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Is the Steam shop the best it can be?

The Steam shop and Steam games platform is known for epic steam sales, the Valve Steam Deck, supporting indie game developers, and much more. It’s been around since 2003, making it almost 20 years old now.

Though other developer-specific storefronts like EA Play, Uplay, and others exist, Steam offers games from thousands of developers at all price points — consistently offering sales and user-created mods. The problem is that they are no longer the only player in the digital games storefront game. Rivals like Epic Games have forced Steam to re-examine its features, offerings, pricing structure, developer tools, and more.

How does the Steam platform stack up to rivals and what are the problems users have found? Let’s explore the Steam shop from things like the Steam shop, Steam games, and Steam wallet to skins gambling and anti-competitive practices.

Steam platform creator: Valve and Gabe Newell

Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington, two former Microsoft employees, started the company Valve Software/Valve Corporation in 1996. Though initially developing video games, the company developed its digital storefront known as Steam in 2002. It only offered first-party Valve games at first but began to more widely distribute other games starting in 2007.

Over the course of its lifetime, Steam has added new and developed unique features, and worked alongside its development arm (Valve). It accommodates Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile platforms, and virtual reality options. In fact, Valve produced Half-Life: Alyx in 2020 — a game designed for VR.

Though the platform offers many features, many users just use it as a video game digital storefront and library.

image of image of Steam shop game library

Organization, UI, and features

Having changed to keep up with popular UI and UX design, the Steam interface now focuses on image-heavy organization. This keeps things very vibrant with lots of visual information, but may not be for everyone. However, Steam also has lots of quality-of-life features such as:

Friends list that shows what games friends are playing, offers you to join or invite, etc.
A community hub for game discussions, workshop mods, and more.
A digital store front where users can search, find, and learn more about different titles.
A more secure Steam Wallet.
The “Steam Points Shop” where users can buy game-specfic emotes, profile skins, digital stickers, and more.
A somewhat bizarre, but still active trading card market where users earn cards by playing games and then sell them to other users for “gems” or real currency to use for their Steam Wallet
Game achievement and play time tracking.
Community broadcasts from users and developers alike.

Overall, the UI is very useable and the organization makes tons of sense. Since Valve has had years to refine it using market research, developer input, and user feedback, Steam follows in the same fashion and has well-thought-out UI and UX design.

image of Steam shop Steamworks developer tool graphic

Developer tools and features

Though not many developers are pleased that Valve pockets 30% of every sale on its platform, the Steam shop has tried to do more for developers in the last few years. This includes making their developer tools more robust and incorporating more initiatives such as SteamVR.

Steamworks

This API gives studios publishing and development tools for free that better allow them to use Steam features. It helps with microtransactions, matchmaking, Steam Workshop, DDoS protection, achievements, screenshots, cloud saves, and more.

The program has become so thorough over the years that Steam has tons of documentation for developers to scour through.

Steam workshop

Users with Steam accounts can create content for video games owned on the Steam platform. Other players can easily subscribe to these mods with one click, curate mod collections for specific uses, and more.

It originally came about to distribute Team Fortress 2 items then redesigned to accommodate more titles and more robust use cases. Some creators were even compensated for their work as it was incorporated into the base game.

Games like Cities: Skylines and Valve’s own Half-Life depend heavily on mod support.

SteamVR

This software and hardware platform works alongside VR technology such as the Valve Index and HTC Vive. It uses positional tracking base stations to facilitate room-scale experiences. This means that users can move within a space as opposed to standing in one place.

Though still available for Linux and Windows, Valve no longer offers SteamVR macOS support as of 2020.

Steam Direct

Steam Greenlight was released in 2012 with a focus on making it easier for Indie developers to reach potential users. However, the initiative did not go as planned and was replaced by Steam Direct in 2017.

It lets potential developers distribute their product on Steam by completing the required forms and paying an application fee that they can recoup later. If a game exceeds $1,000 USD in sales, Valve pays back the developer but some still feel this process doesn’t work. Raw Fury and Fig offer to pay the fee for some developers if they can’t pay.

image of Valve videogames TF2, Half-Life, Portal, Left 4 Dead, and Dota 2 logos

First party Steam games

Valve started out producing video games, so Steam maintains certain first-party titles including:

Half-Life franchise
Team Fortress franchise
Dota 2 (Defense of the Ancients)
Counter-Strike including CS: GO
Portal franchise
Left 4 Dead franchise
Garry’s Mod

Most recently, the company released Aperture Desk Job, a short experience set in the Portal universe, for free on March 1, 2022. It served as a tech demo for the new Steam Deck hand-held device from Valve.

images of Steam Link, Steam Deck, and Steam controller

Proprietary hardware

Valve has pursued several hardware ventures in their lifetime with some being more successful than others. The recently released Steam Deck has received middling reviews so far since certain huge games such as Destiny 2 or Fortnite are not supported on it. In fact, users trying to bypass this are getting banned.

To date, Valve has created these hardware platforms for Steam:

Steam Machine – a SteamOS powered hardware device for gaming that ultimately did not become popular, but led to the Steam Link — an at-home streaming technology now embedded on many Samsung televisions
Steam Controller – a proprietary controller designed for use with the Steam Machine that also works with the Steam Link
Steam Deck – a handheld device intended to run available Steam games

Problems and sticking points of the Steam shop

Every software has its issues and bugs and Steam is no exception to this. Some bugs involved hacking into PCs while others let users download any game for free (briefly in 2018). But not all problems are software-related with Steam.

Here are some of the notable problems experienced by users and developers when it comes to operating on and using the Steam shop.

Limited user support

Since Steam acts as a “middleman” of sorts, it doesn’t offer as robust user support as some people might think. If a player encounters a problem with a game such as a crash, they’ll have to go to the game developer for help. If a Steam user loses their password, they’ll have to go through Valve instead.

However, some things go further with game developers having dedicated Steam support pages on their websites like Facepunch Studios, developers of the game Rust.

Confusing and limited refunds

Valve incorporated refunds into their system in 2015 but users still struggle with understanding how they work. Users can get refunds if the following criteria are met:

You have NOT played the game for more than 2 hours
You’ve purchased the game less than 14 days ago

Unfortunately, if you don’t meet those criteria, Steam will likely reject your refund application.

This also backfired for developers as people would buy a game just to review bomb it, then get a refund without even playing the game. Steam tried to mitigate this by putting whether or not a game was refunded in game reviews for other users to see.

How much devs make from Steam sales

Developers have more options now when it comes to how they want to distribute their games. Rivals to Steam like Itch.io let them offer it for just a 10% cut by default compared to Steam’s industry standard of taking a 30% cut from every sale. Epic Games gives developers 88% of every sale.

