An extended free weekend is underway on Steam for Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop, giving five days to test drive this transportation. If this inspires you to emulate the great bus drivers of history (Ralph Kramden, Cosmo Kramer, and Keanu Reeves), you can pick up a copy for half-off and continue the journey. And if you are really into buses, read on to how this will allow you to nerd out:

Look forward to Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop, and the most comprehensive and advanced fleet in the history of the series. For Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop, a fleet of 30 officially licensed buses by well-known, international manufacturers such as Alexander Dennis, Blue Bird, BYD, Grande West, IVECO BUS, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Setra, and Volvo is available for you to drive. For the first time, you will also have access to a double-decker and electric buses.

Get ready for the brand-new, impressive US map Angel Shores and a revamped version of the European Seaside Valley map from the previous game instalment – including its map extension. Different difficulty levels and play modes are also available for a wide range of player types.

Automate It is undergoing playtesting on Steam, giving South Blue Moon and Forklift Interactive feedback on this upcoming factory simulation/puzzle game. The "Request Access" button is live to get players into this to prepare for its launch next year. Here's the Announcement Trailer to get things rolling. Here's more:

Build and solve complex problems in a rainbow of natural landscapes spanning five distinct worlds. Unlock power by completing objectives for new machines, and deliver parts on time within a limited space. Discover limitless solutions using a variety of customizable devices and technological advancements in a race against the clock and dwindling resources.

Fiddle with groundbreaking mechanics in Campaign Mode, progressing through 50 structured challenges offering unique automation and increasing difficulty from very simple to brain teasing. Explore and automate without the puzzle constraints of Campaign Mode in Omniverse Mode, an expansive world with added survival mechanics. Experiment with endless automation and resource management with the main goal of creating the Omniverse Singularity.

Continue here to read the full story.

GamesRadar+ has the winners of the Golden Joystick Awards 2024, a prominent entry in the world of competitive game development. The PC game of the year is Satisfactory. Other big winners include Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, Helldivers 2, and Ultimate Game of the Year, Black Myth: Wukong. Here's the full rundown:

The full list of all the winners in each category is as follows:

• Best Audio Design - Astro Bot
• Best Soundtrack - Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth
• Best Storytelling - Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth
• Best Multiplayer Game - Helldivers 2
• Best Visual Design - Black Myth: Wukong
• Best Indie Game - Balatro
• Best Indie Game (Self-published) - Another Crab's Treasure
• Studio of the Year - Team Asobi (Astro Bot)
• Best Lead Performer - Cody Christian (Cloud, Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth)
• Best Supporting Performer - Briana White (Aerith, Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth)
• Breakthrough Award (Critics Choice) - Balatro
• Still Playing Award (Console & PC) - Minecraft
• Still Playing Award (Mobile) - Honkai: Star Rail
• PC Game of the Year - Satisfactory
• Console Game of the Year - Helldivers 2
• Most Wanted Game - GTA 6
• Critics' Choice Award - Helldivers 2
• Best Game Expansion - Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
• Best Gaming Hardware - Steam Deck OLED
• Best Early Access Game - Lethal Company
• Best Game Trailer - Helldivers 2
• Streamers' Choice Award - Chained Together
• Best Game Adaptation - Fallout
• Ultimate Game of the Year - Black Myth Wukong

• Roman Triumph: Survival City Builder on Steam (Windows). "At the northern fringes of the empire, a new Roman city is born! Manage and grow your city, please the gods, and survive against barbarians and mythological threats to achieve Roman Triumph!"
• Spray Paint Simulator on Steam (Windows). "Sit back, relax and express your creative side in the colorful world of Spray Paint Simulator. Enter the town of Spatterville, meet the locals while you restore, repair, mask and spray paint everything from a kitchen to local landmarks. Buy new equipment, unlock Free Spray and transform the town."

• astragon Publisher Sale 2024 – Save up to 90% on your favorite simulation games on Steam.
• Save 50% on Across the Obelisk on Steam.
• Save 20% on Last Epoch on Steam.
• Save 50% on Victoria 3 on Steam.

Official patches.

• Dragon Age: The Veilguard - Patch 3 - Live Now.
• Heroes of the Storm PTR Patch Notes - November 14, 2024.
• The Rogue Prince of Persia - The Second Act update is out now - our biggest one by a mile.

• GeForce NOW! Thursday: ‘Star Wars Outlaws’ Story Pack - NVIDIA Blog.

• By Grit Alone on Meta Quest - Quest VR Games - Meta Store. Horror shooter.
• Wall Town Wonders on Meta Quest - Quest VR Games - Meta Store.

