Most sequels to successful games are safe, conservative iterations on the ideas of the original, but not here: Frostpunk 2 is a bold follow-up that takes an almost entirely different approach to its city-building strategy. It’s set in the same bleak, iced-over world where people struggle to survive, but it’s refreshing that we’re not retreading the same frozen ground. Everything from how you place buildings to how you manage resources and heat your city is a new spin, and its political system is a creative way to interact with the people of New London that does a great job of conveying a sense of quid-pro-quo negotiation in a representative democracy. The zoomed-out perspective does mean that we lose a lot of the feeling of intimacy...
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As a lifelong Zelda fan, I’m always hesitant when other developers set out to make a game so clearly inspired by Nintendo’s acclaimed action-adventure series. I find that the puzzle design never quite reaches Zelda’s incredibly lofty bar, and I’m usually left wishing I was just playing Ocarina of Time or A Link Between Worlds instead. But The Plucky Squire breaks that trend, with a combination of clever brain teasers, simple but effective swordplay, and a courageous silent protagonist that would feel right at home in Hyrule. The adventure is held back by an overly wordy script and some serious pacing issues in its final act, but this debut game from developer All Possible Futures is still a journey worth taking.
The Plucky Squire’s...
EA’s Skate revival finally has a release window, although it’s a vague 2025 for early access.
Full Circle’s Skate. (yes, the title includes the full stop) has a firmer console playtest set for fall 2024. Full Circle said it will share more details on what to expect in the coming months, but didn't say when.
Skate., formerly known as Skate 4, was first announced during EA Play way back in 2020, but at the time was stated as "very early" in development. Since then, Full Circle has kept the community up to date with closed community playtests of early builds and plenty of updates on where the game is at via its "The Board Room" video series.
The developer officially revealed the name of the game would be ‘skate.’ back in 2022...
Today, Maxis dropped a ton of The Sims-related information spanning the games, the upcoming film, content creators, and more. While some fans may have been scouring the updates for news on next-gen Sims release Project Rene, there wasn't much to go on...except that there will be another invite-only playtest of the game coming this fall.
Per Maxis, Project Rene will hold a "small, invite-only playtest" in the fall, "giving an early look at a multiplayer experience that explores joining friends and other players at a shared location." Interested individuals can sign up to participate in the playtest here.
This is the second publicized public playtest Project Rene has held since its announcement, having previously had a similar small...
Dark Horse Books has revealed The Art of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, a new hardcover book offering an in-depth look at the creation of the upcoming GSC Game World title.
IGN can exclusively reveal the cover art to The Art of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Check it out below:
The Art of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a 208-page hardcover book featuring developer commentary and a wealth of concept art and other behind-the-scenes material. The book spotlights the characters, creatures, items, and environments featured in the game.
"The atmosphere has always been a fundamental part of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. universe – the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone is one of our main sources of inspiration," said Ievgen Grygorovych...
With Nintendo fan excitement for Switch 2 reaching fever pitch, developers are starting to say they’re planning to release their upcoming games on the unannounced next-generation console.
The latest is Pathea Games, developer of the multi-million selling RPG/farming/life series My Time. It’s just announced My Time At Evershine, which is designed to build on the success of cozy games My Time At Sandrock and My Time At Portia with a new art style, single-player campaign, city management gameplay, and multiplayer co-op.
Pathea said it’s taking its first steps in developing the sequel and is launching a Kickstarter campaign to support it. “My Time at Sandrock cost a lot, like $12-million-a-lot, and still counting, we expect Evershine’s...
Lots of Rockstar-related news has hit today, headlined by the addition of anti-cheat to GTA Online on PC.
A new update, out now for GTA 5 on PC, adds BattlEye Anti-Cheat for GTA Online. The patch notes are below.
This update, which has already sparked concern about mod compatibility in GTA Online, comes on the 11th anniversary of GTA Online, and years after the multiplayer focused game hit last-gen consoles and PC.
Why would Rockstar add anti-cheat to GTA Online now? It might have something to do with so-far unnanounced plans to release the GTA 5 next-gen update for the PC version of the game. There are reports that a leftover metadata file spotted after today’s changes to the Rockstar Games Launcher suggests Rockstar has been...
Microsoft has announced the Xbox Game Pass September 2024 Wave 2 lineup, taking subscribers up to the end of this month.
Just three games are listed as coming during September’s second wave in Microsoft’s Xbox Wire post, two of which are PC-only strategy games that launch day one on Game Pass, the other a turn-based strategy game released last year.
