Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! The Marathon server slam seems to be going well, especially when some players look away from the game's user interface long enough to stop puking. Bungie's maximalist UI is causing some headaches. "They REALLY need to pull back on the whole 'abstract' thing for the UI," says Kelski. Bungie's UI currently looks a bit more like a graphic design portfolio in dark mode than a truly useful interface ahead of the Marathon release date on March 5 – but players are making it clear that they don't want boring, politician's contact form in light mode instead. They just want to know where their ammo is. Bungie responds to early Marathon complaints: confusing UI, PvP is infrequent, voice chat has problems, among others Marathon is '90s futurism, according to Bungie lead, who says the shooter was "deeply inspired" by wild PlayStation ads Comparisons to Concord didn't feel great, says ex Marathon art director, but haters "can't take the thing I care about the most" Marathon gotta be the first ever fontslop gameThere's like 20 different combinations of fonts, boldness levels, sizes, spacing, all caps vs regular caps, all on one menu pageJust an absolute eye sore 🫩They REALLY need to pull back on the whole "abstract" thing for the UI pic.twitter.com/Ra89yB8dhpFebruary 27, 2026 Marathon gotta be the first ever fontslop gameThere's like 20 different combinations of fonts, boldness levels, sizes, spacing, all caps vs regular caps, all on one menu pageJust an absolute eye sore 🫩They REALLY need to pull back on the whole "abstract" thing for the UI pic.twitter.com/Ra89yB8dhpFebruary 27, 2026 Marathon gotta be the first ever fontslop gameThere's like 20 different combinations of fonts, boldness levels, sizes, spacing, all caps vs regular caps, all on one menu pageJust an absolute eye sore 🫩They REALLY need to pull back on the whole "abstract" thing for the UI pic.twitter.com/Ra89yB8dhpFebruary 27, 2026 "I felt like I was reading another language," replies streamer Reforge Gaming. But, like with most languages, there are other people who are already fluent. Another Marathon player wonders, "What is going on? is everybody on mars? had very low expectations from the feedback but the UI/menus are not the problem in the slightest." To each their own UI. Bungie responds to early Marathon complaints: the UI is confusing, PvP is infrequent, and voice chat is not working, amid other issues.

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Blizzard's decided to go a bit Avengers: Endgame with World of Warcraft: Midnight, as the opening set-piece involves characters from across the MMORPG's history helping to defend the Sunwell. There are plenty of faces to pick out, but one particular hero stands alone - the inimitable Leeroy Jenkins himself. In the clip, the eponymous legend pre-emptively takes his Paladin roaring into battle during a raid, using his own name a battle-cry. He and the rest of his guild are then minced, much to our collective hysterics, and his antics became synonymous with the game. To give you a sense of just how popular Jenkins was, he appeared on-stage at BlizzCon 2007, and there have been numerous references to the meme, including on How I Met Your Mother and Jeopardy!. Blizzard is revamping World of Warcraft's "decades" old zones for Midnight, because "we should be able to use them" World of Warcraft lead teases "a lot of death" for "important characters" in the Worldsoul Saga, so pray for your faves WoW Midnight's Prey system is a "don't AFK mode" on its nastiest difficulty, Blizzard says Since Midnight is the second act of the epic Worldsoul Saga, it only makes sense our man Leeroy would make an appearance, and players enjoying the expansion in early access were quick to notice his presence. "I was delighted to find Leeroy. But he really needs to be informed about transmog," says one fan on Reddit. Indeed, Jenkins is sporting the same costume he had years ago. It's called fashion, look it up. "He was the first person the Light called," another player adds, something I choose to believe is canonically correct. "The best part is that his combat voice seems to be actually extracted from the original audio. It's even low-quality sound," a third Redditor states. As an absolute sucker for low-poly tributes to the vibes of yesteryear, I applaud Blizzard's dedication all the way around here. Midnight's early access is currently running for those who pre-order the Epic Edition, with full release on March 3. If you're booting it up now or then, you know exactly what to shout as you dive in. "We've got this whole huge world": Blizzard is revamping World of Warcraft's "decades" old zones for new expansion Midnight, because "we should be able to use them, and we want to."

