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GAMINGBOLT.COMS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Pre-Loading Now Live on Xbox Series X/S, Requires Over 147 GBXbox has certainly decided to leave some of its most prominent releases until the very end of the year.S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobylin particular is a game that many have been looking forward to for a long time now. Developer GSC Game World recently announced that the game had gone gold, and now, with its release drawing closer by the day, pre-loading has now also gone live.In particular, players on Xbox Series X/S can pre-load the highly anticipated open world survival horror shooter starting now. When you do, however, youre going to have to ensure that you have a healthy amount of free storage space, with the game requiring 147.6 GB (via Pure Xbox).Those whove pre-ordered the game can pre-load it now, as can those subscribed to Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass PC.S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobylis set to launch on November 20 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.0 Comments 0 Shares 1 ViewsPlease log in to like, share and comment!
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GAMINGBOLT.COMSteam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White Unveiled, Coming November 18Its going to be at least a couple of years before Valve is ready to release a Steam Deck 2, but that doesnt mean the company doesnt have new variants of the existing device to release. Another one of those will be coming imminently, in fact, if only in a limited capacity.Valve has unveiled the Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White, which, as its name suggests, is a new white and gray version of the Steam Deck OLED 1 TB model. It features the same specs, but will come with an exclusive white carrying case and microfiber cleaning cloth.The Limited Edition model will be priced at $679 USD, and will be available in all regions where the Steam Deck is shipped starting November 18. It will be sold until stock runs out. Valve has also stated that it will be restricting purchases of the console to one unit per Steam account so that as many customers as possible can get their hands on it.0 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMHello Neighbor 3 AnnouncedTheHello Neighborfranchise has never enjoyed the sort of critical reception that its fascinating core premise has always had the potential for, though clearly, it has been successful enough that tinyBuild keeps coming back to it. Another new instalment has, in fact, now been announced.tinyBuild has officially announcedHello Neighbor 3,another survival horror stealth experience that fans of the series will find familiar. Players will return to the town of Raven Brooks once again, and you can expect it to be as unsettling as every.Like its predecessors, the game is going to be heavily systemic, with each resident of the town having a unique personality and the entire town being fully simulated in real time. Player freedom will be emphasized, and finding creative solutions to problems will be encouraged. Check out the first developer diary for the game below for more details on what to expect.Hello Neighbor 3is currently announced only for PC, and theres no word yet on when it will release. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks and months.0 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMLEGO Horizon Adventures Trailer Features a Singing ThunderjawGuerrilla Games and Studio Gobo have a new trailer available for LEGO Horizon Adventures, featuring Aloy battling a rampaging Thunderjaw. However, it quickly devolves into a musical number as she sings Tubthumper by Chumbawamba, a classic 90s song. Even the Thunderjaw joins in. Check it out below.If the trailer wasnt indication enough, LEGO Horizon Adventures has a lighter touch than Guerrillas mainline series. Though based on Horizon Zero Dawn, with Aloy searching for her mother in the post-apocalyptic world, it forgoes many of the darker elements in favor of humor. The gameplay doesnt veer completely into Stud-collecting territory like other LEGO titles (though it features a similar perspective) and supports co-op.LEGO Horizon Adventures is out on November 14th for PC, Nintendo Switch, and PS5, having gone gold near the end of October. It will take seven to eight hours to complete. Check out details for the Digital Deluxe Edition, which features outfits based on Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and LittleBigPlanets Sackboy.0 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMDynasty Warriors: Origins Gameplay Showcases Tactics, Weapon Types, and Huang Gais PowerFollowing Tokyo Game Show 2024, various gameplay presentations have begun to emerge, including from Omega Forces Dynasty Warriors: Origins. Set during the Subjugation of Yuan Shu, it sees the nameless protagonist and their coalition fighting against Yuan Shu. Check it out below.Players start by attacking the enemy castle from the East; however, as noted by producer Tomohiko Sho, they meet quick resistance from shielded enemies and catapult fire. Instead of continuing to push ahead, the protagonist ventures to the northeast base to support their allies. Upon returning, players must escort a siege tower to the walls, utilizing tactics like Invigoration to spur allies and avoid dangerous attacks from enemy troops.Battling opposing Officers can be trickier. You need to exploit any openings or use Arts to break through their Fortitude. Enemy armies can also unleash tactics, like Fiery Fortress, which deal extensive damage, so you have to take them out ASAP to avoid significant casualties.The gameplay showcases other powerful tactics and different weapons that the protagonist can employ, including a Guan Dao. Eventually, youll march alongside the armies of Liu Bei and Lu Bu and even switch to your companion, Huang Gai, to wreak extensive havoc on Yuan Shu. Were talking mid-air powerbomb generating shockwaves to decimate hundreds of enemies levels of havoc.Dynasty Warriors: Origins launches on January 17th, 2025, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Head here for more gameplay, and stay tuned for updates.0 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMMarvel Rivals Gameplay Details Moon Knights Abilities, Potentially Teases HawkeyeThe first trailer for Marvel Rivals Moon Knight is now available, highlighting the heros looks and overall combat prowess. However, IGN China went hands-on with the new Duelist and outlined how his powers work. Check it out below.The Fist of Khonshu can glide into battle and attack opponents up close but excels at dismantling groups. Thats due to his primary projectile, which can bounce between enemies, dealing more damage with each ricochet. His Ultimate is an area-of-effect attack which summons Khonshus hands, and while it doesnt last very long, it deals some pretty hefty damage to those unlucky enough to get caught.Another noteworthy part of the gameplay is Hawkeye, or what seems to be his icon in the kill feed at two minutes and 49 seconds. Perhaps the next character reveal before launch? Well find out in the coming weeks.Marvel Rivals is out on December 6th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Psylocke is another recently revealed Duelist check out her abilities here.0 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMBlack Myth: Wukongs Physical PS5 Release is Set for December 12Black Myth: Wukonghas been one of the biggest releases of the year by far, especially where sales are concerned, and it has, of course, done so without having had a physical launch. That, however, will be changing soon. It was confirmed last month by developer Game Science that the action RPG would be getting a physical release very soon, and a concrete date has now been announced for that.PM Studios, the distributor for the games physical release, has confirmed thatBlack Myth: WukongsPS5 version will be available physical on discs starting December 12, a little over a month from now. Pre-orders are live now as well.Last month also sawBlack Myth: Wukonggetting rated for Xbox Series X/S by the ESRB, but it remains to be seen whether those on Microsofts platform can also expect to be playing the game in the imminent future.Black Myth: Wukongis currently available on PS5 and PC. An expansion is also currently in development.Mark your calendars! Black Myth: Wukong arrives in physical form on December 12,2024! #BlackMythWukong pic.twitter.com/tjYesZR6yo PM Studios-In The Flesh! (@PMStudiosUSA) November 8, 20240 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMSouth of Midnight Previews Seemingly Coming SoonSouth of Midnighthas looked like an increasingly intriguing prospect each time weve seen more of it, which is saying something, because we havent seen an awful lot. However, that could be changing soon, with developer Compulsion Games seemingly gearing up to showcase more of the action-adventure title in the imminent future.Thats based on the recent social media activity of journalist Parris Lilly of Kinda Funny Games, who recently spent some time at Compulsion Games and has confirmed with multiple tweets that he will have coverage related toSouth of Midnightto share over the course of the coming days. That probably means we can expect new gameplay details, footage, and impressions on the upcoming title to be shared by various outlets over the course of the coming week.South of Midnightis due out sometime in 2025 for Xbox Series X/S and PC. A specific release date hasnt yet been announced.spending the day at Compulsion Games to see South of Midnight pic.twitter.com/XOkaYIV5If Parris (@vicious696) November 7, 2024South of Midnight coverage coming soon pic.twitter.com/S8YAXlkRz2 Parris (@vicious696) November 7, 2024Got a couple videos for South of Midnight dropping next weekthe first will premiere with the documentary on the 12ththe second will be a fun one the next day on the 13thHuge thank you to @Xbox for inviting me to spend the day with the team at Compulsion Games pic.twitter.com/2P8ff51tc8 Parris (@vicious696) November 9, 20240 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMInfinity Nikki Ability Outfits, Curio Domain, and More Detailed in New Overview TrailerPapergames and Infold have yet to confirm the release date of Infinity Nikki, but a new overview trailer is available. It outlines the journey of protagonist Nikki and Momo to Miraland, a strange new world brimming with curiosities. To navigate it, Nikki must discover Whimstars and unlock new outfits which confer differing abilities.These include gliding, double-jumping, projectiles, and even diving attacks. Platforming is essential to the experience, especially when navigating the Curio domain with its various machinations and mechanics. However, some outfits perform other functions like catching bugs, grooming animals, and catching fish.Other activities await, like exploration via the Whimcycle and instances where you directly control Momo. Infinity Nikki is seemingly out on December 4th according to the PlayStation Store, so stay tuned for an official announcement in the coming weeks. Along with PS5, it will also be available for iOS, Android, and PC and has reached 30 million pre-registrations worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMGTA 6 Publisher Explains the Importance of PC: We Are Selective About PlatformsTake Two, for some strange reason, do not launch games developed by Rockstar Games day one on PC platforms alongside their console counterparts. This has remained true for several games from