A new Cyberpunk 2077 update is now available for PC and console players alike, as well as Google Stadia. The latest patch is one of many on the horizon following a chaotic launch and this update tackles major areas of improvement including open-world issues, commonly reported bugs, and overall stability concerns. 

CD Projekt Red took to the game's blog to share with players what the latest update has in store, saying "In this update, we focused on various stability improvements, which you can find outlined in the patch notes below. We will continue this work in patch 1.2 and other upcoming updates. At the same time, we will keep fixing the bugs you encounter and listening to your feedback on how to improve the overall game experience."

While new DLC and new-gen updates are still on the horizon, the main priority for the Polish studio currently is to get the issues that contributed to the messy launch under control. This especially became an important focus when Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection began its investigation into the company concerning the game's launch on the heels of two class-action lawsuits from investors. 

The latest patch, called Update 1.1, tackles various stability issues including: 

• Memory usage improvements in various systems within the game: characters, interactions, navigation, in-game videos (news, tv, etc.), foliage, laser effects, minimap, devices, AI, street traffic, environmental damage system, GPU-related, and more.
• Various crash fixes (related to, among others, loading saves, game opening/closing and Point of No Return).

It also tackles many of the quest bugs that players have been reporting and a few open-world issues that have been shared as well, especially concerning any of the content surrounding Delamain and achievement/trophy issues. 

For the full list of what the latest patch entails, check out the full update notes below courtesy of CDPR: 

Quests/Open World

• Fixed an issue where calls from Delamain would end immediately and seem like they cannot be picked up in Epistrophy.
• Fixed an issue where players would not receive calls from Delamain when approaching relevant vehicles in Epistrophy.
• Fixed an issue where the objective could get stuck on "Answer the call from Mr. Hands" in M'ap Tann Pèlen.
• Fixed an issue where Judy could teleport underground in Pyramid Song.
• Fixed an issue where it would be impossible to talk to Zen Master in Poem of The Atoms.
• Fixed an issue where Takemura wouldn't call in Down on the Street.
• Fixed an issue where Jackie could disappear in The Pickup.
• Fixed an issue where it could be impossible to get out of the car in The Beast in Me: The Big Race.
• Fixed an issue where players could stop receiving calls and messages after moving too far away from A Day In The Life area.
• Fixed an issue where opening the package wouldn't update Space Oddity.
• Retro-fixed the saves affected by a rare issue where speaking to Judy in Automatic Love would be impossible due to an invisible wall. The underlying issue is under investigation.
• Fixed an issue that prevented players from collecting the reward in Gig: Freedom of the Press. The quest will auto-complete for those who could not collect the reward previously, and the reward will be provided automatically.
• Fixed an issue where Delamain would remain silent throughout Epistrophy if the player initially refused to help him.

UI

• Fixed an issue where prompt for exiting braindance could be missing.
• Removed an invalid item from loot.

Visual

• Fixed an issue where a grenade's trajectory could be displayed in photo mode.
• Fixed particles' hue appearing pink when viewed close up.
• Fixed cars spawning incorrectly in Reported Crime: Welcome to Night City.

Achievements

• Fixed an issue where completing one of theassaults in progress in Santo Domingo would sometimes not contribute towards progression for The Jungle achievement, preventing its completion.

Miscellaneous 

• Addressed the issue responsible for saves getting oversized (related to the modifier indicating if the item is crafted), and trimmed the excess size from already existing saves (note: this won’t fix PC save files corrupted before 1.06 update). 
• Fixed an issue where input could stop registering upon opening the weapon wheel and performing an action.
• Fixed an issue where the "Continue" button in the Main Menu could load an end game save.

PlayStation-specific

• Performance optimization of crowds on PlayStation 4 Pro and PlayStation 5.
• Various crash fixes on PlayStation 4.

Xbox-specific

• Improved memory usage for character creation, mirrors, scanning, camera remote control, menus (inventory, map) on Xbox One, Xbox One X and Xbox One S.

PC-specific

• It will now be possible to obtain achievements while in Steam offline mode. Note: Offline mode needs to be enabled before starting the game. This change does not work retroactively.
• Addressed the game startup crashes related to loading cache on NVIDIA graphics cards.

Stadia-specific

• Concert audio should no longer be inaudible in Never Fade Away.
• Fixed corrupted textures on several melee weapons.
• Tweaked default deadzone settings to be more responsive. Note: the change will not affect settings unless they’re set to default.  

Interested in learning what else is going on in the world of Cyberpunk 2077 and the studio behind the open-world game? You can check out our previous coverage here that includes news, mods, and our reviews for both PC and last-generation systems.  

