Game Empress

Category: News

The latest gaming news from Game Empress, covering release date announcements, trailers, studio updates, and major industry stories across PC, console, and mobile platforms.

  • Is it Happening? Nintendo Switch 2 Rumored for H2 2024 Launch, with OLED Version on the Horizon

    Is it Happening? Nintendo Switch 2 Rumored for H2 2024 Launch, with OLED Version on the Horizon

    There’s a chance that the Nintendo Switch 2 might come out this year. A few months ago, a Japanese publication called Nikkei said it might be released in March 2025. They thought this would give Nintendo enough time to make plenty of consoles to sell.

    But now, a person who leaks information about Samsung, named Connor (OreXda), said on Twitter/X that the Nintendo Switch 2 might come out in the second half of this year. They said that companies have already made big deals to start making the parts needed for the new console.

    They mentioned some details about the parts:

    • The Tegra T239 chip made by Samsung
    • The display, which might be OLED made by Samsung
    • There might also be models with LCD screens made by Sharp

    This info is still just a rumor, but it seems like the OLED version might come out after the LCD one.

    Before this, a smart person from Omdia said earlier this year that the new Nintendo console would come out in 2024. They said it would have an 8-inch LCD screen.

    Here’s what we’ve heard from other reliable rumors about the Nintendo Switch 2:

    • It will have a powerful chip called NVIDIA Tegra 239 with a good graphics processor and fast CPU cores.
    • The game cards will be fast, using Samsung technology.
    • The console will support cool graphics features like NVIDIA DLSS and ray tracing.
    • It might not be as powerful as the Xbox Series S or Valve’s Steam Deck, but it will still play games made just for it.
    • It’s said to be smaller than the Steam Deck.
    • The price might be between $399 and $499.
  • More Wishes, More Fun! Genshin Impact Makes Spiral Abyss More Rewarding Than Ever

    More Wishes, More Fun! Genshin Impact Makes Spiral Abyss More Rewarding Than Ever

    Genshin Impact is changing how players earn rewards in the Spiral Abyss. They’re increasing the number of Primogems you can get by 33%. Primogems are important because they help you get new characters in the game.

    The Spiral Abyss is like a big challenge in Genshin Impact. You have to fight tough enemies with different teams. It’s popular because it’s so challenging. Now, in the next update, they’re adding even more to the Spiral Abyss to make it better.

    Abyss primos increased from 600 to 800
    byu/ukrisreng inGenshin_Impact_Leaks

    But even before the new update, they’re giving out more Primogems for completing the Spiral Abyss. Instead of getting 600, you’ll get 800. That’s enough for a big ten-pull every month if you clear all twelve floors.

    This news comes from a leak on Reddit. The leak also mentioned that Version 4.7 of the game will have three new characters and more updates to the Spiral Abyss. This is a big deal because Genshin Impact hasn’t had such ambitious updates before.

    One thing to remember is that you won’t get the extra Primogems for past Spiral Abyss runs. You’ll only get them after the new update.

    As for the new Spiral Abyss mode, players can expect to earn up to 620 Primogems per season. The first season will be in Mondstadt and will only let you use certain types of characters. You’ll also be able to borrow a friend’s character, which is new. We’ll know more about these changes once the beta footage for Version 4.7 comes out.

  • How to Unlock the Secret Door with the Fallout 4 All Hallows’ Eve Password

    How to Unlock the Secret Door with the Fallout 4 All Hallows’ Eve Password

    To find the Fallout 4 All Hallows’ Eve password, first, you need to start the game after installing the next-gen update. This quest will be added to your log, but if you’re starting fresh, you’ll have to exit the vault first.

    Fallout 77 Update Version 1.7.9.7
    Fallout 77 Update Version 1.7.9.7

    Then, open your Pip-Boy and tune in to the new Mysterious Signal broadcast under the Radio tab. Follow the signal’s marker to the Harbormaster Hotel in Boston, to the east of Diamond City.

    Once there, enter the hotel and proceed to the New England Technocrat Society. Inside, you’ll face feral ghouls and eventually encounter a tough boss named Mr. Wendt. Defeat him and proceed to a hallway with numbered doors and a locked door with a keypad.

    To find the password, locate Dr. Santiago, a ghoul wearing a Jack O’Lantern mask, and take it. Follow the quest marker to Lana’s Notes and read them for clues.

    Each room in the hallway has specific items: Specimen Jars, Skull Candles, Teddy Bears, and Jack-O’-Lanterns. Count how many of each item you find in the rooms in order (1 to 4) to get the password.

