Virtual reality has always promised more natural ways for players to interact with games, but talking to AI-controlled coworkers while trying to keep a dimension-hopping fast-food restaurant running sounds like a particularly chaotic way to put that idea to the test. During Gamescom, we met with Owlchemy Labs and Artificial Agency to try out the upcoming single-player mode for Dimensional Double Shift and see how its T.E.M.P. coworkers handle the unpredictable nature of human communication. Rather than using generative AI to create dialogue on the fly, the two studios have taken a more controlled approach, combining hand-crafted content with AI-driven interpretation and behavior. With the mode still in development ahead of its planned 2027 release, we spoke with Owlchemy Labs CEOwl Andrew Eiche and Artificial Agency co-founder and CEO Brian Tanner about how the system works, what the team learned from Gamescom players, and whether a robotic coworker can capture some of the chaos of playing alongside another human. Continue reading “Developer interview: Dimensional Double Shift (Single Player Mode)”
MXGP 26 – The Official Game review (PS5)
MXGP 26 – The Official Game is something of a reset for the motocross series. After a lengthy absence and a poorly received previous entry, Nacon and Artefacts Studio have rebuilt the game around Unreal Engine 5 and a new physics model, with the aim of making the racing itself the star of the show. That approach largely pays off, particularly once players become accustomed to the demanding handling model, but the game also makes some puzzling omissions along the way. MXGP 26 looks considerably better than its predecessor and the changing track conditions add an interesting tactical element, yet the lack of a proper career mode and an occasionally unpredictable physics system prevent it from feeling like the fully fledged motocross simulator reboot it could have been. Continue reading “MXGP 26 – The Official Game review (PS5)”
Elta: Defy All Gods preview (Gamescom)
There is no shortage of games drawing inspiration from the Metroidvania formula, but Elta: Defy All Gods immediately stands out by combining that exploration-driven structure with third-person brawler combat and a rather unusual sci-fi setting. Developed by Afterburner Studios, the team behind Dreamscaper, and published by Focus Entertainment, the game puts a hulking warrior monk and a tiny dragon god together on an intergalactic quest that involves lost deities, hostile worlds and plenty of punching. After spending an extended session with the PC demo at Gamescom, there is already plenty to like about this unusual combination, although some of its rougher edges suggest there is still work to do before launch. Continue reading “Elta: Defy All Gods preview (Gamescom)”
DLC roundup: Tempest Rising, Escape Simulator 2 & Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance
Recent DLC releases have been giving established games new ways to revisit their familiar formulas, whether by introducing an entirely new faction, exploring a post-apocalyptic setting or expanding an already demanding tactical campaign. From the Veti’s unusual approach to warfare in Tempest Rising and the cooperative puzzles of Escape Simulator 2 to the latest Terminator conflict in Dark Fate – Defiance, these expansions take rather different approaches to adding new content. Here is what we thought of these three recent DLC releases. Continue reading “DLC roundup: Tempest Rising, Escape Simulator 2 & Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance”
Seafarer: The Ship Sim review (PS5)
There is something inherently appealing about the idea of taking command of a ship and heading out onto the open sea, particularly when the alternative is usually watching someone else do it in a documentary. Seafarer: The Ship Sim attempts to turn that fantasy into a full simulation, combining cargo transportation, rescue operations, firefighting, patrol work and general ship management with a career system and an optional four-player multiplayer mode. Published by astragon Entertainment, the game is an ambitious attempt to make modern maritime work into something that can be both a simulation and a relaxing way to spend an evening. The PlayStation 5 version certainly has enough going for it to make sailing worthwhile, although the journey is not always as smooth as the impressive ocean surrounding it. Continue reading “Seafarer: The Ship Sim review (PS5)”