We at Universally Speaking love our role in helping to make games, but we also love talking about them too.
Join us for a weekly series looking at the topical goings-on in the gaming industry – from the industry’s trusted QA, Localization and Audio partner.
We’ve got you covered!
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
It’s Women’s History Month and we’ve just celebrated International Women’s Day.
This is an important time to celebrate women across the world, and an opportunity to listen to, propel, and protect marginalised voices, and pledge to do better.
We thought it a good time to look back at some of the games we’ve worked on which highlight powerful stories with women – both as the protagonist and as the leading creative talent.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
They say that the best stories in games are often the ones that the player tells themselves as part of the emergent experience of gameplay – the wild, unpredictable expanse of storytelling that is found in the mechanics.
I’ve been playing a lot of Death Stranding on PC recently, and that absolutely holds true here. The moment-to-moment gameplay of Kojima Productions’ debut title is unlike anything I’ve played in recent memory.
And it’s all because of how into the walking I am…
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
Lately, I’ve found myself really gravitating towards shorter games. Don’t get me wrong, I’m already eyeing up my next Dragon Age series replay, and I have a great fondness for all the games that want to take up dozens of hours of my time. But something I realised that’s been building up is that I’ve not been finishing any games…
I’ve since turned to playing and replaying a lot of games which offer 2-6 hour experiences. Sometimes, I really crave those more intimate, concise, memorable experiences with a defined beginning, middle, and end.
And that’s an itch INMOST absolutely manages to scratch!
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
Death Stranding is a genre-defying experience that boasts beautiful visuals, a stunning musical score, and all the hallmarks of what connotations arise from the name Hideo Kojima.
Following its original November 2019 release on PlayStation 4, Death Stranding has finally released on PC!
Naturally, we turned to Steam to see what people are thinking of Kojima Productions’s first game.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
Last month, thousands gathered in the Tower to watch the sun-killing Almighty vessel get blown up in Destiny 2.
Last week, several Christopher Nolan films (Inception, The Dark Knight, and The Prestige) were streamed live as part of a movie night… in Fortnite.
The meta-verse of gaming is evolving, with it comes new opportunities for storytelling and social spaces. And so we are moved to ask: are ‘live events’ in games the future?
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
Last week, Sony revealed the PlayStation 5 to the world along with a number of titles that we can look forward to over the next two years.
From old-school classics to brand new IPs, this generational handover is looking like the best one yet!
Here are some of our favourite picks of what’s to come…
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
Halo 2 Anniversary has brought its complete suite of features (from its fan-favourite campaign to its revolutionary multiplayer) to The Master Chief Collection on PC.
This seemed like an opportune time to remember one of the most fun things to do in the game – breaking out of the level boundaries.
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BY ALEX WAKEFORD
May the fourth be with you!
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the Star Wars: Battlefront games are where you’ll find some of the all-time best Star Wars action the franchise has to offer.
Sixteen years later, that still holds true…
This week, we’re looking at the latest news for the Battlefront series – from its first instalment to its latest – to see how these games are still living their best lives.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
You may not be able to leave your house, but you can still visit over 18 quintillion planets in Hello Games’s No Man’s Sky…
In an infinite universe where you can pursue a thirty-hour story, explore alien worlds, build bases, go bounty hunting, play with your friends, and so on – my interstellar odyssey is all about taking pictures.
BY TARA NAZ
This game honestly couldn’t have come out at a better time of year for the majority of those who are off work/school due to COVID-19.
When it feels like the world is ending, having Tom Nook pester us for bells is almost a sweet serenade.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is out and I’ve been playing it non-stop!
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
The international impact of COVID-19 cannot be understated. Industry events have been cancelled and increasing numbers of countries are enforcing social distancing, isolation, and quarantine measures to ensure the safety of all.
With more time spent indoors, it turns out that we’ve all got a lot more time to actually play games now.
Here are five titles that we recommend clearing from your backlog – it’s your civic duty!
BY TARA NAZ
Meet the incredible women who work at Universally Speaking!
(Well most of those who made it for the photo…)
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
“I’ll relinquish one bullet – where do you want it?”
Former Mass Effect cinematic designer John Ebenger recently revealed that approximately 92% of players chose the Paragon path in Bioware’s epic sci-fi series, despite the amount of work that went into the Renegade content.
While the vast majority of us chose to be Space Jesus throughout our cosmic odyssey aboard the Normandy, there are just some moments where you can’t help but pull the Renegade trigger…
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
What do you think of when asked about your favourite part of a game?
Is it the depth and emotion of the story? The slick and responsive combat? Exploring a world, playing with friends, earning new gear…?
I jumped into Sea of Thieves recently and discovered my own answer to that question.
It’s the playable instruments!
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
After seven years, Cardboard Computer have concluded their journey with the fifth and final act of Kentucky Route Zero.
This final instalment brings us multiplayer… sort of. It’s Kentucky Route Zero’s own very on-brand interpretation of the feature – nostalgic, reminding us all of how we used to build our own communities through the games we loved in a time before online play.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is going on nine years of age, and yet people are still finding compelling new questions to ask of it.
This week, we discover which city in Skyrim can fight the most bears!
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
Like all the rest of you, I spent much of my time over the holidays watching The Witcher.
I have since arrived at the conclusion that, after almost five years, it is finally time for me to finish The Witcher 3 and talk about how – through its incredible transmedia success – this series is living its best life.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
A belated happy new year to you all from us at Universally Speaking!
