I have to say, the end-game for Fallout 4 is basically a never-ending quest to build the most outlandish settlements in the Commonwealth. While I’m aware that some players use mods to get over the build limit and to get stuff arranged nicely, I’m happy playing the vanilla version of the game with all the DLCs.

I’ve a collection of Powered Armor in Sanctuary that Tony Stark/Ironman will be proud off, and I’ve recently built a high-rise building in Nordhagen Beach with a very nice view of the Brotherhood of Steel’s Prydwen airship. I had to clear out both Covenant (the folks there kept attacking me every time I enter that place) and Warwick homestead (a bug was preventing a radiant quest from triggering there). The latter now is a testbed for cages; I even built a mini arena for those captured to duke it out.

Anyways, I had to take a break from the game to update the blog, and what better way to do so then to highlight some upcoming games that you really should take note of.

SCHiM

First up, SCHiM. This is a charming indie game from developer duo Ewoud & Nils about helping a lost shadow find its way back to its human by hopping around in the shadows. As players look for clever ways to move around in the world, they’ll uncover small stories and charming details hidden in the environment. Check out the abstract art style for the game. The game was very well received during the Steam Next Fest with more than 200,000 wishlists and over 50,000 players trying out the demo (which is still available on Steam)

SCHiM will be available on the 18th of July on Steam, Xbox One/Series X|S, PlayStation 4/5, and Nintendo Switch for $24.99 (regional prices will vary). You can check it out over here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1519710/SCHiM/

JDM: Japanese Drift Master / JDM: Rise of the Scorpion

This upcoming game is getting a lot of hype due to its very strong Initial D vibe, and is about to get a free standalone story-based prologue of sorts in the form of JDM: Rise of the Scorpion. Players will discover the story of Hatori Hasashi and his way of becoming the titular ‘Scorpion’. An exemplary student and a son of a traditional Japanese family, he brings his pride and arrogance to the racetrack, where various rivals await.

In JDM: Rise of the Scorpion, players will see only a part of the world that the developers have prepared for the full version of JDM: Japanese Drift Master.  The free prologue JDM: Rise of the Scorpion will be released on July 18, 2024, on Steam, Epic, and GOG.

STAR WARS: Bounty Hunter

The remaster of the 2002 game will see Aspyr working together with Lucasfilm Games to include visual enhancements, improved environmental textures, new dynamic lighting effects, and a new flashlight tool for navigating dark places. In STAR WARS: Bounty Hunter, players get to play as Jango Fett, the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy and the prime clone of the Grand Army of the Republic (before he got his head lopped off by Mace Windu).

As Jango Fett, players have to jump, jetpack, climb, and maneuver in this iconic action-adventure game featuring a variety of visual improvements on modern platforms, as well as Steam Deck support and a number of DualSense controller features for PlayStation 5 players. STAR WARS™: Bounty Hunter launches Aug. 1, 2024, on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam for the suggested retail price of $19.99 and is available to pre-order with a 10% discount until the official launch.

Assetto Corsa EVO

Racing sim fans rejoince. Assetto Corsa EVO is slated for a release sometime in 2024, and publisher 505 Games and developer KUNOS Simulazioni have launched the game’s Steam page where players can register their interest in what is shaping up to be a genre-redefining Sim Racer.

As with its predecessor, Assetto Corsa EVO will include cars from different classes spanning years of motoring history. From road cars, classics, hypercars, and race cars, each vehicle is reproduced through KUNOS’ own advanced system that simulates mechanical, electronic, and aerodynamic performance, raising the bar of realism even higher than Assetto Corsa, one of the most popular driving simulations of the last decade.

The developer also has some surprises in store, and these will be revealed in time. You can check out the Steam page over here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3058630/Assetto_Corsa_EVO/