Contra, Super Cobra, Gradius II and Super Dodge Ball headed to Arcade Archives range
Publisher Hamster has offered retro fans a sneak-peek at some of the future titles headed to its record-breaking Arcade Archives range. This latest batch of titles includes several classic arcade shooters and a rarity from the Kunio-kun sporting side series.
First on the agenda is the original release in Konami's beloved Contra series. Originally released in 1987, Contra sees muscle-bound heroes Bill and Lance fight off swarms of alien invaders in tough, full-blooded, trigger-pumping action. This release will feature both the Japanese and International versions of this all-time classic.
Fallout 76 is adding incentives for PTS players, Bethesda asks more people to join testing periods
Bethesda wants more people to test out Fallout 76. Maybe if they had a lengthy beta period from the start, the whole launch debacle wouldn't have happened! Wakka wakka.
The reality is that we're nearly two years removed from the arrival of Fallout 76, and many aspects of it have improved. A lot of free content has been added amid big quality of life changes, even if a lot of folks see it as too little too late. Of course, those advancements came with the recent sting of the "season pass" system that creates an incentive to grind for content you could otherwise earn in-game. Fallout 76 is cyclical like that.
As for more recent developments, Bethesda says they need more people to playtest Fallout 76. If you're a PC user on the Bethesda launcher with a copy of the game you can access the PTS (public test server) for free, which is now getting certain incentives that will transfer to the main game. In short, more testing is needed for multiplayer Daily Ops sessions, and if you complete eight of them in the PTS you'll earn a PTS pennant reward.
It's small, but it's the sort of thing developers like Bungie do often. If you hit that goal you'll get your reward once Update 22 hits. Your call!
Inside the Vault [Bethesda.net]
As the gray hairs have slowly replaced the brown ones on my temples, I've become quite fond of shorter games. I don't mind diving into something meaty that takes me two weeks or more to complete, but with the color of my hair reminding me of how little sand I have left in the hourglass, I'm gravitating more and more toward bite-sized adventures.
But just because a game is short doesn't mean it can't be memorable. In fact, some of my favorite titles of the past few generations have been those I can complete in 10 hours or less. And while Giraffe and Annika doesn't quite measure up to those short adventures that came before it, its endless charm has me appreciating the experience anyway, warts and all.
If you haven't played either Prinny game yet, here's a good idea of what the series is about
Playing through both Prinny games on PSP was an absolute treat.
Although they aren't for everyone (as folks will soon learn all over again), the pair of PSP platformers ruled in their irreverence and commitment to difficulty. If you aren't familiar with the vibe that these two games give off, the trailer below pretty much provides a crash course on them.
The concept is simple: you have 1000 lives to finish the campaign, which revolves around a mundane task (like making an amazing dessert or obtaining...a stolen article of clothing). You get a sword attack and a butt bump, as well as special abilities from unlockable unique prinnies in the sequel (Asagi/Laharl). As a reminder, the re-releases will have "all bonus stages and special weapons DLC" baked in, and there's a decent chunk of stuff to do in the postgame as-is.
Prinny 1-2: Exploded and Reloaded is available as a package deal on October 13 on Switch, but you can also buy the games piecemeal on the eShop for 20 bucks each.
Wasteland 3's co-op mode will let you share the misery with a friend
We're one short week away from the launch of inXile Entertainment's dystopian RPG, Wasteland 3. Keeping the hype fires stoked, publisher Deep Silver has released a new trailer showcasing the post-apocalyptic sequel's co-op multiplayer elements.
Knowing that a problem shared is a problem halved, even in the mire of nuclear fallout, Wasteland 3's co-op mode will allow two players to squad up to take on a series of brutal and hazardous missions. Use tactical teamwork to overcome the odds in battle, explore enemy encampments, and navigate the harsh and brutal overworld. You might have to share your ill-gotten gains, but it's probably better than ending up face-down in a ditch.
Bungie reminds us that some of Destiny 2's best content is going into the 'vault' later this year
As the developer confirmed earlier this year, Destiny 2 is going to have a lot of content cut out of it come November 10 to "make room" for the new expansion. In short, they're using the Disney Vault method. Bungie took the time this week to further clarify what that means.
When November 10 hits, a ton of stuff is going to be removed from the game completely until a potential mystery date. While the vast majority of the vault deals with entire areas in the PVE portion of the game (including items and gear), even PVP maps and several modes aren't safe. You can find the full list of content that will be erased from Destiny 2 in November below.
Bungie also says that "With some of the core Year 1 destinations entering the Vault, it's true that the free-for-all-players Red War, Curse of Osiris, and Warmind campaigns will no longer be playable." They are "building" a new expanded origin story that will launch in Year 4: the quality of which remains to be seen. If you want more info on vaulting as a whole, you can go here.
This whole concept is a mess, and belies the entire idea of Destiny 2 even being remotely close to an "MMO"; a marketing term I dismissed as early as the original beta for the first Destiny. I get that Bungie wanted to reduce the bloat of the game to make it even easier to manage and make the file size more manageable, but it seems like Activision was able to help them out in ways that they can't muster on their own.
Before Bungie transitioned to self-publishing the game felt like one giant world. Now it's been shifted to a monolithic grind framed around "seasons" like every other shooter: with even less content to play come November. I'll be there to at least check out the Beyond Light expansion, but there's less of a reason to linger now.
This Week at Bungie [Bungie.net]
Review: Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time
Samurai Jack rules.
It ruled in 2001 and it ruled in 2017 when it came back. Genndy Tartakovsky is frankly still an underrated talent in terms of being one of the most prolific storytellers of the past 20 years; a title partially obscured by the boat loads of cash he got from the Hotel Transylvania series.
While Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time tries to capitalize on the resurgent popularity of the show's latest season, it doesn't really succeed as an action game or a Samurai Jack adaptation.
World of Warcraft is getting an overhauled app for the upcoming Shadowlands expansion
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is still coming "this fall," and it'll bring hundreds of hours of extra stuff to do. While WoW players are probably champing at the bit to see if the story is any good (knock on wood), for the meantime we can gaze at the new companion app: which is actually looking pretty great.
Come this fall the new mobile app allows you to toggle between each recent expansion (Legion, Battle for Azeroth, Shadowlands) at will, all of which will retain their former app functionality. As far as the new stuff goes you can fiddle with your favorite covenant (Necrolord, Kyrian, Night Fae, Venthyr), wit the previous "adventure" mechanic making an expected comeback.
Just like Final Fantasy Tactics' tavern or the core of Valkyrie Profile, you can still send recruits off to invisible missions to reap rewards. While you can do it in-game, the app makes things much easier as you can micromanage everything on the go, or before bed.
Thankfully the app isn't just being pigeonholed into an adventure screen like it was in the past, as it's also getting a general WoW news section, as well as the ability to look at your character like a mini Armory mechanic. Community and guild chat, as well as the helpful calendar, are also all coming.
It's a straight-up upgrade!
Shadowlands Preview: A New Look for the WoW Companion App [Battle.net]
Sega Astro City Mini coming to Japan in December
The video game industry continues to find new-old hardware to shrink down and re-release, as the "mini" console craze continues. The latest example is this, the Sega Astro City Mini, a scaled-down edition of the classic cabinet that packed out arcades in Japan and elsewhere throughout the '90s and '00s.
The Astro City Mini features the iconic green-and-white design of its older brother, and will come pre-loaded with 36 Sega arcade classics including Shinobi, Shadow Dancer, Golden Axe, ESWAT, and Virtua Fighter. An Astro City stylised controller will also be available to facilitate two-player action, while an adorable little base and stool can be attached to the main unit to truly create that pint-sized coin-op aesthetic. The Astro City Mini is powered via USB and features HDMI output, allowing for connection to a display.
I'd play the hell out of Black Myth: Wu Kong
Black Myth: Wu Kong is a name worth remembering if you're big into action-RPGs.
To a certain extent, this footage – 13 minutes of gameplay from a pre-alpha build that includes a beastly boss fight – speaks for itself. Wu Kong is a From Software-inspired take on Journey to the West with cool character abilities, and that's something I didn't know I wanted asap, but I do. Badly.
The Chinese studio behind the project, Game Science, is aiming for a PC and console release.
According to industry analyst Daniel Ahmad, the team was founded in 2014 by former Tencent Games staff. They have a few titles under their belts, including Art of War: Red Tides, but this is a step up.
I hope it comes together – especially after seeing the montage at the 11-minute mark.
Contest: Win Hellbound, a sleek retro FPS on Steam
In today's contest you can win Hellbound for Steam!
I'm gonna cut straight to the point, here. In the trailer I posted below for Hellbound, there's a quote that says, "No 'Glory-Shits.'" Does anyone know what that means? I consider most shits I take to be quite glorious, so I'm a little confused.
Either way, the game looks like fun! Save some money and come win a copy.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link was a massive departure from the original title. More linear, carefully metered progress, and with more RPG elements. It bore few similarities to its predecessor with its unique mix of top-down overworld exploration and side-scrolling action.
I hated it. But don't tell boss Niero I said that. I'm pretty sure that making disparaging comments about Zelda II is a fireable offense at Destructoid.
It wasn't the game's formula that left a bad taste in my mouth, however. On the contrary, it was an interesting mix of play styles. Despite this, the formula didn't catch on to a wide extent. Few games have followed its lead, with even the Zelda series neglecting its mechanics as the franchise widened.
Phoenotopia Awakening seems to have latched onto that misunderstood title and squeezed it for all it was worth. It wears its Zelda influences on its sleeve, but also layers on its own fantastic personality. The result is something that is markedly different than Zelda II, even if you can easily see its foundation, and I couldn't be happier for that.
Martha is Dead and someone stole her face
Don't watch this trailer for Martha is Dead unless you're ready to see someone get their face taken off.
You've been warned. This isn't an out-of-focus, not-that-bad Face/Off sorta deal.
Since we last covered LKA's Tuscan psychological horror adventure game – a tale about a murdered twin set against the backdrop of World War II – there's 14 minutes of gameplay footage courtesy of IGN and word that Martha is Dead will release in 2021 for PC (as previously known) and also Xbox Series X.
"This game will shock," according to LKA founder Luca Dalcò. He's not wrong!
Murder-Mystery Horror Martha Is Dead Coming to Xbox Series X and PC in 2021 [IGN]
This video doesn't end with the Battletoads beating up Major Nelson
I wasted 92 seconds watching this animated interview, convinced that Zitz, Pimple, and Rash were gonna beat the living hell out of Xbox's Major Nelson. Through straight-faced questions (a missed opportunity to get weirder with it), Major Nelson asks them if their game is good.
I will spare you the suspense and tell you that Major Nelson does not get his ass kicked. Pimple does not bodyslam him for wondering what kind of game Battletoads is. Rash doesn't huge-foot kick him through the screen for the sheer audacity of asking whether they're worried about the competition from other now-revived franchises.
You, however, may be curious as to what kind of game Battletoads ended up as. It's not a straight beat-em-up like you may think. It's a bizarre collection of mini-games and brawler segments, almost like a bunch of non sequiturs stitched together. It's unexpected but it turned out fine! Check out Chris' review for some insight as to the new Battletoads, or just go pick it up as a part of Xbox Game Pass.
