Well…. it’s been quite the tumultuous week in the real world, but gaming has provided a pleasant escape. Oh sure, it hasn’t all been super rosy in the games industry at large, but there’s plenty excitement after a couple of great new game announcements and updates on some of the biggest games coming to Xbox (and PS5) later this year.
In the News This Week
Microsoft led the way this week with their Xbox Developer Direct stream:
- Doom: The Dark Ages release date confirmed for May
- Ninja Gaiden 4 has been revealed! Coming to Xbox Series X|S, PS5 & PC in Fall 2025
- Ninja Gaiden 2 Black shadow launched for consoles, PC and Game Pass
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sets forth in April
- South of Midnight weaves toward an April release date
- EA cuts financial forecasts as EA Sports FC 25 & Dragon Age: The Veilguard underperform
- Celeste developer Extremely OK Games cancels Earthblade
- Insomniac founder Ted Price announces his retirement after 30 years
- Unknown 9 Awakening deemed a failure, franchise plans cancelled
- Endless Legend 2 shakes up the 4X genre with world-changing tides
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves open beta taking place in February
Games in Review & Featured Articles
We had a good batch of reviews in this week, and a rare 10/10 appeared!
- Heroes of Hammerwatch 2 – PC – 10/10
- Synduality: Echo of Ada – PS5, XSX|S, PC – 9/10
- IDUN – Frontline Survival – PC – 8/10
- Dead of Darkness – PC – 8/10
- Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero – PS5, PS4, NSW, PC – 8/10
- Freedom Wars Remastered – PS5, PS4, NSW, PC – 6/10
- Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles – PS5, XSX|S, PS4, XBO, NSW, PC – 5/10
Away from the reviews, I got to go hands on with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, soaking in the new way that the world has been constructed, the shinobi and samurai playstyles, and just what it’s like be back in an Assassin’s Creed game. See it in action here:
Ade checked out Stories from Sol: The Gun Dog, a game he thinks is going to be worth settling in for, while Dom marvelled at how far mobile gaming has come with Game of Thrones Kingsroad, and saw the promise of the initially flawed release of Hyper Light Breaker.
Rounding out the week, What We Played featured Hyper Light Breaker, Heroes of Hammerwatch 2 and Orcs Must Die: Deathtrap!
Trailer Park
Doom: The Dark Ages promises more classic ground action
Over the Hill is a cosy off-roader from the makers of Art of Rally
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 is coming out in May
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s roadmap includes updates and future expansions
Your Achievements
That’s the round up for this week. Hope you have a great weekend ahead!