PC gaming news and reviews

The latest PC gaming news and reviews of gaming PC hardware, software and accessories.

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Classic action RPG 'NieR Replicant' is coming to PC and modern consoles
NieR fans may have a lot to be happy about in the near future. Square Enix has teased a pair of games in the series, including an "upgraded" version of the cult classic NieR Replicant for PC (via Steam), PS4 and Xbox One. The publisher hasn't said just how it'll improve over the 10-year-old or even provided a general release window, but you can safely presume it'll represent a visual upgrade for the action RPG.
Google's 'Tilt Brush' virtual painting app comes to PlayStation VR
Google's Tilt Brush painting app is conquering one of its few remaining frontiers: consoles. The search giant has teamed up with Outerloop Games to release the 3D creative tool for PlayStation VR. To no one's surprise, it's the familiar experience, just in your living room. It turns your PlayStation Move controllers into virtual brushes you can use to create immersive masterpieces.
Capcom delays ‘Resident Evil Resistance’ PS4 and Steam betas
The remake of Resident Evil 3 will be out in just a few weeks, but Capcom wanted to give eager gamers the chance to play Resident Evil Resistance -- a multiplayer game that comes with Resident Evil 3 -- a bit early. The publisher had planned on opening a public beta today on Steam, PS4 and Xbox One, but only the latter has launched on time, as the company announced that technical issues have caused delays for the Steam and PS4 versions. Capcom didn't mention what exactly those problems are, or how long it expects the delay to last. Only 14 days remain until the retail launch of both titles, so hopefully the beta will be available shortly -- otherwise the sneak peek would be rather pointless.
Why 'Second Life' developer Linden Lab gave up on its VR spin-off
Second Life developer Linden Lab has sold Sansar, a platform for virtual 'scenes' that could be explored with a VR headset or traditional PC setup.
The first ‘Call of Duty: Warzone’ update aims to even the playing field
Call of Duty: Warzone is the long-running franchise's attempt to jump on the free-to-play battle royale bandwagon, and according to critics and players, it's probably worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre -- the game has over 30 million players already. There are some issues, though, and a new patch should take care of a few of them. Namely, custom loadouts will be harder to obtain, meaning players will have a more even selection of weapons -- or will have to play better to gain the advantage of using their favorite guns.
Engadget Podcast: How games (and Animal Crossing!) are keeping us sane
This week on the show, Devindra and Cherlynn dive into the deserted island life of Animal Crossing and how games can help us all survive being stuck at home. Also, Senior Editor Jessica Conditt describes how Doom Eternal -- a literal romp through hell on Earth -- serves a similarly relaxing roll for her. And producer Ben Ellman nerds out about Cities Skylines. Don't ever say we don't have varied tastes. Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News! Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Play Music Links Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the island escape we all need today Doom Eternal is guns, gore and sophistication Cherlynn on Overcooked 2 Half-Life: Alyx is the flagship VR game we've been waiting for Half-Life: Alyx is proof Valve answers to no one Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low Guest: Jessica Conditt Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien
Apple Arcade standout ‘Assemble With Care’ is now on Steam
If you're looking for new games to play while you stay at home amid the pandemic, you may be in luck. Today, two Apple Arcade exclusives hit other platforms. As promised, Assemble With Care, one of our favorite Apple Arcade games, is now available for PC. And Capcom's Shinsekai Into the Depths arrived on Switch.
'Below' arrives on PS4 on April 7th with an easier exploration mode
While we knew it was coming to PlayStation 4 this spring, we now have an exact release date for Below. The one-time Xbox One exclusive will launch on Sony's console on April 7th. And when it arrives on PS4, Below will include a new optional "explore" mode that addresses some of the difficulty issues that stopped the game from finding a bigger audience when it first came out.
'Second Life' creator sells its ambitious social VR platform
Second Life creator Linden Lab's big VR push didn't pan out, it seems. The company has sold its Sansar social VR platform to a startup, Wookey Project Corp., in a bid to "streamline its focus" in favor of Second Life as well as money service provider Tilia. Sansar will revolve more around "premier virtual events" under its new ownership, the team said in a blog post.
The first 'Half-Life: Alyx' update makes it easier to turn
Now that people -- who have the proper VR-ready gaming setup -- can actually play Half-Life: Alyx, it's inevitably time to ask for more features and tweaks. While our reviewer Devindra Hardawar preferred using teleportation-style movement through the game to avoid motion sickness, players who used its immersive "smooth locomotion" mode that lets you glide the world guided by the analog stick complained about its turning.
HP teases 'next gen' VR headset made with Microsoft and Valve's help
