Brody R Thompson, Author at Hard Drive

Genshin Impact 3.4 Livestream Date: When & Where to Watch It

Posted on January 3, 2023 by Tarun Sayal

Genshin Impact‘s 3.4 update is right around the corner, which is set to bring Alhaitham as a 5-star character and Yaoyao as a 4-star character. As is tradition, the complete list of the new features will be announced via the 3.4 livestream, which is scheduled to broadcast in the next few days. With that said, here’s everything you need to know about the Genshin Impact 3.4 livestream date and how to watch it.

Genshin Impact 3.4 Livestream Date and Time

Following the previous patterns, Genshin Impact 3.4 livestream is expected to go live on Friday, January 6, 2023, at 07:00 AM (UTC-5).

In other timezones, the Genshin Impact 3.4 livestream time is:

UK: 12 pm (GMT)
Europe: 1 pm (CET)
East Coast US: 7 am (EST)
West Coast US: 4 am (PST)

However, it’s worth noting that HoYoverse hasn’t officially confirmed the schedule, and the aforementioned date and time are based on speculation and past livestreams. We’ll update this article once we have any official confirmation from the developers.

How To Watch Genshin Impact 3.4 Livestream

Fans can watch the 3.4 livestream in English on Genshin Impact’s official Twitch channel. On the other hand, Chinese players will want to head to the game’s official Bilibili account. The stream is set to take place for both languages at the same time.

If you can’t catch the livestream, you can watch the rebroadcast via YouTube premiere on Genshin Impact’s official channel to get an overview of the 3.4 update’s content.

What To Expect From Genshin Impact 3.4 Livestream

Based on the official confirmations and leaks, fans can expect the following additions in the 3.4 update:

New characters: HoYoverse has confirmed the arrival of two new characters for Version 3.4: Yaoyao and Alhaitham.
Character Banners: As per leaks, the first phase of the 3.4 version will feature Alhaitham’s, Xiao’s, and Yaoyao’s banners. At the same time, the second phase will feature Hu Tao’s and Yelan’s banners.
New Weapon: According to Twitter leaker @sipsipsquad, Version 3.4 could bring a new 5-star weapon called Light of Foliar Sanction.
New Area: Sumeru Desert’s expansion, called the Desert of Hamdramaveth, may arrive in the next update.
New Enemies: Setekh Wenut may be introduced as a Normal Boss in the 3.4 version.
New Events: Lantern Rite, Onikabuto event, Warrior’s Spirit, and Second Blooming

League of Legends: When Does 2023 Season 13 of LoL Start?

Posted on January 3, 2023 by Nick Geracie

The pre-season for Season 13 of League of Legends began on October 4, 2022, which gave players plenty of time to get acclimated with the changes to Riot Games’ hit MOBA immediately following the conclusion of Season 12. After a handful of patches across the past few months, League of Legends will officially enter Season 13 with Patch 13.1 on January 11, 2023. Because we already covered the adjustments being made to LoL in 13.1, let’s take a look at what players can expect when they load onto Summoner’s Rift in the new season.

LoL Season 13 Release Date & Ranked Rewards

Unlike previous League of Legends seasons, Season 13 will be divided into splits, which will see players’ ranks to reset. End-of-season awards like Victorious skins and regalia-like ranked icons are still in play, but for split 1 of Season 13, players will be able to earn additional rewards through split points:

150 points – Victorious Maokai Icon

250 points – Victorius Maokai Emotes

500 points – Maokai Permanent

750 points – Eternals Capsule

League of Legends Season 13 Jax Rework

No matter what statistics can tell you, it’s difficult to see how a reworked, augmented, or updated champion is going to perform without some test runs. As a result, the top lane (and at times, the jungle, too) will be absolutely swarming with Jax players.

Any time a champion is reworked in any capacity, its play rate tends to rise as players new to the champion test out the new digs and oldheads make adjustments to a reliable pick. Jax has been popular since his release due to his late game hyperscaling and colorful personality, and has long been a favorite for many a pro top laner for the past decade. Whether his update results in him being better or worse will take a bit of time to deduce, so expect to see the Grandmaster at Arms on Summoner’s Rift far more frequently than in recent patches on 13.1.

