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No Man's Sky has a Mass Effect Normandy again, together with new cross-save functionality
Thu, 07 Nov 2024 16:07:58 -0000
Back in the mists of 2021, No Man's Sky revealed its very own Normandy SR1 space frigate. "The Normandy in No Man's Sky?" you cry. "Why, that's a Mass Effect vessel. Some mistake here surely?" 1) My name's not Shirley, and 2) Indeed it is a Mass Effect ship, but HelloGames struck a time-limited deal with BioWare to create a version for their own space sim.
"Blast, if only I'd noticed this at the time and acquired one," you mourn. "Ah, so many years I have wasted." Be of good cheer, my friend, for No Man's Sky has a Normandy once again, just in time for the latest N7 Day of assorted Mass Effect celebrations. For the next two weeks, you'll be able to get a-hold of it by way of a revised version of 2021's Beachhead Expedition. Tray-tray, away!
Offensively good-looking Sims challenger Inzoi hits early access in March 2025
Thu, 07 Nov 2024 17:05:24 -0000
Sega are delisting over 60 'classic' games from Steam, including Crazy Taxi and Streets Of Rage
Thu, 07 Nov 2024 19:55:29 -0000
Sega are delisting several bundles of 'classic' games from digital stores, along with "select individual" games. On Steam specifically, this adds up to over 60 games in total, including several actual classics including the original Streets Of Rage trilogy, Crazy Taxi, and Jet Set Radio.
The games will be removed on December 6th but will remain playable to those who already own them.
Roblox is limiting access to social hangouts and unrated games for children aged under 13
Thu, 07 Nov 2024 20:48:30 -0000
Roblox is making changes in an attempt to keep younger players safe in the online platform. Beginning later this month, children under the age of 13 will no longer be able to search, discover or play unrated experiences within Roblox, and will be unable to access social hangout experiences.
Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival beats its way onto Steam today, with 70+ songs (and 700 more behind a subscription)
Thu, 07 Nov 2024 21:24:18 -0000
I first played Taiko no Tatsujin in an arcade (in Japan, because I am very cool), where it's controlled by hitting a recreation of an actual taiko drum. It was fun enough that I wish there was a taiko drum peripheral available for PC now the series is on our platform.
Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is out now via Steam, where it offers over 70 songs to drum through, and a subscription service through which to unlock over 700 more. Maybe I should try to get my Donkey Konga drums working on PC, but I'll probably settle for playing it with a gamepad.
Apex Legends is revisiting the past, but it should be prouder of its present
Fri, 08 Nov 2024 09:49:08 -0000
Nostalgia, when you think about it, is bollocks. There has never been a better time than right this second – averaged out, and despite repeated attempts to the contrary, humanity has never been healthier, freer, or more enlightened by knowledge. It’s true of games too. For every by-committee platter of passionless map markers, there are thousands of more personal, more creative, more interesting works, all adding to the decades' worth of great stuff we can still play today.
What isn’t bollocks is the emotional pull that nostalgia, for all its lack of cold, hard reason, still manages to wield inside our warm, squishy brains. Hence, the centrepiece of Apex Legends’ Season 23 update is a mode that recreates the battle royale FPS as it was back in 2019, defaulting back to the original map and weapon arsenal while cutting the 26-strong legend roster to the earliest ten. It’s a Fortnite-style rolling back of the clock, and a passably enjoyable one, but also a reminder that the good old days weren’t always that good.
The co-creator of magic puzzler Hidden Folks is making a sumptuous, spaced-out tower defender
Fri, 08 Nov 2024 11:06:29 -0000
Could tower defence be the ultimate "it's Friday and I am here in body only" genre? I haven't really thought about it before, but Rift Riff's effusively laidback crowd control has me pondering those optimal moments in any tower defender when the incoming horde hits the flamer-MG triangle just right, and you can settle back comfortably into the role of clockwatcher.
Rift Riff encourages this behaviour by being nice to look at. Created by a trio of developers including Hidden Folks designer Adriaan de Jongh, it's a world of spacey, sun-carved mountains, forests and monoliths. The towers resemble the sacred architecture of Monument Valley, and the colour scheme and general ambience remind me of Cocoon. There's a demo, if you fancy it.
Nvidia are slapping a 100-hour monthly cap on GeForce Now streaming, with charges for extra time
Fri, 08 Nov 2024 11:27:10 -0000
GeForce Now, Nvidia’s PC-focused game streaming service, will begin calling time on its most muscular of power users. A post on the GFN subreddit announced the introduction of a 100-hour monthly cap (or "allowance"), effective from January 1st 2025 for anyone who signs up after that date. Existing streamists, or anyone who signs up by the end of 2024, will get a year’s grace period before the limit kicks in from January 2026.
Sega sell off studio behind Endless Legend and Humankind as part of "restructuring" - but it goes to the original owners
Fri, 08 Nov 2024 11:31:01 -0000
Amplitude Studios, developers of many a game with "Endless" in the name, have split with publisher Sega to become independent again, with ownership of the studio reverting to its original founders and "other members of the team". The developers say everyone is parting "on good terms" and that the last eight years of getting published under Sega has been "amazing". But there are other businessy reasons, of course. Namely, Sega have been trying to trim down their European studios for the past year, and Amplitude is just the latest bunch of devs affected by that.
Toads Of The Bayou is Into The Breach but with aristocratic, pipe smokin’ toads (of the bayou)
Fri, 08 Nov 2024 11:32:50 -0000
In all honesty, Toads Of The Bayou could have been several notches less ribbet-ing than its Steam demo ended up being, because its stylised pixel fly-snatchers are just that good. There’s only one of the three characters available in the freebie (one of the others is a toad nun with a shotgun), but he’s got a little cutlass, a flintlock pistol, and a can-do attitude - at least when it comes to either stabbing or shooting things. The game itself is a little bit deckbuilder, a little bit Into The Breach: turn based strategy with perfect information and various tricks you can pull to make enemies hit each other instead of the thing you’re trying to protect. Indulge yourself on the gourmet tray-tray below.
Here are the patents Nintendo and the Pokémon Company are suing Palworld about, according to Pocketpair
Fri, 08 Nov 2024 12:43:51 -0000
Palworld developers Pocketpair have finally revealed which patents Nintendo and the Pokémon Company are suing them about. It looks like they're focusing on the act of throwing capsular items to catch or release monsters, together with the usage of monsters as mounts.
If you've somehow yet to encounter Palworld, it's a bestselling survival game that takes hefty - some would say, scandalous - inspiration from Pokémon, with players poaching Pokésque critters using magic spheres, and deploying them as soldiers and minions.
Object-ive Review: Hitman’s rubber duck
Fri, 08 Nov 2024 15:00:00 -0000
"The cool thing about bombs is that you can hide them in anything," is probably my favourite Oppenheimer quote of all time, and in the case of Ian Hitman, it does raise an important question: with so many everyday objects equal to the rubber duck in its unthreatening aura, yet more inconspicuous, why choose to put an explosive in this one?
The simplest answer is that’s it’s a recurring bit of levity, a holdover easter egg, elevated to the status of key mission item in Hitman: Codename 47 before being given pride of place as an explosive in the World Of Assassination games. But to ascribe such unassuming purpose to the duck is to ignore its revelatory power. We must go deeper.
Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6's first multiplayer season promises new maps, modes, and a hefty Hand Cannon
Fri, 08 Nov 2024 17:18:30 -0000
Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 has been out for a little while already, what with me giving its multiplayer largely a thumbs up. Still, it's an ever-evolving thing and Activision have announced the game's first seasonal drop. It's a hefty one with a lot of additions, so I'll try my best to break down the good stuff. TLDR: there's some new maps for multiplayer and zombies, new modes, and a few extra bits. I'm mildly excited for more. More in this case is good.
The Warframe devs want you to come try their luxurious fantasy action-RPG Soulframe
Fri, 08 Nov 2024 18:09:24 -0000
Warframe developers Digital Extremes have announced a new round of early access for their 2025-bound fantasy action-RPG Soulframe, which I saw a bit of last year and think is pretty promising. They're now adding 2000 players to a Preludes build of the game every week, with each invite email including an additional four invite codes, so you can get your friends involved.
Choose between cyberpunk and magic in Zephon, the new 4X from the Warhammer 40,000 – Gladius devs
Fri, 08 Nov 2024 19:32:38 -0000
Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics Of War developers Proxy Studios have just released Zephon, a new 4X strategy game set in a manky, post-apocalyptic world. It's got hexagonal maps, flesh trees, gangly Evangelion-grade giants, "otherworldly hymns of decay", nuclear bombs, and a player-led "blend of magic and cyberpunk" that extends from the city architecture to the research component. All of which is my cup of giblets. Here's the launch trailer.
What are we all playing this weekend?
Sat, 09 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0000
Alright everyone, let's put this new comments section through its paces. I want to hear deep and detailed roundups of everything you've been playing over the past two weeks this time! We're gonna make our tech team weep. Here's what we're clicking on this weekend!
Rise Of The Golden Idol launches November 12th, with four DLC planned in 2025
Sat, 09 Nov 2024 21:55:46 -0000
The Rise Of The Golden Idol will crack its new case wide open on November 12th, but the detective sequel is just the beginning. Color Gray Games are planning another tranche of DLC akin to that received by the first game, The Case Of The Golden Idol: four standalone mysteries that introduce more mysteries to solve.
The Sunday Papers
Sun, 10 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0000
November 8th, 2005 was my first day as a full-time games journalist, which means I have now entered my 20th year of doing this. "This" has changed a lot over time: from producing CD and DVD coverdiscs, to writing for a magazine, to editing magazines and a website, to solely editing a website, to managing several websites. Sprinkle podcasts, videos, events and a lot of other things in there and "games journalist" doesn't really cover it.
One of the only constants is that I read a lot of writing about video games.
Dapper gent Oli Welsh wrote for Polygon about the fan reboot of City Of Heroes. We briefly covered fans getting an official license earlier this year, but Oli went and spoke to the folks making it all work.
What's on your bookshelf?: Liminal biscuit filling edition
Sun, 10 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000
My brain is still thawing for the comment freeze, and thus there is sadly no cool industry person to talk to us about books this week. I'm currently reading Tony Tulathimutte’s Rejection. Jia Tolentino wrote about it for the New Yorker. Jia Tolentino also writes very good books. But enough about books, tell me about books! One's you've read, preferably, but I will also accept books you've formed opinions on based on their covers, as is good and proper. Book for now!
The Maw: what's new in PC games this week?
Mon, 11 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0000
Good news, everyone: I'm off work all this week. I know, I know - a whole seven days with zero Edwin bullshit. What a prospect. Allow yourself a moment to savour the idea. I'm so thrilled for you! The Maw, sadly, does not understand the concept of "time off". Its hunger is as constant as the tide, as unrelenting as my retreating hairline. So before I disappear into a beam of sunshine, here's this week's list of new PC game releases.
Deep sea evolution simulator Ecosystem gives each creature its own synthetic DNA, and it’s out now after years in early access
Mon, 11 Nov 2024 10:36:19 -0000
Let’s try and get you up to speed on the fascinating oddity that is simulation game Ecosystem, on the off chance that Nate's coverage of it hasn't stuck with you like an unwelcome brain parasite you’re nonetheless unwilling to get removed for fear of the lingering emptiness it might cause (he once described an eel as “a quaver with erectile dysfunction”). Broadly speaking, this game is Spore’s evolutionary-biology-degree-having cousin. It’s been in early access for about three years now, but with the latest "Crustacean" update, it’s just hit 1.0. Once again, carcinization has come for all things.
The RPS 100: 2024 Edition is here, with our picks for the best PC games ever made
Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:39:35 -0000
Update:
The full list is now live as promised.The RPS 100 is our list of the best games to play on PC. It encompasses the full breadth and width of PC gaming stretching back to 1873, but focuses solely on those games that remain great to play today. It's updated yearly by our crack team of writers, and the first half of the 2024 edition is live now.
Halo's most disgusting enemy was partly inspired by a children's book
Mon, 11 Nov 2024 13:18:45 -0000
It was the 20-year anniversary of Halo 2 at the weekend, which saw the shooter's modern counterparts celebrating with classic multiplayer maps and long-lost levels. But also emerging from the dust of time are insights to the sequel's development back in 2004. Rolling Stone interviewed two key designers of the game and made a fun discovery. The Flood (the sickly pale alien infestation that briefly turns Halo into sci-fi horror) was partly inspired by a colourful and innocent children's book about a nice elephant.
Great God Grove review: play mail carrier and god wrangler in this wonderfully weird puzzle adventure
Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:00:00 -0000
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Great God Grove is, in a word, bonkers. I’ve stopped a small community from completing a blood ritual, played the role of matchmaker to a group of lonely hearts that involved organising a date with god, and plastered a statue with paint as part of a revolutionary movement to uplift the power of art. My time with GGG has been a pick n’ mix of colourful escapades, and together with its story of godly woes, striking art style, vacuum-based puzzle-solving, and nightmare-inducing puppet work, I’m now a die-hard LimboLane devotee.
How ten years of Game Maker’s Toolkit’s design analysis informed Mind Over Magnet
Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:00:00 -0000
"A lot of puzzle games can leave you staring at the same static screen for ages, but here, I’m always pushing you forward," says Mark Brown of Game Maker’s Toolkit. For a decade now, Brown has been releasing accessible deep dives on game design for his popular YouTube channel, like "How Game Designers Protect Players From Themselves" and "The Two Types of Random in Game Design." This week, he’s releasing his own for the first time.
The next limited-edition Steam Deck OLED comes in white, and will be available globally this time
Mon, 11 Nov 2024 23:00:07 -0000
The Steam Deck OLED – which is like a Steam Deck but better in almost every way – is getting a new, if potentially more smudge-susceptible Limited Edition. A successor to the translucent version that only went on sale in the US and Canada last year, the Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White offers both a snowy look and, for those of us outside North America, the chance to actually buy one. It’ll go on sale November 18th, in all the countries that the Steam Deck currently ships in.
Rogue Point is a door-kicking co-op shooter from Black Mesa studio
Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:14:34 -0000
The developers who remade Half-Life as Black Mesa are working on a new roguelite co-op shooter. It will feature no physicists celebrating Bring Your Shotgun To Work Day, but instead let up to four players tactically breach oil rigs and airports occupied by corporate-sponsored mercenaries. In Rogue Point the richest CEO on earth has croaked it, causing various megacorps to compete in a violent bum rush for control of that wealth. Which is where your team of renegade shooterists come in. They don't want to win this contest, they just want everyone else to lose.
King’s Field with a bird RPG Dungeons of Blood and Dream is out in 1.0 now
Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:15:25 -0000
Sin enjoyed the roguelike stylings of Dungeons of Blood and Dream when she played it in early access back in July, calling it a “baffling, bizarre thing that lives on the border of janky, retro, and punk”. As of yesterday, it’s now out for realsies, promising psychedelic dungeon crawling, the stabbing of assorted gribblies, and lots of little details that make you go “ooo, that’s nice. I’m glad they put that in there.”
Ubisoft is being sued over The Crew in a lawsuit that compares the server shutdown to a bumperless pinball machine
Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:18:18 -0000
"Imagine you buy a pinball machine, and years later, you enter your den to go play it, only to discover that all the paddles are missing, the pinball and bumpers are gone, and the monitor that proudly displayed your unassailable high score is removed". As reported by Polygon, that's an argument put forth by a new lawsuit against Ubisoft, filed by two Californian players of The Crew. They're suing the company in a proposed class action lawsuit over shutting down the racing game's servers, rendering it unplayable.
The Rise Of The Golden Idol review: fiendish but fair detective puzzling whose mystery you’ll want to unravel
Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:26:21 -0000
Here’s a Steam quote for you: ‘The Rise Of The Golden Idol is the best game I’ve ever played where I spent most of my time staring at the screen going “well what chuffing well is it, then?!” Fiendish but fair, this detective puzzler demands a heady mix of observation, deduction, and logic, but rewards you with a progressively engaging story, and steadily more infuriatingly brilliant puzzles. Despite teaching you everything you need to know in the tutorial, it still manages to introduce new wrinkles and twists on the formula with each fresh chapter. My verdict? Imagine me lying my floor, massaging my temple with one hand and giving a fat thumbs up with the other.
Overwatch 2 is getting a "Classic" mode that restores the shooter to how it was in 2016
Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:49:38 -0000
The developers of hero shooter Overwatch 2 must have dropped a box full of old photographs while clearing the attic, spilling old snapshots of Route 66 onto the floor and getting snared in a nostalgic daze. The game is launching a "Classic" mode today that will let you play the first-person payload pusher as it (mostly) was back in 2016 when the first Overwatch launched. That means 6v6 fights, the original abilities of its heroes, and no limits to stop the entire team picking the same character.
Grand Theft Auto: The Definitive Edition trilogy on PC gets a classic lighting update from the mobile version
Tue, 12 Nov 2024 13:44:27 -0000
My strongest and most enduring memory of Grand Theft Auto will always be creasing into complete hysterics watching my mate pile into a crumpled police officer with a wooden baseball bat in GTA 3 after school one time. Young’uns these days just don’t appreciate how revolutionary it was to be able to hit a cop with a thing after he’d already fallen over. Suffice it to say I’ve got good memories of the open world series’ nascent forays into 3D, though never enough to tempt me into revisiting them, especially given the poor reception to Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition. I can sympathise. I’m annoyed just having to type a colon and a dash in the same game name.
If you’re in a similarly non-fussed position (I will never not be annoyed that ‘nonplussed’ doesn’t mean what it sounds like it should mean) I can’t imagine a lighting update that’s been available on the mobile versions for a while is enough to tempt you back. But what is a reporter's job if not pathetically treading water between chunklets of Grand Theft Auto news, upon the publishing of which Graham presses the button to release the nutritious pellets on which we all wholly subsist? I hope he doesn’t read that last sentence. I don’t get my pellet if the syntax becomes too convoluted. Moving swiftly on.
The new Nvidia App is out now, justly banishing GeForce Experience to history
Tue, 12 Nov 2024 13:56:26 -0000
After nearly a year of public beta honing, the Nvidia App – Team Green’s new one-stop shop for desktop GPU management – is out in full. Not alongside the upcoming RTX 50 series, as rumoured, but right-now-today-this-minute. I’ve been testing out the launch version and while it’s not without some dud features, it does agreeably achieve its stated goal of combining the functions within Nvidia Control Panel and GeForce Experience. And if installing it means never having to use the latter again, well, that’s 149MB well spent.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 patch adds a new weapon, plus some tweaks for the existing arsenal
Tue, 12 Nov 2024 15:08:03 -0000
"Where’s my Neo-Volkite pistol, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2?" was my perhaps slightly ungrateful reaction upon booting the action game up after the previous patch. "I didn’t even know what a Neo-Volkite pistol was until five minutes ago, but now this whole game is trash until I get one!." As promised in the roadmap, the last big update added a whole new Operations map, complete with a gargantuan new pseudo-boss in the form of a hierophant bio-titan. It did not, however, give me my beloved pistol. It’s fine. It’s in now, along with a few, less Neo-Volkite updates to other weapons.
Tequila Works, the studio behind Rime and Song Of Nunu, has filed for insolvency
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:19:55 -0000
Correction: A previous version of this article implied that Tequila Works were the developers of The Sexy Brutale. In fact, it was originally developed by Cavalier Game Studios. Tequila Works are the publishers of the game and are also listed as "co-developers" on Steam. Very sorry for the mistake!
Original article: The studio behind sunny third-person adventure Rime has filed for insolvency, with the heads of the studio quitting their roles. Tequila Works had their funding from Tencent pulled at some point, according to Eurogamer Spain, leaving the company without an important flow of cash. Which may explain why they cancelled a game last month and laid off some of their workers. It now looks like that was just the first sign of a more serious problem which has sadly resulted in the dissolution of the studio.
Here’s the updated system requirements for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and it looks like a big’un
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:27:42 -0000
A stupid inside joke I had with a housemate once was asking each other if we were "born in Chornobyl?" as a play on "were you born in a barn?" whenever either of us left the lights on before leaving the flat. This doesn’t make too much sense now I think about it, but such things rarely do. A more accurate jab, in hindsight, might have been "you been running S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl at full specs or something?", because based on the upcoming FPS’s new system requirements, you’re going to need a reasonably laissez-faire attitude to literally any other concern in your life that doesn’t involve acquiring a notably juice-guzzling rig.
Sultan’s Game is a dark, fascinating, and irrepressibly horny oddity
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 11:05:05 -0000
I predict I likely won’t have fully gotten to grips with the strategy of Sultan’s Game for several more hours, but since I’m considering investing that time - after a morning spent card shuffling and deciding whomst to bone and whomst to murder in its Steam demo - I’m compelled to spotlight it. It’s deeply imperfect and willfully obtuse, but also absolutely fascinating. I’ll ground you with a slightly wonky and dull allusion to Cultist Simulator, then guide you through in more or less the order I experienced it. As we progress, you may feel steadily more disorientated. It’ll be like a brewery tour I’ve somehow inherited control of by murder-boning the previous owners. Onward!
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake review: a world in the palm of your hand
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 15:00:00 -0000
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake's premise is bluntly, delightfully simple. The Archfiend Baramos, as evil as he is mysterious, is up and about. He’s got ill designs on the world. Your Dad tried to stop him, and he died. He fell into a volcano. We absolutely can’t be having that.
This is, more than anything else, a game about Going On An Adventure. Well walked ground, of course, but it’s rare to see it embarked upon with such barefaced delight, or such a wholehearted commitment to going the distance. It is a very big and a very simple RPG that is as wide as an ocean and as deep as a pond; a game to curl up with and play lazily and—with some sour caveats—enjoyably, for an entire winter.
Planet Coaster 2 review: a good water park is hard to build
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 15:30:00 -0000
Theme park management sim Planet Coaster was all about making roller coasters that would push your park guests to the edge of puking up their overpriced burgers while making sure the excitement levels of your twisting rides remained high. Planet Coaster 2 wants to do that again, but this time adds water parks into the mix, with slides to design, pools to plop down, and raft rides that you can click together to form ambitiously speedy spirals. You can feel some creative pride when you look down on the watery wonderland you've made with these tools. But you may also wonder if it was worth the effort. As a newcomer to Planet management games, I've found this slippy sequel fiddly, cumbersome, and poorly explained.
GOG are doubling down on game preservation, and making it easier to see which games run well on modern PCs
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:06:00 -0000
Over the years, game retailers GOG have drifted from almost purely offering classic oldies to welcoming more and more modern blockbusters onto their storefront. In one sense, they've turned from a game preservation champion into a slightly dustier, DRM-less Steam. Now, though, GOG have declared a renewed focus on not just selling aged games, but on tweaking more of them to work on non-aged hardware. And you'll be able to tell which games have got this restoration treatment from a fancy badge plastered on top of them.
Blizzard just quietly released Warcraft 1 and 2 remasters, and they look like Zynga games made by a blind duck
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 09:22:58 -0000
Well, that was quick. After artwork leaked last week for what looked very much like a remaster of classic real-time strategy Warcraft II: Tides Of Darkness, Blizzard sneakily dropped both that and a remaster of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans last night. They’re bundled together with Warcraft III: Reforged - itself with a new patch - in a 'Warcraft Remastered Battle Chest', which also includes the older versions of the first two games. The chest is available on Battle.net, where it’ll set you back £34.99 / $39.99. If you’re just after the older titles, they’re £9 / $10 and £12.59 / $15 respectively.
Lady Gaga is joining Netflix's Wednesday season 2, a sequel that hopefully won't be as disappointing as Joker: Folie à Deux
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:03:57 -0000
After Joker: Folie à Deux disappointing pretty much everyone and making $206 million at the global box office, not even a quarter of what the first one earned, it's safe to say Lady Gaga's latest big screen venture hasn't panned out the way she thought it would. Now, she's entered Netflix's Wednesday season 2.
Classic shooters Unreal and Unreal Tournament are now free and preserved on the Internet Archive
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:17:33 -0000
Epic Games has given the OK for their 1998 shooter Unreal to be hosted on the Internet Archive, essentially making the classic sci-fi alien blaster free, and preserving it for the future. They've also given the same permission for Unreal Tournament to be hosted there too, making free the multiplayer muckabout that spawned speedier and speedier sequels throughout the early 2000s (not to mention the origin of one of the most memorable multiplayer FPS maps of all time, Facing Worlds).
Inside Snap Tap, the new hotness keyboard feature outlawed by Valve
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:24:02 -0000
The gaming keyboard market is currently tripping over itself, trying to equip everything with the technology most commonly known as Snap Tap: a feature that promises hyperfast inputs of two alternating keypresses, making you an unkillable side-strafing blur in your FPS of choice. Introduced on Razer’s Huntsman V3 Pro series and quickly followed by Wooting’s (functionally distinct but effectively identical) Rappy Snappy, Snap Tap is now wearing multiple names as it takes over the world of RGB peripherals, from SteelSeries’ Rapid Tap to Corsair’s FlashTap and Keychron’s... Last Keystroke Prioritisation. Which doesn’t sound as sexy, but still.
However, Snap Tap is also drawing a level of ire that exceeds the usual baseline scepticism of hardware marketing. Because it enables a form of input automation – where you can quickly move in two directions by rapidly tapping one key, while holding down another – it’s considered by some as tantamount to cheating, allowing players to cross the line that divides unfair play from the accepted comforts that come with simply using a responsive Hall Effect keyboard or high-refresh-rate monitor. It’s even become a bannable offence in certain games, most notably in Counter-Strike 2.
