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Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent hands-on — Inferior in every way
It may look the part, but something's certainly missing
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Square Enix's latest gacha game is Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent, styled after the Nintendo Switch game, but now offering all of the free-to-play mechanics most gamers hate. That's right; Square thought it wise to cash in on the popularity of Ocotpath Traveler with a monetarily abusive gacha game on mobile, offering a familiar amalgamation of its popular HD-2D art style, but it's severely lacking in polish, almost as if the bare minimum is a perfectly sound business strategy when developing and launching free-to-play mobile games, clueing everyone into precisely what Square Enix thinks of its fans.
Nova Launcher 8 beta hands-on: Branching out in new directions
One of the best launchers on Android is getting even better
Nova Launcher's recent acquisition has seen the app in the news the past few days, but we're not here to discuss the business side of things. Nope, we're here to report on the latest betas for Nova Launcher now that 8 is in testing. After all, development is still moving forward, and thanks to betas being available to anyone who joins the app's discord, we sideloaded the launcher to see what's new. And oh boy, are there some noteworthy changes with 8.0.2 in the mix. Let's dive in for a closer look.
Nintendo Switch Online finally adds friend requests... after five years
But you still have to accept requests on the Switch, the app can only send them
Nintendo has done the unthinkable, the gaming giant has finally added friend requests to its Nintendo Switch Online app, and it only took the company five years to see this basic feature come to fruition. Thanks to the latest update, users can now send friend requests directly from the Nintendo Switch Online app, but to accept any requests, you'll have to do so from the console. After all, did you seriously think Nintendo, of all companies, would actually implement a basic online feature without hobbling it somehow? To accept any request, you're forced to jump over to your console for invites sent from the very app that can't accept them. It's a head-scratcher for sure but lines up with Nintendo's long history of pitiful online support.
Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent is the laziest gacha game from Square Enix yet
Pillarboxing, no English voice work, horrible monetization, retreaded gameplay, and poor performance are just the tip of the iceberg
Square Enix certainly has a penchant for taking its premium RPGs and turning them into gacha games for mobile, and Octopath Traveler is the latest to receive this treatment with the launch of Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. As expected, it's a gacha game, a greedy one at that, and it's incredibly unpolished to boot despite the fact it's now globally released. Sure, it may look the part with similar graphics to the console/PC game, but in the end, it's a cynical cash grab filled with greedy in-app purchases, designed from the ground up to empty wallets instead of providing fun. So let's dig in and explore why Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent is a trash-tier release.
Verizon wants you to pay for your Xbox like you do your phone
This wireless network operator would like to sell you Xbox All Access in select stores and online
Verizon is looking to get hip with the kids by selling a payment plan for Xbox consoles, known as Xbox All Access. The plans start (keyword start) at $25 a month and go up from there, depending on which console you choose, either the Xbox Series S or Series X (the X coming in at $35 a month), and comes with two years of Game Pass Ultimate, which is precisely how long you'll be paying off the console you get by joining Xbox All Access. While Microsoft already offers plenty of partners where you can sign up for Xbox All Access (like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy), Verizon has entered the fray with an announcement that select Verizon retail stores along with its online storefront will be selling Xbox All Access starting July 28th.
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Onyx is something of an outlier in the E Ink game, making strides in the US with devices like the Nova Air C, thanks to its color screen. The latest Air replaces the Nova3 Color, offering a slimmer form factor for $420. It's expensive as far as e-readers are concerned, but the feature set is indeed unique since the device runs Android, bringing all the perks expected of the OS, making for a tablet-like experience, but with a color E Ink screen.
Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer is here to fulfill your murder mystery cravings
Don your summer camp beachwear to explore Jabberwock Island
Spike Chunsoft's Danganronpa franchise has seen the first three games in the quirky visual novel series released on Android over the last two years. Today, a fourth title arrives, known as Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp. Unlike the core games, this is an offshoot release developed from the post-game content in Danganronpa V3, offering board-game mechanics in a summer-themed environment, which means there are tons of new swimwear outfits for the game's 60 crossover characters.
Indie darling Into the Breach is an outstanding strategy game that's finally available on mobile
Netflix Games is bringing the heavy artillery with its latest release
Netflix Games has been busy building out its catalog of mobile games since November's launch, and even though not every title is a heavy hitter, Netflix Games already offers a handful of quality games, with more coming. Well, as of today, this catalog has grown by one more, and it's a doozy. The indie darling Into the Breach is now available on Android courtesy of Netflix Games, and all you need to play this exceptional mech-based strategy game is an active Netflix account.
Star Wars: Hunters global release delayed until 2023
Looks like the soft launch isn't going so well for Zynga
Zynga first announced that it was developing a competitive Star Wars arena game back in February 2021, known as Star Wars: Hunters, but it was delayed in September 2021, pushed to a 2022 release window. Well, despite entering soft launch where we went hands-on with the title this past November, it would appear Zynga feels the game still hasn't met the studio's high expectations, and so the arena shooter has been delayed again, this time pushed back to an unknown date in 2023.
With so many cloud gaming services out there, it can be tough to know which will suit your needs, especially when each and every one offers a different method of monetization. This is why I've gone hands-on with Amazon's Luna, to report on my findings so that anyone curious about the game streaming service can decide for themselves whether its features are robust enough for their needs. So with Prime Day almost upon us, when Amazon will assuredly discount a selection of smart TVs that offer access to the Luna app, let's dig into Amazon's Luna to see how it stacks up.
Skate kickflips onto mobile as EA announces reboot
Don't get too excited, the game will be free-to-play
Electronic Arts is currently working on a new version of Skate, a popular series of extreme sports games developed and published by the company. News about the game has been spreading like wildfire ever since an internal build of the game leaked, and so EA is now out in front of this information trying to set the tone, which is why it just published a YouTube video where the creators hold a roundtable discussing the project, revealing the console and PC game is also in the early stages of development for mobile, with plans to offer crossplay and cross-progression across all platforms.