the developers portfolio ranging from Grand Theft Auto 4 to Grand Theft Auto 5 and from Red Dead Redemption 1 to Red Dead Redemption 2. In fact, Take Two launched Red Dead Redemption 1 on PC last month after fourteen long years (you can read our review of the PC version here).Unfortunately, this practice will continue in the case of Grand Theft Auto 6 with the publisher opting to launch it only on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5. The lack of a day one PC version release is disappointing for many PC gamers, especially in an age where almost every major AAA title launches on PC digital platforms day one and alongside their console counterparts. In a recent earnings call, Take-Two chairman and CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that the PC platform is important for them and developing support for it is not complicated.If one platform diminishes in value, theres always another one. So, were seeing great growth in PC right now, for example. And I have been able to view that open formats would continue to grow. PC is an open format. I do think PC will continue to be a more and more important part of the console business going forward, and that isnt complicated for us to support at all, Zelnick stated.So, the bottom line is we are selective about which platforms we support, he added.To be clear, Zelnicks statements reflect Take Twos policy on PC releases in general and not specific to GTA 6. Obviously, they wont abandon gamings biggest and largest platform but given the publishers erratic record with Rockstars PC releases in the last decade or so, it doesnt inspire much confidence amongst GTA PC players. A PC version of GTA 6 version will likely happen at some point but who knows when that will be. To give you a bit of history, Bully launched on consoles in October 2006 followed by a PC release, two years later, in 2008. Grand Theft Auto 4 released PS3 and Xbox 360 in April of 2008. The PC version saw release a few months later in December. Grand Theft Auto 5s initial release was back in September 2013 followed by a PC release almost two years later in April 2015. Rockstars most recent game, Red Dead Redemption 2 launched on PS4 and Xbox One in October 2018 followed by a PC release in 2019. Games like Midnight Club: Los Angeles didnt even saw a PC version released. Its clear that in the case of Rockstar and their games, a PC version is not a priority for Take Two. However, in case of its other labels, players can expect Borderlands 4 and Mafia: The Old Country to launch day one on PC.Grand Theft Auto 6 launches in Fall of 2025.0 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMPS5 Pros PSSR On Par with Nvidia DLSS and Intel XeSS, Says DeveloperPricing issues aside, there is no doubt that the PlayStation 5 Pro is technical masterpiece. Featuring top of the line GPU and new software techniques, the PS5 Pro comes off as an easy recommendation for someone who is an enthusiast. One particular game changing feature from a technical perspective is the consoles support for PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). Its an image reconstruction technique which ensures minimum hit to image quality at higher frame rates. Contemporary PC solutions include the likes of Nvidias DLSS, Intel XeSS and AMDs FSR.Whether PS5 Pros PSSR is better than the aforementioned solutions is something that will be uncovered in the future, but one developer from Gaijin believes that its on par with DLSS and XeSS. Were currently using it in Enlisted. During development and playtesting, weve found PSSR to be on par with NVIDIA DLSS and Intel XeSS, the other two ML based super resolution methods, Gergo Horvath, a Graphics Programmer at Gaijin stated in an interview with Wccftech. While in my opinion PSSR produces less blur, ghosting, and unwanted flicker compared to AMD FSR. These technologies are constantly improving, so I find it impressive that the first version of PSSR is already head-to-head with other more mature solutions, he added.This is certainly an interesting take given that the likes of DLSS and FSR have seen numerous improvements over their multiple iterations over the years. If early titles on the PS5 Pro can give equivalent results, we are more than curious to see the results when Sony adopts this technology for the inevitable PS6.Horvath also explained how they are using PSSR to achieve higher frame rates at 4K resolutions, all thanks to PSSR. Enlisted and War Thunder, the companys two ongoing projects, will run at 4K and 120 frames per second on Sonys latest gaming machine.For the PS5 Pros release of Enlisted, we have switched from a fixed resolution to using dynamic resolution together with upscaling techniques for both the Base and the Pro version of the console to make sure we have a stable frame rate at all times while the internal rendering resolution is automatically adjusted. This made 4K@120FPS gaming possible for PS5 Pro players, Horvath stated. PSSR, of course, does a better job. For the PS5 Pros release of War Thunder well offer the opportunity to play the game at 4K@120FPS resolution from day one. More visual updates will follow with the next major update release in a week, and even more are under development, he added.The PS5 Pro has bought host of improvements to existing PS5 games. No Mans Sky runs at a blistering 8k@60fps on consoles, Baldurs Gate 3 runs at 4K and 30fps in Quality mode, Star Wars: Jedi Survivor now reaches 4K resolution, Until Dawn Remake received new Performance and Fidelity modes and Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth received a new Versatility mode. It will be interesting to see how native PS5 games like Ghost of Yotei and Death Stranding 2 will take advantage of the consoles processing power, both of which are due in 2025.0 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMDragons Dogma 2 Has Sold 3.3 Million UnitsDragons Dogma 2was the big new release that most of Capcoms 2024 plans hinged on, and the open world action RPG has certainly performed well for the company from both critical and commercial perspectives.Capcom has updated its Platinum Titles page, which lists sales figures for all million-plus selling games by the company, as per which,Dragons Dogma 2has sold 3.3 million units worldwide as of September 30. In May, the company announced that the game had hit 3 million units sold, which means it has sold an additional 300,000 units since then.Capcom hasnt said anything about post-launch DLC plans forDragons Dogma 2,but the open world action RPG has continued to receive patches and updates in the months since release. An update in September added a Casual Mode, while an October update added Performance and Graphics modes. Another recent patch added PS5 Pro enhancements.Dragons Dogma 2is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Read our review of the game through here.0 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COM5 Things We Liked About Dragon Age: The Veilguard (and 5 That We Didnt)Dragon Age games usually tend to be rather divisive, so it ultimately doesnt come as a huge shocker thatDragon Age: The Veilguardis yet another example of the series fanbase being split on something. Theres a lot to like in BioWares recently released action RPG, but at the same time, a lot that many have also been let down by. Our experience has been along those lines as well, so here, were going to go over some of the things that we liked and dislike the most inDragon Age: The Veilguard.LIKEDCOMPANIONSFew developers in the world are better at crafting companion characters than BioWare, so expectations fromThe Veilguardwere high in this area- expectations that it lives up to with some confidence. Though the game has its fair share of issues where its writing and tone are concerned (more on that later),The Veilguardscore cast of characters is hard not to fall in love with. Getting to know and developing your bond with each of the core seven companions always remains one of the games highlights, while a solid cast of secondary characters (led by none other than longtime fan favourites in Varric and Solas) helps strengthen the cast further still.Dragon Agegames have always boasted incredible characters, and thankfully,The Veilguarddoesnt buck that trend.LEVEL DESIGNWhen BioWare confirmed prior to its launch thatThe Veilguardwould be a linear, mission-based game rather than an open world, many breathed a sigh of relief not least because of the many issuesDragon Age: Inquisitionhad due to its bloated open world structure. Having now played the game, we can confidently say that that pivot was very much the right decision.The Veilguardsmain missions do leave a little something to be desired in how incredibly linear and railroaded they feel (especially in the games earlier hours), but getting to revisit areas and explore them in much more open-ended and non-linear fashion always remains enjoyable. Unlocking shortcuts, finding looping paths, and using different companion abilities to find hidden areas and rewards- none of that stuff reinvents the wheel, of course, but it does remain engaging nonetheless.LORE AND PAST CONNECTIONSDragon Agelore has never failed to impress, andThe Veikguarddoesnt disappoint in this area either. For starters, its hard not to be enamoured by simply existing in Thedas and learning more about its rich history, cultures, locations, and factions, but on top of that,The Veilguardalso resolves many pastDragon Agegames background narrative threads and lingering plot elements in satisfactory ways. Obviously, being a direct follow-up toInquisition, thats the game that it connects to most overtly, butThe Veilguardalso ties in withOriginsandDragon Age 2in some neat and rather unpredictable ways.VISUALSMileage will definitely vary in this area, becauseDragon Age: The Veilguardsnew visual style has been quite divisive among fans. There are those who dont like the games new stylized look, especially compared to the darker and more grim aesthetic of pastDragon Agegames, but though we do see where those arguments are coming from, for our money, this is a great looking game.The Veilguardboasts some of the most visually striking environmental design weve ever seen from BioWare, character designs that are full of personality, and a stunning level of attention to detail. On top of that, the game is also incredibly well optimized, running like a dream on all the platforms its available on.COMBATSimilar to its graphics,The Veilguardscombat isnt necessarily an unequivocal victory, because there are many who dont like its hack-and-slash action approach. Again, we can see where those criticisms come from (and even agree with some, as well discuss in a bit), but by and large, we likeThe Veilguards combat. It feels fun, fast, impactful, and immediate, and flitting between enemies, unleashing abilities, comboing companion attacks, and dodging and parrying incoming blows always remains enjoyable on at least a fundamental level, even if things can feel a little shallow and repetitive from time to time.DONT LIKEWRITINGThis is probably one ofDragon Age: The Veilguardsmost egregious issues. Were not going to rewrite history here and say BioWare games have always had flawless writing, because clunky dialog and exposition have been a thing in BioWare games for pretty much as long as theyve been around. But even so,The Veilguardfeels like a definite step back. By and large, the game just feels like its been heavily defanged, and though the game does keep insisting that its telling a high-stakes story, very rarely does it actually feel that way. On top of that, you also have the overly quippy dialog and