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We Need A Monster Hunter Style Open-World Made In Abyss RPG

Story Highlights
  • Made in Abyss offers an ideal setting for a Monster Hunter-style RPG, with its immersive world and unique survival mechanics.
  • Players could explore the Abyss, encountering diverse creatures, crafting equipment from rare materials, and unlocking relics with unique effects.
  • Such a game would capture the essence of the anime, appealing to fans, new players, and gamers without an interest in the original show.

The world of Made in Abyss is one of the most captivating and deep settings in contemporary anime and manga. Its vibrant storytelling, captivating characters, and unique art style have captivated millions, showcasing the unparalleled beauty and gruesome dangers a fantasy world can provide. The setting is perfect for a Monster Hunter-style RPG, promising an immersive, thrilling experience. Here’s why I believe the world of Made in Abyss is ideal for this type of game.


Immersive World Building

Made in Abyss - Concept
The Abyss is extremely big and layered

The Abyss, with its various layers, each possessing distinct ecosystems, climates, and dangers, is perfect for an open-world exploration game. Each layer naturally fits a difficult progression, starting at the top and descending deeper into more perilous territories. If players enter the game blind, they could experience the same sense of discovery and increasing danger as in the anime.

Made in Abyss - Floors
Made in Abyss – Floors

The first layer could serve as a straightforward tutorial, teaching players the basics of crafting, hunting, and surviving. The monsters here are relatively easy to handle, and resources are straightforward to gather. This initial stage could also introduce the concept of the curse of ascending without endangering the character too much and could include a choose-your-own starter relic feature.

The world has so many different aspects to it as well. There’s the Abyss itself, sure, but there are also safe spaces inside of it. Iruburu, for example, would change the gameplay completely.


Diverse Ecosystem

In Monster Hunter fashion, players would encounter a wide array of creatures, each uniquely adapted to their layer of the Abyss. The creatures in Made in Abyss are both fascinating and terrifying, ranging from harmless herbivores to deadly predators. Hunting and studying these creatures could be a central gameplay mechanic. Players could track monsters, learn their behaviors, and use this knowledge to craft better gear and items.

Rain World was praised for its extremely organic ecosystem. Similarly, a Made in Abyss game could feature creatures that function independently of player interactions. For instance, Neritantans could migrate, and other creatures could hunt them independently. Players would need to learn which organisms are safe to approach and which are too dangerous to confront.


The Monsters

Made in Abyss - Fanmade Game Concept
Artist Shen YH has many fanmade game concepts

Three things make the world of Made in Abyss so interesting: the geography, the relics, and the monsters. The cave raiders make full use of both the flora and the fauna. Allowing players to explore these elements and unlock new bestiary entries would make for engaging gameplay. Imagine encountering a Crimson Splitjaw devouring a rare relic you just discovered or meeting the Narehate in the Golden City for the first time. These unique experiences could easily captivate players.


Survival Mechanics

Binary Star Falling Screenshots
Witnessing a Crimson Splitjaw

The Abyss is known for its curse, which inflicts debilitating effects on those who ascend. This could translate into a unique game mechanic where players carefully manage their descent and ascent. Climbing back up too quickly might cause hallucinations, bleeding, or even death, adding a layer of strategy to the exploration. Resource management, such as food, water, and medical supplies, would be crucial for survival, making every decision count.


Gearing and Relics

Blaze Reap
Blaze Reap is a scythe with explosive power which can be used for jumping attacks

A robust crafting system is essential for survival in the Abyss. Players could gather materials from the environment and fallen creatures to craft weapons, armor, and survival gear. This system could be deeply integrated with the game’s exploration mechanics. Rare materials from deeper layers could be used to craft powerful equipment, incentivizing players to take greater risks for greater rewards.

The inclusion of relics would make the gearing system even more interesting. Although we don’t know many relics, the ones seen in the show already offer a diverse set of abilities. For example, Bondrewd’s Far Caress, which can summon tentacles or the iconic Blaze Reap. Even non-combat artifacts could unlock different areas of gameplay.

The show itself is built on exploring the world, living in it, and collecting relics to improve your chances of survival. With such potential, it’s a shame that Made In Abyss: Binary Star Falling didn’t utilize these elements and instead opted for a straightforward recap. 


Here’s Why Fans Should Boycott Ahri’s $500 Faker Skin

Story Highlights
  • Riot recently announced Hall of Legends skins for League of Legends’s most iconic figures, with a controversial $500 Faker Ahri skin being the first.
  • While the Faker Ahri skin offers unique effects, custom animations, and special references, the price has sparked a significant backlash from the community.
  • Players are advising others to boycott the skin by banning the champion, submitting complaints, and talking about it on social media.

