“Frontier’s move to diversify its game portfolio during the last five years, including through third-party publishing and new games in ‘adjacent genres’, has not delivered the anticipated success,” said the company in its business update. “As a result, the Company has refocused on CMS games which have delivered stronger and more predictable returns through Frontier’s expertise and leadership in that genre.”

For context, management-styled games like Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo, Jurassic World Evolution, and Jurassic World Evolution 2 are what Frontier Developments considers falling under the CMS umbrella. According to the company’s development update, all four of these games were able to make a profit within a month of release, and over the next year, were able to make a 100 percent return on investment.

“All four games achieved profitability within one month of release and delivered over 100% return on investment within 12 months of release,” it said. “The three games which have been in the market for four years or longer – Planet Coaster, Jurassic World Evolution, and Planet Zoo – have all achieved a cumulative return on investment of over 250%.”

As part of its new focus on management-styled games, Frontier Developments has revealed that it plans on releasing three more games down the line over the next three financial years—one game for each financial year. Despite the performance of Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin, the company plans on further support the title, as well as other games like Elite: Dangerous and the F1 Manager franchise.

The low sales of Realms of Ruin have reduced the company’s expected revenue for the current financial year. However, the company has stated that it is looking to the next financial year in order to break even in revenue thanks to continued support of its preexisting games, as well as the release of the planned CMS title.

“The Board expects Frontier to at least break even in FY25 through the ongoing performance of the existing portfolio of games, revenue contributions from future releases including the CMS game scheduled for FY25, and the 20% operating cost reductions from the Organisational Review,” it said about its plans with future management games.

For more details on Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin, check out our review. The game is out on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

F1 Manager 2023

There’re grumbles surrounding the graphical performance of F1 Manager 2023 on console, with opinions centring on its visuals being a downgrade compared to 2022’s iteration. However, play on PC with graphic settings set to ultra and the splendour of Unreal Engine 5 comes to the fore – sun-glinting reflections bounce realistically off body work and helmets, and warbly heat haze rises from the tarmac. The pièce de resistance though is F1 Manager 2023’s new visor cam – visual flairs, dynamic head movement, and true-to-life depth of field make this driver’s eye-view the go-to camera angle to immerse yourself in the relentlessness of elite wheel-to-wheel racing.

Of course, a lot more is inbound, including F1 Manager 2023 on October 19th for cloud, consoles and PC. Cities: Skylines 2 launches on October 24th for PC Game Pass, while Dead Space Remake arrives on October 26th for cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S via EA Play.

The same day sees Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery for cloud and consoles, collecting all three Frog Detective cases in one game. Mineko’s Night Market will also launch for cloud, consoles and PC. Finally, October 31st sees the launch of Headbangers: Rhythm Royale and Jusant, both for cloud, consoles and PC.

Those with EA Play (included in Game Pass Ultimate) can also play the early access trial for EA Sports UFC 5 on October 24th. Check out the games leaving Game Pass on October 31st:

• Gunfire Reborn (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Kill It With Fire (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Persona 5 Royal (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Signalis (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Solasta Crown of the Magister (Cloud, Console, and PC)

With that said, F1 Manager 2023 may not everyone’s cup of tea. But that absolutely isn’t a commentary on the title’s quality. The elements of this simulation that ultimately make the game what it is, but some players may find it to be tedious and, at times overwhelming. But this is a world that others may truly thrive in. And while some players may struggle with the entire sports management sub-genre from a preferential perspective, there’s no denying that F1 Manager 2023 absolutely excels in what it sets out to do.

"While I struggle with the entire sports management sub-genre from a preferential perspective, there’s no denying that F1 Manager 2023 absolutely excels in what it sets out to do."

