South Korean publisher KRAFTON is probably best known for titles such as PUBG and The Callisto Protocol. Recently, however, in an effort to bolster their gaming portfolio, they’ve turned heads by saving studio Tango Gameworks from being shut down by Microsoft. With that goal in mind—to expand on their offerings—KRAFTON has been hard at work on inZoi: a life simulation game developed using Unreal Engine 5 and boasting a variety of creative tools. If this brings The Sims to mind, you’d be encouraged to know that the inZoi team is well aware of the comparison, the overall goal for their virtual world being to combine Sims and SimCity and add some innovative features to boot.

Having spent 5 hours playing an early build of the game, I found that what they’re trying to do rightfully sounds too good to be true. With some more polish and work on tightening its elaborate systems, inZoi might just rise up to its lofty ambitions and carve a place for itself within the genre. Nevertheless, on start-up, inZoi begins with the explanation that the player is working as a “trainee god” for an in-game tech giant.

“For now, despite some frustrations, inZoi is largely an enjoyable experience.”

According to the tutorials, referred to in-universe as the “onboarding”, being a said trainee god involves creating Zoi, the game’s name for the inhabitants of its digital world, and ensuring that they have good relationships with others and the environment. Failure to do so would result in “a meeting with the CEO”.

With this warning in mind, I began work on my Zoi in earnest, trying my hardest to make the perfect digital version of myself. The final result, I think, looks more like YouTuber hasanabi than me, but that’s not the fault of the character creation tool, which is genuinely amazing. Beyond getting the basics right, inZoi’s character creator is mindful of the details. This might not sound like a big deal at first, but put together, these small choices make for a customisable experience that already makes inZoi stand out from the rest.

This dedication to the minutiae can also be seen when it comes down to the city-building element. Whereas not as elaborate as something like SimCity, I was pleasantly surprised by what inZoi allowed me to do. To give just an extreme example, I decided that the main park in town should have a high density of cats, pandas and…crocodiles. To my great disappointment, the crocodiles, from what I could tell, had no effect gameplay-wise as they were simply content meandering here and there. In any case, after maybe 3 hours of fine-tuning, it was finally time for some action.

What took me by immediate surprise when taking control of my Zoi was that I was able to maneuver him as if he were a character in a third-person action-adventure game. I still had to issue other commands with a click of the mouse, but still, this added to my immersion. This being said, inZoi was dropping frames left and right and continued to do so during my time with it despite running it on a decent PC.

Another issue was the overall game logic, as all the Zoi I encountered were often making inexplicable decisions. My Zoi, when left to his own devices, was obsessed with deep cleaning his house even though it was brand new and squeaky clean.

To test the AI further, I decided to see how easy interactions with other Zoi were and, to my amusement, I was able to get the character I created married to someone he had just met and spent the last half of an in-game day (or about ten real-life minutes) complimenting. Now, I’m not necessarily opposed to love at first sight, but the ease with which I made this happen reminded me of the OG Sims, which reflects a bit badly on inZoi.

“Whereas not as elaborate as something like SimCity, I was pleasantly surprised by what inZoi allowed me to do.”

For now, despite some frustrations, inZoi is largely an enjoyable experience. The team over at KRAFTON have a lot of work left, yes, but what I’ve played so far is encouraging. My hope for the game, which is set to release in Early Access later this year, is that the developers remain committed to seeing through their ambitious vision. Time will tell if that will indeed be what happens.

inZoi is set to launch in Steam Early Access in 2024. Make sure to check out all things gamescom here on CGMagazine.

At gamescom 2024, Xbox has come to the event with many game announcements but they’ve also pulled the curtain back to reveal hardware additions to their lineup.

Xbox was given a big platform at gamescom 2024. This is considering Sony and Nintendo did not attend nor make any announcements at the event, and they’ve brought hardware updates to the showcase aside from their announced software on gamescom 2024 ONL. Big Xbox software announcements so far include Masters of Albion from Fable co-creator Peter Molyneux, the previously Xbox exclusive Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is coming to PS5, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 showcased new gameplay.

But that’s not all they have in store for fans in the coming months, as new hardware updates are coming for the Xbox Series console lineup. Xbox has also revealed notable accessibility innovations with a new adaptive controller lineup to make gaming more accessible for all gamers.

gamescom 2024 Xbox Series Hardware Lineup

• The Xbox Series S now comes with 1TB of onboard memory in the original Robot White colourway. It will be made available in October 2024 for $349.99.
• The Xbox Series X will be fashioned into a 1TB Digital Edition (as leaked earlier in the year) and will be the first time the Xbox Series X comes in Robot White. It will be available October 2024 for $449.99.
• The last hardware upgrade is an Xbox Series X in a lucrative 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition and includes a matching Xbox Wireless controller with a Galaxy Black D-pad and Velocity Green back case. The new console will be available in October 2024 for $599.99.

gamescom 2024 Xbox Adaptive Controller Additions For Accessibility

• The Xbox Adaptive Joystick is an affordable entry-level wired joystick designed to meet the needs of players with limited mobility, and to make things easier it can be used as a companion for the Xbox Adaptive Controller and other Xbox controllers. The Xbox Adaptive Joystick will be launching in early 2025 for $29.99.

• Xbox Design Labs is allowing the use of 3D printable files for adaptive thumbstick toppers. The service is offered free of charge with Xbox Design Labs and it allows players to configure six different 3D printable thumbstick topper designs for the Xbox Adaptive Joystick, the Xbox Wireless Controller, or the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. Xbox Design Lab outputs the design files that players can 3D print or take to any 3D printing service. The 3D printable files for adaptive thumbstick toppers are available now with Xbox Design Lab.

• The Designed for Xbox Proteus Controller has been unleashed by Xbox partners at ByoWave and revealed at Gamescom 2024. The Proteus is a modular adaptive kit that gives those with disabilities a more accessible way to play (similar to the PS5 Access Controller). The unique modular video game controller kit features ‘snap and play’ parts that connect together easily and the device comes with everything gamers require to play their favorite Xbox games on console and PC right out of the box. The ByoWave Proteus Controller is now available in select markets worldwide.

• Lastly, Xbox showed the designed for Xbox Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller at Gamescom 2024. Another third-party controller by 8BitDo is a compact and lightweight controller designed for gamers with limited mobility, featuring low-resistance buttons and Hall Effect joysticks with greater sensitivity. The 8BitDo Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller is now available in select markets worldwide for $59.99.

That just about wraps the new hardware additions unveiled for Xbox at Gamescom 2024. Fans looking for more coverage on gamescom 2024 can see the rest of our coverage here. Fans looking for more info on everything Xbox can head to their official site.

Yesterday at Gamescom Opening Night Live, Peter Molyneux announced a new game, and today he confirmed that Masters of Albion will be set in the same world as Fable.

Gamescom ONL 2024 was filled with surprises and new announcements, probably none more surprising than the co-creator of the Fable franchise, Peter Molyneux, taking the stage to announce Masters of Albion. This new “open world god game” is being made by a small team of creators (including Mark Healy, Russell Shaw, and Iain Wright), with Molyneux himself scorning his past decision to move to mobile development, saying, “After messing around on mobile — what the hell was I doing? — I thought to myself, ‘I need to come home to PC and console,” after developing Godus with 22cans.

Molyneux’s return to PC and console development has been expanded on today in a new interview with IGN, suggesting the new title doesn’t just share a name with the world the Fable universe is set in. It is indeed the same world. Molyneux first explains the basic gameplay loop of Masters of Albion, saying, “We’ve got this very simple mechanic where by day everything’s peaceful, you can explore, you can plan, you can build, you can create,” with “And then by night, everything will attack everything you own” similar to Team17’s Gorn.

However, Molyneux then drops the bombshell that Masters of Albion and Fable are both set in Albion, clarifying with “But it’s not actually Fable 5 or anything like that,” with “But if you’ve played Fable, then definitely Masters of Albion will be familiar to you. One of the things that we have got, and we absolutely wanted a nail, was the humour. I think in the Fable games, it’s not so much about telling jokes, it’s more about giving you, the player, the ability to do ridiculous and funny things.” He refers to Albion as an old name for England and Wales, suggesting that no companies can copyright the name of a country.

It’s worth mentioning that Peter Molyneux has made promises regarding game development that have not come to fruition, like the social experimental game Curiosity, which was intended to let the winner be a god in his previous god title, as recorded by Eurogamer. The winner of Curiosity, Bryan Henderson, didn’t attain any winnings because Godus was not profitable, and being the god of the universe never happened as Molyneux suggested it would.

While Molyneux says Masters of Albion will be a hybrid between the Fable we knew and god games like Black&White, fans should temper their expectations until more is shown regarding this ambitious title.

• Category: gamescom

August 20, 2024

Genshin Impact Coming to Xbox on November 20 

• Zhenzhong Yi, Studio Technical Director, HoYoverse

Summary

• Genshin Impact is an open-world adventure game, which will be free-to-play for everyone on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. 
• Starting November 20, Genshin Impact on Xbox will receive the same gameplay, cross-play, and cross-progression functions that other players experience. 
• Wishlist starts today, and Xbox Game Pass members can pre-install today and get in-game rewards with Game Pass Ultimate.

Editor’s Note (August 20): Updated post to clarify that an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership is required to play Genshin Impact with Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Get ready to start or continue your adventure in the vast magical world of Teyvat – Genshin Impact is coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership on November 20! First released in September 2020, Genshin Impact has been creating an evolving, open-world journey across consoles, PC, and mobile. During today’s gamescom Opening Night Live, we were proud to announce our arrival on Xbox this fall!

Starting today, Genshin Impact can now be added to your Xbox Wishlist, and, Xbox Game Pass members can further pre-install the game. For players with Game Pass Ultimate, in-game rewards will be available upon release (more details to be announced at a later date).

Discover a Diverse Fantasy World

In Genshin Impact, your story begins in a fantasy world called Teyvat. As a traveler from another world, you will embark on a journey to reunite with your long-lost sibling and unravel the mysteries of Teyvat, and yourself.

During your adventure, you will visit the seven major nations, each with diverse landscapes, history, people, creatures, mysteries, and gameplay. Starting from August 28, the sixth major nation, Natlan, will be introduced to the game. Roam the towering cliffs and flowing springs in the manner of Natlan’s dragons, and team up with local warriors to discover this Nation of War!

Master the Seven Elements

Teyvat is a fantasy world where the seven elements flow and converge. Elemental Reactions can be triggered by applying certain combinations of elemental effects on a target to deal extra damage or affect your surroundings.

Therefore, mastering the Seven Elements is the key to defeating powerful enemies, solving challenging puzzles, and reaching different destinations while you explore the world.

Meet New Companions

Different characters can be recruited to join your journey, each with unique abilities, personalities, combat styles, and elemental power. You can further discover their background stories as your journey progresses.

So far, over 80 playable characters can be chosen to build your party of four – and more will be joining in the future.

Travel Alone or Battle Together

While Genshin Impact provides immersive single-player storytelling, you can also team up with your friends. Cross-play and cross-progression functions are available for players on Xbox with PlayStation, PC, Android, iOS, and Epic Games Store. To welcome more players from different backgrounds, Genshin Impact now supports 15 Text languages and 4 Voice-Over languages.

Genshin Impact will be available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership starting November 20. We will share further information later, and we look forward to seeing you in the world of Teyvat!

Genshin Impact

COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Genshin Impact is an open-world adventure RPG. In the game, set forth on a journey across a fantasy world called Teyvat. In this vast world, you can explore seven nations, meet a diverse cast of characters with unique personalities and abilities, and fight powerful enemies together with them, all on the way during your quest to find your lost sibling. You can also wander freely, immersing yourself in a world filled with life, and let your sense of wonder lead you to uncover all of its mysteries… Until you are at long last reunited with your lost sibling and bear witness to the culmination of all things at the end of your journey.

The post Genshin Impact Coming to Xbox on November 20  appeared first on Xbox Wire.

