The decision, as per Remedy, is to give the team extra time to polish the game, aiming to present the best version to the players come October 17.

With its scheduled release right around the Halloween season, Alan Wake 2 is easily one of the most highly anticipated games of the year. But, as we've already said many times before, Remedy might have shot itself in the foot with the digital-only release.

Alan Wake 2's creative director, Sam Lake, and game director, Kyle Rowley, explained the reasoning behind the decision to go digital-only in an interview with Eurogamer. "As creatives, going digital-only allows us more time to polish the game," Rowley stated, adding that this approach buys them "a significant amount of weeks." This is because a game that goes on a disc has to be playable without a patch. The digital-only approach means the team can spend more time refining the game, ensuring a higher quality product upon release.

"We didn't want to release something that we weren't proud of, and that we didn't want players to play," Lake added. This additional time for polish and refinement could certainly result in a more immersive and glitch-free gaming experience, which is, ultimately, advantageous for players.

According to an FAQ provided by Remedy, the digital-only decision also stemmed from the intent to keep the game's price down. The FAQ explained that "a large number of players have shifted to digital only," reflecting the contemporary trend where even consoles like Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft's Xbox Series S are available without a disc drive.

Remedy also stated in the FAQ that shipping a disc product requiring a download for the game wouldn't make for a great experience, another justification for the digital-only approach.

Despite Remedy's explanations, the announcement has met with backlash from some fans, leading to concerns about game preservation and ownership rights. The closure of the Nintendo 3DS eShop earlier this year highlighted the issue of digital-only downloads. The infamous de-listing of the survival horror spinoff PT further exemplified the problem, raising concerns about what would happen if a digital game is pulled from a store. And, oh, don't forget, there's a laundry list of awesome games that you can no longer buy outside of the rare physical copies.

Some fans expressed sadness over the seeming end of physical media, albeit most agree that the writing has been on the proverbial wall for a while.

In truth though, as much as the companies try to spin this positively, it all comes down to the finances. Remedy isn't the biggest studio and it can't simply foot the bill whenever it pleases. By skipping a physical release, it doesn't have to invest the time and money that goes into making sure that the physical discs ship out as intended.

Although the reasoning is sound, some are concerned that this could affect the sales of Alan Wake 2, especially as the first game didn't sell particularly well until much later on as it become a cult hit.

Ultimately, it's important to remember that digital-only releases will only become more commonplace in spite of all of the backlash. Starfield, for example, is going the "hybrid" route. Digital releases might not be what most fans want, but from the perspective of the developers and their publishing partners, the numbers make more sense.

Technically, Remedy wasn't lying when it said that foregoing the physical release lets them focus on refining and polishing the game than having to deal with the associated costs and labor of shipping discs out at launch.

The focus on quality is commendable and mirrors a shift in the industry where player experience takes precedence. As Lake said, "hopefully this way, we can give you a better version of the game."

The only question now is, is this going to pay off for Remedy and Alan Wake 2? Well, only time will tell.

Newly leaked information from the upcoming Indiana Jones title reveals that the game will mix first-person and third-person perspectives. According to XboxEra’s Nick Baker, the upcoming title will have a combination of first and third-person with specific areas featuring first-person gameplay while others will use the third-person view mode.

"There's been a lot of talk about whether Indiana Jones would be first person or third person. I may have gotten info about the camera angle," Baker said in a recent XboxEra Podcast.

"Now I don't know if it is finalized or not, because the game I think is still quite a bit away, but from what I've been told, from what I've heard, it's going to be both. Not like Starfield where you get to pick, but there'll be specific - as far as I'm aware, there'll be specific sections. Some will be in third person, some will be in first person. I have no more detail than that."

Baker said that he does not have more specific details on how exactly the feature will be implemented. Many have assumed that perspective switching will be either scripted during certain story elements or when engaging in certain gameplay activities.

Users on the GamingLeaksAndRumous subreddit have made some suggestions about how this feature might work. One game frequently brought up by users is The Chronicles of Riddick where players use the third-person perspective for platforming and traversal while using first-person point-of-view for exploration and combat.

