The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is undoubtedly one of the best Switch games of all time. Weaving an engaging narrative with inventive gameplay mechanics and a sprawling world to explore, the successor to Breath of the Wild quickly proved it was far more than just an asset flip. A sometimes overlooked part of its success is its soundtrack, which is filled with powerful tracks that help bring the diverse world of Hyrule to life. And if you want to keep listening to its music while away from your Switch and have a cool display piece, you'll be glad to know that Tears of the Kingdom: Official Soundtrack preorders are now open.

While you're waiting for these to ship, consider checking out the existing collection of Zelda soundtracks. This includes music from Wind Waker, Majora's Mask, and Breath of the Wild. For good measure, we've also tossed in two great Mario soundtracks--one of which was released to celebrate the series' 30th anniversary. Most of these soundtracks have limited stock and prices fluctuate frequently.

Best Nintendo Soundtrack Deals

• Zelda: Breath of the Wild Soundtrack -- $44
• Zelda: Link's Awakening Soundtrack -- $36
• Zelda: 30th Anniversary Concert -- $27
• Zelda: Skyward Sword Soundtrack -- $51
• Zelda: Wind Waker Soundtrack -- $48
• Zelda: Majora's Mask Soundtrack -- $40
• Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Soundtrack -- $47
• Super Mario Bros Music: 30th Anniversary -- $27
• Super Mario Odyssey Soundtrack -- $34

View the full article

Fanatical's new Tabletop Wargame Bundle lets you build your own collection of epic strategy PC games for as low as $2 per game. Each of the titles on offer is based on large-scale tabletop-style wargames--hence the bundle's name--and let you wage battles in various settings like ancient Rome, Sengoku-era Japan, high fantasy, and more.

Fanatical's Tabletop Wargame Bundle has five games and 21 DLC packs to choose from, and your total savings depend on how many you add to your bundle. The base games are Field of Glory: Empires, Field of Glory II, Field of Glory II: Medieval, Fantasy General II: Invasion, and Sengoku Jidai: Shadow of the Shogun. The rest of the content includes paid DLC for all five titles that add extra units, factions, single-player campaigns, and more.

The deal starts at $10 for four games or DLC packs, which equals $2.50 per item. If you add at least seven items, the price drops to $2.14 per key. At 10 or more games, it drops to just $2 per item. If you want, you can add the entire 26 available games and DLC packs to your bundle for $52 total. That equates to a $439 value. All bundles also get a 5%-off coupon to use on a future Fanatical order.

You can check out the Tabletop Wargram Bundle and all the content available on its Fanatical store page. The bundle is available until June 13. All games are delivered as game keys redeemable via Steam.

While you are at Fanatical, you should also take a second to check out the retailer's other bundle deals, like this month's Prestige Collection, which includes a bunch of games like Fallout 4 GOTY, Devil May Cry 5, and the massive 14-game Star Wars collection, for as low as $7 per game.

Disclaimer: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom.

View the full article

Publisher Megabit has announced a dieselpunk real-time tactical roguelike called Grit and Valor - 1949. Developed by Liverpool-based studio Milky Tea, the game is coming to PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch in 2025.

The game takes place in an alternate-reality version of Europe where World War II never ended and Axis forces control the continent. "As the last hope to end this brutal conflict, players must join the resistance and escort an EMP device into the heart of enemy territory and destroy their mech production and communications headquarters--Machine Tower," reads a line from the game's description.

Megabit is the publishing arm of gaming collective Aonic, which focuses on games from mid-size teams, and Grit and Valor - 1949 is the company's first title to be published under Megabit.

"Milky Tea is a passionate group of visionary developers and it's truly an honor to help them realize their extraordinary vision," Aonic's Benjie Clarke said in a release.

In Grit and Valor, players can visit four unique regions of Europe, each boasting their own gameplay mechanics, challenges, and randomly generated battlefields. Players control a squad of mechs as they try to project a designated command vehicle and lead an EMP behind enemy lines.

"Each mission requires players to complete objectives and survive against hordes of enemy waves, while utilizing the terrain and environment to their advantage, exploiting enemy weaknesses to ensure victory," the publisher said.

Players are able to configure their mech squad to their liking, tailoring their units for specific missions. The game offers a number of upgrades that players earn by completing missions.

Fans eager to know more about Grit and Valor can sign up for the game's Discord server.