But some developers don’t believe that Steam offers enough to justify taking this much from every sale.

logos of Steam rivals Itch.io, Epic Games, GOG, and Softonic

Rivals and competitors vs. Steam shop

As with everything, the digital Steam shop has plenty of competitors no matter how many amazing Steam sales they have. In fact, Steam misses out on certain game launches due to these rivals with companies like Amazon even eating into Steam sales.

Epic Games

As a software developer and game development studio, Epic Games has a huge leg up on Valve and Steam thanks to its use of Unreal Engine 5 — an engine used by many other game developers. The storefront also enters into timed-exclusivity deals with developers to maintain a monopoly for a certain window of time.

The company might be best known for Fortnite and occasionally giving away entire Triple-A game titles for free including the entire Tomb Raider reboot trilogy in 2021.

However, Epic Games lacks a workshop for mods like Steam has and the UI may not be as intuitive. But Epic Games has stated that mods are in Beta as of 2020.

Good Old Games (GOG)

CD Projekt, known for Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher, owns this subsidiary now known as GOG.com. It acts as a digital distribution platform that gives users DRM-free games using Linux, macOS, and Windows. It also supports DRM-free video in multiple resolutions to accommodate reduced download quotas or bandwidth speeds.

Being a smaller storefront, it offers fewer Triple-A titles but more Indie titles and lacks a workshop hub. While GOG does allow more mods and does not lock you into its platform, it does not have as simple an interface with a one-click “Subscribe” option for mods.

Softonic

Having got its start as a file-oriented download platform and service, Softonic has grown since its 1996 founding to include many different kinds of software. It offers VPNs, browsers, Minecraft, Cash App, Microsoft Excel, Netflix, iTunes, and more.

Finding mobile games is much easier using Softonic than using Steam. For those looking to go around an app store, Softonic is a great alternative. But for those who want a console or PC competitor, Softonic may fall short of Steam.

Xbox Game Pass

Since Microsoft acquired Activision/Blizzard recently, Xbox Games Pass may become more competitive against other digital storefronts. The big difference here is that Xbox can offer users a subscription service for a monthly fee where Steam allows users to own the digital property outright.

For those looking for user-created content or a wider range of games, Steam is still the way to go.

Itch.io

Users looking for indie games, free games, or user-created content can count on Itch.io for just that. The storefront offers wild bundles such as 992 for just $10 USD, but users can also find comics, books, physical games, soundtracks, and even game assets on Itch.io.

Founded in 2013, the Indie platform also hosts game jams — events that let participants create their own games over the course of 1 to 3 days. Contrary to Steam taking 30% of sales, Itch.io only takes 10% from each sale by default. The site also allows users to pay for free games if they wish to do so.

For Indie titles and other content, Itch.io is great, but Steam takes the cake when it comes to Triple-A content.

Verdict on Steam shop

It’s difficult not to recommend Steam due to the limited availability of such robust digital games storefronts. Epic Games and GOG do offer very similar experiences, but Steam is the oldest player in this market with the most history, research data, and features.

As a result, it is very effective at offering a digital storefront and library for lots of different kinds of video games.

PROS

Exceptionally large number of games offered
Visual and intuitive UI design
Video streaming
Compatible with Steam Link and Steam Deck
Big Picture mode for larger screens
Lots of free developer tools
Provides some software and film content as well as a music player
Remote play and downloads
Extra in-platform features such as a card trading market, Steam points shop, and discovery queue

CONS

Takes 30% of sales from developers
Platform-locked mods
Limited support for users
Lacks built-in video-capture tools
Potentially overwhelming interface
Occasional pop-ups of inappropriate games on the home page or discover queue
No physical game copies
Tricky and limited-time refund process

Sifu Review: A Life Spent on Revenge

This review on the kung-fu style fighting game Sifu explores several key elements that affect player experiences. Despite the initial delay from developer Sloclap, the extra development time has paid off exponentially as accolades continue to pour in about their latest title.

Though challenging, the game rewards persistence, discipline, and attention to detail –not unlike the study of martial arts itself. But Sifu incorporates elements from multiple genres of games to make a more distinct yet familiar experience. Let’s get into those details within the following categories:

Sifu background

It’s no secret that Sloclap drew from traditional martial arts movies (think The One-Armed Swordsman and Master of the Flying Guillotine) for the story and setting of Sifu. But this title marks the first game that Sloclap has developed and published on its own. Devolver Digital, the publisher behind Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem, published their previous entry Absolver.

The martial art 白眉/ Bak Mei or Pak Mei kung fu takes center stage in the game. Though styled as a beat ’em up strategy, the game takes hints from games like Dark Souls or Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice paired with a unique, age-linked roguelike element.

image of Sifu protagonist in an abandoned, overgrown warehouse

Setting and tone

Since Sifu draws so heavily on real-world martial arts and classic Kung Fu films, Sloclap brought in an expert to consult on the game’s fight choreography and combat. Benjamin Colussi, a Pak Mei master, studied under Lao Wei San in Foshan, China, before opening his own school in France.

Story

The story of Sifu is not a particularly unique or novel one in that it is a revenge story at heart. Choosing one of two genders, players embark on a quest to avenge their murdered father Kill Bill style. This requires some sleuthing and, of course, lots of butt-kicking.

It integrates clue-finding into environment exploration, incentivizing players to interact with the wonderfully realized world that Sloclap created. The detective board used to organize clues seems a bit out of place thematically. But it is a very useful tool for visualizing information.

How long to beat Sifu

Sifu’s runtime is on the shorter side for most modern single-player games. But this indie title has high replayability — especially when you can insert your favorite characters as the protagonist with mods. Here’s how long it takes to beat Sifu:

Main campaign: ~10 hours
Main campaign with extras: ~14 hours
Achievement hunters and completionists: ~17 – ~25 hours

Sifu performance

Using Unreal Engine 4, Sifu can run pretty well on a variety of consoles and computers. In addition, the animation style lends itself to non-4K resolutions in the same way that something like Transistor might. While it would be prettier in better resolutions, it doesn’t take the same visual downgrades as something like Cyberpunk 2077 might.

Sifu PC vs. PlayStation

Sifu is only available in hard copy on PS4 and PS5; for digital versions, would-be players can look to various online storefronts with Epic Games being the easiest to access.

Overall, there is little difference between Sifu on PS4, PS5, or PC. It comes down to personal preference and/or availability for each player.

Sifu gameplay and functions

Core to any gaming experience are the major gameplay loops like finish a puzzle, fight a boss, save the princess, etc. Sloclap tweaks player expectations in a way that makes for very difficult, but extremely rewarding gameplay.

image of the Sifu UI for character skills

UI and interface

A cluttered or disorganized UI can really sour any gaming experience. Luckily, Sloclap kept things minimal and easy to use. The five tabs at the top clearly outline critical information and give players the option to quit quickly which is a nice “quality of life” feature.

