1047 Games shuts down development on Empulse and Splitgate, marking a pivotal shift away from live-service shooters due to unsustainable revenue.
Today’s gaming news features a significant development with 1047 Games announcing the end of active development for Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded. As reported by Destructoid, both titles will no longer receive updates, though peer-to-peer servers will remain online for those wishing to continue playing. The decision stems from these games not generating sufficient revenue to cover the ongoing costs of dedicated servers, despite the developers’ efforts to give both games every opportunity to grow. This marks a notable move away from the previously robust trend of live-service shooters, highlighting the volatile nature of the gaming market where sustainability becomes a crucial factor.
Tech and Consoles News
In tech news, Xbox is enhancing its game preservation efforts with a new disc-to-digital feature, officially announced by Microsoft as per The Verge. This feature allows Xbox owners to convert their physical games into digital copies, provided they use an Xbox One or Xbox Series X console. It’s a move that not only supports game preservation but also prepares for the upcoming generation of Xbox consoles.
Additionally, Microsoft announced the price for its 25th anniversary Xbox as reported by The Verge. The special-edition translucent green console, priced at $899, is set to launch on November 13th and includes a download of Halo: Campaign Evolved. This commemorates Xbox’s long-standing legacy and features a matching OG Green controller. Preorders begin today, with select fans receiving early access to preorder emails.
Industry Loss
The gaming and entertainment industry bids farewell to Tim Curry, a beloved icon who passed away at age 80. Known for his distinctive Hollywood roles, Curry also made a seminal contribution to video games, starring as the first major Hollywood actor in a video game role with 1993’s Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers. This lesser-known chapter of his career is remembered Destructoid as part of his broad impact on both screens large and small.
New Releases
The gaming landscape is also seeing some innovative mechanics with Pax Autocratica, a colony sim on Steam defying genre conventions. According to GameRant, Pax Autocratica shifts from the traditional top-down perspective to a first-person viewpoint, breaching a cardinal rule of strategy games but providing a refreshing and immersive experience as a result.
