Never-before-seen screenshots show off cancelled Twisted Metal battle royale - Related to shadow, helldivers, dropped, 2025, awards
Astro Bot and Helldivers 2 win big at DICE Awards 2025
Team Asobi and Arrowhead Studios swept the 28th annual DICE Awards last week, with Astro Bot taking home the Game of the Year accolade.
The platformer won five awards in total, including family game of the year in addition to achievements in animation, technology, and game design. Helldivers 2 was awarded action and online game of the year, and was recognised for its contributions in music and audio design.
LocalThunk's breakout hit Balatro received three awards, including mobile and strategy simulation game of the year and outstanding achievement for an independent game.
MachineGames' Indiana Jones and the Great Circle also took home three awards, winning adventure game of the year as well as achievements in character and story.
Hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, the DICE Awards is voted for by the organisation's more than 30,000 members.
Elsewhere, Nintendo of America veteran Don James received the AIAS Lifetime Achievement Award, while Insomniac Games founder and outgoing CEO Ted Prince was inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame.
Pokemania is out in full force, it seems, as Pokemon fans have genuinely bid four figures on a Charizard-shaped Flamin' Hot Cheeto.
Square Enix released its financial earnings for the nine months ending December 31, 2024, reporting a decrease in net sales attributed to.
I generally avoid using the word 'darling' as an adjective because it makes you sound like an bourgeois playwright two bottles of sherry deep into a n......
Surprise! Balatro has shadow dropped on Game Pass
Balatro, the highly-acclaimed card-based roguelike from developer Local Thunk, is now available via Xbox Game Pass. It arrives alongside a new bit of free DLC featuring collaobrations from Dead by Daylight, Civilization 7, Fallout, and more.
Friends of Jimbo Pack 4, as the DLC is known, has more of a blockbuster focus compared to Balatro's previous, predominantly indie-themed collaborations. Now, players can adorn the back of their decks with the likes of Vault Boy from the Fallout series, Assassin's Creed's Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Bugsnax protagonist The Journalist, and Dead by Daylight's The Hillbilly.
Other games represented in Friends of Jimbo Pack 4 include Assassin's Creed Shadows, Rust, and Slay the Princess. Critical Role's Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III is in there too. And if that appeals, the DLC is available right now on all platforms.
Balatro first launched on Xbox alongside versions for PC, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch a year ago. A smartphone edition for iPhone and Android devices followed last September.
It's fair to say Balatro has been a smash hit, with more than five million copies sold of its roguish poker-inspired cardplay, despite its controversial 18+ age rating - which is finally getting overturned in the EU, and replaced by a PEGI 12 rating instead.
Since its release, Balatro has added further cards via updates that have included crossovers with major gaming franchises such as The Witcher, Among Us and Vampire Survivor.
Here on Eurogamer, Balatro was one of our favourite games of 2024. "It's a work of marvellous depth and winning simplicity, and rightly one of the best and most memorable games you'll play this year," our Katharine wrote.
A demo for the upcoming mecha PvP shooter, Mecha Break, has soared up the Steam charts, and it's not even out yet. An open beta / demo, which was rele......
Just two weeks before it launched, Bethesda producer Jeff Gardiner tweaked Skyrim because he didn't trust AI player models.
Attention all eyeball eaters, flesh bicyclists, and shooter enjoyers who also enjoy staring into nightclub toilets! I’ve just noticed that survival ho......
Never-before-seen screenshots show off cancelled Twisted Metal battle royale
PlayStation's in recent times cancelled Twisted Metal game was reportedly a battle royale.
As spotted by MP1st, the abandoned game - known internally as Project Copper - allegedly blended third-person shooting mechanics alongside the vehicular combat the series is known for.
How do we know this? A UI programmer working at Firesprite from April 2022 to October 2023 has uploaded obscured screenshots from the work-in-progress to their portfolio. Whilst the game isn't explicitly mentioned and the images are blurred, you can nonetheless still see early prototypes of the third-person action both in and out of vehicles.
