Fans of Bungie’s online first-person shooter Destiny can now take their looting and shooting on the go, as the company has partnered with mobile gaming giant NetEase for the franchise’s first free-to-play live service mobile title, Destiny: Rising, which translates the hectic massively multiplayer online shooting action into an accessible, portable, and still immensely engaging handheld format.

Much like its two console and PC game counterparts, Destiny: Rising once again thrusts players into a war between humanity and alien invaders, but this time, it’s taking a leap into the past. Set multiple years before the events of 2014’s Destiny, the game is set in an alternate timeline and follows a character called Wolf, who is revived by a Ghost as a Lightbearer, humans capable of wielding special Light powers, in a quest to fight back against the alien threat and restore human civilisation.

Featuring gameplay most fans should feel right at home with, Destiny: Rising offers players the choice between traditional first-person perspective or over-the-shoulder third-person shooting, now with intuitive touch controls and some additional quality-of-life options to ease those new to the shooter genre, such as the ability to automatically aim down weapon sights when pressing the fire button. Additionally, the game features a plethora of options to tweak controls, such as gamepad support, key remapping and even controller dead-zone and sensitivity options players can adjust to suit their preferences.

Apart from taking on its main quests, players can also join others around the world in PvE raids or even PvP matches, with a fair play system that reduces everyone’s Character Relic level to one, ensuring a level playing field. Unlike the mainline games, Destiny: Rising lets players choose from a roster of playable characters, each with their own unique abilities and stories. Additionally, the game also features some systems not seen in past titles, like racing, the ability to dual-wield weapons, and various mini-games like a Flappy Bird-style side scroller or a collectable card game named Shadowshaper Duels.

As a free-to-play title, players might justifiably have concerns about its in-game monetisation systems, and while they are present, fans can rest easy knowing that it isn’t as egregious as most other mobile titles. Weapons are primarily obtained via gameplay, while its gacha system to get new characters definitely benefits paying players more, but all characters can be attained just by playing the game. Additionally, players should expect the live-service mainstays like battle passes and an energy system, with the latter currently being addressed by the development team to provide more freedom and fewer restrictions while still maintaining game balance.

Monetisation and gacha aside, Destiny: Rising is still an ambitious gaming undertaking that has largely succeeded in scratching that looter shooter itch even while on the go, with many players even remarking that it’s a return to form to the days of the OG Destiny. The developers’ commitment to player feedback, alongside the game being completely playable even for players who don’t spend a single cent – at least for now – means that this is one mobile title worth checking out, especially if you are a Destiny or looter shooter fan.

Destiny: Rising is now available for free on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post App Of The Month — Destiny: Rising (Nov 2025) appeared first on Geek Culture.

NetEase Games and ZhuRong Studio have brought their eastern fantasy MMORPG Sword of Justice to the global audience, with the free-to-play title now available in Southeast Asia on mobile and PC.

To mark this occasion, Thai celebrity actress and model Baifern will be presenting a series of video content celebrating Sword of Justice’s global launch as Ye Xueqing, bringing one of the game’s many intriguing and complex characters to life.

Originally launched in China back in June 2023, Sword of Justice lets players live out their martial arts master fantasies in a world inspired by 12th-century China. Apart from roaming the lands and battling beasts and rival players alike, the game also boasts a social role-playing aspect, allowing players to partake in more relaxing activities like farming, fishing, crafting or archaeology.

One thing that sets Sword of Justice apart from other games in the genre is the studio’s promise of fairness and not making the experience too grindy, or implementing paywalls, with the title featuring a “Paths Converge” system where both competitive and casual players can earn full rewards through their preferred playstyles. The studio also notes that all character progression is entirely gameplay-driven, with strict attribute caps and seasonal resets in place to ensure a level playing field.

The game will also be accessible to solo players, an uncommon feature for the traditionally multiplayer-focused nature of the genre, offering an NPC companion system for players to tackle group dungeons alone.

In addition, to mark the arrival of the game on a global stage, players who log into Sword of Justice will be able to claim the rewards unlocked by the 5 million players who pre-registered their interest in the game, including the Solitary Crane outfit, Heaven Frost Special Effect Mount, 200 Ornate Jade (Soulbound), and 88,888 Banknotes currency.

Sword of Justice is now available on PC, Android and iOS.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post NetEase Free-To-Play MMORPG ‘Sword of Justice’ Launches In Southeast Asia appeared first on Geek Culture.

