I can’t say I didn’t call it, but at the same time, it still stings to know we are losing the show for future generations.

E3 had a history of studios backing out

E3 was off to a rocky start when they held their first trade show back in 1995. They became the go-to trade fair for the latest gaming news, games, and projects.

E3, for the longest time, was an industry-only show, meaning if you weren’t a writer, reporter, investor, or anything industry-aligned, there was no way you were getting on that tradeshow floor.

My first E3 was after the show returned to the LA Convention Center in California. It was a wild time, Nintendo announced, but didn’t show the Wii U; the new generation of consoles were on the horizon.

I fell in absolute love with that environment. It had been a dream come true to visit and work the show. It takes a lot to get me emotional, but standing in the middle of the west hall got me a little teary-eyed.

I covered another show before joining KnowTechie team; by the time I started working with Kevin, I was an E3 pro.

I knew the attendees, the layout, the presenters. Getting around became easy, and my days were jam-packed with appointments.

E3 was a haven for gaming media professionals

For journalists, E3 was a way to make sure you were speaking with knowledge about the things people were excited about. If you could talk to something directly, you had much more ground to stand on; exclusive coverage is always a plus.

This was the same for every writer there. I met and rubbed elbows with many experienced media folk and PR, many of whom I still speak with today. E3 set the stage for the next year of content.

I was able to speak with a PR contact of mine. While they don’t want to be named directly, they shared their E3 story with me:

It’s weird to miss an ostensibly capitalist venture.

It’s a pure commercial enterprise that was invented by a lobbying group and some publishers like SEGA as an alternative to the CTA’s CES, then hyped up by media as they were able to play games before everyone else.

Add in a theme park feel, some surprise celebrities, and licensing of gargantuan proportions, put it in LA, an area that was either really convenient or inconvenient depending on where you were coming from, and you have E3.

What made E3 special was seeing all my friends, making new ones, and yes showing off some stuff in secret.

I’ll never forget my first time through those convention center doors when I looked up at bedazzled booths and shining LCD screens, deafened by the din of mixing musical beats from half a dozen nearby booths.

Most of all, I’ll remember how few games I played because I didn’t set appointments.

E3 was more than just a show

For many people, E3 was an opportunity. You saw friends, connected with acquaintances, and made new ones.

As my PR friend pointed out, a ton was always going on, but nothing else can compare. I’ll undoubtedly miss E3, but I remain optimistic that the other shows will pick up the slack since the show has been struggling for years.

Do you have any favorite memories of E3? Was it time for the show to go the way of the dinosaurs or did you still think it had gas in the tank? Let us know, we’d love to hear more!

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Here’s our first look at ROG Phone 8, courtesy of ASUS itself
• Nothing may reveal Nothing Phone 3 at MWC event on February 27
• The $600 million legal battle: Meta versus Spanish media
• Rockstar releases Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer early following leak

The post Remembering the most chaotic trade show, E3 appeared first on KnowTechie.

Editor's Choice

Lies of P

4.5

$59.99 $49.99

Lies of P is the sleeper hit of the year, with deep Souls-like gameplay and a twist on a familiar protagonist. Yes, that "P" stands for Pinocchio, but you've never seen the pint-sized puppet like this before.

Pros:

• Fantastic Soulsborne combat
• Twist on a classic tale

Cons:

• Punishing difficulty
• Expect to die, lots

Check Xbox Availability See PS5 Availability

KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.

01/26/2024 12:17 am GMT

I honestly couldn’t blame you if you haven’t heard of Lies of P publisher Neowiz. I wouldn’t even be surprised if you haven’t even heard of Lies of P.

When I asked the KnowTechie editorial team, I knew the big boss had no idea. So I’m here to tell you about this fantastic game and advise you to play it.

Neowiz is a South Korean publisher probably best known for their Bless series. They had an online MMO and also an action-focused spinoff. I’d argue that the fact I had heard of Lies of P before the game was about to release says a lot.

Mostly because everyone that caught wind of the game was absolutely enamored with the idea. What is that idea? Oh, you know I am about to tell you!

Lies of P says, “I got no strings to hold me down”

Lies of P is a “Soulsborne” game that takes the story of Pinocchio and turns it into a Steampunk retelling of the classic story with twists. All the key points of the old fable (with a few Disney-inspired touches) are in the game.

The Black Rabbits, Red Fox and Black Cat, Gepetto, and even Gemini (pronounced Jimminy), who is your cricket-like guide. Your puppet even gets to use a submarine at one point that resembles a monstrous whale.

The name Pinocchio is never explicitly mentioned, but the Truth or Lie system makes it clear who the puppet you control is.

I mentioned “Soulsborne” earlier, so I’d like to start there.

Where a “Soulslike” game takes a lot of inspiration from Dark Souls and Demon Souls games, a “Soulsborne” is supposed to take a lot more inspiration from the PlayStation hit and one of the best games ever, Bloodborne.

Weapons are super important in Lies of P.

While most games with that moniker tend to all fall into the “Soulslike” categories, Lies of P clearly takes the ideas of the original Bloodborne and improves upon them in many ways.

You don’t get to carry a shield, and defensive equipment is limited to the trinkets and puppet parts you acquire as the game progresses. The game quickly and intuitively explains that different element effects hurt different enemies efficiently.

Puppets tend to be weak to electrical damage. Carcass enemies are weak to fire damage. Human enemies don’t do well against acid damage.