banter. Again, that has always been a thing in BioWare games, but with The Velguardswriting not being up to scratch in other areas, the issues with its overly quippy dialog end up standing out that much more as well.LIGHTER TONEOne ofDragon Age: The Veilguardsmost controversial shifts has been in its tone.Dragon Ageas a franchise has always been heavily reliant on dark fantasy elements, and fromOriginsto2toInquisition, the series aesthetic has always been an incredibly gritty and mature one. The same is not true in this case, however. Sure,The Veilguarddoes still have mature dark fantasy elements, but all of that has definitely taken a backseat, with the overall tone of the experience being much lighter than in previous entries. Combined with how toothless the writing can feel so often, that definitely comes across as a major issue.DE-EMPHASIZED CHOICE AND CONSEQUENCE MECHANICSYou always,alwaysexpect a BioWare game to excel with its choice and consequence mechanics, even if this is an area where the studio has struggled in prominent ways from time to time, butThe Veilguard feels like yet another instance of BioWare missing the mark here. Take the dialog choices, for instance- not only does the game present you with dialog options much less often than you would expect from a BioWare title, when it does do that, the options that it presents end up feeling very limited. Meanwhile, in addition to not having too much control over what kind of personality you want your Rook to have, you often dont even get too much control over how the story will progress. There are, of course, times where youre making significant, large-scale decisions in the manner that you expect to in aDragon Agegame (especially in the fantastic closing couple of hours), but overall, choice and consequence mechanics are heavily de-emphasized inThe Veilguard, much to our disappointment.SHALLOW PROGRESSIONBioWare has often been criticized for streamlining its games and stripping them of their RPGness a little bit too much, andThe Veilguardalso falls foul of that in some notable ways. Take the games progression mechanics, for instance, which have turned out to be surprisingly shallow. Progressing through Rooks skill tree doesnt feel nearly as rewarding as it should, thanks to a large number of the upgrade options being rather uninspired, and the lack of actual, meaningful build diversity is only exacerbated by companion progression somehow being even more pared back than it is for Rook.CANT CONTROL PARTY MEMBERSOverall, were fans ofDragon Age: The Veilguardscombat, as weve already discussed, but not all of its major changes work out for the better. Chief among them is the games decision to make Rook be the only playable character. Controlling party members has always been an important part of Dragon Agecombat, so the complete lack of it is keenly felt inThe Veilguard. For a game that already suffers from being a bit too shallow in everything from its combat to its progression mechanics, party members being removed from the equation to this degree only ends up adding to those problems.0 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMIndiana Jones and the Great Circle Gameplay Deep Dive Coming November 112024 is almost over, but this year still has some major upcoming titles in the pipeline, and MachineGames Indiana Jones and the Great Circleis surely one of the most prominent ones in that group. With its launch now around the corner, Bethesda and developer MachineGames are continuing their rollout of new information, and will have plenty more to share with an imminent gameplay deep dive.A deep dive trailer forIndiana Jones and the Great Circlewill go live on November 11 at 7 AM Pacific / 10 AM Eastern. As the YouTube videos description reveals, the deep dive will see audio director Pete Ward providing new information on everything from locations and puzzles to gear and combat. Presumably, we can expect plenty of new gameplay footage, so stay tuned for all of the updates to come.Indiana Jones and the Great Circlelaunches on December 9 for Xbox Series X/S and PC. It will release for PS5 in Spring 2025.0 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMMetro Awakening Everything You Need to KnowThe Metroseries has had an impeccable track record thus far, so naturally, excitement surrounding its future is always high, but though it remains to be seen when the follow-up toMetro Exodusfrom 4A Games will arrive, theres other things to look forward to as well. Vertigo Games, for instance, has hoped onto theMetrotrain (heh) and delivered a virtual reality-exclusive in the form ofMetro Awakening, which has continued to look increasingly promising since being announced. Now, as players prepare to dive into its offerings, here, were going to go over a few key details that you should know about it.VR-ONLYAs mentioned,Metro Awakeningis a VR game- which means it isexclusivelya VR game. Fans of the series who have been hoping for a new instalment for years might be disappointed that whats looking like a promising new entry is locked to VR platforms, but itislooking like its using the virtual reality medium in interesting ways, so theres that. Specifically, the game is available for PS VR2, Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, SteamVR, and Viveport.STORY DETAILSWe know thatMetrosmain story will be continuing with the game that 4A Games currently has in the works, so where exactly doesMetro Awakeningfit in the timeline? The VR title serves as a prequel to the trilogy, being set beforeMetro 2033. Starring a new protagonist in Dr. Serdar, who embarks on a deadly quest to rescue his wife. The game tells the origin story of Khan, an enigmatic recurring character than fans of the series will be familiar with.WRITTEN BY ORIGINAL METRO AUTHORRussian author Dmitry Glukhovsky, who penned theMetronovels that 4A Games shooters are based on, has always been heavily involved in the creation of the games as well, and even thoughAwakeningisnt developed by 4A Games, Glukhovsky has still had a major role to play. He is credited as the games writer, with the story being an original one penned by Glukhovsky himself- which means fans of the series can expect an authenticMetroexperience that slots nicely into the series larger lore.RETAINING THE LOOK OF THE MAIN SERIESDeveloper Vertigo Games has obviously made some fundamental changes to the game design inMetro Awakening, given that its a VR game, but itisstill aMetrogame also. As such, the studio has ensured that it retains the look and feel of the main series as well, for which it worked directly with 4A Games. Speaking with the PlayStation Blog, creative director Martin de Ronde explained, We were very happy that 4A helped us fantastically well with supplying all the assets that they have from those games. We were able to either use some of those assets directly or use them as a reference for most of the stuff that we built in the game its helped ensure that the game looks the way it looks.There are assets that we looked at, and we wanted to use them specifically because they play a role on the mainland series, we wanted to reuse them again. In our game, you want to also make sure that fans recognise those elements. And then there was obviously stuff that serves the purposes as reference. And then theres stuff that were almost regressing in terms of what would have looked like, X number of years before the events in the mainline series.SIMILAR STEALTH-COMBAT LOOPAnother area whereMetro Awakeningisnt looking to deviate from the norm too much is the balance that the series has generally struck between combat and stealth, even if you can obviously expect the moment-to-moment mechanics to feel different, being an entirely different medium. That, in fact, was something that the team at Vertigo Games identified early one as a core component of any Metroexperience, as per game director Samar Louwe. He said, Some of the things that we noticed is the dynamic that they have between stealth and combat. And always making sure that youre on your toes, and that you are never really sure when people are going to spot you. Thats something that works very, very well in VR. Theres just something about creeping up on enemies, listening to what theyre talking about. Of course the nature of VR, you can physically sit behind cover, maybe you can peer through a hole in the cover, and then you can spy on your enemies.But rest assured for everybody that is a little bit more trigger happy, theres plenty of classic Metro action in the game.SLOWER COMBATThoughMetro Awakeningscore loop will hew closely to the main series gameplay foundations, Vertigo Games has said that where combat is concerned, players should expect a slower-paced game. Youd expect that anyway in a VR experience, but as per the developers, the reason for that is that, unlike Artyom, who is the main series protagonist,Awakeningsprotagonist isnt a trained combat expert, which is why a slower pace makes more sense.AMMO CONSERVATIONSurvival mechanics have always played an important role inMetro, and sure enough,Awakeningwont buck that trend. Specifically, ammo conservation is something players are going to want to keep an eye on, which, again, is veryMetro, as fans of the series will tell you. That, in fact, is also what encourages exploration above all else. Speaking to the PS Blog, game director Samar Louwe said, Youre basically constantly looking for ammo. We have this beautiful environment, we have this beautiful world, our art is made sure that theres detail to explore. But you also need a reason to explore. And the main reason to explore every nook and cranny is to just find bullets. We figured it would be best to hide those in small packets. So you wont necessarily find full clips all the time. Instead, you will be finding single bullets out here, a couple of bullets there. And weve also made an effort to make sure that in some cases that theres a bit of environmental storytelling around how that ammo got there, and something that triggers your imagination.The philosophy that weve taken along for this is also that basically, if you look everywhere, youre probably going to have enough bullets to get through your combat encounters. If you just look on the critical path, you will probably have to be a better shot. And if you dont scavenge at all, then youre gonna have a hard time. Of course, you can always fall back to stealth. If youre successful at that, then thats always an option.STEALTH DETAILSStealth mechanics inMetro Awakeningare going to be familiar if youve played any other game in the series. Staying hidden in the dark and sneaking up or past enemies will be your bread and butter, as youd expect, in addition to throwing items to cause distractions, using a crossbow that you get later on in the game for quieter kills, and more. Enemies can also spot you if you keep your flashlight on, which also sounds promising.UI AND INTERACTIONSTheMetroseries loves to keep its UI as diegetic as possible, replacing typically gamified elements and menus with versions that are grounded in the game itself, thus thoroughly immersing players.Metro Awakeningis trying something similar, and even takes things further courtesy of the VR medium. To check your bullets, you manually look at your guns clip and see how many shots it has left. To put on your mask, you have to first pull your backback off your shoulder and then pull the mask out before equipping it. This is an area where the franchise has always excelled, so its heartening to seeAwakeningleveraging VR hardware exactly as fans would have hoped it would.LOCOMOTION SETTINGSAlways key in any VR game is its controls and