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Gaming Showcase Recaps, Esports Awards Backlash, and More Studio Closures
Curated news for streamers and content creators
DimTheLights
June 18, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 18 minutes
Today’s edition is brought to you by Fanatical - Fanatical is on a mission to help gamers from all over the world find amazing games at amazing prices. Fanatical lets you quickly find what you want from a selection of over 10,000 officially licensed digital games from over 1,100+ publishers. SEE LATEST DEALS
Any typos in this email are on purpose actually.
Happy Monday and Happy Pride Month🌈 Streamers!
Wow! This past week was a whirlwind of exciting announcements and news. The Summer Game Fest alone was FILLED with new release announcements and updates to fan favorites. I spent all of last weekend watching and sometimes rewatching the showcases just to take notes on everything I wanted to talk about.
In the end, I decided not to push myself too hard and just skipped last week’s newsletter to have enough time to review it all.
I originally wanted to write extensive pieces on each showcase, but it felt too similar to what already existed on publishers like IGN and Game Informer. Instead, I’ll take you through some highlights from each showcase and share the usual bits you’ve come to expect from the newsletter.
This is a long one so if you’re reading this via email, it will get clipped. You can read the full version of this edition on the website.
Until next week,
Dim
In This Edition
✅Tuesday To-Dos
Every week I bring you🖐️ actionable tasks or opportunities to boost your live content. See what’s new this week 👇
🖥️ OBS - If you’ve struggled with OBS, here is a recent thread with some great insights from @tungabungaa. See Thread
🎮Play - Cozy Streamers! Here’s your chance to grab a key for Everafter Falls (a cute pixel art farming sim OR IS IT?) by Square Husky launching on June 20th. See Tweet
🚶♀️Embark - The makers behind the recently announced Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 opened up registration to keep in touch for game keys and other opportunities. See Tweet
✉️Participate - @ohgawdkate is hosting the Sunshine Cup 2, a charity tournament to raise money for Project Hope. Consider signing up to fundraise on July 19 - 21 and July 26 - 28. See Tweet
💲Save - Twitch recently increased the price of subscriptions. Here’s a useful graphic from @OllyRobzTTV showing you how to save money over the next 12 months. See Tweet
🏳️🌈Events For Pride
A few weeks ago, I asked the community to share upcoming Pride Month events that I could highlight in the newsletter.
Please show your support for your fellow creators!
Several Twitch Unity Guilds are partnering to host a 2024 Pride Raid Train . They are on their final days so make sure you help them raise their goal amount of $5,000 for It Gets Better. See Tweet
If you or someone you know is hosting a fundraiser or event for Pride Month, please let me know. Reply to this email or find me on Twitter.
🥇This Week’s Top Stories
Who Won Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest?
Last weekend, I spent most of my free time watching every Summer Game Fest showcase. There were ALOT of updates with some very exciting games announced across the various live events.
I originally thought about covering each one individually, but let’s be honest, there are online publishers that have already done that legwork and a great job at that. Instead, I’ll share links to some notable coverage and share some of the news I was personally excited about!
Summer Game Fest | Full Recap from IGN
Blumhouse Games Reveals
I was NOT expecting Blumhouse Games to announce not one, but six new horror games. The best part about it? They all feel so unique. Bravo Blumhouse for a strong start! I’m excited to try each of these out.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind
This one may not have been a first choice for most, but as a 90’s baby who spent way too much time at the arcade playing X-Men and Ninja Turtles 2D beat-em-ups, I was very enthusiastic about jumping into a new Power Rangers title.
Phantom Blade Zero
After the Phantom Blade Zero reveal a few months ago, I think most gamers were wondering if the cinematic set pieces in the trailer would translate to actual gameplay. I think the Summer Game Fest gameplay trailer answered that. YES, I AM SO EXCITED!
Day Of The Devs Summer Edition | Full Recap from Shack News
Screenbound
Screenbound is another title that has gotten some coverage in the past, but it was nice revisiting it again during the event. We’ve all played 2D and 3D platformers, but how challenging would it be to traverse levels in both dimensions at the same time. Screenbound looks to answer that with an really fun trailer!
Phoenix Spring
I think what really captured my attention was the art direction and bold color palette of Phoenix Springs. Point-and-Click murder mystery? Yeah, sign me up!
Devolver Direct | Full Recap from IGN
Anger Foot
Devolver didn’t have too many announcements, but one notable title, Anger Foot, has you taking down enemies with your big toe. Its silly and violent in the best way possible. It reminded me of that time I streamed Hotline Miami. I liked the trailer so much, I jumped on the demo and loved it. Will be grabbing this one later this year.