Instead of finding a weapon I liked, I found at least two that could deal with whatever enemies I would be dealing with.

Bring the right tools for the job

Like Bloodborne, weapons also are multifaceted. Some weapons in Lies of P can transform and do other things.

For example, there is an electric saw blade that starts spinning after a few hits, when it gets going, it becomes charged with electricity. There is also a great sword that turns into a glaive.

Almost all the weapons can also be taken apart and assembled in ways that allow you to get the most out of them. Like the swing of a weapon, but don’t like the damage type or weight? Attach the handle to a weapon head you prefer.

Your puppet also has a replaceable arm that can allow you to change your playstyles immensely.

There is an arm that allows you to fire a grappling hook to pull you to enemies. There is an explosive shield that defends against attacks and hurts the enemies with recoil.

You can fit a flamethrower to your arm and just toast enemies in your way, or get a crazy electric arm that lets you charge and release deadly bursts. Your puppet can spray poison all around them or shoot explosive darts.

I found myself switching regularly to whatever boss I was dealing with. It’s awesome.

While puppets in the game are more like robots and are supposed to follow the “Grand Covenant” (see Asimov’s 3 Laws of Robotics), your character isn’t bound to these rules. It means that you can lie, steal, and hurt humans when prompted to.

Of course, as you progress in the story, you gain more and more humanity based on your decisions as well. All of this will culminate in one of three endings before you get to begin a new game plus.

The “P” stands for punishing

It wouldn’t be fair to recommend Lies of P without warning that the game is VERY difficult.

My first playthrough nearly totaled 80 hours. My second was under 10. I spent the bulk of my first run throwing myself against difficult bosses or going back and grinding enemies to grow stronger and improve weapons.

There is a boss fairly early in the game that I must have died at 30 times or more. I actually had to step away and play something else for a bit just to avoid the frustration. That is the type of game that Lies of P is.

The combat in Lies of P is unforgiving. The key to survival is perfect blocking, if you can’t do that, dodging is the next best thing. I’m not good at blocking, but had to improve for the last boss because dodging is laughably sad in some fights.

However, when I did beat that boss, victory was sweet, and I was immediately chasing down the next endorphin rush.

While Lies of P is considered an “AAA indie game,” you can find it for the very fair price of $59.99 on Steam, PS5, and Xbox. If you have Microsoft Game Pass, you can actually play it for free.

Which is how I played the game. If you have that, play it, even just to give it a try. It’s awesome.

Editor's Choice

Lies of P

4.5

$59.99 $49.99

Lies of P is the sleeper hit of the year, with deep Souls-like gameplay and a twist on a familiar protagonist. Yes, that "P" stands for Pinocchio, but you've never seen the pint-sized puppet like this before.

Check Xbox Availability See PS5 Availability

KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.

01/26/2024 12:17 am GMT

Editors Recommendations:

• A Steam Deck refresh is likely on the way, says new report
• Diablo IV makes its way to Steam on October 17
• Review: TCL Q7 65-inch QLED TV
• Review: XGIMI Horizon Ultra projector

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Lies of P is the sleeper hit of 2023 appeared first on KnowTechie.

Mother 3, a game that has never seen an official English release. Secret of Evermore and Terranigma are also a pair of games that Nintendo seems to forget exists.

The true crime, however, was that outside of the Wii U Virtual Console and the Super NES Classic, Nintendo failed to acknowledge Super Mario RPG existed.

Well, that was until this most recent Nintendo Direct.

During the Nintendo Direct event, we learned that the company is completely remaking the cult favorite JRPG with new graphics, music, and potentially even enemies.

“Originally released on Super NES, Super Mario RPG has been overhauled with new graphics! Join Mario, Bowser, Princess Peach, and original characters Mallow and Geno, in an RPG filled with twists, turns and treasure. Mario must team up with his allies to face down a menacing force known as the Smithy Gang in order to recover seven stars and repair the Star Road.”

The updated graphics enhance Super Mario RPG’s magic without detracting from it. The trailer features refreshed music that adds a new twist to the already legendary soundtrack. Here, judge for yourself:

The joint effort of Square Enix and Nintendo really is an unexpected treat for those that are fans of classic, turn-based RPGs.

Super Mario RPG is a game that was, in many ways, an entry point for some people to get into JRPGs and a keystone title for others that enjoyed a solid game.

With this news and the news of Star Ocean: The Second Story R coming to the Nintendo Switch as well, JRPG fans will be having an amazing come November 2023.

As for a release date, expect to see Super Mario RPG launch on the Nintendo Switch on November 17.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to turn on dark mode on Nintendo Switch
• Sony’s Project Q vs. Nintendo Switch – how do they compare?
• Are Nintendo Switch games saved on the cartridge?
• Absolute sicko buys every 3DS and Wii U game in Nintendo eShop

The post Super Mario RPG is making a triumphant return to the switch appeared first on KnowTechie.

It’s hard to argue that Microsoft isn’t offering one of the best deals in gaming with Xbox Game Pass.

Whether you are playing on a Series X, S, One, or even from your computer, there are a ton of games constantly at your disposal.

However, with all the great offerings, you may need an extra controller for some couch co-op gaming with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, or you need a controller for playing on your PC.

You might even be looking to up your game by upgrading your sticks. Regardless, there are a ton of options out there for you.

