Botany Manor sprouts new January PS5 release date, after missing earlier launchRoot cause.Image credit: Microsoft News by Tom Phillips Editor-in-Chief Published on Jan. 9, 2025 Back in November, relaxed garden puzzle game Botany Manor was announced as getting a belated launch for PlayStation 4 and PS5.An impressive indie 3D puzzling effort, Botany Manor had already shone on PC, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X - including Xbox Game Pass - earlier in 2024. But in December, publisher Whitethorn Games issued an update to say Botany Manor had hit a snag, and would now launch in the new year. Well, here we are - and today brings a fresh (and hopefully final) PlayStation launch date for the game: 28th January.Botany Manor's release date trailer for its original launch on non-PlayStation platforms last year.Watch on YouTubeI can wholeheartedly recommend Botany Manor, as one of the few games I actually got around to fully completing last year. You're given the keys to a National Trust-style estate that slowly opens up over time as you uncover mysteries and grow long-lost blooms through increasingly brain-teasing ways.But things never get too taxing, the game is relentlessly chilled out, and the game's gentle story offers just enough of a glimpse at life within its Victorian-era surroundings to keep you intrigued."Perhaps an afternoon in Botany Manor's company will inflame your own curiosity for nature," Matt wrote in Eurogamer's Botany Manor review last year. "Or perhaps you'll simply be content to explore its sun-dabbled corners, solve its few clever puzzles, and enjoy the timeless pleasures of an enchanting summer's day stroll."

Negotiations over AI are still holding up video game development - Mass Effect's Jennifer Hale explains why"A great negotiation ends up with everybody being a little unhappy."Image credit: BioWare / Diana Ragland Feature by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Jan. 9, 2025 On 26th July 2024, performers from the US actors union SAG-AFTRA began a strike after failing to reach a deal with major video game companies over the use of AI. Negotiations had been ongoing for more than a year and a half; now, six months later, the strike continues, delaying game production and leaving actors out of work.While actors from the union have negotiated on various critical issues, including wages in-line with inflation and job safety, the exploitative use of AI and the use of actors' voices without consent remains the major sticking point. And while an interim Interactive Media Agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the games industry is currently in place to allow some production to continue (and provide acting work), a full resolution is yet to be found.So why are negotiations taking so long? Celebrated voice actor Jennifer Hale (Mass Effect, Bayonetta 3) tells Eurogamer she's not surprised: "AI is an existential issue for all of us".Mass Effect Legendary Edition Official Launch Trailer (4K)Watch on YouTube"It's a huge issue for all of us and the repercussions are vast," she says. "So to me, it makes sense that everyone needs to take their time. As performers - and we saw this in the writers strike and the theatrical contract strike - we're just the canary in the coal mine."I've been speaking to people on both sides over the last few months especially and there's a lot to learn on both sides," she continues. "Some of the decision makers in that room who hold significant power are at the same time quite disconnected from how production happens. There are also many in that room who are deeply connected to the process. So there is such a wide variety of agendas at play."The producers who actually do the work with us, they want to get back to work and they are open to having really productive conversations. I think the people in the room who are representing a more large-scale corporate interest, their priority is profit protection in the future, which means leaving all the options open. But what I'm not sure they understand is that leaving those options open leaves performers in great jeopardy."Hale was on the SAG-AFTRA committee in 2016 when it negotiated the Interactive Media Agreement renewal previously. But, she explains, there's an important difference this time around."In 2016 we could actually have sidebars and talk directly with each other, the two sides," she says. "My understanding is that in this particular negotiation up until very, very recently, they haven't been allowed to talk to each other. They can each talk to their attorney, and then the attorneys talk to each other. And until you have the people with the vested interest having the conversations, all that's happening is billable hours are going up.""Until you have the people with the vested interest having the conversations, all that's happening is billable hours are going up."Still, 2016 was nine years ago and, as Hale points out, times have changed since then. In particular, AI is far more prominent in our everyday lives - let alone game development - meaning the conversation around its use is more complex, and urgent."I think it's absolutely critical to pay attention to the context that we're now negotiating