Contest: Win Freedom Finger on Switch from Super Rare Games
In today's contest you can win a Switch copy of Freedom Finger from Super Rare Games!
I fingered this game long ago in my now-dormant (but possibly ready to blow) weird games showcase, Getting Weird with Wes. And guess what, snitches?! It's back!
Super Rare Games did what no other company had the balls fingers to do and put Freedom Finger on a physical Switch cartridge. So we're giving it away, because no one fingers like Destructoid!
Cyan's reimagined Myst has VR support and 'optional puzzle randomization'
The incomparable Myst is coming back in style. (Did it ever truly leave?) Original creator Cyan has "reimagined" Myst for VR – but even if you don't have a headset, you'll still be able to play along.
The remake, simply titled Myst, is coming first to Oculus Quest for $29.99, followed by a wider PC launch (including other VR platforms and "flatscreen PC"), then "additional platforms" will follow.
This new Myst is a "from the ground up" Unreal Engine title. Cleverly, "many of the puzzles have been reimagined and engineered to include optional puzzle randomization and enhanced accessibility," Cyan says. In other words, it's not strictly about better visuals. Expect to find new "interactions," too.
When a revamp of a beloved classic can stay true to its roots and also tap into a new audience, you know it's onto something. No word on a release date yet, but Myst is on Steam, GOG, and Oculus.
Cyan Reveals Development of Myst for VR [Cyan]
Disintegration's multiplayer servers are getting shut down just five months after launch
Disintegration might be setting a record, but it's not the kind of record you want to set. In November, publisher Private Division is shutting down Disintegration's multiplayer servers.
That's alarmingly quick. The game just launched on June 16. Three months later, it's so dead that the publisher is already pulling the plug. A quick look at the Steam data estimates that Disintegration had a three-player concurrent peak on PC within the last 24 hours. Three. Over the past month, it got as high as 27 players. The all-time high came in July when 539 people were playing at once -- although, that was probably the product of a free-to-play weekend.
It's an awful precedent to set, as Disintegration is a paid-for $50 game. In his review, Chris noted that the singleplayer campaign was decent enough, but that it was clearly an appetizer for the multiplayer mode. Soon enough, there will be no multiplayer to play. Offline singleplayer will remain available, but that likely won't be enough consolation to people who purchased a $50 game expecting it to work longer than half of a year.
In a statement, the publisher and developer said "While our player base showed interest in the singleplayer campaign, the game unfortunately struggled to build a significant audience necessary for a compelling multiplayer experience. After weighing options, we have collectively made the decision to sunset the multiplayer support."
Disintegration's multiplayer dies on November 17. Private Division has started the removal process by shutting down the in-game store so that players can no longer buy microtransaction-type stuff. The game itself is still being sold, although the price has been dropped to $40 on Steam.
Anyone who picked up Disintegration at launch has been burned for supporting a game with a neat design premise. I'd say they deserve a full refund, but there probably aren't enough of them around to raise a fuss.
An Update on Disintegration Multiplayer [Disintegration]
With co-op coming soon, it's time to call dibs on your preferred Untitled Goose
I'm excited to share the gift of goosey mischief with another person on September 23 when House House adds co-op support to Untitled Goose Game. The question is, do I want to be Player 1 or Player 2?
It's a conundrum as old as gaming itself. This clip – a short demonstration of the new goose's honk and not an ounce more – doesn't make my decision any easier. I'm a fan of that big ol' beak ridge.
Little reminder: one week until two-player is out, along with the Steam and Itch release.https://t.co/mLLf8rWG4b
— House House (@house_house_) September 17, 2020
Also: the new goose has a new honk. pic.twitter.com/bxCqGz3Wq9
If you own Untitled Goose Game on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, or PC, you're squared away – the co-op update will be free. If you're holding out for the Steam release, that's coming the same day.
Katamari Damacy Reroll is finally coming to PS4 and Xbox One in November
[Update: A couple weeks later, Bandai Namco has confirmed a November 20 release date for Katamari Damacy Reroll on PS4 and Xbox One in the West. That's just a day after Japan.]
Katamari Damacy Reroll might not have set the world on fire, but I loved revisiting the original unhinged rolling action game on Nintendo Switch and PC. Can we get any more Katamari remasters? I sure hope so. In the meantime – but not all that soon – a pair of console ports are on the table for Reroll.
Bandai Namco is bringing the game to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on November 19, 2020 in Japan.
The listing was spotted on Katamari Damacy Reroll's Japanese site, and it's hard to imagine we won't see a similar announcement in the West soon. Will I dip again for PS4 trophies? Most likely!
On that note, I'll take anything and everything from the main series – bring on the ports.
[Via Gematsu]
It's a 'three free game' kinda week on the Epic Games Store
It feels like head-turning stuff has been happening all over the gaming news cycle lately. Xbox finally revealed the Series S and gave us next-gen pricing and release date info. Sony followed suit yesterday with a dedicated games showcase and PS5 price and launch date. On the PC side, the earth-shattering RTX 3080 cards came out and no one can find them. There's a lot going on!
