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Entropy lets players fight over star systems
Forget fighting over small patches of dirt in some fantasy arena; Entropy now lets you conquer entire star systems. The space sim launched its first major update today called Hostile Takeover. The core feature of the patch is a three-faction PvP system that allows players to fight over, conquer, and protect outlying star systems from their enemies. Factions must destabalize an enemy system in order to cause a crisis -- a limited window of opportunity to swoop in and cripple the enemy's space station. If this is done, then the system changes hands. "With support for up to a hundred players in the same match, we expect some truly epic battles," said Artplant Producer Jack Wulff. Entropy is currently available through Steam Early Access.
Divinity: Original Sin enters beta following 'massive' update
Crowdfunded PC action-RPG Divinity: Original Sin has entered beta following the release of a "massive" gameplay-expanding update, developer Larian Studios announced today. Divinity: Original Sin joined Steam's Early Access program in January, offering a preliminary look at its open-world cooperative campaign. Today's update introduces more than 400 new features and gameplay tweaks, including new character talents, skill trees, enemies, and environments. Divinity: Original Sin is available from Steam for $39.99 during its Early Access period. [Video: Larian Studios]
Elder Scrolls Online downtime prepares for launch day [Updated: The game is back, and we are go for launch]
Early access to Elder Scrolls Online is ending, and as such the team has taken both of the megaservers offline in preparation for launch day tomorrow. The downtime for the game, store, and account services is estimated at a few hours. Once ZeniMax plugs everything back in, players will see a few big changes in the game's store. The updated store will offer subscription billing, upgrades to the Digital Imperial Edition, and the Palomino horse mount. In-game mail will also be restored. [Thanks to Space Cobra for the tip!] [Update: The game is back up and ZeniMax has officially declared it a launch!]
Carmageddon: Reincarnation plows into Steam Early Access
Just when you thought it was safe to use a crosswalk, Carmageddon: Reincarnation appears on Steam Early Access to crush your pedestrian dreams like so many actual pedestrians. A latter-day sequel to the controversial, 1997 PC hit, Carmageddon: Reincarnation once again sees players engaged in rolling combat with other, likewise heavily-armed vehicles while also running down hapless civilians for kicks. The Early Access release is a pre-alpha build of the game, but it boasts three stages, six vehicles and a "plethora of mad power-ups" to aid players in their bloody quest. Developer Stainless Games hopes to expand Carmageddon: Reincarnation with periodic updates that will add new vehicles, maps, and gameplay modes. The price tag attached to the Early Access release of Carmageddon: Reincarnation reads $30, but as with all Early Access games, those who purchase the gory racer will gain access to the final version of the game once it debuts at no additional charge. [Image: Stainless Games]
TUG is now available through Steam Early Access [Updated]
Do you have $9.99, a yearning for a unique open-world sandbox, and a tolerance for a not-quite-ready-for-primetime experience? If so, TUG is ready and waiting for you to explore it. Nerd Kingdom's MMO is now available through Steam Early Access for 10 bucks. The low introductory cost is due to the "unfinished nature of the game" and will be raised as time goes by. TUG currently features two modes, creative and survival, for players to enjoy. Developer Peter Salinas said that the title has made great strides through its alpha testing: "We've had such tremendous feedback and support from our players in our early alpha, and we can't wait to see all the amazing and creative things players will continue to do with the game. By looking at our community's play patterns and listening to their feedback, we can keep our development focused on what our players want." Massively has a hands-on look at TUG coming to you later this afternoon, so stay tuned! [Update: A message sent to Kickstarter backers assures everyone that the official launch date for the game is still January 2015 and that all backers will receive Steam keys early next week.] [Source: Nerd Kingdom press release]
Shadowrun Online infiltrates Early Access on March 31
Those anxiously awaiting the turn-based roleplaying action of Shadowrun Online won't have to wait much longer to dip into the cyberpunk world. Developer Cliffhanger Productions has revealed that the game will make its Steam Early Access debut on March 31. Though the version of Shadowrun Online that appears on Early Access will not be the complete game, it should give players a good idea of how the full game is shaping up. According to Cliffhanger, the Early Access build will initially serve as a prologue to the core Shadowrun Online campaign and will introduce players to the game's combat mechanics. Once the basics have been nailed down, the developer plans to roll out periodic updates which will bring new content to Shadowrun Online. No specific schedule for these updates has been established, but Cliffhanger hopes to issue new content on a monthly basis. The final, complete version of Shadowrun Online is still slated for release on PC, Mac and mobile devices toward the end of 2014, but keep in mind that any number of things could happen during Early Access testing to delay that vague release window. [Image: Cliffhanger Productions]
