Author - Jerry Paxton

Xbox Partner Preview Announced for March 6

2024/03/04

Today, we’re thrilled to announce the next Xbox Partner Preview, this time featuring a mix of new and upcoming games for you from publishers like Capcom, Nexon, EA, and others with more than a dozen new trailers over the course of a 30-minute broadcast.

During Xbox Partner Preview, you can learn more about combat and traversal in Tales of Kenzera: Zau, with a video narrated by Abubakar Salim himself, see new gameplay from Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, get a closer look at The First Berserker: Khazan, and other great titles coming to Xbox, Windows, or Game Pass.

Our Xbox Partner Preview format is all about sharing exciting games news from our talented studios from across the globe with no frills: just new game reveals, release date announcements, and fresh new gameplay from upcoming games, coupled with unique behind-the-scenes stories from developers on Xbox Wire.

This event will be digitally broadcast on Wednesday, March 6, at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT across our Xbox channels on YouTube and Twitch and it will feature updates on a variety of Xbox and Windows games that are launching on our platforms.

We hope to see you back here on Wednesday, March 6!

Crusader Kings III: Legends of the Dead Launch Trailer

2024/03/04

Jerry Paxton

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

Even the most ancient of bloodlines must be bolstered by stories of greatness. Why should one noble house dominate others, if it has no glorious past to claim? Warriors and diplomats, hunters and saints, all have a place in the chronicles of history and the songs of troubadours. Can you build a legend so powerful that people speak of it centuries later? Secure an everlasting legacy in Crusader Kings III: Legends of the Dead.

Legends of the Dead is the newest core expansion to Paradox Interactive’s award-winning grand-strategy role-playing game of the medieval world. Travel back in time to a world of scheming regents and rival monarchs as they compete for prestige and dynastic power. In Legends of the Dead, you can preserve the legitimacy of your rule through not only great deeds, but the publicity of these deeds, creating a worldwide memory of your actions long after death.

But death comes for us all, and, in this expansion, new epidemics and plagues, including the Black Death, threaten to overshadow the accomplishments of all humankind, covering the earth in sickness and despair.

Features of Crusader Kings III: Legends of the Dead include:

Legends: Commission an epic retelling of your family history or build your own heroic reputation through great deeds. Promote this legend, far and wide, and see how the stories of the past reverberate through the centuries, and add even more glory to legendary dynasties.
Legendary Playstyle: Leverage your living legend status through new Decisions and actions, keeping the stories of your family in the minds of a continent, strengthening the legitimacy of your rule and allowing further choices.
Legendary Buildings: Your legendary reputation gives you access to new elite buildings, cementing your legacy for future generations.
Legendary Feasts: Poets and bards can ornament your celebrations with songs and odes to your greatness, inspiring your guests to spread the tale of your legendary generosity.
Court Chroniclers: Hire an official historian to spread the story of your dynasty’s great accomplishments, or use your poets and musicians to turn your actions into art.
Two New Legacies: A new Heroic dynastic Legacy for the heirs of legendary characters, even using the great deeds of ancestors to justify claims from the distant past, as well as a Legitimacy Legacy that promotes your dynasty as the true rulers of the realm.
Illness and Mourning: New diseases like the Bloody Flux, Measles and Holy Fire may ravage your court, but you can honor your deceased loved ones with dignified Funeral rites, according to your faith.
The Black Death: The greatest scourge of the Middle Ages strikes down noble and commoner alike, radically transforming the political and social environment. Prepare your realm and prepare your soul, because a rampaging plague may be the strongest enemy facing your rule.
New Art: Both life and death are given new energy with the celebrated art style that Crusader Kings III fans have come to appreciate. A new exclusive Map Table, new varieties of clothing, unit models and holding designs for extra flavor.

Tune in to REVEIL’s Hauntingly Beautiful Soundtrack

2024/03/04

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

Developer Pixelsplit and Publisher Daedalic Entertainment are extremely proud to work with Artist Arina Tara to release the hauntingly beautiful Soundtrack for the anticipated psycho-horror game REVEIL, that is coming out on Wednesday 6th. The original songs are inspired by the game’s story and capture the mind-bending atmosphere perfectly. Music lovers will receive the full soundtrack with six additional songs by choosing the Funhouse Edition of REVEIL for PlayStation, Xbox and PC that directly supports not only the devs, but also the artist.