Today's Fall Guys update trimmed the timer in Royal Fumble and Team Tail Tag
Win or lose, the tail-grabbing games in Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout drag on for way too long.
It's gotten to the point where I mindlessly goof around in Team Tail Tag and outright sit still – hands off the controller – in Royal Fumble until the last 40 seconds or so that actually matter. The rest is fluff!
It seems I'm far from the only one who thinks the timers could use a trim. In a Fall Guys update released today "based directly on [community] feedback," Mediatonic shaved a clean 30 seconds off the clock. Team Tail Tag and Royal Fumble will now run for a minute and a half. The other changes are great, too.
Team games – one of the most divisive parts of Fall Guys – will no longer be selected back-to-back. The player count for Fall Mountain (the finale where you run up a hill, dodge rolling balls, and leap to grab a floating crown) is now capped at 15 players. And Valve-inspired costumes are in the PS4 shop.
I don't want to cover this silly game to death, but also, this update rules.
@FallGuysGame [Twitter]
Demon's Souls could be closer than expected if a recent rating is any indication
Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon's Souls are all the justification I need to want to pick up a PlayStation 5 on day one (whenever that might be, and for however much that might cost), but what are the odds? We don't know the PS5 launch games or even the full launch-window lineup, for that matter.
Adding more speculative fuel to the fire, Demon's Souls was rated in Korea on August 13, 2020.
As listing spotter Gematsu notes, the other PS5 game with a Korean rating is Miles Morales – and Insomniac is planning a "holiday 2020" release. That's not to say Demon's Souls will be the same story, but the fact that it already has a rating now suggests a quicker timeline than I've been expecting.
Can Japan Studio and Bluepoint Games make the 2020 launch? That would be quite the score.
In the meantime, I'll watch the announcement trailer for the twentieth-or-so time.
[Via Gematsu]
Krieg, the conductor of the Poop Train, is back for the fourth Borderlands 3 expansion
The most psycho of the Psychos is taking an encore. Our conductor's insane, our cargo is pain, Poop Train!
Gearbox has given us a teaser trailer for the upcoming fourth Borderlands 3 DLC. Krieg is doing some zen meditation through anguished screams. Serenity NOW.
This is the last of the Borderlands 3 season pass content, but probably not the end of Borderlands 3's DLC. As Chris said in his Bounty of Blood review, it feels like Gearbox has more up its sleeve after this.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. This add-on featuring Krieg is getting revealed on Tuesday, August 25. Don't count on Borderlands 3 dialing back the murder in its old age.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim has me breaking out a notepad just to keep track of everything
It's been five years since Atlus and Vanillaware first revealed 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim to the world. After a couple of delays and a dropped platform, it launched last year in Japan to critical success. As a fan of the developer's previous work, I've kept my eye on the title, but I've noticed enthusiasm toward it in the west has been relatively muted.
The images that sprang to mind when we heard "Vanillaware is making a giant mecha vs. kaiju game" became dust in the wind when we actually got a look at what 13 Sentinels would be. Gone was the side-scrolling action gameplay Vanillaware relied upon in titles like Odin Sphere and Muramasa: The Demon Blade. In its place is an experience divided into two very distinct genres: a side-scrolling, text-heavy adventure game that maintains the gorgeous art direction Vanillaware is best known for and an isometric real-time strategy game that looks and plays nothing like the developer has made before.
Nintendo's Share the Fun sale has deals on great multiplayer Switch games
I'm in the not-that-fiscally-responsible habit of checking the Nintendo Switch eShop every weekend for multiplayer games, ports of old favorites, or anything that jumps out at me, really. Sometimes, I'll stumble on a deal. Other times, I won't – but I'll still buy the game I don't actually need anyway.
Don't be like me! Bide your time. Make smart choices.
Instead, take this week's Share the Fun sale on the eShop as your opportunity to get some genuinely fantastic games at decent-enough prices. Between Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 (which everyone who digs classic Castlevania should check out even if they skipped CotM 1), Castle Crashers Remastered, Exit the Gungeon, Huntdown, Luigi's Mansion 3, and Streets of Rage 4, there's a lot to love on this list.
These discounts are as high as 50% off, but some are as low as 15% off. That's life as a Nintendo fan.
- 1-2-Switch ($34.99)
- ARMS ($41.99)
- Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 ($11.99)
- Burnout Paradise Remastered ($34.99)
- Castle Crashers Remastered ($8.99)
- Catherine: Full Body ($39.99)
- Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled ($23.99)
- Cuphead ($15.99)
- Dead by Daylight ($26.39)
- Diablo III: Eternal Collection ($29.99)
- Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition ($34.99)
- Enter the Gungeon ($7.49)
- Exit the Gungeon ($6.99)
- Go Vacation ($34.99)
- Heave Ho ($4.99)
- Huntdown ($13.99)
- Just Dance 2020 ($19.99)
- Luigi's Mansion 3 ($41.99)
- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 ($39.99)
- Outbuddies DX ($8.99)
- Overwatch: Legendary Edition ($19.99)
- Puyo Puyo Tetris ($17.99)
- River City Girls ($20.99)
- Saints Row IV: Re-Elected ($25.99)
- Shovel Knight Showdown ($6.99)
- Sky Racket ($7.49)
- Star Wars Episode I: Racer ($11.24)
- Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy ($9.99)
- Streets of Rage 4 ($21.24)
- Super Meat Boy ($7.49)
- Swimsanity! ($18.74)
- The Stretchers ($13.99)
- Torchlight II ($11.99)
- Unravel Two ($4.99)
- What the Golf? ($14.99)
Keep in mind, not everything on this list has local co-op. I'm looking at you, Torchlight II.
Nintendo is also running the Share the Fun sale in Europe, and the deals last until August 30.
