Author: Talha Amjad

PC hardware enthusiast and avid gamer. Has been creating content for more than 8 years and has worked with multiple brands and renowned websites. Tech and gaming are more than just work, they are a passion and way of life for me.

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News

Overwatch 2 Leaked By The French Media

Overwatch 2

French news publication Le Monde talked about all the employees that Activision Blizzard laid off. On a side note, the publication mentions Diablo 4 and a “new Overwatch” game.

The French media talks about Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 and suggests these games won’t release before 2020. The article is behind a paywall but we were able to roughly translate the relevant section. The following is an excerpt from Le Monde:

What about the future? The Blizzard Entertainment teams have already had the right to a presentation of the highly anticipated Diablo 4 and know that a new Overwatch is in the pipeline. But none will come out before 2020, at best, and the employees of Versailles do not know if they will here to see their release.

If this information is indeed true then this year’s BlizzCon could be very interesting indeed. BlizzCon 2018 was a disappointment but BlizzCon 2019 could be epic provided that we get to hear about Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2.

Assistant Game Director Aaron Keller was asked about Overwatch 2 last year. Back then he mentioned that the team was working on Overwatch. Here is what he had to say regarding the matter:

We have put all of that into working on the live game and the new maps, heroes, and events like Anniversary. At least for the time being, [supporting Overwatch] is our focus right now, and we’re excited to work on this game.

Overwatch is a very successful game with millions of players. It has been around for a while and the developers have been able to keep relevant with new content and seasons. If Overwatch 2 is indeed coming out in 2020, then I for one am excited to see all the changes that are made. I hope that the new game has a story mode that players can enjoy. That would be very interesting indeed. It will be interesting to see what Overwatch 2 will have to offer and how it will be different from the original game. Bungie has separated from Activision and is its own publisher. The developer just donated $400,000 to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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News

Xbox Live Is “Not a Free Speech Platform” Says Xbox Boss Phil Spencer

Xbox Boss Phil Spencer has talked about toxicity and inclusiveness a couple of times. In a recent interview, Phil Spencer talked about Xbox Live not being a free speech platform He has already posted a pretty long blog post around toxicity and hate speech and how gaming is for everyone. If you have not read it then you should.

In the interview, Phil Spencer mentioned that when it comes to Xbox Live, gamers do not have the right to say whatever they want to. The following is what he had to say regarding the matter:

The only reason we published it now is, just as we’re making progress in Gaming For Everyone, as we’re going to do more things in our services, as we’re beefing up parental controls, there’s going to be a fringe segment that doesn’t like the direction we go.


Spencer’s statement is not surprising to people that have used Xbox Live. Some people have been banned for saying something that was not appropriate. All these measures are in place so that toxicity can be kept to a minimum and hate speech is not promoted. Phil Spencer went on to mention the following about Xbox Live:

I’ve been public before: Xbox Live is not a free speech platform. It is not a place where anybody can come and say anything. And as we’re working to ensure it’s a safe and inclusive environment for everybody, I don’t want to be opaque about it. I want to be out there front and center so that you understand our motivation.

Xbox Live has always had a certain level of restriction when it came to chatting. You cannot simply say whatever you want to. Microsoft is justing building on this system and making it better. I think that this is a great initiative. I am sure that some users are not happy about it but it is for the betterment of the gaming community as a whole.

While we are talking about Microsoft, the company has confirmed that the price of Xbox Scarlett will be reasonable. We also talked about how Xbox Lockhart is no longer in development.

Source: Kotaku

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News

Bungie Raises $400K In 4 Hours For St Jude Children’s Research Hospital

GuardianCon 2019 Charity Marathon Benefiting St Jude Children’s Research Hospital is taking place right now. Bungie managed to raise $400,000 in a small time frame of 4 hours for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The gaming community has come together for a noble cause and it is great to watch.

