As part of the Antstream Connect stream today (I know, it was the first I heard of it too), the company announced that the retro game streaming service will finally be releasing on PlayStation consoles (PS4 and PS5). On top of that, PlayStation games will start arriving on the service, as well as Pico-8 games of all things. Announcements all around.

Antstream Arcade is a retro-focused streaming service. While it is primarily centered on arcade games, classic titles from other platforms have been added as well. Last year, it launched on Xbox, which is when I had a chance to review it (not on Xbox, I don’t own one). I found it to be a capable platform, but some of its limitations were a b?it much for me. I have since logged in a few more times, but I haven’t stuck with it as much as I hoped I would. In retrospect, I probably could have saved a lot of money playing on there instead of buying Arcade Archives titles, but I also like t?he illusion of owning something.

Wait, I need to check something. Kaiser Knuckle�Nope. Maybe Global Champion�Still nope. I guess I’m still using my Taito Egret II Mini for that game.

Anyway, on top of the announcement that it’s coming to PS4 and PS5, they also announced that PS1 games will be coming to the platform. During the stream, they showed off O.D.T.: Escape�Or Die Trying, Tiger Shark, and MotorMash (and a couple others), none of which would really be my first choice, but it’s a start. They’re also adding Pico-8 games, which is an 8-bit “fantasy console.�It’s rad for people who like to experiment with building games in a more limited framework. I tried a while back and fai?led.

They also talked about their ??upcoming “Vision�update, which they were also talking about back when I reviewed the platform a year ago. The update is supposed to overhaul the platform’s interface, which it badly ??needs. They showed off a bit of it and hinted at a new beta, which will apparently arrive shortly before the full launch of the update.

For now, they’re ?at least adding control binding for each game, which is something else it badly needs.

The platform I’m most interested in, honestly, is Switch. That doesn’t have anything to do wit??h the portability, though. It’s just where I play most of my arcade games since my 8BitDo arcade stick has a channel specifically for Switch.

There’s??? no announced date for when Antstream Arcade will be coming to PS4 and PS5.

The post Antstream Arcade is coming to PlayStation and Pl??aystatio?n is coming to Antstream Arcade appeared first on Destructoid.

Hey, remember that time Twitch played Pokémon? An amusing endeavor, I'm sure many of you will agree. Well, what if we did the same thing but with another game. Say...Doom? Oh man, that would b??????????????????????????e pretty amusing to see and not at all complicated ??to actualize.

Well, would you look at that. Someone's only gone and done it. YouTuber ThePrimeagen has managed to make the original Doom capable of being played by simultaneous Twitch viewers; 1,000 of them, to be precise. Now, it should be said that this is technically an ASCII ver?sion of the classic FPS, but it still stands as an entertaining experiment.

Needless to say, the above video contains a lot of complex information? about how they were able to convert and compress the game in such a way as to make it playable via a chat log. I'm not even going to attempt to explain it, as the knowledge I have of programming and software engineering is on par with my expertise on hyperlocal economics in the region of?? �oh, I don't know �the town of Shitterton in England (look it up).

It's real

If you want to just see the part where 1,000 people play the opening section of Doom, you will need to pre??tty much skip to the last minute of the video. If you are genuinely fascinated by how it's all achieved, I'll?? see you in 15 minutes.

Right at the end, we get to see the final result of ThePrimeagen's work, which involves tasking people in Twitch chat to control Doom. ??You all know how this work, which means you probably also know how this turns out.

There are a large number of hiccups along the way, including Doom Guy continually falling down a staircase before he's able to get up it. However, the effort is worth the wait, as the viewers do manage to complete the first level of Doom, tricky though it?? clearly was. Isn't technology pretty cool?

The post ??Se??e 1,000 Twitch viewers attempt to beat the first Doom level appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're a streamer on T?witch and you??'re somehow managing to make money off it, it seems there's a bit of good news on the horizon. Well, provided you're based in the UK, Canada, Australia, or Turkey. However, if you're a subscriber to streamers, this may sting a little.

In a recent blog post on Twitch, the Amazon-o?wned platform is going to up subscription costs for the above countries. Beginning March 28, Tier 1 subs will now be increased, except in Turkey, which will see all three tier prices rise. By quite a significant a?mount, I should add.

Twitch held a stream recently in the hope of clarifying some of the details. CMO Mike Minton says broadcasters with subscribers will still get the same revenue share. However, this also means the company will?? financiall??y benefit as well.

Possibly more price increases coming?

As it stands, this is just an initial wave that Minton says will hopefully reward those who use the ??site for streaming purposes. This is especially important for anyone who makes a living doing so. Obviously, this could have a knock-on effect for the subscribers themselves, who, going forward, will have to pay out a bit more if they want to support their favorite channels.

As for whether this will roll out to the US and other countries, it's hard to say at this point. It sounds like Twitch is implementing it in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Turkey first on a?? sort of trial basis. If it works out to be beneficial, then we could see it come to other nations.

It's also important to note those days, as Twitch says, "you’ll keep earning the same amount per Prime sub as you do today until June 3rd when [Twitch will] switch to ??the published, per country payout rates." It's definitely worth reading through everything and watching the posted video if you feel these developments will affect you.

The post Twitc??h? is updating its subscription prices for a number of countries appeared first on Destructoid.

Last year, we reported that Twitch was introducing a new Partner Plus Program, which brough??t with it changes to how streamers are paid. While it was met with some praise, it was also criticized for certain threshold requirements. As a result, the company has implemented a?? few changes.

In a recent blog, Twitch announced its updated payouts for Partner Plus. For starters, it's now allowing Affiliated rather than just Partners to be included in the program. The changes also lower the threshold from 350 to 300, which means more?? streamers can qualify.

When the scheme began last October, it adjusted the 50/50 split to a 70/30 one, giving streamers more income. Now, with a lower threshold of 100 Plus Point (presumably this is in relation to how many subscribers channels have), a new?? Level 1 entry point will give content creators a 60/40 split, while Level 2 retains ??the 70/30 split.

Twitch has received "clear feedback"

Additionally?, when the Partner Plus Program (which is dropping the "Partner" from the name) was first introduced, it put a cap on how much streamers could earn. In a nutshell, anyone whose revenue was $100k or more would go back down to the 50/50 split. This ??idea has now been scrapped.

The program was met with some backlash from the community, many of whom were concerned that the 350 subscriber threshold was unob??tainable for many channels. Add onto that the income cap, and?? it was not Twitch's finest hour.

However, judging by responses to its Twit??ter thread on the n?ews, it seems many are much happier with these new changes that will be coming into effect this May.

The post Tw?itch is expanding its Partner Plus Program, dropping the $100k cap appeared first on Destructoid.

For those who want to engage in more adult-orientated streaming, it seems like Twitch is not the best place for it. However, the Amazon-owned platform clearly has to deal with it??, and a new policy update aims to c?lamp down on broadcasters casting their broads, so to speak.

