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  • ✇Destructoid
  • This Oblivion mod lets you explore Skyrim, but only a tiny bitAndrew Heaton
    Despite being a huge success, Oblivion has no doubt been overshadowed both by time and its loftier successor, Skyrim. Still, The Elder Scrolls 4 exists as a major player in the RPG genre, but that hasn't stopped someone from wanting to blend the two games together. Sort of. The "Skyrim Border" mod comes from the mind of Nexus Mods user JoopvanDie, and is essentially a way of bringing a bit of TES5 to Cyrdoiil, the province where Oblivion takes place. Anyone who knows the map of Tamriel is aw
     

This Oblivion mod lets you explore Skyrim, but only a tiny bit

10. Červen 2024 v 16:55

Oblivion: a large tree in the middle of a small settlement that also contains a ruined keep.

Despite being a huge success, Oblivion has no doubt been overshadowed both by time and its loftier successor, Skyrim. Still, The Elder Scrolls 4 exists as a major player in the RPG genre, but that hasn't stopped someone from wanting to blend the two games together. Sort of.

The "Skyrim Border" mod comes from the mind of Nexus Mods user JoopvanDie, and is essentially a way of bringing a bit of TES5 to Cyrdoiil, the province where Oblivion takes place. Anyone who knows the map of Tamriel is aware that the latter game borders the former, though players are unable to cross.

Oblivion: the inventory screen showing the map where Cyrodiil borders Skyrim.
Image via JoopvanDie/Nexus Mods.

However, JoopvanDie invites us to step a little bit into Skyrim, giving us a small area to trek around in, perhaps breathe in a bit of that cold, dragon-y air.

Just a quick pop by to say hello

As the name suggests, the mod by no means allows you to traverse the whole of Skyrim's landscape or cross over into any other part of Tamriel that's not officially part of the game. That would be far too ambitious. And, in fact, there is already a fan-made project that covers that idea.

What this does is bring just a little bit of the border within our grasp inside Oblivion. While there's not a huge amount there – no new quests, for example – there's enough that's worth a quick visit. This includes:

  • an area for you to explore
  • one small village with NPCs
  • few small caves
  • two ingredients
  • one new creature (Frost troll)
  • new armor and a medieval Scandinavian(ish) helmet
  • treasure hunting

If you want to get to the area, the description says to go to the Echo Cave (shown just west of Bruma, which you can see in the image above) and follow the road to the northwest. Say hi to Paarthurnax for me if he's there.

The post This Oblivion mod lets you explore Skyrim, but only a tiny bit appeared first on Destructoid.

  • ✇Destructoid
  • Every The Elder Scrolls mainline release ranked by salesAndrew Heaton
    Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series has been a staple of role-playing video games. In terms of mainline entries, we're five releases in, with a sixth one out there somewhere being worked on. But we're not here to talk about the future. We're going to be discussing just how successful each game in the franchise has been. Make no mistake—as the years have gone by, The Elder Scrolls has only become more popular. But the series had to start somewhere, and I think it's interesting to compare the sale
     

Every The Elder Scrolls mainline release ranked by sales

18. Květen 2024 v 19:00

Elder Scrolls 2 - Daggerfall: The inside of a tavern with a cozy fire nearby.

Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series has been a staple of role-playing video games. In terms of mainline entries, we're five releases in, with a sixth one out there somewhere being worked on. But we're not here to talk about the future. We're going to be discussing just how successful each game in the franchise has been.

Make no mistake—as the years have gone by, The Elder Scrolls has only become more popular. But the series had to start somewhere, and I think it's interesting to compare the sales figures of each one side-by-side to really hammer home this success story.

6. The Elder Scrolls: Arena - 3,000 copies

The Elder Scrolls: Arena logo with an image of a mighty warrior about to fight a goblin and a warlock.
Image via Destructoid.

At the time of release, Arena sold around 3,000 copies, according to former lead designer Ted Peterson. While these numbers have probably gone up since then, there doesn't seem to be any indication of how many the first TES game has sold overall. The fact that you can get it free these days makes it a moot point.

Cast your minds back three decades if you can. A small studio from Maryland, which had been developing sports games and a couple of Terminator adaptations, unleashed the first Elder Scrolls entry into the world. Called Arena, the crew had no idea just how big their fantasy universe was going to become.

Arena may represent the seeds of The Elder Scrolls as a franchise, but gaming wasn't the corporate-driven beast we know it as today, which is probably why the sales figures don't look that impressive.

Still, Arena made an impression, setting into motion new ways of creating interactive stories with detailed role-playing elements. The fact that it had a procedurally generated world was also hugely impressive for the time.

5. The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall - 700,000+ copies

the Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall logo with the inside of a castle behind it, and a knight standing guard nearby.
Image via Destructoid.

Selling 120,000 copies upon launch, Daggerfall easily surpassed Arena. By mid-2000, former Vice President of Bethesda Softworks Pete Hines said the game had sold over 700,000 copies, and that number would have gone up since.

Encompassing a world the size of Great Britain, The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall improved on Arena in just about every way possible. While it's perhaps not as big as its predecessor, it beefed up the role-playing aspects and made a huge splash in the genre.