• Artis Impact - Official Trailer 2 - Pixel Manga Comic-Style JRPG Adventure.
• ANTONBLAST - THE FINAL TRAILER.
• Bionic Bay - Ambience Trailer.
• Flint: Treasure of Oblivion – Crew Management.
• For Honor - Content Of The Week - 21 November.
• Overthrown - Release Date Trailer. December 5th.
• Path of Exile 2- Opening Cinematic.
• Rendering Ranger- R² [REWIND] Fall 2024 Trailer.
• STAND-ALONE Trailer - The MIX Fall Showcase 2024.
• Steam Autumn Sale 2024- Official Trailer.
• Steel Seed Teaser Trailer - Golden Joystick Awards 2024.
• Surfpunk - The MIX Fall Showcase Trailer.
• Terrifier The ARTcade Game - Early Gameplay Teaser.

↑ Official trailers. ↓ Content creator videos.

• Clueless Gamer: "Death Stranding Director's Cut" - Team Coco.

• Hearthstone - Announcing Battlegrounds Season 9.

• INAYAH - Life after Gods by Exogenesis Studios — Kickstarter. "INAYAH – Life after Gods is a beautifully hand-animated 2D action-platformer inviting you to explore a secretive post-apocalyptic world " Here's a Kickstarter Launch Trailer.
• The Time I Have Left - A time-driven escape adventure RPG by Ground Game Atelier — Kickstarter. "Explore a desolate city, find clues, and survive the assault of mysterious creatures in a unique turn-based RPG with an active twist." There's a Windows and Linux demo on Steam.

• THE FINALS coming to PS4 on December 12; PS5 Pro update now available - Gematsu.

• FCC passes auto safety spectrum rules - The Verge.
• Google reportedly cancels Pixel Tablet 2 and might quit the category — again - The Verge.
• Schools vs. Screens - Macleans.ca. Thanks Max.

• OpenAI considers taking on Google with browser, the Information reports - Reuters.

• StreamFab version 6.2.0.6. Thanks Console General.

• How AI Agents Improve Customer Service - NVIDIA Blog.
• How Generative AI Fuels Personalized, Brand-Accurate Visuals With OpenUSD - NVIDIA.
• Google's Gemini AI tells user trying to get help with their homework they're 'a stain on the universe' and 'please die' - PC Gamer.
• How Best to Use ChatGPT, Gemini, and Other AI Tools- Our AI Expert Answers Your Questions - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

• Microsoft confirms game audio issues on Windows 11 24H2 PCs - Bleeping Computer.

• The New York Times says OpenAI deleted evidence in its copyright lawsuit - Engadget.
• Feds Charge Five Men in ‘Scattered Spider’ Roundup – Krebs on Security.

• Path of Exile 2 Early Access FAQ…

Last Link of the Day: Honest Trailers - Megalopolis.

Star Wars Outlaws is now available on Steam with a 25% launch discount, offering the Windows edition of Ubisoft's open-world Star Wars action/adventure that launched during the summer as an exclusive on the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft. This comes with a major Title Update removing forced stealth missions and bringing the game to version 1.4.0. There's also a Windows 11 hotfix for a problem that will still need more attention and may cause lag. Here's more on the game's biggest patch yet: "This Title Update brings changes to combat and stealth allowing for greater player choice, the ability to now keep pick-up weapons in more situations, visual options to allow for a sharper image and much more to improve your journey across the galaxy. You can find the complete list of changes below." There's also a new Wild Card Story Pack adding the ever-charming "notorious high roller" Lando Calrissian to the game which is also part of the Season Pass. Here's the Story Pack Launch Trailer and here's more on the patch:

In addition to the release of Star Wars Outlaws on Steam, Title Update 1.4.0 is releasing today as part of the team's dedicated support of the game. TU1.4.0 brings with it a range of improvements, including:

• Notable updates to stealth and combat that allow players greater choice in how they approach each quest, using stealth or reaching for their blaster, even in syndicate territories in cities.
• Enemy AI and detection improvements, with players being notified when entering combat, or notified when they're being detected and can choose to escalate or change tactics to remain in stealth. Enemies will also now be more tactical as they use cover and seek better combat lines.
• Enemy weak points added to reward strategic gameplay, which if targeted can trigger explosions or give players a way to defeat enemies in spectacular new ways.
• Re-tuned Kay's blaster and pickup weapons to improve the combat experience, including being able to carry two handed weapons up ladders or grapple points.
• Animations in dialogue scenes, the option to toggle off the cinematic lens, the visibility of distant lights and much more have been added to improve the experience across the galaxy.

Continue here to read the full story.

