Gaming is, and should be, for everyone. But that’s not always been reflected in the characters we get to play as, be they created by developers or for ourselves. Slowly, though, change is coming. 2021 not only saw a diverse range of characters in games, we saw authentic, normalised portrayals beyond a box-ticking exercise. Yes, plenty of games added rainbow badges, especially for Pride Month. But the likes of Unpacking, Life is Strange: True Colors, Boyfriend Dungeon and Unsighted brought LGBT+ narratives to the fore in sometimes subtle ways....

In Loop Hero you don’t walk in circles, you walk in loops. Each procedurally created path leads back to its own beginning, but the shape will have a few kinks and bends. It reminds me a bit of those natural artworks formed by the discarded rubber bands that the people who deliver post leave behind them as they make their rounds. Rounds which are frequently loops, I’ve just realised, and not circles....

To find the solution to the generator puzzle in Madison, you’re going to have to locate grandpa’s basement first, so we’ve covered where to find the generator in the basement and the solution to the correct switch combination below. On this page: Madison Grandpa’s basement location After exploring the TV room with the safe containing Luca’s journal, a door to his grandpa’s kitchen and dining room will open. You won’t get to explore this area for long, as the power will go out, leaving the house in darkness - except an eerie red glow in some areas....

It’s been developed by CraftyBoss and is only playable on a modded Switch console using an unofficial ROM of the game. “Have fun exploring kingdoms with friends, playing game modes, or beating the game as fast as possible!” reads a description of the mod. “This mod is still early in development, so expect bugs and un-refined aspects as we work hard to improve it and make the mod as polished as possible....

These days, Next Level is best known for their work on the Luigi’s Mansion series but they got their start in in the early 2000s with fast-paced, physical sports games: the cross-platform NHL Hitz Pro, then Super Mario Strikers for the Nintendo GameCube. The original Strikers was well received, with a slick 60fps presentation and responsive gameplay. It received a follow-up on Wii two years later but, after that, the series basically went into hibernation until this year....

“Up to 4K” resolution (or 1440p on Series S) is now supported, along with higher-resolution textures, models and armour destruction. Framerates are also “higher”. The update will arrive on the same day as the long-awaited arrival of Hawkeye, the game’s next free hero addition on all platforms. There’s more on Hawkeye and his abilities in the video above. Hawkeye’s storyline continues from the arrival of Kate Bishop last year and introduces supervillain Maestro - a kind of evil Hulk....

The FTC has claimed the $69bn deal would let Microsoft suppress its games industry competition. The company defended the proposed $69bn buyout, defended its previous acquisition of Bethesda owner ZeniMax Media, and justified its decision to make three future titles from the company exclusive to Xbox and PC. One of its core arguments is the FTC’s approach to assessing the acquisition is unconstitutional, specifically violating the Fifth Amendment right to due process....

Recompile launches into Game Pass on cloud, console and PC on 19th August. It’s a Metroidvania-inspired hacking adventure in which you control a semi-sapient program struggling against deletion. Also on 19th August, Train Sim World 2 hits Game Pass on cloud, console and PC. Twelve Minutes launches into Xbox Game Pass on 19th August on cloud, console and PC. It’s an interactive thriller about a man stuck in a time loop, starring James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley and Willem Dafoe....

The team now “shifts its focus to new and exciting Forza experiences”, Beaudoin continued. “We understand this is tough news for our players, however, we wanted to take this time to share our gratitude and thanks to all who joined us on our first journey into mobile.” Originally released on PC in April 2019 before a mobile launch in 2020, Forza Street was designed as a quick-fire, super-accessible spin on Turn 10 Studios’ celebrated series, offering “under-a-minute” street races that see players competing to unlock new cars and upgrade parts....

Former Giantbomb host Jeff Gerstmann discussed what he’d seen of the game last night via Twitch, and suggested it was far enough along in development it could potentially be revealed as part of Microsoft’s Xbox and Bethesda Showcase on Sunday. As for the game itself, which Gerstmann said was currently in testing, it puts players in command of a “Steve-like” unit that directs others to fight off Minecraft enemies such as Piglins....

As you might have already twigged, Mini Motorways is the follow-up to Dinosaur Polo Club’s celebrated underground railway builder Mini Metro, and delivers an equally minimalist, equally excellent, spin on its predecessor’s tactile strategy action. In Mini Motorways, each level takes loose inspiration from a real-world city, and the goal is to construct as efficient a road network as possible, placing down the likes of traffic lights, bridges, and roads to ensure commuters are able to reach their destination within the allotted time....

