Resident Evil 9 is on the horizon with Resident Evil 7 director Koshi Nakanishi returning to helm the project. Since so few details have been made public about this upcoming entry, the rumor mill has been churning. Besides Resident Evil 9 supposedly shifting to an open-world structure for the first time in the series, another highly speculated aspect of the game has been its protagonist.
With Resident Evil Village wrapping up Ethan Winters’ narrative in a fairly definitive manner, Resident Evil 9 will almost certainly move on to a different protagonist — but not necessarily a new one. Many players are theorizing that this upcoming entry could see multiple fan favorite characters coming back into the fold. Alongside demand for characters like Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield to return to the series, one supposed leak suggested that Leon Kennedy is a playable protagonist in Resident Evil 9. A comeback for these iconic characters could provide the perfect opportunity for a popular feature from two of the franchise’s more unpopular games to also return: co-op.
If Legacy Resident Evil Characters Return, Co-op Should Too
Though the franchise has tried to produce fully multiplayer experiences with 2016’s Umbrella Corps and 2022’s Resident Evil RE:Verse, Resident Evil has proven time and time again that narrative campaigns are both a strength and a necessity for this series. However, Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 — despite being critically unpopular — proved that an engaging middle ground could exist. Both games were buoyed by story modes that could be played entirely solo or as a two-player cooperative experience. Having multiple returning characters in the next mainline entry might give this co-op functionality a satisfying venue for redemption.
Why Co-op is a Valid Route for Resident Evil 9
A campaign with co-op integration could absolutely work for Resident Evil 9 from a gameplay perspective. A slower, more atmospheric game like Resident Evil 7 might not make as much sense for a social experience. However, the faster pacing and combat mechanics of Resident Evil Village and the Resident Evil 4 remake are incorporated in such a way that would allow for a second player to be thrown into the mix without being disruptive.
Even when taking the inherent horror of these games into consideration, Resident Evil 5 proved that two players fighting for their lives against infected hordes can certainly rack up some tension. As was the case with Resident Evil 5‘s co-op campaign, single-player would still be an option for those looking for a more immersive experience. The other co-op character could become a companion NPC. Though Resident Evil 5 struggled with its companion AI, the Resident Evil 4 remake proved Capcom could successfully implement sidekick followers like Ashley and Luis.
How Returning RE Characters Could Benefit From Co-op
If Resident Evil 9 does indeed bring back multiple fan favorite characters, a cooperative campaign would be an engaging way to do so. Seeing two previous protagonists team up for a new story lays the groundwork for some excellent fan service. Having characters like Leon and Jill working together, for example — not just in a cutscene but across an entire narrative — could provide unique character interactions, fun banter, and higher stakes for the plot. It also opens the door for a deeper exploration of previous games by allowing two characters with traumatic connections to the Raccoon City saga to dredge up and compare their experiences.
Additionally, by having the game be co-op, it ensures that fans get a satisfying and equitable amount of screentime for both characters. Not only that, but fans would then get to share in this experience by playing with each other. As a culmination of both the newest entries and the recent wave of remakes, Resident Evil 9 has the chance to give players that Infinity War-esque crossover that Resident Evil 6 attempted but failed to provide.
Introduction of Kick Currency could attract new viewers and incentivize existing ones, potentially challenging Twitch.
Kick is allegedly working on a program that could pay viewers for watching streams. The news comes courtesy of a major streamer on the platform.
Amid Twitch still not being profitable, other streaming platforms are trying to take the platform’s place as the biggest streaming service. While Twitch is still extremely popular, some streamers have branched out to services like Kick and YouTube. Some streamers depart Twitch due to being banned, while others have received lucrative contract deals for leaving their usual streaming services. In any case, it seems Kick isn’t done yet trying to make its service the most appealing for streamers and viewers alike.
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According to Adin Ross, Kick is working on a new currency that will be given to viewers who spend time watching streams. During a stream, Ross said that the Kick Currency will work similar to Twitch’s Bits, but viewers will be able to benefit, not just who they’re viewing. It’s an interesting difference, since users have to spend money to get Bits on Twitch, and they’re used to further boost streamers, not the other way around. Ross notes that he would be able to “give a Kick” that users could then “cash out.” However, he goes on to note that “not everyone” will be paid to watch, so it’s not clear what would net a viewer this currency.
