Archived News:

Thursday, Dec 12, 2024

The Witcher 4 Announced

CD PROJEKT RED announces The Witcher IV, erasing doubts this will be the official title of the next game in the beloved RPG series. The game was already in development under the codename Polaris, and the title reveal comes in a Reveal Trailer from The Game Awards showing off Unreal Engine 5 cinematics and revealing that this promotes Ciri to main protagonist. It concludes pointing to The Witcher Universe Website for more, and that's collecting newsletter signups and providing the following quick description:
The Witcher IV is a single-player, open-world RPG from CD PROJEKT RED. At the start of a new saga, players take on the role of Ciri, a professional monster slayer, and embark on a journey through a brutal dark-fantasy world.

Powered by Unreal Engine 5, it aims to be the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game to date.
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Thick As Thieves Announced

Megabit and OtherSide Entertainment announce Thick As Thieves, an "immersive" stealth/action multiplayer game coming in 2026 to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. A stealth game seems like a natural for OtherSide, which includes Warren Spector, Greg LoPiccolo, and Paul Neurath, known for development of genre exemplars System Shock, Thief, and Deus Ex. Word is: "Thick As Thieves invites players to navigate a 1910s metropolis where every shadow conceals new challenges, from rival thieves and watchful guards, to a richly detailed city that changes with each heist." The Announce Trailer shows this in action, set to a little Jane's Addiction, who rose to popularity near the end of the Gilded Age. Word is there's also a little magic to the game's heists:
Set in an alternate history metropolis where technology clashes with magic, Thick As Thieves immerses you in a complex, detailed world of glittering wealth, a thriving criminal underclass, and a touch of magic. As the upper class amasses wealth and power while the lower class struggles to survive, you weave your way through both worlds, pursuing treasure and glory with stealth and cunning.

Players engage in a unique competitive multiplayer experience, where infiltration, theft, and escape drive success. The game rewards clever tactics, planning, and improvisation. Thick As Thieves exemplifies OtherSide's commitment to player-driven agency, creating an experience where each playstyle can unfold uniquely in a vibrant world.
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ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Announced

FromSoftware and Bandai Namco announce ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN, a standalone co-op action/survival game in the ELDEN RING setting. The developer calls this a "condensed action RPG," saying it is unlike any experience it has created before. It will come to PC via Steam and consoles next year, and the Official Website is live with details, screenshots, and this trailer with a first look. Here's the announcement:
Players take on the night together in an all-new experience from the team at FromSoftware. ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN will be a multiplayer-focused return to Roundtable Hold, set in a universe parallel to the events of ELDEN RING. Players must choose from eight unique characters, each with their own unique abilities and powerful Ultimates. Their journeys take them to Limveld, an ever-changing map, where they will have to make split-second decisions when it comes to combat and exploration in the face of a night cycle that shrinks the map with the coming Night’s Tide. At the end of each night, players will face a powerful boss and, if victorious, awaken to bigger challenges. Each session will culminate in the third night when they must face off against the chosen Nightlord. Individuals can fight the night alone, but strength will come in numbers. Nightfarers must learn to cooperate to take down these challenges, combining their unique abilities together for an unparalleled experience in the ELDEN RING universe. All is not lost for those who fall in defeat. Unsuccessful runs will grant players relics to allow them to customize and upgrade their characters tailored to their personal play styles.
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Split Fiction Announced

Electronic Arts and Hazelight Studios announce Split Fiction, an action/adventure "that pushes the boundaries of the co-op genre further than ever" from the folks who brought us It Takes Two. The Official Reveal Trailer shows the game's teamwork is a mashup, as the game features a science fiction author and a fantasy author trapped in worlds of their own creation, hence the title. It concludes with a March 6, 2025 release date, and the launch is expected on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Additionally: "A Hazelight Studios staple feature, Friend’s Pass, which allows one player who owns the game to invite a friend to play for free, is back and pushed even further with crossplay options enabled for PlayStation, Xbox and PC via Steam." Here's a description:
In Split Fiction, players will discover a variety of sci-fi and fantasy mechanics and abilities. Escape a sun that’s going supernova, challenge a monkey to a dance battle, try out some cool hoverboard tricks, fight an evil kitty and ride everything from gravity bikes to a sandshark. With worlds that are entirely different from each other, surprising challenges await players at every turn.