locomotion settings, andMetro Awakeningwill feature two options on that front, as similar VR games often do. Comfort mode will feature teleportation based movement, while Immersion mode will allow for continuous stick-based movement. Additionally, several additional settings in the settings menu will also allow players to tweak their experience further.PS VR2 ADAPTIVE TRIGGERSPS VR2 is one of several platforms thatMetro Awakeningis hitting, but though its not exclusive, it will, of course, leverage the devices exclusive features. Take its adaptive triggers, for instance, which, according to game director Samar Louwe, have been used liberally across the entire experience, and help heighten the immersion factor that much more. The adaptive triggers are a great example of how you can boost the immersion even further, because they give you just a tiny little bit of extra feedback as you fire your weapon, he told the PS Blog. And our weapon designers actually had a lot of fun implementing it and tweaking it for each weapon. It seems like a really small thing, but it is kind of like those subtle elements that make you forget that youre playing a game when its just there, right? Another example is the haptic feedback. It gives you that little bit of added experience to make the intense things that will happen to you in this game, to make them that bit more visceral.LENGTHBeing a VR-exclusive spinoff prequel,Metro Awakeningis obviously not meant to be a full-fledgedMetro Exodus-sized experience, though that doesnt mean its a bite-sized one either. As per reviews, the games main story is roughly 8-10 hours long on Normal difficulty, which is a decent length for a linear, story-driven first-person shooter. That is, in fact, roughly how long the first two games main stories were.0 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMTop 15 Xbox Series X Games With Stunning Graphics [2024 Edition]Visuals are something that Xbox has always strove to be on top of, even going back to the original Xbox. Games like Splinter Cell Chaos Theoryand Project Gotham Racing(two series that need to come back) showcased the PC-rivaling power of the console. Of course, Xbox has always had a very close relationship to its PC brethren going back to the Half-Life 2and Morrowind Xbox ports. Now, in 2024, Xbox Series X/S is the platform bridging the PC gap with previous PC exclusives like Microsoft Flight Sim coming to console audiences. As we approach the mid-way point of the Xbox Series Xs life cycle, lets explore its most graphically impressive games. Here are the top 15 Xbox Series X games with stunning graphics.15. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2The most immediately stunning aspect of Space Marine 2is the gobsmackingly large swarms of enemies. Tyranid swarms are brilliantly realized here, with dynamic animations and a good amount of rendering detail even from far distances. This is all thanks to the proprietary graphics engine that Saber Interactive uses, aptly named the Swarm Engine. Seeing a giant swarm of enemies coming at you from miles away has never felt more amazing; more broadly, the Warhammer 40Kuniverse has never been so beautifully realized than with Space Marine 2.0 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMDeath Stranding Surpasses 19 Million PlayersDeath Strandingis without a shadow of doubt one of the weirdest and most experimental AAA games to have been released in recent memory, so reminders of its success are always heartening. We have another one of those here, with the game having hit yet another major milestone.Death Strandingdirector Hideo Kojima recently took to Twitter to celebrate the games 5-year anniversary with a video message, in which he revealed that it has now seen over 19 million players to date across all platforms.In December last year, that number stood at 16 million, so the game has clearly continued to attract large numbers of players. Given the fact that it recently also shadow-dropped on Xbox, that number is likely to continue growing.A movie based on Death Strandingis also currently in production, while Kojima Productions is currently also working onDeath Stranding 2: On the Beach,which is due out in 2025 for PS5. The studio recently also acquired full ownership of the IP.pic.twitter.com/YikBEXK6wI HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) November 8, 20240 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMOverwatch 2 Developer Teasing Mysterious Trailer for November 11thBlizzard Entertainment has had its ups and downs with Overwatch 2 over the years, but the hero shooter is still popular and seemingly in a decent place. While we know about tests for 6v6 (the first is currently live), it seems the development team has something else coming up.A mysterious trailer will go live on November 11th at 9 AM PT with nothing but a thumbnail of Tracer, the games mascot (that too, her classic look). While there are many potential choices, this could be Overwatch on mobile. Rumors have circulated about it for years, but Bloombergs Jason Schreier discussed it in greater detail via his recent book, Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment.Current Overwatch general manager Walter Kong is reportedly leading the project. Its release window is unknown, but it would be intriguing if this new trailer marked a stealth drop of sorts.Stay tuned for more updates in the coming days. Overwatch 2 is currently available for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.0 Comments 0 Shares 0 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMMetro Awakening Interview Bringing the Horrors of Metro to VRThe Metrofranchise has never failed to impress so far, and though it remains to be seen how long well be waiting for its next mainline instalment, those whore craving more Metro do haveMetro Awakeningto turn to. Developed by Vertigo Games exclusively for VR devices,Metro Awakeningis promising a tense, immersive, and authenticMetroexperience, while also telling an original story penned byMetroauthor Dmitry Glukhovsky himself.Out now for Meta Quest 2 and 3, PS VR2, and SteamVR, the first-person shooter has obviously turned a few heads, and to learn more about it and how it translates theMetroformula to the VR medium, we recently had the chance to send across some of our questions about the game to its developers. Below, you can read our interview with game director Samar Louwe.NOTE: This interview was conducted prior to the games launch."The Metro series has always thrived on immersion, and immersion is also at the core of VR, so it was a natural fit."As a franchise, Metro has always been focused on immersing players in their settings while delivering top notch graphical presentation. Was that what led to exploring making a VR game in the series, given how well suited that sort of an experience could potentially be to virtual reality?Definitely. As you said, the Metro series has always thrived on immersion, and immersion is also at the core of VR, so it was a natural fit. VR can take this to a whole new levelputting players right in the heart of the Metro tunnels, surrounded by the eerie atmosphere and the threats lurking in the dark. The combination of VRs unique capabilities and the storytelling depth of Metro really excited us.What other VR games, if any, did you draw inspiration from?Even though its almost 5 years old, Half-Life: Alyx is still very relevant. At the time it showed the VR industry how it was done. Now, its still what new games will be compared to when they are released. But we also have a pool of knowledge to draw from in-house. When the team was done with Arizona Sunshine 2 they were able to jump in and help us out with all the lessons they had learned.Metro Awakening is the first game in the series not developed by 4A Games. How connected to those other titles is it? Did you get the chance to collaborate with them on this title?We collaborated with 4A Games throughout development. They provided us with assets and references from the mainline series, which helped ensure that we stayed true to the essence of the games.What has the experience of working with Metro author Dmitry Glukhovsky been like? How heavily has been involved with the games development?Working with Dmitry Glukhovsky has been an invaluable experience. Right from the start, we reached out to him to make sure the story would feel authentic to the Metro series. He ended up surprising us by crafting something really personal and emotional. That direction pushed us to go all in on a story-driven approach, putting character development right up there with atmosphere and gameplay. Dmitry brought such depth to Metro Awakening, helping us create something that feels true to the Metro world but also fresh and introspective in a way we hadnt initially expected."We collaborated with 4A Games throughout development. They provided us with assets and references from the mainline series, which helped ensure that we stayed true to the essence of the games."How easy was it to translate a complex console FPS to the different input and controls of VR?It definitely required a shift in thinking. In VR, players arent just pressing buttonstheyre physically interacting with the world, which meant reimagining core actions like aiming, shooting, and even putting on a gas mask to feel natural and immersive. We worked closely with our gameplay team from the start to fine-tune these interactions until everything felt responsive and true to the Metro universe. It was challenging, but the result is an experience where every action feels immediate and engaging, making the world come to life in a whole new way.Will Metro Awakening be a largely linear experience like the series earlier entries, or can players expect some elements of open-ended exploration similar to Metro Exodus?The way Exodus ventured into new territory with its open world structure was a great step for the mainline games, it elevated the game to new heights. As a player I thoroughly enjoyed playing through it. But the story in Exodus is also about Artyom venturing out, escaping the Moscow metro system, on a quest to see what more is out there. Whereas the story Dmitry wrote for Metro Awakening is much more targeted: you must find your wife. So, it was only logical not to distract our players (and protagonist) with open-ended areas. Additionally, since this is a story thats set before the events of 2033, it made a lot more sense to stick to the original setting.The charm of the earlier games is also a very good fit for the immersive nature of VR. The confined spaces in the Moscow underground allowed for the pressing and inescapable atmosphere that we knew was going to be successful for our medium.The Metro franchise has always been particularly effective at delivering its own brand of unique, post-apocalyptic horror. How have you approached translating that to a VR experience with Metro Awakening?Our approach has been to amplify Metros unique sense of tension and dread through VRs immersive capabilities. Spatial audio, dynamic lighting, and physical interactivity are all key to creating an atmosphere that keeps players on edge. VR lets players engage directly with the environment, whether its wiping fog off their gas masks or navigating through dark, claustrophobic tunnels. By bringing players directly into these intense moments, were creating an experience that feels immediate and visceral heightening both the fear and the wonder that Metro is known for. This is Metro at its most intimate."We worked closely with our gameplay team from the start to fine-tune these interactions until everything felt responsive and true to the