Channel37 announces The Last Caretaker, a first-person survival shooter coming to PC Early Access this summer via the Epic Games Store and Steam and to consoles down the road. In a reverse of the typical AI destroys mankind scenario, you'll play as a robot tasked with protecting the future of humanity in a plot that seems to combine elements of Waterworld, BioShock, Interstellar, and Man of Steel. The game is introduced in a haunting Announcement Trailer. Here's word:

The world has changed. An endless ocean stretches in every direction, its surface broken by the last remnants of those who stayed behind. Machines still hum with forgotten purpose, beacons flicker with old signals, and infrastructure continues its silent operations. But something else stirs — technology repurposed, reshaped to drift in silence.

As the Last Caretaker, a player must navigate this vast ocean, scavenging lost knowledge, reactivating dormant systems, and ensuring the survival of humanity’s final remnants. Deep within the Seed Vaults, the last human embryos wait for their journey to the stars. But not all that remains is dormant. Some machines still whisper, still move, still watch.

Continue here to read the full story.

• OUTLAWED on Steam (Windows). "OUTLAWED is a crime-themed PvPvE first-person extraction shooter, set in a modern city overrun by gangs. Enter solo or with a squad to challenge powerful enemies and search for riches, and use everything at your disposal to make it out alive."

• Dark Deity 2 - Release Date Announcement Trailer - indie.io. March 24th.
• Escape from Mutation Station - Release Date Trailer. March 31st.
• Promise Mascot Agency- Release Date Trailer. April 10th.

Steamworks Development -- How The Steam Daily Deals Program Helps Boost Games Of All Sizes.

• Better With a Friend- Co-op Adventures (pay what you want and help charity) - Humble.*
• Capcom Arcade Classics & Fighters Pack (pay what you want and help charity) - Humble.*
• Save 50% on Wayfinder on Steam.
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• Annapurna Publisher Sale on Steam.
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*Blue's News may receive a commission on sales of this item.

• Nvidia revenues hit $39.3B, up 78% in FYQ4 -- with no sign of slowdown (updated) - VentureBeat.
• The Callisto Protocol studio lays off more employees, but 'remains operational' - PC Gamer.

Official patches.

• American Truck Simulator - 1.54 Open Beta.
• Dark Hours - "All Bets Down!" Major Update.
• Elite Dangerous - Trailblazers out now.
• Star Wars: The Old Republic - Game Update 7.6.1 Recap.
• Tetris Forever - Super Tetris Time Warp Update.

• Riot walks back unpopular League of Legends changes- Hextech Chests are coming back, and the Blue Essence cost for new champions will be cut in half - PC Gamer.

Official trailers.

• BLEACH Rebirth of Souls – Opening Movie 2.
• Dark Hours - -All Bets Down- Update Trailer.
• Wuchang: Fallen Feathers - Official Trailer - IGN Fan Fest 2025.

• Qualcomm doubles Android security patch support to 8 years • The Register.

• Prototype RTX 50-series power connector designed to prevent melting with current overload alarm, per-pin sensing - Tom's Hardware.
• AMD Radeon RX 9070 series prices leak on Micro Center — starting at nearly $700 for XT versions - Tom's Hardware.
• Bitcoin plunges as crypto fans didn’t get everything they wanted from Trump - Ars Technica.
• The RTX 50 Disaster - Gamers Nexus (NSFW video).

• Scientists Built a BMX Robot That Taught Itself How to Bunny Hop - TheDrive.
• Man's Entire Life Destroyed After Downloading AI Software - The_Byte.

• US intelligence head 'not told' about UK secret Apple data demand - BBC.

• World's smallest shooting video game uses nanoscale technology - Phys.org…

Last Link of the Day: How to Watch the Launch of Intuitive Machines’s Second Moon Landing Mission - The New York Times. Thanks Neutronbeam.

Obituary: Michelle Trachtenberg, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Gossip Girl' star, dies at 39 - NBC News.

Journalist Stephen Totilo follows up on news of the closure of developer Monolith with a couple of details to make the situation even worse. In a post on BlueSky he notes that the Monolith website at lith.com now redirects to warnerbrosgames.com, deleting a timeline of Monolith's achievements dating back to 1996. In addition to erasing the past, the closure also impacts the future, as a separate post notes that the developer's highly acclaimed Nemesis System from Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor and Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War is patented, and unless something changes, will remain unused until August 11, 2036. Here's the abstract of the patent:

Methods for managing non-player characters and power centers in a computer game are based on character hierarchies and individualized correspondences between each character's traits or rank and events that involve other non-player characters or objects. Players may share power centers, character hierarchies, non-player characters, and related quests involving the shared objects with other players playing separate and unrelated game instances over a computer network, with the outcome of the quests reflected in different the games. Various configurations of game machines are used to implement the methods.