• Category: gamescom

August 20, 2024

gamescom Opening Night Live 2024: Everything Xbox Revealed

• Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor

At today’s gamescom Opening Night Live, fans were treated to a bevy of new game reveals and amazing trailers that gave a glimpse of what’s in store from Xbox. This included big news like the release date of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, gameplay from the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 campaign, and the announcement of early access starting soon for Towerborne. But that’s not all! Fans were also given more details on Diablo IV, Starfield: Shattered Space, and more!

With Opening Night Live 2024 complete, gamescom is officially underway, and Xbox will be on the ground floor with one of its most dramatic-looking booths ever – we can’t wait for you to see it! Not only will we have many of the games mentioned here on display, but many titles for both Xbox and Windows PC will be playable, like Ara: History Untold and Age of Mythology Retold, as well as games from our partners like Genshin Impact, Star Wars: Outlaws, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, giving you the chance to explore all the different ways you can play your favorite games across Cloud, Console, and PC.

Catch up on all of today’s news and reveals from Xbox below:

Age of Mythology: Retold Heads for Launch with Brand New Trailer

Coming September 4, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, or play it day one with Game Pass.

During Opening Night Live fans around the world were treated to a new Age of Mythology: Retold trailer. Focusing on Arkantos, the hero of the game’s 50+ campaign missions, we hear the voice of Athena, coaxing Arkantos to adventure. Showcasing stunning graphics and mythological magic, the trailer gives us another taste of how much players have to be excited about. The trailer also showed the bacchanal of chaos that comes in the final Wonder Age, a new addition to Retold.

Whether you choose to play through the campaign alone or with friends, vs AI or in ranked multiplayer, every game will be different. Advanced Access starts August 27, 2024, at 5pm PT for those who pre-order the Premium Edition and full global launch kicks off on September 4, 2024, on Steam, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X|S. You can learn more about what it’s store by checking out our hands-on preview of Age of Mythology: Retold here on Xbox Wire.

Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$49.99

Pre-order

Embark on a gaming journey of first-class offerings with the Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition. Curated to offer an elevated gaming experience at launch and beyond. The Premium Edition includes the full game, up to 7-day advanced access, New Gods Pack: “Freyr”, Legacy Deity Portrait Pack, Expansion 1 (all-new Chinese pantheon expansion) and Expansion 2 (additional new pantheon). * Standard Game: the complete Age of Mythology: Retold experience Up to 7-day Advanced Access: Step into the divine realm before time itself with exclusive early unlock to the game available on Xbox, Steam and PC. * New Gods Pack: “Freyr”: Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition adds Freyr to the Norse pantheon. Unleash the power of the Norse god of prosperity and fertility with the Freyr God Pack. The blessings of Freyr will elevate your reign to unprecedented heights. Legacy Deity Portrait Pack: a nostalgic journey back to the origins of gaming greatness. Relive the glory days of gaming with this special pack, which offers players the option to use iconic deity portraits from the classic game that captivated audiences worldwide. (2) Upcoming Expansions: Prepare to embark on new epic sagas yet untold with two yet to be revealed and highly anticipated upcoming expansions. * Expansion 1: All-New Chinese pantheon expansion Expansion 2: additional new pantheon expansion

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Ara: History Untold Debuts Launch Trailer Ahead of September 24 Release

Windows PC, Steam, or play it day one with Game Pass.

Ara: History Untold helped kick off gamescom 2024 with the world premiere of its launch trailer at Opening Night Live. The trailer, featuring a combination of live action and gameplay, puts the player in focus, inviting you to explore, create, rule, and conquer in the world of your imagination. Ara: History Untold is an upcoming grand strategy game where you build a nation and lead your citizens throughout history as you compete head-to-head with rivals to prove you are the greatest ruler ever known. Create your own story of history when Ara: History Untold launches on September 24, 2024. Pre-order and pre-install today! It’s your world now.

Ara: History Untold Deluxe Edition Preorder Bundle

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Build a nation and lead your people throughout history to the pinnacles of human achievement as you explore new lands, develop arts and culture, conduct diplomacy, and go head-to-head with your rivals to prove you are the greatest ruler ever known. It's Your World Now. The Deluxe Edition Includes • Ara: History Untold Base Game • Exclusive Leader Collection – featuring five exclusive leaders not included in the base game including: Charlemagne, Genghis Khan, Yoo Gwan Soon, Hildegard and Boudicca. • Modern Leader Skin Set – enhance five Ara: History Untold leaders (Elizabeth I, Genghis Khan, Nefertiti, Sappho and George Washington) with the Modern Leader Skin Set, featuring modern versions of their in-game costumes. With your pre-order of the Deluxe Edition receive the Gilded Leader Skin Set.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Shows Off the Action-Packed “Most Wanted” Campaign Mission

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, Steam, Battle.net, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, or play it day one with Game Pass

We got a look at highlights from one of Black Ops 6’s signature Campaign missions, “Most Wanted”, as Frank Woods’ team attempts to locate and retrieve legendary operative Russell Adler. Beginning with a covert infiltration of a political fundraiser (with a cameo from Governor of Arkansas, Bill Clinton no less), we then see a descent into a CIA Black Site, and a bike riding escape sequence worthy of a classic action movie.

Along the way, we see how Campaign developer Raven is innovating – while this is a classic set piece-driven CoD mission, player choice is at the forefront. There are multiple options for how to get access to the Black Site, and you can choose to go loud or quiet as you infiltrate – it’s your mission. This is just a taste – we’ll learn much more about Black Ops 6 MultiplayerandZombies when the Call of Duty NEXT event kicks off on August 28, before Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launches on October 25.

Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 – Cross-Gen Bundle

Activision Publishing Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆ 4107

★★★★★

$69.99

Pre-order

Pre-order any digital edition or subscribe to select Game Pass plans* and receive: – Early access to the Open Beta** — Early Access is August 30 – September 4 — Open Beta access is available for all players from September 6 – September 9 – Items for immediate use in Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III, Call of Duty®: Warzone and Call of Duty®: Warzone Mobile***: — Woods Operator Pack – unlock the Classic Woods Operator Skin. Plus, get access to unlock the Zombie Woods and Numbers Woods Skins. — Reflect 115 Camo Pack – unlock the Reflect 115 Weapon Camo. Plus, get access to 9 acquisitions for Modern Warfare® Zombies. Includes: – Cross Gen Bundle of Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 — Includes Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6. Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops. The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity. In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6. Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies. *Requires active subscription to Game Pass Ultimate or Game Pass Console. Subscribers must login to Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III or Call of Duty®: Warzone on Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S by October 25th, 2024 to redeem the Woods Operator Pack and Reflect 115 Camo Pack. **Actual launch date(s) and platform availability of MP Beta subject to change. See www.callofduty.com/beta for more details. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required. ***Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III or Call of Duty®: Warzone on Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S required to redeem. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by October 25, 2025. Activision may modify or discontinue online service in the future, which may impact the continued availability of online gameplay. Online services may be discontinued due to factors including number of players. Additional storage space may be required for mandatory game updates. For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com. © 2024 Activision Publishing, Inc. ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS, CALL OF DUTY WARZONE and MODERN WARFARE are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software ('Id Technology'). Id Technology © 1999-2024 Id Software, Inc.

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Never Fight Alone – Mercenaries are Coming to Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PC via Battle.net, Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4

The first expansion for Diablo IV releases worldwide on October 8, and game director Brent Gibson took to the gamescom stage to introduce the Mercenaries – a new feature coming to Vessel of Hatred. Mercenaries are your companions in battle, who grow in strength and can be customized to support your playstyle. Each mercenary is unique in the role they serve, so no matter your class or build, you’ll find a mercenary that’s right for you!

The team also introduced the Dark Citadel, a new co-op PvE experience that will put everything you know about combat to the test through a gauntlet of cooperative puzzles and mechanics, as well as the Kurast Undercity – an intense new multistage, time-attack dungeon that gives you the control over the challenge as well as the loot you will find!

There’s a lot to uncover with these new upcoming features, as well as across the Diablo universe, so Diablo general manager Rod Fergusson, lead game designer Rex Dickson, systems designer Aislyn Hall, and Diablo Immortal’s executive producer Peiwen Yao will be joining us on the Xbox broadcast live at gamescom to share more about what’s to come.

Diablo® IV: Vessel of Hatred – Standard Edition

Blizzard Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆ 16

★★★★★

$39.99 $35.99

Get it now

Diablo® IV: Vessel of Hatred launches October 8th, 2024. Pre-purchase any digital Edition of Diablo® IV: Vessel of Hatred and receive: – Alkor the Snow Leopard Pet – for immediate use in Diablo® IV* – Mother’s Lament Legendary Gem – for immediate use in Diablo Immortal®** Diablo® IV: Vessel of Hatred – Standard Edition includes: – Vessel of Hatred for Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S*** Uncover the next chapter of Diablo® IV in Vessel of Hatred and continue your fight to thwart the diabolical plot of the Prime Evil, Mephisto. Battle as the all-new Spiritborn class and call upon mystical Spirits to empower your battle. Expand your map to the new region of Nahantu and traverse through its lush jungles. Take on new enemies, dungeons, and PvE co-op challenges, recruit new Mercenaries, and more. Plus, explore a plethora of base game updates that will introduce new power and continue to enhance the world of Diablo® IV. *Mount or pet feature (as applicable) must be unlocked in-game before the item can be used. **Diablo Immortal® downloaded separately. ***Available upon Vessel of Hatred release. Diablo® IV base game required to play. Battle.net® account required. Internet connection required. For more information, please visit Diablo.com. © 2024 Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. Diablo, Diablo Immortal and Blizzard Entertainment are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. in the U.S and/or other countries.

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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Coming December 9, 2024

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, or play it day one on Game Pass

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Steam on December 9, 2024. Step into the shoes of the legendary archaeologist as he sets off on his latest global adventure. Play it on day one with Game Pass, or up to three days early by pre-ordering the Premium Edition, Premium Edition Upgrade, or Collector’s Edition.

The release date was revealed alongside a brand-new trailer. Get a new look at Indy’s journey around the world and the tools at his disposal as he faces off against sinister forces. From the whip and revolver to his trusty journal and camera, you’ll need everything he’s got to unravel the mystery of the Great Circle. Learn more here on Xbox Wire.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Digital Premium Edition

Bethesda Softworks

☆☆☆☆☆ 4

★★★★★

$99.99

Pre-order

Pre-order now or Play on Game Pass* to receive The Last Crusade Pack with the Traveling Suit Outfit and Lion Tamer Whip, as seen in The Last Crusade. *** Live the adventure with the Premium Edition of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle! INCLUDES: • Base Game (digital code) • Up to 3-Day Early Access** • Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants Story DLC† • Digital Artbook • Temple of Doom Outfit *** Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them – Indiana Jones. You’ll become the legendary archaeologist in this cinematic action-adventure game from MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, and executive produced by Hall of Fame game designer Todd Howard. YOU ARE INDIANA JONES Live the adventure as Indy in a thrilling story full of exploration, immersive action, and intriguing puzzles. As the brilliant archaeologist – famed for his keen intellect, cunning resourcefulness, and trademark humor – you will travel the world in a race against enemy forces to discover the secrets to one of the greatest mysteries of all time. A WORLD OF MYSTERY AWAITS Travel from the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai, and beyond. When a break-in in the dead of night ends in a confrontation with a mysterious colossal man, you must set out to discover the world-shattering secret behind the theft of a seemingly unimportant artifact. Forging new alliances and facing familiar enemies, you’ll engage with intriguing characters, use guile and wits to solve ancient riddles, and survive intense set-pieces. WHIP-CRACKING ACTION Indiana’s trademark whip remains at the heart of his gear and can be used to distract, disarm, and attack enemies. But the whip isn’t just a weapon, it’s Indy’s most valuable tool for navigating the environment. Swing over unsuspecting patrols and scale walls as you make your way through a striking world. Combine stealth infiltration, melee combat, and gunplay to combat the enemy threat and unravel the mystery. THE SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY Venture through a dynamic mix of linear, narrative-driven gameplay and open-area maps. Indulge your inner explorer and unearth a world of fascinating secrets, deadly traps and fiendish puzzles, where anything could potentially hide the next piece of the mystery – or snakes. Why did it have to be snakes? *Game Pass members get access to all pre-order content as long as Game Pass subscription is active. **Actual play time depends on purchase date and applicable time zone differences, subject to possible outages. †DLC availability to be provided at a later date.

