Keen Software House announces the release of Contact on Steam, a new major update for Space Engineers, the sandbox construction game set in space, where no one can hear you engineer. The content of the new update is free for all owners, while the accompanying Contact Pack DLC is all optional cosmetic items. Here's a Jodie Foster-free Contact Trailer and here's more:

With this release, we’re taking Space Engineers to new frontiers of challenge and discovery. For those of you craving thrilling PvE encounters and seeking to push the limits of your engineering prowess, this update is packed with everything you need.

"Contact" brings an array of PvE encounters designed to test your skills and strategies in high-stakes scenarios. But that’s not all! We’re introducing exclusive Prototech blocks - advanced technology you can only obtain through these intense encounters.

Continue here to read the full story.

Notorious Studios announces Legacy: Steel & Sorcery, a PvPvE action/RPG in the works at Notorious Studios, a developer boasting veterans of Blizzard's World of Warcraft team. “Our goal was to build upon the foundations of RPG and MMO PvP into its own title, something we haven't quite seen before," says founder and CEO Chris Kaleiki. "We incorporated many of the lessons and learnings from building one of the biggest MMOs of all time (World of Warcraft) into Legacy. Based on feedback we've had from players already, I think we have something special here and we can't wait to share it with more and more players." This Official Gameplay Reveal Trailer takes a look, and there's a playable Windows demo on Steam to try out right now. Here's more:

Legacy: Steel & Sorcery is a third-person action PvPvE RPG featuring distinctive fantasy classes. Go on adventures solo or with friends to search for treasures, level up, and defeat any who stand in your way.

Combat has been designed from the ground up for PvP. Feel the impact of your attacks and use your abilities to carve out the flow of battle. Quick decisions and precision are necessary to win.

In the wilds, the spoils go to the victor. The world is more real when everyone's hard-earned loot is on the line. Victories are savored while defeat hardens resolve.

Continue here to read the full story.

SelectaVisión, Selecta Play, and Relevo announce Terrifier: The ARTcade Game, an upcoming beat-em-up for PC and consoles based on the Terrifier horror movie series. This is planned for release next year, and a Steam Listing is live with some screenshots, the Teaser Trailer has a cinematic and some retro pixel art gameplay. If you dream of being a beloved family entertainer, look elsewhere, but if you aspire to be a sociopathic murder clown, this game has the right makeup for you:

In Terrifier: The ARTcade Game, players step into the role of Art the Clown, the notorious villain from the Terrifier series, as he disrupts movie sets where films about his own gruesome acts are being shot. Instead of letting the cameras capture the staged terror, Art brings his own brand of real chaos, tearing through hordes of policemen, firewomen, camera operators, stunt performers, makeup artists, and even unsuspecting civilians. The vibrant pixel art graphics bring the film's eerie settings to life, while smooth animations make every attack and finishing move a gory delight.

Continue here to read the full story.

The promised Next Fest October 2024 on Steam is now underway, offering loads of game demos. Some demos started appearing before the fest began, and we are keeping up with them in our twice-daily Demos and Freebies roundups. But be aware that many of them are time-limited and may not run past the end of the fest next Monday. The Official Trailer is here to illustrate the news and add more details. Here's the description:

Steam Next Fest for October 2024 is here, October 14th – 21st!

Join us for a multi-day celebration of upcoming games. Explore and play hundreds of game demos, watch developer livestreams, and chat with teams about their games-in-progress and coming soon to Steam!

Continue here to read the full story.

