Hearthstone just got three new battlegrounds heroes, with more events on the way
I've been playing a lot of Hearthstone lately thanks to the release of the battlegrounds game mode. It's such an easy way to jump into the Hearthstone system without having to strictly worry about the meta, or buying into new pricey decks. You just suit up, select a hero, and roll.
So whenever Blizzard has updates planned for battlegrounds, I perk up. That includes the three new heroes that just popped up in the mode, based off of the new Scholomance expansion. Lord Barov is a gambler, who allows you to guess the winner of the next combat for a net gain of two coins. Jandice Barov lets you swap a friendly non-golden minion with a random one in the tavern: which is similarly risky. Forest Warden Omu gives you two gold after upgrading Bob's tavern, which allows for fairly strategic mathematical turns.
Right now, Jandice and Omu are performing very well; within the top five winrates for all heroes on some ranking sites. Maiev is still dominating as she has for some time now, followed by Jandice and then The Lich King, who saw an uptick after his ability cost was changed to "0" in an August patch. As Bob would say: "good luck out there!"
In terms of other Hearthstone news, the Book of Heroes mode is coming on September 15, which gives us an all-new story led by Jaina Proudmoore. It's billed as "free single player content over the course of the next 12 months," with "stories for all 10 core heroes." On September 23, the competitive tavern brawl mode will re-enter the fray.
The free stuff sounds good to me!
Who dares enter the Forbidden Library [Battle.net]
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 releases trailer for The Massacre Soldier, Killer
Bandai Namco has released the first gameplay trailer for Killer, one of the upcoming DLC characters for One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, further expanding the madcap brawler's huge roster of scallywags.
Spoilers for the One Piece manga follow
One of the Supernovas from the feared "Worst Generation" faction, Killer does not take his monikers of "The Massacre Soldier" and "The Murder Machine" lightly. An incredibly dangerous martial-arts master, the masked meathead spells doom for almost anybody foolish enough to stand in his way, cutting down all opposition with his trusty hand-scythes.
Bethesda gives us a deep dive on Fallout 76's daily ops rework
Bethesda has been teasing big updates coming to Fallout 76 for some time, and now daily ops are nearly upon us in the upcoming Update 22 patch.
As detailed in a new blog (and a video below), daily ops are described as "instanced, randomized, repeatable encounters." The gist is that each time you play, you can jump into a "different location" and complete a series of objectives. Uplink is the first gametype, which sees groups grabbing intel to track down specific creatures. Alongside of the prime directive, you'll also be facing down various mutations of existing enemies, much like a challenge mode or modifiers in a game like, say, Destiny's Nightfalls.
They are meant for groups of four, and although you can spam them, "certain rewards" will only be doled out once per day. They're also timed, with bigger rewards for players who finish these in under eight minutes and the upper ceiling being 16 minutes: which gives you an idea of how quick these daily ops are. The first group of locations that you'll be diving into involve The Burrows, The Burning Mine, Valley Galleria, or Vault 94, with Super Mutants, Blood Eagles or Robot faction enemies.
This whole shebang comes with a recommended level of 50+, but given the upcoming multiplayer XP scaling changes, it is possible for "lower-level characters to have an impact" on daily ops.
Inside the Vault [Bethesda.net]
Ninjala reveals fun Sonic the Hedgehog crossover gear
GungHo Online Entertainment has raised the curtain on the incoming collaboration between arena battler Ninjala and Sega's legendary franchise Sonic the Hedgehog. Going live in-game September 23, the limited time event will offer up a selection of specially themed Sonic gear for purchase.
Said gear includes costumes for your favourite Ninjala characters, which feature shirts, shoes, and cool headpieces stylised around Sonic favourites Tails, Knuckles, Dr. Robotnik and, of course, the blue blur himself. A selection of themed Ippon decorations, Gum Utsusemis, and stickers will also be available from the in-game store.
The latest Heroes of the Storm event combines Starcraft and Warcraft into one metal mix
No, "Craft Wars" is not the latest hit reality show featuring dueling teams of art majors: it's the newest Heroes of the Storm event.
It means exactly what it says, in that it combines Starcraft and Warcraft into one game, something Heroes does quite well already. Don't get too excited though, as Craft Wars is basically a cosmetic event. You'll need to buy the skins featured in it with shards (in-game currency) or gems (premium), but there's a few great ones on offer here, as well as some badass art.
Death Knight Mei is a standout, as well as SCV Pilot Gazlowe and King of Blades Arthas (what a crossover). The event comes hand-in-hand with complete reworks for D.va and Gazlowe, which have had opposite reactions from the playerbase thus far; with folks enjoying a (potentially overtuned) D.va while wanting some of Gazlowe's changes to be rolled back.
Another huge change: everyone gets a self-cleansing item at the start of the game with a huge cooldown, and Brawl has been eliminated in favor of making it a full-time ARAM mode. So far this update has been a wild ride, and has injected a fair bit of life into the game following a staggered lower-impact balance patch cadence.
Rainbow Six Siege console players will receive free next-gen upgrade
During yesterday's Ubisoft Forward presentation, it was revealed that twitchy multiplayer shooter Rainbow Six Siege will be offering free next-gen upgrades to its current playerbase.
Anyone currently stalking the corridors of Siege on PS4 or Xbox One will be able to upgrade to PS5 or Xbox Series X gratis. The Rainbow Six team has previously noted that it is currently working on transitioning player accounts from generation to generation, so players can take all of their content and hard-earned Renown with them into the next gen. The next-gen editions of Rainbow Six Siege will feature 4K visuals and will run at a juicy 120FPS.