From a gameplay perspective, those familiar with F1 Manager 2022 will easily understand the layout of 2023. Essentially, you’ll be split between the day-to-day work of maintaining your team as the appointed principal and the action that unfolds on race days. The former is represented by a series of screens and menus. Think of it like sitting at a desk and fielding emails while interacting with those you manage. One of the primary guiding points for those new to management sims will, in fact, be your emails. Often the staff on your team offer recommendations and suggestions and you get to choose how you respond. But the real nitty gritty comes when you manage your staff and make preparations for upcoming races. There’s a copious amount of options at your disposal. For starters, you’ll want to study the details of the upcoming circuit. This will help inform your decisions regarding car modifications. You may need to design or manufacture parts that boost the overall performance of the vehicles that best suit the track. For instance, one particular circuit may involve a lot of cornering that requires you to modify the handling of your team’s vehicles.

Managing your calendar and ensuring that you’re maximizing sponsorship engagement and also bringing in more funds than your expending is crucial to the survival of your outfit. Ultimately, you as the principal answer to the board of your team, and they can fire you in the event that they aren’t satisfied. Facilities must be maintained and you should look into investing in your facilities for further advantages. These buildings range from development locations for your vehicles to staff and operations facilities. The game informs you of your overall budget and every decision you make has a cost including monthly upkeep of these facilities. When you’re scouting for Technical Chiefs, Race Engineers, or any other position on your team, you must be cognizant of the time you’re expending on your primary scouts and the cost of bringing in these experts you’re seeking. Profiles for these folks indicate such details as to whether they’re willing to negotiate salaries, etc.

You also must keep up with your staff. Because you don’t actually have the experience of personable interactions with your team, the game simply tells you how their morale is holding up. You must schedule practice sessions for your pit crew. But if you overwork them, they’ll become tired and their performance will suffer as a result. You must also boost the confidence of your primary drivers. This is done through rigorous practice on the circuit and making any necessary tweaks to improve your advantage. Your drivers’ confidence plays a hefty role in their eventual performance during the qualifiers and the big race day. On race day, you have to select your strategy for pit stops. And you, of course, want to ensure you stagger the pit stops between your drivers so you don’t have them both pulling in at the same time.

"All of this is to say that there are a lot of details, menus, and aspects of your business to manage."

All of this is to say that there are a lot of details, menus, and aspects of your business to manage. For some, like me, all of these menus, submenus, and important data become overwhelming. But in reality, it’s organized well and will speak to those who thrive in this work environment – just like in real life.

You can choose whether you want to be hands-on for practice sessions, or let your team handle it which results in a breezy load screen. Viewing the practice allows you to see the performance of the car so that you can make any changes. The drivers will test the steering and handling. So, while going in hands-off may be the simpler method, it may not always be best for the race ahead.

Race days are ultimately the big payoff. It’s a chance to see if your work paid off in enabling your team the best chance at success. Sponsorships offer incentives for high performance during race events. Meeting those marks ensures a substantial cash influx for your team. Furthermore, if your Pit Crew and drivers are happy and healthy with a winning attitude, everything should go swimmingly. You’re given the opportunity to then watch the race as you would in real-life, albeit with stats on the screen in real time indicating your drivers’ lap speeds and car performance and everything in between. You can switch views to watch the race from various camera angles on each of your drivers’ cars or simply get the televised version. If you don’t have time to watch these cars run 60 laps, you can crank up the speed of the simulation to 16x. Though the game will put the speed back to 1x every time an event happens such as a collision. At the end of the day, you’ll be inundated with an analysis of your team’s performance following the race which should help inform you for your next go at it.

F1 Manager 2023 really only falters in its visual presentation. Animations are rigid, and the in-game design of staff and drivers is washed out and unimpressive. While the cars and tracks look great, even the animations of the cars racing are a tad stiff. Cars weaving in and out doesn’t always feel organic. However, the bland graphical display isn’t a real detraction from the thrill of rooting for your team and hoping for the success you’ve been working toward.

"F1 Manager 2023 really only falters in its visual presentation. Animations are rigid, and the in-game design of staff and drivers is washed out and unimpressive."

