Multi-award-winning publisher and developer Wales Interactiveare proud to announce that survival-horror title Maid of Sker is now available on Steam, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Steeped in rich Welsh folklore, Maid of Sker draws players back to 1898 to venture through the notoriously macabre Sker Hotel. With multiple ways for your stay at Sker Hotel to come to an end, use your time wisely as you navigate the halls and grounds, employing no-weapon survival tactics, and relying on your ability in keeping quiet to keep breathing.
Richard Pring, Game Director said, “we’re proud to announce that Sker Hotel is now open for reservations. We hope guests take in the sights and sounds, and sample the litany of delights we have on offer for them – they’re set to have an unforgettable experience!”
Maid of Sker is out now Steam, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Puny Humans, rejoice! The day has finally arrived, today Destroy All Humans! is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. These devices will allow you to witness the glory of the Furon Empire in your living room, no need to bring your resistance to the outside world!
The Invasion has begun! Terrorize the people of 1950s Earth in the role of the evil alien Crypto-137. Harvest DNA and bring down the US government in the remake of the legendary alien invasion action adventure. Annihilate puny humans using an assortment of alien weaponry and psychic abilities. Reduce their cities to rubble with your flying Saucer!
Destroy All Humans! is now available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One from your preferred retailer, and also available digitally on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The SRP of the PC version is €29.99 / $29.99 / £24.99 / ₽1.529, and the SRP for consoles is €39.99 / $39.99 / £34.99 / ₽2.799 (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
The August lineup of ‘Games with Gold’ titles for Xbox One have been revealed with Xbox Gamers able to shape a hero and their destiny in Portal Knights and level buildings with gigantic battling robots in Override: Mech City Brawl. On Xbox 360, and Xbox One via Backward Compatibility, perform sick stunts in MX Unleashed and save the commonwealth from a ruthless dictator in the classic first-person shooter Red Faction II.
Portal Knights Forge your character, craft epic weapons, and vanquish your enemies in this 3D action sandbox RPG. You and your party are the only hope for a world torn apart and terrorized by the Hollow King. Level up your hero as you explore dozens of randomly generated islands, create amazing structures, and interact with the colorful inhabitants of the land, in a quest to become the ultimate Portal Knight.
Override: Mech City Brawl High-octane mech battles are delivered in a city-crushing ballad of destruction! Experience a blockbuster full-length campaign, a myriad of local and online multiplayer modes, and a cast of 12 gigantic mechs to pilot, each customizable and with their own special abilities. Tower over your opponents and lay waste to environments inspired by real life locations to become the top mech pilot. No gears, no glory!
MX Unleashed Replay a fantastically addicting freestyle motorcycle game from the classic Xbox era. Perform stunts and tricks on huge, dangerous tracks to unlock amazing game secrets across a large variety of freestyle and supercross venues. Featuring enormous sandbox environments, this motocross game is one big off-road playground.
Red Faction II Fight to overthrow a corrupt dictator and government in this classic first-person shooter. It has been five years since the rebellion on Mars began and the oppressed people of the commonwealth are rising up. Lead a squad of unique super-soldiers, each with their own specialized methods of destruction ranging from demolitions to gunships, to topple the crooked government and restore peace to the land.
An active Xbox LIVE Gold membership is qualify for Games with Gold, and is also included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate which gives Xbox LIVE GOLD, Xbox Game Pass for Xbox Console and PC.
The box contains the Router 3, a manual, power supply and Ethernet cable.
A Closer Look
Configuring and Using The Router 3
Every change and monitoring option can be controlled using the AI Life app.
Final Thoughts
The first thing you notice about the HONOR Router 3 is that it is quite small and thin. This means that you can place it just about anywhere in the house and it won’t stand out and look out of place.
The four antennas pop up into place and design of the router is very minimalist.
There are four ports on the rear of the router – one WAN and three LAN. The only other thing on the router is the H button on the top. Three ports doesn’t feel like enough in this modern age, but it is easy to expand your network with additional Router 3’s as required.
