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Exchange Review August
Crypto Trends

Bitcoin’s Key Trends Suggest BTC Price Still Has Plenty of Room to Run

by admin October 4, 2025



Many investors are currently viewing bitcoin through an end-of-cycle lens, suggesting that Q4 could mark the close of the current market cycle. However, two key metrics point to the possibility that the bull market may actually be in its early stages.

Glassnode data shows that the 200-week moving average (200WMA), which smooths bitcoin’s price over a long-term horizon and has historically only trended upwards, has just breached $53,000.

Meanwhile, the realized price, the average price at which all bitcoin in circulation last moved onchain, has just risen above the 200-WMA at $54,000.

Looking back at previous cycles, we see a consistent pattern. In bull markets, the realized price tends to stay above the 200-WMA, while in bear markets, the opposite occurs.

For example, in the 2017 and 2021 bull markets, the realized price steadily climbed higher and widened its gap above the 200-WMA, before eventually collapsing below it and signaling the start of the bear markets.

While, during the downturn of 2022, the realized price fell below the 200-WMA, it has only recently moved above it. Historically, once the realized price remains above this long-term moving average, bitcoin has tended to push higher as the bull market progresses.



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October 4, 2025 0 comments
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Klipsch Flexus Core 300 soundbar on stand with TV in background
Product Reviews

Klipsch Flexus Core 300 review: a seriously immersive soundbar system with Dirac Live room correction

by admin September 28, 2025



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We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Klipsch Flexus Core 300 Soundbar: One minute review

Klipsch Flexus Core 300 soundbar with optional Flexus SURR 200 rear speakers and Flexus SUB 200 subwoofer (Image credit: Future)

The Klipsch Flexus Core 300 isn’t the cheapest Dolby Atmos soundbar you can buy, but those who can afford it will find it matches the best Dolby Atmos soundbars on just about every level.

Now, it might not be the best soundbar for everyone. Aside from the big price tag, it’s also physically big. But it does everything else right. It has all the ports one could want, and it has all the features you’d expect to see in the best soundbars. Most importantly, it sounds really good. And once you set it up with the Dirac Live feature, the sound quality goes from really good to great. It’s that last bit that really puts it over the edge for me.

If you’re looking for a soundbar system that gives a true theater experience at home, the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 is more than capable, and the experience gets even more immersive when you add the accompanying surround speakers and subwoofer.

  • Klipsch Flexus Core 300 at Sweetwater Sound for $1,199

Klipsch Flexus Core 300 review: Price & release date

Klipsch Flexus Core 300 system packaging (Image credit: Future)

  • Price: $1,199.99 / £1,049.00 (about AU$1,830)
  • First available: September 2025

The Klipsch Flexus Core 300 soundbar system reviewed here is anything but cheap. In fact,the Core 300 soundbar, with the Sub 200 subwoofer, and Surr 200 surround speakers that I tested will set you back an eye-wateringly high $2,299.97 / £1,827 (about AU$3,500).

Individually, the Core 300 soundbar goes for $1,199.99 / £1,049.00 (about AU$1,830), while the Sub 200 subwoofer is $599.99 / £419.00 (about AU$910) and the Surr 200 surround sound speakers are $499.99 / £359.00 (about AU$760) per pair. There are cheaper versions available of the subwoofer and surround speakers, so you can get away with a lower system cost, but you won’t have the same experience.

Also. Aussies will have to sit this one out (at least at the time of writing).

Klipsch Flexus Core 300 review: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Dimensions (W x H x D)

soundbar: 54 x 3 x 5 inch / 1371 x 76.2 x 127mm; subwoofer: 15.25 x 15.25 x 15.25 inches (387 x 387 x 387mm); surround speaker: 4.1 x 8.75 x 4.31 inches 105 x 222.25 x 109.5mm

Speaker channels

5.1.2 (soundbar), 7.1.4 (with sub and surround speakers)

Connections:

HDMI 2.1 passthrough, HDMI eARC, USB-C, optical digital, subwoofer output, Bluetooth

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/Yes

Sub included

Available separately

Rear speakers included

Available separately

Features

4K 120Hz passthrough, Dirac Live room calibration, AirPlay, Google Cast, Google Home support

Klipsch Flexus Core 300 review: Features

The Klipsch Flexus Core 300 soundbar and the optional wireless sub and rear speakers uses wireless dongles to transmit and receive audio signals (Image credit: Future)

  • Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support
  • Night and dialog
  • Can adjust the volume of individual speakers

As you would expect from its price, the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 is feature-filled. It supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and you can add an optional subwoofer (or two subwoofers since dual subs are supported) and wireless surround speakers for a full surround sound experience. On top of that, it has built-in Dirac Live, a calibration software that minimizes the effects of room reflections on the sound.

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The Flexus Core 300 features movie and music modes, along with a night mode that compresses the audio dynamic range for late-night viewing. A dialog mode offers three different levels to emphasize the specific part of the mid-range where dialog sits. This is a bit more subtle than what I’ve found on other soundbars, but still effective.

In the app, there are quite a few additional options for fine-tuning the sound. There’s a three-band EQ, and you can adjust the individual volume of each channel if you feel like something is out of balance. The only thing missing, surprisingly, is any kind of voice assistant support – a feature typically found on the more expensive soundbars.

WiFi streaming supports Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, AirPlay, and Google Cast. Google Home is the only supported smart home ecosystem.

Klipsch Flexus Core 300 review: Performance

Both the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 soundbar and SUB 200 subwoofer are large compared to most soundbar systems (Image credit: Future)

  • Basic sound quality is very good
  • Dirac Live elevates sound clarity
  • Immersive soundstage

There are two experiences when listening to the Klipsch Flexus Core 300: with and without Dirac Live. Without it, the soundbar sounds very good. Action movies like The Workman have that oomph you expect from a movie theater experience, where you can just feel the subwoofer. Whether it’s a sound effect of someone getting punched or the low notes in the score that add a sense of foreboding, the sound has an impressive sense of weight to it.

The treble is as good as you would expect from a soundbar this pricey as well, with synths, flutes, and windchimes sounding crisp with no loss of detail.

The mid-range is what suffers the most without Dirac Live as it sounds a bit overstuffed without adjustments and dialogue can get lost just a little bit. You can offset with a three-band EQ that provides a 6 dB boost or cut, and changes to the EQ, even with presets active, are noticeable.

