In news that’s hotter than a castle under siege, the release date for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is being brought forward by a week.

Announced in April 2024 for a release later in the year, developers Warhorse Studios later solidified the game’s launch date as 11th February 2025, arriving on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

After over 8 million copies sold for the first game, Plaion and Warhorse Studios are now treating us to an earlier launch date of February 4th, 2025 – a week earlier than anticipated.

We recently had the opportunity to chat with Tobias Stolz-Zwilling, the Global PR Manager for Warhorse Studios, where we discussed all things KCD; including just how far they’ve come since the early days, and what Henry’s journey looks like in the sequel.

The new launch date came alongside a new trailer that showed Henry being haunted by the ghosts of his past, as the lands of Bohemia begin to shift with political unrest and bloodshed.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is now set to launch on 4th February 2025 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. You can read our interview with the team HERE.

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Ubisoft has today announced that it will discontinue development on XDefiant, it’s free-to-play first person shooter title that launched earlier this year.

Starting today, the game will no longer be downloadable. For those still playing, Season 3 will be released in the near future and the servers will remain active until June 03, 2025. Despite the game having over 15 million people login to play and it being the fastest Ubisoft game to surpass 5 million users, unfortunately that wasn’t enough to sustain it long-term.

Unfortunately as a result of this, almost 300 people will lose their jobs with some of these coming from the Sydney studio (134 from Osaka/Sydney). This is obviously a massive loss to our local industry, which has already faced a tough time over the last 12 months. Whilst the Osaka and San Francisco studios are being totally closed, it’s said that the Sydney studio will be “ramped down”.

“Today, Ubisoft announced that it will discontinue development on XDefiant, its free-to-play first-person shooter title. As a result, half of the XDefiant team worldwide will be transitioning to other roles within Ubisoft. This decision also leads to the closing of our San Francisco and Osaka production studios and to the ramp down of our Sydney production site, with 143 people departing in San Francisco and 134 people likely to depart in Osaka and Sydney.” said Ubisoft in a statement. 

You can read the full blog post over on the Ubisoft website HERE.

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Popular FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki has addressed the PlayStation Partner Awards about the future of the Elden Ring brand.

The relentlessly punishing director of both Elden Ring and it’s DLC attended to receive an award for Shadow of the Erdtree, Elden Ring’s hefty expansion released earlier this year.

In a statement reported by IGN Japan, Miyazaki confirmed that the From team is not currently considering developing Elden Ring 2.

That being said, he also confirmed that multiple teams at FromSoftware are working on projects, some of which he’s working on directly.

But while Elden Ring 2 isn’t in FromSoftware’s immediate future, Miyazaki did not rule out a return to the Lands Between, saying “the IP could develop in some form in the future”.

It remains to be seen whether that manifests as another game, a film or TV adaptation, or something else entirely.

Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree are, without a doubt, the most successful projects to come out of FromSoftware.

Both games have received Game of the Year nods in their respective The Game Award nominations, though the latter has proven to be controversial.

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With only a few days to go, Bethesda and Xbox have released the final launch trailer for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

The trailer features everything you’d come to expect from an Indiana Jones epic – guns, whips, Nazis and, of course, a giant boulder.

It’s looking better than I’d have ever thought it would, and you can check it out for yourself here:

With the release of the Launch Trailer, Bethesda and Xbox have also added a new dynamic theme for Xbox Series X|S players, depicting Indy as he appears in the box-art for The Great Circle. It’s available right now.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is out fo Xbox Series X|S and PC on December 9th 2024. If you pre-order the Deluxe, the game is available three days earlier.

The game is included with most tiers of Game Pass, and a PS5 version is coming sometime in 2026.

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Ahead of launch later this week, five new heroes have been revealed for Marvel Rivals. This includes Wolverine, Black Widow, Cloak & Dagger, Iron Fist and Squirrel Girl who will be fully detailed through the week in the lead-up to launch.

A new map in Klyntar: Symbiotic Surface was also announced which is based around the Symbiote and heavily features Venom. You can watch the new heroes and the new map over on the launch trailer below.

MARVEL RIVALS AUSTRALIAN LAUNCH TIMES

Marvels Rivals is set to launch at 11:00am AEDT on Friday, December 6th for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam/Epic Games Store). It’s totally free-to-play and includes cross-play across all platforms as well.

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The day has finally arrived. Today is the day that Australia finally gets the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED years after it launched in most other parts of the world.

The day has finally arrived. Today is the day that Australia finally gets the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED years after it launched in most other parts of the world. It will go on sale at 10am AEDT at the below links:

• 256GB LCD: $649 AUD
• 512GB OLED: $899 AUD
• 1TB OLED: $1,049 AUD
• 1TB OLED (White): $1,099 AUD

If Valve finally bringing the Steam Deck to Australia wasn’t enough for you, it’s now revealed a Limited Edition White Steam Deck OLED and it’ll be launching on the same day that the Steam Deck does into Australia.

The White Steam Deck OLED will come with white/grey accents, a matching white carrying case and also a white cleaning cloth, to complete the entire look. It’s fairly stunning if I do say so myself.

Just like the translucent black model that released alongside the OLED and sold out extremely quickly, this will only be available as one limited drop.

It’s available in the 1TB OLED model and it will be $50 more than the standard at $1,099 AUD. It will be available to order with the Steam Deck goes on sale in Australia (alongside every other market that the Steam Deck is available) at 10:00am AEDT on November 19th (today).

FULL AUSTRALIAN STEAM DECK RANGE

• 256GB LCD: $649 AUD
• 512GB OLED: $899 AUD
• 1TB OLED: $1,049 AUD
• 1TB OLED (White): $1,099 AUD

Just in case you’re not as familiar with the two models, The Steam Deck OLED has a larger 7.4-inch HDR OLED display with 1000 nits of peak brightness. The refresh rate has been updated to 90hz and the latency of the touch screen has also been improved.

The device has a larger 50whr battery (up from 40 whr) and combined with a more efficient APU, you can expect a 30-50% better battery life which Valve says is good for 3-12 hours of gaming depending on what you’re playing. Despite the device having a larger screen and a larger battery, the total weight has been reduced by 30 grams or 5% which should make a big difference in comfort.

@shannongrixti

The Steam Deck is finally coming to Australia and here’s a quick look at the gorgeous 1TB OLED model #SteamDeck #SteamDeckAustralia #SteamDeckOLED #Tech #Steam #Valve

? original sound – Shannon Grixti | Gaming & Tech

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The final season for Rainbow Six Siege Year 9 was revealed  and we got an early glimpse of what’s coming in December’s update including the long awaited Shield nerfs. Here’s the notable updates coming in Operation Collision Point:

Crossplay between consoles and PC

A big notable change in this update is the crossplay compatibility between the consoles and PC opening up the matchmaking pool even further. Players can now party up with their friends on other platforms, including PC, which wasn’t possible before. Players also have the option to limit their playlist pool if they don’t want cross play on.

With crossplay, Ubisoft has also stated there will be relevant ant-cheat parameters involved with the update such as detecting PC players attempting to switch from the PC to the console only platform pool.

The long awaited Shield nerf

Shields have impacted the meta all year, and Ubisoft has vowed to put an end to that with this update. Shields will be receiving a nerf across the board making them less viable as an offensive weapon. Shield melee attack won’t do any damage anymore making that smoke melee push with Blitz utterly useless. Opponents will still go down however but instakills have been taken off the board.

Defenders have a stronger chance of taking a shield operator head on now with melee attacks and increased suppression. The more you melee a shield operator, the more exposed and unstable they get, allowing you to easily take them out now.

With this nerf, the shields will be more utilised as a support tool rather than a full offensive one. So don’t expect anymore Blitz smoke rushes or Montaigne frustratingly holding the only path into site.

The Blackbeard Rework

With the shield nerf coming into play, Blackbeard gets a rework giving him a more viable choice for attackers.

Blackbeard is given a new shield rather than the small anti-headshot one he had since year one allowing him to be protected even more than before. The shield has a glass panel that goes down and allows you to fire while being in cover – basically a wall panel with a gun out the front. The shield also allows you to penetrate soft walls meaning pushing into site and creating rotates will be easy.

The new rework allows Blackbeard to serve a bigger role in entry fragging with the new shield and ability to create breaches in soft walls.

It’s quite an interesting move adding the rework for Blackbeard now considering the shield nerfs but I’m keen to see how the combination of the two switches up the gameplay. There’s plenty more updates coming to Rainbow Six Siege with Operation Collision Point, check out the reveal livestream below:

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To celebrate the 20th anniversary, Valve got the original Half-Life 2 development team back together to bring some much-needed updates to the game, with the game now being free for the weekend in addition to a bunch of BTS content that has been released.

Half-Life 2 now includes the Episode One and Episode Two expansions within the base game with them being accessible from the main menu. You can grab it for free HERE.

• Half-Life 2 – Free until November 19th at 05:00am AEDT.

I’d highly recommend checking out the 20th anniversary website for the game HERE which has a bunch of looks at scrapped footage from other Half-Life projects as well.

NEW HALF-LIFE 2 UPDATES

UPDATED GAME CONTENT

• Fixed pops, holes in the world, fading-out and disappearing objects across the game.
• Rebalanced the lighting across Half-Life 2 to account for playing with HDR on or off, using the original release as reference.
• Cleaner, smoother horizon lines thanks to new radial fog!
• Added higher-resolution lightmaps across the game!
• Removed green glow from the G-Man model’s eyes in the opening of the game, and restored the reflective glint as seen in the original release.
• Fixed missing grass sprites and blacked-out models throughout the game!

UPDATED GRAPHICS SETTINGS 

• Choose either the original launch day blood and fire effects, or those created for the episodes, when playing the Half-Life 2 base game!
• Play with only the highest detail models in High Quality mode!
• Get smoother lightmap shadows at Very High shader detail, thanks to new bicubic lightmap filtering!

GAMEPAD/STEAM DECK UPDATES

• Gamepad controls have been updated to match the Half-Life 1 anniversary update.
• Aim Assistance has gotten an overhaul making it feel better to use, and there are more configuration options available. Aim Assistance can be enabled separately for gamepad or mouse/keyboard input. The amount of assistance can be tuned up and down, and it’s no longer tied to a skill setting. Want to play on Hard with high aim assist, or Easy with it off? Knock yourself out.
• The Steam Deck main menu has been updated with all of today’s additions including the Episodes, Workshop, and new input configuration. The Steam Deck version of the main menu will also appear when you play Half-Life 2 on a PC running

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Wasting no time in their colossal 45 minute presentation, Blizzard have announced this morning that both Warcraft: Orcs & Humans and Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness are getting the remaster treatment.

Now simply known as Warcraft Remastered and Warcraft II Remastered respectively, both of the remasters include all the content previously released for the original games back in their heyday.

The remasters include brand new hand-drawn visuals, though purists can select the older visual style if they wish.

The original Warcraft has been updated with modern control schemes to make it a tad more playable today, while Warcraft II’s multiplayer options are included with Remastered.

Any custom maps you’ve previously been playing around with in Warcraft II will work with Remastered too.

Both remasters will be available as part of a Battle Chest with Warcraft III: Reforged, which has recently received substantial updates with today’s announcements too.

Even better? They’re available right now.

Check out the rest of the Warcraft 30th Anniversary announcements HERE.

The post Warcraft and Warcraft II Remastered Have Been Revealed And They’re Out Right Now appeared first on Press Start.

Ending the massive Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct this morning, Blizzard showed off a brief teaser trailer for the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion, Midnight.

Midnight is the eleventh expansion for World of Warcraft and is the second chapter in a new era of storytelling within the World of Warcraft.

In the second chapter of the Worldsoul Saga, Midnight, players return to Quel’Thalas to reunify the scattered elven tribes of Azeroth.

That’s all well and good, but Blizzard’s latest teaser seems to insinuate that we’ll be able to buy, own, and customise housing in the game when Midnight launches.

Housing is a much-requested feature in World of Warcraft, as not only will it bring parity for the game with other MMOs on the market, but it’ll also give players a place to call their own and, more importantly, a place to store all of their stuff after their lengthy travels.

The post The Latest World Of Warcraft: Midnight Teaser Implies That Housing Is Coming To The Game appeared first on Press Start.

Blizzard have today confirmed, though it should be obvious, that Mists of Pandaria is going to be getting the World of Warcraft: Classic treatment in 2025.

At the publisher’s massive Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct, it was confirmed that players who are currently playing through Cataclysm Classic will be able to take their progress into Mists of Pandaria content in 2025 when it launches.

Mists of Pandaria was the fifth major expansion for World of Warcraft. It originally raised the level cap from 85 to 90 and also introduced a new playable race, the pandaren as well as a new character class, the monk.

The World of Warcraft Classic experience aims to run separately from the main series of World of Warcraft, recreating the same experience that players had before later expansions would be released.

No exact release date was confirmed, but Mists of Pandaria Classic launches sometime in 2025.

The post World of Warcraft Classic’s Next Expansion Is Mists Of Pandaria appeared first on Press Start.

Machine Games has dropped a 15 minutes gameplay deep dive for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

This is our greatest look at the game yet, and covers many aspects of what we went hands-on with last month including a bunch of puzzle solving, melee combat, the infamous whip in use, and some absolutely gorgeous locations.

The game is absolutely stunning and throughout all of the locations shown in the footage, whether it be day, night, dark or bright there’s an impressive amount of detail that I can’t wait to expore.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circles launches on December 9th for Xbox Series X|S and PC with the game being on Xbox Game Pass. It will launch net year on PS5.

The post Here’s 15 Minutes Of Gorgeous New Indiana Jones And The Great Circle Gameplay Footage appeared first on Press Start.

Grand Theft Auto Trilogy: The Definitive Edition had a weird and rocky release schedule coming out quite underdone on consoles and PC, before releasing for mobile last year on Netflix with that release having better lighting and other gameplay improvements that the console versions didn’t get.

Rockstar has now dropped an update for the game on consoles that significantly improves visuals as well as a bunch of other fixes. This includes a new Classic Lighting Mode that can be toggled on, but there’s also a heap of other improvements that haven’t yet been detailed officially, that fans are noticing.

GTA SA Defintive Edition after the New Patch
Left old Right New pic.twitter.com/kxBij35K4z

— Besk (@BeskInfinity) November 12, 2024

Visual effects for rain, fire and fog have all been improved, and animations for the game including when you’re running with a gun has also been totally fixed, and there’s a bunch of other little fixes including the ability to view your position on the world map.

Rockstar hasn’t detailed these changes yet, but the below image/videos show off how different the classic lighting mode is, totally capturing the look of the original game, rather than what was presented originally.

I can't believe I'm saying this but with the new Classic Lightning and the GTA Trilogy DE Patch

I'm on Vice City and it looks absolutely gorgeous. pic.twitter.com/EjI4YRqE07

— Besk (@BeskInfinity) November 12, 2024

GTA DE New Patch has FINALLY fixed the aiming running animations across all guns in GTA 3 and VC DE which used to be extremely broken. This is by far the best fix for me.

Left Old Right New pic.twitter.com/PnG6LJX7m8

— Besk (@BeskInfinity) November 12, 2024

I highly recommend heading to the Beskinfinity Twitter page who has highlighted a bunch of other minor changes that most people probably won’t notice but still can be appreciated regardless.

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Blizzard has announced that Overwatch: Classic will bring many of the original elements of the original game back in a series of events.

The first event will take place on November 12th until December 2nd taking it all the way back to the original 1.0 release from May 2016, including many abilities that haven’t been seen in years.

This will bring the original 12 Overwatch maps back to modes such as Assault, Escort, Hybrid and Control. The full update that can be read on the Blizzard website says that the heroes will be grouped in their original four classes but you will not be required to only play as attackers when on attack or defendeers when defending, instead being able to pick the best hero that works for you.

For the first few days there will be no limits on picking heroes, so there will be able to be the same six heroes on the one team, but this will be turned off a little bit into the event.

Overwatch: Classic will appear as a mode within Overwatch 2, and I highly recommend checking out the the FAQ on the Blizzard website for more information.

The post Overwatch: Classic Will Bring The Original Heroes And Maps Back To The Game appeared first on Press Start.

UPDATE: Valve has now confirmed with us that the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED will officially launch in Australia on November 19th at 10:00am AEDT. You’ll be able to place orders at htis time and that’s when units will start shipping as well. You’ll be able to order at this link and the Aussie prices are below:

• 256GB LCD: $649 AUD
• 512GB OLED: $899 AUD
• 1TB OLED: $1,049 AUD

ORIGINAL STORY: Valve has taken to the PAX Australia show floor this morning to announce that the Steam Deck is officially coming to Australia.

After being available for sometime through unofficial channels here in Australia, Valve has confirmed that both the LCD Steam Deck and the Steam Deck OLED will be sold and shipped through Steam directly here in Australia.

STEAM DECK OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN RELEASE DATE AND PRICES

The Steam Deck LCD and Steam Deck OLED available to wishlist now and will be available to order in November with units shipping out immediately at the below prices:

• 256GB LCD: $649 AUD
• 512GB OLED: $899 AUD
• 1TB OLED: $1,049 AUD

You can wishlist it over on Steam HERE before it ships in November.

@shannongrixti

The Steam Deck is finally coming to Australia and here’s a quick look at the gorgeous 1TB OLED model #SteamDeck #SteamDeckAustralia #SteamDeckOLED #Tech #Steam #Valve

? original sound – Shannon Grixti | Gaming & Tech

This marks the first time that Valve has sold hardware directly in Australia, after partnering with the likes of EB Games for the Valve Index, and we had the chance to talk to them earlier this week where they confirmed that this was the start of them committing to bringing hardware to Australia in a much more timely fashion now that the groundwork has been done to sell and ship hardware directly.

I’ve got my hands on the 1 TB OLED version, so now that we’re officially getting it in Australia, I’m looking forwards to reviewing it and seeing how it compares to some of the other handhelds that I’ve used over the past few years. We also got the chance to speak to Valve ahead of the announcement and you can read that HERE.

Just in case you’re not as familiar with the two models, The Steam Deck OLED has a larger 7.4-inch HDR OLED display with 1000 nits of peak brightness. The refresh rate has been updated to 90hz and the latency of the touch screen has also been improved.

The device has a larger 50whr battery (up from 40 whr) and combined with a more efficient APU, you can expect a 30-50% better battery life which Valve says is good for 3-12 hours of gaming depending on what you’re playing. Despite the device having a larger screen and a larger battery, the total weight has been reduced by 30 grams or 5% which should make a big difference in comfort.

The 1TB and 512GB OLED versions also have a few differences with the 1TB OLED version coming with an anti-glare display, and also an extra removable liner in the case as well a a special exclusive startup movie and keyboard theme.

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You probably don’t know this about me, but alongside Ape Escape, my other favourite thing in life is Scream, so when it was announced that Ghostface was coming to Mortal Kombat 1, I was extremely excited and after seeing the first gameplay drop below, I’m even more excited by how well they’ve captured the iconic character.

In the brief gameplay tease, we get a look at Ghostface fighting Johnny Cage, complete with his iconic voice. It’ll be interesting to see if Ghostface is a character from within the MK franchise or otherwise, with the iconic horror character being a different person within each of the Scream films.

Ghostface!
Ghostface!

Here is a peek at Ghostface coming #MortalKombat1 early access on Nov 19! pic.twitter.com/7DBZgA7xgC

— Ed Boon (@noobde) October 31, 2024

Ghostface will launch in early access on November 19th with the full release coming on November 26th. After Ghostface, we still have Terminator 2’s T-1000 and Conan the Barbarian.

The post The First Mortal Kombat 1 Ghostface Gameplay Footage Is Absolutely Brutal appeared first on Press Start.

Apple has been getting much more into the gaming space since it launched its own chipset, but the ultimate test if coming with CD Projekt Red announcing that Cyberpunk 2077 is coming to Macs.

The announcement comes following Apple’s week of Mac announcements including new M4 MacBook Pros, iMacs and Mac Minis. 

It will launch on Apple Silicon Macs early next year with path tracing, frame generation and built-in spatial audio. It will be the Ultimate Edition meaning it’ll be the base game as well as Phantom Liberty.

The game will launch on the Mac App Store, GOG, Steam and the Epic Games Store.

More details for the release are set to come early next year, and you best believe we’ll be there to test it out when it does land.

@shannongrixti

Resident Evil 4 runs super impressively on the iPhone 15 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pro #ResidentEvil4 #ResidentEvil4iPhone #iPhone15Pro #m3maxmacbookpro #Apple #IPhone #MacBook #ResidentEvil

? original sound – Shannon Grixti | Gaming & Tech

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Sony has today announced that Concord won’t be returning with the last few months spent exploring options, ultimately the company has announced that the game will be sunset and not return.

Following this decision, Sony also announced that Firewalk Studios, the game behind Concord would be closed. In addition to this, mobile studio Neon Koi will also be closed.

Both of these announcements were made by Herman Hulst, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment on the official website, and you can read that full statement here. 

Hulst posted the below statement:

“I know none of this is easy news to hear, particularly with colleagues and friends departing SIE.  Both decisions were given serious thought, and ultimately, we feel they are the right ones to strengthen the organization.  Neon Koi and Firewalk were home to many talented individuals, and we will work to find placement for some of those impacted within our global community of studios where possible.

I am a big believer in the benefits of embracing creative experimentation and developing new IP. However, growing through sustainable financials, especially in a challenged economic environment is critical.

While today is a difficult day, there is much to look forward to in the months ahead from the Studio Business Group and our teams.  I remain confident that we are building a resilient and capable organization driven by creating unforgettable entertainment experiences for our players.?”

Firewalk Studios made one last statement on its official Twitter page, going through the journey from independent studio to being acquired by PlayStation and going full speed into full production with Concord in 2022. You can read that full message here.

Firewalk is signing off one last time.

Firewalk began with the idea of bringing the joy of multiplayer to a larger audience. Along the way we assembled an incredible team who were able to:
– Navigate growing a new startup into a team during a global pandemic: Firewalk was…

— Firewalk (@FirewalkStudios) October 29, 2024

“We took some risks along the way – marrying aspects of card battlers and fighting games with first-person-shooters – and although some of these and other aspects of the IP didn’t land as we hoped, the idea of putting new things into the world is critical to pushing the medium forward.

