The developers of games like Street Fighter are using generative AI to take the busywork out of development.Read More

Hugging Face revolutionizes AI accessibility with new SmolVLM models that run on smartphones, outperform larger systems, and slash computing costs by 300x, making enterprise-grade vision AI affordable for businesses of all sizes.Read More

Circana confirms Black Ops 6 is 2024's biggest hit, but overall game spend in the US falls 9% YoYPlayer spend on games and hardware is also down - 5% and 29%, respectivelyImage credit: Treyarch / Activision News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Jan. 23, 2025 Circana has published its December 2024 US recap, revealing Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 finished the year as the best-selling premium game of both the month and, indeed, the whole of 2024.This makes Activision's Call of Duty franchise the best-selling series for a record 16th consecutive year.Roblox also "had a great December," with consumer spend up 24% over November and spiking sharply on Christmas, clocking up nearly $12 million in US mobile consumer spend.Although Christmas is "the biggest day of the year for Roblox every year," Sensor Tower posits that this year's Christmas was "especially huge," bringing in 35% more US consumer spend this year than last.Furthermore, according to Circanas December report, 2024 projected US consumer spending on video game hardware, content, and accessories declined 8.9% to $7.5 billion compared to a year ago, with overall US consumer spend on the total video game market also falling 1.1% to $58.7 billion compared to $59.2 billion in 2023.Total video game sales* in December 2023: $8,282mTotal video game sales* in December 2024: $7,543m (-9%)Total video game sales** for 2023: $59,294mTotal video game sales** for 2024: $58,659m (-1%)*projected to total market**December 30 2023-January 4 2025Player spend on games content and hardware is also down - 5% and 29%, respectively - whilst video game accessory spend remains flat year-over-year.The analysis reports that a 21% drop in content spending on console when coupled with a 1% decline in mobile offsets the 13% growth elsewhere in PC, cloud, and non-console VR.The huge drop in hardware spend year-on-year is most noticeable for Xbox and Nintendo, with both the Xbox Series and Switch declining by 38%, and Sony's PS5 by 18%.49% of PS5 and 43% of Xbox Series hardware sold in December did not include a physical disc drive, with the former cementing itself as the US' third-biggest console in terms of lifetime sales, now trailing only Switch and Xbox 360.PlayStation Portal was the best-selling accessory both in December 2024 and across the whole of last year, although the in terms of actual units sold, the PS5 DualSense controller tops both periods.Whilst Black Ops 6 topped the annual chart, EA Sports College Football 25 took second place as the second best-selling game of 2024, although Marvel Rivals debuted at the top spot when it comes to monthly active users on Steam, and third across both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series."Roblox retook the #2 spot on the top 10 games by US mobile consumer spend for the first time since August, said Samuel Aune of Sensor Tower."Roblox had a great December, with consumer spend up 24% over November. Roblox revenue spiked sharply on Christmas, raking in nearly $12 million in US mobile consumer spend. Christmas is the biggest day of the year for Roblox every year, but this year's Christmas was especially huge, bringing in 35% more US consumer spend than last year.Another game that saw impressive growth in the last month of 2024 was Call of Duty: Mobile, which grew US consumer spend by 20% with the beginning of Season 11: Winter War 2."

Justin Carter, Contributing EditorJanuary 23, 20252 Min ReadImage via Insomniac Games/PlayStation.At a GlanceThe AIAS is recognizing Price for starting Insomniac and growing it into 'one of the industry's most prolific developers.'Before he retires from Insomniac Games, founder and CEO Ted Price will be inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences' (AIAS) Hall of Fame.Price will be honored during February's DICE Awards in recognition for his long tenure at the PlayStation studio. In its announcement, Academy president Meggan Scavio deemed him "a visionary and steadfast leader. Ted has left an indelible mark on our industry, and his legacy encompasses a portfolio of beloved and critically acclaimed games, a studio that holds him in the highest regard, and a profound impact on the Academy itself."Earlier this week, Price revealed he's going to leave Insomniac and the larger game industry in March. After his departure, Insomniac will be led by longtime employees Ryan Scheider, Jen Huang, and Chad Dezern.Schneider will present the award to Price, and described him to the Academy as "a Hall of Fame game development leader and an even better human. [...] He embodies Insomniacs vision of making a positive and lasting impact on peoples lives, inspiring countless employees, partners and players in a truly remarkable legacy."Ted Price and PlayStation's AIAS historyPreviously, Price served as the Academy's chairman and vice chairman, and hosted its Game Maker's Notebook podcast. He joins previous Hall of Fame inductees such as longtime Mario composer Koji Kondo, NetherRealm's Ed Boon, and fellow PlayStation alum Connie Booth.During her time at PlayStation, Booth had a key hand in developing several key franchises for the brand, including Insomniac's very own Ratchet and Clank, Resistance, and Marvel's Spider-Man. The pair make for the only two Sony representatives in the Hall of Fame.The DICE Awards, and Price's induction into the AIAS Hall of Fame, will air on Thursday, February 13.Read more about:[Company] PlayStationAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

