It was just earlier this month that Private Division announced a delay for Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game, pushing it to early 2025. It didn't take long for them to follow up, and?? now the chill, hair??y-footed sim is due out on March 25, 2025. ;

The official accounts shared a trailer along with the new release date. The folks at developer Weta Workshop open this one with a booming proclamation that "Tales of the Shire is a Lord of the Rings gaming experience like nothing that's come before." A much quieter voice?? follows suit, briefly touching upon how the team used their years of experience with Tolkien's work to make something that draws a lot from said source material. 

"Most importantly, it's a game about living as a Hobbit," they add. Judging from the ?release date trailer, it's got a solid aim on that very specific niche. 

For Tolkien nerds, the significance of March 25 probably doesn't need to be explain??ed. But for everyone else: following a journey of 11 months, one week, and six days, the One Ring and Sauron were ultimately dest??royed on March 25 of Third Age 3019. 

If that little trailer peeking into the world of the Hobbits isn't enough for you, the game's YouTube channel also celebrated Hobbit Day i??n style. A special Hobbit Day stream went live on September 22, offering an exclusive look deeper into the Shire. Let's see what's going on in the absurdly cozy town of Bywater: 

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is in the works for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, ?and PC.?? Unless they pull a brutal bait-and-switch, something tells me we won't have to worry about a nasty scouring of these idyllic accommodations. 

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Yesterday, Moon Studios released No Rest for the Wicked, the developer's new action RPG game, to Early Access. The team behind Ori and the Blind Forest �and its sequel Ori and the Will of the Wisps �has been thanking fans for quick feedback, but many will be wondering ?wh??ether it's coming to other platforms.

While it's only available on Steam at the moment, there are plans to release No Rest for the Wicked on current-gen systems, including the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. There's no release date for these versions yet, but the stores for both PlayStation and Xbox do have pages for the game, with optio?ns to wishlist it.

Sadly, for anyone hoping for a PS4 or Xbox One port, it doesn't appear as though the stud??io is loo??king to release the game on these platforms.

What about No Rest for the Wicked on other platforms?

As for other PC clients, there also doesn't seem to be a version of the game on GOG or Epic Games Store. However, if you have access to Nvidia's GeForce Now cloud service, you can ??play it there.

No Rest for the Wicked is so far getting some mixed reviews on Steam. It's wo??rth remembering that it's still in Early Access, so there are almost certainly going to be teething troubles. However, Moon Studio is acknowledging some of these issues, and is looking to address some of the more egregious ones.

If you're not familiar wit??h the game, here's a quick overview of the story:

The year is 841 �King Harol is dead. As word of his death echoes throughout the kingd??om, the crown passes to his arrogant, yet untested son Magn??us.

Even worse, the Pestilence, an unholy plague not ?seen for a thousand ye??ars, has returned. It sweeps across the land, corrupting everything and everyone it touches. Madrigal Seline, a ruthlessly ambitious figure in the church, sees the Pestilence as a chance to prove herself in the eyes of her god.

At the time of writing, it's sitting at the number two spot on Steam's Top Sellers list. But then again, this isn't anything too spectacular for anticipated releases, especially from an award-winning developer, so it's almost certainly going to drop. Still, gives us something different to look at than all the Fallout games that are currently in the charts.

So, just to recap: No Rest for the Wicked is? currently a PC exclusive titl??e for now (Steam and GeForce Now, specifically). PS5 and Xbox ports are being planned, but we don't know when they're likely to drop.

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Take-Two's label will publish the new IP, codenamed Project Bloom

Game Freak and Private Division are teaming up for a new title. Take-Two's publishing label will work with Game Freak to publish a brand-new title, currently codenamed Project Bloom.

No details are available about the collaboration yet, as it's still in early development and has no confirmed release date. Today's press release states Project Bloom is expected to launch in ??Take-Two's f?iscal year 2026.

Game Freak is well-known for its work on the Pokemon series, as it launched both Pokemon Scarlet / Violet and Pokemon Legends: Arceus last year. Still, it's not only a Poke-studio; Game Freak's also worked on several other games outside the Pokemon franchise, including Pocket Card Jockey and Little Town Hero.

"We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to create new IP that is bold and tonally different from our prior work," said Game Freak director Kota Furushima. "From the beginning, Private Division was the publisher we wanted to work with on our new game. Their?? track record and global expertise give us all the confidence to create a sweeping new action-adventure game that we can’t wait to share more about in the future."

A new project for Game Freak

Private Division, meanwhile, is Take-Two's publishing label that has handled a pretty big variety of games. It published The Outer Worlds when it first launched, and is working with Intercept Games on publishing Kerbal Space Program 2. Private Division also acquired OlliOlli studio Roll7 in 2021.

"Over the past three decades, you’d be hard pressed to find a studio which has released more iconic hits than Game Freak," said Michael Worosz, Chief Strategy Officer at Take-Two Interactive and head o??f Pri?vate Division. "We’re ready to help Game Freak unleash their potential and we’re honored to be the first Western publisher to work alongside this exceptionally talented and proven team to bring a bold new IP to market."

We don't have much to go on, other than the new concept art shared in today's press release and the note that it's an action-adventure title. Still, it'll be interesting to see what Game Freak puts together over the next few years. Meanwhile, Game Freak is also still working on DLC for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

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The space adventure gets a special collection

Obsidian's outer-space RPG The Outer Worlds is getting a special edition for newer consoles and PC. The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition arrives on March 7, 2023 for PlayStation ??5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Given that this version is heading to newer consoles, it'll have a few more bells and whistles compared to the original Outer Worlds. Higher resolution graphics and improv?ed performance, enhanced details, dynamic weather, overhauled lighting, and more all await.

