I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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Metaphor: ReFantazio has had a pretty successful release, hitting over 85K active players on Steam in a few days.
The game has already achieved among the highest player counts for single-player JRPGs ever recorded.
It has also already topped over 1 million in sales figures, proving that Atlus’ new venture has been highly successful.
Those who patiently waited for Metaphor: ReFantazio’s release over the years are certainly eating well right now. Despite such a long wait, the title has become somewhat of a giant and has surpassed many Persona games in its milestones. However, no one expected it to shake the entire JRPG genre in only a couple of days after release.
Alongside a bundle of positive reviews, Metaphor: ReFantazio has now also gained over 85,000 active players on Steam. This massive player count is something that only happens once in a blue moon in the industry. However, the game has now set a new record for single-player entries.
Why it matters: Metaphor: ReFantazio scoring such a massive active player count suggests that Atlus’ new venture has achieved more than mere success. It also shatters any “single-player games are dying” arguments pushed by some in the industry previously.
Metaphor: ReFantazio has proven to be extremely popular since release | Image Source: SteamDB
As per SteamDB, Metaphor: ReFantazio’s high number of active players has made it the highest-ranked single-player JRPG in the industry.
No game in the genre has been so populated right after release, proving that Atlus’ direction towards a new high fantasy IP has been a remarkable success.
It is worth noting that Metaphor: ReFantazio has even more active players across the many platforms where it has been released. It also proves that single-player games are here to stay and are only growing daily.
Metaphor: ReFantazio can immerse any player with its engaging gameplay.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is highly addicting and features hours upon hours of content steeped with a rich story, an alluring combat system, and memorable characters rarely seen in AAA gaming. The new entry by Atlus has also already sold over a million copies.
What do you think made Atlus’ new IP so successful over other titles in the genre? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion at our official Tech4Gamers forum.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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Ubisoft will reportedly release 10 Assassin’s Creed games in the next 5 years.
The company is already criticized for monotonous games; this step will create even more rushed content.
Rather than relentlessly releasing titles, Ubisoft needs to improve its games’ quality and design variety.
Whatever the field, it’s important to not let your success get to your head and value your followers’ feedback. Ubisoft is learning this the hard way. The video gaming giant responsible for towering franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Prince of Persia is currently going through a crisis precisely because it refused to listen.
This is the same studio that said gamers need to live with not owning their games and called out people when its titles failed. There was probably a much better, less antagonizing way of putting it, and I’m sure Ubisoft might be regretting it now. However, the answer to this current predicament is not to “relentlessly start releasing games.”
Why it matters: Rushing to release two games a year is not going to work, especially when Ubisoft games are already criticized for being more of the same.
Prepare For 10 Assassin’s Creed Games In 5 Years
Ubisoft’s ongoing crisis is common knowledge. First, the backlash surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ controversial choices and then the Star Wars Outlaws mess events catalyzed the company’s downfall.
However, there’s one peculiar point I wish to highlight today. It seems one of Ubisoft’s strategies to prevail is to make better use of its IPs across the board. It plans to release titles more aggressively and frequently to combat the current situation.
One part of that “relentless release” strategy is Assassin’s Creed. Ubisoft is reportedly planning to release a whopping 10 Assassin’s Creed games in the next 5 years, possibly including the rumored Black Flag remake. How are you feeling about this?
The present Ubisoft is bound to ruin Black Flag (Image by Ubisoft)
Too Much Haste Leads To Disaster
Let me ask you this: What is gamers’ principal complaint regarding Ubisoft’s titles? It’s the monotonous formula, how everything feels more of the same. But if you thought it was problematic before, wait until Ubisoft starts churning out two games a year. This copy-pasted design will escalate to an even worse state if a strict deadline has to be met.
And when that happens, these Assassin’s Creed games will become even more formulaic and one-trick pony than they are already. It’s inevitable when the obsession of “we have to get it out in 6 months” clouds your senses. I dread to imagine the quality of those games. They’ll be nothing but cash grabs.
Speaking of which, a lot of this lineup will likely include remakes and re-releases of past games, which frightens me even more. The current Ubisoft is a disappointment, but those past games were genuine classics. 6 months is too short a time for a full AAA game, Ubisoft will resort to re-releases, and in doing so, massacre them.
