Category: Video Games

Balatro Devs Argue Poker Roguelike Does Not Encourage Gambling as It Vanishes From Some Stores

Balatro publisher Playstack Games has taken to social media to defend its poker roguelike after fans noticed it had been removed from certain stores.

Players started to point out Balatro’s disappearance over the last few days, with some taking to social media to express their concerns. Reddit user JustASmith27, for example, was unable to find the Nintendo Switch eShop store page in the U.K. Players from other countries, such as Australia, have reported that they are running into the same roadblock as well.

Mainly, the problem seems isolated to Nintendo Switch stores outside of the U.S. Playstack shared an explanation behind Balatro’s disappearance on X/Twitter, saying that the team is working “as hard as we can to get the game back on sale as soon as possible.” With some territories still able to purchase Balatro without issue, the publisher confirms its removal is tied to a sudden change in its age rating.

“This is not an issue with the stores themselves, however a reaction to an overnight change to Balatro’s age rating from 3+ to 18+ by a ratings board without any advance warning,” Playstack said, “due to a mistaken belief that the game ‘contains prominent gambling imagery and material that instructs about gambling.’”

Playstack adds that it addressed gambling concerns with the ratings board in October. At the time, Balatro was labeled 3+ after receiving an initial rating of 18+.

“During that specific appeal, the ratings board assured us ‘we have reviewed your product and determined that the disclosure of gambling themes was unwarranted,’” Playstack added. “The game content has not changed since the age rating was amended to a 3+.”

The Playstack team says they “fundamentally believe the ratings decision is unfounded,” mentioning that LocalThunk, Balatro’s sole developer, is “staunchly anti-gambling.” LocalThunk took to X/Twitter to share their own thoughts on the matter, doubling down on their stance against the accusation that Balatro contains any form of gambling.

“I do not condone gambling (staking something personally valuable on an uncertain event) nor do I believe that Balatro contains gambling,” the post says. “I did add risk/reward mechanics and RNG to Balatro, but these are core mechanics to the genre at large.”

While Playstack is confident Balatro will remain on PC storefronts like Steam, it’s not sure how other platforms will be impacted. It adds, “Please rest assured the game will be back up on sale, possibly with a temporary 18+ rating while we resolve the issue.”

Balatro launched for PC, Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X | S on February 20, 2024. Although its Steam page boasts that it is “the definitive poker roguelike experience,” it also features a variety of gameplay twists, such as cards with unique abilities, a campaign, difficulty modes, and more.

“Combine valid poker hands with unique Joker cards in order to create varied synergies and builds,” its description says. “Earn enough chips to beat devious blinds, all while uncovering hidden bonus hands and decks as you progress. You’re going to need every edge you can get in order to reach the boss blind, beat the final ante and secure victory.”

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Borderlands studio Gearbox reportedly to be sold by owners Embracer

It’s looking increasingly likely that Gearbox Entertainment is going to be sold by Embracer. In a town hall with staff earlier this week, CEO and co-founder Randy Pitchford reportedly told staff that a decision had been made regarding the studio’s future, with more details to be shared in March.

Embracer bought Gearbox for $1.3 billion (around £1.02 billion) in 2021, but it was reported that they were looking to sell last year as part of ongoing layoffs, closures and divestments.

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Balatro Removed From European Nintendo eShops Due To Ratings Switch

“We are especially disappointed in the actions of the ratings board”.

LocalThunk’s excellent roguelike deckbuilder Balatro has been removed from various Switch eShops “without any advance warning” following an apparent age rating change from 3+ to 18+ by European ratings board PEGI.

Publisher Playstack issued a statement via Twitter saying the publisher is “especially disappointed in the actions of the ratings board” following post-appeal assurances in October 2023 that the game did not contain gambling themes after they had presumably been flagged in the certification process.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Xbox Insider Release Notes – Beta (2403.240228-2000)

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Beta 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!

