Contest: Win Fight Crab for Switch, and a copy of its cool-as-shell soundtrack
In today's contest you can win a Switch copy of Fight Crab and its soundtrack!
It's official: Fight Crab is pretty good! I mean, how could it not be? It's crabs fighting with human weapons. Hard to screw that one up.
If you want to experience the game for yourself, you can either buy it (please do so these types of games keep getting made), or you can win it here! As a bonus, we've also got CD's of the soundtrack to give away with your digital copy. What more could you ask for?
Starstruck: Hands of Time captures that wacky experimental PS1 energy so well
As a multi-genre adventure drawing from rhythm gaming, role-playing, and claymation, Starstruck: Hands of Time isn't easily classified, but that's a good thing! The upcoming PC and PS4 title from Createdelic brings me back to the let's-try-anything-and-everything oddball energy of the PS1.
As much as I'm more interested in the "giant destructive time-traveling hand" that strolls around like Thing from The Addams Family and stomps a playground-esque diorama city, I respect Starstruck for trying to blend other elements (like guitar gameplay) into a multi-protagonist puzzle adventure.
The first act – around an hour of two or gameplay – is readily available on Steam in a Prologue demo.
As for the final release, it's planned for PlayStation 4 and PC in 2021. What a cool-ass game.
New to Rocket League? Here are the best YouTubers to follow
Rocket League is free-to-play now and that has brought a ton of new players into the fold. Today, Rocket League hit one million concurrent players for the first time ever. There are a lot of people checking out this delightful five-year-old game, and many of them will inevitably like what they find.
And, for some of them, it'll turn into an obsession. It'll transform into more than just playing. They'll start watching esports. They'll start subscribing to YouTubers. They'll tune in for Twitch streams every night. Rocket League has no shortage of content to consume.
I know because I've lived it. I want to pass along my experience with some recommendations of my favorite Rocket League YouTubers. It'll be a little bit of everything -- pro play, entertainment value, and tutorials. Hopefully someone finds something they like.
For the first time since the WWE series of games was handed off to 2K Sports, they've released something drastically different on consoles from the annualized and borderline sim-like WWE 2K series.
WWE 2K Battlegrounds features a wide cast of WWE superstars new and old, throwing each other dozens of feet into the air, into cars, and into alligators, all with over-the-top power-ups and abilities. This is anything but a simulation of modern professional wrestling.
All of that spectacle wears off quickly, though. Battlegrounds is incredibly shallow in regards to gameplay, and the overall progression is downright mind-numbing.
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Complete Edition is free to grab on the Epic Games Store
Frontier Developments re-released 2004's RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 on Nintendo Switch, Steam, and the Epic Games Store today, and if you're down for some management-sim escapism, the latter is free.
You have until Thursday, October 1 to add RCT3 to your Epic library. Here's a simple but effective crash montage to get us all in the spirit – not that we'd ever intentionally harm our guests. Not a chance!
This particular version of the theme park game is a Complete Edition with 1080p support, two packed-in expansions (Soaked! and Wild!), and "increased compatibility for new PC hardware," as Frontier puts it.
The next spot on Epic's freebie calendar is going to Pikuniku on October 1. I adore that silly game.
Review: Mafia: Definitive Edition
This story takes place a long time ago and most video games don't age like fine wine. The rare, great ones do but most don't. The ones that are merely good have a shelf life before they turn. Playing an open-world shooter from 2002 leaves about the same taste in your mouth as chewing the bubblegum that came with 1950s baseball cards.
Mafia: Definitive Edition is a prime example of how those good games can have great foundations. A lot of all-timers like Final Fantasy VII, Link's Awakening, and Resident Evil 2 have gotten the remake treatment lately, and no one is surprised when they're excellent the second time 'round. Mafia, which had to live in GTA III's shadow back in 2002, gets its first chance to be truly excellent in 2020.
You have another (probably slim) chance to pre-order a PS5 tomorrow
It's been a struggle to secure a PlayStation 5 in time for the mid-November launch, and we're gonna keep on struggling for months. If you missed the chaotic first evening of pre-orders, your odds are dwindling, but they aren't at zero. A few retailers are planning to open orders back up on September 25.
- In the US, GameStop will have "further quantities of PS5 consoles" online at GameStop.com and in-store.
- In Canada, Walmart will offer more PS5 pre-orders online only at Walmart.ca "late tomorrow morning EST."
- And in the UK, GAME will sell a "limited stock of the PS5 coming tomorrow late morning" online only at GAME.co.uk.
Assuming this goes about as quickly and painfully as the last round, you'll want to have your account of choice primed and ready to go. If you're hoping to land a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition in 2020, that has increasingly felt like a pipe dream. Be prepared to fork over full price for the disc-compatible big boy. There's no room for hesitation at this point. Scarcity – and the perception of scarcity – has taken over.
The retailers didn't specify an exact start time, so you'll want to keep tabs on @Wario64 and pray.
Users on ResetEra have reported that Sony is offering another round of direct-to-consumer PS5 pre-orders on September 25. If you registered way back when, be on the lookout for a potential email soon.
I still can't believe that the original Serious Sam came out nearly 20 years ago.
Since then Croteam has broken away from their reputation as "the Serious Sam studio" a bit, having given us the universally acclaimed Talos Principle. They aren't ready to let go of Sam just yet, though.
As predicted, an extra terabyte of storage for the Xbox Series X won't come cheap. You'll have to pay nearly half the price of the Series X just to double the amount of space you're working with.