The talent at Firewalk and the level of individual craft is truly world-class, and teams within Sony Interactive Entertainment and across the industry will be fortunate to work with them. Please reach out to Recruiting at PlayStation for inquiries, and thank you to all the very many teams, partners and fans who supported us along the way.

See you in the Tempest. – Firewalk Studios” said Firewalk in its finla post on Twitter.

The post Concord Is Officially Gone For Good And PlayStation’s Firewalk Studios Has Been Closed appeared first on Press Start.

The first beta Monster Hunter Wilds is taking place starting this week. It will be happening in two phases with PlayStation Plus members able to access the beta three days early before it opens up on all platforms.

MONSTER HUNTER WILDS PLAYSTATION DOWNLOAD LINK

• You can download and pre-install the Monster Hunter Wilds beta HERE.

MONSTER HUNTER WILDS OPEN BETA AUSTRALIAN TIMES

Those that are PlayStayStation Plus members will be able to take part in the beta from 2pm AEDT Tuesday 29th of October until 2pm on Thursday October 31st exclusively on PS5.

Then from Friday, 1st of November at 2:00pm AEDT until Monday, 4th of November at 2pm AEDT all gamers on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam) will be able to join the open beta even if they don’t have a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass subscription.

MONSTER HUNTER WILDS OPEN BETA DETAILS

The Open Beta will have three pieces of content, the Character Creator which will be identical to the final game with your character able to be carried across, a story trial as well as the Doshaguma Hunt which includes a tutorial to the game as well.

It’s also said that there will be bonuses to those who participate, so no doubt if you want to play the game.

You can watch a new trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds below as well which reveals a new location and new characters:

Monster Hunter Wilds launches on February 25, 2025. The cheapest copy is at Amazon for $109 with free shipping HERE. 

The post All The Aussie Times For This Week’s Monster Hunter Wilds Open Beta And You Can Pre-Download It Now appeared first on Press Start.

Playtonic has today revealed the release platforms for the Yooka Laylee remake, Yooka-Replayee, and it’s coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S and “Nintendo platforms”.

This marks the second time in recent months that a game has been revealed for not just the Nintendo Switch but an undisclosed future Nintendo Switch console.

The game will have its art and animations overhauled, new and improved challenges, a new collectible currency, a brand new world map as well as challenge trackers and a bunch of new Tonics, in addition to a revised controls and camera which should give this game the second chance it deserves.

As far as timings go for the next Nintendo console, we know that it will be revealed before the end of the Japanese financial year, so by the end of March, 2025. 

The post Yooka-Replayee Is Coming To An Undisclosed Nintendo Console appeared first on Press Start.

Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 launches today bringing with it a brand new single player campaign, a new round-based zombies mode as well as an entirely new multiplayer experience, but there’s still a few hours to wait before you can jump in on PC at least.

If you’re on consoles, technically the game is open to play at midnight on release day, but if you’re on PC, you’ll need to wait until later today to get playing. We have seen reports of people being unable to play in Australia still but that should be rectified in due time.

CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 PC LAUNCH TIMES IN AUSTRALIA

• 03:00 PM AEDT (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra)
• 02:30 PM ACDT (Adelaide)
• 02:00 PM AEST (Brisbane)
• 01:30 PM ACST (Darwin)
• 12:00 PM AWST (Perth)

The game is on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (or legacy) for Xbox and PC gamers, but Amazon has the cheapest online price at $84 with free shipping and if you’re wanting to go into a store to grab it, Harvey Norman has it for $75. 

Our review is probably going to be a little bit away, as we only get access at the same time as the rest of the world, so if you’re on the fence you can stay tuned for that.

The post Here’s What Time Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 Goes Live In Australia appeared first on Press Start.

A few weeks ago was announced that Assassin’s Creed: Shadows would now release on February 14th, with a change to its structure, mostly meaning that there would be no season pass and that early access for the game would be scrapped.

Ubisoft has now announced that the collector’s edition will now be $30 cheaper due to the removal of the season pass as well as the early access.

The Assassin’s Creed: Shadow’s Collector’s Edition is now $329.95 AUD ($359.95 previously) and will release on February 13th. It now includes the below:

• Assassin’s Creed: Shadows Base game.
• Additional digital content
  • Sekiryu Dual Pack
  • Sekiryu Hideout Pack
  • Five mastery points

• Naoe and Yasuke dual character statue (about 40 centimeters / 15.7 inches).
• Unique SteelBook case.
• Collector’s art book (76 pages).
• Naoe’s katana tsuba (life-sized).
• World map.
• Creed wall scroll (70×30 centimeters / 27.6×11.8 inches).
• Two sumi-e lithographs (13.5×19 centimeters / 5.3×7.5 inches).

Those that pre-order the game will also get an upcoming expansion and a Thrown to the Dogs bonus quest.

The post The Assassin’s Creed: Shadows Collector’s Edition Is Now Cheaper Due To A Change In What’s Included appeared first on Press Start.

Capcom has announced that an open beta for Monster Hunter Wilds is taking place in the next few weeks. It will be happening in two phases with PlayStation Plus members able to access the beta three days early before it opens up on all platforms.

MONSTER HUNTER WILDS OPEN BETA AUSTRALIAN TIMES

Those that are PlayStayStation Plus members will be able to take part in the beta from 2pm AEDT Tuesday 29th of October until 2pm on Thursday October 31st exclusively on PS5.

Then from Friday, 1st of November at 2:00pm AEDT until Monday, 4th of November at 2pm AEDT all gamers on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam) will be able to join the open beta even if they don’t have a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass subscription.

Pre-downloading will begin on October 27th with it said that about 18GB of storage will be required to play the game.

MONSTER HUNTER WILDS OPEN BETA DETAILS

The Open Beta will have three pieces of content, the Character Creator which will be identical to the final game with your character able to be carried across, a story trial as well as the Doshaguma Hunt which includes a tutorial to the game as well.

It’s also said that there will be bonuses to those who participate, so no doubt if you want to play the game.

You can watch a new trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds below as well which reveals a new location and new characters:

Monster Hunter Wilds launches on February 25, 2025. The cheapest copy is at Amazon for $109 with free shipping HERE. 

The post A Monster Hunter Wilds Open Beta Has Been Announced And Here’s All The Aussie Times appeared first on Press Start.

Marvel took to the New York Comic Con stage this morning to reveal that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is officially coming to PC.It will launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store on January 30th, 2025.

This has once again been developed by Nixxes in close collaboration with Insomniac games. It will have enhanced ray-tracing options with more details to be revealed at a later date, but presumably it’ll have DLSS 3.5, ultra-wide monitor support and all the bells and whistles that Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered and Miles Morales had.

There will be two editions that launch on PC (you can wishlist now on Steam) including the below:

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – Standard Edition

• The complete game
• All the latest updates since Marvel Spider-Man 2’s PS5 launch, including:
  • 14 new suits
  • New Game+
  • Ultimate Levels
  • New Symbiote Suit Styles
  • Time of Day options
  • Post-Game Achievements
  • Action Figure Mode in Photo Mode
  • Screen Reader and Audio Descriptions

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – Digital Deluxe Edition

• The complete game with updates listed above
• 5 exclusive suits for Peter Parker
• 5 exclusive suits for Miles Morales
• Early unlock for the Arachknight Suit (Peter)
• Early unlock for the Shadow-Spider Suit (Miles)
• Early unlock for the Web Grabber gadget
• +5 skill points
• Additional Photo Mode items

We gave Spider-Man 2 a 9/10 and said: “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 cleverly pairs its added width and breadth with more depth and meaningful new gameplay and story opportunities. There’s rarely a moment here that doesn’t feel thrilling, enchanting, heartbreaking, awe-inspiring or some combination of it all. Beyond untangling the finer threads of its design or narrative ambitions though, it’s genuinely just the most fun, gorgeous open world superhero game out there.”

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Unknown Worlds took to the Xbox Partner Showcase this morning to reveal Subnautica 2, the sequel to Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero.

It’s coming to early access in 2025 for Xbox Series X|S and PC with it releasing on Xbox Game Pass on day one.

For the first time in the franchise, you’ll travel beyond Planet 4546B and you’ll have the chance to do it alone or with up to 4 friends which is something that was hugely requested for the original game.

You can find the rest of the Xbox Partner Showcase announcements over at our round-up HERE. 

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Remedy took to the Xbox Partner Showcase this morning to finally reveal its first multiplayer game.

It’s called FBC: Firebreak, and Remedy were very clear to say that whilst this is set in the wider Remedy world, it is not Control DLC and not a Control Sequel although it is its own fully-fledged thing.

It’s a three-player co-operative first-person shooter that will be super easy to get into and allow for hectic co-op missions that showcase the iconic Remedy creativity.

Within the game you will play as one of the first responders of the Federal Bureau of Control and whilst the description sounds like most other multiplayer games in this genre, it definitely has Remedy’s unique spin going off the first trailer below.

FBC: Firebreak will launch in 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. It will launch on Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra day one.

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Xbox has revealed even more Xbox Game Pass games for October. Obviously, the big one is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, but the classic South Park: The Fractured But Whole is also coming to the service as well as indie titles Donut Country and Ashen.

OCTOBER 2024 NEW XBOX GAME PASS GAMES FOR ULTIMATE SUBSCRIBERS

• South Park: The Fractured But Whole (Cloud/Console/PC) – October 16th
• Donut Country (Cloud/Console/PC) – October 17th
• MechWarrior 5: Clans (Cloud/Console/PC) – October 17th
• Call Of Duty Black Ops 6 (Cloud/Console/PC) – October 25th
• Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Cloud) – October 25th
• Call Of Duty Warzone (Cloud) – October 25th
• Ashen (Cloud/Console/PC) – October 29th
• Dead Island 2 (PC) – October 31st

GAMES LEAVING XBOX GAME PASS ON OCTOBER 31st

• Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Headbangers (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Inkulinati (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Lonely Mountain’s Downhill (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Mineko’s Night Market (Cloud, Console, and PC)

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EB Games has announced that in addition to selling digital currency and content, it will now sell digital PC games.

There’s currently over 500 games available from the likes of Warner Bros, Frontier, Maximum Entertainment, Annapurna and more with hundreds to come in the coming months.

For those with an EB World Plus membership, you can expect to get an extra 5% off the games listed in the PC digital storefront (as well as currency and content).

You can find the entire range of PC games here. It definitely looks to be on the pricier side, but hopefully we see some deals, or at the very least, you will now be able to presumably use EB credit to buy digital PC games. 

Expand your game collection with digital games, content, and currency for PC and consoles available now! Over 500 titles to choose from plus hundreds more coming soon! ???

What are you playing next? https://t.co/yz6oq4L8Sv pic.twitter.com/vpCzqWfriy

— EB Games Australia (@EBGamesAus) October 15, 2024

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Hogwarts Legacy was the best-selling game of 2023 and it appears that WB is looking to capitalise on that with a Definitive Edition that will add new content.

According to Insider Gaming, Hogwarts Legacy Definitive Edition will be sold as a seperate piece of DLC and will have 10-15 hours of additional content including a new main story quest, side quests, activities and outfits.

Release timing for the definitive edition hasn’t been detailed, but it’s expected that it could come in 2025 following the lacklustre performance of Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League.

Earlier in the year, Warner Bros CFO said that a successor to Hogwarts Legacy was one of the biggest priorities for the company’s gaming division, which wasn’t a huge shock to anyone.

We gave the original Hogwarts Legacy a 9/10 saying: “Hogwarts Legacy is the Wizarding World game that fans have dreamt of for years. It offers a dense and rich open-world to explore complemented perfectly by a surprisingly robust and engaging combat system unlike anything else. While the story does live in the shadow of its predecessors, and managing gear can be repetitive, Hogwarts Legacy is a truly magical experience and utterly bewitching from beginning to end.”

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Following in the footsteps of Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered, it’s been announced that Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered is coming next year. It’s releasing on February 14th for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC.

This collection will include Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Tomb Raider; Chronicles as well as Tomb Raider: The Angel Of Darkness.

This will bring the other three games in the OG core series back in upgraded glory including remastered visuals with the ability to toggle between them, both classic and modern controls, boss health feedback, a photo mode and over 150 trophies to collect.

We gave Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered an 8/10 in our review saying: “Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is the best example of a remaster I think I’ve seen in years. Where some titles have played fast and loose, with full overhauls of their game mechanics or visual styles, Aspyr has taken a classic trilogy and revamped it as a love letter to its origins, bringing memories of old back to life. As more and more titles get the reboot or reimagining treatment, it is refreshing to see an old classic come back in a new style”

The post Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered Will Give The Rest Of The Core Games The Upgraded Treatment appeared first on Press Start.

Valve has taken to the PAX Australia show floor this morning to announce that the Steam Deck is officially coming to Australia.

After being available for sometime through unofficial channels here in Australia, Valve has confirmed that both the LCD Steam Deck and the Steam Deck OLED will be sold and shipped through Steam directly here in Australia.

STEAM DECK OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN RELEASE DATE AND PRICES

The Steam Deck LCD and Steam Deck OLED available to wishlist now and will be available to order in November with units shipping out immediately at the below prices:

• 256GB LCD: $649 AUD
• 512GB OLED: $899 AUD
• 1TB OLED: $1,049 AUD

You can wishlist it over on Steam HERE before it ships in November.

@shannongrixti

The Steam Deck is finally coming to Australia and here’s a quick look at the gorgeous 1TB OLED model #SteamDeck #SteamDeckAustralia #SteamDeckOLED #Tech #Steam #Valve

? original sound – Shannon Grixti | Gaming & Tech

This marks the first time that Valve has sold hardware directly in Australia, after partnering with the likes of EB Games for the Valve Index, and we had the chance to talk to them earlier this week where they confirmed that this was the start of them committing to bringing hardware to Australia in a much more timely fashion now that the groundwork has been done to sell and ship hardware directly.

I’ve got my hands on the 1 TB OLED version, so now that we’re officially getting it in Australia, I’m looking forwards to reviewing it and seeing how it compares to some of the other handhelds that I’ve used over the past few years. We also got the chance to speak to Valve ahead of the announcement and you can read that HERE.

Just in case you’re not as familiar with the two models, The Steam Deck OLED has a larger 7.4-inch HDR OLED display with 1000 nits of peak brightness. The refresh rate has been updated to 90hz and the latency of the touch screen has also been improved.

The device has a larger 50whr battery (up from 40 whr) and combined with a more efficient APU, you can expect a 30-50% better battery life which Valve says is good for 3-12 hours of gaming depending on what you’re playing. Despite the device having a larger screen and a larger battery, the total weight has been reduced by 30 grams or 5% which should make a big difference in comfort.

The 1TB and 512GB OLED versions also have a few differences with the 1TB OLED version coming with an anti-glare display, and also an extra removable liner in the case as well a a special exclusive startup movie and keyboard theme.

The post The Steam Deck Is Officially Releasing In Australia appeared first on Press Start.

It’s been long speculated but it’s finally official that Red Dead Redemption is coming to PC. It will release along with the Undead Nightmare expansion on October 29th. This marks the first time that the game will be available on PC and comes after the Nintendo Switch and PS4 release last year.

This has been developed by Double Elven and will add PC-specific features including native 4K resolution at up to 144hz, 21:9 and 32:9 ultrawide monitor support, HDR 10 support and full keyboard/mouse functionality.

There’s also support for AI upscaling technology such as DLSS 3.7 and FSR 3.0 as well as DLSS frame generation and adjustable draw distances, shadow quality settings and more.

It will be available on the Rockstar Store, Steam and the Epic Game Store.

You can watch the full trailer for the PC version below:

The post Red Dead Redemption Is Finally Coming To PC With Some Big Improvements appeared first on Press Start.

Sega has revealed that a sequel for 2014’s Alien: Isolation is in the works at Creative Assembly, the developer behind the original.

The announcement was made to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Alien: Isolation’s release, which originally came to consoles and PC before being porting to mobile devices a few years ago. The sequel is still in “early development” according to Al Hope, who’s returning to direct after helming the first game.

“Today, I’m delighted to confirm, on behalf of the team, that a sequel to Alien: Isolation is in early development.

“We look forward to sharing more details with you when we’re ready,” Hope said in the official statement.

The original game, which takes place fifteen years after Alien during an interesting time within the franchise’s canon, places you in the shoes of Amanda Ripley, Ellen’s daughter, as she sets out on a horrifying mission to unearth the truth surrounding her mother’s disappearance.

The rousing success of Alien: Romulus, which enjoyed a near $350 million cume at the box office against an $80 million budget, felt like a bit of a shot in the arm for the franchise, and news of an Alien: Isolation follow-up is guaranteed to delight fans.

The post An Alien: Isolation Sequel Has Been Officially Announced appeared first on Press Start.

It’s something that’s been hoped for for quite a long time, but it’s been officially announced that Halo Infinite is getting a third-person mode.

The update will come in November and will allow for players to play the game with an over-the-shoulder third-person viewpoint which is the first time that this has been possible in a Halo game.

It appears that this will be specific to certain modes rather than allow people to switch back and forth, and it’s also coming to Forge mode as well.

There’s not a heap of details at the time of writing outside of the below gameplay snippet, and going off what we know it doesn’t seem like it’ll come to the campaign at least at launch, but it definitely feels like a huge turning point for the franchise.

Experience a new way to play!

3rd Person Mode is coming to Halo Infinite this November ? pic.twitter.com/WkDkGLx8fF

— Halo (@Halo) October 4, 2024

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PlayStation dropped a new 15 minute gameplay trailer for Silent Hill 2 Remake today showing off the infamous Flesh Lip boss battle and it shows how far the game has come.

This boss battle in the original game was quite dark and mysterious in the sense that you didn’t get an idea for exactly what you were fighting, but the new lighting in the remake gives you a better visual of exactly what Flesh Lip looks like.

This is just one of the examples that we’ve seen that update a core moment from the game, with the original battle having three monsters, with this new one focusing on one enemy with multiple phases. It shows how Bloober hasn’t just given the game a fresh lick of paint, but actually updated the overall design of certain elements.

Obviously, the gameplay footage shows off the updated gameplay as well which includes over the shoulder shooting mechanics as well as a camera that you can control, similar to what we saw in the Resident Evil remakes.

Silent Hill 2 launches exclusively on PS5 and PC on October 8th. It’s available on Amazon HERE.

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Ubisoft has today announced that Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been delayed from its November release date and will now release on February 14th, 2025.

Whilst it says that the game is feature complete, it will use the learnings from Star Wars Outlaws to provide additional time to polish the title and also change some of the decisions made around its release model.

The game will no longer have a traditional Season Pass model, with all players able to play the game on February 14th, and those that pre-order the game will get access to the first expansion for free.

The game is also now releasing on Steam on Day One, which seems like it’ll be the case for all Ubisoft games going forward.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows will now release on February 25th, 2025. The cheapest copy is $89 with free shipping on Amazon. 

Assassin's Creed Shadows will now release February 14, 2025. pic.twitter.com/J2ah7kkytW

— Assassin's Creed (@assassinscreed) September 25, 2024

The statement about the game on Twitter reads:

“Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a dream project for us; finally bringing the series to Feudal Japan with many features developed with our community in mind, such as parkour or the renewed stealth, brought by new technology, all set in a beautiful and immersive world. This is an ambitious addition to the franchise, a rich experience that can be lived through the eyes of two unique protagonists – but we realize we need more time to polish and refine the experience, pushing further some of our key features.

As such, we’ve made the decision to postpone the release date to February 14, 2025. The game will release on a broad range of platforms, including Steam at launch. Additionally, preorders will be refunded and all future preorders will be granted the first expansion for free.

We understand this decision will come as disappointing news, especially to those who’ve been waiting patiently for an Assassin’s Creed game inspired by Feudal Japan, but we sincerely believe this is in the best interest of the game, and ultimately your experience as a player. Rest assured we are looking forward to the moment you will embark on a memorable adventure with Naoe and Yasuke.

Until then, we thank you for your ongoing support.Marc-Alexis Côté, on behalf of all teams working on Assassin’s Creed Shadows.”

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It seems that Rocksteady might be going to the franchise that put them on the map.

According to Shpeshal Nick, Rocksteady is working on a new Batman game, with it also being reported that Sony is making a play for some kind of exclusivity deal.

Rocksteady developed three mainline single-player Arkham games (the last being Arkham Knight in 2015) before moving on to the recently released live service game Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League.

It’s unclear if the next Batman game would be an exclusively single-player game or would try and take Arkham into the online space as well.

Obviously, this would be great news, and until we get any kind of official announcement, we can wait to see how the upcoming Meta Quest exclusive, Batman: Arkham Shadow turns out.

The post A New Batman Game Is Apparently On The Way From Rocksteady appeared first on Press Start.

The latest Like A Dragon game has been revealed and it’ll take the franchise to the seas in Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

The game will release on February 28th, 2025 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One and PC. It’s an action adventure game starring Goro Majima following on story-wise from Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

The game will let you go between locations such as Hawaii, an isolated island called Rich Island and a ship graveyard called Madlantis. It will let players jump for the first time in battles and it wouldn’t be a LAD game without minigames, and there’s a karting minigame called Dragon Kart as well as another Crazy Delivery mini game.

Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii collector’s edition

A Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Collector’s Edition was also revealed with a number of physical and digital items including the below:

• Majima Acrylic Standee (6″)
• Pirate Flag (12″ x 18″)
• Eye Patch (3″ x 4″)
• Treasure Coin Pin (2″)
• Legendary pirate crew pack
• Legendary Outfit Pack
• Ship special customization pack
• Extra karaoke and CD pack

The post Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii Has Been Revealed Alongside An Epic Collector’s Edition appeared first on Press Start.

To celebrate the launch of Final Fantasy 16 on PC, Square Enix and TagMods are giving one lucky Aussie the chance to win an epic PC based on Dark Eikon Efrit.

The PC is unlike anything that I’ve ever seen and stands 1.4 metres tall with each horn measuring 1.5 metres in length. It has an RTX 4080 Master as well as 32GB of ram and a 1TB SSD coming in at over $10,000 AUD in value.

You’ve got until September 30th to enter and can do so at the link HERE or on the widget below.