Metro universe. It was challenging, but the result is an experience where every action feels immediate and engaging, making the world come to life in a whole new way."Roughly how long will an average playthrough of the game be?It varies depending on the players approach and stylesomething were already seeing with players who have access to the Deluxe Editionbut on average, a playthrough should take around 10 hours.Metro Awakening is targeting all major VR platforms at launch. How has the experience been working on these three very different takes on VR at the same time?It was a conscious decision to ensure we delivered a consistent experience across PC VR, Meta Quest and PlayStation VR2, while still allowing for certain areas to shine on higher-end platforms like PC and PlayStation. So, it has been both a challenge and an opportunity. Higher-end systems let us implement advanced rendering and lighting for enhanced visuals, while Meta Quest pushed us to innovate in performance optimization. Our technical teams have collaborated closely, balancing fidelity and performance, and ensuring the game looks and plays its best on every platform. Its been a rewarding journey thats pushed us to be creative and adapt, making the most of what each platform has to offer.0 Comments 0 Shares 0 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMSony on Concords Failure: We Are Still in the Process of LearningBetween shipping 65.5 million consoles and recording strong software sales, Sony does have one noticeable blemish in its current fiscal quarter the failure of Concord. It launched on August 23rd for PS5 and PC, reportedly selling only 25,000 copies. After two weeks, it was pulled from sale and servers taken offline.Though Firewalk Studios said it was looking at feedback to improve the experience, Sony made the call to permanently shelve the title and shut down the studio. In a Q&A session following the companys earnings, COO and CFO Hiroki Totoki discussed (transcription via VGC) the titles failure and how the studio is still in the process of learning.With regards to new IP, of course, you dont know the result until you actually try it. So for us, for our reflection, we probably need to have a lot of gates, including user testing or internal evaluation, and the timing of such gates. And then we need to bring them forward, and we should have done those gates much earlier than we did.Also, we have a siloed organization, so going beyond the boundaries of those organizations in terms of development and also sales, I think that could have been much smoother.And then going forward, in our own titles and in third-party titles, we do have many different windows. And we want to be able to select the right and optimal window so that we can deploy them on our own platform without cannibalization, so that we can maximize our performance in terms of title launches. Thats all I have.Prior to this, Sadahiko Hayakawa, senior VP for finance and investor relations, acknowledged Concord shutting down and Helldivers 2 becoming a hit. He said the company gained a lot of experience and learned a lot from both.We intend to share the lessons learned from our successes and failures across our studios, including in the areas of title development management as well as the process of continually adding expanded content and scaling the service after its release so as to strengthen our development management system.We intend to build on an optimum title portfolio during the current mid-range plan period that combines single-player games which are our strengths and which have a higher predictability of becoming hits due to our proven IP with live-service games that pursue upside while taking on a certain amount of risk upon release.Sony said it will release major single-player titles yearly after Ghost of Ytei (which launches in 2025). Its also making steady progress with new titles and improvements to its live service game processes. Sony has live service titles like Bungies Marathon and Haven Studios Fairgame$ in the works, but its yet to announce other big single-player titles. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.0 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Has Gone GoldGSC Game World has released a new trailer for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, announcing that its upcoming survival shooter has gone gold (or G.O.L.D., if you prefer). Between snatches of gameplay, it sees an individual copying a file before peering out atop a large building.Revealed at E3 2021 but suffering numerous delays to Russias invasion of Ukraine (where the developer originates from), the story focuses on newcomer Skif. His motivations for entering the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone are unknown, but players can chart their own path. You can help various individuals roaming the Zone, seek out Artifacts (and trade them on the black market), and much more.All this on a map measuring over 60 square km with different factions, points of interest, mutants, side quests, and more to discover. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl launches on November 20th for Xbox Series X/S and PC. It will also be available for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Head here to learn more about gear and weapon customization.0 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMGears of War: E-Day is Bringing Back Marcus and Doms Actors, Microsoft ConfirmsGears of War: E-Dayis looking like a throwback to the series earliest days in more ways than one, from its more linear structure and the promise of horror-esque elements to, of course, its Emergence Day setting. The game is also set to once again star Marcus Fenix and Dominix Santiago the pair that together led the original trilogy as its primary protagonists, and unsurprisingly, both characters are going to see their actors reprising their roles.The same was confirmed by Microsoft. Taking to Twitter via the officialGears of Waraccount, the company announced that John DiMaggo and Carlos Ferro the voices of Marcus and Dom respectively will both be reprising their roles in the upcomingE-Day.DiMaggio has, of course, been involved in every mainlineGears of Wartitle, having continued to play Marcus Fenix inGears of War 4andGears 5, even after the character was no longer the series main playable protagonist. Meanwhile, Ferro has also reprised Doms role inGears 4and5s multiplayer components, even thoughGears of War 3was canonically the characters last appearance.Gears of War: E-Dayis in development for Xbox Series X/S and PC. A release date hasnt been announced, but leaks have claimed the game is targeting a 2025 launch.We are so back. On todays 18th anniversary of Gears of War, were proud to share that John DiMaggio and @RealCarlosFerro are reprising their roles as the iconic voices of Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago in Gears of War: E-Day. pic.twitter.com/x9uaH9R0sR Gears of War (@GearsofWar) November 7, 20240 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMMass Effect TV Series is Officially in Development at AmazonBioWare itself hasnt done an awful lot to placateMass Effectfans on N7 Day (just as the studio said), but it looks like some significant news has emerged nonetheless. Back in 2021, it was reported that Amazon was in discussions regarding a TV show based onMass Effect, and that project, it sems, is now officially moving forward.As reported by Variety, aMass Effectseries is now officially in development at Amazon MGM Studios. Daniel Casey who is best know as the writer forF9: The Fast Saga(a.k.a.Fast and Furious 9) will serve as the shows writer and executive producer, and will be joined by fellow executive producers in the form of Karim Zreik (Daredevil, Jessica Jones) of the Cedar Tree Productions Banner, Ari Arad (Uncharted, Spider-Man, Spider-Verse), and BioWares Michael Gamble. Gamble is also the Project Director on the nextMass Effectgame.Details on the show itself, what elements of the games it will cover, or who we can expect it to feature in its cast are currently unknown, as youd expect, but after years of suggestions that aMass Effectadaptation could happen, it looks like its now finally officially been given the green light, so hopefully it wont be long before we get more concrete details.0 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMTake-Two Interactive Sells Private Division to Unknown BuyerPrivate Division, Take-Two Interactives label primarily known for publishing indie titles, has been sold. As announced during the companys second-quarter earnings report for fiscal year 2025, an unknown party has acquired the label for an unknown amount.Speaking to Variety, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said the sale was made so it could focus our resources on growing our core businesses for the long term. The deal includes the labels entire catalogue, including 2025 titles like Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game and Game Freaks Project Bloom. Theres only one exception: Moon Studios No Rest for the Wicked, currently in early access for PC.Were grateful for the contributions that the Private Division team made to Take Two, and were confident that theyll continue to achieve success, said Zelnick.There have been changes afoot at the label for some time, starting with alleged layoffs for the vast majority of staff back in May. Around the same time, OlliOlli and Rollerdrome developer Roll7 had been shuttered alongside Kerbal Space Program 2 developer Intercept Games. It also cancelled its agreement with Bloober Team for Project C (likely Cronos: The New Dawn), and rumors circulated in June about Take-Two either shutting down or selling off the label.0 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMNo Mans Sky Supports 8K on PS5 ProWith the PS5 Pro out in mere hours, several outlets have already provided their impressions and reviews of what to expect. This has led to new tests for existing titles, including No Mans Sky by Hello Games. The developer praised the hardware for what it could deliver, and it turns out that the sci-fi sandbox title can run at 8K/30 FPS per Press-Start.It joins the likes of F1 24 and Gran Turismo 7 in supporting the resolution. However, it can also run at 4K/60 FPS and delivers improvements to ambient occlusion and Ultra-level reflections. Even those playing on PlayStation VR2 will see these improvements.The PS5 Pro is out later today for $699.99, so stay tuned for more details and check out our feature. No Mans Sky is available for PS5, PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. Though it continues to receive updates, Hello Games is also working on a new open-world title, Light No Fire. Check out the first trailer here.0 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMTake-Two CEO Explains Private Division Sale: Were in the Business of Making Great Big HitsIn a somewhat shocking (but not entirely, given rumors from last June) turn of events, Take-Two Interactive has sold Private Division to an unknown buyer. The latter will still publish its previously unannounced titles, sans No Rest for the Wicked, but what was the holding companys reasoning?CEO Strauss Zelnick told Variety that it was to focus our resources on growing our core businesses for the long term, but went into more details with GamesIndustry. Long story short, Take-Two is in the business of making great big hits, noting that the scale of Private Divisions projects was on the smaller side.We made this strategic decision so that we could focus all of our resources on growing our core and mobile businesses for the long term. Were really