Over on the Twitch website, the?? company says that, as of yesterday, it'll be cracking down on any 'implied nudity.' As the post itself says:

Thi??s update is in response to a recent meta on Twitch in which streamers use black censor bars or other items to block their bodies or clothing, or position the camera frame such that the viewer is led to believe that the streamer is fully or partially nude.

As of January 3, stre?amers will be required to make sure there is no suggestion that they may be hiding obvious nudity. The update specifies that, where required, "coverage must be fully opaque," adding that "sheer or partially see-through clothing does not con??stitute coverage."

Adults only...kind of

Given that Twitch is largely a place where people go to watch content c?reators play games or engage in creative activities, it stands to reason that sexual or adult content would not be encouraged.

However, the site recently updated another policy, which introduced a new label for streams cla??ssed as having "sexual content." This means content such as "erotic dances" and "fictionalized" nudity are allowed, providing they are correctly labeled. Full nudity...still a massive no-no, however.? Also, streams of this nature are not present on the homepage.

As for the update to the attire policy, Twitch has made it clear that it does not want streamers to be presenting themselves with "implied nudity." The post states that such content will have its label changed to a more appropriate one, while? repeat offenses will "lead to an enforcement action."

The post Twitch’s updated policy is cracking down on ‘implied nudity’ appeared first on Destructoid.

Despite being one of the biggest streaming platforms in the world, Twitch has more than its share of problems. Recently, the company announced 180 employees were being laid off, and no??w it's having to c?ease operations in Korea.

In a recent blog post?, Twitch CEO Dan Clancy has said the service will shut down business in Korea, effective February 27, 2024. The statement goes on to say that it was a "difficult decision" but the "the? cost to operate" Twitch in the country is "prohibitively expensive."

Clancy explains that the company had spent time trying to reduce the cost of running in Korea, saying that the team "experimented with a peer-to-peer model for source quality." All efforts appear to be in vain, though, with the platfo??rm saying it's been "operating at a loss."

What happens to Korean streamers?

Obviously, this means that anyone in Korea who uses Twitch to broadcast won't be able to come the end of February. In the blog post, Clancy says streamers who "devoted significant time and effort into building their communiti?es" will b??e helped.

The company will "work to help Twitch streamers in Korea move their communities to alternative livestreaming service??s." Sadly, those who are perhaps not on Twitch's radar will unlikely be given a hand.

Last month, it was also announced that Twitch was being dropped from the Nintendo Switch, owing to numerous and recurring issues with the app. The Amazon-owned service will no doubt continue to dominate the streaming market, but these avenues being closed off will no doubt be harmful for busines??s.

The post Twitch will ?cease operating in Korea, CEO says costs are too high appeared first on Destructoid.

There are quite a few here at Destructoid that are big into ??anime, so this is for them as well. For a limited time only, Twitch is offering viewers a free trial of Crunchyroll, the hit a??nimation streaming service, for your viewing pleasure.

As outlined in a recent Twitch blog post, the Amazon-owned platform is providing a 60-day trial of Crunchyroll Mega Fan ??Premium membership. This means you'll get to watch a??ll your favorite anime and manga shows without ads.

Of course, it's not as simple as just holding out y?our hand and waiting for the trial to drop into it. There are a few provisos before you can qualify. Because of course there are.

*Sigh* Okay, what do I have to do?

F??or starters, the campaign is only being run for this month, so you have until November 30 to get your free trial. In exchange for the Crunchyroll membership, y??ou'll need to purchase "two new Twitch subs and/or gift subs."

The type of Twitch su??bscriptio??ns and gifted subs that are eligible include:

• New monthly subs (any tier)
• Multi-month subs (3-month, 6-month)
• Gift subs (any tier for any number of months)

Prime subs, existing sub renewals, bits, turbos, and a bunc??h of others don't qualify.

It's also worth noting that it's only available on "participating channels streaming in the Just Chatting, Art, and One Punch Man: World categories." You also can't qualify for the offer if you live in any of the following coun?tries:

• Russia
• Ukraine
• Cuba
• China
• Iran
• Japan
• North Korea
• Syria
• South Sudan
• Sudan

What else? Oh, ?yeah: "existing or past Crunchyroll members or? users who have previously claimed a Crunchyroll free trial in the past year are not eligible."

I think t??hat covers everything. As is typical with the??se types of deals, there are plenty of Ts & Cs before you qualify. If you do quality, happy days. If not... Young Sheldon, I guess.

The post Twi?tch is giving out Crunchy??roll trials, in exchange for some subs appeared first on Destructoid.

Sometimes, it's hard to know what to make of Twitch. On the one hand, the streaming platform is experiencing peak viewership, but on the other, the company is reportedly laying staff off. Still, ?it's business as usual, and it looks as though the Amazon-owned company now wants a slice of that social media pie.

In a recent blog post, Twitch announced the introduction of stories to its app. Those who regularly?? use Facebook or Instagram will already be familiar with this feature. Essentially, Twitch has "made it easier for you to reach your community directly on Twitch, through short posts ??that expire in 48 hours."

This appears to be a work-in-progress and will have "more features in? the coming months". And given Twitch's reputation for being a hotbed of hatred and g?eneral toxic behavior, safety measures are factored into stories "in a way that fosters a safe space for you and your community."

Not available for everyone yet, though

However, the post does make it clear that this feature is not rolling out to all us?ers just yet. For now, they're "currently limited to Partners & Affiliates who have had at least one stream in the last ?30 days."

There are plans to make it ?available to eligible users by the end of the week. However, streamers will need to "meet the minimum eligibility requirements." ?There's always a catch with these things.

Whatever you think about the new feature, it seems Twitch is looking to keep its head abov?e water by rolling out additional bells and whistles. It could be a neat way for content creators to stay in touch when not live. Equally, it could be another headache in an era already swamped by social media.

The post Twitch goes down the social media rout??e by int??roducing Stories appeared first on Destructoid.

Despite numerous controversies over the years, Twitch remains the biggest platform for streaming and broadcasting video game content. However, the Amazon-owned site has recently tried to implement better features to help users mod?erate their channels, and it looks a new tool is on the w?ay.

According to a screenshot uploaded by streamer and partner Lowco (thanks, Eurogamer), Twitch plans on adding a way for content creators to block banned viewers from watching their streams. The image? depicts a new setting ??that "when enabled, banned users will not be able to watch your live broadcasts."

//twitter.com/LowcoTV/status/1691893134609813526

Currently, a Twitch ban only stops users from chatting, but they can still watch. Note that this new feature is not considered an IP ban, but Twitch's senior product manager Trevor Fisher says the compa??ny will look into fe??edback from streamers with the hope of making moderation tools more powerful.

When are Twitch ban changes coming?

Updates to Twitch bans should roll out in September, available to all users interested in the ?new feature. We don't know what date exactly, but details should trickle in as Twitch implements changes ??from its Patch Note streams.

Blocking users from watching streams (and chatting) won't stop them from being a?ble to watch VODs or clips, though. Just as Fisher noted, maybe th??at's something the platform could implement in the future with enough feedback.

