Community MetaSteam | June 2026 - Killer Gothic Horse: Fatekeeper of the Jungle

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  • Any and all credit for the concept of these threads goes to the amazing MRORANGE!
  • And a MASSIVE thank you to Mor who keeps these threads going! :blobhug:

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BrokenLore: FOLLOW

Enter the captivating universe of BrokenLore: FOLLOW, the prequel to UNFOLLOW, the saga that explores the dark side of social media.

FOLLOW is an intense psychological first-person horror experience about Anne, a young woman haunted by her painful past and the inner demons that relentlessly chase her.

Confront the challenges of self-acceptance, eating disorder, body dysmorphia and worthlessness. Explore the difficult relationship with a mother with an extravagant personality and relive the bullying endured from her peers.

Through a compelling narrative full of twists and turns, FOLLOW reveals the backstory of a complex universe, immersing players into the story and characters that shape Anne’s destiny and the world around her.

FOLLOW was developed in collaboration with psychologist Emanuela Papa, with the goal of accurately and sensitively representing the profound themes of this experience.​



Sister Ray

Sister Ray is an RPG-survival about the brutal daily life of Ray - an artist struggling with addiction, who takes care of her little sister. Look after your condition - no one should know about the addiction. Improve your drawing skills, sell your paintings, do everything to ease the ever-growing withdrawal. Survive and look for a way out.

Live each game day as you see fit. The only conditions are to survive and not get caught.

Explore the city streets and visit important locations - the school, bar, park, police station, etc.

Look for places to sketch or draw at home, raising your skill and opening new abilities. Maybe you’ll get to the exhibition after all?

Any action inevitably advances the time of day - plan ahead and do not miss important events.

The younger sister is the only person close to you. All your bad habits will become an example for her to follow. She shouldn't find out about the addiction.

Relationships with others are an extremely fragile thing. Try not to lose your friends.

Selling paintings, part-time work, speculation, pickpocketing - there are a great many ways to get some cash. But what will you spend it on?​



Fatekeeper

Venture into a handcrafted world where ruins whisper of past cataclysms. Master the art of sword and sorcery and forge your path with relics, spells and choices that shape who you become in this first-person RPG.

While Fatekeeper follows a focused narrative path, the world invites exploration. From ancient battlegrounds, vast underground caverns and serene forests to crumbling sanctuaries forgotten by time, each area rewards curiosity with hidden lore, forgotten relics, and unexpected encounters.

Battle a wide variety of foes, each with distinct patterns, strengths, and weaknesses. Success demands both skill and preparation. Engage in reactive melee combat, unleash spells with precision, and adapt your tactics on the fly. Your build matters—but so does how you wield it.

Fatekeeper offers rich progression mechanics that go far beyond surface-level stats. Build and refine your character with meaningful choices across combat styles, attributes, and spell schools. Whether you lean into raw strength, nimble precision, or devastating sorcery, the game supports a wide range of viable and unique builds.

Discover, loot, and master a wide variety of weapons, armor, and artifacts. Customize your loadout to suit your playstyle, and experiment with powerful combinations to overcome increasingly challenging enemies. Every item matters—and the right gear can be the difference between victory and ruin.​



Battleship Command

Take command of a 30,000-ton Scharnhorst-class battleship in this immersive World War II naval simulation. Explore the ship in first-person, walking its decks, bridges, and control rooms — all meticulously recreated from historical blueprints. Issue orders to your crew or take direct control of key stations, from gunnery and radar to navigation and damage control. Hunt down merchant convoys, disrupt Allied supply lines, and clash with enemy warships across the stormy Atlantic, icy Norwegian Sea, and sunlit Mediterranean. Dynamic weather, sudden fog, and a full day–night cycle can hide you from your enemies — or conceal them from you. Use authentic radar, rangefinders, and fire-control systems to track, target, and destroy your foes. Command an entire surface fleet of destroyers, cruisers, and battleships, coordinating maneuvers and tactics to outwit and overwhelm the enemy.​



Hobby Horse

It’s giving DIY. You don’t need fancy stables or a mighty steed. Your story starts in your room: here, you can create your hobby horse and plan all of your adventures together. Display the trophies you will win and become a star hobby horse rider from the comfort of your own four corners. Show them how you cook on the obstacle course. Grab your hobby horse and flex your skills on the many courses and routes available, from indoor gyms to wild forest terrains. The whole city is up for grabs - all you have to do is open up the map and select where you want to go! Run and jump over obstacles, level up your skills and take the W for you and your horse. Leap to new heights with your horse! Each obstacle course is scattered with various boosters that can give you an edge while riding. Get yeeted up into the air to jump over an impossibly tall hurdle or get a speed boost to zoom through the course. Select your horse according to your needs - whether you want to focus on speed or jump height, you can pick a hobby horse to carry you to the podium! Look snatched on your custom hobby horse! Your hobby horse will be with you through thick and thin - it deserves to glow up along with you! Give your hobby horse a personalized fit. Choose its color, shape and even accessories all to serve looks while you ride!​



OddFauna : Secret of the Terrabeast

Discover a colorful HAND-SCULPTED sandbox adventure where you grow your own world!