    The count for each item is 4 Specimen Jars, 3 Skull Candles, 4 Teddy Bears, and 6 Jack-O’-Lanterns. Combine these numbers to get the password: 4346.

    Enter this password on the keypad to unlock the room. Inside, use the System Controls to disable the system and open the safe. Also, don’t forget to check the desk to the left of the terminal for the Picket Fences Halloween Special magazine, which adds Halloween-themed decorations to your inventory.

  • Did Joel Save the Day, or Spoil the Fun? Helldivers 2’s Major Order Completion Divides Players

    Did Joel Save the Day, or Spoil the Fun? Helldivers 2’s Major Order Completion Divides Players

    Helldivers 2 players are happy about winning the latest Major Order. But some players aren’t so thrilled because they got extra help from the game’s developer, Joel.

    The soldiers of Super Earth are doing well, having defeated 2 billion bugs in just a day and now defending 10 planets in the new Major Order. But there’s a problem.

    FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE LAUNCH WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN A DEFENCE MAIN ORDER!
    byu/InkiePie39 inHelldivers

    For some players, winning this order doesn’t feel like a real victory. Defending 10 planets at once was already hard, and some technical problems made it even tougher. So, the game developer, Joel, stepped in to make it easier. They adjusted the game to help players fight back against the overwhelming odds.

    FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE LAUNCH WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN A DEFENCE MAIN ORDER!
    byu/InkiePie39 inHelldivers

    Even though many players appreciate the help, some feel like they didn’t earn the win. It’s caused arguments on Reddit, with some players saying they’d rather lose fair and square.

    Others think the early problems with the game made it too hard to communicate and coordinate, so the developer had to help out. They see it as a reward for players’ efforts.

    Overall, some players feel like it’s a fair trade-off. They lost some ground in the game’s story, but they also got medals for winning the Major Order.

  • Joy-Con Revolution: The Switch 2 Might Be Magnetically Powered!

    Joy-Con Revolution: The Switch 2 Might Be Magnetically Powered!

    There’s lots of talk about a new version of the Nintendo Switch, called Switch 2. People are saying it might have a bigger screen and magnets in its controllers.

    If you’ve ever struggled to attach the Joy-Con controllers to your Switch, you’ll understand why this is exciting news. Imagine if they just clicked into place easily with magnets! This rumor comes from a gaming website called Vandal, which correctly predicted the Switch OLED model before.

    Vandal also thinks the new Switch might not come out until later than expected and agrees that a bigger screen would be nice. But the big news is the idea of magnetic Joy-Cons.

    However, there are concerns. Will the magnets be strong enough to keep the controllers secure while playing on the go? And will they be easy to remove when playing at home? Some people worry about compatibility with older Joy-Cons, but there’s no guarantee that old controllers will work with new consoles anyway.

    But maybe Vandal’s information isn’t accurate. Nintendo hasn’t said anything about a new Switch yet. So, until then, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

  • People Can Fly Pulls the Plug: Project Dagger Development Soars No More

    People Can Fly Pulls the Plug: Project Dagger Development Soars No More

    People Can Fly, known for games like Bulletstorm and Gears of War: Judgment has decided to cancel its co-op action RPG Project Dagger after working on it for several years.

    The announcement about the cancellation was made to investors in early April, but it gained attention recently after being shared by Twitter user MauroNL3.

    The studio explained that they canceled the game after re-evaluating their development plans. This re-evaluation showed that the game’s scope and commercial potential weren’t meeting their expectations.

    With the cancellation of Project Dagger, People Can Fly expects their financial results for 2023 to decrease by about $16.9 million. Their overall financial position will likely drop by $19.7 million.

    Also Read:

    Originally, Project Dagger was supposed to be published by Take-Two Interactive. However, after ending their agreement in 2022, People Can Fly announced their intention to self-publish the game.

    We’ve reached out to People Can Fly to ask about the impact of the project’s cancellation on the studio’s employees. At the time of publishing, we haven’t received a response.

  • Get Ready to Loot Like it’s 2017: PUBG Returns to Erangel in Classic Form this May!

    Get Ready to Loot Like it’s 2017: PUBG Returns to Erangel in Classic Form this May!

    PUBG: Battlegrounds is getting nostalgic as it celebrates its past. The popular battle royale game, which started in Steam Early Access back in 2017, is bringing back its original map, Erangel Classic, for a limited two-week run in May and June.

    Krafton, the developer and publisher, promises that Erangel Classic will capture the essence of the original map, including its concepts, graphics, atmosphere, and user interface (UI).

    However, they’ll also add some modern tweaks to ensure it provides the enjoyable gameplay experiences that players expect today. This means it will feel close to the original while incorporating quality-of-life improvements that have been made over time.

