A tweet from Respawn announces the launch of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is being pushed back to April 28th. Just six weeks ago we were told to expect the Force-powered action/adventure sequel on March 17th. Here's word on the setback:

For the last three years, the Jedi team here at Respawn has poured its collective heart and soul into Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and we are proud to say the next chapter in the tale of Cal Kestis is content complete. We are now focused entirely on the final stage: bug fixes to enhance performance, stability, polish, and most importantly, the player experience.

Jedi: Survivor is a direct response to the feedback from our community, delivering expansive destinations to explore, evolved combat and traversal, and of course, the continuation of Cal and BD's story. Making this game has truly made us a better team, and we have pushed ourselves at every level to make this the Star Wars sequel our fans expect from Respawn and Lucasfilm Games.

In order for the team to hit the Respawn quality bar, provide the team the time they need, and achieve the level of polish our fans deserve, we have added six crucial weeks to our release schedule - Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will now launch globally on April 28th.

Continue here to read the full story.

A report on Bloomberg (may require registration or subscription) by Jason Schreier has more on the recent shakeup at Halo: Infinite developer 343 Industries. This confirms the report that the company remains the primary developer on the Halo franchise after rumors said otherwise. But it also notes that with deep cuts to its staff and the switch to a new engine, 343 is basically "starting over from scratch" with the shooter series. Here's more on plans to pivot to the Unreal Engine:

Chief among them is a pivot to a new gaming engine, the suite of tools and technology used to make video games. The studio’s own engine, known publicly as Slipspace, has been one of the biggest points of contention over the past two decades. Based largely on old code from the 1990s and early 2000s, it’s buggy and difficult to use and has been the source of headaches for some developers on Halo Infinite, people familiar with the development said. Several multiplayer modes that are nearly finished, such as Extraction and Assault, both popular in previous Halo games, have yet to be released in part because of issues involving the engine, they said.

At several points over the past decade, management at 343 debated switching to Epic Games Inc.’s popular Unreal Engine. But it wasn’t until late last year, when previous studio head Bonnie Ross and engine lead David Berger departed and Pierre Hintze took over, that the firm finally decided to pivot to Unreal. This switch will start with a new game code-named Tatanka, according to people familiar with the plans. That project, which 343 is developing alongside the Austin, Texas-based game studio Certain Affinity, started off as a battle royale but may evolve in different directions, the people said. Future games in the series will also explore using the Unreal Engine, which may make development easier, although internal skeptics are worried that the switch may have a negative impact on the way Halo games feel to play. A Microsoft spokesman declined to comment on issues with the engine or on the company’s plans to pivot to Unreal.

The Rumbleverse Website confirms the rumor that the free-to-play brawler is ending. The site has a modal warning the shutdown is coming on February 28th with the conclusion of Season Two. Word is: "If you’ve been a part of that journey, we thank you – whether you jumped into the first playtest after our reveal, or just shot yourself out of the cannon for the first time." The game and any purchased content will no longer be playable after that point. The update has more details, saying the store is now closed, and all purchases will be refunded. Here's more:

Any player who has spent money on Rumbleverse is eligible for a refund of money spent on or in the game. This includes the purchase of a Rumbleverse Battle Pass or Brawlla Bills on any platform. We will share a FAQ page with additional refund information soon.

Later today, we are deploying the final update to Rumbleverse. We are closing the store and opening the full experience to every player. The current Battle Pass will be granted to everyone. Your XP gains will be doubled so you can fast-track unlocks for every rank. Quads, Trios, Duos, and Solos will be live and we’ve unlocked additional accessories and emotes in the game for free as well.

Continue here to read the full story.

Ubisoft announces The Crew Motorfest is the new installment in The Crew franchise teased yesterday. This open-world racing game is expected later this year on Windows via the Epic Games Store, as well as PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Ubisoft+, and Luna. Developer Ubisoft Ivory Tower is preparing for the release with an Insider Program that will open up tomorrow. This is only for PC to start, but will open up to consoles down the road. You can sign up for that right here. Here's a Teaser Trailer and here's more:

The Crew Motorfest welcomes drivers to an all-new open-world racing game later this year on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and Amazon Luna. The latest entry in The Crew franchise takes players to the shores of the island of O'ahu in the Hawai'ian archipelago as they race through the streets of Honolulu, fly down the steep slopes of a volcano, off-road through lush forests, or chill out on the beach. Whether you play solo or with your whole crew, the entire island will be fully explorable from behind the wheel of hundreds of vehicles.