You may feel overwhelmed and decide a standard, first-party Xbox controller is the way to go. For price and feature, though, you have many different options.

There are quite a few options, whether you like flashy lights, additional buttons, modular customization, or improved audio options. It can be hard to pick what works best for your needs.

How we made our picks

So, how did we choose all the best Xbox controllers to include in this list? It’s easy – we personally tested many on the list.

On top of that, we spent hours researching user reviews, Reddit posts, YouTube videos, and more. But mainly, our first-hand experience is ultimately how we drafted our picks.

Choosing the best Xbox controller for your wallet and needs

Looking at first-hand experiences, reviews, and everything in between, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best Xbox controllers you can throw your money at.

BONUS: Any controller on this list works natively with Windows PCs, so you can easily switch between your console and desktop.

Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2 ($164)

While there’s no end to third-party controllers, maybe you want to keep everything Microsoft-designed.

The Elite Series 2 gives you all the customization of the best third-party controllers while keeping a Microsoft warranty.

The best part? It works as well on PC as on the Xbox Series X|S. Microsoft even licensed SCUF’s technology to get the best of both worlds.

You get a modular, magnetic thumbstick, modular d-pads, hair-trigger locks, and four removable, remappable paddles on the back. You can also tweak the thumbstick tension for precision aiming.

Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Black

4.5

$179.99 $150.99

Get ready to level up with the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller! This thing is an absolute unit and boasts ultimate personalization, swappable components, and hair-trigger action for a next-gen gaming experience. Sure, it's expensive, but there's a reason why it's at the top of the list.

What We Like:

• Microsoft and SCUF collaboration: Combines the best of Microsoft design and SCUF technology for unparalleled customization.
• Microsoft warranty: Offers peace of mind with a trusted manufacturer's warranty.
• Cross-platform compatibility: Works seamlessly on both PC and Xbox Series X|S platforms.
• Customizable features: Modular magnetic thumbstick, adjustable d-pads, hair-trigger locks, and four removable, remappable paddles for tailored gameplay.
• Precision aiming: Tweakable thumbstick tension ensures accurate aiming across diverse gaming genres.

Check Availability See at Microsoft

KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.

01/26/2024 04:11 am GMT

Turtle Beach Recon ($59.95)

Sometimes you don’t want to spend more on a controller than on a game, but you want awesome features. Turtle Beach Recon happens to be just that type of controller.

With a lot of built-in audio options and front-facing adjustments, Turtle Beach believes the Recon can improve your K/D by “over 40%”.

That means I’m looking at going from a 0.25 to a 0.4 K/D! Jokes aside, the adjustable audio options aren’t anywhere else on this list, and that says a lot.

The tool-free, adjustable thumbstick resistance built into the controller is probably the coolest thing, making it one of the best Xbox controllers out there.

Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Wired Gaming Controller

3.5

$79.95 $59.95

Quick Verdict: The Recon Cloud takes their solid wired controller line and adds Bluetooth. Unfortunately, they leave some of their original audience behind with compatibility issues on PC. But, if you’re buying this for your phone to play games, at least you can mount it to the controller and it connects to your Android really well for that specific purpose.

Pros:

• Shape and weight is identical to their other Recon controllers
• Full-sized buttons
• Mount is easy to use and holds phones well
• Can be connected directly to make it a normal Recon controller

Cons:

• If you want to use it on a PC, you have to jump through a ton of hoops
• Mount requires thinner cases or no case at all on your phone, it determines center of gravity, and will push down on your volume button
• Mount detaches and turns into a stand that won’t stand up on its own when phone is attached
• Superhuman Hearing only works when directly plugged into a PC or Xbox
• No phone app for firmware or additional options

See at Amazon See at Turtle Beach

KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.

01/25/2024 09:11 am GMT

PDP Wired Game Controller ($34.99)

Remember back in the day when you had that “guest” controller that you’d let younger siblings or friends that didn’t bring their own controller use?

The PDP Wired Game controller is the natural evolution of that idea.

It may not offer all the flash and glitz that other controllers on the list have. However, this Xbox controller is still pound-for-pound, one of the best if you are in a pinch and need a secondary controller.

What it lacks in additional features, it makes up in versatility.

Coming in a selection of colors and offering full button customization via the PDP app, this one still gives you a lot to work with without breaking the bank.

RIG Nacon PRO Compact ($49.99)

Much like the previous entry, the RIG Nacon PRO compact controller doesn’t offer an absolute truckload of extra benefits.

This one does offer something that none of the other controllers on this list do, and it can be a big deal.

This controller is one of the few certified for Dolby ATMOS audio.

That means plugging your headset into the audio will improve the quality over just about any other controller on the list.

Another thing that sets this controller apart from the rest is the shape.

While every other controller on this list more or less looks like the traditional Xbox controller shape, this one is almost more PlayStation-like.

HexGaming Make Your Own BLADE controller

Looking for a sleek Xbox controller that allows for full customization? We love our HexGaming controller with custom triggers and back buttons.

Customize every aspect of the controller, including the faceplate, buttons, triggers, and more. There are a ton of colors to choose from, and we especially appreciate the thumbstick options.

Pricing is what you’d expect from a custom controller, coming in at $159.99 for the custom version.

PowerA Spectra Infinity Enhanced ($44.99)

The PowerA Spectra Infinity Enhanced controller is likely the best “price per feature” option on the list.

