Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is now available, offering Obsidian's RPG sequel for Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can pick up a copy from developer Obsidian Entertainment, publisher Versus Evil, and etailers like GOG.com and Steam. There are also a physical copies to be had through online purchases as well as what they are calling "stores." The launch trailer introduces the game, and here's word on the release:

Obsidian Entertainment, developer of genre-defining role-playing games, in partnership with powerhouse publisher Versus Evil, today announced the launch of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. Role playing fans will rejoice in Obsidian's continued success in creating a rich and compelling narrative delivered in the grandest of RPGs. Deadfire's deep progression mechanics, enhanced companion system, tactical combat and new exploration across land and sea, is an upgrade from this multi-award winning RPG studio.

"Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is the first sequel we’ve made to one of our own games. Building on the incredible foundation of the first Pillars of Eternity, we’ve been able to create an even more dynamic world with systems such as our open world approach to the Deadfire,” said Obsidian Entertainment CEO, Feargus Urquhart. “What's been even more gratifying is the incredible support our community has given us over the years. Without them we would not have been able to create this amazing RPG.”

“Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire exemplifies the sheer dedication and passion from the team at Obsidian Entertainment in crafting what will surely be one of the biggest RPG’s in 2018,” said Steve Escalante, Versus Evil’s General Manager, “Today, fans of the studio and the original game will be able to experience all the improvements, additions and upgrades to this classic RPG. We’re very excited to help realize Obsidian’s vision with their release today and look forward to seeing RPG fans around the world explore the Deadfire!”

Continue here to read the full story.

Warmind, the second expansion for Destiny 2, is now available, building on Bungie's first-person shooter sequel with the previously untold story of Ana Bray. This involves getting your ass to Mars, engaging in a new ritual activity and co-op activities, acquiring a new relic weapon and other new gear, and more. This page has all the details, the launch trailer has a look, and the announcement details what this adds:

Destiny 2 Expansion II: Warmind unlocks a new chapter in the World of Destiny 2, with the untold story of Ana Bray. Players will venture into a polar ice cap on Mars to explore epic adventures and activities!

Warmind Features:

• All-new Raid Lair: Spire of Stars
  • Available Friday May 11 at 10am Pacific
• All-new endgame activity: Escalation Protocol
• New themed weapons, armor and gear to earn
• New destination polar ice caps of Mars
• All-new relic weapon, The Valkrie
• New Strikes
• New story missions and adventures

Continue here to read the full story.

Steam News announces that Paladins is now at version 1.0, meaning the multiplayer shooter is now officially out of Early Access. Word is: "Join 25+ million players in Paladins, the free-to-play fantasy team-based shooter sensation. Wield guns and magic as a legendary Champion of the Realm, customizing your core set of abilities to play exactly how you want to play." This post notes that everyone who logs into the free-to-play game this month will receive 200 free crystals. Here's word on the game, which has quite a bit in common with Overwatch:

Fantastic Champions
Paladins is set in a vibrant fantasy world and features a diverse cast of Champions ranging from sharpshooting humans to mech-riding goblins, mystical elves, and jetpack-clad dragons. Each Champion brings a unique set of abilities to the battlefield and new Champions are regularly added to Paladins, keeping the game exciting.

Free-to-Play
Paladins is completely Free-to-Play. Anything that affects gameplay can be unlocked simply by playing, with cosmetic items available for purchase.

Build Your Deck
No matter what your playstyle is, you’ll find it in Paladins. With Paladins' deckbuilding system, you can become an iron sights sniper, a grenade-slinging explosives expert, or a track star with an assault rifle – all as the same Champion. Choose from dozens of cards to customize your abilities and make each Champion your own.

Customize Your Champion
Ancient Goddess. Interstellar bounty hunter. Cutthroat pirate. Frost giant. You can be all of these and more in Paladins. Choose from hundreds of skins already available in Paladins or find a new favorite in each update.

Accessibility
Paladins can be played from either a first-person or third-person perspective. The controls are simple to grasp for newcomers and shooter veterans alike which makes for an easy pick-up-and-play experience, on either controller or keyboard and mouse.

