Epic Games Store’s Freebie Bonanza Continues

On November 17, 2021, Epic Games continued its weekly tradition of offering two free games on its digital distribution platform, the Epic Games Store (EGS). This week's giveaways included "Sea of Thieves," a cooperative pirate adventure game by Rare and "Darksiders Genesis," an action-packed hack-and-slash game developed by Gunfire Games. These titles were available for users to claim until November 24, 2021. The freebies are part of Epic's ongoing efforts to attract more gamers to its platform and compete with the likes of Steam.

Ubisoft Announces New Titles at Forward Look Event

In a major announcement, Ubisoft held their annual Forward Look event where they unveiled several new titles set for release in 2022. The lineup included: - "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction," an action-packed cooperative shooter that takes place within the world of Tom Clancy. - A new entry in the "Far Cry" series, which is currently untitled but expected to continue its tradition of open-world sandbox gameplay and vibrant settings. - An expanded version of "Assassin's Creed Valhalla," titled "Dawn of Ragnarok," set for release on February 18, 2022. This expansion focuses on Norse mythology and promises new storylines and gameplay elements.

These announcements were met with excitement from fans of the studio’s franchises, particularly "Far Cry" and "Assassin's Creed."

Xbox Series S Restock at Major Retailers

On November 17, Microsoft announced restocks for its lower-end console, the Xbox Series S, at major retailers like Best Buy and GameStop. The move came as a welcome relief to many gamers who had been unable to get their hands on the more affordable next-gen console due to ongoing supply chain issues. Microsoft emphasized that while availability would still be limited, they were working hard to ensure more units reach the market in the coming weeks.

Outlook

The end of November traditionally marks a period where developers and publishers gear up for holiday sales and releases. The announcements from Ubisoft and the restocking news from Xbox indicate an ongoing effort by major players to keep gamers engaged ahead of the holiday season, which typically sees increased spending on gaming hardware and software. As we move towards December, it will be interesting to see how these companies continue to release content and manage supply chains under challenging global conditions.