Xbox has evolved from being perceived as a simple video game console to becoming a comprehensive platform that includes mobile devices and PCs through the Game Pass service. This service has been crucial to Xbox’s strategy, offering players access to a wide library of titles, including major game releases from their launch, making it a fundamental pillar of their proposal. It is not only beneficial for users but also for the company. However, the sustainability of the Game Pass model has been a subject of debate. Although it provides the possibility of […]
Xbox has evolved from being perceived as a simple video game console to becoming a comprehensive platform that includes mobile devices and PCs through the Game Pass service. This service has been crucial to Xbox’s strategy, offering players access to a vast library of titles, including major game releases from their launch, making it a fundamental pillar of their proposal.
It’s not only beneficial for users, but also for the company
However, the sustainability of the Game Pass model has been a topic of debate. While it offers the possibility to play a variety of titles without the need to purchase them directly, there are concerns about how this may affect game sales. Unlike PlayStation, which focuses on console sales, Xbox has pivoted towards software services, which could give it a competitive advantage in the future.
The Xbox approach includes significant investments in the acquisition of studios and popular franchises, a commitment that reflects its intention to enrich the Game Pass catalog. While costs are high, reports indicate that the model is profitable thanks to the growth of the subscriber base and a strategy that seeks to diversify income beyond console sales.
However, the success of Game Pass largely depends on the quality of the games offered. Despite the profitability of the service, there are concerns about the impact on the development and delivery of titles, as some projects may be canceled if market expectations are not met. In this context, the balance between producing titles for Game Pass and their sales performance becomes a crucial challenge for Microsoft.
With an eye on a broader future, Xbox is not only looking to consolidate its presence in the console market but also to expand its offerings to various platforms, including mobile devices and smart TVs, thus reconfiguring the traditional concept of playing on Xbox.
Sometimes some things seem to come out of nowhere. Overnight a game, a series, or a movie seems to be everywhere and it seems to make no sense at all. We are not talking, of course, about those works that have studied and gargantuan marketing campaigns, but about those that without apparent advertising suddenly seem to be everywhere. The works that seem to capture people’s minds without us even realizing it, at least until they are already extremely popular. This has been the case with the latest sensation on Steam, Umamusume: […]
Sometimes some things seem to come out of nowhere. Overnight a game, a series, or a movie seems to be everywhere and it makes no sense at all. We are not talking, of course, about those works that have studied and gargantuan marketing campaigns, but about those that without apparent advertising suddenly seem to be everywhere. The works that seem to capture people’s minds without us even realizing it, at least until they are already extremely popular.
This has been the case with the latest sensation on Steam, Umamusume: Pretty Derby. With around 40,000 concurrent players consistently since its launch, the game has taken social media by storm. Something you may have noticed if you’ve suddenly read people talking about their different horse, leaving you quite confused about it. But we are here to help you understand what this is all about.
Horse racing, idols, and a premise that’s hard to explain
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a transmedia franchise created by Cygames, a Japanese video game company specialized in mobile games. Particularly known for Granblue Fantasy and The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls, its biggest success to date is Umamusume: Pretty Derby, a game whose release was originally planned for late 2018, but was delayed until February 2021 in Asian countries and until February 25 of this same year in the rest of the world. It has become an almost automatic success in all territories where it has been released.
What is Umamusume: Pretty Derby about? In a world very similar to ours, there exists a species of anthropomorphic horse-girls —they have the speed, endurance, and the tail and ears of a horse, but everything else of an adorable anime girl— who train in academies to become both racing stars and musical idols.
The game puts us in the shoes of a coach who must ensure that these girls achieve their goals. We must train them and make sure they improve their attributes to perform well in races, but also to do well in dance and singing exhibitions, to finally help our favorite horse-girl reach the top. Becoming the top idol in the world.
