Couchpotato spotted the first person RPG CORPUS EDAX - here's the Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign:

CORPUS EDAX

CORPUS EDAX is an immersive first-person-melee RPG that takes place in a city on a distant planet. Fight with your body, improvised weapons and ingenuity.

Features

• A Skills and A.G.N.I.S. (Allure, Grit, Nerd, Intuition, Strength) system. Place objects in the world to reach places or climb over fences, creating your own path. Locked door? Hack it. Or lockpick it. Destroy it. Or alternatively, seduce or convince a guard to open it for you
• Dialogue system that uses the stats of your character for special dialogue choices, as everything contributes to dialogue.
• Physically-based characters so you can throw pipes at the legs, arms or head and they will react as they should. Pick up a chair, throw it, swing it or kick it onto someone.
• Faction reputation system. Branching dialogues offer choice and consequence so players have different experiences
• Personal reputation in the form of 3 traits - Insight, Rapacity and Reciprocity. Almost every action you do will contribute to one of these 3 traits, unlocking new dialogue 
  choices and reactions.

About CORPUS EDAX

Almost a century ago, Humanity left Earth for a new planet due to catastrophic events rendering it unlivable to humans.

A previously unknown planet was found accidentally as it put itself in collision course with the Earth's ships. With nowhere to go, we settled here.

A new city was built, and with it, new rules and laws. Over the years its newly formed World Government struggled to rule a unified planet - one without borders, countries or nationalities - and an opposing faction called The Salvation was born out of anger and desperation for a better life.

After waking up from a medically-induced coma, you find yourself inside a newly built city called Corpus Edax. In one way or another, you'll get entangled in the fight for justice with The Salvation, as they see it, or in the fight for supremacy as you act as a double-spy for the Corpus Edax Security Forces.

Help shape the future of Corpus Edax, for a better tomorrow for your fellow Citizens (or not, your choice).

Like every week the RPG Crawler sums up the computer and tabletop RPG news:

RPG News Roundup (3-25-2023)

The Early Access version of Zoria: Age of Shattering will be released on April 27:

Zoria: Age of Shattering - Early Access Announcement Trailer

Forbes has reported that Chris Avellone’s accusers have issued a public statement retracting allegations of misconduct. Hopefully with all this cleared up he will be free to work in the industry again.

Back in June of 2021 I reported on video game writer Chris Avellone’s libel lawsuit against two women who had accused Avellone of sexual assault on Twitter. Avellone publicly denied the accusations and announced he was taking both women to court over their statements.

Now, nearly two years later, the case has been settled. Avellone’s accusers, Karissa Barrows and Kelly Bristol, have signed a joint statement retracting their previous claims on social media and clearing Avellone of any wrongdoing. A seven-figure payment to Avellone is part of a confidential settlement between the parties according to Avellone's lawyers.

“The parties resolved the matter and claims were dismissed with prejudice pursuant to a confidential settlement that provides for a seven-figure payment that includes the return of the attorney fee award entered against Mr. Avellone in California.

“I understand that Ms. Barrows has requested to retract her comments to the media about me.”

I have received a copy of the below statement from Mr. Avellone’s lawyers.

[...]

Mortismal Gaming looks back at Gothic 3:

Gothic 3 - Retrospective Review (2023)

PCMag checked out Pentiment:

Pentiment

A magical murder mystery

2022 was an especially rough year for Microsoft's game development efforts. Although Xbox Game Studios failed to launch a single product, Microsoft-owned Obsidian Entertainment released Pentiment ($19.99), one of the most memorable adventure games in recent years. The historical whodunit lacks action, but makes up for it with a unique art style, meaningful decision-making system, and simple RPG elements. As a result, the excellent Xbox Series S/X game (also available on Xbox Game Pass and Steam) earns our Editors' Choice award for adventure games.

[...]

The Details Are in the Story
Pentiment styles itself as a murder mystery. You question people, gather evidence, investigate hunches, and blame someone for the crime. However, the game only sort of cares about the truth. No matter who you peg as the killer, there are no definitive answers. Instead, you must live with the consequences of your actions.