With viewership up, amassing around 1.8 billion watched hours for July 2023,?? Twitch retains its position as the number one place for streaming content. Alternatives like YouTube Gaming are trying to compete, but the purple site in its current iteration still rules the market. For?? now.

The post Banned Twitch users ??can soon be block?ed from watching streams, not just chatting appeared first on Destructoid.

Despite Twitch being embroiled in controversies (seemingly on a constant basis), it's still the number one choice when it comes t??o streaming or watching streamers. This is evidenced by the fact that viewership seems to be on the up and up, with millions still tuning in each month.

Cold hard data seems to back this up, as a report from Gamesindustry.biz states that Twitch has recorded 1.8 billion hours for July 2023. This represents a 5% increase over June, with daily viewership having gone up since March of this year. The f??igures come from StreamElements and Rainmaker.??gg.

[caption id="attachment_396076" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Image via Backstage.[/caption]

On top of that, GTA 5 is still the number one game to watch, with 139 million hours logged. Other top titles for the Amazon-owned platform include League of Legends, Minecraft, CS:GO, and Dota 2. Basically, a lot of PvP and/or otherwise multiplayer games.

Recent Twitch backlashes

However, it's not all peachy for Twitch. The site came under fire from streamers recently when its new Partner Plus program was announced. Many felt that qualifying ??for the better revenue split was unobtainable for a lot of people who rely on the service for income.

Maintaining a recurring subscription count of ??350 for three months already sounds like ??a lofty ask. Add to that the fact that Amazon Prime subs and gifted subs don't count, and it's easy to see why a lot of streamers find this target difficult.

That said, from a viewer's perspective, things seem to be going pretty well??. With close to two billion hours in total watched for July alone, gamers are evidently finding plenty to watch on Twitch. It's just a shame the company continues to disappoint many of its broadcasters.

The post Twitch viewership up? 5%, 1.8 billion hours watched appeared first on Destructoid.

One of the publishers that I find most irksome in this industry is Warner Brothers. They currently own most of the properties of defunct published Midway Games, and by extension, Atari Games. Despite owning the rights to a lot of great game franchises, they only seem interested in Mortal Kombat. They’ve done dick all with everything else. This includes some of my all-time favorites, like Tapper and Smash T.V.

It’s enough that I’ve considered these games to be unavailable, or as a recent study termed them, �a href="//jbsgame.com/study-finds-87-of-classic-video-games-are-critically-endangered?/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">?critically endangered.�However, that’s not technically true because they are available. You can find them on Antstream Arca??de.

While Antstream Arcade has been around for a while, I have an innate dislike for streaming games. I’d rather own them in some form. I don’t like the idea that they may be ephemeral. Relying on a corporation to allow me to do what I want is not something I can trust. However, I feel that the game preservation goals of Antstream Arcade are earnest ones. As I heard someone mention, publ???????????????????????????ishers may be more willing to allow games to be re-released on streaming services, so this is a way to get at licenses that would otherwise be out of reach.

With its recent Xbox release, I was given the opportunity to try out the PC version of Antstream Arcade myself. Since it’s been I was able to get a round in with Tapper, I decided it was worth a shot. As it turns out, there are more rea?sons to try out Anstr?eam Arcade than just easy access to critically endangered games.

[caption id="attachment_394501" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Pixels besmirched

I first want to get the technical side out of the way, as that’s my first concern when playing streamed games. I tried the Xbox Cloud Gaming service a while back, and while I thoug?ht it was fine, I hated seeing compression artifacts everywhere. The question on the top of my mind was if Antstream Arcade would be any different. It Isn’t.

Note that my internet connection is probably more ideal than most people have access to. My apartment has a full fibre connection. The only time the internet touches copper is the Cat8 ethernet cable be?tween my modem and NIC. It’s a 1.5Gbps connection, but my NIC only supports 1Gbps, which is still a lot faster than most people have.

My main test game was 1996’s Metal Slug. It’s known for its transcendental pixel art graphics, which provide a much busier pixel than, say, Chack’n Pop. It’s also a game that I’ve been playing through repeatedly recently, trying to drive down how many continues it takes me to finish it. So, I figured it was the best candidate since ?I know it inside out and can see if any added input lag has a huge effect on me.

Firstly, the visuals suck in a lot of places. While the image is sharp at the best of times, even on a 4K monitor, a lot of motion causes it to lose fidelity. A lot of noise gets added to the image, which is less than ideal. How much noise depended on the scene and the time of day. It was always legible and didn’t affect gameplay much, but was certainly less than ideal compared to the Arcade Archives or Metal Slug Anthology releases.

[caption id="attachment_394502" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Marco!

It took me 7 continues to finish Metal Slug on Antstream Arcade, which is in comparison to my best effort of 5 continues. However, to be fair to Antstream, this was mostly because I was waiting for the polish on my nails to harden, so I was avoiding the ends of my fingers while playing on an arcade stick. I didn’t really notice any input lag. There probably is some, just based on the technology, but it was imperceptible to me. There was slowdown, however, but it never struck me as more than the slowdown that Metal Slug normally has. It slowed down in all the regular spots. Spots where I was used to seeing it. It isn't added slowdown, is what I mean.

You can’t, however, touch the settings on any of the magnitudes of games I tested. Like in an actual arcade, the DIP switches are locked away. This gives an advantage to home versions, like the Arcade Archives or various compilations, where you can usually tweak the difficulty and scoring modifiers. This is probably not a problem for most people. The biggest issue I had with it was with Metal Slug, the blood is off, and there’s no way to turn it on. This was set this way for North American releases, but Arcade Archives lets you turn the blood back on.

What’s even more vexing is that you can’t remap inputs. You’re stuck with what they give you, and that means the inputs for an Arcade Stick will be exactly the same as those on a?n Xbox Controller, and that’s rarely ideal.

Pound for pound, I’d rather play a downloaded, local copy of the games available. However, it’s worth noting that something like that can really put the hurt on your bank account. Just buying the Arcade Archives versions of the three Metal Slug games (1, 2, and X) that are featured on Antstream Arcade puts you just 10$ short of an annual subscription. So, you’d have to weigh that based on your pers?onal situation and preferences.

[caption id="attachment_394503" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Outside the cabinet

What I didn’t expect to grab me was the online challenges and tournaments. Each game has a set of challenges associated with them that can provide you with new ways to interact with some of these games. Going back to Metal Slug, as an example, one challenge starts you off on the second level with only a pistol, and the ability to pick up new weapons is disabled. So, it challenges you to get the highest scor?e possible with only a pistol and grenades. You then get ranked o?n that.

Various tournaments also run at all times. They pick a game, then give you a challenge, such as scoring as high a?s possible on a single life, then you’re ranked against the other competitors. The prize is just gems, a currency used for participating in challenges. That’s not too exciting, and the gems are so easy to come by that they’re practically inconseque??ntial, but at least you have some skin in the game.

