EVE Online's Cradle of War expansion wants to make the space MMO more welcoming to new players, before killing them in galaxy-wide omniconflict

The effective onboarding of curious yet noncommitted first-time EVE Online players is a conundrum that developers Fenris Creations, formerly CCP Games, have been trying to solve for decades. Many are enticed by the MMORPG’s purely player-spun tales of espionage and military adventure, only to bounce off its dense hull of complex economic spacemaths and a sandbox occupied by oft-unpunished pirates and con artists. Perhaps the game’s next big expansion, Cradle of War, will have more luck when it launches on June 9th.

Read more

from Rock, Paper, Shotgun https://ift.tt/uk0wxUf
via ifttt

Forza Horizon 6 is lightweight enough to perform on just about any PC - though its new ray tracing modes slam on the brakes

Forza Horizon 6’s bootful of PC-specific tech features was apparently stuffed enough to warrant a big, colourful blog post about them. Ultrawide support? Yes. DLSS 4 and FSR 4? Both. Ray tracing? A resounding hai, those souped-up lighting and reflection effects escaping FH6’s car-ogling mode and adorning its open world for the first time in the series.

Actually playing the thing, however – and/or spending enough time in its benchmarking tool – reveals that its PC performance highlights mainly concern the absolute basics. On standard settings this is most definitely a smooth-running game, one that’s capable of scooting along on budget builds and handheld PCs while zooming through frames on powerful graphics cards. But, that’s not necessarily with the help of bleeding-edge tech. Upscalers like DLSS disappoint more than they impress, and the performance tax levied by those RT effects will drag you down from supercar luxury to framerate poverty.

Read more

from Rock, Paper, Shotgun https://ift.tt/wn0PJgR
via ifttt

Exodus' former studio head James Ohlen touches on why he left Archetype Entertainment: "I was running on fumes"

Back in December of last year, despite being the head of the studio, James Ohlen left Archetype Entertainment, also leaving his role as producer on Exodus behind. It was a bit of a surprise, given that he co-founded the studio after having retired from BioWare in 2018. Now, in a recent interview, Ohlen explains why he made the call, coming down to potentially the most unifying experience in game dev: burnout.

Read more

from Rock, Paper, Shotgun https://ift.tt/rOjy52R
via ifttt

Moss: The Forgotten Relic is a shinier, VR-less fusion of the two beloved puzzle platformers that's out this summer

There's always a twinge of sadness when a game designed for VR later gets ported to be played on a regular screen, primarily because it's just not technically the realm the game was made for. That's sad to me! On the other hand, I do not own a VR headset, so I do win in those instances as well. Like today, for instance, as the Moss series is getting a VR-less version, with both games combined into one neat package.

Read more

from Rock, Paper, Shotgun https://ift.tt/DgAwqJh
via ifttt

"It's a UGC platform, there is always going to be dog s***" Garry's Mod creator says as S&box's latest update aims to punish AI-generated thumbnails

S&box, Facepunch Studios' open source game development platform/spiritual successor to Garry's Mod continues to fight a battle against AI-generated games early doors. After Facepunch founder Garry Newman was quick to confirm the studio would be "taking action to promote human creativity and push obviously AI-created slop off the main page" following S&box's launch to mixed reviews, the game's latest update has taken aim at punishing creations with AI-generated thumbnails.

Read more

from Rock, Paper, Shotgun https://ift.tt/uApz8l7
via ifttt

Arc Raiders will get major updates every six months going forwards, with the next one set to roll out the shooter's largest map yet

Arc Raiders is switching up its update cadence, with developers Embark having decided that dropping a major set of additions every six months is better for the shooter's long-term health than sticking to a monthly update grind. The first update set to be released under this new modus operandi's also been revealed: it's called Frozen Trail and will include the game's biggest map to date.

Read more

from Rock, Paper, Shotgun https://ift.tt/sEZxOJ9
via ifttt

The Steam Controller is actually a scream controller, because Valve couldn't resist making it cry out in memey pain when you drop it

We've all heard it. This sound. The infamous Wilhelm scream, famous for cropping up whenever a game or film sound designer fancies a bit of inside jokery. Or, in this case, when Valve want to work an easter egg into their new Steam Controller. Yep, if you drop it in the right way, the controller Wilhelm screams in pain.

Read more

from Rock, Paper, Shotgun https://ift.tt/8CAOL3G
via ifttt