Befriend wild beasts, adventure across strange lands. Forage, craft, and build yourself a cozy shelter to stay safe from the elements, all on the back of a TerraBeast. Each character, item and plant in the game is hand-sculpted in clay!

You are an Astor, a tiny but mighty beast that grows a living world called a TerraBeast. You form a special bond, living on their back and nurturing them by collecting diverse flora and fauna to join you on this little living world.

The world is filled with OddFauna for you to meet. Give them their favorite treats to show you care. Earn their trust and you will receive items, recipes, or maybe even a new party member. Many have special skills to share once befriended. Some are easily found, while other rare types may take some serious exploring to discover.

This living world starts out quite small. By nurturing it and building a vibrant biome of flora and fauna on their back, they will grow bigger and bigger, being able to support more life and unlocking new abilities.

You and your TerraBeast home can migrate to different biomes, exploring mountains, forests, grasslands and archipelagos. Discover lots of new beasts and forgeables in each region. Beware the blighted regions, unless you are properly prepared!​



House Flipper Remastered Collection

RENOVATION NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD
House Flipper Remastered Collection is your upgraded ticket to the satisfying world of renovation chaos. Step into the boots of a one-person crew and transform those filthy, devastated properties into real gems. Now with better visuals, voice acting, and fresh content – it’s flipping, just way better.

Meet new faces, enjoy full voice acting, and follow a reimagined narrative that adds charm and character to every mission. Renovating has never felt so personal.

Get to know new stories, crafted specially for the new, fresh House Flipper. In this cozy chaos, be a witness to different types of love. Help newlyweds renovate their own place, or help someone express their love for coffee truly! Expect charming characters, emotional twists, and homes that come with a story… And maybe a spark or two.

New to flipping or returning for more? You’re in for a treat. House Flipper Remaster bundles all previous expansions in one ultimate edition, making it the most complete version of the game to date. Everything’s here – now it’s your turn to make it beautiful.​



Gothic 1 Remake

Return to the Valley of the Mines in this faithful remake of the genre-defining open world RPG. Explore a hand-crafted, organic open world that reacts dynamically to your actions. Whether you're a seasoned Gothic veteran or this is your first time being thrown into the colony, you're in for a true RPG experience with unrestricted exploration like no other.

The Kingdom of Myrtana has been invaded by a relentless horde of orcs. Desperate for powerful weapons to repel them, King Rhobar II orders the mining of vast quantities of magical ore, setting every available prisoner to work in the Khorinis mines. To ensure no one escapes, the King commands his most skilled mages to erect a magical barrier. But something goes terribly wrong, and the magic spirals out of control, trapping everyone inside. The prisoners rebel, transforming the mine into a lawless territory ruled by the Colony’s most brutal inmates.

Now, the King must negotiate with these new rulers, as tensions rise among the mine's factions. Amidst the chaos, the arrival of an unknown prisoner will change everything …​



Solarpunk

Solarpunk is a survival game in a technically advanced world of floating islands. Alone or together with your friends, you can construct buildings, grow food, craft gadgets and explore distant islands with your own airship.

Use sunlight, wind and water to create an energy system and automate your processes like gathering resources and watering your plants.​



Killer Bean

After being betrayed by the Shadow Agency and learning the truth about their evil ways, Killer Bean has made it his life goal to destroy them. Yet this is easier said than done, as Killer Bean will face armies of enemies, and mysterious Shadow Beans who are better trained and more powerful than him.​



Voidling Bound

Become a Space Wrangler and take direct control of creatures called "Voidlings" in this action-packed sci-fi 3rd person shooter. Shape them through branching evolution paths and upgrade their abilities to overcome bubonic swarms, pestilent bosses, and reclaim lush planets overrun by corruption.

Shoot, slash, slam, and blast your way through battles. Evade, block, or parry incoming attacks. Sprint, jump, and dash across diverse biomes and planets. Charge and unleash devastating ultimate abilities to defeat the most challenging foes.

Evolve across branching paths to customize your elemental alignment, appearance, playstyle, and abilities. Discover powerful mutated perks that change how each Voidling is played. Craft and pick the right Voidling for each challenge.

Level up your Voidlings and assign attribute points to customize their playstyle: strength, vitality, essence, recuperation, or agility—the choice is yours. Research deep and powerful ability upgrades to improve their capacities.

Cleanse vibrant handcrafted planets oozing with diverse enemies, each posing unique gameplay challenges. Complete missions and survive challenging arenas to find precious resources, research points, eggs and mutagens that are key in your fight against the parasite.