"I was part of Project Copper leading the UI team," the developer wrote on their online portfolio. "I was tasked with creating a generic UI system to be used in multiple projects in the business, I was also managing a team of 2 UI Programmers while working with other teams."
As for the game itself? The dev describes Project Copper a "third person vehicular action combat game based on a classic IP owned by PlayStation developed by Firesprite (PlayStation Studios)".
"It had third person shooter mechanics wrapped with third person vehicle combat with the objective of being the last one standing," they added.
Back in February 2022, Sony stated it aimed to launch over 10 new live service games over the coming years. A month later, then-Sony exec Jim Ryan stated he believed live service games were a key part of gaming's future, confident in PlayStation's live service push.
However, since then, the business has been pulling back on this vision, with several proposed projects cancelled, including two more in January.
In related news, just last week, Peacock shared its first trailer for the second season of Twisted Metal. The upcoming second series stars Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Seanoa, Will Arnett and Anthony Carrigan.
"As they try to survive an onslaught of dangerous new foes and familiar faces alike, including the murderous clown Sweet Tooth, things get complicated for John when he reunites with his long-lost sister, the vigilante Dollface," reads the official blurb.
Embracer Group has , 2024, reporting declines across its PC/console and mobile s......
Thunderful Gothenberg has now rebranded as Stormteller Games.
Thunderful Gothenburg was formed when Image & Form and Zoink! Games merged in 2017, but......
Market Impact Analysis
Market Growth Trend
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0% | 7.2% | 7.5% | 8.4% | 8.8% | 9.1% | 9.2% |
Quarterly Growth Rate
| Q1 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q4 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5% | 8.8% | 9.0% | 9.2% |
Market Segments and Growth Drivers
| Segment | Market Share | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Console Gaming | 28% | 6.8% |
| Mobile Gaming | 37% | 11.2% |
| PC Gaming | 21% | 8.4% |
| Cloud Gaming | 9% | 25.3% |
| VR Gaming | 5% | 32.7% |
Technology Maturity Curve
Different technologies within the ecosystem are at varying stages of maturity:
Competitive Landscape Analysis
| Company | Market Share |
|---|---|
| Sony PlayStation | 21.3% |
| Microsoft Xbox | 18.7% |
| Nintendo | 15.2% |
| Tencent Games | 12.8% |
| Epic Games | 9.5% |
Future Outlook and Predictions
The Astro Helldivers Dice landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, changing threat vectors, and shifting business requirements. Based on current trends and expert analyses, we can anticipate several significant developments across different time horizons:
Year-by-Year Technology Evolution
Based on current trajectory and expert analyses, we can project the following development timeline:
Technology Maturity Curve
Different technologies within the ecosystem are at varying stages of maturity, influencing adoption timelines and investment priorities:
Innovation Trigger
- Generative AI for specialized domains
- Blockchain for supply chain verification
Peak of Inflated Expectations
- Digital twins for business processes
- Quantum-resistant cryptography
Trough of Disillusionment
- Consumer AR/VR applications
- General-purpose blockchain
Slope of Enlightenment
- AI-driven analytics
- Edge computing
Plateau of Productivity
- Cloud infrastructure
- Mobile applications
Technology Evolution Timeline
- Technology adoption accelerating across industries
- digital transformation initiatives becoming mainstream
- Significant transformation of business processes through advanced technologies
- new digital business models emerging
- Fundamental shifts in how technology integrates with business and society
- emergence of new technology paradigms
Expert Perspectives
Leading experts in the gaming tech sector provide diverse perspectives on how the landscape will evolve over the coming years:
"Technology transformation will continue to accelerate, creating both challenges and opportunities."
— Industry Expert
"Organizations must balance innovation with practical implementation to achieve meaningful results."
— Technology Analyst
"The most successful adopters will focus on business outcomes rather than technology for its own sake."