If you didn't rush out to buy a VR headset to play Half-Life: Alyx, your patience might be rewarded. HP is teasing a Reverb G2 headset developed in tandem with Microsoft and Valve that should be "more immersive, comfortable and compatible" than previous-generation hardware. The company is unsurprisingly shy on details, although the brief glimpse hints at a few design changes.
'Half-Life: Alyx' is the flagship VR game we've been waiting for
Half-Life: Alyx is a Half-Life game through and through. While it might not be the long-awaited "Episode 3," it's not just a trifling VR side-story either. It carries on Half-Life's tradition of pushing PC gaming forward -- this time, by focusing entirely on virtual reality and all of the narrative and gameplay opportunities it provides. And it effectively revives the series after an excruciating 13-year hiatus. In many ways, Half-Life: Alyx is the flagship single-player experience that the VR industry needs right now.
Color Space is a VR coloring book to help you relax
Let's face it: with the COVID-19 pandemic creating chaos, you're probably looking for something, anything to shut out the outside world and help you relax. Thankfully, you might have an option if you happen to have an Oculus VR headset. Lighthaus has released a Color Space coloring book app for the Quest and Rift that has you bringing a dull gray scene to life while you're inside. The more you color, the more it comes to life with animation and sound. It's very simple (you only need one button to control everything), but that's precisely the point -- Lighthaus designed the app as a distraction for patients going through stressful procedures.
'Half-Life: Alyx' is proof Valve answers to no one
Valve is like an eccentric billionaire uncle who isn't allowed to babysit any kids in the family. He lives alone in a mountaintop mansion stocked with exotic animals, vintage pinball machines, water slides and homemade potato guns, and strange sounds flow into the valley below at all hours of the night. He disappears for months at a time and returns with suitcases full of loose candy and unmarked pills. It's not that this uncle has ever hurt anyone or done anything illegal -- it's simply clear that really, he could do anything. Valve can do anything. It's unknown just how much money the studio pulls in each year, since it's a private entity and doesn't have to publicly disclose its finances, but estimates of its annual revenue begin at $4 billion. Valve founder Gabe Newell is personally worth $3.5 billion, according to Forbes. The company's main money fountain is Steam, which has been the top PC-gaming platform for more than a decade, with 1 billion registered accounts and an average of 90 million monthly active users.
Steam Game Festival lets you play indies that would've been at GDC
With industry events like the Game Developers Conference cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Valve is stepping in to help small, independent game developers get the word out about their upcoming projects. Starting today, the company will highlight more than 40 new and unreleased indies as part of the Steam Game Festival: Spring Edition.
Every HTC Vive Cosmos Elite will come with a copy of 'Half-Life: Alyx'
If you're waiting to take delivery of the new VIVE Cosmos Elite which ships today, you're in for a heck of a surprise. HTC has announced that the new headset will come with a free copy of Valve's hotly-anticipated VR exclusive Half-Life: Alyx. You'll receive a redemption code in-box that will unlock the game when it launches on March 23rd.
'Half-Life: Alyx' will launch on Monday at 1 PM ET
After years of waiting, a new Half-Life game is almost here. While everything else is getting canceled or rescheduled, the release of Half-Life: Alyx will happen on March 23rd. Valve tweeted tonight that the game will go live at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET. For gamers whose PCs are properly prepared, it will be available for preloading via Steam starting on Friday.
Timbaland created a music pack for 'Beat Saber'
Beat Saber has its share of popular music, but her'e something new: a big-name artist making music with the VR rhythm game in mind. Rap star and producer Timbaland has created a five-song music pack for Beat Saber with collaborations tat include Common Strangers, Karra, Kaydence, Bruno Martini, Nash Overstreet, Sid Tipton and Wavezswavesz. The pack will be available for $8 ($2 per song) on March 26th, and they'll be available through Apple Music, iTunes and Spotify if you'd rather not play just to listen to them.
Oculus Quest update will make it easier to multitask
Facebook is introducing a new system experience that it says makes its standalone Quest VR headset "more flexible, social and easy to use than ever before." The centerpiece of the upcoming update is a redesigned universal menu Facebook claims will organize information more clearly, as well as provides faster access to your favorite apps with a menu that displays the ones you use most frequently.
Facebook is hosting a virtual GDC for Oculus VR titles
Facebook is hosting its own digital gaming event at the same time GDC would've been held if it wasn't cancelled due to coronavirus fears. The internet giant has announced that it will reveal the latest updates for Oculus virtual reality titles at Facebook: Game Developers Showcase, which will run from March 16th through March 19th. It promises breaking updates for old games and trailers for upcoming ones arriving on the Oculus Quest and the Rift Platform.

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