This may all sound very familiar to you if you’ve played F1 Manager 2022. However, you have the added benefit of roster updates and commentary regarding the actual real-world 2022 season as you head into the 2023 season of your own making. At the end of the day, F1 Manager 2023 accomplishes its goal of being a meaty management simulation. Those who are new to the world of team management can indicate as such when starting the 2023 season which will offer plenty of guidance in-game. If you have played a couple of management simulations in the past, you will need all the help you could get. And while this sub-genre may not rank high in your favored gameplay types, it must be recognized that it largely succeeds in what it sets out to do. F1 fans will undoubtedly be thrilled with what F1 Manager 2023 offers.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

"The addition of post-race part inspections is a key new layer to the car development gameplay. The fact that you can’t rely on your parts to last indefinitely now means that their durability needs to be considered at the design phase."

What can you tell us about new additions like hiring a Sporting Director and new training calendars for pit crew and how they will impact the gameplay?

Andrew Fletcher (Game Director): The pit crew management system allows players to influence where their pit crew will excel when the race weekend comes around. The training schedule for your pit crew is set by the player, via the new Sporting Director role, and can focus on mitigating costly mistakes, improving car setup times, or reducing the overall pit stop time. On top of this, there are several other factors to consider, such as the fatigue that your pit crew will build up if you work them too hard, the types of mistake that your pit crew tend to make, and the DHL Fastest Pit Stop award, which provides added incentives for teams who can achieve the fastest times.

A well-executed pit stop can be the difference between a team achieving its race objectives or losing track position to their rivals. It’s a whole new area of the game that encompasses both deeper team management and heightened race drama, in the form of those crucial pit stops and race-defining mistakes.

F1 Manager 2023 will also be simulating full F2 and F3 sessions. What will that bring to the table, especially where scouting future recruits is concerned?

Fletcher: It’s great to realistically simulate those competitions as it helps build out the wider world of F1 in the game in an authentic way. But it’s also a useful way of seeing which drivers are performing well, and that you might want to lock into a contract for next season before another team snaps them up.

Stuart Warren (Executive Producer): It’s also important to note that this year you’ll see your drivers’ ratings start to fade with age, so if they’re not performing to the standards expected of them it might be time to look into F2 or F3 in order to spot the next world champion. That’s not to say that more experienced drivers on the grid can’t succeed, as we’ve seen with drivers like Fernando Alonso in the real sport this season, they’re still able to develop if they’re consistently achieving.

What are the biggest improvements the game is making when it comes to building and tuning cars?

Fletcher: The addition of post-race part inspections is a key new layer to the car development gameplay. The fact that you can’t rely on your parts to last indefinitely now means that their durability needs to be considered at the design phase. Lighter and less durable parts will give you strong on-track performance, but if it means you have to manufacture more parts across the season, then that extra investment may come back to bite you, especially if it takes you near to the cost cap limit.

"The pit crew management system allows players to influence where their pit crew will excel when the race weekend comes around."

Do you have any plans to add multiplayer support to the game, especially given the demand from players?

Fletcher: F1 Manager 2023 is a single player experience, and our focus is on creating a deep and rewarding management experience with authenticity at its core.

What can you tell us about the races themselves, and what sort of improvements F1 Manager 2023 is making to the broadcast experience?

Fletcher: This year we’ve focused on refining every aspect of the race weekend, from gameplay elements like AI improvements, driver confidence, and tyre temperature management, to presentational ones like expanded team radio, improved visual effects, and our new visor camera mode. Overall, I think players will find that the simulation is a lot more dynamic. There are more dramatic corner battles and more strategic options available to help you fight through the pack.

The new Race Replay mode is one that has caught the eye of many players. What can you tell us about it, and how extensively it will allow players to rewrite the 2023 season?