The peak times of Assassin’s Creed (Image by Tech4Gamers)
Rushing Is Not The Answer, Quality Is
What baffles me is how Ubisoft has grossly misread the situation. Does it seriously think this current crisis is because it doesn’t release enough games?
You know, it’s kinda ironic that ignoring people’s wishes brought Ubisoft into this mess, and now the company is doing the exact same thing once again in hopes of getting out of it. First, it pursued forced diversity and antagonized its consumers, and now it hastily releases games that can realistically never turn out well and worsen the situation.
Prepare for more monotonous worlds (Image by u/davidslater)
Ubisoft needs to stop for a moment and listen to the masses. The core of the problem is adopting strategies no one wants and re-pasting the same design more or less in games.
It would be much better if Ubisoft took some time to polish its games and try to work on creative, versatile stuff. Even if it takes longer than usual, I’d rather have a carefully crafted masterpiece than two games a year that are the same copy-pasted mess.
In a nutshell, releasing 10 Assassin’s Creed games in 5 years will not be beneficial; Ubisoft needs to understand this. Assassin’s Creed is already a shell of its former self; there’s no need to worsen its image with hastily released, low-quality titles.
Besides, it won’t help Ubisoft’s case in the least. The tech giant needs to step back, reconsider its priorities, and focus on its IPs to refine them, not rushing games.
As Tech4Gamers’ Founder and Editor-in-Chief, I bring over 13 years of PC Hardware Reviewing and 8+ years of IT Project Management experience. Certified in Google IT Support , my focus is on providing honest product reviews and analysis and fostering a strong gaming community with 130k+ members in PPG.
However, the MSI motherboard manufacturer company has gone too far with the price exceeding $1200 for this motherboard.
Why it matters: The MSI MEG Z890 GODLIKE motherboard’s price tag will raise some eyebrows, as the second-most expensive motherboard is almost half cheaper.
MSI Gaming officially revealed the prices in a live stream on YouTube. In this livestream, you can see that the price of MSI’s flagship MEG Z890 GODLIKE has been revealed: $1264 in the USA and around €1380 in Europe. With the 20% VAT in European regions, it costs around $1500.
The second most expensive motherboard on the list is half the price of this one: the MSI MEG Z890 ACE costs $689. The difference between these is not much in Gaming performance but in VRMs for overclocking and greater connectivity capabilities for professional use.
A good feature of the MSI MEG Z890 GODLIKE is its potent 26+2+1+1 power phase VRM. Additionally, two 8+8-pin EPS and a 24-pin ATX connector are needed to provide the CPU with all the power it needs under extreme overclocking conditions in a reliable way.
The Frozr Guard cooling system provides cooling for this VRM, which consists of thermal pads with a 9W/mK thermal transfer and two aluminum heatsinks connected to a copper heat pipe. Additionally, the M.2 ports have a dual-sided cooling system in addition to the Frozt AI program, which optimizes performance at low temperatures.
One of the reasons it’s expensive is that it features Thunderbolt 5 connectivity with speeds of up to 160Gbps. There’s also the XPANDER-Z SLIDER GEN5 M.2 expansion card for installing up to 2x additional PCIe 5.0 SSDs. It supports DDR5 RAM up to 9,200 MT/s with overclocking and even includes a 3.99-inch Dynamic Dashboard III LCD display.
With this huge amount of connectivity, we can see that the price is tied to this, and it is also suitable for only a few people, like enthusiast overclockers, not for the masses.
Currently serving as a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I have the privilege of combining my love for gaming with the art of storytelling. My role involves crafting engaging narratives that keep our audience abreast of the latest developments in the gaming world.
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Modern games often have poor image quality despite graphical improvements, mainly due to Temporal Anti-Aliasing.
TAA prioritizes performance over visual clarity, resulting in ghosting and blurriness, especially at lower resolutions.
Better alternatives like MSAA provide sharper images without these issues but are rarely utilized in modern game development.
Despite being improved graphically, modern games have regressed in terms of actual image quality compared to games of a decade ago. This is due to developers opting for the worst-implemented anti-aliasing method, TAA.
For a little context, anti-aliasing is a method used to sharpen out high-resolution images on a low resolution that would otherwise appear in a staircase way due to overlapping pixels.