That it won more awards than Arena shows that Bethesda was onto something. It had enormous scope and a world so huge that its in-game map had a search function! Daggerfall was the first Elder Scrolls game I played; its vastness was mind-blowing to me, and I still go back to it sometimes.

If you want to experience Daggerfall today, you're best off playing the Unity version from GOG. It's a complete revamp of the game, keeping the visuals and classic style of the original but giving it a few quality-of-life tweaks and allowing for mods. It's also free.

4. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind - 4 million copies

The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind logo with the city of Vivec behind it, and the statue of Vivec on top of a building.
Image via Destructoid.

Now we're getting into the big figures. Morrowind was a hit when it was first released, and people are still buying it more than 20 years later. By the end of its launch year, the game had shifted around 200,000 copies. By mid-2005, that number had gone up to more than 4 million in sales.

The leap in visual quality between Daggerfall and Morrowind is utterly staggering. The Elder Scrolls 3 – released at the start of the new millennium – was a triumph in terms of immersion and advanced graphics. Sure, it's aged horribly now, but back then, just seeing the teaser screenshots prior to release was all the evidence I needed to know that the new TES game was going to be something special.

Morrowind is one of the smallest entries in terms of map size, but that didn't matter. It had a detailed world filled with a host of NPCs encased in a uniquely built world that took things beyond the usual knights and gray castles we're used to seeing in fantasy.

Morrowind was also the first entry to get a console port. It was released on the original Xbox and PC and went down as one of the best-selling games on the system at the time, almost surpassing Halo. Look at most people's lists of favorite Elder Scrolls entries, and chances are high that Morrowind will be at the top.

3. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - 9.5 million copies

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion logo with a knight behind it riding on a horse.
Image via Destructoid.

According to a 2015 report from Polygon, Oblivion sold around 9.5 million copies throughout its lifetime, turning the small, Ultima-inspired RPG series into a globally renowned video game franchise.

Oblivion was a phenomenal hit when it launched in 2006. Despite arriving just four years after Morrowind, it was yet another leap in just how advanced gaming visuals were becoming.

By now, The Elder Scrolls had a huge following, making Bethesda one of the biggest developers in the world. True, that Oblivion was when the series began to lean more towards action rather than deep role-playing aspects, but the sales numbers speak for themselves.

Oblivion has a Metacritic score of 94 on Xbox 360 and has gone down as one of the top 100 video game releases of all time. I mentioned how blown away I was by Morrowind, but Oblivion absolutely knocked it out of the park for me when I first saw it.

2. The Elder Scrolls Online - Over 15 million copies

The Elder Scrolls Online logo with a bunch of fantasy characters posing ehind it.
Image via Destructoid.

The Elder Scrolls Online was one of the top-selling games in the UK when it was released in 2014, and it has sold millions since. According to Pete Hines, ESO sold more than 15 million units as of 2020.

There's an argument to be made that Elder Scrolls Online isn't part of the mainline series. However, I decided to include it because the numbers are still impressive.

The fact that this is an MMO is what sets it apart from the other Elder Scrolls games. The series is noteworthy for its focus on a single-player narrative. ESO instills players with a sense of power and destiny fulfillment, though that does sort of fall by the wayside when thousands of people are playing as the story's hero.

While I did play the beta – which was buggy – I never gave much attention to Elder Scrolls ONline. It's definitely brought in a lot more players over the years, thanks to it ditching the subscription model required to play it. But it must be doing something right, as it's generated around $2 billion in revenue as of 2024.

1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - 60 million copies

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim logo with the purple and blue sky of Sovngarde in the background.
Image via Destructoid.

There was never any doubt this was at the top, was there? The most recent figures show that Skyrim has sold over 60 million copies since 2011. That might not be enough to beat out the likes of Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto 5, or even Tetris, but what other game can boast being one of the most successful releases ever?

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is considered by many to be not only the greatest RPG of all time but one of the best video games in history. At the time of writing, Skyrim is registering over 11,000 concurrent players, according to SteamDB. That's nearly four times the amount that bought the original Arena, let alone played it.

We can make a lot of arguments about how Oblivion is buggy as hell and has taken up too much real estate in the gaming sphere, but that doesn't change the facts. The game was a surefire hit before it was even released almost 13 years ago.

Today, it continues to attract a steady stream of players and modders and boasts a total of 229 awards, according to IMDb. Yeah, gamers may be sick of seeing and talking about Skyrim, but it's definitely going down as one of gaming's biggest achievements--at least, until The Elder Scrolls 6 dethrones it.

The post Every The Elder Scrolls mainline release ranked by sales appeared first on Destructoid.

  • ✇Destructoid
  • 10 essential Skyrim mods you need to installAndrew Heaton
    While we wait (and wait and wait and wait) for Bethesda to say literally anything about what's happening with The Elder Scrolls 6, let's talk about Skyrim. That should kill a bit more time. Specifically, let's talk about modding Skyrim. Since time immemorial (well, 2011), TES5 fans have been modifying the game, improving it several folds, adding new content, fixing bugs...just generally getting as much life out of the ol' beast as they can. It's almost as if some people took one look at Sky
     

10 essential Skyrim mods you need to install

12. Květen 2024 v 15:32

A glowing Skyrim logo with a blurry screenshot from Nexus Mods in the background.