Wargroove 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) hits Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on September 19; PC strategy game Frostpunk 2 releases as a day one title straight into Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on September 20; and Ara: History Untold on PC launches straight into Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on September 24.
Wargroove 2 is Chucklefish’s Advance Wars-style strategy sequel...
Sony is investigating PlayStation 5 technical issues in Final Fantasy 16 and more caused by the latest firmware update 24.06-10.00.00.
Myriad users reported issues including entire portions of the screen being overcome with black squares, crashing when loading a save file or fast travelling, and more. Similar bugs are appearing in Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws, Hello Games' No Man's Sky, Kojima Productions' Death Stranding, and more according to users on Reddit.
Sony appears aware of the issues, however, and is actively seeking a solution to at least those found in Final Fantasy 16. Square Enix confirmed it was working with the PlayStation maker to address the issues introduced through the firmware update in an X/Twitter post...
EA Sports has confirmed the launch timing for FC 25 across its early access and global release dates on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
FC 25’s popular Companion & Web App launches on September 19, letting fans start their Ultimate Team club on the web, and a refreshed Companion App then launches on September 20. Ultimate Team 24 players get “a little something extra,” EA Sports teased.
If you pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition of FC 25 then you’ll get the early access launch. This kicks off midnight local time on September 20 on console, and from 5am UK time on September 20 on PC. As is standard for EA Sports’ FC series and the FIFA games before it, EA Play members get up to 10...
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is the most-played Warhammer 40,000 game ever on Steam and has seen over two million players since launch, but there’s one issue that gives players the fear: the dreaded 'joining server' bug.
Space Marine 2 inexplicably launched without private PvE lobbies, which forces players who are engaged with the endgame co-op Operations mode to brave its frustrating matchmaking.
It is possible to join a group of two other randoms as a solo player in this three-player co-op mode, and doing so seems to work well enough. Similarly, if you can get together with two friends to create a full three-player group, you’re fine… mostly.
Things break down, though, when you’re trying to play with one other friend, and need...
Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead has released the long-awaited update 01.001.100, which tweaks the game balance, weapons, and stratagems as part of a significant overhaul that aims to bring lapsed fans back into the game by making it easier.
The PC and PlayStation 5 co-op shooter has changed anti-tank, armor penetration, health, and armor values, rebalanced weapons and stratagems, reworked enemies, tweaked Helldiver health and damage mechanics, reworked gas, added a new Galactic War feature and emote wheel feature, and fixed a long list of bugs.
The Galactic War map can now display the location of strategically important assets. Arrowhead said this will make it much easier for players to take them into consideration when deciding...
Final Fantasy 16 is finally almost here on PC and developer Square Enix has shared exactly when players can start playing the role-playing game.
Square Enix confirmed the launch times for each region in an X/Twitter post, below, across its September 17 release date. Both previously released expansions for Final Fantasy 16, Echoes of the Fallen and The Rising Tide, will be released simultaneously but cost extra.
The RPG has plenty of content on its own, however, as players are thrust into a world where powerful elemental monsters (dare we say summons) live within select vessels known as Dominants, and players, as protagonist Clive Rosfield, must join forces with or take down each and every one.
Final Fantasy 16 PC Release Times
Los...
Capcom has released a new update for Dragon’s Dogma 2 across all platforms that adds a number of new features, including a new casual mode.
Other changes include vocation balances and much-needed performance improvements.
The casual mode reduces inn fees for staying at an inn, reduces the price of Ferrystones, and makes it more difficult for weight carried to become ‘heavy’ or ‘very heavy.’ You’ll also use less stamina when dashing outside of battle, the loss gauge won’t increase when selecting ‘Load from Last Save’ after the Arisen dies, and pawns will recover from dragonsplague without a ‘devastating calamity’ occurring, even if the symptoms progress to a terminal stage.
In the patch notes, Capcom said you can change to casual...
Today is a Tuesday teeming with TGS mega savings. That's right, a bunch of Square Enix's best RPGs (and the odd action-adventure) may be yours for up to 60% off. Alternatively, if you've gotten into LEGO Rebuild the Galaxy on Disney+, I can score you a great companion experience of sorts with a saber price slice on The Skywalker Saga.
