HardwareFreaks

Tag: Gaming

  • A Dozen games are set to leave PlayStation Plus next month

    The digital landscape of gaming is always in flux, and for PlayStation Plus subscribers, this means a predictable monthly rhythm of additions and departures. As Sony continues to refresh its service, fans are keeping a close eye on what titles are making the cut, and what games are making the jump to the digital history books.

    This month, July, brings a lineup of games set to leave the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscription services. Users can find the official list of these departures in the ‘Last Chance to Play’ section on the PS5’s PlayStation Plus tab, with removals likely scheduled for the third week of July.

    While every departure brings a slight sense of melancholy, there are plenty of gems among the titles being removed. Before saying goodbye, gamers have a chance to dive into these excellent indie experiences. Among the games slated for removal are titles like Risk of Rain 2, Tropico 6, Clash: Artifacts of Chaos, Roki, Source of Madness, Cursed to Golf, Hundred Days, OneeChanbara Origin, Get Even, Bomber Crew, Space Crew, and Infinite Minigolf.

    Not all departures are equally bittersweet. While games like Tropico offer hundreds of hours of island management and complex strategy, the landscape also features some truly outstanding independent releases that deserve a closer look. Titles such as Roki, Source of Madness, and Cursed to Golf are particularly worthy contenders for extended play sessions.

    However, the departures also bring up discussions about quality versus quantity. For instance, Risk of Rain 2, despite being an excellent rogue-like with deep progression systems and endless replayability, is often cited as a disappointing exit. It’s a game that rewards countless hours spent unlocking new characters, abilities, and crafting unique builds.

    Ultimately, the rotation serves as a reminder that the gaming world is constantly evolving, offering subscribers a fresh selection every month. Whether you prefer massive AAA experiences or deep-cut indie gems, there is always something exciting waiting to be discovered in the PlayStation Plus catalog.

    Credit: KitGuru

  • Black Myth: Wukong reaches 30 million sales milestone

    In the competitive world of action-RPGs, Black Myth: Wukong isn’t just a game—it’s a cultural phenomenon. The title has reportedly crossed the monumental threshold of 30 million copies sold globally, marking an incredible milestone for its developers and players alike.

    This impressive figure is built upon a foundation of exceptional performance, especially considering its launch in 2024. Back in its initial run, the game captivated the gaming community, peaking at over 2.2 million concurrent players on Steam alone. This massive engagement helped solidify the title’s place among some of the most successful single-player experiences released recently.

    The success story extends beyond raw player numbers. Black Myth: Wukong didn’t just achieve high engagement; it established new benchmarks for what a game can accomplish on major platforms. By reaching those staggering concurrent player counts, the title set a new record on Steam for single-player games, positioning itself ahead of other heavyweights like Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, and Baldur’s Gate 3.

    The sales velocity of Black Myth: Wukong has been particularly remarkable. It demonstrated an astonishing ability to move units quickly, outpacing many of its industry rivals in the crucial early stages of the market. For instance, when compared to titles like Elden Ring, which required roughly three years to reach similar figures, or Cyberpunk 2077, which took about five years to reach equivalent numbers, Black Myth: Wukong demonstrated a significantly accelerated path to success.

    The title’s popularity spans multiple gaming ecosystems. While Steam remains the dominant platform for purchases, the game has also seen strong traction on console, with the PlayStation 5 version ranking highly among top performers.

    This sustained impressive performance is not just a flash in the pan; it shows that Black Myth: Wukong continues to captivate audiences long after launch. Industry observers note that its sales trajectory remains highly commendable, cementing its status as a landmark achievement in the action-RPG genre.

    Credit: KitGuru

  • Cyberpunk’s disastrous launch still haunts CD Projekt Red, but hopes The Witcher 4 can win players back

    The journey of Cyberpunk 2077 is less a smooth road and more an epic saga—a testament to the power of persistence, patching, and sheer developer determination.

    When the game first arrived in 2020, it was met with significant turbulence. The launch was far from the polished masterpiece many fans hoped for, leaving behind a reputation that required serious refinement.

    But development doesn’t stop when the game goes live. From that initial release, CD Projekt Red engaged in a monumental effort, pouring countless hours into addressing community feedback and implementing substantial updates. These numerous patches weren’t just fixes; they were crucial chapters in the ongoing evolution of Night City.

    This continuous refinement transformed the experience for players, slowly molding the game into the sprawling, intricate world that many considered the ultimate vision.