Nosgoth brings a legacy of pain to Steam Early Access
Square Enix's next entry in the Legacy of Kain universe, Nosgoth, is now available in alpha form on Steam Early Access. The competitive online multiplayer game pits humans against vampires for the entry price of $20, though Square Enix is offering "founders' packs" that range from $35 to $150, each 10 percent off until April 2. Each pack grants players in-game bonuses such as war chests, weapons and character boosts. The game entered closed beta in late February, and developer Psyonix noted that Early Access buyers are gaining entry to the closed test phase. It recommended players on the fence to "wait for Open Beta and play Nosgoth for free" when it reaches Steam's free-to-play section. Once in open beta, the Early Access founders' packs won't be available for purchase, but the content will be valid for previous buyers. This isn't the first time a publisher opted for a low-risk Early Access release on Steam. Kasedo Games brought Hegemony Rome: The Rise of Caesar to Early Access in February and Ubisoft launched alpha versions of Might and Magic X: Legacy in August 2013 and The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot in November. [Image: Square Enix]
Cannibals and priest bikers in Sarah Northway's Rebuild: Gangs of Deadsville
Rebuild: Gangs of Deadsville isn't about the zombie apocalypse – it's about what happens after the zombie apocalypse. Society is in tatters, infrastructure is broken, politics are disbanded, religion is extreme, and, somehow, you are in charge. For now. You're the leader of a group of survivors attempting to rekindle normal life in a barricaded, devastated city. Humanity has split into 12 factions; they're not exactly warring with each other, but they don't all get along. There are hippie Luddites, priest bikers, anti-male feminists and a group of LAN partiers, to name a few. Every time you play, you get a random selection of a few factions, and in order to create a peaceful society, you must strike a balance among all of their opposing viewpoints. If you do a bad job, your factions can rise up and start a "true democracy," pushing you out of a decision-making position entirely. It is possible to build a city of peace, but it's difficult, creator Sarah Northway told Joystiq at GDC. "It depends on what the factions are," Northway said. "There is a cannibal faction, and if you ban cannibalism and say that's absolutely not going to happen, they'll get angry. And then there's other factions, that if you embrace cannibalism, they get angry .... They'll just come to you, month after month, and say, 'So, your'e still eating people, eh?'"
Elder Scrolls early access starts this Sunday at the crack of dawn
If you're looking to log into The Elder Scrolls Online's early access period as soon as humanly possibly, prepare to get up at the crack of dawn this Sunday. A Reddit user has posted ZeniMax's schedule for the five-day jump (beginning at 7:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday, March 30th), the three-day head start (7:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 1st), and the wide release (7:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 3rd). Note that these dates and times are for PC players. ESO's console versions will launch in June.
Dungeon of the Endless adding four-player co-op, visual log
Dungeon of the Endless, the drunkenly conceived roguelike by Endless Space's Amplitude Studios, still has some features to add before its final release. The game has been available through Steam's Early Access program since December, but the studio still plans to add four-player co-op before the game's final release. The team also told us at GDC they expect to add a "visual log" of game events and characters that derives its inspiration from card collections. Think of a binder full of baseball, Marvel or football cards, but it's of the game. The Amplitude team had nothing to announce about the game coming to tablets, but it's painfully clear from the coy looks when we asked the question and the game's design that such a transition is highly plausible. The team has "honestly no idea" when the game will have its official launch. [Image: Amplitude]
Shadowrun Online heading to Steam Early Access on March 31st
You might be able to play Shadowrun Online sooner than expected, as the title is heading to Steam Early Access on March 31st. In a new video, Managing Director Jan Wagner announced the Early Access release and answered several questions that the community has had for the game. He said that this version of the game will be a "prequel" with many of the core elements from Shadowrun Online, such as combat and PvP. Wagner explained why the game slipped from 2013 (they had to recode the game from scratch), promised a future DRM-free version, and assured the addition of "more building blocks" every four to six weeks as the development progresses. You can watch the full video after the break. [Thanks to Chris for the tip!]