And for those who missed the extra story post-launch, Spacer's Choice links all that in too. The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition will have both DLC packs, Murder on Eridanos and Peril on Gorgon, included in the package. The new version will retail for $59.99 by itself, though if you own the game on a previous system (PS4, Xbox One) or on the same PC storefront, yo??u can upgrade to this version for $9.99.

For those looking to keep their adventure going, though, you'll have to stay on the original platform. A Private Division spokesperson confirmed to us that saves will not transfer over to The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2dnCAurJcQ

It's Spacer's Choice

It's a bit of a surprise to see The Outer Worlds get a bumped-up option for the newer consoles, but likely a welcome one for those who missed this game the first time around. Obsidian's space adventure was certainly a little messy at times, but had some worlds and characters that made a decent impact.

With a new sequel in the works, this does seem like a decent excuse to either refresh yourself or get up-to-speed with The Outer Worlds. Or heck, even if you just need a space-centered RPG to tide you over for whenever Starfield arrives.

The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition arrives for PC, PS5, ??and Xbox Series? X|S on March 7.

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Rapid unscheduled disassembly

My trip to the Mun is going to have to wait. Kerbal Space Program 2 has finally been released into Early Access, and my? experiences with it thus far are pretty poor, to say the least. Despite this â€?an??d I want to get this out of the way off the hop â€?I’m optimistic it’s going in the right direction.

Kerbal Space Program is a game that either needed an overhaul or at least a clean-up. While Steam has me clocked at over 250 hours in the first KSP, a lot of it was done before the campaign was added. Once that hit, the whole game lost its magic for me. I wasn’t content grinding for science points just to regain parts that I’d grown accustomed to. The budgetary responsibilities were just a needle??ss barrier. However, I wanted a managerial meta-game. I wanted a game that was fun, not a game in which I neede??d to make my own fun.

Once I got down the various techniques needed to explore the Kerbolar system, I? began wondering what it was all for, and a campaign should have been an answer to t?hat, but what ended up coming out was just added frustrations.

[caption id="attachment_365525" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

A more comfortable journey to the stars

It’s also a game that’s incredibly intermediate unfriendly. While part of the fun is experimenting your?? way into space, once you get there, trying to figure out how to create a proper orbit, reach a celestial object, or �Jeb help us �dock with another object are monumental hurdles. Typically, you’d turn to a guide or tutorial video, but why weren’t these things in the game to begin with? The included tutorials were gluey and disheartening

That’s one of the things that Kerbal Space Program 2 is looking to address. Tutorials help you attain the skills to explore the horrifyi??ng vacuum of space, who quality of life tweaks, like the existence of a delta-V calculator, means that what you need is in the game already.

However, some of these things are still being roughed out. Many of the basic tutorials are there, but weâ€?™re still waiting on how to link two orbiting objects. Simple rocket construction is covered, but more advanced concepts are missing. It’s fine. That’s what early access is for.

[caption id="attachment_365528" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Abort! Abort!

The problem with Kerbal Space Program 2’s initial launch is two-fold. First, it’s buggy beyond the vast bugs found in the first KSP. Secondly, there currently aren’t many? features that weren’t already available in the original game. In fact, a lo?t is missing.

It looks better, sure. I??t still doesn’t look great, but the addition of things like clouds and vegetation on Kerbin is appreciated. Likewise, the water looks great, but there’s no actual collision with the waves just yet. Takeoffs look a lot better with plumes of steam erupting from beneath the launchpad, and thrust has a better effect to it. It’s?? a good starting point.

I’d tell you how the other planets looked if I could even get to them. I quickly found that all my skills still pay the bills, but my designs are hampered by the fact that the builder doesn’t cooperate. I threw in the towel once I couldn’t get the couplin??gs to stage properly. This is after I already fought to get my fuel lines in place, my capsule to stay put, a?nd the fairings to cover the lander. So, I gave up.

Then I went back in, and af??ter reverting from a failed launch, the entire rocket was sunk into the ground of the assembly buil?ding. I hit the undo button combination, and the entire rocket disappeared.

What makes it worse?? is that the r?ecommended specs right now are absolutely galling. They’re still working on performance, and that’s fine, but that’s a pretty high bar for entry.

[caption id="attachment_365524" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Private Division[/caption]

More space-tape

Even if it did work, however, there’s still no campaign in place. Things like research are still on the?? horizon, but I’m not entirely convinced the team at Intercept Games isn’t just going to make the same mistakes they did before.

So, I’m scrubbing the launch and putting the SkyPuncher project on the back burner. Private Division should have probably done the same. I respect that Early Access is about gathering feedback, but this is mine: more space-tape. What we’ve got right now is an inferior product built on old bones. I’m not saying Kerbal Space Program 2 is a complete wash; I just think you might want to wait until they’re don??e touching up the seams before you take it into orbit.

_{[This preview is based on an Early Access build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Shooting for the Mun

The next step of the Kerbal space adventure is lifting off next year. Kerbal Space Program is launching int??o early access on Febru?ary 24, 2023 for PC.

Early access will be available o??n PC through Steam, the Epic Game Store, and other digita??l storefronts. Development will continue, as Intercept Games keeps working on features and tuning in the months after launch.

To showcase all this, Intercept released a lengthy developer update today, announcing the news and ?detailing what's in store for the early ac?cess launch.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAL3XaP-LyE

Right out of the gate, players will be able to customize parts for your space-bound vehicles. There are over 350 new and improved parts in Kerbal Space Program 2, which is a lot of different options for making a rocket that will blast into orbit in a very undignified manner, if you play Kerbal like I do.

While catastrophes can be fun, getting into space is t??he goal. Fo players like me, there are going to be improved onboarding too??ls, according to Intercept. New animated tutorials and revamped interfaces are intended to help new players.

