A new patch providing necessary framework for mods is on the way.

The hit indie game Stardew Valley is one that thrives with community mods. There are mods that add entire new areas to the game, mods that change the art style, mods that diversify the cast of romanceable characters, and more. The game’s simple style and mechanics really lend themselves to this kind of community customisation.

Coming soon, version 1.5.6 will add more modding support, thanks to modders PathosChild and SMAPI. The patch notes didn’t include too much detail on what 1.5.6 will have coming, but “some long requested ‘holy grail’ changes” are on tap. PathosChild has been given access to the Stardew Valley source code to provide the upcoming changes.

PathosChild has led previous updates, including the game’s transition from XNA to MonoGame.

The 1.5.5 update, which went live on Tuesday, brings some quality of life improvements. This includes a buy-back option in case you accidentally sell something unintentionally (so long as you buy it back in the same shopping session).

And FINALLY, you can scootch your pets out of the way if they’re getting in the way of your building endeavours. Just click on them to nudge them out of the way – much better than standing around waiting for them to move their butts.

The full patch notes detail a bunch of other fixes made to the game in 1.5.5. There is no news so far on when 1.5.6 will launch. It doesn’t sound like it should be too long, but version 1.5.5 did follow 1.5.4 by almost 10 months.

Fans of Stardew Valley should check out this indie gem, an LGBT love story in all its pixel glory.

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The post Stardew Valley ‘future-proofed’ with improved mod support first appeared on Get2Gaming.

Fans of Hard-Life 2 will be ecstatic with this piece of news…

Half-Life 2: Remastered Collection is currently in development from a team of mods and the original developer Valve has given the team their consent for the remaster.

If you aren’t aware, the first-person shooter was originally released in 2004 and received acclaim for its advanced physics, animation, sound, AI, graphics, and narrative, receiving 39 Game of the Year awards and is tied with the first Half-Life and Grand Theft Auto V on Metacritic for the best-reviewed PC game.

Half-Life 2: Remaster and Update

The mods, lead by lead developer Flip Victor, have been working on Half-Life 2: Remaster for some time, yet it is only recently that Valve has given them their blessing. The approval and support giving by Valve is a major win for the team as most publishers and developers usually keep a tight rein on their IP and it usually ends with lawsuits being filed and takedown requests of the mods.

The team behind Half-Life 2: Remaster were also behind Half-Life 2: Update, a massive mod that includes completely overhauled visual effects and bug fixes for the game and is completely free for anyone that owns a PC and a copy of Half-Life 2. They have stated Half-Life 2: Remaster will be the next version of Half-Life 2: Update, but it is unclear what that might entail. Nevertheless, it’s fair to say this remaster will truly be something to get the fans hyped again for a game that was released over 15 years ago.

According to @SteamDB, the team that brought us Half-Life 2: Update is working on a further update and remaster of HL2 & the Episodes, with Valve’s consent.

The Half-Life 2: Remastered Collection is coming soon to Steam.https://t.co/5YTjhpS2ud

— Tyler McVicker (@Tyler_McV) July 29, 2021

Valve released a VR first-person shooter game set in between Half-Life and Half-Life 2 last year, titled Half-Life: Alyx, which has received 2 million downloads on Steam by the end of last year. It was their first game in the franchise after 13 years, following from Half-Life 2: Episode Two.

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The post Half-Life 2: Remastered Collection In Development With Orginal Developers Approval first appeared on Get2Gaming.

Voice acting is an influential element of any video game experience. Whether the graphics are immaculate and the story-telling is entrancing, a game, specifically the characters, can still feel flat if the voice acting isn’t up to par. It requires years of practice and establishing one’s presence in the industry. Voice actors such as Troy Baker, Nolan North, Jennifer Hale, and Keith David all have successful careers in video game voice acting and can easily have influence over a person’s interest in purchasing a game. Yet the advancement of technology is changing voice acting as we know it, and it raises more concerns than anything else.

Earlier in April, developer Nicich340 released a mod for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine expansion pack titled “A Night to Remember” available on Nexus Mods, and it is certainly living up to that name. With nearly 13,000 downloads, the mod adds an entirely new adventure to the game, featuring old and new characters, new cutscenes, game assets, and voice acting.

Specifically, Geralt of Rivia’s lines were produced by an AI using CyberVoice, accurately reproducing the voice of Doug Cackle who plays him in The Witcher 3. The fact the AI’s lines are indistinguishable from the voice actor’s has proven to be a big worry amongst voice actors and fans themselves.

Voice actor Jay Britton, a British voice actor known for Divinity: Origin Sin II, expressed his concerns on Twitter at the time.

If this is true, this is just heartbreaking. Yes, AI might be able to replace things but should it? We literally get to decide.

Replacing actors with AI is not only a legal minefield but an utterly souless choice.

Why not remove all human creativity from games and use AI… https://t.co/aYLiBe9iqn

— Jay Britton (@JayBritton) April 12, 2021

Some replies shared Britton’s concerns while others said that such technology is inevitable. Natalie WInter, another British voice actor known for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, also believes it is likely to happen.

It is sad to think that if AI voices become good enough to be widely used, then those opportunities will decrease again.” Natalie Winter, Input Mag.

Yet is the replacement of voice actors with AI voices inevitable? It is said the greater the voice actor’s work, the easier it is to replicate that voice. Yet the voice actors with the most work are the ones that have accumulated a following that buys games specifically to support their work. So would fans let the replacement of their favourite voice actors slide? Or can we see technology taking over like many sci-fi worlds depict?

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The post The Witcher 3 Mod: Is This the Future of Voice Acting? first appeared on Get2Gaming.