Following the news that free-to-play first-person shooter Hyenas is cancelled, developer Creative Assembly Xs about the fallout, saying that this may result in job losses:

We have made the incredibly difficult decision to begin a redundancy consultation process in some areas of our CJK operations, alongside ending development of HYENAS.

This may, unfortunately, result in job losses.

We fully understand that this has a significant impact on our people whether they are directly affected or not - which we are truly sorry for.

We have always aimed to operate as a studio; that is foundational to our values and culture. While we must go through this incredibly difficult process. 'I've will prioritise supporting our at every step.

Continue here to read the full story.

Gameloft announces the beta period has concluded for Disney Speedstorm, and the free-to-play kart racing game is now officially available for PC and consoles. The Windows edition is on Steam, where there's this announcement of the Worldwide Launch Event along with the Launch Trailer, showing off gameplay and some Aladdin-themed Season 4 content. Here's word:

Disney Speedstorm now provides greater accessibility across consoles and PC with the move to free-to-play allowing players from around the world to race against each other. The game features a hero-based racing system where Disney and Pixar characters are reimagined as high-speed road warriors with mastery of each Racer’s unique skills is the key to victory. The expanding lineup of Racers includes Sulley, Mulan, Mickey Mouse, Belle, Stitch, Buzz Lightyear, Captain Jack Sparrow and many more, each with their own upgradeable skills and abilities that can impact the outcome of any race.

Continue here to read the full story.

Owlcat Games announces new Lord of Nothing DLC will arrive on November 21st for Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, the RPG sequel. A Teaser Trailer accompanies the news with a quick look. Here are the details:

Lord of Nothing, the fifth DLC for Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, picks up where Through the Ashes left off, continuing the story of Sendri and Rekarth. As more pieces of the mystery behind Sendri’s behavior appear amongst the unforgiving lands of ice and darkness, more and more dangerous enemies and creatures will emerge from the evil overtaking Golarion. But not all hope is lost, for a new companion, strange new allies, and even the intervention of the Commander, the player’s avatar from the main storyline, will guide the adventurers toward the truth and all that comes with it.

Continue here to read the full story.

Pizza Possum is now available for Windows on Steam and for consoles, serving up a slice of arcade life from Cosy Computer and Raw Fury. This carries a 10% launch discount so if you act quickly you can save some dough. Here is the Launch Trailer and here's a description:

Pizza Possum is a short and sweet arcade experience where your goal is to eat as much food as you can without getting caught. An adorable mix of wholesome and mischievous, you hide and seek your way through the village alone or with a friend, using items and bushes to maneuver your way around the patrolling guard dogs. Get to the top of the village, eat the massive pizza, and steal the crown from the dog leader’s head. So what are you waiting for? Time to eat!

Continue here to read the full story.

Muse Games and Kwalee offer the launch of Wildmender, offering a co-op adventure game in a desert setting on Steam for Windows and for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. Gameplay is focused on gardening and survival, coincidentally two of the more challenging things to do in a desert. Here's the Launch Trailer, and if you find that a bit dry, here are some details:

Start from a desert tiny spring and cultivate your oasis amongst the desert sands. Collect plants to grow whilst exploring the world, craft structures and harness magical essence. You’ll have to manage your food and water as you journey across the dunes, the drained sea, poisoned canyons and cold and distant mountains. The further you go, the greater your perils and rewards! You’ll need to travel far to learn the secrets of the life-draining wraiths that corrupt the land, and how to beat them.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Remedy says its Max Payne remakes are ‘a big, big project’. No pain, no Payne.

• The Night Sky Navigators Bundle (pay what you want and help charity).*

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

• Minecraft Dungeons: 25 million players and counting.
• GameStop names Ryan Cohen as CEO effective immediately. Thanks Neutronbeam.

• The Xbox Mastercard Preview Expands to Additional Xbox Insiders Today.

Official patches.

• Hearthstone 27.4.2 Patch Notes.
• Heroes of the Storm Patch Notes — September 20, 2023.
• HYPERVIOLENT - !!! Content Update #1 + Giveaways + Realms Deep Sale.
• Sea of Thieves - The Legend of Monkey Island Concludes in ‘The Lair of LeChuck.’
• StarCraft II 5.0.12 Patch Notes.

• NVIDIA GeForce Now streaming service adds Cyberpunk 2077- Phantom Liberty and 26 more games.

