Nintendo Switch is getting Jurassic World Evolution: Complete Edition on November 3
Life finds a way to bring simulation games to Nintendo Switch. The latest port? Jurassic World Evolution: Complete Edition, a bundle of the base game and every bit of story and dino DLC including the nostalgia-stoking Return to Jurassic Park, Claire's Sanctuary, and Secrets of Dr. Wu. It's due out November 3, 2020.
We had a chance to chat with Frontier about the Switch version ahead of today's announcement.
Jurassic World Evolution: Complete Edition was developed internally for Switch, and according to game director Rich Newbold, "the stars aligned for the company and the team to take on this challenge."
"We did some initial tests to take the game that we had and simulate the hardware on the Switch with our PCs to see if we could achieve it," he told us. "After some initial prototyping, we dived into the full process of optimizing the game for Nintendo Switch."
As for technical constraints, there's obviously going to be a hit to the visual fidelity coming from the PC or even Xbox One and PS4 versions of Jurassic World Evolution, but that's not all. "We've had to add a limit to the number of dinosaurs that a player can have in the park. We wanted the parks to have the same size, but we've added a limit so you can only have a hundred dinosaurs in a park at once."
More generally, I also asked Newbold about what it was like to create a game in the simulation space with a licensed property compared to, say, Planet Coaster or Planet Zoo.
"Universal gives us access to things that we couldn't do if we didn't have the license," he said. "We get authentic dinosaur models, they provide us with source assets for the audio, they give us guidance on how these dinosaurs can move and walk around and sound, and alongside that we also get access to the depth of the franchise: the characters and talent behind that." In other words, Jeff Goldblum!
Something tells me this won't be the last Frontier-developed Jurassic game. Fingers crossed it runs well.
Let's watch Geoff Keighley's gamescom stream together
During a normal year, we'd all be crammed together in Cologne, Germany fighting the humidity, crowds, and heat stroke. Let me be the first to make this poignant observation: This is no normal year.
In 2019, Geoff Keighley gave gamescom a livestream show to call its own, debuting One Night Live as the place where gamescom news gets announced. It went pretty well! Now, it's back for this all-digital edition of gamescom.
What can we expect? Well, it's a lot of stuff for games we already know about. Approximately 40 games will be shown during the two-hour stream. Fall Guys Season 2, Little Nightmares II, the Destiny: Beyond Light expansion -- these are some things that have already been confirmed to make an appearance.
It's so much more though. Keighley has said there are "content debuts" from: 2K, Activision, Bandai Namco, Bethesda, Blizzard, Bungie, Deep Silver, Devolver, Electronic Arts, Frontier, Focus Home, Gearbox, Headup Games, PlayStation, Warner Bros., Xbox, and more. There are some very big names in that list.
Kick back, crack open a cold root beer, and riff with us. Riff hard. Turn the volume nice and low, and make wise-acre remarks over the top. If you're ever drawing a blank, just say "Mah wife" like Borat. Classic.
Hitman 3 launches January 20, free next-gen upgrade confirmed
IO Interactive has announced that the next entry in its stealth 'n' stabby series, Hitman 3, will launch on PC and consoles January 20. Not only that, but the developer has confirmed that players purchasing the latest exploits of Agent 47 on PS4/Xbox One will receive a free upgrade to the respective next-gen platform.
Customers who choose to pre-order Hitman 3 will also bag themselves some exclusive in-game goodies, namely the "Trinity" DLC pack, which features pure white, red, and black suits as featured in the reboot trilogy of this now 20-year-old franchise. Hitman 3, as previously noted, represents the final chapter in Agent 47's "World of Assassination" arc.
Nintendo Download: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition
Welp, I said that we've had a recent calm on the Nintendo eShop lately, but that's changing today.
A number of headline games are launching directly following the recent Mini Direct, including the high-profile remaster of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Windbound is also a fairly big release, as well as a Deluxe Edition of Jump Force and a new Captain Tsubasa game. Best Friend Forever (described as "virtual pet care and dating simulation") is also out today.
We have reviews for nearly all of these (as well as a prior review for Jump Force) in the works, so stay tuned to the front page!
Developers of The Gunk clarify that it's a 'permanent' Xbox console exclusive
It's been a bit since we heard of The Gunk, which was revealed last month, but the game's director, Ulf Hartelius, recently sat down with Pure Xbox to set the record straight on the adventure game.
As expected "the core feature is getting rid of the gunk itself." Straight-forward and effective! But in terms of where the game is going to show up, that Microsoft stream really was the best place to put it: because it's not coming to other consoles.
Hartelius clarifies that the game will be a "permanent exclusive for Windows 10 and Xbox consoles," leaving no wiggle room for a PS4/PS5/Switch port. He also plays up the Xbox daddy, stating "the gunk itself is using an advanced rendering technique that should benefit a lot from the added power of the Series X." "At least 60 frames per second" on Series X is the goal.
Seems pretty cut and dried? Or gunky? We'll find out when the game launches in September 2021. That's over a year away!
The Gunk Dev Talks Slimy Substances, Exploration And The Xbox Series X [Pure Xbox]
Streets of Rage 4 to receive new content, we just have to be patient
Streets of Rage fans were thrilled earlier when the long-awaited Streets of Rage 4 finally launched earlier this year, receiving massive acclaim from both the press and the players. With razor-sharp gameplay, an inventive combat engine, a great soundtrack, and lush visuals, Streets of Rage 4 proved well worth the hype and the wait.
Before long, fans started reaching out to the developers, asking whether SoR 4 would be receiving new stages, characters, or other fresh content in the future. And in a tweet posted yesterday, DotEmu has reiterated its original comments that the knuckle-bustin' brawler will receive new content, but there is no ETA or time frame on its arrival.