WIN: FINAL FANTASY XVI Custom Gaming PC

FINAL FANTASY 16 SPECIAL PC SPECS

• CPU: Intel Core i9 14900K
• GPU:  Aorus GeForce RTX 4080 Master
• Motherboard: Aorus Z790i Ultra
• RAM: Thermaltake TOUGHRAM XG RGB 32GB DDR5 C36
• FANS: Thermaltake CT120 EX ARGB Magnetic Quick Connect
• COOLING: Thermaltake Pacific
• PSU:  Thermaltake Toughpower SFX 1000W
• SSD: 1TB m.2

Final Fantasy 16 is out now on PC on both Steam and the Epic Games Store.

The post Aussies Can Win This Insane Custom Final Fantasy 16 Ifrit Gaming PC appeared first on Press Start.

In addition to the Xbox Game Pass games that have already dropped in September, Xbox has dropped a handful more that will be coming over the next few weeks.

SEPTEMBER XBOX GAME PASS GAMES

• Wargroove 2 (Cloud/Console/PC) – September 19th
• Frostpunk 2 (PC) – September 20th
• Ara: History Untold (PC) – September 24th

A bunch more games are leaving as well and you can find that list below:

• Gotham Knights (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Let’s Build a Zoo (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Loop Hero (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• My Time At Portia (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• PAW Patrol Grand Prix (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season (PC)
• The Walking Dead: Season Two (PC)
• Valheim (Cloud, Console, and PC)

The post The Next Batch Of Xbox Game Pass Games For September Has Been Revealed appeared first on Press Start.

Respawn co-founder Vince Zampella (the current overseer of the Battlefield franchise) has taken to IGN to reveal the first details about the next Battlefield game and show off the first piece of concept art.

The next game in the series will take place in a modern setting with the concept art showing land, sea and air combat.

Speaking to IGN about the game, Zampella detailed how the game will be going back to some of the older Battlefield games, striving to incorporate what made those games great.

More specifically, it’s said that the game will ditch 128 player matches as well as the specialist system that was featured in Battlefied 2042, and largely not loved by players of the franchise. It will go back to a more traditional 64 player style and class system.

“I mean, if you look back to the peak or the pinnacle of Battlefield, it’s that Battlefield 3… Battlefield 4 era where everything was modern.. And I think we have to get back to the core of what Battlefield is and do that amazingly well, and then we’ll see where it goes from there.” Zampella said.

“So we are designing something that is more akin to previous Battlefields,” Zampella said. “I’d rather have nice, dense, really nice, well-designed play spaces. Some of them are really good. I can’t wait for you to see some of them.” he continued. “Specialist will not be coming back,” he added. “So classes are kind of at the core of Battlefield, and we’re going back to that.”

It’s not been confirmed when the next Battlefield will be releasing although he went on to say that players be able to sample the game in some form next year and get the community involved.

It’s also been confirmed that a large chunk of EA studios are working on the game including Motive, Dice, Criterion and Ripple Effect.

The post The Next Battlefield Game Will Take Place In A Modern Setting And Ditch Some Unpopular 2042 Mechanics appeared first on Press Start.

The latest Assassin’s Creed Shadows trailer has been released and shows off the stunning landscapes of the game.

Taking place in Feudal Japan, the game looks to featured the most varied and dynamic landscapes of any Assassin’s Creed game to date.

With it being one of the upcoming games confirmed to have PS5 Pro improvements, no doubt it’s going to look even better on that console.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows releases on November 15th for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The cheapest copy is currently $89 on Amazon. 

We got an extended look of the game in June and said: “Assassin’s Creed Shadows feels like a statement that these big, enormously scoped role-playing games aren’t going anywhere soon. It is evident that, through its dual protagonists, a large focus for the team has been player agency and freedom to play your way, but whether it’s going to respect your time in a way I feel Valhalla didn’t is still a question I’ve got.”

The post The Latest Assassin’s Creed Shadows Trailer Shows Off The Game’s Stunning World appeared first on Press Start.

This year has already been a treat for World of Warcraft fans with the launch of the captivating introductory chapter of the Worldsoul Saga; The War Within. However, that’s not all Blizzard has in store for fans in 2024. Mark your calendars for November 23 because Blizzard is already gearing up to celebrate the monumental 20th Anniversary of World of Warcraft.

In honour of this incredible milestone, Blizzard has unveiled a special 20th Anniversary In-Game Event Preview packed with exciting new content and surprises, including new activities, rewards, and more you won’t want to miss. Check out the preview here:

The Anniversary Celebration will unfold in-game throughout November and December, offering players a couple of months to enjoy an array of new events and activities including:

• Earn and spend a new currency— Bronze Celebration Tokens— to spend on new items for your collection.
• Engage in the Blackrock Depths Raid dungeon
• Collect Iconic Tier 2 transmog appearance sets
• Go Timewalking through Classic World of Warcraft Dungeons
• Earn a New Mount, Blizzard Employee Service Award cosmetics, and More
• Celebrate with an expanded event at the Caverns of Time
• Join Chromie on a new time-bending adventure with the Codex of Chromie
• Discover new secrets and solve them with Guest Relations
• Defeat Party-Crashing World Bosses including the Sha of Anger and Archavon the Stonewatcher
• Go back for some PvP revenge during Korrak’s Revenge in Alterac Valley
• Celebrate 30 Years of Warcraft with Warcraft III themed back appearances on the Trading Post

While the Anniversary Celebration event patch (11.0.5) does not yet have a confirmed release date, keep your eyes peeled for further updates as we approach World of Warcraft’s 20th birthday. This milestone promises to be an unforgettable experience for all fans, marking two decades of epic adventures and cherished memories in the world of Azeroth.

The post The World of Warcraft 20th Anniversary Celebration Preview Will Bring A Heap Of New Things To The Game appeared first on Press Start.

Ubisoft has committed to creating an offline mode for both The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest after the original game was taken offline.

To celebrate the news of the game reaching 30 million players, the company has made the game 98% off on all platforms bringing it down to $1.50 and under at the below links:

• PlayStation Store – $1.39
• Steam – $1.50
• Xbox – $1.40 

The Crew Motorfest is also discounted at a humble 70% off bringing it down to $29.98.

You can watch The Crew Showcase with a bunch of other content update reveals below:

The post The Crew 2 Is 98% Off On All Platforms And Will Get An Offline Mode Alongside The Crew Motorfest appeared first on Press Start.

Dead Island 2 fans are going to be eating well with a brand new Ultimate Edition being revealed as well as two new game modes that will come in a free update to the base game.

The Dead Island 2: Ultimate Edition will include the base game, as well as both story expansions (Haus and SoLA) on the disc with a special weapons pack that includes a Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 pack. This will release on October 22nd.

In more exciting news, two new modes were revealed that will come to the base game as a free update on the same day.

Neighbourhood Watch is a new game mode that sees a group of college kids taking on horde of enemies across a five day period with new ways to take on the undead and a New Game + mode will crank up the action with an increased level cap, an additional sill spot and an increased difficulty.

Dead Island 2 is available on Amazon for $47 and will get the free updates on October 22nd.

The post Dead Island 2: Ultimate Edition Has Been Revealed Alongside A New Free Co-Op Horde Mode And New Game+ appeared first on Press Start.

10:10 games has revealed that Colonel Sanders will join characters from the likes of Jurassic World, Back to the Future, Jaws, The Thing, Five Nights at Freddy and more in Funko Fusion.

There will be several outfits for the Colonel with a few of them being exclusive to US KFC app members. There’s Chef Colonel as well as Mecha Colonel, which is absolutely insane, but it’s hard to deny that it’s iconic.

Funko Fusion launches on September 13th for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC and November 15th on PS4 before launching digitally on Switch in December. The cheapest copy is currently $69 with free shipping on Amazon. 

We recently previewed the game saying: “Based on just a few hours of play, Funko Fusion definitely seems like it has the right stuff to please a mix of gamers, whether you’re in it for the endless barrage of IP worship or the solid action and collectathon puzzle-platforming. If the thought of a Funko Pop! is enough to make you roll your eyes, I doubt it’s going to set them back straight, but so far I reckon it’s made of just the right bait to hook the crowd of millennial gamers it’s clearly angling for.”

The post KFC Icon Colonel Sanders Will Be Playable In Funko Fusion appeared first on Press Start.

Amazon has announced that it will have 28 free games for Prime members throughout the months of September. This includes games from the LEGO franchises, Borderlands, Lord of the Rings among others.

There’s a good handful already out now, with the others dropping throughout September. You can grab the games HERE 

GAMES AVAILABLE NOW:

• Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition (GOG)
• Lego The Lord of the Rings (GOG)
• Borderlands 2 (Epic Games Store)
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (Epic Games Store)
• GreedFall: Gold Edition (GOG)
• Whispered Secrets: Everburning Candle Collector’s Edition (Amazon Games App)
• Minabo – A Walk through Life (Amazon Games App)
• Eternights (Epic Games Store)
• Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (Amazon Games App)
• Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (Epic Games Store)
• Tales from the Borderlands (Epic Games Store)

GAMES OUT SEPTEMBER 12TH

• 9 Years of Shadows (GOG)
• Moonlighter (GOG)
• Golfie (Amazon Games App)
• Cursed to Golf (GOG)
• XHell Pie (GOG)
• Showgunners (GOG)
• Arcadegeddon (Epic Games Store)

GAMES OUT SEPTEMBER 19TH

• Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales (GOG)
• The Falconeer (GOG)
• Lego The Hobbit (GOG)
• I Love Finding Cats & Pups – Collector’s Edition (Legacy Games)
• Kerbal Space Program (GOG)

GAMES OUT SEPTEMBER 26TH

• Mystery Case Files: Black Crown – Collector’s Edition (Amazon Games App)
• Ghost Song (GOG)
• Ynglet (Amazon Games App)
• Black Desert (Pearl Abyss)
• Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams (Amazon Games App)

The post Amazon Will Have 28 Free Games In September For Prime Members Including Some Bangers appeared first on Press Start.

Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland is a brand new retro Rugrats platformer much like the PS1 classic, and it’s been revealed a little early that it appears to be the next Epic Games Store freebie on PC.

From September 12th until September 19th, you’ll be able to get the game for free on the Epic Games Store.

The game is a classic platformer that is available to be played both in HD and also in a retro 8-Bit mode. It can be played solo and co-op as well, and is definitely inspired by classic platformers. You can read a preview of the game HERE.

The game is also releasing on the PS4, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC.

Thanks, OzBargain. 

The post The New Retro Rugrats Platformer Will Be Free On PC At Launch appeared first on Press Start.

Warner Bros. Discovery spoke at the Bank of America conference earlier today, and mentioned the importance of a Hogwarts Legacy successor for its video game business, with the company planning to release it in the next few years.

“Obviously, a successor to Hogwarts Legacy is one of the biggest priorities in a couple of years down the road,” chief financial officer Gunnar Wiedenfels said at Bank of America conference on Wednesday (thanks, Variety).

“So there is certainly a significant growth contribution from that [games] business in our strategic outlook here.” continued Wiedenfels.

The original game was 2023’s best selling game with over 24 million copies sold, selling more than other heavy hitters such as Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Obviously, with other WB games such as Suicide Squad not performing well, and notably being a loss for the company, it’s not a huge surprise that a Hogwarts Legacy sequel would be a major priority for the publisher.

It’s been reported previously that Rocksteady had moved on from Suicide Squad to help develop an unannounced Hogwarts Legacy Director’s Cut, so it’ll be interesting to see if that’s revealed in the near future.

Quiddich Champions, another Harry Potter game also dropped this week. That’s available as part of PlayStation Plus as well. 

The post Releasing A Hogwarts Legacy Sequel Is A Massive Priority According To Warner Bros appeared first on Press Start.

In an out of the blue announcement, WB Games has announced that a remastered LEGO Harry Potter collection which includes Harry Potter Years 1-4 and Years 5-7 is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC with improvements.

The game will release on October 8th with enhancements to both the graphics and gameplay including 4K/60 FPS graphics, haptic feedback and high-resolution shadow maps. Those that own the PS4 version of the game will be able to upgrade at a discounted cost.

You can watch the trailer below:

“What better way to go back to Hogwarts than with the remastered LEGO Harry Potter Collection? Experience the adventure all over again as you battle the basilisk, compete in the Triwizard Tournament and take part in the Battle of Hogwarts with enhanced graphics and 4k resolution. Available Tuesday 8th October, 2024 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam.” reads the trailer description.

We’ll keep you posted as we hear more about this remastered collection, as it’ll be interesting to see what other gameplay changes have been made.

The post A LEGO Harry Potter Collection Remaster Is Coming To PS5/Xbox Series X With Enhanced Graphics And Gameplay appeared first on Press Start.

If there’s been one game more than any other that I see people sad about being stuck in the PS3 era, it’s Metal Gear sold 4, but that all looks set to change with Konami hinting that it could be coming in the next collection

Speaking to IGN about Metal Gear Sold Delta: Snake Eater, Konami producer Okamura tested MGS Master Collection Vol 2 as well as the inclusion of Metal Gear Solid 4.

“We definitely are aware of this situation with MGS4. Unfortunately we can’t really say too much at the moment with Vol. 1 containing MGS 1-3 dot dot dot… you can probably connect the dots!” said Okamura.

Obviously, whether this means that MGS 4 will come to modern consoles on its own or part of a Vol 2 collection remains to be seen, but it does seem likely, especially after Snake voice David Hayer posted with Snake from MGS 4 recently and said “had a pretty cool meeting the other day”.

Had a pretty cool meeting the other day…#MGS pic.twitter.com/By8XNFcdqi

— David Hayter (@DavidBHayter) November 18, 2023

Outside of this, MGS Peace Walker would be the only other game not to be playable on modern consoles, so we could see this along with 4 and 5 included on the next collection.

In our MGS Master Collection Vol 1 review, James said: “Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 does precisely what it claims to do – bring the first three Metal Gear Solid games to all major platforms after a much-felt absence. While the technical updates given to each game are scarce, this still represents a great way to get into one of the most important and prolific series in video games. Could there be some more touch-ups to modernise these games? Absolutely. But it’s hard to ignore the quality of the games included in this package, and it’s a testament to their strengths that, even with slight improvement, they’re still as compelling as ever.”=

The post MGS: Master Collection Vol 2 Will Almost Certainly Include Metal Gear Solid 4 appeared first on Press Start.

Razer has today announced the Wolverine V3 Pro, a wireless esports controller that is officially licensed by Xbox meaning it’s also the company’s first wireless Xbox controller.

It has advanced customisation, ultra-responsive inputs and superior ergonomics with the most impressive feature is the new back buttons that are mouse click back paddles that should allow for fantastic responsiveness. There’s also 2 claw grip bumpers, Razer Pro HyperTriggers, hall effect thumbsticks and the previously mentioned HyperSpeed wireless connectivity.

In terms of other things included in the box, you get a custom carrying case, 2 replaceable thumbstick keycaps, a wireless dongle and a 10ft cable as well.

RAZER WOLVERINE V3 PRO AUSTRALIAN PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is out in Australia today and it’s available from Razer’s website for $349.95 AUD. 

The post The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro Is Razer’s First Wireless Xbox Controller appeared first on Press Start.

Argonaut Games, the developer behind the original Croc game has revealed that the studio is back and their first game is a Croc Legend of the Gobbos remaster.

The game will come to consoles and PC later this year with the first trailer for the remaster being shown off this morning as well. It includes high-definition graphics, updated modern control mechanics as well as the addition of the Crocipedia which is a digital museum containing long-lost development assets for the game.

The trailer for the game definitely brings all the feels. I can’t say that I thought we’d ever see Croc again, but it’s such a staple of 1990s gaming.

It’s said that Argonaut Games has more games to be revealed in the near future as well, so it’ll be interesting to see if that means that we’ll be getting new Croc games or maybe a few other classics.

The post A Croc: Legend Of The Gobbos Remaster Has Been Announced appeared first on Press Start.

A brand new Tetris game has been revealed in Tetris Forever that is coming to the Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC.

The collection will include more than 15 playable games with several of these being released outside of Japan for the first time. This includes the first version of Tetris, as well as games such as Tetris Battle Gaiden, Super Tetris 2 and Bombliss.

There’s also a brand new Tetris game included called Tetris Time Warp. This game allow allow you to warp between different eras of Tetris in real time.

There will also be a documentary with over 90 minutes of footage and an virtual museum with an interactive timeline.

For the rest of the Double Nintendo Direct announcements, you can head to our round-up HERE. 

The post Tetris Forever Is A New Collection That Includes Classic Tetris Games And A Brand New One appeared first on Press Start.

One of the more surprising announcements at this morning’s Nintendo Direct was the announcement of a new Spongebob game called The Patrick Star Game.

This is a sandbox adventure game where you take to Bikini Bottom and can use any object to alter the world. There will be missions set by Spongebob, Mr Krabs, Sandy Cheeks and Plankton with many iconic locations such as Glove World, The Dump and Demolition Derby.

It’s releasing on PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC on October 4th, so not long to wait at all.

For the rest of the Double Nintendo Direct announcements, you can head to our round-up HERE. 

The post The Patrick Star Game Has Been Revealed Starring Everyone’s Favourite Spongebob Character appeared first on Press Start.

It’s been long rumoured that a new Crash Bandicoot was in the works, and we now have our first details on what was seemingly the game in the series by gaming historian YouTube, Liam Robertson.

It’s claimed that the game was to be a direct sequel to Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time with one of the concepts seeing Crash teaming up with Spyro following an interdimensional threat. It’s said that both Crash and Spyro were intended to be the two playable characters.

This also follows the rumours that a new Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game was pitched, but show down in favour of Activision wanting to go in the direction of live service games.

The entire video lasts about an hour, and as all of other of Robertson’s videos, is a fascinating watch full of concept art and other little tidbits, so I highly recommend going and watching it below:

Now that Xbox owns Activision, I definitely think we’ll see another Crash/Spyro game in the future as it just makes sense, but for now, it seems to be unfortunate news.

The post A New Crash/Spyro Crossover Game Was Apparently Cancelled In Favour Of Live Service Games appeared first on Press Start.

It’s been the talk of the PC town for the last few months with tens of thousands of people already playing it, but before today was nothing more than internet rumour.

Valve has finally announced it’s first new game in years, Deadlock. As of this morning, the Steam listing for the game which is a 6-on-6 hero shooter/MOBA game has gone live, along with a teaser trailer and some screenshots.

The listing for the game simply says: “Deadlock is in early development with lots of temporary art and experimental gameplay. Access is currently limited to friend invite via our playtesters.”

As mentioned in the listing, the game is currently available via invite only, so you’ll need to know someone already playing that can invite you until things open up.

With the announcement of the game, people that have been playtesting are also now allowed to speak about it, with some quickfire impressions available below and the Twitch page full of people streaming it.

Since we're all deadlock posting, here's a good triple whammy. pic.twitter.com/LZACXAAX2Y

— Michael Shilliday ?? (@HawtKoffee) August 24, 2024

The post Valve’s New Game Deadlock Has Finally Been Officially Revealed appeared first on Press Start.

After revealing its existence last September, Square Enix has finally put a date on the PC version of 2023’s acclaimed entry in the massive series, Final Fantasy XVI.

The epic adventure of “Eikonic” proportions is headed to personal computers via both Steam sand the Epic Games Store on September 17th (18th AEST), and will be available as both a standard version and a Complete Edition that also includes the two already-released DLC expansions, Echoes of the Fallen and The Rising Tide.

On top of that, and with pre-purchase available now, a demo of the PC version has also arrived. The demo gives players access to the opening prologue of the game, with roughly a couple of hours of content to play through, plus a special “Eikonic Challenge” for players to try out a more frenzied fight with access to more of the later-unlocked Eikonic abilities.

The PC version of the game is also quite reasonably priced, at $74.95 for the base game or $104.95 for the Compete Edition with the two expansions. You can find the game for pre-purchase, as well as the free demo, at the links below:

Final Fantasy XVI PC Pre-Order And Demo

• Steam
• Epic Games Store

And lastly, it wouldn’t be a Final Fantasy XVI announcement without a suitably epic trailer:

Harry gave Final Fantasy XVI a huge 9/10 in his review when it launched on PS5 last year, saying, “Final Fantasy XVI is an epic in every sense of the word. Consistently sharp writing, a captivating cast of characters, exhilarating combat, and a timeless soundtrack coalesce into an experience that showcases what the PlayStation 5 is capable of at the highest level. It constantly finds ways to top its own scale in remarkable fashion, but never loses sight of the intimate journey its built around.”

The second expansion, The Rising Tide, is similarly praiseworthy, with my review having said, “The Rising Tide is exactly what a Final Fantasy XVI DLC expansion should be. It’s got a beautiful, mysterious new region to explore, an engaging questline with great new characters, hugely satisfying new additions to combat and plenty of extra challenge for those ready to seek it out. It doesn’t do much to fix the main game’s few flaws, but what’s here is some of the most compelling and exciting content in the entire game.”

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Dragon Age: The Veilguard was fully revealed overnight and we now know that it’s coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on October 31st.

For the biggest fans of the series, a Collector’s Edition for the game has also been revealed. It’s definitely one of the cheaper collector’s editions that I’ve come across in the last few years, but it also looks a bit lighter on content as well:

It’ll set you back $229.95 AUD and it includes the below:

• Dragon Age: The Veilguard Deluxe Edition Game
• Exclusive SteelBook® Case
• ICONART Metal Print and magnet wall mount
• Notebook
• Collector’s Rigid Outerbox

It’s available to pre-order now at EB Games and JB Hi-FI.

The post A Dragon Age: The Veilguard Collector’s Edition Has Been Revealed And Is Up For Pre-Order Now appeared first on Press Start.

Valve’s new MOBA-esque 6v6 hero shooter, Deadlock, technically hasn’t been announced yet, but that hasn’t stopped tens of thousands of players from getting into it, pushing it into the top 100 most-played games on Steam right now.

At its peak, Deadlock has hit a total of 23,327 players and at the time of writing is currently at a 24-hour peak of 18,254 according to SteamDB‘s charts. As IGN reports, this huge player base for a game that is yet to actually be revealed to the public comes thanks to an invite system where players have been receiving invites to the game seemingly at random and are then able to recommend others to get access as well.

We first learned of the game via leaked images and footage back in May, thanks to the same early playtests, though it seems that Valve’s been taking on a sizable increase in new players, perhaps pushing towards a formal announcement and more public playtests.

Naturally, Valve is asking anyone invited and who joins to sign a strict NDA forbidding them from sharing screenshots or videos (as Sean at The Verge learned the hard way), though they are encouraged to discuss their experiences, which has resulted in a very active subreddit over at r/DeadlockTheGame. Users on the subreddit are already praising what they say is a game that’s easy to learn, but tough to master and with an especially high skill ceiling that should make for entertaining professional play, and is a good way to glean just what the game is like without the benefit of gameplay videos, just based on discussions among players.

