Ring-a-ding-ding FromSoftware has released a new update for its megaselling fantasy epic, Elden Ring. Version 1.03, which is rolling out...

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Some Elden Ring players will be disappointed to see their favorite cheese tactics have been patch out.

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The next time a skeptic questions the momentum of the blockchain gaming market, kindly inform them that the industry had attracted over 1.5 million users by the end of 2021, with daily trade volume from gaming dApps climbing as high as half a billion dollars. Then cackle with satisfaction. The breathless rush by gamers, developers and investors into the gamefi (gaming finance) space was triggered by the potential for profit via play-to-earn (P2E) mechanics, but also by the opportunities for rich gameplay thanks to the deployment of blockchain and NFTs (non-fungible tokens). To date, most blockchain games have offered up simple 2D worlds based around turn-based mechanics, focusing on earning potential rather than fast-paced gameplay. But thankfully, that is starting to change… Epic War, Entrancing Gameplay Epic War is the first blockchain-based FPS (first-person shooter) that provides Triple-A graphics and gameplay in delivery of its virtual reality (VR), free-play-to-earn (F2P2E) metaverse. Interestingly, the fully 3D blockchain shooter is just one part of the envisaged Epic War universe, which will expand to include a series of comic books and films. The gaming narrative sees players take part in battle royales where they must contend with other gamers as well as hostile NPC creatures on a treacherous foreign planet. Other notable elements include team battles featuring up to 16 players (8v8) in a single session. Boss battles test players’ abilities even further, and come in three different difficulty levels: normal, hard, and super hardcore. The native token of Epic War ($EWAR) is used to create new in-game characters, weapons, gears, battle maps and purchase NFT items. It can also be used for governance purposes, giving holders decision-making privileges on the future of the project. EWAR tokens are awarded to players and teams who triumph in battles, and these tokens can subsequently be used to improve the attributes of player-characters or sold to the highest bidder on exchanges. Both winning and losing players will have the ability to earn unique NFTs after each session, with tokens representing in-game items like weapons, gears and maps. Such artefacts can be sold, traded or rented to other players for profit, and they are also dispensed upon the completion of challenging in-game quests. Epic War’s game engine was built from the ground up using C++ code, and leverages the acclaimed Unity Engine as the technical foundation of its gameworld. The Unity Engine is employed by many mainstream, Triple-A game publishers, and has been used in such releases as Escape From Tarkov, Cuphead, Wasteland 3, Subnautica, and many more. Future Milestones The team behind Epic War hails from Vietnam, where they have years of collective experience in game design, blockchain development and full-stack coding. They also partner with Japanese studios to develop Open World gameplay and VR metaverse phase. By mid Q2 2022, the team aims to release a beta version of the PvE and PvP game modes, alongside its DAO governance system, where players will be able to have a say in future development decisions. The IGO (initial game offering) for the native EWAR token will also take place before the end of Q2. Ongoing roadmap milestones portend a full game release and multi-chain integration by the end of Q3. Multiple blockchain ecosystems will play host to Epic War when it is complete, including Binance Smart Chain, Solana, Polygon, and NEAR, in an effort to give players the maximum number of benefits offered up by various networks (speed, low fees, access to native stablecoins, etc). Gamers can also look forward to Epic War’s Beta Test launch coming this March. The long-term goals of Epic War include integrating VR support and building out an expansive metaverse world where players can interact with the game in a virtual 3D space. Epic War builds on the promise of gamefi by extending blockchain gaming to the level mainstream gamers expect, while integrating crypto and NFT rewards for the benefit of successful players.  

But Legendary Edition has. Here's how the different versions of Skyrim run on the Steam Deck.

This NPC's quest unlocks crucial multiplayer items for players who want to invade.

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This curved sword carries the curse of death itself, but you won't find it until pretty late.

Elden Ring is full of interesting NPCs that want you to do them a favor or two. Usually these favors are asked in obtuse riddles and can leave you pretty confused on what exactly you're supposed to be doing. Ranni the Witch's questline in Elden Ring is one of the longer ones, with a few steps that could be easily missed. Here is how to complete Ranni the Witch's quest line and earn yourself the Dark Moon Greatsword.

Finding Ranni the Witch

Players will initially interact with Ranni the Witch after returning to the Church of Elleh in Limgrave early in the game, where she presents them with the Spirit Calling Bell. Players will not see her again until they reach Liurnia, where she can be found past Carnia Manor, in Ranni's Rise tower, the middle of the three. Ranni can be found at the top of the tower.

Ranni's Rise is in the northwest part of Liurnia.