Microsoft has been touting the Xbox Series X's 1TB expandable storage card for a while now. It's a proprietary PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD which is top of the line right now in terms of speed. It's also very expensive, as Microsoft confirmed today that the official Seagate SSD will retail for $220. However, that's in line with what PCIe 4.0 tech costs for now.
For anyone who's looking at the Series X's base 1TB internal SSD (or the Series S' 512GB) and realizing it's not enough for next-gen's inevitably huge file sizes, biting the bullet on the external SSD isn't the only option. USB 3.1 HDDs are supported on Xbox Series S/X, just as they were on Xbox One.
Going that route will require some install location Tetris, though. Microsoft presented the capabilities of HDDs and SSDs with this table:
The Medium will offer an out-of-body experience on PC and Xbox Series X
Spooky game specialists Bloober Team has released a new story trailer for its creepy upcoming adventure The Medium, which will launch on PC and Xbox Series X this holiday season.
The Medium will tell a tale of psychological horror as players step into the mind-reading shoes of a young psychic practitioner, Marianne, who must harness her powerful abilities to traverse both the real world and the spirit world at one and the same time, unearthing clues and speaking with lost souls in order to solve a mystery embedded within an abandoned communist resort.
Amazon Luna is a $6-per-month cloud gaming service for PC, Mac, iOS, and Fire TV
Are you totally over the "streaming wars" yet? Well, they're just getting started. This morning, Amazon announced the cloud gaming service Luna, its answer to Google's Stadia, and it costs $6 per month.
The pitch is familiar. Through the power of the cloud, you can stream games like Control, Resident Evil 7, Sonic Mania Plus, and Trails of Cold Steel III to your PC, Mac, Fire TV Stick, or – and this is surprising in light of Microsoft's recent xCloud struggles with Apple – even your iPhone or iPad via web app.
You can use the Luna app on:
- PC (requires Windows 10 with support for DirectX 11)
- Mac (OSX 10.13+)
- FireTV devices (Fire TV Stick - 2nd gen, Fire TV Stick 4K, or Fire TV Cube - 2nd gen)
Additionally you can use:
- Chrome web browser (version 83+) for PC and Mac
- Safari web browser (iOS14) for iPhone and iPad
Amazon says it's "working to add support across more devices in the future."
With a Luna+ subscription, you'll be able to stream on up to two devices at 1080p/60fps, although Amazon says "select titles" will go up to 4K. There's a $50 gamepad – the Luna Controller – but you could (and probably should) just stick with your Xbox One pad, DualShock 4, or mouse and keyboard.
As for internet speeds, the requirement is 10 Mbps for 1080p and 35 Mbps for 4K.
Currently, Luna+ is invitation-only, the 100+ game library will grow over time, and that $6-per-month fee is the "introductory price." Early access sign-ups in the US are over here on this landing page.
Cleverly, Amazon is using a channel-based approach not unlike the paid subscription add-ons found on Amazon Prime Video. The first example: Ubisoft. Pricing wasn't mentioned yet, but a separate Ubisoft channel will include games like Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion along with DLC.
As someone with a strict data cap, I'll be sitting this one (and all of them!) out.
Hell yeah, Doom Eternal joins Xbox Game Pass next week
It didn't take long for Microsoft to test drive Bethesda's cars and then park them in the Game Pass Garage. Ten days after the mega-blockbuster ZeniMax acquisition, Bethesda's most prolific game of the last couple years is joining Xbox's primary subscription service.
Doom Eternal will be added to Xbox Game Pass for consoles on Thursday, October 1. It'll be coming to Xbox Game Pass for PC sometime later this year.
We've already been assured that Bethesda's future launches, just like all Xbox first-party games, will come to Xbox Game Pass on day one. However, we can probably rely on a lot of Bethesda's back catalog showing up there too. It won't happen all at once. Rather, they'll trickle onto Game Pass as distinct marketing beats to encourage new signups. They'll eventually (mostly) all get there.
Microsoft has fallen into a routine where it posts the next two weeks' worth of Game Pass additions all at once. We're due for that in a few days, closer to October 1. For now, we only know one of those games. But it's one hell of a start.
Prepare to Raze Hell: Doom Eternal is Coming to Xbox Game Pass on October 1 [Xbox Wire]
Rockman x Dive is still alive and will launch this fall in Japan
Rockman x Dive is intriguing as hell. While "Mega Man mobile" is enough to scare away entire buildings of people, Dive seems like a very interesting celebration of the series: an "all star" treatment, if you will.
Mobile gaming has also come a long way since Rockman Xover, as Dive will support mobile controllers for a classic Mega Man experience. I've heard some good things from folks who have been playing the Asia-region release of the game earlier this year, and now a lot more prospective players can try it for themselves soon enough.
By way of 4Gamer, we have learned that Rockman Dive will be hitting iOS and Android devices in Japan this fall. You can pre-register starting today on both storefronts, at which point you'll earn extra in-game items for your trouble. As a reminder, it is a free-to-play game with microtransactions.
You can get a decent look at the gist of the game (the expansive cast) and some of the multiplayer elements in the video below.
Rockman Dive [4Gamer.net]
NieR Reincarnation western release confirmed
It's been a big news day for NieR fans. First we got a glimpse at this beautiful statue in production Prime 1 Studio. We later received a launch date for the long-awaited NieR Replicant on PC and consoles, and to complete the trifecta, Square Enix has confirmed that mobile title NieR Re[in]carnation will be heading west on iOS and Android devices.
