Author: Christopher

The development of Baldur’s Gate 3 wasn’t completely free from crunch, according to a senior official at Larian Studios. However, the company managed to keep overtime work to a minimum compared to their previous projects.

Working overtime is common in many industries, but the gaming industry has a history of pushing this practice to the extreme.

The unpredictable nature of complex software development contributes to this, along with the fact that many people consider game development their dream job and are willing to tolerate inconveniences like crunching.

In recent years, there has been more public awareness and discussion about the gaming industry’s crunch culture. This has led to more companies being questioned about their development practices openly.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Dev Explains Crunch Issues

Larian Studios recently weighed in on the ongoing conversation about crunch in game development. CEO Swen Vincke confirmed that Baldur’s Gate 3, which received critical acclaim, required some overtime work to complete. Speaking at the Digital Dragons conference in Krakow, Vincke acknowledged that “a bit” of crunch was necessary due to the complexity of the RPG.

Vincke emphasized that Larian Studios learned from past projects, which helped them minimize the crunch for Baldur’s Gate 3 compared to previous games. He mentioned that Larian’s studios were usually “almost empty” after 8 pm and weekend work was very rare, mostly happening near the end of development.

The company also ended up cutting some content from Baldur’s Gate 3, such as additional maps and playable companions, which helped maintain normal working hours as deadlines approached.

Vincke believes that the intensity of work required for Baldur’s Gate 3 was minimal enough that some might not even consider it a crunch. He also mentioned that paid overtime helped make these extra hours more acceptable for employees.

Larian’s international network of studios played a role in minimizing the crunch, as there was always some part of the team in the office at any given time. Vincke highlighted that Larian recently opened its seventh studio in Warsaw, Poland, in May 2024, further committing to this distributed structure.

Baldur’s Gate 3: Reception and Impact

Vincke said that he and his employees didn’t work too much overtime, but they did have to work a little extra to finish Baldur’s Gate 3. They usually left work by 8 pm and only worked on weekends very rarely.

“I think, honestly, you will always have a little bit of overtime when you’re trying to finish something, especially when there’s so much complexity that needs to be brought together,” Vincke said.

Crunch is a controversial topic in the video game industry. Developers like CD Projekt Red, the studio behind Cyberpunk 2077, and The Witcher, have been criticized for making their employees work mandatory overtime.

The backlash was heard by the leaders of the studio, though, and they say that CD Projekt Red has stopped making their employees work that way.

There’s a perfect game genre for everyone. If you love solving mysteries and puzzles, you’ll enjoy puzzle games. These games include traditional brain teasers with numbers and riddles and some impressive first-person shooters with puzzles.

However, finding good puzzle games is becoming harder because most games these days are RPGs or adventure games. So, here’s a list of the best puzzle games on Steam that will keep you entertained for hours.

1. Portal 2

Anyone who hasn’t played a Portal game should try Portal 2. This sequel to the award-winning original puts you back under the control of GLaDOS, facing complex puzzles that need a good awareness of your surroundings to solve.

Using the portal gun, you move through the environment by creating round portals that let you pass through time and space. All the while, you follow an engaging sci-fi story about a funny yet evil AI that guides you.

2. Machinarium

Machinarium is a point-and-click puzzle game from 2009 that is still great today. The story is about a little robot named Josef who tries to save his girlfriend from a bad group called the Black Cap Brotherhood.

In the game, you explore a metal city with other robots where everything is rusty, dusty, and dirty. The beautiful art style and challenging puzzles make it a fun and engaging experience.

3. GNOG

GNOG is a 3D point-and-click puzzle game where you solve puzzle boxes that look like monster heads. Inspired by real toys, each box has colorful gadgets and gizmos you can play with to find the surprise inside.

After opening the toy, you need to solve the puzzle inside. The bright colors, beautiful music, and smooth animations make the game a treat for your eyes and ears, especially with VR support. The cozy feel of GNOG makes it perfect for relaxing before bed.

4. Dorfromantik

Dorfromantik started as a small game in early access and has become a beloved, simple puzzle game. It’s like the board game Carcassonne but in video game form. You place hexagonal tiles to create villages, forests, fields, and more.

If you enjoy cozy games, you’ll love Dorfromantik. It’s perfect to play with your morning coffee since there’s a natural stopping point; you’ll eventually run out of tiles unless you complete the quests on the map. The challenge is to keep going as long as possible and achieve a higher score.

5. Baba Is You

Instead of always following a game’s rules, Baba Is You lets you make the rules. Each level has words you can move to create sentences, which change how things in the game work.