Most modern first-person shooters also implement a switch to third-person during certain activities such as using vehicles. Native third-person shooters like The Division switch to first-person when using scoped rifles or when using mounted guns.

Having a mixed camera perspective is something that would make sense for Indiana Jones. The game’s executive producer Todd Howard said last year that the game will do a lot of things differently.

"I will just say it's a mash-up," Howard shared in a previous interview on the Lex Fridman podcast. "It's unique. It isn't one thing, intentionally, so it does a lot of different things that myself and the folks at Machine Games have wanted to do in a game. So it's a unique thing."

Howard has been wanting an Indiana Jones game since 2009. The game producer pitched the idea to Bethesda back then but the studio could not commit to its development. Howard tried again almost a decade later and finally got MachineGames to develop the title.

There is no release date for Indiana Jones and the game is believed to be in early development. However, given that Microsoft wants Indiana Jones to be a rival to Insomniac’s Spider-Man games, we may see the title come sooner rather than later.

Promising a wave of thrilling announcements, game reveals, and numerous on-the-floor activities, the showcase is going to take place on July 1 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT.

“The Bandai Namco Summer Showcase panel returns this year, once again bringing together top anime game makers from Japan to deliver a barrage of news and reveals,” the press release read, leaving fans excited for what could be announced and showcased at the said event.

The Anime Expo 2023, running from July 1 to 4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, is heaven for anime and video game enthusiasts. Bandai Namco, renowned for iconic franchises such as Tekken, Soulcalibur, and Dragon Ball, is slated to occupy an important spot in the lineup.

Notable for the breadth of its offerings in both the Japanese and Western markets, Bandai Namco has a reputation for its constant presence in the anime convention. From the highly sought-after Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot to the Tekken series, the publisher has a proven track record of delivering blockbuster gaming experiences.

For this year, fans are eagerly awaiting news on various anime titles, including Naruto, SAND LAND, Sword Art Online, Baten Kaitos, and more, although we'd definitely be okay if Bandai threw us a curve ball and dropped in an Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon update at the event or any information about Elden Ring.

Of course, the main highlights of the events are likely to be Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections, Sword Art Online: Last Recollection, and One Piece Odyssey.

But while these are the confirmed stars of the shows, updates on the much-anticipated return of the iconic Dragon Ball line of fighting games, Dragon Ball: Budokai Tenkaichi 4, and the anime MMO, Blue Protocol, are eagerly awaited if excepted as well.

While Bandai Namco's statement is purposely vague, the exciting aura around it has got fans theorizing significant news could be announced.

Ultimately, no matter what's revealed, it's certain that Bandai Namco's presence at Anime Expo 2023 will be a pivotal event for anime gaming fans. So, mark your calendars, because this Summer Showcase promises to bring an exhilarating rush of anime gaming magic!

Just two weeks after its critically beloved release, Resident Evil 4 remake fans found themselves treated to their first DLC: Mercenaries mode. However, it left an apparent void - Separate Ways, a well-liked Ada Wong-centric story mode from the 2005 original, which was notably absent from the 2023 remake at launch.

With an update to the game's Steam version showcasing seven new achievements, the absence of Separate Ways is now more conspicuous than ever, prompting fans to wonder if a significant content drop is imminent.

Resident Evil 4 Remake added 7 new Steam achievements for something yet to be released, implying something or another may be happening soon: https://t.co/hYgcELla08 pic.twitter.com/tk740BSbjq

— AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem (@AestheticGamer1) June 26, 2023

There's no denying that the Resident Evil 4 remake is a hit. Yet, what keeps the suspense high is the recent update to the game's achievements on Steam. With the addition of five hidden trophies and two placeholders, Capcom has successfully piqued gamers' curiosity. Could these additions hint at the return of Separate Ways? If so, it would certainly account for the dramatic increase in the total number of the game's achievements.

Moreover, a recent Resident Evil 4 leak suggested a specific release date for the Separate Ways DLC. If the rumour mills are accurate, the much-anticipated addition could be revealed or released in the second half of 2023.