• Atomic Owl on Steam (Windows). "Atomic Owl is a pixel art-based single-player, side-scrolling roguelite that combines fast-paced platforming with dynamic hack-and-slash combat and a variety of weapons, powerups, and a demonic blade. Journey through eight roguelite zones, save your friends, and take up arms against Omega Wing!"
• Commander Quest on Steam (Windows). "Congratulations! You just found a 'one of a kind' roguelike that combines deck-building card game and auto battle strategy game! Consider unit counters, then create powerful synergy by breaking down the boundaries between the battlefield and cards, then lead your army to victory!"
• Cursebane on Steam (Windows). "Cursebane is a katana-action roguelite where your choices twist your journey. Empower your blade and spells as you seek out those doomed by prophecy and save them from the Curse."
• DIESELDOME: Oil & Blood on Steam (Windows). "DieselDome: Oil & Blood is an FPS with Movement Shooter and Survivors-Like mechanics. In every run, you will create absurdly powerful builds against hundreds of enemies at a time while facing the judgment of the crowd. It takes place in an original RomanPunk universe."
• Streets of Rogue 2 on Steam (Windows). "Streets of Rogue 2 is a crazy, immersive RPG sandbox set in a vast randomly generated open world where freedom and fun are dialed up to 11. Fight, sneak, hack, farm, build, steal, or talk your way to power as you try to topple a corrupt president in countless possible ways – solo or with friends."
• Tailside: Cozy Cafe Sim on Steam (Windows). "A charming RPG where you'll discover the joys of running your own cozy cafe. From brewing the perfect cup of coffee to making friends with the locals, experience a blend of relaxation and adventure during your own coffee break."
• Urban Myth Dissolution Center on Steam (Windows). "Join forces with the psychic Director of the Urban Myth Dissolution Center and solve a variety of cases involving cursed relics, rental properties with shady histories, and dimensional anomalies. Monstrous oddities and otherworldly planes abound in this occult mystery adventure game!"
• Vindefiant on Steam (Windows). "A disgruntled employee is fired from his job, sparking a path of rage and destruction. Lead Alyx through his journey of vengeance and creatively kill enemies in this pixel-art adventure where you, are the villain."
• Watch Out For Goblins! on Steam (Windows). "Run and jump a ragdoll goblin through a hilarious physics sandbox! Explore and collect Power Cogs alone- or with a friend in split screen! Repair Gobland and become Goblin Royalty! There's no saying what might happen, and no stopping the BIG GOBLIN ENERGY!"
• Windblown on Steam (Windows). "Brave the Vortex and dash your way to greatness in this lightning-fast action roguelite for 1-3 players from the crafters of Dead Cells. Absorb the powers of fallen warriors, rebuild their weapons, and WIPE THE FLOOR with those Sentinels in search of that perfect run!"
• Ys X: Nordics on Steam (Windows). "Explore uncharted islands, engage in fast-paced action combat, and experience the high seas adventures of unlikely allies Adol and Karja in Ys X: Nordics!"

• Xbox Partner Showcase Announced For October 17, -World Premieres- Promised; How To Watch Live - GameSpot.

• The Complete Learn to Code Python and ML Megabundle (pay what you want and help charity) - Humble.*
• Save 20% on Kunitsu-Gami- Path of the Goddess on Steam.
• Save 50% on Pro Cycling Manager 2024 on Steam.
• Save 60% on The Legend of Tianding on Steam.
• Save 33% on Harold Halibut on Steam.

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

• Rare's Craig Duncan to become head of Xbox Game Studios as Alan Hartman retires - GamesIndustry.biz.

• GTA Online New Zombie Mode Attracts Over 1.2 Million Players - MP1st.

• The McLaren Senna arrives tomorrow in the Fortnite Shop.

Official patches.

• Hearthstone 30.6 Patch Notes.
• Hunt: Showdown 1896 -- Developer Update - 2.1 & All Hallows.

• Overwatch 2 Director’s Take – Tricks, Tweaks, and Treats for Season 13.

Official trailers.

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - Heard Anthony Edwards needed some time away doing something else he loves.
• Call of Duty - Which ending of Black Ops II was canon?
• Erenshor Steam Next Fest- October 2024 Halloween Content Update Trailer.
• Fortnite - Listen to this! Pew pew!
• Terrorbytes Early Access launch date trailer. October 22nd.

• Interview with Niklas Nylund at the Finnish Museum of Games - Spillhistorie.no.

• World of Warcraft Student Art Contest 2024.

• Star Wars- The Old Republic - Galactic Seasons Objectives: October 15 - November 11.

• World of Warcraft Cataclysm Classic: Rage of the Firelands Update Arrives on October 29; Firelands Raid on November 7.

• Uncharted 2- Among Thieves Changed Video Game Blockbusters Forever - TheGamer.

• NetEase and Bungie reveal F2P mobile Destiny spin-off Destiny: Rising - Game Developer.

• Adobe Moves Deeper Into Generative AI With Firefly Video Model - PCMag.
• Lots of PCs are poised to fall off the Windows 10 update cliff one year from today - Ars Technica.

• Black Ops 6 Audio — A More Detailed, Dynamic Soundscape.

• 5th Circuit rules ISP should have terminated Internet users accused of piracy - Ars Technica. Thanks DSLReports via Ant.

• The top 100 PC games - PC Gamer. 2024 edition…

Obituary: Ward Christensen, BBS inventor and architect of our online age, dies at age 78 - Ars Technica.

Disney announces Disney TRON: Catalyst, a new videogame returning to the world of the TRON (or Disney TRON, if you prefer) movies on PC and consoles next year. This is an action/adventure but continues the story from Tron: Identity, a short visual novel also based on the films, though playing the prior game is not required. The Announcement Trailer is here with a seeming reminder that professional voice actors are on strike, as a new interview about the game on Engadget proudly says "The game has voice acting for major characters and in pivotal scenes." The Steam Listing says this is coming "soon" and provides more details:

TRON: Catalyst pulls you back into the world of Disney’s TRON to battle multiple opposing factions in the latest imaginative story from Bithell Games (Thomas Was Alone, Subsurface Circular, TRON: Identity). TRON: Catalyst is an all-new story-driven, isometric action adventure game, set in the immersive and diverse locations of the Arq Grid introduced in TRON: Identity.