Behold, a new freebie! The Epic Games Store is now offering Beholder completely free, giving the chance to be a tool of your totalitarian government. In this you are a landlord who must spy on the tenants in your state-run apartment building and decide which of their transgressions to overlook, and which to report back to the authorities. You can take on this pleasant task as a permanent job as long as you claim your copy before it's replaced by next week's giveaway, which will be Brotato, bro. Behold the details:

You are the State-installed manager of an apartment building. Your daily routine involves making the building a sweet spot for tenants, who will come and go. However, that is simply a facade that hides your real mission...

SPYING on your renters!
Your primary task is to covertly watch your tenants and eavesdrop on their conversations. You must BUG their apartments while they're away, SEARCH their belongings for whatever can threaten the authority of the State, and PROFILE them for your superiors. You must also REPORT anyone capable of violating the laws or plotting subversive activities against the State to the authorities.

You notice how some games don't always deliver on promises of post-release content via sales of Season Passes? Well Valve has too, and a Steamworks Documentation Update about Season Passes includes discussion of this problem, and an outline of consequences for failure to properly fulfill such obligations. Valve reminds publishers: "Under the Steam Distribution Agreement you have provided a warranty to Valve that your DLC will conform in all respects to the descriptions provided to customers, including promised release dates." While also pointing out the dubiousness of selling pigs in pokes, Valve says refunds will be required for games that fail to deliver DLC promised in Season Passes on a timely basis:

Even if there has not yet been a customer complaint, Valve may take action if you delay a DLC more than a quarter (3 months) beyond the release window you originally promised.

Actions include removing the Season Pass from sale on Steam, refunding all customers who purchased the Season Pass for the value of unreleased DLC, or allowing customers the option of refunding the entire Season Pass. For the purposes of refunds, the value of unreleased DLC will be decided in discussion with Valve.

Valve may also take action if your Season Pass content is not released after one year has passed. Actions may include refunds to customers and removing the Season Pass from sale on Steam.

Movie Games comes closer to loving up to its name, announcing DDS x Narcos, a standalone TV game coming in 2025 to Steam, adding elements of the Narcos television series to the Drug Dealer Simulator franchise. This follows the rule that adding Pedro Pascal makes anything better, as the actor will appear in this as Javier Peña, his character based on the real-life DEA agent who fought the Medellín and Cali drug cartels and consults on the show. This post has a first look at environments and Pascal's character, and here's more on what's actually being called the Drug Dealer Simulator Universe:

Life was good… Until it wasn’t. I’m Daniel. I was fired by the CIA when they started covering the tracks of their illegal operations. And if that’s not enough, my family in Mexico is going broke. They closed the factory which was the only source of income in the town.

Well, I own the factory now. But keeping it operational costs money. So now I’m going into the BUSINESS. After all, it’s what I know. And I need to keep my family afloat.

DDS x Narcos is a standalone spinoff of Drug Dealer Simulator set in the late 1980s. It marries the universe of the DDS series with the world known from the legendary show Narcos and Narcos Mexico. Explore both sides of the border and the familiar world of two beloved franchises.

All aboard! Loco Motive is pulling out of the station, and this comedic point-and-click adventure is now hurtling down the tracks on PC and Switch. The Windows edition is available on GOG.com* and Steam with a 10% launch discount. The Launch Trailer shows off some throwback graphics and a mystery that looks like it's inspired by Murder on the Orient Express and perhaps Story Lord. Here's word:

Loco Motive tasks players with proving their innocence after the untimely murder of Lady Unterwald aboard her very own Reuss Express. Using the distinctive talents of a strait-laced lawyer, a novelist-turned-amateur-detective, and an undercover agent as they attempt to absolve themselves.

Along the way, players will encounter a fully voiced cast of eccentric and memorable characters, solve satisfyingly challenging puzzles, and piece together clues to prove their innocence. Enact justice and uncover the culprit!

*Blue's News may receive a commission on sales of this item. Continue here to read the full story.

Move over S.T.A.L.K.E.R., IHAS is now available for Windows on Steam, offering a mysterious sci-fi first-person shooter from solo Ukrainian developer The Difference Studios. This promises challenging puzzles and epic boss fights, and the Release Trailer shows this has a Portal influence and throwback graphics that are a little different than most. There's a playable demo and the game is 10% off for the next two weeks. Here's more:

Wake up aboard a giant spaceship in this Sci-Fi Action-Puzzle FPS. With no recollection of your past, you are guided by a familiar voice claiming to be your friend.

Swarming with hostile robots, you must make your way through the vessel, looking for an escape. As you navigate through energy gateways and shifting corridors, a lingering sense of foreboding tells you that secrets lie not far beneath the surface.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Save 15% on Electrogical on Steam (Windows). "'Jigsaw Puzzle + Arithmetic' is a casual yet engaging game that appeals to puzzle gamers who enjoy immersive experiences. Customize your gameplay by rearranging "piece placement," "number manipulation," and "score selection" to aim for a high score in each stage." No trailer, but there is a playable demo.

