out amazing. It’s also wonderful to see someone do something you never thought of doing and immediately want to go back to try it next time. Everything in the museum can turn into different kinds of illusions, so make sure you pay attention and try every exhibit you can see and find.

Practical Information

Saturday, 6th July 2024 at 9:00 am SAST

The Zone @ Rosebank, 177 Oxford Road, Johannesburg, GP 2196

Visitor Information:

• Arrive 15 minutes before your slot time for ticket registration and access processing
• The experience typically lasts about 45-60 minutes, but you can explore at your own pace
• Suitable for all ages
• Food and beverages are available in The Zone @ Rosebank; light beverages available for purchase after the visit
• The Museum of Illusions is cashless; only card payments are accepted
• Free entry for infants and children under 4; all children must be accompanied by an adult

Ticket Prices:

• Adult Ticket: R190.00
• Child Ticket (4 – 12 years): R150.00
• Seniors Ticket (60+ years): R150.00
• Family Ticket: R580.00

Social Media:

Optical Convergence

The Museum of Illusions Joburg is an experience like no other, bringing childhood dreams to reality and offering kaleidoscopic, endless fun for all ages. Don’t miss out on this incredible adventure—book your time slot now and prepare to be amazed!

https://tickets.koid.co.za/event/museum-of-illusions

Trust me on nothing else, go and experience this for yourself

A new patent has been submitted and published which may hint at backwards compatibility finally becoming a reality for fans of PlayStation 3 games who own a PlayStation 5.

In the patent (via Respawn First), submitted by architect of the PlayStation 4 and 5, Mark Cerny, as well as another Sony employee, David Simpson, details a specific “timing mode” which would “skew” a processor’s capabilities in order to more effectively run software from a “legacy device”

The details are for the technically inclined but the gist of it is that, due to new processors and old processors being built to run at different speeds, technical issues can arise as old software attempts to create and send data to a new, faster processor, leading to overwrites and other issues. The solution, according to the patent, is to have the processor enter a “timing mode” in which it would change its own timing and processing speeds in order to account for the discrepancy between old and new hardware.

While the patent does not explicitly mention the PlayStation 3 by name (though it does mention game consoles and mobile devices), it is well-known that the console did have a unique architecture that made it difficult to work with and to port over to newer systems. It is worth noting that since the console is not mentioned specifically, this technology could also theoretically be used for all of Sony’s previous consoles.

Rumors of PlayStation 3 backwards compatibility have been rampant ever since the PlayStation 4. Recently, Nick Baker of XboxEra had reported (via PSU) that “select” backwards compatible PS3 games were being worked on by Sony. Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grub on Game Mess Morning added additional fuel to the fire by reporting that he expecting it to be announced earlier in 2024 but still left open the possibility of an announcement in the future.

Though the patent does not fully guarantee PlayStation 3 backwards compatibility anytime soon, it does give fans of the late 2000s console some glimmer of hope that their collection of plastic black game cases won’t be collecting dust for all of time.

An executive producer of XDefiant has said that it’s okay for players to move on if they can’t put up with ongoing in-game bugs.

Speaking on social media, Mark Rubin explained that Xdefiant is built on an MMO engine, and as such there have been teething problems as the free-to-play shooter has been released to the public.

Responding on X to a user who said he felt the game had been rushed, Rubin said: “What we have is an engine that has only ever been an MMO. And so all of the infrastructure for an FPS has had to be built up from the ground floor.

“Even CoD started on ID tech which was a shooter engine. Apex started on a shooter engine. But for us we are working on developing all new tech in an engine that was designed for something else.”

Rubin continued: “The engine is really great but it does require a lot of work and with that work comes a lot of bugs that other engines have already worked out.

“We’re not a shooter that’s been out for 20 years. If you like what we are trying to do stick around and you’ll see things improve and new features get added. But if the game isn’t for you that’s ok you can move on.”

VGC’s review of the free-to-play shooter called it “much more than knock-off Call of Duty.”

It seems like Avowed is already facing issues. Microsoft started this current generation of consoles relatively well, offering options for all types of players. However, for years, developers have been constantly complaining about the limitations of the Xbox Series S.

This platform has caused many games to be delayed or even certain features to be discarded because it does not offer enough power. Another title joins the list, as the team behind Avowed discarded the cooperative mode due to these limitations. Players are once again frustrated with this hardware.

The technical limitations offered by Microsoft’s cheaper console have affected countless developers for years. Many studios had to delay games due to the difficulty of adapting them to the Xbox Series S.