Mio and Zoe are contrasting writers, one of sci-fi and the other of fantasy, who become trapped in their own stories after being hooked up to a machine designed to steal their creative ideas. Jumping back and forth between worlds, they’ll have to work together and master a variety of abilities in order to break free with their memories intact.
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Mafia: The Old Country in Summer

The Initiation Trailer is now available for Mafia: The Old Country, the upcoming open-world organized crime prequel. This officially debuted at The Game Awards, though it leaked before then. The clip is a cinematic, but word is it is rendered using the game engine. It concludes with a release window, saying the chance to go back to the old country will begin in summer 2025. Word is:
Uncover the origins of organized crime in Mafia: The Old Country, a gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily.

Fight to survive as Enzo Favara in this immersive third-person action-adventure.

PC The Last of Us Part II Remastered in April

An Announcement Trailer finally confirms plans for a Windows edition of The Last of Us Part II Remastered, saying the zombie infested sequel will shamble onto PC on April 3, 2025. The Steam Listing is live, but it's still mostly a placeholder right now. Here's the description from the video:
Play Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II Remastered, coming to PC for the first time on April 3, 2025. Bringing with it all the improvements and new modes from the PlayStation 5 version, like the roguelike survival mode No Return, Guitar Free Play, commentary, and more, Part II Remastered will allow players to experience Ellie and Abby’s acclaimed journeys, optimized and enhanced for PC.
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Turok: Origins Announced

Saber Interactive surprised viewers of The Game Awards with the announcement of Turok: Origins, pulling a Jurassic Park in bringing this dinosaur back from extinction (not counting Nightdive's remasters). This is a third-person shooter coming to PC and consoles, though it doesn't yet carry a release date. The Announcement Trailer has a first look, and here's more for those who want Turok all night and party every day:
Turok: Origins revives the legendary game franchise’s action and spirit while bringing it forward into the modern era with a completely new look, story, and gameplay. Players will take on the role of fierce Turok warriors to face off against ferocious dinosaurs and a terrifying alien threat that seeks to destroy all human life in the galaxy. Fans can unleash devastating attacks on enemies with weapons and abilities, and harness fallen enemies’ DNA to upgrade their arsenal. Players will embark on a high-stakes adventure — solo or with friends — to unravel mysteries that hold the key to saving humanity.
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Dispatch Announced

AdHoc Studio announces Dispatch, a narrative workplace comedy featuring Aaron Paul as a faded superhero working in a call center. AdHoc includes veterans of Telltale Games, and word is: "From the writers & directors of Tales from the Borderlands and The Wolf Among Us, Dispatch is a superhero workplace comedy set in modern day Los Angeles." Here's the World Premiere Trailer from The Game Awards, here's the Steam Listing, and here's more:
You play as Robert Robertson, AKA Mecha Man, whose mech-suit is destroyed in a battle against his nemesis, forcing him to take a job at a superhero dispatch center: not as a hero, but a dispatcher. In charge of rehabilitating a group of ex-supervillains, you must manage your roster while navigating office relationships and rebuilding your suit for a shot at revenge.

In Dispatch, every decision you make influences the unfolding narrative. From banter in the breakroom to life-or-death situations in the field, your choices affect your relationships with the heroes, their allegiances, and the path your own story takes.

SHADOW LABYRINTH Announced

Bandai Namco announces SHADOW LABYRINTH, a 2D action/platformer with an unexpected take on PAC-MAN coming next year to PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch. It's expected on Steam, but the listing isn't live yet (fun fact, there are listings for both Shadows Labyrinth and Labyrinth Of Shadows). As the title suggests this has a dark theme seen in the game's Secret Level episode, and the company admits is "a broad departure." This is seen in this Reveal Trailer, which shows both ghosts that are more ghostly and a PAC-MAN that is more manly. Here's word:
SHADOW LABYRINTH is a broad departure from any previous PAC-MAN game, where players take on the role of another character as protagonist, named Swordsman No. 8. In the game, following the events introduced in the Secret Level animated short, players awaken on an alien planet still ravaged by war and monsters. They quickly encounter PUCK, a mysterious yet recognizable figure who teaches them that their aim in this treacherous world is to escape it, and to achieve that they must consume everything that waits in the darkness to survive – and ultimately become the planet’s apex predator. Drawing even more inspiration from the source material for this unique game, players traverse a maze-filled world where enemies and puzzles new and familiar will challenge them at every step. Success comes from mastery of fluid combat and exploration to uncover increasingly powerful abilities and skills and conquering challenging bosses to discover their true purpose.
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KYORA Announced

