Console mercenaries, your mission starts on November 16th, 2023! The critically acclaimed turn-based tactics/strategy game, Jagged Alliance 3, is set to launch on PlayStation and Xbox this autumn, extending an enticing 20% discount to people who pre-order and are dedicated to liberating the nation of Grand Chien! And that’s not all – by pre-ordering, you’ll also gain early access: Jagged Alliance 3 starts 48 hours prior to the official release for all pre-orders.
Jagged Alliance 3 will be available on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, as well as on Xbox One and the Xbox Series S/X. The multiplayer functionality will be ‘cross-gen’, allowing PlayStation 4 players to team up with their PlayStation 5 buddies, and Xbox One users to join forces with those on Xbox Series S/X. The game hits the shelves on November 16th, with a suggested retail price of $59.99 / €59.99 / £49.99.
PLA Studios and Giant Flame are delighted to announce that their turn-based tactical game The Troop will be rolling out of early access on October 10, 2023. The historically-accurate World War II title has actively responded to a wealth of player feedback since it launched into Early Access in 2021, and will include a host of new features with its full launch on PC.
On the morning of the 6th June 1944 the Western Allies began the largest seaborne invasion in the history of warfare. D-Day would mark the start of a vicious campaign to wrestle North West Europe from German control. The following months would see the ancient fields, farms and villages serve as a battleground for new, lethal weapons that would become legendary.
Born from a lifelong passion for World War II history and turn-based games, The Troop follows the campaign of British and Canadian forces as they face the German Heer and SS in Normandy. Take command of infantry, motorised and armoured units in desperate tactical turn-based combat against an AI opponent that is challenging and unpredictable, but fair and fallible.
The Troop embraces the best traditions of classic tabletop war gaming combined with the interactivity and excitement the digital format affords. You have complete control over your units’ actions; tanks will not expose their weak side armour with unexpected pathing, hidden guns will not reveal their positions by firing prematurely, infantry will not flee inexplicably when victory is a few heroic paces away. You are free to take your time… but any mistakes are yours and yours alone!
Tom Page, Studio Director, PLA Studios, said: “Development of The Troop has been a real labour of love for our small and passionate team, and we are excited to finally share the full game with strategy enthusiasts. Following our extensive early access period, we are delighted to reveal that the full release of The Troop will include a host of optional rule settings including overwatch and bocage shooting as well as the highly-requested Campaign mode featuring four campaigns.”
In fact, the fans have been so crucial to the development of The Troop that some of the powerful in-game ace units are named after the game’s most dedicated supporters.
Game Features
Story mode: Follow the narrative of the campaign from D-Day, playing as a range of different units (Commonwealth and German) in different situations as history plays out across Normandy.
Skirmish mode: Choose your scenario, choose your side, choose your force, set your enemy restrictions… Play. What will the enemy bring to the fight and what tactics will they use? You’ll have to wait and see, but it will not be the same as last time! Endless replayability.
Campaign mode: In addition to the previously-released campaign following the exploits of the 8th Armoured Brigade, three new campaigns will be added for the full release of the Troop: 21st Panzer Division, SS Panzer Division, 31st Tank Brigade.
Steam launched twenty years ago today, on September 12, 2003. To celebrate, we’re going back to the original army green for the day and putting all Valve titles on sale!
We couldn’t help but throw in a bit more fun, and in an effort to make us all feel super old put together a fun walk down Steam and pop culture memory lane. You’ll find historical factoids from Steam and Valve along with important broader milestones like, memes and stuff.
We’re also highlighting the games that were the top releases on Steam from each year, and many of those games are joining the party with discounts of their own! And we’re hoping you enjoy the new art sprinkled throughout (and featured in a couple of free new stickers).
Steam would not exist without the developers and players around the world who are on it, and it is your feedback over the years that has and will continue to help us make it even better. We can’t say thank you enough, and look forward to working together with you all in the many years to come!
This morning Turn 10 Studios unveiled the first 17 minutes of Forza Motorsport. Check out the first few races and more including:
An Open Practice lap at Maple Valley behind the wheel of the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray and the last two laps of an endurance race at Hakone where you will experience the 2023 No.01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R. The Builders Cup Intro Series introduces a few select starter cars including the 2019 Subaru STI S209, 2018 Honda Civic Type R and 2018 Ford Mustang GT. A full-grid race on the all-new Grand Oak Raceway with the 2018 Honda Civic Type R.
