Our weekly news liveblog, with this week’s videogame releases
New week, yet more videogames! Gosh, those developers are incorrigible. I would characterise this week’s new game releases as a gentle blend of cosy simulation and nostalgia, served on a bed of fantasy roguelikes. If I had to pick a most-anticipated, it’d be a toss-up between the remaster of a shooter I adored in my teens and the breezy amateur photography game that teaches you the kanji for “flower”.
Here are the new games we think could be worth a play, at the time of writing: anti-RTS god sim shmupGods Against Machines(26th Feb); daft otaku beat ‘em upPull Stay(26th Feb, early access); learn-Japanese-through-photography simShashingo(27th Feb); cosy neighbourhood builderMinami Lane(28th Feb); retro FPSStar Wars: Dark Forces Remaster(28th Feb); mournful single-player co-opBrothers: A Tale Of Two Sons Remake(28th Feb); mind-diving turn-based RPGThyria(28th Feb); dice-based fantasy roguelikeTamarak Trail(29th Feb); boozy Porco Rosso-esque flight simThe Brew Barons(1st March); co-op fantasy FPSGuards(1st March).
As ever, this week’s new videogame releases are unofficially sponsored by the Maw, that darkling terror beyond time and space, which forever hankers to consume our universe unless it is relentlessly fed gobbets of videogame news. You can follow our desperate attempts to appease it in our latest weekly newsblog below.
Our live coverage of this event has finished.
MONDAY’S CHILD IS FAIR OF FACE
Sire, the gamers are revolting! FEED THE MAW.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
As reported byPCG, Rainbow Six: Siege creative director Alexander Karpazis has resisted calls for a sequel or ‘engine swap’, commenting that he feels Siege can “last forever” and that “I’m not going to name names, but you see games go through sequels and just completely drop the ball”.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Arrowhead’s CEO says that Helldivers 2’s shortage of player capacity and related online issues have now been sufficiently addressed that the studio are able to focus on other parts of the game. I played a couple of games over the weekend and it definitely seems a lot easier to log in and launch a game.
I’m really happy and proud of the@arrowheadgsteam for an amazing Achievement, the servers handled all@helldivers2players this weekend without problem.Now we have time to focus on improvements to the title and resume our original plan. Many exciting things upcoming!
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
As reported byEurogamer, Yoko Taro is trying to get people to get Square Enix to publish Nier 3, inviting audiences at the Nier: Orchestra Concert in London earlier this month to applaud the idea.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
We covered a few of the recent Age announcements but yeah, I’m not sure we can channel enough Crowley-grade insight between us to coverthe event itself.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
AnotherEnshrouded update. This one makes the vultures sound better, fixes various crashing and performance issues, and stops you hammering through the supposedly indestructible bedrock at the bottom of the world.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
As reported byGamesradar(HELLO KAAN), the quest is underway to decipher the backstory of Messmer The Impaler, the apparent villain of Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree. According toone redditor, he may have been referenced in the main game already.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
The Maw’s manifestations are many! If you spot any copyright-expired monster etchings anywhere that seem worthy of becoming a Maw header, by all means flag them up (bearing in mind the need to break the link text so as to avoid the Dread Automoderator, who I am beginning to suspect may be one of the Maw’s sibling gods).
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Once again MiniMatt delivers - read more about the Nacon eventhere. I missed my chance to play last week’s Terminator RTS, and have some pent-up Termin-anticipation as a consequence - hope thenew survival gamegets the most out of the license.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
PCGamerhave a short interview with Age Of Mythology: Retold producer Earnest Yuen about what they’re changing. The key takeaways in terms of mechanics: god powers can now be used several times a match with a cooldown, there’s a higher population limit to take advantage of the new graphics tech, and you’ll be able to micromanage myth unit powers.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Look, I’m trying to not makeeveryone of my Maw contributions be to do with Factorio Friday Facts, but they keep outdoing themselves. If you missed their latest blog,it’s all about Fulgora- one of the new planets in the upcoming expansion, which is sundered by perpetual lightning and covered in alien ruins to dig through. Looks like it’s really gonna shake up the Factorio formula, this planet.
–Ollie Toms
Larian’s director of publishing has asked people to stop sending the Baldur’s Gate 3 team threats over the game’s lack of official mod support.
We’ll be talking in depth about what our mod support will look like soon. Been working on it since launch. As always, we’ll discuss it in our way with our community. Threats & toxicity against our devs & community teams will only harm the conversation. Please stop that.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Sad news - Die Gute Fabrik, creators of the wonderful Saltsea Chronicles and Mutazione, are halting production due to lack of funding and investment. The whole team will be looking for new employment next month.