Publisher Chucklefish and Core Keeper developer Pugstorm announce KYORA, a 2D sandbox adventure for up to eight players promising a game "where every pixel can be shaped, mined, built or destroyed." This is on display in the brief Official Announcement Trailer unveiled at The Game Awards and word is it's "coming soon" to Early Access on Steam. Here's word:
Cross into a realm of ruins, where every pixel is a tool to create something new. Mine precious resources, craft physics-altering wands, take on powerful bosses, and build your base by terraforming the world around you.

Journey into the unexpected, in a procedurally-generated open world. Carve into the earth or sculpt toward the sky in search of magical materials. Craft matter-manipulating wands, upgrade your gear, and take on the powerful bosses in control of each biome: the Heralds.
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Solasta II Announced

Tactical Adventures announces Solasta II, an "ambitious" tabletop-inspired RPG sequel launching in PC Early Access in 2025. The Official Announcement Trailer shows off some Unreal Engine 5 cinematics and gameplay, and says a playable demo is "coming soon." A Steam Listing is live and it already offers a Dev Update #01 to bring us up to speed. Here's word on the game and how it connects to its forebear:
Decades after the events of Solasta: Crown of the Magister (2021), Solasta II transports players to the vibrant high-fantasy realm of Neokos—a land of breathtaking beauty teetering on the edge of ruin at the hands of Shadwyn, an all-powerful being brought to life by Amelia Tyler (Baldur’s Gate 3, Hades II). As her endless tide of corruption spreads across the continent, a band of valiant adventurers rises to the challenge. While navigating towering landscapes to contending with political factions vying for power and fighting fearsome foes, players must make wise decisions to end an ancient feud before it engulfs the lands in bloodshed and strife.
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NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound

Dotemu and developer The Game Kitchen announce NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound, an action/platformer coming to PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch in summer 2025. As seen in the Reveal Trailer, this features 2D graphics and aspires to channel "the classic and modern NINJA GAIDEN trilogies from KOEI TECMO GAMES in a brand new adventure." Here's the Steam Listing and here are the details:
A new hero, Kenji Mozu, emerges in NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound. The story picks up in Hayabusa Village after Ryu Hayabusa heads to America to avenge his father's death, as told in the NES version of NINJA GAIDEN. Suddenly, the veil between the human and demon worlds has torn, opening a doorway to darkness in Hayabusa Village. Kenji Mozu, a young ninja of the Hayabusa clan, throws himself into battle, determined to protect his village and its people from a looming demonic threat in this dark and dangerous era.
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Rematch Announced

Sloclap announces Rematch, an online futbol/soccer/association football game kicking off next year for PC on Steam as well as for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. The Reveal Trailer has a first look, and the description points to the official website where everyone is invited to register for the beta. This features 5v5 gameplay and promises short matches. Here's more on how this hopes to stand out from the crowd in depicting the world's most popular sport:
Set in vibrant virtual reality arenas, the gameplay flows with no fouls and no offsides, and the action never stops. Players control only one player on the team in an immersive third person perspective, swapping roles as the situation evolves: from striker to defender, down to a uniquely designed goalkeeper position featuring specific abilities. Each match is an intense showdown, in which players need both split-second reactions and tactical teamplay to prevail.
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BLACKFROST: The Long Dark 2 Announced

