When Monster Hunter Wilds announced the release of its first free Title Update 1 on April 4, the most eye-catching addition was Grand Hub, a gathering space officially called the largest in the series that perfectly illustrates the design concept of a 100-player online lobby. As expected, MH Wilds has gradually enriched the game content with this update, not only bringing back the classic monster Lagiacrus, but also re-enhancing the multiplayer social experience through the Grand Hub.

The official trailer reveals Grand Hub’s location on an independent mountaintop near Suja, and its significantly larger size than the traditional Gathering Hub. This open space perfectly combines practical functions and social scenes, but the most eye-catching is the giant stage in the central square. In the opening scene, a Wyverian singer is performing here. This is a humanoid race with Wyvern blood, which may also hint at a new expansion of the MHW worldview.

Evolution Of Gathering Hub

Looking back at the development of the series, Gathering Hub has always played the role of a social core. After continuous evolution and development, the Grand Hub now adopts a completely open map design, and its spatial scale even exceeds that of some MMO major cities. This change, together with the 100-player online lobby of Wilds, makes the game atmosphere more lively.

It is worth noting that although the Suja outpost itself already has relatively complete base functions, Capcom still chose to add the Grand Hub in Title Update 1. There is a deep logic behind this design decision: Suja, as a functional base, emphasizes efficiency, while Grand Hub is committed to creating a community atmosphere. When players arrive at this aerial platform through fast travel, the first thing that comes into view is the circular corridor built around the crater. This theater-style layout is naturally suitable for players to display equipment and interact socially.

Innovative Social

The breakthrough of Grand Hub lies in the construction of a three-dimensional interactive network. In addition to the traditional equipment display and expression interaction, Capcom has implanted three major innovative modules:

• Blast Bowling shown in the trailer is located in the arena in the southeast corner. It adopts a scoring mechanism similar to the MHW mini-game, but introduces environmental destruction elements-successfully knocking down a specific target will trigger a volcanic eruption effect.
• The long table in the central cafeteria supports 16 people dining at the same time. When multiple players choose the same set meal, a combination effect will be triggered, which is in sharp contrast to the dining animation of MHW.
• The six professional mentor NPCs distributed in the northwest corner not only provide build suggestions, but also generate real-time data walls based on the player’s equipment. Hunters can see the effects of their Monster Hunter Wilds Items here and replace them with more advanced items based on suggestions. This design may also be a reference to the weapon system of Final Fantasy 14.

These innovations effectively solve the social fault problem in the first version of Wilds. As the feedback from senior hunters before, the original lobby lacks effective interactive scenes, resulting in a little difference between the online experience and the 16-person room. Grand Hub hints at the developer’s ambition to continue operating MHW, and its design is obviously also preparing for future large-scale events.

Technological Breakthrough

In addition, the emergence of Grand Hub also marks a major upgrade in the technical level of Monster Hunter Wilds. Previously, it may support up to 16 people on the same screen, and there will be significant rendering delays. But now in the actual demonstration of MH Wilds, it can remain stable even when there are more than 50 players interacting intensively in the canteen area.

This technological breakthrough paves the way for future content updates. According to the developer log, the map file of Grand Hub reserves six expansion areas, and only three of them are open in the current version. Combined with experience, we can foresee that the summer Title Update 2 may unlock new areas such as underwater training grounds. And these spaces will be decorated in different ways with seasonal activities, such as Chinese lanterns during Chinese New Year.

Although the free update model continues the series tradition, the emergence of Grand Hub also implies a shift in Monster Hunter’s business strategy. Unlike the previous simple addition of monsters and equipment, Wilds’ update package began to build a complete social ecosystem. Hunter Card Exchange System that appeared in the trailer allows players to share their builds data in Grand Hub. 

In short, the emergence of Grand Hub marks a change in the social design of the Monster Hunter series. This 100-person social hub is not only a display of technical strength but also an exploration of modern multiplayer games by the developer. When hunters are enjoying the fun of Barrel Bowling mini-game, when they sit around the long table and drink together, these moments will be woven together into a unique memory for Monster Hunter Wilds players.

EA Sports FC 25 player cards’ PlayStyles can define their game styles through fans, so the game mechanism will be specially customized according to fan feedback, which can not only increase fan stickiness but also help players get on the scoreboard, thus gaining an unparalleled competitive advantage.

PlayStyles+ is more effective and direct than regular PlayStyles, and can help players quickly break through the opponent’s defense, confuse the opponent, and hit the opponent hard, to quickly win the game.

Below I will introduce several typical PlayStyles+ to help you improve your experience and comfort in the game.

Technical+: Outsmart The Opponent

Technical+ is very skillful, and can easily bypass the defender and hit the goal directly, which makes players feel refreshed. Because PlayStyle+ improves the ball control ability to a certain extent, it makes the serve more stable, and can quickly and accurately suppress the defender and catch the opponent off guard.

Quick Step+: Avoid Opponents

Quick Step+ can increase speed when sprinting quickly, and can avoid defenders. It is not only useful for wingers but also has inestimable benefits for forwards. After all, the speed is increased and they are ahead of the defenders, which can buy more time for players to fight against the goalkeeper.

Trickster+: Confuse Opponents

Trickster+ can make powerful shots at a faster speed. This PlayStyle+ greatly enhances the range of skills available to players. This agility can ensure that players can create scoring opportunities while controlling the ball, and agility can also prevent unnecessary loss of points due to mistakes.

Power Shot+: Improve Accuracy

Power Shot+ makes powerful shots at a faster speed. As the saying goes, great power can make miracles. Shooting at a faster speed and a stronger speed, the defender is obviously unable to defend.