To kick off the decade, we’re looking at 20 games we can’t wait to play in 2020.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
As 2019 comes to a close, we at Universally Speaking wanted to sign off by looking back at our top five most memorable moments and experiences in gaming this year.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
As 2019 comes to a close, we at Universally Speaking wanted to sign off by looking back at ten of the most memorable moments and experiences in gaming this year.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….
It is a dark time for the JEDI ORDER.
Years after the execution of ORDER 66, CAL KESTIS, an abandoned PADAWAN must complete his training, develop new and powerful Force abilities, and master the art of the LIGHTSABER – all while staying one step ahead of the evil GALACTIC EMPIRE.
This week, we look at Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and how the ongoing discourse about ‘Soulsbourne’ games has influenced its approach to difficulty and accessibility to help everybody learn the ways of the Force.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
“I created Fractured Minds to help those who suffer from anxiety and other mental health issues feel they’re not alone.”
These are the words of Emily Mitchell, who, at 17 years of age, found solace from anxiety in game development.
This week, Universally Speaking looks at how BAFTA award-winning puzzle game Fractured Minds is such a unique vehicle for promoting awareness of (and empathy for) mental health issues.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
Obsidian’s latest RPG released just a few short weeks ago, but it’s already made a cosmic impact in the industry – exceeding the expectations of publishers Private Division and Take-Two critically and commercially.
This week, Universally Speaking looks at how The Outer Worlds revolutionises romance in mainstream gaming through its sensitive and authentic handling of representation.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
Of the many great innovations in video games over the years, one of the best has undeniably been the boom in the number of games featuring photo mode.
This week, we look at some of the history of this increasingly popular feature and why it’s one of the best things to happen to the gaming industry.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
Mental Health Day is an opportunity to highlight the education and awareness of something that remains greatly stigmatised, and the recently launched game-centric charity Safe In Our World seeks to remedy that.
This week, we look at three games which provide positive and emotionally profound narratives about mental illness.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
The fourth instalment of Frozenbyte and Modus Games’s 2.5D puzzle-platforming Trine series has released to great fanfare and critical acclaim!
This week, Universally Speaking looks at the charm of the series that has endured for over a decade and what makes Trine 4 stand out among its peers in the genre.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
The topic of accessibility in games (and in technology in general) has been more widely discussed than ever this year.
With SpecialEffect’s ‘One Special Day’ charity event happening this week, Universally Speaking looks at how Gears 5‘s vast suite of accessibility options and LGBTQ+ inclusive banners are leading the industry forward.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
Fair warning. This is going to be longer than usual. Can’t be helped.
This week, Universally Speaking takes a deep dive into how the opening of Remedy’s recently released Control instantly captivates the player with its mind-bending mystery.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
Every year brings with it a series of new blockbuster video game titles, and the next best thing to playing them when they release is waiting for their trailers to drop at a big industry event.
This week, Universally Speaking examines the place of trailers in the gaming industry, their artistry, and looks back at some of our all-time favourites.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
This week, GamesIndustry.biz announced that they will be hosting a panel at EGX 2019, alongside developers from Mediatonic (currently working on Fall Guys, a battle royale where you don’t kill anyone), about the rise of non-violent video games.
Today, Universally Speaking looks at the value of non-violent games and features, and recommends some of our favourites.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
Gamescom has come-and-gone for another year, showing off a suite of incredible games both imminent and tantalisingly out-of-reach.
While attending the show, we at Universally Speaking had the chance to get hands-on experience with a number of titles.
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
Gamescom is the biggest annual trade event in the world for the gaming industry, and with Geoff Keighley’s recently announced ‘Opening Night Live’ pre-show it looks like this year will be bigger than ever.
Universally Speaking has all the details you need to know about this event, now less than a week away!
BY ALEX WAKEFORD
Last week, 434 Kirkland Way – former home of the storied Halo franchise, where it lived for much of its first decade – was demolished.
Universally Speaking pays tribute to this historic hub of creative talent in Kirkland.
By Alex Wakeford
In space, no one can hear you starve to death (because you ran out of food after your last jump and the derelict vessels before you offer only fuel to keep your ship going – you hope your imminent successor will fare better)…
This week, Universally Speaking looks at Void Bastards and why it’s widely considered to be one of the best games of 2019 thus far.
By Alex Wakeford
The Coalition’s next entry in the storied Gears of War franchise looks to be very different to its predecessors in many ways; the fact that it won’t feature any smoking or tobacco use, however, is not one of them.
This week, Universally Speaking looks at the recent controversy over this move to maintain the course that Gears has held since its inception.
By Alex Wakeford
In the absence of backwards compatibility during the early years of this console generation, there has been something of a gold rush for remasters of beloved classics.
This week, Universally Speaking considers what the next generation holds for the future of remasters.
By Alex Wakeford
Or, ‘Why I Haven’t Been Able To Stop Thinking About GRIS For The Last 7 Months…’
This week, Universally Speaking looks at a masterpiece from Nomada Studio and Devolver Digital.
By Alex Wakeford
Telltale Games recently had their storied catalogue of games taken down from GOG.
This week, Universally Speaking looks at the importance and difficulties of archiving video games as the digital age moves forward.
By Alex Wakeford
Universally Speaking emerges from the E3 buzz to celebrate Pride Month!
Today, we look back at three landmark moments for the representation of LGBTQ+ characters in gaming.
By Alex Wakeford
Universally Speaking’s in-house game experts debut the blog with this week’s hot topic: the ‘soft reboot.’ What does it mean and what are the benefits it can have for a franchise?
Today, we look at the future of two franchise titans in the context of the modern era – Activision’s Call of Duty and 343 Industries’ Halo.