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Starfield’s Shattered Space Arrives on September 30, and the REV-8 Land Vehicle Is Available Today

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam.

To the people of the Settled Systems, House Va’ruun is a mystery. Some call them fanatics. Zealots, even. They are seen as violent aggressors. But there’s so much more to this secretive faction. In Shattered Space, the first major expansion for Starfield, you will visit the homeworld of House Va’ruun, hear their story, and make choices that will determine their future. Shattered Space launches on September 30.

In addition to the Shattered Space release date reveal, Opening Night Live also showed off the new REV-8 land vehicle that’s landing in Starfield in the latest update. The update goes live just a few short hours after Opening Night Live and will be available to all Starfield players. Just visit a ship technician and add the REV-8 module to your ship to start touring planets in a new way.

Starfield Premium Edition

Bethesda Softworks

☆☆☆☆☆ 15623

★★★★★

$99.99 $69.99

Get it now

Starfield is the first new universe in over 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery. *** Premium Edition includes: – Starfield Base Game – Shattered Space Story Expansion (upon release) – 1,000 Creation Credits – Constellation Skin Pack: Equinox Laser Rifle, Spacesuit, Helmet and Boost Pack – Access to Starfield Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack *** In the year 2330, humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. You will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of space in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game. TELL YOUR STORY In Starfield the most important story is the one you tell with your character. Start your journey by customizing your appearance and deciding your Background and Traits. Will you be an experienced explorer, a charming diplomat, a stealthy cyber runner, or something else entirely? The choice is yours. Decide who you will be and what you will become. EXPLORE OUTER SPACE Venture through the stars and explore more than 1000 planets. Navigate bustling cities, explore dangerous bases, and traverse wild landscapes. Meet and recruit a memorable cast of characters, join in the adventures of various factions, and embark on quests across the Settled Systems. A new story or experience is always waiting to be discovered. CAPTAIN THE SHIP OF YOUR DREAMS Pilot and command the ship of your dreams. Personalize the look of your ship, modify critical systems including weapons and shields, and assign crew members to provide unique bonuses. In deep space you will engage in high-stakes dogfights, encounter random missions, dock at star stations, and even board and commandeer enemy ships to add to your collection. DISCOVER, COLLECT, BUILD Explore planets and discover the fauna, flora, and resources needed to craft everything from medicine and food to equipment and weapons. Build outposts and hire a crew to passively extract materials and establish cargo links to transfer resources between them. Invest these raw materials into research projects to unlock unique crafting recipes. LOCK AND LOAD Space can be a dangerous place. A refined combat system gives you the tools to deal with any situation. Whether you prefer long-range rifles, laser weapons, or demolitions, each weapon type can be modified to complement your playstyle. Zero G environments add a chaotic spectacle to combat, while boost packs give players freedom to maneuver like never before.

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Towerborne Announces Early Access Begins September 10

Early Access begins September 10 on Steam. Coming 2025 to Xbox Game Preview on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Game Pass.

Towerborne showcased a brand-new trailer during Opening Night Live that gave us a fresh look at its striking, vibrant world and crisp, action-packed gameplay. The latest game from Stoic (Banner Saga Trilogy), Towerborne seamlessly blends the best parts of side-scrolling brawlers and action RPGs to create a unique adventure where you take on the role of an Ace, a hero who must protect humanity’s last sanctuary from malevolent forces that lurk outside the tower walls.

You can experience Towerborne starting September 10, 2024, when early access begins on Steam; later via the Xbox Game Preview program on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and with Game Pass in early 2025. To learn more about Towerborne and how Stoic is bringing their latest creation to life, check out our Xbox Wire piece here.

Towerborne

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

The Belfry stands as a beacon of hope and safety amongst the ruins of humanity and the City of Numbers, with monsters lurking right outside the tower’s walls. You are an Ace, born anew from the spirit realm with the skills, the grit, and the determination to protect the people of the Belfry. With spirit companions fighting by your side, you are destined for battle. Can you become the Ace humanity needs to survive? Find out in Towerborne, the newest action-adventure game created by Stoic, the studio that brought you the award-winning Banner Saga trilogy. Adventure Together – Venture out of The Belfry solo or with up to three other Aces* to vanquish the looming terror that surrounds the tower. Either way, you won’t be alone. Aces can recruit Umbra companions to join them in battle, gaining access to enhanced skills and unique abilities tied to each spirit. After fighting your way through enemies, return to The Belfry to turn in quests, reforge gear, and more. Brave the Wilds – Towerborne is designed with player choice in mind. Create your Ace with options to customize your looks, gear and weapons. Switch up your overall gameplay experience at any time by changing your danger level as you venture into the wilds. Find and wield powerful weapons with unique special moves from one of four styles: War Clubs, Gauntlets, Dual Daggers, and Swords & Shields. Mix and match to make your Ace your own! Continue the Fight – With an evolving world map and seasonal content, your Ace will never run out of areas to explore and enemies to defeat. Seasons of Towerborne continue the story of The Belfry by introducing new enemies to battle, regions to discover, abilities to master, and lore to uncover (available as released). *Online console multiplayer requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Game Pass Core (subscriptions sold separately).

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The Worldsoul Saga begins August 26 with World of Warcraft: The War Within

PC via Battle.net

2024 is a year of anniversaries for the Warcraft universe, which is turning 30 in the same year. Hearthstone celebrates 10 years, Warcraft Rumble approaches one year, and of course, World of Warcraft… which turns 20 years old in November! Feel old yet?

World of Warcraft: The War Within launches globally on August 26 and is the first installment of The Worldsoul Saga—the most ambitious story arc in WoW history. With four new zones to explore, as well as ongoing gameplay and system updates to support players of all types, this is the perfect time to celebrate the last 20 years of WoW as Blizzard prepares for the next 20 years and beyond!

Overwatch 2 is also getting in on the celebrations, revealing their new in-game collaboration with World of Warcraft. In mid-September, skins featuring some of the most iconic World of Warcraft characters will be made available, including Widowmaker as Sylvanas Windrunner.

Keep an eye on the Warcraft X account for more information about how you can celebrate Warcraft’s anniversaries alongside Blizzard, and join the Xbox broadcast live from the show floor at gamescom where we’ll be speaking to senior game director Ion Hazzikostas and associate art director Tina Wang about all things World of Warcraft!

The post gamescom Opening Night Live 2024: Everything Xbox Revealed appeared first on Xbox Wire.

• Category: gamescom

August 20, 2024

Towerborne: Why Early Access and a Focus on Fun Means a Better Game for Everyone

• Danielle Partis

From the moment you step into the colorful, enchanting world of Towerborne, it’s clear to see that having fun is the name of the game here. The approachability of the brawler-inspired combat system, the light-hearted dialogue between characters situated in the Belfry – Towerborne invites you to pick up a controller and revel in the world, regardless of how much time or experience you have., regardless of how much time or experience you have. 

The better news is that there’s not too long to wait. Towerborne starts in Steam Early Access on September 10. For the furrowed-browed among you, don’t fret; Towerborne will have a phased release starting with Steam Early Access, Xbox Game Preview following, and a full free-to-play launch planned for 2025. Towerborne will also include cross-progression, so your progress will carry over to whichever platform you prefer to play on. Stoic is eager to have players help shape the future of Towerborne by becoming Founders through purchase of either the Silver or Gold Towerborne Founder’s Pack, offering early access to the game and exclusive perks like cosmetics, emotes, and monthly bonuses.  

Stoic, known primarily as the maker of Banner Saga, is also more than ready for a change – Towerborne is a seismic and very welcome pivot from its flagship series, which Game Director Daniel McLaren jovially refers to as a “depression simulator.”  

“There was some emotional exhaustion at the end of the last Banner Saga game,” McLaren says. “When you write and build something like that for so many years, there’s a huge weight on your shoulders. There was a very real moment where the team sat down and said: ‘I don’t think we can do another one’.” 

“Wouldn’t it be great if we made a game that was completely the opposite of [Banner Saga], something fun that we can play on the couch with our friends and family?” 

The vibrant, whimsical setting paired with simple but satisfying side-scrolling action makes Towerborne approachable for everyone. Towerborne is intentionally designed to be both accessible and rewarding at any skill level – while simultaneously delivering demanding challenges for those aiming to conquer the game’s toughest content. It doesn’t matter which way you play either – everybody receives the same rewards for taking part.  

Choosing Early Access 

Banner Saga began as a Kickstarter, and that constant communication with early backers was paramount to the direction that Stoic took with the game’s development.  

“Stoic’s history has always been about interacting with our players, and Kickstarter is the promise of something,” McLaren says. “For Stoic, that worked out very well, and now we’re able to say hey, you don’t have to wait for us this time, we can give you a game right now.” 

With Early Access, the studio can continue that tradition of building a game with consistent input from players invested in Towerborne‘s journey from the start. As a result, Xbox, PC, and Xbox Game Pass players will immediately feel the benefit of the refinement Towerborne will undergo during the Early Access period and beyond. When Towerborne enters Xbox Game Preview, it will open the floodgates to even more players across these platforms, allowing their feedback to further shape the game’s development.  

“It starts with our Founders – players who’ve self-selected to get a first pass at helping us shape the full game,” says Trisha Stouffer, CEO and President  of Stoic. “After Steam Early Access, with Xbox Game Preview next and eventually Free-to-Play with the full launch, the gates are thrown so wide for anyone to come in, which makes it harder to discern what is noise versus actionable feedback. So, our goal with Early Access is to position ourselves so the game is stable and feels great to play before we open up to a wider audience.” 

Xbox is also wholeheartedly supportive of Stoic’s historic approach to Early Access and working with players directly from the start. 

“We all have the same goal – to create a game that people love for a long time,” says Kristofor Mellroth, Executive Producer at Xbox Games Studios Publishing. “From the start, we knew our approach with Towerborne was going to be a little different. By being very targeted at the start and building up to bigger audiences, this allows the team to continue iterating and honing the most complex systems to make them the most fun they can be.” 

Free To Play

While Towerborne’s Early Access and Xbox Game Preview periods will grant the team precious time and feedback to build the best release possible, making the full-game free for anyone felt important to Towerborne’s overarching goal of complete approachability. 

“The Founder’s pack lets us do two main things: one is that we can slowly see where problems are and get attention onto those areas quickly,” McLaren explains. “The second thing, it invites a group of people that are really invested in the game, that believe in Stoic. They want to be a part of shaping the future of Towerborne.” 

The Free-To-Play approach shone brightly through Banner Saga: Factions, a free-to-play spinoff of the main series released in 2013. The idea was to allow players to come in for free and experience  the combat elements of  Banner Saga ahead of its launch, and Stoic was thrilled with how the process allowed as many people as possible to come in and help shape the game.  

“They were helping us building our combat and just making the game better in general, everyday we’d get feedback and do updates, I must have spent three hours a day just talking to the community,” say Arnie Jorgensen, Stoic co-founder. “We really missed that aspect after going back to working on a single player game, so we’re excited to bring it back.” 

A Second Game 

It’s fair to say that the currency a lot of modern games demand is your time above all else. While Towerborne’s enticing gameplay loop and limitless progression certainly allows you to spend as much time as you want in its world, Stoic, in a refreshing fashion, is pushing back on design elements that keep a player rooted to just one game. Towerborne can be your main game, but it can also be your second game that you can just jump into whenever the mood strikes, with minimal friction. 

“You don’t have to invest hundreds of hours every month to keep up with everybody else,” Jorgensen says. “Play as much as you want to, go away and play other games, and then come back. It’s important to acknowledge that everyone plays games differently. You can play for five or ten minutes and still feel like you accomplished something great, or you can play for five hours.” 

