IGN presents a new trailer for AI Limit:

AI Limit - Official Trailer

Conan Exiles got a new update:

The Age of Heroes Has Arrived!

Embark on epic new questlines with fully voiced Companions!

Greetings Exiles!

The new major update is here! Let your war cries fill the air in welcome to the Age of Heroes. Glorious times are upon us!

Embark on new exciting quests with two new Companions, transform your base into a living settlement full of workers and warriors, and more!

Now, witness the consequences of taking everything from a warrior of the Aesir, and leaving them alive. This is Freya, one of the Companions who will join you.

[...]

Couchpotato spotted that patch 1.2.1.19 for Rouge Trader has been released:

Update 1.2.1.19 is live!

Lord Captains!

We're deploying a new routine update where we've fixed a number of mechanical and narrative issues, improved visuals for the Freight Line and adjusted a certain Act IV fight in the Void Shadows DLC to be a bit less frustrating.

The same update will be coming to consoles within ~24 hours.

Note that this page always contains up-to-date information on known issues and the roadmap of upcoming patches.

Watch out for possible spoilers below!

[...]

Couchpotato spotted some new NPCs of Back to the Dawn:

Sneak Peek: New NPC's!

Dear Inmates,

We hope you've been enjoying the new escape route for Thomas the Fox that we introduced in our last update! We’re excited to share some fresh updates with you this month, including a sneak peek into the latest developments from our team!

Meet the New and Improved Bob!

Bob is back and better than ever! But that’s not all—alongside brand-new scenes in the Black Panther storyline, we’ve got a lineup of fresh, unique NPCs. Each character brings their own flavor to the game, and we can’t wait for you to meet them.

[...]

The strategy game Kriegsfront Tactics has been wishlisted 75000 times.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Couchpotato spotted an update for Final Fantasy XVI:

Version Update 1.02

Version Update 1.02 is now available for download. This update implements various changes to system settings while addressing several known gameplay issues.

Change Log:

• A cursor lock option has been added to Settings in the Main Menu.
• Timing for the shutter click sound effect when taking screenshots has been adjusted.
• Help text for Photo Mode has been tweaked to improve clarity.
• Shadow Quality settings have been adjusted to include cloud quality at all three levels—low, medium, and high—instead of only at high. This should improve performance when low or medium is selected.
• Graphical Fidelity settings have been adjusted to improve overall game performance.

The following have also been addressed:

• Issues with mouse scrolling when using aspect ratio settings other than 16:9.
• Issues with locking on during the Eikonic Feat Blind Justice when using aspect ratio settings other than 16:9.
• Issues with in-game access point interaction when using borderless window mode in conjunction with aspect ratio settings other than 16:9.
• Issues with the last device used not remaining active when playing with multiple controllers.
• Graphics not displaying properly on certain screens.
• Issues with UI continuity.
• Unexpected crashes with select hardware setups.
• Other minor issues.

Mortismal Gaming checked out Guild Saga: Vanished Worlds:

Check Out - Guild Saga: Vanished Worlds

Thanks Couchpotato!

Tim talks about encumbrance again:

Encumbrance, Part 2

Thanks Couchpotato!

Kristala's chapter 2 will be available on Steam on October 22, 2024:

Kristala - Official PC Early Access Chapter 2 Announcement Trailer

Thanks Couchpotato!

Couchpotato spotted a trailer for Band of Crusaders:

Band of Crusaders - GOG Reveal Trailer

Black Rune spotted a new trailer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Cast Reveal Trailer

Mortismal Gaming checked out Drova - Forsaken Kin:

Check Out | Drova: Forsaken Kin

The Game Deflators interviewed Astral Clocktower Studios about Kristala:

The Game Deflators E308 | Kristala Studio Interview

John and Ryan are joined by Allie and Sarah of Astral Clocktower Studios to talk about their ARPG, Kristala. 

Kristala places you in the role of a feral feline warrior who must master the six magic specialties of the sacred Kristals to prove yourself worthy of joining ranks with the famed Raksaka warriors – powerful protectors of your species.

As you battle your way across the six clan lands, you soon discover a terrible curse has mysteriously transformed Ailur’s creatures into mutated, monstrous beasts bent on destruction.