Hinterland Studio announces BLACKFROST: The Long Dark 2, an upcoming sequel that adds more sand (and snow) to the post apocalyptic, well, hinterland. It's coming to Steam, where there's a lengthy update explaining the future of The Long Dark and serving the Announcement Trailer. Here's the quick version:
BLACKFROST: The Long Dark 2 is the sequel to the hit survival game, THE LONG DARK, launched on Early Access and honed over 10 years of open development. It is the evolution of the survival sandbox, refining every aspect of the original, and introducing co-op to the formula. Conceived of and developed by Hinterland, the same creative team that brought you the original.
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Borderlands 4 Trailer

Randy Pitchford took to the stage at The Game Awards to present the world premiere trailer for Borderlands 4, the next installment in the looter shooter series. The Borderlands 4 Official First Look introduces new vault hunters, new enemies, and familiar elements, including the series signature cel shaded graphics. Here's the description of the clip discussing what to expect:
Break free from the oppressive Timekeeper, a ruthless dictator who dominates the masses from on high. Now a world-altering catastrophe threatens his perfect Order, unleashing mayhem across the planet.

Ignite a resistance and blast your way through mechanical monstrosities, bloodthirsty bandits, and vicious beasts. Amass an arsenal of death-dealing firepower to wreak havoc as you tear your way across Kairos.

Fight solo or in co-op with up to three other players in this immense sci-fi adventure, packed with free-form combat and exploration, pulse-pounding boss fights, infinitely varied loot drops, and an eclectic cast of unforgettable characters new and old.
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Dave the Diver: In The Jungle Next Year

A new trailer shows off In The Jungle, new DLC for Dave the Diver, taking the fishing sushi game inland. The description is quite scant, and the clip was posted by PlayStation, so it doesn't even show other platforms. But it does say this is coming late next year, so there will be a lot of gamers waiting with bated breath. Here's the description:
Unseen mysteries, untold secrets!
Join Dave and his friends in this new DLC as they explore a whole new world—right in the JUNGLE!

A new story unfolds as the Blue Hole gang gathers together for yet another adventure.

Coming late 2025.
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Chris Barrett Sues Bungie/Sony

VentureBeat reports that Chris Barrett has filed a lawsuit against Bungie its owner Sony, accusing his former employers of firing him under false pretenses to avoid a $45 million payout to which he was entitled. He was fired in March while serving as Game Director on the Marathon revival, and in August Bloomberg reported this dismissal was allegedly over inappropriate behavior by multiple female colleagues. According to IGN the ask is over $200 million: "The 81-page lawsuit lays out seven counts against Bungie and SIE, including Family and Medical Leave Act [FMLA] retaliation, defamation, and breach of contract. Barrett is seeking at least $100 million in defamation damages in addition to more than $90 million for money owed under retention agreements, alleged Washington Rebate Act [WRA] violations, and other compensation." Barrett lays out his case in this post on X:
The past nine months following my departure from Bungie have been very difficult and painful for me as I've had to endure rampant speculation, unfounded attacks on my reputation, and innuendo about what happened behind the scenes to cause me to be fired after 25 years of loyal service. I want to thank everyone who has been there for me.

I've eagerly awaited the opportunity to get the truth out there and tell my side of the story, and now is that time. Today, I filed a lawsuit against Sony and Bungie to hold them accountable for their conduct and the damage that has been done to my reputation and my career.

I am confident that the facts are on my side and look forward to clearing my name through the legal process. Because this is a pending legal matter, there is nothing else I can say about it at this time.

Total War: WARHAMMER III – Omens of Destruction Released

This post on Steam announces the release of Omens of Destruction, the deceptively singular title for what are actually three separate DLC packs for Total War: WARHAMMER III, the fantasy strategy sequel. There's also a new bundle of all three along with the base game for Windows, macOS, and Linux, which is currently 60% off. This comes alongside a new version 6.0 patch, and the notes on that now online. Here's the Omens of Destruction Launch Trailer and here are some details:
Embark on campaigns of hero-slaying, mercenary conflict, and brutal tactics in the OMENS OF DESTRUCTION DLC for Total War: WARHAMMER III. Introducing three hellraising Legendary Lords for Khorne, Orcs & Goblins and the Ogre Kingdoms, as well as a host of new battle units and gameplay features to be experienced in the immense Immortal Empires campaign.
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Bloodshed Early Access

