The Steam City Builder & Colony Sim Fest is underway, offering a weeklong chance to be large and in charge by testing your ability to lead your people to greatness (or at least less terribleness). There are presentations, playable demos, a big sale, and some free Points Shop items to collect along the way. The Official Trailer takes a look. Here's more:

Join us on Steam for the City Builder & Colony Sim Fest, March 24th through March 31st at 10am Pacific. Explore community-building games of all kinds (want to build a thriving city? Yay! Save a tense village from collapse? Also, yay!) and score deals all week long.

Early Access to Folklands is now underway on Steam, offering the first chance to folk around in this settlement builder from Light Up Games and Bromantic. This shows it's for Windows and Linux, and there's a playable demo which oddly lists macOS support the full game does not mention (presumably this is an error). The previous Release Date Trailer takes a look at this "relaxing city builder," which indeed appears quite serene when the meth wears off about 10 seconds in. Here's word:

Build up and manage a settlement and care for your folks in this relaxing settlement builder with simulated citizens. You will need to provide shelter, guarantee a steady supply of food, resources and products, protect against the threats of nature. All the while paying attention to their well-being, to ensure your folks are happy, employed and safe.

Settle down in uncharted lands, and harvest its resources. Refine raw materials into processed goods to build and expand your settlement. Create production chains that enhance or combine materials to create even more advanced products as the needs of your settlement grows.

Dark Deity 2 is now available for Windows on Steam, offering a turn-based tactics sequel from Sword & Axe and indie.io. This is a follow-up to the crowdfunded original, which may be unexpectedly in some players' libraries, as it was once a giveaway on the Epic Games Store and it's free right now for Prime Gaming Subscribers. Word is: "The sequel expands on everything fans loved about the original while introducing deeper customization, refined tactical combat, and a brand-new cast of heroes. Players will step into a land on the brink, rally their forces, and shape the future of Verroa one turn at a time." Here's the Launch Trailer and here's more on this Steam Deck verified release:

While Dark Deity 2 preserves the core that made the original special—turn-based tactical battles with meaningful choices—it introduces a range of systems that take player agency to the next level. From cosmic mages and crocodile-summoning wardens to noble knights and blood-soaked cultists, the game offers a wildly diverse class lineup. With 20 legendary heroes, 45 branching classes, and deep build customization, players can experiment with powerful combinations of passives, gear, and abilities—reshaping their units’ roles on the battlefield and unlocking tactical possibilities that reward creativity and replayability.

Team17 and Piraknights Games announce Sintopia, a business simulation where you toil hell coming to PC this year. This is not the first comparison between the hellishness of bureaucracy and torturous afterlife, and likely won't be the last. A Gameplay Trailer takes a look at the game's madcap sensibilities, and there's a playable demo to check out right now on Steam. Here's word on the demo and the game:

But what better way to get to grips with the red and quite burny bureaucracy tape of Hell management than to sample your future eternal job up close with the first Sintopia demo, available as part of the City Builder & Colony Sim Fest event on Steam that's happening right now. The demo, which is in pre-alpha stages, features all content currently created by the developers, so there’s plenty to see and do in both the Overworld and Hell.

Sintopia is a mix of builder and God game, with an asymmetrical loop. On the OVERWORLD, watch a silly civilization of chickpea people make their mark on the world and unfortunately for them, damn themselves by committing a host of sins. Punish the dead souls, keep your receipts for expenses and generate profit to help you build and sustain your Hellish empire.

• SONOKUNI on Steam (Windows). "Battle your way through a biopunk and Japanese mythology-inspired landscape filled with over-the-top, hip hop-infused 2D action. A single hit means death, but use your time-bending skills to take down your oppressors and you might yet save your dying nation." There's a playable demo. Here's the Launch Trailer.

• ALL WILL FALL: Physics-Based Survival City Builder on Steam (Windows). "A post-apocalyptic city builder where every structure can collapse. Master a unique physics-based 3D construction system, create a sprawling vertical settlement on water, scavenge for resources, explore the ocean, and ensure the survival of your colony by making difficult yet necessary decisions."
• ISLANDERS: New Shores on Steam (Windows). "Welcome to ISLANDERS: New Shores. Build your island retreat in a calm, minimalist world with exciting new features that keep the classic charm while inspiring fresh creativity."

• Warner Bros was working on a Mario Kart-like crossover game - VGC.

• One of Valve's original executives shares a very simple secret to its success- 'You can't use up your credibility' by trying to make bad games work - PC Gamer.
• Disco Elysium staff say rival projects from former colleagues are "friendly competition" - Eurogamer.net.
• Gabe Newell's cult of personality is intense, but a Valve exec who worked with him says his superpower is how he 'delighted in people on the team just being really good at what they did' - PC Gamer.

