11 Things PS4 Owners Don't Want In PS5
The PS5 launches in just a few months from now, and excitement for the console is continuing to ramp up. There's plenty that Sony have shown and talked about that we're quite excited about, but at the same time, we're also hoping there are some things that the PS5 won't do, thanks to worries based either on industry trends, or Sony's own past practices. In this feature, we'll be talking about a few such things.
PAID ONLINE
Paid online has, unfortunately, become an industry standard as far as consoles are concerned. Nintendo were the last holdouts, but with Nintendo Switch Online becoming a thing, the dream of going back to the days of free online gameplay on consoles seems more distant than ever. That's a real shame, because if there's one thing every consumer can agree on with next-gen consoles, it's that online should not be paid. When you're already paying good money for an online game but then have to pay a subscription fees to PSN as well, that's a hard pill to swallow. Sure, Sony might argue that their dedicated storefront, online service, its feature set, and the free games PS Plus gives to its subscribers is worth the subscription fees, but one only needs to take a look at PC stores like Steam (with its excellent feature set and thriving community) or the Epic Games Store (with its barrage of excellent free games) to realize that you don't need to be a paid service to do all that.
Baldur's Gate 3 Early Access Targeting September 30th Launch
In its recent Panel From Hell, Larian Studios provided a new release date for when Baldur's Gate 3 would release in early access. It's coming to PC via Steam and Google Stadia on September 30th. Larian CEO Swen Vincke said the team is targeting this date and feels pretty good about it (so the chances of a delay should be lower).
Though players won't be able to play as an Origins character, there is an extensive character creation system with lots of options. There are also five different companions to recruit who will have different interactions and dynamics depending on who else is in the party. Currently, the developer is unsure about the number of races, sub-races and classes but there will be quite a few (Rogue and Fighter are confirmed though). Areas like Avernus (with the ongoing Blood War), Faerun and the Underdark are also included.
The early access build will feature over 20 hours of content and allows players to hit level 4. Multiplayer will also be available for up to four players, both online and via LAN but there won't be any split-screen support at launch. Baldur's Gate 3 is expected to remain in early access for a while – stay tuned for more details and announcements en route to September.
Subnautica, Subnautica: Below Zero Coming to Switch in Early 2021
Unknown Worlds Entertainment's Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero didn't receive a stealth release on Switch. However, both underwater survival titles will be out in early 2021 for the platform. Check out the announcement trailer below.
Subnautica sees players crash-landing their ship on an aquatic world and having to craft tools, build a base and explore to survive. Various aquatic beings, both friendly and scary, will make life difficult along the way. As for Subnautica: Below Zero, it also takes place on 4546B but this time in an arctic region with new flora and fauna, new technology and a brand new story.
While Subnautica has been available for Xbox One, PS4 and PC since 2018 (garnering strong critical acclaim and sales), Subnautica: Below Zero released in early access for PC for last year. So this is essentially a release window for the later. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months, including a proper release date.
Hades Announced for Switch, Out This Fall
Supergiant Games' Hades is coming to the Nintendo Switch, as announced in a stunning new animated trailer. It sees Zagreus, the son of Hades, taking on the Hydra in a stunning battle. Check it out below.
Along with releasing for Switch this Fall, Hades will also exit early access on PC in the same period. Those who have played on PC can enable cross-save progression and carry on their journey. It's an interesting proposition, especially for those who want to experience the game on the go or in their living room.
Hades launched in December 2018 for early access, first on the Epic Games Store and then on Steam last year. Impressions have been incredibly positive and Supergiant Games has been adding new powers, weapons, Boons, areas and bosses throughout the title's early access stint. Its launch this fall will contain the 1.0 update, which has yet to be fully detailed. Stay tuned for more information in the meantime.
Spiritfarer Out Now for Switch, Later Today for PS4, Xbox One and PC
Among the many sudden launches at the recent Nintendo Indie World Showcase was Thunder Lotus' Spiritfarer. The mystical management game is out now for the Switch and will be coming to Xbox One, PS4 and PC today. It will retail for $29.99 and also be available for Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC.
