Author - Jerry Paxton

Red Barrels Launches The Outlast Trials into Early Access

2023/05/18

Geek News, Halloween, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Red Barrels, the independent game development studio based in Montréal, has officially launched Early Access for The Outlast Trials which is available now via Steam and Epic Games Store for $29.99 USD.

Stepping into Murkoff’s Sinyala Facility during Early Access, players will experience mind-numbing terror, whether surviving alongside friends or daring to go alone. Early Access includes all the main features of a classic Outlast game and will introduce a whole new program structure. Players will be pushed to their limits in new environments, new trials, several challenges and variators, a seasonal program, character and cell customization, full character progression with a narrative introduction and a surprising conclusion for each Reagent released, and more, gradually throughout the Early Access.

“We’re eager to see and hear how Reagents (players) perform in Murkoff’s experimental program during The Outlast Trials Early Access,” said Philippe Morin, Co-Founder of Red Barrels. “Feedback from players throughout Early Access is key to us delivering a more refined and balanced game. The Outlast Trials is our most challenging production and we’ll continue developing the game until we feel the game delivers our initial vision.”

The Outlast Trials, is a brand new take on the acclaimed Outlast survival horror series, set in the same terrifying universe as the previous titles, only this time you can choose to play on your own or with friends in a team of up to four people.

Set in the height of the Cold War era, players take on the role of test subjects abducted by the shadowy Murkoff Corporation. Imprisoned in a secret Murkoff facility, players will be thrust into a series of physical and mental ordeals, tormented by iconic characters, and challenged alone or in teams to survive with their sanity intact.

Tamarak Trail Coming to Consoles

2023/05/18

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Nintendo Switch, Trailers / Videos, Xbox One News, Xbox Series X News

Independent game studio Yarrow Games, in partnership with leading independent video game publisher Versus Evil, are pleased to reveal that its upcoming deck-bulding roguelike Tamarak Trail is coming to Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms, where it will launch alongside the Steam release this summer. Tamarak Trail is a turn-based deck-building roguelike that uses customizable dice instead of cards.

As a member of a secret society named the Sturgeon Lodge it’s up to you to piece together the mystery of a decaying earth, hunt down the source of this corruption and put a stop to it at all costs.

Embarking on this adventure, you can choose one of three characters; The Magician, the Tracker or the Detective, each with their own unique abilities and traits. Depending on your preferred playstyle, the character’s different skills and attributes allow you to craft a unique strategy for your character as they navigate the ominous trail. Procedurally-generated paths create a myriad of possibilities where you can encounter events, monsters, campsites, treasure and more. Every new discovery reveals new bonuses and strategies to explore.

To combat the monsters and nefarious foes you’ll encounter, you’ll have to be tactical in your dice-building, as each face could mean the difference between victory or defeat. Different dice sides can be used to attack directly, apply buffs and debuffs, inflict damage over time, defend yourself, to “flip” them to another side for combo awesomeness and much more. You can even apply “dice cores” to secure passive abilities. You’re given direct control of your dice rolls, and getting them to smack together allows you to create killer combo attacks. In true deck-builder fashion, dice faces can be customized with more abilities after each victory, adding new attacks, defenses and combinations to take forward into future battles.

With a beautiful hand-drawn illustrative style, the game’s art direction has many inspirations, including the Group of Seven, the Canadian landscape painters of the 1920’s, and illustrator Ivan Bilibin. Tamarak Trail takes its inspiration from roguelike deck builders like Slay the Spire, and pays homage to innovative titles like Dicey Dungeons and Peglin, which have influenced the game’s feel and mechanics. Add to that a diverse and horrific bestiary influenced by Northern Ontario’s wildlife, it culminates in a treacherous trail where danger and intrigue hides in every corner.

“Tamarak Trail is among the most deep, engrossing deck builders I’ve ever played,” said Steve Escalante, general Manager of Versus Evil. “We think Tamarak Trail has such wide appeal that we’re committed to bringing it to all major platforms right out of the gate. Thankfully you won’t have to wait too long to play it, as it’s launching this summer!”

Razer Announces New Razer Nommo V2 Desktop Speaker Lineup

2023/05/18

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Tech News

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the launch of their newest PC gaming speakers: The Nommo V2 line, designed on the three pillars of performance, immersion, and connectivity. The flagship Razer Nommo V2 Pro offers a fully-loaded, full-range speaker and wireless subwoofer combo that is amplified by THX® Spatial Audio. This is complemented by captivating rear-projection Razer Chroma™ RGB lighting for added immersion. The line also includes the Razer Nommo V2 desktop speaker with a wired subwoofer, and the Razer Nommo V2 X for a powerful, minimalistic setup.

