Steams Stance on Ads & Door Kickers 2 Big 1.0 Update

Hello, gamer! 👋,
Today’s newsletter is full of exciting updates! We’ve rounded up amazing gaming deals (your wallet might not agree, but it’s worth it). Plus, we’re breaking down the latest Steam ad policy changes so you’re up to date. And don’t miss updates on Door Kickers 2!

This weeks Thrifts

Here’s the best finds of the week:

🔥  41% off Door Kickers 2
💿 GAMIVO | 🔑 Steam | 💰 Now £12.40 with buyers protection

🔥  F1 Manager 2024 is FREE
💿 Epic Games | 🔑 Epic Games | 💰 FREE!

🔥  80% off It Takes Two
💿 Epic Games | 🔑 Epic Games | 💰 Now £6.99

🔥  75% off Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
💿 Epic Games | 🔑 Epic Games| 💰 Now £14.99

🔥  Risk of Rain of Rain Returns Now only £6.31
💿 GAMIVO | 🔑 Steam | 💰 Now £6.31 with buyers protection

🔥  71% off Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
💿 Green Man Gaming | 🔑 Ubisoft | 💰 Now £17.42

Everything else that went on this week 📈

1/ Steam’s Stance on In-Game Ads 🎮

Steam just dropped a new policy update on in-game ads, and (surprise!) it’s actually a win for gamers! While other platforms keep trying to shove unskippable ads down your throat (looking at 2K, NBA 2K21 👀), Steam says ads are fine only if they’re “appropriate within the context of the game.”

Translation? No dodgy pay-to-win tactics, no mandatory ad-watching, and no gating gameplay behind ads. Valve even nudges devs to adopt single-purchase or free-to-play models instead of relying on shady tactics. Here’s a quick lowdown on the changes:

• 🚫No ad-based business models 🚫: You can’t rely on ads as the core of your game, like forcing players to watch ads to play or progress.

• 🛑No reward-for-ad systems 🛑: Offering players rewards for watching or engaging with ads is a no-go.

• 🚷No paywalls for Steam features 🚷: Don’t charge other developers for access to Steam’s features, like sale pages, bundles, or store pages.

• ✅In-game character clothing with sponsors ✅: Ads are acceptable when they blend naturally into the game’s context, such as logos on a skater’s t-shirt or sponsorship decals on a race car.

The debate over ads in gaming isn't over, but for now, it seems like gamers have scored a win with Steam’s policies prioritizing a player-friendly experience (unlike cough NBA 2K21’s unskippable ads). It’s a rare W in a sea of Ls for gamers lately—and we’ll gladly take it.

2/ After five years, Door Kickers 2 finally hits 1.0! 🚪💥

What if XCOM 2 met Company of Heroes but in real time? Enter Door Kickers 2, a brutally realistic RTS that’s been simmering in early access for five years. It’s finally reached its full release,.

This game is a tactical shooter that puts you in charge of a special forces team. It’s all about quick thinking and strategy in real-time, with no waiting for turns or using grid maps. You’ll plan and execute missions like breaching walls, using night vision, and coordinating team movements to outsmart the enemy.

With 4-player online co-op, Iron Man mode (where losses are really permanent), and a campaign that tests your every decision, this one’s a must-play for tactical shooter fans.

You can pick it up here for a massive 49% off @ £12.87 (with buyers protection)

3/🚨 Dragon Quest 12 Update Alert 🚨

Still waiting on Dragon Quest 12? You’re not alone—but good news! Series creator Yuji Horii just shared that the dev team is "working hard" on Dragon Quest 12 and plans to tease new info “bit by bit.”

Announced back in 2021 (yeah, it’s been a while), the game is rumoured to have a revamped battle system and a more adult-focused tone. It’s also aiming for a simultaneous global release. 🙌

Nothing concrete yet, but it’s nice to know it hasn’t disappeared into the void. We’ll keep you updated so watch this space ⛓️🔥

4/ Terraria Update Teases Exciting Year Ahead

Following the announcement of Terraria’s final major content update last month, the devs are keeping the hype alive! 🐰 They’ve teased a bizarre “cave bunny snack” (yep, edible gem bunnies) while hinting at exciting developments down the line.

What’s on the horizon? A long-awaited update AND progress toward crossplay! While no promises have been made yet, it’s clear the Terraria team is gearing up for big things this year!

5/ What’s next for Dwarf Fortress?

Big things are brewing at Bay 12 Games 🚧 The long-awaited Adventure Mode has finally launched on Steam, signalling a “new era of development” for Dwarf Fortress. With both Adventure and Fortress modes squared away, the devs are now focusing on exciting new updates, and their plans are big.

Here’s what’s coming up:

• Lua scripting upgrades for more powerful mods—paving the way for Myth and Magic updates.

• Fortress Mode enhancements like smarter enemy sieges, improved interactions with magic systems, and fascinating new threats like demon-trained sorcerers. 🧙‍♂️

• Adventure Mode is getting a game-changing “Site Building” feature so you can build settlements by hand! 🏗️

• A world map generation overhaul for a more dynamic, magical, and reactive game world.

Further down the pipeline, co-creator Tarn Adams will revisit core systems like villains, army warfare, and civilizations while continuing his 8-year quest to craft an absurdly ambitious mythology + magic system.

6/ Diablo 4 Fans, Brace Yourself - No 'yearly' expansions this year...⚡

Expansion news is in, and let's just say... patience is key. Rod Fergusson, Diablo’s GM, confirmed during the DICE Summit that the second Diablo 4 expansion won't drop until 2026. Yup, annual expansions are officially off the table.

For now, you’ll need to savor every minute of Vessel of Hatred (2024's expansion), even if some players found its ending a bit abrupt. Blizzard’s new roadmap, set to release in 2025, should give us a clearer idea of what's ahead, but don't expect any big surprise expansions before then.

Until the next gate to hell opens, why not master those Diablo 4 runes or recruit the best mercenaries? 🛡️

Byte Sized - Just the Headlines, No Side Quests 🤏

• Paradox Games buys Haemimont Games - the makers of Surviving Mars and the Tropico Series

• Diablo creator David Brevik criticizes fast leveling and loot systems in modern ARPGs, claiming they ‘diminish the experience.’

• Roblox is under investigation by the SEC…

• Anybody waiting for the new Skate? Well here are the best skate games to play in 2025

• Eurotruck Simulator is now being used ni a driver fatigue experiment

• Discord finally adds the ability to ignore those annoying people

• Atomfall gets a new trailer - releases 27th March

• ARC 2 devs has indicated that the game will release sometime in 2025

That’s it for now! Remember to check back next week because great deals and the latest gaming news won’t wait (and neither should you!). 🎯

Happy fragging, leveling, and looting!

— The Thrifty Gamer —