Raise your hand if you still hold water for Battletoads outside of that GameStop meme. I see...a few people in the horizon!
Wait, am I one of the only ones who played all seven games in the series, including the Tiger Electronics handheld release? Who is this 2020 version of Battletoads for? After playing it, I'm even more confused and delighted.
Now Agent 47 solves murder mysteries too
You wouldn't send a wrecking ball to clean up a rainforest. You wouldn't put out a fire with a flamethrower. I'm not sure why you'd send a killer to solve a murder. Still, that's exactly what Agent 47 is going to do in Hitman 3.
The second Hitman 3 level is part Hitman and part Clue. There's been a murder at the Thornbridge Manor in Dartmoor, England. Among grieving friends and family, one of them has blood on their hands. Agent 47 is on the scene to go eye-for-eye because cloned killing machines really do not care if the whole world is blind.
Presumably, the Thornbridge Mystery tasks you with observing everyone on this English countryside estate, figuring out who committed the crime, and offing them. That's a nice twist on the classic Hitman formula of creatively isolating a predetermined target and offing them. The offing part doesn't really change. It's sorta what Agent 47 does best.
The first level, Dubai, was revealed at the same time Hitman 3 was announced. It's more aligned with standard Hitman fare -- a Mission Impossible-like infiltration followed by some careful (or comically inept) sneaking about. Both settings look great in their own way.
Review: Peaky Blinders: Mastermind
I'm actually quite surprised it's taken this long for a Peaky Blinders video game to hit the market. Given that Steven Knight's smash hit period drama hit the BBC way back in 2013, and is already five seasons and 30 episodes deep, it would seem that the violent and conniving shenanigans of The Shelby Family would have made their digital transition long before now.
Perhaps the problem was a lack of ideas. How do you convert a talky period drama into a deeply interactive format while still keeping the overall atmosphere and style aesthetic of the show? Developer FuturLab has taken a stab (no pun intended) at this difficult task with Peaky Blinders: Mastermind, a strategy/puzzle title that attempts to capture the razor-sharp wit and instinct of the charismatic-yet-dangerous Tommy Shelby and convert that to a playable gaming experience.
It seems, however, that some brands will always struggle with the leap into the realm of video games, and while Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is certainly inventive, even somewhat stylish, it ironically fast loses connection with both its excellent source material and the player because of its very efforts to become... well... a video game.
Get yo' Nep on: Hyperdimension Neptunia anime is coming to Steam
It's been a happy 24 hours for The Nep Army. Not only did publisher Compile Heart announce a brand new Hyperdimension Neptunia title for PS5, but it has also been revealed that the Neptunia anime adaptation is headed to, all of places, the Steam platform.
Hitman 3 is an Epic Games Store exclusive
When it comes to Hitman, talks of contracts are usually confined to the contract killings that Agent 47 is tasked with. This time, it's a contract that'll kill off any hopes of the game hitting Steam at launch.
Epic has secured Hitman 3 as the latest Epic Games Store timed exclusive on PC. It likely wasn't a tough decision for newly-independent IO Interactive. Epic guarantees that it'll cover the development costs of its store exclusives, all but eliminating IO's financial risk in the final installment of its well-regarded trilogy.
PC users who haven't yet jumped into IO's free-form assassination simulator can check out the original for free next week. Hitman (2016) will be free on the Epic Games Store from August 27 through September 3. It was Game of the Year caliber four years ago (my, how time flies), so it's well worth checking out.
As for Hitman 3, it's still set for January 2021. It's coming to current- and next-gen consoles, PC via the Epic Games Store, and Google Stadia. If you're the type who holds out for Steam versions, that'll probably arrive in January 2022.
Nintendo Download: Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time
As we move into an uncertain fall for the Nintendo Switch (just announce the Mario re-releases already), we still have plenty of third-party games to get us by. The Nindies Showcase made sure to let us know the score, and for now, there's a few other games available this week.
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time, which is out tomorrow (also on PC, PS4 and Xbox One), is probably the biggest release on the docket. Then there's Peaky Blinders: Mastermind, an adaptation of the TV series: we have a review for it! Gleamlight and Inmost (the latter of which is coming on August 21) are also noteworthy.
Either way that's 36 new releases to sift through on the eShop this week. Good luck!
Sony releases dramatic PlayStation 5 commercial
Sony Interactive Entertainment has released the first commercial for its upcoming next-gen gaming platform, PlayStation 5. The "Play Has No Limits" ad represents typical forms of immersion that Sony hopes players will experience when playing games on the new console.
In the 70-second video, a young woman explores several evocative locations, including a frozen lake, a humid woodland camp, and a dark and foreboding cave. As our hero picks her way through each scenario, some of the PS5's features - such as the DualSense controller's Haptic Feedback and adaptive triggers and the console's Tempest 3D AudioTech - are represented by effects such as the ice cracking under her feet, the tension of the bow in her hand, and the sinister sounds rustling through the undergrowth.
The cinematic commercial then ends with a shot of the PS5 console itself, accompanied by its DualSense controller. Of course, no price is listed. Still, it's a nicely constructed commercial, one I can picture going over well on cinema screens worldwide.
Also, I want this rad gal to star in her own action-adventure video game.
PlayStation 5 launches Holiday 2020 worldwide.
Phantasy Star Online 2 recently arrived on the Xbox One this year in the west, then swiftly migrated to the Windows 10 platform, followed by a proper Steam release.
It seems as if that fairly big western push paid off, as Sega is reporting that the game now has 1,000,000 registered users as of this week: a number they seem to be very proud of. Sega says that the game will be available in "33 nations and territories," by the time the launch is fully complete, which is a huge upgrade from "just Japan," the previous reality from 2012 all the way through this year.
