GAMERS ACTUALLY RISE UP!

Gaming News Roundup: Baldur’s Gate 3 Mods, Star Wars Outlaws, Xbox Updates & More

Baldur’s Gate 3’s Massive Fan-Made Expansion: The Path to Menzoberranzan

While many players (including the guys) have struggled to finish Baldur’s Gate 3 due to Act 3 burnout, a new fan-made expansion might reignite interest. The Path to Menzoberranzan is a full-scale mod featuring entirely new companions, handcrafted locations, and a fully voiced storyline set in the Underdark. The team behind it includes a veteran Baldur’s Gate fan and a professional writer, and they’ve been working on it for nearly two years. A demo is expected soon, and if it delivers, this could be one of the most impressive mods in recent memory.

Baldur’s Gate 3 - Baldur’s Gate 3 is a story-rich, party-based RPG set in the universe of Dungeons & Dragons, where your choices shape a tale of fellowship and betrayal, survival and sacrifice, and the lure of absolute power. - Larian Studios (Steam, Xbox Series, Playstation)

Star Wars Outlaws: A Fun but Flawed Adventure

Josh took advantage of the summer sale to pick up Star Wars Outlaws, and his impressions are mixed (but genuinely mostly positive.) On the plus side, the game nails the Star Wars atmosphere - alien-filled cities, a great swoop bike, and engaging crime syndicate politics. However, typical Ubisoft flaws are present: filler missions, repetitive open-world tasks, and some janky animations. At full price, it might be hard to recommend, but for $30, they found it a solid experience for fans of the franchise.

Star Wars Outlaws -  Experience the first-ever open world Star Wars™ game and explore distinct locations across the galaxy, both iconic and new. Risk it all as scoundrel Kay Vess, seeking freedom and the means to start a new life. - Massive Entertainment/Ubisoft (Steam, Xbox Series, Playstation)

Xbox’s New Hardware & Microsoft’s Layoffs

Microsoft announced an Xbox-branded ROG Ally X with upgraded specs (24GB RAM, custom Xbox OS) and a special edition MetaQuest 3S in Xbox colors, bundled with Game Pass Ultimate. While these are neat additions, the news is overshadowed by Microsoft’s latest round of layoffs - 9,100 jobs cut, including closures at studios like The Initiative, and the cancellation of long-awaited games like Perfect Dark. The guys see this as another sign of the industry’s turbulent state, where even giants like Microsoft are trimming down (again!)

Xbox ROG Ally X: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/handhelds/rog-xbox-ally

Xbox Meta Quest 3: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-on-vr-headsets

Abiotic Factor Nears 1.0 Release

The quirky survival game Abiotic Factor is set to launch its 1.0 version on July 22nd, alongside a console release. The guys have been fans since early access, praising its blend of humor, deep crafting, and Half-Life-inspired sci-fi horror. With its upcoming full release, now’s a great time to jump in - especially if you enjoy discovering bizarre mechanics (like a toilet that teleports you to a "poop dimension").

Abiotic Factor - Abiotic Factor is a survival crafting experience for 1-6 players set in the depths of an underground research facility. Caught between paranormal containment failure, a military crusade, and chaos from a dozen realms, the world’s greatest minds must survive against the universe’s biggest threats. - Deep Field Games (Steam, Console releases coming soon!)

Red Dead Online’s Surprise Update

In a move that shocked its remaining players, Red Dead Online received its first major update since 2021 - a new supernatural-themed mission series called Strange Tales of the West. The guys speculate whether this hints at future single-player DLC (like Undead Nightmare 2) or just a last effort to keep the game alive before GTA 6. Either way, it’s a rare bit of attention for a neglected live-service title.

Read Dead Online - Step into the vibrant, ever-evolving world of Red Dead Online and experience life in frontier America. Chase down bounties, battle outlaw gangs and other players, hunt, fish and trade, search for exotic treasures, run Moonshine, and much more to discover in a world of astounding depth and detail. - Rockstar Games (Steam, Xbox One/Series, Playstation)

World of Warcraft’s Accessibility Changes

WoW’s new "Singe-Button Assist" feature lets players simplify rotations to a single button - a controversial but smart move for accessibility, according to the guys. While hardcore players argue it dumbs down the game, they point out that WoW’s real challenge has always been mechanics, not button presses. Blizzard is also cracking down on overpowered add-ons, aiming to integrate their best features natively. The guys see this as a positive shift, making the game more approachable without sacrificing depth.

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Announced

Owlcat Games (Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, Rogue Trader) revealed The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, an RPG set during the TV show’s first two seasons. The game will focus on party dynamics (similar to Persona 5) and a classless progression system. The guys are excited for more hard sci-fi RPGs, though they’re wary of Owlcat’s history of performance issues.

Stop Killing Games Petition Nears 1 Million Signatures

The Stop Killing Games initiative, which advocates for laws requiring publishers to keep games playable after shutting down servers, is closing in on 1 million EU signatures. The guys strongly support this effort, arguing that players should have permanent access to games they purchase. With momentum building, this could be a major step toward preserving gaming history.

Stop Killing Games: https://www.stopkillinggames.com/

Final Thoughts

This week’s gaming news covers everything from ambitious mods to corporate layoffs, proving yet again how unpredictable the industry can be. Whether it’s Baldur’s Gate 3’s thriving mod