Season 13 Meta: League of Jak’Sho

The League of Legends pre-season is important for getting players acclimated with the changes to the game, but it’s also important for Riot’s balance team to gather data and feedback from the playerbase about the healthiness of the current game state. The return of Rod of Ages has put champions like Swain into the stratosphere this pre-season, but the item – as well as its fellow Catalyst of Aeons building partner Abyssal Mask – is getting tweaked in 13.1.

What isn’t getting touched in the new patch, however, is Jak’Sho, the Protean.

Intended as a tank item in its design, Jak’Sho’s power on Summoner’s Rift have led to many players innovating by building it on damage-focused melee champions to great success because of the utility the item offers. Some players in high-level South Korean solo queue are even building the item on Ezreal – not a melee champion at all, let alone a tank.

Surprisingly, Jak’Sho has been left untouched in Patch 13.1, so unless last minute changes are announced to the item, expect to see its 70% pre-season build rate not to change all that much come January 11.

Fortnite Guardian Shield Item Guide: All Locations & How to Use it

Posted on January 3, 2023 by Alex Branagan

Fortnite’s v23.10 hotfix just released today, with Epic Games introducing the new Guardian Shield protective in-game item, reminiscent of Reinhardt’s projected shield from the Overwatch series. The Guardian Shield follows many new weapon additions to Chapter 4 Season 1, including the re-introduction of the Heavy Shotgun, and features as one of the current Fortnite weekly challenges. Here’s all of the possible locations and how to use Fortnite‘s new item, the Guardian Shield.

Where to Find the Guardian Shield in Fortnite

All locations where you can find the Guardian Shield. — Image via Fortnite.gg

The Guardian Shield can be found by opening and looting Oathbound Chests littered across the map, with the majority of them being found on the western side. Players looking to complete the weekly challenge quickly should drop near the Citadel or Shattered Slabs for a good chance of getting the Shield from one of the many nearby chests. Alternatively, the item can simply be looted from another player once they’ve been eliminated.

How to Use the Guardian Shield

It’s first important to note that the Guardian Shield can only be used for a certain length of time before it runs out of juice, leaving you with a very fancy-looking but useless plate. To hold the Shield, you can hold down the fire button which will project a barrier in front of you, blocking incoming damage and continually using up the % of energy in the item. Players can also move with the shield in this mode, making for some solid defensive plays.

However, if you’re pinned down and need to focus on healing or other things, then you can throw the shield down to the ground, leaving a wall up to regroup behind. You can pick the Guardian Shield back up by approaching it and checking the center.

For more Fortnite content, check out our how-to guide on unlocking the Peerless Parasol cosmetic item!

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Slowbro Cinderace Tera Raid Build

Posted on January 3, 2023 by Alex Raisbeck

If you struggled to beat Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Cinderace Tera Raid, you’re not alone! But don’t worry, if you weren’t able to beat the Raid the first time around, Cinderace will be returning on January 13th, so you’ve got plenty of time to prepare for round 2. That’s why we’ve got you covered with a guide to solo the Cinderace raid with this Slowbro build – bulking out its massive stats to demolish any Cinderace raid, all without needing to find a good group.

Where to Find Slowbro in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Slowbro can be found at Lake Casseroya in the northwestern area of the map, usually surrounded by Slowpoke. Both the Slowbro and Slowpoke found here are above Level 50, so catching a Slowpoke and evolving it works just as well.

You’ll be looking for a Slowbro with a Modest nature, to boost its Special Attack. But, if you would rather not spend your day repeatedly catching Slowbro, you can always just buy a Modest Mint from Chansey Supply to change its nature.

Setting up your Slowbro Cinderace Build Stats

Now you have your Slowbro, it’s time to get it ready for the raid. You’ll need to EV train your Slowbro, maxing out its Defence and Special Attack. Head to Chansey Supply and buy yourself:

26 Iron
26 Calcium
1 HP Up

If you don’t have the cash to spend on all these, you can alternatively buy some Power items from Delibird Presents and EV train the old fashioned way.

Next you’ll need to max your Slowbro’s IVs. You’ll need 3 Bottle Caps, which can be bought from Delibird Presents if you don’t already have them. Head over to Montenevera and run north of the Pokémon Center, where you’ll find an NPC with an Abomasnow. Talk to him and use your 3 Bottle Caps to max out your Slowbro’s HP, Defence, and Special Attack IVs.