TerraPower, a nuclear energy startup founded by Bill Gates, struck a deal this week with one of the largest data center developers in the US to deploy advanced nuclear reactors. TerraPower and Sabey Data Centers (SDC) are working together on a plan to run existing and future facilities on nuclear energy from small reactors.Tech companies are scrambling to determine where to get all the electricity theyll need for energy-hungry AI data centers that are putting growing pressure on power grids. Theyre increasingly turning to nuclear energy, including next-generation reactors that startups like TerraPower are developing.The energy sector is transforming at an unprecedented pace.The energy sector is transforming at an unprecedented pace after decades of business as usual, and meaningful progress will require strategic collaboration across industries, TerraPowerPresident and CEO Chris Levesque said in a press release. A memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies establishes a strategic collaboration thatll initially look into the potential for new nuclear power plants in Texas and the Rocky Mountain region that would power SDCs data centers.Theres still a long road ahead before that can become a reality. The technology TerraPower and similar nuclear energy startups are developing still have to make it through regulatory hurdles and prove that they can be commercially viable. Compared to older, larger nuclear power plants, the next generation of reactors are supposed to be smaller and easier to site. Nuclear energy is seen as an alternative to fossil fuels that are causing climate change. But it still faces opposition from some advocates concerned about the impact of uranium mining and storing radioactive waste near communities.Im a big believer that nuclear energy can help us solve the climate problem, which is very, very important. There are designs that, in terms of their safety or fuel use or how they handle waste, I think, minimize those problems, Gates told The Verge last year.TerraPowers reactor design for this collaboration, Natrium, isthe only advanced technology of its kind with a construction permit application for a commercial reactor pending with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, according to the company. The company just broke ground on a demonstration project in Wyoming last year, and expects it to come online in 2030. Electricity demand from data centers has tripled over the past decade, according to theLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). That demand is only expected to grow with the rise of AI, a trend that could prolong the lives of aging fossil fuel power plants and revive retired nuclear plants.Microsoftmade a deal in September to help restart a retired reactor at Three Mile Island. BothGoogleandAmazon, meanwhile,announced plans last year to support the development of advanced reactors to power their data centers.

Though Nintendo can technically claim it had the first big gaming news event of the year, at least Xboxs Developer Direct actually showed off some games and let us know when we can play them. The showcase was anchored by deep dives into the biggest games coming down the green pipe like Doom: The Dark Ages and Compulsion Games South of Midnight, with a couple of surprises to fill out the nearly one-hour-long runtime. Here are the highlights from the show.Ninja Gaiden 4Xbox kicked off the Direct with the surprise reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4. The game is being codeveloped by Koei Tecmos Team Ninja and Bayonetta studio PlatinumGames. Ninja Gaiden 4 revives the series bloody, fast-paced combat and high-stakes (but often frustrating) platforming with a new face, the ninja Yakumo. Yakumo will use his unique fighting styles to defeat the Divine Dragon Order thats turned Tokyo into a dystopian, crumbling mess. Gaidens former protagonist, Ryu Hayabusa, will also make an appearance as a playable character and Yakumos rival.Ninja Gaiden 4 will launch in the fall of this year, but if you dont want to wait for your bloody ninja action, you dont have to. Xbox stealth dropped Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a remake of Ninja Gaiden II, and its available right now on Xbox and Game Pass.South of MidnightThe developers at Compulsion Games went into detail about South of Midnights gameplay and story. You play as Hazel who must use her powers as a Weaver, fighting monsters and traversing the haunted landscape, to rescue her mother who gets swept away in a hurricane. With this, everything Ive seen about South of Midnight makes it seem like itll be one of my games of the year. Its got a Black protagonist, features characters and tropes that harken to Southern gothic folklore, and its stop-motion art style makes it immediately stand out. I cannot wait to get my hands on this game when it releases on April 8th.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Sandfall Interactive was founded in Montpellier, France, in 2020 with a team led by former Ubisoft developers. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the studios first game a turn-based RPG with a compelling narrative hook. The world has been ravaged by a being known as the Paintress. Every year, she writes down a number, and everyone older than that number disappears. Expeditions are sent out to stop the Paintress, and the game will follow Expedition 33 in their attempt to save humanity. In addition to an interesting Persona 5-style take on turn-based combat, Expedition 33 features some serious voice acting talent, starring Charlie Cox, Jennifer English, Ben Starr, and Andy Serkis. Cant wait to hear them perform when Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launches on April 24th.Doom: The Dark AgesTo close out the Direct, Xbox gave us another look at Doom: The Dark Ages, the prequel to id Softwares 2016 Doom reboot and Doom Eternal. It will, of course, feature all the ripping and tearing a Doom enjoyer could want, along with an interesting focus on narrative something the series isnt really known for. But I suspect folks are far more interested in piloting a 30-story Doomguy-shaped mech suit when the game releases on May 15th.

