-
Overwatch League Canceled, But Why?
Six years after the Overwatch League was formed, the popular event is coming to an end. Activision Blizzard is moving away from the esports league and taking its competitive Overwatch 2 scene elsewhere, the company announced in early November. Read on to find out the latest Overwatch news and what’s been happening in the space.
What is Overwatch?
Released in 2016 by Blizzard Entertainment, Overwatch is a competitive multiplayer team-based shooter; essentially, Overwatch is a 5v5 game played either with strangers across the internet (known as "solo queue") or a group of friends working together (known as "premades"). In a typical Overwatch match, two teams are running around a large area shooting each other while they either protect or defend an objective.
Overwatch has a couple dozen maps that vary wildly in size and construction. One map may find players escorting a priceless artifact through the streets of a futuristic African city; another may have them fighting over a small piece of territory in a research station on the Moon.
When first launched, Overwatch maps came in four different modes:
* Assault has one team attempting to capture two control points on a map within a limited amount of time. Once the offensive team captures both points or runs out of time, the teams switch from offense to defense and vice versa. The team that makes the most progress toward capturing their opponent’s points wins.
* Escort has each team alternate between offense and defense. In this mode, the mobile payload (usually representing an important object in Overwatch’s lore) has to be escorted past three checkpoints by the attacking team. Once the team reaches the third checkpoint or runs out of time, like in Assault mode, the two teams switch sides, and the former defenders now try to do better than the attackers.
* Hybrid is a combination of Assault and Escort. The attacking team needs to capture a point, like in Assault, and then escort a payload, like in Escort. Hybrid maps, including King’s Row and Eichenwalde, are generally more popular than maps of other modes because Hybrid allows for a variety of strategies to work depending on whether players are trying to capture or escort.
* Control is essentially a King of the Hill mode. Teams fight over a central location and attempt to gain control of it for a certain amount of time. Once the time is up, the next round starts in a wildly different part of the same map. Teams have to win two out of the three sections of the map in order to claim victory.
Overwatch heroes
Heroes are the playable characters in Overwatch and are hands-down the best part of the game. Each hero offers a unique style of play, thanks to having a unique weapon, set of abilities, and ultimate skill. During gameplay, players can switch between heroes in the spawn room. Heroes come from a variety of national and ethnic backgrounds and occasionally speak in their native languages, exchanging specific dialogue with each other based on their character history and background.
New heroes are added to the game over time as free updates. Before playing the new heroes, players must unlock them by leveling up their Battle Pass to a certain level during the season they were added. Heroes can also be unlocked by purchasing the premium Battle Pass that season or by completing a set of hero challenges after the season. The game originally launched with 21 heroes, and 18 heroes were added over time, for a total roster of 39 heroes at the time of this writing.
Heroes are classified under one of three roles:
* Tank heroes are like the offensive linemen or centers of the game. Physically much larger than their counterparts, tanks generally have large amounts of health and armor, and they are almost always on the front lines.
* Damage heroes are like three-point shooters or cleanup hitters. Although every character in the game can do damage, damage heroes focus on it almost exclusively and are designed to secure eliminations (or “picks”) quickly. More than half of the game’s heroes are in the damage category, meaning there is an extremely wide variety of play styles among them.
* Support heroes are arguably the most important in the game, roughly akin to catchers in baseball or goalies in soccer. Supports spend much of their time preventing their teams from dying. All supports have the ability to heal their teammates from damage, but they each do so in different ways.
An ultimate is a hero’s superpower, their most powerful ability. Each hero’s ultimate is unique, and all ultimates have the power to tip a game from defeat to victory when played at the right time. Each hero builds up towards their ultimate; once their ultimate meter is at 100%, it is ready to go.
Hero selection and team composition are the foundation of competitive Overwatch strategy. Teams must consider how the heroes work with each other and how they work against the other team.
Overwatch 2
Overwatch 2, which launched in October 2022, is an upgraded version of Overwatch that adds a massive amount of new content and freshens up some of the game’s core features. For example, the upgrade brought in a new user interface, rebalanced the heroes, and introduced a shift to a free-to-play model, with premium seasonal passes completely replacing the game’s hot-topic loot box mechanic. In terms of gameplay, Overwatch 2 sticks to the core objective-focused map modes but switches things up with 5v5 instead of 6v6 matches.
Some of the other changes introduced in Overwatch 2 include the following:
* Significant changes to many of the abilities and play styles of some of the game’s iconic heroes, including Orisa, Doomfist, and Bastion.
* New maps, including Esperança, Colosseo, and New Queen Street.
* Assault mode was removed. A new competitive quick play mode called Push was added.
* New cosmetics and Arcade modes.
What is the Overwatch League?
https://youtu.be/OFHpK627XkI?si=2yWJIIcUJLip4_rJ
The Overwatch League was an international esports league produced by Blizzard Entertainment that comprised 20 city-based teams and featured the best Overwatch players on the planet. With $5 million in prizes, thrilling storylines, guaranteed player salaries, and cutting-edge production value, the Overwatch League was the world’s premier professional esports league.
Running from 2018 to 2023, the Overwatch League followed the model of other traditional North American professional sporting leagues by using a set of permanent, city-based teams across North America, Europe, and Asia that were backed by separate ownership groups. The league used the regular season and playoffs format rather than the promotion and relegation approach used commonly in other esports and non–North American leagues, with players on the roster being assured a minimum annual salary, benefits, a portion of winnings, and revenue-sharing based on team performance.
The league began with 12 teams for its inaugural season, which started on January 10, 2018, and expanded to 20 teams for the 2019 season and 19 for 2023. The 12 teams participating in 2018 were from across the United States, Europe, and Asia, and each invested $20 million in franchise fees.
History of the Overwatch League
When the Overwatch League was announced in 2016, it was billed as a way to legitimize esports. It imagined an esports program that operated like the National Football League or National Hockey League, where teams—tied to cities—had a permanent spot and traveled to the home areas of other teams across the world for games. Though traditional sports owners bought into the Overwatch League, including New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke, that vision never really came to fruition.
