Australia – May 13, 2025 – Kingston FURY, the high-performance division of Kingston Technology, a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, announces its PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 SSD, Kingston FURY Renegade G5 for gaming and high-power users seeking maximum performance.
Kingston FURY Renegade G5 allows users to unleash the full capability of their system by leveraging the latest PCIe Gen5 x 4 controller and 3D TLC NAND to reach extreme speeds up to 14,800/14,000MB/s read/write1 and over 2M IOPS. Kingston FURY Renegade G5 is optimized for performance PC and workstations to eliminate storage bottlenecks and significantly reduce load times, making it the ideal drive for when you’re deep in high-intensity gaming, editing, or a data-heavy workflow.
With such incredible power, Kingston FURY Renegade G5 was engineered to ensure smooth operation for demanding applications while preserving efficiency, thanks to Silicon Motion SM2508 controller based on 6nm lithography and low-power DDR4 DRAM cache, reducing heat and energy consumption. Whether for high-end applications, content creation, or productivity, this storage solution delivers everything needed to elevate your gaming and professional experience.
“We’re eager to announce this addition to the Kingston FURY family of high-performance solutions,” said Kingston. “Between the power of Kingston FURY Renegade G5 SSD and Kingston FURY memory, high-power users and hardware enthusiasts can create their ultimate system.”
Kingston FURY Renegade G5 is available in 1024GB, 2048GB and 4096GB full capacities2 and is backed by a limited five-year warranty5, free technical support, and legendary Kingston reliability.
This SSD is designed for use in desktop and notebook computer workloads and is not intended for server environments.
1 Based on “Fresh out-of-box performance”, Sequential R/W using PCIe 5.0 Ryzen5 7600X CPU and X670E Motherboard, Random R/W using Intel Ultra7 and Z890 Motherboard. Speed may vary due to host hardware, software, and usage.
2 Some of the listed capacity on a flash storage device is used for formatting and other functions and thus is not available for data storage. As such, the actual available capacity for data storage is less than what is listed on the products. For more information, go to Kingston’s Flash Memory Guide at kingston.com/flashguide.
3 Total Bytes Written (TBW) is derived from the JEDEC Client Workload (JESD219A).
4 Average power consumption is based on Mobilemark™ workload. Max power consumption is based on typical value.
5 Limited warranty based on 5 years or “Percentage Used” which can be found using the Kingston SSD Manager (Kingston.com/SSDManager). For NVMe SSDs, a new unused product will show a Percentage Used value of 0, whereas a product that reaches its warranty limit will show a Percentage Used value of greater than or equal to one hundred (100). See Kingston.com/wa for details.
About Kingston Technology
From big data to IoT devices, including laptops, PCs, and wearable technology, Kingston Technology is dedicated to delivering top-tier product solutions, service, and support. Trusted by leading PC manufacturers and global cloud providers, we value our long-term partnerships that help us evolve and innovate. We ensure every solution meets the highest standards by prioritizing quality and customer care. At every step, we listen, learn, and engage with our customers and partners to deliver solutions that make a lasting impact. To learn more about Kingston Technology and our “Built on Commitment” vision, visit Kingston.com.
Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation.
IronKey is a registered trademark of Kingston Digital, Inc. Kingston FURY and the Kingston FURY logo are trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Doom Slayer is back in this octane-fueled prequel to the series. New enemies, new weapons, and new gameplay mechanics await. Bonk demons with your trusty mace, parry their attacks with a shield, impale them on walls, and take the fight to the next level with your weaponized dragon. Join us in the first 5 chapters as we take down the demon hordes.
DOOM: The Dark Ages – Gameplay
Step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer in DOOM: The Dark Ages, the upcoming prequel to DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal. Set in a dark, medieval world, this single-player FPS delivers brutal combat, over-the-top visuals, and an epic cinematic story worthy of the Slayer’s legend.
Wield devastating weapons like the Super Shotgun and the versatile Shield Saw, take flight atop a fierce Mecha Dragon, and pilot a massive Atlan mech to crush demon hordes. Explore vast, ruined castles, dark forests, and ancient hellscapes in id Software’s most expansive levels to date.
