"Blood of Steel" Version Update: What's Changing The game "Blood of Steel" will be temporarily closed on the 21st of January from 07:00 to 12:00 (UTC+8) for essential maintenance and database backup. This update aims to stabilize the game and provide a better user experience. The schedule could change, so players should plan their game time accordingly. New Content Highlights The new update comes with a string of exciting features, including a limited-time event, a new contract weapon series, a fresh game mode, and adjustments to the Ranked Match, Territory War, and Elite Contest seasons. There's also a new line of "Collector skin sets" rewards, a new game mode titled "Grab and against the beach", and new Red Pyroxenes alongside Battle Pass updates. Point Awakening and Astro Workshop are now available with a 20% discount, and new events offer opportunities for players to collect various rewards. Key Adjustments and Optimizations The game revamp includes hero balancing adjustments for a smoother and more balanced gameplay experience. Changes range from modifying Strategic Value and cooldown timings for heroes like Aguda, Wang Yangming, Li Guang, and others, to implementing new skills for heroes such as Octavia and adjusting weapon lengths and formations. The mechanics for throwing and sprint animations also underwent modifications. The team has addressed and optimized formations, weapon mechanics, combat operations, and visual effects. Important changes include adjustments to cavalry formations and Hero positions, reduced attack speed penalty for two-handed weapons, and changes to the combo rules for enhanced normal attacks. Siege maps "Penglai Port" and "Hulao Town" received balancing adjustments, improving vertical protection for defending troops, while the Stirling River map got a visual revamp, and the Unstuck action was introduced. Texture effects for various Hero and Soldier skins were optimized and the Christmas-themed lobby and related maps have been replaced with the Spring Festival-themed lobby and limited-time maps. What These Updates Mean for the Gameplay and Community This update aims to enhance balance, address bugs and optimization issues, improve the gameplay experience, and ensure a more fair, comfortable gaming environment. It is worth noting that monitoring has been strengthened for behaviors such as intentional sabotage, AFK, and passive gaming. For minor violations, temporary matchmaking restrictions will be enforced. Severe violations could lead to bans from ranked matches, competitive play, and, in extreme cases, permanent account bans. Therefore, players should aim for fair and active participation in the game. Enjoy the new features and have fun gaming! View full article

Norland Beta Patch #30: Game Reforms and Enhanced Interactions Await Gaming Enthusiasts Norland, a popular multi-user domain game, has issued their beta Patch #30 with a unique twist on existing game features. In a bid to keep the gaming spirit alive, intriguing improvements have been designed around the guest system, enabling guests from neighboring provinces to reveal their intentions post their arrival. This latest update sets off a chain of decision-making exercises for players, ascertaining how they choose to engage with these guests. Amplified Guest Interaction and Role Diversity The developers have augmented the gaming experience by revamping many roles and introducing novel ones. The redrafted roles include Sociable, Duelist, Provocateur, Manipulator, Gambler, Seducer, Puppeteer, and Enlightener - granting players the liberty to discern each role's functionality. Moreover, the game is devoid of any non-functional or empty roles now, promising a substantial impact with each guest visit. Conversations and interactions with these guests, like pampering a powerful neighboring king in the game, may influence their opinions about the player's hospitality, adding an extra layer of realism. Behind The Scenes: Studio Updates and Future Plans The game development studio is bustling with activity post the holiday season with plans to unveil their future blueprint by the next week. Players can anticipate more captivating updates in the pipeline keeping their gaming zeal intact. Bugs Resolved and Added Conveyance Lastly, Norland beta patch #30 comes with a multitude of bug fixes, including: An anomaly that allowed completion of the knowledge stage by selecting "Rewrite" for a book. Breakage in key binding when using a key combination involving the Win key. Tutorial text update issues upon assigning new action keys. Progress in the tutorial despite being in the pause menu. Regular music interruptions in battle music. Unresponsive camera movement speed alteration options. In addition to the fixes, two new menus have been introduced. These menus alert players about the latest patch notes upon game launch and allow them to switch between Steam beta branches within the game, excluding the need to access the game's properties in Steam. This enhances the game's accessibility and provides players with a comprehensive view of the game. Stay tuned because it appears that Norland’s developers have much more in store for their esteemed gamers in the days to come. View full article

