You won’t believe how many major gaming stories dropped on a single Thursday — from cancelled projects to surprise trailers and indie triumphs.
Snapshot: News roundup for Thursday, 15 May 2024
Here are the main stories that moved the industry on Thursday, 15 May 2024: a cinematic trailer that confirms leaks for the next Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft shelving a free-to-play title while revealing its fiscal figures, PlayStation Plus additions for May, new indie releases making waves, early Season 2 photos from The Last of Us set, and schedule news for summer showcases.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: trailer lands and confirms leaks
Ubisoft released a nearly four-minute cinematic trailer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows that corroborates previously circulated details. The game will launch on 15 November for PC and next-generation consoles. Shadow’s protagonists are Naoe — a nimble shinobi who favors stealth and agility — and Yasuke — a samurai centered on power and precision. Gameplay features include building an intelligence network to gather information across several locations. The world map is reported to be smaller than Assassin’s Creed Origins and focuses on central regions of feudal Japan. Credits list involvement from as many as 14 Ubisoft studios, including teams in Osaka and Tokyo.
Ubisoft’s fiscal report: Heartland cancelled and numbers revealed
In its latest financial filing, Ubisoft confirmed the cancellation of Tom Clancy’s The Division Heartland, a free-to-play project, explaining the decision as a move to reallocate resources toward “larger opportunities” such as Rainbow Six and XDefiant. The report also highlighted commercial performance and corporate restructuring:
– Skull and Bones registered strong player engagement, ranking second for daily playtime among Ubisoft titles.
– Total revenues rose by 33% year-over-year to €2.321 billion.
– Digital sales increased by 34%, reaching €1.988 billion.
– The company recorded cost reductions exceeding €150 million; this appears alongside more than 1,700 layoffs since September 2022. Ubisoft projects at least €200 million in cost savings by fiscal year 2026.
– Titled projects scheduled for the current fiscal year include Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Rainbow Six Mobile, Star Wars Outlaws, The Division Resurgence, XDefiant, and other unannounced games.
PlayStation Plus adds: Red Dead Redemption 2 leads the pack
Sony revealed the PlayStation Plus additions for May that will be added to the Extra and Premium (tiers 2 and 3) catalogs. Headlining the batch is Red Dead Redemption 2. Other arrivals include Deceive Inc., The Sims 4: City Living, Cat Quest and Cat Quest II (with a third Cat Quest installment on the horizon), and Watch Dogs. Note that these selections are part of the Extra/Premium permanent catalog offerings and are not the monthly Essential tier freebies.
Simogo’s new game earns critical applause
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, the latest title from Simogo, published its patch notes alongside a strong critical reception. The game launched with an average Metacritic score of 86 and has since moved to 87. For readers wanting background on Simogo’s creative arc — from Sayonara Wild Hearts onward — there’s a recommended piece by Marta Trivi that explores the studio’s trajectory.
Indika developer denies AI usage for in-game art
After release, Indika prompted discussion online when certain decorative assets and promotional art were suggested to resemble AI-generated images. Odd Meter, the studio behind Indika, replied to inquiries via email and confirmed they did not use generative AI for the game’s artwork.
The Last of Us Season 2: first set photos and leaked clips
Earliest images of Joel and Ellie for The Last of Us season 2 surfaced yesterday, accompanied by leaked filming videos that include Ellie and Dina. To help fill the gap until new episodes arrive, the team recommends checking out the first season of El Último Sofá, a podcast hosted by Marta Trivi that dissects each HBO episode.
Future Games Show Summer Showcase joins June’s event lineup
The Future Games Show Summer Showcase has been scheduled for Saturday, 8 June, aligning with the Wholesome Direct and set to air at 21:00 (peninsular Spain time). The spring edition in March featured games such as Harold Halibut, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, Dustborn (launching 20 August), Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Still Wakes the Deep, Blue Prince, Farewell North, No Rest for the Wicked, and Indika. Some of these may reappear in the summer showcase.
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Logan Whitmere is a gaming enthusiast who lives and breathes video games. Whether it’s reviews, gaming tips, or news about the latest releases, Logan’s passion and expertise bring the virtual world to life for every reader.