The Zelda: Breath of the Wild Hyrule Warriors prequel is getting a deluxe edition in Japan
Just recently, we learned that there's going to be a prequel to Zelda: Breath of the Wild. That's good! It's also a hack and slash and part of the Hyrule Warriors franchise. Depending on who you ask, that's either bad or good! And it's getting a deluxe edition that's exclusive to Japan for now. That's mostly bad!
Although Nintendo merely teased the special edition of the game when they revealed Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, thanks to a new product site we actually know what it entails, how much it costs and what it looks like. In short, it's going to run you 16,720 yen, which is roughly $150 US.
Dubbed the "treasure box" edition, the main draw is a Paraglider blanket (designed after the Breath of the Wild item), with the actual game (always good for collector's editions to have the game in them, right), an art plate and a metal charm of a Guardian in tow. You can import it if you want, but you probably should only do it if you're a huge Zelda and Hyrule Warriors fan.
You have to wonder how this game is going to turn out, and how much is borrowed from previous Hyrule Warrior iterations. I hope it's a mostly fresh experience.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity [GameCity]
Limited Edition Fortnite Switch coming to Europe and Australia
Nintendo is collaborating with Epic Games to release a limited edition of its Nintendo Switch hardware, slickly stylised after the latter's phenomenally selling battle royal title, Fortnite.
The Fortnite-branded Switch - currently confirmed for release in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand - features a themed docking unit, emblazoned with the faces of popular Fortnite characters and Joy-Con daubed in exclusive shades of yellow and blue... as "exclusive" as colour shades can be, I suppose.
Panzer Dragoon: Remake will glide onto PS4 and PC soon
Forever Entertainment has teased that its remake of Sega Saturn classic Panzer Dragoon will be launching on PC and PS4 "soon", following its release earlier this year on Nintendo Switch.
Contest: Win Hotshot Racing for Xbox One, PS4, or PC
In today's contest you can win Hotshot Racing for Xbox One, PS4, or PC!
Racing sims are for the birds -- arcade games are where it's at! If you disagree, find another contest, because this one is all about arcadey racer Hotshot Racing, which just hit PC and consoles. You know the drill, folks!
After all these years, The Unfinished Swan is on PC and iOS
Before the inventive family drama What Remains of Edith Finch, there was The Unfinished Swan – another exploration-driven first-person adventure game from Giant Sparrow. If you never played it and you've become a fan of the studio in recent years, it's a good time to go back with fresh eyes.
Almost eight years after The Unfinished Swan's original Sony-backed release on PS3, the game is now available on PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store (for $14.99) and also on iOS (for $4.99).
On PC, publisher Annapurna Interactive has a slight discount – to $13.49 – until September 24.
Bit by bit, you'll fill in a stark world with splashes of paint, and Giant Sparrow switches up the puzzle-solving formula in later chapters. The Unfinished Swan doesn't reach the same great heights as Edith Finch – what a perfect blend of narrative and mechanics – but it's worth having around for posterity.
As always, it's a pleasure to see older digital-only console exclusives find their way to PC.
Where the Water Tastes Like Wine is an Epic Games Store freebie you need to pick up
Epic has been on an absolute roll for the past month or so. Anyone who's diligent about picking up free games has gotten Into the Breach, Hitman, A Total War Saga: Troy, and Remnant from the Ashes as of late. This week has another can't-miss game.
Americana folklore adventurer Where the Water Tastes Like Wine is free on the Epic Games Store this week. It has been, frankly, underappreciated ever since its 2018 release. It's a special game for people who care about storytelling in video games.
There are trains in Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, and there are trains in the other Epic freebie. That's the throughline, I guess. Transportation management sim Railway Empire is also free for the week. Pick that one up if you want the thrill of playing railroad tycoon (but not literally the thrill of playing Railroad Tycoon).
Next week, the lone announced freebie is Stick it to the Man.
Railway Empire, Where the Water Tastes Like Wine [Epic Games Store]
Re-up your Xbox Game Pass for PC subscription before the price doubles
Xbox Game Pass is the best value in gaming. That's not its official tagline, it's just a fact. We bring it up often because you're not going to find better bang-for-you-buck with any other subscription service.
However, anyone who's making use of Xbox Game Pass for PC exclusively will find their value chopped in half starting next week. On September 17, Game Pass for PC is doubling in price.
It's time to eat Taco Bell again in hopes of winning an Xbox Series X
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Microsoft is rolling out the red carpet for the new generation of Xbox in exactly two months. If you're not so bullish on shelling out $500 for a new console, you can buy a lottery ticket at the same fast food restaurant that has held Xbox contests for four years and running now.
Once again, Taco Bell and Microsoft are teaming up in the fall for an Xbox giveaway promotion. This one's a little more forgiving in a sense. You don't need to order some sort of $5 boxed promo meal for a shot at winning an Xbox Series X. That's usually what this collaboration is hinged upon. Instead, you simply need to buy a medium or large drink.
Starting on September 24, Microsoft is giving away approximately 4,000 Xbox Series X bundles that include a controller and six months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. You can enter up to three times per day, and a winner is selected every 15 minutes. Although the contest begins in September, winners can expect to receive the Xbox Series X sometime around the November 10 launch.
