Level Clear: November 3rd, 2023
It’s November! Do you have snow on the ground where you are? I do. Can you believe 2023 is almost over? We’re also getting to that time of year when sickness can knock you out - take your vitamins, wash your hands, and drink plenty of water, y’all.
What we’re playing this weekend:
Amanda: Thirsty Suitors, Spider-Man 2, and A Little to the Left with my kiddo.
John: Starfield and Diablo IV (I’m stuck in the games of "Tedious business.”)
Nic: Alan Wake (OH, I'm only playing it on stream though), Warframe, and maybe some Warhammer 40K: Darktide.
Robin: I'm playing Alan Wake 2, participating in some mild banditry in DayZ, and checking out Jusant!
Chris: Throwing it back with Call of Duty: WWII this weekend for Extra Life!
Reviews
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Review
Some games are generation-defining. Uncharted 2. Red Dead Redemption. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. With Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Insomniac Games arrives with their own Uncharted 2 moment; a game characterized by blockbuster action scenes and deep dives into the characters of the world, stories you’ll be thinking about for years to come.
Editorials
2023's Games Aren't Worth the Human Cost
From the Dead Space remake in January to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in May to Baldur’s Gate 3 in August and the pile of acclaimed games that came out in October, some would say it’s been a banner year for the games industry. Except it hasn’t. And those of us who play games need to realize it.
News
PlayStation Portal Launching November 15
After revealing the products in August, PlayStation has finally revealed when and for how much you’ll be able to get your hands on the remote-play-friendly PlayStation Portal, Pulse Explore earbuds, and new Pulse Elite wireless headset. The PlayStation Portal will launch in “select markets” on November 15th for 199.99 USD/219.99 EURO/199.99 GBP/29,980 YE…
(UPDATE) Bungie Lays off Roughly 100 employees; Cites Low Final Shape Preorders and Player Sentiment
UPDATE 11/1: Jason Schreier from Bloomberg, Paul Tassi from Forbes (1|2), and Rebekah Valentine from IGN have reported similar information, with their sources telling them that roughly 100 were let go from Bungie on Monday. Schreier reports that sales were running 45% lower than expected for the year, and preorder numbers for The Final Shape were lower …
DLC Teased; Sequel Confirmed for Lies of P
Hosted by Game Director Ji Won Choi, Lies of P fans were treated to news of incoming DLC and a confirmed sequel for the Souls-like game that sold a million copies in the month after its release. In the Director’s Letter video, Choi starts by acknowledging the milestone and sharing his appreciation for the community and drops a line confirming further adv…
The Sims 4: For Rent Coming in December
After getting horses this summer in the Horse Ranch Expansion Pack, The Sims 4 players will be able to take on a different responsibility in the upcoming expansion For Rent, coming out on December 7th. You’ll find a new city, Tomarang, in the new expansion, inspired by the cities and people of Southeast Asia. To accurately reflect the culture, the team c…
BlizzCon 2023 Opening Ceremony Recap
BlizzCon is in person this weekend at the Anaheim Convention Center, and a feast of new information was released during Friday’s Opening Ceremony. From Overwatch to Diablo and Hearthstone and World of Warcraft and beyond, here are today’s biggest announcements from the Opening Ceremony.
Overwatch 2 showcases new tank hero at BlizzCon
The newest tank hero was announced at BlizzCon 2023 on Friday, Nov. 3. The hero, named Mauga, will make his official debut in Season Eight. Mauga is a Samoan name meaning “mountain.” Mauga is equipped with two chain guns, affectionately named Gunny and Cha-Cha.
Release Dates
November 6th
The Invincible (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
November 7th
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Salt and Sacrifice (Switch)
November 8th
Gunhead (PlayStation 5, PC)
Risk of Rain Returns (Switch, PC)
November 9th
Berzerk: Recharged (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
November 10th
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
We’ll see you next week! Take care of yourselves and play a game this weekend!