A few months ago, Gearbox Publishing turned the servers back on for classic MOBA Hero Shooter Gigantic, which had been turned off for over five years. They were only live for a couple of days, but it was enough to get people talking on the Gigantic Subreddit. What was the point of this two-day event? Is Gigantic coming back in some way? Well, the answer is yes, and it's looking to come back in a big way with Gigantic: Rampage Edition on April 9, 2024.

Gigantic: Rampage Edition is how a game revival should be done

Typically game revivals have not been too kind to gamers. Often times revivals are simply just rereleases, with little to no changes at a premium price point. But Gigantic: Rampage Edition appears to be more than I could have hoped for with a revival. N??ot only is the MOBA releasing with all its original content, but with a ton of new cont??ent as well. Oh, and it's only $19.99.

All 23 heroes from the original are returning, so those who played years ago will be able to relive their past with the original roster. However, two new heroes are also joining the lineup. Roland and Kajir are t??he two n??ew additions with each featuring a unique playstyle.

Two new maps have been added to the pool as well. First is Picaro B??ay, a map featuring lots of verticality with narrow alleyways and a pirate ship at its center. Next is Heaven's Ward, set in an industrialized district full of warehouses, factories, and an old power plant.

The Clash game mode from the original is still the main method of playing Gigantic, but a new game mode called Rush has also been added. Rush is a more accessible, fast-paced mode with a more streamlined Gigantic experience. While Clash matches can last 30 minutes or more, Rush is designed to last 5-10 minutes overall, giving players a great opportunity to quickly jump into the action or even utilize R?ush as a warm-up before jumping into Clash. While it won't be launching with a Ranked Mode, one will be added later.

As if that wasn't enough new content, an all-new customization and hero progression system is ??in place as well. You can set specific customized loadouts to cater to the two different modes, as well as unlock hero and weapon skins simply by playing that hero. Skins from the original release and brand-new ones are?? available to unlock. The best part is that there is no MTX. All the skins are unlockable only through play only, and even more new skins are coming as free updates as well.

It's just so fun

I had the opportunity to play a handful of matches in the new Rush mode with the Gearbox Publishing team as well as some developers from Abstraction Games. It only took me one match to get in the groove and pick up where I left off in the original: kicking some butt. I feel like Gigantic was already the perfect competitive game to jump in and play when I wanted so?me action, ?but the Rush mode amplifies that even further.

One of the matches I played as the new hero Kajir—and not to brag, but I got an S rank—whose toolkit allows him to g?et in quickly, deal some damage, and get out. I prefer melee in-and-out style characters which Kajir is, and h??e was honestly a ton of fun to play. But at the same time, playing through some of my original favorites like Tyto felt just like I remembered. In just a few matches I remembered how much fun I had back in the day with Gigantic, and can honestly say it's a game that deserves another shot.

A playtest for Gigantic: Rampage Edition kicks off in a few days on February 22 at 3 p.m. EST and will run through February 23 at noon EST. Those interested can opt into the playtest on its Steam page.

Full release for Gigantic: Rampage Edition is on April 9, 2024 at a price point of $19.99. It will? launch on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S with full cross-platform play between both consoles and PC.

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Blackbird Interactive and Gearbox Publishing announced today that the upcoming space RTS Homeworld 3 has been delayed a couple of months and will now be released on May 13. According to the post, recent feedback from Homeworld 3's public War Games demo and insights from Homeworld veterans made the team aware of final tweaks to make Homeworld 3 the best experience possible.

Important to get it right

Homeworld 3 has seen a handful of delays in the last year. Originally scheduled for the first half of 2023, the RTS was first delayed to February? 2024. At the end of last month, it suffered a roughly one-month delay to March, and then now another two month delay to May. Delays are always a bummer.

But, it's more important than ever to ensure quality. You can only launch once, and in the case of Homeworld 3, there's a pretty devoted fanbase of players who still love to play Homeworld and Homeworld 2. Assuming Blackbird and Gearbox intend for players to delve into Homeworld 3 for as long, it's important they get it right.

