It has been a long week here in the UK, even with the bank holidays. Not just in the wider world, but also specifically here. I have been working on some big changes that might be far off, but I am excited about. But, more on that later. For now, let’s take a look at the gaming news in this week’s Wayward Roundup.
Warframe released Voruna Prime and she is incredible
I have spoken about this pretty much everywhere, so let’s continue that trend! Warframe has released its latest Prime frame, and it is an amazing one. Voruna Prime is a wolven queen with four severed wolves’ heads by her side, and I adore her. I love wolves. Usually, I prefer them intact, but sure, why not?
Her lore and looks are already incredible, as is that trailer. Digital Extremes’ first NSFW one, and they smashed it. All made better by the fact Voruna Prime is a monster in battle. I have been cleaving mobs apart with her and Sarofang, her signature axe. I recently switched to Wukong Prime as my main, and I might have to change again.
Pokémon Champions releases to lukewarm fanfare
For a game that is supposed to be the future of competitive Pokémon play, Champions has not launched to much acclaim. There are bugs aplenty, and a shocking amount of monetization, to the point where this could be P2W, which nobody wants to see. And this is even without the gameplay problem.
You can’t enjoy the basic 6v6 combat of usual Pokémon entries. And even for this series, there is a shocking limit to the number of Pokémon you can use. Not to mention all the missing items. We are getting used to limitations in the main series, but this is ridiculous. Hopefully, this will change pretty soon, especially the P2W aspects.
FFXIV releases a special website for Patch 7.5
Square has released a special website for FFXIV Patch 7.5, detailing all the fun we have upcoming. Although personally, I am just happy to be leaving Dawntrail. But it is not the story I am happiest about. Instead, that will be the new limited job of Beastmaster: roaming Eorzea with a band of fluffy friends.
There is, of course, a host of art to take a look at. With very mild spoilers if you look hard enough at the MSQ ones. Also interesting is The Clyteum dungeon, which features a boss styled after Scorpion Sentinel. This also follows more FF7 goodies, such as the Red XIII minion and the Hardy-Daytona bike available to purchase. Maybe we shall see more Midgar fun.
Epic Games is building a Disney Extraction shooter
Epic has reportedly been having a difficult time lately and is hoping that a set of Disney games will change its fortunes. The first of these is supposedly a Disney-themed extraction shooter, which is rather interesting. On one hand, extraction shooters have been done to death, but on the other, Disney is huge.
Before we completely write this off, let’s remember this one big point: Kingdom Hearts. I doubt many people thought an RPG where you adventured with Donald and Goofy, wielding a huge key, would be fun. But then it turned out to be one of the greatest series in the world. Sure, seeing Mickey with a Glock will be strange, but maybe it will work.
Take-Two lays off their AI team
The topic of Take-Two laying off their AI development team is a tricky one. First, we can’t just gloss over the human cost of this. A whole group of people lost their jobs, and that is, of course, a shame. Having said that, AI has been costing jobs all over the shop, so seeing another crack in the foundations is not a completely bad thing.
This was not a wholly unforeseen event in any case. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick was always against AI replacing the creative process, as should anyone with half a brain cell. It will never recreate that human spark. And seeing a huge company like Take-Two do this might lead to more companies re-evaluating their stances, especially if the next GTA is as good as everyone hopes and features no AI. Although I’m pretty sure that’s been in development since before AI was ever a thing.