Neither side is backing down; in an astonishingly worded tweet, Wooting went as far as to concede Snap Tap "should be considered cheating. But if it’s allowed, you need it." But do you?
There's now a Witcher 3 mod that turns Geralt into a centaur, and having reinstalled the entire game just to try it, I can confirm it's the stuff of weird horse man dreams
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:45:14 -0000
Ok, so REDkit's given The Witcher 3 modders the ability to do a lot of new stuff with the game this year, and the mod I'm about to tell you about might take the cake in terms of being the wackiest. Yes, even over Gaunter O'Dimm in his swimming trunks.
ARC Raiders gameplay debut shows off what could be one of the most intriguing mechanics in an extraction shooter yet
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:52:47 -0000
ARC Raiders, the game that we only seem to cover when it gets delayed, actually has something exciting to share this time around. No, that’s still not a date, but it is a proper look at gameplay, with HUD on and everything.
Fiddly parkour is the secret sauce that makes every moment of Deadlock compelling
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0000
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: running away is the best feeling in videogames. More specifically, being chased is the best feeling in videogames, a sentiment I’d happen to share with my golden retriever if you replaced the word “videogames” with “the universe”. He is a purer being, but he’ll also never know the joy of executing a rail-dismount into a dashing corner-jump escape in Deadlock, and for this he deserves our pity.
It’s easy to miss if you haven’t played for at least a few hours, but Deadlock packs one of the most engaging movement systems this side of Tribes Ascend.
James Bond producers tease 007's future on the big screen, are looking for a man in his 30s that won't necessarily be white
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 12:00:40 -0000
It feels like we've been waiting forever for an official announcement on who the new James Bond is, and while the 007 producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson remain tight-lipped, we've at least learned what kind of actor they're looking at.
Good news, Pokemon TCG Pocket confirms plans to add-in a new feature every Poke-head wants soon, as well as new booster packs
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 12:46:14 -0000
Desperate for more content to drop for Pokemon TCG Pocket, so you and more than 30 million other people can fall deeper into your card collecting and deck building frenzies? Well, good news, the game's devs have now shared a bit of a roadmap of their curreent plans new stuff-wise for the near future.
Rue Valley is sending the nattering inner voices of Disco Elysium to therapy
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0000
In Rue Valley you role play a guy with poor mental health. He wanders around a crappy motel, stuck in the same old patterns of life, seemingly unable to escape his inner demons. When confronted with the premise for this upcoming RPG you may have one of two reactions. The first: you will say "lol, it me" with enough humour to wishlist it on Steam and earmark it for the future. The second: you will mutter "ugh, it me" and be immediately put off by the idea of having to tolerate an entire second layer of psychological hangups.
There is a third secret reaction though... you might think: oh, this looks a lot like Disco Elysium, but in the real world.
Euphoria season 3 is moving forward according to HBO boss Casey Bloys, who has shot down cancellation rumors once again
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:17:58 -0000
Thought Sam Levinson's teen drama Euphoria was done for? Think again, as HBO/Max boss Casey Bloys has confirmed it's still on track despite recent cancellation rumors.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is going to battle against VPNs as Season 1 of Warzone kicks off
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:39:06 -0000
With the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's own era of Warzone and all that juicy battle royale goodness, we've gotten a vast list of patch notes and intriguing information to go alongside it. However, one point is controversial to a subsection of the community: an adjustment to the ping threshold in order to curb VPN usage.
Denzel Washington says he had a gay kiss in Gladiator 2 that was probably cut because "they weren't ready for that yet"
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 15:34:16 -0000
As some countries, including the UK, prepare to receive Gladiator 2 this weekend before next week's North American debut, we're learning more and more behind the scenes trivia from the biggest actors in the long-awaited sequel. Perhaps the chattiest one so far has been Denzel Washington, who said a few days ago he's set to be part of Black Panther 3.
Pokemon TCG Pocket lets me enjoy my card-collecting hobby for free, but at what cost?
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000
It's no news to anyone that I'm a pretty big fan of Pokemon, and I've been collecting Pokemon cards 'for fun' for just over three years now. The past three years, however, have largely seen me enjoying the hobby on my own, occasionally sharing rare pulls with my friends, before finally pulling the plug on it all. Now, I'm left with thousands of cards — all neatly organised — that are collecting dust in their binders and briefcases while I wait to win the lottery and pay to get them graded.
Sorry We're Closed review: old school survival horror with plenty of heart
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 17:00:00 -0000
Sorry We're Closed is a retro survival horror-inspired game about escaping the clutches of an excessively horny demon who desperately wants your heart. As someone who isn't often into the 'lore' behind things and prefers to just shoot and ask questions later, I found myself actually asking the questions. I wanted to know why I was targeted by such carnal eroticism. I wanted to know more about my character's own relationships. How angels fit into the picture. And why lots of the demons seem quite chill, really.
But when it came to the actual survival - the bit I thought I'd enjoy the most - I came away a bit disappointed. Exploration is fine, it's just the combat is often too frequent and too frequently irritating. I came to dread the action more than the atmosphere, in the end.
Atomfall, the next game that'll vaguely aim to satisfy our British Fallout thing cravings, just got one of the the most sadness island release date reveal trailers ever
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 17:13:24 -0000
Atomfall, the upcoming game from Sniper Elite developer Rebellion that a lot of folks are be looking to for another fix of British post-apocalypse with a radioactive tinge to it that isn't quite an official Fallout take on our sad little island, now has a proper release date. It's arriving on March 25, 2025, as fresh trailer with very English countryside vibes conveys.
Brilliant autobattler Mechabellum has a new unit in stealth aircraft Phantom Ray
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 09:24:05 -0000
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in. This is a lie, of course. I haven’t been 'out' of strategy autobattler Mechabellum since I started playing around the 1.0 launch back in September. There I was, just starting to get to grips with the card-house-careful balance between each of its units when, bam, makers Game River dropped a Jenga block on top of it. It’s a stealth block, too. Didn’t even see it coming.
Update 1.1’s new unit is the Phantom Ray, which Game River describe as "a medium-sized aircraft with high HP that excels at striking enemies at close range with high-damage missiles". It’s a mid-tier flier, costing 50 to unlock and 200 to field, and for that you get three of them per unit. As for default tech, you’ve got some range and fire rate unlocks, alongside an oil drop. The headliner here is the stealth buff, which cloaks the Phantom Ray by default until it attacks. When it does, it all gets a nice 40% bonus to damage.
Helldivers 2 players sour a bit on their lovely new Democracy Space Station, because it's turned out to be very good at killing, er, helldivers
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:13:12 -0000
Ah well. After an initial wave of hype when it first became operational the other day, Helldivers 2's Democracy Space Station has already found its way into the bad books of some divers. How? Well, the biggest issue looks to be its orbital barrages causing as many problems for the divers as they do the enemy.
SteamWorld makers announce 100 layoffs, cancel projects, and say they'll publish more games by other studios - but fewer of their own
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:48:24 -0000
Thunderful Games, the developers and publishers that make the colourful SteamWorld series of games, have announced a hefty number of layoffs at the company, with anywhere between 80-100 people losing their jobs. It's part of a "restructuring" that'll also see an unspecified number of game projects cancelled, said the company in a press release yesterday. As if this is not dispiriting enough, they also say it's an intentional move that'll see them making fewer games of their own and instead publishing more work by other developers.
Blizzard is tempting lapsed Diablo 4 players back with some big boosts, free trials, XP events and more
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 11:00:24 -0000
Initially teased during the most recent Campfire Chat, Blizzard has now officially detailed a host of Diablo 4 events designed to entice players back into the fold. All of them take place starting later this month, and what’s being offered is pretty generous.
Tomb Raider Prime Video series looks to be locking in its Lara, with a Game of Thrones star reportedly in talks to plunder some burial places
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 12:07:18 -0000
There are about a million video game adaptations in the works right now, and one of them, the Tomb Raider TV series from Amazon Prime Video, is reportedly in the process to formally locking in an actress best known for Game of Thrones as its Lara Croft.
"We don’t need to do incremental hardware for our own benefit", says Xbox boss Phil Spencer, as the PS5 Pro continues to wonder 'Was it something I said?'
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 13:04:28 -0000
Yep, he's said another thing. Xbox's Phil Spencer, fresh off of saying something the other day that could be construed as a little bit of a cheeky shot at the PS5 Pro or at least at expensive consoles in a similar vein to it, has said another thing that could be interpreted as a little bit of a cheeky shot at the PS5 Pro.
Surprise! All your double XP tokens from Modern Warfare 2&3, and Warzone are now in Black Ops 6
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 13:35:07 -0000
Season One has officially kicked off in Black Ops 6, following a major update. Apart from the new content, battle pass, weapons, maps and everything else players knew they were getting after the season goes live, it seems Call of Duty developers threw in an unexpected gift.
After GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition update ditches some mentions of the studio, Grove Street Games boss says it's "a dick move" to yank devs from credits via updates
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 15:50:48 -0000
The CEO of Grove Street Games, the studio which developed The GTA Trilogy's Definitive Edition - yes, the version that came out in a pretty shocking state - has tweeted a thinly veiled response to Rockstar's latest update to the trilogy removing some mentions of the studio from the three remastered games.
The Rally Point: Field of Glory: Kingdoms is an elaborate building game in a grand strategy jacket
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000
Four thousand words of notes. Hoboy. Field of Glory Colon Kingdoms is definitely thought-provoking.
It was also complaint-provoking in the fairly long period where I didn't understand what it's trying to do. Reaching that point, luckily for you, means we can cut out a lot of the "confused whingeing" subsection of those notes. Though it still has its shortcomings, I've come to appreciate that I was reading Kingdoms all wrong. Although it talks big about characters, politics, and religion, they're not what it's about. It's about building.
Don't worry, Helldivers 2 folks, Arrowhead's working on the Democracy Space Station's team-killing tendencies, and it's already introduced a temporary tweak to help
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:00:05 -0000
Helldivers 2's Democracy Space Station might be a bit of a problem right now, due to the fact its orbital barrages keep blowing up just as many helldivers as they do bots and bugs, but there's good news. Arrowhead says it's on the case, and has just enacted a temporaray measure to help out while it works on a proper solution.
SteamWorld creator Thunderful announces 80-100 more layoffs as part of second round of "restructuring"
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:49:48 -0000
Thunderful Group, which develops and publishes the acclaimed SteamWorld series alongside several other titles, has announced it's laying off between 80 and 100 employees as part of its second round of "restructuring" in less than a year - saying it sees "no other alternatives in order to ensure the Group's long-term sustainability and resilience".
World of Warcraft player housing is the "most ambitious feature in a WoW expansion ever" according to game director
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 18:02:29 -0000
In a press roundtable following the Warcraft 30th anniversary direct, World of Warcraft game director Ion Hazzikostas stated that player housing is the "most ambitious feature in a WoW expansion ever".
Five years in the making, World of Warcraft's player housing 'the most ambitious expansion feature ever', says Blizzard
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 20:17:04 -0000
This week's Warcraft 30th anniversary celebration certainly brought its fair share of news, but if one thing really got fans talking, it was the tease player housing is finally coming to World of Warcraft next year. And now Blizzard has shared a little more about the "most ambitious feature in a WoW expansion ever", promising "years and years" of further growth when it arrives.
Sony reportedly discounting PlayStation 5 Slim by "at least" €75 in Europe ahead of Christmas
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 21:54:59 -0000
Following Sony's seemingly premature announcement earlier this week it'll be knocking $70 off the PS5 Slim Digital Edition in the US ahead of Christmas, reliable leaker Bilbil-kun has claimed similar discounts are coming to Europe soon - including a PSVR2 price cut of a whopping €200.
Half-Life 2 just got a special 20th anniversary update with a new documentary, commentary, and more
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 23:52:10 -0000
Half-Life 2 is officially 20 years old this weekend, and to mark the occasion Valve has released a special anniversary update, bundling in a brand-new documentary, commentary, the previously separate Episodes 1 & 2, and more. Oh, and the game's free to keep over the next few days.
What are we all playing this weekend?
Sat, 16 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0000
It's a strange new world we find ourselves in. Previously, we'd only feared for those of you playing games with names like "The Addresses Of All Notable Public Figures in Terra Gaia VI" and "Xtreme Bomb Maker: Easily Obtainable Household Objects Edition". Alas, the automod decided that what a healthy comment system really needs is a blanket ban on the entirety of language. Typical robot. Anyway, that should be sorted now, so please welcome this most hallowed of RPS traditions back with aplomb. No. Aplomb. Christ. It's coming for us now. Here's what we're clicking on:
What we've been playing - Lego horror, cheerful games, and others we just can't get into
Sat, 16 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000
Hello! Welcome back to our regular feature where we write a little bit about some of the games we've been playing over the past few days. This week, we cheer ourselves up by reliving the point-and-click adventures of old, we scare ourselves in a Lego game, of all places, and we try, and try again, to succumb to the charms of Horizon, but it just won't happen.
The Game Awards gets ahead of you complaining about Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree getting a GOTY nom by explaining what's eligible for an award
Sat, 16 Nov 2024 11:00:38 -0000
The Game Awards is revealing all the nominees poised to take home some awards next week, and it wants you to know that could include DLC, expansions, and remakes.
Fancy a look at Half-Life 2: Episode 3? For Half-Life 2's 20th anniversary, Valve shares a jam-packed documentary showing some of the infamous episode that never was
Sat, 16 Nov 2024 11:34:47 -0000
Two decades on from the release of Half-Life 2, Valve has shown off some of what Half-Life 2: Episode 3 could have looked like.
Ubisoft responds to Assassin's Creed Shadows leak showing free battle pass rewards
Sat, 16 Nov 2024 11:38:04 -0000
Ubisoft has responded to yesterday's leak that showcased a selection of free battle pass rewards purportedly set to be available via Assassin's Creed Shadows' upcoming Animus Hub.
Sorry, turns out you won't be watching a Star Wars movie December 2026, but at the very least you'll get a sequel to a series you probably haven't thought about in almost a decade
Sat, 16 Nov 2024 12:07:33 -0000
Nintendo cross-referenced reddit posts and hardware repairs to locate this Switch pirate
Sat, 16 Nov 2024 12:42:33 -0000
After a leak suggest Assassin's Creed Shadows will be getting a battle pass, Ubisoft sets the record straight on what you'll actually be paying for
Sat, 16 Nov 2024 14:32:05 -0000
After an Assassin's Creed Shadows battle pass appeared to leak online, Ubisoft sets the record straight on if you have to pay for it or not.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines at 20: A masterpiece of RPG storytelling which might just have a blighted bloodline of its own
Sat, 16 Nov 2024 15:00:00 -0000
There was a lot working against Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines when it launched on this day back in 2004. Nobody wants to launch up against a game as hotly anticipated as Half-Life 2, let alone be pushed out half-finished due to a bizarre corporate mandate to launch on the same day as said game — which, incidentally, used the same brand-new engine as V:TM-B was built in, but as proprietary in-house technology rather than via a third-party licence, and so very much getting the better end of the deal.
Great news, human haters and Yautja lovers, Predator: Badlands will put the titular alien in the protagonist seat
Sat, 16 Nov 2024 15:18:42 -0000
Months after initial reports, Marvel finally confirms who'll be playing the Silver Surfer in its Fantastic Four film with a new synopsis, but it's keeping quiet on a Doctor Doom appearance
Sat, 16 Nov 2024 15:42:39 -0000
You might know who'll be in Marvel Studios' Fantastic Four film, but an official synopsis finally tells us what they'll actually be doing.
Dragon Age: Inquisition players can't import their world states from the Dragon Age Keep
Sat, 16 Nov 2024 19:27:25 -0000
Dragon Age: Inquisition players are still struggling to import their world states despite the issue being flagged to BioWare and EA over a week ago.
Half-Life 2 is 20 years old and has been updated with Steam Workshop support and developer commentary
Sat, 16 Nov 2024 22:13:32 -0000
Half-Life 2 just turned 20 years old, and to celebrate Valve have released an update for their classic first-person shooter. In brief: they've recorded developer commentary; they've added Steam Workshop support; Episodes One and Two are now part of the package; and there are some bug fixes and new graphics options.
Grab it before the end of the weekend (November 18th at 6pm GMT) and it's also free to keep on Steam.
Half-Life 2: Episode 3 could have featured an ice gun and blob monsters, as seen in new documentary footage
Sat, 16 Nov 2024 22:57:26 -0000
Half-Life 2 just turned 20-years-old, and to celebrate Valve updated the game with some new features. They also produced a documetary in which several of its development team look back on their work on the game and its episodic expansions - including the never-released Episode 3.
The documentary includes in-progress footage of the episode in action for the first time, and it shows an ice gun and a new liquid enemy type.
This Vampire Survivors-like is a knock-out blend of Jackie Chan martial arts and the prop flinging of Yakuza
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000
I used to hate it when I'd see Vampire Survivors clones. I unashamedly loved that game and its lo-fi, fidget-spinnery brilliance, and I cackled when it displaced games hundreds of times its size in awards ceremonies. Look at this outrageously basic pretender getting all of the attention - it was anarchic and exciting. But because it had such a bright moment, copycats inevitably followed, slavering over their imagined piece of low-investment, high-return pie. That they would lick even crumbs from the plate irks me still; they offered nothing but greed.
There's still no word on a release date for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 yet, but Square Enix has already finished writing the plot at least
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 10:07:00 -0000
We still don't know what Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 will be called, but Square Enix has at least wrapped up its story.
You might want to start uninstalling some mods, Baldur's Gate 3 console players, as an incoming hotfix will make those of you with 100+ mods unable to play your save
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 10:28:59 -0000
Calling all Baldur's Gate 3 mod lovers on console, you should probably start uninstalling them, as an incoming hotfix will render your saves unplayable.
The Sunday Papers
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0000
I will spend this Sunday nursing a chest infection, probably by wrapping blankets around myself and watching YouTube videos until sleep comes. Let's first round up some good links with writing and videos about videogames.
This is surely the best link this week: an hour-long video on how to beat "every possible game of Pokemon Platinum at the same time". That is, coming up with a set of game inputs that can win billions of possible permutations of the game, as determined by its RNG, when played simultaneously. It's an impressive feat, but the video itself is great too, patiently breaking down the process with motion graphics and video editing flair. Delightful.
Sounds like that Tom Hardy Splinter Cell movie you all definitely forgot about has bit the dust
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 11:28:03 -0000
Sorry, Splinter Cell fans, but that long in development movie appears to be dead and buried.
I need The Pokemon Company to bring this incredible 25th anniversary Gold and Silver merch over to the west
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 12:00:53 -0000
It's Pokemon Gold and Silver's 25th anniversary next week, and to mark the occasion The Pokemon Company is releasing some incredibly good merch.
Half-Life 2: Episode 3 doesn't exist because Left 4 Dead does
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 12:27:47 -0000
As part of this weekend's special anniversary update, Valve has given fans a sneak peek of the cancelled Half-Life 2: Episode 3 project.
Black Ops 6 is going to let you use legacy XP tokens after all - but not quite yet
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 13:11:59 -0000
Treyarch has enabled, disabled, and is now reintroducing legacy XP tokens in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Half-Life 2 marks 20th anniversary by breaking its own concurrent record on Steam
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 13:56:52 -0000
20 years after its 2004 debuted, Half-Life 2 has broken its own concurrent player record on Steam.
Silent Hill 2 Remake fans want to know when the game will run properly on PS5 Pro
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 14:40:11 -0000
Silent Hill 2 Remake players are calling on Konami to address the technical issues still plaguing the game on PS5 Pro ten days on from the console's release.
I'd forgotten how stylish the original GTA: San Andreas was until the latest Definitive Edition update
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 15:00:00 -0000
GTA: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition's launch in 2021, three years ago, was infamously rough. From badly upscaled textures, to shoddy character models, to broken animations (and plenty more), the three games that defined modern open worlds were butchered. Now, Rockstar Games has wowed everyone by pulling off a complete 180.
The Boys' creator says he's worried about becoming "the thing we've been satirizing for five years" of the same series that is set to get three spinoffs
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 15:04:53 -0000
Not ready for Dragon Age: The Veilguard but struggling to import your world save states from the Keep into Inquisition? You're not the only one, and BioWare is trying to fix it
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 15:33:44 -0000
Dragon Age: Inquisition players currently aren't able to import their world states over from the Keep, but don't worry, BioWare is working on a fix.
What's on your bookshelf?: Game Maker's Toolkit and Mind Over Magnet's Mark Brown
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000
Hello reader who is also a reader, and welcome back to Booked For The Week - our regular Sunday chat with a selection of cool industry folks about books! This week, it’s Game Maker’s Toolkit and Mind Over Magnet mechanics knower, explainer, and designer, Mark Brown! Cheers Mark! Mind if we have a nose at your bookshelf?
Despite being a 20 year old single-player game, Half-Life 2 just hit an all-time high concurrent player count thanks to that anniversary update
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 16:17:37 -0000
Crikey, Half-Life 2 just turned 20 this week, but despite that, and even thanks to that, it's just hit a new concurrent player count peak.
Continuing gaming's worst trend, you'll be able to play Avowed five days early as long as you're happy to fork over $90
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 16:55:07 -0000
"Expansion packs, new game seasons, DLCs, remakes and remasters are eligible" for this year's The Game Awards
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 18:04:19 -0000
The Game Awards has confirmed that DLC, remakes, and remasters are all eligible for all categories of its awards, including Game of the Year.
The Maw: what's new in PC games this week?
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 09:22:57 -0000
Happy this week, you people! The sky is a washed eggshell blue, the air smells of circus straw, and all the fallen leaves have eyes that glitter mischievously and mouths that screech underfoot like dial-up modems. The Maw must be feeling festive. Let's see if there are any new PC games we can feed it.
This year's Game Awards will accept DLC, new game seasons, expansions, and presumably Kojima’s MS Paint doodles
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 09:34:57 -0000
As per a recent update to their FAQ page, The Game Awards have confirmed that DLCs, new game seasons for live service games, and other such releases are eligible for their game of the year award.
The FAQ itself - which appears to have been accessible over the weekend but now links to a ‘coming soon’ page - says the following. Thanks Neowin for quoting it in its entirety:
The Diablo 4 Season 6 mid-season patch may be small, but it brings a couple of changes we've been asking for
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 09:43:29 -0000
We’re just one day away now from the release of Diablo 4’s next patch. This is the Season 6 mid-season update, so much of its focus is, as usual, on balance tweaks. Blizzard talked a lot about the higher-level changes we can expect in last week’s livestream, and the developer has now published the full change log.
Play as an assassin so stealthy you can’t see yourself in Assassinvisible
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 09:55:54 -0000
Joining the rare but always brilliant category of “games that sound like someone scratched the high concept into their arm at pub closing time with the sharp corner of a Frazzles packet” is Assassinvisible - a stealth game about an invisible assassin that’s so invisible the player doesn’t know where they are. True, games like Invisigun have experimented with this interesting concept before, but in Assassinvisible it's framed by another - the whole game exists as doodles in a bored student’s notebook. Here’s the Tres-tray:
Wish you could look at the beautiful art for every Pokemon TCG card and more? Someone's made a website where you can do just that
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 10:00:39 -0000
Those of you on the Pokemon TCG Pocket bandwagon that want to take a look at some older card art will be very interested in this new fan made website.
Fallout fan fest in real-life version of New Vegas' Goodsprings features NCR vs Legion battle re-enactments, and a Todd Howard cosplay with "an actual piece of trash"
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 10:58:09 -0000
Fallout fans have been staging an annual community get-together in the real-life town of Goodsprings for a few years now, with help from the owner of the Pioneer Saloon, as a celebration of Fallout: New Vegas day. 2024's edition looks to have been a good time, with lots of cosplayers having made their way out to Nevada, so they can roleplay as anything from an NCR ranger to Todd Howard.
Will Pokemon Pocket TCG event hourglasses carry over? Hopes are high after Lapras event finally wraps
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 11:08:37 -0000
The Lapras EX event in Pokemon TCG Pocket has concluded. The final packs have been dished out, the Lapras' have flown freely, and many store tickets were earned. But for those out there who have saved up loads of event hourglasses the big question remaining is clear: will they carry over to future PvE events?
BioWare had Dragon Age: The Veilguard's look nailed, 10 years ago
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 11:13:31 -0000
BioWare had the look of its excellent RPG Dragon Age: The Veilguard nailed a decade ago, when early work first began right after Dragon Age Inquisition's launch.
Back 4 Blood 2 may have just leaked because of its silly codename
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 11:18:23 -0000
Back 4 Blood might have had some mixed reviews, but thanks to a leak of a potential (silly) codename, there might be a sequel in the works.
Xbox Game Pass is set to lose these 6 games at the end of the month
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 11:28:28 -0000
Microsoft has confirmed the next slew of games set to leave Game Pass at the end of the month.