• The 2025 AWS, CompTIA, Azure, Google Cloud, and NVIDIA Certification Bundle (pay what you want and help charity) - Humble.*

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

• Geoff Keighley and Christopher Dring announce new publication The Game Business - VGC.

• Ultra-realistic life sim Inzoi has officially shoved Hollow Knight- Silksong and Deadlock out of the way to become Steam's most hotly-anticipated game - PC Gamer.

• Cyberpunk 2077: Turf Wars - Official Arcade Game Trailer. Hard to get less Cyberpunk 2077 than that.

Official patches.

• Overthrown - The Nature Update is Live.
• Starship Troopers: Extermination - Update 1.3 Patch Notes.

• Meta Quest might add single window screensharing in VR soon - The Verge.

Official trailers.

• Call of Duty: Warzone. - How We Rebuilt Verdansk Intel Drop.
• Call of Duty: Warzone - Stories of Verdansk - Tinashe -The Birth of SniperNashe.
• GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- Season Pass 4 Playable Character #2 [Venom] Trailer.
• Heroes of Might And Magic Olden Era - New Gameplay Trailer.
• Overthrown - Nature Update Trailer.

• Netflix will stream shows and movies in HDR10+ on supported devices - Engadget.
• Meta considers charging for Facebook and Instagram in the UK - BBC.
• How to Delete Your Data From 23andMe - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

• Releasing Windows 11 Build 26100.3624 to the Release Preview Channel - Windows Insider Blog. Thanks Console General.
• This scent-dispensing RX 9070 XT assures at least one GPU launch this year doesn't stink - Tom's Hardware.

• Microsoft's new AI agents aim to help security pros combat the latest threats - ZDNET.

• Using Starlink Wi-Fi in the White House Is a Slippery Slope for US Federal IT - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

• European watchdogs demand game companies stop predatory virtual currency sales to children - TechSpot. Thanks Neutronbeam.

Last Link of the Day: Andor - Official Trailer - Final Season Streaming April 22 on Disney+.

Yesterday's report that SILENT HILL f was Refused Classification in Australia has come into question. GameSpot points to social media posts, including some from former contributor Edmond Tran saying the rating is not final, it was simply generated when the survival/horror prequel was submitted for approval using an automated tool. The listing on the Australian Classification is still online for now, but word whether the game will be available to purchase in Australia remains an open issue for now:

Got a response from the Classification Board on this one:

"Silent Hill f is not currently classified as ‘Refused Classification’ in Australia."

The entry has been removed and a decision will be published "ahead of the game's release"

With The First Berserker: Khazan set to go berserk in a couple of days, reviews are arriving for this hardcore action/RPG based in the Dungeon & Fighter (DNF) universe. The playable demo remains on Steam to check out for yourself. Here's a roundup of what others have to say:

• The First Berserker: Khazan review- a competent Soulslike that’ll test your patience - Digital Trends.
• The First Berserker: Khazan review — Unbridled retribution - GamingTrend.
• The First Berserker- Khazan Review In Progress - IGN.
• The First Berserker: Khazan review - PC Gamer.
• The First Berserker: Khazan review - Rock Paper Shotgun.
• 'The First Berserker: Khazan' Is a Stylishly Brutal 'Soulslike' Game - Rolling Stone.
• The First Berserker: Khazan Review - RPGamer.
• The First Berserker: Khazan Review - A Feisty First Foray Into The Soulslike Genre - TheGamer.
• The First Berserker Khazan review- a love letter to going all-out, bold action, and re-using bosses - VG247.
• Raw, Relentless, and Rewarding- ‘The First Berserker- Khazan’ Is a Must-Play Soulslike about Embracing Your Dark Side - Vice.
• The First Berserker: Khazan Review - Stranger of Pell Los - Wccftech.

Early Access is now underway on Steam for Psycho Patrol R, a first-person shooter with a decidedly throwback feel from Consumer Softproducts. This post covers the launch, carefully setting expectations based on where development currently stands: "Please keep in mind that the game is not done, you will experience bugs, balancing issues, and everything else you hate in games. This is ok, the game hates you too. I hope you can still derive some enjoyment from it." The game's 1990s-inspired flavor can be seen in the previous Early Access Trailer. Here's a description:

Psycho Patrol R is a mecha FPS hybrid policing and punishment simulator set in the decaying state of Pan-Europa. You play as an officer of the European Federal Police, a V-Stalker pilot of Psycho Patrol, a special unit tasked with counter-psychohazard operations and neural meltdown prevention using cutting edge criminological frameworks. The battleground of the 21st century is the human brain, the base unit of the hyperconjoined egregore Twin Terra. The soul of the planet is on the verge of collapse. Your chances are 0.001%.