— Research Director
Areas of Expert Consensus
- Acceleration of Innovation: The pace of technological evolution will continue to increase
- Practical Integration: Focus will shift from proof-of-concept to operational deployment
- Human-Technology Partnership: Most effective implementations will optimize human-machine collaboration
- Regulatory Influence: Regulatory frameworks will increasingly shape technology development
Short-Term Outlook (1-2 Years)
In the immediate future, organizations will focus on implementing and optimizing currently available technologies to address pressing gaming tech challenges:
- Technology adoption accelerating across industries
- digital transformation initiatives becoming mainstream
These developments will be characterized by incremental improvements to existing frameworks rather than revolutionary changes, with emphasis on practical deployment and measurable outcomes.
Mid-Term Outlook (3-5 Years)
As technologies mature and organizations adapt, more substantial transformations will emerge in how security is approached and implemented:
- Significant transformation of business processes through advanced technologies
- new digital business models emerging
This period will see significant changes in security architecture and operational models, with increasing automation and integration between previously siloed security functions. Organizations will shift from reactive to proactive security postures.
Long-Term Outlook (5+ Years)
Looking further ahead, more fundamental shifts will reshape how cybersecurity is conceptualized and implemented across digital ecosystems:
- Fundamental shifts in how technology integrates with business and society
- emergence of new technology paradigms
These long-term developments will likely require significant technical breakthroughs, new regulatory frameworks, and evolution in how organizations approach security as a fundamental business function rather than a technical discipline.
Key Risk Factors and Uncertainties
Several critical factors could significantly impact the trajectory of gaming tech evolution:
Organizations should monitor these factors closely and develop contingency strategies to mitigate potential negative impacts on technology implementation timelines.
Alternative Future Scenarios
The evolution of technology can follow different paths depending on various factors including regulatory developments, investment trends, technological breakthroughs, and market adoption. We analyze three potential scenarios:
Optimistic Scenario
Rapid adoption of advanced technologies with significant business impact
Key Drivers: Supportive regulatory environment, significant research breakthroughs, strong market incentives, and rapid user adoption.
Probability: 25-30%
Base Case Scenario
Measured implementation with incremental improvements
Key Drivers: Balanced regulatory approach, steady technological progress, and selective implementation based on clear ROI.
Probability: 50-60%
Conservative Scenario
Technical and organizational barriers limiting effective adoption
Key Drivers: Restrictive regulations, technical limitations, implementation challenges, and risk-averse organizational cultures.
Probability: 15-20%
Scenario Comparison Matrix
| Factor | Optimistic | Base Case | Conservative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implementation Timeline | Accelerated | Steady | Delayed |
| Market Adoption | Widespread | Selective | Limited |
| Technology Evolution | Rapid | Progressive | Incremental |
| Regulatory Environment | Supportive | Balanced | Restrictive |
| Business Impact | Transformative | Significant | Modest |
Transformational Impact
Technology becoming increasingly embedded in all aspects of business operations. This evolution will necessitate significant changes in organizational structures, talent development, and strategic planning processes.
The convergence of multiple technological trends—including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and ubiquitous connectivity—will create both unprecedented security challenges and innovative defensive capabilities.
Implementation Challenges
Technical complexity and organizational readiness remain key challenges. Organizations will need to develop comprehensive change management strategies to successfully navigate these transitions.
Regulatory uncertainty, particularly around emerging technologies like AI in security applications, will require flexible security architectures that can adapt to evolving compliance requirements.
Key Innovations to Watch
Artificial intelligence, distributed systems, and automation technologies leading innovation. Organizations should monitor these developments closely to maintain competitive advantages and effective security postures.
Strategic investments in research partnerships, technology pilots, and talent development will position forward-thinking organizations to leverage these innovations early in their development cycle.
Technical Glossary
Key technical terms and definitions to help understand the technologies discussed in this article.
Understanding the following technical concepts is essential for grasping the full implications of the security threats and defensive measures discussed in this article. These definitions provide context for both technical and non-technical readers.
platform intermediate
AR intermediate
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