There are multiple anti-aliasing methods, each with pros and cons, and TAA is the worst method as far as gamers are concerned. Despite that, developers forcefully implement TAA for better game performance even though it results in a blurry, low-quality image.
Why It Matters: TAA can cause ghosting, jittering, and blurry images that ruin visibility. It is a significant trade-off for fewer jagged lines. Due to its ghost trailing and blurry effects, TAA can significantly affect the gaming experience, especially competitive ones.
Is TAA Really That Bad?
Comparing TAA On Vs Off On Different Resolutions | Image Source; Digital Foundry On YouTube
TAA relies on frame history and calculates the current pixel appearance using multiple frames. This can lead to a huge performance boost, but it also has the downside of ghosting artifacts and blurriness due to the current frame being rendered from past frames at different angles.
TAA works really well for a static image but is quite noticeable on a spanning camera. This method also results in frames leaving trails behind for what’s known as ghosting. Another drawback is smearing, which results in overlapping frames being rendered in different lighting and environments.
While the image quality is a drawback, Temporal Anti-Aliasing is incredible for performance. This also significantly reduces flickering. To combat ghosting and blurriness, TAA now supports sharpening methods that enhance soft details by TAA but can often lead to downsides, making an image look too over-processed.
In distant environments, TAA looks terrible and will often blend character with environments, making it hard to distinguish between enemy or landscape.
TAA works well for higher resolutions, such as 4K, due to the significantly higher number of pixels that minimize the ghosting and blurry effects. The problem is that most gamers don’t game on a 4K display, and TAA really shows its downsides on a lower resolution scale.
Why Developers Opt For TAA
With a much better alternative at hand, the question arises: Why do developers still opt for TAA? Some games have locked TAA as an anti-aliasing method with no way to disable it, such as Cyberpunk 2077, Watch Dogs: Legion, Last of Us Part 1, and more.
This technology being forced in games is to hide the fact that they have unstable shaders and undersample other graphical effects such as reflections, shadows, and more. It smooths out these visual artifacts and provides a significant performance boost for the marginal drawback of bad image quality.
A prime example of this is Hellblade 2: Senua’s Sacrifice. Without Temporal Anti-Aliasing, the shadows look extremely broken. I blame developers for pushing out unoptimized releases and using these practices to make the games playable with a bad experience.
This tech is so hated that gamers have even made a subreddit to hate it.
It should be obvious that every anti-aliasing method has its trade-offs, and MSAA is a much better alternative. In comparison, MSAA offers a sharper, more refined, and crisper image quality.
Rather than relying on frame history, MSAA samples each frame directly on edge points and blends them. Hence, MSAA quality doesn’t have any blurriness or ghosting effects. Because of this, MSAA works impressively on competitive games and fast-spanning cameras.
Unlike TAA, which relies on other post-processing features such as sharpening, MSAA works independently and isn’t drawn back regarding image quality if users decide to shut down other post-processing features.
Other anti-aliasing methods exist, such as SSAA, FXAA, or TAA. However, MSAA is the best option, in my opinion, due to the healthy trade-off between image quality and performance.
Unfortunately, the industry is also showing no signs of straying away from implementing TAA, and most game engines don’t even support MSAA nowadays due to them being based on deferred rendering.
The only solution I can suggest is using a high-rez monitor and maybe disabling Temporal Anti-Aliasing or keeping it on, according to user preference. I think more games should support SAA since TAA has become an industry standard.
At Tech4Gamers, I contribute as a Senior News Reporter, combining my skills and gaming enthusiasm to keep our audience updated on the latest developments.
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Multiple insiders suggest a new Xbox Partner Preview is coming next week.
The announcement could be made during the first few days of the week.
Fans can expect third-party reveals and announcements for Game Pass at the event.
Xbox has been relatively quiet since its outstanding showcase earlier this year. However, plenty of big hitters are still coming to the platform before the end of 2024, including Indiana Jones and Black Ops 6.
At the same time, Game Pass continues to flourish with a plethora of day-one releases and third-party offerings. Xbox could now be gearing up to reveal more of the subscription’s future lineup, with reports pointing to an incoming Xbox Partner Preview soon.
Why it matters: Third-party content is crucial to supporting Game Pass. The Xbox business currently revolves around this subscription, so these partner events are more important than they may initially appear.