All of this sounds strange. And it is. But the reality is that it combines many elements that make it very addictive if one decides to give it a chance. The character development mechanics are deep, the mix of horse racing and gacha is a hellish dopamine dispenser, the girls are adorable, and the gameplay loop hooks you with great ease. This results in the fact that, despite it being difficult to give it a chance due to the peculiarity of its premise, it becomes very hard to abandon it once we have immersed ourselves in it.
A success that was to be expected, seeing how it has performed in Asia
In fact, upon its arrival in the West, the numbers it shows have not been a surprise. Both in Japan and South Korea, it is an extremely popular game, having reached the top of the most profitable mobile games for Cygames in recent years. An admirable feat given the tremendous competition they have in these countries.
Additionally, the game has sparked a renewed interest in horse racing. Or to be exact, in the horses of horse racing. For while the girls in the game are anime girls with adorable animal traits, they are inspired by real racehorses. This has led many people, especially in Japan, to create fan clubs or even make pilgrimages to meet their favorite horses. Thus creating a new paradigm that did not exist until now.
Because besides, Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a multimedia franchise. With several animes, mangas, and a theater play, it has proven to have the ability to attract a large audience. And now that it has arrived both on Steam and mobile platforms, iOS and Android, it is showing that it can also attract that same number of people in the West.
So don’t be surprised if you see people on social media talking about their favorite horse. They haven’t gone crazy nor have they fallen into the world of sports betting. Or it’s not likely to be that. They are probably talking about Umamusume: Pretty Derby, a game you can play for free on both PC and mobile devices, and it seems that it will continue to be a topic of conversation for a long time.
The recent changes in employee performance evaluation at Microsoft have sparked a wide debate about the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the workplace. In an internal memo, Julia Liuson, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Developer Division, indicated that managers should evaluate their employees based on their use of AI tools, considering that their integration is “fundamental” for all roles. This measure has been interpreted by some as a way to force the adoption of technologies that have not yet been fully embraced […]
The recent changes in employee performance evaluation at Microsoft have sparked a wide debate about the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the workplace. In an internal memo, Julia Liuson, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Developer Division, indicated that managers should evaluate their employees based on their use of AI tools, considering that their integration is “fundamental” for all roles. This measure has been interpreted by some as a way to force the adoption of technologies that have not yet been fully embraced by users.
A decision that has not been well received by either employees or users
One of the main points of controversy lies in the functionality of Recall, a feature that takes screenshots of user activities every few seconds. This feature has raised security concerns, leading Microsoft to partially retract after its initial announcement due to the negative backlash. Although the company has worked to address these issues, the negative perception of how security is handled remains among users.
Despite the fact that the implementation of AI aims to enhance the user experience, many Windows 11 users have expressed their dissatisfaction with the default installation of Copilot, a tool that, with only 33 million users, falls short compared to the 400 million of ChatGPT. Critics argue that Copilot is seen as “bloatware” and that its imposition on operating systems is unnecessary and frustrating for many.
The lack of interest from users towards Copilot raises questions about Microsoft’s strategy as it seeks to integrate AI into its ecosystem. As 2025 approaches, the company faces the challenge not only of meeting the expectations of its employees, but also of satisfying the needs of a market that does not always see AI as an essential solution.
The launch of Death Stranding 2, one of the highly anticipated sequels to Hideo Kojima’s acclaimed title, will take place in a ‘global launch’ format. This event will start in New Zealand and the East Coast of the United States, although the precise details of the launch times remain a mystery. Sony has not provided a clear map of the hours, which has caused confusion among players due to the ‘rolling midnight launch’ that will be implemented, where the easternmost time zones will receive the game first. It is already possible to preload the game, whether you have it or not […]
The launch of Death Stranding 2, one of the highly anticipated sequels to Hideo Kojima’s acclaimed title, will take place in a ‘global launch’ mode. This event will start in New Zealand and the East Coast of the United States, although the precise details of the launch times remain a mystery. Sony has not provided a clear map of the hours, which has caused confusion among players due to the ‘rolling midnight launch’ that will be implemented, where the easternmost time zones will receive the game first.