in. It's so vastly different from the last negotiation," she says. "The world is so much more polarised. We all live in these crazy echo chambers where we are righteous and certain of ourselves, and righteousness and certainty are the road to destruction. A great negotiation ends up with everybody being a little unhappy. I think it's really important that we all remember, that is the definition of compromise. We're not in there to get our way. We're in there to protect our future." Hale also played Rivet in the latest Ratchet and Clank game | Image credit: Insomniac/SonySo what is it that actors want out of this negotiation? Hale puts it succinctly: "ownership over our own voices".Last March, ahead of the strike, SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland stated the union's aim was to "make sure the implementation [of AI] is human-centred and focused on augmentation [of production], not replacement of people" and that "consent and compensation" were critical.Hale echoes those feelings now. "We need to be able to control when our voice is used," she says. "I don't want my voice used on a project that I would never support or that I didn't say yes to. We need to be compensated for when our voice is used, because we are paid for our exposure as much as for our time.""We all deserve the right to say, yeah, you can use my voice," she says. "And if you take my voice without my permission, that's theft."Hale highlights the "incredible unity" from actors around the globe supporting the strike, including the "great support" in the UK. While the UK actors union Equity has not authorised a strike due to UK law, it has said it "stands in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA". In 2023, Equity launched a "ground-breaking AI toolkit" to protect performers."If you take my voice without my permission, that's theft."For SAG-AFTRA members, the interim Interactive Media Agreement is in place with over 130 games signed to it, Hale explains. "I'm seeing a lot of game companies come around, look over the interim agreement - which is essentially the things that we're asking for - and say, 'This is really reasonable, sign me up'," she says.Why, then, has that interim agreement not transferred to a proper agreement? It's because of the fine print, says Hale. "There are a couple of entities who want to protect their potential profits in the future and leave lots of doors open, and those doors could potentially hurt us a lot," she says. "You don't write rules of the road for most sensible, considerate people. You write them for the ones who are going to drink-drive and take somebody out."For Hale, and many of her peers, the use of AI is "not a union issue" but an existential one not easily tied up in an agreement. And she believes humans need to take responsibility."AI is a tool, like a hammer," she says. "I can take my hammer and I can build you a house, or I can take my hammer and I can break your kneecaps. But in either instance, I, the human, am the one wielding the hammer, and everybody out there is responsible for this. We cannot blame the tool."She surmises: "Everything has a price, shortcuts included."And if you think Hale is over-exaggerating the risks of AI, it's worth remembering that it's not just legitimate developers who now have access to actor's voices. Tools to mimic and use video game characters have already been used by modders creating non-consensual deepfake content. There was also the case of a Twitch streamer using a Baldur's Gate 3 actor's voice to read sexually violent pornography."For me, it comes down to two phrases," Hale says. "'Don't be a jerk'." And also "Does your mother know what you're doing? Does your grandmother? Could you do it in front of them? Then don't freaking do it."Still, Hale is positive about the future of her profession. That's in part due to services like Ethovox - set up by actor Cissy Jones - to safeguard performers. "It is so conscientiously run," says Hale, praising Jones for not only educating performers but listening to their needs. Hale became particularly celebrated for her performance as Shepard in Mass Effect | Image credit: BiowareIndeed, Hale believes AI and acting can absolutely coexist. "I think AI has incredible potential for actors of all flavours I think there's a wonderful partnership to be worked out," she says. "As long as everyone's sharing the benefits. We only get into trouble when people do it without asking, when they feel they have a right to who you are, and when they keep everything for themselves."More broadly, though, video games are works of art created by humans and Hale still deeply believes that should be celebrated. "Some people are going to save a few bucks and do the AI thing," Hale admits, "but I think it's going to very quickly become a mark of prestige and of quality to say, 'I have humans in my game'."What gets you in a game is that feeling you get. And that feeling was caused by a spark in a human soul, a human wrote that, and then a human performed it and felt it and experienced it, so that you, the human player, can do the same. There is a spark of divinity in the human soul that cannot be denied and cannot be duplicated. I'm not worried."