This game can run on most PCs because of its simple pixel art style. However, Baba Is You is harder than it looks and needs you to think creatively and solve puzzles in unique ways.

6. The Room

If you can’t go to an escape room, The Room is a great alternative. It offers a well-designed and slightly creepy world where you solve complex puzzles. The game starts with a series of unsettling letters that lead you to an abandoned house with a strange safe in the attic, holding an ancient secret.

To open the safe, you need to explore your surroundings, pay close attention to details, and experiment with the house’s many alchemical machines. No other puzzle game has an atmosphere quite like this one.

7. The Talos Principle

Another fantastic sci-fi puzzle game, The Talos Principle, puts you in the shoes of an android exploring a world filled with ancient ruins and advanced technology. As you play, you’ll uncover the truth about yourself and humanity.

The game is packed with puzzles that involve manipulating time, controlling drones, and even using laser beams. Every decision you make has consequences, making the game exciting and unpredictable.

8. The Turing Test

Not all puzzle games have to be viewed from above, as shown by The Turing Test. It’s a stunning first-person shooter game that’s more about solving puzzles than surviving or going on adventures.

In this science fiction game, you play Ava Turing, an ISA astronaut who travels to Europe to find out what happened to its ground crew. When she arrives, Ava has to solve a puzzle that the crew left behind, with the help of the station’s AI, Tom.

9. Glass Masquerade

For a classic puzzle game, Glass Masquerade is an excellent choice. It features stunningly beautiful art deco-style clocks that you complete by solving jigsaw puzzles. The game adds a unique challenge with pieces that are oddly shaped and difficult to fit.

Glass Masquerade is straightforward to understand, but the complexity of the clock faces makes some puzzles quite challenging. It’s perfect for anyone who enjoys traditional and challenging puzzles.

Our post on the 7 Best Top-Down RPGs On Steam delves into the rarest jewels. Keep up with the latest gaming trends in 2024 with our selected selection of 10 Games To Play If You Like Pacific Drive.

Neil Druckmann, the co-studio head of Naughty Dog, which created The Last of Us and Uncharted, has denied comments he was reported to have made in a recent Sony interview.

The interview, released with this week’s Corporate Strategy Meeting, quoted Druckmann as saying that Naughty Dog’s next big game could “redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming.” However, Druckmann stated on Twitter that he never said anything like that.

Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann Responds to Sony Interview

Druckmann explained that Sony edited his “rambling answers” to the questions, causing “some of my words, context, and intent to be lost.” He shared his full answer on Twitter.

This is not quite what I said. A short 🧵 pic.twitter.com/IgjPm1MwaH

— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) May 25, 2024

In his complete response, Druckmann never actually says the sentence he was quoted as saying. The interview quoted him as saying: “I’m eager to see how this new game resonates, especially following the success of The Last of Us, as it could redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming.”

The closest he comes to that is after talking about the success of HBO’s The Last of Us and the Fallout TV show on Amazon Prime.

He says: “I think right now we’ve hit a tipping point where people realize ‘Oh my god, there are all these incredible experiences in games!’ So, I’m not only excited for this new game we’re making — and it’s something fresh for us — but I’m also excited to see how the world reacts to it.”

He continues: “Because of The Last of Us and the show’s success, even people outside of gaming are watching to see what we do next. I’m very excited to see the reaction to this new project — and I’ve already said too much. I’ll stop there.”

The new project at Naughty Dog is still a mystery, but we know they have at least two single-player games in the works after canceling The Last of Us Multiplayer. One of these might be The Last of Us 3, as Neil Druckmann mentioned he has a concept for it, but it is unlikely to be their next release.

Druckmann Teases New Naughty Dog Game: “Could Redefine Mainstream Perceptions of Gaming”

Druckmann’s comments have caused a lot of discussion online, especially in the video game community, where AI is a hot topic. Developers and gamers are worried about AI replacing things like voice acting and story design, but executives are pushing for it, saying it will change how games are made and save money.

In the same Sony series, Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions and Product at PlayStation Studios, said AI in games is important for younger gamers who want everything to feel personalized.

“For example, non-player characters in games could interact with players based on their actions, making the game feel more personal,” Qizilbash said. “This is important for Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who grew up with digital technology and want personalized experiences.”

Earlier this month, EA boss Andrew Wilson told investors that “more than 50% of our development processes will be positively impacted by advances in generative AI.”

