The Tuesday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Steam’s Top 10

(Click here for the Top 100)

Steam has lots of new deals for us, including new weeklong deals:

• Like the one we find at GOG, there’s an Isometric Sale, with up to 90% discounts until, in theory, August 31: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/IsometricRPGSale2024
• Beasts of Bermuda, in Early Access, wil be 35% off until Monday: https://store.steampowered.com/app/719890/Beasts_of_Bermuda/
• Tripwire Interactive will have its games up to 90% off until next Monday, the 2nd of September: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/TripwirePublisherSale2024
• Publisher Toplitz Productions puts its games on sale with up to 85% discounts. I’ve seen deals ending the 2nd of September and others lasting until the 5th: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/ToplitzPublisherSale
• Another Sale that can also be found on GOG is next: the Back to School Sale, with games up tp 95% off until September 2nd… but some will last longer than that: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/BacktoSchoolSale2024
• The Anime Game Festival 2024 is here with up to 55% deals until the 3rd of September: https://store.steampowered.com/developer/Neverland/sale/animegamefestival
• Chorus, that has a demo, features an 80% discount until the 9th of September: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1153640/Chorus/
• The Frogwares Publisher Sale has up to 90% deals, but the date those deals will end isn’t stated. Steam’s main page says the 29th of August, but I don’t know if I believe it: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/frogwares_2024
• And here are some Weeklong Deals:
  • GUNFIELD, still in Early Access, will be 10% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2305900/GUNFIELD/
  • Pocket Mirror ~ GoldenerTraum has a 40% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1899060/Pocket_Mirror__GoldenerTraum/
  • Go Mecha Ball is half its usual price: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2008510/Go_Mecha_Ball/
  • Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered gets a 75% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/312840/Fahrenheit_Indigo_Prophecy_Remastered/
  • And Lost Words: Beyond the Page is going to be 85% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/599610/Lost_Words_Beyond_the_Page/

Fanatical has two new deals:

• The Capcom Fire Deals arrive to the store with up to 89% discounts during 12 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/capcom
• The BYO Summer Superstars Collection has 31 games to choose from for your 2+, 3+ or 4+ bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-summer-superstars-collection

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

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MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Starfield modders are already trading in Bethesda's new buggy for Halo's Warthog and Luke's landspeeder
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/starfield-modders-are-already-trading-in-bethesdas-new-buggy-for-halos-warthog-and-lukes-landspeeder/
Last week Bethesda finally gave Starfield players something they'd been asking for since the space RPG launched: a drivable land vehicle. Called the Rev-8, the new buggy can be added to your spaceship with a vehicle module so it'll appear right next to you wherever you land, meaning you don't have to run, jump, and jetpack to get where you need to go. Now you can drive.
Cool, thanks! Also, do you mind if modders immediately change everything about it?
You can probably guess at least one of the vehicles modders used to replace the vanilla Starfield buggy. Yep, it's the Warthog from Halo. Specifically, it's the M12B FAV (Force Application Vehicle), and although the mod looks pretty neat, I do notice one thing missing: a method for applying force. Doesn't the Warthog typically have a bigass chaingun or gauss cannon mounted on it? Ah, well. It's still a big improvement on the Rev-8.
The same modder, NotSiouxsie, has a few more vehicle mods, like the incredibly attractive Old Earth ATV mod that makes it look like you're driving a shiny blue Jeep with big chunky tires around on Starfield's planets. There's also this Crimson Gang van mod that may be even cooler, based on a 1992 Chevy van. You can also take the Saints Row's Stag N-Forcer for a spin, a vehicle I'm not personally familiar with but still think looks pretty cool. 
Far more exciting to me, this other mod turns the Rev-8 into the X-34 landspeeder, the dirty, clunky old hovering car Luke Skywalker used to get around on Tatooine in the original Star Wars. Though I see the modder has blasphemously put Han Solo and Chewbacca in the front seat instead of Luke and Ben Kenobi, it still looks dope, and it'll go great with any Star Wars-inspired ship builds you're playing with.
What, no Thomas the Tank Engine? Well, not quite yet. He's here, but at the moment he's untextured. I'm sure someone will give him a paint job soon. 
>> Sadly, there’s only one image of the landspeeder mod.

