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Category: News

The latest gaming news from Game Empress, covering release date announcements, trailers, studio updates, and major industry stories across PC, console, and mobile platforms.

  • The Skies Get Crowded! World of Warcraft: The War Within Unleashes a Massive Wave of Dynamic Flying Mounts

    The Skies Get Crowded! World of Warcraft: The War Within Unleashes a Massive Wave of Dynamic Flying Mounts

    World of Warcraft has announced a big change for its upcoming expansion, The War Within. Over 440 mounts will now be able to use Dynamic Flying, a new and improved version of Dragonriding, making it easier and faster to explore the game’s vast world.

    The War Within is the tenth expansion for World of Warcraft, bringing in new areas, items, and features. Dynamic Flying is one of the most exciting updates in this expansion. It allows more mounts than ever before to fly, making it convenient to travel around.

    In a recent preview video, World of Warcraft revealed that there are over 440 flying mounts that can use Dynamic Flying. These mounts come in various models, shapes, and sizes, totaling more than 200 different types. The number of mounts eligible for Dynamic Flying may increase before the expansion’s launch.

    Dynamic Flying can be unlocked at level 15 for all characters, and they’ll gain more abilities up to level 70. This includes all the dragon-riding talents from a previous expansion, making flying easier and more accessible.

    Many familiar flying mounts like dragons, griffins, wyverns, and unique favorites such as Ashes of Al’ar and Invincible are included. Surprisingly, even wingless mounts like mech suits, cloud serpents, and Mimiron’s Head can use Dynamic Flying.

    One exciting aspect is that Dynamic Flying will be unlocked earlier in The War Within, with all players gaining access at level 15. Those lucky enough to participate in the expansion’s alpha testing can try out these changes before the official launch.

    Overall, this update promises to transform the way players explore World of Warcraft, offering more options and easier access to flying mounts.

  • Censorship Wasn’t the Enemy: Why Stellar Blade’s Uncensored Hype Falls Flat

    Censorship Wasn’t the Enemy: Why Stellar Blade’s Uncensored Hype Falls Flat

    Developer Shift Up has announced that their game Stellar Blade will be released without censorship in all regions. This means the game won’t be changed to make it more acceptable for different audiences.

    Some people are celebrating this announcement as a win against censorship in games. However, it’s not clear if censorship was ever planned for Stellar Blade in the first place.

    Is Stellar Blade Available On PS5
    Is Stellar Blade Available On PS5

    Censorship in games can vary based on cultural differences. For example, games might be made easier for global audiences or toned down to fit certain markets. It’s usually about selling more copies and getting better ratings, not about limiting creativity.

    Stellar Blade has already shown revealing character designs and some violent scenes in trailers and demos. These aren’t more extreme than what we see in other big games like Resident Evil.

    Even though it’s not clear where censorship would have happened in Stellar Blade, the announcement caused a stir on social media. Some people saw it as a victory against an imagined censorship threat.

    Games like Stellar Blade often get caught up in debates about censorship, similar to what happened with Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE. In that case, Nintendo made changes to certain scenes and outfits. Some fans didn’t agree with these changes.

    Channels like Censored Gaming talk about how games can be altered during translation to fit different markets. This can be controversial, but hostility isn’t the answer.

    Shift Up hasn’t explained exactly what won’t be censored in Stellar Blade, so the celebration about it being uncensored might not be based on real changes. This kind of announcement can create unnecessary tension.

    In the end, Stellar Blade being uncensored doesn’t mean much until we know what changes were avoided. Celebrating without understanding the full picture can cause more harm than good.

  • Unreal Engine 5.4: Unleash Smoother Gameplay with 60fps Performance Boost

    Unreal Engine 5.4: Unleash Smoother Gameplay with 60fps Performance Boost

    Unreal Engine 5.4 is a big deal for game developers. It’s the latest version of Epic’s powerful software, and it’s packed with improvements.

    One exciting change for players is better performance. Unreal Engine 5 had some issues running smoothly on new game consoles and high-end PCs. Now, with version 5.4, Epic is focused on making games run at a smooth 60 frames per second (fps) on current hardware.

    They’ve worked on speeding up shader compilation, which should reduce those annoying stutters players sometimes experience in Unreal Engine games.