35 of the best Android app and game sales for the weekend
Make sure to pick up Stark Fitness and Abi: A Robots Tale before their discounts end
Seeing that the Play Store has seen a plethora of sales over the last few weeks, thanks to events like Prime Day and the summer Steam Sale, things have calmed down a little. Thankfully we still have some excellent sales to share today with some of the best Android apps and best Android games around, including discounts on titles like Stark Fitness and Abi: A Robots Tale. As always, I've highlighted all of the interesting titles in bold in order to make discovery easier. So without further ado, here are the best temporarily free and on-sale apps and games for the weekend.
Anker's fantastic AirPods competitors are just $60 for Prime Day — while they last
The Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro are earbuds with a long name and few downsides
There are seemingly a million different manufacturers of wireless earbuds at this point; just about every brand offers a set or two, and Anker is one of those brands with its Soundcore line. Thankfully, Anker is one of the better manufacturers out there, where its earbuds are favorably reviewed. So the current Prime Day sale on its Liberty Air 2 Pro earbuds is definitely worth a look if you're in the market for an affordable pair of in-ear headphones that offer active noise-canceling, personalized EQ, and wireless charging.
The Division Resurgence gameplay revealed in new walkthrough video
Ubisoft is off to a great start, the game looks comparable to its console brethren
Last week Ubisoft revealed that it's working on a The Division shooter for mobile, known as The Division Resurgence, bringing the third-person shooter to mobile to compete with the big boys like Apex Legends and Call of Duty. At the time, very little was revealed, which is why Ubisoft has just released a gameplay walkthrough recorded in-game to show everyone precisely what the title will have to offer. So if you're curious to see The Division Resurgence in action, with its mechanics explained, Ubisoft has your back.
Stadia exclusive Outcasters brings its chaotic multiplayer mayhem to everyone for free
Including a free trial for non-Stadia members
Outcasters is one of the few exclusives on Stadia, an online multiplayer top-down shooter that launched on the platform at the tail end of 2020 for $20, a title we reviewed and were impressed with, even though the price was a little high. Well, Google has just announced that the game is going free to play for all Stadia members, even if you're not subscribed to Pro. There's even a new free trial for the game where anyone can test Outcasters without a Stadia account.
This $140 Ticwatch E3 Prime Day deal is a perfect Wear OS entry point
It's not the best smartwatch, but it gets the job done
Mobvoi's TicWatch E3 is built on top of Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 Platform, which means it will eventually see an update to Wear OS 3.0. So at $140, you get a lot of smartwatch for your money during this deep discount during Prime Day. Having reviewed the smartwatch late last year, I can personally confirm it's a solid device, especially as an entry point into Wear OS.
3 reasons the Nvidia Shield TV Pro is my favorite media player Prime Day deal
You can save $45 off the retail price, the deepest discount yet
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I've been an Nvidia stan on Android since the very first Shield TV launched all the way back in 2015. As a matter of fact, I'm still running my 2015 Shield in my living room, and I have been since its release, and the damn thing is still supported somehow, seven years later. Nvidia's commitment to supporting Android is unparalleled, that much is clear. But I'm not here to talk about the OG Shield, nope. I'm here to direct your attention to the Amazon Prime Day sale for the latest model of the Shield TV Pro, a streaming box that I've been running in my bedroom since the Tegra X1+ device launched in 2019, and thanks to that exceptional chip; the Shield TV Pro can upscale content like no other box on the market, the very reason I volunteered to write this article, as the device is at an all-time low at $170, making Prime Day the perfect day to pick up one of my favorite Android devices.
PUBG Mobile reveals a mysterious Ancient Secret
2.1 brings a new themed mode, a K-pop concert, and an overhauled chat feature
It's been two months since PUBG Mobile 2.0 dropped this past May, and even though today is filled with news about Prime Day, LightSpeed & Quantum Studio is full speed ahead with today's update announcement. Fans can expect a new themed mode with the return of the quicksand statue Pharaoh, plus there's a global virtual concert that will run from the 22nd to the 24th, starring the K-pop band Blackpink. So if you have eagerly awaited PUBG Mobile's latest update, 2.1 starts rolling out today.
The Razer Kishi is one of Android's best controllers, and it's $45 for Prime Day
If you demand tactile controls for your mobile games, the Razer Kishi is one of the best solutions around
Since Razer released the Kishi controller in 2020, it's been a staple of mobile gaming, which is a good reason. It's built well, is comfortable to hold in hand, relies on USB-C for connections cutting down on latency, folds up for easy transportation, and fits a solid selection of Android phones. The only caveat for the last two years is that the Razer Kishi is typically an expensive controller, but thanks to the onslaught of Prime Day sales, you can pick one up today for $45 (typically retailing for $80), which is about as good as it gets.
Amazon Fire TV Omni Series 4K UDH Smart TVs are drastically discounted for Prime Day
If you require a new TV for the home, Amazon's Prime Day deals are exceptionally worthwhile
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Having recently reviewed the Amazon Fire TV Omni Series, I can confidently say that these budget smart TVs are well worth their money. Thanks to Prime Day, you can snag the entire family of Omni TVs on sale at some deep discounts, including the 43-inch model for $320, a perfect price and size for a bedroom, as well as the 50-inch model for $350, perfect for the living room or den. The entire Omni line runs Fire OS, meaning these smart TVs run Android (albeit a forked version), which signifies you'll have access to all the apps you'd need, including Netflix, Hulu, and the game streaming platform Luna, along with Alexa voice controls.