This tweet announces that a Need for Speed 2022 reveal will take place Thursday at 11:00 am EDT. We just reported a rumor that this announcement would be next week, so perhaps the news leaking moved these plans forward. The reveal (reportedly called NFS Unbound) will take place right here on YouTube, where there is already an active chat underway.

NFS 2022 reveal. Thursday. 8am PT/5pm CEST #needforspeed

https://youtube.com/watch?v=H2Y8XCe7F9E

Continue here to read the full story.

If you're having trouble playing Overwatch 2, it's not you. Blizzard's Mike Ybarra tweets the newly launched competitive shooter is currently suffering denial of service attacks:

Unfortunately we are experiencing a mass DDoS attack on our servers. Teams are working hard to mitigate/manage. This is causing a lot of drop/connection issues.

Speaking of Overwatch 2, AMD Support now offers new version 22.10.1 Adrenalin Edition reference drivers, bringing support for the game to AMD Radeon graphics cards. These fix some other issues, and leave others in place. Here's word:

Highlights

• Support for:
  • Overwatch® 2

Fixed Issues

• GPU for image processing option may not be available using Adobe® Lightroom® on Radeon™ RX 6000 series GPUs.
• App crash may be experienced in Street Fighter™ 6 Beta.

Continue here to read the full story.

IO Interactive reveals another setback for the Freelancer mode for HITMAN 3. Earlier this year it was revealed that its release was being pushed to later this year. Now word is it's "almost ready." So almost that it's now expected on January 26th as a free update for all owners of the assassination sequel. But in the meantime there are plans to conduct a Closed Technical Test. Word is: "Early next month, we’ll be selectively inviting HITMAN 3 players on Steam to jump into the Closed Technical Test and put it through its paces. From customising the safehouse, to eliminating syndicate leaders and unlocking mastery, you’ll be able to try the core elements of the mode – but we’re keeping some things under wraps too!" A showcase later this month will reveal details for testing. Here's more on that:

You’ll hear from us again on 27th October, when we will share all the details about the HITMAN 3: Freelancer Closed Technical Test, including when it starts, how to get access, what’s available and how long you can play. Stay tuned for more details.

Today: Road to Freelancer #1
October 6: 3.130 Patch & October Roadmap:
October 27: Road to Freelancer #2
November: Closed Technical Test + Road to Freelancer #3
December: More ‘Road to Freelancer’ articles

January 26 2023: Freelancer game mode coming to HITMAN 3.

• Election Town (Windows). "Election Town is a humorous small-town life simulator with a political twist. Build and decorate the house of your dreams, make decisions that will shape the city, and take your part in the election against the current Mayor. It’s Election time and your choices matter most!"
• Floodland (Windows). "A society survival game set in a world destroyed by climate change. Explore, scavenge and build a city to unite the clans. Conflicting cultures and limited resources mean you need to make tough choices; have you got what it takes to lead your people into a new era of humanity?"
• NecroCity (Windows). "Your main task in NecroCity is to push back the hordes of monsters and build your fortress! Defend your undead outposts from the persistent forces of the so-called “good”! Take on the role of the young Prince of Undead, trying to prove himself in the world of the Undead Kingdom. 👹"
• Offroad Mechanic Simulator (Windows). "Service off-road vehicles and take them for a drive! Offroad Mechanic Simulator lets you modify many classic off-road vehicles and prepare them for daunting tasks that no normal car could ever hope to complete. Test your work and climb steep cliffs or drive through rivers and deep layers of mud."
• Retro Gadgets (Windows). "Retro Gadgets is a gadget creation station where you invent, build, solder, code and customise your own electrifying gadgets then share them with the world."
• Rhythm Sprout- Sick Beats & Bad Sweets (Windows). "Fast-paced rhythm action with original music and a wacky story mode. Fight charming bosses in rhythm battles. Run to the beat through juicy 3D environments. Remix the levels with modes for infinite challenge and replayability. Can you stop King Sugar Daddy? NEW DEMO available now!"
• Tiny Troopers: Global Ops (Windows). "Attention! Tiny Troopers: Global Ops is a fast-paced arcade twin-stick shooter in which you lead an elite squad of Tiny Troopers on action-packed missions to take down hordes of unscrupulous enemies from all corners of the world!"

• Starfield SteamDB Changes May Hint at Another Delay for Bethesda’s RPG.

• No Man's Sky Creator Is Happy To Leave Microtransactions Out Of The Game.