Pokémon TCG Pocket's next events revealed in datamine
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 11:45:11 -0000
Valve must address swastikas and other hate on Steam, writes US senator in a letter to Gabe Newell
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 11:49:54 -0000
A senator for the US government has urged Valve to answer complaints about the amount of racist, sexist and otherwise hateful posts and imagery shared by users on Steam. The digital store was the subject of a report by the Anti-Defamation League last week, which claimed to find millions of examples of "hateful or extremist" language and images hosted on Steam's community. These include things like Nazi symbols in profile pictures, white supremacist slogans in group names, and yet more discriminatory spew in user posts. The senator has noticed this report, and now writes directly to Gabe Newell, demanding that Valve "bring its content moderation practices in line with industry standards" or risk "intense scrutiny" from the government.
Classic Counter-Strike map Train returns in CS2 with a total overhaul, making it "60% cloudier"
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 11:59:04 -0000
Train, one of Counter-Strike's oldest and bestest maps, has received a sweeping update. Valve's given the fairly nondescript trainyard a "full visual overhaul" in Counter-Strike 2, making it "60% cloudier" and changing its layout to encourage more tactical play besides just whipping out the AWP and looking down long, narrow corridors.
Was Arcane meant to have five seasons? The creator of League of Legends sets the record straight on those rumours you've been hearing about
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:00:24 -0000
Arcane is ending after two seasons, but after some rumours about the show running for five seasons has spread, League of Legend's creator has cleared the air.
Roblox adding further parental controls, as its belated push to improve child safety continues
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:21:09 -0000
Roblox has today announced further tools designed to improve the safety of its young audience, including the ability for parents to remotely manage their child's account, view their child's friends list and limit the amount of time made available to play.
A year after Payday 3's rocky launch, Starbreeze downsizes the game's team, but thankfully it doesn't sound like any layoffs are on the way just yet
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:52:16 -0000
In perhaps a not particularly surprising move, Starbreeze is reducing the size of the team working on Payday 3.
Physical Lego Horizon Adventures set sees Aloy taking on a bricky Shell-Walker and Sawtooth
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 13:00:00 -0000
If you want to expand your Lego collection with some more Horizon-themed pieces, you are in luck.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard modding finally looks to be moving beyond purple deletion and ridiculously attractive Rooks, thanks to some experimental new tools
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 13:49:43 -0000
It's been a bit quiet on the Dragon Age: The Veilguard modding front so far, unless you've been in the market for works that make the game look a bit darker or save you some character creation time. However, it now looks like that's starting to change, with a bunch of new mods using a new tool to help them do stuff beyond that.
Looks like Back 4 Blood 2 is on the way
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 15:15:46 -0000
A sequel to Turtle Rock's bloody good Back 4 Blood is seemingly in development under the codename "Gobi 2".
Alien: Rogue Incursion lands December release date
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 15:35:29 -0000
Following a brief tease earlier in the year, Sony has now lifted the lid further on Alien: Rogue Incursion, with a new trailer and - importantly - a release date.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure finally gets Switch release date
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 15:37:44 -0000
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Life is Strange: Double Exposure finally has a release date for its delayed Switch version.
Soulframe has the bones of a great action-RPG, but I’m enjoying it partly because it feels too late to enjoy Warframe
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 15:45:43 -0000
I've been trying to work out if I'm keen on Soulframe only because I feel guilty about missing the boat with Warframe. I reviewed Digital Extremes' hit free-to-play shooter in 2013, back when people were still calling it a spiritual successor to the developer's boomerang-throwing action game Dark Sector. I didn't like Warframe much at the time. Think I gave it a 6/10. Warp forward a decade, and that 6/10 game has become a thriving live service phenomenon - fifteenth on the Steam Most Played charts at the time of writing, and profitable enough to spawn its own annual TennoCon expo. It's also become an intoxicating, confusing morass of dynastic sci-fantasy politicking and genre-shifting expansions, ranging from capital ship mechanics to questions of time travel, wrapped in layers of cosmetics that make Destiny look about as colourful as Gears Of War.
I definitely didn't see all that coming. I doubt Digital Extremes saw it coming either. Warframe today feels like a lab experiment run amok. I love its appetite for novelty, but there's a lot for a returning player to catch up on and, frankly, it feels like homework. As such, I had a couple of broad motivations for playing Soulframe's pre-alpha "prelude": I'm keen to see what Digital Extremes can do when they aren't encumbered by 10 years of world-building, and I want to get in on the ground floor before they absolutely swamp this thing in updates.
One of 2024's grandest and hardest first-person exploration games just got a lot easier
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:30:46 -0000
I'm still bumbling, tumbling and blundering through the cavernous labyrinths of first-person spelunking sim Lorn's Lure, in which you are an android exploring a series of enormous machines and sunken artificial habitats. I hope one day to level up from "bumbling, tumbling and blundering" to "running and jumping". Perhaps I'll even get as far as "speedrunning". But in the likely event that I plateau at "blundering", it's a relief to know that developer Rubeki Games has updated the game with an Explore Mode that makes certain sections dramatically easier.
Hitman World of Assassination delayed until March on PSVR2
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:36:07 -0000
Developer IO Interactive has announced a delay for Hitman World of Assassination's release on PlayStation VR2.
Are you a fan of Dragon Quest 3 and Square Enix's HD-2D look? You better let the developer know, as the JRPG's producer is worried you'll all get "bored" of them
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:59:55 -0000
Square Enix has pumped out a lot of HD-2D games over the past few years, and the producer of the Dragon Quest 3 remake is worried you might get "bored" of them.
Everyone in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is too nice, and I can’t stand it
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:00:00 -0000
I want to be absolutely clear: I really think Dragon Age: The Veilguard is rather good. It’s also true that it’s a game that is drawn taut between its different ambitions. It wants to reach new fans while satisfying series fans who’ve waited a decade for Inquisition’s cliffhanger to resolve. It wants to be accessible, but it wants to be a full-fat RPG. It wants to depict a world on the edge of a knife, the gentlest breeze enough to tip it into the pit – but it also wants you to have a nice time.
The odds of Baldur's Gate 3 being owned by The Pope just got better, as Larian's head of publishing shouts out mods for helping it outdo numbers from last year
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:05:15 -0000
We all know Baldur's Gate 3's mods have proven pretty popular since official support for them was added by Larian with Patch 7. The developer's gone out of its way to tell us just that, even letting us know just who we need to thank for contributing.
Back 4 Blood 2 appears to be a thing, which is a shame, because I'd rather play a new Evolve
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:52:09 -0000
It takes a special kind of entitled bellyacher to complain that you wanted a different game from a game that hasn't even been announced yet, and which may simply be an internet rumour. It's like the "glass half empty" mindset, but the bartender hasn't even taken your order and this might not even be a bar. Odds are you've wandered into the local antique shop. Well I, friends, am that bellyacher. Here I stand at the "bar", gesticulating wildly over my non-existent glass.
In this scenario, the confused bartender/antique shop owner is Turtle Rock, developers of Left 4 Dead homage Back 4 Blood. Rumour has it that they're making a Back 4 Blood 2 - but as I loudly explain to the bartender/antique shop owner, showering the cocktail measures/vintage Toby Jugs in spittle, I don't want a Back 4 Blood 2. I want a follow-up to 2015's Evolve, in which four hunters team up to track down a fifth person playing as a kaiju. "A flagon of your finest Gorgon, please," I roar, thumping the bar, while Turtle Rock tries to sell me a gentleman's travelling suitcase from the 1920s.
The latest contender in the retro hardware wars is a high-quality delight: the Chromatic
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000
Over the last few years, the retro floodgates have opened - and it’s honestly never been a better time to be an elderly gamer. If you want to relive the glories of your childhood there are now numerous options from a wide variety of companies - but this latest contender might be one of the most exciting yet.
DF Weekly: What is an Xbox? Not an existential crisis but the latest phase of Microsoft's big transition
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 18:38:56 -0000
What is an Xbox? It's a pretty straightforward question, right? I'd define it as a custom piece of gaming technology, generally box-shaped, that typically sits in the lounge or bedroom. Competitively priced, it's a mainstream-orientated product that offers a great balance between price and performance and is as close to plug and play gaming as you're going to get. It is a console, or is it? Microsoft begs to differ with its latest, remarkable messaging. A cloud client running on a smart TV, Amazon Fire Stick or Meta Quest VR headset is now an Xbox. A desktop PC is an Xbox. A laptop or PC handheld is also an Xbox. It's all part of Microsoft's transition plan to evolve Xbox from a console/PC ecosystem into an 'Everywhere' platform that's as device-agnostic as it's possible to be - but is it going to work?
Astro Bot, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth lead this year's The Game Awards nominations
Mon, 18 Nov 2024 19:27:09 -0000
The panel has voted and this year's Game Awards nominations have been announced - with Astro Bot, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Silent Hill 2, and Balatro all looking like they could be in for a very merry Geoffmas come 12th December.
Sony is in talks to buy Dark Souls and Elden Ring parent company Kadokawa
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:04:54 -0000
Good morning, how about a nice big bowl of your favourite breakfast cereal: Corporate Consolidation? Sony are in talks to buy Kadokawa, the parent company of Elden Ring developer From Software. Sony is eyeing up the company as a hefty snack because they want the various manga and anime owned by Kadokawa, according to a report by Reuters. But also because they want all the tasty games owned by them too, such as the Danganronpa series, the Octopath Traveler games, and the biggest corn flake of them all, the Dark Souls series.
PlayStation in talks to buy owner of Elden Ring, Dark Souls developer FromSoftware
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:33:55 -0000
PlayStation maker Sony is currently in talks that would likely see it acquire a controlling stake in FromSoftware, the developer behind Elden Ring, Dark Souls and Bloodborne, as part of a buyout of its owner, the Japanese publishing giant Kadokawa.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor on PS5 Pro brings RT to performance mode but image quality problems need fixing
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:50:16 -0000
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is not only the game with the weirdest semicolon placement in the industry, it also feels like one of the most-patched current-generation titles, after launching with a host of issues on PC and consoles alike. Jedi: Survivor recently received a PS5 Pro patch too, granting owners of the premium Sony console the potential for enhanced visuals and improved performance, but sadly only one of those objectives has been met here.
Wondering when the new DCU's Green Lanterns show is coming out? James Gunn offers up a rough release window
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:53:01 -0000
Sony is reportedly in talks to buy Elden Ring and Dark Souls developer FromSoftware's owner Kadokawa
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:53:38 -0000
Sony is reportedly in talks to buy Japanese media giant Kadokawa Corporation, the current majority owner of Elden Ring, Bloodborne, and Dark Souls developer FromSoftware, in an attempt to expand its portfolio of entertainment stuff.
Metal Slug Tactics review: the crunchy arcade run 'n' gun pauses to have a tactical think
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:09:55 -0000
I am a very casual enjoyer of Metal Slug games. I've never actually paid for one of these side-scrolling shoot 'em ups, except for all the countless coins I happily pumped into arcade machines as a child. To this day, if I see a rare glittering cabinet running one of these crunchy shmups, I will go ham for twenty or thirty minutes, and walk away satisfied that I have seen a lot of very good pixels. These games, I am convinced, were never really designed to be completed, but to be played exactly like this, as a coin-gobbling invitation to become a bandana-wearing sisyphus, a tiny Rambo pushing a bouncy, juddering tank up a hill occupied by cartoon nazis. You die a bunch and say: "ah, that was good."
So what happens when you rearrange the molecules of this run and/or gun 'em up into an isometric turn-based strategy game? You get Metal Slug Tactics, an off-kilter nod to Into The Breach and other grid-based turn-takers, but secretly housing the aggressive notions of an unhinged pyromaniac. You still die a lot. And you still walk away feeling fairly happy about it.
Final Fantasy 6 first choice of Dragon Quest 3 producer for HD-2D remake
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:58:30 -0000
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake producer Masaaki Hayasaka would love to see a similar remake for Final Fantasy 6, though there are no "concrete plans".
"It’s about the cost of being human" says Tron: Ares director of movie about video game people running around in colourful, tightly fitting suits
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:58:34 -0000
Assassin's Creed Syndicate gets PS5 Pro, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S enhancements
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 11:04:10 -0000
Blimey guvnor! Ubisoft has only gone and slapped a shiny ol' update on Assassin's Creed Syndicate, that game set in Victorian London.
Minecraft attractions set to open in UK and US, as £85m deal with Alton Towers owner signed
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 11:19:43 -0000
Mojang Studios has entered a partnership with theme park operator Merlin Entertainments to introduce real-life Minecraft experiences across the globe, beginning in the UK and US.
Sorry We're Closed review - an enthralling, demonic love story in survival horror clothing
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 11:28:57 -0000
Breaking up can be hell, but at least most of us don't have to deal with partners and exes who are also actual demons at the same time. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for London shop worker Michelle. Not only is she still reeling from a bad break-up with her very human girlfriend that happened several years previously, but she's also recently caught the eye of a very demanding arch-demon called The Duchess who simply won't take no for an answer - cursing Michelle with a third eye and the prospect of death and eternal damnation if she doesn't submit to love The Duchess in three days' time.
Elden Ring fan-made anime, or fanime, gets fresh teaser, but you'll have to wait until next year to watch it
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 11:45:21 -0000
If you're looking for something fitting to watch in order to celebrate Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree getting a game of the year nomination at this year's Game Awards Keighleyfest, you'll be looking at a bit of a longer wait if you're planning on it being the Elden Ring anime that got a cool teaser earlier this year.
F-Zero X soundtrack added to Nintendo Music app
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 11:48:45 -0000
Chasing live-service and open-world elements diluted BioWare's focus, Dragon Age: The Veilguard director says, discussing studio's return to its roots
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 11:54:05 -0000
Dragon Age: The Veilguard's co-directors have discussed BioWare's push to return to its roots in character-focused single-player role-playing games, after its recent struggles with both Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem.
There's something far more interesting, and potentially worrying, about that rumour that Sony is buying FromSoft's parent company
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 12:03:06 -0000
A new report claims that Sony is looking to acquire FromSoftware's parent company Kadokawa Corporation, but that could actually be uncomfortable news for manga fans.
Homeworld 3's last big update launches this week, after developer decision to unify remaining plans
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 12:26:36 -0000
Developer Blackbird Interactive has detailed its forthcoming final update for Homeworld 3.
Pokémon TCG Pocket has already surpassed $120m since release
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 12:34:39 -0000
Pokémon TCG Pocket has now surpassed $120m in total earnings since its release three weeks ago.
Helldivers 2's latest major order is all about using the Democracy Space Station, which is er, currently still on cooldown for the next half a day or so
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 12:55:20 -0000
Helldivers 2's Democracy Space Station is the big thing right now, so it's no surprise the game's latest major order is all about using it to help with some planet liberation. That said, it is a bit funny that this MO looks to have been deployed when all of the DSS' special abilities are currently on cooldown, meaning they won't be deployable for a little while.
Yes, Red One did only make $34 million on a $250 million budget on its opening weekend, but for Amazon, that doesn't actually matter
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 12:56:25 -0000
Red One hasn't exactly done amazing at the box office considering its massive budget, but that isn't a concern for Amazon thanks to Prime Video.
Farming Simulator 25 has sold 2 million copies already - that's more than Alan Wake 2
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:08:59 -0000
Remedy Entertainment - the developer behind the excellent Alan Wake 2 - recently held its Capital Markets Day for investors and financial media. Within this event, loads of juicy bits of info was revealed, including Control 2 being an action RPG, and the aforementioned Alan Wake 2 selling a whopping 1.8 million units!
Bloodshed is Vampire Survivors meets Doom and it's a surprisingly moreish bloodbath
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:11:14 -0000
A long while ago I wrote about Vampire Survivors-likes needing to stop overwhelming you with visual clutter. I've since played a few games of a similar ilk that don't hammer you with a chaos that's impossible to dissect with your eyeballs. One of these is Bloodshed, an old school FPS take on the VS formula that actually works pretty well and did have me thinking the treacherous phrase "just one more run".
Life is Strange fans upset after Square Enix removes reddit posts featuring leaked content, anonymous developer comments
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:18:50 -0000
Square Enix has responded to claims it removed datamined details and anonymous comments from staff who worked on Life is Strange: Double Exposure at developer Deck Nine Games.
Xbox Game Pass late November titles confirmed
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:21:08 -0000
Microsoft has detailed the Xbox Game Pass titles set to be added to its subscription in the latter half of November.
Control 2 will be an "action-RPG", Remedy confirms
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:50:55 -0000
“Lasting is the key word” How EVE: Vanguard plans to leverage Helldivers 2, World of Warcraft, and Destiny to make a shooter that actually, truly, respects your time
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:00:00 -0000
“A lot of shooters rely on resetting the economy,” says Scott Davis, lead product manager at CCP London, simply, during a presentation about EVE: Vanguard - the massively-multiplayer online first-person shooter in development at CCP. He doesn’t mention it by name, but he’s talking about Call of Duty, it’s obvious. He’s referenced triple-A shooters with annual (or near-annual) development cycles. It doesn’t take a savant to read between the lines.
The good news is EVE: Vanguard is targeting a console release, the bad news is you’re probably going to wait until at least 2028 for it
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:00:00 -0000
Can you even imagine what the world is going to look like at the end of the next Trump presidency? I can’t. I don’t even know if gaming itself will be the same by then; maybe The Powers That Be will just lay everyone off and we’ll have buckets of AI-developed slop to gorge on, instead. Like Ready Player One, but even more insidious, somehow.
Silent Hill 2's PS5 Pro patch is another update with big image quality issues
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:01:55 -0000
Silent Hill 2 Remake is a perfect candidate for a PlayStation 5 Pro upgrade. A month after its October release, frame-rate drops still detract from the base PS5 experience - in both its 60fps performance and 30fps quality modes - all of which makes the prospect of new hardware fixing the issue rather compelling. There's an air of mystery surrounding this PS5 Pro upgrade, though. Developer Bloober Team makes no explicit mention of Pro support in its patch notes and all we have to go on is a brief note on the PlayStation Store that it has a Pro patch. Still, booting the game it's clear that a PS5 Pro upgrade is indeed in place, as stealthy as it is. There's a boost in frame-rate on both modes - quality and performance - that allows for a more stable 30 and 60 frames per second. Plus, Sony's PSSR upscaling is now used on PS5 Pro, replacing the TSR upscaling method of the base console. The problem is that there are some glaring image stability issues not found on the standard PlayStation 5 - and this looks to be another game with a troubled PSSR upscaling implementation.
If you can believe it, Pokemon TCG Pocket has soared past $120 million in revenue in less than a month
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:08:59 -0000
Pokemon TCG Pocket has earned over $120 million since its release not even a month ago, according to mobile revenue tracker Appmagic. As reported by Pocket Gamer, it's also hitting highs in terms of daily spending, setting the game up to meet or even surpass levels of revenue established by Pokemon Go.
How Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 uses machine learning AI, and how much of your data it might need
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:22:01 -0000
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launches on Steam and the Microsoft Store today. Developed once again by Asobo - otherwise celebrated for their stinking rat hordes - it builds upon the 2020 game by "[taking] advantage of the latest technologies in simulation, cloud, machine learning, graphics and gaming", in the words of the launch announcement release.
We've got a review in the works, but code has landed late, so our write-up might take a while. In the shorter term, I thought you might like to know how, exactly, MFS 2024 makes use of "machine learning" technologies, taking into account the energy cost of such wacky gadgetry and the creeping relationship between increased reliance on automated tools and laying people off. More immediately, you might like to know how much of your internet package it'll devour as you play.
Fan-made Elden Ring anime adaptation delayed, but new teaser trailer shows work-in-progress
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:28:19 -0000
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A fan-made Elden Ring anime has been delayed into next year, but a new teaser trailer shows how production is developing.
Yep, Dragon Age: The Veilguard modders are definitely cooking now: they've covered Solas' bald bonce in big wet sloppy kisses and clown makeup
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:31:48 -0000
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Over the past few days, the dam has properly broken on Dragon Age: The Veilguard modding, with folks finally starting to be able to do stuff that isn't just reshades or Rook presets. Anyway, we've now hit that blessed point where mods that're pretty funny are starting to arrive - such as one that covers the Dread Wolf himself in lipstick.
Spider-Verse fans are hoping a massive neon sign that's cropped up in New York is evidence of an incoming announcement, but I just feel sorry for the poor renters stuck behind it
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:59:57 -0000
Some Spider-Verse fans have spotted a big ol' neon sign the size of an apartment building in New York, and a few of them think it might be to do with the upcoming third film.
Homeworld 3's last major update adds superweapons, campaign interludes and a new armour system
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:31:47 -0000
Mildly dissatisfactory space strategy game Homeworld 3 will receive its last major update this week, developers Blackbird Interactive have announced. Due to launch on 21st November, Update 1.3 will deliver "a gargantuan number of improvements, fixes, and some entirely new features". These broadly consist of combat and balance overhauls together with changes for the Skirmish & War Games modes, though they've shown the campaign a little love as well.
The first trailer for Apple TV's The Studio features Hollywood's best like Martin Scorsese and Charlize Theron telling Seth Rogen how terrible he is
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:53:39 -0000
Towers of Aghasba offers mindless pleasures and tiny hippos to pelt with fruit
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 17:00:00 -0000
I spent a lot of this morning throwing fruit at a tiny hippo. Sometimes the hippo ate the fruit, which was what I intended. Sometimes the fruit missed and rolled away and was lost forever. Sometimes - very occasionally - I pressed the wrong button and ate the fruit myself. A pain, really, because the fruit is quite hard to gather and stock up on.
Threshold review: put in the shift and you shall be... rewarded
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 17:00:00 -0000
My time with Threshold has been fraught with pain. Five times. Five times I had to restart this psychological horror game because of some game-breaking bug. And yet, I persevered, booting it back up and returning to my government-mandated shift atop a quiet mountain.
Ultimately, I gave Threshold chance after chance because I was totally taken by my shift and my immense desire to find out just what I was actually doing. Anyway, it's time for me to clock off! I urge you to take over until I'm back. It's worth it.
Control 2 will be an action-RPG, and the first game is getting a significant update in 2025
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 17:20:36 -0000
Remedy's Control 2 will be an "action RPG", the developers have announced, and while I have already caved and written it up, I'm not sure this is really news. Wasn't the first game an action-RPG? True, it was a third-person shooter, but it also had a progression system with unlockable abilities and boosts. Besides, isn't every action game an action-RPG these days? Levelling-up has become an industry-wide syndrome. Go on, name an action game that doesn't have RPG-style elements. No wait, don't actually do that. I was being rhetorical. Read the rest of this post first.
Messy drama behind Disco Elysium's multiple spiritual successors detailed in new report
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 20:14:27 -0000
A new report detailing the drama behind the three Disco Elysium spiritual successors all simultaneously announced last month has outlined a convoluted web of connections, fallouts, and legal action, suggesting the beloved RPG's legacy remains as messy as ever.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 struggles to get off the ground as players battle launch day server woes
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 22:03:03 -0000
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is cleared for takeoff, ready to give aircraft fanciers and digital globetrotters another jaunt across its beautiful world. But in a turn of events almost exactly mirroring the launch day woes seen by its 2020 predecessor, Flight Simulator 2024 is struggling to gt off the ground, with players complaining of lengthy post-install download times, installation freezes, and more as Microsoft's servers buckle under the demand.
Minecraft movie's second trailer brings deep Steve lore, tree punching, bee
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 23:15:36 -0000
It'd be fair to say the live-action Minecraft movie's first trailer didn't exactly arrive to rapturous applause. But now Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures are back for a second try, this time unleashing the deep Steve lore, tree punching, teleporting Ender Pearls, an unfortunate incident involving a chicken, and even an adorable square bee.
PlayStation Portal update adds cloud gaming support in beta, no PS5 required
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:50:55 -0000
It's update time for the PlayStation Portal, and Sony's latest release offers something markedly more exciting than usual: cloud streaming is coming to the handheld device if you're a PlayStation Plus Premium member, albeit initially as a beta.
Final Fantasy 14 Mobile officially revealed
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:18:36 -0000
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UPDATE 1pm UK: Final Fantasy 14 Mobile will be free-to-play and won't include gacha mechanics.
Layoffs hit workers at Reflector Entertainment, makers of Unknown 9: Awakening
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 09:47:20 -0000
Workers at Reflector Entertainment, the Montreal studio that recently released third-person action adventure Unknown 9: Awakening, have been hit by layoffs, according to a number of employees who made the cuts public on social media. The studio is owned by Bandai Namco and released the game about a month ago. The exact number of people out of work isn't known, as Reflector haven't made a public statement about it. (Update: A statement from Reflector says the layoffs amount to 18% of the total workforce). Among those affected are folks working in art, design, UI, lighting, and narrative.
Big changes for the Green Game Jam as it targets triple-A games
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000
For three years now, I feel like I've been writing the same story about the Green Game Jam: great efforts are being made but where are the companies making blockbuster games? Why aren't they part of this, and what will it take to get them involved?
"There was always going to be live action" - As the Minecraft movie gets a new trailer, its director and producer try to defend its controversial look
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:02:25 -0000
As A Minecraft Movie gets a new uncanny valley as heck trailer, its director and producer attempt to defend how it looks.
Mouthwashing is the most horrifying game of 2024
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:10:39 -0000
In 2015 a flight by Germanwings carrying 144 passengers and six crew crashed into a mountain in the French Alps. Later, the authorities who investigated the crash judged it was intentional - somebody in the cockpit had purposefully crashed the plane in an act of suicide, killing themselves and everyone on board. Mouthwashing begins with the same premise, albeit in a sci-fi setting. You're piloting a spaceship with a crew of five, clicking on its various controls to override the safety and turn the ship towards a nearby heap of space rock. You mean to crash. The words that appear moments before this sequence are chilling in their simplicity: "I hope this hurts."