One small step for Kerbal

Other quality-of-life ??features are working their way in, too. Updated UI is a big one, as are indicators for doing interplanetary maneuvers. Alongside that, there's a?? lot more detail in the environments you'll be blasting off to explore.

While the original Kerbal Space Program lit the hearts of aspiring rocket engineers aflame, the follow-up has been bouncing around in the lab. This sequel has been in development for quite some time.

Although it's been a while, I am keen to see what Private Division and Intercept do with Kerbal Space Program 2. Their ambitions for the game have seemed pretty lofty, stretching out into some wild areas of space exploration. But it's that venturous attitude that has me interested to see what the talented Kerbal engineers can do with the new tools.

So whether you're a newcomer looking to stars or a seasoned Kerbal engineer, it looks like there will be new tools to tinker with in the new year. Kerbal Space Program launches its PC early?? access on February 24, 2023.

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This wasn't meant to be a game

Set in a dystopian future straight out of the cocaine haze of the 1970s, Rollerdrome takes two of gaming’s most cherished pastimes—pulling off sick combos and murder—and mashes them up into an audacious spectacle that is definitely not Norman Jewison’s Rollerball. Taking control of mysterious rookie Kara Hassan, it’s skate or die for players as you’ll have to grab, grind, flip and twist your way to high-score combos while gunning down enemies hellbent on stopping you. Kara clearly has the skills to be the next Rollerdrome champion, but with the corporation behind the sport plotting ??against her, she’ll have to use every trick in the book to survive.

Again, this is not Norman Jewison’s Rollerball. With most of the social commentary pushed to the background in favor of that sweet, deadly arena action, it’s more like John McTiernan’s Rollerball. But, you know, enjoyable.

Rollerdrome (PC, PS4, PS5 [reviewed])
Developer: Roll7
Publisher: Private Division
Released: August 16, 2022
MSRP: $29.99

Developer Roll7 cut its teeth on the skating genre with its celebrated OlliOlli franchise. The work the studio put into that series is paying dividends with Rollerdrome. This is an incredibly smooth and user-friendly sk??ating experience, one that would rather see you pull off some wild trick combinations than worry about sticking the landing. Kara is quick and agile and comes fully stocked with a wide array of grabs and grinds that players will have no issue pulling off with its intuitive control scheme. There are simple tricks people of all skill levels will be able to perform, but for those eyeing the top of the online le??aderboards, more advanced techniques await your discovery.

Each stage provides ample opportunities for running up that score with ramps, grind rails, halfpipes, and other staples of the skating genre. I really dig the look and layo??ut of these arenas, and the hip, minimalist cell-shaded art direction is a fantastic expression of stark �0s dystopian design aesthetics. It’s unfortunate then that Roll7 settled on so few different themes for these arenas. It would have made for a more eclectic affair if each of the game’s few stages had ??a setting and design that was all its own rather than revisiting the desert, mountaintop, or hardwood rink concepts.

It's Tricky... it's Tricky (Tricky) Tricky (Tricky)

Despite that lack of diversity in stage settings, I gladly returned to each arena to hone my skills and try to push my score closer and closer to that two-comma club. Repeated run-throughs also gave me a better understanding of how best to weave my stunt skating skills with my bullet-time kills. Rollerdrome uses a kill chain system that ties your combo multiplier to your ability to dispose of each arena’s batch of house player goons. The more kills you’re able to chain together while also performing stunts, the higher your score will be at the end of your run. In the early stages, this is pretty manageable. The grunts you face are limited in number with attacks that are well-telegraphed and easy to dodge. As you get to the later rounds of the tournament, more and more enemy types are thrown at you, creating chaos ??that can be overwhelming.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1oXgw_OaQ4

Rollerdrome has a limited but varied set of goons it’ll unleash on the player. Some can snipe you from nearly anywhere on the m??ap, others have defenses that must be whittled down before you can kill them. You are given access to new guns that help with the process, but they can only do so much. When I reached the late stages of the game, and I was facing guys in mech suits, guys dropping land mines, guys shooting blue laser beams, and several other enemy types, I found myself dodging attacks more than anything else. I wasn’t really pulling off stunts, and it was nearly impossible for me to chain together kills for a big multiplier. All I could do to stay alive was spam that circle button to ensure I? took as little damage as possible.

If you have the time, it has the payoff

Now, if I were younger and didn’t have to split my waking hours between so many different responsibilities, I would have simply taken the time to 'get gud' at the game. Back in the �0s and early 2000s, I could pull off incredible runs in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater that were far better than anything my older brother could manage (that being the barometer for success in gaming at the time). In th?ose days, I could sink hours of my day and weekends into a single game. Today, that's just not a possibility for me, which is why I appreciate that Roll7 went ahead and added the assists menu to the options.

If you hit a wall like I did or you simply need a break from being bulldozed by your foes, Rollerdrome has a selection of assists you can activate. These range from extremely helpful, like infinite ammo, to those designed to level the playing field a bit, such as reduced damage or slowing the speed of the game. Activating any of the assists will keep your scores off of the online leaderboards, but it doesn’t affect anything beyond that. For me, lowering the amount of damage Kara received made it so I could actually complete the game. The assists are a great accessibility option for anyone who struggles with the skating genre or those who just need some help with Rollerdrome’s more trying challenges.

I kind of feel like, with the popularity of the skater genre and the endless appeal of competitive shooters, a game like this was an inevitability. It's too perfect a combination to not work, and I'm just glad Roll7 got to it first with Rollerdrome. This is an exceptional and welcoming game, one that takes the best elements from bot??h genres and combines them into a sophisticated and unabashedly cool experience.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Rollerdrome appeared first on Destructoid.