    The turning point arrived with the release of the Phantom Liberty expansion. This highly anticipated addition proved to be a masterful stroke of design and storytelling, injecting a fresh wave of brilliance into the already rich framework.

    With this new content and the accumulated polish from years of updates, Cyberpunk 2077 achieved a remarkable milestone. It briefly ascended to an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam—a level of acclaim that felt almost unbelievable just a few years prior.

    It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes the greatest triumphs come not from a single launch, but from the commitment to continuously improve a vision. The saga of Cyberpunk 2077 is truly a story about resilience and the rewarding power of waiting for the perfect moment to shine.

    Credit: TechSpot

  • Marathon players are amassing way too much loot in Season 2, and the primary cause is a mystery: ‘We’re still unravelling the source’

    The launch of Season 2 for Marathon promised a fresh adventure, but as many things do in the world of gaming, it quickly became a rollercoaster of triumphs and tribulations. While some innovations captivated the community, underlying issues soon emerged that threatened to unravel the very economy of the game.

    Initially, excitement was high. New content, such as the Night-time Dire Marsh map and the popular Sponsored Survival experiment, immediately proved to be hits, offering players exciting new avenues for exploration. However, beneath the surface of these exciting features, a deeper problem began to bubble up: progression had become disturbingly too easy.

    Where Season 1 offered a sense of rewarding difficulty, Season 2 saw a dramatic acceleration in how quickly players could acquire valuable assets. Instead of cautious, earned growth, players seemed to be hoarding loot with unprecedented speed, throwing the game’s established economy into disarray.

    Bungie quickly acknowledged the shift, publishing an explanation that shed light on the internal struggles. The developer noted that progression and access to power moved much faster in Season 2 than in previous seasons. While they aimed to increase progression speeds, they admitted that the resulting balance was not healthy for the game.

    The root of the imbalance appears to be a complex mix of factors. Several contributing bugs, including instances of guaranteed gold drops in inappropriate locations, contributed to the confusion. Furthermore, high-intensity events like the Sponsored Kits and the “Sponsored Survival grind” compounded the issue, especially when combined with access to valuable chests in areas like Complex Control.

    The central mystery remains what truly caused this surge in high-rarity loot. Bungie stated that they were still working to unearth the source of the proliferation, noting that this behavior was not present in their internal testing. It is a puzzle the developers are currently trying to solve.

    In response to the instability, the team implemented temporary adjustments. These included turning off boosted containers and making nerfs to Cradle XP rates. These measures are intended as short-term fixes, with the plan to reverse them later in the season once a permanent solution is discovered.

    Hopefully, this investigation will soon reveal the true nature of the issue. For now, players on Tau Ceti IV can enjoy a slightly smoother, albeit temporarily eased, journey while the team works behind the scenes to restore the delicate balance of the Marathon universe.

    Credit: PC Gamer

  • Call of Duty Black Ops 1 & 2 re-releases will be ports, not remasters

    The Legacy Rises: Black Ops Classics Return as Ports

    For dedicated gamers, the history of Call of Duty is etched in the memories of classic titles. Now, the expectation is mounting for those foundational experiences—Call of Duty Black Ops 1 and 2—to make their way to modern platforms like PlayStation and the Xbox PC app. But before diving into the action, there’s a crucial distinction fans need to understand: these are not simple graphical updates; they are faithful ports, not remasters.

    Activision has officially clarified this distinction, confirming that the incoming versions are direct ports designed for modern consoles and PC. This response immediately shifts the narrative from one of nostalgic upgrade to a celebration of legacy preservation. Fans who might have hoped for a polished remaster, similar to what some have seen in later installments like Call of Duty 4, will find that the experience remains true to its original design.

    What this means for players is stability and fidelity. The core experience will maintain the exact graphics settings, resolution targets, and frame rate goals established by the original releases. In a series notorious for pushing performance limits, Activision has reaffirmed the strict commitment to the iconic 60FPS target, ensuring that the classic speed and flow of the gameplay remains intact.

    The enduring appeal of Black Ops lies squarely in its core components: two of the most celebrated single-player campaigns and deeply engaging multiplayer modes in the franchise’s history. These titles are not just games; they are cornerstones of the Call of Duty legend, responsible for elevating the series to legendary status during the Xbox 360 era.

    While the technical specifications promise fidelity, there is still room for evolution. The true excitement now lies in how these classic foundations integrate with the modern gaming landscape. As players get ready for these re-releases, speculation is already swirling about whether this fresh opportunity will usher in new servers and lobbies, offering a renewed environment to revisit the intense multiplayer battles that defined the original era.

    Credit: KitGuru