Totally Reliable Delivery Service is now available for PC and consoles, offering a lighthearted logistics simulator for when your package absolutely, positively has to get there overnight. In an unusual twist, the Windows edition of this paid-for game is free right off the bat on the Epic Games Store. It will be yours to keep as long as you claim your copy during its first week of availability. Here's the Launch Trailer and here's more on what the game delivers:

Totally Reliable Delivery Service is a ragdoll physics-driven sandbox game that up to 4 players can enjoy together.

Work together (or against each other) to deliver packages to customers using a variety of vehicles and odd machines. Safe deliveries are rewarded, but mayhem is highly encouraged!

• Local and Online Multiplayer. Go it alone to ensure the safety of your deliveries, or join your friends and put your teamwork to the test. Note: the Nintendo Switch version has 2 player local co-op, and 4-player online multiplayer. Mobile versions do not have local co-op.
• Controlled Noodly Chaos. Unpredictable ragdoll physics meets snappy platforming. Sprint, leap, dive, and grapple with ease, but collide with something and you'll be knocked out cold!
• A World of Distractions. Take a break from deliveries and play around! The world is chock full of toys, vehicles, and machines that can be used for work or play.
• Ragtag Crew. Customize your blue-collar worker and get your rear into gear, it's time to deliver!
• Delivery Service. 100+ Deliveries and Objectives, from delivering ramen to totally not bombs.
• Vehicles. 20+ Land, Air, and Sea Vehicles for you to explore this giant world.
• Character Customization. Thousands and thousands of combinations for customizing your character!

Continue here to read the full story.

A post on Kotaku says Gearbox Software is rewarding employees smaller than promised bonuses, quoting anonymous sources within the company as saying this goes back on promises they were made about how they would benefit from the success of Borderlands 3. They say the staff splits 40% of the company's royalties in exchange for lower base salaries than the industry standard, but that these bonuses had dwindled in recent years due to the failures of releases like Aliens: Colonial Marines and Battleborn. Word is: "Several Gearbox employees told Kotaku that company management promised them six-figure bonuses following the launch of Borderlands 3. The more years they’d been with the company, the larger the check. This vision of financial success helped Gearbox’s developers get through many long nights and weekends working on the game." The report goes on to say that sales projections were off-base, expenses were up after the opening of a second studio in Canada, and the game's profitability suffered due to the cost of changing from the Unreal 3 to the Unreal 4 engine during development, estimating that Borderlands 3 needed to earn $140 million before bonuses kicked in. They add: "Pitchford also told Gearbox developers that if they weren’t happy with the royalty system, they were welcome to quit, according to those who were in the meeting. He did not attribute the diminished bonuses to the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to economic uncertainty and pay cuts in many other fields. He did say that he hoped to get more money to employees as an advance from 2K on future royalties." Kotaku also has an official response to the story from Gearbox, which is reproduced below in its entirety:

Borderlands 3 represents an incredible value to gamers and an incredible achievement by the team at Gearbox Software. Our studio is talent-led and we believe strongly in everyone sharing in profitability. The talent at Gearbox enjoys participation in the upside of our games – to our knowledge, the most generous royalty bonus system in AAA. Since this program began, Gearbox talent has earned over $100M in royalty bonuses above and beyond traditional compensation.

In the most recent pay period Gearbox talent enjoyed news that Borderlands 3, having earned revenue exceeding the largest investment ever made by the company into a single video game, had officially become a profitable video game and the talent at Gearbox that participates in the royalty bonus system has now earned their first royalty bonus on that profit. Additionally, a forecast update was given to the talent at Gearbox that participates in the royalty bonus to set expectations for the coming quarters. Gearbox is a private company that does not issue forward looking statements to the public, but we do practice transparency within our own family.

A Mortal Shell Website is now online, revealing development of Mortal Shell, an upcoming action/RPG inspired by the Dark Souls series. This is coming next year to PCs and consoles, and PlayStack and Cold Symmetry say they will offer first crack at beta testing to those who sign up on their Discord. This Announcement Trailer shows off what to expect. Gematsu has a full description:

Awakening as an empty vessel, you will enter into a shattered and twisted world where the remains of humanity wither and rot. Implored to do the bidding of the mysterious “Dark Father,” you must traverse this tattered landscape and track down hidden sanctums of devout followers. There, in Mortal Shell’s most hallowed grounds, you must overcome formidable foes and harvest the sacred glands. You won’t be truly alone when the dead litter your path: Scattered across this land are the remnant anima of lost warriors who can be inhabited to gain their unique abilities and knowledge of weapons. The Dark Father is desperate for you to complete your task — but to what end?

Key Features

• Discover “Shells” to Suit Your Playstyle – The lost remains of defeated warriors are yours to unearth. Awaken these Mortal Shells, occupy their bodies and significantly widen your understanding of different forms of combat. Inhabit a Shell that best fits your style and utilizes their own unique mastery of skills and weapon upgrades.
• Iron Sharpens Iron – Combat is strategic and deliberate. Survival demands superior awareness, precision and instincts. You must commit your sword only when an opportunity opens. Calculate your parries to unleash devastating counterblows.
• Non-linear Campaign – Draw your own path across marsh-infested lowlands, through a gargantuan cathedral of obsidian rock, and into an ancient crypt frozen into the crest of a mountain.
• Deep Upgrade Paths – The stronger your connection to each Mortal Shell grows, the better you can harness their innate talents. Craft unique upgrades, sharpen your blade with acid, and study dark arcane abilities that imbue your attacks with supernatural devastation.
• Face Haunting Foes – Your path is guarded by desperate adversaries, devoted to inscrutable gods. Behold creatures both pitiable and grotesque, but do not let fear halt your journey. Muster your courage and face them down.
• Developed by AAA Veterans – Mortal Shell has been developed by a coalition of seasoned veterans with an unbridled passion for the soulslike genre.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Heroes of the Storm PTR Patch Notes - April 1, 2020.
• PCGamingWiki relaunching as PCGamingForum. Thanks Beckett.
• Dying Light Teams Up with Unturned for the April Fool's Day Crossover Event.
• RetrO - ORIGIN PC. "With every console, board game, arcade game, and a godlike PC inside, the RetrO is the one machine that can truly play everything."
• The Truth about LinusTechTips - EXPOSED.