DOOM: The Dark Ages launches on May 15, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Developer: id Software Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Platform: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S Release Date: 15th May, 2025 Price: $69.99 USD
Recommended – “DOOM: The Dark Ages is a solid prequel with expanded lore, inventive gameplay additions such as using mechs and dragons. It features great level design & good soundtrack, though it lacks Eternal’s intensity and polish.”
DOOM™: The Dark Ages is now available in early access worldwide. In our launch trailer, the DOOM Slayer goes head-to-head against the legions of Hell with an arsenal of devastating tools and abilities.
Developed by id Software and powered by the latest idTech 8, DOOM: The Dark Ages is a single-player prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal. Players will experience a new, yet familiar grounded combat loop that challenges them to master new abilities and weapons. Explore never-before-seen worlds, take flight atop the fierce Mecha Dragon, pulverise Titans in a massive Atlan mech, and beat demons to a pulp in this cinematic action story worthy of the Slayer’s legend.
Slayers can tear into early access by purchasing the Premium Edition, Premium Upgrade, or Collector’s Bundle. All early access purchases include the Digital Artbook and Soundtrack, the Divinity Skin Pack, and access to the campaign DLC coming at a later date. See all purchase options here: https://doom.bethesda.net/en-US/the-dark-ages/buy-now
DOOM: The Dark Ages launches for everyone on May 15 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Steam, Battle.net and PlayStation 5 – and you can play it day one with Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. Play it on both Series X|S and Xbox PC at no additional cost with Xbox Play Anywhere. To learn more, check out the official website at https://www.doom.com.
Music Performances by Viral Japanese Acts Creepy Nuts, FLOW and LiSA; Newly Revealed Presenters, Including Global Superstar and Anime Collaborator J Balvin, GRAMMY Award Winning Singer Kacey Musgraves, and Screenwriter Zak Penn
Tune into the 2025Crunchyroll Anime Awards on Crunchyroll’s Twitch and YouTube Channels as well as SONY PICTURES CORE; Pre-Show at 4:00PM and Mainshow at 5:00PM AEST
Sydney, Australia (May 13, 2025) — The votes are in! Over 51 million votes have been cast from fans across the globe for the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, marking a nearly 50% increase over last year’s 34 million. Adding to the international excitement building around this year’s show, Crunchyroll is announcing an exciting lineup of music performances by Japanese singer-songwriter LiSA, hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts, as well as rock band FLOW, alongside notable presenters, including global superstar and anime collaborator J Balvin, GRAMMY award winning singer Kacey Musgraves, and screenwriter Zak Penn.
This year’s musical acts reflect the international success anime has seen over the past year. Creepy Nuts, the 2025 Anime Award nominated hip-hop duo behind viral hits “Otonoke” and “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born”, the opening themes for Dan Da Dan and Mashle: Magic and Muscles, respectively. FLOW, the legendary rock band featured in the openings for Naruto and Code Geass, will perform “DAYS” in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Eureka Seven. LiSA, Spotify’s most streamed Japanese artist overseas in 2020 and the singer of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’s “Gurenge”, will take the stage for a special performance.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards will take place on Sunday, May 25, 2025 with the live ceremony hosted by renowned voice actress Sally Amaki and popular entertainer Jon Kabira. Beginning with the pre-show at 4:00PM AEST and mainshow at 5:00PM AEST, the livestream will be available for global tune-in on Crunchyroll’s Twitch and YouTube channels as well as SONY PICTURES CORE and the Sony Group Corp Global YouTube Channel. The 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards will be available in 9 languages, including English, Arabic, Brazilian-Portuguese, Castillian-Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Italian, and Latin-Spanish.
The full music performance slate and additional live ceremony and pre-show presenters are listed below, in alphabetical order:
Musical Performances by:
Creepy Nuts—2025 Anime Award nominated hip-hop duo behind viral hits “Otonoke” and “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born”, the opening themes for Dan Da Dan and Mashle: Magic and Muscles, respectively.
FLOW—Rock band, performing at the Anime Awards in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Eureka Seven.
LiSA—Japanese singer and iconic voice behind Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’s opening theme “Gurenge”
Live Ceremony and Pre-Show Presenters:
J Balvin—GRAMMY nominated global music superstar
Kacey Musgraves—GRAMMY award winning singer, songwriter, & musician
Zak Penn—Screenwriter
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is the leading yearly awards program honoring the creators, musicians, and performances powering the global love of anime. The ninth annual Anime Awards will take place at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on May 25, 2025. Sony Music Solutions Inc., part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions will support Crunchyroll in the execution of the event. The event will be livestreamed for global audiences.
