NEWS THIS WEEK

• Microsoft Closes Studios Behind Redfall, Hi-Fi Rush, And More To Prioritize 'High-Impact' Games
• Xbox President Bond on the Gamer’s Future
• Helldivers 2 Community Manager Seemingly Gone After PlayStation Login Meltdown
• Hades 2 early access debut on Steam reaches over 100k concurrent players 24 hours after launch
• Nintendo president says "Switch next model is the appropriate way to describe" the company's next console

RELEASE RADAR

• ROBOBEAT – 15 May 2024 - PC
• READ ONLY MEMORIES: NEURODIVER – 16 May 2024 – PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X
• LORELEI AND THE LASER EYES – 16 May 2024 – PC, Switch
• DIE BY THE BLADE – 16 May 2024 – PC

‍Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Borrett, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Escape From Tarkov dev finally caves, says people who paid $150 for the game will get access to its new mode 'in waves'
• Manor Lords shatters Steam city builder record with over 170,000 concurrent players
• Manor Lords players delighted to discover a villager with an NSFW name, but the developer says it's historically accurate
• ‍Here are all the games from the ID@Xbox Digital Showcase 2024
• Take-Two will reportedly close OlliOlli and Kerbal Space Program studios

RELEASE RADAR

• HEADING OUT - 7 May 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch
• GIFT - 8/9 May 2024 - PC, Switch, Xbox Series S|X
• ANIMAL WELL - 9 May 2024 - PC, PlayStation 5, Switch
• CROW COUNTRY - 9 May 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4,
• LITTLE KITTY BIG CITY - 9 May 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only.AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

 You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Borrett, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Embracer Group announces its intention to transform into three standalone publicly listed entities at NASDAQ Stockholm
• Gaming giant Embracer Group is splitting into three companies
• Escape from Tarkov devs attempt to put out fire caused by $250 'pay to win' edition by giving everyone access to an exclusive game mode - but only for 6 months
• El Paso, Elsewhere, a Max Payne-inspired shooter about keeping your vampire ex-lover from destroying the world, is being made into a movie
• Fortnite will allow you to mute its ‘confrontational’ emotes
• Fortnite Festival Finally Adds Support for Rock Band 4 and PDP Riffmaster Guitar Controllers
• Fallout 76 attracted over 1 million players in a single day, Bethesda says
• Fallout London: 'Bethesda didn't tell us about Fallout 4 update' | BBC News

RELEASE RADAR

• SEA OF THIEVES - 30 April 2024 - PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, PC
• ENDLESS OCEANS LUMINOUS - 2 May 2024 - Nintendo Switch
• TOUHOU MYSTIA'S IZAKAYA - 2 May 2024 - Nintendo Switch, PC
• SURMOUNT - 2 May 2024 - Nintendo Switch, PC

 You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Borrett, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Hades 2 technical test set to begin 'shortly,' signups are open now
• Nintendo Indie World Showcase April 2024 - Every Announcement, Game Reveal & Trailer
• Sony’s PS5 Pro is real and developers are getting ready for it
• The first Apple-approved emulator for the iPhone has arrived... and been pulled 
• Delta takes flight: Apple-approved Nintendo emulator is a great iOS option

RELEASE RADAR

• TALES OF KENZERA: ZAU - 23 April 2024 - PC, Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X
• TMNT ARCADE: WRATH OF THE MUTANTS - 23 April 2024 - PC, Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X
• ANOTHER CRAB’S TREASURE - 25 April 2024 - PC, Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X
• SAND LAND - 25 April 2024 - PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X
• STELLAR BLADE - 26 April 2024 - PlayStation 5

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

You can also support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Borrett, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Indie Lovecraftian fishing game Dredge is gonna be a movie
• Report: EA Canned Dead Space 2 Remake, Team Working On Battlefield Now [Update: EA Denies Report]
• EA Shoots Down Dead Space 2 Remake Rumors: 'No Validity to This Story' [Update]
• Apple now allows retro game emulators on its App Store—but with big caveats
• Star Wars Outlaws Release Date Revealed Alongside a Story Trailer Teasing the Underworld's 'Golden Age'
• The best of the Triple-i showcase

RELEASE RADAR

• DAVE THE DIVER - 16 April 2024 - PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
• REIGNS BEYOND - 18 April 2024 - PC, Switch, Apple Arcade
• ARCRUNNER - 18 April 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch
• ARTIFICER’S TOWER - 18 April 2024 - PC
• FINAL FANTASY XVI - THE RISING TIDE DLC - 18 April 2024 - PlayStation 5
• NO REST FOR THE WICKED - 18 April 2024 - PC

 You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Borrett, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Hollow Knight Silksong’s April Fools’ Day Update Is Real
• April Fools' phenom Content Warning draws in more than 204,000 concurrent players
• Former Dragon Age boss' new action-RPG Eternal Strands out next year
• Saber Interactive CEO Says KOTOR Remake Is 'Alive and Well'