Last of all, make sure to train your Slowbro up to Level 100 either by battling or using XP Candies.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Slowbro Cinderace Build: Moveset and Strategy

Iron Defense, Nasty Plot and Stored Power are all a must

The strategy with Slowbro is centered around buffing up some of its stats in the battle, before using Stored Power to deal a massive blow to Cinderace. There are only 3 specific moves you need for this strategy, so the moveset you’ll want to have on your Slowbro is:

Stored Power
Iron Defense
Nasty Plot
(Any Move)

Each of these moves can only be taught to Slowbro through TMs, so if you haven’t got them yet, you’ll need to find them or craft them.

As for held items, you can use either a Twisted Spoon to boost Psychic damage, or a Life Orb. The Life Orb will do more damage, but either one works so just use what you have!

The strategy for the fight is simple:

Use Iron Defense 3 times to max out your Defense
Use Nasty Plot 3 times to max out your Special Attack
Use 1 ‘Go All Out’ Cheer
Use Stored Power

If you’ve managed to get your Stored Power off before Cinderace puts its shield up, you should have a 1-hit KO. And that’s all it takes to solo Cinderace with a Slowbro! Want to try a different Pokemon? Check out our Cinderace Tera Raid Annihilape build!

Pokemon Violet Hydreigon & Dragapult January Tera Raid Guide

Posted on January 3, 2023 by Alex Branagan

Even in the interim of Cinderace’s dual weekend appearance, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Tera Raid battles are heating up as Hydreigon and Dragapult are due to arrive this coming weekend. Players will be able to get their hands on two of the most powerful dragon types from the 5th and 8th generations, respectively, but which of the two they can catch will depend on what version of the game they have.

Over those two days, the pseudo-legendaries will appear in 4 and 5-star raids across the Paldea region. It’s important to remember that the 5-star raids will only be available to players who’ve beaten the 3 branches of the main story in Scarlet and Violet first.

Hydreigon and Dragapult Tera Raid Event Start Time, Tera Types

The Hydreigon and Dragapult Tera Raid event start and end dates and times are as follows:

Starting time – January 6, at 4:00 PM PT
Ending time – January 8, at 3:59 PM PT

All Tera types will be available for both Pokemon, which leaves players with multiple chances to snag some exciting combinations, as the two late-game dragons will already be highly sought after for their competitive play potential.

You can also use this event to find hidden abilities, meaning Dragapult may have the ability Cursed Body. Do multiple raids to find the Tera type and ability you want for your ultimate dragon!

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Hydreigon & Dragapult Raid Version Exclusivity

The most important information to note for this upcoming Tera Raid Event is that each of the two Pokemon will be exclusive to just one version of the game. Hydreigon will be exclusive to Scarlet, while Dragapult will appear in Violet only. Use your Nintendo Switch friends list and online resources to find allies to get the dragon of the opposite version!

Nintendo Announces Affordable, Much Worse ‘Switch Minus’

Posted on January 2, 2023 by Mark Roebuck

NEW YORK — Following years of fan outcry for a new model of their immensely popular Switch hardware, Nintendo has revealed a cheaper, sleeker, much worse version of their console, tentatively called the Switch Minus.

“We think you’ll agree the Switch Minus has absolutely none of the features players have been asking for,” said Doug Bowser, president of Nintendo of America. “It’s gonna be a little worse in every conceivable way. We’re bumping the resolution down to 480p, and we were able to lock most games in at 20fps. We think this, coupled with the confusing button layout and even more esoteric online gameplay than we usually offer, makes this a steal at just 200 bucks.”

“There are some issues, but please keep in mind that it can play every single game available on the Switch,” he added. “Technically.”

Nintendo fans were underwhelmed and aggravated at the announcement.

“Ok, so let me be clear here,” said Will Applegate, a Nintendo fan that was hoping they’d announce something, anything else. “With everything in the world that they could be doing, Nintendo is putting out something that’s out of step with their current competition instead of releasing an obvious home run like a Switch Pro or Metroid Prime 4? Okay, yeah, that sounds about right. Let me guess, they need me to pay for Super Mario Bros. 3 again too, right?”