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide One of the best recent additions to Dead By Daylight has been 2v8 mode. So far weve had two events of the LTM, and BeHaviour has promised that there will be more in the future. While nothing has been confirmed, it appears the LTM is coming back very soon, and massive DBD leaks have revealed a new 2v8 mode map, survivor class, and crossover. It is poised to be another incredible year for Dead By Daylight. The January 2025 roadmap includes the return of Chas Shuffle very soon, and in March we are set to get the final licensed killer of Year 9. Soon after we are then due for Five Nights At Freddys, and then we will get the anniversary chapter, which leaks believe could be Jurassic World. There are an assortment of tantalising leaks for DBD over the next 12-months, and a really exciting new leak suggests Resident Evil is meeting 2v8 mode. Dead By Daylight leak reveals Resident Evil 2v8 modeDead By Daylight leaker, Dvveet, has revealed on X that a Resident Evil-themed 2v8 mode is coming. This leak comes courtesy of Aricarna and Wazzup on the DBDLeaks Discord. The leaks show datamines that have come with the recent PTB featuring a host of changes for Freddy Kreuger. According to the datamines, the new 2v8 mode map will be the Raccoon City Police Station.In addition, Dvveet has revealed that the Resident Evil-theme will see the introduction of green and yellow herbs for both killers and survivors to use. These could be scattered around the map, and their use in the world of DBD is currently unknown. There will be even more Resident Evil in February with the release of survivor and killer outfit bundles. Its important to note that it is not confirmed if there will be any new skins added to Dead By Daylight. Image credit: @Dvveet on XRuthlessLeaks previously teased new Resident Evil content coming soon, and its possible they were alluding to this 2v8 mode. Fans speculated the addition of Lady Dimitrescu, and it would be amazing if BeHaviour and Capcom released a Legendary outfit. New DBD 2v8 mode survivor class Lastly, alongside Resident Evil, Dead By Daylight leaks have revealed a new survivor class joining 2v8 mode. The survivor class is reportedly named Meatshield, and they are capable of performing a Dash to stun killers. There is no release date for the third iteration of 2v8 mode, but Dvveet speculates it should come out in February. Leaks previously unearthed files adding Oni and Legions maps to 2v8, and its assumed that these are still planned for the future. For more Dead By Daylight content, check out ourranking of the top 10 DLC expansions to buyalong with a ranking of thebest killer perksandbest survivor perks.Dead by DaylightPlatform(s):Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, Survival Horror7VideoGamerRelated TopicsDead by Daylight Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereSince its release in Season 0, Marvel Rivals has presented players with a diverse pool of characters, each customized to a different playstyle, making every character a potential favorite for someone. The games design allows for a wide range of rolesVanguard, Duelist, and Strategistso whether you favor strategic support, front-line tanking, or high-damage output, theres a hero for you.Characters like Hela and Hawkeye have been popular among Marvel Rivals players who value precision and high-impact damage, as they provide a playstyle that rewards skill with one-shot capability. Mantis, on the other hand, has become a go-to for those who enjoy the healer position, with her skills providing both offensive and defensive choices that can turn a fight around.Season 0s freedom, with no role queuing system, allowed players to explore freely, learning roles like Doctor Strange for environmental control or Spider-Man for fluid movement. However, a new review of win rates from Season 0 has made headlines where surprisingly, the most beloved character Jeff the Land Shark is the worst of them all.Marvel Rivals Season 0 hero hot list reveals Jeff The Land Sharks low win ratesThe official Marvel Rivals website shared a full report of the win and pick rates of each hero during Season 0, where players could determine which heroes were picked the most and have been successful among players in both Quick Play and Competitive lobbies.Jeffs win rate is the lowest among all healers in Rivals. Image by NetEase Games.According to the website, Jeff The Land Shark had a 44.38% win rate, while unfavorable Strategists like Adam Warlock are high up there with a 53.59% win rate.Despite his enormous popularity for his cute personality and unusual play mechanics, Jeff has emerged as the character with the lowest win rate among all Strategists in the game. This revelation has spurred discussions regarding the balance of fun and efficacy, underlining that in Marvel Rivals, even the most beloved character might be the biggest loser in terms of competitive success.Even in the official Marvel Rivals subreddit, players are debating the issue that Cloak & Dagger and Jeff are among the healers with the lowest win rates, hence prompting some to pick Mantis and Luna Snow, which according to players is almost a guaranteed win. Almost.With the upcoming Season 1, Jeffs ultimate ability will be nerfed, allowing enemies to reply more quickly before it is released. Check out our coverage on the full nerfs and buffs coming to Marvel Rivals Season 1: Eternal Night Falls.Marvel RivalsPlatform(s):macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Fighting, ShooterRelated TopicsMarvel Rivals Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereThe First Descendant is a great multiplayer experience that owes much of its popularity to the stylish and appealing portrayal of its characters as much as the fun gameplay loop. Ever