A major new feature in Blackfrost: The Long Dark 2 is the addition of co-op multiplayer, allowing players to team up with their friends in their attempts to survive the harsh locales of the industrial city of Harmont and its surroundings.

Players will also be able to recruit NPCs to their cause, and interacting with communities of NPC survivors will be integral to the player’s own survival. The game aims to expand on the foundations laid by the original The Long Dark, with the developer stating that Blackfrost: The Long Dark 2 was built from the ground up as a survival RPG.

Blackfrost: The Long Dark 2 will be released as an Early Access title, with development taking place after release that further fleshes out the game’s various systems.

Global resources have also been refreshed, with resources now matching the theme of a region and giving it a unique feel. Starting spawns for all modes have also been updated, so expect to feel lost more often than before. Other noteworthy updates include notes under car visors that point to items or offer useful information, Fire-Hardened Arrows for scare creatures like wolves, Acorns for grinding into a stimulating drink of Flour for food, and so on.

The last part of the Hunted challenge is also coming, tasking you to “finish the job, or die trying.” Those playing on high-end PCs, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5 can also expect a “range of visual enhancements,” though some seem to require the Expansion Pass. Stay tuned for more details on that front in the coming days.

Players can expect new regions like the Far Range Branch Line and Transfer Pass and the Forsaken Airfield, a remote airfield located on a large plain. Other regions include the Industrial Mine and Mountain Pass, each with its share of secrets.

In terms of new gameplay, there’s Glimmer Fog, whose electrostatic energy can cause electronics to suddenly anime. A new risk, Insomnia Affliction, can occur when exposed to “certain influences.” You can also use the Handheld Shortwave for signals that lead to supplies and unique locations. New recipes and ingredients, a Photo Mode (with an in-game camera and dark room), and a Cougar that could become the player’s “greatest nemesis yet” are also coming.

If that weren’t enough, three narrative Tales are also being added. Each has different objectives and ties into the base game’s Wintermute storyline. Tales from the Far Territory updates will release on an 8-10 week cadence. Some are paid and exclusive to Expansion Pass owners, while others are free to base game players.

The Long Dark: Tales from the Far Territory is also coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch in early 2023. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.

Sony has revealed the next slate of titles that will be available on PlayStation Now tomorrow, starting with Marvel’s Avengers. The live-service action adventure has received a new update, “Operation: Hawkeye – Future Imperfect“, along with official support for the PS5. It will be available until July 5th on the service.

Next up is Borderlands 3, Gearbox’s long-awaited sequel that offers four new Vault Hunters, a new story and plenty of new loot to chase. With the Director’s Cut DLC out this week, it’s a good time to acquaint one’s self with the end-game. Borderlands 3 will be available on PlayStation Now until September 29th.

Finally, there’s The Long Dark, a survival exploration title set in a frozen wasteland. The player must struggle to survive against the harsh weather while also dealing with any wild animals that may beset them. There’s currently no time limit for the game so experience it at your own pace. Stay tuned for more details on new titles for PlayStation Now in the coming months.

Hinterland Studio is a new name in the development world, formed by former employees of  Relic Entertainment, BioWare, Riot Games, and Volition Inc. On September 16th, Hinterland’s debut title, The Long Dark, is coming to Kickstarter in an effort to get gamers fund the project.

The Long Dark will be an episodic, open world survival game, and will be released across Linux, Mac, and PC.

The game’s first episode will see player’s take on the role of pilot William Mackenzie, who, along with a number of other survivors, has been stranded in a sort of post-apocalyptic version of North American wilderness. Players will be have to gather resources, seek shelter, and face a number of moral decisions along their path to survival.

The head of Hinterland Studio, Raphael Van Lierop, is a creative director with 13 years of industry experience, having worked on such titles as Far Cry 3, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and Company of Heroes. He had this to say on about The Lost Dark:

“We want to be part of the incredible crowdfunding revolution, and create a direct relationship with our players. This new model allows us directly engage our community, to expand on our existing resources to help achieve our ultimate vision for the game. Through this additional support, we can add richness to the experience in line with our backer’s expectations, while also maintaining the creative independence that is core to our identity.”

Source: VG247