• Own DEATHLOOP and play SIGNALIS day one with October Choice.* More in the Humble Bundle Blog.
• Save 75% on Streets of Rogue.
• Save 66% on The Long Dark.
• Save 65% on Little Big Workshop.

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

• UK Regulators Set March 2023 Deadline For Ruling On Microsoft's Acquisition Of Activision.
• Hasbro Announces Plan to Grow Profit 50% Over Next Three Years.

• First Poster: The "Super Mario Bros." Movie. Thanks Ant.

Official patches.

• American Truck Simulator- 1.46 Open Beta.
• DESTINY 2 HOTFIX 6.2.0.7.
• Fortnite Battle Royale v22.10 Update: Cobra DMR, Holo-Chests, Return of the Grapple Glove, and More.
• League of Legends Patch 12.19 notes.
• Overwatch 2 Patch Notes.
• Teamfight Tactics patch 12.19 notes.

• Roller Champions: Dragon’s Way Roller Pass Trailer.

↑ Official trailers. ↓ Content creator videos.

• Fallout 4 Looks Stunning with 300+ Mods & Reshade Ray Tracing. Thanks Acleacius.

• Hearthstone — Court is in session with Masters Tour: Maw & Disorder.

• Five Iconic Franchises Celebrate Milestone Anniversaries with New Content, Community Activities, and Sales.
• The Winds of Wisdom 50% Experience Buff Now Live!! — World of Warcraft.
• Torghast: Beasts of Prodigum Event Now Live — World of Warcraft.
• World of Tanks’ New Season: Awakened.

• Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord - Release Plans.
• Remaking Dead Space, Available for Pre-Order Today.

Thanks Console General.

• Let's Sing ABBA: When Karaoke Meets Disco.
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Omega (2210.220930-2000).
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Delta (2210.220930-2000).
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Beta (2210.220930-2000).

• OnePlus introduces its incredibly affordable Nord Watch.

• Elon Musk Twitter deal back on in surprise U-turn.
• The High Cost of Living Your Life Online (may require registration or subscription).

• Biden proposes new “Bill of Rights” to protect Americans from AI harms.
• Even the people behind USB think that USB branding is a mess.
• SMART Protocol Extends Silicon Qubit' Coherence by 100x.
• Microsoft PowerToys v0.63.0. Thanks Console General.
• Calm Blue Build of the Day.

• Microsoft warns Basic Auth users over password spray attacks.
• Microsoft Exchange server zero-day mitigation can be bypassed.
• Mastercard wants to help end crypto fraud.

• Rights holders got Google to remove 6 billion links from Search over 10 years.

• Simpsons "Waterworld" Game Joke Turns Real…

Last Link of the Day: Honest Trailers - Avatar (2022 Remastered). Thanks Ant.

Blizzard has opened the doors to Overwatch 2, and the free-to-play replacement for the original Overwatch is now live. You can learn all about this and get started on the Overwatch Website. Here's word on the launch of the multiplayer shooter sequel and the kickoff of its first season:

A NEW ERA HAS BEGUN
Overwatch 2 is a free-to-play, team-based action game set in the optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Play as a time-jumping freedom fighter, a beat-dropping battlefield DJ, or one of over 30 other unique heroes as you battle it out around the globe.

SEASON 1 IS NOW LIVE
In Overwatch 2, there’s always something new to experience. Updates will be released on a regular nine-week schedule, giving you more to experience and earn than ever before. Rush into the fray as the mischievous Kiriko, and unlock over 80 new cosmetics in Season 1. Pick up the Premium Battle Pass to get immediate access today!

Okay, here's a lot of news from CD PROJEKT. Strap in. First, a message from Marcin Iwiński announces he is stepping down from his role as Joint CEO of the company he co-founded. Word is he's submitting his candidacy for the role of Chairman of the Supervisory Board. And the company has a lot of news too. In a series of tweets, CD PROJEKT unveils its upcoming plans include a Cyberpunk 2077 sequel codenamed Project Orion, a Witcher trilogy, and two additional The Witcher games. With all that on deck, and recalling the rough launch of Cyberpunk 2077, it's a little surprising to hear the company is also currently working on a new standalone IP codenamed Project Hadar. An no, we don't know why all theses are "projects" rather than "projekts." Anyway, all this news is compatible with recent indications that the company is currently developing two AAA games and that a new Witcher saga is expected to include more than one game. Thankfully, CD PROJEKT RED Global PR Director Radek Grabowski tweets a one-pager rounding up the news on all these codenamed projects:

Project Canis Majoris
A full-fledged release set in The Witcher universe, to be developed by an external studio under the supervision of experienced developers who have previously worked on Witcher games. In terms of technology - we intend to use Unreal Engine 5 and the toolset created for Polaris.

