Deathloop's PS5 Console Exclusivity Is For 1 Year
One of the most fascinating titles of the next generation titles we've seen so far is Deathloop. A shooter from Arkane Studios, it sees an assassin stuck in a time loop tied to the same day as he must hunt multiple targets while also being hunted by an equally deadly assassin out to kill only him. It looked to be a pretty interesting launch title for Sony's PS5, but unfortunately couldn't quite make it and was delayed. Alongside that delay, it seems we also now know how long it'll be a timed exclusive.
The game was one of many high profile timed exclusives Sony showed off in its June showcase of the PS5. In a post from the publisher themselves, Bethesda, about the most recent trailer (which you can see here), it was noted at the bottom of the page that game's "console exclusivity is for a limited time. Not available on other consoles until one year after release date." While we had known that the timed exclusives Sony snagged for the PS5 had a range of time frames, this is the first time we saw it explicitly stated that Deathloop's was for a year.
Deathloop is set to launch Q2 2021 for the PS5 as well as the PC. Due to this delay, it seems the game will not hit a Xbox console until 2022 at the earliest.
Hades Is Available Now On Switch And Out Of Early Access On Steam And Epic Games Store
Hades was a high profile release for a few reasons. Not only was it the latest game from the acclaimed Supergiant Games, it was also the very first title to release as a Epic Games Store exclusive (though technically it was in Early Access), which is crazy to think about since that was almost two years ago. The game has been getting substantial updates since then, and now the time of 1.0 has finally come, and not only that, you can take it on the go.
As announced today, the game has officially left early access to become 1.0 on PC on both the Epic Games Store and Steam. If you have the game, the update is live now, and if you have been waiting for that last update, now is the time. Not only that, if you recall the game was announced to be coming to the Switch earlier in the year, and Supergiant has decided to also grace us with it today.
Hades in its 1.0 form is available to download now for both Nintendo Switch and PC. You can check out the official celebration trailer below. There was originally meant to be a cross-save feature for the PC to Switch, but that feature has since been delayed to an undefined time.
Xbox Series S Shows Off Its Snappy Quick Resume Feature In New Trailer
It was earlier in the month when Microsoft dropped quite the bomb: a $299 next generation console in the form of the Xbox Series S. The digital-only console will most likely be a hot little item and quite the Game Pass machine. It ended up sparking its share of controversy as well, with some developers not being too fond of it, though others are more open to its existence. How it'll play out remains to be seen, but what you can see in the meantime is just how snappy this little boy will be.
Microsoft released a new trailer all about the quick resume feature of the system. As you can see below, it allows you to swap back and forth at pretty incredible speeds between multiple games. It seems like despite its hardware gap to its big brother, the Series X, and Sony's PS5, it'll still be fast on the trigger. As you can also see, the video is a bit of a flex about the backwards compatibility the Xbox Series will have as it switches between a Xbox One title, a 360 title and an original Xbox game. Check it out below.
The Xbox Series S will launch alongside the Series X on November 10th. Preorders are scheduled to open on September 22nd.
It was one of the first next generation titles that we ever saw, and it'll be one of the first non-cross-gen next generation titles we'll be able to get our hands on: Godfall. The game has pretty constantly been showing its combat in various trailers ever since that initial reveal, and now it's almost time to have its moment.
As announced on the official Twitter, the game has gone gold. As you can see, only the PS5 version is mentioned, which it will launch alongside. Last we heard the game was also launching day and date on PC with nothing seemingly changing as of now, so it could just be they are promoting the PS5 version more or the PC version will go gold soon afterward. Either way, the game will certainly be a launch title for Sony's next generation system at the end of the year.
Godfall will launch on November 12th for both PlayStation 5 and PC, with the PC version coming exclusively to the Epic Games Store.
We're proud to share that Godfall's officially gone gold on PlayStation 5!
On behalf of everyone working from home at Counterplay Games and Gearbox Publishing, we can't wait to ascend alongside you on #PS5 in November!
pic.twitter.com/Oj0UpbS0T0
— Godfall (@PlayGodfall) September 17, 2020
PS5 Confirmed To Not Be Compatible With PS1, PS2, Or PS3 Titles
It was an exciting day yesterday as Sony finally pulled back the curtain on the PS5's launch date and price, something we've been waiting on. Like all big announcements, there came much positive news and excitement. But, as is also often the case, mixed in with it was some sour news, too, such as Sony more or less making it official they will hike up prices of their first party next gen titles. Well, hate to be a bummer, but there's also some less than thrilling news about backwards compatibility as well.
PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan confirmed that the PS5 would be backwards compatible with the vast majority of the PS4 library, but in talking to Famitsu when asked about PS1-PS3 titles he confirmed what many assumed: the PS5 will not be compatible with any titles from those previous generations (thanks to Siliconera for transcribing and translating).
"We keep in mind the engineering specialized for the PS5, as we produced the device. In the midst of that, the PS4 already has 100 million players; we thought they ought to want to play PS4 titles on the PlayStation 5 as well indeed, so we included compatibility with the PS4. While implementing that, we also focused our efforts on taking in the high-speed SSD and the new controller DualSense at the same time. So, unfortunately, we couldn't reach the implementation of such compatibilities."
Unlike Microsoft, which made backwards compatible a huge feature for their systems, Sony has largely stayed quiet about it for their new system, so it's really no surprise to get this news, but for those hoping for more legacy software support, unfortunately, you are out of luck. The PS5 will launch November 12th.
Monster Hunter Rise – Palamutes, Wirebug Grappling and More Revealed
The next big Monster Hunter title was finally unveiled by Capcom and it's a Switch exclusive called Monster Hunter Rise. It has a new setting with Kamura Village, neighboring mountains and the Shrine Ruins, not to mention open fields for players to fight through. The story sees players trying to uncover the Rampage that seems to be threatening the village. Much like Monster Hunter World, it can be played solo or with up to three other players.
In its recent Monster Hunter Direct, Capcom offered more details on some of the mechanics. The grappling showcased in the trailer comes from the new Wirebug, which can be used in mid-air. This allows for new attack options and environmental traversal. Much like Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, players can have two companions with them in solo hunts, which highlights the new Palamutes.
These are essentially Canynes that can be used as mounts for traversing the terrain and fighting monsters. Some of the new monsters showcased include Aknosom, who can shape-shift, Tetranadon; and the new flagship, Magnamalo. Other fan-favorite monsters are expected to appear as well. Interestingly enough, the maps won't have any loading times and there are no transitions between areas.
Monster Hunter Rise is out on March 26th 2021 for Nintendo Switch and can be pre-ordered digitally now for $59.99 (a physical edition is also on the way). There's also a Deluxe Edition for $69.99 which includes the base game, "Kamurai" layered armor, gestures and other cosmetics. The Collector's Edition is physical only and costs $99.99. Along with all of the above bonuses, it also features a sticker pack, Kamura Mark enamel pin and a Magnamalo amiibo. Stay tuned for more details on the title at Tokyo Game Show 2020 Online which takes place next week.
Balan Wonderworld Launches on March 26th 2021, New Trailer Revealed
Balan Wonderworld appeared in the latest Nintendo Direct Mini with a new trailer. However, the nostalgia-infused platformer also received a release date for various platforms. It's out on March 26th 2021 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC. Check out the new gameplay trailer below which features co-op play.
Helmed by Sonic the Hedgehog co-creator Yuji Naka, Balan Wonderworld is a 3D platformer about the Balan Theatre and how Emma and Leo become entangled with it. They venture across the various lands of the Wonderworld and attempt to unravel the mystery of Balan, the maestro of Balan Theatre.
In total, there are 12 "tales" to explore in the Wonderworld full of different challenges. To help overcome this, over 80 different costumes will be available, each providing different abilities like stopping time, walking on thin air and much more. Stay tuned for more details on the game in the coming months especially with Tokyo Game Show 2020 around the corner.
Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny Coming to Switch in Summer 2021
Remember when Nippon Ichi Software said that Disgaea 6 would definitely be made? It seems to have decided on a platform and release window since then with Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny coming to Switch in Summer 2021. Check out the first trailer below.
The story concerns a zombie named Zed who's bested above everyone. There's just one opponent left in a God of Destruction but can Zed possibly go up against a being so powerful? Disgaea 6 breaks from series tradition by featuring fully 3D visuals, new mechanics like Super Reincarnation and much more. You even have options like Auto, Retry and Replay to make battles less punishing.