Setting up the Router 3 for the first time is very easy – connect the WAN port to your existing router or modem, connect your phone or laptop to the Router 3’s network, open a browser and follow the instructions. You need to set up a new Wi-Fi name and passwords and you also have the option to prioritise 5 GHz over 2.4 GHz when the signal strength is equal, which should increase your connection speeds. And that’s it – you can now use the Router 3 as your Wi-Fi device.
All the configuration options you could possibly want and need are controlled from the AI Life app. It’s very simple and intuitive to use and within a few minutes you can make whatever changes you want and need and they will be live.
There is an indicator on the front of the router that makes it easy to see the status of the router too.
I found the connection speed around various parts of the house were very good, and I had a stronger signal in some places than I had with my previous router. I also found that the connection was more stable too! When I used an HONOR 9X PRO handset the experience was even better.
Overall, the HONOR Router 3 is a really great device at a very good price, and don’t let the fact it only has 3 ports on the back put you off, it will be easy to connect another router to it and expand your home network as you need to!
Netflix has announced plans for a six part live-action limited event series called “The Witcher: Blood Origin,” and will be a prequel to the main show ‘The Witcher’ starring Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia.
Set 1,200 years before the world of The Witcher, the show will chart the origins of the very first Witcher and the events that lead to the ‘conjunction of the spheres’ – when the worlds of monsters, men, and elves merged to become one.
1200 years before Geralt of Rivia, the worlds of monsters, men and elves merged into one, and the first Witcher came to be.
Announcing The Witcher: Blood Origin, a 6 part live-action The Witcher spin-off series from Declan de Barra and Lauren Schmidt Hissrich.
Declan de Barra will act as executive producer and showrunner said in a statement:
“As a lifelong fan of fantasy, I am beyond excited to tell the story The Witcher: Blood Origin. A question has been burning in my mind ever sinceI first read The Witcher books – What was the Elven world really like beforethe cataclysmic arrival of the humans? I’ve always been fascinated by the rise and fall of civilizations, how science, discovery, and culture flourish right before that fall. How vast swathes of knowledge are lost forever in such a short time, often compounded by colonization and a rewriting of history. Leaving only fragments of a civilization’s true story behind. The Witcher: Blood Origin will tell the tale of the Elven civilization before its fall, and most importantly reveal the forgotten history of the very first Witcher.”
The series will be made in the UK, though no casting news or filming dates have been announced. Witcher fans still have the animated spin-off film titled ‘The Witcher: Nightmare Of The Wolf’ which will focus on and tell the origin story of Geralt’s mentor Vesemir.
As July comes to a close and PlayStation fans are still excitedly waiting for more news on the PlayStation 5 console’s price and release date, the PS Plus titles for August 2020 have been announced in the mean time:
Kickin off PS Plus for August we have the hilarious multiplayer party title Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, which makes its PS4 debut on August 4, giving PS Plus members launch day access to its online competitive free-for-alls and co-op challenges.
Also this month, Infinity Ward’s thrilling sequel to the critically-acclaimed classic Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered blasts onto PS4 with upgraded visuals.
To qualify for these titles you must have an Active PS Plus Subscription.
Straight from Geoff Keighley’s Xbox Games Showcase post-show livestream, Bloober Team, the makers of Blair Witch, Observer and Layers of Fear, has released the first official dual-reality gameplay walkthrough for The Medium, the third-person psychological horror game, featuring an in-depth deep dive with developer commentary of the unique and officially patented dual-reality gameplay that plays out across two different realities.
In the new gameplay walkthrough of The Medium, first seen live during Geoff Keighley’s Xbox Games Showcase post-show livestream, viewers will see how players can control Marianne, a medium hounded by visions, living and interacting across two different worlds simultaneously with developer commentary from Lead Game Designer, Wojciech Piejko. Throughout the trailer, Marianne’s movement through both worlds is controlled by a single analogue stick, while using different interactions between each of the worlds to solve puzzles and explore various paths. Viewers can also catch a glimpse of how Marianne in the Spirit World has different abilities than the real-world Marianne, including a supernatural ability called Out of Body.