Stouffer adds: “It really is the manifestation of ‘just one more mission.” 

A Living, Breathing Belfry

Towerborne is a living game – which means the team will continue to develop the story, add new content and build out its world for as long as they can. As you progress, the world will evolve with your character, and this approach lends itself seamlessly to crafting an expansive, immersive backdrop to the fun you’re having as a player. 

“We have a freedom with an ongoing game that feels unattainable inside a single player experience,” McLaren says. “There’s this incredible worldbuilding going on, and if we want to add in new stories, new weapons or classes, we’re able to just focus solely on doing that and getting it into the game quickly.” 

Getting that second perspective is also crucial when it comes to seeing what your game can do. Oftentimes, a new set of eyes can be a great asset in scoping for bugs, sparking new ideas, and making an entire team say: “why didn’t we think of that?”   

“Players love to push the boundaries, and that’s part of the fun of it all,” Stouffer says. “You have an idea of what players are going to do, but you don’t truly know what will happen until you put it in people’s hands. Even the players who come in with the best intentions, they will do things where we say ‘oh, we didn’t know that could happen’. All bets are off.” 

It’s not just technical feedback that Stoic wants to gather from early players either. Stoic has recognized its community’s eye for great storytelling and ideas, and considers players almost as co-developers in its journey to build Towerborne. 

“We have ideas of where the story is going, but we’re totally willing to pivot if another idea comes from the community,” Jorgensen says. “We had that happen a lot with Banner Saga, where we’d see a great idea but it’s too late to add it into a single player game.” 

“This is our opportunity to really build a game with the players again. We think our ideas are great and hope that players agree, but they are going to have awesome ideas too, and to me, that’s the coolest part about making Towerborne a living game.” 

It’s Still Stoic 

Stoic is cognizant of the fact that Towerborne is a big change from Banner Saga, and the studio is by no means finished with that series. However, the team made a very deliberate decision to create an exciting multiplayer experience that invites everyone to sit down and have a great time.  

 “Anyone that has been following Stoic for a long time knows we’re making the games that we want to make – that doesn’t mean we’re going to make the same game all the time,” Jorgensen says. 

The commitment to fun is notably present throughout our conversation – the team itself is clearly enjoying building Towerborne and that enthusiasm will no doubt shine through the game. 

“We know some people will need time to process the change, and that’s totally okay,” McLaren adds. “We’re still the same studio, we’re just applying that passion and focus in a different way, and recharging our creative juices.” 

Towerborne begins Steam Early Access on September 10. To keep up to date with the game’s journey, check out the Towerborne website and join the official Discord community for more information about Early Access Founder’s Packs. 

Towerborne

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

The Belfry stands as a beacon of hope and safety amongst the ruins of humanity and the City of Numbers, with monsters lurking right outside the tower’s walls. You are an Ace, born anew from the spirit realm with the skills, the grit, and the determination to protect the people of the Belfry. With spirit companions fighting by your side, you are destined for battle. Can you become the Ace humanity needs to survive? Find out in Towerborne, the newest action-adventure game created by Stoic, the studio that brought you the award-winning Banner Saga trilogy. Adventure Together – Venture out of The Belfry solo or with up to three other Aces* to vanquish the looming terror that surrounds the tower. Either way, you won’t be alone. Aces can recruit Umbra companions to join them in battle, gaining access to enhanced skills and unique abilities tied to each spirit. After fighting your way through enemies, return to The Belfry to turn in quests, reforge gear, and more. Brave the Wilds – Towerborne is designed with player choice in mind. Create your Ace with options to customize your looks, gear and weapons. Switch up your overall gameplay experience at any time by changing your danger level as you venture into the wilds. Find and wield powerful weapons with unique special moves from one of four styles: War Clubs, Gauntlets, Dual Daggers, and Swords & Shields. Mix and match to make your Ace your own! Continue the Fight – With an evolving world map and seasonal content, your Ace will never run out of areas to explore and enemies to defeat. Seasons of Towerborne continue the story of The Belfry by introducing new enemies to battle, regions to discover, abilities to master, and lore to uncover (available as released). *Online console multiplayer requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Game Pass Core (subscriptions sold separately).

The post Towerborne: Why Early Access and a Focus on Fun Means a Better Game for Everyone appeared first on Xbox Wire.

• Category: gamescom

August 20, 2024

Beyond a Remake –  How Age of Mythology: Retold Revives and Retools a Beloved Classic

• Danielle Partis

At the Xbox Games Showcase earlier this year, fans of 2002’s Age of Mythology came out of the woodwork in droves (us included) to express their excitement for the upcoming remake – Age of Mythology: Retold. The original game is now over 20 years old, and while it’s remained at the forefront of fans’ minds, it’s perhaps less remembered than the Age of Empires series from which it sprung.  

Now, however, Retold is one of the most anticipated releases of the season – and that comes, in part, because developer World’s Edge is going beyond the expected, even for a full remake. This isn’t just the game that we all remember with a fresh coat of paint – it’s bringing brand new game modes, tweaks to classic units, and even brand-new playable factions down the road. Age of Mythology: Retold isn’t just for long-time fans, it’s an RTS for everyone.  

Ahead of Gamescom, we had the chance to speak with Kristen Pirillo, Senior Game Designer at World’s Edge to uncover why the studio and its partners are poised to deliver a much-anticipated – and incredibly comprehensive – refresh of a classic that could otherwise have been destined to be remembered only by a select few.  

While Age of Mythology has been left alone for over two decades, Pirillo shares that there’s a smaller, but deeply passionate community of players still actively invested in the game: “This interest sets Age of Mythology apart from a lot of other games. It may be the least talked about, but it also has the highest brainworm potential. 

“The Age of Mythology crowd is just particularly passionate and incredibly inventive – it was just a matter of waiting for the right time, and using all of the learnings from other Age titles.” 

Age of Mythology: Retold, at its heart, aims to be the game that these fans have been asking for – a faithful recreation of the original, with all the quality-of-life changes that modern development can offer. Retold called for an ambitious vision – the team really wanted to lean into the larger-than-life elements of huge mythological armies, monsters, and bombastic God Powers in a way that were previously limited by the tech of the time. 

This is immediately evident in the game’s visual design, especially when comparing unit models from the original game to their shiny new versions in Retold. The art team had a strong vision of what the game should look like – epic proportions, atmospheric worlds, and of course, horrible monsters. Pirillo describes this process using the Argus as an example, an Atlantean monster unit.  

“In Age of Mythology, it’s just a rough sphere with some tentacles, but in Retold, we can do so much more,” Pirillo shares. “Now it’s got a ton of eyeballs that all move independently, it slithers around, and it’s just kind of gross. But the idea is we want to amp everything up and really maximize the mythology.” 

Aside from straightforward improvements, Retold also brings significant changes to the original – never clearer than in the use of God Powers. God Powers in the original game are extremely powerful abilities that can only be used once per battle, whether it’s to immediately nuke an enemy from existence or significantly boost your resources. The issue was that they were so powerful, that players often saved them up, and ended up never using them at all. In Retold, these powers are now reusable, more reminiscent of Ultimate abilities in a hero shooter, changing the stakes of a match while letting you indulge. 

And the core to all of the team’s work, while it seems obvious, is that modern technology just allows you to have more of absolutely everything at one time. More units, more monsters, more God powers exploding across the map; Age of Mythology: Retold can support the carnage that players have always wanted to unleash.  

“One change that is huge for me is the increased population cap, so you can have absolutely massive armies,” Pirillo adds. “These armies can be made up of lots of different types of units. Some armies can just be monsters, and that’s just not something that the original game could handle. Even if you don’t win, it’s extremely satisfying to watch.” 

Approachable Changes 

The benefit of 20 years of feedback from such an invested community is that changes can be made to accommodate every type of player for the better. For instance, in the original Age of Mythology, the Norse faction was considered to have a higher bar to entry, and this is something that the team wanted to tweak for Retold to make the faction more approachable for everyone. 

“We’ve added more content within the base game for the Norse, new units and buildings, and a lot of the existing things have been rebalanced,” Pirillo says. “It’s also much less punishing if you make a mistake.” 

There’s also a new God Pack coming with the premium edition of Age of Mythology: Retold – the Freyr God Pack, which will unlock a major God and several minor Gods, giving players even more avenues to get started with the Norse adventure. 

“You’re not locked into one play style if you play as the Norse now,” Pirillo adds. “You’re not stuck just playing offensively or following one build order – there’s a lot more variability on how the match can go, and so many more branches of strategy.” 

There’s also now a villager priority system, so if you’d prefer to not have to keep checking on the nitty gritty parts of economy management and focus entirely on the battles and the story, you can set that to run automatically. When Pirillo shares that Age of Mythology has been built with the community, it is meant quite literally. The team sifted through 20 years of feedback shared about the game, trawling old school internet forums to find common frustrations that could be tweaked, as well as creative suggestions from those early days of play that may not have been easily implemented back in 2002. 

“Our designers really did their homework, and lots of them are fans of the original game too,” Pirillo says. “It feels like being Indiana Jones, going back to archaeological levels of the internet to find what was good or back then, and bringing it into Retold.” 

Age of Mythology: Retold is set to be a welcome and well-planned homecoming for those long-time fans, but it’s also going to be a great starting point for those that have never played the original game too. What’s even better, is that the game will continue to evolve as long as there’s still exciting mythology to add, and as Pirillo notes, there’s about two millenniums worth of it to tap into.  

“You don’t have to be good at RTS to enjoy the story,” Pirillo says. “You don’t have to be good at RTS to just enjoy the carnal satisfaction of building 25 huge Stag Beetles and storming through your friend’s town. It’s whimsical fun that anyone will enjoy.” 

Age of Mythology: Retold comes to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass September 4. 

Age of Mythology: Retold Standard Edition

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$29.99

Pre-order

From the creators of the award-winning Age of Empires franchise, Age of Mythology: Retold goes beyond history to a mythical age where gods, monsters, and humans collide. Combining the best elements of the beloved Age of Mythology with modern real-time strategy design and visuals, Retold is an epic and innovative experience for old and new players alike. Secure your domain, command legendary monsters, and call upon the power of the gods to crush your enemies. Will you become Mythic?  Call Upon the Gods Choose your gods from the Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and Atlantean pantheons. Devastate your enemies by summoning powerful lightning storms, earth-shattering quakes, and even the famed Nidhogg dragon. Or call upon nourishing rains and protective Dryads to help your people grow & prosper. Unleash the Monsters Unleash Centaurs, Trolls, Mummies, and more. From bejeweled crocodiles who harness the power of the sun to the mighty one-eyed Cyclops, you will command diverse units inspired by the world’s great mythologies. An Epic Mythological Universe Embark on multiple campaigns spanning 50-missions that take you across a vast, mythical world: besiege the mighty walls of Troy, battle Giants in the frozen wastes of Midgard, and discover the mysteries of Osiris in the shifting sands of Egypt. Become a hero of myth—or even a god. Better with Friends Play with your friends, either head-to-head or against the advanced AI on dozens of randomly generated maps and scenarios for limitless re-playability. * *Exclusive Premium benefits of 7 days Advanced Access and New Gods Pack available with Premium Edition and Premium Upgrade. New Gods Pack is a timed exclusive; may be available with future offers. Purchase the Premium Edition or the Premium Upgrade by August 27, 2024, for 7-days advanced access. Expansions 1 and 2 are available as released. See AgeofEmpires.com for details. * Online console multiplayer requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Core (sold separately).

The post Beyond a Remake –  How Age of Mythology: Retold Revives and Retools a Beloved Classic appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The release date for Unknown 9: Awakening has been announced.

During Gamescom Opening Night Live, developer Reflector Entertainment along with publisher Bandai Namco revealed Unknown 9: Awakening will release on 18th October. It will be available across PlayStation 5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC (Steam).

You can check out the live action trailer for Unknown 9: Awakening, which stars The Witcher's Anya Chalotra as the game's protagonist Haroona, below.

