Hades 2 Technical Test Is Coming Soon, Here’s How To Sign Up
Supergiant Games has announced that the Hades II Technical Test will begin shortly, before the game launches into Early Access.
Supergiant Games explained that the Technical Test will only contain the first major area of the game and other early-game characters and content. It’s far less content than will be in the Early Access version so that the studio can solve any technical issues beforehand. Additionally, the Technical Test might only be available to a small group of players relative to those that sign up.
In order to sign up, simply just go to the Hades II Steam page and click “Request Access” on the section that says “Hades II Playtest.” After doing so, you should get a confirmation saying that you’ll receive an email from the developer if you end up being chosen for the Technical Test.
Supergiant also explained that if you don’t get to participate right away, there’s still a chance that you can be invited at a later date. The developer expects to start with a small group of people and then grow it over time. Supergiant estimated that the test will run between a week up to a month. Additionally, the developer is unsure when the game will launch into Early Access.
Here are the minimum system requirements for the test:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Dual Core 2.4 Ghz
- Memory: 4GB RAM
- Graphics: 2GB VRAM / DirectX 12+ support
Be aware that save data will not transfer to Early Access due to structural differences between it and the Technical Test.
Hades II was first revealed at The Game Awards 2022, and is set to release into Early Access sometime soon for PC.
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Jeff Bridges Will Return For Tron: Ares
When Tron: Ares was first announced, it was described as both a standalone sequel and the next chapter for the franchise. However, the film will apparently have a greater link to the past than previously expected. Jeff Bridges–the star of the original Tron from 1982 and its 2010 sequel, Tron: Legacy–has confirmed that he will appear as Kevin Flynn opposite Jared Leto in Tron: Ares.
Via The Playlist, Bridges made the announcement while appearing on the Film Comment podcast. “I’m heading off this Saturday to play a part in the third installment of the Tron story,” said Bridges. “I’m excited about that. It’s wild. Jared Leto is the star of this third one, and I’m really anxious to work with him, and I’ve admired his work.”
Leto is playing the film’s title character, Ares. But so far, none of the other characters have been revealed. Cameron Monaghan, one of the co-stars of the film, recently praised the sequel’s advancement in visual effects. That was also something that Bridges touched upon, although he noted that Tron: Ares will be leaning into more practical sets than virtual ones.
“[I’m really excited] to see what the technology is going to be all about [this time],” said Bridges. “I hear there’s even less A.I. stuff in this. It’s going to be more a practical set, and they’re beautiful; there are beautiful sets that I’ve seen.”
There is some question as to how Kevin can return for the sequel since the elder Flynn gave his identity disc to his son, Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), and Quorra (Olivia Wilde) to allow her to enter the real world in Tron: Legacy. Kevin stayed behind and was seemingly destroyed alongside his younger doppelganger, Clu.
For now, it’s unknown if any other cast members from Tron or Tron: Legacy will return besides Bridges. The rest of Tron: Ares’ cast includes Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Gillian Anderson, and Sarah Desjardins.
Joachim Rønning is directing Tron: Ares from a script by Jesse Wigutow and Jack Thorne. The film will hit theaters on Friday, October 10.
InZoi, Upcoming The Sims Competitor, Shares Dev Roadmap And Stunning Character Creator
Krafton, the studio behind PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, has revealed a development roadmap and several key features for its upcoming life simulation game InZoi. Though the roadmap does not state when InZoi is scheduled to launch, it does offer a closer look at all the next-level features the The Sims competitor is bringing to the table.
Among the key features shared in the roadmap are cars, group activities, a Karma system, a City Edit mode, and the Studio. According to the video’s accompanying press release, Zois–the name for the game’s human-like characters–will be able to both drive and ride in cars, with both first- and third-person camera angles available. The video featured a look at some of the flashy vehicles Zois will be able to purchase, as well as what happens when a Zoi decides to run in front of one.
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Moving on to something a bit more light-hearted, the developers offered a bit more insight into the game’s group activities and relationship mechanics. Based on the video, it seems as if relationships will play out quite similarly to The Sims, with characters able to become friends, love interests, and enemies of other Zois. However, InZoi does implement a unique mechanic with its Karma system, in which a Zoi’s past actions influence how their futures pans out and how other Zois treat them.
The video then shared a look at the game’s City Edit more, which allows players to adjust the city’s billboards, weather, cleanliness, and more, as well as the game’s Zoi sharing service, which appears to work similarly to the The Sims 4’s Gallery. A Studio mode will allow players to “create and reimagine specific scenarios,” according to the press release, and a high-resolution photo mode will make for quick (and gorgeous) photo sharing.
Hyungjun Kim, the producer and director of InZoi, also took time to urge fans to “continue to provide us with honest and diverse feedback” through the game’s Discord and social media channels. The next roadmap video is scheduled to release in May, and will feature answers to fan questions that the team will compile from Discord.
InZoi is not the only The Sims competitor headed our way, even if it is among the most visually remarkable. In addition to InZoi, Paralives and Life By You are some of the most watched up-and-coming life sims. Paralives is scheduled to go into early access next year, while Life By You hits early access June 4, 2024, according to its Steam page.