Which is why it's important that we pump out a meat-and-potatoes kinda post every now and then. You know, a blue jeans and lunch pail kinda post. Maybe it's not sexy and maybe it's not head-turning. It's the kinda post that shows up on-time, puts its nose to the grindstone, and gets the job done.
I am, of course, talking about the weekly Epic freebies post. This week, it's another opportunity to nab Watch Dogs 2 for free. Recently, you had a chance to pick it up through Uplay. Now you have a chance to pick it up through the Epic Games Store.
The other two games are solid in their own right. Stick It to the Man is a quirky platformer that a lot of people adore. Football Manager 2020 is a niche sports simulator that has a dedicated cult following. Everything this week certainly has its audience.
Next week's freebie might throw you through a loop. RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Complete Edition is the lone announced Epic Games Store freebie. Surely there will be some other attractions to complement it.
Football Manager 2020, Stick It to the Man!, Watch Dogs 2 [Epic Games Store]
The buzz surrounding Hades is spot-on, and it only took one failed escape from hell for me to fall in love with its isometric hack-and-slash combat. It's blisteringly fast but readable even when your screen is full of fiends. It's easy to pick up but full of tough decisions. There are six weapons, all of which feel worthwhile, and countless god-given boons with which to improve and drastically alter them.
If you've been holding out for the 1.0 release of Hades because you try to avoid messing with Early Access on principle or you wanted to wait for a proper conclusion to the story, the time has come.
For all of 2020's misery, I can't believe how many incredible roguelikes this year has brought us.
Developers will have options to save Xbox Series S owners some precious SSD space
There are a lot of component differences between the Xbox Series X and S that warrant the $200 price gap between the two (check out this handy cheat sheet if you're still confused), However, one of the most obvious get-what-you-pay-for gulfs between the two is that the Series X comes with an NVMe SSD that's twice as large as the one in the Series S. Even though it's half the size, Xbox says developers will have options to stretch those 512GB further.
Speaking with IGN, Xbox director of program management Jason Ronald said that install sizes should be significantly smaller on Series S than on Series X. Like, approximately 30 percent smaller. That's because developers won't need to ship 4K texture packs for the Series S because it targets 1440p resolution. "Our expectation is that developers will not ship their highest level mipmaps to Xbox Series S, which will reduce the size of the games," Ronald explained.
This seems like an intra-generation adaption of Smart Delivery. Whereas Smart Delivery detects whether you're playing a game on Xbox One or Xbox Series S/X and automatically serves up an install that's optimized for your console, this functionally does the same thing but within the same family of new consoles. It's just a matter of Xbox knowing which assets to install. "The flexibility is in the developers' hands to make sure the right assets are there," Ronald said. As long as the developers are diligent, Series S installs won't be quite as bloated as their Series X counterparts.
Xbox Series S Game Sizes Will Be Smaller Than on Series X [IGN]
Sony tested thousands of PS4 games on PS5 and '99 percent' are playable
It's not the most in-depth quote, but according to Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan, "99 percent" of the PS4 games tested for backward compatibility on PlayStation 5 will be playable.
That's the latest according to The Washington Post. Previously, it was the "overwhelming majority."
As for wider backward compatibility with PS3, PS2, and PS1 games on PS5, no dice – Ryan confirmed to Famitsu (via Siliconera) that those three legacy systems won't be supported. A shame.
Before it was announced that Demon's Souls will arrive as a day-one PS5 launch game, I toyed with the idea of making Bloodborne – as in, the dearly beloved PS4 title – one of my first experiences with the new console. Honestly, I'm still considering a November replay on PlayStation 5. That feels right to me.
Bloodborne is among the many powerhouse PS4 titles featured in the just-announced PlayStation Plus Collection, so if you happen to have a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition lined up and you're in the mood to relive some of your PS4 favorites (that you potentially own on disc, not digitally), you'll still be covered.
As for the "99 percent" backward compatibility plan, I'm expecting some caveats here and there.
PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan says more PlayStation 5 units will be available than PS4s in 2013 [The Washington Post via The Verge]
1v1 player lobbies are now available in Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Maxiboost On
It's been a while since we checked in with Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Maxiboost On. While Bandai Namco's mech-fighter has been quietly receiving quality-of-life patches to fix minor issues, this week has seen the arrival of some fairly major additions, including a new option allowing one-on-one matches. More importantly however, the pre-order DLC is being made available for free for a limited time.
You can catch the time frames for when the DLC will be made available below.
Here is the exact pre-order timing info for Xbox Series X and S
Did you try securing a PlayStation 5 pre-order yesterday? It was -- and this is putting it mildly and really underselling the whole situation -- a clusterfuck. Retailers set their pre-order pages live at varying times after the PS5 showcase wrapped up, and people were left scurrying from digital store to digital store all night in hopes that they'd get there within a three-minute window before stock was inevitably gone. Folks diligently watched Twitter like hawks all night long only to be left with no next-gen hopes on the immediate horizon and with $500 burning a hole in their pockets.
Microsoft is doing its darnedest to not replicate that debacle. It'll still be a clusterfuck, no one doubts that, but maybe it'll be a more organized clusterfuck.
