Last week, CD Projekt Red released a large update for Cyberpunk 2077 that set out to remedy stability and open-world issues that were plaguing the user experience. Smaller tweaks were also implemented that fixed some UI and other visual problems. More importantly, a lengthy series of fixes were aimed at optimizing quests. However, a new issue has emerged that many players report is game-breaking concerning a rampant Takemura bug. 

We're working on the issue where the conversation with Takemura may not start during the quest "Down on the Street" for @CyberpunkGame and plan to release a Hotfix to address it as soon as possible.
In the meantime, here's a potential workaroundhttps://t.co/ujjxb8snGu

— CD PROJEKT RED CS (@CDPRED_Support) January 25, 2021

In the story quest “Down On The Street,” Goro Takemura –  an exiled member of security, banking, and manufacturing conglomerate Arasaka –  is supposed to call V so that the mission can begin. The key phrase here is “supposed to” because Takemura’s phone call never comes through meaning that the quest can’t be activated. This brings the central narrative of Cyberpunk 2077 to a sudden halt. In the recent 1.1 update, this problem was listed as one of the incoming fixes. CD Projekt Red has acknowledged that it is aware of the issue and will get going on implementing a long-term fix. For now, players will have to utilize the workaround offered on the Cyberpunk 2077's support page which you can read below:

• Load a gamesave before Takemura and V leave Wakako's office.
• Finish the conversation with Takemura outside the office right away.
• Right after the finished conversation and when the quest was updated, skip 23h.
• See if the holocall triggers and the dialogue with Takemura starts.

While it's not a permanent fix, it is something that will allow players to continue on their adventure in Night City without having to wait for a new hot fix. To learn more about Cyberpunk 2077, including everything that's happened since the action-RPG launched, you can check out our game hub right here. 

[Source: IGN]

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With the recent Star Wars news confirming that EA no longer holds exclusivity over the IP, the gaming world has been abuzz with what that means for a galaxy far, far away. While Ubisoft is hard at work on its own open-world Star Wars adventure, a recent report alleges that a new Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic game is in the works and without EA and BioWare. 

BioWare offered up its RPG magic when it gave us Knights of the Old Republic, a magic that fans have been clamoring for more of over the years. Now it looks like that dream might become a reality, though this time without the studio that brought it to life. 

The latest report comes by way of VGC from reputable Star Wars insider Bespin Bulletin. During a recent B.O.B The Podcast episode, the discussion of a mysterious project came up, a project that Bespin alleges is a brand-new Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. They added that fans will "never guess" who is helming the rumored task. 

"Amongst my digging, I heard there is a Knights of the Old Republic project in development somewhere," they said during the podcast. "I talked to a couple of people, and I also found out that Jason Schreier said that it's not with EA, and we'll 'never guess' who the studio is that's making this game." 

This isn't the first time this report has come up, including myself that spoke with a previous writer attached to the original game back at the start of 2020. At the time, however, my source did not state that EA was distanced from this project, a project that has been rumored several times over to be a complete remake. 

According to previous rumors, the reported remake will blend elements from Knights of the Old Republic and Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. The reworking will blend the two stories in a way that makes sense with the current Star Wars canon. 

Regarding who will be taking up this project if EA and BioWare end up not being involved, we don't know which studio has that honor. With rumors of a possible Knights of the Old Republic-adapted movie and Lucasfilm confirming previously that it is working on "something" revolving around Knights of the Old Republic, the world of possibilities remains wide open. 

What do you think about the possibility of a new Knights of the Old Republic or a potential remake? Thoughts on rumors that BioWare is not involved? Sound off with your hot takes that would make any sith proud in the comment section below! 

[Source: B.O.B The Podcast via VGC]

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Despite playing the Hitman franchise since the release of Blood Money in 2006, I’ve never been particularly good at them until recently. My lack of skill was hardly a deterrent to my interest though, as the series’ eclectic wardrobe of disguises always offered avenues for interesting gameplay - even for players like me that mostly stumbled their way through each mission. However, with time I eventually learned how to effectively utilize Agent 47’s toolset, specifically when the World of Assassination trilogy began with the release of Hitman (2016).

Following this week’s launch of Hitman 3 and the game’s positive reviews, there are many players who are experiencing IO Interactive’s series for the first time. Since I personally understand how difficult it can be to approach this series as a new player, I’ve created a Hitman 3 beginner’s guide that contains the necessary tips for you to become a master assassin.

Play The ICA Training Facility Guided Tutorial

If you’ve never played a Hitman game, or even if you need a bit of a refresher, I highly recommend that you start with the guided ICA Training Facility tutorial. Not only does the mission provide a quick overview of Agent 47’s abilities and tool set, I think it does a nice job of showcasing the myriad ways a player can approach their targets in any given level. All in all, the guided tutorial will only take about 10 minutes of your time, and the accompanying cutscenes highlight the unique connection that Agent 47 and his handler, Diana Burnwood, develop early on with one another.