View the full article

It's officially the final Xur weekend of Destiny 2's Lightfall era, and with The Final Shape launching next week, now is a good time to go on a spending spree. Legendary Shards will be removed once the expansion launches, but what does this mean for Xur? Former game director Joe Blackburn teased a Xur rework last year, suggesting a more exciting experience with the arms dealer after the expansion goes live. For now, here's where Xur is this week and what he has for sale.

This week you can find Xur on Nessus, in The Watcher's Grave. For his weapon, Xur is offering SUROS Regime. Hunters can pick up Graviton Forfeit; Titans can grab Actium War Rig; and Warlocks can buy Karnstein Armlets.

Xur Location

Head to Nessus and use the Watcher's Grave transmat zone to find Xur this week. When you arrive, hop on your sparrow and head north toward the exit of the area. Look for a big tree with pink moss on the right side of the area. Climb up onto its big, flat branch, where you can reach Xur.

Xur Exotic and Legendary Items

• Exotic Engram - 97 Legendary Shards
• SUROS Regime - 29 Legendary Shards
• Graviton Forfeit - 23 Legendary Shards
• Actium War Rig - 23 Legendary Shards
• Karnstein Armlets - 23 Legendary Shards
• Hawkmoon - 200 Legendary Shards, 125,000 Glimmer, 1 Ascendant Shard, 1 Exotic Cipher
• Xenology quest - Free
• Legendary weapons and armor - 50 Legendary Shards, 1,000 Glimmer

Xur is present every weekend in Destiny 2, starting with the daily reset at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET each Friday. His exact location is always a mystery when he first arrives, as he is not listed on the map, and for novice players, he can be easy to miss. However, there are a set number of locations where he takes up residence, including the Tower Hangar area, on Nessus in Watcher's Grave, and in the Winding Cove area of the EDZ.

View the full article

Toys for Bob, the developer of Crash Bandicoot 4 and the Skylanders series, has announced a publishing deal with Xbox for its next game. The studio recently went independent after splitting off from its former parent company, Activision Blizzard.

The studio states its new title is “very early in development” and that we won’t see it for some time. Whatever this game is, Xbox will be its home, which isn’t surprising since the studio teased it was exploring a relationship with the publisher a couple of months ago.

We're excited to announce that we'll be partnering with @Xbox to publish our next new game. We're still very early in development, so you might not hear from us for a bit - but know that we're working hard on an experience we're so sooo inspired about! Can't wait to share more pic.twitter.com/6EqrQbabpv

— Toys For Bob (@ToysForBob) May 31, 2024

Toys For Bob went independent in February, a few months after Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard. The studio is seemingly getting to have its cake and eat it too, since it still gets to work with Xbox while being an autonomous entity. Prior to leaving Activision, Toys For Bob worked on the recent Crash Bandicoot games such as Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time and Crash Team Rumble. It also developed the Spyro Reignited Trilogy and created the once-wildly popular Skylanders series. 

You can read our review of Toys for Bob's most recent release, Crash Team Rumble, here. 

View the full article

• Category: Announcements

May 31, 2024

Together We Thrive: Celebrating the Joy of the LGBTQIA+ Community in Gaming

• Team Xbox

Summary

• The Trevor Project and the Gaming Safety team are partnering to create a safer, more inclusive gaming community.
• Explore Games Curated by LGBTQIA+ Communities at Microsoft.
• Discover Pride Gear.

Games can be a powerful medium to express and explore one’s identity in a creative and safe environment. Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind allows players to romance and marry characters regardless of their gender. Overwatch features openly LGBTQIA+ characters, such as Tracer, who is heroic, strong, and prominently featured in the game. Tell Me Why tells the story of Tyler, a transgender man, with sensitivity and depth. Games can be a powerful way to explore identities within the safety of creative play while enabling all players to experience new perspectives that may be different from their own.

This Pride month, we invite you to join us on this journey of learning, growing, and thriving. Gaming is for everyone, and together, we can work towards creating a gaming community that is welcoming to everyone and is inclusive of people with a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. That meaningful work is achieved through people impacting others through education, appreciating the lived experiences of others and building empathy with members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

We believe it’s important to support organizations that uplift, empower, and address the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community. In the last 30 years, together with our employees, Microsoft has donated over $16M to organizations that support the LGBTQIA+ community, and in the last year alone, we donated over $1.3M. This year Xbox, along with Microsoft, is thrilled to continue these efforts with a $200K contribution to multiple organizations supporting the LGBQTIA+ community to help inspire conversations, rally community actions, and empower people to share their Pride.   