You can always keep track of your age and death counter in the top left corner along with your score and XP in the top right. The only problem might be the color scheme when it comes to the “Skills” section on the “Character” tab. That light pink on a grey/white background can be difficult to parse for some players — even with the additional glow effect around it.

But that’s a minor gripe as each skill description comes with a brief video demonstrating the skill. It’s a fantastic inclusion that helps with accessibility and ease of understanding.

Combat mechanics

The core combat, as with all beat ‘em up style games, is about combos of light, heavy, and special attacks on top of dodging, blocking, and counter-attacking. However, thanks in part to being in UE4, Sifu can take advantage of destructible items and other environmental-based combat effects. Being able to launch an enemy off a balcony not only feels incredibly real, but very practical since the protagonist is often facing off against multiple attackers.

Of course, being able to kick up a falling object into an enemy’s face seems a little far-fetched when it comes to physical ability. But this stylistic choice only serves to reinforce the inspiration from traditional Kung Fu movies.

One of the only confusing parts of Sifu’s combat design is how players attain persistent skills. As with other roguelikes and roguelites, players can find Shrines to unlock abilities or purchase new ones during a playthrough. However, after purchasing a skill 6 times, players will always have it unlocked for new runs.

Skills and gameplay loop

The twist on the traditional roguelite gameplay loop introduces a magic talisman. It allows the main character to restart in the same place after death; however, they age the number of times you’ve died. For instance, if you are 28 and your death counter is at 6, you’ll be 34 the next time you revive. Sifu has a hard cap around age 75 where, if you die that time, you’ll have to start over in a new game. Players can reduce their death counter by taking on specific enemies, though they tend to be difficult, as well.

This obviously varies from games like Returnal, Hades, and other games with similar mechanics. But the additional difficulty of aging and hard combat can make the game a bit frustrating at times. The point of games like Dark Souls is to die a bunch, get better at the game, and feel a sense of accomplishment after finally beating a boss. With Sifu, aging interrupts that gameplay loop and adds anxiety around dying.

Combining the “die and die again” mentality of roguelites with the difficulty of Dark Souls can also become tedious since the levels and enemies remain the same in Sifu. Of course, nothing beats that warm feeling of utter satisfaction when you’ve finally beaten a stubborn boss with just the right strategy. Button mashing will definitely not remain a viable tactic past the first level of the game.

Sifu visuals, sound, and enemy design

A hero’s story is nothing without compelling and well-designed villains. Moreover, sounds like the landing of punches or the splintering of wood make huge differences in setting ambiances in video games and other visual media. Sifu is no different and the developers paid special attention to every detail of the game’s craftsmanship.

Sound design

Music can be an afterthought or a major character in a story (just like locations). Music creator Howie Lee merges traditional Chinese musical elements and modern electronica instruments. This blending of historical and modern is a perfect fit for Sifu.

What’s more: the combat sound design feels lived-in and realistic while still playing into the at times kitschy Kung Fu movie niche. Because the game trades so heavily in destructible environments, Lee incorporated distortion, dubstep, and other aural motifs to capture what battling brutal combatants in the middle of a bass-thumping club might really feel like.

image of Sifu fighting a chef in Yang's restaurant

Enemy design

The watercolor-like animation style of Sifu reinforces just how fluid the martial arts combat is. The game plays with skin tone and texture, hairstyles, and lots of colors as players complete their journies. Each of the five main bosses have unique designs — both in the past and present — but your average enemies aren’t the same three models repeated over and over again either.

You’ll find yourself battling multiple genders, people of different heights and weights, and lots of variation in hairstyles and clothing. It’s just one more way Sloclap realized the world of Sifu in such crystalline and authentic detail.

World design

What makes games like Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Mass Effect 2, or Bloodborne great are the animated worlds that accompany the characters and story. Take something like Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, for example. What made that game so endlessly replayable was the depth of content across NPCs and the breadth of content across the in-game world.

While Sifu doesn’t have a sweeping map with tons of dark corners for players to fill in, it feels no less alive than a Bioware game. A meaningful reason as to why is because the player can destroy so much of it. Throwing enemies through windows, breaking chairs, or even using bottles in fights feels real. Small details like this go such a long way in captivating a player’s audience.

One of the only problems with the world design is how the camera interacts with it. Some parts of the game take place in tight hallways where the self-guided camera can get stuck during combat scenarios. You won’t see an enemy sneaking up on you because you physically can’t; the camera won’t let you. Though relatively minor, this issue can detract from satisfying gameplay experiences for some.

Sifu review: verdict and wrap-up

Some people use the term “theme-park ride” in a derogatory manner — a misguided choice. Sifu presents the best aspects of your favorite roller coaster with thrills, sleuthing, and lots of martial arts. It lives up to the clear inspiration from classic Kung Fu movies in terms of the visuals, flow, and feel of the game.

The only areas where it falls short are more meaningful story beats and the high barrier to entry for some players in terms of difficulty. But if you want a fluid beat ’em up that’s a feast for the eyes, Sifu will deliver all that and more.

PROS

Compelling animation style
Fluid and satisfying combat
Unique roguelite approach
Engaging level design with destructible terrain
Intelligent enemy AI

CONS

Repetitive gameplay loop
High difficulty rating
Short campaign run time
Periodic frustrating camera orientation

Developer: Sloclap

Publisher: Sloclap

Game Modes: Single-player

Game Engine: Unreal Engine 4

Lost Ark: F2P guide and tips

This Lost Ark F2P guide is easy to follow if you don’t want to end up in a “pay to win” scenario. All you have to do is apply the right strategy – just like the in-game combat. The highly stylized MMORPG is one part beat ‘em up, one part Diablo, and all over-the-top.

While the game is free-to-play, it can feel super grindy and exclusionary like other similar games. But in reality, the game gives players lots of ways to accrue in-game currency, get unique pets and cosmetics, and look overpowered as heck for end-game content.

Here are 9 tips for your Lost Ark F2P guide.

You can respec characters for free

Let’s start with a basic, but fantastic quality of life tip for the Lost Ark F2P guide: respeccing character skills. Spending skill points doesn’t need to feel like a huge deal in Lost Ark as you can do as much as you want.

However, reskinning your character requires Appearance Customization Tickets. Similarly, you need a Character Name Change Ticket to rename a character. Adopt and experiment with skills all you want, but definitely take your time with appearances and names.

Take advantage of the two free passes

Players earn their first Power Pass by completing the main storyline. Using the first one on another character automatically nets you another Power Pass sent to your inbox. What’s so good about it? Power Passes unlocks an ability called the “Adventurer’s Path” specifically designed to get characters to level 50 quickly.

Not only do you skip cutscenes, but you also become more familiar with the class, performing excellent combos and getting ready for late-game content. At the end of the path, players get end-game level equipment, as well.