Continue here to read the full story.

Techland celebrates the first anniversary of Dying Light 2 Stay Human, offering a new video marking the occasion. There's also a new Community Update #2 bringing the zombie sequel to version 1.9.0 with a bunch of changes, including console crossplay. The anniversary festivities will last all week, and this website is the central hub of activities that include sales, nostalgic treats, and the chance to win goodies along the way. There's also the news that the series has now sold 30 million copies, and we are reassured this total is actually going upwards: "The renowned franchise has had an excellent start to the year, selling a whopping 30 million units, a number that continues to grow each month." Finally, we have a short term look at the next stages of the game's five-year plan:

Techland is starting the year off strong, and with it comes the first year anniversary update containing community-requested features and Quality of Life improvements including: Community Update #2*, Cross-Gen, and Legend Levels. With these significant updates already planned for Dying Light 2, fans may ask what is next for the game over the coming year. Techland has outlined a new roadmap, and will continue to shape plans for 2023 as part of the 5-year commitment to the game.

Continue here to read the full story.

Undisputed is now available for Windows on Steam, offering a simulation of boxing, the MMA forebear from Steel City Interactive. This simulates real-world boxers, including the legendary Muhammad Ali, who is included in the Early Access release. This new trailer offers a look at Ali taking on arch-nemesis Joe Frazier. Here's the tale of the tape:

For its Early Access launch, Undisputed will feature a roster of over 50 playable characters including Muhammad Ali, Tyson Fury, Canelo Alvarez, Deontay Wilder, Katie Taylor, and a fully-fledged women’s division. Players will be able to pit this roster against each other across six unique fight locations, including a large arena and Coldwell’s gym. Become the champion of the ring in local and online multiplayer matches, play single player against the AI, or take on a true challenge in Prize Fight Mode.

Alongside bug fixes and quality of life improvements, the planned Early Access roadmap includes additional features and content such as Career Mode, Fighter Creation tools, licensed boxers, and real-world match venues. SCI look forward to updating the community as they share updates to these exciting features.

Continue here to read the full story.

Fireshine Games and Emberstorm Entertainment announce REKA, a "living witch cottage" game coming next year. If you like the idea of a mobile home, but are afraid of gas costs, this game where your house walks around on its own chicken legs may be for you. That description draws a pretty vivid image, but the Steam Listing has some screenshots and video to fill in any blanks. Here's more:

Design and decorate your walking house’s interior with complete creative freedom, taking on quests to unlock new decorative items and make it your own. Form an unbreakable bond with your cottage as you explore new landscapes together, guided by Baba Jaga on your apprenticeship across villages, mystical forests and more.

Master the powers of witchcraft and use the help of your familiars to gather hard-to-reach items, while collecting plants, crafting magical supplies, and discovering mythological creatures.

Stitch Heads Entertainment and Raw Fury announce they have lit the super fuse, and Superfuse is now available in Early Access on Steam. This is a fast-paced action/RPG with a comic book-inspired feel that's on display in this Early Access Launch Trailer. Here's what you need to know to get started with this:

Superfuse is a comic-book infused Action RPG set on the mining asteroid Eros, a far flung outpost in the galaxy after the Earth has been abandoned by mankind, where you take on the role of an Enforcer – humanity’s super-powered protectors. Play as one of three classes – the Berserker, Elementalist, or the Technomancer – in either the single-player campaign or in co-op mode for up to four players, as you attempt to hold back a tide of terrifying, mysterious creatures dubbed “The Corruption”.

Featuring a unique set of skills and talent trees, Superfuse has an in-depth hyper-tailored skill system – known as Fuses – enabling players to create and refine their character’s skillsets to a high level of individuality. Every character will play differently in Superfuse.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Midweek Sale: improve your week with awesome games up to -90%! - GOG.com.*
• Save 88% on STAR WARS Battlefront II on Steam.
• Save 50% on MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries on Steam.
• Dead Age Franchise Sale on Steam.
• Save 50% on TROUBLESHOOTER: Abandoned Children on Steam.

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

• Around 40 Ubisoft Paris staff attended strike for better working conditions.
• Electronic Arts Reports Q3 FY23 Financial Results.

