New Fallout Projects, Escape from Tarkov, ID@Xbox Showcase, + More! - GameLinked April 30, 2024

[JakobRush]

 

NEWS SOURCES:

 

GOD HOWARD STRIKES AGAIN

Bethesda teases two Fallout projects

https://wccftech.com/fallout-in-development-projects-teased-by-todd-howard/

Kinda Funny podcast https://youtu.be/7wvqF41_Bgw?t=1315

Specific quote (written out) https://lmg.gg/SXmXy (Wccftech)

One COULD potentially be the Fallout 3 remaster hinted at in FTC leaks https://www.ign.com/articles/oblivion-remaster-fallout-3-remaster-and-more-leaked-from-microsoft-document

New Fallout after Elder Scrolls, 2030s https://insider-gaming.com/next-fallout-game-come-faster/

Trying to come sooner, according  to Jez Corden on Xbox Two podcast https://youtu.be/4frfcWeJMAc?t=5260  

Howard also says they’re working on output https://www.techradar.com/gaming/consoles-pc/todd-howard-says-bethesda-is-now-focused-on-finding-ways-to-increase-our-output

Good since Starfield’s first DLC isn’t coming out until this fall https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2024/04/30/starfields-shattered-space-expansion-gets-release-window-new-patch-coming/?sh=1120bfb01786

Getting city maps only 8 months after release https://lmg.gg/XsMVA (Forbes)

 

ESCAPE FROM BACKLASH

Tarkov update: PvE mode will be made available to Edge of Darkness members

https://www.mmorpg.com/news/escape-from-tarkovs-exclusive-pve-mode-will-be-made-available-to-all-edge-of-darkness-edition-owners-2000131361

Locked new mode behind new $250 game bundle https://kotaku.com/escape-from-tarkov-pve-dlc-unheard-edition-1851441954

Edge of Darkness bundle promised all future DLC for its $100 price tag https://lmg.gg/zNPRk (Kotaku)

COO Nikita Buyanov said “PvE gamemode this is not DLC. DLC in our understanding is the major additions to the game” (EDITOR: highlight quote) https://www.reddit.com/r/EscapefromTarkov/comments/1cecaza/update_on_current_situation/

Offered EOD purchasers 6 months of the mode https://www.reddit.com/r/EscapefromTarkov/comments/1cdg9cu/the_update_regarding_eod_edition/

Capitulated in another post, “did not foresee” this reaction from customers https://www.reddit.com/r/EscapefromTarkov/comments/1cf2gnm/more_feedback/

Don’t have the server space to give everyone the mode tho lol

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/tarkov-studio-claims-it-actually-doesnt-have-the-server-capacity-for-everyone-who-paid-dollar150-to-play-its-upcoming-pve-mode-still-wants-players-to-pay-extra/

 

IGN X ID@XBOX SERIES X X MACHINA

ID@Xbox Showcase

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/04/29/ign-x-idxbox-digital-showcase-recap-2024/

Showed over 30 indie games, none of them were Silksong https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/over-30-indie-games-were-shown-at-the-idxbox-showcase-with-one-devastating-omission-heres-what-to-expect-in-2024

Got more details about 33 Immortals https://youtu.be/mGlbSdFaT0c

“Snack n’ slash” RPG Hangry https://youtu.be/RhkZyid3RNs

Jackbox Naughty Pack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGHVhFTejzU

First M-rated game in the series https://www.gameinformer.com/idxbox-showcase/2024/04/29/jackbox-naughty-pack-is-the-first-m-rated-game-in-the-series

Vampire Survivors “AAAA” update https://youtu.be/Tgn_XyvtOro

“Immersive door opening action” https://youtu.be/Tgn_XyvtOro?t=19

Fully rendered running animations https://youtu.be/Tgn_XyvtOro?t=36

And also actual content https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1794680/view/4104540932629694732

Promise Mascot Agency https://youtu.be/WfHANtMIW8Y

From developer of detective adventure game Paradise Killer https://www.eurogamer.net/paradise-killer-studios-next-is-worlds-first-and-best-open-world-mascot-management-crime-drama

"world's first (and best) open-world mascot management crime drama" https://lmg.gg/NDIZb (Eurogamer)

You play as a disgraced yakuza exiled to a cursed town and forced to run a mascot agency https://lmg.gg/kD4XM (Eurogamer)

