Tue Sep 29 21:00:00 UTC 2020
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The fall update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available for download
[Announcement]
— Isabelle (@animalcrossing) September 30, 2020
The Fall update for #AnimalCrossing New Horizons is now available. Update your game and prepare for a month of spooky goodness leading to Halloween on 10/31! 🕸ï¸ðŸŽƒðŸ¬ pic.twitter.com/gUKpDTYSYy
Nintendo is keeping Animal Crossing: New Horizons fresh in our minds with its seasonal updates that are slowly introducing new and returning features to the hit title. After two fantastic summer updates, it's time to get ready for autumn with ver. 1.5. Available for download right now, the update will introduce pumpkins you can grow to craft new, seasonal items. There are also new skin tones available and candy for purchase at Nook's Cranny that you can give out when Jack arrives on Halloween night.
Animal Crossing [Twitter]
Contest: Win Cyber Hook for Steam and get your synthwave Spider-Man on
In today's contest, you can win trippy swinging game Cyber Hook for Steam!
If you don't know me by now, you will never never never know me. I'll be simply red with anger if you don't understand how much I love '80s neon and synthwave. Angry! Upset!
But you do know me. And you know stuff like Cyber Hook is my exact jam. Come win a Steam copy from us, or I swear I'll start crying again.
Mind Scanners is an unnerving 'retro-futuristic' job simulator
Mind Scanners is a point-and-click simulation game about "treating" the populace of a retro-futuristic megacity built in a crater, and it's worth watching if you've been meaning to fill the Papers, Please void with something fresh. At a glance, two things about this low-key creepy game stood out to me.
The first – as shown throughout the trailer – is that your physical interactions in the world are playful and tactile in a way that looks fun. You're using "arcade-style devices" to treat patients in The Structure.
Second, Steam has a few intriguing bullet points about how you can report or join a resistance group, and how you need to "gain the trust of The Structure if you want to see your daughter again."
There's some cool stuff brewing in here. The Outer Zone is aiming for an early 2021 release of Mind Scanners, but before then, the team will have a limited-time Steam demo on October 7.
"Welcome to The Structure, get to work" is such a 2020 mood.
Elite Dangerous won't charge for its Horizon expansion anymore
If Elite Dangerous is the final frontier, then its Horizons expansion is the free frontier. Starting in a month, anyway.
Elite Dangerous is getting an update next month that rolls the Horizons add-on into the base game on all platforms. You could look at this and say it's permanently free. But, it might be more appropriate to say that Horizons is just part of the standard Elite Dangerous experience from now on.
Whichever way you view it, Elite Dangerous is going to get bigger on October 27. For anyone who already purchased Horizons, they'll get Azure paint jobs that can be used on all ships in the game. Horizons will remain on sale until October 26, effectively only so people have a last chance to buy those Azure paint jobs. That doesn't seem like an amazing use of $30 but I'm not in charge of your personal finances.
Horizons is Elite Dangerous' only real content expansion, but this shrewd move is clearly a means of onboarding new players before 2021's Odyssey add-on. There's a lot to be excited about when it comes to Odyssey, as this is the expansion that'll allow you to ditch the spaceship and explore planets on foot. Developer Frontier is knocking down barriers to get deep into the Elite Dangerous ecosystem in hopes that it'll translate to Odyssey sales. It makes sense. When a game like Elite Dangerous gets its hooks in someone, it usually doesn't let up for a long time.
The Binding of Isaac: Repentance, a 'sequel-sized final expansion,' is over 90% done
The Binding of Isaac: Repentance will give fans a ton more to chew on later this year. We still don't have a final date, but there's a Steam page and a blog post from Edmund McMillen with reassurances.
The DLC is "basically a sequel at this point" and it's "over 90% done," according to McMillen. For a more tangible frame of reference, Repentance is "bigger than Rebirth was to the OG Flash game."
"I've been working closely with the team [behind Antibirth] to ensure that this is the 'Sequel DLC' you've always wanted. The team has gone above and beyond and we're really proud of how the game is coming together and I have a feeling you're gunna shit your asses when you get your hands on it."
The Binding of Isaac is one of those everlasting games that will live on for many years even if – and I feel like it's still an "if" at this point – the official support comes to a close. It's such a passionate community.
"500 hours of new gameplay" almost sounds like a threat (I love it!), and big-picture, there's going to be "a full alternate path with brand new chapters and a new final boss and ending" to discover. Goddang!
We'll learn more about Repentance's chaotic new content with "quite a few" blogs in October.
