#steam deck or ps5 version?

[forteania]

As if I don’t have enough to play already…

[felassan]

[link] to a video interview with DA:TV Creative Director, John Epler.

Notes:

In-world it’s been 9 years since the events of DA:I

“At the end of Trespasser, Solas declared he was going to break the world to rebuild it”

The section of the game that we saw in the Gameplay Reveal takes place “after Varric and another handful of adventurers, the initial Veilguard, have been tracking him down throughout Thedas”

If you have played previous DA games, there’s a lot of lore and references in DA:TV that will add to the experience

No save transfer, but there are opportunities to reference what you did in previous games

Tevinter is the most impressive civilization in modern Thedas because it’s a nation that runs on magic

Lore/art direction: “Magic has started seeping into the world through Solas’ ritual”, “and so you’re seeing the effects of that on the space, and on the visuals as well”

The CC team and character art team spent a lot of time working on making sure that hairstyles behaved appropriately, in a realistic way, and on representing a lot of different hairstyles

They wanted to provide more opportunities to spend time with the characters in a way that previous games didn’t allow for as much

They “did start a first version of Dragon Age 4 after Trespasser. Anthem came out, we needed to ship development to that. And when we came back we really rebooted development, started fresh, but the story has remained the same throughout, the goals of that story have remained the same. We’ve always wanted to take Solas’ story and put a final conclusion on that” (Fel note: the previous project was code-named Joplin. It was since revised to such an extent that its code name changed to Morrison, per the Bio25 book. This sounds like lots of the story, beats, themes etc from Joplin have remained despite the project change :>)

“A lot of what we want to do in this game is show the story as much as tell through conversation, dialogue”. They want the spectacle to be part of the storytelling, they want the player to be able to feel the story happening around them as much as it being told to them

They aren’t getting more specific regarding the release date as yet beyond Fall 2024

Game is coming out on Xbox Series S and X, PS5, PC

Will it be playable on Steam Deck? They are “not going to get into that quite yet, so”

[source]

[averysleepyfrog]

For those who are having problems getting a playable FFXVI performance on Steam Deck/ getting pixellated cutscenes

Try setting your screen mode to Fullscreen (it doesn't affect how it runs in gaming mode), setting the graphics to Medium and disabling Super Resolution. Not only does it remove the pixellation, the cutscenes also become considerably less erratic than they are with it. Here's how it looks with the default settings:

VS how it looks with the changed settings:

There are a few other things that weirded me out from a graphics perspective, such as the DoF being applied very generously during the cutscenes, to a point of it blurring out certain characters, and occasional graininess (which is not unlike on the first "before" screenshot, but to a way lesser extent), but I don't know anything about how graphics settings work on PS5 and whether it is something also present there, or something unique to the PC version. Hope this helps those that are trying to play the game on Steam Deck or Linux as well.

[satoshi-mochida]

Life is Strange: Double Exposure announced for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC - Gematsu

Publisher Square Enix and developer Deck Nine Games have announced Life is Strange: Double Exposure for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC (Steam). It will launch on October 29 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC, and later for Switch.

Here is an overview of the game, via Square Enix:

Developed by Deck Nine Games, Life is Strange: Double Exposure is an all-new supernatural murder mystery that will excite both new and returning players. Life is Strange: Double Exposure will be available in three editions; Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate. Players can pre-order the Ultimate Edition now to gain Advanced Access to Chapters 1 and 2 on October 15 2024, two weeks ahead of the release of the full game. Max Caulfield, photographer-in-residence at the prestigious Caledon University, discovers her closest new friend, Safi, dead in the snow. Murdered. To save her, Max tries to Rewind time—a power she’s not used in years… instead Max opens the way to a parallel timeline where Safi is still alive, and still in danger! Max realizes the killer will soon strike again—in both versions of reality. Only Max can Shift between the two parallel timelines to solve and prevent the same murder.

Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.

Announce Trailer

[2112austin]

2112's Rant Time™ #1.

This is gonna be a maybe semi-regular thing where I just talk about random shit and what not. For today, I wanted to rant about Sly Cooper and how Sony does not give a flying fuck about the series anymore.