• Announcing Heroes of Forever, a multi-dimensional arcade cover-shooter for PS VR2.
• Tiger Blade pounces onto PS VR2 November 17.
• Tin Hearts – in-depth look at the PS VR2 puzzler.

Official trailers.

• Brawlhalla- New Legend Loki Launch Trailer.
• For Honor - Content Of The Week - 28 September.

• Team Fortress 2 Particle Mayhem 2.

• BlizzCon 2023: Additional tickets on sale September 29, in-person program announcements.
• Diablo IV — Tune in to our Next Developer Update Livestream.

• It’s Time to Eat, Pizza Possum Is Out Now on Xbox Series X|S.
• The Foglands launches October 31 on PS VR2 and PS5.
• NHL 24 Ratings - Best Players - EA SPORTS.
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Beta (2310.230924-2200).

• Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses hands-on: Techy sunglasses you might actually want to wear.

• Reddit forces personalized ads, starts X-like user payment program.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 -Blackwell- Flagship Reportedly Features GB202 GPU With Up To 192 SM Units & 512-bit Bus.
• Cyberpunk Phantom Liberty Runs 31% Faster on AMD GPUs in Linux Compared to Windows 11.
• Multiple newsrooms are using AI to optimize work, despite concerns.
• How to turn Windows Copilot off.
• Backblaze Release Mid-Year SSD Report, Seagate Drives Reaching 800% Failure Rates. 800 out of every 10 drives fail?
• Microsoft updates PowerToys to improve ultrawide experience.

• DHS investigating whether floor plans and other security information were exposed in ransomware attack on contractor.
• Asian banks are a favorite target of cybercooks, and malicious bots their preferred tool.

• Nvidia's French offices raided in cloud-computing competition inquiry -WSJ.
• Privacy board recommends renewing Section 702 spying powers.

• It's messed-up and weird that CS-GO is just gone. Bravo for the subheadline: "Another one bites de_dust"…

Last Link of the Day: Argylle - Official Trailer. Thanks Acleacius.

News of layoffs notwithstanding, the Epic Games Store is still on schedule with its weekly giveaway. As of now, everyone is entitled to head over and snag free copies of Model Builder and/or Soulstice. The musicians may be different, but the song remains the same, so either or both is yours to keep if you act before next week. At that time we'll get the opportunity to take a bite out of Godlike Burger for free. Here's a refresher on today's freebies:

Join the latest trend in simulation games, bring out your creativity and make awesome looking models. Cut out, assemble, paint, and then customize your models! Build planes, tanks, ships, figures, and so much more. Sell your creations for-profit to expand your toolkit. Create stunning and epic scale models for the world to see.

The balance of the Holy Kingdom of Keidas is compromised when powerful, feral beings known as “Wraiths” invade from the other side of the Veil. Wraiths corrupt their victims and can even possess their bodies, turning into unstoppable, vile beings that prey upon the living. The Chimera, hybrid warriors born of the union of two souls, are the only ones who can protect humankind.

Some belt-tightening is underway at Epic Games, where as many as 900 staff are being laid off. Amid news of Fortnite V-Bucks price increases and a new version of the Fortnite Refer a Friend program came an X from Jason Schreier where the tapped-in Bloomberg reporter revealed layoffs, and a lot of them, saying: "Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite and Unreal Engine, is laying off a whopping 16% of employees (or around 900 people), sources tell Bloomberg News. More to come." That more is already here, as there's a statement confirming the news on the Epic Games Website. This also includes news of divestitures, as Bandcamp is being set free. Tim Sweeney says: "We're cutting costs without breaking development or our core lines of businesses so we can continue to focus on our ambitious plans. About two-thirds of the layoffs were in teams outside of core development. Some of our products and initiatives will land on schedule, and some may not ship when planned because they are under-resourced for the time being. We’re ok with the schedule tradeoff if it means holding on to our ability to achieve our goals, get to the other side of profitability and become a leading metaverse company." Here's more:

While Fortnite is starting to grow again, the growth is driven primarily by creator content with significant revenue sharing, and this is a lower margin business than we had when Fortnite Battle Royale took off and began funding our expansion. Success with the creator ecosystem is a great achievement, but it means a major structural change to our economics.

Epic folks around the world have been making ongoing efforts to reduce costs, including moving to net zero hiring and cutting operating spend on things like marketing and events. But we still ended up far short of financial sustainability. We concluded that layoffs are the only way, and that doing them now and on this scale will stabilize our finances.