The game cares more about stories and our perception of truth. Tassing is a town with a long, winding history. It was founded by Romans, settled by Pagans, and is currently populated by Christians. The passage of time makes the truth hard to discern, and over the game's three acts, you see how the truth changes depending on your perception. What Pentiment lacks in exciting gameplay mechanics, it makes up with meticulously crafted branching dialog options.

Though the game's third act suffers from some uneven story and pacing decisions, Pentiment ultimately sticks the landing for a truly rewarding story. In the end, it's entirely up to you—both literally and figuratively—to determine how the past is remembered and the future is written.

Bottom Line
Pentiment is a thrilling, Renaissance-style whodunit that forgoes conventional video game action by focusing on an engaging narrative, branching dialogue options, and character relationships.

Score: 4.5/5

Superjump checked out the J-RPG Absinthia:

Absinthia Review

Fights, friendship, and queer coming-of-age angst in a bite-sized RPG

For years, indie RPGs have taken their inspiration from some of the greatest games to grace the SNES era: Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, and Terranigma. These titles have been used ad-nauseam to sell the experience of yesteryear but with a modern twist. Plenty of indie JRPGs have taken the bespoke elements of these games and added major quality-of-life improvements granting us some of the best experiences in the modern era.

[...]

Absinthia is filled with twists across its short run time. While the game is nothing dynamic or new to those with experience in the genre, its characters and pacing are refreshing, and its portrayal of queer characters is leagues ahead of contemporary AAA titles that only dabble in mock representation. What's further striking is that Absinthia is another game designed in part with RPG Maker, which continues to be an impressive engineering feat for these bite-sized JRPGs so many years on. With gorgeous sprite work, a beautiful soundtrack, and plenty to explore, Absinthia never stutters in its dozen or so hours of questing gameplay. It's the perfect RPG for anyone looking to take a breather from more bloated titles, while still featuring everything a genre fan could want.

A cozy indie RPG with likable characters that will resonate with a younger audience, Absinthia feels like the perfect genre title to recommend to both veterans and casual enjoyers. It's a little bit Golden Sun, a little bit Lufia, a little bit Lunar, and a whole lot of fun.

The J-RPG Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key has been released:

 Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key

The story begins when a group of islands called Kark Isles appear near Ryza's—the protagonist's—hometown. Seeing this as a threat to their home, Ryza and her friends investigate the isles and discover ruins with a huge gate. Just as Ryza approaches the gate, a strange voice echoes in her head, telling her to reach the Code of the Universe. What is it that lies beyond the gate, and what does the "Code of the Universe" mean? In hopes of finding a way to save their home, Ryza and her friends set off on a great adventure that revolves around a Key and the roots of alchemy.

Explore a vast open field!
In this title, multiple maps are connected seamlessly, allowing players to move between different areas without the loading screen transition. Enjoy exploring in a vast, living world with a greater degree of freedom.

A total of 11 party members!
Reunite with characters from previous games and meet new key characters essential to the story. Embark on your adventure with a wide range of friends—one of the largest in the series.

Use the "Keys" with unknown powers to unlock various gameplay features!
In the heart of this title will be the new "Key" system. Keys have various types and effects that can be used in exploration, synthesis, and combat. Make good use of them while adventuring to enjoy a more satisfying, smoother experience!

IGN presents a new trailer for the Sci-fi Adventure Fort Solis:

Fort Solis - Official Gameplay Trailer

Lackblogger reviewed Caves of Lore.

Link to article

PCGamesN presents the Roleplayer’s Extended Dialogue mod for Fallout 4:

Stunning Fallout 4 mod finally makes it feel like a real RPG game

A new Fallout 4 mod makes the Bethesda RPG game feel closer to New Vegas and other genre staples by adding extensive dialogue and conversation options.

One of the central complaints about Fallout 4, and perhaps Bethesda RPG games generally, is how it partially forces you to play a certain type of character. Your backstory is given to you. Your objective – rescue Shaun – is pretty rigid, and makes freeform exploration feel like a guilty pleasure. If the goal of Fallout 4 mods is to expand, overhaul, and transform the 2015 original, this new one might be one of the best – and throws in some of that classic Fallout New Vegas story building to boot.

 [...]