Riot recently announced a series of Hall of Legends skins that are made for League of Legends’s most legendary figures, adding in references to the person and being made for their mains. We don’t know anything about the future for these legacy skins yet – the only thing clear right now that the $500 Faker skin for Ahri is way too expensive.


What Is The Hall Of Legends?

Legacy skins in League are skins only available for specific events. Riot recently announced that they’ll be modelling and putting up skins modeled after League’s most iconic eSports stars; these skins will be in a series called Hall of Legends. The first one, to no one’s surprise, was of Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, the single best (and most popular) League professional. The skins will come in bundles along with a Hall of Legends even and a Battle Pass. The event will take place once every year, with a new legend each time.


Is The Skin Good?

The skins have three different versions available through the event pass, along with various other items themed after Faker. The base version is $50, while the upgraded version is $30, and the full experience is $500. Regardless of whether that price would EVER fit a mere cosmetic, a couple of things are going for it.

  • Skin effects galore: It’s hard to deny the fact that the skin looks really, really good. The skin effects are unlike any other skin. Apart from the skills, even the recall and idle animations seem unlike anything seen before.
  • Adorable references: For fans of the Unkillable Demon King, the skin provides a number of references to memorable moments. One thing I found extremely funny was Ahri holding the “Unkillable Demon Cactus.
  • Custom effects: The higher versions of the skin come with unique champion takedown effects, a unique commentator voiceover, custom chromas, unique turret takedown animations, special level-up animations, and a new demon form in the Ultimate.
  • Faker’s signature: In the ultimate form of Risen Ahri, taking down a turret also puts Faker’s signature around the destroyed structure.
  • Being the 1%: The biggest thing the skin provides is the ability to flex owning a skin that less than 1% of players would likely own due to its hefty price tag and because of how small a period of time it can be purchased for.

How Fans Are Responding

Faker skin ingame
Faker skin ingame model

Justifiably, fans are extremely upset. When the skin was first announced, amidst the yells of hype there were always concern of the price tag. League fans repeatedly said that it can’t be that bad; even if it was expensive, it’s only a cosmetic. What no one expected was it to be an entire five hundred US dollars. 

The situation’s so bad that any online league forum’s filled with complaints daily about the skin. Even League content creators are calling the skin out. Remus calls it the scammiest skin, while Tyler1 says “Riot just doesn’t care anymore.

Even putting aside actually buying the skin, just pricing an Ahri skin so expensively is almost offensive to Faker, as he’s known to only use the default skins for his matches. League players are opting to boycott the skin, the champion, or the entire game because of this single skin.


Why To Boycott The Skin

Risen Ahri - Splash Art
Risen Ahri – Splash Art

As things stand, there’s nothing stopping Riot from pricing future skins in a similar manner. Riot can even pull a fake “compensation” by pricing a future skin at $300, and fans would buy it thinking they’re saving $200. There are a number of ways to show your dissatisfaction:

  • Don’t buy the skin: Even if the skin will only be available during this event, buying the skin means letting Riot know that we’re fine with these prices.
  • Boycott Ahri: Don’t play Ahri, and ban her in all games. A reduction in Ahri pickrates will lead to lesser people wanting to buy a skin. Furthermore, a significant shift inside the game is likely to catch Riot’s attention.
  • Talk about it on social media: On release, Smolder had a very unattractive design that sparked outrage among the community. After the complaint got trending, the Riot team fixed it in a week.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Sold Whopping 5 Million Units In First Week

Story Highlight
  • FromSoftware launched the Elden Ring DLC on June 21.
  • This expansion has already accumulated 5 million sales in the first week.
  • Fans can expect even more milestones for this expansion.

Elden Ring has caught everyone’s attention all over the gaming world because the title has received an expansion that has raised the standards for all future DLCs, even beating Blood and Wine.

Shadow of the Erdtree continues this IP’s streak of success. The DLC has become yet another hit for FromSoftware, reaching 5 million sales in total.

Why it matters: FromSoftware already sold 25 million units of Elden Ring and won Game of the Year. This milestone just adds to the IP’s already successful legacy.

The DLC has been out for less than a week, reaching a milestone that most full games cannot. For comparison, major releases like Final Fantasy 16 reached 3 million sales in a similar timespan.

