April 2022

Blizzard celebrates Overwatch's highest day ever on Twitch

2 years ago

Following the start of Overwatch 2's beta yesterday, Blizzard has seen its highest numbers for the game yet on Twitch.

The Overwatch team tweeted, "about to get real! Together we reached over 1.5m concurrent views, the highest day ever for Overwatch on Twitch. Let's go!"

For those that missed out on yesterday's beta, don't worry. Blizzard says it is "planning additional tests" beyond this first beta - so don't think this was your only shot.

Read more

Author
Victoria Kennedy

Tags

Poppy Playtime Is Getting Its Own Horror Film Adaptation

2 years ago

Making a good horror film is all about coming up with a great monster; and the terrific thing about video games, is that there’re a wealth of creepy monstrosities to choose from. Right now, however, it looks like Hollywood has set its sights set on the animatronic toothy maw of Poppy Playtime for its next film adaptation.

That’s right, according to a recent report from Deadline, Studio71 has partnered with Poppy Playtime developer MOB Games to develop and produce the filmic adaptation of the video game source material. Internally, the film studio has allegedly fast-tracked the project to bring the horror film to fruition, and are planning to turn the popular property into a movie franchise.

Furthermore, talks are apparently underway to bring Roy Lee on board as a producer. Of course, Lee is an acclaimed horror producer whose resume is filled to the brim with creepy flicks like Doctor Sleep, It, The Grudge, The Ring, The Eye, and The Woman In Black to name but a few.

“We never could have imagined that this game would become as popular as it is with such an enormous and ever-growing legion of fans,” said Mob Games’ President & CEO, Zach Belanger. “We are so excited to deliver the next chapter of our game and beyond excited to work with Studio71 to transform Poppy into a feature film. It’s going to be a great ride!”

Author
Dylan Chaundy

Tags

Microsoft Flight Simulator’s 1930s air-racers let you pretend there’s a new Crimson Skies

2 years ago

Two more aircraft have dived into Microsoft Flight Simulator’s roster in its second Famous Flyers pack of paid DLC, the 1930s Gee Bee Super Sportster air-racers. The stubby-winged, compact Model Z and Model R-2 arrive as the game sees its ninth update, with plenty of bug fixes, a new Spotlight Event landing challenge and an authentic vapour cone for when you go supersonic in the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Developers Asobo Studio have also patched in their own office in Bordeaux if you want to fly past and wave hello.

Read more

Author
CJ Wheeler

Dragon Age 4 Quality Assurance Workers Are Applying To Form a Union

2 years ago

A group of quality assurance testers working on Dragon Age 4 have filed an application to unionise.

The employees, who work directly with developer BioWare but as contractors of supporting company Keywords Studios, are attempting to unionize over issues of poor pay, a return to work mandate, and more.

An anonymous source told Kotaku that Keyword employees would have to return to their Alberta-based office on May 9 despite cases of COVID-19 slowly rising since the start of April.

Keyword employees would not be entitled to sick pay if they had to quarantine as a result of COVID-19, the source said, while BioWare employees are allowed to work from home completely.

The return to work ruling was seemingly the final straw for the 15-20 QA testers who allegedly are already subject to poor pay. The source said some employees are being paid $16.50 Canadian dollars per hour - $12.82 U.S. dollars - which is considerably less than identical roles carried out by full BioWare employees.

Other issues were raised including gender-pay discrimination, a lack of useful performance evaluations, and a hostile response to unionising efforts.

Author
Ryan Dinsdale

Tags

Xbox and Bethesda Showcase Set for June 12

2 years ago

Xbox and Bethesda have announced that a summer showcase will air on June 12 at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK (that's June 13 at 4am Sydney time).

This showcase will include upcoming games coming to Xbox and PC, as well as Xbox Game Pass. Currently, Xbox's most highly anticipated game with a set release date is Starfield on November 11 - we'll almost certainly see first gameplay at the showcase, if it doesn't come beforehand. Arkane's Redfall is also scheduled to launch sometime in 2022, so a release date for it might be revealed too.

