Cyberpunk 2077 rules, Skatebird flutters into sight

Cyberpunk 2077 will feature Keanu Reeves as a character called Johnny Silverhand. — AFP Relaxnews

After a big showcase presentation at the 2019 Electronic Entertainment Expo, glossy Cyberpunk 2077 has installed itself as a number-one bestseller on Steam and its own publisher's GOG platform through advance sales; sweet Skatebird, which had no E3 stage or showfloor presence, nevertheless charms the Itch.io chart and blazed through its Kickstarter campaign.

A showcase demonstration during the Xbox briefing, enthusiastic endorsement from movie star Keanu Reeves, and an April 2020 release date marked the second consecutive visit of Cyberpunk 2077 to the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Also set for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles (if not their successors), the mature-themed action game's US$59.99 (RM250.68) edition became the Steam store's best seller by revenue for the week ending June 16.

In addition, it lodged itself atop the GOG chart, whose store is owned by Cyberpunk 2077 group CD Projekt.

There, it is available separately or as part of a CD Projekt RED Collection which includes the five games in The Witcher franchise.

Itch.io remains a popular venue for fans of free, sometimes experimental horror experiences but among its top 5 this week nestles the demo for sweet and earnest extreme sports title Skatebird.

The indie game launched a Kickstarter funding drive on June 11, in the midst of the Electronic Entertainment Expo rush – though without any presence at the show and in danger of being swamped by bigger stories.

Initial funding, however, was achieved within the project's first day; it's already soared past a stretch goal for unlockable side stories and a bonus Skate Heaven level, with an enhanced Super Create-A-Birb mode on the cards until July 10.

It's a game about short-tailed birds skating and occasionally flapping around tiny bird-sized parks.

Players can expect to perform skate tricks on and over bendy straws, staplers, pens, erasers and rolls of sticky tape, as well as the necessary complement of miniature slopes and quarter-pipes, all brought to life with a meticulous level of physics modeling.

A free demo available through Itch.io gives a taste of the cute concept.

Elsewhere, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, which contains Borderlands 2 and follow-up Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, made the Humble and Fanatical store top fives.

A deep discount, an Xbox briefing slot, and the announcement of a free Borderlands 2 prologue called Commander Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary anticipate September's Borderlands 3. – AFP Relaxnews