Microsoft has alluded that it might consider raising the prices of first-party video games. While coy about its decision for Xbox games, it suggests that higher price-points are justified. The cost of games is always going to be a hot topic. On one hand, the retail price of AAA games hasn’t fluctuated for generations despite inflation and development costs sky-rocketing. Also, with more flash sales on digital storefronts, cheap games are in abundance....

In a wide-ranging chat with Microsoft Flight Simulator boss Jorg Neumann, VG247 decided to check in on how, six months later, the unprecedented move to add the Dropship 77 Troop Carrier aka the D77-TC, aka the ‘Pelican’, has been received by the fanbase. The answer is perhaps just as surprising - it hasn’t just been well-received, but so well received that the Flight Sim team will offer similar content in the future....

Microsoft Flight Simulator was only just announced for Xbox Series X/S, but developer Asobo is already talking about a few specifics. The studio confirmed, via the game’s official Twitter account, that Microsoft Flight Simulator is a 30fps game on Xbox Series X/S. This isn’t particularly surprising, either, as it’s one of the most demanding games on PC, where many setups struggle to maintain 60fps. What’s interesting, however, is that the Tweet also confirms that players whose TVs support VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), will be able to enjoy a smoother experience....

According to a new WindowsCentral report, an unnamed (but ’trusted) game developer source recently shared an image of Hellblade running via xCloud which revealed that the resolution of the streamed game was 1080p – a big improvement from the restricted 720p that’s been available via the service up until now. Most mobile handsets operate at a resolution of at least 1080p, so in bumping up the resolution you will be able to play in, Xbox may tempt more players to use the Cloud Gaming streaming service and play more Xbox Game Pass titles on their handheld devices....

The new Fable was revealed back in 2020, but as with many games these days, it was a cinematic trailer, so no gameplay to speak of. Who knows where it might be in development, but based on what Booty has said recently on a panel at PAX West, it still needs some more time in the metaphorical oven. “Part of my job is giving air cover to the team,” Booty explained....

But first, a recap for those uninformed. With Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s launch, the marketing team behind the game had a great idea. Nothing quite goes together like an evening of grinding out a new video game and fast food, so why not bring those worlds together and offer players a free in-game skin and XP boost to help them on their way? Food and drink are a tried-and-true vehicle for video game promotions....

Modern Warfare II (2022)’s campaign takes place around two years after the events of the first game and barely follows up on them, choosing instead to carve its own path with the same set of characters and world state, which culminates in a surprisingly innovative set of missions which contain a lot of downtime full of quiet moments and introspection. It also does a bunch of clever things with the gameplay: a memorable stealth section featuring an injured Soap has a very Naughty Dog feel about it....

When you have finished your required 2-star quests - Elder Fugen will ask you to speak to a new face in another part of the village: Buddy Handler Iori. At this point in your adventure, it’s very possible that you haven’t been to the area of Kamura Village where you find him yet, so it’s not clear where you need to go. Where is Buddy Handler Iori in Monster Hunter Rise?...

Monster Hunter Stories 2 Review: Story As a spin-off set in the Monster Hunter universe, Stories 2 caters to both new and experienced riders and hunters alike. You play as a young rider, grandchild to a legendary hero, and begin a quest to hatch a rare and powerful egg that comes under your protection. It’s up to you to prove your worth, showing many traits your grandfather possessed and developing your kinship with “monsties” at a rapid pace - can you stop any doubt people may have about your talents?...

Improving your equipment is one of the key features in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne and, for the most part, you’ll be slaying monsters to obtain special materials. It’s worth noting that some materials can only be harvested once you’ve reached Master Rank, so make sure you’re at the appropriate level for the items you want to find. The Prized Pelt is one such Master Rank item, so we’ll look at how to get your hands on it last....

The Fetching Light Pearls quest is now available for Master Rank 1 and above players. You’ll be able to pick it up from the Master Rank quest board during the event which runs between now and August 6. You’ll need to find and deliver eight Light Pearls, after which you’ll receive a Herbivore Ticket which unlocks some new special layered armour. The Light Pearls can be found in the Coral Highlands, so let’s take a look at what you need to do....