Note: Lost Ark doesn’t allow accounts to have more than two Power Passes currently. As with skins and names, be certain that you are using the pass on a character you want to spend a ton of time playing as.

Do dailies and weekly tasks

Completing quests that reset on a schedule is a critical part of any MMORPG. Everyone familiar with any kind of MMO knows that completing daily quests goes a long way. You can get in-game currency (gold), experience points, and other relevant boons from them. With Lost Ark, this is no different.

However, you’ll need to know when the resets are in order to maximize your advantages.

What is the weekly reset time in Lost Ark?

Lost Ark weekly quests reset at 10 AM UTC on Thursday every week. This time correlates to the following times across the world:

Central Europe: 11 AM CT
Europe West: 11 AM CT
South America: 7 AM
US East: 5 AM ET
US West: 2 AM PT

What is the daily reset time in Lost Ark?

The daily reset in Lost Ark is at the same time as the weekly reset, but every day instead of just Thursdays. For clarity, here are the times again:

Coordinated Universal Time: 10 AM
Europe West: 11 AM CT
South America: 7 AM
US East: 5 AM ET
US West: 2 AM PT

Do not sell equipment but dismantle it

If you’re looking to make the most in terms of profits in an MMORPG, selling your old gear is never really the best idea. It’s almost always better to melt down the gear to get the materials from it.

With Lost Ark, this is also the case. Players can easily dismantle gear using the hammer icon in your inventory.

Use your work energy for trade skills everyday

As with Guild Wars 2 and other MMORPGs, players have skills they can level up in-game. Lost Ark has the following skills available:

Mining
Logging
Fishing
Hunting
Excavating

You can only access these after playing the game for a decent amount of time. Moreover, players only get a certain allotment of Work Energy for the day. Leveling these skills is one of the best ways to earn in-game currency.

Activate triports and use mounts

Having active teleportation locations is crucial in any massive online game. For Lost Ark’s Triports, you’ll need to physically activate them by interacting with them to make them work. They do require in-game currency to use, though, so it isn’t always the best option if you’re looking to min/max your Gold usage.

Mounts can be very useful here when traveling distances. In fact, the game provides you with one just after completing the prologue. All of them have different rarities and speeds, so be conscious of that when picking one up.

Build rapport with NPCs for chests

As with games like Dragon Age and Persona, the player can build relationships with NPCs in the game. But instead of just romancing someone, you get prizes and gifts, too. This includes currencies, cards, and useful resources.

Not only can this help you level up faster, but it can help you avoid having to buy more cards which can get costly in the endgame.

Move past low XP mobs

Prioritizing engagements and the use of materials is a no-brainer here. While taking out trash mobs is fun in games like Diablo 3, it can be a bit of waste in Lost Ark. After leveling even a little, it starts to take hundreds of thousands of XP points to level.

Save your combat for mobs that matter and for those that give you more XP. It’s the best way to make your time investment pay off well.

Get free Lost Ark loot with Prime Gaming

Prime Gaming gives away new packs every month from free in-game cosmetics, bundles with multiple items, or even free games. Since Lost Ark only launched in the U.S. thanks to Amazon, it makes sense that players with Amazon Prime accounts get to reap additional benefits with Prime Gaming.

For now, players can pick up one Battle Item Pack with a total of six listed on the webpage. You can get things like a crystalline aura, amethyst shard packs, or battle chests for utility, healing, or offense-based items.

Total War: Warhammer 3: 10 Things You Need to Know Before Playing

It’s finally happening: Total War: Warhammer 3, the third and final game in the franchise, is coming out on February 17, 2022. With tons of sneak-peeks at the factions in the game, game modes, and more, fans are eager to get their hands on the game.

But this game tweaks the traditional formula just a bit while also adding to the overall lore of the franchise and Warhammer universe. Here’s what you need to know before playing Total War: Warhammer 3.

Some Mechanics Are Changing

The past entries into the franchise remain well beloved by fans including Geralt of Rivia himself – Henry Cavill. Though the ambitious final entry into the series will have familiar tactics, some mechanics, such as siege battles, have been reworked.

Fans can look forward to more map variety with better faction themes. Other key changes include:

Survival Battles – unique quest chain apexes that build in intensity as you go
Defender changes and multi-layered settlements
New Factions with unique mechanics
Overall quality of life improvements from previous games such as flying units being able to land and charge then take off again
Daemon cults – available to Daemon factions, these cults can act as sleeper cells in competing settlements

Total War: Warhammer 3 Available on Game Pass

Microsoft made waves when they purchased Activision/Blizzard recently. They can add even more incredible titles to their already great catalog of games that players can enjoy on Xbox or on PC thanks to Game Pass.

As of launch on February 17, 2022, Total War: Warhammer 3 will be available via Steam and a few other platforms. However, it will also be available via Game Pass, as well and maintain the same features as versions available in other online storefronts.

image of Daemon Prince factions vs. Ogre in Total War: Warhammer 3

Ogre Kingdoms Comes With Early Adopter Version

Any gamer will tell you: pre-ordering a game isn’t always worth it. Total War: Warhammer 3 makes the early adoption worthwhile by offering the Ogre Kingdoms DLC as a bonus. After February 24th, 2022, the DLC can only be purchased separately from the base game.

The Ogre Kingdoms DLC includes:

23 additional units
Legendary Lords Skrag the Slaughterer and Greasus Goldtooth
Lords Slaughtermaster and Tyrant
Heroes Firebelly, Hunter, and Butcher

image of Slaanesh forces in Total War: Warhammer 3

Not All Chaos Enemies Are The Same

With so much lore in the Warhammer universe, it’s easy to forget that there are layers upon layers upon layers of deities, gods, and entities. Though the tabletop game doesn’t, this game breaks down Chaos into four Ruinous Powers: plague god Nurgle, changer of ways Tzeentch, lord of excess Slaanesh, and god of blood and slaughter Khorne.

Each entity’s forces bear varying grotesque and dangerous forms. Players can expect each unique faction to have different playstyles, attacks, and more as in past games of the franchise.

image of customized Daemon Prince in Total War: Warhammer 3

Eight Factions at Launch

So far, Creative Assembly has confirmed eight playable factions at the game’s launch including one DLC faction available in the early-adopter version. These include:

Kislev
Cathay
Korne
Slaanesh
Tzeentch
Nurgle
Ogre Kingdoms (DLC and Early Adopter version)
Legion of Chaos (Chaos Undivided)

The most important thing to keep in mind here is that the Legion of Chaos option gives players tons of freedom when it comes to builds, battle strategies, and even role-playing. As Ragnar, a Daemon Prince, players can customize their body in honor of one of the Chaos gods gaining various perks and play styles on top of the aesthetics.

image of Mortal Empires mode in Total War: WARHAMMER II

What is Mortal Empires?