• Risk of Rain 2 Early Access Artifacts Content Update - New Survivor Vote - March 31, 2020.
• World of Warcraft Hotfixes: March 31, 2020.

• The Outer Worlds - Documentary Series Trailer - Noclip.

• Bethesda not hosting digital E3 showcase this June.
• GamesBeat Summit Digital speakers- Mike Morhaime, Owen Mahoney, and Mike Frazzini.

• Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Dirt Rally 2.0 are Your PlayStation Plus Games for April.
• Totally Reliable Delivery Service Arrives Today with Xbox Game Pass.
• Rougelite Action Platformer Fury Unleashed Coming to Xbox One May 8.
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Beta, Delta and Omega Ring (2004.200330-0000).

• T-Mobile Swallows Sprint, Leaving 3 US Cellphone Giants.
• FCC sets 6GHz Wi-Fi vote for April 23, opening door to Wi-Fi 6E.
• Meal delivery firms branch out into groceries during crisis.

• Amazon warehouse workers protest near Detroit, days after NYC walkout.
• YouTube may counter TikTok with a feed of video 'Shorts.'
• YTMND is back, a year after shutting down.
• Google Chrome slow on your PC or Mac? Here's the ultimate fix, and it's easy.

• Bill Gates details plan on how US can pull through COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks RedEye9.
• It's surprisingly easy to switch a gaming PC to Linux today. Thanks David.

• Cyberscum target Microsoft SQL Server boxen – and some careless sysadmins were reinfected after cleaning it out.
• Microsoft finds itself in odd position of sparing elderly, insecure protocols: Grants stay of execution to TLS 1.0, 1.1.

• Call of Duty games can depict Humvees without a license, says judge. Free hummers for everyone!
• For the past five years, every FBI secret spy court request to snoop on Americans has sucked, says watchdog.

Obituary: Adam Schlesinger Dead: Fountains of Wayne Member Had Coronavirus. Very sad news. I was a huge fan.

A post on Steam announces that Terraria has now sold more than 30 million copies across all platforms (thanks GameSpot via Neutronbeam). This is an amazing milestone for any game, much less an indie action/adventure. They celebrate the news with a 50% off sale between now and April 3rd on Steam for the Windows, macOS, and Linux edition, which will probably help them move even more copies. Here's part of the post from Re-Logic breaking down sales by platform and expressing their gratitude:

Some fun details:

• 14 Million sold on PC
• 7.6 Million sold on Consoles
• 8.7 Million sold on Mobile devices

What is even more crazy is that the momentum behind our game remains as strong as it has ever been - even in advance of Journey's End arriving soon, which is sure to blow the lid off once again!

To say that this floors all of us in regards to the sheer level of support and love you have shown us over the years is a massive understatement. We can only hope to return the favor by continuing to provide amazing gaming experiences for years to come (whether it be on Terraria or future games that we create).

A post on Steam announces the release of a VR update for GRIP: Combat Racing on Steam. Despite the trailer for this being titled Combat Racing - Vomit Racing Edition, they promise this is not a joke, and that the combat racing game now includes virtual reality support. Here's word:

Today's date may suggest otherwise, but a VR update is available NOW! Plug yourself into your favourite VR setup and experience GRIP like never before!

Feel every flip, jump, crash, spin and boost even harder as you strap into your favourite Airblade or Roller, hitting the highest level of VR driving intensity.

Like exclusive content, chatting with and challenging other players? Get on our wonderful Discord server and show who's got the strongest stomach:

Continue here to read the full story.

Nick Bounty and the Dame with the Blue Chewed Shoe is now available, offering a comedic noir-inspired adventure from Pinhead Games. This is designed by former Telltale developer Mark Darin whose credits include Tales of Monkey Island and Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People. This is available on Steam, and while they promise Windows and macOS support, Steam only lists this for Windows at this time. Here's a Release Trailer and here's more on the game:

Nick Bounty and the Dame with the Blue Chewed Shoe is an interactive comedic spoof on classic film noir detective movies. It's a little bit Maltese Falcon, a little bit CSI, and a little bit Naked Gun.

Sick of taking bottom barrel cases, smart-ass detective Nick Bounty sets out to solve the murder of a woman found half buried in a playground sandbox. As the case unfolds, he becomes entangled in an absurd mystery that threatens to end his life! Choose a partner, shake down suspects, gather the clues, analyze the evidence and take down a killer!

“At Pinhead Games, we believe in the unique way that narrative driven games can combine compelling storytelling and puzzling gameplay into a fully satisfying experience. Nick Bounty and the Dame in the Blue Chewed Shoe aims to capture the feel of those classic Point & Click adventures with a cinematic flair and healthy dose of humor!”

Continue here to read the full story.

• PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS -- Fantasy Battle Royale.
• Revealing DiRT Rollers- The Official Marble Racing Video Game.
• Star Citizen Planet Tech V5 - The Flattening.
• “Space Thunder” - News - War Thunder.
• PlatinumGames presents a shocking-—err, docking new collaboration. Thanks Siliconera.
• Sony is developing a high-end PC GPU to rival NVIDIA's Ampere, will now focus primarily on PC gaming.
• Valve unveils controversial new VR mode for CS:GO.
• Half-Life 4 announced: Valve confirms it cannot count to 3.
• The Last of Us 2 confirmed for PC “just to piss off PlayStation fans.”
• PS5 to Receive Terafloppy Disks, Proprietary Hardware That Will Boost Teraflops Count.

• Somebody dropped $10,000 on Humble Bundle's 'Conquer COVID-19' collection. Thanks David.
• GOG.com Special Sale: games that will make you smile up to 90% off.
• GOG.com Midweek Sale- space opera games up to 85% off.

• Approaching Infinity version 1.3.1.
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive » Release Notes for 3-31-2020.
• DOOM & DOOM II Patch Notes. Apparently brand new, despite the March 7th date on the post. Thanks Frans.
• Entropy - Zero 2 Demo Released. Half-Life 2: Episode Two mod.
• Mount & Blade II- Bannerlord -- Patch Notes e1.0.1.
• Risk of Rain Early Access Artifacts Content Update - New Survivor Vote - March 31, 2020. Thanks MP1st.

• Resident Evil 3 - Did You Know Gaming? Thanks Ant.

• London Games Festival's Now Play This has switched to a free online event.
• DeMarcus Cousins Fires Back After Ronnie2k Calls Him a 'D--k' on Live Stream.

• Totally Reliable Delivery Service Is Now Available For Xbox One.
• Lost Artifacts: Golden Island Is Now Available For Xbox One.
• Random Heroes: Gold Edition Is Now Available For Xbox One.
• Killing Floor 2- Neon Nightmares Seasonal Festivities Out Now on Xbox One.
• Death Stranding PS4 Update 1.12 Adds Photo Mode alongside Various Performance Improvements.
• Spring Sale Blooms at PS Store.
• Players’ Choice: Vote for the Best New Game of March 2020 – PlayStation.Blog.

• Apple Stops Signing iOS 13.3.1, Downgrade No Longer Possible - What It Means for Jailbreak?
• The best video call apps to use while you're social distancing.
• Samsung offers 50-percent buy-back guarantee on the Galaxy S20.
• Putin takes coronavirus precautions as Moscow unveils tracking app.
• You can play Candy Crush with free, unlimited lives this week.

Thanks Ant.

• Slack launches call integrations for Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and more.
• Zoom Meetings Do Not Support End-to-End Encryption. Thanks Slashdot.
• Zoom is Leaking Peoples' Email Addresses and Photos to Strangers. Thanks Slashdot.
• Apple's latest macOS Catalina update mysteriously borks SSH for some unlucky fans. What could be the cause.
• iPhone, iPad, and Mac users report video calling issues during pandemic.
• Coronavirus Causes Dip in Podcast Listening. Thanks LinkedIn.
• YouTube sellers found touting bogus coronavirus vaccines and masks.

• Intel CEO Bob Swan’s Annual Letter. Thanks Hypothermia.
• Intel H81 Chipset EOL'd: Long Lived Haswell Chipset to be Retired.
• How robots have joined the coronavirus battle.
• Cordio and Rambam Hospital will trial AI that detects coronavirus cases from speech samples.
• Aspen Neuroscience raises $70 million for its experimental Parkinson Disease treatment.
• How DeepMotion uses AI to create believable characters.

Thanks Ant.

• Passwords could soon be abandoned once and for all.
• Cloudflare is over the moon because its pro-privacy 1.1.1.1 DNS service got a clean bill of health from everyone's favorite auditor – KPMG. Thanks DSLReports.
• Zoom security bug lets attackers steal Windows passwords.
• Hackers Begin Exploiting Zoom's Overnight Success to Spread Malware. Thanks j.c.f.
• Phish of GoDaddy Employee Jeopardized Escrow.com, Among Others.
• Rethinking OpenBSD security. Thanks Ant.

• New York City to probe Amazon firing of warehouse worker.
• At the Supreme Court, Morrisons pops data breach liability win into its trolley – but it's not a get-out-of-compo free card for businesses.

• Bleeding Edge review - Rock Paper Shotgun.
• The Complex - Flickering Myth.
• Half-Life: Alyx is exhausting. It may also be the future of VR. - The Washington Post. Thanks Ant.
• In Other Waters review - PC Gamer. Thanks David.
• Resident Evil 3 Video Card Performance Review - The FPS Review.
• Resident Evil 3 Benchmarked - TechSpot.
• Star Control: Origins - Earth Rising Expansion Review - Overclockers Club.
• Totally Reliable Delivery Service Review - IGN.

• Aerocool Aero One Eclipse Case Review - Style and Function for the Masses - TechPowerUp.
• Apple MacBook Air review (2020)- A return to form - Engadget.
• Sabrent Rocket 1TB NVMe SSD review - Guru3D.
• SilverStone Seta A1 Case Test - OverClockedInside.
• TEAM T-Force XTREEM ARGB DDR4-3600 16GB Dual-Channel Memory Kit Review - TweakTown.