Additionally, Xbox Game Studios Publishing is proud to continue partnering with GLAAD to produce more inclusive games from conception to design to development. Xbox is partnering with The Trevor Project to help connect LGBTQIA+ players with valuable resources that help support well-being and safety as they play within the Xbox community. Every player has a unique story, and we look forward to future projects where people across the rainbow spectrum may experience the same empowerment. Read on to learn more about how we are celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community this month and beyond:

GIVE

Spotlighting Xbox’s partnership with The Trevor Project

Gaming has long been a source of fun, community, and self-expression for the LGBTQIA+ community. According to GLAAD, LGBTQIA+ gamers are 24% more likely to use gaming as a support to help get them through tough times – with 66% of LGBTQIA+ players sharing that gaming allows them to express themselves in a way they don’t feel comfortable doing in the real world.

This impact is not lost on us. At Xbox, we are committed to creating gaming experiences that are welcoming for all players, and that includes providing a safe and inclusive space where everyone can be their authentic selves.

That’s why we’re proud to spotlight Xbox’s standing partnership with The Trevor Project, a U.S. nonprofit that provides lifesaving and life-affirming services to LGBTQIA+ young people. Since 2019, Xbox and its safety teams have been partnering with The Trevor Project to connect players with resources to support their well-being and ensure they feel safe and welcome when they play on Xbox.

For us, it’s important players feel safe. Our ongoing partnership with The Trevor Project is one way for us to do that. More information on how Xbox supports player’s well-being can be found here.

In the spirit of Pride, we want to share the following safety tips to help players get the most out of their gaming experience:

• Explore your user settings. Xbox offers settings that allow players choice in how they play. Players can select whether to make their friends list visible, choose to receive messages from people who aren’t friends, or block content they don’t wish to view.
• Take comfort in knowing Xbox has your back. To support the broader player-base and LGBTQIA+ community, we take player safety seriously. This includes:
  • In-game reporting tools to help players flag issues of inappropriate behavior or content. Xbox invests in 24/7 coverage globally to help respond to and investigate reports.
  • Moderation tools that work across text, images video and voice, to block harmful content before it reaches players.
  • Access to automatic text filters, which empowers players to customize their gaming experience and decide what content is not okay to receive – these filters automatically block content before it reaches the player.
  • Continuing to create proactive measures to block hate speech and invest in technologies to help moderate potentially toxic communications, while allowing individual expression.

Gaming and Impact with Rewards with Xbox

Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting LGBTQIA+ communities with Xbox. The organizations below will be available on the Rewards hub:

• GLAAD: Founded in 1985, GLAAD – the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization – works with television, film, video games, Spanish-language media, journalists, and social media to tell stories and consult on LGBTQ media representation. GLAAD tackles tough issues and provokes dialogue that leads to cultural change through increased media accountability, public campaigns, corporate engagement initiatives, and advocacy programs that help to ensure 100% inclusion and acceptance of the LGBTQ community. (US)
• Outright International: Outright International is dedicated to working with partners around the globe to strengthen the capacity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) human rights movement, document and amplify human rights violations against LGBTIQ people, and advocate for inclusion and equality. (US)
• National Center for Transgender Equality: The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender and non-binary people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice. (US)

Xbox players can earn Rewards points in various ways, such as playing games, completing Game Pass Quests, and purchasing games and other eligible items at the Microsoft Store (exclusions apply). Start earning today and redeem your points for great rewards. Donate your points on the Rewards hub or on the Rewards redeem page.

PLAY

Tell Me Why Available for Free in June on Xbox Consoles, Microsoft Store, and Steam!

Tell Me Why, the award-winning narrative adventure from Don’t Nod Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios Publishing, will be available for free on Xbox consoles, Windows PC, and Steam for the entire month of June 2024. As in past years, the Tell Me Why team encourages players to give what they would have spent on Tell Me Why to an independent trans creator or a trans-inclusive charity in their community.

Explore Games Curated by LGBTQIA+ Communities at Microsoft

Xbox invites you to play with pride.

During June and beyond, check out a variety of game collections that showcase LGBTQIA+ creators, lead characters, and games with inclusive gender and relationship options. Available on the Microsoft Stores on Xbox and Windows, check out the transgender and non-binary community games collection and the LGBTQIA+ community games collection. These collections will exist year-round as part of our ongoing work to create more inclusive gaming ecosystems and elevate content that resonates with communities. For Xbox Game Pass members, explore what games are available to play in the Xbox Game Pass collection and the PC Game Pass collection.