Pokemon Go developer Niantic is using player data to train AI that could power map-roaming robots
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:15:56 -0000
A blog post on the Niantic website has gained the attention of numerous Pokemon Go fans and tech-savvy folks alike due to the company's lengthy description of its work training up a machine learning powered geospacial model through its apps. That means you, yes you, might have played a part in building it up.
The trailer for the live action How to Train Your Dragon movie evokes just one question: Why?
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:58:11 -0000
The first trailer for the live action remake of How to Train Your Dragon just has me wondering why we keep bothering to do this.
Valve reportedly reviving its divisive Steam controller, trackpads now different sizes and shapes
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:03:32 -0000
Following the debut and eventual discontinuation of its original Steam controller, Valve is now said to be working on another iteration, under the codename Ibex.
Disco Elysium's potential 'spiritual successors' reportedly come with even more behind-the-scenes drama, including a bizarre spat about photos of someone's ex-wife
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:17:12 -0000
It feels like almost ever since Disco Elysium arrived in our lives, it's been linked to behind-the-scenes messiness which, while it's taken various forms and involved different parties, usually follows some similar themes. It's generally quite complex - as they said/this other person said video game drama often is - sometimes litigious, and occasionally really weird, if still clearly worth taking seriously.
F1 Manager 2025 reportedly cancelled by Planet Coaster studio
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:30:55 -0000
Planet Coaster and Elite Dangerous developer Frontier looks to have canned its upcoming F1 Manager 25, following poor sales of the franchise.
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes PlayStation release announced
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:56:49 -0000
Impressive indie puzzler Lorelei and the Laser Eyes will arrive for PlayStation 4 and PS5 next month, on 3rd December.
Fancy some Star Wars anime from the studios behind Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Cyberpunk 2077, and Ghost in the Shell? Visions season 3 is going to give you just that
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:00:47 -0000
FromSoftware owner Kadokawa acknowledges takeover interest from Sony
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:06:31 -0000
The Callisto Protocol PS5 Pro update adds 8K resolution at 30fps
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:10:07 -0000
The Callisto Protocol has joined the likes of No Man's Sky, with confirmation it is now playable in 8K resolution on Sony's recently-released PlayStation 5 Pro console.
Final Fantasy 14 Mobile is a thing, so you'll soon be able to "make Eorzea a better place through the bonds of friendship" while sitting on the toilet
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:13:47 -0000
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Good news, Final Fantasy 14 is coming to mobile, meaning you'll be able to play the big RPG/MMO thing on the loo without having to haul your bulky setup in there, or do some trickery with keeping doors open so you can still see the screen.
There's a playable Disco Elysium 2 prototype in the wilds, according to a report on clashes between the "spiritual successors"
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:32:06 -0000
On 11th October 2024, three video game studios announced themselves near-simultaneously as the creators of “spiritual successors” to ZA/UM’s mournful Marxist RPG Disco Elysium. First came Longdue, a conspicuously corporate operator who are making an untitled “psychogeographic RPG”. Dark Math Games followed around lunchtime - they’re making a sexy Antarctic ski resort mystery called XXX Nightshift. Finally, there was Summer Eternal, the mouthiest and Marxiest of the lot, who have set themselves up as a workers co-operative and have yet to announce a specific project.
Dragon Age developer cast Farscape star as Morrigan after hearing her beat poet rendition of noughties rap banger
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:34:42 -0000
Dragon Age fan favourite character Morrigan found her voice after Farscape and Stargate SG-1 actress Claudia Black sent in a demo tape containing a surprising recording.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 owners get Warzone XP boost
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:54:12 -0000
Activision has confirmed that players who own Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 get a 30 percent XP boost in Warzone.
Elden Ring developer FromSoftware's owner Kadokawa confirms takeover interest from Sony, but says "no decision has been made at this time"
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:58:13 -0000
Kadokawa Corporation, the current majority owner of Elden Ring, Bloodborne, and Dark Souls developer FromSoftware, has confirmed that it's recieved an "an initial letter of intent to acquire the Company's shares" from Sony. However, it's also said that no decision has been made as to whether the former corp will sell up the latter as of right now.
Batman villain Clayface has already been cast before the caped crusader himself in James Gunn's new DCU, and he's going to have quite a familiar voice
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:04:14 -0000
Where's our Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl review?
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0000
Hello! It's one of these again. You may have started to see some reviews going live for Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl right now, but ours won't be among them sadly - at least not just yet - so we wanted to let you know where ours was and why we're delaying it.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart Of Chornobyl review: a captivating survival shooter, even with bits falling off
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0000
We’re probably all past "And in the game" jokes by now, but it is fitting that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart Of Chornobyl is about venturing into a shattered world and enduring the worst of its logic-defying hardships to find the treasures within. This is a bold, uncompromising survival FPS that can easily capture you for days on end – but I can’t invite you back into the Zone without hammering in a few hundred warning signs reading "DANGER: BUGS". In Ukrainian, obviously.
Stalker 2 review: an excellent work of struggle and loneliness, even if it is plagued by bugs
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:00:39 -0000
There's not been a game that nails the feeling of loneliness like Stalker 2. A vast and challenging open world sci-fi RPG from GSC Game World, it stands alone in its ambitious exploration of a perilous, ruined landscape plagued by greed and unflinching peril. A theme park to some and a fresh hell for others, Stalker 2 excellently portrays the grim reality of trying to carve a life out of struggle, wrestling with the weird and the paranormal.
Come steal the bodies of your robot foes in RAM: Random Access Mayhem, out now in early access
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:16:51 -0000
Did last week's paranormal body-swapper Slitterhead leave you cold? Do you consider its brain-jacking of rando cityfolk for monster-hunting purposes a sad waste of potential? Perhaps you'll prefer RAM: Random Access Mayhem, out now in Steam early access, in which you're a fugitive AI hopping between warlike robot bodies in top-down view.
Yes, the subtitle involves both a colon and a dad joke, but the demo is entertaining - Nuclear Throne meets Ctrl Alt Ego, in short. The one major criticism I have after 20 minutes or so is that the flat pixelart perspective makes walls and walkable surfaces look interchangeable, and this feels more like a question of acclimatisation than a real complaint.
Unknown 9: Awakening developers report layoffs
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:27:46 -0000
Staff members who worked on Unknown 9: Awakening report layoffs across the team at Canadian outfit Reflector Entertainment.
Planet Coaster 2 hotfix will make flumes more popular
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:53:07 -0000
A second hotfix will be released for Planet Coaster 2 tomorrow, 21st November, bringing a number of fixes.
Who says cannibalism and Valentine's Day don't mix? Yellowjackets Season 3 has a release date
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 15:23:37 -0000
Calling all cannibalism lovers, Yellowjackets season 3 has a release date, and its timing is great, if a bit twisted.
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island coming to PC this winter
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 15:28:16 -0000
Developer Spike Chunsoft Co has announced its roguelike dungeon crawler Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island will be coming to PC via Steam.
Pivoting in politics, tech, antitrust and economic growth | Gary Shapiro interview
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 15:30:00 -0000
Gary Shapiro, the CEO of the CTA, is blunt when he articulates his views of politics, tech, antitrust law and economic growth.<img width="578" height="385" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gary-shapiro-4.jpg?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Gary Shapiro is CEO of the Consumer Technology Association." decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gary-shapiro-4.jpg 1200w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gary-shapiro-4.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gary-shapiro-4.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gary-shapiro-4.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gary-shapiro-4.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gary-shapiro-4.jpg?resize=750,500 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gary-shapiro-4.jpg?resize=578,385 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gary-shapiro-4.jpg?resize=930,620 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>Gary Shapiro, the CEO of the CTA, is blunt when he articulates his views of politics, tech, antitrust law and economic growth.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/pivoting-in-politics-tech-antitrust-and-economic-growth-gary-shapiro-interview/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Fortnite's permanent OG Mode will have its own battle pass
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:06:33 -0000
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is out now and buggy as hell but the developers are already planning fixes
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:15:30 -0000
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart Of Chornobyl is out today. As you may have read, it's on the buggy side. Buggier than a bucketful of locusts. Buggier than Kafka's Metamorphosis. In our S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart Of Chornobyl review, wasteland wanderer James called it "easily the most borked FPS I've played in years", detailing such issues as HUD elements disappearing, stuttery performance, flashing textures and character mouths not working properly.
This sidescroller combines cat photography with the joy (misery) of social media clout-farming
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:23:40 -0000
One of my proudest pictures of a 2018 trip to Croatia wasn't of me and my pal. No, it wasn't of the beautiful scenery or the glistening sea either. It was of many cats lying in the sun together outside a little church. I hadn't seen that volume of cats in my life, nor that volume together in one spot, all hanging out. Now, you too can live this magic: there's a demo of this upcoming sidescroller called Neko Odyssey on Steam, and it consists of you taking photos of cats for internet clout. It's nice!
The latest Alien: Earth teaser trailer doesn't tell us much other than the fact our planet is pregnant, but it did offer up a release window at least
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:54:55 -0000
Another Alien: Earth teaser trailer has been released upon the world, and there's not much to see, so let's be thankful there's a release window.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl dev acknowledges "rough edges", says its monitoring feedback
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:15:40 -0000
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl developer GSC Game World has released a statement on the state of its game, as its sequel finally becomes available to play.
Masterfully silly brawler Gang Beasts gets surprise update with driveable cranes and Hitchcockian bird attacks
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:20:22 -0000
Gang Beasts is one of the games I think of when I recall the golden days of video game expos, before Covid rolled up and nuked the business model. It casts you as one of several jellybaby pugilists, fighting for dominance over such locations as Ferris wheels and the tops of speeding vans. All of the characters are 1) seemingly drunk, and 2) subject to real-time physics. Your abilities consist of 1) punching, headbutting or kicking people, perhaps knocking them out for a few seconds, and 2) grabbing people and things and either hoisting them skyward like a wrestler, or hoisting yourself skyward like a toddler climbing onto Mummy's head. The only way of defeating people is to hurl them off-map.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 borrowed all its animals from Planet Zoo
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:21:27 -0000
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is (science!) kind of like a piping bag, where all sorts of data - satellite imagery, elevation date, live weather info, and so on - gets shoved in at one end then squirted out the other to form a majestic aeronautical whole. But it turns out one of its sources is a fairly surprising one, with Asobo having now revealed it's festooned its newest digital world with animals borrowed straight from Frontier Development's marvellous Planet Zoo.
StreamElements focuses on creator monetization in new product roadmap
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 18:23:35 -0000
StreamElements debuted its roadmap of upcoming products and features, which are focused on creator monetization and maximizing revenue.<img width="578" height="325" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-20241117-204241.png?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-20241117-204241.png 1800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-20241117-204241.png?resize=300,169 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-20241117-204241.png?resize=768,432 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-20241117-204241.png?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-20241117-204241.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-20241117-204241.png?resize=400,225 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-20241117-204241.png?resize=750,422 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-20241117-204241.png?resize=578,325 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-20241117-204241.png?resize=930,523 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>StreamElements debuted its roadmap of upcoming products and features, which are focused on creator monetization and maximizing revenue.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/games/streamelements-focuses-on-creator-monetization-in-new-product-roadmap/" target="_blank">Read More</a>HoYoverse teases Honkai Star Rail 3.0 characters, and oh by the way, Remembrance is a new playable path
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 19:07:13 -0000
HoYoverse might be gearing up to set Sunday and Tingyun – Fugue, whom I affectionately call Fugueyun or Deadyun (IYKYK), loose in Honkai Star Rail, but that hasn’t stopped them from teasing HSR 3.0’s characters already. First up was The Herta, a 5-star variant of the Herta puppet that’s been present at launch with an impressive hat and, surprisingly, the same path and element as her 4-star version – Ice and Erudition. That’s exciting.
CD Projekt says "no plans" for Cyberpunk 2077 upgrade on PS5 Pro
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 19:14:02 -0000
If you were hoping CD Projekt's already eye-catching Cyberpunk 2077 might be getting an PlayStation 5 Pro-specific spruce-up, there's some bad news; the studio says it has "no plans" to release an update for Sony's shiny new console.
DeepSeek’s first reasoning model R1-Lite-Preview turns heads, beating OpenAI o1 performance
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 19:19:45 -0000
The company’s published results highlight its ability to handle a wide range of tasks, from complex mathematics to logic-based scenarios.<img width="578" height="324" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_vector_art_line_art_flat_illustration_graphic_novel_spl_5e4ba6f6-8ff9-4899-a927-5e1aba8fb9e0.png?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Black and white AI vector image of robot jumping over the heads of onlookers in a city" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_vector_art_line_art_flat_illustration_graphic_novel_spl_5e4ba6f6-8ff9-4899-a927-5e1aba8fb9e0.png 2912w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_vector_art_line_art_flat_illustration_graphic_novel_spl_5e4ba6f6-8ff9-4899-a927-5e1aba8fb9e0.png?resize=300,168 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_vector_art_line_art_flat_illustration_graphic_novel_spl_5e4ba6f6-8ff9-4899-a927-5e1aba8fb9e0.png?resize=768,430 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_vector_art_line_art_flat_illustration_graphic_novel_spl_5e4ba6f6-8ff9-4899-a927-5e1aba8fb9e0.png?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_vector_art_line_art_flat_illustration_graphic_novel_spl_5e4ba6f6-8ff9-4899-a927-5e1aba8fb9e0.png?resize=1536,861 1536w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_vector_art_line_art_flat_illustration_graphic_novel_spl_5e4ba6f6-8ff9-4899-a927-5e1aba8fb9e0.png?resize=2048,1148 2048w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_vector_art_line_art_flat_illustration_graphic_novel_spl_5e4ba6f6-8ff9-4899-a927-5e1aba8fb9e0.png?resize=400,224 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_vector_art_line_art_flat_illustration_graphic_novel_spl_5e4ba6f6-8ff9-4899-a927-5e1aba8fb9e0.png?resize=750,420 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_vector_art_line_art_flat_illustration_graphic_novel_spl_5e4ba6f6-8ff9-4899-a927-5e1aba8fb9e0.png?resize=578,324 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_vector_art_line_art_flat_illustration_graphic_novel_spl_5e4ba6f6-8ff9-4899-a927-5e1aba8fb9e0.png?resize=930,521 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>The company’s published results highlight its ability to handle a wide range of tasks, from complex mathematics to logic-based scenarios.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/deepseeks-first-reasoning-model-r1-lite-preview-turns-heads-beating-openai-o1-performance/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024's launch has been marred by long load times, server issues and now it has overwhelmingly negative reviews
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 20:03:03 -0000
I've been looking forward to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 since it was announced, but I might wait a while longer before trying to play it. It launched yesterday and currently sits at "overwhelmingly negative" Steam reviews due to long loading times caused by server issues.
Space Marine 2 will ban mods from public games to address server stability and save corruption issues
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 20:43:41 -0000
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is making changes to how it handles mods in order to address server stability issues. Come the next big update in December, mods "will be prohibited from public online sessions," according to an update from the game director.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can now stream "select" games from their own library via Cloud Gaming
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 20:49:00 -0000
Five years after announcing the feature was on the way, Microsoft has finally launched the ability for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play "select" games they already own outside the Xbox Game Pass library via cloud streaming.
Snowflake beats Databricks to integrating Claude 3.5 directly
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 21:10:00 -0000
The company has partnered with Anthropic to bring Claude 3.5 family of models to Cortex AI, the fully-managed service for gen AI development<img width="578" height="324" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cfr0z3n_a_close-up_of_a_snowflake_made_of_computer_code_falling_b2e68ed9-ae48-454e-815c-e260a29ef914.png?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Snowflake made of circuitry and computer code." decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cfr0z3n_a_close-up_of_a_snowflake_made_of_computer_code_falling_b2e68ed9-ae48-454e-815c-e260a29ef914.png 1456w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cfr0z3n_a_close-up_of_a_snowflake_made_of_computer_code_falling_b2e68ed9-ae48-454e-815c-e260a29ef914.png?resize=300,168 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cfr0z3n_a_close-up_of_a_snowflake_made_of_computer_code_falling_b2e68ed9-ae48-454e-815c-e260a29ef914.png?resize=768,430 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cfr0z3n_a_close-up_of_a_snowflake_made_of_computer_code_falling_b2e68ed9-ae48-454e-815c-e260a29ef914.png?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cfr0z3n_a_close-up_of_a_snowflake_made_of_computer_code_falling_b2e68ed9-ae48-454e-815c-e260a29ef914.png?resize=400,224 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cfr0z3n_a_close-up_of_a_snowflake_made_of_computer_code_falling_b2e68ed9-ae48-454e-815c-e260a29ef914.png?resize=750,420 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cfr0z3n_a_close-up_of_a_snowflake_made_of_computer_code_falling_b2e68ed9-ae48-454e-815c-e260a29ef914.png?resize=578,324 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cfr0z3n_a_close-up_of_a_snowflake_made_of_computer_code_falling_b2e68ed9-ae48-454e-815c-e260a29ef914.png?resize=930,521 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>The company has partnered with Anthropic to bring Claude 3.5 family of models to Cortex AI, the fully-managed service for gen AI development<a href="https://venturebeat.com/data-infrastructure/snowflake-beats-databricks-to-integrating-claude-3-5-directly/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Valve might be moving closer to a Steam Controller 2 and new VR controllers, rumours say
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 21:22:10 -0000
Valve said that they want to make a new Steam Controller back in 2022, but such a thing might be getting closer to production, according to dataminer Brad Lynch.
Minecraft is getting two theme parks, with the first due in 2026
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 21:52:44 -0000
Two theme parks are being planned based on Minecraft. Mojang are partnering with Merlin Entertainments to open the destinations, including rides, hotel rooms and shops, in the UK and US in 2026 and 2027. Merlin are the operator of existing theme parks and attractions including Alton Towers, Legoland, Sea Life, and Madame Tussauds.
Anthropic’s Computer Use mode shows strengths and limitations in new study
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 23:23:18 -0000
Claude can perform impressively complex tasks, but it will also make stupid mistakes from time to time.<img width="578" height="325" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Computer-Use_-Claude-computer-use-static.png?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Credit: Anthropic" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Computer-Use_-Claude-computer-use-static.png 3840w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Computer-Use_-Claude-computer-use-static.png?resize=300,169 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Computer-Use_-Claude-computer-use-static.png?resize=768,432 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Computer-Use_-Claude-computer-use-static.png?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Computer-Use_-Claude-computer-use-static.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Computer-Use_-Claude-computer-use-static.png?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Computer-Use_-Claude-computer-use-static.png?resize=400,225 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Computer-Use_-Claude-computer-use-static.png?resize=750,422 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Computer-Use_-Claude-computer-use-static.png?resize=578,325 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Computer-Use_-Claude-computer-use-static.png?resize=930,523 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>Claude can perform impressively complex tasks, but it will also make stupid mistakes from time to time.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/anthropics-computer-use-mode-shows-strengths-and-limitations-in-new-study/" target="_blank">Read More</a>OpenScholar: The open-source A.I. that’s outperforming GPT-4o in scientific research
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 01:17:38 -0000
OpenScholar, an innovative AI system by Allen Institute for AI and University of Washington, revolutionizes scientific research by processing 45 million papers instantly, offering researchers citation-backed answers and challenging proprietary AI systems.<img width="578" height="324" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_a_robot_scholar_e7d3f42e-5c18-43dc-9f24-024627b19da9.webp?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Credit: VentureBeat made with Midjourney" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_a_robot_scholar_e7d3f42e-5c18-43dc-9f24-024627b19da9.webp 1031w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_a_robot_scholar_e7d3f42e-5c18-43dc-9f24-024627b19da9.webp?resize=300,168 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_a_robot_scholar_e7d3f42e-5c18-43dc-9f24-024627b19da9.webp?resize=768,431 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_a_robot_scholar_e7d3f42e-5c18-43dc-9f24-024627b19da9.webp?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_a_robot_scholar_e7d3f42e-5c18-43dc-9f24-024627b19da9.webp?resize=400,224 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_a_robot_scholar_e7d3f42e-5c18-43dc-9f24-024627b19da9.webp?resize=750,420 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_a_robot_scholar_e7d3f42e-5c18-43dc-9f24-024627b19da9.webp?resize=578,324 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_a_robot_scholar_e7d3f42e-5c18-43dc-9f24-024627b19da9.webp?resize=930,521 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>OpenScholar, an innovative AI system by Allen Institute for AI and University of Washington, revolutionizes scientific research by processing 45 million papers instantly, offering researchers citation-backed answers and challenging proprietary AI systems.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/openscholar-the-open-source-a-i-thats-outperforming-gpt-4o-in-scientific-research/" target="_blank">Read More</a>“I want to add a different twist” Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 will rethink how it implements mini-games, says director Naoki Hamaguchi
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000
There sure were a lot of mini-games in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, huh? By my count, there are 21 different activities you can experience as Cloud and his company venture out from Kalm and across the planet.
Despite the so-so reception, Stalker 2 is killing it on Steam, setting new series records
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 09:35:50 -0000
After what felt like over a decade of waiting - probably because it really has been - Stalker 2 has officially been released. The game’s developer, GSC Game World, triumphed over a global pandemic, and the need to move out of a their home country of Ukraine following the (still ongoing) invasion by neighbouring Russia.
Watch Blizzard explain why Diablo 4’s next big patch needs its own, dedicated PTR in today’s livestream
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:00:43 -0000
As promised, Blizzard developers will reconvene today, November 21 to deliver another Diablo 4 Campfire Chat. This is the second one of those in as many weeks, after last week’s mid-season update livestream.
Steam tighten up rules for games with season pass DLC: "you have to commit to completing that content on time"
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:01:55 -0000
Valve have unveiled a new policy about season passes on Steam, which aims to ensure that developers release all the individual DLC involved on time and share adequate details about each DLC pack in advance. It specifies that developers can delay release of a season pass DLC just once, and by no longer than three months. In the event that a developer postpones DLC release by longer than three months, Valve may take such corrective actions as removing the season pass from sale or refunding players.
Luca Guadagnino & Daniel Craig's post-Queer reunion could be Sgt. Rock for DC Studios, and we bet this wasn't on anyone's bingo card
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:11:28 -0000
As we wait for that first Superman trailer and the premiere of Creature Commandos on December 5, James Gunn's DC Studios is only ramping up its operations, and no one could've predicted this new live-action project in a million years: a Sgt. Rock flick directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Daniel Craig.
As Stalker 2's devs set about fixing its "rough edges", modders are on the case: less than 24 hours after release there are already four separate mods designed to stop stuttering
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:11:29 -0000
The early verdict on Stalker 2 now that it's finally arrived is that it's a pretty good game that's currently afflicted by a lot of bugs and issues. Some you can live with pretty easily, some you can't, and GSC Game World's unsurprisingly said it's got plans to fix them, having already put out a pretty colossal patch towards the end of the review window.
Stalker 2's launch is only the beginning: I cannot wait to see how a long-held series tradition makes this game even better
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:34:00 -0000
Stalker games suffering from bugs is a tale as old as the series itself, to the point where it's kind of a part of playing the games, at least on PC. Stalker 2 is no different. While the game has been created under especially rough circumstances due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine turning the lives of the developers upside down, hope of a more stable game with smoother edges isn't baseless. In fact, the game's saviour could be a long-held tradition.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director anticipated a mixed reaction to its controversial ending, but wanted to avoid fan service
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:37:12 -0000
Star Wars Outlaws finally getting rid of forced stealth from "almost all quest objectives"
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:58:53 -0000
Joy to the world, Ubisoft is finally removing those really rather frustrating (read, incredibly frustrating) forced stealth sections from "almost all quest objectives" in Star Wars Outlaws.
Steam Season Pass policy updated, warns developers must be "ready to clearly communicate" DLC content
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 11:06:28 -0000
Valve has updated its Steam policy on Season Passes, warning developers if they're not "ready to clearly communicate" about DLC content they "shouldn't offer a Season Pass on Steam".
Inside the fall of GAME: "no games, no accessories - instead we received 136 Zendaya action figures"
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 11:10:28 -0000
It's been a year of change for UK high street stalwart GAME, with impacts felt by the chain's loyal customers and long-term staff alike.
We still don't know what Christopher Nolan's next movie is about, but Robert Pattinson is reteaming with the filmmaker after Tenet
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 11:15:30 -0000
No matter what you thought about Tenet (2020) as a whole, you gotta admit that Robert Pattinson's mysteriously charming Neil was one of the best bits of that movie. Thankfully, a major collaboration with Christopher Nolan is happening again.
Helldivers 2 devs shut down some live testing rumours, emphasising that Arrowhead folks playing it won't show off that they're a dev before getting up to "strange behaviours"
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 11:32:45 -0000
Think you've played Helldivers 2 with an Arrowhead developer recently? Well, you might have, but it likely won't have been obvious that you were, and they won't have been doing any testing of the game, according to an Arrowhead post that aims to put some live testing speculation to bed.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 studio apologises for issues as it increases server capacity
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 11:41:24 -0000
The Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 team has apologised to its community for the game's less than perfect debut, admitting "this is not the launch experience we want for our players".
One of the best co-op games just got one of its biggest updates ever, and at 95% off you’d better get ready to join the rat race
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 11:47:06 -0000
It may be hard to believe, but Warhammer: Vermintide 2, which came out all the way back in 2018, continues to receive updates this many years later. Most recently, the game’s long-in-development Versus PvP mode finally made it out, allowing players to fight each other for the first time.
