Microsoft has announced XBOX LABS, a new internal group tasked with exploring emerging gaming technologies and challenging long-held industry assumptions. The initiative will focus on making games more accessible, preserving older titles, and enabling players to become creators.
Rockstar Games has failed to preserve the vast majority of the Grand Theft Auto series on modern platforms, with only three classic titles available on PS5. While Nintendo and Bethesda maintain extensive backward compatibility for their flagship franchises, Rockstar has abandoned pre-GTA 4 games and released a technically flawed trilogy remaster that disappointed fans.
id Software co-founder John Romero expresses sorrow for the 95 staff laid off at the studio and commends the team for advancing its legacy. With the Doom: The Dark Ages expansion releasing this week, Romero hopes someone is preserving the studio's history amid Microsoft's sweeping Xbox layoffs. The move is part of a broader restructuring seeing 3,200 staff let go.
The official RPG Maker forums, a treasure trove of 20 years of community knowledge, are set to close with no official archive planned, sparking outrage among creators who relied on the platform. The shutdown makes way for the new RPG Maker Guild but puts invaluable resources at risk of being lost forever. The community is racing against time to save the content before the December 11 deadline.
Rayman Legends Retold, the upcoming remake, will not replace the original Rayman Legends on digital stores, Ubisoft has confirmed. Fans can continue to purchase and play the classic version alongside the new retold edition. This decision contrasts with the delisting trends seen with remasters of GTA Trilogy, Assassin's Creed 3, and others.
The Sims Medieval, a beloved Sims spinoff, has been removed from sale on both the EA App and Steam, leaving fans with costly second-hand options. This unexpected delisting, without official announcement, has sparked community frustration. With no clear plans for its return, players are faced with high prices or alternative, illicit means to access the game.
After a 20-year wait, the SiN Episodes shooter series might finally see completion if Nightdive's upcoming SiN Reloaded remaster performs well. With rights to the series, Nightdive could produce new episodes, fulfilling the original 9-episode plan. The remaster's success will dictate the fate of this long-awaited conclusion.
Blindfire: Lights Out, the innovative yet commercially underperforming online FPS, receives a final update making it free across console and PC, with servers to remain online. Developer Double Eleven cites the preservation of games as art. This move contrasts sharply with the industry's typical handling of failed titles, such as Highguard and Concord, which were swiftly made unplayable.
A dedicated fan is restoring CGI renders of Silent Hill 2 due to lost source code. This effort preserves Takayoshi Sato's iconic work for future players.