    Epic has also added new features to make games look even better. Nanite, a technology in Unreal Engine, now includes “Adaptive Tessellation” which can create intricate details without slowing down performance. There are also “Heterogeneous volumes” for realistic smoke and clouds. Epic has improved their Temporal Super Resolution upscaling too, making games look sharper.

    Developers can now integrate AI and machine learning tools more easily into their games using Unreal Engine 5. This means smarter NPCs and more dynamic environments.

    Some developers, like those working on 1943: Rise of Hydra, are already using Unreal Engine 5.4 to create impressive games. They’re showing off what this new version can do.

    Overall, Unreal Engine 5.4 is all about boosting performance and visuals, making it a top choice for developers working on next-gen games.

  • Double the Clickers, Double the Fun! The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Now Free to Download!

    Double the Clickers, Double the Fun! The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Now Free to Download!

    The Last Of Us Part II Remastered, a version of the 2020 PS4 game upgraded for PlayStation 5, is now available for free to certain PlayStation gamers.

    I found The Last Of Us Part II to be a tough experience, but ultimately an incredible, emotional, and intense video game that deserves all its acclaim.

    “If this is a preview of what Naughty Dog has planned next, I can’t wait to see it,” she wrote.

    If you haven’t tried The Last Of Us Part II Remastered yet, you can now download and play the first two hours for free.

    As shared by PlayStation Game Size on Twitter, you can access this through a PlayStation Plus Premium trial. Two hours should be enough to see a major event in the game. I won’t spoil it, but if you’ve played the game, you know what I’m talking about.

    Go ahead and play The Last Of Us Part II Remastered. It’s the best way to experience this incredible game.

  • Rare Pokemon No More! Trainer Shares Strategy to Consistently Encounter Legendary Birds in Pokemon GO

    Rare Pokemon No More! Trainer Shares Strategy to Consistently Encounter Legendary Birds in Pokemon GO

    A Pokemon GO player may have figured out a trick to catch the Galarian Birds more easily. What’s interesting is that other Pokemon GO fans have also reported similar experiences, which makes a strong case for this trick.

    The Galarian Birds—Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos—were added to Pokemon GO from Pokemon Sword and Shield’s Crown Tundra expansion. They are known for being very challenging to catch in the game.

    I think galarian birds have set spawning locations
    byu/cutiepatatao inpokemongo

    One reason is that they can only be encountered through Daily Incense spawns. But even finding them is just the start of the challenge because these birds escape from Pokeballs very often. However, a player seems to have discovered a method to improve their chances of catching them.

    In a post on the Pokemon GO subreddit, user cutiepatatao shared their experience, suggesting that the Galarian Birds’ spawn behavior might not be random. They noticed that they encountered Galarian Zapdos and Articuno on the same day while taking a different route to school. This made them think that the Galarian Birds might have specific spawn locations.

    They tried different routes for several days without another encounter until they went back to that route again, and Galarian Zapdos appeared once more. This suggests that the birds might spawn repeatedly in certain locations rather than randomly. Other players shared similar stories, finding the Galarian Birds appearing consistently in specific routes.

    Also Read:

    One player mentioned using Daily Incense regularly on a particular route and had multiple encounters with the Galarian Birds, eventually catching all three. However, they noticed that the birds stopped spawning along that route after some time, so it might not always work.

    Overall, catching the Galarian Birds in Pokemon GO remains challenging, and players might need to use their Master Ball to catch them.

  • Can’t Wait Until August? Xbox Game Pass Adds Day One Mystery Title

    Can’t Wait Until August? Xbox Game Pass Adds Day One Mystery Title

    It’s been confirmed that SteamWorld Heist 2 will be available on Xbox Game Pass from its release day, August 8. Xbox Game Pass has had a great year so far, starting with the popular game Palworld and continuing strong with many high-quality games available right from day one. The good news is that this momentum is expected to continue.

    April 2024 alone has already seen several impressive day-one games on Xbox Game Pass, and there are more to come. For example, this week will bring new releases like Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes and the Soulslike game Another Crab’s Treasure.

    While most subscribers are excited about upcoming releases, it’s worth noting that games are also being confirmed for later in the year.