• Lord Ambermaze- Prologue on Steam (Windows). "Lord Amber maze: Prologue is a free entry to a turn-based dungeon-crawler set in a labyrinth of frozen time. Plan each move carefully, battle quirky monsters, and solve intricate puzzles, one dungeon at a time."

• Shenmue 3 gets new publisher, sparking multiplatform hope - MSN.

• Despite the so-so reception, Stalker 2 is killing it on Steam, setting new series records - VG247.
• Post Malone Probably Loves Hunt: Showdown More Than You, Has 400 Hours Of Playtime - GameSpot. It's written all over his face.

• Drug Dealer Simulator - Minor update is live - Steam News.
• Drug Dealer Simulator 2 - New update is live! Fixes and quality-of-life improvements.
• Expeditions Rome 1.6 Patch Notes.
• No Man's Sky - Cross-Save -- PlayStation 5 Pro -- The Normandy Returns 5.28.
• Sins of a Solar Empire II - November 2024 - v1.3 Ruins of War Update.
• Space for Sale - Update.02- The Red Planet.
• World of Warcraft Hotfixes: November 20, 2024.

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

• First STALKER 2 Mods bring unlimited carry weight and make Bloodsuckers and Poltergeists less tanky - DSOGaming.

• Augmented Empire - Launch Trailer - Meta Quest Platform.

Official trailers.

• Among Ashes - Release Date Trailer. December 9th.
• Cosmorons Official Trailer.
• Drug Dealer Simulator Casino DLC - Trailer.
• Entropy Survivors - Abilities Trailer.
• New Visuals of War Thunder in 2024.

• Avowed- The Final Preview - IGN.

• Stellaris: Console Edition - Expansion Pass Six - Release Trailer.
• CD Projekt Rules Out Cyberpunk 2077 PS5 Pro Patch - IGN.
• Zero to Dance Hero - Official Switch Gameplay Trailer.
• Nintendo Download- Cozy Kingdoms and Curious Cats - Business Wire.

• Total War: EMPIRE — Out Now for iOS & Android.
• MythWalker Launches Today for Heroes of Earth and Mytherra - Business Wire.
• Google reportedly canceled Pixel Tablet 3 development - Neowin.

• News Influencers Have Eclipsed Traditional Media - WIRED (may require registration or subscription). Informed is the new well-informed.

• Nvidia says its surprisingly high $3.3B gaming revenue is expected to drop but 'not to worry' because next year will be fine *wink* RTX 50-series *wink* - PC Gamer.
• Nvidia warns of gaming GPU shortage this quarter, recovery in early 2025 — Tom's Hardware.
• Nvidia Says Its Blackwell Chip Is Fine, Nothing to See Here - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• Microsoft confirms problems with updating and uninstalling apps on Windows 10 - Neowin.
• Relevant! Relevant! Relevant! At 50, Microsoft Is an AI Giant, Open-Source Lover, and as Bad as Ever - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

• OpenAI releases updated GPT-4o model that reclaims the No.1 spot in Chatbot Arena - Neowin.
• The AI Reporter That Took My Old Job Just Got Fired - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• Child safety org launches AI model trained on real child sex abuse images - Ars Technica.
• A filing supporting Minnesota deepfake law may have been written by AI - The Verge.

• China’s Surveillance State Is Selling Citizen Data as a Side Hustle - WIRED (may require registration or subscription). The kleptocracy is everywhere.
• Bing Wallpaper app arrives on Microsoft Store in Windows 11, and it’s free – but there could be hidden costs here - TechRadar.
• Put your usernames and passwords in your will, Japan advises • The Register.

• Now Online Safety Act is law, UK has 'priorities' – but still won't explain 'spy clause' • The Register.

• Touhou Genso Wanderer -FORESIGHT- - Christ Centered Gamer.
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 Review - "Buy It, Wait for a Sale, Deep Deep Sale, Never Touch?" - AGC (video).

• Case Fan: ARCTIC P12 PWM PST 120 mm Fan Review - TechPowerUp.
• CPU/GPU/AIO/SSD Cooler: Ocypus Iota A62 WH CPU Air Cooler - TweakTown.
• Headset/Earbuds: Asus ROG DELTA II Headset - LanOC Reviews.
• Headset/Earbuds: Sennheiser HD 490 PRO Open-Back Headphones Review - TechPowerUp.
• Headset/Earbuds: SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds Review - Gaming Earbuds That Don't Disappoint - TweakTown.
• PSU: GAMEMAX Rampage GX1050 Pro ATX 3.1 Power Supply Unit - Nikk Tech.
• PSU: MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 1300W PSU Review - Tom's Hardware.