Addition of War Games

There's actually a Homeworld 3 demo available right now on Steam Next Fest. The demo features a new Homeworld mode, called War Games. Commanders manage a fleet through numerous waves of enemies to claim powerful artifacts and augment their ships to complete objectives. It's?? essentially a roguelike mode for the space RTS which is a pretty innovative approach.

I was able to play about an hour of the demo and thought the mode itself was a pretty fun addition to the genre. However, the UI and camera controls felt a bit rough around the edges. Hopefully, these extra two months will give Blackbird the time to add some extra love and poli??sh ahead of release.

Homeworld 3 will now be released on ??May 13 on PC. Those who purchase the F?leet Command or Collector's Edition will get access three days early on May 10.

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Developer Blackbird Interactive and publisher Gearbox have released a blog post revealing the system requirements for Homeworld 3. The third installment of the popular sci-fi space RTS has pretty generous minimum requirements. For those looking to enable raytracing, Homeworld 3 will understandably require a beefier machine.

Homeworld 3 PC System Requirements

Here are the system requirements for Homeworld 3 on PC:

Nothing too extreme

The minimum, recommended, and arguably even high requirements are quite minimal. All three even alow for an Intel ARC discrete GPU, requiring only 8GB of VRAM. All presets except for minimum require 16GB of RAM, which is pretty standard at this point. Looking over the requirements, it seems Homeworld 3 will be more CPU-reliant as opposed to GPU, which is par for the course for RTS titles. Even though Homeworld 3 is looking beautiful, the true marvel is having a ton of ships on the screen engaged in ??battle all at once.

It looks like the gam??e filesize will be around 40GB, w?hich unlike some recent titles, can apparently be played on an HDD and does not required an SSD.

Homeworld 3 releases on PC in February 2024.

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Gearbox Publishing celebrated 10 years of Risk of Rain today with an announcement for Risk of Rain: Hostile Worlds, a free-to-play a?ction RPG roguelike for mobile de?vices.

The game looks to bring the usual fast-paced, run-and-gun combat of Risk of Rain to a new perspective. Hostile Worlds uses an isometric camera to display the action. The mobile RPG also embraces the new changes visually, showcasing a more cartoon-ish style with chibi-esque Survivors and perhaps even animated cutscenes. Gearbox notes that Hostile Worlds incl??u??des a lot of familiar characters and foes while staying true to the series' lore.

Risk of Rain mobile charges into battle with more Survivors

Beyond the look and new angle, the big takeaway is that this mobile Risk of Rain will let you swap characters on ??the fly. The game lets you pick three Survivors you can change while in "mid-combat to exploit enemy vulnerabilities." It sounds like your odds of survi?val will only improve by unlocking the best Survivors who complement your team's playstyle. There will also be co-op support for you and up to three others.

But even that might not help. The publisher promises that Risk of Rain: Hostile Worlds will still be pretty tough with "hea??rt-pounding bullet-hell gameplay" and "colossal adversaries."

Naturally, since this is a F2P mobile game, there will be some live-service trappings. Neither Gearbox nor developer Frima Games makes mention of what their free-to-play model looks like yet. But the game will feature "continuous" updat?es to keep "the fun rolling." I expect we'll see new Survivors and items getting piped into some in-game store. Gearbox hasn't yet revealed any costs, and the game's release date is still up in the air.

There is a website, though, and signing up for the newsletter will unlock a Survivor called Mercenary during the game's launch. Risk of Rain: Hostile Worlds will be available on iOS and Android mobile devi??ces.

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I had a blast playing through Remnant 2 earlier this year. Just a week ago I had the opportunity to see a preview of the first upcoming DLC for the Action RPG shooter titled The Awakened King. Now I loved all of the worlds in Remnant 2, but there was something special about Losomn. With the upcoming DLC, players will head back to the world of Losomn to l??earn more about the One True King.