Crunchyroll is the global anime brand that fuels fans’ love of anime. With the ambition to make anime an even bigger part of pop culture, Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience and destination centered around a premium streaming service. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime library, an immersive world of events, exciting theatrical releases, unique games, must-have merchandise, timely news, and more. Anime is for everyone and is accessible to stream across territories through Crunchyroll—whether on the go on mobile, through gaming consoles and big-screen devices at home, or on desktops anywhere.
Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.
This new partnership brings in-game benefits, elevated fan experiences, and premium activations to Rainbow Six Siege X and BLAST R6 esports
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – 13 MAY, 2025 – Today, Ubisoft announced an exciting new partnership with XboxGame Pass, Microsoft’s leading gaming membership service, as an official partner for Rainbow Six Siege X and the BLAST R6 esports program for the 2025 competitive season. This year-long partnership, co-produced with esports specialists BLAST, will deliver engaging community activations, in-game benefits, and elevated esports experiences for fans worldwide.
The partnership officially kicks off with the Reload 2025 event in Rio de Janeiro, marking the competitive debut of Rainbow Six Siege X. Fans can expect Game Pass integrations throughout key moments of the BLAST R6 season, including premium brand activations at global events like the November Major and the prestigious Six Invitational 2026.
Throughout the season, Ubisoft and Game Pass will also host special community events and on-site play areas during key esports tournaments. Additionally, Rainbow Six fans will have opportunities to connect with their favourite creators through exclusive meet-and-greets and unique giveaways at select BLAST R6 events.
Game Pass Ultimate members will receive in-game benefits for Rainbow Six Siege X starting in June, with the benefits changing throughout the year to celebrate key milestones in the competitive season. The partnership kicks off with Ultimate members, with plans to expand to more members over time.
“We’re excited to partner with Game Pass to further elevate the global impact of Rainbow Six Siege X and BLAST R6 esports,” said François-Xavier Deniele, VP, Esports & Competitive Gaming at Ubisoft. “Together with our co-production partner BLAST, this collaboration allows us to deliver enhanced experiences and in-game benefits to our dedicated community of players and esports fans.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Rainbow Six Siege and BLAST esports to deliver even more value to Game Pass members wherever they play.” – Chris Lee, VP, Xbox.
Additional details regarding future activations, events, and in-game content will be revealed throughout the 2025 Rainbow Six esports competitive season. *
*Requires Game Pass Ultimate subscription, sold separately. In-game benefits will vary and are subject to change.
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids®, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew® and Tom Clancy’s The Division®. Through Ubisoft Connect, players can enjoy an ecosystem of services to enhance their gaming experience, get rewards and connect with friends across platforms. With Ubisoft+, the subscription service, they can access a growing catalogue of more than 100 Ubisoft games and DLC. For the 2023-24 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €2.32 billion. To learn more, please visit: http://www.ubisoftgroup.com
About Xbox Game Pass
Play DOOM: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Rainbow Six Siege, and more on day one across your favourite devices with Game Pass. Choose from hundreds of high-quality games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and South of Midnight. Dive into legendary franchises from Call of Duty® to Forza, and everything in between. Join your friends to play, chat, and explore together with online console multiplayer. Enjoy EA SPORTS FC, The Sims, and STAR WARS™ and more best-loved franchises with EA Play. Get in-game benefits in free-to-play games, deals and discounts on games and add-ons you care about, free Perks, and more premium benefits. Stream your favourite games across PC, mobile, console, Smart TVs, handhelds, supported VR headsets, and more. Find your community with Xbox and play where you want.
BOSTON – 12, May 2025 – Show organizers ReedPop and Penny Arcade revealed today at the conclusion of PAX East, the East Coast’s most-attended gaming event, that the 2026 edition of the show returns to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center from Thursday, March 26, through Sunday, March 29, 2026.
PAX East 2025 welcomed more than a hundred thousand attendees from all over the world, with even more fans coming together digitally to participate in the festivities hosted across Twitch, Steam, and other online platforms. Highlights from the jam-packed weekend include a storytime keynote with Greg Miller, a glimpse at ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN from Bandai Namco; and a return to the planet Arrakis in Dune: Awakening from developer Funcom.