• Rockstar Games pledges 5% of online revenue from GTA Online and RDR Online to COVID-19 relief…

Happy April Fool's Day, the annual celebration of tomfoolery that's equal parts professional comedy, amateur comedy (aka tragedy), and tedium. This year, however, with the world in the grips of a pandemic, we've seen various indications that many companies and outlets are foregoing the usual shenanigans ("No April Fools" is currently trending on Twitter). There's little doubt there will be some of the usual gags, but it won't be surprising if this makes for a subdued version of the occasion. As always, we will round up the jokes while trying not to fall for them (though I wonder if we already did).

Obituary: Lord of the Rings Dialect Coach Dies of Coronavirus.

Foolish Links
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Breakfast Link

• "Rick and Morty" Return May 3rd.

Stories

• How to Maintain Your Relationship in Quarantine. Thanks David.
• Working from home with spouse: 7 tips to make it work. MrsBlue and I already invented the imaginary co-worker to take blame.
• Extended Social Distancing, Plus How To Grocery Shop Safely. Thanks RedEye9.

Science

• Hungry black hole may be cosmic 'missing link.'

Image

• Napoleon Exotic.

Media

• Getting In My Ex-Girlfriend’s Back Door.
• StyleGAN2 - mapping music to facial expressions in real time. Thanks Hypothermia.
• The Netflix Cheater.
• We're getting TIGERS on the Farm.

Follow-up

• Samuel L. Jackson Says Stay the F--k at Home.

The Funnies

• Brevity.

Ubisoft announces you can now get a free copy of Rayman Legends from the Ubisoft Store. This is yours to keep as long as you claim it before April 3rd at 9:00 am EDT. In case you are hesitant to part with your zero dollars, here's a description of the game:

Product description
In Rayman Legends, Rayman, Globox and the Teensies have gotten themselves in trouble yet again. As they roam around an enchanted forest, they discover a collection of immersive paintings. Each painting depicts the story of a unique, mythical world. One painting of a medieval world is particularly immersive. Rayman and friends finds themselves literally sucked inside of it, and a long journey begins. Download Rayman Legends for PC to control the gang as it fights its way through each painting’s world, and work to uncover all of the secrets held within this strange collection.

Classic Rayman Gameplay
When it comes to gameplay, Rayman Legends offers everything you have come to expect from an installment in the Rayman series. Safety is fleeting, and certain death is never far away. Fast-paced side scrolling gameplay takes you through a host of dangerous environments that pile challenge upon challenge on top of you, inviting fatal mistakes at every turn, and learning to glide through the challenges thrown at you is part of what makes Rayman Legends so satisfying to play. To be successful, you need to learn to run, jump and swim your way through a diverse set of environments, each one more deadly than the last.

Continue here to read the full story.

An update on Fig announces a delay to Wasteland 3, saying the post-apocalyptic RPG sequel is now expected on August 28th. The game was expected this spring, and the setback is attributed to the added difficulties of remote development due to COVID-19:

As with most companies, we moved to a work-from-home environment some weeks ago, and that’s of course introduced new challenges that many of us throughout the world have been learning to manage. We’ve been excited to see the Wasteland 3 Beta so well received, but the reality is that with these new logistical challenges our release was going to be impacted.

We’re in a great position with both Microsoft and Deep Silver supporting our desire to ensure the game launches in the best possible circumstances, and to add a few extra months to ensure this is a stellar product on day one. With that, Wasteland 3’s new release date is August 28, 2020.

That’s time we’re putting into acting on Beta feedback and suggestions, optimization, polishing and refinements, and making sure we have an awesome co-op experience. We’re pouring our hearts into this game, and the last thing we want is to have anything but an amazing launch for a product we truly believe in.

Continue here to read the full story.

Saying "Cheaters Not Welcomed in Call of Duty: Warzone," the Activision Blog announces over 50,000 cheaters have been hit with the permanent banhammer in the new CoD battle royale game:

We have been enforcing account bans since Day 1 of Warzone’s release. To date, we issued more than 50,000 permabans worldwide.

We employ a number of programs in place to combat both cheaters and cheat providers.

• Our security teams monitor 24/7 to investigate data and identify potential infractions.
• The teams review all possible cheats and hacks, this includes identifying use of aimbots, wallhacks and more.
• We’re working to improve our in-game system for reporting potential cheating. Plans are underway to streamline the UI for a more seamless reporting experience.
• For all reports that are received in-game, they are both analyzed and filtered based on key data.
• Once investigations are complete, we will continue to work as quickly as possible to ban.

Moving forward, we will aim to provide a regular count on the latest number of bans issued, as needed.

Continue here to read the full story.

The Minecraft Website announces a delay to Minecraft Dungeons, saying this is now launching on May 26th instead of by the end of April as previously planned. Word is that Microsoft and Mojang are now accepting preorders on a Standard Edition and a Hero Edition of the voxelated dungeon crawler:

We love a good announcement here at Mojang – no matter the type. Just this morning, my team announced that I needed to clean out my moldy old lunchboxes from the fridge. Can you imagine the excitement? The anticipation? The thrill? But we’re not here to talk about my trivial duties. We have much bigger things to share.

So sit down, take a deep breath, stand up, roll out the red carpet, pet your dog, and tell him he’s a good boy. Minecraft Dungeons is coming out May 26 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Game Pass.

As you all know, we initially planned to release Minecraft Dungeons by the end of April. However, due to the current state of the world, this was no longer possible, as we wanted to guarantee the health and safety of our teams, and empower them to deliver the best possible experience to you, our players. We hope you’ll find it was worth the wait.