Pokémon celebrates its 30th anniversary today, and as you’d expect, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are cranking up the nostalgia in every possible way. In addition to re-releasing the Game Boy Advance remakes of Pokémon Red and Blue on Nintendo Switch Online, they’re also selling us a Game Boy-shaped portable Pokémon jukebox. Officially titled the Pokémon Game Music Collection, the little music player is palm-sized and can be loaded up with 45 different cartridges, each featuring a different melody or sound effect from the original games' soundtrack. The device was announced by longtime series composer Junichi Masuda during today’s anniversary Pokémon Presents livestream, where he said that special care has gone into the audio sounding like it did on the Game Boy. Each cartridge also features a screenshot from the games, so when you slide it into the device’s display slot it looks like you’re playing as well as listening. Put one of these next to last year’s equally charming Lego Game Boy on a shelf and you’ve got two entirely non-playable replicas of the iconic handheld, which is sure to confuse and disappoint your guests in equal measure. The Pokémon Game Music Collection is available to buy from Pokémon Center starting today, but US pricing is yet to be confirmed.

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Pokemon Day 2026 is here, and it's a special one, marking the series' 30th anniversary. All eyes will be on today's Pokemon Presents stream as folks wonder if the time has finally come for us to see the Gen 10 games, but in actual fact, that's not what many people are praying to Arceus for. No, the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon and Ranger fans are out in full force, begging the universe to give their long-forgotten spinoff series a win for once. If we're not counting 2020's remake of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Red and Blue Rescue Team, it'll mark 11 years this year since the last brand new entry in the series, Super Mystery Dungeon. Pokemon Ranger fans have been waiting even longer for a fresh release, with the series going totally dormant after the launch of Guardian Signs in 2010 (those Wii U Virtual Console releases don't count). Needless to say, you can understand why folks are screaming, crying, and possibly throwing up at the mere possibility of a comeback during today's 30th-anniversary celebrations, with many taking to Twitter to manifest the announcements. "So we're preparing summoning circles for the Mystery Dungeon and Ranger series on Pokemon Day right?" one fan asks, noting that they "miss Mystery Dungeon so bad." I've been playing Pokemon for 27 years – these are my 7 Pokemon Day predictions for the 2026 celebrations Pokemon Presents February 2026 time – as the Pokemon Day stream draws near, we're all hoping for Gen 10 Pokemon Day 2026 Live Coverage - All the news from Pokemon Presents as it happens Thankfully for them, another particularly enthusiastic fan has delivered. "MYSTERY DUNGEON SUMMONING CIRCLE GOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" they write, sharing a picture of their collection of games and merch. "WE'RE GETTING THAT NEW GAME TOMORROW." Since Pokémon Day is tomorrow, you know that means?MYSTERY DUNGEON SUMMONING CIRCLE GOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!WE'RE GETTING THAT NEW GAME TOMORROW :333333333 pic.twitter.com/RwrCUV7uNcFebruary 26, 2026 Since Pokémon Day is tomorrow, you know that means?MYSTERY DUNGEON SUMMONING CIRCLE GOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!WE'RE GETTING THAT NEW GAME TOMORROW :333333333 pic.twitter.com/RwrCUV7uNcFebruary 26, 2026 Since Pokémon Day is tomorrow, you know that means?MYSTERY DUNGEON SUMMONING CIRCLE GOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!WE'RE GETTING THAT NEW GAME TOMORROW :333333333 pic.twitter.com/RwrCUV7uNcFebruary 26, 2026 "Hoping praying begging manifesting summoning wishing asking wanting craving needing yearning conjuring pokemon ranger news," another says. Meanwhile, one fan writes that a new Mystery Dungeon would be "my biggest hope for Pokemon Day," but "Pokemon Ranger is the dream." Others, however, after years of being let down, are already preparing themselves for disappointment. I'll let the meme below do the talking. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon fans, it's the big day! pic.twitter.com/LdAoxiApt6February 27, 2026 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon fans, it's the big day! pic.twitter.com/LdAoxiApt6February 27, 2026 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon fans, it's the big day! pic.twitter.com/LdAoxiApt6February 27, 2026 Pokemon Ranger's absence in recent years has been somewhat understandable, since its central mechanic requires players to draw circles around Pokemon on a touch screen with a stylus. Obviously, the Switch has a touch screen too, but to use the same mechanic would mean you'd only be able to play in handheld mode, clumsily smashing your finger against the screen as you play. However, I'll admit that one of the first things I thought when I saw the Switch 2's mouse controls was that the feature could theoretically work very well for a new Ranger game, but we'll just have to see if The Pokemon Company delivers. After all, there's been no technical reason not to make a new Mystery Dungeon for so long, but that series has been quiet, too. Fingers crossed for later, folks. Pokopia finally gives starving Pokemon Mystery Dungeon fans some food with its talking 'mons as the life sim's devs "really focused" on conveying each one's "unique personality." Pokemon Day Deals 33% OFFPokémonPokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet Journey Together Booster Bundle$39.95$59.99shop now39% OFFPokémonPokemon 8" Plush Starter 3-Pack$39.99$65.99shop nowNintendoPokémon Pokopia$69.99shop nowPowerAPowerA Wired Stereo Headset Kanto Friends Edition$29.99shop now 33% OFFPokémonPokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet Journey Together Booster Bundle$39.95$59.99shop now39% OFFPokémonPokemon 8" Plush Starter 3-Pack$39.99$65.99shop nowNintendoPokémon Pokopia$69.99shop nowPowerAPowerA Wired Stereo Headset Kanto Friends Edition$29.99shop now 33% OFF PokémonPokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet Journey Together Booster Bundle$39.95$59.99shop now PokémonPokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet Journey Together Booster Bundle Pokémon Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet Journey Together Booster Bundle Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet Journey Together Booster Bundle $39.95$59.99shop now $39.95$59.99 shop now 39% OFF PokémonPokemon 8" Plush Starter 3-Pack$39.99$65.99shop now PokémonPokemon 8" Plush Starter 3-Pack Pokémon Pokemon 8" Plush Starter 3-Pack Pokemon 8" Plush Starter 3-Pack $39.99$65.99shop now $39.99$65.99 shop now NintendoPokémon Pokopia$69.99shop now NintendoPokémon Pokopia Nintendo Pokémon Pokopia Pokémon Pokopia $69.99shop now $69.99 shop now PowerAPowerA Wired Stereo Headset Kanto Friends Edition$29.99shop now PowerAPowerA Wired Stereo Headset Kanto Friends Edition PowerA PowerA Wired Stereo Headset Kanto Friends Edition PowerA Wired Stereo Headset Kanto Friends Edition $29.99shop now $29.99 shop now

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! While working on Stardew Valley and its 1.7 update, creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone chose to give us a sneak peek at the farming sim's two new marriage candidates – but not everyone is exactly thrilled by one of the choices. Prior to ConcernedApe's big reveal, speculations were all over the place. From Sandy (which folks actually guessed correctly, much to my own delight as a certified Calico Desert stan) to a post-divorce Demetrius and Robin, there was no shortage of amusing fan theories to sift through – but, ultimately, only two would reign supreme as the 1.7 marriage candidates… and those two were Sandy and, ugh, Clint. Yeah, that same annoying, creepy Clint who is obsessed with finally getting Emily's attention. Unsurprisingly, fans are reacting to the news (it's me, I'm fans) by absolutely roasting the unpopular blacksmith. In fact, they're already planning how they're going to leave him to the wolves. One person hilariously writes in a post, "You have to be fucking sick and twisted to marry that man." A commenter jokes, "I've been robbed of the wizard." The new Stardew Valley marriage candidates are Clint and Sandy, ConcernedApe confirms Stardew Valley fans hope for divorce in the 1.7 update as ConcernedApe's past comments on homewrecking pop back up Stardew Valley 1.7 update will add "2 more marriage candidates," and fans theorize they could be anyone in the farm sim In a direct reply to ConcernedApe's own announcement of the two new marriage options, a player leaves what might just be the most cruel comment I've seen – and I love it. "I will marry Clint, lower him to 0 hearts, divorce him, and then mod him out of the game so he can die without ever knowing what true love and affection feel like." Another person simply asks, "Who on Earth would marry Clint?" There's a plethora of similarly funny thoughts on the (evidently not-so-beloved) new groom over on Reddit, too, where somebody writes on Clint, "He's gonna leave shit in the toilet." I could definitely see that. The hatred is so out of control for the blacksmith, though, that it's prompted a "justice for Clint" post – the only one of these I don't personally agree with, because literally anyone else would've been better, in my opinion (the wizard next, please). Unfortunately for me (and for many distraught fans, apparently), we'll have to just live with Clint. Thankfully, there's at least Sandy to look forward to in the 1.7 update – and, you know, whatever else the big patch might bring our way. Stardew Valley creator reveals 14-year-old footage of Sprout Valley, a technically "functioning game" that went on to become a genre-defining farm sim