There will be blood (and sheds, for that matter), as Bloodshed is now available for Windows on Steam, launching a survival FPS from Headup and com8com1 Software. The Early Access Release Trailer shows fast-paced action, throwback graphics, and weird pop-up character intros to keep you on your toes. This post wishes everyone a happy slay day to celebrate the launch, laying out the roadmap of what to expect from Early Access. Here's the overview:
Bloodshed is an exhilarating fusion of Roguelite elements merged with retro-styled visuals and first-person “Survivors-like” frenetic combat action: Face endless waves of undead foes, collect experience points, and upgrade your skills and weapons in a battle to survive the night. Even after death, you keep your hard-earned money which can be exchanged for persistent improvements and unlockable content, allowing you to progress further while adding depth to the overall gameplay.
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Murky Divers Released

Murky Divers is now out of Early Access and has taken the plunge into full release on Steam, offering a Windows co-op horror/adventure set under the sea. So the title refers to the depths, rather than Murky the murloc (sorry World of Warcraft and Heroes of the Storm players). Word is the game sold over 350,000 copies in Early Access, and this post discusses that journey and what's changed in version 1.0 while providing the Launch Trailer as illustration. Back to that title, the game's description suggests it may also refer to the murky intentions of your mission:
Dive with a team of up to 8 to the bottom of the ocean. Your mission: Remove all corpses from Pharma Corps' abandoned labs. Erase any evidence of their failed experiments.

Dive into the ocean with a submarine that suits your playstyle. Go solo or team up with a friend in the small sub, play with up to 4 players in the regular sub, or gather 5 to 8 players for a full chaotic crew experience in the large sub.

Use your caddie to extract dead bodies from the wrecks that used to be labs. But be careful! There are things lurking and oxygen might run out quicker than you expect.
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Demos & Freebies

  • Masks of the Void on Steam (no platform listed). "You are Iret, a girl who has obtained this power and with it, the task to prevent a Neverending Night. Empower yourself or your allies in this journey while the world reacts to your decisions and your character grows stronger in a roguelike or roguelite style, all up to you!"

Epic Holiday Sale Includes Return to Moria Giveaway

The Epic Games Holiday Sale is underway, promising "discounts on select PC games" between now and January 9th. This includes a limited time promotion on the Epic Rewards Program, doubling its standard reward rate to 10%. The sale launches alongside the store's regular weekly giveaway, which is a free copy of The Lord of The Rings: Return to Moria, the adventure sequel that rounds up the dwarves and heads back to the mines. The gift is yours to keep if you snag it by next Thursday, when it's replaced by a new freebie, currently teased as a "mystery game." Here's more:
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria follows the Dwarves as they embark on a new adventure to reclaim their legendary home of Moria beneath the Misty Mountains. Players will join forces to survive, craft, build and explore the iconic, sprawling mines. Courageous expeditioners will need to be vigilant as mysterious dangers await.

Summoned to the Misty Mountains by Lord Gimli Lockbearer, players take control of a company of Dwarves tasked to reclaim the lost spoils from the Dwarven homeland of Moria—known as Khazad-dûm or Dwarrowdelf—in the depths below their very feet. Their quest will require fortitude, delving deep into the Mines of Moria to recover its treasures.

GOG.com Winter Sale Includes Whispered World Giveaway

The Whispered World: Special Edition is now a giveaway on GOG.com offering a 100% discount on this epic adventure for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The DRM-free game is yours to keep if you claim it over the next three days as the store celebrates its Big Winter Sale.* The sale includes about 6500 deals and will run for the next three weeks, spanning the winter solstice it celebrates. Here's more on today's gift:
The visually impressive adventure-epic The Whispered World is now available as a Special Edition for the first time. Let the Whispered World enchant you with its many animated details and fantastic characters.

Sadwick's adventure begins when he sets out to understand the meaning of his recurring nightmares. In his dreams, he is haunted by a mysterious blue sphere as his world collapses around him. Shana, the oracle, confirms his worst fears: not only does she foretell the end of the world, but also that Sadwick is the very reason for their doom. Face the prophecy and experience an adventure unlike any other!
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Warcraft Rumble PC Beta

Blizzard News announces that a PC beta is live for Warcraft Rumble, the free-to-play action/strategy spin-off of the Warcraft series that launched last year for mobile. There is the chance to earn drops by watching streams on Twitch, as well as daily login rewards to fill your skinner box. Here's word on the game:
Warcraft® Rumble™ is a mobile action strategy game set within the Warcraft universe where collectible Minis come to life to battle in frantic melee skirmishes. Play in multiple modes, including the single player campaign, going head-to-head in epic PvP battles, and more. Experience the true meaning of joyful chaos!