Nommo V2 Pro – The Ultimate Gaming Speakers for Immersive Audio Experience

The Nommo V2 Pro boasts industry-leading features, including 3” full-range drivers with aluminum phase plugs that offer natural, crystal-clear acoustics, and is the world’s first PC gaming speaker system to feature a wireless down-firing subwoofer for deep, room-thumping bass with clutter-free connectivity. For a truly immersive gaming experience, gamers can also amplify the ambiance of their battlestation with rear-projection Razer Chroma RGB lighting.

“Today we’re redefining what gamers should expect from their desktop audio equipment,” said Barrie Ooi, Head of Razer’s PC Gaming Division. “The Nommo V2 line isn’t just about listening—it’s about fully experiencing and immersing oneself in the game. Whether you’re tracking enemy footsteps in a first-person shooter or lost in the soundtrack of the latest RPG, these are the best PC gaming speakers to provide an incredibly engaging audio-visual experience.”

To ensure gamers experience the very best audio quality, the Nommo V2 Pro is the world’s first desktop speaker system equipped with THX® Spatial Audio, providing a wide, true-to-life soundstage. Also available for the first time in Razer’s speaker line-up is THX Game Profiles, specially tuned EQs that deliver optimal surround sound for some of the most popular game titles, like Cyberpunk 2077 and Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, with many more to come.

Razer Wireless Control Pod – Control at your fingertips

For convenient controls with seamless connectivity, Razer introduces the Razer Wireless Control Pod. With the rotatable, clickable dial and source button for easy navigation and intuitive control, gamers can control settings such as volume, play/pause, EQ and more. Once connected via Bluetooth, the battery life lasts up to 8 months for long-lasting performance.

The Razer Wireless Control Pod comes supplied with the Nommo V2 Pro and will be available as a standalone accessory for the Nommo V2 and Nommo V2 X from August.

The Nommo V2 and V2 X complete the line

Razer also broadens the Nommo V2 line with introduction of the new Nommo V2 and Nommo V2 X. Both speakers are equipped with two 3” full-range drivers and THX® Spatial Audio for a high fidelity, room-filling soundstage. The Nommo V2 is armed with a wired subwoofer and is powered by rear-projection Razer Chroma RGB for an immersive gaming experience that spans across sight and sound. Meanwhile, the Nommo V2 X is a 2.0 speaker system in a sleek, minimalist design, fitted with rear-facing bass ports, delivering accurate sound reproduction and optimal clarity for all your entertainment.

The Razer Nommo V2 line is compatible with PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and mobile devices allowing gamers to take their gaming experience to the next level with powerful, positional audio.

For more information on the Nommo V2 line, please visit Razer.com.

PRICE & AVAILABILITY

Razer Nommo V2 Pro

$449.99 USD / €449.99 MSRP

Razer.com, RazerStores & Authorized Resellers – June 2023

Razer Nommo V2

$299.99 USD / €289.99 MSRP

Razer.com, RazerStores & Authorized Resellers – June 2023

Razer Nommo V2X

$149.99 USD / €169.99 MSRP

Razer.com, RazerStores & Authorized Resellers – June 2023

Razer Wireless Control Pod

$49.99 USD / €59.99 MSRP

Razer.com, RazerStores & Authorized Resellers – August 2023

BlizzCon Returns for 2023

2023/05/17

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

After four years of gathering online–adventuring through Azeroth, teaming up in Overwatch, traversing the fields of Sanctuary, or warming yourself by the fire in the Tavern–it’s finally time to gather in person once more. We are happy to announce that BlizzCon will be returning to the Anaheim Convention Center on November 3-4 (PT)!

Our players are at the heart of what makes BlizzCon great–a place where games are the common ground for connection and friendship. Whether you’re coming to hang out with friends you only ever get to see online, celebrating epic moments in the games we love, exploring what’s on offer in the convention center halls, or eager to learn what’s next for our universes, BlizzCon is being created for you. It’s the community that has always made this event so special, and we can’t wait to see you all again.

We’ll be back with more details about the show next month including ticketing information, cosplay and other competition details, and more.

For those of you who want to book accommodation now, our hotel blocks are now available.