 

QUICK BITS

 

THINKING OUTSIDE THE SQUARE (ENIX)

Square Enix canceling games, rethinking approach

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/square-enix-is-rethinking-how-it-approaches-games-and-its-coming-at-a-huge-cost/1100-6523070/

https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/square-enix-records-140-8-million-in-content-abandonment-losses-after-reviewing-development-pipeline

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/square-enix-takes-140-million-hit-on-cancelled-games

 

THE HELLDIVERS 2 SEGMENT

Helldivers 2 changes how ricochets work, confusing players

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/helldivers-2-players-decry-broken-ricochet-changes-then-realise-its-probably-just-shrapnel-from-the-now-deadly-eruptor/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Helldivers/comments/1cgjfxk/ricochet_is_bs/

Termicide backfired https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2024/04/30/helldivers-2-termicide-backfires-creates-terminid-supercolony/?sh=11d50916a1d5

 

IT’S [REDACTED] OBVIOUS

Xbox announced upcoming showcase followed by a Direct that TOTALLY isn’t CoD

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/04/30/xbox-games-showcase-2024-redacted-direct/

https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/04/30/xbox-games-showcase-announced-for-june-followed-by-a-secret-direct-for-a-beloved

https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/30/24145262/xbox-games-showcase-summer-2024-call-of-duty-direct

 

THE MONSTER MASH

Tekken 8 bot that mashes one button demolishing players

https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2024/04/random-one-button-tekken-8-bot-attracts-thousands-of-viewers-as-it-beats-real-players-online 

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/a-bot-in-tekken-8-is-demolishing-players-by-only-pressing-one-button-over-and-over

https://www.vg247.com/have-you-fallen-victim-to-tekken-8s-latest-vigilante-an-eddy-gordo-hero-thats-wreaking-havoc-online

 

WITTY ESCAPE

Google’s Sonic trolling

https://9to5google.com/2024/04/29/google-play-sonic-the-hedgehog-thread/

https://twitter.com/GooglePlay/status/1784251158933942361

Starts innocent enough https://twitter.com/GooglePlay/status/1784251162234880165

Gets off the rails quickly https://twitter.com/GooglePlay/status/1784251165418434811

1991 Sonic from 2018 https://twitter.com/GooglePlay/status/1784251177057636830

[Kazlehoff]

The fact you guys did not mention in the slightest that Bad-thesda demolished the modding communities of Skyrim and Fallout 4 in order to do nothing but some INI edits and add a paid mod store so they can generate some money to cover how bad Starfield was in honesty kind of shocking, and IMHO was more important than some of the other stories covered. Google not knowing anything about sonic? Some Tekkin bot? Really? Couldn't even mention that Skyrim and Fallout modding is currently in shambles due to Todd's greed while specifically talking about bad-thesda? Really? Really really?

[Kazlehoff]

I'm sure you guys won't mention this either.

 

https://www.pcgamesn.com/steam-deck/fallout-4-next-gen-update-broken

[JakobRush]

On 4/30/2024 at 8:10 PM, Kazlehoff said:

The fact you guys did not mention in the slightest that Bad-thesda demolished the modding communities of Skyrim and Fallout 4 in order to do nothing but some INI edits and add a paid mod store so they can generate some money to cover how bad Starfield was in honesty kind of shocking, and IMHO was more important than some of the other stories covered. Google not knowing anything about sonic? Some Tekkin bot? Really? Couldn't even mention that Skyrim and Fallout modding is currently in shambles due to Todd's greed while specifically talking about bad-thesda? Really? Really really?

Is it shocking we didn't cover old news?  Bethesda has been messing with their modding community for YEARS.  We literally talked about their modding controversies way back; I think it was when they announced Starfield was getting its own creation club.  I'm pretty sure we even discussed some of the modding controversies when we talked about the modder that was charging for DLSS 3 support for Starfield. 

 

You also seem to misunderstand how 'Linked videos work; we always cover 8 separate stories: 3 mains and 5 quick bits.  There have been VERY few instances when we have deviated from that formula--at least while I've been writing for TL/GL--and they were massive exceptions.

