برچسب: but

Iron Core: Mech Warrior – it’s Vampire Survivors with mechs – but is it any good?

|

Published: Aug 10, 2025 11:12 am

Okay, so you may already know I am slightly obsessed with Survivor-type games. Vampire Survivors, especially on Steam Deck, is still a go-to of mine, especially when traveling, but initially, I turned my nose up at it when it first came out and completely ignored it.

It was only by getting into the genre by accident, by stumbling across Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, that I revisited Vampire Survivors, and the rest is history.

Now I find myself trying to keep abreast of the genre and having a dabble at any such game that comes along, and boy oh boy, there are a lot of them.

This weekend, I discovered Iron Core: Mech Warrior, which was released a day or so ago on Steam and seems to tick a lot of boxes that dorks like me might be interested in. Survivor mechanics. Check. Mechs. Check – did you say mechs? I certainly did. Iron Core is Vampire Survivors with big, hulking mechs. Baby. I’m all in.

Iron Core: Mech Warrior is more graphically intense than Vampires and more akin to the flashiness of Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, and it’s probably fair to say it borrows from a few of that games’ more esoteric mechanics, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRtic2mIT9I

There are some differences, certainly at the start. This is a twin-stick shooter from the off, where the left trigger fires and the right stick spins you round. My terrible coordination doesn’t help here, but once you start levelling up your mech and get add-ons such as drones and the like, things start getting more familiar.

Nice new territory as well comes in the way of a game mechanic stolen from Battle Royales such as Fortnite, where the gameplay area continues to close in “the Storm” style. You can keep this at bay, but it offers something else to think about.

You can also change the perspective from the usual Survivor games, making things more third-person. It’s a real box of tricks this one.

Some people on Steam seem to be complaining about crashes and performance, but I had no such issues, even playing on a mid-rig. I haven’t tried on Steam Deck yet, but there’s enough here to make me think I will enjoy it if I do.

Don’t think of this as a review because it is not, but it is definitely a recommendation of something to pass the rest of the weekend and beyond with.

I am looking forward to seeing where this ends up as the updates roll in. The genre probably needed to see some fresh ideas, so Iron Core is a welcome addition, and one I wasn’t expecting.

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy

Source link

10/08/2025
Take-Two boss says GTA 6 price will be “fair” but doesn’t rule out $80 cost

Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games, just posted its quarterly financial results – rather good ones, at that. For those of us that aren’t investors, the good news to come out of its latest report is that GTA 6‘s launch date remains unmoved. No delays this time. However, another big question mark looming over GTA 6 is its price tag – will it match or even exceed the new $80 benchmark set by Nintendo? That question was posed to Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick ahead of today’s financial report, and while he didn’t give any specifics on GTA 6’s price, he did assure that it would be “fair.”

The $80 issue has been one of this year’s key gaming talking points. Nintendo was the first to take that step with its biggest Switch 2 titles. Microsoft then followed suit, announcing that The Outer Worlds 2 would retail at $80 – however, just a few weeks later, it backtracked and slashed its price down to $70, confirming that none of this year’s big Xbox first-party releases would make the jump. Battlefield 6 is without a doubt a desirable, triple-A game, and many thought that EA would jump at the chance to make it an $80 game, but it too has held firm. Despite some now infamous comments from Randy Pitchford about increased game prices, Borderlands 4 (published by Take-Two-owned 2K Games) is also sticking with $70.

There’s a hesitancy to follow in Nintendo’s footsteps, and many believe that the GTA 6 release date could be the true catalyst for solidifying that new top level price across the industry. Speaking to Zelnick before the new financial report was released, Variety quizzes him on whether GTA 6 will target an $80 price point.

“So now that announcement will come from Rockstar in due time,” he says. “Our goal always is to deliver more value than what we charge, so we’ve had variable pricing at the company forever. As you know, the approach of the industry is to launch at a premium price, sometimes with special editions, and over time, typically to reduce the price to enhance the overall size of the market. We do the very same thing. I think, probably more than most, we’re highly focused on making sure that the experience is great, not just because the game itself is great, but also because consumers have paid a fair price for it.”

