Star Wars: Squadrons' HUD and customisation options are entirely optional, says EA

 Posted on March 27, 2023  |  3 minutes  |  512 words  |  Trudie Dory

EA has confirmed that Star Wars: Squadrons will permit players to decide if they want to see other people's customisation options in their games, as well as revealing that the flight mechanics and HUD elements will be entirely changeable and optional, too. "Some players aren't going to want to see any of [other player's customisation choices]," creative director Ian S. Frazier told IGN. "It won't matter how plausible it is, they just want to keep it to exactly what we've seen in the films, no more and no less, and we totally get that. [Read More]

Steam Deck production ramping up into "the hundreds of thousands" by next month

 Posted on March 27, 2023  |  2 minutes  |  410 words  |  Trudie Dory

It's been a long wait, but Steam Deck is now out in the wild. For those that didn't make the head of the queue when reservations opened last July, however - and who are currently eyeing up a rather non-specific ETA for their unit - Valve has a bit of promising news, saying production of its new portable gaming PC will be "in the hundreds of thousands" by next month. [Read More]

Yes, Bandai Namco is working on Metroid Prime 4

 Posted on March 27, 2023  |  3 minutes  |  543 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

Internet rumours this week pegged Bandai Namco as being the mystery studio behind Metroid Prime 4 - something multiple sources have now confirmed to Eurogamer as being accurate. Specifically, the highly-anticipated Nintendo Switch exclusive is being developed by Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, which we understand is lead studio on the game in collaboration with Nintendo. This studio houses some former LucasArts Singapore staff who previously worked on, among other things, the ambitious cancelled Star Wars 1313. [Read More]

Assassin's Creed Unity patch removes need to play companion app

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  2 minutes  |  418 words  |  Fernande Dalal

Ubisoft has released a new Assassin's Creed Unity patch that unlocks the rewards previously tied to the game's companion app and Initiates web service. The patch is available now on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and later today on PC. Previously, players were required to download and play Unity's mobile/tablet app to unlock the blue chests that cover the main game's map. These contain in-game money and new equipment, as well as the custom outfit of Assassin's Creed 1 hero Altaïr. [Read More]

Bloodborne patch 1.04 adds co-op with anyone, regardless of level

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  5 minutes  |  977 words  |  Fernande Dalal

Bloodborne's new 1.04 patch is now live and brings a host of changes with it: some very big, others quite small. As detailed by DualShockers' translation of Sony's official Japanese patch notes, one of the biggest changes is that you can now play in co-op regardless of player level, so long as you use a password. Previously, players had to be within 10 levels of one another, so you wouldn't end up summoning a vastly overpowered player who could slay a boss in a few hits. [Read More]

Bungie donating Pride Pin profits to Trans Lifeline this November

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  2 minutes  |  308 words  |  Trudie Dory

Bungie is selling a Pride Pin in its US store, with all profits in November donated to charity Trans Lifeline. The news was announced via an in-game message in Destiny 2. Community manager dmg04 shared the message on Twitter. "During November, Bungie is standing with the transgender and gender-nonconforming community to raise awareness and work to end anti-trans violence," it reads. "All profits of the Bungie Store's Pride pin will benefit Trans Lifeline to provide support. [Read More]

Digital Foundry vs Xenoblade Chronicles X

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  8 minutes  |  1687 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

Released earlier this year in Japan, Xenoblade Chronicles X is now set for release in the West imminently - and it's a game we've kept an eye on for a while now as its scope and sheer technological ambition exceeds expectations. When looking at open world games on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and even the Wii U itself, there are scant few that offer a truly stable frame-rate - but that's exactly what we have here. [Read More]

Distant Worlds: Universe review | Eurogamer.net

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  8 minutes  |  1504 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

The universe is big. Really, really big. Unfathomably big. So big that our brains cannot understand the numbers involved. Back in 2006, I remember being really excited about Spore and Mass Effect. Both were games that promised they'd really give us a sense of scale; tiny people, tiny beings, competing on a mind-bogglingly large stage. They failed, of course - and for the longest time I felt that I'd never see something that would really make me feel utterly insignificant. [Read More]

DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment review: small but perfectly formed

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  9 minutes  |  1722 words  |  Fernande Dalal

Microsoft's Elite Series 2 controller has been divisive. To its fans, the Elite is responsive, powerful and premium, the ultimate first-party controller, but its detractors can point to its high price and quality control issues to paint a different picture. That makes Sony's approach, almost diametrically opposite that of its rival, so refreshing. Rather than making an £160/$180 controller that only its most wealthy players can justify purchasing, Sony has created the £26/$30 Back Button Attachment, a snap-on device that adds the single most important feature of premium controllers - programmable rear buttons - to any standard DualShock 4 controller at an affordable price. [Read More]

Face-Off: Dragon Age: Inquisition | Eurogamer.net

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  10 minutes  |  2083 words  |  Trudie Dory

For all their accomplishments, it's fair to say that previous episodes in the Dragon Age saga lacked something when it came to visual polish and technical acumen - but Inquisition is something different and something really special. BioWare utilises DICE's Frostbite 3 technology not just to produce a beautiful, well-optimised experience, but also to open up the gameplay. While previous instalments in the series were limited to small areas divided by loading points, Inquisition now presents maps much larger in scale and detail. [Read More]