The annual marathon is taking place between June 16 through June 23. At the time of writing, the $2.7 million of the $3 million goals has been achieved and with another day remaining, it seems like the goal is going to be surpassed this year as well.

Bungie’s four-hour block was the single largest in the history of the event. The block comprised of Bungie playing Destiny 2 with members of the community. Other Destiny 2 players and YouTubers also created awareness to the cause. One of my favorite Destiny 2 creators MyNameIsByf was also part of the charity.

Last year the goal of the charity was $2.4 million and it raised $2.8 million. From the current numbers, it is safe to say that the goal will be surpassed this year as well. This is not the first time that Bungie and Destiny 2 players have donated to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. MyNameIsByf has taken part in this charity a couple of times and has raised awareness for some time now.

You can check out the GuardianCon 2019 website to learn more about the event. You can also donate to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

It is amazing to see what the gaming community is capable of. What Bungie and the gaming community have done for charity is no small feat. I hope to see acts of kindness like this in the future as well. The developer has teased cross-play for Destiny 2, so be sure to learn more about that as well.

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News

Romance In Cyberpunk 2077 Will Be Long-term And Like The Witcher 3

Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt RED has already confirmed that the game will have a lot of sex and nudity. But the romance options go deeper than just sex.

Lead Quest Designer Paweł Sasko has confirmed that romance in Cyberpunk 2077 will be similar to what players experienced in The Witcher 3. Here is what he had to say regarding the matter:

So in terms of romances, you can think that it’s going to be similar to how Witcher 3 was…there were whole plot lines regarding character [romances].

Since the release date reveal, CDPR has been very vocal about the game. We are getting details about the game more frequently now. You can check out the entire conversation below:

Cyberpunk 2077 romance will cover different sexualities and sexual preferences. You can have gay and lesbian interactions if you want to. In the Witcher 3, the character was more define but Cyberpunk 2077 is more flexible. You can choose your character and customize it how you seem fit.

Cyberpunk has been under fire for being a sexist game. I believe that some portion of the population is going to be pissed no matter what you do. Let’s take Cyberpunk 2077 romance options for an example. If you can have multiple romances then people will call the game sexist for objectifying women. If you do not have the option to romance multiple NPCs then haters will say that It’s 2077 and people are not bound by nuclear family anymore. Hence the game is sexist.

I think that CDPR should go with the creative ideas that they have already finalized. Removing something just because it would displease a fraction of the potential fanbase could ending up ruining the game. I mean how many different elements can you remove from the game before it turns into something else entirely?

CDPR has also confirmed that the Cyberpunk 2077 will have multiple starting points. The devs have just revealed some new concept art which you can check out.

Let us know what you think about Cyberpunk 2077 romance and whether or not you are interested in playing the game when it comes out next year.

Source: Reddit

Categories
Guides

Booty Calls Shannon Guide: Most & Least Preferred Traits, Facts, Answers

Image Credits: SUPERFERNANDOXT (Deviant Art)

Shannon one of the beautiful girls that you interact with in Booty Calls. In this Booty Calls guide, we are going to tell you about Shannon, her most preferred traits, least preferred traits and more. We are also going to tell you some facts about her and the right answers to her questions.

Booty Calls Shannon Guide

The following is what you need to know about Shannon when playing Booty Calls:

Most And Least Preferred Traits

When dating Shannon remember that her preferred traits can earn you more points. Her least preferred traits will earn you fewer points. Her most preferred trait is Beauty (Blue) and the least preferred trait is Romance (Orange). Linking the Blue circles will fill up the bar much faster. The Orange ones should be avoided when possible.

Facts

In Booty Calls, you need to unlock the facts section by giving the right answers to the questions that Shannon asks. Here are the facts about Shannon that you should know about:

Shannon
Anal Sometimes
Masturbation Once a day
Pubic Hair Waxed
Toys Yes, lots of them!
Age 21
Born April
Height 5’ 7’’
Cup size DD
Favorite color Blue
Hobby Dancing
Favorite season Summer
Occupation Sales Girl

 

These are all the facts about Shannon that are hidden and you need to unlock by answering her questions correctly.

