Ubisoft has changed the birthdate of the new operator Rauora in Rainbow Six Siege from March 15 to May 11 due to backlash from players. The original date coincided with the Christchurch mosque shootings, a tragic event that resulted in 51 deaths and is now recognized as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. Rauora, whose real name is Hāpai Iwini, is from Christchurch and has a background in military service, rugby, and firefighting. The New Zealand Herald reported on the community's concerns about the character's association with this sensitive historical event. Ubisoft acknowledged the oversight and stated that the new birthdate would be updated on the game's website and in an upcoming game update.
Elden Ring Nightreign will be released on May 30, 2025, for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. A network test for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S users will take place from February 14 to February 17, 2025, in three-hour sessions. PC gamers can pre-order the standard edition on Steam for £30.79. Console players have various editions and bonuses available, including a gift card at Best Buy. The game features a new Nightfarer system with preset heroes instead of custom character creation. It will include iconic bosses from previous FromSoftware titles, such as Dark Souls’ Centipede Demon and the Nameless King.
The Steam Deck OLED is an upgraded version of the original Steam Deck, featuring a superior OLED screen with enhanced brightness and quality, despite a resolution of 720p. It supports a wide range of Steam Deck Verified games, providing a seamless gaming experience with minimal restrictions, although some modern titles may experience slight performance issues. The device allows for gaming in various settings, making it convenient for users to access a vast library of PC games. The hardware includes robust analog sticks and an improved cooling system that operates quietly during intense gaming sessions. However, battery life can be limited, especially with demanding games, offering only a couple of hours of playtime, which is less than competitors like the Nintendo Switch OLED. Recharging is facilitated by a USB-C port, allowing for the use of portable power banks.
FromSoftware's new title, Elden Ring: Nightreign, is set to be announced at The Game Awards and follows the success of Elden Ring, which sold over 25 million copies. The game resembles a modded version of its predecessor, acknowledging the modding community. Director Junya Ishizaki states that Nightreign aims to provide a complete gaming experience at launch without adopting a live service model, allowing players to unlock everything without ongoing content updates.
Nightreign will not include player-versus-player elements, focusing instead on cooperative gameplay. Players will engage in runs that yield relics to enhance attributes, and the game introduces preset "heroes" with unique abilities, replacing character creation. Each character has two unique skills that influence gameplay, and the game features mechanics reminiscent of roguelikes and hero shooters.
The map is designed as a dynamic dungeon with procedural elements, allowing players to select bosses and strategize. However, concerns exist regarding the map's longevity and potential repetitive traversal. Ishizaki suggests that large-scale environmental changes and meta progression could enhance the game's depth, while the current build may feel underdeveloped in some areas.
Caves of Qud is a science-fantasy RPG developed by Freehold Games and published by Kitfox Games, priced at £25. The game features a top-down, turn-based format with text and simple graphics, making it accessible on lower-end systems. Players can customize their characters from various archetypes, including humans and mutants, and can tailor gameplay through save points and combat frequency adjustments. The world map remains consistent, but local areas are randomized, incorporating the history of past rulers. The main storyline can be completed in about 15 hours, while mastering the game may take hundreds of hours. The setting is inspired by high-concept science-fantasy aesthetics and includes remnants of an advanced civilization. Players encounter various creatures and challenges, with a narrative enriched by quirky characters and imaginative prose. Character customization is extensive, allowing players to embody different types, and the game features random generation for unique experiences. The interface is modern, though newcomers may face a steep learning curve, and modding capabilities enhance personalization and expansion.
The Monster Hunter franchise focuses on exhilarating hunts against formidable creatures, with a straightforward narrative that often takes a backseat. The upcoming PC launch in February has raised performance concerns, but a recent preview on PlayStation 5 showed significant improvements in gameplay smoothness and framerate. Game director Yuya Tokuda confirmed that PC players can expect similar enhancements. The demo allowed exploration of character creation, quests, and refined combat mechanics, including enhanced mobility for heavier weapons and a new Focus Mode for targeting monster wounds. Changes to armor skills now allow for weapon-based offensive skills, promoting flexibility in mid-hunt weapon swapping. The game also emphasizes storytelling, featuring a fully voiced player character and rich NPC interactions, with a compelling storyline involving a boy named Nata who questions the role of hunters in unfamiliar ecologies.
YouTuber SlimX has released a 25-minute video detailing the behind-the-scenes mechanics of Baldur's Gate 3's first act. Key points include Larian Studios' solutions like a designated area for essential NPCs and a "magical teleporting death journal" to guide players to Act 2. The game features a unified NPC data system, ensuring player choices, such as selling items, carry over throughout the game. The video also reveals hidden elements like the "realm of naked men," character creation backgrounds, and cut NPCs, including a Tiefling scam artist named Nerela. Additionally, it discusses a field of portrait backgrounds in a void, which are used for character icons, and notes minor bugs related to these portraits. SlimX hints at creating more content for future acts of the game.
Throne and Liberty is a free-to-play MMORPG developed by NCSoft and published by Amazon Games, available on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game features impressive graphics that stand out on higher settings, providing a vibrant and immersive fantasy world. The character creator offers extensive customization options, including preset faces and hairstyles, although the current lack of equipment variety in endgame content may limit character curation. The game's narrative follows a conventional "chosen one" arc with an underdeveloped storyline and lacks memorable characters. Throne and Liberty may appeal to players seeking a grind-heavy, guild-based PvP experience, but those looking for richer storytelling might consider alternatives. Amazon Games has a troubled history in game publishing, with previous titles like New World and Lost Ark experiencing varying levels of success. Throne and Liberty launched on October 1, 2024, achieving a peak of over 333,000 players. The game has modest hardware requirements, running on lower settings with an Intel Core i5-7700 and Nvidia GeForce GTX960, while optimal performance is suggested with an Intel Core i5-11600K and Nvidia GeForce GTX1660. Console players require only 40GB of available storage.
Patch 7 for Baldur’s Gate 3 has been released on consoles, featuring dynamic splitscreen gameplay, new endings for evil-aligned characters, and the introduction of Larian's official mod manager for customization. Console players will initially have access to a curated selection of 69 mods, while PC users have nearly 10,000 mods available on NexusMods. Recommended mods include ImprovedUI, Better Inventory UI, Weightless Gold, UnlockLevelCurve, and Adjustable Party Limit. Cosmetic mods highlighted include FaerunColors, All Camp Clothes and Dyes, Leicarna’s Piercings, Kay’s Hair Extensions, Faces of Faerun, and Custom Dice. New content mods include the Kuo-Toa Playable Race and the Mystic Class, along with the humorous Underwear of Rituals mod. Patch 7 is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