    This idea of bringing back a classic map is similar to what Fortnite did by reintroducing its original 2018 island map last year, which attracted record numbers of players.

    Erangel Classic will feature foggy and rainy weather to add unpredictability, starting island bench weapons for players to grab, and reduced weapon recoil to match the original feel. The care package will include a Tommy Gun, and the map UI and graphics will have a retro style with a unique font.

    Also Read:

    The rollout will happen in stages, with PC players getting access from May 14 to May 28 and console players from May 23 to June 6. During these periods, the classic Erangel map will replace the modern version. More details about the changes coming with the Erangel Classic map will be shared in the May 14 patch notes.

  • City-Builder Dreams: Manor Lords Poised for Success, But Money Isn’t the Main Motive

    City-Builder Dreams: Manor Lords Poised for Success, But Money Isn’t the Main Motive

    Manor Lords is about to hit Steam and become the next big indie game. It’s a medieval city-builder, like Stardew Valley, and it’s already got over three million people wishing for it on Steam. The developer, Greg Styczeń, is getting ready for the big launch.

    Tim Bender, the CEO of Hooded Horse, a strategy game publisher, says Greg’s main focus is making the game great and keeping players happy. They’re not overly worried about making tons of money.

    Bender explains that while the game is expected to do financially well, that’s not the main goal. They expect about 10-20% of wishlists to turn into sales in the first week, which could mean hundreds of thousands of copies sold. But Bender and Hooded Horse value more than just profits. They believe in treating their staff and customers well.

    In the past 18 months, many big companies have laid off lots of staff to chase constant growth, but Hooded Horse has a different approach.

    Bender’s wife, Snow, who is the CFO and president, works hard to make sure the company is stable financially. She ensures they have enough money to cover costs each month and set aside extra for unexpected expenses, like the delay of Manor Lords.

    When asked about the game’s launch, Bender seems relaxed. He says they’ve put in a lot of work beforehand to make sure everything goes smoothly.

    Also Read:

    They’ve focused on marketing, localization, and quality checks. The decision to delay the game for six months was a big one but aimed at delivering the best experience possible.

    Instead of rushing the release, they wanted to offer players a really good game. The success of the October 2022 demo during Steam Next Fest got people excited, but Styczeń and Hooded Horse wanted to take their time to make sure Manor Lords was as good as it could be.

  • BlizzCon 2024 Bites the Dust: No Fan Celebration This Year

    BlizzCon 2024 Bites the Dust: No Fan Celebration This Year

    Blizzard has announced that it won’t hold BlizzCon this year, their annual fan convention. “After careful consideration over the last year, we at Blizzard have made the decision not to hold BlizzCon in 2024,” Blizzard stated on its website.

    Instead of BlizzCon, Blizzard plans to host other smaller events throughout the year and participate in trade shows like Gamescom. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of World of Warcraft.

    Blizzard intends to organize “multiple, global, in-person events” to celebrate this milestone. They will also share updates about WoW’s 10th expansion, The War Within, and Diablo IV‘s first expansion, Vessel of Hatred.

    Despite canceling this year’s event, Blizzard assured fans that BlizzCon will return in the future: “While we’re approaching this year differently and as we have explored different event formats in the past, rest assured that we are just as excited as ever to bring BlizzCon back in future years.”

    Last year was busy for Blizzard, which finalized its acquisition by Microsoft for $68.7 billion, faced legal challenges related to the acquisition in the US and UK, and reorganized its leadership with CEO Bobby Kotick stepping down after more than 30 years.

    BlizzCon has faced cancellations before. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to BlizzCon’s cancellation, returning later in an online format. Then in 2022, BlizzCon was canceled again amidst workplace harassment lawsuits. The event resumed in 2023.

    The cancellation of BlizzCon 2024 follows the end of another major video game event, E3, last year. The video game industry is also grappling with unprecedented layoffs and financial challenges. Earlier this year, Microsoft laid off 1,900 employees across Activision Blizzard and Xbox, marking one of the largest video game industry layoffs in recent years.

  • Is it a Bug or a Feature? Stellar Blade’s Half-Second “Input Lag” Explained

    Is it a Bug or a Feature? Stellar Blade’s Half-Second “Input Lag” Explained

    The director of Stellar Blade explained that what players are calling input lag during certain moves is a deliberate design choice.

    In an interview with 4Gamer, Kim Hyung-tae was asked about the game’s demo, and the topic of input lag came up.

    Kim was asked why there seemed to be a delay between pressing a button for performing a perfect parry or dodge, and the actual move happening.