Discover new Voidlings by rescuing and hatching eggs from infested locations. Get lucky and hatch rare natures that empower your Voidlings. Breed to combine natures and attributes for even more power.

Acquire all Voidlings, collect body parts, colors, and eye genes to customize your specimens. Acquire game-changing ability genes and mutated perks to fill your collection.

Use your gene collection to craft unique Voidlings that combine the strength of all your discoveries. Unlock powerful synergies otherwise impossible to overcome ever-increasing Challenges!

Descend into the Abyss and face ever-increasing challenges. After each victory, dive deeper against greater threats for greater rewards, or retreat to safety. Equip Corrupted DNA Catalyzers to push your creatures’ statistics to new heights!​



NBA THE RUN

We’re taking it back to the streets. NBA THE RUN is a fast-paced, online 3v3 street basketball game, played above-the-rim and packed with posterizing moments, ankle-breaking tricks and a unique, signature style. Take your favorite NBA stars to iconic streetball courts around the world and stack wins, earn cred and become the GOAT of THE RUN.

Play Solos or Squads, the choice is yours. Face off against the best of the best in online multiplayer Knockout Tournaments spanning the globe on legendary streetball courts from Venice Beach, to The Tenement in the Philippines, and more. Lock in, win, advance, repeat.

Gameplay is fast, fluid and responsive. Powered by true rollback netcode, your moves on the sticks will sync instantaneously – cross up an aggressive defender, switch to a layup mid-dunk to avoid a block, or throw up a lob out of a spin move for a game winning alley-oop.

It’s not only about the high flying dunks, stepback logo 3s and ankle breakers – in NBA THE RUN, defense is just as fun, and powerful, as offense. Thunderous blocks, diving for loose balls, huge steals, and all-out physicality on D can lead to a W and will get you just as hyped.

Everything about NBA THE RUN is handcrafted and stylized to deliver a completely unique look and feel. Authentic to the sport of basketball and visually in a lane of its own - there isn’t another basketball game on the market that looks, feels or plays like NBA THE RUN.​



Crushed In Time

Panic at the development studio!

Just as the new Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson video game hit the market, one of its characters mysteriously went missing.

After their memorable appearance in the non-game There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension, our extravagant investigators are back in their own adventure. Armed with their iconic ineptitude, they must solve a mystery that transcends the space-time boundaries of their world… But they won’t succeed without your help!

Travel to the very heart of the game's creation and explore the various stages of its development to unravel the threads of this strange case.​



SpaceCraft

Be part of a galaxy that evolves through player actions. Mine, craft, trade resources and ship parts. Buy and sell blueprints, accept or offer services, missions and contracts. Participate and adapt to the economy of the Universe, as each marketplace transaction affects prices.

True power lies in teamwork. Create or join Corporations and collaborate on a larger scale. Develop interplanetary production and logistics by assigning roles, dividing tasks, and managing everything from small crews to vast commercial empires.

Freely explore an immense universe where the vastness of space stretches before you, full of untold possibilities. Pilot your spaceship and journey through systems brimming with planets, asteroid fields, abandoned space stations and derelict ships. Cover great distances in an instant with Faster-Than-Light technology, jumping between distant systems with ease.

Maneuver through space in real-time, seamlessly transitioning from the depths of space to the surface of planets. Whether you’re scanning planets for valuable resources or charting a course to forgotten worlds, the Universe is yours. You’re completely free to explore it.

Planets hold an abundance of natural resources ready to be uncovered and exploited. As you explore and scan new systems, equip yourself with a variety of tools to extract raw materials. Scan your environment and use your ship to mine, extract and gather resources. Craft these resources into valuable materials or ship parts, and trade or sell them.

Build your ships by assembling crafted parts. Whether you're building small, nimble vessels or heavy transport cruisers, each added component impacts their performance. Alternatively, buy blueprints from other players for ready-made designs that you can build instantly. Once you have perfected your ship, sell its blueprint allowing others to build and pilot your creation.

As you progress on your vast journey, maximize efficiency and expand the scale of your enterprise by automating your production. Build and expand your bases across the universe, transforming planetary outposts into fully automated resource hubs.

Establish production and delivery lines with drones and cargo ships to automate and improve mining, extraction and logistics operations. From housing and production to energy management and interplanetary logistics, optimize and automate every aspect of your bases.​



STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions

STARSEEKER is a new game set within the Astroneer universe with a focus on discovery, cooperative expeditions, and camaraderie. Exploring deep space on the ESS Starseeker, players will need to work together with the entire crew of the space station to complete planet-wide objectives across a multitude of star systems using cutting edge technology.

Players will have an advanced set of tools at their disposal to tackle expeditions while they face off with the unknown perils of space- - fascinating creatures, hazardous flora, and mysterious forces that await them.