Personality Upgrades

If you keep failing no matter how hard you try then you can look into personality upgrades. This will weaken Shannon and allow you to score higher which each chain that you create. Beauty (Blue), Charisma (Green), Romance (Orange) and Sexuality (Red) can be upgraded in order to fill the meter more easily.

Each personality trait can be upgraded five times. You need certain items to upgrade these personality traits and the requirements are as follows:

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5
Beauty (Blue) 10 Eye Lashes 12 Eye Lashes 15 Eye Lashes 20 Eye Lashes 30 Eye Lashes
Charisma (Green) 10 Perfumes 12 Perfumes 15 Perfumes 20 Perfumes 30 Perfumes
Romance (Orange) 10 Handcuffs 12 Handcuffs 15 Handcuffs 20 Handcuffs 30 Handcuffs
Sexuality (Red) 10 Butt Plugs 12 Butt Plugs 15 Butt Plugs 20 Butt Plugs 30 Butt Plugs

How To Unlock Different Positions

After you have gone on 5 dates with Shannon you can get laid. You will need some items to unlock this. There are 5 different positions to unlock. The following are the different items that you will need in order to unlock each position:

Requirements
Level 1 1 Purple Love Balls 1 Expensive Blue Plastic Ring 1 Black Double Dildo 1 Red Umbrella
Level 2 5 Purple Love Balls 5 Expensive Blue Plastic Ring 5 Black Double Dildo 5 Red Umbrella
Level 3 10 Purple Love Balls 10 Expensive Blue Plastic Ring 10 Black Double Dildo 10 Red Umbrella
Level 4 20 Purple Love Balls 20 Expensive Blue Plastic Ring 20 Black Double Dildo 20 Red Umbrella

Questions / Answers

You can learn more about Shannon by answering her questions correctly. Here are all the right answers to her questions:

 

Questions Answers
Do I know you from somewhere? I remember a cute face when I see one. Yeah, we met last week at the tanning salon. I complimented your
Do you have a car? I could go for a ride. I do, hop in. You could take a few selfies in it, just for me to see.
Do you have a girlfriend? I would love to make her jealous I’d leave my girlfriend in a second if I could feel your naked body in exchange!
Do you have a job? Yes, I work as an actor for the adult industry.
Do you like hanging out at beach bars? I’m on my way to a bar right now. How about we go together?
Do you like my clothing style? Yeah, you remind me of a well-known actress
Do you like tanning? I love being tanned Your tan goes well with your perky …..
Do you mind taking my photo? Sure, I’ll do it. But first, could you kiss me for good luck?
Do you prefer making love or …..ing Love is for losers. I like ….ing young, sexy girls who are sexually open
Does my ….. look big in this skirt? Not big, but keen. Which is the perfect shape
Does my ponytail make me look younger? It does, but I would still throw you in my bed tonight.
Hey cutie, are you here alone? Well, now that you ask… Actually, no I’m not. I’m imagining that I’m here with your sexy, curvy ……
Hey there! Is that a new watch? I love gold. Thanks for noticing, yeah, it’s brand new. Just got in some fresh money. Maybe we should talk over some drinks tonight?
Hey there! Mind if I walk next to you to the beach? Sure, come with me. I’d like to be seen with you in public.
Hey, what’s up? Do you like the beach? I’m such a big fan of it! Yeah, I love it. Almost as much as I like your big fat …..s bouncing up and down in my face.
How come I always see you outside my working place? I’m hypnotized by your looks. I want to please you so bad!
I think working out is so rewarding. When you have an ….. shaped like that, it is
I was wondering when you’d be hitting on me, ’cause I think you’re kind of sexy Well ….., the universe has shined a light upon your big ….. I’m single and ready to mingle.
If you could choose one, what would your superpower be? The power of pleasing you, until you can’t take it no more.
Is that a flashlight in your pants, or are you happy to see me? Seeing your big …..s made me ….. already.
Look at me! Adore me! You look great, but your butt is a masterpiece!
My job is so stressful. What should I do to unwind? Sex is the best therapy for me. Let me show you how to have a good time
Wait a minute, cowboy! Where are you going in such a rush? My girlfriend is waiting for me! Just kidding, I’m all alone with this huge boner. Maybe you could give me a hand with that?
What are you looking for in a woman? Clear blue sky in her eyes, big …..s, and passionate about sex.
What do you like doing in your spare time? I’d like to spend it in the company of a sexy girl like you.
What is your biggest fear? That I would never get to know what your …… tastes like.