In addition to weaker performance in every measurable metric, the Nintendo Switch Minus also boasts some innovative features never before seen or asked for in gaming.

“Wow, that sucker got hot in like 30 seconds,” said Kelly Carter, a local gamer testing a Switch Minus at a promotional rooftop party held by Nintendo. “And the back got sticky? I don’t know what the hell happened, but as it heated up it actually got harder to put down. Also, why are the buttons all in such weird places? This is a disaster and easily the fourth or fifth worst piece of hardware Nintendo’s ever released. God damn.”

As of press time, Nintendo confirmed the Switch Minus would solve the problems with Joy-Con drift that plagued previous models of the Switch by doing away with the analog sticks completely.

Mario Invoices Princess for 100 Hours of Plumbing Work Performed During Harrowing Rescue

Posted on January 2, 2023 by Jeremy Kaplowitz

MUSHROOM KINGDOM — Princess Peach was reportedly shocked to discover that plumber Mario Mario invoiced her for 100 hours of work after rescuing her, according to those familiar with the situation.

“Let’s-a-see… pipe damage, hopping over-a enemies, dodging balls of fire, defeating-a evil lizard named Bowser… let’s call it 100 hours of a-labor and a couple extra a-thousand bucks for parts, okiedokie? Let’s-a-go!” said Mario to the confused princess. “Thank you for a-working with Mario and Luigi Plumbing Services. Please-a give us 5 stars on Yelp. Okay!”

According to sources close to the royal family, Princess Peach did not expect to receive any invoice at all.

“When I asked Mario to save me from Bowser, I didn’t think I was hiring him for a job. It feels a little sketchy to just send me an invoice, even though we never talked about it,” Peach explained. “Not to mention, I have no way of knowing how many hours it actually took him to complete the job. 100 feels like a lot. And I didn’t ask him to fix any pipes or bring along his brother Luigi, but it looks like I’m paying for that too. Hell, I’m even getting charged for a bunch of bridges they destroyed by jumping on an ax. Did I really need new bridges? I don’t know what that’s all about.”

Despite the princess’ concerns, many in the Mushroom Kingdom disagree with her complaints.

“Come on, duuuuudes. You gotta pay people for the work they do!” screeched a local toad named Toad. “The princess is extremely wealthy. I mean I don’t even know how much money to say she has, dude. That big blue jewel she wears on her dress was stolen from one of the Mushroom Kingdom’s many colonies. She paid for it in blood, dude! So she can’t pay a plumber or two or for literally rescuing her from a foreign castle? Makes me sick.”

At press time, instead of paying the Mario Bros. the money they invoiced her for, Princess Peach opted to simply imprison them for the time Mario dropped a baby penguin off a cliff.

Game’s Entire Development Budget Spent Coming Up With Cute Little Puns for the Achievements

Posted on January 2, 2023 by Kyle Erf

NEW YORK — Developers of an upcoming independent video game revealed they’ve blown most of their budget coming up with fun little puns for the achievement names, sources have confirmed.

“Wow, we really screwed the pooch here,” said Isaac Redd, director of the upcoming Pisticuffs. “We all agreed early on that we wanted this game to ooze charm and personality and just all of the positive things a game can ooze. In hindsight, maybe not the worst idea, but we should not have started with things like the funny achievement names and little loading screen gags and whatnot.”

“We should’ve built an engine or something, maybe come up with some characters,” he continued. “Hell, I don’t know.”

Programmers who had been working on Pisticuffs until recently concurred with Redd’s assessment that he’d been mismanaging company time and money.

“One on hand I was upset when they cut my team to hire more writers for the achievements,” said Lee Sharkey, one of many employees that have been laid off. “But on the other hand, I do not miss that work environment one bit. Instead of outlines or conceptual art, we were often handed notecards with weird phrases on them like ‘Let’s Taco ‘Bout Crafting!’ and ‘Christopher Walken Around!’ How am I supposed to design levels around these phrases?”

Others that have been working on the game disputed the claims.