Uncover and upgrade a multitude of weapons, spells, armor sets, and additional items as you embark on your Raksaka Proving and strategically battle to restore peace to Ailur. Meet and interact with unique and varied characters while journeying across an otherworldly fantasy planet that’s overflowing with untold stories ripe for unraveling.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

The Turn Based Lovers checked out some turn-based games of the Steam Next Fest:

Steam Next Fest October 2024: The Best Turn-Based RPGs And Strategy Games To Try

These Are The Games I’m Going To Try During Valve’s Famous October Festival

The Steam Next Fest of October 2024 just kicked off a few hours ago, and it’s one of those events that I both love and hate at the same time. I love it because once you dive into the dedicated store page - which you can find here - you can get lost among the huge number of titles participating in the event. Often, you’ll stumble across that game you’ve been eagerly waiting to try, or you might even discover a brand-new title that’s being announced during the festival.

Now, the reason I hate it is pretty simple: a lot of these demos are time-limited. For me, that means only a few hours to sample a massive list of RPGs and Strategy Games. The deadline for this edition of the festival is October 21, 2024, which is when the event officially wraps up.

Given the limited time and knowing I’m not the only one with a long list of games to check out, I thought it might be useful to share a few suggestions. These are demos that I plan to prioritize and that you might find interesting, too. Luckily, a good number of these demos aren’t exclusive to the festival, so you’ll have more time to try them out even after the festival ends.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG Site reports that The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II will be released on February 14, 2025.

Thanks couchpotato!

DSGaming reports that Dragon Age: The Veilguard won't come with 3rd party DRM software.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Couchpotato spotted a new demo for Neon Blood:

Neon Blood releases new demo

A brand new demo for Neon Blood will be available during the upcoming Steam Next Fest.

A brand new demo for Neon Blood will be available during the upcoming Steam Next Fest. Starting at 7pm (CEST) on 14th October, fans will be able to get hands-on with this thrilling neo-noir detective RPG / graphic novel ahead of its 26th November global release date. In addition to the new playable demo, gamers can watch a brand-new developer live stream with never-before-seen gameplay from the ChaoticBrain Studios development team.

Neon Blood is a neo-noir cyberpunk RPG / Graphic Adventure with a striking 2.5D aesthetic using PixelArt 2D sprites with 3D modeled environments. Prepare to embark on a thrilling adventure as you follow Axel McCoin, an idealistic detective from Blind City, as he becomes the symbol of a revolution poised to change the world. Explore McCoin’s dystopian world and face a variety of puzzles blended with classic turn-based combat and precise Quick Time Events.

Neon Blood is now available to pre-order in physical format on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, as well as digitally on all platforms. It will be released on November 26th, 2024.

Don't miss the chance to play the demo of Neon Blood at the Steam Next Fest!

Learn more about damage types and effects in Mandragora:

Dev Diary #4 - Damage Types and Effects

Get to know the powerful forces behind every hit.

Welcome to the world of Mandragora! This series of ‘Dev Diary’ posts will take you behind the scenes and give you a more in-depth look at all the cool features you can expect from our game as we get closer to release.

Hi everyone!

We hope you’re excited for another installment of our Dev Diary series, where we’re showcasing different key aspects of Mandragora.

Today’s topic: Damage Types and Effects!

We already mentioned quite a few Damage Types as well as some Status Effects in our previous Dev Diaries. You may have also experienced some of them firsthand when playing the Mandragora Demo!

So in today’s installment, we’ll be discussing all those damage types and status effects in further detail!

In Mandragora, your Weapons, Active Skills, and Talents can cause one or more types of damage.

Each damage type has an associated Status Effect which can be applied based on the corresponding Status Effect Chance when dealing direct damage of that type. Some effects may also directly apply Status Effects.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

GamingBolt reviewed Ys X: Nordics:

Ys X: Nordics Review - The Final Verdict

For many years, the Ys series has been an exceptional action RPG franchise. It arguably reached new highs with Ys 8: Lacrimosa of Dana and Ys 9: Monstrum Nox, yet there was still hype for Ys 10: Nordics. Having shifted to Falcom's new engine and promising a larger scale, it seemed poised to elevate the series even higher.

The truth is a little more complicated. Set earlier in Adol's life, Ys 10: Nordics sees him teaming with Karja Balta to battle the Griegr. All the while, he must unravel the mystery of their plans and the Normans' history.

Alongside sailing and ship combat, it also features a new combat system focused on parrying and dual attacks. It's a lot, and while some mechanics can be enjoyable, I have my share of nitpicks. Don't get me wrong - Ys 10: Nordics is enjoyable, but longtime fans should know what they're getting into.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Mortismal Gaming presents some highlights of the Steam Next Fest:

Steam Next Fest Highlights - October

Thanks Couchpotato!