The challenges are what keep me coming back to Antstream Arcade. It’s not even necessarily that I want to compete or win. It’s more that it gives me a reason to dive into games that I don’t know very well and try to build my skill and confidence in them. It’s a helpful metric to see how close I am to mastering a gam??e, and it’s something I appreciate that I don’t necessarily see in other releases of arcade titles.

On the other hand, some of the challenges aren’t well thought through. Going back to Metal Slug, there are a couple of “survive as long as you can�objectives that were clearly not tested by anyone intimately familiar with the game. One was surviving the submarine section on the last level, which c??an be gamed by leaving a plane alive and just dodging? its bomb repeatedly. Doing so makes the section never end, so you’re never in peril and can continue until the timer runs out. That is not how I think they expected it to be done.

[caption id="attachment_394504" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The future of retro

That’s also really the only online multiplayer available. You can duel over c??hallenges, but that’s once again competing for score. There is local multiplayer when it’s supported, but right now, that’s all you get i??n terms of direct competition.

There’s also some badly needed housekeeping on the service. It uses a recommendation and category system that you’d find on Netflix, which isn’t all that helpful. I had an easier time keeping an external list open on a website to figure out what was ava??ilable and what wasn’t. Then I could just ?search for it and find it that way.

Antstream Arcade also has titles from ??other platforms, such as microcomputers and consoles. For whatever reason, though, you can’t browse by console.

They are planning on overhauling everything in what they’ve termed “Project Vision.�However, I can’t find any hard information on what this w??ill include. They’ve teased multiplayer and UI upgrades, so we’ll see? what this involves. I’m interested since any number of my complaints may be addressed.

[caption id="attachment_394506" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The quarter hole

Antstream Arcade is also noticeably lacking content from ??certain publishers, which isn’t all that surprising. While Namco, Taito, SNK, and Atari (both Atari Games/Midway and Atari Interactive) are on board, we’re lacking other big players like Capcom, Sega, and Kona??mi. I have no doubt that Antstream Arcade would want content from these publishers, so I can only imagine they’re continually pushing for a deal.

However, there are still an advertised 1300 games on Antstream Arcade, so I haven’t hit the bottom of what I want to play and discover. It’s always going to be growing, so a lack of content is just something you’re going to expect. It being a streaming service, there’s also a potential for?? content to be removed when a contract expired, so that’s something else to keep in mind.

But for all my complaints, I still like Antstream Arcade. It’s not a perfect service, but it’s cheap enough that it’s worth having for access to games unavailable elsewhere and challenges for some of my favorites. Having more than one method for preservation is always ideal. I always have the option to buy Metal Slug on other platforms. On the other hand, I don’t have the option to buy Tapper elsewhere, but that’s not An?tstream Arcade’s fault. They’re j??ust doing what they can. So where you at, Warner Brothers?

The post Antstream Arcade might be worth your quarters appeared first on Destructoid.

Update [July 27, 10:16 a.m.]: The ne?w trailer is live, and features a whole lot of vampire slaying. Richter's journey takes place amidst the French Revolution, as he teams u?p with some new allies to take on a "Vampire Messiah." Already love the vibe and setting of all this.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYvJZ3Itw8A

Our original story follows.

A new Belmont takes up the whip and mantle for the animated Castlevania series soon. Powerhouse Animation Studios has announced that Castlevania: Nocturne will have its Netflix premiere on September 28.

A teaser image was posted from the Castlevania Twitter account earlier today, with the confirmed date. There's another news beat on the way too, as a trailer for Castlevania: Nocturne will arrive on July 27.

Nocturne will follow Richter Belmont, the lead in Castlevania: Rondo of Blood who also appears in several other games. We don't know too much more at this point, but the forthcoming trailer will probably illuminate what's at stake. (Hold for applause.)

The original Castlevania run from Powerhouse followed Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Alucard in a loose adaptation of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. It soon veered off into its own story, tying in plot beats from Castlevania history ranging all the way to 2005's Curse of Darkness. And it was, in my humble opinion, a pretty damn good series. The castle entrance fight in Season 2 is still an all-timer for me.

Streaming at large

Of course, this series arrives during a tumultuous time for streaming in general. Both the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) are currently on strike over, among other complaints, disputes with streaming companies. Animated work is part of this issue too, as late night host Stephen Colbert recently noted at a WGA animation rally.

Neither the WGA nor SAG-AFTRA have called for a boycott at this time, so it doesn't seem to affect Castlevania: Nocturne. But it's an issue worth looking into and learning about. A lot of creative talent goes into making shows like these. It's frankly amazing we get adaptations like Castlevania these days.

The post Castlevania: Nocturne passes the whi??p t?o Richter in September appeared first on Destructoid.

A program for the Twitch elite?

Recently, it was announced that Twitch would be improving its revenue splits through what's being called the Partner Plus program. ??This means ??streamers will be entitled to a 70/30 split instead of the current 50/50, providing they meet certain requirements.

However, while it's generally been accepted that this is a step in the right direction, more than a few content creators are concerned about the upcoming program. Speaking to Eurogamer rece??ntly, a number of streamers say they feel the scheme is "anti-community," with concerns that a lot of people who regularly use ??Twitch to stream will struggle to qualify.

//twitter.com/StreamsCharts/status/1671201??552307044353

Twitch Partner Joesephyr ??said the new program is "unattainable for the majority," a sentiment that seems to be shared by others. They added that while it seems to be a "gesture of good faith," the criteria that need to be met in order to enter into Partner Plus is something a lot of streamers will find difficult.

How does one qualify?

In June, Twitch said that come October 2023, the new program will go live. For content creators to be able to be welcomed into Partner Plus, there are a few stipulations. The first is that streamers must have at least?? 350 recurring subscriptions for three consecutive months. This does not include Prime subs or gifted subs, the latter of which allows viewers to pay for a subscription for another user.

This has come under fire as well. Twitch Partner Warwick says they don't want to have to ask their community for non-gifted subs. This is especially prescient in the current cost of living crisis, as Lomadiah says.

On top of the 350 recurring subscriptions, th??ose who want to be part of the new scheme wi??ll also be capped if they earn $100,000 a year or more. After this, the split goes back down to 50/50.

Mary Kish, Twitch's director of community marketing and production, believes Partner Plus is a way for streamers ??to challenge themselves to reach these milestones, because "once you hit that milestone, there is another milestone, and it's harder." She likens the program to a "career lesson."

The post Twitch’s new Partner Plus scheme is ‘unattainable for the majority’ of streamers appeared first on Destructoid.

And it's only for Partners

Twitch is forever altering the way it allows content creators to make money, but it usually comes with a drawback or two. Take the recent changes to revenue splits. Some felt that this was a step in the right direction, but given that the new program comes with a bunch of boxes that need to be ?ticked, not everyone can benefit.

Now, there's a new feature that's being implemented, which could also be seen in a less-than-good light for most. According to a recent blog post, Twitch is introducing "Hype Chat," a feature that gives viewers the chance to liter?ally buy chat messages. The idea behind it is to let users "stand out" in the overall chat.

