Scott Pilgrim EX Rises to the Top of My Must-Play Winter Games

Scott Pilgrim is gearing up for another adventure this March. Capcom is embracing Leon’s new “hot uncle” look, while a Kickstarter for a tabletop game has taken a turn for the worse. Here’s your daily dose of gaming news, rumors, and culture. When the official account of a franchise responds to fans with a GIF from Grand Theft Auto, it’s usually a sign of trouble. The remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag has reportedly been pushed back, but fingers crossed that the next title from indie favorite Red Candle Games is on track.

Set to release on March 3, the game will feature League of Evil Exes’ Matthew Patel and Robot-01 as playable characters. This spiritual successor to the 2010 brawler leans more towards RPG elements, offering non-linear quests and exploration, according to Tribute Games. They recently launched Marvel Cosmic Invasion, another fantastic retro-inspired title with some clever mechanics. With today’s news, Scott Pilgrim EX has quickly become my most anticipated release of the winter.

A new performance patch for PC has been released, addressing issues like increased system load around the Support Desk at Base Camp or the Grand Hub due to content status checks. This update aims to align the Steam version more closely with the console experience as the game approaches its one-year anniversary.

Jagex’s SVP of product, James Dobrowski, emphasized a strict policy against using generative AI in any player-facing assets. “We’re committed to ensuring that no generative AI will be present in the game experience,” he stated. However, he noted that AI could be utilized for improving tooling efficiency, which includes coding and QA processes, but not for creative aspects.

Resident Evil Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi shared insights on Leon’s revamped visuals, highlighting the meticulous feedback from Capcom’s female staff. “They were very particular about every detail, even the wrinkles on his neck,” he said, recalling a fan’s compliment about the developers’ attention to detail.

Players experiencing connection issues recently learned the cause. Community lead Julia Ossen informed fans on Discord that the studio has been facing extensive DDoS attacks. “The strike team is actively working on solutions, and we’re making progress,” she noted, although the attacks are still ongoing. This coincided with the game’s new patch, which included some stealth nerfs.

In a disappointing turn, over 28,000 backers pledged $5,657,479 to support a project that will no longer see shipments. Red Hook Games expressed their frustration with Mythic Games’ failure to fulfill Wave 2 orders, stating, “Their collapse is an enormously disappointing development that affects many Darkest Dungeon fans.” An ex-employee is stepping in to provide the source files for all of Mythic’s work, allowing players to create their own versions.

In other news, the Xbox versions of the stylish medieval combat game 1348 Ex Voto and Nickelodeon’s Splat Pack have both been canceled. The developer behind 1348 Ex Voto announced, “While we previously planned for an Xbox release, we regret to inform you that this is no longer the case. As we approach release, we must constantly evaluate priorities to ensure the best experience possible.”