GAMING NEWS

The Smurfs – Dreams feels like Super Mario 3D World in its latest gameplay trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/the-smurfs-dreams-feels-like-super-mario-3d-world-in-its-latest-gameplay-trailer/
Microids has just released a new gameplay trailer for The Smurfs – Dreams. And, to my surprise, in this trailer, this new The Smurfs game feels like a Super Mario 3D World clone. Which is good.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Open Beta PC Requirements
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/call-of-duty-black-ops-6-open-beta-pc-requirements/
Activision, Treyarch and Beenox have revealed the official PC system requirements for the Open Beta phase of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. So, let’s see what you’ll need in order to play it.

Leaked gameplay footage from the canceled Crysis Next
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/leaked-gameplay-footage-from-the-canceled-crysis-next/
Before the announcement of Crysis 4, Crytek was working on a multiplayer game based on the Crysis franchise, called Crysis Next. And earlier today, a video was leaked, showcasing 13 minutes of gameplay footage from it.

Tuesday news, part two:

Dragon Age: The Veilguard drops a 10-minute combat deep dive video, and it might just have sold me on giving BioWare's latest RPG a whirl
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/dragon-age-the-veilguard-drops-a-10-minute-combat-deep-dive-video-and-it-might-just-have-sold-me-on-giving-biowares-latest-rpg-a-whirl/
I've been less than convinced by what EA and BioWare have shown of Dragon Age: The Veilguard so far. Its debut trailer put far too much stock in me investing in characters I knew nothing about. The more recent story trailer was definitely an improvement, but I still found the game's choice of aesthetic to be at odds with its dark fantasy setting.
Now though, EA and BioWare have provided a proper look at how the game plays, or at least a part of it, via a 10-minute combat deep-dive that really gets between the knuckles of its fantasy fisticuffs. And although I still have some reservations, it did convince me that I'd like to at least try getting hands on with BioWare's latest RPG.

I let out a 'hell yes' when I saw this game stars a worm-fox trapped on a dying world, and an even louder 'yes dude, yes' when the trailer got to the Metal Gear mechs
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/i-let-out-a-hell-yes-when-i-saw-this-game-stars-a-worm-fox-trapped-on-a-dying-world-and-an-even-louder-yes-dude-yes-when-the-trailer-got-to-the-metal-gear-mechs/
Upcoming metroidvania Uruc had me sitting up in my chair pretty quickly: Its debut trailer begins with flash cuts of horrible masses of worms before showing our protagonist⁠—who I initially parsed as a banana slug, but who actually seems to be some manner of sable or fox with no limbs⁠—an incongruously cute little guy in the grand tradition of incongruously cute metroidvania protagonists. We then see that this little guy is up against militaristic mecha straight out of Ghost in the Shell or Metal Gear, rampaging across a dead or dying world of industrial hulks and unnerving statuary. I'm in.

'This game is going to easily—and I mean easily—take over': Major streamers, early fans, and esports players share their Deadlock hype after Valve opens the floodgates
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/this-game-is-going-to-easilyand-i-mean-easilytake-over-major-streamers-early-fans-and-esports-players-share-their-deadlock-hype-after-valve-opens-the-floodgates/
Late last Friday, after spending months pretending that its worst-kept secret didn't exist, Valve revealed Deadlock to the world. The official announcement came with Valve's blessing for public discussion, meaning that streamer takes, fan sites, and social media conversations could finally reference the third person shooter MOBA's closed alpha test in the open. Now that speaking its name isn't a thought crime, notable Deadlock players are telling us their takes—and a lot of them think Valve's lining up another hit.

'A violation is upon you': Valve called out for breaking its own rules with Deadlock's Steam store page
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/a-violation-is-upon-you-valve-called-out-for-breaking-its-own-rules-with-deadlocks-steam-store-page/
After months of horsing around, Valve finally made Deadlock official last week: You still can't play it without an invitation, but at least now you can look at it on Steam. But that's raised complaints from some quarters because it appears that Valve is rather blatantly breaking its own rules on what you can and cannot do with Steam store pages.