We’re sad to share that we’re halting production at@gutefabrikdue to the challenging funding & investment scene in games right now. We downed tools earlier this month & have been doing our best to support the team who’ll be looking for work from mid-March.Full statement:pic.twitter.com/iQgXUHDxYj
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Until Dawn developers Supermassive Games are also in trouble, according toBloomberg. 150 staff members are “at risk” of redundancy, the site claims, with Supermassive planning to lay off roughly 90.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Ender Magnolia: Bloom In The Mist - the sequel to very good Metroidvania Ender Lilies: Quietus Of The Knights which was previously announced for the Nintendo Switch during last week’s Partner Direct showcase - has now been confirmed for PC. It’s coming real soon, too, launching into early access on March 25th. Here’s a launch trailer:
–Katharine Castle
Final Fantasy’s legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu apparently doesn’t have the ‘strength’ to score a full video game again. While he will continue to contribute main themes to the series - having done so for both Final Fantasy 7 Remake and this year’s Rebirth - it seems that his last complete soundtrack will be for iOS-exclusive mobile RPG Fantasian.
–Matt Jarvis
Drive, sprint, swim, fish, chop, cook, fly and,uh, sing to zoom through courses in What the Golf? devs’ utterly bizarre racing game What the Car?when it escapes mobile onto Steam later this year.
–Matt Jarvis
As Edwin mentioned earlier, last weekend was finally a smooth one for Arrowhead in their battle against Helldivers 2’s towering popularity and its server-shaking effects. With the server issues now sorted,the studio are looking ahead to future incoming “improvements” for the shooter.
–Matt Jarvis
Honkai Impact 3rd’s Part 2 update is out this week, overhauling aerial combat, introducing new characters and taking Honkai: Star Rail’s ARPG predecessor to Mars.
–Matt Jarvis
GUARDS! is a co-op medieval Lethal Company-a-like with a touch of Chivalry’s physics-y combat - it looks like silly (and deadly) fun, and it’skicking down the doors of Steam on March 1st.
–Matt Jarvis
The chilled-out, minimalist vibe of Monument Valley meets the pleasing efficiency of Factorio in stripped-back factory-building puzzle game Sixty Four. It’ll beout on Steam on March 4th.
–Matt Jarvis
TUESDAY’S CHILD IS FULL OF GRACE
The temperature has plunged overnight and there is a low resolution quality to all objects within 100 metres of the quarantine zone. The Maw must have the mange again! FEED IT.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
It’s time to get your boots on and dust off that hoe: Stardew Valley’s 1.6 update is out on 19th March on PC.
It’s the 8th anniversary of Stardew Valley. Thank you for all the support over the years! Today I am announcing the PC Release date for the 1.6 update: –March 19th–. Console & Mobile will follow as soon as possible.pic.twitter.com/dMEFydjSqC
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Here’s a bit more fromFamitsuabout Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree’s mysterious DLC-specific levelling system, with translation provided by Redditortheangryfurlong. Apparently it’s a bit like Sekiro’s attack power system, which was increased by offering memories to a Sculptor’s Idol.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Palworld’s been updated. This one alters the handling of save data, adds full keyboard configuration, and changes Pal attack behaviour.
[Patch Notice]・Steam patch v0.1.5.0・Xbox patch v0.1.5.0Steam version v0.1.5.0 has been released.(Xbox version v0.1.5.0 will released as soon as it is ready)Patch Notes:===▼Major Fixes・Implemented backup of save data on the world selection screen・Resolved…pic.twitter.com/ZYoytWqBv5
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
A new Dragon’s Dogma 2 vocation! Say hello to the Sorceror.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
News is trickling through of game cancellations stemming from Sony’s just-announced mass layoffs. According toBloomberg, these include a Twisted Metal live-service game from Firesprite, though this was in early development and hadn’t been greenlit.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst hasput out a statementexplaining that as part of Sony’s reduction plan, “we’ve looked at our studios and our portfolio, evaluating projects in various stages of development, and have decided that some of those projects will not move forward.” He didn’t go into details.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
WEDNESDAY’S CHILD IS FULL OF WOE
The Maw whispers! All news writers lose -4 Reason and gain +10 Infernal Melodies. FEED IT.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
As reported byAftermath, former Volition developers have launched a new studio,Shapeshifter Games, who will “partner with world class developers and publishers on the creation of AAA games”. Best of luck, Shapeshifter.EDIT- Alice0 points out that we’ve already covered Shapeshifter back in Jan, though the Aftermath interview is new. D’oh.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Nintendo are suing the creators of the Switch emulator Yuzu - you can find the full lawsuit onScribd, as passed on byStephen Totilo.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Life is Strange: True Colors studio Deck Nine are laying off 20% of their staff, as reported byEurogamer, attributing the move to “worsening market conditions” on social media.