[caption id="attachment_388337" align="aligncenter" width="572"] Image via Twitch.[/caption]

Amounts that can be paid for messages vary from $1 to $500 (thoug?h Twitch says that streamers can set a minimum amount up to $100). Depending on how much a viewer pays will depend on the duration of the pinned comment, as well as character length, and the visual design. All this while affording the person streaming the ability to "earn a share of the revenue from each Hype Chat purchase."

But, as usual, not everyone will get the benefi??t of this new feature. The blog post goes on to say that Hype Chat is only available to Part?ners, so smaller channels will miss out. However, the Amazon-owned service does say that it may look into implementing this "more broadly" in the future.

For som?e, though, it may be too little too late to win back support. With big streaming names like xQc and Amouranth already jumping ship to ?rival platform Kick, things are looking a bit tough for Twitch right now, though it should be noted that it is still pulling in millions of users each month.

The post Twitch introduces ‘Hype Chat,’ where you can pay money to pin your messages appeared first on Destructoid.

Parental Advisory Explicit Content

Twitch is adopting a new range of labels and tags with which it hopes creators can better classify mature content on the??ir respective channels �The new tags, which are live on the platform right now, are the latest step in the com??pany's efforts to improve community safety on the popular streaming service.

Initially, the site had a catch-all "Mature Content" label, but the new tags hope to?? be a little more specific as to what audience members can expect when visiting one of the site's millions of channels.

The new labels are:

• Mature-Rated Games
• Sexual Themes
• Drugs, Intoxication, or Excessive Tobacco Use
• Violent and Graphic Depictions
• Significant Profanity or Vulgarity
• Gambling

While the Mature labels warn Twitch viewers of a channel's content, they are not a replacement nor a "Get Out of Jail Free Card" for anyone breaking the site's Community Guidelines, which remain unaltered at the time of writing. Streamers may receive warnings for failing to accurately label their content, with potential blocks for repeat offenders. That said, Twitch also notes that a streamer will not be auto-suspended for mislabelling their channel. You can check out the full details on the new labeling? system on Twitch.

Twitch continues to implement and experiment with rules, guidelines, and features in order to combat explicit content on the website. Of course, given the mammoth nature of the streaming platform, moderation has been a momentous issue for the Twitch team, which has led to false positives, user confusion, and the controversial application, (and sometimes ret??raction) of security and marketing measures.

The post New Twitch labels hope to ?better?? classify mature content appeared first on Destructoid.

New rules 'created confusion and frustration'

For many streamers, Twitch is not just a place to broadcast content. It's a major source of income. Some creators build up huge communities that are dedicated to watching their channel, and this can lead to a successful career. However, the Amazon-owned streaming platform has once again become the subject of online controversy. Name??ly, there's been a ch??ange to its ad policy, which has not proven popular.

In a recent post on the site, Twitch announced it would be changing the type of "branded content" that broadcasters would be able to have on their channel. The changes indicate that streams will no longer be allowed to insert "b??urned-in" display, video, or audio ads. This basically refers to any advertisement that is a prerecorded sponsorship. It also limits on-stream l?ogos to just 3% of the total screen.

//twitter.com/Twitch/status/1666183145526538240

As can be imagined, this has not gone down well with those who depend on the site for their streaming income. As reported by GamesRadar, a number of people have lashed out at Twitch, with the likes of Zach Bussey saying they may have to reconsider whether it's the platform for them. Charity events such as Games Done Quick would also be affec??ted by these changes, as their streams typically feature branded content to help them raise m??oney.

In response to this, Twitch has posted an apologetic message on its Twitter account. The first tweet admits that the new branded content policy update was "overly broad," while one below it says the company did "not inten??d to limit streamers�ability to enter into direct relationships with sponsors." By alluding to the fact that streamers would not be able to display burned-in third-party ads, many felt that the platform was saying that only Twitch-approved advertisements would be permitted.

However, even after the apology, the damage appears to have already been done. Such content creators as Jacksepticeye have criticized the site for not talking to streamers in the first instance. Others still have threatened ??to switch to alternatives, such as YouTube and Kick.

Twit??ch says it w??ill update the language on the new policy for clarity.

The post Twitch responds to overw??helming backlash toward new ad policies appeared first on Destructoid.

As seen in theaters and on Twitter

Universal has announced that its billion-dollar blockbuster The Super Mario Bros. Movie will be officially ??available for pu?rchase in the U.S. via the company's streaming service, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, from tomorrow, May 16. It will retail for $29.99, or rentals are also available.

That's a lot of Golden Coins.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which premiered in theaters on April 5 of this year, has been a staggering success �already surpassing a $1 billion box office to become the most successful cinematic release of the year so far, beating out offerings from the Marvel and DC Cinematic Universes. The Super Mario Bros. Movie joins a very small circle of films to have broken the billion-dollar barrier since the COVID-19 pandemic, and is expected to be the highest-grossing film ??of 2023.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-uw1ZmIi7o

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, the Illumination-produced movie sees the iconic Nintendo mascot and his friends face off against the nefarious Bowser and his army of familiar ne'er-do-wells. While critics have been fairly divisive of the film, clearly audiences were ready to just return?? to theaters amidst a wave of color, noise, and silliness. The success of the film is expected to lead to further collaborations between Nintendo and Illumination in the future, with either studio tentatively suggesting that they have been both i?mpressed and inspired by the film's incredible release.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is still in theaters worldwide, and can be rented or purchased in the U.S. via the Universal Pictures Home Entertainment service t??omorrow, May 16.

The post The Super Mario Bros. Movie launches digitally in th??e U.S. tom??orrow appeared first on Destructoid.

Global Gaming

The PC Game Pass service is now officially live in 40 additional countries, following on from its recent test run which was held by Microsoft Xbox in February of this year. Players who took part in the initial tests will r?eceive two months of free access to the new service. Additionally, new ??subscribers can sign up for a special introductory offer in their respective countries.

After installing the Xbox app on their PC,?? subscribers will be given access to an enormous library of new and classic games, some of which will be available to play on their launch days. Subscribers ??will automatically receive benefits such as an EA Play account, as well as exclusive in-game items for certain titles.

The Game Pass service has become something of a mainstay in modern gaming, and more often than not proved its value fo??r those who consider themselves "full-time" video game fans. Opening this service to more and more global communities will simply offer more choice to more players worldwide.

The following 40 countries can now access the PC Game Pass service. For more information, check out the official announcement over on the official Xbox blog.

• Albania
• Algeria
• Bahrain
• Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Georgia
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Iceland
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Libya
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• Morocco
• Nicaragua
• North Macedonia
• Oman
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Qatar
• Romania
• Serbia
• Slovenia
• Tunisia
• Ukraine
• Uruguay

The post PC G??ame Pass has officially launched in a further?? 40 countries appeared first on Destructoid.

GDQ's sisterly spin-off returns!

