The Week in Gaming - Issue #2

Did you miss Summer Game Fest and the Xbox Showcase? Check out the mid-week wrap-up!

Demos, Discounts, and Deals of the Week

• GOG is giving away Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War until June 16. ComicBookGaming

• Sims 4 competitor inZOI is on sale for the first time in its Early Access launch period. The discount follows an update that includes in-game mod support and cheat codes. ComicBook Gaming

• Fanatical’s new Build-Your-Own Brutal bundle deal allows customers the chance to get their hands on Doom Eternal, Somber Echoes, and Scorn for a deep discount. ComicBook Gaming

• Dragon Ball Gekishin Squadra is hosting its first open play test from June 11 to June 15. Check out Steam, PlayStation, or your mobile device to sign up for the test drive. ComicBook Gaming

• AdHoc studios debut title, Dispatch, has a demo out for Steam Next Fest. The ex-Telltale games crew’s title is a superhero workplace comedy game where choices matter. PC Gamer

• Speaking of Steam Next Fest, be sure to check out some amazing demos available through June 16. Current demos at the top of the charts include Wilgate, Vindictus: Defying Fate, Jump Ship, Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive, and Dead as Disco. Steam Next Fest

• Now that’s an odd definition for the word, “demo”. Activision has announced the launch of a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 demo that can only be accessed if you preorder. Eurogamer

Game News

• Steam’s storefront now has search functionality for accessibility! You can now narrow by accessibility feature, which includes toggles for “playable without timed input”, “narrated game menus”, “adjustable difficulty”, and more. More than 5,000 games have added their details to the database. Steam News Post

• Is That GameStop Settlement Email Legit? If you’re like me, you got an email on the Aldana v. GameStop Class Action Settlement. Yes, it’s real, and you may be entitled to $5 cash or $10 voucher. ComicBook Gaming

• Sony has removed regional restrictions on four of its biggest games on Steam: God of War Ragnarok, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and Helldivers 2. PC Gamer

Upcoming

• InZoi will be releasing on Macs this August. Eurogamer

• Indie Sims-like Paralives will be launching in early access this December. Eurogamer

• Owlcat (Rogue Trader) is making an Expanse RPG with Mass Effect-style combat. Rock Paper Shotgun

• Persona-inspired RPG Demonschool will be launching this summer for PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC. Eurogamer

• The Rogue Prince of Persia is leaving early access with a full 1.0 launch set for August. Eurogamer

• Lego Voyagers, developed by Light Brick Studio, was announced this week. The title is a co-operative adventure with a Friends Pass so that two can play together with one copy purchased. Rock Paper Shotgun

• Rural life sim Mandrake has been announced from studio Failbetter (Sunless Sea). The title will be coming to PC in 2025. Eurogamer

• Creature-catching game Aniimo has been announced for Xbox Series X. The title is a free-to-play ARPG and debuted their trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase. Eurogamer

• Bandai Namco teases a new Tales Of remaster project. Eurogamer

• A cooperative mode for Hitman is in the works with IO Interactive. The title features playable characters Stone and Knight. Eurogamer

• Progress on Otherside Entertainment’s Thick as Thieves was shown this week. Pre-alpha footage revealed grappling hooks, smoke grenades, clubs to knock out NPC guards, and a sound cue system to aid player navigation. Rock Paper Shotgun

• Yakuza studio, Ryu Ga Gotoku, has revealed their next title - a historical action brawler named Stranger Than Heaven Rock Paper Shotgun

• Jurassic World Evolution 3 will be releasing October 21st and revealed the game’s first trailer. Eurogamer

• WB Interactive Entertainment and Playside have revealed a new, “deeply asymmetrical” Game of Thrones RTS. The title will allow you to play four factions (Stark, Targaryen, Lannister, Night King) and will be releasing in 2026. Rock Paper Shotgu

• Splatoon Raiders, a single player story focused spin-off of Splatoon, has been confirmed for Switch 2. Nintendo Life

• Epic Games and Section 9 Interactive have debuted a new atmospheric action-adventure called End of Abyss. GamesBeat

• Netmarble has announced their next RPG, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origins for PC, console, and mobile. GamesBeat

• Angry Birds is back with Rovio’s first entry in iconic series since their acquisition by Sega. Angry Birds Bounce is an Apple Arcade brick-breaker and will launch on July 3. Pocket Gamer

• A new gameplay trailer for Death Stranding 2 features floods, earthquakes and action gameplay. ComicBook Gaming

• Creative Assembly has announced that it will be releasing the ‘next era’ of their Total War series in December. Video Games Chronicle

• Konami has confirmed that it is working with Bloober Team on a Silent Hill 1 remake. Video Games Chronicle

• Disgaea 7 Complete is launching for the West in autumn 2025 on the Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo Life

• The first DLC for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, The Order of the Giants, comes out in September. Get ready for more whip cracking and meaty punches. Eurogamer

New Releases

• Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake released on Xbox. Eurogamer

• Rainbow Six: Siege X launched this week as free-to-play. PC Gamer

Game Updates

• After a poorly received and buggy version 1.5, Infold Games has unveiled its next update for Infinity Nikki, called Playful Season. The update features a brand-new storybook-like world to explore with her pal Momo and a cursed fairy in need of Nikki’s help. Pocket Gamer

