As we rampage on through to the end of the year, I think we’re all mentally preparing ourselves for any cathartic release and time off that we’re due. Do you have your gaming plans already lined up? Or are you waiting to see what ends up in your stockings?
There’s also a feeling that games companies are looking to get bad news and bad decisions out of the way as well. E3 is dead, there’s more layoffs and studio shutdowns, and games being cancelled. Not the nicest time of year to be doing this, so there’s a fair few company execs who probably deserve nothing more than a lump of coal for Christmas…
In the News This Week
- E3 is officially dead – ESA confirms the trade show is no more
- Free Radical Design has been shut down – 3D Realms and Slipgate Industries also affected
- The Last of Us Online has been cancelled
- Tekken 8 demo hits PS5 this week, Xbox & PC next week
- CA make pledges on Total War’s future, issue Total War: Pharaoh partial refunds and lower price
- The original the Crew is going offline in March 2024
- Spider-Man 2 New Game Plus update delayed to early 2024
Games in Review & Featured Articles
We’ve still got a good few reviews to to polish off before the end of the year.
- My Time at Sandrock – PS5, XSX|S, XBO, NSW, PC – 8/10
- Trinity Fusion – PS5, XSX|S, PS4, XBO, PC – 8/10
- Undying – PC – 7/10
- Cookie Cutter – PS5, XSX|S, PC – 5/10
There was also a review of a nifty set of VR-focussed earbuds:
- Final VR2000 – 3.5mm – 9/10
For the rest of the features, we were looking ahead to 2024. Coming out in January, for example, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown looks to be a grand metroidvania take on the classic adventure series. Here’s a video of Gamoc’s preview:
Dom, meanwhile, embraced his inner settler with Pioneers of Pagonia, which is now in Early Access, and Reuben got started on the case files of Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy.
Rounding out the week, What We Played, featured more Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Blood West and Monster Hunter Now.
Trailer Park
Shadow Gambit modding tool released in final farewell by Mimimi Games
Outcast: A New Beginning Collector’s Edition revealed
SaGA Emerald Beyond! launches April 25th
Your Achievements
Let’s see what you’ve been playing.
- Andreww played The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories, which is leaving PS Plus in January. It is “surprisingly good”, so maybe worth checking out?
And that’s a wrap for this week. Have a good weekend, play some fun games, and we’ll catch you all soon!