All hail the One True King

In the roughly 25-minute preview of The Awakened King ??DLC, I was shown the new region in which we will be visiting. The? One True King has awakened, and he is out for blood after being corrupted by the Root. In a fit of rage he teleported his castle above a Dran coastal town where the chaotic weather and angry tides have surfaced all sorts of creatures.

Players will experience a brand new storyline and traverse new dungeons as they uncover the secrets about the One True King. Along the way players wil?l encounter new threats a??nd enemies as well as bosses.

From what I saw, the coastal town continued to give off the standard Losomn Bloodborne-esque vibes. But what really stood to me, is the influence from being nestled in a coastal town where the tumultuous tides have cast an eerie feeling over the town. It looked and felt sort of like Innsmouth, a fictional town from the H.P. Lovecraft story titled "The Shadow Over Innsmouth".

The actual environment seemed to be the biggest area yet in Remnant 2. Early in the preview I saw parts of the coastal town up close as the player traversed its streets. But at the end, we stood on the walls of the castle looking down at the massive sprawling town below. This isn't just some small side section of Losomn, b?ut rather its own big entity from it.

New Archtype, Items, and Weapons

Players will also get to play as a whole new Archetype, called The Ritualist. According to Gunfire Games, the Ritualist Archetype leverages status effects to punish its foes. They are considered a master of pain and suffering. Actual details on the Archetype will be revealed closer to launch, but it sounds like a pretty unique Archetype compared to tho??se existing in the base game.

Of course, new dungeons and bosses also means new Items and Weapons. The Awaken?ed King DLC includes new Weapons, Modifications, Amulets, and Rings.

Even though I only got to see a small part of the DLC, it definitely has me excited to check it out. The coastal town and castle was full of mini-events that can be triggered based on the player's actions, and it seems like there will be a lot to explore across many runs. All in all, this is more Remnant 2, which I will take any day of the week.

Also, the DLC adds the new area to the rollable regions when play ing Remnant 2. So, if you have friends who have y??et to play??ed, this is a great time to get them in to check it out while allowing you both to experience The Awakened King. Alongside the DLC, Gunfire Games is also releasing an update that adds a few new things to the base game.

Remnant 2's The Awakened King DLC releases on November 14 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S for $9.99. A premium DLC bundle is also available for $24.99 that will grant players access to this DLC as well as two additional DLC packs that are coming next year. Players who purchased the Ultimate Edition of Remnant 2 can access the DLC at no additional cost.

The post Remnant 2’s first DLC The Awakened King delves deeper into Losomn appeared first on Destructoid.

Remember Gigantic? Gearbox Publishing certainly does. And it looks like the company is hoping fans of the doomed hero shooter do as well. The company sent emails to some former Gigantic players, inviting them to come together once more for a "limit?ed ti??me throwback event."

It seems to have taken some folks by surprise. The humble Gigantic subreddit hummed back to life after players began sharing their invitations. The rise of excitement is somewhat heartwarming to see. It was only two months ago former players were asking: "Does anyone else miss Gigantic?" Well, for a short time, Gigantic will rise from the ashes once more.

"Play Gigantic once more on October 5 at 21:00 C?EST - October 7 at 06:00 CEST," reads the email invite, "and re-live the good old days of playing this beloved strategic hero shooter!"

Is the throwback event setting the stage for a Gigantic comeback?

Gigantic will be playable for a select chosen few starting tomorrow, according to the email. The event will last for only two days, and there are limitations. Beyond being "invite only" to those who received the email, the throwback event can't be streamed or recorded �according to an invitee. And this cou?ld be the reason: The game may not be the same as fans remember.

According to some invitees, the game is going to come with a sui?te of updates. The email they received mentioned "Revamped Content" such as a Fortune Card System, a Progression System, loadouts, customization options for weapon skins, and more. The new version apparently includes a Rush Mode, a "fast-paced and action pac?ked" mode for a "simplified" experience.