Margarite Entertainment announces Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing "will be making its triumphant return to Steam in Q2 2025!" Triumphant is an interesting perspective for a game that earned a hate-filled Metascore of 8 on Metacritic following its original 2003 release. This is now officially announced after the project was uncovered over the weekend, and thought by some to be a scam. But a post on Steam from the publisher clarifies it is now the rights-holder, saying this is one of "a few classic titles" it now controls. There's no word on planned updates, so it sounds like the plan is to simply re-drop this deuce in its original form. Here's a refresher:

Get ready for some brake jamm'in, CB talk'in, convey roll'in action across America! From Portland Oregon to Miami Florida, you'll be hauling loads and trying to stay one step ahead of the law as you climb into your Big Rig for non-stop driving action.

• Airlock Arena: Profit or Perish on Steam (Windows). "Strap in, space slugs! Join forces with up to three buddies in this chaotic multiplayer roguelike. Dodge treacherous asteroid fields, outsmart the authorities, and secure precious cargo. Survival is optional, profit is mandatory. Are you ready to risk it all for the ultimate haul?"
• Surviving Skeleton Island on Steam (Windows). "Surviving Skeleton Island is an open world survival crafting RPG set in a primitive 3D low poly island world of 12 unique biomes. Explore, hunt, craft, build, farm and fish to survive, while quests and clues unveil the secrets of the island, and your past. Forge your destiny and plot your escape!" There's a playable demo and a 40% launch discount.
• Yeti Ski on Steam (Windows). "Old-school snow sports inspired by SkiFree. Have fun on the slopes, but watch out for the yeti!"
• Five new Steam games you probably missed (March 24, 2025) - PC Gamer.

• Bigfoot Life Demo on Steam (Windows). "A simulator game where you live life as Bigfoot. Catch fish, forage for mushrooms and berries, build shelters, and more. Be the legend and live your best Bigfoot Life."
• Forestrike on Steam (Windows). "Forestrike is a tactical kung-fu fighting game with a supernatural twist. Use your 'foresight' ability to visualize fights before they happen and hone your skills then rumble in reality, where defeat means starting over from scratch."
• Iron Rift on Steam (Windows). "In a land where strength is survival, monsters roam free, and battles are unforgiving. Hunt vicious creatures, forge them into allies, and unleash their fury in brutal real-time combat. Dominate the chaos, crush your rivals, and carve your legend in a world that spares no one."
• Mosaica: Arboreal on Steam (Windows). "Enchanting Eco-RPG puzzler where every mouse click evokes the mysterious power of nature. The game is inspired by 'Cookie Clicker,' 'Vampire Survivors', and 'Diablo'."

• Kādomon: Hyper Auto Battlers – 1.0 Release Date Trailer - Launching April 7th.

• Battlefield Labs Leak Confirm the Return of Two Features; Menu Quick Look Surfaces - MP1st.

• GTA veteran says the games industry needs to -get smarter- about what people actually want- -There are so many games, and I think we're starting to feel the effects" - Gamesradar+.

• Assassin's Creed Shadows team thanks fans for "heartwarming" response as game launches to Very Positive Steam rating - Eurogamer.net.

• Bam Margera will be in Tony Hawk 3+4 after all after Hawk intervened, it’s claimed - VGC.

• McDonald’s unveils early access to Minecraft McFlurry - VGC.

• Call of Duty: Warzone - Stories of Verdansk - Nick Kyrgios "The Epic Hail Mary."
• Dune: Awakening — The Sound of Arrakis (Soundtrack Behind-The-Scenes).
• Forestrike - Leaf School Combat Overview - Play the First Demo on Steam.

↑ Official trailers. ↓ Content creator videos.

• Level UP- Team Mario's Mystery Pipes Mayhem. Thanks Ant.

• Why Nightdive Remastered System Shock 2 Instead of Remaking It - Xbox Wire.
• Can the creators of Control really make a great multiplayer FPS? Remedy talk hiring and firefighting - Rock Paper Shotgun.

• We're extending the deadline, so you've got an extra week to nominate for the 2025 MCV/DEVELOP Awards.

• Age Of Empires 2 Devs Were Forced To Make A Korea Faction Because StarCraft Sold 3 Million Copies In The Country - TheGamer.
• Shadow of Mordor's beloved nemesis system exists because the publisher threw a tantrum about second-hand sales - PC Gamer.
• "Poorly Analyzed US-Centric Garbage" - Why Do Americans Keep Ignoring European Gaming History? - Time Extension. Thanks Boing Boing.