This makes Shadow of the Erdtree’s sales figures nothing short of incredible. Despite the mixed reviews on Steam, the general reception on social media has been largely positive, with fans enjoying the new content.

Interestingly, Elden Ring reached nearly 1 million concurrent players after the DLC launched. Peaking at about 781K players, the game saw an unprecedented resurgence once this expansion finally arrived.

Shadow-of-The-Erdtree-New-Skills
The Elden Ring Expansion Has Many New Skills And Enemies

Overall, Shadow of the Erdtree more than deserves the incredible commercial success. It is also important to note that nearly 20% of all Elden Ring players have purchased the DLC, making for an incredible attach rate.

Recently, FromSoftware released a patch to improve the DLC further, optimizing player buffs to negate some of the difficulty.

In the future, fans can expect further patches and updates for Shadow of the Erdtree. Similarly, FromSoftware will likely see even more success as the expansion goes on sale and receives price cuts.

Days Gone Dev Using Horizon’s Decima Engine For Next Game

Story Highlight
  • Bend Studio is currently working on a new live-service project.
  • While its last game was built with Unreal Engine, the team is said to be using Guerrilla Games’ Decima Engine this time.
  • With Sony spending about $250 million on the project, fans should expect a massive title with impressive production.

Bend Studio gained popularity after the release of Days Gone. While a sequel has been cancelled, the team is moving forward with work on a live-service IP, which is said to have a budget of around $250 million.

According to reports, this project will utilize one of PlayStation’s in-house engines. A former developer has revealed that Bend Studio is utilizing the Decima Engine for development.

Why it matters: The Decima Engine stands out as PlayStation’s most impressive in-house technology. Plenty of expertise on the engine is also available at PlayStation, making it easier to get help.

Horizon Forbidden West
The Decima Engine Has Consistently Impressed In The Horizon Games

As spotted on Reddit, Jason Pettibone, a former Bend Studio developer, has revealed new details on the studio’s current game.

His LinkedIn profile suggests that Bend Studio’s latest project uses the same engine that brought the Horizon IP to life. For the unfamiliar, the Decima Engine was developed by Guerrilla Games.

It has been used in other games like Death Stranding, and the upcoming Death Stranding 2 will also utilize this technology. While not much else is known, fans can at least expect a visual feast from Bend Studio this time.

The Decima Engine is known to be a powerhouse, producing excellent results in cross-generation games like Horizon Forbidden West. 

Days Gone Open World
Days Gone 2 Is No Longer Happening

If Bend Studio can use the technology to its maximum potential and offer competent gameplay that keeps fans engaged, it may have a huge hit on its hands. Fans also hope to see an official reveal for this project soon.

Days Gone was previously built on the foundations of Unreal Engine. The latest version of this technology is arguably the most popular choice for modern game development, but Bend Studio has picked an in-house option for its next project.

This may ultimately benefit the studio, as it could receive support from fellow PlayStation developers at Guerrilla Games.

Why I Think Gaming Handhelds are Slightly Overhyped

Story Highlight
  • Gaming handhelds have gained popularity since the Steam Deck’s 2022 debut, offering portability and power for playing AAA games on the go.
  • Despite their appeal, handhelds face challenges like short battery life, bulkiness, and high prices, making them less practical for extended use and general accessibility.
  • These first-generation devices have room for improvement, but their success signals a bright future for the gaming industry with more refined and affordable iterations.
 
Since the Steam Deck’s 2022 debut, gaming handhelds have become a darling of the gaming community. With competing products from Ayaneo, Asus, and MSI, what makes these handhelds special, and why do I think they’re a bit overhyped? Keep reading to find out!

The Appeal

Gaming handhelds offer a magical mix of portability and power, which is very entrancing to the gaming community. Previously, handhelds were novelty devices limited to casual games, but the latest devices can handle AAA games, albeit at lower resolutions and settings.

Nostalgia also fuels their popularity. Many gamers fondly remember playing on devices like the Gameboy or PSP, and this childhood magic drives adult demand, boosting sales.

Steam Deck Sales
Sales For The Steam Deck – Image By Steam Deck HQ

The Jank

Now that we have the general appeal out of the way, let me walk you through the reasons why I think gaming handhelds are slightly overhyped.

Battery Life

Though these consoles have long battery life for less intensive games, they fall behind in demanding titles. Playing AAA games at decent settings drains the battery quickly, giving just enough for one session.

