Former tinyBuild and Adult Swim Games vets shake up a classic genre in Steam Early Access
GLOBAL – 16 August 2023 – Dive into an immersive world of automation and strategy as Desynced, the brainchild of Forklift Interactive and Stage Games, premieres on Windows PC through Steam Early Access today.
Your ship is stranded in orbit around an unknown world. Tasked with gathering resources from below, players can customize drones and buildings to create a modular, flexible base to mine, process raw materials, manufacture technology, and repair their damaged spacecraft.
In Desynced, actions like mining, scanning for resources, or generating solar power are performed by modules. Any module that can be installed in a drone can also be installed in a building. Construct mobile miners or build stationary mining platforms. Create a wind farm high on a plateau, or equip a drone to distribute power to any drone or building around it. In Desynced, every problem has more than one solution.
Whether you’re a solo adventurer or prefer co-op gameplay, Desynced challenges you to construct, fortify, and defend a dynamic base. Drones complete many tasks automatically, but optional behavior programming allows players to create custom solutions and maximize efficiency. Create with friends, or play as opposing factions until only one player remains.
As they expand, players will discover ruins and explorables, extracting resources and uncovering the history of their new home. With an expansive tech tree, players can venture into new areas, known as “the blight”, making groundbreaking scientific discoveries and enhancing their base capabilities.
Andrei Podoprigora, CEO of Forklift Interactive, shared, “Desynced is an incredibly open-ended game with complex building and automation options, as well as optional behavior programming and survival challenges. We can’t wait to see what the community comes up with.”
Grab Desynced on Steam Early Access today for $29.99. To dive deeper, check out the official website, engage with our vibrant community on Twitter and Discord, and follow #DesyncedGame across social platforms.
Assets
About Stage Games Inc.
Stage Games Inc. is an independent game developer based in Tokyo, Japan. The studio was formed by industry veterans who have worked with major Japanese publishers and developers internationally across all major platforms. They are currently developing their first title, Desynced.
Forklift Interactive is a Barcelona and Atlanta-based indie publisher founded by experienced industry veterans and former tinyBuild Publishing Director, Andrei Podoprigora, and Adult Swim Games Product Lead, Tuсker Dean. They specialize in the production of deep, endless, system-driven games with player created narratives. They’re currently publishing their first title, Desynced.
Swap with your reflection and unravel the dark truth beneath a wicked fairy-tale world full of mind-bending mechanics and challenges
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Aug. 15, 2023 – Graffiti Games and Team Ugly are excited to announce that Ugly, the dark and twisted single-player puzzle platformer, will launch on Sept. 14, 2023, for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Check out the latest release date trailer, featuring a taste of the spine-chilling original soundtrack composed for the game.
In Ugly, you’ll progress through challenging puzzles and take on fearsome bosses as you unravel the secrets of a wicked world. Jump in and out of the shadows using Ugly’s unique mirror mechanic, using your reflection to swap places, solve puzzles, and reveal the nobleman’s darkest secrets. The truth is waiting to be discovered – and sometimes – the truth is Ugly.
Key Features
Intense Challenges – Overcome enormous bosses and tricky puzzle rooms using Ugly’s innovative mirror mechanic, delivering a satisfying mix of skill and strategy.
Mind-Bending Puzzles – Face a wide range of puzzles, some of which can be solved in a variety of ways, to unlock new pieces of the story. Solve them all to reveal the full picture, and unlock an alternate ending by overcoming hidden puzzle rooms!
Secrets Lie Everywhere – Ugly is full of hidden rooms and secret hints about your tragic past waiting to be discovered… do you dare to find them all?
An Ugly World – Experience a dark fairy tale brought to life with stunning visuals, detailed animations, and plenty of interactable elements.
Ugly was recently featured in the 2023 OTK Games Expo, a showcase of upcoming titles from across the industry, including an interview with the developers at Team Ugly.
Ugly is available to wishlist now on Steam. For more information, visit www.UglytheGame.com, and follow the latest updates from the team on Twitter and Discord.
About Team Ugly
Team Ugly is an independent deveoper team established in Barcelona and focused on crafting impactful video games.
About Graffiti Games
Graffiti Games is a video game publisher comprised of a strong team of games industry veterans. With a powerful, global distribution network encompassing both digital and physical retail partners, Graffiti achieves worldwide reach and maximizes sales potential for its games. Graffiti is known for a portfolio of high-quality games, including the recent best sellers Blue Fire and Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion.
Get ready for XTREME fun with the return of this action-sports-RPG classic!
Valencia, Calif. – August 15, 2023 – Independent game studio WayForward is XTREMELY XCITED to announce that Xtreme Sports — the genre-busting action-sports-RPG designed by Shantae series director Matt Bozon — is now available in the Nintendo Switch eShop. Priced at $9.99 and rated E by the ESRB, the Switch version is a pixel-perfect adaptation of the original Game Boy Color release, now with added features such as an art gallery, save states, and several display options. A totally sweet launch trailer can be seen below:
First released in the year 2000, Xtreme Sports lets players take control of energetic Guppi or her radical boyfriend Fin as they travel to Xtreme Island in an attempt to become the new Xtreme Sports Champion. There are obstacles to avoid, power-ups to utilize, and unique controls to master as they compete in five awesome, adrenaline-pumping events:
Skateboarding – Race through courses while performing grinds, grabs, spins, and kickflips, then hit the halfpipe for even more chances to earn points!