More Announcements Are Inbound From Xbox, According to Nate Drake
As reported by the popular insider Nate Drake, Xbox is set to host a Partner Preview as early as next week. He states that an official announcement could be coming in the next few days, with the event going live later the same week.
Insider Nick Baker corroborated the information, adding further legitimacy to the reports. He also believes that the show will go live sometime later next week. Therefore, fans should expect the reveal very soon.
For the unaware, Xbox Partner Previews are typically focused on third-party studios. In the past, games like The First Berserker: Khazan and Frostpunk 2 have shown up at these events.
Therefore, fans can expect at least a few big names again. Perhaps Xbox will finally share an update on Hollow Knight Silksong after announcing it for Game Pass many years ago.
Game Pass Is Heading Into 2025 With A Strong Lineup
As always, many of the titles shown off at the event will be part of the Game Pass subscription. Therefore, it might be worth keeping an eye out for the livestream for those already subscribed to the service.
Following this event, Xbox will head into 2025 with a strong lineup. The likes of Fable, Avowed, and Doom: The Dark Ages are already confirmed for next year, and more first-party releases will likely be revealed as the months go by.
What are your thoughts on this report? Are you looking forward to the event? Share your thoughts in the comments, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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GOG has recently taken to Twitter to take a jab at Steam for only selling game licenses.
The page boasted about selling offline game installers, which let you own the game files and play offline.
Steam is following a new California law that will force digital stores to admit that they only sell licenses and not the actual games.
Steam is the kingpin of digital storefronts when it comes to gaming, as it has dominated the landscape ever since the media became popular on computers. While it is generally deeply beloved by the industry for its secure and foolproof services, some cracks have started to appear that raise questions among gamers about ethics and trust.
The storefront recently added a new warning when you purchase games, claiming that you only own a license to them, not the actual products. This has only rubbed gamers the wrong way and sparked a new controversy. Now, amid gamers and critics alike, GOG has also joined in on the fun to mock Steam over it.
Why it matters: GOG indirectly calling out Steam for not selling offline game installers raises an important issue in the industry. It also highlights that digital publishers can take their games offline or revoke licenses at any given moment.
GOG recently mocked Steam for only selling game licenses and no offline installers | Image Source: Twitter
The popular Steam rival recently took to Twitter to announce a new banner that it plans to introduce on the site. The banner is a direct reply to Steam’s controversial change, essentially mocking the giant for only selling game licenses.
Now, GOG is not so different in terms and conditions regarding game licenses (see 2.1 section). However, the store is also renowned for selling offline game installers.
These offline installers let you own the files and play the games offline without needing servers, which has become increasingly rare nowadays. Other platforms, like Steam, only offer you a license that can be revoked without notice.
Steam now shows an explicit warning that you only own a license to any game you purchase | Image Source: Steam
The platform has been updated to reflect a new California law, which will compel digital stores to admit that they only sell licenses and not the actual product.
The law will go live next year, but gamers hope it will not bring further bad news for the industry. Do you think it was wise of GOG to poke its biggest rival on the market over the controversy? Share your opinions in the comments section below or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers Forums.
At Tech4Gamers, I mainly cover new gaming news, leaks, and rumours. Aside from that, I love to write features about my favourite games while inserting my opinion about their different aspects.
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Resident Evil 9 has yet to be officially announced, but its Metacritic page has already gone live.
Surprisingly, the Metacritic page only shows PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X as the platforms.
This could mean that the much-anticipated survival horror is skipping the PC launch on day one.
Resident Evil Village, also known as RE8, was released in 2021. So, it has been over three years, and Capcom has yet to officially announce the next title in the franchise. Thanks to industry insiders, we already know that Resident Evil 9 is in development, and Capcom has some huge plans for the title.
Now, despite not being officially announced, the Metacritic page for the game has gone live. This indicates that Capcom is gearing up to announce the much-anticipated game in the series. However, only PS5 and Xbox Series X are listed as the platforms, which means Capcom could be skipping PC for day one launch.
Why it matters: According to the rumors, Resident Evil 9 is targeting a 2025 release window, so it should have a reveal this year to create even more hype and anticipation.
The Metacritic Page of Resident Evil 9 is Live Now | Source: Metacritic
As you can see in the image, this game’s review page is live, which means the announcement is expected soon. We might hear from Capcom soon enough regarding its upcoming survival horror game.
