The second part of the gaming news:

Paralives looks packed with tiny features I've been desperately wanting in The Sims for years
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/paralives-looks-packed-with-tiny-features-ive-been-desperately-wanting-in-the-sims-for-years/
Paralives is finally right around the corner—it's launching into early access on May 25 following last year's delay. As that day quickly approaches, Paralives Studio is well and truly dangling the carrot in front of us with a nine-minute video showcasing some of the bits we can expect.

Struggling Witcher spinoff brings acclaimed Destiny 2 narrative veteran onboard as new lead writer
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/struggling-witcher-spinoff-brings-acclaimed-destiny-2-narrative-veteran-onboard-as-new-lead-writer/
Project Sirius, the Witcher spinoff game that was announced in October 2022 and has struggled ever since, has a new lead writer: Former Bungie senior narrative designer and narrative lead Kwan Perng, who comes to the role after four years of helping to shape the post-launch world of Destiny 2.

Now that Subnautica 2 is out, the most wishlisted game on Steam is… a game that's been out for almost 2 years?
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/now-that-subnautica-2-is-out-the-most-wishlisted-game-on-steam-is-a-game-thats-been-out-for-almost-2-years/
A weirdly enjoyable side effect of a massive game launch is that it shakes up the most-wishlisted games on Steam. Subnautica 2 has been perched (haha, fish pun) atop the most-wishlisted games on Steam for ages, probably since Hollow Knight: Silksong was released in September 2025.
But as of last week, Subnautica 2 is out! There must be a freshly crowned most-anticipated PC game on Steam! A new king of the hill!
And there is—but that new king shouldn't even qualify for the most-wishlisted games list in the first place. Because it's friggin' Deadlock.

Loot is too good in co-op RPG Fellowship, so its devs are trying to convince players why making it worse is better
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/loot-is-too-good-in-co-op-rpg-fellowship-so-its-devs-are-trying-to-convince-players-why-making-it-worse-is-better/
I don't envy the developers of early access co-op RPG Fellowship for having to convince its loyal players that the thing they liked was too good and needs to be made worse for the health of the game.
Although many players have enjoyed running its MMO-like dungeons without all the busywork of an actual MMO, the developers believe its loot system is holding back its true potential as an action RPG.

Valorant gets Anti-Lag 2 but after testing it I don't think users with high-end AMD rigs should crack open the champagne
https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/valorant-gets-anti-lag-2-but-after-testing-it-i-dont-think-users-with-high-end-amd-rigs-should-crack-open-the-champagne/
Valorant finally has Anti-Lag 2 support, meaning AMD GPU users with an RDNA (6000-series) GPU or later should now have something in-game that can compete with Nvidia's latest latency reducing Reflex tech. That being said, I've tested it and think its benefits will be very system-dependent.

Subnautica 2 devs have heard your 'strong request' for combat, but it's not going to happen: 'Subnautica has always been built around vulnerability, exploration, and survival'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/subnautica-2-devs-have-heard-your-strong-request-for-combat-but-its-not-going-to-happen-subnautica-has-always-been-built-around-vulnerability-exploration-and-survival/
One of the biggest discussions emerging from Subnautica 2's tsunami of an early access launch is the debate over combat. Just a few days ago, we reported that developer Unknown Worlds says players "are here to exist on this planet, not dominate it." Still, that's not stopped many players from demanding the means to fight back the horrifying sea beasts lurking below the waves.
In a new blog post, the developers spoke on three areas of feedback the game has received so far. Of course, this begins with creatures and combat.

