The below list of new PC games was communicated to me using smoke signals by two brave Advance News Scouts, shortly before the Maw's event horizon expanded by 100 metres. I have not heard from them since. I fear their souls are even now pigmenting the tides of Destiny 2 gifs that fill the Maw's lower intestines. Sergeant Shagbert, Corporal Pieface, I will avenge you in the only way I know how: by posting some words on a website.
Monday 22nd July sees the early access launch of Cataclismo, in which you build castles (disclosure: Brendy did some writing for this one), together with Game Boyish action-RPG Veritus, in which you storm them. On Tuesday 23rd July, there's pet sim Weyrdlets, which Matt described as "a neat mix of much-needed wholesome distraction and actual real-life utility", Conscript, which Nic summarised as "sturdily crafted and gruelling WW1 survival horror", and dystopian circuit puzzler Linkito, which Zachtronics diehards might like. On Wednesday 24th July, a choice of two ways to move: tonguing cliffsides in the ribbiting Valley Peaks, or oozing morosely around your apartment in Exhausted Man. On Thursday 25th July, mech-toting entomophobes get to grips with Earth Defense Force 6, while tidy-minded dreamers bask in the spell of Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure.
As for Friday 26th July, our lost Scouts were silent. It's possible that there will be new games on Friday, but to actually name some would be to disgrace the memory of two valiant journalists - two wonderful, noble, made-up men. If you have no respect for the dead, or you're just sick of this framing gag, by all means list a few games in the comments thread. Myself, I'm so distraught that I'm taking the whole week off (this part isn't a joke - I've got Non-RPS Business to attend to.) Hope you have fun!
Apex Legends devs Respawn Interactive are walking back plans to force players to pay real cash for future Premium Battle Passes.
– James Archer
Grit And Valor 1949 is a real time mech tactics game with enough superficial similarities to Into The Breach I managed to crowbar that game into a headline.
Another union! This time it's over 500 World Of Warcraft devs at Blizzard, via The Verge.
– Nic Reuben
From Maw acolyte MiniMatt: " Paul Furio, former Kerbal Space Program 2 Technical Director is doing an AMA on r/KerbalSpaceProgram on Friday - looks like jedi attack lawyers are enforcing some nda terms so we might not learn full gory details but it could provide some details around the fall of House Private Division."
– Nic Reuben
THURSDAY EMERGES
Why do they call it news when it's already happened, eh? The Maw cares not. Feed it!
Baldur's Gate 3’s latest patch was due to launch in closed beta yesterday, but Larian have decided to give it a bit more time in the oven due to bugs. They've released some patch notes, however.
Chrono Trigger almost had a spin-off fighting game, according to Tekken creator Seiichi Ishii, via Automaton.
– Nic Reuben
TUESDAY DESCENDS
News! News! News!
– Nic Reuben
The creator of Stardew Valley has pledged ("on the honor of my family name") never to charge players of the farming sim for DLC or updates. "Screencap this and shame me if I ever violate this oath," said Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone in a tweet to a player. Considering he hasn't charged for any previous updates in the 8 years since Stardew Valley's release, there's good reason to take him at his word.
– Brendan Caldwell
Unsettling survival shooter Forever Winter is having a closed beta at the end of the month, according to one of the game's characteristically creepy "burst transmissions" on YouTube. I'm a sucker for the game's apocalyptically unhinged concept (fucked-up robots waging eternowar), so here's hoping we get a look too.
– Brendan Caldwell
Locally Sourced Anthology I: A Space Atlas is a collection of eight neat space-themed indies.
Warframe boss Steve Sinclair reckons publishers are too quick to abandon ailing live-service games.
– Nic Reuben
Tekken 8 is bringing Heihachi Mishnima, the grumpiest granddad who ever done granddadded, back to to life as the fighting game's third DLC character. Volcanos aren't that hot, it seems.