Featured titles within the collections include:

Need for Speed Unbound (Available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on Console, PC, and Cloud) – Need for Speed Unbound’s character creator allows for multiple gender expressions via clothing, hair, and voice options that aren’t limited to the gender binary. The game also features racing rival, Justicia, a trans woman voiced by trans actress, Sena Bryer, in addition to including LGBTQIA+ iconography in the streets and as decals for your cars.

Starfield (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) – In this role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey. Starfield boasts an impressive character creation tool with multiple body types, skin tones, hairstyles, non-gendered features, and they/them pronoun options. Exploration options include pursuing romantic relationships regardless of gender.

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical (Available on Console) – Play as star and stagehand as you determine the story through conversation and song in this video game for musical lovers. Written by the iconic and openly gay narrative designer, David Gaider, you’ll craft not only a unique narrative, but a soundtrack to your own musical experience based on your choices. Forge your own story and decide who to romance.

The Quarry (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console and Cloud) – Play solo or in a group of friends as any of nine camp counselors in this thrilling cinematic experience that leads down a tangled web of possibilities based on your choices. Enjoy a night of fun before a party quickly turns into an unpredictable night of horror and your relationships are tested by unimaginable life-or-death decisions.

This Bed We Made (Available on Console) –   Chloe Lussier, CEO and co-founder of Lowbirth Games, wants to tell impactful stories that feature unconventional heroes. Set in the 1950s, the story that unfolds in This Bed We Made is tied to real history when being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community was criminalized. Step into the role of Sophie, an indiscreet chambermaid at a hotel filled with secrets, in this third-person mystery narrative game that explores the lengths people have had to go to pursue loving relationships as their authentic self.

Celebrate Pride in Forza Horizon 5

This year’s Pride-themed Xbox art will be added to Forza Horizon 5 as a vinyl: an in-game decal that you can use to customize any car. Show off this unique design on your car using #ForzaRainbow on social media for a chance to be featured! (The vinyl will be available starting June 7 from the Forza Horizon accounts on Instagram and X.)

Overwatch 2 Celebrates Pride with In-Game Map and Calling All Heroes

Overwatch 2 celebrates Pride this month with the return of a fan-favorite map and Calling All Heroes. All month long, the Pride festival returns to Overwatch 2’s Midtown map. Players can look forward to playing on this map as they queue for Unranked and Competitive games and directly in a dedicated play card on the Arcade. Calling All Heroes is Overwatch 2’s competitive Esports series that provides an inclusive environment to aspiring competitors of marginalized genders, including those who present themselves as Trans, Non-Binary, and Genderqueer. This competition returned last weekend, and everyone who tunes in at twitch.tv/ow_esports will be able to earn new drops like the new Monarch Venture skin.

DISCOVER

Xbox Gear Shop

Show your love and support for Pride 2024 with our new limited-edition t-shirts, hoodies and more – designed by and with the LGBTQIA+ communities. Get your Pride gear now!

Explore Xbox’s Kingdom of Color

In celebration of Pride, the Xbox logo was reimagined as a crystal radiating with power at the top of a magic staff. The storybook-inspired image also includes a castle with festive rainbow banners and fireworks. The artist, who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community, imagines the Kingdom of Color as a place where people who identify as LGBTQIA+ rule and the magic of Pride is spread to every corner of the realm. Right from the pages of a leather-bound book filled with colorful art and calligraphy text, this image evokes not only familiar stories of dragons, knights, and wizards, but launches those stories into a more inclusive future in which all players find their magic.

Xbox Ambassadors Celebrate Pride 2024

The Xbox Ambassadors Program is celebrating Pride by spotlighting members of the Xbox Ambassadors community who responded to a recent survey about their experiences as gamers. Read the Xbox Ambassadors blog to hear community members sharing their favorite memories playing video games, recommending games that do a good job representing LGBTQIA+ people and experiences, and offering tips on how to stay safe when gaming online.

Pride Dynamic Background and Wallpaper Available Now

The Pride Month Xbox design is available today as an Xbox wallpaper and dynamic background on console – follow these steps to apply the dynamic background:

• Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
• Select Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Dynamic backgrounds.

You can choose between Games, Xbox, or Abstract dynamic backgrounds. Choose the background art that you want with the A button.

