S.O.P.H.I.A.
-
Posts
84,877 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
9
Content Type
Profiles
News & Announcements
Zombies Library
Easter Egg Guides
Intel
Forums
Posts posted by S.O.P.H.I.A.
-
-
After more than a decade, EA Sports is getting ready to bring back its college football series. The game's social media pages were updated today, February 15, to include the announcement that a full reveal of EA Sports College Football 25 will happen in May. The game will then launch in the summer ahead of the new college football season that kicks off in August.
This isn't a huge surprise, though, as EA Sports said back in November 2022 that the company's next college football game would arrive in Summer 2024. But what is new here is the name of the game--EA Sports College Football 25--and the announcement window in May.
The last time EA Sports released a college football game was back in 2013 with the launch of NCAA Football 14. Fans, including Snoop Dogg, have called on EA to bring the franchise back for years, and now it's finally happening.
EA is making college football games again The NCAA is not involved with the new game, which is why its name and branding is nowhere to be seen. Student-athletes in college can now make money thanks to name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, and it'll be intriguing to see how it all shakes out with EA Sports College Football 25.
In 2023, the College Football Players Association told players to boycott the revival due to the low payments offered to each player, which was reported in the realm of $500. EA was also sued by The Brandr Group, which has deals to negotiate group licensing contracts for 54 NCAA Division I schools. A list of participating schools has not been revealed as of yet.
In August 2023, EA CEO Andrew Wilson said the game is making "incredible progress" and that EA had, at the time, already secured licenses for "many if not most of the schools." However, it remains to be seen if player likenesses will be featured in the game.
EA's biggest sports game is EA Sports FC (formerly known as FIFA), and the company also makes officially licensed NFL, NHL, PGA Tour, and UFC games. In 2023, EA released its first baseball game on console, Super Mega Baseball 4, in 10+ years.
-
Embracer Group, one of the biggest video game and entertainment companies out there, has confirmed it canceled 29 unannounced games and laid off nearly 1,400 people in the past six months as part of its previously announced restructuring effort.
During the July-December period, Embracer said the number of gaming projects it had in the works fell from 153 to 124, according to VGC. Total headcount was cut by 8%, or 1,387 jobs. These cuts includes 871 game developers at internal studios, 264 at external studios, and 252 internal staff working on game projects as non-developers.
Embracer's total number of internal game studios was 132 at the end of December 2023, down from 139. Embracer said it's now working with 50 outside studios, a reduction from 59.
CEO Lars Wingefors said Embracer's restructuring plan is nearly complete, but he warned that there are still "a few larger structure divestment processes ongoing."
"In a group-wide effort, our companies and studios have had to make difficult decisions, particularly on having to part ways with team members. In total, we have reduced our global headcount by 8% of the workforce since the start of the program," Embracer said.
Wingefors went on to say that, as a publicly traded company, Embracer's missions is to "always maximize shareholder value in any given situation," even if it means cancelling games, closing studios, and laying off staff.
Embracer made these drastic cuts in part due to a major deal falling through at the 11th hour, which has subsequently been revealed to be a pact with Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games. Embracer previously took $1 billion from Saudi Arabia and defended that decision when people criticized Saudi Arabia's position on human rights.
Some of the most high-profile moves have included the reported cancellation of a Deus Ex game and the closures of Saints Row studio Volition and TimeSplitters developer Free Radical. Embracer has also cut jobs at subsidiaries like Crystal Dynamics, Gearbox, and Beamdog, among others. Embracer, many will recall, went on a massive spending spree prior to this, and it so much so that it became something of a meme.
The video game industry layoffs are not limited to Embracer and its studios, as Microsoft just cut 1,900 positions from its gaming team and League of Legends developer Riot also cut hundreds of positions, representing just a small number of gaming cuts so far in 2024.
Embracer's video game unit was profitable during the October-December quarter, with earnings growth attributable to better-than-expected results from Lord of the Rings licensing deals. In particular, Embracer called out Magic: The Gathering's Lord of the Rings set, the video game The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, and revenue from the Lord of the Rings movies. Looking ahead, the next Lord of the Rings film, War of the Rohirrim, hits theaters this December.
Embracer acquired the Lord of the Rings rights in 2023 for $395 million, which was a fraction of what some industry expects believed they might sell for.
Looking ahead, Embracer said it has a "notable pipeline of sizable new games coming in the next two years," going on to note that the company has made "strategic investments into accelerated organic growth."
-
Anyone looking to spread managed democracy to their fellow players in Helldivers 2 are out of luck, as developer Arrowhead Game Studios has no plans to introduce a PvP mode to the game, with CEO Johan Pilestedt going so far as to say that it'll "never" be added to the multiplayer shooter. The reason why? Because Arrowhead simply doesn't want to invite any toxic elements into the growing armies of Super-Earth.
"We'll 'never' add a PvP-mode," Pilestedt said in response to a Helldivers 2 player suggesting the inclusion of the mode. "This is to reduce toxic elements from the community. We want an environment that's supportive, fun, and where we all are fighting on the same side!"