Follow The Mission Stories

Originally introduced as “Opportunities” in Hitman (2016), Mission Stories serve as guided paths that lead the player through some of the location’s key plot points, which often unravel into moments ripe for satisfying assassinations. Even if you’re less interested in the narrative through line of Hitman 3, the game’s Mission Stories offer great introductions to each new mission as well as provide a great starting place for discovering the various ways that you can exploit your targets’ blind spots. To get started, simply explore the map until you spot an aqua lightbulb icon and then eavesdrop on the conversation to reveal the guided Mission Story.

Experiment With Disguises

Disguises have been a foundational and crucial ingredient in the Hitman formula since the series’ inception in the early 2000s, and their role in Hitman 3 is no different. Each disguise has its own permissions and specific areas that can be accessed when wearing it. For example, crew members can explore the backstage and maintenance areas of a level, while security guards usually have more free reign of the map with their security room and VIP lounge permissions. Be aware that not all disguises are created equal, and some are much more valuable than others, but part of the game’s charm is discovering which ones are most desirable.

The simplest way to obtain a disguise is to subdue the NPC that’s wearing it, hide the body, and then change into their clothes. Depending on the mission at hand, Agent 47 can also acquire disguises by finding them in bathrooms, changing rooms, and other areas around the map. Every location in Hitman 3 is different from the last and so are the disguises within.

Noise Matters

Players that are new to the game likely know they need to stay out of plain sight, however they may not be aware how much of a significant role that noise plays in the moment-to-moment gameplay of Hitman 3. It’s the reason why Agent 47 uses silenced weapons by default, and why a few coins can be the most powerful tools at his disposal. When you will inevitably need to pass through a guard’s patrol or lure them to a secluded area for a quiet takedown, you can distract them with a foreign noise and they’ll likely investigate.

Aim For Accidental Kills 

The Accidental Kill is a technique that’s key to becoming a true silent assassin in Hitman 3. Rather than eliminating your target by typical means, like with a pistol or fiber wire, use objects and contextual points of interest within the map to stage a kill. The civilians and guards within the vicinity will assume the target’s death was happenstance and will not suspect foul play.

This type of environmental kill is crucial for players wanting to improve their mission rankings, as it will not trigger a Body Found or Crime Noticed event, therefore your score will not be penalized. Planning to snipe your target with a rifle? Aim for the gas canister that’s adjacent to them instead. Does your target’s path involve them walking beneath a catwalk? Attempt to drop a suspended object on top of them and their escorts will be none the wiser. Your target’s death was an accident, after all.

Always Pick Up The Crowbar

The crowbar is arguably the best item that you can find in any of Hitman 3's locations. Not only will the tool allow you to quickly knock a NPC unconscious, but it’s necessary to pry open doors and unlock the persistent shortcuts that are scattered throughout each level. If you see a crowbar, always pick it up.

How To Delete Surveillance Footage in Hitman 3

If you’ve played Hitman 3 for even a few minutes, you’ve likely noticed that there are surveillance cameras scattered throughout each location. You need to avoid their line of sight whenever possible, especially when not in disguise, as surveillance systems act as security’s second set of eyes. If a camera spots you trespassing or committing a crime, it will ping your location for the nearest guard to investigate. 

Certain challenges and rankings in the game require Agent 47 to leave behind zero evidence, so it’s important to avoid or disable cameras as you go and wipe the system’s recordings if you are noticed. To disable a camera preemptively, simply shoot it with a silenced pistol like the ICA19 when no witnesses are present. To delete recorded evidence after being spotted, you’ll need to explore and find one of the map’s security rooms. Once you’re successfully inside the security room, find the camera recorder and destroy the evidence.

Understand Agent 47’s Statuses

It’s important to understand Agent 47’s access permissions at any given time since he often finds himself in odd predicaments. The protagonist’s disguise status and location authorizations can be found on top of and below the mini-map, respectively. If the status bars say that you’re trespassing, it obviously means you’re not allowed in that particular location and must either sneak through or obtain an appropriate disguise to walk about freely.

The Compromised status signifies that you were witnessed committing an illegal act and that your equipped disguise is now rendered inoperative. The NPC that compromises you will be highlighted in orange while using Agent 47’s Instinct ability. If a civilian catches you, they will run to the nearest guard and report their findings; and if a guard happens to witness the crime, they’ll begin a search party to find you. Ultimately, if the status bar indicates that you’ve been compromised, are being hunted, or are in combat, you need to quietly leave the area and change into a new outfit as soon as possible.

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With Xiao coming soon, it's a sure thing that you're going to want coffers filled with resources to take advantage of the new banners in patch 1.3 We'll be hanging out and enjoying the sights, the sounds, and the smells of freshly cooked food in the streets of Liyue as we experiment with a new tower defense offering and get to do more quests with our masked companion Xiao. I have a feeling that prior to the big drop of a next region, Xiao is going to quickly rise to the top ranks of Genshin popularity.

Xiao strikes me as a kind of Boba Fett character, where he makes a few awesome but minor appearances early and then becomes a character worthy of his own series later. Anyway, gift codes! Genshin Impact regularly releases codes that can give you gold, primogems, books, and more. Obviously, our big issue of concern is the primogems right now, we'll be pulling hard on the Xiao banner. What's a banner? What are primogems? Check out our gacha beginner's guide to find out.