Xbox Insider Release Notes

System Update Details

  • OS Version: XB_FLT_2403ZN25398.3843.240228-2000
  • Available: 2 p.m. PT – March 1, 2024
  • Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – March 2, 2024

Fixes Included

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:

Games

  • Fixed an issue where game saves could become inaccessible if the name was very long.

My Games & Apps

  • Fixed an unexpected delay that could occur when checking for recent updates for games and apps.

System

Known Issues

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

  • Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
    • Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
    • Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
      • Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.

Networking

  • We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
    • Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.

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.

What Happens to Your Feedback

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 – Beta (2403.240228-2000) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Starfield Patch Fixing Its Sabotage Quest, Which Many Players Couldn’t Finish Due to a Missing Journalist

Bethesda Game Studios has teased what players can expect in Starfield’s next update, with the upcoming patch emphasizing quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes.

In a thread on X/Twitter, Bethesda Game Studios made a thread highlighting some of the changes coming to Starfield. The update will be available on March 6 via the Steam Beta before a full release at a later date.

The most notable fix will address a bug in the “Sabotage” quest for the Ryujin Industries. The bug in question caused an NPC required to complete the quest to not spawn in the location. Bethesda previously tried to address this bug in update 1.8.86, released last November, but some quickly pointed out that the NPC failed to spawn after installing the patch.

Other patch highlights include:

  • Adding facial expressions in photo mode;
  • Improvements to the scanner that will allow you to use it to monitor the in-game world when harvesting resources; and
  • A quality-of-life improvement that makes missions active when you set course on an inactive mission.

The latest update comes over a week after the February patch was released, where it introduced a number of changes to Bethesda’s sci-fi action RPG, most notably AMD’s FSR 3 and Intel’s XeSS supersampling tech support.

The support for Starfield is part of Bethesda’s plan to have “a steady stream of updates about every six weeks” to address various issues in Starfield. Bethesda previously teased additional fixes and improvements, including adding city maps and “new ways” of traversing.

In our review of Starfield, which we awarded a 7 out of 10, we said: “Starfield has a lot of forces working against it, but eventually, the allure of its expansive roleplaying quests and respectable combat make its gravitational pull difficult to resist.”

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Sewer levels have always been the worst, but Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster’s one is an all-time stinker

I come to you with an important question today, readers. Has there ever been an actually good sewer level in a video game before? I propose to you that there has not. Sewer levels are the worst. They have always been the worst, and will always be the worst. There is no redeeming feature that can make sewer levels good, fun or enjoyable, and I come to you today saying they must stop. No more sewer levels, developers. Please. I beg you. Especially you, Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster. You’re the chief offender in this whole mess, and both my nostrils and my sanity simply cannot take it anymore.

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The Best PS5 SSD Deal of 2024: This 2TB SSD with Heatsink Is Only $90

SSD prices are trending upwards for 2024, which makes this deal even more amazing. Right now Amazon (or more specifically, Amazon Japan) is offering this Verbatim 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 solid state drive (SSD) for only $90.20. It also comes pre-installed with aslim PS5-compatible heatsink. Note that the product title specifically mentions a 2 year limited warranty. However since this item is shipped overseas, there is no guarantee on that. You do, however, have a guaranteed 30-day return policy from Amazon. Frankly, I think it’s still worth it given the low price point and the fact that it has pretty solid reviews, especially when used as a PS5 SSD. All of the other recommended PS5 SSDs cost $50 or more.

Verbatim 2TB SSD (PS5-Compatible) with Heatsink $90.20

The Verbatim Vi7000 meets all the requirements for your PS5 SSD upgrade. It supports transfer speeds of up to 7,400MB/s read and 6,500MB/s write which is well above the 5,500MB/s minimum threshold. It also includes a robust looking aluminum heatsink that fits right into the slim PS5 drive bay.