Click here to check out the Soundtrack

Artist Arina Tara studied both songwriting and game-design to combine her two passions music and games. Her soundtrack also impacted the general sound design of REVEIL. For example, the melody of “We will go” was also used for some elements, such as the music box in the first chapter, and thus found its way from the song into the game. Producer Dan Sueman is accountable for the high standard of the production.

REVEIL Funhouse Edition

If you’re going to go big, go Big Top! For those looking for an additionally engrossing performance, REVEIL’s Funhouse Edition launches the same day. Filled with extra content and media tied to the game, it’s almost like being in the front-row center seat of the show:

Five original tracks written and produced for REVEIL plus 3 instrumental versions and 1 acoustic version
Digital Artbook filled with 41 pages of atmos-fear
An unlockable black-and-white camera effect
Unlockable developer commentary
An encore of five audio plays that allow players to dive deeper into the world and lore of REVEIL, recorded with the original voice actors from the game

Jagex Brings Major New Combat Improvements To RuneScape

2024/03/04

Jerry Paxton

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

Jagex is thrilled to announce the launch of a new update to the popular fantasy MMO RuneScape today that refines and enhances the game’s core combat systems, and delivers an improved combat experience for all RuneScape players.

Following a beta period, this update was created in collaboration with the RuneScape community and kickstarts a community-focused and more accessible chapter of the fantasy MMO, providing a strengthened combat system for players to take up arms.

Find out more about today’s update in the newest Dev Diary: Combat Updates which outlines what players can expect from the revitalised combat system, as well as a host of other great new improvements to enhance the overall RuneScape experience, with the players deeply at the heart of the game.

Combat Updates (March) Includes:

An enhanced combat system with major improvements to core game mechanics, including Hit Chance, Damage Potential, Crit Strikes and Damage Caps.
A revamped melee system, providing more accessible combat styles to players while still maintaining the heat of the action.
Additional miscellaneous improvements including a new channel bar and tooltip updates.
Continuation of the combat improvements made to the game, strengthening the strong relationship between RuneScape and the community, opening up further player-driven changes and improvements.

SAG-AFTRA Leadership to Attend GDC Amid Ongoing Video Game Negotiations

2024/03/04

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Industry News, News

Amid ongoing negotiations with video game companies, leaders from SAG-AFTRA will be in attendance at GDC for official programming and one-on-one media interviews about the status of the negotiations, the impact of A.I., and new interactive contracts for game developers of all budgets.

Leading AAA and indie game performer Sarah Elmaleh, best known as an actor and voiceover director who also serves as chair of the SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media (IMA) Negotiating Committee, will join the union’s National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.

Elmaleh is known for her roles in such AAA games as Helldivers 2, Hi-Fi Rush, Halo Infinite, Gears 5 and indies like Afterparty, Pyre and Gone Home. Her directing credits span production scope from Goodbye Volcano High and 2024 IGF Independent Games Festival Nominees The Wreck to Fortnite and Call of Duty. She is a leading voice in organizing, advising, and educating in the games industry and academia, and is instrumental in the current negotiations between SAG-AFTRA interactive performers and video game companies. She will be speaking on Friday, March 22, at 10 a.m. on the official GDC panel, Voices of Authenticity: Best Practices for Casting and Representing Queerness and will be joined by fellow SAG-AFTRA Interactive Committee member Linsay Rousseau at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Room 3014 West Hall.

Crabtree–Ireland will join the GDC panel What Games Companies Need to Know About Deepfakes at 12:30–1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Room 2011, West Hall. Crabtree-Ireland leads SAG-AFTRA as the union’s National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator. He, along with SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, led the union to a successful contract negotiation during the industry’s longest-running TV/Theatrical/Streaming strike. Concluding in November, the strike ended with greater benefits for actors and set new standards for A.I. protections.

Friday, March 22, 2024; 10—11 a.m. at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Room 3014 West Hall, Sarah Elmaleh and Lindsy Rousseau join the official conversation Voices of Authenticity: Best Practices for Casting and Representing Queerness

Both Crabtree-Ireland and Elmaleh are available through GDC, beginning on March 19 in person, by phone or video conference.