It is now possible to preload the game, whether you have early access or not
Players who choose the digital version of Death Stranding 2 will enjoy a 48-hour early access before the official launch, giving fans the opportunity to explore the game ahead of everyone else. Additionally, at the time of writing this news, PS5 users can already pre-load the title, preparing their consoles for the experience to unfold in Kojima’s peculiar universe.
The time difference in access between regions has sparked discussions, as some media suggest that the midnight launch scheme will only apply to the United States, while for the rest of the world it will simply be at midnight according to their respective time zones. This lack of clarity has left many wondering how Sony defines its regional boundaries.
Regarding the PC release, a wait similar to that of the first game is anticipated, which took about eight months to arrive on the platform. Therefore, PC players should be prepared for a prolonged wait. Death Stranding 2 promises to be another milestone in the history of video games, and fans are ready to dive back into Kojima’s strange and captivating narrative.
Hyung-Tae Kim, CEO of Shift Up and director of the game Stellar Blade, has surprised the community by revealing that his favorite mod does not belong to the NSFW content realm, but rather features Doro, an adorable character from the mobile game Goddess of Victory: Nikke. Doro, whose representation in the game was inspired by a meme version of a character named Dorothy, was included in Stellar Blade as a tribute to the popular fan art surrounding it. It is a very cute mod, quite different from most mods of the game The mod, created by […]
Hyung-Tae Kim, CEO of Shift Up and director of the game Stellar Blade, has surprised the community by revealing that his favorite mod does not belong to the NSFW content realm, but rather features Doro, an adorable character from the mobile game Goddess of Victory: Nikke. Doro, whose representation in the game was inspired by a meme version of a character named Dorothy, was included in Stellar Blade as a tribute to the popular fan art surrounding it.
It’s a very cute mod, very different from most of the mods in the game
The mod, created by the user xjdyz and available on NexusMods, allows Doro to become a pet that follows Eve, the protagonist of the game, on her adventures. This contrasting inclusion is refreshing, considering that adult content mods for Stellar Blade have accumulated over a million downloads, thus evidencing the great popularity of this type of content compared to more harmless options.
During an interview with Game Spark, Kim emphasized his desire to see more meaningful mods for Stellar Blade, highlighting the need for solutions that do not sexualize the characters. This statement suggests a longing on the part of the director to cultivate a modding community that prioritizes creativity and inclusion over explicit content.
Additionally, in an interesting turn, the study behind Stellar Blade has acquired development kits for the Nintendo Switch 2 console, although it has not yet confirmed any specific plans for this new platform. This raises the possibility of expanding the game to new audiences, although more details will be needed to fully understand the future of Stellar Blade in the Nintendo ecosystem.
Anticipation is growing around the release of Dying Light: The Beast, a title that promises to revitalize the franchise after two years of silence since Dying Light 2. This game, scheduled for August 22, 2025, on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, not only represents the third installment of the saga according to its developers, Techland, but will also offer a more immersive open-world experience, with the possibility of playing in cooperative mode for up to four players, a feature that was highly appreciated in the first game. A game much more focused on playing with […]
Anticipation is growing around the release of Dying Light: The Beast, a title that promises to revitalize the franchise after two years of silence since Dying Light 2. This game, scheduled for August 22, 2025, on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, not only represents the third installment of the saga according to its developers, Techland, but it will also offer a more immersive open-world experience, with the possibility of playing in cooperative mode for up to four players, a feature that was highly appreciated in the first game.
A game much more focused on playing with friends
One of the main novelties of The Beast is the implementation of a complete shared progression system, which will allow all achievements obtained in the game to be recorded for each of the participants. This addresses the criticisms received after the previous installment, where cooperation options were limited. Now, players will be able to face various missions, battles, and narrative moments together, fostering a more cohesive and collaborative gaming experience.