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Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024 is done and dusted for another year, but it's certainly kicked off this year's Gamescom with a bang - and we've got all the news, trailers and announcements right here in one handy summary. Whether you missed the show itself or just want a handy reminder of everything announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live this year, read on below.

Of course, alongside the main show, this year's ONL also had a 30-minute pre-show that was stuffed with announcements as well, which we'll quickly run through here before getting into the detail of the main show announcements below. Here, we got new trailers for Dave the Diver's latest crossovers, spooky co-op adventure Begone Beast and construction sim Roadcraft, alongside Italian Soulslike Enotria: The Last Song, Cairn (that shouty, but lovely looking climbing game from Summer Game Fest), life sim Inzoi from PUBG publishers Krafton, as well as a Terry showcase for Street Fighter 6.

There were also new game announcements in the pre-show in the form of Sniper Elite Resistance (coming 2025), the Donkey Kong-esque platformer Nikoderiko: The Magical World (with music from David Wise, no less), "first person farming horror allegory" We Harvest Shadows, the also quite spooky-looking Aila, a tease for the sequel to Journey to the Savage Planet (aptly named Revenge of the Savage Planet), action RPG Tribe Nine from the creators of Danganronpa, and the Lashana Lynch-led Directive 8020: A Dark Pictures Game.

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The opening to Firaxis' big Civilization 7 presentation is wonderfully on-brand: a quickfire history lesson from Ed Beach, lead designer, on the many historical layers of the City of London. Beach is one of the rare cases of a lead designer on Civilization staying in charge across multiple entries, having overseen Civ 6 before Civ 7, and who's worked on the series since long before that. A physicist turned game designer – Beach also worked on the launch of the Hubble telescope, a key part of the Civ 6 scientific victory – he's also a self-confessed history nerd. As quickly evidenced.

Stood in front of a room of eager press waiting to hear the first bit of real information about a new entry to the series, Beach instead opts to pull up a map of London, under Roman rule, sourced from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Pointing to the ancient town's strategic position on the river, he wonders aloud about how the Ludgate, in the settlement's western wall, might have acquired its name. "We're not sure what it's named for. We think it might be called Ludgate because there was a Welsh king who lived out that direction called King Lud."

Then, it's a progression into mediaeval times, with Beach pointing out a river previously outside the Ludgate and how it's now changed to be within the city boundary. "They've actually taken the Fleet River and sort of diverted it, to make a cool little moat around their mediaeval prison…" Then, a slide showing the factories and railway lines rapidly developed during the 19th century, the river-moat now fully built over, as Victorian Britain clamoured for more usable land. "It's not even visible anymore, because they needed to respect what was going on with the Industrial Revolution."

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It's been two years since Mafia developer Hangar 13 confirmed it was working on a new entry in its open-world crime series, and the time has finally come for it to be revealed to the world. It's called Mafia: The Old Country and is heading to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC next year.

While 2016's Mafia 3 shunted the series forward in time to the late 60s (the first two games spanned the 1930s, 40s, and 50s between them), The Old Country is going backward, presenting players with a "gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily."

"Fight to survive in this dangerous and unforgiving era," teases the scant bit of blurb accompanying today's teaser trailer, "with action brought to life by the authentic realism and rich storytelling that the critically acclaimed Mafia series is known for."

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Bethesda's first big expansion to Starfield, Shattered Space, will launch for PC and Xbox Series X/S on 30th September.

We got a quick look at the upcoming addition tonight during Gamescom Opening Night Live, in a trailer that mostly focused on the REV-8 land vehicle included in August's free game update.

Ahead of launch, marketing for Starfield felt fairly sober and dramatic - it's fair to say tonight's video takes a more upbeat tone. Previously, Bethesda's Todd Howard said that the lack of land vehicles was a deliberate choice - but it's now something that's being walked (or driven) back.

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Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, the long-awaited next game from the team behind the original Life is Strange, will arrive in two parts.

The first installment launches for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on 18th February 2025, with its concluding slice then a month later on 18th March.

Tonight also brings an initial look at gameplay from Don't Nod's latest teen adventure, which has a dual timeline split between 1995 and 2022, when its young protagonists are now adults - and dealing with the consequences of their/your actions.

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To this day, I still hold Indy responsible for my penchant for hats. I have been enthralled by Indiana Jones ever since I was a little girl - but despite this deep affection, coming away from a hands-off preview of MachineGames' Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, I just can't let myself get overly excited about the upcoming release just yet.

While I'm still looking forward to playing another narrative-driven adventure game, with that fun 'afternoon popcorn flick' energy Great Circle undoubtedly has, my immediate reaction from this first extended demo is to worry this is all it will be, leaning just a little too heavily on fan nostalgia and a tried and tested formula, but without the innovation to truly set it apart from the rest. (And, given the game is currently set to release this year, I really hoped to see more gameplay than I did.)

The demo, which is also being shown at this year's Gamescom, begins with Indy entering a large room within the Sunsparker Chamber, a mysterious underground temple and one of "several well guarded secrets and hidden ruins" you can expect to discover. With the camera in first-person, our archaeologist - gamely brought to life by a still-recognisable Troy Baker - looks around the ancient room before gameplay switches to a cutscene. Indy approaches a statue set upon a plinth at the back of the room, in a scene immediately reminiscent of Raiders of the Lost Ark - which is fitting, given the Great Circle is set between the events of this film and The Last Crusade.

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By the time you read these words, Peter Molyneux will have taken to the Opening Night Live stage at Gamescom and formally announced his new project to the world. Masters of Albion marks Molyneux's return to the genre he is widely credited with creating. It ditches his studio 22cans' previous focus on mobile development to instead target consoles as well as PC. And it's being made with help from several of Molyneux's old colleagues at his previous studios - Lionhead, Bullfrog - whose design CVs, like Molyneux's own, include a litany of 90s and 2000s classics.

On paper, all of this should inspire a positive reception. But, sitting opposite Molyneux a week before today's announcement, in the quiet boardroom of his small Guildford development studio, the veteran video game designer is clearly nervous. Those 90s and 2000s hits are now a long time ago, and much, of course, has changed. It's been 12 years since 22cans was founded and Molyneux's Curiosity cube caught the headlines, for good and bad, and the subsequent decade has not gone smoothly - crowdfunding concerns with Godus, continued accusations of broken promises, a fractured relationship with the media, and, most recently, an odd foray chasing the NFT fad with a blockchain game unfortunately titled Legacy.

Molyneux, now 65, is visibly older, softly-spoken. Last year, on social media, he described his mental health as "fragile". As we sit down, he asks if I mind whether he vapes as we talk - a habit he tells me he's picked up due to stress. He's not been sleeping well, he says, due to the anxiety of talking to the press once again. At times, when we discuss what this new project means to him - what it potentially could still mean for the latter stages of his career - his voice slows, emotion rising. But, at others, when he's discussing game mechanics, or keen to tell me more than he's strictly allowed, his old enthusiasm shines through, at one point swinging back and forth like a child on his chair.

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Developer Ustwo Games has revealed its widely acclaimed Escher-esque puzzler Monument Valley will return for a third outing on 10th December, and it'll be exclusively available to Netflix subscribers on Android and iOS devices.

Monument Valley 3 is described as protagonist Noor's "most extraordinary adventure yet", and it'll see players searching for a new source of power before the light of the world fades forever.

It promises "stunning new art styles and impossible landscapes", alongside "innovative mechanics and fresh ways to approach challenges". And one of its biggest new features comes in the form of sailing, with players able to roam the world - and solve some of its puzzles - by boat.

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Tonight brings a first look at the next game in the legendary Batman: Arkham series - the upcoming entry coming to Meta Quest 3.

Batman: Arkham Shadow is a prequel story set before Rocksteady's Arkham Asylum, though after existing prequel entry Arkham Oranges.

In first-person, you'll be able to do many of the things you could in those entries - including boshing your enemies in the face with your fists, grappling across gaps and using various other bat-gadgets, plus switching on Detective Vision.

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ARC Raiders - the free-to-play PvPvE extraction shooter from The Finals developer Embark Studios - has resurfaced following an extended period of retooling, and is now launching as a premium title for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5 next year.

If you're struggling to remember much about ARC Raiders, that might be because few details have been shared since its announcement back in 2021. It was originally set to release in 2022, but its launch has continued to slip since then - first into 2023 so Embark could focus on The Finals, and latterly while the studio continued to tinker with the title following a genre change.

But it turns out its switch from co-operative third-person shooter to PvPvE extraction shooter (its original form "wasn't really fun", Embark admitted during a recent press event) wasn't to be ARC Raiders' only notable change. It's now been re-announced as a $40 USD premium title, jettisoning its previous free-to-play form, albeit while still remaining a live-service game.

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Civilization 7, the very long-awaited latest instalment in developer Firaxis' beloved 4X strategy series, finally has a release date and will be launching for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC on 11th February next year.

But that's not all! As well as providing a date for strategy fans to furiously circle in their 2025 calenders, Firaxis has shared a first look at Civilization 7 in action following June's moody, if ultimately rather uninformative, cinematic trailer. And today's gameplay debut reveals a new aesthetic somewhere between the vibrantly cartoony (and somewhat divise) artstyle of Civilization 6 and the more realistic approach of earlier titles in the series.

And there's more where that came from; Firaxis will be expanding on the features glimpsed in tonight's trailer as part of a 20-minute gameplay showcase set to air at 9.30pm BST/1.30pm PT on Twitch, shortly after Gamescom Opening Night Live is through. And you might also want to stick around Eurogamer, as we'll have plenty to say about Civilization 7 ourselves.

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Those Xbox players among us who have been waiting to get their hands on open-world adventure RPG Genshin Impact, I have good news.

At this evening's Gamescom Opening Night Live, the team revealed Genshin Impact will be making its way to Xbox Series X/S and Game Pass on 20th November. It is available to wishlist now on the Microsoft Store.

The news was shared along with a new Natlan gameplay trailer (below). Earlier this year, Genshin Impact was once again accused of cultural appropriation from fans and voice actors in response to the reveal of its new cast of Natlan characters.

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Dune: Awakening received a first look at gameplay at this year's Gamescom Opening Night Live, as well as a release window.

The survival-crafting shooter will be out in early 2025 on PC. Console versions for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S do not yet have a release date.

Gameplay features survival mechanics, base building, and warring player factions. Take a look below.

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It's been nearly four years since Tarsier Studios waved goodbye to Little Nightmares after being snapped up by Embracer Group, giving developer Supermassive a crack at the much-loved Bandai-Namco-owned horror series. So what's Tarsier been doing since then? Well, it turns out the studio hasn't quite shaken off its fascination with spooky kids in scary places, as one look at its latest project, the newly unveiled Reanimal, makes clear.

Reanimal's gloomy nightmare-fairytale aesthetic, its gangly-limbed monsters, and its two young protagonists - all evident in its announcement trailer - are unquestionably reminiscent of Tarsier's Little Nightmares series. And while that's certainly no bad thing given the studio's oft-brilliant work on those games, it's not entirely clear after a half-hour press briefing, just how substantial a departure - beyond two key features - Reanimal will be from what's come before.

Reanimal tells the story of an orphaned brother and sister trapped in hellish version of the island that used to be their home, as they embark on a quest to rescue their three friends. It's a violent world of gloomy forests and decimated buildings, where empty bags of skins hang from trees and hideous, animalistic creatures roam. It's also one that's aiming for a "darker and grittier" tone compared to Tarsier's previous horror games.

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Dying Light developer Techland has shown off a new game in its zombie series that began life as a DLC for Dying Light 2 Stay Human.

Announced during Gamescom Opening Night Live, Dying Light: The Beast is a solo or four-player co-op experience pitched as a "tight" 18-hour ride through a fresh area of the franchise's world.

Dying Light protagonist Kyle Crane, once again voiced by Roger Craig Smith, returns here, a decade on. In-game, Crane has been in captivity, and experimented on. The upside? You have zombie DNA powers to unleash that beast on enemies.