Play as Exo, a highly resilient and resourceful program wielding an unexpected power known as the Glitch, gaining strength and abilities which the overlords of the Arq Grid’s crumbling society seek to bring under control. Ride Light Cycles, engage in Identity Disc combat, and more as you’re relentlessly pursued through the city and beyond by Conn, a malevolent program with an agenda of his own, while uncovering more about the glitches that threaten the stability of this world.

Continue here to read the full story.

Starborne: Frontiers is now available for Windows on Steam, offering a new way to access this free-to-play autobattler from Solid Clouds following its launch in June on the Starborne website. New version Patch 1.16 patch notes have details on the launch of a new Halloween event. Word is: "Alongside our Steam debut, we have launched a special limited-time Halloween Bounty event featuring Count Garlik and his sidekick, Gary the Bat. Players can enjoy unique gameplay mechanics and unlock an exclusive avatar during this event." A Steam release trailer celebrates the occasion, and here's more:

400 years from now, Earth has perished, and humanity has made its home among the stars. The struggle for a place in space has left a lasting legacy of internal conflicts and brutal faction wars. The galaxy is divided among 10 warring factions, each with its own agenda. Factions like the Children of the Everliving seek eternal life at any cost, while MPL aims for profit, and Tianchao combats corruption with vast spy networks.

Continue here to read the full story.

This will be an extra-active section this week with a new Steam Next Fest getting underway quite soon.

• Bonaparte - A Mechanized Revolution on Steam (Windows). "1789, Paris. Take Napoleon’s place in an alternate history as Céline or César Bonaparte in this ideology driven, turn-based strategy journey. Defend, reform or oppose the monarchy and write your own alternative history by combining cunning political skills and tactical military prowess."
• Burden of Command on Steam (Windows). "Can you lead? Burden of Command is an emotionally authentic tactical leadership RPG. You’re a company Captain in the historical Cottonbalers. Fighting psychology as much as bullets, you must build respect, trust, and battlefield experience to bring your brothers safely home."
• IHAS on Steam (Windows). "Find yourself aboard a giant spaceship in IHAS, a gripping Sci-Fi adventure handcrafted by a solo Ukrainian developer. Experience intense FPS action, mind-bending puzzles, and epic boss battles."
• October Panic on Steam (Windows). "An arcade-style platformer with five levels and no saving/loading. A small trick-or-treat bag packed to the brim with both treats and tricks."
• Royal Revolt Warriors on Steam (Windows). "Unleash chaos in an electrifying 1-4 player co-op where survival and action-roguelite collide! Battle through relentless enemy hordes with a powerful mix of melee and ranged combat, navigating varied and dynamic environments."
• Slime Heroes on Steam (Windows). "You are the last slime and the only one that can save your home from the corruption consuming it. Play alone or with a friend to find different weapons, dynamically create your own magical abilities, and express the way you want to adventure in this slimes-like action-adventure!"
• Spirit of the North 2 on Steam (Windows). "Unveil the mysteries of a beautiful ancient world in this breathtaking 3rd-Person Adventure, a sequel to the acclaimed ‘Spirit of the North.’ Take on the role of an isolated fox with a raven companion on a quest to restore the lost guardians and return home."
• Stratagem Lost on Steam (Windows). "Brave perilous turn-based strategy encounters and uncover dark conspiracies in a broken world. Draft your team of unique characters and have them learn skills from each other. Welcome to hard times—can you recover what's been lost?"
• The Stone of Madness on Steam (Windows). "The Stone of Madness is a real-time tactical stealth game set in an 18th-century Spanish Monastery. Five prisoners pool their skills and resources to face their phobias, stave off insanity, uncover the mysteries of the Monastery, and find a way to escape."

• Payday 3 developer likens launch to being a rock band when "the whole stage collapses and everyone leaves" - Eurogamer.net.

• Shooter Promo is here! - GOG.com.*
• Have a Warhammer Day (pay what you want and help charity).*
• Top-Rated Aircraft Sale - Microsoft Flight Simulator.

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

• Tim Schafer played Brütal Legend for six hours straight to help players unlock this rare achievement - Eurogamer.net.

• Sky: Children of the Light - Patch Notes - October 10, 2024 - 0.27.0 (292054).

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

• Modders have changed Angela & Maria in Silent Hill 2 Remake to make them more beautiful & feminine - DSOGaming.

