Microsoft has made significant cuts, closing renowned studios like Arkane Austin (Prey), Tango Gameworks (Hi-Fi Rush), and Alpha Dog Games. Roundhouse Studios will be absorbed by ZeniMax Online Studios. Will nothing keep studios safe anymore? Sigh.

Hades II is now available in early access on Steam and the Epic Games Store, already offering more content than its completed predecessor. The first major update, including a new Underworld section, customisation for The Crossroads hub, and a new weapon, will take some months to release, per Supergiant’s announcement.

In a contrite tweet, Sony have announced the cancellation of plans to enforce PSN accounts for HELLDIVERS 2.

We’re still learning what is best for PC players and your feedback has been invaluable. Thanks again for your continued support of Helldivers 2 and we’ll keep you updated on future plans.

It’s unclear what this means for Steam players in countries the game was removed from.

After enjoying three months of almost universal acclaim, Sony - in an incomprehensibly stupid move - has decided to make PSN accounts a requirement to continue playing HELLDIVERS 2. Since the announcement, the Steam review score has tanked to Overwhelmingly Negative, the game itself is no longer purchasable in 177 countries, and Steam are allowing refunds outside of the regular playtime window. Indeed, the HELLDIVERS 2 dev team themselves are encouraging negative reviews and refunds. You have to wonder what in the world is driving this decision and their apparent commitment to it.

Publisher Take-Two, owner of the highest-grossing entertainment product ever (GTA V), is shutting down the award-winning studios Roll7 (Rollerdrome, OlliOlli World) and Intercept Games (Kerbal Space Program). Turns out a 9/10 on IGN, a Golden Joystick award, GDC award and BAFTA is not enough. Terrible.

Red Hook Studios has unveiled a new gamemode for Darkest Dungeon II, ‘Kingdoms’. Defend a kingdom, battle three new enemy factions, bolster a network of inns. Creative Director Chris Bourassa aims to merge the original’s permanence and roster management with the sequel’s traversal and combat. ‘Kingdoms’ will arrive as a free update in late 2024.

This is not a drill! The Triple-I Initiative kickstarted with a major reveal from Mega Crit - Slay the Spire 2. STS is an alltimer and genre definer, so I cannot wait. Early access starts 2025, so got a while to go yet, but wooo!

Massive and Ubisoft have dropped a Star Wars Outlaws story trailer, including a release date of August 30th. Personally, you get a lot of enjoyment for free just by virtue of being in the Star Wars universe, but yet another story going to Tatooine is getting kinda old… as are these AAA prices! $189AUD for the Ultimate Edition - oof, that’s like 20 Balatros!

Windblown, the new one from Motion Twin (of Dead Cells fame) finally has a gameplay trailer. Windblown promises a co-op (or solo) action roguelite experience. Playing as a ‘Leaper’, you’ll protect the Ark against a raging Vortex across ever-changing sky-islands. Looks cool!

The newly announced Triple-i Initiative seems to be carving out space as an independent response to AAA games, which otherwise would have been considered “lesser” AA titles.

The Triple-i Initiative is a new collaborative effort to highlight fan-favourite games and hype up established indie classics as well as new IPs. The Initiative is backed by strong independent studios such as Evil Empire, Red Hook, Mega Crit Games, Poncle, Stunlock Studios, Thunder Lotus, Re- Logic, Ghostship Games, Extremely OK Games, Heart Machine and more.

Their first showcase is on April 10th. Major announcements and reveals are promised from studios like Mega Crit, Red Hook Studios, and Evil Empire. Catch it on YouTube, Twitch, bilibili, IGN or Steam.