Launching on Xbox Series X and PC in the 2020 Holiday season, The Medium renders two fully-fledged and visually distinct worlds simultaneously with no loading screens. Having access to both worlds gives a unique perspective to the tension-fueled, psychological horror game as the dual-reality gameplay with this visual fidelity only being possible on next-gen hardware.
Pre-Orders for The Medium are now open for both the Xbox Series X and PC via Steam on www.themediumgame.com for $49.99/€49.99. Players who pre-order the game on PC via Steam will get The Medium original soundtrack, featuring a ‘dual’ score soundtrack by legendary composer Akira Yamaoka, of Silent Hill fame, and Bloober Team’s Arkadiusz Reikowski, and the digital artbook for The Medium.
Watch the new dual-reality gameplay walkthrough for The Medium above Developed and published by Bloober Team, The Medium will launch on Xbox Series X and PC via Steam during [Holiday/Christmas] 2020.
Are you ready to return to Halcyon for more interstellar mayhem because, Private Division and Obsidian Entertainment have revealed details for The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon, the first of two narrative DLCs.
Peril on Gorgon adds a substantial amount of content to the game’s darkly humorous universe with a brand new noir-tinged adventure that takes players to the Gorgon Asteroid to investigate the mysterious origin of Adrena-Time. While there, you’ll find new weapons and armor, perks, flaws, and the same freedom to approach your problems that made the original game so rewarding.
Peril on Gorgon requires the base game and the player will have needed to progress past Monarch to access the DLC’s content.
Peril on Gorgon will be available on September 9 on for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC for £11.99 and Xbox Game Pass Users will receive a 10% discount on the DLC. Peril on Gorgon will also be available as part of an expansion pass which includes the second DLC for a discounted total price of £19.99. Full details will be revealed at a later date.
Xbox fans can finally get their hands on Yakuza Kiwami 2, a remake of the original Yakuza 2 coming to Xbox One and Windows 10 and through Xbox Game Pass on July 30, 2020.
It’s been a full year since the legendary Dragon of Dojima, Kazuma Kiryu took his leave from the world of the yakuza during the events of Yakuza Kiwami. Fate, however, has other things in mind for him, and Kiryu finds himself back on the front lines of a potential all-out war between the two most formidable yakuza organizations, as SEGA proudly presents Yakuza Kiwami 2, one of the most beloved storylines in the franchise’s history, remade in full HD.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is the first Yakuza game available to Xbox One & Windows 10 players utilizing Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s powerful Dragon Engine, which features vastly improved graphics and performance, as well as seamless transitions when entering and exiting buildings or combat. You can even take fights from the street into nearby convenience stores – just don’t expect any service if you happen to trash the store.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 also features a fully playable side story featuring fan-favourite character Goro Majima, as well as a wealth of new substories and mini-games to keep you playing for countless hours.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for Xbox Console family and Windows 10 PC from July 30th!
Here is our review of the Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner.
Forget what you think you know about cordless hand vacuums.
Shark redefines quick clean-ups with this lightweight, powerful cordless handvac. Engineered with a high-efficiency motor and quick-charge technology.
A kitchen essential, effortlessly deal with crumbs and dry food spills on worktops and tables. Perfect for picking up pet hair throughout your home, refresh upholstery, vacuum stairs and remove crumbs from the car in seconds with the handy accessories.
Sleek and stylish, the quick-charge base is streamlined enough to store right on the countertop, so it’s ready to go when you need it.
Powerful cleaning in the palm of your hands.
What’s in the box?
The box contains the vacuum clearer, manual, power supply, stand and accessories.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum cleaner is small and lightweight and even looks quite cool, if a vacuum cleaner can look cool!
