Kaser Focus: Return to Me, Norman Reedus

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In case you haven’t heard, Death Stranding launches next week on PC Game Pass. I never really finished Death Stranding, to be honest. I think that was a “it’s me, not the game” case – although Death Stranding didn’t help by being dark AF. But maybe this is a chance to redeem myself and finally find out what the hell is going on with Norman Reedus (even though it’s a Kojima title, I’m not very hopeful).

Embracer Group was in tears this week, gobbling up multiple IPs in one day. It now owns Tripwire Interactive, Limited Run Games – oh, and one little thing you may have heard of, Middle-earth Enterprises. This gives them the rights to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and Hobbit works, as well as the games, shows, etc. that accompany them. This is after earlier this year it bought Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal and Square Enix Montreal. At this point I’m starting to feel snubbed that l have yet to be acquired by Embracer. Apparently I would be in good company.

I would be remiss not to mention the recent indentured labor allegations against Nintendo of America. According to a report by Kotaku, several female game testers were targeted by male colleagues. They referred to a “frat house”-esque atmosphere in the Washington studio. (It’s funny how such descriptions keep cropping up regarding allegations of sexual harassment in gaming companies.) Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser reportedly said in an internal email that the company investigate the allegations and encouraged disturbed employees to “remember that our HR teams are here to support you.” Nintendo, if this is true, I’m disappointed. The list of games I can play from hassle-free companies is starting to look so thin, it’s almost non-existent.

In personal news, I think I should check out my Xbox Game Pass games this week. The service is losing several major games this week, including Hades, Myst, Spiritfarer, World War Z and What Remains of Edith Finch. While I’ve played most of them before, it’ll be fun to try them out again, at least to get some Xbox achievements. Anyway, see you Twelve Minutes.

What to play this week?

What’s new:

  • MultiVersus season one
  • Madden NFL 23
  • Kirby’s dream buffet
  • rollerdrome
  • We are OFK
  • Cursed to play golf
  • Fashion Police Squad
  • Thymesia
  • Altair Breaker

New on subscription services:

  • Coffee Talk (Xbox Game Pass)
  • Scourgebringer (Xbox games with gold)
  • Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine (Xbox Games with Gold)
  • Yakuza 0 (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
  • Yakuza Kiwami (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
  • Yakuza Kiwami 2 (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
  • Dead in Daylight (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
  • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
  • Bugsnax (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
  • Metro Exodus (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
  • Trials of Mana (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
  • UNO (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
  • Monopoly Madness (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
  • Monopoly Plus (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
  • Wave Race 64 (Nintendo Switch Online)
  • Century: Age of Ashes (GeForce Now)
  • Clan Folk (GeForce Now)
  • Coromon (GeForce Now)
  • Hypercharge: Unboxed (GeForce Now)
  • Phoenix Point (GeForce Now)
  • Jetpack Joyride 2 (Apple Arcade)

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