DOOM Steps Back to the Dark Ages

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Today’s Insights

• DOOM steps back to the Dark Ages.

• Gaming studio, Virtuos acquires notable talent.

• New rumors concerning console-exclusive games.

• Care for your own wolf cub in this magical game.

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THIS WEEK IN GAMING

Take on Demon Spawn with Medieval/Scifi Tactics in DOOM’s newest entry

The latest chapter of the DOOM saga continues in May. Set in the Dark Ages, you control a heavy tank version of the Doom Slayer as you explore the origins of the character's rage. Though there is plenty of non-stop, first-person mayhem, this entry features more character development. You’ll experience more cinematics, puzzle solving, and strategy than other DOOM games. While destroying wave after wave of demons is great, sometimes your character needs to step back for a second, catch his breath, and wipe the gore off his boots.   

New ways to rain carnage upon the demons of hell. Descending into the depths of hell, you’ll battle legions of hellspawn with a slew of new weapons. You can get up close and personal with melee attacks and a specialized saw shield. Crank that bad boy up to parry attacks and then rip limbs and heads off with rotating blades of destruction. Watch some of the action right here. Need more bloody mayhem? Smash their faces with a gauntlet, iron mace, and a huge, spiked flail. Oh, there are also guns… Lots and lots of guns.

You can ride dragons or jump into giant mechs, you know, for those giant demons. Total annihilation is the name of the game here, but how can a single Doom Slayer destroy skyscraper-sized hellspawn? By jumping onto a cybernetic dragon that’s how. Want to get closer to the supersized action? Then go ahead and channel your inner Power Ranger and pilot your own Megazord-like contraption. That’s right, in DOOM The Dark Ages, you get to jump inside a 30-story mech called an Atlan when the demons get a little too big for their pants. 

Ready to get medieval on the underworld? DOOM The Dark Ages will be available May 15th on PC, Xbox, and PS5. Order now and get a premium Collectors Edition which comes with a 12” Doom Slayer figure, downloadable content, early access, and more. 

DEVELOPER INSIGHTS

Game Producer Virtuos Acquires Three Gaming Studios

Virtuos Studios makes a large new acquisition. The game studio that helped create titles such as Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age, Dark Souls Remastered, Call of Duty: Warzone, and many more has grown. Virtuos Studios recently acquired three studios in what the company calls a "new era of collaborative game development." While the cost is unclear at the moment, Virtuos purchased Umanaïa, Pipeworks, and Abstraction. The game company most known for helping to produce games is looking to make their own originals. 

More on the three studios. Umanaïa is a pretty young studio but has helped with some big names. They have collaborated with Ubisoft’s For Honor, and some Assassin’s Creed games. The veterans of the three, Pipeworks, have a few big-name titles under their belt. Some of these include: Madden 25, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and Terraria. Abstraction, founded in 2007 has worked on at least 200 games including hits such as Baldur’s Gate 3, Halo: Master Chief Collection, and Dune: Awakening. 

Virtuos wants to be on top. Right now Virtuos isn’t looking to shake up the original teams working on their current project. They have said that the three acquired studios will continue to operate with their respective teams. What Virtuos wants to accomplish with the acquisition is to be the top external game developer, and to focus more on Virtuos Original games.

Keep an eye out for Virtuos games in the future. With now over 4200 employees, over 1200 of those considered “triple-A caliber,” Virtuos is poised to make a very big splash in the gaming market. Especially now that they are looking to create originals on their own, instead of assisting. 

TECH SPOTLIGHT

CEO Suggests Console-Exclusive Games is an Outdated Strategy

Console-exclusive games might be a thing of the past. Loyal console gamers have struggled with franchise-exclusive games since the early days. If you want to play Mario games, Halo, and titles like God of War, you’d have to either have a specialized circle of friends or purchase three different consoles. As we reported a few weeks ago, those walls are starting to crack. Recently Xbox reported they are releasing some of their exclusives to other platforms. Now there’s chatter that PlayStation might soon follow in those footsteps. 

It may be a matter of survival. In business, stagnation equals a loss of revenue and can lead to the death of a company. Console-loyal consumers have reached the dreaded plateau. According to a tweet made by Thomas Mahler, CEO of Moon Studios, “Consoles have been stuck attracting the same 100-150m players for over two decades now. If we want to see the industry grow, it needs to be easier for everyone to access the content.” Continuing on his thoughts of console game exclusivity, he said, “I’d be surprised if Sony won’t end up with the same strategy.”

It’s easier than ever to port games across multiple platforms. With the latest console upgrades, both Xbox and PlayStation controllers are very similar to each other, and their internal parts are nearly identical. Porting games across platforms isn’t as difficult as it used to be, and big game developers don’t see the point in limiting their customers by choosing one platform over another. Besides, as Thomas Mahler stated in his tweet, “Right now the price of entry is still too high with people needing to buy a $500 box to get their game on.”

There is a slight workaround. 1.86 billion PC gamers worldwide don’t have to worry so much about gaming exclusives as many PS and Xbox games are available on Steam or digital download. This comes at a slightly higher price tag as most average-grade gaming computers round out between $1000 to $2500. Since Xbox has been making waves, it only seems natural that others will eventually follow suit. 

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Neva is a Game That Grabs Your Emotions and Won’t Let Go

If this game doesn’t stir your emotions, you might want to get that checked. Neva is a game that will tug at your heartstrings, not only because of your relationship with the cute wolf cub, but the illustrations are enough to warm the coldest heart. While dialogue and explanation of what’s happening to the world is in short supply, you don’t need all that chatter taking away from the overall experience. 

Watch your little wolf cub grow big and strong. You are Alba, a young, female fighter with a few skills, and you’re pretty handy with a sword. But your main task is to care for a small, white wolf cub named Neva. At first, the cub is small, has very few skills, and needs you to protect and soothe it when it’s frightened. But as you traverse through the seasons, Neva grows. As the wolf cub grows, it gains new strengths and abilities. Eventually, Neva grows large enough to be your protector. 

You need to stop the destructive force ruining nature. The story takes place through four seasons, starting in spring. There’s a black decaying, corruptive force taking over, destroying the beautiful landscape, and you have to stop it. You’ll fight corrupted woodland creatures and amorphic demons while platforming across a lush 2D landscape. The scenes are so beautiful, that you’ll get a sense of pride at protecting them from the black disease. 

For when you need some time to unwind. Neva is a side-scrolling, puzzle, platforming game that is quick to master, but will leave an impression for a long time. If it sounds like too much adventure, or too hectic to keep Neva alive, put the game on Story Mode. You won’t have to worry about either of you dying, and it becomes a “cozy-like” adventure game. It’s perfect for unwinding after a long, strenuous day. If Neva interests you, find it on Steam, or your favorite console now, and start caring for your little wolf cub. 

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