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Feature: Is Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 2.5 Worth Returning to Night City For?

by Ralph October 23, 2026 0

Image: Push Square CD Projekt Red astonished everyone when it proclaimed that a significant new Cyberpunk 2077 update would be launched around the same timeframe as the Edgerunners 2 anime. While some enthusiasts might have anticipated a minor surprise to coincide with the show, the magnitude of Patch 2.5 is rather astonishing — it’s considerably larger than it ever needed to be. I’m not voicing any complaints, however. Frequent readers will recognize that I’ll seize any opportunity to explore Night City again. But is Patch 2.5 deserving of a return? That’s the inquiry I’ll strive to address in this Hands On piece, as the current release schedule is so frenzied that not everyone will have the leisure to focus on older titles. The New Missions Image: Push Square Patch 2.5 includes not one, but two new missions to complete. And they are definitely not the type of trivial tasks that one might expect from...

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Hellraiser ‘Performing Extremely Well’ Says Saber Boss in Bid for Return of AA Games

by Ralph October 23, 2026 0

Describes them as “the forthcoming solution for sustaining growth and momentum” by Stephen Tailby Yesterday, 6:30pm The CEO of Saber Interactive, Matthew Karch, asserts that the double-A gaming sector, which has been largely overlooked in the shift towards significant triple-A productions, is crucial for survival in a volatile industry. Karch has highlighted the recent launch of Hellraiser: Revival as proof that mid-range budget titles can succeed among more prominent releases. In a message posted on LinkedIn, Karch noted that the horror title “has been achieving excellent performance on PC and console.” He elaborates on his views regarding how double-A games entail lower risks and possibly higher returns on investment compared to their pricier counterparts: Subscribe to Push Square on YouTube172k “The game serves as a testament to the idea that a well-established IP and robust AA development with managed expenses can yield impressive outcomes and elevated user ratings. I maintain that an increased emphasis...

Playstation

Promising Sci-Fi RPG Exodus Changes Its Main Character’s Face After Fan Criticism

by Ralph October 23, 2026 0

Robbed by Robert Ramsey Yesterday, 7pm There are still roughly six months remaining until Exodus launches on PS5, granting developer Archetype Entertainment ample time to refine its Mass Effect-inspired RPG. And this is precisely what the studio has accomplished with the primary character, Jun. In a rather unexpected announcement from the studio, general manager Chad Robertson has disclosed that the team has modified the male lead’s appearance based on responses from prospective players. Indeed, if you revisit the comment sections of earlier trailers — of which there have been a considerable number — you’ll encounter numerous individuals criticizing Jun’s former appearance. Subscribe to Push Square on YouTube172k Thus, the developers have provided him with a new visage. The overall length of Jun’s face has been shortened, and his more rounded features have been slightly refined. Here’s a direct comparison, with the previous Jun on the left, and the updated Jun on the right: (Thanks...

Playstation

Gears of War: E-Day, Cancelled Last-Minute for PS5, May Have Cost Half a Billion to Make

by Ralph October 23, 2026 0

Fenix down by Sammy Barker Yesterday, 8:30pm Gears of War: E-Day could potentially be among the priciest games ever produced, making Microsoft’s choice to cancel a nearly-complete PS5 version of the title even more perplexing. Kotaku initiated the discussion earlier today, referencing sources that assert the third-person shooter incurred a staggering $500 million in development costs. This sum is significantly higher than the $300 million figures linked to titles such as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Marvel’s Wolverine, both of which come with substantial Disney licensing charges. Subscribe to Push Square on YouTube172k While this figure appears astonishing at first glance, both Game Business’ Chris Dring and Windows Central’s Jez Corden have suggested that the figure holds validity. It should be noted, however, that Corden mentioned there is some uncertainty regarding how the budget was allocated. Kotaku argues that, considering the immense financial stakes, Microsoft was aware E-Day would not recoup its costs regardless of...

Playstation

Leaked Mass Effect 5 Trailer Is Real, Offers Glimpse of Cancelled Game

by Ralph October 23, 2026 0

Update : The disclosed Mass Effect 5 trailer, which surfaced on Reddit earlier today, is authentic. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier and IGN have both confirmed the video independently, which was posted to the franchise’s subreddit just a day after the studio BioWare was abruptly shut down. The exact manner in which the video circulated online remains uncertain, but it is presumed to have been shared by an ex-employee to provide fans with a sneak peek of the ongoing project. The game – codenamed Mass Effect Universe – would have marked the series’ return to its Milky Way backdrop, although it would have been set millennia after the occurrences of Mass Effect 3. We were already aware that beloved character Liara was poised to make her comeback. Even though the video has been circulated online, the endeavor was still in its very early stages of development. BioWare personnel seem quite optimistic about...