By its design, Helldivers 2 emphasizes teamwork and tactics in each squad. Friendly-fire is on by default and can't be disabled, so walking in front of a player while they're mowing down democracy-hating Terminids or traitorous robots will result in a quick death. This design decision works surprisingly well in fostering connections between teammates and there's an unspoken rule to avoid griefing when you're exploring a planet unless you want to be booted from the squad.
Accidents do happen--and are hilarious--but overall, Helldivers 2 promotes solid teamwork and communication between its players on PC and PS5. As Piledstedt explained in a follow-up tweet, Helldivers 2 was made to be a game "for people that just want to have a challenging time with friends" in a PvE setting.
February has been a big month for new live-service game releases--Foamstars and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League also launched this month--and Helldivers 2 has been a big hit so far. Arrowhead is now on a hiring spree as it plans to "accelerate and beef up content plans" around the Starship Troopers-inspired game and is also in the process of improving its servers to keep up with player demand.
-
Payday 3 developer Starbreeze said that sales and player activity for the game are at significantly lowers level than it would like. The studio is currently working with its publisher, Plaion, to implement changes.
"There are many examples from the game industry, where a problematic initial time on the market is turned into long-term success," said CEO Tobias Sjogren in Starbreeze's latest earnings report. "There is no simple recipe available, but a common thread from the positive examples is to take players’ criticism to heart, dare to support your game and keeping an open and honest dialogue with your stakeholders."
He went on to explain that Payday remains a strong brand, as Payday 2 is actually faring slightly better financially than its sequel and has 400,000 active players. However, Starbreeze hopes to covert those still playing Payday 2 over to playing Payday 3 instead. Payday 2 is sitting at 28K concurrent players on Steam in the last 24 hours while Payday 3 is only at 302.
Starbreeze also intends to continue diversifying its offerings, such as developing games on its own IPs, on licensed IPs, and being a publisher for other studios' games. For example, its next project is a multiplayer co-op game codenamed Project Baxter, and it's based off Dungeons & Dragons. Starbreeze published Roboquest as well, which received positive reviews with a Metacritic score of 85.
In GameSpot's Payday 3 review, we said, "Payday 3's drastically improved heists allow for a level of freedom that is betrayed by challenge-based progression."
-
Xbox has rolled out a new update for February, adding touch controls in remote play and more.
With this update in action, users will be able to play games without being tied to their console even if they don't have a wireless controller to hand. This is as Xbox remote play now supports custom touch control layouts on the Xbox app (via iOS, Android and Windows devices) for over 100 games.
"The same custom touch layouts available through Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) will now be available when remotely playing games from your personal console," Microsoft said. "This includes games like Minecraft Dungeons, Psychonauts 2, Sea of Thieves, and many more. Additionally, a basic touch control layout can now be used for most other games."
-
It's been fairly quiet on the No Man's Sky front since its previous big update, Echoes, introduced the world to a mysterious new robot race known as the Autophages last August, but all that changes today with the release of its new Omega update - which coincides with a first-ever free weekend for the exploratory space sim.
No Man's Sky's Omega update introduces a handful of new core features, including on-planet missions. These procedurally generated quests can be initiated by speaking to alien lifeforms roaming around on planets, and are assembled based on a number of factors, including locale, climate, and alien personality.
Elsewhere, the update makes it possible to captain an imposing Dreadnought capital ship, but this first requires a spot of successful space combat; players will need to defeat the pirate freighters surrounding a hostile Dreadnought during an encounter before they're able to board it and take control.
-
Over the years, we’ve seen many Xbox players on console, PC and Game Pass venture into No Man’s Sky’s universe and lose themselves in all there is to do, in some cases for hundreds of hours.
Today we’re announcing our latest No Man’s Sky expedition, Omega, and this time we’re inviting the entire Xbox community, whether they own the game or not, to try it out for themselves. The expedition runs for 2 weeks from today (Thursday, February 15) and is free to play for the first weekend until Monday, February 19.
Whether it’s crafting, building, trading, fighting, exploring or a host of other activities to indulge in, there is so much to do in No Man’s Sky. That’s why we’ve custom-designed Omega to show new players in particular all that there is to see. It’s like a fast-track sight-seeing tour of the universe.
No Man’s Sky expeditions are a chance for the entire community to convene in one area of the universe and work together to complete challenges and unlock exclusive rewards, so space and planets always feel full and bustling with activity. Moreover, there are always experienced veteran Travellers around to offer friendly advice and support.
Omega is our 12th Expedition and the rewards on offer are probably the biggest yet. The headline act is the Starborn Runner, an exclusive starship, destined to become as sought-after as the Golden Vector. A suite of unique customisations – a stylish Atlas helmet/jetpack/multi-tool staff combo – can be unlocked as souvenirs and taken back into your main save as BS that you were there for Omega.
For new players who have yet to buy No Man’s Sky, any progress you make in the Expedition will be preserved in case you ever decide to take the plunge.
We have also overhauled how Expeditions work, and now existing players can choose which of their favourite starships from their fleet they’re going to take with them on their adventure. Expeditions can now be accessed directly in the Anomaly in addition to the main menu screen.