While we wait (and wait and wait and wait) for Bethesda to say literally anything about what's happening with The Elder Scrolls 6, let's talk about Skyrim. That should kill a bit more time. Specifically, let's talk about modding Skyrim.

Since time immemorial (well, 2011), TES5 fans have been modifying the game, improving it several folds, adding new content, fixing bugs...just generally getting as much life out of the ol' beast as they can. It's almost as if some people took one look at Skyrim in its vanilla form and went, "nah, mate."

Far be it from me to tell you there are countless ways to tinker with this aging epic RPG. But if you're new to playing, or you just want a quick rundown on some of the better mods out there, I've cobbled together a list of what I feel are some pretty essential ones. You may agree with this list. You may not. I will be answering no questions.

NOTE: I will attempt to provide links to mods that are for the Special Edition of Skyrim where possible.

Skyrim Script Extender

Skyrim Script Extender: the SKSE logo next to an orange arrow pointing at the Vortex logo.
Screenshot via Destructoid.

When I talk about "essential mods," you can probably interpret that as just meaning a "generally solid modification that many players highly recommend." A lot of it will come down to personal preference and how you want to alter the game.

However, with Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE for short), this one is pretty vital. If you ask people in the community – especially the PC community – what to install first when it comes to modding Skyrim, this will likely be your first port of call.

As the description itself says: this is a tool "used by many Skyrim mods that expands scripting capabilities and adds additional functionality to the game." You'd be pretty lost without it. The version linked here has already been downloaded over 1.4 million times, and it was only uploaded in 2019.

Unofficial Skyrim Patch

Screenshot from Skyrim showing a forge next to a trough of clear water.
Image via Arthmoor/Nexus Mods.

Bethesda games have bugs. The sun is a large ball of burning gas. Everyone knows the uncomfortable sensation of having one shoe tied slightly tighter than the other. Microsoft is pure evil. Oh, sorry. I thought I was just listing things that can be filed under "the bleeding obvious."

Yes, Skyrim has been laden with glitches and issues since the day it landed in video game stores (remember them?) While over the years, the developer has attempted to quash some of the major ones, there are still plenty of bugs that exist, even in the Anniversary Edition which came out some tens after the vanilla release.

That's where the Unofficial Skyrim Patch comes into play. It is, as the name suggests, an unofficial mod for the game with an eventual goal of fixing every single bug TES5 has, and we all know that is quite the mammoth task. The most recent version was uploaded on April 18, which means the team is still hard at work. This is another must.

SkyUI

The original Skyrim user interface on the left and the more comprehensive SkyUI version on the right.
Image via schlangster/Nexus Mods.

As gorgeous as Skyrim is (or was) when it first came out, there were some criticisms aimed at the game's standard user interface. While I personally didn't have much of a problem with it, I could see why it wasn't everyone's favorite.

If you've played the game, you'll surely have your own opinion about it. Which is why we have SkyUI. This is described as an "elegant, PC-friendly interface mod with many advanced features." Even from the single image above, you can see the differences between the vanilla version and the mod.

Is it fair to say it's more "intuitive?" I'm bold enough to go along with that. While there hasn't been an update for SkyUI since 2017, Nexus Mods registers over 4.8 million downloads, so they must be doing something right.

Open Cities

Skyrim: a city gate open, showing the inside of Windhelm.
Image via Arthmoor/Nexus Mods.

A game like Skyrim consistently delivers and entertains, largely because of its immersive quality. Forget the fact that it's now an older game. When it dropped all those years ago, it was a triumph. It drew people in with its utter splendor, enormous world, and cast of characters that were believable (well as believable as role-playing characters living in a fantasy world full of dragons can be).

However, some of that immersion does fall to the wayside slightly when you enter a new city, like Whiterun. Upon opening the main gate, you find yourself confronted with a black loading screen. It's understandable. Bethesda couldn't have put all the interior aspects of a city within the main world.

However, someone did just that. From the same modder that brought us the Unofficial Patch, we have Open Cities Skyrim. This is a mod that fluidly blends the game's city limits to whatever's outside its walls. The loading screens are now gone, which keeps you immersed. Plus, it means you can now ride your horse straight into places like Riften. That can only be a plus.

Alternative Start

Skyrim: the horse and cart ride into Helgen at the start of the game.
Image via Arthmoor/Nexus Mods.

When I first got the game in 2011, I was enthralled by the opening. A few days later, a friend came round because they wanted to see it, so I booted the game up, loaded a new save, and proceeded to go through the intro cut scene again. Then some time later, another friend wanted to see what all the fuss was about. By this point, my character's head had been cut off enough times to satisfy a revolution.

What I'm saying is, even before Skyrim had the long legacy it enjoys today, I had seen the opening section dozens of times. If you are a bit bored with that lengthy introduction, say hello to Alternative Start. Oh look, it's another mod by Arthmoor.