If you play, Sega is running free boost events, as well as daily rewards through August 26. You can find more info on that campaign here. As a reminder, Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is in the pipeline, and will serve as a sort of follow-up for the original PSO2. This series isn't going anywhere anytime soon: and thankfully, it's finally available in the west.
Celebrating 1,000,000 Arks [PSO2]
505 Games apologise but hold firm on Control next-gen controversy
505 Games has confirmed its stance regarding Remedy's Control and its selective next-gen upgrade offer. In a statement posted on the Control website, the publisher apologised to customers, saying they had explored every avenue to please all players to no avail.
To recap, 505 Games will release Control Ultimate Edition on September 10 for PS4 and Xbox One. This GOTY-style compilation will feature the base game and its two DLC expansions. Players who purchase the Ultimate Edition will also receive a free upgrade to the next-gen edition of Control when the new platforms launch later in 2020. However, those who already own Control and its expansion packs do not qualify for the free upgrade. This news has upset some Control players who feel their loyalty has been "punished."
"We spent several months exploring all of our launch options for Control Ultimate Edition and no decision was taken lightly," said 505 Games in the statement. "While it is challenging bringing any game to next gen platforms, we quickly realised it was even more difficult to upgrade our current user base to next gen with full parity across platforms with our year-old game."
"Every avenue we pursued, there was some form of blocker and those blockers meant that at least one group of players ended up being left out of the upgrade for various reasons. As of today, we can't offer an upgrade to everyone, and leaving any one group out feels unfair. We understand that is not what you want to hear."
Game Freak is giving away a free Porygon2 this weekend for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Following that free Amoonguss distribution by way of the Korean Trainer's Cup event, Game Freak and The Pokemon Company are holding another freebie giveaway this weekend.
Announced on the official Pokemon website, you'll be able to grab a free Porygon2 for Pokemon Sword and Shield if you watch the broadcast this weekend. Those times are actually August 22 and August 23 at 11AM PT, and at some point a code will flash on the screen that can be entered as a mystery gift to claim the character. Of course, that code will be available on all of the usual places the minute after it airs.
As a note, Porygon2 is already available in the DLC (you can just take it from the dojo and evolve it): but this one is a bit different. The Pokemon Company is calling it a "battle-ready" creature, with Trick Room strategies "just as you might have seen in the Pokemon Player's Cup battles."
If you don't watch the event live, don't sweat, as the code distribution is going to be more forgiving than the Korean promo. This time you have until August 31 to claim your Porygon2.
Receive a Battle-Ready Porygon2 Celebrating the Pokemon Players Cup [Pokemon.com]
Planet Zoo is getting an Australia Pack and a free update on August 25
Planet Zoo is adding several new animals with the Australia Pack on August 25, 2020.
The koala, red kangaroo, dingo, southern cassowary, and eastern blue-tongued lizard – choose your beast. Cassowaries are intimidating and their eggs are a wild shade of green, so that's my pick.
In line with the game's prior DLC packs, this one will cost $9.99 and it's arriving on the same day as a free update – in this case, the 1.3 update – to round out the zoo-managing experience for all players.
One of the coolest features in the patch is alternate colors and patterns to help differentiate your critters. "The team researched animal color and pattern variation, and found that documentation was rare and highly variable in quality depending on the species," according to Frontier Developments. "We've done our absolute best to stick to research photo reference, and do them justice."
Other upgrades include an all-in-one page for animal feeding, more efficient staff management, a Sandbox map, a Timed Scenario in Estonia, vending machines for your park guests, and more foliage.
Look out for "plants and smaller sapling trees to complement their larger cousins." Thank goodness.
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Anniversary Edition now available on iOS and Android
If you haven't had the opportunity to get away on vacation this summer, then fret not, as you can enjoy all of the sun, sand, sea, and slaughter of Spike Chunsoft's Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Anniversary Edition, which is now available to purchase on iOS and Android.
Originally released for Sony PSP back in 2013, the follow-up to Trigger Happy Havoc once again sees a party of perfect students brought together - this time in a tropical paradise - only to find themselves trapped within the mad games of sinister plush toy Monokuma, (this time accompanied by his adorable sibling Monomi).
As the mystery deepens and the body count rises, it will be up to our protagonist to investigate the gruesome murders and point an accusatory finger at the guilty party. Explore Jabberwock Island, gather testimony and evidence, and face off against suspects in tense interrogations, utilising Goodbye Despair's new "Panic Talk Action" mechanic to nail the killer.
Contest: Win Blightbound for Steam
In today's contest you can win a Steam Early Access copy of stylish dungeon crawler Blightbound!
I feel like having Devolver Digital as a publisher is something of a pedigree for a game -- it just gives that certain "wow factor" that many publishers can only dream of. Maybe it's the conferences, maybe it's the style...or maybe they just select awesome games. I'm thinking it's the latter.
Devolver teamed up with Ronimo Games to bring you Blightbound, a stylish dungeon crawler available now via Early Access. And since I'm writing this, you know what that means!
Brian Mitsoda 'suddenly terminated' as narrative lead on Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
In a somewhat shocking turn of events that puts the future of the long-awaited Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines sequel on shaky ground, narrative designer Brian Mitsoda has been fired with what seems like little warning from the higher-ups. Along with Mitsoda, creative director Ka'ai Cluney was also let go from Hardsuit Labs, the team behind Bloodlines 2.
Mitsoda, who was involved in the original game design, was a bit of a safe harbor in a storm where a lot of fans were worried about how a sequel to the beloved cult classic would turn out. His firing comes in the wake of a previously announced delay that set Bloodlines 2 back to a tenuous 2021 date.
