
New Steam sale offers major discounts on House Flipper 2, Frostpunk and more
Following the grand summer extravaganza, more Steam sales are on the horizon, with simulation games taking centre stage in this year's SimFest, promising a significant wave of discounts.
The Steam summer sale has wrapped up (though we wouldn't have minded if it took this scorching heat with it), leaving many gamers rather chuffed. This legendary sale is an annual highlight for PC players, who flock to the platform to discover that most of their wishlist has been heavily discounted, providing them with the opportunity to delve into the backlog of games they've yet to explore.
PC gamers have always enjoyed the best prices (making the debate between Nintendo Switch 2 or Steam Deck a tad easier for many, even if they've invested thousands in assembling a massive gaming rig), and Steam's deals play a significant role in this, year after year. Major AAA games saw substantial price cuts, but it's worth remembering that the Steam summer sale also offered huge indie deals, providing massive discounts on the best games you've never played.
However, the sale has now ended, but there's more in store if you're a fan of simulator games.
A new major sale is just around the corner, poised to offer a plethora of fantastic discounts on games that PC players tend to favour, meaning your bargain hunting isn't over just yet. We wouldn't want to be your bank account at this moment. READ MORE: Donkey Kong Bananza release date and when you can get stuck into its destruction READ MORE: A new Xbox exclusive is coming to PS5 and PS5 Pro, and it's one of 2024's most impactful RPGs
If you're on the hunt for a fresh sale following Steam's massive summer extravaganza, or are simply itching to splash out and expand your backlog, then SimFest is just around the corner to satisfy your spending cravings. The upcoming Steam sale kicks off on Thursday, July 17 and runs until Monday, July 28, aiming to spotlight (you've guessed it) a plethora of simulation games across the platform.
The roster features discounts on over 100 games, including the following:
The event also teases thrilling news from developers Paradox, Mythwright and astragon. SimFest 2024 offered discounts for American Truck Simulator, the Jurassic World Evolution series and Human Fall Flat, so anticipate more hefty discounts on the horizon.
If the Steam summer sale didn't quite hit the spot for you, then this assortment of discounts is sure to, particularly with the likes of Manor Lords and Frostpunk 2 making appearances. If you're feeling like it's time to make payday seem even further away, SimFest is ready to deliver.
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Metro
6 hours ago
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Patapon 1+2 Replay review - a PSP classic comes to Nintendo Switch
Sony takes the unusual step of releasing new remasters of PSP titles Patapon and Patapon 2 on Switch, as well as PS5, but are they worth such an effort? Microsoft has been rightly criticised for the lack of clarity around their multiformat plans. To be fair, that appears to be because they're just as unsure about what's going on as everyone else, but now it seems that every major first party Xbox title is going to end up on PlayStation 5 sooner or later. It's impossible to image any major Sony exclusive appearing on Xbox but the same is not necessarily true of the Switch. Earlier this year, Sony announced that both this and Everybody's Golf Hot Shots will be released simultaneously on PlayStation 5, PC, and… Nintendo Switch. Everybody's Golf is out this September, while Patapon becomes the second major Sony exclusive to make its way to Nintendo's format in recent months. The peculiarly misconceived Lego Horizon Adventures was exactly as big a flop as everyone predicted and it was easy to imagine it ending up as a one-off. But that's not what's happened. Although exactly what Sony expects to gain from this new remaster, of a pair of increasingly forgotten PSP titles, is uncertain. Clearly it's a test, but a test for more Patapon, more PlayStation games on Switch, or both? It'd be wrong to imply that the that the circumstances of this release are more interesting than the games themselves, as Patapon and Patapon 2 are both intriguingly strange titles that today would never be published by a major company like Sony. Literally, in the sense that Sony shut down developer Japan Studio several years ago. The two Patapon games were originally released for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) console in the late 2000s. Patapon is often seen as a sister franchise to LocoRoco, also from Japan Studio, but although they share some similarities in terms of art style there's no connection other than they both used to be PSP exclusives. If Patapon depicted its fantasy warriors realistically, instead of as cute little eyeball people, it'd be a fairly grim tale of what's implied to be ancient tribes warring against each other and wrecking the local environment – in terms of wildlife and resources such as stone and timber – to feed their war machine. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. It doesn't help that you're essentially cast as the god of the patapons, not just their leader. Although, as has always been the case, the games are let down by a very literal translation of the original Japanese text, that leads to some very strange phraseology and, more importantly, considerable confusion as to what you're supposed to be doing. Each level is presented as a 2D horizontally-scrolling stage, with your army of patapons marching from left to right. However, they'll only do so if you tap out a rhythm on the face buttons. You start off with a four button beat that means move forward, while another means attack. More are added over time, for different formations and orders, but that is the gist of the game, as you control an increasingly large cohort while attacking monsters, other eyeball-like people, and fixed emplacements. This all works very well and while it's not terribly deep the novelty of it all is more than enough to keep your interest. The problem is that the structure of the game does its