Radical Joy with Microsoft

In the face of adversity, existence itself can be resistance and spark change. This Pride, LGBTQIA+ people at Microsoft share the meaning of joy and invite everyone to spread acceptance, abundance, and harmony everywhere. Join us and discover more at Microsoft.com/pride.

The post Together We Thrive: Celebrating the Joy of the LGBTQIA+ Community in Gaming appeared first on Xbox Wire.

View the full article

This week on the Eurogamer Newscast, we look back on the start of this year's June hype cycle, the period formerly known as E3, now a potpourri of other events and announcement livestreams.

PlayStation got the ball rolling last night with its latest State of Play broadcast, which included a look ahead at its rather meagre first-party plans for the remainder of 2024: a moderately buffed-up port of Until Dawn, online shooter Concord, and the charming Astro Bot. But, as our Ian wrote earlier, even the cute robot has got some people (VR fans) disgruntled. Still, as a flat-screen game, surely more people will now play it?

And then there was Silent Hill Transmission or, this time around, basically just a longer look at the upcoming Silent Hill 2 and a chance for Konami to promote a load of tie-in tat. Joining me this week are Eurogamer's Victoria Kennedy and Vikki Blake to discuss.

Read more

View the full article

Ubisoft Forward returns in June, bringing with it a new look at upcoming games arriving later this year and in the future. Once again taking place live from Los Angeles, Ubisoft Forward is one of several big showcase events kicking off in June. Here's everything we know so far about Ubisoft Forward, including when you can watch and what to expect.

Ubisoft Forward 2024 start time

The show will be livestreamed on June 10 from the following times:

• 12 PM PT
• 3 PM ET
• 8 PM BST
• 4 AM JST (June 11)
• 5 AM AEST (June 11)

How to watch Ubisoft Forward 2024

You'll be able to catch the show through Ubisoft's official YouTube and Twitch channels. Trailers shown on Ubisoft's YouTube channel will include options for English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Turkish, Polish, and Thai subtitles.

• YouTube
• Twitch

Ubisoft Forward 2024 Twitch drops

If you'd prefer to watch on Twitch, you can get some neat rewards. Up to nine Twitch drops for different games can be earned, depending on how much time you spend watching the livestream.

• 15 minutes: Ultra Top Fan Charm for Rainbow Six Siege
• 20 minutes: Forest's Dawn Trinket for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
• 30 minutes: Trailblazer Trinket for Star Wars Outlaws
• 45 minutes: M60 Eruption Weapon Skin for XDefiant, Skull and Bones Welcome Fireworks
• 60 Minutes: Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale (1964) for The Crew Motorfest, Yurei Bushido Gear Set and the Koi Uchide-no-Kozuchi trinket for Assassin's Creed Shadows

What to expect from Ubisoft Forward 2024

Ubisoft has confirmed that Star Wars Outlaws, XDefiant, and Assassin's Creed Shadows will be making appearances. With several live-service games also in action, it's likely that updates on titles like Skull and Bones, The Crew Motorfest, and Rainbow Six Siege will also be on the cards. Beyond that, it'll be interesting to see if any of Ubisoft's other big franchises make an appearance.

It has been rumored that the next Far Cry will be revealed, and some of the other in-development titles at Ubisoft include the remakes of Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Assassin's Creed Jade for mobile devices, and The Division 3.

View the full article

Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors has commented on the possibility of raising the price of major games from the industry standard of $70 to something above that. Speaking to GI.biz, Wingefors said the video game industry is no different than other businesses in that inflation and production costs continue to rise.

Wingefors said it's been "hard" to increase price for premium games in the console and PC space, and due to this, "the margin to success is less." Prices beyond $70 for new game releases is not out of the realm of possibility, Wingefors said, and it might take one company being a first-mover and seeing how the market responds.

"The reality is no one has tried it. If you create an enormous RPG, for example, with 100 or 150 hours of gameplay, very polished and a unique experience, would the consumer be willing to pay more? If they would, they would have more products potentially coming to market. But no one tried it," he said.

The executive went on to say that Embracer has been "discussing" this very thing. However, for the time being at least, Embracer is following the wider industry and keeping its price ceiling at $70. Of course, many game companies charge more than $70 for new games when considering deluxe/special editions. Many games today, including single-player titles, also have microtransaction systems built into them that provide another revenue stream for the publisher beyond the initial purchase price.

"Would it be that one [company] one day that tries to increase pricing? That remains to be seen," he said.

Another possibility, Wingefors said, is that Embracer might consider making shorter games that could help lower costs and increase the upside potential. For what it's worth, 2024's best-selling game so far in the US, Helldivers II, is priced at $40 USD.