Continue here to read the full story.

Atari announces PONG Quest, an improbable RPG based on the original Atari game from 1972. This will come this spring to Windows via Steam as well as to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and, Switch. So grab your crazy pills, fire up the Official Trailer, and brace yourself with more of this unusual plan:

Atari® — one of the world's most iconic consumer brands and interactive entertainment producers — and developer Chequered Ink, announced today that PONG Quest™, a humorous new RPG reimagining of the flagship arcade classic PONG®, is coming soon to Windows PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, and PlayStation®4.
It’s PONG like you’ve never thought it could be! Immerse yourself in a whole new world of PONG-inspired fun where you’ll adventure as a brave young paddle traversing a variety of treacherous dungeons, all loosely based on classic Atari hits, including Asteroids®, Centipede®, and more. Your journey will dictate the fate of PONG World as you reveal the mysteries of… the Spooky Door!

“PONG as an RPG is something completely unexpected, but wonderful in execution,” said Atari COO Jean-Marcel Nicolai. “We are thrilled to bring PONG Quest to life to honor the classic IP and bring the beloved gameplay to a new generation of players and RPG fans. Atari has a rich portfolio of titles and exploring new ways to breathe new life into those franchises yields exciting results.”

In PONG Quest, you’ll explore a fantasy world as you encounter a variety of paddle opponents in energetic, RPG-esque battles! Special unlockable PONG balls add new depths and strategy to the classic gameplay putting a fresh and modern spin on the original.

Continue here to read the full story.

EGOSOFT now offers the new X4: Foundations version 3.0 update as well as the X4: Split Vendetta expansion for the space exploration and combat game. This post on Steam has the version 3.0 patch notes and the patch is also available on GOG.com. Likewise the X4: Split Vendetta expansion is available for Windows and Linux on GOG.com and Steam. Here's a Launch Trailer for both releases and here's a description of the add-on:

X4: Split Vendetta is the next chapter in the X4: Foundations story. This is the first big expansion for X4, greatly increasing the size of the universe and introducing two new Split family clans along with their economy, new ships, weapons and station modules.

Along with the Update 3.0 to X4: Foundations, the X4: Split Vendetta expansion brings exciting new missions and adventures to the game. New gamestarts allow an even more varied experience in the biggest sandbox this side of the galaxy.

TRADE with the Split families or FIGHT against them. BUILD your own station designs based on the new modules and THINK carefully on your path through the new diplomatic missions.

Continue here to read the full story.

Xbox Wire announces Operation 3: Gridiron is now available for Gears 5 on all platforms as the latest free quarterly multiplayer update for the third-person shooter. Here's a Gridiron Trailer, which explains: "Tear up the field in Gears 5’s all-new Gridiron Mode. Two teams of five square off looking to drive the neutral flag into the opponents end zone. The first team to score 13 points wins, but with only one life per round, victory is intense." Here's more:

Missing live sports? Gridiron is Gears 5’s brand-new, single life objective mode that sees two teams fighting to run a neutral flag into their opponent’s endzone.

Here’s how it works: At the start of each round, the flag rotates between one of three locations along the center line of the map. Picking up the flag is as simple as touching it, and your team can score at touchdown by possessing it for five seconds in the opponent’s end zone. However, since Gridiron is a single-life mode, securing victory will be a focused effort in battling for the flag and controlling weapons and key positions across the map.

The first team to hit 13 points wins the match, and with a short two-minute time limit per proud, Gridiron provides rapid and intense action while still requiring teams to work tactically together to claim the win.

Continue here to read the full story.

Early Access to Good Company is now available on GOG.com and Steam, offering a first crack at this tycoon game from food-motivated developer Chasing Carrots and constipated publisher The Irregular Corporation. This involves the construction of automated assembly lines to crate your wares, which makes a prophetic cautionary tale out of Queen's 1975 tune named Good Company: "All through the years in the end it appears, there was never really anyone but me. Now I'm old I puff my pipe but no one's there to see. I ponder on the lesson of my life's insanity. Take care of those you call your own and keep good company." Classic rock introspection aside, here's a Launch Trailer, here's an Early Access roadmap, and here's more on the actual game:

Good Company sets you up as CEO of your very own company, where dedicated tycoon fans of tycoon games will feel right at home with challenging and rewarding gameplay as you grow your staff, delegate tasks using the powerful Logistics mode and rake in enormous profits by inventing increasingly complex tech products that the public desperately craves.

A new trailer released today showcases the latest gameplay footage of your soon-to-be expanding empire and the ease in which you can research upgrades, hire new workers and keep track of changing markets and your profits and losses while strategizing your next move.

Choose how you want to run your Good Company as the game lets you set your own pace: continue to refine your ever-expanding empire and find creative and efficient ways to maximize those profits either in single-player Campaign Mode or endless Freeplay Mode. In Campaign Mode, aspiring CEOs tackle rewarding scenario levels and bonus challenge maps while in Freeplay Mode you are free to shape your company however you want. Building a good company and mastering the art of invention, automation and expansion is the name of the game at Good Company.

Continue here to read the full story.

Phalanx of Resistance is now available on Steam, offering a blend of the tower defense and real-time strategy genres that publisher 70:30 and developer Dominik Michalke say creates a "mixture you have never played before." You can judge the accuracy at this claim of uniqueness in this previously released trailer and read on for more details:

Phalanx of Resistance mixes RTS gameplay with Tower Defense elements. Build your own base and survive devastating attack waves, place turrets, harvest resources and use weapons of mass destruction wisely.