Gotham Knights director: 'This is very much not designed as a game-as-service'
Gotham Knights debuted this past weekend and since it's WB-related, everyone was immediately skeptical.
WB Games Montréal's handling of Arkham Origins, WB's penchant for games-as-a-service and the RPG elements were all cause for concern, and IGN sat down with director Patrick Redding and senior producer Fleur Marty to discuss a few of those topics. Not all of our questions were answered, but we do have a better idea of what makes the game tick.
As for the games-as-a-service deal, Marty claims that the game wasn't designed that way. I mean, what else is he supposed to say?! Here's the full statement: "This is very much not designed as a game-as-service. There is an ability tree, which is different for each of the characters, and then there's gear that you craft - and so choices that you're going to be making - but that does not mean that this is a game-as-service." An expected political answer. But all we have to go on at the moment.
What about those conspicuous enemy levels icons in the trailer? Redding says that the game runs on a "sliding scale" for leveling, claiming that it's "not a grind," where you'll have to go finish a ton of specific missions in order to level up to take on the critical path. Redding instead claims that it will color how you approach individual fights, with enemies who are of varying strength. Seems like the series already had that covered with different designs and movesets, but I hope that's the case.
The team also clarifies that the game is "one open world city, right from the start, with no level-gating whatsoever," that characters have ability trees and options for different specs (Red Hood can upgrade his ranged/melee/suit capabilities) and you can be two of the same character in co-op. Marty also re-clarifies that it is a solo experience if you opt for that approach, and that two-player co-op as a max was designed because they wanted the game to be closer to that solo experience rather than a "brawler" archetype.
Call me cautiously optimistic, as I'm already planning on tearing through Gotham as Red Hood next to my wife's Batgirl. I don't need it to be connected to the Arkham series. I don't even need it to be as good as the Arkham series. I just need it to be good. And preferably, not fleece me for cash.
Gotham Knights: Our Biggest Questions, Answered [IGN]
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory launches November 13
Square Enix has released a new trailer for its upcoming Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory. The trailer was released in part to cement the rhythm-action title's November 13 release date, announced during yesterday's Nintendo Direct Mini.
Originally revealed back in June, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory features the traditional KH x Disney crossover cast as they battle their way through a new adventure, with the series' typical RPG tropes replaced with rhythm-based, button-beating action. Melody of Memory will star over 20 characters and features a mammoth 140 tracks taken from the much-beloved Kingdom Hearts saga's soundtrack.
Warframe's Heart of Deimos update arrives on Switch today
Digital Extremes planned for its open-world Heart of Deimos update to hit all platforms at the same time, but after hitting a snag with Switch certification, the developer went ahead and released it on PC, PS4, and Xbox One on August 25. Today, Switch Tenno like myself are finally able to get in on the action as the update is set to hit the console this afternoon.
I feel obligated to approach this review from two angles. First and foremost, it's a review of a Control expansion. That's the obvious angle. You're here to find out how this DLC serves as a supplemental story to Control.
But, let's be real, you want to know about the Alan Wake stuff. You want to know how Remedy brought Bright Falls to The Oldest House, and you want to know if this is the triumphant return of everyone's favorite tortured writer after he had gone AFK for the better part of a decade. You've been building it up in your head for so long, and you just want to know if AWE makes good on the mental buildup.
AWE doesn't fully deliver on either front. It's a bit of a mishmash of ideas -- albeit an understandable one -- that prevents this expansion from being what everyone wants it to be. It's still pretty incredible, though.
Contest: Win Remnant: From the Ashes - Complete Edition for PC, Xbox One, or PS4
In today's contest you can win Remnant: From the Ashes - Complete Edition for PC, Xbox One, or PS4!
When we last visited Remnant: From the Ashes, the Swamps of Corsus DLC had just hit, meaning we got to do what we do best -- give it away! Now that the newest expansion, Subject 2923 is out, there's also a complete edition of the game floating around.
...meaning we get to do what we do best. Win Remnant: From the Ashes - Complete Edition for your favorite platform, and get to playing this awesome game!
Ninja Chowdown proves running doesn't always lead to weight loss
With its origins in titles like Nom, Canabalt, and Temple Run, the auto-runner is one of the most reliable genres you can find on mobile devices. They're one of my favorite time-wasters and frankly, auto-runners have got a lot better over time. The Rayman games specifically are credits to the genre. But I think one thing has been missing all these years from these games: fat ninjas chasing donuts.
From developer Dummy Dojo, Ninja Chowdown is an auto-runner featuring a portly ninja chasing down delicious pink donuts while battling the food-based gangs of the Pizza Pie-rates, Barbacarians, and Travelling Rollnins. The game is being published by Abylight Studios, which has really made a name for itself in the mobile marketplace.
The Witcher: Monster Slayer is a Pokemon Go-like mobile AR game
The reign of adorable little pocket monsters taking over your local park is nearly over. Soon, there will be terrifying monsters posted up next to the tetherball court.
CD Projekt Red is working on an augmented reality mobile game for its Witcher franchise. Titled The Witcher: Monster Slayer, it seems to be exactly in the style of Pokemon Go, just with more ferocious creatures. Slaying these monsters takes more skill than flicking a ball, though. The Witcher: Monster Slayer draws inspiration from The Elder Scrolls: Blades for its combat system, requiring slashes and stabs with perfect rhythm and timing.
As for the canon of Monster Slayer, this AR game takes place "long before the time of Geralt of Rivia." There's some sort of narrative running through it, as a description reads "experience story-driven quests that propel you through epic adventures inspired by the Witcher series." There's some purpose here.