Ranni will ask you to join her service and you need to accept. After that head down to the bottom floor of the tower and speak with her three lackeys. After that, speak to Ranni one more time before you are allowed to leave the tower. Ranni wants you to find the treasure of Nokron, Eternal City and bring it back to her. Here, she will tell you to meet up with another of her associates and explore the underground Siofra Well. Don't bother, because the entrance to Nokron, Eternal City is locked until you defeat General Radhan, the shardbearer located in Caelid. His castle is in the southeast.

Once defeated, all of the stars Radhan was holding back will return to the sky, with one massive one crashing into the Lands Between. The NPCs hanging out after the Radhan fight will tell you it landed somewhere in Limgrave.

Nokron, Eternal City

The hole that leads to Nokron is in the red circle.

The hole is located in East Limgrave, south of the Mistwood Ruins. If you look into the sky, you will see a bunch of floating rocks. The entrance to Nokon, Eternal City is directly below those rocks, so you can use them as a guide. When you arrive at the hole, you will see a bunch of floating rocks leading further into the hole. Using Torrent, platform your way into the hole. You will enter some ruins and if you head a little further, you will find yourself jumping across some gothic rooftops.

After navigating across the rooftops, you will come to a small plaza, where the Nokron Site of Grace is located. Forward and slightly to the right you will see an archway that looks like it leads into a building. Instead, there will be an alleyway that leads to a cliffside. Head towards it and you will discover a staircase heading right. From here, head forward until you reach an area blocked by boss fog. In here you will fight the Mimic Tear boss, which will mimic your current equipment and weapons. An easy way to beat this boss is to remove all of your equipment before entering and then quickly putting it back on after the mimic takes form. This will leave it without armor or a weapon.

The treasure of Nokron is located within the Night's Sacred Ground.

After defeating the Mimic Tear, there will be a bridge heading north in front of you. Follow this bridge until there is a grassy forest area on your left hand side. Head down and head towards the left cliff wall and continue heading forward while hugging the wall. Eventually there will be an opening with a Site of Grace heading towards some more gothic rooftops. You will need to jump onto the side of a building and navigate further into this area. You will eventually fight two more mimics that turn into generic enemies and find yourself looking at an arch with a road below.

Drop down to your left and head into the church-like building. There is a chest with the Fingerslayer Blade, which is the item you were looking for.

The Ansel River

After speaking with the Ranni doll, you want to head south through the river.

Head back to Ranni's Rise and speak with Ranni. She will tell you your task is complete and that she will be taking a nap. After this, Ranni's Rise, the first of the Three Sisters towers in this area, will now be unlocked. Head inside and you will find Ranni's armor set, with the Snow Witch Hat, Robe, and Skirt. At the top of the tower is a teleport gate, which will take you to Ansel River Main, where a Site of Grace will be right in front of you. Right next to that is the Ranni the Witch doll. Pick that up, rest at the Site of Grace and you will have the option to speak with the doll.

It will ignore you the first few times but eventually the doll will acknowledge that it is in fact actually Ranni, who was attempting to hide from some would-be assassin's that are down in the Ansel River. You will need to track down these assassin's and defeat them. From here, head south through the river. You will quickly approach the Uhl Palace Ruins, head through them to find a small river tunnel. Continue forward until you reach a cavern full of flying giant ants. Head to the right and you will find some more gothic buildings. Head through the door on the left and you will reach the Nokstella, Eternal City Site of Grace.

From here, head down to the right and follow the river northwest.

There will be a set of stairs to your left and a ground level path to the right. Take the ground level path on the right and follow the river until you reach a small building on the left, with an elevator in it. Take the elevator down and you will find the Nokstella Waterfall Basin Site of Grace in front of you. There will be a cave directly in front of you that will lead straight to the invasion fight you need to complete. Within the cave are a bunch of lizards that inflict the death status effect that will kill you instantly if the meter fills. Sprint past them and you will enter a red-tinged area where you will find the Baleful Shadow, which looks similar to another NPC Blaidd but isn't actually him.

Defeat the Baleful Shadow and Ranni will give you the Discarded Palace Key. From here enter the building in the southeast corner of this area and take the elevator down to the Lake of Rot Shoreside Site of Grace. Activate this, as we will need to come back later. From here, fast travel to the Raya Lucaria Grand Library. This is where the Rennala boss fight took place, in the academy in the center of the Liurnia lake. Sitting to the left of the Site of Grace is a chest that was locked. The Discarded Palace Key opens this chest, which contains the inside of the chest is the Dark Moon Ring, which we will need later. Fast travel back to the Lake of Rot.