The model comes with a single battery (there is a 2 battery version) and charges when sitting on the stand. Fully charging the Shark takes about 2 and 1/2 hours. A full charge lasts for about 8 minutes – now you may think that 8 minutes for a vacuum cleaner isn’t much, but remember this isn’t a replacement for your existing vacuum cleaner, this is in addition and performs a particular job. It’s for quick cleans, including small spillages, pet hair, car cleaning, etc. And it does that job well. If you need more than 8 minutes to clean something up then you probably should be doing it with a different cleaner.
Once you have done your cleaning, emptying the Shark is very simple – just hold it over the bin and press the button to activate the one-touch easy empty function. Basically the container opens and you can empty the contents into a bin. Then just pop it back on the charging stand and you are done.
The Shark comes with some accessories – a duster crevice tool and a multi-surface pet tool. Both are easy to use and sit on the charging base so you know where they are at all times when not being used. There are other accessories you can buy if you need them too!
All in all the Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner is an invaluable addition to your household and you will find yourself using it a lot more than your other vacuum for those little jobs you just couldn’t be bothered to get the other one out for!
The Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner is available now priced £129.99.
Here is our review of the Venom Travel Kit for the Xbox One.
A fully adjustable phone and controller clip (suited to most 4-7” smartphones and standard/Elite Xbox One controllers) gives players a pop-up gaming rig for xCloud gameplay on the move. A robust protective travel case and 700 mAh battery pack, protect gamers from damage and sudden loss of power. The kit also includes a 2 metre USB to Micro USB charging cable, and wouldn’t be complete without thumb grips. The Travel Kit is the perfect set up to game anywhere, any time.
What’s in the Box and a Closer Look
Using the Kit
Final Thoughts
With Microsoft pushing Project xCloud even more (that’s the ability to play your Xbox games away from home) you will want to have something to hold your phone safely whilst you play, and this is when the Venom Travel Kit comes into play.
The kit contains a battery pack (you can use that as a spare battery to your existing one), the holder which is easy to use (just pop your phone and your controller into it then adjust it for your comfort), some thumb grips if you want to use them and a charging cable for the battery. Along with all that there is a very nice protective travel case to keep everything in (including your controller). The kit works with a standard Xbox controller and also the the Elite controller.
This is must have addition to your gaming kit if you want to play your Xbox games away from the house and keeps everything safe and together for whenever you want to play, and you get quite a lot for the price!
The Venom Travel Kit for the Xbox One is available from the 3rd August priced £19.99.
Orion Pictures’ BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC just gave the most excellent panel discussion at this year’s Comic-Con@Home.
Moderated by Kevin Smith, this panel included cast members Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Samara Weaving, Brigette Lundy-Paine and William Sadler, as well as director Dean Parisot and screenwriters Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon. Fans can now watch the panel at the link below.
The stakes are higher than ever for the time-traveling exploits of William “Bill” S. Preston Esq. (Alex Winter) and Theodore “Ted” Logan (Keanu Reeves). The now middle aged best friends set out on a new adventure to seek the song that will set their world right and bring harmony in the universe, with the helped by their daughters (played by Samara Weaving and Brigette Lundy-Paine), a new batch of historical figures and a few music legends.
The film also stars Kid Cudi, Kristen Schaal, Anthony Carrigan, Erinn Hayes, Jayma Mays, Jillian Bell, Holland Taylor, Beck Bennett, William Sadler, Hal Landon Jr. and Amy Stoch.
BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC will be released on demand and in theaters on September 1, 2020.
The Paper Mario franchise has seen a new release on pretty much every Nintendo system and it’s not surprising given how popular the games are. Now the time has come for the wildly popular Nintendo Switch to get its own Paper Mario game in the form of Paper Mario: The Origami King.
It really is hard to think that the Xbox Series X console was first revealed in December 2019 at the Game Awards and since then, Microsoft has been first in not only reveal the console appearance but also in the specs of it long before Sony stepped up with the PlayStation 5 reveal. Last month Sony not only finally revealed the look of the PS5 but also what titles Sony Studios have been working on for release, well today it is the turn of Microsoft Studios to showcase what they have been working on for Xbox Series X and Xbox One going into the new generation of consoles.