Mass Effect the Board Game – Priority: Hagalaz Announced

2024/03/04

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Publisher of tabletop RPGs, war games, and board games, Modiphius Entertainment Ltd. has announced that it will publish Mass Effect the Board Game – Priority: Hagalaz, a cooperative, story-driven board game for 1-4 players designed by Eric M. Lang and Calvin Wong Tze Loon 黃子倫.

Set during the events of Mass Effect 3, the crew of the Normandy has one more mission. It is the year 2186, and the Reapers have invaded the galaxy. Because the Council ignored Commander Shepard’s warnings, the Citadel Races are overwhelmed and on the verge of losing the war. Aboard the Normandy, Shepard carries out missions to prepare the Crucible, an ancient alien superweapon, for a last-chance attempt to defeat the Reapers. It’s a race against time, and Shepard must seize every possible advantage.

On the remote world Hagalaz, a research cruiser from the terrorist organisation Cerberus has crashed directly in the path of a deadly storm. With little time before the storm hits, Shepard must lead their squad through the cruiser to uncover its sinister secrets and keep them out of the hands of the enemy. However, the ship holds more dangers than just its former crew. Deep within the shattered cruiser stir creatures and enemies far worse than the Cerberus forces that guard them.

Mass Effect the Board Game – Priority: Hagalaz is a co-operative, story-driven game for 1-4 players. A branching, narrative campaign allows for multiple playthroughs with a different experience every time. Card-driven AI and evolving stories respond to your actions – your early choices influence later missions. Gather Shepard’s squad from a selection of teammates from the Mass Effect trilogy: Liara, Tali, Wrex, and Garrus. Customise and upgrade your squad’s abilities, equipment, and powers as they gain experience. Enhance them further by unlocking unique powers with optional loyalty missions.

The board game features six highly detailed 32mm scale pre-assembled plastic miniatures of male and female Shepherd, Liara, Tali, Wrex and Garrus.

Mass Effect the Board Game – Priority: Hagalaz will be released through Asmodee later in 2024.

For more information, sign up to join the crew of the Normandy at:
https://www.modiphius.net/pages/mass-effect-signup

Corsair Unveils New Additions to M75 Gaming Mouse Lineup

2024/03/02

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Peripherals News, Trailers / Videos

CORSAIR® (Nasdaq: CRSR) proudly announced the launch of two attention-grabbing additions to the M75 gaming mouse lineup: M75 and M75 WIRELESS. Blazing onto the scene with the same award-winning shape and match-winning performance established by the M75 AIR, these new mice deliver utmost comfort and control, while also infusing a streak of RGB into their lightweight designs. For the most competitive matches, M75 and M75 WIRELESS put you in fantastic shape to win, and look great doing it.

The meticulously sculpted M75 mouse design glides into the spotlight once again, with an unwavering focus on precision and ergonomics. M75 series mice are uniquely shaped from the ground up to comprise some of the most thoughtfully crafted gaming mice available. At 74g and 89g respectively, M75 and M75 WIRELESS are lightweight and agile enough to make deft flicks and microadjustments.

Each mouse sports a true ambidextrous shape, with swappable magnetic side buttons to support both right- and left-handed gameplay, programmable in CORSAIR iCUE software. With iCUE you can also customize the sleek two-zone RGB lighting to create a look and style that caters to every player.

Available in white and black, M75 WIRELESS grants gamers wireless freedom to play without sacrificing a nanosecond of latency. Actions transmit with virtually zero lag over ultra-fast and reliable sub-1ms SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS. Long-lasting battery life lets you compete for up to 210 hours via Bluetooth®*, and you can keep playing in USB wired mode while your mouse charges.

These powerhouse additions to the M75 family come fully equipped to carry your game. 100% PTFE mouse feet provide an impossibly smooth glide, making spectacular mouse sweeps and maneuvers downright easy. The laser-precise CORSAIR MARKSMAN 26K DPI optical sensor tracks even the slightest movements. Zero-gap CORSAIR QUICKSTRIKE buttons activate optical left- and right-click switches instantly, sending inputs to games at reality-warping speeds.

M75 and M75 WIRELESS provide the lightweight agility and stylish RGB that unlock limitless potential.

*with RGB off.

Availability, Warranty, and Pricing

The CORSAIR M75 and M75 WIRELESS gaming mice are available immediately from the CORSAIR Webstore and the CORSAIR worldwide network of authorized online retailers and distributors.

