Author - Jerry Paxton

Elgato Stream Deck Studio Gets Best of Show Award at ISE 2025

2025/02/20

Elgato, a brand of CORSAIR (NASDAQ: CRSR), is proud to announce that Stream Deck Studio has been awarded the prestigious Best of Show Award at ISE 2025, the world’s leading professional AV and broadcast exhibition. Recognized for its groundbreaking innovation in live production control, Stream Deck Studio is setting the new standard for efficiency and ease of use in the broadcast industry.

“This award is a testament to Stream Deck Studio’s impact on professional broadcast workflows,” said Julian Fest, General Manager of Elgato. “By combining deep customization with seamless software integration, we’re helping broadcasters operate with more flexibility and precision than ever before.”

Designed in collaboration with Bitfocus, Stream Deck Studio brings together the versatility of Buttons software with a 32-key LCD control surface and rotary encoders for intuitive, real-time adjustments. Scalable, programmable, and built for modern IP-based workflows, it empowers operators to manage complex productions with much less effort.

“I’m incredibly proud of our teams for their dedication to bringing this collaboration to life,” said Ole-Andreas Løvland, CEO of Bitfocus AS. “Elgato’s ability to integrate our software with their hardware has resulted in a radical solution that puts users’ needs first. Winning this award at our first ISE truly inspires us to keep shaping the future of broadcasting, one button at a time.”

Launched less than six months ago, Stream Deck Studio is already simplifying workflows worldwide, reducing setup time, minimizing errors, and streamlining control room operations. With its support for NMOS, tag-based routing, and IP-based broadcasting, it integrates seamlessly with all production environments.

Winning Best of Show at ISE 2025 underscores Stream Deck Studio’s role in shaping the future of live production. As the industry moves toward software-defined control, Elgato continues to push boundaries—offering broadcast professionals a powerful solution that evolves with their growing challenges.

Webpage

Learn more about Stream Deck Studio:

https://www.elgato.com/p/stream-deck-studio

SCUF Gaming Unveils SCUF Valor Pro Wired Performance Controller

2025/02/20

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Peripherals News

SCUF Gaming® (NASDAQ:CRSR), creator of the high-performance gaming controller category and part of the CORSAIR family of brands, today announced the SCUF Valor Pro Wired Performance Controller for Xbox and PC, available now starting at $99.99. The SCUF Valor Pro Wired embodies over a decade of collaboration with esports pros and creators, refining every feature for peak performance. Built on SCUF’s legacy of innovation, this pro controller empowers gamers with unmatched precision and control to dominate the competition.

Offering an unprecedented level of speed and control, the SCUF Valor Pro Wired gives Xbox and PC gamers a decisive competitive advantage, with every aspect of the controller built to the highest SCUF standards. With remappable paddles, a dedicated wired connection with ultra-fast 1000 Hz polling rate response time on PC, a compact and ergonomic shape, and all of the game changing features SCUF is known for, including longer lasting anti-drift Hall Effect thumbsticks, the SCUF Valor Pro Wired will improve any dedicated gamers performance.

“Experienced Xbox and PC gamers are looking for a controller that can deliver the highest possible performance for their favorite games,” said Aron Drayer, General Manager at SCUF Gaming. “The SCUF Valor Pro Wired takes more than thirteen years of SCUF knowledge and expertise in design to deliver the ultimate in control, speed and customization.”

The SCUF Valor Pro Wired will be available in steel gray, black, white and smoke colors. Key features include:

Remappable Back Paddles: Four integrated paddles ergonomically placed so gamers don’t need to modify their grip. Full hardware remapping across three profiles. Inner paddles are removable/blankable and all paddles can be turned off by mapping them to share.
Anti-Drift Hall Effect Thumbsticks: Hall effect thumbsticks use magnets to detect movement, significantly reducing the risk of thumbstick drift. These cutting-edge thumbsticks have been exhaustively calibrated to feel as close to normal, analog thumbsticks as possible.
SCUF Ergonomic Legacy: More than thirteen years of ergonomic SCUF learnings and expertise applied to upgrade the Xbox shape with a more compact design. Shape adjusted to place paddles naturally where fingers slot. Contoured bumpers that make transitioning between triggers and bumpers quicker and more efficient.
Wired Connection: Ensures fast and stable connectivity. Upcoming PC update with 1K Hz polling rate for even faster play.
Dedicated Audio Controls: Never set the controller down as individual audio scroll wheels control headset volume and Game vs. Chat mix plus headset and mic mute.

