Lucas Pope is a notable game developer known for creating "Papers, Please" and "The Return of the Obra Dinn." He has since worked on smaller projects, including Mars After Midnight, but has not released anything on Steam recently. During a podcast, Pope expressed concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on game development, particularly regarding idea theft and the potential for his work to be copied or imitated. He feels uneasy discussing ongoing projects due to these risks and reflects on the pressure of following up his previous successes. Despite these worries, Pope's reputation allows him to avoid some challenges faced by less-known developers, and his next project is expected to generate significant interest.
The OpenGoal team has released a beta version of its native PC port for Jak 3, making all three games in the Jak & Daxter series "feature complete and fully completable" on PC platforms. Players can access the games on Windows, Linux, or Mac by following instructions on the OpenGoal website, provided they have a copy of the original games. The ports offer enhanced accuracy and various quality of life improvements. Jak 3's release was announced via a YouTube trailer on April 1st and has been confirmed as genuine. Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is not yet in beta, while Jak II and Jak 3 have minor audio and graphical issues being addressed. The team is not currently considering porting PSP games but may explore the possibility of decompiling Jak X: Combat Racing, which uses the GOAL programming language. Further details are available on the OpenGoal website.
The OpenGOAL team has released a complete PC port of Jak 3, requiring users to have a legally-obtained copy of the game. This port offers an enhanced gaming experience with fewer bugs, less resource consumption, and extensive configuration options, including modding possibilities like ultrawide support. Jak 2 was completed on OpenGOAL in 2023. Users can create an OpenGOAL-compatible disk image from their PS2 copy of Jak 2 using utilities like MPF or ImgBurn. OpenGOAL's website provides an installer and instructions for setup, including for Steam Deck users.
The latest update for Peak, called the "Play It Your Way Update," introduces customizable settings that allow players to disable weather elements like snowstorms and high winds. Players can toggle dangers such as fall damage, spiders, and hunger on and off. There is also an option to remove specific items, like the blowgun, from the game. Additionally, popular mods have expanded the player limit from four to twenty, enabling new gameplay modes, including a zombies mode and a competitive free-for-all mode. The game's pricing remains appealing, described as a bargain by co-creator Nick Kaman.
Zana Zamora, a U.S. trucker, turned a traffic jam into a gaming opportunity by using a high-end gaming rig while stuck due to an accident. Zamora played Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC) instead of a truck simulator, showcasing their gaming setup, which includes:
- Pedals: SIMMSON
- Wheelbase: Simagic Alpha Evo Pro
- Wheel: Conspit GT300
- Flight Stick: Moza AB9/MH16
- Throttle: Winwing Orion 2
- Button Box: PXN
- Monitor: Mounted on an adjustable arm
- Additional Features: Bass shakers integrated into the seat
The setup is powered by a Core i9-14900 processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU.
Fans are encouraged to subscribe to the official INDYCAR YouTube channel for updates on the 2026 racing season, which includes a diverse lineup of races at various venues. The schedule features:
- March 29: Barber Motorsports Park
- April 19: Streets of Long Beach, California
- May 9: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course
- May 27: The 110th Indianapolis 500
- May 31: Streets of Detroit, Michigan
- June 7: World Wide Technology Raceway
- June 21: Road America
- July 5: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
- July 19: Nashville Superspeedway
- August 9: Portland International Raceway
- August 16: Streets of Markham, Ontario, Canada
- August 23: Streets of Washington, D.C.
- August 29: Milwaukee Mile Race 1
- August 30: Milwaukee Mile Race 2
- September 6: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Every race will be broadcast live on FOX, the exclusive U.S. television home for INDYCAR. The Official INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA is available for real-time updates. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES features notable drivers such as Alex Palou, Will Power, Scott Dixon, and Josef Newgarden.
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Over 1,000 employees were laid off at Epic Games, with many affected coming from Psyonix, the studio behind Rocket League, which was acquired by Epic in 2019. An Epic Games spokesperson stated that Rocket League remains a priority for the company, and the Psyonix team is still focused on developing the game. Rocket League recently achieved a milestone of 40,000 concurrent players in 2023. Psyonix has been actively providing seasonal content and bug fixes for Rocket League, with a recent update released on March 23, the day before the layoffs were announced. Psyonix has also contributed to other projects, including the Rocket Racing minigame in Fortnite and the mobile game Rocket League Sideswipe, launched in 2021. The studio has a long history of collaboration with Epic, dating back to the early 2000s. The future direction of the Psyonix team regarding Rocket League or Fortnite development remains uncertain.
Chet Faliszek, a former Valve writer, expressed concerns about the recent layoffs at Epic Games, where over 1,000 employees lost their jobs. He questioned the motivation for employees to remain dedicated to their work after such significant layoffs and highlighted the closure of projects like Fortnite Rocket Racing and Ballistic. Faliszek contrasted his experience at Valve, where he felt a sense of ownership and pride, with the current situation at Epic, suggesting that the lack of agency could lead to a diminished work ethic. He warned that the layoffs could negatively impact the gaming industry's culture, resulting in a loss of passion and care among employees. Faliszek criticized Epic's strategic decisions and emphasized the importance of recognizing and rewarding employees' hard work. Epic Games did not provide specific feedback on his comments but referred to a recent post addressing the layoffs. The atmosphere at Epic is tense, with concerns about the future of Fortnite amid the workforce reductions.
