Blizzard Entertainment has earned a reputation for filling its games with charming, colorful characters, and at the 2019 Game Developers Conference in March you’ll get a rare look at how a new Blizzard hero is designed.

In her GDC 2019 Visual Arts track talk on “Bringing Orphea to ‘Heroes of the Storm‘“, Blizzard animator Lana Bachynski will show you what it takes to bring a new character into a pre-established ecosystem, as well as how to strike a balance between multiple franchises with distinctly different art styles.

She’ll also show you practical techniques used to create powerful silhouettes and intuitive motion, and reveal how to keep your work tied to a core set of beliefs that value “gameplay first” without sacrificing animation quality. 

In short, this is an exciting talk about Blizzard’s approach to animation as a service, and how animation can help cultivate positive experiences for both players and developers alike. You won’t want to miss it!

You can find full details on Bachynski’s talk and many, many more over on the GDC 2019 Session Scheduler. There you can begin to lay out your GDC week, which takes place March 18th through the 22nd at the (newly renovated!) Moscone Center in San Francisco. 

Bring your team to GDC! Register a group of 10 or more and save 10 percent on conference passes. Learn more here.​

For more details on GDC 2019 visit the show’s official website, or subscribe to regular updates via Facebook, Twitter, or RSS.

Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent company Informa

Starting at 2:00 p.m. PST today, members of the Xbox One Preview Skip Ahead and Preview Alpha Rings will begin receiving the latest 1904 Xbox One system update (19h1_release_xbox_dev_1904.190124-1920). Read on for more about the fixes and known issues in the latest 1904 system update.   For the next few releases we will keep Alpha Skip Ahead and Alpha builds in sync to test core functionality.

New Features:

Mini Keyboard

• We are flighting a new Mini Keyboard and would love your feedback.  If you prefer or require the bigger keyboard for accessibility, it is still available in Settings -> Ease of Access -> Magnifier -> Larger Keyboard. This mini keyboard floats over the UI, so will position itself smartly around textboxes. If you see any positioning or general issues, please file bugs with as much detail as possible (app you were using, screenshot etc.) as we deliberately have minimal logging around text entry for privacy reasons.  Keep an eye out for a quest and survey!

Media Remote Programmable Buttons

• We are flighting a new feature that enables you to reprogram buttons on your Media Remote.  Choose your favorite app to launch when you press the OneGuide button on a media remote.
  
  • Access this via Settings>Kinect & devices>Media remote.

Fixes:

Messaging

• Make quick message send from friends list use the new messaging service.

My Games and Apps

• Fixes to improve the launch of various games and apps that would timeout with an error to the user.
• Fixed the issue that was resulting in a console shutdown while playing Destiny 2.

 System

• Fixed the issue with no controller input for some users.
• Fixed an issue with the new Virtual Keyboard that covered Content on Large Text (Below-Center) Textboxes.
• Fixes to the audio subsystem to resolve hanging/no audio for some users.
• Localization fixes.

Known Issues:

Disney Adventures 

• We are tracking an issue that this title is crashing on launch.

 Profile Color

• Sometimes users may encounter the incorrect Profile color when powering on the console.

My Games and Apps:

• We are tracking an issue with various bundled titles like Borderlands 2 not recognizing all DLC as owned with valid entitlement

Skype

• We are aware of an issue with skype that when a user clicks on a conversation and/or pressing X to start a video call seem to freeze and eventually crash skype.

Ed Annunziata’s career spans all the way back to the early ’90s, and includes titles such as Spider-Man, Chakan: The Forever Man, Cyborg Justice and Kolibri, all games that appeared on Sega hardware. However, his name is most closely associated with the groundbreaking Ecco the Dolphin, a 1992 Genesis / Mega Drive release which established a best-selling franchise.

Annunziata’s connection with Ecco could be seen as both a blessing and a curse, because it has arguably placed the designer in the shadow of his most famous creation, despite the fact that he has been involved with many, many notable games since then.

Annunziata is currently hard at work on Space War Arena, a Switch game which hits the eShop on February 14th. Keen to know more, we sat down for a chat with this legendary developer.

Nintendo Life: Before we get onto Space War Arena, it’s worth touching upon your amazing career. What have been the highlights for you personally?

Ed Annunziata: I’ve been making games for a very long time, so there’s been a ton of highlights. I’d say every single release of all the games I’ve worked on have all been highlights! Just getting the game into the endzone is always a victory. Sticking with the football analogy, it would feel so good I would totally do a touchdown dance on every game shipped!

Some individual moments that I cherish:

• Doing voice over for Three Dirty Dwarves (Saturn). The whole team played roles, including the Hungarian-speaking Orcs! I never laughed so hard in my life.
• When I met Micheal Jackson because he was friends with Tom Kalinske (President of Sega at the time) and was a fan of Ecco! I was showing him an early version of Tides of Time while we both sat on a piano bench. As I played the game, Michael started singing to the music of whatever level I was playing. I got goosebumps.
• When we finished Tiny Tank (PS1) the team performed the song, “Up your Arsenal” which was just one of the songs on Tiny Tank’s crazy soundtrack. I remember the moment with all of us in the studio singing our guts out. It was awesome!

You’ve created Space War Arena with a small team; have you found that your fame with other titles has helped gain interest in the game?

Well, you answered my email! Other than that, I don’t think my track record helps one bit. For better or worse, only the game and how fun it is can gain interest if there is to be any. As for the team, it is still ‘us’, the original Ecco the Dolphin team! We have all worked together for the last 25 years. My development partner Laszlo Szenttornyai worked on many games with me, including Ecco the Dolphin. Laszlo the best Space War Arena player on earth right now. My secret plan: In the future, we are going to use machine learning to capture Laszlo’s strategies and tactics and make an AI opponent of him in the game; the bot will be called ‘I am Laszlo.’

What inspired Space War Arena, and what makes it unique in your opinion?

Little spaceships! When I was a kid the video games that appealed to me had little ships, like Defender, or Nolan Bushnell’s Computer Space. And ultimately the game called Spacewar, the very first video game ever created in 1962 (the year I was born). What was interesting about Spacewar is it was it started as player vs. player from the beginning. I had a little ship, you had a little ship and we went at it until only one remained. It was awesome.

Space War Arena is a modern take on a real-time wargame with spaceships. On a very fundamental level, Space War Arena was designed as a two-player, head-to-head game. Like a real-time chess game, only the pieces are little ships that have different parameters and behaviours.

A natural component of this kind of game is its sci-fi theme; AI is emphasized. In the single-player mode, you battle against different flavours of AI. Even the little spaceships have their own unique AIs that drive them. As you observe how these machines think, you get better at playing this game. While designing all the AIs for the units, we discovered that there is infinite space for strategies and tactics.

What element of the game do you think players will find most surprising?

How solidly fun it is. One small indication of this is when you start a battle, it is very difficult to stop playing until someone wins.

What kind of modes will the game have, in terms of solo, local and online?

The premier mode is head-to-head, local. We don’t support online yet, but it’s coming. The game includes a story-based campaign mode where victories unlock new units. Also, 6 different AIs to battle are provided to level-up units you already own. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!

How are you making use of the console’s unique features, such as the Joy-Con, desktop mode, and the touchscreen?

I love the haptics on the Joy-Con. Space War Arena is a very explosive game! The visual effects are great for seeing the explosions, but the haptics let you feel them; very satisfying. We support the touchscreen as much as possible. We even support head-to-head touchscreen play on a single system, which is surprisingly fun!

Space War Arena looks like as great new series, but do you ever feel like returning to the classics of your past?

One of the OCD characteristics of my personality is I never give up! When I was trying to convince Sega about Ecco the Dolphin it took me years to get them to bite. There are some challenges I need to overcome but eventually, there will be a new Ecco! Also, I am trying to find a way to port our Saturn game, Three Dirty Dwarves, to the Switch. I think that’s an excellent game for the platform. Also, if I have it my way, modern versions of Mr. Bones (Saturn) and Tiny Tank (PS1) are heading over to the Switch someday!

You tried to crowdfund a successor to Ecco a few years back; what happened with that?

Ugh, I knew you were going to ask me this! Ok, the Big Blue failed as a crowdfunded project, not for only one reason. I know I did not do it well. I still very strongly believe in the story and the mechanics but it really can’t be a spiritual successor to Ecco, it has to be Ecco! One thing I can say is in the future, people are playing this game. I never give up!