Speaking of the unexpected shutdown of Monolith, a post on X/Twitter from GOG.com announces the news is prompting the company to move up its timeline to add F.E.A.R. Platinum to the GOG Preservation Program, which provides additional support for select older titles. Here's the plan for preserving this bundle of the 2005 first-person shooter and its expansions:

F.E.A.R. Platinum – featuring the base game and both expansions – will be available as part of the GOG Preservation Program by next month. Originally scheduled for a later timeframe, we’ve decided to accelerate this release to properly recognize Monolith’s contributions to gaming.

At GOG, we believe in celebrating the creative minds that have shaped gaming history. Monolith Productions has given players some of the most unforgettable experiences, blending groundbreaking gameplay with rich storytelling. To honor their legacy, we’re proud to announce that F.E.A.R. Platinum will be joining the GOG Preservation Program – and sooner than planned, with other Monolith icons to join eventually as well.

Continue here to read the full story.

Fire & Steel is now available on Steam, adding new DLC to Company of Heroes 3, Relic's World War II action/strategy sequel. This comes alongside a 2.0 Anniversary Update that supports the new DLC and adds the following to the base game: "This update also features the return of some fan-favorite maps from CoH1 and CoH2, improvements to the Italian Campaign, multiplayer balance changes, and much more." This post has the complete patch notes. Here's the 2.0 Anniversary Update Overview Video and here's more on the battlegroups added by the new DLC:

Fire & Steel introduces four new Battlegroups, one for each army in Company of Heroes 3, designed to enhance multiplayer and co-op/skirmish vs AI gameplay. These Battlegroups offer powerful new units and abilities, allowing players to diversify their tactics and strategies.

These Battlegroups represent an evolution of the Commanders and Doctrines from previous Company of Heroes titles, delivering highly requested super-heavy tanks and fresh gameplay experiences.

Continue here to read the full story.

Chinese developer Pew Pew Games announces Terminull Brigade, a free-to-play roguelike shooter expected to launch this year. A Reveal Trailer is here with a cinematic look at combat in a slick sci-fi environment. It concludes with news that closed beta test signups are now underway on Steam. Here's more on the game:

Terminull Brigade merges the strategic depth of roguelike gameplay with the fast-paced action of a third-person shooter. Players will traverse Futuristic City and Wasteland, each with their own themes and enemy types. Every run presents new challenges, encouraging experimentation with countless build possibilities and tactical combinations. By equipping powerful perks, players can customise their Rogueteers to adapt to the unpredictable battlefield, culminating in intense boss battles that test their skill and teamwork.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Bunny Space Odyssey: FlopHop Demo on Steam (Windows). "In the "Bunny Space Odyssey: FlopHop" Demo, journey with Ponchee the bunny as she awakens on the mysterious planet FlopHop. With no memory of her past, she must rely on her spacesuit Usagi-01. Solve puzzles, explore pixel art landscapes, and begin to unravel the mysteries of her forgotten..."
• Castle Craft on Steam (Windows). "Will your castle survive the relentless onslaught, or collapse under pressure? Build, manage resources, and outsmart your foes in a world where everything can be destroyed. Use strategy and creativity to turn the chaos into your greatest advantage!"
• Moves Of The Diamond Hand Demo on Steam (Windows, macOS, Linux). "Immerse yourself in a first-person urban RPG, powered by dice and intrigue. This demo is the start of a journey where you might even shape the fate of a city. Whatever it takes to get the gig, right?"
• Slip 'n Slime on Steam (Windows, macOS, Linux). "Slip 'n slide around this casual puzzle adventure! Be a cute slime and explore a magical world. Only stop sliding when you run into something -- SPLAT! Perfect to pick up 'n play for a minute or binge in a weekend."

• Bionic Bay - New Release Date Announcement Trailer. April 17th.
• Parallel Experiment delayed to June 5th, 2025.
• Sonic Rumble: Sega’s free-to-play 32-player Sonic game has been delayed until spring - VGC.

• System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster release date to be revealed next month at GDC.