 

I had >200 words to talk about Bethesda; I wanted to talk about something news worthy, like that there's two Fallout projects in development and the next Fallout game may not be developed by Bethesda (something I'm FULLY in favor of); what would YOU have cut from the title story?  How many words would you have dedicated to Bethesda doing one of the most iconically Bethesda maneuvers? Do you have a collection of sources to show off while you talk about it?

12 hours ago, Kazlehoff said:

I'm sure you guys won't mention this either.

 

https://www.pcgamesn.com/steam-deck/fallout-4-next-gen-update-broken

Ok, now I'm starting to get angry.  I don't know what your point is here, but if it's that we're Bethesda apologists, you didn't watch the video close enough.

 

Also, "Bad-thesda"? Just say Bethesda.  Calling them names makes you sound like a grade-schooler.

 

BTW, if you want us to cover a story:

1. maybe post it in the appropriate area of the forum?
2. Don't be a jerk.

I stand by my writing because I work hard and I'm passionate about bringing people interesting gaming news.  I'd appreciate it if you didn't try and besmirch my efforts.  Thanks.

 

PS: YSK Todd Howard isn't the only one leading Bethesda.  There's a managing director (which I believe means "CEO") and a studio director, not to mention the fact that Bethesda is itself owned by ZeniMax Media. 

[Kazlehoff]

Your reporting is fine. This is obviously a niche environment. It's just frustrating to see people talk positively about a company (not this video, the previous, IIRC) who is burning the people who are still loving their older games, because they're frigging greedy.

 

Am I the only person who remembers how the Skyrim community nearly RIOTED the first time Bethesda (with steam's help) tried to implement a paid mod store? I wish people still had that energy about their games.

Let's look at the recent history for Bethesda, in terms of its older titles.

A couple of months ago, They told everyone they were releasing an update for Skyrim. Once released, this update changed some INI files, patched a couple of things the community fixed years ago, broke their own DRM (fixed in the 2nd patch a couple of days later), and added a paid mod store. Right away, bad actors started downloading anything they could get away with from nexus mods, and uploading it to the new paid mod store. Bethesda did not do anything, and I'm some cases I'm aware of, legitimate mod authors were denied publishing rights on the new paid mod store, while their mods were being monetized by anyone capable of clicking the download button on nexus. Bethesda did nothing for quite a while on this. Nexus mods had to update their TOS so that authors could legitimately point to their nexus listing and say "see, says here i don't give permission to post my content on the paid mod store"

It also broke SKSE, the Skyrim Script Extender, and anything that interacted with it. They also changed how ESPFE (Light plugins) were handled, so anything that was marked as a Light plugin, broke. Someone had to make a mod to fix that too.

Worse, because so many mods are no longer maintained, and just keep working because the game had not been updated in like a decade, it meant a lot of mods were just... gone, unless you downgrade the game, or learn how to work with the mods, and update it yourself (and even there not all mods allow rights for that).

They then let the waters settle a little, and right as the fallout show dropped, they did the exact same thing to fallout. Updated some INI files (their 'widescreen' fix, which looks awful and stretched.), fixed some stuff the community fixed years ago, and added a paid mod store. With fallout, they just also added the moniker "Next gen update".
In the process, they got Fallout 4 Steam Deck verified, all while actually making the game a worse experience on the deck.

Broke FO4SE (Fallout 4 Script extender) which a lot of other mods depend on. They also nuked the years -long development of Fallout London, a DLC sized mod, with this new update, as well.

I'm repeating myself here. Same issues as Skyrim, but Post-apocalyptic themed.

 

[mrtwonavels]

On 4/30/2024 at 8:20 PM, JakobRush said:

 

NEWS SOURCES:

 

GOD HOWARD STRIKES AGAIN

Bethesda teases two Fallout projects

https://wccftech.com/fallout-in-development-projects-teased-by-todd-howard/

Kinda Funny podcast https://youtu.be/7wvqF41_Bgw?t=1315

Specific quote (written out) https://lmg.gg/SXmXy (Wccftech)

One COULD potentially be the Fallout 3 remaster hinted at in FTC leaks https://www.ign.com/articles/oblivion-remaster-fallout-3-remaster-and-more-leaked-from-microsoft-document

New Fallout after Elder Scrolls, 2030s https://insider-gaming.com/next-fallout-game-come-faster/

Trying to come sooner, according  to Jez Corden on Xbox Two podcast https://youtu.be/4frfcWeJMAc?t=5260  

