## Overkill Digest
Good morning, hi, hello, welcome to *overkill digest*.
Yesterday, I played way too much *anno 117*. I got a review key from Ubisoft and sat down to play through the campaign for what must have been twelve-odd hours. The game even told me several times I should take a break, but ain’t nobody got time for that.
I quite enjoyed the campaign. The *Anno* gameplay loop by now is well known as this is the eighth entry in the series (start your city, colonize more islands, trade with others, create an army, go to war). And the setting of the Roman Empire is one that a history buff like me has to like. (Though there is way too much AI art in the game: the loading screens look like bad AI-generated slop. If they are not, oops!)
But I have to say that the campaign ends quite abruptly. You basically run out of quests to do, but the game doesn’t tell you “good Job, you’re done”. It just lets you play. So I was waiting for anything to happen, thought I had to defeat all the raiders, so completely erased them from the map. Still nothing. So I continued leveling my city, maybe I had to unlock some building. Nada. And then I ended up declaring war on everyone, destroyed their fleets completely, and then found on Reddit that I’ve ended the campaign like 3 hours ago… I wonder if *Act 3* will be part of a DLC/update.Anyway, so far I’m enjoying the game, and I’ll go right back in after this newsletter. So let’s get to it!
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### 🚀 Big Moves
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnKy4UEdiyo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnKy4UEdiyo)
In last week’s newsletter,I shared that I believe the Steam machine will start at $599. I still think that is a fair price, especially taking into account the performance that this device can reach. (ThePhawx did a video on just that this week.)
Well, maybe my price was too low, if linus from LTT is right. In the latest WAN show (linked with timestamp above) he had this to say:
> When I said I’m disappointed it isn’t going to follow a console pricing model, where it’s subsidized by the fact that manufacturer is going to be taking 30% of every game sold on it over the lifespan of this thing, because I feel that would be a more meaningful product, they asked what I meant by console price and I said $500. Nobody said anything, but the energy in the room wasn’t great.
Now, $500 is lower than my $599. But going by that comment, it suddenly feels like the Steam Machine might be priced even higher than that. Since that statement went live, I saw people float prices around $800.
This is, I believe, way too high. For most people, the steam Machine is a console-like device. And while it is basically a linux box, and probably its USP is access to your Steam Library, it remains a console-like device. And for $649, you can get a PS5 Pro, which outperforms this thing.
At this point, with rising component prices (thanks, AI bubble), tariffs, and whatever else might happen between now and Q1 2026, I wonder if Valve has even decided a price yet.Maybe they haven’t, are looking at the market, and player reactions and will then price accordingly? But maybe that is also just my hopium speaking.
But if the Steam Machine starts at over $699, I am probably not getting one. you heard it here frist. (After all, I know of another thing being in progress, that will just ou
Gaming News Roundup: AYANEO Pocket Vert, Xbox Updates, and Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Remake
Table of Contents
Here’s a quick rundown of recent happenings in the gaming world.
new Hardware: AYANEO Pocket Vert
AYANEO recently unveiled the Pocket Vert. Initial impressions are mixed, with some finding the design a departure – and potentially a downgrade – from the Pocket DMG. Critics note the design feels overly complex rather than practically useful. A notable addition is a touchpad-like surface located beneath the D-Pad and ABXY buttons, a feature that saw limited use in the DMG. https://overkill.wtf/2025/11/vert/
Xbox Partner Preview Highlights
The Xbox Partner Preview event recently concluded, showcasing a variety of upcoming titles. Standout announcements include:
* A unique blend of genres: A first-person, deck-building, roguelike dungeon crawler from the creators of Vampire Survivors.
* Unexpected Collaboration: A new Hitman 3 mission featuring Eminem.
* Diving Deeper: New downloadable content (DLC) for Dave The Diver.
Remake Alert: Assassin’s creed 4: Black Flag
Fans of the Assassin’s Creed series have reason to be excited.A remake of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag is slated for release in March 2026. Many consider Black Flag a high point in the franchise, praising its compelling protagonist, Edward Kenway, and its memorable sea shanties. https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/assassins-creed/black-flag
Though, given Ubisoft’s track record, concerns remain about potential pitfalls during development. The troubled history of Skull and bones – a game initially conceived as a spin-off focusing on the naval combat of Black flag but lacking the Assassin’s creed narrative – serves as a cautionary tale.