The ESS Starseeker is the heart of the crew, an ever-evolving space station where players get together to plan expeditions, upgrade their capabilities, and even hang out with other players.​



Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader - The Infinite Museion

“The Infinite Museion” is the third story expansion for Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, drawing you into the iconic vault of Trazyn the Infinite. Pursue rare artefacts, enhance yourself with augmentations, and choose whether to serve the designs of one of the galaxy’s most infamous collectors or oppose him.

Follow a trail of hidden agendas and unsettling discoveries that gradually reveal a larger mystery spanning the Koronus Expanse. What at first seems like a series of isolated expeditions soon sheds new light on the past of the von Valancius dynasty. As you uncover the truth about your ancestors, your strange ally, and the artefacts you recover, you will be drawn into a fateful encounter with Trazyn the Infinite and forced to make a choice that could reshape your destiny.

A devout servant of the Omnissiah and Tech-Priest Manipulus with a shadowed past. A capable support specialist with unique buffs and technological abilities, he brings both battlefield utility and narrative tension to your retinue. The deeper you delve into his story, the more you must decide whether his loyalty can truly be trusted.

Unlock a new augmentation system, allowing you to replace your damaged flesh with bionics. Improve resilience, alter tactical options, and experiment with increasingly dangerous modifications. As the story progresses, even more esoteric bionics become available.

Trazyn the Infinite, the ancient Necron collector whose schemes span worlds, centuries, and civilisations, is no ordinary foe. With subtlety and cunning, he manipulates events from the shadows, treating people, battles, and entire histories as pieces in his collection. Whether you bargain with him, resist him, or attempt to outwit him, the encounter will leave its mark on you and your story.​



Teller's Duty

You’ve just started your first day as a bank teller at Kertasia Bank, thanks to a favor from your distant uncle, the branch manager. But this isn’t just a job, it’s your lifeline. With your mother’s medical bills piling up, every decision at the counter could shape your future in a country run by absurd rules and an even more absurd government.

But counting cash is the least of your worries.​



Denshattack!

Hop aboard your custom gravity-defying train and embark on a hectic quest to defeat the sinister Miraidō corporation, alongside a vibrant pack of outcasts.

Ollie, kickflip, and grind your way through Japan's biggest cities, as well as a world of meadows, volcanoes and oceans. Rack up points and chase that sweet high score as you flip, trick and stick the landing in your customisable ride.

Face off against a lineup of reimagined Japanese trains, gain the respect of an underground network of gangs and rebels, and turn rivals to allies as you master your skills. Journey from naive beginner to seasoned pro as you strive to race the fastest train in existence and become a legendary Denshattacker!

From mecha magical girls to moving castles, and mechanical worms to a Denshattacker army -- face a flurry of madcap bosses that get wilder and wilder the further you get. Use what you’ve learned to stop them in their tracks.

Travel from the countryside of Kyushu through the metropolises of Osaka, Tokyo and more, now sealed under domes by Miraidō. Venture across Japan to the snowfields of Hokkaido... and beyond! Each new region holds fresh challenges to beat and rules to break.​



The Last Salvage Squad

One day, a gargantuan alien spaceship invades and unleashes countless combat weapons upon Earth, demolishing human civilization in the blink of an eye. Although humans succeeded in developing special weapons that could deal an effective blow to the aliens, it was too late to revive their civilization. To this day, however, the Earth has yet to fall silent despite its abandoned cities, for swarm weapons known as "CogrinaUnits," 12-meter-tall autonomous humanoid units, collect and operate the limited number of special weapons that remain, and continue to fight against the aliens, all for the sake of accomplishing the mission humanity entrusted them with. Find out what comes of the battle against the overwhelming enemy forces. Light-hearted conversation scenes with fellow units during intermissions.​



Hell Let Loose: Vietnam

Enter the explosive conflict of the Vietnam War and fight your way through some of the fiercest clashes in modern history. Join the battle raging across an extreme landscape of vast mountain gorges and thick jungle, where the North Vietnamese Armies clash with the military strength of the US Armed Forces. Take the battle to the enemy across 6 large-scale maps that authentically recreate real world locations and dramatic terrain. Play as either the North Vietnamese Army or US Armed Forces and choose from one of 17 specialised roles within a 50-strong team made up of multiple squads. Join or lead infantry, recon, armour, mortar squads and helicopter units, using communication and teamwork with your fellow players to identify objectives and ruthlessly exploit your opponent’s weaknesses. Emergent gameplay features bring intensity and realism to the conflict, as players tackle each battle with authentic weapons, orders and tactics. Follow the chain of command and work together as a team to meet your objectives and achieve victory. In the heat and fury of the Vietnam War, the battle is more dynamic than ever. New US aerial units feature fully operational helicopters for fire support and supply drops. NVA forces can build extensive tunnel networks to gain the upper hand with surprise attacks. Both sides can hunt the enemy through Vietnam’s complex river network with heavily armed patrol boats built and launched to seek and destroy. Enhanced player movement, including swimming, climbing and fast crawling, and interactions such as dragging co-combatants away from active fire to give them a chance to heal and re-engage, all adds to the immersive battle experience.​