Pricing and Availability

Compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows 10 and 11 PCs, SCUF Valor Pro Wired starts at $99.99 and is available today at select retailers, and from SCUF Gaming’s website: scufgaming.com

Web Pages

To learn more about SCUF Valor Pro – Wired , please visit:

scufgaming.com/valor

The Thing: Remastered Physical Edition Out Now

2025/02/19

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 News, Windows PC News

Last December, renowned remaster developer Nightdive Studios made waves in the retro gaming space for its surprise digital launch of The Thing: Remastered during the PC Gaming Show. Now, in collaboration with Universal Products & Experiences, Nightdive Studios is proud to announce physical Standard and Deluxe Editions of The Thing: Remastered for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.

Pricing begins at $29.99 / €34.99 for the Standard Edition and $49.99 / €54.99 for the Deluxe Edition of The Thing: Remastered. Pre-orders are available now until its release on June 25—the 43rd anniversary of the 1982 cult classic film.

The Thing: Remastered Deluxe Edition includes:

Physical copy of the game
Deluxe Edition box
Steelbook Case
Key art poster
Captain Blake’s ID card replica
Sew-on patches

The Thing: Remastered Standard Edition includes:

Physical copy of the game

The Thing: Remastered is a faithful restoration of the 2002 third-person survival horror shooter inspired by Universal Pictures’ genre-defining 1982 film, The Thing. Nightdive Studios has upgraded this horrifying classic for the modern era through its proprietary KEX Engine for play on current-generation gaming devices up to a 4K resolution at 120FPS. Improvements to character models, textures, and animations have been hand-crafted by Nightdive Studios, with the implementation of advanced 3D rendering for updated lighting and atmospheric effects — for a suspenseful and disgustingly detailed remaster that reanimates the thrilling game for modern audiences.

In the frozen arctic tundra, a mysterious shape-shifting alien has wiped out the crew of the U.S. Outpost #31 research facility. In The Thing: Remastered, players step into the boots of Captain J.F. Blake, the leader of a United States Army Special Forces rescue team sent to investigate the blood-curdling events that transpired in the original The Thing film. Trapped by the elements and at risk of infection by a horrific entity, Blake must keep his squad together to survive by gaining their trust and ensuring that their fear and paranoia don’t get the best of them … or himself.

The Thing: Remastered Key Features:

Return to U.S. Outpost #31: Continue the story of The Thing and face off against terrifying monsters, from scuttling head-spiders and human-like walkers to gigantic multi-tentacled level bosses
Who Goes There?: Command a squad of up to four NPCs from Soldier, Medic, and Engineer character classes through the game’s 11 frightening levels
The Warmest Place to Hide: Someone in your squad may not be who they appear to be. The shape-shifting alien hides inside an imitation, so keep a watchful eye
Don’t Lose It: Gain the trust of your squad members and minimize their fear levels lest they become defiant or, worse, succumb to paranoia
Ultimate Alien Terror: Upgraded models, textures, and animations hand-crafted by Nightdive, plus enhanced lighting and atmospheric effects
Stunning Visuals: Up to 4K 120FPS visuals on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S
Checkmate: Trophies and Achievements on Windows PC via Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles

Thrustmaster Unveils SimTask FarmStick for Xbox

2025/02/19

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Peripherals News

Thrustmaster introduces the SimTask FarmStick for Xbox! In 2024, the FarmStick won over the Farming Simulator community on PC, establishing itself as an essential piece of equipment for virtual farming enthusiasts. Now compatible with Xbox Series X|S, it comes with a few new features.

SimTask FarmStick is the joystick designed for controlling farming and heavy machinery, developed based on Thrustmaster’s know-how in flight simulation.

With its 3 directional axes including 2 with H.E.A.R.T (HallEffect AccuRate Technology) magnetic sensors, you can precisely control forklifts, cranes and all other types of farming and construction machinery.

Featuring a multifunctional stick, a new hand throttle, and 33 configurable buttons in total, FarmStick provides a super-versatile experience.

Plug & Play in Farming Simulator 25, its controls are automatically assigned to each vehicle for intuitive control. Its design was directly inspired by the interiors of high-end modern tractors and farming equipment, for greater immersion and realism.

SimTask FarmStick is compatible with Xbox Series X|S and PC (Windows 11/10), and pairs perfectly with a SimTask Steering Kit accompanied by a T128 or T248 racing wheel (all sold separately), for a full-featured and immersive driver’s cabin.

SimTask FarmStick Xbox

Take full control, master every task!

CONTROL HEAVY MACHINERY

SimTask FarmStick is the joystick designed for “Farming” and construction simulation, and controlling heavy machinery. Control forklifts, winches, cranes or forestry equipment and carry out any task with ease thanks to its three 16-bit directional axes, including two featuring H.E.A.R.T (HallEffect AccuRate Technology) magnetic sensors.

