Tag Archives: Videogames

Breaking, Featured, Games, Gaming, News, PC, Xbox

Anima Flux now available at GOG & Xbox

Anima Flux, a highly anticipated couch co-op Metroidvania game, has made its welcomed arrival at both GOG and Xbox as respectively the second and third gaming storefronts after its early release via Steam this year. Developed by a dedicated team from Eastern Europe, the game has been in the making since January 2017 and was developed by a dedicated team of 12 people from Eastern Europe and has been on a grind for all gaming fans looking for the next original video game.

Game Overview

Anima Flux is set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world where players control two genetically enhanced soldiers. These elite agents must navigate through a desolate space city, fighting off swarms of mutants to save humanity’s last stronghold. The game features stunning hand-drawn cutscenes and sharp, ironic dialogue that immerses players in its rich narrative.

Development Journey

The development team’s journey began with a desire to create an interactive retro sci-fi comic inspired by the 80s and 90s. Over time, the project evolved into a Metroidvania game, blending nostalgic elements with modern gameplay mechanics. The team’s passion for retro games and their love for the genre drove them to create a unique and engaging experience.

Key Features

  • Couch Co-Op: Players can team up with a friend for local co-op gameplay or play solo with an AI-controlled partner.
  • Dynamic World: The game features a procedurally generated world with diverse biomes and interactive systems.
  • Character Progression: Each character develops differently as the game progresses, encouraging collaboration and strategy.
  • Retro Aesthetic: Inspired by classic games like The Lost Vikings and Contra, Anima Flux delivers a visually stunning 2D art style.
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Anima Flux
Developer: Avantaj Prim
Price: $ 19.99
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Anima Flux
Developer: Unknown
Price: 19.99
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Anima Flux
Developer: JollyCo
Price: Free
Games, Gaming, News

Prologue & Artemis – What’s next for PUBG Creator Brendan Greene

Brendan Greene, the mastermind behind the wildly popular battle royale game PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds), has provided exciting updates on his forthcoming projects, Prologue and Artemis. Greene also announced the launch of a free tech demo called Preface, offering players a tantalizing glimpse into the innovative technology and expansive worlds his studio is developing.

Prologue: The Beginning of a New Journey

Initially teased several years ago, Prologue is envisioned as a prelude to a much larger and more ambitious project. In his latest update, Greene described Prologue not just as a game, but as a “unique exploration of procedural generation”. The goal is to create vast, immersive worlds using advanced algorithms, providing players with endless exploration opportunities without repetitive or predefined landscapes.

Prologue is designed to test and showcase the underlying technology that will be central to Greene’s ultimate vision: Artemis. The game will challenge players to survive and navigate through a dynamically generated environment, using only the resources they can gather. This concept aims to push the boundaries of current gaming experiences by offering truly unpredictable and unique adventures every time.

Artemis: An Ambitious Vision

Artemis, Greene’s highly anticipated main project, promises to be a groundbreaking undertaking. Described as an “Earth-scale” virtual world, Artemis is set to offer a living, breathing ecosystem where players can interact with an expansive environment that mirrors the complexity and diversity of our planet.

Greene’s vision for Artemis includes the use of cutting-edge procedural generation technology, developed in-house by his studio. The game will leverage this technology to create diverse biomes, weather patterns, and ecosystems that evolve and react to player actions. This ambitious project aims to blend the boundaries between reality and virtual worlds, offering an unparalleled immersive experience.

Preface: A Glimpse into the Future

To showcase the technological advancements that will power both Prologue and Artemis, Greene’s studio has released a free tech demo called Preface: Undiscovered World. Available now, Preface allows players to explore a massive, procedurally generated planet with varied biomes and interactive systems.

Preface is designed to provide a hands-on experience with the new Melba engine, the proprietary technology developed by Greene’s team. Players can navigate through different terrains, weather conditions, and ecosystems, experiencing the potential of what Artemis will eventually offer. This demo serves as both a technical showcase and a tool for gathering player feedback to refine and enhance the final products.