Sip on some Baja Blast, win yourself an Xbox Series X. This is how kings live. (I imagine. I'm certainly no king, so please don't take my perspective on what it's like to be a king.)
Xbox Series X [Taco Bell]
Review: Borderlands 3: Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck
So far in 2020, there are two contenders for "most outrageous title."
Borderlands 3: Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck, and Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).
This roller coaster of a year isn't over yet, folks!
Mario Kart Tour goes retro with Super Mario Kart event
Mobile racer Mario Kart Tour is gearing up for its next in-game event, which this time around is an ironic reminder of far, far superior releases in Nintendo's genre-defining series.
The Super Mario Kart Tour, now live in-game, adds two drivers to the mix in the form of Donkey Kong Jr. and Mario himself, but now stylised in their classic 16-bit forms. Also being added to the loot pipe are a new pixelated kart and glider. In addition, a special Super Mario Kart glider is also available to purchase from the in-game store. You can check out the new content - showcased on Rainbow Road RMX - in the trailer below.
Here's a recap of everything that happened during September's Ubisoft Forward stream
As everyone and their mother's mega-corporation adapts the Nintendo Direct style presentation in this post-E3 world, Ubisoft has rolled in with their second Ubisoft Forward stream today and dropped a few news nuggets on it. Of course, this is after that separate public statement regarding recent events at the company.
The second Ubisoft Forward stream of 2020 was pretty breezy and very straight-forward. The segments were fairly deep-divey, so if you didn't like the games being shown, you aren't going to like watching five to 10 minutes of extended footage on them.
As far as news goes, we learned that Immortals: Fenyx Rising is out in December, with Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake following suit in January. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is coming back and is out at some point this holiday season (the highlight of the show) and Aiden Pearce plus his iconic cap are back in Watch Dogs: Legion — please clap.
We did get one new IP out of the show though: Riders Republic. Take a look at everything below! Thank goodness these are relatively short.
Riders Republic is an out-of-control extreme sports multiplayer game from Ubisoft
Today's Ubisoft Forward stream got amped up with a wild new open-world IP, Riders Republic.
It's a "mass multiplayer" extreme sports game from Ubisoft Annecy in which players can go nuts together with bikes, snowboards, skis, and wingsuits in seven regions based on the US National Parks.
While racing, you'll be able to see upwards of 50 other players on next-gen consoles and PC – or around 20-ish on current-gen systems. There's a sponsor-earning career mode, co-op character customization, and a trick system, too. Steep never managed to scratch the SSX itch, but I'll keep hoping for the best.
Riders Republic is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on February 25, 2021. If you happen to end up with a PS4 or Xbox One copy and you want to upgrade, that won't cost anything extra.
[Update: Ubisoft re-confirmed that Watch Dogs Legion is coming on October 29 with a recruitment video, which you can watch below. Stormzy will also get an exclusive mission in the game and Aiden Pearce will appear as a playable character, complete with his "iconic cap." 2020 y'all.]
This morning, Microsoft made it official following myriad leaks: the next generation, as far as they are concerned, is happening on November 10. Boom.
On that day the Xbox Series X and the Series S will release, and the floodgates have been opened for every other publisher to say "hey, our stuff is coming too." Ubisoft is one of the first to fire off that salvo, noting that Assassin's Creed Valhalla is coming on November 10 for the Xbox Series X and the Series S. It'll also launch on PC, PS4 and Stadia on that same date. The publisher boasts that the game will run at 60FPS "in full 4K resolution" on Series X.
Ubisoft also explains that Watch Dogs: Legion, which is still slated for a current-gen release on October 29, will be a "day one" Xbox Series X/S title on November 10, and will benefit from "hardware accelerated raytracing" on Series X/S. Oh, and the "Smart Delivery" system is still a go for both games. As a reminder, if you buy the game on Xbox One or Series X/S, you can play it cross-generation for free. Cross-save between Xbox One and the X/S is in too.
Rainbow Six Siege's Shadow Legacy season is here and Sam Fisher is a blast to play
[Update: To celebrate the new season, an animated short was produced showing Sam Fisher putting the youngsters through their paces.]
I'm relatively new to the Siege community having only picked up the game earlier this year, but seeing as how this year feels like three, I'd say I've been playing in a hyperbolic time chamber of sorts. Despite me being new, I could tell by gauging the different communities that the upcoming Shadow Legacy season felt like one of the most anticipated in a long while. Not only does it bring back the legendary Sam Fisher as a new operative, but it also is bringing a ton of quality of life changes to the five-year-old game.
Earlier this morning, the new season started rolling out on the various platforms with most of the changes promised in tow. First and most importantly, Sam 'Zero' Fisher is available for season pass players with those who don't pay the extra money having to wait seven days.
I got a chance to play him briefly this morning and he's a stupid amount of fun. Sure it's not the stealth action that the character is known for, but just to be back in his virtual shoes again feels great. Zero's unique gun, the SC3000K has a really good firing rate and a nice tight recoil pattern. I didn't get to use his gadget too much, but from what I've seen, it's going to be a thorn in the side of defenders for a while to come.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game Complete Edition is coming this holiday season
For years, people have been unable to play Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game after it was tragically removed from digital storefronts. Those who were able to play it described it as one of the best brawlers ever created. This holiday, the rest of us will get to see how true that is when Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game Complete Edition releases.
The game will include the Knives Chau and Wallace Wells DLC, and will be available for $14.99 on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, and PC. The game will feature local and online co-op as well.