Official trailers.

• Beyond These Stars - Gameplay Trailer - City-Builder On A Space Whale.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - The Replacer "Delivery Driver."
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - The Replacer "Sportscenter Host."
• Dragon Quest III HD2D Remake - Exclusive PS5 footage.
• Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch - Official Early Access Date Announce.
• MechWarrior 5- Clans - The Invasion Begins Now - launch trailer.
• RuneScape Dev Diary: Harvest Hollow - Halloween 2024 Now Live.
• The Stone Of Madness - Release Date Announcement. January 28th.
• Toads of the Bayou - Release Date Trailer. November 19th.

• Matt Chatt 540: Joseph and Hannah Williams on Banquet for Fools (video). Thanks Ant.

• Stratagem Lost - A Radical Tactical RPG by Hybrid Fiction Games — Kickstarter. "Command a ragtag group of renegades and fight to uncover dark conspiracies in this stylish, punk-inspired strategy RPG." As mentioned abobe, there's a Windows demo on Steam. Here's the Extended Kickstarter Trailer.

• Squirrel With a Gun launches tomorrow – first look at upcoming free updates – PlayStation.Blog.

• Android 16 will include a Terminal and full Linux VM support with GPU acceleration - NotebookCheck.net News. Thanks Max.
• Trump campaign gets 'unhackable' phones • The Register.

• The Internet Archives' Wayback Machine site is back online but in a read-only mode for now - Neowin.
• Turns out that Discord exists because the chat service's co-creator wanted somewhere he could chat about Final Fantasy 11 - VG247.
• TikTok’s research reportedly acknowledges negative effects on teens - Yahoo! Finance. Thanks Max.
• Mozilla Firefox 131.0.3, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes. Thanks Frans.
• ICYMI- Google warns uBlock Origin not -best- for you, will -permanently disable- it soon - Neowin.
• E-bikes: eBay to ban private sales over fire safety concerns - BBC.

Thanks Max.

• Counter-Strike's Dust II runs purely within a neural network on an RTX 3090 — performance is disappointing at only 10 FPS - Tom's Hardware.
• Intel Is Now Working on Its Third-Generation 'Celestial' GPU Architecture - Extremetech.
• Your recent LG OLED TV is about to get a great free upgrade – earlier than expected - TechRadar.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Case: Montech King 65 Pro Review - TechPowerUp.
• Headset/Earbuds: Dyson OnTrac review- Creative design meets unimpressive sound - Android Police.
• Headset/Earbuds: Tozo HA1 - OCInside (German).
• Headset/Earbuds: Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 Review - APH Networks.
• Misc: Pisen 120 W GaN USB-C Fast Charger - Christ Centered Gamer.
• Monitor/Projector: Hisense PX3-PRO TriChroma Laser Projector Review - PCMag.
• Motherboard: Gigabyte X870 AORUS Elite WiFi7 Motherboard Review - ThinkComputers.org.
• Motherboard: Titan Army P32A2S2 32-inch 240 Hz QHD gaming monitor review- Quick, bold color and a great value - Tom's Hardware.

Today is Columbus Day here in the U.S., and apparently elsewhere, as the Wikipedia explains this is celebrated in a bunch of other countries under various names. But the name of the occasion here is also in flux, as it is also now Indigenous Peoples' Day for many as part of the backlash of what can at the very least be called the excesses of the Age of Exploration that lead to the Age of Imperialism. This might explain why I feel this snuck up on me this year, as it doesn't seem to be as prominent as it once was, despite still being a Federal Holiday.

Also, happy Thanksgiving to Canada, where this is celebrated on the second Monday in October. I like how the U.S. version falls on Thursday, but mid-October is a much better time for a celebration of fall than late November, which is too close to the holiday season, not to mention my birthday. So good on you, Canada. I'll try and hunt down some pumpkin pie to celebrate.

Celebratory Round-up
Thanks Ant, Neutronbeam, and Max.

Story

• North Carolina bear meat infects 10 with rare parasite - WKBN27.

Science

• ‘Phenomenal’ tool sequences DNA and tracks proteins — without cracking cells open - Nature.
• Colossal snake measuring over 50 feet long found in India - The Brighter Side of News.
• 'Islands' of regularity discovered in the famously chaotic three-body problem - Phys.org.
• Can a Supplement Really Help Control Your Pesky Eye Floaters? - ScienceAlert.

Media

• VFX Artists React to Bad & Great CGi 153. Thanks The Flying Penguin.

Follow-up

• Tea And Coffee May Affect Your Heart Health, New Study Says - HuffPost UK Life.
• SpaceX catches returning rocket in mid-air, turning a fanciful idea into reality - Ars Technica.

The Funnies

• Savage Chickens.