Personally I am more excited for the potential surprises the Showcase might have in titles we would not expect from Xbox, but believe me…HALO Infinite and a possible FABLE IV release is firmly on my need to see list. Below you will find all the trailers, news and my own final thoughts on the showcase:
HALO Infinite: Demo Gameplay
Showcase opens up with actual gameplay from HALO Infinite from what looks like a playable Demo, but the trailer before that…showing the Master Chief’s new armour was…as a HALO Fan….incredible. Also….Chief has a grappling hook?
State of Decay 3: Official Announcement Trailer
Watch the official announce trailer for State of Decay 3 and see what’s in store for the next chapter in State of Decay. Play State of Decay 3 day 1 with Xbox Game Pass.
Phil Spencer confirms Five new Games will be revealed along with updates from the other Micoroft Studios. Push for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on PC and console especially on Xbox Series X.
Forza Motorsport: Official Announcenment Trailer
Witness the power of Xbox Series X through Forza Motorsport. Automotive entertainment is reimagined for a new generation.
Everwild : Eternals Trailer
Tell me Why: Chapter 1 Launch Trailer
Experience Chapter One of Tell Me Why, the latest narrative experience from DONTNOD Entertainment, the studio behind Life is Strange. Play as twins Alyson and Tyler as they use their special bond to unravel the mysteries of their loving but troubled childhood. Set in beautiful Alaska, Tell Me Why features true-to-life characters, mature themes and gripping choices. And with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can enjoy unlimited access to over 100 great games on Xbox One and PC, including all the new Xbox Game Studios games the day they launch.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps: Xbox Series X Edition
Critically acclaimed Ori and the Will of the Wisps will be optimized for Xbox Series X / 4k / 120fps
The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon DLC Trailer
A severed arm and a mysterious message lead the crew of the Unreliable to the Gorgon Asteroid, formerly the site of one of Halcyon’s most ambitious and disastrous scientific undertakings – now a lawless den of monsters and marauders. Wealthy recluse Minnie Ambrose tasks the crew with finding answers about Dr. Olivia Ambrose, her mother and the doomed project’s disgraced director, but they are soon ensnared in an intrigue that will change the colony forever.
Grounded: Launch Tailer
Play Grounded day one with Xbox Game Pass or pre-order now on Xbox One, Microsoft Store, and Steam. Obsidian Entertainment reveals the all new official launch trailer for Grounded, their upcoming survival adventure game. On July 28th, go big or never go home. An Xbox Game Preview title built with community feedback.
Avowed
Watch the official announce trailer for Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment’s next epic, first-person RPG set in the fantasy world of Eora.
One town. Two families. Three decades of secrets. As Dusk Falls is an original interactive drama from INTERIOR/NIGHT that explores the entangled lives of two families across thirty years. Starting with a robbery-gone-wrong in small town Arizona, the choices you make will have a powerful impact on this epic story of sacrifice, betrayal, and resilience.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 – Behind the scenes Series Episode 2
Welcome to the second episode in the series of ‘Dreadnought Development Diaries’, here we see the team travel to the incredible landscapes of Iceland, scouting locations and setting the scene for the upcoming Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II.
Pyschonauts 2: Gameplay Trailer
Raz takes a journey through the mind of a mystery brain he found in a jar.
Destiny 2: Beyond Light on Xbox Series X
As a new threat emerges, so too does a mysterious new power — Stasis. Prepare to wield the Darkness in Destiny 2: Beyond Light, coming November 10, 2020. With an active Xbox Game Pass subscription, players will have access to the standard edition (seasonal content sold separately) of each expansion, beginning with Forsaken and Shadowkeep (available September 2020) and Beyond Light (available beginning on November 10, 2020).