It’s not the most committal answer in the world, and one that certainly doesn’t rule out an $80 price tag. The promise of a “fair” price is encouraging. But the “deliver more value than what we charge” comment could suggest that the sky is the limit – given its scope, and the fact GTA 5 is still going strong more than a decade later, the ‘value’ GTA 6 will deliver is surely gargantuan. Does that also mean a gargantuan price tag? Maybe.

Until Rockstar actually reveals its price and shows us more of what GTA 6 has to offer, find out everything we know so far from our friends at GTA Db. Alternatively, here are some colossal and brilliant open-world games to get lost in before your trip to Leonida.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.

Source link

08/08/2025
A new, free version of Rust has been revealed, but there’s a catch

Take a glance at Steam’s top ten most-played games on any given day, and there are a few names you’re almost guaranteed to see. Dota 2. Counter-Strike 2. PUBG. They’re all consistent big hitters. So too is Rust, arguably Steam’s biggest survival game, and a brand new version of Facepunch’s legendary game has just been fully revealed. Unfortunately for those on PC, this is not ‘Rust 2’ – it’s Rust Mobile.

We already knew that a mobile version of Rust was in development, but now it’s been fully unveiled to those who want to build and blow up bases on the go. It’s being developed by Level Infinite, the division of Tencent that’s also published the mobile version of PUBG and will help deliver the Assassin’s Creed Jade mobile spinoff as well. It’s promising to be a fully-fledged Rust experience – it’s fully licensed by Facepunch, and is retaining all of the hallmarks that make the original one of the best survival games ever made.

“Rust Mobile brings everything you love from the PC version: open-world exploration, tense PvP battles, base building, and that constant feeling of ‘trust no one,’” Level Infinite says in an announcement post. “It’s all here, now tailored for a mobile lifestyle. The game features a fully explorable sandbox world with dynamic weather, region-based biomes, and a real-time day-night cycle. All the core pillars of Rust remain intact – scavenging, crafting, raiding, and permadeath – so every decision counts.”

While details on monetization are limited at the moment, what I can tell you (after reaching out for clarification) is that Rust Mobile will be free-to-play. If it’s offering all the same thrills of the PC version, which has a retail price of $39.99 / $34.99, then great. But of course, there’s always the threat with free mobile games that there could be some time-gating and a heavy push towards microtransactions. Like I said, there’s nothing officially confirmed on that front yet, but just keep that in mind.

As well as dropping a new cinematic trailer, Level Infinite has also opened up pre-registration for anyone looking to give the game a go. If you’re heading out to Gamescom later this month, you’ll also find a hands-on demo of Rust Mobile waiting for you there.

If you’re a PC player looking for something new to play on a budget, check out our favorite free Steam games. Alternatively, look ahead to what’s on the horizon with our upcoming PC games guide.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.

Source link

01/08/2025
Ashes of Creation Phase 3 is delayed, but the giant new MMORPG will stay online

Launching a new MMORPG against the long-established giants is a daunting prospect. World of Warcraft, FF14, Guild Wars 2, Runescape, Eve Online; the list goes on, making it a tough task to craft a fresh world that can attract and sustain a long-term community. Nine years since it was first announced, Ashes of Creation is steadily marching through its mammoth Alpha Two test period, with developer Intrepid Studios insistent on taking the time to get things right. With this in mind, it now confirms that the playtest’s next phase will start a little later than originally planned, but lays out just what improvements we can expect.

Creative director Steven Sharif has been quick and consistent to emphasize that he doesn’t consider Ashes of Creation Alpha 2 to be a game yet, but rather a testing environment. Each incremental stage ramps it closer to that final product, however, and to becoming something worthy of ranking among our best MMORPGs. The next big shift will come with the launch of Alpha 2 Phase 3, which was previously scheduled to start on Monday August 4, but Intrepid has now moved that date back by three weeks as it aims “to ensure phase three hits the quality bar it deserves.”

This extra time will allow for “continued iteration, polish, and testing,” Intrepid explains. It’s looking to further refine the new starting area, the Anvils, which “arrived a little hotter than anticipated.” The developer says it’s “not aiming for content parity with the Riverlands starting zone,” but wants to ensure that there’s a strong “golden path” to guide players through their early steps.

That means improvements to interior spaces, visual landmarks, environmental storytelling, and your introduction to systems such as pocket dungeons and node progression. Intrepid adds that it’s also “streamlining and enriching the early-game experience for newcomers” across both the Riverlands and the Anvils to ensure first-time players have the best opening hours possible.