Couchpotato spotted a new reveal trailer for Exodus:

NEW EXODUS CINEMATIC — 'The Mara Yama' Reveal Trailer

Couchpotato spotted the New Camp theme of Gothic 1 Remake:

Gothic 1 Remake | OST | New Camp Cave

Slandered Gaming checked out Passageway of the Ancients:

Passageway of the Ancients - Character Creation & Combat Overview (RTwP, BG Inspired cRPG)

Thanks Couchpotato!

Here's a new trailer for Hades II:

Hades II - The Olympic Update Trailer

Now in Early Access, Hades II is the bewitching sequel to the award-winning rogue-like dungeon crawler, and just got its first Major Update! Featuring an all-new region, a powerful new weapon, new allies, and much more.

The tactical RPG Passageway of the Ancients has been released:

Passageway of the Ancients is now available on Steam!

The world of Aieryon awaits

Hi Everyone!

Today’s the day: Passageway of the Ancients has now been officially launched. Explore the city of Ithgar to solve your parents’ murder and uncover the truth. It’s a dream come true for us to share the game with you all after all these years :)

Let us know what you think in the Steam Community Hub, on Discord, and on Reddit.

– Passageway Games

Next stop Rozafir:

Poll votes are in!

CYOA Results: to Rozafir!

Thanks to all the players in the community who cast their vote into the CYOA of this Early Access. For Update 2.0 we will head southeast to Rozafir for more than just drinking with the locals, for treachery and trouble lurks below and above the surface of this farming settlement.

More content to come with 1.5 soon!

Stay tuned for the next poll as we carve through the map and all the shroomers within.

Thanks Couchpotato!

The strategy RPG Broken Alliance will be released into Early Access on October 24 - the Turn Based Lovers checked it out:

Retro-Inspired Heroes Of Might And Magic-Like Broken Alliance – Overview

A New HoMM-Like Strategy Game Ready To Debut This Month

The game I’m introducing aims to offer a gameplay style reminiscent of Heroes of Might and Magic, featuring exploration, city-building, and tactical combat. However, it introduces a unique twist: a deck-building mechanic. Players draw cards to perform attacks, move units, and use special skills. It’s called Broken Alliance and is an upcoming indie turn-based strategy RPG set for release in early access on October 24, 2024.

Developed by Placeholder Gameworks, it draws inspiration from classic titles like Heroes of Might and Magic, Age of Wonders, and Master of Magic, while introducing a fresh twist with deck-building mechanics. It combines tactical gameplay, rich storytelling, and deep world-building as you fight to save a dying world devastated by the overuse of magic. Players align with one of four factions—Anchorage, Phobos, Paradise, or Forge—each offering unique perspectives, gameplay mechanics, and moral dilemmas.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG Site interviewed Peter Thoman about the PC port of Ys X: Nordics:

Ys X: Nordics PC Interview - Durante discusses Falcom's new engine, PC-exclusive features, HDR, co-op, & more

NIS America is launching Ys X: Nordics next week in the West across Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC platforms following its debut in Japan last year. Make sure to read Adam's full review of the game here and my Steam Deck feature here. I actually imported Ys X: Nordics on Switch last year because I did the same for Ys IX: Monstrum Nox on PS4 a few years prior as a huge fan of the series who did not want to wait a few years for a Western release. Little did I know that we'd just be waiting about a year to see Ys X: Nordics in the West.

Ahead of its release from NIS America, I've been playing Ys X: Nordics on Steam and PS5. After sampling the PC port handled by PH3 a little while ago, I had a chance to chat with PH3's Peter Thoman AKA Durante to discuss the PC port, exclusive features like HDR, local co-op support, a popular Trails series feature returning, the state of PC ports today, and much more.

RPG Site: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, PH3, and how the studio has evolved over the recent years?

Peter 'Durante' Thoman: Sure! My name is Peter Thoman and I used to do a lot of game modding as Durante – the most well-known thing I ever worked on is probably DSFix for the PC version of Dark Souls. I was subsequently approached by some companies – primarily XSEED – to help with their game ports in a consulting role. In 2018 I co-founded PH3 with two colleagues from university, here in Austria, and we mostly work on JRPG ports right now. 

At the start we were a very small operation, basically just the founders working remotely and no employees, but we have grown to a small but “real” company these days, with 6 employees in addition to the founders, half of whom work on game projects. Given the current industry climate, I’m happy to mention that we haven’t lost anyone who joined the company yet.