Article includes descriptions written by Robert Falchi.If you're searching for your next new game to play, Humble Choice January is now live, and this is the perfect bundle to discover something new! Each month, Humble Choice curates a selection of games for members to redeem. For January 2025, this includes games like Blasphemous 2, Against the Storm, Jagged Alliance 3, and more. This deal will only be available for a limited time, so check out the details below on how you can score this Humble Choice bundle!Humble Choice January 2025 GamesHumble Choice$11.99 at Humble BundleThis month, Humble Choice includes a total of eight different games that you can add to your library. With a wide variety of genres, developers, and publishers, this is a great way to find a new favorite game. One of the biggest games available this month is Against the Storm, an incredibly high-rated city builder that takes place in a dark fantasy world where you build out a customizable city. There's also Jagged Alliance 3, which we gave a 9/10 to in our review. You can check out the full list of games below:Against the StormJagged Alliance 3Blasphemous 2Beneath OresaFort SolisBoxes: Lost FragmentsDordogneThe Pegasus ExpeditionIn addition to these games, you can also score up to 20% off select games on the Humble Store! The longer that you have an active subscription, the more rewards you can unlock. 5% of each Humble Choice purchase also supports a charity that rotates monthly, with January's supporting Make-A-Wish, an organization that works to bring wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. Don't miss out on this month's amazing Humble Choice selection!Against the StormIn Against the Storm, your enemy isnt a rival army or an alien threat, but the Blightstorma cataclysmic death-rain from above. This dark fantasy city builder blends everything you love about the genre with unique roguelite elements, delivering a one-of-a-kind experience with endless replayability. You play as the Viceroy, a general appointed by the Scorched Queen and tasked with reclaiming the wilderness from the Blightstorm. Lead a diverse group of magical creaturesfoxes, beavers, lizards, humans, and harpieseach with unique skills to help build and defend your growing network of village strongholds.Building and maintaining the new cities you develop across the land is the backbone of the experience in Against the Storm, and that gameplay loop is dialed in perfectly.Jagged Alliance 3The tactical turn-based strategy combat fans love about the Jagged Alliance series is back in an exciting new entry. Jagged Alliance 3 takes players to the fictional nation of Grand Chien, a land rich in natural resources but torn apart by deep political divides. When the newly elected president goes missing, and a rogue terrorist organization known as The Legion seizes control, chaos ensues.Its now up to you and a massive roster of interesting, memorable, and powerful mercenaries to retake Grand Chien, rescue the president, and restore order. Every decision you make, both on and off the battlefield, will shape the fate of the country. Will you engage in smaller, calculated skirmishes or launch bold, all-out assaults? The presidents family has entrusted these choices to you and your teamfailure is not an option!Blasphemous 2Platform, parry, and ponder the deeper meanings of good and evil in Blasphemous 2. This Metroidvania side scroller packages exceptional retro-inspired visuals with exciting modern sensibilities in devastating fashion. This story begins after the Wounds of Eventide DLC from the original game, where The Heart announced the return of The Miracle and predicted the birth of a new and powerful child of miracles.Combat is bombastic and brutal with a wide range of new weapons to obliterate hordes of disgusting enemies. Fight with righteous zeal and unrivaled rage across multiple levels within a non-linear world. The grotesque landscapes and eerie castles ooze with gothic charm and unknown dangers. Fight with justice and strength in Blasphemous 2 today.Beneath OresaControl the field of play and dominate your opponents with style in Beneath Oresa. This fighting roguelike deckbuilder mixes strategy with stylized cellshaded visuals to deliver a dynamic experience unlike any other. As a mighty hero, choose your companion, and deck of cards to win fast-paced missions across a variety of environments where positioning is key. Line up enemies for super attacks, move to avoid their counterattacks, or position the bad guys to knock into each other for double damage! Own the arena with upgradable cards that bend to your style of play, and unique companion skills that magnify your existing techniques. Do you have what it takes to arise victorious in Beneath Oresa?Fort SolisFort Solis offers a refreshing take on the thriller genre with a story-rich narrative, stunning visuals, and all-star voice talent. Roger Clark (Arthur Morgan, Red Dead Redemption II) and Troy Baker (Joel Miller, The Last of Us) headline a stellar ensemble of memorable voice actors, enriching every scene with their gripping and realistic performances.Descend into the dark and desolate Martian mining base, Fort Solis, and search for a lost crew as protagonist Jack Leary. The narrative is structured into four chapters and is designed to be enjoyed either in one sitting or episodically. Fort Solis aims to deliver an immersive gaming experience through realistic audio logs, surveillance footage, and more. Experience the fear, excitement, and empathy of Fort Solis for yourself.Boxes: Lost FragmentsPuzzle-solving gameplay in a whole new light. Step into the shoes of a master thief on a job gone wrong in this atmospheric 3D point-and-click adventure. The mission? A seemingly simple heistget in and get out. But everything spirals out of control when you stumble upon a series of mysterious and powerful puzzle boxes.Boxes: Lost Fragments is a puzzle-centric title with stunning, unique level design that delivers some of the most perplexing and satisfying puzzles youll encounter. Will you escape this formidable mansion, or will its suffocating yet lavish walls trap you forever?DordogneWholesome games that warm your heart never go out of style, and Dordogne is one of the most charming and heartfelt around. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscapes of Dordogne, brought to life with stunning hand-painted watercolor visuals that exude charm and artistry.Reconcile your past and present as Mimi, a young adult returning to her childhood village following the passing of her grandmother. Along the way, collect photos, sounds, and scents to expand your personal journal and uncover the secrets of Mimis life. Embark on this heartwarming narrative experience today!The Pegasus ExpeditionSurvive and conquer the unknown to save humanity in The Pegasus Expedition. With Earth beyond salvation, you are tasked with leading the Zeus Link fleet on a mission to find a new home in the distant Pegasus Galaxy. This story-driven grand sci-fi adventure combines classic 4X gameplay with a compelling narrative. Manage your forces, forge alliances, advance technology, and oversee the economy while making crucial decisions as crises emerge and events unfold.Strategic planning is the key to success in The Pegasus Expedition. Engage in espionage and all-out war to battle rival factions in a galaxy that feels truly alive. The longer your expedition lasts, the greater the resistance you'll face. Take command of the fleet today and shape humanity's future!About Humble ChoiceIf you're unfamiliar with Humble Choice, this program from Humble Bundle offers a curated mix of PC games each month, delivered in the form of Steam keys. This monthly membership costs $11.99, and you can guaranteed at least $200 worth of games! You can skip or even cancel your membership at any time. Best of all, each month, 5% of your subscription will be donated to a charity. The featured charity rotates each month, with January memberships supporting Make-A-Wish!

TVs may be an investment, but they are one of the most used gadgets in your home. You dont want to get some cheap screen with lackluster picture quality and a short lifespan just to save a few bucks. Instead, you should look for ways to spend less on the best TV ready for all your gaming and streaming needs. Luckily there are TV deals all year, so you never really have to pay full price for a new TV if you know when to look. Everyones aware of the discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and admittedly those sales often render the most savings if you can score the best deals. However, there are other times throughout the year you can find major savings on the best gaming TVs or quality 4K TVs. In the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl every year, the biggest TV-watching event of the year, youll often enjoy savings. Combine that with most manufacturers releasing new models for the spring, and you'll discover that right now is actually a great time to find a deal on older TVs. That said, there are always more upcoming sales events, like holiday weekends and Amazon Prime Day, on the horizon.Best Times to Buy a TVBlack Friday and Cyber MondayWhat was once a huge shopping day following Thanksgiving has now expanded into a couple weeks in November for sales on everything you can think of. TVs often have some of the deepest discounts of the year, and its one of the best times to look out for one. Youll find many lower-quality TVs for rock bottom prices, which could be handy for a guest bedroom or kid's playroom. Higher-end and newer models of TVs that came out in the spring are also often discounted, so youre bound to find a deal suited for you.Black Friday used to be exclusively for in-store shopping, where youd see people camping outside retailers like Best Buy and Walmart the night before to score the limited inventory and low prices. There are still some incredible TV deals only for in-store purchases, but theyre mostly just advertised to get people in the store, and the stock will more than likely be gone unless you get there early. If you have a specific TV youre searching for, just be sure to snag it quickly during these deals in 2025.Cyber Monday is online shopping's answer to Black Friday. Its simply when youll find the best deals shopping from online retailers. Amazon offers sales similar to Prime Day, which happens in the summer (and now in October), where youll find a variety of TV deals that are often available for a very limited time with a small stock. Other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart participate in Cyber Monday, and those stores will also have similar sales in-store. Before the Super BowlAfter the holiday rush comes one of the biggest TV-watching events of the year: The Super Bowl. Many retailers have better TV availability around mid-January and early February, as stock should be back after shoppers made their purchases during the holiday sales events. Therefore, in the weeks leading up to the big game, youll see great savings on TVs, including many massive screens. Typically, older models will go on sale first with better discounts, but you can still find a great deal on a newer TV. Right now, we're already seeing Super Bowl deals on Samsung OLED TVs. Early January is also when many TV manufacturers announce their newest models at the Consumer Electronics Show (See details about CES 2025 for the TVs you can expect to be on sale). That means some stores will be looking to get rid of their stock of older models to make room for the latest televisions coming in spring. SpringtimeIf youre seeking out a specific brand of television, be it Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, etc., many