Creative work and content creation may be the biggest draw of Apple’s iPad series of tablets, but that’s not the only aspect where it excels. Since the debut of its proprietary M1 chip, the Cupertino giant has embraced the shift into gaming — a logical course of action, especially since the bigger display offers an enhanced, more immersive viewing experience than the iPhone devices.

In line with yearly tradition, the 2025 iteration of the iPad Pro is now powered by its latest M5 chip, which comes in different configurations: a 9-core CPU and 10-core GPU for the 256GB or 512GB storage options, and a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU for their 1TB or 2TB counterparts. The next-generation Apple GPU with “a Neural Accelerator in each core” promises even more hardware muscle, delivering up to 3.5 times the AI (artificial intelligence) performance than the M4-powered iPad Pro, and up to 5.6 times faster performance than the original M1-powered iPad Pro (on paper, at least).

Combined with its signature Ultra Retina XDR display, the device continues to establish itself as a gaming beast in a slim, portable form. Not only did it breeze through Wuthering Waves, Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact, and Delta Force, but thermal management and battery use also proved efficient, resulting in impressive performance across the board.

Check out how well it runs in the above video, complete with short bursts of high-intensity gaming and temperature checks. The iPad Pro M5 (2025) starts from S$1,499 for the 11-inch model and S$1,999 for its 13-inch variant. Both variants are available in two colour options: Space Black and Silver.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Apple iPad Pro M5 (2025) Gaming Test — Wuthering Waves, Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact & Delta Force appeared first on Geek Culture.

NetEase Games and ZhuRong Studio have announced the 7 November global release date for Sword of Justice, the upcoming free-to-play open world MMORPG that has players craft their own adventure in an Eastern-inspired realm. The game will be available on Android and iOS devices, as well as PC via Steam and Windows, with full cross-platform play.

Sword of Justice is a fantasy MMMORPG set in the Northern Song Dynasty of 12th-century China and players will join together in epic adventures across the land. You can be whoever you wish to be, from a mighty warrior, a brave explorer, a skilled crafter, or a socialite who likes to roleplay with other players. In this realm, your legend is yours to shape as you see fit. 

In preparation for the game’s upcoming global launch on 7 November 2025 on Android and iOS devices, as well as PC via Steam and Windows, here are some things about the game you should know.

Pre-Launch Perk for Southeast Asian Players: AI-Powered Cloud Face Edit Event Returns

Players in Southeast Asian countries who wish to design their perfect protagonist ahead of the launch can take advantage of the returning Cloud Face Edit event in Sword of Justice. Utilizing advanced AI technology, players can edit their character’s appearance through text or image-based inputs. Once satisfied with their creation, they can seamlessly import it into the full version of Sword of Justice.

With over 300 adjustable parameters to explore—including facial contours, makeup, and body shape—players can achieve a truly personalized look. The cutting-edge technology also supports micro-expressions, realistic irises, and lifelike hair simulation, resulting in incredibly detailed and rich character designs.

A Truly Free-to-Play Game with Skill-Driven Progression and On-the-Go Flexibility

In Sword of Justice, playing the game isn’t a second job. Sword of Justice is completely free-to-play, with character progression being tied directly to gameplay skill, thanks to strict attribute caps and seasonal resets. In Sword of Justice, character progression is linked to the Converging Paths system, ensuring you’ll always receive the same core rewards, whether you’re a diehard PvP champion or a casual player who can only jump in when you’re free. There are no pay-to-win mechanics at play! In Sword of Justice, you never need to reach for your wallet to experience what the game has to offer. 

Sword of Justice is the ideal game to play on the go. Want to become a martial arts master who takes on all rivals in brutal showdowns, or take it slow as a farmer, fisher, calligrapher, or archaeologist? You can be all of these and more. Play your way in Sword of Justice, all without spending any money.

A Living Open World: AI-Powered NPCs & Player-Shaped Stories

Sword of Justice hosts a massive open world that’s full of foes to slay and secrets to discover. There are bustling cities full of players and NPCs to interact with. The NPCs are powered by AI technology, giving them unique personalities and memories, allowing them to remember previous interactions and respond accordingly. Say goodbye to fixed and boring routines, as Sword of Justice’s world reacts to you, letting you shape your story in the martial arts world.

Those looking to make connections in the beautiful world of Sword of Justice have plenty of ways to do so, as the game offers a variety of relaxed, open-ended social experiences. You can form bonds via mentoring others, swear kinship as adventurers, form guilds, and even fall in love. There are over 100 hours of single-player stories to dive into, with intelligent companions who will help players craft their own story. The world of Sword of Justice offers rich experiences for social butterflies who love to experience the game with others, and solo players who prefer to go at their own pace. 

