GoKawiil
Tech News
Sony is ending production of its last affordable 4K Blu-ray player, according to a report. The move follows the company's earlier decision to stop manufacturing game discs, further narrowing its physical media hardware offerings.
Indie curator-turned-publisher Pantaloon has launched the Playbill, a Game Pass-style subscription covering 'bold and bizarre' indie titles. The initial catalogue mixes third-party games like Buckshot Roulette and Silt with Pantaloon's own releases such as Offbeat and Sub-Verge, plus a timed-exclusive visual novella, Virtue: Prologue. It also includes a 'Green Room' section offering demos, playtests and abandoned prototypes, alongside free puzzles and community features carried over from Pantaloon's newsletter days.
A developer has shared Project Hedra, a procedurally generated, low-poly open-world RPG and custom game engine built largely alone, starting at age 15 to learn OpenGL. The codebase has grown to roughly 100,000 lines of code and now runs natively on Linux and Windows, with Steam integration and a CI pipeline for beta deployment.
Microsoft has rolled out à la carte Cloud Playtime purchases to Xbox Insiders, charging roughly 24 to 40 cents per hour depending on the package size (10 hours for $4, 25 hours for $8, or 50 hours for $12). Purchased hours don't expire, but using them requires already owning the game or, for some titles, having free-to-play access.
Xbox has begun previewing a pay-per-hour cloud gaming option for members of its Xbox Insider program who don't subscribe to Game Pass. The trial offers blocks of 10 hours for $4, 25 hours for $8, or 50 hours for $12, described as introductory launch pricing. The feature includes an ad-free streaming experience with shorter wait times and playtime that doesn't expire until used.
A new feature spotlights open source games sourced from small, lesser-known repositories rather than popular rankings. The selection aims to surface playable projects that might otherwise go unnoticed by mainstream audiences.
Electronic Arts is shutting down BioWare, the studio behind franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age, according to a report. Details on the timing and fate of remaining staff and projects were not specified in available information.
Microsoft has set introductory pricing for its new pay-as-you-go Xbox Cloud Gaming option, letting players buy cloud hours without an Xbox Game Pass subscription. Xbox Insiders can now purchase bundles of 10 hours for $3.99, 25 hours for $7.99, or 50 hours for $11.99, with unused hours carrying over indefinitely. The feature rolls out more broadly next month and includes ad-free streaming and faster load times.
A leaked internal EA memo outlines a strategic realignment focused on three priorities, with leadership citing intensifying competition and shifting player habits as reasons for reshaping its studio portfolio. The memo, addressed to staff, discusses concentrating talent and investment where EA sees the biggest growth opportunities, including changes to its Shooters business, with reports indicating BioWare is being shut down as part of these moves.
Starting Monday, Domino's is pairing its Detroit-style 'the Domino' pizza with Minecraft Dungeons II promotions, including six collectible boxes featuring game characters like the Creeper and Valorie. Online buyers can unlock codes for in-game items such as a Domino's skin, a Slice Slayer Cape or a Cheesy Cube pet, and through Nov. 4 can enter to win one of 20,000 free downloads of the $30 game for PC or Xbox.
Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI, launching in November after a 13-year gap, features a vast open-world Florida-inspired setting with dynamic weather and extensive wildlife. Preorder revenue estimates range from $1 billion to $4 billion despite an $80-$100 price point, though Rockstar has not confirmed the game's development budget.
Microsoft is adding the indie horror title Mouthwashing and Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade to Xbox Game Pass starting October 29, available to Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Premium subscribers. Mouthwashing, a 2024 release, casts players as crew members on a failing spaceship facing dwindling supplies, while Intergrade offers an updated version of part of the classic Final Fantasy 7 story.