Embracer Group cuts itself into pieces, this is its last resort: Bifurcation, new listing—licensing out Kain and JC Denton
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/embracer-group-cuts-itself-into-pieces-this-is-its-last-resort-bifurcation-new-listing-licensing-out-kain-and-jc-denton/
Embracer Group! It's the conglomerate you may recall from when it swallowed up seemingly half the industry a few years ago, before hitting a brick wall when a $2 billion mystery deal it had lined up vanished in a puff of smoke, leading to layoffs, sell-offs, and one stunned CEO at a press conference (don't worry, he got better).
Well, now what remains of Embracer (which is still quite a lot of corporation) is undergoing binary fission—the company is splitting in two, spinning off its Fellowship Entertainment arm into its own publicly listed company to "further increase management focus to capture the full potential of the high-quality assets in the group and accelerate value creation." And thank god. I was worried they weren't going to do that.
(...)
Fellowship will have a whole bunch of studios under its umbrella: "4A Games, Crystal Dynamics, Dambuster Studios, Dark Horse Media, Eidos-Montréal, Fishlabs, Flying Wild Hog Studios, Gunfire Games, Middle-earth Enterprises, Redoctane Games and Warhorse Studios" are going with it, says Embracer, and their various properties include "Darksiders, Dead Island, Kingdom Come Deliverance, Metro, Remnant, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Tomb Raider, and many more." They forgot the colon in Kingdom Come, there. Easily done.
(...)
As for the newer, svelter Embracer, that's taking "Aspyr, Beamdog, CrazyLabs, Deca, Demiurge, DPI Merchandising, Limited Run Games, Milestone, PLAION Partners, PLAION Pictures, THQ Nordic (including 35 studios and subsidiaries), Tripwire and Vertigo Games" in the split. Its properties include "Arizona Sunshine, Biomutant, Destroy All Humans!, Desperados, Gothic, Killing Floor, Kingdom of Amalur, MX vs. ATV, REANIMAL, Ride, Screamer, Titan Quest, Wreckfest, and many more IPs, as well as licenses such as Hot Wheels Unleashed and SpongeBob SquarePants."
>> Is it me or does Fellowship have the better/bigger franchises?

And the third part of the gaming news:

Steam killed its 'RPGMaker' user tag yesterday, and impacted devs are unexpectedly happy about it
https://www.pcgamer.com/software/platforms/steam-killed-its-rpgmaker-user-tag-yesterday-and-impacted-devs-are-unexpectedly-happy-about-it/

Party Animals' studio finally cancels its AI video contest and promises to approach topics like this in the future 'with a much more humble and cautious attitude'
https://www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/party-animals-studio-finally-cancels-its-ai-video-contest-and-promises-to-approach-topics-like-this-in-the-future-with-a-much-more-humble-and-cautious-attitude/

Tom Kane, voice actor whose work spanned Star Wars: KOTOR to The Powerpuff Girls' dad, dies aged 64
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/tom-kane-voice-actor-whose-work-spanned-star-wars-kotor-to-the-powerpuff-girls-dad-dies-aged-64/

Assassin's Creed: Black Flag star Matt Ryan says the term 'voice actor' is outdated: 'You see the performances in the eyes, it blows me away'
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/assassins-creed-black-flag-actor-matt-ryan-says-the-term-voice-actor-is-outdated-you-see-the-performances-in-the-eyes-it-blows-me-away/

Hasbro cancelled a D&D game from the Jedi: Fallen Order director
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/hasbro-cancelled-a-d-and-d-game-from-the-jedi-fallen-order-director/

Cairn revolutionizes bragging rights, lets you print a shirt showing your playthrough ascent from an in-game menu
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/cairn-revolutionizes-bragging-rights-lets-you-print-a-shirt-showing-your-playthrough-ascent-from-an-in-game-menu/

Final Fantasy 11 expected a 'sharp player decline' once the hype from the FF14 crossover and welcome back campaigns ended, but that never came
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/final-fantasy-11-expected-a-sharp-player-decline-once-the-hype-from-the-ff14-crossover-and-welcome-back-campaigns-ended-but-that-never-came/

@JEMC
>> Is it me or does Fellowship have the better/bigger franchises?

Yeah, definitely seems that way. Especially with new Kingdom Come, LotR and Metro games belonging to Fellowship now.

Maybe they've decided that Fellowship will be AAA and Embracer A/AA branch?

And Tomb Raider, don't forget about that one. Maybe S-E wasn't satisfied with its sales, but the three games since the reboot sold more than 5 million copies each.

As for what's their plan... I don't know, man. Do they even have one? They've made some decisions that are difficult to understand to get out of the hole they got themselves into.

Oh certainly -  as much as (as TR fan) I don't like TR Reboot and onward, they sold quite well for them.

I was just pointing those few games that are announced or have been already cooking that are high profile and will earn them quite a bit of moola.

I wouldn't call me a fan of the series, but I have to admit that I enjoyed the new games.

And, just like Kingdom Come and Metro, there are two Tomb Raider games coming: a remake/re-imagining of the first game and a new one set after the reboot games: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/tomb-raider-comes-to-the-game-awards-with-not-just-one-but-two-new-games-a-re-imagining-and-an-all-new-adventure/

Although those games were supposed to be published by Amazon, before they decided to back away from gaming. I don't know how's the situation about these games right now.