• Delistings confirmed for another six Xbox games - True Achievements.
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle arrives on PS5 in April - The Verge.
• Bloodborne Fans Wait with Bated Breath as Iconic PS4 Exclusive Turns 10 Today - Push Square.
• Building an adorable, fully functional "Playstacean" - Boing Boing.

• Epic Games switches to weekly free Android games - 9to5Google.
• Foldable iPhone Expected to Launch Next Year, Costing Around $2,000 - MacRumors.
• Google Gemini's Astra (screen sharing) rolls out on Android for some users - Bleeping Computer.
• Arm's ASR upscaler for mobile devices is finally available — Plugins planned for Unity and Unreal Engine - Tom's Hardware.

• 23andMe files for bankruptcy protection - BBC. DNA data on clearance sale.
• The Weight of the Internet Will Shock You - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• Trump’s Aggression Sours Europe on US Cloud Giants - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• DSLreports is back but only as read only. - Broadband Bulletin Forum. Thanks Ant.

Thanks Ant.

• Hot New Thermodynamic Chips Could Trump Classical Computers - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• Samsung launches its glasses-free Odyssey 3D monitor — 27-inch 4K OLED G8 and 144 Hz G9 variant now also available - Tom's Hardware.
• Nvidia rumors suggest it's working on two affordable GPUs to spoil AMD's party - TechRadar.
• New LED displays packing 90nm 'virus-sized' pixels can deliver 127,000 PPI visuals - Tom's Hardware.
• Noctua's pumpless 'thermosiphon' liquid cooling unit is expected to be released in 2026 and has already given me a free lesson in basic thermodynamics.
• Introducing rpi-image-gen- build highly customised Raspberry Pi software images - Raspberry Pi. Thanks Slashdot.
• Chinese robot's kung fu moves will make your jaw drop - Fox News.
• Paint.NET 5.1.7 is now available. Thanks Broadband Bulletin.

• 'Gradually then suddenly': Is AI job displacement following this pattern? - VentureBeat.
• Google is rolling out Gemini’s real-time AI video features - The Verge.
• Can we make AI less power-hungry? These researchers are working on it. - Ars Technica.

• Samsung admits a bad software update has been bricking its soundbars - TechSpot. Thanks Reddit.
• Raspberry Pi Pico 2 FFT sound spectrum analyzer visualizes audio via OLED display - Tom's Hardware.

• Vulnerability Summary for the Week of March 17, 2025 - CISA. Thanks Ant.

• Playable GTA 6 map nuked without warning by Take-Two lawyers: 'My guess is that the map was probably a little too accurate' - PC Gamer.
• U.S. asks Malaysia to 'monitor every shipment' to close the flow of restricted GPUs to China - Tom's Hardware.

• Laptop: Almost perfect with a score of 90%: Verdict on the Dell Pro 13 Premium - NotebookCheck.net News. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Monitor/Projector: Gigabyte G34WQCP 34-inch WQHD VA 190 Hz curved gaming monitor review- Faster than ever - Tom's Hardware.
• RAM: Patriot Viper Venom RGB DDR5-7000 2x16GB Review - APH Networks.
• SSD: SK hynix Beetle X31 Portable Solid State Drive Review - ThinkComputers.org.

We're dealing with a little modern day excitement here in the BlueTower, as it seems someone filed an income tax return using my social security number. We're still figuring out what's going on, but this does appear to be a case of identity theft, and it will probably be a giant pain to deal with. So please wish me luck. On the other hand, we owe on our taxes, so if it was just someone paying off the IRS on our behalf, then I have no complaints.

Obituary: Bald eagle who went viral for incubating rock dies after fierce storms in Missouri - Missouri - The Guardian. Thanks Cutter.

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

Stories

• Georgia jury orders Monsanto parent to pay nearly $2.1 billion in Roundup weedkiller lawsuit - AP News.
• Segway scooter recall- 220,000 scooters recalled after injuries - USA Today. 220K? That has to be all of them.
• 85-cent blizzards at Dairy Queen start March 24. Here's how to get one - USA Today.

Science

• Are we on the verge of mining metals from the asteroids above Earth? - BBC.
• Euclid 'dark universe detective' spacecraft discovers 2,674 new dwarf galaxies - Space.

Media

• EVERY ILLEGAL Building Technique in LEGO - Mr. Bricks.
• We Built A 1000 MPH Baseball Cannon - Dude Perfect.

Follow-up

• How Robert Downey Jr. Was Chosen To Play Doctor Doom - Deadline.