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Nightdive Studios Confirms Release of SiN Reloaded Expected in 2023

Video games are weird little things. It’s pretty rare for films to get scrapped part way through production, even if these days some production companies opt to use even finished projects as tax write offs. But games can frequently get canned, disappear for a bit, and even return after many years of silence. Enter SiN Reloaded, the Nightdive-made remaster of the classic boomer shooter, that is alive once more!

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Mega Man Voice Actor Leaves Sequel Following Capcom’s Request for Non-Union Work Terms

**SAG-AFTRA Issues “Do Not Work Order” for Mega Man: Dual Override**

On March 9, 2023, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) released a “Do Not Work Order” (DNWO) concerning the forthcoming video game *Mega Man: Dual Override*, which is the twelfth entry in the cherished *Mega Man* franchise. The issuance of this order was due to Capcom’s neglect to start the signatory process needed to engage unionized actors, thereby safeguarding their rights and compensation.

As a result of this decision, voice actor Ben Diskin, who previously lent his voice to the legendary character Mega Man in *Mega Man 11*, announced he would not be returning for this new installment. Diskin shared his disappointment, revealing that he had to turn down Capcom’s offer, which came with the expectation of working without the safeguards of a union contract. In a touching post, he conveyed, “With a broken Blue Bomber heart, I am no longer the voice of Mega Man.”

The DNWO holds considerable implications for all SAG-AFTRA members, barring them from providing any acting services for *Mega Man: Dual Override*. Members have been warned that taking part in the production could violate “Global Rule One” of the union, leading to penalties that might include fines or expulsion. SAG-AFTRA’s announcement clearly instructed its members to avoid any participation until further notice.

In his social media remarks, Diskin speculated about the reasons behind Capcom’s decision not to engage in the union signatory process. He voiced concerns that this refusal might be connected to the A.I. safeguards required by union contracts. Diskin mentioned that while he had received assurances that there are “full A.I. protections in place,” he was also told that Capcom would not move forward with the project as a union endeavor. This situation has raised alarms about the industry’s increasing focus on generative A.I. technology, particularly as large corporations aim to reduce expenses, frequently at the cost of actor protections.

Currently, Capcom has not issued an official statement regarding the DNWO or the associated circumstances. Reports by outlets like *Kotaku* have sought clarification from the company but have not yet received a reply.

The developing situation highlights the persistent tensions between creative labor unions and video game publishers, especially within a swiftly changing digital environment. As the sector navigates technological progress and the rights of actors, the resolution of this issue may serve as a benchmark for future productions in the gaming industry.

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New RuneScape Monthly Subscription Rates Match World of Warcraft Prices

Welcome back to another fantastic edition of Morning Checkpoint. Ethan is still out engaging in activities at GDC. Sounds exciting. However, he’s having a hard time playing Marathon on the hotel’s wi-fi. What a bummer. Anyway, today we’ve got news about an upcoming price hike for Runescape, updates regarding the next Yoshi game, a surprising Lego Luigi release, and some PlayStation revelations. It’s the newest edition of Morning Checkpoint, Kotaku‘s daily summary of gaming news, rumors, and culture. And…oh my, is that George Lucas? Hurry, Tom Cruise, say something nice to him for all of us. Thanks!

Runescape faces another price hike, less than two years after the last

The enduring free-to-play fantasy MMORPG and favorite of school computer labs, Runescape, is set to see its prices rise again. As noted by PC Gamer, the monthly membership for the MMO, which grants access to an extensive array of features, locations, quests, bonus skills, and more, has now increased to $15 a month. It was $14 before. The annual fee has also seen an increase today, now costing $132 for a year of Runescape membership, up from $100. Currently, Runescape’s membership is as expensive as World of Warcraft‘s monthly fee of $15. In fact, in certain regions, Runescape‘s monthly cost is higher than WoW‘s.

