Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice launches today, and the reviews have been pouring in from those lucky enough to get an early jump on the game. So far, it seems to be overwhelmingly positive, with some even citing it to be the best game that From Software have made to date. With an emphasis on its stealth mechanics, flashy death animations, and brutally challenging level of difficulty, there's something that's catching the eye of many fans and critics. At the time of writing, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice sits at an 89/100 on the review aggregate website Metacritic, and a 91/100 on Open Critic, with 100% of critics recommending the game. PlayStation LifeStyle awarded the game a 9.5/10, saying "Sekiro is challenging, but fair—a game with the goal of allowing the player to grow, rather than the avatar." IGN awarded it a 9.5/10 too, stating "Sekiro evolves From Software’s formula into a stylish stealth-action adventure that, naturally, emphasizes precision and skill in its combat. It walks the line between deliberate and patient stealth and breakneck melee combat against threats both earthly and otherworldly." Game Informer gave it a 9/10, placing a focus on the extreme level of difficulty in the game. "Sekiro is one of the most difficult games I have ever played, but for those seeking adventure, exploration, and a truly realized ninja fantasy, the trek is worth the high demands." So far, the consensus is that the game might be the most difficult in From Software's roster to date, but not without its merit too. The steep difficulty curve aside, the combat and gameplay, fully realized world, and cool ninja shenanigans means that you'll find a lot of fun - and frustration. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice launches today for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Stay tuned for our review, which will be arriving shortly. In the meantime, catch yourself up with all of our Sekiro coverage, or give Rob's feature on why he's excited for the game, despite not being a fan of From Software.

I can't tell you when the console wars started, or why it started, but at some point, the gaming community thought it best to divide themselves and pledge allegiance to their console overlords - ready to defend them, and fight for them. Over time, the idea of "console wars" dwindled down to nothing but the same meanderings that passionate football fans (or hooligans) cause among themselves. It was all a bit silly, I thought. That sentiment still rings true today, though it made me think about what purposes these console wars serve, and why it's still quite ridiculous. We need to see "console wars" from two perspectives. The first is the aforementioned community that takes sides. Whether it's PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, or PC, you're bound to run into someone who vehemently defends their platform of choice, while going out of their way to attack the opposition. The other side of the story is the very believable console wars from a business and market standpoint. It's not hard to justify console wars between the gaming giants of today (particularly the rivalry between Sony and Microsoft) because that's just the nature of business. However, it also doesn't mean that they've adopted the same juvenile mentality that some console defenders have adopted - well, judging by Sony's PS4 announcement sting to Microsoft, not entirely anyway. The point is, from a marketing and business point, console wars breeds healthy competition. In an industry where competition means that companies can bounce ideas off of each other and thrive as a result, it's still in the best interests of the consumer. Imagine if the PS4 didn't victoriously launch with a pro-consumer stance as opposed to Xbox One's anti-consumer practices when it was first announced. Even then, I shudder to really call it console "wars", and more like friendly rivalry. A good example of this is when Sony's Shawn Layden, Microsoft's Phil Spencer, and Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime took the stage at The Game Awards 2018, standing side by side. I'd go as far as to call this a monumental moment in gaming because of what it represented. Here's three powerful men who we'd imagine would probably tackle each other and engage in mortal combat, stand in unison for the joy of gaming. Now, this is something that, maybe a few years ago, wouldn't be possible in the gaming community. Apart from the fact that the community consists of millions of gamers around the world (and not just three people), it would be hard for everyone to simply hold hands and sing the good song of gaming love. When it comes down to your personal platform of choice, that's just it - your personal preference. It shouldn't give you bragging rights, a magical pass, or elitist mentality. I'm personally a PlayStation 4 fan, but I do own an Xbox One and still engage with both exclusives on the market. This isn't to say that everyone can afford to have multiple gaming consoles (I still can't afford a Nintendo Switch, or a perfectly functional PC that doesn't crash with every single update it does), but the wiser option would be to weigh the odds before purchasing and see which one appeals to you the most. Like buying a car, it supposed to serve the specific function of getting you to places - buying a gaming console should theoretically work the same way, right? Maybe the shape of a certain car appeals to you more, or it has great fuel management and some neat little bells and whistles, but at the end of the day, it drives - it serves the purpose of getting you from point A to point B. Gaming consoles then serve the purpose of playing games, but more specifically, the games you choose to invest in based on exclusives preferences, ecosystem, and much more. Yet, there's no raging war going on between Mercedes Benz drivers and VW drivers because of the cars they choose to drive. Console wars unfortunately only drive greater cracks within the gaming sphere. For those who aren't invested in gaming, it would be hard to just jump into buying a gaming platform without being scrutinized for doing so by someone who feels their platform is the only "correct" one. Instead, we should focus on channeling our energy into spreading the good that comes out of gaming, and not further dividing our base. What you choose to play on simply doesn't matter - the important thing is that you're playing, and it makes you feel good.

HBO has released the poster for the final season of the much anticipated Game of Thrones, which hits televisions on April 14th. The poster seems to be a clever mash of both a dragon (which appears to be Drogon), and the Iron Throne. Some have deduced that the image means we'll be seeing a Targaryen take the throne, which only limits us down to Dany and (HEAVY SPOILER ALERT) Jon Snow, who was revealed at the end of season 7 to be the rightful heir to the throne - with the true name of Aegon Targaryen. Speculation has begun, and we can only wait to see what the final season has in store for us. We do know that an epic battle will take place at Winterfell between the forces of the seven realms and the Whitewalkers who march south after breaching the wall. Game of Thrones' final season is set to be epic and grand in scale, and we don't have to wait much longer. Mark your calendars for April 14th!

The latest installment in the Metro series, Metro Exodus, was met with anger when they announced its Epic Game Store exclusivity. So much so, that people review bombed the game - to the point where the developers needed to explain the situation to fans. Given this, Metro Exodus has done great in the sales department. Epic Games Store's, Steve Allison, said (via GamesIndustry.biz), " It's really about the games, not the store you sell on". Exodus, even though exclusive to the Epic Store, has already sold 2.5 times more than that of the previous Metro title, Last Light. All things considered, that's a pretty decent number. In Andrew's review, he praised the game for its stunning presentation, likable companions, and choice-driven narrative and gameplay consequences. He scored the game a solid 9 out of 10 in the end. Metro Exodus is currently available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.