After seven years in early access, factory-building management sim Factorio is finally finished enough to launch properly. Update 1.0 arrived today and developers Wube Software have removed that “early access” label, though they’re not done with patches yet. Factorio was already great in early access, plopping players on an alien planet to slowly build a vast network of mines, conveyor belts, processors, assemblers, defences, trains, cranes, pylons, and drones, until we’ve gone from chopping trees down manually to launching a rocket into space. Now it’s bigger, prettier, and more polished. It has an updated free demo too.

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I know that many readers will have been anxiously awaiting news of Aliceburg, the scenic seaside village that I have been growing in lovely medieval city-builder Foundation, particularly since the Great Accidental Bread Famine of Winter 2019. At this point, it is on the verge of becoming one of my favourite games of all time, full stop, and it’s not far off getting a sexy new UI update that I can show you.

The tidings I bring today are mixed, though, because Foundation recently had another huge update to its early access build. V1.6 has made many small but significant changes (including large piles of rocks), and Aliceburg has become a bit borked as a result, especially now that Foundation has some tutorialising and quests to teach you how to build a city properly. Last time, I spoke of one day abandoning Aliceburg as if it were a long way off, but I am afraid that the day is now. Scenic Aliceburg is dead; long live scenic Alvania!

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As a devout pluviophile and a lover (and creator) of abstract digital landscapes, there are very few moments that bring me as much pleasure and serenity as when it rains in Alto’s Odyssey.

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The latest show to hit Fortnite‘s Party Island isn’t a blow-out concert or Chris Nolan flick. Somehow, it’s weirder. Hop in front of Fortnite’s big telly right now and you’ll find a call to “#FreeFortnite” from the supposed tyranny of tech giant Apple, who today removed the battle royale from the App Store for sidestepping its revenue policies. Now, Epic are taking Apple to court – and they’ve got an in-game ad campaign to make sure public perception is on their side.

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There’s a new conductor on the Metro: Exodus train. Or driver, even. Captain? I might not know how trains work, but I can tell you that Metro developers 4A Games have just been picked up by Embracer Group for around $80 million (roughly £61 million), and are floating plans to put that partnership to work on a multiplayer take on the post-apocalyptic Muscovite.

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One day, someone is going to build a genetically-engineered dinosaur theme park that doesn’t turn its guests into lunch. Parkasaurus may not quite escape from the murder, but I reckon it’s easier to be eaten by a T-Rex when it’s wearing a funny hat. Emerging from the labs of early access, Washbear’s colourful dino tycoon opened the gates to a full release today, with 20% off tickets for early visitors.

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Fortnite

‘s V-Bucks may have dropped 20% against the dollar, but economists need not fret. Unlike the real world, Epic’s murder island isn’t suffering an economic downturn. Instead, the blockbuster battle royale has decided to permanently cut the price of its virtual currency to spite tech giants Apple and Google, in an app store feud that’s quietly benefiting those of us who prefer to parachute into Fortnite on PC.

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If you’ve decided your PC’s in need of a new gaming CPU, then you’re definitely in the right place, as we’ve rounded up all of the cheapest CPU deals from around the web in the UK and US. Whatever type of PC you’re looking to build, you’ll find all the best prices for our top gaming CPU recommendations below. From the best Intel CPU deals to the best AMD Ryzen CPU deals, we’ve got you covered.

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Go to hell, Dying Light. Techland’s open-world zombie smasher is still cranking out DLC five years after release – and this time, it’s trading shamblers for skeletons with a brief excursion to the underworld. Crack open the piggy-bank, get in line for the cursed arcade cabinet, and prepare to crack some skulls, survivors. Dying Light: Hellraid is out today.

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Ave, citizens! Rome wasn’t build in a day, but this podcast was built in a few hours, so you tell me which is better? This week, we’re doing a Romans special. We talk about the games Romans appear in, the way they’re portrayed, and the difference between Romans on console vs on PC. Also we talk a lot about the Pope, and ask the important question: what does a wolf’s milk taste like?

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