Star Wars Outlaws release time and release date
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/star-wars-outlaws-release-time-date/
Ubisoft's big open world Star Wars game launches this week, and you're going to need a lore primer. For the Star Wars Outlaws launch time, that is, not the Wookieepedia. I'm sure we're all consummate experts on galaxies far, far away but time zones take some serious apprenticeship to comprehend. I'm only half joking, because the Outlaws launch date is fragmented between early access versus main launch, PC versus console, and global region as well. Here's how it all breaks down.

World of Warcraft: The War Within is out—kicking off with banger zones, stupendous side quests, and early access gripes
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/world-of-warcraft/world-of-warcraft-the-war-within-is-out-kicking-off-with-banger-zones-stupendous-side-quests-and-early-access-gripes/
World of Warcraft: The War Within has launched—although, if you had enough dough to shell out for the early access, you've already been playing it for a few days. And while it's early on in the expansion's lifecycle (I'm about two-thirds of the way through the second zone myself, as a complete-all-side quests fiend) things seem to be going pretty well.

It’s Wednesday and these are the news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

'This really doesn't look promising': Concord PC players are having a hard time finding matches thanks to ridiculously low player counts
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/this-really-doesnt-look-promising-concord-pc-players-are-having-a-hard-time-finding-matches-thanks-to-ridiculously-low-player-counts/
During Concord's early access, it was pretty hard for PC players to find games without queuing in console lobbies. At the time, I gave Concord the benefit of the doubt, deciding to chalk it up to a slow early access. Unfortunately, things haven't gotten better since the game became available for everyone. 
There are currently 96 players in Concord. It's off-peak hours, but having a 24-hour peak of 276 and an all-time peak of 697 on SteamDB is pretty damning—it's been a tepid first week on PC for sure. There are no public records for player counts on PlayStation, so this is really all we have to go on right now regarding Concord's popularity. 
PC players have reported that long queue times are very much a problem for those not queuing alongside console players. "Just waited eight minutes for matchmaking, and then it timed out," one player says. "I love the game and want to play it. Unfortunately, I can't wait eight minutes plus between games. [So] I decided to play something else and come back on peak hours. This really doesn't look promising at all." 

Steam has four deals/sales:

• Hero's Hour will be 60% off until the 3rd of September: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1656780/Heros_Hour/
• MicroPose puts its games on sale with up to 60% discounts until September 3: https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/microprose/sale/TheMicroProseSale
• The Combat Mission franchise is on sale with discounts that go from 50 to 60% until the September, the 3rd: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/CombatMissionFranchiseSale
• And the Early Access title Never Mourn will be 45% off until the 10th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1839820/Never_Mourn/

Fanatical’s new Star Deal is Dragon's Dogma 2 Deluxe Edition, 35% off during 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/dragons-dogma-2-deluxe-edition.

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

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MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Here’s almost an hour of gameplay from Half Life 2 RTX
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/heres-almost-an-hour-of-gameplay-from-half-life-2-rtx/
At Gamescom 2024, NVIDIA presented a new demo for Half-Life 2 RTX. So, below, you can find a video showcasing 50 minutes of brand new gameplay footage from it. So, if you are interested in it, I highly recommend watching it.
In this video, NVIDIA’s Jacob Freeman shows off the demo. Jacob has highlighted most of the new Path Tracing features. The video also packs some combat sequences. In short, it’s a must watch for all HL2 fans.