While we initially were laser-focused on just PC, we now have the ability to work on various console platforms as well, since there are significant synergies you can leverage when working on a single project across multiple target platforms.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

A demo is available for New Arc Line:

New Arc Line Demo Available in Steam Next Fest

Greetings, Magicians and Technologists!

We have excellent news for you today - we are excited to announce that New Arc Line is joining the Steam Next Fest with a free demo, available from today until October 21 - so make sure to jump in right now to get your first chance to explore a world where Technology is at constant odds with Magic!

As many of you have noticed, several journalists and influencers have tasted a sample of the game already and have shared their initial impressions (for example PCGamesN.com, SplattercatGaming, MortismalGaming or TheGamer.com). The demo version you can get your hands on right now is different, however, so even if you had read and watched the previews, it will not spoil your experience at all!

You will get to select from 2 classes and play as either a Voodoo Shaman or a Diesel Engineer of either the Human or Elven race. The events of the demo take place a little further on in the main storyline, in a small part of the Harbor Slums - you will be tasked with investigating the Leprosarium and find out why a doctor is not making her rounds, helping the poor community afflicted by the deadly Iron Plague epidemic (find out more details about the disease in our previous devlog).

We are really looking forward to seeing what you think about the short demo, and what choices you will make! Come let us know here in the comments, in the Steam Discussions, or better yet, come chat with the devs as well as fellow fans on the New Arc Line Official Discord server. We are also preparing more surprising announcements for you very soon - don't forget to wishlist and follow the game so you are always up to date!

Thanks Couchpotato!

Couchpotato spotted an AMA for The Wayward Realms:

AMA Rewind (No Music) - The Wayward Realms - Sept. 2024

IGN shows some gameplay of AI Limit:

AI Limit: 19 Minutes of Soulslike Gameplay

Thanks Couchpotato!

Saurusness talks about metagaming in Genshin Impact:

What's the point of Genshin's meta?

Luethar spotted that Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy will released into Early Access in December 2024.

The Gamer Social Club reviewed Drova - Forsaken Kin:

Drova – Forsaken Kin: Review

Drova – Forsaken Kin, an indie CRPG, offers a rich, choice-driven narrative in a beautifully designed Norse-inspired world.

If you asked me to describe Drova – Forsaken Kin with one word it would be “deep”, since it aptly describes many elements of the game. As the maiden title from Just2D, a six person indie studio out of Germany, it is astonishing how much there is to do and see in its beautiful, Norse inspired world. After an engrossing 30 plus hour playthrough, with a story shaped by my choices and finishing with one of multiple endings, I am left to wonder what other stories are yet to be told, secrets to be found, and consequences to be faced. I think it is safe to say that Drova – Forsaken Kin has a great deal to offer, and nearly all of it is absolutely brilliant!

[...]

Final Thoughts
Drova – Forsaken Kin is a fully realised, living world where you shape who you are as well as the world around you, a story that you can write again and again based on your decisions. The few flaws and bugs the game has are far outweighed by the cohesive nature of the game’s world and it’s mechanics. If you are a fan of cRPGs and similar games you must pick up Drova – Forsaken Kin.

Score: 8.5/10

The action RPG Drova - Forsaken Kin will be released today:

Drova - Forsaken Kin

Drova is an Action-RPG that marries the dark grim tones of its genre with the mysticism of Celtic mythology. Encounter a society where ancient restless spirits and divided factions battle for dominance. Uncover forgotten abilities and unravel the secrets of a past shrouded in mystery.

The Kiseki Nut reviewed the upcoming Ys X: Nordics:

Ys X Nordics Might Be My JRPG Of The Year

Noobfeed reviewed Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred:

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Review

Go back into the jungles of Nahantu with the Spiritborn and some unlikely allies.

Diablo IV has come a long way since its release not too long ago. While it had a fairly rocky start, the game has seen a lot of progress. Much of it has come to a head in Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred, a new leap that steps away from demon-slaying and fighting gods to explore an old location that many might remember.

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred continues where the main game left off, giving you the option as a new player to skip the main game and get right into the DLC.  Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred gives you access to a new zone: Nahantu. You get sent off there, looking for a missing companion right after the events of the main game.

[...]

Verdict
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred makes the Diablo experience even better with all-new mechanics and a new class. Nahantu is great to get back into but leaves much to be desired.

Score: 80/100

Thanks Couchpotato!