Anal Queen Asa Akira was recently added to the game as a datable character. You can also check out our guide on Lara.

This marks the end of our Booty Calls Shannon guide. Enjoy!

Image Credits: Deviant Art

Categories
Guides

Booty Calls Lara Guide: Most And Least Preferred Traits, Facts, Answers

Image Credits: SUPERFERNANDOXT (Deviant Art)

Lara is one of the first girls that you interact with in Booty Calls. In this Booty Calls guide, we are going to tell you about Lara, her most preferred traits, least preferred traits and more. We are also going to tell you some facts about her and the right answers to her questions.

Booty Calls Lara Guide

The following is what you need to know about Lara when playing Booty Calls:

Most And Least Preferred Traits

When dating Lara, there are a couple of things that you need to keep in mind. Her preferred traits can earn you more points. Her least preferred traits will earn you the least amount of points. Her most preferred trait is Romance (Orange) and the least preferred trait is sexuality (Red). Linking the Orange circles will fill up the bar much faster. The Red ones should be avoided when possible.

Facts

In Booty Calls, you need to unlock the facts section by giving the right answers to the questions that Lara asks. Here are the facts about Lara that you should know about:

Lara
Anal Never done that
Masturbation Once a day
Pubic Hair Shaved
Toys Yes
Age 20
Born April
Height 5’ 4’’
Cup size C
Favorite color Blue
Hobby Cheerleading
Favorite season Fall
Occupation Student

 

These are all the facts about Lara that are hidden and you need to unlock by answering her questions correctly.

Personality Upgrades

If you keep failing no matter how hard you try then you can look into personality upgrades. This will weaken Lara and allow you to score higher which each chain that you create. Beauty (Blue), Charisma (Green), Romance (Orange) and Sexuality (Red) can be upgraded in order to fill the meter more easily.

Each personality trait can be upgraded five times. You need certain items to upgrade these personality traits and the requirements are as follows:

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5
Beauty (Blue) 10 Blue Umbrellas 12 Blue Umbrellas 15 Blue Umbrellas 20 Blue Umbrellas 30 Blue Umbrellas
Charisma (Green) 10 Books 12 Books 15 Books 20 Books 30 Books
Romance (Orange) 10 Perfumes 12 Perfumes 15 Perfumes 20 Perfumes 30 Perfumes
Sexuality (Red) 10 Vibrating Eggs 12 Vibrating Eggs 15 Vibrating Eggs 20 Vibrating Eggs 30 Vibrating Eggs

How To Unlock Different Positions

After you have gone on 5 dates with Lara you can get laid. You will need some items to unlock this. There are 5 different positions to unlock. The following are the different items that you will need in order to unlock each position:

Requirements
Level 1 1 Green Love Balls 1 Handcuffs 1 Black Double Dildo 1 Red Umbrella
Level 2 5 Green Love Balls 5 Handcuffs 5 Black Double Dildo 5 Red Umbrella
Level 3 10 Green Love Balls 10 Handcuffs 10 Black Double Dildo 10 Red Umbrella
Level 4 20 Green Love Balls 20 Handcuffs 20 Black Double Dildo 20 Red Umbrella