For the first few seasons, the Overwatch League operated primarily out of the Blizzard Arena in Los Angeles, save for a few “homestead” weekends where teams tested the home-and-away game format. Some teams even planned multimillion dollar arenas, like Philadelphia Fusion’s $50 million Fusion Arena. (The lot remains empty, but owner Comcast Spectacor said it still intends to build a multiuse arena there). The home-and-away setup fizzled out as the Overwatch League transitioned into strict online play during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Things got much, much worse for the Overwatch League when big sponsors dropped support for Activision Blizzard following the California Civil Rights department’s lawsuit against the company for a toxic work environment. In-person events kicked up again in 2022, but interest in the league—and in Overwatch 2—continued to dwindle into 2023.
Why did it get canceled?
In summary:
* After the conclusion of the 2023 season, two-thirds of the Overwatch League teams decided to leave the league, prompting Activision Blizzard to abandon the current model.
* Activision Blizzard will pay nearly $120 million to 20 contracted teams as they move toward creating a new competitive framework for the game.
* The closure of the Overwatch League was no surprise, given Activision Blizzard’s overblown ambitions, financial burdens, and the impact of a scandal about a toxic work environment that led sponsors to cut ties and a decline in interest from fans.
The move to cancel the Overwatch League was announced in a post on X from the official Overwatch League account, which stated that the organization will focus on “building our vision of a revitalized esports program” moving forward.
No details have yet been provided about what will potentially replace the Overwatch League; however, Activision Blizzard is adamant that competitive Overwatch 2 isn’t done for, whatever this new format may be.
The first definitive signs that the Overwatch League’s future could be in doubt came earlier this year when an Activision Blizzard financial report revealed that teams were set to vote on a new operating agreement.
Under the terms proposed by Blizzard, Overwatch League teams voting not to continue with the program were eligible for a $6 million termination fee. This gave teams participating in the Overwatch League a strong financial incentive not to continue their partnership with the program. Teams who hadn’t already paid their franchising fee for the year were set to earn even more following forgiveness of the fees owed to Blizzard, resulting in approximately $12–$13.5 million in incentive per team to let the league crumble.
Although Blizzard managed to attract some top players from around the world to its competitive program, delays in the development of Overwatch 2 and concerns over allegations of a toxic work environment at Blizzard led to the Overwatch League losing advertisers in recent years, putting the organization’s financial future in doubt. Blizzard may simply see continued investment in the Overwatch League as financially unsustainable as it continues to cut costs across the company.
What does the future hold for the competitive Overwatch scene?
Although the Overwatch League will be gone forever, the Overwatch esports concept is very much alive and well. According to industry insider and investigative journalist Jacob Wolf in early November 2023, Activision Blizzard hopes to run the next iteration of its Overwatch esports program in partnership with ESL FACEIT, a leading esports organizer and broadcaster and subsidiary of the Saudi Public Investment Fund. ESL FACEIT is the company behind the broadcast and promotion of Activision Blizzard’s other esports organization, the Call of Duty League.
With negotiations between ESL FACEIT and Activision Blizzard apparently beginning long before the Overwatch League team owner vote was called, it appears that serious doubts about the league’s future had been long-standing.
Although the Overwatch League has been incredibly influential in legitimizing esports on the global stage, it has proven a very expensive venture for franchise owners, and the big, expensive bet on the Overwatch League has finally been called off.
-
Brave Leo AI: The Chatbot that Respects Your Privacy
your personal internet wingman. Ask Leo to summarize web pages in seconds or provide insightful talking points on trending videos. Leo can also generate new content, translate text, and even compose terrible poetry if you're into that.
Unlike Big Tech assistants, Leo's responses are anonymous. Once your chat ends, the conversation vanishes into the void. There's no need to log in or hand over personal data. Leo taps into Brave's built-in privacy protection to keep your information secure.
Early tests show that Leo can outmaneuver competitors like ChatGPT on web comprehension and speed thanks to Claude's cutting-edge natural language skills. But for now, Leo is only available on the desktop version of the Brave browser.
So, if you're looking for an AI copilot to navigate the web's informational overload, Leo may be your new BFF. Just don't ask about those snow boots.
What is Brave?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiXaHv_9rmQ
As discussed previously, Brave is a free privacy-focused browser that blocks website trackers and online ads.
By default, brave runs in incognito mode, shutting out invasive ads and pop-ups. No more getting bombarded with ads after clicking on them once. Brave strips away the cross-site trackers that stalk your clicks and build creepy advertising profiles.
By default, with Brave, you use an incognito window. Brave blocks cookies and cross-site trackers, eliminating ad campaigns that follow you from website to website. This is a game-changer for most of us who are showered with unwanted ads in news feeds, social media, and other internet browsers.
What is Brave Leo AI?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odAjS0CMHj0
Leo is your personal AI sidekick for the web. With Leo, you can:
* Get summaries of webpages and videos in seconds. Leo scans content and highlights key facts and concepts.
* Receive informed opinions on trending topics. Ask Leo for the main talking points to sound smart at your next dinner party.
* Generate new articles, emails, and more. Tell Leo to compose a poem, translate text, or transcribe audio.
* Have natural conversations. Leo's friendly interface makes chatting feel smooth and natural.
Leo streamlines your workflow by quickly delivering critical information. No more scanning dense articles or watching long videos. Leo does the work and gives summary insights on demand.
Brave Leo Features
Leo launched in November 2023, bringing AI assistance to the desktop version of the Brave browser.
Like other AI chatbots, Leo is designed to help folks:
* Quickly obtain information.
* Solve problems.
* Find answers to questions.
However, Leo has another string to its bow: it can create real-time summaries of web pages and videos. Leo simplifies web searches with features including:
* Independent analysis. Leo scans and comprehends current web pages without relying on external sources.
* Anonymous use. Conversations disappear once completed. No login or personal data required.
* User control. Leo only accesses open browser tabs. Users decide what sites and info to analyze.
* Ad-free experience. Leo blocks distracting ads and trackers, allowing you to focus on content.
* Natural language processing. Claude framework enables smooth voice and text conversations.