HITMAN Jean-Claude Van Damme Mission Starter Pack

IO Interactive announces the launch of the promised new Elusive Target mission in HITMAN World of Assassination that tasks agents with taking down "The Splitter," played by Jean-Claude Van Damme. For the record, this is not even close to the most ridiculous use of his impressive signature move. The Splitter mission is now part of the game's starter pack, allowing everyone to wrap their legs arms around the mission for free. The paid version includes permanent access to the mission, new weapons, cosmetics, and a virtual VHS tape, so be kind, rewind. Here are the December 2024 Patch Notes, the launch trailer suggesting you could kill JCVD by hiding his throat lozenges, and details on more chances to get free stuff:
The Season of The Splitter – Live Updates, Free for HITMAN WOA Players
The Splitter will not be the only content addition to HITMAN World of Assassination with some more activities to come, including a new challenge, featured contracts, and returning Elusive Targets. A new Twitch Drop, the Purple Streak ICA19 Classic Baller, will also be up for grabs by watching one hour of HITMAN World of Assassinationon Twitch between the 12th of December 2024 and the 8th of January 2025.Additionally, players will be able to unlock the Purple Streak Boxer Suit, by supporting Twitch streamers with a subscription, with the campaign also running from the 12th of December 2024 to the 8th of January 2025.
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Undisputed Adds Jake Paul DLC

The Problem Child Pack is now available for Windows on Steam as well as for consoles, offering the promised new DLC to Undisputed, the boxing simulation from Steel City Interactive and Deep Silver. This capitalizes on the undeniable appeal of being able to punch Jake Paul in the face, as it adds the professional influencer, musician, actor, investor, sports-betting mogul, personal care expert, wrestler, MMA fighter, pornographer, public nuisance, COVID-denier, and boxer to the game. Here's a trailer and more:
Bring explosive power and style to the ring with The Problem Child Pack, the first DLC for Undisputed, which includes:

  • Jake ‘El Gallo De Dorado’ Paul: Jake Paul, otherwise known by his fighter name ‘El Gallo De Dorado’, comes to Undisputed as a playable fighter, with two additional in-ring outfits.
  • The Fighter Pack: Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang, Juan Manuel Márquez, Erik ‘Terrible’ Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, James ‘Buster’ Douglas and Otto Wallin, along with alternate ring attire for each.
  • The Apparel Pack: Alternate ring attire for Deontay Wilder, Roy Jones Jr., Terence Crawford, Vasiliy Lomachenko, Seniesa Estrada and Sunny Edwards.

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Memory Lost Demo and Chapter One Released

Publisher ESDigital and developer Magic Hazard announce Memory Lost will launch on PC and consoles in 2025, presuming they remember. There's a playable Windows demo for this top-down shooter on the Epic Games Store and Steam. Additionally, the game's entire first chapter is available on Steam for free as an additional way to experience what to expect. Here's a Gameplay Trailer and more details:
Memory Lost is a thrilling story-driven action shooter where the battles are built around the mechanics of mind capturing and moving into the enemy's body. Dive deep into the depths of Detraxis, a dystopian metropolis full of technological miracles and cruel corporate battles, and use your unique ability to shift your consciousness into your enemies, capturing their minds and mastering their abilities. This mechanic will allow you to instantly and tactically adapt to the situation and overcome obstacles standing between you and your objective.
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Cosmic Royale Released

