This shouldn’t be surprising to fans of the genre, even if it does come in below competitors like Monster Hunter World. The true time-sink is in battling the same monsters or Kemono again and again to craft different weapons (of which there are eight types) and armor. You also have optional quests, collectable Tsukumo and co-op for even more hours of gameplay.

It will ultimately depend on the end-game, which Monster Hunter is renowned for. WILD HEARTS is out on February 17th, 2023, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. For new gameplay of the various Kemono in the game, like Ragetail, Sapscourge and Kingtusk, head here.

In addition, there are more details from IGN’s preview to be aware of. As it’s been established, Karakuri can be used to build various structures on the field. It requires thread, but fortunately, they’ll persist until you or a Kemono destroy it. Dragon Karakuri refers to more permanent creations like a hunter’s tent for resting or a flying vine for zip lines.

Think of these as the Delivery Requests in Monster Hunter World, with used to set up new camps, elevators, and zip lines. The difference is that you can destroy a Dragon Karakuri if you need resources. Be careful though, as these spots aren’t marked on the map, so finding them again can be difficult.

Only one of the four hunting grounds, Hanagasumi Hill, was played and along with gorgeous vistas, there’s plenty to discover. Dragon veins are tied to fast travel. There are also ingredients for meals and resources for equipment to discover. You can also find 50 Tsukumo, which unlocks a hunting companion that gains more buffs as you discover more. There are other secrets in store, but we’ll have to wait and explore these for ourselves.

While the Toukiden influences are present, Omega Force also mentioned that WILD HEARTS isn’t a spiritual successor but a new game that it wants to evolve into a new series. If it’s successful, we may see even more titles (if not expansions for the first game).

WILD HEARTS is out on February 17th, 2023, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

For starters, you have main story quests that are active while traveling throughout the world. There are also optional quests which must be manually triggered and involve hunting certain monsters that have already been encountered. Optional quests can be started from the map or a campfire and provide points for new building skills, along with materials for equipment upgrades.

There are eight weapon types, ranging from easy options like the Karakuri Katana to those requiring more skill like the Wagasa (the parasol-esque weapon) and the Bow. Tutorials were stated to be lackluster during the preview, but perhaps that will change in the final game. More “crunchy” and obvious feedback from the combat was also desired.

As for the Karakuri, they’re used for things like building springs for dashing, crates to jump off of, and the torch which engulfs your weapon in flames. There’s also the Bulwark which can stop a charging Kemono like the Kingtusk. However, it costs six Karakuri, and Karakuri requires thread to craft. You can usually find a good amount by exploring, but it’s also obtained by attacking a Kemono’s weak points.

WILD HEARTS is out on February 17th, 2023, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Stay tuned for more details shortly.

It’s an annoying extra step, and third party DRM is never something that sits right with most players- though thankfully, the upcoming Dead Space remake will be free of that hindrance. Unlike most other EA titles, its Steam page doesn’t mention that it will require the Origin client, while the publisher has also confirmed to PC Gamer that the Steam version is native to the platform.

Whether or not this is something that EA plans to do with more of its future releases remains to be seen, but it doesn’t look like this represents a wider change in strategy where the immediate future is confirmed. The Steam pages for both Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Need for Speed Unbound, for instance, do mention third party DRM integration with Origin.

The system requirements for Dead Space’s PC version were also recently revealed, and they’re quite hefty- even if you look at the minimum specs. Check out the full requirements through here.

Dead Space launches on January 27 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. It will cost $70 on consoles, but $60 on PC.

Along with solo play, co-op is also revealed as up to three players can team up to hunt a Kemono. The setting is Hanagasumi Hills in Spring. It’s one of the four hunting grounds in Azuma that players will traverse. Each represents a different season so expect their resident Kemono to reflect that. Of course, there’s carving and a scout fly mechanic for finding the monster.

WILD HEARTS is out on February 17th, 2023, for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and the EA App. It retails for $70 and supports full cross-play across all platforms. Stay tuned for more details and gameplay in the coming months.

Directors Kotaro Hirata and Takuto Edagawa spoke to IGN and clarified that it uses a zone-based structure. Edagawa said they believe this has “significant advantages in a hunting game in which the player repeatedly hunts. Each separated zone is a large area, and players can reach almost any point in a zone using Karakuri, so it is possible to enjoy it like an open world game in which you actively explore the world.” It sounds more akin to Monster Hunter World in terms of zone size compared to, say, Monster Hunter Rise, but time will tell.

Hirata also provided more context on the Karakuri, which is used to build different structures and weapons for use in hunts. And no, it’s not quite like Fortnite.

“Players hunt using a type of crafting called Karakuri, an ancient technology that allows for the creation of extremely flexible and creative hunting grounds to take on powerful beasts. Karakuri can range from types that can be built instantly during battle, to some that can be combined to create new Karakuri, and also types that are used to build hunting grounds by utilizing many different materials.

“Karakuri expands the freedom and possibilities of hunting combat and exploration in this game, so it differs from the direction of crafting in Fortnite, which allows for the creation of huge structures.”

As for why WILD HEARTS is only coming to current-gen consoles and not PS4 and Xbox One, Hirata said that maximizing the performance of current platforms was necessary to make the world “more compelling.”