Does this mean Gearbox is testing the waters for a Gigantic return? Now might be a good time considering its most dangerous rival, Overwatch 2, has been having some struggles.

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Blackbird Interactive and Gearbox Publishing have released some more details about the upcoming space RTS Homeworld 3. The newest installment in the Homeworld series will feature a new roguelike-inspired multiplayer mode called War Games. Unveiled at GamesCom, the new mode creates a?? strategic co-op experience mixed with elements of roguelike gameplay??.

War Games can be played solo or cooperatively with up to two others, meaning three players in total. Plays will select a starting fleet and command it through a series of t??hree randomized combat challenges, hence the roguelike mechanics. Those who successfully manage their fleets through the objectives obtain Artifacts that can augment their ships.

Also, players will earn experience ??for progressing through War Games which unlocks additional Artifacts and starting fleets. Bla??ckbird plans to continue evolving War Games even after launch with optional premium content expansions.

At a glance, this mode reminds me somewhat of the StarCraft 2 co-op mode. I was already looking forward to Homeworld 3, so a continuously? replayable roguelike mode s?ounds like a great addition to the RTS. Typically there's not much reason to replay a campaign in this sort of title, so a mode like this is a perfect fit.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmQ56YpYaAA

Additional campaign details and mod support

During Gamescom Opening Night Live we also got some campaign details in the Homeworld 3 Story Trailer. The all-new original story takes place decades after Homeworld 2 and focuses on the looming threat to the H??iigaran fleet.

A sudden brutal attack by a new enemy known only as the Incarnate forces the Hiigarans to cross into the Anomaly, and?? face new dangers inside.

We also got some details regarding planned mod support with Homeworld 3. Modders will be able to create their own content and share it easily with other players using mod.io. At launch players will also have the tools to customize sh?ips and build their own levels for Skirmish mode within an Unreal game editor. Players will be able to place megaliths, resources, and other objects to create completely unique battlefields and maps.

By partnering with mod.io, Homeworld 3 mod??s will be availa??ble on both Epic Games Store and Steam when the RTS releases.

The sci-fi space RTS recently suffered a delay moving it out of the first half of 2023. Homeworld 3 now launches in February 2024 on PC via Steam and Epic Ga??mes Store.

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A step forward in almost every way

The souls-like genre has become extremely prevalent in recent years. Despite the increased popularity, few games have been able to pull off the formula and stand toe-to-toe with Demon Souls, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Remnant: From the Ashes had a rather modest launch back in 2019, but in the years following acquired somewhat of a cult following. I loved the original, but definitely felt it had room for improvement. Thankfully, Remnant 2 improves on what made Remnant so mu?ch fun, while also fixing some of the more glaring f??laws.

Oh yeah, and also like the original, Remnant 2 is hard.

[caption id="attachment_392524" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Remnant 2 (PC [reviewed], PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Gunfire Games
Publisher: Gearbox Publishing
Release: July 25, 2023
MSRP: $49.99

After creating a character and going through a brief tutorial, Remnant 2 introduces you to a hub called Ward 13. You'll be spending a lot of time here crafting mods, upgrading weapons, and stocking up on consumables. Here you will also encounter the first Red Crystal. These act as your checkpoints to heal, replenish ammo, and teleport between worlds. If you've played Dark Souls, this is essentially your bonfire. After exploring Ward 13 it's time to visit your ??first world.

[caption id="attachment_392520" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Welcome to The Labyrinth

Almost everything in Remnant 2 is randomized. I made the mistake of choosing Hunter as the archetype for my first character. Don't get me wrong, Hunter? isn't bad, but as a first-choice solo option, there are definitely ?better picks.

I'll admit, I struggled a bit. I created a new character with the much more solo-friendly Challenger archetype and chose to skip the tutorial since I had already done it. To my surprise, the first and only world I could access from the Red Crystal was different than where I went with my Hunter.  Each world is host to several intric??ate zones laden with checkpoints and mini-bosses, a familiarity to this genre. At the end of each world is also a final boss that you must defeat in order to complete the world, get some coveted loot, and move on ??to the next.