But, the real solution is to use Dirac Live (which I describe below in the usability and setup section). Once you’ve gone through the Dirac Live setup, the soundbar will create a custom EQ profile to adjust for the reflections of soundwaves bouncing around your media room, and the difference is stark. Dirac Live makes this soundbar go from good to amazing, with everything sounding clean, especially in the mid-range.

I watched The Batman, the first episode of The Residence, and an Eagles vs Cowboys football game, along with plenty of music during my testing. No matter how complex the soundtrack or music was, I could hear everything with precision. That alone justifies the Flexus Core 300’s price. Other room calibration systems I’ve tried can be very good, but this one is great.

I also experienced immersive sound when testing the surround sound speakers, even when they were not as widely placed as they should be. For the most part, their presentation was subtle; I would almost not realize that there was audio coming through them until I paid attention and realized that I was hearing the sound of wind.

Klipsch Flexus Core 300 review: Design

The Klipsch Flexus Core 300 has a bright alphanumeric LED display for control feedback (Image credit: Future)

  • Modern, elegant look
  • Large soundbar and subwoofer
  • Extensive ports

While the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 comes in basic black, there’s something about its look that’s more elegant than a lot of the competition. (A walnut version is also available.) The soundbar and subwoofer both have wood grain showing through the black (not so for the surround sound speakers), and a silver Klipsch logo is featured prominently on each unit.

Now, don’t mistake that elegance for compact. This isn’t Apple. The Klipsch Flexus Core 300 soundbar is 54 inches wide, and the SUB 200 subwoofer is a 15-inch cube. The SURR 200 surround speakers are just under nine inches tall and a bit over four inches wide and deep. If you’re limited on space, this is not the system for you.

Focusing on just the soundbar, I really appreciate that the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 has an alphanumeric LED display that’s bright and sizable enough that it’s easy to read.

As far as controls go, most of the functionality is either on the remote or in the app. The soundbar itself just has power, input, and volume up and down buttons situated off-center on top.

The Flexus Core 300 comes with just about everything portone could ask for, including but not limited to multiple HDMI ports featuring eARC and 4K 120Hz passthrough, along with an optical digital input and RCA subwoofer output. Of course, there’s Bluetooth as well.

Most of your interaction with the soundbar will probably be through the remote. While I wish it was rechargeable instead of using AAA batteries, that’s really the only criticism I can throw at it. It feels good to hold with its rounded back, and the layout allows you to adjust most functions without having to use the app, including switching sound modes and adjusting the volume of the surround speakers and subwoofer.

Klipsch Flexus Core 300 review: Setup & usability

Klipsch’s control app lets you adjust all system functions and is also used for Dirac Live calibration (Image credit: Future)

  • Generally easy to set up
  • Sub and surround speakers use wireless dongles
  • Dirac Live calibration requires silence

Klipsch packs the soundbar, subwoofer, and surround speakers with their own manual, and setting them up is a fairly straightforward process, though not exactly plug-and-play. I’ve set up a few soundbar systems with wireless connections before, and those typically get paired right out of the box. Here, both the subwoofer and surround sound speakers come with their own wireless dongle that needs to be plugged into the soundbar before pairing.

Considering that the sub and surround speakers are separate purchases, that makes sense. But it’s an additional step, and you have to press the pairing button on each external speaker and wait for the soundbar to connect.

If you want to get the most functionality out of Klipsch’s system, you also need to set up the app. This part was easy – all I had to do was connect it to Wi-Fi and answer some personalization questions.

The only thing I found a little difficult was setting up the Dirac Live calibration, which is finicky compared to other automatic calibration systems I’ve used. But then again, Dirac Live is the standard that audiophiles use for room correction.

The soundbar comes with a wired microphone that gets placed around the sitting area, and the calibration process requires complete silence. If a pet passes by or someone calls out during the ten-minute Dirac Live calibration, or if the air conditioner is too loud, then the test will fail and need to be run again.

  • Setup & usability score: 4.5 / 5

Klipsch Flexus Core 300 review: Value

Klipsch’s SURR 200 rear speakers are easy to setup and deliver immersive surround sound (Image credit: Future)

  • Expensive compared to other premium soundbars
  • Other premium systems not as well designed
  • Competition doesn’t support Dirac Live

As great as the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 Soundbar System is, it’s expensive compared to the competition. That’s especially true if you compare the system to premium models from large manufacturers like Samsung and LG, and not boutique audiophile brands that typically go for even more money.

As far as specific examples go, the LG S95AR is an impressive soundbar system in its own right – I gave it a very favorable review – and comes with surround speakers and a subwoofer without requiring an extra purchase. Its price tag of $1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AUD$2,610) might seem higher than the Flexus Core 300’s price tag of $1,199.99 / £1,049.00 / AU$1,695, but it’s actually a good deal when you consider it’s a complete package. The Klipsch is more aesthetically pleasing and sounds better, but both are quality systems.

The Samsung HW-Q990F, which retails for $1,799 / £1,699 / AU$1,995. Is a feature-filled 11.1.4 system that also makes the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 Soundbar System feel overpriced. Again, there’s a difference in aesthetics and the Samsung (along with the LG) doesn’t support Dirac Live room calibration, although they do provide their own proprietary calibrations.

Should I buy the Klipsch Flexus Core 300?

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Section

Notes

Score

Features

Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Night and Dialog mode are all here along with Dirac Live room EQ

5 / 5

Performance

Very good immersion and basic sound quality that is strongly enhanced by Dirac Live

5 / 5

Design

Classy looking and with an LED display, but large for a soundbar

4.5 / 5

Setup & usability

Relatively easy to set up, though Dirac Live calibration can be finicky if you don’t have complete silence

4.5 / 5

Value

As great as this soundbar system is, it’s among the more expensive options

4 / 5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Klipsch Flexus Core 300 review: Also consider

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Klipsch Flexus Core 300

Samsung HW-Q990F

LG S95AR

Sonos Arc Ultra

Price

$1,199.99 / £1,049.00 (about AU$1,830)

$1,999 / £1,699 / AU$2,099

$1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AU$2,610)

$999 / £999 / AU$1,799

Dimensions (w x h x d)

Soundbar: 54 x 3 x 5 inch / 1371 x 76.2 x 127mm; subwoofer: 15.25 x 15.25 x 15.25 inches (387 x 387 x 387mm); surround speaker: 4.1 x 8.75 x 4.31 inches 105 x 222.25 x 109.5mm