Moral Empires first appeared in Total War: Warhammer II with a glacially slow cadence. Creative Assembly has revisited the concept for the third game in the series making it bigger, faster, and better overall.

Known as Immortal Empires, the “mega campaign” merges factions and maps from the other games. It won’t be available at launch, but it will be made available at some point after. Best of all is that it will be available for free to people who own all three games in the franchise.

Lore of Ice

This game adds the Lore of Ice to the catalog of magic schools available to players. As used by the Kislev faction, it features all-new passives, abilities, and unique units such as Tzarina Katarin – the Ice Queen of Kislev.

Though not much is known yet about the lore of the magic, fans do have an idea about all of the stats, abilities, etc from the game wiki. Highlights include:

Lore passive “Frost Shield” – freezes water vapor into a spell shield for the entire force
“Crystal Sanctuary” – protective crystal dome that temporarily roots allies
“Ice Maiden’s Kiss” – ice breath that can slow or freeze enemies
“Death Frost” – inflicts an enemy with cold damage over time using touch
“Ice Sheet” – creates ice on terrain upon which enemies can slip
“Frost Blades” – imbues weapons with ice energy
“Heart of Winter” – area of effect winter storm that gradually freezes enemies

Multiplayer is Bigger Than Ever

Now, up to 8 players can compete (or cooperate) in one standard campaign match for chaotic supremacy in the Realm of Chaos mode.

But Creative Assembly will also introduce more game modes, too, including Darkness and Disharmony where up to 8 players can save Grand Cathay from destruction or doom it to oblivion. For a smaller-scale adventure, opt for the Something Rotten in Kislev mode for up to 3 players.

image of gameplay in Total War: Warhammer 3

Total War: Warhammer 3 System Requirements

As with any new game, you’ll need a rig that can handle the performance needs of the software. Given the protracted shortage of video cards, gaming on a budget is more difficult now. Luckily, this game is fine in the graphics realm; it’s the storage space that’s killer.

Recommended Specs at 720p

CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 or Intel Core i3

RAM: 6GB

Storage: 120GB available

VRAM: 2GB

GPU: AMD Radeon RX 400 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 900

DirectX Version: 11

Recommended Specs at 1080p

OS: Windows 10 64-bit

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 120GB available

VRAM: 6GB

GPU: AMD Radeon RX 5600 TX or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

DirectX Version: 11

120GB of storage space is quite the premium, but many games are trending toward larger size requirements – one of the few cons to games like Call of Duty: Warzone. Having Windows 10 or 11 as your OS also helps the game run a bit more smoothly vs. older iterations of Windows.

image of character screen in Total War: Warhammer 3

Similar to Previous Games

Not every fan is satisfied when a game sequel is just “more of the same” with very little that’s novel about a game. Of course, others are completely ecstatic about this – especially if the game before it had solid mechanics and story. A great example of a franchise like this would be Assassin’s Creed.

The same can be said for Total War: Warhammer 3 and some fans have noted this on Reddit already. However, the adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” exists for a very good reason. Given the unique and customizable Daemon Prince faction, revamped Mortal Empires, and scope of this game vs. previous titles, fans are in for a good time – even while in familiar territory.

10 best video game heroes of all time

From the intergalactic spaceships to the fields of Hyrule, these video game protagonists are absolutely iconic!

No video game is complete without a good protagonist. Sure, cool settings and tense plotlines are great and all, but at the end of the day, all the best stories are about compelling characters. This is even truer in the case of video games; as players, we don’t just watch the stories of these characters, we experience them.

Over the years, the world of gaming has seen more than its fair share of strong heroes, and it’s hard to narrow down such a crowded field to the 10 best. That said, here’s our lineup of gaming’s 10 most iconic heroes.

10 best video game protagonists

Soap MacTavish- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

soap mctavish call of duty modern warfare — Image courtesy Infinity Ward

Soap beat out Lara Croft from Tomb Raider and Dante from Devil May Cry by just a hair.

When Soap first arrives in the original Call of Duty 4, he’s about as green as it gets. Taken under the wing of the gruff, no-nonsense Captain Price, Soap soon grows into an elite veteran soldier.

In Modern Warfare 2, he’s the commander of his own special operations unit, no longer the raw recruit we first guided through a SAS training run.

By Modern Warfare 3, Soap is a hardened soldier; as players, one of the most gratifying parts of the Modern Warfare series is taking that journey along with Soap. Like him, we start as recruits and end up as hardened professionals.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Download now ►

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Gordon Freeman- Half-Life 2

Gordon Freeman is a man of many talents. Not only can he complete equations complex enough to make your head spin, but he can also stop an alien invasion almost singlehandedly using little more than a crowbar.

Gordon is a scientist-turned-reluctant warrior, and it’s that experience that separates Gordon from the typical gruff FPS protagonist. His background lets us experience different perspectives and encounter some even weirder science along the way.

Half Life 2 Download now ►

Mega Man- Mega Man Series

With more than 100 games spanning multiple systems, it’s undeniable that this intrepid blue adventurer has left his mark on gaming. Mega Man is an originally mild-mannered android that reluctantly takes up arms to defend the world from (usually robotic) threats.

With challenging levels, unique boss battles, and a host of different powerups, Mega Man takes a simple formula and perfects it. He’s a classic hero in every sense of the term.

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Ezio Auditore- Assassin’s Creed II

When we first met Ezio, it was hard to imagine that the mischievous playboy would one day become the most elite and respected assassin of all time. However, throughout several games, he becomes exactly that.

Though the Assassin’s Creed series has its share of strong protagonists, as players we essentially get to live out Ezio’s entire life, from youth to old age. He’s one of the richest and most well-developed characters in the series, and he left an indelible mark on fans around the globe.

Assassin's Creed Download now ►

Big Boss- Metal Gear Solid

Big Boss is as much a philosopher as he is a warrior. Not content to merely fight the wars of others, Big Boss makes it his life purpose to change the world. Though he starts as a young idealist and a true hero, series veterans will know that he eventually ends up as one of the main antagonists of the series.

The Metal Gear Solid prequels allow players to experience Big Boss’s complicated and tragic backstory, and in true Metal Gear fashion, eventually, realize that he may not have been a villain after all.

Heck, his clone is Solid Snake who is another great character that almost made this list. Big Boss is the definition of an iconic character, and he’s a staple in gaming history.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Download now ►

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Commander Shepard- Mass Effect

Commander Shepard’s story is your story. Sure, there are a few things out of your control… but as a player, you have a whole galaxy’s worth of choices and decisions at your fingertips. From choosing your appearance, your squad, or how you act in a particular scenario, there are almost unlimited possibilities when it comes to how you want to experience Commander Shepard’s journey. Even though we’re still playing a character, we get to play them exactly the way we want to as players, which makes Commander Shepard an even more powerful and defining hero.

