Trending Topics - Week 16, 2023

You read that right, MultiVersus online servers are down until the official launch. Tony from Player First Games explained in their official blog post:

Throughout our Open Beta, we’ve been working hard to build the best gameplay experience, and we appreciate all of the inspiration you’ve given us. Our Open Beta has been an important learning opportunity for us and a stepping stone to the next phase of MultiVersus. We know there’s still a lot of work to do. As a result, we have a clearer view of what we need to focus on, specifically the content cadence of new characters, maps and modes to give you more ways to enjoy the game, along with updated netcode and more matchmaking improvements. We’ll also be reworking the progression system based on your feedback and looking at new ways for you to connect with your friends in the game. To do this the right way, we will be closing the MultiVersus Open Beta on June 25, 2023. As part of this process, we’ll be pausing updates and taking the game offline as we prepare for the launch of MultiVersus, which we are targeting for early 2024.

MultiVersus.com Mar 27, 2023

I was a bit surprised to hear this news, as I thought the game had already launched. MultiVersus already had overpriced microtransactions available (20 dollars for just 1 skin) and an overpriced launch edition version of the game available for all to purchase. It'll be interesting to see what improvements they muster up in half a year or so.

No Man's Sky has come a long way since its controversial debut back in 2016, but since then the developer, Hello Games, has continued to release free expansions every few months. The latest update as you can probably tell is titled "Interceptor". In this new update, you will explore corrupted planets, fight new robotic guardians, and steal their ships. That sounds awesome and you can find more about this update below:

Salvaged Interceptors

• Expand your fleet with your very own salvaged Sentinel Interceptor starship. Hunt down your perfect Sentinel ship, or collect a whole range of these sleek procedurally-generated Interceptors.

Corrupted Planets

• A darkness spreads through the Sentinel horde. Many fortified worlds have succumbed to corruption, with strange crystals sprouting from the earth and their robot guardians twisted into bizarre new forms. Explore these purple-hazed worlds to find new buildings, crashed interceptors, secret equipment and more…

Movable Wrist Projectors

• The high-tech projector interfaces for accessing menus in VR can now be grabbed and moved, allowing full custom control over their position. Reattach the wrist projectors to any location around your hand or Multi-Tool.

Interceptor Variety

• Sentinel fleets have evolved. System authority ships now appear in hundreds of procedurally-generated variations, dramatically diversifying their silhouettes and styles.

Corrupted Sentinels

• The strange power flowing through corrupted worlds has warped the Sentinels beyond recognition. Colossal semi-arachnid machines stalk these discordant worlds, ready to pounce upon unwary Travellers. Those who take on the corrupted swarm should beware their devastating flamethrowers and long-distance explosives.

Aeron Turbojet

• Explorers who delve into the mysteries found on corrupted worlds will uncover plans for unique Sentinel jetpack customization, with high-tech engines precooled by a constant flow of pugneum and nitrogen.

Interceptor Cockpit

• For the first time, step inside a Sentinel ship and see the universe from the perspective of an Interceptor. Operate and interact with this advanced Sentinel technology up-close, piloting an Interceptor ship from its unusual vestigial cockpit.

Harvest The Corruption

• As you wander dissonant worlds, direct your Mining Laser towards the ethereal radiant shards bursting from the terrain. Collect the anomalous crystals to fuel your salvaged Sentinel technology, or harvest and refine new resources directly from the remains of defeated Sentinel forces.

Sentinel Ship Technology

• Interceptor ships are powered by unique Sentinel components, hungering for radiant shards. Engage the Anti-Gravity Well to lift off, and follow the gaze of the Crimson Core to dash through tunnels in spacetime.

Improved Sentinel Quads

• Sentinel quadruped combat units have been improved with new animations and intelligent pathfinding, tremendously improving their mobility and agility when hunting Travellers.

Crashed Interceptors

• Sentinel Interceptor ships, though supremely powerful in deep space, have begun to fall from the skies on de-harmonized planets. Explore the secrets of these strange worlds to locate a crash site, and undertake a new mission to install a Pilot Interface, melding your mind with that of the ship and adding it to your fleet.

Corrupted World Nexus Mission

• The inhabitants of the Space Anomaly, disturbed by the disharmonious corruption of the Sentinel swarm, request that Travellers band together to root out the corrupted Sentinels and destroy their foul machinery. Group up with friends or strangers at the Nexus to sign up for this new mission.

Spawning Cowl

• The Quicksilver Synthesis Companion is engineering a blueprint for a traditional Gek Spawning Cowl. Synthesize this exotic customization to don the appearance of an esteemed Trade Lord.

Robotic Curiosities

• Scraps of robotic anatomy can be found littering corrupted planets, but it remains unclear how they relate to the crystalline power seeping from these discordant worlds…

Sentinel Multi-Tools

• Explore corrupted worlds to add two unique Multi-Tools to your arsenal. These unconventional weapons are bolted together from the scraps of Sentinel machinery, their hostile optics hijacked and repurposed for use as a high-powered mining laser.

Swarming Quadrupeds

• Face off against a swarm of corrupted Sentinel spawns. These aggressive mini-machines know no fear, and will relentlessly pursue their Traveller foes all the way to the bitter end.

Salvaging Mission

• Repairing and modifying a crashed Interceptor requires a degree of skill and expertise. With guidance from the Mission Log, gather specialized materials to bypass Sentinel security and prepare these once auto-piloted ships for manual flight.