Forza Motorsport is currently available for pre-order on the Microsoft Store and Steam. Players that pre-purchase the Premium Edition will have access to the game 5 days early starting October 5, 2023. Forza Motorsport is coming on October 10 to Xbox Series X|S consoles, Windows 10 and 11 PCs via the Microsoft Store and Steam, and Xbox Game Pass for console, PC and Cloud Gaming (Beta).
This week, in the last developer deep dive, Paradox Interactive and Colossal Order revealed details about the Cinematic Camera & Photo Mode available in Cities: Skylines II.
To enhance the player’s creative process, the developers revamped Photo Mode completely.
The Camera tab now allows players to fine-tune settings like Camera Body, Camera Lens, and Aperture Shape.
The Lens tab allows customization of Depth of Field, Motion Blur, Vignette, and more.
The Color tab lets you manipulate the atmosphere
The Weather tab controls everything from Volumetric Clouds to atmospheric fog.
SEGA® Europe Limited and The Creative Assembly Limited have today announced that Total War™: PHARAOH will be releasing digitally on the 11th of October 2023, with a physical Limited Edition releasing in Europe on October 23rd, 2023. The adorned Limited Edition will include cosmetic packs and a double-sided poster featuring a stylized campaign map and portraits of the iconic faction leaders.
Embark on a voyage through the bloodstained beauty of Ancient Egypt in this map reveal video.
CONQUER ANCIENT EGYPT AND SURVIVE THE APOCALYPSE
Total War: PHARAOH is the next installment in the award-winning strategy game franchise from Creative Assembly. Within it, players will immerse themselves within the turbulent events of the Egyptian New Kingdom period where they’ll determine the fate of three great cultures – the Egyptians, the Hittites, and the Canaanites – as they fight for survival amid the cataclysmic Bronze Age Collapse.
EARLY ACCESS WEEKEND DETAILS
By pre-ordering now, players can gain access to a PHARAOH’s trove of early-adopter bonuses including the ability to take part in an Early Access Weekend, the Avatar of the Gods Cosmetic Pack, and the Heart of the Shardana Cosmetic pack.
The Early Access Weekend allows players to venture into the breath-taking world of Ancient Egypt from Friday, 29th September to Monday, 2nd October. The prestigious Ramesses and the barbaric Irsu will be at your command as you wage war across 60 turns of strategic campaign gameplay with unlimited replays available within the timeframe.
Strategy Gameplay: Total War: PHARAOH is a game of two halves. One a turn-based open-world campaign with statecraft, diplomacy and exploration and the other intense, tactical real-time battles with thousands of troops across vivid Bronze Age battlefields.
Events Inspired By History: Experience an authentic recreation of Ancient Egypt and witnessthe death of Pharaoh Merneptah as you prepare your people to stand against the civilization defining events of the Bronze Age collapse.
Diverse Playstyles: Wage war with three unique Bronze Age Cultures; the Egyptians, Hittites and Canaanites and choose one of their historical leaders to command your armies. Charm the courts as peerless diplomats, charge into battle as unwavering commanders or cause chaos as fearless warlords.
Conquer The Bronze Age: Prove your legitimacy to become Pharaoh, or Great King, and expand your growing empire on a campaign map that spans the rich cultural hubs of Egypt, Canaan and Anatolia.
Near-Infinite Possibilities: With a brand-new Campaign Customization feature, no two campaigns will ever feel the same. Determine how you play with an extended range of options, such as random starting positions for all factions, detailed resource settings, the ability to toy with natural disasters and much more.
Dynamic Weather: Lead your soldiers through sudden and dramatic shifts in weather, such as torrential rain and sandstorms, and witness the tides of battle turn as it directly impacts the surrounding terrain.
Worship The Gods: Pledge your allegiance to the gods of this ancient world with nineteen deities to choose from, spread across each of the cultural pantheons. Show enough reverence to earn gameplay bonuses but disrespect them at your peril.
And Much More: Emulate the deeds of past Pharaohs, customize your bodyguard, embark on grand sieges, manipulate the courts, fight back against the mysterious Sea Peoples invaders and much more.