7.21:
===

GENERAL

* Melee creeps average gold bounty reduced by 3
* Range creeps upgrade cycle gold bounty increased from +3 to +6

* Replaced the primary jungles’ ancient camps with big camps

* Heroes no longer gain 25% more benefit from their primary attributes (affects attributes from both items and the hero)
* All heroes’ primary attribute growth values increased by 15%
* Health per strength increased from 18 to 20

* XP required to reach level 7->12 changed from 640/660/680/800/820/840 to 720/750/780/810/840/870 (the difference is +80/90/100/10/20/30 XP)

* The following melee heroes now have +5 movement speed: Naga Siren, Underlord, Monkey King, Nyx Assassin, Bloodseeker, Riki
* The following melee heroes now have +10 movement speed: Alchemist, Dragon Knight, Meepo
* The following melee heroes now have +15 movement speed: Legion Commander, Lifestealer, Lycan, Sven, Ursa, Wraith King
* Ranged heroes with 295 movement speed and above now have 5 less movement speed

* Tier 2 tower armor increased from 14 to 15
* Tier 3 tower armor increased from 14 to 16
* Melee Barracks armor increased from 13 to 15

* Tower Protection armor bonus for Tier 2/3/4 increased from 3 to 4

ITEMS

* Animal Courier: Flying movement speed increased from 460 to 470

* Aeon Disk: Active status resistance increased from 50% to 75%
* Aeon Disk: Recipe cost reduced from 1350 to 1250

* Battle Fury: Percentage damage bonus against non-hero units changed to be a fixed amount matching Quelling Blade

* Bloodstone: Bloodpact changed from 60% of current mana to 30% of max mana

* Bloodthorn: Cooldown reduced from 18 to 15

* Boots of Travel: Level 2 movement speed increased from +32% to +35%

* Buckler: Activated armor bonus duration on heroes reduced from 25 to 15 (carries through to Mek)

* Crimson Guard: Recipe cost increased from 600 to 750

* Drum of Endurance: Passive changed from a 6% movement speed aura to +20 movement speed to yourself only

* Ethereal Blade: Enemy debuff duration increased from 3 to 4 (matching duration when cast on allies)

* Eul’s Scepter of Divinity: Movement speed bonus changed from +6% percentage to +20 flat

* Holy Locket: Now uses Energy Booster instead of a Void Stone (provides +325 Mana)

* Iron Branch: Cast range increased from 200 to 400

* Manta Style: Movement speed bonus reduced from +25 to +20

* Mask of Madness: Lifesteal increased from 15% to 20%

* Mekansm: Stack limit is now tied to cooldown on cast (like Greaves and Crimson stack mechanics)

* Meteor Hammer: Radius increased from 300 to 315

* Necronomicon: Last Will damage increased from 550/675/800 to 600/700/800

* Nullifier: Duration increased from 5 to 6

* Phase Boots: Recipe changed from Gloves of Haste to Blades of Attack
* Phase Boots: Armor bonus increased from 5 to 6
* Phase Boots: Now gives +18 damage on melee (and +12 on range) instead of +20 attack speed
* Phase Boots: Melee active speed increased from 20% to 22%

* Power Treads: Recipe changed from Blades of Attack to Gloves of Haste
* Power Treads: Attribute bonus reduced from 14 to 10
* Power Treads: Now gives +20 attack speed instead of +12 damage

* Sange and Yasha: Movement speed bonus reduced from +35 to +30

* Solar Crest: Movement speed bonus changed from +6% percentage to +20 flat

* Spirit Vessel: Damage as a percentage of current health increased from 4.5% to 5%
* Spirit Vessel: Movement speed bonus changed from +6% percentage to +20 flat

* Tranquil Boots: Active form movement speed increased from 24% to 26%
* Tranquil Boots: Disabled form movement speed reduced from 20% to 18%

* Vladmir’s Offering: No longer uses Headdress nor provides its hp regen/stats
* Vladmir’s Offering: Now requires a 525 gold recipe

* Wind Lace: Movement speed bonus changed from +6% percentage to +20 flat

* Yasha: Movement speed bonus reduced from +25 to +20
* Yasha and Kaya: Movement speed bonus reduced from +35 to +30

HEROES

* Abaddon: Curse of Avernus curse duration increased from 4 to 4.5
* Abaddon: Aphotic Shield manacost reduced from 115 to 100/105/110/115

* Alchemist: Base movement speed increased by 10
* Alchemist: Base agility increased from 16 to 22
* Alchemist: Chemical Rage base attack time improved from 1.3/1.15/1.0 to 1.2/1.1/1.0
* Alchemist: Level 10 Talent reduced from -8s Unstable Concoction to -7s
* Alchemist: Level 20 Talent Concoction talent now adds the damage to the max instead of the base

* Ancient Apparition: Chilling Touch damage increased from 50/85/120/155 to 50/90/130/170
* Ancient Apparition: Ice Vortex manacost reduced from 65/80/95/110 to 50/70/90/110
* Ancient Apparition: Level 25 Talent reduced from 900 AoE Cold Feet to 700
* Ancient Apparition: Level 25 Talent increased from +4% Ice Blast Kill Threshold to +5%

* Anti-Mage: Fixed Counterspell providing double magic resistance when the shield is active

* Arc Warden: Spark Wraith damage increased from 100/160/220/280 to 100/170/240/310
* Arc Warden: Tempest Double duration increased from 14/16/18 to 16/18/20
* Arc Warden: Level 10 Talent increased from +25 Attack Speed to +30

* Bane: Enfeeble attack speed slow increased from 40/60/80/100 to 50/75/100/125
* Bane: Enfeeble manacost reduced from 70/90/110/130 to 50/75/100/125
* Bane: Level 10 Talent increased from +6 Armor to +7
* Bane: Fiend’s Grip duration increased from 5 to 6

* Batrider: Firefly now grants a 4/7/10/13% movement speed bonus
* Batrider: Firefly duration reduced from 18 to 15
* Batrider: Firefly cooldown reduced from 40 to 34

* Beastmaster: Inner Beast attack speed reduced from 15/25/35/45 to 10/20/30/40
* Beastmaster: Hawk health reduced from 300/450/600/750 to 150/200/250/300
* Beastmaster: Level 15 Talent changed from +40 Boar Damage to +65 Wild Axes Damage
* Beastmaster: Level 20 Talent changed from +80 Wild Axes Damage to +50 Boar Damage
* Beastmaster: Level 25 Talent increased from -15s Hawks Cooldown to -20s
* Beastmaster: Level 25 Talent reduced from +30 Inner Beast Attack Speed to +25

* Bloodseeker: Base movement speed increased by 5

* Bounty Hunter: Shuriken Toss cooldown reduced from 10 to 9
* Bounty Hunter: Jinada gold steal increased from 12/18/24/30 to 12/20/28/36
* Bounty Hunter: Track critical strike damage increased from 140/160/180% to 140/170/200%

* Brewmaster: Drunken Brawler critical strike reduced from 170/200/230/260% to 140/180/220/260%
* Brewmaster: Cinder Brew duration reduced from 7 to 5
* Brewmaster: Cinder Brew duration is refreshed on ignition
* Brewmaster: Cinder Brew ignite DPS increased from 20/25/30/35 to 20/30/40/50
* Brewmaster: Level 10 Talent reduced from +20 Damage to +15

* Bristleback: Viscous Nasal Goo manacost reduced from 25 to 12/16/20/24

* Broodmother: Level 10 Talent increased from +75 Spawn Spiderlings Damage to +125
* Broodmother: Level 15 Talent changed from +35% XP Gain to +15 Agility
* Broodmother: Level 20 Talent increased from +20 Spiders Attack Damage to +30
* Broodmother: Level 25 Talent increased from +350 Spiders Health to +450

* Centaur Warrunner: Retaliate no longer gains charges while it is active

* Chaos Knight: Chaos Strike cooldown reduced from 7/6/5/4 to 4
* Chaos Knight: Chaos Strike lifesteal reduced from 50/55/60/65% to 40/50/60/70%
* Chaos Knight: Chaos Strike max damage increased from 160/190/220/250% to 160/195/230/265%
* Chaos Knight: Reality Rift slow duration increased from 2 to 3
* Chaos Knight: Reality Rift slow reduced from 15/25/35/45% to 10/20/30/40%

* Chen: Divine Favor bonus damage reduced from 10/20/40/80 to 12/24/36/48
* Chen: Divine Favor now provides double bonus damage on non-hero units
* Chen: Divine Favor duration increased from 12 to 14
* Chen: Divine Favor manacost reduced from 110 to 70/80/90/100
* Chen: Hand of God heal increased from 250/400/550 to 300/450/600
* Chen: Level 15 Talent reduced from -10s Divine Favor Cooldown to -7s
* Chen: Level 25 Talent reduced from +400 Hand of God Heal to +350
* Chen: Level 25 Talent increased from +4 Holy Persuasion Max Units to +5