• Half-Life 3 could be in the late stage of development, based on new Valve update - PCGamesN.
• Marvel Rivals fans think NetEase is teasing the Hellfire Gala and Emma Frost in a small excerpt from its newest gallery card - PC Gamer.

• NetEase Plans To Support Marvel Rivals For "Ten Years And Beyond" - TheGamer. Plans are not promises.
• Wonder Woman Game Was 'A Showpiece Epic,' Gail Simone Says - Kotaku.

• [Urban Myth Dissolution Center]100,000 sales video.
• More than 40% of all US PS5 and Xbox play time last month was spent on 10 live service games - VGC.

• All French voice actors for Apex Legends refuse future work over new contract clause for AI training - r/Games.

• MONOLITH Founding Members (1995) video. Most 1995 video ever. Thanks Ant.

• Disney Dreamlight Valley - Discover the Tales of Agrabah Update.
• Granblue Fantasy Versus- Rising - Version 2.00 Patch Notes.

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

• MAME version 0.275. Thanks Ant.

• PUBG- BATTLEGROUNDS Weekly Bans Notice (02/17~02/23).

• Valve's Deckard VR Headset Rumored to Launch in Late 2025 at $1200 - Wccftech.
• HTC Launches VIVERSE Worlds, the Ultimate Destination for 3D Content Exploration - Business Wire.
• Xbox creator claims there’s still “no killer app” for VR yet - PC Guide. Thanks Reddit.

• Deadlock gets a massive map overhaul that shrinks its map from four lanes to three- 'This has a large range of accompanying map-wide changes' - PC Gamer.
• Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising - Known Bugs (Updated Feb 26, 2025 [PT]).
• The Sims' latest patch makes some children appear pregnant, players say - Eurogamer.net.

Official trailers.

• DRAGON BALL: THE BREAKERS – Season 8 Transphere Trailer.
• It Was You - Official Announcement Trailer - IGN Fan Fest 2025.
• Pantheon - The Druid is Coming to Pantheon.
• Slip 'n Slime -- Announcement Trailer -- Cute indie puzzle game, demo out now.

• NACON CONNECT 2025 - Teaser Trailer. March 6th.

• FragPunk Preview- Exclusive Hands-on with New Character Chum and Dongtian Map - IGN.

• Nintendo News- Xenoblade Chronicles X- Definitive Edition Overview Trailer Details More of What Awaits Within its Massive World - Business Wire.
• Gran Turismo 7 update 1.56 available today – PlayStation.Blog.

• Lucid’s CEO steps down, as EV maker aims to double production - The Verge.
• Google Password Manager finally syncs to iOS—here’s how - Ars Technica.
• Mint Mobile unlimited plan customers have just received an easy-to-miss but crucial upgrade - TechRadar.

• More than 1 billion people are now watching podcasts on YouTube every month - The Verge.
• Telework has quietly solved one of America’s biggest employment challenges - The Hill.
• Wikipedia is now an endless 3D museum, and admission is free - Rock Paper Shotgun.
• Microsoft begins turning off uBlock Origin and other extensions in Edge - Neowin.

• Upcoming driver to fix Nvidia RTX 50-series black screen and BSOD issues - Tom's Hardware.
• Nvidia says around 1 in 200 of its new Series 50 GPUs are missing some render units - VGC.
• AMD 9800X3D 'failures-deaths' Reddit megathread indicates the vast majority may be happening on ASRock motherboards - Tom's Hardware. Thanks Max.
• Jeff Bezos Exerts More Control Of Washington Post Opinion Pages, Says Opposing Views "Will Be Left To Be Published By Others" - Deadline. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Framework Desktop hands-on: a possible new direction for gaming desktops - The Verge. Aren't desktop PCs already modular?
• Samsung’s first Pro series Gen 5 PCIe SSD arrives in March - The Verge.
• Samsung unveils 10th Gen V-NAND- 400+ layers, 5.6 GT/s and hybrid bonding - Tom's Hardware.
• 6 PowerShell scripts to automate and speed up your workflow - XDA. Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Microsoft Backing Out of Expensive New Data Centers After Its CEO Expressed Doubt About AI Value - Futurism. Reality check. Thanks Burrito of Peace.
• UK universities warned to ‘stress-test’ assessments as 92% of students use AI - Universities - The Guardian. Thanks Max.
• RTX AI PCs Supercharge Advanced AI at GTC 2025 - NVIDIA Blog. Are NVIDIA's daily AI stories written by AI?
• Amazon announces AI upgrade for Alexa - The Verge. You'd have to pay me more than $19.99 a month. Wait, we're supposed to pay them?
• Grok’s new “unhinged” voice mode can curse and scream, simulate phone sex - Ars Technica.
• OpenAI expands Deep research feature to all ChatGPT paid plan users - Neowin.

