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This was not the week to take a trip. Gabe Newell returned from one yesterday to find "we did something to piss off the internet." That something was the introduction of paid mods in the Steam Workshop, and he spent Saturday dealing with people who ranged from concerned to enraged. This wasn't even the biggest news of the week, or the day, either. Konami pulled P.T., the Silent Hills teaser, portending a long-rumored split with Hideo Kojima. And Call of Duty: Black Ops 3's launch date leaked; there should be more on that soon.
Below you will find some of the week's must-read stories, a mix of original reporting and long reads. Welcome to Press Start, a recap of the week in games and gaming culture to get you ready for the one ahead.
Last Week in Five Stories
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Who knew 15th-century Bohemia could be this exciting?
Daniel watched from a vantage point that might afford him both the pleasure of detail and a grand perspective on the unfolding brutality. It didn't matter to him who won the battle.
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Ex Machina is a dazzling, clockwork examination of what makes humanity tick
While Ex Machina may allure with almost distracting special effects, it captivates with its questions about the human consciousness and sexuality; about freedom of thought and the loss of privacy.
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Introducing the Alan Wake 2 you'll never play
Alan Wake 2 was coming. Remedy even created a functioning internal prototype. But then the game, like its fictional protagonist, simply vanished.
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Spike Lee's new joint is a video game
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Spike Lee has a role developing NBA 2K16's career mode, according to a source close to the game and leaked marketing materials obtained by Polygon.
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Xbox One is getting a Gears of War remaster from Splash Damage
We've seen multiplayer screenshots of the remaster, and it appears that the game features improved lighting and increased texture quality. Multiplayer runs at 60 frames per second.
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