The show also featured a massive expo hall with games industry titans, indie developers, tabletop freeplay areas, and intense gaming tournaments in the PAX Arena including the likes of Capcom and Tekken 8. Off the show floor attendees enjoyed thoughtful panel discussions, live concerts, elaborate cosplays, and community meetups. Relive the annual celebration of gaming and pop culture, or catch it for the first time with uploads of all the recorded content on the official PAX YouTube channel.
“I’m ready to do another PAX East next weekend,” said Jerry Holkins, co-founder of PAX, Penny Arcade, and Child’s Play Charity. “But they said it had to be next year, or whatever.”
For the fans who can’t wait until PAX East next year, PAX West takes place in Seattle from Friday, Aug. 29, to Monday, Sept. 1, 2025; PAX Aus in Melbourne, Australia from Thursday, Oct. 9, to Saturday, Oct 11, 2025; and PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia from Friday, Nov. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. Badges for PAX West go on sale Thursday, May 22, 2025 with 4-day badges priced at $255, Saturday badges at $70, Friday, Sunday, and Monday badges at $68.50, and BYOC at $50.
PAX, or Penny Arcade Expo, is a festival for gamers to celebrate gaming culture. First held in Seattle in 2004, PAX has nearly doubled in size each successive year, with PAX Prime 2014 selling out of tickets in a matter of minutes. Connecting the world’s leading game publishers with their most avid and influential fans, PAX expanded with a second show in Boston in 2010, and a third in San Antonio in 2015, making it the three largest gaming shows in North America. The first international PAX was held in Melbourne, Australia in 2013. In 2017, Penny Arcade established PAX Unplugged, its first tabletop-focused show, held in Philadelphia.
About ReedPop
ReedPop is a boutique group within RX – one of the world’s leading event organizers. Launched in 2006, the group has become the number one producer of pop culture events globally and a full-service digital content provider and media company. Delivering once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences curated specifically for localized audiences, ReedPop currently features events in North America, Europe and Asia, including New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), PAX West, East, and Unplugged, Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), Star Wars Celebration, MCM Comic Con, Eurogamer Expo (EGX), MagicCon, and more. In addition to organizing and managing events, ReedPop owns and operates the pop culture news site, Popverse, which is the exclusive home for livestreams from all of ReedPop’s major comic cons. The staff at ReedPop are a fan-based group of professionals uniquely qualified to build and serve the communities with whom they share a common passion.
About Penny Arcade
Penny Arcade has been the world’s most popular webcomic for over 20 years, with over 3.5 million readers. Started in 1998 in the living room of Mike Krahulik & Jerry Holkins, it has grown into a media empire encompassing multiple beloved properties such as Lookouts, Automata, and beloved D&D live-play series Acquisitions Incorporated. Penny Arcade was responsible for the creation of Child’s Play, a gaming charity that has raised over $45 million dollars for children across the world. They are also the founders of PAX, the number one consumer gaming festival in North America, with hundreds of thousands of loyal visitors every year.
Averno City is a thriving hive of gang activity and we hit the beat as a fresh-faced rookie with some bhig shoes to fill as Officer Nick Cordell Jr., the son of the just slain previous chief of police and soon find ourselves learning first-hand just how dangerous these streets are in Microids and Fallen Tree Games’ The Precinct.
The Precinct – Gameplay
The Precinct is a neon-noir action sandbox police game set in the crime-ridden streets of Averno City in 1983. Developed by Fallen Tree Games and published by Kwalee, this top-down, open-world adventure puts you in the shoes of rookie officer Nick Cordell Jr., fresh out of the Academy and ready to tackle the city’s rampant crime and corruption.
Patrol the streets by foot, squad car, or helicopter, responding to procedurally generated crimes ranging from parking violations to bank heists. Engage in thrilling car chases through destructible environments, call in backup with an in-depth support system, and unravel the mystery behind your father’s murder. With a dynamic day-night cycle and weather system, Averno City is a living, breathing world that reacts to your actions.
Inspired by classic cop movies of the 1980s and 1990s, The Precinct combines police simulation with action-packed gameplay to deliver an immersive experience.