With this, you get to opt for a different beginning to your Skyrim playthrough. You can choose to be a hunter living in the woods, a vampire hiding in a cave, or maybe you've been shipwrecked. The good thing about this mod is it doesn't just give you an alternative starting point, it changes things about your character and doesn't immediately put you on the main quest path.

Helgen Reborn

Skyrim: an image of the tower in a non-burned down version of Helgen.
Image via Mike Hancho/Nexus Mods.

Speaking of that opening section, we don't get to experience Helgen much before it's terrorized by a dragon and left to burn in the ashes of its wake. It's there and then, in the blink of an eye, it's left in ruins as you run for your life and, presumably, bugger off to literally anywhere else.

With Helgen Reborn, the city gets a second chance. Modders Mike Hancho (aka Balok) didn't just turn the opening location on its head by rebuilding it. No, they went above and beyond, bringing something that is more than just a surface restructuring. The mod description tells it best:

Helgen Reborn is a fully voiced adventure with over 20 superb voice actors. As you help rebuild the town you'll reunite two old friends, uncover an underground slavery ring, battle in an arena and many other adventures!

A Quality World Map

Skyrim: a detailed version of the game's map, with the cursor hovering over Solitude.
Image via IcePenguin/Nexus Mods.

Skyrim's map is pretty good, says I. Not just a facsimile of the world you walk around. It's actually the real thing, just zoomed out immensely. It would have been easy for Bethesda to phone it in with a standard scroll-like map or something more cartoon-y. Well done to them, I say.

However, it can always be better, and that's what IcePenguin's A Quality World Map does. With over three million downloads on Nexus Mods, it presents itself as the last word in Skyrim topography. Consisting of high-detailed textures, AQWM (as I'm taking to call it) is a tasty visual addition to your game. I'd say it pairs nicely with SkyUI as well.

Also, it doesn't just have this 3D map, either. It comes in a vivid style and even a paper version, if you want something that's perhaps a bit more Lord of the Rings-y.

Towns and Villages Enhanced

Skyrim: the Statue of Talos in Whiterun with more trees in the area.
Image via Aplestormy/Nexus Mods.

After a while, you start to see the same old Skyrim. It's pretty enough, even for a game that's 13 years old, but it would be nice to have something else to look at. If this is you, you may be interested in Aplestormy's Towns and Villages Enhanced mods.

The interesting thing about this project is that there isn't one single download that alters every location in the game. Instead, they come in separate files. There's one for Whiterun, Windhelm, Solitude, Riften, Riverwood, and some of the smaller villages.

As described, they basically "enhance" a lot of areas in Skyrim with tweaks and fresh design choices. Here's what the Whiterun mod adds and/or alters.

  • Trees (Including new GKB Models)
  • New Design - Less Trees, more Detail
  • Shrubs and other Foliage
  • Rocks and small Details
  • New Lighting
  • Clutter
  • Architecture
  • Alchemist Plants
  • Effects
  • Chickens

Skyrim 202X

Skyrim: the floor in Dawnguard with very high-quality textures
Image via Pfuscher/Nexus Mods.

I've said it a few times already, but Skryim is a pretty old game at this point. As such, it's not as visually arresting as it once was. Back in 2011, though...wowee. There wasn't much like it. However, things have changed. We want our collective eyes melted out of our faces with graphical brilliance.

If you want nothing more than to make Skyrim look prettier, maybe even more modern, there are a wide range of options available in the modding community. Howver, one that comes highly recommended is Pfuscher's Skyrim 202X. This is a high-resolution overhaul of how the game looks.

It boasts more than 2,000 files (which come in several parts) and is a visual feast. It's been worked on since 2016, with the latest version going live on April 15 this year. It has over 1.8 million unique downloads, and it's easy to see why. It's. Just. So. Pretty.

Immersive Interactions

Skyrim: an NPC in Whiterun waves at a child.
Image via JaySerpa/Nexus Mods.

Anyone who's seen me talk about Skyrim mods before may be familiar with the name JaySerpa. They are, by far, one of my favorite modders working on the game currently, and it's mainly because of how they change the game to be that extra bit immersive.

I'm choosing Immersive Interactions to put in this list, but really, I could have selected any one at random to showcase how simple tweaks can up the alluring quality of role-playing in Skyrim. This one in particular allows your character to perform "context-aware animations," which includes being able to greet NPCs and generally interact with the world.

JaySerpa has also gives us realistic reactions to invisibility spells, new spliced dialog during brawls, the ability to pet dogs, even a fix for the flute playing animation. There's a selection there that I personally recommend.

The post 10 essential Skyrim mods you need to install appeared first on Destructoid.

  • ✇Destructoid
  • Is Dragon’s Dogma 2 Steam Deck compatible?Andrew Heaton
    It's been a bit of a shaky start for Dragon's Dogma 2 since its release, but it looks as though developer Capcom is trying to keep on top of things. Maybe that's just the state of the video game industry these days, but I digress. While the game is available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, many of you will be playing it on PC, specifically through the Steam store. And, if you do happen to have a Steam Deck in your possession, you may be wondering whether it's compatible with the handheld device.
     