Based on ongoing rumours and leaks, Deadlock’s gone through a number of changes in theme and aesthetic between early development and the state it’s in now, which may help to explain why Valve is hesitant to let folks see it just yet outside of playtests – presumably when an official announcement does happen it’ll be because the company has finalised the game’s art, assets and content plans.

The post Thousands Of People Are Playing Deadlock, Valve’s Unannounced New Hero Shooter appeared first on Press Start.

As great as some of the Steam Deck’s competitors are, offering innovations in power, form factor, controls and more (and in a lot of cases actually being available in Australia), there’s no doubt that many feel held back by Windows and its awkwardness on a dedicated handheld device, as well as general instability. The dream then, for a lot of users, would be to have their choice of hardware along with Steam’s dedicated handheld OS – and ROG Ally owners might just be a little closer to that dream.

In a report from The Verge, which comes after users had started to spot references to the ROG Ally in the most recent SteamOS release notes, the outlet hit up Valve designer Lawrence Yang to get confirmation that the company was genuinely working on ROG Ally support and that the notes weren’t a mistake.

“The note about ROG Ally keys is related to third-party device support for SteamOS. The team is continuing to work on adding support for additional handhelds on SteamOS,” Yang told The Verge’s Sean Hollister, confirming the company is indeed working on supporting not just the Ally but even more gaming PC handhelds.

Valve confirms it'll support the ROG Ally with its Steam Deck operating system https://t.co/wFi5nsphxS

— The Verge (@verge) August 14, 2024

As Hollister points out, this news doesn’t necessarily mean that ASUS is going to suddenly start pre-installing SteamOS on its ROG Ally devices in place of Windows, or that Valve is even planning to offer it to other vendors in the near future, but it confirms that the company is still very much intent on expanding SteamOS to more devices when it feels it’s ready for the prime time.

On the inverse, Valve also wants to make Windows available to Steam Deck OLED users in a dual-boot situation, confirming it’s still a priority but that – much like SteamOS support on other devices – just isn’t ready yet. I’m particularly excited to hear more about the full release of Steam OS3, which should open the doors for non-handheld but otherwise non-traditional PCs (like the Geekom A8) to run SteamOS natively – opening doors for a console-like PC experience in the loungeroom.

Read the full story from The Verge here.

The post Valve Is Working To Bring SteamOS To The ROG Ally And More appeared first on Press Start.

Update: The listing on the PlayStation Store has now been amended to remove any references to a PC version of the game, but you can still see the screenshot and text below.

Original Story: The original Red Dead Redemption is finally coming to the PC, although Rockstar hasn’t announced it yet. So how do we know? Well, the PlaySation Store says so.

For whatever reason, and on multiple regional versions of the PSN storefront, the recent-ish PS4 version’s official description has been updated to describe the as-yet-unannounced PC port of the game. If I had to hazard a guess, there could be a current-gen native port also coming and someone’s mixed up the descriptions when updating them. If not that, then I’m stumped.

Mysterious as its origins are, there’s no second-guessing the description here which specifically calls out PC-specific enhancements for the game over last year’s PS4 and Switch port including increased resolutions and framerates, spatial surround sound and more.

Here’s what the description says:

“Experience the epic western adventures that defined a generation — now on PC for the first time ever.

“When federal agents threaten his family, former outlaw John Marston is forced to hunt down the gang of criminals he once called friends. Experience Marston’s journey across the sprawling expanses of the American West and Mexico as he fights to bury his blood-stained past in the critically acclaimed predecessor to the 2018 blockbuster, Red Dead Redemption 2. Also included is Undead Nightmare, the iconic horror story that transforms the world of Red Dead Redemption into an apocalyptic fight for survival against a zombie horde.

“Featuring the complete single-player experiences of both games, including bonus content from the Game of the Year Edition, Red Dead Redemption features all of the 2023 console version upgrades plus PC specific enhancements including support for increased resolutions and framerates, multiple displays, and other accessories, plus spatial surround sound.”

Steven scored last year’s Switch version of Red Dead Redemption a 7.5/10, saying, “The Switch port of Red Dead Redemption is a faithful way to get into the world of Red Dead. It looks good as long as you adjust expectations and consider the game’s age, and performs consistently well in both handheld and docked modes. While many aspects will feel dated, I still had a fun time exploring the old west with John during the last gasps of the American frontier.”

The post Red Dead Redemption’s PC Port Has Leaked… On The PlayStation Store appeared first on Press Start.

Keen for the launch of Black Myth: Wukong next week but unsure if your PC has the chops to run the game in all the visual splendour we’ve seen of it so far? There’s a tool for that!

Developer Game Science has just launched a benchmarking app on Steam which will allow eager players to not only check out a visual demo of the upcoming Journey to the West-inspired action RPG, but give them a general idea of how the game will run on their particular hardware.

The Black Myth: Wukong Benchmark Tool is a PC benchmark application specifically developed for Black Myth: Wukong,” reads the official description. “It evaluates your hardware performance and system compatibility through the real-time rendering of an in-game sequence. You can customize benchmark settings to preview game visuals and performance under different graphics options.”

The game’s PC requirements are actually more reasonable than its stunning trailers may have implied so far, with at least some room for lower-end GPUs like the GTX 1060 or RX 580 if you’re okay with “Medium” settings at 1080p. Naturally, throwing in ray-tracing features changes things significantly with at least an RTX 30 series card and a beefier CPU required even for Medium/1080p settings.

Download the benchmark tool here.

Game Science also recently dropped a lengthy “final” trailer for Black Myth: Wukong in the lead-up to launch.

The trailer gives us another look at the game’s stunning Unreal Engine 5-powered visuals packing huge and lush environments as well as some pretty remarkable enemy designs and slick action.

While we unfortunately haven’t been given review access to the game and so won’t have a full review available at launch, recently press previews for the game indicated that it was shaping up to be something special, with those who’ve played it comparing it to some of the best recent “soulslikes” and calling it a potential favourite for 2024.

Check out that new trailer below:

The post Black Myth: Wukong Just Got A Benchmark Demo On PC appeared first on Press Start.

PC players will finally be able to experience Sony Santa Monica’s excellent sequel, God of War Ragnarok, starting September 19th, and ahead of launch we’ve finally got a look at the kind of rig you’ll need to be running to play the game in all its glory.

Unsurprisingly, it’s all pretty well in line with what we’ve seen from other recent PlayStation PC ports, and in some categories even slightly more generous than something like Horizon: Forbidden West. To get the minimum experience you’ll be fine with something as entry-level as an AMD RX 5500 XT GPU and Ryzen 3 CPU (or equivalent) and just 8GB of RAM, estimated to offer a 1080p resolution at 30FPS on low settings – though jumping up to 4K resolutions at higher framerates is naturally an equally big jump up in hardware needed. For those looking to crank things to the max, you’ll need at least a Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti or AMD RX 7900 XT accompanied by a capable CPU.

SSD storage with a whopping 190GB available space is also a base requirement across the board, regardless of any other spec.

PlayStation has also confirmed that the game will support all major GPU manufacturers’ various upscaling and frame generations, including Nvidia DLSS 3.7, AMD FSR 3.1 and Intel XeSS 1.3. The specs listed are not inclusive of these, so you’ll more than likely get an even smoother experience using them.

Along with revealing the system requirements, the post on the PlayStation Blog also includes a bunch of new screenshots from the PC version, highlighting the kind of experience you could have with the visuals cranked to the nine realms, as well as in ultrawide display. Take a look:

Finally, PlayStation has also revealed some new DLC as a bonus for those that pre-order the game on PC, which includes some very nice-looking new outfits for Kratos and Atreus:

The post God Of War Ragnarok’s PC System Requirements Have Been Revealed Along With New Screenshots appeared first on Press Start.

Ahead of the upcoming release of the PC adapter for the PlayStation VR2 on August 7th, an official PlayStation VR2 App has appeared on Steam.

The app will enable use of the PS VR2, along with its Sense controllers, in Steam games as well as integrate all of the gear with the SteamVR dashboard and keep everything up to date. It’s slated to launch on August 7th, the same day that the adapter launches in stores for an RRP of $94.95 AUD.

Here’s what the official Steam description says about the apps features:

Enjoy virtual reality games and apps on Steam with PlayStation VR2!

• Play VR games and apps on Steam using your PlayStation VR2 headset and PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers.
• Set up your PlayStation VR2 on your PC.
• Update the firmware for your PlayStation VR2 headset and PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers.
• Adjust settings for your PlayStation VR2 from the SteamVR dashboard, including setting your play area and screen brightness.

The PlayStation VR2 adapter and app for PC will finally allow PC players to use PlayStation’s excellent headset with a wide library of SteamVR games like the coveted Half-Life: Alyx. There are some caveats to using the PS VR2 with a PC, rather than a PS5, with a lot of the headset’s more unique features not available such as HDR, headset and haptic feedback, eye tracking and adaptive triggers. PlayStation says you’ll still get the full 4K visuals, 110-degree FOV, finger touch detection, see-through view, 3D audio and limited foveated rendering, though.

The Steam page for the app also includes the system requirements for the PlayStation VR2 on PC, which had already been published over on the PlayStation Blog when the adapter was announced but are worth checking in on:

PlayStation VR2 PC System Requirements

The post The Official PlayStation VR2 App For PC Has Appeared On Steam appeared first on Press Start.

Japanese developer Skeleton Crew has returned after dropping one of 2021’s most unique and underrated indie bangers, Olija, and is once again teaming up with Devolver Digital for its next title – Forestrike.

Billed as a “tactical kung fu” game, Forestrike casts players as a martial artist named Yu who possesses a special meditative technique that allows him to overcome any combat situation by playing it out in his head over and over until he comes up with the perfect sequence of movements. Yu will use this ability to set out on a journey to save his country’s Emperor from an evil force, learning the techniques of a series of five Masters along the way and using the Foresight to survive long enough to get stronger.

It’s quite the novel concept, and will no doubt speak to anyone like myself who thrives on playing every interaction with another human being out in their head 100 times before it actually happens – although hopefully Yu fares a bit better when it comes time to do the thing for real.

I was actually able to sample a demo of Forestrike ahead of the game’s announcement, the concept is potentially even more exciting in reality than it sounds on paper. Being able to practice each tense fight as many times as you need to figure out the perfect sequence is almost like choreographing a kung fu fight scene – and then having just one take to finally get it right on film. It has all the hallmarks of a good martial arts movie, too, like being able to pick up tables as shields, huck brooms across the room at enemies or dodge a charging foe and watch them barrel into another. With multiple fighting styles to unlock it seems like there’ll be a lot of room for player expression, and you get a sick replay at the end of fights to add even more payoff.

The game also carries a similarly striking, lo-fi pixel art style to Olija, which you can see in action in the Reveal Trailer below. Forestrike is slated to launch in 2025 for the Nintendo Switch and PC.

The post Forestrike Is A Killer Tactical Kung Fu Title From Devolver Digital And The Developers Of Olija appeared first on Press Start.

Over the last days and weeks, Amazon has gradually announced a fresh line-up of games included with Prime subscriptions for the month of July, slinging even more freebies than usual in celebration of Prime Day, which kicks off this week.

Naturally you’ll need to be a Prime member to claim these as well as enjoy the full benefits of the upcoming Prime Day event. If you haven’t been a Prime member before, you can get a 30 day trial right now which would take you through to the end of the Prime Day 2024 event as well as get you all of the below games.

• Amazon Prime membership – $9.99 per month (30 day trial)

A total of 24 games will be made available for Prime members to claim, and keep, at no extra cost for the month of July, including some pretty big hitters like the very recent Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and a bunch of bangers from across the eras.

Here’s everything you’ll be able to claim this month (head here to do so!) and when:

AMAZON PRIME GAMING FREE GAMES JULY 2024

Available Now

• Deceive Inc. [Epic Games Store] — Go undercover as the world’s greatest spies in this tense multiplayer game of subterfuge. Disguise as anyone, deploy an arsenal of high-tech gadgets or neutralize the competition.
• Tearstone: Thieves of the Heart [Legacy Games Code] — The Heart of Tearstone has gone missing! Climb aboard and hold on tight for a challenging and enchanting Puzzle Adventure game for the ages!
• The Invisible Hand [Amazon Games App] — Want to get rich, quick? Welcome to FERIOS, where you’ll be empowered to pursue wealth and success as a mid-level stockbroker! Your wildest dreams of wealth can come true… at the cost of everything else.
• Call of Juarez [GOG Code] — Jump into this epic adventure western themed FPS game. Alternately assume the roles of two distinct, antagonistic characters: a sneaking fugitive Billy and his hunter the reverend Ray.
• Forager [GOG Code] — Explore, craft, gather and manage resources, in this 2D open world exploration, farming and crafting game.
• Card Shark [Epic Games Store] — Enter a world where you’ll need to play your opponents better than you play your cards in this adventure game full of cunning, intrigue, and delectable deceit.
• Heaven Dust 2 [Amazon Games App] — Deep inside a research base, waking up from a cryogenic pod, you find yourself trapped in a living hell, surrounded by zombies in a love letter to classic survival horror games, featuring exploration, action, puzzles and resource management to survive.
• Soulstice [Epic Games Store] — Explore a dark world brimming with hidden mysteries, master a diverse combat system, and inhabit the dual forces of two sisters in a coming-of-age dark fantasy story with fast-paced action, vicious enemies, and spectacular boss fights.
• Wall World [Amazon Games App] — Explore the mysterious Wall World on your giant robospider: mine for valuable resources, upgrade your equipment to fight off hordes of monsters, and discover exotic biomes in-between attacks.
• Hitman Absolution [GOG Code] — The original assassin is back! Betrayed by the Agency and hunted by the police, Agent 47 finds himself pursuing redemption in a corrupt and twisted world.
• Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood [GOG Code] — In order to save their family, the McCall brothers will kill anyone who stands between them and the legendary Gold of Juarez.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge [Epic Games Store] — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge reunites Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael as they kick shell in a beautifully realized beat ’em up.
• STAR WARS: Knights of the Old Republic II — The Sith Lords [Amazon Games App] — 5 years after the events of the award winning original, the Sith are on the verge of crushing the Old Republic. As a lone Jedi, will you follow the light side or succumb to the dark?
• Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX [Epic Games Store] — A legend returns in stunning new detail with Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX! Fire up your power bracelet and relive a platforming classic alongside new modes, levels and features!
• Samurai Bringer [Amazon Games App] — Cut down hordes of Samurai and Demons to collect combat techniques and polish your fighting style in order to defeat Yamata-no-Orochi, the eight-headed dragon of Japanese mythology in this roguelite action game with levels which change with every playthrough.

Available July 16th (for 48 hours only)

• Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League [Epic Games Store] — From the creators of Batman: Arkham, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a genre-defying third-person action shooter where the ultimate band of misfits must do the impossible: Kill the Justice League.
• Chivalry 2 [Epic Games Store] — Players are thrust into the action of every iconic moment of the era — from clashing swords, to storms of flaming arrows, to sprawling castle sieges and more in this multiplayer first person slasher inspired by epic medieval movie battles.
• Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration [Epic Games Store] — Embark on an adventure into Siberia as Lara Croft in search for the legendary city of Kitezh while battling the paramilitary organization Trinity, which intends to uncover the city’s promise of immortality. Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration includes the base game and Season Pass content. Explore Croft Manor in the “Blood Ties” story, then defend it against a zombie invasion in “Lara’s Nightmare”.

Available July 18th

• Youtubers Life 2 [Amazon Games App] — Start from humble beginnings and take charge of the daily life of a wannabe influencer. Balance your day between creating trend-based content, completing tasks to earn money, and building trust with your neighbors to uncover their stories. Are you ready to embark on your road to fame?
• Maneater [Epic Games Store] — Experience the ultimate power fantasy as the apex predator of the seas and terrorize the coastal waterways as a giant shark.
• Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition [Amazon Games App] — Revisit the classic Baldur’s Gate adventure in the Tales of the Sword Coast expansion with all-new content including three new party members.

Available July 25th

• Cat Quest II [GOG Code] — Play as both a cat and dog as you explore their kingdoms solo or with a friend! Quest in a world filled with magic, curious monsters, and go on a catventure like never before.
• Midnight Fight Express [GOG Code] — Engage in a brutal and hyper-kinetic brawling ballet, using every environmental tool and street fighting technique at your disposal. Level up your abilities to take down the mounting onslaught of bozos, cronies, and crime lords.
• Masterplan Tycoon [Amazon Games App] — Put your creativity and logistics skills to the test in this resource management game where you will build interconnected chains of products and unlock new missions.

The post Amazon Is Giving Away A Load Of Games To Prime Members For Prime Day appeared first on Press Start.

Last week, Amaozn announced a third round of “free” PC games included with Prime memberships for the month of July, in celebration of Prime Day, and it includes a fairly recent – if troubled – AAA release in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

Yep, less than six months after launch, WB and Rocksteady’s poorly-performing live service Arkhamverse game is being given away for nothing to anyone with an Amazon Prime membership and a PC capable of playing it, which is honestly a pretty good reason to at least give it a go.

The free game goes live tomorrow, July 16th at 5PM AEST and will only be available to claim for 48 hours. It’ll also be joined by Chivalry 2 and Rise of the Tomb Raider, which are also pretty decent gets if you’re yet to play them. All three will be given out via Epic Games Store codes, so they’re yours to keep even if your Prime subscription lapses – which also means you can sign up for a free trial, nab the games, and walk away.

If you haven’t been a Prime member before, you can get a 30 day trial right now which would take you through to the end of the Prime Day 2024 event as well as get you all of the below games.

Here’s the full slate of games being offered to Prime members in July, including these new additions:

AMAZON PRIME GAMING FREE GAMES JULY 2024

Available Now

• Deceive Inc. [Epic Games Store] — Go undercover as the world’s greatest spies in this tense multiplayer game of subterfuge. Disguise as anyone, deploy an arsenal of high-tech gadgets or neutralize the competition.
• Tearstone: Thieves of the Heart [Legacy Games Code] — The Heart of Tearstone has gone missing! Climb aboard and hold on tight for a challenging and enchanting Puzzle Adventure game for the ages!
• The Invisible Hand [Amazon Games App] — Want to get rich, quick? Welcome to FERIOS, where you’ll be empowered to pursue wealth and success as a mid-level stockbroker! Your wildest dreams of wealth can come true… at the cost of everything else.
• Call of Juarez [GOG Code] — Jump into this epic adventure western themed FPS game. Alternately assume the roles of two distinct, antagonistic characters: a sneaking fugitive Billy and his hunter the reverend Ray.
• Forager [GOG Code] — Explore, craft, gather and manage resources, in this 2D open world exploration, farming and crafting game.
• Card Shark [Epic Games Store] — Enter a world where you’ll need to play your opponents better than you play your cards in this adventure game full of cunning, intrigue, and delectable deceit.
• Heaven Dust 2 [Amazon Games App] — Deep inside a research base, waking up from a cryogenic pod, you find yourself trapped in a living hell, surrounded by zombies in a love letter to classic survival horror games, featuring exploration, action, puzzles and resource management to survive.
• Soulstice [Epic Games Store] — Explore a dark world brimming with hidden mysteries, master a diverse combat system, and inhabit the dual forces of two sisters in a coming-of-age dark fantasy story with fast-paced action, vicious enemies, and spectacular boss fights.
• Wall World [Amazon Games App] — Explore the mysterious Wall World on your giant robospider: mine for valuable resources, upgrade your equipment to fight off hordes of monsters, and discover exotic biomes in-between attacks.
• Hitman Absolution [GOG Code] — The original assassin is back! Betrayed by the Agency and hunted by the police, Agent 47 finds himself pursuing redemption in a corrupt and twisted world.
• Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood [GOG Code] — In order to save their family, the McCall brothers will kill anyone who stands between them and the legendary Gold of Juarez.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge [Epic Games Store] — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge reunites Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael as they kick shell in a beautifully realized beat ’em up.
• STAR WARS: Knights of the Old Republic II — The Sith Lords [Amazon Games App] — 5 years after the events of the award winning original, the Sith are on the verge of crushing the Old Republic. As a lone Jedi, will you follow the light side or succumb to the dark?
• Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX [Epic Games Store] — A legend returns in stunning new detail with Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX! Fire up your power bracelet and relive a platforming classic alongside new modes, levels and features!
• Samurai Bringer [Amazon Games App] — Cut down hordes of Samurai and Demons to collect combat techniques and polish your fighting style in order to defeat Yamata-no-Orochi, the eight-headed dragon of Japanese mythology in this roguelite action game with levels which change with every playthrough.

Available July 16th

• Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League [Epic Games Store] — From the creators of Batman: Arkham, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a genre-defying third-person action shooter where the ultimate band of misfits must do the impossible: Kill the Justice League.
• Chivalry 2 [Epic Games Store] — Players are thrust into the action of every iconic moment of the era — from clashing swords, to storms of flaming arrows, to sprawling castle sieges and more in this multiplayer first person slasher inspired by epic medieval movie battles.
• Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration [Epic Games Store] — Embark on an adventure into Siberia as Lara Croft in search for the legendary city of Kitezh while battling the paramilitary organization Trinity, which intends to uncover the city’s promise of immortality. Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration includes the base game and Season Pass content. Explore Croft Manor in the “Blood Ties” story, then defend it against a zombie invasion in “Lara’s Nightmare”.

Available July 18th

• Youtubers Life 2 [Amazon Games App] — Start from humble beginnings and take charge of the daily life of a wannabe influencer. Balance your day between creating trend-based content, completing tasks to earn money, and building trust with your neighbors to uncover their stories. Are you ready to embark on your road to fame?
• Maneater [Epic Games Store] — Experience the ultimate power fantasy as the apex predator of the seas and terrorize the coastal waterways as a giant shark.
• Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition [Amazon Games App] — Revisit the classic Baldur’s Gate adventure in the Tales of the Sword Coast expansion with all-new content including three new party members.