level best to put you off with literally everything it does. Rather than just fighting a linear sequence of battles you also have to gather resources, which requires an outing into one of the previously visited stages. These forays can be dangerous, if you come across one of the bigger dragon-like monsters, but they're essentially just level grinding, as you're forced to repeat stages again and again, in order to feed your troops and make sure they're kitted out with decent weapons and armour. Rather than addressing this issue the second game doubles down on it, complicating everything further (Patapon 3, which is not included in this compilation, went even further, to the point where it was almost incomprehensible to anyone other than a series veteran). Patapon 2 is a better game, with more variety, deeper strategy, and better graphics, but at no time during the series' original existence did the developers ever seem to realise its failings. Patapon 1 and 2 have been remastered before, separately, for the PlayStation 4, but surprisingly that's not what this is, as the original remasters had a lot of problems with control lag and latency. Admittedly, we didn't experience any issues the first time round, but apparently it depended on your TV and sound set-up. We did have some minor issues with this Switch version in docked mode but thankfully there's a new latency option that helps address the problem. More Trending There are no museum features but there are some small but very useful quality of life improvements, starting with a help button you can press to remind yourself of what the commands are – something the originals somehow didn't have. Even more welcome is three difficulty modes that you can switch between whenever you want. The originals are viciously difficult, especially for the rhythmically challenged, but now they're much more accessible. The pre-rendered cut scenes are still very grainy (the PSP only had a 4.3 inch screen and a resolution of 480p) but they do look better than the PlayStation 4 version. More importantly, the in-game animation looks fantastic, as if it was made brand new today. Considering Sony could've easily just re-released the PlayStation 4 remasters, there's a welcome amount of effort that's gone into this compilation. We're still not sure what Sony expects to get out of it all, given the originals are cult favourites at best, but almost two decades later, Patapon is still happily marching to the beat of its own drum. In Short: A welcome new remaster of two of the PSP's most iconic exclusives and while they're as flawed as ever this is arguably the definitive version of the games. Pros: The original games are as inventive and enjoyably bizarre as ever, with some very distinctive visuals and sound design. Good quality remaster that adds some important quality of life features. Cons: The level grinding structure of the originals is as frustrating now as it ever was, as is the awkward script. Still some latency issues in docked mode. Score: 7/10 Formats: Nintendo Switch (reviewed), PlayStation 5, and PCPrice: £24.99Publisher: Bandai NamcoDeveloper: sAs (originals: Pyramid and Japan Studio)Release Date: 11th July 2025 Age Rating: 7 Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: I've given up on getting a PS5 and I've already got real concerns about PS6 – Reader's Feature MORE: Competition does not drive innovation in video games, talent does – Reader's Feature MORE: X Factor star Simon Cowell and the Pope are both secret Pokémon fans


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2 days ago
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Best wheels for F1 25 – top budget and premium wheels and wheelbases
Looking at a new wheel or wheelbase specifically for F1 25? Here's a few options to consider, from best Xbox, PS5 options to premium and budget. If you're looking for a new wheel or wheelbase, specifically for F1 25 or formula racing, here are some options to consider. With the 2025 Formula 1 season now at the halfway stage, and with F1 25 being well-received by players and critics alike since its release earlier this year, there's no better time to get on track in the virtual world. But, you're going to need a decent sim racing setup, which includes a wheel and a direct drive wheelbase, if you're at a decent level. That's why we're rounding up the best wheels for F1 25, including everything from the best Xbox and PS5 options to premium and budget options. We've covered an awful lot of options below. Happy shopping! Best Xbox wheelbase for F1 25 Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel Thankfully, compatibility with Xbox is becoming much more common these days when it comes to sim racing equipment, and the best I've tested to date is the Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel. Priced at £999 / $999 / AU$1,799.95, it includes a wheelbase with 11Nm of torque, plus a wheel, and it's also compatible with PC! In my Logitech G Pro review, I remarked that it's a "strong proposition, offering superb performance and excellent build quality", and I stand by that! It's not cheap, but it's the best option for Xbox players right now. Best PS5 wheelbase for F1 25 Fanatec ClubSport DD+ PlayStation compatibility is getting better, but options are still few and far between in the sim racing hardware space. Thankfully, though, Fanatec's biggest and best wheelbase, the Fanatec ClubSport DD+, is compatible with PS5, PS4, and PC. It boasts 15Nm of torque, making it one of the more powerful wheelbases on the market. It is a superb piece of kit, and in my Fanatec ClubSport DD+ review, I said that it is a "stunning premium option for hardcore sim racers who want a dedicated F1-style setup." It's not for beginners; it's for experienced sim racers who want to get the most out of their sim racing and chase realism and performance, regardless of price, as it will set you back €999.95, which roughly converts to £865 / $1168 / AU$1776. Fanatec ClubSport DD+ - €999.95, roughly converts to £865 / $1168 / AU$1776 Best budget wheelbase for F1 25 Moza R9 Moza's entire product line is incredibly price-competitive, but the Moza R9 wheelbase is probably the best budget wheelbase