* Easy accessibility. Leo conveniently accessible via browser sidebar and address bar icons.
With Leo, Brave combines AI with enhanced user privacy. No tracking, profiling, or data collection. Just an AI assistant ready to understand and summarize the web for you.
What drives Brave Leo?
Leo's AI brain is powered by Llama 2, a large language model (LLM) released by Meta that's free for research and commercial usage. Llama 2 enables Leo to understand natural language requests and provide informed responses.
Leo uses a reverse proxy service to keep all user interactions anonymous. This intermediary server shields your IP address and identity. It forwards requests to Leo and relays responses back to you.
A reverse proxy can mask your identity, and if someone were trying to find out who you are, they are more likely to get the reverse proxy details than yours. Once your chat ends, the exchange is permanently deleted with no trace left behind.
So when you chat with Leo, you can feel confident sharing queries and information freely. The reverse proxy anonymizes every conversation.
Brave engineered Leo for capabilities, user privacy, and security. The reverse proxy design bakes anonymity into every interaction. You get an AI assistant without compromising personal data.
Why should you use Brave Leo?
Helping you find your way around the internet more easily might sound suspicious if Brave Leo was trained to lead you to sites chosen by big tech companies or if your searches were tracked. But in keeping with the team's philosophy, Leo is built into the Brave browser. It falls within the independent, anonymous, and secure boundaries the Brave team sets.
How current is the information Brave Leo holds?
While a plan exists to access some live information in future releases, Brave Leo doesn't currently have its own specific access.
However, when used with the Brave browser, Leo can analyze and summarize or explain any webpage you open without leaving the page. This could be a handy feature.
Pricing of Leo
The basic Leo is free for Brave desktop users. Leo Premium costs $15/month and uses Anthropic's Claude assistant for improved responses in a multilingual setting, coding, and excellent logical reasoning.
If you opt for the premium version, you must create an account. Brave confirms there's no link between your Leo interactions and the personal details used in your account.
This is a comparison of the free and paid versions, as provided by Brave.com:
Is there anything I need to look out for?
Regardless of which version of Brave Leo you use, use clear and precise instructions to reduce the likelihood of receiving incorrect answers.
Because your conversations aren't retained, there's no way you can look back on past conversations. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a problem, but if you want the information for future use, copy and save it elsewhere.
All AI chatbots tend to 'hallucinate,' and Leo will also. So, Brave recommends double-checking the supplied information for accuracy. If you use Leo to interpret web pages already opened, it's easier to confirm the accuracy of the provided answers.
How do I get Brave Leo?
Brave Leo is currently only available on desktop computers, with mobile versions expected to run shortly. To start using Leo:
* Download and install Brave Browser 1.60 or higher.
* Open the Brave browser on your desktop.
* Locate the Leo icon in your browser's sidebar or address bar.
* Click the Leo icon to open the chat window.
* Type a question or request and hit Enter or Send.
* Leo will provide a response to your query.
* Continue the conversation by entering additional questions and comments.
* Click the Leo icon again to close the chat window and end the session.
With just a few clicks, you can access Leo directly within the Brave browser for quick and anonymous AI assistance.
Why should you download Brave?
By downloading Brave, you get not only the usual features of browsers but also three features that most browsers don't have:
* Privacy: Along with an incognito window, Brave doesn't track you or your searches. Because Brave doesn't collect your data, it can't share or sell it to others.
* Independent Searches: Brave has built its own search engine index. Now, your searches are independent of big tech companies that track you and may have a vested interest in promoting specific websites.
* Speed: Because advertisers aren't tracking your every click, internet speed is faster – 3 times faster than Chrome is the pitch claimed by Brave. Not only quicker page loading, but no longer downloading data you don't need, and laptop batteries will go further on less charge. Brave is an excellent solution if privacy and speed are compelling issues for you. It's quick to download and imports your bookmarks, extensions, and passwords, making the switch easy.
How Brave makes money?
If Brave is secure and doesn't sell data to interested parties, how does it make money? The short answer is:
* Brave does have advertisements.
The main difference between Brave and Google ads is that Brave browser ads can't track you from site to site. Brave uses a private advertising network instead.
If you opt for the Brave Rewards system, you can choose which kinds of ads you see and the maximum number shown to you per hour. The ads are strategically placed on the page, making them less intrusive than on other browsers. And as a reward, you'll earn tokens each time an ad appears on your screen.
Brave uses Basic Attention Token (BAT), based on Ethereum - an open-source blockchain platform. BAT connects users (people using Brave as a browser) with advertisers, publishers, or creators. In exchange for displaying ad types of your choice, your attention is given a value that earns you 70% of the ad income Brave receives from advertisers in the form of a BAT. BATs can be exchanged for both fiat and cryptocurrencies and gift cards from various companies.
Brave: AI without compromise
Brave redefines the web browser with its focus on privacy and speed. No more annoying ads or trackers following your every click. Leo adds a privacy-focused chatbot. Conversations vanish when you're done.
As big tech gathers more user data for its AI, Brave, and Leo offer an alternative. If you want to control your web experience, the Brave-Leo team has you covered. Intelligent browsing and assistance while respecting your data. The future looks bright with Brave's innovative approach.
-
A Preview of Gangs of Sherwood
Discover a whole new take on Robin Hood, the legendary English outlaw in Gangs of Sherwood, the upcoming cooperative action-adventure game from Nacon. Whether you’re a fan of the story, or a cooperative action game player in search of a new medieval-cyberpunk challenge, prepare to find your fortune and free old England from oppression in Gangs of Sherwood.
Many movies, as well as strategy and action video games have taken their inspiration from the timeless story of Robin Hood. It’s been awhile since the last Robin Hood movie, and over two decades since Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood captured the spirit of medieval Nottingham, pitting our hero against the evil Sheriff.
Offering an original twist on the traditionally medieval setting, Gangs of Sherwood transplants the derring-do to a dystopian era, where the medieval and futuristic collide. The good people of England have never been so oppressed by the Sheriff of Nottingham, so get ready to rise up in this explosive action game. If you’re a lone wolf, feel free to play solo, or gang up with up to 4 players to rob the rich and lead the rebellion. Read on to discover the story behind the game, as well as storyline, gameplay, and of course, Gangs of Sherwood release date!