Future of Play Direct | Full Recap from IGN
Psychroma
This 30-minute showcase featured many great indie titles releasing over the next year. One that really grabbed me was Rocket Adrift Games’ Psychroma. You play as a digital medium forced to confront the past through a series of broken memories. The pixel art is beautifully unsettling. Definitely something I’d play!
Wholesome Direct | Full Recap from Game8
ILA: A Frosty Glide
This year’s Wholesome Direct introduced many titles that made it to my Steam wishlist, but the clear standout was ILA: A Frosty Glide. This casual 3D platformer features a gorgeous voxel art style and lets you ride a broom through a colorful world.
Latin American Games Showcase | Full Recap from Game8
Despelote
If you didn’t know, I’m half Ecuadorian. When I learned the developers behind Despelote were also Ecuadorian, I leaned in. This charming hand-drawn adventures has you exploring the streets of Quito and playing soccer with the local population.
Dreamcore
I’m on a liminal spaces reddit. I watch YouTube videos about The Backrooms. And I played subliminal on stream a few years ago. Yeah, this one is for me.
Tenebris Somnia
I didn’t know pixel art could be terrifying until I watched this trailer. The game also includes some live action cutscenes that really immerse you in the shocking imagery of this 2D survival horror adventure.
Women-Led Games | Full Recap from Games8
Just Crow It
Untitled Goose Game walked so Just Crow Things could run. I’m really enjoying this sub-genre of games just focusing on you being a complete asshole to random strangers.
Future Games Show | Full Recap from Games Radar
The Casting of Frank Stone
Coming from the studio that brought us Little Nightmares, Until Dawn, and The Quarry and taking place in the Dead By Daylight universe. This is a day one purchase, hands down.
Nikoderiko
This new title reminded me of my youth. You can see the obvious inspiration from Crash Bandicoot and Donkey Kong Country. Nikoderiko has a chance to be a worthy platformer!
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream
I’m a huge fan of stealth games. Everything from A Plague Tale: Innocence to Splinter Cell. Eriksholm takes place in a unique fictional city inspired by 1900s Nordic aesthetic. The bits of story seen in the trailer sound interesting and the isometric camera are sure to create some fun stealth challenges.
Xbox Games Showcase | Full Recap from Microsoft
Gears of War E-Day
After the recent Activision Blizzard merger, all eyes were on Xbox to see what they were bringing to the table. Titles like Gears of War E-Day really set the tone for the showcase and got fans really excited for what is to come. This latest Gear of War title is a prequel that will explore the events around Emergence Day.
DOOM: The Dark Ages
Who doesn’t love a gory and violent DOOM trailer? This is another prequel exploring the origins of Doom Guy. I’m hyped to cause mayhem will an all-new arsenal of weapons.
FragPunk
Okay, a lot of these games I’m highlighting are single-player experiences. How about a new competitive FPS? Fragpunk is a new 5 v 5 hero shooter that puts a new twist on the formula by introducing power-up cards that alter the environment and rules once activated.
PC Gaming Show | Full Recap from PC Gamer
I Am Your Beast
You can never have too many frenetic FPS shooters. This one has a unique art style and some fast-paced mechanics that will keep me up well into the night.
Killing Floor III
I never played the previous titles so I think now is a good time to start. This is one I’m excited to play with the homies. You know who you are ;)
Deathspring 66
Run or Die. Its a simple premise, but the cyberpunk aesthetic and chance to show up my friends has me thinking this is a day one purchase.
Ubisoft Forward | Full Recap from Games Radar
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
Ubisoft kept it pretty simple: Assassin’s Creed and Prince of Persia.
There isn’t too much new here, but if you already saw the trailer for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows I think you know what fun you are in for. If you haven’t grown tired of the AC formula yet, this new title takes place in Japan, something that has been requested by the community for ages now.
This Esports Deal With Saudi Arabia Sparks Resignation Of The Face Of Esports
The Esports Awards announced a three-year deal with the Esports World Cup (EWC). On the surface, that may not seem like much, however, you should know the EWC is financially backed by Saudi Arabia, a country well-known for violating women’s and LGBTQIA+’s rights.
We are delighted to announce we have entered a three-year partnership with the @ESWCgg, bringing our esteemed awards ceremony to the Esports World Cup, the world's largest gaming festival.