As most Travellers know, a No Man’s Sky Expedition normally comes with a host of new additions and features and Omega is no exception. Ever since we challenged players to take on and defeat the ominous Pirate Dreadnought last year, we have noticed a real desire to add this huge vessel to their freighter fleet. Now, when you take down the Dreadnought, it’s yours to keep.
Additionally, as you explore the universe, you will encounter alien races who will give you contextual missions specifically related to the planet where they live. Completing these tasks will earn you rewards and reputation with the locals.
We’re very excited to welcome a whole new cohort of players to the game and I know our vibrant and positive community will welcome them with open arms. Hang out in the Anomaly for long enough and you’re sure to encounter some generous Traveller who just wants to help you out.
No Man’s Sky launched on Xbox in 2018 and came to Game Pass in 2020. Our Xbox community has grown immeasurably and our tiny team at Hello continue to enjoy serving up content like Omega. 2024 is looking to be our biggest year yet.
Our journey continues.
No Man's Sky
Hello Games
$59.99Xbox One X EnhancedPC Game PassXbox Game PassNo Man’s Sky comes complete with all 25 major updates up to and including Echoes. Inspired by the adventure and imagination that we love from classic science-fiction, No Man's Sky presents you with a galaxy to explore, filled with unique planets and lifeforms, and constant danger and action. In No Man's Sky, every star is the light of a distant sun, each orbited by planets filled with life, and you can go to any of them you choose. Fly smoothly from deep space to planetary surfaces, with no loading screens, and no limits. In this infinite procedurally generated universe, you'll discover places and creatures that no other players have seen before – and perhaps never will again. Embark on an epic voyage At the centre of the galaxy lies a irresistible pulse which draws you on a journey towards it to learn the true nature of the cosmos. But, facing hostile creatures and fierce pirates, you'll know that death comes at a cost, and survival will be down to the choices you make over how you upgrade your ship, your weapon and suit. Find your own destiny Your voyage through No Man's Sky is up to you. Will you be a fighter, preying on the weak and taking their riches, or taking out pirates for their bounties? Power is yours if you upgrade your ship for speed and weaponry. Or a trader? Find rich resources on forgotten worlds and exploit them for the highest prices. Invest in more cargo space and you'll reap huge rewards. Or perhaps an explorer? Go beyond the known frontier and discover places and things that no one has ever seen before. Upgrade your engines to jump ever farther, and strengthen your suit for survival in toxic environments that would kill the unwary. Share your journey The galaxy is a living, breathing place. Trade convoys travel between stars, factions vie for territory, pirates hunt the unwary, and the police are ever watching. Every other player lives in the same galaxy, and you can choose to share your discoveries with them on a map that spans known space. Perhaps you will see the results of their actions as well as your own…The post No Man’s Sky Welcomes All Xbox Players for the Omega Expedition appeared first on Xbox Wire.
-
Making good on their word, People Can Fly and Incuvo have released a rather chunky patch for Bulletstorm VR on PlayStation VR2 and Steam VR. This follows an earlier update on Meta Quest sets, which took aim at crashes and more.
Bulletstorm VR had a broken release earlier this year, with players complaining about the port's botched physics and censorship, among other issues. Back in January, the team subsequently said it was "committed to improving the quality" of its release, and would be prioritising fixes based on their severity.
This new patch will provide fixes for multiple crashes and bugs, as well as improving the AI on select enemies. Other quality of life improvements, such as holding down the trigger to automatically skip a cinematic, have also been added.
-
Following a rocky launch, Payday 3 developer Starbreeze said its sales and player activity are "currently at significantly lower levels than [it] would like". However, the studio hopes to turn this around in the future, stating it will focus efforts "to ensure that the game lives up to expectations" for players.
The developer noted there have been other examples of games that have successfully turned a "problematic initial time on the market" into a "long-term success" story. While Starbreeze did not mention any names, Cyberpunk 2077 came to my mind.
"There is no simple recipe available, but a common thread from the positive examples is to take players' criticism to heart, dare to support your game and keeping an open and honest dialogue with your stakeholders," Starbreeze said in its year-end report. "That is exactly what we are now doing with Payday 3."
-
Helldivers 2 will "never" include a PvP mode in order to reduce toxic play.
The game's creative director and Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt responded to a fan requesting the addition of a PvP mode to keep "hardcore gamers engaged".
"We'll 'never' add a PvP-mode. This is to reduce toxic elements from the community," said Pilestedt. "We want an environment that's supportive, fun and where we all are fighting on the same side!"
-
Xbox president Sarah Bond reportedly told staff that "every screen is an Xbox". These words come ahead of Microsoft's business update later today, in which the company is expected to lay out its plans to publish some Xbox games on PlayStation and Nintendo platforms.
Bond was speaking at an internal town hall meeting, with several sources telling Inverse the exec went on to discuss Xbox's strategy of existing on multiple devices. She also spoke more on the company's ambitions to become the number one cross-platform gaming company, the sources said.
To illustrate this point, staff were shown images of this year's breakout hit Palworld across multiple screens. This included "tablets, TV screens, monitors, and handheld devices", the publication said.
-
Embracer has laid off 8 percent of its workforce as its restructuring programme reaches "mature stages".