Soundbar: 1232 x 70.8 x 138 mm (48.5 x 2.8 x 5.4 inch); Subwoofer: 249 x 251.8 x 249 mm (9.8 x 10.0 x 9.8 inch); Rear speaker: 129.5 x 201.3 x140.4 mm (5.1 x 8.0 x 5.5 inch)

Soundbar: 49.2 x 2.5 x 5.3 in (1250 x 63.5 x 134.6mm); subwoofer: 7.9 x 16 x 15.9 in (200 x 406 x 404mm); rear speakers: 6.3 x 8.8 x 5.6 in (160 x 223.5 x 142mm)

2.95 x 46.38 x 4.35 inches (75 x 1178 x 110.6mm)

Speaker channels

5.1.2 (soundbar), 7.1.4 (with sub and surround speakers)

11.1.4

9.1.5

9.1.4

Connections

HDMI 2.1 passthrough, HDMI eARC, USB-C, optical digital, subwoofer output, Bluetooth

1x HDMI out (with eARC), 2x HDMI 2.1 in, optical digital audio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

2x HDMI (1 with eARC), optical, digital, Bluetooth, USB type-A

1x HDMI with eARC, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

How I tested the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 Soundbar

(Image credit: Future)

  • I used the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 Soundbar system for several weeks
  • Tested with TV, movies, games, and music

I used the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 Soundbar System regularly for several weeks with TV, movies, games, and music. I tested the different modes and inputs, and I spent a lot of time with the Dirac Live calibration.

I’ve tested plenty of tech gear over the years ,from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed: September 2025

Klipsch Flexus Core 300: Price Comparison



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Alien ambassadors sit around a circular, white table with a holographic display of a ringed planet hovering above its centre.
Product Reviews

X4: Foundations’ massive diplomacy update adds an actual embassy room to your HQ, where you can entreat with aliens from across the galaxy and establish yourself as space Machiavelli

by admin September 14, 2025



While not as flashy as Star Citizen or as popular as No Man’s Sky, X4: Foundations is one of the most comprehensive space sims you can play today. Representing a return to form after the failed experiment that was X: Rebirth, X4 continues the series tradition of offering a preposterously detailed simulation of space—featuring trading, combat, space exploration, and dynamic faction politics—while also letting players build and expand their own interstellar empire.

X4 can be a hugely rewarding experience, provided you can handle its vertiginous learning curve and millions of menus. The space sim has quietly trundled along with a small but dedicated community for years now. But its latest update caught my eye. Patch 8.00 introduces a detailed diplomacy system to the sequel, letting you liaise with the universe’s many alien factions, mess with inter-faction relationships to your advantage, and conduct daring espionage operations, essentially adding a slice of Crusader Kings to your adventures through the void.

Described as a “deeply integrated new gameplay feature” by developer Egosoft, X4’s diplomacy system is built around three key components. At its heart is the embassy room, where ambassadors from across the galaxy gather to entreat with you around an actual round table.


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The embassy room can be unlocked and constructed at your player headquarters. Once unlocked, you can invite other factions to send representatives to your embassy, though you can only do this if you have a friendly (or better) relationship with that faction. I like this physical representation of something that could easily be confined to a menu, though it seems these representatives function mainly as a quick access to the relevant faction menu, so it isn’t quite as simple as it appears.

As well as interacting with factions directly, you can also manipulate them behind their backs through espionage. The diplomacy update introduces agents, recruitable NPCs who can serve both as negotiators and spies. Agents can be given their own ship and dispatched on a variety of missions, including spying on enemy ships, stealing valuable blueprints from other factions, and initiating “diplomatic interference”.

X4: Foundations 🚀 Diplomacy Update (8.00) + Envoy Pack Release Trailer – YouTube

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What is diplomatic interference? Well, it lets you trigger diplomatic incidents and then influence them to your advantage, altering relationships between factions and improving your own position as a result. Depending on the current standing between the relevant factions, you can wade into trade disputes, arbitrate peace talks, manage territorial claims, and deal with cyber attacks and accusations of espionage. The results of your interference may result in changes to resource claims, redrawn borders, altered alliances, and even wars.

Egosoft describes diplomatic interference as “the most game changing element” of the update. “Changes in faction relations can have an extraordinary impact on the galaxy, as alliances, trade partners and supply chains shift.” The big question, of course, is how well all this works with the rest of X4’s voluminous network of systems. Recent Steam reviews are slightly less positive than the overall rating (76% versus 78%). But they don’t say much about the diplomacy system one way or the other. At least nobody is complaining, I suppose.

Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.

The diplomacy update is available now. The free update coincides with the release of X4’s Envoy Pack. This paid DLC introduces a “stealth-ready” frigate perfect for spies and sneaky negotiators, as well as a new mission chain, a new game-start that throws you right into that storyline, and an extra space sector. The Envoy Pack is available for $8 (£7).



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Borderlands 4 Rage Room Sounds Like A Car Crash And Fans Can't Look Away
Game Reviews

Borderlands 4 Rage Room Sounds Like A Car Crash And Fans Can’t Look Away

by admin August 31, 2025


Stroll by Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 display at PAX West and you’ll see fans quietly playing the Divinity: Original Sin board game. Linger a little too long though, and you’ll hear what sounds like a car crashing through a McDonald’s drive-thru in the far corner of the show floor. And then another, and another. Follow the piercing sounds for long enough and you’ll arrive at the Borderlands 4 Ripper Rage Room, by far the most ridiculous marketing stunt at this year’s expo.

Fans of Gearbox Entertainment’s anarchic loot shooter, some adorned with its enemies’ iconic Psycho masks, are wrapped around a small, encased exhibit waiting for their chance to smash aluminum trash cans, glass bottles, and Dollar Store ceramics. Staff dress them in jumpsuits and riot helmets with plastic visors. Then, one at a time, they make their way into a plexiglass-ensconced chamber where they emotionally unburden themselves with a post-apocalyptic baseball bat.

It’s surprisingly loud and jarring, even when you know it’s coming. Imagine the heart-stopping moment in the restaurant when a waiter accidentally drops a giant tray of dishes. The immediate gasps as everyone experiences a simultaneous shot of fight-or-flight adrenaline followed by the hushed murmurings of people gawking at reality’s brief departure from the mundane.