That's why Microsoft has given us exact pre-order timing information for its next-gen systems. Both the Xbox Series X and S will go up for pre-order on Tuesday, September 22 at 11am Eastern / 8am Pacific. That's when (in theory) all retailers will set their pre-order pages live at the exact same time. Some confirmed retailers are: Amazon, Army and Airforce Exchange Service, Best Buy, Costco, GameStop, Newegg, Sam's Club, Target, and Walmart. (We'll try to circle back with some links next week.)
As we already knew, the Series X will run $500 while the Series S is priced at $300. Both launch on November 10. There's not a great chance of getting any next-gen system on launch day without getting a pre-order in. And, this pre-order stock will probably run out similarly fast to the PlayStation 5's. If you're in the market for a new Xbox, set a couple of alarms for next Tuesday morning.
Fortnite prepares for next-gen warfare with glossy PS5 gameplay teaser
Inevitably, Epic Games' phenomenally popular Fortnite will be making the leap into the next-generation of gaming hardware. Of course it will be, given that the battle royale extravaganza still boasts hundreds of millions of players worldwide.
Fortnite will launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X on each platform's respective release day, meaning that there will be no wait in boarding the Battle Bus for a whole new generation of wall-building, loot-gathering, head-popping multiplayer mayhem. Players will be able to carry their current-gen accounts over onto the new platform, retaining all in-game purchases and progression.
Publisher Epic Games has released a short teaser trailer, which you can check out below, demonstrating Fortnite in action on PlayStation 5 hardware. Developed in Unreal Engine 4, everything looks suitably shiny and glorious, securing the immediate future of one of the most popular video games of all-time. Where we dropping, fellow kids?
Fortnite is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Arcade1Up made a big splash earlier this year when it announced its first set of cabinets to feature Marvel Vs. Capcom, but there is one more cabinet it's preparing this year for fans of classic arcade action. Starting today, you can order the Golden Axe Arcade Cabinet, the company's first collaboration with Sega. Like it's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cabinet from last year, the Golden Axe unit can support up to four players at once on some of its games.
The titles included with this cabinet are:
- Golden Axe
- Golden Axe: The Revenge of the Death Adder
- Shinobi
- Altered Beast
- Wrestle War
Nintendo Download: Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Last week, something weird happened: Nintendo spilled the beans about Hades arriving on Switch today. Shortly after sending out an email stating that it was coming soon, the company sent a retraction, stating that Hades was still slated for a "fall 2020" release. Oops!
It looks like that announcement was supposed to be saved for today's Nintendo Direct Mini, where the stream just went ahead and told us that Hades is out today. It's definitely a huge release after a long early access wait, but Super Mario 3D All-Stars isn't a slouch, either.
It's a big week for the Switch! Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Mini Motor Racing X, Unrailed and WWE 2K Battlegrounds are all out soon.
The Invincible is an intergalactic thriller inspired by the Polish sci-fi novel
Starward Industries has announced a new sci-fi adventure title, which is currently in development at the Polish studio for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X. The Invincible is an intergalactic first-person thriller, inspired by the 1964 novel from renowned author Stanislaw Lem.
In The Invincible, players will take up the role of an interstellar scientist, who wakes up on the planet Regis III to find their entire crew missing. Using retro-futuristic technology and keen wits, it is up to the protagonist to search for and discover the fates of their missing crew members, while surviving the increasingly hostile environment of Regis III and its occupants. It will soon become clear that you are most certainly not alone...
Famed FFXIV producer 'Yoshi P' is one of the leads on Final Fantasy XVI
Naoki "Yoshi P" Yoshida is a legend among Final Fantasy XIV players.
Known for his humble demeanor (both in and outside of the game), Yoshi P turned XIV around with A Realm Reborn reboot and never looked back. The pivot was henceforth known as the "Realm Reborn Treatment," and was nothing short of a miracle, forced into being by strong leadership. I even witnessed his kindness first-hand at a Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival event, as Yoshida was out and about in the crowds, chatting with fans. To many, he is the lifeblood of the series.
In this past year Square Enix noticed all of this, and promoted him to oversee various Final Fantasy projects: thanks to a new blog following the reveal of Final Fantasy XVI, we now know that the next mainline game is on that list. Here's the producer's full statement:
"The exclusive footage, comprised of both battles and cutscenes running in real-time, represents but a fraction of what our team has accomplished since the start of development on this, an all-new Final Fantasy game. In that span, the team's size has grown from a handful of core members to a full-fledged unit that continues to polish and build upon what they have created so far, all to provide players an experience unmatched in terms of story and gameplay."
I'd say that the series is in good hands. While we know next to nothing about the game itself (including a release window) beyond what the initial trailer teased, I'm liking what I'm seeing so far.
Final Fantasy XVI announced for PS5 [PlayStation Blog]
A recap of everything announced at the Nintendo Direct Mini
Leave it to Nintendo to surprise us.
Well, this Nintendo Direct Mini wasn't a full surprise, but tons of gaming news at 10AM ET is kind of...a lot to take in, especially since a ton of people are probably still asleep, or at work in some regions!
