Kerbal Space Program 2 is still available (for better or worse). There’s no explanation for why or when OlliOlli World and Rollerdrome will return. It’s worth noting that the developers for all these titles, Intercept Games and Roll7, were shuttered in May last year, which Take-Two would confirm six months later.

Perhaps it’s a similar deal to Triangle Strategy, which became temporarily available on the eShop to facilitate a publisher name change from Nintendo to Square Enix. Stay tuned for updates.

Private Division is still publishing Weta Workshop’s Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game and Project Bloom from Game Freak. Former Annapurna Interactive staff members are reportedly running it now under Haveli Investments, though details have yet to be announced.

It’s not the only studio that’s closing its doors due to the Take-Two layoffs. It was recently reported that Kerbal Space Program 2 developer Intercept Games, also owned by Private Division, was also being shuttered, which is something that Bloomberg corroborates as well. Additionally, as per the report, a number of employees at Private Division itself have also been impacted by the layoffs.

Earlier this month, Take-Two Interactive stated that it was expecting to take a hit of about $200 million due to its cost-cutting drive, roughly $140 of which will be because of project cancellations.

Set in a dystopian future, Rollerdrome is the name of a sport where participants compete to kill each other in roller-skating arenas. As Kara Hassan, a rebel working her way through the games, players must take on all challenges, from other humans to walking battle tanks. Kara starts with dual handguns but can wield a shotgun and a grenade launcher.

Eliminating enemies generates health while ammo is refilled by performing tricks, with slow-mo also available to help with aiming. By completing various challenges in levels, players move through progressively more difficult stages of the competition.

For more details on Rollerdrome, check out our review. We awarded it an 8 out of 10, praising the cel-shaded visuals and gameplay while criticizing the narrative.

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Foamstars is a new 4v4 party shooter from Square Enix featuring three PvP modes and multiple playable characters. It’s drawn comparisons to Nintendo’s Splatoon but received positive impressions from its last open beta. Single-player and co-op content is included, and there are plans for at least a year of post-launch support.

Rollerdrome combines pro rollerskating with third-person shooter mechanics as players compete in a futuristic death game. Along with PS4, PS5 and PC, it’s also available for Xbox Series X/S and Game Pass.

Steelrising is Spiders’ latest action RPG, with players controlling an automation named Aegis as she battles maniacal robots in an alternate history version of the French Revolution. Though not quite comparable to Lies of P, it’s a solid Souls-like title. Check out our review here for more details.

Perhaps the most significant is Persona 5 Tactica, Atlus’ turn-based tactics spinoff, which will be available on Game Pass (via console, cloud, and PC), on the day of its release later this week, November 17. Meanwhile, later in the month, subscribers will get two more games.

On November 28, Roll7 and Private Division’s acclaimed rollerskating shooter Rollerdrome will be added to Game Pass to go along with its Xbox release. On the same day, 4K strategy title Dune: Spice Wars will make its console debut, and will be available on Game Pass (via console and cloud) right from day one. It’s also been available to PC Game Pass subscribers for some time.

Roll7 and Private Division have announced that Rollerdrome is launching for Xbox Series X/S in less than a month’s time, on November 28. On the same day, it will also be coming to the Windows Store, having been available only via Steam on PC up to this point. The game will also be available via Game Pass on Xbox, PC, and cloud on the day of its release, adding to what’s already looking like a stacked month for the subscription service.

In our review of Rollerdrome, we awarded it a score of 8/10, saying, “If you’re itching for a brand new third-person shooter with some unique mechanics, then Rollerdrome may be the game for you. Its presentation, arena design, controls and combat are superb, and make up for the otherwise short length.” Read the full review through here.

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OlliOlli World is Roll7’s latest title in the acclaimed skateboarding franchise, boasting a bombastic new aesthetic and tons of customization. Evil Dead: The Game is a PvEvP title which sees four survivors from across the Evil Dead universe battling against a Kandarian Demon and some Deadites. Destiny 2: Beyond Light is an expansion for the free-to-play title, which adds Stasis as a new Darkness subclass, a new campaign, and new gear.

As for Mafia: Definitive Edition, it’s a remake of the 2002 classic with improved visuals, quality-of-life features and better racing controls. Stay tuned when all four titles are free to claim next week. It’s also worth noting that PlayStation Plus Collection is going away on May 9th. Subscribers can still keep the titles if they’ve already redeemed them.

Mafia: Definitive Edition will also be available on PS4, though it’s playable on PS5 via backward compatibility. All four titles are reportedly available from February 7th till March 6th. It’s worth noting that Mafia: Definitive Edition may be replaced with another title in certain regions. Stay tuned for Sony’s official announcement for more details.

In the meantime, PS Plus Essential subscribers can claim Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Fallout 76 and Axiom Verge 2 as part of January’s free games. Titles recently added for Extra and Premium subscribers include Dragon Ball FighterZ, Back 4 Blood, Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition, Life is Strange, Life is Strange: Before the Storm, and much more. Check out the full list here.

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Alongside Squid, Licht and Professor Planks, aka the Radmospheric Three, players venture to five regions in the Flowzone Layers. Cirrus features cotton candy clouds, while Cumulus consists of eerie woods. By collecting map pieces, you’ll be able to find Radlantis’s location.

In terms of new mechanics, new Windzones can push you up or down and even provide a boost while grinding. Taking advantage of these Windzones and racking up points is key. Burly Routes are also new, providing more complexity (while the Gnarly Routes are more “adventurous”). Players can also discover new fashions by completing different courses.

OlliOlli World is available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Check out our official review here for more details.

But while the fundamental gameplay can be crudely described as such, jumping into Rollerdrome reveals an engaging title where completing objectives and refining that perfect run is as essential as gunning down goons. Conversely, knowing enemy placements, weaknesses and which weapons to use in each situation, along with which targets to prioritize, is as important as collecting Combo Tokens and performing tricks.