Questions / Answers

You can learn more about Lara by answering her questions correctly. Here are all the right answers to her questions:

Questions Answers
A friend told me she never masturbates.Do you know how often I pleasure myself? Once a day
Are you an early bird or more a night owl? There’s nothing better than staying in bed all day with a lovely girl!
Are you staring at me? I’m looking deep in your eyes. The ocean-blue color of your eyes make me so hot right now.
Did you go to college? I was a pretty fast learner in college.
Do you drink a lot of alcohol? Maybe a bit too much. But I’ll never get too drunk. I always want to stay in control.
Do you enjoy the cheerleaders at the stadium? Yeah, they make a good game even better
Do you know a cool place for me and my friends to hang out? I’m not from around here, but I’ve heard the beach is a fun place to hang.
Do you like a girl with curves? Who doesn’t? I’m pretty good in handling a curvy ass.
Do you like my uniform? It looks cute on you. It gets me kind of hot
Do you like open relationships? Nope, if I’m with a girl then I’m only with her! I think everything else is filthy
Do you like partying? If partying involves you, I’m down with whatever you’re down.
Do you like these big pumped up silicon tits? I really don’t get it; all tits are lovely. Why making bowling balls out of them!
Do you still talk with any of your ex-girlfriends? Yeah, I keep in touch with some of them.
Have you ever cheated on one of your girlfriends? Be honest! Nope! Never ever!
Have you ever taken advantage of a situation with a drunk girl? Come on, I’m not a jerk
Have you f’d a lot of girls in the past? Err, did I really ask this?! Okay, please tell! I lost count around fifty.
Hey there! How’s it going? I was not having a very good day until I saw you, cutie!
Hey, baby! I was thinking about you I was thinking about you too, while jerking off
I have so much studying left to do before the end of the semester. If you need some help, let me know, I was the valedictorian in my year.
I like a man who takes charge. What would you do to show that you’re a real man? I like to carry you in my arms and to throw you onto my bed
I love it if men have a good sense of humor. Yes, and seeing you smile all the time since we met seems to be a good start.
I love laughing. Do you know any jokes I’m actually quite a comedian. Maybe we could grab a drink and I’ll make you laugh?
I love the way you dress. What’s your style? It can be anything you like. I catch on to new trends really quick.
I need a guy who can also be my friend. I could talk to you, and then fuck your pussy to let all your worries disappear.
I told you my favorite season! Do you remember? Fall
I’ve been dreaming of a vacation for a very long time. Meeting new people and see historic places Me too! Let’s go to the beach and fantasize about an amazing trip to an island with two hills and a clean and juicy beach.
Is it just me, or does my top feel like it’s shrinking? Man, you’re making me feel like my shorts are shrinking, too.
It’s almost the weekend and I don’t have any plans I’m home alone and I was wondering if you’d like to watch a movie with me tonight.
It’s so hot outside. I think I’ll go to the beach for some skinny-dipping. The water could cool us both down a bit. Maybe I’ll join you
Look at that bitch! Her skirt is so short, she is almost naked! Trust me, your ass looks 10 times better!
My outfit is so uncomfortable. Maybe I should change it. I think your outfit is sexy and provocative.
What are you doing here? Are you lost? I came here hoping to find you.
What are you doing tonight? Want to go out? Sure. What do you have in mind?
What are you looking for in a girl? I like a smart, sexy girl, who can handle me in bed.
What makes you happy? Making some breakfast for my girl on a sunny Sunday morning. And see her wake-up face while cuddling with her.
What would you do if I told you that I’m single? I would give you a hug just to feel your body on mine.
What would you do if you’d win the big 1 million jackpot? You know, I’d buy the beach bar I’m working in and an apartment. And of course, I’d give some money to my family.
What would you do if your girl asked you to visit a vernissage? I would be happy to go with her! And later on, I’ll paint some masterpiece
What’s the worst date you’ve ever been on? I went out with this b who only talked about her ex-boyfriend.
What’s your favorite place to take a girl out on a date? A restaurant and see where that leads us to
What’s your favorite way to have sex? Really intimate, I like taking my time and making her scream at the top of her lungs
What’s your idea of a perfect date? Staying at home, ordering pizza and a bottle of wine and watching a movie!
Why are all men so obsessed with asses? My ex was talking about it all the time! He talks about other girls’ asses while being together with you?
Yesterday a friend of mine told me that her boyfriend put his thumbs in her! Without any warning! Wow, that’s rude! I would never do that!