The PS5 is an outstanding gaming console, but the 1TB SSD is a real bottleneck. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, for example, can exceed 200GB alone. NBA 2K23 weighs in at 150GB and even older games like God of War: Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West require 90GB of space. Future games like Grand Theft Auto VI will undoubtedly demand even more space.

Looking for another brand? Check out all of the best PS5 SSD deals today.

Soulslikers are going to love Ori studio’s new ARPG No Rest For The Wicked

When Ori And The Blind Forest developers Moon Studios announced that their next game would be a top-down, online action RPG, my initial reaction was, ‘Heck yes, sign me the hell up for this Souls-y, Diablo-y hack and slash.’ Having now played the opening 90 minutes of the game ahead of tonight’s Wicked Inside showcase, that initial excitement has settled into more of a ‘Hoo boy, this thing is hard as nails. Folks who like Elden Ring and Dark Souls are going to go absolutely bananas for it.’ It’s definitely verging on the edge of being just a teensy bit too punishing for my personal taste, but even though my arse got thoroughly whomped time and time again during this initial prologue section, there’s still something about No Rest For The Wicked that’s left me quietly captivated.

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Xbox and Women in Games International Partner to Elevate Main Character Energy for Women in Gaming

Summary

  • Explore games featuring powerful women on Xbox Game Pass  
  • Katy Jo Wright, Xbox Senior Director, discusses the many ways women show up in the video game industry
  • Artist Amika Cooper celebrates women as main characters through redesigned Xbox logo  

To celebrate women’s contributions to gaming, we’re focusing on the main character energy that women bring every single day to the Gaming industry. Whether it be the women who develop games, test games, or market games, we’re bringing our all to the franchises that you all know and love to play. As the Senior Director of Gaming for Everyone & Sustainability at Xbox, I’ve worked with the entire Gaming organization to ensure we’re approaching decisions with an inclusion mindset, because, as our Gaming for Everyone Core Principle states: “When we don’t intentionally include, we unintentionally exclude.” You can see the results of this across all of Xbox, and this is how we deliver on our mission to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet.

An approach I take in life is, “Live your life by design – not by default.” From a gaming perspective, we apply this with an “inclusion by design” framework to ensure women feel truly represented and experience a deep sense of belonging, across all aspects of gaming. Whether it’s about intentional, thoughtful character design where women see themselves as the main character, how people play either on console, PC, or handheld–the experiences for women gamers vary just as dramatically as any other community.  

What excites me the most is seeing more women actively participating in gaming, either as a developer or a fan–or both! While we recognize International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, the work to ensure women feel represented, seen, and belong on Xbox happens every single day. It’s a journey and we’re always learning how to get better, but we’re committed and in it for the long haul. I believe that willingness to commit to every step in the journey, and get stronger with each step is main character energy.

Join me in celebrating women who have inspired you in the gaming industry by posting on LinkedIn and nominating an #XboxMainCharacter. It could be a woman who developed a game you love, a content creator whose channel you love, or simply someone who helped you feel a sense of belonging and invited you to play! We stand on the shoulders of those who have done this work before us—the many amazing people who included us–and it is our legacy to continue supporting and making gaming approachable and inclusive for the women behind us. Join Xbox in our celebration by reading about the exciting activations taking place throughout the year below:

Give

Xbox and Women in Games International Partner to Connect Women in the Industry

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Xbox is proud to announce an ongoing partnership with Women in Games International (WIGI), a nonprofit organization with a mission to cultivate resources to advance economic equality and diversity in the global games industry.

WIGI was founded in 2005 and has been working to highlight, celebrate and connect women, femme-identifying, and nonbinary professionals in the games industry. Through their programs, newsletters, panels, workshops, and networking events, WIGI works to normalize diversity in the games industry by increasing representation and paving the way for the next generation of games industry professionals.