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. : Console Launch Exclusive
The award-winning PC franchise loved by millions of players is making a true next-gen console debut with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
From the developers of the best-selling and award-winning franchise Vermintide, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a visceral 4-player co-op action game set in the hive city of Tertium. Fight together with your friends against hordes of enemies in this new Warhammer: 40,000 experience.
Tetris Effect: Connected – Announce Trailer
Tetris Effect: Connected will be available on the Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and Windows 10 (PC, Windows Store), as well as the Xbox Game Pass and Smart Delivery programs, when it launches alongside Xbox Series X in Holiday 2020.
The Gunk: Reveal Trailer
From the creators of SteamWorld, embark on an all-new adventure in a vast and alien world where you’ll encounter terrifying enemies and challenging puzzles on your quest to unravel the mystery of a forgotten planet, while saving it in the process.
The Medium: Dual Reality Trailer
The Medium is a next-gen psychological horror game, featuring never-seen-before and officially patented Dual-Reality Gameplay that plays out across two worlds displayed at the same time. Discover a dark mystery only a medium can solve. Explore the real world and the spirit world at the same time. Use your psychic abilities to solve puzzles spanning both worlds, uncover deeply disturbing secrets, and survive encounters with The Maw – a monster born from an unspeakable tragedy. Coming Holiday 2020 to PC & Xbox Series X
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis Reveal Trailer (US Only)
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis will be coming in 2021! PSO2: NGS will surpass Phantasy Star Online 2 in every way, offering players limitless adventure and unparalleled character customization. The game has been redesigned as a best-in-class online action RPG experience!
Crossfire X: Campaign Trailer
A sprawling global conflict rages between the Global Risk and Black List mercenary factions in an immersive and cinematic single player experience from Smilegate Entertainment and Remedy. Where will the fight take you?
Smart Delivery Plug and promise of more MS Studio reveals later this year which is a bit of a kicker when so much hype was put on this event as a big “see it all” event and it ended up being anything but.
FABLE: Reveal Trailer
Fable returns with a new beginning for the legendary franchise. Explore a land of fantastical creatures and wondrous places. Developed by Playground Games for Xbox Series X and Windows 10.
My Final Thoughts….
I have to be honest and say that this showcase was rather underwhelming after so much hype was put into this event being the grand big reveal of what all 16 Microsoft Studios have been working on for the launch of the Series X and instead….it was a Part 1, and not a hugely impactful one.
The big message from this event was a simple one, if you own “Xbox Game Pass Ultimate” then you get to play all the Xbox games as everything shown tonight is coming to Xbox Game pass, most on day one with the big surprise being that Destiny 2 and all it’s Expansion content including the new Beyond Light DLC will be available on Xbox Game Pass for console and PC as well as enhanced for Series X.
The Fable reveal was an obvious one, done in a very cute way but it really was nothing more than a confirmation then anything to get excited for in terms of what the game will be like. HALO Infinite does look amazing with a far bigger playing area than I expected, loved the trailer showing the building of the Master Chief’s new armour and the grapple hook, now that is interesting. But I knew HALO Infinite would not disappoint me and what Iv seen I like. The titles shown are fine, some we already knew and some were just “this is really going to look good with the update for Xbox Series X’. I am intrigued by the other titles but then with Xbox Game Pass I have access to them, even if I remain on my Xbox One X and not move to a Series X.
Overall it was just….not what I was expecting, after the PS5 State of Play it had games I want a PS5 to play but this showcase, especially as it was revealed to be Part 1 of showcasing MS Studio games to come means it is more waiting, instead of just revealing it now and having fans know what to expect and I am left just happy having an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscription well into 2022. I feel someone really needs to understand that building up the hype for an Xbox Series X event but only delivering a “to be continued” tease is just frustrating which is such a shame as they had lead the way into this new generation of console gaming so well and it just seems to have stumbled right now letting PS5 amaze and impress whilst Xbox Series X is just….make sure you have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Microsoft need to go big on their next event and I mean no holding back, no to be continued, just….show us everything and please let it be more impressive than today.