pic.twitter.com/rEVSYzwLQp
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Sticking withEurogamer, they also point us toward a couple of new pieces of concept art for Playdead’s mysterious next game, which has been described as a “third-person science fiction adventure set in a remote corner of the universe.” Here’s one of the artworks.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Against The Storm’s 1.2 update is out March 4th. The developershave outlined a few of the features, including a new production/consumption trends window, blightpost upgrades, unique art for world events, and Latin American Spanish localization.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Darkstone Digital, the developer of The Mortuary Assistant, are making a Paranormal Activity game, published by DreadXP in collaboration with Paramount Game Studios.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
NetEase Games have set up a new “remote-working-first” studio in Los Angeles called BulletFarm. Led by former Call of Duty bloke David Vonderhaar, the studio are currently developing an Unreal Engine 5 co-op shooter set in an original universe. Find more onthe official site.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Epic have allegedly been hacked by a ransomware group, though they currently deny it -full story here.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
The Maw is pleased withthis offering! I particularly like the looks ofAbdec.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Potion factory simThe Magical Mixture Millhas a 1.0 release date - 27th March. The 1.0 release adds new class origins, workstations, new customer quests and a main quest conclusion, plus quality-of-life updates and an assistant they’re hinting is some kind of cat. It’s time to get allMad Madam Mimon this shit.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
A new trailer for new Alone In The Dark.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Timemelters - a fantasy strategy game in which you clone one, time-travelling mage to fend off hordes - isout today. It reminds me of the old third-person RTS Sacrifice, if anybody here played that.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
As Edwin mentioned this morning, thecurrent developers behind Life is Strange and co-creators of The Expanse: A Telltale Series have laid off 20% of the studio, with Deck Nine blaming “the game industry’s worsening market conditions” for their second wave of job losses in under a year.
–Matt Jarvis
Overwatch 2’s recent Competitive changes - including controversial self-healing for non-support characters - have helped it to overtake Quick Play as the hero shooter sequel’s biggest mode.The upcoming Season 10 will introduce further tweaks, including the dropping of group restrictions.
–Matt Jarvis
Monster Train devs’ turn-based co-op roguelike Inkbound exits early access into 1.0 this April, bringing a new questline, final boss and quality-of-life updates - plus a more expensive price tag.
–Matt Jarvis
–Matt Jarvis
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn’s crossover event with Noctis and the Boyz’ roadtrip game Final Fantasy XVhas returned to the MMO for the first time in over two years, giving you another chance to unlock Noctis' outfit and - most importantly - the ridiculous four-seater Regalia Type-G flying car mount. The event is live from now until March 13th.
–Matt Jarvis
CRAB GOD CRAB GOD.
–Matt Jarvis
More layoff news this evening, with EA nowcutting 5% of their workforce. That equates to around 670 employees, according toIGN, who have also confirmed that Respawn’s Star Wars FPS has been cancelled in the process.
–Katharine Castle
THURSDAY’S CHILD HAS FAR TO GO
Rainy weather in London today! At this rate the Maw will liquify and then we’ll have to sandbag the entire perimeter. FEED IT.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
As part of last night’s layoff announcements, EA have closed Battlefield single-player studio Ridgeline Games - thanksVGC.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Helldivers 2 is getting mechs, ifthis video is to be believed.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Here’s an overview trailer for Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator, which is set in Barcelona and might just scratch your GTA itch.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
The well-regarded turn-based village management sim dotAGE has received a big quality-of-life update.Patch notes here.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
The Astralis Women’s Counter-Strike 2 esports team have written an open letter to Valve asking them to put default female character models in the game - in other words, character models you don’t have to pay for.
Astralis Women’s Counter-Strike 2 team has requested Valve to add free female characters in the gameThey argue having only male default characters discourages women from playingpic.twitter.com/g607wIBi9t
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Rockfishhave bloggedabout being 10 years old and how they found success with the Everspace series.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Bloomberg arereportingthat Embracer are selling off Saber Interactive, the creators of the Knights Of The Old Republic remake, for $500 million.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Baldur’s Gate 3 has made Minthara more pally and everyone less rude in the RPG’s latest update, while also sorting a bunch of other bugs and eliminating money and loot exploits. If you’re on Mac, you’ll also get Patch 6’s kissing improvements (and everything else)!