Paradox Interactive, who owns a 30% stake in Hardsuit Labs, issued this statement:
We appreciate, and value, the contributions of Brian and Ka'ai, which were instrumental in establishing the game's storyline and dark tone and have helped to ensure that we are making a true successor to the iconic Bloodlines. We wish them both the best in their future endeavors.
Mitsoda also released a statement, sent in an email to Rock, Paper, Shotgun. The full text follows:
Until recently, I was the Narrative Lead on a videogame called Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines 2 for Hardsuit Labs, Inc being published by Paradox Interactive (which owns 30% of Hardsuit Labs). After almost five years involvement with the studio, I was suddenly terminated on 7/16/20.
That this came as a shock to me is underselling it. I've worked on Bloodlines 2 for almost five years. The story and main cast was initially conceived in my living room. I helped develop the pitch for Hardsuit Labs and helped pitch the project to Paradox in Las Vegas. I've been in charge of the narrative since the beginning, working long days and sometimes weekends to deliver a successor to Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, and I've never been led to believe that I hadn't succeeded. Very obviously, I have also been involved in the PR and marketing side of things, even though it was one of the most difficult parts for me. I'm a pretty private person – press and crowds tend to heavily trigger my social anxiety (which, if you've ever wondered about the gloves, they are "armor" that make me feel less exposed in situations that trigger my anxiety).
Bloodlines and the fandom of the game mean the world to me. So I lent my legacy with the franchise, my name, and my participation in marketing efforts for the game, even when it was intensely difficult and took a mental and physical toll. This is all because I wanted to do what was best for the game and the team.
The pride in the work, the fan expectations, and the support from co-workers who started out as fans kept me going through this long five years. And I'm incredibly disappointed and frustrated to say that this is where it ends for me on the project.
I was not part of the conversations that led to the decision to delay production, and to my knowledge, there were no delays caused by the Bloodlines 2 narrative development. I am confident and proud of the work that I and my team put forward. When that work will be seen and what form it will take is unknown to me.
It was a pleasure to work on this game and with many people at Hardsuit Labs and Paradox and I'm sorry I won't be able to see it to the end. I spent years on some of the best characters and dialogue that I ever wrote. It's meant a lot to hear from the Bloodlines community and I do hope that what's finally delivered is as satisfying as I intended it to be. Thanks to all of you who supported me throughout the project.
Coming in to fill the role of creative director is industry veteran Alexandre Mandryka. Mandryka has previously worked on the Far Cry, Warhammer 40K, and Assassin's Creed franchises.
It's never good to see two higher-ups in a company go without any warning, especially in the later periods of a project. It hurts even more to know that Mitsoda had poured so much into the project and won't be there to see it finished.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is scheduled for release sometime in 2021 on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Brian Mitsoda has been fired as narrative lead on Bloodlines 2 [Rock, Paper, Shotgun]
The Call of Duty community finally solved Activision's convoluted Black Ops: Cold War ARG
It started with some locked crates. Inside those, projectors and cryptic slides. Those slides led to-- actually, this goes on for quite a while. It's complicated, there are a bunch of steps, and it took a lot of hard work from the Call of Duty community. Instead of my half-assed explanation, watch this summary from Zombies YouTuber NoahJ456:
You can get this Sea of Thieves ship if you play a bit of Battletoads
Slowly but surely, Rare's old games and characters are getting more nods in Sea of Thieves. The latest cosmetic item, inspired by Battletoads, is a little different – it's a reward for playing the new game (which is out tomorrow, August 20, on Xbox One and PC with Xbox Game Pass support).
If you clear Act One of Battletoads, you'll unlock the Fightin' Frogs ship set in Sea of Thieves.
It looks great! The color choice brings back memories of the Donkey Kong Country 2 level Rattle Battle.
According to Rare, the offer is open "at any time," so there's no rush. Just use the same profile.
While you're sailing the high seas, you might also want to participate in the Summer of Sea of Thieves event. It's running in-game until September 30, and you can pick up rewards for finishing challenges.
Rumored prices for Nvidia's next graphics card are coming in and you better start saving
We're less than two weeks away from Nvidia's unveiling event for its next-generation video cards and the RTX 3090 rumors are starting to fly. Chiphell forum user Wjm47196, who has a track record of accurate leaks, leaked some information in the last 24 hours that makes my wallet weep.
Their message was a simple one:
1399刀起，fe版å†è´µ100刀，24G gd6x confirm
Translation: "Starting at $1399, the fe (founder's edition) version is $100 more expensive, 24G gd6x confirm."
Starting at $1399, the hypothetical price point would put the RTX 3090 at $400 more than what the 2080 Ti – the last release of this kind for Nvidia – launched at. Pile another $100 on top of that for the founder's edition and you're looking at a mighty strike to your bank account.
Another less credible rumor seemingly coming from an internal memo puts the price points even higher. According to TechSpot, the memo lists the price of the 3090 card at ¥13,999 Chinese Yuan. Roughly converted, that comes out to $2,000.
Now, these are all rumors, so the truth might lie somewhere in-between the lines but the outlook is clear: this is going to be a pricey upgrade for PC gamers. It also doesn't help that many people are still reeling from the COVID-19 related work shortages and recession. It's going to be interesting to see how well the cards will sell compared to previous launches.
The good news is that we won't have to wait long to find out the official details as Nvidia's Ampere press event will be held in less than two weeks, on September 1.
Multiple rumors point to the RTX 3090's very high price [TechSpot]
This is how Microsoft wants your Xbox experience to look across all devices
Microsoft has already said that any dashboard refresh for the Xbox Series X won't be drastic. That's because Microsoft has spent the past few years trying to unify the Xbox experience, and that means making sure that everything looks familiar across all devices.
This video is a visual elaboration on that concept. It shows the upcoming UI configuration for the Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC, and Android. It's more or less the same because that's the connected ecosystem appeal that Microsoft is gunning for.