The Ripper Rage Room debuted during the Borderlands 4 Warped Tour fan event earlier this summer in L.A. and is reprising its role for PAX West. The big difference, however, is that the annual Seattle-based expo features lots of booths ranging from PC gaming giveaways to first-time indie developers desperately trying to get someone to pay attention to their passion project.

More than one exhibitor has privately confided to me that “it must suck” for all the nearby booths who are trying to get attendees meandering on by to hang a second and listen to their pitch. In the case of Limited Run Games, the boutique physical game retailer closest to the Rage Room, that might mean hanging around long enough to pull the trigger on a copy of Clock Tower: Rewind for the Nintendo Switch. Then all of the sudden: *SNAP* *CRACKLE* *SMASH*.

But Gearbox is the king of PAX and it knows what the people want. Its massive booth for Borderlands 4, filled with dozens of demo stations and massive statutes of each of its Vault Hunter heroes, is both the most packed and the fastest at getting people through the queue. Fans at the Nintendo and Capcom booths complain about wait times and arcane requirements, like a lottery system for who actually gets to try Hollow Knight: Silksong on Switch 2.

And then there’s the Ripper Rage Room which, despite the absolute vibe-killing antics, always has people watching as each new fan briefly descends into a performative rampage, quietly realizing as they enter the translucent box that they are as much a part of the display as the brutalized silicon dummy standing in the corner. People love smashing shit. They love watching other people smash shit. Like the beautifully cel-shaded Skinner box at the heart of Borderlands franchise, it sometimes is just as simple as that.

Less straightforward is the task of needing to reassemble the Ripper Rage Room after each demolition. At least three staff race to stack the trash cans, folding chairs, bottles, and plates in precarious positions for optimal smashing. Trying to replicate chaos is an oxymoron but that is the mandate. Everyone knows what’s going to happen but they wait to watch it unfold again anyway. And what could be more Borderlands than that?





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Less than 4 years after a $3.5bn evaluation, Rec Room is letting "roughly half" its team go
Esports

Less than 4 years after a $3.5bn evaluation, Rec Room is letting “roughly half” its team go

by admin August 28, 2025


“Roughly half” of the team at social gaming platform Rec Room has been laid off.

CCO Cameron Brown said he and co-founder and CEO Nick Fajt had “made the difficult decision to lay off roughly half the Rec Room team,” stressing the layoffs were no reflection on the work of those individuals – described as “amongst the most talented people we’ve worked with in the industry” – and that they were “looking after those impacted as best we can.”

“Today Nick and I had to make one of the toughest choices in Rec Room history: We’re saying goodbye to about half the Rec Room team,” Brown wrote in a statement posted to the company’s blog (thanks, GameDeveloper).

“These are incredible people who have poured their talent, heart, and creativity into this company. They shaped our culture, built features loved by millions, and made Rec Room better in so many ways it’s impossible to count. We are heartbroken to see them go – this is a painful day for a lot of people.

“Rec Room is more than a game, and more than a company. It’s a community, and it’s one of the best teams we’ve ever had the privilege to work with. That only makes this moment harder. This is not a reflection on the talent or dedication of those departing – we wish we could keep every one of them. I’m gonna say that again, to make it clear this isn’t just ‘one of those things you say in a layoff message.’ We TRULY wish we could keep every one of these people on the team. But we can’t. This is a reflection of the tough reality we face as a business and the change needed to give Rec Room a chance to thrive in the years ahead.”

The statement adds that “this decision affects people we consider colleagues and friends,” people who “built Rec Room line-by-line, asset-by-asset, test-by-test.”

“This is not the outcome any of us hoped for, and Nick and I take full responsibility for the position we’re in.” The statement then details that affected staff will be paid for the next three months, and provided with health benefits for the next six months. They will also get to keep their laptop or desktops as “a computer is an important tool to find new work.”

“We invested heavily in creation tools across PC, VR, consoles, and mobile,” the statement added. “But the reality has been harsh. The most impactful creation comes almost entirely from creators on PC (using mouse and keyboard, and Studio) and VR.

“The reality is that what we’ve been doing these past few years wasn’t working for the team, for the company or for our players. That’s on Nick and me. It’s our job to align those needs, and we failed. This change, however imperfect, and however shocking, gives a chance to reset and correct our course.

“Today sucks. For Nick and myself. For everyone who remains at Rec Room. And especially for those we are parting ways with. We hate that it came to this. We hate letting go of so many talented people who worked so hard. And we hate stepping away from a huge vision we strongly believed in.”

Rec Room Inc. was founded in Seattle, Washington, in April 2016 by “a small team with a shared passion for VR, AR, social, and multiplayer experiences.” In December 2021, Rec Room raised $145 million in a funding round, bringing its total valuation to $3.5 billion, and, as spotted by Game Developer, Fajt announced that Rec Room hit a “record-breaking month.”



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Dreame AirPursue PR20 in reviewer's home
Product Reviews

Dreame AirPursue PM20 review: a high-end air purifier that follows you around a room

by admin August 28, 2025



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Dreame AirPursue PM20: two-minute review

The Dreame AirPursue PM20 is an air purifier with a whole load of tricks up its sleeve. The USP is the ‘Follow’ mode, whereby the large, cup-shaped head will swivel to follow you wherever you go in a room, blasting purified air in your direction. In practice, it’s very impressive to watch. There’s also ‘AI Purify’ – an Auto mode by another name – whereby the AirPursue will monitor for five specific pollutants and adjust settings to clear them when they’re detected.

Aside from these and two more special modes, and a variety of manual control options, the appliance can also heat or cool the air as required. So it’s positioned to rival not only the best air purifiers on the market, but the best fans, too. Not bad for the brand’s first ever purifier.

When it comes to air purifiers, I’m often left wondering how I’m meant to know if they’re actually doing anything. Not so with the AirPursue PM20, which offers real time pollutant readings within the Dreame companion app, so you can watch at any moment as it cleans the air in your living room or bedroom. It’s able to sense and remove 14 different pollutants (although that doesn’t include CO2), and gives each one a rating so you can tell how good or bad the air quality is.

All that functionality comes at a bit of a price, and replacement filters aren’t especially cheap either (deals are appearing already, and I think it’s decent value for what you’re getting). While the design is sleek and modern, there’s no getting around the fact it’s really rather large, although Dreame has helpfully added wheels to make it easy to maneuver from one room to another,

The PM20 is geared towards use in medium or large rooms, with a CADR to match (400 m³/h). If you have a smaller space you’d be better off with the PM10 sister model, which has a has a CADR of 300 m³/h.