The company released its latest financial report today, stating its net sales increased by 4 percent, though this is largely thanks to its Tabletop Games and Entertainment divisions. PC and console games net sales decreased by five percent.
In its third quarter, the company laid off 483 people, meaning 1387 employees have now lost their jobs in the last two quarters, representing 8 percent of the total workforce.
-
A report by the French video game workers union has raised concerns from staff at Life is Strange and Vampyr developer Don't Nod.
Headquarted in Paris, the company released action role-player Banishers: Ghosts of Eden this week, following last year's well-received Jusant and Harmony: The Fall of Reverie.
Now, a report by French union Le Syndicat des Travailleurs et Travailleuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV) has alleged that staff at Don't Nod are subject to mismanagement by the company due to the need to balance multiple projects with "frequently" changing deadlines, "contradictory" directions and "no long-term vision" for staff welfare.
-
LGBTQ media advocacy organization GLAAD has released its first annual report on LGBTQ representation in video games, finding that the games industry is lagging compared to the average gamer's opinions on representation.
In a study conducted with partner Nielsen Gaming, GLAAD polled gamers to find out how many identified as LGBTQ, as well as asking their opinions on representation. The survey revealed that around one in five, or 17% of active gamers are part of the LGBTQ community. This is an increase of 70% on a Nielsen Gaming report from 2020, which reported 10% of gamers were LGBTQ.
Despite the increasing numbers of LGBTQ gamers, only 2% of games include LGBTQ characters. "It is time to move past the idea that LGBTQ-inclusive games are a separate, niche category," GLAAD associate director of gaming, Blair Durkee said on the findings. "All games should strive to reflect the people who play them. And when 1 in 5 gamers are LGBTQ, any game with five or more characters has no excuse for lacking LGBTQ inclusion."
The report also revealed that 7 out of 10 non-LGBTQ gamers would either be more inclined to buy a game with an LGBTQ main character, or that it would not influence their decision to buy. LGBTQ gamers are even more likely to be positively influenced, with 3 out of 4 LGBTQ respondents saying that seeing a character in a game who matches their identity makes them feel better about themselves.
"This report presents a clear business case for the industry to take action and address the needs of a rapidly growing portion of gamers," said GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. "The message is clear: gamers want more inclusive LGBTQ representation in their games and the industry must become more inclusive."
The report also touches on some of the real-life issues facing LGBTQ people in the United States, with specific questions fo queer gamers in states that have recently passed anti-LGBTQ legislation. A number of respondents indicated that they felt more accepted in gaming communities than in their local communities or that video games helped them get through tough times. 75% of respondents in these states said they use gaming as an outlet to express themselves in ways they can't in real life.
As well as representation, the GLAAD report identifies safety as another issue for LGBTQ gamers, with 52% reporting being harassed in online games, and 42% reporting they had avoided playing a game for fear of harassment.
"For brands looking to engage LGBTQ gamers, creating a safe and inclusive environment must extend beyond the game itself," added Nielsen senior vice president Stacie deArmas on the toping of safety. "Nearly 70% of respondents are less likely to buy from studios with a history of mistreating LGBTQ workers."
You can read the full report from GLAAD here.
Since 2019, GLAAD has presented an award for LBGTQ representation in AAA games as part of the GLAAD Media Awards. Previous winners include The Last Of Us Part 2, Apex Legends, and The Outer Worlds.
-
Get To Know Our Team
Dean
Technical Program ManagerHi, everyone! Wynn here. We’re back with another Xbox Insider Team interview. Today we’ll be chatting with Dean—a Technical Program Manager, Xbox Mastercard maestro, and another all-around cat person. How’s it going, Dean?
I’m doing well! Happy to be here.
Glad we could have you on. I’m sure a brief respite from the Mastercard salt mines is welcomed.
Oh yeah! Most people don’t know this, but that’s how we get those rewards points. It’s hard work, but honest work.
So, that’s what that guy on CoD meant last night when he called me salty.
Exactly. Everyone knows that.
Haha. Well, let’s have everyone get to know a little more about Dean.
Let’s see. I’ve been in the tech industry for, gosh, it must be 25 years now. I’ve always been a gamer at heart, but I started at Microsoft working on Windows 2000/SQL 7 on databases.
The very first computer I ever owned personally was an old Windows 2000 machine that my granddad brought home after it was decommissioned at Delta.
It was an interesting OS. The last version before the codebase merges. But after several years on that team, I moved briefly over to do some work on 360, then a little work on Bing, before settling back in the Xbox world during the Xbox One launch on the ops side of things.
A man of many talents! I think you may have me beat on the number of orgs you’ve worked for, which is unique for Xbox. Most people get here and nail their feet to floor.
Ha. I couldn’t find my hammer at the time. But the last decade has been really great, and I love this team.
That leads perfectly into my next question. When did you start on the Xbox Insider Team?
It must’ve been around 2019 when I first came over. But I actually ran the program for a while before transitioning away a year ago.
Oh wow! I actually had no idea. That must be why I see so many older Wire articles attributed to you.