Available July 25th

• Cat Quest II [GOG Code] — Play as both a cat and dog as you explore their kingdoms solo or with a friend! Quest in a world filled with magic, curious monsters, and go on a catventure like never before.
• Midnight Fight Express [GOG Code] — Engage in a brutal and hyper-kinetic brawling ballet, using every environmental tool and street fighting technique at your disposal. Level up your abilities to take down the mounting onslaught of bozos, cronies, and crime lords.
• Masterplan Tycoon [Amazon Games App] — Put your creativity and logistics skills to the test in this resource management game where you will build interconnected chains of products and unlock new missions.

The post REMINDER: Amazon Prime Members Can Claim Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League For Free Tomorrow appeared first on Press Start.

While the skate. fans of the world are surviving on morsels of news and, admittedly hilarious, Tim Robinson skits that spotlight the corrupt megacorp at the centre of the upcoming game, I’m keeping an eager eye on Sam Eng’s Skate Story. A regular fixture on my radar since its reveal, this curious indie appears to balance good, honest skateboarding with the tale of one demon’s ascension from an infernal underworld. His freedom is conditional on his ability to skate to and devour the moon itself, which is a metal as fuck concept. 

Having been lucky enough to go hands-on with the game’s first half hour, which introduces the fundamentals of gnashing lines straight out of hell as well as a couple of the key players in Skate Story’s plot of lunacide, I’m definitely a bigger believer in this game’s style than I am its substance—but that’s largely due to the demo still keeping so much close to its vest. The full game is expected to feature seventy-plus tricks, while this small slice only introduces a few old faithfuls: The ollie, pop shove-it, and kickflip.

Unlike the skate. series, which utilises its patented “flick-it” controls, Skate Story’s control scheme still operates out of the “traditional” box, though it’s a little jarring at first. Shoulder buttons determine footing on the board, and combining any given stance with the face buttons determine the trick itself. You can either opt for a simple, single prompt version of the trick that’s low effort but high risk when contending with villainous, ankle-shattering curbs or you might choose to pop it higher courtesy of a timing prompt that reels around as you find your footing. I expect, as it did eventually with skate., that it’ll gradually feel like second nature and you’ll quickly lock into the game’s flow state. 

While it takes getting on the sticks to appreciate Skate Story’s take on the art of skateboarding, one of the game’s obvious lures is its stunning art direction that combines surrealist imagery with lo-fi graininess. The player-character is a spectre made up entirely of glass which indicates a certain level of vulnerability when carving lines through the underworld’s timeless, spaceless void. As a simple dude in his thirties who still harbours dreams of skating and can never resist the urge to pop a kickflip on any deck I come across, I relate with my whole self to the visceral, knee-busting brutality of Skate Story. Although the game checkpoints after each portal you pass through, each and every bail is felt as your avatar detonates with every collision, leaving a trail of glass shards behind.

It’s made all the more primal and rooted into fundamentals by its low, near to the ground camera angle that resembles fish-eye lens popularised by old school skate videography. It gives it a grounded weight and authenticity that feels prevalent despite the game’s dreamlike, otherworldly visuals. 

The journey itself is abstract and strange, as though this hell you’re fleeing from is taking the form of whichever nebulous concepts come to mind minute-to-minute. One second you’re pounding along a track, chasing a rabbit like Alice through gates adorned with all-seeing eyes, and the next you’re waxing philosophical with the chiselled, stone bust of a man, likely bearing historical significance, who presents you with your next hurdle. The half-hour ultimately culminates with you tricking your best tricks to wear down a literal moon before gobbling up its depleted body—it’s quite unlike anything I’ve ever seen and I cannot wait to see the places this game goes with its mind-bending story. 

Portraying a demon made of glass certainly feels like thematic dynamite, and I hope the arc presented is one that sees them hardened by circumstance as they rescue other tortured souls along the path to their own deliverance. Whatever the story becomes, it feels like solid, technique-driven skateboarding is at the bedrock of Sam Eng’s vision for Skate Story and I’m so excited as someone who has endured the best and worst of Tony Hawk, skate. and Session to get back to basics—even if that means taking the fight to a whole ass moon and all of hell’s army to do so. 

The post Skate Story Hands-On Preview – Bad Moon Rising appeared first on Press Start.

Hot off of last week’s reveal of the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, the news that the Street Fighter movie has secured a release date and the re-release of the original Resident Evil trilogy on PC, Capcom’s announced 25-minute games showcase is happening tomorrow morning.

Dubbed Capcom Next – Summer 2024, the showcase is set to run for around 25 minutes, and will focus specifically on three key titles – that just-announced Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, the soon-to-launch Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, and the release of Resident Evil 7 for Mac and iOS devices.

Tune in on July 1, 3pm PT for CAPCOM NEXT – Summer 2024, a 25-min event sharing info on 3 titles!

1?? First details on @DeadRising Deluxe Remaster!
2?? News on @Kunitsu_Gami: Path of the Goddess.
3?? RESIDENT EVIL 7 biohazard for iPhone/iPad/Mac.

? https://t.co/uP9SrWCodm pic.twitter.com/dXtrVM35ou

— Capcom USA (@CapcomUSA_) June 27, 2024

Capcom has also firmly stated that these will be the only three titles featured in the showcase.

Here’s when you catch catch the event live in local time zones:

When To Watch The Capcom Next – Summer 2024 Showcase In Australia

You’ll be able to watch Capcom Next – Summer 2024 on July 2nd at 8AM AEST. Here’s how that shakes out across the nation:

• 8.00 AM AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra/Brisbane)
• 7.30 AM ACST (Adelaide, Darwin)
• 6.00 AM AWST (Perth)
• 10.00 AM NZST (Wellington)

Where To Watch The Capcom Next – Summer 2024 Showcase

You can watch the showcase via Capcom’s official YouTube channel, TikTok, Facebook, Twitch or right here on the page as soon as it goes live:

Tune in to CAPCOM NEXT – Summer 2024, a roughly 25 minute livestream sharing the latest info on 3 Capcom titles!

Your favorite Zombie Paradise is back from the dead! First details on the recently revealed Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster will be announced. We’ll also be sharing more news on Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, which launches on July 19, and RESIDENT EVIL 7 biohazard for iPhone/iPad/Mac.

Note: this event will not include news or updates for other Capcom titles.

The post When And Where To Watch Tomorrow’s Capcom NEXT Showcase appeared first on Press Start.

Capcom has joined forces with GOG, a digital PC storefront that specialises in DRM-free games and revivals of lost classics, to bring the original Resident Evil trilogy back onto PC.

The games were first released for PS1 across the 90s and early 00s, with PC ports arriving shortly after each one, and although the PlayStation versions have been re-released and remade in various forms, the PC versions remained incompatible with modern hardware before now, which makes this a pretty neat endeavour.

They’re not just straight re-releases either, with a number of enhancements made like improved game and video rendering, full support for modern controllers, and in the case of the original game the complete, uncut PC experience that features scenes not included in the PS1’s global release.

The three games are available for $14.95 each or as a bundle for $36.50, with the first game already available to download and play, while Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 will arrive before the end of the year. As with GOG’s other games, these will be DRM-free meaning there’s no activation or online connection necessary to play.

The game that defined the survival horror genre returns – uncut, compatible with modern machines, and scarier than ever…

Resident Evil is now available on GOG: https://t.co/CQehBj9GqQ

Own a piece of history and play it offline today!@RE_Games @CapcomUSA_ pic.twitter.com/4fwQKM688l

— GOG.COM (@GOGcom) June 26, 2024

More about Resident Evil 1 PC (via GOG):

The iconic classic is back, better than ever, and made to last forever. Here’s how we ensured it and what you can expect with GOG’s version of the game:

• Full compatibility with Windows 10 and Windows 11.
• All 4 localizations of the game included (English, German, French, Japanese).
• Improved DirectX game renderer.
• New rendering options (Windowed Mode, Vertical Synchronization Control, Gamma Correction, Integer Scaling, Anti-Aliasing and more).
• Improved timing of the cutscenes.
• Improved game video player.
• Improved game registry settings.
• Issue-free game exit and task switching.
• Full support for modern controllers (Sony DualSense, Sony DualShock4, Microsoft Xbox Series, Microsoft Xbox One, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, Logitech F series and many more) with optimal button binding regardless of the hardware and wireless mode.

FEATURES:

• Completely uncut, with even more blood, graphic violence and gory scenes than the worldwide monster hit version on PlayStation
• A swarm of unknown horrors prowl the mansion’s hundreds of rooms, including it’s underground lairs, the graveyard and some unwelcoming guest houses
• Unprecedented detail-intense texture maps, shadows and lighting effects, plus ever-changing camera angles, create a frighteningly rich 3-D environment.
• Choose to play tough guy marksman Chris Redfield or hardcore demolition expert Jill Valentine, both brought to life with realistic polygon character graphics.
• Ominous digital surround soundtrack features haunting music that intensifies the action.

The post The Original Resident Evil Trilogy Is Coming Back To PC Thanks To GOG appeared first on Press Start.

Steam just quietly dropped what might be one of the most impressive built-in recording solutions on any current gaming platform with its Game Recording feature, which is now in beta.

Steam Game Recording functions in a fairly similar manner to what you’d see on the PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, allowing you to manually stop and start recordings as you’d expect but also automatically capturing footage of your gameplay in the background so that you can quickly grab a recent moment or chunk of gameplay when it happens.

The magic of Steam’s version is in how flexible it is, and some pretty neat extra features to make editing and sharing it even easier. One of the first interesting embellishments is a Replay function, which basically just lets you very quickly watch back the last few moments of gameplay without leaving your game – which Steam says is handy for seeing how you died or going back to a bit of a conversation you might have missed.

More exciting though are Event Markers, which you can add to your recording timeline to refer back to later when you want to start cutting clips or can be automatically added to the game based on certain events. Essentially, developers can proactively set moments or milestones in their games on Steam which will automatically add a marker to your recording timeline so that you know something interesting has happened there, which is actually pretty cool – and hopefully supported by more developers than just Valve and its partners.

To make it extra easy to share or bring these clips across to your favourite editing software, you can easily export your recordings to your PC, send them to your mobile via the Steam mobile app or a QR code or even create a temporary link to the video to send anywhere in a message.

Excitingly, Steam Game Recording also works on Steam Deck, and you’re able to let Steam know how much recording time to allow each game and what recording bitrate to use, with the software giving you an estimate of how much storage space that’ll take up.

You can find out more about Steam Game Recording here (or just use it for yourself right now!)

The post Steam Just Launched A New Game Capture System And It Looks Incredible appeared first on Press Start.

As someone who revels in the creativity and sense of power afforded by city-building sims but doesn’t particularly care for the immense planning and management that goes into actually succeeding in those games, the recent trend of “micro” building games – games that hand players a very narrow set of tools and boundaries with which to peacefully erect visually-pleasing creations – was absolutely made for me.

Coming in fresh to this family of games and joining the likes of Summerhouse, Townscaper, Cloud Gardens, Tiny Glade and Dorfromantik, is Dystopika.

If you’ve ever looked at or played the other examples I just listed and thought, “I wish this was more like Blade Runner,” you’re in luck. Dystopika gives players a small handful of options to freely build a dark and dystopian future city in just a few clicks, with no real goal and no management-type mechanics to worry about. Just click an empty section of the map, watch a city block pop up, chuck some LED billboards up and then start snapping those wonderful screenshots.

More toy than game, Dystopika makes for a wonderful distraction after a day at the desk. It maybe won’t serve anyone looking for a deep creative experience as much as it isn’t designed with “gameplay” in mind, but for very quickly (and often accidentally) generating gorgeous-looking scenes to fly through like you’re cutting b-roll for a Cyberpunk 2077 trailer, it’s wonderful. 

There is some degree of control over how everything comes together – you can manually select the district-type theme of the blocks you’re placing, and you can even import your own images for the LED signage you place up on skyscrapers, but the whole thing works best when you leave as much as possible up to chance. The best dark, dystopian cities feel like layers built haphazardly on top of layers, with clashes of culture and sensibility at every corner, and that rings true here.

The more you play around with Dystopika, the more added embellishments you’ll unlock, as well. So you can begin to really hone in, use the brush-like tool to paint lights onto your city, add holograms and other neat bits, and get super creative with the very generous suite of photo mode tools and options if you want to make stuff worthy of sharing. Developer Voids Within is promising a lot more to come for the game in future updates, so it’ll be interesting to see how the whole thing involves.

Me, though? I’ll keep on ending the work day by smashing out the most poorly-planned, chaotic, dingy, dirty and garishly-lite cities imaginable and then filling them with metres-high electronic signage featuring photos of my cats.

You can get Dystopika right now on Steam, for less than $10 AUD if you pick it up before July 6th.

The post Dystopika Turns Cyberpunk City Building Into A Neon-Soaked Distraction appeared first on Press Start.

Update 21/6: After revealing it would be coming to PC on June 27th, Summerfall Studios has now confirmed that Stray Gods: Orpheus – a big new DLC expansion for its 2023 banger, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical – will also reach console platforms on the same day.

Read the original story below to learn more about the DLC:

Melbourne’s very own collective of bloody legends, Summerfall Studios, has revealed a brand-new DLC coming to last year’s award-winning breakout hit, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical.

Dubbed Stray Gods: Orpheus, the DLC will offer a brand-new story in the world of Stray Gods, where players will take on the role of Orpheus himself. The studio is calling it a “comedic feature-length experience” with elements of romance and a dash of rock ‘n roll, so it sounds like it’ll be a bit of a different beast from the core game and a treat for fans. Orpheus will star Anthony Rapp, Erika Ishii and again be written by David Gaider.

This DLC will also feature no less than six brand-new songs, all of which feature the same real-time decision making and branching performances as the main game, with Austin Wintory returning to compose along with Simon Hall (Tripod), Montaigne (Jess Cerro) and the incredible and hilarious Tom Cardy joining in for the first time.

Stray Gods: Orpheus is coming to PC on June 27th with a console release to follow. You can wishlist it on Steam here, and check out a very short teaser trailer below:

“When the Fates themselves have always written your story, what happens when you pick up the pen?

Play as Orpheus in this brand new story for Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical! Orpheus’ story is arguably finished – until Hermes brings him back to the world of the living. With their help, you’ll guide Orpheus through the depths of mortal decision making – who to date, what to hope for, what instrument to rock out on…”

We gave Stray Gods a very warm 6.5/10 in our review, with Brodie saying, “Stray Gods might be a well-written, narrative-driven murder mystery that drags us to Olympus and back again, but it fails to deliver anything remotely close to an earworm after hours of forgettable melodies. Though Bailey and Baker do enough to earn their flowers, the production itself does little to land Stray Gods a place among the musical pantheon.”

The post Stray Gods: Orpheus Has Scored A Console Release Alongside PC Next Week appeared first on Press Start.

Good news for those of us who are old enough now (and were young enough in 2005) to remember logging on to the family computer, often at the expense of anyone using the landline phone, to hang out with friends in Habbo Hotel – that original experience is coming back. Like, within the next 24 hours.

Habbo Hotel: Origins is a “lovingly restored” release of one of the oldest versions of the game circa 2005, supposedly found on a server somewhere collecting dust with a lot of long-lost files still on it.

The classic experience will be available right from the Habbo Hotel: Origins website in a browser, and with three different hotels in different languages (English, Portuguese, and Spanish). The Origins version of Habbo Hotel will also be less moderated than the current one, and restricted to users 18+, which you’d expect will cover anyone who genuinely frequented the hotel in 2005. Avatar names will be available on a first come, first served basis.

we're bringing back habbo hotel as it existed in 2005 ?

???? ????? ????? ??????? ????????!#HabboHotelOrigins pic.twitter.com/kcuM9OHuWQ

— Habbo (@Habbo) June 17, 2024

There’ll be a “community-led” focus for Habbo Hotel: Origins, where players will be able to discuss and influence decision making around the future of the game at the InfoBus Park in the game.

There’s also an FAQ page available here with even more info on this release, or below:

Habbo Hotel: Origins Release FAQ

Will you release Origins in languages other than English, Spanish and Portuguese?

We don’t have any plans to do this.

What is the age limit for Habbo Hotel Origins?

You must be 18+ to play.

Where can I buy credits?

From the Habbo Hotel Origins website.

I have a problem with my purchase. Where can I get help?

Please visit this page.

Will you re-release items once they have been removed from the Shop?

Unless specified otherwise, items could always return to the Shop.

Will Habbo Hotel: Origins have NFTs?

Nothing to do with NFTs or cryptocurrency will be present in Habbo Hotel Origins on launch, and we have no plans to add them.

Is Habbo Hotel: Origins here to stay?

Yes. However, like any product or game it needs to sustain itself in the long term if we are to keep it online.

The post Habbo Hotel: Origins Is Bringing The 2005 Experience Back This Week appeared first on Press Start.

Bandai Namco has just dropped Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster, the remastered double pack of cult classic Gamecube JRPGs, on PC via Steam as a complete surprise, after it was first released on Switch in September last year.

The pack, which includes Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings And The Lost Ocean and Baten Kaitos Origins is available now on Steam at a discounted launch price of $62.95, and purchases before July 17th will automatically be upgraded to the “Month 1 Edition” which includes a digital artbook.

The HD remasters of both Baten Kaitos games include some handy features to make playing through them a smoother, speedier experience than in their original forms (if you choose to use them) including a No Encounters option, the ability to increase the speed of the game and battles up to 300% and even an instant enemy KO option. There are also usability improvements to the unique Magnus Battle System, and of course a very nice visual upgrade with widescreen support and improved character models.

You can pick up Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster on Steam here, and get a look at the new features and remastered in-game visuals in the trailer below:

From the Steam store page:

Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean and Baten Kaitos Origins are now on Steam with improved graphics and new features to aid game progression, making them even easier to play!

Delve into the world of Baten Kaitos as you strategize with the unique card-based battle system in these two immersive RPG masterpieces. Play as a guardian spirit who guides the colorful cast as they struggle against destiny itself.

A long time ago, there was a great conflict between the evil god and the people. After a fierce battle, the people managed to seal off the evil god, but what was left behind was only a desolate land. The people thus chose to abandon the land and live in the sky.

Such fairy tales were passed down as legends. At this time, people had wings called Wings of the Heart and lived a peaceful life. It was an era of long-lasting tranquility. …But the collapse had quietly begun.

When a young man calls your name, the name of the spirit, the story begins to unfold. A story set on a floating continent in the sky, where thoughts and prayers intersect.

The post The Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remasters Have Surprise-Dropped On PC appeared first on Press Start.

One’s a neon-soaked, futuristic arcade racer that channels the best of F-Zero and Wipeout, the other is a strategy management game set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, but both have one thing in common – they’re being given away to all Epic Games Store users as freebies this week.

Well, technically Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms was already free, but now anyone who logs in before June 21st will get the “Duke Ravengard’s Champions of Renown Pack” which is reportedly over $100 USD in value.

The pack includes:

Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms Duke Ravengard’s Champions of Renown Pack

• Unlocks for the following Champions: Thellora (Seat 1), Briv (Seat 5), Farideh (Seat 7), Duke Ravengard (Seat 8), and Wyll (Seat 12)
• An Exclusive Skin: Baldur’s Gate Duke Ravengard
• An Exclusive Familiar: Quirk the Homonculus
• Thellora Chests: 16 Gold Thellora Chests with 2 guaranteed Shiny equipment cards
• Briv Chests: 16 Gold Briv Chests with 2 guaranteed Shiny equipment cards
• Farideh Chests: 16 Gold Farideh Chests with 2 guaranteed Shiny equipment cards
• Duke Ravengard Chests: 16 Gold Duke Ravengard Chests with 2 guaranteed Shiny equipment cards
• Wyll Chests: 16 Gold Wyll Chests with 2 guaranteed Shiny equipment cards
• Two Week-Long Buff Potions: 1 Potion of the Gem Hunter and 1 Potion of the Gold Hunter

The other freebie is Redout 2, a pretty decent racing title that bills itself as “a tribute to classic arcade racing games and the sequel to the critically acclaimed Redout, where racing through the dystopian wastelands of a semi-abandoned Earth is one of the galaxy’s most popular sports.”

You can find both games and claim them on your Epic Games Store account for free (no subscription needed) right here:

Epic Games Store Free Games June 14th – June 21st

• Redout 2
• Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms with bonus Duke Ravengard’s Champions of Renown Pack

Next week’s free title has also been revealed, and will be the adorable donut factory puzzle titles, Freshly Frosted.

The post This Week’s Epic Games Store Free Games Couldn’t Be More Different appeared first on Press Start.

You know the drill. There was an Xbox Showcase tonight (or this morning) (or even yesterday), and a whole bunch of information was revealed about Xbox’s first-party offerings.

While Starfield wasn’t my favourite game, the promises made by this upcoming expansion, titled Shattered Space, certainly position it to earn some more favour with myself.

The expansion will include a new quest line centred around House Va’ruun, the interstellar government formed around the worship of the Great Serpent.

It will also include new weapons, new planets to explore, new spacesuits and new gear.

You can check out the new trailer for Starfield: Shattered Space below:

Despite releasing this year, the Shattered Space expansion does not have a release date. You can play Starfield right now, however, either by buying the game or playing it on Game Pass.

The post Starfield’s Shattered Space Expansion Will Explore The Game’s Most Interesting Faction appeared first on Press Start.

At the Xbox Showcase, Microsoft and developer World’s Edge revealed the first extended look at Age of Mythology: Retold.

The game is being touted as the “definitive edition” of Age of Mythology and will feature several gameplay changes to improve its flow and playability today.

Those who previously owned Age of Mythology: Extended Edition on Steam will also be able to purchase Age of Mythology: Retold – Premium Edition at a discounted price.

You can check out the trailer for Age of Mythology: Retold below:

The game is due for release on September 4th 2024 for PC. It will also launch on Game Pass.

The post Age Of Mythology Is Back This Year With Age Of Mythology: Retold appeared first on Press Start.

Hot off the heels of a rather packed Xbox Showcase, Compulsion Games have revealed the first-ever gameplay of their next game, South of Midnight.

The team who brought us Contrast, and We Happy Few have gone to great lengths to give us something different to what they’ve ever done before.

South of Midnight is an action-adventure game that follows Hazel, who is pulled into a Southern Gothic world following a hurricane in her hometown of Prospero.

Here, she discovers that fantasy and reality are interwoven as ancient creatures from folklore emerge and make themselves known to Hazel. In the newest trailer, she speaks to a catfish before jumping into action-packed gameplay.

It’s not the strongest-looking action, but it does look unique enough for me to give it a look.