since Nexon announced they were adding jiggle physics to TFD, fans have been anticipating its addition with baited breath. Nexon has now announced when jiggle physics are expected to release for The First Descendant, and they have also briefly discussed the complexities with adding the feature. Fans of TFD have a lot to anticipate over the 2025 roadmap. It all starts very soon with the release of Ines Raya on January 16th, and soon after we will move onto Season 3 in March. Plans are to add photo mode in Season 3, and we will be getting another new Descendant that is currently codenamed Serena. While photo mode, Serena, and many other confirmed additions are exciting, it seems the most anticipated feature amongst the community is jiggle physics. The feature wont arrive at the beginning of The First Descendant Season 3, but Nexon do plan to add it shortly after. When are jiggle physics coming to The First Descendant?Nexon has said that jiggle physics will release in May for The First Descendant. This comes courtesy of the Q&A section of the Season 2 Second Update Preview livestream that occurred on January 8th/9th.The Q&A portion of the livestream was conducted by TFD producer, Beom-Jun Lee, creative director, Min-Seok Joo, and design director, Seung-Woo Jung, with Eun-Gyeong Seon acting as the interpreter for English-speaking audiences. During the Q&A, producer Beom-Jun Lee was interpreted as saying, When it comes to physics, weve already started developing, but, even on the resourcing stage, there are many things to be done, so, to be a bit conservative, I think it can be introduced in May. This is the developers expectation rather than a date set-in-stone. Delays can always occur as there are lot of complexities involved with introducing the feature. Beom-Jun Lee was further interpreted as saying, Starting from the modelling on characters, we have to change all the settings for each skin, so there are many things to be done. Nexon originally announced the feature as planned leading up to the launch of Season 2, and they said there would be appropriate options. The intent is to add the ability to turn the feature off if players would prefer it disabled, but its possible this could change due to the complexities involved with adding jiggle physics in the first place. For more The First Descendant, we have a guide to thebest skills and loadout for Viessa, along with thebest skills, gear, and mods for the hugely popular Bunny. We also have a guide forFreynaalong with fundamentaltips for beginners.The First DescendantPlatform(s):PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, Adventure, RPG5VideoGamerRelated TopicsThe First Descendant Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

One of the first things Keenlyside and Attard did to make this Milan apartment their own was update the kitchens old cabinetry and moldy dishwasher. They installed black modular units under a stainless steel countertop from an aptly named company called Very Simple: Kitchen in Bologna. The rest of their address created a strong foundation that allowed Keenlyside to find connections between their budding Italian lives and all they left on the other side of the ocean.We changed every light fixture, which presented a very exciting opportunity for me to collect ones like Venini, Flos, and Mazzega from Facebook Marketplace, eBay, vintage stores, and the Navigli antiques market, Keenlyside says. Its rare to find these sorts of fixtures back in Canada, and never so cheaply.The vintage Poliform dining table seats 10, and the dining chairs are designed by Rodney Kinsman for Italian manufacturer Bieffeplast. The couple found the bar in Montreal, which they treated as their own watering hole during the pandemics lockdowns (its where they got engaged!).Keenlyside positioned a vintage Poliform dining table in the large living space, beside the French Art Deco bar they found in Montreal that served as the site of their engagement. Their bedroom is large enough for a king-size bed, an armoire, and a rounded table where Keenlyside is getting her own creative production and design studio called Casa Yaya off the ground, while the den has a sectional that can turn into a bed. Theres color in nearly every corner, and history in nearly every thingeven if their distinct pasts dont necessarily belong to Keenlyside.My favorite places to shop are antiques markets, and Im lucky to live near one of the best, which happens on the last Sunday of every month along the Navigli canals, she says. I occasionally buy new items, like the Gae Aulenti coffee table and Bi-Rite rug in the living room, and the green sofa in the TV room. But almost everything else was accumulated from vintage sources. A papier-mch banana on the table next to the bookcase in the living room is from her former food-industry life in Toronto, while the brown plastic chairs in the primary bedroom are from the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Keenlyside gravitates toward color and interesting shapes, as well as objects that may have an interesting story or can be used in ways beyond what was perhaps originally intended. Long ago, before she even met Attard, Keenlyside lived in a beige home and vowed to never again. Theres so much more fun to be had in the kaleidoscope shes created now.Interestingly, the dialogue between these pieces from both sides of the Atlantic somehow culminates in the form of the desk under the window in the living room, which I discovered was designed by Italian architecture collaborative BBPR, a company that also designed the Canadian pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Keenlyside says. Its those sorts of quirky poetic collisions that give me real joy. In fact, Id say that creating visual poetry between disparate objects and art is my design philosophy.