The Witcher: Monster Slayer is being developed by Spokko, which is a Polish mobile studio that was bought by CD Projekt Red in 2018. Chances are, Spokko was acquired and immediately tasked with this project. It fits too perfectly into CD Projekt's portfolio.
You can get your hands on this violent Pokemon Go when it launches later this year. The Witcher: Monster Slayer is coming to iOS and Android devices "soon."
PlayStation now has a PS5 pre-order registration site
We still don't have pricing or release date info, but Sony is starting to take down names for eventual PlayStation 5 pre-orders in the US. If you're interested, you can submit your PlayStation ID, but there are no guarantees. "If you are selected, we will contact you via email before pre-orders start."
"There will be a limited quantity of PS5 consoles available for pre-order, so we will be inviting some of our existing consumers to be one of the first to pre-order one from PlayStation," the site says. "Our selection is based on previous interests and PlayStation activities."
"Pre-order reservations will be taken on a first-come-first-serve basis, so once you get an invite via email, we encourage you to follow instructions and act fast."
In an FAQ, it's clarified that chosen customers will be able to buy a standard PS5 or a PS5 Digital Edition and up to two DualSense controllers, among other accessories like charging stations. "Due to limited quantities and high demand, we will be limiting PS5 console pre-order reservations to one per PSN ID."
My track record with getting emails from PlayStation is spotty at best, so we'll see how this goes.
PlayStation 5 Direct Pre-Orders [Sony]
Sony just gave Fall Guys the 'most downloaded PlayStation Plus game' crown
The future couldn't be brighter for Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout. Just three weeks after launching on PlayStation 4 and PC, the online obstacle-course party game has reached two ridiculous milestones.
Sony has called Fall Guys the "most downloaded PlayStation Plus game of all time on a global basis."
Even more surprising, publisher Devolver Digital says the game has sold more than seven million copies on Steam. At the time of writing this post, the PC version alone has 150,000 concurrent players.
At $20, Fall Guys is a reasonably priced game that intuitively appeals to a large group of people – including folks who aren't typically clued in – and its silly mayhem is fun to watch, win or lose.
I'm curious to see how this runaway success impacts developer Mediatonic. Who's calling 'em up?
Mario Kart Tour's Summer Festival adds Yukata Daisy to the mix
Having finished sailing the seven seas with its recent, Nintendo's mobile racer Mario Kart Tour is getting set to showcase some Japanese culture with its all-new Summer Festival Tour.
The Summer Festival Tour will add two new character variants to the gacha pipe: Yukata Daisy and Happi Mario, both of whom are rocking traditional Japanese garb. Also arriving in the new update are the cheerful "Festival Girl" kart, and a new glider stylised like an origami crane.
SuperGroupies unveils range of God of War-themed goods
Japanese fashion label SuperGroupies has unveiled a range of items inspired by Sony Santa Monica's acclaimed 2018 epic, God of War. The "God of War x SuperGroupies Collaboration Collection" is now available to pre-order over at the SuperGroupies store.
The first item in the collection is a stylish wristwatch, inspired by Kratos' trusty Guardian Shield. The hour markers are designated by authentic God of War runes, while the hour and minute hand represent the Leviathan Axe and one of Atreus' razor-sharp arrows. The God of War Model Watch retails for ¥19,800, or roughly $185 USD, and comes packaged in an exclusive presentation box.
Review in Progress: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition
Playing through Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition has been a great test of my long-term memory. I remember the pomp and circumstance surrounding its announcement, with magazines at the time playing up the historic nature of "Final Fantasy's return to Nintendo consoles." I remember picking it up day one, buying into the hype, and making sure to get one of those cords that would connect my Game Boy Advance SP to my GameCube console. But that's where my memory starts to get a bit fuzzy. Outside of the basics of it -- couch co-op, four tribes, action RPG -- I don't really remember much about the game itself.
A few months ago, I bought a used GameCube off eBay. When I put in my old memory cards that had been in storage for a decade and a half, I found two save files for Crystal Chronicles. One had about two hours of play on it. The other had 40 hours. It was then I remembered one of my college roommates borrowed my console one month and beat the game before midterms. I started to wonder why he was able to make it through Crystal Chronicles, but I could barely muster half a Snyder's Cut worth of playtime.
An hour into the Remastered Edition, everything started to sink back in, particularly why I quit so early into the adventure. While I still have a ways to go before I see the credits roll, I can confirm now that I was a stupid, stupid man for giving up so easy back then.
Paradise Killer bringing murder, mystery, and sexy skeletons September 4
Paradise Killer, the murder mystery adventure featured in June's PC Gaming Show is almost ready to welcome guests to its hedonistic and highly hazardous tropical hot-spot.
For those who weren't paying attention, Paradise Killer is a first-person, open world adventure, which puts the player in the fashionable footwear of "investigation freak" Lady Love Dies, as she attempts to solve the murder of... well... the island itself. Y'see, "Paradise" is a lush locale that regenerates every few millennia thanks to alien forces, but this time, someone - or something - has put a stop to this event and "killed" the rebirth of the island. Look, just watch the trailer (which also doesn't really explain things).
Here's the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War reveal trailer and all the launch day details
Creedence Clearwater Revival is a necessary choice for any depiction of the Vietnam War. Did you know CCR, despite having seven studio albums and leaving a footprint as one of America's great political rock bands, was only active for four years? Then John Fogerty fucked off to make songs about how great it'd be if his coach let him play baseball.
This Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War reveal trailer briefly touches on "Run Through the Jungle" as the obligatory CCR nod, although, for my money, I'll take "Who'll Stop the Rain" off the same album.