Official patch.

• Steam Beta Client Update: January 31st.

• Sword of the Necromancer: Revenant by Grimorio of Games — Kickstarter. "Third-person 3D Action RPG with Dungeon Crawling and City Building. Revive your enemies once again and make them fight alongside you!" Here's the Steam Listing and the Kickstarter Trailer.

• Overwatch 2 — Season 2 retrospective: A look back and the road forward.

Thanks Console General.

• Age of Empires II is now out on Xbox consoles featuring PC crossplay.
• Microsoft Is Removing Dozens Of Games From The Xbox 360 Marketplace In February.
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Delta (2302.230126-2200).
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Beta (2302.230126-2200).

• A Development Update on Apex Legends Mobile.

• Your Gmail is permanently changing soon - here's what to expect.
• Porsche NFTs aren’t in production anymore, so don’t mint one.

Thanks Neutronbeam and Ant.

• AMD thinks the PC sales slump will end after one more rough quarter.
• Hydrogel Coated Heatsinks Significantly Boost Passive CPU Cooling Capabilities. But do you dab, or spread?
• Backup Company Reveals Hard Drive Failure Rates For 2022.
• Samsung Issues Fix for Dying 980 Pro SSDs.
• DVDFab v12.0.9.8. Thanks Console General.
• WhoCrashed Free Home Edition version 7.06. Thanks DSLReports.
• Notepad++ v8.4.9. Thanks DSLReports.

Thanks Ant.

• Hacker finds bug that allowed anyone to bypass Facebook 2FA. Thanks DSLReports.
• Vulnerability Summary for the Week of January 23, 2023 - CISA.
• No more export licenses: US plans to fully cut off Huawei from chip suppliers.
• Microsoft upgrades Defender to lock down Linux devices.
• 1Password is bringing some major updates to its password manager.
• Top password manager denies its entire database can be stolen.

• UK Government promises robust crypto regulation.

Last Link of the Day: New DC Universe Video Games Will Be In Continuity With Film And Television.

Obituary: Bob Born, the 'Father of Peeps,' has died. Thanks Boing Boing.

Second Front is now available for Windows on Steam, offering a World War II turn-based strategy game from Hexdraw and MicroProse. This is not a sequel, so you do not have to worry about having missed out on First Front. The Second Front Release Trailer shows off gameplay based on classic tabletop wargames, down to the hex map (but thankfully no towering stacks of chits for units). The game comes with 48 scenarios based on real battles, along with an editor to allow players to create and share their own maps. Here's more on the game, which carries a 15% launch discount:

As the commander of a military force in the era of WWII, you must use your tactical prowess and cunning to lead your troops through intense battles and challenging missions. With a vast array of weapons, vehicles, and equipment at your disposal, you must carefully plan your attacks and outmaneuver your enemies to secure victory on the battlefield.

But Second Front isn't just about strategy and tactics – it's also about the human element of war. You'll need to carefully manage your soldiers' morale and physical condition, as well as their equipment and ammunition. And with the ability to issue orders, you'll be able to react to changing situations and make strategic decisions that could make all the difference on the battlefield.

Continue here to read the full story.

Builders of Greece is a city management game set in the ancient empire coming to PC later this year. Builders of Builders of Greece, BLUM Entertainment, Strategy Labs, and CreativeForge Games, invite us to join in the process. A closed playtest is now underway, and you can request access on the game's Steam Listing. Word is this is being opened up to as many players as possible, paving the way for an official demo which will precede the full launch. Here's a new Gameplay Trailer and here's more:

Builders of Greece is a city management game which lets you display your strategic and economic mastery. Have your builders and craftsmen raise magnificent structures and monuments in your name. Take good care of your loyal subjects needs and expand your influence by their hard work, politics, profitable trade connections, or even war. As for yourself, look closely into all the nuances of planning, diplomacy, and economics. Face numerous varied challenges, unexpected events, and promising opportunities. Make your city expand beyond the horizons and let the word of its splendour reach the furthest corners of this land. Builders of Greece grants you the opportunity to witness the greatness of Hellenic metropolises before the time of Roman conquests.

Continue here to read the full story.

