Gaming News - Page 40

All the latest gaming news, with everything related to PlayStation releases (PS4 & PS5), Xbox, PC Games, Nintendo Switch & plenty more - Page 40.

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Tetris company confirms a 13-year-old is the first known person to beat the game

Jak Connor | Jan 4, 2024 1:05 AM CST

A 13-year-old gamer has officially become the first known person to beat Tetris, according to reports citing confirmation from The Tetris Company, the developers of the iconic game that was first released in 1988 in the US.

Tetris company confirms a 13-year-old is the first known person to beat the game

Tetris beaten by 13-year-old Willis Gibson

The first known person to beat the iconic game is 13-year-old Willis Gibson, or Blue Scuti online, who reached level 157 with a score of 999999 while playing from home in Oklahoma. The gamer was livestreaming the attempt that later went to the "kill screen," which is when the game simply freezes up and crashes due to the blocks falling too fast. This screen has only previously been reached by AI-powered bots.

Continue reading: Tetris company confirms a 13-year-old is the first known person to beat the game (full post)

Gaming industry insider makes sharp Nintendo Switch 2 price prediction

Jak Connor | Jan 4, 2024 12:01 AM CST

Rumors surrounding Nintendo's next-generation console have been swirling for quite some time now, and now to add even more fuel to fire a gaming industry insider has thrown out a price prediction and an approximate announcement window.

Gaming industry insider makes sharp Nintendo Switch 2 price prediction

That industry insider is Kantan Games CEO and gaming industry analyst Dr. Serkan Toto, who spoke to GamingIndustry.biz about Nintendo's upcoming console and what it could entail. The Kantan Games CEO told the publication that he expects Nintendo will likely be an iteration of the current Nintendo Switch and won't be a complete overhaul of its design. The next-generation console will feature additional "bells and whistles," but overall will be similar to the Nintendo Switch, per Toto.

Furthermore, Toto explains that since Nintendo has the juggernaut title Pokemon under its belt and how closely associated that game is with portability, there is "no way" Nintendo will choose to "drop the portability feature for their next big thing." Given these comments, Toto expects that the new Nintendo console will feature the same hybrid design as the Nintendo Switch but will come with noticeable performance upgrades and additional features.

Continue reading: Gaming industry insider makes sharp Nintendo Switch 2 price prediction (full post)

Starfield modder adds pilotable mechs to the game, great news for Fallout 'Power Armor' fans

Kosta Andreadis | Jan 3, 2024 9:03 PM CST

With over 1,000 planets to explore, one of the big criticisms levied at Bethesda Game Studios' epic new space RPG Starfield is that all planetary exploration is done on foot. Sure, you've got a jetpack, but many players expected a customizable land speeder or vehicle to get to the various points of interest quicker.

Starfield modder adds pilotable mechs to the game, great news for Fallout 'Power Armor' fans

Well, modders are coming to the rescue again, with the latest being one of the most exciting to date - mechs you can pilot, ala the iconic MechWarrior series. Starfield's universe includes tonnes of lore about mechs being used during wars, and you can even see one up close in an in-game museum.

Like Power Armor in the Fallout series, modder Jared Kohr is working on adding mechs that you can pilot in Starfield. With the mod a work-in-progress, he's uploaded a video showcasing the work so far (watch it above), and it's impressive. Yep, you can fire weapons!

Continue reading: Starfield modder adds pilotable mechs to the game, great news for Fallout 'Power Armor' fans (full post)

Switch 2 will be an iterative upgrade, not a big next-gen 'revolution,' analyst predicts

Derek Strickland | Jan 3, 2024 3:07 PM CST

Nintendo's new Switch 2 console may be more like a pro model than a fully-fledged next-gen system, one analyst predicts.

Switch 2 will be an iterative upgrade, not a big next-gen 'revolution,' analyst predicts

Like most of the internet, Japan-based video games analyst Dr. Serkan Toto believes that Nintendo will release a new console in 2024. Rumor has it that the new Switch model--dubbed the Switch 4K, Switch Pro, Super Switch, or Switch 2, depending on who you ask--will feature a new enhanced NVIDIA chip capable of 4K resolution upscaling. Having already completed the trifecta of Switch hardware, Nintendo's new hardware will apparently aim at a more modern audience now that 4K UHDTVs are so widespread.

Dr. Toto lays out his predictions in a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, where he says that the new Switch could be more iterative than it is next-gen. This indicates that the Switch 2 could be somewhere in the middle between a Switch Pro and entirely new gaming platform, or even potentially sit in the same Switch family as the fourth, most-powerful system. This is supported by the fact that the Switch 2 is likely to use the same 4K-ready dock as the Switch OLED model.

Continue reading: Switch 2 will be an iterative upgrade, not a big next-gen 'revolution,' analyst predicts (full post)

Report: 3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks hit with more layoffs

Derek Strickland | Jan 3, 2024 10:32 AM CST

3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks have both reportedly been hit with new layoffs.

Report: 3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks hit with more layoffs

2023 was a stellar year for game releases, but inflation and risk aversion led to mass layoffs in the gaming sector. While Newzoo estimates the interactive entertainment industry generated over $184 billion in 2023, about 6,000 people lost their jobs. Layoffs affected the industry across all dimensions: large publishers like EA and Ubisoft made cuts alongside smaller subsidiaries like 3D Realms.