Community Engagement and Future Plans

Brendan Greene emphasized the importance of community feedback in shaping the development of these projects. By releasing Preface, Greene hopes to engage with players and collect valuable insights that will inform the ongoing development of Prologue and Artemis.

As the gaming world eagerly anticipates the full release of these groundbreaking titles, Greene and his team remain committed to pushing the limits of procedural generation and creating truly immersive virtual worlds. The journey from Prologue to Artemis promises to be an exciting and innovative exploration of what the future of gaming can hold.

Business, Gaming, News

EA Expands Accessibility Patents Pledge with 23 New Patents

Electronic Arts (EA) has expanded its Accessibility Patents Pledge by adding 23 new patents to the initiative. Launched in August 2021, the pledge initially included five patents aimed at improving accessibility for players. Over the years, this number has grown to 15, and now, with the latest addition, the total stands at 38 patents.

These patents cover a range of technologies designed to make gaming more inclusive for players with disabilities or medical issues. Some of the newly added patents include:

  • Intelligent Personalized Speech Recognition: A system that improves the accuracy and efficiency of speech recognition by using personal phoneme mappings for each user.
  • Generating Expressive Speech Audio from Text Data: A system that generates expressive speech audio from text data, providing more control and personalization based on desired speaking style and speaker attributes.
  • Generating Speech in the Voice of a Player: A system that can generate speech in the voice of a player for their avatar, based on minimal sample speech data.
  • Voice Aging Using Machine Learning: A system that can age an original input voice to a desired target age without requiring additional voice samples.
  • Emotion-Based Music Style Change Using Deep Learning: A system that infers a player’s emotion while playing a video game and tunes the background soundtrack to best fit that emotion.

In addition to the patents, EA has also released an Unreal Engine 5 plugin that enables in-engine use of its photosensitivity analysis tech, IRIS, which was open-sourced last year. This plugin allows developers to analyze and identify frames that could potentially impact players who experience photosensitivity and make necessary adjustments.

EA’s commitment to making games more accessible is evident in its ongoing efforts to share its accessibility-centered technology with the wider industry royalty-free. By doing so, EA aims to encourage the industry to work together to remove barriers and make gaming more inclusive for everyone.

Breaking, Business, Games, Gaming, News, PC

But of course, Amazon is promoting Secret Level TV Series with FREE games

Amazon Prime Gaming is celebrating the upcoming release of its animated show, Secret Level, by offering an additional 10 free games to subscribers. This surprise announcement comes as Prime Gaming gears up for the December 10 release of the show, which tells short stories set within the world of popular video games.

Prime Gaming subscribers can now claim these new titles, which include a mix of classic and modern games spread across different PC gaming platforms. Some of the games will be available for free into 2025, giving players plenty of time to enjoy them.

The free games lineup includes:

  • Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition (GOG)
  • Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition (GOG)
  • Necromunda: Hired Gun (Epic Games Store)
  • Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition (GOG)
  • The Outer Worlds (GOG)
  • Space Hulk: Deathwing – Enhanced Edition (Amazon Games)
  • Spelunky (GOG)
  • Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War (Amazon Games)
  • Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine (Amazon Games)
  • Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II (Amazon Games, coming December 12)

Prime Gaming has already announced 18 free games for December 2024, and this latest batch of 10 new titles adds to the excitement. Subscribers can claim these games by connecting their Amazon and Twitch accounts, making it easy to access and enjoy the free content.

This offer is a great way for Prime members to build hype for the Secret Level series by exploring the games that inspired it.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to add some fantastic titles to your gaming library for free!

Games, Gaming, News

Not exactly EOL but Foamstarts will be on barebone in 2025

Square Enix has announced that the next season of Foamstars, titled “Party Goes On!”, will be the game’s last. Starting on December 13, 2024, and running until January 17, 2025, this final season will mark the end of seasonal updates for the game. However, Foamstars will remain online and playable, with all online services continuing to be available.

After the final season, Square Enix plans to introduce expansions to enhance gameplay, including customizable shots for characters and new enhancement elements like Prism Gems. The Foamstars Cup, a series of in-game events named after each character, will also be held to keep the community engaged.

