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Galaxies Games Showcase Sets the ToneKicking off just before the week on April 17, the Galaxies Games Showcase was a two-hour extravaganza hosted by GamesRadar, streaming on Twitch and YouTube. With over 50 reveals from 40+ developers, including Konami, Remedy, and Kepler Interactive, it aimed to bridge indie and AAA worlds. The Knightling, a fantasy action-adventure from Saber Interactive and Twirlbound, stole hearts with its pint-sized hero and massive shield, launching a Steam demo and targeting summer 2025 for PC, PS5, Xbox, and Switch. RuneScape: Dragonwilds, Jagex’s open-world survival pivot, hit the ground running, while Remedy’s FBC: Firebreak teased three-player co-op chaos in the Control universe. Four shadow drops—Bionic Bay (physics-puzzler), Neighbors: Suburban Warfare (team-based chaos), Golf Gambit (trap-filled fun), and UNBEATABLE’s rhythm demo—lit up X, with posts calling it “the new E3.”@pushsquarenoted Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as the standout, and its April 24 release proved them right. Galaxies’ buzz carried into the week, shaping April’s vibe.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Steals the ShowThe week’s crown jewel was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, launched April 24 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Sandfall Interactive’s RPG, hyped at Galaxies, blends haunting painterly visuals with turn-based combat and a philosophical narrative that’s got X buzzing—@metacriticpegged early Metascore predictions high, and it delivered, hitting 2 million copies sold by May, per@XBorgHQ.@IGNdubbed it a “genre-defining masterpiece,” praising its emotional depth and slick mechanics. NVIDIA’s DLSS support boosted its PC performance, per@NVIDIAGeForce, making it a visual stunner. X posts dissect its cryptic lore, and last week’s tease of a free epilogue chapter for summer fueled GOTY chatter. Expedition 33 was April’s indie-to-icon story, outshining bigger names.
Big Releases: Turtles, Forza, and MoreApril 18–24 saw a diverse slate:
- Days Gone Remastered (April 24, PS5, PC): Bend Studio’s biker epic got a 4K glow-up, landing well on X for its gritty story, though some questioned its $50 price, per@Raysnakeyes.
- Commandos: Origins (April 24, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S): This stealth-strategy revival leaned on NVIDIA DLSS, per@NVIDIAGeForce, but X feedback was mixed—solid but not groundbreaking.
Forza Horizon 5 (April 24, PS5): Microsoft’s open-world racer hit Sony’s console, topping PlayStation Store charts alongside Oblivion Remastered and Minecraft, per@WindowsCentral. X lauded its vibrant Mexico and tight controls, a win for Xbox’s multiplatform push.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown (April 22, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S): This tactical RPG, a Game Pass day-one title, let players control all four Turtles in 20 levels against the Foot Clan and Mousers. X praised its “brotherly camaraderie,” though some called it niche.
Star Wars: Zero Company RevealedOn April 19, Star Wars Celebration in Japan unveiled Star Wars: Zero Company, a turn-based tactics game from Respawn and Bit Reactor, per MP1st leaks. Featuring isometric gameplay, Mandalorian mercs, and a prison rescue mission, it’s crafted by ex-Firaxis devs, evoking XCOM. X posts were hyped—@Okami13_called it Star Wars’ gaming savior, especially with Knights of the Old Republic’s remake stalled and Respawn’s third Jedi game distant. It was a bright spot in a week of big swings.GTA VI Delay Looms LargeThough announced May 2, the Grand Theft Auto VI delay to May 26, 2026, was brewing in April, with X posts like@destiny_thememejoking about it as early as April 18. Rockstar’s second trailer, showing Vice City’s neon and Lucia’s lead, had fans excited, but whispers of a pushed release, per@Bloomberg, dampened the mood. The delay’s shadow loomed, setting up May’s bombshell.
Oblivion Remastered and Xbox’s Multiplatform PushThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered was a hot topic, revealed April 22, per@klobrille, for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5. Topping PlayStation Store charts, per@WindowsCentral, it’s a nostalgic juggernaut, with X posts like@Raysnakeyeshyping its Cyrodiil glow-up. Leaks suggest a 2027 full remake, per@Eurogamer, but the remaster’s 4K shine ruled the week. Xbox’s multiplatform flex—Oblivion, Forza Horizon 5, and Minecraft dominating PS5 sales—drew cheers and jeers, with@Okami13_noting a packed Xbox April. Price hikes ($80 games, pricier consoles) sparked X backlash, per@ChitoGamingLive, but Game Pass softened the blow.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ StrugglesAssassin’s Creed Shadows (March 20) kept sliding. Despite a 3 million player count (Ubisoft, March 27), Steam charts showed it trailing WWE 2K25, and X branded it a flop, citing bugs and microtransactions. An April 8 patch helped, but the ninja-samurai epic couldn’t match Rise of the Ronin’s March heat, fading from April’s spotlight.The Wrap-UpApril 18–24 was a defining week: Galaxies Games Showcase hyped The Knightling and Dragonwilds, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launched as a GOTY contender, and Star Wars: Zero Company sparked hope. Forza, Oblivion Remastered, and Tactical Takedown delivered, while GTA VI’s delay loomed and Shadows fizzled. What’s your highlight—Expedition 33’s soulful depth, Oblivion’s return, or Galaxies’ indie fire? Drop it below—I’m listening.
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