–Matt Jarvis
Hope you didn’t buy the Epic Games version of the Tomb Raider Remastered games - it turns out that versionwasn’t finished.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
The director for Immortals of Aveum and head of first-time developers Ascendant has saidthe magical first-person shooter could eventually find cult success like Dead Space, despite poor sales and mixed reviews when it launched last year - leading to dozens of layoffs at the studio weeks after release.
–Matt Jarvis
Smite 2 is reworking the mythological MOBA’s Conquest modewith more interaction, progression and some seriously powerful effects, as a new developer deep dive shows off a map that’s both basic-to-basics and richer with options.
–Matt Jarvis
Tear robot rivals limb from limb and then use their parts as your own in Mecha Mayhem, an upcoming physics-based brawler perhapsbest described as “Gang Beasts with Gundam”. It looks like silly fun!
–Matt Jarvis
Skylanders and Crash Bandicoot 4 studio Toys For Bob are breaking away from Activision Blizzard and going independent, as reported byGI- they’re in talks for a partnership with Microsoft.
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
FRIDAY’S CHILD IS LOVING AND GIVING
–Katharine Castle
Please, lady, get yourself some proper legwear. You’re going to catch a chill in that skirt.
–Katharine Castle
There’s still no new release date for Aussie RPGBroken Roadsyet after it was delayed last year, but new publishers tinyBuild have released a new origin story trailer for one of the characters you’ll be playing:
–Katharine Castle
Good news for GOG frequenters. Solo dev Kinmoku has announced today that both the excellentVideoverseand her debut gameOne Night Stand(also excellent) are both coming to GOG later today.
I have some exciting news to share…💜VIDEOVERSE💜 and 💛One Night Stand💛 are both coming to GOG later today – Check back here at 3pm (CET)! 🕒👀pic.twitter.com/12FSviWYbc
–Katharine Castle
As perEurogamerand Xwitter userWario64, chancers on Steam are once again trying to capitalise on the success of popular games by creating fake game pages for them with deep discounts attached. This time, two fake pages for Helldivers 2 were spotted last night, with each page listing Arrowhead as the developer, and PlayStation as the publisher. Stay safe out there, folks.
–Katharine Castle
–Katharine Castle
Battleborn and Aliens: Colonial Marines developer Gearbox Entertainment arereportedly about to be soldby banjaxed investment ghouls Embracer Group. This follows reports yesterday that Embracer werealso about to purge themselves of Saber Interactiveafter their disastrous, years-long acquisition binge.
–Graham Smith
Katharine mentioned the developer showcase for No Rest For The Wicked earlier, the new game Ori devs Moon Studio. Here’s afuller post on the streamto pull out two key details: it’ll launch in Early Access on April 18th, and it’ll add “innovative” co-op and competitive multiplayer in its first major post-launch update.
–Graham Smith
Space Crew: Legendary Edition isfree to keep from Steamif you grab it before March 14th.
–Graham Smith
The lead developer of crystal-JRPG-farm ‘em up Harvestellais leaving Square Enix next month.
–Graham Smith
Fall Guys receivedthe Survival Update this week, which lets players make their own survival rounds in its in-game editor. The update also adds new powerups and new rounds.
–Graham Smith
SATURDAY’S CHILD WORKS HARD FOR HIS LIVING
–Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Starfield’s next update enters beta on March 6th and adds some quality of life improvements, alongsidethe ability to make you and your companions smile in Photo Mode.
–Graham Smith
Payday 3’s 1.1.1 patch is out now and is the first of its “Operation Medic Bag” efforts to respond to player feedback. It lets you unready yourself in multiplayer lobbies, adds support for Nvidia graphics tech,and includes 300 bug fixes.
–Graham Smith
KeeperRL, an ambitious blend of Dwarf Fortress and Dungeon Keeper, has been in development for over 11 years. After several alphas and nine years in Steam Early Access,it’s just hit version 1.0.
–Graham Smith
Vampire Survivors’ latest update, released this past week, adds two new characters and four new weapons. It’s alsodedicated to the game’s original engine, interestingly.
–Graham Smith
Bestest best poker-like card game Balatrohas had its PEGI rating abruptly changed from a 3+ to an 18+, seemingly due to the opinion that it “contains prominent gambling imagery and material that instructs about gambling.”
As a result, Balatro has been removed from sale on several console platforms. Its developers say they are “confident that the game will remain available on PC stores, including Steam” in theirresponse to the change of rating. They also say that they hope to be back on sale soon, although perhaps with a “temporary 18+ rating”.
–Graham Smith
–Graham Smith
Minami Lane looks likea cute, casual management game about building a street. I like that it explicitly advertises itself as having “two to four hours” of content; that only makes me want to play it more.
–Graham Smith