Street Luge – A vertically scrolling obstacle course! Build up speed, launch off ramps, avoid hazards, and watch out for sharp turns!
Surfing – Ride a massive wave, collect stars, and launch from the crest while performing tricks and dodging enemies!
In-line Skating – A side-scrolling contest against time! Grind rails, jump over or duck under obstacles, and find the best route in each course!
Skyboarding – Leap from a plane, then collect arrows to perform sick tricks as you plummet through the clouds!
When they aren’t earning medals and challenging opponents like the mischievous Bonehead Gang, players will explore the tropical island for secret paths and hidden challenges in this one-of-a-kind mix of sports, action, adventure, and role-playing.
In addition to the Switch eShop release, Xtreme Sports has also been offered as a physical Switch edition from Limited Run Games, as well as a reproduction cartridge playable on Game Boy Color hardware, both of which should be arriving in players’ hands in the months ahead. For more information about Xtreme Sports and WayForward’s lineup of games, please visit www.wayforward.com and follow @wayforward on Twitter and Facebook.
Key Features
The classic action-sports-RPG returns!
Five XTREME events to learn and conquer: skateboarding, street luge, in-line skating, skyboarding, and surfing!
Enjoy the in-depth Story Mode or jump straight into the action with Practice Mode for a quick arcade-style fix!
More than 400 competitors to defeat!
Chug Twitchy Shake power ups to gain an edge in each event!
Explore Xtreme Island to meet NPCs, find hidden medals, and discover secrets!
Fantastic character designs from the makers of Shantae!
Updated for Switch with a mini art gallery, save states, and multiple display options!Enter your description
About WayForward
Based in Valencia, California, WayForward was founded in 1990 and has remained an independent game developer for more than 30 years. It is home to many talented individuals including programmers, environment artists, animators, modelers, illustrators, audio wizards, designers, and team leaders. With new avenues for distributing games directly to fans, they are finally able to make the games they have always wanted to.
NETMARBLE ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL EARNINGS FOR SECOND QUARTER AND FIRST HALF OF 2023
LOS ANGELES – August 15, 2023 –Netmarble Corp, a leading developer and publisher of mobile games, reported $465.98 million in revenue and $8.38 million in EBITDA in the second quarter of 2023. Overseas sales accounted for 86% ($400.92 million) of total global sales.
”We’ve been seeing sustained growth from games like Tower of God: New World, whichreached the top 5 revenue charts in the Korean App Store and Google Play Store, and a game based on Netmarble’s Stone Age IP, which is maintaining a top rank in the Chinese App Store,” said Young-sig Kwon, CEO of Netmarble. “We look forward to launching new titles in the second half of the year, such as Arthdal Chronicles and Solo Leveling: ARISE, despite performance being affected by an absence of new games and revenue decrease of existing titles in the first half.”
Following the global launch of the new 4X strategy game GRAND CROSS: AGE OF TITANS on August 9, Netmarble will release six more new global titles within the second half of the year such as Seven Knights Idle Adventure, King Arthur: Legends Rise, Arthdal Chronicles (tentative name), Solo Leveling: ARISE, Paragon: The Overprime, and Meta World: My City (launching in Korea). Netmarble also plans to launch three titles in China including Ni no Nuni: Cross Worlds, The Seven Deadly Sins, and A3: Still Alive.
Netmarble’s Q2 and H1 2023 financial results include:
During the first half of 2023, Netmarble earned $931.41 million in sales and $23.89 million in EBITDA. The company reported an operating loss of $50.53 million and net loss of $69.41 million.
North America led revenues (52%) with diversification across other key territories as follows: Korea (14%), Europe (12%), Southeast Asia (10%), and Japan (6%), and other regions (6%).
Netmarble’s portfolio showed genre diversification across Casual Games (48%), RPG (30%), MMORPG (13%), and other genres (9%).
Top performing titles for the second quarter included: MARVEL Contest of Champions (12%) (Kabam), Jackpot World (10%), Cash Frenzy (9%), Lotsa Slots (8%), The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross (6%). All other games contributed to 55% of the company’s earned revenue.
A breakdown of the total financial earnings is below:
4/1/’23 – 6/30/’23 actuals
YoY Changes
QoQ Changes
Total Sales
$465.98 million
-8.7%
+0.1%
EBITDA
$8.38 million
-49.8%
-46.3%
Operating Loss
$28.76 million
–
–
Net Loss
$34.04 million
–
–
For details on Netmarble’s quarterly performance and to listen to the earnings call, please visit the company’sInvestor Relations page.