While Bethesda already announced The Elder Scrolls VI back in 2018, it might be a while until we hear anything else about it. Since it was annouced before Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda, we could possibly receive confirmation of Xbox and PC exclusivity. MachineGames announced last year that the studio was working on an Indiana Jones game, so more information about it could be shown as well.

Author
George Yang

Tags

Mass Effect: Dark Horse Reveals Reaper Sovereign Ship Replica

2 years ago

Dark Horse Direct is returning to the Mass Effect series with another replica statue. This time around, the fearsome Reaper Sovereign ship is being immortalized in three dimensions.

Check out the slideshow gallery below for an exclusive first look at the Reaper Sovereign ship replica:

The Reaper Sovereign is cast in polyresin and was sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios. The piece measures roughly 14 inches in height and 11 inches in diameter. The display base is meant to depict the battle-ravaged terrain of the planet Eden Prime, with the statue itself inspired by the original Mass Effect game.

The Reaper Sovereign is priced at $299.99 and is limited to 1000 pieces worldwide. The statue is available to preorder now on the Dark Horse Direct website, with an estimated release window of November 2022 to January 2023.

This piece should pair nicely with Dark Horse's previously released Alliance Normandy SR-1 ship replica, which was also re-released with a metallic silver paint job. Unfortunately, both versions of the Normandy are now sold out, as are the rest of Dar Horse's Mass Effect ship replicas.

Author
Jesse Schedeen

Tags

Return to Monkey Island Will Have an Easy Mode and Hint System

2 years ago

Always getting stuck on point-and-click adventure games? Return to Monkey Island has a solution.

During an interview with Ars Technica, creator Ron Gilbert confirmed that the game will have an easy mode, as well as a hint system.

“[One thing] that people really want in games today are built-in hint systems,” he explained. “If [players] don't have a built-in hint system, they're just going to jump over to the web and read a walkthrough.” Encouraging players not to do that, Return to Monkey Island will use a hint system that has been designed to make sense in-game.

It will be “more than just a walkthrough,” he added.

Of course, getting stuck is part of the fun of point-and-click adventures.

Back when The Secret of Monkey Island was released in 1990, I spent hours upon hours clicking around looking for ways to solve puzzles and growing increasingly frustrated when I couldn’t solve them.

But what you always remember is the satisfaction when it finally clicks.

"[There was] a lot of stuff that we did back then and didn't think much about—a lot of very obscure puzzles,” said Gilbert. “Hiding a piece of information somewhere with no clues about where to find it—that kind of thing just wouldn't fly today... Having hint systems means that if you make the puzzle just completely weird and obscure, people just go to the hint system.”

Of course, everyone knew what to do with a rubber chicken with a pulley in the middle. Right?

Author
Ryan Leston

Tags

Halo Infinite livestream interrupted by secret teaser

2 years ago

Last night's Halo Infinite Season 2 Community Livestream was interrupted by a secret teaser, which fans speculate hints at the game's rumoured battle royale mode.

The teaser, which played while 343 Industries community director Brian Jarrard and community manager John Junyszek were going through cosmetic unlocks in the Season 2 Battle Pass, showed the logo for a company called "Lux Voluspa" before we hear two voices panicking about a "missing core".

The clip ends with a woman ominously saying "they're here" and the return of the "Lux Voluspa" logo with the slogan: "Artificial Minds. Real Solutions."

Read more

Author
Ishraq Subhan

Tags

The past, present and future of Dorfromantik

2 years ago

We must have said it about a hundred times but only near the end does it occur to me to actually ask what it means - what Dorfromantik means. I still don't know even after a year of playing the game in early access, and now the game's coming out, in 1.0, it seems like a good time to ask. Because it does have a meaning, and as I discover, the meaning is perfect.

Understanding it depends a lot on being German, because that's where the team, Toukana, is from. Toukana is four people: Timo Falcke, Sandro Heuberger, Luca Langenberg and Zwi Zwausch, and they met doing a game design degree in Berlin. "Dorfromantik" is a German word. "An older word," Zwi Zausch tells me in a video call they all join me for. "And it's usually used to describe the kind of nostalgic feeling you get when you long to be in the countryside."

Perfect, isn't it? The closest word we have in English is bucolic, which sounds like something to do with the plague.