“Best job I’ve ever had in my life,” said Chuck Nathan, a buddy of Redd’s who had been working at a restaurant prior to being brought onto the game’s Pun Team. “I was so sick of the service industry, and the offices here are so great. The pun writer’s assistants can get a little snooty sometimes, but if that’s the worst part of my job, I’m happy, you know what I mean?”

As of press time, Pisticuffs’ social media had posted a picture of a potato and announced that the game was entering an ‘indefinite fry-atus.’

BREAKING: Movie Available on Hulu UPDATE: Fucking Starz Add-On

Posted on January 2, 2023 by Camden Brazile

BREAKING: HUGE NEWS! Upon searching, it appears that the movie that everyone in the group has finally agreed to watch is available on Hulu, one of the streaming services that the host has on their Roku. It took a while for everyone to agree on a movie, with people saying they either had seen that movie before, or the proposed movie was simply out of the question because someone’s brother-in-law had said that movie sucked, and Brian knows a lot about movies.

But after the long, arduous process, the group all finally came to a consensus. And lo and behold, the movie is on Hulu!

Could this process be any easier? No renting the movie and venmoing someone, no having to buy the movie on YouTube, and no suffering through advertisements of the movie playing on cable. Hulu has answered your prayers and the movie was part of their catalog all along. The universe is sending you a sign that this movie is the perfect selection for tonight’s festivities. Nothing can stop this movie night! God himself could do nothing to stand in the way of your friend group making memories watching this movie together!

UPDATE: God hath played us for a fool. Our hubris is now revealed. Upon typing the title of the movie into the Hulu search, it appeared in all its glory, with cast information and a colorful background featuring a riveting scene from the movie. But alas, the play button was locked behind the barrier of the Starz add-on, grinding the process to a permanent halt, sending your movie selection careening back to square one as punishment for your arrogance.

Maybe this is a cosmic penance for your actions, or maybe the deck was stacked against you from the start. In any event, this will undoubtedly send movie night into an anarchic frenzy, with people shouting and fighting about what to watch. It’s over, and as you watch the Starz Add-On send your Sisyphean boulder rolling back down the hill, you have nobody to blame but yourself.

Oh, of course fucking Shelby won’t let you pull up 123movies on her TV! IT DOESN’T GIVE YOU A VIRUS SHELBY WE USE IT ALL THE TIME!

Thoughtful Horror Game Tutorial NPC Spends Last Moments Writing ‘Right Stick to Turn Camera’ on Wall With His Blood

Posted on January 1, 2023 by Maric Maric

THE OBSERVER — Tragic news has been received after US Spacecraft ‘The Observer’ came in contact with an unknown alien species Wednesday evening leading to a massacre of almost all people onboard. Ethan Summers, thirty year old father of two, was one of the many unfortunate victims.

“He was always a beacon of hope and wisdom,” says grieving wife Maya Summers. “He gave the best advice to everyone around him. I remember on our first date he told me ‘remember to blink or your eyes will dry’. When our first son started kindergarten he told him ‘when your hunger gets high consume food to lower it.’”

The Observer is reportedly still adrift in space and the interior is stained with the blood and corpses of human passengers, as well as ‘The Gylzobs’, alien creatures discovered by U.S. Space Army scientists that visited it after the massacre.

“This is our biggest nightmare come to life,” remarks U.S. Space Army Colonel David Gunpowder. “The Observer was the single most impenetrable spacecraft in the galaxy! It was decked out with laser turrets, flamethrower drones, and self-piloting mechs. How were we supposed to know the blasted aliens had telepathy based abilities with nearby technology?”

A Gylzob allegedly ripped off the lower half of the late Mr. Summers’ body during the initial contact before Summers crawled to a nearby wall and used his leaking fluids to write one final piece of information on the wall for an unknown party.

“His upper body was propped up against the wall with the words ‘Right stick to turn camera’ written next to him,” reports Space Army scientist Nelson Eggbrain. “Personally I’m at a loss at what this is supposed to mean and to whom it’s directed toward, but it could have a relation to the words that were written on the wall in the following room which said ‘press X to jump’. That room strangely contained a giant gap in the middle of the floor.”

The sole survivor of the incident was a man named Duke Gatlinghand. However, every request to speak with him has been met with strange grunts, repeated crouching and standing, and 2 foot high stationary jumps.