# # #
About Netmarble Corporation
Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading developer and publisher of top-grossing mobile games worldwide. Through powerful franchises and collaborations with acclaimed IP holders, Netmarble strives to elevate the gaming experience and entertain audiences globally. As a parent company of Kabam and SpinX Games, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, The King of Fighters ALLSTAR, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, and forthcoming PC games like Paragon: The Overprime. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.
New cosmetics and bug fixes are just around the corner
Leamington Spa, UK – 15 August 2023: After a quick pit-stop for a new set of tyres, Stampede: Racing Royale is ready for a second Steam Playtest. The Sumo Leamington-developed, Secret Mode-published, 60-player battle royale kart racer will be hitting the track once again from 21-28 August for another round of racing mayhem.
Building on the first Playtest, there will be a wealth of bug fixes based on player feedback. All the same tracks will be returning from the previous Playtest, with new cosmetics added to switch up your style. Further content is planned for the game’s Early Access launch later in 2023.
The second Steam Playtest for Stampede: Racing Royale will run from 21-28 August, with full patch notes shared on the game’s Steam page. The game will launch into Early Access later in 2023 – fans should follow Stampede: Racing Royale on social media and make sure to watch Into the Infinite: A Level Infinite Showcase at Gamescom on 23 August for some exclusive news about the game.
About Stampede: Racing Royale
Welcome to Stampede: Racing Royale – the wildest racing event in existence. Step on the gas in thrilling kart racing and battle events, with 60 participants all competing simultaneously. Harness your skills and a huge range of power-ups to steer your way to the front of the herd in classic circuit racing, or fight the crowd head-on to score the most points in arena-based battles.
RACING ROYALE
Stampede: Racing Royale pits 60 players against one another across three-round eliminator events, culminating in a high-stakes finale to crown the winner. Rounds include Stampede Races, which offer classic karting action on outrageously inventive circuits against up to 59 other opponents, and Stampede Battles, where competitors are locked in power-up laden arenas to fight their way to victory.
COLLECT & CUSTOMISE
Keep racing to unlock new vehicles and endless customisation options. Find your favourite kart and make it your own with custom paints and stickers. Dress your character in the finest threads to make sure you and your wheels really stand apart from the herd.
LIVE 24/7
There’s always something to be part of in the world of Stampede. Seasons, Events, Challenges, and much more mean the ways you can race are constantly changing, with new rewards always up for grabs.
RACE WITH FRIENDS
Start or join a party to experience the chaotic action of Stampede: Racing Royale with friends and family.
About Secret Mode Greetings from The Bunker! Secret Mode is the publishing wing of the award-winning Sumo Group Ltd. Our goal is to publish internally developed projects from any of our 17 game development studios across the UK, US, Europe, and India, as well as third party independent game developers. We believe that games are for everyone, and that creativity has no limits. We believe quality and fun are everything.
About Sumo Leamington
Sumo Leamington was established in March 2019, and is managed and operated by a team of industry veterans with deep experience of service-based games. The studio vision statement is quite simply ‘We make you look forward to tomorrow’; a vision to make games which players will keep coming back to – day after day, year after year.
We also believe that by putting people and purpose first, our studio culture is one that drives performance, boasts enthusiasm, and is something that the team are proud to say they are part of.
Sumo Leamington is part of the award-winning Sumo Digital family of studios. Founded in 2003, and celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year, Sumo Digital employs over 1,300 staff globally in the UK, Europe, India and Canada and is recognised for its versatility, proprietary technology and creativity across a portfolio of games featuring titles for major publishers including Microsoft, Sony, Sega and 2K.
HAARLEM, THE NETHERLANDS, August 15, 2023 — Iceberg Interactive is thrilled to announce its participation in Gamescom 2023, one of the most anticipated gaming events of the year. The company is excited to showcase a diverse lineup of upcoming titles that cater to a wide range of audiences. The event will take place from August 23 to August 27, 2023 Cologne, Germany and Iceberg Interactive invites members of the press to experience these incredible games firsthand at their booth [Hall 04.1 | Booth A024] during the 23rd to 25th of August. Industry members will have the opportunity to engage with developers, explore gameplay demos, and gain insights into the creative processes behind each title.
Their line-up includes:
Minicology – Developed by Isaac Denner and scheduled for release on PC in 2024.
Control the weather and environment of miniature planets in this 2D Sandbox Survival – and while you’re at it, construct & defend machines, upgrade your character, fight bosses, and build a mini-empire across the universe!
Discover Minicology by watching Youtuber InterndotGig let’s play video here.
Hellbreach: Vegas – Developed by Infinity Ape Studios and scheduled for release on PC in Q4 2023.
Demons are searching for a new home—what better place than Sin City? Play solo or in a team of up to four in this Wave-based FPS game. Fight to escape the hellbreach as the demon army invades Las Vegas. How long can you survive?
Take a look at Hellbreach: Vegas Gameplay trailer here.
An unannounced title – Developed by Interactive Fate for PC (release date TBD)
Iceberg Interactive is thrilled to lift the veil on the untold Fantasy Roguelike Beat’em Up game during Gamescom.