    Mark your calendars for Thursday, August 8, if you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber. That’s when SteamWorld Heist 2 will be added to the service as a day-one game.

    This sequel to the 2015 turn-based tactics game SteamWorld Heist was announced during the latest Nintendo Indie World Showcase. The original game received positive reviews from critics, so there are high expectations for the sequel.

    With SteamWorld Heist 2 coming to Xbox Game Pass on August 8, subscribers can play it without any additional cost. Turn-based tactics might be a niche genre, but even if you’re not excited about SteamWorld Heist 2, there are plenty of other new games coming to Game Pass in the upcoming months.

    In May 2024, subscribers can look forward to Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, releasing on May 21. It’s one of Xbox’s key game releases for 2024, and fans are eager to see if it meets expectations.

    Looking ahead, Rolling Hills will join Xbox Game Pass on June 4, while the horror game Still Wakes the Deep is set for release on June 18. Frostpunk 2 is coming to PC Game Pass on July 5, followed by STALKER 2 on September 5.

    SteamWorld Heist 2 is the only confirmed day-one game for Xbox Game Pass in August 2024 so far, but more titles are expected to be announced soon.

  • Is “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” Real? Leaked Title Sparks Fan Theories

    Is “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” Real? Leaked Title Sparks Fan Theories

    As many fans know, Assassin’s Creed Red has been the codename for the franchise’s open-world RPG set in Feudal Japan. Sometimes these code names give hints about a game, like how Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was called Kingdoms, which reflected its structure.

    However, all we know about Assassin’s Creed Red is that it’s set in Japan. Now, a leaker claims that the real title of Assassin’s Creed Red is Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which suggests some interesting ideas for the game.

    Assassin's Creed Valhalla
    Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

    Until Ubisoft confirms the real title of Assassin’s Creed Red, fans should be cautious about this information. The rumor originated from a Twitter account called UBI_FraxV2, which stated that the game would be called Assassin’s Creed Shadows and would have 2 DLC releases.

    Shortly after, the account was banned from Twitter and hasn’t returned yet. This name started appearing on other social media platforms, but it hasn’t gained much traction. The banning of the account doesn’t confirm or deny the legitimacy of this leak.

    If the leak turns out to be true, the subtitle Assassin’s Creed Shadows could carry significant meaning. Assassin’s Creed Origins explores the origins of the Hidden Ones and the predecessors of the Templar Order, while Assassin’s Creed Odyssey takes players on an epic journey through Greece.

    Assassin’s Creed Valhalla focuses less on stealth and more on combat with Eivor and their warrior ways. AC Mirage is not only about the desert setting but also about Basim’s true identity and growth. The subtitle of Assassin’s Creed Shadows hints at the importance of stealth.

    According to other rumors and leaks about Assassin’s Creed Red/Shadows, stealth will play a bigger role and will be overhauled compared to previous open-world RPGs in the franchise. This could include new abilities like turning enemy commanders into spies, going prone, and using shadows as hiding spots.

    This subtitle could also hint at the game’s storyline. It might mean that both the Templars and Assassins will operate from the shadows during Japan’s Warring Sengoku period, which fits well with established Assassin’s Creed lore about Japan.

    It’s exciting to think that this could be the real title, but fans will have to wait for official confirmation. Ubisoft Forward is happening on June 10, where we might hear more about Star Wars Outlaws before its August 30 release, and hopefully, we’ll learn more about Assassin’s Creed Red/Shadows too.

  • Is Gray Zone Warfare On PS5? A Deep Dive Into The Next-Gen Tactical Beast

    Is Gray Zone Warfare On PS5? A Deep Dive Into The Next-Gen Tactical Beast

    Madfinger Games’ Gray Zone Warfare caught the attention of gamers when it was revealed in 2023. The game, set to launch this year, has already been tested by some PC players, challenging them with its intense realism.

    Gray Zone Warfare isn’t just another first-person shooter. It’s an immersive tactical FPS where players can join a Private Military Company in a massive open-world setting.

    You can play solo or team up with others to battle enemies, whether they’re other players or AI-controlled foes. The game is brutally realistic—getting killed is as easy as it would be in real life, so players need to strategize carefully.

