Overwatch test servers will be getting the Arcade Mode and new Eco Point Antarctica map next week
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Blizzcon 2016 has so far been absolutely amazing for us Overwatch players. Sombra has finally received her big reveal alongside a cinematic short, Quick Play will be getting hero limits in order to make it less ridiculous, Genji is receiving an awesome new skin as a part of the upcoming Heroes of the Storm promotion, and apparently we're even getting an overhauled Weekly Brawl system!
The details are currently a bit scarce given that this is only day 1 of Blizzcon, but this new Arcade Mode is going to feature unique rule sets that are exclusive to the mode, and not just normal gameplay with a couple of numbers pumped up. Given their similarity I think its safe to assume that the Arcade Mode will be completely replacing the Weekly Brawl, but I wouldn't waste any time mourning its loss since that the Arcade Mode will give you not one, but three free Loot Boxes each week!
An upcoming Heroes of the Storm promotion will reward you with a skin for Overwatch's Genji, as well as a bunch of free HOTS heroes
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[Update]: You can find a simple guide on how to acquire the skin by heading over here.
While the brand new reveal and cinematic short for Sombra are certainly exciting bits of news for any Overwatch player, I have an even better announcement for my fellow Genji players out there! As a part of an upcoming Heroes of the Storm promotion you'll be able to earn a nifty little player icon and spray, but more importantly, an exclusive (and amazing) legendary skin!
So how does this work? Well, all you need to do is party up with a friend and play at least 15 Heroes of the Storm games in Co-op vs AI, Quick Match, Unranked Draft, or Ranked Mode. Do bear in mind that while its not necessary to actually win any of these games, being grouped up with a player in the same match is of the essence! If you're not a fan of MOBA games, worry not as you'll have plenty of time to do all 15 games given that the promotion will start on November 15 and end on January 4.
Blizzard has revealed Overwatch's newest hero Sombra alongside a rather intriguing cinematic short
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After months and months of teasing and pointless puzzles that led to absolutely nothing, Blizzard has finally decided to spill the beans on Sombra. As it turns out, all of the rumors were correct given that Sombra is not only the first stealth based hero, but also the first hero that's capable of stopping enemy abilities!
But before we get into all of the nitty-gritty details, it would probably be a good idea for you to check out Sombra's cinematic short. Since this is Blizzard's cinematic department we're talking about its obviously an amazing piece of animation, but what might come as a surprise is that it actually brings up some rather intriguing plot developments as well! Give it a look:
Space Hulk: Deathwing will arrive on December 9, a new preview video has been released
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Space Hulk: Deathwing is a team orientated FPS based on Games Workshop's boardgame of the same name, and for the fans of the Warhammer 40,000 universe those words are a dream come true. Whether it will actually be any good or not, that I don't know, but we won't have to wait for very long in order to find out as Space Hulk: Deathwing is set to arrive on December 9!
In order to celebrate this announcement, but also show off what exactly Space Hulk: Deathwing is all about, Focus Home Interactive have released a decently lengthy preview video showcasing numerous weapons and locations, but also a whole bunch of enemies you'll get to blaze through. Have a look:
GOG's Monstrous Fall Sale has arrived with a whole bunch of discounts
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If for some reason you didn't grab enough games to last you a couple of lifetimes during the recent streak of Halloween sales, you'll be glad to hear that GOG has decided to hold yet another one. While the Monstrous Fall Sale doesn't really have much of a theme to it, at least not one as strong as the Halloween Sale, the good news is that the discounts are just as good!
And if you're wondering which games are worth grabbing, you'll find a couple of my suggestions right below. Though as always, its recommended you scour through the sale yourself as you're no doubt going to find something that interests you specifically. Anyway, here's the short list:
My thoughts on Gwent: The Witcher Card Game - Closed Beta version
- By Ash
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[Update]: Gwent has now entered Open Beta alongside a ridiculous amount of changes. As such, I have now created a more up-to-date review in order to cover all of the new features. You can find the Open Beta review over here.
I've spent well over a hundred hours playing The Witcher 3, and I would even go as far as to say that I consider it to be one of the finest RPGs ever made. However, while I've certainly done my fair share of exploration and monster slaying, I am willing to wager that a good portion of that time was spent in taverns rather than out in the wilderness. You see, in my world Geralt didn't really do as much monster hunting as he did card hunting, because lets face it, demolishing yet another damnable nest of Nekkers isn't going to help me complete this Gwent deck!
But no matter how addictive and creative The Witcher 3's Gwent minigame was, it still suffered from a limited amount of viable cards and balance holes so large you could drag a Wyvren through them. Most of the decks were based around the same few overpowered cards, while the rest of the collection simply rotted away in Geralt's backpack alongside a variety of monster heads and body parts. Even back then it was obvious that what Gwent really needed in order to become truly great was a standalone release - an entire game dedicated to the concept and filled to the brim with brand new cards, mechanics, and a whole host of balance changes. And as luck would have it, that little wish came true about a week ago as Gwent: The Witcher Card Game entered closed beta!
So now that we have a standalone version of Gwent I'm sure the big question on everyone's mind is whether its any good or not? Well, let's find out!
Valve will soon start requiring Steam Storefront 'screenshots' to actually feature in-game footage
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While this trend isn't as widespread as one would expect, there are plenty of games on Steam that use concept art, pre-rendered cinematic images, or just plain ol' advertising material instead of actual screenshots from the game itself! Well, according to an image posted on the Facepunch forums (and subsequently confirmed by Valve) this little problem will soon be a thing of the past.
Once the Discovery Update 2.0 arrives in a couple of weeks developers of games with mature content will be able to pick and choose which screenshots to show based on the audience, but more importantly, the game's Storefront will be required to actually showcase in-game screenshots! Naturally, carefully engineered images and cinematic in-game screenshots are still fair game, but at the very least there will be no more deceptions. If you can see it on the store, you can see it in game as well!