AirportSim – Developed by MS GAMES and scheduled for release on PC and Xbox in Q3, 2023.
AirportSim is an Airport Ground handling simulator allowing you to take on the various roles of airport ground handling staff. True-to-life visuals and operations, licensed vehicles, real airports and live weather conditions will make for an unforgettable adventure. Iceberg Interactive looks forward to disclosing exciting news at gamescom.
Discover AirportSim latest trailer here.
CLeM – Developed by Mango Protocol for release on PC and Nintendo Switch in Q4 2023.
Step into a world where puzzles intertwine with exploration, weaving a unique narrative experience in CLeM. Players will solve intricate puzzles and navigate through beautifully crafted environments. With its innovative genre blend and captivating storyline, CLeM promises an unforgettable gaming journey.
Get a sneak peek at CLeM’s in the Hey You teaser trailer below:
“We’re excited to showcase our diverse lineup of games at Gamescom 2023,” says Erik Schreuder, CEO of Iceberg Interactive. “Each of these titles represents our commitment to providing players with unique and engaging experiences across various genres. We can’t wait for attendees to get their hands on these games and discover our upcoming releases.”
About Iceberg Interactive
Iceberg Interactive is an independent video game publisher founded in 2009 by an international group of game industry veterans. Located in Haarlem, The Netherlands, and staffed with avid gamers, Iceberg works closely with an assembly of game developers around the world, both midsize and indie.
Known for many hit franchises including Killing Floor 2, Maneater, and Circle Empires; the company has enjoyed recent success with PC titles such as Strange Horticulture, Blazing Sails, Chivalry 2, Land of the Vikings, Mahokenshi, Lunacy: Saint Rhodes and King of Retail. Iceberg Interactive has many exciting games coming up, including Hellbreach: Vegas (PC), AirportSim (PC), and Minicology (PC).
About Isaac Denner
Isaac is an independent developer based in Portland, Maine. He aims to build games that get players thinking creatively, whilst sparking a sense of magic, charm, and joy.
About Infinity Ape Studio
Founded in 2021, avid gamer and software developer Ashley Ellis formed Infinity Ape Ltd, a software development company specializing in 3D Design and Game Development. The company’s goal is to create quality games that can be enjoyed all around the world by gamers alike. The future of the company is to expand into multiple game genres, targeting as many audiences as possible. Our focus will be driven by creating products that we are passionate about.
About Interactive Fate
Interactive Fate is an Estonian veteran gamedev company with over 9 years of experience and three key developers coming from academia, art & IT. After development of roguelite hit Shortest Trip to Earth and more recently Artist Life Simulator, the team currently focuses on developing a new title with the aim to radically innovate the beat-em-up genre.
About MS GAMES
MS GAMES is an independent video game studio based in Warsaw, Poland. Established in 2018, we specialize in developing high-quality, premium indie titles with a commitment to creating engaging stories and dynamic gameplay. Our passionate team is dedicated to its craft, working diligently to produce exceptional results.
About Mango Protocol
Mango Protocol is an independent video game studio located in Barcelona, Spain. Since 2013 the studio has been crafting a series of narrative-driven, genre-spanning games with dark stories and twisted characters called Psychotic Adventures. CLeM is the fourth game in the series, following the studio’s three previous releases: MechaNika, Agatha Knife and Colossus Down.
Co-op Gameplay trailer shows a mystical world that is ready to explore
Sydney, Australia, 15th of August – Developer Carbon Studio and publisher Vertigo Games are excited to announce that the ultimate The Wizards – Dark Times game is bringing a free update on October 19th for Quest and PC VR. The Wizards – Dark Times: Brotherhood is a combination of two titles: the remastered version of The Wizards: Dark Times, a story-rich singleplayer game released in 2020 – now with lots of fresh improvements, and the brand-new three-player Free Co-op Update.
Feast your eyes on the upcoming adventures you will soon experience together with your friends!
In The Wizards – Dark Times: Brotherhood, fulfill your dreams of exploring a land of magic and fight your way through malignant forces in this first-person VR adventure, this time with two friends! Are your party ready to wield such power?
The Wizards – Dark Times: Brotherhood comes with a lot of improvements for fans of the franchise as well as first time players:
Wield The Elements – Co-op:
The new update allows players to team up three friends with separate skill trees (Fire, Frost and Storm) to explore the world of The Wizards: Dark Times together.
New Magical Content:
Use your new-found skills with friends to battle new types of enemies and even more variants, plus explore the levels with new objectives and challenges.
Remastered Singleplayer campaign:
Dare to journey alone? With more unique spells, varied challenging enemies, more VR interaction with the environment – climb some boulders, ride a troll, have a trolley cart chase!
Enhanced Graphics:
Embark on this perilous journey and experience the game at a whole new level, with beautifully rendered graphics, optimised for latest VR advancements.
Improved VR Controls:
Command the arcane powers with nothing but hand gestures – as a true Wizard does! The update features optimised controls for greater ease of use and accuracy – no magical (or technological) barriers will stop you!