Sword of Justice offers an epic experience like no other, with countless hours of gameplay awaiting those who explore its gorgeous, living world. This is a game of epic showdowns and dangerous dungeons, forging weapons and gathering treasures, of blossoming love and dangerous rivalries. The story is yours to tell, so make sure to check out Sword of Justice when it launches on mobile devices and PC on 7 November, and follow the game’s social media channels to be kept up to date with future announcements.

To learn more about Sword of Justice, visit the official website, App Store, Google Play, Steam, Facebook page and Discord channel.

The Baroness

Passion and love mean little to the Baroness. No man can ever be her master. Where there’s terror to be sown and coin earned, that’s where she will be with guns akimbo.

The post ‘Sword of Justice’ MMORPG Sets 7 Nov Global Release On Mobile & PC appeared first on Geek Culture.

Once a niche offering, foldable devices have made headway into the mainstream market, with their tablet-and-smartphone hybrid form factor catering to both work and play demands. The bigger screen doesn’t come at a compromise, either — the profile has only gotten leaner and more compact over the years, and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is no exception.

Boasting the same Tensor G5 chip that powers the entire Pixel 10 lineup, it weighs in at 258 grams and measures 76.3 x 155.2 x 10.8 mm when folded, and 150.4 x 155.2 x 5.2mm in tablet mode. The 6.4-inch inner Actua display delivers a 2,364 x 1,080-pixel resolution and a 60 to 120Hz refresh rate, but can be opened up to 8 inches for an enhanced viewing experience.

Together, the foldable smartphone put up a competent showing in Wuthering Waves, Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact, and Delta Force, clocking a consistent 60 frames per second at its best. Thermal management was particularly impressive, a combination of efficient dissipation and reduced heat generation.

Check out the gaming performance of the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold in the video above, complete with number crunching on the side. The device comes in Moonstone and will start at S$2,399 (16GB RAM + 256GB ROM).

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold Gaming Test — Wuthering Waves, Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact & Delta Force appeared first on Geek Culture.

Monster Hunter’s legacy of epic battles, imaginative worlds, and cooperative gameplay is set to take a new leap with the upcoming installment, Monster Hunter Outlanders, promising a fresh franchise experience to iOS and Android devices.

And in adapting the game for mobile users, the team discovered that the biggest challenge was in fact, the smaller screens, explains Dong Huang, the game’s producer from Tencent’s TiMi Studio Group, in an exclusive interview with Geek Culture and several other press from Southeast Asia during Tokyo Game Show 2025.

“The most difficult part was adapting the controls and UI for smartphones,” Huang admits. The team at China-based TiMi Studio Group has had a lot of experience creating action games for smartphones in the past, so applying their expertise and innovation on Monster Hunter Outlanders was a top priority, in translating the franchise’s iconic experience into a mobile user interface that not only works well but also streamlined some key mechanics for mobile play. 

“We’ve done away with the action of polishing weapons, but sharpness still remains as a strategic element.”

Monster Hunter Outlanders introduces streamlined controls that allow familiar actions to be executed with a single button press, preserving the franchise’s signature excitement while offering a fresh gameplay experience. Players take on the role of “Adventurers”, which comprises diverse characters from around the globe, each equipped with unique skills tailored for exploring uncharted ecosystems. These abilities bring strategic advantages to hunts, enhancing both combat and exploration. 

Every Adventurer is also joined by a companion, either the beloved Palico or new game-exclusive buddies, Rutaco and Trillan. Each buddy features distinct traits, appearances, and skill sets, and can be trained to become even more dependable allies in the field.

Set in the dynamic world of Aesoland, the game spans multiple regions defined by varying terrain and weather conditions. Through crafting and exploration, players can uncover rare items and vital clues that propel their quests forward. Aesoland also introduces the formidable “Radiant Species,” monsters transformed by the island’s mysterious mineral, Radiantite. These creatures exhibit heightened aggression and enhanced abilities, turning every encounter into a fierce and unpredictable battle.

And to think that all of these game enhancements and changes were borne from wanting the franchise, known for its niche gameplay formats, to reach a wider audience, notes Capcom producer Genki Sunano during the same interview.

“TiMi Studio gave us a proposal that it would be very interesting to create a mobile version of Monster Hunter,” Sunano-san explains and the team recognised an opportunity to reach a broader audience. 

“Making this mobile version of Monster Hunter would allow more people to have access to these games and if we accept this proposal, it would enable us to broaden our reach in Asia and around the world.”