That’s right. During my stint in charge, I really tried to double down on partner evangelism and outreach. We did a lot of tradeshows like GDC, PAX, etc. It was just so incredible getting to talk to developers and bring them into the program. I loved feeling like we really were making an impact on their product, and Xbox Insiders were getting early looks at cool games.
Is there a particular developer or publisher that you worked with that was memorable?
Absolutely. The one that immediately comes to mind is Whitethorn Games. They were really interested in our program, so we met with them and just loved their portfolio. We worked with them to promote their games, and even did these testimonial videos for internal showcases. It was just a really great partnership and sort of laid some groundwork for how we could partner with not just developers, but publishers too.
Oh, that’s actually wild. We just had a call with them before the break about them wanting to be more involved with XIP vis-à-vis Xbox Accessibility Insiders League.
Yeah, I saw those emails floating around. Really cool to see them still involved with the program.
Very cool. All right let’s move on to a few rapid-fire questions I’m asking everyone about their interests.
Sure. Let’s do it.
What game has impacted your life the most?
Whew. That’s a deep one. Let’s see. I have a few. I remember the first time I ever played Half-Life. I was in an office at the time that had a ton of PCs setup in a row, and I installed it one afternoon. I loaded up the start of the game and as more people saw me playing it, a crowd started forming around the monitor because it was unlike anything we had ever seen at the time.
Then there’s Project Gotham Racing on the OG Xbox. Just putting that disc in and listening to the intro music kick in while watching the tracks go by was bliss. A fantastic memory of that opening with the jump in fidelity from my N64 to the Xbox.
More recently, I was really impressed with Hades all around. Stylistically, musically, gameplay, Supergiant was firing on all cylinders for that one. I still play it every once in a while because it’s so good.
That Half-Life story is so cool. I missed that train originally, but it still holds up so incredibly well. There are so many video game OSTs that mean a lot to me as well. It’s crazy how much emotion a good opening sequence can bring out in a game.
For me, that PGR intro is just so chill and so relaxing. It’s part of what made me want to get into music production, which I’ve been dabbling with recently.
Oh wow. You’ll have to play a set for the team sometime.
Haha. We’ll see.
But that’s a great segue for my next question: Do you have any songs or albums that you find yourself listening to over and over?
I try to always discover new music, across all genres, whenever I can. I try to not get bogged down. But one record I absolutely come back to frequently is Currents by Tame Impala.
Okay, so no binging on the music front, how about TV/movies? Are you one of the yearly Office re-watchers?
It’s not so much yearly or constant, but we are an Office family. Especially around the holidays when the kids are home from school, that’s a comfort show around that time. My daughter and I also watch a ton of SpongeBob and quote it back and forth.
Well cool man. Other than opening for Coachella 2025, do you have any hobbies outside of tech/gaming?
Yeah, I really enjoy American Football, both College and Professional.
Who are your teams?
Penn State for CFB and Seahawks for NFL.
Ah, as someone from Atlanta, you too have felt the pain of losing a Super Bowl to Brady.
Well, I think we can wrap this one up. Anything else you’d like to share with the Community? Anything cool you’re working on you can talk about?
Well, the Xbox Mastercard program is still running full speed ahead, so there’s lots of work being done with that every day.
*cough* Available for Xbox Insiders right now! *cough*
Gesundheit. But other than that, not too much to mention here.
I’ll sign off by saying that I’ve always loved the Xbox Insider Community, from my time leading the program and even now as I’ve somewhat moved on. It’s an incredible team to be a part of and I’m excited to see both Xbox Insiders and partners both get to utilize the program more.
Incredible man. Dean, thanks so much for taking the time chat today.
Xbox Insiders, be sure to be on the lookout for more content all throughout February including more interviews from the team, a trip down memory lane, and so much more. All of our 10th Anniversary content can be found on our Hub Page.
Until next time! Wy\nn/
The post Get To Know Our Team: Dean – Technical Program Manager appeared first on Xbox Wire.
-
Indie developers Seedy Eye Software have just released Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore, a new game in the style of the classic 1990s Zelda CD-I games. Don't worry, you don't need to buy a CD-I to play it because it's available on all modern platforms.
According to the Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore Steam page, players will "explore the Kingdom of Faramore, slay fearsome foes, acquire powerful items, discover secrets, assist colorful characters, and defeat the evil Daimur!" Based on what was shown in the trailer, Arzette is a love letter to older Zelda games.
It does a great job capturing the cheesiness of the over-the-top voice acting and art style that made the Zelda CD-I games memorable. Like the older games, Arzette is a 2D platformer that'll have players solve various puzzles and fight monsters. According to the trailer, the backgrounds in the game are "hand-painted."
It's clear that Seedy Eye Software is in on the joke, too. The trailer makes it a point to say that Arzette will have "animated scenes," and in the description of the game, it reads:
"Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore brings you the best interactive gaming experience since the invention of the CD-ROM!"
For more gaming news, check out our story on how Marvel's Spider-Man 2 sold over 10 million copies.
-
Sony president and PlayStation chairman Hiroki Totoki has spoken of the opportunities available in its approach to releasing first-party games on PC, saying it's "proactively [working] on" bringing more titles to other platforms as part of an "aggressive" profit margin growth plan.
