Ubisoft is working on an extended version of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, in which the main emphasis will be placed on modern graphic technologiesIncluding DLSS 4, FSR 4, Transformer Upscale Model и multi-frame generation (Multi-Frame Generation). The update will also combine already released DLC and improvements to the Snowdrop engine.
The original 2023 release used DLSS and third-generation FSR, but Ubisoft may implement it in the future. latest versions of upscaling, supporting neural network ray tracing, frame interpolation and Transformer AI models, similar to those used in DOOM: The Dark Ages and Cyberpunk 2077. This will improve image quality without compromising performance, especially in 4K.
Recycling is also expected lighting, shadows and materials, and support patch tracing (path tracing) could be a key new feature in the Enhanced Edition. The Snowdrop engine already uses advanced GI and PBR systems, but Ubisoft Massive could adapt it to the new GPU-features such as RTX Video, DirectSR and AV1 acceleration.
The publication will include supplements The Sky Breaker and Secrets of the Spires, expanding the map, vertical regions, banshee abilities and missions with the new Na'vi clan. But the main difference in the new version is deep visual modernization, aimed at owners of RTX 40/50 and Radeon RX 9000.
The reissue, according to insiders, will be released ahead of the film's release. Avatar: Fire and Ash, which will be released 19 декабря 2025 годаUbisoft hopes to bring the game back into the spotlight with a major technical update and synergy with the film franchise.
Square Enix has released an update for PC versions of JRPG Fantasian: Neo Dimension, in which was Denuvo protection system has been completely removed. This has become standard practice for the publisher, which often removes DRM months after its games are released. In this case, it went smoothly 6 months since release, before the anti-manipulation mechanism was disabled.
Fantasian: Neo Dimension is adventure japanese role-playing game, developed with the participation of Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. The main character named Leo goes in search of his father, but as a result of a powerful explosion he ends up in an alternate dimension - the so-called "Machine Kingdom", completely separated from humanity. Having lost his memory, Leo only remembers a mysterious girl, Kina, who can help him return back.
During the course of the story, the player will have to explore split realities, restore the character's memory, and also uncover the mystery of a mysterious infection, threatening the world. The game combines a turn-based combat system, traditional JRPG design and an original visual style with digital dioramas.
After its release on PC, the project was criticized for the presence of Denuvo, which could negatively affect performance. Now, with the release of a patch, players will be able to launch the game without online DRM verification and without potential security-related limitations.
Fantasian: Neo Dimension is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X/S. The update removing Denuvo is now rolling out to Steam.
According to Kojima Productions' technical director, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach development on PlayStation 5 has become more efficient, but there is no dramatic technological leap between the PS4 and PS5. In an interview with the magazine Edge, quoted by GameSpot, CTO Sakamoto noted that The PS5's main advantage remains its loading speed, but the real change lies in the approach to creating worlds and levels.
On PS4, artists and level designers had to search workarounds, to fit within the limitations of the old hardware. Now, thanks to the PS5 architecture, they can implement the plan directly, without resorting to hacks and tricks. This gave a lot of freedom, but also caused new challenges for programmers, who have to adapt to changed processes. “At some point, the artists started to get out of control,” Sakamoto noted wryly, describing the situation at Hideo Kojima’s studio, where creativity often outpaces technical implementation.
He also emphasized that Large-scale generational leaps are a thing of the past, and today consoles provide more convenience than fundamentally new capabilities. Despite Microsoft's statements about a radical update in the next generation, modern hardware is already quite powerfulto create impressive worlds - an example of which is Death Stranding 2, which runs on the base PS5 without upgrades.
Recall Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will be released on June 26, 2025 exclusively on PlayStation 5. The project remains one of the most anticipated games of the year and continues the philosophy of the first title, focusing on atmosphere, aesthetics and non-standard gameplay.
During a keynote at Digital Dragons 2025, the creator of the original Cyberpunk tabletop universe Mike Pondsmith revealed, what's in the sequel Cyberpunk 2077, known by the code name Project Orion, will appear second major location, complementing Night City. According to him, the new map is radically different in mood and visual style, but fits into the canons of the cyberpunk world.