Hyper Scape gets even faster with a limited-time Turbo Mode
Hyper Scape lives up to its name next week. Hyper hyper hyper, go go go.
As part of this afternoon's Ubisoft Forward stream, we learned that free-to-play battle royale Hyper Scape is getting a limited-time Turbo Mode. It starts on September 15.
The hook to Turbo Mode is making everything happen faster. There's only max level loot. Your health regenerates faster. The zone closes faster. Crown victories go faster. Faster faster faster.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake is out in January
It's nice to have an honest-to-goodness Prince of Persia adventure again, even if it is a retread.
After a couple of leaks, Ubisoft formally announced Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake for PC, PS4, and Xbox One during today's Ubisoft Forward stream. It's launching January 21, 2021 for $39.99. A few bonuses – an "original" outfit and weapons set, and a Classic Filter – are reserved for pre-orders.
Voice actor Yuri Lowenthal is back as the Prince himself, and the studio has enhanced "everything in the game from camera to combat, as well as the visuals," according to director Pierre-Sylvain Gires.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake was made "from the ground up" in the Anvil engine.
Sands of Time is a stone-cold classic, so let's do this thing (assuming the final build looks less... rough). The semi-budget price is a good starting point. I'll probably wait to see the tech tests, though.
(Update) Immortals: Fenyx Rising seems to be arriving in December, and it looks a lot less cartoony
[Update: During today's Ubisoft Forward stream, the game was fully re-revealed, with its new art style in tow and a confirmed release date of December 3. "Extra production time" has allowed the team to "add new experiences" to Fenyx Rising, a developer said on-stream. Zeus and Prometheus will narrate the tale of Fenyx, the hero of the game. You can get a closer look at the new style in the trailer below.
There's also going to be an exclusive Stadia trial for Fenyx Rising "later this year in all regions Stadia is accessible."]
Just a few days ago we learned that the fun-sounding Gods & Monsters was torn to shreds and built back up by Ubisoft as "Immortals: Fenyx Rising." Now, thanks to a new Microsoft Store listing, it seems as if the game is getting a new look, too.
Thanks to the classic Microsoft Store leak, we know that the game is tentatively scheduled for release on December 3, and the new screens are decidedly (and sadly) less cartoony in nature. Oh, and it has a pre-order bonus quest (A Tale of Fire and Lightning): of course. We'll clearly learn more about the game and its release date on September 10 at the next Ubisoft Forward stream.
According to the listing, Immortals: Fenyx Rising will be coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One and Stadia on December 3, while an Xbox Series X and PS5 launch are also planned. Ubisoft specifically calls out the Smart Delivery system for providing a cross-Xbox-One-to-Series-X copy, but does not mention the situation between the PS4 and PS5.
This seems to be a trend, and the new "all-in-one-entertainment-system" marketing move.
Immortals: Fenyx Rising [Microsoft Store via Gematsu]
Annapurna Interactive's boxed PS4 collection is full of fantastic games
Not that we needed a fancy, pricey, wide-ranging boxed collection of PS4 games to remind us, but jeez, Annapurna Interactive sure has a stellar track record – its publishing lineup is arguably best-in-class.
The label has partnered with iam8bit for a limited-run $200 PS4 boxed set with eight physical (region-free) games called the Annapurna Interactive Deluxe Limited Edition. Not to downplay the sticker shock, but considering the number of unmistakable titles included, it's not that ridiculous of an ask.
There's Donut County, Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition, Outer Wilds, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Wattam, What Remains of Edith Finch, Gorogoa, and Telling Lies – the last two of which haven't had physical PlayStation 4 versions before. Annapurna is also including "exclusive statements" from each creator.
Most of won't plunk down two hundred bucks on this collection, but it's fun to marvel at.
Pre-orders are open now ahead of a Q4 2020 shipment. That said, it's a limited edition of 2,000.
Annapurna Interactive Deluxe Limited Edition [iam8bit]
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has released a video statement addressing the stories of toxic culture and sexual harassment at the developer/publisher, which in recent months had led to intense scrutiny within the studio's walls, and the firing of several high-ranking employees.
In the near-four-minute video, Guillemot offers an apology to those affected and hurt by the company's toxic behaviour. "I am truly sorry to everyone who was hurt," says Guillemot. "We have taken significant steps to remove or sanction those who violated our values and code of conduct and we are working now to improve our systems and processes."
Guillemot goes on to state that Ubisoft will work harder to improve diversity and inclusivity at all levels of the company, investing "one million dollars" into its Graduate program over the next five years, and creating more opportunities for under-represented groups "including women and people of colour."
Speaking of limited time Nintendo games: Jump Rope Challenge is leaving the eShop on September 30
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]
Master Roshi joins Dragon Ball FighterZ as DLC September 18
It's been well over two years and Bandai Namco's excellent tag-fighter Dragon Ball FighterZ is still going strong. In fact, a brand new DLC character will be made available next week: the Turtle Hermit himself, Master Roshi.
Master Roshi made his debut in the original Dragon Ball anime way back in 1986. As the trainer of such luminary characters as Goku, Gohan, Yamcha, and Krillin, he is a feared fighter, and known as The God of Martial Arts. Like so many "old man" characters in classic anime, he is also a colossal pervert.