A playable Windows demo is now available on Steam for Pixelshire, a sandbox farming simulation inspired by Stardew Valley. Despite the obvious similarities, the demo is accompanied by a trailer called How is Pixelshire different to Stardew Valley- Ep. 1- Terraforming. The demo will allow you to experience the first five days of the game:

Build your perfect town, meet new friends and invite them to stay a while. Gather resources, construct new homes and decorate your world inside and out to reflect your own personal style!

The demo allows players to experience the first 5 days of Pixelshire, giving them a taste of terraforming, building, farming, fishing and much more.

Cute farming? Check! Gorgeous pixel art? Check! Pixelshire might have a lot in common with cult hit Stardew Valley on the surface, but find out more about the many features and abilities that make this a unique town-building experience.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Embracer may have sold its Tomb Raider rights to Amazon for a cool $600 million.
• Fortnite glitch reveals upcoming first-person mode gameplay.
• Fortnite leaker claims GTA-style Wanted system is in development.
• GTA 6 fans believe the game is closer to release than previously thought.

• Halo TV Series Boss Leaves 343 Industries, Studio Still “Critically Important” Says Spencer.
• Roblox tops 200 million global downloads in 2022 to rank among highest-grossing apps.

• Mattel and Minecraft Partner on New Minecraft Creator Series Camp Enderwood DLC Map and Toy Line. Wouldn't a Minecraft toy just be blocks?

• Cyberpunk 2077’s NVIDIA DLSS 3 Update Is Out Now, Multiplying Performance.
• MU Online Season 17 Part 2 1st Update. Here's a trailer.
• Generic RPG Idle - New update AND Weekly sale.
• Microsoft Flight Simulator - Aircraft & Avionics I Release Notes [1.30.12.0].
• Steam Beta Client Update- January 30th.
• Steam Deck Beta Client Update: January 30th.
• War Robots: Frontiers - The Tricksters Update is Live. Here's a trailer.
• World of Warcraft Hotfixes: January 30, 2023.

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

• Tomb Raider Caves HD Remaster Project available for download.

Official trailer.

• Destiny 2- Lightfall - Weapons and Gear Trailer

• Exclusive: Xbox, Nintendo, and Sony Won't Be Part of E3 2023. Years of E3 machine-gunning its own feet take a toll.
• World of Warcraft “Stay a While”- A Look Inside the Quest.
• Star Wars: The Old Republic In-Game Events for February.

• Overpowered Warzone 2 rifle loadout two-shots enemies with ease.
• Best Forspoken settings for performance on PC.

• Teslagrad 2: The First Preview - IGN.

Thanks Console General.

• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Alpha Skip-Ahead (2308.230126-2000).
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Alpha (2302.230126-2200).
• Sony reportedly halves PlayStation VR2 shipments due to disappointing pre-orders.
• This Week's Deals with Gold and Spotlight Sale - Xbox Wire.

• Canadian team discovers power-draining flaw in most laptop and phone batteries. Thanks Max.
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Specs, Features and Colors Leaked in AT&T Listing.

Thanks Ant.

• Frontier’s bringing its 5-gig fiber network across the country.
• How to control your smart home without yelling at a dumb voice assistant.
• Mozilla Firefox 109.0.1, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes. Thanks Frans.
• Malwarebytes 4.5.21.231 - CU 1.0.1890. Thanks DSLReports.
• We’re Already Living in the Metaverse (may require registration or subscription).

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• NVIDIA Titan RTX "Ada" Graphics Card Spotted In Shipping Manifest, 48 GB GDDR6X Memory & PG137 Board.
• Massive LGA-7529 socket for future Intel Xeon -Sierra Forest- CPUs teased.
• CORSAIR Launches Innovative New RMx SHIFT ATX 3.0 PSUs, Making It Easier than Ever to Build Your PC. How did this take so long?
• How To Remove Thermal Paste From a CPU.
• 10 Windows File Explorer Features You Should Be Using. Don't judge me!

• Russian Court Fines Amazon's Twitch $57,000 Over Ukraine Content.
• South Korea makes crypto crackdown a national priority.