Boosting TDP, GPU speed, or brightness for outdoor use worsens this, making frequent recharges necessary. The Steam Deck, for example, lasts 1.5-3 hours on AAA games at default settings, which is manageable but requires frequent trips to the charger.

The Bulk

Legion Go Size
Legion Go With Human For Reference – Image By The Shortcut

Most gaming handhelds are either too big to be portable, or too small to be powerful. The Steam Deck is one of the best-performing handhelds, but it weighs 670 grams, which makes it very uncomfortable to play with it for long sessions, with the need for something to rest it on being irresistible.

Something like the ROG Ally is much more handleable at 608 grams and a much more compact and handlable body, but it eats through its battery time, partially due to the smaller size and the use of Windows instead of something like Steam OS for the Steam Deck.

The Price

HandheldLaunch MSRP (Base)
Steam Deck OLED💲549
ROG Ally X 💲799
Lenovo Legion Go 💲699
MSI Claw 💲699
Ayaneo Kun 💲999

The prices of these handhelds make them inaccessible to a large portion of the gaming community. Bear in mind that the prices listed here are of the base variants of these consoles, with the prices quickly going up with better storage, RAM, and processor configurations.

If you want to game on the go, the best mileage you can get is from a second-hand gaming laptop, albeit it won’t be as tight-knit of an experience. 

Situational Appeal

Let’s say you have a PC and a gaming laptop, but you want to get a handheld. What is the use case of this device in your situation? At home, you’d be better off using your PC for a better experience in terms of visuals, peripherals, and framerate.

If you have a place to sit, your laptop would take centre stage for the same reasons. Granted, you’ll have to connect your power supply to the most out of it, but it is a minor inconvenience.

This leaves the handhelds only appealable in niche scenarios like bus rides and flights where you won’t be able to use your other devices. In my opinion, this small window of appeal really diminishes the things that are great about these devices.

Performance Of Steam Deck vs $400 Gateway Laptop
Performance Of Steam Deck vs $400 Gateway Laptop -Image By Tech4Gamers

The above benchmark was taken with a laptop with an 11th gen i5, and an RTX 3050. The Steam Deck was rendering at 720p with medium settings and FSR on, while the laptop was rendering at 1080p High with DLSS on.

A Very Bright Future

Putting my minor nitpicks aside, it’s very easy to see how these devices have been great for the gaming industry. The staleness with the boring and underwhelming hardware releases took a turn for the better with the debut of these handhelds.

These devices are set to be the next big thing, with the technology right now being at the cusp of being efficient enough for a great experience, but not quite there. Additionally, the competition also suggests the prices landing at a more comfortable plateau.

With all first-generation products, the jank is inevitable. All of us at Tech4Gamers are more than excited to see what these gaming handhelds have in store in later iterations!


 

FighterZ: The Best Modern Dragon Ball Game

Story Highlight
  • Dragon Ball FighterZ stands out by moving away from the repetitive arena fighter format, offering 2D stage fights with dynamic movement and flashy abilities.
  • The game focuses on a skill-based combat system that’s easy to learn but hard to master, making its PVP both fair and engaging.
  • FighterZ maintains the epic scale of battles with 3v3 gameplay and stunning graphics that stay true to the source material, setting it apart from other anime games.

Dragon Ball is such a cornerstone of most people’s childhoods that it has become marketable to the point of companies milking it. The games industry is especially guilty of this, with many games retelling the same story we’re acquainted with.

In this sea of reused content, Dragon Ball FighterZ introduces an interesting concept that has been well-received by both the Dragon Ball and fighting game communities.

What Makes It Special

A myriad of traits make Dragon Ball FighterZ unique compared to its contemporaries. Let us cover all the things that make it better than its predecessors.

Note: The comparisons drawn in this section are highly opinionated and not definitive in any manner. Everyone enjoys different things; we’re just recounting what made this game special for us!

It Sets Itself Apart

FighterZ vs Xenoverse 2
FighterZ vs Xenoverse 2 – Image By Game Finisher On Youtube

Though most Dragon Ball games have been arena fighters with varying mechanics, the repeated use of the same concepts since the release of Budokai Tenkaichi in 2005 has led to monotony.

FighterZ reimagines Dragon Ball games with 2D stage fights instead of arena battles. This change maintains the series’ signature flashiness, offering dynamic movement and special abilities.

FighterZ doesn’t retell the same story from the original series and previous games. Instead, it focuses on creating a fair, skill-based game loop that draws you in and keeps you entertained.