Geometric Cape

• Polo’s robotic companion is designing an upcoming cape blueprint, soon available to synthesize aboard the Space Anomaly. Woven from a star silk blend, this attractive customization bears a classic geometric design.

Advanced Drones

• Corrupted Sentinel drones have a new visual style, and range of intelligent behaviors and attacks. Their weaponry varies from rapid-fire energy weapons, to grenades, to a corrupted flamethrower, and they will tactically repair heavily damaged drones.

Cursed Machinery

• Ominous Dissonance Resonators drill into the crust of corrupted Sentinel worlds, pumping out whatever decay and darkness simmers below the surface. Built from rare Sentinel materials, destroying these machines is both lucrative and highly dangerous…

Abandoned Encampments

• Mysterious Harmonic Camps can now be found across corrupted planets. Explore these abandoned sites to solve puzzles, reclaim technology, and perhaps learn the secrets of whoever constructed and then fled these scrapyard encampments.

Xbox Visual Improvements

• On all Xbox consoles, the rendering resolution now situationally adapts in real time to improve visual quality wherever GPU bandwidth allows, and maintain a consistent framerate in visually complex scenes. This advanced technique has been combined with Xbox support for AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.0 technology to provide the smoothest and best looking visual experience yet.

Explosive Swarms

• The volatile circuitry of the corrupted swarm makes them prone to spontaneous combustion, especially when their armor integrity is compromised. Keep your distance, and beware of their aggressive pounce…

Unseen Enemies

• All Sentinel quadrupeds have upgraded their carapace technology, developing the ability to phase in and out of stealth and catch unwitting Travellers with surprise attacks.

Custom Wonder Records

• Curate your own collection of favourite discoveries with the Personal Records section of the Wonders catalogue. Bookmark spectacular planets, bizarre alien creatures, favourite flowers and more.

Sentinel Capital Ship Battles

• Sentinel capital ships, deployed to counter extreme citizen insubordination in space, can now be damaged and even destroyed. Defeat a Sentinel freighter to claim victory in space combat, forcing nearby interceptors into retreat and earning high-value rewards.

This is just a brief look at the patch notes so check out the official website and watch the trailer below for even more details. I've sunk my fair share of hours into No Man's Sky over the years but it's been a while since I last explored the galaxy. Could this be the time to jump back in? I don't know but what about you, are you still playing No Man's Sky after so many years and updates? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

It looks like Redfall will only be 30 fps at launch for Xbox consoles, with 60 fps coming at a later date. The official Redfall Twitter page said the following:

Redfall is launching on Xbox consoles with Quality mode only: Xbox Series X: 4K 30 FPS | Xbox Series S: 1440p 30 FPS | 60 FPS Performance mode will be added via game update at a later date.

Redfall (@playRedfall) Apr 12, 2023

The tweet has sparked tons of backlash online. Some are calling it an April Fools' joke while others are bashing them for rushing the game out. For me personally, it's not as big of a deal as their making it out to be, at least the game is still getting a 60 fps mode. But yeah, it would have been better if they just released the game with it at launch. So... Should they delay it? Would you be willing to wait for a 60 fps mode or are you going to try it at 30 fps when it drops? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.

This game's graphics almost look too real to be true. Only time will tell if Unrecord's gameplay can stand up to the initial hype surrounding its graphics. It currently is only slated to release for PC and has no release date. The studio behind it is called Drama and is said to be a very small indie team with no publisher. Here's the description they give on the game's official Steam page:

Unrecord is a tactical shooter where players can expect an immersive and narrative experience. Unrecord features complex dialogues, innovative gameplay mechanics, tough moral dilemmas, and a unique shooting system. The storyline in Unrecord can be compared to a detective novel or a thriller. The player will have to investigate several criminal cases and confront a diverse cast of characters. The game's plot and presentation will be central to the gameplay experience, and players can anticipate a range of gameplay sequences as well as numerous plot twists.

Steam

The Head of PlayStation Studios has announced that Firewalk Studios will be joining the PlayStation Studios family. This marks the 10th studio Sony has acquired since 2019.

I’m excited to announce that we’ve expanded our relationship with Firewalk Studios and are thrilled to welcome them to PlayStation Studios. Firewalk is home to a remarkably talented team of creatives who have launched some of gaming’s most celebrated experiences, and they’re already hard at work on their first original AAA multiplayer game for PlayStation.

Hermen Hulst (Head of PlayStation Studios) Apr 20, 2023

Back in 2021, PlayStation announced a partnership with Firewalk Studios to develop an exclusive original multiplayer game published by PlayStation. What makes this announcement even more interesting is that Firewalk is made up of former Bungie developers and Bungie themselves were acquired by PlayStation last year.

As Sony continues the fight to stop Activision from being acquired by Microsoft, it sure doesn't stop them from buying up multiple studios as well. But as the video game industry continues to consolidate, what do you think the future of gaming will look like?

After the big update in March, version 1.09, which brought plenty of bug fixes, the developers of Elden Ring have issued a smaller patch to eliminate a couple more bugs along with one gameplay change.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug where the effects of some Skills, Incantations, Items and Weapons that increased attack power were not applied to Spells and Incantations.
• Fixed a bug where the Skill Contagious Fury from the Jellyfish Shield kept increasing attack power when unequipping the shield or switching to a different weapon.

Gameplay Changes

• Decreased the poise damage of the Cursed-Blood Slice Skill.

About PC Ray Tracing Settings

• Under certain circumstances, ray tracing has been enabled by default after updating the game to version 1.09.

For the full patch notes, check out this link here.