The special effects shop is working on a new game set in Middle-earth

A new game set in the Lord of the Rings universe is on the way. Private Division has signed Weta Workshop to a new publishing agreement, for a new game set in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-??earth.

Weta Workshop is a well-known effects and prop company that worked on Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. The company founded an interactive game division in 2014, and now is tackling The Lord of the Rings in game form.

"It's a privilege to create a new game set in Middle-earth, especially one that's so different from what fans have played previously," said Amie Wolken, head of interactive at Weta Workshop, in a statement. "As fans ourselves, we're excited for gamers to explore Middle-earth in a way they never have before, and introduce new fans to the magic of The Lord of the Rings."

Details on the new project are scarce, as it's still in early development. No release?? date is set yet. But Private Division says the game is expected to launch sometime during Take-Two's 2024 fiscal year. More details will arrive sometime in the future.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ7aLU6rHLk

Middle-earth's back on the menu, boys

Private Division is a publishing arm of Take-Two Interactive, and has been behind some notable games like OlliOlli World and The Outer Worlds. The company also acquired OlliOlli developer Roll7. It will also publish Ori developer Moon Studios' next game.

There are a few different Lord of the Rings projects in development. Whether you like to sneak around as a sneaky little Gollum on a quest for his precious, or dig into a survival-type game, there are a few Middle-earth projects to watch. We'll see what Weta brings to the table when it's ready to share more about its own interactive LOTR project.

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Rollerdrome turns skateparks into warzones, and does it pretty well

Missiles rain down. Snipers bead in on me. Land mines are flying out across the park, lying in wait. And I am doing the sickest flip I can to refill my ammo. Rollerdrome is filled with?? a lot of moments like these: doing a nose grind in the face of death, and letting loose with a hai?l of bullets in response.

Rollerdrome is the new game from Roll7, a studio well-known for its OlliOlli franchise. While the team is sticking with extreme sports, it's roller-sk?ates rather than skateboards this time around, and the skateparks are a bit more dangerous than they used to be. We got to check out a preview build to ??see just how.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAEVuZdg4YQ

The world of Rollerdrome pits competitors against the House in an arena spectacle. Taking on the role of Kara Hassan in the year 2030, you compete in the brutal blood-sport of Rollerdrome. While y??ou compete in each match, some of them are punctuated by brief explorations of this world, and the some??times bleak future it paints.

In its art and world, Rollerdrome is absolutely fantastic. The retro-futuristic tone, mixing tech and throwback in equal measure, makes for a very distinct world. And with each new arena, it feels like you're seeing a bit more of what this world is, what it's become, and how it could wind up supporting a bizarre sport like Rollerdrome.

Rip, grind, shred

As you compete and rise up the ranks, you also start to unravel some of what's going on behind-the-scenes at the corporations running this bloody circus. But hey, until then, you need to drop in and take some guys out. The most succinct description of Rollerdrome is that it feels like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, but with an arsenal of guns.

Each stage is a deathmatch, w??here enemi??es spawn in waves and you need to eliminate them as fast as possible. Aiming is easy enough as locking on an??d pulling the tri?gger, which might seem straightforward at first. But that's bec??ause aiming and shooting aren't the?? only moves you're pulling off in the arena.

Tricks are a key part of the deathmatch, too. Alongside adding some style to your routine and upping your score, tricks are also how you reload in Rollerdrome. This isn't just a good push to engage with the level as a skatepark as much as an arena, but it's a constant tension between the player and the game. It helps that tricks are fairly streamlined, with a healthy but manageable list of moves t??o keep in mind as you skat?e along.

In frequent s??????????????????????????ituations, I'd find myself scouring not just for the next enemy to take down, but the best route for doing so. Sure, I could just pepper that sniper from a ways away with my dual pistols; but if I took the ramp and went up and over, I could get close enough for my shotgun and do a trick reload, all in one go.

Guns blazing

The weapons add a good bit of variety to the action, too. While the pistols are your basic bread-and-butter, Rollerdrome keeps adding new options that add a little bit more. T?he grenade launcher is great for dealing with crowds. And the shotgun was a fast favorite; it has a quick-action, active-reload-style system where after locking onto an enemy, a timed shot would unleash a slug-shot that had a little more power to it.

Of course, there are constant dangers to consider too. Enemies start off with just bats, bringing sports equipment to a roller-derby-gunfight. But snipers soon add a wrinkle, as they gradually hone in on you an??d take a shot once yo?u've been in their sights too long. Missile launcher enemies release a storm of explosives that follow you around the level, and riot shield foes are just the worst. They wait for you at the bottom of a ramp with a hello and a shield to the face.

Getting out the other side is one challenge. But Rollerdrome is built on challenges, much like the OlliOlli gam??es. Each level has its own set of objectives, ranging from score-based markers to very specific ones. One level might ask you to blow up a few missiles that are hot on your trail, while another might call for executing a specific trick over the arena's combo markers.

Mastering the motions

If the two systems, shooting and skating, were at odds at all, it would be easy to see one taking over and pulling it? all apart at the seams. Roll7 uses a few specific mechanics, like spot-on perfect dodges and trick-reloading, to keep the action and the score-chasing neatly entwined.

The core realization for me, in the levels I got to play of Rollerdrome, was that I didn't need to look for just openings, but whole routes. Say, for example, I saw a sniper on the far side that was really a thorn in my side. I could go right for them, or I could calculate out a route to deal with some enemies on the way, building up point?s and keeping my ammo stocked in the process.

Going from barely scraping by to sorting the match out in style is a really good feeling that Rollerdrome nails down. I di?d sometimes get a little frustrated with having to insert dodges into my tricks, but the chaos kept me rolling on through.