Read more

Author
Robert Purchese

Tags

Climate Replay starts pledge against the use of NFTs in games

2 years ago

Climate Replay, an independent group comprising of game developers, gamers themselves and leading climatologists, has shared a stark warning about the use of NFTs and their impact on the planet. It has also begun a pledge, encouraging those in the industry, as well as those who are against the use of NFTs in general, to sign and make positive moves towards a "sustainable, socially responsible, equitable future for all".

Given the rise in blockchain technology, and the growing number of companies looking to implement it in their games, Climate Replay has additionally released a guide addressing everything that is wrong with NFTs.

"NFTs are the digital elephant in the room for the games industry right now, and many are feeling the pressure to pick a side," Climate Replay wrote (via TheGamer). "... This technology has massive implications for games, the climate crisis, and society at large. Our hope is that, by the end of this guide, readers will have a broad foundation of knowledge on top of which they can make truly informed decisions regarding NFTs."

Read more

Author
Victoria Kennedy

Tags

Sony looks to have disabled PlayStation Plus subscription stacking

2 years ago

PlayStation owners looking to stock up on their Plus subscription through pre-paid cards report being unable to redeem the vouchers on their account.

Several who have raised the matter with PlayStation customer support say they have been told Sony has "temporarily" disabled the ability to stack Plus subscription time ahead of the new PS Plus changes due in June.

Just yesterday, we covered how existing PlayStation Now owners with an active PS Plus subscription (who will get upgraded to the priciest PS Plus Premium tier) were trying to extend their PS Plus for as long as possible. Per PlayStation's own FAQ page, the company will take the longest-running active subscription when setting the converted membership's end date, essentially allowing Now members to stock up on regular Plus cards to receive the same time as a Premium subscriber.

Read more

Author
Tom Phillips

Tags

A Sneak Peek at the AEW Console Game Is Coming to Twitch Next Week

2 years ago

Earlier this week, the AEW Games official Twitter account revealed that fans can expect a brand new sneak peek at the upcoming AEW console game during a livestream next week. To be exact, fans can tune into the company’s official Twitch channel at 11am on May 4, 2022, for an All Elite Arcade presentation.

While there is no word on what will be shown, many are hopeful for some roster reveals and gameplay features. More than anything, fans are curious as to when the game will come out, as it has been in the works for a few years now.

Author
Andrew McMahon

Tags

Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase Announced for June

2 years ago

Today, Xbox and Bethesda have announced that a Games Showcase will take place on June 12.

The showcase will include upcoming games coming to Xbox and PC from the Microsoft Games Publishing family, and its third-party partners around the world, too. The blog post announcing the news also made particular mention that the showcase will also share information on games releasing on Game Pass on Xbox and PC, too.

Author
Chris Jecks

Tags

Team17 Announces Deck-Building Action-Platformer The Knight Witch for Consoles & PC

2 years ago

Today, acclaimed publisher Team17 and developer Super Mega Team announced a partnership to bring their deck-building Metroidvania, The Knight Witch, to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC later this year.

Accompanying the announcement is a new trailer showcasing the 2D action-adventure title in all its glory. Go ahead and take a gander down below:

As you can see in the footage above, The Knight Witch is a slick and fluid 2D Metroidvania that blends arcade shoot-’em-up action with light RPG mechanics, combined with some deck-building gameplay for good measure.

You take on the role of the titular Knight Witch as you explore the Lost City of Dungeonidas, while trying your best to repel the attack of a mysterious threat led by a bunch of dastardly Golems.

No concrete release date has been locked in as of yet, but Team17 promises that the game will launch later in 2022.

For more information, here’s a rundown courtesy of an official press release we received earlier today:

Author
Dylan Chaundy

Tags

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Event With ‘Exciting Reveals Of New Gameplay Info’ Happening Next Month

2 years ago

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

Capcom has announced that it will hold a “special event” stream for Monster Hunter Rise next month. 

More specifically, the special event stream will be about the game’s upcoming expansion, Sunbreak, and it will begin at 7 a.m. PT/9 a.m. CT/10 a.m. ET on May 10. It will be streamed on the official Monster Hunter Twitch channel and according to the announcement tweet, will feature “exciting reveals of new gameplay info, monsters, and more.” As for how long it will run, that remains unknown. 