* Clinkz: Level 15 Talent changed from +20% Evasion to +15 Strength

* Clockwerk: Battery Assault cast point removed
* Clockwerk: Rocket Flare manacost reduced from 50 to 35/40/45/50
* Clockwerk: Level 20 Talent changed from +20% Magic Resistance to Rocket Flare True Sight
* Clockwerk: Level 25 Talent changed from Rocket Flare True Sight to +50% Magic Resistance

* Crystal Maiden: Freezing Field now grants you 10 bonus armor while channeling
* Crystal Maiden: Arcane Aura allied mana regen reduced from 1.2/1.7/2.2/2.7 to 1/1.5/2/2.5
* Crystal Maiden: Arcane Aura self mana regen increased from 2.4/4.4/6.4/8.4 to 2.5/4.5/6.5/8.5

* Dark Willow: Bramble Maze manacost reduced from 140/150/160/170 to 100/120/140/160
* Dark Willow: Bramble Maze cooldown reduced from 34/31/28/25 to 25

* Dazzle: Poison Touch mancost increased from 95/110/125/140 to 110/120/130/140
* Dazzle: Shadow Wave cast range reduced from 900 to 800

* Death Prophet: Base damage increased by 3

* Disruptor: Base armor increased by 1

* Doom: Scorched Earth cooldown reduced from 55/50/45/40 to 50/45/40/35
* Doom: Devour health regen from 4/8/13/18 to 3/8/13/18

* Dragon Knight: Base movement speed increased by 10
* Dragon Knight: Dragon Blood health regen increased from 4/7/10/13 to 4/8/12/16
* Dragon Knight: Elder Dragon Form frost attack slow increased from -20 to -30
* Dragon Knight: Level 20 Talent changed from 2x Dragon Blood to +25 Strength
* Dragon Knight: Level 25 Talent changed from +40 Strength to 2x Dragon Blood

* Drow Ranger: Level 15 Talent changed from +25 Attack Speed to +10 Agility

* Earthshaker: Fissure manacost reduced from 125/140/155/170 to 110/130/150/170

* Earth Spirit: Rolling Boulder damage reduced from 100 to 70/80/90/100
* Earth Spirit: Boulder Smash slow reduced from 80% to 60%
* Earth Spirit: Level 15 Talent reduced from +200 Rolling Boulder Damage to +150

* Elder Titan: Level 10 Talent reduced from +25 Movement Speed to +20

* Ember Spirit: Sleight of Fist cooldown reduced from 30/22/14/6 to 18/14/10/6
* Ember Spirit: Base damage increased by 3

* Enchantress: Enchant cooldown reduced from 55/40/25/10 to 22/18/14/10
* Enchantress: Enchant creep duration reduced from 50/60/70/80 to 26/44/62/80
* Enchantress: Enchant manacost reduced from 65 to 40/50/60/70

* Enigma: Midnight Pulse manacost rescaled from 75/95/115/135 to 50/80/110/140

* Faceless Void: Time Dilation AoE increased from 725 to 775
* Faceless Void: Level 10 Talent increased from +8 Strength to +10
* Faceless Void: Level 15 Talent changed from +300 Health to -1s Time Walk Cooldown

* Grimstroke: Phantom’s Embrace rend damage reduced from 120/200/280/360 to 75/150/225/300
* Grimstroke: Ink Swell manacost increased from 90/100/110/120 to 120/130/140/150
* Grimstroke: Ink Swell movement speed reduced from 18% to 12/14/16/18%

* Gyrocopter: Base strength increased from 19 to 22

* Huskar: Attack point reduced from 0.4 to 0.3
* Huskar: Berserker’s Blood max attack speed reduced from 220/260/300/340 to 160/220/280/340
* Huskar: Life Break damage and cost reduced from 34/39/44% to 32/38/44%
* Huskar: Level 15 Talent reduced from +15 Burning Spears DPS to +10

* Invoker: Base damage increased by 3
* Invoker: Exort bonus damage reduced from 4->28 to 3->27 per instance
* Invoker: Level 10 Talent changed from +1.25s Tornado Lift Time to -30s Ghost Walk Cooldown

* Io: Temporarily removed from Captains Mode
* Io: Tether now transfers health and mana even when Io is at max hp/mp
* Io: Overcharge now has an 18 second cooldown and an 8 second duration. No longer has a 2 second toggle.
* Io: Overcharge now costs 40/60/80/100 mana to cast. No longer cost 6% of health and mana per second.
* Io: Overcharge attack speed bonus increased from 40/50/60/70 to 50/80/110/140
* Io: Overcharge damage reduction increased from 5/10/15/20% to 15/20/25/30%
* Io: Relocate delay increased from 2.7/2.35/2 to 3.5/3.25/3
* Io: Relocate cooldown reduced from 130/110/90 to 90/75/60
* Io: Relocate is now cast delay again instead of channeling (being interrupted, silenced, rooted, etc will cancel the ability)
* Io: Level 25 Talent changed from -60s Relocate Cooldown to -30s

* Jakiro: Level 10 Talent changed from +30% XP Gain to +300 Attack Range
* Jakiro: Level 15 Talent changed from +300 Attack Range to +40% XP Gain

* Juggernaut: Base armor reduced by 1
* Juggernaut: Omnislash no longer allows you to teleport while using it
* Juggernaut: Healing Ward movement speed reduced from 420 to 400
* Juggernaut: Omnislash cooldown increased from 130/120/110 to 130
* Juggernaut: Level 15 Talent changed from +1s Blade Fury to +50 Blade Fury Movement Speed

* Keeper of the Light: Level 10 Talent changed from 8% Spell Lifesteal to +30% XP Gain
* Keeper of the Light: Level 15 Talent changed from +30% XP Gain to +1 Will-O-Wisp Health Count

* Kunkka: Level 25 Talent changed from -1.5s Tidebringer Cooldown to +60% Tidebringer Cleave

* Legion Commander: Base movement speed increased by 15
* Legion Commander: Level 20 Talent reduced from +40 Movement Speed to +35
* Legion Commander: Level 25 Talent changed from -10s Press The Attack Cooldown to 350 AoE Press The Attack

* Leshrac: Diabolic Edict increased from 9/18/27/36 to 11/22/33/44
* Leshrac: Level 25 Talent reduced from +50 Diabolic Edict Explosions to +40

* Lich: Frost Shield slow reduced from 35% to 20/25/30/35%
* Lich: Chain Frost damage reduced from 300/400/500 to 250/375/500
* Lich: Level 25 Talent increased from +40% slow to +50%

* Lifestealer: Base movement speed increased by 15
* Lifestealer: Base armor increased by 2
* Lifestealer: Level 15 Talent reduced from +30 Movement Speed to +25

* Lina: Base damage increased by 3

* Lion: Level 10 Talent increased from +75 Cast Range to +100
* Lion: Level 15 Talent increased from +120 Gold/Min to +150

* Lone Druid: Spirit Bear movement speed increased from 340/355/370/385 to 340/360/380/400
* Lone Druid: Spirit Bear attack damage increased from 35/50/65/80 to 35/55/75/95
* Lone Druid: Level 20 Talent changed from -0.3 Spirit Bear Attack Time to 0 Entangle Cooldown
* Lone Druid: Level 25 Talent changed from 0 Entangle Cooldown to -0.5s Spirit Bear Attack Time

* Luna: Level 10 Talent increased from +200 Cast Range to +300

* Lycan: Base movement speed increased by 15
* Lycan: Wolves armor reduced from 1 to 0
* Lycan: Wolves magic resistance reduced from 80% to 70%
* Lycan: Wolves health increased from 230/260/290/320 to 300/350/400/450
* Lycan: Howl health regen increased from 4/6/8/10 to 4/8/12/16

* Medusa: Fixed Mystic Snake bouncing to Spell Immune enemies
* Medusa: Level 10 Talent reduced from +20 Damage to +15
* Medusa: Level 15 Talent reduced from +35% Mystic Snake Mana Steal to +30%
* Medusa: Level 20 Talent changed from +700 Mana to -4s Mystic Snake Cooldown
* Medusa: Level 25 Talent changed from +7 Split Shot Targets to +1000 Mana

* Meepo: Base movement speed increased by 10

* Mirana: Sacred Arrow movement speed increased from 857 to 950

* Monkey King: Base movement speed increased by 5
* Monkey King: Wukong’s Command attack rate improved from 1.3 to 1.2