While Microsoft has an amicable relationship with Nintendo, it may not be sustainable to release more Microsoft titles on Switch, according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer. “We have a very good relationship with Nintendo,” Spencer told Kotaku. “Every conversation we have with them has really been easy.” A good relationship doesn’t mean more Xbox titles will come to Nintendo systems, though. According to Spencer, bringing more Xbox-published titles to Switch, such as Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps, “doesn’t feel sustainable” on a case-by-case basis....

CD Projekt Red has remained pretty tight-lipped on the subject, which makes the legitimacy of new Cyberpunk 2077 info difficult to assess. However, a recent YouTube video posted by Madqueen Show introduces one of the many gangs that roam Night City: the Tyger Claws (called Tyger’s Claw in Mike Pondsmith’s tabletop RPG, but seemingly renamed for CDPR’s adaptation). You can watch the full video below. “The Tyger Claws are a Japanese booster gang in Night City, settled in the district of Westbrook, also known as ‘Japantown,’ the part of the city where people go when they’re looking for thrills,” the video description reads....

In perhaps our best look at Final Fantasy 7 Remake yet, we get a glimpse of Cloud’s crossdressing quest, the Honey Bee Inn, Jenova, Sephiroth, Cloud’s childhood memories, and even Palmer, the guy who famously liked cups of tea with lard in them. He seems to have swapped out the lard for butter for the remake, which is only slightly more acceptable. This is also the debut of the game’s theme song, Hollow, written by Nobuo Uematsu....

That said, it appears that this could all be set to change in the future, with Riot Games exploring the possibility of bringing Valorant to console players, too. Now, rumours have been floating around regarding this ever since the Xbox & Bethesda Showcase back in June, when Riot Games announced that its games would all be available on Xbox Game Pass, with pre-unlocked Agent rosters for new players. This partnership with Microsoft insinuates that the future of Valorant could be on consoles....

The listing has since been removed, but luckily the internet is faster than a speeding finger hitting delete, and Gematsu was able to grab all the details. For starters, there will be a pre-order incentive called the Adventure Capital Pack that comes with cosmetics for the characters Anu, Octavio, and Fran, It also comes with 10,000 in-game currency as well as an FL4K Vaultlander collectible for use in-game. According to the listing, the narrative-driven adventure is set in the war-torn metropolis of Promethea....

The new team, which will be based in Nottingham, UK, is led by “key original team members” Steve Ellis and David Doak, a tweet from Deep Silver reveals. “To finally be able to confirm that the studio has been formed and that we have a plan for the next TimeSplitters game is incredible,” said Ellis, who will be studio development director at the company. “While we cannot tell you anything more at the moment, we look forward to sharing information in the future....

Gems are tough to find and require a fair bit of luck, and that’ goes double’s double true when it’s time to refine them. However, you’ll need the extra bonuses they offer if you’re taking on faction missions or other high-level tasks. How to get gems in New World Getting gems in New World is largely dependent on luck. They come from mining Iron, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Starmetal, and Orichalcum, but the chance of finding a gem is fairly rare....

Later this month, you can expect the Heart of Madness update which includes the Tempest Heart expedition, 3v3 PvP arenas, a PvP reward tract, and the Blunderbuss weapon. You can find out more information on the Heart of Madness update through the developer video above, which shows off the supernatural alternate reality of Isabella’s mind, which is giving way to corruption and chaos. Here, the team talks about how they wanted this to feel drastically different than what players have encountered before, and discuss the set pieces that lead up to the final showdown with Isabella....

Head over to the store and use the code “BLACKFRIDAY” at checkout to get a 10% discount on any item. That means a $50 Nintendo eShop card or £50 UK equivalent costs just $45/£45. That’s basically free money. The same goes for Xbox codes and PlayStation codes. The discount also applies to digital games, including the just-released Pokémon Violet and Pokémon Scarlet and the slightly older The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and Monster Hunter Rise....