Developer and publisher Tripwire Interactive is excited to share a new video for Killing Floor 3, the highly anticipated next chapter for the studio’s wildly successful flagship franchise Killing Floor – in development for PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), the PlayStation®5 computer entertainment system, and the Xbox Series X|S console system. Following the Killing Floor 3 reveal trailer, first unveiled during the Gamescom 2023 Opening Night Live event, today’s new ‘Making a Monster’ video offers a behind the scenes look at the artistry, craftsmanship, and passion poured into the video, including the design and development of the iconic Fleshpound, just one of the many terrifying Zeds players will face when Killing Floor 3 launches worldwide.
Join Bryan Wynia, Creative Director at Tripwire Interactive, along with Neil Huxley and Milan Nikolic from Hydra Studios, for an intimate discussion detailing the body horror inspirations, creative process and production of the Killing Floor 3 reveal trailer, setting the terrifying tone for the next chapter in the legendary action/horror Killing Floor franchise.
Killing Floor 3 is the next installment in the legendary co-op action/horror FPS series. The year is 2091, 70 years after the events in Killing Floor 2, and megacorp Horzine has produced the ultimate army: an obedient horde of bio-engineered monstrosities called Zeds. Now, the only thing standing between these infernal creations and the future of humanity is the rebel rogue group known as Nightfall. This intense first-person shooter puts players in the role of a Nightfall specialist, joining forces with up to five teammates as they battle through a war-ravaged, dystopian future, surviving unrelenting waves of Zeds, unlocking new skills, and building the ultimate arsenal.
‘The Grinch: Christmas Adventures’ is the first video game released in over 16 years, based on the classic children’s book How The Grinch Stole Christmas! from the legendary creator Dr. Seuss. Today Outright Games have released a brand new gameplay trailer for the upcoming title that shows off the vibrant and colorful visuals found in the game, authentically recreated from the original illustrations in the book.
Outright Games, the leading global publisher of family-friendly interactive entertainment are proud to showcase gameplay for this iconic franchise for the first time. The trailer showcases not only the green grouch and his faithful dog Max in action, but the energetic 2D platforming gameplay and wonderfully festive power-ups such as the lasso candy-cane and enemy freezing snowballs.
The Grinch: Christmas Adventures has been designed with families in mind, with accessibility features for the youngest of gamers, as well as an asymmetric co-op mode where the second player takes control of the Grinch’s canine companion, Max. The upcoming video game is the first in sixteen years to be based on the iconic character and will serve as a brilliant introduction to the world of Dr. Seuss for a new generation of fans.
The Grinch: Christmas Adventures will be available on October 13th on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Train Sim World 4, the latest installment in the popular train simulation franchise, will be released on Windows PC, PlayStation and Xbox consoles on Sept. 26, 2023. The developer and publisher, Dovetail Games, today released a “Developer Diary” to give a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the game. You can see it here:
Train Sim World 4 is full of new experiences, and no better is that felt than in the Audio and Music. During the “Developer Diary,” Dovetail chats to its audio and musical maestros Adam, Ryan, and Ben about research trips to Metrolink, Manchester, and Austria – and what it means to create the in-game music for a video game.
Antelope Valley Line
Our journey through California continues with passenger services, a cab car and a powerful, streamlined locomotive. Fans of California railroading may recognize the sun-kissed setting akin to our previous Peninsula Corridor and Cajon Pass routes and in many ways Antelope Valley Line is a happy marriage between the two.
The Route: Los Angeles – Lancaster
Metrolink’s railroad network accommodates commuters, visitors and locals within the wider Los Angeles area, taking these passengers out to the wider suburbs and cities throughout California. The Antelope Valley Line has origins in the late 1800s and closed to passenger and freight traffic in the 1970s before being reopened as a commuter rail service in the early 1990s.
Trains depart the impressive Los Angeles Union Station – the largest passenger terminal in the Western United States – and head in the direction of Santa Clarita to the north, before turning east toward Palmdale and north again to Lancaster. A brand-new station at Vista Canyon is opening in 2023 and this station has been implemented in-game ahead of its opening in much the same way we did with University Station in Birmingham Cross-City.
