Posts By Mat Growcott

The Activision-Microsoft merger has been accepted in the EU, and that means we’re in uncharted territory. It’ll be the first of many to approve the purchase – and nobody knows for certain what that means at this stage. The CMA – the UK’s market authority – recently blocked the deal. And there’s very little way to circumnavigate that. You can appeal, but that most likely means that it’ll just come back around to ...

The cost of living crisis is hitting hard and that means there is less money to spend on games. But you know what? eSports betting is still going strong. Yes, despite the Covid boom being well and truly over, it seems like the increased popularity of eSports is here to stay. What exactly does that mean? And is betting on eSports in 2023 still worth doing? Here’s a quick rundown of everything that you need to know about eSports betting…

One of the most important things we say time and time again about gambling is to know what you’re doing. Of course, that’s partly about setting limits to how much you spend, and not letting yourself become too obsessed. When gambling stops being fun, you should stop. But it’s not just about safety. Knowing what you’re doing is also about knowing the places you’re gambling, and where the best offers are. A few Google searches, or using a reliable gambling…

It’s a bit of a mystery, but interest in emulating the Nintendo Switch seems to have increased in recent days. I’m sure there’s a rational explanation. I mean, let’s just take a look at Nintendo-related things that have happened in the last week. Could it have something to do with the release of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom? Nah, couldn’t be. But whatever it is, it’s an interesting trend. One that Nintendo probably ...

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom comes out today, and I think it’s safe to say that it’s already probably going to be Game of the Year. I’m not basing that off any special knowledge. I’ve barely played the first, let alone the sequel. But sometimes a game causes such a stir, creates such a hype, that there’s no way it’s going any other direction. Last year it was Elden Ring. Nothing else was going to replace that…

Last week I asked where the hype for Redfall was. Then the reviews were released. It has not fared well, and that’s not good news for Xbox. The Metacritic score currently sits at 64 on Xbox Series X and 62 on PC. Commentary on the game is, to say the least, mixed. Multiple outlets are talking about failed experiments, trying to venture into the wrong genre and Arkane ignoring their own design principles to bring in a multiplayer element. There…

Is the merger between Microsoft and Activision dead? The short answer might just be yes, but things are never that simple. There’s always been one major threat to this purchase, which has been going on nearly 18 months now. That was the UK’s CMA finding a reason to block it. Well, the CMA found a reason to block it. The CMA cannot really be challenged. At best Microsoft might get them to look at it again, and the same conclusion…

It seems we’ve been really quiet about the upcoming Redfall here at GamesReviews and we’re not alone. It doesn’t seem like it’s getting the hype of other big games. There’s a lot of reasons that might be. Starfield was the next big Bethesda release, until it wasn’t. And now Redfall seems to be being compared to that, in terms of its “place” within the Xbox release schedule. That’s a lot of pressure to put ...

It’s not always about the amount of risk and biggest reward. Sometimes you just want to enjoy it without the massive cost. Thankfully, there are countless low minimum deposit games to enjoy throughout the internet. Unlike traditional casinos where you’re locked into the costs of wherever you happen to be, playing online allows you to pick and choose your gambling destinations. That means you can always get the right price – no matter what you ...

Microsoft are having a busy year so far, but the ghost of all those long-announced but distant games still massively linger. Perfect Dark, State of Decay 3 and, yes, Fable. Well, good news for those who are waiting for information on the latter. Fable has hit its ‘flighting’ phase. Considering rumours not that long ago that there was barely any game, the fact that tests are going ahead is good news. A LinkedIn update revealed the news, as shared ...