Kick’s New Currency
While this sounds promising in theory, a lot of questions remain unanswered about it at this time. For example, there’s no information on how much the Kick Currency would be worth, how often a viewer could earn it, what the threshold would be to cash out, and so on. Aside from encouraging viewers to tune into channels, though, it could also help Kick to complete with things like Twitch Drops, which can reward viewers with in-game items for watching for a set amount of time.
Kick continues to seek out content creators for its platform, but it remains to be seen if Twitch will lose its top spot as a streaming service. Google is also continuing to host major content creators on its own service while also trying to compete with the likes of TikTok with YouTube’s Shorts vertical video content. It will be interesting to see if Kick Currency draws more viewers to watch streams on its service. For those who already watch their favorite streamers on Kick, it’s something that will likely keep them tuning in once it’s implemented, which is good for the streamers there. Whether it’s enough to draw viewers in who don’t usually use Kick, however, remains to be seen.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has a seemingly endless amount of content to pour through, and it can certainly become intimidating to new players. Developers recognized this concern, and have included a dedicated feature to make up for this. Dragon Wishes not only make use of the series’ namesake but are a core feature of progression in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero.
It would almost be strange if Dragon Ball‘s iconic MacGuffins didn’t find their way into Sparking Zero. Likewise, it’s certainly natural for their wish-granting abilities to lend any number of rewards. Dragon Wishes have a surprising amount of detail to unpack, and understanding the differences will help players get ahead in their journey to become the world’s strongest.
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Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s Dragon Wishes Boost Player Progression
Dragon Wishes Are a Limited Resource with Massive Potential
Dragon Wishes come in three different varieties, and this is perhaps the most important detail to delve into. After all, each host of the Dragon Wishes provides different rewards and demands different requirements. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is not an easy game to complete, and though Dragon Wishes can take time to obtain as well, they’re more than worth the wait.
While Shenron is undoubtedly the most iconic of the Eternal Dragons, he’s not the only one to be featured in the game. Shenron is flanked by Porunga and Super Shenron, with each of them serving a different purpose. The three dragons do share a few wishes, but players should still think carefully each time they collect the Dragon Balls.
Shenron, Porunga, and Super Shenron Dragon Wishes in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
For starters, it’s important to recognize the general Dragon Wishes that are shared among Shenron, Porunga, and Super Shenron. Although they may all grant a certain wish, the extent of the reward may vary wildly. As a rule of thumb, Super Shenron represents the maximum reward that players can obtain, though this naturally makes him the most difficult to reach.
Dragon Wishes shared by Shenron, Porunga, and Super Shenron:
I want more Zeni (Rewards players with a varying amount of in-game currency to spend in shops)
I want you to raise my Player Level (Rewards players with a sizable amount of experience)
I want more titles (Rewards players with cosmetic titles to use on their Player Cards)
Dragon Wishes available only to Shenron and Super Shenron:
I want new outfits (Rewards players with unique outfits exclusive to each dragon)
Dragon wishes available only to Porunga and Super Shenron:
I want ability items (Rewards players with a small selection of ability items to use in combat)
Increasing one’s Player Level is a universally positive wish, while the others mostly help to obtain exclusive cosmetics. Still, “I want more Zeni” perfectly illustrates the difference in rarity. Shenron offers 300,000 Zeni, Porunga only offers 120,000 Zeni, while Super Shenron rewards the player with a whopping 1,000,000 Zeni. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg, as exclusive wishes are by far the most enticing rewards in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero.
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Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is Hiding its Best Rewards Behind Exclusive Dragon Wishes
The Most Rare Dragon Wishes in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
True to lore, Shenron might be considered the least powerful of the wish-granting dragons. Shenron’s unique wish, “I want to complete an Episode Battle,” rewards players with a Dragon Orb. Dragon Orbs can be spent to more easily beat a battle in the game’s story mode, but many players may not necessarily need to skip even Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero‘s most difficult battles.
Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed that Porunga’s Wishes are actually somewhat less potent than Shenron’s best wishes. This is meant to offset Porunga’s unique feature, which is the ability to grant three wishes at once. This is a straightforward mechanic, and it is more than rewarding enough for players who manage to track down Porunga’s Dragon Balls.