Having the ability to look stylish, feel stylish, and help keep your eyes on the screen at all times, it’s pretty awesome and keeps it in the ranks of best Xbox controllers.

This controller lets you modify the RGB lights for the left thumbstick, right thumbstick, face buttons, and the perimeter of the controller.

Match the look to your game and the room, or just make it look as funky as you’d like.

The other great feature of this controller is the front-facing audio control and mappable back buttons.

You can map any of the buttons or L3 or R3 to the back of the controller without any software needed.

Victrix Gambit Wired ($99.99)

The Victrix Gambit controller is basically a mishmash of nearly all the high-end features on this list.

The selling point on this one is that there is a lot of customization, and has the fastest response time on the list.

With a selection of controller gates, thumbstick, and a custom d-pad, the Victrix already goes toe to toe with many controllers above and below this price point.

Surprisingly, this controller also includes the Dolby Atmos sound drivers, making it even more appealing to players.

The Victrix may be one of the gaudier controllers of the bunch, but the response and customization show that this is a function over design situation. It’s literally built for any situation.

PowerA Fusion Pro 2 ($89.99)

I like to refer to the PowerA Fusion Pro 2 as the Xbox Elite Lite controller. This bad boy also boasts some of the fastest response times on the list outside of the Vitrix.

My favorite feature of the controller is that it has mappable back paddles, just like the Xbox Elite 2 controller.

While it doesn’t allow non-controller button presses, it’s still lovely to map common buttons or L3 or R3 to the back so you can move while hitting those paddles.

The paddles are also removable, so if that’s not your thing, that can be ignored too.

The controller also includes two faceplates, one black with grips and one white without. This is a prime example of what looks good and feels good, plus it is seemingly always on sale.

Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma ($149.99)

There is a few “luxury model” controllers on this list.

The Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma is absolutely the chromatic-painted Corvette with neon lights of the bunch here. But what makes it one of the best Xbox controllers?

For starters, thumbsticks with tension adjustment and a science-backed ergonomic design are two features you won’t find on any other controller on the list.

The additional six mappable input buttons that can also use customizable input commands give it just a little bit more value, as well.

The Raver Wolverine V2 Chroma may be more expensive than most controllers but offers nearly unmatched customization and tune-up options.

There is a reason this is a popular controller with streamers.

PowerA MOGA XP7-X Plus Bluetooth ($99)

While technically not a direct Xbox controller, the MOGA XP7-X is meant for Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Having accurate and consistent Xbox-style control grips for Xbox Cloud Gaming on your phone is great.

The added bonus of being able to wirelessly charge your phone while gaming is even better.

If you aren’t on the go, the MOGA XP7-X also has a built-in kickstand, so you can lounge back with a normal-sized controller.

It’s worth noting that this works with any size phone too. I have a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, one of the biggest phones on the market. If it fits me, it will fit basically any smartphone out there.

eSwap Pro by Thrustmaster ($159)

The eSwap Pro is a go-to controller for some of the best competitive players on Twitch. The features seem a bit lighter than some options on this list, but sometimes less is more.

Hot-swappable thumbsticks are the first noticeable difference from the other controllers here. This means you can completely change the layout of your controller by moving or adding additional nodes.

Are you more of a PlayStation user and are used to the symmetrical thumbstick?

No problem, you can swap it to match that. Want to add the XYAB buttons where the d-pad goes for prime button mashing? It can do that too.

Mappable options on the controller and lightning-fast response time also round this out to make the eSwap Pro one of the most attractive controllers on the list.

SCUF Instinct Pro ($229.99)

Looking good, feeling good, playing good, and costing a small fortune is the SCUF way. The SCUF Instinct Pro takes the ideas of the Elite 2 controller and takes it a few steps further.

It includes four embedded, rear remappable paddles, three configuration profiles, switchable instant triggers, and interchangeable thumbstick.

The non-slip grip is also nice for some of your more serious sessions.

The SCUF Instinct Pro may be the most expensive on the list, but it is undeniably one of the best Xbox controllers. It’s not just a superior controller but also a major flex on anyone in your lobbies.

Razer Wolverine V2 ($77)

Razer’s latest Xbox controller has the all-important share button, while still being one of the cheapest controllers Razer has produced.

Paying less does mean you lose some features, but the Wolverine V2 still comes with two extra mappable trigger buttons and trigger stops for faster performance in shooters.

It’s wired, with no option for wireless play, but then you’re not at the mercy of the Xbox Series X|S wireless connection, which is still having issues with some controllers.

The best feature? Razer’s Mecha-tactile buttons are mechanical instead of membrane and have a satisfying click when pressed.

Remember that third-party Xbox controllers aren’t just “guest controllers” anymore

You’ve seen the best that third-party controller companies have to offer when it comes to Xbox controllers. You can toss that $70 basic first-party controller and put some real power and response into your mitts.

Now it’s just a matter of lining up your needs and price point to determine the best Xbox controller for you.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Best back-to-school laptops for college students
• When is Dead Island 2 coming out?
• Sony PS VR2: pricing, news, rumors, features, and release date
• How to cancel Apple Arcade

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post The best Xbox controllers (2024) appeared first on KnowTechie.

The Razer x Cariuma line is a series of Razer branded shoes for those who love their Kraken headset just a little too much.

Surprisingly, this isn’t Razer’s first foray into non-gaming gear. These shoes don’t have any sort of RGB utility or tech built-in. Which is a departure from the norm because their RGB facemask sure does.