Shenmue 3 gets new publisher, sparking multiplatform hope
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 11:48:43 -0000
Dragon Age: The Veilguard sales "solid" in UK, "softer" across rest of Europe - report
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:00:36 -0000
Dragon Age: The Veilguard has launched to "solid" sales in the UK, though has numbers of "nearly 21 percent lower" than Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth across Europe.
Scream 7 seems to be going full legacy sequel after nearly crumbling apart, as it's just cast Isabel May as Sidney Prescott's daughter
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:03:08 -0000
While most fans agree that Scream could be cooked after Melissa Barrera's firing, Spyglass Entertainment and Paramount Pictures are still pushing ahead with a reworked seventh installment that will bring back Sidney Prescott and introduce her family to a world of pain and trauma. Now, we know that Isabel May has landed the role of her daughter.
Stalker 2 off to a strong start on Steam, despite technical issues
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:17:19 -0000
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl released yesterday, and has since seen a strong number of players jumping into The Zone over on Steam.
Indie game platform Itch.io now requires developers to tag AI content
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:26:12 -0000
Indie game platform Itch.io now requires developers to disclose whether generative AI has been used in their work.
Pac-Man Live Experience opening in Manchester next year
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:37:28 -0000
Manchester will get a Pac-Man Live Experience where contestants run around a virtual maze under the watchful eye of the "Pac-Master", a "lively gameshow host".
Baldur's Gate 3 has more players this year than its actual launch year
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:52:44 -0000
Star Wars Outlaws down to just $50 ahead of Black Friday, I might actually play it now
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:55:00 -0000
It wouldn’t be Black Friday without some of the best Star Wars deals of the year coming around, would it? Well, they’ve already started rolling in, and you can now pick up Star Wars Outlaws Limited Edition for just $49.99 from Amazon on PS5 and Xbox
Fortnite is now selling digital shoes for your character skin, with Nike Air Jordans costing around £7
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:02:08 -0000
Dream Productions' first trailer promises a charming expansion of the Inside Out world before the inevitable threequel
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:04:11 -0000
If you've got children (or simply are a massive Pixar head) and have been stuck in an Inside Out 2 loop for the past few months, you'll be happy (or scared) to hear that Dream Productions is expanding that world on December, and its full trailer promises something a bit different.
xpander.ai’s Agent Graph System makes AI agents more reliable, gives them info step-by-step
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:30:00 -0000
It enables AI agents to achieve a 98% success rate in multi-step tasks, compared to just 24% for agents using traditional methods.<img width="578" height="324" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_painting_graphic_novel_retro_golden_age_sci-fi_book_cov_5f0a5dd9-0e9c-4687-a067-109be7d522cf.png?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Human figures in red spacesuits stand and gesture at glowing green graphics on large screens" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_painting_graphic_novel_retro_golden_age_sci-fi_book_cov_5f0a5dd9-0e9c-4687-a067-109be7d522cf.png 2912w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_painting_graphic_novel_retro_golden_age_sci-fi_book_cov_5f0a5dd9-0e9c-4687-a067-109be7d522cf.png?resize=300,168 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_painting_graphic_novel_retro_golden_age_sci-fi_book_cov_5f0a5dd9-0e9c-4687-a067-109be7d522cf.png?resize=768,430 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_painting_graphic_novel_retro_golden_age_sci-fi_book_cov_5f0a5dd9-0e9c-4687-a067-109be7d522cf.png?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_painting_graphic_novel_retro_golden_age_sci-fi_book_cov_5f0a5dd9-0e9c-4687-a067-109be7d522cf.png?resize=1536,861 1536w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_painting_graphic_novel_retro_golden_age_sci-fi_book_cov_5f0a5dd9-0e9c-4687-a067-109be7d522cf.png?resize=2048,1148 2048w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_painting_graphic_novel_retro_golden_age_sci-fi_book_cov_5f0a5dd9-0e9c-4687-a067-109be7d522cf.png?resize=400,224 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_painting_graphic_novel_retro_golden_age_sci-fi_book_cov_5f0a5dd9-0e9c-4687-a067-109be7d522cf.png?resize=750,420 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_painting_graphic_novel_retro_golden_age_sci-fi_book_cov_5f0a5dd9-0e9c-4687-a067-109be7d522cf.png?resize=578,324 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_painting_graphic_novel_retro_golden_age_sci-fi_book_cov_5f0a5dd9-0e9c-4687-a067-109be7d522cf.png?resize=930,521 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>It enables AI agents to achieve a 98% success rate in multi-step tasks, compared to just 24% for agents using traditional methods.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/xpander-ais-agent-graph-system-makes-ai-agents-more-reliable-by-giving-them-info-step-by-step/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Our last look at what to expect in Path of Exile 2's December early access launch arrives in today's livestream - watch it here
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:52:37 -0000
After months of speculation, Path of Exile 2 recently locked in a release date on all platforms. That date ended up being pushed back by a couple of weeks, but the early access launch remains within reach.
BioWare once planned to let you import your Grey Warden hero from Origins into Dragon Age: Inquisition
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:58:34 -0000
There's been a question mark over this one for years, but it seems BioWare did once plan to let you import your Hero of Ferelden, your Grey Warden protagonist from Dragon Age: Origins, into Dragon Age: Inquisition. It was only at the last minute that the studio cut the feature and swapped a Grey Warden character called Stroud in their place.
After three hours, Avowed still shows no sign of a killer hook to call its own, but this fizzy RPG cocktail is plenty enjoyable all the same
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0000
Avowed is a bizarrely elusive prospect. Obsidian’s latest fantasy RPG was initially suspected to be its equivalent of Skyrim, but this is a description the studio has repeatedly refuted. It takes place in the same universe as the Pillars of Eternity games, but its glossy, modern package seemingly runs counter to the heritage of that series. Unlike Obsidian’s other recent games, such as the diminutive survival game Grounded or the medieval murder mystery Pentiment, it has no clear defining quality beyond its genre and who is making it (which some might argue is enough).
How Avowed is building its world on Pillars of Eternity
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0000
Obsidian’s upcoming RPG Avowed takes place in the same fantasy universe as Pillars of Eternity, but structurally it’s a very different game. Where Pillars and its sequel Deadfire were isometric throwbacks to the golden age of CRPGs, Avowed is a thoroughly modern, immersive 3D experience that, at a glance, has little in common with the likes of Baldur’s Gate or Icewind Dale. And while it’s hardly the first RPG series to make such a jump, with Fallout famously doing the same, the fact that the Pillars games were nostalgia pieces makes this subsequent modernisation akin to history repeating itself.
Anomalo’s unstructured data solution cuts enterprise AI deployment time by 30%
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0000
Data quality vendor raises new money as it expands its unstructured data quality monitoring technology in a bid to help accelerate enterprise AI deployment.<img width="578" height="325" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/organizating-unstructured-data-smk.jpg?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Credit: Image generated by VentureBeat with FLUX-pro-1.1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/organizating-unstructured-data-smk.jpg 1280w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/organizating-unstructured-data-smk.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/organizating-unstructured-data-smk.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/organizating-unstructured-data-smk.jpg?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/organizating-unstructured-data-smk.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/organizating-unstructured-data-smk.jpg?resize=750,422 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/organizating-unstructured-data-smk.jpg?resize=578,325 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/organizating-unstructured-data-smk.jpg?resize=930,523 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>Data quality vendor raises new money as it expands its unstructured data quality monitoring technology in a bid to help accelerate enterprise AI deployment.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/data-infrastructure/anomalo-aims-to-accelerate-deployment-of-enterprise-ai-by-30-with-unstructured-data-quality-monitoring/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Wordware raises $30 million to make AI development as easy as writing a document
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0000
Wordware, a San Francisco startup, raised $30 million to simplify AI development with a natural language platform, enabling non-coders to build AI agents without traditional programming.<img width="578" height="385" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/preferred-internet-quality.jpg?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Filip Kozera, right, and Robert Chandler, left, the co-founders of Wordware, which recently raised $30 million to simplify AI development. (Credit: Wordware)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/preferred-internet-quality.jpg 9504w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/preferred-internet-quality.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/preferred-internet-quality.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/preferred-internet-quality.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/preferred-internet-quality.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/preferred-internet-quality.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/preferred-internet-quality.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/preferred-internet-quality.jpg?resize=750,500 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/preferred-internet-quality.jpg?resize=578,385 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/preferred-internet-quality.jpg?resize=930,620 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>Wordware, a San Francisco startup, raised $30 million to simplify AI development with a natural language platform, enabling non-coders to build AI agents without traditional programming.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/how-wordware-30m-seed-round-could-disrupt-the-entire-ai-development-industry/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Avowed's rickety combat feels like the undoing of its lush fungal world
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0000
I have significant reservations about Avowed, Obsidian's first-person Pillars Of Eternity spin-off RPG, but those reservations are significantly offset by the fact that I can be an undersea mushroom woman called Mystic Meg. In Avowed, you are the god-touched envoy of a distant emperor, sent to an island realm known as the Living Lands to investigate a mysterious blight. "God-touched", in this case, means "fungal and a bit mermaidy". It means that you can make rainbow toadstools sprout from your eyesocket in the character creator. It means that you can accessorise your cheekbones with what look like bracket polypores, or deck your ears with staghorn coral.
Upcoming Resident Evil documentary will spill the zom-beans on George A. Romero's unreleased movie adaptation
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:17:27 -0000
Uncork'd Entertainment has acquired distribution rights to 'George A. Romero's Resident Evil' - an investigative documentary which looks into the filmmaker's unrealised film adaptation of the video game series - in the US and Canada.
Will Republicans continue to support subsidies for the chip industry? | PwC interview
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:30:00 -0000
The Chips & Science Act was a bipartisan law passed to give $52 billion to the U.S. semiconductor industry. Will Republicans stand behind it?<img width="578" height="316" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/pwc-2.jpg?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="The chip industry is back to growth again." decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/pwc-2.jpg 1200w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/pwc-2.jpg?resize=300,164 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/pwc-2.jpg?resize=768,420 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/pwc-2.jpg?resize=800,438 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/pwc-2.jpg?resize=400,219 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/pwc-2.jpg?resize=750,411 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/pwc-2.jpg?resize=578,316 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/pwc-2.jpg?resize=930,509 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>The Chips & Science Act was a bipartisan law passed to give $52 billion to the U.S. semiconductor industry. Will Republicans stand behind it?<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/will-republicans-continue-to-support-subsidies-for-the-chip-industry-pwc-interview/" target="_blank">Read More</a>PSA: Don't forget to spend your Pokémon TCG Pocket Pack Points
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:37:53 -0000
Pack points in Pokémon TCG Pocket can be spent to acquire new cards, but you may not have realised they will expire if unused.
Stardew Valley: Symphony of Seasons concert tour announced, coming to the UK in 2026
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:06:16 -0000
Following the success of its Festival of Seasons concert, which you could say hit all the right notes, Stardew Valley is touring another musical rendition for the beloved video game.
Marvel's super late adaptation of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has some tricks up its sleeve, including deleted scenes
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:23:31 -0000
Sorry if you're still grieving after 2019's Star Wars - Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (which I personally didn't hate), but it's time go back for another round. Marvel Comics has just announced the comic book adaptation of the last Star Wars movie is coming out more than five years after it opened in theaters.
Steam updates its Season Pass policy to make it clear: no mystery boxes that don't say what the DLC is and when it's coming
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:28:04 -0000
Valve has just updated Steam's policy when it comes to developers selling Season Passes for games, making it clear that it's the duty of the party selling the thing to "clearly communicate" to players what any DLC included in a pass will be, and when it'll be arriving.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake already best-selling game in Japan for 2024 after just one week
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:29:29 -0000
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake has become the top-selling game in Japan for 2024, despite only releasing a week ago.
Here's a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 performance and settings guide I hope gets out of date really fast
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:38:22 -0000
I’ll stand by my review when I say that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is worth playing, in spite of it the many and varied ways in which it’s utterly broken. To be clear, though, it is utterly broken, in many and varied ways.
That makes my usual new-game performance analysis/settings guide song and dance harder to pull off, with or without the appropriate soundtrack. Is S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 in such dire technical straits that we should wait for a few patches before giving it a shake? And how can its best settings be anointed if some, particularly FSR 3 frame generation, simply don’t work as they should?
As it fires up Need For Speed's first ever motorbike, Unbound's current goal isn't to do "everything" the series ever has, but to "build up this real core of Need For Speed" for the future
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000
If you've been keeping up the updates Criterion's been bringing to Need For Speed: Unbound - the long-running racing series' most recent entry this year, you'll know that a lot of them have brought back stuff from previous Need For Speeds.
"Need For Speed is always too ahead of its time" Veteran NFS developers on the series' habit of polarising releases that end up beloved
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000
Which entries in the about to turn 30 years old Need For Speed series are your favourites? Did you think the same of all of them right after playing them for the first time? You might well have done, but a lot of games in the iconic racing series, especially over the past decade or so, have garnered a bit of a polarised or mixed reception on release.
Overthrown is a city builder where you can throw your whole city at the sky because secretly, you hate city builders
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:12:35 -0000
Overthrown is a city building game made by and for people who can't work out whether they love or despise city building games. In this curious concoction from developers Brimstone and publishers Maximum Entertainment, you are a chirpy anime monarch equipped with a magic crown that confers the ability to seize entire buildings and throw them away because aaaararargahragrhagh, I am sick of this dang sawmill. I am sick of perfecting the infrastructure. I am sick of stockpiling food for the winter. I am sick of my hard-working peasants and their happiness levels. I am going to pick everything up and hurl it into the sky.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl - big improvements from the day one patch but this is still a heavy game
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:32:33 -0000
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl lives up to its legacy with incredible atmosphere, engaging systemic gameplay and a fair amount of technical issues. Thankfully, GSC Game World's day one patch has solved a lot of the woes suffered by reviewers, but the game still suffers from everything to minor, amusing bugs to more serious issues and heavy CPU utilisation. Suit up Stalker, let's explore the lay of the land on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
If one thing works in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, it’s the incomprehensible name generator for random NPCs
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:47:21 -0000
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl stays largely faithful to the original series’ bleak yet inquisitive tone and propensity for technical problems, but there’s another, much smaller feature that it also brings back: silly titles for its lesser NPCs. All the major and side characters are, indeed, characters, but rather than leave inconsequential henchmen and roving bandits nameless, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 assigns Zone-merc handles to each and every one of them. Some try to sound badass, some might as well have been chosen by the owner panickedly looking around the room for something to name himself after, and all of them sound like they should be on the actor's wall in Toast of London.
Because your life partly depends on relieving slain foes of their belongings, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 encourages you to get up close and looty with these blokes, meaning you end up spending a lot of time reading goofy nicknames. I thought I’d pay tribute to the best ones I’ve seen so far, even if the majority of these honours will need to be given posthumously.
Ubitium tackles edge AI and more with new universal processor
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:51:40 -0000
With this chip, Ubitium hopes it will be able to replace dedicated processors for specialized computing tasks at the edge, like NPUs for AI.<img width="578" height="324" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AdobeStock_621371321.jpeg?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AdobeStock_621371321.jpeg 1210w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AdobeStock_621371321.jpeg?resize=300,168 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AdobeStock_621371321.jpeg?resize=768,430 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AdobeStock_621371321.jpeg?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AdobeStock_621371321.jpeg?resize=400,224 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AdobeStock_621371321.jpeg?resize=750,420 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AdobeStock_621371321.jpeg?resize=578,324 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AdobeStock_621371321.jpeg?resize=930,521 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>With this chip, Ubitium hopes it will be able to replace dedicated processors for specialized computing tasks at the edge, like NPUs for AI.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/data-infrastructure/ubitium-tackles-edge-ai-and-more-with-new-universal-processor/" target="_blank">Read More</a>20 years ago, Nintendo changed how I thought about games forever with just two screens
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:00:00 -0000
Do you also think games consoles are a bit boring these days? I do. There's no whimsy to them anymore, nothing strange or eclectic about them, apart from the Nintendo Switch, but even then I reckon the most special thing about it is its hybrid format. Aside from that, it doesn't really change how games work, it's more just about the kind of spaces that you can play games in. That's all well and dandy, and it is typically Nintendo - strange, but incredibly influential - I just feel like I'm looking for… more.
The jazz is as smooth as the spritework in murder mystery Loco Motive, out now
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:26:32 -0000
I go through this life burdened by the knowledge that I will never be framed for murder on a luxurious, multiple-day train journey. Not for me the thrill of flushing out the true culprit (or culprits???) between visits to the exquisitely upholstered dining car, against the backdrop of passing mountains. The best I can hope for is getting chewed out for hogging the toilet on a crowded commuter train to Leeds.
Assassin's Creed Shadows will overhaul stealth mechanics, but still include insta-kill assassination option
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:36:30 -0000
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Assassin's Creed Shadows is set to overhaul stealth mechanics for both its dual protagonists, but will also include an option to allow insta-kill assassinations on all enemies.
"2XKO is definitely a big one on our radar" top esports team VP chips in on the competitive potential of Riot's fighting game
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000
So there's a lot of excitement around 2XKO, obviously. Following various reveals of characters like Jinx and Braum, as well as an Alpha Lab test that appears to have gone down well, the average player has had ample opportunity to jump on board this particular hype train. But what about the game's competitive future? Believe it or not, discussions around this topic have been happening in spite of the game's unknown release date.
Will Sam Altman always win the OpenAI board fight in an AI agent simulation?
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000
Fable built its AI Sim Francisco "war game" to find out why OpenAI's behind closed doors board fight turned out the way it did.<img width="578" height="324" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Simulation-Image-Sam-Altman-in-Park-in-SF.jpg?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Can Sam Altman win the OpenAI board fight in an AI agent simulation?" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Simulation-Image-Sam-Altman-in-Park-in-SF.jpg 1200w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Simulation-Image-Sam-Altman-in-Park-in-SF.jpg?resize=300,168 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Simulation-Image-Sam-Altman-in-Park-in-SF.jpg?resize=768,430 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Simulation-Image-Sam-Altman-in-Park-in-SF.jpg?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Simulation-Image-Sam-Altman-in-Park-in-SF.jpg?resize=400,224 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Simulation-Image-Sam-Altman-in-Park-in-SF.jpg?resize=750,420 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Simulation-Image-Sam-Altman-in-Park-in-SF.jpg?resize=578,324 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Simulation-Image-Sam-Altman-in-Park-in-SF.jpg?resize=930,521 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>Fable built its AI Sim Francisco "war game" to find out why OpenAI's behind closed doors board fight turned out the way it did.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/games/can-sam-altman-win-the-openai-board-fight-in-an-ai-agent-simulation/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Star Wars Outlaws' latest patch is out and aims to make stealth and combat more satisfying
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:08:59 -0000
Star Wars Outlaws' stealth has been much debated, though not hotly. Some people think it's rubbish, some others think it's basically fine. Ubisoft themselves seem to think it's one of the key issues with the game, with the creative director previously saying the forced stealth sections are "incredibly punishing".
Now there's a new patch, apparently Outlaws' biggest yet, and stealth and combat are firmly in the crosshairs. The AI and player detection has changed; you can now choose combat in areas where it was previously not allowed; and enemies have had weak points added, for those who wish to cause massive damage.
Google Cloud launches AI Agent Space amid rising competition
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:29:55 -0000
VentureBeat's viewing of the AI Agent Space revealed only 19 distinct agent models available for use, a fry cry from cloud rivals.<img width="578" height="324" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_line_art_flat_illustration_minimalist_blocky_shapes_mod_1daaa527-ff53-468f-802a-83e3413c522b.png?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Colorful storybook style art of small robots surrounding a glowing green computer display" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_line_art_flat_illustration_minimalist_blocky_shapes_mod_1daaa527-ff53-468f-802a-83e3413c522b.png 2912w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_line_art_flat_illustration_minimalist_blocky_shapes_mod_1daaa527-ff53-468f-802a-83e3413c522b.png?resize=300,168 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_line_art_flat_illustration_minimalist_blocky_shapes_mod_1daaa527-ff53-468f-802a-83e3413c522b.png?resize=768,430 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_line_art_flat_illustration_minimalist_blocky_shapes_mod_1daaa527-ff53-468f-802a-83e3413c522b.png?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_line_art_flat_illustration_minimalist_blocky_shapes_mod_1daaa527-ff53-468f-802a-83e3413c522b.png?resize=1536,861 1536w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_line_art_flat_illustration_minimalist_blocky_shapes_mod_1daaa527-ff53-468f-802a-83e3413c522b.png?resize=2048,1148 2048w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_line_art_flat_illustration_minimalist_blocky_shapes_mod_1daaa527-ff53-468f-802a-83e3413c522b.png?resize=400,224 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_line_art_flat_illustration_minimalist_blocky_shapes_mod_1daaa527-ff53-468f-802a-83e3413c522b.png?resize=750,420 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_line_art_flat_illustration_minimalist_blocky_shapes_mod_1daaa527-ff53-468f-802a-83e3413c522b.png?resize=578,324 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cfr0z3n_line_art_flat_illustration_minimalist_blocky_shapes_mod_1daaa527-ff53-468f-802a-83e3413c522b.png?resize=930,521 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>VentureBeat's viewing of the AI Agent Space revealed only 19 distinct agent models available for use, a fry cry from cloud rivals.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/google-cloud-launches-ai-agent-space-amid-rising-competition/" target="_blank">Read More</a>H2O.ai improves AI agent accuracy with predictive models
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:30:00 -0000
AI agents need to consistent, and H2O.ai believes a mix of generative and predictive AI models is the answer.<img width="578" height="325" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/adobe-firefly-robot-desk-customer-service-agent.jpg?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="An AI-generated robot sitting in front of a computer, responding to customer service tickets." decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/adobe-firefly-robot-desk-customer-service-agent.jpg 1920w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/adobe-firefly-robot-desk-customer-service-agent.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/adobe-firefly-robot-desk-customer-service-agent.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/adobe-firefly-robot-desk-customer-service-agent.jpg?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/adobe-firefly-robot-desk-customer-service-agent.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/adobe-firefly-robot-desk-customer-service-agent.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/adobe-firefly-robot-desk-customer-service-agent.jpg?resize=750,422 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/adobe-firefly-robot-desk-customer-service-agent.jpg?resize=578,325 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/adobe-firefly-robot-desk-customer-service-agent.jpg?resize=930,523 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>AI agents need to consistent, and H2O.ai believes a mix of generative and predictive AI models is the answer.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/h20-ai-improves-ai-agent-accuracy-with-predictive-models/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Star Wars Outlaws rolls out more changes and fixes in bid for more buys
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:32:29 -0000
Ubisoft rolls out the long-awaited major update for Star Wars Outlaws -- fixes that'll help revitalize the game in time for holiday sales.<img width="578" height="325" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SW-Outlaws-Featured.jpg?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SW-Outlaws-Featured.jpg 1536w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SW-Outlaws-Featured.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SW-Outlaws-Featured.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SW-Outlaws-Featured.jpg?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SW-Outlaws-Featured.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SW-Outlaws-Featured.jpg?resize=750,422 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SW-Outlaws-Featured.jpg?resize=578,325 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SW-Outlaws-Featured.jpg?resize=930,523 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>Ubisoft rolls out the long-awaited major update for Star Wars Outlaws -- fixes that'll help revitalize the game in time for holiday sales.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/games/star-wars-outlaws-rolls-out-more-changes-and-fixes-in-bid-for-more-buys/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Assassin's Creed Shadows outlines its stealth systems - which luckily includes the ability to hide in shadows
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:45:43 -0000
Assassin's Creed Shadows is making changes to how it handles stealth, versus other games in the long-running series. Gone is the companion eagle who can spot enemies for you, for a start; instead, players can hide in the - hey - shadows, lie on their tummies for the first time, and make use of a "shinobi and assassin arsenal" of smoke bombs and bells.
There are old moves that are coming back after an absence, too: Shadows will allow for 'double assassinations' again.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 banning mods in public online sessions due to "non-negligible" server instability
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:17:34 -0000
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 developer Saber Interactive has announced it's banning mods from public online sessions, blaming them for a "non-negligible" amount of server instability seen by players - even those who don't have mods installed.