The original TWEWY launched in 2007 on Nintendo DS, though found a new lease of life over a decade later with an enhanced Final Remix version for Nintendo Switch in 2018. Square Enix’s long-awaited second game, Neo: The World Ends With You, will launch for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 (yes, 4) in summer 2021. Once again, the action will take place in a stylised version of Tokyo’s Shibuya district, where a set of fresh and familiar characters will battle for survival....

A new gameplay video shared on Twitter shows the customisation options, urging players to “get noticed”. It’s all part of the game’s visual style that marries realistic vehicles with colourful, animated street art. Watch on YouTube Need for Speed Unbound - Official Reveal Trailer (ft. A$AP Rocky) The customisation includes smoke effects, speed lines, emotes and more. It’s as if players are creating their own driving anime. A follow-up tweet also confirms that the effects can be turned off....

The Information said the company is hiring for an executive to lead its future video game initiative, and is on the hunt for senior figures within the industry. Early discussions apparently involve potentially launching an Apple Arcade-style bundle of games without adverts. In a statement issued to GameSpot, Netflix said it is “excited to do more with interactive entertainment”. Netflix has so far dabbled in video games. It commissioned a video game based on hit show Stranger Things (check out Eurogamer’s Stranger Things 3: The Game review for more on how that turned out), and launched interactive shows such as Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and You v....

A click on the video below will reward curious sorts with almost three minutes of footage from the upcoming season, with all majors players - that is to say, Geralt, Jennefer, Ciri, and Jaskier - getting in on the action. As ever though, there’s not nearly enough Jaskier. From a plot perspective, we don’t yet know exactly where Season 2 will take us in terms of author Andrzej Sapkowski’s original series of stories, but there are doubtless clues to be found in the new trailer, as well as in the seven episode titles shared previously - A Grain of Truth, Kaer Morhen, What is Lost, Redanian Intelligence, Turn Your Back, Dear Friend, and Voleth Meir....

Sonic Prime is a 24-episode 3D animated series in which “the fate of a strange new multiverse” rests in Sonic’s hands. It’s due out at some point in 2022. “Sonic’s adventure is about more than a race to save the universe, it’s a journey of self-discovery and redemption,” reads the official blurb. It’s animated at WildBrain’s Vancouver studio, with Sega involved in production. Man of Action Entertainment, creator of Ben 10 and the characters and team in Big Hero 6, are showrunners and executive producers....

Today, publisher Bandai Namco released its new patch notes for Xbox and PlayStation consoles (sorry, no news on the PC version as yet). Bandai Namco asks that players “please apply the latest patch before playing the game”, and apologises for the inconvenience this may have caused. Major issues within Elden Ring that will be addressed within this update are: • Improved player controls • Addition and adjustment of BGM • Text adjustments • Balance adjustments • NPC event fixes and adjustments • Fixed frame rate drops under certain conditions • Fixed text bug in some languages • Fixed a bug that prevented the Xbox wireless headset from working properly An announcement about the implementation of ray tracing in Elden Ring will be coming in the future, Bandai Namco said....

Called Antidote COVID-19, its tagline “I am the Shield” is representative of a desire to increase awareness of coronavirus vaccination and other preventative measures. Developed by Psyon Games alongside the UN’s World Health Organization WHO, the Vaccine Alliance GAVI, and UNICEF Finland, it’s available for free on iOS and Android. “Despite the fact that vaccination rates are on the rise globally, there are also alarming signs of vaccine related passivity especially among the youth,” says Psyon Games CEO Olli Rundgren....

Speaking to IndieWire, Leguizamo recalled how his directors Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton “fought really hard for [him] to be the lead because [he] was a Latin man”. The actor stated that the studio had not initially wanted him to be a lead, but the directors’ push to cast him eventually worked - something Leguizamo called “such a breakthrough” for the industry. As such, Leguizamo said he felt Illumination’s decision not to cast another actor of colour in the lead roles for the upcoming Super Mario Bros....

The PSVR2 is a high-end device and it was never going to be cheap, but its £530 cost (£570 if you actually also want something to play) has placed it out of reach for many console players - let alone those without a PS5 already. Of the many headset options available, Sony’s was expected to be the most likely to attract a wider audience and grow the budding VR scene....