Pre-registration has been opened for the Japanese version of the pocket-sized adventure on both the App Store and Google Play. In addition, English language accounts have been opened on both Facebook and Twitter. As a game, however, Re[in]carnation remains mostly shrouded in mystery.
Nintendo Download: Kirby Fighters 2
Well, Nintendo did it again: they unleashed a "surprise, it's out!" game.
You can now buy Kirby Fighters 2 on Switch (RIP 3DS), alongside of Going Under and Embracelet. Nintendo also reminds us that Rocket League is now free-to-play. Two first-party games in two weeks! It's like Christmas in September.
I also have to take this opportunity to remind people that the 3DS is officially dead. While there are sparing releases for it by very small studios (sometimes once a month), it seems like that infrequent trend will become even more infrequent. Long live the 3DS.
Mafia: Definitive Edition has a great callback to Mafia III's kinkiest moment
The Mafia remake launches tomorrow, and developer Hangar 13 did a great job with it. If you're looking for our final verdict, you can check out our review.
Among all the finer details that Hangar 13 nailed to create a stunning remake, the studio also tucked away a callback to possibly the weirdest moment in Mafia history. In Mafia III, while breaking up the sex racket, you're tasked with killing three kinky VIPs. They're just some old dudes trying to get their rocks off. One of them has a very particular fetish where he dresses up like this:
Adidas producing Cyberpunk 2077 sneakers for young and cool people
With CD Projekt RED's Cyberpunk 2077 prepped to set cash registers alight in November, it figures that brands outside of gaming will be looking to grab themselves a piece of the action through their own merchandising options. Case in point: These new Night City-themed sneakers, coming to store shelves courtesy of big bucks sportswear company Adidas.
The "Adidas X9000L4 Boost Cyberpunk 2077" shoe features a slick, lightweight, running-shoe style design, perfect for keeping you one step ahead of Cyber 5-0 in Night City's long, violent twilight. The shoe is emblazoned with the Cyberpunk 2077 logo, and features instantly recognisable brand tones of purple and gold.
Nioh 2's big second DLC is out in just a few weeks
Nioh has been a font of fun for me for years. This series completely rules, as it finds a fine line between action and exploration and sticks to it: the level-based system is great for some bite-sized romp itches that other open world games won't quite scratch.
I'm still replaying the first Nioh from time to time, but the sequel does a lot of heavy lifting too. Plus, with DLC accompanying the total package (just like the original!), there's going to be even more to come back to years from now. The second DLC, just unveiled today, looks like it'll continue that legacy.
Revealed on the PlayStation Blog, it's called Darkness in the Capital and will follow up Tengu's Disciple from July. It'll boast new bosses, extra narrative bits, more Guardian Spirits and extra skills/Ninjutsu/Onmyo Magic abilities. Amazingly, it'll take place in Kyoto City and will involve a time-traveling storyline conceit that will whisk the player character back to "an ancient version of the capital."
Darkness in the Capital is out on October 15. It's probably one of my most-anticipated October releases at this point!
Nioh 2's Darkness in the Capital expansion arrives October 15 [PS Blog]
No, Microsoft isn't buying Sega at TGS this year
While Microsoft has been acquiring studios left and right these past few years, they made big headlines when they picked up ZeniMax/Bethesda this past week. The publisher has noted that they are still in the market for more pickups, but rumors have been swirling about Microsoft grabbing a huge Japanese publisher to widen their appeal in Japan: rumors that Microsoft has since squashed.
Building off a tweet that showcased their Tokyo Game Show (TGS) lineup earlier this month, Microsoft noted: "…and btw, there won't be any new acquisition news at the show." A clear nod to the aforementioned rumor mill. And if there won't be "any" acquisition announcements, that includes the most popular studio named in various reports: Sega.
Microsoft has tried, with mixed success, to court the Japanese market. In previous years the Xbox 360 hosted a ton of interesting games from JRPGs to shmups, while the Xbox One lagged behind and saw the cancelation of a huge marquee collaboration project.
Time will tell just how Microsoft intends to jumpstart their eastern presence, but for now, we won't be seeing any new acquisitions.
Xbox [Twitter]
NieR Replicant launches April 2021 on PS4, PC, and Xbox One
Square Enix has announced that NieR Replicant will launch in North America and Europe on PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam on April 23, 2021. The date was revealed during a special Tokyo Game Show presentation held by the publisher this morning.
NieR Replicant - or to give it its full title: NieR Replicant Ver. 1.22474487139 - is an "alternate edition" of original 2010 release NieR. Replicant was previously made available exclusively on PS3 in Japan, following the launch of the first game in the dramatic fantasy adventure series.
PSA: It's Voter Registration Week, are you game?
This week is Voter Registration Week, so there's no better time to double-check that you're registered to vote. If you've recently turned 18, moved since 2016, changed your name, or started an underground cult your information may be out of date. It's easy to check if you're registered. It takes literally 30 seconds and you're done.
The big Skull Kid DLC is out in Cadence of Hyrule, here's a breakdown
The time has finally come: all of the (currently announced) Cadence of Hyrule launches are fully complete!
As of today, Cadence has three DLCs on offer: a character pack (Impa, Aria, Shadow Link, Shadow Zelda, Frederick), a 39-song melody pack and today's "Symphony of the Mask" DLC with Skull Kid. The latter one is really the main attraction as the "story DLC" of the pack, which ushers in three brand new modes (Skull Kid, puzzle, arena).