Howard also says they’re working on output https://www.techradar.com/gaming/consoles-pc/todd-howard-says-bethesda-is-now-focused-on-finding-ways-to-increase-our-output

Good since Starfield’s first DLC isn’t coming out until this fall https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2024/04/30/starfields-shattered-space-expansion-gets-release-window-new-patch-coming/?sh=1120bfb01786

Getting city maps only 8 months after release https://lmg.gg/XsMVA (Forbes)

 

ESCAPE FROM BACKLASH

Tarkov update: PvE mode will be made available to Edge of Darkness members

https://www.mmorpg.com/news/escape-from-tarkovs-exclusive-pve-mode-will-be-made-available-to-all-edge-of-darkness-edition-owners-2000131361

Locked new mode behind new $250 game bundle https://kotaku.com/escape-from-tarkov-pve-dlc-unheard-edition-1851441954

Edge of Darkness bundle promised all future DLC for its $100 price tag https://lmg.gg/zNPRk (Kotaku)

COO Nikita Buyanov said “PvE gamemode this is not DLC. DLC in our understanding is the major additions to the game” (EDITOR: highlight quote) https://www.reddit.com/r/EscapefromTarkov/comments/1cecaza/update_on_current_situation/

Offered EOD purchasers 6 months of the mode https://www.reddit.com/r/EscapefromTarkov/comments/1cdg9cu/the_update_regarding_eod_edition/

Capitulated in another post, “did not foresee” this reaction from customers https://www.reddit.com/r/EscapefromTarkov/comments/1cf2gnm/more_feedback/

Don’t have the server space to give everyone the mode tho lol

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/tarkov-studio-claims-it-actually-doesnt-have-the-server-capacity-for-everyone-who-paid-dollar150-to-play-its-upcoming-pve-mode-still-wants-players-to-pay-extra/

 

IGN X ID@XBOX SERIES X X MACHINA

ID@Xbox Showcase

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/04/29/ign-x-idxbox-digital-showcase-recap-2024/

Showed over 30 indie games, none of them were Silksong https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/over-30-indie-games-were-shown-at-the-idxbox-showcase-with-one-devastating-omission-heres-what-to-expect-in-2024

Got more details about 33 Immortals https://youtu.be/mGlbSdFaT0c

“Snack n’ slash” RPG Hangry https://youtu.be/RhkZyid3RNs

Jackbox Naughty Pack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGHVhFTejzU

First M-rated game in the series https://www.gameinformer.com/idxbox-showcase/2024/04/29/jackbox-naughty-pack-is-the-first-m-rated-game-in-the-series

Vampire Survivors “AAAA” update https://youtu.be/Tgn_XyvtOro

“Immersive door opening action” https://youtu.be/Tgn_XyvtOro?t=19

Fully rendered running animations https://youtu.be/Tgn_XyvtOro?t=36

And also actual content https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1794680/view/4104540932629694732

Promise Mascot Agency https://youtu.be/WfHANtMIW8Y

From developer of detective adventure game Paradise Killer https://www.eurogamer.net/paradise-killer-studios-next-is-worlds-first-and-best-open-world-mascot-management-crime-drama

"world's first (and best) open-world mascot management crime drama" https://lmg.gg/NDIZb (Eurogamer)

You play as a disgraced yakuza exiled to a cursed town and forced to run a mascot agency https://lmg.gg/kD4XM (Eurogamer)

 

QUICK BITS

 

THINKING OUTSIDE THE SQUARE (ENIX)

Square Enix canceling games, rethinking approach

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/square-enix-is-rethinking-how-it-approaches-games-and-its-coming-at-a-huge-cost/1100-6523070/

https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/square-enix-records-140-8-million-in-content-abandonment-losses-after-reviewing-development-pipeline

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/square-enix-takes-140-million-hit-on-cancelled-games

 

THE HELLDIVERS 2 SEGMENT

Helldivers 2 changes how ricochets work, confusing players

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/helldivers-2-players-decry-broken-ricochet-changes-then-realise-its-probably-just-shrapnel-from-the-now-deadly-eruptor/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Helldivers/comments/1cgjfxk/ricochet_is_bs/