Despite the end of seasonal updates, previous Season Passes will be made available again, allowing players to obtain items they might have missed. This decision comes after Foamstars transitioned to a free-to-play model in October 2024, following its initial launch as a PlayStation Plus title in February 2024.

Season Updates

As previously announced, season updates for FOAMSTARS will end on December 13. There will be no new content added beyond this date, but the various online services will remain available.

Even after the “PARTY GOES ON!” season concludes on January 17 next year, the FOAMSTARS CUP will begin as in-game events named after each character. In addition, EXTREME PARTY will also take place regularly.

The CASUAL PARTY and MISSION mode, etc. can be enjoyed as before, and previous Season Passes will be made available again as well.

To our players

Thank you so much for playing FOAMSTARS.

I don’t want this to sound like a final message since you will be able to continue playing the game. However I wanted to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to you all once again, so I’ve taken up my pen to write this producer’s letter.

From the start, alongside Director Rickey, FOAMSTARS had been developed with the goal of creating “a game that everyone can enjoy together.”

“Everyone together” doesn’t just refer to the players, but also includes their family members and partners who may be watching them play, and those who are watching and engaging through streams.

Since the game’s release on February 6, 2024, the development team has been working tirelessly to add new content and features, striving to bring the game as close as possible to that goal.

Throughout both the development and operational phases, we have faced many challenges. However, the support of all of you who play the game, along with the incredible fan art, has been a constant source of encouragement for the team. It’s because of this support that we’ve been able to overcome these difficulties, always with the goal of responding to your feedback.

If FOAMSTARS has become a game that you can enjoy with others, then we couldn’t be happier.

Thanks to all of you, we’ve managed to successfully complete every update we had planned. We’ve been able to reach this point because of your warm support. On behalf of the entire team, I’d like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude.

And finally…

Again, the various online services for FOAMSTARS will continue to be available for your enjoyment. The party at Bath Vegas will carry on, thanks to the FOAMSTARS cast and, most of all, to you – the players!

We hope you will continue to enjoy FOAMSTARS for many years to come.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kosuke Okatani (FOAMSTARS Producer)

While the end of seasonal updates may be disappointing for some fans, Square Enix’s commitment to keeping the game online and introducing new gameplay enhancements shows their dedication to the Foamstars community.

Featured, Games, Gaming, News

GG XDefiant – Ubisoft will sunsets its biggest foray on team PvP First Person Shooter

Ubisoft has announced the sunset of XDefiant, its ambitious first-person shooter, starting today, December 3, 2024. This decision comes as a surprise to many fans, especially since the game had only recently launched in full.

Starting today, new downloads, player registrations, and purchases will no longer be available. However, Ubisoft has assured players that Season 3 will still be released as planned. The servers will remain active, and the game will be fully playable until June 3, 20252. During this period, existing players will continue to have access to all game features, including progression, events, rewards, and achievements.

For those who have invested in the game, Ubisoft is offering full refunds to players who purchased the Ultimate Founders Pack and those who bought digital currency or Season Passes since November 3, 2024. Refunds will be processed by the storefronts where the purchases were made and may take up to 8 weeks.

Executive Producer Mark Rubin expressed his gratitude to the community for their support and dedication.

We understand that this news may come as a disappointment, and we deeply appreciate the time and passion you have invested in our community.

While the sunset of XDefiant is undoubtedly a letdown for many fans, Ubisoft’s commitment to releasing Season 3 and providing refunds shows their effort to support the game’s player base during this transition.

The Journey of XDefiant: From Announcement to Sunset

XDefiant, Ubisoft’s ambitious first-person shooter, has had quite a journey since its announcement in July 2021. Initially known as Tom Clancy’s XDefiant, the game aimed to bring together characters from various Ubisoft franchises in a fast-paced, team-based multiplayer experience.

The development process began with a closed Insider test in North America in 2021, followed by a second test in February 2023. A closed beta test took place in April 2023, and an open session was held in June 2023, allowing players to experience the game and provide feedback. Despite the excitement and positive reception, the game faced several delays due to inconsistencies in the game experience.