In addition to brand new maps, the Skull Kid DLC also has five new songs, as well as new enemies and such. At this point, Cadence of Hyrule is packed with stuff to do. The characters already feel fairly different, but the mechanic of Skull Kid being able to swap its powers is going to be very enticing for subsequent playthroughs.
It's hard to believe this game is over a year old! It was one of my favorites from 2019, so be sure and put it on your radar if it isn't already. You still have time if you're not a digital person; as a complete edition is arriving on October 23 at multiple retailers in physical form.
Cadence of Hyrule [Brace Yourself Games]
Stunning NieR: Automata statue coming from Prime 1 Studio
Square Enix is teaming up with premium merchandiser Prime 1 Studio to release a jaw-dropping polystone statue, based on the former's dystopian sci-fi adventure NieR: Automata.
While details are still thin on the ground, Square Enix has released a two-minute teaser showing off the painstaking production of this fantastic-looking diorama. The statue itself depicts protagonists 2B, 9S, A2 and, of course, Pod as the quartet pose atop a miserable pile of rusted metal that was previously a fearsome foe. It has to be said, it's an absolutely incredible piece.
Belial brings his own brand of sexy chaos to Granblue Fantasy: Versus
CyGames has released Version 2.01 for anime fighting title Granblue Fantasy: Versus. The new update brings a slew of tweaks and bug-fixes to the cult fighter, along with the first DLC character of GF:V's second season, Belial.
One of the main antagonists of Granblue Fantasy: Versus' single-player mode, The Fallen Angel is now available for purchase as a playable roster addition. Luring in opponents with a rogueish, nonchalant attitude and an amazing midriff, Belial is then quick to dispatch his foes with damaging "slashing" attacks, and powerful metaphysical weaponry.
Sony clarifies that PS5 Spider-Man remaster is not a free upgrade for PS4 Spider-Man players
Sony has offered complex information pertaining to its recent announcement of a PS5 remaster of Marvel's Spider-Man, including details regarding the various upgrade paths to the web-slinger's acclaimed open-world adventure.
Speaking in a statement to Kotaku, Sony confirmed that there is no upgrade path that allows PS4 Spider-Man players to receive the new PS5 remaster for free. PS4 players can upgrade Marvel's Spider-Man to a PS5 version of Marvel's Spider-Man at no cost, but this is just a "standard" version of the game, and not the new PS5 remaster. With me so far?
PS4 Spider-Man players wishing to pick up the PS5 remaster will need to first purchase the upcoming Spider-Man: Miles Morales release, and then purchase a special "upgrade voucher" at the cost of an additional $20. Alternately, players can outright purchase the Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition on PS5 for $70, which includes both the PS5 remaster of Marvel's Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Sony has confirmed that there are "no plans" to offer a standalone release of the PS5 remaster. It's also worth a reminder that PS4 save files for the original Marvel's Spider-Man will not be compatible with the PS5 remaster.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales will launch on PS4 and PS5 November 12.
Kirby Fighters 2 gets a surprise release less than a day after it was first leaked
It was just this morning we were telling you about some internet sleuths spotted Kirby Fighters 2 on Nintendo's website, and now, it's available for purchase. The original Kirby Fighters, for those who don't remember, appeared in Kirby: Triple Deluxe before being spun off as its own release for the Nintendo 3DS. This sequel brings the action to Switch and features local and online play, a story mode, more than a dozen stages, and the new copy ability Wrestler.
Among Us is getting lots of new content instead of a sequel
Among Us is a fiendish friendship-wrecking game about sussing out imposters in your crew, and while it's almost two years old, it recently snowballed to climb the sales charts. It's the number-one best-selling game on Steam right now, and it had 360,000 peak concurrent players on PC today. It's a beast.
The team behind Among Us had been planning a sequel – a way to escape the "outdated" codebase and build fresh content – but in light of renewed interest in the game, there's been a change of plans.
"We have decided to cancel Among Us 2 and instead put all our focus into improving Among Us 1," Innersloth said today in a blog post. "All of the content we had planned for Among Us 2 will instead go into Among Us 1. This is probably the more difficult choice because it means going deep into the core code of the game and reworking several parts of it. We have lots of things planned and we're excited to bring new content to everyone as you continue to enjoy playing!"
The developer also outlined its newly-pivoted plan, including colorblind support, a friends/account system, a new stage themed after Henry Stickmin, and solving the current server issues.
Beyond those features, some of which will "definitely take some time" to implement, Innersloth says there are "LOTS of other things planned too, we just need to prioritize and organize all our plans."
They have their work cut out for them, but from a player's perspective, this is fantastic news.
Death Come True PS4 port delayed from October release date
The PS4 port of Izanagi Games' FMV murder mystery Death Come True will not meet its originally scheduled October 15 release date, and will now launch at an unspecified point in the future.
Speaking on Twitter, Izanagi Games noted that last-minute fixes made to the title have caused delays in Sony's QA classification procedure, thus pushing back the port's launch window.
"Due to an issue flagged up requiring a fix after passing the QA test, we are postponing the release," reads the tweet. "We offer our heartfelt apologies to everyone. We will provide an update when a new release date is confirmed."
Death Come True is a reality-bending thriller that follows the nightmarish adventures of an amnesiac young man trapped in a time loop. Awakening in an opulent but mostly empty hotel, our hero is tasked with recalling the truth behind his identity, clearing his name from a series of grim murders, and staying one step ahead of a terrifying hooded killer. You can check out my own thoughts on the strange and esoteric adventure in our review.