Roll7 has shown they've got a keen sense of how to handle an extreme sports game. This is a bit of an evolution. Rollerdrome's arena battles do add a bit more work and mental RAM to ?the load, but it all clicks together in a chaotic ballet of tricks and bullets. Fans of both pro skating and pro sniping should keep an eye on this one.

Rollerdrome is out on August 13 for PC, PS4, and PS5.

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Pop a flip, land a headshot

Rollerdrome is set to drop into the rink soon. Today, Roll7 and Private Div?ision showed off the level design of this new blend of skating and shooting.

Initially revealed during Sony's State of Play in June, Rollerdrome is a retro-futuristic game that?? mixes combat arenas and shooting with roller skates and sick tricks. As the pla??yer drops into arenas with both guns and skates on-hand, they'll need to navigate around and take out enemies in increasingly creative ways.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9QK8_mxwRs

In the video, Roll7's studio creative director John Ribbins and Rollerdrome senior 3D level designer Jacob Mills discuss how this is a bit of a departure. Roll7 is known for its OlliOlli games, including this year's excellent OlliOlli World.

Those games are linear. They involve moving down a track, hitting tricks along the way. But Rollerdrome is a bit different.

Combat arenas in Rollerdrome are open and free to pick apart at the player's discretion. So ??the team had to create a bit of flow to the arenas, teaching ideas along the way. They bring up evolving objectives, like going from eliminating an enemy to eliminating one while wallriding, as a way to do this.

Xtreme combat

It's a sick concept, and one I'm excited to see from Roll7. OlliOlli World seemed like the team really hitting a new stride with its skateboarding, but Rollerdrome is the team moving into both a 3D ??space and adding some combat too.

The visual throwback game will also get a special introductory price. On Steam and for PlayStation Plus members, Rollerdrome will have a price offer of $19.79. Then, after the offer's over, the game will bump up to $29.99 on Steam and the PlayStation Store. Rollerdrome will also be included in the PlayStation Plus Premium game trials at launch.

Rollerdrome rolls out for PC, PlayStation 4, and Ps?5 on August 16.

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Riders on the VOID

OlliOlli World was one of the biggest surprises for me this year. I respected the two previous games in the series, but I had bounced off both of them. I was afraid I was going to do the same with OlliOlli World, but now it stands as one of my favorite releases t?his year.

It’s great to have an excuse to revisit it and feel insecure about how rusty I’ve gotten. VOID Riders is the perfect excuse to do so. It’s a rather sizeable collection of levels and a whole heap of new customization items to unlock. A new ??mechanic has been slotted in for good measure, as well, giving your thumbs new reason to get confused and disappoint you.

OlliOlli World: VOID Riders (PC [Reviewed], Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
Developer: Roll7
Publisher: Private Division
Released: June 15, 2022
MSRP: $14.99 (Part of Expansion Pass)

VOID Riders sees your gnarly skateboarder rubbing elbows (or similar appendages) with aliens from another dimension. They want to steal our cows and check your trick?s. Better pop some dope kicks. Otherwise, our guests will be bummed. I’m doing my best here with the lingo, but I never claimed to be cool.

For the price, you get 14 regular levels and four “boss�stages. It’s a decent chunk, and all the stages are rather long. The new extraterrestrial?? theme is put to good use? in rails that curl themselves out in front of you and tractor beams that lift you up. You need to grab your way into a tractor beam; that’s the right stick. Note that this isn’t the right trigger, nor is it the left stick. Maybe get that into your heads, thumbs. Quit letting me down.

Totes gnar

Yeah, I had a lot of humiliating failures, which is kind of the way with OlliOlli World. I’d often enter a tractor beam, forget the controls for half a second, and wind up getting pulled too late and missing wherever I wanted to land. That’s absolutely not the game’s fault, but I’m going to complain about it anyway. In any case, it's not any worse in Void Riders.

With the levels come all the challenges. High score, side objectives, and attempting to make it to the end without using a checkpoint. Extra customization gear is awarded for the usual milestones, and there’s a decent assortment of ??mundane and unusual pieces to collect. If you're feeling sassy, you can try to climb the leaderboards by putting together the best combo possible. I kept dropping my long combos after a checkpoint, so you won't be seeing my name up there.

You'll at least put together a great bail tape

I ?was able to blast through the entire DLC in less than two hours, but that’s without going back for the additional objectives. Just note that it’s not for the faint of heart. That last level nearly killed me. I’m serious. I don’t think I breathed through my entire success run. My brain needs oxygen.

If I?? have one complaint, it’s that the story is nothing special. The base game didn’t exactly have the most thrilling narrative either, and this just feels like a branch of that. It’s mostly just there to tell you how transcendentally great your skateboarding is. You’re just the coolest. Everyone here and in the VOID thinks so.

If you’re looking for a reason to get back into OlliOlli World, VOID Riders is the perfect one. A lot of love has gone into these new levels, and they definitely live up to the quality of the rest ??of the game. Considering this is just the first half?? of the expansion pass, that little investment is already turning out to be good value. Here's hoping that the quality of the next one nails the landing.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Take to space once more with the lil' Kerbals

It's been a while, but it sounds like we'll finally start putting Kerbals on the moon (or somewhere in the vicinity) next year. Today, the Kerbal Space Program 2 team announced the spacefaring sequel is aim??ing for early 2023 on PC.

Creative Director Nate Simpson made the announcement in a new video, discussing wha?t's been going on with development. Right now, the early 2023 window is just for PC; console versions are expected to follow sometime after.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjE_YCl5xcg

Simpson emphasizes the goals his team has for Kerbal Space Program 2, including managing performance across a wide variety of machines and a rich ??universe to explore. It will take a little extra time to make, but Simpson and the team seem to want to hit their internal goals of making something "original and breathtaking."

