Dense Pixels - Video Games News and Reviews TNP Studios

Brad and Carrie discuss the demos that stood out to them during the most recent Steam Next Fest. Brad is checking out space grand strategy civ Endless Space 2. Elden Ring publisher calls out Shadow of the Erdtree players struggling with the difficulty of the DLC. Carrie gives her impressions of thatgamecompany's newest release, Sky: Children of Light.

We react to the summer Nintendo Direct, including thoughts on Metroid Prime 4 footage, Mario & Luigi Brothership, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and the shocking return of Marvel vs Capcom 2. We discuss Epic acknowledging the issue with Fortnite's free cars being more dangerous than paid ones. Paradox Interactive cancels Life by You. Meme clicker game Banana nears 850,000 concurrent players - why is this happening? Carrie details why Shin Megami Tensai V: Vengeance is a great jumping-in point for the series.

The crew shares their overall impressions of the major presentations from this year's Summer Game Fest. We then dive into the games we're most excited about from the event, including Astro Bot, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, Wanderstop, UFO50, Possessor(s), Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Dragon Age: Veilguard, Street Fighter 6 Season 2, Gears of War: E-Day, Perfect Dark, Sonic x Shadow Generations, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Metaphor: Re Fantazio.

In this episode, we discuss the faux outrage surrounding the Assassin's Creed Shadows announcement, highlighting how the situation is both amusing and sad. Carrie and Brad share their most anticipated games for the remainder of 2024. Microsoft executives are reportedly advocating for a flexible approach regarding which Xbox games can launch on PlayStation. Sony names two new CEOs to replace Jim Ryan. Take-Two's boss claims that the publisher has not shut down the studios behind OlliOlli and Kerbal Space Program 2. Brad talks about the incredible fun he is having with the new Diablo IV season and the Loot Reborn update.

In this episode, Brad and Carrie dive deeper into their experiences with Hades II early access, sharing more detailed thoughts after spending additional time in the game. Brad explores V Rising but questions if survival games are his thing. Carrie returns to the Capital Wasteland, revisiting Fallout 3 after several years.

The gaming industry faces significant changes as Xbox shuts down several Bethesda studios, including the developers of Redfall and Hi-Fi Rush. Arkane's boss criticizes Microsoft executives for these closures. Xbox Studios' boss emphasizes the need for smaller, award-winning games, despite closing Tango Gameworks. Xbox President addresses the studio closures, stressing the long-term health of the business. Discussions around Call of Duty on Game Pass and a potential price hike are ongoing. Concerns about Xbox leadership's consistency in rewarding success versus failure are raised.

In other news, Helldivers 2 receives overwhelmingly positive reviews. Sony issues refunds for Ghost of Tsushima PC orders after implementing a new PSN requirement. EA's CEO discusses the interest in using AI to speed up game development and the potential inclusion of in-game ads in AAA titles. GameStop considers buying graded Pokémon Trading Card Game singles.

Supergiant Games surprised everyone by releasing Hades II in early access, and Brad shares his initial impressions of this highly anticipated title, which is poised to become one of the year's biggest hits. Additionally, Brad uncovers a hidden gem in Minishoot Adventures, as we wonder why we don't see more games dip into the classic Zelda-style well. 

Meanwhile, we delve into the absurdity of the Helldivers II saga, recounting the series of events that led to its controversial week and Sony's complete own goal for no real tangible gain

In other industry news, there's upheaval at Private Division as the vast majority of its staff reportedly face layoffs by Take-Two. Square Enix also appears to have canceled games, signaling a shift towards a more selective approach in the future.