MULTIFUNCTIONAL STICK

With 6 buttons, 2 rocker switches, 2 triggers, 1 mini-stick and 1 thumbwheel, the stick is a multifunctional device allowing you to control all types of machinery right at your fingertips. The top trigger lets you toggle between “Driving” and “Working” modes, to access 6 additional actions with your thumb.

ALL-IN-ONE CONTROL PANEL

The joystick’s base features a hand throttle and 18 buttons that are fully mappable to specific actions in each game or type of vehicle. On PC, the “Combo” button lets you double the number of actions that can be mapped onto each button in Farming Simulator 25. With its 33 buttons and different types of controls, SimTask FarmStick is both a joystick and an all-in-one control panel.

ERGONOMIC DESIGN, INSPIRED BY REAL FARMING MACHINERY

Its ergonomic, ambidextrous design lets you easily access the main features with comfortable handling — even during long sessions. SimTask FarmStick was directly inspired by the interiors of high-end modern tractors and farming equipment, with realistic dimensions.

PLUG & PLAY IN FARMING SIMULATOR 25

SimTask FarmStick is compatible with Xbox Series X|S and PC (Windows 11/10), and Plug & Play in Farming Simulator 25 (game not included). The controls are automatically mapped to each vehicle. On PC, all buttons can be programmed for the needs of each game (list of compatible games available on the Thrustmaster support website).

ECOSYSTEM-READY

Use SimTask FarmStick in conjunction with a T128 or T248 racing wheel and a SimTask Steering Kit (all sold separately) for total control, and an immersive experience simulating the driver’s cabin from farming or construction machinery.

Important: On Xbox Series X|S, the SimTask FarmStick is only compatible with Farming Simulator 25 and must be used with a steering wheel.

Commercial information

SimTask FarmStick is available at a suggested retail price of £99.99 / $129.99 / €119.99 for worldwide release:

Commercial availability from February 18, 2025.

Universal Horror Unleashed Tickets On Sale Now

2025/02/19

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, News, Trailers / Videos

Year-round screams and unmatched horror is set to begin, with tickets now on sale for Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Guests can be one of the firsts to experience a new level of immersive terrifying entertainment starting August 14.

Universal Horror Unleashed will bring to life a new nightmarish spectacle by the masters of horror at Universal Destinations & Experiences, known for its legacy of fan-favorite terrifying stories and experiences, spanning from films to award-winning theme park seasonal events. This is the company’s first-ever permanent horror experience.

As soon as guests step into the darkened warehouse they will be surrounded by horror like never before, encountering unimaginable monstrous creatures lurking around every corner– from vampires to a supernatural collection of unsettling dolls – as they brave their way through four themed immersive areas featuring bloodcurdling original stories by the masterminds of horror at Universal. The terrifying journey continues in four haunted houses that will bring to life their worst nightmares: from encountering the most legendary monsters of all time at Universal Monsters; reliving every chilling demonic possession at Blumhouse’s The Exorcist: Believer; to attempting to escape Leatherface and his deranged family in Texas Chainsaw Massacre; and Scarecrow: The Reaping, an original story that will take guests to a desiccated farmland filled with horrifying scarecrows bent on revenge. The petrifying experience extends into the food and beverage offerings, with themed bars and food locations serving craft cocktails and spine-tingling bites in select areas, and a retail location with unique collectible merchandise and more.

Tickets are available for purchase at UniversalHorrorUnleashed.com, including a General Admission Ticket (Unlimited Access), which provides unlimited admission to all four haunted houses for the selected date and time, starting at $99.00 plus tax. A General Admission Ticket (One-Time Access) is also available starting at $69.00 plus tax, and offers entry to each haunted house once for the selected date and time. In addition to the haunted houses, with admission guests will also enjoy access to the entire experience including the themed bars and live entertainment as they journey through the 100,000 square foot building.

Universal Horror Unleashed is part of the company’s ambition to introduce new products to new audiences in new markets. The experience will be located at the AREA15 District, a pre-eminent 40-acre immersive entertainment district and events destination in Las Vegas.

UDX will continue to share more details for Universal Horror Unleashed in the months ahead. For the latest information, visit UniversalHorrorUnleashed.com or follow on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Out Now

2025/02/19

Jerry Paxton

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

DON’T NOD is thrilled for the release today of its highly anticipated narrative adventure game, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. It is the first game to come from the DON’T NOD Montréal studio and is made by the original creators of Life is Strange. Tape 2 will follow on April 15, where it will become available as a free downloadable update.