After completing your first world you will unlock the labyrinth, an intricate maze of enemies and loot that may hold some answers as to what is going on in the world of Remnant 2. Ironically, despite the name, the Labyrinth is a non-randomized area that connects all of the worlds. As you defeat the final boss of e??ach world you will go back to the Labyri??nth and progress the main story and access other worlds.

[caption id="attachment_392521" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Many ways to customize your build

Like the original, Remnant 2 doesn't want you to just complete a world one time and be done with it. You'll want to run them again to farm better loot, while also continuing to level your?? character. Leveling up unlocks skills and perks specific to your archetype. You'll also receive trait points which can be used to further progress your character.

At the start, you only have a handful of traits to put your points into such as Vigor to increase your health, Endurance to increase your sta??mina, and Expertise to reduce your skill cooldown. But as you progress you will also unlock new traits that allow you to further specialize your build. A brand new character will look similar to those of the same archetype; with the same skill, starting weapons, and traits. However, once you're hours in, two characters of the same build will look drastically different.

Alongside the traits, you also have equipment slot?s?? to help create the build you want. This includes four different armor types, a primary, secondary, and melee weapon, an amulet, and four rings. Obviously weapons are important, but your amulet and rings can really change up your playstyle based on what you find. You can also find and customize new relics which act as your healing potion with some added effects.

Of course, what you acquire to build around wi??ll be random. This can be both a pro and a con in my opinion. It's an added difficulty to adapt to what the game gives you. But on the downside, it can really cause some tedium when you're trying to build your character a certain way but simply aren't getting the drops that resonate accordingly.

[caption id="attachment_392523" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Still better with a friend

If you played Remnant: From the Ashes you'll probably agree that as fun as the game is solo, it's infinitely better co-op. Remnant 2 makes?? the solo experience a lot more interesting—and possible, for that matter—but the multiplayer is still where the game shines. Any time you are at a Red Crystal you can join a multiplayer session. There's even a quick match option to get you right into the action.

Even though the gunplay in Remnant 2 is fair for the most part, there are definitely encounters and even areas that feel tuned for a co-op setting.? The game certainly doesn't require you to ?play with others, but it definitely makes it easier and usually even more fun! I can't tell you how many times I just got surrounded due to a horde of enemies beelining me before I could thin their numbers a bit.

Some archetypes even speciali??ze in co-op gameplay. For example, the Hunter can be a powerhouse in terms of damage if given the ability to sit at a range and lineup shots. As you can imagine, this is much easier to do w??hen playing with others. But if you're all alone like I was with my first character, it's almost a guarantee you're going to find yourself overwhelmed and unable to take advantage of your strengths.

[caption id="attachment_392526" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Incredible world(s) design and score

As much as I enjoyed the cinematography and scope of the world design in Remnant: From the Ashes, the team really knocked it out of the park with Remnant 2. There are multiple worlds you'll find yourself progressi?ng through, each with a unique setting and story that really immer??sed me.

My personal favorite is probably N'Erud. A technologically advanced species called the Drzyr mastered time and space and constructed N'Erud as part home and part spacefaring craft. However, before finding o?ther sentient life they encountered the center of the universe. Here they found a supermassive black hole. Determined that the secrets to the universe lie on the other side, the Drzyr entered the black hole only to find their civilization destroyed immediately. Only Tal'Ratha the Astropath survived the event and helps guide you through the now derelict N'Erud as you try to salvage what's left.

Throughout Remnant 2 you will also encounter a few familiar worlds including Yaesha, home of the Root invasion. While the Root definitely plays a role in Remnant 2, it isn't the only sinister force at play. The storytelling in Remnant 2 shines brightest when focusing on the individual happenings in each world. The overarching main storyline, unfortunately, does not hold u?p as well. It moves along at a snail's pace and due to the systemati?c structure of replaying worlds to progress, the main story quickly feels like it's not going anywhere.