Bloomberg reports on the state of the FTC investigation into the proposed Microsoft merger with Activision Blizzard after the deal was tentatively cleared by the UK CMA. The deadline is fast approaching, but the agency spent the summer barbequing, and is only just now getting back to work. In a ready, fire, aim moment, word is this could impact the deal even after it closes:

The US Federal Trade Commission is reviving its challenge against Microsoft Corp.'s $69 billion acquisition of video game company Activision Blizzard Inc., a move which may seek to unwind the deal after it closes.

The agency will move forward with its in-house trial against the acquisition after pausing it over the summer, according to an order the agency issued Wednesday. The move means the FTC will continue challenging the deal even after it has closed this year.

The new Skate Plus Pack for Riders Republic players is now live for Windows on the Epic Games Store and Steam, as well as for consoles, depending on where you purchased the base edition of this extreme sports simulation. As the title indicates, this ramps up the action by adding skateboarding to the mix, including new skate parks and competitions. A post from Ubisoft explains what this is about, and announces a free weekend gets underway today on the Epic Games Store. The game is on sale, and your progression carries over if you buy it, so feel free to grind away. Here's a Riders Republic: Season 8 Skateboard Trailer with a look, and here's more:

Riders Republic’s Skate add-on is available on September 27 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, and PC, bringing a new sport to the Republic: Skateboarding. Season 8: The Deck Festival launches the same day, with new events, gear, and cosmetics. Plus, players can test out skateboarding for free at launch and from September 28 to October 2, when Riders Republic will be free to play on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC (via Ubisoft Connect and Epic Games Store).

The Skate add-on brings new gameplay and a variety of additional content to the Republic:

• New area – The Deck, located in Bryce Canyon, is composed of six districts with a mix of indoor and outdoor skate parks, and even a giant ramp for thrill seekers.
• New career – with four stunts, 15 events, and three new sponsors.
• New gear –outfits suited to mainstream skateboarding culture, plus predefined skateboard decks, bolts, wheels, and marker elements.
• New tricks – experience skateboarding as authentically as possible with 44 new tricks.

Continue here to read the full story.

Though the most recent post on the HYENAS Website declaring the game's closed beta a "rousing success" is less than a week old, the actual latest news on Creative Assembly's multiplayer shooter is it is cancelled. A post from SEGA SAMMY has the announcement. Word is: "To promptly adapt to these changes in the environment and improve profitability, we have decided to implement structural reforms aimed at increasing efficiency, mainly at our European bases and reviewed the title portfolio in those bases. Then we have made the difficult decision to cancel some titles under the development as well as to reduce the fixed expenses." Here's the specific note about HYENAS, saying other unannounced titles are also being cancelled:

In response to the lower profitability of the European region, we have reviewed the title portfolio of each development base in Europe and the resulting action will be to cancel “HYENAS” and some unannounced titles under development. Accordingly, we will implement a write-down of work-in-progress for titles under development.

Apogee Entertainment now offers a demo for Vexlands to give a taste of this crafting adventure game in advance of its launch next year. The demo supports Windows and is available through the Epic Games Store, GOG.com, and Steam. Here's a trailer showing the game's cozy pixel-art style, and here's more:

Venture to the four corners of the cozy-yet-sometimes-perilous Vexlands. As the lone survivor of an unknown calamity, scour the once-bountiful landscape for resources to rebuild a flourishing homestead. Discover story-rich artifacts that tell of your ancestor’s disappearance, and conquer mighty challenges to become an unbreakable adventurer. Or…y’know…just go fishin’.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Yes, Phantom Liberty and patch 2.0 really are Cyberpunk 2077's 'last big updates' and it's finally time to start the sequel, director confirms.

• Cities Skylines- Build Today, Plan for Tomorrow! (pay what you want and help charity).*

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

• Microsoft Flight Simulator Release Notes - Sim Update 13 [1.34.16.0] Available Now.

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

• New Starfield Mod improves the quality of all major NPCs.

• VR still makes 40-70% of players want to throw up, and that's a huge problem for the companies behind it.
• Among Us VR is coming to PS VR2.

• Trackmania- Fall Campaign 2023 Trailer.
• Warpath X Metal Slug3.

↑ Official trailers. ↓ Content creator videos.

• Unraveling The Mysteries of Watery In Alan Wake 2 (Saga Gameplay).

• GOG Interview- learn more about games preservation with Video Games History Foundation and support their cause! - GOG.com.