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! I never had a Dreamcast growing up – I was strictly a Nintendo kid – but like any good millennial gamer, I've grown obsessed with a nebulous style of game with a "Dreamcast vibe." Think Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, or Space Channel 5, with a nebulous combination of colorful graphics, a bangin' soundtrack, and a spirit of experimentation. That spirit isn't dead, either, as the Steam Next Fest demo for Denshattack! has offered the most distilled Dreamcast vibe experience I've had in ages. The name of Denshattack! evokes the popular Japanese train series Densha de Go!, exclamation point and all, but this isn't a simcade experience that has you roleplaying as a train conductor. Instead, you drive a train like Tony Hawk rides a skateboard, jumping off ramps, pulling off tricks, and trying to build a high score out of increasingly intricate combos. You're bound by the constraints of the track, but it works like rail-grinding in a 3D Sonic the Hedgehog game. Tracks weave in and out, offering options for which path to follow. Sometimes, three tracks side by side will give you a chance to dodge obstacles, and in other cases, you'll need to pick a lane to follow to see a different portion of the course. Zero Parades proves itself a worthy Disco Elysium successor in this free Steam demo, and I shouldn't have doubted it The comically long name of this Steam publisher led me to the discovery of a sick Ace Combat and DMC-inspired roguelike One of the best pixel art RPGs ever made is getting a spiritual sequel, and I’ve been hooked on its Steam Next Fest demo The game has you constantly moving forward at breakneck speed, so all you really need to worry about is braking around corners, choosing your rail, and jumping over obstacles, but there's a tremendous amount of depth in each of those systems. Curved portions of the track pop up a little balance meter which challenges you to apply just the right amount of brakes around the corner, with perfect applications offering a boost of speed like a Mario Kart drift. Dodging obstacles rewards you for memorizing each of the courses – you can simply switch rails to get past most roadblocks, but a well-timed jump could open more scoring opportunities if it doesn't send you careening off the track. Just completing a level is no hassle thanks to generous checkpoints, but the real fun lies in beating the stage quickly while meeting certain score thresholds. When you're mid-air, you can flick the right stick and draw little half and quarter circles to pull off tricks, which naturally combo together for massive points potential. All that would be enough for me to like the time I spent with Denshattack, but it's the vibes that have me loving it. It's an anime world where train conductors battle to see who can pull the most outrageous tricks, and it all moves at a breakneck pace with unbridled possibilities. One stage has you escaping an erupting volcano. Another sees you riding a runaway ferris wheel as it rolls across the countryside. It's got a bit of Katamari Damacy in the sense that you'll never quite be able to predict what ridiculous thing will happen next. And yeah, the soundtrack is great. Arguably the most important thing for capturing those nebulous vibes I mentioned earlier, this music would be perfectly at home pumping out of a 2001-ish Japanese arcade, and there's not really any higher compliment I could pay to a game's audio. You can try the demo for yourself on Steam, and be assured that I'm not alone in thinking this is an incredibly promising taste. The nearly 500 user reviews for the demo are sitting at 97% positive, so clearly I'm not alone in needing a little of that Dreamcast spirit in my life. Finally, a new pirate game that's actually good: I can't stop playing the Steam Next Fest demo for this open-world survival game with Assassin's Creed Black Flag sailing, Sea of Thieves combat, and Ark crafting.