Ironclad Games' sinful MOBA, Sins of a Dark Age, now on Early Access
Sins of a Dark Age, the upcoming MOBA from Sins of a Solar Empire developer Ironclad (who maybe want to get to a confessional or something, since they seem to like sins so much) is now available on Steam Early Access. Soada - as Ironclad refers to it in shorthand - will be free to play when it launches, but Early Access will cost you $4.99. For that price, you'll gain entrance to the game, as well as a Welcome Chest containing one of three bundles. Each bundle contains a rare skin, an uncommon piece of Hero Gear, a rare skin recipe, and both common and uncommon quality materials for crafting. The game's final pricing structure isn't set in stone, but Ironclad states in its Early Access FAQ that the content of each Welcome Chest includes "far more" than $4.99 worth of content. [Thanks, Tyler!] [Image: Ironclad Games]
Nom Nom Galaxy puts the PixelJunk in Steam Early Access today
Last week, Q-Games announced a name change for the game formerly known as PixelJunk Inc. That game, Nom Nom Galaxy, launches on Steam's Early Access service today at 9:00 a.m. PDT / 12:00 p.m. EDT. Additionally, Q-Games mixed up the standard approach to a Steam Early Access launch by offering up crowdfunding-style reward tiers through the PC game's site, giving players access to Nom Nom Galaxy and other PixelJunk games as well as bonus DLC materials and a spot in the game's credits. The $9 Early Bird tier is limited to 1,000 copies, and gives players a copy of the game as well as digital wallpaper. The Pioneer Pack tier offers the same rewards for $19. [Image: Q-Games]
Perpetuum Online plans a Steam-based marketing push via Early Access
While Perpetuum Online has already been Greenlit on Steam (and was launched almost four years ago), a recent forum post by DEV Zoom states that the team plans to re-brand on Steam as part of the Early Access program. This has caused a bit of a stir in the forums as some players believe this will send the wrong message. "Since the game's been released for 3-4 years or whatever," player Norrdec observes, "isn't going early access kinda... fraudulent?" DEV Zero later clarifies: "The main reason for it is because we have no idea what to expect regarding player numbers and how the servers will take it. We need to warn people that there can be server issues, lag, etc., in the beginning and stuff can break badly. And right now on Steam, being early access is the best way to bring this to people's attention. Obviously we'll tell them this in the developer's notes box and that we've been out for years already." Be sure to check out the entire thread for more on the Early Access plans and a proposed Gamma wipe in the near future. [Thanks to Anon for the tip!]