Is Dragon’s Dogma 2 Steam Deck compatible?

22. Duben 2024 v 16:18

Dragon's Dogma 2: a huge vista with a faded castle off in the far distance.

It's been a bit of a shaky start for Dragon's Dogma 2 since its release, but it looks as though developer Capcom is trying to keep on top of things. Maybe that's just the state of the video game industry these days, but I digress.

While the game is available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, many of you will be playing it on PC, specifically through the Steam store. And, if you do happen to have a Steam Deck in your possession, you may be wondering whether it's compatible with the handheld device.

Does Dragon's Dogma 2 have official Steam Deck Support?

Dragon's Dogma 2 is not currently supported for the device. So, before you break out Valve's mobile gaming PC, it's worth noting this comes from the official Dragon's Dogma 2 Steam page, straight from Capcom.

https://youtu.be/6SwRuaVwC8c

Can you get Dragon's Dogma 2 to run without official support?

There can be a number of reasons why something isn't suited for the Steam Deck. In this case, it seems as though the fact that the game is not supported is down to the game's graphic settings. More specifically, they "cannot be configured to run well on Steam Deck."

It's worth mentioning that this is not the same as something just being labelled as "playable." In situations like that, the game in question could well work for the Deck, but is likely to be missing some features or perhaps be a little buggy. It's only really "verified" titles that are best suited for the device.

There may well be a patch in the future that will make Dragon's Dogma 2 compatible. For now, Valve appears to have tested it and deemed it unfit. You can, of course, go ahead and try it if you have the game and a Deck, but don't expect miracles.

I also predict that, as we move forward, more new releases are going to be less Steam Deck compatible from day one. It's been out for over two years now and it's starting to show its age a bit, especially when compared to newer devices, such as the Lenovo Legion Go and ASUS ROG ally.

The post Is Dragon’s Dogma 2 Steam Deck compatible? appeared first on Destructoid.

  • ✇Destructoid
  • Unsurprisingly, some of the Fallout games are hitting new concurrent player peaksAndrew Heaton
    While the games never fully left the limelight, the recent Fallout TV show – with a second season now confirmed – has increased the franchise's popularity in a pretty big way. With that in mind, it will not surprise a single person reading this that some of the games have experienced a big uptick in concurrent players. For example: Fallout 76 saw a player count of 73,368 on PC in the last 24 hours or so, according to data from SteamDB. The chart itself gives a visual representation of this i
     

Unsurprisingly, some of the Fallout games are hitting new concurrent player peaks

22. Duben 2024 v 15:37

Fallout 76: people in Brotherhood of Steel armor posing in a field.

While the games never fully left the limelight, the recent Fallout TV show – with a second season now confirmed – has increased the franchise's popularity in a pretty big way. With that in mind, it will not surprise a single person reading this that some of the games have experienced a big uptick in concurrent players.

For example: Fallout 76 saw a player count of 73,368 on PC in the last 24 hours or so, according to data from SteamDB. The chart itself gives a visual representation of this increase and while the numbers are not as strong as, say, Fallout 4, it's still a testament to the TV show's success.

https://twitter.com/falloutonprime/status/1781095366315888903

Likewise, the third entry – specifically the Game of the Year edition – also saw an increase in popularity, with a new peak concurrent player count of 11,471. New Vegas has also been getting some love, with 43,632 people playing over the weekend, just a few thousand shy of the player count record that was set some 14 years ago.

Not just the newer games, either

While the original Fallout installment from way back in the day hasn't bested its peak, more people do seem to be playing it lately. However, the 1998 sequel is showing a new peak concurrent player number on Steam. It's good to see the older entries still pulling in fans.

In fact, from what I can tell, Fallout 4 is the only mainline game that hasn't hit a new record since the show aired, which is kind of surprising seeing as it's probably the most successful one in the series in terms of sales. Although having said that, it's been consistently popular since it was released.

Oh look, Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel has a new record number of Steam players as well. Okay, it's only 243, but it kind of hammers home the influence the recent adaptation has had.

The post Unsurprisingly, some of the Fallout games are hitting new concurrent player peaks appeared first on Destructoid.

  • ✇Destructoid
  • New Rust update adds a tutorial island for new playersAndrew Heaton
    Since releasing to early access over ten years ago, Rust has become one of the most famous online survival games in the current era. I say "famous" when I really mean "infamous" because, as anyone who's played the game knows, it's hard as frick. What we really need is a tutorial. Ta-da! As of now, the latest patch for Rust has started rolling out which, low and behold, implements a Tutorial Island, perfect for getting to grips with the fundamentals. According to a post over on Steam, the isl
     

New Rust update adds a tutorial island for new players

8. Březen 2024 v 16:26

Rust: a person sat in a burning helicopter while someone else looks at a wooden structure.

Since releasing to early access over ten years ago, Rust has become one of the most famous online survival games in the current era. I say "famous" when I really mean "infamous" because, as anyone who's played the game knows, it's hard as frick. What we really need is a tutorial.

