In recent news from Ubisoft, what seems to confirm the worst fears of Assassin's Creed aficionados has come to light. The Assassin's Creed Infinity platform promises to become the "main hub" for future releases such as Assassin's Creed Red, Assassin's Creed Hexe, and Assassin's Creed Invictus. However, behind this innovation lies something more than a mere novelty. This marks a shift from rich, complete narratives to an endless abyss of service games focused not on storyline and atmosphere but on monetization through seasonal passes and DLC.
According to information published by Insider Gaming, Ubisoft plans to use Infinity as a platform for selling daily and weekly cosmetic items via a system called "The Exchange." The "Synchronization" system will offer players mini-battle passes, underscoring a departure from deep narrative engagement to superficial content consumption.
Such changes are causing justified discontent among fans. Assassin's Creed has always been valued for its historical accuracy, captivating plots, and attention to detail. The move towards a "games as a service" model threatens to transform unique historical epics into mundane and monotonous content, where the main goal is not to tell a story but to continuously extract money from players.
These alterations provoke legitimate dissatisfaction among enthusiasts. Assassin's Creed was always appreciated for its historical authenticity, gripping narratives, and meticulous attention to details. Transitioning to a "games-as-a-service" model heralds the transformation of unique historical sagas into repetitive, mundane content, where the primary aim isn't storytelling but rather to incessantly milk consumers.
The plans to expand the universe through service games might lead to the devaluation of the main games of the series, turning them into nothing more than gateways for an endless stream of paid content. Such a strategy not only erodes the trust and respect of fans but also undermines the very essence of Assassin's Creed as a series dedicated to exploring and immersing in various epochs and cultures.
Ubisoft seems to forget that the success and popularity of Assassin's Creed were not built on endless microtransactions but on rich and engaging stories that transported players to different worlds and times. The pursuit of increased profits at the expense of quality and uniqueness of the product is a troubling signal for the entire industry.
The player base of Baldur's Gate 3 has expanded to over 10 million, as confirmed by Michael Daus, head of Larian Studios' publishing department. This remarkable growth from ~2 million to over 10 million players occurred in a short span, prompting the developers to prioritize updates and bug fixes.
Due to the massive influx of feedback from players, the Larian Studios team has focused on creating patches and hotfixes, temporarily delaying the implementation of official mod support. This decision led to compatibility issues with some existing mods, causing dissatisfaction within the community.
Michael Daus has called for calm and support from the community, emphasizing that threats and toxic messages can only harm the development process. He assures that Larian Studios is working for the benefit of the entire community and plans to start introducing official modding tools in the coming months, in collaboration with leading modders.
Baldur's Gate 3, which sold ~2.5 million copies while in early access on Steam, continues to attract gamers worldwide. Details on when exactly the game reached the 10 million player milestone remain unspecified.
Capcom continues to immerse players in the world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 by releasing new videos showcasing the game’s character classes. This time, the spotlight is on the Sorcerer and Warrior, adding to the previously showcased Mage, Fighter, Thief, and Archer classes.
The Sorcerer in the game wields a large staff and specializes in magical attacks. This class requires time to cast spells, demanding players to choose the right moment and location for combat to fully leverage their magical abilities.
Conversely, the Warrior class offers a different gameplay style, focusing on melee combat and the use of two-handed weapons like large swords and hammers. Warriors are known for their robust physique and ability to deliver powerful blows after charging up, making them one of the most formidable classes in terms of attack strength.
Capcom has announced that several classes will be available in Dragon’s Dogma 2. Previously, IGN released an 18-minute gameplay video showcasing some of these classes. The game's release date is scheduled for March 22, 2024, and it will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms. Russian subtitles are also expected to be prepared for the game.
TinyBuild Games, in collaboration with DogHowl Games, has announced the upcoming early access release of Level Zero: Extraction on Steam by the end of this year. This new take on the asymmetrical multiplayer genre pits players against alien monsters in intense battles of wits and stealth.
The game offers a unique confrontation: four players as scientists attempt to repair the energy systems of a research center, while two others, controlling aliens, aim to thwart their efforts. Scientists must coordinate their actions and utilize various light sources to fend off the dark forces, as light is the primary weakness of the aliens.
On the flip side, the aliens are equipped with sharp claws, blinding saliva, can set up living mines, and disarm their victims. However, their power diminishes under bright light, adding a layer of strategic planning to the game.
Additionally, a closed beta testing phase is scheduled from March 15 to 18, allowing players to familiarize themselves with the mechanics and features of the game ahead of its official release. Level Zero: Extraction offers players not just combat, but a deep tactical layer where every action can influence the outcome of the encounter.
Fun Dog Studios, a new gaming studio formed by industry veterans known for their work on The Witcher 3, DOOM Eternal, and Horizon: Zero Dawn, has unveiled their debut project — a tactical survival horror game, The Forever Winter. Described as an experimental venture, the game is poised to potentially initiate a "new renaissance in game development."
The cinematic trailer reveals an dystopian world where humanity struggles to survive amidst an eternal war between super-powered machines and biomechanical minions. Set against a backdrop of environmental collapse triggered by decades of industrial violence, players are thrust into a battle for survival, scavenging resources from the remnants of battlefields.