• A big update for Civilization 7 is on the way with ‘Large’ and ‘Huge’ maps, new advanced game options, town specializations, and Steam Workshop support. PC Gamer

• Despite the new easy mode, Lies of P will get a reduction in difficulty in a future update as players are getting wrecked by the DLC. PC Gamer

• Sea of Thieves announced their new Season, called Smuggler’s Tide. The update will launch in August and includes a new faction, weapons, and explosives. MMORPG.com

• A new GTA Online update has been announced and introduces money laundering businesses to the game. ComicBookGaming

• Bleach Rebirth of Souls adds a Ranked mode, which fans have been asking for since the title’s release. ComicBookGaming

• Schedule I players will have through the weekend to vote on what’s included in the title’s next update. ComicBookGaming

• Satisfactory introduced full controller support, Photo Mode improvements, new conveyor buildings, and railway system updates with its first major update. ComicBookGaming

• Splatoon 2 has a free update this week that includes Splatlands Collection weapons, a raise on Freshness caps, new badges, and a new Anarchy Battle stat for matchmaking. Nintendo Life

• The latest Oblivion Remastered patch is resulting in constant game crashes, missing save files, and invisibility for some players after updating. ComicBook Gaming

• Capcom has declared Street Fighter 6’s Switch 2 version as ‘Tournament Legal’. Nintendo Life

• Gamefam and FIFA are bringing the World Cup to Roblox via Super League Soccer from June 14 through July 13. GamesBeat

Spotlight: In the Blink of an Eye

• Build A Rocket Boy’s MindsEye had a very rocky launch this week, with a PC hotfix targeting performance improvements, reduced difficulty, and crash fixes. Eurogamer

• MindsEye’s launch has been so buggy on the PlayStation platform that players are being offered refunds from PlayStation. ComicBook Gaming

• The co-CEO of MindsEye suggested that negative reactions were paid for in a “concerted effort” against the studio. This caused a quick follow-up by publisher IO Interactive that stated that they do not believe the comments were paid for and that “the game should speak for itself”. Eurogamer

• Partnered Twitch streamers were struggling to keep their spectators entertained during glitchy gameplay while also adhering to the spirit of their contracts. A viral clip from livestreamer DarkViperAu shows him ending a partnered stream by encouraging viewers to check out the game with stilted diction that gave the impression that he was forcing himself to stick to a script, stifled laughter, and incredulous camera turns during gameplay. The company later paused all promotional streaming. Polygon Gaming

Game Tech

• Nvidia’s latest benchmark for its unannounced consumer APU suggests that it may be close to being production ready. PC Gamer

• Seagate launched a 4TB storage expansion card for the Xbox Series X. Do. Want. GamesBeat

• Microsoft has published a Handheld Development Resource Hub to help developers support its new hardware and share best practices for the devices. Game Developer

• Razer has launched a new mobile controller that can accommodate an iPad Pro. The Verge Games

Social Impacts

• Nonprofit group Games for Change has added five new leaders to its board. The new team will guide the next phase of growth, engage in cross-sector partnerships, and deepen the organizations influence across education, health, and civic engagement. GamesBeat

• Star Trek Beyond writer Doug Jung was announced as showrunner for Amazon's Mass Effect series. GamesIndustry.biz

• Nintendo has delayed its Legend of Zelda film to 2027. Eurogamer

• Mario creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, has been omitted from Mario Kart World’s credits. Eurogamer

• Princess Peach voice actor Samantha Kelly has confirmed she has been replaced after 18 years in the role. Eurogamer

• Story Kitchen and MoonHood Studios will adapt The Midnight Walk game to film and TV. GamesBeat

• Former The Witcher writer Tania Lotia has joined Amazon’s God of War TV series.

• The Witcher Writer Reportedly Joins Amazon’s God of War TV Series. ComicBook Gaming

Spotlight: Character Reveals

• Ian Proulx, CEO of 1047 Games, drew criticism during Summer Game Fest for wearing a hat that read, “Make FPS Great Again”, onstage for the celebratory announcement of Splitgate 2. The tone-deaf move to grab attention was in extremely poor taste and in blatant disregard of ongoing protests against state violence and unlawful ICE raids. The Verge Games (Paywall)

• In a continued display of ignorance, Proulx blamed an ex-employee - who he says used to work on Call of Duty - for launching with an eye-watering $145 USD cosmetic bundle that debuted at an intro price of $80 USD. After the backlash, the studio cut the price in half again (to $40 USD) and made adjustments to other items in the in-game store. Eurogamer

• With Steam reviews now at Mixed at the end of the week and continued ire from fans, Proulx wants a do-over, sort-of: “I stand by my intent and overall message that the state of FPS is stale, needs innovation, and isn’t what it used to be, but yes, I would have done things differently.” GamesRadar

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• Runescape developer Jagex canceled new Pride Month events for the title, claiming in a public statement that the cancellation was because such events were “controversial in a way that it didn’t used to be and that controversy now brings more risk than it did previously.” PC Gamer

• After widespread protest by the RuneScape community, an anonymous employee stepped forward to claim that Jagex management is “catering to American conservatism” and staff had penned an open letter to management in May, reiterating their desire to implement new Pride content and pointing out previous events did not result in lost revenue in spite of a minority engaging in bigoted behavior online. PC Gamer

Till next week,

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