[Update: As the curtain fell on another awesome week of speedrunning excitement, Frost Fatales 2023 raised an amaz??ing $151,614 USD for The Malala Fund. Congratulations to all runners and organizers for another highly engaging and entertaini?ng week of gaming!

If you missed out on any of the action, never fear, as you can now check out all of the Frost Fatales 2023 runs, on-demand, via the GDQ YouTube channel. The next event, Flame Fatales, will take place the week of August 13?-20, 2023.]

//twitter.com/GamesDoneQuick/stat?us/1632263477711589377?s=20

Original Article:

Is it that time of year already? Apparently so, as the fast femmes of video gaming are ready to see off the winter season with another week of exciting speedruns �So get set for Frost Fatales 2023, which will kick off this Sunday, February 26, live on Twitch!

For one week, the all-women GDQ spin-off community will offer up over 75 speedruns on a wide variety of titles, old and new. Players from across the globe will gather online to smash through awesome titles including modern classics, such as Gris, Death's Door, and Tunic; veteran speedrun franchises such as Final Fantasy, Super Mario Bros., and Silent Hill; and a fistful of retro games including Phantasy Star II, Super Metroid, and Tetris: The Grand Master.

Making their Frost Fatales debut this year will be Nintendo's Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Annapurna's Stray, House House's Untitled Goose Game, and *checks notes* Learn with Pokemon: Typing Adventure!? You can check out the full schedule for the event right here, complete with times localized to your zone. All runs will be held in an online capacity, so you only need tune in to the official GDQ Twitch each day to get on top of the action.

//tw?itter.com/FrameFatales?/status/1605633618574974976?s=20

As always, viewers will be able to send in words support and congratulation to the runners, as well as donations directed to Frost Fatales' chosen charity, The Malala Fund. Cco?-founded by the youngest Nobel prize winner in history, Malala Yousafzai, The Malala Fund is a non-profit organization that supports and facilitates important access to education for women and girls all over the world, regardless of their status, background, or economical means. Last year's event saw?? an amazing $132,000 USD raised for the cause, so here's hoping that the team is able to smash that record this week.

Good luck to?? the p?roduction team, hosts, and all participating Frost Fatales speedrunners!

Frost Fatales 2023 takes place from February 26 to March 4. For more information on the GDQ community, check out the official website.

The post Frost Fatale??s 2023 raised over $150,000 for The Malala?? Fund appeared first on Destructoid.

See Joel and Ellie's next leg of the trip before the Super Bowl

If last week's The Last of Us had you eagerly awaiting what's ahead, you won't have to wait quite so long for the next one. Episode 5 of The Last of Us w??ill be streaming a few days earlier, on February 10 at 9 p.m. ET.

This perk will be available for both HBO Max users, who will be able to check out the new episode a little bit earlier. It will still make its HBO prem??iere on Sunday, February 12 at 9 p.m. ET. This is the one and only? episode to do so, as the rest will continue to air on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

//twitter.com/TheL?astofUsHBO/status/1622611081087844352

Why the two-day early premiere? Well, no official reason was given in HBO's press release. But those tuned into the sports world already know. This weekend is the Super Bowl, and it looks like HBO might look to avoid a direct clash between its new episode and massive spor??ting event.

Though other competition has existed for the Sunday slot, and The Last of Us has won out, it seems like HBO is making an effort to avoid the clash for this particular event. Thus, Episode 5 of The Last of Us ??will go live a little bit earlier. At least that's less waiting between cliffhangers.

Last Friday night

It's at least a good sign for the series that HBO wants to keep its momentum rolling. The show has garnered general praise, and seems to at least be on the upper-en??d of the scale compared to most live-action video game adaptations.

The first season is expected to run through March 12, which is when its finale airs. It's already been renewed for a second season as well, so HBO really does seem to be betting on The Last of Us.

Meanwhile, PC fans holding out for the chance to play the first installment themselves are waiting a little longer, as the PC port of The Last of Us Part I has been pushed back further into March.

The post PSA: The Last of Us Episode 5 hits streaming earlier? this week appeared first on Destructoid.

Don't change the channel, boy

Looks like Kratos is officially heading to streaming. Amazon Prime Video has put in an order for a God of War series, based on the popular games.

Deadline reported earlier this year that Amazon was in negotiations for a God of War adaptation, and now it looks like that's bearing out. The God of War series will have Rafe Judkins from The Wheel of Time on as?? showrunner, with Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby writing?.

Via Deadline's writeup on the news, it sounds like the series will follow Kratos after he's left the Greek pantheon behind and ventured to Midgard. PlayStation Productions will be teaming up with Amazon Prime Video to adapt the seri??es, adding to the growing list of Sony's adaptations.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0u_kAWLJOA

Outside of streaming, God of War hasn't been doing too shabby in the video game department either. The recently released Ragnarok just picked up a decent number of trophies at The Game Awards 2022, and it seems like the follow-up to 2018's God of War has been a highlight of the year for Sony.

//twitter.com/PrimeVideo/status/16030??89353093353473

Many more adaptations to come

Sony is keeping the adaptations moving, though. The Last of Us is set to premiere next month on HBO. And the company has series in development for Horizon Zero Dawn and Twisted Metal too, with potentially more rumored to be on the way.

Really, there's no shortage of video game adaptations on the way. Series like Arcane, The Witcher, and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners have all shown what kind of reach these adaptations can have. We'll see just how they all pan o??ut in the next few years.

The post God of War serie??s order locked in for Amazon Prime Video appeared first on Destructoid.

LGB Alliance struck from list following feedback

[The following article contains LGB Alliance examples of anti-trans speech]

Following intense backlash from both viewers and streamers, Twitch has made the decision to remove the LGB Alliance from it?s Charity Tool feature.

The streaming service recently updated its approved charity list with "tens of thousands" of additional organizations, offering easier access for streamers to direct viewer payments to the P??????????????????????????ayPal-vetted charity of their choosing. However, many Twitch users were outraged at the addition of the UK-based LGB Alliance, an advocacy group founded in direct opposition to rights and support for transgender people.

The LGB Alliance was formed in 2019 after supporters of the LGBT rights group Stonewall denounced the latter's inclusion of trans people, creating the LGB Alliance as an alternative. LGB Alliance has called for reform on The Gender Recognition Act, and opposed care for those with gender dysphoria. Additionally, its members have made frequent bold and ha?teful statements, such as suggesting a public focus on trans people would eventually render lesbians extinct, and that LGB children "don't exist".

The group was controversially granted official charity status by The Charity Commission for England and Wales in April 2021, though a tribunal he??aring against the group's status is currently ongoing.

//twitter.com/Twitch/status/1600597907987697683

Following the publishing of Twitch's approved charities on December 7, a flood of users took to both social media and the official Twitch forum UserVoice to air their concerns. After 16,000 upvotes were applied to a post calling for the removal ??of the LGB Alliance, Twitch released the following statement.

"Thank you for sharing your concerns with us. Following a thorough review, we have removed the LGB Alliance from our list of approved charities. Twitch does not allow charities that violate our hateful conduct policies on Twitch, or whose organization or leadership engage in or promote behaviors that violate our Off-Service policy."