“The gameplay in Phalanx of Resistance is unique”, claims the indie developer Dominik Michalke. “You’ll have to optimize your turret setup to defeat challenging, strong bosses, and progress in the game”.

Set in an old school C&C environment, Phalanx of Resistance features 50 exciting missions in 5 different environments, 30 turrets, 10 buildings, 30 upgrades, 4 resources, 5 W.O.M.D and tons of enemies.

Continue here to read the full story.

Haohmaru from Samurai Shodown is now available as a new playable character DLC for SOULCALIBUR VI for PC and consoles. He can be found on Steam for the Windows edition of BANDAI NAMCO's fighting game sequel. Here's a Haohmaru Launch Trailer and here's word:

Worlds collide today as Haohmaru of SNK’s Samurai Shodown fame joins other blade-wielding warriors in the SOULCALIBUR universe - for the first time ever. With his Fugudoku in hand, Haohmaru poses a serious threat to the warriors in SOULCALIBUR VI. Haohmaru is waiting for you now on your platform of choice. Go forth and see if you’re able to harness his power and skills for victory!

Continue here to read the full story.

Publisher eigoMANGA announces the release of Vanguard Princess Online Deluxe on Steam, new DLC which adds online multiplayer support for the Windows edition of Vanguard Princess, their 2D fighting game featuring an all-female cast, because plot. As noted in this announcement there is also a less deluxe version of Vanguard Princess Online offered with some of the game's DLC. Here's more:

'Vanguard Princess Online Deluxe' will also feature the following in-game content:

• Updated and originally uncensored version of 'Vanguard Princess'
• Access to playable versions of the game's boss character Hilda Rize in Arcade Mode and Two Player Mode
• Additional battle stages
• Alternate story-lines
• Alternate endings for various characters
• Additional in-game music

• Humble Conquer COVID-19 Bundle (pay what you want and help charity).

• Destiny 2 Hotfix 2.8.0.2.
• Human Fall Flat - It's time to heat things up in 'Thermal.'
• No Man's Sky Living Ship Patch 2.34.

• Official Presentation of HOLMGANG: Memories of the Forgotten on Kickstarter.

• How to transition from working from home to being a remote studio - GamesIndustry.biz.

• PS3 Update 4.86 Released.
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered Available Today on PS4.
• Free Trial Available Now for Life is Strange 2 on Xbox One.
• Thank You for Playing Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
• Live Out Fantastic JRPG Adventures During the Kemco Publisher Sale on the Microsoft Store - Xbox Wire.
• New Games with Gold for April 2020 - Xbox Wire.
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Alpha Ring (2004.200330-0000).

• FCC will require phone carriers to authenticate calls by June 2021.
• AT&T's 39GHz spectrum win sets stage for national 3Gbps 5G service.
• Pandemic has led to spikes in mobile gaming, says ironSource.
• Ryzen Roundup: A Quick Overview of Ryzen Mobile 4000 Laptops From Acer, ASUS, Dell, & MSI.
• Dark Sky purchased by Apple. Android version to shut down. Thanks Hypothermia.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Why Working From Home Is So Exhausting—And How To Reinvigorate.
• Microsoft takes on Grammarly with new Editor extension for Chrome and Edge.

• Coronavirus may cut global corporate tech spending 4.1% in 2020: survey.
• Coronavirus: 3D-printer owners rally to create NHS face masks.
• Elon Musk shipping free ventilators to hospitals worldwide. Thanks Hypothermia.
• Xerox abandons $35 billion hostile bid for HP: sources.

• Marriott says 5.2 million guests exposed in new data breach.

Last Link of the Day: Today’s the last day to apply to be a NASA astronaut if you want to escape the planet. Thanks David.

After many rumors and leaks, Activision officially announces Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered, saying this updated first-person shooter is out now for PlayStation 4 and is available for preorder on other platforms, including PC. They note that those who purchase of pre-purchase this will get a bonus of a free UDT Classic Ghost Bundle for immediate use in Modern Warfare and Warzone. Here's the Official Trailer (which leaked yesterday), and there are two articles about this on the Activision Blog, a separate announcement and a post with a look at the campaign and confirming indications that multiplayer maps and modes from MW2 are being added to the 2019 edition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: "Rather than release a separate, multiplayer experience as a standalone pack, Activision and Infinity Ward are looking to bring more classic map experiences to new life within the Modern Warfare universe as it continues to grow and build over time." Here's the announcement:

One of the most iconic, blockbuster video game story experiences in gaming entertainment history has returned. Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 2 Campaign Remastered, a complete enhancement of the critically-acclaimed single player experience, is available for purchase now, first on PlayStation 4 on the PlayStation Network, with other platforms available for pre-purchase. The game includes the full campaign with stunning high-definition visuals – up to 4K resolution and HDR support on console; and uncapped framerate as well as ultrawide monitor support on PC.

Published by Activision, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered features improved texture resolution and detail, revamped animation, remastered audio, and much more.

In this famed experience, originally developed by Infinity Ward and now re-mastered by Beenox, players enlist as members of Task Force 141 and Tier 1 Operatives in a breathtaking series of missions to save the world from destruction. “Cliffhanger,” “Takedown, “No Russian,” and more all return in this intense story experience.

Continue here to read the full story.