A membership price hike would be frustrating on its own, but this marks the second increase within a span of less than two years. In September 2024, Runescape’s membership rose from $12.50 to $14, and the yearly subscription plan increased from $80 to $100. Indeed, this now signifies that the annual subscription for Runescape membership has surged over $50 in the past two years, transforming a previously great deal into a less appealing proposition.

Players who registered before September 2024 will still be allowed to keep the old rate for a monthly subscription, but all new customers must start paying the updated prices on their next billing date.

Regarding the reasoning behind Runescape raising its prices, the developers claim it’s necessary to better manage the “cost of infrastructure, updated systems, and new content.” Not mentioned in the announcement blog regarding the price rise: In early 2024, Runescape creators Jagex were acquired by a private equity firm.

Lego Unveils New Luigi-Themed Mario Kart Set

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Crimson Desert: System Requirements Revealed and Are Quite Manageable

The everything but the kitchen sink RPG Crimson Desert is finally out in a little over a week, but those of us in the realm of personal computers have been left wondering what it is exactly we’ll need to run the thing (I’m sure those flashy particle effects take their toll). Well, wonder no longer, intrepid Crimson Deserter, Pearly Abyss have released the PC specs you’ll need to be sporting to get this thing running.

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Crimson Desert Reveals Console Specifications, Suggests Trade-offs for PS5 Edition

### *Crimson Desert* Pre-Launch Excitement Cycle: A Summary

The excitement surrounding *Crimson Desert*, an anticipated release from Pearl Abyss, has sparked an intriguing scenario within the gaming community. Trending gameplay videos and preview enthusiasm have stirred considerable anticipation, but the lack of console reviews has led some gamers to question whether the game meets the expectations.

#### Performance on PCs and Consoles

On March 10, merely days prior to its anticipated launch, Pearl Abyss revealed the specifications for both PC and console editions of the game. For PC users, the requirements are fairly minimal, requiring just 16GB of RAM and accommodating older graphic cards like the GTX 1060.

Conversely, the console experience seems more complex. For example, the performance setting on the standard PlayStation 5 aims for 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second (fps) with Vsync and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). Several modes are offered:

– **Quality Mode**: Employs ray tracing for superior lighting and reflections, achieving 4K resolution by upscaling from 1440p.
– **Balanced Mode**: Seeks a middle ground, operating at 1280p upscaled to 4K while targeting 40fps.
– **PS5 Pro**: Offers native 4K resolution with ray tracing, albeit capped at 30fps.
– **Xbox Series S**: The performance mode is limited to 720p at 40fps.

Despite these specifications, gamers have not yet viewed console gameplay footage, leading to doubts about the actual performance and visual quality of the game on these systems.

#### Marketing and Transparency Concerns

The absence of pre-launch console gameplay footage has raised questions regarding the state and caliber of the game. Although review codes for PCs have been issued, players remain uninformed about the console experience until the very last moment.

Will Powers, Marketing Director at Pearl Abyss, responded to these issues on social media, reiterating their dedication to transparency and promising that they would supply essential information before the launch. His fervent appeal underscored their attempts to set expectations while leaving some elements of the game’s final appearance ambiguous.

#### Conclusion

While *Crimson Desert* has attracted significant pre-launch attention, the mixed signals concerning console capabilities and the lack of gameplay footage create an air of uncertainty. As the launch date nears, gamers are keen to discover how the title will function on their devices, wishing for an experience that matches the hype. Whether it meets anticipation still remains to be determined, but discussions surrounding it persistently grow within the gaming community.

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Epic Games Increases Fortnite V-Buck Prices to Cover Rising Server Maintenance Costs

Epic are raising the price of Fortnite‘s V-bucks currency, in what the billion dollar publishers frame as a bid to keep the wolf from the door. You’ll now stand to pay almost twice as much for Exact Amount packs, with smaller increases kicking in for the larger fixed wodges of Fort-doubloons. You’ll also learn less from Fortnite’s battle pass in future, though this and other Fortnite passes will also be cheaper to compensate.

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