The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

The adventurer Elliot and his fairy sidekick Faie set off on a journey across four ages to fulfill a thousand-year mission. Enjoy intuitive and rewarding action-based battles with strategic support abilities from a fairy as you reveal this world’s mysterious history. To lift the curse on Princess Heuria of Huther, Elliot and Faie will cross through the Doorway of Time to visit different periods in history. Elliot’s home time, the Age of Safekeeping… The Age of Reconstruction, in which humans eke out a meager existence… Humanity’s height of prosperity in the Age of Magic… And the Age of Budding, the birth of human civilization. Across every age, a terrible threat looms over Elliot and Faie’s adventure.​



DAVE THE DIVER - In the Jungle Content Pack

Dave’s adventure continues, this time in the heart of the jungle. Leaving the Blue Hole behind, Dave and his crew travel to the jungle to investigate a mysterious phenomenon reported in the village of Utara. Beneath the jungle lake awaits a brand-new ecosystem to explore, along with new missions and discoveries. Featuring over 10 hours of new story and gameplay, DAVE THE DIVER - In the Jungle Content Pack introduces new systems, new locations, and thrilling new adventures beyond the ocean. Prepare to encounter unfamiliar creatures, discover new ingredients, and face the hidden dangers lurking deep within an ancient underwater civilization. Welcome to Bancho Grill, where bold jungle ingredients meet Bancho’s uncompromising culinary craft. Build relationships with the villagers and they might stop by as guests. See for yourself whether Bancho’s legendary cooking can win over the jungle too! Lend a hand to the villagers and build meaningful relationships. Some may be wary of outsiders at first… but a thoughtful gift or a great meal can go a long way! The jungle holds more than just villages and lakes. From mysterious ancient temples to eerie forests, Dave and his crew’s adventure continues deeper into the unknown!​



R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos

You must outsmart and outmaneuver the Bydo as they eliminate humanity, if the Space Corps has any hope of victory. That is, until you find yourself fighting alongside the very forces you were tasked with destroying... This two-game collection blasts its way onto PC, with R-Type Tactics II also making its debut in the West for the first time! Deploy your forces across multiple campaigns, playing as both the Space Corps and the Bydo. With hundreds of ships and levels to choose from between both games, along with branching missions and a brand-new post-game story, R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos is packed with out-of-this-world content! Multiple campaigns for each faction, as well as branching storylines in R-Type Tactics II, allow for a unique gameplay experience across both titles while fleshing out the world of R-Type and the origins of the sinister Bydo Empire. A brand-new set of missions following the end of Tactics II gives you even more content than ever before!​



DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round

DEAD OR ALIVE 6 is back with stylish moves, striking animations, and a cast of colorful characters to go head-to-head in the fighting game world's most extreme battles! Play with the classic DOA6 roster and 5 additional DLC characters from the original version, along with new costumes. Whether you’re a new player or a longtime veteran, DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round has the action you’re looking for.

Includes five additional characters released in the original version: Nyotengu, Phase 4, Momiji, Rachel, and Tamaki.

Choose your stage and characters, position them freely, change their poses and expressions, and create your own legendary moments in the brand-new Photo Mode.

DOA is THE definitive 3D fighting game! Use Holds at the perfect moment to cripple your opponent. Build your Break Gauge and unleash powerful special moves. Mash through a Fatal Rush for an easy yet highly satisfying combo. Toss your opponent into a Danger Zone to deal extra damage.​


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Hidden in Plain Sight

Hidden in Plain Sight is a set of local multiplayer (2-4 players) game modes that share a common theme: trying to accomplish goals without drawing attention to yourself. In each game mode, players control characters in a sea of identical NPCs. Players are given a task, but also the means to eliminate each other from the game. The goal is to blend in with the NPCs, accomplish the task at hand, and take out other players before they get you. One of the simplest game modes is called "Death Race." Players and NPCs are racing to be the first to cross a finish line. Each player has a gun with one bullet, and can eliminate one person from the race. Do you sprint ahead, calling attention to yourself but maximizing you chances of winning? Or do you hang back with the pack? Other game modes create similar tension by putting players in a conflicted position of wanting to accomplish a goal, but risking elimination by doing so. Rounds are quick and lively, and always end in laughter and friendly shouting. So grab your controllers and friends and give it a shot!​

List of people who have completed it (send me a PM if completed!):
  • NONE SO FAR


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Forza Horizon 6

Complete 'Historic Effort'
Earn a Series History Reward

List of people who have completed it (send me a PM or tag me if completed!):
  • NONE SO FAR


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I'm so happy Gothic is doing so well. My biggest fear was that it wouldn't find an audience and that would close the door for a potential Gothic 2 remake. Hopefully the publisher doesn't have ridiculous expectations (like wanting 7 million copies sold) and will greenlight the next game ASAP.