The Precinct Developer: Fallen Tree Games Ltd Publisher: Kwalee Platform: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S Release Date: 14 May, 2025 Price: $39.99 USD
Recommended – “The Precinct blends action with police simulation and a solid ’80s aesthetic, but underdeveloped storytelling, rough mechanics, and bugs tarnish what could have been a standout experience.”
Usually in video games players end up facing off against the cops or running from them in one way or another. It might be something as simple as racing away from a police cruiser in a racing game or shooting your way out of a bank robbery. Few titles actually place players in the role of the police themselves tend to either fall into racing games that see players acting almost the exact same as they would anyways or in a complete simulation that tries to hold players to the strictest possible rules.
Now here we have The Precinct from Fallen Tree Games, who originally developed a similar game that had players once again on the opposite side of the law, American Fugitive.Taking what they learned with their previous efforts and looking to create a police game that tries to blend the line between arcade action and simulation, have they been successful with The Precinct?
Story
Set in the 1980s players step into the freshly laced boots of a rookie cop named Nick Cordell Jr. who is fresh out of the academy and ready to help protect the people of the crime-riddled Averno City. The only problem is, he has some rather big shoes to fill as his father was not only the previous police chief but was killed by an unknown assailant. After some ribbing from the fellow officers, Cordell finds himself paired up with “two-weeks from retirement” Kelly whose “bad hip” makes it so Cordell has to drive everywhere and take charge despite Kelly technically being his Training Officer and Cordell his boot.
It isn’t long before Cordell is thrown right into the thick of things when one of the biggest banks in the city is hit by a local gang and the police respond in force, dropping Officer Cordell right into the deep end as he learns that while the police do their best to keep Averno City safe, the Crimson Serpents and JawHeads gangs run rampant even as a third mysterious gang has started to lay low. With Cordell and Kelly heading out on patrol shifts, it will be up to them to gather evidence from random criminals throughout the city and deliver it to the detectives to build-up a case to bring down these gangs once and for all.
The Precinct tells a fairly solid storyline that feels like it is right out of a classic cop movie from the ‘80s, which is precisely what the developers seemed to be aiming for by basing so much of the title’s aesthetic around the ’80s noir aesthetic. Classic officer names such as Kowalski pop up and various jokes about donuts and the like are bantered about, but unfortunately there really isn’t a whole lot of actual meat to the story that The Precinct is trying to tell. Sure, it works like a film, but not as a game. Far too much of the game is simply lacking storyline or even character banter, even if it was subtitled only. The only time anything plot related happens is when players gather enough evidence to unlock a shift to apprehend one of the two gangs’ top members and even this is kept to a surprising minimum. Oh, and a random serial killer that is worked in but given the same level of credence and an “undercover” operation of street racing that just serves as an excuse to have races in the game. Outside of the initial tutorial, there is very little banter with Kelly or any member of the force.
In fact, players will never find themselves working with anyone besides Kelly, which logistically makes sense since Cordell is a rookie, but other than talking to one of two detectives or the chief, characterization is minimal beyond the tutorial and the finale that we can’t go into for spoiler reasons. That being said, at least the storyline does pick up here with the finale with some real character interaction and involvement by the player, giving us just a glimpse at how great it would be if more cases throughout the title had even close to the same level of care as the finale but unfortunately that isn’t the case here. One thing players will find in spades are movie references and jokes from the various civilians they’ll walk past, referencing many classic action and sci-movies at the time. One line that surprisingly wasn’t dropped, though I’ll give it a pass since it is meant to be in the earlier ‘80s, is no “I’m too old for this sh*t.”
Gameplay
As mentioned before, The Precinct tries to find a balance between offering an arcade-style shooter and racer and an actual proper police game and it does a fairly decent job of it. Every day players will be given a selection of shift choices from Kowalski to choose from, be it foot patrol, traffic, helicopter patrol, or traffic patrol, or eventually once players “rank up” enough they can also build their own custom shifts with special unlocked conditions such as increased drug or gang activity, longer time periods, and specific locations. Regardless of what players select, they’ll be sent out into Averno City with an isometric style camera view, this even includes helicopter flying though since controlling the helicopter simply involves maintaining altitude, keeping the spotlight on suspects, and calling in backup, it doesn’t affect it much.