Ta-da! As of now, the latest patch for Rust has started rolling out which, low and behold, implements a Tutorial Island, perfect for getting to grips with the fundamentals. According to a post over on Steam, the island offers a way of adding a "safe environment to learn the basic controls and mechanics of Rust before being set loose in the main game with other players."

https://twitter.com/playrust/status/1765814741530824941

It also says that all players will be prompted to run through the tutorial "when they first spawn this month," but you can decline the offer. Here's what you'll learn:

  • Basic movement
  • Crafting
  • Building bases
  • Upgrading bases
  • Respawning
  • Basic combat
  • Resources
  • Looting containers
  • Cooking
  • Using Furnaces
  • Workbenches
  • Using a vehicle

No mention of how to cope with being screamed at by aggressive teens

That's probably one of the biggest things to come out of this update. But there's also another huge improvement that's been made to Rust in the guise of better night lighting.

The update notes go on to say that to combat "gamma hacking" from players, the studio has added a "Nightlight feature." Essentially, this is a shader that illuminates the immediate area in front of you at nighttime, "mimicking the effect of natural moon light."

In short: you should now be able to see much better in the dark. It's still going to be pretty dark, though, so don't expect to be able to confidently run through the inky blackness with nary a care in the world. This is Rust, after all.

The post New Rust update adds a tutorial island for new players appeared first on Destructoid.

  • ✇Destructoid
  • Can’t afford an RTX 4000-powered rig? Nvidia GeForce Now will let you rent one for a dayAndrew Heaton
    We've kind of become used to the idea of monthly subscriptions for our gaming needs. But if even that's too much for you, Nvidia has now made it possible to utilize its cloud gaming service on a daily basis. As reported by Videocardz, you can now purchase a Day Pass for GeForce NOW, which gives you access to Nvidia's servers, powered by the RTX 4000-series graphics cards. It comes in two flavors as well: Priority and Ultimate, similar to the monthly memberships. https://twitter.com/NVIDI
     

Can’t afford an RTX 4000-powered rig? Nvidia GeForce Now will let you rent one for a day

8. Březen 2024 v 15:04

Image showing the Nvidia GeForce Now Day Pass.

We've kind of become used to the idea of monthly subscriptions for our gaming needs. But if even that's too much for you, Nvidia has now made it possible to utilize its cloud gaming service on a daily basis.

As reported by Videocardz, you can now purchase a Day Pass for GeForce NOW, which gives you access to Nvidia's servers, powered by the RTX 4000-series graphics cards. It comes in two flavors as well: Priority and Ultimate, similar to the monthly memberships.

https://twitter.com/NVIDIAGFN/status/1765799582779211846

As for what you get, well, you'll be entitled to 24-hour access to Team Green's cloud, which includes all the usual benefits of a typical subscription, but without actually having to subscribe for a month or beyond.

But not 24-hour gaming

It should be said that you won't get to play your games through GeForce NOW for the full 24 hours. Depending on which tier you opt for, you'll get either six or eight hours of actual game time, but you'll have access to the servers for the entire day.

According to the sign-up page on Nvidia's website, you can pay $3.99 for the Priority Day Pass or $7.99 for Ultimate. The latter is said to have "exclusive access" to the RTX 4080 servers. You'll also benefit from up to 4K resolution and 120 FPS.

Oh, but if you want to try before you buy, the report from Videocardz says there's an option to get a free hour-long session, but I couldn't see where you would sign up for that. It also comes with ads, because we are, in actuality, living in an episode of Black Mirror (what a cool reference).

The post Can’t afford an RTX 4000-powered rig? Nvidia GeForce Now will let you rent one for a day appeared first on Destructoid.

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  • Deus Ex: Mankind Divided will be free to keep from Epic Games Store next weekAndrew Heaton
    With reports that Embracer Group allegedly cancelled an upcoming Deus Ex game, hopes of a return to the series have been fading. The industry is in a sad state now, so if you want to cheer yourself up with a dose of Adam Jensen, you can pick up Mankind Divided for free next week. That's one of the titles being given away over on Epic Games Store. The other is an indie puzzle from 2013 called The Bridge. Both will be available between March 14 and March 21. They will be replacing the sci-fi c
     

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided will be free to keep from Epic Games Store next week

8. Březen 2024 v 14:47

Deus Ex Mankind Divided: arcs of yellow electricity coming out of Adam Jensen's arm.

With reports that Embracer Group allegedly cancelled an upcoming Deus Ex game, hopes of a return to the series have been fading. The industry is in a sad state now, so if you want to cheer yourself up with a dose of Adam Jensen, you can pick up Mankind Divided for free next week.

That's one of the titles being given away over on Epic Games Store. The other is an indie puzzle from 2013 called The Bridge. Both will be available between March 14 and March 21. They will be replacing the sci-fi combat game Astro Duel 2.

https://twitter.com/DeusExHub/status/1765815081630146915

While it may not be the most lauded Deus Ex entry out there, it's still a nice little freebie for those who have yet to play it.

You can't resist all that sincere moping

Things are so up in the air for Eidos-Montreal's celebrated series. With voice actor Elias Toufexis being told to stop talking so much about Adam Jensen, there's definitely a sense that we won't ever get to see a follow-up to Mankind Divided.