It helps that it is one of the only Dragon Ball games that has garnered recognition outside of the Dragon Ball community, with fighting game enthusiasts picking it up.

Easy To Learn Yet Hard To Master

Specials List
Rather Simple Specials Lists – Image By Tech4Gamers

Though there is a depth to the combat of Dragon Ball FighterZ, it still is fairly simple to pick up. All the deflects, guards, and blocks are standard enough that you can understand them within a few minutes but complex enough that you can build on them.

This makes the PVP of this game very fair, with very few game-breaking with only certain characters.

Speaking of characters, they also follow a similar trend to the difficulty. They are simple enough to get your hands used to them while all having unique quirks that make them seem different.

Does The Series Justice

Most other Dragon Ball games put you in the shoes of these overpowered characters fighting overpowered yet dumb enemy AIs, which makes the games seem very button-mashy and easy. The nature of the series hurts the gameplay experience.

Dramatic Finishes
Dramatic Kamehameha Finishes – Image By Spidey Fist On YouTube

With enemy AIs mostly not being a thing in this game outside the story mode, which almost no one buys this game for, FighterZ keeps the gameplay challenging with different strategies to counter different moves while keeping the scale of these battles just as epic.

The 3v3 gameplay also helps with this, with different strategies being more viable with different counters. This keeps you on your toes to continuously min-max your way to victory.

The different specials you can apply with different characters also make the scenes look grander, which is one of the most ubiquitous reasons Dragon Ball is loved by so many.

Graphics And Art Style

Though we agree that graphics do not play a huge role in making a gaming experience special, we have to mention how much better this game is compared to the rest of the anime game roster.

Art Style
The Gorgeous Art Style In Action – Image By The Fighters Generation

Arena fighters with cell-shaded animation somehow always look off. The mixture of the effort of looking 2D in a 3D game makes the characters look uncanny.

Though the characters’ models are rendered in 3D in FighterZ, the camera restriction makes them stand out as accurate to the source material, and the effects and specials are all on point.

Verdict

For all that we’ve sung its praises, FighterZ is not the end-all and be-all Dragon Ball game. It brings a new and refreshing take on the series, which is why we’ve been fangirling over it. 

However, if you want to experience the Dragon Ball story, either for the first time or just to relive your initial experience, you should look elsewhere, but for the mechanical excellence of your favorite Dragon Ball characters, FighterZ is the best experience you could have.

Does Your Rank Really Represent How Good You Play?

Story Highlights
  • Ranks are an excellent way to track progress, but they only tell part of the story. Teammates and inconsistency can all skew your rank.
  • Kill/Death Ratio (K/D) might better measure individual performance, but it doesn’t reflect the objective play.
  • Focus on improving your individual skills, game knowledge, and teamwork – these will make you a better player overall.

Let’s talk about ranks. We’ve all been there, staring at that symbol, badge, or number that’s supposed to show how good we are at a game. It feels good when it goes up and frustrating when it goes down. But here’s the thing: Does your rank really show how good you are? It’s a tricky question with a not-so-simple answer.

Why This Matters: Understanding your rank and how to improve your individual skills will help you become a more well-rounded and effective gamer, regardless of your rank.

Ranks Give You A Standard Benchmark

Rank In Rocket League
All Ranks In Rocket League – Image By Epic Games

Ranks are like a progress report. It feels good to move up because it means you’re getting better. You’ll face challenging opponents, learn new tricks, and get equally good teammates. Ranks also create a sense of community. You’ll be playing against people with similar skills, which makes things more competitive and friendly.

Factors Beyond Your Control

This ranking stuff can be tricky. A lot of times, it’s not really up to you. We’ve all been in those games where teammates just mess things up – they start throwing, disconnect, or don’t perform well. It’s frustrating because one bad teammate can change the game and mess with your rank, no matter how well you played.

Inconsistency is another thing to think about. We all have good days and bad days. You might feel rusty or go against a team that perfectly counters your playstyle. A few losses here and there shouldn’t dictate your overall skill, but ranking systems often can’t distinguish between a rough patch and not being good enough.

Ugly Reality Of Rank

Let’s talk about the ugly part. Ranking systems often reward playing a lot of games over actual skill. This means some players focus on purely ranking up instead of getting better. You might see them baiting just for their own frags, trying to complete quests or daily challenges instead of improving their skills or teamwork.

Then there are the glory seekers. These players create new accounts to play against lower-ranked players to boost their rank, aka smurfing. This messes up the whole system and makes it even harder for truly skilled players to move up the rankings.