As you can see in the trailer below, Roshi's age and small stature belie his galaxy-defying martial-arts abilities, tackling opponents with lightning-fast punches and kicks, while beefing himself up for devastating Kamehameha attacks. In a shocking finale, one of Roshi's super attacks sees the Turtle Hermit confine his opponent to a tiny bottle! Yikes!
Master Roshi will be made available to purchase on all platforms September 18. Dragon Ball FighterZ is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
[Update: Nintendo has issued a follow-up statement to Destructoid to issue a "correction" for the Hades release date. It is now listed as "fall 2020."]
Are you ready for the holiday season yet?
If you're not picking up a next-gen system, you're probably looking to Nintendo for guidance. Super Mario All-Stars is going to be a hot commodity from mid-September through March 2021, as is the new Hyrule Warriors and Breath of the Wild prequel, Age of Calamity. But before then, there's some indies to keep you covered.
The long-awaited Hades is finally coming out in 1.0 form soon (September 16), which includes a Switch version. Wintermoor Tactics Club is also out on Switch this week, alongside of Bake 'N Switch and Fight Crab. You're kind of spoiled for choice when it comes to weird/interesting games.
Pac-Man Geo is another inventive take on the classic coin-op
Despite - or perhaps because of - its simplistic design, Namco has always found new ways to reinvent video gaming's golden hero, Pac-Man. With Pac-Mania, Pac-Land, DX Championship Edition, Pac-Man 256 and many other spin-offs, our favourite ghost-gobbler keeps on returning to the forefront of gaming in intriguing new ways.
Case in point: Pac-Man Geo, newly announced by Bandai Namco and heading to mobile platforms in the very near future. In Pac-Man Geo, Pac-Man and his ghostly pals will escape the confines of their neon mazes and break out into the real world, as the streets of world famous locations become new and unique stages for classic coin-op action.
Pac-Man Geo will use information from Google Maps to turn the city streets into new mazes, dotting the avenues and alleyways with pellets and power pellets before allowing the player to enjoy a typical game of Pac-Man set within New York, Tokyo, Paris, or perhaps even their own neighbourhood. Some early screenshots in the gallery below offer an impression of how this new and inventive take on Pac-Man will work.
Pac-Man Geo is expected to launch sometime this fall on iOS and Android devices.
Pac-Man Geo announced for iOS and Android [Gematsu]
Nintendo gives us a more in-depth look at that fancy new Game & Watch device
Nintendo won't have a next-generation console for us come mid-November, but it'll have a few other goodies to peddle for the holiday season.
In addition to Mario 3D All-Stars and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity dropping that month, the publisher is also releasing a special Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. system. The main gist is that you'll be able to play the original Super Mario Bros. + The Lost Levels on the device, as well as operate a clock app (with "35 little touches to discover") and play the original Ball Game & Watch minigame.
The new video below gives us a quick look at the device, and confirms that it has an LCD screen and a rechargeable battery with a USB connector. The official site also confirms that the handheld weighs .15 lbs and lasts roughly eight hours on a full battery charge.
Daemon x Machina to receive a new update for its first anniversary
It's been a whole year since the release of Marvelous' post-apocalyptic mech fighter, Daemon x Machina. To celebrate 12 months of robo-bashing action, Marvelous is getting set to release a new update for the game, adding several new goodies for your next jaunt into The Outer Rim.
The new update, which will go live on PC and Nintendo Switch in November, will include a "Grossfeiern" Arsenal skin, a "Grandemon" pilot suit, three new Arsenal decals and three new Preview backgrounds. A new order is also incoming, "Eclipse RT: Omega Destruction Strategy," which will see hardened players do battle against a super-powered Immortal known as "Eclipse Q."
You can get a sneak peek at the new content in the gallery below. Daemon X Machina is available now on PC and Nintendo Switch.
Daemon x Machina 1st anniversary update launches in November [Gematsu]
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake leaks on Russian Uplay
Ahead of today's Ubisoft Forward presentation, a previously rumoured remake of 2003's Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has been leaked via the Russian version of Ubisoft's Uplay store.
(Update) Pocky & Rocky set to return in all-new KiKi KaiKai sequel
[Update: Taito has released the first trailer for KiKi KaiKai: Kuro Mantle no Nazo, which is tentatively titled Pocky & Rocky 2021 for its English localisation. You can check out the new trailer at the foot of the article. It looks pretty radical.]
Here's a fun bit of news for retro gaming fans: Taito has announced that it is teaming with Natsume Atari to develop a brand new sequel in the KiKi KaiKai series, better known to western gaming fans as Pocky & Rocky.
As reported in this week's issue of Famitsu, KiKi KaiKai: Kuro Mantle no Nazo will be a direct sequel to the action-packed top-down shooter KiKi KaiKai: Nazo no Kuro Mantle, which launched on the SNES way back in 1992. The new sequel will be developed by Tengo Project, who was previously responsible for the excellent remasters Wild Guns: Reloaded and Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors.
The new KiKi KaiKai is no mere remaster, however, promising to be a brand new adventure housed within a modern engine. Fear not, retro-fans, as Tengo Project has noted that it will feature a style reminiscent of the original 16-bit release, albeit with significant visual, audio, and gameplay improvements. If you want to get a taste for the franchise, then the original 1986 arcade version of KiKi Kai Kai is available on the Arcade Archives range.
KiKi KaiKai: Kuro Mantle no Nazo is currently in development for Nintendo Switch.