Speaking of all that, regardless of what players take on, they’ll find that they don’t often need to stick to their actual patrol beat if they so please. In fact, other than earning a little less XP per arrest, there is no punishment for patrolling or moving outside of their district. This is likely thanks to the dynamic AI used to generate crimes as players play through their shift. For example, while Cordell might be playing meter maid and laying down parking tickets for blocking a hydrant or being opposite the flow of traffic, the next car down might start getting broken into by a random passerby, giving players the chance to either commandeer (if unlocked) or just summon a new patrol car and give chase to try and arrest the fleeing felon, who might crash into other cars or even begin firing at the player if they happen to have a weapon.
Anytime the player is properly pursuing a subject, be it on foot, in a car, or especially in a helicopter they will build up their back-up meter that will fill in sections and can be used to summon everything from air-support to keep track of a fleeing subject to other squad cars, an armored support vehicle, spike strips, and even a roadblock to slow down the fleeing subject. Many of these forms of back-up must be unlocked but can be quite helpful in putting a stop to someone fleeing, though players can press X to give voice commands to lower their morale and urge them to give up peacefully. Players also have access to two types of non-lethal weaponry in the form of a taser and police baton, though this is only if they are authorized to use restraining force.
One thing of note is that driving in The Precinct feels rather… rough to say the least. Ironically, the initial patrol car players receive may be the best optimized vehicle for handling and controlling as players race through the streets and cut through alleyways since criminals will try to use all manners of shortcuts and back-routes to avoid the cops. At best vehicles feel like they control a little too floaty for my tastes, especially since vehicles have a tendency to perform complete flips when struck or hit by other patrol cars called in as back-up. It is also worth noting that it is also incredibly buggy, especially in the aforementioned “undercover” street races. Numerous times throughout these races I would find myself racing along only for the back half of my vehicle to suddenly clip into the ground, being unable to drive or fix itself in any way. Even outside of races this happened, though at least here Cordell and Kelly could leave the car behind and get a new one. Speaking of bugs, a real nasty one happens to be the fact that the game does have a tendency to crash from time to time to the Xbox dashboard. In these instances any progress the player has made on a patrol is lost entirely as no autosave is kept in these situations. This can make longer patrols a bit of a risk but there is also no punishment for ending a patrol early should players need to.
The Precinct tries its best to try and make sure that players act properly, but the punishments for actually doing something wrong are rarely impactful. Using improper force like trying to beat down or shoot a suspect that players haven’t been given lethal force to can trigger a reload of an autosave during a shift, same as frequently running over the same person multiple times, however just crashing into a crowd of people will do nothing. In fact, there are often times the game will seem to punish the player for doing nothing at all, or using proper force. Multiple times during car chases players may have authority to use force, but ramming a vehicle or trying to perform a pit maneuver (that does not work in-game) can cause an XP reduction upon arrest. In fact, even during a shootout if players are firing at an enemy and they happen to surrender mid-burst and get hit, players will be sent back to auto save. While this makes sense legally, using any weapon with a fast-range of fire such as an SMG or AK-47 can lead to unnecessary trouble. Gunplay in The Precinct is simplistic with players drawing any of the four weapons they can have equipped and aiming with a straight-line and reticle showing where they will actually hit when firing, using twin-stick aiming structure to take down hostile subjects.
Anyways, once players actually apprehend a potential criminal that is where a new interesting element comes into play, properly handling a possible felon. While walking on the street players can stop and frisk anyone, checking their ID and searching their person for any illegal contraband, weaponry, or narcotics before letting them go if they are all clear. If they happen to have a warrant out for their arrest or have an illegal item on their person, players can arrest them and read them their rights but this can potentially trigger a fight or flight response from the subject that can lead to even more charges. Either way, once apprehended, players can then manually assign crimes to the subject with each correct charge giving XP and wrong charge deducting it. Some crimes warrant only a fine while most others involve an arrest and players can choose to either call an escort officer to take them back to the precinct for a small bit of XP or take them back themselves for a solid chunk of XP. Though it is worth noting that even the best cop car only has room for two offenders in the back.