Totoki made the comments during an investor Q&A coinciding with its latest financial earnings report. When asked how Sony's gaming division might be looking to increase profits, he first discussed the difficulty of cost reduction in PlayStation hardware, given component pricing, before highlighting a "multiplatform" approach to its first-party game releases as a potentially more fruitful area of expansion.
"In the past, as you all know," Totoki explained, "we wanted to popularise [our] console, and the first-party title's main purpose was to make the console popular."
-
2024 is an important year for Capcom. Not only does this year mark the 40th anniversary of Capcom's first video game released in 1984--arcade shooter Vulgus--it's also the 10th year of the annual Capcom Cup fighting games tournament. In honor of the milestones, Capcom has teamed up with Humble Bundle on a giant PC game bundle deal with nearly 70 Capcom titles from the last four decades for just $20.
There is also a smaller two-item bundle available for just $2 that includes PC codes for Ultra Street Fighter IV and a coupon for 34%-off Street Fighter 6, but the full $20 bundle is the real draw.
We won't list all 70 products included in the bundle, but you'll get fighting games from series like Street Fighter and Darkstalkers, puzzle titles like Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, and dozens of arcade classics like Vulgus, Ghost 'n Goblins, Bionic Commando, Strider, Final Fight, and more, totaling a $207 value for just $20. The full lineup is listed at Humble Bundle.
This is, unsurprisingly, the biggest Capcom games bundle we can recall. It offers a budget-friendly way to experience the storied developer's expansive catalog, but it's only available until February 28, so grab the collection before it's gone.
All game keys purchased in Humble's Capcom Cup bundle are delivered as Steam keys after you complete your purchase. The arcade game keys require Capcom Arcade Stadium and Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium, which are free to download on Steam. The 34%-off coupon for Street Fighter 6 is redeemable at the Humble Store.
The Capcom Cup bundle isn't the only Capcom-related deal available at Humble right now. There's also the Mega Man Franchise Pack, which includes 25 Mega Man games on PC plus extra coupon codes for more Blue Bomber titles, all for just $20.
-
Satirical sci-fi shooter sequel Helldivers 2 has got off to a flying start, and now its creator Arrowhead Game Studios has put out a call for fresh development talent so it can "accelerate and beef up" its post-launch content plans.
Despite some early technical woes, which Arrowhead has been hard at work trying resolve since Friday's release on PlayStation 5 and PC, Helldivers 2 has enjoyed a positive critical reception and strong player numbers, even becoming PlayStation Studios' biggest Steam launch to date as it amassed over 150,000 concurrents this weekend.
Amid that early success, Arrowhead CEO and Helldivers 2 creative director Johan Pilestedt has taken to social media on a recruitment drive, seeking out "more amazing developers" who can "help [the studio] accelerate and beef up our content plans".
-
Sony has announced the games coming to PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium this February. Nine games are headed to PS Plus Extra and above, while four additional games are being added to PS Plus Premium exclusively.
Starting on February 20, PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members can play Need for Speed Unbound, The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition, Tales of Arise, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Lego Worlds, Lego Jurassic World, Roguebook, Rogue Lords, and Tales of Zestiria. Premium members will also gain access to Resistance: Retribution, Jet Moto 2, Tales of Symphonia, and Tales of Vesperia.
The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition includes all the DLC for the hit sci-fi RPG. Sort of a spiritual successor to Obsidian-developed classic Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds is a choice-based, first-person RPG. You are a newly-awakened colonist of the titular planets, thrust into a system-spanning conspiracy equipped with your wits, a spaceship, and your loyal(ish) crew.
Tales of Arise is the newest of many Tales games joining the PS Plus lineup. Arise follows dual protagonists from two different worlds, seeking to rebel against the vicious rule of the planet Rena. Also included in PS Plus Extra is Tales Of Zestria, which casts you as the Shepard and charges you with reuniting men and angels. Classic games Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Vesperia flesh out Premium's RPG catalog.
Other games include the roguish fantasies Roguebook and Rogue Lords. Lego Worlds and Lego Jurassic World let you build out little plastic landscapes, or at least run through them as your favorite dino. You can race along the Lakeshore in Need for Speed: Unbound. Finally, take your killing skills to the viking age with Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
February's PS Plus Essential games included Foamstars and Steel Rising. A recap of the games headed to PS Plus Extra and Premium is below.
PlayStation Plus Premium And Extra Games For February 2024
- Need for Speed Unbound (PS5)
- The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition (PS5)
- Tales of Arise (PS4, PS5)
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla (PS4, PS5)
- Lego Worlds (PS4)
- Lego Jurassic World (PS4)
- Roguebook (PS4, PS5)
- Rogue Lords (PS4)
- Tales of Zestiria (PS4)
PlayStation Plus Premium Classics For February 2024
- Resistance: Retribution (PS4, PS5)
- Jet Moto 2 (PS4, PS5)
- Tales of Symphonia (PS4, PS5)
- Tales of Vesperia (PS4, PS5)
You can read more information about the upcoming games on the PlayStation blog.
