Vampyr
News, coverage and analysis tracking Vampyr across the outlets.
Latest coverage
"This company has been driven into a wall for years" - Life is Strange studio Don't Nod faces unrest while teetering on insolvency
French studio Don't Nod, known for Life is Strange, is facing deep unrest and has entered safeguard proceedings to avoid insolvency. The company is undergoing significant restructuring, including substantial layoffs, while attempting to complete its in-development game codenamed P14 through increased outsourcing. Employees report a prolonged period of uncertainty and anxiety, with management's decisions criticized for negatively impacting staff health and livelihoods.
MMO Week in Review: Lament for BioWare
Electronic Arts has officially shut down the legendary studio BioWare, laying off 400 employees in the process. This move has been met with significant criticism, highlighting concerns about venture capital and corporate practices in the gaming industry. Several other MMOs and studios also saw news this week, including updates on MapleStory Classic World, Chronicles of Elyria, and the closure of Zenith.
Betawatch: ArcheAge Chronicles sets its early access plans and Vampir gets a release date
ArcheAge Chronicles has announced its early access price of thirty dollars, with plans to eventually remove gender locks and add third weapon options for classes. Vampir is set to launch on October 27th. The article also provides updates on City of Titans, Soulframe, and numerous other MMOs in various stages of testing and development.
Vampir is Netmarble’s PC and mobile MMO of ‘blood, horror, and sexuality’ with an October 27 global launch
Netmarble has announced that its PC and mobile MMORPG, Vampir, will launch globally on October 27th. The game features a dark vampire motif with themes of blood, horror, and sexuality, offering players five DPS-only classes and a large-scale PvP battlefield. Players can pre-register for in-game rewards.
Don't Nod is in financial strife, opens safeguard proceedings
The company behind the Life is Strange series, Don't Nod, has entered safeguard proceedings after the Paris Business Court granted its request due to a poor cash position that prevents it from securing financing for its operations and projects. CEO Oskar Guilbert acknowledged the impact on teams, indicating potential layoffs are likely as the company seeks a sustainable solution amidst a challenging industry environment.
Review – The Blood Of Dawnwalker (Xbox Series X)
The Blood of Dawnwalker is an open-world dark fantasy RPG from Rebel Wolves, set in 14th century Europe where vampires rule. Players control Coen, a young man turned into a half-vampire, who must save his family from a ritual sacrifice. The game features a unique time system, branching narrative choices, and a combat system that blends swordplay and vampiric abilities, offering significant replayability and multiple endings.
Blood of Dawnwalker's troubled power fantasy has me yearning for a more desperate, systemic vampire survival sim
The author finds The Blood of Dawnwalker's portrayal of vampirism to be a power fantasy that misses the mark, lacking the desperation and systemic challenges of a true vampire survival sim. They express a desire for games that focus on the drawbacks and vulnerabilities of being a vampire, citing examples like Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines and Ghost Master as partial inspirations.
Betawatch: ArcheAge Chronicles plans a network test for next weekend
ArcheAge Chronicles is planning a network test for September 12th, continuing its development journey. The article also rounds up other MMO news, including updates on Guild Wars 3, Farhaven, and Aion 2, alongside a lengthy list of games currently in various stages of testing and development.
Life is Strange and Aphelion studio Don't Nod probably facing layoffs again, as it announces ominous-sounding "transformation initiative"
French developer Don't Nod, known for Life is Strange and Aphelion, is initiating a "transformation initiative" that strongly suggests impending layoffs. The company cited "profound changes in the economic conditions of the video game industry" and deteriorating economic indicators as reasons for adapting its operating model, with negotiations underway for a job-preservation plan.
The Blood of Dawnwalker review: "Despite clear Witcher 3 DNA, I wish this vampire RPG was messier"
The Blood of Dawnwalker is a freeform vampire RPG that attempts to streamline its time-based questing, but ultimately results in a less engaging experience. Despite its folklore-rich world and some interesting combat mechanics, the game suffers from pacing issues, underdeveloped vampire powers, and repetitive activities, leading to a lack of immersion.
MMO Week in Review: Gamescom, Asura, and Ascension
Gamescom was the dominant event this week, bringing news for numerous MMOs including launch dates for Aion 2 and Path of Exile 2, and trailers for Dune Awakening, Sea of Remnants, and Cinder City. Star Citizen's Squadron 42 received another delay into 2027, while Guild Wars 3 revealed its Asura, and Blizzard shut down another World of Warcraft private server. Other news included updates for Throne and Liberty, Ultima Online, and The Division 2, alongside discussions on game design, AI training lawsuits, and the shutdown of the Project Ascension World of Warcraft emulator.
Betawatch: Aion 2 plans October global debut, Guild Wars 3 reveals gremlins
Several games are nearing their global launches or entering new testing phases. Aion 2 is set for a worldwide debut on October 5th, while Path of Exile 2 will officially launch out of early access in December. Guild Wars 3 has revealed more about its gremlin-like Asura characters, and Squadron 42 has been delayed again, now targeting 2027.
Netmarble’s popular PC/mobile MMO Vampir is coming westward, opens global registrations
Netmarble announced the upcoming global release of its PC and mobile MMORPG, Vampir, which previously launched in South Korea and other Asian regions. The game features a dark vampire theme and gothic horror setting, with cross-platform support planned for Android, iOS, PC via Netmarble, and the Epic Games Store. Pre-registration is now open, offering players a variety of rewards.
Can the Epic Games Store turn things around? 'I don't see how they can recover at this point,' says…
Industry analyst Emmanuel Rosier expresses skepticism about the Epic Games Store's ability to recover market share from Steam, citing its reliance on free game giveaways and broad competitive efforts. While acknowledging Epic's success with Fortnite and its integration of various game IPs, Rosier believes the storefront faces an uphill battle.
Nintendo Switch eShop latest sales: lowest prices ever for A Short Hike, Octopath Traveler 0, more
The North American Nintendo Switch eShop is currently featuring its lowest prices ever on a wide selection of games, including A Short Hike and Octopath Traveler. The sale encompasses numerous titles across various genres, with significant discounts available on many popular and niche games.
