The Spring Sale on GOG.COM* rolls on, continuing to provide big discounts on thousands of games. And today comes another game with a 100% discount, which is about as big as they get. All new and existing subscribers to the GOG newsletter are entitled to a free copy of Neurodeck: Psychological Deckbuilder. You have about three days to lay your claim, and it's yours to keep. Here's the deal on this chance to play some mind games:

Features

• Deckbuilding as you progress through the game (Slay The Spire like)
• Meditate and choose personality traits that alter your gameplay profoundly
• Explore a subconscious maze, full of cards and improvements that will help you defeat the monsters in your mind
• Light RPG mechanics that allow you to customize your character stats & skills
• Characters & places from your past that will tell facts & stories about mental health
• Deep gameplay mechanics that put focus on replayability and gameplay diversity
• Horrific monsters inspired by real-life phobias

*Blue's News may receive a commission on sales of this item.

An open beta test is now underway for Voodolls, a co-op tower defense game in the works at SideRift and Tate Multimedia. Just hit the Request Access button on Steam and you should be good to go. This post has an Open Beta Trailer and the following details:

Dear puppeteers, Voodolls Future Games Show Exclusive Open Beta has started! Bring your friends and join in 🙂

Just a reminder: you can enjoy this early look at the game until March 28th (the test ends at 3 PM PDT / 10 PM GMT that day). Play solo or in four-player co-op and check out the prologue, two planets, and three difficulty modes. There's also an endless mode!

Remember, only by playing this Open Beta can you unlock the exclusive Corrupted Skin Pack.

Continue here to read the full story.

Deflector is now out of Early Access, and this roguelite action game is now officially available on Steam. The full release is discussed in this post, which is illustrated by the Full Release Trailer. Another new post kicks off a Survival competition that will run for the next month. Here's a quick description:

Deflector is a fast-paced rogue-lite game set in a deadly microcosm where players can redirect enemy projectiles using unique weapons and mutations to eradicate viruses.

Players can choose from different Bioshells, each with unique abilities to deflect projectiles, starting with the Boomerang-slinging Eradicator, and unlock more Bioshells by advancing in the game.

Additionally, they must learn to overcome the lethal threats they will encounter in each world through trial and error, as even the smallest enemy can be dangerous.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Microsoft hasn't "pulled any games from PlayStation" following Redfall PS5 reports.
• Redfall is the “scrappy underdog” to Starfield, Arkane says.

• Scary Games to Play in the Dark (pay what you want and help charity).*

*Blue's News may receive a commission on sales of this item.

• Mitch Lasky and Junghun Lee Appointed to Serve on Nexon’s Board of Directors.

• G FUEL and Edmund McMillen Charge Up with New “Binding of Isaac” Energy Drink Flavor, Brimstone.

• Wayfinder - Venomess Teaser Trailer - PAX East 2023.
• THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV DLC｜KIM KAPHWAN｜Trailer.

↑ Official trailers. ↓ Content creator videos.

• Tedious health meters in survival games - Viva La Dirt League (NSFW). Thanks Ant.

• Xbox: We can't reach the billions of gamers without underrepresented creators - GamesIndustry.biz.

• Introducing the Calling All Heroes 2023-24 Challengers and Speaker Series — Blizzard News.

• "Impossify" Your Park Beyond on June 16.

• Resident Evil 4 PS5 Flickering Lights Issue Workaround Fixes Issued Capcom.
• Space-fantasy RPG Honkai- Star Rail comes to PlayStation soon.
• Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 452: Isle Inspiration.

• Intel is quitting the 5G and LTE PC business.

• Bing’s showing ‘AI-generated stories’ in some search results.

• Microsoft Now Claims GPT-4 Shows 'Sparks' of General Intelligence.
• ChatGPT gets “eyes and ears” with plugins that can interface AI with the world.

• Malwarebytes for Windows 4.5.23 Release Notes. Thanks RedEye9.

• Cops raided Afroman’s home, then sued him for using footage in music videos.

Last Link of the Day: 'City killer' asteroid to pass between Earth and moon's orbits. Thanks Acleacius.

Obituary: William A. Wulf, Pioneering Computer Scientist, Dies at 83.

Resident Evil 4 is now available for PC and consoles, offering the eagerly anticipated remake of this survival/horror shooter originally released in 2005. The Windows edition is available on Steam, where you can also still try out the recent Resident Evil 4 Chainsaw Demo for free. This post discusses the remake and mentions the Extra DLC Pack that accompanies the launch. The Launch Trailer celebrating the release shows off gameplay, and concludes with a splash screen promising the free Mercenaries DLC will come to the game on April 7th. Here's more on the game:

Survival is just the beginning.

Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City.
Agent Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors of the incident, has been sent to rescue the president's kidnapped daughter.
He tracks her to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals.
And the curtain rises on this story of daring rescue and grueling horror where life and death, terror and catharsis intersect.

Featuring modernized gameplay, a reimagined storyline, and vividly detailed graphics,
Resident Evil 4 marks the rebirth of an industry juggernaut.

Relive the nightmare that revolutionized survival horror.

Continue here to read the full story.