Even the brand’s own fans are sick of hearing how this console constantly causes problems regarding potential games they are eager to try. One example of this was the recently launched Baldur’s Gate 3.

Now, it appears that these limitations will influence the new title, Avowed. The studio behind the game, Obsidian, confirmed that it decided to discard a mode that was supposed to be available from the beginning.

The title will no longer have a cooperative mode due to the limitations encountered during development.

Even though this is speculation on the part of the fans, since the interview never clarifies that the issue lies in the technical limitations of the Xbox Series S, this could easily have been something the studio was not allowed to say.

On the other hand, thanks to previous evidence from non-first-party titles like this one, it is known that the console always causes problems when trying to adapt a game with high graphic power.

According to Obsidian, the multiplayer element was discarded because it would have required much more work, especially concerning dialogues and stories. The studio also said that it would have been a technical challenge to implement this mode in the game.

These particular words prove once again that players are likely right regarding the limiting nature of this Microsoft hardware.

The studio has already confirmed that Avowed will release this year without any further delays, despite not having a confirmed release date. So far, Obsidian has not given more details about it. The game itself will be a role-playing experience with fantasy elements, where the player can create their own character, choosing their own play style, skills, and other characteristics.

This studio was responsible for one of the highest-rated games in the Fallout saga, New Vegas.

What do you think about the removal of this mode? Let us know in the comments!

Microsoft has never been able to reach the highs of the Xbox 360 era. Whether through misguided features and poor communication during the bungled launch of the Xbox One or a growing understanding that the company might not be the best steward of the dozens of studios it now owns that have defined the lifespan of the Xbox Series S and Series X.

• Revamped visuals and fresh narrative
• Fan-fave units and structures
• Mobile optimised gameplay

Level Infinite has announced that Command & Conquer: Legions will be having a Closed Beta Test soon, offering a select few first dibs on the upcoming strategy game. This means being able to play through the mobile adaptation of this beloved classic as it revamps the world of Red Alert for modern on-the-go gamers.

In Command & Conquer: Legions, you can look forward to discovering a new narrative but with factions that fans of the IP know and love. As you build your base towards victory in cutthroat warfare, you can also dive into the new Roguelike Mecha mode across revitalised visuals that bring old-school units and buildings to life in a new way.

Crafted in partnership with Electronic Arts, the officially licensed title will be holding the CBT in the UK, Singapore, the Philippines, Canada, Mexico, Australia, France, New Zealand and Spain.

If you’d like to get first dibs on the game as soon as it launches, you can sign up now during the pre-registration phase to score cool in-game goodies, phones, and Amazon gift cards. Plus, if you’re a content creator, you can sign up for the KOC Pilot Program to nab exclusive bonuses based on the content you produce.

Does that sound like it’s right up your alley? If you’re looking to hone your tactical abilities even further, why not take a look at our list of the best strategy games on Android to get your fill?

Now, if you’re eager to join in on all the fun, you can do so by checking out Command & Conquer: Legions on Google Play and the App Store. It’s a free-to-play game with in-app purchases. You can also join the community of followers on the official Facebook page to stay updated on all the latest developments or visit the official website for more info.

Strands is a brand new daily puzzle from the New York Times. A trickier take on the classic word search, you’ll need a keen eye to solve this puzzle.

Like Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can be a bit difficult to solve some days. There’s no shame in needing a little help from time to time. If you’re stuck and need to know the answers to today’s Strands puzzle, check out the solved puzzle below.

How to play Strands

You start every Strands puzzle with the goal of finding the “theme words” hidden in the grid of letters. Manipulate letters by dragging or tapping to craft words; double-tap the final letter to confirm. If you find the correct word, the letters will be highlighted blue and will no longer be selectable.

If you find a word that isn’t a theme word, it still helps! For every three non-theme words you find that are at least four letters long, you’ll get a hint — the letters of one of the theme words will be revealed and you’ll just have to unscramble it.

Every single letter on the grid is used to spell out the theme words and there is no overlap. Every letter will be used once, and only once.

Each puzzle contains one “spangram,” a special theme word (or words) that describe the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. When you find the spangram, it will be highlighted yellow.

The goal should be to complete the puzzle quickly without using too many hints.

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s theme is “By the yard.”

Here’s a hint that might help you: lawn decorations.

Today’s Strand answers

Today’s spanagram

We’ll start by giving you the spangram, which might help you figure out the theme and solve the rest of the puzzle on your own:

Today’s Strands answers

• FLAMINGO
• BIRDBATH
• GNOME
• PLANTER
• WINDSOCK