Embarking on a Trepid Journey in 'The Forever Winter' The brewing PC survival game on the block, 'The Forever Winter', demonstrates a powerful fusion of the nerve-jangling showdowns iconic of 'Escape from Tarkov', the post-apocalyptic of the renowned Metro games, and an imaginative play of imposing mechs etched from concepts found in 'MechWarrior' and 'Dark Souls'. The excitement doesn't stop there, a remarkable fact remains that a closed beta release is set to blaze the counting days, thus, interested participants are urged to mark their calendars and secure their opportunities. A Desolate World Awaits with Crucial Collaborations and Tactics Delving deep into the basics of survival in the ruins of a harrowed industrial society depicting a bleak vision of our Earth post-apocalypse, 'The Forever Winter' catapults players into the shoes of scavengers navigating a world of relics to keep living. The true essence of survival is explored in this context where the gargantuan mechs of two persistent factions overshadow your offensive strategies. The trick to thriving lies in strategic collaboration with fellow survivors, regulating trigger-happy tendencies that attract unwanted attention, and generous redistribution of excess resources amongst lesser-resourced players to enable them to last the harsh nights. However, the seething rival militaries remain a constant thorn as your reputation and inventory size swell, forcing players to adapt careful allies’ coordination and tactical aptitude to evade the relentless attacks of their deadly hunter-killer mechs. An Exclusive Sneak Peek Into The Foreboding Terrains The thrilling news remains that 'The Forever Winter' presents an upcoming chance for an exclusive sneak peek during its closed beta phase. Developer Fun Dog Studios announces potential beta users will be gifted with the exceptional opportunity to engage with the game's main features on both its Scorched Enclave and Ashen Mesa maps. This will provide a one-of-a-kind experience to gain a firsthand feel of the survival and exploratory elements which this game offers. The selection process for participants is set to be fair and randomized. For those interested in this exciting first-hand exposure to The Forever Winter, submission into the official Discord by Monday July 29 is required, with the closed beta term running till Friday August 2. This window provides an ample chance to get hooked on 'The Forever Winter'. View full article

Delays for Ubisoft's Upcoming Mobile Offerings Ubisoft, the acclaimed game studio, has announced a postponement in the release dates of Rainbow Six Mobile and The Division Resurgence, two highly anticipated free-to-play mobile shooter games. According to its first-quarter earnings report, despite a strong start to the financial year, these games were initially set to launch before the close of this financial year, which ends on March 31st, 2025. Yet, they have now been shifted further along the timeline to allow the development teams adequate time to fulfill the steep expectations in a challenging yet massive market. The two titles, categorized as "triple-A" mobile games, were first publicized in 2022 and have since had closed beta testing. Ubisoft's Quarterly Performance and Success Stories Despite the recent setbacks, Ubisoft is optimistic about its Q1 results. The publisher maintains that it had a positive start to the financial year, achieving net bookings above the targeted numbers, an indication it is on the right path following its previous year's disappointing performance. A considerable portion of its Q1 triumph can be credited to the launch of the free-to-play shooter XDefiant in May. The game has had an uplifting start, drawing a player base of 10 million in its first fortnight. Likewise, other games like Rainbow Six Siege experienced significant yearly growth in player activity and monetization, and The Crew Motorfest maintained steady engagement levels. Continued Success and Future Plans Assassin’s Creed has been a consistent performer for Ubisoft. This quarter saw an uptick in sales following the announcement of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Even the critically criticized Skull and Bones consistently proved its worth in engagement and annual revenue per user. Ubisoft reports that its net bookings for the quarter amount to $315m, surpassing its target of $299m. As for upcoming projects, Ubisoft claims it is premature to discuss the next financial year. However, they have revealed that Anno 117: Pax Romana, a new addition to its popular strategy series, is slated for a 2025 release. Also coming up are Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin’s Creed Shadows, scheduled for launch on August 30th and November 15th respectively. View full article