    He explained that they intentionally added a delay to keep the animation smooth, and clarified that there’s no actual input lag because the skill activates the moment the button is pressed, even if the animation takes a moment to play out.

    “In Stellar Blade, there is about a 0.5-second delay between pressing the button and seeing the skill on-screen,” he said (translated by Automaton). “It’s a delay that can’t be reduced further.

    “We decided not to trigger the character’s movement immediately upon button press, as we thought it wouldn’t match the game’s animation style.

    “So, the skill itself activates right when you press the button, but the movement animation follows afterwards.” Kim also mentioned that if players find that the delayed animations make the game harder to play, the studio may make changes in the future.

    This might have already been partly addressed in the game’s day one patch, which, according to the official X account for the game, improves “the input time for basic attacks, as well as the timing of blocking and parrying to be more responsive”.

  • Xbox Unveils New Hardware: Fans Divided on Power and Price

    Xbox Unveils New Hardware: Fans Divided on Power and Price

    The new limited-edition Xbox Series X consoles are a big hit with fans, but many people are frustrated because they can’t buy them in the usual way.

    These special consoles, like the Halo-themed Xbox 360 I had as a kid and the Pokemon Nintendo 2DS I still own, are popular among collectors.

    Microsoft has created a ton of different limited-edition versions of the Xbox Series X, but the problem is you can’t buy most of them.

    For example, the X-Men ‘97 version celebrates the success of the show on Disney+ and features a cool comic-panel design and controllers with colors inspired by popular heroes from the show.

    Fans love these designs and want to add them to their collections, but they’re only available to win in sweepstakes, which has left many people feeling frustrated.

    People have been tweeting Xbox asking why they don’t just sell these awesome consoles instead of making them prizes in contests.

    Unfortunately, there haven’t been clear answers. However, the controllers from the X-Men ‘97 version are available through the Xbox Design Lab, where you can design and buy them yourself, but you’ll have to pay for them that way.

  • Overwatch 2 Players Smitten with Support Sombra in Mirrorwatch Event

    Overwatch 2 Players Smitten with Support Sombra in Mirrorwatch Event

    For a long time, Sombra has been a challenging hero for the Overwatch 2 team to balance. Despite receiving many adjustments, including a major rework in 2023, she has struggled to find a good place in the game.

    Recently, players have discovered a powerful combo using Sombra’s abilities that lets her deal a lot of damage quickly. This has led some to view her as overpowered, which is surprising considering she was once considered poorly designed.

    In the non-canon Season 10 event called Mirrorwatch, Overwatch 2 has made changes to several heroes, including Sombra. Now, her Hack ability can be used on allies to boost them instead of weakening enemies.

    It increases their attack speed and gives them extra health. Sombra also has a new tool called anti-virus that boosts attack speed and health for herself and nearby teammates.

    These changes have transformed Sombra into a hybrid support and damage dealer, and players are impressed. Many players hope that Blizzard will make these changes permanent because they address long-standing issues with Sombra’s gameplay.

    Some players, however, think these changes would be better suited for a new hero, creating a supportive version of Sombra’s hacking abilities.

    Although Blizzard hasn’t announced any plans to make the Mirrorwatch changes permanent, the positive response from players suggests they should consider it. The community has been through some drama recently, so this update could bring much-needed positivity to the game.

  • Genshin Impact Leaks Expose Clorinde & Sigewinne’s Ascension Materials!

    Genshin Impact Leaks Expose Clorinde & Sigewinne’s Ascension Materials!

    A reliable source in the Genshin Impact community has shared the full list of materials that players will need to gather beforehand to upgrade Clorinde and Sigewinne’s talents and ascensions in Version 4.7. In Genshin Impact, it’s exciting for players to fully develop a newly obtained character from an event banner, and preparing their required materials in advance can be very satisfying.

    Genshin Impact Leak Clorinde Rarity Role
    Image Source Reddit

    Clorinde and Sigewinne are characters coming to Genshin Impact in Version 4.7. Unlike Arlecchino from Version 4.6, whose ascension and talent materials require new bosses and domains introduced in that version, Clorinde, and Sigewinne’s materials will come from existing content, making it easier for players to prepare.

    Clorinde’s materials include Fontemer Unihorn, Lumitoile, Philosophies of Justice, and Worldspan Fern. Sigewinne’s materials consist of Water That Failed to Transcend, Romaritime Flower, Philosophies of Equity, and Lightless Eye of the Maelstrom.

    To obtain these materials, players will need to challenge specific bosses. For example, the Worldspan Fern can be obtained by defeating the Guardian of Apep’s Oasis, while the Lightless Eye of the Maelstrom comes from the All-Devouring Narwhal boss.