Mass Effect 3 Download now ►

Link- Legend of Zelda

legend of zelda link — Image courtesy Nintendo

Sorry Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII, there is only room for one pointy-eared swordsman on this list!

Link has seen more than his fair share of action over the years, growing from a few green pixels to the blue-eyed hero we know today. This intrepid adventurer never gives up, no matter what the forces of darkness throw at him. He may sometimes come off as inexperienced, but that just makes him all the more relatable. His tenacity and courage leave an indelible mark on players and fans.

We were close to putting Samus Aran on this list, but Link and a certain someone else from the Super Smash Bros. roster won out overall!

The Legend of Zelda Download now ►

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Nathan Drake- Uncharted

uncharted nathan drake — Image courtesy Naughty Dog

A modern-day Indiana Jones, Nathan Drake has a sharp mind, tenacious attitude, and a wise-crack for every situation. He’s not the typical stalwart hero. He’s got plenty of flaws of his own and is perhaps one of the most relatable characters in gaming. He’s just an ordinary guy facing down extraordinary (and sometimes supernatural) circumstance. That makes him all the more human… and a hell of a lot of fun to play.

Uncharted 3 Download now ►

Arthur Morgan- Red Dead Redemption 2

arthur morgan red dead 2 — Image courtesy Rockstar

The tale of Arthur Morgan is a long one, but completely worth the journey. Despite a laundry list of characters you meet along the way, at the end of the day, Red Dead 2 is Arthur’s story. Arthur Morgan is an outlaw with a gruff exterior and a heart of gold despite his flaws. All he wants is to do what’s right for himself and those he cares about. His story is filled with betrayal, joy, heartbreak, and every emotion in between. When we start the game, Arthur is essentially a stranger to us, but by the time the credits roll, he feels like family, and it’s an exceedingly difficult goodbye.

Red Dead Redemption II Download now ►

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Mario

Was there ever any doubt? The king of gaming’s heroes retains his crown. With adventures spanning worlds, consoles, and many years, this red-shirted plumber does it all with a smile and unflappable positivity. No matter what new evil comes to bear, Mario will do anything to protect those in harm’s way. When you think about a video game character, Mario is probably the first one that comes to mind. Mario is, simply put, the best.

Super Mario Bros. 3 Download now ►

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Wrapping up

So, did we miss anyone? Let us know in the comments, and check back with Softonic for more gaming-related goodness.

Becoming a game designer

Why college?

Game design is akin to writing: you don’t truly need a degree to do it. You can just start working, develop skills, and apply to jobs with the portfolio you developed yourself. So why pay for school?

First, college programs are designed to give you a well-rounded experience with transferable skills. Having a four-year degree says a lot when you’re in an interview for a long-term position, and good teachers provide valuable instruction to help you through snags. Finally, our personal favorite, you’ll be able to work alongside other like-minded students!

Even if you don’t go to one of the schools we discuss below, you can get a degree in a related field – art, history, computer science – and experience many of the benefits listed above. Still, if you have the chance, accredited game design programs like these will have levels of esteem and industry connections that can’t be found elsewhere.

Now, let’s discuss the…

How to install Steam

Wanna learn how to download and install Steam? We got the answer for you!

If you play video games on your PC or laptop, Steam is probably your best friend.

Steam hosts a pantheon of amazing games available for purchase and it conveniently stores them in the app’s library. Along with incredible franchises like Grand Theft Auto, Steam also has many incredible original titles such as the Team Fortress games and Counterstrike. You can play and chat with friends while playing some of the best games ever made! The millions of users who use Steam every day can’t be wrong!

If this sounds like a blast to you, you’re probably wondering, “Where do I download it,” and “How do I install it?” Luckily, we have the answers!

How to download Steam

Download Steam on Softonic

Conveniently for you, we have the Steam app available for download in our catalog. Click the link below!

Steam Download now ►

After you’ve clicked the link, click on the green “Free Download” button to begin your download. From there, you will be forwarded to a new page, where there will be another click to download icon. After clicking that, your download will start.

This initial download should take only a few seconds. Once it is done, click the file in your downloads folder to start the installation process.

Allow permission to begin installation setup

Once you click on the downloaded file, Steam will request permission to install onto your device. Once you give it the okay, the installation process will begin. It will ask you for your preferred language, and then the installation will begin.

Make sure you have enough space.

Steam is about 450 MB, but games can be a few GB each. If your computer doesn’t have the necessary space for new games, then you need to make room before you start downloading.

Self-updating

After you’re finished downloading, Steam will automatically update itself to fit the current version. This will happen every time you open Steam. This process typically doesn’t take as long as the initial download process, but it can still take a few minutes.

Create a new account or log into your old one

If you have Steam already installed on another device, you can sign into your account on this one after downloading. You can also create a new account through a quick and easy process. All you need in order to create an account is your email address. Also, you can choose when Steam sends you emails. You probably don’t need to hear about EVERY Steam sale, but you do need to know about password info and privacy matters.

Once you are logged in, you’re ready to start buying and playing games!

Wrapping up

Have fun playing on Steam! Let us know what the first game you bought was in the comments below!

See E3 2019’s National Videogame Museum Showcase

Step back in time with this cool display of video game history from E3.

The National Video Game Museum (NVM) shows up each year at E3 and delivers a huge showcase of games, consoles, and memorabilia from multiple generations of gaming history. Some of these can be seen behind protective glass. Others can be picked up and examined. Many of them are hooked up to power and fully playable! What’s more…

There are often no lines!

With so many people wandering around the convention floor on the hunt for big titles – the next release from Microsoft, Nintendo, Bethesda and more – these consoles are usually available to players at any time. Anyone who appreciates historical video games can walk in, pick up a controller, and hop straight into nostalgia city with little wait!

Except for Ms. Pac Man…everyone wants to play Ms. Pac Man.

That said, let’s talk about the NVM! We have a few pics of the most fascinating games of all time! Please enjoy…

E3 2019’s National Videogame Museum Showcase

DOOOOOOOOOM!

Starting off right, here’s the original Doom!

With Doom: Eternal coming down the line from Bethesda, we wanted to throw a shoutout to the original first-person shooter experience. To this day, it’s still fascinating to watch people run around the cubic world, blasting away the two-dimensional demons of hell.

We’ve come a long way!

I can’t believe how far we’ve come in my lifetime. 1994-2019 from gaming

Mario Kart

Not gonna lie: you get a little star-struck in the face of greatness such as this. We personally love Mario Kart, but began playing in the Gamecube era with Double Dash (which will always be our favorite, let the record state). However, we never expected to be in the presence of the original!

It holds up well. It holds up SO WELL. A game that old shouldn’t be allowed to play that smoothly, or be that fun. It’s humbling, really.

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Sonic the Hedgehog: Supersonic Pinball

Look at how cute this thing is! Sorry, we forgot a banana for scale, just trust us: it’s adorably small.