An open beta for Grimmwood is now available on Steam, offering a multiplayer survival RPG for Windows. Word is the free beta will run until the middle of July. Word is: "In Grimmwood, you defend your village together with up to 30 strangers in an ageless mystical forest. Fight against the merciless monster hordes that unleash their wrath against your shelter every night." The announcement trailer offers a look at the game, and the announcement provides some details:

You’re in a village in an ageless, mystical forest, together with up to 30 other strangers all of which are real, live players. Together you need to defend your village against the merciless monster hordes who unleash their wrath against your shelter every night. Use the daytime wisely to explore, gather resources, upgrade and repair. But to be able to do all that you have to eat, drink and rest, because every action in the game takes its toll on your stamina and sanity.

FEATURES

• Against all Odds: Survive by turning a bunch of strangers into a sworn fellowship.
• Every Game is a new Journey: Huge, procedurally generated hex grid forest map to explore – 600 tiles in size!
• Choose your Path wisely: Every action costs stamina points of which you have only a limited number each day.
• Continuous Asynchronous Multiplayer: Log in at any time during the real-time 24-hour day cycle to gear up with your fellow villagers and fortify the defenses or venture into the wild together.
• Keep your Body and Soul in check: Sanity and condition systems which will directly and indirectly affect your efficiency and playstyle.
• Strong Emphasis on Social Interaction: In-game Chat and Forum, where all key decisions are put up for discussion.
• Permadeath, Roguelike Elements: Everything you bring with you to the next Village is your knowledge and your ingenuity.
• Play by the Rules - or don’t: Vote to expel the Villagers who don’t contribute to the Village survival or simply try to ruin everybody’s experience.

Continue here to read the full story.

Electronic Arts Reports Q4 FY18 and Full Year FY18 Financial Results, which Chief Executive Officer Andrew Wilson says was "a year of strong growth and continued transformation," saying they have "expanded the reach of our leading franchises like FIFA, Battlefield and The Sims to more players across more platforms and geographies." Here are the highlights:

Selected Operating Highlights and Metrics

• Digital net bookings* was $3.538 billion for fiscal 2018, up 17% year-over-year and represents 68% of total net bookings.
• The EA SPORTS™ franchises grew to nearly 90 million players on current generation consoles life to date.
• Nearly 18 million players engaged in competitive gaming across FIFA 18 and Madden NFL 18, up more than 75% year-over-year.
• The Battlefield™ community, across current generation consoles and PC HD, now has more than 54 million players life to date.
• The Sims™ community had more than 80 million Sims players across PC and mobile in fiscal 2018.

The Dota 2 Website announces the availability of The International 2018 Battle Pass, offering goodies in the MOBA along with the chance to build the prize pool for this year's tournament. Here's word:

The International Battle Pass has arrived. Prepare to dig into the heart of the Dota summer season and unearth a rich vein of new and classic features, new game modes, and heaps of exclusive rewards. As is tradition, 25% of all Battle Pass sales go directly to The International prize pool.

To celebrate the crowning event of the Dota 2 championship circuit, The International Battle Pass is filled with new Immortal Treasures to open, new game modes and countless new features to explore, and an expansive array of Level Rewards to discover—including the new Emerald Abyss custom terrain.

Check out The International 2018 Battle Pass website for more information, including details on this year’s Immortal Treasures, the new Underhollow game, the Cavern Crawl, Chat Wheel Sounds and Sprays, this year’s exclusive Emblem, and so much more.

• Steam Daily Deal - Colony Survival, 25% Off.
• Steam Midweek Madness - Titan Quest franchise, up to 80% Off.
• Steam Midweek Madness - Adult Swim Games, Up to 90% Off.
• The Humble War Gamez Bundle.

• Conan Exiles Is Now Available For Xbox One.
• Disco Dodgeball – REMIX Is Now Available For Digital Pre-order And Pre-download On Xbox One.
• Monster Slayers Is Now Available For Digital Pre-order And Pre-download On Xbox One.
• Prey + Dishonored 2 Bundle Is Now Available For Xbox One.
• Skyrim Special Edition + Fallout 4 G.O.T.Y Bundle Is Now Available For Xbox One.
• DOOM + Wolfenstein II Bundle Is Now Available For Xbox One.
• Call of Duty- WWII – Gold Edition Is Now Available For Xbox One.