best at these big AAA experiences. We have the biggest intellectual properties in the interactive entertainment business and some of the biggest intellectual properties in the overall entertainment business, and to make sequels to existing beloved franchises, as well as create new hit intellectual properties, is our mission.The team of Private Division did a great job supporting independent developers and, almost to a one, every project they supported did well. However, the scale of those projects was, candidly, on the smaller side, and were in the business of making great big hits.The companys biggest successes are Grand Theft Auto 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, the NBA 2K series, and Borderlands (horrible movie aside), so the logic seems sound. However, Take-Twos actions before the sale werent, as it shut down Roll7 (OlliOlli World, Rollerdrome) and Intercept Games (Kerbal Space Program 2) while claiming that wasnt the case. A spokesperson has since confirmed both studios closure to GamesIndustry.As for who bought Private Division, Zelnick said that they would be revealed relatively soon. The publishing label has two titles, Weta Games Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game and Game Freaks Project Bloom, launching in 2025.0 Comments 0 Shares 3 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMGrand Theft Auto 6 Will Launch in Fall 2025, Take-Two ReiteratesGrand Theft Auto 6is easily the biggest game scheduled to release in 2025, but whether or not the game will actually hit its intended release window is something many have questioned. Officially, Rockstar Games has, of course, said that the open world crime epic will release in Fall of next year, but the developer has a long history of delays for virtually all of its flagship releases- so can we expect the same forGTA 6as well?Not according to Take-Two Interactive, parent company of Rockstar Games. In its recently published quarterly earnings report, Take-Two has reiterated thatGrand Theft Auto 6will launch next Fall, which means its still on track to release as scheduled. Of course, the game could still end up getting hit with a delay announcement in the months to come, but at least thus far, it seems like production as progressing according to schedule.This isnt the first time Take-Two has doubled down on the games Fall 2025 launch window, with CEO Strauss Zelnick having stated earlier in the year that the company is highly confident it will be able to hit the window.Whenever it launches,Grand Theft Auto 6will be available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.0 Comments 0 Shares 3 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMWarcraft 2 Remastered Seemingly Leaked RumourThe disastrousWarcraft 3: Reforged will forever be a black stain on Blizzard Entertainments track record, but it looks like the company has anotherWarcraftremaster planned- and it seems to have leaked ahead of an imminent announcement.Reported by Wowhead, images showing the logo and art forWarcraft 2 Remasteredhave leaked online. This leak allegedly comes from Blizzards own backend, which recently saw an update pushed for an internal alpha of the remaster. Interestingly, its full configuration file also seems to be available online.The originalWarcraft 2: Tides of Darknesslaunched back in 1995, so any potential remaster of the real-time strategy title would presumably have to make significant visual and gameplay enhancements.As for when this could be announced, Blizzard Entertainment has a special Direct livestream scheduled for November 13 to celebrate the series 30th anniversary. Its possible we hear more about new and as-of-yet unannounced titles at the event. Stay tuned for more details.0 Comments 0 Shares 3 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMBorderlands 4 and Mafia: The Old Country Will Launch Before April 20262025 is going to be a busy year for Take-Two Interactive, with several major releases planned for the year across the companys publishing labels. Rockstar GamesGrand Theft Auto 6is scheduled for Fall, while 2KsCivilization 7is due out in February. The latter also hasMafia: The Old CountryandBorderlands 4announced for the year, but when exactly in 2025 can we expect those two?In its recently published quarterly earnings report, Take-Two has listed both titles both of which were officially unveiled in August for release sometime in fiscal year 2026, which runs from April 2025 to March 2026. Officially, both games have 2025 release windows, but this does shift things a little bit- as expected, we know they wont be coming in early 2025, but this also suggests theres a possibility that they slip into the early months of the following year.Whenever they launch,Borderlands 4andMafia: The Old Countrywill both be available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.0 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMLife is Strange: Double Exposure Trailer Highlights Critical AcclaimTheLife is Strangeseries newest entry,Life is Strange: Double Exposure, has divided fans quite a bit, but though it has certainly received criticism from some, it has also enjoyed its fair share of acclaim from several critics and outlets. To highlight some of those positive reviews, publisher Square Enix has released an accolades trailer. Check it out below.Life is Strange: Double Exposureis split across five chapters, and sees the return of Max Caulfied, the fan-favourite protagonist of the original game. Set ten years after the first games events, Max is now the resident photographer at Caledon University, and once again finds herself in the midst of a supernatural mystery as she attempts to solve (and maybe even prevent) the murder of her best friend Safi across two different timelines.In our review of the game, we awarded it a score of 9/10, saying, Both a worthy sequel to the beloved original and an excellent game in its own right, Life is Strange: Double Exposure is one of the series most engrossing outings to date. Read the full review through here.Life is Strange: Double Exposureis available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and is also in the works for Switch.0 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMSilent Hill 2 Remakes PlayStation Store Listing Confirms PS5 Pro SupportIt may have been missing from Sonys list of 50+ supported PS5 Pro titles, but Bloober Teams Silent Hill 2 remake supports the upcoming console. This was discovered on its PlayStation Store listing, which states PS5 Pro Enhanced.When the patch will go live and what it has to offer are unknown.On the base PS5, the remake sports two modes, Quality and Performance, both with dynamic scaling per Digital Foundry (after being upscaled to 4K). The latter mode noticeably compromises on the lighting, ambient occlusion, and fog effects while struggling to deliver a consistent frame rate during combat and exploration.Even if Bloober Team doesnt implement a mode combining the two, it could improve the upscaling with the PS5 Pros PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution. Performance mode could also benefit from a more solid frame rate courtesy of the extra GPU power. Head here to learn more about the console and whether its worth purchasing.Well have to wait for more details, so stay tuned. Silent Hill 2 remake is available for PS5 and PC, and it sold over one million copies in four days. Check out our review.0 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Everything You Need to KnowDragon Quest has had its share of spin-offs in recent years, but its been a long wait for the next mainline entry. While that wait will continue, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is out on November 14th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Developed by Artdink, its based on the 1988 classic and delivers gorgeous visuals alongside quality-of-life features and new content. Here are 15 things you should know before picking it up.StoryAs the first chapter in a trilogy, which fun fact was originally developed by Chunsoft for the NES, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is about Erdrick, a hero who embarks on a quest to defeat the archfiend, Baramos. Its a task that their father, Ortega, failed to accomplish, and at the best of the King of Aliahan, Erdrick must now see it done. Theres more to the story than meets the eye, but its a classic tale of heroism.Visual RevampsThe biggest change with Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake lies in the name. Its developed on Unreal Engine 4, but the key is the HD-2D look. Characters and enemies retain a classic sprite look, while the environments are in full 3D with realistic lighting and shadows. The contrast looks contemporary but retains that classic look and feel that fans know and love.Side QuestsOf course, theres more to the game than just the main quest. Players can take on side quests for additional rewards and XP in classic RPG fashion. One such side quest, as seen in recent gameplay, involves returning the Dreamstone to the fairies to lift a sleeping curse from Norvik village. The problem is finding it, and thus, players venture to the Underground Lake. There are other side quests, which can provide even more potent rewards, but other optional activities await, which well get into later.Customizing Party Members AppearancesIf youve played any of the more recent Dragon Quest titles, then it may come as a surprise that Erdrick is the only character with a connection to the plot in your party. You can recruit others to fill different roles and assist in combat (up to four maximum). Those arent locked in stone either, as additional party members can be brought on and swapped out.While Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake retains this, it offers more personalization for your party members. At Pattys Party Planning Place, you can customize their appearances, names, and voices. It doesnt seem like the most extensive creator, but the additional options are appreciated.VocationsEach party member has a Vocation, which is essentially their class. You know the drill Mages specialize in spells; Warriors focus on physical damage and defense but lack agility; Martial Artists focus on bare-handed attacks; and so on. Though you can swap out Vocations, only Erdrick possesses the Hero Vocation, which can use spells and has high attack and defense on top of exclusive equipment.Monster Wrangler VocationThough it also appears in Dragon Quest 10 and other spin-offs, the Monster Wrangler is brand new to Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. They can learn monster skills and have extensive utility, whether hitting multiple enemies at once with rocks, stunning and causing them to lose a turn with a War Cry, or healing the party. Monster Wranglers also come in handy when rescuing friendly monsters since they wont immediately flee from you.Monster ArenasUnlike in the original, Monster Arenas are much more involved, as players can use rescued monsters to create teams to compete in tournaments. These involve multiple fights in a row without any healing in between, but you cant directly control the monsters, instead dictating what tactics they should use. Rescuing monsters of the same type also unlocks new abilities and improves their stats.Episodes Focused on OrtegaThe other big new content addition is the playable story surrounding Ortega, the Hero of Aliahan and Erdricks father. If youve ever wondered what happened as he embarked on his quest to defeat the Archfiend Baramos, these new episodes should shed some light. Well also see his encounter with Simo, battle brand new enemies, and how his journey ultimately ended in the iconic volcano.CombatAs with many other titles in the series, combat is turn-based. Players and enemies take turns, with the former utilizing spells, weapon attacks, items, and other actions to achieve victory. Its pretty straightforward, and like the classics, the perspective shifts to first-person whenever commands are executed.Party TacticsWhile you have direct control over party members, the remake also sports Party Tactics. Depending on the selected tactic, theyll adjust their approach. For example, Show No Mercy is for when you want the party to attack without holding back. Conserve MP limits their spell usage, while Fight Wisely balances offense and defense. Whether you seek control over every action or your character alone is up to you.Combat Speed OptionsAs enjoyable as combat can be, some might crave a faster pace. Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake has three battle speeds Normal, Fast, and Ultra-Fast. Ultra-Fast may not seem all that essential, but combined with the new Party Tactics, it allows for quicker XP and Gold farming.Difficulty OptionsRegarding the difficulty, the original Dragon Quest 3 ranks fairly above the rest. For those who want an even more challenging journey, the remake offers three difficulty options Dracky Quest, Dragon Quest, and Draconian Quest. On Dracky Quest, party members will deal more damage and bosses wont regenerate HP. Dragon Quest is the default difficulty, while Draconian Quest difficulty will push you to the limit, increasing the health pools of bosses and even awarding less gold and XP.PC RequirementsDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is pretty light with its PC requirements, with only 20 GB of installation space needed. On the Lowest graphical preset for 720p/60 FPS, youll need a Ryzen 3 1200 or Intel Core i3-6100, 8 GB RAM, and a Radeon RX 460, Intel Arc A380 or GeForce GTX 750. The recommended requirements for achieving the Highest graphics quality at 1080/60 FPS include a Ryzen 3 1200 or Intel Core i3-6100, 8 GB of RAM and a Radeon RX 470, an Arc A580 or a GeForce GTX 1060. Intel GPU users are explicitly required to have 16 GB VRAM.Graphical modesAccording to the developer when speaking to Game*Spark, Xbox Series X/S and PS5 players will have two graphical modes to choose from: Graphics and Performance. The former is focused on resolution and graphics quality, while the latter is all about the frame rate, though exact specifics on both have yet to be revealed. How it runs on Nintendo Switch is also a mystery, though judging by the lowest requirements on PC, it wouldnt be surprising if it ran at 720p/60 FPS.PlaytimeThe original Dragon Quest 3 is a pretty decently sized role-playing game even if you stick to the Main Story, its about 28 hours to complete on average according to HowLongToBeat. This can go up to 33.5 hours for completionists. Though the developer hasnt outlined the total playtime of the remake, it will end up longer, especially with the addition of Ortegas episodes and the new Monster Arenas.0 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMResident Evil 9 Will Star Leon and Jill as Protagonists RumourTheres never any shortage of excitement surrounding the future of the Resident Evilfranchise, and though the series next mainline title is yet to be officially unveiled, a host of alleged new details on its story, setting, gameplay features, and more have emerged courtesy of a fresh leak.The information comes from Biohazard Declassified, collated in a video uploaded by Residence of Evil, and claims thatResident Evil 9will feature two returning fan-favourite characters as its protagonists in the form of Leon S. Kennedy and Jill Valentine. The former will look similar to how he did in the 2012 animated film Resident Evil: Damnation, while the latter will look the same as 2023 film Dead Island, while sporting a tactical outfit not unlike what she wore in Resident Evil 5: Lost in Nightmares.Leon and Jill will allegedly be joined by another couple of beloved returning characters in Chris Redfield and Barry Burton, who will be supporting Leon and Jill during their missions behind the scenes via radio calls.Rosemary Winters will also be mentioned by Chris, including as a potential way to fight against Mutamycete by using her blood to create a vaccine for the residents of the island.The game is allegedly set four years after the events ofResident Evil Village(which means it will take place several years before theShadows of RoseDLC), and will serve as a continuation of theResident Evil 7andVillagestoryline. It sees DSO agent Leon and BSAA agent Jill heading to island to investigate reports of the mass production of clones of the biological weapon Eveline using the Mutamycete.As per the leak, the island itself is going to consist of a number of different locations, including caves, an abandoned hospital, residents houses (both abandoned and otherwise), an abandoned factory, labs, a dark forest, and a temple. Interestingly, previous leaks have claimed thatResident Evil 9is going to build onDragons Dogma 2s open world tech, and this certainly seems to align with those claims.Its claimed Blue Umbrella will also return and will assist both the DSO and the BSAA with their ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, Jill and Leon will allegedly both be infected by the Mutamycete during their mission, following which they will often hear Evelines voice in their head. The primary antagonist of the game is said to be a man called Mr. Simon, who supervises the mass production of Evelines clones.Throughout the island, meanwhile, players will fight more advanced forms of zombies that can run and use axes, knives, and other weapons, similar toResident Evil 4sGonados. Island residents that have been infected by the Mold now worship the moon, which also entails getting moon tattoos on their arms, singing to the moon, and more.Beyond the zombies,Resident Evil 9will also once again feature stalker enemies for both Leon and Jill, with the latter being pursued by an enemy called the Goat Man.The report goes on to claim that playtests forResident Evil 9were held twice this year, with a test in April seeing Jill exploring an abandoned hospital, and a playtest in September finding Leon in a forest.Earlier this year, it was announced that Koshi Nakashini, the director ofResident Evil 7,is returning to helmResident Evil 9. Though he did not share any details, he called the game substantial. Past leaks have claimed that the game has been in development since as far back as 2018, touting the longest development cycle and largest development budget for aResident Evilgame to date.0 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMMetal Slug Tactics is Out NowOver three years since its initial announcement, Leikir Studios Metal Slug Tactics is out now on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Its also playable for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. Check out the launch trailer below.Based on SNKs side-scrolling shoot em up series, Metal Slug Tactics reimagines its action as a turn-based tactical RPG. There are multiple characters to select for teams, whether the P.F. Squad or the recently revealed Ikari Warriors. By positioning allies close together, they can execute Sync attacks, though youre also encouraged to reposition and take advantage of unique abilities.Interestingly, Metal Slug Tactics is akin to a rogue-like. You can upgrade weapons and skills at outposts throughout the campaign, but its back to the beginning after your squad wipes. For more information, check out what critics think of the title on Metacritic. The PC version currently has a 78 Metascore based on 22 reviews.0 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMTest Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Patch Improves Graphics Modes; Gold Edition Owners to Get Free DLCNacons Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown came and went when it launched in September, receiving mixed reviews for its online performance, gameplay, and various bugs. Developer KT Racing has released updates to improve on the same, but the open-world racing sim still sits at a Mostly Negative rating on Steam.A new patch is available now, and while it offers bug fixes and other improvements, it also adds support for a free vehicle the 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Adventurer Edition and a pack of five premium stickers. Hilariously enough, both are only free for Gold Edition owners who played before October 12th and will be available in the first weeks of Season 2. You also have to hit level 15 to access it.On the bright side, at least the current patch improves the frame rate in Performance Mode, bumps the resolution from 1080p to 1440p in Quality Mode, and fixes over 40 bugs. Check out the full patch notes below for more details.Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. You can read our review here.Patch #2 Changelog:Servers/NetworkFixed various login issuesPerformance/StabilityReduced shadow cost in performanceAdded various optimizations to improve memory consumption and overall stabilityFixed a crash that could happen when entering a spotFixed a crash that could happen when traffic spawnedFixed a crash that could happen while buying car partsPC: Fixed a crash that could occur when playing with certain AMD GPUsPS5: Reduced frame drops in performance modeGraphicsImproved global illumination performanceImproved octree tracing performanceImproved shadow quality created by headlightsImproved SSR upscalingPC: Use DLAA instead of FSR TAA by default when availablePS5: Improved quality mode resolution from 1080p to 1440pCompatibilityPC: Fixed binding and default preset on Thrustmaster TMX wheelPC: Fixed Logitech G923 default bindingPC: Fixed Moza devices default presetPC: Fixed issue where FFB was lost when the mouse was movedPC: Fixed issue where FFB could still be present when navigating menusPS5 & XS|X: Added presets for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox 360 and PS5 controllersPS5 & XS|X: Added clutch binding to default steering wheel presetsPS5 & XS|X: Added gear binding to default steering wheel presetsXS|X: Fixed default binding on Logitech devicesXS|X: Added Fanatec CSL Elite as a recognized deviceBugfixesFixed a softlock that could occur when opening the map at the same time as various menusFixed a softlock when pausing and accelerating at the same time during cutscenes with VivianFixed garages slot not updating when uninstalling and reinstalling DLCsFixed various localization issuesFixed an issue where pause menu would be unresponsive if Alyss menu was opened beforeFixed Aliasing of certain fontsFixed fences sometimes not having collisionsFixed pre-order Ford DLC textFixed start button POI on Lotus EvijaFixed license plate light turning on with reverse & brake input on Alpine A110Fixed dirt wrongly applied on Corvette C7 ZR1Fixed brake light animation while spoiler is open on Porsche 911RFixed cases where NPCs could be run throughFixed various wall collision issuesFixed an issue where French audio was not playing correctlyFixed pink pixel in dark areasFixed RPM LEDs not resetting on the pause menuFixed car color widget orderFixed the race Fateful Confrontation always being identified as a ranked raceFixed wrong highlighted races while having the secondary task Ad Campaign pinnedFixed DLCs vehicles appearing in the pause menu before unlocking themFixed a case where the avatar could fall underground during onboarding in the first car dealerFixed rewards depreciation enabling itself when abandoning or being disconnected