Well it doesn't feel like a year already, but having ridden out another orbit of the sun, it is indeed once again my birthday. An old friend claimed Thursday is the new Friday, but our plan to celebrate is a dinner reservation tomorrow night, though I'm considering pushing this out to Saturday. And I got a present from Mother Nature this morning, as it is currently raining in these parts, and we sure can use it. I won't even complain that it wasn't wrapped. I'm not sure where I'll spend my skill points, but I do know I'm going to go out to find a puddle to splash in at some point.

Orbital Round-up
Thanks Ant, Neutronbeam, and Max.

Story

• The Simpsons- Milhouse voice actress Pamela Hayden retires from US series - BBC.

Science

• As NASA increasingly relies on commercial space, there are some troubling signs - Ars Technica.
• First close-up image of a star beyond our galaxy may reveal impending supernova - CNN.
• The International Space Station adjusts its orbit to avoid space debris - NPR.

Media

• Don't Film Your Crimes and Upload Them to YouTube - Legal Eagle (video). The things people need explained to them.
• SNL Impressions in Front of the Actual Person - PopMojo.

Auction

• One of Magritte's -Empire of Light- paintings sells for $121m - Boing Boing.

A post on the official S.T.A.L.K.E.R. X follows up on launch issues in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, now that the first-person shooter sequel is in player's hands. It discusses the game's development calling it "our own story, our love letter to Ukraine" while outlining what's being done to deal with what are being called its "rough edges." Word is hotfixes should start arriving soon to address the most immediate concerns, with larger updates to follow. Here's more:

This is a project of endless love and passion from the entire team. We genuinely believe that this is felt throughout — you'll feel it in the handcrafted world, you'll feel it in the laboratory and in the poppy fields, or during the first emission, or intense battle with a bloodsucker, or the stylish reload of your new gun, or first seeing Prypiat under the moonlight. There are so many things in the game that we are incredibly proud of.

Nevertheless, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a massive game. We understand that in such a game, there may still be rough edges: we literally haven't released anything of this scale before. We're absolutely committed to being here, monitoring your feedback, and quickly fixing any issues that need our attention. In the first days after release, we'll be working with hotfixes, rolling them out as precisely as possible, but as frequently as we can. Then, we'll switch to larger updates that include constant improvements. There will also be free in-game content — we'll share its roadmap later in December. We have big plans for the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. universe. In a way, today is both a return and the beginning of a grand new journey.

Continue here to read the full story.

Speaking of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, a post on GOG.com announces the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl* and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat* are now officially part of the GOG Preservation Program, the recently announced plan to provide ongoing support for select older games. For some reason prequel S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is being left out of the party, but here's word on preserving the first and third installments in the series:

But that’s not the end of the good news – with the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, we’re happy to announce new additions to our GOG Preservation Program: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, both available at a -75% discount!

If a game is part of the Preservation Program, it means that we commit our own resources to maintaining its compatibility with modern and future systems. It also means that the GOG version of this game is the best anywhere. For a game to join the GOG Preservation Program, we run it through extensive quality testing and often apply custom improvements to ensure compatibility and quality-of-life improvements.

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

Early Access to SUPERVIVE is now underway on Steam, kicking off a free-to-play "MOBA BR MEETS HERO SHOOTER" for Windows from Theorycraft Games. This post says servers are live in North America, Europe, Asia, and South America and offers the Open Beta Launch Trailer. Here are the details:

WHAT’S IN THE GAME (THIS LIST WILL GET BIGGER EVERY WEEK):

• Enter a wild, open-ended combat sandbox where you’ll jump, glide, shoot, punch, bounce, nuke, and spike your enemies to be the last team standing
• Multiple game modes: squads BR (4 players per team), duos BR (2 players per team), arena (4v4), and special event modes
• 16+ storm-chasing hunters to play, including a mecha-suited pirate hunter, a fox with a flamethrower, and an anarchist who commands the power of lightning
• SO MANY powers and equipment to chase every match for that perfect build - nuke your enemies, blast them with lasers, rewind time, or become a tree (you heard us)
• A billion ways to come back and win: you’re never out until you’re out
• From a studio of veteran devs that have built some of the biggest PvP games in the world and will be evolving SUPERVIVE for years to come with you

Continue here to read the full story.

• 6-Sided Stories on Steam (Windows, Linux). "A short and cozy puzzler with chill lofi beats: flip the puzzle pieces and colour them correctly to reveal the full picture! Discover how each image leads into the next, following a crew of adorable animals as they make friends and have wholesome adventures." Here's the Launch Trailer and there's a playable demo.