Who’s behind Gangs of Sherwood?
Gangs of Sherwood is developed by premier Belgium based game developer Appeal Studios, a subsidiary of THQ Nordic. Appeal are responsible for the Outcast action-adventure franchise. The publisher behind Gangs of Sherwood is French video game company Nacon. Nacon is renowned for several popular game franchises, including the Warhammer universe.
Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the glen?
Before we get into the characters and gameplay of Gangs of Sherwood, let’s set the scene by reminding ourselves of the legendary tale of Robin Hood. While the story of a handsome, Lincoln green clad hero fighting for the oppressed and outwitting the nefarious Sheriff of Nottingham is the popular version of the legend of Robin Hood, the truth is a slightly murkier shade of green.
A skilled archer and swordsman returning to northern England from the Crusades, Robin finds his land taken by the oppressive Sheriff of Nottingham, and the country misruled by Prince John.
Ever faithful to the rightful king (Richard the Lionheart), Robin and his gang of merry men rob the rich and give to the poor. An honorable outlaw defending the people against tyranny, Robin Hood and his gang hide out in Sherwood Forest. Since first appearing in ballads, poems and tales in the 15th century, there have been many variants of the story or Robin of Locksley, yeoman, archer and outlaw, this interesting article helps to pin down the truth about Robin Hood.
https://youtu.be/_OwV3p71vaY
Gangs of Sherwood story and characters
How did we get here? Returning from the Crusade with the Philosopher’s Stones, the King harnessed the power of the stones to greatly advance the motherland through technology. As we all know, power corrupts, and the Lionheart stone was seized by the Sheriff of Nottingham, degenerate oppressor of the English people! Fight the forces of evil in the beauty of Sherwood Forest and on the streets of the dystopian town of Nottingham, where the medieval peasantry and futuristic steel meet.
At the start of the game, Robin and his gang are in the midst of an uprising against the Sheriff of Nottingham and have been ambushed in his hometown of Locksley. The resistance movement in Gangs of Sherwood features the four iconic heroes from the legend of Robin Hood:
* Robin himself, archer extraordinaire who can take out enemies from afar and trick them with his special arrows.
* By his side is Little John, a reformed royal knight who specializes in smashing enemies up close with his (literal) fist of steel.
* Maid Marian is the Sheriff’s daughter, an assassin of noble birth, who prowls the battlefield attacking when the time is right.
* Last, but certainly not least, Friar Tuck protects his allies with his magnetic shield barrier and heals them with his medicinal mead.
Gameplay
While you can take on the Sheriff and his minions alone, Gangs of Sherwood is primarily intended to be played in co-op multiplayer mode. Gangs of Sherwood gameplay reflects this: each character possesses a unique, customizable gameplay, as well as unlockable combos and fragments to take on increasingly formidable enemies. Strategy, thought and coordination are all required to reign supreme in this game.
Roaming the medieval-futuristic land of Sherwood and Nottingham, Robin Hood and his sidekicks must battle a range of enemies. To attain victory in combat, players must combine fast, light attacks with devastating heavy attacks, and make use of their grappling hook to launch themselves into the air to perform aerial combos. Players must take advantage of their surroundings in Gangs of Sherwood, trapping enemies with falling objects or luring them into pits. Standard moves are complemented by Rebel Ability, a means of inflicting maximum damage, and Rebel Instinct, a foil that assists when taking down stronger enemies.
The mission based gameplay and design exude creativity, from the cyberpunk/medieval setting to enemies including laser crossbowmen. Varying your attacks and scrapping with style will boost your combo score, earning more gold. Gold is totted up at checkpoints, and can be cashed in for attack bonuses and health bars. Gold, as well as artifacts can be found along the way, unlocking unique advantages for the rest of the mission. Players must also help out villagers, another source of gold!
After completing each level, your gold as well as achievements can be used to access upgrades and new moves before returning to your hideout. The hideout features vendors who will sell you various items to enhance and customize your characters, as well as new clothes to make them look the part while robbing the rich. Higher difficulty settings and new modes unlock after completing the main adventure, so head out into the forest today with your bow in hand, and save
England from her cruel oppressors!
The takeaway
We hope that you have enjoyed this journey into the unique action-adventure universe of Gangs of Sherwood. Remember the release date: 30 November 2023 on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. We hope that you enjoy Gangs of Sherwood, be sure to also visit Acer’s Game Pass to discover all of your favorite games, past, present and future.
For gamers on a budget who require optimum performance at an approachable price, check out Acer’s Nitro V 15 Gaming Laptop - ANV15-51-59MT. This laptop boasts a 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display with 144 Hz refresh rate, in addition to a powerful Intel® Core™ i5-13420H Processor with up to 4.6GHz. On top of these features, the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card promises to impress, delivering crystal clear graphics as you take on the Sheriff of Nottingham!
-
A Preview of Last Train Home
Last Train Home is the latest title soon to be released by THQ Nordic Games that tells the story of a legion of Czechoslovakian soldiers trapped on the wrong side of Russia during the last days of World War I. These stranded soldiers have stolen an armored locomotive and plan to use it to get to the distant city of Vladivostok, from where they can obtain safe travel home. The train is their only opportunity to escape Russia, and your decisions on the isometric battlefield will determine how many of them make it back. For fans of This War of Mine, Company of Heroes, and Arma, Last Train Home may be your next fixation.
What real-world events is Last Train Home based on?
Last Train Home is a survival real-time strategy game that tells a harrowing tale based on actual World War I events. Players will need to use their wits to help a stranded group of soldiers get home on a stolen armored train. Publisher THQ Nordic and developer Ashborne Games are approaching the real-time strategy genre with a refreshing twist that combines intuitive and accessible combat with base-building and crew management. The developers researched extensively and worked closely with the ancestors of Czech soldiers to make Last Train Home as historically accurate as possible. Like the real-world events the game is based on, soldiers had to defend the train and take on other jobs, ranging from making repairs to making food. Although real-time strategy combat will be a major component of the game, Last Train Home has a lot more to it. Players will embark on a desperate mission through the depths of the war-torn wasteland of Siberia and command a legion of soldiers desperately trying to make their way home amidst the chaos of a civil war.