2021 is a new year, which means a new chance to experience all-new gaming tales! For those that love the feeling of abject terror and the threat of peeing one's pants, we've got just the thing! While there are many horror games coming out in 2021, here are some of the ones I'm looking forward to the most — even if most of my time playing games like these consists of one eye closed, the other eye squinting, and watching a Disney movie after as a palette cleanser. 

From Resident Evil Village to The Medium and some indie adventures peppered in, here are the horror games that I can't wait to play later this year! 

The Medium

January 28 for Xbox Series X and PC

Bloober Team knows how to craft an incredible horror adventure and while the studio has had a few missteps in its past, the element of psychological torment always shines through. With The Medium, the tale centers around navigating not one but two worlds with a dualistic experience rooted in learning what is real and what's not while trying to survive a spiritual realm hellbent on getting you good and dead. 

Psychological horror meets Silent Hill? For that reason alone, this is one of my most anticipated horror experiences of the year. 

The Outlast Trials

Sometime in 2021 for PC (with TBD console announcements pending)

Red Barrels is continuing its Outlast legacy with Outlast Trials, a horror title set during the Cold War and a prequel at its heart. 

What makes me intrigued about this particular game is the ability to play with three other survivors of grisly experimentation during the war, adding a social element to the more traditional Outlast formula. With something for single-player lovers and co-op gamers alike, The Outlast Trials has the potential to offer something truly unique, especially when taking in the conflicting feedback Outlast II experienced when the previous title tried to do things a little differently by giving players more freedom. 

Resident Evil Village

May 7 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC

I could just say "Big Tall Vampire Lady" and that would be enough of an explanation for why I'm excited about this particular entry, but the reality is that there are so many reasons to be stoked for Resident Evil Village. 

Not only is Village a continuation of an iconic horror franchise, but what we've seen so far looks like it could be the ultimate love letter to Resident Evil fans. From revamped crafting that players have enjoyed from previous entries in the series to exploring a whole world of supernatural creatures that go bump in the night; everything about Resident Evil Village has me screaming with delight when looking at the blend of new and familiar within the formulaic direction the eighth title takes. 

Martha is Dead

Sometime in 2021 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC

Martha is Dead is another psychological horror game from the creator of The Town of Light and it looks seriously disturbing. Blending traditional horror imagery with an almost dreamlike undertone, this particular story takes a 1944 narrative and goes hard in showing how truly brutal World War II was in its own right while adding a supernatural element to the horrors faced. 

As tension with Germany escalates, a body of a drowned and desecrated woman is found; Martha. Martha is, in fact, dead and it is her twin that must face a reality that includes her sister's murder. 

This game is another highly anticipated entry for me personally because of its historical background and how it aims to deal with themes such as loss, regret, and familial relationships. Beyond just jumpscares, the messaging of Martha is Dead goes behind campy tales; it is a very real experience designed to get under your skin and make you doubt everything you know and feel. 

Tormented Souls

Sometime in 2021 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC

Tormented Souls is a more traditional survival experience that is good for players looking for something of this genre without needing the title itself to be something entirely groundbreaking or new. Everything about it reminds me of Silent Hill with some Siren influence in there as well, following the story of a kidnapped woman named Caroline. 

Caroline suddenly finds herself naked in a bathtub strung up by wires and antiquated medical equipment and it's up to her to break free of her bindings and escape a decrepit hospital. This story has the traditional "mysterious disappearance" narrative that is tried-and-true and looks like it could be the perfect setup for jump scares, nightmares, and the underlying feeling of grotesque curiosity. 

In Sound Mind

Sometime in 2021 for PC

In Sound Mind is another indie title that thrives in the area of psychological horror. This particular title won't be for everything because it is rather puzzle-heavy, but it is teeming with exploration and mystery. 

When numerous bodies are found that fell victim to a mysterious chemical, it is up to the player to find out what happened and help make things right. Nothing is ever simple, however, and confusing visions begin to factor into the equation. While fighting for sanity whilst searching for the end of needless cruelty, In Sound Mind has a lot of potential to be a stealth hit. 

And there is also a cat named Tonia, so that's another reason to play. 

There are, of course, honorable mentions that I'm personally excited for but I either felt they were already something people would expect or just the future is unknown at this time. A good example of uncertainty is Dying Light 2, a game that puts the power of choice in player's hands, expanding upon the original world of Dying Light in an intense and thoughtful way. With so many variables that can change the entire game experience, this is one of those tales that has me on the edge of my seat regarding when we can get our hands on it. That being said, the development road has been far from easy, making it hard to predict when we'll actually get our hands on it. 

