A post on Xbox Wire from Bethesda Softworks announces Ghostwire: Tokyo is coming to Xbox on April 12th. This will come along with a new update called Spider's Thread that will also come to the Windows and PlayStation editions of Tango Gameworks' action/adventure. What to expect from this is hinted in a brief, but intense Teaser Trailer. Here's more on what's being called the "definitive Ghostwire: Tokyo experience":

Available as a free update, the Spider’s Thread update adds more to explore in haunted streets of Tokyo, including new content, improvements and an all-new game mode!

Take on the Spider’s Thread mode and test your skills as well as play new quests in the main game, capture a souvenir with an enhanced Photo Mode, explore the all-new Middle School area, pull out new combat moves like the Quick Dodge or Charge Rush attack, and so much more! With the Spider’s Thread update, players will get to have the definitive Ghostwire: Tokyo experience.

Continue here to read the full story.

The Wreck is now available for PC and consoles, and the Windows/macOS edition can be found on Steam. This 3D visual novel from Pixel Hunt is about trauma and grief. Word is: "In this 3D visual novel, follow failed screenwriter Junon as she attempts to make it through the most pivotal day in her life. Relive the past, alter the present, and embrace the future, or without your help, Junon’s story might end in a wreck." These serious topics are introduced in the Launch Trailer. Here's more:

At 36, Junon’s life is in pieces: her career has stalled, she’s emotionally numb, and her personal life is falling apart. Things come to a head when she’s called to the ER to find her estranged mother in a critical condition. This is the most important day of Junon’s life, and unless something changes, it might be her last.

Continue here to read the full story.

The Android Developers Blog has details on the expansion of Google Play Games on PC program. It's good to expand the games ecosystem, though we'd be more excited about ways to put PC games on mobile devices, rather than vice versa. Here's a bit:

• Google Play Games on PC is expanding to more regions and including more games loved by billions of users worldwide. The program will be expanding to Japan and countries in Europe in the next couple of months and adding several new games including Garena Free Fire, Ludo King, and MapleStory M.
• Through our partnership with Intel, we’re making it easier to join Google Play Games on PC with an existing mobile build. While fully optimized games still offer the best experience for users and qualify for unique cross-platform marketing and promotion, we now offer the option to submit your existing mobile build in the meantime to reach players faster. So if your mobile game already plays well on desktop, you can express interest now to join Google Play Games.

The Steam Listing for F1 2020 indicates this Formula One racing game is no longer for sale. The game's DLC is still available, but the game seems to have been delisted. There's no further explanation beyond this brusque note:

Notice: F1® 2020 is no longer available on the Steam store.

• Final Fantasy Creator On Why JRPGs Were Better In The ‘90s.

• Save 34% on Endling - Extinction is Forever on Steam.
• Save 67% on DEATHLOOP on Steam.
• Funcom 30-Year Anniversary Sale on Steam.
• Save 80% on Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom on Steam.
• Kart Racers Games Bundle (pay what you want and help charity).*

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

• FTC lawyers want more info on Microsoft’s 10 year deals with Nintendo and Nvidia.
• Former Blizzard Leaders J. Allen Brack and Jen Oneal Reemerge to Start New Studio.

• The next Silent Hill movie has cast its leads and begins filming next month.
• Ellie and Joel – Building The Last of Us Episode 1.

Official patch.

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II & Warzone Season 02 Reloaded Patch Notes. There are some subsequent additions.

• Sims 4 'infant stretching' bug terrorizes players with unusually long babies.

Official trailers.

• House of the Gundead Arcade - Available to Order Now.
• Trackmania - World Tour Playoffs Trailer.

• Diablo IV- Talking the Open Beta With the Game’s Director - Xbox Wire.
• Developer Interview: Sit Down with Senior Animator Carin Huurnink — Warcraft Arclight Rumble.

• FIFAe launches new female esports inclusivity program FAMEHERGAME.

• How Blizzard crafts Diablo IV’s menacing World Bosses, Beta details.
• Atlas Fallen: Brand New Details Emerge After the Action-RPG's Gameplay Reveal.

Thanks Console General.

• PS5 Pro? Even if the spurious rumors are true, right now I just don't care.
• Ghostwire: Tokyo Is Coming to Xbox – Play the All-New Spider’s Thread Update April 12.
• Sea of Stars adds Xbox Series, Xbox One versions.
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Alpha (2304.230313-1625).
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Alpha Skip-Ahead (2308.230313-2000).

• Second Life is heading to mobile devices.
• ChatGPT Smartwatch Is Powered by Raspberry Pi.

• Mozilla Thunderbird — Release Notes (102.9.0). Thanks Frans.

Thanks Console General.

• AMD's 6nm Rembrandt, 4nm Phoenix CPUs May Arrive On AM5.
• Known Microsoft Windows 11 Issue Decreases SSD Speeds Amongst Other Issues.
• Windows11 22H2 kills small taskbar. Thanks Brenda.
• New OLED material breakthrough could mean cheaper OLED TVs.
• Visual Studio Code v1.76.2.
• Visual Studio 2022 v17.5.2.