Super Mario Eclipse Mod for Super Mario Sunshine Fully Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/super-mario-eclipse-mod-for-super-mario-sunshine-fully-released/
Super Mario Sunshine fans, here is something special for you today. In 2021, we shared a demo for the Super Mario Eclipse Mod. And today, we are happy to report that its full/final version is available for download.
Super Mario Eclipse is said to be the biggest mod for Super Mario Sunshine. This mod features 120 brand new shines and 3 playable characters. Moreover, it packs new movement mechanics, as well as new and remixed boss fights. The devs have also claimed that the mod has an improved game engine.
And that’s not all. Super Mario Eclipse has an original soundtrack, and new story with hand-animated cutscenes. Plus, the devs claim that there are massive rewards for 100% completion.
In short, this is a must-have mod for all Mario fans. And yes, this mod will work on the PC.
You can download Super Mario Eclipse from this link. To run it, you’ll need a Dolphin Emulator. The mod will also work on real Nintendo Wii, Nintendo GameCube, and Nintendo Wii U consoles. You’ll also need a legally ripped USA non nkit .iso of Super Mario Sunshine.
>> There’s an almost 2 minutes trailer of the mod.

GAMING NEWS

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will support 60fps only on PC
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/metal-gear-solid-delta-snake-eater-will-support-60fps-only-on-pc/
A few days ago, we informed you about Avowed and Dragon Age: The Veilguard supporting 60fps only on PC. And it appears that yet another current-gen only game will have this restriction on consoles. As Konami has confirmed, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will not have a 60fps mode on consoles. Therefore, the only platform that will be able to offer such an experience will be the PC.
>> It’s Konami. I wouldn’t take those 60fps for granted on PC either.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed PC Demo Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/disney-epic-mickey-rebrushed-pc-demo-released/
Now here is a pleasant surprise. THQ Nordic has just released a PC demo for the upcoming remaster of its vibrant 3D platformer, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed. PC gamers can visit the game’s Steam store page and download its demo.

The longer than usual second part of the Wednesday news:

Final Fantasy 14's Yoshi-P says 'if the question is whether I was shocked' by the mixed reception to Dawntrail's story, 'the answer is no, not really'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/final-fantasy/final-fantasy-14-s-yoshi-p-says-if-the-question-is-whether-i-was-shocked-by-the-mixed-reception-to-dawntrail-s-story-the-answer-is-no-not-really/
Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail has had some time to simmer in the minds of its fanbase—and while I've had a blast with everything outside of it, the main scenario quest line has left me a little less enthusiastic than usual.
(...)
I recently went to Gamescom and got to speak with the game's director, Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P), in person. I asked how he felt about the fanbase's response (in slightly more diplomatic terms) and he seemed quite reflective of the story's successes and failings. As is typically the case with these interviews, Yoshi-P's responses were translated on the spot by an interpreter.
>> He also talked about Scion's 'half-hearted' role in Dawntrail.

One of Deadlock's scariest characters is getting a redesign, changing her from an 'alien weeb' into a deadly yokai
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/one-of-deadlocks-scariest-characters-is-getting-a-redesign-changing-her-from-an-alien-weeb-into-a-deadly-yokai/
Deadlock has a brilliant cast of characters, but some players are growing increasingly afraid of one of them: Yamato. A few people have even pointed out that she looks like the woman in the painting from Stephen King's IT, which I honestly couldn't see at first, but the more I look at the side-by-side comparison, the more terrified I am. 
While she might not be quite as bad as a Stephen King monster, she isn't perhaps as cool as some of the others in Deadlock, like Seven or Bebop. It turns out that her design was established back when Deadlock was called Neon Prime and had more of a cyberpunk-themed world. "Her current design is supposed to be an alien who became accustomed to Japanese culture, as per her lore in Neon Prime," one player says. "In other words, an alien weeb." 
Multiple new design concepts have been shared by Valve dev "Yoshi" on Deadlock's Discord, and they seem to steer Yamato away from aliens and towards a yokai, a class of beings from Japanese folklore that encompasses everything from demons, to tricksy shapeshifters, to spirits. The designs were also shared on Deadlock's Reddit, and out of the five concepts, I think the first and fifth stand out.  
>> Something else that will change is the description of one character. He’ll no longer be an a$$hole.

Deadlock's upcoming hero Astro, is a sign that players need to start learning better movement habits
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/deadlocks-upcoming-hero-astro-is-a-sign-that-players-need-to-start-learning-better-movement-habits/
Valve may have finally confirmed Deadlock's existence, but that doesn't mean that it's in a finished state. The MOBA shooter is currently in a closed beta (which is invite-only), so there are still plenty of changes to be made and features to be added, one of which is a new hero, Astro. 