"I just believe there are consumers willing to engage in those amazing RPGs and other single-player games, and ultimately they are willing to spend money on them. Do you increase pricing, or do you make them shorter?" he said. "I think there are ways. I think it would be very sad if everything just became big multiplayer, in-game monetization titles. There are millions of consumers willing to engage more in classic games."

Some have theorized that Grand Theft Auto VI could launch at a price above $70 for its standard edition. After all, Take-Two was one of the first companies to raise prices from $60 to $70 for new release, and some believe the company might go up another $10 for GTA 6. That remains to be seen, but CEO Strauss Zelnick said the company's aim is to "over deliver" on value against cost.

As for Embracer, the company recently concluded a cost-cutting program that resulted in hundreds of layoffs, canceled games, studio closures, and more dramatic changes. The name Embracer is going away in the future, but Wingefors maintains the change is not due to bad press.

View the full article

Spyro developer Toys for Bob has formally confirmed its next game will be published by Xbox, in a teasing statement that ends with a decidedly purple-coloured heart emoji.

Toys for Bob was previously part of the now-Microsoft-owned Activision Blizzard, and made its name making Skylanders, then working on the Crash and Spyro trilogy releases.

But more recent years saw it pulled into work on Call of Duty as a support developer, and earlier this year it lost 89 staff members as a part of Microsoft's wider layoffs of 1900 staff.

Read more

View the full article

More of PlayStation's games on PC will require a PSN account, even the single-player ones, and many players were upset with this decision.

During Sony's May 2024 State of Play presentation, PlayStation announced that God of War Ragnarok and the Until Dawn remake were coming to Steam. However, according to their respective store pages on Steam and the Epic Games Store, both games require a PSN account in order to play them.

Players voiced their concerns about the situation, questioning why a single-player game needs this requirement. One player even joked that they'll sign up for PSN when Sony finally ports Bloodborne to PC.

The PSN debacle began earlier this month when Sony announced that players would have to create a PSN account to continue playing Helldivers 2. However, Sony reversed this particular decision after fan backlash. Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut was released on PC earlier this month, but only the multiplayer aspect required a PSN account.

God of War Ragnarok for PC will launch on September 19. It supports ultrawide monitor support and DLSS/FSR/XESS, as well as all post-launch updates such as new game plus and the Valhalla DLC. The Until Dawn remake will launch on PS5 and PC in Fall 2024.

View the full article

John Romero's autobiography Doom Guy: Life in First Person is being adapted for screen in two different forms.

As reported by Deadline, the story of the id Software co-founder is being made into a documentary by Canadian filmmaker Rob McCallum.

Meanwhile, a dramatised adaptation of the Doom creator's book is also in the pipeline. Both of these projects are going to be executive produced by Naomi Harvey of Golden Possum Productions.

Read more

View the full article

Supermassive Games has delayed the release of Little Nightmares 3, saying it needs "a little extra time to prepare".

In a statement posted to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, the Dark Pictures developer said that "as much as [it] can't wait for you to return to the Nowhere", "quality is a top priority" and that's why it's decided to "shift the release of the game to 2025".

"Ever since the announcement of Little Nightmares 3 at Gamescom last year, we've been thrilled to see our community buzzing with excitement and anticipation," the team said.

Read more

View the full article

Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two, has weighed in with his thoughts on how new technology like generative AI could impact the video game industry. Speaking at the TD Cowen Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference, Zelnick said generative AI will absolutely shake up how games are made, but it will not reduce employment levels.

"Generative AI will allow us to do a bunch of things more efficiently, so we'll turn out attention to other things. Those other things will probably still be costly and time-consuming," he said. "I don't think for a minute that generative AI is going to reduce employment. That's crazy. That's actually crazy. It's not going to make people irrelevant. It's going to change the nature of certain forms of employment. And that's a good thing."

As an example, Zelnick said in the 1870s, around 65-70% of the US population made their living in the agriculture business. Today, that number is around 1-2%. People aren't working those jobs as much these days because people don't generally enjoying getting their hands dirty (and increasingly farmers don't either, Zelnick said, pointing to advancements in automation in the farming business).

"When was the last time you ran into someone who said, 'It's horrible. I can't get a job as a farmer. I'm trying. I'm unemployed. There are no farming jobs for me,'" he said.