KiKi KaiKai: Kuro Mantle no Nazo announced for Switch [Gematsu / Ryokutya2089]
No More Heroes 3 won't be powering up its beam katana until 2021
Of all the delays we've seen this year due to the pandemic, this one somehow felt like the most inevitable. Grasshopper Manufacture and Suda 51 have confirmed the highly anticipated Switch-exclusive No More Heroes III will not see release in 2020. According to the message posted by the developers on Twitter, COVID-19 resulted in work delays on the title, and rather than rush it out, Suda wants his team to prioritize quality as development gets back on its feet.
This PlayStation VR sale has some essential games
My PlayStation VR library has slowly but surely filled up thanks to PlayStation Store sales, and while I'm anxious to hear the particulars of Sony's PS4-to-PS5 transition for virtual reality, I can't resist jumping on good deals when they pop up. Many of these games, while fun, are too fleeting to buy at full price.
Sony is running a PlayStation VR sale with around 150 deals lasting through September 23, 2020.
I wouldn't recommend all of these games for every type of PSVR owner, but here are my quick picks:
- The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners ($29.99)
- Marvel's Iron Man VR ($29.99)
- L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files ($24.99)
- Borderlands 2 VR ($24.99)
- Tetris Effect ($19.99)
- Audica ($19.49)
- Trover Saves the Universe ($17.99)
- Paper Beast ($16.49)
- Ghost Giant ($14.99)
- Gorn ($14.99)
- Moss ($14.99)
- Blood and Truth ($14.79)
- Superhot VR ($9.99)
- Arizona Sunshine ($9.99)
- Everybody's Golf VR ($9.89)
- No Heroes Allowed! VR ($9.89)
- Battlezone Gold Edition ($8.74)
- Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin ($7.99)
- A Fisherman's Tale ($7.49)
- Creed Rise to Glory ($7.49)
- Star Trek: Bridge Crew ($7.49)
- Astro Bot Rescue Mission ($7.39)
- Déraciné ($6.59)
- Until Dawn: Rush of Blood ($5.24)
- Tumble VR ($4.99)
- Theseus ($2.99)
(No, Beat Saber isn't on sale. Sorry! That said, it's worth the money.)
Of this list, I'd say Superhot VR, Tetris Effect, and Astro Bot Rescue Mission are essential. For everything else – especially the older titles that are several bucks each – try to see what you're getting into first.
This week, Sony is also highlighting upcoming VR games on the PlayStation Blog including Minecraft's PSVR update and Twilight Path. When's the last time you used your headset? It's been a bit for me.
These Demon's Souls screenshots won't tide us over, but they're something at least
We're no closer to finding out the release date for Demon's Souls today, but vigilant fans have flushed out something else worth sharing: a pair of new screenshots for Bluepoint's PlayStation 5 remake.
One image shows an alternate angle for the Vanguard boss, whose appearance was overhauled for PS5, and the other is a moody environmental shot to help sell the foreboding scale of Boletaria. The screens were spotted on Amazon Australia along with a generic bulleted summary, but the listing was pulled.
There's also some gnarly placeholder box art to check out. I hope the final version – maybe a special limited edition, or even a simple flip cover – can echo the original PlayStation 3 art for Demon's Souls.
On the other hand, I kinda love the idea of the Fat Official making the box. Show some dang respect!
[Via ResetEra]
Here's a handy cheat sheet for comparing Xbox Series X and S specs
Okay, you've finally wrapped your head around the naming convention. Maybe it came naturally to you, maybe it took a little bit of time. Xbox Series S is the affordable entry-level model, Xbox Series X is the creme de la creme. You've internalized which one is better.
But what does that really mean? Aside from not having an optical disc drive, how much of a downgrade is the Series S from the Series X? Microsoft correctly predicted that people would need some context. That's why it came up with this handy comparison sheet:
Review: The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon
The Outer Worlds is a kooky sci-fi world I want to explore more of, and while I think (and hope) an eventual sequel could be a home-run, for now, Obsidian Entertainment is expanding Halcyon with DLC.
The first of the two story expansions is Peril on Gorgon, an intriguing corporate mystery set on a semi-abandoned asteroid that begins with an unexpected delivery. Because this is The Outer Worlds, you don't just get a simple invite to Gorgon – you're sent a detective's severed arm with a recording.
I didn't expect to have this easy of a time slipping back into this feel-bad universe.
AMD will reveal its next generation of video cards at the end of October
After the proverbial mic-drop presentation that Nvidia had last week concerning its GeForce 3000 series cards, all eyes have been on AMD to see what it would do next. As it turns out, we'll have to wait quite a bit to see what the return volley looks like from the lead competitor in the PC graphics card war.
AMD announced that it will air a presentation for its next line of video cards on October 28. The conference will cover both the RDNA2 chip architecture as well as the Radeon RX 6000 series of cards.
AMD #RDNA2 architecture and Radeon RX 6000 Series graphics cards will bring the best of Radeon to gamers worldwide. Learn more October 28. pic.twitter.com/CZJRxTBe6m
— Radeon RX (@Radeon) September 9, 2020
It's already known that the RDNA2 architecture will be used in the upcoming PlayStation 5 and Xbox One S/X, with both of the systems having different proprietary cards in them. With the release date for the Xbox One S/X confirmed to be on November 10, it seems that this will be a good look into the more technical side of the upcoming console releases, just before their launch.
It will be interesting to see what AMD has in store for the PC side of things as bagging the two console hardware contracts for a second generation in a row could be seen as a win in any book, but no one can deny that PC gaming is on the rise. With the GeForce cards looking to be well priced for the tech that's inside them, will AMD be able to win over enthusiasts with a more impressive offering of cards?