WoW game director Ion Hazzikostas says they're already drafting up plans for The Last Titan's patches—that's 2 expansions after The War Within, in case you're keeping score
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/world-of-warcraft/wow-game-director-ion-hazzikostas-says-they-re-already-drafting-up-plans-for-the-last-titan-s-patches-that-s-2-expansions-after-the-war-within-in-case-you-re-keeping-score/
World of Warcraft: The War Within, bar some iffy early access nonsense, appears to be landing pretty well—it's early days, mind, but Blizzard seems to have meant it when it comes to bolstering its evergreen systems, changing how it tells its story, and making Xal'atath into the scenery-chewing dramaturge perfect to kick off the Worldsoul Saga's chaos.
Speaking with Ion Hazzikostas at Gamescom, I asked whether the dev team—given that Blizzard announced three WoW expansions at once—has been planting seeds here that'll sprout story beats years down the line. Not only did he say "absolutely", he also revealed that the team's already hammering out the wider details of The Last Titan's patch quests.

Geralt and Dave the Diver are in Balatro now
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/card-games/geralt-and-dave-the-diver-are-in-balatro-now/
Geralt of Rivia is a well-known card game aficionado, and not just for Gwent. It turns out the famed witcher is also a big fan of Balatro—so big that he's now actually in the game.
Geralt and a couple of familiar friends have joined Balatro in the game's first ever "Collaboration Pack," a crossover that adds optional face card backs from not just The Witcher 3, but also Dave the Diver, Vampire Survivors, and Among Us. The card cosmetics can be unlocked through a new "deck settings" menu that enables players to customize their decks with new cards.

Smite 2 is a full-on sequel because the original is just too old: 'There were lots of little janky bits about Smite 1 that we were unable to address'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/smite-2-is-a-full-on-sequel-because-the-original-is-just-too-old-there-were-lots-of-little-janky-bits-about-smite-1-that-we-were-unable-to-address/
What's that sound I hear in the distance? Is it chanting? The rhythm of a drumming circle? A chorus of gaming mouse clicks at 180 beats per minute? This can only mean one thing—MOBAs have returned. 
It's feeling very 2014 on Steam this week. Valve's launched a new MOBA, Deadlock, while Hi-Rez, the studio behind the eternally-third-place-to-Dota-and-LoL-but-still-beloved Smite, is back with its own sequel after a decade. Smite 2 is live on Steam as of today in a $30 founder's edition, which the developers are calling a "24/7 closed alpha." Anyone can play Smite 2 as long as they kick in some cash, and at some point down the road it will become free-to-play like its predecessor.
>> Paying to be a tester of a game. Things have gone a long way… in the wrong direction.

Nearly every essential Castlevania game is now on PC, with one glaring exception
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/nearly-every-essential-castlevania-game-is-now-on-pc-with-one-glaring-exception/
It took nearly three years after Konami brought the Castlevania Advance Collection to PC for it to bundle up the next set of games in the series, originally released on the DS in the late 2000s, and port them to PC. But what's a few years in the life of Dracula? He only wakes up to throw a party in his castle once a century or two, so the wait for Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin and Order of Ecclesia barely counts as a power nap for ol' Vlad Tepes.
But I'm glad to see those games join the Game Boy Advance 'vanias as well as the Anniversary Collection on Steam, because that's 16 classic 2D Castlevanias total now easily playable on PC. What more could we ask for, really? 

'Of course we are tired': After working for 2 years in the shadow of Russia's invasion, Stalker 2 developers see finally finishing the game as a way to tell the world, 'We are here'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/of-course-we-are-tired-after-working-for-2-years-in-the-shadow-of-russias-invasion-stalker-2-developers-see-finally-finishing-the-game-as-a-way-to-tell-the-world-we-are-here/
Making a videogame is a tough business at the best of times, and for Ukrainian studios like Stalker 2 developer GSC Game World, these are much closer to the worst of times: Ukraine suffered a full-scale invasion by Russia in early 2022, and while the country has defended itself far more ably than many expected, it still faces relentless daily assaults in a war that's cost tens of thousands of lives.
(...)
Understandably, Stalker 2 itself has been delayed multiple times. Speaking to PC Gamer at Gamescom, Stalker 2 technical producer Evgeniy Kulik said it's been a long, tough haul, but developers have worked hard to support each other through it.