The Esports Awards will come to you live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on August 24th.… x.com/i/web/status/1…
— Esports Awards (@esportsawards)
1:07 PM • Jun 7, 2024
This isn’t just some local awards show. The Esports Awards is THE esports industry awards show event with a prize pool of $60 million.
That is why the partnership garnered criticism from notable esports personalities and athletes. How can the Esports Awards justify their values while lining its pockets with money from a country where homosexuality is punishable by death and human rights activists are imprisoned.
The Esports Awards CEO will tell you the partnership is an opportunity to bring East and West together to become the global hub of esports. But many including esports shout caster Alex GoldenBoy Mendez is calling BS.
Alex recently resigned citing that the new partnership doesn’t align with his personal or professional beliefs. Many other have spoken out online denouncing the Esports Awards for their decision.
Many of you reading may not watch esports closely, but highlighting this news is important. Esports represents a large chunk of the gaming and streaming community, especially when you’re talking about notable brand sponsorships. With Saudi Arabia ramping up investments in media and entertainment, will other organizations follow suit?
Following this deal the Esports Awards ceremony will take place this August in Saudi Arabia.
Twitch announces the formation of the new Twitch Pride Guild and is seeking leaders. See Tweet
Twitch is offering a 7-day trial of Twitch Turbo. See Offer
Twitch added new guidelines for VTuber attire and then quickly rolled it back following backlash from the VTuber community. See Tweet
Have you checked out Twitch’s new Raid Browser feature? See Tweet
Twitch announced the DJ Program, which aims to compensate musicians when their music is used by DJ live streamers. Read Update
Twitch is introducing a new product called “Power Ups” giving users access to message and on-screen effects in exchange for bits.
Partner Checkmarks can now be seen on discovery pages throughout Twitch.
Twitch is updating its Clip Creator and Clips Manager. The new Clip Creator will allow users to automatically generate portrait clips.
Going forward, Twitch clips must be manually “saved” by the creator otherwise it won’t be published.
Twitch’s new Chat Warning system released last week allowing streamers and mods better safeguard their community from rule-breaking chatters. See Update
YouTube is testing AI generated green screen backgrounds for Shorts content. How To Access Feature
YouTube is testing a new feature that would summarize a video’s comment thread using AI. See Experiments Page
YouTube is testing user-generated effects in Shorts. See Experiments Page
YouTube is rolling out its thumbnail A/B testing feature to creators with access to Advanced Features. Read More
YouTube Studio has a new Inspiration tab which uses GenAI to help you brainstorm content ideas and create videos faster. Check it out!
🎙️ Creator News
iShowSpeed donated half of his MrBeast winnings to Palestine relief efforts. See Tweet
PirateSoftware joins Ludwig’s company Offbrand Games as its new Director of Strategy. See Tweet
Kevin Hart returns to Kai Cenat’s house for a crazy sleepover event. Here’s The Moment He Arrived
Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, appears on a recent interview on the Colin & Samir channel. He shares valuable insights creators investing on IG will want to know. Watch Video
YouTube streamer and Fortnite creator, Nick Eh 30 finally joins the Icon Series with his own skin. See Tweet
Ben Potter, best known as YouTuber Comicstorian, has sadly passed away after an accident. He was 40 years old. See Tweet
🔴Streaming News
OBS 30.2 Beta is available. See Release Notes
TikTok added the ability for users to image search within the TikTok Shop. Read Article
StreamLabs overhauled its Alert Box feature. See Tweet
StreamElements now allows streamers to view their Activity Feed across different platforms. See Tweet
Ko-Fi announced some new features for Streamers including an activity feed, Twitch clips, Alert and Goal updates in chat, and much more! See Tweet
Likes are no longer public on Twitter preventing anyone from viewing a user’s liked content. Read Article
Instagram is working on a PALs virtual pet feature. See Preview
Instagram is testing un-skippable ads which appear while watching Reels. Read Article
🎮 Gaming News
Phil Spencer hints at the possibility of launching an Xbox handheld in the near future. Read Article
Netflix released the trailer for Arcane Season 2, which will be its final season. Watch Trailer
After announcing several new titles, Sumo Digital lays off over 250 employees including the entire Timbre studio team. Read Article
League of Geeks, creator of critically acclaimed title, Solium Infernum, announces an indefinite hiatus. Read Post
The Esports Awards has entered a highly controversial 3-year partnership with the Esports World Cup, who receives funding from Saudi Arabia, sparking a negative outcry from the Esports community. Read Article
🥳You Made It To The End!🥳
Have A Cookie
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