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Lessons on Positioning from My Defeat Against an Ork Horde in Total War: Warhammer 40,000

Demo sessions are often terrible ways to see a game, doubly so at conferences. You want to sink into a game at your own pace (and with unbroken access to fresh cups of tea), not get dropped into the middle of the action, hoisted up again 20 minutes later and plonked into another section of a game. However, that’s the nature of these things sometimes and it suits some games more than others.

Total War: Warhammer absolutely does not suit it.

Grand strategy games are built for armchair generals. Not just any armchair, either, a wingback one where the leather on the arms is nearly worn through where said general has rested their elbows in deep contemplation. They’re not games made to be played in short bursts. As such, I can’t really speak to Total War: Warhammer 40,000’s end quality from its Gamescom demo, but perhaps it says something that after an hour where I played 20 minutes of the battle tutorial, 20 minutes of the campaign tutorial, and 20 minutes in a scenario where my Space Marine army faced an overwhelming assault from an ork horde, I still came away keen as the baked beans found in an Astra Militarium ration pack to play the full game.

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Hytale’s Chapter 1 Update Introduces Goblins, First Major Boss, and Handcrafted Dungeon Scheduled for October Release

After months of smaller patches, Hytale‘s early access phase is getting its inaugural Chapter update, confirmed release date and all. Chapter 1 is out on October 12th, and it’s a bundle of (mostly goblin-related) firsts: chiefly the game’s first “handcrafted” dungeon, a gruesome underground lair, and Hytale’s first bonefide boss fight, against a flamethrowing gob-king.

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Armed Fantasia: Colourful JRPG Cancelled After Four Years of Delays and Legal Issues Following Successful Kickstarter Campaign

Armed Fantasia, a JRPG pitched as a spiritual successor the PS2-era roleplaying series Wild Arms – and led by former Wild Arms producer Akifumi Kaneko – has been cancelled. Digital Bros, the parent company of Armed Fantasia publishers 505 Games, announced in a financial statement that it was one of several games for which “The Group decided to discontinue development,” the others being a sequel to F2P strategy game Battle Islands and action RPG Directorate Novitiate, which had already revealed its own demise in May.

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Arc Raiders Explores New PvE Mode in Response to Player Demand for Cooperative Gameplay

Arc Raiders developer Embark Studios is bowing to the pacifists and trialing a PvE mode in their extraction shooter. If you play between October 13th and 20th, you’ll be able to flick a toggle that means you load either into the traditional world of Arc Raiders, where human players vie for the valuable scraps left behind in a ruined world watched over by killer robots, or a slightly safer version where the machines are still deadly but the humans can’t hurt you.

“We’re seeing a large and growing group of Raiders who come to the Rust Belt for the co-op and the ARC, not fighting with other Raiders,” Embark say in the post announcing the trial. “That group has become a core part of our community, so it’s important we learn how to support them properly rather than leave them working around the game.”

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“Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2 Guarantees to Rekindle My Fond Memories”

**Anticipating Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2: A Journey Back to Night City**

We are merely a month away from the eagerly awaited launch of *Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2* on Netflix, set for October 20. For those who have not yet experienced the inaugural season, the first ten episodes present a captivating tale set against the dynamic and harsh landscape of Night City, a location brimming with both potential and anguish. With the success of the initial season, enthusiasts are curious whether the next chapter will attain comparable emotional peaks and devastating valleys.

Created by Studio Trigger in partnership with CD Projekt Red, the series faithfully represents the sprawling urban scenery of Night City. The intricate animation encapsulates the spirit of the *Cyberpunk 2077* game, enabling viewers to identify iconic sites as seen in the latest trailers. Even in the absence of the game’s lead character, V, *Edgerunners* stirs nostalgia for a world that has become known to numerous players, reminiscent of a dystopian nightmare region that strangely feels like home.

The inaugural season of *Edgerunners* significantly contributed to the resurgence of *Cyberpunk 2077*, which initially faced a tumultuous launch in 2020. Following extensive updates and the debut of a current-gen port, the game has regained its prominence. Although the upcoming season does not shoulder the responsibility of redeeming the game’s name, it beckons both new and returning viewers to savor the nostalgia derived from the hours spent navigating the neon-lit avenues.