• Spirits of Baciu - The Deception by Horns Level Up Games — Kickstarter. "The enigmatic adventure puzzle game about a cat-like spirit lost into the wood. Spirits of Baciu - Prologue free on Steam!" Here's a link to that free prologue.

• Cyberpunk 2077 Players Can Lock Themselves Out of Phantom Liberty By Selecting Wrong Dialogue Option. Hardcore!

• V Rising - Dev Update #21: The Next Chapter.

• Cities: Skylines II for PS5, Xbox Series delayed to spring 2024.
• Teardown is coming to PS5 on November 15.
• Free Play Days – Riders Republic, Shredders, and Ed-0- Zombie Uprising - Xbox Wire.
• Nintendo Download: The Real Kicker.

• Counter Strike 2 is surprisingly awful on Steam Deck right now.

Thanks Frans.

• Bloomberg Lazily Helps Telecom Lobby Seed The Press With Bullshit Claims About Net Neutrality. Thanks DSLReports via Ant.
• Mozilla Firefox 118.0.1, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes.
• Mozilla Firefox ESR 115.3.1, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Micron Samples 128 GB Modules Based on 32 Gb DDR5 ICs.
• You can no longer activate new Windows 11 builds with Windows 7 or 8 keys.
• 4 reasons you'd want to stay on Windows 10 in 2023.
• Here are all the new features Microsoft added to Excel in September 2023.
• Raspberry Pi 5 is the 'everything computer' -- out at the end of October. Thanks Ant.

• DNA Drives Help Identify Missing People. It's a Privacy Nightmare (may require registration or subscription).

• Civil rights groups ask NYC to ban biometric tech in public. Thanks DSLReports via Ant.

• The Lamplighters League PC Review - GameWatcher.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Laptop: Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D review (2023 G733PYV model - Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, RTX 4090) - UltrabookReview.
• Laptop: LG Gram Pro 17 review- a Gram with more gusto - The Verge.
• Mini PC: ACEMAGIC AM20 Pro (Ryzen 7735H) Mini PC - Guru3D.
• Mini PC: Raspberry Pi 5 Review- A New Standard for Makers - Tom's Hardware. Thanks Max.
• RAM: Silicon Power XPOWER Zenith 2x16GB DDR5 5600MHz RGB Memory Kit - Mad Shrimps.
• SSD: HP P900 1 TB Portable SSD Review - TechPowerUp.
• SSD: Lexar NM790 2TB - LanOC Reviews.
• SSD: Samsung 990 Pro 4TB Review- The Best Gets Bigger - Tom's Hardware.

I often marvel at the changes of seasons, and how they seem more abrupt than gradual, which seems counterintuitive. I often chalk this up to simply not paying enough attention to notice subtle indications that the weather is changing. But then there are moments like today that make me wonder. I went to empty the dehumidifier in my semi-subterranean office and it was empty. It holds a few quarts and needs to be emptied every day through the summer. And it was within the last two weeks that this was still the case. But the level in its reservoir has been considerably lower every single day since then. A few days ago I dumped about a glassful, by yesterday it was a few ounces, and this morning it was basically bone-dry. I know from last year this means it won't need to be emptied again until some time next spring. I get that the air is considerably drier in the winter than the summer, but this transition seems a lot more digital than analog. Whoever programmed this matrix was sloppy in some areas.

Obituary: Michael Gambon Dies: Harry Potter's Dumbledore Was 82.

Dried-up Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Stories

• Here's why 6,000 octopuses like to be under the sea at an 'octopus garden.' No one there to tell them what to do. Thanks RedEye9.
• Qatar Airways executive says invasive gynecological examinations of passengers won't be repeated. Apologies to anyone who missed out.

Science

• How Lockheed Martin designed the X-59, the world's quietest supersonic. Thanks A.C.M.
• Scientists get closer to solving mystery of antimatter. Thanks Acleacius.
• From stock markets to brain scans, new research harmonises hundreds of scientific methods to understand complex systems. Thanks Acleacius.

Media

• Astronaut Chris Hadfield Reviews Aerospace Movies (Top Gun Maverick, GOTG & More). Thanks RedEye9.

Creature Features

• Hilarious pup is all too excited to snitch on the cat for breaking house rules.

Follow-up

• World’s 1st drug to regrow teeth enters clinical trials. Thanks Slashdot via Ant.
• Dan Harmon Interview: Rick & Morty, Community, Krapopolis, Justin Roiland.

The Funnies

• Savage Chickens - Nobody Likes My Movie Pitch.