We'll find out on October 28.
Gears Tactics emerges on Xbox Series X on November 10
November 10 might be a date that you've heard thrown around a fair bit today. That's because it's the day that the next generation of Xbox kicks off. It's when Xbox Series X and Series S both launch. It's also when some high-profile games like Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Yakuza: Like a Dragon will simultaneously debut.
However, that's also when one of the year's finest games finally gets its console port. Gears Tactics, which I was smitten with back in April, comes to Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X on November 10.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War's multiplayer beta starts October 8 on PS4
Activision and Treyarch lifted the lid on the multiplayer side of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War this morning, and apart from a tightly-edited "reveal trailer" with Duran Duran (always a pleasure) and more meaningful recorded gameplay impressions, the companies let out the beta dates and start times.
There isn't a singular start – Sony made deals – so let's break it down.
October 8-9
- PS4 early access for players who pre-order Black Ops Cold War on PS4 or PS5.
October 10-12
- PS4 open beta.
October 15-16
- Xbox One and PC early access for players who pre-order Black Ops Cold War on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, or PC.
- PS4 open beta.
October 17-19
- PS4, PC, and Xbox One open beta.
The beta is expected to start at 10:00 a.m. ("with exact timing to be decided"). Activision also says that Xbox Live Gold, Battle.net, and PlayStation Plus "in some territories" will be required to play.
As for what's new, my big takeaway is Scorestreaks – you'll keep your streak going even if you die. To compensate for the lack of a hard reset, the better rewards will be pricey, it pays to stay alive and play the objective if you can, and Scorestreaks have specific cooldowns to keep players from "spamming."
You can get an overview of the maps (like the ship-hopping Armada), modes (like the new round-based VIP Escort), and loadouts (Create-a-Class and Wildcards are back with tweaks) in this official blog post.
That said, there's nothing like hands-on time. Hopefully the beta is generous with content.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Multiplayer Revealed [Activision]
What price were you expecting for the Xbox Series X?
At long last, Xbox's next-gen pricing is in our rearview mirror. Thanks to revisionist memories, everyone's an accurate industry expert in moments like this. "That's the price I was saying all along!" Yet it's Pachter, not you, who gets all the respect.
(In case you somehow missed the news, the Xbox Series X is launching on November 10 and priced at $500. The lesser-powered Xbox Series S was also formally unveiled yesterday and will be priced at $300 and launch on the same day.)
Today is not only a landmark moment for forward-facing console war marketing strategies (at least for one side), but it's also the conclusion to what we've been blindly stabbing at for nine months. "The things it wants to accomplish are impressive for a console, but how much will it cost?" Now we know, and now we can start making some purchasing decisions.
So, it's time for you to own it -- not necessarily the console, but your past opinion. Where did you think the Xbox Series X was gonna fall? Personally, I think I remember boldly venturing it'd be $400 before I was sure the Series S existed. This was mostly predicated on Phil Spencer saying Project Scarlett "[would] not be out of position on power or price." I thought Microsoft was will to take a significant loss on every machine sold in order to really start this generation on the right foot.
But, now that two models have been confirmed, $500 seems like the obvious price. It always felt like $600 was too high, as no one wants to relive the 60GB PS3 launch debacle. So, $300 and $500 feels like the sweet spot. One device is for introduction to the Xbox ecosystem, the other is for those who are looking for the most out of their console. Putting $200 worth of space between them intrinsically communicates the gap in horsepower.
What were you expecting? Less? More? Also, this seems like as good of a place as any to formally chime in with your PS5 pricing prediction. That way, if you claim to have been right all along, we can check the comments here and call you a filthy liar. Unless you actually were right -- in which case, refer back to my Pachter comment in the first paragraph.
Fall Guys will beef up its anti-cheat efforts in the 'next couple of weeks'
There's always more work to be done to shut down cheaters, and as we inch toward Season 2 of Fall Guys in October, Mediatonic increasingly hopes to stop pesky players from ruining everyone's fun.
In a tweet, the studio apologized for the "cheating problem" in Fall Guys and promised that steps would be taken this week to "expand" the existing detection system before a "BIG" update goes even further.
That larger update – coming in "the next couple of weeks" – will implement the same "anti-cheat used by games such as Fortnite," according to Mediatonic. Easy Anti-Cheat can do the heavy lifting.
I like to think I'm on a hiatus, and when I come back for those sweet Season 2 rewards, hopefully the state of the game is in a better place on multiple fronts – motivating-killing cheaters included.
I feel for you, PC players. I had to switch over to PS4.
@FallGuysGame [Twitter via Engadget]
Nintendo is restocking the four Zelda: Breath of the Wild Champion amiibo for Age of Calamity
Can you believe that the four Zelda: Breath of the Wild Champion amiibo (Daruk, Urbosa, Mipha, Revali) came out in November of 2017? It's true, we tracked it all here!
Since then getting restocks has been a pain, like most figures more than a year out, with individual Champions going for upwards of $30 or more each on the secondary market. Thankfully, Nintendo has been periodically restocking amiibo throughout the years, and they've publicly announced a Champions reprint set for later this year.
Come November 20, which is right alongside of the launch of the new Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity game, all four figures will be available once more. While those four characters have not been officially revealed to be playable, the box art heavily implies that they are.