Both gaming mice are backed by a two-year warranty, alongside the CORSAIR worldwide customer service and technical support network.

For up-to-date pricing, please refer to the CORSAIR website or contact your local CORSAIR sales or PR representative.

Web Pages

To learn more about the CORSAIR M75 and M75 WIRELESS, please visit:

https://www.corsair.com/m75

https://www.corsair.com/m75-wireless

For a complete list of all CORSAIR gaming mice, please visit:

https://www.corsair.com/c/gaming-mouse

11 Facts About The Thaumaturge Trailer

2024/03/02

Jerry Paxton

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

The Thaumaturge, the spooky, story-driven RPG from Fool’s Theory and 11 bit studios is coming to PC March 4th. Experience morally ambiguous choices as you explore early 20th-century Warsaw as Wiktor, the titular thaumaturge. Utilize the powers of Salutors, esoteric beings detectable only by those skilled in thaumaturgy, to overcome a variety of challenges along the way.

The complexities of 1905 Warsaw are many, but brushing up your knowledge before the game launches could be helpful! Check out 11 facts about The Thaumaturge!

Features:

Shape your story – as a full-fledged RPG, it allows you to alternate your choices and make you deal with the aftermath.
Develop your character – creating your own version of the thaumaturge will allow you to approach situations in different ways.
Experience unique turn-based combat and defeat your foes using human attacks and skills as well as psychic strikes delivered by salutors.
Influence and manipulate the temperaments of other characters to bend their will to your liking.
Tame the power of salutors – use the unique set of their skills to gain an advantage while exploring the world and when bringing your adversaries to their knees.
See the world that’s inevitably gone – explore the uncommon, heavily researched historic period of the early 20th century Warsaw, where crime and luxury are often two sides of the same coin. Meet historical figures and learn about their involvement in the story.
Created in Unreal Engine 5 to deliver a detailed & beautifully crafted world.

The Thaumaturge will arrive on March 4th for PC. Console versions (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S) are planned for later this year.

Stunning OnePlus Watch 2 Smartwatch Launched

2024/03/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Tech News, Trailers / Videos

Global technology company OnePlus today launched its Watch 2 in India, Europe, and North America during MWC. OnePlus Watch 2 is a stunning flagship smartwatch, and it is also powered with the latest version of Wear OS by Google™ (Wear OS 4). Featuring a unique Dual-Engine Architecture with flagship dual chipsets and Wear OS’s hybrid interface, market-leading battery life of up to 100 hours in full Smart Mode, and a premium build and design, the OnePlus Watch 2 represents a big step forward for the smartwatch market.

As “Your Partner in Time”, the OnePlus Watch 2 embraces OnePlus’ “Never Settle” mantra to bring together all-around top-tier hardware and software in a single device designed to motivate and support users to achieve anything they set their minds to. “As a smartwatch that integrates market-leading battery life, premium design, latest Wear OS and innovative health features, OnePlus Watch 2 definitely qualifies as a reliable companion for your daily life.” said Justin Liu, GM of the Wearable Business Unit at OnePlus.

Industry-leading Battery Life Backed by Dual-Engine Architecture

The OnePlus Watch 2 is packed with flagship features, including exceptional battery and charging performance for unrivaled reliability and longevity. It features OnePlus’s self-developed Dual-Engine Architecture powered by two different flagship chipsets — the Snapdragon W5 performance chipset and the BES 2700 MCU Efficiency chipset. The BES2700 Efficiency Chipset runs RTOS and handles background activity and simple tasks, while the Snapdragon W5 wakes for powerful tasks, like running your favorite Google apps. This optimized approach, enabled by the Wear OS hybrid interface seamlessly managing the transition between chips, means users will experience a smartwatch that effortlessly does it all while extending the time between charges.

“We’ve made significant updates to Wear OS’s hybrid interface to support new capabilities that run on OnePlus’s innovative Dual-Engine Architecture,” said John Renaldi, Senior Director of Product and Design, Wear OS by Google. “Through this collaboration, OnePlus Watch 2 transparently switches between the low power and high performance engine to deliver a feature-rich, premium smartwatch experience with optimized battery life.”

