A game analyst predicts that the high-end console market may not support both PlayStation and Xbox, suggesting a possible exit for Xbox. However, the relevance of console exclusives is diminishing as PlayStation expands to platforms like Steam, and Valve allows manufacturers to create consoles based on its operating system. Xbox is likely to increase its device variety, with Microsoft appointing Roanne Sones to lead its hardware ecosystem. Under her leadership, Xbox is expanding beyond traditional consoles, showcasing devices like the ASUS ROG Ally handheld gaming PC and mobile controllers. The upcoming CES 2025 will feature discussions on enhancing Windows for gaming handhelds. Both Xbox and PlayStation rely on x86 AMD architecture, and the industry is exploring monetization strategies amid rising costs and stagnant user growth. Microsoft aims to align Xbox more closely with Windows for easier game deployment and potential integration of third-party stores. There is speculation about eliminating the paywall for premium multiplayer gaming in the next generation. Successful execution of this vision is uncertain, as Microsoft must navigate regional marketing and distribution complexities while ensuring a smooth gaming experience and backward compatibility.
Polish game developer Dark Passenger has secured funding for its inaugural project, a third-person multiplayer stealth action game set in feudal Japan. The investment was led by The Games Fund, with participation from Blite Fund. CEO Jakub Ben highlighted the transformative impact of this funding on team expansion and project development. Ilia Eremeev, co-founder of The Games Fund, noted a market gap for bold gaming experiences and praised the quality of Dark Passenger's early work.
FromSoftware has announced Elden Ring: Nightreign, a multiplayer spin-off of their RPG Elden Ring, during The Game Awards. The game features gameplay mechanics similar to free-to-play live service titles, including a battle royale-style circle and unique hero characters. However, it is not a live service game; it is a co-op roguelike that follows a traditional purchase model. Director Junya Ishizaki stated that the game is designed to be a complete package at launch, with everything unlockable and contained within the purchase, contrasting with the trend of ongoing content updates and monetization in modern games.
Afrah's artwork, Where Do The Ants Go?, features a cuboid exterior inspired by Minecraft's voxel graphics and adapts its appearance based on the exhibition location. In Dhaka, India, it showcased a deep red surface made from local clay, while in Germany, architecture students contributed a sleek grey render. The project emphasizes collaboration and community engagement, inviting visitors to interact with a simulation of an ant colony that blends digital technology with elements of multiplayer gaming and the natural environment. Afrah is also influenced by the BuildTheEarth project, which aims to create a 1:1 replica of every building in Minecraft, reflecting a human desire to escape and recreate the world.
YouTube has introduced a new multiplayer mode for the games Ludo Club and Magic Tiles 3, allowing players to interact with friends and other users while playing. This feature is part of YouTube's efforts to make gaming on the platform more interactive and engaging.
In multiplayer gaming, players often feel isolated when their interests don't align with others. Nostalgic memories include playing the card game War and Running Bases, while peers preferred basketball or football. A fondness for Half-Life 2: Deathmatch is highlighted, where players enjoyed using the gravity gun to throw objects at friends, creating humorous moments. The gravity gun allowed players to manipulate the environment, offering a strategic advantage by using physics props instead of traditional weapons. This unconventional strategy transformed gameplay, enabling players to use everyday items as effective weapons. Challenges included the risk of being attacked unexpectedly and the potential for humorous mistakes. Despite fluctuating player interest, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch remains available for those wanting to revisit its chaotic gameplay, especially with the 20th anniversary approaching.
In 2020, multiplayer games experienced a surge in cheating during COVID-19 lockdowns, with titles like Call of Duty: Warzone, PUBG, and Destiny 2 struggling against aimbots and wallhacks. Riot Games launched Valorant with its anti-cheat system, Vanguard, which has effectively deterred cheat developers. Vanguard employs a kernel-level driver that detects unauthorized access attempts and has led to a decrease in traditional software cheats, although some cheaters have shifted to hardware solutions like direct memory access (DMA) techniques. Vanguard has also been successful in detecting and blocking suspicious hardware-level DMA attempts. Currently, triggerbots account for about 80 percent of cheats in Valorant. Vanguard was introduced to League of Legends, resulting in over 175,000 account bans. A study from the University of Birmingham indicated that Valorant has the top anti-cheat system, while other games like Call of Duty: Warzone continue to struggle. Riot is exploring collaborations with Microsoft to enhance security and may adjust Vanguard's activation based on Windows 11 features. There are no plans for Linux support due to risks of kernel manipulation. The potential rise of AI-powered cheats presents a new challenge, as AI could replicate human gameplay, complicating anti-cheat efforts.
Microsoft has implemented a thorough scan of hardware and installed software for potential incompatibilities before initiating Windows updates, pausing the process if any issues are detected. The rollout of the Windows 11 24H2 update has seen an increase in upgrade blocks, affecting certain Asus laptops, integrated webcams, and fingerprint sensors. Specific incompatibilities include Gameloft’s Asphalt 8: Airborne, the Safe Exam Browser, Easy Anti-Cheat, various wallpaper customization tools, and Intel Smart Sound Technology, which requires a driver update. Microsoft is working to address these issues to minimize user intervention.