It's very sad that Piranha Bytes never lived to see this day. I hope former employees take solace in knowing that their legacy is secured and their game is reaching new players 20 years on.
 
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I'm honestly surprised Sony doesn't make some type of deal with MS. Especially with Phil gone.

A PS5 is far more appealing if it gets all these Xbox exclusives day one. They should just offer up Wolverine or some older PS games to Xbox in return for Gears and Clockwork.

It would be worth it and they know how valuable it is to have COD, Forza, Halo and future Bethesda titles on PS5/6 day one too.

Game dev takes so long these days and you have layoffs/closures everywhere. Gaming hardware costing an arm and a leg. Lots of dry periods for these big first party games too. There is no need to be doing this console exclusive shit again.
 
I'm honestly surprised Sony doesn't make some type of deal with MS. Especially with Phil gone.

A PS5 is far more appealing if it gets all these Xbox exclusives day one. They should just offer up Wolverine or some older PS games to Xbox in return for Gears and Clockwork.

It would be worth it and they know how valuable it is to have COD, Forza, Halo and future Bethesda titles on PS5/6 day one too.

Game dev takes so long these days and you have layoffs/closures everywhere. Gaming hardware costing an arm and a leg. Lots of dry periods for these big first party games too. There is no need to be doing this console exclusive shit again.

I wish we would see more of the first party publishers put their games everywhere. The recent pull back by Sony and Microsoft is unfortunate.

I do think we’ll see things change again in a few years. Games aren’t getting cheaper and I don’t see next gen hardware flying off store shelves along with the current gen stuff slowing down due to price increases, which will force them to re-examine how to make more money with these expensive games.
 
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I don’t see that big of a change with MS. Making two games exclusive, one of them quite tired, won’t change shit except limit their audience and sale potential.
You either go exclusive (but can they, with the regulators ?) or you don’t.
 
I don’t see that big of a change with MS. Making two games exclusive, one of them quite tired, won’t change shit except limit their audience and sale potential.
You either go exclusive (but can they, with the regulators ?) or you don’t.
Yeah, this just feels extremely pointless. I think there may be a delusion in the top brass at Xbox that they're going to revive their console business which, barring one generation, has never been successful enough. Either that or they've been told they have to.

I also think there's a degree of people above Asha Sharma knowing Xbox is "doomed" to third party publishing and putting a woman of colour in to take the blame when it goes wrong.
 
Yeah, this just feels extremely pointless. I think there may be a delusion in the top brass at Xbox that they're going to revive their console business which, barring one generation, has never been successful enough. Either that or they've been told they have to.

I also think there's a degree of people above Asha Sharma knowing Xbox is "doomed" to third party publishing and putting a woman of colour in to take the blame when it goes wrong.
I reckon they haven’t a clue what to do and overall the department’s management seems to be a right mess. It doesn’t seem like an enviable position for any of those involved.
 
Finished the three Dusk games in the Atelier series. Wrote up my thoughts on Shallie here. Overall, the Dusk games did feel like an improvement over the Arland games. The alchemy system feels more refined, and quite a bit more complex without ever becoming overwhelming. The biggest improvement is in the setting though, where the world buildling actually serves to highlight how alchemy has shaped the fate of humanity.

Looking forward to how Gust improved things with the Mysterious series, which was mostly PS4 exclusive (with the exception of Sophie, though its PS3 release was JP only).
 
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Persona 4 means a lot to me. I played it when it came out in Europe on my PS3 via backwards compatibility. I'd just finished Uni, and I was feeling a bit letdown. The world was facing a financial crisis and I was living in a shitty small town in the arse end of nowhere that also held the honour of being the suicide capital of the UK.

I had a lot of time, no job prospects, I had moved away from all my friends and this game basically saved me.

Watching the remake trailer stirred a lot of feelings in me. I'm glad it's happening. I'm not saying I'd have become a statistic if I hadn't played it, but this game really did change my life in a weird way.



It's pretty much perfect, and everything I'd hoped for out of a Persona 4 remake.

It was also the first Persona I played when it came to steam, so it will always be special to me. Granted I have only played 5 besides it but I think 4 has the best mystery, I love the whole midnight channel thing. I love how the remake looks but I still think P4 Golden has such a charm in its graphics!
 
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Nintendo Direct is scheduled for tomorrow (June 9th) at 7 AM PT
It's gonna be 50 minutes long followed by a 95 minutes treehouse live.