The big thing today is Monster Hunter Rise on Switch. The title was chosen because of the focus on verticality, and will feature a new canine companion that you can ride. Monster Hunter Stories 2 is also a thing, as well as Disgaea 6. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is coming to Switch today, too, out of nowhere.
Here's a full recap!
Monster Hunter Rise will ship with three new amiibo
Right at the tail-end of the "Monster Hunter Direct" (with oddly followed up the Nintendo Direct Mini showcase today), Capcom gave the amiibo collectors what they want: the announcement of three new toys.
According to the publisher, Palamute, Magnamalo and a Palico amiibo (themed around the very blue hues of Rise) will debut with Monster Hunter Rise proper on Switch in 2021. Capcom says that the amiibo will provide armor for the players, as well as the chance to enter a "daily lottery" for items. The trailer states that "standalone amiibo" will be "GameStop exclusive" in the US and at EB Games in Canada. Wow, we're back to square one with this again.
As always, here is a full running tally of every amiibo ever made. There are currently seven pending/unreleased amiibo on the way: Joker, Hero, Cat Mario, Cat Peach, Palamute, Magnamalo and Palico. Everything but the Rise trio are up for pre-order as of the time of publication.
Rune Factory 5 looks like a colorful return to fighting for the farm
It has been more than a year since we first got word that Rune Factory 5 was in development for Nintendo Switch, and during today's Partner Mini Direct, we were given our first look at the 2021 title. All the staples of the spin-off series are here. There are still crops to grow, monsters to fight, fish to catch, and partners to woo.
In Rune Factory 5, you play as an amnesiac who's asked to become a peacekeeping ranger and tasked with keeping the local town safe from the various monsters that roam the expansive world. You can tame these monsters, or team up with the townies to take them down. In one of the features new to Rune Factory 5, you'll be able to perform combo attacks with your allies. According to a press release from Xseed, that's just one of the new features in store for players.
Sniper Elite 4 is taking aim on Nintendo Switch this winter
This morning's Nintendo Direct Mini presentation offered a look at Rebellion's Sniper Elite 4, which is bringing its stealth-action and pin-point marksmanship to Nintendo Switch.
As a highly-skilled sniper stationed in Italy at the height of WWII, players must complete a campaign of vitally important missions of assassination, espionage, and sabotage, bringing down the encroaching Nazi regime one bullet at a time. Tactical planning, smart positioning, and stoic patience will be key elements to achieving each goal, ultimately demonstrating how one man can carry the worth of an entire army.
Sniper Elite 4 is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One. It will launch on Nintendo Switch in winter 2020.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Ori 2) is coming to Switch after all..today
Oh hey Ori, didn't see you there! I was too busy looking at the recent news article about not expecting more Microsoft-led games to come to Switch.
As it turns out, Ori 2 was excluded from that whole thing. After the original Ori arrived on Switch, all eyes were on the sequel, and when it might actually hit the Switch. Well, that day is today! You can find it here for $30.
As their "one last thing" announcement in today's Nintendo Direct Mini, Nintendo unveiled that the sequel is not only hitting Switch eminently, but it's also getting a collector's edition, which you can check out below.
It'll run you $150 and you can find it here. The collector's edition (and the game) is also available for PC and Xbox One.
Goldie and The Fortune Tellers are coming for your turf in Empire of Sin
During this morning's Nintendo Direct Mini presentation, we got to see a new trailer for Romero Games' strategy crime title, Empire of Sin, which is coming to PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in late 2020.
The short trailer introduced us to Goldie Garneau, a French nightclub singer who runs who her own crime syndicate - The Fortune Tellers - on the side. The preview shows how Goldie is able to cause the collapse of two rival territories by using her special brand of subterfuge to pit the two bosses against one another. Pretty sneaky, sis.
Empire of Sin launches December 1 on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Pre-order customers will get access to an exclusive player character and mission.
NIS teases Disgaea 6 for Nintendo Switch
NIS is at it again!
Today during the Nintendo Direct Mini showcase, the publisher announced Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny. Max damage is now "in the quadrillions," with "one hundred million" max level capabilities. It'll hit the Switch in summer of 2021.
It's been a while since Disgaea 5, which came out in 2015 originally on PS4. Speaking of Disgaea 5, it's going to be offered as a trial on Switch soon.
Capcom reveals Monster Hunter Stories 2 for Switch
Two Monster Hunter games in one day?! Well I'd never.
Right after giving us the bombshell of Monster Hunter Rise for Switch, Capcom followed that up with a sequel to Monster Hunter Stories. It's called Monster Hunter Stories 2 (duh) with the Wings of Ruin subtitle, and is slated to arrive on Switch in the summer of 2021.
Additionally, it'll have some sort of vague ability to connect to Monster Hunter Rise. More information for both titles is said to come later this month at TGS, so maybe we'll hear more about that aspect then.
I must admit, I'm going to miss the 3DS. For all its flaws, this series felt right at home on there.