With this unique Dual-Engine Architecture and a 500mAh battery, OnePlus Watch 2 can offer up to 100 hours1 of regular use with all functionalities accessible in Smart Mode, or up to 48 hours2 with heavy use. With 7.5W VOOC Fast Charging, the 500mAh battery can be fully charged in 60 minutes. With its 2GB RAM and 32GB ROM configuration, the OnePlus Watch 2 also offers plenty of memory and storage to ensure the watch runs smoothly at all times.

A Personal Fitness and Wellness Coach on Your Wrist

Drawing on its advanced combination of hardware and software, the OnePlus Watch 2 provides meaningful insights that drive positive change in health and fitness thanks to its ability to collect and analyze comprehensive health data in the OHealth app.

The OnePlus Watch 2 and the OHealth app now also support Health Connect by Android™, which offers a central hub in Android 14 for managing data permissions from multiple health and fitness apps and devices. With user permission, users can securely sync their health data collected via the watch or the OHealth app with Health Connect-compatible apps.

Fitness features available through the OHealth app include tracking modes for more than 100 sports such as badminton, running, tennis, skiing, and more. Specifically for badminton, the OHealth app on the OnePlus Watch 2 can track data such as swing strength and speed. Using the running tracking mode, wearers can also track data such as ground contact time, ground balance, and VO2 max. OnePlus and Wear OS worked closely to fine-tune these sensor capabilities. Designed for enhanced accuracy in location tracking, the OnePlus Watch 2 features Dual Frequency GPS with the ability to receive L5 GPS signals in addition to the commonly used L1 signals. The use of two separate antennas for each GPS signal further improves the precision and reliability of positioning for wearers.

Building on the OHealth app, the OnePlus Watch 2 also offers detailed sleep tracking analysis – including an all-day sleep record that tracks users’ deep sleep, light sleep, REM and awake times, as well as monitoring sleep breathing rate and providing a sleep quality score, sleep snoring risk assessment, and more, it can also monitor stress levels by calculating heart rate variability (HRV).

The Best of Google apps with Wear OS 4

Powered with the latest version of Wear OS, the OnePlus Watch 2 comes with popular Google apps like Maps, Assistant, Wallet, and Calendar, plus support for more third-party apps. Experience new levels of convenience with the new features coming to Google apps, like the launch of transit directions on Google Maps that helps you navigate public transportation effortlessly from your wrist. Plus, manage boarding passes, event tickets, and more directly on your watch with Google Wallet. With Fast Pair, you can quickly connect and set up your OnePlus Watch 2 with your OnePlus phone or other supported Android smartphone. This seamless pairing experience supports features like calling, messaging, media remote control, and more directly from your wrist.

Premium Design with Remarkable Durability

OnePlus Watch 2 shares the same design language with the OnePlus 12 Series. Taking inspiration from the distinctive K-shape design of the OnePlus 12 series, the OnePlus Watch 2 features a round watch face that echoes the series’ camera deco, making it the perfect companion for OnePlus 12 series.

The OnePlus Watch 2 features a 2.5D sapphire crystal cover, making it more scratch-resistant without compromising optical clarity. The watch chassis is made out of stainless steel for added rust and corrosion resistance. Certified to the latest MIL-STD-810H US military standard, the OnePlus Watch 2 is able to withstand tough conditions and environmental stresses, while its IP68 resistant rating and 5ATM water resistance rating ensure excellent performance at the beach, in the desert, or while swimming.

Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 Fathom Event Screenings Announced

2024/03/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

Return to the dark horror in the 100-Acre-Wood for the anxiously awaited sequel to last year’s hit horror film “Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey”. Fathom Events announced today that “Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2” will be dripping into theaters nationwide on Tuesday, March 26 through Thursday, March 28.

“This sequel is a big step up and ITN is excited to share this movie with our fans,” said Stuart Alson, President of ITN Studios.

Deep within the 100-Acre-Wood, a destructive rage grows as Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Owl, and Tigger find their home and their lives endangered after Christopher Robin revealed their existence. Not wanting to live in the shadows any longer, the group decides to take the fight to the town of Ashdown, home of Christopher Robin, leaving a bloody trail of death and mayhem in their wake. Winnie and his savage friends will soon show everyone that the hunters will soon become the hunted, whilst looking to exact their revenge on Christopher Robin once and for all.

Tickets for “Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2” can be purchased online at Fathom Events or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations, visit the Fathom Events website (theaters are subject to change).