Elder Scrolls Online hit with layoffs, Zenimax will continue to ‘invest heavily’
Zenimax Online Studios experienced a round of layoffs this morning. The studio is currently working on The Elder Scrolls Online for publisher Bethesda. “As is the norm for games of this type, we had ramped up a large workforce to develop a game of vast scale, and ramped up our...
Costume Quest 2 goes trick-or-treating with bigger worlds, goofier costumes
Double Fine’s catalog is defined by eclectic variety, with its previous efforts ranging from alternate-history tower defense games to RTS-infused brawlers. To date, however, none of the studio’s games has seen a sequel. What, then, made the Halloween-themed RPG Costume Quest a standout candidate for a follow-up? Continue reading Costume...
Sims 4 Real World: Recognizing your Joystiq in The Sims 4 [UPDATE: Relive the stream!]
From the Joystiq House confessional: SIMS 4 JESS CONDITT: Alexander is a mostly good roommate. He’s really clean and he cooks well, but I wish he’d stop stealing my clothes. I mean, yesterday I noticed my favorite sequined club dress was missing, and then I find it under his bed....
Alone in the Dark: Illumination aims for November on PC
Alone in the Dark: Illumination is shooting for a November release, Pure FPS producer Stephanie Marroquin tells Joystiq. Publisher Atari confirmed the launch window goal, but adds an exact release date for the PC title has not been solidified. Alone in the Dark: Illumination is an Unreal Engine 4-powered third-person,...
Never Alone blends clever platforming with cultural insight
I like to think of Never Alone as a less depressing version of 2011’s indie hit, Limbo. It features similar environment-based puzzle-platforming in an unforgiving world, but its buddy-system mechanics give an encouraging sense of optimism throughout. This isn’t to say that you won’t be challenged in Never Alone. You’ll...
Mighty No. 9 starts backers-only beta
Early access keys for Mighty No. 9 have been sent to the game’s beta-level backers, Comcept announced on the game’s Kickstarter page Sunday. Those that pledged at least $80 to get a taste of Keiji Inafune’s latest creation ahead of the rest of its community should have received their keys...
Globe-trotting with Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
It wouldn’t be fair to Lucid Games to say that Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions is “just more Geometry Wars,” and then leave one’s impressions at that. Announced just a few weeks ago, the game literally takes the series where it has never been, primarily thanks to new three-dimensional visuals (with...
Left 4 Dead 2 uncensored classified in Australia
Residents over the age of majority in the great nation of Australia are now permitted to legally purchase Left 4 Dead 2 in its unedited state on PC. Kotaku Australia confirmed with developer Valve that the new rating had been implemented. “We are making plans to deliver that version to...
Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition now available for pre-order
Having already enhanced both Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate 2, developer Beamdog now sets its sights on another Dungeons & Dragons Infinity Engine classic, Icewind Dale. “It is now official, Icewind Dale:Enhanced Edition is available for pre-order on Beamdog,” reads a tweet from Trent Oster, creative director on the aforementioned...
You only get one chance to play Upsilon Circuit
Upsilon Circuit is an upcoming PC game from Legend of Dungeon developers Robot Loves Kitty, but you might never get the chance to play it. In fact, only eight people will ever be playing the game simultaneously, and once one of those players dies, that’s the end for them; in...