(Update) Monster Hunter Rise for Switch could be revealed as early as today
[Update: It's official: Monster Hunter Rise was announced for Switch during the Nintendo Direct Mini livestream. Riding the dog (and petting it) is real! Aknosom, Tetranadon, Great Izuchi and Magnamalo are the revealed monsters. The setting is heavily focused on Japan. March 26, 2021 is a hard date, with a standard/deluxe edition.]
A new Monster Hunter on Switch hasn't just been teased by multiple insiders for the past few months: it's also a no-brainer.
The Switch has fully proven itself to publishers who may have thought it was the second coming of the Wii U, so any number of studios have tons of games, lying in wait, having been in development for some time. Another Monster Hunter is inevitable, and it seems like the Switch snatched another one.
According to insider sources (in which the release seems to be an open secret), the game is called Monster Hunter Rise and could be revealed as early as this morning during the upcoming Nintendo Direct Mini. It'll allegedly feature a dog companion that you can ride (similar to a Palico) as well as a special grappling hook that will allow you to traverse any terrain: including a Spider-Man style "swinging on nothing" move.
Naturally new monsters will also be part of this package deal and it'll be accompanied by a March 26, 2021 release date, according to the leaks. Most of this sounds completely plausible, so it's just a matter of time.
PracticalBrush12 [Reddit]
RWBY game coming from WayForward and Arc System Works
Two of the gaming industry's finest developers are coming together to produce a new title based on the popular anime series RWBY. The untitled project was announced yesterday by WayForward, Arc System Works, and animation studio Rooster Teeth - all of whom are well-versed in creating colourful and personality-filled adventures.
RWBY - or "Ruby" - is an American-produced anime that first debuted as a web-series back in 2013, and has since gone on to receive numerous volumes, manga, games, and merchandise. The franchise follows the exploits of an all-woman quartet of skilled warriors -the Huntresses - who protect the world of Remnant from persistent invasion by a legion of monsters known as "Grimm". Some of the RWBY crew also appear in ArcSys' own BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle.
No specific details have been released pertaining to the new RWBY game, but we do know that it will see players step into the roles of head huntresses Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long. The game's scenario will be penned by original show writers Miles Luna, Kerry Shawcross, and Eddy Rivas. Given the pedigree of WayForward and ArcSys for producing lavish and engaging anime-style games, RWBY's development seems to be in very good hands.
RWBY is currently in development for unspecified platforms with a tentative 2021 release date.
Godfall will arrive on launch day for PS5, November 12 on PC
Gearbox Publishing has announced that its "looter-slasher" Godfall will be ready to slice-and-dice on the PS5 platform come the new console's launch day. The PC edition will launch via Epic Games Store on November 12.
Described by Gearbox as a "first of its kind" title, Godfall is a sci-fi/fantasy action RPG with a heavy emphasis on up-close-and-personal melee combat. As the last of the Valorian Knights, players will utilise opulent weaponry and stat-boosting "Valorplate" armour to cut a swathe through armies of bizarre enemies, on a do-or-die quest to bring down the mad god Macros, who has brought chaos to the elemental realms.
Nintendo 3DS production has officially ended
Nintendo has officially ended production on the Nintendo 3DS system, almost 10 years and 75 million sales on from the handheld console's initial launch.
Fans first noticed the console's discontinuation on Nintendo's Japanese website, which was quietly updated at some point earlier this week. This was then followed by the removal of the landing pages for the "3DS family of consoles" on Nintendo's international site. These pages have since been reinstated with a new disclaimer confirming that 3DS manufacture has ended on the Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL, Nintendo 2DS, and Nintendo 2DS XL.
PS5 launches mid-November, priced at $499
After months and months of fevered speculation, Sony has finally revealed the launch dates and price points of its highly anticipated next-gen hardware: PlayStation 5.
The standard PS5 model launches November 12 in The U.S., Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, priced at $499 USD. It will follow in all other territories one week later on November 19.
A disc-free edition of the console, PS5 Digital Edition, will launch on the same dates, and will retail for a slightly cheaper $399 USD. The graphic below displays the price point in various global currencies.
PS5 pre-orders will open "starting as early as tomorrow at select retailers," so keep 'em peeled if you want to be first in line. The first-party launch lineup includes Demon's Souls and Spider-Man: Miles Morales. On the high end, standard PlayStation 5 games will cost as much as $69.99.
Spelunky 2 guide: Tips I wish I would've known sooner
30 hours into Spelunky 2, I've beaten the game exactly once – and come close countless other times.
While much of that time was admittedly spent exploring potential branching routes and figuring out what's up with certain elusive NPCs, straight up, I didn't see the credits until my 400th or so run.
Coming in, I knew I'd be rusty at spelunking, and I expected a long period of acclimation before I could quickly, reliably, efficiently carve through the sequel's procedurally-generated deathtraps, but goddang! This game is brutal. Not just for novices, who are in for a world of hurt, but also those of us who put dozens of hours into Spelunky, toppled Olmec, and survived the trip to hell. The struggle is real – again!
We'll be uncovering secrets in Spelunky 2 for years to come, but for now, here are my tips. I've ordered them based on the stages I've seen – in the order they appear – but I'm missing several in my journal.