There are probably other takeaways from the long-teased Black Ops Cold War announcement from Activision, most of which have nothing to do with a defunct band. Cold War is a direct sequel to 2010's original Black Ops. The campaign is set in the 1980s and the narrative goes globetrotting as clandestine operatives are carried out around the world in an attempt to unravel conspiracies. In this story, someone named Perseus "is on a mission to destabilize the global balance of power and change the course of history."
On the multiplayer side, Zombies (a Treyarch staple) is again back as a cooperative mode. Warzone will also be supported in a way that "expands and extends" the free-to-play battle royale mode. The likely outcome is that Activision adds a second Cold War-themed map to Warzone to bolster the one Modern Warfare map it currently has. Activision almost certainly views Warzone as a platform rather than a one-off tangent to Modern Warfare. The multiplayer reveal is coming on September 9, but we don't know if that includes all facets of online play or just the traditional Call of Duty multiplayer elements.
Black Ops Cold War launches on November 13, but here's where it gets sticky. The standard edition is $60, the "Cross-Gen Bundle" is $70, and the Ultimate Edition is $90. Activision is holding back any sort of next-gen enhancements from anyone who simply buys the current-gen version (which may or may not launch before new consoles release). The Cross-Gen Bundle alleviates that concern for an extra $10. It seems as though few third-party publishers will be keen on the Smart Delivery-style system where consumers just get next-gen enhancements for buying the base game.
(If you need clarification or have questions about specific scenarios, Activision has a very convoluted Black Ops Cold War editions FAQ. It might leave you more confused, though.)
That's more or less everything we know about Black Ops Cold War for now. I'll leave you with this world premiere exclusive first look at Zombies:
Grounded's first monthly update added a big old bird
With millions of players and a generally warm reception to the Early Access release of Grounded, Obsidian Entertainment is getting started on monthly updates for the backyard bug survival game.
The first monthly update (0.2.0) went live today on Xbox One and PC. Along with a new threat – a towering bird – there's a new character perk system (to help you chop down grass faster or bulk up your defense), new quests from BURG.L (related to crafting and finding chips), more recipes (like the Acorn Picket Fence and the Marskman's Cap), and water fleas floating around the pond. Delightful.
These features won't do much if you're only in it for the story, which is super sparse, but I'm stoked about having more quests to push me to explore the world and those unlockable perks. "Players can have up to three mutations equipped at any time," with more to come, according to Obsidian.
Several tuning tweaks also stood out to me in the patch notes:
- Buffed damage on Spike Traps significantly.
- Spiders learned a new set of attacks to choose from instead of just their basic bite.
- Added a brief forced delay between block start events, preventing the player from perfect-blocking by mashing the block button.
- Shift+clicking item stacks in the storage UIs will transfer the full stack clicked.
- Significant load game time improvement for games with large bases.
- Incapacitated players are now saved instead of ignored when a save game is made or they exit the game.
- Grass planks will no longer fall through the ground.
If the developers can keep this pace and also work on bigger-picture story elements, I'll be grateful.
August Content Update Notes [Obsidian]
What year is it? A new Turrican reveal is coming this week
In the '90s, Turrican was a force of nature.
Although a lot of people probably don't think of the series on a daily or even weekly basis now, it was a very memorable run and gun series with multiple iterations several decades ago, spanning multiple platforms and generations. It was extremely '90s, as the players would control a "mutant warrior" named Turrican, bent on destroying evil despots taking over the planet.
Now, studio Factor 5 (who re-emerged from a financial crisis in 2017) and publisher Strictly Limited Games have the gargantuan task of making this series relevant in the modern era, as Turrican is making a comeback. Announced this morning, Factor 5 will be reviving the series just as we're coming up on its 30th anniversary, with "more info coming tomorrow during Gamescom opening night live stream."
Nostalgia enough isn't enough to sell in this era of saturation, so let's see if they bring it.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne's 'Final Stand' developer diary could be building up to Fatalis
If you've been wondering what's next for Monster Hunter, I'm right there with you.
Iceborne is still doing its thing – we're waiting on the fifth major title update, which will bring another "returning monster" and Master Rank layered armor – but then what? Apart from an eventual sequel to Monster Hunter: World (or heck, even another expansion), I'd love to see something new for Nintendo Switch. I'm getting ahead of myself, but it's fun to speculate when the series is living its best life.
In the more immediate future, Capcom has begun teasing a significant Iceborne announcement.
#Iceborne Developer Diary: The Final Stand imminent! You won't want to miss this one...
— Monster Hunter (@monsterhunter) August 26, 2020
â„ï¸ https://t.co/k19Itm92NS pic.twitter.com/5LVxhD7kuJ
On Friday, August 28, Capcom will stream a developer diary called The Final Stand at 5:00 a.m. Pacific on the Monster Hunter Twitch channel. "You won't want to miss this one," the studio teased.
The aforementioned fifth title update is aiming for a fall release, but that doesn't necessarily mean Friday's developer diary is only going to cover that content. We'll see! The stakes are only rising after Alatreon, and fans are pretty sure Capcom will cap things off with the fierce black dragon Fatalis.
Any pie-in-the-sky wishes? I'm not opposed to a fake-out.
Sega is ending the Sega Ages re-release line, but more retro games are likely still coming
Sega is Sega: they love to sell you the classics over and over.
Every new generation they'll port over their original lineup and feed it to you, whether you like it or not. That's why the recent news of the Sega Ages line "ending" doesn't mean that it's the end of re-releases. Sega will be selling Sonic on whatever we play games with in the year 3030.
Speaking to Game Watch (as translated by Twitter user Oni Dino for Nintendo Everything), Sega creative producer Yosuke Okunari confirms that the Sega Ages project "has come to an end" with Herzog Zwei; which is not a second coming of famed auteur director Werner Herzog, by the way.