of those manufacturers release their latest TVs in the Springtime, starting around March and running through Memorial Day weekend. That means you may find deals on the older models of those TVs at that time as retailers want to make room for the new crop. Most manufacturers usually make minimal changes to the older models successor, so you wont miss out on many features if you choose to purchase last year's version. Amazon Prime DayPrime Day was once an Amazon Prime exclusive sale that started in mid-July to celebrate their birthday, but now other retailers join in with similar deals. Walmart, Best Buy, and a variety of other retailers put on their own sales around the same time, attempting to compete with the online retail giant. Some will even match prices.Amazon Prime Day generally lasts a few days during mid July and is only for Prime members. When it comes to TVs, youll often find deep discounts similar to the sales seen around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, many of the best TV deals are on older models. Be sure to keep your eye on the site, as deals are constantly added throughout the two-day sales event. All-in-all, Prime Day is still not as good as Black Friday when you compare the total number of sales across all retailers.Holiday WeekendsIf youre desperate for a new TV and dont want to wait, many retailers will have special sales during long holiday weekends, like Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. These discounts often arent as great, and your TV selection is more limited, but youll still be able to score a decent deal on a TV.The next holiday weekend to be ready for is Labor Day weekend. You can most likely expect Labor Day sales to kick off the weekend before and last through Labor Day itself, which takes place on Monday, September 1.TV Release Cycles MatterIts important to pay attention to the TV release cycle to find the best discounts on TVs, especially if youre looking to buy the latest and greatest releases. In January, at the massive consumer tech conference, CES, is when many manufacturers will announce their upcoming models. Come springtime, starting around March, those new models start to roll out, with many retailers placing deeper discounts on older models. Youll still see releases into the summer. If youre looking to grab one of the newest models, prices often dont drop until the fall. When you hold out until Black Friday and Cyber Monday, youll see the best deals on the latest TVs. TV Brands With New ProductsMost of the notable TV brands release updated and new models of their TVs every year. We go over them below: SamsungSamsung has shifted its focus to higher-end models of TVs, and therefore, there's a limited selection when it comes to more budget-friendly options. We dont see a very big change from last year's lineup, with many new models offering minor upgrades from their predecessors. This crop of Samsung televisions continues promise better brightness, improvements to the mini-LED and Quantum Dot (QD-OLED) backlighting, along with upgrades to their already excellent gaming features. LGLG's OLED evo TVs are getting a few upgrades in 2025, including AI features for more personalization and an upgraded "Brightness Booster Ultimate" technology. For gamers, LG's new G5 TV will sport a 4K 165Hz5 variable refresh rate, aiming to decrease lag and frame stuttering. HisenseHisense continues to make a name for itself in the TV game with its 2025 lineup. Many of their higher-end ULED models now offer a 144Hz refresh rate for a better gaming experience. The 136" MicroLED TV is a stunning, large display that utilizes mini-LED technology to "eliminate traditional backlight limitations."VizioIn 2024, Vizio made a few small improvements to its latest TVs with some added features and better LED performance. They have also removed the top-line P-series model from their roster. Youll still get to choose from the mid-range M-series and the more budget-minded V-series. If youre okay with a 1080p resolution and a smaller screen, you can also grab the D-series on the cheap. TCLTCL made major changes to its TV lineup back in 2024. They introduced Q- and S-series, with their flagship model being the TCL QM8. At CES 2025, TCL announced a new entry-level Mini LED TV: the QM6K. Models are already available at 65", 75", and 85", with smaller size hitting the market later this year. RokuYes, thats right. Last year, Roku, the brand known for streaming devices and putting their smart technology into many other manufacturers' TVs, decided to branch out with its own lineup of Roku TVs. 11 different models range in size from 24 to 75 inches that are all designed for streaming first and foremost. The Roku Plus options will come with the Voice Remote Pro which features hands-free voice commands and rechargeable batteries, while the Roku Select models come with the more basic Roku Voice Remote. You can get access to the Roku Channel without a Roku streaming device, so you don't need to get a Roku-integrated TV to take advantage of the free streaming service.Top Budget TVs You Can Buy NowIf you're ready to shop right now, we keep an ongoing list of the latest TV deals worth shopping. We also have some top budget picks if you aren't necessarily in need of a sale. Below we've detailed some of our favorite cheap TVs you can buy in 2025:Hisense 65U6NGrab this TV for accurate colors, solid contrast, and a wealth of features for a surprisingly low price. See it at AmazonTCL 55Q750GStunning QLED TV that delivers impressive contrast and brightness and can even hit 144Hz in 4K with VRR enabled, all while remaining affordable.See it at AmazonHisense 50U6HFAn ultra-affordable TV offering Amazon Fire TV OS for simple streaming and smart home capabilities. See it at AmazonDanielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.