Pondsmith clarified that although he is not directly involved in the development, he familiar with the script and visual developments: "I was talking to one of the environment artists recently. He was showing me a new location and telling me the concept of it. And yeah, it's not Night City - it's a completely different city, and I won't say more... but it's going to be there." He later added: "It doesn't look like Blade Runner. It's like Chicago gone wrong. And I said, yes, it works."
CD Projekt RED is in no rush to make a full announcement, as the studio primarily focused on The Witcher 4, but it is already known that Night City will be saved in the game, and "Chicago gone wrong" will become a new full-fledged region. Judging by the description, it can be comparable in scale to the original map, and will offer a completely different atmosphere - perhaps more industrial, dark and anarchic in spirit.
The Orion project doesn't have a release date yet and is still in its early stages, but development is well underway and the studio is already formulating concepts for the environment, cyber implants, and new factions. It's likely that the new location will open up fresh approaches to quest design and vertical gameplay, as one of the lead level designers hinted at earlier.
For now, we have to wait for official materials, but the fact of adding the second major city in the Cyberpunk setting — is already an important step towards the ambitious expansion of the universe.
Developers from Shift Up Confirms Stellar Blade Sequel in Development, one of the biggest hits of 2024. The information was revealed in a new investor presentation, which clearly shows that the game is part of the company's strategic plan until 2027. Although an exact release date has not been announced, the team hopes to complete the project before the end of the specified period.
In addition to the sequel, Shift Up is working on a new one action RPG codenamed Project Witches, as well as over "expansion of platforms" for the first Stellar Blade. The wording has sparked speculation among Xbox fans, but current information suggests that we are talking about the release of PC version of the game scheduled for June 11, 2025Given the partnership with Sony, the likelihood of a version appearing on Xbox consoles remains extremely low.
Stellar Blade's PC release is already surrounded by controversy: the game not available in 130 countries, despite the lack of a PlayStation Network authorization requirement. The reason is a regional blocking related to Denuvo and marketing restrictions. Shift Up assured that negotiations are underway to resolve the problem, but did not specify whether it would be fixed by launch day.
So, Stellar Blade remains in the spotlight in 2025: an upcoming PC release, an ambitious sequel, and a new IP from the studio form a busy agenda. The main thing is that the team manages to implement all plans before 2027 without losing the pace of development.
In the latest episode of the podcast Press X to Continue creative director of Naughty Dog Neil Druckmann talks about working on a new game, which has not yet been officially announced. Although he did not specify what project he was talking about, Druckmann noted that this time he is performing more the role of producer and mentor, and not the lead writer or director, as was the case in the studio's previous games.
"I oversee the team, give feedback, act as an executive producer in the room. I like to switch between roles, it keeps my job exciting and always fresh," he said. This statement confirms rumors, previously announced by insider Daniel Richtman, that Naughty Dog is working on a new game under the direction of Sean Escayg, the director Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.
Earlier this year, the studio reportedly cancelled the single-player game directed by Vineet Agarwal, but the new project is still in development for over three years. Its details are not disclosed, but many fans assume that it could be either The Last of Us Part III, or about the new part Uncharted series, which Escayg knows well from his previous work.
In addition, Druckmann is personally leading the work on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, an already announced game, and remains executive producer of the HBO series The Last of Us. In the podcast, he also touched on the topic of comparing the adaptation to the original game: “It’s a joy for me to see how games have evolved to the point where they can be compared to HBO shows,” he noted.
Despite the vagueness of the details, one thing is clear: Naughty Dog continues to work on a major project, and its official announcement is likely just around the corner.
An improved version of the famous STALKER trilogy has been released — Legends of the Zone Trilogy Enhanced Edition, uniting Shadow of Chornobyl, Clear Sky и Call of Pripyat. Now this collection is available not only on PC, but also on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series, opening up access to the iconic Zone to new generations of players.
The key feature of the release was that all owners of original versions Steam gets updated games for free. This decision has already caused a positive reaction in the gaming community and has become a reason for discussing the developers' generous approach to fans. GSC Game World has reworked the visual part, improving textures, lighting, shaders and adding modern effects while maintaining the atmosphere of the post-Soviet Zone.