Get your friends together for the new free Brotherhood update, this October 19th, on Steam, Quest & Viveport.
# # #
About Vertigo Games
Vertigo Games, the VR publishing and development arm of the global PLAION Group, is a multi-platform VR publisher and developer with offices in Rotterdam & Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Los Angeles, California. With teams in the areas of development, publishing and LBE (location-based entertainment) distribution, the company offers a portfolio of quality VR games that provide novel, powerful and full-featured gaming experiences both inside of the home, as well as outside of the home through its leading LBE content provider and management platform SpringboardVR. Games include Vertigo Studios’ evergreen brand Arizona Sunshine®, the epic VR action FPS After the Fall® and the music game Unplugged VR®. Upcoming games include the highly anticipated Arizona Sunshine® 2, The 7th Guest and Hellsweeper VR. Vertigo Games is a PLAION (previously Koch Media) Group company
About Carbon Studio
Carbon Studio is an independent developer and publisher providing immersive top quality VR games and applications. Founded in July 2015 and best known for their critically-acclaimed gesture-based spellcasting The Wizards series, the story-driven exploration game Alice VR, and the thunderous Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall, the studio’s main focus is creating engaging and memorable titles for all major VR and AR platforms.
A name like Baldur’s Gate carries a lot of weight with it. The RPG series blew fans away back when the original two titles were released due to their sheer scale of storytelling, world-building, and variability with gameplay that the attempt to follow-up on such a pair of games seemed like an impossible endeavor, especially with the ever increasing popularity of its Dungeons & Dragons based mechanics. That is likely why it has been over twenty years since the last original release in the Baldur’s Gate series but now a new developer Larian Studios chose to take on the challenge with Baldur’s Gate III. After spending nearly three years in Early Access the developer has released the entirety of Baldur’s Gate III for fans to experience, but will it live up to its predecessors?
Story
Baldur’s Gate III begins with the player character and countless others being abducted by a race of powerful Illithids seeking to expand the ranks of their Mind Flayer army by infecting everyone with tadpoles in the brain that will eventually transform them into the psychic brain eating creatures. Through sheer luck the player manages to find themselves free of their restraints and able to navigate the Nautiloid during a raid by Githyanki soldiers and, alongside potentially a couple of unlikely allies, manage to escape the crashing ship and find themselves free but in desperate need for a cure as transforming into a Mind Flayer and losing all free sounds like an incredibly terrifying endeavor.
Little is as it seems however as a massive cult-like army serving a being known as the Absolute has begun ravaging the continent and players and their party must survive not only the tadpole parasite growing inside their mind but the potentially hostile forces from both the invading party and even those who would usually proclaim themselves the forces of good. With everything growing ever more complicated, it is up to the player’s decisions to see their path forward towards a cure and boy that path is full of twists, intrigue, and countless mysteries that continue to spring up all the way through the third act in what is easily one of the best adventures that players could ask for in an RPG.
Before we even delve into the story elements it is worth noting that players will have quite a lot of options when it comes to character creation and these elements will also play a role in certain story aspects as well. Baldur’s Gate III offers a number of “Origin” characters that are nearly all companions that players will meet and possibly recruit to their party though if players choose to play as an Origin character it will be through that character’s pre-set story and stats while a character created from scratch opens up countless possibilities. The only notable Origin class that still allows for complete customization is “Dark Urge” though this does limit player choice a bit as it can trigger murderous actions at random and isn’t recommended for an initial play-through even if it offers some of the more unique options.
Character creation is extensive with its options and while actual facial structure isn’t too varied, player race, class, and even subclasses can play a role in certain interactions. There are eleven different races to choose from with nearly everyone having separate sub-races that can apply new skills or special abilities, twelve different classes that are then broken further down into multiple subclasses and depending on how players build their character their race and class will unlock additional dialogue options, including giving advantages to certain rolls. This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to crafting how players want to experience the story in Baldur’s Gate III as nearly every event that players come across can be handled in a different and unique manner. Sure, some encounters immediately break out into a fight while a shockingly large amount of encounters can also have dialogue and unique outcomes depending on player choice and luck.
Part of what makes the storyline in Baldur’s Gate III so engrossing and unique is just how different every interaction can potentially play out. One of the biggest choices in the earlier part of the game may see players completely silencing an entire set of characters and losing a few potential party members along the way should they choose to be evil while playing good will see a number of additional rewards but also force players to strike down another potential ally at the same time. Of course, players could simply ignore that storyline altogether and continue on their adventure and all of these major choices will have smaller unique elements that can sway events as well. Side-quests that can hinge on a single dice roll from an easy success or resort to bloody violence, a pick pocketed ring that will lead to a humorous encounter, all these small details are taken into account. Very few players will find themselves approaching the storyline the same way and the sheer replayability of the game is immense, let alone how densely packed with content Baldur’s Gate III can be. Simply exploring a small path can lead to an entire dungeon with new and unique rewards, enemies, and character interactions that could have easily been missed if players didn’t feel like exploring a bit off the beaten path. The sheer amount of content players can experience is already immense and when this is combined with the numerous variables that come from player choice and Baldur’s Gate III feels like an RPG gift that just keeps on giving.