Spiritfarer is about Stella, who ferries spirits into the afterlife while also taking care of them on her boat. Throughout the adventure, players will cook, befriend different spirits, mine, harvest and so on before saying goodbye. Stella is joined by Daffodil, who can also serve as a second player in co-op.
As you journey forth, the boat can be customized to your liking. Different activities and ways to spend time with the different spirits will lead to emotional moments and long-lasting memories. There's even some platforming to be had as Stella explores the world around her. Stay tuned for more details and announcements from the Indie World Showcase.
EA and DICE are taking their time with the next entry in the Battlefield series. Work on Battlefield 6 is confirmed to be underway, and we know that the shooter will be coming to next-gen consoles in 2021, but we don't know much else beyond that. However, some new information may now have emerged.
Tom Henderson – a reputed insider who's accurately leaked Call of Duty and Battlefield information on multiple occasions in the past – recently took to Twitter and dropped some interesting pieces of info. Henderson claims that Battlefield 6 maps are being designed with 128+ players in mind, but adds that 32 vs 32 matches will still be the standard, core playlist, and that larger maps don't necessarily have to mean that 64 vs 64 will be supported.
Personally, given how Battlefield as a series has always gone for large scale multiplayer battles and how DICE and EA have held back on its launch to take full advantage of next-gen hardware, I don't think 64 vs 64 battles in larger maps would be that much of a stretch for the next game- but that's just speculation on my part.
Meanwhile, in another tweet, Henderson said that due to the success of Call of Duty: Warzone, EA and DICE are both eyeing the battle royale genre with interest, though he also says that there is no confirmation of a battle royale mode in the next Battlefield yet. Battlefield 5 did try its hand at the genre with the Firestorm mode, so it's entirely possible that DICE try that out once more, and try to integrate it better in the base game.
A couple of months ago, Henderson also suggested that Battlefield 6 would be returning to a modern-day setting. You can read more on that through here.
EA CEO Andrew Wilson said earlier this year that the game's development is "progressing very, very well."
Battlefield news; Maps have been designed with 128+ players in mind. But 32 vs 32 will also be a standard playlist.
— Tom Henderson (@_TomHenderson_) August 13, 2020
I agree. But they have been designed with those player counts in mind. It doesn't necessarily mean 64vs64 is coming. The core game is still 32vs32. https://t.co/zoGmkWFq2d
— Tom Henderson (@_TomHenderson_) August 13, 2020
Battlefield news; There's also been increased interest in Battle Royale due to the success of Warzone. No confirmation of a BR in the next Battlefield yet, but could EA and DICE be planning a F2P Battlefield experience?
— Tom Henderson (@_TomHenderson_) August 13, 2020
Nintendo Indie World Showcase – Watch the Livestream Here
In roughly an hour and a half from now at 9 AM Pacific Time, Nintendo will be airing the next episode of their Indie World Showcase, providing new information and updates on upcoming indie games coming to the Switch over the course of 20 minutes. You can watch all the announcements and updates in the embedded livestream below.
As for what we can expect to see during the show, it's anyone's best guess at this point. Without a doubt, Hollow Knight: Silksong is one of the most highly anticipated games coming to the Switch, and information on the game has been scant these last few months, so fans will be hoping for some sort of an update on that. Windbound launches later this month, so it's possible we could hear something about that. Meanwhile, Sports Story recently got delayed, so it's doubtful whether that will show up. Then there's Disco Elysium, which is confirmed to be coming to the Switch, so hopefully we get to see it making an appearance.
We will be covering the show live and keeping you posted on all updates and announcements, so stay tuned.
NBA 2K21 – 10 Features You Need To Know
Visual Concepts' basketball franchise continues with NBA 2K21. While it's out on September 4th for Xbox One, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch and Google Stadia, this year also marks the series' debut on Xbox Series X and PS5. Those versions will be coming later but what should you know about NBA 2K21 before it releases? Let's take a look at 10 things here.