Death Come True is available now on PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile platforms. It will launch on PS4 at some point in the future.
The Game Awards will close out this stream-filled year on December 10
Geoff Keighley is ending a drawn-out year of streams the only way he knows how: with The Game Awards. After reaching "50 million global viewers" in 2019, this year's show is set for December 10.
The Game Awards will be broadcast from audience-less studio locations in Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo, and these cities "will be digitally connected for an innovative celebration with live award presentations, musical performances, and spectacular world premiere game announcements."
Apart from that structural change meant to bridge fans, a greater emphasis on "interactive extensions on leading streaming platforms," and a new award – Innovation in Accessibility – the show will mostly continue down its usual path. Expect to see big game reveals, deals, and limited-time demos of upcoming releases. (More details about the sale and The Game Festival are coming in November.)
This year we introducing a new award @thegameawards:
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) September 23, 2020
Innovation in Accessibility
Recognizing developers that are pushing the medium forward by adding features, technology and content to help games be played and enjoyed by an even wider audience. pic.twitter.com/yCt8M8czaK
"Our team is working hard to deliver an innovative and thoughtful program that celebrates excellence, previews the future, and amplifies important voices that are shaping the future of this medium," said Keighley. After orchestrating a first-of-its-kind Summer Game Fest, I'm sure he'll pull it off.
I don't show up to The Game Awards to see who took the top honor or even to catch the trailers – above all, I'm there for the sense of camaraderie that arises when a bunch of us are in this together.
It's going to be a cathartic night.
Farah and Nikolai are finally headed to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Two of Call of Duty's finest characters - Farah Karim and Nikolai - will finally arrive as playable operators in Season Six of both Modern Warfare and its accompanying battle royale title, Warzone.
Farah made her series debut in 2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. A passionate, fearless freedom fighter and founder of the Urzikstan Liberation Force, Farah has a deeply held and personal interest in seeing the toppling of the invading Russian forces. Farah is one of the highlights of the Modern Warfare campaign, and it is staggering that it has taken almost a year to see her playable debut.
A Call of Duty veteran, Nikolai has featured in multiple Modern Warfare releases. Nikolai is a Russian informant who has helped out Captain Price and his squad on numerous occasions when there was nowhere else to turn, often transporting himself right into the thick of battle at huge personal risk. Despite his common appearances in CoD lore, little is known of Nikolai's true past and identity.
Maneater has a 4K60FPS upgrade for PS5 and Xbox Series X on launch day
It's not going to top many (or any?) game-of-the-year lists, but I can't close out 2020 without remembering Maneater. It's not every day we get to be a shark, much less morph into an unstoppable terror with RPG-style upgrades, and beyond the cold-blooded chaos, I enjoyed tracking down all of those just-hidden-enough collectibles. Honestly, the region-based exploration was my favorite part.
Tripwire is going to jog my memory in November with a free next-gen upgrade for Maneater.
We're incredibly pleased to announce that Maneater will swim onto next-gen systems at launch! Fully evolved for the new hardware with a free upgrade for all current-gen owners!
— Maneater (@maneatergame) September 23, 2020
🦈â¤ï¸ðŸ•¹ï¸ pic.twitter.com/XMGI4PyJzR
If you bought Maneater on PS4 or Xbox One, you'll be able to upgrade to a decked-out version on PlayStation 5 (starting November 12) or Xbox Series X/S (starting November 10). In other words, this is an unexpected day-one launch title for both systems. As for the lower-spec Xbox Series S specifically, the developer says that players will "benefit from increased graphical fidelity and frame rate."
Unlike other games that are getting a next-gen refresh, "this is not a different application/game, and where the platforms support it your stats, saves, and trophies/achievements will carry forward."
Beyond the upgrade, Maneater will have new physical editions on PS5 and Xbox Series X. The studio teased that "more Maneater" is on the way and said PC will get "visual enhancements" in 2021.
With free upgrades, I feel like some of these current-gen games can really stand out on PS5 and XSX. That's not to say there's nothing to play at launch, but once we're done with the big-hitters, games like Maneater will be calling my name. After all, I'm a few trophies shy of earning that platinum.
Cyberpunk slice 'n' dicer Ghostrunner coming to Switch in October
Ghostrunner exploded onto the scene with a stupendous demo earlier this year and quickly became the second most anticipated cyberpunk game coming out in 2020. With sleek cyber-ninja action and a no-delay resurrection for when you ultimately die, it's looking to be a wonderful action accompaniment to Cyberpunk 2077.
Originally planned for a simultaneous release on October 27 for PC (Steam, GOG, and Epic), Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, Ghostrunner will now also release on the Switch on the same day as all the other platforms. Announced today at the Tokyo Game Show, this new release is planned to be digital-only, but I wouldn't be surprised to see this end up as an LRG selection in a year or two.
It's going to be interesting to see how it performs on Switch as from the little I've played of the PC version, it feels that any dip in performance will be detrimental to the enjoyment of the combat. Still, that is what reviews are for.
Ghostrunner will launch on October 27 for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and now Nintendo Switch.
R-Type Final 2 will battle the Bydo Empire in spring 2021
Developer Granzella Inc. has finally revealed a release window for crowdfunded shmup R-Type Final 2. As noted in the latest edition of Weekly Famitsu, the interstellar action will blast off on PC and consoles in spring 2021.
R-Type Final 2 - a pseudo-sequel/remake of Irem's 2003 release R-Type Final - went into development in the summer of 2019, following a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign that raised almost double its initial target of $400,000 USD in less than a few days.