Last Train Home is a compelling narrative that portrays the experiences of the Czechoslovak Legion and their determination to return to their newly formed republic following The Great War. The game is set during the chaotic period of the Eastern Front in the later period of World War I and beyond. Based on the almost unbelievable story of the Czechoslovak Legion, Last Train Home has you leading an armored train full of soldiers wishing to return to their newly won state, but who cannot go the easy way west due to political concerns and blockades. Instead, they are forced to push east across 6,000 miles of the Trans-Siberian railway, fighting all the way, and (spoiler alert) eventually cross the sea from the port of Vladivostok to reach Europe and safety. The game will feature a complete in-game encyclopedia detailing its historical context, so players can fully immerse themselves in the trials of the Czechoslovakian soldiers. The encyclopedia is a product of the developer’s close cooperation with the descendants of the Czechoslovak Legion, who not only acted as historical consultants to ensure accuracy and authenticity but even helped film the game’s impressive live-action trailer with their replica of the armored train that was used on this wild adventure a century ago.
Storyline and characters
Last Train Home tells the story of a group of Czechoslovakian soldiers stuck behind enemy territory right at the end of World War I and following the Russian Revolution. Luckily, this legion was able to steal an armored train and journey through Siberia’s rough winter toward home. The story picks up following the 1917 Russian Revolution, when the Bolshevik Red Army fought the Tsarist White Army to control the country. Lasting four years, the Russian Civil War involved the deaths of 10 million people, and the chaos it induced displaced many more.
Ashborne Games has put a lot of care into dealing with the delicate nature of war and survival, and in what we saw this is abundantly clear. Every character has a name and a history, instead of just being a soldier controlled by AI that becomes lost in the balance of survival and death. You need to assign your soldiers to different tasks in the carriages, and thanks to their varied beliefs, some step up to the plate more effectively than others. This adds a personal touch to the decisions you’ll make when playing, especially when you see how the gameplay mechanics work.
The characters help make the world feel more alive too, with voice acting in the characters’ native languages making the game more immersive. It can be hard to care much about individual units in real-time strategy games when the only real end goal is to make them survive to the end, but players will find themselves getting attached to the crew and doing everything they can to keep each character alive. This is all thanks to the small interactions and scenes that take place between and during missions that bring the world to life and throw players deep into the action.
Gameplay mechanics
https://youtu.be/DhqorBOSI0Y?si=R7AmzjfMX6gJ_Ebf
Gameplay in Last Train Home is all about keeping the train and crew in shape. Stopping to scavenge for supplies or pick up new allies is vital if you want to make it home alive. The general gameplay loop of travel, stop, complete missions, and travel again might seem repetitive, but so much effort is taken to make the world feel alive that it never grows stale. You’ll be faced with dilemmas throughout your journey that have to do with the civil war raging in the country, and the decisions you make on your way will influence the final battle of the game. The single-player story is expected to take 30–40 hours to complete.
From the official game website:
* PICK YOUR BATTLES: Deploy your squad and complete diverse objectives in a series of real-time missions where specialist combat skills, planning, and superior tactics will lead you to victory.
* EQUIP YOUR SOLDIERS: Level up your men by unlocking new skills and gathering better equipment—discover their stories, assign medals, and help them rise up through the ranks.
* MANAGE YOUR CREW: Direct your soldiers in their noncombat roles aboard the train. Craft items, heal your wounded, and restore morale for the arduous journey home.
* UPGRADE YOUR TRAIN: Unlock your armored train’s full potential by upgrading the carriages and locomotive and oversee important maintenance work to keep it running.
* JOURNEY THROUGH SIBERIA: Stockpile and trade supplies, make new allies, and overcome crisis after crisis as civil war rages across the vast snowfields of Siberia.
The game is split into two distinct layers: strategic and tactical. On the strategic map, you follow the progress of your armored train as it makes its way through war-torn Russia, halting occasionally to take on important supplies like coal and food, recruit more refugees seeking an escape, clear obstacles, and complete missions.
Combat is the second big part of Last Train Home. Taking place on the tactical layer and in real time, each of your crew members from the strategic layer is represented in combat as well—their wounds and injuries will persist from layer to layer, and losing a crew member will affect your ability to operate the train. Each man’s life is supremely important in Last Train Home.
Players must also strategize for effective base building and crew management to survive. The limited number of crew on the train are each able to hold two professions; crew have one role in combat and another in service of the train and fellow survivors. Civilian professions include doctor and mechanic; crew must repair the train after it breaks down or is attacked by enemies, feed and heal other crew members, and upgrade the train. Martial professions include scout, sniper, and machine gunner. In each profession, a different set of skills is required to complete the scenarios you’re thrown into. Gameplay is cover-based and features stealth elements, such as line-of-sight and noise, that must be considered when infiltrating enemy bases and setting up ambushes. Players will also need to carefully consider where it's safe to stop the train to refill resources.
Players will discover certain towns and areas that can provide rest and resources that units of soldiers can explore. Although some locations may contain valuable resources and even new allies, others may hide enemies ready to ambush soldiers or the train. The train often has to be stopped so that the crew can perform repairs on it. Encountering enemy soldiers and even surprise attacks like artillery fire will occur that can severely damage vital components of the train and its crew. Caution must be exercised because if soldiers die, they are gone for good. Fortunately, the game offers specific save points that can be restored from if all hope is lost.
During combat and other missions, you can control groups of up to ten soldiers. Soldiers can be assigned individual tasks and moved to specific locations independently of other soldiers. Infantrymen will provide firepower to take out small pockets of resistance, and medics can stay back and provide aid to injured soldiers. You can lob grenades, spy on nearby camps to find safe spots or hidden dangers, and more. The point-and-click controls allow players to control the combat at their own pace, and the action can even be fully paused. This gameplay mechanic looks straightforward and should make it easy to set up ambushes while also completing secondary objectives.