PixelJunk Inc is now Nom Nom Galaxy, chomping on Steam next week
Q-Games' PixelJunk Inc has long been in development, and will see an alpha version launch on Steam's Early Access service on March 13. The game, which was originally codenamed "PixelJunk 1-6" in November 2012, will also undergo a name change and be known as Nom Nom Galaxy from here on out. Q-Games originally planned to launch Nom Nom Galaxy on Steam last year, and now has a quirky Early Access trailer to make up for lost time. In the trailer, Q-Games serves up the game's new name and places items like a PS3 and a copy of StarFox Command in a giant pot of soup. Given that players use lasers to destroy the environment in the 2D platformer and in turn build their soup empire, we guess boiling a game console in a video makes sense on some level. [Image: Q-Games]
Carmageddon shifts to Steam Early Access on March 27
Carmageddon: Reincarnation will arrive on Steam's Early Access service on March 27, Stainless Games announced. The UK developer also offered a pre-alpha trailer for the vehicular destruction game, which focuses on damage tech for the reboot. Carmageddon: Reincarnation is the result of a successful Kickstarter project in June 2012 during which the indie developer earned $625,143. The developer earned a total of $3.5 million in funding for the game as of March 2013 thanks to the investment of Bullfrog co-founder Les Edgar, bringing the game to Xbox One and PS4 in addition to PC, Mac and Linux. Since the developer first unveiled its plans for an alpha-level launch on Steam in September, it stressed that all of its Kickstarter and PayPal backers who pledged at least $15 for a copy of the game will also get every piece of Stainless Games' DLC "for the rest of time." [Image: Stainless Games]
Wasteland 2 devs unleash major beta update via Steam Early Access
InXile Entertainment has released a sizable update for the beta version of Wasteland 2, introducing more than 2,000 gameplay additions, features, and fixes along with a new in-game location. New features in the lastest update include destructible cover, additional class skills, and an overhauled combat system. InXile notes that the new "Prison" area, shown in the trailer above, adds enough content to fill the current beta with over 30 hours of gameplay in total. Wasteland 2 was funded via a successful Kickstarter project in 2012, and has since greatly expanded in scope. A full changelog for the latest beta update is available here. [Image: InXile Entertainment]
Co-op roleplaying game Divinity: Original Sin arrives this Spring
Larian Studios' latest high fantasy epic, Divinity: Original Sin, is now slated for a Spring release, and to whet players' appetites, the developer has issued the above trailer, titled "Spring Is Coming." According to a press release issued by Larian, the Spring launch window will allow the developer to utilize more of the feedback it has received from the game's Kickstarter backers, as well as those playing the game's Early Access incarnation. "Divinity: Original Sin features a huge and reactive RPG world with unparalleled 2-player co-op, and Larian is taking the time necessary to make it right and polished," the developer stated. If you'd rather not wait a few nebulous months to dig into Divinity: Original Sin, there's still time to join the Early Access test. While there is a $40 cost of entry, Larian claims that the Early Access game will continue to receive content updates and bug fixes for the foreseeable future. [Image: Larian Studios]
New sandbox pseudo-MMO Windborne hits Steam Early Access
It may not technically be an MMO, but we thought that Hidden Path Entertainment's "social sandbox creation" game, Windborne, might pique your interest. The game, which is now available via Steam's Early Access program, allows players to explore "an infinite number of islands, each full of wonder and surprise," on which they (and their friends) can utilize "a wide variety of building materials, furnishings, and artifacts" in order to build new civilizations and alter the world as they see fit. They can also befriend and trade with the island natives, creatures called the Jin, and the current build also boasts a "basic quest system," which gives players a "guided tour" of the game to help them gain their footing in this new world. Windborne's Steam page also outlines a number of features planned for the game's future development, such as the ability for players to help "guide the Jin to civilization" by protecting and defending them. Future updates will also add "millions of ruins filled with puzzles and treasure," dragons that can be tamed, bred, and ridden as mounts, and combat and quest systems. One last planned feature that should appeal to MMO fans is the implementation of systems to allow players to see the islands of other players surrounding their own and visit neighboring islands where they can trade, build, and generally interact with the islands' owners. If that sounds up your alley, Windborne is currently available on Steam Early Access for $29.99 US, though the game is on sale for $23.99 until February 24th. To read (and watch) more about the game or pick it up for yourself, check out Windborne's Steam page at the link below.
Windborne adventure and Starwhal fencing flip to Steam Early Access
Both Starwhal: Just the Tip and Windborne recently landed on Steam's Early Access service yesterday. Windborne, a sandbox adventure game from Counter Stike: GO and Defense Grid 2 developer Hidden Path Entertainment, is 20 percent off ($23.99) on the service until February 24. Starwhal, the narwhal fencing game set in outer space, earned $24,450 CAD ($22,294 USD) on Kickstarter in late December. The game comes from indie developer Breakfall, who will bring the game to PC, Mac, Linux, Wii U and PS4. Breakfall is hoping to carry Starwhal over to Ouya and Xbox One as well. As for Hidden Path, the developer is also partnering with Harmonix to create the recently-revealed Chroma, a free-to-play rhythmic FPS. [Image: Hidden Path Entertainment]