Fly me to the moon

The first Kerbal Space Program was a bit of a surprise. It's a pretty intense, rules-driven space flight simulator that feels like a springboard into learning basic rocket science. And it's also quirky and comedic, thanks ?to the unerring determination of its minion-like?? astronauts, the Kerbals.

A failed launch is made a little better by watching the hilarious after-effects. And a successful mission? Well, that can mean putting a Kerbal on the moon. It's an exciting game, even for those who don't normally go for hardcore sim games.

The sequel has had a fair share of setbacks, though. Announced for a 2020 launch at first, then later slipping into 2021, it seems like 2023 is its new target for now.

While the date keeps on moving, it sounds like Kerbal Space Program 2 is really trying to do some new things with colony building and interstellar travel. Perhaps the extra time and help from the original Kerbal developers will help the whole trip? come together.

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Four more studios will publish their next project under the Private Division label

Take-Two Interactive's publishing label Private Division announced four new agreements today. The publisher has signed four new agreements with four indie developers to publish thei??r next project.

The signees are Die Gute Fabrik, Evening Star, Piccolo Studio, and Yellow Brick Games. The second studio of that list, Evening Star, was founded by former Sonic Mania developers Christian Whitehead, Dave Padilla, Tom Fry, Hunter Bridges, and Brad Flick. Their debut game as Evening Star is curre??ntly in the works as a 3D action platformer.

Die Gute Fabrik is the team behind Mutazione, the small-town mutant soap opera. They're working on a new story-driven game. Piccolo Studio made a strong debut with Arise: A Simple Story, and are now developi??ng a unique new IP ?in partnership with Private Division.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOlOQF4_vcE

Lastly, Yellow Brick Games is a group led by several industry veterans, including Dragon Age lead Mike Laidlaw, Jeff Skalski, Thomas Gir?oux, and Frederic St. Laurent B. It's creating a new action RPG.

Private Division says it wil??l announc??e more details about each project in the future. All four are in early development, without any announced release dates. It could be a while until we see them too. The earliest of the unrevealed projects isn't expected to launch until Take-Two's fiscal year 2024.

It's still a solid lineup of interesting studios and projects, which Private Division has been gradually accruing. The publishing label acquired OlliOlli developer Roll7 not too long ago, and has published games like The Outer Worlds in partnership with Obsidian. We'll see what these four are up to in?? the future.

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Double double whipless mochaccino half-caf

I tried multiple times to get into the OlliOlli games, and each time I bounced right off. I get that it’s a beloved series, and the straightforward interpretation of skatin?g the perfect skateboard line appeals to me, but there’s something so clinical about the depiction. Just getting through the tutorial is exhausting. I understand that it’s a sort of easy-to-learn hard-to-master kind of deal, and that’s what makes it appealing, but a game has to get its hooks in me before I care enough to master it.

I’m guessing I’m not the only person who hit this wall, but OlliOlli World seems custom-built to address that problem. Eschewing the generic 2D designs of the previous games, OlliOlli World uses the magic of 3D to add some much-needed pizza??zz. Moreover, the game has been given a better system of progression, a radical narrative, and a few extra moves under the hood.

OlliOlli World (PC [Reviewed], Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS4, PS5)
Developer: Roll7
Publisher: Private Division
Released: February 8, 2022
MSRP: $29.99

The world of Radlandia is in ne??ed of a new Skate Wizard, as their current one is retiring. The job of the Skate Wizard is to commune with the Skate Gods in Gnarvana. As someone who just began existing a moment ago, you’ve been selected by some group of pe??ople to see if you’ve got the Skate Wizardy necessary for the role.

You travel through five worlds in your quest, picking up new skills as you go, in a bid ??to meet all the Skate Gods and maybe hang with them.

If you’re unfamiliar, the OlliOlli games are sidescrollers that task you with getting from the left-side of the level to the right-side in the gnarliest way possible. It’s a great little system, taking the stick-based trick system from EA’s Skate series and applying it to the die-and-retry side-scroller formula. In a way, it boils skateboarding down to the barest essentials. You’re presented with a sick line, and you simp?ly must nail it.

At the surface level, OlliOlli World overhauls the series' aesthetic. The sterile level-select menu has been replaced with a world m?ap, and while it’s still largely linear, side-quests have replaced the pro stages.

As previously mentioned, the game has swapped out its parallax backgrounds for a fully 3D world. This benefits it in a few ways; the worlds are easier to read, as it’s more apparent what is a grind rail and what is solid ground. OlliOlli World also looks nice, but the backgrounds are typically painted in a limited palette to reduce distractions. More importantly, though, there’s a customization system,? which allows for better rewards for completing optional objectives and achieving high scores beyond big-dick points.

You’ll unlock new boards and outfits at a pretty decent rate. I generally skipped completing the goals unless there was something I actually wanted to wear, so it helped keep me progressing through the game. That’s a big improvement comp?ared to when I’d drop it two worlds in because I had no interest in climbing the leaderboards.

The core gameplay is pretty familiar. There’s less emphasis on nailing a landing �OlliOlli World doesn’t even give you that tutorial until the second world �which makes it feel more approachable. Likewise, checkpoints have been added to the levels, bu??t you’re rewarded for ??not using them.

In terms of tricks, there are some additions. Grabs have been added, complementing the quarterpipes and branching paths. You can also tweak grinds using the right stick, and while this is limited, it is another color in your crayon box. The lack of grabs in the previous games seemed like a bit of an oversight, and OlliOlli World feels more complete because of its inclusion.

Of course, the more you learn, the more there is to get your fingers twisted up. However, each skill is provided to you gradually throughout the entire game. By the time OlliOlli World decided to give me a lesson in manuals, I was already using them and mistakenly thought that it was a duplicate tutorial. It’s all a matter of getting comfortable with the controls, bit by bit, then you can go back and shoot for t??he high score if that sort of thing flips your deck.