Level-four nodes are a big part of the incoming update, as they’ll allow the creation of full-scale towns in each region. Intrepid calls it “a major step forward in shaping the world through player agency and fostering healthy competition between nodes as they specialize and evolve. However, the team needs additional time to “smooth out the level-four layout, enhance environmental set dressing, and improve UI elements related to Vassalship.”

As previously discussed, both the economy and stats are being fairly dramatically overhauled; Intrepid says it intends to continue this rework based on recent feedback, and will use the extra time to test and tune these systems via the PTR (public test realm). It’s also working on further backend optimization “to support larger, more stable play environments,” and adds that the extra development time will also allow for enhancements to ambience, lighting, audio, and “navigation throughout key regions of the Anvils.”

While you’ll have to wait a while longer for the update, Intrepid notes that the PTR, which is now accessible to all players who have Alpha 2 access, will remain available until the launch of Phase 3. “As with any active development, delays happen,” Sharif concludes, “We will stay focused on our outstanding work outlined above and provide updates as we continue with our PTR testing. Your support, passion, and time mean everything to us. We’re building Ashes of Creation together, and it’s your feedback that shapes each step forward.”

Ashes of Creation Alpha 2 Phase 3 will start on Tuesday August 26, 2025. If you want to join, you’ll need a key, which begins at $100 and includes future beta access, a month of game time, and $15 worth of Ashes of Creation’s in-game marketplace currency, Embers.

If you’re looking for something closer to completion, we’ve rounded up the best new MMOs in 2025. To truly immerse yourself in their worlds, take a look through our recommendations on the best gaming headset for PC.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.

Source link

26/07/2025
Postal 2 Redux upgrades the controversial FPS, but won’t “lose the soul”

22 years since the original ‘graced’ our screens, Postal 2 Redux is set to bring back the beloved, bad-taste FPS, courtesy of Flat2VR Studios and Running With Scissors. There’s unquestionably a fondness for this controversial classic; head to Steam, and you’ll find Postal 2 with a 96%-positive rating from over 100,000 user reviews. People know what they’re getting into, and in that sense it certainly delivers. Speaking exclusively to PCGamesN, Flat2VR CIO and co-founder Harry ‘Skeeva’ Skigis tells us how the developer decided what parts needed to change, and the importance of preserving its brash, crass essence.

There are lots of modern picks among our best FPS games, but there’s also been a notable resurgence for ‘boomer shooters’ that harken back to the ’90s and early ’00s, or come from that era originally. Postal 2 slots neatly into that lineup alongside classics such as Doom and Duke Nukem 3D, or modern takes such as Dusk and Ultrakill. “There’s the nostalgia angle, but more than that, boomer shooters were refined experiences that focused on doing one thing right: making the player feel powerful but challenged, while having fun,” Skigis muses.

That sense of instant action is something people crave at times, he says. “There have been some world-class narrative games the last 20 years, but sometimes I just want to shoot something and have a thrilling experience.” Flat2VR describes Redux as ‘preservation with purpose,’ but justifying a remaster means deciding which elements of the original should stay and what you’re going to change.

Skigis was eager to build out the likes of interior locations to feel more full and representative of the lore, for example, but the visuals needed a lighter touch. “We don’t want fancy graphics just for the sake of it, but rather something that feels fresh and updated, while somehow also very familiar,” he remarks. “It’s easy to end in an uncanny valley or lose the soul of the game; part of the charm was the quirkiness.”

While we’ve arguably seen an increasing ‘maturity’ across some games in recent years, Skigis is adamant that there’s still very much a demand for more vulgar and ‘shocking’ experiences, pointing to the huge success of Grand Theft Auto 5 as an example. “For some players, having those elements of shock can be cathartic; for others, it will leave them with thoughts for reflection. Games should be interesting and discussed; they are not just products to consume.

“We shouldn’t be placing limits on what can and cannot be made,” Skigis continues, “as expression is one of the most important freedoms to protect. Players want a wide range of experiences. In some cases, these games can be violent, but ‘non-violent’ games can do just as well. Having a wide range of options is important for players so they can make their own choices.”