RELEASE RADAR

• GIGANTIC: RAMPAGE EDITION - 9 April 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
• HOUSE FLIPPER 2 - 10 April 2024 - PC, Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 5
• CHILDREN OF THE SUN - 10 April 2024 - PC
• YET ANOTHER FANTASY TITLE - 10 April 2024 - PC 

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Borrett, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Super Mario Maker’s “final boss” was a fraud all along
• Embracer Group divests Gearbox Entertainment for a consideration of USD 460 million to Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
• Helldivers 2 Cheater Pretends to Be Game Master Joel, Drops Unreleased APC in Random Group, Leaves
• Leaked images reveal Microsoft’s white disc-less Xbox Series X console / It looks like Microsoft’s plans for a bigger Xbox Series X refresh might have changed.
• Phil Spencer wants Epic Games Store and others on Xbox consoles 
• If working overtime on AAA games with giant budgets is the only way to succeed, 'then maybe the industry deserves to die,' says RPG veteran David Gaider: 'There is another way to be'

RELEASE RADAR

• PLANETILES - 3 April 2024 - PC
• TURBO GOLF RACING - 4 April 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5
• FREEDOM PLANET 2 - 4 April 2024 - Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Borrett, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Apex Legends e-sports delayed after hackers enable cheats on player clients
• Overwatch 2's redemption arc begins with free heroes for all as Blizzard lays out its plans to 'give the game a regular heartbeat' this year
• Blizzard secretly made a battle royale game inside World of Warcraft to 'break the rules' it's had for 20 years
• Sony's reportedly stopped making any more PS VR2 headsets until it can figure out a way of shifting a pile of unsold VR goggles‍
• How Ubisoft’s New Generative AI Prototype Changes the Narrative for NPCs‍
• Top-tier deckbuilder Balatro hits 1 million sales in less than a month, which hopefully justifies all the hours we've collectively lost to it

RELEASE RADAR

• SOUTH PARK: SNOW DAY - 26 March 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Switch
• PEPPER GRINDER - 28 March 2024 - PC, Switch

  You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Borrett, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• The Trailer For Insomniac's Cancelled Spider-Man Multiplayer Game Has Leaked
• Warner Bros. leave developers feeling "sick and dizzy" as more Adult Swim games are being delisted
• MultiVersus is officially returning with some big upgrades
• Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown Gets New Story DLC, Modes, Trials, And More This Year
• Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection Launch Is a Disaster
• Embracer confirms $247m sale of Saber assets and withdraws from Russia‍

RELEASE RADAR

• MLB THE SHOW 24 - 19 March 2024 - Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch
• ALONE IN THE DARK - 20 March 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
• DRAGONS DOGMA II - 22 March 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
• RISE OF THE RONIN - 22 March 2024 - PlayStation 5
• PRINCESS PEACH: SHOWTIME - 22 March 2024 - Switch

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Borrett, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Everything announced at the March 2024 Xbox Partner Preview
• Poker-themed deckbuilder Balatro gets delisted from some stores after its PEGI rating absurdly jumps from 3 to 18+ over 'gambling imagery'
• Switch emulator Yuzu reaches $2.4 million settlement with Nintendo
• 20th BAFTA Games Awards: The Nominations

RELEASE RADAR

• HIGHWATER - 14 March 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch
• STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT CLASSIC COLLECTION - 14 March 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch
• OUTCAST: A NEW BEGINNING - 15 March 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Borrett, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Beware fake Helldivers 2 pages on Steam promising steep discounts
• Some Helldivers 2 players are inexplicably killing each other for resources, despite a dozen different UI elements telling you they're shared
• Everything announced during Pokémon Day 2024’s Pokémon Presents
• Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Players Rise 200% Upon Skull and Bones' Release
• PlayStation Cancels Multiple Games Amid Massive Job Cuts
• 60 Days Into 2024 And 8300+ Video Game Layoffs Have Been Announced
• Toys For Bob: We’re going indie!
• Remedy takes control of Control in €17M deal with publisher 505 Games that 'gives us the freedom to decide the best path forward'
• Sources: Borderlands Studio Will Escape The Most Divisive Company In Gaming
• EA Cancels Respawn Star Wars Shooter Amid Mass Layoff
• Saltsea Chronicles developer Die Gute Fabrik disbands‍

RELEASE RADAR

• THE THAUMATURGE - 4 March 2024 - PC
• AS DUSK FALLS - 7 March 2024 - PlayStation 4, Playstation 5
• UNICORN OVERLOAD - 8 March 2024 - PlayStation 4, Playstation 5, Switch, Xbox Series X|S,
• WWE2K24 - 8 March 2024 - PlayStation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC    

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Borrett, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.