Fletcher: As F1 fans ourselves, we’re following every race of the 2023 season with as much excitement as anyone, and we wanted a way for players to engage with the ongoing Championship through F1 Manager. Race Replay allows players to do just that across two scenario types: Starting Grid and Race Moments. Starting Grid authentically recreates the conditions at the start of the Grand Prix, from weather to tyre availability to updated car performance data, and allows you to manage any team and create a unique race story for them. Race Moments drop you into a critical point in the race with a particular team, set you a specific challenge to overcome, and allow you to play and re-play different approaches to see how things could have played out had you been the one behind the pit wall. We love the idea of F1 Manager forming part of the post-race experience for F1 fans, and so as new races take place, we will release new Race Replay content so that you can jump back in and play with latest Grand Prix narratives and turning points yourself.

"Alongside updated scenarios arriving in Race Replay mode after each real world race weekend throughout the 2023 season, we are delighted to confirm that in early September we’ll also be bringing the ability for players to change teams based on their performance."

Support for F1 Manager 2022 slowed down not long after its launch. What are your plans for F1 Manager 2023’s post-launch support?

Warren: Alongside updated scenarios arriving in Race Replay mode after each real world race weekend throughout the 2023 season, we are delighted to confirm that in early September we’ll also be bringing the ability for players to change teams based on their performance. So for example, a strong season at the helm of a team in the mid-pack might attract the attention of one of the top teams, likewise a poor season might see their options limited to only a handful of offers from other teams.

This feature is another example of how we’ve added more flexibility to the way in which F1 Manager 2023 can be played, and we’re excited to see how this will extend players’ legacies as Team Principals.

TRACKS, CARS, AND DRIVERS

F1 Manager 2023 is, of course, an officially licensed F1 game, which means it’s going to be aligned and up to date with the 2023 F1 season. To that end, players can expect all the official cars, tracks, and drivers from the 2023 Formula 1 season, including the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, as well as the Las Vegas Strip Street Circuit. The six sprints of the season will also be included in the game, taking players to the aforementioned Losail International Circuit, Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps, Austria’s Red Bull Ring, the Circuit of the Americas, Azerbaijan’s Baku City Circuit, and Brazil’s Interlagos.

RACE REPLAY

One of F1 Manager 2023’s biggest new additions is Race Replay, a completely new mode that will allow players to relive specific moments and races from the 2023 Formula 1 season. Taking real world data from live F1 races, Race Replay will put players in recreations of key moments from throughout the season, and task you with performing your best to try and see if you can emulate them, or perhaps change course.

STARTING GRIDS

A couple of key elements will be crucial to forming the backbone of the Race Replay mode, one of which will be Starting Grids. As Frontier describes it, the race conditions and driver starting positions of every race from the 2023 season will be replicated using Starting Grid, which hopefully means you can look forward to authentic recreations of key moments from the season right out the gate.

RACE MOMENTS

Just as important a part of Race Replay as Starting Grids, if not more important, will be what Frontier has dubbed Race Moments, which is what will encapsulate the acting playing part of Race Replay. Race Moments will be how players will take control of specific teams at specific points of the 2023 season. Juming in during a race, you’ll be tasked with making crucial real time decisions that will determine just how different the outcome will be for you than it was in the actual season.

EXPANDED FOCUS ON F2 AND F3

The lack of focus on F2 and F3 in last year’s game was something that a number of players were disappointed in, though that’s being addressed in F1 Manager 2023. While you won’t be able to take control of F2 or F3 teams yourselves, their entire seasons will constantly be simulated in the background. Not only will you be able to see their race results and updated championship positions whenever you want, you’ll also be able to scout younger talent and recruit up and coming drivers in order to replace your older pros who might be in the tail end of their career.

NEW CONTRACT SYSTEM

Coming to the more granular changes, F1 Manager 2023 is also bringing about an improvement in how it’ll handle contracts, given players more options when planning out their team’s future. When F1 Manager 2022 would force you to sign up drivers the moment you agree a contract with them, in this year’s game, players will have the option to sign them up come the beginning of the next season, thus better allowing you to map out your team’s future.