Launch Discount & PlayStation Plus

There is a 10% launch discount until March 4 for Steam, Xbox and PlayStation Plus members. The game will also launch today onto the PlayStation Plus game catalog for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members. Players on PlayStation can also pre-order the retail edition of the game thanks to our partnership with Maximum Games, from participating retailers here.

A Word from Michel Koch, Creative Director

Michel Koch, Creative Director at DON’T NOD Montréal, had this to say about the launch:

“Moving to a new country, building a new team and studio, creating an entirely new universe, and breathing life into brand-new characters was no small feat—especially during strange times like the pandemic. Yet here we are, finally, ready to unveil our new game to the world, giving our characters the chance to meet you and, hopefully, bring you joy, nostalgia, and sorrow.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a game about finding your own space and voice within your circle of friends, about overcoming adversity, growing up, and embracing who you are. We hope this project will resonate with you, and that you’ll enjoy meeting Swann, Nora, Autumn and Kat as you become part of Bloom & Rage and recreate your path through the summer of ’95.”

Step Into an Alternate Reality

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage fans can expect to experience something immersive and unique in our ARG (Alternate Reality Game), which will unfold between now and the release of Tape 2. We, and our partners at Haus of Park, invite the community to come together to solve mysteries, puzzles, and hidden stories that tie deeply into the world of Bloom & Rage.

Dragonkin: The Banished Demo Trailer Released

2025/02/19

Jerry Paxton

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

Ahead of its early access release on March 6, Eko Software is today offering PC gamers the chance to discover the dark universe of Dragonkin: The Banished through a demo of the game during Steam Next Fest. The studio is also taking the opportunity to reveal the content of the major updates that will be added to the game over the coming months.

FROM TODAY UNTIL 3 MARCH: THE DEMO

A few days before Steam Next Fest, players will be able to get a sneak preview of the game’s universe, where they will play as a choice of 3 heroes, accompanied by one of the 4 available dragonets.

The demo begins with the game’s prologue, during which the characters are already at a high level, giving players a glimpse of each character’s power and the advanced skills that will enable them to take on the dragons. They can then discover the City of Montescail, an evolving hub where players can upgrade their equipment, trade with NPCs and personalise their experience. Finally, they can access one of the endgame modes, Dungeon Purification, where they face enemies and bosses of 2 biomes.

FROM 6 MARCH: EARLY ACCESS

After the game has been released into Early Access, players can dive into the first chapter of the story, on the trail of the Poison Dragon Lord. In endgame, players can choose from a range of predefined hunts of increasing difficulty, as well as Dungeon Purification, boss fights and customised hunts. Exhilarating battles await against the poisonous and electrically-powered creatures featured in these early environments. To get the better of them, players will need to rely on the new Ancestral Grid skill system. By looting Fragments during their adventure, they will obtain new skills and modifiers that they can match to their class Grid to create truly unique builds. What’s more, the City will come to life with a host of new services: players will be able to level up their city to unlock new merchants and bonuses, enabling them to optimise builds and itemise heroes in the Hack’N’Slash style.

IN THE MONTHS AHEAD: THE ROADMAP

The Dragonkin experience will be enhanced by several updates throughout the early access period, bringing new features to various aspects of the game: new abilities, content and game modes, particularly in endgame, will complete the gaming experience. Theorycraft will be expanded with the addition of a 4th playable character, new Fragments for the Ancestral Grid and new features for the City, enhancing hero builds. In autumn 2025, co-op will be available, offering online play for up to 4 players. This anticipated feature will enable exciting battles with friends, and will turn the City into a shared hub from which everyone can benefit.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 PlayStation & Xbox Announcement Trailer

2025/02/19

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News, Xbox Series X News

Today, Atari is excited to announce that RollerCoaster Tycoon® 3 launches on PlayStation and Xbox consoles on March 20, bringing the classic theme park sim to even more current-gen consoles than before.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 brought significant changes to the fan-favorite park simulation franchise. A 3D world replaced the pixellated, isometric view, and several new features were introduced that took the rollercoaster simulation franchise to new heights. Within a week of its first release in 2004, the title was the best-selling PC game on Amazon.com, and it finished the year as a top-10 best-selling title as reported by The NPD Group. Packed with content, including expansion packs, Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 invites players to build the park of a lifetime and rediscover the critically acclaimed rollercoaster simulation bestseller.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 introduced several new gameplay features to the series, including the CoasterCam, which allows players to “ride” roller coasters and other rides, and the MixMaster, which allows the player to coordinate firework shows and time them to in-game music. Another park innovation appreciated by franchise fans is the guests, called “peeps,” who arrive in groups and show variation in gender and age, including children, teenagers, and adults.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 will be released on March 20, 2025, for PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. It is already available for purchase for Windows PC and Mac via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG, and for the Nintendo Switch.