Monster Hunter Outlanders introduces new crafting and survival elements, a first for the series. “They gave a proposal that they will be including the craft elements and also the survival elements within the Monster Hunter world that we already have. And we thought that that would be a very interesting premise,” says Sunano-san. 

Effectively, these features are designed to enhance both exploration and combat. “The game will enable players to move around freely to collect all the materials to build and customise their own houses,” Sunano-san adds.

Players stepping into the game will discover features designed to streamline traditional hunting, including diverse crafting systems and adaptive survival mechanics. “If you’ve played the demo at the Tokyo Game Show, you’ll notice many features that allow players to move freely and collect materials easily. There are catapults to shoot arrows, and other tools that help build fences. These craft elements make traditional hunting more interesting,” says Huang.

Despite these new features, the developers are committed to preserving the core Monster Hunter experience. “We are maintaining the important values that have been in the traditional Monster Hunter games, so I believe that the core Monster Hunter fans can also enjoy,” says Sunano-san.

One thing that fans might dislike, but is making its way to the game, is in-game monetisation that the team is still developing. “The monetisation will come into play during the character customisation experience, on a very basic level, to improve the players’ gaming experience. But we still haven’t decided on what kind of a business model we will be adopting. There will be a series of tests before the formal launch,” Huang reveals.

Looking ahead, the developers are planning seasonal updates and new weapon types, but the game is expected to launch with the usual 14 weapon types synonymous with the franchise.

As Monster Hunter Outlanders prepares for launch, the team is eager to welcome both longtime fans and newcomers, to provide feedback to help shape and improve the game and TiMi Studio Group is inviting players to a Closed Beta test for the game to help them fine-tune the game’s systems, balance and server performance. Registration for the Closed Beta is open from now till 7 November, and the test is expected to start sometime from mid-November onwards. Find out more about the mobile device requirements and FAQs on the Monster Hunter Outlanders website.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post TGS 2025: ‘Monster Hunter Outlanders’ Charts New Evolution On Mobile appeared first on Geek Culture.

Apple’s yearly refreshes of its devices are already a tradition at this point, but the rollout for its latest iPhone 17 series is looking a little different. Instead of the standard base, Pro, and Pro Max models, there’s now a new headliner — the iPhone Air (not the iPhone 17 Air), which marks the thinnest entry in the family to date.

While its impressively slim 5.6mm and 165-gram chassis may suggest otherwise, the titanium-fitted device packs more power than the base iPhone 17, with the upgraded A19 Pro chip running on a 5-core GPU and a 6-core GPU that Apple claims is the fastest in any smartphone. In an even more impressive display of engineering, the form factor also features a 6.5-inch ProMotion panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 2,740 x 1,280-pixel resolution, promising smooth, crisp visuals in videos, games, and other forms of content.

Pitting it against the likes of Wuthering Waves, Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact, and PUBG Mobile yielded decent performance across the board, with thermal management emerging as the surprise standout. Frame rates were also consistent, and little to no drop in performance was observed, which is always a plus point.

Check out the iPhone Air in action above, complete with benchmarking figures. The iPhone Air starts at S$1,599 and will be available from 19 September in four colour options: Sky Blue, Light Gold, Cloud White, and Space Black.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post iPhone Air Gaming Test — Wuthering Waves, Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact & PUBG Mobile appeared first on Geek Culture.

With the launch of any Apple iPhone line-up, the sheer variety of device variations on offer means that users might have a hard time deciding which to get to suit their needs. At least from a gaming standpoint, although the latest iPhone 17 series now comes packed with Apple’s next-generation A19 processor, the 17 Pro Max looks to have the edge over the base model with its upgraded A19 Pro chip, but how much of a difference does it truly make?

Hardware-wise, both devices come equipped with a crisp LTPO Super Retina XDR HDR10 screen capable of outputting at a smooth 120Hz, although differences come in screen size and resolution, with the larger 17 Pro Max featuring a 6.9-inch, 2,868 x 1,320 resolution display compared to its smaller base model counterpart, which has a 6.3-inch, 2,622 x 1,206 resolution screen.

When it comes to graphical prowess, the new A19 chip, while similar in architecture to the A18, now features increased clock speeds and added Neural Accelerators to its GPU, which, according to Apple, enables 20 per cent faster GPU performance compared to its predecessor. The A19 Pro chip further increases the enhancements with a larger cache, more GPU cores, faster LPDDR5X RAM, and higher memory bandwidth.