Here's an additional note about the giveaway of Chess Ultra on the Epic Games Store mentioned here yesterday. In addition to the base game, there's also an Easter Island Chess Set that's also available for free (thanks RedEye9). Word is:

These head-like, monolithic chess pieces have been beautifully crafted, bringing the Moai not only to life - but to the chess board.
This pack contains a chess set only, which can be used in any environment in the game.

Intel now offers new "Game On" Windows drivers for Intel Arc graphics cards. Word is these offer launch day improvements for the Resident Evil 4 remake, and a considerably smaller footprint:

Intel® Game On Drivers deliver the best experience for gamers playing on Intel Graphics with optimized launch-day patches and performance updates as new games release.

This week’s driver supports the new release of Resident Evil 4, re-injected with modern graphics making its iconic terrors look terrific on Intel Arc graphics. No need to get frantic though: you’ll update even faster with Intel Arc drivers now in a smaller download.

The Dungeons & Dragons Online Website is giving away a treasure trove of content for the MMORPG (thanks Dave). For the next month, players who use the coupon DUNGEONCRAWL will receive a bunch of goodies to keep. This may be related to next week's premiere of the Dungeons & Dragons movie, but the only explanation is that this is a "thank you from Standing Stone Games." Additionally, there are four Expansion Quests available at a huge discount. Here's word:

We would like to thank you for supporting us! Now through April 23rd, 2023 you can enter a special Coupon Code through Redeem Code in the DDO Store in-game to unlock a trove of quests, raids, and adventure packs for free! This content will be permanently added to your account. EVERYONE can redeem the code, whether you are a free player, Premium, or VIP!

The Coupon Code is: DUNGEONCRAWL (1/Account, available to redeem through 11:59pm Eastern (-4 GMT) on April 23rd, 2023)

Bandai Namco and Limbic Entertainment announce June 16th is the official release date for PARK BEYOND, the theme park simulation. But if you have the desire to leave your car a tram-ride away from the park (that's where the title comes from, right?), you may be in luck, as there are also plans for a closed beta. Those interested should sign-up on this page for the chance to join a test that will run for a week beginning May 9th. Here's word on the beta and preorders:

Leading video game publisher and developer Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. and developer Limbic Entertainment GmbH today announced that the imaginative theme park simulation game PARK BEYOND™ will open its doors on June 16, 2023, launching on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam®. Pre-orders are now available, with all editions coming with a special bonus: the PAC-MAN™ Impossification Set consisting of exclusive flat rides, shops, entertainers, and decorative items. For more information, please visit www.bandainamcoent.com/games/park-beyond.

Also announced today, future PARK BEYOND visioneers are invited to participate in a Closed Beta Test on PC only, which will be held from May 9-19. Participants in the test who later purchase the game will unlock the golden skin for the “omnicar,” the vehicle used in PARK BEYOND rollercoasters. Players can register for the Closed Beta Test at bandainamcoent.com/promotions/park-beyond-closed-beta-test.

C77 Entertainment announces Combat Champions, a first-person shooter previously known by the codename Project Slingshot. This carries a broad 2024 release window, but the game's Steam Listing has a "Request Access" button for private alpha testing that's currently underway. The announcement stresses the development team's bona fides: "C77 Entertainment is a new game studio developing big action experiences for PC and consoles. C77 is led by Mattias Kylén and Kenny Magnusson; two Swedes with a long history in the industry. Together they've worked on several award-winning AAA titles, including leadership roles on franchise development teams such as Halo, Battlefield, and Mercenaries." Check out the announcement trailer for a look at the game's reality TV setting, and read on for more:

The first game from C77 Entertainment, Combat Champions puts you in the spotlight as your team dominates corporate campuses turned game show arenas, performing crowd-pleasing over-the-top stunts and arena-altering destruction, all while holding key points and outshooting the opposition. It’s a high-stakes, high-reward world out there.

Be the star of the show
Your corporate overlords don’t pay you to be boring; luckily the CMA (Corporate Mediation Alliance) cameras are rolling and they’ve set the stage for your success. Maps full of destroyable terrain are littered with game show props like corporate mascots, exploding fuel drums, air rams, human slingshots, and slides incentivize you to rack up stunts, catch the attention of the CMA play-by-play commentators, and be handsomely rewarded.

Continue here to read the full story.

Tic Toc Games announces Wrestle Story, a pro wrestling game coming to Windows and macOS via Steam, though it does not yet carry a release date. Here's the twist: In real life, professional wrestling isn't even wresting. In this game, professional wrestling is real life. Word is: "LIVE YOUR PRO WRESTLING STORY in this hard-hitting, smack talkin', RPG adventure! Create your wrestler, build your tag-team, and slam your way through an expansive 3D world where WRESTLING IS EVERYTHING!" Here's the Announcement Trailer and here are some details to grapple with:

Gold and glory beckon just over the horizon in the world of the Five Territories. Embrace the fiery spirit of a fearless underdog attempting to topple a corrupt network that seeks to control the sport you love. Turn the tables on each of the so-called “champs” by unleashing brutal timed-based attacks and — of course — flashy finishers ensuring a clean win to make crowds go wild!