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On other news, according to Giant Bomb, a SEGA representative said that the gen AI used for Crazy Taxi was used for creating examples and the final art used in the game is manually created.
I don't like it, but, it's not as bad as it sounded yesterday when they vaguely said that it was used for background assets.

 
70% about why no Xbox exclusives on Playstation is actually about Steam.

And Steam users like me being like "the fuck you bring me into this?".

Steam is being caught into the console wars despite having nothing do with it.
 
70% about why no Xbox exclusives on Playstation is actually about Steam.

And Steam users like me being like "the fuck you bring me into this?".

Steam is being caught into the console wars despite having nothing do with it.
These people think releasing a PC version of a game is going to tank console sales, ignoring the completely different motivations for getting one over the other.

They have luncheon meat for brains.

I'd argue the vast majority of people who play games hate exclusives of all shapes and sizes. And a reduction in exclusives has tangibly benefitted the gaming space. People feeling like they can just play what they want where they want is absolutely beneficial to everyone at this point.

I don't for a second believe that exclusives persuade or dissuade someone from buying a console over a PC, just over which console they buy if that's their preferred flavour. And even that is somewhat spurious. People who like PlayStation/Xbox/Nintendo just get one and play whatever is available to them.

I'd argue Nintendo is evidence for this.

Wii U proves people don't buy a console for exclusives, because not even Nintendo thought Zelda BOTW would move the needle on that system (yet it is attributed to Switch's success). You can't consistently argue that exclusives sell Switch yet couldn't lift Wii U. So there must be something else driving it.

And the rampant levels of piracy shows people aren't prepared to pay to buy lots of hardware. They don't necessarily want shit for free (though many do), they just want to have access to the games.

Of course, none of these companies owe people games anymore than we owe them our custom, but I think if you engage your brain for half a second, all the arguments for exclusivity fall apart and it becomes obvious that if you argue for exclusivity you're a platform warrior. There's no other explanation.
 
These people think releasing a PC version of a game is going to tank console sales, ignoring the completely different motivations for getting one over the other.

They have luncheon meat for brains.

I'd argue the vast majority of people who play games hate exclusives of all shapes and sizes. And a reduction in exclusives has tangibly benefitted the gaming space. People feeling like they can just play what they want where they want is absolutely beneficial to everyone at this point.

I don't for a second believe that exclusives persuade or dissuade someone from buying a console over a PC, just over which console they buy if that's their preferred flavour. And even that is somewhat spurious. People who like PlayStation/Xbox/Nintendo just get one and play whatever is available to them.

I'd argue Nintendo is evidence for this.

Wii U proves people don't buy a console for exclusives, because not even Nintendo thought Zelda BOTW would move the needle on that system (yet it is attributed to Switch's success). You can't consistently argue that exclusives sell Switch yet couldn't lift Wii U. So there must be something else driving it.

And the rampant levels of piracy shows people aren't prepared to pay to buy lots of hardware. They don't necessarily want shit for free (though many do), they just want to have access to the games.

Of course, none of these companies owe people games anymore than we owe them our custom, but I think if you engage your brain for half a second, all the arguments for exclusivity fall apart and it becomes obvious that if you argue for exclusivity you're a platform warrior. There's no other explanation.

I wonder sometimes how much someone buying a console just because they want to play exclusives even benefits them too

I actually do buy Nintendo consoles for exclusives but how much money are they even making from me really? the consoles themselves aren't exactly high profit margin and i'd be buying the games I do buy from them elsewhere if I could anyways, I don't buy third party stuff from them since it isn't my preferred platform so they aren't exactly getting a cut there from me

they're avoiding paying a cut on the games of theirs I buy to another platform I guess, but I don't think it's crazy to think that maybe if I wasn't spending money buying consoles from them i'd use some of that money to buy a couple more of their games over that timeframe which would be enough to pretty much even things out there by itself

I guess the dream is someone buying a console for exclusives and then also making it their main platform for 3rd party stuff too but how many people even do that that wouldn't have bought the console otherwise?
 
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I wonder sometimes how much someone buying a console just because they want to play exclusives even benefits them too

I actually do buy Nintendo consoles for exclusives but how much money are they even making from me really? the consoles themselves aren't exactly high profit margin and i'd be buying the games I do buy from them elsewhere if I could anyways, I don't buy third party stuff from them since it isn't my preferred platform so they aren't exactly getting a cut there from me

they're avoiding paying a cut on the games of theirs I buy to another platform I guess, but I don't think it's crazy to think that maybe if I wasn't spending money buying consoles from them i'd use some of that money to buy a couple more of their games over that timeframe which would be enough to pretty much even things out there by itself
Basically this. People who buy an extra device just for the exclusives are bad customers, especially when the hardware is subsidised.

They don't buy:
  • third party games
  • subscriptions
  • accessories
They also don't tell other people to get the system, nor do they contribute to the "network effect", server populations and so on. They're pretty unproductive customers, all things considered.