The further you scroll down, the more spoilery it'll be – including a pic of the boss at the bottom.
Contest: Win MO:Astray for Switch or Steam
In today's contest you can win action platformer MO:Astray for Switch or Steam!
Not gonna lie, when they sent me this trailer I was like, man there's a lot going on, here. But my man Ray told me it's really dope, so let's roll with it!
We've got some Switch and Steam copies of MO:Astray to give away in today's contest, so check out the deets below and comment to win yourself a new game!
PS5 controllers, like the games, will cost 70 bucks
As recently as right before lunch, we were having a dread-filled conversation about how much PS5 controllers would cost. Thankfully, our fears – our worst-case scenarios – didn't pan out to be true. Sony confirmed the pricing as part of today's PS5 Showcase event and it's not the absolute worst.
The PS5 DualSense controller will cost $69.99 (€69.99) if and when you ever buy another one. In a world where the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con can go for $79.99, I'm reasonably okay with this.
Sony also confirmed the pricing for several other PS5 accessories like the DualSense Charging Station ($29.99 / €29.99), the Media Remote ($29.99 / €29.99), and the HD Camera ($59.99 / €59.99).
As a reminder, you won't be able to use your DualShock 4 to play PS5 games – just PS4 titles.
You don't need a PS5 for Horizon Forbidden West, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, or Sackboy
Sony is obviously in the position of trying to sell new consoles to as many people as possible. However, when the PlayStation 5 launches on November 12 (pricing and release date plans are outlined here), Sony's not requiring that you own the new hardware to play some of the most highly-anticipated games.
As part of a very beefy press release Sony sent immediately following this afternoon's PS5 stream, it's revealed that three games are coming to PlayStation 4 even though it wasn't necessarily expected. Horizon Forbidden West, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Sackboy A Big Adventure will all hit PS4 too when they launch.
Two of these will also serve as PS5 launch games. Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Sackboy both release on November 12 on new- and last-gen consoles. As part of all the Spider-Man details we got today, it seems as though Miles Morales has cross-buy functionality between the PS4 and PS5 versions. So, anyone who isn't all-in on a PS5 right away can buy Miles Morales, play it on PS4, and then eventually enjoy all the enhancements down the road a bit when they end up nabbing a PS5.
Horizon is a bit more of an oddball case. Horizon Forbidden West won't launch until sometime in 2021. Still, it'll have a PS4 version even though Sony will be squarely focused on PS5 by then. Maybe this is a response to Xbox's policy that all its first-party games are cross-generational for the first few years? Whatever the logic, it's more good news for the non-early adopters.
Sony's PlayStation 5 launch games are as much as $70 a pop
Sony's showcase for the PlayStation 5 this afternoon ended up being "the big one." At long last, we have launch details. We now know which games will be available from day one on November 12.
Here's the lineup from SIE Worldwide Studios:
- Astro's Playroom (Japan Studio) – pre-installed on PS5
- Demon's Souls (Bluepoint Games / Japan Studio) – $69.99 / €79.99
- Destruction AllStars (Lucid Games / XDEV) – $69.99 / €79.99
- Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Insomniac Games) – $49.99 / €59.99
- Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition (Insomniac Games) – $69.99 / €79.99
- Sackboy A Big Adventure (Sumo Digital / XDEV) – $59.99 / €69.99
I'm in for the standard PS5 edition of Miles Morales – I'm fine skipping Spider-Man: Remastered bundled in with the Ultimate Edition – and Demon's Souls, for sure. Sackboy will tempt me too.
The next-gen hardware itself doesn't have sticker shock, but game prices sure do.
Ubisoft announces two games you want on a platform you do not want
It's always big news when Ubisoft announces a new Assassin's Creed game, even though that's more or less an annual tradition at this point. It's even bigger news when Ubisoft announces a new Splinter Cell game, a franchise that has been largely forgotten about for a long time now.
Yet, unfortunately, despite new installments in both of those series being unveiled today, it's not going to drum up a whole lot of excitement.
As part of the Facebook Connect event that kicked off today, Ubisoft revealed new Splinter Cell and Assassin's Creed games for Oculus VR. They're both being primarily developed by the North Carolina-based Ubisoft Red Storm team. No gameplay details -- protagonists, plot, setting, etc. -- were mentioned regarding either game.
Here's a recap of everything that happened during Sony's September PS5 event
Well, Sony finally did it. They threw down the gauntlet in response to Microsoft's recent Xbox Series X price and date announcement. It's official: Christmas has not been canceled, the next generation is coming this November.
November 12, in most major territories, to be exact, for Sony. That's a mere two days after the Xbox Series X launch. This season is going to be a slugfest, especially when it comes to actually shipping these expensive boxes during the current global situation. By the way, some games are $70 and the DualSense controllers are $70. Begun, the price wars have.
As for the games, Sony wowed us with confirmation of Final Fantasy XVI, the first mainline Final Fantasy to be announced in many years. We also got a closer look at some previously known games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, as well as new announcements like Devil May Cry V: Special Edition and a new God of War tease for 2021.