Of course, victory wouldn't be as sweet without your loyal crew. Recruit allies on the path to greatness and nurture strong bonds to create an unstoppable force. Customize and level up each member with specialty gear, perks, abilities, entrance music, and more to exploit weaknesses and overwhelm scheming minions with a destructive tag team blitz.

Continue here to read the full story.

Australian developer Prideful Sloth announces Go-Go Town, a city-management game coming to PC and consoles next year. The Announce Trailer sets the story with some cinematics and offers a first look at gameplay. This does not seem like a hardcore politics simulator, as the premise is not based on how cities actually work. Here's word on how you get hired to be mayor by some shadowy corporation:

Dumped into a rundown town, you discover that you’ve been conned into this role by the greedy TownCo corporation, and that their town restoration project is a giant scam. However, with careful planning and a lot of gumption, you have a chance to restore the town to its former glory, and maybe even free the town from the clutches of TownCo in the process!

Who said being Mayor was going to be easy?! Get those hands dirty; terraform the land, play with power tools, construct fresh roads and shiny new shops, attract tourists, and juggle any unexpected challenges and disasters… Every decision and action made shapes the future of your town.

But even the busiest of bees need a chance to relax! Hop in your car and head into town where you can get to know the eclectic townsfolk, dance like no one’s watching, beat your high score at the arcade, indulge in a cheeky hotdog, pop a wheelie while riding your bike around, or even high-five a cow (if that's your thing).

Continue here to read the full story.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key is now available for Windows via Steam and for consoles, offering the latest chapter in this RPG series. Here's the inevitably musical Launch Trailer, and here's the story:

In Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key, lead writer Yashichiro Takahashi, who delivered the script for the original Atelier Ryza game, returns to the franchise to deliver an unforgettable third chapter in the Secret series, a chapter that follows fan-favorite alchemist, Reisalin Stout, and her mischievous friends a year after the events of 2021’s Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy. The latest summer escapade finds Ryza and friends enjoying their peaceful lives on Kurken Island when they hear news that a mysterious group of islands have appeared in nearby waters. It turns out that these islands, known as Kark Isles, are having a negative effect on their homeland, so Ryza and her friends quickly set out to investigate. But when their investigation leads to an enormous gate deep within strange ruins, Ryza hears a haunting voice in her head that wants to lead her to the ‘Code of the Universe’. Who is talking to her and what lies beyond the gate?

Continue here to read the full story.

• Counter-Strike 2 Beta Has Leaked, Offline Play Available.
• Counter-Strike 2 may have a new Valve Anti-Cheat that cancels matches.

• UK regulator sides with Microsoft over Call of Duty on PlayStation concerns.

Official patches.

• Microsoft Flight Simulator March 23rd, 2023 Development Update.
• World of Warcraft Hotfixes- March 23, 2023.

Official trailers.

• Viewfinder - Gameplay Trailer.
• Wartales - 1.0 Release Date Announcement.

• Trackmania Challenger League: Promotion-Relegation event- everything you need to know. Thanks Frans.
• FaZe Clan reportedly looking to go private less than a year after Nasdaq listing.

• Lv. 99 Game Jam 2023 begins in three weeks.

• The best Resident Evil 4 Remake settings on PC.

• Comcast's millions kept the FCC in a stalemate. Here's how they won and why we must keep fighting.
• My Channel Was Deleted Last Night - Linus Tech Tips (video).
• Twitter now allows "non-toxic slurs" as long as the slurs are not hate speech. Also: "Most slur usage is not hate speech."

• OpenAI turns ChatGPT into a platform overnight with addition of plugins.
• Elon Musk reportedly tried and failed to take over OpenAI in 2018.
• I feel like my OLED gaming monitor is gaslighting me. Thanks Max.

Thanks Ant and DSLReports.

• Valve warns of Counter-Strike 2 scams offering Limited Test access.
• Police, Private HOAs Team Up to Buy License Plate Readers. Thanks Slashdot.
• City of Toronto confirms data theft, Clop claims responsibility.
• Uncle Sam sent cyber-soldiers to Albania to combat Iran.
• OpenAI CEO 'feels awful' about ChatGPT leaking conversations. They do say "open" up front.

• Lawsuit Over Fatal Call of Duty Swatting Incident Settled for $5 Million.
• South Korea fines McDonalds for data leak from raw SMB share. Thanks DSLReports via Ant.

• Resident Evil 4 Is Shocking – Review - PLAY OR PASS - ABC Gamer (video). Thanks Ant.

• Case: Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P MAX Mini-ITX Case Review - ThinkComputers.org.
• Case: Corsair iCUE 4000D RGB Airflow Review - TechPowerUp.
• Headset/Earbuds: 64 Audio U4s In-Ear Monitors Review - A New $1000 Benchmark? - TechPowerUp.
• Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming B760-PLUS WIFI D4 review - Guru3D.
• Mouse: ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition Review - TechPowerUp.
• PSU: Cooler Master V850 Gold i multi 850W Report - APH Networks.
• SSD: Crucial P3 4TB M.2 NVMe SSD - Nikk Tech.