A teaser trailer for this digital event, which you can watch above, reveals a few more tidbits of info. 

“Get ready for a brand new trailer, more monster reveals, much-awaited info about new Hunter actions, and additional game features,” the trailer reads.

As you can expect, director Yoshitake Suzuki will be presenting during the showcase. Not much else was shared about this event but fortunately, you don’t have to wait too much longer to learn more about Sunbreak because the event begins in less than two weeks. 

Author
Wesley LeBlanc

Xbox And Bethesda Games Showcase Announced For June

2 years ago

Xbox And Bethesda Games Showcase Announced For June

Microsoft has announced that an Xbox and Bethesda games showcase will be held this summer. 

More specifically, the showcase will air on June 12, beginning at 10 a.m PT/Noon CT/1 p.m. ET, and will feature “amazing titles coming from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, and our partners around the world." 

As for what to expect, the showcase will focus on games that will soon hit Xbox Series X/S consoles and PC. However, these showcases have been known to surprise-reveal new titles early in development, so it wouldn’t be surprising if games with no release date are showcased. 

“The Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase will include everything you need to know about the diverse lineup of games coming soon to the Xbox ecosystem, including upcoming releases to Game Pass on Xbox and PC,” the Xbox Wire post reads. 

Author
Wesley LeBlanc

Exo One Hits PS5, PS4 This Summer With 120 FPS And DualSense Haptics Support

2 years ago

Exo One Hits PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 This Summer With 120 FPS And DualSense Haptics Support

Exbleative’s Exo One, which became popular for its sci-fi zen-like nature when it hit Xbox consoles and PC last year, is coming to PlayStation consoles this summer. 

Announced over on the PlayStation Blog, Exo One creator Jay Weston shared the news alongside a new trailer for the game and word that it will feature support for 120 FPS gameplay and DualSense haptics feedback. Exo One will hit both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 this summer, but an official release date has not yet been revealed. 

"Hi folks, I’m stoked to be able to tell you all that Exo One will be landing on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 this summer,” Weston writes in the blog. “Exo One began five years ago with a relatively simple idea about using gravity as a movement mechanic, and gradually grew into something strange and special, inspired by my love for sci-fi cinema and games that moved me emotionally. I’m super excited to see it find a new audience and reach new technical heights with this PS5 port.

Author
Wesley LeBlanc

Sony Confirms It Has Stopped PlayStation Plus Users Stacking Their Membership

2 years ago

Update, April 29: Sony has confirmed it has stopped PS Plus and PS Now code stacking for existing members prior to the new PlayStation Plus launch. The new information can be found on a recently updated PS Plus FAQ page.

One of the new FAQ sections reads: "As we prepare to launch the new PlayStation Plus membership service, we are doing some work behind the scenes to make the transition as smooth as possible for all of our existing members. As part of this work, we’ve temporarily disabled stacking memberships for existing customers until after the launch." The original story continues below.

Sony has seemingly disabled the ability to redeem PlayStation Plus codes from third-party retailers, or via the PlayStation Store.

Some users have tried to extend or 'stack' their PlayStation Plus membership after news broke that those with simultaneous PS Plus and PS Now subscriptions will get upgraded to PS Plus Premium in June, with the length of the new subscription being equal to their longest current memberships. But, after purchasing a PS Plus code, users then reported the codes being rejected after an attempted redemption.

Author
Robert Anderson

Tags

Microsoft announces Xbox and Bethesda showcase for June

2 years ago

Microsoft has announced a new Xbox and Bethesda Games showcase set for 12th June at 6pm UK time.

The showcase will be streamed on every video streaming platform imaginable, including YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok.

The announcement is scant on details, though we know it will include upcoming releases for Xbox Game Pass and the wider Xbox ecosystem (read, non-exclusives).

Read more

Author
Ishraq Subhan

Tags

Sonic creator Yuji Naka says he was removed as director of Balan Wonderworld before disastrous launch

2 years ago

Yuji Naka, best known as the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog, says he was removed as director of Balan Wonderworld six months before its launch by Square Enix.

