Dive into the latest gaming news from January 8-12, 2024. Keep up with the freshest game launches and key events shaping the gaming world. Our summary delivers vital news and important highlights, focusing on the significant developments and trends in the gaming industry.
Ubisoft Unveils Free Demo for ‘Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’
Ubisoft revives the classic “Prince of Persia” series with its latest installment, “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.” The studio has released a free game demo, allowing players to experience it before its full release on January 18.
This new title marks the first addition to the “Prince of Persia” series since “The Forgotten Sands” in 2010. The demo lets players explore selected game sections, featuring early unlocks of time powers and amulets. This approach showcases the main gameplay features while keeping the story unspoiled.
The demo, weighing in at 11GB, is a far cry from the original game’s shareware size. It’s available for download from Ubisoft and the Epic Games Store.
AI Shark’s Press Release Sparks Rumors About Possible Release of Nintendo Switch 2 This September
The gaming world is abuzz with speculation following a press release from AI Shark, formerly GameShark. The press release hints at a possible release date for the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch successor, the Switch 2. According to the release, the Switch 2 is allegedly set to launch in September 2024.
AI Shark, which has shifted its focus from cheat code cartridges to a software-agnostic program offering personalized gaming hints and assistance, made this claim in a statement about its new gaming software. The press release casually mentioned that the official launch of their software is planned to coincide with the Nintendo Switch 2 in September 2024.
However, it’s essential to approach this information cautiously. Nintendo has not confirmed this release window, and there are reasons to doubt the accuracy of AI Shark’s claim. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier suggests that AI Shark might be merely guessing at the console’s release date.
Nvidia’s RTX Remix Beta Launches This Month
Nvidia’s RTX Remix, a groundbreaking modding tool, is set to launch its beta version later this month, allowing enthusiasts to fully remaster classic games from start to finish. This exciting development was confirmed by Nvidia’s GeForce Evangelist, Jacob Freeman, in an interview with IGN.
RTX Remix offers modders the ability to enhance classic games with advanced features like ray tracing and visual upgrades. Freeman emphasized that the tool is designed for those with modding experience, enabling them to transform classic titles completely. This was demonstrated with Orbifold Studios’ ongoing project to remaster “Half-Life 2” using RTX Remix.
The tool first caught the public’s eye in September 2022, particularly with its impressive demo of “The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind,” showcasing a stunning visual overhaul. RTX Remix has since become a hot topic among gaming enthusiasts, eagerly awaiting its potential to breathe new life into beloved games.
Discord Announces Major Layoffs: 17% of Staff Affected
Discord, the popular communication platform, has announced a significant reduction in its workforce, with CEO Jason Citron confirming that 17% of the company’s staff will be laid off. This decision affects approximately 170 employees across various departments and is part of the company’s effort to refocus and increase agility.
The move comes as a response to the company’s rapid expansion since 2020, which saw its size grow fivefold. Despite this growth, Discord has struggled to achieve profitability and reignite user growth following a surge during the pandemic. Citron conveyed this tough decision in an all-hands meeting and an internal memo, emphasizing the need to stabilize the company after its over-expansion.
This layoff is the largest in Discord’s history and follows a previous reduction of 4% of its staff in August. Despite these challenges, Discord is not in a financial crisis, with over $700 million in cash reserves. The company, which declined a $12 billion acquisition offer from Microsoft in 2021, has been contemplating an initial public offering but is not close to doing so.
Discord’s layoffs reflect a broader trend in the tech industry, with companies like Twitch and Unity also announcing significant workforce reductions. Twitch recently laid off 500 employees, a 35% cut, while Unity is set to lay off 25% of its staff.
Missed out on last week’s Gaming updates?
That’s all the most exciting gaming news from January 8-12, 2024! Missed the gaming news last week? Click here for the gaming updates from January 1-5, 2024.