• FBI issues warning over fake games stealing cryptocurrency.
• The SVB collapse is being exploited by scammers.
• Microsoft Patch Tuesday, March 2023 Edition.

• Cancer patient sues hospital over stolen naked photos.
• FCC officials owned stock in Comcast, Charter, AT&T, and Verizon, watchdog says. Well, it's not like they made sketchy decisions or anything.
• Chinese billionaire and associate of Steve Bannon arrested in $1 billion fraud conspiracy, officials say.

Last Link of the Day: We Entered the World of Microsoft Excel eSports & Got Our Asses Beat. Thanks Ant.

Obituary: RIP Imagineer Rolly Crump.

Paradox Interactive and Colossal Order lay out plans for the final bits of DLC for Cities: Skylines. A set of content packs and radio stations are coming on March 22nd and a second set of content packs and a "mini expansion" will follow in May. This comes amid the celebration of the eighth anniversary of the release of the city-builder and the preparations to launch its sequel. Cities: Skylines II is expected later this year, but support for the first game is expected to continue throughout 2023 as well. The Last Stops I Announcement Trailer illustrates the news. This post has the details. Here's an overview:

Paradox Interactive and Colossal Order today announced the roadmap for the last content packs and Radio Stations coming to Cities: Skylines as the team prepares for its highly-anticipated sequel. The final countdown starts with three Content Creator Packs and Radio Stations releasing on March 22 , followed by a second set of content packs and a mini expansion from Colossal Order in May. While the final expansion, Content Creator Packs, and Radio Stations are on their way, Colossal Order intends to continue general support for Cities: Skylines through the rest of the year.

“These eight years of Cities: Skylines have been incredible. It’s truly an amazing journey filled with heartfelt stories from our community and evolving the game into the genre-defining title it is today,” Mariina Hallikainen, CEO of Colossal Order, said. “As we look forward to the future, we are preparing to say our final farewells to Cities: Skylines with a strong line up of content throughout the Spring. Cities players have a lot to be excited about in the coming months with a lot of free content expanding upon existing content and a final expansion from us at Colossal Order.”

Continue here to read the full story.

Rightfully, Beary Arms is a bullet hell shooter coming later this year from Daylight Basement Studio. This is being shown off next week at PAX East, but there's also a playable Windows demo right now on Steam. The PAX East 2023 shows off the game's retro graphics and the kind of carnage a bear with a gun can wreak. Here's word:

Honey, we're home and we brought plenty of ammunition! Guide Beary, a gun-toting teddy on a mission to purge waves of wacky alien scum. Navigate the open cosmos in true dungeon-crawling fashion. Cock a weapon of choice to obliterate mobs of sneaky space spiders, pistol-wielding bumble bees, and fierce Yellow Jacket bosses, each with unique traits in this lively 2D top-down adventure.

Strategically plan a path to success fursomely clearing rooms of mobs, in cute fuzzy style. Unleash a bearrage of lead and lasers, eliminating waves of aggressively quirky creatures to the beat of an original chiptune nu-metal soundtrack. When the dust settles, pawcure random loot drops carrying honey money, barbearic buffs, weapons, and other helpful items.

Continue here to read the full story.

XSEED Games announces Touhou: New World, a bullet hell shooter coming to PC and Switch this (northern) summer, and to PlayStation at some point after that. The Announcement Trailer starts off looking like a serene walk in the park before the bullets start flying. Word is this is a fan-created follow up to Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity. Here's a bit:

Touhou: New World returns players to Gensokyo, a supernatural world that both humans and the spirits known as youkai call home. While far from idyllic, life for residents is relatively uneventful; that is until the mystical barrier protecting it is breached by an outsider harboring an obsession with the supernatural realm, bringing chaos to both Gensokyo and the world beyond. It’s up to shrine maiden Reimu and her magician friend Marisa to uncover the true source of the chaos and restore peace to both worlds, dodging magical bullet barrages and battling a menagerie of mystical creatures along the way!

Continue here to read the full story.

• Dead Island 2 devs believe a Dead Island remake would be a “mistake.” It's dead, Jim.

• IO Interactive has opened a new studio in Turkey.

• The Last of Us developer reveals in-game tribute to his wife made it into HBO finale.
• "Last of Us" Giraffe Real, 'Zombie Ban' Not. Thanks Ant.

• Blade of Darkness Major Update.
• Euro Truck Simulator 2- 1.47 Open Beta.
• The Sims 4 Update 03-14-2023.
• Steam Beta Client Update- March 14th.
• Steam Deck Beta Client Update- March 14th.
• World of Warcraft Hotfixes: March 14, 2023.

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

• Resident Evil 4 Demo Becomes Endless Thanks to a Mod.

• These eight games will be leaving Xbox Game Pass tomorrow.

• The launch of Star Citizen's biggest update has been a shambles, and players are frustrated- 'This is embarrassingly bad.'

• Atlas Fallen - "Rise from Dust" Gameplay Reveal Trailer.

↑ Official trailers. ↓ Content creator videos.

• Playing with a loot addict - Viva La Dirt League (NSFW).