In retro news, I'm celebrating the 20th birthday of Star Wars: Battlefront. At launch, I was beyond stoked with this Battlefield 1942-like take on Star Wars—most notably with its pitch-perfect encounters in Historical Campaign and planet-by-planet dominance in Conquest mode. Such an insane degree of fan-service and fun that would ultimately get squandered in a half-arsed remaster collection in 2024...
For PC gamers, the recent and well-reviewed Black Myth: Wukong game is finally on sale. Right now Fanatical is offering the standard edition PC digital download for only $47.99 after a 17% off coupon code "FANATICAL17". The coupon may be applied automatically so you won't have to do anything extra. A code will be emailed to your inbox that you will then activate on Steam. Fanatical is a legitimate gaming storefront we've purchased games from ourselves several times.
17% Off Black Myth: Wukong for PC
Black Myth: Wukong was released on August 17 amidst overwhelming popularity. This game from Game Sciene is easily one of the best looking PC games based on the Unreal Engine 5 engine, with enough graphical settings to tax even the mighty...
Final Fantasy 16 producer Naoki Yoshida has asked fans to please not make "offensive or inappropriate" mods upon the game's PC release tomorrow, September 17.
Yoshida wouldn't comment on any specific mods he wants to see in Final Fantasy 16 in an interview with PC Gamer, though made clear what he doesn't want to see.
"If we said, 'it'd be great if someone made X, Y, Z,' it might come across as a request, so I'll avoid mentioning any specifics here," Yoshida said. "The only thing I will say is that we definitely don't want to see anything offensive or inappropriate, so please don't make or install anything like that."
Mods allow players to create custom content for games, often resulting in incredibly useful gameplay changes such as...
Bethesda has released a deep dive into Starfield expansion Shattered Space, offering a first meaningful look at gameplay.
The video, below, shows off Va’ruun, the new planet Starfield players get to explore in Shattered Space. Bethesda describes Va’ruun as an “isolated, handcrafted new world in Starfield’s first major story expansion,” and compares it to some of the biggest and best expansions it has released for its The Elder Scrolls and Fallout games.
The “handcrafted” note in particular feels deliberate. Starfield was criticized by some for leaving the handcrafted feel of Bethesda Game Studios’ previous titles behind in favor of a galaxy-spanning adventure filled with over 1,000 planets, most of which were fueled by procedural...
The infamous Madden curse appears to be back as Madden NFL 25 cover star Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers has been ruled out for four games.
Sky News reported on McCaffrey's shift to the injured reserve list due to calf tightness and achilles tendinitis one month after he graced the cover of the latest American football entry from EA Sports, which arrived August 13, 2024.
McCaffrey could return as early as October 10 to play against the Seattle Seahawks so hopefully this injury scare isn't too serious, but it does bring the so-called Madden curse to mind. This fan theory suggests any athlete who appears on the cover of Madden NFL suffers a downturn in their career, either from an injury or generally underperforming...
You’ve probably seen a lot of hype around Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and If you’re not familiar with the series, we’re here to tell you that it’s well-deserved. The long-awaited sequel to the fan-favourite third-person action shooter, Space Marine 2 is an absurdly violent and gory third-person action game that fuses melee and ranged […]
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Woot is once again offering up some fantastic video game deals that you don't want to miss. Right now, as part of the website's 'Fall In Love With Video Games' event that only runs for a few more days, you can score Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance for PS5 and Nintendo Switch (see here at Woot) and Unicorn Overlord for Xbox Series X for just $29.99 (see here at Woot). That's 50% off both of their MSRPs - a price drop that's well worth taking advantage of while it's still live for the next few days.
We likely won't see a discount like this again until Prime Day 2 hits around October or even in November for Black Friday, so stock up now while you can. Check them out at the links below.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Down to $29.99 (50%...
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection launched last week and — matchmaking issues aside — players have been enjoying its nostalgia-fueled combat. But there’s one problem: fighting game legend Justin Wong.
Wong, one of the greatest fighting game players of all time and one half of Evo Moment #37, has returned to his old stomping ground with the release of Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection and, predictably, is destroying his opponents.
Wazzler, the online name Wong is using to play Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection, and in particular the long-awaited modernized Marvel vs.Capcom 2, was trending across social media as the fighting game pro began his relentless evisceration of all challengers.
Some reports indicated Marvel vs...
A Stardew Valley fan has recreated the entire Pelican Town using LEGO in a 75,000 piece build that even brought out developer ConcernedApe.
