We've struck gold! ⛏️

#Civ7 has officially gone gold - we're ready to hit shelves on February 11.

Ready to think quickly on your feet? What about fast reactions, how are those?

Ready for us to stop asking you so many questions? Ha.

Steam's Real-Time Strategy Fest has you covered, with discounts and demos galore from January 20th - January 27th at 10am PST.

Did we mention the focus is on real-time? Ooops, sorry, that was another question. Steam's Real-Time Strategy Fest is packed with deals on strategy games that aren't turn-based, but rather run in real time.

During Tempest Rising’s first multiplayer demo, going on now through February 3, players can battle each other for dominance on three maps: Alps (2v2), Overgrown Oasis (1v1), and Altitude (1v1). Players can also experience the game’s PvE skirmish mode against AI opponents for the first time.

Tempest Rising transports you to a battle-scarred 1997 in an alternate timeline where the Cuban Missile Crisis went nuclear. Experience two epic campaigns with unique factions and deeply rewarding gameplay that keeps the focus on strategy and skill. Take full command of the battlefield as you build up your base, lead your armies into combat, and execute bold strategies to emerge victorious.

Engage in a compellingly chaotic combination of RTS action and tactical tower defense to wipe out relentless alien swarms overwhelming the screen. Command a varied arsenal of combat tools in real-time, from repositionable drag-and-drop turrets to point-and-shoot orbital cannons, leveraging their strengths to overcome challenging scenarios.

Explore several diverse modes and complete fist-pumping missions, including defending the collection base, escorting nuclear vehicles, and protecting mining carts. Execute a strategic plan of defense by deploying destructive tanks, blade-spinning fans, flesh-melting turrets, and sturdy barriers to block vicious waves of extraterrestrial vermin.

The year is 401 AD, spring is in the air as the sun is slowly setting. What seems like a completely normal night by the river of the Rhine is turning out to be the beginning of the end for the world's longest lasting empire!

Yield! Fall of Rome is a turn-based 4X strategy game with fast-paced tactical gameplay set in the time of the imminent fall of the Roman Empire. Conquer provinces, expand your dominion, and immerse yourself in the drama of ancient Rome’s final days.

• Save 10% on NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD: Typing of The Net on Steam (Windows). "NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD: Typing of The Net is a typing game in which you enter internet lingo in a call-and-response format with a girl (OMGkawaiiAngel) who has a strong need for approval."

• Everwarder on Steam (Windows). "Everwarder is a refreshing take on the tower defense genre, blending roguelite mechanics with a time-based survival concept. Fight against the encroaching darkness and fend off emerging enemies. Collect artifacts, buy upgrades, discover ancient structures, unlock new units and more!"

• Rumour: Leaker Names Multiple Xbox Games Potentially Releasing On Switch 2 - Pure Xbox.

• Bend Studio Dev Says 'We Still Plan on Creating Cool S**t' After Sony Live Service Cancelation - IGN.

• The Complete Concept Art Training Bundle (pay what you want and help charity) - Humble.*
• Daedalic Publisher Sale 2025 on Steam.
• Up to 60% OFF! WSS playground Publisher Sale on Steam.

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

• Delta Force Reaches New Concurrent Player High With Season 2 - MP1st.

• Vampire Survivors Dev Poncle Outlines Challenges of Film Adaptation- 'The Game Has No Plot' - IGN.

• Most GeForce Now tiers are currently sold out — Nvidia blames high demand for unavailability - Tom's Hardware. Nothing wrong with the supply.

• Rival Stars Horse Racing- VR Edition - Pre-order Trailer.

• 'You deserve better customer service'- Path of Exile 2 studio apologizes for long support wait times but with 545,000 emails it's kind of understandable - PC Gamer.
• Capcom updates on Monster Hunter Wilds performance improvements, says it's aiming to lower PC GPU requirements - Eurogamer.net.

• After ten years of inactivity, Havok releases a new tech video - DSOGaming.

• What Happened to the Game I Love - penguiz0 (NSFW). On proposed Old School Runescape and RuneScape changes.
• Nerdy game developer freaking out on livestream - Viva La Dirt League (NSFW). Thanks Ant.

• 14 reasons why 2007 was the greatest year in video games - XDA. Thanks Neutronbeam.

• X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube sign EU code to tackle hate speech - The Verge.

• Microsoft will retroactively downgrade this part of Windows 10 next month - Windows Central.
• China’s humanoid robot stuns experts with ‘unreal’ human-like gait - Interesting Engineering.

• Yes, Minister character is government's new AI assistant - BBC.

• Hackers game out infowar against China with the US Navy • The Register.

Gird your loins, sharpen your steel and travel back in time to the legendary crusades for the holy land, in this expanded definitive edition of the fan-favourite Stronghold Crusader! Engage in historical desert skirmishes reimagined with new missions, units, AI opponents, larger maps and upgraded visuals, all faithfully reforged using the source artwork, music, returning voice talent and veteran developers of the original game.

In Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition, players dominate the greatest frontier of the medieval age, waging brutal war across timeless battlefronts and sieging epic fortresses, to relive the glorious clashes that have shaped human history. Journey across the heart of the medieval world and take part in the legendary Crusades for the holy land with enhanced visual fidelity and a fully remastered soundtrack courtesy of legendary series composer Robert L. Euvino.

Helskate is a skateboarding action roguelite. Grind, perform tricks, and chain combos to power up your attacks and slay the monsters of Vertheim. Combine and upgrade different weapons and gear to suit your playstyle, as you fight, die and come back to this hellish labyrinth over and over again!

