Author: Zach Barbieri

Microsoft has showcased an intention to shut down Hellblade developer Ninja Theory after two separate deals have fallen through to sell the studio. In line with UK employment laws, a consultation has begun with the staff at the Cambridge-based studio. Microsoft has stated that they are working now to close the studio, but it remains open to the possibility of an agreement that could rescue the company. Xbox Chief Matt Booty stated via a blog post today: Unfortunately, two separate agreements for Ninja Theory fell through. We will now begin consultation with employees on a proposed closure while continuing to…

Nighthawks is the latest visual novel by Wadjet Eye Games, and one wild vampire ride that shows their many facets. Nighthawks refers to a nightclub that the player will eventually own in this RPG visual novel hybrid, not a painting from the 1940s. Artistically, there may be some overlap. You, the player, are a newly turned vampire who wakes up at the start of the story in a dingy and crappy apartment because, as all fans of the supernatural know, only witches are allowed to use brooms. These are the rules. Anywho, you came to this modern city a few…

Marvel’s Wolverine lets you upgrade the titular character as you progress through the game, which isn’t unexpected. That said, despite having a skill tree and a mutation menu, both offering meaningful systems in their own right, upgrading Wolverine’s health is not present here and, in fact tied to another system entirely: the character’s costume menu. While you can expect most superhero games to offer a selection of outfits from a character’s storied history, buffing the player’s health bar isn’t typically tied to that, which makes for interesting progression. The player unlocks the ability to earn new suits in the chapter…

Everybody has that franchise that calls to them for some reason. For me, that has always felt like Train Sim World, for whatever reason. I feel like it always releases around some other games I am into, and by the time I get around to playing it, there are just so many trains to add on. I like trains, I like sims, and I like the world; why wouldn’t I be into this? Up until this point, I have MAYBE clocked 2 hours in the series in 6 and 3, which a friend had, so finally, I get to dive…

ZA/UM Studio has announced that ZERO PARADES: Director’s Cut will be launching on October 1, 2026, for PC as a free update for all existing owners of ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies. Following this, the Director’s Cut will transition the game to consoles, with the PlayStation 5 version of the game now set to launch on November 3, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_acH7Wx1Ew The Director’s Cut is meant to mark the culmination of the title’s post-launch development on PC, adding a substancial amount of new material to the game, as well as completing a longer process of updates, revisions, and improvements that have…

The Blood of Dawnwalker, the new RPG IP developed by Rebel Wolves, does in fact have a new game plus mode in the works for a future release, the game’s director has confirmed. Released in early September, the new IP has managed a strong showing even among established games. While the title can boast a fairly long narrative, the structure of it can be beaten in a shorter or longer time overall, depending on choices the player makes. As such, it is no surprise that there are players waiting and hoping to run through the game again, this time without…

Developer ION LAND, the team behind the upcoming cyberpunk slice-of-life sim and my most anticipated game of the year, Nivalis Nights, has announced that the title has crossed 1 million wishlists on Steam. This news comes only a short time ahead of the game’s planned release date, September 29th, which the studio announced earlier this year after a string of delays pushed the game back. In celebration, ION LAND has released a new asset via social media https://twitter.com/NivalisNights/status/2100600671879712809?s=20 In a press release from ION LANDS, Creative Director Marko Dieckmann started: Hitting one million wishlists is a milestone we never expected…

Everybody’s favorite chainsaw-wielding cheerleader, spreading sparkles and rainbows with every zombie head she chops off, Juliet Starling, is officially set to return in Lollipop Chainsaw: Back2Back. Officially announced during the Tokyo Game Show after previously being teased, the title is set to release on PlayStation 5 sometime in 2027, with her updated look that apparently features an even shorter skirt than the first time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sRrLJVaTQ8 The original Lollipop Chainsaw debuted in 2012 and has gone on to achieve cult status, something that many titles that No More Heroes developer SUDA 51 has had a hand in. What makes this title…

Last year I had the opportunity to review the remaster of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny, a game I had probably not touched in maybe 15 years. Even then, I never owned it. I enjoyed it, but like most millennial games, I think the one thing that can’t survive a pair of rose-tinted glasses is tank controls. At one point, and I never went into any great detail in that review, I had to fight this one boss named Jujudoma, at which point I nearly whipped my controller at the wall. Combat-wise, she wasn’t particularly hard, but there was one screen…

Several developers who worked on the title Mindseye, which was universally panned upon release, have stated that they have been laid off. This has led many to question the future of the controversial studio behind the game, Build A Rocket Boy. Mindseye was originally meant to be part of another project the developer was working on, Everywhere, billed as ‘Roblox for adults, ’ with development led by Grand Theft Auto design chief Leslie Benzies. The studio later shifted focus to the narrative-driven action game, growing to 500 staff at its peak. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHP4LRdUlYk Mindseye finally saw release in June 2025, being decried…