RuneScape: Dragonwilds is in the wild, as Early Access to this co-op survival game from Jagex is now underway for Windows on Steam. This is set in the RuneScape universe on the forgotten continent of Ashenfall, where you and up to three companions must survive, craft, and prevail in a quest to slay the dragon queen. The Official Narrative Trailer is here to show off the game and remind you to feed your lawn. Here's the description:

On RuneScape’s forgotten continent of Ashenfall, dragons have awoken. Gather, build, skill, and craft to survive in this co-operative 1-4 player survival crafting adventure, as you embark on an epic quest to slay the Dragon Queen. Only by mastering survival and uncovering ancient secrets can you hope to defeat this sinister new threat—alone or with allies.

Journey through the vast, vibrant regions of Ashenfall and unveil the ruins of forgotten civilisations to discover why wild transformative magic spills from its fractured lands. Explode ore veins with a snap of your fingers, or conjure a spectral axe to chop down a line of trees in an instant; the Anima-rich landscape of Ashenfall offers you a power unlike any other.

Dream Dock announces DREADMOOR, an upcoming action/RPG in the Lovecraftian Fishing genre, which is apparently a thing following the launch of Dredge. The Official Reveal Trailer takes a look, and the Steam Listing is live with details and a "to be announced" release window. It offers the following description:

DREADMOOR is a Lovecraftian fishing adventure set in a post-nuclear apocalypse world. Sell your yield, upgrade your boat, build equipment and battle monsters lurking in water and on land. Explore forgotten lands and discover ancient secrets.

Observer Interactive and Team17 announce Good Boy, a canine metroidvania set on a distant planet coming to Steam with a "to be announced" release window. This has a labor of love aspect, as the game's doggos are said to be based on the real-life pets of its developers. Here's a first trailer, and here's an explanation of how once mankind figured out how to make our pets immortal it started shooting them into space:

LAIKA welcomes you on your journey to the alien planet of Terra II. As you know the LAIKA Programme gave old dogs a new lease on life by transferring their consciousness into Rovers, allowing them to live on forever as a brave space explorer! Equipped with your very own Space Rover, we're looking forward to seeing all you capture as you sniff out and investigate various regions of the planet and research the lifeforms that inhabit it.

You will encounter other Rovers and in the interest of solidarity we would encourage you to complete quests for them and most importantly forge a bond with your new Human friend, as you uncover the ancient mysteries of the planet.

A post on Steam welcomes players to Year 2 of Skull and Bones, Ubisoft's seafaring action game. A Year 2 Announcements Trailer illustrates the news with a look at what to expect. There are more details in a post from Ubisoft called Skull and Bones Year 2: Everything You Need to Know. This includes a look at what will come in Year 2 Season 2 as well as a bit on Season 3, saying it will introduce land-based combat to the mix:

Season 3 introduces a new threat as the war rages on. The Rogue Warlord will traffic weapons and hold Officers for ransom. To bring him down, you'll need some backup of your own. You can assign any Officer you rescue to your ship, and each brings unique buffs like repair perks, increased damage, and faster sailing.

This season will also introduce another long-awaited feature to Skull and Bones: land combat. More about this will be revealed as the new season approaches.

In a post on Steam, Embark Studios unveils plans for a second technical test for ARC Raiders, its upcoming extraction shooter. Testing kicks off a week from tomorrow, and there are details on how to participate, whether on Steam, the Epic Games Store, or consoles. There's also more on the game and a Tech Test 2 Announcement Trailer. Here's word:

This will be our largest test of ARC Raiders to date, for the first time also including players on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Epic Games Store. The purpose of the test is to see how the game performs in a live environment across all launch platforms and gather key insights and feedback from players like you. This time around, you’re free to share or stream gameplay capture and tell the world of your experience in ARC Raiders — in other words, the playtest is not confidential.

• Rise of Rebellion - Official Gameplay Release Date Trailer. April 21st.

• Kingdom Come- Deliverance 2 Dev Explains Game’s Lack of Children - GameRant.

• Save 80% on RoboCop: Rogue City on Steam.
• Save 50% on COCOON on Steam.
• Save 50% on Wild Woods on Steam.
• Save 75% on The Entropy Centre on Steam.
• Cybersecurity - Zero to Hero ENCORE (pay what you want and help charity) - Humble.*

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

• EA to Release Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2025 Results on May 6, 2025.

• Internet detectives unearth rare screenshots of canceled Virtual Boy Mario Land - Polygon.

• Bethesda Selling 2,000 Pieces Of Elder Scrolls Online's Servers - Kotaku.

Official patches.

• Eternal Strands Spring Update- Stargazer ✨🪽.
• Kingdom Come- Deliverance II - Hardcore Mode is live NOW in Patch 1.2.4.
• Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 2 is out NOW.
• Squirrel with a Gun - The Gravity Gun Update is here.

Official trailers.

• Blades of Fire - Getting Started - Episode 3 - Combat.

• Guild Wars - Celebrating 20 Years of Guild Wars.
• PAX East Updated Schedule.

• G-Rebels Is a Sci-Fi Flight Combat Game Where You Feel Like You’re Flying a Nissan Versa - IGN.

• Stellaris: Console Edition Development Diary #76 - Quality of Life update and the future of Stellaris on Console.

• Google Search is going to be google.com globally - The Verge.
• 4chan has been down since Monday night after “pretty comprehensive own” - Ars Technica.

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and 5060 graphics card roundup- Every announced card from every AIB partner - Tom's Hardware.
• Limited-edition Severance keyboard features a built-in trackball, but aptly, there’s no Escape - Tom's Hardware.
• Oracle VirtualBox Changelog-7.1. Thanks Ant.

• Everywhere, All at Once- NVIDIA Drives the Next Phase of AI Growth - NVIDIA Blog.
• Thousands of NVIDIA Grace Blackwell GPUs Now Live at CoreWeave, Propelling Development for AI Pioneers - NVIDIA Blog.

• Mark Zuckerberg predicted Meta's antitrust trial in a 2018 email - Engadget. Failed to predict said email would become evidence in said trial.

Last Link of the Day: Lawrence Taylor Biopic From Stoked Sports & Entertainment In Works - Deadline.

Funcom shares an announcement that goes on and on about the success of various closed testing sessions for Dune: Awakening. This eases the way for the news that all that success is culminating in a delay to the launch of the multiplayer survival game based on the classic sci-fi franchise. The game's previously announced May 20th release is being pushed back to June 10th, with a head-start getting underway five days before that. Word is: "Thanks to this process, we’ve concluded that with a bit more time to cook, we can act on a lot more of the feedback we know is important to our beta testers." Now the plan is to precede the launch with a larger beta test next month:

As such, we will be moving the release date of Dune: Awakening to June 10th, with head start launching on June 5th. This is not a decision we take lightly, we know everyone is very excited to get playing, but these three extra weeks will give us the time needed to make improvements that will lead to a better gameplay experience from day one.

We’re also excited about the fact that this will allow us to do a large-scale beta weekend next month where even more of you will get the opportunity to play the game and share your feedback. We will release more information about this soon.

Larian announces the launch of Patch 8 for Baldur's Gate 3 for PC and consoles, saying this final major update for the RPG sequel "goes out with a bang." This adds crossplay support and a dedicated photo mode as well as new content, including a dozen new subclasses. An accompanying update to the Official Modding Toolkit also introduces what's being called "partial level editing." The Windows and macOS update is on Steam, where the game is currently on sale. This video has details on a patch launch livestream coming tomorrow. Here's more on how this release marks the team fully moving on to its next project:

You’ve helped us make BG3 a bigger success than any of us could’ve ever hoped for, and that passion could keep us tweaking things and making changes until the end of time. But then we’d never be able to create something new.

Outside of minor bug fixing, Patch 8 will be the last game patch to introduce new content. That means we won’t be adding any new narrative content or significant changes to storylines, Origin characters, or companions. We’ve told our stories the way we needed to tell them, and tried our best to make them impactful and engaging, and we’re continuing to get better at handling our own chaos so that we can continue to create more chaos in the future.

NVIDIA announces the GeForce RTX 5060 "Desktop Family" of graphics cards. These new entry level cards will arrive next month with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation and other features from further up the line, starting at $299 USD. Here's word:

Starting April 16th, we’re bringing DLSS 4 and Blackwell’s suite of innovations to every gamer with the launch of the GeForce RTX 5060 desktop family, beginning with the release of the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti. And in May, the GeForce RTX 5060 arrives, with prices starting at $299.

Using the GeForce RTX 5060 Family’s extra raw horsepower, DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, Super Resolution, and Ray Reconstruction in supported titles, our newest GPUs are twice as fast as the previous generation.

Bullet Noir has shot out onto Early Access for Windows on Steam, offering a new bullet hell shooter from WOLCEN Studio, the developer behind eponymous action/RPG Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem. The game uses a neo-noir setting, shown off in the gritty Early Access Trailer, which also features gameplay. There's a 17% launch discount and a playable demo. Here's more:

Bullet Noir is the debut title under Wolcen Studio’s new “indie Initiative”, which nurtures in-house grassroots game projects into full releases. This gritty, fast-paced shooter invites players to uncover the backstories of four uniquely driven protagonists, each consumed by a personal vendetta. As the plot unfolds, players will navigate each character’s personal story, intertwined with the larger narrative.

Bullet Noir’s one-hit-one-kill mechanic offers intense showdowns around every corner, whether you’re charging in guns blazing or opting for a stealthier approach. Navigate through a rain-slicked metropolis of alleys, hovels, and high-rises, and carve your own path through each protagonist’s overlapping quest for vengeance.

Chains of Freedom is now available for Windows on GOG.com* and Steam, offering a paradoxically titled turn-based tactics game from Nordcurrent. There's no launch discount, but there's a playable demo on Steam to try before you buy. This post thanks everyone for their support and the Official Launch Trailer is here with a look at gameplay. It's set in a fictional, dystopian Eastern European state, promising "danger, deceit, and moral dilemmas" along with squad-based combat. Here's more:

Step into a thrilling turn-based tactics game set in a fictional, dystopian Eastern European state. Lead an elite military squad as you navigate perilous missions filled with danger, deceit, and moral dilemmas.

As you delve deeper into a conspiracy threatening your nation, engage in high-stakes tactical combat that demands precision with every move. Arm your team with a variety of weapons and gear, adapt their skills to meet ever-changing challenges, and confront intense missions that push your resolve to its limits. Uncover the truth in a world where the nation’s fate lies in your hands.

Following an Early Access, single-player sci-fi first-person shooter Viscerafest is now officially available on the Epic Games Store, GOG.com,* and Steam with a 20% launch discount. This post discusses what's changed in version 1.0. The Full Launch Trailer takes a visceral look at the game's decidedly old school graphics and the breakneck pace of gameplay, and here's an explanation:

Viscerafest is a sci-fi fantasy single-player arena FPS where you take the role of Caroline, a bloodthirsty, psychopathic mercenary who wants nothing more than to marry her wonderful boyfriend, Athens Fetter. The problem is money's tight, and rings aren't exactly cheap. But thankfully, there may yet be hope for her, as a warlock named Cromune has acquired a rather hefty bounty on his head.

Bringing his corpse in to the respective authorities won't be an easy task however, as Cromune has a small army defending him. Forces from the U.S.C. (United Scientific Conglomerate) led by Dr Mortice stand shoulder to shoulder with the religious zealot. But what’s a few hundred soldiers to death incarnate? Nothing but a slaughter... Nay... A Viscerafest!

Early Access to the Windows edition of Stygian: Outer Gods is now underway on Steam, providing a first crack at this survival/horror FPS/action/RPG from Misterial Games and Fulqrum Publishing. This uses the same setting as Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones from 2019. There's no schedule for when to expect an official launch, but it will also come to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S at that time. Word is: "Future updates coming to the game include the introduction of new quests, areas, enemies and more. Upon the game’s 1.0 launch, Stygian: Outer Gods will also be available in French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Russian localizations." The Early Access Launch Trailer shares cinematics and gameplay to put the fear of the outer gods into you. Here's more:

Set in the universe of Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones, the game lets players witness and influence the events preceding the Black Day. Immerse yourself in a unique world full of dangers, unexplored dark corners, and looming evil beyond mortal comprehension.

You will accompany an enigmatic occultist researcher, Victoria, on an expedition to the foggy settlement of Kingsport, once a prosperous harbor town, now decrepit and almost abandoned. Hoping to find your missing father, you are shipwrecked and soon encounter the nightmares that have haunted this place for centuries. Will you be able to find your way out, keep your sanity, and prevent the coming of the ancient Outer Gods, or maybe being insane is the key to salvation?

Willow Guard is now available on Itch.io and Steam, kicking off a narrative RPG for Windows from Finnish developer MiTale. This features a 2D isometric perspective, card-based mechanics, and retro pixel art, as seen in the Launch Trailer. Interested players can check this out firsthand via the playable demo. Here's word:

As a Willowguard, you are sworn to protect the Willows, the Sacred Trees that give the animals their souls. After receiving a distress call, you discover that Louksna, the fallen Goddess of The Moon has unleashed her monster hordes. The Willows are in danger, as are your fellow animals throughout the Kingdom of Tersa. Bound by your creed to help, you set out to fight the monsters and try to restore peace, all while hoping to learn more about Louksna’s intentions.

• Seafrog on Steam (Windows). "Master Seafrog's rocket-powered wrench as you slide, grind and trick your way through challenging skatepark-like stages at sea! Upgrade your wrench, take on crusty creatures and crazy challenges, all while seeking a way to escape a mysterious, ever-growing sinkhole in the ocean..." Here's the Release Trailer.

• Deck of Haunts - Release Date Announcement Trailer. May 7th.
• Neon Hearts City is releasing on May 13th.
• Survive The Fall - Date Reveal Trailer. May 22nd.
• Void Sails - Official Release Date Trailer. May 14th.

• Destiny 2: Join us on May 6, 2025 as we reveal The Edge of Fate and the upcoming year of Destiny 2.

• Leaked images suggest Oblivion remaster coming soon - The Verge.

• Niantic is laying off 68 employees after selling its game business for $3.5 billion - Game Developer.

• Buried Steam tool shows how much you've spent on your account in your lifetime - Tom's Hardware.

• The Last Of Us Season 2 Premiere Viewership Up 10% Over Season 1 - Deadline.

• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 - The Trygon Update is out.

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

• The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Mod Adds Reshade Ray Tracing - DSOGaming.

• Coming to Game Pass: Clair Obscur- Expedition 33, Towerborne, Call of Duty- Modern Warfare II, and More - Xbox Wire.

• Sandbox VR Surpasses $200M in Lifetime Sales; Accelerates Global Expansion With 127 Locations in Development.

Official trailers.

• Beneath - Lovecraftian Days Trailer.
• Cthulhu's Reach- Devil Reef - Florence Trailer.
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Behind the Voices.
• ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN - Raider Character Trailer.
• Gothic 1 Remake - Making Of #02- Old vs. New.
• NosFire Event Server- Burning Hot Boosts & Action.
• Skull and Bones- Year 2 Season 1 Gameplay Trailer.
• Space Chef - Gameplay Trailer.
• Space Marine 2 - Trygon Update.
• Trove - Bunfest 2025.
• Type-NOISE- Shonen Shojo　CM Trailer.

• Video Game Blogs From The 2000s Were Fast, Reckless And Very Bad At News - Aftermath. Or, how Kotaku buried sites like Blue's News for $10 a post.

• Cozy adventure Palia opens its doors May 13 on PS5 – PlayStation.Blog.
• Finding Frankie - Console Launch Trailer.
• Hot Rod Mayhem — Launch Trailer.
• Xbox Alpha Skip-Ahead Ring (2506.250410-2200) Update Preview Release Notes - Xbox Support. Thanks Console General.

• Chipolo's newest AirTag competitor works with both Apple and Google's finding networks - TechCrunch.
• Tesla (TSLA) has to replace computer in ~4 million cars or compensate their owners - Electrek. Thanks Matthew.
• Android phones will soon reboot if they’re locked for a few days - The Verge.

Thanks Ant.

• Mozilla Firefox 137.0.2, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes. Thanks Frans.
• Mozilla Thunderbird Version 137.0.2 Release Notes.
• Mozilla Thunderbird Version 128.9.2esr Release Notes.

Thanks Console General.

• DLSS 4 With Multi Frame Generation Multiplies FPS In Black Myth- Wukong, EXFIL, No More Room In Hell 2 & SQUAD - GeForce News.
• If you thought USB naming was nonsense, allow this professional furry engineer to explain the total nightmare that is the underlying hardware complexity of USB-C - PC Gamer.
• Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.5235 (Beta Channel) - Windows Insider Blog.
• Releasing Windows 10 Build 19045.5794 to the Release Preview Channel - Windows Insider Blog.
• Evernote version 10.135.2. Thanks Console General.

• OpenAI is building a social network - The Verge.

• Risks to children playing Roblox ‘deeply disturbing’, say researchers - Children's tech - The Guardian. Thanks Slashdot via Ant.
• Chinese spies backdoored US orgs via open source RAT • The Register.
• Hertz says hackers stole customer credit card and driver’s license data - The Verge.
• Minister Lucy Powell's X account hacked to promote crypto scam - BBC. "Crypto scam" starting to sound redundant.

• ISPs and robocallers love the FCC plan to “delete” as many rules as possible - Ars Technica.

• Schedule 1 Early Access Review - IGN.

• Flash Drive: Kingston CANVAS Go! Plus SDG4 1TB SDXC Memory Card - Nikk Tech.
• Laptop: HP ZBook Ultra G1a 14 review- Powerful MacBook Pro alternative for work and game - NotebookCheck.net Reviews. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Monitor/Projector: ASRock PG27FFX2A Monitor - OCinside.
• Mouse: NZXT Lift Elite Wireless Test - OCinside (German).
• PSU: Corsair RM850x Power Supply - Guru3D.
• RAM: G.SKILL Trident Z5 NEO RGB DDR5-6000 32 GB CL26 Review - AMD EXPO - TechPowerUp.

April 15th is notorious in the U.S. as the deadline for filing income tax returns. It's frequently pushed back a day or two for weekends and holidays, but this year it is indeed today. As I discussed at the time, we filed almost a month ago, which felt like being on top of things. But then learning someone had already filed for a falsified refund in my name made me aware that filing as early as possible is a good defense against such modern problems. This will definitely factor into our tax filing schedule for next year.

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

Breakfast Link

• The McMurtry Spéirling Drives Upside Down, Finally Putting A High Downforce Theory Into Practice - Jalopnik. Thanks Slashdot.

Science

• Axiom Space to launch its 1st orbiting data centers this year - Space.
• CT scans could cause 5% of cancers, study finds; experts note uncertainty - Ars Technica.
• Anxiety drugs found in rivers make salmon take more risks - NPR. They now go swimming within an hour of a meal.

Media

• Prince Rupert's Drop Vs Hydraulic Press. Thanks Boing Boing.

Creature Features

• Milton the Chihuahua visiting his best friends house. Thanks Boing Boing.