Wilson, who oversees EA Sports FC, The Sims, and BioWare games, said AI will make game development “more efficient.” He mentioned that EA Sports FC developers can now create stadiums in six weeks instead of six months.

The Witcher voice actor Doug Cockle also expressed concern about AI in the gaming industry, calling it “inevitable” but “dangerous.” However, the biggest use of AI for voice acting so far has been by The Witcher studio CD Projekt Red, and this was only done to replace a deceased voice actor with permission from the family.

In March, Keywords Studios tried to create a game using only AI but failed because the technology couldn’t replace human talent.

“One key lesson was that while AI can speed up some processes, the best results can only be achieved by experts using AI as a powerful tool in their creative work,” Keywords said.

In the Druckmann interview, the Last of Us director hinted at Naughty Dog’s new game, saying it “could redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming.”

In a teaser video for the new game “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6,” the faces of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln on Mount Rushmore are shown with black blindfolds.

These blindfolds together spell out the words “The Truth Lies.” The game was announced on Thursday by the publisher, Activision.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Officially Announced

Activision has officially announced Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. It will be shown at Xbox’s showcase next month and will be available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. There’s no news yet about a Nintendo version or support for older systems.

For those asking, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

It’s not confirmed whether it’ll be on last-gen (PS4 + Xbox One) or Nintendo Switch yet.

Xbox signed a 10-year deal to keep COD on PlayStation and bring it to Nintendo. pic.twitter.com/IUyXb55lIQ

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) May 23, 2024

A new Nintendo console might be announced soon, and last year, Microsoft made a 10-year deal to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms. It’s not clear what this deal will mean yet, but Xbox wants Nintendo fans to feel fully included in the Call of Duty community.

More Details to Be Revealed at Xbox Games Showcase on June 9

This year’s Call of Duty game returns to the Black Ops series for the first time since 2020’s Black Ops: Cold War. The announcement was leaked early by a full-page ad in USA Today, which fans shared online before the official news.

A video called “Wake up (Rushmore) #thetruthlies” shows a team putting blindfolds on the faces of the presidents on Mount Rushmore at night. The blindfold on Lincoln’s face has a three-headed wolf emblem.

This emblem was also in the newspaper ad and appeared in the last game, Modern Warfare 3. An observant fan posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the game might be set during the Gulf War.

Black Ops 6 set during the Gulf War, as rumored pic.twitter.com/GKZym5L2ZI

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) May 23, 2024

There is no release date, pricing, or details about different editions of the game yet. Activision calls it a “dark new chapter” in the series. They will share more information at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) on June 9 during an online Xbox Games Showcase, followed by a Black Ops 6 Direct broadcast.

The last Black Ops game took place in the early 1980s and was a direct sequel to the first Black Ops game. Like other Call of Duty games, it had a multiplayer mode with Zombies and a free-to-play battle royale game called Warzone.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Teaser

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 teaser trailer is called “Wake Up (Rushmore)” and gives a hint about the new Call of Duty game coming in 2024. The trailer shows live-action footage of Mount Rushmore being vandalized with the words “The Truth Lies.”

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is set to launch this year, with a planned release in late October 2024. There aren’t many details yet, but more information is expected at the Xbox showcase on June 9, 2024.

History of the Call of Duty Franchise

The Call of Duty series is growing. Microsoft’s Activision announced a new game, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, on Thursday, along with a teaser for this first-person shooter game.

No other details were shared yet, but the game developer says more information will come at the Xbox Games Showcase in June. After that, there will be a “Black Ops 6 Direct” presentation. Both events will be live-streamed.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the first new Call of Duty game since Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War came out in 2020. That game was made by Treyarch and Raven Software and published by Activision.

The first Call of Duty game was released in 2003 and was made by Infinity Ward. Since then, there have been many spin-offs and versions made by different developers, including Treyarch and Sledgehammer Games.

The 2024 Xbox Games Showcase, which will start streaming at 10 a.m. PT on June 9, will be the first one after Microsoft merged with Activision Blizzard. It will feature news from Activision, Blizzard, Bethesda, and Xbox Game Studios, along with games from Microsoft’s partners.

The Xbox Games Showcase happens during the Summer Game Fest, a video game convention starting on June 7 in Los Angeles.

One of the main attractions of WoW Remix: Mists of Pandaria is the opportunity for players to acquire a large number of exclusive or previously unavailable mounts. There are a total of 43 mounts that you can add to your collection in MoP Remix, including those purchasable with Bronze.

