WipeOut Phantom Edition finally gives the PlayStation racing classic the PC remaster it deserves, thanks to one fan

Long before 2023’s halcyon days of top-notch ports of PlayStation games on PC, there was WipeOut. The sci-fi racing game was a classic on the original PlayStation. Its PC release? Not so much. But now one fan has decided to do right by the almost 30-year-old title by releasing a remastered Phantom Edition that finally brings WipeOut’s original PC release in line with its beloved PlayStation version.

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Payday 3’s stealth gameplay trailer was so sneaky that everyone missed it

Payday 3 has been back in the spotlight ahead of its September launch, making an appearance in the (Xbox green) limelight at last month’s Xbox Games Showcase – and then in the crosshairs of fans annoyed that you’ll always need to be online to play. There was actually another reveal for the game in recent days, too – but it snuck out so quietly that nobody realised it was there at first.

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PC Game Pass is much better value than Xbox’s new Game Pass Core console tier

Microsoft have announced that a new Game Pass tier will replace Xbox Live Gold on consoles. The new Xbox Game Pass Core tier will cost £7/$10 for a monthly subscription and £50/$60 for an annual one. Microsoft haven’t announced plans to bring Game Pass Core to PC players, although the new tier costs almost the same amount as the (frankly much better value) PC Game Pass variant – for now, at least.

Starting on September 14th, Xbox Live Gold subscribers will be automatically converted to Game Pass Core, which allows access to online multiplayer, exclusive discounts, and a compact collection of games. Xbox’s monthly freebie program Games With Gold is also getting axed, although you can still play previously redeemed games as long as you’re subscribed to either the Core or Ultimate tiers.

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Step into a Stanisław Lem sci-fi story with The Invincible’s demo

A new demo invites you to marvel at a mysterious and alarming alien world in The Invincible, a video game adaptation of the 1964 sci-fi novel by Stanisław Lem (the Polish author also known for Solaris). It’s basically Firewatch in space. I’ve not read the book but I did have a pleasant time strolling around shiny 3D space spaces while taking part in a BBC Radio 4 drama.

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Viewfinder review: a mind-bending puzzler where perspective is everything

In Viewfinder, you solve puzzles by figuring out the right way of looking at things, and you do that here by both physically moving around its abstract 3D spaces, and by mentally wrapping your brain around its mind-bending rule set. Perspective is key because here’s the thing: this is a world where you can bring photos to life, the 2D image becoming a 3D reality when you place it within the puzzle world.

It’s an incredible hook and one which I’ve never seen in a puzzle game before. There are echoes of The Witness, Gorogoa, and Superliminal here, but Viewfinder’s dizzyingly mind-melting puzzles are still very much its own. It impresses from the get-go and continues to pull tricks out of its silky tophat right until the end of its four hour run time. It’s compact, brilliant, and one of the best puzzle games of 2023.

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Dragon Quest XI’s treasure-hunting prequel is out now on PC

Dragon Quest Treasures, a prequel to the excellent Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age, is out now on PC. The game launched last year as a Nintendo Switch exclusive, carrying the series’ iconic slimes, and music over to a brand new setting. Dragon Quest Treasures is also Steam Deck verified, should you want to complete its bite-sized treasure hunts on the go (or in the comfort of your bed.)

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Payday 3 requires an internet connection, even when played solo

Payday 3 looked pretty similar to its predecessors when shown during last month’s Xbox Games Showcase. Almir Listo, global brand director at developers Starbreeze, confirmed one way the heist ’em up sequel would differ during a recent livestream: it’s ‘always online’ and so will require an internet connection even when you’re playing solo.

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