That said, only the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are the featured platforms, meaning the game might not be released on PC and Series S on launch. The Metacritic page for GTA 6 also shows the exact same thing, and we already know that it won’t be launched on PC the same day it launches on the consoles.
So, while it seems like an announcement is expected soon, PC fans might not be delighted with this news. Capcom might be skipping PC because there are rumors that Resident Evil 9 will feature an open world.
No, what happened with the previous open-world title from Capcom? Dragon’s Dogma 2 was plagued with performance issues and was a multi-platform release. So, the company might focus solely on consoles for better optimization and then release it later on the PC.
However, nothing is confirmed yet, as the Metacritic page could be updated later. So, it is better to take this information with a grain of salt, but if it is true, then PC fans are going to be devastated.
The game is expected to be the most ambitious Resident Evil Game ever, and the developer expects to get over 90 score ratings, which seems doable if it nails the setting and, of course, the gameplay.
What are your thoughts on the game skipping day one launch on PC? Share your thoughts in the comments section below, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers Forums.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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Capcom and SNK are once again collaborating, with Street Fighter 6 and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves receiving each others’ characters.
After a rocky history and bankruptcy, SNK is back to its former glory.
This makes the circumstances ideal for the much-desired Capcom vs. SNK 3 to finally happen.
Collaborations in the video game industry are as important as they are exciting. Seeing your favorite characters from two different franchises come face to face in an unlikely scenario is always thrilling. But more than that, they foster healthy relationships and contribute to mutual growth.
Where do you see such crossovers most often these days? Fortnite? Well, yes, but I’d like to discuss fighting games today. Capcom has a rich history of it, utilizing its Street Fighter franchise. You’ve seen the Marvel crossover games recently re-released, but there’s another, one with its rival of the past era: SNK.
Why it matters: Capcom vs. SNK was a fan-favorite series that stopped after SNK’s bankruptcy. With the company back on its feet, the situation is perfect for its revival.
The History Of SNK
You must be wondering, I said “past,” what happened? Well, SNK’s life has been full of hiccups and rough patches. Once a leading name in the arcade era, it went completely bankrupt and then was reborn from the ashes. It was quite a bumpy ride.
You know Metal Slug, Fatal Fury, and The King of Fighters, right? Who doesn’t? These are pretty big names in gaming history. Every arcade-era gamer knows these names by heart. These were the masterpieces of SNK, the king of the Neo Geo.
SNK was once a legendary name (Image by Tech4Gamers)
However, the company couldn’t quite adapt when the arcade became obsolete; it was stuck in the past, unable to catch up. As a result, it went completely bankrupt by 2001. The employees were scattered, and the former bosses formed a new company to continue the IPs.
Named Playmore, they soon bought back all their IPs and became SNK Playmore. This renewed industry icon caught the eye of the Chinese-invested Ledo Millenium and, subsequently, the Saudi company Misk Foundation, leading to a full revival. It even dropped Playmore to become the SNK we know and love once again.
SNK Is Back, And So Are The Capcom Collabs
Now, SNK is fully revived and continuing its legendary franchises, such as The King of Fighters and Fatal Fury. But that’s not all; its collaboration with Capcom has also been renewed.
It all began in June when a surprise announcement was made during the Summer Game Fest. Fatal Fury protagonist and The King of Fighters character Terry Bogard joined the Street Fighter 6 roster, and more extremely popular characters like Mai Shiranui are coming soon.
SNK and Capcom collabs are back (Image by Capcom)
But wait, there’s more. During the SNK section of the TGS that happened just recently, it was revealed that the crossover goes both ways. Iconic Street Fighter characters Ken and Chun Li are joining the roster of SNK’s new upcoming game, Fatal Fury City of the Wolves. Long-lost fighting game rivals are back together.
Capcom and SNK collaborated back in the day to produce fighting and beat ’em-up games. Capcom vs. SNK titles were Capcom-developed, while SNK made the SNK vs. Capcom ones. The SNK titles might not have been as entertaining, but the Capcom vs. SNK games were immaculate andenjoyable to this day.
The incredible Capcom vs. SNK series (Image by Steam)
However, Capcom vs. SNK 3 unfortunately never happened. It was pretty much confirmed when bankruptcy struck SNK, and it closed its business.