Players may have a hard time tracking him down, but Super Shenron’s Wishes are more than worth the effort. Aside from being the most potent in general, his exclusive wish is even more exciting. Super Shenron provides a wish called “I want more characters,” in which players can obtain either Goku Black or Fused Zamasu. This is not only a fun reference to Dragon Ball Super‘s Goku Black Arc but also one of the few ways to unlock these immensely powerful fighters.
Where to Find the Dragon Balls in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
Shenron, Porunga, and Super Shenron are all accessed through a different set of Dragon Balls. Just as their wishes are different, the requirements to obtain these Dragon Balls vary as well. Players who purchased the Digital Deluxe Edition will receive Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero‘s Season Pass, as well as one free Shenron Summon. Meanwhile, players who purchased the Digital Ultimate Edition will receive both the Shenron Summon and a free Super Shenron Summon.
Past that point, players will need to work hard if they want to collect any given set of Dragon Balls. Dragon Balls will occasionally be obtained as rewards for completing battles, but these drop rates are hardly reliable. Thankfully, players who had early access to Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero have already managed to map out most of the best ways to meet this challenge.
Shenron will likely be the first Dragon Wishes players can access, as his Dragon Balls can be easily obtained by completing missions through Whis’ Stamp Book and Zen-Oh’s Orders. Porunga isn’t so easy, as battles seem to be the only way to unlock his set of Dragon Balls. That said, grinding through offline tournaments does help to fast-track this process. Super Shenron’s Super Dragon Balls can be obtained by completing a full playthrough of Goku’s Episode Battles, ironically making them the most reliable to obtain.
It’s important to remember that Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero will receive DLC, and is therefore still an ongoing game. It’s more likely than not that more ways to obtain Dragon Balls will be released or discovered in the near future. Until then, players should continue to weigh their options and ensure they’re getting the best use out of the game’s best road for player progression.
Released
October 11, 2024
Publisher(s)
Namco Bandai
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Engine
proprietary engine
ESRB
T For Teen Due To Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
Samsung is keen to incorporate AI across every facet of your life, but that could mean one major removal from Galaxy smartphones. A report from ETNews points to a future where the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE will have AI features but no Settings menu. The article says that Samsung believes the AI in its phones will be able to anticipate your needs without you having to make any adjustments, thus making Settings a redundant feature.
The concept is part of Samsung’s desire for the Galaxy smartphones to be fully AI-driven. Though the exact form of a Settings-free smartphone hasn’t been unveiled yet, there are already hints about how the device’s AI could use a combination of conversation with the user and the way they use the device to adapt its performance without requiring the kind of menu adjustments currently common. It would encompass many aspects of the smartphone’s performance. That means the basics, like notifications, brightness of the screen, and its layout.
The main focus for Samsung in using AI to replace Settings appears to be the camera and the keyboard, according to the report. That makes sense since they are used in the broadest number of ways. There are a lot of editing options for photos, but these days, your device handles a lot of the photo-quality enhancements before you do anything. Adding AI to the equation could extend that functionality in subtle but useful ways, like automatically switching to night mode or otherwise adapting to location and setting.
For keyboards, the AI could help personalize your typing. Auto-predicting words are usually about the most common phrases in general, but AI could fiddle with those elements to where they best fit your actual writing style and word preferences. Personalization and automation are Samsung’s watchwords.
AI anticipation
In some ways, smartphone makers have been moving in this direction for years. When was the last time you manually adjusted battery settings beyond standard and battery-saving? Of course, the question is whether AI can predict complex and ever-changing setting preferences. When do you want your phone to brighten? Which app should have your volume set low or high?
For the average user, having AI handle your settings could mean fewer distractions and not having to sort through menus every time you want to adjust a particular aspect of the phone. Automating tasks and anticipating needs might help Samsung’s AI features and devices stand out amid an increasingly crowded field. That said, how Samsung collects and uses the data needed for the AI to make these adjustments will likely be crucial for the company to explain. It could all happen on the device without a need for sharing private information, but if not, people might not be as excited to try it out.
Don’t expect your Settings menu to vanish immediately. There’s no timeline yet, but it could be part of Samsung’s next major software update when the Android 15-based One UI 7 comes out for the Galaxy S series.
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