"The narrative isn’t necessarily a key part of the game but it isn’t throwaway either."

Rollerdrome is set in a retrofuture which, to no one’s surprise, kind of sucks. Smartphones and the internet haven’t been invented and people’s main form of entertainment is Rollerdrome, a bloodsport where the odds are almost hopelessly stacked against its participants. As Kara Hassan, a new entrant to the arena, players must complete objectives and slay the House Players, slowly rising through the ranks to become the league champion.

Before jumping into some levels, there are first-person sequences where, as Kara, the player can walk around environments and learn more about the world. Rollerdrome’s sponsor, a megacorporation called Matterhorn, is committing some unsavory acts outside the arena and rebellion seems to be at an all-time high. You’ll also learn bits about Kara’s backstory, the other participants, and more from pieces of lore scattered about.

The narrative isn’t necessarily a key part of the game but it isn’t throwaway either. If anything, it’s understated enough to focus on the action while offering plenty for interested players to piece together. The action is always at the forefront, the glitz and glamor demanding one’s attention. It almost mirrors how Matterhorn wants the world to conveniently ignore its excesses, not thinking too hard about the truth for the sake of entertainment. Not that there is a whole lot to delve into, especially when it comes to the characters and how they evolve through the campaign, but what’s there is serviceable enough.

"Completing each level requires eliminating all threats and not dying in the process but in addition, there are a number of other objectives."

All that aside, it is the gameplay where Rollerdrome really shines. From the outset, Kara is armed with dual pistols. There are no ammo pickups – to refill any weapon’s magazine, one must earn points. This can be done by performing tricks like grabs, flips, grinds and wall-grinds in addition to dodging attacks. Momentum is maintained without pressing forward on the Left Stick, which affords more time to think about shooting and where to go.

Defeated enemies drop health, which is pretty essential since you can’t tank too much damage. The third resource is Reflex Time, activated by pressing L2 and serving as your de facto slow-mo. While the handguns have auto-targeting, other weapons like the shotgun and grenade launcher require Reflex Time for functions like the more powerful Slug Shot or carefully aiming explosive projectiles.

Each enemy has their own role to play, whether it’s the bat-wielding thugs taking a swing as you pass by, the shield-wielding enemies that slam down in a shockwave, or the heavies that fire homing rockets. You’ll quickly loathe the snipers tracking you from a distance but dodging their shots at the right moment helps activate Super Reflex, which deals more damage than normal Reflex Time. Taking advantage of this is key for quickly bringing down the bigger targets.

But just when you think that’s all Rollerdrome has to offer, it starts throwing other threats into the mix which require careful dodging, maneuvering and ammo management to beat. Completing each level requires eliminating all threats and not dying in the process but in addition, there are a number of other objectives. While any number of them can be achieved during a run, you’ll need to complete a certain amount to advance further through the league. Objectives can range from collecting five Combo Tokens in a level and performing certain tricks to damaging two enemies with one grenade shot or building up a 25x combo which requires regular slaying of foes.

"Nevertheless, there’s an excitement to be had as well, especially as you’re crashing through glass or dodging damage on low health, slaying foes while the in-game heart rate is through the roof."

It can get pretty overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to get your bearings in the middle of all the action, performing some tricks for ammo while desperately avoiding damage. Knowing the right angle to approach certain ramps, walls and jumps in each arena, all while dodging sniper shots and mines, can also take some doing. The tutorials do a good job of drilling each mechanic into you as time goes by, but actually performing them while everything tries to kill you, that too within the time limit, can be a challenge at first.

Nevertheless, there’s an excitement to be had as well, especially as you’re crashing through glass or dodging damage on low health, slaying foes while the in-game heart rate is through the roof. Focusing on navigation and how momentum is carried while also planning for certain jumps by holding the button down well in advance, as opposed to right before a ramp or half-pipe, also takes some getting used to. Otherwise, the controls are smooth and responsive with the DualSense’s feedback feeling great (especially when the telltale “click” rings when running out of ammo).

Rollerdrome’s cel-shaded visuals look great and mesh well with the retrofuture bloodsport aesthetic. The music is also noteworthy for its mix of 70’s style pulsing synthwave, though it may get repetitive at times. Some of the indoor environments may also feel a bit monotonous, but they look absolutely clean, and each level is well-crafted, facilitating both tricks and combat to a clever degree. Though there aren’t a boatload of different levels in the campaign, you will be revisiting each regularly to complete different objectives and improve your final score. It’s fun to learn and improve on your fundamentals, slowly but surely grinding your way to the top.

"The overarching gameplay and atmosphere, combined with the responsive controls and wealth of options, makes Rollerdrome worth checking out."

For those who want to relax every now and then, there are a number of accessibility options including unlimited ammo, not having to complete objectives to unlock later levels, and so on. So if you want to sit back and complete the campaign to see everything that Rollerdrome can throw at you, and maybe come back later to dust off any remaining objectives, then go for it. Of course, those craving an even tougher challenge can unlock Out for Blood, an even tougher campaign with more challenges to offer.

Those who appreciate a tough, skill-based experience, whether in shooters or sports titles, are encouraged to give Rollerdrome a shot. It’s challenging but fair while offering a unique blend of shooting and platforming. One could make a case that it’s too short, but the true value is in replaying its levels and improving your skills on top of appreciating the beauty of gunning down foes while performing a 360 Front Flip in slow motion.

It may not possess the most immediately impactful narrative with the most memorable characters, but the overarching gameplay and atmosphere, combined with the responsive controls and wealth of options, makes Rollerdrome worth checking out.

This game was reviewed on PS5.