Project Orion
A Cyberpunk release which will further develop the potential embodied by this universe. Project Orion will be developed by CD PROJEKT RED North America, which will comprise the newly created Boston hub along with our existing Vancouver team. This studio is separate from The Molasses Flood (which is working on Sirius and is also based in Boston). Establishing a new studio - CD PROJEKT RED North America - will enable us to fully tap into the North American talent pool.

New IP - Project Hadar
A new original IP. For the first time in its history, CD PROJEKT RED is developing an entirely new universe from scratch. Early conceptual work began in 2021. As of the publication date of this document there is ongoing work on the foundations of this world - laying the setting for a third separate product line in the future.

Continue here to read the full story.

A tweet from Relic and SEGA announces a setback for Company of Heroes 3. Word is the World War II RTS sequel is now expected on February 23rd instead of next month, as planned:

As we approach the November 17th launch date for Company of Heroes 3, our team has decided the game is not quite up to our players' or our own high standards. There still are bugs to squash, pixels to polish, gameplay to adjust and feedback to address.

As a result, we've decided to move the launch date to February 23rd, 2023. While we know many of you are itching to get your hands on the game, we believe this to be the best decision for CoH3, our players and our studio. This provides our hard-working team and partners with the necessary time to deliver CoH3 in a better overall state.

We are incredibly proud of the dedication our community has shown throughout CoH-Development. Your feedback has been critical in
these last stages of development and will continue to be a driver for our team for years to come.

Thank you for your support and patience,
The CoH3 team

EA has unveiled details on the upcoming Dead Space remake, along with the promised gameplay reveal in a new Official Gameplay Trailer. Here's word on this upcoming chance to re-experience this sci-fi horror game set in space, where no one can hear you whimper:

Still remaining true to the original game’s thrilling vision, Dead Space has been completely rebuilt from the ground up in the Frostbite™ game engine for the latest consoles and PC and offers enhanced audio and crisp, harrowing visuals that have been carefully reimagined to evoke a new level of immersion and quality. Players will also find there is more to learn aboard the USG Ishimura this time around as they relive the story with newly added narrative elements. The ship will have players questioning their own sanity as they delve deeper and begin to uncover its secrets, fighting for their survival with monstrous terrors lurking at every turn.

Dead Space puts players in the boots of Isaac Clarke, an everyman engineer on a routine mission to fix a vast mining starship, the USG Ishimura. But aboard the Ishimura, a living nightmare awaits. The ship’s crew has been slaughtered and infected, and Isaac’s girlfriend, Nicole, is missing somewhere on board. Alone and trapped, with only his engineering tools and skills, Isaac faces a battle for survival - not only against terrifying monsters called Necromorphs, but his own crumbling sanity.

Continue here to read the full story.

Saber Interactive has released Dakar Desert Rally, and the offroad racing game is now available for Windows via Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox. This is also coming later this year to the Epic Games Store. Here's a Launch Trailer showing off some of the game's desert racing. Here's more on the game, which includes a Deluxe Edition for those looking to make a more lasting commitment:

The Deluxe Edition of Dakar Desert Rally, available for $59.99, includes the full base game plus the Dakar Desert Rally Season Pass, delivering the DAF Truck Turbo-Twin and Peugeot 405 Turbo 16 as day one vehicle unlocks, along with five upcoming DLC packs featuring a new map, new vehicles, and two new rally events, all at a discounted price.

Dakar Desert Rally authentically captures the full scale of one of the world’s most challenging off-road events across over 20,000 square kilometers of diverse terrain with dynamic weather. Choose from some of the sport’s most renowned racing teams, or create your own and build up your garage with a long line of cars, bikes, trucks, quads and SSVs from the world’s top manufacturers. Forge your path to victory across a variety of game modes, including an arcade-style Sport mode for quick pick-up-and-play action, Professional and Simulation modes for a true rally experience, and online multiplayer for up to four players for the ultimate competitive challenge.

Continue here to read the full story.