-
The Pokémon Company is bringing its hugely popular Pokémon Center pop-up store back to London for four days this April, with promise of more exclusive Pokémon merchandise.
The Pokémon Center's return to the UK coincides with this year's Pokémon Europe International Championships, which take place at ExCeL London from 4th to 7th April. The store will be open at the venue from 10am to 8pm every day except Sunday, when it's set to close at 4pm.
Previous Pokémon Center pop-ups in the UK have attracted huge crowds, and The Pokémon Company is clearly expecting similar attention this time around. It notes that while entry to the store is open to the general public and won't require a competitor or spectator badge, reservations are mandatory - even for badged attendees. More information on the reservation process is set to be shared "closer to the event".
-
Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Alpha ring today.
It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.
Details can be found below!
System Update Details
- OS Version: XB_FLT_2403ZN\25398.3790.240212-1227
- Available: 2 p.m. PT – February 14, 2024
- Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – February 15, 2024
Fixes Included
Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:
System
- Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.
- Note: Users participating in Preview may see “odd” text across the console. To learn more visit: What’s This? Learn More About Pseudo-Loc in Preview.
Known Issues
While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.
Audio
- We have received reports of users experiencing intermittent issues with audio across the dashboard, games, and apps. If you have experienced issues, be sure you have the latest firmware updates for your TV and other equipment. If you’re unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance.
- Note: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware updates, please submit feedback via Report a Problem immediately with the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”. Be sure to include as much information as possible:
- When did the issue start?
- Did you lose audio just in the game/app or system audio as well?
- Does changing the audio format resolve the issue? If yes, what was the format before and after?
- Does rebooting resolve the issue?
- What does your setup include? Equipment, layout, etc.
- And any additional information you can provide to reproduce the problem.
- Note: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware updates, please submit feedback via Report a Problem immediately with the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”. Be sure to include as much information as possible:
Networking
- We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to their network as expected on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
- Workaround: Wait a minute for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide. Learn more here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.
As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.
If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.
When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.
Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.
For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!
The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha (2403.240212-1227) appeared first on Xbox Wire.
-
Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring today.
It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.
Details can be found below!
System Update Details
- OS Version: XB_FLT_2408GE\26058.1500.240212-1230
- Available: 2 p.m. PT – February 14, 2024
- Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – February 15, 2024
Fixes Included
Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:
Apps
- Fixes to address an issue where Microsoft Edge would close unexpectedly.
Games
- Fixes to address unexpected graphical issues with some titles.
- Fixed an issue where changing the language in a game would not always download the new language as expected.
System
- Fixes to address unexpected errors navigating to home or opening the guide, or the console remaining on the boot-up animation longer than expected.
- Note: If you’re still having trouble, restart your console from the Power Center or the guide. If the issue persists, reset your console with the ‘keep my games & apps’ option. Learn more about these options here:
- Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.
- Note: Users participating in Preview may see “odd” text across the console. To learn more visit: What’s This? Learn More About Pseudo-Loc in Preview.
Known Issues
While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.
Audio
- We have received reports of users experiencing intermittent issues with audio across the dashboard, games, and apps. If you have experienced issues, be sure you have the latest firmware updates for your TV and other equipment. If you’re unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance.
- Note: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware updates, please submit feedback via Report a Problem immediately with the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”. Be sure to include as much information as possible:
- When did the issue start?
- Did you lose audio just in the game/app or system audio as well?
- Does changing the audio format resolve the issue? If yes, what was the format before and after?
- Does rebooting resolve the issue?
- What does your setup include? Equipment, layout, etc.
- And any additional information you can provide to reproduce the problem.
- Note: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware updates, please submit feedback via Report a Problem immediately with the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”. Be sure to include as much information as possible:
Guide
- We are aware the chat mixer in the guide may not behave as expected, and we are investigating.
Networking
- We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to their network as expected on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
- Workaround: Wait a minute for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide. Learn more here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.
As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.
If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.
When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.
Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.
For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!
The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha Skip-Ahead (2408.240212-1230) appeared first on Xbox Wire.
-
Five minutes into the Skull and Bones open beta, I found myself deserted and alone on a small island with nothing but a rickety dhow and some rags to preserve my dignity. After a brisk chat with an unfriendly pirate, I was back out on the treacherous waters of the Indian Ocean, hunting for scraps and clues to locate a nearby town.
After landing on the secret shores of Pirate Den Sainte-Anne and introducing myself to its leader, John Scurlock, it was time to prove myself as a fearsome, scallywag of the seas. Fortunately, Skull and Bones set up a surprising myriad of avenues to do so; once you’re through its carefully crafted tutorial stages and introduced to the services that Sainte-Anne offers, Skull and Bones opens up and allows you to traverse the seas at your leisure, and peril.
Progression is based on Infamy, your Infamy will grow as you complete missions. How you do this is up to you – from missions in the main quests, side-quests from random encounters, or scooping up a task from the jobs board, be it taking down a specific target or quietly smuggling some commodities into a marked port.