Anyway, on to the gift codes. These rotate often, but there are almost always a few going around to track down. To get the rewards from these codes, you need to enter them on the Genshin Impact website. You can navigate there right here. They won't work if you try to enter them in the in-game shop or anything! These codes were tested on PC, so you many have issues with them depending on your platform. While these codes are current as of this posting, new codes often rotate in and out, keeping players hunting for new ones!

GSIMPTQ125

153YuSaenh

GENSHINGIFT

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One important strategy to get the 5-star roster you want without pulling out your wallet is to conserve your primogems from patch to patch and then spend them all when a character you want hits the banner. With Xiao, this will be the first time I spend primogems since Venti's original release. Inevitably, future patches will have characters even cooler than Xiao, which I know sounds impossible right now, but I expect some incredible characters to join the crew when the next giant region patch comes out.

"Genshin Impact is a whimsical, wondrous land dripping with unbridled charm and appeal, combining a ridiculously compelling reward loop with unfettered, continuous discovery," I said in my Game Informer review, scoring the game a big 9.25. "In this world I felt like a child visiting theme park for the first time — dazzled, mesmerized, and completely swept away. I only wish the shimmering glow wasn’t marred by a ghoulish monetization model, but that’s something I’m willing to overlook for my ticket to this fascinating realm."

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• Mythic Dungeon International 2021 - Shadowlands Season 1
• Mythic Dungeon International - Cup 1 - Day 1
• Mythic Dungeon International - Cup 1 - Day 2
• Mythic Dungeon International - Cup 1 - Day 3

Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

Top teams from around the world will face off to earn points towards advancing to the MDI Season 1 Global Finals and compete for their share of the $20,000 (USD) prize pool per cup.

DETAILS

• Dates: Every other Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from January 22 to March 14
• Broadcast Start Time: 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 a.m. AEDT
• Format: 5v5, Best of 3
• Seasonal Affix: Prideful
• Dungeons:
  
  • The Necrotic Wake
  • Plaguefall
  • Mists of Tirna Scithe
  • Halls of Atonement’
  • Theater of Pain
  • De Other Side
  • Spires of Ascension
  • Sanguine Depths
• Language Streams on YouTube:
  
  • English
  • German
  • Brazilian Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Spanish

CASTER LINEUP

MORE

Check out the broadcast schedule on our esports page to plan ahead for more MDI in weeks to come. Be sure to keep an eye on the WoW Esports Twitter page for live updates, recaps, and all the memes you can handle.

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On Friday, January 22, Microsoft announced a steep price increase for its Xbox Live membership service, a service that online play is reliant upon as well as the other freebie perks that the subscription allows. The announcement was immediately met with backlash from the community, both industry and consumer side, en masse and it was due to that feedback that the company has rescinded its initial decision to up the pricing. In addition to the decision to reverse the price hike, Microsoft is also removing the Xbox Live requirement for playing free-to-play online titles such as Apex Legends and Fortnite. 

Team Green took to its initial announcement to share the company's regret for the move, citing that they are going to use what was learned from the misstep to help make the Xbox experience more gamer and consumer-friendly. 

"We messed up today, and you were right to let us know," reads the official statement. "Connecting and playing with friends is a vital part of gaming and we failed to meet the expectations of players who count on it every day. As a result, we have decided not to change Xbox Live Gold Pricing."

The statement continues, saying "We're turning this moment into an opportunity to bring Xbox Live more in line with how we see the player at the center of their experience. For free-to-play games, you will no longer need an Xbox Live Gold membership to play those games on Xbox. We are working hard to deliver this change as soon as possible in the coming months." 

The statement acknowledges that the company made a mistake and how it plans on making it better, something that is inline with the current Xbox ecosystem growth strategy that has been the clear objective going into a new generation. 

Following the reversal announcement, reactions began pouring in. Many sung the praises of Microsoft for making good on its promise to keep the player in-mind on the business side of its operations, while others wondered if this was a marketing ploy all along. I spoke with several members of the Xbox team working for Microsoft last night following the update to Xbox Live and the common consensus was that the backlash wasn't simply from the fans, but internally as well. The reversal was not pre-meditated, according to my sources, something evidenced further by the purchase-cards of the newly reflected Live pricing reportedly already shipped out to select retailers. This was a misstep, a costly one, and a time machine can't be built to make it right. What Microsoft does from this point on is what matters and plans of further Xbox Live membership improvements are already in progress. 

So what does this mean for new users looking to join the club with an Xbox Live membership? Existing members and newcomers alike will see the reversal of the price hike immediately. For clarity, here is the breakdown: 

• 1-month - $9.99
• 3-month - $24.99
• 6-month - $39.99
• 12-month - $59.99

The change to make free-to-play games independent of Live restrictions is currently in progress now, an update of implementation is expected in the near future. 

What do you think about the last 24 hours of Microsoft and its attention to Xbox Live? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! You can also check out our deep dive into the initial announcement with our previous coverage here for more background on how a decision like this came to be in the first place. 

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