Capcom's intentions, however, still remain a mystery, particularly regarding whether fans will have to pay to experience the story from Ada Wong's perspective.

Then again, this is Capcom we're talking about. The company took years to announce the remake of Resident Evil 4 and when it did happen, most fans couldn't believe that the rumors were true. Is it really above the same company to keep on teasing a post-launch expansion for one of its best-selling games ever?

Of course, an earlier announcement would definitely help with the sales. The scope of Separate Ways should match that of Resident Evil Village's Winters' Expansion and Resident Evil 7's End of Zoe, which were paid DLCs.

While it's unclear whether Separate Ways will follow a similar model, it's certain that it would offer a fresh perspective on the Resident Evil 4 remake's events, similar to Ada Wong's unique narrative.

Capcom's recent pattern of releasing DLC for its remakes—while well-received—doesn't offer a definitive pattern for what to expect with Resident Evil 4. Both previous Resident Evil remakes featured paid cosmetics, but it’s arguable whether such content could be compared to an ambitious expansion that would boost the game's number of achievements by 20%.

With hundreds of hours spent battling horrors in the Resident Evil 4 Remake's upgraded, immersive graphics, fans are eager to see something new. Even if 2005's Resident Evil 4 didn't feature a mini-campaign that explored Ada Wong's' connection with Albert Wesker, it'd make sense to explore her character anyway. 

Ada Wong is one of the most iconic characters in Resident Evil. She's a mysterious femme fatale that hasn't been seen in a new entry for years although Capcom did reveal that there were plans to include her in some form in Resident Evil Village.

Whether or not Capcom will finally give fans a chance to play as Ada Wong again in a more involved capacity remains to be seen. But, what's clear is that Capcom still isn't done with the Resident Evil 4 Remake.

The best-case scenario is that Capcom is taking its sweet time with the speculated Separate Ways DLC, transforming Ada's adventure into something larger and more expensive than it ever was.

Regardless of what Capcom has planned for Resident Evil, it's best to leave them to their own devices. The company hasn't had a big miss in recent years after a minor stumble last decade with lackluster outings in Resident Evil V and Resident Evil VI. Since then, most of the company's Resident Evil outings, at least in the gaming industry, have been smooth sailing. With Resident Evil: Death Island premiering on July 7, Capcom might be bidding its time to drop the announcement for when it will make the most impact.

Just don't expect to hear more about the next Resident Evil game, which reportedly will put everybody's favourite boulder puncher, Chris Redfield, in the lead.

The flight simulator community has questioned the addition of Halo’s Pelican and the upcoming Dune Ornithopter to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. Many feel that the game has strayed far from being the realistic simulator it is advertised to be.

However, it seems that Asobo Studios, the maker of the Microsoft Flight Simulator series, will be focusing on the simulation aspect of the game. Jorg Neumann explained during the recent FlightSimExpo in Texas last week that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will not be an expansion and will not be featuring "gamey missions".

The Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator also addressed some concerns from fans of the game. "Some of you correctly asked 'What the heck is this, is this just an acceleration pack or some such thing?" Neumann said. "Nope nope nope. This is the biggest undertaking ever in flight simulation. No doubt about it."

The devs explained it gathered data from around 12 million Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 players. They have found that around 3 million players can be categorized as "core gamers" while the other nine million are "more casual people." One common element that the devs have found in both types of players is that "people wanted more stuff to do" in the flight simulator.

"We said, 'okay, cool, fair enough, let's go make things like that,'" Neumann shared. "But we are not a game. So we're not making game-y type missions at all. What we're doing is accurate aviation activities. We're working with lots of organisations across the planet that do these things. That do firefighting, that do search and rescue [...] This is why we call it 'choose your pilot lifestyle'. This is the pilot lifestyle, this is what people really do."

Neumann also addressed concerns that there was a lack of commercial airliners in the recent trailer for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. "There are gonna be a lot of airliners, trust me [...] you're gonna be happily surprised when we get to the whole plane list," Neumann stated.

