Even simple games, like Donkey Kong Bananza, have obvious heroes and villains – the apes working for VoidCo are the bad guys, and Donkey Kong and Pauline are the good guys. But the most compelling games often blur the lines between right and wrong, and these are the ones worth exploring. They can even make you think about your reasons for playing.
Facing growing competition from games like Marvel Rivals, Blizzard responded by significantly revitalizing Overwatch. They relaunched the game – dropping the ‘2’ from the title and making substantial changes – which ultimately led to Overwatch surpassing Marvel Rivals in the number of players. The recent ‘Reign of Talon’ update has already added five new characters, yearly story arcs, and numerous gameplay improvements, establishing a more consistent and sustainable future for the game.
Microsoft has recently made several changes in leadership for its Xbox division. Asha Sharma is now the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, taking over from Phil Spencer, and Matt Booty has been appointed as the head of content. These changes initially caused some concern, with Xbox co-founder Seamus Blackley predicting a decline for the brand. However, a recent interview with Matt Booty suggests those fears might not come true.
Researchers have developed the first post-quantum sanitizable signature scheme, offering a way to securely alter signed documents without invalidating the signature.
The Sims 4 has been a hit for over ten years, celebrating its 12th anniversary this year. Players love creating families within the game and watching those families grow through many generations. It’s already tough to keep just one Sim alive, but managing multiple generations is a real challenge! While The Sims is one of the most beloved life simulation series, its age and popularity don’t protect it from bugs that can seriously disrupt a player’s game.
Banco Braza, a Brazilian foreign exchange bank, has launched its Brazilian real-backed stablecoin, BBRL, on the Polygon blockchain. The development was shared on X by Sandeep Nailwal, who referenced how Polygon is increasingly being used for payments and on-chain movement of money. (Because if you can’t trust a blockchain to move your money, what can you trust? A spreadsheet? A napkin? A signed promise?)
Xbox fans hoping for more games only available on Microsoft platforms might be disappointed, as that doesn’t appear to be the immediate plan.
The Trading Post is an in-game store offering new cosmetic items each month. You use a special currency called Trader’s Tender to buy things there. You earn Trader’s Tender by having an active subscription, completing monthly challenges, or sometimes by purchasing bundles or pre-ordering expansions in the in-game cash shop.
Luckily, many free browser games now offer similar experiences without requiring a subscription. These games use real-world imagery – like street views, videos, and satellite photos – or map puzzles to challenge your geography skills. Some let you play a classic location-guessing game endlessly, while others offer daily puzzles, competitive play, or unique ways to explore the world.
The recent ‘Shrouded Sky’ update for ARC Raiders added a lot of new content, but also included several balance changes and nerfs that players aren’t pleased with. While the developers at Embark did reduce the power of commonly used weapons like the Kettle and Stitcher to bring them in line with stronger guns like the Bobcat, fans are confused by other changes. Specifically, crafting requirements for items like Deadlines and Wolfpacks have been increased, which many players feel was an unnecessary adjustment.