Nintendo Announces the Launch of Switch 2, Teasing a New Mario Kart Game Nintendo has officially acknowledged the forthcoming release of the Switch 2 console in 2025. The announcement was accompanied by a first-look trailer that seems to reveal a much-anticipated new iteration of the popular Mario Kart series. Unveiling the Sequel to the Hugely Successful Switch Console Nintendo shared a glimpse of the successor to the massively successful Switch console from 2017— the Switch 2— in a recently launched first-look trailer. The video showcased not only the new console but also hinted at the possible unveiling of a unique Nintendo feature while giving a tantalizing look at the upcoming Mario Kart game. Switch 2 Design Innovations: A Look Ahead The imminent Switch 2 introduces several key evolutions over its predecessor. From the onset, the console screen and the Joy-Con controllers appear to be larger, although exact specifications are yet to be unveiled. The Joy-Cons undergo a subtle revamp featuring sleek all-black designs with light blue and salmon-hued accents on the joysticks and lining. To ensure a comfortable gaming experience, the button layout appears more spread out, hoping to address the cramped hand issue faced by users on the original Switch. A mysterious hole on the Joy-Cons suggests a potential addition of a new sensor, unexplained thus far. Earlier predictions point towards another playful gimmick from Nintendo, potentially enabling the use of a Joy-Con flat on a surface, mimicking a computer mouse, which could potentially enrich control schemes for entire games. In response to widespread criticism, the developers have also improved the infamous kickstand from the original Switch. More Than Just a Console: A Fresh Mario Kart Game and Backwards Compatibility Along with the enhanced console, the trailer seemingly confirms the return of Mario Kart, with its latest release dating back over a decade. Rumors of the game's sequel started circulating as early as 2023. Nintendo maintained the Switch 2 would be backward compatible, offering unparalleled flexibility for both physical and digital games from the previous console. However, the gaming titan cautioned that certain Switch games may not completely support or be fully compatible with the new Switch 2. Unanswered Questions and Forward Outlook Key details such as the power of the specifications, screen type, resolution, and expected game arrivals on launch remain unknown. To shed more light on these aspects, a detailed presentation is scheduled for April 2 during a Nintendo Direct event. Furthermore, fans in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas will have the opportunity to experience a hands-on demo of the Switch 2 during several events in April. View full article

Conqueror's Blade Embraces New Ascension with January 16 Update In an encouraging step forward, Conqueror's Blade, a popular mass multiplayer online (MMO) game, has unveiled its latest update for 16th January. It brings forth a myriad of excitement in the form of limited-time events, challenges, and an assortment of adjustments and optimizations. Get Ready for the Return of Sakura Kitsune and Ascended General Players can look forward to once again engaging in battles dressed in the attire of [Sakura Kitsune] and [Ascended General] as their attire chests make a limited-time return to the gaming world. The heroic Legendary Hero Horse Attire [Omen Kyubi] and Legendary Hero Attire [Lord of the Sands] are also included in this grand offer, which will be available from the post-maintenance stage of 16th January until before maintenance on 30th January. Rotating Progression Packs Now Feature Past Season 5-Star Units Game diversification and player progress have soared with the introduction of the revolving Progression Packs now implementing 'Past Season 5-Star Units' in their Special Packs. Available for a limited time between 16th January and 13th March, it will include a series of infantry, cavalry, and ranged units. Learning the New Era of Warfare with the Sparta Season Doctrine Challenge The gaming universe has widened its horizons with a live challenge event – [Sparta] Season Doctrine Challenge! Access through [F5], completion of challenge quests won't only allow players to unlock new Season Doctrines but also earn fresh [Past Season Doctrine Selection Boxes]. This quest completion period is from 16th January to 30th January. Key System Adjustments and Operation Optimizations The latest patch also introduces streamlined territory war adjustments, a revamp of the Thermopylae event mode, builds a new mode rule, introduces balancing adjustments, and fixes operational bugs for an enhanced player experience. Unit Adjustments and Mastery System Additions for Greater Battlefield Supremacy With the objective of diversification and creating a dynamic battlefield environment, this update implements modifications to a selection of units and Mastery system additions effective post-maintenance on 16th January. These updates span various warfare categories from Symmachean Stalwarts and Khevtuul Cavalry to Onna-Musha and Tseregs. Embrace the riveting experience of Conqueror's Blade as it heralds advances in medieval warfare through its compelling seasonal events, rewarding challenges, and numerous strategic enhancements. The Conqueror's Blade January 16 update provides players with a unique amalgamation of intensified immersive gameplay, customizations, and refined gaming experiences. View full article

Voor De Kroon Unveils Major Update on January 16th, 2024 Voor De Kroon has released a new update, specifically designed to improve the game's overall performance and enhance the user experience. This upgrade encounters an array of optimizations, introduces new features, and quashes game glitches that significantly affect gameplay. The resultant effects include an enhanced gaming experience, expanded scope, and reduced CPU load. Key Inclusions: New Features and Improved Functionalities The game has undergone several notable improvements. These improvements contribute towards creating a more immersive gaming experience, making it more appealing to users. The ground-breaking update includes: Improved thumbnail support for custom campaigns during uploading to the workshop. Added mechanism to open folders when exporting campaign maps in Explorer. Better support for customized backgrounds and emblems in the faction editor. Enhanced customization with the addition of non-traditional unit types. An updated cinematic mode lighting feature. A newly refined custom faction saving and loading system. Amplified support for expansion packs. All these improvements indicate the game developer's dedication toward a more user-friendly and immersive gaming experience. Repairs and Refinements: A Comprehensive Debugging Irrespective of the significant feature updates, the creators have also addressed a host of glitches and performance issues that have emerged over time. The following issues have been fixed in the latest update: Various optimizations to the battle logic. Units blocking arrows with shields on ladders fault. Glitches associated with hired officers' death registrations. Morale check for siege surrender during campaigns. Activation of debug keys in shipping build. Issues associated with opening of campaign editor faction dialog when no factions are placed. Crashes related to formation charge logic and formation spawn logic. Mesh animation rate failing to update in fleeing horses. Default in prop season settings. Crashes related to empty heraldry emblem. These meticulous refinements further solidify the performance of the game, ensuring a smoother and more engaging experience for the players. Through these important updates, Voor De Kroon continues to push boundaries in gaming experience by seamlessly blending innovative mechanisms with existing gaming paradigms. All players are encouraged to download the update and explore these newly introduced features and improvements. View full article