Anal Queen Asa Akira was recently added to the game as a datable character.

This marks the end of our Booty Calls Lara guide. Enjoy!

Image Credits: Deviant Art

Categories
News

God Of War 2 All But Confirmed Via Sony Job Listings

God Of War 2018 is considered to be one of the best games of this console generation. It is a console seller that has won multiple awards over the years. Given the success of the original game, fans have been wondering whether God Of War 2 will be made.

Santa Monica Studio, director Cory Barlog has not commented on the matter yet. But the official website of Santa Monica Studios has some job listings that hint towards God Of War 2 aka God of War 5 being in development.

The job listings are for level designers, combat designers, and cinematic artists amongst others. While it is not unusual for studios to hire talent, interestingly these job posts mention that candidates should know about God Of War 2018. This could hint that God of War 2 is in fact early in development. You can check out the job posting below:

This obviously is not concrete proof that a sequel is in development. We have heard numerous rumors about it and it is highly unlikely that Sony would not cash in on this opportunity. Keeping in mind how well the original game did.

You should wait for official confirmation from Sony or Santa Monica Studios before taking this to heart. I would take this with a grain of salt if I were you. What we can tell you is that Sony has teased “Ragnarok is Coming” in a recent PS4 theme. This could be another hint towards a sequel to God of War in the works.

You should not expect the new God of War game to be announced any time soon. It is possible that the upcoming God Of War will be released for the next generation PS5. Sony already has plenty of exclusives lined up such as  Death Stranding, Ghost of Tsushima, and The Last of Us Part 2. God of War 5 will push Sony first party-line for PS5 to new heights.

Source: Santa Monica Studios

Categories
The Division 2

The Division 2 Shock Roach Field Research Guide – Unlocking Gunner Specialization

One of the requirements that you need to fulfill in order to unlock The Division 2 Gunner specialization is called “shock Roach twice before defeating him in Bank Headquarters”. Do note that Year-1 Pass holders don’t need to complete these Field Research missions (as the game calls them) since they’re automatically given access to the specialization. Here’s how you can complete The Division 2 Shock Roach Field Research to unlock the 4th specialization.

The Division 2 Shock Roach Field Research

In order to complete the said Field Research, the first thing that you need to do is to start the Bank Headquarters mission on any difficulty setting. Do note that the mission needs to be ‘Normal’ and not ‘Invaded’.

Once done, progress through the mission as normal until you get to Roach. However, after you get there, you’ll realize that there’s no Shock Ammo nearby. In order to find a Shock Ammo Box, reach the point where you come across an open area and look for a tall billboard advertising something related to medicine.

You should be able to locate the Ammo Box right next to it. Now, the important thing here is to swap to your sidearm (Pistol or Sawed-Off Shotgun) before restocking on the Shock Ammo. Don’t restock Shock Ammo on your Primary Weapon, otherwise, you’ll most probably fail the Field Research.

Once you’ve done so, swap to your sidearm and shoot Roach once in order to shock him. After that, use your Primary Weapon to clear the area of enemies and shoot Roach once more. While there’s no confirmation as to how long you should take between shooting Roach but to be on the safe side, try to wait somewhere between 5-10 seconds before shooting him again.