It's a story we're all getting sick of hearing, no doubt. The video game industry is in dire straits at the moment, as huge publishers issue redundancies and studio closures. Eidos was one of those recently, which effectively put a nail in the Deus Ex coffin. Honestly, it's hard to keep up with the amount of job losses that have occurred these past 12 months or so.

While we won't likely get to see a new Deus Ex entry, maybe take some comfort in being able to get a copy of the latest installment for free. Sorry, didn't mean to bring the mood down there.

The post Deus Ex: Mankind Divided will be free to keep from Epic Games Store next week appeared first on Destructoid.

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  • Open world Terminator game, Terminator: Survivors, comes to Early Access this OctoberAndrew Heaton
    A new Terminator game has been in development for some time, and you'll be able to play it later this year. Well, in Early Access at least, as Terminator: Survivor will be hitting Steam on October 24. Check out the "Aftermath" trailer below. If you haven't heard of this – and I must admit I was a bit ignorant of it – Survivors is an open-world game that's set after Judgment Day in James Cameron's sci-fi universe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LepEDOgw0Ec The above trailer doesn't
     

Open world Terminator game, Terminator: Survivors, comes to Early Access this October

1. Březen 2024 v 15:23

Terminator Survivor: an angry looking Terminator robot with flames behind it.

A new Terminator game has been in development for some time, and you'll be able to play it later this year. Well, in Early Access at least, as Terminator: Survivor will be hitting Steam on October 24. Check out the "Aftermath" trailer below.

If you haven't heard of this – and I must admit I was a bit ignorant of it – Survivors is an open-world game that's set after Judgment Day in James Cameron's sci-fi universe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LepEDOgw0Ec

The above trailer doesn't give a huge amount away. We see two scavengers, nervously seeking out supplies. With the world in such turmoil, the threat of a Terminator is ever-present. We then get to see the reflection of one of the skeletal robots as it scans the two fuel-seeking humans.

100% rustproof

Terminator: Survivors is being developed by Nacon, and is pretty hot off the heels of the publisher's previous game based on a popular sci-fi franchise: RoboCop: Rogue City. Much like the latter, Rogue City offers a new lease on life for the iconic film series.

Whether Survivors will be as well received remains to be seen at this stage. An open-world game where you're fighting and surviving against killer robots? Sign me the heck up.

Nacon describes the upcoming game – which is also getting a release on Xbox Series X|S and PS5 – thus:

It’s been four years since the day humanity nearly perished. The truth of the event is still muddied in half-truths as you emerge from a shelter to attempt [to] reestablish some semblance of society in a world that seems hell-bent on eliminating you and the last vestiges of mankind. You are tasked with scouring the surrounding land for materials, information, other survivors and key resources in order to establish a base of operations for your fledgling group.

Fun!

The post Open world Terminator game, Terminator: Survivors, comes to Early Access this October appeared first on Destructoid.

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  • The Epic Games version of Tomb Raider I-III Remastered was wildly an ‘incomplete’ buildAndrew Heaton
    The remaster of the original three Tomb Raider games was released not that long ago. For PC users, there was a choice between purchasing it on Steam or Epic Games Store. However, there seemed to be some notable differences between the two versions, which the developer has now acknowledged. According to a post from The Gamer a couple of days ago, fans began to notice that Tomb Raider I-III Remastered was different on EGS than on Steam. For starters, the Epic Games version had different skybox
     

The Epic Games version of Tomb Raider I-III Remastered was wildly an ‘incomplete’ build

1. Březen 2024 v 14:47

Tomb Raider: Lara Croft going over a waterfall in a kayak.

The remaster of the original three Tomb Raider games was released not that long ago. For PC users, there was a choice between purchasing it on Steam or Epic Games Store. However, there seemed to be some notable differences between the two versions, which the developer has now acknowledged.

According to a post from The Gamer a couple of days ago, fans began to notice that Tomb Raider I-III Remastered was different on EGS than on Steam. For starters, the Epic Games version had different skyboxes in places like the Colosseum, and the Greece levels had "new light holes."

https://youtu.be/Q_vH_0gpVlk

Since then, a post on the Steam page has noted that EGS had a build of the remaster that had "incomplete assets," and the download contained "some work-in-progress materials" that weren't meant for public consumption.

Update also imminent

Aspyr has now fixed the problem, uploading the correct version to Epic. However, some – such as a reporter from Eurogamer and the aforementioned The Gamer article – have noted this incomplete build had better-looking assets than the Steam version. This could suggest that the two downloads are not evenly matched, for whatever reason.

That aside, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is also getting its first update soon. In the same Steam post, the developer thanked fans for their "continued support, shares, and feedback" on the games, with an update said to be in the works.

We don't exactly know what's coming, but the studio says it anticipates sending this update out "in the next few weeks."

The post The Epic Games version of Tomb Raider I-III Remastered was wildly an ‘incomplete’ build appeared first on Destructoid.