Having extensively explored Night City since its inception, including taking part in a podcast focused on discussing the game, I often find myself revisiting the realm through screenshots—a digital scrapbook filled with memories of encounters with various characters and immersive tales. The haunting tune of the song “I Really Want To Stay In Your House” echoes as I reminisce about those experiences, allowing me to relive the emotional voyage that *Edgerunners* captured without needing to engage in the gameplay itself.

Despite its somber environment, Night City possesses an allure that pulls many back. *Edgerunners 2* promises to further explore the mythology of this city, scrutinizing the unyielding grip of capitalism on its residents. With its chrome-plated façade hiding a deteriorating core, the city exemplifies a contrast of beauty and despair, and the new ensemble of characters is expected to resonate profoundly with viewers before inevitably encountering tragedy.

In the end, *Edgerunners 2* presents a compelling incentive to revisit *Cyberpunk 2077*. It invites fans to mount their motorcycles once more or re-explore well-known locations, allowing both nostalgia and the thrill of new narratives to rekindle the passion for this uniquely constructed universe. As the premiere draws near, excitement mounts—not solely for the new stories to be unveiled but for the opportunity to reconnect with a world filled with vibrant chaos and emotional intricacy.

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Skyblivion Approaches Release as Developers Launch Recruitment for Final Marketing Efforts

Skyblivion, that massive Oblivion remake mod which was originally set to release last year, finally seems to be on the verge of arrival. While they’ve still yet to put a full release date on it, the mod’s creators have announced that they’re looking for voluteers to join their comms team and contribute to a final push to get the word out about their creation.

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State of Decay 3 Development Studio Was Close to Being Acquired by Splash Damage Before Agreement Fell Through

**Undead Labs and Its Path to Autonomy During Xbox’s Corporate Transition**

Undead Labs, the esteemed studio recognized for the successful *State of Decay* series, has recently undergone a crucial shift in its corporate trajectory. Acquired by Xbox in 2018, the studio was on the verge of being purchased by Splash Damage, the developer known for *Gears Tactics*. This potential acquisition was a component of Xbox’s extensive “reset” strategy aimed at reorganizing its corporate structure. Nevertheless, the agreement ultimately collapsed, as reported by *Kotaku*, affirming speculation surrounding the destiny of Undead Labs.

In an announcement on Tuesday, the leadership of Undead Labs disclosed that the studio has evolved from operating under Microsoft’s umbrella to achieving complete employee ownership. This transformation marks a significant moment in the studio’s timeline, empowering it to shape its future while maintaining focus on the development of the eagerly awaited *State of Decay 3*.

The anticipated acquisition by Splash Damage involved support from private equity firm Emona Capital, the same entity backing Secret Mode, the publisher behind the forthcoming *Star Wars: Galactic Racer*. However, no definitive reasons have surfaced regarding the failure of the deal, leaving many industry insiders contemplating the ramifications of such prominent corporate shifts.

Following the unsuccessful acquisition, the leadership and personnel at Undead Labs united to reclaim control over their studio. This tactical decision enables them to independently guide the ongoing development of *State of Decay 3*, although details concerning its publisher remain unannounced. Despite this optimistic development, the transition to autonomy was tinged with recent layoffs at Undead Labs, mirroring a prevalent trend observed in comparable corporate transitions, such as that of Double Fine.

As the gaming industry processes these changes, other studios like Ninja Theory, which encountered a similar scenario with acquisition discussions that did not succeed, are facing even more severe outcomes, including potential shutdowns. This highlights the unstable nature of the gaming industry’s landscape during times of corporate restructuring.

All these occurrences are part of a larger narrative within Xbox’s continuous modifications, which have included numerous layoffs and shifts in management as the company strives to adapt under new leadership. Asha Sharma, the recently appointed head, is set to implement additional changes before the year’s conclusion, indicating that more developments may be forthcoming for Xbox and its associated studios.

In conclusion, Undead Labs has emerged from a difficult corporate period with renewed independence, committed to bringing *State of Decay 3* to realization while navigating the intricacies of an ever-evolving gaming industry.