It serves as a good reminder: video games weren’t always released as just the video game alone. Back in the day, a huge variety of toys and other merchandise launched around popular titles like this.

Hopefully, with such a lovable legacy, the upcoming movie will do well after the Sonic re-design…

Pong IV: The Console

Ah, “tele-gaming”. Remember that? Because we sure don’t!

If you’re wondering, this console was meant to plug into your black and white, or color television. Oh yeah. It’s so old the box says black and white… OR color television. That’s somehow wonderful, don’t you think?

The Board Games

If you think board games = bored games, you’re missing out!

Right near the Sonic pinball game, we found this huge selection of board game adaptions, so many they wouldn’t fit in one photo! Sadly, these are not meant to be played anymore. We can only imagine what kinds of pieces, boards, and rules were to be found inside.

Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Books

When dinosaurs roamed the earth, sometimes you had to play video games in your head. From Blaster Master to Mega Man 2, there were novels that allowed you play games without a console, using imagination!

The NES and a RED NINTENDO TV

Perfection.

Taking a step back from the N64 and Mario Kart, we had the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Unfortunately, this one wasn’t turned on at the time, which is a crying shame; considering they had the Zapper light gun, it might have been loaded with Duck Hunt inside!

Duck hunt VR just got real from gaming

Oh, but we aren’t done yet!

On another table, there was actually a playable NES. At the time, we found it open to the next player with Super Mario World loaded up and a number of games sitting nearby. Take your pick, and try not to get too excited!

(Your eyes aren’t deceiving you, that’s Battle Toads)

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Atari Galore

Atari is one of those systems that even modern kids should be able to understand. Even if they didn’t play on the console seen above, they’ve likely enjoyed titles like Centipede, Pac Man, or Asteroids in updated versions. They’re the games that keep on giving! Or, at least, the ones that keep being ported to new devices with fresh graphics.

Still, the National Videogame Museum kindly gave visitors a chance to try them out for real, in their First Form. Aside from Centipede, there were a few others on the table…

Miscellaneous Merch

Ready for a little game of “I-Spy”? Good, because here we go:

Even though modern video games release collectibles – the Nintendo Amiibos, for example – they will never be as old and cool and fabulous as these ancient relics. Can you find… the Zelda Watch, free with the purchase of a Gamecube? The “Feeling Lucky?” playing cards themed around Tomb Raider? Maybe the gigantic license plate for Twisted Metal?

Along with those, we were surprised to find an entire case with pins for olden video games. We never really thought of pins as that big a deal until we saw the impressive collection of promotional buttons! Can you find… the “Play Me” Atari pin? The Yoshi’s Island for DS badge? How about the Warner Brother’s Games pin? The “IMB Means Exceptional Service” badge?

All the Old Arcade Consoles

From classics to niche titles, the arcade showing was strong:

Yeah, they had the full Pong console as well! Please note, for hilarity’s sake, that each player of this iconic game must use a single knob to move their “paddle” up and down to block the ball. Those were simpler times!

This console plays Computer Space (1971), a game that feels like the lovechild of Pong and Asteroids. Unfortunately, it was roped off during E3 and we did not get to play.

There we go: a millennial title!

Released in 2005, Area 51 could be found in all the arcades! We have fond memories of walking past these stations as two players would co-op shooting aliens with the attached guns!

And why did we walk past? Probably to play the even better co-op arcade shooter, Time Crisis… That game swallowed many of our quarters.

The Rise and Fall of Arcades

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Remember how some games give off the star-struck feeling? Well, here’s one: Donkey Kong!

Now, reportedly, the protagonist character is actually called “Jump Man,” and isn’t actually Mario. We’re not sure what to think about this ourselves, so take that information as you will.

Crystal Castle asks an important question: what would it be like to play a bear searching for gems, being hunted by monsters, on an eclectic grid system where movement is controlled by the player rolling a ball?

The answer was this wonderful game, which still both intrigues and confuses us (in the best ways) since we tried it as kids!

Second to last, we have a classic. It may not have extensive remakes, but Dig Dug still holds a special place in our heart as the arcade game that our parents would always gladly talk about when the subject of video games came up. Family times!

And what better game to finish with than…

SUPER MARIO BROS!

Growing up, we played Super Mario Bros Deluxe on the Gameboy Color. It’s hard to describe the excitement of playing on a full console, remembering all the secret transport pipes, the mushroom blocks, and the hidden vines to heaven. This game truly deserves all the love it’s received through the many, many years.

Game Over

We enjoyed our time walking through the annals of video game history and taking in the sights. If you missed E3, but still want to see more, visit the National Videogame Museum! Nothing deepens appreciation for modern games like a short (or very, very long) walk through the years of gaming that started before Pong and led up to the newest reveals of E3 2019.

See the best cosplayers of E3 2019

Look at the great cosplayers who turned up to E3!

Cosplay is cool!

Some people can’t stand the idea of wearing a strange getup at Halloween. Others will gladly put hundreds of dollars into the designing, sewing, and machining true-to-life costumes based on their favorite characters.

For those who think dressing up in outlandish costumes and playing the personality and mannerism of the source character seems totally weird, that’s alright. You don’t have to fully embrace the hype (although the phrase “don’t knock it until you try it” comes to mind…), but we ask you to recognize how impressive these outfits are!

Now, before we go on, we should note: E3 cosplay works a little differently. Comic-Con, Anime Expo, MomoCon, and many of the other large cons have a huge emphasis on costumes, but the Electronic Entertainment Expo puts more emphasis on games, which many of the cosplays you’re about to see are promotional. Just wanted to let you know up front.

Now! Here are the…

Cosplayers of E3 2019

These… These People

Who are these people? No idea. Admittedly, we forgot to ask. To the best of our knowledge, they were a well-dressed promotional troupe, seeing as their group looks like the unlikely combination of a pompadour-wearing Daft Punk member, the ninja from Furi, and an airplane director who rushed to work after a rave.

If we’re joking about your fandom, please let us know, and sorry in advance! Kind of. The point is, these folks look great!

Yokai Kitchen

Yokai: Japanese monster spirits.

In FriendTimes Inc. new game, Yokai Kitchen, you can help them serve food! To promote their game, these two well-dressed cosplayers were moseying around the convention center.

Devil May Cry 5 and Something Else

We just happened to catch Dante from Devil May Cry 5 and these two characters from…something. When directed to their booth, we discovered there were very few English translations to be found, but we grabbed a snapshot of their sign! Check it out (and please help translate in the comments if possible):

All the Fortnite!

Cuddle Team Leader signing in!

The Fortnite booth had a ton of cosplayers making the rounds, doing the dances, and generally being fantastic portrayals of the various playable characters. For example…

Wait…never mind, that’s just a bush.

