Good day, Avatars! NEWS ON THE HOUR is broadcast at the top of every hour, Tuesday - Sunday, 24 hours a day. The news we report is available for reading on our Discord server under “Metaverse News.” 

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Written by Alleine Dragonfyre | Reported by Asclepius

Local News in Shroud of the Avatar

Leading up to All Hallow’s Eve, from October 1-31, Vooch invites Shroud of the Avatar Community members for three immersive tours in Sleepy Hollow. Starting at the Tavern, the Sleepy Hollow General Tour has six key locations, revealing the tale of the Headless Horseman. 2017 Developer Grand Prize winner, the Sleepy Hollow Haunted House, features the original audio tour. Bring a portable aether amplifier for optimal immersion. The Haunted Inn, a tour in itself, unveils its story through bulletin board flyers. The Avatars Radio Halloween Masquerade Ball in Sleepy Hollow will be held Saturday, October 28th, 2-6 pm CST or 10 pm-2 am GMT/London time, in Vooch's Castle at Sleepy Hollow. We’ll be simulcasting on the radio with full tv coverage twitch.tv/avatarsradiorocks. Don your best costumes for in-game & real-life prizes!

Gear up for the weekly Lightbringer Isle Auction, which takes place every Wednesday - that’s today! Determine your prices, starting bids, and reserves. Drop labeled items at the Auction House or mail them to Hemnu Lighbringer, along with bid details. Expect a diverse array of offerings for a rich experience. Remember, a 10% commission on the final sale price applies. Visit the Shroud of the Avatar official forums for info. 

On October 28th, 7 pm NBT, in Duanor, the Guardians of the Silver Serpent Guild host the inaugural 'Get Your Barbarian On' Costume Party at GSS Great Hall. Plan your attire and join Guardians of the Silver Serpent for music, dance, prizes, and creativity.

Lighbringer Isle hosts a monthly fishing contest that invites avid anglers to cast lines for the largest fish in the Isle’s salt and lava waters. Prizes will be revealed monthly for each group, with the ultimate Grand Prize awaiting the angler who nets the longest combination of lava and saltwater fish caught. Visit the Shroud of the Avatar official forums for info. 

On Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 10 am to 1 pm Pacific Time, head to the Isle of Light and fast-travel to the Abandoned Mine Fight and Fish dungeon. Seek out Flair Minamoto for a themed uniform, mandatory for participation. Presentation of your outfit to Flair grants your fishing license. Join a party based on your uniform and navigate trolls to reach fishing spots. Prizes await, even a random booby prize. Tune into Flair's Shroud of the Avatar stream and join the game's official Discord server.

Community Member Shawn has rebuilt the ever-so-useful Siege Mapper for any Avatars missing it, which is now posted on moongatetravelers.com. This siege mapper gives times and locations for each of the 8 Cabalist-influenced sieges wreaking havoc outside player-owned towns. For your seige needs, please note it -  that's moongatetravelers.com for the Siege Mapper.  

Shawn and Zealot2 have revived a valuable resource for Novian adventurers - ShroudoftheAvatar.net. The receipt system allows users to track transactions and in-game commerce. Sharing data is optional but can boost visibility for vendors across Novia.  ShroudoftheAvatar.net enables players to hunt down vendors, player statistics, and even loot data. The dynamic duo has big plans for the future, including raffles, contests, and expanded API data. Improvements include enhanced town stats, crafting insights, and even glimpses into the eccentric world of farmers and brewers. ShroudoftheAvatar.net is a player-run project not affiliated with the official game.  (Announcing one week only, daily) 

For more information about local events & happenings or to post your own, visit the official Shroud of the Avatar player events forums and the Avatars Radio Events channel in Discord.

Metaverse News

Blue Isle Studios announced the 10th Anniversary re-release of "Slender: The Arrival" during Unreal Fest 2023. The game, set to launch on PC October 18, has been revamped with Unreal Engine 5 technology. New content, including extended storylines, multiplayer mode, and cross-platform modding, is scheduled for release in Q2 2024. The narrative follows Lauren's search for her friend Kate, who's become obsessed with Slender Man folklore. Players explore eerie locations, stalked by the enigmatic figure, delving deeper into the lives Slender Man has touched for a definitive experience.

In the lead-up to All Hallow’s Eve, Red Dead Online players can rake in Double Rewards by safeguarding locals from relentless waves of attackers in the All Hallow’s Call to Arms event. New maps and Telegrams are set to debut later this month. Reports suggest an ominous presence descending upon the frontier. Defend townsfolk, earn cursed items with The Halloween Pass 2. Madame Nazar seeks skilled Collectors to uncover hidden heirlooms, offering extra rewards for daring adventurers. The event runs through November 6, with all offers and rewards delivered within 72 hours of completion.

Naughty Dog, known for The Last of Us and Uncharted, is downsizing, affecting contract developers. Approximately 25 individuals, including QA testers and production staff, face layoffs without severance. The studio's new multiplayer game in The Last of Us universe is reportedly stalled. Contracts end in October, with employees urged to keep quiet. Sony has not responded to inquiries. The multiplayer project faced setbacks, with resources redirected following a negative internal performance review by parent company Bungie, which behemoth Sony owns. While not fully canceled, the multiplayer game is effectively on hold. We wish safe travels to all affected by this downsizing.

In EverQuest II's milestone 20th expansion, "Ballads of Zimara," players venture to Overrealm and the new Zimara Breadth, aiming to thwart the Djinn Sovereign for lasting peace. Adventure and trade skill levels surge to 130, accompanied by fresh solo, heroic, and raid content. Signature quests and a formidable armor set enhance the battle. Advanced Research and Chrono Dungeon twists debut. Editions range from $34.99 to $249.99, each offering unique in-game perks. Studio Head Jenn Chan unveils upcoming content, including Nights of the Dead and Frostfell updates, while plotting the 2024 roadmap and the game’s 20th Anniversary.

In Dead by Daylight's upcoming event, "Haunted by Daylight", launching on October 18th, players can expect a spook-filled experience. On October 24th, a store update will introduce new items. Tome 17: Commitment, dropping on October 11th, brings fresh outfits and charms. A developer livestream on October 13th promises an epic surprise related to the event. The Void Realm awaits in this chilling event, offering daily rewards until November 6th. New cosmetics and past Halloween outfits will be available. With continuous updates and a movie in the works, Dead by Daylight remains a thriving horror game.

The Tuesday patch for Baldur's Gate 3 relieves players grappling with inventory management in this mega-hit Dungeons & Dragons title. After dismissal, companions will no longer automatically transfer story items to players, streamlining gameplay. The patch addresses issues like multiplayer crashes during dialogue, character re-assignment in split-screen, and visual effects on Githyanki female armor. After fan outcry, the beloved cat, His Majesty, has been restored to his original hairless form. For more details, consult the full BG3 patch notes provided by Larian.

Today’s PC Game Releases:

• Anthology of Fear

• Blue Ribbon Bake Off

• Cassette Beasts: Pier of the Unknown

• Dinobreak

• dotAGE

• Garden of Seif: Chronicles of an Assassin

• Heads Will Roll: Reforged

• Hidden Western Frontier Top-Down 3D

• Idle Catfarmia

• Mercenaries of the Kingdom

• October 4: Wordless

• Pea Pod Power

• The night of erosion (prequel)

• Thief Simulator 2: Prologue

• True Colours

• WET GIRLS

• A Tiny Sticker Tale

• The Fabulous Fear Machine

ChatGPT was used to assist in writing today’s news.