Keep reading to see how well the Dreame AirPursue PM20 cleaned the air in my historic home and gave me more peace of mind.

(Image credit: Future)

  • Dreame AirPursue PM20 at Amazon for $719.99

Dreame AirPursue PM20 review: price & availability

  • List price: US$999.99
  • Launch date: June 2025
  • Availability: US and Canada

The AirPursue PM20 is Dreame’s first ever air purifier, and launched in June 2025. It’s available to buy direct from Dreame or via Amazon in the US and Canada, with a list price of $999.99. (The smaller AirPursue PM10 costs $899.99 at list price.)

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You can take that list price with a pinch of salt, because at time of writing this review the PM20 had only been out a month and was already attracting significant discounts on Amazon (it dropped to $769.99 during the Prime Day Sale). Even with that discount it’s still a premium purchase, though.

The only additional cost associated with this air purifier are the replacements for the carbon filter and the high efficiency composite filter, which are $59.99 and $99.99 respectively. They have to be replaced between 6 and 24 months, depending on how hard they’re put to work.

Considering that this air purifier has multiple modes, speeds, heating capabilities, app and voice integration, and AI settings, I’d say the price tag is reasonable. In fact, I’ve seen more expensive air purifiers that have fewer features. However, it’s still a decent investment, so if you’re on a tighter budget there are plenty more affordable options about.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Dreame AirPursue PM20 specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

CADR:

400 m³/h

Size:

14.9 x 14.9 x 33.4 in

Control:

Buttons, remote, app, voice control

Filters:

HEPA-13, carbon

Modes:

1-10, AI Purify (Auto), Pet Purify, Comfort, Cooling, Heating (77-104F)

Contaminants detected:

PM1, PM2.5, PM10, HCHO, TVOC

Other readings:

Overall air quality status, temperature, humidity

Oscillation:

45, 90, 180 degrees, or ‘AI follow’

Timer:

12 hours

Heating:

78-104F

Dreame AirPursue PM20 review: design

  • Large air purifier that can also operate as a fan or heater
  • Smart capabilities, AI detection, and app integration
  • Provides specific information about pollutant levels

The Dreame AirPursue PM20 arrived assembled, allowing me to plug it in and immediately start purifying the air within my home. The only setup required of me was connecting the air purifier to the Dreame app and tap a button in the app to authorize the voice command function.

In terms of appearance, the Dreame AirPursue PM20 reminds me of a mini R2-D2, with its bulbous head, cylindrical body, and the wheels placed on the bottom. I was so glad for the wheels as I could move the air purifier around the house without having to pick it up – as I may have mentioned, it’s not small. In the air purifier world, it also bears a striking resemblance to the Dyson Big+Quiet.

(Image credit: Future)

The head has a small, square LCD screen that displays air pollution levels via colored graphs. Buttons on the head allow you to turn the purifier on and off and cycle through information on the LCD screen like air pollutant, temperature, and humidity readings, and the filter life.

Inside, the PM20 is outfitted with two filters. First, a high efficiency composite filter (HEPA-13 grade) which removes indoor pollen, dust mites, haze, bacteria, viruses, and other fine materials, and which must be replaced every 16-24 months (the app notifies you). Second, a carbon filter, which is used to remove indoor kitchen fumes, pet odor, TVOC, formaldehyde and other harmful gases. The replacement time for the carbon filter is every 6-12 months.

There more going on with this air purifier’s design that can’t be seen. It’s outfitted with dual-flow modulation technology, which means the air flows in and out of the head and the body. It can apparently project air forward up to 10 meters.

The airflow fan speed can be adjusted between 1 and 10 and the wind direction can be set on 45, 90, or 180 degrees. You can also utilize various special modes:

  • AI follow – directs pure air at whoever is in the room
  • AI purify / Auto – monitors for 5 pollutants and switches on when detected
  • Pet purify – enhanced airflow specifically geared towards pet hair and odors
  • Comfort – quiet, long-range air projection
  • Cooling
  • Heating – set between 78 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit

The most exciting of those is AI follow, where the purifier head will follow you as you move within a room. If there is more than one person in the room, the purifier will toggle between the two people’s positions.

Because I tested the AirPursue in the summer, I usually used the Cooling mode, but I was also pleased to learn it would earn its space in winter by doubling up as a heater. I found Comfort mode was a great option when sleeping at night because it lowered the fan speed so the noise wasn’t bothersome.

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of which, noise-wise, the air purifier is not that loud. On the lowest fan speed, it has a dB rating of 54. I measured the highest speed at 67 dB.

With the remote, you can adjust the direction of the fan, change the fan speed, turn on the heating function, and choose between the different modes. I preferred managing the settings in the app or with voice commands.

Dreame AirPursue PM20 review: performance

  • Detects and clears pollutants quickly
  • Can cool or heats spaces while purifying them
  • App makes it easy to control purifier and monitor pollutants

My house was built over 100 years ago, and as a historic building it produces a lot of dust and allergens. Not to mention, it was probably updated at various times when pollutants weren’t necessarily monitored or regulated. As someone who has asthma and allergies, I’m always looking for ways to make my home – where I work, sleep, and live – healthier. After testing the Dreame AirPursue PM20, I feel a lot more confident and comfortable breathing in my own house.

To speak plainly, I love the Dreame AirPursue PM20. It was easy to move it between rooms with the wheels. Once I connected it to the app, I dove in. I was glad to discover that the air quality of my house is better than I thought. I gleaned this information from the overall air quality score. However, thanks to the Dreame sensors, I was able to see the exact levels of harmful pollutants – PM1, PM2.5, PM10, HCHO, and TVOC – present in my home.

I didn’t know what these pollutants meant, but the app provided definitions of each one. For instance, I learned that HCHO is a “common indoor pollutant, the release period of formaldehyde from furniture, paint, and adhesives lasting for years”. Not only that, but the Dreame app tracked the pollutant reading and provided a value range for each pollutant, and then labelled the reading as either excellent, good, moderate, or poor. I was able to track the pollutant readings at any moment and even by days and weeks within the app.

Click to enlarge (Image credit: Dreame / Future)

To see how well the Dreame AirPursue PM20 detects pollutants and clears them, I ran a test with dry shampoo. I began by screenshotting the readings (prior to spraying the dry shampoo) to gain an air quality baseline. Then I sprayed dry shampoo about two feet in front of the air purifier. Within the app, I saw the air purifier recognize the pollutants from the dry shampoo within about 10 seconds.

