NEWS ON THE HOUR
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 in the Newsstand section...
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 in the Newsstand section...
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Written by Alleine Dragonfyre | Reported by Asclepius | PC Games by Drizz Dragonfyre
Local News & Events
Embark on a Conversationalist Guided Tour of a Haunted Gothic Inn, tailor-made for non-PvP enthusiasts. Defeat monsters in the dungeon if you dare, and discover three Fishing Grottos within. Bring your gear! The eerie inn awaits in Spite, City of the Dead. Teleport, find the Town Crier and head towards the stone walls. Look for the tower with bats and birds. Happy Haunting in the free MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar!
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. The party will be broadcast LIVE on Avatars Radio, and video simulcasting at twitch.tv/avatarsradiorocks with our own DJ Celith Wraine, spinning music for the dance floor. Plan your attire and join Guardians of the Silver Serpent for friends, conversation, music, dancing, and prizes.
MORE: Visit the Shroud of the Avatar Player-Run Events official forum
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.
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
PowerWash Simulator Devs Unveil Ikaro: Will Not Die
FuturLab, known for PowerWash Simulator, unveils Ikaro: Will Not Die, a spiritual successor to Velocity. Velocity began as a shoot-'em-up game, evolving in 2014's Velocity 2X. Ikaro promises a fast-paced action-adventure rogue-lite, blending Velocity's flow-state action in third-person with new systems. Revealed in Xbox Partner Preview, players will control Ikaro, focusing on speed and style. The game features rapid melee attacks, air dashes, and somersaults in a neon-soaked cyberpunk world.
Ark Survival Ascended Released on PC
Microsoft unveiled the gameplay trailer for Ark: Survival Ascended, an Unreal Engine 5 remake of Ark: Survival Evolved. Developer Studio Wildcard announced an immediate PC release. The game showcases enhanced graphics, physics-based destruction, and revamped UI customization. Ascended introduces a cross-platform modding system, potentially collaborating with established studios. The release includes all prior DLCs and promises 11 new creatures in future updates. Experience the visually stunning remastered wilderness and dinosaurs now on PC.
Open Beta for The Finals Starts Today
Embark Studios announces the open beta for "The Finals," their free-to-play shooter. Starting today, this marks the game's inaugural test supporting cross-platform play and progression. The beta, showcasing the Skyway Stadium map and new "Bank-It" mode, will run until November 5. Players can explore 20 weapons, 26 gadgets, and 9 unique abilities. A 16-tier Battle Pass with enduring rewards awaits, bridging beta progress to the game's official launch. Embark aims to fine-tune servers, gather feedback, and assess performance for this thrilling virtual battleground. Release date pending.
Sony Exec Warns Industry About Mega Mergers
Former CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, Shawn Layden, has voiced concerns about the gaming industry. In a recent interview, Layden highlighted the impact of studio consolidation on creativity and expressed worries about the lack of genre diversity among big AAA studios. He cautioned against the industry coalescing around a few genres, potentially limiting its appeal. Additionally, Layden emphasized the need for better game preservation, stressing that games should be protected for future generations to enjoy. He urged the industry to realize its responsibility in preserving gaming history. These concerns come as large gaming publishers engage in acquisition sprees, raising questions about the industry's direction.
Vote in IGN’s Festival of Fear Horror Face-Off
IGN's Festival of Fear is in full swing, counting down to Halloween by reviving their horror video game Face-Off. New titles like Resident Evil 4 Remake, Lies of P, and Sons of the Forest vie to dethrone classics like Silent Hill 2. Readers can decide which game reigns supreme in this spooky showdown. Face-Off runs till October 30, and results will be unveiled on Halloween. Votes have no limit, so every voice counts. IGN's horror experts curated the list, first debuting in 2022. Have tastes changed, or will Silent Hill 2 hold the crown again? Check out last year's winners and join the vote!
Payday 3 Developers Continue Their Apologies
Payday 3 developers extend their apology tour initiated in September due to launch issues. Starbreeze Studios' CEO had apologized for the co-op heist game's troubled launch, marred by major server and matchmaking problems. Despite some fixes, another major patch is needed. A recent post on the Payday website addressed their silence and attributed the patch delay to critical errors in the update pipeline. New content is on hold, but free updates are promised before year-end. Initially boasting a strong player base, the game faced matchmaking problems, with a third-party update contributing to the issues. The cause of the update pipeline problem remains unknown.
False Prophet's Beast Now on Steam Early Access
Polish developer False Prophet's "Beast" is now on Steam early access, offering gamers a dark, Gothic RPG experience. Playing as Anton Sabbados, you navigate a plague-ridden Carpathian world, choosing to embrace or suppress inner demons, influencing the fates of companions. With Unreal Engine 5 graphics, it features a grid-less battle system and skill progression. Early access boasts 20 missions, two protagonists, seven enemy classes, 11 enemy types, and 40 weapons, with a full release planned for 2024. "Beast" promises a morally ambiguous narrative and stunning visuals, straddling the line between compelling and cringe-worthy in the dark fantasy genre.