The first new Shiren The Wanderer game in 14 years is headed to PC
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:22:43 -0000
Salesforce launches Agentforce Testing Center to put agents through paces
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 21:47:54 -0000
Salesforce announced Testing Center, a platform that lets enterprises test AI agents responses without touching sensitive information.<img width="578" height="324" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/crimedy7_illustration_of_a_robot_taking_a_test_in_a_school_sett_12a0f62d-a5ef-4a72-b8d0-0e60b59fe1cb.png?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Credit: VentureBeat generated by MidJourney" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/crimedy7_illustration_of_a_robot_taking_a_test_in_a_school_sett_12a0f62d-a5ef-4a72-b8d0-0e60b59fe1cb.png 1456w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/crimedy7_illustration_of_a_robot_taking_a_test_in_a_school_sett_12a0f62d-a5ef-4a72-b8d0-0e60b59fe1cb.png?resize=300,168 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/crimedy7_illustration_of_a_robot_taking_a_test_in_a_school_sett_12a0f62d-a5ef-4a72-b8d0-0e60b59fe1cb.png?resize=768,430 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/crimedy7_illustration_of_a_robot_taking_a_test_in_a_school_sett_12a0f62d-a5ef-4a72-b8d0-0e60b59fe1cb.png?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/crimedy7_illustration_of_a_robot_taking_a_test_in_a_school_sett_12a0f62d-a5ef-4a72-b8d0-0e60b59fe1cb.png?resize=400,224 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/crimedy7_illustration_of_a_robot_taking_a_test_in_a_school_sett_12a0f62d-a5ef-4a72-b8d0-0e60b59fe1cb.png?resize=750,420 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/crimedy7_illustration_of_a_robot_taking_a_test_in_a_school_sett_12a0f62d-a5ef-4a72-b8d0-0e60b59fe1cb.png?resize=578,324 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/crimedy7_illustration_of_a_robot_taking_a_test_in_a_school_sett_12a0f62d-a5ef-4a72-b8d0-0e60b59fe1cb.png?resize=930,521 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>Salesforce announced Testing Center, a platform that lets enterprises test AI agents responses without touching sensitive information.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/salesforce-launches-agentforce-testing-center-to-put-agents-through-paces/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Path of Exile 2's delay cost "certainly over a million dollars" on marketing, servers, and more
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 22:00:00 -0000
During a Path of Exile 2 preview and press rountable, game director Jonathan Rogers revealed details on the recent three week delay. This includes great elaboration on the technical reasons why, how the team might have been able to meet the original release date, and its rough cost.
Path of Exile 2 has many inspirations from Elden Ring to Civilization 5, according to game director
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 22:00:00 -0000
Path of Exile 2 is a deep, dark, dastardly ARPG that's got what it takes to transcend even the original - hands-on preview
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 22:00:00 -0000
There are some games, really good games, which are time vampires. They entice you with engaging gameplay, snatch your gaze with beautiful visuals, and trap you in a vice of challenging fights you don't want to give up on.
Co-dev studio Blind Squirrel reveals in-house original IP Cosmorons
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 23:08:55 -0000
Blind Squirrel Gamesm, previously best known for its co-development work, has revealed its new Cosmorons, an original IP.<img width="578" height="325" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Titled_hero_art.png?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Titled_hero_art.png 3840w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Titled_hero_art.png?resize=300,169 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Titled_hero_art.png?resize=768,432 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Titled_hero_art.png?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Titled_hero_art.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Titled_hero_art.png?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Titled_hero_art.png?resize=400,225 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Titled_hero_art.png?resize=750,422 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Titled_hero_art.png?resize=578,325 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Titled_hero_art.png?resize=930,523 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>Blind Squirrel Gamesm, previously best known for its co-development work, has revealed its new Cosmorons, an original IP.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/games/co-dev-studio-blind-squirrel-reveals-in-house-original-ip-cosmorons/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Microsoft’s AI agents: 4 insights that could reshape the enterprise landscape
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:59:31 -0000
We dive into the most significant takeaways from Microsoft Ignite, and Microsoft's emerging leadership in the area of AI agents.<iframe title="Microsoft’s AI Agents Take the Lead: 4 Key Insights from Ignite" width="556" height="313" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uu6Y6jzZG4Y?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe><hr/>We dive into the most significant takeaways from Microsoft Ignite, and Microsoft's emerging leadership in the area of AI agents.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/microsofts-ai-agents-4-insights-that-could-reshape-the-enterprise-landscape/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Turn Medieval II: Total War into Redwall with this Mossflower TW mod
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 09:44:48 -0000
If the surprising number of you brought scurrying out of the woodwork by the announcement of Redwall-style survival game Hawthorn is anything to go by, the medieval rodent fanatic to RPS reader pipeline is a sturdy one, despite being constantly nibbled at. Here’s some more delicious bait for you, then. Mossflower TW is a campaign mod for Medieval II: Total War expansion Kingdoms that lets ranks of mace-wielding mice, helmeted hedgehogs, and ornery otters skitter wildly all over the venerable strategy game. It’s been about since Summer, and the team have been working on patching since. It seems very playable, if the footage of people playing it is anything to go by. Here’s a video by YouTuber Tharshey so you can see it in action:
Sorry, Space Marine 2 mod lovers, Saber's banning them from public online sessions because it's found they're behind issues that even effect non-modders
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 09:47:43 -0000
If you're a fan of brining your Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 mod loadout with you when you jump into online matches, here's some bad news. Developer Saber Intercative has announced that from December onwards, it'll be banning them from public sessions, due to some technical issues which're even effecting non-modders.
Don't Wake The Beast is a blend of Thief and Spelunky where you must let sleeping dragons lie
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:30:25 -0000
The Hobbit movies are a mixed Baggins indeed - at once thunderous and thin, like butter scraped over too much bread - but one sequence I love from The Desolation of Smaug is Bilbo searching Erebor for the Arkenstone, while trying not to rouse the titular dragon from his slumber. Don't Wake The Beast is sort of that sequence plus Spelunkified procgen levels and Thief-esque stealth mechanics.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl review - a vast wasteland of jank and jeopardy
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:34:10 -0000
Stalker 2 was made in the midst of war. You've probably heard how Ukranian studio GSC Game World bussed workers out of the country shortly before the Russian invasion. Or how some developers have died in the war. While the first-person shooter released this week doesn't assault the player with overt references to that ongoing conflict, small glimpses of Ukrainian nationalism do peek through - the flag's colours on a box of matches, a field of poppies marking the eerie resting spot of fallen soldiers.
Diablo 4's next season lets you be a witch, makes Ultimates more powerful and finally introduces character loadouts
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:53:46 -0000
Stalker 2 modders have mutant and weapon deg nerfing on the brain, as well as messing with time itself
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:55:15 -0000
The Stalker 2 modding gold rush was always gonna be a sight to behold, and with plenty of stuff to fix and adjust, it certainly hasn't disappointed. Following an intitial post-release period full of attempts at stopping the stuttering, the community's now moved on to tweaking how tough life in The Zone is, as well as casually messing with time itself.
Donkey Kong Land is available now via Nintendo Switch Online
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 11:01:06 -0000
Oh, my nostalgic heart is happy to tell you that Donkey Kong Land is available now for Nintendo Switch Online members.
Silent Hill 2 Remake's graphical glitches on PS5 Pro have finally been patched
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 11:04:51 -0000
Konami has deployed a new Silent Hill 2 Remake update to address graphical glitches affecting the horror game on PS5 Pro.
You'll never guess what you do in Kill The Man In The House
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:11:51 -0000
Kill The Man In The House is a video game title I can get behind. It tells me exactly what I need to do before I even boot up the game, which is otherwise powerfully weird-looking. The cover art is reminiscent of a children's book, if it were for adults. Or a lost episode of Ed Edd and Eddy, where a fourth older sibling (Eddie) acts on his murderous intent and engages in some slick FPSing. Either way, there's a demo out on Steam and despite being very short and limited, I am excited for its future.
I no longer care about Grand Theft Auto 6, for I have the open world of Vivat Slovakia
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:12:16 -0000
Upon some serious soul searching following a little time with the early access build of open world game Vivat Slovakia, I have unfortunately had to admit to myself that it is probably not the GTA 6 killer I was hoping for. This upsets me slightly, because I find Rockstar’s constant self-assured bloviating to be quite irritating, even though I’m sure I’ll play their game for a billion hours. What Vivat Slovakia is, then, is a very ambitious homage to the Grand Theft Auto series that isn’t shy about it, right down to the font choices. I’m not sure if you should play it, but I do feel enriched for learning of its existence. Here’s a trailer.
Black Myth: Wukong "surprises" coming later this year, says director
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:13:02 -0000
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Black Myth: Wukong is set to receive "some surprises" later this year, the game's director Feng Ji said, suggesting DLC is indeed on the way.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard modders have added in Baldur's Gate 3's tattoos, so you can slap a reminder that its companions don't chuck you across a room as sexily as Lae'zel on your mug
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:25:00 -0000
Dragon Age: The Veilguard's a game about you and a group of different people - weirdo mates, if we're honest - doing a fantasy thing. Baldur's Gate 3 is a slightly different game about you and a group of different people - weirdo mates, if we're honest - doing a fantasy thing. And now, thanks to a modder, you can combine the two a bit by giving your Rook some facial ink.
Kura5 is a free spiritual successor to Kojima's sun-loving Boktai vampire-hunting series
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:25:07 -0000
Long before Hideo Kojima made the first triple-A walking simulator, he was trying to spin sunlight into bullets. The game in question, Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hand, is a Game Boy Advance title from 2003, in which you play a vampire-slaying gunslinger. The gun you're slinging is a "solar-powered" pistol, which you could charge up using a cartridge-mounted photometric sensor by physically standing in sunshine. This was 13 years before the launch of Pokemon Go. Sadly, Boktai's debut didn't result in city parks or rooftops being flooded by crowds of GBA-wielding undead killers. But it was a fun gimmick and the game itself is good enough to carry it - an isometric dungeon-crawler in which you have to find a vamp's coffin and drag it to the surface for purgation.
Virtua Fighter is making its 3D PC debut this winter, including rollback netcode
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:54:05 -0000
Sega's iconic fighting series is making its 3D PC debut on Steam this winter with Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O, 18 years after its original release.
YGG esports player wins $20,000 in Parallel Web3 gaming tournament
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:00:00 -0000
The Parallel tournament at the YGG Play Summit saw Colombian YGG Esports player Zeliaser win $20,000 grand prize.<img width="578" height="346" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ygg-2.jpg?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Zeliaser wins $20,000 prize at YGG Summit's Parallel esports tournament." decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ygg-2.jpg 1200w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ygg-2.jpg?resize=300,180 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ygg-2.jpg?resize=768,460 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ygg-2.jpg?resize=800,479 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ygg-2.jpg?resize=400,240 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ygg-2.jpg?resize=750,449 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ygg-2.jpg?resize=578,346 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ygg-2.jpg?resize=930,557 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>The Parallel tournament at the YGG Play Summit saw Colombian YGG Esports player Zeliaser win $20,000 grand prize.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/games/ygg-esports-player-wins-20000-in-parallel-web3-gaming-tournament/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Dragon Age: The Veilguard patch adds a hefty number of improvements and bug fixes
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:03:42 -0000
BioWare has released a rather hefty patch for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which among a myriad of bug fixes, also adds some quality of life changes.
Stalker 2's bulletsponge mutants can be nerfed with this handy mod, saving you precious rounds
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:55:45 -0000
The mutant enemies in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl are very hungry. Hungry not only for your flesh, but also all the bullets in your AK-47. It can take entire clips of ammo to take down some of these tough beasts, and you get nothing back for killing this wildlife except the hollow satisfaction of pest control. Alongside the bugs and performance issues, it's a common enough complaint to players of the first-person survival shooter that it's already been addressed by a modder, who has created a tweak to lower the health of various dogs, boars, and bloodsuckers.
Mythical Games teams with FIFA to make Web3 mobile soccer game FIFA Rivals
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0000
FIFA and game maker Mythical Games are teaming up on FIFA Rivals, a Web3 mobile game that is licensed from the global sports group.<iframe title="FIFA Rivals announcement trailer" width="556" height="313" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Mm5uFJvXXs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe><hr/>FIFA and game maker Mythical Games are teaming up on FIFA Rivals, a Web3 mobile game that is licensed from the global sports group.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/games/mythical-games-teams-with-fifa-to-make-web3-mobile-soccer-game-fifa-rivals/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Lightricks bets on open-source AI video to challenge Big Tech
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0000
Lightricks releases LTXV, a breakthrough open-source AI model that generates professional-quality videos in real-time on consumer hardware, challenging tech giants with faster processing speeds and free access for developers.<img width="578" height="323" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-22-at-1.45.40 AM.png?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Credit: Lightricks" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-22-at-1.45.40 AM.png 1855w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-22-at-1.45.40 AM.png?resize=300,168 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-22-at-1.45.40 AM.png?resize=768,430 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-22-at-1.45.40 AM.png?resize=800,448 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-22-at-1.45.40 AM.png?resize=1536,859 1536w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-22-at-1.45.40 AM.png?resize=400,224 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-22-at-1.45.40 AM.png?resize=750,420 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-22-at-1.45.40 AM.png?resize=578,323 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-22-at-1.45.40 AM.png?resize=930,520 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>Lightricks releases LTXV, a breakthrough open-source AI model that generates professional-quality videos in real-time on consumer hardware, challenging tech giants with faster processing speeds and free access for developers.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/exclusive-lightricks-bets-on-open-source-ai-video-to-challenge-big-tech/" target="_blank">Read More</a>I Am Your Beast's new expansion adds nine levels for free
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:25:06 -0000
Strange Scaffold's sublime shooter, I Am Your Beast, now has nine new levels as part of a free expansion.
Cozy musical adventure Snufkin: Melody of the Moominvalley is coming to consoles "soon"
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:28:35 -0000
Snufkin: Melody of the Moominvalley is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows and to celebrate, Raw Fury has revealed DLC is on the way.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has sold 1m copies so far
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:33:07 -0000
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl developer GSC Game World has announced the game has already sold 1m copies in just a few days since release.
Wuthering Waves lands PS5 release date, will arrive early next year
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:36:52 -0000
Wuthering Waves developer Kuro Games has announced a PlayStation 5 release date for its open world action-RPG with gacha.
Gam3 Awards unveils 2024 winners for top Web3 games
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 15:00:00 -0000
The winners of the Gam3 Awards 2024 have been crowned, with 21 winners revealed at a live event in partnership with Yield Guild Games (YGG).<img width="578" height="342" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gam3-awards-3.jpg?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Gam3 Awards 2024" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gam3-awards-3.jpg 1200w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gam3-awards-3.jpg?resize=300,178 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gam3-awards-3.jpg?resize=768,454 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gam3-awards-3.jpg?resize=800,473 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gam3-awards-3.jpg?resize=400,237 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gam3-awards-3.jpg?resize=750,444 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gam3-awards-3.jpg?resize=578,342 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gam3-awards-3.jpg?resize=930,550 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>The winners of the Gam3 Awards 2024 have been crowned, with 21 winners revealed at a live event in partnership with Yield Guild Games (YGG).<a href="https://venturebeat.com/games/gam3-awards-unveils-2024-winners-for-top-web3-games/" target="_blank">Read More</a>RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic is coming to Switch
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 15:30:05 -0000
Stellar Blade on PS5 Pro: a simple but hugely effective upgrade
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 15:37:53 -0000
We've been poring over dozens of games updated for PS5 Pro, but the one that's most caught my attention is Stellar Blade. This game impressed when it launched on PS5 in April this year, but its slick action and stunning locales were let down somewhat by inconsistent performance and poor image quality. On PS5 Pro, developers Shift Up has delivered a simple but extremely effective upgrade that solves both of these concerns.
Helldivers 2 just got a Steam update literally entitled "gameplay_illuminates", and players aren't sure if it's the real thing, or god-tier Arrowhead trolling
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 15:54:56 -0000
At this point, Helldivers 2 actually getting its long-rumored third faction - the first game's Illuminate - feels like something that we've been chatting about on and off for years. However, there's fresh hope now, in the form of a Steam depot update to the game that literally titled, er, "gameplay_illuminates".
The Rogue Prince of Persia's enormous Second Act update is here, but all is not lost for "Purple Prince" lovers
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:25:13 -0000
Helldivers 2 devs once considered a licensed cosmetic system that basically let you hallucinate a different world
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:55:57 -0000
Helldivers 2 developers Arrowhead have been voluble lately about potentially adding elements from other sci-fi worlds to the shooter, with chief creative officer Johan Pilestedt rubbing his hands gleefully at the prospect of partnerships with Warhammer, Alien, the Fifth Element, and more besides. Speaking at the G-STAR Conference in Busan earlier this month, recently appointed chief executive officer Shams Jorjani confirmed that Arrowhead are looking into such collaborations, giving the example of refitting your dropship to look like one of Halo's Pelicans, or introducing the Zerg from Blizzard's Starcraft as an enemy faction.
Jorjani cautioned listeners, however, that these injections of third-party DNA need to look and feel appropriate to the setting. After all, if you start fecklessly chucking the Zerg, Chaos Space Marines or Fifth Element's, er, flying taxis into Helldivers 2, it might spoil the meticulous coherency of a game in which saluting protects you against lethal falls and some guy called Joel is running the universe. The funny part is that according to Jorjani, Arrowhead once envisaged a system that would get round the problem of inconsistency by essentially making third-party cosmetics, including whole map skins, visible only to players who have them enabled. To put that another way, Arrowhead once envisaged a system in which individual Helldivers would hallucinate other licenses.
As Need For Speed turns 30, the devs currently running the series say the biggest challenge new entries face is "literally the age of the franchise"
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:00:00 -0000
“I remember going to what was probably the local video game shop or computer shop, and me and my friends saw it on the 3DO, and we were like ‘what’s this?’, we all jumped on it, and you felt badass,” current Need For Speed producer Patrick Honnoraty says. “Being able to drive it, being chased by the cops, there wasn’t an experience that was really like it at the time.”
Planet Coaster 2 review - buckled potential
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:00:00 -0000
I bloody love a theme park: the sights, the smells, the gleeful screams, the sense of utter transportation. But most of all, I love the breathless clash of science and art behind these thoroughly encompassing illusions. I’m the kind of theme park nerd who still gets genuinely giddy when they see technology and creativity crash together like this, and who's been daydreaming their perfect rides and coasters into existence since a run-in with Disney's Haunted Mansion at the age of three became a bit of an obsession. For people like me, the original Planet Coaster was a dream. For all its flaws, it was a brilliantly implemented, beautifully presented suite of creative tools capable of turning theme park flights of fancy into digital reality, and its sequel promises the same, but more.
The RPS 101rd best game on PC
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:08:30 -0000
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That there are more than 100 entire PC games is a revelation as shocking as it is disturbing, but despite recently spending days translating Horace’s sonorous yawps into the list that eventually became our RPS 100, a chill silence recently befell the treehouse when we realised that some of our personal favourites had somehow been excluded. Determined to right this most heinous of wrongs, and armed with the conviction that no subjectivity be allowed to exist on the internet without at least one supplementary article of caveats, we’ve all put forth a single game that absolutely should have made the list. Consider the matter closed, then, at least until we all realise we’d actually like to do a 102nd pick each.
The Factorio dev's next game may take inspiration from World Of Warcraft
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:27:01 -0000
How South Korean gaming veteran Joonmo Kwon sees the new reality for Web3 games | The DeanBeat
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000
Joonmo Kwon, a former CEO of Nexon, is an example of an established game developer who decided to march into the wilds of Web3 gaming.<img width="578" height="325" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SpaceFrontier_Profile.jpg?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Delabs Games is working on Space Frontier." decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SpaceFrontier_Profile.jpg 1200w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SpaceFrontier_Profile.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SpaceFrontier_Profile.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SpaceFrontier_Profile.jpg?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SpaceFrontier_Profile.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SpaceFrontier_Profile.jpg?resize=750,422 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SpaceFrontier_Profile.jpg?resize=578,325 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SpaceFrontier_Profile.jpg?resize=930,523 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>Joonmo Kwon, a former CEO of Nexon, is an example of an established game developer who decided to march into the wilds of Web3 gaming.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/games/how-south-korean-gaming-veteran-joonmo-kwon-sees-pros-and-cons-of-web3-the-deanbeat/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Scopely’s latest Monopoly Go! ads feature Hollywood stars and friendship
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000
Scopely has rolled out the red carpet in Monopoly Go's latest ad campaign, which puts emphasis on the camaraderie of gameplay.<iframe title="The making of MONOPOLY GO!'s "Friendship Pays" campaign" width="556" height="313" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tnRlyhXPAlw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe><hr/>Scopely has rolled out the red carpet in Monopoly Go's latest ad campaign, which puts emphasis on the camaraderie of gameplay.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/games/scopelys-latest-monopoly-go-ads-feature-hollywood-stars-and-friendship/" target="_blank">Read More</a>How broken is too broken when you buy a game?