But that doesn't mean the end for re-releases. Okunari goes on to state: "I, along with SEGA's own (Rieko) Kodama and (Kagasei) Shimomura, are currently hard at work on our next project. At this point in time, unfortunately, I can't tell you whether or not M2 will be involved. If this makes you think, 'Oh, then they're definitely doing something with M2,' I hope we can live up to your expectations."
He also confirms that they still plan on focusing on the Nintendo Switch, and M2 planner Tsuyoshi Matsuoka says that there are "a lot of other titles" that M2 wants to bring to modern audiences. Why not? Game preservation is a lovely thing! The originals still exist, and even if Sega is overly aggressive with re-release price points, we can wait for a sale.
Sega Ages [Game Watch via Nintendo Everything]
Senran Kagura stars crash the Kandagawa Jet Girls party
In a match made in heaven, a gaggle of gals from Marvelous' Senran Kagura series is getting set to get wet in just-released jet-ski title Kandagawa Jet Girls. A new trailer spotlights the Senran Kagura teams who are preparing to beat the KJG crew at their own game.
A total of eight Senran Kagura stars can be added to Kandagawa Jet Girls via the latter title's Character Pass, available now for an eyebrow-raising $30. The duos chosen are Ikaruga and Yomi, Asuka and Yumi, Murasaki and Mirai, and Homura and Hikage. It should also be noted that Ryobi and Ryona are already featured as part of the Kandagawa Jet Girls' base roster.
Street Fighter V and PUBG are huge gets for September's PlayStation Plus lineup
PlayStation Plus! You're back again!
Last month gave us the unlikely pairing of Fall Guys and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, with the former scoring very big within the PlayStation community. This month we're getting another shooter, as well as another fairly interesting pick.
Alongside of the ever-enduring battle royale PUBG, the always-polarizing Street Fighter V will arrive on PlayStation Plus on September 1. We've reached out to Sony to clarify exactly what that release entails, but it seems like this is going to be the $19.99 "PlayStation Hits" version and not the "all-the-bells-and-whistles-edition." Capcom's got DLC and extra SKU add-ons to sell you! As a reminder, the Championship Edition Upgrade Kit is $24.99.
Sony also says that Street Fighter V tournaments will start on September 4 in the US and Canada, with prizes that include a "unique PS4 theme" and a custom in-game title. Both games will be listed on the service until October 5, so make sure you redeem them starting next Tuesday.
September's free PS Plus games: PUBG, Street Fighter V [PlayStation Blog]
Persona 4 Golden anime now available on Funimation network
If you've only just recently been bitten by the Persona 4 bug, perhaps from the recent PC port of the classic JRPG sequel, then you might be interested to hear that its anime adaptation has been added to the Funimation network in North America and Canada.
For clarification, this is not the original 25-episode Persona 4: the Animation series, but a "side-series" expansion focusing on some of the elements that joined the murder-mystery party in 2012's Persona 4 Golden. These include a focus on new Velvet Room assistant Marie, and an appearance by Persona 4: Dancing All Night's pop idol Kanami Mashita.
Paper Mario: Origami King spirits are invading Smash Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate alternates between spirit events and tournaments on weekends, and the former is where crossovers thrive. Thankfully, we're getting yet another one in the form of a Paper Mario: Origami King event.
"Ambition of Origami" will be happening over the weekend, which will run for five days, starting on August 28. Three new spirits will appear: Origami Princess Peach, the helpful Olivia (who accompanies Paper Mario on his quest) and the evil antagonist King Olly.
This is fairly good timing, as Origami King has had time to simmer now and be part of the collective conversation. I feel like it's one of the stronger Paper Mario games in recent memory, and Olivia and Olly are iconic enough to live on beyond the scope of their debut game. Maybe they'll show up in a future Mario.
For now, you can get a look at the three spirit battles in the gallery below. Peach is connected to Peach of course, with Pikachu representing Olivia and a purple Toon Link gating the Olly spirit.
SmashBrosJP [Twitter]
After playing for three hours, the Mafia remake might finally be what I want from this series
Mafia is a series that I love in theory and am disappointed with in execution. I'll never turn down a good mob story, especially in the Goodfellas vein of "up-and-comer turned down-and-outter." Tales of organized crime and the motif of individual success through family loyalty (and all the ways that can unwind) are ripe material for complex and fascinating narratives.
Unfortunately, modern Mafia games haven't really nailed that adaption to a video game medium. Mafia II is a tightly-controlled and compelling story, but the stuff that makes it a video game is marred by carrying out menial tasks, shooting that's basic to the point of being offputting, and so much driving. Mafia III spun a really unique yarn about an empowered black man in the 1960s deep south, but it was egregiously padded out with hours and hours' worth of repetitive missions.
The rumored August Nintendo Direct is real and it's another Partner Showcase
Nintendo doesn't really like to build up to big announcements anymore, does it? Early Wednesday morning, the company released another Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase, this time featuring titles from the Just Dance series, Kingdom Hearts, and World of Tanks.
Making The Witcher looks at the creation of the smash hit Netflix series
Netflix's The Witcher proved far more successful than most people had previously given it credit for. The live-action adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski's fantasy novels was a streaming smash, making Geralt of Rivia a household name among international audiences.
It took a lot of time, talent, and painstaking effort to recreate the strange and mythical world of The Witcher and its wide cast of characters. A new Netflix documentary intends to give the show's fans a peek behind the curtain at both the conception and creation of the globally successful series.
Contest: Win Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD in physical form for Switch
In today's contest, you can win a physical Switch copy of Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD!