As mentioned before, player luck does play a part in how some story events can progress. As players talk to characters, interact with objects, and more they will be able to pick from a list of options that range from simply asking questions or performing basic actions to those that require a dice roll and a skill check. These rolls can require things such as rolling a wisdom check of 15 to resist your mind being affected by a cursed book, talking someone out of killing someone else with a persuasion roll of 10, and much more. Each roll has additional elements that aforementioned character building will play into as characters with proficiency in certain skills will receive extra bonuses to their dice roll alongside buffs from allies. This can lead to some incredibly unexpected things should players challenge harder dice rolls and manage to succeed. While it may be tempting to always reload a failed roll, embracing failure is actually a fairly satisfying option for some content, especially since a few failures are far more entertaining than a success. That being said, there is an option for “Karmic Dice” that will make it so the dice will roll a bit more in the player’s favor at times by trying to avoid both unlucky and lucky streaks, but that doesn’t stop it from producing a few natural 1s in a row while disarming traps.
So, the breadth of the storyline and world building is immense and variability makes replayability a satisfying option with plenty of new content to enjoy but what about the actual quality of the story? Well there are no worries there as the storyline is incredibly satisfying to see unfold through the numerous mysteries and reveals that come throughout this incredibly lengthy RPG. The world feels alive as players travel through it and interact with everything from refugees and townsfolk to speaking with wild animals and dead people using spells, with animals and ghosts often having some rather interesting dialogue. The storyline itself is incredibly impressive but where it shines the most is with the companions in the player’s party.
While we won’t go into full detail about the various problems and unique elements that the companions players recruit have, it is worth noting that nearly every single one of them is well-written and has a personal journey of their own which feels just as important as locating a cure for the mindflayer tadpoles within everyone’s heads. Players can bring a party of three other companions with their player character and your companions will react approvingly or disapprovingly with your choices made in the field, with even some non-party characters reacting back at camp if they happen to be close enough. The more players travel with their companions the more they open up about their personal troubles and even form a bond of romance with some of them, though be careful some characters won’t take kindly to trying to flirt around with others in the camp. The character development for the party is easily one of the best aspects, though the fact that some story elements only appear during long rests can be a bit troublesome at times but at least, as long as players are talking to them regularly, storylines seem to progress just fine even for companions that aren’t in the field often… or at all. It is also worth noting that the last couple of companions that characters can have join their party, which we won’t name, are great callbacks for longtime fans of the series but also lack a lot of the development compared to the rest of the cast and any romantic option, making it hard to feel like they should be swapped in with the developed cast we’ve known along our journey despite their pedigree in the Baldur’s Gate universe. If there was any complaint to be made about the companions, it’s that we can only bring three with us at a time as having to choose favorites amongst this incredibly solid cast is one of the biggest story challenges players may face.
Gameplay
Nearly every location in the game features some level of complexity that players can sink time into, with the various populated locations often offering the most to discover as players may spend countless hours interacting with the residents of the Druid’s Grove, learning the ins and outs of the people while playing the balancing act between the two struggling factions that reside within while taking on quests the entire time. These are only small examples as players will find themselves delving through countless areas filled with bits of lore to discover and often unique interactions that can be found if a player’s party manages to succeed certain passive skill checks during exploration. The level of exploration that comes from simply interacting with the world and the various townsfolk, villains, potential enemies, and more is astounding. This comes double for the sheer amount of books, trinkets, and random items strewn throughout the world that players can pick up to sell, hoard at their camp, or even rearrange around the world as they please. Can’t lockpick a chest at the moment? As long as a party member has enough carrying capacity they can bring the entire chest with them in their pack. Killed someone and need to hide the body? Stuff it in a barrel.
As mentioned before, nearly all conversations that players have with NPCs and their own party members will allow for various dialogue choices and while it would be nice to know which ones will immediately advance the conversation these choices range wildly in tone. Players can choose to be as honorable or as vile as they may wish when talking with characters in the game and Baldur’s Gate III feels perfectly designed to handle any approach the player chooses to make in dialogue. Of course, the aforementioned dice rolls to succeed or fail certain conversation checks does come into play heavily at times and these chances of success rarely feel cheap, perhaps because they are so clearly represented by the player’s chosen class, proficiencies, buffs, debuffs, and more.
Whenever players encounter a hostile enemy or trigger a fight themselves they will immediately enter turn-based combat where the initial turns are dictated by every combatant rolling for initiative. These are the only directly shown rolls when it comes to combat as everything from attack rolls, saving throws, and even damage rolls are calculated and handled behind the scenes as players fight with the exception of reactions or passive abilities that allow players to reroll to try and succeed a saving throw or attack. During combat players will have direct control of their entire team, any summoned allies they may have such as a ranger’s companion or summoned elemental, and be able to direct their movement around the field while either using an attack action, spell casting action, or even simpler help or interactive actions during a turn. As players progress through the game they will find their party leveling up and growing stronger with additional actions being unlocked, such as being able to attack twice in a turn, obtaining higher rank spells, and more.