Flat2VR says it’s aware of potential issues in regions including Germany and New Zealand that have particular content restrictions. While it intends to push hard to bring the game to a worldwide audience, it admits that it cannot guarantee Postal 2 Redux (and the separate VR project) will be available everywhere. It doesn’t intend to change anything, however, stating that the PC version will remain uncensored even if other platform holders request tweaks.

With the Postal 2 Redux Kickstarter currently in pre-launch, Flat2VR says it’s currently expecting the game to arrive in 2026. While there will be some additional content, this will depend on stretch goals; while multiplayer and co-op is likely to fall on this list, the studio notes that it “doesn’t feel like Postal if you can’t cross streams with your friends.” It’s also worth noting that the remaster won’t be a free upgrade like the 20th-anniversary update, but the developer promises it’ll be “worth every penny.”

In closing, Skigis tells us he believes Postal is special because it offers players freedom to find what they want. “It doesn’t ask you to play a certain way. It doesn’t judge you for your actions. The game is about you. In a lot of modern games, it feels like you are playing on rails narratively. In Postal, you are the Postal Dude, but it’s more like you are cosplaying him rather than watching his life. It’s a crazy world out there in Paradise, AZ; go and have fun!”

Flat2VR and Running With Scissors are aiming to launch Postal 2 Redux in 2026. You can follow the Kickstarter campaign here, with additional stretch goals based on the total count reached. These include a Postal 4 outfit for the Dude, new moves for Mike J when you piss on him, full Steamworks support for modders, and the Super-Fun Pigeon Hunter Mission (for real this time).

While we wait for its arrival, take a look through the best classic PC games you can still play today, or make sure your experiences really shine with an upgrade to the best gaming monitor in 2025.

Additional reporting by Ed Smith for PCGamesN.

Source link

20/07/2025
Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Controller Review – Customizable, Comfortable, but Lacking in Ways – TouchArcade

For our last full controller review on TouchArcade, I’ve been using the Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition for PC and PlayStation across my Steam Deck, PS5, and PS4 Pro for over a month now. Before I interviewed PDP Victrix about the controller and arcade sticks, I was very curious about the controller for its modular nature and also because I’ve wanted to try out another “Pro” controller after adoring the Xbox Elite (1st generation) and DualSense Edge over the years.

Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Controller – what’s in the box

Usually, controllers just ship with a cable and sometimes a charging stand. In the case of the Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition, you get the controller, a braided cable, a high quality protective case to house the controller and everything else it ships with, a replacement fightpad module with a six button layout for fighting games, two gates, two replacement analog stick caps, two d-pad caps, a screwdriver for use with the controller, and a blue wireless USB dongle.

The items are all neatly placed within the case which is very good quality on its own. Unlike the normal Victrix Pro BFG controller, some of the items with this one are themed to match the new Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition aesthetic. Keep this in mind as I don’t see replacements available officially for this, but I hope they start selling them soon.

Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Controller compatibility

On paper, the Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Controller supports PS5, PS4, and PC. I don’t use Windows anymore, so I was curious if this would work on Steam Deck out of the box. Since I prefer the PlayStation button prompts in games, I set it to PS5 and plugged in the dongle into my Steam Deck Docking Station. It worked without issue and without needing any update.

On the console side, if you want to play wirelessly, you need the same dongle and to set the toggle to PS4 or PS5. I had no issues playing with it on my PS4 Pro in PS4 mode and on my PS5 in PS5 mode. In fact, since I don’t have any PS4 controller that works outside of arcade sticks with PS4 support, this is a very good bonus to have for when I want to test something on PS4 to compare with PS5.

Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Controller features

The big draw of the Victrix Pro BFG controller is the modular nature letting you work with a symmetric stick layout, asymmetric stick layout, change things up for fighting games with the fightpad, adjust the triggers, thumbsticks, and also the d-pads. The aim with this design was to allow you to adjust the controller depending on the game you’re playing. As an example, I’d use the symmetric stick layout when playing Katamari Damacy Reroll, but I might swap to the Xbox-style asymmetric layout while playing DOOM Eternal.

Being able to adjust the trigger stop is also great as I can change that when playing a racing game with analog trigger support and also go for the shortest stop when playing a game with digital trigger support. Beyond that, the multiple d-pad options are very nice, but I’ve been trying to stick to the default diamond shape one to get used to it, and I like it a lot. I wouldn’t use it for platformers though, but the other d-pad options work well here.