Ruggable, the LA-based home goods brand, is renowned for versatilitybeing stain-proof and machine washable, their signature rugs eliminate common carpet issues with style. Building off the first collaboration, the brand is pairing with AD for a second time to launch another collection on January 9. Whereas the last line was designed by emerging design talents from the New American Voices, this selection is inspired by 2025 interior design trendsfocusing on three unique styles.When Alison Levasseur, ADs global interiors and garden director, conducted research with the Ruggable team, a clear pattern emerged: three major design revivals, each reinterpreting historical styles for the modern age, recalls Cassandra Leisz, Ruggables senior creative director. For this collaboration, it became clear that influential design styles from the past are informing todays interiors.The Jorda rug in Bronze NaturalThe Lydos rug in Stone IndigoThe collections Archaic designs draw upon olden aesthetics to offer a reimagined, modern take on shared symbols. Ancient colors are cultivated in the Jorda rugthe products copper splotches mimic both erosion and painterly gracewhile the Lydos rug feature a bright glyph motif.The Industrial styles take cues from natural weathering and precision, calling to mind a revolutionary period defined by innovation, growth, and transformation. The Brooklyn rug in Copper Clay is meant to channel the texture of aged brick and stucco, Leisz notes. These materials are what built the rugs namesake borough, and Leisz is confident that their pigments bring forth a warmer, patinaed translation of the aesthetic.The Brooklyn rug in Copper ClayThe Avery rug in Midnight BlueThe Ayla rug in GoldThe Art Decoinspired textiles feature eye-catching geometric patterns. The Avery rug in Midnight Blue exemplifies Gilded Age glamour with a constellation of squares and symbols bordering a rich nocturnal backdrop. The Ayla rug in Gold, too, is inspired by the work of French jewelry designer Jean Desprs. Both are glistening and Gatsby-esque.Still, no matter how luxe the rugs appear at first glance, their functionality allows for low-maintenance upkeepthus, more time for admiration. Regarding the magazines print features, we aim to inspire by showing beautiful homes and fresh design ideas, says ADs Alison Levasseurand those interiors tend to span design styles, from modern to traditional. As a continuation of this philosophy, Levasseur believes collaborations must offer many styles [for homeowners] to best express their aesthetic, which is why the collection offers so much visual variety.AD and Ruggables curation pulls off a difficult-to-achieve feat: By looking back to look forward, the rugs provide a spatial refresh that are sure to remain timeless. All 10 rugs are made-to-order and available in texture options ranging from flat-woven to tufted. Prices start at $129 on Ruggable.com.

By Thomas Maxwell Published January 8, 2025 | Comments (1) | Ukranian hackers have knocked a Russian internet provider offline in an attack that "destroyed" its network. Unsplash/Michael Parulava A regional Russian internet provider named Nodex has been almost completely destroyed in an attack by a Ukranian hacking group. Nodex confirmed the attack in a statement on Russian social network VK, saying its network had been destroyed and that it was working to restore infrastructure from backups. The hacking group, called Ukrainian Cyber Alliance, took credit for the attack, saying the St. Petersburg-based Nodex was completely looted and wiped while the empty equipment without backups was left to them. Cyberattacks have long been a domain of countries like Russia and North Korea, using them to infiltrate domestic infrastructure like utility grids and, in the case of North Korea, even steal cryptocurrency to fund nuclear weapon development. TechCrunch earlier reported on the Ukranian attack and wrote that Nodex remains offline as of Wednesday evening.The attack comes as Russia continues testing the possibility of cutting off its citizens from the global web in favor of its own restricted, sovereign network. Last year, Russias federal internet regulatory agency, Roskomnadzor, restricted global internet access for a day in several regions of the country, particularly Muslim-majority ones, even preventing VPNs from reaching servers outside the country.The Kremlin understandably wants to manage the flow of information available to citizens during its ongoing war with Ukraine. Information on the war is heavily censored, with severe punishments for referring to it as anything other than a special operation. YouTube has remained accessible in Russia but with regular significant outages and slowdowns that critics say are the result of intentional throttling by the government to prevent viewing of certain content. Russia surely hopes that by cutting off websites outside of its control, citizens will not stumble onto content that contradicts the Kremlins narrative and will only consider views that it deems acceptable. News operations spreading Western ideas like Radio Free Europe, and online influence campaigns through social media can be neutered if Russians are simply cut off from their reach. Which is all to say, attacks on internet networks by Ukranian groups may not be effective for long if Russia moves forward with unplugging its ISPs from the rest of the world, further splintering the world into disconnected silos.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Thomas Maxwell Published December 20, 2024 By Thomas Maxwell Published December 20, 2024 By Matthew Gault Published December 12, 2024 By Matthew Gault Published December 10, 2024 By Matthew Gault Published December 3, 2024 By Matthew Gault Published November 21, 2024