$70 on PS5 and Xbox Series X
NBA 2K21 is historically relevant, in a sense because the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions will cost $70, making them the first mainstream video game releases in years with that price tag. Such was the shock that many questioned the legitimacy of the news. Not only did 2K Games confirm the same, claiming that it justified the price, but Take Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick echoed the sentiment. Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Zelnick pointed out the lack of a price increase in games despite how much it cost to make them. "We think with the value we offer consumers… and the kind of experience you can really only have on these next-generation consoles, and the price is justified."
Of course, Zelnick would subsequently clarify in the company's Q1 earnings call that $70 was not the default price for next-gen games and that pricing would be decided on a "title-by-title basis." So while the jury is still out on future games, NBA 2K21 will require $70 up front.
Standard and Mamba Forever Edition
Who doesn't love tables explaining the extensive differences between different versions of the same game? For NBA 2K21, there's the Standard Edition on current and next gen and the Mamba Forever Edition for current and next gen. The main difference between the Standard Edition on current and next gen is the cover athlete – Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers adorns the former while Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans is in the latter.
Standard Edition owners for either version will receive 5,000 Virtual Currency, 5,000 MyTeam Points, 10 MyTeam Promo Packs (with one received per week), 9 MyCareer Skill Boosts and a Shoe Collection with five pairs of shoes. Depending on the generation, you'll receive a MyTeam Free Agent Card and custom MyPlayer t-shirt for either Williamson or Lillard. Even more confusing is that current-gen players will receive a Tissot Chrono XL NBA Watch for MyPlayer while next-gen players get a MyPlayer Dunk Animation Package for Williams.
Got all that? Good because now it's time to talk about the Mamba Forever Edition which costs $99.99. Kobe Bryant is the cover athlete for both current and next-gen and depending on the version, you'll receive the Standard Edition for either the current or next-gen version (along with the digital collection from Lillard or Williamson). There's also 100,000 Virtual Currency, 10,000 MyTeam Points, 60 My Career Skill Boosts, 30 Gatorade – boosts and the Kobe Bryant Digital Collection with its own assorted goodies. There's obviously a lot more but we need to move on.
Cross-gen Progression
The good news is that regardless of which console version you buy, progression will carry over between generations. That includes MyTeam Points, Tokens and Cards. Virtual Currency is also shared between the respective consoles, meaning Xbox One and PS4 players can access their currency on Xbox Series X and PS5 respectively.
Current vs. Next Gen Differences
Though one would assume that the next-gen version just has a few extra bells and whistles (along with shorter loading times), Visual Concepts has been working to differentiate it from the current gen release. Development between both versions is split between Visual Concepts in Novato and Los Angeles, with the former dedicated to next-gen while the latter focuses on current-gen. Gameplay director Mike Wang also said that there's much more content to be had in the next-gen version while the overall feel and movement are completely different.
Balance Between Fun and Realism
For this year's entry, the developer wanted to make the game more enjoyable, hitting that balance between fun and realism. Which sounds weird but as gameplay director Mike Wang noted, what's realistic may not necessarily be fun. To that end, stuff like throwing the ball away on cherry pick passes has noted as not fun and will be fixed. Wang also stated that despite current and next-gen versions sharing the same "DNA", there are a number of gameplay differences. Those differences haven't necessarily been outlined but they are apparently there so we'll need to wait for more information.
MyTeam Unlimited Returns
If all the preorder bonuses didn't tip you off, MyTeam Unlimited is making a return. The mode has always been about creating your NBA dream team from a set of cards and competing with them. These cards range in color from Bronze (the worst) to Pink Diamond (the best) and are obtained through card packs using MT Coins or Virtual Currency. There's also the Auction House for buying and selling cards because of course there is. Not much was revealed about MyTeam Unlimited for NBA 2K21 but the developer has promised "new ways to compete." Perhaps new game modes or rules? Again, more details are needed.
Card Evolution
Another returning feature is Card Evolution. Evolution Cards are special MyTeam cards that can be upgraded by meeting certain requirements, and they allow for the color or skill rating. It should be interesting to see how they change in NBA 2K21, especially with there being more control on how cards can be evolved. It's all very exciting and also somewhat frightening.