Overall both shoe sets seem to be nothing more than standard canvas sneakers. Not to say that’s a bad thing, I own about a dozen sets of canvas sneakers.

READ MORE: Razer’s new Stream Controller lets you easily control your PC

Both the men’s and women’s styles are available in these black and neon green shoes. It seems that they are available in black or white midsoles, as well. There also is the option for low-top or high-top styles.

READ MORE: Razer now makes a Linux laptop, but not for gamers

It’s worth pointing out that you wouldn’t know these were Razer branded shoes from a glance. That is if it wasn’t for the inclusion of their chibi mascot, Sneki Snek, on the side of the shoes.

Looking at the shoes, the Razer x Cariuma shoe lineup really looks like black and green Converse shoes. It would appear that the insoles may be a little nicer than standard Chucks, however. That’s not saying much though.

The low top style starts at $89 for both men and women and the high top style is $98. This is the same for both midsole styles as well.

If you want shoes that are branded by your favorite gaming peripheral company on your feet, act now. They are limited edition.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Razer teamed up with Fossil for its first dive into the smartwatch world
• Razer is apparently working on its own handheld gaming console
• Puma released some shoes intended for gamers because pandering
• Nike is coming for StockX over its sneaker NFTs

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Razer is getting into the sneaker game because screw it, why not appeared first on KnowTechie.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the Destiny franchise, most of these advancements are shored up with a pretty little bow at the end. You really have to dig deep to understand the vastness of the world that has been created.

Maybe we get a new area to run around in or a new activity, but the world for the most part stays the same.

Destiny 2‘s The Witch Queen expansion (Xbox, PlayStation, and PC) falls into the same tropes as before but also serves to potentially be the series’ best expansion to date.

The Witch Queen is putting the pain in “campaign”

One of the biggest issues with Destiny 2 expansions has always been the main story missions. They have always been pretty easy. It’s a hard line to walk to deliver content that is difficult while being engaging enough to allow casual players to experience the story.

In the past, that has meant that advanced players have been forced to trudge through missions with enemies you kill with one shot and bosses that are dead as soon as their health bars appear.

The Witch Queen takes a bit of a different approach, offering the main story campaign in two flavors. The normal campaign is a standard difficulty, perfect for new players and casuals alike.

The new legendary campaign is a whole different beast. Boasting a much higher difficulty that scales with the number of players on the fire team, the legendary campaign is all risk versus reward.

All in all, it took me about 10-12 hours to complete with one other player. Throughout that time we actually had to call in a third player to assist in some of the more difficult encounters.

This includes the last boss fight, which took us over 30 minutes and had us wiping a few times at the very end. As someone that regularly raids in Destiny 2 and completes grandmaster nightfall content, I absolutely appreciated the difficulty.

The Witch Queen changes things at a base level for Destiny 2

When it comes to how impactful The Witch Queen is on the overall story of Destiny 2, it’s either the first or second in terms of expansions, depending on how much you care about the story.

While the Forsaken expansion killed off everyone’s favorite character, introduced a new area, and made the weakest sub-class one of the strongest, The Witch Queen isn’t pulling any punches either.

We have a huge new pseudo planet to run around, but the story implications of the expansion feel like Destiny 2 is setting up its own “Endgame.”

One of the things touted earlier in the reveal of The Witch Queen was the fact we would be able to make our own weapons. With the forge finally in our hands, I can see why it may help me from keeping 500 guns in my vault down the road.

The concept is simple, you use specially marked guns until you learn how to make them. Once that is done, you can create one yourself and pick the perks you’d prefer.

As of right now, it is a neat gimmick, but if we get to a point where I can create a new version of my favorite old guns and change perks as needed, it will be a game-changer.

There is plenty to keep you busy in the Witch Queen expansion

Once the campaign is in the books, Witch Queen offers an absolute ton of extra things to do, on top of the new seasonal content (Season of the Risen) to complete. It is a little weird that the seasonal content takes place after the events of the expansion story, but can be the second thing you do within it.

If this review inspires you to play, keep that in mind. The additional content allows an absolute ton of extra endgame activities to keep yourself busy. I thought I played a bunch of them, but have barely scratched the surface.

Overall, if you have been considering returning to Destiny 2 or the thought of playing Destiny 2 has crossed your mind, The Witch Queen offers an amazing spot to return.

For existing players, this is absolutely the shot in the arm the game has needed when it comes to making the gameplay feel fresh. It’s worth the cost of entry on the campaign alone. Everything else is just icing on the proverbial cake.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Review: SteelSeries Arctis 7+ wireless gaming headset – not perfect, but close
• Review Roundup: Elden Ring – another great RPG from From Software
• Don’t expect to see a new Call of Duty game in 2023
• Sony takes the wrap off the PSVR 2 in its first official reveal

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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This time, Nintendo did not disappoint with its list of announcements. Announcements ranged from new DLC to rereleases of iconic games, and even some new game announcements.

I sat down with my 8 and 14-year-old sons (Drake and Aiden) and watched the direct. Here’s what was important and also what we thought of the Nintendo Direct.

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes

What you need to know is that the Fire Emblem: Three Houses game is being reimagined as a “Warriors” or “Musou” game. That means this game will pit you against hundreds of enemies on a battlefield that you more or less fight singlehandedly. It’s hack-and-slash mayhem, but the preview was not really that exciting. It releases on June 24th.