from racesFixed a case where the wrong garment were applied to the avatar preview when switching rapidly from one category to anotherFixed issue where car livery were not applied on other players cardsFixed High Stake events rush hour sometimes not triggeringFixed an issue where beard were not displayed properly after adding a mustacheFixed wrong car thumbnail ratio when using an ultra-wide monitorImprovement in AI behaviour while close to the playerFixed yellow floating linesFixed GPS voice still talking when set to offFixed issue where parts of the avatar would turn greyFixed Roof selection on radial menu when driving a car with no roofFixed issue where cars could change color depending on the distanceFixed ghost sometimes not being visible in Time AttackFixed rain in the pause menuXS|X: Fixed black blinking during racesXS|X: Fixed crash when reconnecting Logitech wheelXS|X: Fixed issue where wheel angle was being wrongly reset on Logitech devicesMiscUpdated matchmaking value for toxicityUpdated camera settings in shopsAdded F13 shortcut for ping display on Nvidia Reflex0 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMNintendo Switch Successor Will be Backward Compatible, Nintendo Switch Online Will Be SupportedLeaks have repeatedly insisted that Nintendos next-gen console will be backward compatible with the Nintendo Switch, and that has now been officially confirmed.In a statement published on Twitter, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa announced that, as shared by the company at its recent corporate management policy briefing, the successor to the Nintendo Switch will be able to play games released for the current Switch console.Additionally, Furukawa also confirmed that the companys online subscription service, Nintendo Switch Online, will be available on its next console as well. That shouldnt come as a massive surprise, not only because of the success that the service has enjoyed, but because Nintendo has indicated on a few occasions that it intends to help make the generational transition to its next console smoother with such continuity.Furukawa also says further details on the Switchs successor and how its backward compatibility will function will be shared at a later date. Recently, he also stated that the console will be officially unveiled before April 2025, as confirmed earlier this year.The Nintendo Switch, meanwhile, has sold 146.04 million units worldwide as of September 30.This is Furukawa. At todays Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Switch Online will be available on the successor to Nintendo Switch as well. Further information about IR (@NintendoCoLtd) November 6, 20240 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMCall of Duty: Mobile Crosses 1 Billion DownloadsEstablished gaming franchises dont always enjoy success with their attempts to capture a slice of the mobile gaming market, but one series that unequivocally has seen massive success on that front isCall of Duty,withCall of Duty: Mobilein particular continuing to attract players in sizeable numbers.Taking to Twitter, Activision announced that since its launch a little over five years ago in October 2019,Call of Duty: Mobilehas been downloaded by players over a billion times, an impressive number by any metric.The game has, of course, always been a huge success for Activision, so its continued success doesnt necessarily come as a massive surprise.Activision has also stressed on numerous occasions that it doesnt intend to stop supportingCall of Duty: Mobileanytime soon, so its safe to say that well likely see the games player numbers continuing to climb for some time to come.On the other hand,Call of Duty: Warzone Mobilehasnt been quite as successful, with launch revenue significantly down fromCall of Duty: Mobilesperformance back in 2019, as per reports earlier this year. Read more on that through here.We have officially reached 1 Billion downloads! Thank you to the #CODMobile Community for helping us reach this milestone! pic.twitter.com/Zmfd1RwSqW Call of Duty: Mobile (@PlayCODMobile) November 4, 20240 Comments 0 Shares 2 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMHogwarts Legacy Has Sold Over 30 Million UnitsHogwarts Legacyended 2023 as the years best-selling game, and the open world action RPG has continued to sell at a steady pace in 2024 as well.WB Games has revealed via a Variety report thatHogwarts Legacyhas sold over 30 million units worldwide as of October. The open world action RPGs sales stood at 24 million units as of the end of January, which means it has sold an additional 6 million units since then, indicating impressive momentum for sales even now, well over a year and a half on from launch.Developer Avalanche Software is working on a sequel toHogwarts Legacy,it has been confirmed, and the game will feature narrative ties to HBOs upcomingHarry Potterseries.Meanwhile, leaks have also claimed that aHogwarts Legacy Definitive Editionis in the works and due out in 2025, boasting 10-15 hours of new content.Hogwarts Legacyis available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Read our review of the game through here.0 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMHogwarts Legacy Sequel is in Development, WB Games ConfirmsGiven how massively successfulHogwarts Legacyhas been for WB Games (it currently stands at over 30 million units sold worldwide), there was never any doubt that the company would be prioritizing a sequel sooner rather than later, something that WB Games itself has suggested in the past as well. Now, president David Haddad has confirmed to Variety that a sequel toHogwarts Legacyis indeed in development at Avalanche Software.As pr Haddad, the sequel is a very big priority to Warner Bros. Discovery as a whole, and that the game will also have some narrative ties to HBOs upcomingHarry Potterseries. Given thatHogwarts Legacyitself was set about a century before the events of theHarry Potterbooks (and movies), that might suggest that the next game will have a time skip.Interestingly enough, Haddad also went on to add that the success thatHogwarts Legacyenjoyed last year also helped give Warner Bros. as a whole confidence to invest further in theWizarding World IP. The rest of the company was very curious about what we helped to unlock with Hogwarts Legacy last year., he said.How far away the sequel is or its announcement is remains to be seen, but if recent reports are anything to go by, aHogwarts Legacy Definitive Editionis also currently in development and due out next year, and is allegedly set to add 10-15 hours of new content.0 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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GAMINGBOLT.COMUntil Dawn Remake Patch Adds Fidelity and Performance Modes for PS5 and PS5 ProWith disappointing player numbers on both PS5 and PC, Sony and developer Ballistic Moons remake ofUntil Dawnseemingly hasnt enjoyed the best start from a sales perspective, though the developer is continuing to polish up the experience for current and prospective players.Patch 1.06 has now gone live forUntil Dawn,and chief among its tweaks and changes is the addition of new Performance and Fidelity modes on both PS5 and PS5 Pro, allowing players to prioritize either a higher frame rate or improved graphics. A large number of bugs and glitches throughout the experience have also been addressed. You can view the full patch notes below.However, while the patch is currently live on PS5, Ballistic Moon says its slightly delayed on PC, since apparently it needs a little more testing. The developer says the patch will go live for PC players sometime later this week though, so it wont be much of a wait.Until Dawnis available on PS5 and PC. Read our review of the remake through here. A movie based on the horror title is also releasing on April 25 next year.PATCH NOTES:Whats New for 1.06Performance Mode (PS5 & PS5 Pro only, prioritises FPS)Fidelity Mode (PS5 & PS5 Pro only, prioritises Graphics)Monitor switching support for PCFixesFix for anti-virus interfering with the game and the crash reporterFix for a crash that occurred when pausing the game during pre-rendered videosFix for character models appearing briefly when pausing the gameFix for CPU performance issues on PCs where the system supports Ray tracing but it is not enabledFix for Mike being stuck in the Sanatorium during Chapter 5 (Wolfie cutscene not triggering)Fix for extremely slow shader complilation speeds & crashes when Frame Generation is enabledFix for several soft-lock scenarios (Stranger missing in Chapter 8, Mike stuck in Sanatorium Psych Ward in Chapter 9, Sam stuck after window cutscene in Chapter 9, Mike stuck in Sanatorium lower level during Chapter 5)Fix for choppy/tearing pre-rendered videosFix for Streamer Mode tracks not muting correctlyFix for descriptions on Pause Menu for How to Play & Dialogue HistoryEnvironment lighting optimisations in picnic area of Chapter 2Fix for Mike floating above the ground after picking up the lantern during Chapter 3Default Steam Deck quality is now appropriate to the deviceFix for a crash that occurred during the lodge fight in Chapter 2Updates to deer model fur cardsFix for Emilys flare not lighting correctly during Chapter 8Fix for Josh missing facial animationsFix for LOD issues in the environment when playing as Mike in Chapter 8Fix for music stopping unexpectedly when continuing to play PrologueDeep snow material optimisations for High quality settingsScalability balancing tweaks for high end PC and PS5 Performance modesFix for Mikes torch flame jitter during Chapter 9Fix for Sams looping animation during rock pickup during Chapter 10Fix for Sam and Mike floating when entering the lodge in Chapter 10Fix for lodge disappearing during Chapter 8Fix for Jess Hug a bear VO line not triggering as expected in Chapter 2Upgrading TSR to Unreal 5.4 to improve ghosting on character hairOptimisation for snow system that caused some minor CPU performance issues on PCs with a lower core countFix for Sam sinking into the ground when entering the body of water in Chapter 10Fix for film grain running at incorrect frame rateFix for Mike and Sams lip sync being incorrect during the flood door cutscene in Chapter 10Fix for Native American Letter clue examine textFix for a collision issue during Emilys exploration of the mines in Chapter 7Fix for Emily missing facial animation during chase sequence in Chapter 8Fix for Emily clipping issues during cable car shimmy sequence in Chapter 5Fix for Sam clipping issues during conversation with Chris in Chapter 2Fix for rendering issue during Mikes Old Mask choice in Chapter 2Fix for Mike and Sam briefly disappearing when climbing back into the water in Chapter 10Adjustments to benchmarking for lower-spec PCsAdjustments to intensity of Matts scared facial animation during pause menuFix for issues with motion blurFix for Mikes incorrect facial animationFix clipping issues on the Strangers head/beanie in Chapter 8Fix for Sams face appearing swollen during the Chris introduction in Chapter 1Fix for Jess hair popping during the police tape discussion in Chapter 2Fix for Strangers missing flamethrower during Chapter 8Fix for Dr Hills hand slam SFX on desk occurring too late during Chapter 1Fix for Jess animation loop when waiting for Mike to push the minecart in Chapter 2Fix for looping SFX on the lantern when shooting the lock off the gate in Chapter 5Fix for Ashley breathing too loudlyAdded low video memory warning to the beginning of the game (for PC configurations lower than minimum spec)0 Comments 0 Shares 1 Views
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