DRIVER DEVELOPMENT

Chooding your team’s drivers and car will be a crucial part of your management career, of course, but just as important will be how you develop them over the coruse of that career. Drivers’ confidence ratings will now be much more crucial to their long-term development, not to mention their short-term performance goals in actual races. Another overhaul will come in the form of choosing the areas you want a driver to prioritize growth in rather than investing skill points.

CAR DEVELOPMENT

Where car development is concerned, players will now have to carefully analyse the risk/reward for each upgrade and part- the best parts will much shorter lifespans, while the more durable ones will have lower performance metrics. Do you focus on the latter, given their obvious costs and shorter lifespans, or do you go for the safer, more enduring option, even if it mans sacrificing short-term gains? The answer, of course, won’t be cut-and-dry every time, and you’ll have to make decisions based on your team is performing and developing.

SPORTING DIRECTOR

Another big additition in F1 Manager 2023 is the position of the Sporting Director, whom you’ll now have to recruit for your team. Like other key roles in your team, the Sporting Director will form an important part of your overarching structure, and in particular, will bring an added emphasis on your pit crews, their energy levels, their morale, and more. This will also give you increased control in how they develop and perform in key moments. Let’s turn our attention to that for a little bit.

PIT CREWS

F1 Manager 2023 will afford players much greater control over their pit crews, which will include more than just ensuring the need for speed during pit stops without having that lead to disastrous errors. Between races, you’ll also be able to manage your mechanics’ calendars with training to improve their pit stop skills, allowing them to better hone their craft. At the same time, however, overworking them between races could mean they are more tired and, as such, more error-prone when the actual races are happening.

NEW BROADCAST FEATURES

With F1 Manager’s focus being exclusively on the management aspect, you do not, of course, get to take control of the actual cars, though this year’s game is nonetheless promising improvements to its race broadcasts. Not only are car animations being tweaked to ensure they’re better aligned with instructions for drivers, players will now also be able to hop into the visor cam for any of the twenty drivers and view the action from their perspective. Drivers will also sport different visors with their own tints and, often, specific weather-dependent attributes.

MORE INCIDENTS DURING RACES

In addition to new broadcast features, F1 Manager 2023 will also feature more dynamic races with a greater frequency of key incidents taking place on the track. According to Frontier, this will include more wheel-to-wheel racing, early crashes, more frequent overtakes, improvements to the driving line, and more. As you’d expect, enhanced driver AI is also being touted, which should also add to this significantly (one would hope, at least).

NEW TYRE FEATURES

Tyre mechanics were obviously a thing in F1 Manager 2022, though they perhaps weren’t as effective or prominent as many would have hoped they would be. Frontier says it’s making key improvements on that front in this year’s game. In F1 Manager 2023, players will seemingly see much more tangible differences in different tyre compounds, while factors such as the temperature of the tracks and the cars will also have a greater effect on the rubber of the tyres you have equipped.

SAVING CHANGES

The commitment required to play through a race weekend could be a bit steep in last year’s game, owing to how it handled saving, though F1 Manager 2023 will be making some changes on that front, which many fans should be happy to hear about. Players will now be able to save mid-session, which means you can save up progress between practise, qualifying, and race sessions and come back whenever you want and pick up where you left off.

PC REQUIREMENTS

F1 Manager 2023 is also going to be available for PlayStation and Xbox consoles upon its launch later this month, but given the kind of game it is, it goes without saying that a significant portion of its audience will be on PC. And unsurprisingly, just like last year’s game, its system requirements aren’t particularly demanding. On minimum settings, you’ll need either an Intel Core i5-4590 or an AMD FX-8370, along with either a GeForce GTX 960 or AMD R9 280x (with 3 GB VRAM), and 8 GB of RAM. On recommended settings, meanwhile, you’ll need either an Intel Core i7-7700 or AMD Ryzen 7 2700, along with either a GeForce GTX 1080 or Radeon RX 580 (with 4 GB VRAM), and 16 GB of RAM. On either setting, you’ll also need roughly 30 GB of free storage space.