Asobo CEO Sebastian Wloch shared some interesting things about the upcoming Flight Simulator. According to Wloch, the studio is working to make the game client thinner to reduce installation size and get players into the simulator faster. He also promised that the thinner client will reduce loading times and help keep system requirements low.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will also feature new physics and aerodynamic engines to support new aviation activities like (and pardon our lingo) tissue, rope, and other soft-body physics. The upcoming flight simulator will also add enhanced aircraft modeling to show much more detail.

All the changes being done to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will be backward compatible. This means the community, especially players who bought content for the previous title, can transfer seamlessly to the upcoming flight simulator.

We are excited to see how the new "aviation activities" work. We personally enjoyed the Top Gun: Maverick content where players are challenged to fly as low and as fast as possible to a given point. Hopefully, Asobo adds more features that make players feel like real pilots doing specialized tasks.

After a disappointing second weekend box office, this leak adds to the pile of woes The Flash film has suffered. Leaks of snippets from movies before and during their release are commonplace in the current era of the internet, despite the ethical and legal ramifications. But it is extremely rare for the full movie to be leaked, especially on a social media platform as large as Twitter.

The leak of The Flash circulated on Twitter on June 25 for around 8 hours, with a number of users sharing the link to the tweet.

@jedijrc LMAO THEY LEAKED THE FLASH MOVIE https://t.co/DLRDx8LOXI

— Cobalt (@CobaltGreen1138) June 25, 2023

While the tweet with the movie was removed and the account (@BriYoshFR) has been suspended as of 1PM ET on the same day, the number of views by that point had reached in excess of 1.7 million.

According to the users on Twitter who were able to watch the pirated version, they described the quality of the video attached to the tweet as possibly a camera rip of the movie.

But can The Flash realistically have the same results as Nintendo's juggernaut? That is, unfortunately, unlikely. The Flash had a disappointing $55 million opening weekend which then nosedived by 73% on its second weekend box office. With the pirated leak via Twitter watched by nearly 2 million viewers for free, there is little chance of the DCEU film having legs to bounce back with repeat viewings.

Many issues plagued The Flash movie before, during, and after its production. Its main star Ezra Miller was involved in highly publicized and controversial behavior off-camera. Moreover, the announcement of new DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran that the DCEU would be rebooted had a negative impact on the interest of long-time fans. Multiple reshoots also led to cameos of Gal Gadot and Henry Cavill at the end of the movie being scrapped for a new, more open-ended conclusion.

The Flash stars Ezra Miller, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Antje Traue, Kiersey Clemons, Maribel Verdu, and Ron Livingston. Directed by Andy Muschietti, The Flash is running in theaters worldwide.

Microsoft’s Xbox, in partnership with Warner Bros. and Mattel, has launched this dazzling initiative to celebrate the highly anticipated release of the new live-action film, Barbie, which premieres globally on July 21.

Much like the iconic Barbie, known for her multi-faceted career journey, persevering optimism, and insatiable appetite for self-discovery, this partnership embodies an all-encompassing gaming experience.

Embracing the limitless potential of diversity and style, the collaboration extends to exclusive content within one of the best racing sims on the market today, a video about careers in gaming, the first-ever Xbox Barbie dolls, and much more.

The Barbie-themed Xbox Series S console mirrors Barbie's Dreamhouse, echoing Microsoft’s playful design philosophy. As if a full-sized Dreamhouse wasn’t enough, the console is brightly pink and sporting the Barbie logo, creating an unmistakably chic statement. The release includes five distinct controller faceplates designed after Barbie and Ken's on-screen outfits as well, covering various shades and patterns of pink.

Although the console is digital only – ironically eliminating the possibility of playing any Barbie discs – this vibrant addition to the Xbox family is expected to delight Barbie and gaming enthusiasts alike.

In line with the fashion-forward theme, Forza Horizon 5 has also received a Barbie makeover. The game now features the classic 1956 Chevrolet Corvette EV Corvette and the 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup, both associated with the Barbie movie, letting players race virtually alongside Barbie and Ken, which confirms the earlier rumors.