Now we’ve mentioned XP and unlockables a lot and it is worth noting that there are no real RPG mechanics in The Precinct. Yes, players can “rank up” using XP to higher police levels and this will unlock additional vehicles and weapons that players can use while on patrol as well as “unlock tokens” that can be used to obtain random bonuses. This can be anything from carrying extra ammo, having extra health or running stamina, to being able to call in a road-block for help. These unlocks are quite lacking most of the time unfortunately with only a few feeling actually necessary and surprisingly early. That being said, since players can spend tokens in any manner and unlocks aren’t level locked, they can focus on a specific tree if they so wish. There are also random collectables that players can find throughout Averno City, these include unique cars hidden away beneath shacks, plaques on buildings that provide extra history for the city, and even challenging little riddles to obtain artifacts stolen from a museum. The latter of these happens to even have an unlock that can “ping” when players are nearby, though it is incredibly hard to notice to the point that we didn’t even see it for hours after unlocking it. These artifacts are all locked within safes that have pin numbers that are related to a clue nearby that players must figure out, ranging from simple riddles to aforementioned city history.
Visuals & Audio
It must be said that The Precinct does look rather impressive even if the camera angle is kept at an always isometric viewpoint. There are enough details in the various cars that players can drive, including plenty of destructible parts of the vehicles themselves as well as the environment as nearly everything outside of a building can be destroyed. It is nice to note that there are a number of hidden collectable cars throughout the map as well, though players will need to go back to the same location every time they want to drive it again. The character models are decent enough with some solid variety and the same can be said about the character portraits for the limited story sections. The biggest highlight here happens to be the neon lighting and how gorgeous Averno City can look at night, especially when there is rare rain or any type of inclement weather actually.
The voice work throughout the game is handled well-enough, with every part of the story given voice work though it does seem that a few early lines of dialogue from the Chief are a bit blown-out compared to the rest of voice actors, though it only happens right at the start. Otherwise the voice acting is handled quite well, including the randomized call-outs players can make to coax criminals into giving up. The soundtrack features a nice collection of synthesized music that works well for the setting of the game but does lack a bit of the rock that someone would expect for the genre and time period.
Overall
The Precinct brings with it a strong concept that does its best to find an engaging balance between action and police simulation while trying to enforce some proper police limitations on players all while sticking true to the ‘80s core aesthetic and design the team was hoping for. Unfortunately unrealized story and character potential as well as bugs and rough gameplay elements hinder this oft gorgeous looking game from truly shining like it should, instead leaving it with a lot of grime on its badge when its time to clock out at the end of the shift.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
EVERSPACE 2 space pilots around the globe can now purchase a brand-new expansion adding more adventure, four new star systems, flyable alien spacecraft, and more.
Hamburg, Germany – May 12, 2025 — The ROCKFISH Games team is excited to share EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients, the new expansion for the award-winning space looter-shooter RPG is now available on Steam, GOG, Xbox, and PlayStation for $24.99 / €24.99 / £19.99 / ¥2970.
This expansion concludes the EVERSPACE 2 story, opening up new explorable star systems packed with new quests, enemies, gear, and challenges for space pilots around the globe. Alongside the release of the DLC, EVERSPACE 2 is receiving a free update filled with quality-of-life features, bug fixes, and support for NVIDIA DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation and AMD FSR 4.
Watch the EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients Launch Trailer
EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients adds more than ten hours of new post-game and side quest storylines to the base game. Set after the events of EVERSPACE 2, a new adventure leads pilots deep into star systems controlled by the Okkar, an advanced species whom Humankind has brokered a fragile peace. As Adam and his band of misfits seek out the origins of mysterious Ancient ships attacking Human colonies, truths of this alien race come to light.
As part of the new storyline, players will set out to adventure through four new explorable star systems, each packed with multiple locations filled with new enemies, secrets, and puzzles. New side quests expand on characters and stories introduced in EVERSPACE 2, adding greater depth to the universe.
A new playable Okkar spaceship, the Wraith, enables new playstyle options through powerful ability combos, increased damage opportunities, and an ultimate skill that transforms the ships’ appearance and special abilities. Pilots will be able to further power up their ships to take on the Ancient threat with legendary weapons, a new gear rarity tier, craftable components, and more.
“Space pilots can now jump in to experience the thrilling story that concludes this chapter of the EVERSPACE series. From beginning to end, EVERSPACE 2 has been a project nearly seven and a half years in development—this time has been filled with exciting announcements, growing a fantastic community, and time spent with an amazing team. This expansion embodies all the expertise gained, lessons learned, and many of the exciting ideas developed during this time,” said ROCKFISH Games CEO and Co-Founder, Michael Schade. “I am both happy and sad to say Wrath of the Ancients is our final expansion for EVERSPACE 2 as we set our sights on the horizons of a new project. From our initial Kickstarter, to our win at the Deutscher Computerspielpreis for Best German Game, to this release of Wrath of the Ancients, I couldn’t be prouder of the team and the work we’ve done. Everyone here at the studio is excited for the future, and I can’t wait to share what’s to come.”