Termicide backfired https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2024/04/30/helldivers-2-termicide-backfires-creates-terminid-supercolony/?sh=11d50916a1d5

 

IT’S [REDACTED] OBVIOUS

Xbox announced upcoming showcase followed by a Direct that TOTALLY isn’t CoD

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/04/30/xbox-games-showcase-2024-redacted-direct/

https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/04/30/xbox-games-showcase-announced-for-june-followed-by-a-secret-direct-for-a-beloved

https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/30/24145262/xbox-games-showcase-summer-2024-call-of-duty-direct

 

THE MONSTER MASH

Tekken 8 bot that mashes one button demolishing players

https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2024/04/random-one-button-tekken-8-bot-attracts-thousands-of-viewers-as-it-beats-real-players-online 

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/a-bot-in-tekken-8-is-demolishing-players-by-only-pressing-one-button-over-and-over

https://www.vg247.com/have-you-fallen-victim-to-tekken-8s-latest-vigilante-an-eddy-gordo-hero-thats-wreaking-havoc-online

 

WITTY ESCAPE

Google’s Sonic trolling

https://9to5google.com/2024/04/29/google-play-sonic-the-hedgehog-thread/

https://twitter.com/GooglePlay/status/1784251158933942361

Starts innocent enough https://twitter.com/GooglePlay/status/1784251162234880165

Gets off the rails quickly https://twitter.com/GooglePlay/status/1784251165418434811

1991 Sonic from 2018 https://twitter.com/GooglePlay/status/1784251177057636830

Loved the premature baby joke. Being a person born 3 weeks premature I can confirm I was more complete than any of the latest Bethesda games

[JakobRush]

On 5/3/2024 at 12:24 PM, Kazlehoff said:

Your reporting is fine. This is obviously a niche environment. It's just frustrating to see people talk positively about a company (not this video, the previous, IIRC) who is burning the people who are still loving their older games, because they're frigging greedy.

 

Am I the only person who remembers how the Skyrim community nearly RIOTED the first time Bethesda (with steam's help) tried to implement a paid mod store? I wish people still had that energy about their games.

Let's look at the recent history for Bethesda, in terms of its older titles.

A couple of months ago, They told everyone they were releasing an update for Skyrim. Once released, this update changed some INI files, patched a couple of things the community fixed years ago, broke their own DRM (fixed in the 2nd patch a couple of days later), and added a paid mod store. Right away, bad actors started downloading anything they could get away with from nexus mods, and uploading it to the new paid mod store. Bethesda did not do anything, and I'm some cases I'm aware of, legitimate mod authors were denied publishing rights on the new paid mod store, while their mods were being monetized by anyone capable of clicking the download button on nexus. Bethesda did nothing for quite a while on this. Nexus mods had to update their TOS so that authors could legitimately point to their nexus listing and say "see, says here i don't give permission to post my content on the paid mod store"

It also broke SKSE, the Skyrim Script Extender, and anything that interacted with it. They also changed how ESPFE (Light plugins) were handled, so anything that was marked as a Light plugin, broke. Someone had to make a mod to fix that too.

Worse, because so many mods are no longer maintained, and just keep working because the game had not been updated in like a decade, it meant a lot of mods were just... gone, unless you downgrade the game, or learn how to work with the mods, and update it yourself (and even there not all mods allow rights for that).

They then let the waters settle a little, and right as the fallout show dropped, they did the exact same thing to fallout. Updated some INI files (their 'widescreen' fix, which looks awful and stretched.), fixed some stuff the community fixed years ago, and added a paid mod store. With fallout, they just also added the moniker "Next gen update".
In the process, they got Fallout 4 Steam Deck verified, all while actually making the game a worse experience on the deck.

Broke FO4SE (Fallout 4 Script extender) which a lot of other mods depend on. They also nuked the years -long development of Fallout London, a DLC sized mod, with this new update, as well.

I'm repeating myself here. Same issues as Skyrim, but Post-apocalyptic themed.

 

I don't remember ever talking about Bethesda in a flattering light.  I'm pretty sure every time we've mentioned them we've roasted them (admittedly a lot about Starfield not having city maps but COME ON).  I remember being nice about the Fallout TV show, but I feel like Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan deserve more credit for that.  

 

You don't have to keep telling me about how Bethesda has screwed over modders because I know about that, but I can tell you're obviously very upset.