Traverse Vertheim as you grind, wall ride and manual your way through this hellscape with classic arcade-style skating.

Play solo or unite with friends to stand off against the Knights of the Round Table. Combine the strengths of your characters in surprising ways and master abilities to become knights worthy of standing off against Arthur himself.

• Meet familiar friends and foes from Arthurian legend.
• Discover the source of spreading darkness over Avalon.
• Befriend and learn from powerful figures such as Merlin and Nimue.
• Take up your sword as a Soulforged knight.

In Slime Heroes, journey through a whimsical world entrusted to an unlikely hero, a slime, tasked to save it from a mysterious corruption. Explore the expansive 3D world — alone or with a friend — and encounter ferocious enemies, challenging but approachable puzzles, and uncover forgotten treasures. Gain magical gems throughout the world and dynamically combine them to create unique and powerful magical skills that can take down even the most corrupt minions and bosses. Discover a touching story of overcoming expectations, friendship, and forgiveness as you progress because even slimes can be heroes!

Alan Dean Foster will be bringing his world-renowned Midworld, as well as other titles, to games, thanks to an agreement with newly-founded international studio Pomme – where he will also work closely with the team in an advisory role.

A New York Times best-selling author, Foster has written several book series, over 20 standalone novels, plus novelisations of movie scripts including Star Wars, Alien, Terminator, Transformers and Star Trek. His agreement with Pomme will see at least 14 of his works to games, including previously published novels and eight unpublished works, released in a series called ‘Alan Dean Foster Presents…’. The first will be an adaptation of Midworld – the book that launched Humanx Commonwealth, which will be published by Pomme’s publishing arm Sunset Sugar Studios on PC via Steam in 2026.

• Unannounced Warhammer RPG cancelled towards end of last year - report - Eurogamer.net.

• Dynasty Warriors- Origins Peak Player Count Eclipses Dynasty Warriors 9 - TheGamer.

• Casio x PAC-MAN calculator watch based on the yellow chomper combines retro flair with functional versatility – Yanko Design. Thanks Ant.

• Call of Duty Community Update – Ahead of Season 02: Updates on RICOCHET Anti-Cheat, Warzone, Multiplayer, and Zombies. Thanks PC Gamer.

• Infinity Nikki Version 1.2 [Firework Season] Trailer.

• Antstream CEO Recaps Retro in 2024.
• 7 worst gaming trends that deserve a fatality in 2025 - XDA. Or far sooner, since none of them is remotely new. Thanks Neutronbeam.

• 3D-printed battery made from fungi feeds on sugars to power sensors - New Atlas. Thanks Max.

• TikTok restoring services in US after Trump pledge - BBC.
• TikTok’s service providers still risk billions in penalties for bringing it back online - The Verge (subscription required).
• X and Bluesky are rolling out vertical videos - Mashable.
• Bluesky's 2024 moderation report shows how quickly harmful content grew as new users flocked in - Engadget.
• Elon Musk complains about China’s ban on X - Ars Technica.
• Melania Trump launches cryptocurrency on eve of inauguration - BBC.

• Nvidia hints DLSS 4 Frame Generation may extend support to past GPUs, including RTX 30 Series - Tom's Hardware.
• Rumor has it AMD’s feeling the heat from Nvidia’s RTX 5000 GPU launch prices – but a decision on RX 9070 pricing must be made soon - TechRadar.
• Nvidia's mid-January GPU driver update addresses several vulnerabilities and exploits - Tom's Hardware.
• The Best Tech Brands for 2025 - PCMag. Wait, what? Thanks Neutronbeam.
• MSI's upcoming RTX 50-series GPUs to feature yellow-tipped 16-pin power adapters - Tom's Hardware.
• Tiny camera shoots sharp 9,120 frames per second in ultra-low light - Interesting Engineering. Thanks Max.
• OBS Studio version 31.0.1. Thanks Console General.

• Sage Copilot grounded briefly to fix AI misbehavior • The Register.
• AI comes alive- From bartenders to surgical aides to puppies, tomorrow's robots are on their way - VentureBeat.

• US Names One of the Hackers Allegedly Behind Massive Salt Typhoon Breaches - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• Don't Buy Third Party Antivirus - CyberCPU Tech (video). Thanks RedEye9.
• Ransomware attack forces Brit high school to shut doors • The Register.

• Case: Fractal Design Terra review - PC Gamer.
• Dock: Orico PTM1 10-in-1 Docking Station with Module M.2 SSD Enclosure review - TechRadar.
• Game Controller: Thrustmaster T300RS GT Edition review- a responsive racing wheel with a few too many rough edges - TechRadar.
• Headset/Earbuds: Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 Review - APH Networks.
• Laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition Review - Thurrott.com.
• Motherboard: The Best Motherboards For AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D To Unlock Peak Gaming Performance - Wccftech.
• Motherboard: Pulsar XBOARD QS Mechanical Keyboard review- A content creator's dream - XDA.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

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

Stories

• RUMOR: Hugh Jackman Plans To Remain The MCU’s WOLVERINE For At Least Another Decade Including For New Trilogy - CBM.

Science

• Scientists find hidden mechanism that could explain how earthquakes 'ignite' - Live Science.
• Scientists May Have Discovered a Natural Alternative to Ozempic - ScienceAlert.
• Life is thriving in the subsurface depths of Earth - Ars Technica.

Media

• Big Bear Bald Eagle Live Nest - Cam 1. Seeing a lot of them there again.
• This Rare Futuristic eBike is a Total Nightmare.