• Bungie pays tribute to Lance Reddick, more Destiny 2 performances still to come…

Well, I finally gave up on trying to find my unicorn electric kettle. I settled for one that had the proper capacity, lack of plastic, and (somewhat of) a gooseneck. It doesn't have any temperature settings, but it does have a thermometer to try and get things right. That's more fidgety than I'd like, but certainly better than the saucepan system I was using in the interim. The good news, from an odd perspective, is it's a cheap piece of junk. So maybe there will be a better option when it inevitably bites the dust like its predecessors. The best aspect of this whole project is a side-effect. I mentioned recent unclogging a bathroom sink. This has been flowing freely ever since, but there was a bad odor coming from the drain. I'd previously tried pouring mouthwash down there, but pipes can't gargle well, and it didn't seem to help. Since I needed to boil a couple of throwaway batches of water in my new kettle to start with, I poured one of these down the bathroom sink. Bingo! This eliminated the odor right away. The drain is PVC, so I let the water come off the boil first to avoid worrying I'd melt the pipes. Well, I did check them afterwards, so clearly I was still a little worried. But it was fine. I'm sure I'm still going to collect a scolding about this from someone who knows more about plumbing than me (which is basically everyone). But at this point it's water under the bridge, or at least down the drain. In the end, I'm extremely pleased with the outcome of my little project. It's hard to feel clean when you're getting a face full of sink stink.

Unscented Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Breakfast Links

• It’s been reported that Russia has recruited Steven Seagal to teach martial arts to its soldiers. Thanks Acleacius.
• Blood, Sweat & Tears- How an Iron Curtain Tour Ruined a Rock Giant.

Stories

• Glasslike orchid species found hiding in plain sight in Japan. Thanks Acleacius.

Science

• Researchers turned superglue into a recyclable, cheap, oil-free plastic alternative. Thanks Acleacius.
• DNA From Beethoven's Hair Reveals a Surprise Almost 200 Years Later. He's 1/16th Cherokee?
• Negativity bias: Why we can’t look away from bad news, according to science. If it bleeds, it leads. Thanks Max.

Media

• Shazam! Fury of the Gods Pitch Meeting.
• Marshall McLuhan predicts ChatGPT in 1966.

Follow-up

• Missouri House advances bill to limit nonexistent vaccine microchips—just in case.

The promised free trial weekend is now underway in Far Cry 5 on all platforms, celebrating the fifth anniversary of the first-person shooter. Windows gamers can head on over to the Epic Games Store and get in on the action. If you end up deciding to buy this, all progression from the weekend will carry over. Here's a refresher on the game:

Welcome to Hope County, Montana, the land of the free and brave, but also the home to a fanatical doomsday cult known as Eden’s Gate. Stand up to cult leader Joseph Seed and his siblings, the Heralds, to spark the fires of resistance and liberate the besieged community.

FIGHT AGAINST A DEADLY CULT
Free Hope County in solo or two-player co-op. Recruit Guns and Fangs for hire to help defeat the cult.

CARVE YOUR OWN PATH
Build your character and choose your adventure in the largest customizable Far Cry game ever!

DYNAMIC TOYS
Take control of iconic muscle cars, ATVs, planes, and a lot more to engage the cult forces in epic fights.

Best Way and Fulqrum Publishing have launched a playtest for Men of War II, the upcoming sequel to the World War II real-time strategy game. Its launch is due later this year, but right now its Steam Listing includes a "Request Access" button that will get you in on the action, err, strategy in a test that will continue into Monday. The Multiplayer Tech Test Trailer has look at what to expect, and here's a description:

Announced during the Future Games Show: Spring Showcase, the multiplayer tech test is the first time Men of War II has been publicly playable. The test features four multiplayer modes (of seven that will feature in the full game) and five varied maps, in addition to a set of nine single player tutorial missions that will take players from the basics through to advanced gameplay mechanics and systems.

Players will be able to choose from the 1st Infantry, 1st Tank or 1st Artillery battalion from the Soviet, German and U.S. armies, allowing them to try out over 80 units from the full game’s total roster of over 300. Each battalion features its own gameplay style and unique strategic opportunities resulting in a deeply rewarding experience that is easy to pick up, but difficult to master. Furthermore, the full game will feature individual battalion customisation and additional unit unlocks via in-game progression, expanding the level of control players have on the battlefield.

Continue here to read the full story.

Studio Surgical Scalpels and Skystone Games announce Boundary will enter Early Access on April 13th on Steam, offering a multiplayer shooter set in space, where no one can hear you complain about lag. This is a long-time coming, as at one point this was supposed to arrive in 2020. There's no new video for this, but there is a new graphic showing three different Early Access versions to reflect your degree of support. These will range from USD$24.99 to $44.99, and more details are promised soon. Here's word:

Announced just now during the PAX East Digitial Showcase, Boundary revealed the prices of its 3 tiers of game packages for Early Access on April 13th.

“We’re thrilled to announce to our fans who have been waiting so long, that Boundary is finally ready to be played by you all this April,” said Frank Mingbo Li, Director of Studio at Surgical Scalpels. “We cannot wait for everyone to see just what we’ve been working on these last few years.”