Is your shelf looking a little bare? With so many things getting digital-only releases, it's harder to fill out that empty space. Good thing we snagged some physical copies of Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee in both Standard and Limited Editions so you can actually hold a game in your hands again.
And we haven't forgotten about the rest of the world! While you can only score a physical copy here in the US, we've got EU game keys to give away, as well. Call me Mr. Worldwide! Except don't...
You're gonna have to really love Karate Kid to play the new Cobra Kai game
A few weeks ago, Jordan told you about a GameMill G.I. Joe game that passed the sniff test of not looking immediately awful. I am here to tell you about another nostalgia-driven pop culture adaption that doesn't clear that low bar -- to my eye, err nose, at least.
GameMill has announced Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues for PS4, Switch, and Xbox One. IGN had the exclusive along with the launch trailer that is embedded above.
Cobra Kai is a side-scrolling beat-em-up in the vein of Double Dragon and Streets of Rage. There's two-player local cooperative play, and a character selection of eight fighters. Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso. There are two campaigns -- one for Cobra Kai and one for the Miyagi-Do Karate Dojo -- and they both need to be cleared in order to see the game's true ending.
It sounds fine in theory, but the trailer doesn't inspire a lot of optimism. It looks clunky and kind of ugly. It certainly doesn't seem like it can hold a candle to the likes of Streets of Rage 4. But maybe it doesn't have to. Maybe it can be decent enough and get by on some charming storytelling.
Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues launches on October 27. This feels like a game we're going to force Moyse to play, and he'll want to love it but he just can't. Two months until that inevitable verdict.
343 shoots down rumors that Halo Infinite isn't coming to Xbox One
There have been a couple of lingering rumors that popped up in the two weeks since Microsoft delayed Halo Infinite out of the Xbox Series X launch window. There's growing traction to the thought that a) Halo Infinite won't come to Xbox One after all and b) it will be delayed into 2022.
Not so says developer 343 Industries. The studio's community manager responded to concern from one of Halo's esports players (actually, the best sniper in the history of Halo) by downplaying those rumors:
Guild Wars 2 will be playable on Steam in November but accounts won't transfer
Eight years later, Guild Wars 2 is finally coming to Steam. Out of nowhere. ArenaNet also shared a vibrant teaser trailer for the 2021 expansion End of Dragons that references Cantha and Kuunavang.
The subscription-less MMO will be playable on Steam starting in November – who knew the day would ever come? – but there's a big caveat: current player accounts "cannot be accessed via Steam."
In other words, the Steam edition of Guild Wars 2 will have "the same maps and servers," and "everyone plays together," but accounts won't be able to transfer over from the ArenaNet launcher and vice-versa.
With that in mind, the Steam release is about pulling in new audiences (or, I guess, bringing back lapsed fans who dropped the game years ago and wouldn't necessarily mind starting fresh on Steam along with their buddies). It's wild to think that I was into Guild Wars 2 way back when. I can't imagine returning – MMOs aren't compatible with my day-to-day in 2020 – but plenty of people will dig it.
Your First Look at Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons [ArenaNet] [Thanks, elric6]
Fall Guys promises to start banning cheaters in between rounds
It has bean three weeks since Fall Guys launched and the frustration over cheaters is as persistent as ever. Sometimes there will be 60 clumsy dudes tripping over one another. Sometimes one or two of them will leap through the air like they're playing Crackdown.
"Crackdown" is an appropriate term because developer Mediatonic plans to really crack down on cheaters very soon. Right now, an auto-detection system is said to drop the hammer after an episode is finished and the offender (likely) wins the game. In an upcoming update, Mediatonic's anti-cheat software will boot players before the game is over.
Review: Tom Clancy's Elite Squad
When it was announced Ubisoft would be bringing its Tom Clancy series to mobile for the first time, I immediately thought back to the oft-forgotten Nintendo 3DS launch title Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars. As a turn-based tactical shooter, a title like that reworked for smartphones would be a wonderful way to introduce the Tom Clancy universe to mobile audiences.
Instead, we get this.
Predator: Hunting Grounds is running a free trial this weekend for PS Plus
IllFonic isn't giving out Predator: Hunting Grounds through PlayStation Plus just yet, but the multiplayer action game will have a Free Trial event on PS4 this weekend if you're a PS Plus subscriber.
The Hunting Grounds trial is running from August 28 at 7:00 a.m. Pacific until August 30 at 7:00 a.m.
Predator's 2.0 patch is rolling out on the same day, and the update will finally let people form cross-platform parties with their friends – a feature that missed the game's launch – among other fixes.
A few days later, on September 1, IllFonic is adding another DLC character skin, this time for Dutch '87. The paid pack comes with eight "tint customizations" and early access to the grenade-launching Mercenary rifle (which will eventually be unlockable in-game, at no extra cost, in October).
I'm at the point where I'd like to see Predator: Hunting Grounds lower the barrier to entry even further for the health of the community and matchmaking. DLC is fine, but let's get some new blood in here.
Dutch '87 and a Free Trial Coming to Predator: Hunting Grounds [PlayStation Blog]
Fall Guys is headed to mobile, but only in China
The current viral gaming craze that is Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is about to hit the small screen. The madcap battle royale title is officially being ported to mobile platforms at some point in the near future, but it will only be initially accessible in China.
The news was first noted by Niko Partners games analyst Daniel Ahmad, who reported that Chinese corporation Bilibili had secured the rights to port the popular multiplayer title to mobile. In a later statement made to GamesIndustry.biz, developer Mediatonic confirmed that Jelly Bean Man (the Chinese name for Fall Guys) was indeed coming to the mobile market for that specific territory, while noting that the Mediatonic team is staying committed to the PS4 and PC platforms for the time being.