Newest Hearts of Iron 4 DLC focuses on the Black and Aegean sea
The main appeal of historical grand strategy games is to answer those gnawing questions that keep history buffs awake at night. What if the Germans had continued their full march towards Stalingrad instead of splitting off for Leningrad in an attempt for a moral victory? What if France and England, disregarding all human emotion enforced the Treaty of Versailles in the 1930s instead of following a policy of appeasement?
Hearts of Iron IV developers Paradox Development Studio understand these niche nerd desires and continue to develop DLC to help my people get some sleep at night. Their latest DLC, titled Battle for the Bosporus will focus its eye on the Aegean and Black sea powers of Turkey, Greece, and Bulgaria.
With a focus tree for each of the three powers, Battle for the Bosporus will give you the choice of following history, or carving your own path. Along with new focus trees, there will be new voice-overs for the three powers, along with new unit art for the Balkan and Turkish armies.
Knowing full well that the Battle for the Bosporus is a smaller DLC, Paradox has priced it at $9.99/£7.19/€9.99 with plans for it to be released on October 15. As is the case with these smaller packs, there are no plans for any new features to be brought to the base game, so if you want to bring back the Ottoman Empire then you're going to have to pay up!
No Man's Sky just got way closer to being the game fans originally dreamed of
No Man's Sky is living its best life with the just-released Origins update. After Hello Games' Sean Murray promised this moment would mark "the beginning of something new," I came in with big expectations, but I'm still caught off-guard by the scope of what's included. The list keeps going and going.
If I had to roughly sum up Origins, I'd say that it pushes No Man's Sky within reach of many fans' wild hopes and dreams before the game launched. You know, back when the possibilities felt endless? Kinda like that. Update 3.0 aims to make the universe "stranger, richer, and more varied" across the board.
There are too many highlights to rattle off, but I'll try my best:
- "New life has been breathed into every planet in the universe," including giant flying beetles, sandworms, roaming synthetic creatures, and infestations. Some species will "flock together."
- There are new planets in "most star systems" and they can "generate much more varied terrain, including mountains four times larger than anything previously possible." You might also find towering vaults with "data, treasure, and directions to long-forgotten ruins."
- Active volcanoes, firestorms, meteor showers, tornadoes, lightning storms, and gravitational anomalies will make surface exploration more dynamic and memorable.
- "Black market traders, piloting their ships across planets, will now sometimes land on the planetary surface."
- "The game's interface has had a total visual overhaul, including the boot flow, all in-game menus and screens, and the Analysis Visor."
- "A local information guide has been added to the mission log. This guide displays detailed information about your current planet or star system, as well as tracking the progress of your discoveries."
- "Portal interference for conventional portals has been removed. Players may explore freely."
Reading through the full patch notes (and knowing Origins isn't the end of the road), I feel like No Man's Sky has secured its future for another four years. I just can't see it becoming irrelevant anytime soon.
I'm especially curious to see what Hello Games can bring to the table on PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Nintendo Switch is finally getting Donkey Kong Country 2
[Update: DKC2, Mario's Super Picross, The Peace Keepers, and S.C.A.T. – yes, S.C.A.T. – are now on Nintendo Switch if you have a Nintendo Switch Online account. What are you playing first?]
Our pleas have made it to Nintendo and the king is finally about to return. Donkey Kong Country 2 will be playable on Nintendo Switch starting September 23 for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.
It has consistently topped fans' most-wanted lists, and I'm right there with the crowd. I'd love the chance to reconnect with EarthBound, but DKC2 is my favorite game of all time. We made it, fam.
The SNES library is also getting Mario's Super Picross (a first-time release outside of Japan) and The Peace Keepers, a funky Jaleco beat-'em-up. On the NES front, it's S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team, a Natsume shmup. Imagine if these retro releases happened on a regular basis. That sure would be nice.
Anyone else going for 102% completion?
Heroes of the Storm is a beast of a game. It's survived multiple directorial shifts and countless MOBAs have come and gone since it was initially released.
It's also one of my most-played games of all time. Through thick and thin, the Heroes team has proven their dedication to the project with numerous balance patches, reworks, arenas, game modes, tweaks, and new characters.
I sat down with Brett Crawford, Lead Game Designer on Heroes of the Storm, to catch up a bit on how things are going in terms of a few recent releases and how things have changed.
Get a $10 Epic Games Store coupon when you add free-to-play Rocket League to your library
One of the best games of the past decade is going free-to-play today. As if that weren't incentive enough to check it out, Epic's upping the ante a little bit.
Anyone who claims Rocket League on the Epic Games Store will be gifted a $10 coupon that can be used on any game purchase over $15. It's that simple. Add Rocket League to your library before October 23, get $10 off of a game. These coupon events are always a big hit for a reason.
The general exclusions apply here. The $10 can't be spent on pre-orders or in-game microtransactions. Also, it has to be used before November 1. Nothing too restrictive there.
Don't worry -- you're not being punished if you already own Rocket League and launch through Steam. You can claim a free copy of Rocket League through your Epic Games Store account and get the $10 coupon. I just did it. Then, just keep launching through Steam.
Here's some stuff you could put that $10 toward. It'd bring the price of GTA V: Premium Edition down to $4.99. You could get in on Rogue Legacy 2's Early Access for $9.99. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 would be $29.99. Or, you could pick up The Outer Worlds for only $19.99. The world is your oyster.