    Forbes’ Mike Stubbs recently shared his experience playing an early version of the game. According to Stubbs, Madfinger Games has delivered on their promise of realism. The game’s stunning visuals and lifelike gameplay make it both thrilling and challenging.

    Each enemy bullet poses a serious threat, pushing players to devise smart tactics to survive and accomplish objectives. The feedback from early testing will help address any issues, and console players can look forward to experiencing the game soon.

    Madfinger Games plans to release Gray Zone Warfare on consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Right now, they’re focused on perfecting the PC version, aiming for stability and polish.

    Creative director Marek Rabas mentioned a desire to bring the game to consoles through early access because of his love for console gaming, although a specific timeline for this release is still unclear.

    While the game was initially expected to launch this year, some sources suggest its development will continue into 2024, with a full release for everyone anticipated in 2025. Gray Zone Warfare is poised to challenge other popular FPS games, though there’s always room for further improvement in its development.

  • No Rest for the Broken Gear! No Rest for the Wicked Hotfix Balances Durability and Repair

    No Rest for the Broken Gear! No Rest for the Wicked Hotfix Balances Durability and Repair

    The developers of No Rest For The Wicked haven’t had a break since the game launched in Steam Early Access last week. They quickly deployed their first hotfix to address some issues players were experiencing.

    In this update, Moon Studios focused on balancing the game and improving core systems. They reduced the damage gear takes, lowered repair costs, and increased the drop rate of Repair Powders to help players maintain their equipment. They also made stamina costs and fall damage less punishing. Here are the key changes:

    • Reduced Durability Damage Taken
    • Reduced Repair Costs
    • Increased Drop Rate on Repair Powders
    • Reduced Stamina Costs
    • Reduced Fall Damage
    • Adjusted prices of Horseshoe Crab and food containing Horseshoe Crab
    • Tweaked the Cerim Crucible boss fight
    • Changed the Corpse-Smeared Blade’s starting tier
    • Added more weapons to Fillmore’s Pre-Sacrament Loot Table
    • Decreased the drop rate of Fallen Embers

    They also fixed stability issues like crashes when quitting to the main menu and improved inventory navigation. Additionally, they addressed specific bugs like fixing a jump in the Potion Seller Cave and blocking off out-of-bounds areas.

    Earlier, players were concerned about durability and repair costs, which were common complaints in user reviews. The game is designed for dodge-roll melee combat enthusiasts, but some found it too challenging or unfair.

    Moon Studios has been responsive, outlining known issues and promising solutions. They’re also working on adding remappable controls soon.

    Overall, this update shows that the developers are listening to player feedback and making adjustments to improve the game experience. If you encounter any remaining issues, Moon Studios is actively working on fixes to address them.

    You might also be interested in the patch notes for Valorant 8.01 and NBA 2K24 Season 4 New Gen Patch Notes.

  • Helldivers 2 Celebrates Epic Bug Kill, Then Braces for Defeat

    Helldivers 2 Celebrates Epic Bug Kill, Then Braces for Defeat

    It seems like we’re facing a tough challenge in Helldivers 2. After a big victory against the Terminids, Arrowhead Game Studios has given us a new major order: defend ten planets. But things aren’t going well.

    Helldivers 2 Players Spot Warbond Armor
    Helldivers 2 Players Spot Warbond Armor

    A message from a community manager suggests that we’re likely to lose ground against both the bots and bugs. They’re calling it “grim projections” and it looks like we’re expected to struggle. This shows that live service games aren’t always fair.

    If you’re looking at the Helldivers 2 galaxy map and feeling doubtful about our chances, you’re not alone. Despite many players working together, winning seems unlikely this time. Arrowhead seems to feel the same way based on their recent update.

    You can also read these articles related to Helldivers 2:

    The community manager mentioned that the Automatons had restarted their attacks while we were busy fighting the Terminids. Now we’re defending on two fronts, and our experts predict we’ll lose some ground. Our goal is to make it costly for the enemies on every front.

    Even though we had a big success before, this new task feels almost impossible. We have three days left to defend nine more planets, and it’s not looking good. It’s shaping up to be a tough battle, and winning seems unlikely this time.