So, how do the power boosts for both the A19 and A19 Pro chips translate to gaming performance? The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the clear standout here, with its beefy upgraded chip breezing through our gaming gauntlet of Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact, Wuthering Waves, and PUBG Mobile, with its new vapour chamber doing wonders for its thermal management. The base iPhone 17 is no slouch either, largely holding its own despite its weaker chip with decent performance and manageable heat levels.

Check out their performance in the videos above, which cover device temperatures, gaming benchmarks, and more. Both phones will be available from 19 September, with the base iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max starting from S$1,299 and S$1,749, respectively.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post iPhone 17 & 17 Pro Max Gaming Test — Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact, Wuthering Waves & PUBG Mobile appeared first on Geek Culture.

TiMi Studio Group kicked off Gamescom 2025 with a major reveal, premiering the first full trailer for Honor of Kings: World during Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live. The trailer offered a sweeping look at Primaera, the game’s visually stunning continent, and teased a mix of intricate puzzles, high-stakes battles, and dynamic combat mechanics that define the upcoming Eastern Fantasy multiplayer action RPG.

The showcase marks a pivotal moment for the franchise, as Honor of Kings: World expands the beloved universe to a global audience. Players were treated to glimpses of style-switching combat, cooperative boss fights, and richly detailed environments, all underscored by the game’s narrative depth and social features. “Opening Night Live was the perfect moment to give players a true taste of what’s ahead,” said Big Huang, lead combat designer. “Now we can’t wait for visitors to Gamescom to get hands-on with the game themselves.”

Attendees at Gamescom can experience the game first hand from 20 to 24 August at Hall 9, Booth B040, where a playable PC demo offers cooperative boss battles with full support for both mouse-and-keyboard and controllers.

Set within the halls of Jixia Academy, players begin their journey as a gifted student navigating three specialist schools. Along the way, they’ll encounter iconic heroes from the original Honor of Kings, uncover the secrets of the Wonders, and explore “the Flow,” a mysterious energy source that shapes the world’s lore.

Honor of Kings: World is expected to be released in 2025 on PC and mobile platforms (iOS/Android), promising a rich and immersive experience for both fans and newcomers.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post ‘Honor of Kings: World’ Playable For The First Time At Gamescom 2025 appeared first on Geek Culture.

It wasn’t just too long ago that MiHoYo (otherwise known as HoYoverse) broke into the international stage with Genshin Impact, and now, the Chinese company commands a strong presence in the gaming scene. The popularity certainly shows in the strong turnouts for their real-life events — from brand collaborations and pop-up initiatives to orchestra performances, the company is no stranger to generating hype.

HoYoFest, established as a yearly celebration of all things HoYoverse, continues to be a tradition for fans. Making a return to Singapore, HoYoFest 2025 welcomes Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero into Hall 406CXD of Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre, with ticket prices starting from S$14.

The expanded space means more on-ground activities and fun, but there’s another reason for the excitement: fan art. Not only will this year’s edition debut its Artist Alley, it also marks the first time a gaming company is allowing fan-created merchandise to be sold at its own event in Southeast Asia.

A new stage segment has been included in the programme lineup as well, featuring interactive experiences with the audience and offering cosplayers, performers, and even fan artists to showcase their talents on the stage. As it stands, these new additions have proven to be a hit among the community, with tickets for all three days (25 to 27 July), selling out on the event’s opening day.

While online sales will no longer be available, fans can try their luck at securing tickets on-site. For those unable to attend HoYoFest 2025 in person, here are some highlights from the first day, starting with the Artist Alley.

Arguably the biggest draw on the showfloor, the Artist Alley threatened to empty wallets with a generous merchandise selection, including standard fare such as keychains, acrylic stands, and prints, alongside handicrafts like crochet products and character-themed cups. Barely a few hours in, and “sold out” signs were already placed on several booths, with the crowd growing larger as time passed, making navigation more difficult and congested.