Beyond the video game industry, Zelnick foresees "certain people" losing jobs to AI, like those who work in call centers for "routine" things like helping someone buy a sofa online. A pop-up box that shows up on a furniture website helping you make a purchase is already AI in action, and the human who had that job previously may now be working somewhere else and potentially earning more, Zelnick said.

"These are competent people who are highly educated. Better jobs came along that probably pay them more. I'm in a WhatsApp chat with a bunch of Silicon Valley CEOs and the conventional wisdom out there is that AI is going to make us all unemployed. It is just the stupidest thing I've ever heard. The history of productivity tools is that it increases employment. It increases value. It increases yield. It enhances growth. All of these things will happen," he said.

Shifting back to video games specifically, Zelnick said Take-Two has been in the AI business since its very first days in the form of computer programming. Take-Two has already benefitted from numerous game development tools that have led to many yield efficiencies, he said, and costs have gone up, too.

"Those efficiencies were created, and allowed us to turn our attention to more complex activities that continue to engage and delight consumers," he said.

Zelnick has been one of the more outspoken video game executives on the subject of AI. Before this, he said AI has a lot of potential for video games, but it won't allow developers to create a GTA competitor with ease.

"It's not going to allow someone to say, 'Please develop the competitor to Grand Theft Auto that's better than Grand Theft Auto', and then they just send it out and ship it digitally and that will be that. People will try, but that won't happen," Zelnick said.

Take-Two recently announced a dramatic cost-cutting program that led to hundreds of layoffs and numerous game cancellations. Microsoft, too, is heavily invested in AI and also had significant layoffs recently. Electronic Arts, meanwhile, is very enthusiastic about AI and slashed hundreds of jobs.

View the full article

During Sony's PlayStation State of Play, new gameplay and details were shared for Marvel Rivals. For the uninitiated. Marvel Rivals is a superhero (specifically Marvel superhero) team-based PVP shooter inspired by games like Overwatch. The footage, seen below, reveals Venom and Adam Warlock are coming to the game. The footage also shows a new location – the Tokyo 2099: Spider-Islands map.

Alongside the new gameplay details, the game is now also confirmed to be coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S alongside the previously confirmed PC platform. Developer NetEase is also planning a closed beta for the game in July. PlayStation beta testers will have exclusive access to Spider-Man's Scarlet Spider cosmetic skin.

For more on Marvel Rivals, you can see the announcement trailer and the so-far-confirmed roster for the game here.

View the full article

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has commented on GTA 6 developer Rockstar Games' decision to not announce the game for PC. Currently, GTA 6 is scheduled to launch for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in Fall 2025, and Zelnick was asked during a recent conference if an announcement regarding a PC launch would be made in the future.

"Well, the lack of an announcement is not something that could be set in stone as near as I could tell, because the only thing that happens after the lack of an announcement is an announcement, I suppose, or a continuing lack of an announcement, I guess that could happen too. It doesn’t seem to me that either would be set in stone," Zelnick said at the TD Cowen conference this week (via VGC). "But Rockstar has an approach to platforms which we've seen before, and they will make more announcements in due time."

Historically, Rockstar has launched several of its games on console first before eventually bringing them to PC. There have been some exceptions to the rule--like Red Dead Redemption--but games like GTA 4, GTA 5, and Red Dead Redemption 2 all eventually made their way onto PC over time. Zelnick also recently spoke about the possibility of Take-Two charging more than $70 for GTA 6 when it launches, commenting that Take-Two is aiming to overdeliver on the value of the game.

Zelnick added that Take-Two is still confident of a Fall 2025 launch for GTA 6, but he added that GTA VI will likely be a success whenever it releases due to the massive fan hype already behind it.

As for why GTA 6 won't be available on PC at launch, a former Rockstar developer said it simply comes down to a matter of priority at the studio. However, history suggests that Rockstar may eventually bring GTA 6 to PC, although it could be a long wait for people hoping to play the game on that platform specifically.

View the full article

Little Nightmares III, the horror action platformer from Supermassive Games, has moved into 2025. The game never had a specific release date, but we were admittedly expecting it this year. In a post on the official Little Nightmares III X account, the team shared the message below, writing, "As much as we can't wait for you to return to the Nowhere, we also want to make sure we give the game the care and love it deserves. Quality is a top priority for us, and we know you feel the same way. For this reason, we've made the decision to shift the release of the game to 2025."

Please do bear with us, little ones, for we need a little extra time to prepare your visit.