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 19:40:30 -0000
I have a question for you, Polygon commenters. How broken is too broken when you consider buying a game? The question’s been top of mind for me this week. STALKER 2 was my most anticipated game of 2024. But now, with my finger hovering over the buy button on Steam, I’m having second thoughts. As […]<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/S2HoC_GSCGameWorld_Camp_raw.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">I have a question for you, Polygon commenters. How broken is too broken when you consider buying a game? </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The question’s been top of mind for me this week. <em>STALKER 2 </em>was my most anticipated game of 2024. But now, with my finger hovering over the buy button on Steam, I’m having second thoughts. As my colleague Charlie Hall noted in his <a href="https://www.polygon.com/review/481607/stalker-2-review-pc">thoughtful review</a>, the game simply needed more time to in the oven. And it will get that time, in the coming months, as its <a href="https://x.com/stalker_thegame/status/1859265478276894856">developers begin to release patches</a> that stabilize their post-apocalyptic world.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">To complicate the question, though, does our tolerance for a game’s rough shape depend on the circumstances of its creators? In the case of <em>STALKER 2</em>, developers GSC Game World have been producing the game amidst war. As the <a href="https://kyivindependent.com/delayed-by-war-ukraines-long-awaited-s-t-a-l-k-e-r-2-surges-to-top-of-video-game-purchases/">Kyiv Independent</a> writes, “Originally set for a release in April 2022, the game experienced several delays when many of its staff were forced to flee Ukraine that February. Ahead of the release this week, presales of the game took it to the top spot for games sold on the popular video game platform Steam.” I understand why many reviewers have been factoring this in when critiquing the game, not just on traditional media sites but on user-submitted review platforms too.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">So, back to the main question for the comments. How broken is too broken when you consider buying a game? Do you make exceptions for certain developers? Or circumstance? Or entire genres? Will I buy<em> STALKER 2</em>?</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">OK, I know the answer to that final question, because <em>STALKER 2</em>’s now in my Steam library. Now to discover if I made the right choice!</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"></p> <p class="has-text-align-none"></p>Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s latest patch fixes two things that bugged me
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 20:02:08 -0000
By and large, I haven’t run into very many bugs in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. It’s been quite a polished game at launch. But of course, pobody’s nerfect, and Veilguard’s latest patch just so happens to fix two specific things that have bothered me. Number one: “New rings can now be compared against both equipped […]<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/emmrich-romance-dragon-age-veilguard.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">By and large, I haven’t run into very many bugs in <em>Dragon Age: The Veilguard</em>. It’s been quite a polished game at launch. But of course, pobody’s nerfect, and <em>Veilguard</em>’s latest patch just so happens to fix two specific things that have bothered me.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Number one: “New rings can now be compared against both equipped ring slots.” This is amazing news for me, a person who is still only halfway through this video game and in the thick of collecting and equipping new items. Like many RPGs before it, <em>Veilguard</em> lets your character equip multiple rings that each have different magical enhancements, but when you get a new ring, you previously couldn’t compare it to both of the rings you already had equipped. You could only compare it to <em>one </em>of your equipped rings at a time. Annoying, obviously, and fixed now.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Here’s my second piece of good news: “Fixed some instances where unintended music or sound effects would play.” This likely addresses the only significant bug I ran into while playing <em>Veilguard</em>, which only happened one time, but which involved that super-catchy battle music continuing to play after I had long since defeated my enemies. After walking around town enduring it for upwards of 20 minutes, I eventually just went back to the Lighthouse and it <em>finally </em>stopped. Thank goodness it did, because I really didn’t want to have to turn off the soundtrack entirely. It’s gorgeous — and composed by Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe, by the way.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The <a href="https://www.ea.com/games/dragon-age/dragon-age-the-veilguard/news/patch-3-release-notes">full patch notes</a> include a big range of fixes, including many references to problems that haven’t come up for me, such as “Rook’s body shape no longer changes unexpectedly after a cutscene with Emmrich” and “Adjusted an odd facial expression when Rook first meets Emmrich” (these made me laugh and I’m kind of sorry I didn’t get to see them in action). It’s worth scrolling through the full list, which I’ve included below, to see if any of your personal bugbears made the cut. I’m glad mine did.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Check out the rest of the patch notes below, via <a href="https://www.ea.com/games/dragon-age/dragon-age-the-veilguard/news/patch-3-release-notes">EA</a>.</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-none is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Quality of Life Changes: </strong></p> <ul> <li>Arrow keys can now be bound to input mappings.</li> <li>Filters added to Photo Mode.</li> <li>Screenshot file names from Photo Mode have been simplified, showing the date the photo was taken.</li> <li>The File Path where screenshots are saved is now shown in game when a screenshot is taken through Photo Mode.</li> <li>It is now easier to identify where an Enchantment has been applied to a companion’s equipment.</li> <li>Adjusted the Glint option description in Settings. </li> <li>New rings can now be compared against both equipped ring slots.</li> <li>A notification now appears when the Crossroads’ Spirit Merchant is available.</li> <li>Added new icons for some weapons.</li> </ul> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Bug Fixes: </strong></p> <ul> <li>Eliminated the causes of a small number of crashes.</li> <li>Rook’s body shape no longer changes unexpectedly after a cutscene with Emmrich.</li> <li>Adjusted an odd facial expression when Rook first meets Emmrich. </li> <li>Fixed a rare issue where some of an existing Rook’s settings got unintentionally reset after making and saving a new Rook. This fix is now also on consoles and retroactively affects saves on all platforms.</li> <li>Adjusted the volume level of Spite’s voice in some scenes.</li> <li>Fixed some instances where music would incorrectly stop playing.</li> <li>Fixed some instances where unintended music or sound effects would play.</li> <li>Antaam Champions now correctly do slightly more damage.</li> <li>Mage Rooks no longer shift to the right awkwardly after performing an extended dodge.</li> <li>The Rogue Skill “Underdog’s Bite” now correctly lists “Enhanced Damage” instead of “Empowered Damage.”</li> <li>Fixed some instances where enemies could get stuck or were unreachable in some areas.</li> <li>Fixed some instances where companions could get stuck on balance beams.</li> <li>Bellara can no longer endlessly charge Rook’s Ultimate outside of combat.</li> <li>Emmrich’s attack stat is now displayed correctly at the start of the Where the Dead Must Go quest.</li> <li>Fixed a bug where Emmrich was sometimes not available on the ability wheel during the Where the Dead Must Go quest.</li> <li>Companions’ revives are now correctly refilled at the start of The Last Gambit quest.</li> <li>The Kataranda now has its correct unique coloring.</li> <li>Fixed an issue with the critical hit and penetration modifiers on the “Twin Edged Pick” Warrior weapon. </li> <li>Taash’s cape on the “Rivain’s Legacy” armor no longer stretches in cutscenes. </li> <li>The Grey Warden “Recruit’s Simple Tunic” appearance no longer clips uncomfortably through Rook’s neck. </li> <li>The “Mythals’ Light” Mage weapon now does the intended amount of physical base damage (0).</li> <li>The “Mythal’s Light” Mage weapon now does physical damage to enemy health if a physical damage enchantment is applied.</li> <li>Fixed instances where stat bonuses from some Treviso valuables were applied incorrectly.</li> <li>Fixed instances where valuables with stat increases were not all visible in merchant stores.</li> <li>Improved textures on various characters and environment objects.</li> <li>Fixed an issue where VFX could become extremely bright.</li> <li>Fixed several distance “pop-in” issues.</li> <li>Fixed an issue that caused the camera to stutter when closing the eluvian interface. </li> <li>Fixes several instances where quest objectives would not update correctly during some quests.</li> <li>The On Deadly Wings quest can now be completed even if the A Slow Poison quest has not been fully completed.</li> <li>The Mayor of D’Meta’s Crossing no longer appears in two places at once during the Lives Spared quest.</li> <li>One of the Revenants will no longer fail to appear in the Crossroads. </li> <li>Fixed an issue where a door would not open during the Heights of Athim memory in the Regrets of the Dreadwolf quest. </li> <li>The intended 2D cinematic scene now plays after the Shadows Crossing quest.</li> <li>Fixed an issue where the path forward could become blocked in the A Murder of Crows quest.</li> <li>Fixed a blocking issue during the In Entropy’s Grasp quest. </li> <li>Companions are now present when loading the first autosave made in the Isle of the Gods quest.</li> <li>The HDR Calibration setting is now saved correctly between game sessions.</li> <li>Prevented multiple instances where Rook could get stuck while exploring Thedas.</li> <li>One of the “Watcher’s Robe” appearance variations is now correctly granted after completing the Disrupt and Conquer memory. </li> <li>Fixed a place in Arlathan Forest where Rook could get stuck in a drowning loop. </li> <li>Fixed instances where Rook forgot they already had the lyrium dagger and could not interact with treasure chests and altars.</li> <li>Codex entries that were already read will no longer be re-marked as unread.</li> <li>Fixed an issue where the scrollbar could get stuck in the Codex screen.</li> <li>Enchantments on abilities are now reset correctly when Skill Tree nodes are reset.</li> <li>The Crossroads’ Spirit Merchant now shows the intended faction reputation gained for whichever city was blighted when selling valuables.</li> <li>Fixed a rare issue where some Skill Tree nodes were sometimes unable to be unlocked.</li> <li>Some adjustments to the game credits.</li> </ul> </blockquote> <figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><img src="https://privacy-policy.truste.com/privacy-seal/seal?rid=f1a11c5d-0232-4077-8498-2e69a38c1335" alt="TRUSTe" /></figure> <p class="has-text-align-none"></p>Like a Dragon director reveals hidden Fighters Megamix stage after almost 30 years of secrecy
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 20:12:00 -0000
We’re exactly three decades removed from the launch of the Sega Saturn in Japan, and one veteran developer is celebrating the milestone by sharing footage of a secret Fighters Megamix stage that’s gone undetected since the game debuted on the underappreciated console in 1996. Fighters Megamix, just as a quick history lesson, is a crossover […]<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/fightersmegamix-cover-crop.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">We’re exactly three decades removed from the launch of the Sega Saturn in Japan, and one veteran developer is celebrating the milestone by <a href="https://automaton-media.com/en/news/sega-saturns-fighters-megamix-has-a-hidden-stage-that-was-kept-secret-all-this-time-due-to-an-unfortunate-bug">sharing footage</a> of a secret <em>Fighters Megamix</em> stage that’s gone undetected since the game debuted on the underappreciated console in 1996.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Fighters Megamix</em>, just as a quick history lesson, is a crossover fighting game featuring characters from Sega games like <em>Virtua Fighter</em>, <em>Fighting Vipers</em>, <em>Sonic the Fighters</em>, and <em>Virtua Cop</em>. Most folks know it as the game that lets you beat up the iconic Sega AM2 palm tree logo as a car from <em>Daytona USA</em>. It’s a weird if surprisingly competent 3D fighting game that combined not only characters from separate franchises but their unique mechanics as well.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“When it was released, <em>Fighters Megamix</em> received a great response and was featured in almost every gaming magazine,” <em>Megamix</em> programmer Yutaka Ito posted to X (formerly Twitter) the evening of Nov. 21, according to translations by <a href="https://x.com/YutakaIto_RGG/status/1859826353933254667">Automaton West</a>. “But just as we were about to publicize information about the hidden stage, we discovered that breaking a wall in the stage or defeating an enemy with a powerful move would cause the game to freeze.”</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" data-conversation="none"><p lang="ja" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%82%BB%E3%82%AC%E3%82%B5%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC%E3%83%B330%E5%91%A8%E5%B9%B4?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#セガサターン30周年</a> ということで、ここで初めて公開します。<br>ファイターズメガミックスの最後の隠し要素、通称「大島ステージ」。ある条件を満たすと出現します。<br>ただし、壁を破壊するとフリーズします。バックアップや本体がどうなるかわかりません。<br>すみません。<br>一生反省します🙇🏻♂️ <a href="https://t.co/aJocGjMmYO">pic.twitter.com/aJocGjMmYO</a></p>— 伊東 豊（セガ・龍が如くスタジオ技術責任者） (@YutakaIto_RGG) <a href="https://twitter.com/YutakaIto_RGG/status/1859826353933254667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2024</a></blockquote> </div></figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">With no way to fix the bug — this was before the days of pushing updates to everyone who bought the game through the internet, of course — all the prepared info on how to access the <em>Fighters Megamix</em> stage was kept from being published and remained confidential for almost 30 years.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Ito, who now works at <em>Like a Dragon</em> developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and most recently acted as technical director on <em><a href="https://www.polygon.com/24047430/like-a-dragon-infinite-wealth-review-pc-xbox-ps5">Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth</a></em>, admitted the whole fiasco was his fault and that he fell into a deep depression afterwards, though the support of the <em>Fighters Megamix</em> team helped him pull through.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“It’s the Sega Saturn’s 30th anniversary, so I’ve decided to reveal this for the first time,” Ito said. “The hidden stage of <em>Fighters Megamix</em>, called Ohshima Stage, appears when you meet certain conditions. However, if you destroy a wall in it, the game freezes. I will reflect on this for the rest of my life.”</p>The World of Warcraft co-creator’s D&D setting Auroboros is for bards who rock
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 20:49:00 -0000
Dungeons & Dragons’ 5th edition rules revision is out in the wild right now, and while lots of folks are peeved that their favorite subclass didn’t make the cut, by and large the upgrade is exceptional. But while the powers that be at Wizards of the Coast have been grinding away at refinements to the […]<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22391840/auroboros.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none"><a href="https://www.polygon.com/dnd-dungeons-dragons">Dungeons & Dragons</a>’ 5th edition <a href="https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/451897/dnd-2024-rules-revisions-changes">rules revision</a> is out in the wild right now, and while lots of folks are peeved that their favorite <a href="https://www.polygon.com/dnd-dungeons-dragons/482522/subclasses-revivified-updates-5e-dnd-2024">subclass</a> didn’t make the cut, by and large the upgrade is exceptional. But while the powers that be at Wizards of the Coast have been grinding away at refinements to the <a href="https://www.polygon.com/dnd-dungeons-dragons/451969/new-players-handbook-review-2024"><em>Player’s Handbook</em></a> and the <a href="https://www.polygon.com/review/477470/dungeon-masters-guide-2024"><em>Dungeon Master’s Guide</em></a>, the cavalcade of official campaign content has come to a… let’s call it <a href="https://www.polygon.com/dnd-dungeons-dragons/444702/dd-will-split-a-new-forgotten-realms-release-across-two-books">a lengthy pause</a>. So rather than create your own world from scratch, why not borrow one from Chris Metzen, co-creator of <em>World of Warcraft</em>? It’s a fine way to make a nod to <a href="https://www.polygon.com/world-of-warcraft/481722/world-of-warcraft-20th-anniversary">the historic MMO’s 20th anniversary</a>.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Auroboros: Coils of the Serpent</em>, <a href="https://www.polygon.com/22346478/dungeons-dragons-blizzard-chris-metzen-mike-gilmartin-warchief-auroboros-kickstarter">revealed first here on Polygon in 2021</a>, is a gritty little thing that came to life in Metzen’s childhood basement in the 1980s. One of my favorite parts of the setting is the prominence of bards, who even get their own <a href="https://www.polygon.com/22346993/auroboros-chris-metzen-dungeons-dragons-bards-music-races-classes">Burning Man-style festival</a> to rock out at. But the focus of the game is on the magic system, which is powered by mystical tattoos.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“The Auroboros itself […] is like a primordial force of creation,” Metzen told me at the time. “The more you use it, the more you step into this power that is apart from your actual class abilities. It starts to cause madness and death. It’s like the classic rock star thing — that Jim Morrison overdrive.”</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">While Metzen’s publishing company, Warchief Gaming, appears to have paused activity (the website isn’t working, so we’ve reached out to them to see what’s up), it appears that the product line’s first few items are still up for sale on Amazon. If it sounds interesting, you’ll want to snag <em>Auroboros: Coils of the Serpent – Worldbook: Lawbrand</em>, the massive setting book that explains it all start-to-finish. There’s also a thematic novel, titled <em>Auroboros: Under the Sun</em>, with Metzen himself as one of the narrators.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />Anamnesis designer Sam Leigh dropped two highly anticipated games — and they both deliver
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 21:37:56 -0000
Earlier this month, Sam Leigh of Blinking Birch Games dropped two long-awaited releases: Death of the Author and The World We Left Behind. Designer of the genre-pushing, Ennie-nominated solo RPG Anamnesis — a tarot-based journaling game about memory and identity — Leigh’s work is often a contemplative meditation on a given theme, with these newest […]<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Credit-NASA-Worldview-7.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Earlier this month, Sam Leigh of Blinking Birch Games dropped two long-awaited releases: <a href="https://blinkingbirchgames.itch.io/death-of-the-author"><em>Death of the Author</em></a><em> </em>and <a href="https://blinkingbirchgames.itch.io/the-world-we-left-behind"><em>The World We Left Behind</em></a>. Designer of the genre-pushing, Ennie-nominated solo RPG <em>Anamnesis</em> — a tarot-based <a href="https://www.polygon.com/2021/3/26/22352414/field-guide-to-memory-keepsake-game-impressions-interview">journaling game</a> about memory and identity — Leigh’s work is often a contemplative meditation on a given theme, with these newest releases delving into isolation, history, agency, and hubris.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>The World We Left Behind </em>is a GMless game that asks players to take on the role of cosmic researchers finding a post-society planet. Throughout multiple trips to a single alien planet, these astronauts walk among the overgrown ruins of a once great culture, uncovering it’s past while studying the plants and animals that still inhabit the ecosystem. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Played using a single deck of cards, the game leaves behind game artifacts as players take notes and draw symbols on the cards, which compound with each subsequent session. The game’s surrealist pastel artwork was made by Helena Santana, with the game’s layout by Sinta Posadas.</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PXL_20241108_142755746.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,24.360420694217,100,51.279158611565" alt="The world we left behind game next to a casette tape" title="The world we left behind game next to a casette tape" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Blinking Birch Games" /> <p class="has-text-align-none">Commissioned by the New York City-based <a href="https://balletcollective.com/">Ballet Collective</a> for their 2023 season, <em>The World We Left Behind</em> has been in development for multiple years. The initial game was made in collaboration with composer <a href="https://www.phongmusic.com/">Phong Tran</a> and choreographer <a href="http://www.troyschumacher.com">Troy Schumacher</a>. Tran and Schumacher playtested early versions of <em>The World We Left Behind</em> and created a ballet of the same name inspired by their sessions, which premiered last fall in New York City’s Trinity Commons and was revived for a second performance earlier this year. A limited edition box set is available on <a href="https://phongtran.bandcamp.com/album/the-world-we-left-behind"><em>The World We Left Behind</em> Bandcamp page</a>, alongside Tran’s original compositions.</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Credit_NASA_Worldview__4_-removebg.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,3.4613147178592,100,93.077370564282" alt="a tarot card that says XXII, The Author, with a person holding a book and a marionette, with ink dripping off their hands and covering their face" title="a tarot card that says XXII, The Author, with a person holding a book and a marionette, with ink dripping off their hands and covering their face" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Blinking Birch Games" /> <p class="has-text-align-none">Leigh’s second release, <em>Death of The Author </em>follows in the tarot-based tradition of <em>Anamnesis</em>. Building on similar themes to Dillin Apelyan’s <a href="https://superdillin.itch.io/metalepsis"><em>Metalepsis</em></a>, Leigh uses the card’s archetypes to depict a conflict between a fictional character and the author who wrote them. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Death of the Author</em> takes place throughout five chapters of play, as the character rejects the story their author has written for them. As the narrative changes under their pen, the author may retaliate, forcing this fictional reality to bend to their whims, leading to an ultimate confrontation between the creator and their creation. <em>Death of The Author</em>’s greyscale, horror-inspired tarot artwork was done by Victor Winter, with layout by James Hanna and editing by Marx Shepherd.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">I have had the opportunity to play the solo iteration of both of the games, though <em>Death of the Author</em> has options for two-person play, while <em>The World We Left Behind </em>can accommodate up to five players. Much like Leigh’s previous games, these two games offer emotionally moving experiences, which is unsurprising from the designer behind the solo TTRPG that launched a thousand solo TTRPGs. <em>Death of the Author</em>’s tarot-prompts focusing more on the relationship to individual agency and creation, which will especially appeal to creatives and writers. <em>The World We Left Behind</em>’s slow unravelling of the solitude of adventure, alongside the mystery that is this alien planet’s history, is a contemplation about the state of our world and what it might be like once we too are left behind.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Both games are currently available for purchase on the <a href="http://itch.io">Blinking Birch Games itch.io page</a> — and they’re both RPGs at their best.</p>How to repair broken weapons in STALKER 2
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 21:42:11 -0000
Repairing weapons in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is critical, as you don’t want to find yourself in the irradiated wasteland with broken tools. In this STALKER 2 guide, we’ll walk you through how to repair weapons and detail what to do with broken weapons. How to repair your weapons and gear in STALKER 2 […]<figure> <img alt="Lens sits in his workshop and waits for the player to speak to him in STALKER 2" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: GSC Game World via Polygon" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-2-Heart-of-Chornobyl-Screenshot-2024.11.22-14.03.22.76.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Repairing weapons</strong> in <em><a href="https://www.polygon.com/game/stalker-2-heart-of-chernobyl/40777">STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl</a></em> is critical, as you don’t want to find yourself in the irradiated wasteland with broken tools.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">In this <em>STALKER 2</em> guide, we’ll walk you through <strong>how to repair weapons</strong> and detail <strong>what to do with broken weapons</strong>.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">How to repair your weapons and gear in <em>STALKER 2</em></h2> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/20241121121950_1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,3.4613147178592,100,93.077370564282" alt="Lens speaks to the player in STALKER 2 about upgrades and repairs" title="Lens speaks to the player in STALKER 2 about upgrades and repairs" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: GSC Game World via Polygon" /> <p class="has-text-align-none">As you use your items or carry them around the wasteland, they’ll lose durability. After a time, they’ll develop a little <strong>yellow icon</strong>, indicating they’ve been beaten down, at which point you should consider repairing or selling them. If you continue to use them, they’ll degrade even further and become broken.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">To stop that from happening, you can visit a <strong>technician</strong>, which is indicated by a little wrench icon on your map in any major town. The first technician you’ll meet is in Zalissya, the first village you come across in <em>STALKER 2</em> (and also where you’ll start “<a href="https://www.polygon.com/guides/483077/stalker-2-poppy-field-quest-walkthrough-pomor-mitay-root-cellar-location">The Poppy Field</a>” side quest). His name is Lens, and he’ll teach you about how to make use of a technician’s services.</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-2-Heart-of-Chornobyl-Screenshot-2024.11.22-14.04.04.10.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,3.4613147178592,100,93.077370564282" alt="A player tries to use the repair menu to fix an expensive, broken item " title="A player tries to use the repair menu to fix an expensive, broken item " data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: GSC Game World via Polygon" /> <p class="has-text-align-none">While interacting with Lens, hit the button prompt in the lower right corner to enter his upgrade menu. Here you can pay to upgrade your gear, but you can also pay him to repair it. The cost of repairs escalates more and more as your items break, so it’s best to visit a technician regularly to keep one item from becoming too expensive to ever reasonably recover. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">What to do with broken gear in <em>STALKER 2</em></h2> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/20241121122233_1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,3.4613147178592,100,93.077370564282" alt="A player uses the menu to unload a weapon in STALKER 2" title="A player uses the menu to unload a weapon in STALKER 2" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: GSC Game World via Polygon" /> <p class="has-text-align-none">Unfortunately, the best thing to do with broken gear in <em>STALKER 2</em> is to not let it break in the first place. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Once an item has a red shield mark over it, it means the durability has fallen to such a degree that it’s considered broken or near-broken. At this level, vendors will no longer buy these items off of you, and they’ll be extremely costly to repair, requiring thousands of Coupons for a single item.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">When you find an item that’s broken out in the wild, or an item that you’re using becomes broken, your best bet is to unload the weapon (which is an option when hovering over it in your menu) to reclaim any ammo that’s in it, drop it on the ground, and move on.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">If a weapon or gear piece that’s particularly precious to you breaks, throw it in your stash until you can afford to fix it. But given just how much of a resource sink broken items can be, you want to keep your threshold for “precious” very, very high.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <p class="has-text-align-none">For more tips on navigating the Zone, see our <a href="https://www.polygon.com/guides/481924/stalker-2-beginners-tips-tricks-before-starting"><em>STALKER 2</em> beginners guide</a>.</p>Play the awesome new Call of Duty campaign while it’s $1
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 21:50:00 -0000
I didn’t expect to say either of these things to you when 2024 began: the new Call of Duty single-player campaign is a blast. And you can play it for $1. A week before the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Microsoft removed the ability to try 1-month of Game Pass for $1. […]<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/black-ops-6-beta.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">I didn’t expect to say either of these things to you when 2024 began: the new Call of Duty single-player campaign is a blast. And you can <a href="https://www.xbox.com/en-us/xbox-game-pass/pc-game-pass/direct?ef_id=_k_CjwKCAiA9IC6BhA3EiwAsbltOMogsSKtu6iC8-HuKdUH3Hwo628mmeUZmyj0PAr8ON46m2yUKUfnNRoCtPQQAvD_BwE_k_&OCID=AIDcmmjoh5lzu1_SEM__k_CjwKCAiA9IC6BhA3EiwAsbltOMogsSKtu6iC8-HuKdUH3Hwo628mmeUZmyj0PAr8ON46m2yUKUfnNRoCtPQQAvD_BwE_k_&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA9IC6BhA3EiwAsbltOMogsSKtu6iC8-HuKdUH3Hwo628mmeUZmyj0PAr8ON46m2yUKUfnNRoCtPQQAvD_BwE">play it for $1</a>.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">A week before the release of <em><a href="https://www.polygon.com/game/call-of-duty-black-ops-6/443261">Call of Duty: Black Ops 6</a></em>, Microsoft removed the ability to try 1-month of Game Pass for $1. However, the option has returned with a tweak: $1 now buys you 14 days and appears to be exclusive to PC. On console, you can get a month for $9.99, which remains comparably reasonable for a new Call of Duty campaign. Which means, you can now play the entirety of the <em>Black Ops 6</em> campaign this weekend for pocket change. And trust me: you should.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">I’m not a Call of Duty zealot. Despite an early obsession, beginning with <em>Call of Duty 2</em> on the Xbox 360, my fandom disintegrated around <em>Black Ops 2</em> in 2012. And though I’ve played nearly every campaign, I haven’t enjoyed that time since <em>Infinite Warfare</em>. That was eight years ago.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">So when I say <em>Black Ops 6 </em>campaign is a treat, I am doing so with the context of the full franchise. Good and bad. I wouldn’t say this campaign’s a return to form. Instead, its creators cleverly reimagine other great gaming franchises through the lens of COD. Each mission riffs on a sub-genre of first-person shooters, from an open-world map à la Far Cry to a science laboratory that echoes the works of Arkane Studios and the late Irrational Games. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Holding together the disparate stages? An abandoned mansion hub, where characters chat about their bizarro alternate Cold War history while the player is free to solve little puzzles and unlock perks and buffs to carry into the next mission. Taken holistically, the <em>Black Ops 6</em> campaign is like a Mission: Impossible movie, but instead of setpieces set in iconic international locales, they’re dropped into a syllabus for FPS 101.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">And if you don’t like it? <a href="https://www.polygon.com/best-games/22372750/best-game-pass-games-xbox">I have 25 other games for you</a>.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"></p>Final Fantasy 14 for mobile will go back to A Realm Reborn for a WoW Classic-like experience
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 22:15:31 -0000