You shouldn't need a nudge to play Rocket League but Epic is giving you one anyway. Now you don't have any excuses for not checking it out. The 10 bucks off is just the icing on top.
Rocket League [Epic Games Store]
Here's another look at the upcoming Destiny 2 expansion
While Destiny 2's Beyond Light expansion was initially set to debut this week, Bungie pushed back the release a bit due to the current global situation, and it kind of worked out for them. Now, kicking off on November 10, Beyond Light will have the hype of the new console launches to lift their wings a bit, as Destiny 2 is officially arriving on PS5 and Xbox Series X on those dates.
In the meantime, you can lament over the loss of some major bits of content when that switch is flipped and check out some of what makes Beyond Light tick every few weeks or so. Bungie has been laying the groundwork for the mechanical foundation of the expansion for some time, which includes this new trailer for Europa, the "frozen wasteland" environment that will be the focus of much of the new storyline.
This is one of the most revealing videos so far, as we get to see several big-deal enemies near the end, as well as a general look of some of the actual in-game environments: unfettered by cinematic representations.
Quantum Error is no longer PlayStation exclusive, now confirmed for Xbox Series X
TeamKill Media has announced that Quantum Error is coming to Xbox Series X, alongside its previously announced PS4 and PS5 editions. While the sci-fi horror title was initially a PlayStation exclusive, it appears that this is no longer the case.
Showcased during The Future Games Show, and later at gamescom 2020, Quantum Error sees a small rescue team dispatched to the mysterious Monad Quantum Research Facility, a clandestine operation located off-shore in California. Responding to a distress signal that a raging fire has broken out, team leader Capt. Jacob Thomas arrives to lead a search-and-rescue operation of the site. But it quickly becomes apparent that this is no standard operation, and most definitely no standard research facility.
Mighty Goose looks like Metal Slug with a robotic muscular goose
While big publishers are announcing new games out of thin air this year, indie developers have been hard at work unveiling their creations too: including this new eye-turning game from developer Blastmode/MP2 called Mighty Goose.
With geese being all the rage now it couldn't have come at a more perfect time; and the Nitrome-esque art style combined with the Metal Slug gameplay is going to be an instant sell for a lot of people. The gist is that you'll control the titular Mighty Goose (a buff creature with robot limbs) in a bid to take down the evil Void King.
The game boasts "screen-filling bosses," customizable upgrades, vehicle mechanics and a "synth-rock/jazz-fusion" soundtrack. You can check out the trailer below as well as the Steam page for more info. Publisher Playism has it pegged as arriving in 2021!
Mighty Goose [Steam]
New Wasteland 3 update now live on PC and consoles
inXile Entertainment has released Version 1.1.1 for its post-apocalyptic strategy title Wasteland 3. The update, now live on both PC and console platforms, aims to improve overall performance while increasing stability for the sequel's multiplayer modes.
The biggest fix in Version 1.1.1 pertains to Wasteland 3's co-op mode, which has been known to delay during loading screens, sometimes requiring wait times of up to five minutes. The new update should reduce these instances somewhat, though loading times as a whole are yet to be fully optimised, and will be done so in a larger update down the line.
Additionally, the new update tweaks a selection of specific bugs relating to certain quests, NPC interactions, merchant sellers. Most notable, the Antiques Appraiser perk no longer activates on Scrap items, closing a loophole that allowed players to repeatedly sell and re-purchase scrap for profit. Sorry to all those wheeler-dealers out there.
You can check out the full patch notes over on the official inXile blog.
Wasteland 3 is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.
Wizards is looking 'closely' at Magic: The Gathering Arena standard, which could mean an Uro ban
Magic: The Gathering standard is in a very weird spot right now thanks to the new rotation.
In the hundred plus games I've played since Zendikar hit, the vast majority of decks in competitive play err on the side of ramp. For those of you who don't play Magic, the concept of ramp is to literally ramp up your lands early on, so you can afford to play powerful game-changing cards. All you have to do is survive a few turns to do it, which is easy when you have things like life gain on your side.
Yes, I'm referring to Uro, which is not only a ramp and life gain card for a measly three mana; it's also a closer, as you can bring the card out of your graveyard. It's been a problem for a while, but now that the Landfall mechanic is in (which empowers players for playing lands), the situation is worse than before.
Landfall is an odd mechanic as lands that morph into other lands (Evolving Wilds, Fabled Passage) count as playing two lands. Once you're setup (which, for ramp, is a few turns in) you can create this landslide feeling where you're triggering tons of late-game effects very early on (the new Omnath combos nicely with this for some early absurdity, as do Lotus Cobras).
So what's the solution? I'm sure every player has their own way of handling it, but it looks like we could be saying bye bye to Uro as early as next week. Wizards of the Coast says that they are 'closely monitoring developments in standard," and will "provide an update on the format early next week." If you own several of the creatures above, know that their days might be numbered.
Magic: The Gathering [Twitter]
Classic Metal Gear and Castlevania PC ports appear on Taiwanese ratings board
That masterful spoiler of video game announcements, the Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee, is in full effect once again, offering up listings for a host of classic Konami titles, all of which have received fresh ratings for release on the PC platform.
Among this slew of new ratings are a trio of classic Metal Gear titles. 1998's Metal Gear Solid has been re-rated, as has its enhanced 2002 sequel Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance. Also recipient of a new rating is the original Metal Gear, which first launched on the MSX2 way back in 1987.
Another listing suggests that a re-release of Konami Collector's Series is in the works. Originally available on PC back in 2002, this CD-ROM compiled the NES editions of Castlevania, Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, and Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, as well as arcade ports of run 'n' gun classics Contra and Super Contra.
