The original Nintendo Entertainment System version of Castlevania will be available for free for a limited time on the App Store and Google Play to celebrate the series' 40th anniversary.
Konami is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Castlevania franchise by offering a free port of the original NES game on iOS and Android until October 24.
Ubisoft is offering Ghost Recon Future Soldier for free on PC from August 6 to August 13 as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon series. Players can add the game to their Ubisoft Connect library by logging in and navigating to the 'Free games' tab to find the giveaway banner. After clicking the banner, they can select 'Get it now' to add the game to their account for download and play.
Ubisoft is offering the PC version of Ghost Recon: Future Soldier for free through the Ubisoft Connect store until August 13, as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Ghost Recon series. Additionally, there is a series-wide sale with discounts of up to 95% on previous Ghost Recon titles, including Ghost Recon Wildlands and Ghost Recon Breakpoint, which are available for free play from today until August 10. Chris Watters, Ubisoft's senior editorial communications manager, emphasized the significance of these offers. Ghost Recon: Future Soldier was originally released in May 2012 and received a Metacritic score of 79.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has received two significant updates in its second year of post-release support. The Confrontation Update introduces a new enemy, the Sorcerer, and adds two new PvP arenas: Sanctum and Facility. It also includes weekly PvP rewards for players. Additionally, Steam Workshop support has been implemented, allowing for user-generated content, including the Astartes Overhaul mod, which rebalances gameplay and adds new classes and weapons. Saber Interactive plans to support the game for at least another year, with a roadmap for future content expected to be revealed during the second anniversary celebration.
PC Gamer is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Duke Nukem 3D and the 15th anniversary of Duke Nukem Forever with a special issue featuring exclusive interviews with key developers and never-before-seen development images. The issue also highlights the influence of Duke Nukem 3D and other "boomer shooters" on the FPS genre, showcasing the finest retro-style FPS games. Additionally, it includes a preview of the free-to-play MMO Soulframe from Digital Extremes and hands-on impressions of upcoming titles like 1666: Amsterdam and Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. The magazine reviews various games, including Gothic Remake and Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II. Digital editions are available in PDF and EPUB format through Pocketmags.
Alienware has launched its flagship gaming monitor, the AW3926QW, featuring a 39-inch OLED display with a 5K resolution of 5,120 x 2,160 and a refresh rate of 165Hz, which can reach 330Hz in reduced-resolution mode. It incorporates RGB-stripe OLED technology for improved image quality and has a 1,500R curve for better viewing angles. The monitor includes a KVM switch for device connectivity. Alienware has not disclosed a specific price, but it is expected to be around ,500. Additionally, Alienware introduced the AW3426DW, a 34-inch OLED monitor with a refresh rate of 280Hz and peak brightness of 1,300 nits, along with the AW3426DWM and AW3226DWM, both 240Hz LCD monitors. The AW3426DWM is a 34-inch ultrawide display with a resolution of 3,440 x 1,440, while the AW3226DWM is a 1440p model, priced at 9 and 9, respectively. All monitors are set to be available this summer.
Overwatch is celebrating its tenth anniversary, but the event has received mixed reactions from players. While the game had a revival earlier in the year with new heroes and updates, the anniversary offerings are seen as modest, featuring basic character skins and limited loot boxes. Game Director Aaron Keller acknowledged the community's disappointment and expressed a desire for the year to feel like a celebration. Plans for a season-long event in Season 3 include more rewards and expanded earnable content. In response to feedback, Blizzard will increase rewards for the anniversary event, doubling community loot boxes in week two and tripling them in week three. The number of games required to earn all 15 anniversary loot boxes has been reduced to 60, with wins counting as double. Players will receive a special ten-year anniversary loot box in week three containing four guaranteed legendary skins, raising the total to ten. However, the absence of mythic skins and the lack of access to older cosmetics have disappointed many long-time players. Keller indicated that rewards could extend beyond loot boxes, and he appreciates the community's engagement over the past decade.
Google is introducing a new feature called Pronunciation Practice in its Translate app, allowing users to write phrases and receive guidance on correct pronunciation. The app uses AI technology to analyze speech and identify errors. Google Translate has 1 billion users and translates approximately 1 trillion words each month. The Pronunciation Practice feature aims to enhance user confidence in speaking new languages and aligns the app with language-learning platforms like Duolingo. Last holiday season, Google Translate received three major updates focusing on slang and local expressions to provide more authentic translations.
Publisher Netmarble, in collaboration with developer Netmarble Monster, has released TOMAK: Save the Earth Regeneration, a remastered edition of the original visual novel TOMAK: Save the Earth, to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The game is available for PC users through the Epic Games Store and can be claimed for free until April 16; after that, it will be priced at .99. It supports multiple languages, including English, Japanese, and Korean. The storyline involves Evian, the Goddess of Love, who, after losing her body, exists as a head in a flowerpot and requires nurturing over three years to regain her form and save humanity. The game features high-detail illustrations, a lyrical soundtrack, life-sim mechanics, and choices that significantly impact the narrative outcome.