Explore our summary of gaming news from October 16-20, 2023. Discover the unveiling of eagerly awaited games and notable transformations within the industry. We’ve compiled the week’s crucial gaming developments, providing a convenient roundup of the latest news.
WoW’s Halloween Event Revives Classic Scarlet Monastery Dungeons
Blizzard Entertainment has unveiled a delightful surprise for World of Warcraft (WoW) enthusiasts in a recent Halloween event. Players now have the rare opportunity to revisit the classic four-wing Scarlet Monastery dungeons. The dungeons are a nostalgic realm that has evolved significantly over the years. The Scarlet Monastery, once divided into the Armory, Library, Cathedral, and Graveyard, transformed patch 5.0.4. This lead to the merge of two new revamped dungeons.
Players can unlock access to these classic dungeons by participating in the Hallow’s End fight against the Headless Horseman. Victorious players may find the Scarlet Key hidden within a pumpkin, a treasure that unlocks a pathway to the past. Players can use the key in the Monastery in Tirisfal Glades once acquired. This grants players a special buff and access to the four original dungeons.
However, this trip to the past is fleeting. The opportunity to acquire the Scarlet Key through the Halloween event will vanish on November 1. Despite this, players can still obtain the key from Arcanist Doan in the vanilla Scarlet Library,. This ensures that the doors to the past remain slightly ajar for the curious adventurers.
Why Activision Games Won’t Join Xbox Game Pass Until 2024
Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, recently clarified why Activision games won’t be available on Game Pass until 2024. On the Official Xbox Podcast, Spencer stated that regulatory uncertainties in Xbox’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard delayed the addition of Activision games to the Game Pass service.
Unlike the swift inclusion of twenty Bethesda games following Xbox’s acquisition of Zenimax, the Activision-Blizzard titles faced regulatory challenges. Spencer highlighted that the uncertainty persisted until a week before the acquisition’s closure. This limitation restricts how much preparatory work one could do on Activision-Blizzard’s back catalog.
Spencer reassured fans that the inclusion of games like Diablo 4 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is in the pipeline. This is despite the absence of a celebratory drop of games following the completion of the acquisition. He also emphasized the commitment to maintaining “100% parity” for Call of Duty across all platforms.
More Games to Benefit from Nvidia’s Game-Changing DLSS 3 Technology
Nvidia is enhancing the gaming experience by extending its Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) 3 technology to more games. These games include Naraka: Bladepoint, Slender: The Arrival, and Warhammer: Vermintide 2. This innovative technology, powered by artificial intelligence, significantly improves game performance and image quality.
DLSS 3 has been instrumental in optimizing game performance since its launch over a year ago. Nvidia has been proactive in expanding its support, and the recent inclusion of these titles marks a continuation of this trend. The update will likely double the frames per second (FPS) in Naraka: Bladepoint and improve performance by an average of 2.8 times at 4K resolution in Slender: The Arrival.
Starfield’s Steam Rating Faces Decline
Bethesda’s latest space exploration game, Starfield, is facing a decline in its Steam rating despite a strong launch. The game’s community has been vocal, providing constructive feedback and expressing their hopes for improvement through official Bethesda content packs or the modding scene.
Starfield, which initially captivated players with its vast content and sandbox experience, has seen its rating drop to a “Mixed” score on Steam. The community seems divided over the game’s scope and vision. While some players praise the game for its expansive content, others feel that certain features, such as space exploration, are underdeveloped, leading to unmet expectations.
The game has also been criticized for its repetitive procedural content and a perceived lack of a handcrafted experience, which some players feel detracts from the game’s staying power compared to other Bethesda titles like Skyrim. Despite these criticisms, Starfield launched with fewer bugs than other Bethesda releases and is considered to have a strong foundation.
Elden Ring Unveils Luxury Apparel Collection
Elden Ring, the acclaimed action role-playing game, has ventured into the realm of high fashion. Collaborating with luxury streetwear brand ARK/8, the game has unveiled “The Lands Between Collection,” an exclusive range of apparel inspired by the game’s ethereal universe. The collection, which embodies the essence of luxury, features a variety of pieces, including a faux fur coat available for approximately $1,700.
The coat, a standout piece, is intricately lined with a map of “The Lands Between,” reflecting the game’s enchanting landscapes. The collection also includes other unique items, such as a “Tarnished Destroyed Sweater,” retailing for around $230, which showcases a blend of edgy aesthetics and chic design.
Creative Director Dimitri van Eetvelde has brought this collaboration to life, a process that began before the game’s official release. The collection culminates over two years of meticulous design and planning, involving numerous design iterations and collaborations.
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