With nearly 500,000 wishlists on Steam, Boundary is a next-generation high-quality competitive FPS that takes place in zero-gravity in the vacuum of space. In Boundary, players team up to take down opposing forces in captivating wide-open outer space arenas. Powered by an EMU suit, players navigate a harsh space atmosphere in orbiting installations where the goal is to engage enemy combatants in a 3-dimensional battlefield. Threats come from all angles and Boundary makes astronautical combat more akin to dogfighting where the angle of attack and position can make the difference between life and death.

SEGA announces Sonic Origins Plus, confirming recent rumors that an extended edition of the Sonic anthology is on the way. This will arrive on PC and consoles on June 23rd as a standalone release and as an expansion for those who already own the Sonic Origins collection:

Sonic fans, get ready to experience the definitive way to play classic Sonic the Hedgehog titles in one timeless collection! Developed by SEGA®, Sonic Origins Plus builds off the momentum of Sonic Origins™, the 2022 classic Sonic multi-game collection digitally remastered for current generation platforms, by adding all 12 Sonic Game Gear titles, playable classic Amy in Sonic the Hedgehog 1, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles™, and Sonic CD™, as well as playable Knuckles in Sonic CD.

Sonic Origins Plus is set to release digitally and physically on Sonic’s birthday, June 23, 2023, for $39.99 USD for the entire game on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Nintendo Switch™ family of systems and PC. Additionally, players who own Sonic Origins can purchase the Sonic Origins Plus Expansion Pack for $9.99 USD.

Terri Vellmann & Doseone and publisher Devolver Digital announce SLUDGE LIFE 2, saying the first-person vandalism sequel will deface PCs later this year. You can follow the project on the SLUDGE LIFE 2 Website which looks like it was built with the very latest version of sludgeOS. For more there's a first trailer, which is safe for work, despite being filthy. To celebrate, the original SLUDGE LIFE is free to keep on Steam if you claim it within the next week. Here's the dirt:

Professional mischief-makers Terri Vellmann & Doseone and unprofessional publisher Devolver Digital have revealed SLUDGE LIFE 2 - the grimiest first-person vandalism sim since the first SLUDGE LIFE - will deface PC storefronts with rude words later this year. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the original game will be free to download on Steam through March 30.

Big Mud is missing - everyone's favorite rapping frog has vanished, and his closest homie Ghost (that's you) is on a mission to find him. Explore a bigger, weirder, gnarlier open world loaded with secrets, weirdos, jokes and, of course, plenty of spots to tag once as you search for the misplaced musician.

Continue here to read the full story.

Daedalic Entertainment and NACON announce May 25th is the release date for The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, a new Middle-earth adventure for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. A new Story Trailer celebrates the news, warning this "does not represent final quality" of the game despite how close we are to launch. There's also a brand-new Gameplay Showcase Video on Twitch where the developers showcase a bunch of gameplay. Here's word on how this will apparently allow you to alter the entire trajectory of the Fellowship of the Ring:

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is a story-driven action adventure. Embark on a perilous journey as Gollum, chasing the only thing that is precious to you. Climb, leap, and sneak your way past dangers or into advantageous spots. Gollum is skillful and sly, and torn by a split personality. It is up to you to decide whether to yield to the darker side of Gollum or trust the kinder gentler hint of Sméagol.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Diablo 4 will have intentionally long queue times, so be warned. Under-promise, under-deliver.

• Epic Royalty-Free Music Collection (pay what you want and help charity).*

*Blue's News may receive a commission on sales of this item.

• Activision Blizzard Releases Inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Look-Back.
• Allied Gaming & Entertainment Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results.

• A Surreal Experience – Building The Last of Us Episode 5.

Official patches.

• Destiny 2 Hotfix 7.0.0.6.
• Diablo IV Open Beta - Patch Notes.

• The Expanse: A Telltale Series Developer Presentation - Future Games Show Spring Showcase 2023.
• For Honor: Content of the Week - 23 March.
• Sherlock Holmes The Awakened - Start of the Famous Duo Trailer.

↑ Official trailers. ↓ Content creator videos.

• The Resident Evil 4 Item You CAN'T Get. Thanks Ant.

• Tim Sweeney believes the metaverse is "happening for real" - GamesIndustry.biz.
• The building blocks of a AAA partnership- Lego and 2K on their first game together, and beyond - GamesIndustry.biz.
• Former Grand Theft Auto producer teases his new project, a futuristic game-within-a-game called MindsEye.

• TMNT graphic novel The Last Ronin is becoming a video game.
• Coming Together to Create a Playbook for Prosocial Game Design.

• Dragonflight Twitch Drops- Get Your D.I.S.C.O. Now! — World of Warcraft.

• C-Smash VRS: demo out today, PS VR2 features detailed.
• Free Play Days – Far Cry 5, Bassmaster Fishing 2022- Classic Edition, and Marvel’s Midnight Suns Enhanced Edition - Xbox Wire.

• Framework’s first gaming laptop features upgradeable GPUs, swappable keyboards.

• Elon Musk needs Twitter advertisers, but they’re not coming back. Thanks Matthew.
• TikTok Paid for Influencers to Attend the Pro-TikTok Rally in DC (may require registration or subscription).
• Twitter Blue subscriptions are now available worldwide.
• Blockbuster fans hope for comeback after rediscovering website. Thanks RedEye9.
• Popular YouTube Channel Linus Tech Tips Pulled After Hack.