There are more interesting details than just the general aesthetic of it all. A significant portion of the video is spent explaining how much faster the Xbox Series X is with regard to general speed. Booting is 50 percent quicker and returning from a game is about 30 percent quicker. The Xbox operating system underwent a streamlining of sorts, as Xbox Experience principal program manager Jonathan Hildebrandt explains that all this snappiness actually requires 40 percent less RAM than before.
There's a new mobile Xbox app in the works too. Microsoft has resigned itself to the fact that consoles aren't great for text communication. This revamped app will better integrate the social component of Xbox gaming onto mobile. That extends to sharing too. Whenever you capture a screenshot or video clip on Xbox, it'll immediately push to your phone so that you can share it to social from there. It's a much better process than my current method which is: Capture media, wait for it to upload to the Xbox Live cloud, open the Xbox app on my PC, download it from Xbox Live to my PC, and then share to social media.
All this should launch in November alongside the Xbox Series X.
Predator: Hunting Grounds' patch 2.0 adds cross-play with friends
The next step on the Predator: Hunting Grounds roadmap is a big one: patch 2.0.
When the update rolls out on August 28, it'll bring quality-of-life fixes and the long-awaited ability to set up cross-play with friends. Currently, PC and PS4 players can mingle if they want (there's a toggle in the options menu), but friends can't invite each other to party up across the two platforms.
IllFonic "hoped this would be in at launch," so it's nice to finally have it fixed. Long term, it's one of those features you really want to have once the wider audience fades and matches become elusive.
Beyond that, "the Classic Combistick and Wrist Launcher from the City Hunter content is now unlockable to everyone; there is a large Fireteam Supply Drop including the OWLF Assault Rifle, the Anti-Cloaking Grenade, UAV Scanner, and the Self Revive Syrette; and a Field Locker Update with three new Predator Masks, a new Fireteam Ballistic Mask, and other new tints and shaders."
IllFonic also announced the arrival of a new map and mode in September, the former of which has a teaser image that you can see below. I feel like "never fight a Predator in a cave" is an unwritten rule.
Also, I'm pleasantly surprised I showed restraint for once and didn't buy the Samurai Predator.
Predator: Hunting Grounds August update [PlayStation Blog]
Mortal Kombat 11 brings klassic skins to Kitana, Skarlet, and Jade
NetherRealm Studios has revealed the second of its trinity of skin packs headed to blood-soaked fighter Mortal Kombat 11. The Femme Fatale skin pack launched August 25 and offers klassic looks to the roster's dangerous kunoichi.
The Femme Fatale pack includes outfits and accessories for Edenian empress Kitana, her BFF and loyal bodyguard Jade, and the mysterious and vampiric Skarlet. The new skins are reminiscent of the looks that Kitana and Jade sported in 1995's Mortal Kombat 3 - all scraped-back hair and revealing bodysuits. Of course, Skarlet did not actually appear in this early iteration of MK, so this pack gives the deadly usurper an opportunity to go a little old-skool.
Microids will co-publish a physical release of Oddworld: Soulstorm
French outfit Microids has signed a deal with Oddworld Inhabitants to co-publish a physical release of Oddworld: Soulstorm, the next entry in the weird and wonderful Oddworld series, on PS4 and PS5.
Oddworld: Soulstorm, a title which has been in development for over two years now, is the sequel to 2014's New 'n' Tasty - which essentially makes Soulstorm a de facto remake of 1998's Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus. The adventure will follow the heroic mudokon Abe as he continues to strike at the oppressive Glukkon regime holding him and his brethren captive.
Here's a rumor: Ubisoft is remaking Prince of Persia on PS4 and Switch
Will the long-suffering Prince of Persia fans allow themselves to be filled with hope, knowing that Ubisoft's inaction will once again feel like a dagger plunged into their chest? Will Ubisoft, after a literal decade of inaction, finally return to one of its franchises that's surrounded by (mostly) good will? Those are questions we're left to ponder while we wait to see if this new rumor pans out.
Guatemalan retailer Max has supposedly leaked a listing for an upcoming Prince of Persia remake, although it's not clear which game is being remade. It's said to be launching on PS4 and Switch in November:
Nintendo is bringing the Switch to Brazil but pricing is up in the air
In an out-of-nowhere tweet this morning, Nintendo announced that it's officially bringing the Switch to Brazil. Pricing – and any other specifics – are unknown, but the move will happen "soon."
Greetings to all the Brazilian Nintendo fans out there! We’re excited to announce that #NintendoSwitch will be coming soon to Brazil!
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) August 19, 2020
Stay tuned to these channels for more info:
Facebook: https://t.co/dQwMX6PHP3
Instagram: https://t.co/Sp4HJFQA63 pic.twitter.com/0Ri5a8Vj6l
Nintendo previously cited challenges with "high tariffs on imports" when it pulled out of Brazil in 2015.
The Switch is far more appealing than the Wii U ever was (and I say that as someone who owned a Wii U from the start and liked it), so hopefully now that Nintendo is officially returning, it'll stick around. There are a lot of factors to consider, and it's a rough time to be launching a console in general.
It's all going to come down to pricing – not just for the Switch itself, but for physical and digital games. I hope this move has a positive ripple effect for folks who already imported the system in the interim.
For the latest updates, keep an eye on the Nintendo Brasil Instagram account.
Nintendo reveals colorful Switch controllers for Mario's 35th anniversary
Nintendo has revealed two charming new Switch controllers, which are being released to celebrate the 35th anniversary of one of the publisher's most beloved franchises: Super Mario.