Destroy All Humans! 2 - Reprobed is ready to accept the challenge, as new Challenge Accepted DLC is now available for the Windows alien invasion game on the Epic Games Store, GOG.com*, and Steam. A new Challenge Accepted Trailer is here to help convey the news. As the title suggests, the add-on brings new challenge modes:

Citizens of planet Earth, do not miss out on new Mutators and new Challenges in a new DLC! Test your skills in this post-launch "Challenge Accepted" DLC that adds all 4 Challenge Modes from the first installment to Destroy All Humans! 2 - Reprobed: Race, Armageddon, Abduction, and Rampage. All modes are also playable in local split screen co-op! Also included: numerous new Mutators that let you alter the rules of the game.

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

Early Access to Lord of Rigel is now underway for Windows on Steam, since those Rigels aren't going to rule themselves. This is a 4X grand strategy for everyone who views the vast starscape of the night sky as a shopping list. This is shown off in a new cinematic trailer. Here's word:

Lord of Rigel is set in a galaxy locked in a galactic cold war. Customize your fleets, choose, design, and add weapons to them and choose between warring elder races, forge your own coalition, or go solo. Navigate Interplanetary diplomacy and defeat great menaces by utilizing espionage, research, and military force to shape the galaxy.

Form coalitions to survive the coming war, or discover the secrets of ascension that the elder races fear. With surviving as your goal, you and the race you are commanding will have many obstacles to overcome.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Afterdream (Windows). "Get lost in a lucid dream, bending the lines between reality and fiction. Utilize the strange camera to navigate through the ghosts' mysterious residence. Find the purpose of your nocturnal visit in a vivid and dreamlike setting."
• Arkanoid - Eternal Battle (Windows). "Discover or re-discover, the emblematic block breaker game in a fully modernized version! Classic elements from the franchise will definitely make a comeback, with a brand-new look, new rules, as well as new effects, bonuses and features!"
• Cassette Beasts (Windows, Linux). "Collect awesome monsters to use during turn-based battles in this open-world RPG. Combine any two monster forms using Cassette Beasts’ Fusion System to create unique and powerful new ones!"
• GUN JAM (Windows). "GUN JAM is a rhythm first-person shooter where the player must shoot to the beat to survive. It features a unique beat-pattern shooting mechanic and firefights synced to the original soundtrack in a vibrant world. Prepare to obliterate enemies whilst blasting to the beat."
• Plasma (Windows). "Plasma is an engineering sandbox. Unleash your creativity with fun and intuitive robotics, physics, and visual programming tools."
• Romancelvania (Windows). "Bite into Romancelvania, a darkly comic genre mashup, combining side-scrolling action and tongue-in-cheek romance into one completely absurd and unforgettable adventure."
• Souldead (Windows). "The awakening of Hell has awakened you. Go through different worlds to catch the Messiah of Hell and take back what was taken from you. Souldead is a fast-paced dark fantasy FPS shooter with a modern take on the gameplay."
• ZERO Sievert (Windows). "ZERO Sievert is a tense top-down shooter that challenges you to scavenge a procedurally-generated wasteland, loot gear, and explore what’s left of a devastated world. When the odds are stacked against you, you’ll need to do more than just survive..."

Atari announces it has "recharged" so many of its older games that it's now coming around to re-recharging them. The undead publisher announces a full version 2.0 rework is coming to Missile Command: Recharged on November 1st. Here's word on the new newness:

Developed by Recharged veteran teams Adamvision Studios and SneakyBox, Missile Command: Recharged takes the classic arcade game and updates it in exciting and “synth-sational” new ways. The revamped take on the formative missile defense game includes more inbound enemies, 32 new challenge levels, and a final challenge in the form of a massive boss battle. The aesthetic has undergone an upgrade as well, with a complete visual overhaul and a new original soundtrack by award-winning composer Megan McDuffee — not to mention co-op across all game modes!

To address the burning question: “Wait! I thought there was already a Missile Command: Recharged?” That's correct! Missile Command was the very first title in the Recharged series, which kicked off in 2021. After launching six more Recharged titles, all with more content and features than the original Missile Command: Recharged, Atari decided to revisit and update it with everything they’ve learned along the way. Taking lessons from the subsequent releases including Gravitar: Recharged, Yars: Recharged, and Breakout: Recharged, Atari’s new Missile Command: Recharged outfits the game with new content and a wholly new gameplay experience.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Death Stranding 2 Rumors Emerge Again, Reports Game Is Codenamed "Ocean." Swimming simulator?

• Indie Game SFX (pay what you want and help charity).*

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

• Bloober Team Announces The Medium TV Series Adaptation.
• Elden Ring Fine Art Print Collection.

Official patches.