Paradise Killer Devs Are Making A Game About The Yakuza
Today’s ID@Xbox Showcase has revealed Promise Mascot Agency, where players are tasked with playing as a Yakuza legend who was exiled to a job managing different mascots. Elements of driving, cooking, playing card games, and taking baths with your mascots are all important, apparently, to the health of the business.
Mascots include a large piece of crying tofu, a cat dressed for business, and a large pinky toe.
Promise Mascot Agency comes from game developer Ikumi Nakamura known for her work in Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, Bayonetta, and Okami, as well as the studio behind 2020 indie darling, Paradise Killer.
Promise Mascot Agency comes to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S in 2025.
An Unreliable Narrator Guides You Through This Creepy-Looking Adventure Game
During the ID@Xbox presentation, we got a creepy but intriguing look at Centum, an upcoming point-and-click adventure game scheduled to launch sometime this summer. The game is set to release for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Centum sees you trying to escape a strange cell, but the announcement trailer hints that there may be more to the story. The environment of your prison shifts and changes, and the Steam page for the game says that you’re at the mercy of an unreliable narrator. Though the art style and situation are different, I get big Doki Doki Literature Club and Slay the Princess vibes from the trailer.
Centum does not feature a singular protagonist; rather, you’ll guide the ego states of multiple characters and influence how each relate to one another. This, in turn, shapes the story and can lead to one of multiple endings. In addition, the game’s Steam page says, “With hidden variables persisting between game runs, each playthrough offers new twists, ensuring that no two experiences are alike.”
X-Men ’97 Final Trailer Teases Three New Members Of The Team
This week, X-Men ’97 will premiere the first episode of its three-part Season 1 finale, “Tolerance is Extinction.” The X-Men have really been put to the test in the inaugural season of this revival series, with one of their own dead and another captured. Thankfully, reinforcements are on the way in the final trailer for X-Men ’97, which appears to confirm three new members of the team who will face their ultimate enemy alongside Marvel’s iconic mutant heroes.
Warning: the following contains spoilers from the latest episode of X-Men ’97 on Disney+. If you haven’t seen the installment or don’t want to know what happens, stop reading now.
The first new addition to the team shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who has watched this show since the first episode. Sunspot aka Roberto da Costa has been hanging around the X-Mansion and dating Jubilee for several episodes. And although the trailer doesn’t show his face, Sunspot finally gets his classic New Mutants costume while standing besides Jubilee at 55 seconds into this trailer.
Similarly, Storm’s new lover, Forge, has also suited up to join the X-Men for this crisis. A close up of Forge in-costume can be seen behind Storm at the 56 second mark. As with Sunspot, the trailer doesn’t show Forge’s face in the shot, but it’s clearly him.
Finally, the closing moments of the trailer feature a callback to the first X-Men live-action film as Cyclops gives his son, Cable, an X-Men uniform to wear. Cyclops’ line about “black leather” is a reversal of the “what would you prefer, yellow spandex?” quote that James Marsden’s character said in the film. There is a precedent in the comics for both Forge and Cable as members of the X-Men, but this is the first time that Sunspot has been portrayed as a member of the primary team.
Additionally, the trailer closes with some ominous shots of Magneto putting on his original outfit, rather than the heroic costume he wore with the X-Men. This suggests that once Magneto is freed from Bastion and Operation: Zero Tolerance, he won’t be returning to the X-Men. Instead, Charles Xavier is coming back to Earth, presumably to resume his role as the team’s mentor. But things may not go so well for the X-Men in the final battle, as one of the trailer’s final images features the X-Mansion in flames.
The next episode of X-Men ’97 will premiere on Wednesday, May 1 on Disney+.
Jackbox Naughty Pack Adds A Little Spice With First M-Rated Jackbox Game
While Jackbox Games has provided a lot of wholesome, family-friendly fun in recent years, longtime fans have wondered what a spicier version might look like. During today’s ID@Xbox presentation, Jackbox Games announced it’s answering the call with the Jackbox Naughty Pack, which will bring “spicy surprises” this summer.
The Jackbox Naughty Pack will include three new games with steamier themes than previously offered–in fact, they will become the first-ever Mature-rated titles in Jackbox history. While no specific details were revealed about the three games, the Jackbox blog post says more details are coming this summer.
The official blog post also notes that the Jackbox Naughty Pack has been requested by fans for a while now, with some actual comments from Jackbox Games’s social media included in the post. Some remarked that they “only ever play with adults (often when we’re drinking) so an [adult content] version is a FANTASTIC idea,” while others saying they didn’t realize Jackbox was a family game to begin with, and that they’ve “been playing it wrong.”
The Naughty Pack is the latest addition to the Jackbox Games portfolio, which has produced critically-acclaimed party games like Trivia Murder Party, Fibbage, Quiplash, and more. The company’s longest-tenured title is You Don’t Know Jack, the irreverent trivia game which debuted on PC back in 1995.
The Jackbox Naughty Pack will launch later this year. No platforms have been confirmed for this pack yet, but previous Jackbox releases have appeared on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile devices.