Just last month, reports indicated that Embracer and Saber Interactive made job cuts at 3D Realms. Now Apogee's Scott Miller says that this layoff spree has continued at the Danish publisher. Miller created 3D Realms back in the 90s and still has close ties with the group, so his information is assuredly solid.

Continue reading: Report: 3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks hit with more layoffs (full post)

Dave the Diver sold 3 million copies in just 7 months

Derek Strickland | Jan 3, 2024 9:33 AM CST

Breakout indie hit Dave the Diver found big success in 2023, selling more copies during the year than some AAA games.

Dave the Diver sold 3 million copies in just 7 months

In terms of game selection, 2023 was one of the best years in gaming history. The wide spectrum of games yielded big selection variety for gamers, and despite the congested slate of franchised games, consumers were ready and willing to buy cheaper indie games. Since 2020 or thereabouts, we've seen millions of gamers gravitate towards indies through social word-of-mouth, likely driven by streamers and influencers. Dave the Diver is one of these games.

According to a new update from the developers at Mintrocket, Dave the Diver has sold 3 million copies since launching in June 2023. That's no small feat for a AAA game (3 million sales in 7 months is considered a win at most publishers), let alone a smaller-scale game like Dave the Diver.

Continue reading: Dave the Diver sold 3 million copies in just 7 months (full post)

Steam's Game of the Year is exactly what you'd expect, while Starfield wins Innovation award

Kosta Andreadis | Jan 3, 2024 2:57 AM CST

The 2023 Steam Awards winners have been announced, with the outcome across all 11 categories determined by community votes. And it's no surprise that the Game of the Year Award has been handed to Baldur's Gate 3, beating out finalists Resident Evil 4, Lethal Company, EA Sports FC 24, and Hogwarts Legacy. It's one of the most played, celebrated, talked about, and groundbreaking RPG releases in years - it's a well-deserved nod.

Steam's Game of the Year is exactly what you'd expect, while Starfield wins Innovation award

It was somewhat predictable as Alan Wake II was exclusive to the Epic Games Store, while the critically acclaimed The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Bros. Wonder are, you know, Nintendo games. However, a couple of the other award winners are a little surprising.

Starfield, currently sitting on a 'Mixed' community review rating on Steam, with recent reviews being 'Mostly Negative,' won the Most Innovative Gameplay Award. Starfield has been a divisive release from Bethesda Game Studios and the team behind Skyrim and Fallout 4 - the main criticisms levied at the game center around its archaic and lackluster design when it comes to exploration, travel, and having to sit through half a dozen loading screens just to get anywhere.

Continue reading: Steam's Game of the Year is exactly what you'd expect, while Starfield wins Innovation award (full post)

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall Unity released with final build

Derek Strickland | Jan 2, 2024 4:31 AM CST

After more than 7 years of development, the Daggerfall remake in the Unity engine is now complete.

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall Unity released with final build

Playing old-school PC games on new-age systems can be a pain. Games are often incompatible, or some like The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall are so archaic that they need some updates before they're ready for mass consumption by today's gamers. Thanks to the efforts of the modding team at Daggerfall Workshop, modern gamers can now experience Daggerfall in all of its massive, dungeon-crawling glory.

Daggerfall Unity, an open source remake that's hailed as the best way to play the original TES sequel, is now finished. Bethesda RPG fans now have a unique experience to try out while waiting for The Elder Scrolls VI to drop.

Continue reading: The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall Unity released with final build (full post)

Square Enix will 'aggressively' use AI for game development and publishing

Derek Strickland | Jan 2, 2024 2:32 AM CST

Square Enix, the Japanese firm responsible for the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series, pledges to use AI to help streamline its game development and publishing divisions.

Square Enix will 'aggressively' use AI for game development and publishing

AI is taking the world by storm, and the creative arts could be shaken up with innovative new tools and methodologies for asset creation. While the exact details are slim, video game developers may soon be armed with more efficient pipelines thanks to AI. Despite lofty promises from companies like Microsoft, who acquired new AI tools to help speed along the game dev process, the spectre of layoffs broods behind the scenes.

Game devs are worried that these new automation tools could eliminate even more jobs at a time when workers are being squeezed by a merciless cost-cutting market. The video games industry laid off over 6,000 workers throughout 2023.

Continue reading: Square Enix will 'aggressively' use AI for game development and publishing (full post)

Grand Theft Auto 5 was going to get 8 single-player DLC packs according to leaked data

Kosta Andreadis | Jan 1, 2024 9:31 PM CST

Over the Christmas break, the full source code for Grand Theft Auto V was leaked. This big pile of data comes from the same hacker behind the damaging GTA 6 leaks, Arion Kurtaj - an 18-year-old with autism who was able to hack into developer Rockstar's systems with a simple mobile device in a hotel room.

Grand Theft Auto 5 was going to get 8 single-player DLC packs according to leaked data

Having all of GTA V's source code available is a huge concern for Rockstar, especially with its continued popularity and Grand Theft Auto Online being a juggernaut. Accessing the game's source code could lead to more sophisticated cheats and other exploits.

That said, the arrival of GTA V's source code also means we've now got some confirmation that Rockstar was planning on releasing no less than eight separate single-player DLC packs and expansions for the game.

Continue reading: Grand Theft Auto 5 was going to get 8 single-player DLC packs according to leaked data (full post)