It's been a big week of news for Fall Guys. A recent update fixed a run of bugs and tweaked select in-game options, a charity auction was announced for big brand companies to earn an in-game skin, and this Thursday's Gamescom Opening Night Live stream will offer fans the first look at the game's second season. Season two will hopefully include new skins and stages, expanding upon the instant phenomenon that Fall Guys has become.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is available now on PS4 and PC.
Fall Guys is coming to mobile in China [Twitter / GamesIndustry.biz]
Xbox gets another UX refresh ahead of Xbox Series X launch
Microsoft is again tweaking the Xbox interface, making subtle changes to enhance the user experience. Last week, we told you how the dashboard and UX is being redesigned to be uniform across all devices (Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and Android OS). The first wave of alterations is now live on Xbox One for all users.
Streamlining is the name of the game with the August Xbox 2020 Update. The Guide is the main focus, as Microsoft has cleaned up the clutter when the controller's top-and-center Xbox button is pressed. Now, there seem to be fewer categories, and emphasis is placed on quickly swapping between most recent activities, the dashboard, and the "My Games and Apps" library. The Guide can also be customized to some extent, as the order of the tabs is free to be rearranged.
A handful of options have been relegated to the bottom of the Guide, freeing up space for the top to look cleaner. These are: Notifications, Game Pass, the Xbox Store, search, and volume options. Microsoft has also taken notifications and combined them into a single feed (previously, messages and alerts were separate things) which can be checked and cleared-out from any device.
There's one more minor-seeming-but-actually-important quality of life change made to the parties system. Now, there are volume levels for individual party members. No more suffering through one friend's annoying loud microphone, leaving all your other buddies quiet as a mouse.
This isn't the end of the updates for 2020. Microsoft is slowly morphing the Xbox One UX until it becomes the interface that Xbox Series X will launch with. We'll see more changes in the coming months as Microsoft works toward getting all devices to look as identical as possible. Check out the gallery below for a visual aid as to what some of these iterations look like.
Xbox One and Xbox Series X UX Gets a Fresh Look and Streamlined Experience [Xbox Wire]
If there's one thing that anime has proven most adept at, it's gathering together a gaggle of doe-eyed, sexually-charged women and tossing them into a mixer with a random sport, occupation, or hobby, usually creating a successful multi-media franchise in the process. Kandagawa Jet Girls is no exception.
Launching as a TNK-produced anime series in the fall of 2019, Kandagawa Jet Girls is a brand still very much in its infancy, having not yet quite developed the full range of movies, toys, OVAs, manga, and body pillows that often spawn from such franchises. It does have its first video game, however, which launched in Japan in January, courtesy of Senran Kagura publisher Marvelous.
Still, the appeal of anime is not strictly limited to the borders of Japan, and so Xseed Games has taken upon itself to localise this all-women's jet-ski extravaganza for cheesecake fans over on the western shores. So slap on some sunscreen, put on your best swimsuit, and let's dive into the action.
Oh, and a warning to the first four rows: You Will Get Wet.
Super Bomberman R Online is out September 1 for Stadia Pro players
I'm finding it hard to drum up much enthusiasm for Super Bomberman R Online while it's locked to Stadia, but if you're okay with Google's streaming platform and you're into the idea of a 64-player Bomberman mode with multiple stages running simultaneously, it's releasing on September 1, 2020.
When I say the game is launching on September 1, what exactly does that mean?
Well, if you're a Stadia Pro subscriber, you'll be able to play Super Bomberman R Online right away. Your paid membership will include the base game and a separate, free-to-claim Premium Edition bundle – a collection with 14 extra characters and the ability to "creative private matches with your friends."
As for Stadia Base users who don't want to drop $9.99 per month on a streaming game service, you'll have to wait until after September 1 to play. The exact release timing "will be shared soon."
According to Konami, "Stadia Base users will be required to purchase the Premium Edition bundle at SRP $9.99" since a "'base game only' option will not be available." So, ten bucks it is.
Super Bomberman R Online is leaning into Stadia's new Crowd Play feature that lets players easily jump into a match with a streamer, it has wacky tie-in characters like Pyramid Head and Simon Belmont, and Louies – those kangaroo creatures you can ride around the stage – are finally back in action.
Can Bomberman hit it big in the streaming era? I'm not convinced. I am hoping for ports, though!
Star Wars: Squadrons to feature in gamescom Opening Night Live
This week will give Star Wars fans a new look at Electronic Arts' latest foray into a galaxy far, far, away. As tweeted by Geoff Keighley, Thursday's gamescom Opening Night Live stream will feature brand new footage from interstellar dog-fighter Star Wars: Squadrons.
Officially revealed during June's EA Play presentation, Star Wars: Squadrons will let budding Resistance pilots blast off in either a single-player campaign or a selection of multiplayer modes. Various recognisable craft from the movies will be available, each fitting in with a specific class - such as Bomber, Fighter, and Interceptor. The PC and PS4 editions of Squadrons will also feature VR support, which has gotta be some experience.
Marvel's Avengers will bring a new hero to next week's War Table stream
I'm not wild about Marvel's Avengers – and I may never be – but after seeing that lengthy data-mined list of possible characters beyond the core launch-day cast, I'm intrigued for sure. A little hopeful, even.
The next War Table stream is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Pacific on Tuesday, September 1, and fans are expecting a lot given its proximity to launch. According to Square Enix, this latest Avengers showing will feature "numerous" reveals including "an in-depth look at the first post-launch story season for the Avengers Initiative" (Hey Clint!) and "the unveiling of an additional post-launch playable hero."
"Minds will be blown and wishes granted as some of the game's extensive slate of additional heroes, villains, missions, regions, and gameplay modes are unveiled," the publisher added.