"We include a wide range of organizations in Twitch’s charity tool through o?ur partnership with the PayPal Giving Fund so that streamers can choose which charities they align with and wish to support. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement from Twitch. However, we regularly review the list and remove organizations that violate our policies."

The appearance of LGB Alliance �alongside similarly controversial organizations such as Autism Speaks �has left users concerned that Twitch's vetting process fo?r the thousands upon thousands of charities that it has recently added to th??e Charity Tool might be virtually non-existent.

The post Twitch removes vehement anti-trans group from i??ts list of approved chari?ties appeared first on Destructoid.

Look out for Big Theatrical Moments

Where does the year go? It only seems 12 months ago that I was writing up a special watch post, inviting the jbsgame.community to join us for The Game Awards 2021, and now I'm writing up a special watch post, inviting the jbsgame.community to join us ??for The Game Awards 2022. Sunrise, ??sunset...

Yes, it's that time of year again, as Geoff Keighley and pals, supported by an advisory board consisting of the most powerful company directors in gaming, take to the stage for a look back on mega hits that have been whirring in our HDDs (and SSDs) for the past year. And what a year it has been, populated with smash-hit sequels, epic adventure titles, the return of some M.I.A. IPs, and the debut of some entirely new worlds and characters. Sure, I know everything came out in the first three months of the year, but what's a calendar chockful of 2021's delayed games between frien??ds?

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl9yakt_5tc

And so, we'd like to invite you all to join us as we watch The Game Awards 2022. The pre-show kicks off in 30 minutes, with The Game Awards proper beginning at the top of the hour. Earlier today, Mr. Keighley suggested that this year's event would be "probably the shortest show [we've done]", and is expected to run 2:30, filled with trailers, world premieres, live performances, developer appear??ances, and, of course, the awards themselves. Keighley also promises some "Big Theatrical Moments", so keep an eye out for those.

Of course, if you cannot watch the sho??w this year, never fear, as we will be bringing you all of the big news and exciting reveals right here on the good ship Destructoid. And if you are sticking around for the show, then be sure to speak your brains in the comments, it's always a fun time! Enjoy the show!

(You can watch the normal TGA 2022 feed in the video ?above, or watch a Live Reaction feed featuring our video crew in the stream below.)

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=t71_7NNZnpk

The post Come watch The Game Awards 2022 with Destructoid! appeared first on Destructoid.

Sale news from you-know-know

[Update: The PlayStation Plus sale is now live, with a catalog of discounted games and the 12-month PlayStation Plus offer. The sale? will end November ??28.]

The dedicated king of PlayStation Plus leaks, Dealabs author billbil-kun, has suggested that the black-and-blue brand is preparing to offer a meaty 25% discount on its range of PS Plus paid s?ubscription services �The discount is expected to arrive as part of the?? forthcoming Black Friday madness.

According to the veteran PS leaker, PlayStation users will be able to pick up 12-month PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium subscriptions at a quarter of their original price, provided that they are bagged between November 18-28. As a quick refresher, Essential offers monthly free titles and online capabilities, Extra throws in access to a catalog of rotating ti??tles, while Premium users also receive access to the PlayStation Classics ran?ge, as well as exclusive demos and trials.

With a 25% discount included, PlayStation owner??s can expect the following prices in the rumored offer:

• PlayStation Plus Essential (12 Month) - $44.99 / â‚?4.99 / £37.49
• PlayStation Plus Extra (12 Month) â€?$74.99 / â‚?4.99 / £62.99
• PlayStation Plus Premium (12 Month) â€?$89.99 / â‚?9.99 / £74.99

Admittedly, in financially tough times such ??as these, 80 buckeroos for a gaming sub??scription is still a pretty hefty ask. But if you're the type of player to burn through games with reckless abandon, then having access to a constantly rotating catalog of releases across 2023 will, ultimately, pay for itself.

Of course, there is no official word the deal is definitely happening. But, given Dealabs consistent accuracy when?? revealing PlayStation Plus t??itles, this Black Friday discount rumor can probably be filed under "concrete".

The post PlayStation Plus to receive 25% discount for Black Frid?ay (Update) appeared first on Destructoid.

Developer was looking for a $99-$120 price tag

Phil Spencer has offered up some new info??rmation as to why his company decided to shelve plans for a streaming-only edition of the Xbox platform �The console, codenamed "Keystone", had been in development at the studio but work was officially halted back in the summer of this year.

The Keystone project had hoped to develop an Xbox alternative that would neither feature a disk drive nor would allow for digital game downloads, and instead would run purely as a device to stream and play games live from Xbox's huge library of current and classic releases. Development had reached the prototype stage, with an early edition of the would-be tech appearing in the bac??kground of S??pencer's office during a previous Xbox presentation.

Speaking on The Verge's Decoder podcast �as spotted by VGC �Sp?e??ncer admitted that it was mostly a question of cost.

"The console we built that now people have seen, Keystone, was more e??xpensive than we wanted it to be when we actually built it?? out with the hardware that we had inside, and we decided to focus that team’s efforts on delivering the smart TV streaming app," recalls Spencer.

"I think you’ve got to be $129... $99... like somewhere in there for [the release] to make sense in my view. We just weren’t there. We weren’t there with the controller. And I love the effort. The reason it’s on my shelf is the team rolled up their sleeves and in nine months they built that thing. And a bunch of us took it home and it worked. It worked really, really well."

Spencer said that Xbox retains its interest in the streaming-only hardware project. So it's possible that we may see a Keystone successor hit the market somewhere down the line. Perhaps when the technology is more affordable or the industry has recovered from the recent deluge of production issues �the impact of which has already been felt in ninth gen rel??eases such as Xbox Se??ries X and PlayStation 5.

The post Xbox shelved streaming console ‘Keystone’ due to high retail costs appeared first on Destructoid.

The company is working on a "large-scale, global title"

Sega is continuin?g to work on its "Super Game" project, and it now has a rough deadline. The company wants to launch its super game by March 2026, at the latest.

The super game is something the company has talked about before, as part of its long-term strategy. And in a recent financial filing, Sega is ballparking it for? a launch sometime before March 2026.

As for what a super game is, Sega CEO Haruki Satomi describes it as a large-scale, global title. The ultimate goal for this project is to generate more active users than any other games?????????????????????????? they've made thus far.

"One key to achievin?g this goal is whether we can draw together a large community, involving not only players but also streamers who stream the game and viewers who watch their videos," said Satomi in the filing. "That kind of community expands and further develops game content, adding value to the game ?that is unimagined by developers, and sparking a broader movement—which can then draw in even more users and grow the game’s presence dramatically."

There have been some rumors about what the super game project might entail, but we've ??st??ill yet to get a firm idea.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=XET9s-9PLas

A new frontier

We do know that this super game isn't Sonic Frontiers, which is set to launch in November. Sega also has a few other games in store between now and 2026, like the recently revealed Like a Dragon: Ishin.