You can check out the trailer for it here:

South of Midnight is out on Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2025. It’s also launching on Game Pass.

The post The First South Of Midnight Gameplay Trailer Has Been Revealed appeared first on Press Start.

During the Summer Game Fest showcase earlier this week, Warner Bros. announced that Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions will be coming to most major platforms before the end of the year.

While it was announced a year ago, and playtests have since been and gone, the title has since been dated with a new official reveal trailer.

The footage showcases a brand new art style, different from last year’s Hogwarts Legacy, and will feature extensive character customisation and allow you to select from up to four positions to play on the field.

Of course, the game will also feature online competitive play as well.

The game will be released on September 3rd for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.

You can check out the release date trailer below:

The post Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Has A Release Date And New Trailer appeared first on Press Start.

Earlier in the week at an IGN Live event, Nightdive Studios, known for their stellar remasters of games yearned for in the past, revealed that they will be bringing back The Thing.

The game served as a sequel to the original film starring Kurt Russell, and sees players stepping into the frozen boots of Captain Blake, the leader of a team sent to investigate the events that transpired in the film.

When it was released all the way back in 2002, the game was unique in that it had a trust system in play. If you acted strange, your squadmates would distrust you and behave erratically. Alternatively, if you distance yourself from your squad too often, they, too, may become infected. The big kicker here is that testing kits are limited, so keeping an eye on your squad is important. It’s a unique system that’s never been in a game since.

The remaster is an upgraded version that will run at up to 4K resolution at framerates of up to 120FPS. Nightdive has also made improvements to the character models, textures and animations. You can expect improved lighting, too, to better hammer home that atmosphere that the original game was known for.

The Thing: Remastered will hit PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC later this year.

You can check out the official reveal trailer below:

The post Nightdive Is Bringing Back The Thing With Yet Another Remaster appeared first on Press Start.

While Sony had already announced a few months ago that players would soon be able to use the PlayStation VR2 headset with a PC, we now might have a better idea of how that’s going to work.

As spotted by X user, Brad Lynch, the company had filed for certification of a “PlayStation VR2 PC adapter” with the National Radio Research Agency in South Korea. The certification looks to have been filed in March this year, and the adapter will carry the model number ” CFI-ZVP1.”

Sony is certifying an adapter to allow PSVR2 hardware to work on PCs pic.twitter.com/JFQDJVW7NP

— Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) May 29, 2024

It’s unclear whether Sony might offer these adapters as a goodwill gesture in a similar way to how it handed out a kit for PS VR1 users to continue playing on PS5, but given that this is a venture onto a new platform entirely it seems more like it’d sell it separately. With fairly recent rumblings that the company is sitting on a surplus of PlayStation VR2 units, perhaps the company will decide to bundle some of these together with a PC adapter in an effort to get them in the hands of PC VR players.

Either way, a plug-and-play adapter for the PSVR2 on PC should open up the gates for folks with a capable enough rig to easily use the PS VR2 as their headset of choice, presumably without the need to even own a PS5. There’s a massive market for VR on PC and the PS VR2 is still one of the better headsets out there for comfort, display quality and features. It’ll also mean we might see PS VR2-specific features in existing PC VR games among other neat new developments.

Given that Sony has previously said support for PS VR2 would arrive this year, and in fact a recent firmware update for the headset has already enabled it, we’ll probably see these adapters soon enough.

In its announcement on the PlayStation Blog earlier this year,  the company wrote, “..we’re pleased to share that we are currently testing the ability for PS VR2 players to access additional games on PC to offer even more game variety in addition to the PS VR2 titles available through PS5. We hope to make this support available in 2024, so stay tuned for more updates.”

The post An Official PlayStation VR2 PC Adapter Has Appeared In Certification appeared first on Press Start.

Konami has announced that a Silent Hill Transmission is taking place later this week, and it will bring us game updates, a deeper look at the film as well as new merch.

“Consider this your invitation letter to Silent Hill,” the official Silent Hill X/Twitter account wrote. “Tune in May 30 at 4 p.m. PDT to our SILENT HILL YouTube channel for the second installment of the #SILENTHILL Transmission where we’ll share game updates, a deeper look at the film, and new merch. #SILENTHILL” the Tweet reads.

AUSTRALIAN TIMES FOR THE SILENT HILL TRANSMISSION

The Silent Hill Transmission is taking place on Friday, May 31st at the below times:

• 9.00 AM AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra/Brisbane)
• 8.30 AM ACST (Adelaide, Darwin)
• 7.00 AM AWST (Perth)
• 11.00 AM NZST (Wellington)

Consider this your invitation letter to Silent Hill. ??

Tune in May 30 at 4 p.m. PDT to our SILENT HILL YouTube channel for the second installment of the #SILENTHILL Transmission where we'll share game updates, a deeper look at the film, and new merch.#SILENTHILL pic.twitter.com/5RHc2nGUWB

— Konami (@Konami) May 27, 2024

This is only the second Silent Hill Transmission with the first taking place in late October, 2022. This was a massive one where we got reveals for Silent Hill 2, Silent Hill: Townfall, Silent Hill F, Silent Hill: Ascension and Return to Silent Hill. So far, the only one of these to see the light of day and release is Silent Hill: Ascension.

We’d expect that Silent Hill 2 Remake is the furthest along of all of these, with a new trailer coming earlier this year. PlayStation had included it in a 2024 sizzle reel earlier this year, meaning that we’d expect to get a release date in this transmission.

The post A Silent Hill Showcase Is Happening Later This Week With Game Updates And More appeared first on Press Start.

Exactly three years after Square Enix first announced it, it looks as though the HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest III has finally resurfaced.

While it hasn’t directly mentioned the DQ3 remake by name, Square Enix posted a tease on social media that features the winged crest from the game’s logo along with the words “The legacy begins” and a caption that reads, “The legend of Erdrick draws near.”

The legend of Erdrick draws near.
#DragonQuestDay #DQDay #DragonQuest pic.twitter.com/KFtqhVY61q

— DRAGON QUEST (@DragonQuest) May 27, 2024

The consensus among online pundits is that Square Enix is lining up a grand re-reveal of the project during the upcoming Summer Game Fest activities in June, and there’s a degree of expectation that what we’ll see is an upgraded version of what was shown back in 2021 that makes use of advancements in the trademark “HD-2D” style in the time since.

We also know from the teaser that the game is coming specifically to PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

There’s also been some degree of speculation online that the scope of the remake has also been upgraded to cover the entire “Erdrick Trilogy” of Dragon Quests (Dragons Quest?) 1-3, thanks to that “The legacy begins” setup, though it’s also been argued that since DQ3 is technically set before DQ1 and DQ2 in the chronology of Erdrick’s story there’s no reason to think anything has changed there.

At any rate, it’s good news just to see the DQ3 remake still exists in the wake of recent changes at Square Enix around its release strategy. Dragon Quest is a big enough franchise to be sure, but it’d been a hot minute, and now we know it’s coming – and across multiple platforms.

The post An Update On Dragon Quest III HD-2D Has Finally Arrived appeared first on Press Start.

Adding to the increasing number of leaks ahead of the June month of gaming showcases for 2024, Insider Gaming is reporting that the next major DOOM game will finally be revealed at the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase, and it will be titled DOOM: The Dark Ages.

The game, which has long been spoken about by leakers and insiders under the working title of DOOM: Year Zero, will also supposedly feature a medieval/dark ages-inspired world, lending itself to the title. IG’s reporting follows earlier word from The Verge’s Tom Warren, as well as a recent trademark filing from publishing parent company, Bethesda, for something called “IDKFA” which is a well-known cheat code that gives players a full suite of items in classic DOOM games.

Interestingly, another frequent (but maybe less reliable) leaker, Nate the Hate, reckons the game will be coming to both Xbox and PlayStation, which is fairly believable in the current Xbox Game Studios climate and definitely what DOOM fans would be hoping for.

DOOM: The Dark Ages Will Be On Xbox And PS5, it's Claimedhttps://t.co/wOxmCTlySu

— Insider Gaming (@InsiderGamingIG) May 24, 2024

We gave the last major DOOM game, DOOM: Eternal, a huge 10/10 in our review when it launched back in 2020, with James saying, “DOOM Eternal is a bigger and better sequel in practically every way. It has fast and frenetic combat, an unrelenting horde of enemies and some truly epic moments throughout its well-paced campaign. It’s everything a sequel should be and easily one of the best shooters I’ve ever played. Make no mistakes, DOOM Eternal is DOOM at its best.”

The post DOOM: The Dark Ages Will Reportedly Be Revealed At The Xbox Games Showcase With A Medieval Theme appeared first on Press Start.

Few things beat hearing about a local success in the games industry, and the folks at Sydney-based studio Weforge are celebrating a massive win with their online multiplayer horror game, Macabre, having blown through an $85,000 AUD funding goal in just 38 hours of the Kickstarter campaign being live.

And there’s little surprise, honestly. In case you’ve not seen it yet, Macabre is aiming to be an incredibly immersive, 4-player cooperative horror shooter experience with stealth and extraction elements and freakishly smart monsters. It throws players into unstable “rifts in time” with a goal to gather resources and then escape while staying clear of the horrific things lurking around them.

Rather than all-out gunfights, Macabre will be about careful preparation and teamwork, with the titular Monster using its cunning to stalk your squad of 4 as you navigate the timelines. It adapts to your behaviours, and so you’ll need to be able to plan and think on the fly. Think Alien: Isolation but with three of your mates and infinite timelines.

Now that the first Kickstarter goal has been reached, there’s hope for a number of stretch goals. The studio plans to release new maps and monsters in waves, so this funding covers the first of each. Following that, more advanced Monster AI and VOIP features will come in, and eventually funding will secure the second location and monster at $250K raised.

The various backer tiers you can opt for naturally have a bunch of in-game and physical rewards available, including my personal favourite the Pet Pack which adds a kookaburra or cockatoo to sit on your shoulders and keep you company (hopefully they’re able to fly away from any real danger). If you’re flush, you can even chuck in a cool $5K USD to have the team craft a playable character based on your likeness.

There’s a heap I could say about the game and the ambitions over at Weforge, or you could just watch the below “Narrative Gameplay” trailer complete with the Aussie-est accents around and see for yourself:

The post Macabre Is An Aussie-Made Cooperative Horror Shooter That Just Smashed Its Kickstarter Goal In 38 Hours appeared first on Press Start.

Deadlock. It’s Valve’s next big bet on a competitive multiplayer online game, it’s being played right now, screenshots and footage are online… and it hasn’t even been announced yet.

In what’s been a pretty odd series of leaks with seemingly very little consequence, folks online have been sharing materials from the game allegedly taken from an ongoing closed test, with some images appearing over the weekend and now full-on video footage on social media.

Judging by what’s out there, the game looks to be yet another go at the competitive first-person “hero shooter” genre, similar to games like Overwatch, Paladins, Valorant and even Valve’s own Team Fortress 2. It’s a crowded market, for sure, but Deadlock seems to be trying to capture a wide number of elements from different games and genres with inspirations from MOBA and tower defence games and even a bit of Bioshock Infinite-esque skyrailing.

You can see some of the earlier leaked screens below:

Since testers started sharing Deadlock screenshots all over the place, here's ones I can verify, featuring one of the heroes called Grey Talon. pic.twitter.com/KdZSRxObSz

— ?Gabe Follower (@gabefollower) May 17, 2024

Reports from longtime Valve creators like Tyler McVicker suggest that a public announcement is impending (perhaps as part of the Summer Game Fest fun next month?) and that there are currently many, many people playing the game in a close alpha playtest. There’s been word of the game in various forms for a while now, with development potentially starting as far back as 2018 and the project taking a few different forms and aesthetics before settling on the Steampunk-esque vibe you can see in the leaks.

If development has been as long as rumours suggest, it maybe explains why Valve would be attempting to introduce yet another competitive online “hero” style game when there’s very little room for more in the current landscape. Reactions online have been mixed as well, although given the footage is from a game in “alpha” stages and not ready for the public it’d be unfair to make any major calls just yet.

The below footage (while it remains live) shows a player going through Hero Training with tutorials on basic movement, but there also looks to be a separate “Lane Training” option to guide players with the actual flow of a game and reiterating those MOBA roots. The menus shown off feature 19 different characters with names like Haze, Ivy, Infernus, Kelvin, Vindicta, Warden, Wraith and Yamato.

The roster certainly seems to be stacked with the usual suspects, though obviously without actually playing it’s hard to say whether Valve is cooking with GaaS or not:

LEAK:

Gameplay Footage of Valve’s Upcoming Game- Deadlock https://t.co/HmVSFUR07c

— 404 LEAK (@404LEAK) May 22, 2024

The post Valve’s Next Big Game Keeps Leaking With New Footage Appearing Online appeared first on Press Start.

While we’re all still waiting for news on the upcoming fourth mainline game, Square Enix recently revealed that it’s finally bringing the PC versions of its Kingdom Hearts games to the Steam platform, after they were previously available exclusively via the Epic Games Store.

For whatever reason, the “Announcement Trailer” for the Steam versions of the games came a little while after the actual announcement, but it’s finally dropped overnight and it’s an appropriately confounding and moderately angsty trailer for the package which attempts to montage every game in sequence. More excitingly though, it includes a brand-new recording of Utada Hikaru’s classic title track for the original game, Simple and Clean. Check it out:

Interestingly, the series’ rhythm spinoff, Melody of Memories, isn’t coming to Steam despite being available through Epic, but Steam users do get a special pack containing all of the other included titles (representing the Dark Seeker Saga) along with a special platform-exclusive “Dead of Night” keyblade. Here are the titles making their way over on June 13th:

• KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX
• KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
• KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind DLC
• KINGDOM HEARTS INTEGRUM MASTERPIECE

There’s no pricing info available just yet, but expect each of the three main separate packages to be around $80-90 AUD.

And here’s a deeper description of everything that’s included in these titles, courtesy of Square Enix:

KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX

This compilation contains four full games, with two additional story experiences for good measure.

• KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX – The game that started it all, remastered with HD visuals, improved controls, a remade soundtrack, and more. This is the game that introduced us to Sora – a brave lad with big feet and a bigger heart.
• KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories – Set directly after the events of the first game, Sora, Donald and Goofy enter the mysterious Castle Oblivion, and stumble into an adventure that’s forgettable in the best possible way! …That’ll make more sense when you’ve played it.
• KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days (HD Remastered Cinematics) – This story focuses on Roxas, a new character with a special connection to Sora. The compilation features cinematics from the original game, enhanced with additional text and remastered in HD.
• KINGDOM HEARTS II FINAL MIX – The second numbered game reunites Sora, Donald and Goofy in an epic adventure across some of the most memorable and unexpected Disney worlds in the series. Like Tron – Tron’s in here!
• KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep FINAL MIX – Prequel time! This game turns back the clock to before Sora ever wielded a keyblade and shifts the focus onto three new characters: Terra, Ventus and Aqua. It’s an emotional adventure with a wildly entertaining battle system – there’s a reason it’s a real fan favorite.
• KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Coded (HD Remastered Cinematics) – This hi-tech tale takes Data Sora into the digital world to seek an answer about a cryptic message. The compilation features enhanced cinematics only.

KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

This collection of games is a real dream for fans. It contains games that focus on some of the most popular characters in the series, Sora, Riku and Aqua, and set up the climax to the saga.

• KINGDOM HEARTS Dream Drop Distance HD – Sora and Riku take their Mark of Mastery exams to become true keyblade wielders. Things do not go as planned – if you thought your exams were stressful, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
• KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage- – Made specifically for this collection, this episode gives you control of Aqua, following the dramatic ending of Birth by Sleep. It’s a short and sweet adventure that leads directly into KINGDOM HEARTS III.
• KINGDOM HEARTS ? Back Cover (movie) – An HD movie that goes back in the timeline even further than Birth by Sleep. It tells the story of the Foretellers – but who are they and what will they mean for the KINGDOM HEARTS series?

KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind (DLC)

The Dark Seeker Saga reaches its climax in KINGDOM HEARTS III. The Guardians of Light gather for the final battle against the forces of Darkness

Before that though, Sora must travel through a whole new set of Disney and Pixar worlds. He’ll team up with Buzz and Woody to explore a toy store, untangle a mother’s sinister plot with Rapunzel, soar across the skies of San Fransokyo with Baymax, and much more.

The PC version also includes the Re Mind DLC as standard. It features additional story content, some of the toughest and most exciting boss battles in the whole series, and loads of additional features, including gameplay modifiers and photo galleries.

The post The Kingdom Hearts Steam Announcement Trailer Includes A Gorgeous New Recording Of Simple And Clean appeared first on Press Start.

While we’re all still waiting for news on the upcoming fourth mainline game, Square Enix has revealed that it’s finally bringing the PC versions of its Kingdom Hearts games to the Steam platform, after they were previously available exclusively via the Epic Games Store.

Interestingly, the series’ rhythm spinoff, Melody of Memories, isn’t coming to Steam despite being available through Epic, but Steam users do get a special pack containing all of the other included titles (representing the Dark Seeker Saga) along with a special platform-exclusive “Dead of Night” keyblade. Here are the titles making their way over on June 13th:

• KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX
• KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
• KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind DLC
• KINGDOM HEARTS INTEGRUM MASTERPIECE

There’s no pricing info available just yet, but expect each of the three main separate packages to be around $80-90 AUD.

Square Enix also released an appropriately confounding and moderately angsty trailer for the package which attempts to montage every game in sequence and, more excitingly, includes a brand-new recording of Utada Hikaru’s classic title track for the original game, Simple and Clean:

And here’s a deeper description of everything that’s included in these titles, courtesy of Square Enix:

KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX

This compilation contains four full games, with two additional story experiences for good measure.

• KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX – The game that started it all, remastered with HD visuals, improved controls, a remade soundtrack, and more. This is the game that introduced us to Sora – a brave lad with big feet and a bigger heart.
• KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories – Set directly after the events of the first game, Sora, Donald and Goofy enter the mysterious Castle Oblivion, and stumble into an adventure that’s forgettable in the best possible way! …That’ll make more sense when you’ve played it.
• KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days (HD Remastered Cinematics) – This story focuses on Roxas, a new character with a special connection to Sora. The compilation features cinematics from the original game, enhanced with additional text and remastered in HD.
• KINGDOM HEARTS II FINAL MIX – The second numbered game reunites Sora, Donald and Goofy in an epic adventure across some of the most memorable and unexpected Disney worlds in the series. Like Tron – Tron’s in here!
• KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep FINAL MIX – Prequel time! This game turns back the clock to before Sora ever wielded a keyblade and shifts the focus onto three new characters: Terra, Ventus and Aqua. It’s an emotional adventure with a wildly entertaining battle system – there’s a reason it’s a real fan favorite.
• KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Coded (HD Remastered Cinematics) – This hi-tech tale takes Data Sora into the digital world to seek an answer about a cryptic message. The compilation features enhanced cinematics only.

KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

This collection of games is a real dream for fans. It contains games that focus on some of the most popular characters in the series, Sora, Riku and Aqua, and set up the climax to the saga.

• KINGDOM HEARTS Dream Drop Distance HD – Sora and Riku take their Mark of Mastery exams to become true keyblade wielders. Things do not go as planned – if you thought your exams were stressful, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
• KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage- – Made specifically for this collection, this episode gives you control of Aqua, following the dramatic ending of Birth by Sleep. It’s a short and sweet adventure that leads directly into KINGDOM HEARTS III.
• KINGDOM HEARTS ? Back Cover (movie) – An HD movie that goes back in the timeline even further than Birth by Sleep. It tells the story of the Foretellers – but who are they and what will they mean for the KINGDOM HEARTS series?

KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind (DLC)

The Dark Seeker Saga reaches its climax in KINGDOM HEARTS III. The Guardians of Light gather for the final battle against the forces of Darkness

Before that though, Sora must travel through a whole new set of Disney and Pixar worlds. He’ll team up with Buzz and Woody to explore a toy store, untangle a mother’s sinister plot with Rapunzel, soar across the skies of San Fransokyo with Baymax, and much more.

The PC version also includes the Re Mind DLC as standard. It features additional story content, some of the toughest and most exciting boss battles in the whole series, and loads of additional features, including gameplay modifiers and photo galleries.

The post The Kingdom Hearts Games Are Finally Coming To Steam appeared first on Press Start.

Take-Two announced the Grand Theft Auto release window overnight, but that wasn’t its only major announcement with the company also confirming that it would be making a massive announcement at Summer Games Fest in just three weeks time.

Posted across the Summer Game Fest Twitter account it was confirmed that “2K plans to reveal the next iteration in one of 2K’s biggest and most beloved franchises at @SummerGameFest“.

2K plans to reveal the next iteration in one of 2K's biggest and most beloved franchises at @SummerGameFest on Friday, June 7. pic.twitter.com/1vyFXE2N4z

— Summer Game Fest (@summergamefest) May 16, 2024

Obviously, this could be interpreted in a number of ways, and 2K has a number of beloved franchises including BioShock, Mafia and Borderlands to name a few.

The most likely is seemingly Bioshock which we got confirmation was in development almost five years ago now and don’t know anything about, but we’d take any of the three at this point. We do know that it’s being developed by a new studio called Cloud Chamber.

Summer Games Fest is just a few weeks away. You can find all of the Aussie times HERE and we’ll be on the ground in LA to bring you the latest.

The post 2K Will Reveal A Sequel To One Of Its “Biggest And Most Beloved Franchises” Next Month appeared first on Press Start.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows was revealed overnight, and in some fantastically surprising news, it’s been confirmed that it’s coming day one to the Mac on November 15th.

It will be playable to anyone with an Apple Silicon Mac meaning that anyone with an M1/M2/M3 chip will be able to play the game at the same time as it releases consoles and PC.

It’s available to pre-order on the Mac App store here in Australia for $99 AUD. 

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you will live the intertwined stories of Naoe, an adept shinobi Assassin from Iga Province, and Yasuke, the powerful African samurai of historical legend. Against the backdrop of the turbulent late Sengoku period, this remarkable duo will discover their common destiny as they usher in a new era for Japan. From chaos to purpose, from darkness to light. A new Creed rises over Japan.

As far as I can remember, this is the first major AAA game to come to the Mac day one in a long while, and hopefully it starts the trend as I’ve documented time and time again just how capable the Apple Silicon chips are for gaming, especially with the recent release of the M3 MacBook Pro. 