Starfield

Starfield is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated games of the year, and the game finally looks to be on track to hit its updated release date of September 6, 2023. Starfield is Bethesda’s first new IP in over 25 years, and from what we’ve seen so far – the game looks absolutely amazing. Everything from the combat to the exploration and visuals looks impressive, and we’re really excited to see how it all comes up together when the game releases for Xbox Series consoles and PC later this year.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie

While many may see this as yet another Trails title in the long-running series, for many, it’s the conclusion of a journey that ended somewhat abruptly in 2020. The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie takes place after the events of Cold Steel 4 and sees Erebonia at peace. However, trouble begins to stir once more. This time, there are three different character paths to pursue. Lloyd Bannings and the Special Support Section seek to protect Crossbell; Rean Schwarzer and Class VII deal with the aftermath of the Great Twilight; and a mysterious individual named C butts heads with both.

Players can switch between each protagonist with the Crossroads system and venture into the True Reverie Corridor, a randomly generated dungeon with its own side content, characters, and events. Even if the wait for the next entry is long, fans can finally see the Erebonian saga come to a close when The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie launches on July 7th for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals

Oxenfree fans can finally continue the mind-bending journey that began in 2016. Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals is set five years later and sees protagonist Riley returning to her hometown. Mysterious events are occurring again, thanks to strange electromagnetic waves, and she’s determined to find the cause. Once again, conversations play out in real time, and your choices influence the story’s direction, the bonds forged, and Riley’s personality.

You can use the new walkie-talkie to speak to (or ignore) the locals and maybe learn more about the mysterious Parentage. Space-time travel, bigger stakes and more await as everything rests on your shoulders. Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals launches on July 12th for PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android, and we can’t wait to see what twists await.

Exoprimal

There have probably been enough jokes about someone at Capcom thinking, “But what if Horde mode Dino Crisis with power suits?” Nevertheless, Exoprimal looks very interesting. Set in 2040, where outbreaks of thousands of dinosaurs occur constantly, players join a squad of exosuit pilots to stem the tide. An AI known as Leviathan is used to predict the outbreaks, but before you know it, time travel is involved. What is Leviathan’s goal with its simulations, and can players resolve the mysteries of the dinosaurs?

The story unfolds through the co-op Dino Survival mode, as two squads of five players compete in various maps to complete objectives. Sometimes you may go head-to-head, but you can forgo PvP entirely. Gather clues to learn more, and pilot several different Exosuits, each with unique roles and capabilities, whether healing allies with Nimbus, tanking damage as Murasame, or taking down hordes of enemies with Zephyr.

Exoprimal launches on July 14th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC, and is also coming to Game Pass on day one.

Pikmin 4

What happens when Captain Olimar crash-lands on a planet and the Rescue Corps sent to retrieve him also crashes? It’s the job of a recruit, aka You, to save everyone, once again corralling and commanding hordes of Pikmin to help.

Releasing on July 21st for Nintendo Switch, Pikmin 4 allows for customizing your character, collecting treasures and exploring the environment to rescue any castaways. A new dog-like creature Oatchi helps out, serving as a mount and also battling some of the hostile monsters that abound. Players can also explore at night, tackling tougher threats and using the new Glow Pikmin.

Throw in a mysterious individual who also seems to be after the castaways, leading to Dandori Battles, where you compete to gather the most objects, and Pikmin 4 seems to have a lot in store for series fans. Newcomers can download a free demo from the eShop, allowing them to sample the gameplay and transfer progress to continue in the full game.