    It’s important to note that while Arlecchino in Version 4.6 requires materials from new content, Clorinde and Sigewinne’s materials are tied to older content, making them easier to farm ahead of their release.

    Version 4.7 will also introduce a new Spiral Abyss mode, with the first season set in Mondstadt. Players can access this mode through Lisa’s library in the Knights of Favonius headquarters. The new Spiral Abyss will feature trial characters and allow players to borrow a friend’s character to tackle its challenges.

    Overall, preparing materials for Clorinde and Sigewinne in advance can help players fully equip and level up these characters as soon as they are released in Genshin Impact Version 4.7.

  • Get Ready to Zap Some Tanks! Halo Infinite Finally Makes the Plasma Pistol Useful Again

    Get Ready to Zap Some Tanks! Halo Infinite Finally Makes the Plasma Pistol Useful Again

    Halo Infinite is bringing back a classic feature with its next free update: the Plasma Pistol will once again disable vehicles with a fully-charged shot.

    When Halo Infinite’s multiplayer launched in November 2021, players were disappointed because the Plasma Pistol lost its ability to disable vehicles with an EMP effect.

    This feature was given to new weapons like the Disruptor and Shock Rifle instead. This change left the Plasma Pistol with less usefulness, especially for fans of the older Halo games.

    Now, after two and a half years, the Plasma Pistol will regain its important function in Halo Infinite’s upcoming Banished Honor update on April 30.

    During a livestream revealing the update, Halo senior community manager John Junyszek expressed his excitement for this change. He mentioned that restoring the Plasma Pistol’s effectiveness was a common request from players since the game’s launch.

    The team wanted to ensure that the Plasma Pistol felt more powerful, useful, and appreciated.

    In addition to this improvement, the Banished Honor update will include a new free 20-tier Operation centered around the Banished faction, along with two new Forge palettes for players to create custom maps.

    It will also introduce the Exchange, a new way for players to earn cosmetics by using credits earned from matches to buy customization items.

    Halo Infinite has moved away from traditional seasons and now focuses on free Operations lasting 4-6 weeks. These Operations have featured events like The Yappening and Cyber Showdown, as well as new customizable armor cores such as the Mjolnir Mark IV armor from Halo Wars.

  • Oops! Sony Patches Out Unintended N-Word Reference in Stellar Blade

    Oops! Sony Patches Out Unintended N-Word Reference in Stellar Blade

    Sony has confirmed that an unintentional offensive reference in the sci-fi game Stellar Blade will be removed in a day-one patch. The reference involves the word “hard” in pink spray paint appearing alongside other elements in the game that, when viewed together, could be interpreted as an allusion to a racial slur.

    In one location of the game, this graffiti appears next to a neon sign for an “R shop,” where a character named Roxanne is encountered. When combined, the text on the wall spells out “Hard R Shop,” which could be seen as a joke referencing a racial slur.

    Sony stated to IGN that the placement of these graphics was unintentional and Shift Up, the developers, did not intend to create offensive artwork. They will replace the graffiti in a day one patch.

    The offensive reference seems to have already been removed from the game. It’s unclear if this change will be included in physical copies of the game or only through downloadable patches.

    It’s not uncommon for offensive content to accidentally make its way into games. In the past, other games like Destiny 2, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Overwatch have also had offensive imagery or references removed or altered after release.

  • Embracer CEO Takes Blame: “I Deserve a Lot of Criticism” After Mass Layoffs, Studio Closures

    Embracer CEO Takes Blame: “I Deserve a Lot of Criticism” After Mass Layoffs, Studio Closures

    Embracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors is taking responsibility for recent layoffs, studio closures, and game cancelations at the company.

    In 2023, Embracer made significant changes due to challenges in the video game industry. They laid off 1,400 employees, closed seven studios, and canceled 29 games. These actions followed years of mergers and acquisitions, including a failed $2 billion deal with Savvy Games Group.

    In response to criticism, Wingefors acknowledged his role, saying, “As a leader and an owner, sometimes you need to take the blame and be humble about mistakes or what could have been done differently.” He recognizes the impact on his team but believes in the company’s mission despite the restructuring.

    Also Read:

    Embracer recently announced splitting into three entities: Coffee Stain, Middle-Earth, and Asmodee, each focusing on different aspects of the business. They also sold Gearbox, known for Borderlands, for $460 million after acquiring it for $1.3 billion three years ago.

    Wingefors emphasized unity among Embracer’s leaders regarding the company’s direction. He acknowledged challenges but expressed confidence in their game pipeline and plans, despite adjustments needed due to industry changes.