The first controller is manufactured by fighting game enthusiasts Hori and is designed with younger players in mind. The Horipad Mini sports a chunky, rounded design and features slightly larger buttons, despite being smaller overall than the standard Switch Pro Controller. While it features Hori's typically solid components, this wired pad does not include feature rumble mode or gyro controls.
Super Saiyan Blue is coming to Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot in the next DLC
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot has been firmly chilling since its January 2020 release.
Since then it's gotten a few quality of life patches (like a time machine to revisit past quests), as well as one major DLC in April that brought Super Saiyan God into the mix. Now, thanks to new information from V-Jump magazine, we know that Super Saiyan Blue will headline the second DLC.
Info is fairly scarce at the moment, but the scan does confirm that both Goku and Vegeta will sport their Blue forms in the DLC. It also seems to be a continuation of the first (disappointing) "boss battle" DLC series: which basically means you're buying a few fights and new movesets.
The entire marketing campaign for this one is pretty weird, as Bandai Namco just recently held a supposedly big streaming event that ended up being one giant commercial. Why not announce big news from some of your big properties there? Instead we're stuck with vague information from an international publication.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot [Ryokutya2089 via Twitter]
Falcom to reveal its next release in August 27 issue of Weekly Famitsu
It seems that Falcom is getting set to reveal a brand new title. The veteran developer will debut information on its next major release in the August 27 issue of Weekly Famitsu.
No info was offered on the mysterious new game, but Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo did state that the title would be developed on a brand new engine and would feature "considerably improved graphics," which somewhat suggests a sequel, or the latest chapter in an ongoing series. Falcom is, of course, renowned for its decades-long legacy of classic RPGs, such as Ys, Dragon Slayer, and The Legend of Heroes.
Falcom's newest release, The Legend of Heroes: Hajimari no Kiseki, will launch in Japan on PS4 August 27.
Falcom to reveal information on next title in Weekly Famitsu [Gematsu / Ryokutya2089]
It's time for another Super Smash Bros. Ultimate event: which also means that it's time to complain about the choice of header image.
This weekend you can participate in a "Royal Tournament," which will allow royalty-based characters to play for spirit-based rewards and in-game points. For extra oomph, you'll be fighting in castle arenas (neat!). Okay, so King Dedede, Princess Peach/Daisy/Zelda, many members of Fire Emblem royal families: that all checks out as they are prominently displayed in the teaser image for the event.
But what about King K. Rool? Is he not considered real royalty? Did Nintendo go all galaxy brain on us and inform us of a new Donkey Kong Country series canon? Also, what about Ganondorf? We'll find out on Friday whether or not the invites got lost in the mail.
SmashBros JP [Twitter]
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown adds new skins for 25th anniversary
Bandai Namco has announced plans to release a free update to its sky-fighting sequel Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown later this week, coinciding with the franchise's 25th anniversary.
The "U.S. Skin Series" update will arrive in-game on August 20 and offers players three new decals with which to outfit selected jet fighters. That way you can look super-duper snazzy while you blow your fellow humans clean out of the sky. Hoo-rah.
The three featured skins include a pirate-style "Jolly Rogers" skin for the F-14D Super Tomcat and F/A-18F Super Hornet, a prestigious "Red Devils" decal for the F/A-18F Super Hornet, and finally a red, white, and blue design known as "Patriot" for the F-16C Fighting Falcon and F-15C Eagle. You can check out the new skins in the trailer below.
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.
Fallout 76's first big event in a while is now live
Fallout 76 has done a few big things this year: introduce the new Wastelanders expansion and...a battle pass (haha). So the fact that the new A Colossal Problem event just went live is kind of a big deal for the game, as it's the first major update in a while.
After weeks of teases and testing periods, Colossal Problem is now ready to play in Fallout 76. Basically it involves an eight-player instance in the Monongah Mines, allowing your party to tango with the Wendigo Colossus: hence, the "colossal problem," see? To start it off you'll need to head to the Savage Divide zone and nuke the Monongah Mine.
The hotfix that ushered in this event also adds in a few bug fixes (classic), as well as optimizations for the aforementioned event that were fine-tuned in the testing period (so it does work!). In the meantime Bethesda is still toiling away at things behind the scenes, as we wait for the next big update.
As a reminder, the "One Wasteland for All" update is coming in the fall, with "Fractured Steel" arriving in the winter. Not a whole lot of info is known right now outside of the fact that new questlines, daily ops, perk loadouts, expeditions and base-building options are coming.
Hotfix Notes [Bethesda.net]
Go! Go! 5 Jigen Game Neptune reVerse is Nep-Nep's first PS5 adventure
Today is the tenth anniversary of the fun and dopey Hyperdimension Neptunia franchise. To celebrate this Neppest of occasions, Compile Heart has announced the first Neptunia title heading to PS5: Go! Go! 5 Jigen Game Neptune reVerse.
Horizon Zero Dawn gets another swift patch to fix some bugs
In case you missed it, Horizon Zero Dawn came out a few weeks ago on PC, and got a fairly quick patch to smooth out a lot of known issues thanks to update 1.01. Now, Guerrilla Games is moving on to update 1.02, which: you guessed it, brings more fixes to the game.
While a lot of our readers have noted that the game is running smoothly for them, it seems like there's optimization issues and problems for specific rigs: so Guerrilla is course-correcting a bit. The developer is continuing to "track these [bugs] down" thanks to new tools in the latest patches, but as it stands, the cause of several crashes has been fixed in 1.02.
While crash fixes are easily the highlight of the patch, V-sync has also been fixed, as well as out of sync facial animations. Guerrilla is also "aware" of several big Reddit compilation bug threads and is working to address those lists. PC games are sometimes a tricky beast! You only need to look at the comment section of our last news story on this port to see how wildly different experiences can be.
Patch 1.02 is now available [Reddit]