TR is one of my all time favourite gaming IPs...well, until Reboot. That one is superb cover shooter, but has very little to do with actual TR. As for those new ones - first one already has remake in Anniversary, which is pretty good (I still prefer original), but if there's a demo I'll give them a go, though I'm not holding my breath, since one look at new Lara is giving me bad vibes about it.

But yeah, though I think TR needs another reboot to get it back on track, maybe those two games move the needle for Embracer. Personally, I'm not seeing it, everything around TR kinda sucks these days - I mean, Sophie Turner as Lara Croft, and Phoebe Waller-Bridgeas as writer and showrunner...yeah, sod off Amazon.

NVIDIA bundles 007 First Light with 12-month GeForce NOW Ultimate membership

https://videocardz.com/newz/nvidia-bundles-007-first-light-with-12-month-geforce-now-ultimate-membership

Creative Sound Blaster AE-X PCIe sound card features 32-bit/384kHz playback

https://videocardz.com/newz/creative-sound-blaster-ae-x-pcie-sound-card-features-32-bit-384khz-playback

MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ with ARc G3 Extreme appears in Australia, price starts at $1780 USD

https://videocardz.com/newz/msi-claw-8-ex-ai-with-arc-g3-extreme-appears-in-australia-price-starts-at-1780-usd

AMD Ryzen AI MAX PRO 400 launches in third quarter, only MAX+ 495 gets updated Radeon 8065S graphics

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-ryzen-ai-max-pro-400-launches-in-third-quarter-only-max-495-gets-updated-radeon-8065s-graphics

Intel Crescent Island GPU to support LPDDR5X-9600 memory and 1.5 TB/s bandwidth

https://videocardz.com/newz/intel-crescent-island-gpu-to-support-lpddr5x-9600-memory-and-1-5-tb-s-bandwidth

SteamOS 3.8.5 beta fixes Steam Deck OLED speaker output bug

https://videocardz.com/newz/steamos-3-8-5-beta-fixes-steam-deck-oled-speaker-output-bug

AMD’s EPYC Venice Becomes Industry’s First 2nm HPC CPU To Achieve Volume Ramp As It Races Towards Agentic AI Leadership

https://wccftech.com/amd-epyc-venice-industrys-first-tsmc-2nm-hpc-chip-to-achieve-volume-ramp/

AMD Invests $10 Billion In Taiwan as Helios AI Racks With Venice EPYC & MI450X Head Toward Multi-Gigawatt Deployments

https://wccftech.com/amd-injects-over-10b-in-fresh-investments-to-taiwanese-firms-as-it-preps-its-6th-gen-epyc-mi450x-for-multi-gw-ai-deployments/

NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin Rack Hit With 435% Memory Price Surge, Pushing HBM4 & LPDDR5X Bill to $2M of $7.8M Total

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-vera-rubin-rack-hit-with-memory-price-surge-pushing-hbm4-lpddr5x-bill-to-2m-of-7-8m-total/

NVIDIA Confirms Vera Rubin Launch In Q3 With Volume Ramp by Q4, As Blackwell Continues To See Massive Demand

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-confirms-vera-rubin-launch-in-q3-volume-ramp-q4-blackwell-continues-to-see-massive-demand/

New Microsoft Surface for Business PCs pair Panther Lake chips with as little as 8GB of RAM — 13-inch Surface Laptop goes light on memory but still starts at $1,299

https://www.tomshardware.com/laptops/new-microsoft-surface-for-business-pcs-pair-panther-lake-chips-with-as-little-as-8gb-of-ram-13-inch-surface-laptop-goes-light-on-memory-but-still-starts-at-usd1-299

New Flipper One computing multitool bristles with network, GPIO, and M.2 connectivity — new keychain device is also a fully open Arm Linux computer

https://www.tomshardware.com/networking/flipper-one-computing-multitool-bristles-with-network-gpio-and-m-2-connectivity-new-keychain-device-is-also-a-fully-open-arm-linux-computer

Time for the Thursday gaming news:

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

Civ 7's massive overhaul update brings its highest Steam player count in over a year
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/civ-7s-massive-overhaul-update-brings-its-highest-steam-player-count-in-over-a-year/
This week marks the culmination of Civilization 7's yearlong attempt at a post-launch redemption arc, as Firaxis has released its Test of Time update, a free patch the studio has called an expansion-sized overhaul. Alongside the much-requested option to play as the same civilization between age transitions, Test of Time reworks victory conditions, adds systems for optional objectives with bonus rewards, and more.
Clearly, Civ fans have been waiting for a ripe opportunity to give the controversial sequel a second shot: At time of writing, there are more Steam users playing Civ 7 than there have been in over a year. But as early reactions remain as mixed as ever, it's unclear whether Test of Time will repair Civ 7's reputation.
Steam's Most Played chart says there are currently almost 16,200 users playing Civ 7. Not only is that its highest player count in over a year—according to SteamDB, the last time Civ 7 attracted more than 16,000 concurrent players was April 13, 2025—it's also roughly double the peak concurrent tallies it's managed during the last week.

The next few days, the Epic Store will give away these games:

• Down in Bermuda : https://store.epicgames.com/p/down-in-bermuda
• Tomb Raider I-III Remastered : https://store.epicgames.com/p/tomb-raider-iiii-remastered-538640

The free games from next week Are, again, a mystery.

GOG has the Git Gud Promo, with games on sale with up to 95% discounts during 7 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20260521_git_gud_promo

Steam has new deals and sales/events:

• Ultimate General: Civil War will be 65% off until the 27th of May: https://store.steampowered.com/app/502520/Ultimate_General_Civil_War/
• Maktala: Slime Lootfest gets a 35% discount until the 3rd of June: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4005560/Maktala_Slime_Lootfest/
• The Jackbox Party Pack 9 has a demo and is going to be 40% off until June 3: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1850960/The_Jackbox_Party_Pack_9/
• Ghost Exile , in Early Access, will have a 50% discount until the same 3rd: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1807080/Ghost_Exile/
• These are the sales/events:
  • Game Republic Games Festival showcases lots of upcoming titles, has some demos and has games with up to 85% discounts. The deals will end between later today and the 31st of May: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/GameRepublicGamesFestival
  • BitSummit PUNCH features upcoming titles, demos and games up to 40% off. The deals will end between May 24 and the 3rd of June: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/BitSummitPUNCH
  • PAC-MAN Franchise Sale features up to 80% discounts until the 3rd of June: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/PacManFranchiseSale2026
  • Avalanche Legacy Sale has games up to 85% off until June 3: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/1080307/sale/AvalancheGroupLegacySale

Humble Bundle has two new packs for us:

• Perplexing Puzzles Bundle has 11 items (8 games + 3 coupons) during 20 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/perplexing-puzzles
• Double Shift: Simulator Bundle has up to 19 items to get (17 games + 2 DLCs( during the next 20 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/doubleshift-simulation-bundle

And at Fanatical has new Flash Deals and a bundle:

• These are the 24h Flash Deals:
  • Monster Hunter Wilds is 55% off: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/monster-hunter-wilds
  • Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has a 57% discount: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/kingdom-come-deliverance-ii
  • Street Fighter™ 6 goes a little step ahead with a 58% off deal: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/street-fighter-6
• The BYO Fusion Bundle (2026) has 16 titles to get in bundles of 2+, 3+ or 4+ games during 34 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-fusion-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Ultimate Combat Mod Adds Perfect Dodge, Parry, Hitstop, and More to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/ultimate-combat-mod-adds-perfect-dodge-parry-hitstop-and-more-to-the-elder-scrolls-iv-oblivion-remastered/
Modder ‘Kramer7046’ has released a new mod that aims to greatly improve the combat mechanics of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. So, let’s see what’s in store for us.
The Ultimate Combat Mod adds perfect block, perfect dodge, attack canceling, hitstop, and slow motion. It also brings sneak spell damage, multi-jumps, bow upgrades, and lock-on mechanics with MCM support.
I don’t believe Perfect Block and Perfect Dodge need any explanation. So, I’ll skip them as they do exactly what you think they do. Regarding some of the other features, we get slow motion on finishing blows, as well as damage boost rewards for well-timed defensive play. We also get attack canceling during windup with block or dodge, as well as acrobatics-based double jump and triple jump.
The mod also offers combat camera lock during attacks, blocks, and spell casts. There is an enemy lock-on targeting, and players can target specific body parts of their enemies. We also get sneak spell damage against undetected targets.
In a way, this mod feels like an extended version of Ultra Combat UE4SS – Physical Combat Overhaul. That mod already added Perfect Dodge, Perfect Guard, and slowmo for headshots to the game. So, if you’ve been playing Oblivion Remastered with it, you may not feel the need to use this new combat mod.
>> The article doesn’t have any media.