Bethesda Game Studios Ascends to Union Status Bethesda Game Studios becomes the first game development company under Microsoft to achieve full unionization with the Communication Workers of America (CWA). The union comprises a comprehensive mix of professionals, including developers, artists, engineers, and designers. Microsoft has bestowed recognition upon the newly formed union. Bethesda's decision to unionize was reinforced after 241 developers expressed their interest in unionization - using either union authorization cards or an online portal. This momentous step comes in the wake of the unionization of Bethesda Games Studios Montreal in late June and roughly 300 quality assurance workers from Zenimax, Bethesda's parent organization. The Unveiling of #OneBGSUSA Bethesda Game Studios disclosed their excitement about the "wall-to-wall" union, which involved 241 developers. They proclaimed their joy on X/Twitter, saying they were thrilled to establish their union with @CWAUnion. They've united under the banner #OneBGSUSA, and they are committed to promoting the interests of every developer at Bethesda Game Studios, thereby establishing a new standard in the industry. The recently founded association will now negotiate its contract with Microsoft. Mandi Parker, Senior System Designer at Bethesda Game Studios, communicated her enthusiasm in a press release, emphasizing how to work democracy and having a protected voice at work benefits every worker. The Rise of Unionization in the Gaming Industry The gaming industry is seeing an upsurge in unionization, as workers strive for better safeguards from sweeping layoffs. This trend has been witnessed in Sega of America, which ratified a union contract earlier this year. Furthermore, Activision's QA workers have announced a union of their own. Microsoft has previously assured that it would not block any potential move by Activision Blizzard to unionize. This assurance seems to extend to Bethesda Game Studios as well. This trend within the industry to embrace unionization could provide unprecedented security and job assurance for employees in the future. View full article

Exciting Addition to Overwatch 2’s Roster Blizzard, the renowned video game developer and publisher, has pulled the curtain back on the latest character to join the Overwatch 2 lineup - Juno, the latest support hero for players to experiment with during a brief window from July 19th through to July 21st. Previously known as Space Ranger, Juno's initial appearance was made during Blizzcon 2023, where she was presented together with Venture. Despite her reveal, details about her abilities and powers were initially sparse. They were restricted to her carrying a blaster and possessing unique attachments to her spacesuit reminiscent of Death Stranding. Thanks to the latest gameplay trailer, Juno's capabilities are fully unveiled, including her ability to target heal teammates and attack adversaries. Juno’s Abilities and Gameplay According to the official description given by Blizzard, Juno is outfitted with Pulsar Torpedoes, designed to target multiple foes at once. The character's Glide Boost ability enables quick, agile movement across the battlefield, making her an integral asset for critical support. The Hyper Ring ability acts as a catalyst for team-based action while her supreme ability, Orbital Ray, amplifies damage output and tops up health. The hero's toolkit will be fully available for players to test during her limited trial period from July 19 to July 21, providing them with an opportunity to experience her distinct play style. Juno's Voice and Character Appearance Along with Juno's gameplay details, Blizzard has made an official announcement about Juno’s voice actor. Xanthe Huynh will be giving life to Juno. Huynh’s voice has been recognized in anime and video games such as Alluka Zoldyck in Hunter x Hunter, Haru Okumura in Persona 5, Haruka Sawamura in Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Inutade and Fleki in Delicious in Dungeon. Blizzard expressed tremendous excitement to have her voice in the game and looks forward to more Juno dialogue. With Juno's introduction, Overwatch 2's character roster is slightly more balanced in favor of support characters. As of now, Overwatch 2's character range includes 12 tank characters, 18 attack characters, and 10 support characters. The added mobility and unique ultimate ability of Juno are expected to gift both experienced and new support players with a valuable advantage when delivering payloads. View full article

Splitgate 2: The Portal-Themed FPS is Back The highly anticipated sequel to the portal-focused FPS game, Splitgate, has been officially announced. While no exact release date has been divulged, the game developers have indicated that we can expect the sequel to arrive within the calendar year of 2025. The announcement was made on July 18, 2024, accompanied by an enthralling cinematic trailer. Details regarding the official release date will be provided as it becomes available. Multiplatform Availability and Enhanced Gameplay Fans will be delighted to learn that Splitgate 2 will be available on a wide array of platforms such as PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One & Series X|S, and PC. The game can be wishlisted now on Steam, and will also be available to PC players through the Epic Games Store. Building upon the success of its predecessor, Splitgate 2 will continue to feature portal-focused multiplayer gameplay. This sequel, powered by Unreal Engine 5, is set to bring innovations with the introduction of factions. Three distinct factions, differentiated by colors - pink, purple, and orange, were noticeable in the cinematic trailer. The trailer hinted at these factions possessing unique abilities, adding an intriguing hero-shooter dynamic to the portal action that Splitgate is known for. Some shown abilities included deploying defensive barriers, using portable portals, and identifying enemies through barriers. The trailer also unveiled effective throwable discs and immobilizing bombs which may or may not be equipment options within the game. An Evolving Narrative Even though Splitgate 2 does not feature a single-player mode, an increased emphasis on narrative has been brought to the forefront. The game's developer, 1047 Games, has engaged a narrative writer to flesh out the lore and universe of Splitgate 2. The narrative is expected to be primarily executed through the new faction system as seen in the cinematic trailer. The trailer highlighted three distinct characters, implying a unique backstory for each faction. View full article