XDefiant officially launched on May 21, 2024, and quickly gained popularity, reaching 1 million unique players within two and a half hours. The game’s success continued, with over 3 million unique players and around 300,000 concurrent players within 48 hours. However, despite the strong start, Ubisoft struggled to maintain player interest in the highly competitive free-to-play FPS market.

In a surprising announcement, Ubisoft revealed the decision to sunset XDefiant starting December 3, 2024. The game will remain playable until June 3, 2025, with Season 3 still set to be released3. Ubisoft cited the difficulty in attracting and retaining enough players to justify further investment as the primary reason for the decision.

The sunset of XDefiant has led to the closure of Ubisoft’s San Francisco and Osaka studios, with many employees transitioning to other roles within the company. Despite the challenges, the development team’s passion and dedication to the project have been widely recognized.

As the gaming community reflects on the journey of XDefiant, it serves as a reminder of the challenges and uncertainties in the gaming industry. While the game’s sunset is a disappointment for many fans, it also highlights the importance of player engagement and the competitive nature of the market.

Games, Gaming, News, PC, Xbox

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: PC Specs Revealed

Bethesda and MachineGames have unveiled the PC specifications required to run the highly anticipated game, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Set to release on December 8, 2024, the game promises to take players on an exciting adventure with the iconic archaeologist, Indiana Jones.

To run Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, your PC will need to meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • Processor: Intel Core i7 @ 3.3GHz or better, AMD Ryzen 5 @ 3.1GHz or better
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER 8 GB, AMD Radeon RX 6600 8 GB, or Intel Arc A580
  • Storage: 120 GB

These specs indicate that the game is designed to be accessible to a wide range of players, without requiring top-tier hardware. The inclusion of mid-range GPUs like the RTX 2060 SUPER and RX 6600 means that many gamers will be able to enjoy the game without needing to invest in the latest high-end graphics cards.

In addition to the standard requirements, the game will support DLSS 3.5 for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series GPUs, offering enhanced visuals and performance through ray reconstruction. AMD users can look forward to FSR 3.0 support, although specific details on its implementation have yet to be confirmed.

For those whose PCs may not meet the requirements, Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce NOW will provide alternative ways to play the game without needing to upgrade hardware.

Games, Gaming, News

Marvel Rivals Unleashes Wolverine, Black Widow, and More in Latest Trailer

Marvel Rivals, the highly anticipated hero shooter from NetEase, has just released a new trailer that reveals an incredible lineup of characters for its launch. With only a few days to go before its official release, the game is generating a lot of excitement among fans.

The latest trailer showcases Wolverine, Black Widow, Cloak & Dagger, Iron Fist, and the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl as part of the initial roster. These characters join an already impressive lineup that includes Captain America, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, and many more. The game promises to bring the Marvel multiverse to life with its diverse cast of heroes and villains.

Marvel Rivals is a competitive multiplayer title where teams of six players battle it out in various Marvel-inspired locations. The game features dynamic environmental destruction and unique team-up abilities, making each match a thrilling experience. Players can expect fast-paced action and strategic gameplay as they fight to control payloads and capture points across different worlds.

One of the standout characters in the trailer is Black Widow, whose gameplay has been compared to Overwatch’s Widowmaker. Black Widow’s sniper skills and defensive abilities make her a formidable opponent on the battlefield3. Wolverine, with his adamantium claws and healing factor, brings a brutal melee combat style to the game.

Marvel Rivals is set to launch on December 6, 2024, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store). The game will be free-to-play, with a microtransaction model and battle pass system for additional content.

Games, Gaming, Hardware/Console, News, Playstation

Sony wants to trigger nostalgia with previous Playstation boot loading screens on PS5

In celebration of Playstation’s 30th anniversary, Sony has released a special update for the PS5 that brings back nostalgic elements from previous console generations. For a limited time, PS5 owners can now customize their console’s design and boot-up sequence to reflect their favorite Playstation eras.