• Save 70% on Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous - Enhanced Edition on Steam.
• Save 50% on Survival: Fountain of Youth on Steam.
• Save 40% on Outpost: Infinity Siege on Steam.
• Save 60% on art of rally on Steam.
• 2K Presents: The Sid Meier Collection (pay what you want and help charity) - Humble.*

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

Official patch.

• THE FINALS - Update 4.8.0.

• Xbox Cloud Gaming Lets You Stream Your Own Game Starting Today (If You've Got Game Pass Ultimate) - Wccftech.
• Xbox Cloud Gaming beta for select owned games now available for TVs and browsers - Gematsu.

• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Dev Bans Mods From Public Servers, Says Official Mod Tools Are Coming - IGN.

Content creator video.

• Bodger just doesn't want to - Viva La Dirt League. Thanks Ant.

• The Game Awards Should Happen After The Year Is Over - Kotaku. The answer to this riddle lies in the difference between Q4 and Q1 advertising budgets.

• Team Fortress 2 TF2Maps.net 72 Hour Jam 2024.

• Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.54 brings five new cars, a Café Menu, World Circuit Events, and a GT Sophy AI update – PlayStation.Blog.

• Robotic model with real pigeon feathers can fly like a bird - Tech Explore.
• NFL Primetime Fantasy - Early Access Season Trailer.
• Square Enix and Lightspeed team up to bring Final Fantasy XIV to phones - Game Developer.
• AFK Journey and Clash of Clans lead Google Play's top games of 2024 - Game Developer.

• Reddit was down – the popular discussion platform had a huge outage - TechRadar.
• Google stops letting sites like Forbes rule search for “Best CBD Gummies“ - Ars Technica.

Thanks Ant.

• China overtakes Germany in industrial use of robots, says report - Reuters.
• Microsoft tries to convince Windows 10 users to buy a new PC with full-screen prompts - The Verge.
• Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27754 (Canary Channel) - Windows Insider Blog. Thanks Console General.
• Crystal Disk Info..V..9.5.0. Thanks DSLReports.
• goScreen version 20.0.

• Niantic's new AI model may have been built by unaware Pokémon Go players - Game Developers.

• Chinese spies, Musk’s biz ties, ‘a real risk’ to US security • The Register.

• Billionaire internet company boss turns up to real-life 1v1 against CoD player angry about lag - Dexerto…

Obituary: Vic Flick, guitarist on the James Bond theme, dies aged 87 - Music - The Guardian. Not sure it's him in this wonderful BBC homage, but it's definitely him at the Oscars. Thanks Neutronbeam.

Grab your Geiger Counter, as S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is finally available for Windows and consoles as a Standard, Deluxe, or Ultimate Edition with no launch discounts. The PC editions can be purchased through GOG.com* and Steam, and they are also coming to the Epic Games Store, but that link is not live as this is being written. The launch follows delays from a stormy development cycle disrupted by financial problems at GSC Game World. These were only exacerbated by a war in its home country of Ukraine that caused it to relocate to Prague to complete the project. Here's the Launch Trailer and here's more on this chance to return to the mysterious Chornobyl Exclusion Zone:

Chornobyl Exclusion Zone has changed dramatically after the second massive explosion in the year 2006. Violent mutants, deadly anomalies, and warring factions have made the Zone a very tough place to survive. Nevertheless, artifacts of unbelievable value attracted many people called S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s, who entered the Zone for their own risk, striving to make a fortune out of it or even to find the Truth concealed in the Heart of Chornobyl.

Take over a role of the lone stalker and explore photorealistic seamless open world in a 64-km² radioactive zone with a variety of environments that reveal post-apocalyptic atmosphere from different angles. Make your way through the Zone to define your destiny as you choose your paths within highly branching epic story.

*Blue's News may receive a commission on sales of this item. Continue here to read the full story.

The extended development cycle for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl seems to have left no time for a review embargo, so evaluations are drifting out today alongside the game's release. If there's one takeaway we hope GSC Game World will get from these (besides the need for more complete testing) is that it should drop the periods from the title of the series the way almost every outlet did. Period. That said, here's a roundup:

• Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl review: ambition at a price - Digital Trends.
• STALKER 2 Benchmarks & PC Performance Analysis - DSOGaming.
• Where's our Stalker 2? Heart of Chornobyl review? - Eurogamer.net.
• Stalker 2: Heart Of Chornobyl Review - In The Zone - GameSpot.
• Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl review- -The best but most broken game I've played all year- - GamesRadar+.
• STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl - GameRant .
• STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl Review in Progress - IGN.
• Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl performance analysis—Everyone gets ray tracing but the entry fee is high - PC Gamer.
• Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl review - PC Gamer.
• STALKER 2 needed more time - Polygon.
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2- Heart Of Chornobyl review- a captivating survival shooter, even with bits falling off - Rock Paper Shotgun.
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2- Heart of Chornobyl review: I would walk 500 miles - Shacknews.
• Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl review – roadside thumbstick - Sports Illustrated.
• STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl Review in Progress - The Anomaly Never Changes - Wccftech.
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 review- a glorious and beautiful pain in the ass - The Verge.
• Stalker 2 review - VG247.
• Review- Stalker 2’s best ideas are undercut by a stale plot and constant performance problems - VGC.
• Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl review - standing just outside the Zone - VideoGamer.