Also, I just want to point out how awesome the music is in Remnant 2. Each world has its own sort of underlying musical theme, and the intense battle music often got me pumped for battle. Even the main menu music is top-notch. I accidentall?y left the game open while working on this review? and kept it that way just to enjoy the epic track.

[caption id="attachment_392528" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Overall, Remnant 2 is a sequel done right

As I said, Remnant 2 does have some flaws. The main story feels very lackluster, and the randomization can very easily lead to a not-so-fun experience. But these are essentially the same flaws that Remnant: From the Ashes had on a lesser scale. Gunfire Games took the highlights from the original game—the gunplay, the boss fights, the build variety—a??nd amplified them.

I can honestly say I can't wait to jump in with friends and work together to try and optimi???ze each other's builds as a coherent team.

If you were a fan of Remnant: From the Ashes, chances are you already planned to pick up Remnant 2. If you haven't played the original but are a fan of souls-like games, or even rogue-likes like Risk of Rain 2 or Returnal, this will be right up your alley. At times it?? can be an extremely challenging experience, even on the easiest difficulty. But that's also what makes it so rewarding when?? you finally kill that boss and obtain its loot. Even if, as is likely, it's not something you plan on using.

The post Review: Remnant 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Recover lost memories in Relic Hunters Legend

There are many looter shooters on the market, but the upcoming game Relic Hunters Legend manages to stand out thanks to its ado?rably cartoonish visuals. A closed beta will be made available soon, giving the public a taste of ?what Rogue Snail is cooking up. Here's everything you need to know.

[caption id="attachment_391976" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Relic Hunters Legend's Closed Beta

Relic Hunters Legend is an upcoming online top-down looter-shooter set to release on Steam. It features action RPG elements along with fast-paced g??ameplay. There will also be plenty of customizable weapons and powerful equipment to have fun with.

A single-player campaign will be available. You'll also be able to enjoy the online co-op with your friends or meet new players in missions designed for four players. Players worldwide can sign up for Relic Hunters Legend's closed beta on Steam.

//youtu.be/EnCzK5hq9SA

Relic Hunters Legend's closed beta begins on July 20 at 9:00 AM CST, and it will run until July 24 at 9:00 AM CST. It's free, and it will feature a variety of?? co-op and single-player missions. Feedback from the closed beta will be used by developers.

[caption id="attachment_391977" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

What is Relic Hunters Legend About?

The story takes place in a world where a villain named Duke Ducan has convinced everyone that he is responsible for everything good that has ever happened. It is up to Pinkyy and the rest of the Hunters to find relics and restore the memories of the past. If you want to delve deeper into the story, a Relic Hunters Legend comic is available.

You can play as one of the Hunters, and they each have a unique set of abilities. Hunters include Ace the pilot, who is a member of the Physical Support class, and Pinkyy the leader,?? who belongs to the Physical Tank class.

Though the game has yet to receive a release date, interested players can add th?e title to their wishlist on Steam.

The post Relic Hunters Legend gets a closed beta in July appeared first on Destructoid.

The team is delaying for more time to refine and polish

Homeworld's newest venture is getting pushed out of this year. Gearbox Publishing and Blackbird Interactive have delayed Homeworld 3 out of 2023, and into February 2024.

Previously set for the "first half" of 2023, the team behind the new Homeworld is taking a little more time for development. Today's statement specifical?ly cites time for polishing up  this new entry.

"Our primary goal is to deliver a Homeworld experience that lives up to the standards set by its predecessors and is worth of this series' incredible legacy," reads today's statement. "Homeworld 3 is shaping up to be exactly that, but in order to fully realize that vision we?? need more time to refine and polish the game."

//twitter.com/Home??worldGam??e/status/1661839559204675598

No specific date has been set yet for February. In an FAQ on the Gearbox site, the team says it plans to share its "biggest Homeworld 3 progress update yet" later this summer. And the team also asserts that Blackbird's move to a four-day work week has not had a delaying effect on Homeworld 3. The scope of the game has not changed, either.