The protagonist returns to be Crane, who finds himself in the midst of an internal conflict due to a fusion of human and zombie DNA that grants him both extraordinary powers and imminent risks. This personal dilemma adds a new depth to the narrative, which was originally conceived as a DLC for Dying Light 2 but, due to the richness of its story, has transformed into an independent game.
Set in the Castor Woods valley, inspired by the Swiss alpine landscapes, Dying Light: The Beast will offer a variety of biomes and will continue to use the classic day-night cycle that characterizes the series: exploration during the day and terrifying encounters at nightfall. Users who own the Ultimate Edition of Dying Light 2 will receive The Beast at no additional cost, a gesture of appreciation from Techland towards its most loyal players.
The remastering of one of the most beloved titles in the Final Fantasy saga, titled Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, will be released on September 30 for PC and consoles, offering a new opportunity for fans and new players to enjoy this classic. However, the development process has been a true challenge, as there were no original data or source code for the game, which forced the developers to rebuild it from scratch. It is difficult to remake a game when you have to do it from scratch Kazutoyo Maehiro, the project director, explained in a recent interview […]
The remastering of one of the most beloved titles in the Final Fantasy saga, titled Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, will be released on September 30 for PC and consoles, offering a new opportunity for fans and new players to enjoy this classic. However, the development process has been a true challenge, as there were no original data or source code of the game, which forced the developers to rebuild it from scratch.
It’s hard to remake a game when you have to do it from scratch
Kazutoyo Maehiro, project director, explained in a recent interview that, due to common practices at the time, the data of the original game was overwritten every time it was localized for a new language. This fact meant that the team had to analyze different existing versions of the title and, at times, play the original game to intuitively capture its essence. Maehiro emphasized that “each challenge stemmed from this lack of master data, which contrasts with current standards of video game preservation.”
The remastered version will include a modern user interface, full voice acting, dialogues added by the original writer and director Yasumi Matsuno, autosaves, and adjustable battle speed. For those who prefer the classic aesthetic, there will be a mode that maintains the original graphics but revokes several of the new features implemented.
The balance between attracting new players and satisfying fans of the original game has been a priority. Maehiro commented that, while some believe that remasters should not go overboard, the team considers it essential to offer both an accessible enhanced version and an option that resembles more closely the game that millions of fans adored at its original launch.
With its expected arrival in September, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles promises to be a renewed experience that pays homage to its legacy.
Stellar Blade has achieved an impressive milestone in the video game industry, selling over three million copies worldwide in just three days since its release on Steam. This success adds to its debut as a PlayStation 5 exclusive in 2024, where it had already received a good reception. During the first hours on the PC platform, the title reached over 100,000 simultaneous players, demonstrating the great interest and anticipation generated by the game. It has left us speechless The reviews for Stellar Blade have been overwhelmingly […]
Stellar Blade has achieved an impressive milestone in the video game industry, selling over three million copies worldwide in just three days since its launch on Steam. This success adds to its debut as a PlayStation 5 exclusive in 2024, where it had already received a good reception. During the first hours on the PC platform, the title reached over 100,000 simultaneous players, demonstrating the great interest and anticipation generated by the game.
It has left us speechless
The criticism towards Stellar Blade has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting its combative gameplay system, its spectacular visual design, and the technical optimization that SHIFT UP has achieved in the PC adaptation. This favorable trend has cemented the studio’s reputation as a leader in creating high-quality gaming experiences.
In a move that strengthens its creative ecosystem, SHIFT UP has announced a notable collaboration between Stellar Blade and its other major success, Goddess of Victory: NIKKE. This partnership includes cross-downloadable content, such as mini-games and exclusive outfits, as well as special battles that increase the notoriety of both franchises. This not only expands the user experience but also nurtures the synergy between the studio’s titles.
