• Journalist Tom Henderson has shed light on the development challenges facing Ubisoft's team-based shooter XDefiant, based on information from company employees.
• While Ubisoft has repeatedly set internal release dates for XDefiant, the game has been delayed each time. The latest planned release was slated for the end of February 2024, but this target was missed as well.
• According to reports, executives at Ubisoft are pushing for XDefiant to closely mimic the Call of Duty series in nearly every aspect, rather than creating a unique experience. This "endless pursuit of Call of Duty" has become a source of constant delays, as developers are forced to remake actual builds of the shooter to align with the executives' vision, much to the developers' dissatisfaction.
• Despite these difficulties, XDefiant is not in danger of being canceled. The game remains in active development, with a major public test recently conducted to assess the stability of connectivity, the in-game store, and social features.
• Ubisoft plans to hold another significant test for XDefiant in the near future. However, the game currently lacks an official release date, not even an internal one. According to Henderson, XDefiant is at least a few months away from launch.

I had a chance to use the MacBook Pro for a couple of days. Of course, the whole MacOS thing is a total disaster, but what I really liked was the build. It's really nice to hold it in my hands, it's pleasant to open and close, and you can feel the quality in every screw.

And here I was wondering if anyone has the same good quality, but on our native hardware from Nvidia and Windows, and not on this sado-maso MacOS? At the same time, it should not cost more than a MacBook because Microsoft or Samsung laptops are sometimes more expensive than the MacBook Pro, and surely the build quality I like is also in the Air, which is generally much cheaper than the Pro.

Causing intense pain almost to the point of tears? But then after a couple of minutes it became easier, though it was still hard to walk for a few more hours.

• Attorneys general from 17 states have joined the lawsuit against Apple, according to Axios. This marks the third time since 2009 that the agency has accused the tech giant of violating antitrust laws, the publication notes.
• The Department of Justice alleges that Apple has restricted its smartphone operating system in a way that "increases user costs and prevents developers from releasing products for other systems." The lawsuit claims that the company is blocking competitors from accessing software and hardware features of the iPhone, thereby harming its users.
• According to the complaint, Apple's monopoly extends to virtually everything: browsers, video calling, news subscriptions, entertainment, car services, advertising, geolocation services, and more. Among other allegations, the agency claims that Apple prevents the development of cross-platform messaging systems, forcing users to rely solely on iMessage and, consequently, purchase iPhones.
• Furthermore, Apple is accused of preventing the introduction of competitors' payment solutions, impairing the functionality of other smartphones with the Apple Watch and limiting third-party watch compatibility with the iPhone, reducing message quality when exchanging between iOS and Android devices, blocking cloud gaming services, interfering with the operation of "super-apps" that include multiple services, and much more.
• Apple has denied all of the allegations.
• As The Verge notes, the investigation against the company has been ongoing since at least 2019, and the lawsuit has been prepared "for years." In 2020, the US Congress addressed developers' complaints against Apple, finding at the time that the company held a monopoly in the market for iOS device programs.

• Larian Studios has no intention to release add-ons or expansions for Baldur's Gate 3, nor to work on a fourth installment of the game. This announcement came from the studio's head, Swen Vincke, during the Game Developers Conference 2024.
• The company plans to move away from the Dungeons & Dragons franchise and pursue a game based on a different intellectual property. However, Vincke did not disclose any specific details regarding their future plans.
• While Larian will continue to release patches for Baldur's Gate 3 for "some time", Vincke stated that the studio will take a break afterward before deciding on their next project. According to the executive, the company has not yet determined their exact course of action.
• Baldur's Gate 3 was released on August 3, 2023. Over the following seven months, Larian Studios has released several major patches for the game, introducing additional content. The developers have also created over 20 hotfixes with various bug fixes.
• Baldur's Gate 3 has become one of the highest-rated games in history, with an average score of 96 out of 100 on Metacritic. The RPG has won numerous accolades, including Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2023.

It has been confirmed that the second part of the first season will debut at a later date and will consist of seven episodes

Share your games you bought in this sale, if you bought any at all

• Epic Games will launch its mobile digital store on iOS and Android in 2024, as announced during the State of Unreal presentation held on March 20.
• The terms of cooperation for developers in the mobile Epic Games Store will mirror those on the PC platform, with authors and publishers receiving an 88% revenue share, while Epic Games retains a 12% cut.
• This move will make the Epic Games Store the world's first multi-platform gaming store accessible on PC, Mac, iOS, and Android. Epic Games will provide more details about the mobile version of the EGS at a later date, but the announcement suggests it will be available worldwide.
• In 2023, the number of Epic Games Store users on PC surpassed 270 million, while the total number of cross-platform Epic accounts reached a staggering 804 million.