Championship Rings
NBA 2K21 will see players competing for "Championship Rings" in-game. Again, very little was said beyond this but maybe it will allow for earning actual wearable rings when winning a championship? That would be an interesting addition, if nothing else.
202 Tracks on Next-Gen
NBA 2K21 will have 52 songs with its current-gen release. However, it's the next-gen version that's much crazier with 202 songs at launch and even more songs being added over time. Some of the artists include The Strokes, Roddy Ricch and Stormzy but if you've played an NBA 2K game, you can expect the usual range of pop, rock, R&B and hip-hop overall.
"Exciting News" for WNBA
Though more explicit details are lacking, yet again, Visual Concepts has promised "exciting news" for WNBA fans with NBA 2K21. Reports have been circulating about WNBA players and packs being added to MyTeam mode but official confirmation has yet to arrive. Regardless, if you typically lean towards the WNBA, then it might be worth keeping an eye on NBA 2K21.
It seems like both upcoming next-gen consoles are losing major launch titles. Xbox Series X recently lost Halo Infinite with its indefinite delay, and now the PS5 has lost one too. Arkane Studios recently announced via an update on Twitter that Deathloop has been delayed from its Holiday 2020 release into Q2 2021.
In its letter, the developer states that delivering the game as they envision it with "the polish and quality level that defines both an Arkane game and a true next-gen experience" while having to work from home due to COVID-19 has proved to be more difficult than expected. They say that the extra development time will allow them to "bring Deathloop's world to life with as much life and character" as fans expect from Arkane.
Other than its broad new Q2 2021 launch window, Arkane haven't given any specifics on when to expect the game, but they do say that they will be sharing more info on Deathloop in their next update, which is supposedly coming "soon".
Whenever it comes, Deathloop will be available on PS5 and PC. On PS5, it will run at 4K and 60 FPS, and will also make use of the DualSense's adaptive triggers and haptic feedback.
To the community, an update on DEATHLOOP: pic.twitter.com/XveoG6AgoT
— DEATHLOOP (@deathloop) August 18, 2020
For whatever reason, the Resident Evil series has been a leaky one over the last few years. For instance, we heard so much about the next game in the franchise, Resident Evil Village, before it was even announced. Well, there's more today, and some of it even points to the potential cross generational nature of the project at one point in time.
We've been getting a lot of information about the game from allegedly playtests that were done and leaked out. For instance, we've possibly learned about the game's bosses, enemies and weapons, as well as early parts of the story. New details come via Biohazard Cast about another section of the game.
According to this leak, this playtest version was a demo that actually was available before the release of this year's Resident Evil 3 remake. Here, the person alleges they played through a cave section with a female character who had no offensive weapons and was tasked with escaping, seemingly in some type of panicked state. They were attacked by enemies, including another 'witch' like character.
"In this segment, the woman carried no weapons of any type and the objective was to escape the caves. Our source also indicated they were under the impression that she was very distressed and looking for something. They also heavily reiterated the fact of the caves being dark and mentioned they had to have a representative help them adjust the brightness several times.
These new [enemies] carried swords and also had the ability to grab and bite the player as well. Our source compared the look of these enemies to that of Krampus, the evil creature that punishes children at Christmas.
While hiding in the caves our source says they came across a file that called these new creatures "Strigoi", which interestingly enough have a base in Romanian folklore, which is fitting to the aesthetic we've seen thus far with Resident Evil Village.
There apparently was another one of the "witches" in the caves as well that seemed to be able to control the Strigoi going by the name of "Scarlett"."
Maybe one of the most interesting bits here is that the alleged player said the game was running on a PS4 Pro, and in fact ran very well on the system they played on. That's interesting because early rumors suggested that the game would be crossgen, but has since been announced as coming to PS5, Xbox Series X and PC with no mention of current systems thus far.
Of course, with all of these leaks and rumors, you have to take it with a grain of salt, but if this is accurate, it could mean the crossgen plans for the game were dropped pretty last minute before Resident Evil Village's reveal at the PS5 event in June.