* Morphling: Strength gain increased from 2.3 to 2.6
* Morphling: Level 15 Talent increased from +15s Morph Duration to +20s

* Naga Siren: Base movement speed increased by 5
* Naga Siren: Mirror Image duration from 24 to 26
* Naga Siren: Mirror Image damage taken reduced from 475/450/425/400% to 400%
* Naga Siren: Level 20 Talent increased from -5s Ensnare Cooldown to -7s

* Nature’s Prophet: Using tango on a sprout tree will 2x regen (like eating a branch tree)
* Nature’s Prophet: Level 20 Talent changed from -4s Sprout Cooldown to +25% Cooldown Reduction

* Necrophos: Death Pulse damage increased from 100/140/180/220 to 100/150/200/250
* Necrophos: Level 15 Talent increased from +20% Ghost Shroud Slow to +30%

* Night Stalker: Hunter in the Night movement speed bonus increased from 20/25/30/35 to 22/28/34/40%
* Night Stalker: Removed Scepter
* Night Stalker: Dark Ascension now provides full unobstructed vision, instead of only 900 range
* Night Stalker: Level 15 Talent changed from +150 Cast Range to +15% Lifesteal

* Nyx Assassin: Base movement speed increased by 5
* Nyx Assassin: Strength gain increased from 2.3 to 2.5
* Nyx Assassin: Level 10 Talent increased from +60 GPM to +90
* Nyx Assassin: Level 10 Talent increased from +6% Spell Amp to +8%

* Ogre Magi: Fireblast cooldown reduced from 12/11/10/9 to 11/10/9/8
* Ogre Magi: Multicast 2x chance increased from 60% to 70%

* Omniknight: Heavenly Grace status resistance reduced from 50/60/70/80% to 50%
* Omniknight: Heavenly Grace duration increased from 8 to 10
* Omniknight: Heavenly Grace now provides 7/14/21/28 bonus strength
* Omniknight: Heavenly Grace manacost increased from 75 to 80/90/100/110

* Outworld Devourer: Sanity’s Eclipse multiplier from 9/10/11 to 8/9/10
* Outworld Devourer: Level 15 Talent reduced from +30 Movement Speed to +25

* Pangolier: Base damage increased by 4
* Pangolier: Level 10 Talent changed from +20 Movement Speed to +300 Swashbuckle Slash Range

* Phantom Assassin: Rearranged Level 15 Talents – +25% Cleave vs +15% Lifesteal
* Phantom Assassin: Rearranged Level 20 Talents – +20% Blur Evasion vs -4 Armor Corruption
* Phantom Assassin: Rearranged Level 25 Talents – +5% Coup de Grace vs Triple Strike Stifling Dagger

* Phantom Lancer: Level 10 Talent increased from +10% Evasion to +15%
* Phantom Lancer: Level 20 Talent increased from +4 Max Juxtapose Illusions to +5

* Phoenix: Sunray can no longer move forward while rooted

* Pudge: Base damage increased by 6

* Queen of Pain: Scream of Pain manacost reduced from 95/110/125/140 to 80/100/120/140
* Queen of Pain: Shadow Strike damage per tick increased from 30/45/60/75 to 30/50/70/90

* Razor: Attack backswing reduced from 0.7 to 0.4
* Razor: Level 10 Talent increased from +200 Health to +225

* Riki: Base damage increased by 4
* Riki: Base movement speed increased by 5
* Riki: Level 20 Talent increased from +0.2 Backstab Multiplier to +0.3

* Rubick: Telekinesis lift duration reduced from 1/1.4/1.8/2.2 to 0.8/1.2/1.6/2.0
* Rubick: Level 15 Talent increased from -45 Fade Bolt Hero Attack to -60

* Sand King: Burrowstrike damage increased from 85/150/215/280 to 100/160/220/280
* Sand King: Sand Storm AoE increased from 350/450/550/650 to 425/500/575/650

* Shadow Demon: Soul Catcher manacost reduced from 110 to 50/70/90/110
* Shadow Demon: Shadow Poison manacost reduced from 50 to 35/40/45/50

* Shadow Fiend: Presence of the Dark Lord armor reduction increased from 3/4/5/6 to 4/5/6/7

* Shadow Shaman: Level 20 Talent reduced from +3s Shackles Duration to +2.5s

* Silencer: Last Word cooldown reduced from 28/22/16/10 to 22/18/14/10
* Silencer: Level 10 Talent increased from +5 Armor to +6

* Skywrath Mage: Mystic Flare deals damage to creeps if no heroes are around

* Slardar: Level 25 Talent reduced from +1.5s Slithereen Crush Stun to 1.25s

* Slark: Pounce no longer does 30/60/90/120 damage

* Sniper: Headshot now has a back knockback of 10
* Sniper: Level 15 Talent changed from +35 Shrapnel DPS to +15% Shrapnel Slow

* Spectre: Strength gain increased from 2.3 to 2.5
* Spectre: Spectral Dagger movement speed increased from 8/12/16/20% to 10/14/18/22%
* Spectre: Level 20 Talent reduced from +20% Spectral Dagger to +18%

* Storm Spirit: Electric Vortex manacost reduced from 85 to 60/70/80/90
* Storm Spirit: Level 10 Talent changed from +20 Damage to +30 Overload Damage

* Sven: Base movement speed increased by 15
* Sven: Warcry shield health changed from 110/220/330/440 to 80/110/140/170 + 1/1.5/2/2.5x your strength
* Sven: Storm Hammer cooldown increased from 13 to 16/15/14/13
* Sven: Storm Hammer damage reduced from 100/175/250/325 to 80/160/240/320

* Techies: Remote Mines manacost reduced from 200/240/300 to 120/180/240

* Templar Assassin: Meld debuff is now applied before the attack damage is reduced by armor
* Templar Assassin: Fixed meld bonus damage being increased by Spell Amplification
* Templar Assassin: Level 10 Talent changed from +3 Psionic Traps to +15% Evasion
* Templar Assassin: Level 15 Talent changed from +7 Armor to +25 Movement Speed

* Terrorblade: Strength reduced from 16 + 1.7 to 15 + 1.5

* Tidehunter: Anchor Smash damage reduction from -45/50/55/60 to -30/40/50/60%

* Timbersaw: Reactive Armor bonus armor reduced from 1.3/1.4/1.5/1.6 to 1/1.1/1.2/1.3
* Timbersaw: Reactive Armor bonus health regen reduced from 1/1.2/1.4/1.6 to 1/1.1/1.2/1.3
* Timbersaw: Reactive Armor max stacks increased from 5/10/15/20 to 6/12/18/24
* Timbersaw: Whirling Death tree bonus damage increased from 10/15/20/25 to 12/18/24/30
* Timbersaw: Level 20 Talent increased from +10% Cooldown Reduction to +15%

* Tiny: Avalanche AoE reduced from 400 to 325/350/375/400
* Tiny: Avalanche cooldown increased from 23/20/17/14 to 26/22/18/14
* Tiny: Level 15 Talent reduced from +125 Avalanche Damage to +100
* Tiny: Level 15 Talent increased from +350 Health to +400

* Treant Protector: Living Armor damage block increased from 20/40/60/80 to 25/50/75/100
* Treant Protector: Scepter now causes Treant’s Overgrowth to deal damage instead of only Enchanted Trees
* Treant Protector: Overgrowth duration increased from 3/3.75/4.5 to 3.25/4/4.75
* Treant Protector: Level 20 Talent increased from +40 Leech Seed Damage/Heal to +50

* Troll Warlord: Level 15 Talent increased from +75 Whirling Axes Damage to +90
* Troll Warlord: Level 20 Talent increased from +20% Evasion to +25%

* Tusk: Tag Team slow duration reduced from 0.5 to 0.4
* Tusk: Tag Team manacost increased from 40/50/60/70 to 70
* Tusk: Tag Team cooldown increased from 15 to 24/21/18/15

* Underlord: Base movement speed increased by 5

* Undying: Level 15 Talent changed from Tombstone On Death to +30 Tombstone Zombie Damage
* Undying: Level 20 Talent changed from +30 Tombstone Zombie Damage to Tombstone On Death

* Ursa: Base movement speed increased by 15
* Ursa: Fury Swipes damage reduced from 10/16/22/28 to 7/14/21/28

* Vengeful Spirit: Level 20 Talent increased from -5s Magic Missle Cooldown to -6s

* Venomancer: Strength gain increased from 1.9 to 2.1

* Viper: Nethertoxin AoE increased from 350 to 380
* Viper: Nethertoxin damage increased from 20/35/50/65 to 30/45/60/75

* Visage: Level 10 Talent reduced from +125 Cast Range to +100
* Visage: Level 20 Talent reduced from +60 Familiars Movement Speed to +50
* Visage: Level 20 Talent increased from +15 Soul Assumption Damage Per Charge to +20

* Warlock: Base strength increased by 2
* Warlock: Chaotic Offering attack damage increased from 75/125/175 to 100/150/200
* Warlock: Golem attack backswing reduced from 0.74 to 0.57

* Weaver: Level 10 Talent changed from +7 Strength to +75 Shukuchi Damage
* Weaver: Level 15 Talent changed from +75 Shukuchi Damage to +14 Strength

* Windranger: Level 15 Talent increased from +100 Attack Range to +125
* Windranger: Level 15 Talent increased from +100 Powershot Damage to +125

* Winter Wyvern: Cold Embrace base health regen increased from 15 to 14/18/22/26
* Winter Wyvern: Cold Embrace manacost changed from 75 to 50/60/70/80

* Witch Doctor: Maledict cooldown reduced from 50/40/30/20 to 30/26/22/18
* Witch Doctor: Level 10 Talent increased from +5 Armor to +6

* Wraith King: Base movement speed increased by 15

* Zeus: Reworked Static Field. Now affects enemies directly affected by your abilities. No longer has a range.

