The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has already received two major expansions, a critically acclaimed tv series and now a substantial Remastered upgrade, so bringing Geralt of Rivia back for another adventure more than a decade after his original journey is an ambitious proposition. Songs of the Past is nevertheless doing exactly that, sending the veteran Witcher to the previously unexplored region of Letten for a story that puts his longtime friend Dandelion at the centre of another supernatural mystery. After seeing a lengthy hands-off demonstration of the expansion and the accompanying Remaster at Gamescom, it looks like CD PROJEKT RED is betting that there is still enough life left in Geralt’s story to justify one more trip down the Path. Continue reading “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past preview (Gamescom)”
Category: Previews
Rise of the Spellbaker preview (Gamescom)
There is something inherently appealing about seeing a developer known for one particular type of game step well outside its comfort zone. Realmforge Studios has spent years building the Dungeons series around dungeon management and strategy, but Rise of the Spellbaker takes that familiar sense of humor and fantasy and applies it to something considerably more unusual. Combining action-adventure, village building and a touch of life-sim progression with a magical baking system, the game certainly has no shortage of ideas. After getting hands-on with the PC version during Gamescom, however, it is clear that there is still quite a bit of baking left to do before the final recipe is ready. Continue reading “Rise of the Spellbaker preview (Gamescom)”
Mega Man: Dual Override review (Gamescom)
Mega Man has been away for long enough that the return of Capcom’s Blue Bomber already feels like an event. Eight years have passed since Mega Man 11, but Mega Man: Dual Override is not looking to reinvent the series from the ground up. Instead, it takes the familiar run-and-gun platforming formula and adds a handful of new systems designed to give players more options without losing the precision and challenge that have defined the series for decades. After going hands-on with the PS5 version at Gamescom, there are good reasons to be hopeful that this can be a meaningful return rather than simply a nostalgic one. Continue reading “Mega Man: Dual Override review (Gamescom)”
Developer interview: Dimensional Double Shift (Single Player Mode)
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)”
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)”