As of today, it has been 10 YEARS, 8 MONTHS, AND 20 DAYS since Sly 4 came out. Since then, a movie was teased (and most likely cancelled, then turned into a TV show, then most likely cancelled again), and the original trilogy was released on the PS Vita (a decently okay port tbh, although emulating the PS2 versions or the PS3 versions on a Steam Deck is the far better way to play them portably IMO). The PS3 versions were also put on PS Now, then on PS Premium last year for the series 20th anniversary. And that's pretty much all they did within the last 10 years (apart from cameos in other games and merch).

I don't wanna sound entitled when I say this, but good fucking god can Sony just DO SOMETHING WITH THE SERIES?? Like honestly I am on my knees BEGGING for something new. Sly 5, the movie becoming a real thing, a VR spinoff game for PSVR 2, or even A WAY TO PLAY THE ORIGINAL GOD DAMN GAMES NATIVELY ON PS5 WITHOUT HAVING TO FUCKING STREAM THEM, I don't care. JUST SOMETHING. ANYTHING. It's like they actually do not care about the series. And it's not a thing where "Oh they're all about them cinematic experiences and what not", because the Ratchet and Clank series is THRIVING, so they obviously care about having a franchise like that still hanging around. I just wish Sly was one of them. Hell, bring back Jak and Daxter. Have all 3 of the PS2 Mascots back. But Sony's not gonna do that anytime soon. Do I wanna be proven wrong? Yes. But I won't...

Anyways, that's all my schizo ranting for now. Tune in next time where I talk about something completely different... Or rant about Sly 4's story and how it's not that great.

Also reminder that if you want a friend to talk about Sly Cooper with for hours on end, I'm your guy.

[tisorridalamor]

To answer your question from the tags: they had the equivalent of a Nintendo direct for the playstation 5 yesterday and one of the announcements was this thing (project q):

You can probably imagine what the reactions to this thing were.

(I would love to link the reactions too, but I assume Tumblr still eats asks with links in it?)

Oh my god I just had to look this up… it’s just a handheld streaming version? You STILL have to have the PS5?? What a weird decision… I feel like it’s trying to compete with the switch or steam deck but both of those don’t require an entire 500 dollar console as well…

Pls share reactions on this ask or dm me I wanna see what people are saying!!!

[iamvoid0]

Super Mario Bros Movie, Need For Speed Unbound, Tencent looks to acquire majority shares, Overwatch 2 backtracks on requirements, and Cyberpunk 2077 developers announce five new games!

What a massive week, The Super Mario Bros. Movie gets shown off, Tencent expands, looking to acquire a majority stake, CDPR announces Five new games, Need for Speed Unbound gets a trailer, and Overwatch 2 gets DDoS'd.

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Horizon Zero Dawn Remake/Remaster in development - According to a new report, Horizon Zero Dawn - first released in 2017 - is set to receive a remake/remaster for the PS5 and PC. This new version is set to have improved lighting, textures, animations, models, and accessibility options. There is also a new multiplayer component in the form of Co-op. (Source)

Tencent is seeking a majority stake in gaming companies. Over the years, Chinese Technology & Entertainment conglomerate Tencent has been acquiring minority stakes in several large gaming studios and publishers, Activision-Blizzard, FromSoftware, and Epic Games, to name a new. A report published by Reuters indicates that Tencent is preparing to acquire many of the 'chart-topping' game studios and publishers by going from minority stake ownership to majority stake ownership. (Source)

PS5 has been jailbroken - A new exploit from @SpecterDev allows the PS5 to be jailbroken. The exploit is unstable and will only work about 30% of the time, the exploit provides read/write access, but there is no execute access at the moment. The exploit was initially made on v4.03 but has since been ported to v4.5 on the PS5. (Source)

CD Projekt has announced five new games in development - CDPR had a recent presentation where they outlined the next five games they are working on and additional information regarding the company's general goals. There is a new IP in development codenamed Hadar, a new Witcher project under the name Sirius,  the latest Witcher 3 sequel that will kick off a new trilogy named Polaris, a new story-driven Witcher Game using the Canis Majoris name, as well as Orion - a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077. They also indicated that in the future, all games would include multiplayer. They have new content, which includes Mobile, TV & Film, in association with external partners. They are also opening a new Studio in North America. (Source)

Overwatch 2 gets DDoS'd - Overwatch 2 multiplayer launch this week saw a barrage of issues hit Blizzard and the Overwatch 2 game. Multiple DDoS attacks rendered players unable to get into the game with queue lengths as large as 80,000. Blizzard has since dropped the phone number requirement for its existing player base coming from Overwatch 1. (Source)

