The video game industry is experiencing what can politely be referred to as a rough patch. Last week, we learned of Sony’s intention to abandon physical media, which is dispiriting, and this week, we learned leadership at Microsoft is in the process of laying off more than 3,000 developers at various studios. Stories surrounding this topic are, sadly, some of biggest stories of the week, which you can find links for below. But you will also find our review of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced and previews for upcoming games like Orbitals and The Blood of Dawnwalker. And then, after that, we have some video recommendations to check out this weekend.
- Xbox Parts Ways With Five Studios, Over 3,000 Layoffs Announced
- Doom Developer id Software Reportedly Loses Roughly Half Its Staff To Layoffs
- Report: Obsidian Cancels Avowed Sequel To Begin Work On A New Fallout Game
- Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Review – More Of Everything Is Permitted
- Orbitals Preview – Anime nostalgia meets co-op puzzle action
- The Blood of Dawnwalker Hands-On Preview – Preserve Your Humanity
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is exactly what Ubisoft promised it’d be; a faithful, gorgeous remake of one of the best games in the stealth series. There are new features for those particularly hungry for new content – added characters and quests for iconic figures like Blackbeard will pad out your runtime if you want them to – but it’s mostly a beat-for-beat retelling of the original story. For what it’s worth, I’m more than happy to revisit Edward Kenway’s swashbuckling adventures. The Assassin element is less emphasized in this outing, but most players don’t mind too much; Black Flag is arguably the best pirate game of all time, and that more than makes up for it.
If you’re a lapsed Marvel Rivals fan (or someone waiting for a good opportunity to get into it), the superhero shooter’s latest update is its biggest yet, effectively redefining the game’s flow for the foreseeable future. The game’s most unique feature, the Team-Up mechanic, has been totally reworked. Originally, Team-Ups only activated when two compatible heroes were on the same team. Now, Team-Ups are always available, regardless of who’s on your team, and are instead enhanced when you have the compatible ally. For example, the Hulk can select his new Captain America Team-Up when spawning into a match, giving him a new move that slams the ground and refreshes his cooldowns. If Cap joins your team, the move now adds an extra debuff, making enemies take more damage. This rework has added new abilities to the majority of the game’s characters, and even those without new moves can use their older Team-Ups whenever they like. Season 9 also completely reworks Black Widow’s moveset (an overdue change) and adds Jubilee to the game. Whether you’re picking it up for the first time or seeing how your favorites have been tweaked, it’s a great time to jump in, because everyone will be learning, and that’s the best time to play a competitive game.
I have never had aspirations about working in the postal service, but chill experiences like Lake and now Cat Mail Co. make it seem like an appealing career shift. After taking over an abandoned post office, you’ll receive and deliver the feline customers’ packages while gradually improving the derelict space. Organizing incoming mail by slapping on the proper labels based on its destination, weight, and contents is a breezy and rewarding task. I also enjoy the potent satisfaction of effectively organizing the mountain of packages across multiple types of shelves until their owners arrive. Completing shifts unlocks new shipping destinations and rooms, like a space to repair damaged goods. Cat Mail Co. is a nice second-screen experience; the loop is engaging enough to keep me interested, but it doesn’t demand my full attention as I listen to a podcast or watch a show.
