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GZ Chop Shop Gaming Podcast Celebrates Seven Years
Gaming News For The Week
Greg Stokes
08 Jul • Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes
The GZ Chop Shop turns seven this year. Hard to believe it’s already been seven years since the GZ Chop Shop Gaming Podcast began, and we've come a long way thanks to all of you who have tuned in over the years. So to celebrate we have launched our fan appreciation GIVEAWAY this month. So be sure to check the newsletter for updates and when we select our lucky winner.
Table of Contents
GZ CHOP SHOP PODCAST
Latest episode - Do You Own Your Digital Games?
👇️ Listen Now: - Revisit the episode where we discussed the fine print of digital game sales and how companies like EA and Ubisoft say you don’t own your games,and the benefits of physical media.
GAMING NEWS
System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Edition Remaster Out Now
Nightdive Studios — renowned video game remaster developer and subsidiary of Atari® — invites players worldwide to experience one of the game industry’s most acclaimed and influential titles, rebuilt for modern platforms. System Shock® 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster, a modernization of the classic 1999 sci-fi horror action role-playing game, is available now on Windows PC and soon for the first time on consoles.
The original System Shock 2 revolutionized storytelling, atmosphere, and gameplay in the medium, inspiring a generation of titles to follow. It completely reshaped the way gaming audiences viewed the potential for storytelling in first-person games and went on to win over a dozen awards and “Game of the Year” recognitions. Nightdive Studios has rebuilt the game in its proprietary KEX Engine, offering players the definitive System Shock 2 experience with improved visuals and performance, enhanced gameplay, cross-play co-op multiplayer, mod support, and more. Every aspect of the game has been refined to provide the best possible experience for new fans as well as veterans.
“System Shock 2 is the game that started it all for Nightdive Studios — it was the catalyst for everything we’ve built since,” said Nightdive Studios head, Stephen Kick. “After years of development, finally launching System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is a dream realized. This isn’t just a remaster; it’s a love letter to one of the most important immersive sims ever made, and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with a new generation of players, not just on PC but also on consoles.”
Set 42 years after the events of the first System Shock, antagonist SHODAN and her army of merciless mutants return to infest the starship Von Braun. Players embody a soldier who awakens from cryo-sleep with cybernetic implants grafted to his flesh. As he sets out to unravel the horrifying mystery of the derelict starship, he’ll need to hone his upgradable skills and utilize powerful weapons and paranormal psionic abilities to survive SHODAN’s monstrous creations — and endure her narcissistic god complex.
System Shock® 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster Key Features:
High-Definition Horrors: Completely remastered visuals including cutscenes, characters, and weapons models, with up to 4K resolution at 144 FPS on PC and up to 120 FPS on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S
Make Your Death Comfortable: Includes settings for an adjustable FOV, post-processing effects, and ultra-widescreen support
Armed Forces: Choose from an O.S.A., Marine, or Navy background to experiment with different playstyles
Misery Loves Company: Drag your friends into the hell that is the Von Braun starship in cross-play co-op multiplayer with support for up to 4 players
Interface This: Play from the comfort of your couch with gamepad support, then celebrate with an ice-cold medical stim when you unlock 50 new Trophies/Achievements
If You Want Something Done Right: Full mod support on PC and the ability to implement community-made missions at launch
System Shock® 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is available now digitally for $29.99 on Windows PC via Steam (and is Steam Deck Verified), GOG, the Humble Bundle Store, and the Epic Games Store. It will release for PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch within the next two weeks, with a firm date to be announced in the coming days.
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Jack Box Party Pack Is Back!
Legends of Trivia is a co-op twist on classic trivia, where players work together to conquer challenges and defeat devious monsters with the power of knowledge. Don’t know the answer? No problem; your teammates just might have your back.
Set in a fantasy world filled with magic, mayhem, and the occasional fart joke, Legends of Trivia combines the fun of knowledge games with the teamwork of an RPG. Pick your character, explore enchanted environments, unlock abilities, and collect items such as potions to help your crew survive trivia battles against mystical monsters.
One of the game’s core innovations? Breaking apart the trivia process. Even if you know the answer, you’ll have to rely on your teammates to submit it. Picture yourself yelling “Answer HORSESHOE CRAB!” to a friend with selective hearing… yeah, suddenly your biggest challenge isn’t the trivia, it’s your teammates.
“I’m excited for players to experience the blend of knowledge and teamwork while exploring the rich environments we’ve built,” said Game Director Warren Arnold. “The art and music in Legends of Trivia have really created a rich world of magic and monsters that effortlessly blends adventure games with team trivia.”
Launching in fall 2025, The Jackbox Party Pack 11 will be available for £24.99 on Steam, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Epic, Apple TV and iPad, the Mac App Store, and Amazon Fire TV. It will also be available in a Jackbox Games channel subscription on Amazon Luna.