Space Marine 2 reveals post-launch plans: 4 seasons of paid cosmetics and free gameplay updates including new maps, weapons, enemies, and a horde mode
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/space-marine-2-reveals-post-launch-plans-4-seasons-of-paid-cosmetics-and-free-gameplay-updates-including-new-maps-weapons-enemies-and-a-horde-mode/
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is set to launch on September 9, but developer Saber Interactive has big plans beyond the initial release. The studio shared its "Year One Battle Plan" today—a rundown of four seasons of planned content that will carry the game deep into 2025.

Spectre Divide, the most promising tactical FPS since Valorant, is out next week
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/spectre-divide-the-most-promising-tactical-fps-since-valorant-is-out-next-week/
After Morgan tried out the beta for Spectre Divide, a free-to-play shooter with an unusual two-characters-per-player setup, he said it was so fun that he couldn't stop thinking about it. 
That's admittedly no guarantee of success—I liked Concord when I previewed it, and its launch has been brutal—but Morgan's enthusiasm is certainly a good sign for the competitive FPS, which we've just learned is releasing in early access next week.

Stardew Valley maker Eric Barone says he's 'trying to' score a Fortnite collab and knows just who he wants in the game: Pelican Town's smoky, middle-aged bus driver Pam
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/stardew-valley-maker-eric-barone-says-hes-trying-to-score-a-fortnite-collab-and-knows-just-who-he-wants-in-the-game-pelican-towns-smoky-middle-aged-bus-driver-pam/
In what scientists will someday call "a marketing collabo of supernatural potency," Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone has revealed that he wants to get some kind of crossover going with Fortnite. Specifically, he'd like to transplant a few of the citizens of his sedate farming sim into Epic's Omniverse, handing them a combat shotgun and letting them go ham on other people's licenced trademarks.
Barone was asked about his willingness to do a Stardew/Fortnite crossover by YouTuber Panedwards (via IGN). "I've been trying to," came Barone's reply, who particularly wants "Pam in Fortnite" but is "open to doing a collab" in general.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 creative director speaks candidly about the new RPG's respect for Final Fantasy and Persona: 'We are definitely not hiding that there are influences'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/clair-obscur-expedition-33-creative-director-speaks-candidly-about-the-new-rpgs-respect-for-final-fantasy-and-persona-we-are-definitely-not-hiding-that-there-are-influences/
After watching a recent hands-off demo of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which in my opinion looks like one of the most interesting new RPGs incoming in 2025, I was particularly taken by what I perceived to be the game's indebtedness to the great turn-based RPG series, Persona, and specifically its latest and greatest release, Persona 5 Royal.
(...)
"Yeah. We are definitely not hiding that there are influences from the big Japanese genre," Broche noted. "Actually, [though], I wouldn’t say that Persona is the biggest influence on what we do. I don’t hide my love of action for the Final Fantasy 8, 9, and 10 era. I think a lot of the core of the game definitely takes inspiration from that. Not directly. It’s not like we take it from the games. The game is more like [what] I grew up with, and kind of built my creative tastes on. So I would say we take a lot of influence from them but not directly trying to pick things from them.
>> They also talked about the plot of the game.