From the very first time we were introduced to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 at last Junes Xbox Games Showcase, it was clear we were witnessing something special. And, every time this incredible-looking games debut developer, Sandfall Interactive, has dropped tantalizing glimpses of its debut game since then, hype levels among RPG enjoyers only continue to rise.Which brings us to todays Developer_Direct, where we traveled to Montpellier, France to meet the minds behind one of the most exciting new RPGs in years, and learn more than ever before. After establishing that this surprisingly small team of creators works out of a French manor(!), the development team peeled back even more layers of their finely crafted mille feuille of an RPG, revealing delicious details on the games emotional story, original world, how its gameplay innovates on classics of the genre. They also shared its April 24 release date; you can pre-order here and play it day one with Game Pass!Recently I caught up with a couple members of the Expedition 33 team for a recording of the Official Xbox Podcast airing soon where they kindly shared even more details on what weve just seen.From that first reveal, the depth of Expedition 33s turn-based combat proved immediately arresting; the implementation of real-time elements (like dodging or parrying), the variety of moves at players disposal, and the stylish visual flourishes that accompany it all. As nice as it shows up on screen, the team wanted to ensure that the gameplay had the depth to back up its showstopping looks.We didnt want the game to just be a pretty face, Guillaume Broche, CEO & Creative Director, told us. We wanted it to be like a game that feels like a real game. So every character has their own playstyle and you can really play them in a lot of different ways but they also feel very different from each other, and they all have their unique mechanics and their unique skill tree. During Developer_Direct, Sandfall explained another aspect of Expedition 33s deep customization of characters and playstyle, which you set up before you enter battle. The games innovative Pictos, modifiers tied to gear, evolve into passive abilities referred to as Lumina after four battles.For example, one character, Lune has a mechanic whereby every time she casts a skill, she will generate a Stain, up to four at a time. She can then consume these Stains across the battle, amplifying her abilities in various ways; the (pardon the pun) magic is in finding the right combination for your playstyle. Each character boasts their own unique mechanic, from Gustaves Overcharged arm to Sciels use of Sun and Moon-based Foretell charges.So whats very cool is that, when you play through the game, you will change your equipment a lot and you will get more and more Lumina and at the end of the game you have a full list of passives that you can either activate or deactivate, and this allows some crazy build opportunities, Broche explained. This is where we really make some crazy combos, and this is where we expect players to really break the game and we hope they break the game, because its made for that!For all the strategic options on offer, its the visceral, real-time elements of the turn-based battle system that leap front and center in every bit of gameplay weve seen. While this is a crucial part of gameplay, and will certainly appeal to those looking for an experience which challenges both mind and reflexes, Broche assures those of us lacking, shall we say, Sekiro-caliber timing will have options:So youre not supposed to parry everything, of course, that would be far too hard. So we have difficulty options in the game, and depending on the difficulty options the parry window and dodge window will be bigger or smaller if you are playing in Hard mode, and you dont dodge at least 50% of the attacks, you will have some trouble. If you are in Normal, its a bit more [forgiving] than that, and if you are in Easy if you build your characters correctly, at least, you will go by without having to be a master dodger.All this strategic depth comes to life through dynamic camerawork and the alien beauty of the world of Expedition 33, inspired by the Art Deco style of Frances Belle Epoque era. Art Director Nicholas Maxson-Francombe explains that he wanted to avoid replicating things hes already experienced across a lifetime of playing games:I just wanted to get out of the stuff that weve just seen a million times, science fiction, to space, or zombies, all that kind of stuff. I just wanted to get my head out of there and see what I can try to come up with that was original for me personally.Most of the research [I did was into] ceramic textures actually there are some very original shapes that I saw. Those shapes really inspired me to come up with the enemies that we see today in the game. Also, it helps for the environments as well. It was a [painterly] vibe mixed with ceramics and going with crazy colors all over the place. It does help that theres an amazing story behind it!These inspirations really come together on the navigable world map, another Developer_Direct reveal. This is, yet again, inspired by JRPGs of the past, modernized, and planned by Broche from the start.Since the day I started working on this project in Unreal engine, I wanted a world map, he said. I feel like its such a cool thing that has almost completely disappeared from the face of the gaming industry. Like, nobody does that anymore, and for me it was such a crucial and important part of what made the old-school JRPGs unique. Its this sense of travelling and [indicating that] we are an expedition and we wanted the player to feel like theyre going on a grand journey.This is when the size of Expedition 33s world really comes into focus. Broche elaborates: In the beginning, it seems extremely, extremely big. And it is very big. There are a lot of levels to find hidden bosses to find also on this world map; there are tons of secrets. And thats also what makes a world map super cool, because its just like it feels like a completely different exploration game and really makes you understand how much youre travelling.As much as weve seen, theres still plenty more that Expedition 33 has waiting for us, including a camping system and a mechanic where you battle merchants to unlock more of their wares. Its all very ambitious for a relatively small team but once again, every time this team peels back a layer, we cant help but be impressed with what theyre building. Expedition 33 might be standing on the shoulders of giants, but its beginning to look like it could become an RPG touchpoint all of its own.That isnt all we have for you on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33; in an upcoming episode of The Official Xbox Podcast, the team at Sandfall Interactive shares additional behind-the-scenes insights into the development of the game, including a new gameplay video. Pre-order today and look out for it on Xbox Wire, YouTube, and Official Xbox Podcast feeds next week!Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Kepler Interactive$49.99Pre-orderYear by year, She erases us.Once a year, the Paintress wakes and paints upon her monolith. Paints her cursed number. And everyone of that age turns to smoke and fades away. Year by year, that number ticks down and more of us are erased. Tomorrow shell wake and paint 33. And tomorrow we depart on our final mission Destroy the Paintress, so she can never paint death again.We are Expedition 33.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a ground-breaking turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics, making battles more immersive and addictive than ever. Explore a fantasy world inspired by Belle poque France in which you battle devastating enemies.Reactive Turn-based CombatIn this evolution of JRPGs, real-time actions enhance the heart of turn-based combat. Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and character synergies. Open an active dimension in combat dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system. Tomorrow ComesWith only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, and their fellow Expeditioners as they embark upon a desperate quest to break the Paintress cycle of death. Follow the trail of previous expeditions and discover their fate. Get to know the members of Expedition 33 as they learn to work together against impossible odds.A Hauntingly Beautiful WorldExplore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend. Recruit special companions to access new travel methods and discover secret areas in the World Map.Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack.

Zaire Lanier, Writer & Narrative Designer at Compulsion Games PublishedJanuary 23, 2025 SummarySouth of Midnight will be available on April 8, 2025, on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox app for Windows PC, Steam, cloud, and play it on day one with Game Pass. And with Xbox Play Anywhere, play on Xbox consoles, Windows PC, and cloud with full cross-entitlements and cross-saves. Pre-orders are available now.Play up to five days early, starting April 3, 2025, and get access to digital extras with the Premium Edition. You can upgrade if you purchase the Standard Edition or are playing with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC.Check out the all-new story trailer here, and hear directly from Compulsion Games, the creators behind South of Midnight, in their segment from Developer_Direct here.Today was a big day for all of us at Compulsion Games. In addition to being a part of Developer_Direct, where members of our studio team shared more about the gameplay, look, and feel of South of Midnight, our third-person action-adventure game set in the American Deep South, we announced our release date of April 8, 2025, and early access beginning April 3. If that wasnt enough, we also released our brand-new story trailer, which expands on the narrative of South of Midnight, while including all-new gameplay, characters, and mythical creatures from the game. Were so excited to share more about South of Midnight, which is available now for pre-orders. The Story of South of MidnightIn our story trailer, protagonist Hazel and her mother are preparing for the impending hurricane. The storm proves massive, causing catastrophic flooding-and causing their own home to be swept down river with her mother in it. Its aftermath shows the fictional town of Prospero, located in the southern United States, eerily calm while irrevocably changed from the hurricanes destruction. Here, Hazel undertakes a journey in search of her mother, while finding out more about herself and her familys lineage in the process.Hazel begins to see fantastical phenomena all over Prospero, including meeting Catfish, an enormous and talking creature in his own right, stuck in a tree following the hurricanes destruction. Catfish tells Hazel she is a Weaver, someone who possesses magical powers and can see how our threads connect to form the woven tapestry of our fates. As Hazel, players will learn with her to use her powers, overcoming obstacles such as defeating enemies and removing barriers, from conjuring past incarnations of objects to use them to overcome traversal and puzzle challenges, to combat-based spells to take on the biggest foes. As Jasmin Roy, South of Midnights Game Director highlighted during Developer_Direct, Push, Pull, and Weave are some of the spells at your disposal that give you a tactical advantage during a fight. Timing is everything. Pull distant enemies close to start melee combos, push them back to interrupt and stun their attack, then press the advantage with follow-up strikes.Behind each monster is a haunting pastSpeaking of these creatures, we show a few different types of enemies and characters Hazel will encounter. Youll see Haints, which are an enemy class that comes in many forms, with Hazel using her weaving powers and magical tools to unravel the corruption afflicting these creatures and the environment around them, and return the area to reality. Theres also a glimpse of Two-Toed Tom, the blind albino alligator the size of an island, whom we shared in our gameplay reveal trailer in 2024. A new mythical creature shown for the first time is Huggin Molly. Inspired by a Southern legend, Huggin