Since this is an official PS5 and PS4 licensed controller, it is worth noting that this has no rumble, no haptic feedback, no adaptive trigger support, and no gyro/motion control support. I don’t care about gyro much, but no rumble at all is disappointing since you have sub $30 controllers now offering decent rumble, though they aren’t PS5 compatible. I’ve been informed that third party wireless controllers for PS5 might have restrictions for rumble as well, and I’ve seen more reports from folks using other third party controllers here. Either way, this is disappointing.

The Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition ships with 4 paddles or well paddle-like buttons. I wish there were proper paddles you could remove though. I mapped two of them to L3 and R3 and the ones above to L1 and R1 since I use those the most in games like Monster Hunter World and also hate pressing the sticks. Having four buttons here is very good though.

Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Controller look and feel

Visually, I love the gorgeous and bright highlights and colors used on the Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition. It isn’t as elegant as the default black model with purple highlights, but for a themed controller it looks very good with its light blue, pink, purple, and Tekken 8 branding.

The Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition feels very comfortable, but it is a bit too light for my liking. The material on the main controller body ranges from feeling premium to just fine. It is a far cry from the premium feeling DualSense Edge, but that controller has that ugly glossy front plate that ruins things. The grip on this controller makes a big difference, and I’ve had 8 hour sessions with the controller wired without getting tired of holding it. It being light pays off here.

Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Controller on PS5

On PS5, there are a few things to keep in mind. This is an officially licensed controller, but you can’t turn on your PS5 with it. This seems like a limitation for 3rd party controllers on PS5, but is an annoyance to keep in mind. Beyond that, haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and gyro are not available here. Aside from that, it has touchpad support and all the buttons I use on a DualSense controller including the share button.

Victrix Pro BFG on Steam Deck

Like I mentioned above, the Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition works out of the box on Steam Deck with the dongle plugged into the official Docking Station I use. It even correctly is recognized as a PS5 Victrix controller with the share button working for capturing screenshots and the touchpad working as it should in PC games that have PlayStation controller support. This was great to see as some games don’t even recognize my DualSense correctly.

Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Controller battery life

The huge advantage the Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Controller or the normal one has over the DualSense and DualSense Edge is the battery life. It lasts multiple times longer than the DualSense and the DualSense Edge on a single charge. It also helps that the logo on the touchpad indicates when the battery is low. This is good for playing on Steam Deck as other controllers don’t really visually indicate when the battery is low.

Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Controller software

The software is something I couldn’t test as it is only available on the Microsoft Store and I don’t use Windows anymore. Thankfully, it works out of the box with Steam Deck, PS5, and PS4. The one thing I was hoping to see is if the controller would work on iOS. I tested wirelessly with the dongle on my iPad, wired on my iPhone 15 Pro, and also wired on my iPad Pro with no luck.

Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Controller negatives

Right now, it has a few big negatives. These include no rumble, the low polling rate, not shipping with the Hall Effect sensors, and it requires a dongle for wireless, at least for the model I have. The lack of rumble might not be an issue for some, but for a “Pro” controller, the polling rate is disappointing. There are multiple videos on YouTube showcasing this and why it is a problem as well. Comparatively, the DualSense Edge wired is massively better with its response.

As for the Hall Effect sensors, I’m glad Victrix now sells the new modules, but why do new purchases of the controller not just ship with those in the first place? Also if I were to buy either of the module color options available for my Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Controller, it wouldn’t fit with the aesthetic and will not have PS5 face buttons.

Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Controller Review

Having gotten well over a hundred hours of use out of the controller per platform across games like UFO 50, Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Persona 3 Reload, and many more, I can safely say that I love using the controller, but the few issues are annoying to see given its price point. In a lot of ways, the Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition has the potential to be one of the best controllers in years if it sees some fixes and changes for a potential successor. Right now, there are a few too many caveats involved for its high asking price that make sure it is very good, but not amazing. The big issues holding it back right now are the lack of rumble (which seems like a restriction from Sony), dongle requirement, additional cost involved for Hall Effect sticks, and the polling rate. These might not matter to some folks, but for a “Pro” controller priced at $200, I expected a bit more.

Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition Review Score: 4/5

Update: Added more information for the lack of a rumble feature.