K/D Might Be A Better Measure For Individual Skill

Getting a rank gives a general idea of your skill level, but some say the Kill/Death Ratio (K/D) is a better measure of your performance. Your K/D shows how good you are at taking out opponents while staying alive yourself.

If your K/D is consistently high, you have solid offensive and defensive skills. However, K/D doesn’t account for objective play, such as how many times you assisted your team, used your abilities, etc.

Your KD Matters More Than Rank
Your K/D Matters More Than Rank In COD – Image from Reddit

What Matters Other Than Your Rank?

Rank is a decent indicator, but it only tells part of the story. It can give you a general idea of your progress and skill level, but there are other important things to consider:

  1. Individual Performance: Did you do well even in a losing match? Did you make smart decisions that helped your team? Focusing on improving your performance is more important than just winning or losing.
  2. Adaptability: Can you change your play style based on different situations and opponents? Being able to adapt quickly is a true sign of skill.
  3. Game Knowledge: Understanding the layout of maps, controlling objectives, and knowing the strengths and weaknesses of different characters is crucial to being a good player.
  4. Teamwork: Most games require teamwork to win. Can you communicate effectively and work well with your teammates?

The Takeaway: Focus on the Journey, Not the Destination

Ultimately, don’t let rank be the only thing that matters. It’s cool to climb up, but don’t let a number or a symbol define how much you enjoy the game. Focus on improving the game, learning all effective strategies to win games, and being a great teammate.

Gameplay vs Narrative: What Matters More In A Game?

Story Highlights
  • Gamers are divided on whether a great story or fun gameplay is more important.
  • The ideal balance between story and gameplay depends on the genre of the game.
  • Engaging gameplay mechanics and a captivating story can both make a game truly special.
  • No matter your preference, there’s a game out there that perfectly blends story and gameplay for you.

We gamers live in a diverse world built on different preferences. Some of us love games with engaging stories that transport us to other worlds, where we can experience exciting adventures or emotional tales up close.

Others love mastering a game’s mechanics, outsmarting opponents, or pulling off a complex move perfectly for the pure joy of it. Me? I constantly tussle with this debate: Gameplay vs Narrative. What actually makes a game award-worthy?

Why It Matters: Understanding the importance of both narrative and gameplay can help you find games you’ll truly love.

Tekken 8 Gameplay
Gameplay In Tekken 8 – Image from Steam

The Addiction of Gameplay

There’s nothing like mastering a game’s core mechanics. The moment when you finally nail that perfect combo in a fighting game or outsmart your opponent in an FPS game is pure gaming joy.

Having fast and responsive controls is super important. A clunky control scheme can ruin the fun faster than you can say. “Game over”. When the gameplay feels smooth and intuitive, it’s like an extension of yourself, letting you truly get into the game.

Good game mechanics keep you engaged in a continuous loop. You play, you learn, you get really good, and then you just want to play even more. Take a game like Tekken, for example. Getting those perfect combos is an addictive puzzle, pushing you to beat your toughest opponents.

The Power of a Stunning Story

Think about how a great story can totally change a game. Picture yourself exploring an amazing world, making friends with awesome characters, and getting caught up in a story that really hits your heart. That’s the power of a well-told story in a game.

The story gives meaning to the gameplay, making your victories and losses matter. A well-written tale can add serious depth to your challenges, making them more than just basic obstacles.

And when the story can change based on your choices, it takes things up a notch. Being able to shape the story through your decisions makes the game way more replayable and personal. Who wouldn’t want to see how different choices lead to different outcomes?

Witcher 3 Story
Incredible Story Of Witcher 3 – Image by Steam

The Ideal Balance

So, what’s better – awesome gameplay or a killer story? The best games smash them together, making a cool combo where the gameplay and story improve each other.

Like in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, mastering open-world exploration and combat is a blast. But then there’s also the thrill of discovering new stuff and learning about Hyrule’s lore, which adds a new level of fun.

The right balance changes depending on the type of game. A fast-paced shooter like Apex Legends focuses more on tight gameplay, while an RPG like Witcher 3 digs deeper into the story. Either way, nailing both aspects is key to creating an awesome gaming experience.

The Importance of Personal Preference

Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference. Some gamers, like me, want a good mix of both. We want the game to challenge us with cool mechanics while hooking us with an interesting story. Some others are about prioritizing one over the other, which is also fine.

What’s great about games is that they come in all shapes and sizes. There’s a game out there for every type of player, whether you’re all about stories or all about kicking butt in the game.