Unholy, Stalker 2, Once Upon a Time in Roswell, and Chernobylite are also worthy honorable mentions for horror adventures to get amped up for, which begs the question: what are you jonesing to play in the arena of horror? Which game are you looking forward to the most? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

On Friday, January 22, Microsoft announced a steep price increase for its Xbox Live membership service, a service that online play is reliant upon as well as the other freebie perks that the subscription allows. The announcement was immediately met with backlash from the community, both industry and consumer side, en masse and it was due to that feedback that the company has rescinded its initial decision to up the pricing. In addition to the decision to reverse the price hike, Microsoft is also removing the Xbox Live requirement for playing free-to-play online titles such as Apex Legends and Fortnite. 

Team Green took to its initial announcement to share the company's regret for the move, citing that they are going to use what was learned from the misstep to help make the Xbox experience more gamer and consumer-friendly. 

"We messed up today, and you were right to let us know," reads the official statement. "Connecting and playing with friends is a vital part of gaming and we failed to meet the expectations of players who count on it every day. As a result, we have decided not to change Xbox Live Gold Pricing."

The statement continues, saying "We're turning this moment into an opportunity to bring Xbox Live more in line with how we see the player at the center of their experience. For free-to-play games, you will no longer need an Xbox Live Gold membership to play those games on Xbox. We are working hard to deliver this change as soon as possible in the coming months." 

The statement acknowledges that the company made a mistake and how it plans on making it better, something that is inline with the current Xbox ecosystem growth strategy that has been the clear objective going into a new generation. 

Following the reversal announcement, reactions began pouring in. Many sung the praises of Microsoft for making good on its promise to keep the player in-mind on the business side of its operations, while others wondered if this was a marketing ploy all along. I spoke with several members of the Xbox team working for Microsoft last night following the update to Xbox Live and the common consensus was that the backlash wasn't simply from the fans, but internally as well. The reversal was not pre-meditated, according to my sources, something evidenced further by the purchase-cards of the newly reflected Live pricing reportedly already shipped out to select retailers. This was a misstep, a costly one, and a time machine can't be built to make it right. What Microsoft does from this point on is what matters and plans of further Xbox Live membership improvements are already in progress. 

So what does this mean for new users looking to join the club with an Xbox Live membership? Existing members and newcomers alike will see the reversal of the price hike immediately. For clarity, here is the breakdown: 

• 1-month - $9.99
• 3-month - $24.99
• 6-month - $39.99
• 12-month - $59.99

The change to make free-to-play games independent of Live restrictions is currently in progress now, an update of implementation is expected in the near future. 

What do you think about the last 24 hours of Microsoft and its attention to Xbox Live? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! You can also check out our deep dive into the initial announcement with our previous coverage here for more background on how a decision like this came to be in the first place. 

With Xiao coming soon, it's a sure thing that you're going to want coffers filled with resources to take advantage of the new banners in patch 1.3 We'll be hanging out and enjoying the sights, the sounds, and the smells of freshly cooked food in the streets of Liyue as we experiment with a new tower defense offering and get to do more quests with our masked companion Xiao. I have a feeling that prior to the big drop of a next region, Xiao is going to quickly rise to the top ranks of Genshin popularity.

Xiao strikes me as a kind of Boba Fett character, where he makes a few awesome but minor appearances early and then becomes a character worthy of his own series later. Anyway, gift codes! Genshin Impact regularly releases codes that can give you gold, primogems, books, and more. Obviously, our big issue of concern is the primogems right now, we'll be pulling hard on the Xiao banner. What's a banner? What are primogems? Check out our gacha beginner's guide to find out.

Anyway, on to the gift codes. These rotate often, but there are almost always a few going around to track down. To get the rewards from these codes, you need to enter them on the Genshin Impact website. You can navigate there right here. They won't work if you try to enter them in the in-game shop or anything! These codes were tested on PC, so you many have issues with them depending on your platform. While these codes are current as of this posting, new codes often rotate in and out, keeping players hunting for new ones!

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GENSHINGIFT

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One important strategy to get the 5-star roster you want without pulling out your wallet is to conserve your primogems from patch to patch and then spend them all when a character you want hits the banner. With Xiao, this will be the first time I spend primogems since Venti's original release. Inevitably, future patches will have characters even cooler than Xiao, which I know sounds impossible right now, but I expect some incredible characters to join the crew when the next giant region patch comes out.

"Genshin Impact is a whimsical, wondrous land dripping with unbridled charm and appeal, combining a ridiculously compelling reward loop with unfettered, continuous discovery," I said in my Game Informer review, scoring the game a big 9.25. "In this world I felt like a child visiting theme park for the first time — dazzled, mesmerized, and completely swept away. I only wish the shimmering glow wasn’t marred by a ghoulish monetization model, but that’s something I’m willing to overlook for my ticket to this fascinating realm."