After you’re done, simply complete the mission and you’re done. However, one important thing to note that some players have reported a bug that doesn’t register two shocks, forcing you to start over. If that’s the case, you’re out of luck, sadly!

This is all we’ve in our The Division 2 Shock Roach Field Research Guide. If there’s anything else that you’d like to add, be sure to let us know in the comments section below!

Categories
News

EA Compares Surprise Element of Loot Boxes to Mcdonald’s Happy Meal Toys

EA adds shady loot boxes in its games that are often predatory. The company got into a lot of trouble for its gambling mechanics. Gambling commissions cracked down on loot boxes after how EA handled Battlefront 2. The game featured aggressive and predatory microtransactions. Riddled with Loot Boxes, Battlefront 2 sparked worldwide outrage and debate. Various Governments had to intervene to investigate the gaming industry.

This is why EA is now standing in front of the UK Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Committee. In a recent statement, EA talked about loot boxes and referred to them as “ethical” which is surprising keeping in mind how many commissions see this gambling.

Kerry Hopkins, EA’s VP of legal and government affairs claimed that these aren’t loot boxes. According to EA’s new definition, these are “surprise mechanics.” It seems like a tactic to counter the negativity surrounding the term “loot boxes.”The new definition came to light when Hopkins spoke to the UK Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Committee. This happened during an evidentiary hearing to investigate gambling mechanics in video games.

EA compared loot boxes to surprise toys like “FIFA packs” are something that you got free with a Mcdonalds Happy Meal. Here is what Hopkins had to say in response to one of the questions asked by Scottish National Party MP, Brendan O’Hara:

We do think the way that we have implemented these kinds of mechanics – and FIFA, of course, is our big one, our FIFA Ultimate Team and our packs – is actually quite ethical and quite fun, quite enjoyable to people.

Netherlands and Belgium already have a “no loot box” law to protect its consumers from the likes to EA. But EA disagrees with their regulations. According to EA, these loot boxes aren’t gambling nor do they can cause gambling issues. EA’s stance is backed by Australian gambling commission which doesn’t consider loot boxes a gambling mechanic similar to slot machines.

Here is what Hopkins had to say regarding the matter:

We do agree with the UK gambling commission, the Australian gambling commission, and many other gambling commissions that they aren’t gambling, and we also disagree that there’s evidence that shows it leads to gambling. Instead, we think it’s like many other products that people enjoy in a healthy way, and like the element of surprise.

In certain regions of the world, loot boxes have been banned in games such as Overwatch. This is a problem that needs to be taken seriously and it seems that EA is ready to find back. The immediate step from EA revolves around re-naming and rebranding loot boxes. We may see new buzz words thrown around.

EA is not fooling anyone and I think that anyone that has a bit of common sense can see that EA is trying to rebrand loot boxes. I am sure that the UK Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Committee will see that as well.

Categories
Hardware News

PS5 Uses A Custom PCIe 4.0 Based SSD For Blistering Fast Performance

Mark Cerny has confirmed that PS5 will use an SSD but he also mentioned that it is not just some regular SSD. It is a special SSD that is not available to PC users as of right now. AMD just announced the X570 motherboards that support PCIe 4.0 SSDs and it is possible that the PS5 uses the same storage solution.

We know that both the PS5 and Xbox Scarlett are powered by AMD hardware. Both use AMD Zen 2 CPUs and AMD Navi graphics. Adding the PCIe 4.0 interface to the PS5 or Xbox Scarlett would not be hard keeping in mind that the new AMD Ryzen 3000 series CPUs already support it.

PS5 And Xbox Scarlett Feature A Custom PCIe 4.0 SSD

These CPUs and motherboards are not available right now so Mark Cerny’s statement would still be valid. This hardware has been announced recently and consumers have yet to get their hands on the AMD Ryzen 3000 series CPU or the X570 motherboards.