From there, I monitored the air purifier, noting the initial increase in pollutant readings. The purifier cleaned the room within about 11 minutes. The TVOC reading was the only pollutant that didn’t quite reach the original reading after 11 minutes (it was 2 points higher). In fact, the TVOC reading fluctuated over the next few hours within one to two points of the original reading. At least it remained well within the ‘excellent’ air quality range.

(Image credit: Future)

Most of the time, I set the Dreame AirPursue PM20 on a fan speed of 10, and the wind direction at 180 degrees. Sometimes, I used the AI Follow feature which means the head of the purifier followed me around the room, literally purifying the air around me. This feature was cool to see in action, and reliably well on test.

I don’t have pets, so I didn’t need the Pet Purify mode, but I know that it could be helpful for those who do share their home with four-legged friends, especially in removing odors (the purifier cleared kitchen odors within my house in minutes). The Comfort mode was great to use at night; it was quieter than my ceiling fan.

Like a few Dyson fans, the Dreame AirPursue can also be used as a fan or heater. Because I was testing in Texas in July, I mostly used the Cooling more, but the Heating option will be ultra-helpful in winter (it lets you adjust the temperature between 78 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The 12-hour timer was nice, but for the most part, I turned the purifier on and off at my own will.

(Image credit: Future)

I didn’t have any issues with this air purifier. The only thing to keep in mind is that when the fan speed is set to 10 (or the highest speed), you must raise your voice and move near the air purifier to use the voice command. That wasn’t a big deal to me, because I usually used the app on my phone to adjust the settings as I always forgot the voice commands and would have to look them up in the app anyways (helpfully, Dreame lists the voice commands here for reference).

Overall, I think the Dreame AirPursue PM20 does what it says it will do and brought me a lot more peace of mind. I feel better knowing that I’m breathing cleaner air in my home day or night.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame AirPursue PM20?

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

A premium air purifier occasionally discounted but well priced considering the control and features. Filters represent and ongoing cost.

4/5

Design

Large but stylish. Can operate as a fan or heater as well as a purifier. Manual control or a selection of special modes – including one where the pure air follows you around. Easy to read, real-time pollution readings. Control via app, voice or remote.

5/5

Performance

Detects and cleans pollutants efficiently. The app makes it easy to monitor pollutants, understand how clean your air is, and adjust the settings.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

How I tested the Dreame AirPursue PM20

I used the Dreame AirPursue PM20 for a few weeks in July in my 105-year-old home in Texas. I used the purifier in various rooms to get a variety of readings, as well as testing each of the windspeed settings and special modes. To get a more objective view of how efficiently it cleared air, I also sprayed dry shampoo a few feet from the purifier to see how quickly the purifier detected it and cleared it from the room.

Read more about how we test

Dreame AirPursue PM20: Price Comparison



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August 28, 2025 0 comments
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Art shows FF14 characters riding on Chocobos.
Game Reviews

Final Fantasy 14 Is Running Out Of Room On PS4 Ahead Of Next Expansion

by admin August 27, 2025


Final Fantasy 14 came out over a decade ago and has been running on PlayStation 4 since soon after it launched. Sony’s last-gen hardware won’t be able to support Square Enix’s MMORPG forever, though, and director Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida recently explained why.

“My basic stance is that I do want to continue supporting hardware which has grown old,” he said in an interview with Feed4Gamers (via TweakTown). “But I do have one concern, and that’s regarding the OS of the PlayStation 4, and this is regarding the hardware regulations which were made by Sony. These regulations are related to the limit of the data, and because there’s that limit of the data, well, we are continually incorporating updates for Final Fantasy 14 and we are now approaching that limit.”

He continued:

And so for this limit that’s in place, we have been asking Sony Interactive Entertainment from our side to increase that just for Final Fantasy 14, and they have kindly been doing that so far. But they’ve told us now that they are also reaching their limits. So I will repeat myself: I do want to provide support for platforms as long as possible. However, there will eventually come a time when the hardware is at its limits in terms of its technology, and at that point in time we would have to provide an end to the service on that hardware. But I will be sure to provide clear reasoning for that decision when I communicate it to the players.

According to Yoshida, Sony’s already been making exceptions to its standard developer rules in order to accommodate new content for FF14. The game has received several major updates since last year’s Dawntrail expansion, including this month’s patch 7.3, The Promise of Tomorrow. It’s unclear just how much wiggle room is still left for further upgrades and content drops.

When is Final Fantasy 14‘s next expansion coming?

Square Enix has been cagey on the timing of its next expansion, with speculation from some fans that it could arrive as late as spring 2027. Yoshida teased that there will at least be an update on the date for FF14 Fan Fest 2026 on the 10-year anniversary of A Realm Reborn this week.

Other big multiplayer games like PUBG and Genshin Impact are both dropping support for last-gen consoles in the coming months. While Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is still coming to PS4 and Xbox One this fall, other big annual franchises like MLB: The Show and Madden NFL have all ditched the aging hardware. Considering we’re nearly five years into the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S lifecycles, the only surprising thing is that these moves didn’t come sooner.

Originally released on the PS3 in 2013, FF14 left that console behind at the time of the Stormblood expansion in 2017, a departure for which Square Enix provided eight months of notice. My guess is that update 8.0, whenever it arrives, might similarly mark the end of the MMORPG’s journey on PS4. And by that point, PS6 will probably be just around the corner.



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August 27, 2025 0 comments
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The Framework Desktop and Linux have shown me the path to PC gaming in the living room
Product Reviews

The Framework Desktop and Linux have shown me the path to PC gaming in the living room

by admin August 24, 2025


I’ve long dreamed of doing all my gaming on PC — a single platform that’s easily upgradeable and lets me play my overstuffed Steam library wherever and however I like. The Steam Deck is a fantastic handheld, but for my living room, I want something more powerful that works as well on my TV as it does at a desk. Believe me, I’ve tried. Gaming laptops are noisy and awkward, desktops are too chunky, and Windows is annoying to navigate without a keyboard and mouse. I had hoped that Valve’s Steam Machine experiment was my ticket, but it crashed and burned long ago. Nothing’s ever been as easy as a PlayStation 5.