Some of this stuff isn't coming this year though. So whether or not you buy a PS5 is mostly related to a few games.
Sony teases a new 2021 God of War with the phrase 'Ragnarok is coming'
After mic dropping the price and date of the PS5, Sony had a "one last thing" for us today: the inevitable next God of War tease.
Shown off with a simple symbol (a Norse twist on the classic logo) and the phrase "Ragnarok is coming," we now know that the next God of War game is coming in 2021: presumably on PS5 (maybe PS4 too?). Santa Monica Studio is confirmed to return as the developer.
This is going to be so hard to screw up. Just do what you already did with the 2018 version, add some new bosses and extra hub zones, and I think you're pretty much good.
A ton of great PS4 first-party exclusives will be free to play on PS Plus on your PS5
Sony added a tremendous perk to PlayStation Plus for anyone who plans on adopting the PlayStation 5. It's especially useful for those who haven't been entrenched in the PlayStation ecosystem for a long time.
Sony is making use of the PS5's backward compatibility functionality to offer up a ton of PlayStation 4 first-party exclusives (and a lot of quality third-party titles too). Anyone who has an active PS Plus membership will be able to access these games on PS5 for free at launch on November 12:
The wait for Demon's Souls just got that much harder after seeing gameplay footage
Ever watch a trailer and have your brain short-circuit for a bit as you try to process everything? That's me right now with this Demon's Souls gameplay trailer from the PS5 Showcase event.
The screenshots did not, in fact, do enough justice. There's such a cinematic vibe to Bluepoint's take on this From Software classic. The backstab and riposte alone caught me off guard. It's a whole new world.
Demon's Souls will be a PS5 launch game on November 12 and cost $69.99. The original trailer ended with a note suggesting it's coming to PC and it will be a PlayStation console exclusive "for a limited time," but, according to a statement shared with Kotaku, that's incorrect – a "human error."
Officially, Sony maintains that Demon's Souls is a PS5 exclusive through and through.
Five Nights is back in PS5 form with Security Breach
In a more low key trailer sandwiched between two fairly big releases, a new Five Nights game made its debut during the PS5 event.
Security Breach seems to have moved into a bigger, more ornate setting, much like the grand halls of the arcades you frequented as a kid. I'm actually loving the playground/laser tag aesthetic. Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach does not currently have a release date, and will be handled by Steel Wool Studios.
Oddworld: Soulstorm trailer includes some pretty demanding Mudokans
Oddworld Inhabitants has released a new trailer for its upcoming Oddworld: Soulstorm, the next release in the much-loved Oddworld puzzle-adventure series.
Oddworld: Soulstorm will see the series long-time hero Abe once again come to the rescue of his fellow Mudokans, while overthrowing the tyrannous regime looking to enslave Abe and his entire race. Much puzzle-platform action - all delivered with the series' typical tongue-in-cheek sense of humour - awaits.
Oddworld: Soulstorm is currently in development for PS4 and PS5.
(Update) Devil May Cry 5 was good enough that it's getting a PS5 version too
Devil May Cry 5 was one of the best character action games in recent memory. So sure, it deserves to come forward a console generation with us. (As though quality is the only thing that dictates whether a game gets a next-gen version.)
Capcom has revealed that Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition is a new PS5 version of the 2019 game. However, the reveal trailer didn't really tell us of any of the enhancements that'll make it superior on PS5 from a tech standpoint. From a content standpoint, it's presumed that Vergil will be playable like in DMC3: Special Edition.
[Update: Now that the stream is over, we've gotten some actual details. As expected, Vergil is playable. In terms of visuals and performance, players will have the option to turn on ray tracing and target 4K resolution at 30fps. Or, they can prioritize refresh rate and aim for 1080p at 60fps. There's also a High Framerate Mode which can hit 120fps (assuming you have a display that can achieve this).
There are a couple more additions to Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition. There's a Turbo Mode that has been a staple of DMC special editions. It turns the game speed up to 1.2x. There's also a Legendary Dark Knight difficulty which spawns "multiple times the enemies compared to the other difficulties. It does all the DualSense haptic feedback stuff through the controller.
Lastly, we found out that Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition is $40 at launch. Check out the write-up on the PlayStation Blog for all the details first-hand.]
We'll find out soon enough. Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition will be available digitally when PS5 launches.
Arkane's Deathloop has eight wacky targets to bring down
Deathloop looks like a playful, energetic, verging-on-out-of-control stealth-action game from the makers of Dishonored, and if you're in the mood for a colorful world of assassins, you'll dig its vibe.
During Sony's PS5 Showcase event, Arkane shared a new gameplay-focused trailer with more details about your role in this wacky time loop: to bring down eight targets with "grand plans for eternal life."
Following a recent delay, the new release plan is still Q2 2021 on PC and PS5.
Here's another look at the rad and creepy Resident Evil 8
Resident Evil Village knocked that debut out of the park, didn't it? Well this follow-up footage is also sufficiently creepy. Capcom, you're selling me on this.