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We already knew it was coming, thanks to a post-credits teaser at the end of 2022's The Devil in Me, but developer Supermassive has now confirmed its sci-fi horror outing Directive 8020 will launch for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC next year.

Directive 8020 essentially takes one fist of Alien and another of The Thing then smushes them together, placing players aboard the colony ship Cassiopeia, where its crew must escape an alien organism capable of mimicking its prey.

"Earth is dying and humanity is running out of time," teases Supermassive. "12 light years from home, Tau Ceti f offers a small sliver of hope. When the colony ship Cassiopeia crash lands on the planet, its crew soon realise they are far from being alone... As they battle to survive, they are confronted with the hardest choice of all: to save themselves, they must risk the lives of everyone on Earth."

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Borderlands 4 has been officially teased by Gearbox and 2K.

The game was revealed with a brief teaser during Gamescom Opening Night Live this evening. The teaser, which you can see below, begins with the firehawk symbol of Lilith, which she leaves on the moon, Elpis, at the end of Borderlands 3.

"In this next instalment of the definitive looter shooter, players will assume the role of a legendary Vault Hunter as they blast their way through hordes of enemies in search of new treasures to loot on an all-new planet," reads the official blurb.

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Just when Geoff Keighley had started to fade from your memory, he comes rubber-banding back with a vengeance - snap! It's Gamescom week and it kicks off with Opening Night Live this evening from 7pm UK time (other Opening Night Live timings here). A pre-show with additional announcements will begin at 6.30pm UK. We'll be watching and reporting on it live, as always, right here, so you can either keep abreast of announcements while you do something else, or you can join in with your thoughtful and amusing comments. Please keep us company. Please.

What do we expect to see today? Well, probably Geoff Keighley, but also the new Indiana Jones game, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Dune Awakening. We're also expecting Little Nightmares creator Tarsier to unveil its new project, which could be exciting. On top of that: Diablo 4 expansion Vessel of Hatred, Civilization 7, hero shooter Marvel Rivals, Lost Records (the project made by the creators of Life is Strange), Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (which was recently delayed), and Black Ops 6. Keighley's best pal Hideo Kojima has also been tweeting enigmatic silhouetted pictures of actors who are presumably playing roles in Death Stranding 2.

And before you ask, "Yes, there will be new game announcements," Keighley said on X.

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UPDATE 20/8/24: Well, there you go. Following last week's Deadline report, Amazon has officially unveiled Secret Level, a new "adult-animated anthology series featuring original stories set within the worlds of some of the most beloved video games".

It's a 15-episode series from the creators of Love, Death & Robots, and it'll feature stories inspired by Armored Core, Concord, Crossfire, Dungeons & Dragons, Exodus, Honor of Kings, Mega Man, New World: Aeternum, PAC-MAN, Sifu, Spelunky, The Outer Worlds, Unreal Tournament, Warhammer 40,000, and a variety of PlayStation Studios games.

And if that takes your fancy, you'll be wanting to circle 10th December on your calendar - which is when the series arrives on Prime Video - then check out its teaser trailer below.

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Check out the amazingly talented dancers of ILL-ABILITIES. On their website, ILL-ABILITIES states that they are:

an International Breakdance Crew comprised of eight members from around the world:  Luca "Lazylegz" Patuelli (Canada); Jacob "Kujo" Lyons (USA); Sergio "Checho" Carvajal (Chile); Redouan "Redo" Ait Chitt (The Netherlands); Jung Soo "Krops" Lee (South Korea); Samuel Henrique "Samuka" da Silveira Lima (Brazil) ; Lucas "Perninha" Machado (Brazil); "Junior" Bosila Banya (France).

— Read the rest

The post ILL-ABILITIES showcases amazing differently-abled breakdancers appeared first on Boing Boing.

Another summer of gaming wraps up with the Gamescom ONL 2024. The largest international gaming event kicked off in Cologne, Germany, with beloved industry figure Geoff Keighly taking to the stage to announce some new games, including Borderlands 4 and new looks at already announced titles. Here’s everything that was announced at Gamescom ONL 2024!

Borderlands 4

The latest installment in the Borderlands franchise, premiered at Gamescom ONL 2024, showcased a wild, reality-bending trailer, promising more looting and shooting. While no specific release date for Borderlands 4 was provided, the game is tentatively scheduled for 2025..

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Players got an extended look at the new campaign mode for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 during ONL 2024, which featured a mixture of action and espionage. Players can also join in chat as creators get hands‑on gameplay experience with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at this year’s Call of Duty NEXT. on Aug 28th, 2024

Goat Simulator Remastered

Revealed at Gamescom ONL 2024, the remaster of the original Goat Simulator offers gamers a unique blend of video game tropes and gags. While no official release date was announced, Goat Simulator Remastered is set to arrive in 2024.

Persona 3 Reload Episode Aigis / The Answer

During Gamescom’s Opening Night Live 2024, ATLUS announced that a special challenge battle will be added to Persona 3 Reload next month as part of Episode Aigis -The Answer-. This final content release for the Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass is set to launch on Sept. 10, 2024.

Dying Light: The Beast

Techland announced Dying Light: The Beast During Gamescom ONL 2024, an 18-plus-hour standalone zombie adventure set in the post-apocalyptic Castor Woods. Later this year, Techland plans to reveal more details, including the release date.

Black Myth Wukong

The official launch trailer for Black Myth Wukong was shown off at Gamescom ONL 2024. Showcasing much of the game’s intense soulslike action. Black Myth Wukong releases Aug 20th 2024 ,you can check out our review of the game here.

Dragonball: Sparking Zero

At Gamescom ONL 2024, a new trailer for the highly anticipated Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO showcased more of the story mode and action, introducing the main protagonists of the Buu Saga, Ultimate Gohan and Super Buu, to the expansive roster of 163 characters. Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is set to release on Oct. 11, 2024.

King of Meat

In a bizarre turn of events, Geoff Keighley was transported into the world of King of Meat during a segment of ONL 2024, where players can create their own dungeons and compete with others for ultimate bragging rights. No release date has been set for King of Meat.

Lynked: Banner of the Spark

Fuzzybot debuted the reveal trailer for their combination dungeon-crawler and town-builder, Lynked: Banner of the Spark. The game will release in Early Access on Oct. 22, 2024.

Lost Records: Bloom and Rage

Gamers received an extended look at the upcoming narrative experience from DON’T NOD during Gamescom ONL 2024, which highlighted the emotional and surreal journey of Lost Records: Bloom and Rage.

No More Room In Hell 2

Next at the ONL 2024 showcase, a new gameplay trailer for No More Room in Hell 2 highlighted the game’s approach to cinematic horror, featuring unique stealth mechanics and haunting new map areas. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, this co-op game with consequences is set to enter Early Access on PC this Halloween.

Arc Raiders

At Gamescom ONL 2024, Embark Studios broke the silence on ARC Raiders—the upcoming PvPvE third-person action-survival shooter—via a brand new trailer announcing the game’s launch in 2025, along with a playtest this fall. ARC Raiders will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2025.

Infinity Nikki

A new trailer for Infinity Nikki, the latest installment of the beloved Nikki series, debuted today at Gamescom’s ONL 2024. Registration for Infinity Nikki’s global Closed Beta Test and mobile pre-registration are open now.

Predecessor

Revealed at Gamescom ONL 2024, Omeda Studios has built upon Paragon‘s existing visual assets, overhauling the game’s maps, gameplay mechanics, characters, and more to create something new and improved that stays true to the heart of Paragon. Predecessor is available for free download on PC, PS4/5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Path of Exile II

Path of Exile 2 is a next-generation free-to-play Action RPG from Grinding Gear Games, featuring co-op for up to six players. Excited players will get to experience the Early Access release of the game on Nov 15th, 2024.

Dune Awakening

At Gamescom ONL 2024, players got an extended look at the extensive gameplay and RPG mechanics of Dune: Awakening. Highlighting the game’s unique combat mechanics, crafting system, and intense survival elements, Dune: Awakening is set to be released in early 2025.

REANIMAL

A horrific new look at the newest game from Little Nightmare creator Tarsier Studios. Featuring similar gameplay and equally terrifying enemies. No release date was set for REANIMAL.

Genshin Impact

The widely popular MMORPG Genshin Impact showed up at Gamescom ONL 2024 to show off the newest area: Natlan, as well its release on Xbox Series X/S coming Nov 20th, 2024

Monster Hunter Wilds

Capcom took to the stage at Gamescom OLN 2024 to show off new monsters, gameplay, a small glimpse of the new HUB area—and, of course, a new meat-cooking animation! Monster Hunter Wilds will be released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Microsoft Windows in 2025.

Naraka Bladepoint X Tomb Raider

Lara Croft is coming to Naraka Bladpoint as an exclusive outfit for Matari. The DLC will be available on Aug 28th, 2024.

Fatal Fury City of the Wolves

A new look at the iconic Mia Shiranui both in combat and in her iconic outfit. FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves will be released on April 24, 2025, on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

Mecha Break

Amazing Seasun Games just revealed Mecha BREAK’s newest trailer, plus a few important updates. Additionally, Mecha BREAK’s first-ever Xbox Closed Beta test will be live from August 25-27.

Monument Valley III

The newest installment to the acclaimed Monument Valley series, which looks to feature more artistry and even more mind-bending puzzles. Monument Valley III will be released exclusively on Netflix Games on Dec 10th, 2024.

Civilization VII

Firaxis’ Ed Beach took to the stage to discuss what makes Civilization VIII so special, saying it’s the biggest and most ambitious Civilization to date. The gameplay shown demonstrates a much more expansive and active game than its predecessors. The game will be released on February 11th, 2025.

Starfield

The newest addition to Starfield, the Rev-8, is an all-terrain vehicle (quite literally). This free update came in addition to a small glimpse of the Shattered Space DLC, which will be released on September 30th, 2024.

Marvel Rivals

Showcasing two new heroes, Marvel Rivals showed off gameplay for Captain America and The Winter Soldier to their upcoming hero shooter. The latest map, the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, was also unveiled. Marvel Rivals launches on Dec 6th, 2024.

Secret Level

A new anthology series from the creators of Love Death and Robots based on several video games such as Sifu, Megaman, Concord, and more. Secret Level comes to Prime Video on Dec 10th, 2024.

Age of Mythology Retold

Developed by World’s Edge and Forgotten Empires and published by Xbox Game Studios, Age of Mythology Retold is a remastered version of the original Age of Mythology. It will be released on September 4th, 2024.

Towerborn

The upcoming free-to-play side-scrolling action-adventure game developed by Stoic and published by Xbox Game Studios. While no release date was given, players can expect it in 2025.

Kingdom Come Deliverance II

Gamers got an extended look at the gameplay for Kingdom Come Deliverance. The game also recieved an official release date of Feb 11th, 2025.

Zenless Zone Zero

Hoyoverse debuted the newest area to the intense ARPG Zenless Zone Zero: New Eridu showcasing the new cityscapes, monsters and combat. No release date was set for the latest expansion.

Honkai Star Rail Chapter

Hoyoverse announced the “Tales of the Luofu: A New Chapter” for Honkai Star Rail, featuring the forthcoming character Feixiao, a formidable female warrior from the Xianzhou Yaoqing, set to become playable in version 2.5. Additionally, new details about the exciting collaboration with the Fate/Stay Night anime have been revealed.

Batman Arkham Shadow

Gamers got their first look at the gameplay for Batman Arkham Shadow, the newest VR experience where players can really feel like Batman. Featuring a mixture of combat, gadget use, and investigation, Batman Arkham Shadow will be released for Meta Quest 3 in October 2024.

Little Nightmares III

Supermassive Games showed off more of the cooperative gameplay for Little Nightmares III, featuring some mild combat and the physics-based puzzle-solving fans have come to love from the series. Little Nightmares III will launch on PC and consoles in 2025.

Herdling

Announced today at Gamescom ONL 2024, Okomotive announced Herdling, where players shepard a mysterious herd of animal companions while exploring gorgeous landscapes in this single-player adventure. Herdling will be released in 2025 on PC and consoles. 