Thanks Console General.

• Intel Unveils vPro for 13th Gen Core Series- Enhanced Security For Raptor Lake.
• It wasn't just you, ChatGPT just fixed a 'significant' bug.
• Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1470 and 22624.1470.
• Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25324.
• BurnAware version 16.4. Thanks DSLReports via Ant.

• Stop using your browser's built-in password manager. Here's why.
• Google Suspends Chinese E-Commerce App Pinduoduo Over Malware.

• “Click-to-cancel” rule would penalize companies that make you cancel by phone.
• Short seller accuses Jack Dorsey's Block of facilitating fraud.

• Commodore 64 Reports The News. Thanks A.C.M.…

Last Link of the Day: Is He The World's Best Speedcuber? One can only hope. I feel like there's a set of outtakes where the cubes melted from friction. Thanks Ant.

Obituary: Wild 94.9 Radio Host ‘JV’ Found Dead.

Happy Thursday! As usual, Friday Eve includes the opportunity to get your snag on with the Epic Games Store. This week's two giveaways are now available, which are Chess Ultra and World of Warships — Starter Pack: Ishizuchi. Each can be a permanent addition to your library as long as you stake your claim before the cycle refreshes next Thursday at 11:00 am EDT. At that point the store will give away a whole bunch of Tunche. Here are quick blurbs on today's freebies:

Introducing Chess Ultra; the most breathtaking chess game ever made. Experience stunning 4K visuals, seamless online multiplayer, Grandmaster approved AI and full VR compatibility.

Have you just started out on your way in World of Warships? Dip your toes in the water with a Premium battleship and a set of sweet bonuses.

AMD Drivers and Support now offers new version 23.3.2 WHQL-certified Windows drivers for AMD Radeon graphics cards. These add support for the Resident Evil 4 Remake, The Last of Us Part 1, and some additional Vulkan extensions. Word is they also fix a few bugs:

Highlights

• Support for:
  • Resident Evil™ 4 Remake
  • The Last of Us™ Part 1
  • Additional Vulkan® extensions. Click here for more information.
• Fixed Issues
  • Application crash may be observed while playing UNCHARTED™: Legacy of Thieves Collection on some AMD Graphics Products, such as the Radeon™ RX 6700 XT.
  • Application crash may be observed while playing Genshin Impact™ on some AMD Graphics Products, such as the Radeon™ RX 6750 XT.
  • Corruption may be observed while playing It Takes Two™ on Radeon™ RX 7000 series GPUs.
  • Connection failure or black screen may be observed using Parsec client with AMD decoder setting.
  • The Performance Tuning Stress Test may intermittently lower GPU usage before test completion.
  • The Performance Metrics Overlay may intermittently resize across the display on some AMD Graphics Products such as the Radeon™ RX 6600M.
  • The Performance Metrics Overlay may have some missing units when enabled, or situationally become truncated after changing display scaling settings.

Atari enters into an agreement to acquire Night Dive, announcing it will be the new owner of the studio that's actually named (one word) Nightdive Studios (thanks Frans). Nightdive has famously created updated versions of classic games, and is currently putting the finishing touches on a highly anticipated remake of System Shock that's expected in May. The deal is expected to be completed next month. Here's word on the terms: "The purchase price of Night Dive will consist of (i) an initial consideration of US$10 million payable half in cash and half in Atari shares at the closing of the acquisition (see below) plus (ii) an earn-out of up to US$10 million, payable in cash over the next three years based on the future performance of Night Dive." Here's more:

Led by industry veterans Stephen Kick and Larry Kuperman, Night Dive is a full service development and publishing company with expertise in restoring, optimizing, and publishing classic video games. Night Dive has published over 100 titles and has garnered critical acclaim for their releases of seminal industry and fan-favorite titles including System Shock, Doom 64, and Quake.

Night Dive’s most recent project is a remastered version of classic FPS game System Shock, which is one of the most-anticipated retro releases of 2023. System Shock is now available for pre-order on Steam, GOG and Epic Games.

A key to the success of Night Dive is their proprietary KEX engine that makes classic games playable on modern hardware and gives the studio the ability to enhance and improve upon the original to meet the expectations of contemporary players. The studio’s reputation and deep industry knowledge have made them a go-to partner for some of the largest names in gaming and media and allowed them to develop a diversified portfolio of titles.

NVIDIA announces the release of new version 531.41 WHQL-certified Windows drivers. These are game ready for the Diablo IV open beta, which gets underway tomorrow. They also support the Ray Tracing: Overdrive Mode coming next month to Cyberpunk 2077 as a "sneak peek into the future of full ray tracing." Word is the Diablo IV open beta will feature DLSS 2, but the full launch will also support DLSS 3:

The latest Game Ready Driver also includes Game Ready optimizations for the technology preview of Cyberpunk 2077’s Ray Tracing: Overdrive Mode, and includes support for Deceive Inc.’s DLSS 2-enhanced release, Forza Horizon 5 ’s DLSS 3 update, The Last of Us Part I’s launch with DLSS 2, Smalland: Survive the Wilds DLSS 2-enhanced Early Access release, and Resident Evil 4.