Molly is a monstrous woman-spider. Her dress is a quilt patchwork made from childrens clothes and her trademark red yarn that she spins like a web. Folks say Huggin Molly still ventures out of her mountain lair to snatch random children that wander off from town. But everyone seems to tell a different version of Mollys story. We also provided glimpses of other creatures including The Rougarou, a shapeshifting were-owl who lives in a dense, dark forest at the edge of the mountain.A love letter to the SouthOur town, Prospero, and its outskirts are a composite of a number of Southern-inspired locations from flooded country sides, abysmal swamps and Appalachian mountains. And while the game features all sorts of creatures, pulled directly from Southern Fairytales, at its heart it is a story about family and healing. When South of Midnight releases on April 8, 2025, players will be able to see first-hand our commitment to narrative-rich storytelling, mixed with third-person action, in an experience that will take most players between 10-12 hours to complete. Were also excited that soon press and creators from around the world will be receiving a pre-release build of South of Midnight so they can play it themselves, in order to share their first previews impressions publicly. Well be sharing a special preview ourselves on Compulsion Games and Xbox channels, so stay tuned for more in February.Get ready to start your adventureSouth of Midnight will be available on April 8, 2025, on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox App for Windows PC, Steam and cloud, and play it on day one with Game Pass. If you want to immerse yourself into the macabre and fantastical world of South of Midnight early, get the Premium Edition to play up to 5 days early, and get access to digital extras. If you purchase the Standard Edition or are playing with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC and decide you want the Premium Edition, you can upgrade at any time with the Premium Upgrade Edition to get up to five days early access, and access to these digital extras (English only):South of Midnight Artbook: Compulsion Games presents The Art of South of Midnight. Organized by the games story chapters, this abundant visual gallery includes never-before-seen character art, environmental art, iconography, artist commentary, and more from Compulsions modern Southern Gothic folktale.Original Soundtrack: Inspired by the haunting allure of the Southern gothic Deep South, the South of Midnight original soundtrack blends traditional Southern-style music with a dark, otherworldly essence. With visionary composer Olivier Deriviere at its helm, the dynamic soundtrack features performances by Southern artists and incorporates traditional instruments to create a diegetic musical narrative that evolves in response to the players actions and environment. From soulful blues to lively honky-tonk, each song invokes the regions rich cultural history, immersing players in an eerie, otherworldly atmosphere where reality and myth collide.The Boo-Hag Digital Comic Book: Compulsion Games has teamed up with award-winning comic book artist and writer Rob Guillory to create The Boo Hag, a digital comic book set in the South of Midnightuniverse. Presented in full color, The Boo Hag explores protagonist Hazels encounter with an infamous mythical creature from Deep South mythos, giving readers the chance to dive even deeper into the games fantastical and folkloric world.Music Video: Songs & Tales of South of Midnight: Feel the magic of South of Midnights lyrically driven narrative music with Songs & Tales From South of Midnight, a visual compilation featuring three selected songs from the South of MidnightOST. This field recording-style music video showcases and celebrates the diverse range of Southern musical genres that define South of Midnights soundtrack, all while telling a cohesive story through delightfully haunting visuals.Documentary: Weaving Hazels Journey, Directors Cut: Weaving Hazels Journey: A South of Midnight Documentary(Directors Cut) offers fans an extended look at the development of Compulsion Games third-person action-adventure South of Midnight. This directors cut explores in even greater detail the teams world-building process and inspirations drawn from Deep South folktales, featuring exclusive interviews and commentary from various Compulsion Games developers across multiple disciplines, including gameplay, narrative, art, music, and more. Minimum PC SpecsTo play South of Midnight on PC, you will need the following minimum PC specs: CPU: AMDRyzen 3 1300X / Intel i3-8100 GPU: AMD RX 580 / Nvidia GTX 1060 Memory: 12GB RAM Storage: SSD required (55GB install size) DirectX: 12South of MidnightXbox Game StudiosGet it nowFrom the creators of Contrast and We Happy Few, South of Midnight is a spellbinding third person action-adventure game set in the American Deep South. As Hazel, you will explore the mythos and encounter creatures of Southern folklore in a macabre and fantastical world. When disaster strikes her hometown, Hazel is called to become a Weaver: a magical mender of broken bonds and spirits. Imbued with these new abilities, Hazel will confront and subdue dangerous creatures, untangle the webs of her own family's shared past and if she's lucky find her way to a place that feels like home.A DARK MODERN FOLKTALE When a hurricane rips through Prospero, Hazel is pulled into a Southern Gothic world of memory made real and must embark on a journey to rescue her mother and safeguard her hometown. In this folktale for modern times, Hazel will need to reconcile the weight of family, history, and legacy against her own identity.CONFRONT MYTHICAL CREATURESWield an ancient power to restore creatures and uncover the traumas that consume them. Cast weaving magic to fight destructive Haints, explore the diverse regions of the South, and reweave the tears in the Grand Tapestry.HAUNTING BEAUTY OF THE GOTHIC SOUTHDiscover the lush, decayed county of Prospero and its locals. Experience a crafted visual style, touching storytelling, and immersive music inspired by the complex and rich history of the South.