But I’m newly optimistic. I’ve spent the past couple weeks using the Framework Desktop with a clever Linux distro called Bazzite: an open-source take on SteamOS. It’s a lot like installing the Steam Deck’s game mode and Proton compatibility layer for playing Windows games, and you can still optionally access a desktop for work too. It took me less than an hour to set up, and I’m now able to play PC games on my TV at 4K / 60fps — on a box that is smaller than a PS5, doesn’t get too noisy, and can be woken up from my couch with a gamepad.

This combo matches the simplicity of a docked Steam Deck, but it’s so much more powerful. And while a Framework Desktop isn’t as portable as a handheld — or even a laptop — it’s easy to move from room to room. I’ve even taken to working from it at my desk during the day, then moving it to the living room for after-hours game time. Sometimes you don’t want to play games in the same place you just worked for nine hours.

I so very badly want this to be the future of PC gaming.

It’s the year of Linux on the desktop in the living room.

The Framework Desktop is an ideal vessel for a Steam Machine-like experience. At 4.5 liters, it’s much smaller than most living room gaming computers, and much more powerful than your average home theater PC or streaming box. It’s way more expensive than a PS5 Pro — the Desktop starts at $1,099, or $1,999 for the AI Max+ 395 version I tested here with 16 CPU cores, 40 graphics cores, and 128GB of RAM — but it’s also much more than a gaming console.

I loved the Framework Desktop as a full Windows PC when I reviewed it earlier in August. And Bazzite is one of the easiest and most user-friendly desktop Linux incarnations. Bazzite makes it easier than ever to break away from Windows if you’re boycotting Microsoft, looking for an escape from Windows 10 before it’s cut off from updates in October, or just tired of Windows 11’s incessant pushing of services you don’t care about and attempts to extract recurring revenue from your wallet. The installer is easy, there’s a very capable OS if you switch over to desktop mode with a mouse and keyboard, and if you still need Windows for specific apps or games, you can always dual boot, like I did.

The Framework Desktop makes a nice fit in a TV stand with a Switch 2 and PlayStation 5.

Most people are not going to move a PC back and forth from the living room to the office, but this convertible setup works great with the Framework.

The only drawbacks I found were when I needed to run apps that aren’t compatible (like Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite) or the inevitable moments I had to open the Terminal to run simple commands. Many essential apps have native Linux support, like Chrome, Slack, Signal, Spotify, and Discord. And plenty of others can run with some compatibility help via Wine. But if much of your work and everyday computing needs are web-based, you’re good as gold on Linux.

Using Bazzite in desktop mode took me back to the days when I experimented with Ubuntu “Gutsy Gibbon” in college. (Didn’t we all give in to the temptation of the cube back then?) Linux is genuinely fun to use and tinker with. And Bazzite has a nice, somewhat no-frills aesthetic I admire.

1/4Bazzite has a clean and tidy look in desktop mode.

Linux can and will drive the uninitiated down many rabbit holes, with lots of Googling how to do little things you take for granted on Windows and macOS, like understanding what the hell the KDE Wallet Service is (it’s for managing passwords) or remapping the Caps Lock key. I gave up on the latter and just remapped it at the hardware level on my keyboard with VIA.

But small frustrations aside, both the gaming side and desktop side of Bazzite are fantastic. While my job of reviewing laptops will always mean extensively using Windows, macOS, and some ChromeOS, it’s been kind of freeing to break away (even if just for a little bit) from the oppressive grips of the big three.

Now, if you’re interested in trying Bazzite and living a bit of that Linux life yourself, here’s how I set it up. It’s not totally foolproof, but it’s straightforward if you’re the tinkering type and can follow some simple guides (which I’ll link to).

The second NVMe slot on the Framework Desktop’s main board makes the Windows and Linux dual boot setup super easy. Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge

A Noctua fan is ideal for the Framework Desktop, especially if you’re using it in your living room. It’s a lot quieter than the cheaper Cooler Master option. Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge

Since I already had Windows 11 installed from my review of the Framework Desktop, I opted to install Bazzite on the second internal NVMe drive. You can dual boot from a single drive, with some precautionary measures, but it’s not uncommon to find forumgoers warning that Windows 11 can disrupt things like the boot order after running an update. Since sharing game files across Windows and Linux is also complicated, I decided to keep the OSes completely separate — which helped reinforce my work / play separation. I use the Bazzite drive for most of my gaming needs and boot into Windows when I need it for work (running Lightroom Classic for photo editing) or games that require it (PC Game Pass games, multiplayer titles with stricter anti-cheat measures, etc.).

I followed Bazzite’s official guide, cross-referenced Framework’s tutorial for the Laptop 16, and I was living the Linux life in less than an hour. Bazzite’s site has a user-friendly ISO picker for downloading the file you need to install the OS — typically by burning the ISO to a USB flash drive using a tool like Rufus. If you prefer video to written guides, Mike’s Tech Tips on YouTube is an invaluable resource, with a pleasant, calming voiceover to boot.

I only encountered one technical issue running Bazzite: There was no audio coming through the HDMI connection to my TV, despite my attempts to select “External Device” or “Default (External Device)” as my source. For some reason, this was fixed by entering desktop mode and switching the source there. It’s worked fine since.

It’s easy to alter the boot order of the Framework Desktop to prioritize the Bazzite drive. Booting up puts it right into Bazzite and its Steam Deck-like Big Picture Mode. And then, to access Windows without restarting and mashing an F-key to get to the boot menu, you can set up a script to reboot into Windows right from Bazzite’s Steam interface. You just go into the Bazzite desktop, open the Terminal, and type in the ujust code below. It does the work for you and adds a “boot-windows” option to the Steam Library.

Code: ujust setup-boot-windows-steam

Bazzite’s Game Mode Home Screen is basically Steam’s Big Picture Mode. You can see my “reboot into Windows” shortcut in the top row.

As far as Linux has come, the Framework Desktop, or any other PC running Bazzite, probably isn’t the one gaming PC to rule my living room. Setting aside the requisite tinkering, there are still games it cannot play, either because they’re from services that aren’t supported (like PC Game Pass) or they reject Linux because they fear cheaters (like Fortnite or Valorant or the Battlefield 6 beta).

But color me impressed by Bazzite and even further by the Framework Desktop. I see why Bazzite has been gaining popularity with PC gamers. The time is ripe for Steam Machines to make a triumphant return, and I think this time it can work. Bazzite and devices like the Steam Deck and Framework Desktop are all showing the way.

