Starmancer, the space station management sim where you build a sustainable habitat for potentially belligerent astronauts, has just been released into early access. As the AI in charge of the station, you build and decorate a station, and try to keep the humans happy and alive. You can also just toss them into space, but that’s the sort of action that won’t go unnoticed.
Steve Gaynor, the co-founder of Gone Home studio Fullbright, has stepped down from his role as creative lead on their upcoming game Open Roads, following allegations about his treatment of employees. Multiple former staff have come forward claiming he had a "controlling" and "demeaning presence", and fostered a toxic culture that led to a "pattern of women leaving" the studio.
Embracer Group, named for the wonderful hugs they give, have announced the acquisition of several development studios under their various subsidiaries. They now own 3D Realms, who, despite operating largely as a publisher nowadays, will forever be linked to Duke Nukem. This means that Embracer now owns both 3D Realms and Duke Nukem’s owners, Gearbox, who they acquired earlier this year. Can you see where this is heading?
The full sentiment, which you've perhaps seen floating about social media, is "I want shorter games with worse graphics made by people who are paid more to work less and I'm not kidding". That's exactly what the games in this particular Itch bundle of 28 indie games are. A good number of people were not kidding, indeed, because the bundle keeps blowing through the modest sales goals that its organiser has set. After initially only setting a goal for $1,000, it's currently surpassed $8,000 with over a week remaining.
Tiny strategy puzzler Dorfromantik is a relaxing experience already, but it's now even more so thanks to the creative mode that the developers have been working on. It's still in a beta phase, which you can opt in to test yourself right now. You can now start snapping together its pretty landscapes free as you please if you don't care to worry about your score for a bit. The new test branch also reworks the save system to give you more freedom there too.
I've had my eye on Book Of Travels for a while, and lately every time I see it I think of Ed saying he doesn't like MMOs anymore. I'm pretty sure I also don't like MMOs anymore, but Book Of Travels isn't one. It's what Shelter series developers Might And Delight call a TMO—tiny multiplayer online. They're planning this little online world to be a calmer space than the likes of your GW2s or FFXIVs, which they've illustrated more today in a new video explaining what kind of co-op tasks you'll get up to on the Braided Shore. They're planning additional videos every week this month until Book Of Travels heads into early access on August 30.
The Razer Book 13 is a super-portable laptop capable of light gaming and serious productivity work, courtesy of Intel's suprisingly capable 11th-gen Core i7 processor with Iris Xe graphics. Pair that with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a 13-in 4K touch screen (yes, really) and you're left with a uniquely powerful ultralight laptop that can get even stronger when hooked up to an external GPU and desktop-grade peripherals. Today, the best possible spec of this machine has dropped from its RRP of £1999 to £1329, some £314 beyond the best price we've ever seen for this model. It also comes with a free Razer Iskur gaming chair, which Katharine rather liked.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night headlines this month's Humble Choice bundle, which includes a host of other excellent indie titles. For the princely sum of £8.69 or $12, you can pick up all twelve games - not a bad deal, methinks.
Anyone else having flashbacks to the late months of 2020 yet? You will be now. Amazon have just announced that their big fantasy MMORPG New World is delaying launch yet again. Just a little longer this time, to the end of September. Now that the closed beta is over and done with, they say that they need some extra time to incorporate feedback from players. Instead of its previously planned August 31 launch date, the new official departure date is September 28. For real this time.
This year's Geoffrication continues later this month with Gamescom Opening Night Live. For the second year in a row, the opening show for the event that's usually held in Cologne, Germany is being livestreamed right into your screens at home and hosted by Geoff Keighley. The man himself has just announced the times and show length for the next showcase-y event and it sure will be another long one. Pack a snack when you tune in at the end of this month.