• To play the mobile version of Hades, users will need an iPhone or iPad running iOS version 16 or higher, along with a standard Netflix subscription.
• The game is accessible through the Netflix mobile app, or it can be downloaded separately from the App Store. However, if you choose the latter option, you'll need to input your Netflix account details after installation.
• Players can enjoy the mobile version using either touch controls or a Bluetooth-connected gamepad.
• Supergiant Games currently has no plans to release an Android version of Hades. The developers mentioned that it took them over a year to port the game to iOS.
• As for Hades II, it is slated for an early access release in the second quarter of 2024.

Resident Alien surpassed my initial expectations by far! It follows the story of an extraterrestrial, portrayed by Alan Tudyk, who crashes into a quaint Colorado town and and assumes the identity of the local doctor. Originally tasked with annihilating humanity, his perspective shifts as he becomes more acquainted with the townsfolk. I think Alan Tudyk embodies the role flawlessly, leading a predominantly lesser-known cast who all deliver stellar performances, elevating themselves in the process. I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed it. This TV series seamlessly blends uproarious comedy with poignant moments, leaving viewers thoroughly engrossed. Before you realize it, you'll find yourself hooked on the show's charm. Intrigued by the high ratings and rave reviews, I decided to give it a chance - and I'm immensely grateful that I did. It's a unique and uproariously funny show where almost every episode ends with some special, warm, catchphrase.

I'd give it a 7.5 out of 10.

• Monopoly Go! is a mobile game that launched in early 2023 and has amassed over two billion dollars in revenue since then. With over 100 million registered users and 10 million daily players, it has become a significant success.
• In an interview with journalist Steven Totilo, Scopely studio head Javier Ferreira disclosed that the team invested nearly $500 million in promoting the game. This amount does not cover the development costs, which Ferreira mentioned amounted to about seven years in total.
• To put this expenditure into perspective, it exceeds the total budget of Cyberpunk 2077, which amounted to $440 million, covering both development and advertising for the main game and subsequent story-driven add-on, Phantom Liberty.
• Furthermore, it surpasses the production budgets of Sony's notable games. For instance, The Last of Us Part II incurred development costs of $220 million, while Marvel's Spider-Man 2 had an estimated cost of around $300 million, excluding advertising expenses.
• According to Scopely, Monopoly Go! currently generates approximately $200 million in revenue each month.

They really wiped 99 percent of the discussion

• The initial details regarding the LEGO set inspired by Dungeons & Dragons surfaced online on March 16, with the official announcement following a few days later.
• The company plans to launch this set in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the original board game. Based on a fan concept that emerged victorious in a contest on the Ideas platform in 2022, the construction kit will feature six character figures and 3,745 parts. These components will enable builders to create a dragon, a bear-like creature called a co-bear, a beholder, a coeurl, a tavern, a castle, the dungeon beneath them, and a small garden.
• Priced at $360, the set will be available for purchase on April 1 exclusively for Insiders members, with the general public gaining access three days later.
• Additionally, LEGO plans to unveil a special collection of miniatures featuring various D&D characters by the end of 2024.

I'm probably not the biggest fan by collectors standards, I only have 10 vinyl figures, but I really like them and always keep them in their original packaging. Do you like Funko Pop figures?

• In 2023, a teacher from the United States, known as AnonymousCerealBowl on Reddit, initiated a high school course on video games within the context of literature. His students engage with selected titles, analyze them, and complete assignments such as writing essays.
• By June 2023, AnonymousCerealBowl expressed satisfaction with the inaugural year of the class. With the aid of several grants, he procured 20 Xbox Series S units, 3 Nintendo Switch units, and 2 PS5 units, along with a year-long Game Pass subscription, facilitating students' access to various games.
• As subsequent semesters progressed, the number of consoles increased, with the teacher personally purchasing additional units to ensure ample availability. The class size in the first year expanded to 32 students.

• AnonymousCerealBowl mentioned that certain studios provided copies of games for the entire class. Notably, he received Xbox versions of The Stanley Parable by Crows Crows Crows and Hades by Supergiant.
• In mid-March, the teacher disclosed that his students had begun studying the Red Dead Redemption series by Rockstar Games, following a successful vote. To enhance their engagement, he devised specialized booklets containing assignments.
• These booklets prompt students to record the moral decisions made by their characters throughout the gameplay and subsequently respond to related questions. AnonymousCerealBowl also shared samples of the assignment booklets on Reddit, seeking input from users on additional assignments for future use.

I'm still trying to find time to go to the movies because I hear the sequel is really good. What do you think?