The Lake of Rot

The building in the distance is where you need to go from the Lake of Rot Shoreside.

Once back at the Lake of Rot, head down to the edge of the water. From here, you are trying to reach a building to the south. You cannot use Torrent here, so you will need either Preserving Boluses to get rid of Scarlet Rot or a high number of Crimson Flasks to continuously restore health. There are a few pressure plates that lift up platforms you can stand on between you and the building, but not enough to make a complete bridge. There is a Site of Grace inside the building once you reach it, so don't worry about using all of your flasks trying to get across the lake.

The building is called the Grand Cloister and is filled with bug warriors, the ones typically found in Caelid. You will have to jump down onto ground level, where there will be a small red river flowing west. Follow this a short way until you find a stone coffin sitting on the edge of a waterfall. The game will prompt you to get into the coffin, which is how you advance to the next area.

Take a short ride in a coffin.

You will find yourself in a new underground lake area, except this one just has regular water instead of scarlet rot, advance forward and you will find a boss fight. Here you will have to fight Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, a space scorpion-like creature. After defeating the boss there will be a sealed door at the back of the arena, which is opened by the Dark Moon Ring. Follow the pathway through the cave until you reach an elevator and take that elevator up.

Moonlight Altar

The elevator after the boss fight will take you to the Moonlight Altar, with your next destination to the north.

You will emerge on a high plateau in the Liurnia region, which is not accessible through other means. From where you emerge you want to head north up the hill into the Cathedral of Manus Celes. The path is straight forward but you will want to hop on Torrent. Right as you are about to enter the cathedral, a Glintstone Dragon boss will spawn directly in front of the church. If you are on Torrent you can ride past the dragon inside, where you will find a Site of Grace. To the right of that is a tunnel heading beneath the cathedral. It's fairly dark, so you will want a torch or lantern. You will need to drop down into the hole by dropping onto different ledges heading downward.

Continue along the path in the caverns until you come across Ranni's real body in a cavern. Here you will put the Dark Moon Ring on her hand and pledge your allegiance to her. She will tell you to continue your journey to become the Elden Lord and that when the time comes you two shall rule together.

After she vanishes, you will find the Dark Moon Greatsword, a powerful magic greatsword that requires 38 intelligence to wield.

Dying Light 2: Stay Human has just rolled out a brand-new patch, adding a number of player-requested features and fixing many of the game's worst bugs--including lingering issues with "deathloops." The patch is live now for PC, and will be coming to console soon, according to developer Techland.

The patch includes a number of quality-of-life improvements, including better ragdoll physics, performance upgrades for older PCs, and what Techland describes as "more immersive details in melee combat." Digging into the patch notes for update 1.2, these details include tweaks that take into account the weight of blunt melee weapons being used, a buff for the Biter, and changes to sharp weapons that allow more gory slicing, dicing, and general bloodshed.

In terms of fixes, the patch has cleaned up the remaining known instances of what have been referred to as "deathloops," where players find themselves dying over and over in certain circumstances. The patch also adds a number of fixes to story quests where progression could potentially be blocked.

Some work has also gone into stability issues with Dying Light 2, with fixes for known crashes and black screen scenarios. The full patch notes, included below, have a number of big fixes and tweaks designed to give players a better experience in Dying Light 2's open world.

Given Techland's pre-launch advertising for Dying Light 2 often focused on the sheer size and scale of the game, it's not surprising so many bugs have cropped up, and the developer has been hard at work issuing hotfixes and post-release patches. Techland has committed to supporting the game for five years post-release, including not just fixes but new content including new locations, story DLC, characters, and more.

Dying Light 2 Patch 1.2

• Story Progression Fixes

• • All known cases with “Deathloops” eliminated.
  • Fixed blocks in multiple quests – Into The Dark, Assassination, Sophie in The Raid Quest, Hubert in The Only Way Out, Veronika, Nightrunners, The Lost Light, Double Time.
  • Solved problems with safe zones (in-game clock stops, can’t sleep).