Xbox shares WIGI’s vision of a more inclusive and diverse games industry, where everyone can play, create, and enjoy games. Xbox is committed to finding more ways to elevate women in gaming and support their growth and development. As part of our partnership, Xbox and WIGI will collaborate on initiatives connecting WIGI’s audience with the talent and resources that Xbox is able to share. We’ll share more details on Xbox’s partnership with Women in Games International at a later date.

Together, WIGI and Xbox are working to uplift more of the main character energy happening among women in the games industry.

You can learn more about WIGI and their work at their website: https://www.getwigi.com/. You can also follow them on Twitter: @getwigi and Facebook: Women in Games International.

Gaming and Impact with Rewards 

Microsoft Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting women with Xbox. The organizations below will be featured on console throughout March: 

  • Women in Games International – Women in Games International works to cultivate resources such as advanced knowledge sharing, access to technology, and actionable mentorship programs to normalize diversity in the games industry through increased representation. (US only)
  • National Center for Transgender Equality – NCTE advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice. (US Only)

Xbox gamers can earn Rewards points in various ways, such as playing games and completing Game Pass Quests, and purchasing games and other eligible items at the Microsoft Store (exclusions apply). Earn points and redeem them for real rewards. Start earning today and donate through Xbox. 

Play

Explore Games Featuring Powerful Women  

 A compilation image featuring the box art for featured Game Pass games overlaying the stylized Xbox logo in recognition of Women's History Month featuring a pastel Xbox sphere in an abstract background. 

Powerful can mean many things, from being able to take on a horde of enemies to being able to practice empathy for others. During March and beyond, you can play a variety of game collections featuring powerful women as protagonists and games created by women. ​ 

Check out the Store’s community games collection, available on the Microsoft Stores on Xbox and Windows. This collection exists year-round as part of our ongoing work to create more inclusive gaming ecosystems and elevate content that resonates with communities. For Xbox Game Pass members, explore what is available in the Xbox Game Pass community collection on Xbox and the PC Game Pass community collection on Windows.​ 

Examples of powerful games to play include these awesome titles and more: ​ 

  • Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud, and Rated M) – Play as Senua, a Celtic warrior who bravely travels to the depths of Norse hell on a quest to save the soul of her dead lover. You must overcome physical challenges and those presented by Senua’s mind.​ 
  • Celeste (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) – Follow the story of Madeline, a trans woman navigating the physical and emotional obstacles on her self-discovery quest to the top of Celeste Mountain. Written, designed, and directed by Maddy Thorson. ​ 
  • Rise of the Tomb Raider (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud, and Rated M) – Join one of the most classic video game heroines, Lara Croft, on her first tomb raiding expedition in a reimagined cinematic universe. Conquer a wild world of landscapes and configure Lara’s gear to suit your play style in this survival action adventure.​ 
  • Ravenlok (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) – Created by Vanessa Chia, escape into a fairytale adventure inspired by her nostalgia of growing up Malaysia. Fulfill your destiny as the young girl, Ravenlok, on a whimsical journey to defeat the Caterpillar queen. ​ 
  • Bluey (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) – Fun for the whole family, experience the joy and wonder of Bluey’s world in this interactive adventure game based on the iconic children’s TV series about two sisters. Play with friends and family in story mode and in free play, create your own scenes, collect items for your sticker book, and uncover hidden references in every location.  

New Forza Horizon 5 Vinyl Decal for Women’s History Month 

This year's Women's History Month-themed Xbox art, designed by Amika Cooper, shown as a decal in Forza Horizon 5

 This year’s Women’s History Month-themed Xbox art, designed by Amika Cooper, is now in Forza Horizon 5 as a vinyl: an in-game decal that you can use to customize any car. Show off this unique design on your car using #ForzaWHM on social media for a chance to be featured! 

Discover

Artist Amika Cooper Reimagines the Xbox Logo in Celebration of Women who Bring Main Character Energy  

Artist Amika Cooper wearing a green sweater and jeans reclining in a chair at a desk.