• iOS 11.4 Disables Lightning Connector After 7 Days, Limiting Law Enforcement Access.
• DJI and Microsoft partner to bring advanced drone technology to the enterprise. Thanks Hypothermia.

Thanks Frans.

• Mozilla Firefox version 60.0.
• Mozilla Firefox ESR version 52.8.0.

• Pretty sure Google's new talking AI just beat the Turing test.
• The material science of building a light sail to take us to Alpha Centauri. Thanks Neutronbeam. ♫♫I'm sailing away…♫♫
• Windows Notepad fixed after 33 years- Now it finally handles Unix, Mac OS line endings.
• Lots of People Are Listening to the AI Podcast Right Now — and I Kind of Don’t Care. Thanks Hypothermia.
• 20 of the Worst PC Setups – April 2018 - ThinkComputers.org.

• Equifax breach exposed millions of driver’s licenses, phone numbers, emails.

• 'Red Alert' Is a Last-Ditch Effort to Save Net Neutrality.

• Diablo 2 fan remake in StarCraft 2 will get a free public testing this Friday. Moving the game from a crappy old engine to another crappy old engine…
• How to get the Overwatch Pink Mercy skin for charity…

Link of the Day: Warm Weather Means its Mustang Season.

Funcom announces the official release of Conan Exiles for Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. In a sign of the times, the note that the survival game has already sold more than one million copies through early access. They offer this launch trailer to celebrate the occasion, showing off how the game evolved over the course of beta testing, and this post on the official website discusses this as well, offering an infographic detailing the process. Here's word:

The Barbarian has arrived! The whole team at Funcom is proud and excited to announce that Conan Exiles, the open world survival game set in the savage lands of Conan the Barbarian, successfully launched today on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4! A major launch update went out across all platforms, introducing massive new areas to the game world as well as bringing the game up from Early Access to the launch build on PC and Xbox One. Funcom also announced today that the game has sold over one million copies even before today’s launch.

How much has Conan Exiles changed through Early Access?
Conan Exiles has seen massive changes, additions, and improvements throughout its Early Access phase. The size of the game world has more than doubled, dozens of new features and mechanics have been added, and huge amounts of new content has made it into the game. Today’s launch version introduces the new Swamp and Volcano biomes, and finally introduces the up-to-date version of the new Purge gameplay where monsters will attack and try to bring down your base.

Continue here to read the full story.

Epic Games offers version 4.1 Patch Notes for Fortnite, which brings the promised Avengers: Infinity War crossover that offers the chance to play as Thanos amid the premise that Thanos could actually be killed by some random schmuck with a shotgun. They offer this trailer showing Thanos in action, and the following details on the role he will play in the battle royale:

LIMITED TIME MASHUP: INFINITY GAUNTLET

• Take down Thanos, equip the Gauntlet and claim Victory!
• Mashup Details
  • Early in the match, a meteor will land in the storm safe zone, delivering the Infinity Gauntlet.
  • Any player who uses the Infinity Gauntlet will transform into Thanos.
  • Stats are recorded for this LTM and can be found in the Solo tab.
  • If Thanos is eliminated, the Gauntlet will fall to the ground, free for the taking. If it sits unused for too long, it will disappear until another meteor appears.
  • Last player standing will be the victor!
• Thanos Details
  • Ability 1 - A mighty punch that knocks enemies back and destroys structures.
  • Ability 2 - Thanos flies towards the ground, hitting an area for knockback and damage.
  • Ability 3 - Harness the energy of the Power stone to fire a blast that deals damage over time.
  • Ability 4 - A super-jump that can vault Thanos over all but the largest obstructions.
  • Thanos has both shields and health. When he eliminates another player, his shields regenerate. His health never regenerates.
  • Thanos doesn't take fall damage.
  • Thanos does not build, use weapons or things like launch pads. He has no need for such petty human devices.
• Storm + Map
  • Maximum match length is roughly 15 minutes.
  • The match will start with the storm circle already closing in over the island.
  • The storm does more damage than normal, ticking for 5% health during the first circle and 10% for the rest of the game.
• Loot
  • Only Rare, Epic & Legendary weapons will be spawned.
  • Increased chances of treasure chests spawning from 50-70% to 80-90%.
  • Increased chances of ammo boxes spawning from 65-80% to 85-95%.
    Floor Loot spawns nearly 100% of the time.
  • Launchpad spawn likelihood greatly increased.
  • Harvesting resources doubled.
  • Resources found in loot increased from 30 to 60.
  • Chug Jug, Port-A-Fort, Boogie Bomb, Slurp Juice, Bush, and Remote Explosives drop rate increased.
  • Regular Grenade, Shield & Bandage drop rate lowered.