The revelation comes from a Twitter thread posted by Yuji where states he filed a lawsuit against Square Enix following his dismissal, which has now been settled.

Last year, Yuji left Square Enix following the disastrous launch of Balan Wonderworld, which sold less than 2100 copies in its opening week in Japan.

Read more

Author
Ishraq Subhan

Tags

These excellent Crucial MX500 SSDs are reduced by more than 30% at the moment

2 years ago

The storage you have in your computer can make a big impact on how fast your apps and games load. Older hard-drives are slower than modern SSDs, but are really easy to upgrade.

There are loads of good options for SSD upgrades out there, but the one that claim's Digital Foundry's title of best value SSD is the Crucial MX500. The MX500 is a faultless choice no matter your budget, and right now it's even cheaper for you to get.

Both the 1TB and 2TB version of the MX500 are both on sale at Amazon, with respective discounts of 31 and 32 percent. Rather helpfully, the 2TB version is around double the cost of the 1TB version, so both offer the same value for money and you can just pick depending on how much storage you need. The 1TB version has been spotted for around £4 cheaper by Digital Foundry previously, but you're still saving a decent £32.80, and that's ahead of Amazon Prime Day 2022.

Read more

Author
Mark Harrison

Tags

WRC 10 on Switch: is it really that bad?

2 years ago

Six months after its console debut, World Rally Championship 10 has made the jump to Switch. This pure rally simulator looked good on current and last-gen systems, with all of the features you'd expect: satisfying car handling, vehicular deformation, dynamic weather and accurate materials. Of course, we normally expect to see lower resolutions and graphical fidelity sacrifices to get the core of the console experience running on a handheld system, but at first glance this is one of the most heavily pared-back Switch releases in recent memory. So does WRC 10 on Switch compromise too much, or is there the makings of a serviceable handheld sim racer below this modest facade? Let's find out.

First, let's take a look at the headline visual stats. In the base PS4 release, WRC 10 runs at 1080p and 30fps, with TAA to clear up any lingering rough edges. On Switch, in order to fit into the system's much smaller power budget, image quality is reduced to a dynamic 1600x900 for docked TV play. The full resolution isn't often reached, with even the car exhibition mode running natively at 720p instead, and resolution drops to 1152x648 for some stages. And at 648p, the upscale to a full HDTV isn't flattering. For portable play, resolution goes lower still to match the drop in GPU clocks, with 480p resolution typical - although a native 720p resolution is possibly achieved too. The low resolution in either mode is compounded by Switch's lack of effective anti-aliasing to address those jagged edges - besides optional motion blur in the menus.

Author
Thomas Morgan

Tags

4 Reasons My Dress-Up Darling Is More Than Just a Fan Service Anime

2 years ago

Fan service has always been the bane of my existence when it comes to anime, as the sheer amount of unnecessary sexualization that is added in scenes has ruined shows like Food Wars and Seven Deadly Sins for me. As such, I was hesitant when I heard about My Dress-Up Darling. 

From the number of screenshots that had been posted throughout social media in its first season, My Dress-Up Darling had a fair amount of fan service scenes. However, with every one of those came a wave of support for the show, detailing how it was much more than just a fan service anime. 

And after binging all 12 episodes in one sitting, I couldn’t agree more. Here are four reasons that My Dress-Up Darling is more than just a fan service anime. 

Author
Andrew McMahon

Tags

Apex Legends Reveals Newcastle’s Origins in Stories From the Outlands

2 years ago

It’s about that time again — Respawn is releasing trailer after trailer to get fans excited for the upcoming season. This Stories From the Outlands video gives us a look at the true origins of the upcoming Season 13 Legend, Newcastle.

This backstory shows us that Jackson Williams, Bangalore’s brother, wasn’t always Newcastle. In fact, Jackson only takes on the persona when the real Newcastle dies after his debts catch up with him.

Jackson is now joining the Apex Games to earn money and pay off that debt to protect his newfound family and others around him. We see in the launch trailer that he reunites with Bangalore as she finds out his true identity under the visor, so the dialogue between the two in Season 13: Saviors should be interesting, to say the least.