Wartales will be released on April 12:

Wartales | 1.0 Release Date Announcement | Trailer

Splattercatgaming checked out the demo of Beyond Sunset:

The Dystopian FPS RPG Worth Jacking In For

Mortismal Gaming checked out The Lamplighters League:

The Lamplighter's League - Initial Gameplay Details

WolfheartFPS checked out the open-world RPG Ardenfall:

Ardenfall - You Should Know About This Upcoming Open-World Fantasy RPG

DSOG checked out Hogwarts Legacy:

Hogwarts Legacy PC Review

I’ll be honest here, I’ve never had much of an interest in the Harry Potter series. I didn’t read the books, and in fact, I hadn’t watched most of the movies until recently (and that was to specifically prepare for the launch of the game, so I can write a more extensive review).

I also had a healthy dose of skepticism, especially given Avalanche Software’s previous record. This team has never done anything even close to this scale, so I was a bit cautious about this game. 

So, after finishing the campaign, along with a large number of side activities that took me around 65 hours in total, here are my thoughts.

[...]

Conclusion

If one were to remove the Harry Potter-themed coat of paint, Hogwarts Legacy would be a pretty standard open-world game that doesn’t venture to try anything particularly new. However, while the individual parts of Hogwarts Legacy don’t stand out as deep or particularly groundbreaking, this is one of those cases where I actually found the sum of its parts to be far more enjoyable than I would ever have expected it to be.  The game also supports mods, of which there are already plenty which is a great start. 

If I do have another criticism, it’s that it’s not very repayable. What I mean by that is a second playthrough would not be all that different if that is something you are expecting. There are little to no changes based on the choices you make overall, and even trying new builds wouldn’t offer a significantly different experience. That said, I’ll likely revisit it several months from now, unless there is some new content before that.

If you are looking for a relaxing and enjoyable open-world game to sink your teeth into, Hogwarts Legacy will likely scratch that itch.  Coming from a non-Harry Potter fan, I think it’s actually a competent and well-made game, has a decent amount of content, and is definitely worth playing if you haven’t already. Avalanche Software has surprised me, and I’m excited to see what they do next.

IGN presents a technical trailer for Lords of the Fallen:

Lords of the Fallen - Official Unreal Engine 5 Trailer | State of Unreal 2023

IGN checked out the Vampire first person shooter Redfall:

Redfall Hands-On Preview

Learn more about Dr. Michael Morbius - a vampire of Marvel's Midnight Suns:

Morbius Gameplay Showcase

Miasma Chronicles will be released on May 23:

Miasma Chronicles Launching May 23rd, 2023

Prepare yourself for a journey across a New-America - fighting giant frogs, guerrilla robots and an environmental threat

Hey everyone, James here, Brand Community Manager at 505 Games and I’m excited to announce that Miasma Chronicles will be launching from May 23rd, 2023 on Steam.

Miasma Chronicles, by the legendary team that bought you Mutant Year Zero - The Bearded Ladies, is a tough and intense tactical RPG. Set in the near future, following the fallout of devastating environmental apocalypse that twisted the United States as we know it today. We follow Elvis and Diggs, two unlikely brothers on a journey of discovery, through a wasteland, reeling from a savage force known as the ‘Miasma’.

Digital players will be able to get their hands on Miasma Chronicles, across all platforms, from May 23rd. Hit that wishlist button now to get access from day one.

Following that, Miasma Chronicles will also be coming to a video game store near you. The physical edition for consoles, including art book and Elvis’ Mine Technician Suit and Diggs’ Mine Rescue Shell, will be available in Europe from June 9th and North America from June 20th.

Thanks Redglyph!

SureAI answers the question ...

Will There Be A New Enderal?

Eurogamer reports that Jake Solomon of XCOM acclaim is looking to start a new studio, but it won't be focusing on turn-based strategy.

Jake Solomon, best known for his work on the XCOM series and Marvel's Midnight Suns, is looking to fund a fresh studio in order to "make a new kind of game".

Earlier this year, Solomon announced he was leaving Firaxis after more than two decades to "[embark] on a new chapter".

At this point, the XCOM designer did not go into specifics about what this new chapter would look like, only saying that his brain was "on fire with a new dream" and this was the "time to go chase it".