If you're selling hardware that's break-even or subsidised, you're basically losing money on opportunity cost at that point.
 
I buy Nintendo because I can't get the Nintendo feel elsewhere, even from very good indie games. Plus, my childhood was all Nintendo so I guess I'm wired that way :p
 
I think Nintendo has always been a bit of a unique situation across all the console generations since the 80s. Especially post-N64 where they became mostly known as a first party first machine which I think impacted their dedicated console sales especially in the Gamecube and Wii U gens. The Wii was an obvious breakaway hit, but then a lot was discussed around its software attach rate for third parties. A common debate that impacted all of their dedicated consoles was around third party support. This has become less of an issue in the Switch 1/2 era given that publishers and developers have needed to get their games on as many platforms as possible to hit sales targets and Switch 1/2 have had enough sales to not ignore and the devices have a distinct form factor against the other home consoles.

PlayStation and Xbox have their own important first party offerings, but I think their audience has never skewed as highly towards first party as Nintendo, nor do I think it will ever be close.

All this to say, a lot of folks point to Nintendo as to why exclusives work, but I do not think it is that simple. The basic job of PlayStation and Xbox is to convince publishers and developers to publish as many of their games on their platforms as possible while convincing customers their platform is the best place to play those games. First party exclusives may help, but I genuinely think exclusives are lower on the list of reasons why folks decide to buy a console. And if at the end of the day you need first party games to be these big, bombastic experiences, then those will be pricey and you will need as many as buyers as possible, something that will be a struggle when you start to limit your platforms.
 
Console makers circling the wagons around exclusivity is proof that they don't know how to solve their own issues and the industry's issues. Meanwhile Valve is expanding the reach of its platform to Linux, Android and ARM. making Steam the main option for premium gaming across hundreds of millions of devices.
 
On other news, according to Giant Bomb, a SEGA representative said that the gen AI used for Crazy Taxi was used for creating examples and the final art used in the game is manually created.
I don't like it, but, it's not as bad as it sounded yesterday when they vaguely said that it was used for background assets.




Former Valve dev Chet Faliszek actually discussed AI being used to brainstorm and he doesn't like it and gave an example about how a DMV worker helped inspire Rochelle in L4D2 and how TF2 was originally a serious game but the Solder's concept art was silly which helped shift the tone to comedic.

Granted that does not mean modern Valve is not using AI. Erik Wolpaw has talked about how it's being used for brainstorming but not "officially" used.

At this point, I assume every dev is using generative AI in some fashion, but some are more upfront about it than others.
 
Sticker-shock!
Yeah, it's not cheap.

I won't defend it because it won't be worth it to some people, but to me this is looking like they might have put a bit more work into it than they did Persona 3 Reload. Given how much I love the original game, the price is acceptable. Honestly, I'd have paid more for it.

And I've already bought it.
 
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Console makers circling the wagons around exclusivity is proof that they don't know how to solve their own issues and the industry's issues. Meanwhile Valve is expanding the reach of its platform to Linux, Android and ARM. making Steam the main option for premium gaming across hundreds of millions of devices.
A lot of people, both in fan circles but also inside these big companies are not ready to accept there is a sales ceiling that it's impossible to surpass, no matter how many exclusives, how much cheaper and how many features a gamebox supports. Look at the Covid boom: a bunch of people which never touched videogames were forced to stay inside their homes and so had no other choise but to play games to pass time
And the end result was as soon as they were no longer forced to stay at home they threw those consoles and games into the trash. You can't "force" people to like something, so the only real solution is not to force people into the net (they'll just find a way to escape it) but to increase the size of the net as much as possible to try to capture as many people that actually want to play games but simply never had a chance, or never got the right timing
More translations, easier availability, more payment methods, support more platforms, don't increase the price of everything beyond anything acceptable, target fans of something with the right announcements instead of bombarding everyone hoping someone sticks
Closed gamebox will never reach the maximum possible sale potential, even the Switch had a clear sales ceiling, hell even the PS2 had a sales ceiling. You can even argue titles like Fortnite are currently facing their own sales ceiling. And now that budgets are growing exponentially the issue is becoming more and more apparent. There is a reason why so many companies are no longer willing to hedge their bets on a single platform, but for the sake of the industry everyone, everyone should move into a more open service
 
Taken a break from gaming over the last week for personal reasons. Kept an eye on here and completely forgot it was show season. Looking at the big highlights and there are a couple of bits in there I will be interested in, around 3 or 4 years time. Need to do a deeper dig into the indie side of things, see what's interesting there.

I am thinking of going into patient gamer mode and only grabbing AAA games from a couple of years back. Will save me money in the long run. There will be a couple of exceptions, I will be grabbing FFXIV Evercold. I will also be grabbing Code Veronica (when it hits it's first decent discount). But outside of those I think I will be sticking to indie and older AAA games.

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