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GamePass the PopcornOblivion remaster? South of Midnight? More? What can we expect from 2025's first Xbox Showcase in late January?Microsoft plans to start 2025 with a bang, and hopefully we'll hear more about some of Xbox's big ticket games this time.Image credit: VG247 News by Dom Peppiatt Editor-in-chief Published on Jan. 9, 2025 Move over, Indiana Jones: Xbox is on the warpath once again.Today, Microsoft has announced an Xbox Showcase, set to take place on January 23, 2025 at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK time. The showcase will highlight some of the massive upcoming titles from Microsoft and its partner studios, and whilst we haven't exactly been given a running order of what'll make it into the first big showing of the year, I think it's safe to say we can make some educated guesses.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. As part of the official blog post on the developer direct, we know that we'll get a closer look at Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and South of Midnight via quick trips to the stuidos, which should be nice!But what about that mystery game? As noted in the blog post, there's one more developer we're set to see as part of the developer direct. So which one is it? Well, 2025 is set to be a big year for Xbox, especially for any RPG heads amongst you. With the likes of Avowed, Fable, Outer Worlds 2, and a rumoured Oblivion remaster pencilled into the release schedule, the Series S and Series X are potentially lined up for a pretty good 12 months. Xbox knows a thing or two about bringing the pain.Let's start with that last one. We've heard a fair amount about an Oblivion remake or remaster, with rumours going back as far as 2023 that also include hints towards a potential Fallout 3 re-release, too. Previous rumours pointed to Oblivion itself being ready for release as early as 2022 (!), so here's hoping - three years later - that Bethesda actually shows its hand and addresses the whispers across the industry. We know about the Oblivion remaster, mostly, from a supposed ex-employee from Virtuous Games, who revealed that an Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remake was in the works as early as 2021. "It is done currently using a pairing system, so it means that the remaster is running using both an Unreal Engine 5 project, and the Oblivion one," the leakder said back in 2023. "For instance, new graphics are rendered in the UE5 project, but most of the gameplay / physics /etc is still done in Oblivion. It should be released end of next year/ early [2025] depending mostly if it's a remake or a remaster. It is mostly done in Paris, but Blackshamrock also helps the studio for the art." (These comments were collected by Xfire before an image featuring them was taken down.)Let's hope we actually get some concrete evidence this one exists before the month is out. It's a kinda magic. | Image credit: Obsidian EntertainmentNext, we've got Avowed. The game slipped into 2025 to avoid internal Game Pass competition (thanks, Indy), and Obsidian Entertainments big new risky IP now finds itself slap-bang between two of the biggest releases of the year - Monster Hunter Wilds and Assassin's Creed Shadows. Will this showcase sell the unsure masses on a solid-looking RPG? We'll have to wait and see. For what it's worth, our own Alex Donaldson thinks it looks like an absolute corker. A rolling stone gathers no Moss.I'll group two together, next. We might not know much about The Outer Worlds 2 yet, aside from a few trailers, but I bet that's about to change as we roll into the game's launch year. One little nugget that I'm quite interested in is that the game's devs are getting some helpful guidance from Fallout co-creator Tim Cain.Alongside TOW2, Fable (2025) is probably set to get another showing, soon, given that we haven't seen much of the title since it appeared at Summer Game Feest 2024. Fable is being developed by Playground Games, who you may know from its work on the Horizon series, and looks like it retains the same zany British humour as the original series. That's enough to keep me interested, but let's see if that enthusiasm remains once we actually see some proper gameplay in action. Waiting for the boom.Last, but by no means least, I'd like to give an extra shout out to a game we know will be present at the devleoper direct: South of Midnight. It's the next project from Compulsion Games (the team behind Contrast and We Happy Few) and we got our first first look at its gameplay as part of the Xbox Showcase in summer 2024. The stunning, American South-set game is action-heavy, and stands alone in the Xbox upcoming line-up.South of Midnight is coming to PC and Xbox in 2025, but no specific date has been attached just yet (is this a case of Xbox running from the all-consuming GTA 6? Probably). The game was revealed almost back in 2023, and there's a lot of people especially interested to see what sauce this one is packing. Let's hope we finally get a release date for it during this direct!