MachineGames Potentially Working On Quake 6 Besides Indiana Jones

Story Highlight
  • MachineGames is busy developing multiple new games besides Indiana Jones.
  • The studio is investing heavily in these projects, with the team previously teasing a new Quake game.
  • Over 300 people are working on these games, both within MachineGames and with external partners.

MachineGames, known for its work on the Wolfenstein and Quake series, is currently deep in development on multiple new titles. This news comes as the studio gears up for a significant year in 2024, with the highly anticipated Indiana Jones releasing soon.

Why it matters: MachineGames’ track record and the high-profile nature of the Indiana Jones project have set high expectations for their upcoming titles.

MachineGames Working On Multiple Games
According to a LinkedIn profile, MachineGames has multiple new titles in the pipeline.

The studio is currently working on several new titles, with budgets ranging from six to nine figures. The information comes from a developer’s LinkedIn profile, also working on the upcoming Indiana Jones and The Great Circle.

One of the standout titles currently in development at MachineGames is obviously Indiana Jones. The game received a new trailer at the Xbox Showcase, offering fans a glimpse of its gameplay and narrative. It’s slated for release later this year.

In addition to the Indiana Jones project, the studio may be working on the next installment in the Wolfenstein series. Bethesda confirmed that Wolfenstein 3 would arrive eventually, continuing the story of B.J. Blazkowicz.

Fans can expect the same intense, story-driven gameplay that the series is known for, although specific details are still limited. However, Quake 6 is more likely since MachineGames has already teased this project.

Fans spotted a teaser for Quake 6 during the Xbox Developer Direct in January 2024, suggesting that the studio may be working on a brand new entry for this iconic series.

While the games in development are not confirmed, we still have some other information. The studio is using both its staff and outside help, with a team of over 300 people working across different time zones to make these projects happen.

The budgets for these games vary widely, ranging from millions to tens of millions of dollars, underscoring the substantial investment and high hopes for their achievements.

MachineGames is known for consistently delivering brilliant story-driven games that exceed player expectations.

The studio is dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences. It takes a careful approach to game development, where every team member’s input shapes the final product. With several new titles in the pipeline, fans of MachineGames have much to look forward to in the coming years. 

Controllers Now 3x More Popular Among PC Users; 60% Prefer Xbox Controller

Story Highlight
  • Steam has been the best launcher on PC for over 20 years now. 
  • 15% of all users now rely on controllers due to recent advancements in Steam Input and the convenience factor.
  • Controller players have tripled in the span of 6 years, and 60% of them are using Xbox controllers. 

Steam is inarguably the best launcher on PC, and nothing even comes close. This platform has helped PC gaming become even more popular, recently setting a record of 34 million concurrent players in March.

Needless to say, it has a strong standing in the PC gaming market and will continue to reign. The platform has recently shared new data on player preferences, stating that controllers are gaining more popularity as the preferred input device for games.

According to Steam, players are more reliant on controllers than they have ever been.

Why it matters: Controllers let you stay in your comfort zone while playing a game, and you can be more relaxed than playing with a mouse and keyboard combo.

Steam New Report
The Latest Steam Report Has Revealed Statistics On Controller Usage

Valve revealed in a new report that Steam controller usage has risen to 15%, and 60% of those players use Xbox controllers. 26% of the players use PS5 controllers, and only 10% use Steam Deck.

the controller landscape has changed.

-Valve

Valve has also revealed that 42% of controller-using players rely on Steam Input. This figure is understandable, as games often lack support for different types of controllers.

This is where Steam Input comes in. It can be a real lifesaver, especially for those who prefer controllers like the DualShock 4. To no one’s surprise, most players are using the Xbox controller.

This is mainly because PC games rely on the XInput API. Therefore, Xbox controllers are typically supported out of the box across nearly all PC games. Perhaps the most interesting figure here is that controller usage on the platform has grown 3x since 2018.

Steam
Steam Has Been Reigning As The Best Launcher on PC for 20 Years

Despite the recent popularity of controllers, the keyboard and mouse combo is better for certain games. Once you play a first-person shooter with this combo, there really is no going back.

Still, controllers like the DualSense offer unique features, such as Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers, that make them compelling for various titles.

The recent increase in controller usage may indicate that more and more console players are shifting to PCs.

Action adventure titles, Souls-likes, and various other gaming genres work remarkably with controllers, making them the go-to for many players, even if the mouse and keyboard combo remains as iconic as ever.