In addition to visual improvements, the remasters support gamepads, Steam deck and compatible with modifications via Steam Workshop. This makes the series convenient for both newcomers and veterans. All three games are available separately or as part of a collection at a 30% discount, which is especially beneficial for new players who decide to get acquainted with the series from scratch. The total size of all three remasters on PC is about 19,3 GB.
Legends of the Zone Enhanced Edition — this is not just a return of cult projects, but an attempt to make them relevant for modern players without damaging the atmosphere. A great opportunity to go to the Zone again.
The developers of Stellar Blade have published the results of an internal test demonstrating the impact of Denuvo protection on the game's performance. According to the Shift Up studio, DRM does not worsen the average FPS in any way, and in some cases even increases the minimum figures.
The comparison was conducted under identical conditions. The average frame rate remained the same - 59,9 FPS with the protection on and off. In this case, minimum FPS was higher with Denuvo — 58,2 vs 48,6. The 1% and 0.1% low FPS rates were also approximately equal: 32,8/30,4 with protection vs. 32,5/31,7 without itThe developers claim that the DRM is "finely tuned" and does not affect the gaming experience, while mods are fully supported.
Stellar Blade will be released on PC on June 11 without the need to sign in to PSN, but with region restrictions in ~130 countries. Shift Up has promised to remove the region lock and continue to support the project on par with the PS5 version.
In the wake of the major 1.4 update for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, which includes more than 700 edits and improvements, the GSC Game World studio was forced to quickly release Urgent hotfix version 1.4.1. The fix is aimed at eliminating critical crashes, which PC and console players encountered immediately after installing the main patch.
According to official information, The update fixes a crash when launching the game with the Simple Mod Loader mod installedand crash when loading saves related to UETools mods and similar utilities. These errors affected a significant portion of users, especially those who use custom add-ons and modifications. The developers emphasize that working with mods requires special care due to the current state of the engine.
Hotfix weighs about 4 GB on PC, despite the minimal list of changes. This is explained by the fact that some affected files require a complete rewrite, rather than a differential update, as in most modern games. Such a patch size may cause difficulties for players with limited disk space or slow internet.
The developers thanked the community for prompt reports and support via social networks and technical support. The team promises to continue to actively respond to problems, as well as work to eliminate side effects from updates. So far, players have noted a decrease in performance after patch 1.4, especially on RTX 3070 and RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards, but there is no talk yet about solving these problems in 1.4.1.
STALKER 2 will remain in active support throughout 2025, and the first leaks have already appeared related to future additions. The studio is expected to provide a roadmap for the game in the coming months.
Ubisoft has officially unveiled First gameplay of Anno 117: Pax Romana, a new installment in the cult city-building series set during the heyday of the Roman Empire. According to developers Ubisoft Mainz, it's The most expansive and flexible game in the entire history of the Anno seriesThe release is scheduled for winter 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Amazon Luna and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Connect), with support crossplay and crossprogression.
The player will take on the role of a governor appointed personally by the Emperor and develop the distant provinces of the Empire - from from the Latin region of Lazio to the Celtic lands of Albion, populated by tribes that do not recognize Roman authority. In Anno 117: Pax Romana, players will be able to choose how to govern their lands: impose Roman traditions or embrace local cultures, develop trade and diplomacy or resort to military expansion, to be loyal to the emperor or unleash a rebellion.
The development of the city will have unprecedented detail — from children playing in the streets to gladiators fighting in the arenas of the Colosseum. Every element can be customized: architecture, religion, tax system and even the format of the army. The gameplay promises Modular naval battles, massive land battles and an advanced economy, combining features of a simulator and a strategy.
Every decision you make determines not only the development of your city, but also the fate of your people and the player themselves. You can expand your influence through force or build a network of provinces that thrive through cooperation. The game promises deep variability: from the appearance of buildings to the geopolitical course. Anno 117 challenges players to determine the price of peace by controlling the fate of their provinces as part of a global empire.