The official merchandise area enjoyed its fair share of enthusiasm, too. Even as doors opened at 11am (and at 10am for Fast Pass holders), exclusive offerings were quickly snapped up, leaving little to no stock behind on the shelves. During the 11am to 12pm timeslot, only about five blind packs comprising past HoYoFest exclusives remained, out of the full range listed below:

• Genshin Impact
  • Chibi Acrylic Standee (S$11)
  • Tote Bag with Badge Series (S$25)
• Honkai Impact 3
  • Chibi Acrylic Standee (S$11)
  • Chibi Mouse Pad (S$18)
  • Chibi Keychain Blind Bag (S$6.50, random design)
  • Chibi Mouse Pad (S$18)
  • Badge Series (S$12)
• Honkai: Star Rail
  • Chibi Acrylic Standee (S$11)
  • Acrylic Puzzle-shaped Magnet Fullset (S$55)
  • Acrylic Puzzle-shaped Magnet Blind Bag (S$11)
• Zenless Zone Zero
  • Chibi Acrylic Standee (S$11)
  • Chibi Acrylic Keychain (S$12)

For non-exclusive goods, the available options run from soft toys and badges to character stands and even pillows. Merchandise specific to each title is also up for grabs – the Zenless Zone Zero lineup, for instance, features finger skateboard charms and Bangoo plush massage hammers, while tissue box holders in the shape of Ruan Mei’s cat cakes are part of the Honkai: Star Rail selection. Score a free postcard by purchasing one or more items at the official store, plus an additional paper bag when a minimum of S$20 is spent.

Over to the stage area, various activities are set to take place at allocated time slots. Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero will have their own dedicated showcases, joining an open dance floor, a cosplayer gathering, open-stage performances, and more on the roster. As with previous years, hands-on booths allow attendees to experience HoYoverse games on different platforms, including the Apple Vision Pro headset.

Carrying over from last year, the stamp rally invites fans to collect all five stamps and redeem a free HoYoFest-themed instant photo at the photo booth. Only one stamp can be earned from completing activities in a zone themed after Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, or Zenless Zone Zero, and the HoYoverse Experience Zone.

Here’s a look at the full haul obtained for finishing all challenges:

Genshin Impact

Natlan is front and centre of the Genshin Impact booth, where Baby Saurians await to be knocked down in three attempts. Completing the challenge earns participants Baby Saurian hairclips (random design), one of the three offline rewards available – the hologram ticket with in-game rewards is given by showing their game UID, while posting a photo with any booth elements on any social media platform grants a character photo card.

Honkai: Star Rail

In celebration of the latest Version 3.4 release, Honkai: Star Rail puts Phainon and Amphoreus into focus. Show your game UID to the on-site staff via the in-game client or HoYoLab and receive a holographic ticket, complete daily active missions to earn a postcard, and follow the official social channels and share game-related posts to score a character card.

Zenless Zone Zero

Stealing hearts with its adorable demeanour, the Amillion Bangboo stands alongside both old and newer Zenless Zone Zero faces, from Nicole and Ellen Joe to Yi Xuan and Yuzuha (who also gets her own standee). Three challenges lay in wait here – take photos featuring booth elements and share them on social media to receive a lenticular card blind bag, show your UID to on-site staff for a holographic ticket, and follow the official Facebook account to redeem a random photocard bookmark.

As a bonus, those who cosplay as a Zenless Zone Zero character and share on social media will walk away with a Bangboo headband.

Honkai Impact 3rd

A Erdős Helia cutout greets Captains at the Honkai Impact 3rd installation, where they have to show their game UID to claim an event-exclusive laser ticket, personalise their share image on the HoYoFest website and share it on social media for Coins and an in-game keychain, and share photos of booth elements on social media for a surprise.

HoYoFest 2025 takes place from 25 to 27 July at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hall 406CXD.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post 3-Day HoYoFest Singapore 2025 Debuts Artist Alley, Tickets All Sold Out appeared first on Geek Culture.

Infold Games’ popular immersive 3D interactive romance game, Love and Deepspace, has launched its pop-up exhibition at Resorts World Sentosa, providing a tangible extension for players to embrace their shared connection with its five characters: Xavier, Zayne, Rafayel, Sylus, and Caleb.

Running from now till 31 July, the first Love and Deepspace offline event in Singapore doubles as both a celebration of its latest version update and a community space for attendees to bask in a shared enthusiasm. The premises of ave8 have been transformed into a themed space during this period, featuring five photo spots along two sides of a stairway — each boasting its own uniquely designed and themed arenas — that lead into a photo area featuring all five characters.

Queuing begins upon arrival, with the opening day already welcoming players in droves. With an efficient system in place, the organising team ran the event like a tight ship, sorting Deepspace Hunters into three different queue zones, sheltered from the sweltering heat of the Singapore sun. After being ushered to both aisles, they are given five minutes per area to take photos, and Xavier and Sylus proved to be fan favourites when the public crowd poured in.

Here’s the catch: the pop-up will only open its doors to players on weekends (Friday to Sunday), between 11am and 7pm. However, they will still have the chance to enter a special giveaway, with exclusive official merchandise awarded to 50 lucky winners, including the grand prize of a one-night stay at Hotel Ora. Unfortunately, there won’t be any official merchandise available at the event.