No More Room in Hell 2 Nightmare Update Out Now

2025/02/19

Jerry Paxton

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

Torn Banner Studios, the hit developer behind the critically acclaimed and chart-topping Chivalry 2, announced today that the new Nightmare update for the eight-player, co-op horror shooter No More Room in Hell 2, is now available. The Nightmare update unleashes an array of new features and gameplay enhancements. Nightmare Mode has been significantly upgraded with a more immersive and terrifying atmosphere. A thick fog now covers the map, the UI is stripped to its bare essentials, and flashlights can fully run out of power, forcing players to rely on their skills and teamwork more than ever. Players will now have multiple ways to enter the Power Plant with the randomized radio-based entry system, adding fresh strategies and surprises to every session. No More Room in Hell 2 launched in late October into early access.

One of the most powerful features for this update is the addition of weapon attachments, allowing players to customize their firearms with sights, rails, and muzzles for improved tactical options. Not all weapons will support attachments, however those that do will let players swap and experiment with different configurations.

For players seeking to prove their survival prowess, Nightmare Levels introduces a new progression system that tracks successful extractions on this extreme difficulty, offering players well-earned bragging rights. This latest update will also feature Backfill which will improve matchmaking by allowing players to seamlessly join recently started matches, ensuring a smoother co-op experience.

Alongside these major features, the Nightmare update also includes the Shovel, a powerful new melee weapon, improved jump scares, audio enhancements, and UI refinements. The development team has also implemented balance changes, reducing certain enemy counts and adjusting difficulty levels while addressing various bugs and gameplay issues.

Players can check the community/blog post for all of the latest updates.

New Disney Villainous Games & Tournaments Announced

2025/02/19

Jerry Paxton

Book News, Geek News, News

Today, Ravensburger, acclaimed publisher behind award-winning board games and high-quality toys and puzzles, is revealing a trio of fiendish announcements around its award-winning Villainous game line for 2025, including the release of Disney Villainous Unstoppable!, a new family-friendly spin-off inspired by Villainous, that utilizes a shared gameplay board for the first time. Players also can expect an increased roster of tournaments and retail events this year, as well as new expandalone games for both Disney Villainous and Star Wars™ Villainous.

“We know people love Villainous, but one of the most common things we hear from our fans is that they love the game’s immersion, artwork and style and wished there was an easy way tobring that joy to kids or families who might not have time to play a longer strategy game,” said Lysa Penrose, Head of New Games Marketing at Ravensburger. “Disney Villainous Unstoppable! is designed with that in mind, and brings that storytelling to a new, more traditional gaming experience that feels at home with other game night classics.”

Disney Villainous Unstoppable! brings the thematic gameplay and immersive design of Disney Villainous to a new, fast-paced and easy-to-learn game. Unlike the original Disney Villainous, which features asymmetrical game play, Disney Villainous Unstoppable introduces a shared game board and rules. All players follow the same patch to victory: being the first to collect the four tokens needed to complete their evil plan. Disney Villainous Unstoppable! makes the experience of retelling Disney stories from the Villains point of view more accessible than ever.

In addition to the main game board, Disney Villainous Unstoppable! also includes a distinct Realm for each Villain, featuring bright, new, original artwork. Designed for 2-4 players, each participant takes on the role of one of four Disney Villains: Hades (from Disney’s Hercules), Ursula (from Disney’s The Little Mermaid), Scar (from Disney’s The Lion King) or Maleficent (from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty) at the start of the game. Players then take turns moving around the board as they take actions and race to collect the tokens needed to complete their unique Evil Plan. Be Prepared – not only do pesky heroes stand in your way, one of your fellow Villains may also choose to slow you down. The first player to complete their Evil Plan wins. A perfect addition to your family game night shelf, Disney Villainous Unstoppable is suitable for children seven and up, has an MSRP of $19.99, and will be available for purchase this summer.

Also coming in 2025 is an expanded global tournament and retail event circuit. The new circuit includes tournaments at events in France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia in addition to the two existing North American tournaments at Gen Con and PAX Unplugged. The Disney Villainous Night Out organized play kit is also available for retailers who want to bring casual play for the Villainous community to their stores.

If that wasn’t enough, the Disney Villainous line will also welcome its first live-action Villain in a new expandalone game. More details on the game, including featured characters, will be revealed ahead of the game’s launch later this year. Fans also can expect a new Star Wars™ Villainous expandalone to join the galaxy in 2025.