When SNK went bankrupt, everyone lost all hope. However, no one knew back then that SNK would eventually return to its glory days like this. Not to mention the renewed collaborations with Capcom, these are all unforeseen circumstances.
Capcom Vs. SNK 3 Needs To Happen
And now that it has happened, I see this as a golden opportunity. A chance to fulfill what could have been back then. Now, it’s very much possible to see a Capcom vs. SNK 3. Even the people over at Capcom agree with me, and I’d like to think it also works in SNK’s favor.
Thus, the time is ripe. With modern gamers’ renewed interests in Fatal Fury, The King of Fighters, and Street Fighter at the apex of their popularity, a Capcom vs. SNK 3 in current times can be even more of a thrilling event than it was back in the late ’90s. Make it happen, Capcom and SNK.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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The long-awaited revival of the magnificent Legacy of Kain series is finally happening.
In a time when needless re-releases often happen and the worthy get ignored, Legacy of Kain returning is a true marvel.
The only way to make it even better is if this leads to the revival of similarly abandoned titles like Onimusha, Thief, Deus Ex, etc.
We’re in a time when remakes and remasters have become pretty frequent. Technically, they’ve become the need of the hour, considering how many gems require preservation, but if you ask me, the re-releases we receive are seldom done for such a noble cause. Most of the time, it’s because they’re easier and less resource-intensive.
Especially considering how lengthy and expensive the development cycles of today’s AAAs are, a re-release is a favorable aspect. However, it’s mostly the most needless remasters, like Horizon Zero Dawn, for example. Still, sometimes genuinely deserving titles do get a chance, like Suikoden recently and now Legacy of Kain.
Why it matters: When the industry’s busy re-releasing needless titles, seeing a revival as critically demanded and worthy as Legacy of Kain has me hopeful for the future.
The Triumphant Return Of Legacy Of Kain
To be honest, It still feels like a dream. I had essentially given up hope after the whole Embracer fiasco. It was shaky even before that, but here we are.
Before the State of Play, this remaster was leaked at the last moment, and I just couldn’t contain my excitement. Seeing the trailer live at the event wasn’t any less impactful, though. The return of the iconic Raziel and his dimension-hopping adventures is an extremely blissful event.
Did you think Lords of the Fallen introduced the concept of “two realms”? Give Legacy of Kain a try. Not only will you see a better implementation of the idea, but you’ll also get to witness a thrilling and thought-provoking tale of defying your destiny and breaking free of shackles while having a ton of fun slashing through foes.
Legacy of Kain is finally back (Image by Steam)
Legacy of Kain is a landmark in the third-person gothic fantasy genre and a masterpiece to this day. From Blood Omen to Soul Reaver and finally Defiance, the tale of two antiheroes, Kain and Raziel, culminates in a brilliant saga I can’t praise enough.
A Genuinely Worthy Revival
Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is scheduled for a December 10 release, but that’s not all. PlayStation also added Blood Omen to its Classics Catalog, reinforcing the return of the legendary series. As overjoyed as I am at this individual event, I notice what this means for the industry.
Blood Omen started a legendary saga (Image by IMDB)
Though extremely desired, a series like Legacy of Kain was considered something that would never return. It’s because of how today’s gaming industry’s priorities have changed. Creative and universally beloved titles mean nothing as long as they don’t generate an absurd profit. Only tried and tested, highly successful games are given a chance.
Events like Microsoft abandoning Hi-Fi Rush and Sony remastering Horizon Zero Dawn serve as proof of this. Despite being critically acclaimed, Hi-Fi Rush was axed, and since Horizon Zero Dawn sold exceptionally, it got an absolutely needless remaster.
All these resources could’ve been used on a much more deserving and meaningful project. Literal gems are rotting in these companies’ storage rooms, watching them green light another re-release of something like The Last of Us. If you’re so fixated on a remaster or a remake, why not make it of a title that genuinely deserves it?
Now we wait for more deserving revivals (Image by Tech4Gamers)
Nevertheless, the Legacy of Kain getting a revival after 21 years has rejuvenated my faith a little. Anything can happen, even a miracle like this. And if this remaster performs as well as its fans’ intense demands and critical acclaim, who knows, some other companies might also remember the treasure they’re sitting on.