With 50 million players in the fold, attracted by the visually arresting graphics, layered storytelling and thoughtful inclusion of everyday-life features, it comes as no surprise that there is also a vibrant and close-knit community of Love and Deepspace players in Singapore. The game made its global debut in January 2024 and has enjoyed positive worldwide reception since.

@geekculture Love and Deepspace Hunters, Sylus, Zayne, Caleb, Xavier, and Rafayel are waiting for you at Resorts World Sentosa! Are you ready? ave8, Resorts World Sentosa 11am to 7pm, Friday to Sunday #LADS #LoveandDeepspace #Sylus #Xavier #Rafayel #Zayne #Caleb #Singapore #RWS #Sentosa #fyp #fypシ @Love and Deepspace ♬ original sound – Geek Culture

More than just a traditional romantic simulation game, it offers an interactive experience with emotional depth and intimacy. With features such as real-time interactions, choice-based gameplay, mood-based dialogue options and even highly practical and emotional support such as a menstrual cycle tracker and daily affirmations, player engagement is extremely high.

In fact, feedback from community posts and player interviews has indicated that players engage with the game not just for entertainment but also for emotional reassurance. The blend of immersive technology and user-friendly features elevates the game beyond mere entertainment, embedding it into players’ daily lives and routines.

While the game’s design does not promise perfection, it does embrace emotional imperfections and encourages players to have authentic and relatable experiences both in-game and in real life. Players can seek out these authentic experiences in person with the loving player community at the Love and Deepspace exhibition at Resorts World Sentosa, available only until 31 July.

Ting Wei

Conversation with Ting Wei is like chatting with a weird AI bot programmed only with One Piece lore and theories, sitcom quotes and other miscellaneous pop culture references. When he’s not sleeping, he’s highly likely reading manga. In fact, the only thing he reads more than manga is the Bible, and it’s honestly pretty close.

The post ‘Love and Deepspace’ Sets Love Island Vibe With RWS Pop-Up Exhibition appeared first on Geek Culture.

KLab and Garena have announced that Haikyu!! Fly High, a new mobile game based on Haruichi Furudate’s popular manga, will launch globally on 31 July 2025 in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The game, developed by Changyou and Prophet Games, will feature both English and Japanese voiceovers performed by the original anime cast.

In Haikyu!! Fly High, players will be able to recruit and train iconic characters from the anime, build custom teams, and engage in strategic volleyball matches. The gameplay showcases dynamic 3D visuals and cinematic skill animations designed to replicate the fast-paced excitement of the sport, as well as the exhilaration that fans have witnessed in the popular anime series.

The Haikyu!! franchise has seen widespread success across various forms of media. In addition to the manga, it has inspired stage plays, claymation shorts, compilation films, and a hit anime series. Produced by Production I.G., the anime debuted in April 2014, with subsequent seasons releasing in 2015 and 2016. The fourth season, Haikyu!! To The Top, was split into two parts: the first aired in early 2020, while the second half, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, premiered in October 2020.

Most recently, the franchise debuted Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle, the first film in a two-part finale, in Japan in February 2024. The movie had an impressive opening, selling over 1.5 million tickets and earning approximately US$14.1 million in just three days. It was released in North American theatres in May 2024 with both Japanese audio and an English dub.

The second and final film of the project, Haikyu!! VS The Little Giant, has officially been green-lit. Additionally, a new anime short titled Haikyu!! Where Monsters Go is set to air on television. With the current slate of upcoming projects for the franchise, Haikyu!! fans are certainly eating good.

Haikyu!! Fly High is set (get it?) to drop 31 July 2025 on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

Ting Wei

Conversation with Ting Wei is like chatting with a weird AI bot programmed only with One Piece lore and theories, sitcom quotes and other miscellaneous pop culture references. When he’s not sleeping, he’s highly likely reading manga. In fact, the only thing he reads more than manga is the Bible, and it’s honestly pretty close.

The post ‘Haikyu!! Fly High’ Mobile Game Goes International 31 July appeared first on Geek Culture.

Niche offerings come with their fair share of merits, and in the case of Samsung’s foldable lineup, the extended display proves handy for both work and play. Building on initial concerns regarding the additional heft and folding durability, the tech giant has worked to trim the fat and beef up its build, with each iteration growing leaner and meaner than before.