The Official QuakeCon Website announces this year's installment of QuakeCon is cancelled (thanks Roger). The 25th installment in the venerable LAN party/gaming convention wasn't going to happen until August, but id Software and Bethesda Softworks say the COVID-19 pandemic casts too much uncertainty on the planning the event would require:

In recent weeks we have spent a lot of time discussing how we might still move forward with QuakeCon this year, particularly given that it's the 25th year of the event. However, with all of the logistical challenges and uncertainties we currently face due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s QuakeCon. The health and safety of our employees, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and players will always be our top priority, and in these times it felt wrong to be talking about a gathering when gathering is the last thing any of us should be doing right now.

While we don’t know what the state of the pandemic will be this August, we do know it will not be possible to complete the work and planning with partners, vendors, volunteers, and others that is required to make QuakeCon a success.

Continue here to read the full story.

Resident Evil Website announces that the Resident Evil Resistance open beta is now available for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, users, so the setback to its launch for PC and PS4 is cleared up. Word is: "We apologize for the delay and thank you again for your patience. Have fun and look forward to the full game release on April 3!" The Windows edition is offered through Steam, where they have more details on testing of this 1v4 multiplayer survival game:

In this open beta, you can get an early taste of a new 1 vs 4 online multiplayer game set in the Resident Evil universe, where four Survivors face-off against a sinister Mastermind.

As the Mastermind your aim is to prevent the Survivors from escaping by whatever means necessary. In turn, the Survivors must work together to fend off the Mastermind's attacks and complete puzzle style objectives to escape the map before time runs out!

Open beta test operation times:
PDT: 3/27/2020 10:00 - 4/3/2020 00:00
UTC: 3/27/2020 17:00 - 4/3/2020 07:00
HKT: 3/28/2020 2:00 - 4/3/2020 15:00
JST: 3/28/2020 1:00 - 4/3/2020 16:00

No play data will be saved, so closing the application will reset your progress.
(Game settings will be saved)

Half-Life 2 on Source 2 - Half-Life: Alyx Mod Showcase is a proof-of-concept for running Half-Life 2 content in VR using Half-Life: Alyx. The creator says there are no plans to share this mod "yet," as the video is just a "showcase demo and nothing more" at this point. Here's word:

This mod is done by me. I took the original map file and converted to Source 2 format and added to Half-Life: Alyx. In process, I converted assets of Half-Life 2 to Half-Life: Alyx as well.

Things i was able to do was very limited since Valve didn't share SDK with the public yet. I started this project around 24 March and planned this since around January. You can pretty much say, this is the first Half-Life: Alyx mod.

Note: I have no plans to share this yet since it's just a showcase demo and nothing more.

Don't forget to join my Steam group to get latest updates!

https://steamcommunity.com/groups/Vect0Rx

Continue here to read the full story.

A new content pack called Magna Graecia is now available for the Windows, macOS, and Linux editions of Imperator: Rome, accompanied the Archimedes Update, a major version 1.4 patch that's free for the base version. For those who don't own Paradox's historical strategy game, it's free-to-play until April 5th on Steam, and on sale for half-off for those who wish to continue on after that. Besides a list of where this can be picked up, the official website offers a guide to Magna Graecia and the Archimedes Update, while this post with more on the patch along with an Archimedes Update Trailer. Here are the details on both releases and the free sample:

The rise of Macedon overwhelmed the ancient fame of Athens and Sparta. But with the death of Alexander, the prospect of freedom among competing empires offered a chance to revive lost glories. In Magna Graecia, a new content pack for Imperator: Rome, you can play this dangerous game and restore the Greek city-states to imperial power.

Imperator: Rome, Paradox Development Studio’s grand strategy game about the classical world, gets a new content pack today. Magna Graecia enhances the experience of playing Greek minor cities, especially the big three - Athens, Sparta and Syracuse.

Continue here to read the full story.

An update on Steam announces that a new major update called Infection is now available in GTFO, the hardcore four-player first-person shooter that's currently in Early Access for Windows. This video shows off a developer playthrough of the new content, and the announcement has full patch notes and these infected details:

What does the new Rundown 002 / Infection include?
Among tweaks, such as improved weapon sounds and a new on-screen liquid system, this new Rundown will give you:

• A new environment called Dig Site
• 10 new expeditions (with a new system called Warden Restriction, where the community help each other to unlock the last expeditions)
• New weapons (a machine pistol and a burst rifle, as well as an updated machinegun)
• New enemy, or enemies? (this, you will have to find out by yourself)
• New objectives
• And more!

Continue here to read the full story.

Fates of Ort is now available for Windows, macOS, and Linux is now available on Steam, offering a new RPG from developer/publisher 8BitSkull. This involves sacrifice and difficult choices as you fight to stave off a spreading existential threat to the game world, proving Ort imitates life. This previously released trailer shows off gameplay and the game's throwback 8-bit graphical style, and here's an older video where one of the designers discusses its story and mechanics. If you like what you see, this can be picked up with a 10% launch discount for the next week. Here's more:

Fates of Ort is a retro inspired fantasy RPG with a focus on strategic action and a story driven by your decisions. It is a tale of sacrifice and difficult choices, in a world under threat of annihilation by the avaricious force of Consumption magic.

Fight
Magic is powerful, but it is not free. Every spell you cast requires a little bit of your life energy to spark it. Cast enough spells and you will extinguish your very soul. This means you need to be strategic when fighting, balancing the cost of magic with the risk of taking damage from your enemies.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Sword of the Necromancer - Teaser Trailer [Kickstarter].

• The borderless nature of gaming is allowing esports to thrive during coronavirus.
• Borderlands 3’s 'Door Busters' Event Guarantees A Legendary Weapon Haul. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Pro player Poach ditches Fortnite esports for Valorant.
• Arc World Tour 2020 Cancelled Due to Ongoing Coronavirus Concerns.

