Bugsnax Coming to Steam in 2022

Game of the Year contender and all-round bizarre adventure Bugsnax is finally coming to Steam. Developer Young Horses confirmed in a press release that the PC version would arrive on the platform in 2022. Bugsnax originally launched for PS4, PS5 and PC via the Epic Games Store in November 2020.

Creative director and writer Kevin Zuhn stated that, "We're buzzing with excitement to serve up Bugsnax to a new audience on Steam! We'll have some meaty news and a few juicy surprises to get people talkin' bout Bugsnax again later this year."

The story for Bugsnax takes place on the mystical Snaktooth Island where various creatures reside. As the name implies, they're half-bug and half-food item and it's your job to learn more about their mysterious nature. However, when the explorer Elizabert Megafig is revealed to be missing on your arrival, it becomes a task to hunt down each of the 100 different Bugsnax species and feed the other characters on the island.

Each of the Bugsnax has their own unique properties and you'll to employ different methods and traps to obtain them. For the various accolades that the title has earned since release, head here.

Call of Duty: Vanguard – Official Twitter Acknowledges Rumors and Leaks

A venerable smorgasbord of leaks occurred recently for Sledgehammer Games' Call of Duty: Vanguard. Along with the return to a World War 2 setting, its Standard, Ultimate Editions along with the Cross-Gen Bundle were also leaked. With all of this happening, what does the official Call of Duty Twitter have to say?

Not much, aside from tweeting "Incoming" with a clip of bombers and the words "leaks" and "rumors" dotting the skies. Perhaps this acknowledgment is a sign of a proper reveal coming soon. After all, rumors claimed there would be a reveal sometime in this month.

Call of Duty: Vanguard was officially confirmed to be releasing in Q4 2021 for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Xbox One. However, insider Tom Henderson revealed that it would be out on November 5th with 24 maps available at launch, dynamic weather and a Zombies mode developed by Treyarch. Stay tuned for more details and an official confirmation in the coming weeks.

Lake Releases on September 1st for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC

Xbox has been scoring big with indie releases recently with titles like Death's Door, The Ascent and the upcoming Twelve Minutes. Add Whitehorn Games' slice-of-life adventure Lake to the list as well. It releases on September 1st for Xbox Series X/S, PC and Xbox One while arriving for other platforms later.

Lake takes place in Providence Oaks, Oregon where protagonist Meredith Weiss is filling in for her father to deliver mail to the townsfolk. For the next two weeks, Meredith will interact with various people, including her best friend Kay, and maybe even find love (though it's implied that other events are afoot). Eventually, she'll have to decide whether to return to her software job in the city or stay in Providence Oaks.

Along with delivering the mail, players can also partake in a number of activities after work, whether it's hanging out or helping the neighbors. The branching narrative promises no right or wrong answers, though it remains to be seen where things can go based on one's choices. Stay tuned for more details on Lake in the coming weeks.

Phil Spencer Says He's Open To Having Xbox Game Pass Anywhere And Everywhere

At this point, I think everyone knows that Microsoft has pivoted to a subscription service model for their gaming business with Xbox Game Pass. While there will always be discussion about what the long-term future looks like for it, either way, Microsoft is all in. The service has continued getting games at a steady pace, including even full day 1 releases, and they are not shy about wanting it everywhere and anywhere.

In a new interview at GamesRadar, Xbox's Phil Spencer talked openly about that desire. When asked about the potential of release Game Pass in some form on other on competitor's store, he said there was no plans to do so, but not because of a lack of interest on Microsoft's part. He openly spoke about the ultimate goal of getting Game Pass on everything possible, implying the reason it wasn't a thing yet was due to desire to continue with closed store ecosystems and not wanting the 'disruption' of Game Pass.

"You know, it's the right question because people usually ask me about releasing one individual game or another. And what I say is I want the full Xbox experience to be something that we deliver. We have no plans to bring [the Xbox App] to any other kind of closed platforms right now, mainly because those closed platforms don't want something like Xbox Game Pass. There's a ton of open platforms out there for us to grow in: the web, PC, and mobile. So all of our focus, frankly, is on those platforms.