Making its annual return to the, well, fold is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, the lightest member in the series to date. It weighs just one gram more than the Galaxy S25 Ultra at 215 grams, but boasts a bigger main and cover display that measure 20.31 cm and 16.48 cm, respectively, versus 15.89 cm and 19.32 cm on its predecessor. Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor packs the punch needed for smooth performance, with a QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (2,184 x 1,968) contributing 120Hz visuals.

These incremental upgrades, coupled with the increased screen real estate, mean a better experience across Wuthering Waves, Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact, and PUBG Mobile, theoretically at least. Alas, mobile gaming ended up being a mixed bag, bogged down by inconsistent performance and thermal management.

Check out how the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 holds its own against various mobile gaming demands in the video above, complete with number crunching on performance testing software PerfDog. The device is available for pre-order now in four colours (Mint, Blue Shadow, Jetblack, and Silver Shadow), and will officially go on sale on 1 August.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Gaming Test — Wuthering Waves, Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact & PUBG Mobile appeared first on Geek Culture.

Another year, another foldable Samsung smartphone. The question is, how has the Korean electronics giant innovated in the past six years with its Galaxy Z series foldables? Will it continue to make minor improvements with every iteration, or has it completely flipped the script this time around?

Pun aside, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 marks the sixth iteration of the clamshell-style folding smartphone, and together with its larger book-style foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, ushers in this year’s shiny new variants to the line-up.

In terms of hardware improvements, the Flip 7 features a slightly larger 6.9-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X main display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, with its cover screen receiving a more substantial update in the form of its 4.1-inch Super AMOLED FlexWindow that runs from edge-to-edge, making it the largest cover screen to date. Despite weighing slightly more than the Flip 6 at 188g, the Flip 7 measures a mere 13.7 mm when folded, which marks the slimmest phone in the line-up yet.

Despite its slim profile, the Flip 7 packs in a 10-core Exynos 2500 processor and Xclipse 950 GPU, opting for Samsung’s proprietary technology this time around instead of the previous iterations’ Snapdragon and Adreno counterparts. The phone also comes with 12GB of RAM, up to 512GB of storage, as well as a larger 4300mAh battery.

So, how does the transition to a new processor and GPU affect the phone’s performance in-game? To test this out, the Flip 7 was put through a gaming gauntlet of Wuthering Waves, Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact and PUBG Mobile, and unfortunately, the results were rather inconsistent.

Check out how the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 performs in-game in the video above, which covers performance, temperature checks and more. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is available for pre-order at S$1,648 on the Samsung online store and will ship from 25 July 2025.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Gaming Test – Wuthering Waves, Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact & PUBG Mobile appeared first on Geek Culture.

The heart wants what it wants, even light-years away. After charming players right, left, and centre for the past year, Infold Games’ popular otome title – referring to a story-based romance game targeted towards women – Love and Deepspace is bringing its magic to the real world, including Singapore.

In a first for the country, ave8 at Resorts World Sentosa will play host an immersive exhibition for the game to mark its latest version update. The event is scheduled to run from 18 to 31 July, but there’s a catch: doors are only open on weekends (Friday to Sunday), 11am to 7pm, offering a tight limited-time window for fans to experience it in person.

Alongside themed decoration and photo opportunities along the stairs, visitors can look forward to life-sized standees of Xavier, Zayne, Rafayel, Sylus, and Caleb. Complete the designated event activity to enter a special giveaway, with exclusive official merchandise award to 50 lucky winners, including the grand prize of a one-night stay at Hotel Ora. More details about the event are expected nearer to the date.

The Love and Deepspace pop-up exhibition in Singapore is part of a bigger celebration that brings offline events to different parts of the world. The Global Expo Tour was also announced for Los Angeles’ Anime Expo, taking place from 3 to 7 July, Bilibili World in Shanghai (11 to 13 July), Gamescom in Cologne (20 to 24 August), and Tokyo Game Show (25 to 28 September).

Four pieces of exclusive merchandise will be available during these dates: Witness by Deepspace Large Paper Bag, Sworn by Love Photo Card, Light Blooms Transparent Fan, and Blissful Secret Ribbon. As for in-game rewards, a surprise collaboration with fashion brand Jimmy Choo welcomes an “exquisitely recreated” version of its Cinderella shoes and jewellery.

Love and Deepspace Version 4.0 comes to Android and iOS devices on 3 July, featuring brand-new 5-Star Interactive Memories, a free wedding dress for the player character, a new Caleb 5-Star card, and more.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Singapore’s First ‘Love and Deepspace’ Pop-up Event To Steal Hearts In Jul 2025 appeared first on Geek Culture.