Goddess of Victory: NIKKE also continues its successful expansion, especially in China, where it has registered over 10 million users, thus reflecting its growing popularity. With this collaboration strategy and a strong focus on quality, SHIFT UP is consolidating itself as one of the most influential Asian studios in the video game market today.
Since its launch on Steam, Stellar Blade has surpassed 193,000 concurrent players, becoming the second most successful PlayStation game on the PC platform. Developed by the South Korean studio Shift Up, this hack and slash has resonated deeply with the community, demonstrating that interest in PlayStation exclusive titles on PC is on the rise. The game director acknowledges that there are things they could have done better. In a recent interview, the game director, Kim Hyung Tae, expressed his commitment to creating a sequel following the success of the original title. In particular, Tae […]
Since its launch on Steam, Stellar Blade has surpassed 193,000 concurrent players, becoming the second most successful PlayStation game on the PC platform. Developed by the South Korean studio Shift Up, this hack and slash has resonated deeply within the community, demonstrating that interest in PlayStation exclusive titles on PC is on the rise.
The game director acknowledges that there are things they could have done better
In a recent interview, the game director, Kim Hyung Tae, expressed his commitment to creating a sequel following the success of the original title. In particular, Tae identified the narrative as a key aspect to improve, acknowledging that production limitations affected the story of Stellar Blade. Although he could refer to the relationship between artificial intelligence and humanity as a cliché, he remained optimistic about the evolution of the plot towards a more serious and profound tone in the sequel.
Tae revealed that the development of the sequel is underway and that the high costs of the cinematics forced the team to cut secondary content, affecting the narrative of the first game. The ambition for the sequel has led the team to discard the idea of a story expansion for the first title, focusing on a complete development that is expected to be released in 2027. “We hope it will be a great game,” said Tae, as the team continues to work on new ideas and concepts.
With the success of Stellar Blade on Steam, Sony has begun to lift some restrictions regarding its exclusives on PC, reflecting a broader strategy to capitalize on the growing video game market on this platform. As the industry evolves, player responses to titles like Stellar Blade could significantly influence the company’s future decisions.
CD Projekt Red has revealed key details about the development of The Witcher 4, highlighting a renewed focus on game creation. In a recent technical demonstration conducted with Unreal Engine 5, it was shown that the game is being designed with a “console first” mentality, debuting on PlayStation 5 instead of PC. This decision responds to lessons learned from past missteps, including the problematic launch of Cyberpunk 2077, which led the company to prioritize the console experience. CD Projekt wants to ensure that consoles do not have issues with the game […]
CD Projekt Red has revealed key details about the development of The Witcher 4, highlighting a renewed approach to game creation. In a recent technical demonstration conducted with Unreal Engine 5, it was shown that the game is being designed with a “console-first” mentality, making its debut on PlayStation 5 instead of PC. This decision responds to lessons learned from past missteps, including the problematic launch of Cyberpunk 2077, which led the company to prioritize the console experience.
CD Projekt wants to ensure that consoles do not have issues with the game
Charles Tremblay, Vice President of Technology at CD Projekt Red, indicated that this new approach aims to avoid the usual problem of scaling graphics from PC to less powerful platforms. “We had so many problems in the past that this time we really want a more console-focused development,” he emphasized. However, the studio’s ambition to deliver 60 fps performance on PS5 will be a significant technical challenge, and considerable effort is required to achieve it.
Jakub Knapik, global art director of CD Projekt Red, also explained that it is “easier to scale up than down” in terms of graphics, suggesting that, despite an initial focus on consoles, there is still room for improvements in the PC version. “Once we establish certain visual and technical foundations, we will be able to scale up,” Knapik mentioned, anticipating the incorporation of advanced features such as ray tracing.
As players await more details about Ciri and the narrative of this new chapter, CD Projekt Red reaffirms its commitment to providing the best possible experience for all players, emphasizing that it is still early to provide specific information about the PC version. The company continues to aim to push technological boundaries, both on consoles and PC, as it moves towards the release of The Witcher 4.
