While neither FromSoftware nor Bandai Namco has formally detailed what’s happened, rumors across both the Dark Souls and Elden Ring subreddit (opens in new tab) suggest that without intervention or a fix, “it is possible for Dark Souls 3 invaders to run code on your PC without permission. AKA RCE, Remote Code Execution. This same hack is possible in Elden Ring”.

PvP servers for Dark Souls 3, Dark Souls 2, and Dark Souls: Remastered have been temporarily deactivated to allow the team to investigate recent reports of an issue with online services. Servers for Dark Souls: PtDE will join them shortly.We apologize for this inconvenience.January 23, 2022

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“PvP servers for Dark Souls 3, Dark Souls 2, and Dark Souls: Remastered have been temporarily deactivated to allow the team to investigate recent reports of an issue with online services,” explains a notice on the Dark Souls’ official Twitter feed earlier today.

“Servers for Dark Souls: PtDE will join them shortly. We apologize for this inconvenience.”

The Verge (opens in new tab) goes further with an explanation, stating that the exploit was first publicized when a streamer was hacked via an RCE during a live broadcast. Though the hacker stopped short of providing evidence, the hacker says they had tried, and failed, to get FromSoftware to take the issue seriously. It seemingly took a livestream hacked in real-time to get either FromSoft or publisher Bandai Namco’s attention.

As of Sunday evening UK time there’s been no subsequent update, nor confirmation on when the servers made be restored. As always, we’ll keep you posted.

Did you know Elden Ring has become Steam’s most wishlisted game (opens in new tab)? All year long, Dying Light 2 has topped the chart – it reportedly knocked Cyberpunk 2077 off the perch in December 2020 and has remained there ever since – but a couple of weeks ago, From Software’s eagerly-anticipated action RPG has claimed the top spot, just a few weeks ahead of the release date of both games.

Valve doesn’t provide hard figures to substantiate the claims, so we can’t analyze them in granular detail, and Steam users have to remove their own preferences to see the unfiltered list. Interestingly enough, though, SteamDB’s own chart – which doesn’t always tally with Valve’s – intimates the same line-up.

ICYMI, a consumer survey – reportedly from Elden Ring developer From Software – has revealed a new Armored Core installment is in development (opens in new tab).

Read up on our new games 2022 (opens in new tab) guide for a complete look over all the other games launching over the next few months.

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Generally speaking, cheesing is seen as completing a challenge in an underhanded way that isn’t in the spirit of the game, like leading an ultra-powerful boss off a cliff or shooting from a convenient hidey-hole where no one can reach you. In many circles these techniques are poorly regarded – cheesing is often said in the same breath as glitching or exploits, which are really just technical synonyms for cheating. But I don’t see those things falling into the same category, because cheesing doesn’t alter the basic framework of the game by prodding at frayed code. Cheesing a game comes from studying its many details and eccentricities, and using what you find to confront challenges in unexpected ways.

Take, for example, horror-romance-puzzle game Catherine. In between navigating the throes of romantic entanglement, your job is to rearrange the building blocks of a tower so you can create a path to the top. One boss in the game has the ability to change the blocks ahead of you into traps like spikes and black holes. It’s an aggravating segment that you can fail with an errant twitch, unless you realize that you have the ability to undo your last block-pulling move, which also undoes the boss’s spell. You can then hop to the next level and pull out another block before he makes a move, bypassing his cheap tactic with a cheap tactic of your own.

That gets you to the top on your own terms, and it wasn’t by abusively duplicating items or manipulating some other mix-up in the code. By paying attention to how the ‘undo’ function affects the game in less obvious ways and making creative use of what you learn, you’re able to utilize a mechanic in a way you may never have thought of otherwise. It’s not the same as trying to beat a game out of contempt or superiority (opens in new tab). It’s a battle of the minds against a game you respect and love enough to learn it inside-out.

Of course, you have to be open to the idea of the game cheesing back – I had to bite my tongue when a massive, stampeding pig killed me through the floor in Bloodborne. But in the end that means you’re interacting with the game on an even deeper level, which just makes playing it more personal and fun. So next time you snipe Sekrion from above in Destiny (opens in new tab) or goad Ceaseless Discharge into a bottomless pit in Dark Souls, banish the word ‘cheating’ from your mind. It’s just you and the game, having a Gotcha moment.

The post Why I Love: Cheesing games appeared first on Game News.

Avaa isn’t too difficult to defeat, but she (I assume she) is constantly on the move. You’ll have to attack just after dodging–before she leaps away. The basic attacks are swipes of her claws, or a lunging swipe from further away. These are easy to block or roll under.

She may also charge up her paw and slam it into the ground, causing deadly ice crystals to erupt upwards. Keep your distance to easily avoid these. If she seems to tense up, keep your distance again, as she is about to unleash a burst of energy.

Occasionally, Avaa will summon a group of ice crystals in the air in front of her. They are ice-based, so using your shield will result in some chip damage. You can sprint away from the crystals as they home in, however. Even less frequently, she will do a biting attack–roll away, or you’ll suffer a bunch of chewing damage.

Avaa isn’t difficult to defeat, though you’ll have to be quick on your feet to give damage and avoid taking any of your own. This fight shouldn’t take you too long.

For more help be sure to check out our complete Dark Souls 2 Boss guide.

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Dodge, attack, block, repeat–but watch out for when his sword glows blue, as that attack curses you, reducing your max HP until you use a human effigy to restore it.

For more help be sure to check out our complete Dark Souls 2 Boss guide.

The post How to beat The Pursuer in Dark Souls 2 appeared first on Game News.

If you get too far away from him, watch out–he’ll cast a volley of lightning balls your way, which you’ll need to roll dodge to avoid. When he slams his shield down into the ground, get ready–he’ll summon another actual player to help kill you if you’re playing online, or an AI minion if not. Need additional tips? Check out the video above.

For more help be sure to check out our complete Dark Souls 2 Boss guide.

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