The levels themselves are a lot of fun. The later stages really feel like they push you to the edge of control, as you navigate a roller coaster of tracks. Part of the fun is learning to read the stages and react at speed. My brain often doesn’t have that sort of short-term memory, so going from grabs ??to manuals to grinds usually results in me eating dirt. Or worse, I accidentally press the restart button, even though it isn’t anywhere close to the pump button.

I never got frustrated with OlliOlli World, even as some of the jumps were spread out, requiring the perfect timing. Even when I attempted part of a level, like, fifty times because I need to complete an objective to get the benihana. It’s a mix of the chill soundtrack, the concentration-heavy gameplay, and the pleasant aesthetic. I found it hard to stay mad at it. It’s polished and well designed, so I always felt I only had my stupid t??humbs to blame.

While I may have tried and failed to enjoy previous OlliOlii games, OlliOlli World really sucked me in. It feels like this should be the entry point for newcomers to t?he series, but I also think that it’s such a superior product that it would make going back to its predecessors more difficult.

To the end, however, I can’t say how people who have already mastered the first two games will feel about the added accessibility. From my point of view, the core OlliOlli gameplay hasn’t changed, but I never dug in??to the nuances before. The simplicity of the first two may be more appealing to some. Likewise, the cartoon visuals might turn some people off if they take their side-scrolling skaters seriously.

From the perspective of someone who always respected but couldn’t penetrate the series, OlliOlli World feels just perfect. I was engrossed for long periods of time and absolutely ate through the title. I’m ready to move on, rather than push for completion, but I think that’s part of the beauty. There’s something?? for everyone, whether or not you’ve got a competitive edge or just want to reach for Gnarvana.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Take-Two's publishing label picks up the dev behind upcoming OlliOlli World

Roll7 is now under a new banner. Private Division announced today that it has acquired Roll7, the makers of the upcoming skateboarding game OlliOlli World.

Private Division was already set as OlliOlli World's publisher, and this acquisition will keep the studio and publishing label together through its future unannounced projects. Roll7 is currently aiming to launch OlliOlli World this winter, during Take-Two's fiscal quarter ending on ??March 31, 2022.

"Private Division has been an incredible publishing partner for OlliOlli World, and we’re elated to continue to grow as a studio as part of the label," said Roll7 co-CEO Simon Bennett in a press release. "Private Division has empowered our amazing team to raise the bar on our creativity and scope for OlliOlli World. Joining the label puts us in a great positio?n to continue to grow and to set our sights on achieving our ambition to become a pre-eminent global videogames developer."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2g1rlb9XvA

Private Division has signed on a number of talented indie development teams for games in the future, including Ori developer Moon Studios and Armello developer League of Geeks.

OlliOlli World has made a very good impression in the hands-on time we've had with it. When I played it earlier this year, I was really impressed by how Roll7 shook up the formula and overhauled its visual style while still retaining that excellent flow-state skateboarding gameplay from the original games. With Private Division backing its future, ?unannounced projects, looks like Roll7 will keep on rolling.

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Enhanced Edition is a free upgrade for PS4 and Xbox One owners of Kerbal Space Program

The prospect of meticulously building vessels worthy of space travel with a gamepad, to say nothing of actually getting your crew to their far-flung destination, might've scared you away from playing Kerbal Space Program on PS4 or Xbox One. But if you've got the console version, there's now a free Enhanced Edition upgrade available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, which includes mouse and keyboard support.

//youtu.be/LBFCA48fUqE

This upgrade is free, but it's a little confusing. Potentially. As someone with the base Kerbal Space Program on PS4, I first had to upgrade to the PS4 Enhanced Edition, and then I was able to get the PS5 Enhanced Edition. If I didn't do it in that exact order, the PS5 version would?? still show up on the PlayStation Store as $40 �the cost for brand-new players. So if you're wondering what??'s up, make sure you upgrade everything sequentially.

Beyond M+K support, the main draw of Kerbal Space Program Enhanced Edition is a visual and performance boost: "upgraded resolution, improved framerate, advanced shaders, bette?r textures, and other performance improvements," per Private Div??ision.

With today's launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, "This release brings our partnership with BlitWorks to a close," according to franchise producer Grant Gertz.

"The team at BlitWorks will be joining Larian as Larian Barcelona. We wanted to take a moment and thank everyone at BlitWorks who has helped us bring KSP over?? to consol?es the last few years and wish them all the best on their new adventures."

As for current and future PC updates, and how they'll fit in with Kerbal Space Program on PS5 and XSX, the team is "committed to bringing patch 1.11 and 1.12 to our console audience, and to support this we are creating new open positions to handle this development in??ternally. It will take us time to get folks hired and ramped up, and we appreciate everyone's patience as we w?ork diligently to bring this to you next year."

For anyone new to KSP, it's a ??patience-testing but very rewarding experience. Good luck!

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OlliOlli World is a new approach, but the skateboarding still owns

There was a moment while I was playing OlliOlli World's demo where I stopped thinking about how to ollie. That didn't mean I forgot; it was just that I was so locked into everything else, the ollie was becoming reflexive and mechanical, simple as turning left or right. And then the ga??me asked me to beat the level without using it once.

It's an optional challenge, but one that made me shift a little bit more and get out of my comfort zone. As I progressed forward I was using the ollie less, even if I wasn't challenged to avoid it. A little gentle encouragement from my skate crew to try something new was all I needed, and that's why I'm really digging the new look for the OlliOlli series in OlliOlli World.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXvpGrp21jg

The first two OlliOlli games were solid skateboarding games, but pretty straightforward. Your character would go on a journey across various areas, completing challenges and skating around a fictionalized world that mostly resembled modern day. Not to say it didn't have character, but it definitely didn't have it in the way OlliOlli World does.