Who says you can't go home (world)

Announced back in 2019, this follow-up is a big deal for long-time fans of real-time strategy. The first two Homeworld games have been well-regarded, esp??ecially by those who love space fleet battles and three-dimensional strategy.

Blackbird showed off some gameplay at PAX West that looked solid, too. So if this delay is to ensure that Homeworld 3 can both live up ??to its legacy and deliver on its promises, that sou??nds like a good thing.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=16C8iYq8l48

Oddly enough, this isn't the first game of 2023 to get delayed out to next February. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League also moved from an expected May date to February 2, 2024. So even though there??'s still plenty left to release this year, we already have two big games loom??ing in the early months of 2024.

The post Homeworld 3 has been delayed to February 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

The publisher will be the steward of it moving forward

The Risk of Rain series is under new ownership. As part of the financial update from Embracer Group this week, Gearbox announced they'd acquired the IP for Risk of Rain and its sequel Risk of Rain 2.

Gearbox Publishing was the publisher of Risk of Rain 2. Now, it seems the company is taking the re?ins of the franchise.

"After years of passionate publishing work on Risk of Rain 2, we have developed a deep love and respect for the IP," reads a statement from Gearbox on the Risk of Rain 2 account. "We are eager to prove ourselves as worthy custodians by ?continuing to bring you world-c?lass content and ensuring a bright future for this genre-leading franchise."

//twitter.com/RiskofRain/status/15932??42555214241796

Developer Hopoo Games, which made both Risk of Rain and its sequel, shared the news. Their statement describes it as "some excellent news for any Risk of Rain fans."

And to be clear, while Gearbox did purchase the IP, the publisher did not purchase Hopoo Games. So no, this does not mean the Risk of Rain devs have officially joined the increasingly massive number of studi??os under Embracer Group.

It does, however, leave Risk of Rain 2 in a strange place. In Gearbox's statement, the publisher says it's working hard on bringing the Survivors of the Void DLC to cons??oles. There's also a "very special passion project" that Gearbox and Hopoo are working on together, to be shared soon.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ-aR--gScM

When it rains, it pours

Hopefully, this lets Risk of Rain 2 move into stable hands while Hopoo chases something new. That seems like a best-case scenario. And ultimately, I'm glad Hop?oo Games has a c??hance to work on a passion project, too.

Both Risk of Rain games are among my favorite rogue-style games, and Risk of Rain 2 in particular really impressed me with how it moved the original's action into the 3D space. They're excellent games. Fans seem a little worried about what this means for the future, and I don't blame them. But either way, we've still got the classic Risk of Rain 2 to fall back on.

The post Gearbox acquires the Risk of Rain franchise appeared first on Destructoid.

Eidos Shanghai gets a fresh coat of paint

Gearbox Entertainment, the developer/publisher behind the Borderlands franchise, has announced that it has extended its development to China, with the founding of Gearbox Stu??dios Shanghai.

The new studio �formerly Eidos Shanghai �represents Gearbox Entertainment's first foray into Asia, which the studio notes is an important market in its long-term growth strategy. G??earbox Games Shanghai will be headed up by former Eidos Shanghai manager Gigi Ning. The new division will assist Gearbox in the development, marketing, and release of future projects, both locally and globally.

"Bringing Gearbox’s vision and creative spirit to our local community is a goal we’re ready to take on," said Ning in a press release. "Gearbox has so many fantastic stories to tell, and we’re excited to share those with the ?players here in China."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uQw04Kbk8o

"China is a hotbed of industry talent, and I’m confident Gearbox Studio Shanghai will be instrumental in our vision for international growt?h here at Gearbox," adds Yoon Im, president of Gearbox Publishing. "With this addition, we greatly enhance our ability to engage with players in the Chinese market and work directly with local up-and-coming development studios."