Titles similar to it, like Dante’s Inferno, might get a chance. Capcom might finally divert its attention towards Onimusha. Sony may see the potential in reviving a full-on power fantasy like Infamous. Also, Eidos’ other IPs like Thief and Deus Ex (Please let it be true) might return as well if this venture is a resounding success.
All these are also in the “never happening” category like Legacy of Kain once was. But hey, if this one can escape it, I’m willing to believe once again that others just might, too.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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A new patent published by Sony wants to add a real-time sign language translator in its video games.
It aims to help deaf gamers communicate seamlessly in real-time by understanding each other’s sign languages.
To ensure effective communication, the system can differentiate between simple gestures and many sign languages.
Sony is always trying to one-up the competition by securing a plethora of unique ideas to bring innovation to the gaming industry. These ideas usually first appear in the form of patents, and this new one might change gaming for the better. A recent patent published by the company now wants to add a translator for sign languages in its games.
We have spotted a patent that discusses adding a real-time sign language translator in its games to help the disabled gaming community. It talks about how various sign languages can be translated during active conversations using avatars or their hands performing sign gestures to help deaf gamers communicate better.
“The graphical illustrations can include a pair of hands of an avatar, or an avatar with a face and arms performing the sign gestures.”
Why it matters: Sony publishing a patent to add a real-time sign language translator to its games could mean that it plans to implement this proposed system as an actual feature. It could change gaming for the deaf community.
The image by Sony shows the concept of a system providing feedback to a user regarding recognition of their signed communication | Image Source: Patentscope
The patent dubbed “TRANSLATION OF SIGN LANGUAGE IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT” describes its functionality by discussing how it’d work between two users. An English user may try to talk with a Japanese user using sign language; the English sign language gestures would first be translated into text, which would then be converted into Japanese before that is turned into Japanese sign language gestures.
Sony argues that sign languages differ around the globe, making it essential for them to be translated in real-time during active conversations to help deaf gamers understand each other in games.
“sign language is not universal. This provides a need for appropriately capturing the sign language of one user, understanding the native language, and generating new sign language as output for another user in their native sign language.”
A concept of the system with two users that are remotely situated, interacting using sign language | Image Source: Patentscope
Sony also ensures that the system can differentiate between simple gestures and sign languages to ensure users can still have an immersive experience. It is worth noting that Sony implies that this system can be employed in VR games, traditional titles, and other various non-gaming applications.
While a real-time translator for sign languages sounds enticing, it may never be added to Sony’s games for years to come. So, take it with a grain of salt.
At Tech4Gamers, I mainly cover new gaming news, leaks, and rumours. Aside from that, I love to write features about my favourite games while inserting my opinion about their different aspects.
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The recently released survival horror from Konami has received a lot of positive impressions from the fandom.
The fans are now demanding it release more remakes from the series.
They think the Bloober Team can do an even better job with the Silent Hill 1 and 3 Remake.
Silent Hill 2 Remake before release was criticised majorly, and the criticism was well deserving. However, due to that criticism, the Bloober Team improved the game a lot, and just look at it now.
With how good the remake looks now, it truly deserves to be a GOTY contender. The game had a pretty solid launch on PC, and the impressions are really positive. Due to that, fans are now demanding that the Bloober Team remake the first and third entries in the franchise.
Why it matters: The Bloober Team wasn’t really trusted by the fandom, but after delivering a true next-gen remake, it has earned the fans’ favour. Many are now anticipating its next title.
Fans Are Demanding Konami To Release Remakes of Silent Hill 1 & 3
Social media platforms are currently full of fans praising how great the Silent Hill 2 remake is. The Bloober Team has done an excellent job and proved many people wrong about the game, which has caused a massive demand for more Silent Hill remakes.
Releasing the remakes of the first and third instalments in the series would actually be great now.
Oh please yes I am having a bast with Silent Hill 2
– A Fan
Many are enjoying the recently released survival horror remake, which manages to capture the essence of the original game and take it to the next level—that is how a remake should be.
Reddit is also full of people asking for more remakes.
Silent hill 3 its so nostalgic to me and i think a remake of it could be even more impressive than sh2 ,they even can change some things in the story to make it better
So, it seems like the developer expanding SH2’s story didn’t backfire at all. The fandom seems to enjoy it and is now demanding the same be done in the other remakes.