Outside of the gaming realm, Microsoft is also holding international sweepstakes for ten Barbie dolls donned in the latest Xbox gear. Each doll is reflective of the Barbie line, renowned for its market-leading diversity. Along with the Xbox-themed clothes, the dolls come accessorized with an Xbox Series S console, Wireless Controller, and an Adaptive Controller.

The upcoming livestream on July 14 from the World of Barbie promises to be a source of inspiration for young girls. The long-time Forza franchise developers will discuss their career journeys, motivations, and personal connections with Barbie. Echoing the spirit of Barbie's diverse professional roles in the movie, Xbox aims to highlight the limitless potential in the gaming field.

As part of the promotional campaign, the Barbie-themed Xbox Series S and controllers aren't available for purchase, but fans will have a chance to win these through sweepstakes starting July 10 via the Xbox Twitter account and Microsoft Rewards.

The live-action movie's release is set to be a blockbuster, and these collaborations add another exciting layer to the global anticipation. So, let's fasten our seatbelts and race towards July 21, celebrating a Barbie Land where everyone can play and win!

Now, if Forza Horizon 5 isn't up to your speed, don't worry because Turn 10 Studios is pulling up with the "reboot" Forza Motorsport soon. The upcoming racing sim will be out in October, as per the studio's latest announcement.

DC has had a string of three underperforming superhero movies with Black Adam, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and The Flash. Warner Bros Discovery will likely lose money this year unless Blue Beetle and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom can turn things around.

Gunn is clearly not happy with how things are going and has called out the people making superhero films during a recent interview on the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast. The director said that creators "have gotten really lazy" in making superhero movies. He also said that companies have been focused on making sequels just because the previous movie performed well.

"But I think that what’s happened is, people have gotten really lazy with their superhero stories," the Guardians of the Galaxy series director said. "And they have gotten to the place where, 'Oh, it’s a superhero, let’s make a movie about it.'"

"And they make, ‘Oh, let’s make a sequel, because the first one did pretty well,’ and they aren’t thinking about, 'Why is this story special? What makes this story stand apart from other stories? What is the story at the heart of it all? Why is this character important? What makes this story different that it fills a need for people in theaters to go see? Or on television?'"

Gunn specifically narrowed it down to the third act of superhero movies. He noticed that many movies have a lot of things going on - too many things, based on broader recent criticisms - but there is no "rhyme or reason to what’s happening."

"And I think that it’s just that… people have gotten a little lazy and there’s a lot of biff, pow, bam stuff happening in movies and I’m watching third acts of superhero films where I really just don’t feel like there’s a rhyme or reason to what’s happening… I don’t care about the characters. And they’ve gotten too generic."

Gunn explains that recent films have been "middle-of-the-road" kind of movies that does not explore different genres. He adds that creators just want to tell the same story over and over. Much of this reads like the telltale signs of genre fatigue. 

"There’s this sort of middle-of-the-road, type of genre/tone that so many superhero movies have as opposed to having very different genres. I mean, I like very serious superhero movies, I like very comedic superhero movies, I like ones that are a murder mystery but it’s with superheroes. I like to see these different types of stories, as opposed to seeing the same story told over and over again."

James Gunn and Peter Safran have a huge responsibility in turning things around for DC Studios. The director recently shared that Blue Beetle will be the first character for the new DC Universe and Superman: Legacy will be the first film for the new cinematic universe.

Gunn will be taking the lead in Superman: Legacy, serving as writer and director for the movie. Superman: Legacy hits theaters is coming to theaters on July 11, 2025.

Back in March, Diablo 4 sparked curiosity when eagle-eyed fans discovered files linked to DirectStorage in the game's beta version. This set the wheels in motion for widespread speculation about Blizzard's plans to implement this game-changing technology.

Now, the Diablo team has confirmed to PC Gamer that DirectStorage will indeed be a part of the Diablo 4 experience, albeit not right at launch.

Microsoft's DirectStorage API, initially developed for the Xbox Series X, is all about optimizing the use of Solid State Drives (SSDs) to enhance game loading times. By fully leveraging the high bandwidth of today's NVMe SSDs, it drastically reduces load times and enhances the player experience.

