We are used to reading news about video game companies that lay off workers without hesitation, but not so much about workers who decide to leave en masse. Imagine how bad things must be for someone to actively decide that they are better off without a job. This is what happened with Annapurna, whose 25 developers decided to leave at the same time, raising all possible red flags about the studio. However, it doesn’t seem to have put them in a bind when it comes to continuing to make their titles. The purge of Annapurna Although the real concern for any of us should be […]
We are used to reading news about video game companies that lay off workers without hesitation, but not so much about workers who decide to leave en masse. Imagine how bad things must be to actively decide that you are better off without a job. This is what happened with Annapurna, whose 25 developers decided to leave at the same time, raising all possible red flags about the studio. However, it doesn’t seem to have put them in a bind when it comes to continuing to make their titles.
Although our real concern should not be the well-being of the announced games (but rather that of the workers who decided to leave), it is inevitable to wonder what happens with titles like Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth, which was going to be the first video game of the franchise in 25 years. Well, apparently… nothing. Everything remains as it was. There is no problem. Oceania had always been at war with Eurasia.
And to think that Chelsea Hash, the director of the title, was one of those who refused to move forward along with the rest of the developers who were working on it, so it’s hard to imagine that anyone at Annapurna has the cold blood right now to act as if nothing has happened and continue with other people at the helm, but that’s what’s happening.
More or less, because the representative from Annapurna told IGN that ‘The situation is puzzling, but now we are focused on moving forward… We have a great influx of quality job applications and we are excited to build a team passionate about telling original stories that are not told anywhere else. PS: We are hiring.’ Do you know when you had a passionate team? Before. They left. It’s something to think about.
Stray is an incredible new experience on Steam brought to you by Annapurna Interactive. Stray has been hailed the publisher’s most successful game to date, and has garnered much attention from the media since its Steam debut. But the approximately 63,000 players the game already has on PC isn’t the only attention it’s getting. Stray has also captured the interest of modders.
One such modder, Chris Rubino, created a new skin for the main protagonist of the Stray story that looks almost identical to lasagna-loving Garfield. To put things into perspective, Stray has been out for less than a week and it already has a thriving modding community. The Garfield mod sees everyone’s favorite orange cat take on the world without his beloved Jon. Those familiar with the plot of Stray will know that this is not by the modder’s choice, but rather simply the sequence of events that the game follows.
Stray takes place during a time when humans have been wiped off the face of the earth by a biological outbreak on the surface. Humanity is survived by its Companions, robotic counterparts that have since become self-aware. The titular stray cat has become separated from its family and has fallen into a walled underground city. In this city, the cat will face Zurks, bacteria that have evolved to consume both organic and inorganic matter, and sentinels, robots that will try to kill the cat.
As grim a situation this is to drop often-pampered Garfield into, the game does give players an interesting perspective. Garfield and the protagonist cat also have a lot in common as the original stray is a ginger based off of one or more cats kept by the dev team. Notably, Garfield’s fur is a lot more orange than the original protagonist, and his body looks a good deal more rotund than the svelte protagonist cat.
The modding community for Stray has definitely been quite busy, even churning out such horrors as CJ from Grand Theft Auto San Andreas cat-sized and on all fours. For slightly less disturbing content though, why not check out our top 5 tips to live your best cyberpunk street cat life in Stray?
Stray, the long-anticipated game from BlueTwelve Studio and Annapurna Interactive where you play as a cat in a cyberpunk landscape, finally dropped. The game features some unique elements in that the type of gameplay players experience can be on rails at certain points. This means that you’ll need to adjust your overall playstyle to the game’s choices.
But don’t worry: you can still jaunt around and knock pots off of shelves as a cute little stray cat. You can even wear a backpack (and totally hate it at first). Here are the 5 best tips for Stray.
Curiosity has its pros and cons in Stray
Like cats in real life, it pays to be curious in Stray. Explore all of the nooks and crannies — especially when you visit hubs. As mentioned, the game tends to dip in and out of genres and styles. Sometimes, you’ll be more of a detective, trying to sniff out hidden quests or items.
If fetch quests with character like those found in Ghostwire: Tokyo aren’t your bag, you don’t have to do all of them. Just keep in mind that the game tends to reward those who explore more.
But be wary not to explore too far ahead of where you’re supposed to be in the game’s story progression. You could get locked out of an area. In addition, if youpoke around too much at random objects, you might get your head trapped in a bag — just like a real cat would.
Embrace the verticality
In the same vein as exploring everything, players need to remember to exploit the game’s verticality. While you can’t always jump, you should take advantage of all the times that you can. You’re a cat after all, so why not perch on a roof somewhere?
This also affords you a better view of the city and, since cats cannot use or read maps, this might also give you a better idea of how to get to a place you want to visit. Knowing what’s coming might also help you in combat.
Enjoy being a stray cat
Stray is about playing as a cat. That means that you can do lots of behaviors like real cats such as purring, nuzzling NPCs, jumping, etc. You can even curl up and nap in a cozy area for a spell and the game has lots of these nooksfor you to do just that.
In fact, the game seems to encourage you to indulge in the cat-like behavior. If you warm up to the android NPCs, they will lean down to pet you. A controller will vibrate when you purrand you can also spam “meow” to get attention, attract enemies, or just for fun.
Another pro-tip: your meow will cause issues with the city’s electrical grid early on in the game. After you meow, a neon arrow will flicker to guide you in the direction you need to go in.
Signs and vending machines
The environment in Stray is just as fulfilling and full of life as the main character itself. The rich background brims with details and secrets. One such secret is that the various signs you come across can provide hints at where to go next or how to find something interesting.
Additionally, vending machines provide currency (energy drinks) for the world. You shouldpick up all the ones you can to trade them later on in the game.
Certain actions reveal items and areas
So, getting a good look from a high vantage point can help you with the city layout. But these are two other key things to do to find items and areas.
First, the B-12 backpack lights up when the stray is near something such as a terminal or dialogue opportunity. Don’t miss out on this critical visual cue if you want to get achievements and experience all the game has to offer.
Secondly, as with meowing and other cat behaviors, sharpening your claws on various real-world scratching posts will reveal areas. For instance, you could claw at a drape or paw softly at a closed door. Someone may end up opening the door for you and open up an entirely new spot to explore.
Where can I play Stray?
The game is set to get a full physical release with preorders starting on July 12th. For now, players interested in experiencing life as this adorable feline can play digital versions on Windows PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