 For Women’s History Month, Xbox commissioned artist Amika Cooper, also known as blackpowerbarbie, to redesign the Xbox logo in celebration of women gamers and the way they define who gamers are by embracing main character energy. Amika used that inspiration to create an image of the Xbox sphere at the center of a lair, representing a safe place in gaming created by and celebrating the creativity of women.  In her words, “The logo is presented as a gem because I think the energy women bring to gaming makes us ‘diamonds in the rough’. I wanted it to be vibrant, stimulating, and fun – a lot of my work is creating my own surreal and fantastic landscapes, so I wanted to impart that sense of whimsy here.” 

See more of Amika Cooper’s work on her website. 

Xbox Ambassadors Features New Quests for Women’s History Month 

White Xbox controller icon surrounded by white laurels over a blurred rainbow background​.

We believe that every woman deserves recognition as a main character. For this Women’s History Month, we’ve connected with women from the Xbox Ambassadors community to put a spotlight on their experience as a woman in gaming. Read along on the Xbox Ambassadors Community Blog.​ 

Taking our celebration to the next level, we’re featuring a series of Quests, all month long, for Xbox Ambassadors to complete and unlock rewards. The Women’s History Month Quests feature games made by women creators and/or feature women as the main character. Join the fun and become an Xbox Ambassador today!  

WHM Dynamic Background Available Now 

Amika Cooper’s Women’s History Month Xbox Sphere is available today as a dynamic background on console – follow these steps to apply it: 

  • Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide. 
  • Select Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Dynamic backgrounds. 

You can choose between Games, Xbox, or Abstract dynamic backgrounds. Choose the background art that you want with the A button. 

It’s also available as an Xbox wallpaper to personalize your devices! 

The post Xbox and Women in Games International Partner to Elevate Main Character Energy for Women in Gaming appeared first on Xbox Wire.

No Rest for the Wicked: Revealing new details on combat, crafting, town-building

You wake up as the survivor of a shipwreck, with nothing more than the ragged clothes on your back to your name. A short trek away lies the dying captain of the vessel, who mentions the place he was trying to reach– a place called Sacrament. And so, your long and difficult journey begins.

No Rest for the Wicked is the newest game from Moon Studios, creator of the Ori series. First announced at last year’s Game Awards, this PS5-bound action RPG is as visually luscious as their previous work but wrapped in a darker, mature narrative. We sat down with the team for an early preview of the game to discover more about its central gameplay mechanics and world design.


No Rest for the Wicked: Revealing new details on combat, crafting, town-building

In the harsh world of No Rest, suffering comes on two fronts: political maneuvering by well-connected royals and religious figures in the wake of the King’s death, and a horrific curse called the pestilence that transforms the humans it claims into unholy abominations. As all this happens, the populace is turning to more desperate and illicit means of survival.

A world of great beauty and unspeakable suffering

Moon Studios is well known for its ability to create compelling worlds and stories, and No Rest for the Wicked explores new territory for the developer. “After having made both Ori games, our next goal was to create our own huge fantasy universe,” says Thomas Mahler. “With Ori, we always relied on using allegory. We told stories that touched people, but we used fantasy creatures that, in essence, had to deal with very human problems. This time, we wanted to actually use humans and craft a Shakespearian tale with very strong human themes like family, trust, betrayal, comradery, and so on.”

To that end, No Rest offers up a very different feel from that of Ori’s warm, inviting natural environments: dilapidated, crumbling fortresses, barren, scarred landscapes, and vicious-looking foes — human and non-human alike — populate the tumultuous land of Isola Sacra. With each sword-slash, you see blood and viscera, illuminating the brutal, painful reality of life here. 

Yet among it all is a strange and compelling beauty, captured in the gorgeous stylized visuals Moon Studios specializes in, the studio seemingly not missing a step with the switch from 2D to 3D: every frame looks like a painting come to life.