This week at Bungie, a hero’s weapon made a triumphant return.

The Last Word is back. All owners of the Annual Pass are invited to kick off the Last Draw quest at the Drifter and earn their reward. 

Many of you have earned this coveted reward, and taken it for a spin in the Crucible. We have been following the conversation and seen a lot of feedback concerning a difference in feel between Destiny 1 and Destiny 2. The team is currently looking into this. 

For those who haven’t heard the whispers in Destiny 2, their frequency has been increased. If you’re still on the hunt for Whisper of the Worm, head to Io with your fireteam (or solo!) to take on the challenge. The quest is available to all players of Destiny 2. 

Season of the Forge continues on, but Season of the Drifter is quickly approaching. We still have some fun in store for this season, like Crimson Days and an upcoming Bungie Bounty, but we can start glancing toward the horizon for Season 6. Let’s dive in.

Getting the Clan Back Together

Since Forsaken launched, we’ve been gathering feedback concerning clans, their progression, and their rewards. Today, we have Design Lead Steve Dolan and Senior Designer Mark Uyeda back in the hot seats, speaking to what the team has planned!

Steve and Mark: Hey everybody! Steve Dolan and Mark Uyeda here to give you an update on what you can expect for Clan Progression in Season of the Drifter.  

These past two seasons, we tried some new things. During that time we’ve gathered hard data, heard a ton of feedback (thanks, Cozmo and Dmg!), and now we’re going to walk you through what’s next.

Whenever we’re talking game design, it’s always good to discuss the design’s goals. In Forsaken, we were trying to create: 

Cleaning House, Part 2

Last week, we had a preview for how powerful bounties will work from season to season. While we have put effort into preserving items within player inventory, two sources of powerful rewards will change at the end of Season 5, which may result in the loss of rewards if not redeemed.

Fighting for Your Fireteam

Let’s say you’ve been working on some weapon frames from Ada-1 since this week’s reset, but are encountering issues when attempting to gain progress. The Player Support team is here for you, collecting reports and potential repro-steps to aid the development team in identifying the issue. You can find them in the #Help forum every day of the week.

This is their report:

Destiny 2 Update 2.1.4

On Tuesday, January 29, we rolled out Destiny 2 Update 2.1.4 to players. The update introduced a slew of fixes to help resolve issues players reported encountering in the game. Below are a few highlights:

Compound Ether and Unstable Radiolaria: We have identified an issue preventing Compound Ether from dropping from Fallen for the basic Sniper Rifle frame and Unstable Radiolaria from dropping from Vex for the basic Bow frame. We are investigating deploying a fix for this issue.  

Missing Weapon Frames: We have identified an issue causing weapon frames to go missing from player inventories. We are investigating deploying a fix for this issue. 

“The Temptation” in the Draw Quest: Players have reported some confusion over progressing “The Temptation” step for the Draw quest. To make progress on this quest step, a player must defeat other Guardians in the Crucible. Each time the player dies in the Crucible, they will lose some progress towards completion. 

“The Conversation” in the Draw Quest: We are investigating player reports that they did not receive the Last Word Exotic after completing “The Conversation” portion of the Draw Quest. Some players encountering this issue have reported that restarting the mission and progressing more slowly resolved the issue. 

They Don’t Need No Super Suit

Fantastic work. Outstanding. Phenomenal. These are all things that Lord Shaxx says when overseeing the Crucible, and we find ourselves saying the same about these montages. Highly recommend taking a seat before hitting play, as some of these plays hit hard enough to knock you off your feet.

Winner: RIOT

Runner up: What’s Up, Danger?

I’m currently running through my Destiny 2 checklist for this weekend. Running some Last Wish and Scourge of the Past raids in search of armor rolls. Oh and can’t forget the curse cycle is in full effect, so I’ll need to plan a trip to the Dreaming City, too. A solo attempt at Shattered Throne for a sweet emblem, perhaps? I’ll more than likely be helping friends in the Crucible at some point on their path to the Last Word. Maybe I’ll see you out there.

There’s quite a bit to do, not to mention dusting off some weapons and Supers thanks to Destiny 2 Update 2.1.4. For the Hunters out there, Way of the Outlaw is calling. Titans have their Hammers, Warlocks have their Dawnblades… but you have a fan-fire Golden Gun to challenge them. Land those shots. Cause some Mayhem.

Next week, we’ll have some information on what to expect in Crimson Days and our upcoming Bungie Bounty. We’ll see you then.

Cheers,

Dmg04

Linux has come a long way from its original offering. But, no matter how often you hear how easy Linux is now, there are still skeptics. To back up this claim, the desktop must be simple enough for those unfamiliar with Linux to be able to make use of it. And, the truth is that plenty of desktop distributions make this a reality.

No Linux knowledge required

It might be simple to misconstrue this as yet another “best user-friendly Linux distributions” list. That is not what we’re looking at here. What’s the difference? For my purposes, the defining line is whether or not Linux actually plays into the usage. In other words, could you set a user in front of a desktop operating system and have them be instantly at home with its usage? No Linux knowledge required.

Believe it or not, some distributions do just that. I have five I’d like to present to you here. You’ve probably heard of all of them. They might not be your distribution of choice, but you can guarantee that they slide Linux out of the spotlight and place the user front and center.

Let’s take a look at the chosen few.

Elementary OS

The very philosophy of Elementary OS is centered around how people actually use their desktops. The developers and designers have gone out of their way to create a desktop that is as simple as possible. In the process, they’ve de-Linux’d Linux. That is not to say they’ve removed Linux from the equation. No. Instead, what they’ve done is create an operating system that is about as neutral as you’ll find. Elementary OS is streamlined in such a way as to make sure everything is perfectly logical. From the single Dock to the clear-to-anyone Applications menu, this is a desktop that doesn’t say to the user, “You’re using Linux!” In fact, the layout itself is reminiscent of Mac, but with the addition of a simple app menu (Figure 1).

Another important aspect of Elementary OS that places it on this list is that it’s not nearly as flexible as some other desktop distributions. Sure, some users would balk at that, but having a desktop that doesn’t throw every bell and whistle at the user makes for a very familiar environment — one that neither requires or allows a lot of tinkering. That aspect of the OS goes a long way to make the platform familiar to new users.

And like any modern Linux desktop distribution, Elementary OS includes and App Store, called AppCenter, where users can install all the applications they need, without ever having to touch the command line.

Deepin

Deepin not only gets my nod for one of the most beautiful desktops on the market, it’s also just as easy to adopt as any desktop operating system available. With a very simplistic take on the desktop interface, there’s very little in the way of users with zero Linux experience getting up to speed on its usage. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a user who couldn’t instantly start using the Deepin desktop. The only possible hitch in that works might be the sidebar control center (Figure 2).

But even that sidebar control panel is as intuitive as any other configuration tool on the market. And anyone that has used a mobile device will be instantly at home with the layout. As for opening applications, Deepin takes a macOS Launchpad approach with the Launcher. This button is in the usual far right position on the desktop dock, so users will immediately gravitate to that, understanding that it is probably akin to the standard “Start” menu.

In similar fashion as Elementary OS (and most every Linux distribution on the market), Deepin includes an app store (simply called “Store”), where plenty of apps can be installed with ease.