Remnant 2

Defying expectations, Remnant: From the Ashes went from relatively no buzz to a beloved third-person shooter Souls-like that sold over 3 million copies. With Remnant 2, Gunfire Games is going much bigger with new worlds, weapons, armor, enemies, bosses and an increased scale. Taking place nearly 20 years after the events of Subject 2923, Ward 13 is at peace. However, with The Root continuing to spread to other worlds via The Labyrinth, players suit up to try and stop it.

Instead of classes, players have Archetypes, which allow for multi-classing and mixing and matching Skills and Traits. The random world generation is also kicked up a notch, as you’ll explore new biomes with unique quests and enemies on each playthrough, leading to more replay value. Remnant 2 is out on July 25th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PC)

Roughly two years and several other PS5 titles on PC later, Insomniac Games’ Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is finally coming to Steam and the Epic Games Store. Launching on July 26th, it supports 21:9 and 32:9 Ultra-wide displays. For the triple monitor owners, it even has 48:9 support. Ray-traced reflections are a given, but you also get unlocked frame rates and ray-traced shadows for exteriors.

There’s support for the haptic feedback and dynamic triggers on DualSense in addition to the keyboard and mouse (not to mention other controller options). Upscaling solutions like Nvidia DLSS 3, AMD FSR2, Intel XeSS and Insomniac’s Temporal Injection are also supported. If this isn’t enough, you can also use DLAA to improve the image quality and Reflex for more responsive controls.

Honestly, just hearing that Nixxes is handling the port is good enough for us, as Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is an incredible dimension-hopping 3D platformer.

Disney Illusion Island

Remember that gorgeous-looking 2D platformer starring Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy that Disney announced? Good news – it’s not dead. Disney Illusion Island recently received a new trailer ahead of its July 28th release, and it looks as sharp as ever. The story sees Mickey and the crew venturing to Monoth Island to recover three books. Along with platforming challenges and puzzles, they’ll take on bosses with their unique abilities and delve more into the island’s various mysteries.

The hand-drawn animation, familiar voices and charming soundtrack will draw you in, and there’s also four-player couch co-op support with unique skills for helping each other out. With its adorable visuals and sleek presentation, Disney Illusion Island could fill the hole that Rayman Origins and Legends have left for party platformers.

F1 Manager 2023

It’s easy to be wary of F1 Manager 2023, especially considering how Frontier Developments handled the post-launch support of its predecessor. Nevertheless, with 23 races, new tracks like the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, and the new Race Replay for reliving the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship, there are some interesting bells and whistles. You can also embody a team during big moments in the season using Race Moments.

Frontier also promises better drive AI and “refinements to racing lines, overtakes and incidents.” F1 Manager 2023 launches on July 31st for PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Hopefully, it’s a step up from its predecessor.

Jagged Alliance 3

The latest entry in the classic squad-based tactical strategy series, Jagged Alliance 3, sees players assembling a team of mercenaries to rescue the President of Grand Chien and defeat The Legion. Mercenaries come with different personalities and quirks, and some familiar faces are returning. However, all tactical decisions rest with the player, whether you’re customizing weapons and load-outs, battling enemy forces or capturing territory.

Jagged Alliance 3 offers an open structure with plenty of freedom, and you can experience the campaign alone or with a friend in co-op. It’s out on July 14th, exclusively for PC. Will it end up with fewer issues than developer Haemimont Games’ Park Beyond? One can certainly hope.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series Episode 1

Telltale Games is working with Alcon and Deck Nine Games for a new narrative adventure based on the popular sci-fi series, The Expanse. As a prequel to the TV series, it sees Camina Drummer (played by Cara Gee) and her crew on the Artemis exploring The Belt, salvaging space ships and having all kinds of run-ins.

As with classic Telltale titles, your decisions matter and can be the difference between valuable supplies or your crewmate losing a leg. The Expanse: A Telltale Series launches July 27th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5 and PC via the Epic Games Store. However, this marks the debut of Episode 1 – four more episodes are coming, each releasing two weeks afterwards.