Sony recently showed off the loading speeds of Spider-man running on the PS5 compared to the PS4 Pro. The PS5 was much faster when it came to loading the game and took less than a second. It would also load assets much faster and hence the gameplay was much smoother. This can only be done if the SSD used is next-generation, and the only SSSD that’s able to achieve this is PCIe 4.0.

The demo shows that the PS4 Pro takes 15 seconds to load the new area in Spider-man while the PS5 only takes 0.8 seconds. That is a drastic increase in performance only possible with PCIe 4.0. Soon after, companies like Corsair and Gigabyte announced their PCIe 4.0 based storage solutions that offer a much higher bandwidth when compared to PCIe 3.0 and can deliver faster data transfer speeds.

Mark Cerny has mentioned that the unprocessed bandwidth of the SSD inside the PS5 is much higher than that of any SSD for PC right now. He also went on to mention the following:

Raw read speed is important but so are the details of the I / O mechanisms and the software stack we put on them. I got a PlayStation 4 Pro and then I put an SSD that cost as much as the PlayStation 4 Pro, it could be a third faster.

Why Is PCIe 4.0 Such A Big Deal?

PCIe 4.0 offers double the bandwidth compared to PCIe 3.0. PCIe 3.0 is capped at 16GB/s but the new PCIe 4.0 standard can go up to 32 gigabytes per second. This is one of the reasons why we believe the PS5 will feature a PCIe 4.0 based SSD. If you heard about a max speed of 64 GB/s, then that is true as well but both directions of data have been taken into consideration in that case.

Interestingly PCIe 5.0 will be ready before we get this technology in the mainstream. So even though PCIe 5.0 SSD in the PS5 would be a bit of a stretch but there is a really minor chance that it could happen. I would take that with a grain of salt if I were you. Yet it is enirely possble that PS5 and Xbox Scarlett use PCIe 4.0 SSDs. Either the standard PCIe 4.0 or something that is based on 4.0 but tweaked specifically to Xbox Scarlett and PlayStation 5.

The Corsair MP600 is one of the newly announced SSDs that use the PCIe 4.0 interface and you can see the difference in performance compared to the older model that uses PCIe 3.0 in the table below:

Model Corsair MP600 Corsair MP510
Form Factor double-sided M.2 2280 double-sided M.2 2280
Interface NVMe, PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe, PCIe 3.0 x4
Controller Phison PS5016-E16 Phison PS5012-E12
NAND Flash Toshiba 64-layer 3D TLC
Capacities 240GB–1920GB
Sequential Read up to 4950 MB/s up to 3480 MB/s
Sequential Write up to 4250 MB/s up to 3000 MB/s
Random Read up to 610k IOPS

Xbox Scarlett Has One Too?

We are still not sure about the kind of storage Sony is using to get such high speeds out of the PS5. This could be PCIe 4.0 or could be something else entirely. We need to wait for the official specifications in order to be sure. But based on our own experience and where the technology currently stands it is safe to say PCIe 4.0 is in use. Moreover, if the PS5 is using this SSD storage solution then the upcoming Xbox Scarlett is most likely going with it. Both console manufacturers are supplied by AMD, both consoles use the same CPU and Navi based GPU. Why not the same SSD? Platinum Games Head Producer Atsushi Inaba recently pointed out that both the PS5 and Xbox Scarlett are very similar. He mentioned that they are so much alike that it is hard to get excited about either one. The following is what he had to say in this regard:

It’s OK, and by that I mean, I’m sure that things will move faster, graphics will be better and maybe it will be easier with fewer wait times, that’s good for the consumer. But it’s more of the same, quite frankly, compared to previous generations. It’s nothing that’s disruptive or super innovative if you ask me.

Now for the price, Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox Scarlett will be reasonably priced. Xbox Corporate Vice President Mike Ybarra even claimed that the console will set a new bar for console gaming. All this is very interesting but only time will tell. PlayStation 5 on the other hands is reportedly $499.