Players will be able to choose the locations their group visits and the missions they take on. Decisions made will affect how the game’s story plays out. For example, helping a group of strangers may earn players some much-needed resources to repair the train or feed survivors, and newly created allies may even appear later to aid players when it really matters. However, helping others may also turn out to be a trap, resulting in getting the train damaged or even getting soldiers killed. Considering these features, the game should contain enough variation to provide for multiple unique playthroughs.
As you get closer to Siberia and your target, the port at Vladivostok where Entente ships will evacuate you, the biting cold of winter will be just as dangerous as the roaming Red Army troops you need to deal with.
When is the game coming out?
Last Train Home is set to launch on November 28, 2023, for Windows PC via Steam. For more awesome games, make sure to check out the lineup of games the Xbox Game Pass has on offer. Furthermore, with the purchase of a Windows 11 PC from Acer, you can enjoy one month free of Xbox Game Pass.
Nitro V 15 gaming laptop (ANV15-51)
In September, Acer launched a brand new gaming laptop: the Nitro V 15 (ANV15-51). Like other models in the Nitro series, the ANV15-51 features a black, plastic case with a smooth matte surface, RGB keyboard lighting, and colored stripes on the back of the case for added visual appeal. In general, the Nitro series of laptops are machines that without costing a whole fortune have been configured with powerful AMD Ryzen™ or Intel Raptor™ or later CPU options and the latest NVIDIA RTX™ 4000 series video cards.
This latest model comes in a range of configurations, with its baseline version being powered by a 13th-gen Intel Core i5-13420H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR6 memory, and other versions can come with 13th-gen Intel Core i7 processors. Memory-wise, the laptop supports up to 32 GB of DDR5 memory. For storage, you can opt for up to 2 TB of M.2 PCIe solid-state storage, ensuring quick booting and fast loading within games. It impresses with a generous number of I/O ports (three USB Type-A ports, a USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 port, an ethernet port, an HDMI port, a headset jack, and a DC-in jack). It also has a unique fan and exhaust system that works by drawing cool air in through the keyboard and expelling hot air through vents on the side and rear. It offers a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display for exceptional display quality and brightness, with a 144-Hz refresh rate and a quick 3-ms response time, for an 82% screen-to-body ratio.
Coming in at less than $1000 per machine, the Nitro V 15 (ANV15-51) can be considered a budget gaming laptop. However, it can easily run modern games and provide an immersive gaming experience. All of the Nitro series of gaming laptops contain high-quality components designed to last. Click here to find out more.
Here are the specs of the Acer Nitro V 15 ANV15-51 gaming laptop:
* Processor: Intel Core i5-13420H
* Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 (6 GB GDDR6)
* Display: 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 × 1080) IPS display with 144-Hz refresh rate
* RAM: 8 GB DDR5 (upgradable to 32GB)
* Storage: 512 GB SSD (PCIe Gen4, 16 Gb/s, NVMe)
* Operating System: Windows 11 Home
* Ports: 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 1 port with power-off charging, 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 1 × Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 port, HDMI, and 1 × USB Type-C port (Thunderbolt)
* Battery: 57 Wh
-
World of Warcraft: The War Within - The Story and Details Revealed So Far
The War Within is the newly announced expansion heading to Blizzard’s long-running MMO, World of Warcraft. The War Within will be the first of three new expansions revealed for the Worldsoul Saga trilogy, subsequent entries of which will be named Midnight and The Last Titan. This upcoming expansion will take players beneath the surface of Azeroth to the land of Khaz Algar, where they’ll find the Earthen, a race of dwarves, and darker forces such as the Nerubians. Of course, a new setting isn’t all that comes with an expansion: the game will have a new level cap, dungeons, and a raid to overcome. Continue reading to find out all we know so far about World of Warcraft: The War Within.
World of Warcraft: The War Within
With World of Warcraft’s 20th anniversary coming up next year, and 2023 being the year BlizzCon returned after a long hiatus, fans certainly expected a lot from the even’ts welcome ceremony, and World of Warcraft in particular had a lot to surprise fans. The biggest announcement by Blizzard Entertainment at BlizzCon 2023 was that World of Warcraft will be receiving three major expansions in the future. These expansions will tell the tale of World of Warcraft’s next ongoing storyline, the Worldsoul Saga. The expansion that will be the opening act of this saga will be The War Within. This expansion is slated for release at the end of 2024 and will introduce new zones to explore, new dungeons and raids to conquer, new game systems to master, and more.
Storyline
https://youtu.be/o03STclgxSc?si=PGD1n9qmHpX2xbmU
In terms of story, this certainly feels like the greatest undertaking in World of Warcraft since its inception. The story has been unfolding for almost 20 years (30 if you include the original Warcraft games), but it has never really felt like Blizzard has been aiming for a single, overarching plot. Each expansion so far has wrapped itself in a neat little package, ready to plunge the world into chaos once again with the arrival of a new threat. The War Within initially feels like a regular expansion. It brings new areas, new enemies, and a host of innovative mechanics that improve the gameplay experience.
However, considering that The War Within is just the first step in the Worldsoul Saga, it feels like Blizzard is entering into an endgame-like event with the series. Although this will not be the end of Azeroth or the Warcraft universe, it may be a definitive point where Blizzard ends its 20 years of storytelling and moves on to something else. Exactly what that means, players probably won’t find out until the third expansion in the saga, The Last Titan.
The overall premise of The War Within is that Anduin Wrynn and Thrall have been experiencing visions where a mysterious voice singing a Radiant Song is calling out to them from the depths of Azeroth. To uncover the source of this voice, Thrall and Anduin gather a band of heroes and lead an expedition into the unexplored depths of their world. Our heroes will also find various allies on their journey, such as an ancient race of Dwarves known as the Earthen. Also, Magni Bronzebeard and Alleria Windrunner are set to return for this expansion to accompany Anduin and Thrall on their trip. As the expeditionary force makes its way through the underground caverns, players will have to fight a new threat that risks cutting their journey and their lives short.