Today we got a new look at the game thanks to the PS5 event, and the 2021-bound title now has a bit more lore on the game's titular village setting. The Chris Redfield drama, the inhabitants and an extra fairy tale tidbit are what you're getting out of this.
I have never been more intrigued by Chris' antics than I am now. I'm sure he has his reasons!
Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War brings a dose of radio-controlled death to the battlefield
During this afternoon's PlayStation 5 Showcase event, Activision and Raven Software showed off the first full gameplay video for '80s-themed military massacre-thon Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War.
The suitably bombastic footage saw series regular Frank Woods lead a small squad of mercenaries onto a Turkish airfield, before kicking off an explosive, lead-flinging firefight. The brief confrontation featured new melee executions and the ability to use foes as human shields, before Woods and pals took down a huge freight plane with the aid of everyone's favourite Killstreak, the RCXD.
To round out the presentation, Raven Software announced that the PS4 community can check out Cold War's multiplayer via an alpha demo this weekend. Pre-load begins tomorrow.
Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War launches this holiday season on PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
All the Harry Potter leaks were correct, Hogwarts Legacy is coming to PS5 next year
The third game shown in this afternoon's PlayStation 5 showcase was technically a reveal but it didn't really feel like one. Rumors have been swirling for a long time now that Avalanche Software is working on a Harry Potter game for PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Abracadabra, that's exactly what we have.
Hogwarts Legacy is set in the late 1800s, about 100 years before the Harry Potter books took place. As the trailer puts it, Hogwarts Legacy is about "adding your own story to these hallowed walls." It's literally about forming the legacy of Hogwarts.
This is the part where you should get a load of the reveal trailer. There's a lot more action than you might expect. In a press release, we're told that Hogwarts Legacy is also an RPG. So, an action RPG based on one of the most popular media franchises of all-time. This could shape up nicely.
Hogwarts Legacy is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X next year. School's back in session.
Miles Morales is making the PS5 launch and Spider-Man: Remastered is along for the ride
Spider-Man: Miles Morales looks fluid, frantic, and fantastic – not that we were expecting anything less from Insomniac's follow-up. We saw our first full electrified combat sequence – set a year later, in Harlem, as the Tinkerer leads an army – during this afternoon's PlayStation 5 Showcase event.
Miles Morales will be a $50 purchase on PS5 and PS4 (you only need to buy it once), and on PlayStation 5, Insomniac is also releasing Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered with all of the DLC included.
According to the team, "art assets have been completely updated to take advantage of the PS5 console's horsepower. You'll see better-looking characters with improved skin, eyes, hair, and facial animation (including our new, next-generation Peter Parker). You'll also see ray-traced reflections and ambient shadows, improved lighting, more pedestrians and vehicles stretching further into the distance, and the same optional performance mode offered on Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, allowing you to finally play the game at a targeted 60fps frame rate. We'll be supporting near-instant loading, 3D audio, and the DualSense controller's haptic feedback. Lastly we're adding three amazing new Spider-Man suits, new photo mode features, and even new trophies for those of you looking to Platinum the game all over again."
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition comes with the PS5 remaster of Spider-Man (2018) and it's $70. Miles Morales will be out in time for the PS5 launch on November 12, 2020.
Sony kicks off the PS5 stream with the 'console exclusive' Final Fantasy XVI
Sony is once again doing things right with their PS5 stream, kicking off with big-name games.
The first drop? Final Fantasy XVI, a PS5 console exclusive (Square Enix says it has "no further information on the game releasing on other platforms"). It looks heavily focused on classic Final Fantasy summons of old, as well as the traditional medieval setting and the crystals as a backdrop. I think people are going to really love this first look based on the gritty feel of the debut trailer alone; on top of the many appeals to nostalgia.
Get a look at the logo below. A new Final Fantasy mainline announcement! It's been too long. For reference, XV was officially announced in 2013. Technically, it was revealed as "Versus XIII" in 2006.
It's time! Come watch the PS5 showcase event with us
It's time to learn how much the two PS5 models are going to cost, when they're releasing, and what the wider "here's why you gotta upgrade" game lineup looks like this holiday season and beyond.
Today's live-streamed PlayStation 5 Showcase has to be the moment for these elusive details... right? Sony can't wait any longer, don't you think? In truth, I'm willing to believe anything this year.
The 40-minute show starts at 1:00 p.m. Pacific and it's expected to last "around 40 minutes."
With the Xbox Series X coming in at $499 and the Xbox Series S going low at $299, I'm curious to see where Sony will land – especially with the (cheaper) all-digital PS5 model. My budget is malleable.
You know the drill for these streams. Let's chat and react. Hope you're hanging in there.
Tellstones: King's Gambit is a new tabletop League of Legends spinoff, and a fun bluffing game
In case you missed it, Riot Games dove into the world of tabletop gaming several years back with Mechs vs. Minions, and it kind of ruled. It wasn't just that it had a pretty decent strategic foundation: it was also cleverly designed to provide all sorts of RPG-like progression mechanics, as well as fun envelopes and boxes to open along the way.
Although Tellstones isn't nearly as ambitious, it's a reminder of how the tabletop division of Riot is always ready to rock.