GAMING NEWS

STRANGER THAN HEAVEN Gets Official Combat Overview Trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/stranger-than-heaven-gets-official-combat-overview-trailer/
SEGA has released an official combat overview trailer for STRANGER THAN HEAVEN. STRANGER THAN HEAVEN is the new IP from the devs behind the Yakuza series, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. So, if you are a fan of these games, you should definitely check it out.

New Gameplay Trailer for Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival Shows off the Genesis Configuration
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-gameplay-trailer-for-clive-barkers-hellraiser-revival-shows-off-the-genesis-configuration/
Saber Interactive has released a new gameplay trailer for Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival. This new trailer showcases the Genesis Configuration. This is a powerful tool for both combat and puzzles that can reshape the environment itself, revealing hidden paths and unlocking new routes ahead.

Virtua Fighter 6 Crossroads Gameplay Trailer Leaked Online
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/virtua-fighter-6-crossroads-gameplay-trailer-leaked-online/
It appears that a new gameplay trailer for Virtua Fighter 6, called Crossroads, has been leaked online. So, if you are a fan of this fighting game, you should definitely check it out. Also, since this is a leaked trailer, you should act fast. SEGA may soon take it down. So, be sure to watch it while it’s still live.

Thursday gaming news, part two:

The Mass Effect-like Exodus 'is effectively D&D in space,' Hasbro CEO says
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/the-mass-effect-like-exodus-is-effectively-d-and-d-in-space-hasbro-ceo-says/
Exodus, the space opera RPG in development at Archetype Studios, looks very much like Mass Effect—in fact, we declared in April that "it couldn't look more like Mass Effect," based on the teasers we've seen so far. In a new interview with The Game Business, though, Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks described it somewhat differently.
"It's a new IP, but it’s not unfamiliar ground to us. Exodus is effectively D&D in space," Cocks said. "We're familiar with role-playing games, and familiar with how to make good ones. It's a genre we understand."

This indie dev's dungeon crawling 'descent into madness' was inspired by motherly love
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/this-indie-devs-dungeon-crawling-descent-into-madness-was-inspired-by-motherly-love/
There are all kinds of ways to show gratitude to your parents. It might be weekly calls, monthly visits, or a heartfelt Mother's Day card. Or, if you're indie developer Christopher Yabsley, you might honor your mother and the cherished memories you've shared by developing Heathen, an upcoming dark fantasy dungeon crawler featuring "a descent into madness" and "an ancient horror never meant for mortal eyes."

Embark busts 9 myths about Arc Raiders' aggression-based matchmaking, and says defending yourself is no longer a hostile action
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/embark-busts-9-myths-about-arc-raiders-aggression-based-matchmaking-and-says-defending-yourself-is-no-longer-a-hostile-action/
Are PvE-only lobbies a thing in Arc Raiders? Will one measly kill mark me as a hostile player in future matches? These are questions Embark tackles head-on in a new matchmaking-focused blog post. This is by far the most the developer has spoken in detail about its unique aggression-based matchmaking system since we first learned about it, and it's a genuinely interesting read.

Another live service game is dead just a few months after launch
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/another-live-service-game-is-dead-just-a-few-months-after-launch/
I feel bad saying this because it sucks when a game fails, but frankly this may be the least surprising news of the day: Spellcasters Chronicles, the MOBA released by Quantic Dream just three months ago, has reached the end of the line. The studio said Spellcasters Chronicles "has not reached the audience needed to ensure its long-term sustainability," and thus development is halted—and it sounds very much like layoffs are happening as a result.

Splitgate studio reveals its new game, looks a lot like its old game
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/splitgate-studio-reveals-its-new-game-looks-a-lot-like-its-old-game/
Splitgate studio 1047 Games said in March that it was working on something new, and now we know what it is: A "fast-paced 6v6 movement shooter" called Empulse.

Nearly a decade after its last update, Darksiders Warmastered Edition gets a photo mode and motion controls in a surprise new patch
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/nearly-a-decade-after-its-last-update-darksiders-warmastered-edition-gets-a-photo-mode-and-motion-controls-in-a-surprise-new-patch/
This is kind of odd, and may or may not be a portent of unknowable things happening in maybe-near, maybe-distant future, but more than nine years after its last patch, Darksiders Warmastered Edition has been given a surprise update, adding a new photo mode, support for motion aiming, and "various bug fixes."