Evening Reading - January 19, 2024

Miracle of miracles, Shacknews, I'm actually on the ground for a full week. Good thing, because it's GDQ week. I'm watching today's runs while also bringing you a fresh round of news, memes, and entertainment. It's the Friday edition of Evening Reading!

In case you missed it at Shacknews:

• CCP Games releases EVE Online 2024 roadmap featuring two expansions
• The Finals Hotfix 1.5.1 patch notes target bugs and crashes
• GDC survey shows around 32% of devs' companies have no policy on generative AI
• Ebenezer and the Invisible World developer talks bringing vision to life
• Naruto statues, toys, and cat collectibles for 2024
• Palworld sells over 1 million copies less than a day after Steam Early Access launch
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's New Game+ is locked behind a $15 DLC
• For the King 2 developers on lessons learned, new systems & community engagement
• Shack Chat: What is your favorite Awesome Games Done Quick 2024 run so far?

And, because it's the weekend, go find yourself something to play!

• Weekend Console Download Deals for Jan. 19: Avatar's lowest price to date
• Weekend PC Download Deals for Jan. 19: Humble Winter Wonderland Sale

Around the Gaming Horn

Here's some rapid-fire news to wrap up your week.

Genshin Impact is gearing up for its 4.4 update.

The Ghostrunner 2 Dragon Pack DLC & Free Chinese VO Update launches February 8 on PS5, Xbox X|S, GOG, EPIC, & Steam.

Watch the announcement trailer now: https://t.co/zSEWQd6CVC

Dragon Pack is included in the Ghostrunner 2 Season Pass & Brutal Edition. #Ghostrunner2 pic.twitter.com/fDYb4AEyza

— Ghostrunner (@GhostrunnerGame) January 19, 2024

Ghostrunner 2's next DLC is on its way. The Dragon Pack launches on February 8. Plus, a free Chinese VO update will arrive on the same day.

Party Animals is continuing with some amazing collaborations. Here's a special crossover with Cult of the Lamb.

And Halo has laid out the upcoming roadmap for Halo Infinite, as well as the future of the Halo Championship Series.

And now... Other Stuff From The Internet!!!

Today in Bubbletron

Be sure to play Bubbletron today!

10 years since Sherman's March to Victory

Awful Announcing celebrates this auspicious anniversary. Michael Crabtree will never forget this moment, that's for sure.

Happy Week 2 of the NFL postseason!

Morning coffee with Remedy's Sam Lake

Having a coffee in the snow. pic.twitter.com/rL5pJqOwHn

— Sam Lake (@SamLakeRMD) January 19, 2024

Dude. Do they not have Doordash in Finland?

Happy Hour

WIZARD BEER pic.twitter.com/rjxRQrKCgg

— Worthi 🦇 (@Worthikids) January 19, 2024

It's Friday! Cheers!

Nothing but the Hotfix A look back at Awesome Games Done Quick 2024

Scroll up and hit the link to this week's Shack Chat if you want our favorite Awesome Games Done Quick 2024 runs of this week.

We also have a few other runs we'd like to highlight!

And that's just a small sample of what's been an incredible week.

If it's a non-marathon week and you want more Games Done Quick goodness, GDQ's Hotfix shows air every week and you can catch them all at the Games Done Quick Twitch account.

Under the learning tree with Masahiro Sakurai

Masahiro Sakurai started a YouTube channel! Let's learn from his decades of experience together by looking at one of his latest videos. This week, Sakurai reflects on how things used to be done, specifically in regards to pixel art.

This week in Shaqnews (and Chucknews)

Chuck is presented with some top tier (?) sodas. Can he taste the difference?

IT'S STILL REAL TO ME, DAMMIT!

TNA Wrestling is back! To help celebrate the return of the TNA name, they uploaded the full Impact main event featuring Josh Alexander and current NJPW/future AEW superstar Will Ospreay.

Tonight in video game music

We're keeping the love for Awesome Games Done Quick coming. We revisit AGDQ for this special drum cover of the Super Mario 64 end credits theme from CZR, fresh off his 16-Star Drum% run.

That's it for the third Friday Evening Readings for January! Be sure to keep the spirit of the classic Evening Reading alive by jumping into the comments about whatever you see here or whatever randomness you'd like to discuss. Join the conversation and dive into the Shacknews Chatty comment thread below. If you want to go new school and find different ways to leave your feedback or talk about whatever, join us in the Official Shacknews Community Discord. I'll see you all next week!

Ozzie Mejia

Senior Editor

Ozzie has been playing video games since picking up his first NES controller at age 5. He has been into games ever since, only briefly stepping away during his college years. But he was pulled back in after spending years in QA circles for both THQ and Activision, mostly spending time helping to push forward the Guitar Hero series at its peak. Ozzie has become a big fan of platformers, puzzle games, shooters, and RPGs, just to name a few genres, but he’s also a huge sucker for anything with a good, compelling narrative behind it. Because what are video games if you can't enjoy a good story with a fresh Cherry Coke?