Of course, if you want to grind all the way to level 9999, then you can do so and go even further beyond. Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny is an exclusive for Nintendo Switch when it launches next year. Stay tuned for more details and check out the teaser site in the meantime.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is Out Now on Nintendo Switch
After Microsoft and Moon Studios did the unthinkable and brought Ori and the Blind Forest to the Nintendo Switch, most were under the assumption that they would eventually do the same with its sequel as well, and though Microsoft explicitly made statements to the contrary, some of us never lost hope. At the recent Nintendo Direct Mini, those hopes were realized. Ori and the Will of the Wisps has been announced for the Nintendo Switch- in fact, it is available now.
The reveal trailer shows the game's stunning combat and striking environments and art design, all of it in what's looking like a smooth and steady 60 FPS. The game did suffer from performance issue on both the Xbox One and PC at launch, so hopefully that won't be the case on the Switch- though considering how well Blind Forest ran on Nintendo's system, there's reason to be optimistic.
Meanwhile, a Collector's Edition for the game's Switch release has also been announced, in partnership with iam8bit. It will include a transforming display box with a glow-in-the-dark finish; a stained glass art piece; "The Flora & Fauna of Ori" field guide; a sketchbook that will feature "rarely seen production art"; a collectible art card set; a hard enamel glow-in-the-dark pin; digital download cards for OSTs of both Ori games; and most notably, physical copies of both Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps, both with reversible cover art.
It's quite the package, with a price to match- it'll set you back by $150. It will launch in December, but you can pre-order it now through the link above.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is also available on Xbox One and PC, and will also be getting an Xbox Series X update. When it launched earlier this year, in our review we awarded it a score of 10/10, saying, "Ori and the Will of the Wisps' shortcomings are few and – for the most part – negligible. The game's brilliance smacks you in the face right from the get go, and it doesn't let up until the very end. Nearly every moment is finely crafted, nearly every nook and cranny lovingly designed. With Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Moon Studios have realized the full potential of their debut title, and entered the upper echelons of Metroidvania history." You can read our full review through here.
The PS5 Event Was A Spectacular Success and Failure, Both At Once
Sony's latest show for the PS5 was a home run, as far as the event itself goes. It was well produced, exceptionally well paced, showed off a fair few games, and ended up with the announcement of the expected release date (second and third week of November, depending on where in the world you live), and a surprisingly reasonable pricing model ($399 for the Digital Edition, $499 for the standard one). There were a lot of incredible announcements, including Final Fantasy 16, which is at the very least a timed console exclusive, and Hogwarts Legacy, that Harry Potter game that got leaked a while ago. If Sony's show tonight had been the extent of their communication, I would have been extremely positive on them, and counted this as a win in their favor.
Unfortunately, however, that wasn't how it went, and Sony, as it turns out, left a lot of things unsaid during the show itself; things that, as we learned more and more of, started to very categorically deflate the hype that Sony had so carefully been orchestrating over the last few months. In the end, we were left with one question unanswered over all else: what, exactly, should anyone spend hundreds of dollars on this new console for?
I have, in the past, criticized Microsoft for making an extremely poor pitch for their next generation console. Sony, as it turns out, made an almost entirely similar pitch. Multiple Sony first party games, including the premier launch game Spider-Man Miles Morales, the jaw dropping sequel to their 2017 hit, Horizon: Forbidden West, and the LittleBigPlanet spin-off Sackboy's Big Adventure, are all coming to the PS4 as well. The news about Sackboy being cross-gen probably bothered very few people; Miles being cross-gen was a substantially bigger blow, given that it was being positioned as the premier launch game for the console (but still somewhat understandable, given the game's roots as being a standalone expansion for the PS4 title). Horizon, however, a game that isn't due out until late next year at the earliest, a game that looked jaw dropping when it was last shown off, a game that many had been led to believe would be a next-gen showcase… is also cross-generation.
A lot of the disappointment here needs to be contextualized. Sony made it a point to highlight how its strategy specifically emphasized delineated generations, as opposed to Microsoft's cross generation approach. "We do believe in [console] generations," Jim Ryan had said. Sony repeatedly talked about how it wants the transition to the PS5 to be the quickest in PlayStation history. Unlike Xbox, where people felt Microsoft would be holding back their own next generation games variously, whether it be because of their avowed support for the Xbox One for the next few years, or the Xbox Series S, it was believed that Sony would deliver full-fledged bespoke next generation exclusives. And they… aren't?