The update includes the iconic PS1 boot-up screen, complete with the classic white flash and startup sounds that many gamers fondly remember. Additionally, players can choose from themes based on the PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, and a special 30th-anniversary theme. Each theme not only changes the visual style of the home screen but also incorporates the unique sound effects from the respective console generations.

“This update is our way of saying thank you to our fans for three decades of incredible memories and experiences,” said a Sony representative. “We hope it brings back some great nostalgia and allows players to relive those cherished moments.”

The limited-time nature of this update has created a sense of urgency among fans, who are eager to experience these retro features before they disappear. Sony has also launched a 30th-anniversary sale on the Playstation Store, offering discounts on games from all generations, further adding to the celebratory atmosphere.

While some fans have expressed a desire for more permanent customization options, many are appreciating this temporary nod to the past.

As the gaming community continues to celebrate this milestone, it’s clear that Sony’s efforts to honor its history are resonating with players. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newer player, this update offers a unique way to connect with the rich history of Playstation.

Update New Firmware for PS5

Sony announced the entrance of version 24.08-10.40.00 for Playstation 5 consoles and the changelog includes:

We’ve improved the process of transferring data from another PS5 and enhanced stability when transferring large amounts of data, such as captures.

We’ve improved the messages and usability on some screens.

Games, Gaming, PC

GOG Steps Up to Preserve Warcraft 1 and 2 Amidst Blizzard’s Delisting

In a bold move to ensure the longevity of classic games, GOG has announced its commitment to preserving Warcraft: Orcs & Humans and Warcraft II despite Blizzard’s surprising and UNFORTUNATE decision to delist them from its storefront.

This decision comes just a month after Blizzard released remastered versions of these iconic games on its Battle.net marketplace.

Starting December 13, 2024, the original Warcraft games will no longer be available for purchase on GOG. However, GOG has reassured its customers that the games will remain accessible to those who have already purchased them.

This is part of GOG’s newly launched Preservation Program, which aims to keep classic games compatible with modern systems indefinitely.

We’re incredibly proud of the work we’ve done on Warcraft I and Warcraft II, bringing them back to life after decades of unavailability.

Through our efforts, we’ve introduced several new features to both titles, including multiplayer support over LAN and enhanced graphical options like antialiasing and anisotropic filtering.

-GOG via their official blog.

The company has introduced several enhancements to the games, including multiplayer support over LAN and improved graphical options like antialiasing and anisotropic filtering.

GOG’s Preservation Program ensures that even if a game is delisted, it will continue to receive updates and tech support to maintain compatibility with future systems. This means that fans of the original Warcraft games can rest easy knowing they will still be able to enjoy these classics without any issues.

We want to reveal a new feature to our recently announced Preservation Program. Once a game joins the Program, we pledge to maintain its compatibility even if it gets delisted from the store.

This means that owners of those titles can still expect a seamless experience and tech support for those titles. This also considers potential changes in Windows OS that may impact games’ playability.

For those who haven’t yet snagged the Warcraft I & II Bundle, GOG is offering a discount code MakeWarcraftLiveForever to knock $2 off the regular price of $14.99. This is a fantastic opportunity to own these timeless classics DRM-free and ensure they remain playable for years to come.

I want to personally add that this move by Blizzard Entertainment is as anti-consumer AF as it gets. It’s emblematic of the entire Activision Blizzard mindset where profit is prioritized over genuine gaming experiences and preservation efforts. It’s frustrating to see companies deploying tactics like “compromised” FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) as a convenient marketing ploy rather than addressing the needs and concerns of the gaming community.

This begs the question: why are gamers increasingly skeptical about remasters and remakes? It’s because these efforts often come at the expense of the original versions, eroding the authentic experiences that the gaming community cherishes. Companies should realize that preserving the source material while introducing new versions shows respect for the legacy of these games and the loyalty of their players.

From my part… I was looking for the physical version as part of my retro gaming spending for next year, but if my discount purchase allows me to both contribute and spite Blizzard at the same time, I’m all game!