However, such a powerful skill also has a small disadvantage, that you must accurately aim at a certain target to shoot accurately. However, you can also use FC 25 Coins to improve the accuracy of the player being operated, so that you can play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses.

Rapid+: Increase Speed

Rapid+, as the name suggests, means that the sprint speed is faster when dribbling the ball, so the error rate during sprinting is greatly reduced. When the player has enough space, he can better break through the defender. And using this PlayStyle+ can not only dodge opponents but also score quickly.

Finesse Shot+: Accurate Shooting

Finesse Shot+ can significantly speed up fine shooting with maximum curve and excellent accuracy. We all know that when the accuracy of shooting is improved, scoring becomes a very simple thing.

Of course, if the teamwork is good, it can be more effective. For example, when operating, you can let the forward shoot quickly in the penalty area, and the winger shoot from a long distance at the same time, so that the opponent is difficult to prevent and can score quickly.

The above is a detailed introduction to the 6 major PlayStyle+. I believe that mastering these skills will definitely shine in FC 25 game and step onto the highest honor platform as a hero.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has been nominated for Best Game Writing at 2024 Nebula Awards. This is one of the largest awards in science fiction and fantasy literature, and this award is a great recognition for the creators. Before that, Elden Ring had won 2023 Nebula Awards for Best Game Writing.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has a relatively compact game content, and all the details have been satisfactorily adjusted. The vast areas within the game are full of new secrets and new discoveries. It also contains some challenging boss battles, and players can get Elden Ring Runes as rewards by defeating them. The fun of the game impressed many players. This award shows that the game writing in Elden Ring is also excellent.

But there are also opposite voices. Many people think that although this game is great, game writing is not its core advantage. Some even expressed doubts about the value of this year's Nebula Award, believing that it is not as professional as before.

Actually, Shadow of the Erdtree pays more attention to details in plot writing. It has an incredible story that unfolds in the best way possible with video games. It’s full of wonderful revelations. Likewise, its layers of meaning in the writing make you wanna dig deeper.

In fact, this opposing voice appeared when Elden Ring won the 2023 Nebula Awards for Best Game Writing. Some players think that there are not many stories in the game, and the experience of talking to NPCs is not good enough. A large part of the reason is that the narrative method of Elden Ring is not the traditional narrative method that everyone is used to, but is reflected in the background legends, item texts, environmental descriptions and other aspects to unfold the story.

This obscure writing style is intentional, but this style is too advanced and therefore not accepted by everyone. On the other hand, some people think that this may be because Hidetaka Miyazaki wants to create a work like this - so that each player can have his own understanding. Therefore, the message he conveys must be vague but not contradictory, while maintaining appeal, which is very difficult to do, so the literary nature of this game is enough to win such an award.

Preferences are subjective feelings. Everyone has their own preferred game content, and it is normal to have different opinions. But it is undeniable that this game is like a fairy tale book, which attracts many people. As such, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Awards deserves to be nominated for Nebula Awards!

In 2020, the ARPG Hades became popular as soon as it was launched. Although the main story and character design of the game are based on ancient Greek mythology, it has achieved another success through the secondary creation full of developers’ imagination. In addition, Hades’s gameplay, art style, music and dubbing have been well received by players and industry insiders.

Based on such a solid and reliable predecessor, the developer brought the early access of Hades II in 2024, and it is expected that the official version will meet you around May 2025. However, according to the content shown in the early access, you will find that some of the more important characters in the first game do not seem to appear in 2, which may arouse your curiosity. Next, we will introduce 6 of them to you.

1. Zagreus

Zagreus is not only the protagonist of Hades but also the brother of Melinoe, the protagonist of Hades II. His main task in Hades is to escape from the underworld and find his biological mother, Persephone. Although he is still not in Hades II’s early access, you might want to see him continue to work with his sister Melinoe in Hades II.

2. Nyx

In the story, Nyx is called Primordial Goddess of Night. She is not only the adopted mother of the protagonist Zagreus of the first game, but also the mother of many other characters, such as Thanatos, Hypnos, and Nemesis. Although she does not appear in Hades II, her name often appears in the dialogue of various characters.

3. Persephone

As the biological mother of Zagreus, Persephone should be said to be one of the most important characters in the entire Hades series. In the first game, she was persuaded by Zagreus to take back the throne and successfully reunited with her family in Mount Olympus. In fact, Melinoe is also the second child born by Persephone shortly after the events of Hades.

4. Thanatos

Thanatos has multiple identities: Death Incarnate, the twin brother of Hypnos, and a close friend of Zagreus. In Hades, he can help Zagreus defeat his enemies by gathering souls in the underworld, and in Hades II, Melinoe can use Moonstone Axe’s Aspect of Thanatos to make Thanatos’ scythe her own weapon.

5. Megaera

Megaera is one of the three goddesses of vengeance, responsible for punishing Hades’ prisoners. She is interesting in that as the final boss of Hell, she tried to stop Zagreus from entering Asphodel, but it is hinted that Zagreus once dated her - you can have a romance with Megaera by playing as Zagreus.

6. Dusa

This is also a female character with an emotional connection to Zagreus. She has always been known for her obsession with Zagreus, and once you reach the highest level of relationship with her in the game, you can play as Zagreus and have a romance with her. The reason she and Megaera did not appear in Hades II may also be because Zagreus is not the protagonist this time.

These characters all made significant contributions in Hades, so even if they don’t appear in Hades II, you’ll still feel drawn to them because of how they’re described in Hades II. In fact, who knows, they might show up in the official Hades II version!