Photography and screenshots by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge.

Cyberpunk 2077 is demanding in 4K, but the Framework with Bazzite runs it decently. Image: CD Projekt Red

In my review, I found that the Framework Desktop is best equipped for 2.5K gaming, but the top-end Ryzen AI Max Plus 395 APU I’m using in this “Steam Machine” setup can do 4K at 60-ish frames per second on a TV. How smooth it runs and how good it looks depends on the game. Here’s a brief overview of some games I’ve been playing on it:

  • Cyberpunk 2077: Playing Cyberpunk at 4K at around 60fps meant setting it to medium preset (no ray tracing, of course) with FSR set to balanced, and it looked and played great. Flipping on some “fake frames” with frame generation pushed it into the mid-80s. Not bad at all!
  • Helldivers 2: It plays and looks great in 4K with medium settings and render scale set to balanced, hovering around the mid-60s. In busier areas it sinks to the 50s and briefly into the 40s when there are big explosions.
  • Street Fighter 6: SF6 is meant to be locked at 1080/60, which is no problem. You can push it to 4K and still get a solid 60fps with most details and settings set to “normal” (medium).
  • Monster Hunter Wilds: This is a bit of a torture test, due to Wilds’ infamously poor PC performance (though it’s been slowly improving). The game defaulted to FSR Ultra Performance mode and the lowest texture settings, which makes it look like a PlayStation 3 game. To keep things in 4K and actually looking decent I used FSR Performance and medium textures and turned on frame generation — this kept frame rates in the 70s or close to 80, which could bump to over 100 by dropping down to 2560 x 1440. Textures still aren’t great, but that’s just kind of how Wilds is unless you’re on top-tier hardware. It manages to play well overall and look solid.
  • Elden Ring Nightreign: Just as on Windows, Nightreign plays at 4K / 50-ish on medium settings, or locked in at the 60fps max if bumped down to 2.5K. (Boy, what I’d give for a FromSoftware title with FSR / DLSS support.)
  • Peak: A-okay at 4K on medium settings, with frame rates well into the 80s or higher.

Although some Windows games run better on Linux than on Windows, not all do. Black Myth: Wukong was about the same on either platform, but Cyberpunk 2077 actually ran 15fps slower in my benchmarks on Linux than in Windows with the same settings.

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August 24, 2025 0 comments
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The Chinese Room defend Bloodlines 2's paywalled vampire clans: "we have been expanding it from where we originally planned to land it"
Game Updates

The Chinese Room defend Bloodlines 2’s paywalled vampire clans: “we have been expanding it from where we originally planned to land it”

by admin August 22, 2025



You really have to hand it to the publishers of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. They are the absolute masters of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, the doyens of stepping on rakes, even as they near the checkered flag. The long-awaited RPG got a new trailer and what may actually prove to be the final release date at Gamescom Opening Night Live this week. The trailer was a feisty show of Dishonored-esque mayhem, and the hands-on verdicts I’ve read (save for stinky uncle Eurogamer) have been positive. Ours is forthcoming.


But then came the revelation that this much-delayed sequel to a quintessentially faction-led RPG from a company famous for downloadable add-ons would sell two of its vampire clans as day-one DLC. How we laughed! How we clutched our faces and chittered like gerbils! How we ran outside, begging for the moon to fall on our heads! Despair springs anew.


Our reporter on the ground at Gamescom is hardware editor James ‘Hardwearing’ Archer. He caught up with current and hopefully, final Bloodlines 2 developers The Chinese Room in person yesterday and, much like a parent coaxing a child away from a poisonous snake, casually asked them ‘What’s the thinking behind splitting off two of the clans as DLC?’


The answer, broadly, is that the new clans represent additional work on top of The Chinese Room’s original plans for the game – sometimes at Paradox’s request – so it’s fair to flog those bits separately. As for releasing the DLC alongside the main game, which naturally suggests that it could be sold as part of the main game, a PR told James, not in so many words, that they don’t want players to have to wait.


Narrative director Ian Thomas attempted to spell it all out. “It’s worthwhile saying that the game – well, I’ve only been on the game, I think, for two and a half years – but during that period, we’ve had huge cycles of ‘What are the player base thinking? What are they asking for? How does that fit in? What does the early alpha testing say, and what are they actually asking for?'” he said. (Side note to any more prosperous game developers reading: I feel like you are all taught by media training people to stall for time with rhetorical questions. Please stop doing this, it’s very exasperating and only makes me suspicious.)


“So we’ve made a huge amount of changes over that time, based on that cycle, if you like,” Thomas continued. “Including a massive amount of story content and features and all the rest of it. So we have been expanding it from where we originally planned to land it, I think, constantly, and Paradox have been really good when we go, or when the clients go, or when Paradox go: ‘We should add a bit more here. Let’s push the date back.’ As you know, the date has pushed back, but that has been to fatten it out into something that we feel does land where the players want it.”


According to Thomas, The Chinese Room are still “adding additional content even over the last few weeks”. The extra clan material and associated story bits fall into this rubric of post-concept ‘fattening’. So do certain character customisation features like hairstyles, piercings and tattoos, according to project design director Jey Hicks. “It’s not all, like, just fluff that we’re chucking in,” he said. “It’s all got that same quality there.”


The original Bloodlines shipped with seven vampire clans, including one of the clans Bloodlines 2 wants to paywall. They appear to be very different games, however – Paradox have taken to describing the sequel as a “spiritual successor” – as one might expect from the fact that The Chinese Room have sod-all experience making CRPGs. I think it would be fair to argue that Bloodlines 2 only having four clans by default simply reflects a necessary change of direction, however much fans of the original might dislike that change of direction. It’s also worth noting that the conditions of game development have changed enormously since 2004, and that given the turmoil of Bloodlines 2’s overall development under Paradox, it’s miraculous they have anything to show at all.

But that’s not the case the developers made to us at Gamescom. And in particular, none of the above really explains the decision to ship features returning players would reasonably expect to form part of the base package as day-one ‘extras’. The “additional work” argument would ring truer if the DLC clans landed after release; as it is, the designation as to what constitutes the original concept and what constitutes an ‘extra’ seems totally arbitrary. The language about not wanting fans to wait just feels like predictable camouflage for the boring truth that they’d like to make more money.

Check out our Gamescom 2025 event hub for all the PC game announcements and preview coverage from Cologne.



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August 22, 2025 0 comments
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