This latter rating is particularly bizarre, given that all of the above games are already available on PC via the far superior Contra and Castlevania Anniversary Collections. We will keep you updated once official word of any of the above titles is forthcoming.
Metal Gear and Konami Collector's Series rated for PC in Taiwan [Gematsu]
[Update: Make sure you grab this one! This is one of your last warnings. Find it here!]
Jump Rope Challenge surprised everyone back in June, popping up out of nowhere as a free app for the Nintendo Switch. And in true Nintendo fashion: it's going away soon.
While the app might be free, it's not eternal. A recent tweet from Nintendo of Japan (for a patch that added a special screen after playing for 100 days) reminded us all that the game was always a limited-time release. As the official site notes, the game is free "as a limited-time release" through September 30.
Want Jump Rope Challenge? Grab it here off the eShop listing before it goes away. If you've never used the site before, all you need to do is log in, click "claim," and you're good to go.
You may recall that Super Mario 3D All-Stars is also getting the same "limited-time" treatment. While it will be available in physical form and on the eShop later this month, it'll go away in March 2021.
Nintendo of Japan [Twitter via Nintendo Life]
Xbox Game Pass subscriptions have surged in the past five months
Xbox Game Pass has seen a huge increase in users in the past five months. The paid subscription service has been bolstered by a 50% increase of its user base, boosting its total subscriber count from 10 million to 15 million in less than half a year.
There are several factors that contribute towards this surge in Game Pass interest. Firstly, gaming revenue in general has increased as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic keeps much of the global populace indoors. Secondly, as we approach the dawning of a new generation, there will be gaming fans who are buying into the Game Pass service ahead of time, securing their subscription as they await the launch of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S hardware. Third, a lot of people jumped on board once the news hit that the introductory price was being "retired."
But perhaps simplest of all, Xbox Game Pass is just a very attractive prospect. The Gold version of the service offers a huge catalogue of great titles, for both PC and console, at a relatively modest price. This service includes major releases and fan-favourite titles such as Resident Evil 7, Bloodstained, Crusader Kings III, Destiny 2, Red Dead Redemption 2, and many more.
Given the recent news that the EA Play catalogue is to be added to the Game Pass service this holiday season - at no extra charge - it almost seems a no-brainer for PC and Xbox owners not to jump on-board, giving themselves access to a ready-to-go library of great games for a low monthly cost.
Xbox Game Pass subscribers leap by 50% in five months [Eurogamer]
Kirby Fighters 2 for Switch pops up on Nintendo site
It looks like Nintendo's cutest, friendliest hero is getting set to crack some skulls once again, as a listing for Kirby Fighters 2 on Switch unceremoniously appeared on the Nintendo site.
First spotted by folks over at ResetEra, the supposed sequel to the cutesy brawler that featured 2014''s Kirby: Triple Deluxe materialised in the "Game Finder" section of the Nintendo site yesterday evening, with no actual fanfare offered from the publisher itself. Perhaps the title is due to receive its official reveal during the Tokyo Games Show, which starts today.
Contest: Win The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk for Steam
In today's contest you can win The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk for Steam!
Disclaimer: I can't pronounce the name of this game. My PR buddy who sent it to me sent me a phonetic guide, but I still can't. I have an English degree, for eff's sake! I should be better than this.
Regardless of how it's pronounced, The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk can be yours for F-R-E-E if you win our contest!
It's a big Bungie day on Xbox Game Pass
Two of Bungie's most popular games join Xbox Game Pass today even though they launched about a decade apart. It's a union of new and old, with the throughline being that they're both beloved.
Let's tackle this chronologically. Halo 3: ODST is available (get ready for the prepositional phrases!) on Xbox Game Pass as part of the Master Chief Collection in conjunction with its launch on PC. This addition is only a recent development for PC. ODST was already on Game Pass on consoles.
However, what's new is the inclusion of Firefight. This cooperative venture was one of the first to help popularize horde modes in the Xbox 360 era. New Halo vanguard 343 Industries brought Firefight back for the PC port, and it'll be included as a free update for the console version too.
You should play ODST. This spinoff started as a small project that kind of snowballed into being one of the better Halo games despite not starring Master Chief. It still gets a lot of love, which is why people have been eyeing this particular Master Chief Collection PC entry for a while now. If Xbox Game Pass isn't your thing, ODST is a $5 standalone purchase on Steam or part of the $40 Master Chief Collection. Both are pretty great deals.
The second game is much more relevant and much hotter and will be downloaded many more times. Destiny 2 and its expansions (including Forsaken and Shadowkeep) hit Xbox Game Pass today on Xbox One. When the Beyond Light expansion launches in November, it'll also be a day one addition to Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft is certainly doing its damnedest to wrestle the title away from PlayStation as the place where you go to play Destiny on consoles.
It kinda seems like this was the only wave of Xbox Series X pre-orders before launch
Did you get an Xbox Series S or Series X pre-order today? Chances are that, no, you didn't. As Chris pointed out this morning, even though everyone knew exactly when these things would go up for sale, it really didn't go any smoother than the PS5 pre-order debacle. There's just too much demand and not enough supply. That only leads to retailers getting hammered and a lot of frustrated would-be consumers.
There might be some more bad news for anyone who was unsuccessful this morning. It sort of seems like those were the last of the Xbox Series X pre-orders until launch. Maybe I'm reading too much into this tweet:
