The RPG The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition was recently published on the PS5, but even in its specialized performance mode, it performs poorly. As a result, several players have already requested refunds in threads on the game’s subreddit.

Even though problems probably aren’t to blame for the game’s performance issues, customer service has told affected players (who appear to all be PS5 users) to report bugs to the publisher, Private Division, which is having trouble.

The parent company of Private Division, Take-Two Interactive, announced layoffs on Monday, citing the need for “another long period of success” as the reason. The Twitter account for The Outer Worlds sent players looking for information to the troubled publisher, Obsidian Entertainment, which is now owned by Microsoft.

We're sorry to hear that The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition is having performance issues. We recommend submitting a bug report to Private Division. https://t.co/J4NhnR4iac

Thanks, and sorry for the frustration that this issue has caused!

— The Outer Worlds (@OuterWorlds) March 8, 2023

It is unknown if Sony or Private Division will offer refunds. It’s true that it’s not the complete disaster that Cyberpunk 2077 was at first, but we’ll monitor the situation as it changes. The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition on the PS5 bothered you?

It’s time to talk about everyone’s favorite ongoing story in games: the war of words between Microsoft and Sony over Microsoft’s plan to buy publisher Activision Blizzard. In the latest turn of events, Sony has said that it is worried that, if the acquisition goes through, Microsoft could break future Call of Duty games for PlayStation, either on purpose or by accident. This could make players lose faith in the PlayStation as a place to play Call of Duty.

Eurogamer said that in a new document, Sony listed several ways it thinks Microsoft could hurt Call of Duty or “harm PlayStation’s competitiveness.” These ideas came from the Competition and Markets Authority in the UK.

Sony says that Microsoft’s options include raising the price of Call of Duty on PlayStation, lowering its quality and performance (including by ignoring DualSense-specific features), limiting or not prioritizing investment in multiplayer on PS5 or PS4, or just making the game a Game Pass exclusive.

But Sony’s accusations about technical performance parity are the worst. They say that, “For example, Microsoft could make a PlayStation version of Call of Duty where bugs and errors only show up on the last level or after later updates. Even if these problems could be found quickly, it’s likely that any fix would come too late. By then, gamers would have lost faith in the PlayStation as a place to play Call of Duty.”

Sony goes on to say that any kind of “behavioral commitment” from Microsoft “would be hard,” and it also says that Microsoft “has moved slowly, only gotten involved when they thought the regulatory outlook was getting worse, and preferred to negotiate in the media over working with SIE.”

In a statement given to Eurogamer, Microsoft answered Sony’s claims: “Since the CMA released its provisional findings, we have offered solutions that address its concerns and make the deal better for UK players and game developers. These include a promise that access to Call of Duty will be the same on both Xbox and PlayStation and a promise that Call of Duty will be available to at least 150 million more players on other consoles and cloud streaming platforms once the deal is done. Now it’s up to the CMA to decide if it will block this deal to protect Sony, which is the market leader, or if it will look for ways to get more games to more players.”

How do you feel about Sony’s fears? Would you believe that the PlayStation version of Call of Duty would be just as good as the Xbox version if Microsoft paid for it?

In what is becoming an industry standard, gamers who buy the Deluxe or Collector’s Editions of just-announced-for-PS5 CRPG Baldur’s Gate 3 will get access to the game three days early, on August 28th instead of the 31st worldwide release.

Tempting. But what are a few more days for veterans of the ‘Gate, who have been waiting almost two decades for a sequel to Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, one of the finest RPGs ever?

So, it’s fortunate that the physical Collector’s Edition’s extras are so enticing. Those who pay £224.77, or $269.99 USD, will get early access and the following:

• A digital copy of Baldur’s Gate 3 Deluxe Edition
• Custom sticker sheet
• 25cm Mind Flayer vs. Drow battle diorama
• 160-page hardcover art book
• Cloth map of Faerûn
• Set of D&D-inspired origin character sheets
• Metal tadpole keyring
• Magic: The Gathering booster pack
• Custom-engraved metal d20, plus a
• Certificate of authenticity

The Deluxe Edition includes 72 hours early access, a playable Bard Song Pack, In-game Dice Skins, an Adventurer’s Puch with consumables, and downloads for the soundtrack, artbook, and character sheets.

Lastly, the Collector’s and Deluxe Editions will include a Divinity: Original Sin 2 content pack.

• Mask of the Shapeshifter: Allows you to change race and appearance on the fly, inspired by Fane
• Cape of the Red Prince: Cloak inspired by the Red Prince
• Lute of the Merryweather Bard: Playable instrument inspired by Lohse
• Needle of the Outlaw Rogue: Dagger inspired by Sebille
• Bicorne of the Sea Beast: Headgear inspired by Beast
• Paintings from Rivellon: Discover a new collection of paintings across the Forgotten Realms

We’re psyched to play Baldur’s Gate 3. Are you?