Collecting all these mounts will require more than 500,000 Bronze, but earning Bronze efficiently can be somewhat tedious.

This guide explains how to obtain the new (or rather, returning) MoP Remix mounts and provides details on how much Bronze each mount costs, helping you plan your purchases accordingly.

WoW’s Mists of Pandaria Remix

World of Warcraft Mists of Pandaria Remix has brought new excitement to WoW. For players getting ready for the next expansion, The War Within, set to release in Fall 2024, this new game mode is a great chance to revisit the Jade Forest once more. Some players are even using an old trick involving frogs to farm resources.

Blizzard Entertainment has recently added lots of new content to World of Warcraft, bringing attention back to the long-running MMORPG. In WoW Classic, players are eager for the launch of Cataclysm, looking forward to creating new Worgen and Goblin characters again.

For players in the regular version of the game, Blizzard introduced a new mode called WoW Remix.

Also Read:

• Kingdom Hearts is Coming to Steam: Get Your Keyblade Ready for June 13th!
• Elden Ring DLC Trailer: Descend into the Land of Shadow!

It brings players back to the Mists of Pandaria expansion, mixing up time and giving a fresh twist to the game. We talked to the WoW developers about what inspired this mode and why it feels a bit like Diablo mixed with WoW.

Now that players are back in the MoP expansion zones, they remember where to farm for resources.

In WoW Remix, enemies drop a new currency called Bronze, which can be used to upgrade gear and buy things. Some players have figured out the best spots to farm Bronze, similar to what players did when Mists of Pandaria first came out in 2011.

One popular method, called Frog Farming, involves going to the Timeless Isle and finding groups of frogs.

Players group them up and then kill them all in one spot to make them respawn quickly. This method helps players gather lots of Bronze without much effort. And don’t worry, no real frogs are harmed—it’s just a game!

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, this year’s great Metroidvania-style comeback of Ubisoft’s popular platform game series, has just received the second of three free updates announced earlier, adding a new Boss Rush mode and more.

After installing today’s update, players can access two new boss-related challenges through Artaban in The Haven. The first is Boss Revenge, allowing players to face previously defeated bosses again at any difficulty level, with a statistics board tracking their best attempts.

While Boss Revenge focuses on individual battles, there’s also the new Boss Rush mode. In this classic challenge, players must defeat all eight bosses in the game consecutively. To help with the challenge, players can change their equipped amulets and use Athra surges between each boss encounter.

Prince of Persia Boss Attack Update trailer

In addition to the boss-related content, today’s Lost Crown update introduces a new fast-travel system using wak-wak trees. There are also two new Sargon costumes, both unlocked through the Boss Rush mode.

The second FREE UPDATE Boss Attack is here!

Replay against defeated bosses in Boss Revenge 💥
Battle all bosses in succession in Boss Rush 💨
2 new outfits for Sargon 👕

What is your favorite Boss? Let us know in the comments! pic.twitter.com/wvgwiBTfan

— Prince of Persia™ (@princeofpersia) May 20, 2024

One costume is based on the Prince’s outfit from Ubisoft’s 2008 reboot, and the other shows Sargon with most of his clothes missing, according to the render provided.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’s Boss Attack update, as Ubisoft officially calls it, launches today on Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

This is the second of three free updates that were previously announced, following the Warrior’s Path DLC in March, which added a Speedrun and Permadeath mode.

Next up is Divine Trials, which will introduce new combat, platforming, and puzzle challenges, along with new amulets and Sargon outfits.

It’s expected to be released sometime this summer. Following that will be a paid story expansion coming later this year.

Stellar Blade studio Shift Up is thinking about making a sequel to their action RPG and also releasing it on PC.

This news comes from a recent announcement in the Korea Composite Stock Price Index, where Shift Up said they are “considering a PC version of Stellar Blade and a sequel.”

Stellar Blade was released as a PS5 exclusive at the end of last month, but Shift Up isn’t owned by Sony. Recently, we found out the studio is also making a “cross-platform next-gen” game that might come out in 2027 or later. Now, it seems Stellar Blade might be released on other platforms too, not just PS5.

Stellar Blade is Coming to PC

Based on Sony’s typical release schedule, we expect Stellar Blade to come to PC sometime between the second quarter of 2024 and the second quarter of 2025.

Right now, there hasn’t been an official confirmation that Stellar Blade will be released on PC, although Shift Up has mentioned they are considering making a PC version.