Source link

17/07/2025
Gacha hit Solo Leveling: Arise gets the K-Pop tie in treatment but how do you get I-dle’s stars?

|

Published: Jul 4, 2025 06:56 am

Whatever your views on the behemoth gacha games such as Honkai Star Rail and Genshin Impact, there are countless others, such as Solo Leveling: Arise, that are worth squillions to their developers.

If the figures are to be believed, Netmarble made over $100 million in the first three months of SLA alone. And that was the middle of last year.

A little over one year on, and Solo Leveling: Arise welcomes K-Pop royalty I-dle to the game in its latest update. The South Korean group, consisting of Soyeon, Miyeon, Minnie, Yuqi, and Shuhua, is responsible for nearly eight million Spotify streams per month, and their debut album sold 83,000 copies within 24 hours. It’s not tough to see why Netmarble wants them involved.

How to get Miyeon and Shuhua in Solo Leveling: Arise

From today, Solo Leveling players can add Miyeon and Shuhua to their roster of playable hunters simply by playing the game during the I-dle event through the special Collaboration Pass. Completing the event story mode will unlock other rewards, including additional copies of both K-Pop stars.

Other notable new stuff

Also arriving in the update is a new Story Expert mode for those looking for a bigger challenge. Players who complete all chapters in this mode can earn up to 35,000 Essence Stones as a reward. In addition, players can challenge new Encore Mission bosses, Incaro and Helder, who will appear in a single dungeon.

What is Solo Leveling: Arise

The game version is based on the super-popular webtoon that has been viewed an astonishing 14.8 billion times – yep, that’s nearly twice the population of the planet – so two views each, can you remember when yours were?

The game is free to play, and you can stick to that format if you choose, but most people will purchase in-game currency to customize their character and purchase better equipment, alongside the gacha element of pulling for new weapons and characters.

Is it for you? Well if you are fan of gacha and haven’t checked it out yet and want to get away from the big hitters in the space, you will definitely appreciate what Soloe Leveling: Arise has to offer.

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy

Source link

06/07/2025
But will it run Doom? Audi’s new in-car gaming platform aims to liven up those long journeys

|

Published: Jul 1, 2025 07:09 am

Say goodbye to the nostalgia of I Spy on long road trips, but only if you have a selected Audi model. The car giant has teamed up with AirConsole to bring gaming into the cabin, albeit with a heap of safety caveats to ensure the driver doesn’t get involved in any marathon sessions.

“This is a game-changer for in-car entertainment. With Audi, we’re redefining what’s possible inside a vehicle—bringing gaming into motion and making every journey more social and fun,” says Anthony Cliquot, CEO at N-Dream, the makers of AirConsole. “By enabling gameplay on the passenger screen in a way that prioritizes safety by not distracting the driver, we’re taking a bold yet responsible step toward a future where cars are not just modes of transport, but platforms for shared digital experiences.”

So far, so PR, but what does it actually mean? Well, in Audi models equipped with a passenger display and Audi’s Active Privacy Mode – a digital curtain that blocks the screen from the driver to prevent any distractions beyond shouting and throwing your controller around when you rage quit – the front passenger can now enjoy gaming while the vehicle is in motion. It is slightly weird that many of the press shots for the announcement show the driver taking part, albeit not while the car is actually moving.

The feature is now available in the Audi A5, Q5, A6, A6 e-tron, and Q6 e-tron model series equipped with Android-based infotainment systems, in all markets where Audi operates. Utilizing your own smartphone as a controller, you can enjoy yourself with a specially tailored car version (a true mobile game…sorry) of Pictionary: Car Party, from Mattel. Up to four players can connect and while away the time while the designated driver tries to drown out shouts of, “Is it a sausage?” while doing a steady 70mph.

Erika Winterholler, Head of Business Development, Digital Gaming at Mattel, said: “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with AirConsole and work with the team at Audi to bring Pictionary™ Car Party! to Audi’s infotainment systems. This collaboration is a game-changer, letting non-driving passengers join in on fun, interactive play using their smartphones. Most importantly, the front passenger can safely control the game without distracting the driver, ensuring that entertainment and safety go hand in hand. This is the future of social gaming on the move, making every journey more enjoyable.”