In that same vein, amiibo functionality may work similarly to how it operated in Hyrule Warriors proper.
Nintendo of America [Twitter]
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is getting a free 4K, 120FPS next-gen update
With PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X around the corner, we're bound to hear publishers' plans for updating their PS4 and Xbox One games so they can hit the ground running on next-gen consoles.
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom will eventually get an "update for next-gen consoles to support native 4K/120fps signal via HDMI 2.1," according to FDG Entertainment. There aren't currently any plans for a new physical release on PS5 and Xbox Series X, and the PC version already has 4K support.
If you bought it on Switch, well, you might want to consider double-dipping down the road.
The longer Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom sticks around, the better – it's one of those great but underappreciated games that people might discover in a sale, impulse buy, and fall in love with.
I'm super pleased with the recent-ish Wonder Boy revival in general. Such great vibes.
@FDG_Games [Twitter via Gematsu]
EA disables UFC 4's in-game ads after player backlash
Electronic Arts has removed a series of Amazon-sponsored flash ads from its MMA simulator UFC 4, following a huge backlash from fans on social media and Reddit.
The offending feature would cause adverts for Amazon TV show The Boys to appear on-screen between rounds and replays. In a video uploaded to Reddit by user Ydino, the ad even popped up as a part of the U.I. mid-match. While this sort of heavy on-screen advertising is authentic in regards to UFC's televisual style, fans were fuming to see the same kind of advertising appear in-game, particularly as the ads were activated one month after UFC 4's launch, and thus were not previously referenced in any of the game's reviews.
In a statement to Eurogamer (later appearing on Reddit), EA announced that it was disabling mid-match advertising: "It is abundantly clear from your feedback that integrating ads into the Replay and overlay experience is not welcome. The advertisements have been disabled by the team and we apologize for any disruption to gameplay that players may have experienced."
"We realize that this should have been communicated with players ahead of time and that's on us. We want to make sure our players have the best possible experience playing EA Sports UFC 4, so ad integration in the Replay and overlay experience will not be reappearing in the future. Thank you for your continued feedback on EA Sports UFC 4."
EA responds to fan backlash to in-game ads in UFC 4 [Eurogamer]
I remember when Stardew Valley came out. I was preoccupied with a lot of work at the time, but vowed to get to it as quickly as I could: bearing a lot of fond memories for the Harvest Moon series.
The minute I booted it up, I knew that I wouldn't let it go anytime soon. My wife and I ended up playing it side by side across two platforms, eventually meeting in the middle when the multiplayer update was released. We plan on playing it with our kid one day. We love it that much.
But all good things must come to an end. When? That depends on how creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone feels after update 1.5 arrives. We already know that they are working on several side projects, but the base Stardew Valley game could end up becoming something else entirely: or get a new 1.6 update.
Speaking to Game Informer, Barone says that they are "not willing to commit to Stardew Valley 1.6," but they also "don't think [update 1.5] will be the end." Despite the lack of commitment, Barone says that they "would not be surprised" if there was another update in them, or "multiple updates," or a true sequel. After 1.5 ships, they'll "decide what the next step is" for the series, also throwing in a "who knows?" qualifier.
It's vague; but hey, when the bulk of the work has been done by one person, you can definitely see where they are coming from. Hey Barone: a break is also on the table if you want to take it! You've earned it.
How Stardew Valley Keeps Building On Success [Game Informer]
[Update: Sega has confirmed that Yakuza: Like a Dragon will launch on November 10 on Xbox Series X/S. It also slyly hints that "release information on all platforms (read: PS5) in the coming weeks." We might have a timeline for Sony's big PS5 date/price reveal, if not sooner.]
We are about to enter new territory when it comes to the Yakuza series, and we're all going to be doing it together: On November 13.
Today, Sega has announced that Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be available on PC, Xbox One and PS4 on that very date, with vague promises of when the next-generation versions will hit. Sega has clarified, and say it with me now, that the Xbox Series X edition will be available "on day one of its release," with the PS5 port coming "at a later date."
Sega is celebrating the news with a trailer titled "How Will You Rise," which showcases more RPG elements of the game and our hero Ichiban Kasuga. This is a very rapid-fire clip, showcasing "20+ unique jobs" and some of the wackier elements of Like a Dragon in just under two minutes.
It's entirely possible that the Xbox Series X is actually out on November 13, and "day one of its release" is just third party PR talk for "Microsoft is the one that gets to announce its console release date."
CD Projekt reaffirms 'zero microtransactions' for Cyberpunk 2077 single-player
CD Projekt RED has double-downed on its previous promise that Cyberpunk 2077 will feature no microtransactions whatsoever in regards to its single-player campaign.
The Polish developer made the affirmation after discussing in-game purchases attached to the RPG's multiplayer component - a separate commodity expected to launch sometime in 2021 - during a financial earnings call. This led some fans and news outlets to report that CDPR was going back on its earlier statement that Cyberpunk 2077 would be microtransaction free.
CDPR clarified that this was not the case. "Nothing changed," reads a brief statement on Twitter. "Cyberpunk 2077 is a single-player game with zero microtransactions. One single purchase. No tricks. Don't believe the clickbait... Cyberpunk multiplayer/online, which is a separate project, will have some microtransactions, but we said that a year ago already. Like always, expect us treating your money with respect."
Cyberpunk 2077 launches November 19 on PS4, PC, and Xbox One. It will arrive on PS5 and Xbox Series X at some point in 2021.