"That's not a slam on anybody else who has a system that works for them. I can see why the disruption of Game Pass is not something that they want right now. In the end, when we say we want everybody to be able to play on Xbox, we really mean if we can bring that full experience to a device that players want, we are totally open to those discussions."

It's not a huge surprise as it seems the natural evolution of a service like Game Pass. Could it be that one day we will see Xbox Game Pass on a Sony or Nintendo system? Even with Microsoft becoming a more open platform with Game Pass now being on PC and streaming, it can be hard to imagine, but it feels like we're probably heading that way in one way or another.

Life Is Strange: True Colors' Wavelength DLC Gets Official Trailer, Releasing September 30

Next month, we will once again return to the Life is Strange universe with True Colors. The game will see us play as Alex, a character who can sense and manipulate people's emotions in the small Colorado town of Haven Springs. Much like the previous games, it'll be very narrative-focused and filled with a variety of characters. One of those is a familiar face of the series, and also one that will get her own playable DLC side story, and today we got a look at that.

Steph is a character living in Haven Springs who works as a local radio DJ in a record store. She was originally introduced in Life is Strange: Before the Storm, the prequel series to the first game. Wavelengths will serve as a prequel story in its own right to True Colors' main plot. Steph has come to Haven Springs to take over the DJ position, and the trailer below teases that we will unravel why she chose to leave her previous life to come to the isolated town all while trying to help callers with their own problems.

Life is Strange: True Colors will release on September 10th for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC and Stadia. The title is also slated to come to Switch, but was delayed to an unspecified time later in the year. Wavelengths will be available on September 30th for those who order the Deluxe and Ultimate Edition of the game.

Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City, and San Andreas Remasters in Final Stages of Development – Rumor

Rockstar's next big open world blockbuster Grand Theft Auto 6 may be a ways off but it seems there will be something to fill the gap in the meantime. Sources speaking to Kotaku, who have reliable tracks records with regards to Grand Theft Auto Online and Red Dead Online updates, have revealed that remasters for Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City are in the works. They're reportedly planned to release in late October or early November for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC, Google Stadia, PS4, PS5 and mobiles.

Three sources speaking to site revealed that all three titles were being remastered in Unreal Engine and had a mix of "new and old graphics" (with one noting that it reminded them of a classic GTA game that's been heavily modded). The gameplay will remain as true to the originals as possible though the UI is being updated while retaining the same look. Interestingly, it seems that Rockstar Dundee, a newer studio under Rockstar Games (formerly known as Ruffian Games), is leading development and also helping to develop Grand Theft Auto 5 for Xbox Series X/S and PS5.

Plans for the remasters' release has changed significantly over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic – they were originally meant to be "thank you" gifts for those who purchased GTA 5 and GTA Online on current-gen consoles. Then they were slated to release earlier this year before being delayed to the current release window. At this point, Rockstar is focusing on the console versions, which could lead to the PC and mobile versions releasing next year. It also seems that all three titles will be launched simultaneously instead of separately.

Rockstar is also reportedly planning ports for titles like Red Dead Redemption, though it depends on how well the upcoming GTA remasters perform. Stay tuned for more details and, hopefully, an official announcement in the coming weeks.

Frostpunk 2 Announced for PC

11 bit studios has announced Frostpunk 2, a sequel to its critically acclaimed survival city builder that released in 2018. It will be releasing for PC via Steam, GOG and the Epic Games Store. Though a release window wasn't provided, it did provide a new trailer to tease the game's central theme.

Taking place 30 years after the world-changing blizzard that brought about endless snowfall and harsh conditions to the world, the sequel centers more on the search for oil. There are various factions that will fight for their own demands and eventually, the city will be pushed to make sacrifices. As co-director Jakub Stokalski notes, "What we aim to deliver to players is an experience that goes vastly beyond that of the original Frostpunk."