The Forever Winter promises an unpredictable gameplay experience with its dynamic encounter system, where enemies possess their own objectives and strategies, moving in cohesive units and reacting intelligently to players' actions. Players will need to rely on stealth, strategy, and weaponry to navigate the threats in this bleak world.
While a release date has yet to be announced, the game is already available for pre-order on Steam. The Forever Winter is set to be a significant addition to the survival horror genre, offering new challenges and a deep, dark narrative to players.
Microsoft has announced the release of Age of Mythology: Retold for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One slated for 2024, expanding the legendary strategy series. The game, introduced by Art Director Melinda Rose, promises to bring classic myths back to life in this new edition with enhanced graphics and extended features.
The new trailer immerses viewers in an augmented reality world, showcasing key units from the game such as Medusa, Pegasus, and Cerberus. While full gameplay has not been shown, snippets from the developers' office provide a glimpse into the production process.
First announced in October 2022 as part of the 25th anniversary of the Age of Empires franchise, the Retold version will serve as an expanded remaster of the original Age of Mythology, similar to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. Pre-orders are now available on Steam and Microsoft Store, where screenshots of the upcoming project can also be found.
Microsoft has confirmed that the Game Pass subscriber count remains steady at 34 million, despite ambitions to become the "Netflix for games." Analyst Michael Pachter from Wedbush Securities suggested in the latest episode of Pachter Factor that Microsoft could boost cloud gaming engagement by providing Game Pass subscribers with a dongle and controller, although cloud gaming's growth remains modest.
The inclusion of Activision Blizzard games into the subscription, starting with Diablo IV on March 28, is expected to increase the number of active subscribers. However, the goal of reaching 250 million seems far-fetched at the moment. Pachter points out that Microsoft's strategy is not aimed at winning the "console wars" but rather at offering games to 3 billion people worldwide, not just the 300 million console owners.
He notes that Microsoft’s strategy is focused on expanding the gaming business through the Game Pass subscription rather than selling consoles. According to Pachter, Microsoft could have dominated the current console generation by lowering Xbox prices and offering attractive Game Pass subscription deals. However, their goal is to reach 250 million subscribers, not tied to console ownership.
Pachter also predicts that the cost of Game Pass will decrease in the future, allowing more users to play for less. He believes Microsoft will win in the long term by offering content such as Hellblade 2, The Outer Worlds 2, Elder Scrolls 6, and the Call of Duty catalog within the Game Pass subscription.
While some players may see this as Microsoft losing the 'console wars' compared to Sony, Pachter argues that Microsoft is significantly ahead in profitability by focusing on subscriptions and cloud technologies rather than hardware sales.
Warner Bros. Discovery has officially acknowledged that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, released after many years of development and delays, did not meet the company's expectations. CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels remarked during the company's latest earnings call that the game, one of their key video game releases in 2024, underperformed since its launch earlier in the quarter.
The year-on-year comparison is unfavorable for the company, especially following last year's success with Hogwarts Legacy, the #1 title of the year, not based on the live service model unlike the heavily GaaS-focused Suicide Squad. This outcome might prompt Warner Bros. Discovery to rethink their strategy towards pushing the live service model.
Critics and players have pointed out issues with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, noting its repetitive mission design, lack of meaningful live service elements, and an unenjoyable storyline. Despite the polished visuals, smooth traversal, combat, and witty dialogues, the overall gameplay experience has been described as tedious. The game's failure to deliver an engaging encounter with the Justice League, as promised in its title, has been particularly criticized.
Subscribers of Xbox Game Pass for consoles were unexpectedly treated to the full version of Dead Island 2, in contrast to PC gamers, for whom the game remains unavailable in both Xbox Game Pass Core and PC Game Pass. The addition came as a surprise, as neither Microsoft nor Deep Silver made prior announcements regarding the inclusion of the Techland zombie shooter in the Game Pass lineup for the second half of February.
The absence of an official announcement was noted until the game appeared in the catalog for console users, which was later confirmed by the official Twitter account of the Dead Island series. This confirmation clarified that the game's addition to Xbox Game Pass was intentional, not an error.
Meanwhile, subscribers of the enhanced PS Plus version were granted access only to a trial version of Dead Island 2, unlike Xbox Game Pass users who can enjoy the full game version.
The disparity in game availability across platforms and subscription types has sparked discussions among gamers, particularly highlighting the lack of access for PC users through Xbox Game Pass.
At the recent Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, Aspyr and Lucasfilm Games announced the upcoming release of the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection. The collection, which updates the iconic shooters Star Wars: Battlefront from 2004 and Star Wars: Battlefront II from 2005, will be available on modern platforms including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.
Priced at $35, the collection is set to launch on March 14 and will offer players the original single-player campaigns, bonus maps, and characters. Features such as local multiplayer matches, online multiplayer for up to 64 players, two-player split screen, an expanded Hero Assault mode on all terrestrial maps, as well as crossplay support and achievements, are all designed to provide a comprehensive Star Wars experience.
This initiative to bring classic titles to current platforms allows new generations of gamers to experience the iconic Star Wars battles while retaining the spirit of the original games.