Fans now have high expectations for the next game, as they think the Bloober Team can do an even better job. Hopefully, the next title will be among this fan-favorite franchise.
What are your thoughts on the Silent Hill 2 Remake? Do you think the Bloober Team should work on the remakes of the first and third instalments in the series? Share your thoughts in the comments section below, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers Forums.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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Sony’s needless remakes have a new addition, Until Dawn, and it’s a complete mess.
A PS4 game like Until Dawn, which still holds up pretty well, didn’t need a re-release.
Rather than waste resources, Sony could’ve planned Until Dawn 2 or any other deserving project.
For better or worse, we’re in an era of remakes and remasters. On the one hand, my face lights up when I see a beloved classic return, while on the other, I’m saddened by all these needless re-releases of barely a few years old games. The latter has become a habit of Sony and a reminder of how today’s gaming industry has changed for the worse.
Why it matters: Until Dawn is a perfectly playable PS4 game that in no way needed a remake. A sequel or a different, genuinely deserving revival would’ve been better.
Until Dawn Remake, Sony At Its Worst
The ever-growing costs of AAAs and lengthy development times have made these re-releases an easier and more feasible project. However, I wouldn’t be here complaining if they happen for genuinely deserving games. But why on Earth would Until Dawn, a PS4 game, need a remake?
“Why release a simple PC port when you can remake the game and charge full price from the PlayStation players all over again?” I feel like many of Sony’s recent decisions have been pretty much this. Marvel’s Spider-Man, The Last of Us, Until Dawn, and Horizon Zero Dawn—not one of these re-releases was ever needed; they were all useless.
Sony has no plans of stopping (Image by Tech4Gamers)
Until Dawn is a brilliant interactive drama, but it’s a PS4 game that still looks and plays pretty well, so there’s no way to justify a remake. However, since the game sold remarkably despite the non-existent marketing, Sony feels it can trick people into buying it again.
Besides, the remake itself is an absolute mess. It ruined a lot of what made the original so enjoyable. The visuals are barely an upgrade, the art direction is messed up, the music choices are illogical, the camera change is a crime (it goes against the game’s nature), and the performance is all over the place. A needless remake and a bad one at that, Sony has lost it.
Why Not Until Dawn 2 Instead?
Instead of remaking a game that doesn’t even need one, it would’ve been much better if Sony had considered a sequel earnestly. Of course, it could’ve released Until Dawn for PC as a simple port and then focused on creating a proper sequel as a title for the PS5 rather than this soulless remake.
Until Dawn was among the heavy hitters on the PS4. Supermassive Games did a pretty good job. Although Ballistic Moon (developer of the Until Dawn remake) is primarily ex-Supermassive, this remake doesn’t paint it in a good light.
Until Dawn (OG) is certainly remarkable (Image by IMDB)
Sony could repair its partnership with Supermassive, or even give Ballistic Moon a chance at something original, either would’ve made more sense than ruining the legacy of an already-established title.
Until Dawn 2 could’ve gone with a complete change of landscape similar to Life of Strange 2 since a direct sequel wouldn’t work. That would mean making a particular survivor group canon, which takes away the thrill. Whatever is decided, even if it may not match Until Dawn, a new game would’ve been a much better use of resources.
There’s also the option of trying something creative with the same setting in the sequel. In any case, what I mean to say is that a new title or something that genuinely deserves a remake is what Sony should’ve done, not this mess of a re-release.
Is this what the PS5 will be for the remainder of its lifetime: a console to play re-polished PS4 titles? What’s the point of getting the absurdly priced PS5 Pro if the library is full of re-releases?
And in what universe was Until Dawn a more pressing remake than something like Infamous, for example? Sony would rather re-release 5-6-year-old games than give something deserving a try. It has a treasure trove of IPs; why is it not keen on reviving those?
Infamous watching Sony re-release PS4 games (Image by IMDB)
Don’t say they don’t have any demand now because you know that’s not the case. Give them a new game, a remaster, a remake, anything.
Until Dawn was already a fantastic game, a simple port would’ve sufficed. If you wanted more Until Dawn, plan a sequel. The remake’s new ending might hint toward a possible sequel, but that doesn’t change the fact that this remake wasn’t needed.