The development team currently consists of about 70 individuals (though it's still growing). This means more resources to improve the scale, user experience and overall production values. The aim, however, "is to do more than a straight-up sequel."

"What players should expect is a wide universe of choices, the freedom to shape the society and the city however they see fit – and reap the consequences. Frostpunk 2 builds on the conflicts of its predecessor – survival vs human values, life versus the arctic frost. But most importantly, it adds a new layer that is present in many aspects of the game – be it politics, society, or technological progress – the conflict between humans and their nature."

Frostpunk 2 doesn't currently have a release window so it may be a while before its launch. In the meantime, the original is available to play for free from August 12th, 8 AM PST to August 16th, 10 AM PST. Its Season Pass and Game of the Year Edition are also discounted by 48 percent and 60 percent respectively for that duration.

Battlefield 2042 – Battlefield 4 Character Returns in "Exodus" Short Film

Electronic Arts and DICE have released the first short film with Battlefield 2042 titled "Exodus." It sees Kimble "Irish" Graves from Battlefield 4 returning, this time as a commander aboard the Exodus. Transporting 200 refugees, Graves is forced to make a tough choice, one that kickstarts the war between the Non-Patriated. Check it out below.

Of course, while "Exodus" provides a compelling story, it also confirms the Battle Hardened Legendary Skin for Irish. This is available to all players who pre-order the game which also provides early access to the upcoming open beta. Pre-orders can start playing on September 4th at 1 AM PT while all players gain access to the open beta on September 6th till September 11th.

Battlefield 2042 is currently slated to release on October 22nd for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Xbox One. It will support cross-platform play at launch though separate pools will be available for current and previous gen platforms. Stay tuned for more details on the open beta in the coming weeks.

QuakeCon 2021 Schedule Includes Deathloop Deep Dive, DOOM Eternal Studio Update

Bethesda has outlined the schedule for the next QuakeCon which takes place on August 19th. It kicks off at 2:05 PM ET with id Software's Kevin Cloud and Marty Stratton discussing the legacy of Quake with MachineGames' Jerk Gustafsson to celebrate the series' 25th anniversary. Next is a Deep Dive into Deathloop with Arkane Lyon at 2:30 PM ET which includes a "special discussion" on multiplayer.

At 3 PM ET, the Fallout 76 development team will provide a closer look at Fallout Worlds, the upcoming revamp of Private Worlds. After this, ZeniMax Online Studios' Matt Firor and Rich Lambert shall discuss The Elder Scrolls Online at 3:30 PM ET. Of course, there's also going to be a discussion with the creators behind The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim at 4 PM ET to discuss the game's opening moments.

Stratton returns at 4:30 PM ET with Hugo Martin to provide a studio update for DOOM Eternal. The developer will likely discuss the upcoming Horde Mode (which replaces the cancelled Invasion Mode). In the meantime, a QuakeCon 2021 sale is live across multiple storefronts, offering discounts on numerous Bethesda titles including DOOM Eternal, Dishonored 2 and Fallout 76. Stay tuned for more details from QuakeCon 2021 when it airs live next week.

New Anti-Cheat Software Coming To Call of Duty: Warzone Following Another Wave of Bans – Rumor

Raven Software recently took to Twitter to announce that they have removed another 50,000 accounts suspected of cheating from the massively successful battle royale. In the tweet, the developer also mentioned that they are hard at work behind the scenes.

Notable leaker Tom Henderson also took to Twitter following this announcement, sharing his insights on the matter and suggesting that a new anti-cheat system has been in the works for over a year. This isn't much of a surprise, since Call of Duty: Warzone has had a huge cheating problem and the developer has banned over 500,000 accounts as of the time of writing.

Of course, adding fuel to the fire are the recently surfaced promotional videos of a cheating software powered by ML, which also claims to work on consoles. Activision responded to the matter by pulling down many such videos, and this recent rumor seems to be a direct response to this growing problem.