Aiden: “This looks kind of mid. I bet this is one of those games that is nothing like the trailer.”

Drake: “Wow! This looks cool. Will it be hard?”

No Man’s Sky

Ah, the game that is beloved by just about everyone here at KnowTechie. I really should give it another chance since my launch day review. This was a surprise for me, of all the games that will make it to the Switch, No Man’s Sky wasn’t on the list for me. The space adventure game will hit the console this summer.

Aiden: “Yo! Is that No Man’s Sky? That’s a day one pick up for me!”

Drake: “This looks like my type of game. Actually, it reminds me of that game with water, where everything tried to kill you!” (No idea?)

Mario Strikers: Battle League

Mario Strikers is a soccer game that features Mario characters, while the new Battle League version for the Switch takes a more American Gladiators approach with armor, full contact, and super strikes. With the eight-person local multiplayer and customizable characters, this may be a game-winning goal on June 10.

Aiden: “That’s pretty cool. I’d probably play it once.”

Drake: “I’m going to play this with my friends!”

Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers Edition

I remember downloading the trailer to Chrono Cross on my old 56k internet. I also remember being slightly upset that a game initially billed as the sequel to Chrono Trigger was mostly a sequel in name only.

I’m actually hyped that this RPG is getting a remaster and they are also adding the Japan-only sequel bits back in! This one is out on April 7th.

Aiden: “This reminds me of Trials of Mana. I’ll play it for two hours and forget it exists.”

Drake: “When it showed all the characters you can play as, I’m pretty sure I saw someone’s mom.”

Splatoon 3: Salmon Run Next Wave

We finally get a solid look at PVE content from Splatoon 3. The Nintendo Direct trailer is certainly quirky but also showed off a bunch of co-op skills that you and your teammates can use. It also showcased some enemy types and all sorts of oddities that you may encounter, like the “Fish Stick”. Sadly, there is no release date yet.

Aiden: “Where’s the PVP, has Splatoon ever even had PVE?”

Drake: “This trailer kind of scared me. Why did they choose this music?”

Nintendo Switch Sports

We knew it was coming at some point! Nintendo Switch Sports is the successor to Wii Sports. As the current sports for this game were shown off, I did notice there are more sports being added in content updates.

No baseball or boxing, yet, but with future support, it’s probably just a matter of time. There is an online stress test in a little over a week. starting on February 18.

Aiden: “WHAT? NO! WHAT? NO! I loved this game when I was little. Is Matt going to be in this too?!”

Drake: “I don’t think I can play this since I only have the Switch Lite.” (This is a good point, there was no mention of the Switch Lite having compatibility.)

Live A Live

Yes, another JRPG. What’s interesting here is Live A Live is a former Square Enix game that never saw any localization outside of Japan. Completely remastered and given the 2D HD treatment, we are finally getting this one across the world.

This was a regular on “Best JRPG games you’ll never play” lists. That changes on July 22.

Aiden: “So, I’m digging that 2D on 3D look. No cap.”

Drake: “You get to be heroes from all over time? The cowboy and the psychic kid look really cool.”

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

We got a good look at Nintendo’s open-world Kirby game. Most of the trailer was devoted to showing off “Mouthfull Mode”. This mechanic allows Kirby to reach places or go places that aren’t normally accessible. This open-world adventure is looking good and is coming out on March 25th.

Aiden: “Open world Kirby? You’d better believe I’m getting this one.”

Drake: “Dad, can I have this? Please? I need this game. How far is March 25th from now? Please?”

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC?

Bad news: no Mario Kart 9 until at least 2023. Good news: there will be 48 remastered tracks from every other Mario Kart release coming to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. I guess it’s better than nothing? Sorry, Mario Kart fans.

Aiden: “We just got Coconut Mall’d!”

Drake: “You would have to pay for this? Why?”

MLB The Show 22

I’m going to be honest. This wasn’t really something worthy of the Nintendo Direct. MLB The Show 22 looks really rough and I can only assume this is some contractual obligation. Apparently, you can play this on one Joy-Con, however.

Aiden: (walked away during the trailer) “Is that a puppet?”

Drake: “Hey, Dad. That Kirby game? Can I pre-order it?”

Triangle Strategy

The tactical RPG game made by the Final Fantasy Tactics team that seems like a sequel to that in all but name comes out March 4th. There is also a new demo for Triangle Strategy that allows players to play all the way to chapter 3 and will carry over the save to the full game.

Aiden: “Hey Dad, there’s a game for you here.”

Drake: “Triangle…Strategy? I don’t see any triangles though.”

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Nintendo Direct started with a surprise and ended with another surprise. Xenoblade Chronicle games are pretty great and this looks like a nice blend of the best elements of both the first and second games. The characters in this one look far more memorable, so that’s a win in my book. It’s coming out this September, as well!

Aiden: “Oh hey, I played a little of the first one. It was really good. I’ll play your copy.”

Drake: “Did you see that person sliding on that cable in the air and when they were swimming? This is on Switch?”