Both EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients and EVERSPACE 2: Titans were made possible through partial grant funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany (BMWK).
“As a recipient studio of a grant from the BMWK for this project, I strongly feel this program helps pave the way for studios like ours to stay independent while showcasing German technical expertise and creativity on the world stage,” said Schade. “Through these grants, business leaders like myself are able to create jobs for developers and designers attracted to the industry. We are able to foster young talent, develop intermediate developers into senior team leaders, and create opportunities for creative minds of all kinds. In a time where our industry is struggling, grant programs like these help German studios stay competitive and allow established and new studios to flourish.”
Alongside the launch of EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients, ROCKFISH Games has released a Galactic Edition collecting EVERSPACE 2 and all its expansions into one package on Xbox and PlayStation, and new digital soundtrack and artbook DLCs on PC, collecting music and art created for EVERSPACE 2: Titans and EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients.
EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients is fully voiced in English and German and currently localized in thirteen languages, including English, Brazilian Portuguese, Czech, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Spanish.
Every second Friday, the ROCKFISH Games team shows off content from their latest EVERSPACE 2 dev build on the ROCKFISH Games Twitch and YouTube channel from 8 pm to 10 pm CEST / 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EST / 11:00 am to 1:00 pm PST. Viewers are encouraged to bring their EVERSPACE questions to ask the dev team.
About ROCKFISH Games GmbH
ROCKFISH Games is an independent game studio specializing in cutting-edge space action RPGs for PC and consoles. Industry veterans Michael Schade and Christian Lohr founded ROCKFISH Games to create a new breed of adrenalin-filled adventures for space shooter fans through their acclaimed EVERSPACE IP. After spending over two decades as joint entrepreneurs in the 3D graphics and mobile gaming space, Schade and Lohr built ROCKFISH Games from the ground up alongside their former team of veteran talents to the current studio of 30 game developers and community experts from across the industry over the past ten years.
Using Kickstarter to build a new community in 2015, ROCKFISH Games reached a runaway success with EVERSPACE, which has sold over three million copies on PC and consoles. Building on this success and propelled by yet another wildly successful Kickstarter campaign in 2019, ROCKFISH Games is dedicated to crafting a compelling next-gen single-player open-world space shooter experience that is driven by quality storytelling while being highly accessible at the beginning and yet deep in its gameplay mechanics to appeal to casual as well as hardcore space action aficionados from around the globe with EVERSPACE 2.
Quebec City – May 12, 2025 – Trust is dangerous. Love is deadly. Today, Nesting Games unveiled the narrative trailer for Directorate Novitiate, an ambitious urban fantasy action RPG set to launch in Early Access this summer.
The trailer introduces Kana Luna, Mercury in the shadows, a young woman torn between two worlds: her everyday life and the hidden, magical criminal empire of the Directorate. Set against the backdrop of 2006 Los Angeles, Mercury is drawn into a web of betrayal, grief, and supernatural conflict.
With quiet intensity and stylized noir visuals, the trailer teases Mercury’s double life. By day, she’s a daughter and friend; by night, an assassin navigating a secret war between Syndicates. As the mysterious Constellation Killer closes in, Mercury faces impossible choices between loyalty, survival, and her own humanity.
Narrative Highlights in the Trailer:
A glimpse into Mercury’s fractured, dangerous relationships
Themes of betrayal, grief, and rage
Hints of the supernatural conspiracy threatening both magical and everyday worlds
About the Game
Directorate Novitiate is a third-person narrative action RPG set in a reimagined magical Los Angeles. Players shape their version of Mercury through branching choices, evolving relationships, and cinematic combat. Every friend, rival, and location holds secrets, and every decision comes with consequences.
About Nesting Games
Nesting Games is an indie studio founded by industry veterans Frederick and Sebastien Brassard, blending AAA narrative expertise with agile, tech-forward production. Based in Quebec City and Los Angeles, the team is redefining what small studios can achieve.