The villain leading this threat is Xal’atath, an ancient being who serves a chaotic, otherworldly force known as the Void. After being released from a cursed black blade, where she had been sealed for untold millennia, Xal’atath now seeks to create a new dark legacy to replace The Black Empire, which fell at the hands of the titan-forged. Xal’atath wants to use a new alliance with the Nerubians to form a force that seeks to enact the machinations of the Void. She has conscripted the Nerubians and their queen, Ansurek, to serve her. In return for their service, she has promised to help release the Nerubians from their isolation, restore their empire to its former glory, and grant them the power to transform into terrifying soldiers through a horrifying evolution.
Who are the major players in The War Within?
More details will inevitably emerge between now and release, but Anduin Wrynn, Thrall, Magni Bronzebeard, Alleria Windrunner, and Xal'atath are all set to play a significant role in the upcoming game.
Anduin Wrynn
It’s been a while since we saw Anduin Wrynn, the young man who is on paper still the King of Stormwind, and it doesn’t look like his time away has changed him for the better. Anduin was front and center during Shadowlands, where he was one of the important captives whisked away to Torghast by the Jailer. Anduin eventually found himself being controlled by Domination magic and forced to relieve several Covenant leaders of their Sigils, giving the Jailer access to Zereth Mortis, the place where the mysterious First Ones allegedly created all the realms of Death, and the ultimate goal of all the Jailer’s millennia of scheming.
Once freed, Anduin—mentally shaken by what he had seen and done—opted not to return to Stormwind and immediately retake the throne of the Alliance. Instead he accompanied Sylvanas Windrunner on her punishment tour of the Maw, presumably helping her rescue and save every soul she had condemned to that hellish realm. He doesn’t seem to have regained much of his confidence; if anything, Anduin seems even more distraught over his time in the realms of Death than before, feeling disconnected from a Light he no longer feels worthy of wielding. We certainly didn’t hear a peep out of him during Dragonflight, but it appears that he’s one of many characters who’s been having visions of radiance—visions that have led him to Silithus. We do still see a little of the old hero in him, though. Maybe this story arc will be Anduin’s redemption.
Thrall
Although his hair is looking a little greyer these days, Thrall (a.k.a. Go’el) is an iconic figure in the World of Warcraft franchise and needs little introduction. After his role in Shadowlands, Thrall returned to Azeroth, but remained out of the spotlight for Dragonflight. He played a role in the orc heritage armor quest, appearing as a peacemaker and settled-down family man (and, if the player character chooses to join the Frostwolf Clan, a proud clanmate).
As a Shaman, Thrall has always been in tune with the elements of Azeroth and, to an extent, the planet herself. However, it appears he’s one of many these days receiving the visions discussed in the trailer, and much as Saurfang did for him when he was in hiding during the events of Battle of Azeroth, now it has fallen to Thrall to seek out Anduin. It’s only natural that when the planet is threatened, Thrall is one of the first to step up to its defense; he’s done so time and time again, and he appears to be enlisting others as well.
Magni Bronzebeard
Formerly the king of Khaz Modan and the brother of Muradin, Magni Bronzebeard is a steadfast dwarf who now acts as the herald of the world soul of Azeroth. Magni was always a loyal friend of the Alliance and fought bravely against the Horde and later the Lich King’s forces. When the Cataclysm engulfed Azeroth, Magni heroically sacrificed himself and became a diamond statue, saving Khaz Modan while Magni remained frozen in the heart of the ancient iron forge. As the dwarves remembered and honored his sacrifice, the spirit of Magni bonded with the world of Azeroth. Years later, to everyone’s astonishment, Magni suddenly woke up from his torpor and declared that from now on he would be the voice of Azeroth. As a result, he played a crucial role in the events surrounding the finale of Legion, in which the Titan Sargeras plunged his sword deep into Azeroth, mortally wounding the world.
From then on, Magni’s mission was to heal the wound in the world and save the planet. This was particularly evident during the Azeroth Crisis, when Magni went to great lengths to use the Heart of Azeroth to heal the planet’s wounds. In the end, Magni’s efforts finally bore fruit. Where once the lamentations of the world’s soul could be heard, Azeroth now sings happier songs again. We’ve known for quite some time that Azeroth is sentient; one of the reasons the Titans seem so fixated on this planet, and the Old Gods so dead set on corrupting it, is evidently due to Azeroth’s potential to become a phenomenally powerful Titan herself. Although in the past she has been seemingly only able to communicate through Magni, it appears that she is now capable of directly sending messages—albeit only momentary and confusing messages—to her residents.
Alleria Windrunner
In The War Within, we catch up not with Anduin’s travel buddy Sylvanas but with her sister. It turns out Alleria isn’t having visions of radiance, but of darkness, and for good reason. One half of the demon-fighting power couple that led the Army of the Light against the Burning Crusade for a thousand years, Alleria Windrunner chose to learn to wield the power of the Void in the fight against fel forces. Although she has mastered it, the price for that choice has been high—Alleria is constantly assaulted by whispers from the Void, seductive ones that want to turn her from her heroic path and into something darker. Alleria has been receiving visions of goings-on below the surface, as well as some imagery that current players may recognize from Iridikron’s escape cinematic in the Dawn of the Infinite megadungeon.
Alleria’s role is shaping up as the person receiving direct, taunting images from below of the Void’s machinations, and she’s likely to be one of the leaders on the expedition down there and to use her connection to the Void to hunt down the villain who’s stirring up so much trouble.
Xal’atath, the Harbinger
Anyone who’s played through the artifact quests in Legion as a Shadow Priest is of course familiar with Xal’atath, Blade of the Black Empire—or rather, the entity within it who shares the same name. At the end of that expansion, her blade, like the rest of the artifacts, was canonically used to subdue the corrupting energy within the Sword of Sargeras. After that, Xal’atath, like so many times before, disappeared. The knife turned up again in Battle for Azeroth, where she guided us to three powerful Void relics that the naga were attempting to use to create an ultrapowerful storm; in the process, we also got her a body outside of the knife, as the entity within the blade possessed the body of a dead high elf priestess who had been trying to harness one of the relics. After that, she helped us bring the relics and ourselves directly to N’zoth in the Crucible of Storms, then vanished. Although the knife that used to house her had been seen a few times after that (playing a relatively major role in the final two patches of Battle for Azeroth), the being inside stayed hidden… until recently.