Studios Announce AAA Games Early To Avoid Potential Cancellations, Says Dev

Story Highlight
  • Many games in the industry are often announced several years before their release.
  • Such games are not in development, but studios announce them because they sometimes fear cancellations.
  • At other times, studios rely on such announcements to bounce back from a difficult period and generate excitement.

With a plethora of games finally receiving gameplay trailers and release dates several years after announcements, many have wondered why developers make such announcements several years in advance.

It’s no secret that many projects are announced well before they are ready, and fans are often upset at such moves from studios. According to a veteran developer, this is done to prevent potential cancellations of games in the worst-case scenario.

Why it matters: The Elder Scrolls 6 is one such game that immediately comes to mind. Having just begun early development, it was announced over half a decade ago.

Mark Darrah has extensive experience with the games industry, and he recently discussed various elements of gaming.

Speaking on early announcements, he expressed that developers often announce games, even when there is no significant ongoing work being done on them. Such projects can often have as few as 10 people planning them out, making them far from ready for an announcement.

Mark Darrah explained that both publishers and developers benefit from this approach. In situations where a certain publisher has performed poorly in recent years, it can gain a lot of good faith and trust from an exciting announcement.

It might be because the publisher’s slate is a little weak. It might be because the studio is worried the publisher might kill it(unannounced project) otherwise.

-Mark Darrah

Perhaps this is why The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced so early. At the time, Bethesda faced backlash for Fallout 76, and the team wanted to give fans a reason to get excited about its slate again.

Moreover, Mark Darrah described that certain developers fear game cancellations. While this does not apply to titles like The Elder Scrolls 6, early announcements can help deal with the problem.

Perhaps a game like Days Gone 2 would still be alive if it was announced by Bend Studio.

 

While the industry seems to be happy with late announcements today, other developers like Hideo Kojima advocate for early launches. The veteran developer has argued that this practice can lead to a more interesting build-up for projects, creating more anticipation. 

However, there is a lot to take into account when considering gaming marketing cycles. Development is such a complex task that projects often go through various changes mid-development.

This makes early announcements more of a gamble, but it can also pay off for certain teams.

Former Halo Lead Defends Live Service Model As Best For Gaming Industry

Story Highlight
  • A former Halo developer believes the live service model is superior to the traditional gaming model.
  • Joe Tung recalls that E3 often pressured developers to create unrealistic demos that didn’t reflect the final product, leading to player disappointment.
  • Tung believes that the live service model reduces crunch periods for developers.

For years, the gaming industry revolved around the $60 full-game model. Companies focused on selling as many copies as they could right after launch. While this made good money, it sometimes led to choices that valued sales more than keeping players happy.

Joe Tung, the former lead on Halo 3, seems to favor games as a service over the traditional model. After all these years, he has argued that the live service model is the optimal approach for the gaming industry.

Why it matters: Tung is hopeful about the future of live service games despite the many recent failures. He believes this model will only get better in the future.

Concord
Concord is an upcoming live service title that seemingly offers nothing new.

At Riot Games, Joe Tung learned about free-to-play live service games while working on League of Legends. He believes this approach lets developers prioritize long-term benefits for both players and the company.

Unlike traditional releases, live service titles don’t hinge on big initial sales. Instead, they aim for ongoing player involvement and satisfaction, Tung believes. Less pressure to launch a flawless product helps reduce the necessity for intense crunch periods.

The GaaS model is so much better for developers and players (than a $60 boxed product).

-Joe Tung

E3, the former biggest event for revealing upcoming games, often pressured developers to create impressive yet unrealistic demos. Joe Tung refers to these as “bullshit vaporware” builds created amidst intense crunch times.

The main aim was to build hype and boost pre-orders, rather than provide an accurate game preview.

Live Service Games
Live-service gaming is dominating the industry.

Now, a new approach mixing both has become popular amid discussions about boxed games versus live service games. A release like Helldivers 2, a well-received co-op shooter, takes a middle ground with the pricing strategy.

It’s not free-to-play but is priced more affordably than traditional $60 or $70 games, aiming to attract a wider range of players. Helldivers 2 proves to be an exception in the live service genre, as the Gears creator quotes.

Yet, the traditional live service approach faces challenges. The closures of several live service games, such as Anthem and the recently cancelled The Division Heartland underscore the struggle to maintain player interest over time.

The main argument is that many live service games launch incomplete, relying on updates to deliver promised features. Despite these concerns, Tung remains optimistic about the model’s overall advantages over the traditional $60 game.