• Chivalry 2 Reinforced Update out NOW.
• Roller Champions – DRAGON’S WAY live.
• Steam Deck Client Beta Update- Boot videos, external resolutions, and more.
• World of Warcraft — Hotfixes- October 3, 2022.

• Is Unity still focused on making games? - GamesIndustry.biz.

• This Week's Deals with Gold and Spotlight Sale (Week of October 3) - Xbox Wire.
• Xbox, Doritos, and Rockstar Energy Drink Give Away Game Pass, Prizes, and DLC.
• Disney Plus relaunches on PS5 — now with 4K HDR playback.

• Barely anyone is buying foldable smartphones yet.
• Apex Legends players furious as Mobile game gets Solos before PC and console.
• 19 Android Settings You May Not Know About (may require registration or subscription).

• EU Parliament approves common charging cable from 2024.
• Mozilla Firefox 105.0.2, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes. Thanks Frans.
• Google brings Wi-Fi 6E to its routers with the Nest Wifi Pro.

• Nvidia Stops All Activity in Russia, Shutting Offices.
• Micron Has Pledged To Invest Up To $100 Billion To Establish a Gigantic Fab Unit in New York State.
• Microsoft confirms performance degradation in Windows 11 22H2 when copying large files.
• Austin Ekeler of the Los Angeles Chargers Introduces the EKLR Signature Gaming PC Exclusively from Newegg.

• These are officially the worst malware strains of the year.
• Atlassian, Microsoft bugs make CISA’s must-patch list.
• Someone is tricking Chinese YouTube users with a spyware version of the Tor Browser.
• Stolen sushi trade secrets lead to president's resignation. Method to tell poison from tasty fish.

• The chairman of FromSoftware’s parent company has been charged with bribery.
• WWE game maker must pay damages to wrestler Randy Orton's tattoo artist.
• 'The Onion' filed a real brief with the Supreme Court supporting man jailed for making fun of cops.
• VLC Media Player claps back at India ban with court challenge.
• Russia fines TikTok $51,000 for content violating anti-LGBTQ laws.

• Death Stranding Director's Cut- XeSS vs. DLSS vs. FSR 2.0 Comparison Review - TechPowerUp.
• Tinykin Review - IGN.

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X "Zen 4" CPU Review - TweakTown.
• Keyboard: CORSAIR K100 AIR Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review - TechPowerUp.
• Keyboard: SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Review- Predictably Good - Tom's Hardware.
• Laptop: Asus Vivobook S 14X OLED review- pretty pixels for a pretty price - The Verge.
• Misc: TOPPING E30 II DAC + L30 II Amplifier Desktop Stack Review - TechPowerUp.
• SSD: ADATA LEGEND 960 1TB Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD Review - The FPS Review.

• Red Dead Online player with 6000 hours on the clock highlights community he'll lose when Stadia shuts down…
• Sony remains frustratingly vague on future PC plans…
• Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass- Chivalry 2, Scorn, A Plague Tale- Requiem, and More…

For proof of what a nerd I am, you need look no further than my reaction to Warwagon's Tech Tip Tuesday on Neowin. This explains that for most browsers, CTRL-L will jump the focus to the address bar and highlight the current URL. This can allow you to quickly copy the URL or type in a new address. I can't tell you how exciting I found this tip. I actually popped up to share it with MrsBlue, which allowed us to confirm this works an a Mac as well. As Tech Sergeant Chen wisely once put it: "It's the simple things in life that you treasure."

Obituary: Loretta Lynn, coal miner's daughter and country queen, dies.

Treasured Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Breakfast Link

• Frightened of this thing that it's become? Toto's Steve Porcaro talks unexpected 'Africa' phenomenon. Thanks RedEye9.

Story

• A 95-Square-Foot Tokyo Apartment- ‘I Wouldn’t Live Anywhere Else’.

Science
Thanks Max.

• Nobel Prize in Physics Is Awarded to 3 Scientists for Work in Quantum Technology. Thanks RedEye9.
• How Far Can a Cat Fall and Survive? The Limit May Not Exist (may require registration or subscription). High-rise syndrome.
• How People Rate Pizza, Jobs and Relationships Is Surprisingly Predictive of Their Behavior.

Image

• A close-up of the human eye. Aye aye! Thanks Kxmode.

Media

• I Didn't Trim This Brisket Before Smoking It And This Happened. Now I'm hungry. Thanks RedEye9.
• Animals going goblin mode on Twitter. We thought you was a toad! Thanks Kxmode.