Stellar Blade might end up coming to PC. https://t.co/ffBTiRuKSM pic.twitter.com/Na76lyz8iX

— WWG (@WWG) May 21, 2024

Even though the CEO of Shift Up mentioned a PC port and a sequel in a recent interview, there’s no guarantee that Stellar Blade will come to PC.

Sony has already brought some of their PlayStation exclusive games to PC this year, like Helldivers 2, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition, and Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut. Until Dawn is also set to release sometime this year, possibly on Steam and the Epic Game Store.

Usually, there’s about a two-year gap between when Sony releases their first-party games on PS5 and when they release them on PC. However, games published by Sony, such as Helldivers 2, have come to PC as soon as one year after their initial launch.

It’s important to note that Sony doesn’t have any plans to release new first-party games this fiscal year. They may try to make up for this by focusing on their multiplatform strategy, releasing PS5-exclusive games like Stellar Blade and God of War Ragnarok on PC.

That’s all the information we have about whether Stellar Blade will be released on PC. Don’t forget to read our impressions of Stellar Blade to see what we thought about Shift Up’s first game for consoles. We also have a list of upcoming PC games if you’re curious about what’s coming out later this year.

A Kingdom Hearts fan waited three years to buy the RPG series on the Epic Games Store, only to give in just five days before the games were released on Steam.

Square Enix’s Disney-themed RPG series first came to PC in 2021 and was only available on the Epic Games Store until now. Some fans, like the one in the story, didn’t want to buy the games until they were available on Steam. Last week, on May 16, this fan finally gave up and bought all the games on the Epic Games Store.

The fan said, “I give up. I can’t take it anymore. I’m buying Kingdom Hearts on EGS. You owe me when they confirm it for Steam in like three days.”

I give up. I can’t take it anymore. I’m buying Kingdom Hearts on EGS. You owe me when they confirm it for Steam in like three days.

— Derek (@Dynamite_Derek) May 16, 2024

Kingdom Hearts is Coming to Steam

I’ve been thinking a lot lately… Should I replay the Kingdom Hearts series or not? Square Enix made this decision easy by announcing that the series will be released on Steam on June 13th.

To celebrate and bring back memories for long-time fans like me, they released a trailer with a new recording of Hikaru Utada’s “Simple and Clean.”

The Kingdom Hearts Steam pages are live!

Wishlist now and get ready for launch on June 13th.

1.5+2.5: https://t.co/Qc7gMW1S2j
2.8: https://t.co/EVdN3M5vaE
3: https://t.co/vhwP9WNiTH pic.twitter.com/oZCbt3Vf2R

— KINGDOM HEARTS (@KINGDOMHEARTS) May 21, 2024

The trailer is smart, showing clips of the Kingdom Hearts games in order, reminding old fans and new players how to play them.

On Steam, there will be three main Kingdom Hearts collections: Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX-, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind DLC. There’s also a bundle called Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece, which includes all three collections for one price.

If you buy Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind DLC, you get a special keyblade called “Dead of Night” in Steam Logo blue and grey. Each collection includes several games from different platforms and consoles. You can see which games are in each collection on their Steam pages.

Kingdom Hearts coming to Steam isn’t surprising. The games have been on the Epic Games Store for a few years, so Steam is the next step.

Square Enix plans to release more games on more platforms. For over 20 years, Kingdom Hearts has mostly been on PlayStation, with some games on Nintendo DS. In 2020, Kingdom Hearts came to Xbox, and in 2022, Nintendo released cloud versions of the games.

These games are coming to Steam just a week before Summer Game Fest, where there might be news about Kingdom Hearts IV. Getting new players into the series before announcing more about the next game is a smart move.

Also Read:

• XDefiant Suffers Server Issues: Launch Day Blues for Free-to-Play FPS
• Genshin Impact Natlan Leaks: Dragons, Deserts, and a New Archon – Unveiling the Land of Fire

It’s funny that the Steam trailer shows the games in order, but the collections aren’t bundled that way. To play in the order shown, you need to watch the movie Back Cover in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8, then play Birth By Sleep in Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5, and then go back to Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 to play Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage. It’s a bit complicated!

Hikaru Utada’s new version of “Simple and Clean” brought me to tears. As a teenager, I loved Japanese pop and rock music more than Disney.

Hearing this new version of a beloved song made me feel both young and old but in a good way. Playing these games again, I hope to relive the emotions and memories that led me to my job today and remember the joy and comfort these games brought me.

Is XDefiant not working? Ubisoft’s new shooter, featuring groups from its other games, is now out. You might be excited to start playing but can’t connect. If you’re having trouble, you might wonder if the problem is with Ubisoft or your connection.