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A post shared by Shannon Grixti (@shannongrixti)

The post Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Also Coming Day One To The Mac appeared first on Press Start.

Update: Evil Empire has revealed the new release date for The Rogue Prince of Persia, which will now launch just a couple of weeks late on May 27th.

The studio also revealed an early access price of $19.99 USD (around $30 AUD) with a launch discount also seemingly planned:

The Rogue Prince of Persia's new release date is 27th May! If you didn't see our previous post, the TLDR is to give people time to play Hades 2, including us?
But if Silksong shadow-drops in the next two weeks we're burning the whole thing down!
Anyway, we can also reveal The… pic.twitter.com/ZQM3l5DcBI

— Evil Empire (@Studio_Evil) May 13, 2024

Original Story: You’ve got to hand it to them, Evil Empire have announced a small delay to their upcoming early access roguelike platformer, The Rogue Prince of Persia, in sterling fashion – by admitting it’s largely thanks to the release of Hades 2.

And no, not because the entire team is busy playing Hades 2 instead of working on their own game (or at least not entirely for that reason). Rather, the studio has essentially come out and admitted that going up against the behemoth that is Supergiant’s latest with a similarly-positioned title in a similar “early access” state would end their run before it had even begun. For that reason, the launch is being moved from its original launch of May 14th to an undetermined date, still in the month of May.

Evil Empire also cops to the fact that this added bit of time will allow for some last-minute spit and polish and a bit more time to fine-tune the game’s “Day 1” update. Apparently, this has greatly relieved some of the stress on the title’s producer and game director, which sounds great for them.

So we've got a little bit of news about The Rogue Prince of Persia, it's all in the big yellow box?https://t.co/S3FiyGFfrY pic.twitter.com/9PXlw4J2MZ

— Evil Empire (@Studio_Evil) May 10, 2024

The full statement reads:

“So it’s been a bit of a crazy week for us! It all started when a little game called Hades 2 released – you might have heard of it?

“Seeing as everyone and their mum is playing that game (including our entire team… and their mums), we have decided to let people have their fun with it before we release The Rogue Prince of Persia.

“We will still be releasing in May and will be back with a precise date on Monday.

“While we have every confidence in The Rogue Prince of Persia, it’s not every day that a game in the same genre as you, which is one of the most anticipated upcoming games of 2024, will release into Early Access a week before you plan to do the same. We are not prideful enough to ignore the implications of that, and we truly believe that this short delay is the best decision for us and our Early Access journey.

“This also lets us keep polishing up the game, add even more cool things and kick some stubborn bugs out before release. The Day 1 patch was getting pretty hefty, so gaining more time to test it and add more stuff before launch day has considerably lowered the stress levels of our producer and game director already!

“We completely understand that this is annoying news to hear for everyone who was eager to play the game, especially so close to the anticipated release. We can only hold our hands up, apologise and hope that you understand. It will be worth the wait!

“Thank you for your patience.”

We recently had the chance to go hands-on with a preview build of The Rogue Prince of Persia, with James writing, “Evil Empire has more than earned its swing at such a storied franchise and for a short demo to leave such a clear impression, there’s evidently some juice here. The Rogue Prince of Persia will likely go through about as many iterations as the Prince through lives but the baseline flow is already impeccable and with nowhere to go but up, it’ll be a treat to see how high the crown’s latest claimant will rise.”

The post The Rogue Prince Of Persia Is Being Delayed Because Hades 2 Dropped [Updated With New Date] appeared first on Press Start.

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is finally getting its long-awaited PC launch this week, and while the game has mostly managed to escape the aftermath of last week’s Helldivers 2 debacle, there’s been at least one lasting impact that will affect a whole lot of potential players.

After Sony announced that Helldivers 2 players on PC would have to sign into, or sign up for, a PSN account to continue playing on the platform, it was met with such intense backlash that it eventually retracted those plans entirely. That was good news for the community, but it did leave one point of contention with the game having been removed from sale on Steam in over 170 countries where PSN is not actually supported. Despite those mandatory login plans having changed, there’s no sign of it being reinstated, either.

Now, not only have these regional restrictions not budged, but Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut has also been delisted in those same countries. While the game won’t have a PSN login requirement for its single-player portion, it will in order to play the multiplayer Ghost of Tsushima Legends component. This suggests that not only is PlayStation still going ahead with its requirement for PSN accounts in future multiplayer PC games but it’s also seemingly not willing to sell its games in regions where any portion of the game would be locked off – and in part that seems like the safer move.

Thank you for your feedback.

Just so you are aware, A PSN account is required for Legends online multiplayer mode and to use PlayStation overlay. It is not required to play the singleplayer game.

— Sucker Punch Productions (@SuckerPunchProd) May 3, 2024

Still, it’s not great news for anyone in the 170-plus nations where the game won’t be “officially” purchasable via Steam, whether or not they’d planned on touching the multiplayer component. Sony hasn’t made a public statement about these changes, but the updated list of unsupported countries can be seen on the game’s SteamDB page here. Steam, the Epic Games Store and Green Man Gaming are reportedly (via The Verge) also proactively issuing refunds for anyone who’s already pre-purchased the game, so it’s seemingly extended to other digital storefronts, as well.

I gave Ghost of Tsushima, in its Director’s Cut form, a 9/10 in my review back in 2021, saying “Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut and in particular the Iki Island expansion does a great job at giving players more of what made the game’s original release special. The brisk new adventure takes Jin Sakai on a journey of reflection and reconciliation that contains plenty of beautiful, memorable moments and some very cool new gear to play with. The updates made for its native PS5 release do feel a touch slim given that they come at an added cost, but they go a long way to refining and enhancing the experience. A great game made better, then, and a fantastic excuse to spend dozens more hours in Photo Mode.”

The post Ghost Of Tsushima Director’s Cut For PC Has Been Delisted In Countries Where PSN Isn’t Available appeared first on Press Start.

Update: After initial excitement from Arrowhead CEO, Johan Pilestedt, over a gag amongst the Helldivers 2 community, it looks like the studio has gone ahead and actually created a “Steam Review Bomb” cape for use within the game.

Pilestedt had previously teased that the idea could be made real after fans first started pointing out that the wave of negative Steam reviews – in the wake of a since-reversed decision from PlayStation to make PSN logins mandatory on PC – would make for quite a striking cape design, but has more recently shared an image on X that make it look as though it’s become official:

pic.twitter.com/cA8uMpzqTz

— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 11, 2024

There’s no word yet around when or how this cape will be released, though you’d assume it will be free. With players in 170+ countries still left in the dark in the fallout of the PSN login debacle, having had the game removed from sale in regions where PSN is not available with no sign of it being reinstated, perhaps it’s best saved for a resolution there.

Original Story 7/5: After the debacle over the past days – which saw Helldivers 2 review bombed to hell and back on Steam following the reveal that PSN account linking would become mandatory on the PC version of the game, and Sony most recently backtrack on the decision – the game’s community saw the opportunity to make light of the whole situation by proposing new in-game cape designs that proudly display the bar graph of negative Steam user reviews in a very fitting way. And because this game has no chill, the idea might just become ratified after all.

It didn’t take long before Arrowhead caught wind of the gag and its CEO, Johan Pilestedt, shared one of the designs in a post on X. This quickly prompted follow-up from the community asking if the design, or something like it, would actually make it into the game and based on Pilestedt’s responses it does seem as though it’s going to become a thing.

Also, the accidental cape design is pretty cool. From a community member. pic.twitter.com/7LQZA6Rekw

— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 6, 2024

“We getting this one for free I hope?” one user asked, with the CEO joking that it would be “$999.99 easy” before saying “it will ofc be free.” Pilestedt also revealed that the team is already in discussions about what to name the cape. Quite a few admittedly cool-looking takes on the design have cropped up as well, with many playing on the fact that the bars look an awful lot like Helldivers 2’s drops raining down from the heavens.

Not gonna lie, i’d rock that Accidental Cape Design
byu/mjbga04 inHelldivers

Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise to see the studio take the slightly funny/more cruel route and hand the cape out to folks who link their PSN accounts to the game on PC, but fingers crossed that if real it goes out to everybody. And while that’s all a lot of fun, there’s still seemingly no answer from Steam, Sony or Arrowhead on whether the 170+ countries where the game was delisted from Steam as part of the changes would see it reinstated.

The post That Helldivers 2 “Steam Review Bomb” Cape Looks To Be Happening For Real appeared first on Press Start.

PlayStation’s next upcoming PC port, Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, isn’t quite out yet but that hasn’t stopped one of the next games to make the leap from PlayStation to Personal Computer from already appearing.

Unfortunately for PlayStation, the news hasn’t come via official channels but by way of frequent leaker “billbil-kun,” whose information is almost always good, making this seem all-but accurate.

Old mate bill seems to indicate in their report that God of War Ragnarök is either next in line, or close to, for the PC port privilege, and should be officially revealed this month. That would seemingly line up with other rumours that PlayStation is gearing up to broadcast a new showcase at some point in May. You can read the full report here.

? UPCOMING RELEASE ?

God of War Ragnarok is one of the next PlayStation exclusive titles to be ported on PC

Announcement date is imminent. Check all details we know in our latest Dealabs Magazine reports#GodOfWarRagnarok #PC https://t.co/DDNBoEMk6I

— billbil-kun (@billbil_kun) May 10, 2024

God of War Ragnarök came out back in November 2022, meaning we could very well see the PC iteration release in less than two years since the PlayStation version.

Back at the console launch, I scored the game a healthy 9.5/10 in my review, saying, “God of War Ragnarök is a triumph. Santa Monica Studio has successfully taken everything that was great about the last game and amplified it while correcting just about every problem area and then some. There are slight stumbles, but it’s a constantly surprising, epic adventure that shows genuine growth in its characters, backed up by best-in-class combat and a menagerie of breathtaking scenes. This makes Ragnarök an easy GOTY contender and one of the best games I’ve played in years.”

All eyes are on Ghost of Tsushima’s PC port at the moment, with PlayStation having just courted controversy thanks to a mandate to force PSN logins for Helldivers 2 players on PC, a mandate that was quickly reverse after intense backlash. GoT will also have a PSN login requirement, though it’ll be strictly for the game’s online multiplayer mode and not its single-player component.

The post God Of War Ragnarok Looks To Be Coming To PC Next appeared first on Press Start.

After a short Technical Test period in which it was able to iron out some last remaining “key issues,” developer Supergiant Games has stealthily dropped its hugely-anticipated sequel, Hades II, in early access for PC.

Despite debuting overnight, the early sentiment is already hugely positive. The first lot of critical reviews of the game’s early access state has already arrived with almost universal praise, and the user review rating on Steam is sitting nicely on “Overwhelmingly Positive.”

?HADES II is HERE !!?

Experience the bewitching sequel to our god-like rogue-like, now available in Early Access.

?Steam: https://t.co/MwAiwL8ZeW
?Epic Games Store: https://t.co/bKD6BvLhw6#HadesGame #Hades2 #DeathToChronos pic.twitter.com/jXhqctKj95

— Supergiant Games (@SupergiantGames) May 6, 2024

IGN’s review notes that the game already has double the content of the original, and although there’s still plenty of work to be done on the road to a full release (which will seemingly happen in 2025) it’s a fantastic experience out of the gate.

TheGamer closed their review by simply saying, “If Hades 2 can keep up this momentum, we could have yet another classic on our hands,” with PCGamesN heaping the highest praise by writing, “Hades 2 is flawless, perfecting the roguelike genre in a way its predecessor almost managed to do. Its incoming additions aren’t required to complete it – this version of the game is refined, advanced, and wonderful. They will, however, enhance an already breathtaking experience beyond comprehension.”

If you’re itching to get into Hades 2, you can do it right now by picking up the Early Access version on Steam for $43.95.

The studio boldly suggests waiting it out if you’d prefer the complete experience, saying, “For many players, it’s a good idea to wait for the complete v1.0 before diving in, as Hades II will grow and improve during Early Access, and the true ending of the story won’t be available until then. But, if you like the idea of seeing the game evolve over time, and watching the story unfold more gradually, then Early Access is probably for you!”

The first Major Update for the game is due out “later this year” and the team fully expects Early Access to last through to at least the end of 2024.

The post Hades 2 Has Surprise-Launched In Early Access On PC Alongside Rave Reviews appeared first on Press Start.

If you’re a fan of “cosy” games, have I got news for you. Brisbane, Queensland outfit 5 Lives Studios, developers of 2020’s Windbound, have revealed that their next game is launching in Early Access on PC on May 16th and it’s the most incredibly adorable thing you’ll see all day.

Cozy Caravan is a “single-player, top-down journey” which will see players make their way around a stunning, miniature world in their trusty caravan, setting up shop in each new town they come across alongside their froggy best friend, Bubba. You’ll gather and craft items through mini-games and then trade with the locals in each town, learn about their lives and stories and explore their picturesque burgs as you spread Kindness.

The new gameplay trailer that 5 Lives has debuted alongside the release date announcement is probably the best advertisement though, with the almost tilt-shifted POV and the very distinct low-frame rate look on characters giving it a unique charm that really sells the whole thing. Check it out below:

“Embark on a single-player, top-down journey in Cozy Caravan, where the arts of crafting, trading, and exploration come together in a beautifully cozy world. Form lasting bonds as you and your caravan journey through charming towns, enriching lives along the way.”

You can also check out a lengthier Developer Walkthrough video below, which shows off character selection and customisation, the Kindness system, crafting and upgrades, running the marketplace and heaps more.

Although pricing hasn’t gone live yet, you can already wishlist Cozy Caravan on Steam right here.

The post The Adorable Aussie-Made Cozy Caravan Is Launching Very Soon In Early Access appeared first on Press Start.

Arrowhead Game Studios has revealed the next Premium Warbond for Helldivers 2, giving dedicated players a new set of gear to unlock. The Polar Patriots Premium Warbond will launch on May 9th and feature new armour, weapons, capes and more. As a Premium Warbond it’ll require paid Super Credits to unlock but these can also be earned through game progression.

You can see the new gear in action in the trailer below, along with a list of some of what’s included via the PlayStation Blog:

FIREPOWER

AR-61 Tenderizer
A real tentacle-tearer. This high calibre assault rifle has awesome stopping power but limited magazine size, so make each shot count. Unpatriotic “banter” shots are not advisable.

SMG-72 Pummeler
A slower rate of fire than your other SMGs but these concussive rounds will leave your enemies dazed, confused, and still very ugly. Good things come to Helldivers who wait.

PLAS-101 Purifier
Set the trap. Hold the trigger. Let them charge at you. Smile. They’re getting closer. Smile again. Closer. Smile. Closer. Smile. Closer… and release the trigger. S.P.L.A.T. The longer you can hold your nerve, and the trigger, the bigger the damage.

SECONDARY WEAPONS & UTILITY BOOSTER

G-13 Incendiary Impact
Don’t waste time reading the instructions, lob it at the enemy and run. This thing detonates on impact and ignites the area in white phosphorus, so make sure you – and your allies – are not standing around having a chat.

P-113 Verdict
The guys in R&D love this one. Gas-operated, semi-automatic, and chambers the largest centrefire cartridge of any lunpistol of its kind. “Rapid Deliberation”, they call it. Quick-draw to look cool in front of your squad.

Motivational Shocks
Literally shocks Helldivers back into action after being hit and slowed by sneaky, unjust attacks like the revolting bug acid vomit. Won’t help you much with area effects like EMS strikes, though.

ARMOUR

CW-36 Winter Warrior
Blend into snowy environments with perfect camouflage. The enemy will never see you coming, until it’s far too late. Ah the sweet smell of stealth. Passive boost – Servo-assisted.

CW-22 Kodiak
Thoroughly pressure-tested by patriotic volunteers as part of the Test Subjects for Super Earth Citizen Advancement Programme. Their sacrifice shall not be forgotten. Passive boost – Fortified.

CW-4 Arctic Ranger
Features a nifty utility belt boasting handy pockets that can be filled with any number of things – pocket knives, mementoes, interesting rocks, Terminid tentacles, bits of bots, etc. Passive boost – Scout.

CAPES

Dissident’s Nightmare
Scientifically proven to be “terrifying” to dissent-afflicted citizens during extensive testing in Patriotic Rehabilitation Centres.

Pinions of Everlasting Glory
All but ensures ascension to the immortal ranks of those enshrined in the Super Earth Digital Archive of Valorous Acts.

Order of the Venerated Ballot
Adorned with the insignia of the Order of the Venerated Ballot – a Ministry-sanctioned Patriot’s Club for citizens pledging to preserve the sanctity of voting.

EMOTES

• Mime Instrumentation
• Call the Helldivers
• Distribute Ballots.

The post Polar Patriots Is Helldivers 2’s New Premium Warbond And It’s Out Next Week appeared first on Press Start.

Amazon has revealed the games that Prime members will be able to download and keep at no added cost for the month of May, and the Fallout promo continues with another addition, this time in the form of Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition.

There are some decent picks in this month’s bag, including LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars and Tomb Raider Game of the Year Edition, but I’d really like to take the time out to suggest anyone with a Prime membership downloads The Forgotten City when it becomes available on May 16th because what a game.

If you’re not already a Prime subscriber, you can get 30 days free HERE.

Amazon has also launched its Amazon Gaming Store which you can learn more about here.

Check out the games coming across a number of dates in April 2024, below:

MAY 2024 FREE GAMES WITH PRIME

MAY 2ND

• Tomb Raider Game of the Year Edition [GOG Code] — Revisit the critically acclaimed action adventure that explores the intense and gritty origin story of Lara Croft and her ascent from a young woman to a hardened survivor. The Game of the Year edition includes the Tomb of the Lost Adventurer, 6 single player outfits for Lara, 8 multiplayer maps, and 4 characters.
• LEGO® STAR WARS III: The Clone Wars [GOG Code] — Fans can adventure endlessly and laugh their way through the STAR WARS galaxy in this humorous, accessible and action-packed LEGO game.

MAY 9TH

• Dark City: International Intrigue [Amazon Games App] — Prepare yourself for a heart-pounding tale of intrigue in this sensational hidden-object puzzle adventure across three of the world’s largest cities.
• Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition [GOG Code] — Experience the most acclaimed game of 2008 like never before. Create a character of your choosing and descend into an awe-inspiring, post-apocalyptic world where every minute is a fight for survival. Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition includes all five of the Fallout 3 Game Add-on Packs: Operation Anchorage; The Pitt; Broken Steel; Point Lookout; and Mothership Zeta.
• Nine Witches: Family Disruption [Amazon Games App] — Take control of two playable heroes as they embark on a supernatural and comedic, alternate-history adventure to dismantle an ancient curse.
• Electrician Simulator [Epic Games Store] — Take on the electrician role and learn the profession’s basics. Install sockets, repair worn-out equipment, assemble broken appliances, replace light bulbs, and lay wires at your customers’ homes.

MAY 16TH

• 100 Doors Games: Escape from School [Legacy Games Code] — Help a girl named Mia escape a locked school by solving puzzles and riddles, as well as finding hidden objects along the way.
• The Forgotten City [Amazon Games App] — Discover the ruins of an ancient underground city, travel 2000 years into the past, and unravel the mystery of who destroyed it by cleverly exploiting the power to wind back time.

MAY 23RD

• Spirits of Mystery: Whisper of the Past [Amazon Games App] — Your peaceful summer retreat is interrupted by Dark Reapers kidnapping your mother and chasing your Aunt. What do these dark spirits want? Are you going to be next?

The post May’s Free Games With Prime Have Been Revealed appeared first on Press Start.

As the “cosy” farming/life sim genre has continued to swell and grow in recent years, propelled off of the backs of the likes of Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing and a global pandemic, it can almost feel like too much. It’s hard to look anywhere without seeing another cosy sim of some kind, and trying to keep up even as a fan of the category can be tough.

Still, there’s an itch there to scratch and it’s an itch that I can only fill with tended crops and a slowly-growing community of friends. That’s where Rusty’s Retirement comes in. This is a game that not only gives me those base needs but does it in a way that I do have time for, by sitting idly in the bottom of my PC’s display and asking for just the barest of interaction while I do the things I’m actually supposed to be doing. It’s the ultimate work-from-home companion, then, a pleasing bit of desktop decor that also happens to be a game.

I’ve been “playing” Rusty’s Retirement for less than a week, and even then my progress has been slow purely on account of my nature to swing wildly between hyperfocus and easy distractibility, but it’s hardly mattered. The adorable, pixelated little farmin’ robot and star of the thing, Rusty, potters away in the periphery just watering, harvesting and processing the crops I’ve plopped in during a spare 30 seconds, and as I glance down under my work every so often I see I’ve amassed enough resources to expand his farm or bring in a new friend to lighten the labour.

One day I’m sure I’ll have a thriving farm with a whole army of robotic friends and farmhands, a full compliment of stores to buy new and exciting tools from, decorations placed with some degree of artistry and many more acres of land, and if I wanted to I could even employ help from my (non-existent) Twitch audience to get there, but I’m not in any kind of hurry.

That’s the beauty of Rusty’s Retirement. It’s not a traditional game with goals and a sense of urgency, it’s somewhere between a toy and a piece of interactive ornamentation. Even when I’ve had my fill of what it has to offer, which is a fairly robust suite of dozens of different crops, automated assistants, livestock, wild flora and fauna and more, I know it’s going to continue to sit at the bottom of my screen because it just looks so nice there. You can have it go down the side, too, if that’s more to your taste.

There are definitely things I’d love to see go into the game down the track. Moving objects around can be tricky when you only want to nudge them a few blocks either direction, I’d be keen for some more decorations or apparatus, and there’s a tendency for the game to hog system resources on the default settings, but if none of that ever happens I’d still call it $10 well spent.

So if you’ve ever wanted something that’s halfway between a cosy farming sim and a live wallpaper, or just need a pleasant and charming distraction to take some of your desktop real estate away from the drudgeries of work, Rusty’s Retirement might be just the ticket.

You can get Rusty’s Retirement on Steam for $10.49 (currently $9.44 as an introductory offer until May 8th!)

The post Rusty’s Retirement Is The Best Thing On My PC Right Now appeared first on Press Start.

We’ve already had a number of huge, virality-inducing surprise hits this year. Games like Balatro, Helldivers 2, Content Warning, Buckshot Roulette and Palworld have made a mark on the release calendar that’s outshone a lot of the usual heavy-hitter AAA fare. Now, a medieval strategy game from solo developer Greg Stycze? has quickly shot up the charts and moved 1 million copies in just its first 24 hours as an early access release.