Armored Brigade II is now available for Windows on the Matrix Games Store, offering a real-time strategy sequel that returns to the Cold War setting of the original game, now in 3D. It is not labeled Early Access, but the game's Steam Listing says it's coming next year, so make of that what you will. The Matrix Launch Trailer introduces gameplay and explains what to expect. This post has more details, including word that the 10% launch discount is good for the next month:

Experience the full breadth of the Cold War. Military formations, weapons, and vehicles from 1965-1991 are fully modeled. Fight in the early days of guided missiles with T-54’s and M48 Pattons, or play with all the high tech toys of the early 1990’s like the Abrams and T-80. Along with all your favorite Cold War vehicles like the Chieftan or Marder, more obscure vehicles like the 2P32 or M56 scorpion are at your disposal.

Play with a wide range of different vehicles and national armies. The United States, USSR, United Kingdom, Finland, Poland, and East and West Germany are fully modeled. National differences matter. Which country you choose to play will effect troop quality, fire support call-in times, formation composition, and more.

Continue here to read the full story.

THRESHOLD has crossed the release threshold, and this horror/adventure is now available for Windows on Steam with a 10% launch discount. The work of solo developer Julien Eveillé, this is a narrative-driven game where you work at the border of a totalitarian regime, tasked with keeping the trains running on time while not succumbing to the existential dread the game promises. It all takes place in a throwback low-poly, low-oxygen environment that's on display in this Release Trailer. Here's more on this thankless task:

High in the mountains, an endless train thunders through a decaying station. This is the Border Post. Your job is simple: blow a whistle to keep the train on schedule. But the air is thin up here.

Don’t speak. Don’t run. Don’t look in the train. Just do your job. It’ll all be over soon.

Continue here to read the full story.

Another Launch Day Update from Microsoft has more on yesterday's rocky launch of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. This includes a Developer Launch Day Update Video with apologies and details on the situation. Today's post declares the problems players had downloading and entering the game "solved," which is hopefully not premature, as word is the game is "now bringing players in at a steady pace." Many are blaming the developers for the issues, but it turns out "the server" the entire operation depended on was at fault:

We have worked hard with our partners, including Asobo and others, to bring you an amazing sim experience. The excitement for the sim today has been overwhelming, but we encountered an issue with one of our services handling the new systems in the game like career mode and various missions. The server responsible for handling data requests got overloaded, causing delays and errors.

As a result, players are experiencing long loading times and missing content like aircraft. We have solved the issues and are now bringing players in at a steady pace. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. We will keep you updated on our social channels, forums, and website. Thank you very much for all your feedback and support.

Continue here to read the full story.

• F1 Manager 2025 reportedly cancelled as sales below expectations - Traxion. Thanks Eurogamer.net.
• Report: Reflector Entertainment cuts jobs after launching debut title Unknown 9 - Game Developer.

• LocalThunk Suggests Other Games after 5 TGA Nominations - 80LV.

• FromSoftware parent Kadokawa confirms Sony has sent it a ‘letter of intent’ to acquire it - VGC.
• Bandai Namco Online to be absorbed by Bandai Namco Entertainment - Gematsu.

• Starfield's November Update is now Live. Has word the game has surpassed 15 million players.

• Netflix Launching 'Squid Game' Video Game Nine Days Before Season 2 Episode Drop - Media Play News.
• Minecraft enters real world with $110m global theme park deal - The Guardian. No construction costs. Just get a plot of land and some pickaxes.
• BBC Philharmonic Orchestra to perform video game music in free virtual concert - DJMag.
• Hunt: Showdown 1896 - Q&A with Post Malone.

• PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Weekly Bans Notice (11/11~11/17).

• Starting December 1, Fortnite Crew will also include the Music Pass and LEGO Pass at no additional cost.

• Arcade Paradise VR - New Game Update and PICO Announcement.

Official trailer.

• Disney Dreamlight Valley: The Storybook Vale – Expansion Pass Launch Trailer.

• Just Dance Celebrates 15th Anniversary.
• PlayStation’s Black Friday Deals 2024 – PlayStation.Blog.

• Final Fantasy XIV Mobile Adaptation Brings FFXIV to Phones - Siliconera.
• Google Messages may soon get in-app 'Backup and Restore' feature - Neowin.
• UberXXL will let you catch an even bigger ride to the airport - The Verge.