Continue here to read the full story.

Frostkeep Studios invites players to sign up for the Rend alpha test through the Rend Website, which will provide a first crack at this faction-based survival game. You can learn more about the game through its Steam listing and its official website, and there are details on the game and the pedigree of its developers in the announcement:

Starting today, select players worldwide can participate in the invite-only PC public alpha test for Rend, the upcoming faction-based fantasy survival game from Frostkeep Studios, the new independent game studio whose founders boast more than 50 years of combined experience on some of the world’s most popular games, including the original World of Warcraft, Overwatch, League of Legends, WildStar, and more.

Players can register for a chance to be invited to the public alpha on the official website. Participants in the Rend alpha will have the opportunity to provide direct feedback to the development team and to help shape the game on a fundamental level as it progresses through early testing.

“Our goal at the start of this project was to continuously grow and improve Rend by gathering direct feedback from our players every step of the way,” said Jeremy Wood, co-founder and CEO, Frostkeep Studios. “As we lovingly craft this game with the help of our players, this project remains just as much theirs as it is ours, and this public alpha marks a significant milestone as we offer even more players around the world the opportunity to enter the world of Rend and join our community.”

Rend combines elements of role-playing games (RPG) and other genres into a survival gaming experience never seen before. Challenging traditional survival game tropes, Rend introduces factional combat, RPG mechanics, sandbox elements, win/loss conditions, and massive, culmination battle experiences to evolve the genre.

Trailblazers is now available for Windows, macOS, and Linux on Steam, offering a team-based racing game with some unusual twists, including a track-painting mechanic. Here's a launch trailer with a look at the game in action, and here's more: "Experience vibrant visuals, mesmerizing track designs, and the scorching sensation of speed where players use the on-track game mechanic of painting the track to create boosting lanes for each team. Racing together in teams of up to three racers, gamers will cover key areas of the racing line as well as painting over opponents’ painted paths to gain the advantage. Racers who drive with flair and style will also amass skill points to blaze their way to victory!" Here is a feature list:

Trailblazers Gameplay Features:

• Innovative Paint and Boost Racing: Introducing a unique paint and boost game mechanic, racers paint the track to create custom speed boosting lanes innovating the racing genre with new strategic gameplay.
• Scenic Tracks: In the race for glory, players will scorch their way through mountain ranges, lush forests and arid desert valleys in Trailblazers.
• Diverse Characters: Each driver plays a vital role in the racing community and together they unfold the story of the Trailblazers world, each having a specific role and style of driving.
• Futuristic Fleet: Players can choose from a showroom of the fastest race cars in the galaxy, each with customized stats to fit every play style and track type.
• A Musical Feast: Enjoy the retro-futuristic soundtrack that fits perfectly with the visual aesthetic of the game, aural soundscapes from the officially licensed soundtrack featuring artists like; Skope, Derevolutions, A.Skillz and more.
• Award Winning Artist: Gorgeous Trailblazers artwork designed by BAFTA award-winning artist Will Milton.
• Campaign Mode: Multiplayer thrills and single-player challenges.
• Multiplayer Mayhem: Players can experience the blistering high-speed action with up to six players online, or locally via split-screen for up to four local players with additional online or CPU-controlled challengers.
• Cross-platform play: Team-up or face-off across the platform divide!