Who's up next? Black Panther? Ant-Man?
@PlayAvengers [Twitter]
The license holder for Skullgirls, Autumn Games, has distanced itself from the game's original developer, Lab Zero Games, following an exodus of staff from the latter company. The resigning staff all cite an inability to continue working within a culture of toxic behavior at the independent studio.
Several Lab Zero team members resigned from their respective roles at the studio yesterday, taking to Twitter to explain their actions. The online testimonials collectively point to studio owner Mike Zaimont, accusing the Skullgirls co-creator of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior around employees.
Animator Jonathon Kim states that Zaimont would "frequently mention his genitals, force unwanted physical contact, [and] make sexual comments about himself or about his employees' bodies." Zaimont reportedly used "very personal details to threaten or demean coworkers when they didn't go along with what he wanted or act in a way he wished."
Artist Mariel Cartwright accuses Zaimont of "years of sexual comments about my body and clothes" along with other sexually-invasive and personal remarks. Cartwright recounts that she confronted Zaimont about his behavior in 2017, only to be "blamed for how [she] dressed". Cartwright states that Zaimont has told Lab Zero staff that he "can't and won't change."
Kim states that, after holding an internal investigation, the Lab Zero team approached Zaimont with a suggestion that he leave the company, which Zaimont refused unless "unrealistically high" requests were met. It is reported that Zaimont then gave any staff members unsatisfied with the situation until August 31 to leave, which lead to yesterday's exodus.
Another Sega-on-Switch double pack is on the way, with Sonic Forces gumming half of it
This week, we learned that Sega plans to introduce yet another one of their collections into the world: this time, a double-pack of Sonic Mania and Team Sonic Racing on Switch.
It's not a bad back! Team Sonic Racing might not be to everyone's liking but it's a decent little arcade racer, and Sonic Mania is...one of the best Sonic games in years. But this upcoming double-pack, spotted on a GameFly listing, isn't quite as enticing.
First up as part of the duo: Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz. It might not be the strongest way to sell a collection, but it's not bad! The other half is where it gets scary: Sonic Forces. Back away, not today, Sega! Although Forces had some bright spots, by and large it was panned as another misstep in the 3D Sonic universe. We're still anxiously awaiting a new 3D Sonic that gets it right.
The pack is not priced out on Gamefly's site, but it seems to be out on October 31 of this year. A $40 price point, like the other pack, is probably a good guess though.
Sonic Forces + Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz - HD Double Pack [Gamefly] Thanks Rick!
More Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart gameplay to debut at gamescom
Sony Interactive Entertainment and Insomniac Games will debut fresh gameplay footage from Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart during gamescom's Opening Night Live presentation.
As revealed by show host Geoff Keighley, Thursday's stream will feature all-new gameplay demonstration taken directly from the PS5 adventure, which made its official debut during June's PlayStation Future of Gaming presentation back. The new "uncut" video will feature a "full demo playthrough," according to Insomniac's James Stevenson, so we'll be able to see our heroes, (and their enemies), in all of their shiny, ray-traced glory.
The rumor that Nintendo is planning a Switch Pro popped up again, could come next year
We've heard from various sources that Nintendo is planning on developing a "Switch Pro" of sorts for several years.
From the jump, outlets have reported that Nintendo has been looking into upgrading the Switch's hardware to be more competitive; but outside of nebulous release windows (that have all came and went), there aren't very many specifics. Now we have more hope thanks to a report from Bloomberg.
As Bloomberg states, Nintendo "has looked into including more computing power and 4K high-definition graphics," which would come in the form of a new Switch. That Switch could come next year, and an analyst predicts that with that additional hardware upgrade, the Switch family could surpass Nintendo DS' lifetime sales (the Switch is currently at 62 million units sold, whereas the DS hit 154.02 million sold across its various iterations, so that's a tall order).
Bloomberg also reports that there are "major games" planned around its release, but that's probably one of the most vague Nintendo insider statements I've seen in a while. If Nintendo is planning an enhanced version of the Switch, you can bet they would want to promote it. It's just common sense.
Nintendo Plans Upgraded Switch Console and Major Games for 2021 [Bloomberg]
Borderlands 3's fourth story add-on goes inside Psycho Krieg's demented mind
Shit is about to go off the rails. That's perfectly apropos considering it's the Poop Train that's barreling down these tracks.
Gearbox has detailed the fourth and final expansion that makes up the Borderlands 3 season pass. Titled Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck, this DLC takes place inside Krieg's mind. Tannis believes that Psychos are unhinged because they're driven insane by a mythical place known as Vaulthalla. She wants you to go all Being John Malkovich and figure out what Psychos know that we don't.
Because this expansion exists within the brain of a very unreliable narrator, there's all sorts of opportunity for perception to be skewed from reality. It's probably why Krieg is 100-feet tall in the trailer. It means things will be very violent, too. Also, we'll see Krieg's side of his personal relationship with Maya, which has potential to play out exactly like the ending to Braid.
Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck launches on September 10 alongside a free update for all Borderlands 3 players. This update will bump the level cap from 60 to 65, and serves as the last planned level cap increase (although Gearbox teases the possibility of more by saying "at least for the foreseeable future").
This last expansion drops right before the one-year anniversary of Borderlands 3. Despite this being the end of the roadmap, don't be surprised when Year Two content plans are inevitably announced. The Poop Train isn't the only thing that's gonna keep a'rollin'.
Going hands-on with Amazon's New World MMO was pretty wild
Amazon has more money than God.
Why can't it get a first-party release right? I...I don't know. But something tells me that they're going to put a little more oomph into New World than their prior efforts.