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Data Center Demo is climbing the Steam Next Fest charts, despite the irony that increased AI use and data centers are currently plaguing PC gaming, and are basically the reason for the Steam Machine's delay. Simulation games have seen a huge boom in the last few years. While life simulation has long been popular, few other types of simulation games were standouts like Truck Simulator and Farming Simulator. Over the last few years, the genre has seen a boom, and you can play a simulation game for pretty much anything you can think of. Type 'Simulator' into Steam and you'll be hit with thousands of them. It's not just the big names and genuinely fun games, like Powerwash Simulator, but also hundreds of low-effort asset flips looking to get in on the trend. Without playing Data Center Demo myself, and not having the technical understanding to really 'get' it if I did, I can't tell which category it falls into. "There are a zillion demos in this Steam Next Fest," Palworld lead says and is hesistant of games AI art capsules PC gamers and Steam customers are "a really bright spot" as the games industry struggles with prices, analyst says Despite AI-generated textures, audio, and music, Steam users shower survival game in 11,000 95% positive reviews Luckily, there is a way to better understand it through the opinions of people far smarter than me. Heading to the user reviews to better understand its mystique, the top-rated comment at the time of writing reads, "I don't recommend buying it, but I do like the idea! The demo lacks depth, I hope in the future they add more complex systems meaning: failures, ddos, power fails." Another user with nine hours on record says, "No game has ever yet made me pull out an Excel spreadsheet, let alone make it almost 3MB." Not all the vibes are positive, however, and alongside the depth lacking, there is some irony in that generative AI was used in the game's development. "In-game logos and the store description are clearly shitty genAI," one review reads. "For some reason the tutorial contains a shit ton of info on real-life data center management, 99% of which has absolutely no application in the game. Not an asset flip but it looks low-effort all around." Might not be the next TCG Card Shop Simulator then. Modder takes Valve's AI measures one step further with a browser extension that adds an unavoidable gen AI warning to Steam games to cut out the slop

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! The Eternal Life of Goldman opens with an absolutely stunning animated sequence following the embers of a fire springing to life on a tropical island before a plane swoops in to airdrop in our platforming hero: an aging, white-bearded adventurer with a cane slung over his shoulder who only goes by the name Goldman. Enraptured throughout this free Steam Next Fest demo, this hefty couple of hours is more than enough to get me hooked (yes, like Goldman's cane) on trying more. Developer Weappy Studio has cracked blending Tintin-like animation throughout The Eternal Life of Goldman's vibrant world with maintaining platforming clarity. If you want to try it yourself, our Steam Next Fest guide will help you get started. Blasting through the fiery first level, I joyously bounce on enemies with my cane – right out of DuckTales – use it to hook onto ledges, and stylishly dispatch a horde of some kind of ghost monkeys. Also, I find out that the disaster, happening during a festival, has resulted in a terrible death toll. Ah, perhaps not so joyous after all? Bouncing, sadly That's not going to stop Goldman hopping and bopping enemies with abandon. That's not going to stop Goldman hopping and bopping enemies with abandon. There's a thread of melancholy running through even the opening hours of The Eternal Life of Goldman that, so far, is tonally judged well. The archipelago Goldman has been called to is in turmoil due to strange, supernatural occurrences, and the untimely death of their community leader – many meeting Goldman's aid with an amount of deserved cynicism. But that's not going to stop him hopping and bopping enemies with abandon in order to track down the necessary items to restore a train that'll take him face-to-face with a mysterious deity. One of the best pixel art RPGs ever made is getting a spiritual sequel, and I’ve been hooked on its Steam Next Fest demo What if Bloodborne was on PS2? This horror is so old school even the dev insists you try the free Steam Next Fest demo Zero Parades proves itself a worthy Disco Elysium successor in this free Steam demo, and I shouldn't have doubted it Even outside of the dark fairytale energy of Goldman's adventure proper, the whole thing takes place as a story being told to a sick, bedbound child – including one cheeky moment when the mother telling the tale pretends Goldman falls to his death (echoing the stylings