The Super Mario Bros Movie trailer has launched. In a Nintendo Direct, Nintendo showed off the new movie, with interviews from the animation studio behind the project, Illumination, and Nintendo's own Shigeru Miyamoto. (Source)

Need For Speed Unbound gets a trailer and release date - A new trailer dropped for the Unbound featuring A$AP Rocky. The trailer shows off a new cell-shaded look, drawing inspiration from comics and other stylized games. The game will be released on the 2nd of December, 2022. (Source)

Steam Deck Dock pre-orders go live - The Steam Deck Dock pre-orders have gone live. The Dock will feature 3 USB-A 3.1 Gen1 ports, a USB-C for power, DisplayPort, HDML, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. (Source)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

Xbox Game Pass will receive Chivalry 2, Scorn, A Plague Tale: Requiem, and More. (Source)

🎮 Where's My Controller?

I've been trying to get into Warhammer. One of my friends recommended that I play Total War: Warhammer. I tried it out, but I don't know if it's for me. I like the civilization aspect of the game, but the core battle gameplay feels too sluggish and hard to control. I've been told it gets better once you get accustomed to it.

I've been trying to make my way through more of Terraria. I also realized I made a mistake in not making the world a large world from the get-go. But I will have to do another run to get the Crimson achievements. I don't know if I want to jump into a big world, abandon my medium world, or do a run quickly after completing the medium run.

📝I don't know what a pen looks like.

This week, I was pretty deep in my job, so I haven't touched the other content pools.

💖 Enjoy this newsletter?

Forward to a friend and let them know where they can subscribe (hint: it's here).

Coming Soon

More.

[galenwilson]

I'm writing an essay and I'm pretty proud of what I've got so far. I'm just gonna post three paragraphs here because if you follow me or find it on your own, then you deserve it.

But the [Video Game] Industry is one that ships tens of millions of product, not ones of millions, and the crowds who care about video games — from those who think it’s too gay to those who think it’s not gay enough — do not move the market. A diversion, but I’ve been kicking around a Minecraft video that talks about how Microsoft does not give a crystal shit about the “Minecraft Community”, because they do not contribute at all to the bottom line — Bedrock Edition’s ability to monetize free Java features makes it the only version that matters from a business sense, and thus, from a real sense, and the fact that fun easter egg updates are the only truly good and interesting changes that have recently been made to the game is an expression of this fact and nothing else. The hundred million or so people who actually care about the video game industry are not the consumers that are considered by the wider monetary environment of the industry; it’s normies, people who have a PS5 to watch Netflix and play a game that’s kind of like Call of Duty, and because Helldivers 2 was a good FPS at a time where it seemed like Call of Duty wouldn’t be coming to Playstation, it seemed like a good thing to pick up, thus lending it some of that casual crowd. I’m staking some credibility of long-term trustworthiness on this claim, I know. I don’t like to consider myself some kind of actual market analyst, I’m not invested in anything more expensive than a Steam Deck. Or anything on the stock market. But I base this claim on personal experience talking with people who are generally “normies,” average consumers who don’t otherwise care much about the industry, who also knew and played Helldivers 2. I started realizing how much the Common Man rules the world without realizing it after I had a few jobs where I have to actually touch grass. The Industry will not change for the whims of one white dumbass with “tiktok influencer” in his ko-fi description — ironically, I assure you. I hope the increasing unionization of the industry changes it for the better because the corporate side never will. Me personally? I’ll stick to the indies. I’ll celebrate the strange Double A success stories of Arrowhead and Larion Studios, while lamenting the injustice of your Tango Gameworks and Arcane Austins. I’ll keep my eyes on the Itch.io market for weird low-poly experimental stuff that innovates more in 6 days than the AAA scene in 6 years. I can’t change how others consume except by maybe expressing my opinions and reminding people of where the industry has been, so we might know where we’re going.

[magpiejay1234]

Another journalist has states the new PS Handheld rumor.

The link above mentions Sony's cloud streaming patents for PS5, which will likely be relevant for this handheld as it will most likely release in December 2026.

The Russian journalist states the handheld will have PS4 games on release, but since Midori's earlier leak suggested 2025 release for P6, and Zippo stated a 2026 release for P6, probably means updated versions of recent Persona games (P5R, P3R, likely P6) will be here, before the next Switch.

The Russian journalist claims retail chains are skeptical, but he is referring to Russian retail chains, which do not like Nintendo stuff, but also generally don't like most of the handheld stuff. Steam Deck in Russia is popular, though rare in Russia (due to recent embargo) since it can be hacked easily.

Cloud patents suggest they will allow cloud play of PS5 games on it, but less intense games should be able run fine with it, like the turn-based RPGs, and older remasters.

(Japan is sort of part of the sanctions against Russia, but they aren't as committed. Then again, most of the stuff comes to Russia through intermediaries anyway.)

[govindhtech]

Inland SSD 1TB TN470 Powerful Budget Users

Inland SSD 1TB TN470

With a balanced performance profile, the Inland TN470 SSD is aimed towards a mainstream market and functions well in desktop, laptop, and even PS5 devices. With no DRAM and a more affordable price point, the TN470 might become the new value leader. The best SSDs now face additional competition because of its single-sided design, which is the cherry on top.

When Inland releases a new SSD, you can be sure that the technology is truly revolutionizing the SSD market. As one of many resellers managing the retail side of the business, Inland contracts out to drive production, and its status as Micro Center’s house brand guarantees builder popularity. The TN470 SSD takes the place of the well-liked low-cost TN450 SSD, providing a faster, more recent controller along with quick flash.

Inland 1TB NVMe SSD

Software support is not something that Inland provides, but its physical location and longer, six-year warranty may improve the customer experience. You can typically find hardware that is identical to that of the larger brands at a lower cost. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Inland designed the TN470 with the most popular capacities in mind, with the 2TB model being the most desirable. Although they would prefer to see more 4TB options in this market and the Inland SSD 1TB model may be more difficult to sell, it’s difficult to argue against a drive that perfectly hits the 2TB sweet spot.

The Corsair MP600 Elite is the first drive of its kind, but the Inland TN470 isn’t the first, and it won’t be the last either, as many other manufacturers are likely to release gear of a similar nature. Even some older Inland SSD 1TB models are receiving this hardware update; however, they would rather see a name change than a specification change under the same name.

This hardware combination should also be available in M.2 2230 versions in due course, which is good news for owners of Steam Decks and portable systems. Many options are preferable to the few excellent budget M.2 2280 options that currently exist, such as the Crucial T500 or Team group MP44. It may seem impossible to compete with Maxio MAP1602-based drives like the MP44, but Phison has demonstrated rapid and effective performance with the E27T controller, which powers the TN470. The updated BiCS6 flash also significantly improves performance.

Inland SSD 2TB

Similar to the Corsair MP600 Elite, the Inland TN470 is offered in Inland SSD 1TB and 2TB capacities. The TN470’s hardware will also be used in the upcoming Sabrent Rocket 4 update. There are no other models of the TN470 with a pre-attached heatsink, unlike the MP600 Elite. The TN470 costs $79.99 and $136.99 on Amazon at the time of review, but if you live close to a Micro Centre, you can find it for less money. Compared to the MP600 Elite, these prices are $5–$10 less, but the Corsair drive includes a heatsink.

The TN470 is rated for sequential read and write speeds of up to 7,300 / 6,400 MB/s and random read and write IOPS of up to 900K / 900K. This compares favourably to competing drives like the Lexar NM790, Teamgroup MP44, or Silicon Power US75 that have similar but distinct hardware. This is a competitive market, particularly when the Crucial T500 and older PCIe 4.0 SSDs are taken into account. Despite having a capacity of only 600TB of writes per TB, Inland’s warranty is unique in that it lasts for six years instead of the typical five.

Though it’s hard to forecast the future of any particular SSD model, they can make the following assumptions about the Inland TN470:

Sustained Pertinence

Although PCIe Gen 4 is still a relatively new standard, it is expected to remain the common interface for some time to come. This indicates that the TN470 will work well with high-end systems for a considerable amount of time.

The TN470, a cost-effective Gen 4 option, could gain even more appeal if the cost of TLC NAND flash memory decreases.

Possible Drawbacks

It is possible that SSDs with faster speeds and longer lifespans, utilising PCIe Gen 5 or even Gen 6, will appear, making the TN470 seem inferior.

The DRAM less design may eventually become more of a drawback for workloads that significantly strain the drive’s endurance.

Overall Prognosis

A solid position is held by the Inland TN470 in the present market. Though it’s not likely to go out of style right away, in a few years it might not seem as impressive due to new developments. It should still be an attractive choice for consumers on a tight budget who don’t require the most advanced technology in terms of speed or endurance, though, considering its price range and respectable performance.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[forteania]

It's looking so good!!!!! Can't wait for March 22nd.

[jcmarchi]

Fallout 4 New-Gen Update Brings 60 FPS To PS5, Xbox Series X/S Later This Month

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/fallout-4-new-gen-update-brings-60-fps-to-ps5-xbox-series-x-s-later-this-month/

Fallout 4 New-Gen Update Brings 60 FPS To PS5, Xbox Series X/S Later This Month

Fallout 4’s new-gen update hits PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S later this month, bringing with it 60 FPS, increased resolutions, stability improvements, and more. Hot on the heels of Amazon’s Fallout TV series, which premiered yesterday with all eight episodes available for viewing, the Fallout 4 new-gen update arrives on April 25. 

With this update, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players will get a new native Fallout 4 application (assuming they already own previous-gen versions of the RPG), Performance and Quality Mode settings in the game, stability improvements and fixes, 60 FPS gameplay, and increased resolutions. On previous-gen consoles, Fallout 4 players will receive a free update with stability improvements and login and quest fixes. 

[embedded content]

If you’re a PC player, there’s a free Fallout 4 update coming to that platform as well. It will add widescreen and ultra-widescreen support to the game with fixes to Creation Kit and a variety of quest updates as well. PC versions of the game on Steam, the Microsoft Store, and GOG will receive stability, mod, and bug fixes. Plus, the game will soon be available for purchase on the Epic Game Store, and if you have a Steam Deck, Fallout 4 will be verified for it when this update goes live later this month. 

Alongside the new-gen update, developer Bethesda Game Studios is releasing the following free Creation Club items: 

Enclave Remnants

Enclave Remnants brings the Pre-War cabal, The Enclave, into the Fallout 4 storyline, according to a blog post. In a new quest called Echoes of the Past, players will be tasked with stopping The Enclave from spreading their ideology throughout the Commonwealth.

Alongside workshop items and the Enclave Colonel uniform, players can get the following previously released Creation Club items: 

Enclave Weapon skins

Enclave Armor skins

Tesla Cannon

Hellfire Power Armor

X-02 Power Armor

Heavy Incinerator

Makeshift Weapon Pack

Bethesda says this weapon pack includes a variety of “unconventional objects that have been transformed into deatly weapons,” including the Baseball Launcher, Nail Gun, and Piggy Bank. 

Halloween Workshop

Leftover from an ill-fated Halloween party thrown by the New England Technocrat Society, this pack includes 38 new Halloween decorations including witches, cauldrons, ghouls, pumpkins, skeletons, and more. 

The Fallout 4 new-gen update hits PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on April 25. 

For more, check out the teaser trailer for Amazon’s Fallout released back in December, and then read Game Informer’s review of the show here. After that, read Game Informer’s reviews of Fallout 4 and Fallout 76. 

Are you jumping back into Fallout 4 with this new-gen update? Let us know in the comments below!

[gameforestdach]

Die japanische Veröffentlichung von Baldur's Gate 3 durch Larian Studios am 21. Dezember 2023 hat trotz strenger Zensur, um den nationalen Standards zu genügen, eine überwältigend positive Resonanz von japanischen Spielbegeisterten erhalten. Das Spiel, in Japan von Spike Chunsoft veröffentlicht, hat erhebliche Änderungen erfahren, um den ethischen Codex von CERO zu entsprechen. Dazu gehören die Entfernung von Nacktheit, expliziten Inhalten und bestimmten Folterszenen, was das Spiel von seiner globalen Version unterscheidet. In einer überraschenden Wendung wurde der Zensuransatz, insbesondere die Verwendung von Feigenblättern, um die Intimbereiche der Charaktere zu bedecken, mit Humor und Nostalgie vom japanischen Publikum aufgenommen. Teilweise liegt diese Reaktion an einer kulturellen Anspielung auf ein populäres Meme mit der fiktiven J-Pop-Boyband Happatai (Grüne Blätter) und ihrem Parodie-Song "Yatta" aus dem Jahr 2001. Der Song und sein dazugehöriges Musikvideo, in dem die Bandmitglieder auf ähnliche Weise Feigenblätter nutzen, sind in Japan nach wie vor beliebt. Der Einsatz von Feigenblättern in Baldur's Gate 3 hat Erinnerungen an dieses kulturelle Phänomen geweckt, was zu einer Welle positiver Reaktionen und Bezügen zum Grüne Blätter-Meme in sozialen Medien führte. In der globalen Version des Spiels gab es bereits eine "Keine Nacktheit"-Option, die beinhaltete, dass die Genitalien der Charaktere mit grünen Feigenblättern bedeckt und intimere Szenen übersprungen wurden. In der japanischen Ausgabe ist diese Option jedoch standardmäßig aktiviert, ohne Möglichkeit, Nacktheit oder Sexszenen einzuschalten. Die Zensurstrategie der japanischen Version, obwohl verpflichtend, erwies sich als kreative Entscheidung, die humorvoll mit dem Publikum resoniert und zur Beliebtheit des Spiels in der Region beiträgt. Baldur’s Gate 3 ist für PC, PS5 und Xbox Series X|S verfügbar. Das Spiel selbst war sehr erfolgreich, mit beeindruckenden Veröffentlichungen auf mehreren Plattformen, darunter eine starke Performance auf PlayStation 5 und Steam Deck. Es wird als eines der großartigsten Rollenspiele aller Zeiten gelobt, behält hohe Spielerzahlen nach der Veröffentlichung bei und erhält ausgezeichnete Kritiken weltweit. Für detailliertere Informationen kannst du dir einige Posts auf Social Media angucken.

[satoshi-mochida]

Potionomics: Masterwork Edition announced for PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch

From Gematsu

Publishers XSEED Games and Marvelous Europe, and developer Voracious Games have announced Potionomics: Masterwork Edition for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and Switch. It will launch this fall.

The shop simulator and RPG about the business side of potion brewing first launched for PC via Steam on October 17, 2022.

Potionomics: Masterwork Edition will offer a “bevvy” of new features, including voice-overs, Endless Mode, “Cozy” and “Capitalism” difficulty levels, and additional languages. The new content and features will also be made available for the PC version of Potionomics simultaneously with the release of Potionomics: Masterwork Edition.

A physical Limited Box Set will also be available for all console platforms in North America. Available for pre-order soon through XSEED Games Store and participating retailers for $49.99, the Limited Box Set will include a copy of the game, a physical version of the original 120-plus pages digital art book, a two-disc soundtrack featuring all 58 tracks from the game, and a set of 12 trading cards with new character illustrations.

Here is an overview of the original release, via XSEED Games:

About

Potionomics: Masterwork Edition is an expanded port of Voracious Games’ award-winning magical shop sim. Building on the success of the 2022 PC release, with an 89 percent positive user review score on Steam, Potionomics: Masterwork Edition will bubble up on consoles with all the post-launch updates and improvements released to date, plus new voice acting, a fresh Endless gameplay mode, additional difficulty levels, and more. The art of Potionomics begins with perfecting your potion-brewing craft and building your deck of haggling cards to help you make the most of each sale. In order to succeed in Rafta’s lively economy you’ll need to get to know the colorful residents who will help you collect new recipes, elite ingredients, and even all-new cards for your deck. Whether it’s your first day on the job or you’re a sorcerer’s salesman, the magic of capitalism has never been more alive than in Potionomics: Masterwork Edition.

Key Features

Wheel and Deal – Negotiations can be tense when every coin counts, but you’ll manage Sylvia’s stress with ease by playing your cards right. Develop friendships with adventurers and other shopkeepers on Rafta to learn even more advanced negotiation tactics.

Recipe for Success – Choose the best ingredients to make even basic potions extraordinary, perfecting the taste and aroma to please your pickiest customers. But beware—if you aren’t careful, you’ll get some pretty gross results!

Fantastic Friends and Foes – Rafta, home to some of the world’s most potent magic, is packed with big RPG personalities, each seeking a leg up in their adventures. Befriend and recruit them to help you level up your own potion game, but don’t expect everyone to be friendly…

Your Shop, Your Rules – Make your shop really pop with customizable decor. Style points aren’t the only perk; decorating your shop just right can improve your prices, make better quality potions, and more!

Watch the announcement trailer below.

Announce Trailer

[first-impressions-gaming]

GAMING RECAP (November 8-19)

Valve announces the Steam Deck OLED

What’s particularly interesting here is that as the OLED model of the Steam Deck rolls in, Valve is phasing out the 64 GB and the 512 GB variants of the original device. As of right now, these version of the Deck are only going to stay in stock while supplies last (with an appropriate price drop), and new buyers will be able to purchase the following versions of the device in the future:

256 GB LCD version of the Steam Deck at $399

512 GB OLED version of the Steam Deck at $549

1 TB OLED version of the Steam Deck at $649

Continue reading

Baldur’s Gate 3 is getting a physical Deluxe Edition on Xbox Series X, PS5 and PC

The Baldur’s Gate 3 Deluxe Edition will be released in ‘Q1 2024’ and will be available on Xbox Series X, PS5 and PC for $79.99 / €79.99.

Continue reading

PlayStation Plus Game Catalog adds Dragon’s Dogma and more this month

The headliners this month, outside of the Classics games, are likely Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen and Teardown. Teardown is a day-and-date release for PlayStation Plus subscribers. The sandbox title launches on November 15.

Continue reading

The rest of November’s Game Pass titles have been revealed

Dune Spice Wars: November 28

Persona 5 Tactica: November 17

Rollerdrome: November 28

Continue reading

Larian Studios and Baldur's Gate 3 sweep Golden Joystick Awards

Baldur's Gate 3 was the biggest winner at last week's Golden Joystick Awards, picking up six prizes while developer Larian was named Studio of the Year.

The acclaimed Baldur's Gate 3 took home the gongs for best storytelling, visual design, and game community, as well as a performer award for Neil Newborn, who voices Astarion.

The game also won the award for best PC game, and the top prize of Ultimate Game of the Year.

Continue reading

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is announced

Naughty Dog announced on social media that a The Last of Us Part II remaster will launch on PlayStation 5. Players who own the game on PS4 can upgrade to this new version for $10

Continue reading

Annapurna acquires 24 Bit Games

Entertainment company Annapurna has acquired South Africa-based 24 Bit Games.

With the acquisition, Annapurna aims to help the games firm expand its proprietary technology and staff.

24 Bit Games was established in 2012, and it has ported and co-developed projects such as Cocoon, Neon White, and Maquette.

"We deeply respect Annapurna’s approach to curating a portfolio of great games, its value system around building and extending IP, and the company culture," said 24 Bit CEO Luke Lamothe.

Continue reading

Humble Games affected by layoffs

Humble Games has laid off an unknown number of employees due to restructuring efforts.

In a statement shared with Sports Illustrated's gaming section on Tuesday, the company confirmed the layoffs after former employees shared the news on LinkedIn.

"Yesterday was a difficult day for Humble Games and we can confirm that we had to say goodbye to valued colleagues," the publisher said.

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Embracer debt reduced to $1.4 billion as restructure continues

Embracer has released its latest financial results, as well as an update on the restructuring programme that has led to mass layoffs and various studio closures.

For the three months ended September 30, the company reported net sales had risen 13% year-on-year to SEK 10.8 billion ($1 billion). Meanwhile, its net debt has been reduced to SEK 14.6 billion ($1.4 billion), marking a 31% improvement on where it stood at the same point last year.

The company also confirmed that 904 people have been laid off as part of the restructure.

Embracer announced in June that it is undergoing a restructuring program following the collapse of a deal that was expected to be worth at least $2 billion.

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Amazon reduces games division by 180

Amazon Games has laid off 180 staffers of its games workforce.

As reported by Aftermath, sources familiar with the matter said the decision affected staffers of the Crown Channel and game growth employees.

Amazon confirmed the news as it laid off the entirety of the Amazon-backed Twitch channel, Crown Channel.

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Tried out the Star Ocean: Second Story R demo on the Steam Deck and it's very good! It has a phenomenal HD-2D aesthetic, a slew of Quality of Life enhancements, fun action RPG combat, and it runs at 60 FPS a majority of the time, save for some hiccups in the overworld.

You can check out the limited demo on Switch, PS4, PS5, and Steam now. Progress carries over into the final version of the game!

Looking forward to playing this in November!