  • Infection Free Zone’s Early Access Needs a Patch, Not a Pandemic

    Infection Free Zone’s Early Access Needs a Patch, Not a Pandemic

    Infection Free Zone, now available on Steam Early Access, starts with a simple idea: Zombies have taken over the world, forcing humans into underground bunkers. After a while, a radio message announces that the disease is fading. Although the surface is still dangerous, it’s time to rebuild society.

    I’ve played games like this before, where you build a post-apocalyptic society and fight off zombie attacks. But this time, I’m doing it from my neighborhood. Instead of a made-up world or a model of a city, Infection Free Zone uses real map data to recreate cities and towns exactly as they are. This means I can loot real locations and set up a base in familiar places.

    When I started my game, I chose to begin in my region, and I even found my apartment in the game. The map uses real-world information to identify each building.

    For example, the walk-in clinic near my apartment is recognized as a hospital, making it a perfect base for me. My apartment didn’t have medical supplies, and it would be hard to defend because it was small. But the clinic was easy to secure, and I could use all the leftover medicine.

    Every building’s real-life purpose affects how it works in the Infection Free Zone. I had to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of each building to survive. I organized my survivors into small groups to scavenge nearby homes for food. We also found other survivors and started growing food and setting up infrastructure.

    It’s an exciting challenge to rebuild society in my own neighborhood, even if it’s just in a game. Infection Free Zone brings the zombie apocalypse right to my doorstep!

    If you want to read more articles about other games, check out Stardew Valley 1.6 Release Date and Elden Ring DLC Shadow Of The Erdtree Release Date. We appreciate your interest in our site! Make Gameempress.com your go-to source for gaming knowledge.

  • No Cuts Here! Stellar Blade Slashes Through Censorship in All Regions

    No Cuts Here! Stellar Blade Slashes Through Censorship in All Regions

    Developer Shift Up has announced that Stellar Blade will have an “uncensored” release worldwide, including in Japan. This means that the game’s content will be the same everywhere you buy it.

    The announcement on social media didn’t explain exactly what will be uncensored, but it likely refers to violent and sexual content being consistent across all versions of the game.

    Sometimes, games have to change certain things to be released in different countries because each region has its own rules for age ratings. If a game is deemed too mature, it might need changes to get the desired rating. In some cases, a game might even be banned from certain regions if it doesn’t meet the rating criteria.

    However, Stellar Blade has received a Mature rating from the ESRB and an 18 rating from PEGI, which means it includes blood, gore, strong language, suggestive themes, and violence—typical for a game with this rating.

    Fans who were worried about censorship in certain regions are happy about this news. But just because the game is uncensored doesn’t mean you’ll see revealing content all the time. The game director suggested that players dress the character Eve modestly to improve her stats, warning that revealing outfits don’t provide defense and could lead to quicker defeat.

    Stellar Blade will launch on April 26, exclusively on PlayStation 5. You can try a demo of the game now.

  • Valheim Gets an RPG Makeover: Players Dedicate 1,000 Hours to Epic Creation

    Valheim Gets an RPG Makeover: Players Dedicate 1,000 Hours to Epic Creation

    Two Valheim enthusiasts, Ninebyte and Dhakhar, dedicated over a thousand hours across three months to build an entire RPG game within Valheim, a popular survival game.

    The YouTubers teamed up to embark on this ambitious project, using Valheim’s versatile building tools to create unique stories, bosses, and more. They started by collecting and modifying existing builds at the edge of the game world, creating a “build graveyard” to use as a base for their project.

    Is Valheim Cross Platform?
    Is Valheim Cross Platform?

    Next, they crafted five main towns that would be connected through a story and lore they developed. They added points of interest, roads, and boss arenas with custom enemies for intense battles. Inspired by the Legends mod, they included 12 different classes like berserker, mage, and shaman.

    Once the main structure was in place, they focused on refining roads, optimizing code, adding mysterious NPCs who give quests, and creating lore to tie everything together. They even scattered vanilla loot items across the map as quest rewards.

    If you’re curious to explore their creation, you can try the beta version 1.0 for free on their Discord server. This project showcases their dedication and creativity within the world of Valheim, turning it into a fully-fledged RPG experience.

