Good day, Avatars! NEWS ON THE HOUR is broadcast at the top of every hour, Tuesday - Sunday, 24 hours a day. The news we report is available for reading on our Discord server under Metaverse News...........

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Written by Alleine Dragonfyre | Reported by Asclepius | PC Games by Drizz Dragonfyre

Local News & Events

On October 28th, 7 pm NBT, in Duanor, the Guardians of the Silver Serpent Guild host the inaugural 'Get Your Barbarian On' Costume Party at GSS Great Hall. The party will be broadcast LIVE on Avatars Radio, and video simulcasting at twitch.tv/avatarsradiorocks with our own DJ Celith Wraine, spinning music for the dance floor. Plan your attire and join Guardians of the Silver Serpent for friends, conversation, music, dancing, and prizes.

Morkin invites all brave heroes of Novia to venture into The Haunted Well, located in Drachenfels, on Saturday, October 21st. The dungeon is fraught with formidable liches, requiring skill and valor to survive. Trophies await participants who bring books. Exploration is open until a day before the event. RSVP appreciated. For inquiries, contact Morkin in-game or leave a message in the thread on the official Shroud of the Avatar forums.

On Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 10 am to 1 pm Pacific Time, head to the Isle of Light and fast-travel to the Abandoned Mine Fight and Fish dungeon. Seek out Flair Minamoto for a themed uniform, mandatory for participation. Presentation of your outfit to Flair grants your fishing license. Join a party based on your uniform and navigate trolls to reach fishing spots. Prizes await, even a random booby prize. Tune into Flair's Shroud of the Avatar stream and join the game's official Discord server.

MORE: Visit the Shroud of the Avatar Player-Run Events official forum

Gear up for the weekly Lightbringer Isle Auction, which takes place every Wednesday. Determine your prices, starting bids, and reserves. Drop labeled items at the Auction House or mail them to Hemnu Lighbringer, along with bid details. Expect a diverse array of offerings for a rich experience. Remember, a 10% commission on the final sale price applies. Visit the Shroud of the Avatar official forums for info.

For more information about local events & happenings or to post your own, visit the official Shroud of the Avatar player events forums and the Avatars Radio Events channel in Discord.

Metaverse News

Michael Myers, Jack Skellington in Fortnitemares Halloween 2023

It's October, and you know what that means - Halloween's knocking on the door. Epic Games is celebrating Fortnitemares 2023, running until November 3. Brace yourselves for an eerie ensemble featuring Alan Wake, Michael Myers, and Jack Skellington. Arm yourselves with a Wood Stake Shotgun, Thorne's Vampiric Blade, and the explosive Pumpkin Launcher. Keep an eye out for candy with special effects. Quests abound, offering rewards like Back Blings and Gliders. The Horde Rush mode returns for spine-tingling challenges. Plus, a beta "Quick Weapon" action shakes up gameplay. Dive into Fortnitemares 2023 and join the chilling festivities!

Valve Adds Forced Two-Factor Authentication for Developers

Recently, multiple game developers' Steam accounts were breached, leading to the injection of malware into their games. Valve confirmed the incident and notified fewer than 100 affected users via email. To prevent future breaches, starting October 24, developers must undergo a two-factor authentication process using SMS verification for game updates. This measure aims to bolster security for Steam users and developers. Valve also noted a rise in sophisticated attacks on developer accounts. One affected game, NanoWar: Cells VS Virus, suffered a temporary compromise, as developer Benoît Freslon revealed he fell victim to malware.

Microsoft Adjusts Activision Blizzard Deal to Prevent EU Probe

Microsoft's impending acquisition of Activision Blizzard is on the horizon, aiming to close the deal on Friday, October 13. Despite the ominous date, it aligns with their extended deadline of October 18 to address regulatory concerns. Legal hurdles remain, with the Competition and Markets Authority granting preliminary approval after restructuring terms to allow Ubisoft to stream Activision Blizzard games in the UK. Microsoft and Activision Blizzard overcame the Federal Trade Commission's opposition in July, indicating a probable successful conclusion to a two-year saga. Leaked documents unveiled Microsoft's intentions to acquire companies like Sega and Bungie, suggesting further battles concerning monopolistic behavior.

Destiny 2 Apologizes to Mistakenly Banned Players Offering $45

Speaking of Bungie, the developer of Destiny 2, is compensating a select group of players with 5,000 Silver, the game's premium currency, worth $45USD after they were wrongly banned for alleged cheating. The studio acknowledged an error in its anti-cheat system during a recent ban wave, impacting a small number of players. Bungie didn't specify the exact cause or number affected but assured the issue had been rectified. Some players expressed frustration over transparency and the appeals process. This isn't the first time Bungie has made such an error, having previously admitted similar mistakes in 2017 and 2022.

Dead Island 2 Expansion 'Haus' Launches November 2

In Dead Island 2, set in a blood-soaked version of Los Angeles, a deadly virus transforms residents into ravenous zombies. With the city quarantined, immune survivors harness zombie powers. Players must uncover the outbreak's truth while discovering their own identity. The expansion, "Haus," launching on Nov. 2, delves into a techno-death cult's fight for survival in a billionaire's Malibu villa. Players combat the undead with new weapons and cards. This nightmarish location serves as both a sanctuary and a soul-harvesting machine. Eight new skill cards and unique slaying tools enhance gameplay. Explore iconic LA locations, engage in brutal melee combat, and choose from six customizable characters for an immersive RPG experience.

Trick or Terraria Spooktacular Halloween Contest 2023

Terraria's upcoming 1.4.5 update by Re-Logic brings fresh excitement to the beloved sandbox experience. The Halloween event is back, featuring a contest with categories for pumpkin carving, artwork, cosplay, in-game creations, and vanity sets, all with a Terraria twist. The competition is open to the entire community and runs until November 5th, offering prizes like $200 in Terraria merchandise, gaming platform funds, and unique forum titles for winners and runners-up. It's a creative celebration with no boundaries. Explore your artistic side in Terraria's spirited contest.

PC Game Releases for October 12, 2023

Astrosmash
Bingo Pets - Save the Pets
Echoes of Numa
Escape from Death
GeminiFlame : Alpha Dragon
Haunted House
Hero of Luxuria
Hidden Breaking Bed Top-Down 3D
Hotel: A Resort Simulator
I commissioned some cats 4
Kittengumi: The Sakabato's Thief
Nope Nope Nope Nope Nurses
OVER Devil Legend of the sacred stone
Polygon Arena
Rear Sekai (Japan release only)
RUNGORE
Saltsea Chronicles
SKULLFracture
Star Trek: Infinite
Stormworks – Space DLC
Subenishiki
the Dwarf
Totum
Tribe: Primitive Builder
Tropico 6 – Going Viral DLC
VRekken
Zombie Girl