Fights in Baldur’s Gate III are never truly a sure thing. Sure, players may encounter a lowly group of goblins and easily wipe the floor with them but around the next corner there may be a powerful ogre or massive force that can overwhelm through sheer numbers alone. This means players will want to make appropriate use of buffs, the terrain advantages and disadvantages, and even some objects in the environment to their advantage if they can help it. Even if it means taking and using a bonus action to hurl a summoned crab with rage powered strength at a final enemy’s head to win a fight. The options open to players during fights are as countless as the character combinations can be and crafting a powerful party feels incredible, especially as they tear through foes or barely hang on to a win while trying to keep everyone alive. Sure, death may come and players can revive their allies either through spells, scrolls, or a certain mysterious ally for a price, but don’t let failure put you off from experimentation in combat.
Returning to the player’s camp to interact with your party or take part in a long rest to recover spell slots and health often comes with unique interactions as well, serving as both a story element and a way to keep everyone fighting fit. It is worth noting that long rests may not be the best option sometimes, as they can cause a few quests to fail if they are time sensitive but short rests, which players are limited to twice between long rests, can serve as a stopgap to keep players in the fight. The sheer size of Baldur’s Gate III cannot be emphasized enough, especially when combined with the amount of replayability on offer. Between the densely packed world with all kinds of knickknacks to gather and either keep or sell, countless characters to talk with and quests to undertake, and all this can be entirely separate from a mainline quest meaning players can easily sink a hundred hours into a single playthrough and still not see everything.
It is worth noting that, as one may expect with a game of this scope, Baldur’s Gate III does have its fair share of bugs here and there. While playing on high settings (below the automatically chosen Ultra) Baldur’s Gate III handled incredibly smoothly during nearly all combat and exploration until the third act that saw more NPCs walking around then ever before and caused a few stutters here and there. Perhaps the most frequent issue I experienced was pathing issues with the AI as numerous occasions saw my hunter’s summoned companion and minor creature stuck somewhere in the environment, failing to navigate around a box or small obstruction that can be jumped over. This saw my character relying on summoning a dire raven more often than not as other summoned beasts would find themselves stuck far away from the action when it came to a fight. The same can occasionally be said about player companions as well as they may also get stuck when it comes to navigating jumps as they will often not make a leap that may hurt them in some way, forcing players to swap to them and take a leap of faith instead. Minor bugs such as a door not opening or NPCs getting stuck in conversation were easily fixed through a simple reload of a quicksave, which players should do often for their own sake, or even a restart but didn’t hamper the overall experience in any notable way.
Visuals & Audio
Baldur’s Gate III is an incredibly gorgeous game and while some of this will likely depend on how strong the player’s PC is, even playing on high settings saw the game looking absolutely wonderful with crisp looking cinematics and gorgeous character models that are incredibly believable. The title digs heavily into the Dungeons & Dragons playbook by using player races and NPCs that vary all throughout the lore and feature a wide-range of monsters and enemies for players to battle against. This is a game that isn’t afraid to craft an entire set of enemies that will only appear in a single dungeon if it means it will offer a unique experience with its own type of lore. Magic spells look just as impressive as players may hope, with higher level spells coming off as truly devastating, unique character models make it feel like nearly every NPC is different looking in some way and even the adult nudity aspects of the game are handled fairly tastefully with romance between the player character and their companion of choice, though players can choose to simply walk around naked if they so please if they don’t mind lack of actual protection should a fight break out.
The voice work throughout the game is absolutely wonderful with quite literally every NPC having voiced dialogue. This includes everything from corpses, wild animals, and even background characters that are simply chattering as players walk past let alone actual NPCs that they can talk with. The real stars of the show when it comes to the voice acting are, of course, the player’s companions as their performances really help elevate every character’s storyline. The soundtrack features a wonderful collection of background music ranging from standard exploration to more hectic combat and there are even a number of unique pieces of music that spring up from time to time as well.
Overall
Trying to live up to the name of Baldur’s Gate was likely a daunting task but Larian Studios must have seen it more like a challenge because they have managed to produce perhaps one of the best RPGs that players could possibly ask for. The sheer size and scope of Baldur’s Gate III is stunning and when that is combined with an engrossing storyline, so many choices that have real consequences, and unique approaches to nearly every encounter you have an RPG that will not only stand amongst the best around but showcase just how impressive a turn-based RPG can be. Any fan of fantasy, Dungeons & Dragons, RPGs, or even have a passing interest in any of these elements will find that Baldur’s Gate III is a masterpiece just waiting to be played.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Solve Puzzles alongside Jules Verne in this narrative adventure
Wiesbaden, Germany – August 14th, 2023 – Developer Gametopia and Publisher Assemble Entertainment are incredibly excited to announce that their imaginative narrative adventure Verne: The Shape of Fantasy has just launched. Available right now on Steam and GOG, Verne: The Shape of Fantasy has players joining famous author Jules Verne, creator of titles such as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas and Journey to the Center of the Earth, as he explores the illusive and mysterious source of Atlantis’ power.