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  • GTA 6 reportedly entering final stages of development as Rockstar asks staff to return to officeAndrew Heaton
    At the time of writing, the GTA 6 trailer is sitting pretty at 178 million views on YouTube. But that's not what most people are interested in. What we want to know is exactly when it's coming out. Well, the end may be in sight for the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto game. According to a report from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, Rockstar is asking all staff to return to the office for "five days a week starting in April." This is for "security and productivity reasons," according to Rockstar Hea
     

GTA 6 reportedly entering final stages of development as Rockstar asks staff to return to office

29. Únor 2024 v 17:26

GTA 6 logo with two bank robbers in the background.

At the time of writing, the GTA 6 trailer is sitting pretty at 178 million views on YouTube. But that's not what most people are interested in. What we want to know is exactly when it's coming out. Well, the end may be in sight for the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto game.

According to a report from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, Rockstar is asking all staff to return to the office for "five days a week starting in April." This is for "security and productivity reasons," according to Rockstar Head of Publishing Jenn Kolbe.

https://twitter.com/jasonschreier/status/1762959172155433256

The report goes on to say GTA 6 is about to "enter the final stretch of development." This means we're getting ever closer to its release, though we obviously still don't know when that's likely to happen.

Employees "not thrilled," it seems

The fact that Rockstar Games is putting out the clarion call for employees shows the company is looking to end hybrid working conditions. It's a topic that's been quite prevalent in the working world, and Rockstar asking staff to return to the office is likely due to security breaches, such as the great GTA 6 leak of 2022.

Companies asking people to shift to on-site working on a more permeant basis is becoming more common as the memories of the pandemic begin to fade for a lot of people. However, such a move may prove unpopular with those in the gaming industry who have adjusted to working remotely.

That aside, we don't exactly know when the game itself will actually be launching, even if it is heading towards the finish line. We're being told it's aiming for a 2025 release, so we're still looking at nearly another year yet, give or take.

No doubt it's going to be one of the biggest releases of all time. Given the legacy of Grand Theft Auto 5 – which came out over 10 years ago, don't forget – there's no way the follow-up is going to be anything other than a money-printing license for Rockstar.

The post GTA 6 reportedly entering final stages of development as Rockstar asks staff to return to office appeared first on Destructoid.

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  • Check out the new Alone in the Dark teaser, plus PC specs revealedAndrew Heaton
    Derceto Manor is where we return for our scene, in the upcoming reboot (again) of Alone in the Dark. In the latest teaser shown by publisher THQ Nordic, we get some hints of plot, some talking points from Emily and Edward's respective voice actors, and we now have the hardware specs for PC. The new trailer once again leave survival horror fanatics hungry for more, as we take a quick peek at the reimagining of this classic. Actor David Harbour – who voices Edward – talks about his love of gam
     

Check out the new Alone in the Dark teaser, plus PC specs revealed

29. Únor 2024 v 16:41

Alone in the Dark: Emily and Edward stood in front of car headlights.

Derceto Manor is where we return for our scene, in the upcoming reboot (again) of Alone in the Dark. In the latest teaser shown by publisher THQ Nordic, we get some hints of plot, some talking points from Emily and Edward's respective voice actors, and we now have the hardware specs for PC.

The new trailer once again leave survival horror fanatics hungry for more, as we take a quick peek at the reimagining of this classic. Actor David Harbour – who voices Edward – talks about his love of games that let you "choose your own adventure," while Jodie Comer – AKA Emily Hartwood – is impressed by how "fully fleshed out" the characters are.

https://youtu.be/KVYY34GT3ac

We also get to hear from Mikael Hedberg, Alone in the Dark's writer and director, who some of you will know through his work on Amnesia and SOMA (this is honestly one of the reasons I'm so excited for the game). Hedberg likens the new reimagining to a classic "haunted mansion" story, so it was imperative the team were able to recreate the atmosphere Derceto Manor is known for.

Hardware? I hardly knew her

You can also see the requirements for the PC version over on Steam. A lot of mid-range systems should be okay with running it at minimum specs. You definitely won't need a current-gen Nvidia or AMD graphics card, that's for sure.

Alone in the Dark is scheduled to release on March 20, after a delay last year pushed it beyond its originally intended release last October. It was then delayed a second time in order to avoid any Christmas crunch for the team before finally landing on this now-definitely-for-realsies launch date.

For those who want a little bit of nostalgia with their rebooted survival horror, there's going to be a 1992 filter that brings back the low-poly models of the 1992 original. Because nothing says blood-curdling mystery like pointy shoulders.

Alone in the Dark full PC specs

Minimum

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10, 64 Bit
  • Processor: Ryzen 3 3100 / Core i3-8300
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: GeForce GTX 1050 Ti / Radeon RX 570
  • DirectX: Version 12
  • Storage: 50 GB available space
  • Additional Notes: SSD recommended

Recommended

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10, 64 Bit
  • Processor: Ryzen 7 3700X / Core i5-12400
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM
  • Graphics: GeForce RTX 2060 / Radeon RX 5700 XT
  • DirectX: Version 12
  • Storage: 50 GB available space
  • Additional Notes: SSD recommended

The post Check out the new Alone in the Dark teaser, plus PC specs revealed appeared first on Destructoid.

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