“We believe that the fantastic and unique worldview inspired by feudal Japan is one of the key aspects of WILD HEARTS. To make the world more compelling, we felt it was necessary to maximize the performance of the current platforms. Specifically, we have improved the atmosphere by incorporating more accurate indirect light and increased density by placing higher resolution fields, Kemono, and objects in the game.

“With WILD HEARTS, we embraced the challenge of using new technology. We hope that players will use Karakuri to freely move around in the colorful and expansive world that we have created.”

WILD HEARTS releases on February 17th, 2023, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC via Steam, Origin, and Epic Games Store for $69.99. It features cross-platform play and has been in development for four years if taking the conception and planning stages into account. Stay tuned for more details and gameplay in the coming months.

Speaking to IGN, directors Kotaro Hirata and Takuto Edagawa revealed the reason behind the game’s quick turnaround. Hirata explains that it’s been in development for four years if one counts the conception and planning stages.

“If we start counting from the conception and planning stages, we have been working on Wild Hearts for four years.” As for why it took so long to reveal, he added, “We have wanted to tell players about this game for a long time, but we thought that the shorter the time was between announcement and release, the fewer time players would have to wait and the more interested they would be in playing the game.”

Electronic Arts’ involvement is also interesting since Koei Tecmo is known for self-publishing titles like Nioh and the upcoming Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Hirata explained, “We wanted to create a hunting game that would be enjoyed by players around the world. EA is not only very strong in international publishing, but they have contributed a great deal to WILD HEARTS with their wealth of experience, and they are truly committed to ensuring that our game reaches a global audience.” The voice-over language options, which include English, Japanese, Italian, German, and Spanish are a testament to that.

As for whether WILD HEARTS is an attempt to appeal to a more mainstream audience in the West, Edagawa said, “We are very conscious of the fact that we want more people in the West to play our games, and we have received a lot of feedback from EA from a Western perspective on many details, which helps us know where to adjust the game.

“However, in terms of basic design, we are not overly conscious of focusing just on a Western audience, and as a Japanese developer, we try to create something we think is fun. EA agrees and respects our creativity.”

WILD HEARTS launches on February 17th, 2023 and will include cross-platform multiplayer.

The Kemono range from small squirrels to the boar-esque Kingtusk and Deathstalker wolf. As wielders of the Karakuri, players must restore balance to Azuma. Along with solo play, there is co-op for up to three players and cross-platform play. Voice-over languages include English, Japanese, Italian, German, and Spanish.

In the trailer, along with weapons like the katana, bow and umbrella, we also see the Karakuri in action. This creates specific structures like a glider, giant mallet, bomb, and harpoon to even the odds against the Kemono. It can also seemingly enhance weapons. Azuma’s landscapes also range from coastlines and snowy plains to flower fields.

In a press release, Koei Tecmo Games executive VP Yosuke Hayashi said, “WILD HEARTS opens up a vibrant fantasy world to players that are as untamed as it is beautiful. With WILD HEARTS, not only did we want to showcase the evolution, infusion and real threat caused by Kemono, but we also wanted to create a game where crafting was at the core of the experience, redefining what can be possible in a beast-hunting game. We have placed great care in designing our Karakuri to fit within the combat, and we’re excited for players to use these powerful mechanisms to fight giant beasts and traverse the world.”

Stuart Lang, VP of Global Brand for EA, added, “EA Originals is a label for those who dare to explore. It’s a home for studio partners – like Omega Force – forging new ways to play from bold creative visions, and for players who love to discover untold stories and unseen worlds. We are excited to follow the wonderful and critically acclaimed It Takes Two, from Hazelight Studios, with the ingenious mechanics, giant nature-infused beasts and epic battles of WILD HEARTS, the first AAA hunting experience for a new generation.”

Stay tuned for more details on WILD HEARTS in the coming months.

It seems, however, that BioWare Points are being retired. A Reddit user posted an email from the publisher which stated that BioWare Points would no longer be available on Origin from October 11th. As a result, DLC for Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 are now free to claim. This doesn’t apply to Multiplayer Packs for Mass Effect 3 and currencies like Crystals and Platinum for other titles remain.

Those with points remaining can use them to purchase Multiplayer Packs in Mass Effect 3. However, after October 11th, packs must be purchased with Credits. And yes, those who already purchased content with BioWare Points will still have access to them.

While not technically an official announcement, I can confirm that paid single-player DLC for Mass Effect 3 – like Citadel, Omega and Leviathan – can now be claimed for free. The same applies to Mass Effect 2 with its Lair of the Shadow Broker, Kasumi – Stolen Memory, Overlord, Arrival, and so on. So if you’ve never played the DLC for either of these games or the first two Dragon Age titles, now is the time.

Petroglyph Studios’ eagerly awaited Command and Conquer Remastered Collection is now available for PC. The collection includes Command and Conquer: Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert along with their respective expansion packs – Covert Operations, Counterstrike and The Aftermath. Check out the launch trailer below to see the game in action.

Boasting remastered visuals that still retain the original’s aesthetic, players can also switch back to the legacy visuals at anytime when playing solo. The music has also been remastered with composer Frank Klepacki re-recording 20 tracks for this release. FMV cutscenes have been restored upscaled and there’s more than four hours of B-roll footage to check out in the gallery.

Command and Conquer Remastered Collection also comes with mod support, allowing users to create and share their mods via the Steam Workshop. If that weren’t enough, the multiplayer been overhauled and custom lobbies can be created. The collection retails for $19.99 on Steam and Origin.