Synapse

Among the many new titles coming to PlayStation VR2 is Synapse, a first-person shooter from nDreams starring David Hayter and Jennifer Hale. As an operative tasked with investigating Colonel Peter Conrad, who is threatening a world-ending catastrophe, you venture into the latter’s mind, battling through surreal environments while gathering clues on his weapon.

The Heart of Darkness inspiration isn’t exactly subtle, but seeing Hayter play Conrad, lending his signature charisma to what should be an intriguing villain, will be interesting. It also doesn’t hurt that the shooting and visuals look good. Synapse is out on July 4th for PlayStation VR2.

Ed-0: Zombie Uprising

From Lancarse, the team behind duds like The Diofield Chronicle, comes Ed-0: Zombie Uprising. Though it has some role-playing elements, this is a hack-and-slash dungeon crawler with randomly generated environments where you slay hordes of zombies in the Edo period. Play as a Samurai, Sumo Wrestler or Ninja, discover over 150 items and skills, and battle bosses.

Will this result in the zombies not turning Japan into a deadman wonderland? Probably not, but it should make for some mindless fun. Ed-0: Zombie Uprising is currently available in early access for PC but exits on July 13th while also being available for Xbox Series X/S and PS5.

Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg

You may be familiar with the Atelier series, specifically Ryza and Sophie, but how about returning to where it all began? Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg kickstarted the RPG series, and it’s getting the remake treatment on July 12th on PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch. The visuals are updated, with cute 3D character models and stages, while event illustrations are now animated.

Thankfully, the tutorial, exploration and collecting of materials have been improved. Long-time fans can look forward to new events and characters, but if you’re dreading the five-year time limit that past Atelier games are known for, don’t worry, as the new Unlimited Mode lets you play at your own pace.

Blackout Protocol

A twin-stick co-op shooter with rogue-lite elements vaguely based on the SCP? That’s Blackout Protocol in a nutshell. It launches on July 20th for PC as an early access title and sees the S2P Corporation venturing through Sector 13 to deal with supernatural entities. Shrouded in darkness, you must deal with randomly changing environments and friendly fire, using light to guide the way.

Some entities react differently to being illuminated, further adding to the unpredictability and your Panic Gauge, which can result in debilitating conditions. With skills that carry over between runs, you have to survive more than a few deaths to reach the bottom.

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara

If you’re looking for a more laid-back platforming experience, Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara may be worth checking out. It sees Koa and Napopo journeying through the world of Mara (which some may recognize from Summer in Mara) and discovering all kinds of things, from pirates to volcanoes. There are collectables to collect and secrets to uncover, but those keen on speedrunning also have options.

With eight different levels, skins to unlock, characters to meet, and sailing, Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara promises a fun, colorful adventure. It releases on July 27th for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Alongside its release date, the studio has also announced that the game’s deluxe edition includes four days of early access, allowing those who buy it to start playing on July 27. It also includes a scenarios pack with extra content. F1 Manager 2023 also features pre-order bonuses for both editions, which includes race moments.

F1 Manager 2023 was announced back in May. The game’s headlining feature is the new Race Replay mode, allowing players to leave their mark on key moments throughout the racing season. The game’s core career mode will also be getting new features and updates based on fan feedback from the previous game.

The headlining feature for F1 Manager 2023 is the new Race Replay mode, which allows players to leave their own mark on key moments from throughout the season. The core career mode is also getting a series of new features after hearing out fan feedback.

Among the changes to the game is the addition of the new Sporting Director role, which allows for deeper management of the team’s pit crew and training schedule. Players will now also have to tackle the new weight considerations as they work within their Cost Cap.

The way F1 Manager 2023 shows off its races is also getting updated, now featuring shifting racing lines. The game also features a new driver confidence system that will allow different drivers in a race to get into duels more often.

More details about F1 Manager 2023 will undoubtedly get revealed as we get closer to the game’s launch, and you can stay tuned for our coverage of the upcoming management sim.