The build premiered at BrickCon 2024 and includes every iconic building such as the Wizard's Tower, Community Center, JojaMart, and, of course, the player's farm. An enormous version of the Stardew Valley title screen was built from LEGO and placed behind the model too.
Creator Steve Jensen told PC Gamer the build took around two years to complete, and his favorite elements include the Hat Shop, "because I was able to make [it] almost entirely hollow, so you can look through the cracks and broken parts and see through to more such openings on the other side, just as a rundown, abandoned structure...
Palworld developer Pocketpair has said the survival crafting game dubbed "Pokémon with guns" isn't going free-to-play despite comments from CEO Takuro Mizobe suggesting such a move was under discussion.
Pocketpair said on X/Twitter that the comments — with Mizobe saying that "making [Palworld] a live service game would extend its lifespan and make it more stable — were actually made months ago when the studio was considering different options. It has now decided definitively that Palworld will remain a pay-up-front game.
"This interview was conducted several months ago," Palworld said. "At that time, we were still considering the best way forward for Palworld to create a long lasting game that continues to grow. We are still...
A Baldur's Gate 3 modder has taken the first step in adding brand new, custom levels to the beloved Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game by creating new maps including the much sought after Avernus.
Dexerto spotted a handful of Reddit posts from katszenBurger who has so far created two new Baldur's Gate 3 areas using an unlocked version of the official modding tool released by developer Larian Studios.
The first area is centred around a castle on the shore and the second takes players to Avernus, the first layer of hell in the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse that players were desperate for Larian to include itself.
As the developer has confirmed it's not working on any full expansions for Baldur's Gate 3, however, nor a full sequel...
A former Bungie lawyer has commented on upcoming improvements to embattled live service looter shooter Destiny 2, saying the role of parent company Sony in “forcing” through these changes is very much a good thing.
Last week, Bungie unveiled what it called “major changes” to Destiny 2 that it hopes will win back players. Bungie has reportedly struggled to meet key financial targets, with Destiny 2 significantly underperforming last year. The Final Shape expansion reportedly sold less at launch than last year's critically panned Lightfall.
Destiny 2 will now adopt a new model that includes the release of two medium-sized expansions and four major free content updates annually.
“This evolution aims to enhance the player experience...
A rating for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide on PlayStation 5 suggests Fatshark’s co-op focused looter shooter is finally coming to Sony’s console.
Darktide launched on PC first in November 2022, before coming out in October 2023 on Xbox Series X and S and straight into Game Pass. Perhaps a PS5 release is set for October 2024, which, if true, would come one year after the game’s launch on Microsoft’s subscription service. Gematsu spotted the Darktide rating in Taiwan.
While Darktide launched with a number of problems, Fatshark has continued to update the game and on Steam it now sits on a ‘mostly positive’ recent user review rating, with an overall rating of ‘mixed.’ Improvements were made to everything from progression to performance...
All the way back at E3 2006 (oh E3, how I miss thee), Square Enix would announce the next chapter in its tentpole JRPG mega-franchise. Spearheaded by not one, but two Final Fantasy titles destined for Sony’s PlayStation 3 console, attendees and watchers of the show would be introduced to Final Fantasy XIII, which would […]
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It's Monday again, which means welcome back to the salt mines (but also a ton of savings with yours truly). Personally, I'm gravitating to that ongoing PS Publisher on PC sale and a new Penguin/Batman-centric one that popped up over the weekend. Beyond that, I'll leave you to dig through my very eclectic, but most definitely curated, list of stuff worth scoring.
In retro news, I'm breaking out the fairy bread Jill sandwiches for the 22nd birthday of Resident Evil [remake] on GameCube. One of the first reduxings of its kind, this set the bar for what the modernisation of a game ought to be. I day-one adored it for a bunghole puckering "One Dangerous Zombie" mode, which only unlocked after clocking it twice with Chris and twice with...
I'm always looking for a new excuse to glove up, grip some wheel, and get back into my favourite racing sims. The other week, the universe handed me two compelling reasons to do so. For starters, Thrustmaster asked if I wanted to put its T818 setup through its paces. For seconds and as if on cue, Sony also had the good sense to release an adapter to allow my PlayStation VR2 headset to work on PC.
As we all should know by now, racing games + any VR helmet placed upon one's petrolhead = a match made in heaven. With the phantom jolts of a recent Moza R12 Wheel experience still ringing faintly in my forearms, I cleared my test desk and set to building a whole new endorphin-delivering ecosystem.
The list of the specific components I...