“We’re just very much set in not being yet another studio that tries to go for a photorealistic style,” Mahler continues. “We think paintings age less quickly than trying to pursue photorealism. When I see a Caravaggio painting, I’m still amazed by what he was able to accomplish just using oils 500 years ago.”

Humble beginnings

Starting up the game, you have next to nothing on your person. That changes quickly as you discover a worn one-handed sword and some discarded tools, likely the scraps the nearby bandits didn’t bother looting from their victims. Taking up the blade and using some found materials to cook up a basic stew, you prepare to fight through the area under the bandits’ control to try and reach Sacrament.

There are many ways to engage foes–barging in head-first, or trying to get the jump on them with a sneaky ambush–but once you engage them, you’ll need to fight smartly, as your stamina meter makes sure your every move counts. A careless sword swipe, a bad dodge, a failed parry, or a broken guard can quickly get extremely painful. If you’re in a pinch, a well-placed Rune attack might help you turn the tables, but at the cost of focus.

Fortunately, you have a variety of gear on your side–which you’ll either find, buy, or craft– and a stat-building system that lets you invest points where you choose on level up. Unlike many action RPGs, which have you pick a class very early and restrict your gear based on that choice, you grow into a class in No Rest for the Wicked more organically. 

“We just wanted to give players an extremely diverse set of gear they can find to fulfill all their fantasies of the characters they’d like to play within an RPG,” notes Mahler. “We start the player out with pretty simple movesets, but as they progress further and further, they’ll be able to advance those movesets, and combine various combos, special attacks, and spells together. As for leveling and stat-building, in general, our methodology was that we wanted things to be as active as possible. We believe that players want all progress to be felt instead of just seeing some numbers go up that might not immediately affect your playstyle.”

Shaping your adventure

The overhead view of the action helps the environments in No Rest for the Wicked feel epic and atmospheric while also giving you subtle hints about out-of-the-way paths or hidden nooks and crannies. Background objects may be more destructible than first assumed, often yielding some precious loot as a reward for our experimentation. Pushing against odd-looking walls and bits of geometry that seemed a bit off may reveal passages filled with valuable treasures–and sometimes also their guardians.

Besides combat gear, there are plenty of other items to be acquired–bits of food for cooking, wood and ore for crafting, and assorted other sundries. With tools like an axe or pickaxe, we can chop down trees and harvest ore–though you’ll want to make sure the area is clear from hazards first. Otherwise, a flaming projectile to the face might interrupt your gathering session.

The harvesting and crafting elements become more and more pronounced as the game progresses, and eventually, you can choose to engage in the reconstruction of Sacrament. “We have so many different mechanics all mashed into this one game, which we then had to all make work together, “explains Mahler. “The idea is simple: We create certain needs for players and then we provide a lot of tools on how to fulfill those needs. For example, if players choose to farm and engage in housing, crafting, etc., they’ll then be able to take the outcome of those interactions back into the battle.”

“The ultimate goal here is once again to fulfill that RPG fantasy and ultimately craft a game that is not just about slaying enemies. We want you to have a diverse set of things you can do at all times. Tired of being in combat? Well, go and get some resources instead. Or go and help rebuild Sacrament. Or engage in housing and build yourself a dream home that constantly produces resources for you. Or go fishing. There should be no end of ‘Or’s’ in this game.”

The first few steps on a long road

The demo ended with a boss battle against the pestilence-infected Warrick, who has been warped and transformed beyond recognition. It’s not an easy struggle, but learning the parry cues makes the fight more manageable, turning the corrupted creature into a sitting duck for a precious few seconds. So ends the beginning of what’s likely to be a very, very long journey.

Thomas Mahler hopes players will enjoy the game his team has spent many moons crafting. “During development, we looked at what current ARPGs offer players. Our goal was to take all the aspects from all these games we love, mix that together, and create a new recipe that ultimately becomes the game we always wanted to play!”