Gearbox states that its team in ?Shanghai will provide "immediate and meaningful support" to the studio in the development of titles across the Gearbox portfolio. Additionally, Gearbox notes that the China-based team will experience the same competitive benefits and anti-crunch culture as its western counterparts.

Back in May of this year, Gearbox announced that it had no less than nine new games currently in development. No doubt the new Shanghai team will facilitate this pretty packed spreadsheet of releases comes to pass. The company's most recent release is the graphic adventure sequel New Tales from the Borderlands, which is available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nin??tendo Switch platforms.

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Putting the "light" in "roguelight"

Gearbox is best known for creating the Borderlands games, but it has also published some of the most well-loved indie games of recent years, including Risk of Rain 2, Astroneer, The Banner Saga Trilogy, and even Subnautica. Gearbox Publishing's newest project, Eyes in the Dark: The Curious Case of One Victoria Bloom, looks like it's shaping up to be yet another charming indie project (and it ?has an amazing title, too).

Gearbox Publishing dropped the announcement trailer today at PAX East 2022, showing off the gothic "roguelight" gameplay from developer Under the Stairs. In the game, players take on the role of the titular Victoria Bloom, who is searching for her lost grandfather in their dark, eerie mansion. Of course, it's not as simple as it sounds, because the ever-changing hallways are filled with obst??acles and adversaries. The idea is ?that you're fighting off the dark forces in the mansion with light, which you'll be able to do with a host of different light-themed weapons, from Matches to a Shotgun Bulb.

//youtu.be/_Zb4dCWHtZs

One of the game's designers Filip Neduk s?aid in a press release:

�em>Eyes in the Dark creates an atmosphere of loneliness and isolation, all while giving you the tools to ultimately come out of the experience as a stronger person. Victoria’s trial �going through the mansion alone and facing her fears �mirrors the player’s need to learn and master the mechanics of the game to progress; you both go through this adventure together.�/p>

In terms of its style, tone, and gameplay, Eyes in the Dark reminds me a lot of Hollow Knight at first glance �although from the looks of? it, this game won't be a rehash of anything we've seen before. I'm excited to see a new game in this genre that gives us something fresh, which is what I'm expecting based on the trailer.

Eyes in the Dark: The Curious Care of One Victoria Bloom is set to release ??on St??eam and the Epic Games Store on July 14.

The post Gearbox rel??eases trailer for Eyes in the Dark, a new gothic roguelight appeared first on Destructoid.

More gods will fall on more platforms, hopefully

One of the first PlayStation 5 console exclusives is making its way to new platforms. Godfall: Ultimate Edition arrives on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam?? on April 7, the same day as its PlayStation and Epic Games Store launch.

Ultimate Edition is the new version of Godfall which contains both the looter-slasher core game Godfall and various updates. These include Primal, Lightbringer, and Exalted updates, the Fire & Darkness expansion, and previous??ly exclusive pre-order and special edition bonuses.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlHZ6FS2AOc

Godfall: Ultimate Edition will run $39.99, tho??ugh Xbox and Steam get a special launch price of $29.99 for a limited time.

Gearbox and Counterplay Games' loot-slasher action-RPG was one of the first big games for the PlayStation 5. It came in okay but failed to maintain a foothold, as players seemed to bounce off it a bit. Over the time since, Godfall has made its way backwards to the PlayStation 4 and got a strange PlayStation Plus boost, and now it looks like Counterplay? and Gearbox have their sights set on more platforms.

I always love a good redemption arc, so Godfall's venture out past PlayStation and the Epic Games Store is interesting to see. Godfall definitely has a different look and feel compared to most other hero-shooters and loot-centric games. But other games like Lost Ark still feel like they're occupying the same conversation space. It could be some tough competition for Godfall.

We'll see how the grizzled warrior holds up on new platforms when Godfall: Ultimate Edition arrives on Xbox and Steam, alongside ??PlayStation and Epic, on April 7.

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