on the entire market. Priced at just £319, or £359 for the V3 version, it delivers 9Nm of torque and is crafted with aviation-grade aluminium alloy. With the V3 version, you also get support for iRacing's 360Hz mode and a 21-bit magnetic encoder with a 2.09 million resolution. In my Moza R9 review, I said it delivered "big performance in a small package, and at a bargain price," and that just about sums it up. It's a truly excellent deal, considering the performance on offer. Best premium wheelbase for F1 25 Simagic Alpha Ultimate If you want the very best performance, the Simagic Alpha Ultimate is a truly premium wheelbase, delivering a huge 23Nm of torque. Now, you might think this thing would cost the earth but, at a comparatively impressive price of just $899, which roughly converts to £665, it's one of the best deals in sim racing hardware right now. Simagic Alpha Ultimate - $899 (roughly converts to £665 / AU$1,367) Best budget wheel for F1 25 Fanatec ClubSport Steering Wheel F1 Esports V2 Formula-style wheels are often some of the most premium sim racing wheels you can buy, sometimes costing well over £1000 (as you'll read about further on down). However, the Fanatec ClubSport Steering Wheel F1 Esports V2 is a genuine steal at just £210 (rough conversion from $239.95 / $269.99 / AU$429.90). Okay, it doesn't have any fancy features, like a big LCD screen, but considering the build quality and the fact that it's an officially licensed F1 and F1 Esports product, it's the best budget F1 25 wheel in my book, and with few compromises. Fanatec ClubSport Steering Wheel F1 Esports V2 - £210 (rough conversion from $239.95 / $269.99 / AU$429.90 Best premium wheel for F1 25 Asetek Invicta Formula If you have money to burn and you want the very best sim racing wheel possible for F1 25, then I'd have to direct you towards the Asetek Invicta Formula, a custom, hand-built formula-style wheel that you can customise to your liking before buying. There are 144 individual input options, a 4.3" LCD, 60Hz display, exchangeable handles, and it is made from forged and woven carbon. It's truly a work of art, but one that you can use to go sim racing. The price? Before any customisation, you're looking at €1,249.99, which roughly converts to £1,082 / $1,461. But if you want the best, that's the price to pay. So, there you have it, those are some of the best options for F1 25 when it comes to wheelbase and wheels. See you out on track.


Metro
3 days ago
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GTA 4 and Red Dead 2 website updates have fans thinking new ports are coming
Rockstar Games' website currently lists GTA 4 for a console it's not currently playable on, as next gen Red Dead Redemption rumours return. Since Rockstar has delayed GTA 6 until May 2026, it would make sense for the studio to have something else ready, to keep fans occupied until then. While no other Rockstar games have been officially announced, past rumours have pointed to re-releases for Red Dead Redemption 2 and, most significantly, GTA 4. The latter has been rumoured to be coming later this year and in lieu of any formal reveal, it's suspected Rockstar has accidentally hinted at both projects on its website. The purported evidence for these ports comes from Rockstar's support page. Here, you can select whichever game you're having issues with and then navigate the different tabs to narrow down the problem. Yesterday, someone noticed the Red Dead Redemption 2's support page suddenly featured a new tab related to online migration, and they shared their discovery in the Red Dead Redemption subreddit. This is obviously in reference to the Red Dead Online multiplayer mode, except the game has never allowed you to migrate your character and progress from one platform to another before. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. The website has since been updated to remove any mention of online migration, but the fact it was there at all suggests Rockstar intends to incorporate it in the near future. Considering Red Dead Redemption 2 is nearly seven years old, it'd be a bit random to now introduce online migration between the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC versions. It's more likely this is further evidence of the game receiving a current gen patch for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, and possibly a port to the Nintendo Switch 2. As for GTA 4, a similar situation has occurred there, where its support page now lists the PlayStation 4 among the game's support platforms. Unlike the Red Dead Redemption 2 example, this tab hasn't been removed, at least at time of writing. For the record, GTA 4 isn't playable on PlayStation 4 in any shape or form. The game only ever launched for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, and is currently only available through Steam as well as the Xbox Series X'sbackwards compatibility feature. The PlayStation 4, however, isn't backwards compatible with PlayStation 3 games and GTA 4 isn't included in the retro games catalogue for PlayStation Plus. As such, this lends credence to the idea that GTA 4 is getting a PlayStation 4 re-release soon and somebody at Rockstar has jumped the gun by updating the game's support page. More Trending It's worth noting that Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive doesn't have any new games scheduled for the final quarter of 2025. Mafia: The Old Country is coming out on August 8, with NBA 2K26 and Borderlands 4 launching in September. We can't imagine the company would be fine having no further releases, especially around Christmas time, so perhaps Take-Two will pad out the rest of 2025 with these Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA 4 upgrades/ports. Rockstar is also financing remakes of the first two Max Payne games, which are in the works at Alan Wake 2 developer Remedy, but the lack of any real info suggests they're unlikely to drop this year. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: New GTA 6 delay has been avoided according to Rockstar job listings MORE: Take-Two boss has zero interest in playing GTA 6: 'I'm not a gamer' MORE: GTA 6 is 30fps and 'too big' for Switch 2 claim tech experts