Remakes and rereleases

The Nintendo Direct this week also brought with it a whole bunch of remakes and rereleases that are coming to the Switch. For this section, we’re going to take a rapid-fire approach:

• Portal: Companion Edition is launching later this year. This includes both Portal games
• Klonoa 1 and 2 are coming to Switch July 7th
• Front Mission 1st and Front Mission 2nd are coming to Switch, completely remade
• Advance Wars 1+2 is coming out April 8th and will include 4-player custom maps
• Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection takes a leap of faith onto Switch on February 17
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is coming to Switch, sadly, it looks rough
• Earthbound and Earthbound Beginnings are now in the Virtual Console

There is also an update for Metroid Dread that is adding two modes. A one-hit kill mode and an easy mode. Aiden calls them the “Pro-gamer mode” and “Loser mode.” Do with that information what you will.

There were a few other titles that flashed up on the screen briefly at some point but it was anime and Gundam stuff that has already been released elsewhere.

Overall, RPG fans will have their year full with Switch releases. I know I will be buying a ton of games that I simply don’t have enough time to play. Live A Live excites me though because I once considered learning Japanese to try to play it.

My kids were most excited about the new Kirby game and the Nintendo Switch Sports games presented during this Nintendo Direct. Aiden was also incredibly hyped for Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival, which I didn’t mention but is a rhythm game that features popular anime music.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Microsoft is officially done with making more Xbox One consoles
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• Rockstar has finally confirmed it’s working on GTA VI

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It honestly doesn’t feel like it has been nearly six full years since the release of the original Dying Light. Over that period of time, the world has changed. We are still in the midst of a full pandemic and it seems the zombie fad has pretty much gone belly-up.

Although announced back in 2018 for a release in 2020, and then delayed a few times until February 2022, Techland’s Dying Light 2 is finally here. Is it worth the wait?

Here’s the short answer – Yeah, I think it is. My interest and enjoyment in Dying Light 2 ebbed and flowed like the tide. The opening of the game is fun. A large portion of the first chapter is not. The rest of that chapter is a blast.

The beginning of the second chapter starts to wane again but exploration really takes off soon after. This continues for most of what I’ve played, but as the game goes, quality does increase.

The Good

Unlike the original Dying Light, the story actually is engaging in Dying Light 2. Aiden Caldwell’s adventure starkly contrasts Kyle Crane’s. Aiden has more or less grown up in this zombie apocalypse and is in search of his sister.

This is a step up from Crane’s “just doing my job” angle. The supporting cast is also quite enjoyable. The two guards you meet at the start of the second act are some of the most memorable of the whole game.

Combat is a lot different this time around. While zombies seemed to be a majority of the fodder thrown your way in the first offering, humans take up just about every meaningful battle in Dying Light 2.

You will most certainly wear out that block button faster than you ever expected. I found myself overwhelmed in a surprisingly large amount of fights, with parkour being the only way to escape to give me a chance to heal. I enjoyed thinking on my feet, even on the easier difficulties.

The world and environments of Villedor feel familiar to Dying Light’s Harran, but also different and more lively. For example, the skyscrapers of the city center are similar to Harran’s downtown, but the glider keeps exploration from coming off as painfully vertical. Techland has most certainly learned from their experiences and Dying Light 2 shows plenty of improvement.

The Bad

Dying Light 2 is far from a perfect game. In fact, in the earlier moments of the game, I asked myself a few times if I was even having fun. A large part of that is that I absolutely loathe being put on a finite amount of time. Unfortunately, the infection timer in Dying Light 2 serves as a shorter leash than I’d like.

The infection timer will count down at night or in dark areas, like anywhere indoors. If you happen to end up in a situation where that timer hits zero, it’s game over.

If you plan on exploring dark areas, you will need to keep plenty of items to stave off the timer, or hope there are UV lights around. As you progress in the game, this becomes less of an issue, but ultimately it still really sucks.

What sets Dying Light 2 apart from other zombie games is that the core of the game is built on parkour. Sadly, I honestly don’t think the game’s parkour is all that good. In fact, at its very best, it’s passable and at its worst, it’s an obstacle.

As I unlocked new parkour abilities, I hoped maneuverability would improve but I found myself falling to my death even more.

The Jank

My Dying Light 2 experience was pre-day 1 patch, but there still is a level of glitchiness that should be noted. If you played the first Dying Light, you should already have an idea of what to expect. You will get killed by zombies standing under something you are standing on. You can bypass puzzles by getting stuck long enough to reach a ledge. It’s an absolute blast to abuse the enemy AI.

Dying Light 2 comes into its own as soon as you unlock the dropkick. I need to point out that Dying Light 2 is heavy on physics. As soon as you earn the ability to violently boot enemies away from you with the force of a violent car crash, it’s all over. Turning a ravager into a deadly human projectile is fun, there’s just no way around it.

Dying Light 2 is much more story-driven, which means more boss fights. Bosses, for the most part, are just normal enemies with enhanced stamina and HP. What that means is that at least a handful of times, I’ve started a fight by hitting them in the face with a throwing knife, dropkicked them into a wall, and then bludgeoned them with a pipe until their head popped like a pinata.

It’s pretty funny to get a few minutes of dialogue about how this person is a threat, only to go full murder-hobo when the game gives you back the controls.

Dying Light 2 is definitely an acquired taste

I’m going out on a limb to say Dying Light 2 isn’t for everyone. There is a bit of frustration you need to initially power through.

The overall gameplay loop requires a bit of self-sufficiency if you want to get the most out of your experience. Once you can take your time in the night/dark cycles of the game, there is a lot more that opens up, but that also requires a ton of backtracking.