of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time). More than a charming, Princess Bride-like framing, even this has a touch of darkness to it – the child seems seriously sick, and uncomfortable topics mirroring the themes of Goldman's adventure are brought up at times. At least this far into The Eternal Life of Goldman, this platformer hasn't revealed itself to be a full Metroidvania, but there are echoes of that progression style there. Tracking down cane upgrades, Goldman can access new mobility powers. The hook, for instance, is one you get during the tutorial, alongside an upgradeable metal pole to replace the wooden one which allows for higher bounces. Except, at times, you'll want to bounce lower. All three parts of the cane – grip, body, and base – can be hotswapped out with a touch of the d-pad at any time. Bouncing on enemies isn't just a means of attack, but Goldman's main method of traversal across plenty of perilous pitfalls too. Working my way deep within Fort Elephant – part military base, part luxurious manor, part strange scientific laboratory – I end up having to time bounces on enemies and levers between spurts of fire and dripping goo, avoiding flaming foes and occasionally swapping to jumping using hooks. Side routes containing gold pickups, healing items, and collectibles tempt me from the critical path with tricky jumps of their own. With levels littered with fast travel points, The Eternal Life of Goldman's Metroidvania-like aspects seem to come through by having you swap between levels, using upgrades obtained in each to push a little further past points you couldn't before – like a sequence of high wires with fiery vents of their own in an icy level I don't manage to get that far into yet. But I'll definitely be back. The Eternal Life of Goldman's story has surprisingly intrigued me so far, the art across every screen is simply gorgeous to look at, and it brings the goods when it comes to the platforming action as well. I'm still curious how it'll all slot together in the full game, but it's off to an excellent start, and this generous demo is well worth getting lost in for yourself. The Eternal Life of Goldman launches on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch soon. What if Bloodborne was on PS2? Dark horror No Vacation for an Executioner is so old school even the dev insists to try the free Steam demo before buying "to make sure you like this control style"

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, says he's surprised by how fans reacted to the news that the trilogy finale would be developed using Unreal Engine 4, rather than the more recent Unreal Engine 5. In an interview with Automaton, Hamaguchi explains he was unaware that people were so invested in the team's choice of engine for the Final Fantasy 7 Finale. "After I mentioned in another interview that we would continue using Unreal Engine 4 for the third game, it became quite the topic online, and it made me realize anew how much interest people have in that side of things," he says. The director, who has worked on the series since Final Fantasy 12, admits that Unreal Engine 5 does have distinct advantages over its predecessor. "What makes Unreal Engine 5 groundbreaking compared to Unreal Engine 4 are two features: Lumen, its lighting system, and Nanite, which allows you to portray dense graphical detail." Hamaguchi says. "These represent the current trend in graphics pipelines, and of course, such pipelines are important to us as well." Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 uses Unreal Engine 4 because "we're already familiar" with it, director explains Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 director says PC is the "highest-end gaming" platform and the "foundation" for development Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 director says the new JRPG is "already in a playable state" Given that the most recent engine was "just entering its pre-launch phase" as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth began development, it was decided the team would stick with Unreal Engine 4 for the second entry in the remake trilogy. Hamaguchi and his team then decided to continue using it for the final entry, as they had already developed a "well-established pipeline" and could "further refine things based on the experience we accumulated with FF7 Rebirth." Fans were surprised by the choice to carry on with the older engine, but luckily, not disappointed. "I never imagined it would become such a hot topic," Hamaguchi explains. "Though a lot of people took it quite positively too." He goes on to say that the final entry will continue to delight, promising to "deliver something even better." Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 director says PC is the "highest-end gaming environment" and the "foundation" for the new JRPG's development, while the PS5 Pro is just "mid-range."