Masters of Albion

In a surprise announcement at Gamescom ONL 2024, Masters of Albion was revealed as a combination of world crafting and third-person combat. The game allows players to create almost everything, often with hilarious results. During the day, players will craft their idyllic fantasy town, and at night, defend it from monstrous creatures. No release date has been set for Masters of Albion.

Squid Game Unleashed

In what looks like Fall Guys meets the critically acclaimed show, Squid Game Unleased pits players against each other in deadly games, both new and familiar. Players can play it “soon” on the Netflix App; however, no official release date was set.

Unkown9 Awakening

Developed by Reflector Entertainment and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., Unkown 9 Awakening is an action-adventure game that mysteriously twists a journey to find powerful knowledge hidden within the Fold. The game will launch on October 18th, 2024.

Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred

The upcoming DLC for Diablo 4 showed off the new Mercenary companions as well as the Spiritborn class. Brent Gibson took to the stage to talk a bit about the Mercenary companions as well as two new dungeons coming to the Vessel of Hatred DLC—the DLC launches Oct 8th, 2024.

The First Berserker: Khazan

NEXON and Neople released a brand-new cinematic and gameplay trailer for The First Berserker: Khazan at Gamescom ONL 2024. The trailer focuses on the title’s intense battle scenes and storyline. The game will be launching in early 2025 for Windows PC via Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S

ARA History Untold

Ara: History Untold delivers an evolution in turn-based historical grand strategy, where player choices will define the world you create, your experience, and your legacy. The game will be released on September 24th, 2024.

Delta Force

The Gamescom ONL 2024 trailer showcases the new extraction map Brakkesh, and the weapons arsenal. During the trailer, Team Jade also announced that they updated the name of the game simply to Delta Force. Ahead of early access, players can expect Delta Force at Steam Next Fest in October with new reveals and gameplay details.

Dark and Darker Mobile

The unforgiving hardcore fantasy FPS dungeon PvPvE adventure from IRONMACE comes to mobile with pre-registration starting now.

Floatopia

showcased at Gamescom ONL 2024, NetEase’s upcoming game combines all the beloved elements of life simulation games—farming, fishing, logging, and decorating your dream home. Players can enter a whimsical world filled with toys, travel, superpowers, and floating islands. Here, you can enjoy a carefree vacation where you can relax, daydream, and fill your days with fantasy and laughter. Floatopia will launch on all consoles in 2025.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Taking to the Gamescom OLN 2024 stage, players got to see a bit of Troy Baker’s performance as the iconic Indiana Jones, as well as an expanded look at the combination of action and exploration gameplay. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle releases Dec 9th, 2024 and will be released for PS5 in the Spring of 2025.

Mafia: The Old Country

Set in 1900s Sicily, Mafia: The Old Country goes back to the origins of the Mafia. Although little detail was shown for this reveal at Gamescom ONL 2024, work has begun on this project, which hopes to capture what players love about the Mafia franchise.

Peter Molyneux appeared at Gamescom 2024’s Opening Night Live to reveal Masters of Albion, a project he’s been quietly working on for the last six years with a small team.

“After messing around on mobile — what the hell was I doing? — I thought to myself, ‘I need to come home to PC and console,” Molyneux explained.

Not only is he returning to consoles, but he’s also enlisted some veteran collaborators among the 20-person team behind Masters of Albion. Molyneux specifically mentioned Mark Healy, Russell Shaw, and Iain Wright, who worked with him on classics like Fable, Black & White, and Dungeon Keeper.

Monsters of Albion tasks players with building up a settlement called Oakridge. During the day, players will gather resources, earn money, and building the town up; during the night, they must defend it from monsters. In the process, players can design anything from the town’s buildings to the clothing and diets of the villagers, using a “god mode” hand.

“There is a strategy behind every creation,” Molyneux teased.

God mode isn’t the only way to play Masters of Albion. Characters can be “possessed,” changing the perspective to third-person so the monsters can be fought on the spot. Should that prove overwhelming, players can return to god mode and drop some divine fury.

From this brief overview, Masters of Albion seems to have the usual Molyneux humour and character. Through the design process, it’s possible to make swords out of bread, for example, while at one point, the god mode cursor picks up a random, hapless villager and drops them out of the sky for a laugh. There’s a little bit of everything from (the better part of) his corpus on display, right down to the god mode of Godus.

Time will tell where this new project leads, but for now, Molyneux is writing some modest cheques for Masters of Albion, which should prove easier to cash than some of the other projects he’s overhyped over the years. (And no, this does not immediately appear to be connected to the Fable games, which previously took place in a setting of the same name.)

Masters of Albion is available to wishlist on Steam now; a console version is also in development, with no release window named just yet.

Executive producer and leather jacket aficionado Todd Howard has long wanted to make an Indiana Jones game. In partnering for it with MachineGames, who, given their work on the new, mostly critically acclaimed, batch of Wolfenstein shooters, have experience in Indy’s favourite pastime, punching Nazis, it would seem that Howard has picked the right people for the right job. And, yet, even after attending an hour-long digital event for what has been titled Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, I am still unsure that giving the reins to MachineGames was the best call to make. But, before I go more in detail with my impressions, let me give the rundown of what was presented to me.

Days before its showing at gamescom ONL 2024, I was fortunate enough to attend an online preview for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle led by game director Jerk Gustaffson and creative director Axel Torvenius. Half of this preview consisted of a gameplay presentation, which will also be shown on the show floor during gamescom, whereas the other was dedicated to a Q&A session with the two.

The presentation began with a montage of footage edited together from previous trailers, upon which Gustaffson and Torvenius revealed the first concept art created for the title. They said that they and their team knew from the get-go that they wanted the player to visit major sites like the Vatican and the Himalayas and that they wanted to include Gina Lombardi, a wholly original companion for Indy.

The overall goal behind Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, they continued, was to ‘strive to make the gameplay experience as authentic as possible and to make something that will evoke a sense of curiosity.’ As an example of how to best do so, they spoke about how the team at MachineGames looked at drawings and renditions of Thai landmarks such as Wat Si Sawai from around 1937 – the year that The Great Circle was set. Nevertheless, they also created their own points of interest, such as temples meant to host numerous well-guarded secrets.

“The overall goal behind Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was to ‘strive to make the gameplay experience as authentic as possible and to make something that will evoke a sense of curiosity.'”

Next, I was shown gameplay from the main chamber of, presumably, one of the said temples. At this unspecified point in the story, Indy had just gotten his hands on what I think was a statue of the Egyptian goddess of war, Sekhmet. He then proceeded to break this statue to acquire the next clue necessary for his adventure.

Upon doing so, however, the temple started to crumble, and the chamber he found himself in was rapidly filling up with quicksand. Following this turn of events, the HUD appeared on screen, showing Indy’s stamina bar and the icons for a whip and a pistol, the latter two being part of Indy’s trusty arsenal. Gustafsson and Torvenius had mentioned before that the whip could be used in both traversal and combat, but this was my first time seeing Indy use it to orchestrate a dashing escape.

The next scene I was made privy to flung me back to the beginning of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s story, which starts one fateful night in 1937. After falling asleep at his desk inside Marshall College in Boston, Indy was unceremoniously woken up by an intimidating man who proceeded to rob the museum college of a priceless relic. This event sets the stage for a grand conspiracy which features Indy’s main rival, one Emmerich Voss, a Nazi psychologist who is plundering sites around the globe in search of mysterious artifacts.

To help in the fight against Voss, MachineGames emphasized that players must employ Indy’s resourcefulness and, therefore, find clever ways to deploy each of the hero’s many tools. Take the camera, for one, which can be used to snap photos, which will, in turn, reveal clues and insights. These clues and insights are used to inform Indy’s personal journal, which is blank at the start of the game but will eventually contain the records of his adventure.

After demonstrating the journal and the camera, MachineGames returned to the whip, which they described as “the most important tool in Indy’s Arsenal.” The subsequent clip showed Indy in a temple picking up a nearby trident and then throwing it at a nearby cliff, creating a swing. With the trident firmly affixed to the cliff and his whip in hand, Indy was able to use the swing to cross a dangerous chasm.

In the next segment, it was time for a showing of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s combat system. The directing duo made it very clear here that the key to the game’s combat lies in deciding whether to ‘outsmart or overpower’ Indy’s enemies. This being said stealth is possible and perhaps the first option to consider in most cases. ‘What we’ve tried to do is make sure that you understand that there are stealth options,’ Gustafsson said when asked about approaches in combat. ‘It is stealth, the hand-to-hand and the whip that are the go-to’, he stated.

“The transition from Wolfenstein to Indiana Jones was described by MachineGames as a ‘big step’ and their ‘biggest project yet.'”

Fittingly, I then got to see a bit of stealth in a passage of play that had Indy infiltrate the Vatican. To do so, he wore a clerical outfit as his disguise and carefully evaded the gaze of patrolling guards. Moments later, in a different combat encounter entirely, I saw Indy pick up and throw bottles to distract his enemies, eventually subduing them while remaining completely unnoticed.

Moving on from the Vatican, the final piece of footage I got to see was of Indy engaged in a series of fights inside and around the Great Pyramid of Giza. These fights showcased that not only is Indy able to throw combos and whip his enemies, but also that he is capable of using whatever he finds in the environment: sticks, bricks, barrels, etc., to gain the upper hand.

Something that I haven’t mentioned yet, and that changed the tide of a fight that I was shown, is the fact that Indy also has an array of unlockable abilities. The one ability MachineGames showcased was called “True Grit”, which essentially allowed Indy to restore a modicum of health and continue the fight, even though his health bar has just previously been depleted.

MachineGames elaborated that “True Grit” and other abilities can be unlocked using “adventure points,” which the player can earn by taking part in activities such as snapping camera photos and completing optional missions. Gustaffson and Torvenius were coy about giving more details about these optional missions other than suggesting that some locations are more open than others, which would allow players to deviate from the golden path.

The Giza scenario concluded the gameplay portion of the presentation, which was followed by a series of questions from fellow journalists and me. To quickly summarize some of the more salient points covered here, I’ll suffice to write that Gustaffsson and Torvenius spoke about the transition from Wolfenstein as being a “big step” for MachineGames and that The Great Circle, which they confirmed is still slated for this year, is ‘by far the biggest’ project for them yet.

Lastly, and more interestingly to me, when asked whether they ever considered making Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in the third person, Gustafsson responded that ‘first person was the obvious choice for us’ and that it represented something ‘very important for us and for the way we make games in general.’

This last quote by Gustafsson strongly indicates to me that MachineGames is sticking to their guns and to what they do best, which would be rather commendable if it didn’t make me nervous for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. This is because, ultimately, I’m not convinced that an unabashedly MachineGames title is a right fit for a franchise like Indiana Jones. To be clear, everything I’ve been shown at this digital event suggests that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be a great entry in the studio’s portfolio, but I am unsure whether or not it will prove to be the kind of game that the typical Indiana Jones fan expects.

“As of right now, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle seems like a gamble, especially at a time when both the storied franchise and Xbox Studios are looking for a surefire hit.”

Speaking for myself, when I think about Indiana Jones video games, I think first and foremost about Emperor’s Tomb, which was created with an entirely different set of guiding principles than Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. I suppose, then, that the million-dollar question here is: will players, myself included, accept a different kind of Indy experience? Even after a lengthy preview, I’m still not sure that the answer is a definitive yes. As of right now, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle seems like a gamble, especially at a time when both the storied franchise and Xbox Studies are looking for a surefire hit.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is set to release on Dec 9, 2024 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows and Steam. Available day one for Game Pass subscribers. A Playstation release was also announced today, for spring 2025.

Prime Video Announced at gamescom ONL that they are set to launch Secret Level, an anthology series that brings life to some of the gaming world’s most beloved titles.

