Gaming
Pro player completes Cuphead without taking any damage

When Cuphead released in September it quickly developed a dedicated speedrunning community that couldn’t wait to get started. The insanely difficult platformer has proven to be a challenge for both casual players and established runners but one competitive Smash player has taken it to the next level.
Jon ‘Sol’ Lackey, part of Noble Esports, managed to complete a run of Cuphead in 46:07, without taking a single hit. While it isn’t a huge speedrunning record, the fact he took no damage puts his run in a category all of its own. As the first ‘no damage’ run of its kind, it’s an impressive feat and sure to attract a few masochists that will look to do the same but quicker.
Sol is most well-known as a Super Smash Bros pro player and more recently, the winner of the first major Arms tournament. We expect his list of achievements might have a new contender after this, however.
In an interview with Shacknews, Sol described how his preference for platformers, bullet-hells and competitive gaming helped prep him for such a monumental task.
“I do also lean heavily into bullet-hells, platformers, and have experience with tough games ranging from the light end of say – Dark Souls, to the heavy end of Battletoads. So [Cuphead] came naturally, but only as a byproduct of all the hours I put into my gaming beforehand. A lot of experience and practice there. I beat the first blind run through in 5 hours, had all my S-ranks by 20 hours, and noticed the runs were actually quite popular.”
If for some reason you’re looking to take the crown from Sol, he offered some insight into how he trained to do a ‘no damage’ run.
“So I actually sat down and trained a few sections, wrote out a gameplan and tested each boss until I could consistently beat any one of them three times in a row, damage-less. After that, I started practising up each island in a no-damage attempt. Island 1: Done. Island 2: Done. Island 3: Done. Put that together once I got cozy and then stayed patient and positive.”
We recommend watching the whole run here, whether you’re a huge fan of Cuphead or have no idea what the hell we’re talking about. You can catch it below.
In case you were wondering, the current world record for an Any% run of Cuphead is 24m 58s. If you reckon you can beat that without taking a hit, don’t forget to shoot us a message before you start your attempts.
Gaming
Battle Pass for Crash Team Rumble is not necessary to unlock new characters; the upcoming closed beta

The competitive multiplayer spinoff of Crash Team Rumble, which will be available on both the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, will debut on June 20. A closed beta for the game will be held in the coming weeks, and the good news that character unlocks won’t be dependent on Battle Pass progress was just revealed.
Publisher Activision made its intentions very clear in a lengthy blog post, writing, “New heroes and powers will be unlocked through in-game challenges rather than being connected to the Battle Pass because we want every player to have a balanced experience while enjoying the N. Sane fun that Crash Team Rumble has to offer.” “For those who wish to get a WUMP on the season’s newest looks, Battle Passes will solely reward cosmetic goods; however, cosmetics will still be earnable through participation in seasonal events.”
Those who preorder the platformer/battle royale mix can take part in a limited beta between April 20 and 24. For those who want to jump right in, online matches against other players and practice matches versus AI bots will be offered.
How does Crash Team Rumble strike you? Will you participate in the closed beta test?
Gaming
Indie Not on PlayStation Wins BAFTA Game of the Year, Beating PS5, PS4’s Greatest Hits

God of War Ragnarok and Elden Ring were both beaten out for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award for Best Game by a tiny little independent title called Vampire Survivors, which isn’t even accessible on PlayStation systems. Do you really believe that?
Putting all lightheartedness aside, Vampire Survivors was something of a phenomenon in 2022, and you would have to be living under a rock (or live offline) to have missed it. It burst into prominence and eventually became a favorite among industry insiders. A fiendishly addictive fundamental gameplay loop hides beneath a deceptively simple exterior, earning developer Luca Galante, aka Poncle, this year’s BAFTA for Game Design as well as another honor.
Last up it’s the award for Best Game. Huge congratulations go to… Vampire Survivors! 🌟🦇🌟#BAFTAGamesAwards pic.twitter.com/nnH9xRQkn1
— BAFTA Games (@BAFTAGames) March 30, 2023
There hasn’t been any news of the mega-hit coming to PlayStation as of yet, so there’s probably some sort of exclusivity agreement in place or anything else blocking it. Perhaps one day we will be granted access to it, but until then, console yourself with one of the numerous high-end games on our preferred platform, such as The Last of Us, which won Best Game back in 2014.
In slightly related news, Shuhei Yoshida, a PlayStation legend, received a BAFTA Fellowship, the highest honor bestowed by the organization.
What do you think about the Vampire Survivors’ victory—do you believe it was well-deserved or totally absurd?
Gaming
On May 17, Crusader Kings 3: Royal Court Expansion will be available on consoles

While we felt Crusader Kings 3: Console Edition was fantastic when it was launched on the PS5 last year, we were only able to play the base game. We are incredibly grateful that the great Royal Court extension will be coming to consoles. This is a regal proclamation that we could not be more delighted to make.
It’s pretty difficult to switch back after you’ve experienced the conveniences and enhancements that Royal Court offers to the well-stocked table, as anyone who has played Crusader Kings 3 on PC knows. It’s not just for show; players will be able to use trophies and priceless pieces of art to adorn their throne room, which adds a minor RPG system to an already magnificently complex adventure.
If you haven’t already and like the basic Crusader King’s experience, we highly encourage you to give Royal Court a try. This expansion is the ideal reason to jump back in for another round of backroom maneuvering. Are you going to create your own royal court?
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