Ubuntu

You knew it was coming. Ubuntu is most often ranked at the top of most user-friendly Linux lists. Why? Because it’s one of the chosen few where a knowledge of Linux simply isn’t necessary to get by on the desktop. Prior to the adoption of GNOME (and the ousting of Unity), that wouldn’t have been the case. Why? Because Unity often needed a bit of tweaking to get it to the point where a tiny bit of Linux knowledge wasn’t necessary (Figure 3). Now that Ubuntu has adopted GNOME, and tweaked it to the point where an understanding of GNOME isn’t even necessary, this desktop makes Linux take a back seat to simplicity and usability.

Unlike Elementary OS, Ubuntu doesn’t hold the user back. So anyone who wants more from their desktop, can have it. However, the out of the box experience is enough for just about any user type. Anyone looking for a desktop that makes the user unaware as to just how much power they have at their fingertips, could certainly do worse than Ubuntu.

Linux Mint

I will preface this by saying I’ve never been the biggest fan of Linux Mint. It’s not that I don’t respect what the developers are doing, it’s more an aesthetic. I prefer modern-looking desktop environments. But that old school desktop metaphor (found in the default Cinnamon desktop) is perfectly familiar to nearly anyone who uses it. With a taskbar, start button, system tray, and desktop icons (Figure 4), Linux Mint offers an interface that requires zero learning curve. In fact, some users might be initially fooled into thinking they are working with a Windows 7 clone. Even the updates warning icon will look instantly familiar to users.

Because Linux Mint benefits from being based on Ubuntu, it’ll not only enjoy an immediate familiarity, but a high usability. No matter if you have even the slightest understanding of the underlying platform, users will feel instantly at home on Linux Mint.

Ubuntu Budgie

Our list concludes with a distribution that also does a fantastic job of making the user forget they are using Linux, and makes working with the usual tools a simple, beautiful thing. Melding the Budgie Desktop with Ubuntu makes for an impressively easy to use distribution. And although the layout of the desktop (Figure 5) might not be the standard fare, there is no doubt the acclimation takes no time. In fact, outside of the Dock defaulting to the left side of the desktop, Ubuntu Budgie has a decidedly Elementary OS look to it.

The System Tray/Notification area in Ubuntu Budgie offers a few more features than the usual fare: Features such as quick access to Caffeine (a tool to keep your desktop awake), a Quick Notes tool (for taking simple notes), Night Lite switch, a Places drop-down menu (for quick access to folders), and of course the Raven applet/notification sidebar (which is similar to, but not quite as elegant as, the Control Center sidebar in Deepin). Budgie also includes an application menu (top left corner), which gives users access to all of their installed applications. Open an app and the icon will appear in the Dock. Right-click that app icon and select Keep in Dock for even quicker access.

Everything about Ubuntu Budgie is intuitive, so there’s practically zero learning curve involved. It doesn’t hurt that this distribution is as elegant as it is easy to use.

Give One A Chance

And there you have it, five Linux distributions that, each in their own way, offer a desktop experience that any user would be instantly familiar with. Although none of these might be your choice for top distribution, it’s hard to argue their value when it comes to users who have no familiarity with Linux.

Learn more about Linux through the free “Introduction to Linux” course from The Linux Foundation and edX.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a pretty good week. We finally got that list of the best wargames on mobile up and running (been wanting to do this for ages), so that’s another niche well served. I also got to review the excellent Star Traders: Frontiers (more on that below), and as well as overhauling our RPG list, we had a nice trip back in time to 2012.

Coming up next week should be quite a few more reviews, along with the usual round of updates, including some more war games, and any interesting new releases we haven’t caught up with yet.

Meanwhile in mobile gaming…

Out Now

Star Traders: Frontiers (iOS Universal & Android) (Review)

No need to really say much more on this one: The Trese Brother’s excellent sci-fi sandbox RPG is now made the hyperjump form PC to mobile devices. This can be considered the spiritual successor to their original Star Traders RPG and is a million times better. The post release support this game has enjoyed on PC (and will no enjoy on mobile) makes this a must-have for anyone who feel this ticks their boxes. Just mind out for the initially intimidating learning curve.

The Escapists 2: Pocket Breakout (iOS Universal  & Android) – Full review coming soon!

We quite liked the first Escapists game when it launched onto mobile in 2017. This curious prison sim/RPG game is a more narrative counter-point to the likes of Prison Architect, which is more of a management sim. We’re working on getting you a review as soon as possible, but in the meantime,  here are the official features:

• Five, handpicked sandbox prisons to escape from! Break out from minimum security penitentiaries like Centre Perks or for the more hardened criminals Rattlesnake Springs!
• Local multiplayer for up to 4 players
• New ways to escape
• Customise your con with new customisations to create your perfect prisoner
• Buy, barter and beat your way to acquiring the much-needed items to create dozens of crafting combinations to aid your escape!
• Put the craft in crafty! Scheme, sneak and traverse through prison life. Forge friendships, pull the wool over guards’ eyes as you use your skills and wits to plot your escape!
• Blend in to bust out, prison life is filled with routine, make sure you attend roll call, clock in for your job and remain under the radar! If you have the time, learn a hobby or even join a band…

Something we also forgot to mention, Yobowargames last year released iOS versions of Battle for Korsun and Invaders from Dimension X, which we’ve got full reviews in the works for.

Pre-Order

A Few Minutes of Glory (iOS Universal)

The description of this is what sold it to us – take the founding principles of the RTS genre as pioneered by the likes of Age of Empires 2… And turn into a text-based strategy game. This is a game where you make strategic decisions such as resource collection, what units to build and so on, and then the tactical battles are handled by the game itself. We highly suggest you check out the store page at least – it seems fascinating, and in many ways isn’t so far removed from something like Six Ages.

Updates

Rome: Total War (iOS Universal & Android) (Review)

Everyone’s favourite grand-strategy game has just been updated to version 1.10, which adds an additional 8 factions (bringing the total to 19), the ability for units to march together at the same pace (total phwoarr-ED), as well as a new range marker feature, showing the firing distance of your units. This patch is only being advertised for the iOS version, but looking at the Google Play store page it looks like Android already had the most up-to-date build.

There’s also a trailer just for the patch, because why not:

Sales

There’s nothing in the sales department we feel is worth highlighting this week, although do let us know if you spot something yourself, we can always do a quick update!

Seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!

Excited for #TheBatman in Summer 2021 and to see @MattReevesLA vision come to life. https://t.co/GNgyJroMIO

— Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) January 31, 2019

As part of its Q3 2019 financial update, Nintendo has provided up-to-date lists for its best-selling games across current consoles. We’ve already shared the current top ten best-selling Switch games, but what about the 3DS?

Well, as it happens, the top ten 3DS games are exactly the same now as they were three months ago, albeit with more sales under their belts. All sales totals below are lifetime sales which are accurate as of 31st December 2018 and include both physical and digital sales as well as bundled units.

Of course, with a general lack of major new releases and dwindling interest in the console from its core audience, it’s not all that surprising that Nintendo’s best sellers on the handheld have remained unchanged. Sadly, the total sales for Wii and Wii U games have not been updated this time around despite being included in the last quarter’s updates.

Do you own many of these best-selling 3DS games? Let us know your favourites in the comments.

The latest Nintendo Download update for Europe has arrived, and it’s bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!

Switch Retail – New Releases

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy (THQ Nordic, €29.99 / £26.99) – Sphinx and The Cursed Mummy is an original 3rd person action-adventure inspired by the mythology of ancient Egypt. Travelling the world via magical portals to foil the evil plans of Set. Sphinx’s Journey will require all his wits, agility, and special powers. He will also rely on his reluctant hero friend, The Mummy, to help when being inconspicuous is the only solution. By finding the stolen magical crowns of Egypt, Sphinx can stop Set and save the world. – Read our Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy review

DreamWorks Dragons Dawn of New Riders (Outright Games, €39.99 / £34.99) – A new heroic dragon and rider are taking to the skies and only you can help them defeat the evil villains who destroyed a dragon sanctuary created by Hiccup, Toothless, and his dragon riders. When the island of Havenholme is found in ruins, mysterious survivors emerge as unlikely future heroes. Scribbler is a scholar who cannot remember his past while Patch is a unique breed of dragon, a “chimeragon,” with new, unexpected powers they discover along the way. Together they must explore new islands, battle fierce enemies and recover the memories that reveal Patch’s true origin in this fun and fiery new action adventure.