If your enjoyed Dying Light, you will most certainly enjoy Dying Light 2. I wouldn’t expect Dying Light 2 to win any game of the year awards, but it is a solid release. If Dying Light 2 gets the support its predecessor had, it will be a game everyone can enjoy for at least the next 6 years as well.

I certainly see myself coming back to Dying Light 2 as a palate cleanser after tackling some bigger games this year. Besides, these enemies aren’t going to dropkick themselves.

Dying Light 2 is available on Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch (currently delayed), and PC.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Even more, people were upset that malicious actor and CEO Bobby Kotick will be staying on board until at least March 2023. For a lot of people, this came as middling news at best, but I wanted to point out a shining spot in all of this!

Sony is going to have to change its stance on cross-platform or lose Call of Duty forever.

Before you say “Well Josh, Sony isn’t going to play ball with Microsoft. If they didn’t want to do it with Bethesda, they won’t do it with Activision,” I want to point something out here.

Bethesda has a few multiplayer options out there but nothing that they would consider a core title. No one is lining up to play Quake or Doom multiplayer these days. Activision’s baby, Call of Duty, on the other hand, is one of the top-selling games on both PS5 and PS4.

It’s also one of the most active titles on both consoles as well. That’s a deep cut for team Sony.

Sony is in hot water

At this point, you are probably thinking that much like The Elder Scrolls, Microsoft is going to make all future games from Activision exclusives to Xbox and PC. That’s certainly a possibility, however Xbox head, Phil Spencer, has been candidly open about working with Sony in the past.

Will it cost Sony and force them to change their business model? Yes. Would Sony still make tons of Call of Duty money? Also, yes.

If anything has been more disruptive over this newest console generation, it’s been all the silly stipulations Sony has been adding into the concept of everyone playing together. While the textbook response is that Sony wants to guarantee a quality experience on their platform, anyone that follows them knows that’s BS. Look no further than Genshin Impact to see what the deal is there.

Microsoft’s aggressive acquisitions this generation have most certainly put Sony into an interesting position. Do you shy away from easily the most popular multiplayer series for consoles in the world? That’s a lot of money and alienates your customers.

On the other side do you agree to work with your primary competition and give them a cut to continue to offer a powerhouse for your systems? They make less, but it’s absolutely a net gain overall.

We are still talking perfect world scenarios

I’m mainly using conjecture here. There is a chance that Microsoft does flip Sony the bird and tells them that they are done with Call of Duty and any other Activision/Blizzard titles.

However, with the aggressive pushes made by team Xbox in regards to creating a uniform play-space, I also doubt it. Other games though like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Diablo, Sekiro, and others? Don’t expect to see another one of those on a PlayStation after 2023.

There are a few other positives out there, to be honest. Microsoft is likely going to stop pushing for ridiculous grand slam hits annually and will likely let games be developed at a rate that allows them to thrive.

It will also reduce the expectations of these studios, allowing them to take more risks too. I can absolutely see some smaller games based out of the World of Warcraft and Overwatch universes come to be.

What are your thoughts on the big news? End of an era or the beginning of something new? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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Final Fantasy XIV has been killing it for the past few weeks. The MMO game has won several categories at The Game Awards. Square Enix just released its latest expansion, Endwalker, and has become a haven for World of Warcraft refugees. They are currently running on all engines.

Sounds like Square Enix and FFXIV director and producer, Naoki Yoshida is sitting pretty, right? No, because the game’s servers are so bloated that people can’t play. Not only can existing customers not play, but new customers can’t even make new characters.

To remedy this, Square Enix has decided to temporarily suspend the sale and delivery of Final Fantasy XIV Starter and Complete editions. Yes, for right now, you can’t buy this popular game.

There’s actually a lot more in the full release here, but here’s the interesting part that the headline pulled you in on:

Suspending Delivery of Package Versions and Temporary Suspension of Digital Version Sales

Players are currently experiencing extremely long wait times due to the dense concentration of play hours which far exceed our server capacity, especially during the peak times, and so we have decided to temporarily suspend the sale and delivery of FINAL FANTASY XIV Starter Edition and Complete Edition. Additionally, although those with an active subscription are prioritized to log in, Free Trial players are unable to log in outside of late night and early morning hours, and so we will also temporarily suspend new registrations for the Free Trial.

These temporary suspensions will be phased in over the next few days as we work with our retail partners. We will be coordinating with them as swiftly as possible, but please bear in mind that this will be a gradual process.

The statement also notes that current players can still upgrade their accounts and purchase expansion packs without issue. It also notes that the company has been “working towards building a new logical data center and adding new Worlds,” but that COVID-19 and the accompanying semiconductor shortage have hindered the process.

It’s going to be a rough one, for sure. Last week, I’d log in midday and then keep myself from auto-logging out until I could play after work. I’ve watched handfuls of streamers sit in a login queue for hours. Last Saturday evening, I sat in a queue for four hours.

With everything so clogged and no real solution in the immediate future, will this affect the success of Final Fantasy XIV‘s Endwalker? Are we going to start seeing people leave and play other games like New World?

Only time will tell, but I most certainly have been able to get to the sixth page of Fortnite’s new season and knocked out some missions in Halo: Infinite in the meantime.

UPDATE 1/14/2022 10:34 AM ET: Naoki Yoshida, Final Fantasy XIV’s director and producer, announced that new players will be able to purchase digital copies of the game again starting on January 25th.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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