That game is Manor Lords, and it’s one that’s been keenly-awaited by a huge number of strategy game fans for its promise to deliver in-depth city building, large scale tactical battles, complex economy and social simulation all in one title. It launched just a few short days ago on April 26th and, as claimed by its publisher Hooded Horse, managed to move a cool mil before the day was over. The game also hit a peak concurrent player count of 170,000 on Steam, which Hooded Horse says is the “highest ever for a city builder” or similar strategic genres.

Since yesterday's launch Manor Lords has already sold over 1 million copies & hit a peak Steam concurrent player count of 170k – highest ever for a city builder (or for other different genres like GSG/4x/colony sim). Congrats @LordsManor, we're honored to serve as your publisher! pic.twitter.com/559uGRp1NO

— Hooded Horse (@HoodedHorseInc) April 27, 2024

Manor Lords tasks players with the role of a medieval lord as they develop a humble village into a big and prosperous city, taking on all the growing responsibilities associated with that increase in scale, population, complexity and of course – danger. It’s designed with historical accuracy in mind, making it of particular interest to 14th century buffs, and genuinely just looks incredibly detailed and organic. Plus, you’ve got massive real-time tactical battles to look forward to where every person you lose in combat is a real citizen removed from your city.

Take a look at the launch trailer for Manor Lords below:

If what you’ve seen so far piques your interest, you can grab Manor Lords now in early access on Steam with an introductory launch discount of 25%, bringing it down to just $45. Or alternatively, it’s also available with PC Game Pass!

The post Manor Lords Is The Latest Runaway Success On PC With 1 Million Copies Sold In 24 Hours appeared first on Press Start.

The reveal that Warhorse Studios is returning for a sequel to its breakout medieval action RPG, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, is not only great news for fans of the original game but also a very welcome addition to what is still a very vacant back half of this year for new game releases. It’s also just nice to see a game announced that’s not three, four, five years in the future but launching within a matter of months.

Yes, after working away in near-silence for almost six years, Warhorse is launching Kingdom Come: Deliverance II “by the end of this year.”

In the roughly-13-minute announcement video, which we were lucky enough to see ahead of the public reveal, the studio is quick to recognise this sequel as the game it had wanted to make from the very beginning, and now with a much larger team of around 250 developers, a bigger budget and more ambition it’s set out to see that dream through.

What all those resources and all that time amount to, is a vision of medieval Europe that’s far larger in scale and scope than the original Kingdom Come, finally taking players to the city of Kuttenberg and putting it at the heart of this new game. In the video, creative director Daniel Vavra even describes Kuttenberg and its surrounds as being “too big, in my opinion.”

But a bigger world seemingly isn’t the primary goal here with the studio more interested in really selling the medieval role-playing fantasy that the first game boldly attempted to capture. Like before, combat is set to be incredibly physical and visceral and “historically accurate” in a way that will mean every foe feels like a dire threat and every encounter feels like life or death. “We want you to fight for your life,” says design & combat director, Viktor Bocan. The sequel adds new weapon types as well, like crossbows and even some very early firearms.

That penchant for immersion carries over to some of the other areas of improvement in the game, especially when it comes to interactions with the citizens of Kuttenberg. Despite being a returning protagonist, the team says that Henry’s still young enough that both new and existing players should feel valid in shaping his actions and his morals over the course of the game, and his actions will be better reflected by the world around him. Warhorse promises that your actions throughout the game will be remembered “forever,” which is an enticing proposition.

Something I’m very excited to see play out is the idea of not just other characters reacting naturally to Henry’s actions, but Henry being able to react back, such as apologising to someone who’s remarked at an offensive action. Other games with “reactive” NPCs tend to stop at the halfway point of a genuine interaction so I really hope what the team is alluding to in the reveal video is actually how things play out.

Of course, none of this would mean much without a gripping story to engage with, and Warhorse is promising a lot there, as well. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II will supposedly feature more than five hours of cinematics as Henry goes on his journey of revenge against the King of Hungary, Sigismund, and his allies.

Based on what’s shown in the reveal, it’ll be a very handsome journey as well, and not just because of the duo of Henry and Sir Hans, played by Tom McKay and Luke Dale respectively. Moving from the mud-covered roads and rough dwellings of the outskirts of the region into a much wider and more diverse area that includes the enormous city, means that there’s a huge shift towards vibrancy and colour here that’s already very noticeable. Developed once again in CryEngine, it does look quite stunning, though it’s no doubt being introduced in its best possible form.

It seem as though the score will also be a highlight yet once again, with Jan Valta back to compose with the appropriate suite of strings, wind and Gregorian chants.

By all means, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II looks poised to, well, deliver on a lot of the promise of the original game. And with almost six years to build on it, the team at Warhorse Studios seems pretty confident that they’re going to pull it all off – and soon.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC later this year. Take a look at the reveal trailer below:

The post Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Has Been Announced And It’s Out This Year appeared first on Press Start.

Update: Crow Country has also now added an Xbox Series X|S release to its existing launch platform line-up of PS5 and PC. You can find out more about the game below:

Crow Country, the retro-flavoured survival horror effort from the folks behind Snipperclips! at SFB Games, has finally secure a release date. The game will launch on May 9th, 2024 for both PS5 and PC.

“We’re really excited to announce the launch date for Crow Country, and I can’t wait for players to finally get their hands on the finished game,” said creative director Adam Vian in an accompanying press release. “This project has been a real labour of love – there are so many secrets and surprises for players to discover in Crow Country when it launches.”

A free demo available is still available on Steam and the PlayStation Store so you can check out Crow Country for yourself ahead of its release in May, and there’s a new trailer announcing the launch date below:

Original Story 25/10/23: SFB Games, the award-winning studio behind the Nintendo Switch launch title, Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together! and the fantastic point-and-click adventure Tangle Tower, has revealed its next big title and it’s a bit of a departure from what you’d expect.

Crow Country is a survival horror experience that sees players take on the role of Mara Forest as she navigates an abandoned theme park in search of its owner, Edward Crow. It’s a retro-flavoured joint that’s heavily inspired by the PSX-era of survival horror with its isometric camera, low-poly visuals, inventory management and esoteric puzzles. It’s kind of a mix of the original Resident Evil and Five Nights at Freddy’s, which is an exciting concept.

For those who dig the aesthetic but aren’t keen on the punishing design of old-school survival horror, there will also be an “Exploration Mode” that’ll allow them to play without the fear of being attacked.

Best of all, there’s a free demo available right now on Steam and the PlayStation Store so you can check out Crow Country for yourself ahead of its release some time in 2024. Alternatively, pop a squiz at the trailer below:

A Survival Horror adventure featuring: A rich atmosphere. A strong, tangible sense of place. A small but memorable cast of characters. Meaningful exploration. Engaging puzzles. And most of all – a beautiful, uncanny blend of tension and tranquillity.

The year is 1990. Edward Crow has disappeared. The owner of ‘Crow Country’ (a small theme park in the rural outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia), he has not been seen since he unexpectedly shut down his park two years ago. The silence is broken when a mysterious young woman named Mara Forest ventures into the heart of the abandoned theme park in order to find him.

• Why did Crow really shut down his park?
• Are the disturbing rumours about Crow Country true?
• Who, exactly, is Mara Forest?

The post Crow Country Is Now Bringing Its PS1-Style Horror To Xbox Series X|S As Well As PS5 And PC appeared first on Press Start.

Update: Thekla, Inc. and Jonathan Blow have revealed that Braid, Anniversary Edition, the long-awaited remaster of a pioneering indie classic, has been pushed back from its April 29th release to a new date of May 14th for PlayStation, Switch, PC and Netflix with an Xbox release to follow the day after.

The good news is, along with the delay comes even more content and special features than previously revealed. The game will now have 40 new levels made from a combination of remixed designs and brand-new levels, as outlined below:

• 14 Commentary Index Levels used to navigate the game’s 15+ hours of commentary

  • There is also one additional level exclusive to Netflix users

• 13 New Full Puzzle Levels featuring 16 new puzzle pieces used to complete a new frame

• 12 Alternate Designs coupled with design commentary offering a glimpse of Braid had different development decisions been made

You can see the original release date announcement below for the other features that are packed into this new release of Braid:

Original Story: Developer Thekla, Inc. has announced that the long-awaited Braid, Anniversary Edition will officially launch on April 29th, 2024 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Netflix.

The indie classic from Jonathan Blow is considered of the pioneering titles in proving the viability of indie games on major console platforms, having launched on Xbox Live Arcade to huge success in 2008. The Anniversary Edition will repackage it with a new coat of paint, new audio treatments, with players able to switch between both the modern and classic versions of Braid at any point in the game. It’ll also come with a treasure trove of over 15 hours of developer commentary.

“The goal is to make it the craziest, most-in-depth commentary ever put in a video game,” said Thekla founder Jonathan Blow in a press release. “You can follow particular threads of commentary spatially, through wormholes that go from level to level to see evolutions of particular concepts; the commentary has lots of markup so we can circle stuff on the screen, point arrows at whatever visual detail we are talking about, show diagrams, play back recordings of gameplay to show what happens if you try doing this or that in a particular level, and many other capabilities.”

Here’s some of what to expect from the Braid, Anniversary Edition:

• Improved sound and new mixes and variants of the soundtrack by Martin Stig Andersen (Control, Inside) and Hans Christian Kock
• Hand-repainted graphics by original artist David Hellman
• Animations with extra frames, for smoother in-game motion
• Ability to switch back and forth between the old and new Braid on the fly
• 15+ hours of commentary featuring Jonathan Blow, David Hellman, Marc ten Bosch (Miegakure), Brian Moriarty (Trinity, Loom, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel), Casey Muratori (1935; Handmade Hero; Computer, Enhance!), Cris Moore (gamer, resident faculty at the Santa Fe Institute), Frank Cifaldi (Video Game History Foundation), Martin Stig Andersen, Hans Christian Kock, and Jakob Schmid.

Take a look at the Release Date Trailer for Braid, Anniversary Edition below:

The post Braid Anniversary Edition Has Been Delayed But Will Now Feature New Levels appeared first on Press Start.

PlayStation has revealed the hardware requirements for its upcoming PC port of Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, and in doing so has also revealed a brand-new PlayStation UI rolling out to its future PC game releases.

Ghost of Tsushima will be the first game to utilise the new PlayStation UI overlay for PC, which allows players to access their friends list, settings, profile and most excitingly – trophies. Games on PC will share a trophy list with their console counterparts, meaning in the case of something like Ghost of Tsushima any trophies you’ve unlocked on PS5 will also be unlocked on PC. Using the new interface will be optional, and of course will require signing into your existing PlayStation account.

Here’s what the PlayStation Blog says about the new UI:

“Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is the first PlayStation title on PC that uses a new PlayStation overlay, which includes your Friends list, Trophies, Settings, and your Profile. This feature is available on Windows PCs and will be accessible from the in-game menu or, for keyboard players, by pressing the “SHIFT +F1” shortcut on your keyboard.

“While playing the game, you can earn PlayStation Trophies just like on PlayStation consoles. Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut on PC shares the same Trophy set as the game on PlayStation 5 consoles. In addition, the PC version also has full support for Achievements on Steam and the Epic Games Store.

“To make use of features like Trophies, Friends list, and cross-play, you can sign in with your existing account for PlayStation Network or create a new account. The use of PlayStation overlay is optional for both the single player experience and Legends mode.”

You can read more about this, and the PC hardware requirements for Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, right here.

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut launches for PC on May 16th.

The post PlayStation Trophies Are Coming To PC appeared first on Press Start.

Keen Hades fans have a chance to play the hugely-anticipated sequel ahead of its PC early access launch thanks to a “Technical Test” kicking off soon.

Developer Supergiant Games says it’s “close” to launching Hades 2 in early access, and that this upcoming Technical Test is a key step prior to doing so. The studio admits it doesn’t actually have a set release date for Hades 2 yet but that it’ll largely depend on how long the Technical Test runs for, a period it expects to be anywhere between a week and a month.

In terms of content, the Hades 2 Technical Test will feature the first major area of the game and some other early-game characters, systems, and content. It’ll be structurally different to the eventual early access version, so progress won’t carry over.

If you’re keen to get involved, you can apply for a chance at entry to the Hades 2 Technical Test on the game’s Steam page right here.

We're getting close to launching HADES II in Early Access!? A key step prior to that is our Hades II Technical Test, which we plan to begin shortly.

If you'd like to be considered for participation, you can sign up right now simply by clicking 'Request Access' on the Hades II… pic.twitter.com/BfAqWxjixP

— Supergiant Games (@SupergiantGames) April 16, 2024

We’re conducting the Hades II Technical Test prior to our Early Access launch to help us find and solve any technical issues we might have missed thus far, to ensure anyone who tries Hades II in Early Access can have a smooth play experience from the start. The Technical Test contains much less content than what’s in store for the Early Access launch, and may be available only to a relatively small subset of players who express interest in participating.

We are using Steam Playtest to run the Hades II Technical Test. If you’d like to be considered for participation, you can sign up right now simply by clicking ‘Request Access’ on our Steam page:

A subset of players who request access will be invited to participate via an email from Steam with download instructions. We expect to start with a small player population, then grow it over time. So, even if you aren’t invited to the Technical Test right away, you may still be invited later. Our process boils down to: invite some players, fix any problems they run into, invite more players, and so on.

Once we’re sufficiently confident that things are stable, we will wind down the Technical Test, then launch the game in Early Access relatively soon after.

As the purpose of the Technical Test is to test the game with a relatively small audience, we may not be able to honor individual requests to participate. We will do our best to conduct the Technical Test as expeditiously as possible, then launch in Early Access, at which point the game will be available for anyone to purchase and play.

The nature of the Test is such that we don’t know exactly how long it will last, though our estimate is ‘longer than a week, shorter than a month’. We likewise don’t know exactly when we will launch Hades II in Early Access, since that will depend on how long we end up running the Technical Test.

Here are the minimum system requirements for the Technical Test:

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit (or Steam Deck)
• Processor: Dual Core 2.4 Ghz
• Memory: 4GB RAM
• Graphics: 2GB VRAM / DirectX 12+ support

The Technical Test contains the first major area of the game, and other early-game characters, systems, and content. (If you played the original game, imagine a version where you couldn’t get past Tartarus even if you vanquished its guardian.) If you end up clearing the first major area a number of times, the game will gently suggest that you discontinue play, as Early Access shouldn’t be far behind!

Note that due to structural differences with the Early Access version of the game, save data from the Technical Test will not transfer.

The post Hades 2 Is Running An Early Technical Test And You Can Sign Up For It Now appeared first on Press Start.

Great news for those of us who’ve been looking on from the sidelines, clutching our DualSenses and Joy-Cons as the folks with Xboxes and gaming PCs go on grand, pint-sized adventures in the backyard with Obsidian’s excellent Grounded – it’s out now on PS5, PS4 and Switch!

Not only that, but it launches alongside one last major content update, bringing it up to version 1.4 and branding the entire package as Grounded: Fully Yoked Edition.

Other than finding a home on new platforms (with cross-play!), Grounded’s latest update also adds some exciting new features like Ant Queens that players can choose to ally with or betray for far-reaching ramifications, a New Game+ mode with a ton of new features to find, a heap of quality-of-life updates and added content, Playgrounds tweaks and improvements and more.

You can find Grounded: Fully Yoked Edition on the PlayStation Store here and on the Nintendo Switch eShop here.

GROUNDED: FULLY YOKED EDITION PATCH NOTES

Hey Grounded fans! We are proud to present to you the “Fully Yoked” 1.4 update: the premiere Grounded experience swole with new content.

ANT QUEENS

Each of the three ant colonies now has a royal leader residing deep within their respective hills. These new Ant Queens are not fightable bosses. They instead offer you a choice: either befriend or betray with a tasty offering. Which you choose affects the rewards you receive and how the colony reacts. Some choices have cascading effects that aren’t immediately apparent…

THE BACKYARD, REMIXED (NEW GAME+)

Next up, we’ve remixed your backyard! Introducing the New Game+ mode: a complete overhaul that adds layers of complexity and challenge. Instead of finishing the game, you will have the option to enter an alternate dimension via the new REMIX.R device. Each playthrough in this mode remixes the yard in a host of ways that will give you new challenges and rewards.

Accessing New Game+ requires defeating the Broodmother, Mantis, Wasp Queen, and completing the Javamatic fight. When entering this mode, all of your existing bases, items, recipes unlocks, etc. will carry over with you.

NEW GAME+ FEATURES

INFUSED CREATURES

In Remixed backyards, creatures can be infused with the power of Raw Science. Not only do they have more health, do more damage, and attack faster, but they also have unique properties that make them extra challenging.

NEW TRINKETS

The good news is that infused creatures can drop special trinkets that are also infused with Raw Science. These new trinkets also have special randomized properties. Ominent Badges can be collected again, and have new properties, and every BURG.L Chip awards a new BURG.L Chip Trinket, they too will have randomized properties to give you more options on how to build your character.

YOKING STATION +10

The Yoking Station, available at the ASL in a remixed yard, allows you to upgrade your weapons to even more powerful levels. To upgrade your weapons, you will need to find new materials and resources only found in remixed yards.

SLURP THE CORE WITH MORE MOLARS

Molars can be gathered once more, and you will need to continue to collect them to stay as swole as the creatures of the yard. In a remixed yard, the molars are now in new, randomized locations.

NEW ASL ADDITIONS

There are a large number of new additions to the Science Shop. Check out the ASL for a new sign set, the Yoking Station, new weapons, equipment, and more, that can only be purchased in a remixed yard. To help with purchasing the new items there are new Raw Science spawn locations, and MIX.Rs have increased rewards.

EVEN MORE

There are other changes that are made to the yard in a remixed world, including more loot chests, different candy, and some other surprises.

NEW PLATFORMS

The game can now be played additional platforms, including the newly added PlayStation 4|5 and Nintendo Switch. Players across all platforms can experience this Grounded: Fully Yoked edition of the final game, together, with crossplay!

ADDITIONAL NEW FEATURES

“BUGS FIGHT EACH OTHER” CUSTOM GAME OPTION

• By default, natural enemies will fight each other if they are near each other, and neutral creatures will fight each other if struck accidentally. This can now be turned off (useful in Playgrounds when designing encounter rooms for the player).

ADDITIONAL PLAYGROUND FEATURES

LINK COLORS

• Links now have 5 color options for distinguishing them while editing.

QUALITY OF LIFE FEATURES

MULTIPLAYER LOAD GAME

• You can now load a save while in the middle of a multiplayer session. All connected clients will load into the new world once the load is complete.

RECOVER PETS

• A new Game Repair button has been added to recover any pets that are not currently following you.
• Pets allocated to a pet house will also teleport to their house, in case they are outside of the terrain.

OBJECT CAPACITY

• An object capacity meter can be found on the pause menu that tells you how many objects, either in a Playground or a standard game, you have in your level. This is useful to know if you are sharing worlds with lower end machines to make sure the game can be played reliably on all hardware.
• If you have no intention of having your yard be as crossplay compatible as possible, this capacity limit can be changed in the Game Settings menu to match your platform’s suggested limit or have no limit at all.

PLAYGROUND LINK COPY/PASTE

• There are now buttons available to copy and paste the configuration of a Link in a Playground.

PLAYGROUND BROWSER FILTERING

• Community Playgrounds can be filtered by keywords, player count and genre while browsing.

REPORTING PLAYGROUNDS

• Community Playgrounds can be reported by players if they violate rules.

NEW CONTENT

NEW BUILDINGS

• 12 Ant Queen-related buildings
  • Chaise Lounges
  • Chandeliers
  • Stuffed Queens
  • Head Mount
• Yoking Station
• New Floor Rugs
• Termite King Pipe Organ
• REDACTED

NEW PET

• 3 new Baby Ant Pets to befriend.

NEW EQUIPMENT

• Over 20 new items and equipment.
• Over 20 new trinkets.

A lot of these will be found only in New Game+

NEW MUTATIONS

• Antbassador – Become one with the ants of the yard.

NEW SIGNS

• A new sign-set that can only be purchased in New Game+

4 NEW ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2 for the base game
• 2 for New Game+

FULL JAPANESE VOICE OVERS

• The game now has full Japanese voice over, including voices for the teens, BURG.L, cutscenes, and audio logs. Select Japanese Voice Over from the Game Options menu to enable this feature.

PLAYGROUNDS NEW CONTENT

There are a number of new props that are now available to be placed in Playgrounds. This includes the Jack o Lantern, Ice Caps Box, Big TazT, Big Dice, Wendell Chair, Big SCA.B Mesh, Stump Bark and Pulp, Rash, Yoked Girth and Yogi Swole, Quarter, Garden Light, Milk Molar Bottle and Lid, Gnome, Baseball Bat, Trash Bag, Pink Slip, Anarchis, Lab Dome, Pink Flower Petals, Cattails, Honeycomb, Lilypad, Shovel, Cacti, Charcoal Bag, Moldorc’s Castle, the Bird Bath, and more.

OTHER CHANGES / TUNING

COMBAT

• Attack speed slow effects no longer stack.

ANIMATION

• Stagger animations for all ants and stinkbugs now physically displace them.

ARMOR AND WEAPONS

• Increasing scythe attack speed by 15%.
• Lowering attack speed bonus granted by battle axe combo finishers by 5%.
• The Mighty upgrade path now applies an additional status effect to weapons, much like the Sleek upgrade path for armor.

ITEMS

• Trinket items that previously appeared as brown bags now have a new shared trinket model.
• Gold cards are not required for 100% on the Report Card.

UI

• Quest objectives on the map show the quest name now when hovered over.
• Trailer Marker names are shown on the map when hovering over a Trail Marker icon if a name is set.
• Improved image quality of item icons on lower end hardware.

AUDIO

• New audio track added for New Game+

PLAYGROUNDS

• Ziplines created in Playground edit mode cannot be recycled or renamed in Play mode.

OPTIMIZATION

• Significantly reduced the CPU load of the game.
• Significantly reduced the CPU load during defense events.
• Reduced memory usage across the game.
• Saving the game is now faster.

The post Grounded Is Out Now On PlayStation And Switch Alongside Its Final Content Update appeared first on Press Start.