• Co-op Fixes

• • Stability issues fixed: crashes or black screens in certain situations
  • Numerous story progress blocks fixed
  • Fixed issues with accepting invites
  • Challenges issues fixed: no weapon when inventory full, difficulty balance improved, tools requirements properly handled
  • Fixed co-op parties spawning in distant places
  • Improved/fixed replication of city open world activities: windmills, hanging cages, loot chests, NPC rescue issues
  • Fixed enemies and players falling through the ground in certain situations
  • Several performance drops fixed

• Nightrunner Tools Fixes

• • Paraglider and Grappling Hook upgrades can be applied correctly for players that obtained them during cooperative sessions.
  • PK Crossbow reward is correctly given to players in cooperative mode. This fix will prevent new cases from appearing.
  • Important Combat Improvements
    • Improved Biter behavior during the day. The enemy latches onto the players more frequently which diversifies enemy encounters.
    • Performance of blunt weapons improved to reflect the sense of weight.
    • Improved enemy reaction depending on the type of weapon – to better reflect the weight of the weapon.
    • Human opponents can now block players’ attacks during light hit reaction time.
    • Light hit reactions for human enemies have been shortened.

• New Ragdoll Behaviors

• • Opponents enter ragdolls more often.
  • Ragdoll works more naturally.
  • Ragdoll behaves differently depending on the used weapon type.
  • Appropriate forces are applied when falling from a height and when hitting different parts of the body while maintaining the force given from the direction of the blow.
  • When a ragdoll collides with its surroundings – the appropriate sound and FXs are played depending on the surface the body falls on.
  • Improved spikes detection. The enemy is now always stamped on the spikes after a hit. Additionally spikes audio feedback is now improved and new FXs were added (displayed based on the body’s physical momentum).

• Night Improvements and Balance

• • Howler’s senses range increased.
  • Increased the Howler resistance to range weapons.
  • The chase is triggered when a Howler is hit by a ranged weapon and is still alive.
  • Volatiles come out of hiding spots faster during the chase.
  • Level 4 of the chase is now more difficult.

• UI/UX Improvements

• • Survivor Sense now works correctly and can be triggered without any cooldowns after getting hit or performing specific parkour actions.
  • Improvements to the Options Menu information architecture incl. a dedicated Accessibility Tab.
  • Added feature to show, hide or dynamically display Player Health Bar, Item Selector, and Time of Day Indicator.
  • The dynamic setting for Player Health Bar is the new default and hides the bar when the player is at 100% health.
  • The dynamic setting for Item Selector is the new default. The Item Selector becomes visible when in combat and when performing combat actions or using D-Pad.
  • The dynamic setting for the Time of Day Indicator is the new default setting. The Time of Day Indicator becomes visible during day-night transitional periods.
  • All of the widgets that are set Hidden or Dynamic become visible in Extended HUD.
  • Visual Improvements to Player HP and Stamina bars. These elements are lighter and their colors are more neutral.
  • Visual Improvements to the enemies’ stance meter to more clearly indicate its connection to blunt weapons.

• Improvements to the Final Boss Fight

• • Fixed an issue where the opponent does not react correctly to other players and does not change behavior that might lead to several glitches during CO-OP play.
  • Alternate opponent behaviors in Phase 2 during CO-OP play.
  • Opponent performs area attacks more frequently during CO-OP sessions.
  • Shortening the narrative scenes between the phases in a boss fight.
  • Boss fight pacing improvements.

• Outro Improvements

• • Improvements of the game endings sequences. Additional end-of-game scenes have been added to better align gameplay and outro scenes.

• Balance Tweaks

• • Higher Rank Bows are now more easily accessible at Merchants and in the world.
  • Banshees and Chargers are now more easily spotted in the Infected hordes during the night.

• Technical Improvements

• • Introduced high-performance preset that optimizes the displayed graphics which allows you to play Dying Light 2 on older computers and laptops.
  • PC DX12 cache-related improvements. The game now works smoother upon the first launch.
  • AVX technology is no longer used in the game, improving issues related to a game crashing on the launch.
  • Improvements in outdoor lightin g.
  • Improvements to sun shadows.
  • Improvements to spotlight shadows.
  • Improvements to Motion Blur – added intensity and distance blur customization.

• Brutality Pack

• • Player hits with sharp weapons are now more precise and allow Players to chop off body parts of opponents and cut them in half more easily (vertically and horizontally).
  • Reworked audio for enemy hit response – different sounds are played depending on the strength of the hit and the damage the player deals.
  • Blood splats on the ground appear when Player hits the opponent.
  • If a player is close to the enemy during the attacks, the opponent’s blood will splash on the screen.
  • Improved blood effects on enemy bodies after hits.
  • A dead enemy is now interactive and reacts accurately to blows and injuries.
  • A new effect of bloodstains on the enemies’ bodies after hit.
  • New blood FXs have been added

… and numerous additional bug fixes and quality improvements.

Prepare to die a little less.

And how to use them to summon friendly aid.

Tentacular is shaping up to be a monstrously good time.

It may take a fair amount of time if you're unlucky.

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