We did, however, get the chance to dance with a Frozen Red Knight! They had some pretty slick moves, but we were able to keep up pretty well with some triple-time Hype and lanyard-breaking Orange Justice!

Right? Right…

Yep. Bulletproof performance.

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Wario

Yep, just Wario. Holding a Game and Watch. Because really, do you need anything else?

(So jealous of that ‘stache, dude, A+ cosplay right there.)

Lightmass. No, Linux. Wait, Lady Butterfly! sigh She’s from Apex Legends.

Yes, folks, it’s Lady Apex!

Honestly, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better costume for Captain Lasky. We were able to grab a business card from this cosplayer, Michelle, you can find her at Twitch, Twitter, and Instagram!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michelle/Rock Lee’s Baby Mama (@tattedpoodle) on Jun 12, 2019 at 11:58am PDT

(And before anyone gets too hot and bothered…yes, we know the character is actually Lifeline)

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Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

What gaming expo would be complete without the Hero of Time?

If anyone’s wondering, this version comes from Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, in which Link dresses up as a Gerudo woman to sneak into a city for women only. You get to ride a sand seal, you take out a camel (the divine beast Naboris), it’s all quite an adventure!

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Darksiders: Genesis

There’s the article thumbnail! These impressively dressed folks were promoting the upcoming isometric dungeon crawler, Darksiders: Genesis.

We’ve seen a lot of great costumes for characters we already know, which impressed us because of our familiarity. It’s a rare but welcome occurrence to find outfits you don’t immediately recognize but want to know better. Round of applause for the creators’ effort!

Destroy All Humans

Crash course for this game: you’re an alien who lands on Earth and decides to destroy all humans. Consider yourself briefed, soldier.

While these weren’t the most high-effort cosplays out there, we did find the entire crew to be quite interesting as a group together!

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

We found this soldier walking the South hall promoting the upcoming Tom Clancy release. Trust us: around the Ubisoft booth, there were an army of personnel such as these!

Frankly, it’s always interesting to see military cosplayers when there are security guards around a convention. It takes a moment to realize, “Oh, right, Albion really doesn’t seem like an actual event management firm”. Still, you never know…

Final Fantasy

A knight of Final Fantasy, reportedly game XIV. Check out those majestic epaulettes, the rich cloak, the finely-crafted sword! Beautiful.

Last but not Least: Final Fantasy XII

Another staple of gaming conventions: Tifa Lockheart!

Tifa was a fan favorite since the release of OG Final Fantasy 7, and now that the remake has stormed the internet with insanely well-updated graphics, you should expect many more cosplayers dressed as her!

Also, if you forgot which Final Fantasy this is, here’s the one piece of information that really matters: this game has the Buster Sword.

Conclusion

Thanks for looking through! we hope you enjoyed a few of the awesome cosplays of E3 2019. Think you’d like to attend next year’s event? Here’s what you’ll need to know to attend E3.

5 things we DIDN’T see at E3 2019

REad now ►

Doom Eternal looks gory, disgusting, and incredible

Doom Eternal invites players to invade their friend’s campaigns as a demon.

The Doom franchise has truly made chainsawing demons in the face an artform. This artform may have reached its magnum opus with Doom Eternal, coming Nov. 22 of this year.

TRAILER IS NSFW

In Doom Eternal, you return to the Earth only discover that it has been invaded by demons from Hell.

Don’t you hate it when that happens?

Rather than flee the planet in search of sanctuary elsewhere, you instead decide to lock and load. Load up your shotgun, and rev up your chainsaw, it’s time to kill some demons.

New gear

Luckily, along with your arsenal of weapons, you get a spiffy new suit to aid you with your onslaught. The new Praetor Suit comes with a shoulder-mounted flamethrower and a retractable blade. If anyone is looking for ideas of what to get us for Christmas, we are adding this to our Amazon Wish List.

Become a demon and terrorize your friends

If you somehow get bored acting as a demon-slayer, you can instead become a demon yourself!

Doom Eternal has a feature that allows you to invade other player’s campaigns as a demon to annihilate them. In case you want to have strength in numbers, invite some friends to become demons as well, and really give the slayer a taste of the underworld.

Unleash Hell

Doom Eternal is available for preorder now. The game will be playable for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.

Preordering gets you a new playable character, a new skin, and the Cultist Base master level.

If you buy the deluxe edition, you get the following:

Year One Pass with two campaign add-ons
Demonic slayer skin
Classic weapon sound pack

If you’re as excited as we are, let us know in the comments below!

Steam platform creator: Valve and Gabe Newell

Organization, UI, and features

Developer tools and features

Steamworks

Steam workshop

SteamVR

Steam Direct

First party Steam games

Proprietary hardware

Problems and sticking points of the Steam shop

Limited user support

Confusing and limited refunds

How much devs make from Steam sales

Rivals and competitors vs. Steam shop

Epic Games

Good Old Games (GOG)

Softonic

Xbox Game Pass

Itch.io

Verdict on Steam shop

Sifu background

Setting and tone

Story

How long to beat Sifu

Sifu performance

Sifu PC vs. PlayStation

Sifu gameplay and functions

UI and interface

Combat mechanics

Skills and gameplay loop

Sifu visuals, sound, and enemy design

Sound design

Enemy design

World design

Sifu review: verdict and wrap-up

You can respec characters for free

Take advantage of the two free passes

Do dailies and weekly tasks

What is the weekly reset time in Lost Ark?

What is the daily reset time in Lost Ark?

Do not sell equipment but dismantle it

Use your work energy for trade skills everyday

Activate triports and use mounts

Build rapport with NPCs for chests

Move past low XP mobs

Get free Lost Ark loot with Prime Gaming

Some Mechanics Are Changing

Total War: Warhammer 3 Available on Game Pass

Ogre Kingdoms Comes With Early Adopter Version

Not All Chaos Enemies Are The Same

Eight Factions at Launch

What is Mortal Empires?

Lore of Ice

Multiplayer is Bigger Than Ever

Total War: Warhammer 3 System Requirements

Similar to Previous Games

10 best video game protagonists

Soap MacTavish- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Gordon Freeman- Half-Life 2

Mega Man- Mega Man Series

Ezio Auditore- Assassin’s Creed II

Big Boss- Metal Gear Solid

Commander Shepard- Mass Effect

Link- Legend of Zelda

Nathan Drake- Uncharted

Arthur Morgan- Red Dead Redemption 2

Mario

Wrapping up

Becoming a game designer

Top colleges with video game development programs

Conclusion

How to download Steam

Download Steam on Softonic

Allow permission to begin installation setup

Make sure you have enough space.

Self-updating

Create a new account or log into your old one

Wrapping up

E3 2019’s National Videogame Museum Showcase

DOOOOOOOOOM!

Lightmass. No, Linux. Wait, Lady Butterfly! sigh She’s from Apex Legends.