Secret Level, created by Tim Miller of Love, Death & Robots fame, promises to bring some of gaming’s most beloved titles to life in a fresh and innovative way. The series, set to premiere on Oct. 6, will feature a collection of animated shorts based on popular video games. The selected games were chosen for their unique art styles and compelling narratives, which are expected to be beautifully translated into animated form.

Below is the incredible list of games that inspired the 15 epic stories found in Secret Level.

● Armored Core

● Concord

● Crossfire

● Dungeons & Dragons

● Exodus

● Honor of Kings

● Mega Man

● New World: Aeternum

● PAC-MAN

● PlayStation (Highlighting various PlayStation Studios beloved entities)

● Sifu

● Spelunky

● The Outer Worlds

● Unreal Tournament

● Warhammer 40,000

While brief, the trailer for Secret Level, revealed at Gamescom Opening Night Live, offers an exciting preview of the visual feast awaiting viewers. Each short seems to capture the essence of its source material while adding a new layer of depth through animation. From the whimsical, hand-drawn style of Cuphead to the more realistic renderings of other games, the variety on display is impressive.

Much like Love, Death & Robots, Secret Level distinguishes itself with its commitment to preserving each game’s unique qualities while exploring new storytelling possibilities. The anthology format allows for a range of tones and styles, reflecting the diversity of the indie game scene. This ambitious project aims to bridge the gap between interactive and passive entertainment, potentially introducing these beloved games to a whole new audience.

It’s great to see Tim Miller at the helm. Known for his work on Deadpool and the aforementioned Love, Death & Robots, he brings a level of talent to the project that signals the quality viewers can likely expect from Secret Level. The series has the potential to become a new favourite for fans of adult animation and a must-watch for gamers eager to see their favourite titles brought to life in a new medium.

While the final product is yet to be seen, Secret Level already appears to be a unique addition to Prime Video’s lineup, promising to take viewers on an unforgettable journey through some of gaming’s most imaginative worlds.

Funcom has unveiled Dune: Awakening, showcasing the beloved world and the gameplay players can expect in the survival MMO, which is expected to be released in 2025.

Fans of the Dune franchise can rejoice as more details about Dune: Awakening have been revealed in a new trailer. The release date is set for early 2025, with the console version to follow later. An exclusive five-minute gameplay trailer was showcased at gamescom 2024, featuring characters crash-landing in the desert and fighting to survive the harsh environment.

From the Dune: Awakening trailer, we learn three rules we must follow. The first rule is to survive, as the sun is scorching hot in the desert and avoid being attacked by colossal sandworms. The second rule is to expand your influence from combats, spice flow, building and upgrading bases, crafting vehicles, and trading as you develop your character as the Mentat, Trooper, Planetologist, Swordmaster, or Bene Gesserit. The final rule is to control the spice to hold the powers as guild intrigue and warfare rage, as you will need to join a guild to align with House Harkonnen or Atreides and clash against other guilds involving vehicles, tech, and specialized combatants. 

Funcom is working closely with Herbert Estate and Legendary. Awakening is set in an alternative history where Paul Atreides was never born. As it takes place in its own universe, the players will have the chance to put Arrakis’ future in their own hands. 

With the five-minute gameplay of Dune: Awakening being revealed at gamescom 2024, many content creators, including Sacriel, Alphacast, and Mowky, will livestream an extended 30-minute presentation over the next few days. Alongside the extended presentation, journalists and creators will have the chance to play the Dune: Awakening demo behind closed doors to share their impressions with the public. 

As the exclusive gameplay was showcased during gamescom 2024, the third Dune: Awakening Direct will air on August 29. Soe Gschwind returns as the host and will present more gameplay and details.

 As of now, Dune: Awakening will be launched on PC in early 2025 and will arrive on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S at a later date. In the meantime, be sure to wishlist the game on PC and console, with a chance to enter the closed Beta by signing up on the official website. 

Activision has unveiled a sneak peek into the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 mission Most Wanted, which features sneaky yet explosive action. 

With Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 releasing in October 2024, Activision has shown a sneak peek of a mission called Most Wanted, showcasing the level playthrough as the characters use stealth before going all out. From the gameplay, we are shown a glimpse of the story as it takes place after the Cold Wars, a bit of the new Omnimovement system, and ends with a bang. 

Right from the start, the character is shown trying to blend in to get closer to the Senator with nothing but his fist to take down his securities and a camera to capture pictures of the Senator to receive sensitive information. Despite being a stealth section, it seems to be quite thrilling and very action-oriented until you reach a section requiring the use of your camera to gain access to a room. At this point, reaching the top from the basement is gun-blazing.

As they move on to the next section of the mission, the characters are shown taking down the enemies and uniting with Adler for more manpower. While progressing to the elevator, an enemy with a machine gun arrived to stop the team from going any further, giving us a glimpse at how the Omnimovent works as the character is shown diving backward and running to the sides before releasing an RCXD to take down the enemy.

Right at this point, the mission progresses normally, with a few hiccups as the elevator explodes, and it fast-forwards to everyone shooting against the enemies as they escape riding on the motorcycle. Quite a thrilling and blood-pumping mission!

For those looking forward to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, be sure to mark your calendar on August 28th as Call of Duty NEXT will be making a return!

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be released on October 25th, 2024 for the Xbox One/Series X|S, PlayStation 4|5, and PC! Be sure to keep your eye peeled in the meantime before the release!  

Gamescom kicked off last night with its annual Opening Night Live showcase, bringing a range of game announcements, release dates and gameplay reveals for a range of upcoming titles.

Xbox and Take-Two dominated the Geoff Keighley-hosted presentation, which was livestreamed from Koelnmesse in Cologne. If you missed the full two-hour showcase, here are the main highlights:

GamesIndustry.biz will be reporting from Gamescom all week. You can keep up with our coverage right here.

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Opinions on Peter Molyneux vary.

For some, he's a whimsical raconteur responsible for some of the most inspirational games in this industry.

For others, he's someone who wilfully misleads fans and has somewhat sullied his reputation with ill-advised pivots into motion controls, Kickstarter and NFTs.

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Speaking at Devcom today, Red Meat Games creative content strategist Judy Ehrentraut discussed the importance of ethically training generative AI models, and how certain tools can be utilised during game development.

"AI is the biggest buzzword and it's either hyped as the new way to solve every productivity problem, or it's received with a groan," Ehrentraut acknowledged.

"I think both of these takes are really valuable, because disruptive technologies are not necessarily good or bad. It depends on how they are used, and it really depends on the approach that we take and whether it's ethical or not."

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As part of our series of daily podcasts from Devcom and Gamescom 2024, GamesIndustry.biz editor-in-chief James Batchelor is joined by Execution Labs co-founder and former IGDA Montreal executive director Jason Della Rocca.

Drawing on Della Rocca's years of experiences working with indie developers, we discuss the biggest challenges these studios face in today's market, from the impact of layoffs and studio closures to the shrinking indie publisher scene.

And don't worry if you missed this week's GI Microcast, which was released yesterday - you can find all the details and listen in here. This week, Chris and James discussed the Epic Games Store's mobile launch, The Plucky Squire's brave release date, and more.

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Encouraging women to request higher pay — and not just to match the salaries of their male counterparts — could be the key to closing the gender pay gap.

That's according to Tanja Loktionova, founder of Values Value, who presented the findings of the recruitment agency's annual salary survey at Devcom yesterday.

During her session, she showed that not only do women earn less than men in almost every discipline within the games industry, but they also expect less when asked what salary they believe would be fair.

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Developers that relegate their storytelling to cutscenes and linear dialogue are severely limiting themselves in how they tell stories — and likely driving players away.

That's according to Kelsey Beachum — best known for her narrative work on Mobius Digital's seminal 2019 title Outer Wilds, but who has also written for Dying Light 2, The Outer Worlds and Groundless, among others — as she delivered the opening keynote at Devcom in Cologne today.

Her opening example was the classic Super Mario Bros, where the story boils down to Toad telling Mario that the princess is in another castle. Illustrating this as a timeline, she marked these moments in red as they bring a complete halt to gameplay: the player is no longer involved.

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Speaking at Devcom, Stray Fawn co-founder Philomena Schwab shared how the Zurich-based studio has survived for the past eight years, from refusing to partner with a publisher to the importance of community support when developing a game.

Schwab emphasised that Stray Fawn prides itself on being an independent studio, with no publisher or external investors.

Even when its first game, genetics survival title Niche, started getting publisher interest after crowdfunding success, the studio continued to decline offers. This was due to previous experience from making a mobile game which had a publisher that didn't go so well.

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As the Devcom developer conference kicks off in Cologne today, the organisers have shared the results of this year's speaker survey, with almost 90% of respondents stating they believe AAA games can succeed without additional purchases.

In a survey of 100 speakers, out of 300 industry experts who will take the stage over the next two days, 89% said AAA titles can be "financially successful just by being Buy-to-Play."

The result comes after years of scrutiny over add-on-purchases within the AAA games spaces, including loot boxes (such as EA's Ultimate Team modes for its sports games), battle/season passes, and progress boosters such as XP multipliers and crafting resources.

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The GamesIndustry.biz team is heading to Cologne next week and we're going big on both Devcom and Gamescom.

In addition to bringing you the biggest news from across the industry, we're aiming to have daily podcasts and a special live show from Devcom as we explore the state of the industry today.

Here's everything you need to know:

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During GamesCom 2024, Netflix Games officially announced Squid Game: Unleashed, a new mobile multiplayer battle royale inspired by viral Korean show Squid Game. The title places players to a brutal competition, during which they must outlast their opponents in a series of deadly challenges both familiar from the original series and new. While a specific release date has not yet been announced, the game is expected to launch "soon."

You can watch the official announcement trailer from gamescom 2024 below:

Squid Game: Unleashed will feature ragdoll physics and cartoon violence, adding an exaggerated twist to the gameplay based on the deadly series. Players will compete in online multiplayer matches, navigating through various twisted contests based on the original show’s deadly games, as well as new games inspired by classic childhood activities.

This release comes as part of Netflix's broader push into gaming, which includes the formation of its first in-house game studio in Helsinki, Finland, led by former Zynga and EA executive Marko Lastikka. Netflix has been expanding its game library, which includes titles like Before Your Eyes and Into the Breach.

Squid Game: Unleashed is set to be released on mobile platforms through the Netflix Mobile App. The first season of Squid Game is on the service now, with season 2 debuting on December 26, 2024. The reality show based on the property is also on Netflix.

The post Squid Game Mobile Game Announced by Netflix appeared first on Siliconera.

Leaders from Rare and Dlala will join a special panel to discuss how to support and lead development teams during times of intense change.

The panel will end this year's GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit, which will take place at London's Royal Institution on September 18. Tickets are on sale here.

Rare studio boss Craig Duncan and chief of staff Harriet Manson will join Dlala CEO Aj Grand-Scrutton and COO Gemma Foster in a discussion around the rapid rate of change happening inside and outside of the games industry, such as on-going challenges posed by economic, political and global unrest. With Rare sharing insight from within a major Microsoft-owned AAA studio, and Dlala discussing their experiences on the indie side, the discussion will centre on the role of leadership in helping their employees navigate change, and will offer actionable advice and tips for leaders and HR professionals.

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It's going to be a busy week in Cologne with both Devcom and Gamescom attracting games professionals from around the world.

The former event kicks things off with a two-day conference that will see more than 250 speakers discussing some of the biggest challenges in the industry today across over 200 sessions.

There's a lot to wade through in the full program, so the GamesIndustry.biz team has selected our highlights of some of the sessions we think will be most interesting.

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Gamescom is more than just a week in Cologne.

The world's biggest games show has expanded dramatically in recent years with the launch of satellite events in other markets; first with Gamescom Asia in Singapore, which debuted in 2021, and this year heading to Brazil with the first Gamescom Latam.

The Cologne show already prided itself on being an international event, attracting companies and visitors from all over the world and representing different nations with the country pavilions found in the business halls. But co-organiser Felix Falk, also managing director of German games trade association Game, says the physical expansion into other territories demonstrates the global role Gamescom aims to play in the games industry.

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