Now to be entirely fair, Demon's Souls is still a PS5 exclusive (there was some confusion earlier about it potentially going to PC later, but Sony has since clarified it's meant to be PS5 exclusive). For games like Ratchet and Clank or Gran Turismo 7, we have not heard anything regarding PS4 releases; while, of course, now it would be foolish to rule those out, given how things unfolded for Horizon or Spider-Man, we can assume that for now, those games are PS5 only.
But this whole debacle points to extremely poor communication and messaging from Sony, in the exact opposite direction from Microsoft (who initially promised all their games would be cross-gen, only for most of them to not be that). It also almost feels like an attempt to mislead people – while Sony never actually said their games won't come to PS4 in as many words, they implied it beyond doubt, presumably to drum up next generation hype. None of this information about release platforms was shared during the show itself; it took a blog post on the Japanese PlayStation Blog to confirm this information for us.
The poor communication didn't end here. Sony did not announce when pre-orders will begin for the PS5 during their show; as a matter of fact, independent games personality Geoff Keighley initially tweeted they would be opening the following day, before Sony themselves confirmed this in a tweet. All of this information would have been extremely useful during the show – but we never got it then (what's more, it seems like Sony was still wrong anyway, because as it turns out, many stores in Australia, the US, and Canada – at last count – were allowing pre-orders right after the show ended).
The actual launch lineup was not revealed during the show, it was, yup, revealed in a blog post afterwards. We legitimately got a trailer for Demon's Souls, which is a launch game, without a date during the show. Somehow, having a little segment finalizing the launch games, at least the first party launch games, was not a part of the show finalizing the launch details. "99% of all PS4 games" will be playable on PS5, according to Jim Ryan – again, not in the show itself, but in an interview published more than three hours after the event ended.
Every single first party Sony game will be $70 next generation. This is a price raise that was also not communicated during the show. If this had been the only thing Sony had left for after the show, I wouldn't even have minded, but with the host of other things they left unsaid, it just became a mess, a tangle of trying to figure out exactly what is, and isn't, true. There was even more confusion in the mix, because initially, Sony had put out a trailer for Demon's Souls that said it was a console exclusive, and would be coming to PC, and it took them over an hour and a half after the show ended to correct the record on that.
What suddenly happened to Sony's communication and messaging, which has otherwise been fairly strong with regards to the PS5? Some of the confusion I can understand, there are a lot of moving parts, and when everyone is working from home in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic, some confusion is warranted. But when Sony can't, or won't, even communicate basic questions such as – what games will the console launch with? Are they coming to just the PS5? How much will these games cost? When can I buy the console? – you have to assume something has gone terribly, fundamentally wrong somewhere.
Again, some of it I get. I would have been very surprised if it had all been smooth, when even in the best circumstances, console launches are a mess. But this went above and beyond whatever misfires you might have expected as far as clear and strong communication goes.
So here we are at the end of a show that by all accounts should have been a triumph. Instead, I now find myself wondering – how exactly does Sony plan on making this the quickest transition to a next generation console? They are selling an expensive new machine, with its biggest hitters available on an existing, cheaper one; the games for the new machine themselves are more expensive than current ones (so you can actually get Horizon 2 for cheaper on PS4 than PS5); even the most exciting third party games, such as Hogwarts Legacy, are cross generation (Resident Evil 8, at least, is going to be next-gen only).
Sony plans on shipping 10 million PS5 units by next March, an unprecedented volume of sales in that short a period. For comparison, the current record holder for getting to 10 million fastest is the Switch, which took slightly over seven months to do so, in a much better economy to boot, and while being a fair bit cheaper; Sony plans to do it with the PS5 in four and a half months. How? I have no doubt the PS5 will sell, and sell a lot, I anticipate sell outs for weeks after launch in fact. But 10 million is a huge number, and Sony is selling an expensive machine in a pandemic with expensive games, the most appealing of which are also available on the much cheaper PS4 which you probably already own, for cheaper. I don't see it happening. I might be wrong, but unless Jim Ryan has the mother of all aces up his sleeve, I don't see that happening.
Maybe I would have been more convinced if Sony had actually communicated their plans well, rather than whatever confusing mess we find ourselves in right now.
Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.