Digiphile is a new digital gaming platform founded by former Humble Bundle professionals, focusing on community engagement and innovative features. It allows users to contribute to monthly game bundles and includes a credit exchange system for trading games. The platform also incorporates a charitable aspect, offering exclusive physical items for donations. Digiphile's inaugural bundle, "The Return of the Immersive Sim," includes titles like System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster and proceeds will support the Arbor Day Foundation. The platform aims to provide competitive pricing and diverse offerings in the digital gaming market.
Travess Smalley, an assistant print media professor at the University of Rhode Island, discovered Minecraft over a decade ago and began exploring its creative potential. He has integrated his artistic expressions into the game, which has sold over 350 million copies globally. Smalley uses a "chance flower" program to generate unique art, similar to the procedurally generated worlds in Minecraft. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he developed work on a dedicated Minecraft server, creating a digital world that transforms the game into an expansive poem. His projects include "pixel rugs," generative digital artworks translated into hand-woven rugs, and "CRAWL," a video maze game featuring 512 distinct artworks. Smalley plans to release a book titled "Pixel Rugs" in January 2026 and encourages his students to use Minecraft as a medium for artistic expression.
Gamers often face the issue of purchasing the same game multiple times across different platforms like Steam, GOG, Epic, Ubisoft, and EA, especially with services like PC Game Pass offering a rotating selection of games. During the Steam Summer Sale from June 26 to July 10, many gamers bought discounted titles only to find they were already available on Game Pass. To address this, a browser extension called Is It On Game Pass was created by Reddit user Orion_DEIL. This extension works with Firefox, Chrome, and Edge, displaying indicators on Steam game listings to show if a game is available on Game Pass, upcoming, or leaving the service. It also highlights better pricing options at GG.deals. Users can customize the indicators and set their region for a personalized experience. Installation is straightforward, and while an alternative exists through the PC Game Pass curator page on Steam, the extension offers more convenience.
Two Point Studios released the first paid DLC for Two Point Museum, titled Fantasy Finds, which adds new artifacts. A new museum called Pointy Mountains is included in the free 4.0 update, unlocking at curator rank 7, and is the largest museum in the game. The narrative involves investigating the disappearance of a curator. The 4.0 update also offers a "taster" of the Fantasy Finds DLC, allowing players to access the first three points of interest and collect six fairytale exhibits, along with introducing new guest types and items. The full DLC will be available for purchase on July 17, while the 4.0 update and the taster are currently live.
A seven-year-old boy named Myles from Wymondham, Norfolk, won a poetry competition for children with his poem titled "A Friend Like Steve." He will perform it at the Latitude festival on July 24. The competition was organized in collaboration with the BBC and was open to children aged seven to eleven from Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire. Myles' poem was praised by judge Luke Wright for its subject matter related to Minecraft. Two runners-up, eleven-year-olds Zara and Eleanor, were also selected to read their works at the festival. The competition aimed to showcase the creativity of young people, with a focus on the theme of friendship. The Latitude Festival will take place from July 24 to 27, 2025, featuring headliners like Sting and Snow Patrol.
Hideo Kojima's latest project, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, is upcoming, while Konami will release a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, on August 28, 2025. The retail price will be .99, and it will be available on PC (via Steam), PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. A Deluxe Edition with additional content will cost .99. Minimum system requirements for PC include Windows 10 (64-bit), AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i5-8600 CPU, 16GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super GPU, and 100GB SSD storage. Recommended specs include Windows 11 (64-bit), AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i7-8700K CPU, 16GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce GTX 3080 GPU, and 100GB SSD storage. The game will support DualShock and Xbox controllers, and will include Steam features like achievements and cloud support. Compatibility with Steam Deck is uncertain.
Elden Ring Nightreign is set to launch on May 30, 2025, for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One, with a base price of .99 and a deluxe edition priced at .99. The game will introduce co-op multiplayer elements and emphasize multiplayer combat, where teams must defeat a boss within a limited timeframe. The minimum system requirements include Windows 10 (64-bit), AMD Ryzen 5 5500 or Intel Core i5-10600 CPU, 12GB RAM, AMD Radeon RX 580 (4GB) or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (3GB) GPU, and 30GB of available storage. The recommended specs are Windows 11 (64-bit), AMD Ryzen 5 5600 or Intel Core i5-11500 CPU, 16GB RAM, AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (8GB) or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB) GPU, and 30GB of available storage. The game will support various controllers and is expected to use third-party DRM through GuardIT, though Steam Deck compatibility is yet to be confirmed.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a French JRPG-style game featuring real-time combat mechanics similar to rhythm games. Players engage in exploration, which reveals lore, powerful items, optional bosses, and quests. The game includes a lumina mechanic that enhances combat effectiveness by activating additional pictos. Combat features an elemental weakness system, requiring players to adapt their strategies based on enemy vulnerabilities. Quicktime dodging, jumping, and parrying are essential skills, and Gustave's gun offers versatile combat options, including targeting weak points and dismantling enemy shields. Many exploration upgrades are optional and require engaging in side quests. Building relationships with expedition team members unlocks new abilities, and managing action points effectively is crucial for maximizing damage output. Each character has a unique playstyle, encouraging players to experiment with combinations for optimal effectiveness in battles.
Monster Hunter Wilds will be released on PC (Steam), PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on February 28, 2025, with a retail price of .99. The Deluxe Edition costs .99 and includes gestures and cosmetic armor, while the Premium Deluxe Edition is priced at .99 and offers additional cosmetic DLC. The minimum system requirements include Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11 (64-bit), AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i5-10400 CPU, 16GB RAM, AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 GPU, and 75GB of available storage on an SSD. The recommended system requirements are similar, with the GPU upgraded to AMD Radeon RX 6600 or Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super. Capcom will provide a benchmark tool for players to assess their gaming PCs and will host two open beta sessions on February 6-9 and February 13-16, 2025. The game supports both controller and keyboard/mouse configurations, and a broadband internet connection is recommended for online multiplayer. Cross-platform play will be available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S players.