Continue here to read the full story.

The Rockstar Games Newswire announces the chance to get free money in Grand Theft Auto Online simply by logging in during their "business week," which is probably how the game feels every day to the hordes of cheaters roaming San Andreas. There are also new vehicles and bonuses to be had as well. Here's word on the bonus cash, which will add up to over a million bucks if you log in everyday:

Southern San Andreas is rewarding the entrepreneurial spirit of its citizens; whether you’re fresh off the plane at LSIA or a longstanding VIP, everyone who logs in to GTA Online this week will qualify for a state sponsored gift of GTA$250K. To keep your hustle running like clockwork, they’ll also slide you an additional GTA$150K for each subsequent day you log in to GTA Online this week, through May 14th. Earn over GTA$1,000,000 for participating every day. All bonus cash awards will be deposited into your Maze Bank account between May 15th and May 21st.

GFK Chart-Track reports their video game sales results for last week in the U.K., a day later than normal this week. God of War retains the top spot on their all platforms chart for the third straight week, and they note this is the first time a Sony-published game has managed such a run since The Last of Us: Remastered. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Breeze has a strong debut, entering the chart at number two. Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia enters the PC top 30 chart at number two, while The Elder Scrolls Online stays put at number one for a second straight week. On the other hand, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus drops off the top 30 altogether after sitting at number two last week. Here's the top 10 from the PC chart:

• Nintendo Switch Online Service Offers Cloud Saves, 20 Free NES Games For Subscribers.
• Raging Justice Is Now Available For Xbox One.
• Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition Is Now Available For Xbox One.
• Lily’s Epic Quest For Lost Gems Is Now Available For Digital Pre-order And Pre-download On Xbox One.
• SEGA Genesis Classics Is Now Available For Digital Pre-order And Pre-download On Xbox One.
• This Week’s Deals With Gold And Spotlight Sale.

• Android P should be about privacy.
• Push notifications could get better at targeting us.

• Netflix Sets "Arrested Development" S5 Date. Thanks Ant.
• Google Chrome Update Kills Audio on Web-Based Games.
• Disney Might Not Buy Fox After All.

• AI is so important to Google it’s rebranding its research division.
• Microsoft is moving Kinect to the cloud. Seems like the output of a random tech headline generator. Thanks Slashdot via Ant.
• Google IO 2018: start time, live stream, and live blog.

• Frank Abagnale: "Catch Me If You Can" - Talks at Google. Thanks Ant.
• Equifax reveals full horror of that monstrous cyber-heist of its servers.

• Social networks have already violated the spirit of GDPR.
• Melania Trump faces new plagiarism row over cyber safety booklet.

• 39 Days to Mars on Just Adventure.

• AMD Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz CPU on TechPowerUp.
• ASRock H370M-ITX-ac Motherboard on TechPowerUp.
• be quiet! Straight Power 11 750w Power Supply on Play3r.
• BitFenix Portal Case on PC Perspective.
• Corsair K63 Wireless keyboard on The Tech Report.
• Intel Core i5-8500 3.0 GHz CPU on TechPowerUp.
• Lian Li Alpha 330 Mid-Tower Chassis on TweakTown.
• ROCCAT Horde AIMO Keyboard on Vortez.

• At NRA conference, speaker blames games for ‘sick kids.’ David "Murder Simulator" Grossman peddles more of his pro-gun anti-game agenda…
• E3 tweet points to a Call of Duty- Black Ops 4 Zombies mode. This is my shocked face…

Happy birthday to my brother, as WalterEgo turns 18 or so today. At least that's my story, since there's no way someone as young as I am could have a little brother as old as he is. Happy birthday bro! In just a few years you'll be able to drink when you celebrate.

Celebratory Links:	Thanks Ant.
Play:	Hyper Jelly.
Story:	Moranis To Reprise His "Spaceballs" Role.
Science:	Tick paralysis: it's real and can be deadly.
Media:	Lava Eats a Mustang. Michael Bay would have used a Corvette. More lava! This time up close. So dumb...