  • Million Dollar Layoffs? CI Games CEO Hails Revenue Boom After Trimming Workforce

    Million Dollar Layoffs? CI Games CEO Hails Revenue Boom After Trimming Workforce

    CI Games, the developer of Lords of the Fallen, has had its “best year” ever in terms of revenue, making over $60 million during fiscal 2023.

    This revenue is a huge increase of 400 percent compared to the previous year. Lords of the Fallen, which sold around 1.3 million copies in less than three months, played a big part in this success.

    CI Games CEO
    CI Games CEO

    During the 12 months, CI Games made a gross profit of about $6.48 million and a net profit of approximately $3.57 million. Their EBITDA (a measure of a company’s operating performance) was around $24 million.

    Marek Tymiński, the CEO of CI Games Group, described the fiscal year 2023 as a time of strong progress due to the launch of Lords of the Fallen. This game, the most expensive in the company’s history, made up 83 percent of its sales revenue for the year.

    However, it’s important to note that CI Games laid off 10 percent of its workforce in January, which affected employees at Lords of the Fallen studio Hexworks, Sniper Ghost Warrior developer Underdog, and the majority of the company’s marketing team.

    Currently, CI Games employs over 180 people. Hexworks has 82 team members, and Underdog has 53.

    Tymiński commented on the successful year, highlighting Lords of the Fallen‘s sales and their plans for future games in the series. He mentioned that CI Games is working on two new projects internally, codenamed Project Survive and Project 3, expected to be released in 2025 and 2026 respectively.

  • Red Dead Redemption 2’s Hidden Ending Will Make You Reconsider Everything

    Red Dead Redemption 2’s Hidden Ending Will Make You Reconsider Everything

    I often wonder if anyone has discovered all of Red Dead Redemption 2‘s secrets. It’s hard to know when we’ve found everything in Rockstar Games’ highly detailed open world.

    Discoveries keep popping up, but what’s new for one player might not be new for another. That’s why the game still has such an active community. Players are constantly sharing new things they’ve found or tricks they’ve learned.

    TIL that’s there’s an alternate scene if you escape the police after the drinking with Lenny mission
    byu/Name12345678910-1 inreddeadredemption

    Today, we’re discussing an alternate ending to a mission that many of you might not have seen before. This alternate ending was mentioned by a Reddit user named Name12345678910-1. They said, “[Today I learned] that there’s an alternate scene if you escape the police after the drinking with Lenny mission.”

    In this mission, Arthur and Lenny get very drunk, causing chaos. They try to run away, but Lenny gets caught by the police. Arthur has a few choices here. Usually, he gets caught too and ends up in jail, or he escapes and leaves Lenny behind.

    But there’s another funny option. Arthur can accidentally run into a post and knock himself out. When he wakes up, he finds himself in jail.

    “This always cracks me up. Most people either always get caught or never get caught and don’t know about the other scene,” commented InvisibleMadBadger.

    “Yeah, it took me until my fourth playthrough to realize you could get caught,” added Wplong23.

    So there you go! There is something new for you to discover in your next playthrough of the game.

  • Silent Hill 2 Remake Gets A Makeover: New Look For James Sunderland Revealed

    Silent Hill 2 Remake Gets A Makeover: New Look For James Sunderland Revealed

    The upcoming remake of Silent Hill 2 has shown a new look for the main character, James Sunderland, in a game icon on Steam.

    This is the first peek we’ve had of Silent Hill 2’s remake and how James Sunderland will appear. The information came through an update on the game’s Steam page, noticed on SteamDB. Fans have reacted positively to the change, saying it brings back the original feel from 2001.

    New SH2R game’s icon.
    byu/Comrade141 insilenthill

    James Sunderland’s appearance hasn’t changed drastically, maybe just a haircut and a slightly tired look under his eyes. Fans appreciate the nostalgic touch of the new look, especially pleasing longtime fans of the series. Reddit users have shown happiness about the remake’s direction.

    The comments show fans are pleased with the change, especially after criticism of the gameplay trailer for not making enough changes. Recently, the game was rated by ESRB, revealing some content changes, but beware of spoilers.

    The Silent Hill 2 Remake uses Epic’s Unreal Engine 5 and will be available for PC and PlayStation 5. There’s no release date yet, but it shouldn’t be too far away now.