Rest assured, we promise to show you a proper welcome. #LittleNightmares III pic.twitter.com/fqxsOPzkFD

— Little Nightmares III (@LittleNights) May 31, 2024

Notably, Supermassive, the developer behind games like Until Dawn (which is coming to PC and PlayStation 5 soon) did not develop the first two games. Those games were developed by Tarsier Studios, whose next project has not been announced.

For more on Little Nightmares III, including details on its co-op gameplay, head here.

View the full article

It's been just over two years since Panic introduced its throwback handheld gaming system, Playdate, which has more in common with a Game Boy than a Steam Deck. That discovery may be why thieves dumped over $400,000 worth of stolen Playdate handhelds in front of a random restaurant with little fanfare.

Panic's official account on X revealed the incident and shared photos of the recovered handhelds. According to Panic, the shipment was delivered at the wrong address by FedEx before thieves scooped them up and later left them behind.

In a follow-up message, Panic said that more details would likely be shared in an upcoming episode of the Playdate Podcast. Panic also jokingly asked "Can we sell these as a limited edition? Playdate Hot." As promotional campaigns go, that might work.

While Panic's account noted that some boxes of Playdates were opened and systems were still "missing or sold," the company suggested that "it’s a crucial part of how we got these back."

At the moment, the company expressed that that "this was our best possible outcome, the result of lots of time and detective work," before adding "Ok fine, we enjoyed [it]."

View the full article

Destiny 2 will go offline for 25 hours ahead of the launch of its final expansion, The Final Shape.

The downtime – which is scheduled to kick off at 5pm UK time on 3rd June (that's 9am PT, 12pm ET) and end at 7pm on 4th June – is required to prep for the new expansion, which is estimated to take up at least 129GB of free space on every platform, and almost 300GB on Steam.

As detailed in the latest This Week in Destiny update, players can pre-download update 8.0.0.2 from 6pm UK time (10am PT, 1pm ET) on 1st June on PS3, while PC and Xbox players have to wait until the same time on 3rd June.

Read more

View the full article

In a frank discussion about the "current state of player behaviour" in Valorant, Riot Games' head Anna Donlon has outlined upcoming changes designed "to make our community a better place".

Though Donlon acknowledges that the development team had no plans to "sanitise gaming" or suppress harmless banter, she said players should not be expected to "grow a thicker skin" when playing video games.

"There's no room in our community for the most egregious behaviours, and we're not going to compromise on that point," she said.

Read more

View the full article

The highly-anticipated GTA 6 is set to release next year across PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. However, Rockstar is yet to say anything at all regarding a PC release.

Now, publisher Take-Two has given further comment on the lack of Grand Theft Auto 6-related PC news, stating Rockstar would "make more announcements in due time".

During an interview at a TD Cowen conference (as transcribed by VGC), Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said "the lack of an announcement is not something that could be set in stone as near as I could tell, because the only thing that happens after the lack of an announcement is an announcement, I suppose, or a continuing lack of an announcement, I guess that could happen too. It doesn't seem to me that either would be set in stone".

Read more

View the full article

The next Epic Games Store freebie as part of the company's ongoing Mega Sale promotion will be Marvel's Midnight Suns.

That's according to Dealabs' always-reliable billbil-kun, who notes the game will be available to download next week from Thursday 6th until Thursday 13th June.

If you're yet to give it a go, Marvel's Midnight Suns is a brilliant character-centric role-player with Firaxis' trademark turn-based combat. Actions are made by cards, yes, but don't worry too much about that. It's fun, it's well-written, and being able to build up a secret base full of interesting Marvel superheroes is a blast.

Read more

View the full article

If you cast your minds back to March, you may recall the story about some missing Playdate consoles. During a talk at GDC, company co-founder Cabel Sasser revealed pallets containing $400k worth of Panic's palm-sized, crank-operated console had gone AWOL in Las Vegas.

At this time, Sasser called the whole situation "a bit of a true crime drama".

However, fast forward a couple of months, and the consoles have now been returned to their rightful owner, although the circumstances still seem rather bizarre.

Read more

View the full article

Redfall's final ever update has been released, marking an end to Arkane Austin's work on the game - and indeed the now-shuttered studio's work in general.

Known as version 1.451.3.0 - a nod to video games' ongoing 0-4-5-1 easter egg, which dates back almost 30 years - this update adds features such as an offline mode and single player pausing, among others.

While these features have long been sought after - and long promised, it is a bittersweet moment. This marks the end of the game's development, roughly two years after it first released.

Read more

View the full article