OlliOlli World is set in a fantasy land of Radlandia, where talking amphibians and giant bees holding up billboards are business-as-usual. It's a place that would fit right in on the Cartoon Network, but that distinct look helps everything feel a bit?? warmer—which is really nice when you start bailing on repeat attempts at certain gaps or challenges.

Accompanying your protagonist is a skate crew, made up of several very different skaters. Chiffon, a skate wizard, acts as the in-game reason for respawning and restarting, and a big friendly guy named Gnarly Mike is the one who issues you challenges. Suze tapes it all on her video camera, and "Dad" is the dad of the group, leading all of you on your skate-tastic adventure. It's a charming, fun group of skaters that represents the heart of what OlliOlli World and the dev te??am at?? Roll7 seems to want you to do: skate.

In an interview with Roll7 Co-CEO Simon Bennett and OlliOlli World creative director John Ribbins, they tell me they want OlliOlli World to be a more welcoming game. They looked at old reviews of the previous OlliOlli games to see what could or should change; as Ribbins puts it, the OlliOlli games are great, but "a bit cold."

Step one is putting faces behind the high scores. Now you're not just beating an arbitrary, developer-set high score, but Dad's high score. You're completing challenges for Gnarly Mike, and he congratulates you when you overcome them. Challenges are often times optional too, with an emphasis on experie?ncing the world and playing through it to di??scover things, even if you're not nailing massive combos on your first run.

And dang, there is a lot to explore. OlliOlli World adds a lot of depth to its levels thanks to a few different changes, the largest of which is switching lanes. Your skater can cross-over lanes when they line up, and those paths will diverge, creating snaking, branching paths within different areas. Some might lead to certain sidequests, while others might offer interesting combo setups. It's all about how you want to navigate, and on multiple playthroughs of the same early levels, I was still finding ??plenty of new and interesting ways to traverse Radlandia.

Combine that with techniques like wallriding and a host of new skateboard abilities, and OlliOlli World feels much, much larger than the original straightforward OlliOlli games. It'?s still a ride from A to B, but the journey in between is so much more interesting to toy around with, finding new ways of chaining together different segments.

The "flow state" ideal is still at the core, but OlliOlli World presents a new, different kind of challenge. It wants you to explore the world, to learn at your own pace, and to have a cast of charact?ers that nudge and encourage you?? along, as if it's your very own real-life skate crew.

At the en??d of our interview, I asked the developers about what hobbies the team had picked up during the pandemic, and it shouldn't surprise you at all that skateboarding was the answer. But I asked Ribbins to elaborate a bit m??ore, and he described how some of them had been playing a game of "skate golf;" if you're unfamiliar, the idea is that someone does a trick, and then you set a personal par for how many tries it might take you to replicate it.

For some new skateboarders, their kickflip might be a par 20, or a par 40. If you've been skating for a long time, it might be a par 2 trick. The focus on par meant everyone could participate, though. It wasn't just about playing "HORSE" or being the best at nailing a trick, but getting your ow?n par down over the course of time.

It's a small thing, but it felt right in line with what OlliOlli World is trying to accomplish. Through charming visuals, challenges, and lots to explore and discover, this doesn't just feel like a fresh take on OlliOlli, but a smart way to get a lot of newcomers into a traditionally challenge-based kind of game. It feels really good to finally hit the end of the level, after nailing a big combo chain or finally nabbing all the collectibles, and having your skate crew ready and waiting to congratulate you. Those are the vibes of OlliOlli World, and I can't wai?t to hit the ramps and rail?s for more.

OlliOlli World arrives this winter for the Nintendo Switch??, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, ?and PC.

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I can see this pulling in a lot of new fans

It took a bit for today's Nintendo Indie World Showcase to get going, but I immediately latched onto OlliOlli World the moment it showed up. The next skateboarding game from Roll7 looks fantastic — and it's mor??e ambitious t??han I would've expected. You've got to see these out-there character designs.

According to the studio, we'll be able to customize our skater's looks, tricks, and style while also carving our own path in the wacky world of Radland — literally. The levels have branching paths. That's one way?? to ease players into the end goal of reaching a hyper-focused zen state with mad combos.

Game director Tom Hegarty says that like the prior games, OlliOlli World boils down to "flow."

The trailer pretty much shows what it needed to at this point. I'm in! One extra note: there will be a separate sandbox?? mode ?with procedural levels that players can share using a "Zip code system."

OlliOlli World is coming to Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xb??ox One, and Xbox Series X/S from Roll7 and publisher Private Division in ?winter 2021.

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It's an unforgiving world out there for smaller studios

V1 Interactive, the studio behind last year's squad-commanding strategy shooter Disintegration, is shutting down this month. The FPS-meets-RTS game about robots with transplanted human brains didn't review all that well, and five months after it was released, the multiplayer modes went offline.

"We want to thank all the talented people at V1, both past and present, who helped make the last five years wonderful," V1 tweeted. "And a heartfelt thanks to the amazing community that suppor??te??d us."

In another tweet, V1 Interactive president Marcus Lehto said that "our priority has been to the wellbeing of our employees. We've been transparent with them about the state of things for months and are making this decision now so they still have ample time to search for new jobs while being supported by our studio." Other than V1, Lehto is best-known for his hand in creating the Halo series.

As grim as the post-launch outlook seemed for Disintegration, I had hoped the studio's publishing deal with Private Division (a label under Take-Two Interactive) would've insulated V1 to a greater extent.

It's always a shame to see a smaller- or mid?-sized studio worki?ng on a new IP go out so soon.

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