Why the Epic Games and Apple lawsuit is a big deal
Apple is threatening to remove Unreal Engine from all Mac and iOS devices, putting dozens of developers and titles at risk. Fortnite was dramatically pulled from the App Store several weeks ago and is no longer available on any iOS device, including all iPhones and iPads. It’s the result...
Current in Gaming
Halo Infinite’s reveal proves that Xbox isn’t doing enough
The big reveal for Halo’s next instalment showed off lacklustre graphics and dated gameplay. It’s clear that Microsoft isn’t keeping up with Sony. Microsoft premiered eight minutes of brand new campaign gameplay from its upcoming Halo reboot, Halo Infinite, yesterday evening as part of a livestreamed reveal event. We...
Metacritic combats game ‘review bombing’ with 36-hour delays to user scores
Metacritic, widely renowned as the ultimate review aggregator, is introducing 36-hour delays to user scores on new games in an effort to combat ‘review bombing.’ Metacritic is tightening its defence against premature user scores by implementing 36-hour delays to all new games on its platform. With a view to maintaining...
Clown protests take Read Dead Online by storm
It’s been close to a year since Rockstar meaningfully expanded Red Dead Redemption 2, and players have started populating entire servers with clowns in protest. All is not well in the digital wild west. It’s been seven months since Red Dead Online’s ‘Moonshiners’ expansion dropped, and players are growing frustrated...
Publishers to raise gaming prices for next gen
2K announced last week that NBA 2K21 will cost $70 USD on next-gen, setting a precedent for other publishers to increase prices - but it should come with a reduction in microtransactions. The regular pricing for video games could be seeing an increase as we move into the next...
Insomniac Games sexual harassment case the latest in a surge of new allegations
Based on the outpouring of women’s stories this week, it’s clear the gaming industry has a deep rooted problem with sexism and harassment. Change is desperately needed. Insomniac Games is the latest games developer to face new sexual assault and harassment allegations this week. Former employee Sol Brennan tweeted that...
PS5 embraces the digital generation with discless console
Sony’s PS5 reveal delivered a host of new titles for fans to get excited about, but the big surprise came in the form of a new discless console dubbed the ‘Digital Edition’. For the most part, you’d have to call the PS5 reveal a resounding success for Sony. While one or two fan favourite franchises were absent from the event (cough God of War), fans were treated to first looks...
Can gaming become an arm of educational discovery?
In conjunction with ever improving tech, Ubisoft continues to bring historical periods to life with unerring accuracy in its games. But has its latest development opened a door to educational discovery that we never knew was there? As gaming technologies become more intricate and advanced, so too do the digital worlds created by the industry’s top studios. Raising the bar for immersive entertainment is unequivocally the priority for the next...
Investors bet on permanence of lockdown gaming habits
Lockdown restrictions have meant that many of us are flocking to online video games to distract ourselves, and investors are hoping the trend continues well beyond the pandemic. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that I’ve chucked more than a few extra hours into playing video games since lockdown began over three months ago. While nearly every other industry has struggled to cope with the unpredictable changes surrounding the...
Indie developers can now use Unreal Engine for free
Yesterday’s demo of the Unreal Engine 5 was certainly something wasn’t it? And small indie devs will get a taste of the new cutting-edge technology for free. Consider yourself an avid gamer? the chances are you’ve already played several titles developed using one of the constantly improving iterations of the Unreal Engine. Whether we’re talking Mass Effect, Bioshock, Borderlands, Mortal Kombat, or owners Epic Games’ in-house projects Fortnite and Gears of War, a hefty chunk of the most popular franchises...