Whether you’ll be joining us in person or online, we can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on and celebrate together. We are counting down the days alongside you!

Stay up to date with BlizzCon and all things Blizzard by following us on Twitter

The PC Gaming Show Returns on June 11

2023/05/17

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Industry News, News

Now in its ninth year, this summer sees the glorious return of the PC Gaming Show, packed with more reveals and updates than ever before, including the announcement of more than 15 never-before-seen games. Broadcasting from a new high-rise base of operations, returning hosts Sean “Day[9]” Plott and Frankie Ward have scanned the PC landscape to select the most exciting, innovative, and mind-bending projects to showcase.

Drawing upon the biggest trend in technology, the PC Gaming Show will use AI to enhance the broadcast. “AI is 100% guaranteed to make everything better, cheaper, and more effective, so we figured, why not integrate AI directly into the PC Gaming Show?” says host Sean “Day[9]” Plott. “What can possibly go wrong?”

Sean “Day[9]” Plott is a gaming and esports personality whose videos attract more than two million views each month. Plott also recently founded his own game development studio. Frankie Ward regularly hosts international esports events across a variety of games including Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends. The duo have been appearing together on the PC Gaming Show since 2018.

“PC gaming overflows with interesting games,” says PC Gamer Global Editor-in-Chief Evan Lahti. “Our goal is always to lift up the broad spectrum of novel and creative work happening on PC, from major series like PUBG, XCOM, and ARK to genre-advancing stuff like Valheim, which debuted on the PC Gaming Show in 2020.”

This year’s summer PC Gaming Show is even bigger than usual, featuring 55 games in total, including 16 new game announcements, and special access to developers’ studios around the world. Here are just a few of the games that are confirmed to appear:

Baldur’s Gate 3, by Larian Studios
Dune: Awakening, by Funcom
Frostpunk 2, by 11 bit studios
Pax Dei, by Mainframe Industries
A brand-new game from Klei Entertainment

Last summer’s PC Gaming Show reached a peak concurrent viewership of over 4.3M globally, and was co-streamed by more than 70 channels. This year’s event will be broadcast via twitch.tv/pcgamer, youtube.com/pcgamer, twitch.tv/twitchgaming, Steam and China’s Bilibili platform.

For more information, please visit pcgamingshow.com. Content creators can read about how to co-stream the PC Gaming Show here. You can also discover more about the history of the PC Gaming Show in this article on pcgamer.com.

The PC Gaming Show is proud to be supported by our partners: 505 Games, Grinding Gear Games, League of Geeks, SEGA and Creative Assembly, tinyBuild, Alienware, Frontier Developments, Billy Goat Entertainment, Critical Reflex, Larian Studios, and Eternights.

Crusader Kings III: Royal Court Console Launch Trailer

2023/05/17

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

The throne room is the center of royal power. This is where your vassals and courtiers plead their cases. This is where you gather the relics and artifacts that represent your power. And this is where your majesty is most obvious to all. Manage your regal reputation with the best propaganda tool available to a medieval ruler – the Royal Court.

Royal Court is the first major expansion for Crusader Kings III, now on XBox Series X|S consoles and Playstation® 5. Paradox Interactive’s revolutionary medieval strategy game now gives players the chance to rule their kingdom or empire from a specially designed throne room. They can collect and commission special items, set a budget for food and lodging, and answer the petitions of visitors and subjects as they bring their problems to the royal ear.

Features of Crusader Kings III: Royal Court include:

Throne Room: Available for king and emperor characters, this is a visual representation of your royal court, reflecting all the accumulated majesty and prestige of your dynasty.
Hold Court: Interact with vassals and courtiers as they come to you with their problems, seeking a royal judgement.
Grandeur: Increase the quality of life at your court with fancier trappings and better food, all the better to impress your rivals and attract higher quality guests.
Inspired People: Talented artists, craftspeople and thinkers can work on new projects, adding treasures and artifacts to your court.
Inventory System: Commission and collect special weapons, armor and regalia to outfit your character and boost their skills and prowess.
Hybrid Cultures: Make the most of a multicultural realm, developing a new way of life that is specifically adapted to your population and geography.
Cultural Divergence: Split from your traditional culture, adapting it into something new that better fits your aspirations.

The release of Royal Court is accompanied by a major free update to Crusader Kings III available for all players on console. This update includes the eagerly awaited character designer, which allows players to create their own starting character.