You can check out the Stories From the Outlands video below to see the whole situation unfold for yourself. And for those who want to see gameplay, the next trailer is coming on May 2.

Author
Ethan Anderson

Tags

Studio Ghibli-Like Exploration Game Aka Is All About Finding Inner Peace

2 years ago

Developer Cosmic Gatto and publisher NEOWIZ have just announced a brand new indie experience that they hope will be like nothing before it. Titled Aka, this cute Studio Ghibli-looking title takes a look at a world recovering from war, as players control Aka, a retired red panda soldier seeking inner peace.

To find that peace, Aka seeks out Ghosts to bring them closure while simultaneously settling on a small island and building his home. You can check out a brief description of the game alongside its official trailer and some screenshots right down below.

Author
Andrew McMahon

Tags

Sailor Moon Cosmos Two-Part Movie Premiers Early Summer 2023

2 years ago

Last year, Sailor Moon made its triumphant return with its two-part story, Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Eternal. Today, a brand new two-part anime movie has been revealed to be coming to Japan at the beginning of summer 2023, titled Sailor Moon Cosmos

You can check out the trailer for Sailor Moon Cosmos right down below.

According to the Sailor Moon Cosmos website, TOEI and DEEN animation studios will be producing the movie, with Tomoya Takahashi directing and Kazuyuki Fudeyasu penning the script. Kazuko Tadano will also be responsible for character design, with Yumiko Kuga working as the artistic director and Yasuharu Takanashi set to compose the music.

Sailor Moon originally debuted as a manga back in 1991, telling the story of female heroes who use their powers to fight evil, redefining the magical girl genre. Not long after its manga release, the show also got an anime, which still serves as one of the most popular anime of all time, despite its 1992 release.

Author
Andrew McMahon

Tags

What You Need To Know About Disney Dreamlight Valley

2 years ago

Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Mac
Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios
Developer: Gameloft
Release: 2023
Rating: Everyone

Every year millions of people around the world flock to Disney theme parks for the experience of spotting beloved characters and taking in the aesthetics and rides that let them relive their favorite films. The wonder and excitement of stepping into a Disney-infused world is unmatched – a childhood rite of passage and way for adults to recapture a part of their younger selves. 

Author
Kimberley Wallace

Rogue Legacy 2 – Review In Progress

2 years ago

After nearly two years of being playable through early access, Cellar Door Games has fully released Rogue Legacy 2. I've been grinding away at finishing the rogue-lite sequel but haven't bested its toughest challenges yet, and I don't feel comfortable bestowing an official score on it until I do. However, I have poured well over 30 hours into Rogue Legacy 2 and have some thoughts to share about it in the meantime.

Once again, you control a bloodline destined to adventure into a procedurally generated castle to slay the bosses within. Every time an heir dies, you're given the choice of three (or more) new adventurers from the next generation equipped with inherited genetic traits that make every heir unique. These traits could buff attack damage at the cost of a reduced mana pool or maybe give an heir irritable bowel syndrome, which causes that heir to pass gas regularly when jumping or dashing. Sometimes gigantism runs in the family, making an heir's stature quite a bit larger than the average character. Traits can drastically change playstyles, while others might be humorous distractions designed to bring a smile to your face. 

Author
John Carson

The Quarry: Supermassive Games Reveals It Has 186 Different Endings

2 years ago

The Quarry: Supermassive Games Reveals It Has 186 Different Endings

Supermassive Games’ next foray into horror, The Quarry, the studio’s spiritual successor to Until Dawn, is due out June 10. As we creep closer to the release date, more and more information about the title has come to light. 

Much of that comes by way of IGN, as The Quarry is this month’s feature IGN First game, and in a recent interview with director Will Byles, who also directed Until Dawn, it was revealed that The Quarry has 186 different endings. That’s quite a lot, and it sounds like players will be able to play through The Quarry dozens of times without having the same experience.

Here’s what Byles had to say in regards to developing a game with nearly 200 endings

Author
Wesley LeBlanc

Rogue Legacy 2 review: a dense roguelike you'll want to invest in

2 years ago

After a year in early access, Rogue Legacy 2 has born a 1.0 heir, and it's a game I've become well-acquainted with over the last few days. They're a complex individual with violent tendencies, but invest in them and they'll flower into a roguelike that you won't be able to detach yourself from.

