Last month, publisher Kwalee released their first game made in house as part of their studio Kwalee Labs, Luna Abyss, a first-person bullet-hell platforming adventure game about a prisoner exploring a derelict megastructure. Now, it appears that the entire team that made the game has been laid off.
### Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve – A Direct Preview from Summer Game Fest
Participating in events such as Summer Game Fest typically offers opportunities to examine new game demos, and this year was no exception. Over the span of three days, I connected with roughly two dozen games, diving into diverse genres and gameplay experiences. Yet, my encounter with *Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve* was particularly memorable, largely due to the hurdles I experienced while mastering the controls of the fighter jet demo.
#### Engaging Experience in the Cockpit
My final appointment of the event placed me in the improvised cockpit created by Bandai Namco, setting the scene for an engaging, albeit tough, gameplay experience. As a player with past experience in the *Ace Combat* series—mostly during its PS1 and PS2 periods—I was eager to soar through the skies once more. However, the demo setup had me fumbling through the opening missions as I worked to adjust to the game’s mechanics.
#### A Continuation of the Ace Combat Tradition
The demo showcased the first five missions from the complete game, including cutscenes that conveyed the narrative. *Wings of Theve* continues after *Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown*, introducing players to an officer in the fictional Federation of Central Usea (FCU) air force, who assumes the role of a star pilot, callsign Rex, after the previous pilot’s demise. This narrative continuity adds depth to the gameplay, establishing a context that reflects my own learning journey in the cockpit.
As I maneuvered through the demo, I tackled essential tasks like flying, locking onto opponents, and launching missiles—all vital competencies for achieving success in the skies. The addition of a special weapon allowed me to target multiple enemies, heightening the anticipation for thrilling aerial battles.
#### Fast-Paced Dogfights and User Challenges
Once in the air, I was plunged into a fast-paced dogfight, defending an aircraft carrier base against waves of enemy fighters and bombers. Initially, I enjoyed success in downing opponents, including a moment where I decimated an incoming squad with a solitary launch of my special missiles, which was exhilarating. However, the situation quickly shifted when additional waves attacked, exposing my difficulties with timing and accuracy.
Despite my early successes, I found it challenging to replicate the same outcomes as the waves intensified. Missed missiles and ineffective maneuvering hindered my advancement. These challenges, however, did not reflect the game’s design but rather my own struggles in mastering the controls under duress.
#### Growth and Progress
Upon retrying the mission with previous knowledge of the enemy’s strategies, I significantly improved, successfully defending the carrier and moving on to the next section of the demo. This experience emphasized the necessity of practice and familiarity in action games, especially in a flight simulation scenario.
It is important to point out that my challenges did not signify any shortcomings in the game’s quality. Discussions with other media members indicated that they navigated the same obstacles with more ease, highlighting that my difficulties were individual rather than flaws within the demo itself.
#### Conclusion: A Bright Future Ahead
Despite the challenges I faced, my experience with *Ace Combat 8* left me feeling hopeful and excited for its complete release in October. The excitement of flying jets, combined with impressive visual clarity and immersive character interactions, showcased the game’s captivating design. While I faced difficulties during the demo, I valued the challenge and enjoyed the learning journey.
As I look forward to the launch of *Wings of Theve*, I plan to invest more time in the *Ace Combat* series, optimistic that my next experience in the cockpit will be more seamless, and that the sky will always be the limit in this thrilling franchise.
When Final Fantasy 7 Remake part two was officially revealed to be titled Rebirth, an immediate question arose for pretty much everyone: what will part three be called? That question has persisted since Rebirth came out, with way too many people suggesting Reunion despite the fact they did that one for Crisis Core (seriously, what’s with that). The answer was finally revealed this month to be Revelation at Summer Geoff Fest, and as it turns out, we all found out at the same time as pretty much everyone that’s working on the threequel.
Slay the Spire 2 has received a major update that adds Steam Workshop support for mods alongside a proper monster bestiary for the Compendium. It also introduces a new boss, Aeonglass, in place of the much-berated Doormaker. These are pretty juicy changes, and yet, the most intriguing part of the patch is a deceptively dry question of disobedient mathematics.
Billionaires rarely make for very interesting fabulists – they have people for that sort of thing – but in their obsession with securing a legacy, they do necessarily spend a lot of time in the realm of make-believe. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the shape of luxury apocalypse bunkers, all of them perfect settings for horror games.
D’aw, no gambling for me today.
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Obsidian Entertainment, developers of The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed, have been sued in California for allegedly engaging “in a systematic pattern of wage and hour violations”. The case was initially filed in the Superior Court of Orange County by plaintiff Victoria Turner in the latter half of 2025, with Turner accusing Obsidian of – among other things – failure to pay minimum and overtime wage or provide lunch and rest breaks. Obsidian filed a response in March denying “each and every allegation” in Turner’s compaint and asking to have the case thrown out.
Is it the best Hollow move in VV Ultimatum?
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PUBG: Battlegrounds – aka Plunkbat – is getting generative AI team mates in the shape of PUBG Ally Duo, which is available now in beta. The new functionality uses Nvidia tech to simulate “autonomous game characters that use AI to perceive, plan, and take action within their environment”. They also have speech models so that they can do bantz.
“Randy & Manilla is an extremely indie affair”
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