Star Citizen’s Foundation Festival Has Begun
Star Citizen’s annual Foundation Festival returns from July 2 to 14, celebrating the Star Citizen community and welcoming new pilots to the ‘verse. This year’s event also features a Free Fly period, giving all players free access to the game and the chance to fly eight distinct ships and vehicles - a perfect introduction to Star Citizen’s rich and varied universe.
Hot on the heels of the Alpha 4.2: Storm Breaker release, which introduced new missions and the towering irradiated Apex Valakkar, a colossal worm-like creature from the depths below, the Foundation Festival arrives at the perfect time to prepare new players for the adventure ahead.
To get started, newcomers can check the New Player Essentials, packed with helpful tips, guides, and must-know information to take their first confident steps in the ‘verse. There are also in-game tutorials, beginner-friendly articles and videos on the Welcome Hub, and the Guide System further connects beginners with veteran players eager to lend a hand and share their knowledge.
Launching alongside the festival is the all-new Star Citizen Referral Program, a fully revamped system that makes it easier and more rewarding than ever to join the community. Featuring a fresh interface, better tracking tools, and seriously legendary rewards, the program now also gives 50,000 aUEC to every new player who joins using a referral code: an immediate kickstart to their journey.
To help equip new players for their adventures, three starter bundles are available at a discounted price through July 16. Each pack includes a game download, starter ship, special edition ship paint, and more. Pilots can choose from the versatile Drake Cutter, the cargo-ready Intrepid from Crusader Industries, or the Nomad, a sleek and flexible freighter from Consolidated Outland. With a ‘verse filled with veterans eager to welcome new players aboard, a wealth of diverse content to explore, and free access throughout the Foundation Festival, there’s never been a better time to join Star Citizen.
HR is lonely. It doesn’t have to be.
The best HR advice comes from those in the trenches. That’s what this is: real-world HR insights delivered in a newsletter from Hebba Youssef, a Chief People Officer who’s been there. Practical, real strategies with a dash of humor. Because HR shouldn’t be thankless—and you shouldn’t be alone in it.
Free-to-Play Third Person Mech Game Mecha Break Has Officially Launched
Mecha BREAK is a free-to-play, third-person mech shooter set in the near-future. Launching on July 1st, 2025 (PDT), the game will initially be available on PC, Steam, Steam Deck, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and Google Play Games on PC, with plans to expand to additional platforms on PC and consoles in the future.
Step into the boots of an unstoppable ace pilot and team up with friends to storm global hot zones, drive out enemy forces, and save the world. Dive into three distinct modes—Ace Arena (3v3), Operation VERGE (6v6), and Operation STORM (PvPvE Mashmak)—for high-speed combat where beams and bullets blaze across the battlefield. As a live-service game, Mecha BREAK will feature seasonal updates every three months, delivering fresh content and challenges.
Unique Mech Designs
Choose from 15 distinct mechs (Strikers)—each with unique roles, tactical advantages, and strengths. Mechs are categorized by class—Assault, Brawler, Sniper, Defender, and Support— and armor type—Light, Medium, Heavy, and Ultra-Heavy. Every Striker features signature moves and specialized tactics, allowing players to support their teammates and secure victory in team battles.
15 Strikers at launch
Mecha BREAK delivers visually stunning 3D battlefields, seamlessly blending air and ground combat. Each Striker has varying degrees of flight capability, providing players with fluid aerial battles. Soar over epic sci-fi landscapes, weave through barrages of bullets, execute nimble flight maneuvers, and unleash firepower to demolish foes.
Players can unlock 12 unique Strikers at launch, each designed for specific combat roles. Additionally, three new Strikers will be introduced each season. Players can try out new mechs during a seven-day free trial—or unlock them permanently using Mission Tokens earned in matches and missions.
Three Intense Game Modes
Operation VERGE
Dive into Mecha BREAK's core 6v6 gameplay, which features a variety of maps and tactical objectives. Engage in familiar gameplay mechanics like capturing zones, escorting payloads, seizing key points, elimination rounds, and beacon transport. Teams must strategize around these objectives to secure victory.
Ace Arena
This mode provides a fast-paced stage perfect for showcasing piloting finesse. Put your piloting skills to the test as you jump into thrilling melee combat and intense firepower exchanges. Ace pilots can even single-handedly swing the tides of battle.
Operation STORM
Operation STORM releases with the expansive Mashmak map of a battlefield measuring 256 square kilometers - one of the largest battlefields in gaming history. In this PvPvE extraction mode, players can pilot their Strikers to explore the massive map freely, battling NPCs, encountering bosses, collecting loot drops, and competing against other players to survive and escape the map successfully.
In celebration of the global launch, Mecha BREAK is thrilled to announce its upcoming Season 0 Twitch Drops event. Throughout the season, players can earn rewards by watching select channel broadcasting Mecha BREAK on Twitch.
Players can also earn rewards like accessories, Insignia, and Patterns by linking their accounts, inviting friends to squad up, creating characters, or joining Weekly Mission: Producer's Duel Invitation-Christian's Challenge.
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