Switch eShop – New Releases

Wargroove (Chucklefish, €16.99 / £15.99) – Take to the battlefield with Wargroove, a turn-based strategy game for up to 4 players! Choose your Commander and wage war on battling factions, using your ‘groove’ to strategically sway the fight in your favour! When war breaks out in the Kingdom of Cherrystone, the young Queen Mercia must flee her home. Pursued by her foes, the only way to save her kingdom is travel to new lands in search of allies. But who will she meet along the way, and what sinister challenges will she face? – Read our Wargroove review

Dragon Marked for Death: Frontline Fighters / Dragon Marked for Death: Advanced Attackers (Inti Creates, €14.99 / £13.49) – Choose from four playable characters (Empress, Warrior, Shinobi, or Witch) and defeat your enemies to gain experience and level up. You’ll receive points as you level up that can increase your attack power, defence, agility, and other parameters. Customize your character in a way that best suits your individual playstyle!

Downwell (Devolver Digital, €2.99 / £2.69) – Downwell is a curious game about a young person venturing down a well in search of untold treasures with only his Gunboots for protection. Make your way further and further down into the darkness filled with nasty creatures and mysterious secrets to collect the spectacular red gems scattered about the rocks. Step into precariously placed shops and buy some helpful items or level up between levels to battle well-dwelling monsters and uncover hidden caves filled with riches and relics. No two trips down the well are ever the same!

Mages of Mystralia (Borealys Games, €17.99 / £16.19) – In the kingdom of Mystralia, it takes more brains than brawn to succeed. You will face down giant, powerful creatures and navigate treacherous terrain. You will encounter puzzles that confound even the wisest of the old sages. And you must overcome obstacles put in place by people who do not want you to succeed. – Read our Mages of Mystralia review

Drowning (Sometimes You, €2.99 / £2.69) – Walk through a variety of beautiful low-poly environments as a story unfolds about how he learns to live with his inner demon. You will play in the eyes of a young boy starting out high school in year 7, and play through his following years, where he learns that living with depression is like living with someone trying to put you down all the time. Walk through all the beautiful environments with a lovely soundtrack that suits the current mood of the game, and find all the hidden endings.

Fishing Star World Tour (WFS, €24.99 / £22.49) – Over 180 kinds of fish! More than 70 types of fishing gear! 40 fishing locations! Explore various locations and see a lot of fish! Catch a big one by changing your equipment to match the fish and setting! Fish that are caught are recorded in the “Fish Book”. Become an angling master!

Hyperide (Kool2Play, €1.99 / £1.79) – This game puts a modern spin on obstacle-course style vertically scrolling arcade games, and is inspired by the all-time classics. The player controls an ultra-fast spaceship on a rescue mission and needs be mindful of the oncoming space debris, as well as the power level of the ship, which is resupplied by picking up special crystals.

Onigiri (CyberStep, Free) – In a Japan filled with spirits and monsters, ages ago, the land itself was rocked by chaos. From the depths rose the terrible Kamikui who carved a path of destruction through all. Play alongside famous figures from history and myth like Shizuka Gozen, Miyamoto Musashi, and many others to battle the mysterious Kamikui!

AGARTHA-S (mebius, €7.90 / £7.19) – You will become an explorer and aim for the utopia “Agartha” deep in the ground. Cellular automaton reproduces natural phenomena in the underground world, which is the same physical law as the real world. Water flows, rocks pile up and collapse, The steam condenses into water by coldness and when the temperature falls further, it turns into ice.

Airheart – Tales of broken Wings (Blindflug Studios, €14.99 / £11.99) – Airheart is a dieselpunk airplane action game, where every colourful level is built on top of the previous one, all the way up to the stratosphere. Welcome to Granaria, a flying city in the clouds. Meet Amelia – a young pilot and fisherwoman wishing to reach the abundant world’s edge. Sky fishing became a really dangerous job, with pirates roaming around everywhere. So start your engines, arm your airplane and get ready to make the catch of a lifetime!

Arcade Archives MOON CRESTA (HAMSTER, €6.99 / £6.29) – “MOON CRESTA” is a shooting game produced and released by Nichibutsu in 1980. Players control Unit1 and Unit 2 and Unit3 of the airplane, and coalescing these airplanes, will defeat the enemies.

Bleep Bloop (Zerouno Games, €3.99 / £3.99) – A light-hearted and playful puzzle game about working together. Play alone controlling both characters or share the experience with a friend. Bleep Bloop is extremely easy to learn, but that doesn’t mean the puzzles will be a piece of cake.

BOMBFEST (Whitethorn Digital, €17.49 / £15.79) – BOMBFEST is an award-winning party game for you and up to three friends! Battle in wooden forts, on folding chairs, and inside the kitchen sink as you attempt to be the last player standing. Use bombs to eliminate your foes, but don’t get caught in a chain reaction of explosions!

Eggggg – The Platform Puker (Hyper Games, €14.99 / £12.99) – Gilbert has an extreme allergy to eggs. Eating them will literally make him vomit like a fountain. He escapes from his mean aunt Doris in order to get to a birthday party, and needs to use his vomiting superpower to survive a world of angry cyborg chickens… of course.

FREECELL BATTLE KING (Making, €6.99 / £6.29) – Battle play is exciting! Clear speed is the key! Sharing one unit, two Switches or online, enjoy the fun of competition with freecell! The tasks are 3000 questions! There is the ordinary “KING Mode” and easy “MAY Mode”. Collect the “collection” by clears to colour the game screen.

Gabbuchi (h.a.n.d, €6.99 / £6.29) – “Gabbuchi” is a curious creature that loves gobbling blocks and stuff. His favourite food is the heart cookie. In order to get it, you have to think about which blocks he can and can’t gobble. He can gobble blocks the same colour as himself. You can change his colour, too, so he can gobble different coloured blocks.

Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander (Smiling Buddha Games, LLC, €16.99 / £14.99) – On the edge of Terran space lies Halcyon 6, a derelict starbase left behind by a mysterious precursor race. Your mission is to reclaim the derelict station and rebuild it. A mysterious alien force is making a beeline towards Earth and this starbase is the best chance for the New Terran Federation to establish new alliances, research new technologies and otherwise figure out a way to stop the impending invasion.

Johnny Turbo’s Arcade: Two Crude Dudes (FTE Games, €7.99 / £7.10) – Play one or two mercenaries hired by the American government to stop the terrorist organization “Big Valley”. Take control of post-apocalyptic New York City away from the Big Valley terrorists. – Read our Johnny Turbo’s Arcade: Two Crude Dudes review

Merchants of Kaidan (Forever Entertainment, €9.99 / £8.99) – Merchants of Kaidan is a challenging trading game fused with RPG elements. You start very humbly, one cart, a purse of gold, and silver coins are all you have. Your task is to roam the world and search for opportunities to score some profit. Buy low, sell high – a merchant’s motto is easy to grasp. And yet the job is harder than it seems!

Planetarian (PROTOTYPE, €9.99 / £8.99) – Sarcophogus City, a city where the rain never ceases, sets the stage for the emotional tale of a Junker and a Robot, Yumemi, shaped like a young woman. Planetarian is a sci-fi visual novel, brought to life with beautiful art and a stirring soundtrack.

Piczle Colors (Rainy Frog, €12.00 / £10.00) – Use the numbers around the side of the puzzle to work out how many blocks of which colour should be painted in each row and column. Since the order of the numbers doesn’t determine the order you need to paint the colours you’ll need to stretch your brain to figure it out.

Robothorium (GoblinzStudio, €14.99 / £13.99) – 2052. Planet Earth. BreakTech, an enterprise specialised in robotic construction, is flourishing thanks to thorium, an unlimited and innovative power source. After many years of exploitation, robots are finally protesting for their rights. But the peaceful movement is quickly escalating to riots and the human repression is near. Now seen as a first-degree threat, robots are hunted down and culled throughout the planet.

New Star Manager (FiveAcesPublishing, €16.99 / £14.99) – This is soccer management like you’ve never experienced it – Be more than just a player, be the head, the heart, and backbone of New Star FC. Be the Manager. – Read our New Star Manager review

Necrosphere Deluxe (UNTIES, €7.99 / £6.49) – Necrosphere is where you go when you die, regardless of being good or bad. You don’t see other people around there. You don’t have anything to do, except waiting for eternity As soon as Agent Terry Cooper hits the Necrosphere, he learns about the portals that can take him back to the world of the living (also called Normalsphere), and his quest to escape the afterlife is set.

Stray Cat Doors (PULSMO, €2.27 / £2.04) -It is an escape game that solves a mystery together with a cute character. It is a game that even beginners can enjoy. Go around various stages, use items or solve problems and escape. Healing music. Turn on BGM and play around.

Tangledeep (Impact Gameworks, €17.00 / £15.79) – Tangledeep combines the 16-bit graphics and polish of classic SNES-era RPGs with elements from roguelikes and dungeon crawlers to create a magical experience for players of all skill levels. Trapped in underground villages with no memory of the world at the surface, you must survive an ever-changing labyrinth to discover what lies above.