Taking place in the alternative year 1888, players will be dropped into a world where a war against the ruthless “Nation” currently threatens to destroy the land of Hemera. Jules Verne is joined by Captain Nemo and crew as they set off in search of an ancient artefact that is said to hold the power to change the course of history. Just like any adventure, players will encounter strange and unimaginable wonders along the way.
Watch the launch trailer here
Throughout their journey, players will be able to use Verne’s IMAG device, which allows him to rewrite history and change his fate if things don’t quite go the way they’re intended. Solve curious puzzles in stunning, pixel locations paying close attention to every detail for adventurers never know what small trinket could mean the difference between success or failure.
Key Features:
Master your Imagination: Discover and master the “IMAG,” an ancient Atlantean device allowing Verne to rewrite his story and change the fate of the adventure.
We’ve Got Company: Non-linear dialogues create a robust cast of characters in a thrilling story that reflects the human ability to imagine and tell larger-than-life stories.
Unlock Atlantis One Puzzle at a Time: Utilize side-scrolling gameplay inspired by old-school adventure games where solving puzzles and exploring every inch of your surroundings is the key to success.
No Ruin Left Unturned: Journey through a steampunk-esque world brought to life by detailed pixel art, told through a wide range of environments from the Nautilus’s dark corridors to ancient Atlantean ruins.
Historically Accurate: Enjoy an easy-to-follow narrative that leverages true-to-life information about Jules Verne’s life and world-famous works.
Verne: The Shape of Fantasy is available right now on Steam and GOG for £12.79/€14.99 with a 20% launch discount.
Gametopia has published a webcomic depicting a prequel adventure to Verne: The Shape of Fantasy. To explore the adventure, visit the site here: www.julesvernegame.com/comic.
###
About Gametopia
Gametopia is an indie development studio located in Spain and Colombia made up of four people. For more than 10 years, the team has been passionately imagining and creating education and awareness-raising projects with games such as The Journey of Elisaand Allan Poe’s Nightmare. Currently, they have just finished their most ambitious project, Verne: The Shape of Fantasy, a pixel art adventure game based on the life and works of Jules Verne.
About Assemble Entertainment
Based in Wiesbaden, Germany, Assemble Entertainment is an independent, privately owned games publisher that’s made “Saving the World. Game by Game.” its mission. Founded by Stefan Marcinek in 2016, Assemble is known for its critically acclaimed and diverse indie games, such as Endzone – A World Apart, Roadwarden, Lacuna, and Orbital Bullet. Since 2022, Assemble has been responsible for the distribution of Mixtvision’s games, handling indie hits such as FAR: Lone Sails. Assemble also has won the German Developer Award twice in the category of “Best Publisher.”
Assemble organizes GermanDevDays, one of Frankfurt’s most popular German-speaking conferences. The conference, hosted by Stefan Marcinek, features the GermanDevDays Indie Award, where indie teams across Germany can participate to win cash prizes.
London, U.K. – 14 August 2023 – Marvelous Europe today announced they will be publishing indie developer GalaxyTrail’s latest hit title, Freedom Planet 2 on console platforms in Europe and Australia digitally.
Originally released for Windows PC via Steam in 2022, the female-led high-speed platformer is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch™ system, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One Winter 2023. Freedom Planet 2 has already earned an “Overwhelmingly Positive” user score on Steam with 96% positive across more than 1,100 reviews.
Return to the world of Avalice to battle an ancient threat in Freedom Planet 2, the long-awaited sequel to the beloved 2014 action-platformer. In the years since the events of the original game, our three returning heroes have refined their signature abilities, making them more formidable than ever before. Take advantage of Lilac’s speed with her Dragon Boost, reach new heights with Carol’s Jump Disc or motorcycle, or take a more measured approach with Milla’s shield.
And all-new playable character Neera won’t be left out in the cold, as she can use her powerful Frost Arts to punish foes. Like its predecessor, this fast-paced combat-driven platform adventure gives you the flexibility to take on each stage exactly how you want. With a carefully tuned balance of speed and exploration, and gorgeous 2D visuals featuring refined character sprites, Freedom Planet 2 expands on everything that made the original a modern classic for a bigger, better, and more enriching retro experience. Freedom Planet 2 will be published on console platforms Winter 2023. This title has not yet been rated. More information about.
About Marvelous Europe
Marvelous Europe is the publisher behind Mandragora, Leximan and Cuisineer, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marvelous Inc., developer of beloved Story of Seasons and Rune Factory series.
Established in 2012, Marvelous Europe is passionate about helping games to reach a global audience while nurturing emerging developers and studios. With decades of experience and strong ties to the worldwide indie game dev community, the highly skilled European team is committed to supporting studios worldwide find success, while continuing to publish and distribute select Marvelous Inc. content.