• The Complex Is Now Available For Xbox One.
• Daymare: 1998 Is Now Available For Digital Pre-order And Pre-download On Xbox One.
• Obduction Is Now Available For Digital Pre-order And Pre-download On Xbox One.
• Shred! 2 Is Now Available For Digital Pre-order And Pre-download On Xbox One.
• This Week’s Deals With Gold And Spotlight Sale.

• Google has discontinued the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.
• It's 2020, why don't Samsung phones support Android's seamless updates? Thanks RedEye9.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Coronavirus: World leaders' posts deleted over fake news.
• Google Stadia 4K now available in Chrome for PC.
• Amazon fires warehouse worker who led Staten Island strike for more coronavirus protection.
• Share Your Desktop With Up to 10 People With This Free App.
• WeWork sells off social network Meetup to AlleyCorp and other investors.
• Microsoft’s Skype struggles have created a Zoom moment.
• Raspberry Pi Network Monitor Tracks Your Internet Speed.
• Stuck at home craving Girl Scout cookies? Now you can order them online.
• Internet Pioneer Vint Cerf Tests Positive For Covid-19. Thanks Slashdot via Ant.
• Ninjak vs the Valiant Universe Full Web Series Is Now Online.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• D-Wave makes its quantum computers free to anyone working on the coronavirus crisis.
• Google is using AI to design AI processors much faster than humans can. No outlook yet on when it becomes self-aware. Thanks David.
• Intel 10th Generation Comet Lake H Series Leaked - Up To 8 Cores With 5.3 GHz Boost And 45W TDP.
• Qarnot Computing raises $6.5 million to heat buildings with wasted energy from cloud computing.
• Samsung's display business will stop producing LCD screens this year.
• ZOHO: The Most Successful SaaS Company You May Have Never Heard Of.
• Best Linux Desktop Distributions Overall.
• You can now add tasks in Microsoft To Do straight to the top on Windows 10.

Thanks Ant.

• Houseparty app offers $1m reward to unmask entity behind hacking smear campaign.
• Would You Exchange Your Security for a Gift Card? Thanks DSLReports.
• Cybersecurity insurance firm Chubb investigates its own ransomware attack. Thanks DSLReports.
• Zoom app hijackers disrupting calls with pornographic and hateful imagery.

• Huawei 2019 results: US blacklist led to $12 billion revenue shortfall.
• New York Attorney General Looks Into Zoom’s Privacy Practices.

• Bleeding Edge review - PC Gamer.
• Bleeding Edge Review - Killing Enemies is Never Enough - Wccftech.
• DOOM Eternal Angry Review - AngryJoeShow. NSFW.
• Testing Doom Eternal On Low-End Graphics Cards - Kotaku. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Doom Eternal on Stadia looks great - but the lag is just too high • Eurogamer.net. Thanks David.
• Resident Evil 3 review - Rock Paper Shotgun.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS Review - TechSpot.
• Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 review- AMD has rewritten the rules - The Verge.
• Asus Zephyrus G14 Ryzen 9 GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q Laptop Review- Kicking Core i9 to the Curb - NotebookCheck.net Reviews.
• EVGA RTX 2060 KO Video Card Review and LN2 Overclocking - Hardware Asylum.
• Glorious PC Gaming Race Model D Gaming Mouse Review - ThinkComputers.org.
• Razer Ornata Chroma Keyboard Review - RTINGS.com.
• Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Smartphone Review—Overhyped and outrageously priced - Ars Technica.

• Despite pandemic, gaming is well-positioned to withstand recession…
• Back in the Day: The Video Games We Were Playing in March 1990. Thanks Neutronbeam…

How's your social distancing going? We're hanging in there in the BlueTower, though I worry about MrsBlue's nerves getting frayed from being around me too much, especially since the lockdown ended her work assignment. I've been working remotely for years, and being a natural introvert, I am more suited to it than many. The bigger impact on me came before all this went down, as I've been nursing soreness in my right arm, so I am still trying to limit my gaming. The good news is this is helping, so I'm hopeful the measures I'm taking are preventing this from blossoming into a real debilitating repetitive strain injury. Of course a sore arm is just one of the countless maladies that are preferable to a potentially deadly virus, so world events are helping keep this in perspective. Here's hoping you all are finding ways to remain healthy and sane.

Links
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Breakfast Links

• Is John Wick Actually Trapped Inside a Video Game?
• Crazy James Bond theories that are Double -O- mazing.
• The Best Books to Last You Through Social Distancing.

Stories

• 'Virus-fighting' scientist gets magnets stuck in nose.
• Taxpayers Paid Millions to Design a Low-Cost Ventilator for a Pandemic. Instead, the Company Is Selling Versions of It Overseas. Thanks Acleacius.

Science

• Which Superstitions Are Based on Facts?
• This Fireball Ignored the Solar System’s One-Way Signs.

Images

• Headcrabs be like...
• Orangutans and otters pictured playing together in photos shared by Belgian zoo.

Media

• The Future of Gaming - Adventures of Alyx and Headcrab.
• Looking for love in online games - Girlfriend.

Auction

• Rare 80-Year Collection of Every DC Comic Book Going to Auction.

Follow-up

• Can you catch the coronavirus twice? You'll probably be immune — for some time, at least.
• Popularity of Netflix's 'Tiger King' prompts sheriff to ask for leads in 1997 cold case.