Microsoft is delivering a second remake of Halo: Combat Evolved using Unreal Engine 5, which offers stunning visuals but poses challenges for players with older or lower-end hardware. The game performs well on high-end systems, such as an RTX 3090 running smoothly at 60 fps in 4K with the High preset. However, it lacks flexibility for performance adjustments, making it more efficient to use higher presets rather than fine-tuning settings. Key settings include:
- Effects Quality: Keep high unless performance issues arise.
- Geometric Quality: Maintain high until VRAM limitations are a concern.
- Global Illumination Quality: Can be kept high without significant performance impact.
- Lighting Quality: Adjust for substantial performance gains if frame rates dip below 60 fps.
- Texture Quality: Adjust based on available VRAM.
- Reflections: Dial down to medium or low to enhance frame rates.
- Atmospheric Quality: Based on personal preference.
- Post-Processing Quality: Can be adjusted down with minimal performance impact.
- Screen Shake: Toggle based on personal preference.
- Motion Blur: Consider turning off due to intensity.
- Upscaling Technique: Choose based on GPU brand.
- Async Compute: Keep off unless using a high-end graphics card and CPU.
- Low Latency Mode: Select based on GPU for optimal responsiveness.
- Frame Generation: Can enhance frame rates but may introduce latency.
The Humble Twin Sails Interactive Bundle offers a collection of 27 games and downloadable content (DLC) valued at for just , available until August 12. Each purchase provides Steam keys for easy access to the games. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Fox G1 Research Foundation.
The retail simulator genre on Steam has gained significant popularity since late 2024, with 14 new titles launched last week. "Mall Together" attracted over 1,000 concurrent players and is notable for allowing players to construct entire shopping malls. PlayWay, a major publisher, released two of last week's titles and has launched four games since July 20, with 474 products listed on Steam. Critics have labeled some titles as shovelware, but PlayWay has also produced successful games like "House Flipper 2." Smaller studios are contributing to the genre, indicating demand for well-crafted retail sims. The top sellers on Steam from July 14-21 included "Counter-Strike 2," "Palworld," and "Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced." "The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu," released on July 15, received nearly 1,500 "mostly positive" reviews.
The villain's monologue is a common trope in video games, often replaced by musical performances from antagonists in some titles.
In Middle-earth: Shadow of War, The Singer is an orc who sings operatic verses about battles, enhancing the experience.
In Hades 2, Scylla's performances are humorously interrupted by a witch, contrasting her siren songs with Melinoe's indifference.
The Joker in the Arkham series incorporates musical interludes, including a haunting rendition of "Only You" during the credits of Arkham City.
In Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Teh Earworm is a creature that plays catchy tunes, leaving players with memorable melodies.
GLaDOS's song "Still Alive" from Portal has become a cultural touchstone, reflecting her personality and enhancing her character's narrative.
Total Distortion features guitar warriors, where failure results in a memorable game-over song, integrating music into gameplay.
Conroy Bumpus in Sam & Max: Hit the Road offers a satirical country song, critiquing the big-game hunter archetype.
In Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell, Satan sings with Broadway flair, adding humor and depth to his character.
Ursula in Kingdom Hearts 2 showcases her villainy through song, providing comedic relief with her playful references.
I.M. Meen opens with a song that sets the tone for a game blending education and entertainment.
In Cuphead, King Dice performs a jazzy number in "Die House," enhancing the stakes and his flamboyant personality.
Jeff Gattis, general manager of Amazon Gaming, hinted at the future of the 007 franchise, suggesting that sequels might be developed by MGM and potentially by Amazon Game Studios. He clarified that no decisions have been made regarding the publisher or developer for the next Bond sequel and acknowledged the success of IO Interactive's current game, indicating that it would be prudent for IO Interactive to continue as the developer. Gattis mentioned that while anything is possible regarding Amazon acquiring IO Interactive, there are currently no discussions about that.
The Fanatics Fest convention at the Javitz Center in Manhattan featured the public debut of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. A new map called Kill Block was introduced, which consists of three modules that rotate every two rounds in Gunfight mode, creating an evolving gameplay experience. The game includes a new ballistics model that enhances realism but does not drastically change gameplay mechanics. The Gunny system simplifies weapon customization by automatically assembling guns based on available attachments. Modern Warfare 4 retains core elements familiar to the series while emphasizing grounded combat, allowing players to maintain aim down sights while mantling. Overall, the game aims to reaffirm Infinity Ward's status in the Call of Duty franchise.
The "2K Megahits 2026 Bundle" from Humble includes 15 Steam games for a limited time, featuring popular titles from the 2010s such as BioShock Infinite, Risk of Rain 2, Borderlands 3, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The bundle is available until August 7th and is experiencing high demand, leading to a depletion of keys for certain games. Notable games include Risk of Rain 2, which offers engaging roguelike gameplay, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown, a well-regarded turn-based strategy game. The bundle also features three Borderlands titles: Borderlands 3 Special Edition, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, and Tales from the Borderlands. Other included games are BioShock Infinite, Duke Nukem 3D, Bulletstorm, and Hidden and Dangerous. A portion of the proceeds will support Covenant House, assisting young individuals facing homelessness, and buyers can customize their donation allocation during checkout. The full list of games in the bundle includes:
- Risk of Rain 2
- Borderlands 3 Standard Edition
- Mafia II: Definitive Edition
- BioShock Infinite
- Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
- The Quarry
- Tribes of Midgard Deluxe Edition
- Homeworld Remastered Collection
- Tales from the Borderlands
- Bulletstorm Full Clip Edition
- Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour
- Hidden and Dangerous Bundle
- The Darkness II
- X-COM: UFO Defense
- XCOM Enemy Unknown
Rehaunted is a first-person detective game where players assume the role of Connor Raines, investigating a mysterious house filled with misleading clues. Players will use tools like UV lights, cameras, and a magnifying glass to uncover evidence such as blood traces and hidden recordings. The game features real-time communication with another detective via radio and includes an evidence board for organizing clues. Rehaunted is currently in development for PC, and its first trailer has been released, generating interest in its psychological narrative and gameplay. Players can add it to their wishlist on Steam for updates.
The Epic Games Store is offering two free titles for the week: Echo Generation: Midnight Edition and Luto, available until July 23. Echo Generation is a turn-based adventure set in the 1990s, featuring a group of young adventurers exploring mysteries in their hometown, enhanced with quality-of-life upgrades in its Midnight Edition. Luto is a first-person psychological horror game that focuses on atmospheric storytelling and environmental puzzles, exploring themes like anxiety and grief. Once claimed, these titles will remain in the user's Epic Games library permanently. After this promotion, the next free game will be Foretales.