[...]

 When asked further about the sort of game that would excite him, Solomon said he would probably make "more of a life simulator or a simulation-style game".

"My intention... if anybody gives me the funding for it, is to open my own studio locally. I'm going make a new kind of game," the Midnight Suns director shared, saying he wanted to stay in Baltimore. 

IGN checked out the action RPG Atlas Fallen:

Atlas Fallen: Surfing the Sands Is Extremely Fun

The 1st Quarter Progress video of 2023 for Fallout 4 mod Fallout London.

Fallout: London is a DLC-sized mod for Bethesda’s Fallout 4. As a continuation of the base game, the mod will allow the player to visit the previously unexplored post-apocalyptic environment of London,
As a divergence from previous official titles in the series, Fallout: London is not set in America. Visiting a totally new setting allows for us to explore totally new cultures which have not homogenized with their American counterparts. It also allows us to explore pre-war European history, and the effects the Resource Wars had on the class structured society of pre-war Britain.

inXile Entertainment have posted a humourous video about System Shock for reasons unclear. Feel free to speculate.

You mean I can jack into any site . . . at any time?

Dev Diary #9 for Age of Wonders 4 focuses on Ancient Wonders.

Dev Diary #9: Ancient Wonders

Greetings future Rulers, welcome to another Development Journal! I’m Bas, a game designer at Triumph Studios. I’d like to give you some glimpses into the grand structures called Ancient Wonders that can be found in the realms you conquer.

Each Ancient Wonder is a monument from the great ages of the past, with several ties to the old Age of Wonders lore. They make the lands more coherent and mysterious as you encounter an ancient Mother Tree guarded by vengeful Entwined, a Secret Temple desecrated by evil cultists summoning a demon or a Lost Tower of ancient wizard horribly transformed by the Astral Sea.

Ancient Wonders are, next to being monumental landmarks in the world map, also filled with adventures and the promise of loot. They are the evolved versions of Treasure Sites in Age of Wonders 3 and Landmarks from Age of Wonders: Planetfall.

Discovering an Ancient Wonder

When you first uncover an Ancient Wonder on the World map, you already get a glimpse of what’s to come through:

• The name, which hints at the adventure that awaits inside.
• The tier, which indicates the difficulty but also the value of the Ancient Wonder and its rewards!
• The background lore, indicating what the Ancient Wonder’s original purpose was and what might still lurk inside

Beware though, that trying to enter and capture Ancient Wonders, while a dangerous ordeal in itself, also have diplomatic repercussions, other players gain grievances if you try to explore Ancient Wonders that are close to them. No one likes nosy neighbors stealing the loot.

To take you on an adventure, we’re following Wizard King Cinren Toliath of the Ashborn Hedonists.

[...]

Jwlar explores The Elder Scrolls: Arena in this video retrospective:

The Elder Scrolls: Arena - A Complete Retrospective

Ye Old Entertainment looks back at Baldur's Gate 2:

Baldurs Gate 2: Was it really that great? Or is it our nostalgia talking? Worth Playing in 2023?

The GOG Spring Sale will start today:

One of our biggest sales of the year - Spring Sale - starts on Monday!

Below you will find some more information about it:

START: March 20th 3pm CET

END: April 3rd 11:59 pm CEST

Over 4000 SKUs on sale, discounts up to 90%

Main promo page: https://www.gog.com/promo/2023_spring_sale (active from the promo start)

Top 10 bestsellers on sale:

• 1. Cyberpunk 2077 -50%
• 2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition -70%
• 3. Heroes of Might and Magic® 3: Complete -75%
• 4. Disco Elysium - The Final Cut -75%
• 5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance Royal Edition -75%
• 6. Diablo + Hellfire -20%
• 7. Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous - Mythic Edition -70%
• 8. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition -60%
• 9. Warcraft I & II Bundle -20%
• 10. Horizon Zero Dawn™ Complete Edition -67% (APPROVED ONLY UNTIL 30th of March)

Links with the RPGWatch GOG affiliation!

Wizard Worm checked out Avernum: Escape From the Pit:

Explore the Underworld of Avernum: Escape From the Pit | Game Review (Party-Based RPG)