There's more in the works for Sega's older IP, too. In the filing today, the company specifically cites "dormant" IP. The company will continue to develop these by "means of remakes, remastering, and reboots," so it sounds l??ike more old Sega hits could see the limelight.

The post Sega aims to create ‘super game’ by March 2026 appeared first on Destructoid.

Mysterious community-focused RPG

During yesterday's veritable banquet of Silent Hill news and reveals, Konami teased a mysterious new project that will see developers and fans party together to develop, alter, and shape the outcome of a story set within the trauma?tic, fog-filled town and it??s wider canon universe at large.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rflWSj_o3o&t

Coming across as something of a modern take on the Alternate Reality games of yore, Silent Hill: Ascension will task its users will following an original storyline and making choices and decisions that will be reflected ??in the movements, actions, and fates of its characters. As such, it is hoped that the community will be able to feel a part of a living and evolving Silent Hill storyline, responsible for shaping its protagonists and leading them to glory... or... well...

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgwqxUnj8_4

This ambitious project is the child of a party of well-known gaming and media studios, including Genvid, Bad Robot, Dj2 Entertainment, and Behavior Interactive �the horror aficionados behind the popular asymmetrical title Dead by Daylight. While details are a little sketchy at this early stage, Silent Hill: Ascension is certainly an intriguing prospect, looking to blend the themes of the popular survival horror series with the gameplay of a tabletop role-playing game and presented on modern strea?ming media.

Should this ambitious experiment prove successful, it is very easy for one to i?magine other publishers embarking on similar projects with their own horror and adventure IPs.

Silent Hill: Ascension is currently in development with an estimated 2??023 launch windo?w.

The post Developers squad up for streaming RPG Silent Hill: Ascensio??n appeared first on Destructoid.

Overwatch producer on board for new SoCal digs

Netflix Games continues in its efforts to boisterously become part of the gaming industry at large �The fledgling outfit has not only announced the opening of a brand new studio, its fifth developer to date, but is also currently looking into the possibilities of launching its own cloud gaming service. The news was announced by Netflix VP of Gaming Mike Verdu during a presentation at TechCrunch Disrupt.

The new development studio, which will be established in Southern California, will be headed up by industry veteran Chacko Sonny, who previously worked for Activision Blizzard as the executive producer of arena shooter Overwatch. Sonny left the publisher in the fall of 2021, one of a number of high-profile departures in the wake of the company's Californian lawsuit and myriad t??oxic workplace allegations.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMdi0VlPJ0o

In addition to the reveal?? of the new studio, Verdu also noted that Netflix Games was "seriously exploring" the potential for a cloud gaming service. Verdu suggested that this service would be a "value add", as opposed to its own distinct platform �This is clearly a distinct effort to distance the potential Netflix service from Google's "Stadia" model, which announced its closure earlier this month.

The newly established studio, along with the exploration into the world of cloud gaming, represents the latest steps in Netflix' efforts to carve itself a piece of the lucrative gaming pie. Already building a portfolio of in-house developers, Verdu surmised that the studio had 55 games currently in the works, with at?? least half based upon Netflix own range of IPs.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jhfofq-ehw

For the most part, Netflix Games has focused on the mobile gaming market �with gaming releases based on Netflix franchises such as Stranger Things as well as its own original titles �though it clearly has some serious ambition on deck.??  Thus, it wouldn't be surprisin?g to see the company eventually branch out into producing more games for home console platforms in the future.

Netflix to expand into cloud gaming, opens new stu??dio in Southern California [TechC?runch]

The post Netflix Games to open fifth studio and explore c??loud?? gaming appeared first on Destructoid.

Refunds will roll out for games and hardware

Google is shutting down its cloud-based game streaming service Stadia. After a few years of operation, the service is shutting down and refund?s are rolling out.

In a new blog post, Google VP and Stadia general manager Phil Harrison says ??the technolog??y "hasn't gained the traction with users" it expected. So the company has decided to wind down its Stadia services.

Google will be refunding all Stadia hardware purchases made t?hrough the Google Store. All game and add-on content purchases made throu??gh the Stadia store will also be refunded.

Those wh??o want to can keep playing their Stadia games through January 18, 2023. So if you've got a save file you want to clear, you'd better get on that. Google expects to have the "majority" of refunds complet??ed by mid-January, 2023. The Stadia team members will be moving to other parts of the company.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeFnQrgtZ9k

The tech underneath

Harrison writes that the technology that powers Stadia "has been proven at scale," and it sees "clear opportunities" to utilize this across other parts of Google, including YouTube, Go??ogle Play, and AR. It also cites making this technology available to industry partners, which Harrison says aligns with where they see the future of gaming headed.

"We remain deeply committed to gaming, and we will continue to invest in new tools, technologies and plat?forms that power the success of developers??, industry partners, cloud customers and creators," said Harrison.

Google Stadia was one of the earlier technologies breaking into the cloud race. It had quite the interesting reveal, and start??ed to build ??up some gaming development power behind it.

Issues soon arose, though. Stadia shuttered its internal development studios in 2021. Plans circled to reportedly shift Stadia's direction, but it looks like the final bell has tolled.

Other cloud services are still persisting, like Amazon Luna and Microsoft's fairly successful venture into cloud gaming, alongside its Xbox Game Pass.

The post Google is shutting Stadia down appeared first on Destructoid.

Get a look at all the sights, sounds, and faces of HBO's adaptation

HBO has published a new trailer for its adaptation of The Last of Us today. It spotlights a whole bunch of familiar face?s, and gives us a good idea of where the production is headed with Naughty Dog's story.

The center of the trailer is obviously Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie. The duo are the core of The Last of Us, and we see a lot of familiar moments with them. Joel looking gruff and gett??ing ??violent, and Ellie learning to thrive and survive in the harsh world around them.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBRRDpQ0yc0

We also see the broader cast of the series. Merle Dandridge as Marlene, Nick Offerman as Bill, Nico Parker as Joel's daughter Sarah, and Storm Reid as Riley all make an appearance. The latter does suggest that we'll be seeing the DLC content Left Behind somehow folded into The Last of Us, which is great. That particular slice of the story ad?ds a ton to Ellie's character and would be missed if it got left out.

Save who you can save

This is the longest look yet at the series, and it's interesting that the trailer doesn't explicitly set up the story of Joel and Ellie's cross-c??ountry road trip.

It's an adaptation of Naughty Dog's well-known and recently remade survival action game, so fans already know what's coming. And for an unaware outside observer, I imagine the action, emotions, and ominous western music over footage of zombies gets the appeal across. Either way, it's a solid t??railer, and one that's g?ot me keen on seeing the premiere.

No date's been set yet for HBO's The Last of Us, outside of a 2023 window. Naughty Dog has been celebrating today, the unofficial-official Last of Us Day, with a bunch of new GIFs and other fun tidbits for TLOU fans.

The post HBO’s The Last of Us gets a new teaser trailer appeared first on Destructoid.