Cosmic Royale is now free-to-play for Windows on the Epic Games Store and Steam, offering a science fiction kart-racing battle royale for up to 40 players. A battle royale means there can only be one winner, which sounds like regular racing, so this may require all opponents be eliminated (or maybe there are French Quarter Pounders involved). The launch is called the preseason, and exclusive content is promised to those who participate. Here's a bit on the grind: "Collect and visually enhance your karts to increase your Rewardator. This function acts like a multiplier to speed up your progress in Cosmic Pass. The higher your Rewardator, the faster you unlock exclusive content." Check out the Trackmania meets Fall Guys Launch Trailer and read on for more:
Welcome to Cosmic Royale, a thrilling online battle royale with a cosmic twist! Take on 40 players, avoid obstacles and use strategy to claim the title of champion in this fast-paced karting experience.
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RECUR Announced

Astra Logical and kaleidoscube announce RECUR, a platformer where you play as a postman trying to deal with the apocalypse, proving that Kevin Costner did not kill this concept completely. The novelty here is your control of time, which comes in handy when trying to cope with puzzles related to the end of the world. Here's the Announcement Trailer with a look and the game's Steam Listing is live. Read on for more:
You’re just an average postman, but today is anything but average. It’s the end of the world and you suddenly have the power to control time itself. By moving forwards or backwards, you alone control the flow of time to solve problems, change outcomes, and discover secrets as you try to save the world.

You need more than just reflexes to save the world: you’ll need to use your time-bending abilities to solve puzzles and traverse gargantuan obstacles. Explore a world falling apart in your quest to put things right. Or left.
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Autogun Heroes: Supercharged Announced

Nitro Games announces Autogun Heroes: Supercharged, a 2D action/platformer with skill-based shooting that questions the logic of the title. This is a spinoff of the Autogun Heroes game available on mobile, but the promise is this is "crafted specifically for PC fans." Its Steam Listing is live, and the Steam Reveal Trailer takes a look. Here's more:
Aliens have taken over the galaxy and it is your mission to take it back with the help of Gus and his fellow heroes! Autogun Heroes: Supercharged, is a thrilling shoot 'em up that delivers skill-based 2D action platforming with tight, responsive controls. Assemble your heroes, each wielding distinct abilities, and reclaim your home one battle at a time!
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Miscellaneous Releases

  • Breath of Death VII: The Beginning: Reanimated (Windows). "The fast-paced supernatural RPG, Breath of Death VII, has been resurrected and remastered! Embark with our undead heroes on a bone-rattling post-apocalyptic adventure through an undead world, now more vibrant than ever, to exhume the mysteries of the past." Save 25% on Steam.
  • Creeper World IXE (Windows). "The unstoppable alien force known as The Creeper has returned, devouring thousands of worlds in its path, and yours is next. Battle against the Creeper fluid in a groundbreaking pixel-level simulation to prove that humanity will rule the galaxy forever!" Save 10% on Steam.
  • Janosik 2 (Windows, Linux). "Janosik 2 picks up right after the events of the first game. The famed Slovakian highlander and robber Janosik just finished a quest to rescue his comrades and is now on the path to defeat even more enemies – both mythical and historical. This time around, it’s not the band of brothers that’s missing, but rather Janosik himself. Caught with an ingenious ruse, our hero must rescue himself, his beloved and make new friends on the way." Save 10% on GOG.com* and Steam.
  • Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 - Floating Cities DLC (Windows). "Get ready to embark on a thrilling new journey with the Floating Cities DLC for Ship Graveyard Simulator 2! This time, the challenge is bigger and bolder – take on luxurious passenger ships and explore their many secrets." Save 15% on Steam.
  • The Spirit of the Samurai (Windows). "A village in peril. A samurai reanimated. An Oni advancing. Fight an army of undead warriors and Japanese monsters as a human, a Kodama, and a cat in this 2D stop-motion action adventure." Save 20% on Steam.

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Out of the Blue

Be prepared for some late news today, as The Game Awards get underway this evening. This is ostensibly a retrospective on gaming in 2024. But with the exception of when Christopher Judge and Al Pacino (NSFW) are involved, handing out the actual Keighleys generally takes a back-seat to reveals and announcements. The show doesn't start until 7:30 pm EST (and historically the first half-hour is sort of pre-show), so, as I say, things will end up running a little late. I only have one entry on my Game Awards Bingo card. "My personal friend, Hideo Kojima."

Award-winning Round-up
Thanks Ant, Neutronbeam, and Max.

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