• Google is making it even easier to remove your personal information on Search - Engadget.
• Over 200 convincing GitHub repos serving up malware • The Register.
• Signal shuns Sweden over proposed encryption-busting laws • The Register.
• Incoming deputy head of DHS says CISA needs to be reined in • The Register.
• Your Boss Wants You Back in the Office. This Surveillance Tech Could Be Waiting for You - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

• Crypto sleuths join hunt for $1.5bn stolen in biggest ever heist - BBC.

• Delta Force review - Eurogamer.net.
• Marvel's Spider-Man 2 DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Gen Benchmarks - DSOGaming.
• While Waiting review - Eurogamer.net.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• CPU/GPU/AIO/SSD Cooler: Montech HyperFlow Silent 360 Review - TechPowerUp.
• Keyboard: CHERRY XTRFY M50 Wireless White Gaming Mouse - Mad Shrimps.
• Keyboard: Endgame Gear KB65HE Review- Minimal looks, solid build - Tom's Hardware.
• Laptop: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (Strix Point APU + RTX 4070 Laptop GPU) Gaming Laptop - TweakTown.
• Laptop: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (Strix Point APU + RTX 4070 Laptop GPU) Gaming Laptop Review.
• Monitor/Projector: AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD2 Monitor - OCinside.
• Monitor/Projector: Acer Predator X32 X3 240 Hz OLED gaming monitor review- All the bells and whistles - Tom's Hardware.
• Motherboard: Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi 7 Review - TechPowerUp.
• Speakers/Soundbar: The Brane X Is a Portable (but Pricey) Smart Speaker With Incredible Bass - Lifehacker. Thanks Neutronbeam.

Thank you so much for the response to my post yesterday about supporting this site. It inspired new subscribers, a couple of very generous donations, and some upgrades to higher supporter levels. And the kind comments many of you shared mean so much. Thanks you from the bottom of my heart.

I also appreciate the feedback about possible new or improved backer perks. We seem to be in a agreement that a subscriber-only forum is not ideal. There were a couple of calls for a higher supporter level, but I seem to recall that either PayPal or Patreon (or perhaps both) limit us to three tiers, so I'll have to take a look at whether that's actually practical. There were also a couple of suggestions to be more assertive in occasionally pushing subscriptions, and I can probably be more proactive without overdoing it. Finally, there's the big topic: merch. This has obvious upsides, but it's complicated. It would be easy to pick a fulfillment partner for this, but crappy swag is bad. That makes me really want to handle this in-house to ensure quality control. There's actually a physical swag store near me that I can check out in person to see what's what. So that can be a first step in a promise to start taking this more seriously. If anyone has recommendations for a turnkey third-party solution that focuses on quality, please feel free to share. I also have concerns about pricing, since part of the concept of merch is to generate income, but it feels weird to try and build too much profit into stuff like t-shirts and mugs. As I say, I'll look further into this. In the meantime any feedback on the issues I mention is welcome.

Obituary: Roberto Orci Dead: 'Star Trek,' 'Transformers' Writer Was 51 - The Hollywood Reporter.

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

Stories

• AMC CEO Adam Aron Slams The New 17 And 30-Day Theatrical Windows - Deadline.
• 'Consider Phlebas' Series Set At Amazon From Charles Yu & Chloé Zhao - Deadline.
• Dead body placed beside Australian couple on Qatar Airways flight - BBC. From the upcoming sequel Layover at Bernie's. Thanks brother19.

Science

• Nanoparticles offer enhanced treatment for root canal infection with fewer complications - Phys.org. Finally improving on 19th century dentistry?
• Flea treatments are turning our pets into an environmental hazard – there has to be a better way - Sophie Pavelle - The Guardian. Refused them for Hudson and Gunnar.
• Frozen worm comes back to life after 46,000 years - Earth.com.
• Brewing tea removes heavy metals from water, study finds - Science - The Guardian. Still not worth it.

Follow-up

• Long-time advocate of SLS rocket says it’s time to find an “off-ramp” - Ars Technica.

The Funnies

• Savage Chickens.