When the Diablo IV open beta goes live, GeForce Gamers will get a DLSS 2 performance upgrade. And when Diablo IV launches June 6th, GeForce RTX 40 Series gamers can activate DLSS 3 for even faster performance in the highly anticipated title.

Game Ready for the Technology Preview of Cyberpunk 2077’s Ray Tracing: Overdrive Mode
This is the driver to use for the best experience in the technology preview of Cyberpunk 2077’s Ray Tracing: Overdrive Mode that enhances the game’s already-incredible visuals with full ray tracing, otherwise known as path tracing.

Continue here to read the full story.

2K and the LEGO Group officially announce LEGO 2K Drive, following the news of the upcoming racing game dribbling out. Word is the game will roll out on May 19th, representing the first AAA release in a multi-title partnership between 2K and the LEGO Group. Here is the modestly named Awesome Reveal Trailer and here are some details and only one forced brick reference:

Welcome to Bricklandia, home of a massive open-world LEGO® driving adventure. Race anywhere, play with anyone, build your dream rides, and defeat a cast of wacky racing rivals for the coveted Sky Trophy!

In LEGO 2K Drive, your awesome transforming vehicles give you the freedom to speed seamlessly across riveting racetracks, off-road terrain, and open waters. Get behind the wheel and gear up for tons of open-world exploration and thrilling races! Take on the exciting Story mode, jump into a single race or Cup Series tournaments, and let loose in off-the-wall minigames. Master the arts of drifting, boosting, and using power-ups to claim victory!

Continue here to read the full story.

Elden Ring took Game of the Year honors at last night's annual Game Developer's Choice awards. The ceremony also included a Lifetime Achievement Award for John Romero and a Pioneer Award for Mabel Addis: "This year, the GDCA was honored to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to John Romero, who helped pioneer the first-person shooter genre, the widely popular multiplayer gamemode “Deathmatch” and much more through his work on games such as Wolfenstein 3D, Doom and Quake. This year’s Pioneer Award was posthumously awarded to Mabel Addis, widely regarded as the first female video game designer, who designed The Sumerian Game for the IBM 7090 in 1964. Mabel’s award was accepted on her behalf by Mabel’s grandson, Erik Johnson." Here are all the honorees:

The 23rd Annual Game Developers Choice Awards winners are:

• Best Debut
  Stray (BlueTwelve Studio/Annapurna Interactive)
• Best Visual Art
  Elden Ring (FromSoftware Inc./Bandai Namco Entertainment)
• Best Audio
  God of War Ragnarök (Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Best Narrative
  Pentiment (Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios)
• Social Impact Award
  Citizen Sleeper (Jump Over The Age/Fellow Traveller)
• Innovation Award
  IMMORTALITY (Half Mermaid Productions)
• Best Technology
  God of War Ragnarök (Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Best Design
  Elden Ring (FromSoftware Inc./Bandai Namco Entertainment)
• Audience Award
  God of War Ragnarök (Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Game of the Year
  Elden Ring (FromSoftware Inc./Bandai Namco Entertainment)
• Pioneer Award
  Mabel Addis
• Lifetime Achievement Award
  John Romero

Omen of Sorrow is now available for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Switch, offering a monster fighting game from AOne Games and Eastasiasoft that debuted on Xbox. The PC edition is on Steam, where it carries a 15% launch discount for the next week. This is a traditional fighting game, but the combatants are all monsters of horror, literature, and mythology. You can see this public domain slugfest in action in this previously released trailer. Here's a harbinger of what this omen brings:

Horror-themed fighting game Omen of Sorrow is now available for Nintendo Switch, PS5 and Steam! Xbox versions will also receive the same content as a free update, including revamped story mode and cross-platform online play.

Omen of Sorrow is a traditional 4-button fighting game featuring monsters of classic horror and literature, powered by Unreal Engine 4 and presented in 2.5D cinematic style. The previously downloadable fan-favorite bloody countess Erzsébet joins the main roster, alongside a massive blood dragon at her command.

Continue here to read the full story.

Publisher Wishlist Games and Developer The Farm 51 announce Operation Sunstorm, a new update coming on March 30th for World War 3, the free-to-play first-person shooter. This will kick off season 2 with new content based in Japan, including a new game mode called FUBAR. Here's the Announcement Trailer and a briefing:

Operation Sunstorm will have players battling it out in the heart of Japan as they expertly navigate the open shopping strips, narrow alleyways, and side streets of Tokyo’s urban landscape to gain tactical advantages and achieve victory. This new installment adds to World War 3’s ever-expanding warfront where players face-off in team-based skirmishes by fighting on the ground, driving tanks and vehicles, utilizing drones to survey the battlefield, and calling in tactical strikes for maximum damage. Up to 40 players can battle in two core game modes, Tactical Ops and Deathmatch, with matches fought on a range of stunning, realistic maps.