Is XDefiant Down?

XDefiant servers are very busy right now, so you might see error messages saying it can’t find a match. If you keep trying, it should eventually work.

If you see the message “Ubisoft services are temporarily unavailable. Please try again later” before the game opens, try refreshing the Ubisoft Connect client.

When a popular new game like XDefiant launches, server problems are normal in the first few hours. The XDefiant status page on Ubisoft’s help site shows no major issues, so it’s probably just too many people trying to play at once.

Update: We are seeing progress on the matchmaking servers. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you updated.

— XDefiant (@PlayXDefiant) May 21, 2024

The XDefiant Twitter account said Ubisoft is looking into the matchmaking server problems after many reports. They know about the issue and are working on it.

While you wait, you can try some other great FPS games or other multiplayer games we recommend if you’re frustrated with XDefiant right now.

XDefiant Suffers Server Issues

Launching a new online game is tough, as many people know. XDefiant is now facing problems like Diablo 3 did when it launched. Many players are having trouble with matchmaking. You can log into the game, but finding someone to play with is the issue.

It’s normal to expect some problems on the first day of a game launch. Most FPS game fans know there might be issues at the start. Since XDefiant had alpha and beta tests, some people thought the launch would go more smoothly.

We’re aware that some players are unable to join a game- please bear with us while we look into servers and matchmaking!

— XDefiant (@PlayXDefiant) May 21, 2024

The main problem with XDefiant is the matchmaking. Trying to join a match gives an error message saying “Unable to Find Match.” Some players can get into games, but it’s not consistent. Also, the Practice Zone isn’t live, so you can’t practice while waiting.

Ubisoft is working on fixing the problem. They posted on Twitter, saying, “We’re aware that some players are unable to join a game- please bear with us while we look into servers and matchmaking. We are all focused on the matchmaking issue and are continuously investigating. We will continue to provide updates as soon as possible.”

Most fans are not too angry yet, just a bit frustrated or joking about the situation on social media. It’s unclear how long this issue will last. If you want to try getting into the game, you can go to the XDefiant site to download it.

People are saying that Valve has been testing a game called Deadlock, which they’ve been working on since 2018.

This information comes from people who participated in the playtest and leaked images of the game online.

Valve’s New Hero Shooter Deadlock Leaked

Valve’s next game seems to be a multiplayer hero shooter called Deadlock. This news comes from playtesters who leaked images on social media today, and the details were confirmed by well-known Valve data miners @GabeFollower and Tyler McVicker.

@GabeFollower posted on X, saying, “Since testers started sharing Deadlock screenshots all over the place, here are ones I can verify, featuring one of the heroes called Grey Talon.”

Since testers started sharing Deadlock screenshots all over the place, here’s ones I can verify, featuring one of the heroes called Grey Talon. pic.twitter.com/KdZSRxObSz

— ‎Gabe Follower (@gabefollower) May 17, 2024

The post included four screenshots of the game, showing characters (one looks like the Sniper from Team Fortress 2) fighting on a city map that resembles Half-Life 2’s City 17. Another image shows a hero named Grey Talon with their weapon and ability icons and a short description.

Valve hadn’t mentioned Deadlock before, so this reveal is a surprise. Earlier this week, GabeFollower described Deadlock as “fast-paced interesting ADHD gameplay.

Combination of Dota 2, Team Fortress 2, Overwatch, Valorant, Smite, Orcs Must Die.” The Verge has asked Valve for comments.

Valve is known for its PC platform Steam and the Steam Deck, but it still makes games. Last year, they released Counter-Strike 2, an update to Counter-Strike GO.

In 2017, Valve president Gabe Newell said they were working on three VR games, including the 2020 hit Half-Life: Alyx. Deadlock doesn’t seem to be a VR game, so Valve might have even more secret projects coming up.

Much of this information has been confirmed by Valve reporter Tyler McVicker (via Eurogamer), who says that a closed alpha playtest is happening with “hundreds” of people playing.

YouTubers who focus on competitive gaming have also been invited to the playtest.

Content creator Gabe Follower shared more details about Deadlock, describing it as a “competitive third-person, hero-based shooter” with “6v6 battles on a large map with four lanes, usable abilities, and items.”

The game includes tower defense mechanics and a setting that combines fantasy with steampunk. Characters include magicians, “weird creatures, and robots.” The game also allows fast travel using floating rails, similar to Bioshock Infinite.