At the end of the Dawn of the Infinite megadungeon, players noticed that the Void-flavored portal through which Iridikron escaped contained the silhouette of a distinctly feminine elf. Immediately, between this and Iridikron’s talk of a “Harbinger,” rumors immediately began to fly that this was Xal’atath, returned at last to do whatever it was she intended to do. It appears that those rumors were true, based on both Alleria’s dark visions.
Xal’atath, confirmed the Harbinger, has been watching us and conjured up some dark plans of her own; the Black Empire may have been defeated, and the Old Gods are confirmed dead, but Xal'atath has struck up an alliance in the deep places of the world with the Nerubians, who made their largest appearance in Wrath of the Lich King. She has taught their queen how to mutate certain Nerubians into paragons of their species, something the queen has fully embraced; meanwhile, she is using them to gather a substance called the Black Blood of the Old Gods. Whatever it is that she’s up to, it seems she has distressed the planet’s soul enough to call out to its defenders, and so Xal’atath seems to be the first of no doubt many big enemies we’ll face off against during the Worldsoul Saga.
New zones
In a first for the series, the new continent the expansion introduces will be entirely subterranean. Introduced as Khaz Algar, this is the home of a specific subset of the Earthen, who players have seen before in zones like Ulduar. Within the continent are the following four zones:
* The Isle of Dorn: a surface-level zone with fertile soil and plant life, this new area will be the central hub for players. Billed as a lush paradise, the limited screenshots show a combination of epic structures and beautiful vistas reminiscent of Valdrakken.
* The Ringing Depths: an industrial underground cavern full of lava-flowing foundries, forges, and furnaces. Overseen by the Machine Speakers, Kobolds have taken over much of the Ringing Deeps, building a city of their own. Titan relics appear to litter the environment.
* Hallowfall: a vibrant underground zone shining bright from the light of an enormous crystal that has recently seen its light changing. Fading without warning, the zone has been plunged into darkness. This area will be home to the Arathi and their capital Mereldar.
* Azj-Kahet: in the deepest depths of Azeroth, this zone is the heart of the Nerubian Empire, the home to forgotten scavengers. Here lies the Nerubian City of Threads—a city that has been built on the ruins of itself many times over and is billed as having a complex political system and culture.
New dungeons and raids
When The War Within expansion launches, it will do so with eight dungeons for players to conquer. In line with previous expansions, four of these will be leveling dungeons, and the other four will be reserved for max-level characters. The full list is as follows:
Level-up dungeons
* The Rookery
* The Stonevault
* Priory of the Sacred Flame
* City of Threads
Maximum-level dungeons
* Cinderbrew Meadery
* Darkflame Cleft
* The Dawnbreaker
* Old City
Additionally, the expansion will include a raid dungeon that will presumably follow a similar formula to Dragonflight’s Dawn of the Infinite megadungeon. Entitled Nerub’ar Palace, this eight-boss Nerubian Empire raid in Azj’kahet will be the first raid in The War Within.
Delves
One of the new systems being announced for The War Within is delves, which are scalable world instances for 1–5 players that are similar to dungeons, raids, and PvP except that they focus on the outdoor world and offer a more structured experience. Delves address the lack of upgrades and overall excitement found in the outdoor world beyond completing quests. Delves will involve exploration, deep-diving into mysteries, and extending open-world content, as opposed to moving from one boss to another, in the same vein as dungeons—with the difference from other open-world adventuring being the treasure received at the end.
Unlike previous small-group content, such as scenarios and island expeditions, delves offer fully flexible group sizes, so you can run them alone, with a partner, or with a full party. Delves are also role agnostic, so you’ll be able to bring any combination of specializations you choose—no need to seek out tanks or healers for your group. They’ll also be cross-faction.
You’ll be accompanied by a seasonal NPC companion in the vaults, starting with Brann Bronzebeard for Season 1. These companions will have customizable talents and abilities that you’ll be able to select to suit your group and playstyle.
At the end of each delve, you’ll have to defeat a boss or complete a puzzle to unlock the vault’s treasure and complete the mission. The expansion will launch with the following 12 unique delves throughout the world:
* Earthcrawl Mines
* Skittering Breach
* The Waterworks
* The Spiral Weave
* Kriegval’s Rest
* Nightfall Sanctum
* The Dread Pit
* Rak-Rethan Abyss
* Fungak Folly
* The Sinkhole
* Deepwalker Hold
* Mycomancer Cavern
Delves will also offer plenty of cosmetic awards, such as mushroom and candle hats, based on their specific theme, and they will be included into seasonal content, giving players rewards for the season, including mounts, pets, and achievements.
Warbands
Warbands is an innovative and game-changing new feature that will be introduced with the expansion. With Warbands, the character selection screen has been revamped and will conveniently showcase all your available characters, regardless of the server they belong to. You will be able to effortlessly manage multiple characters across accounts while enjoying a plethora of quality-of-life improvements.
* Banks offer a shared account between characters, meaning that you won't need to mail items anymore.
* Reputations, Achievements, and Renown will be account-wide for all players.
* Flight Paths will be linked across accounts, meaning you'll only have to unlock paths once, saving time.
* Universal Transmog across your warband will become available, meaning one character can unlock a Plate item, and another can transmog them.
Hero talents
New hero talents for each class specialization will allow players to progress characters with “evergreen self-contained talent trees that also infuse class fantasy flavor” inspired by iconic Warcraft universe archetypes. These will be in addition to current talent trees, and include three trees per class—two small trees per specialization that you can switch between. This system will auto unlock at level 71, with players receiving a new talent point at each level. Once players reach level 80, the whole tree will unlock. The goal is for hero talent trees to be “low friction,” with the ability to swap between choices and trees easily, in a vein similar to that for Dragonflight talents.
The following are the names of the hero talents that players will be able to choose from:
* Death Knight: Deathbringer, Rider of the Apocalypse, S