Beyond Pictionary, the AirConsole catalog will be regularly updated but currently features an additional 13 games, including Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Overcooked, and Uno: Car Party. AirConsole is available through the Audi Application Store and all you need to do is boot up the game and scan the QR code with the phones of people who want to play, and you are in.

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy

Source link

02/07/2025
Steam’s Summer Sale starts today but is there really anything to get excited about?

Image via Valve

|

Published: Jun 26, 2025 05:53 am

Another month, seemingly another HUGE GAMES SALE! There was a time when online storefronts holding major discount events were a great time to fill your libraries with games you would probably never get around to playing.

To be fair, Steam’s Summer Sale is one of the big two events of the year, alongside its Winter iteration but everything feels so watered down with events every month, other stores such as Epic Games Store and the like, starting their own discount periods ahead of the Steam one and, it can’t just be me that’s noticed the pattern of it being largely the same big titles on offer every single time, every few months.

It’s gotten a bit like those stores that sell sofas, where every few weeks there is a sale, so why would you ever pay full price for the same thing? You can only be tempted by Cyberpunk 2077 so many times, and with lots of good deals constantly available, do sales even have a place anymore?

Take Grounded for example – great game, worthy of anyone’s time. It’s currently on sale for 50% off as part of a midweek deal, before the sale even starts. It’s not going to get any cheaper later today. Same with Horizon Forbidden West – that’s down 40% on a midweek deal.

Rinse, repeat

The pattern very much now is that the same blockbuster games will get the same heavy discount, newer games may get around 10% off, and some of those obscure indie titles that you had your eye on, that were cheap anyway, may get half price.

Will games like Civ VII see their first discounts this sale? I would be amazed, even though it has Mostly Negative Steam reviews currently. One game that is confirmed as getting a deeper discount than expected is Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, which has just got its huge 1.5 patch, so that’s definitely worth a pickup if you haven’t got it already. The base edition will be cut by 30% with the Enhanced Edition seeing a 15% drop from RRP.

We will have a deeper delve into what’s on offer tomorrow when the dust has settled.

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy

Source link

27/06/2025
Lies of P is getting difficulty options, but devs assure that it’s still as hard

We recently attended a Q&A session at Lies of P Overture‘s preview event, where game director Choi Ji-won revealed that two easier difficulty levels are being added to the base game, alongside two harder modes for boss rush. While he assures us that the Bloodborne-esque, Victorian-themed adventure “is always [going to be] hard,” the move will open up the game to a whole slew of new players, while the additional boss rush difficulties challenge soulslike veterans.

The topic of difficulty came up a few times during the session which, in many ways, makes sense. At its core, Lies of P is a soulslike game and, by definition, it’s supposed to be as hard as nails. Adding different challenge ratings somewhat flies in the face of the very essence of what these games are meant to be.

Choi confirms that the reasoning behind the decision is to open the game up to a wider player base in an attempt to capture the audience that likely wrote it off as being too much of a challenge. More people playing can only be a good thing and, given Lauren’s glowing Lies of P review, they won’t be disappointed.

He also jokes that the game “is always difficult,” but states that titles like Lies of P aren’t about being needlessly difficult, but instead creating a sense of accomplishment in players when they finally “figure it out,” whether that be a tough boss or tricky area.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Lies of P’s boss rush mode is getting even harder, with two new difficulty settings that ramp the pressure up to eleven. Defeating these fearsome foes will net you various exclusive rewards, so if you really want to prove that you are, in fact, Krat’s finest warrior, you can do so.

But, while the difficulty changes are certainly the headliner, I had one question in mind: why is Overture a prequel, and does it have anything to do with the multiple endings and not wanting to commit to which one was canon? I put this question to Choi.

He confirms that Lies of P’s branching storyline has nothing to do with this decision. Instead, the reason Overture is a prequel is because there was a lot of content that simply didn’t make it into the base game. With Overture included, now Lies of P feels like a “complete version” of Choi and the team’s vision.

Lies of P Overture is set to release sometime in 2026 and will cost $29.99. You can wishlist it here. A free update is also coming to the base game that will introduce a host of fresh features, including the aforementioned difficulty settings and a new Boss Rush mode.

In the meantime, however, check out our list of all the best action games if you’re looking to get back into practice. Or, if you’re wondering where Overture fits in your gaming timeline, we have a rundown of all the upcoming PC games for 2025 and beyond.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.

Source link

21/05/2025