The game is a worthy successor to the original Rogue Legacy, and one that builds on it with a wealth of incentives to make your runs more rewarding. Upgrades up the wazoo, gold bursting from your breeches, double-jumps and air-dashes. Progression is a pleasure, basically, and it's something that never becomes a bore, no matter how good you are at staying alive. I mean, the game is built with death in mind, after all.

Read more

Author
Ed Thorn

Analgesic Productions on exploring Sephonie, representation and accessibility

2 years ago

Melos Han-Tani and Marina Kittaka, the dev duo that make up Analgesic Productions , seem to make games about scientists. Young, the hero of their Link’s Awakening-influenced debut Anodyne, may not technically be one, but he bears the coke-bottle glasses and white coat that may make you think he is. Aliph, the put-upon protagonist of the haunting, grief-stricken 2D side-scroller Even The Ocean, works as power plant technician. Nova, hero of Analgesic’s tour de force Anodyne 2: Return To Dust, labours as a Nano Cleaner, one with the ability to shrink inside the psyches of those plagued by Nano Dust, corrupting their thoughts. Even the word analgesic itself has a scientific background; the term means a pain-relieving drug.

When the player begins Analgesic’s newest game Sephonie - part 3D platformer, part deep emotional story - three Taiwanese biologists make their way onto the titular island to explore. As the Steam page puts it: “Amy Lim, Taiwanese-American and bold leader, hails from the midwestern USA town of Bloomington. Riyou Hayashi, an analytically-minded Japanese-Taiwanese researcher, calls the bustling Tokyo his home. And Ing-wen Lin, a kind and considerate Taiwanese scientist, lives in Taipei.”

Read more

Author
Annie Mok

Humankind’s Vitruvian update adds Leonardo da Vinci for a limited time

2 years ago

Humankind’s free Vitruvian update has arrived and it introduces one of history’s greatest inventors, artists and inspirations behind a Ninja Turtle: Renaissance legend Leonardo da Vinci. An avatar and persona of da Vinci are unlockable rewards for completing six new challenges in the game’s Da Vinci Event, running through May 16th. Sift through full patch notes for the Vitruvian update here for details of the bug fixes and some subtle changes to the UI, Beliefs system and, of course, trebuchets.

Read more

Author
CJ Wheeler

The Electronic Wireless Show podcast episode 184: the best video game ideas on paper

2 years ago

We're a two-hander this week, as Nate has a sore throat, but Matthew and I have a jolly old time talking about the games that sound like amazing ideas on paper (whether they end up being great off the paper or not) and even manage to contrast them with games that sound like a bad pitch but end up great. We manage to talk about a lot of games in a sensible way, and even gesture at serious discussion of how prestige indies can dominate their niche to the detriment of other interesting games.

Also we talk about holes quite a lot.

Read more

Author
Alice Bell

Microsoft set a date for 2022’s Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase

2 years ago

This year’s Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase will take place online on June 12th, Microsoft have announced today via Xbox Wire. The announcement is light on details right now, as you might expect, but there’s the promise of a “diverse line-up of games coming soon to the Xbox ecosystem, including upcoming releases to Game Pass on Xbox and PC”. Personally, I'm hoping we'll see our first proper gameplay footage of Starfield, given it launches almost five months to the day from that date. There could also finally be some movement on in-development projects like the next Fable from Playground Games and Undead Labs’ State of Decay 3 too. Here's hoping!

Read more

Author
CJ Wheeler

Alice0 is evolving! Please congratulate her on her ascent to Associate Editor

2 years ago

Exciting news today, folks. Our esteemed Alice0 is stepping into a brand-new role at the RPS Treehouse, morphing from News Editor into our very first Associate Editor. Alice0 has done an incredible job leading the news desk since she joined the site all the way back in 2014, but this new role will give her the space and freedom to step back from the daily news cycle and focus on writing the things she does best: the What's Betters of this world, elegies to exploding mouse mats, intriguing mod scene and esports stuff, and posts about more bikes in video games please. Come and congratulate her in the comments below.

Read more

Author
Katharine Castle