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Publisher Ubisoft has had a tough time of it of late. Between layoffs, continual restructuring, and big releases such as XDefiant, Skull and Bones, and Star Wars: Outlaws failing to find their audience, the company's got some ongoing problems. Alex Hutchinson, a developer who led Far Cry and Assassin's Creed games, believes these issues are exacerbated by risk-averse internal-philosophies. "The style of development we pioneered was being able to manage big teams by letting them be individual groups with ownership of their own thing, to allow us to make bigger games faster," he explains to PCGamer. "But then I think with the recent boom, there's been a weird five-year boom in private equity and investment from people which we hadn't seen before ever," he adds. "So a lot of senior people left Ubisoft and started studios or splintered off. So there was this talent drain that went out." "Several" Assassin's Creed games to come, Ubisoft promises, plus more Far Cry amid "restructuring across the company" Former Assassin's Creed director says AAA studios "mistakenly" throw people at development problems Ubisoft CEO fights nepotism claims against Assassin's Creed studio by saying "Ubisoft was created as a family company" Including himself, who, after serving as creative director on Far Cry 4 and Assassin's Creed 3, co-founded his own studio, Typhoon Studios, in 2017. One game, Journey to the Savage Planet, and an acquisition by Google Stadia later, Typhoon was shut in February 2020. While it didn't work out, it's the kind of creative risk Ubisoft allows less of now. Hutchinson notes that even though making regular installments of the likes of Far Cry and Rainbow Six has long been the corporation's MO, there's been a dearth of inventiveness. When something fresher is introduced, like Immortals Fenyx Rising, it's a big triple-A swing that has trouble recouping the investment. "They always had a history of sequelizing the franchises, but also having a couple of new things coming along," Hutchinson comments. "They became very allergic to the new things, and so they killed a bunch of our ideas, like when I was working on Pioneer. They had nothing new to come through." Pioneer was meant to be a No Man's Sky-esque space game of some description. It was teased in a side quest in Watch Dogs 2, but quietly bounced around behind the scenes, with its current status unknown. Hutchinson suggests that many minor quirks contribute to the overall disarray. "There's a million tiny things," he adds. "They're essentially a packaged goods business, and they had trouble figuring out digital as a whole platform." We haven't had a new Far Cry game since 2021, and now that the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake's been cancelled, Assassin's Creed has become the bastion of Ubisoft's output, remaining consistent through Valhalla, Mirage, and Shadows. But even that's taken a hit, since the director of the upcoming Hexe just left. Whatever's happening over there, it seems a change is needed, and probably soon. Ubisoft CEO fights nepotism accusations after appointing son to lead new Assassin's Creed studio – by insisting "Ubisoft was created as a family company."

French AA gaming developer and accessory manufacturer Nacon has filed for insolvency after its majority shareholder Bigben failed to make a loan repayment, the company said in a press release. "To date, the company reports available assets do not allow it to meet its liabilities," Nacon wrote. The objective with insolvency, it said, was to allow "continued operation, protect employees and maintain jobs while renegotiating with its creditors." Nacon is behind the games Styx: Blades of Greed and was set to publish Terminator: Survivors before that title was delayed. It published Hell is Us last year to some praise, but Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown was buggy on release and failed to find much of an audience. The company will stream its next Nacon Connect presentation on March 4, and will supposedly show off some new games and footage for previously revealed games like Endurance Motorsport Series and Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss. The company also makes hardware like controllers and headsets and racing sim accessories via its Revosim brand. Those products never really caught on with mainstream gamers but did have some success with the pro gaming crowd. With Nacon's insolvency, the future of those games and accessories is now in question. A court will decide on the company's insolvency request at a hearing in early March, but in the meantime, trading of its shares is suspended.

Full Circle, the developer behind the new Skate game, has announced that it is restructuring and laying off staff. It's not yet clear how many roles will be impacted by the changes, but the restructuring is happening less than six months after skate. launched in early access on September 15, 2025. "We’re reshaping Full Circle to better support skate.’s long-term future," Full Circle says. "These shifts mean making changes to our team structure, and some roles will be impacted. The teammates affected are talented colleagues and friends who helped build the foundation of skate. Their creativity and dedication are deeply ingrained in what players experience today. This decision is not a reflection of their impact and we’re committed to supporting them through this transition." EA originally formed Full Circle in 2021 with a staff of development talent from the original Skate team. Skate was often positioned as a more realistic competitor to the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series, but the new studio has ultimately taken the franchise in a slightly different direction than fans may have expected. Previous Skate games were paid experiences with single-player and multiplayer modes, while skate. is a free-to-play live-service game supported with microtransactions. Recent history, both the failure of Concord and the ongoing struggles of Highguard, serves as a testament to how hard it is to launch a live service game in the 2020s. Full Circle's announcement notes the "tens of millions" of players that have tried the new game, but it's possible a struggle to keep players interested and spending on microtransactions could be why it's restructuring.