Rhythm shooter Metal: Hellsinger has you circle-strafing Quake-style level layouts at high-speed while you shoot demons to the beat. I meet the news that it’s getting a VR version this year with some trepidation, therefore. Do I really want to vomit on the beat?
Sega Of America employees have become the first a major US video games studio to ratify a union contract. The contract covers guarantees minimum yearly pay increases for around 150 staff through 2026.
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk! Pentiment! Bioshock!
After the announcement of the European eShop’s ‘Blockbuster Sale’, we had a sneaky suspicion that North America would be treated to one of its own before long. Sure enough, the ‘Partner Spotlight Sale’ has kicked off on the US eShop today, bringing up to 80% off a selection of tasty third-party titles.
The sale began on 28th March and will run until 8th April so you have a good bit of time to decide what to spend your bucks on.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Omega ring today.
It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.
Details can be found below!
Note: This update may not occur automatically before it has already become mandatory. You can always find the most current update as soon as it is available by opening the Guide > Profile & system > Settings > System > Updates.
Remember: Newly enrolled users in this ring are not guaranteed to receive all early updates, but they’ll receive the update prior to the GA release. Additionally, a small subset of users may remain on their current GA build once they enroll until the next system update becomes mandatory for the public. Visit the Xbox Insider Program FAQ to learn more.
Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:
Backgrounds
System
While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.
Audio
Home
Networking
As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.
If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.
When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.
Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.
For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!
The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Omega (2404.240325-2200) appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Starting today, Amazon is offering the excellent 8BitDo Pro 2 Wireless Controller for only $39.99. This is the lowest price we’ve seen for the Pro 2 controller. It’s compatible with the Nintendo Switch Steam Deck, PC, iOS and Android smartphones, and pretty much any gaming console that supports Bluetooth. Moreover, the 8BitDo Pro 2 is often considered one of the best 3rd party wireless controllers for the Nintendo Switch.
The 8BitDo Pro 2 controller is compatible with both the Nintendo Switch console as well as any Windows, Mac, Android, Steam, or even Raspberry Pi device. It uses wireless Bluetooth so it works with the Switch out of the box with no dongle required. At $30 cheaper than the price of a Switch Pro controller, it has a lot going for it. The SN30 Pro 2 supports button remapping, adjustable analog sticks, hair triggers, and macros. It also supports rumble and motion controls on the Switch. It is powered by a 1,000mAh rechargeable battery, but you have the option to use two AA batteries in a pinch instead.
In terms of fit and feel, the 8BitDo Pro 2 is excellent. It’s lighter than the Switch Pro controller but it still feels very solid and comfortable in your hands. The D-pad and analog joysticks react precisely, and the buttons have nice clicky tactile feedback. The retro style looks great.
The 8BitDo Pro 2 also brings a couple of new features that weren’t present in the previous generation Pro+ model. That includes the ability to save multiple profiles, a handy little switch that lets you instantly change from Switch to PC pairing, and two additional rear paddle buttons that are also programmable.
Compared to the official Switch Pro controller, it is missing a few features like HD rumble (although it does have standard rumble), amiibo sensing, and the ability to wake the Switch from sleep. In exchange, you get the ability to reprogram buttons and you get a much better D-pad, which is a godsend for precision type games like 2D platformers. The biggest advantage, though, is the price. For Nintendo Switch owners, if you don’t want to pony up $70 for the official Pro controller, this is the next best thing.
Check out more of the best Nintendo Switch deals today.
With the bulk of Cyberpunk 2077 finished, CD Projekt has now shuffled its priorities, putting the bulk of its resources into developing the next mainline The Witcher game, codenamed Polaris.
During an earning call to discuss the 2023 fiscal year, CD Projekt revealed that it is dedicating a bulk of its efforts to developing the next installment in its widely popular fantasy-themed RPG series.
As you can see from the screenshot below, CD Projekt was fully transparent with investors and those listening in on the call, showing exactly how many developers are being allocated to its current and future projects. The chart reveals that it has over 600 developers at the studios, over 400 of whom are assigned Polaris development.
Also interesting to note is that the next installment in the Cyberpunk franchise, codenamed Orion, has 47 developers currently assigned to the project. CD Projekt also revealed that Orion is in the concept stage of its development. The company previously revealed that its new studio, based in Boston, Massachusetts, has been assigned to work on the project.
This is not the first time CD Projekt has disclosed that a good portion of its employees are working on the next The Witcher game. In late November, during the Q3 2023 earnings report, CD Projekt revealed that almost 330 developers (nearly 50% of its staff) were tasked with developing the project.
With today’s announcement, some quick math shows that number is now over half of the development team; about 64% of its staff are working on The Witcher 4 development. That increase in developers is likely due to a “big part” of the Cyberpunk 2077 team moving over to work on The Witcher 4.
CD Projekt confirmed that a new The Witcher game was in development back in 2022. While details on the next entry are slim, we do know that it will run on Unreal Engine 5. CD Projekt Red game director Sebastian Kalemba said in an interview last December with Lega Nerd that the goal of the next entry is to “build something that goes beyond the previous The Witcher and that manages to tell something more intense, with also more intense gameplay.”
Though, don’t expect The Witcher 4 anytime soon, CD Projekt Red studio president and co-CEO Adam Kiciński said in 2022 that the project was at least three years away. This means that it could come out as early as next year. It is worth noting today’s earnings call also disclosed that Polaris’s project stage is “pre-production.”
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
The PlayStation Portal, Sony’s handheld gaming accessory for the PS5 console, is finally back in stock at Walmart, but who knows for how long. It’s almost always sold out everywhere, so don’t hesitate to place an order if you’ve been waiting. The PS Portal is not a standalone device, like the PS Vita. It’s a remote player for the PlayStation 5, so you’ll need a PS5 to use it. That said, it streams games from your console over Wi-Fi, essentially letting you play your PS5 games from anywhere in your home. Check out our PlayStation Portal review to see what our critic thought of it.