The mobile version of Final Fantasy 14 will “faithfully recreate the storyline” of the long-running MMO for mobile users, the game’s director and producer, Naoki Yoshida, said in a recent video Q&A. Like other “classic” MMOs, Final Fantasy 14 Mobile will go back to the beginning — well, kind of — starting from A Realm Reborn and […]<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/7cc71eee-4f8c-4501-a321-f00ec0d59288.jpeg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">The mobile version of <em><a href="https://www.polygon.com/ffxiv-guides-ff14-final-fantasy-14-online/22381941/beginners-job-subscription-teleport-mount-shadowbringers-endwalker">Final Fantasy 14</a></em> will “faithfully recreate the storyline” of the long-running MMO for mobile users, the game’s director and producer, Naoki Yoshida, said in a recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHdB0TunFgo">video Q&A</a>. Like <a href="https://www.polygon.com/2024/8/12/24209862/world-warcraft-wow-classic-20th-anniversary-retrospective">other “classic” MMOs</a>, <em><a href="https://www.polygon.com/news/481838/ff14-mobile-announced">Final Fantasy 14 Mobile</a></em> will go back to the beginning — <a href="https://www.polygon.com/2014/3/20/5527948/final-fantasy-14-killed-square-enix-stubbornness-realm-reborn-new-approach">well, kind of</a> — starting from <em><a href="https://www.polygon.com/2013/9/20/4753658/final-fantasy-14-realm-reborn-review">A Realm Reborn</a></em> and progressing through storylines introduced in later expansions.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“Players who are already familiar with <em>Final Fantasy 14</em> will be able to relive the story on mobile,” Yoshida said, “while <a href="https://www.polygon.com/ffxiv-guides-ff14-final-fantasy-14-online/22368544/beginners-guide-tips-tricks-quests">newcomers</a> will have the opportunity to embark on a new adventure and experience the narrative in its entirety.”</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Yoshida explained that since the world of <em>Final Fantasy 14</em> has progressed across multiple patches and expansions, “a vast amount of content and narrative has already been developed.” Yoshida said that Square Enix and mobile developer <a href="https://www.polygon.com/gaming/477714/hideaki-itsuno-dragons-dogma-devil-may-cry-lightspeed-studios-tencent">Lightspeed Studios</a> “plan to release this content gradually and at a steady pace. We may adjust the release schedule based on player feedback, potentially speeding up the update cadence or maintaining the tempo we start with if that is what players find the most suitable.”</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div><div><iframe title="Naoki Yoshida Talking About the FINAL FANTASY XIV MOBILE" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lHdB0TunFgo?rel=0" width="720" height="405" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"></iframe></div></div> </div></figure> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Final Fantasy 14</em> has received five expansions since Square Enix’s <em>A Realm Reborn</em> relaunch in 2013: <em>Heavensward</em>, <em>Stormblood</em>, <em>Shadowbringers</em>, <em>Endwalker</em>, and <em>Dawntrail</em>. That’s a lot of content to chew through. Yoshida says that unlike the PC and console versions of <em>FF14</em>, the mobile version is being designed to played in bite-sized chunks and even on the go, to match mobile players’ expectations.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Yoshida hasn’t explained how <em>Final Fantasy 14 Mobile</em> will be monetized, but it doesn’t sound like Square Enix and Lightspeed are going for a subscription model or a gacha-style model employed by games like <em><a href="https://www.polygon.com/genshin-impact-guides">Genshin Impact</a></em>.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“Lightspeed Studios have proposed a number of solutions,” Yoshida said of the free-to-play mobile version of <em>FF14</em>. “Their proposals weren’t focused on an approach that prioritized profits by pushing a gacha system. Instead, they proposed from the start a design which respects the essence of <em><em>Final Fantasy 14</em></em>, and encourages long-term engagement. Our goal is to ensure that players can enjoy <em><em>Final Fantasy 14</em></em> [<em>Mobile</em>] for a long time while generating small and sustainable revenue allowing as many people as possible to play the game.“</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Final Fantasy 14 Mobile</em> will launch in China, followed by a global release “soon after,” Square Enix says.</p>Game Boy classic Donkey Kong Land is on Nintendo Switch Online now
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 22:37:46 -0000
Joining the likes of Metroid 2, Kirby’s Dream Land, Link’s Awakening, and tons of other amazing Game Boy games, Nintendo Switch Online’s retro catalogue now includes another classic: Donkey Kong Land. It’s nominally a Game Boy adaptation of Donkey Kong Country for the SNES, but the game actually has a slightly different story, changes to […]<figure> <img alt="The cover art for the Game Boy game Donkey Kong Land, featuring Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong walking through the jungle accompanied by various other cute animals" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Rare/Nintendo" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/donkey-kong-land_nmvf.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Joining the likes of <em>Metroid 2</em>, <em>Kirby’s Dream Land</em>, <em>Link’s Awakening</em>, and tons of other amazing Game Boy games, Nintendo Switch Online’s retro catalogue now includes another classic: <em>Donkey Kong Land</em>. It’s nominally a Game Boy adaptation of <em>Donkey Kong Country</em> for the SNES, but the game actually has a slightly different story, changes to enemies, and some entire levels that aren’t in <em>Country</em>.</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Grab a vine and join the thrills in the Land of Kong. <br><br>Donkey Kong Land is now available to play for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NintendoSwitchOnline?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NintendoSwitchOnline</a> members! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GameBoy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GameBoy</a> <a href="https://t.co/OBYq0Faoh4">pic.twitter.com/OBYq0Faoh4</a></p>— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) <a href="https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1859764097480355961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2024</a></blockquote> </div></figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">The main reason why I love <em>Donkey Kong Land</em> — and, while we’re here, <em>Donkey Kong Land 2</em> and <em>3</em>, which will probably be on Nintendo Switch Online soon at the rate these retro games are getting added — is the way that the Donkey Kong Country soundtrack got adapted for the Game Boy’s sound chip. The rearrangements of these classic catchy songs are very impressive; you can get a taste of the sound in the trailer that’s in <a href="https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1859764097480355961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1859764097480355961%7Ctwgr%5Ed8f877bb2f3a641aa397bd84c6c0431a069c5db4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.iframe.ly%2Fapi%2Fiframe%3Fmaxheight%3D750maxwidth%3D600app%3D1url%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FNintendoAmerica2Fstatus2F18597640974803559613Fref_src3Dtwsrc255Etfw257Ctwcamp255Etweetembed257Ctwterm255E1859764097480355961257Ctwgr255Ece9d3b21dd80a4c54e74a0fb6fabab31112c1309257Ctwcon255Es1_c1026ref_url3Dhttps253A252F252Fmynintendonews.com252F2024252F11252F22252Fdonkey-kong-land-available-for-switch-online-members252Fkey%3Da95589c51263af39f0de8ef8737db4f3">Nintendo’s post on X</a> announcing the game’s addition to Switch Online. No shade to the SNES but I simply prefer the Game Boy’s sound. I used to pause this game just to listen to specific tracks.</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div><div><iframe title="Donkey Kong Land - Full OST w/ Timestamps" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lAZZ3OQcOJY?rel=0" width="720" height="405" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"></iframe></div></div> </div></figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">The original Donkey Kong Country trilogy is also already on Nintendo Switch Online, by the way, so you can really dive deep into the DK catalogue if that’s your thing. These games hold up quite well considering they’re from the ’90s. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Incidentally, the DK Rap may not hold up quite as well, but <a href="https://www.polygon.com/news/480107/dk-rap-grant-kirkhope-substantial-new-lyrics-song">it has a 2024 remake that rules</a>.</p>Amazon doubles down on Anthropic, positioning itself as a key player in the AI arms race
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 22:56:25 -0000
Amazon strengthens its position in the AI race with an additional $4 billion investment in Anthropic, committing to custom silicon and cloud dominance to compete with Microsoft and Google.<img width="578" height="324" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_IBM_computers_and_Amazon_Web_Services_r_7a8ad67e-6ff7-4876-a732-c99df5e59380.webp?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_IBM_computers_and_Amazon_Web_Services_r_7a8ad67e-6ff7-4876-a732-c99df5e59380.webp 1031w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_IBM_computers_and_Amazon_Web_Services_r_7a8ad67e-6ff7-4876-a732-c99df5e59380.webp?resize=300,168 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_IBM_computers_and_Amazon_Web_Services_r_7a8ad67e-6ff7-4876-a732-c99df5e59380.webp?resize=768,431 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_IBM_computers_and_Amazon_Web_Services_r_7a8ad67e-6ff7-4876-a732-c99df5e59380.webp?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_IBM_computers_and_Amazon_Web_Services_r_7a8ad67e-6ff7-4876-a732-c99df5e59380.webp?resize=400,224 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_IBM_computers_and_Amazon_Web_Services_r_7a8ad67e-6ff7-4876-a732-c99df5e59380.webp?resize=750,420 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_IBM_computers_and_Amazon_Web_Services_r_7a8ad67e-6ff7-4876-a732-c99df5e59380.webp?resize=578,324 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nuneybits_Vector_art_of_IBM_computers_and_Amazon_Web_Services_r_7a8ad67e-6ff7-4876-a732-c99df5e59380.webp?resize=930,521 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>Amazon strengthens its position in the AI race with an additional $4 billion investment in Anthropic, committing to custom silicon and cloud dominance to compete with Microsoft and Google.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/amazon-doubles-down-on-anthropic-positioning-itself-as-a-key-player-in-the-ai-arms-race/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Smile 2, Alien: Romulus, Netflix’s The Piano Lesson, and every movie new to streaming
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 23:15:00 -0000
Each week on Polygon, we round up the most notable new releases to streaming and VOD, highlighting the biggest and best new movies for you to watch at home. This week, Smile 2, the sequel to the supernatural horror debut from director Parker Finn, leers its way onto VOD following its theatrical debut in September. […]<figure> <img alt="Naomi Scott having her face stretched into a ghoulish smile by an unseen man standing behind her in Smile 2." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/WS2_FP_030.jpeg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Each week on Polygon, we round up the most notable new releases to streaming and VOD, highlighting the biggest and best new movies for you to watch at home.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">This week, <em><a href="https://www.polygon.com/review/466687/smile-2-review-best-horror-movies-2024" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.polygon.com/review/466687/smile-2-review-best-horror-movies-2024">Smile 2</a></em>, the sequel to the supernatural horror debut from director Parker Finn, leers its way onto VOD following its theatrical debut in September. If supernatural horror isn’t your bag, why not give sci-fi horror a try? <em><a href="https://www.polygon.com/entertainment/441159/alien-romulus-ready-player-ash-rain-ian-holm" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.polygon.com/entertainment/441159/alien-romulus-ready-player-ash-rain-ian-holm">Alien: Romulus</a></em>, <em>Evil Dead</em> director Fede Álvarez’s new installment in the venerable Alien franchise, slithers onto Hulu this week alongside the Nick Jonas-led comedy drama <em>The Good Half</em> and the historical drama <em>Firebrand</em> starring Alicia Vikander.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">There’s a whole lot more to choose from on streaming this weekend, including the historical survival drama <em>Blitz</em> on Apple TV Plus; <em>The Piano Lesson</em> starring John David Washington (<em>Tenet</em>); <em><a href="https://www.polygon.com/movies/22434538/shrek" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.polygon.com/movies/22434538/shrek">Shrek</a></em> director Vicky Jenson’s latest animated adventure, <em>Spellbound</em>, on Netflix; <em><a href="https://www.polygon.com/review/443624/blink-twice-zoe-kravitz-channing-tatum" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.polygon.com/review/443624/blink-twice-zoe-kravitz-channing-tatum">Blink Twice</a> </em>on MGM Plus; and several other new releases.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Here’s everything new that’s available to watch this weekend!</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="new-on-netflix">New on Netflix</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-piano-lesson">The Piano Lesson</h3> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Available to stream on Netflix</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/pl_stills_20240613_001_srgb.179179_r.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,3.4613147178592,100,93.077370564282" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" /> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Genre:</strong> Drama<strong><br>Run time:</strong> 2h 5m<strong><br>Director:</strong> Malcolm Washington<strong><br>Cast:</strong> Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The feature directorial debut by Malcolm Washington adapts August Wilson’s play for the silver screen. Starring Malcolm’s brother John David, <em>The Piano Lesson </em>centers on the lives of Boy Willie Charles and his family living in post-Great Depression Pittsburgh. As the Charles family quarrels over the fate of a prized heirloom, a piano decorated with designs carved by an enslaved ancestor, the fight threatens to roil old resentments and inflame long-simmering tensions.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="joy">Joy</h3> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Available to stream on Netflix</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/JOY_FirstLook_Image.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,3.4362399951857,100,93.127520009629" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" /> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Genre:</strong> Biographical drama<br><strong>Run time:</strong> 1h 55m<br><strong>Director:</strong> Ben Taylor<br><strong>Cast:</strong> Bill Nighy, Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Joy</em> tells the story of the first test-tube baby and the invention of in vitro fertilization, through the eyes of nurse Jean Purdy, scientist Robert Edwards, and surgeon Patrick Steptoe in the 1970s. The trio faces opposition, as religious zealots claim their work to be unnatural, but continue to persevere in the face of those odds. For decades, Purdy’s contributions to the development of IVF were largely forgotten, but in recent years she’s been more and more recognized.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="spellbound">Spellbound</h3> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Available to stream on Netflix</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Spellbound_u_00_38_25_02.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,1.5154604392857,100,96.969079121429" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" /> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Genre:</strong> Fantasy comedy<strong><br>Run time:</strong> 1h 49m<strong><br>Director:</strong> Vicky Jenson<strong><br>Cast:</strong> Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">A new animated musical from the director of <em>Shrek</em>, <em>Spellbound </em>is about a young princess who must break a spell that’s transformed her parents into monsters and split her kingdom in two. Musical legend Alan Menken does the music for the movie, and with Rachel Zegler as the lead, the soundtrack is sure to soar. The movie was first called <em>Split</em> before it was changed to <em>The Unbreakable Spell</em>, and after shifting between a few streaming services, it was finally renamed <em>Spellbound</em>.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-merry-gentlemen">The Merry Gentlemen</h3> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Available to stream on Netflix</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/MG_20240518_KM_02899_R.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,10.732984293194,100,78.534031413613" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" /> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Genre: </strong>Musical rom-com<br><strong>Run time:</strong> 1h 27m<br><strong>Director:</strong> Peter Sullivan<strong><br>Cast:</strong> Britt Robertson, Chad Michael Murray, Marla Sokoloff</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Magic Mike</em> meets a cozy Christmas movie in this new Netflix holiday flick. A dancer tries to save her family’s performance venue by putting on a steamy all-male dance revue to raise money. She recruits some of the hot men around her small town and trains them in the art of hip thrusting and shirt tearing… and also starts to fall for one of them. Will she save her parents’ venue just in time for Christmas? Given the genre, probably, but there will be more bare torsos than usual.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="new-on-hulu">New on Hulu</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="alien-romulus">Alien: Romulus</h3> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Available to stream on Hulu</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/g_20cs_alienromulus_3216_3_b1fddb61.jpeg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,3.3816251882665,100,93.236749623467" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" /> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Genre:</strong> Sci-fi horror<strong><br>Run time:</strong> 1h 59m<strong><br>Director:</strong> Fede Álvarez<strong><br>Cast:</strong> Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Isabela Merced</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Set 20 years after the events of Ridley Scott’s <em>Alien</em>, Fede Álvarez’s sci-fi horror film follows three pairs of young siblings who attempt to scavenge through a derelict space station in a last-ditch effort to escape their indentured servitude to the Weyland-Yutani megacorporation. What they discover aboard the station, however, is not their salvation, but a horror beyond anything they could’ve possibly imagined.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">From our <a href="https://www.polygon.com/review/440146/alien-romulus-is-an-imperfect-organism-spliced-together-from-the-franchises-best">review</a>:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-none is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"> <p class="has-text-align-none">“Is it as good as <em>Alien</em> or <em>Aliens</em>?” is the obvious question franchise fans will ask when weighing whether to see <em>Alien: Romulus</em>. Álvarez and Sayagues seem to have been uncomfortably aware that this question was coming. They anticipated those five different answers about what Alien fans love from the previous films, and tried to split the difference between all of them and more. Like the Romulus and Remus stations, which serve as the film’s setting,<em> Alien: Romulus</em> is made up of roughly two parts: a haunted-house story in outer space à la <em>Alien</em>, and a crowd-pleasing horror-action spectacle like <em>Aliens</em>. The former element is stronger than the latter in this case, and the imbalance is one of the reasons <em>Alien: Romulus</em> feels like a by-the-numbers retread of the franchise defining it, rather than the resuscitative breath it so desperately needs.</p> </blockquote> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-good-half">The Good Half</h3> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Available to stream on Hulu</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/goodhalf1-btqv-videoSixteenByNineJumbo1600.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,3.4613147178592,100,93.077370564282" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" /> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Genre:</strong> Comedy drama<strong><br>Run time:</strong> 1h 36m<strong><br>Director:</strong> Robert Schwartzman<strong><br>Cast:</strong> Nick Jonas, Brittany Snow, David Arquette</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The Jonas Brothers’ very own Nick Jonas stars as an emotionally distant writer returning to Cleveland, Ohio, for his mother’s funeral, after years of avoiding his complicated family. He forges some new relationships and confronts some old ones, and eventually must face his grief — and family drama — head on. <em>The Good Half </em>first premiered at the 2023 Tribeca film festival.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="firebrand">Firebrand</h3> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Available to stream on Hulu</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25512376/MCDFIRE_SP004_copy.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,3.5250663415334,100,92.949867316933" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" /> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Genre:</strong> Historical drama<br><strong>Run time: </strong>2h 1m<br><strong>Director: </strong>Karim Aïnouz<br><strong>Cast: </strong>Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Eddie Marsan</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">King Henry VIII is remembered for many things, but he’s probably most known for marrying six women in his lifetime, two of which he had executed. Alicia Vikander (<em>Ex Machina</em>) stars in this historical drama as Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII (Jude Law), who must fight for her survival when the king’s behavior becomes more and more erratic and paranoid in the years preceding the end of his reign.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="new-on-max">New on Max</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="watchmen-chapter-i">Watchmen: Chapter I</h3> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Available to stream on Max</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/watchmen-chapter-i-17.jpeg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=2.25,0,95.5,100" alt="Rorschach, Nite Owl, Silk Spectre, Dr. Manhattan, The Comedian, and Captain Metropolis in Watchmen: Chapter 1." title="Rorschach, Nite Owl, Silk Spectre, Dr. Manhattan, The Comedian, and Captain Metropolis in Watchmen: Chapter 1." data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: DC Entertainment/Warner Bros. Animation" /> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong><strong>Genre:</strong></strong> Superhero drama<strong><br><strong>Run time:</strong></strong> 1h 23m<strong><br><strong>Director:</strong></strong> Brandon Vietti<strong><strong><br>Cast:</strong></strong> Troy Baker, Adrienne Barbeau, Corey Burton</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Watchmen</em> is back, this time as a multi-part animated film series! In an alternate 1985, a government-sponsored superhero has been inexplicably murdered. Determined to apprehend his killer, a costumed vigilante named Rorschach reunites with his estranged former colleagues and scours the criminal underworld of New York is his search for clues. What he uncovers is a conspiracy that threatens to endanger the entire world. Will he be able to track down the conspirators before it’s too late?</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="new-on-apple-tv-plus">New on Apple TV Plus</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="blitz">Blitz</h3> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Available to stream on Apple TV Plus</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Blitz_Photo_0114.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,11.891475645397,100,76.217048709207" alt="Saoirse Ronan and Elliott Heffernan standing at the far end of a street in Blitz." title="Saoirse Ronan and Elliott Heffernan standing at the far end of a street in Blitz." data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Apple TV Plus" /> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Genre:</strong> Drama<strong><br>Run time: </strong>2h<strong><br>Director:</strong> Steve McQueen<strong><br>Cast:</strong> Saoirse Ronan, Elliott Heffernan, Harris Dickinson</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Saoirse Ronan (<em>Lady Bird</em>) stars in Steve McQueen’s historical drama as Rita, a young mother who sends her son George (Elliott Heffernan) to the English countryside to protect him from the impending attack on London by Nazi Germany. When Rita learns that George did not reach his destination, she embarks on a search to find him.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="bread-roses">Bread & Roses</h3> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Available to stream on Apple TV Plus</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div><div><iframe title="Bread & Roses — Official Trailer | Apple TV+" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qEiywFC3tqk?rel=0" width="720" height="405" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"></iframe></div></div> </div></figure> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Genre:</strong> Documentary<strong><br>Run time:</strong> 1h 30m<strong><br>Director:</strong> Sahra Mani</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Bread & Roses </em>is a documentary about women in Afghanistan living under the Taliban, following three women: Sharifa, a former government employee confined indoors; Zahra, a dentist who began to organize activists till she was captured and tortured; and Taranom, who has been exiled to Pakistan for her activism. The documentary premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="new-on-mgm-plus">New on MGM Plus</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="blink-twice">Blink Twice</h3> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Available to stream on MGM Plus</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/MCDBLTW_MG020.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=10.240166666667,0,79.519666666667,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" /> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong><strong>Genre:</strong> </strong>Psychological thriller<strong><br><strong>Run time:</strong></strong> 1h 42m<strong><strong><br>Director:</strong></strong> Zoë Kravitz<strong><strong><br>Cast:</strong> </strong>Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Christian Slater</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut is a psychological thriller about a cocktail waitress named Frida (Naomi Ackie) who gets whisked away to a private island by a tech mogul for a lavish partying getaway. But Frida begins to notice that something strange is happening with the female guests. Fun fact: The film’s working title was <em>Pussy Island</em>, but the Motion Picture Association had an issue with that.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="new-on-mubi">New on Mubi</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="tktktktk">Witches</h3> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Available to stream on Mubi US</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/3.-WITCHES.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,1.5706806282722,100,96.858638743456" alt="A pair holding a clapperboard with the word “Witches” written on it in front of a woman standing in an autumnal forest dressed in a puritan gown in Witches." title="A pair holding a clapperboard with the word “Witches” written on it in front of a woman standing in an autumnal forest dressed in a puritan gown in Witches." data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Mubi" /> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Genre:</strong> Documentary<strong><br>Run time:</strong> 1h 30m<strong><br>Director:</strong> Elizabeth Sankey<strong><br>Cast:</strong> Catherine Cho, Sophia Di Martino, David Emson</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">This documentary chronicles the relationship between how witches have been characterized across the history of film, television, and culture and how we view women, motherhood, and mental health. Relying on her own robust knowledge and long-standing obsession with the film’s subject matter, Elizabeth Sankey draws on clips from <em>The Wizard of Oz</em>, <em>Girl, Interrupted</em>, <em>Rosemary’s Baby</em>, and more to illustrate her argument about the connection between the history of witches and the historical vilification of women and their bodies.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="new-to-rent">New to rent</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="smile-2">Smile 2</h3> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Available to stream on Metrograph</p> <img src="https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/S2_FP_011.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=2.2255128205128,0,95.548974358974,100" alt="Naomi Scott in Smile 2." title="Naomi Scott in Smile 2." data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Paramount Pictures" /> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong>Genre: </strong>Supernatural horror<strong><br>Run time:</strong> 2h 7m<strong><br>Director:</strong> Parker Finn<strong><br>Cast:</strong> Kyle Gallner, Naomi Scott, Lukas Gage</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Parker Finn returns with a follow-up to his smash-hit horror debut, <em><a href="https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23368190/smile-review-horror-movie" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23368190/smile-review-horror-movie">Smile</a></em>. Picking up just a week after the events of the previous film, <em>Smile 2</em> centers on Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), a famous pop star recovering from a tragic car accident. When a mysterious curse is inadvertently passed on to her, Skye struggles to retain her sanity as she fights against a parasitic supernatural entity that seeks to devour her from the inside out.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">From our <a href="https://www.polygon.com/review/466687/smile-2-review-best-horror-movies-2024" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.polygon.com/review/466687/smile-2-review-best-horror-movies-2024">review</a>:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-none is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Smile </em>dodging the streaming abyss and finding box-office success felt like a miracle, but <em>Smile 2 </em>is something even rarer: a horror sequel that outdoes its predecessor in every way. Rather than simply rehashing the original, Parker Finn pushes his clever premise to its logical extreme and builds some incredibly scary scenes to match. In fact, Finn ends <em>Smile 2</em> in a spot that feels like the perfect conclusion to the franchise — and the perfect jumping-off point for the career of one of the most exciting horror directors of his generation.</p> </blockquote>Chinese researchers unveil LLaVA-o1 to challenge OpenAI’s o1 model
Fri, 22 Nov 2024 23:26:42 -0000
LLaVA-o1 breaks down the answer into multiple reasoning components and uses inference-time scaling to optimize each stage.<img width="578" height="325" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/robotic-llama.jpg?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="robotic llama" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/robotic-llama.jpg 1200w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/robotic-llama.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/robotic-llama.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/robotic-llama.jpg?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/robotic-llama.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/robotic-llama.jpg?resize=750,422 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/robotic-llama.jpg?resize=578,325 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/robotic-llama.jpg?resize=930,523 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>LLaVA-o1 breaks down the answer into multiple reasoning components and uses inference-time scaling to optimize each stage.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/chinese-researchers-unveil-llava-o1-to-challenge-openais-o1-model/" target="_blank">Read More</a>AI2 closes the gap between closed-source and open-source post-training
Sat, 23 Nov 2024 00:02:27 -0000
Ai2 released Tülu 3, a model that makes fine-tuning open-source LLMs easier and get its performance closer to closed LLMs like GPT-4o.<img width="578" height="330" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/robot-fine-tuning.png?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="AI golden age sci-fi style art of humanoid robot wearing glasses repairing watch with small. jeweler's screwdriver" decoding="async" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/robot-fine-tuning.png 1792w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/robot-fine-tuning.png?resize=300,171 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/robot-fine-tuning.png?resize=768,439 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/robot-fine-tuning.png?resize=800,457 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/robot-fine-tuning.png?resize=1536,878 1536w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/robot-fine-tuning.png?resize=400,229 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/robot-fine-tuning.png?resize=750,429 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/robot-fine-tuning.png?resize=578,330 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/robot-fine-tuning.png?resize=930,531 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>Ai2 released Tülu 3, a model that makes fine-tuning open-source LLMs easier and get its performance closer to closed LLMs like GPT-4o.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/ai2-closes-the-gap-between-closed-source-and-open-source-post-training/" target="_blank">Read More</a>Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 drove October’s sales growth | Circana
Sat, 23 Nov 2024 01:15:32 -0000
Circana's October best-sellers list is comprised of almost half new games, but Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero! take top honors.<img width="578" height="325" src="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/COD-EXP-ROADMAP-010.jpg?w=578" class="attachment-single-feed size-single-feed wp-post-image" alt="Black Ops 6 debuted October 25." decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/COD-EXP-ROADMAP-010.jpg 1920w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/COD-EXP-ROADMAP-010.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/COD-EXP-ROADMAP-010.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/COD-EXP-ROADMAP-010.jpg?resize=800,450 800w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/COD-EXP-ROADMAP-010.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/COD-EXP-ROADMAP-010.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/COD-EXP-ROADMAP-010.jpg?resize=750,422 750w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/COD-EXP-ROADMAP-010.jpg?resize=578,325 578w, https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/COD-EXP-ROADMAP-010.jpg?resize=930,523 930w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /><hr/>Circana's October best-sellers list is comprised of almost half new games, but Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero! take top honors.<a href="https://venturebeat.com/games/call-of-duty-black-ops-6-drove-octobers-sales-growth-circana/" target="_blank">Read More</a>What are we all playing this weekend?
Sat, 23 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0000
Here in the UK, the weekend window views are getting progressively more glacial. I'm a bit glad not to have any particular reason to go outside this weekend. It's been a hell of a week wading through anomalies for me, and I'm looking forward to some relaxation. What about you? Give me a rating out of 100 for how relaxed your weekend looks to be. Decimals allowed. Let's really get specific here.
Meanwhile, here's what we'll be clicking on this weekend!
What we've been playing - music videos, gaudy zombies and camo grinds
Sat, 23 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000
Hello! Welcome back to our regular feature where we write a little bit about some of the games we've been playing over the past few days. This week we explore a game that's also a music album, we struggle to be okay with the ultra violence in a supposedly silly zombie splatfest, and we engage in the age-old video game pastime of grinding.
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