• The Callisto Protocol- PC graphics benchmarks - Guru3D.
• Dead Space Remake - DF Tech Review - This Is What A Best-In-Class Remake Looks Like (video).
• Dead Space Remake PC Performance Analysis - DSOGaming.
• Dead Space tech review- this is what a best-in-class remake looks like - Eurogamer.net.
• Dead Space Remake Kotaku Review: Better Horror 15 Years Ago.
• Dead Space Benchmark Test & Performance Analysis Review - TechPowerUp.
• Forspoken Kotaku Review: A Great RPG Story In A Technical Mess.
• Forspoken review - PC Gamer.
• Forspoken review- sometimes fun, often annoying, always empty - Rock Paper Shotgun.
• Forspoken: FSR 2.1 vs. DLSS Comparison Review - TechPowerUp.
• Hi-Fi Rush review – exhilarating action amped up to 11 - The Loadout.
• SpongeBob SquarePants- The Cosmic Shake - Christ Centered Gamer.
• Swordship needs you to think FAST! - Indie Ramble (video).

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Case Fan: Cooler Master Mobius 120 Fan Review - TechPowerUp.
• CPU/AIO Cooler: These are the Best CPU Air Coolers Right Now - Hardware Canucks (video).
• Headset/Earbuds: Drop + EPOS H3X Wired Gaming Headset Review - TweakTown.
• Headset/Earbuds: Quick Look: FiiO JD3 Black Edition In-Ear Monitors - TechPowerUp.
• Headset/Earbuds: Raycon Everyday Earbuds (E25) Review- Not Just for YouTubers - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• Misc: Icy Dock MB104U-1SMB and MB031U-1SMB EZ-Adapter - OCinside.
• Misc: Loupedeck Live S review - PC Gamer.
• Speakers/Soundbar: Tronsmart T7 review- Who knew a knob could be so exciting? - Android Central.
• SSD: Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield 4TB Review- IP65 PSSD Gets a Capacity Upgrade - AnandTech.
• SSD: Samsung T7 Shield 4TB External SSD Review - Armored High-Capacity Portable - TweakTown.

• New Groundbreaking Study Finds Medical Video Games Improve Decision Making in Highly Experienced Doctors…
• 7 Steam Tips and Tricks You Should Try Now. Not that tricky. Thanks Neutronbeam…
• Japan officially designates today Final Fantasy 7 Day. Just need 350 more games and every day can be Final Fantasy Day…

I'm saddened to read that Hulu has cancelled Reboot. It didn't make full use of its great cast, but this TV show about a TV show was cleverly meta, and was quite fun. But I'd probably watch anything with Rachel Bloom or Judy Greer in it, so maybe I'm not the one to judge. That aside, MrsBlue and I have been very happy with our TV choices lately, not that it's hard to still find top quality shows hidden all over the various networks and streaming services. What's a little different is we're actually current with a couple of these, as we have known to lag behind the curve at times. In this case, we've caught the first couple of episodes of Shrinking, which were certainly interesting. The behind-the-scenes interactions of the three therapists are by far the best part of that, and completely worth the price of admission. But the new show I'm most pleased with is the one that's collected tons of buzz, Poker Face. If there's a TV formula I'll forever have an affection for, it's the genius detective like Columbo, the show that must have inspired this. I'm not sure if it's a direct inspiration, but I laugh at myself for noticing the other formula mirrors The Incredible Hulk, with the drifter protagonist finding a new adventure every week. And even though this uses the crazy trope of someone who's constantly having people mysteriously murdered all around them, I don't care. It's super-fun, well-executed, and makes me very happy.

Obituary: Cindy Williams, 'Laverne & Shirley' star, dead at 75.
Obituary: Hall of Famer Bobby Hull, the Golden Jet, dies at age 84.

Showy Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Stories

• COVID-19 pandemic 'is probably at a transition point,' WHO says.
• Britain’s newest islets are made of wet wipes.

Science

• AI Finds Possible Overlooked Alien Signals In Radio Telescope Data. Thanks A.C.M.
• NASA tested new propulsion tech that could unlock new deep space travel possibilities.
• Green comet C-2022 E3 (ZTF) will be closest to Earth on Feb. 1.
• An Analog Computer May Solve the Biggest Mysteries in Physics.

Media

• The Insane Engineering of the F-35B. Thanks VideoSift.
• Roxanne but its just Rocks. Thanks Slick.
• Matt Damon Gets Bumped from Jimmy Kimmel’s 20th Anniversary Show. Thanks VideoSift.

Creature Features

• Buitengebieden on Twitter- -Quokka eating beetroot. Nom nom. Thanks Kxmode.