TORIDAMA: Brave Challenge (G-mode, €3.56 / £3.21) – TORIDAMA: Brave Challenge is a mini-game collection based on the courage test. Test your weak feeling inside of you as we say “Chicken Level” based on timing of pressing a button, level, and pitch in various kind of critical situations.

Zombie Night Terror (Plug In Digital, €14.99 / £13.49) – Prepare yourself for the most thrilling night of your life! Something strange has happened and people everywhere are turning into bloodthirsty walking corpses. But guess who’s the brains behind this hungry undead army? YOU! So spread this pandemic to wipe humanity of this planet. Because the only way to survive the zombie apocalypse, is to BE the apocalypse!

Farm Together (Milkstone Studios, €19.99 / £17.99) – The ultimate farming experience! From the creators of Avatar Farm comes Farm Together, the ultimate farming experience! Start from scratch, with a small plot, and end with a huge farm that extends further than the eye can see!

Shanky: The Vegan’s Nightmare (Artvision Games, €5.99 / £5.39) – Shanky is a joyful meat grinder and mince is its movement force. Swallow up everything you can and collect Meat-Cola to stay on the move. Participate in a stunning story of love and self-sacrificing. Depending on the level, Shanky would change its movement force accessories to legs, wheels, wings and boat. During the boss battles, you would learn how to use its mince launcher. Collect Meat-Cola to expand Shanky’s stomach and success is guaranteed. And remember – there is never enough mince, so keep grinding!

Spoiler Alert (Megafuzz, €4.99 / £4.99) – The platformer you play… In reverse! You know how it ends… But how did it begin? Forget the classic tropes – they will be used against you!

Thea: The Awakening (Monster Couch, €16.19 / £14.39) – Thea: The Awakening is a turn-based strategic survival game steeped in Slavic myth and monstrosity set after an apocalyptic force known only as The Darkness has engulfed the world. There are Strigas and Baba Yagas aplenty, but there are no heroes, no monster slayers, and no great armies capable of banishing them. You have only a few hopeless and starving survivors who are desperately trying to stay alive. You are their last and only true hope!

Switch eShop – Demos

Bad North Demo (Raw Fury, Free) – Your home is under attack. The king is dead at the hands of Viking invaders. Hope is a distant glimmer in the fog, fading fast with every passing moment. As you rise to take your father’s place as ruler, it will fall to you to stage your defences. But make no mistake – this is no fight for victory, but a desperate grasp for survival. – Read our Bad North review

Switch eShop – Pre-Orders

Away: Journey To The Unexpected (Plug In Digital, €16.99 / £14.99, pre-order from 29/01/2019) – Welcome to a feel-good FPS! A colourful adventure combining action, negotiation and rogue-lite elements. You play as a kid that is neither a hero nor a warrior. Yet with the power of friendship, you will overcome every obstacle in your way! Choose your path through the levels, uncover the light-hearted story, and above all, recruit allies. All the wacky and powerful characters you meet can be played in first-person, and it’s up to you to find the right answers to get them to join your team!

Hell Warders (Pqube, €14.99 / £10.99, pre-order from 29/01/2019) – Hell is at our gates! Rise up as one of the mighty Hell Warders, an ancient order of heroes with unique powers and abilities, to resist the demon hordes head-on. Push back wave after wave of Hell-spawn with an arsenal of weapons, rip apart their fearsome commanders with powerful hero skills, and deploy your army of knights, archers, and mages to bring the fight back to Hell!

The Stillness of the Wind (Fellow Traveller, €9.76 / £8.49, pre-order from 29/01/2019) – One by one, everyone left the once bustling village for the city. Everyone, except Talma. Now approaching the end of her days, she maintains a simple, solitary way of life, surviving, subsisting, tending to her homestead and her goats.

Iron Crypticle (Tikipod, €8.09 / £6.74, pre-order from 30/01/2019) – The glorious Royal Treasures of Cryptonia have been stolen! Now the King’s washed-up knights must suit up and descend into the ancient palace crypts to return those GOLDEN GOODIES!

Ape Out (Devolver Digital, €14.99 / £13.49, pre-order from 31/01/2019) – Ape Out is a wildly intense and colourfully stylized smash ‘em up about primal escape, rhythmic violence, and frenetic jazz. Build up nearly unstoppable momentum and use your captors as both weapons and shields to crush everyone on your procedurally generated path to freedom.

Mercury Race (Herrero, €7.99 / £7.99, pre-order from 31/01/2019) – Mercury Race is a shooting & racing game set in a retrofuturistic world. Finish each circuit in time to obtain the badge and achieve ranking number one. The game will challenge not only your driving skills but also your shooting accuracy.

NEKOPARA Vol.2 (CFK, €10.99 / £9.89, pre-order from 31/01/2019) – The sequel to NEKOPARA, a touching adventure game that’s become a worldwide sensation, is coming to Nintendo Switch! This newest edition will feature a new opening movie and theme song, all-new hand-drawn art from NEKO WORKs, and new fully voiced story scenes. The game’s gorgeous graphics are all in high definition for a truly complete experience.

Pocket Academy (Kairosoft, €10.00 / £8.99, pre-order from 31/01/2019) – School got you down? Wish you could change a few things? Well, now’s your chance to create the ultimate dream school in this simulation smash-hit! Tailor your personal academy as you see fit, erecting classrooms, making clubs–even deciding this week’s hot couple!

Sky Gamblers – Afterburner (Atypical Games, €16.99 / £15.29, pre-order from 31/01/2019) – This is the latest and greatest jet dogfight game, coming from the creators of Sky Gamblers, Battle Supremacy and Radiation series! Get into the cockpit and prepare to take-off. Unlock, upgrade and customize the weapons and defences of more than 100 planes. Paint your favourite jet fighter, customize patterns and badges for the ultimate looks. Become the master of the skies!

The King’s Bird (Graffiti Games, €19.99 / £17.99, pre-order from 31/01/2019) – Escape into a world kept secret by a tyrant, and discover the truth about your freedom. The King’s Bird is an artistic, momentum-based game that seamlessly combines precision-platforming with physics-based gliding.

Switch eShop – Special Offers

New 3DS eShop – Special Offers

3DS eShop – Special Offers

Wii U eShop – Special Offers

DLC / Add-On Content

Nintendo Switch

• Warframe®: Prime Vault – Fire Prime Pack (Digital Extremes) – €36.66 / £32.89
• Warframe®: Prime Vault – Ember Prime Accessories Pack (Digital Extremes) – €17.77 / £15.89
• Warframe®: Prime Vault – Ice Prime Pack (Digital Extremes) – €36.66 / £32.89
• Warframe®: Prime Vault – Frost Prime Accessories Pack (Digital Extremes) – €17.77 / £15.89
• Warframe®: Prime Vault – Fire & Ice Prime Pack (Digital Extremes) – €54.99 / £49.49
• Onigiri – 100 Onigiri Coins (CyberStep) – €10.00 / £8.99
• Onigiri – 200 Onigiri Coins (CyberStep) – €20.00 / £17.99
• Onigiri – 300 Onigiri Coins (CyberStep) – €30.00 / £26.99
• Onigiri – 515 Onigiri Coins (CyberStep) – €50.00 / £44.99
• Onigiri – 1050 Onigiri Coins (CyberStep) – €100.00 / £89.99
• Fortnite – The Cobalt Pack (Epic Games) – €4.99 / £3.99
• DRAGON BALL FIGHTERZ – FighterZ Pass 2 (BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment) – €24.99 / £19.99
• DRAGON BALL FIGHTERZ – Jiren (BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment) – €4.99 / £3.99
• DRAGON BALL FIGHTERZ – Videl (BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment) – €4.99 / £3.99
• Dragon Marked for Death – Season Pass: Additional Quests (Inti Creates) – €9.99 / £8.99
• Dragon Marked for Death – Additional Playable Characters: Empress & Warrior (Inti Creates) – €14.99 / £13.49
• Dragon Marked for Death – Additional Playable Characters: Shinobi & Witch (Inti Creates) – €14.99 / £13.49
• Dragon Marked for Death – Additional Quest: The Dragonblood Village (Inti Creates) – Free
• WorldNeverland – Elnea Kingdom:Orient Mail (althi) – €2.99 / £2.69
• Farm Together – Supporters Pack (Milkstone Studios) – €1.99 / £1.79
• Farm Together – Wasabi Pack (Milkstone Studios) – €3.99 / £3.59

So that’s your lot for this week’s Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!