PS Portal is basically a DualSense controller with an 8-inch LCD screen in the middle of it. It lets you stream games from your PS5 at up to 60fps, with a 1080p screen resolution, so it should look plenty sharp considering the screen’s dimensions. It also features the full slate of vibrations, haptic feedback, and adaptive triggers you’d get from a standard DualSense — something that’s missing if you stream your PS5 games to a phone, tablet, computer, or Steam Deck. It will also work when you’re away from home, provided you have a strong internet connection and you left your PS5 in rest mode.
It should be said that the PlayStation Portal isn’t the only way to stream your PS5 games over Wi-Fi within your home. As mentioned above, you can do that on many internet-connected devices, including phones, tablets, computers, and Steam Deck. Just download the PS Remote Play app to set it up (details here). It’s a little more complicated to stream to Steam Deck, but just search for Chiaki and you can probably figure it out. You can also check out our PlayStation Portal vs. Steam Deck comparison for a look at both handhelds side-by-side.
A regular rogue’s gallery of independent game developers – including the creators of Dead Cells, Slay The Spire, Darkest Dungeon, Spiritfarer, Terraria and V Rising – have clubbed together to run their own videogame showcase: the Triple-I Initiative. Initially screening on 10th April, it’ll be a 45-minute, unhosted, back-to-back series of trailers, reveals and surprise game or demo releases, designed (as per the press release) “to highlight fan-favorite games and hype up established indie classics as well as new IPs”. It could become a yearly thing, but that’ll obviously depend on how well the first showcase goes down.
According to a few of the organisers, the IIIIs – as they shall now and forever be known – reflect a high level of anxiety even among more established indie teams about finding an audience, together with a feeling that they aren’t being served by existing showcases like the Geoffies, with their blockbuster headliners, celebrity cameos and extended Kojima soliloquies.
Hey, who turned out the lights?
Those who are easily scared might want to look away for a moment because the cult-classic Japanese horror series, Corpse Party, is once again getting creepy on Switch as Corpse Party II: Darkness Distortion brings the chills this Autumn (or ‘Fall,’ if you’d rather).
Published by Marvelous Europe (XSEED in North America) and developed by MAGES, Darkness Distortion looks set to contain all of your standard scares. There’s a creepy old hospital, a spooky legend and a decades-old curse to deal with as you try your best to help three high school friends survive the night.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Ahem… ‘scuse me, is this thing on?
Hey there! Chris here from the Stampede: Racing Royale team. We’re super excited to bring our upcoming free-to-play racing game to Xbox Insider Program today! Like, right now! If you’re wondering what in the world this is all about, sit back, grab a snack, and let me give you the elevator pitch…
Developed by the racing veterans and all-round swell folks at Sumo Leamington, Stampede: Racing Royale combines the fun and thrill of kart racing, with the tension, competition, and social shenanigans of a battle royale. Imagine dropping into a go-kart and racing in 60-player online events (yes, sixty!), avoiding elimination across three rounds, and competing to become the ultimate champion. Throw in a variety of wild power-ups to deploy, incredible maps to master, and different modes like Battle and Zombies, and you’ve got yourself a tasty cocktail known as ‘Stampede: Racing Royale’.
There’s no point in racing well if you don’t look good doing it, either. This early version of the game already includes over 450 different customisation items to discover, earn, and equip for both your kart and character. From cheese wheels, to pirate costumes, to wearing an octopus on your head (they’re called Ollie!), play and progress to stand out on the track with the rarest and wildest gear.
We may be early on in Stampede’s journey, but there’s still plenty to keep you coming back for one more match. Special Events will mix things up with different scenarios and limited-time rewards to earn. Account levels and kart progression will see you unlock Rare and Legendary gear to show off. Challenges are there to, err, challenge you to complete objectives and win more goodies.
There’s so much more that Stampede will be serving up over time, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. With Early Access kicking off later this year, joining Xbox Insider Program is an opportunity for our wonderful dev team to preview fresh features and additions, and a chance for you to test-drive what we’re building. Whether you’re on Xbox Series X|S or Windows PC, head to the Xbox Insider Hub now, find Stampede: Racing Royale, and jump into the action.
Whilst progress and unlocks unfortunately can’t be carried over once Early Access begins, we wanted to make sure your support for Stampede is rewarded. Play at any time via the Xbox Insider Program and, in a future version of Stampede, we’ll drop an exclusive gift into your account, available only to Xbox Insiders. Just make sure you’re playing on the same Xbox account you used for Xbox Insiders to redeem it.
Our first public playtests in 2023 allowed us to make improvements driven by community feedback, and we’ll be doing exactly the same with Xbox Insider Program. Keep an eye out for surveys and announcements in the Xbox Insider Hub to give your opinion, and share your thoughts on our official Discord server – or just hang out with us there. We’re cool, honest…
Stampede: Racing Royale is all about conquering the chaos with friends and against the world, making memories with fast-paced automotive shenanigans. The 10,000-IQ plays, the epic fails, the sick drifts – all that stuff. So, grab some friends, play, stream, give us your hot takes, and be part of the wildest racing event in existence. Now, where did I leave that homing missile…?
Note: This playtest has limited capacity and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you experience any issues while playing Stampede: Racing Royale, please use “Report a problem” so we can investigate. (Note: This is only for Xbox consoles.)
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The post Stampede: Racing Royale on Xbox Insider Program – Test Drive the Wild 60-Player Online Kart Racer appeared first on Xbox Wire.