The heart of Skull and Bones is its ship-on-ship combat – you’ll spend the majority of your time sailing the seas and they are not particularly friendly. Combat feels extremely satisfying, cannonballs and explosives land with conclusive thuds, and their rate of fire feels realistic without being sluggish. Skull and Bones‘ customization system allows you to kit out your ship to suit your playstyle, whether you want to be up close and dealing damage with the Bedar, or supporting your fleet with a hardy Hulk that can stand strong against incoming fire.
However, there’s a lot more to consider than indiscriminately sinking every boat you stumble upon. Nearby ships can be identified, you’ll be able to see how powerful they are, what faction they align with, perhaps most importantly, what cargo they’re carrying, allowing you to weigh up whether it’s really worth the trouble. In those moments, I am roleplaying a pirate, choosing who to respect and who to blast to smithereens based on what I need in that moment.
The variation of vessels goes one step further, which adds another welcome element of role-playing to your adventure. As your Infamy rises, you’ll gain access to bigger, better ships, each with different strengths. It’s not as simple as just buying a ship, though, you’ll need the silver to purchase it and the materials to build it. However, you’ll still need specific classes of ships to complete certain missions – for example, a dhow is required for hunting, which means it doesn’t become immediately irrelevant as soon as you get a more impressive vessel. Switching back to my little boat to spear some alligators felt like a realistic break from launching fire into the sides of massive Barges, making for a truly fluid pirate experience.
This is where Skull and Bones really intrigued me – there’s a visceral joy in getting onto your boat, sailing out and learning where to buy (or steal) materials needed for upgrades. As you explore, you’ll learn about trade routes and the materials they supply. If you want for example, a big pile of Cobalt or some Fine Linen, your best bet is to loiter around that route and attack ships that are carrying it. If you want to sell any excess goods, Skull and Bones has a trading system, where goods will be worth more to certain traders at different times.
It’s more than just looting whatever you can grab and then rushing to the nearest port – its crafted to make you think about the goods you’re taking and how you’re going to offload them. It’s worth noting that if your ship is destroyed, your loot will be left floating in the ocean for anyone to take, so making quick decisions is paramount.
There are other quality of life inclusions that takes the edge off some of the more laborious parts – you can quick travel from bigger ports and settlements, but it’ll cost a small amount of silver and time. Your crew will tire from speedy sailing and slow the boat down, but you can craft meals and buffs to keep them working longer.
Skull and Bones‘ early game feels promising – there’s plenty to do, and a motivating progression system that encourages exploration and upgrades. You can also have a pet cat with a peg leg, which is obviously the best thing in the world.
Skull and Bones sets sail on February 16, available on Xbox Series X|S.
Skull and Bones
Ubisoft
$69.99Pre-order and get the Highness of the High Sea Pack, which includes the Notoriety Garb and the Coronation Firework! Enter the perilous world of Skull and Bones, a co-op pirate open world action-RPG experience, to become the most infamous pirate kingpin! Engage in thrilling naval battles, craft a variety of unique ships, and forge unlikely alliances as you overcome the odds and bring mayhem on the seas. Be part of an immersive open world that introduces new challenges and features every season. – Engage in thrilling naval battles and equip a multitude of powerful weapons as you risk it all for the biggest loot. – Sail the lawless seas solo, or team up with two friends or other players to partake in shareable contracts and rewards. – Face cutthroat pirate hunters, deadly sea monsters, unpredictable weather, dangerous rogue waves, supernatural threats, and more as you explore a vast open world. – Craft and sail up to 10 different ships at launch, each with unique perks to match your own personal playstyle. – Grow your infamy and unlock resources and opportunities to get riskier contracts and upgrade your equipment. Persistent internet connection, Ubisoft Account, Microsoft Account, and Game Pass Ultimate or Core (subscriptions sold separately) required.The post Skull and Bones is a Refreshing RPG Adventure with a Surprising Survival Twist appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Palworld Dev Calls Out "Lazy" Discourse Around Hit Game Losing Concurrent Players
in Gaming News & Releases Feeds
Posted
It's fair to say almost no one could have predicted the massive success of Palworld when the survival game launched last month. And now, the community manager for developer Pocketpair is hitting back against "lazy" narratives highlighting player drop-off for the title known as "Pokemon with guns."
Spotted by PC Gamer, Bucky on X (formerly known as Twitter) discussed the surprise popularity for Palworld as well as why it's okay to take a break from the game. "This emerging 'Palworld has lost X% of its player base' discourse is lazy, but it's probably also a good time to step in and reassure those of you capable of reading past a headline that it is fine to take breaks from games," the Pocketpair developer wrote. "You don't need to feel bad about that."
Bucky added that originally the goal was hitting 50,000 players for the survival game, but Palworld blew that away by passing 2 million concurrent players on Steam alone. It's only the second game in history to achieve that milestone. At the time of publication, SteamDB tracks Palworld as having over 480,000 concurrent players, sitting behind Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2.
In addition, Pocketpair announced at the end of last month that Palworld had topped 19 million players, with 12 million copies of the game sold on Steam. Microsoft noted it's the biggest third-party launch ever for Xbox Game Pass.
As for the future, there is a roadmap for Palworld that promises PvP and raid bosses. For more, check out GameSpot's Palworld guides hub.
View the full article