• Trump's pick to run the FCC has told us what he plans: TikTok ban, space broadband, and Section 230 reform • The Register. Thanks Reddit.
• Danish Navy boards Chinese ship suspected in European undersea cable sabotage - Tom's Hardware.
• Comcast is spinning off its cable TV business - The Verge.
• Website planning just got easier thanks to Wix Studio’s new tool - TechRadar.
• Opera GX updates to let you control every pixel - Blog - Opera News.
• Mozilla Thunderbird Version 115.16.3esr Release Notes. Thanks Frans.

• NVIDIA Accelerates Majority of World’s Supercomputers - NVIDIA Blog.
• US sanctions freeze Huawei's Ascend AI chips on older 7nm process node that's eight years behind TSMC, stalling progress until at least 2026 - Tom's Hardware.
• Why did Windows 95 setup use three operating systems? - The Old New Thing. Thanks Slashdot via Ant.
• Evernote version 10.116.3. Thanks Console General.

• AI-Powered Robot Leads Uprising, Talks A Dozen Showroom Bots Into 'Quitting Their Jobs' In 'Terrifying' Security Footage - IBT. Thanks Slashdot.
• Inside the Booming ‘AI Pimping’ Industry - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• How the largest gathering of US police chiefs is talking about AI - MIT Technology Review. Thanks Boing Boing.
• MS Flight Sim 24 Dev On Why The Game Needed To Use Machine Learning And AI - GameSpot.

• Data is the new uranium – both powerful and dangerous • The Register.
• For the first time ever researchers crack RSA and AES data encryption - The Brighter Side of News. Thanks Max.
• Anyone Can Buy Data Tracking US Soldiers and Spies to Nuclear Vaults and Brothels in Germany - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• Apple patches vulnerabilities used to target Intel-based Macs - Engadget.
• D-Link says replace vulnerable routers or risk pwnage • The Register.

• Palworld Dev May End Up Getting Help From an Unlikely Source in Its Nintendo Patent Lawsuit- An 8-Year-Old GTA 5 Pokémon Mod - IGN.
• Social media ban for under-16s 'on the table' says UK government - BBC.
• MPs to summon Elon Musk to testify about X’s role in UK summer riots - Social media - The Guardian.

• Monitor/Projector: BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX review - PC Gamer.
• Motherboard: MSI MEG Z890 Unify-X Motherboard Review - Feature-Packed Performance - TweakTown.
• Motherboard: GIGABYTE X3D Turbo Mode: Free performance for your AMD Ryzen CPU - TweakTown.
• Router: Netgear Nighthawk RS600 router review- Lowering the price of entry point for tri-band Wi-Fi 7 - Tom's Hardware.
• Webcam: Insta360 Link 2 Review- A Cheaper, Better Webcam - WIRED.

Time for a couple of instant follow-ups to recent out of the blue rambles. My comments Monday about the dry conditions in our area were right on time, as shortly thereafter it was announced that 15 downstate counties, including ours, are now in a full drought warning, and a statewide drought watch is now underway. This includes the first drought warning in New York City in over 20 years. As I said, there's some spotty rain in the forecast, and we sure can use that and more, so fingers crossed.

And more sportsball. On Sunday I mentioned that my New York Football Giants started the day in position for the second pick in the 2025 college player draft. Based on history, I predicted the team would go on a late run to ruin that plumb position. Little did I know how much a team's mojo can exert itself even when it is not playing. Thanks to the outcome of all the other Sunday games, during a bye week when they did not play, the team's projected draft position dropped three spots to number five. So yeah, you can accuse me of overstating the club's recent ineptitude, but I think this makes the Giants the first team in NFL history to lose its bye week.

Obituary: In Memoriam: Thomas E. Kurtz, 1928–2024 - CHM. Creator of BASIC. Thanks Slashdot via Ant.

Follow-up Round-up
Thanks Ant, Neutronbeam, and Max.

Science

• A cup of cocoa can protect against negative effects of fatty foods, study finds - The Independent.
• It would be easier to find aliens in a parallel universe than in our own, new multiverse study claims - Live Science.
• Single Cells Exhibit Learning Behaviors - Neuroscience News.
• 'Mind-blowing' dark energy instrument results show Einstein was right about gravity — again - Space.

Media

• How 3 words completely changed a character - InCinematic. Thanks The Flying Penguin.
• Severance — Season 1 Recap - Apple TV+. It has been a minute. Thanks RedEye9.
• The Dark Side of Dutch Farming - Hindsight.

Auction

• "Comedian," banana taped to wall, expected to sell for $1 million. A million dollars could do a lot more to fight hunger.

The Funnies

• Savage Chickens.