Like Cajon Pass, from Train Sim World 3, the Antelope Valley Line depicts the changing and challenging scenery of California railroading, starting in the built-up and heavily populated city of Los Angeles, before fading into rugged terrain, desert and the twisting curves and canyons of the wider LA County. At times players may think that they are in fact operating along a freight route, but with the joy of stopping at stations (there are 13 in total) along the way as well as switching ends and heading back using the cab car.
The Locomotive / Cars
Metrolink EMD F125
Flying the flag for all-American diesel traction is Metrolink’s F125 locomotive. Unique to Metrolink (a new operator in Train Sim World), the F125 is a relatively recent addition to the USA’s wide variety of diesels, being built between 2015 and 2021. Its streamlined nose reflects its need to whisk passengers between stations on the line at speeds of up to 79 mph, rather than the sharp angles seen on most freight-hauling diesel locomotives.
Rotem Commuter Cars
Behind the F125 are the multi-level Rotem Commuter Cars, with the final car in the consist having its own cab for push-pull operation. Cab cars as a concept are more popular in the US than they are in places like the UK and allow for the engineer to operate the locomotive from the opposite end of the train. Players of our German content may be familiar with the concept from routes such as Bremen – Oldenburg with the n-Wagen cab car or previous US routes like NEC: New York – Trenton or Peninsula Corridor.
The Rotem Cab Car is unique in Train Sim World, with a high position for the engineer and more streamlined exterior. These cars are built by Hyundai Rotem and are used in real-life at opposite ends of the USA, both here in California and by another operator in Florida.
Services, Layers and other features
Services for the F125 are primarily formed of the end-to-end passenger runs as part of Metrolink’s passenger timetable, stopping at the 11 intermediate stations and averaging a speed of 35-40 mph (max speed 79 mph) across the 75-mile route. A handful of services from LA to Burbank or Via Princessa can also be operated as can non-revenue services from LA to Metrolink Carriage Maintenance Facility.
The F125 sits on the northbound end of each train, meaning that services out of LA are pulled by the locomotive, whereas services from Lancaster heading south are headed by the Rotem Cab Car.
Freight services will also be available to players that own Cajon Pass from Train Sim World 3. A selection of BNSF trains will be available as service layers to give some variety to traffic in and amongst the F125-hauled passenger trains.
With the real-life route being Union Pacific territory, those that own Sherman Hill will instead see the freight services swapped out with Union Pacific locomotives. Both Cajon Pass and Sherman Hill are required in order to operate these. Additional Union Pacific substitutions for the BNSF services will be available from Cane Creek locomotives too.
There’s also a service layer for the Santa Fe F7, which is part of the TSW Compatible Loco Add-on Bundle.
Scenarios center very much around the Hollywood theme, with one of Train Sim World 4’s new in-game Moments featuring in ‘Blockbuster’. Collectibles include Cowboy Hats spread far and wide along the route as well as a food vendors. And the brand-new Diorama feature brings track workers and other non-standard NPCs to life, as in all of Train Sim World 4’s core routes.
About Train Sim World 4
Developed and published by Dovetail Games, Train Sim World 4 will release for Windows PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles on Sept. 26, 2023. It can be pre-ordered digitally from today on Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation®Store, and Microsoft Store with a Deluxe Edition (£52.99/€64.99/$69.99), Special Edition (£89.99/€104.99/$109.99) and Standard Edition (£39.99/€44.99/$49.99) available. All can be pre-ordered with a discount of at least 10% on all platforms, with Deluxe and Special Editions granting 5-day Early Access and bonus decals for Livery Editor. A downloadable Soundtrack is also available with pre-orders on Steam, along with an additional 15% loyalty discount for owners of Train Sim World 3.
For more information about Train Sim World 4 fans can visit trainsimworld.com
In collaboration with Go On Board, CD PROJEKT RED announced today a new board game — The Witcher: Path of Destiny — set within The Witcher universe. Its crowdfunding campaign will begin on October 19th.
The Witcher: Path of Destiny, made by Go On Board, is a new board and card game based on the stories known and loved from Andrzej Sapkowski’s works. Players will take on the role of some of the greatest heroes of the Continent, including ones making a comeback from CD PROJEKT RED’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, like beloved Geralt, Ciri, or Yennefer. The game will also offer a chance to dive deep into an immersive dark fantasy story as well as complex, strategy-focused gameplay.