Baldur's Gate 3 YouTuber uncovers 15 minutes of fully voiced 'impossible' content, and it turns out Karlach's 4th-wall break is far from the game's only hidden scene
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/baldurs-gate/baldurs-gate-3-youtuber-uncovers-15-minutes-of-fully-voiced-impossible-content-and-it-turns-out-karlachs-4th-wall-break-isnt-the-games-only-hidden-scene/
There is no end to Baldur's Gate 3. I'm convinced of it. Trillions of years from now, when the universe has entered its dark age and all trace of light and heat has left it, the last event that will happen is someone making a Reddit post about how, if you repeat some ludicrously precise series of inputs, you can get Astarion to recite the entire John Galt speech or something.
Hey, it might be in there. But if it is, it's likely hidden behind an "IMPOSSIBLE" flag. Turns out, there are numerous forbidden scenes cut out of BG3—like Karlach's notorious fourth-wall break—that are dummied out of the final product by a flag in the game's files that literally marks them as impossible. Never to be seen, only speculated at.
Or not. Actually, it turns out that making the impossible possible is just a matter of flipping that flag to "true." You can see the revolution in action in a recent video from YouTuber SlimX, showing off various fully voiced scenes that Larian never intended to see the light of day.

Very interesting that consoles are dropping 60 fps pretty quickly with Avowed, Dragon Age and now Snake Eater. Rumor has it MH Wilds will be the same.

When developing console games, publishers have always been more interested in prettier graphics over more frames. It's easier to sell that with screenshots or youtube/twitch videos than the smoother framerates.

No doubt.  I went full in with PC gaming last year...  consoles being limited to 30 fps only makes me feel better about my decision.  

*** NEW COMPETITION ***

ASUS and AMD Announce Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Giveaway
https://www.techpowerup.com/326021/asus-and-amd-announce-warhammer-40-000-space-marine-2-giveaway

ASUS today announced the launch of the exclusive Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Collector's Edition graphics card, developed in collaboration with AMD and Focus Entertainment and officially unveiled at the ROG press event during Gamescom on August 20. At the Gamescom press event, ASUS revealed that this card is based on the TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7900 XTX and is custom-built for a global giveaway for gamers and fans of Space Marine 2 and the Warhammer 40K universe.

August 23 to September 16: Online giveaway
For a chance to win a Space Marine 2 graphics card, gamers and Warhammer 40K fans can tune into the following YouTube and Twitch channels on the dates listed below:

• September 3: Sandman of Terra https://www.youtube.com/@SandmanofTerra
• September 4: Games Workshop
• September 6: Ninjon
• September 7: GmanLives
• Date to be announced: Focus Entertainment

Additionally, a broader prize pool - including themed custom PCs built by Maingear and Scan UK and featuring exclusive graphics cards - is up for grabs on the ASUS Space Marine 2 giveaway landing page. The prize pool includes several Space Marine 2 graphics cards ready for deployment into new or existing gaming PCs, ROG Ally X handheld consoles ripe for playing on the go, and a host of high-end ASUS gaming peripherals ideal for asserting dominance in all the game's combat modes.

More ways to win cards will also be announced on the ASUS Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Experience landing page, after September 9.

Terms and conditions apply. Please see the landing page for details.

Are you a Sony fan that has one of those ridiculously expensive DualSense Edge controllers? Would you like to use that super expensive controller on PC and make use of the extra customization options that controller can give you?

Well, you are a minority, but a lucky one:

Sony's PC obsession continues with in-depth DualSense Edge customisation on your PC
https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/controllers/sonys-pc-obsession-continues-with-in-depth-dualsense-edge-customisation-on-your-pc/
From the first-party exclusives, PS VR2 adapter, and this most recent push to allow for DualSense Edge customisation on PC, I'm starting to think Sony is warming up to this whole PC gaming malarky.

About time, too.

For its latest ode to PC, Sony is opening up support for customisation of its DualSense Edge controller on PC. This is done via the PlayStation Accessories app, which used to be the "Firmware updater for DualSense wireless controller" app—I can see why they changed the name. Providing you download the latest version (2.0.0.13) from its official website, you can try it out right now.

One thing to note: this only works for the DualSense Edge, Sony's premium controller pad. The app doesn't open up options on the significantly cheaper DualSense. I made the mistake of thinking it might and rushed to connect my PS5 pad only to be met with a Bluetooth connection screen and little else.

I think with time, and TVs getting some sort of Variable Refresh Rate tech by default, most console games will have option for uncapped frame rate and/or different gfx presets.