Square Enix's fantasy title Forspoken has been the solitary flagbearer of this technology so far. Even though it enjoyed quite a lukewarm reception overall, Forspoken showcased the potential of DirectStorage, delivering lightning-fast game scenes and environment load times of approximately 1 second over an NVMe SSD drive.

With the promise of enabling DirectStorage in Diablo 4, Blizzard becomes the second developer to implement this feature. It's a clear indication that Diablo 4 intends to offer players a seamless gaming experience, marked by significantly reduced initial loading times and near-instant teleporting between locations.

It's important to note that the use of DirectStorage will slightly increase CPU usage. As the DLL file of DirectStorage within Diablo 4 suggests, the game will be using version 1.0.2. While this version lacks GPU decompression, it implies that the game's loading process will primarily be powered by the CPU. However, the good news is that Diablo 4 doesn't require a high-end CPU to perform well, as tests have shown that a modern-day dual-core with SMT/Hyper-Threading can run the game with over 150fps at 1080p/Ultra Settings.

It's even been shown to run relatively well on the Steam Deck, which further solidifies the possibility that DirectStorage won't affect its performance negatively even on low-end machines.

A key question, however, remains unanswered. Is Blizzard considering implementing DirectStorage 1.1, which promises to cut down load times even further? This version utilizes not just the SSD but also a PC’s graphics card to streamline the game-loading process.

As we wait for Blizzard's response, we can only speculate. Regardless, the implementation of DirectStorage in Diablo 4 is a giant leap towards a gaming future where open worlds, high-res textures, and no loading screens are the norm. With next-generation consoles like Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 coming with NVMe SSDs as standard, it's high time that PC games started to take full advantage of this revolutionary technology.

Fingers crossed, this planned addition is part of Blizzard's big plans for Diablo 4 and arrives in time for the first of its two planned expansions. In the meantime, Diablo 4 fans can look forward to joining the hunt for the Secret Cow Level as well as discuss what the "hidden" post-credits scenes of the game mean.

The game's open beta garnered significant popularity, providing a fresh alternative to the dominance of Smash Bros in the genre. However, with the servers now shut down, players are left wondering about the future of MultiVersus and whether the community will return in full force when it relaunches next year.

Developer Player First Games made the decision to take MultiVersus offline in March, providing the team an opportunity to work on the game without the demands of maintaining a live service. Despite the long-term hiatus, players can still enjoy local matches and the training room. Additionally, all unlockable content, including characters and cosmetics, will remain free until the game comes back online. But, the absence of online play raises questions about the game's future community and its ability to recapture the initial excitement upon relaunch.

It's worth noting that MultiVersus failed to sustain the momentum it generated when it first came out, which is partly the reason why fans are so concerned about whether it can successfully return in the first place.

With the plethora of fighting games set to launch in the interim, including Tekken 8 and Mortal Kombat 1, just to name a few, there's speculation that MultiVersus will struggle.

If nothing else, the decision to take MultiVersus offline is for a good cause. The development team wants to learn from the open beta and refine the game before its launch. It wants to focus on content cadence, introducing new characters, maps, and modes to enhance the gameplay experience with minimal pauses. Additionally, improvements to the net code, matchmaking, and the progression system are on the agenda.

The extended period of development during the offline phase presents an opportunity for MultiVersus to return with plenty of updates and innovations, potentially revitalizing the player base and reinvigorating interest in the game.

It's hard to deny that the success of live service titles heavily relies on maintaining players' interest and engagement, which is why it's crucial for MultiVersus to make a strong comeback.

While challenges lie ahead, the temporary goodbye serves as a reminder that the game's journey is far from over. With updates and improvements on the horizon, the community eagerly awaits the day they can reunite with MultiVersus in all its glory.

Fans can, at the very least, rest easy knowing that Warner Bros. Discovery knows what it's doing. It recently did the same to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League following fan backlash. The hope is for both of these games to become more fine-tuned and polished products following a year of further development.

With The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Final Fantasy 16 both serving as examples of long-time delays working well, MultiVersus deserves the benefit of the doubt.