Crusader Kings III: Royal Court is now available for Playstation® 5 and Xbox Series consoles. Please check the relevant stores in your region for pricing.

Jagged Alliance 3 Features Trailer Released

2023/05/17

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

When people talk about turn-based tactics games, very often Jagged Alliance is mentioned as one of the legendary forefathers of the genre. So creating a new installment in the series, almost 25 years after the first one has electrified gamers around the globe, is not a simple task: The memories of those iconic games remain cherished, but times have changed, and players now have different expectations. Nevertheless, developer Haemimont Games and publisher THQ Nordic are proudly adding the long-awaited “3” to the iconic title, indicating nothing less than: Jagged Alliance 3 shall be a worthy successor and an outstanding strategy game when it releases on July 14th, 2023 for PC!

In the latest trailer, we’re gonna spill the beans on what Jagged Alliance 3 brings to the table – and what it doesn’t. Battle-hardened mercenaries who’ve conquered the previous installments might scoff and say, “Been there, done that.” But for you unfortunate souls who’ve never tasted the thrill of a Jagged Alliance game yet (shame on you!), this rad new trailer will answer the burning question you’ve been dying to ask: What is the gameplay like? Does it focus on tactics or strategy? Is there a crafting system? And so much more… Find all the answers you seek in the thrilling new trailer!

Mod support coming soon after launch
After Jagged Alliance 3 has launched, the developers will focus on giving the players the exciting opportunity to customize the game according to their preferences. Initially offering basic mod support, allowing players to modify weapon statistics, adjust difficulty levels, and even display the “chance to hit” percentage, the mod support for Jagged Alliance 3 will continue to expand and evolve post-launch. In due course, players will wield a powerful tool that empowers them to create and share their own campaigns, introduce new mercenaries, and explore possibilities beyond our current imagination!

Jagged Alliance 3 is currently in development for PC and is set to release on July 14th, 2023 at an SRP of $ 44.99 / € 44.99 / 39.99 £ and will receive a launch discount of 20% on Steam – wishlist here: https://thqn.net/ja3-steam

Collector’s Edition
The Jagged Alliance 3 Tactical Edition is available for pre-order now at an SRP of € 129.99 / £ 114.99 and will release along with the game on July 14th, 2023. Please note: this edition is strictly limited.

Pre-Order the Tactical Edition here:
UK: https://thqn.net/414rVRZ
DE: https://thqn.net/425vA35
IT: https://thqn.net/3paHScd
FR: https://thqn.net/3Nz9B0c

More information about the game is available in our biweekly Twitch streams, tune in Thursdays at 11 AM EST / 17:00 CEST on THQ Nordic’s Twitch Channel:
https://www.twitch.tv/thqnordic

In case you missed a stream, you can always read all developer diaries here: https://thqn.net/ja3-dd02
… or re-watch the live stream recordings here: https://thqn.net/3nRdvHo

If you want to learn more about the game, make sure to follow on social media or discuss with other fans in the forums or on Discord:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaggedalliancegame/
Forums: https://community.jaggedalliance.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jaggedalliance

Station to Station Announcement Trailer

2023/05/17

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

PRISMATIKA and Galaxy Grove today announce Station to Station, a brand new minimalist, voxel-art railroad building simulator, which will be pulling into Steam later this year.

In Station to Station, players are tasked with transforming a small rural world into a vibrant, lush environment full of life and colour by placing stations and creating connections to foster growth and expansion. Grab your conductor’s hat and watch the beautiful, tilt shift-inspired, voxel-art world come to life in the brand new announcement trailer:

Aspiring conductors will hop on board and steam through a variety of colourful biomes, breathing new life into dry desert sands, and transforming untamed mountain terrain. As the tracks are laid down a tranquil world will spring to life with an ever-widening tapestry of flora and fauna!

For those seeking to test their management and planning skills, each of the game’s levels offer their own optional challenges, stack bonuses, and unique mechanics tied to every biome. Whether seeking relaxation or mental stimulation, Station to Station has something for everyone!

Station to Station Features:

Enjoy your journey as you embark on a relaxing and peaceful experience
Take in the views with beautiful, colourful voxel art
Upgrade your experience as optional strategic gameplay allows players to earn high scores

Mountain Launches Highly-Customizable Makalu Max Mouse

2023/05/16

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Peripherals News

MOUNTAIN, creator of innovative, premium peripherals with user-centric design to enable gamers and content creators to perform at their best, broadens its line-up of premium mice with the launch of Makalu Max.