• Charity events might return to Overwatch 2 but don’t expect Pink Mercy.
• PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS -- PUBG 6YEARS & 6EYOND.

• Warzone 2 expert reveals -insane- sniper loadout perfect for aggressive players.

• T-Mobile is buying Ryan Reynolds’ Mint Mobile for up to $1.35 billion.
• Google Pixel Fold leak teases June launch and high price.

• Amazon unveils three satellite user terminals, plans broadband service in 2024.
• Microsoft Teams will let you transform into a 3D avatar in May. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Google Web Designer v15.2.1.0306. Thanks Console General.

• Samsung to invest in South Korea mega chip-making plan.
• NVIDIA lowers GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition price in Europe to €1819.
• RTX 4070 price and launch date leaks suggest Nvidia hasn't learned from past mistakes.
• Tested: Default Windows VBS Setting Slows Games Up to 10%, Even on RTX 4090.
• Microsoft announces new lead independent director, Nadella remains chairman.
• How to use free satellite data to monitor natural disasters and environmental changes. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Bring back wireless mouse charging mats.
• New ChatGPT bot is out, promises to hallucinate less.
• Apple isn't laying off employees yet, but it is delaying bonuses and reducing hiring.
• Lightning AI CEO slams OpenAI's GPT-4 paper as "masquerading as research."

• User forgetfulness drives preference for biometrics over passwords.
• FBI says Americans lost $10.3 billion to internet scammers in 2022. Someone should tell law enforcement.

• Silicon Valley Bank investigated by SEC and Justice Department.
• CYBER: WTF Is Going on With the Silicon Valley Bank Bailout (may require registration or subscription)?
• Two U.S. Men Charged in 2022 Hacking of DEA Portal.

• Game Controller: Razer Wolverine Chroma V2 Xbox Series X-S Controller Review - Mecha-Tactile Satisfaction - TechPowerUp.
• Headset/Earbuds: XENNS Mangird Top In-Ear Monitors Review - Hybrid Sound! - TechPowerUp.
• Headset/Earbuds: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7x Wireless Gaming Headset Review - ThinkComputers.org.
• Keyboard: Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - TweakTown.
• Laptop: Razer Blade 16 (2023) review- Unlimited power - Dexerto.
• Laptop: Razer Blade 18 Review - PCMag. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Monitor: EIZO FlexScan EV2490 Monitor Review - Nikk Tech.
• Monitor: Sony InZone M3 Review- A Speedy Gaming Monitor for PS5 Plus PC Play - CNET. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Mouse: MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Gaming Mouse - TweakTown.
• Sound Card/DAC: Sound Blaster X5 - LanOC Reviews.
• SSD: Adata Legend 960 SSD Review- Too Little, Too Late - Tom's Hardware.

Beware the Ides of March! And, of course, beware the one-hit wonder. So I completed my campaign in DOOM (2016) yesterday. It's been great getting my game on again. I'm very pleased at the recovery of my hand and elbow, as I can now withstand lengthy play sessions once again with little difficulty. I had a really great time with the game throughout. It had a lot of the original DOOM to it without that being a burden. In keeping with the original concept, if not execution, I especially appreciated the setups for combat that forced you to go Rambo instead of being able to kite monsters around to kill them individually. And the environments were incredible. The vast Martian foundry complex and the Hell levels were amazing. But I will say it is frustrating that the game doesn't always follow its own navigation rules since a key element is hunting for secrets. There are plenty of objects and barriers you should be able to access or traverse, only to encounter invisible walls. On the other hand I loved the ability to go back and scour for secrets you missed as part of your ongoing campaign. It gave a clever diversion from progressing the main campaign at times. I played the whole way on Ultra-Violence, stubbornly fighting through the fact that my reflexes are not what they once were (not that I was never a very exceptional player to begin with). I'm not a big achievement chaser, but I was disappointed there wasn't one for the difficulty level. In the end I would have gotten the same achievement for completing the campaign on the easy mode. The whole experience was great enough that I am disappointed there is no DLC, which I guess is an outgrowth of the whole SnapMap dealie. DOOM Eternal seems like an entirely different game, so I'm trying to decide if I'll play that next.

Obituary: Model Jeff Thomas Dead By Suspected Suicide at 35.

Doomed Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Breakfast Link

• Zack Snyder Teases Darkseid Announcement.

Story

• Coming soon to Florida beaches- Massive, messy and maybe record mounds of seaweed. Thanks Cannibella.

Science

• NASA Wants to Build a Special Spacecraft to Destroy the ISS.
• Bright new comet discovered zooming toward the sun could outshine the stars next year. Thanks Acleacius.
• Meet the dinosaur with a record-breaking neck longer than a school bus.

Media

• World's Strongest Magnet.
• Machine Gun Integrated into Robot Dog. Terrifying. Thanks VideoSift.

Auction

• Thrifter stunned by ‘Antiques Roadshow’ appraisal on ‘mystery’ $6 gold necklace- ‘The best thrifted thing of all time.’

Follow-up

• "Dune" Part Two: To Visit More Worlds.