Sega's classic 1986 arcade racing game, OutRun, is set for a big-screen adaptation with Michael Bay as director and Sydney Sweeney as producer. Known for its influence on driving games, OutRun originally featured players racing a Ferrari Testarossa through various stages in Europe. The film's plot remains undisclosed, but Jayson Rothwell is writing the script, with Toru Nakahara producing and Shuji Utsumi overseeing the project for Sega. Sweeney, an automotive enthusiast, might not appear in the film, focusing instead on production. This move follows other car-based video game adaptations like Need for Speed and Gran Turismo, blending gaming culture with Hollywood action.

The author reflects on their initial positive impressions of Assassin's Creed Shadows, only to be disappointed by its ending. Similar to previous games in the series, such as Odyssey and Valhalla, Shadows suffers from an overstretched narrative, unresolved storylines, and a rushed conclusion that leaves emotional arcs incomplete. The game’s reliance on repetitive tasks and level grinding exacerbates the issue, culminating in an unsatisfying finale that feels more like a setup for future expansions rather than a proper conclusion. Despite enjoying much of the gameplay, the author is left disillusioned, echoing past frustrations with Ubisoft’s handling of lengthy narratives. This pattern highlights the need for Ubisoft to address these structural issues to prevent players from leaving games on disappointing terms.

Bethesda has announced the release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, available on multiple platforms including Windows, Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox. This remastered version, developed using Unreal Engine 5, features enhanced graphics, new atmospheric effects, improved lip-syncing, and additional gameplay mechanics such as sprinting and seamless perspective switching. Studio head Todd Howard hinted at the ongoing development of The Elder Scrolls VI while celebrating the series' rich history. Originally released in 2006, Oblivion is set in Cyrodiil and centers around closing portals to the demonic plane of Oblivion. Known for its deep lore and open-world exploration, the game has regained popularity, reaching over 130,000 concurrent players on Steam at launch.

April 2025 brings a wave of exciting video game releases. Notably, Bethesda surprised fans with the simultaneous announcement and launch of *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered*, available on multiple platforms, offering enhanced visuals and expanded content in both Standard and Deluxe Editions. Meanwhile, *Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves* delivers an engaging fighting experience with its two-lane system and T.O.P. mechanics, appealing to both nostalgic players and newcomers. Other notable releases this week include *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*, *The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy*, *Tempest Rising*, *Days Gone Remastered*, *Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade*, *Maliki Poison of the Past*, and *Sunseed Island*. Gamers can look forward to diverse options catering to various genres and preferences.

Square Enix, Capcom, Taito, and Sega are collaborating to preserve historical game development materials, including concept art, illustrations, and technical documents from the 1980s and 1990s. During a SIGGRAPH Asia 2024 lecture titled “The Cutting Edge of Preservation,” key figures from these companies discussed their efforts to document and share Japan's gaming history globally. Challenges in maintaining these materials have prompted innovative solutions, such as Capcom’s Illustrations Archive System (CIAS) and Taito’s use of special storage for physical documents and circuit boards. Sega is reproducing past consoles and emulating classic games with high precision. This initiative aims to enhance the cultural significance of digital games and aligns with global preservation efforts, like GOG’s partnership with EFGAMP, promoting video games as cultural heritage.

Fortnite is set to launch a new Star Wars-themed season just before Star Wars Day 2025, featuring playable content and surprising cameos. Revealed at Star Wars Celebration, the season introduces Darth Jar Jar, a fan-meme-turned-reality, alongside iconic characters such as Emperor Palpatine and a Wookiee Cuddle Team Leader. Mace Windu will also be available in the store. While Darth Jar Jar's availability remains unclear, all players can enjoy X-wings, TIE fighters, and themed map locations integrated into the battle royale mode. The season includes week-long events starting May 2 and culminates in an in-game narrative live event celebrating the Star Wars universe.

iwot Studios' new games division is developing a AAA open-world RPG based on Robert Jordan’s "The Wheel of Time" series. Led by industry veteran Craig Alexander, the Montreal-based team aims to complete the game in three years for PC and consoles. This project complements Amazon Prime Video's successful TV adaptation and other media expansions like an "Age of Legends" film. With over 2,750 named characters and extensive lore, the game will explore the entire "Wheel of Time" universe, ensuring continuity across transmedia projects. Alexander, with extensive RPG development experience, emphasizes the creative potential of Montreal in building a world-class team dedicated to honoring this legendary mythology. Careers at the studio are available via email.

Bethesda has officially revealed the remaster of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, priced at $50 and available on Game Pass. Despite debates over its classification as a remaster or remake, it quickly topped Steam’s best-seller list. Co-developed with Virtuos, the game uses Unreal Engine 5 for enhanced visuals, though its size increased from 4.6 GB to 125 GB. A deluxe edition offers extras like an artbook and horse armor. Bethesda promises a version optimized for modern hardware, preserving the original's quirky charm. Fans, nostalgic for Cyrodiil's memorable experiences, have eagerly embraced the release, proving willing to pay for a polished return to the beloved game.

"Bits & Bops" is an upcoming rhythm game by Tempo Labs, aiming to capitalize on the popularity of Nintendo's "Rhythm Heaven" series. The demo features three minigames with improved graphics, latency, and smooth framerates, set to expand to twenty games upon its 2025 release. While beautifully illustrated and engaging, it lacks a handcrafted story and may initially overwhelm new players. Despite graphical innovations, the gameplay remains similar to existing titles, offering no unique gimmicks. Though shorter than Nintendo's offerings, the game balances casual and experienced player needs. As a free demo, "Bits & Bops" provides a fun, quirky experience showcasing developer passion, but may disappoint avid gamers seeking distinct innovation beyond visuals.

The article discusses the current state of 50-series Nvidia graphics card stock and pricing, noting increased availability but persistently high markups above MSRP. For those unwilling to build their own PCs, prebuilt options like the ABS Eurus Aqua Gaming PC are highlighted. Priced at $2,599 (a $300 discount), it features an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, RTX 5070 Ti GPU, 32GB DDR5 memory, and a 2TB NVMe SSD. While building a PC is cheaper, prebuilts offer convenience and unified warranty support. The article encourages checking Newegg coupon codes for additional savings and staying updated with Tom’s Hardware for tech news.

The remastered version of *The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion* has been released, offering enhanced graphics and updated gameplay for both returning fans and new players. This modernized edition retains the original game's charm, including iconic NPC voice lines. Bethesda addressed past limitations by recording unique dialogue for each in-game race, while preserving quirky lines beloved by fans. Sheogorath, voiced by Wes Johnson, remains a standout character with memorable lines. The remaster is available on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, as well as through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Fans are encouraged to enjoy behind-the-scenes insights during the ongoing release stream.

The article explores how sci-fi entertainment, like *Elite Dangerous*, can serve as an educational tool for learning about space and celestial phenomena. Frontier Developments collaborated with London's Science Museum to host a guided tour of the solar system within the game, led by museum curators Abbie MacKinnon and Laura Joy Pieters. The event combined real-world science knowledge with the game's immersive simulation of the Milky Way galaxy, featuring 400 billion star systems. While *Elite Dangerous* offers players the chance to explore and even "claim" star systems, it raises questions about space ownership and colonialism. MacKinnon emphasizes the potential of such games to inspire future scientists and engineers, while also highlighting Venus as an intriguing destination for understanding planetary evolution. The Science Museum's upcoming redesign of its space gallery further underscores the intersection of gaming and real-world space exploration.