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VR pioneer Owlchemy Labs jumps to XR for its next release

by Ralph October 23, 2026 0

As the virtual reality sector continues to strive against financial challenges, innovative VR studio Owlchemy Labs has declared its entry into the realm of extended reality (XR) games with its latest title, Hyper Visor. The game, which Owlchemy refers to as “a unique XR arcade shooter,” is set to launch on the Google Play Store priced at $1.99, coinciding with the introduction of HTC’s XREAL Aura headset. In Hyper Visor, gamers employ their hands along with a “curious pair of living shades” (a common moniker for sunglasses) to navigate through eight levels that invoke various classic gameplay styles such as rhythm games and side-scrolling shooters. Naturally, “headset” isn’t perfectly fitting to describe the XREAL Aura—the gadget is essentially a pair of advanced sunglasses that HTC dubs “spatial computing eyewear.” It operates via a wired link to the user’s Android smartphone. Additionally, “XR” may not quite be the term developers would prefer to characterize this...

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Ubisoft reportedly wasted 3 years turning Beyond Good & Evil 2 into a live-service Fortnite killer

by Ralph October 22, 2026 0

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Ubisoft persists in asserting that Beyond Good & Evil 2 is a genuine game that exists, even though it was revealed over 18 years ago, and we haven’t glimpsed any sign of it this decade. A recent article indicates that the reason for the prolonged wait is that the developers keep returning to the concept, most recently shifting from a live-service Fortnite rival to a single-player-focused experience. That is according to the French source Origami, which reports (through machine translation) that Beyond Good & Evil 2 was in the works as a “highly multiplayer and interconnected game” from 2019 to 2022, taking direct cues from Fortnite and Destiny. Participants would design their characters and engage in activities generated spontaneously, with large group engagements organically matchmade. As time progressed, the strategy altered to something more “open-ended,” shifting to four-player cooperative action, and then to two-player co-op, the article continues. In its present...

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Former GTA 6 and Red Dead Redemption 2 designer says layoffs at Rockstar aren’t the real danger

by Ralph October 22, 2026 0

(Image credit: Rockstar) Job cuts and reorganization have emerged as unfortunate trends in the industry recently. Just this week, BioWare was shut down by EA, amid Xbox eliminating 3,200 positions throughout the whole division. A location that appears more stable is Rockstar, which is preparing to unveil the monumental GTA 6, and at least one former developer there believes it’s in a stronger position than many. “I never encountered the inquiry of whether we needed to downsize, or if we were capable of doing so. Rockstar has the resources,” Jérémy Hartvick, an open-world designer on Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA 6 who departed Rockstar in 2020, shares during the Kiwi Talkz podcast. “The inquiry is if you can fulfill the expectations, and if you fail, you may not endure,” he clarifies. “But otherwise, it’s not a matter of finances.” #220 – Jérémy Hartvick Discusses GTA 6, RDR2, Rockstar, Mission Structure, Leadership – YouTube...

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Valve dev mentions rumored Half-Life game HLX, coworker immediately calls him out: “Nice work”

by Ralph October 22, 2026 0

(Image credit: Valve) Half-Life 3 speculation conduit HLX has been referenced once more, this occasion by an experienced Valve creator during an official seminar focused on game sound. A thread on the GamingLeaksAndRumours subreddit records a recent discussion featuring three Valve creators who participated in the latest GameSoundCon, a symposium centered around game audio and composition. Presenter Mike Morasky, a Valve musician and sound designer whose career includes work on Team Fortress 2, the original Portal, and Half-Life: Alyx, was accompanied by sound engineers David Feise, a 17-year Valve expert, and Carlye Nyte, a newer addition to Valve hailing from Bungie and various other studios. During the Q&A segment of a panel about “Valve’s Strategy for an Open and Adaptable Audio Engine,” Morasky addressed a query concerning voice count. He introduced a grouping mechanism within Valve’s configuration and how it integrates into its HDR system. “Indeed, I believe Deadlock has their unique iteration of...

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