NEW GAME MODE: FUBAR
Introducing a new take on Tactical Ops that focuses on infantry battles, with limited vehicles available. Take arms and fight to seize or defend six bleeding capture points in heart-pounding 20 v 20 skirmishes . This new mode is now a permanent addition to World War 3 and features infantry trucks and the new revive mechanic , so players can keep their teammates in the fight if they’re down but not yet out.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Respawn's Untitled Star Wars Game Will Be Inspired By The Jedi Knight Series.

• Epic Games CEO- Apple Is The Obstacle In The Way Of Our Metaverse Vision.
• Redfall: Microsoft Canceled PS5 Version After Bethesda Acquisition, Arkane Director Says.

• TMNT graphic novel The Last Ronin is becoming a video game.
• Amazon is turning its boxes into question mark blocks to promote the Mario movie. Landfill viral marketing.

• Elden Ring – Patch Notes Version 1.09.
• World of Warcraft Hotfixes- March 22, 2023.

↑ Official patches. ↓ Unofficial games, patches, and mods.

• Grand Theft Auto 5 gets a Harry Potter-Hogwarts Legacy Mod.

• SELINI by Cymban — Kickstarter. "SELINI is a nonlinear exploration platformer touching on the relationship between human and artificial intelligence in a non-verbal fashion. The game is about dark and corrupted replicants, alternated gravity, an old spaceship, a deserted fishing boat, replicas of worlds into other worlds, secret tribes and many more... Players need to get control of the last replicant and figure out what has happened."

• “When Everyone Reduces Emissions, Everyone on the Planet Wins” – Explaining Xbox’s New Game Development Sustainability Tools.
• Nintendo Download: Alchemy, Baseball and Storytelling Dragons.
• PS5 Creators: How Resident Evil 4 harnesses PS5’s power.

• Has Chrome Lost Its Shine- These Are the Best Alternative Web Browsers. Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Elden Ring's long promised ray tracing support finally arrives, but there's some bad news.
• Out With Organic, In With Glass- DNP Unveils Glass Core Substrate Tech For Chips.
• Qualcomm open sources aptX encoders so that anyone can use them for free. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• All Hail the New King of Ultra-Premium Wireless Gaming Audio – Turtle Beach Reveals the Stealth Pro.

Thanks Ant.

• The Linus Tech Tips YouTube hack is the latest in a line of crypto scam breaches. "Crypto scam" has become redundant.
• If your Netgear Orbi router isn’t patched, you’ll want to change that pronto. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Cyberattack on food giant Dole temporarily shuts down North America production, company memo says. Thanks DSLReports.
• Facebook accounts hijacked by new malicious ChatGPT Chrome extension. Thanks DSLReports.
• Scalpers Are Selling Whole Ticketmaster Accounts Now.

• Chipmakers fight spread of US crackdowns on “forever chemicals.” You like your MIPS? Then shut up and drink your PFAs!
• Banning TikTok Is Unconstitutional, Ludicrous, and a National Embarrassment.
• US Government Wants To Make It Easier To Cancel Subscriptions.

• Dredge review – enthralling trawling - The Loadout.
• Dredge review - PC Gamer.
• Dredge review: spooky ocean thrills that reel you in for more - Rock Paper Shotgun.
• Hogwarts Legacy PC Review - DSOGaming.
• Resident Evil 4 Remake PC Performance Analysis - DSOGaming.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Gaming Chair: Vertagear P Line Racing Series PL4800 Big and Tall RGB Gaming Chair - TweakTown.
• Keyboard: Redragon K565 Rudra and Ranger M910-K in hands-on- Inexpensive mechanical gaming keyboard and mouse offer a lot - NotebookCheck.
• Microphone: AnkerWork M650 Wireless Microphone - LanOC Reviews.
• Mini PC: Ace Magician AD03 N95 Mini-PC Review - TechPowerUp.
• Misc: EBL Portable Power Station 500 Review - TechPowerUp.
• Misc: Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro review- A power station you may never plug into a wall - Android Police.

Happy March 23, 2023, a delightfully palindromic number in U.S. format, where it is written 3/23/23. And although this M/D/Y format is uncommon in the rest of the world, we're in luck. The European Y/M/D notation for today is 23/3/23, which is also a palindrome. At least if you count the slashes, which we're allowed to do, since we're making up the rules here. There's a third way to skin this cat, as the British English way to express today's date is also 23/3/23. This reads the same as the European style, even though it uses its own D/M/Y date format. If it's too late to arrange any big parties for the occasion, there's plenty of advance warning to prepare for next year's April 24th festivities.

Palindromic Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Breakfast Link

• Baby Naming Has Reached Peak Androgyny.

Stories

• Domino's eight-year foray into Italy ends in liquidation. Bad news for Olive Garden.
• Trapdoor spider- New giant species found in Australia.
• Nigeria organ harvesting plot: Senator found guilty, UK court rules. Wow, Nigerian senators even sketchier than the princes.

Science
Thanks Max.

• Novel Drug Makes Mice Skinny Even on Sugary, Fatty Diet.
• Few People Seem to Find Real Joy in JOMO.
• Why do animals living with humans evolve such similar features? A new theory could explain 'domestication syndrome.' Thanks Acleacius.

Media

• Star Trek The Next Generation, Picard as an 80s sitcom -- -Starfleet Academy.

Follow-up

• Tattoos do odd things to the immune system.