True to the core pillars of MOUNTAIN, Makalu Max comes with innovative features, delivers peak performance, features a stylish and ergonomic design, and offers unparalleled customization.

Modularity, flexibility, and freedom of choice are at the heart of MOUNTAIN’s design philosophy. Makalu Max delivers on this front by offering users to not only alter the weight of their wireless mouse, but also fundamentally change its shape.

Following countless hours of ideation, creation, and refinement, Makalu Max is set to provide a perfect blend of customizability and performance. With two sets of modular Side Grips, the ergonomic shape of the mouse can be a slim precision tool or a bold powerhouse – or a mix of both.

Featuring wireless, zero-lag 2.4GHz RF connectivity, Makalu Max delivers high precision and dependable tracking for up to 80 hours of battery life. When it’s time to top up the battery, the mouse can be used while charging with the included braided 1.8m paracord-like Lifeline USB Type-C cable.

The weight of Makalu Max is also user-adjustable, using the three included Weight Discs. They differ not only in weight but also weight distribution, allowing for the user to tailor Makalu Max exactly to their preference.

“Makalu Max’ incredible flexibility and modularity brings to mice what Everest brought to keyboards,” said Bram Rongen, Head of Product at MOUNTAIN. “It enables users to choose their perfect loadout for the task at hand, be it a competitive gaming session or office work.”

MOUNTAIN Makalu Max is now available, in stock and ready for immediate dispatch at https://mountainggshop.com
Pricing:
$89.99
€89.99

Men of War II Open Beta Available Now

2023/05/16

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

Fulqrum Publishing and Best Way are today thrilled to announce that the huge open beta for the highly-anticipated real-time strategy title, Men of War II, is available now via Steam until Monday, May 15. The beta features a barrage of playable content including never-before-seen single player missions and a whole host of PvP and PvE multiplayer modes.

Enlisting in the open beta is simple; players just need to head to the Men of War II Steam page, where they can request access to the “Men of War II Playtest”, doing so will grant them instant access. Once downloaded, they will be able to jump straight into three single player missions (also playable in co-op) or try their hand across seven varied maps in four competitive multiplayer modes, and one PvE mode.

In addition to delivering swathes of satisfyingly strategic action, the open beta implements a number of gameplay changes based on community feedback from the Multiplayer Tech Test, which took place in March. Fulqrum Publishing and Best Way remain committed to delivering a dynamic and engaging experience for both new players and franchise-fans alike, and will continue to listen to community feedback, with further additions planned for release and beyond.

The open beta is also already localised into the following languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Ukrainian, Korean, Polish, Brazillian Portuguese, Turkish, Russian.

The full list of content available in the open beta is as follows:

Men of War II – Open Beta Content

4x PvP Competitive Multiplayer Modes
Assault Zones
Combat
Front Line
Incursion
1x PvP Competitive Battle Mode
Combined Arms
1x PvE Mode
Line Defence
7x Maps
Airfield
Bazerville
Borovaya River
Carpathians
The Coast
Farmland
Winter March
3x Single Player / Co-op Missions
Ambush
Battle of Coisson
Towards Freedom

Men of War II – Changes & Fixes

Gameplay Changes:

Improved vehicle physics – heavy vehicles no longer bounce on the roads and move/explode more realistically.
Velocity of projectiles has been increased.
Units will no longer use all available grenades, ammo, and certain types of ammunition at their discretion during combat without a player’s command. Players can now prevent the AI from changing the type of ammunition simply by right-clicking on the desired type of ammunition.
Units spawning to the map has been improved.
Trench digging system has been improved.
It is now possible to zoom out the camera farther.
Each tutorial mission can now be played separately, not necessarily in sequence.

UI Improvements:

More UI customization options – added a button to customize the minimap and much more.
Added an option in “general settings” to disable/hide icons showing the health of units for better immersion.
Added a separate button for dropping off passengers from vehicles.
Added a Hotkey to activate Direct Control with a third-person view.
Added a “Cancel Order” button to the Hotbar.
The Hotbar buttons have been redesigned to appear more similar to previous games in the series.

Miscellaneous:

Fixed a bug related to target tracking in the Fog of War.
Overall performance of the game has been improved.
Increased responsiveness of the servers. Response time and connectivity to matches have decreased significantly.
Lobbies are now more stable.
Other small changes and improvements.

Men of War II will be available for PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and other digital stores in 2023.