Torchlight III launches on October 13 and a Switch version is coming later
Torchlight III didn't manage to get its hooks in me, so after the initial Early Access push on PC, I decided to step back and wait for big changes leading up to the 1.0 launch. Surprisingly, it's almost time.
Echtra Games is releasing the completed version of Torchlight III on October 13 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with further plans for Nintendo Switch penciled in for "later this year." It'll be $40.
From what I've seen, the studio has done a good job of listening to fans and making changes whenever and wherever it can. The story is finished with all three acts, there's an endgame and Contracts to grind, and equippable Relics were revamped to be a more meaningful and permanent part of character builds.
Is it enough? I'm not so sure. I'll want to start a fresh save with 1.0, but on paper at least, I'm expecting a more compelling and fleshed-out ARPG experience than what we got at the start of Early Access.
That said, Torchlight III is going to have a tough time living up to its name. Big shoes to fill.
Get your blob-busting back on with Puyo Puyo Tetris 2
At Tokyo Games Show this past weekend, Sega released a new trailer for frantic puzzler Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, which will bring its block-and-blob-busting hybrid gameplay to PC and consoles this winter.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 will feature another goofy Adventure Mode, bringing together a cast of delightful and charming characters who find themselves befuddled by the collision of two all-time favourite franchises: Puyo Puyo and Tetris, naturally. The all-new "Skill Battle" mode will utilise character's specific abilities to give them an edge on the battlefield, while in-game Item Cards will offer various buffs and perks to help you out when things start getting a little to "busy" for comfort.
Sackboy's digital deluxe edition comes with costumes of four stars from recent PS4 exclusives
Sony says that Sackboy has more than 60 costumes to discover, providing all sorts of options for customization and snazzy dress. But, you'll need to shell out an extra $20 to outfit Sackboy in some of Sony's more iconic looks.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure's digital deluxe edition comes with a handful of pack-in goodies but none are more alluring than costumes for some recent high-profile PS4 exclusives. Buying the $80 extra-good edition comes with skins for Ghost of Tsushima's Jin, Death Stranding's Sam Porter Bridges, Detroit: Become Human's Connor, and Days Gone's Deacon St. John.
That's right -- if you think Sackboy should have awful facial hair, you can Hideo Kojima-fye him.
Dragon Quest Tact headed west on iOS and Android
Dragon Quest devotees might be pleased to hear that Square Enix has confirmed an English localisation of mobile battler Dragon Quest Tact. Having previously launched in Japan this past summer, the strategic monster-scrapper is now headed west on iOS and Android devices.
Despite its moniker, Dragon Quest Tact has nothing to do with offering constructive criticism without committing a social faux-pas. In fact, it is a grid-based battle game which sees players gather up famous monsters and critters from across the fantasy RPG franchise, before sending them into battle, managing each of your minions' strengths and weaknesses to ensure victory.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla has a new story trailer for Eivor's English Excursion
"The Saxons hunger for Norse blood. Let's give them a taste, brothers." That's what Eivor says near the end of this Assassin's Creed Valhalla story trailer. It's some incredible spin considering it's the Vikings who are invading and colonizing England.
Even though restraint isn't the Vikings' strong suit, you'll have to wait until 87 seconds into this trailer before something explicitly violent happens. (But that's only if you don't count that snowtop murder thing at the very beginning which is more of a sizzle reel effect and less about the arc of the trailer.) Don't bore us, get to the chorus! And the chorus is people getting thwonked upside the head with a knockoff Hammer of Thor.
All in all, this is a good trailer, though. It has me ready to play Assassin's Creed Valhalla in little more than a month. I can't wait to see if Valhalla can live up to the lofty expectations of being a next-gen successor to Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Those are some big shoes to fill.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales will let you transfer your PS4 save over to PS5
Will your save files carry over to PS5 in all cases? Unfortunately, there's not an easy or neat across-the-board answer to that question, and anxiety has only spread as developers share their specific plans.
We learned yesterday that Yakuza: Like A Dragon will not support PS4/PS5 cross-saves, but Spider-Man: Miles Morales – another prominent cross-gen game with a PS4 version and a PS5 version – will.
A fan posed the question on Twitter and Insomniac came back with a simple yes.
Hi there, you will be able to transfer your save to PS5. We'll share details closer to launch
— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) September 29, 2020
In other words, if you get Miles Morales digitally on PS4, you can move over to PS5 whenever you please. If you buy a physical PS4 copy, you'll just need to play on the PS5 model with a disc drive.
On a separate but related note that's probably worth reiterating right now, your progress in Spider-Man PS4 – as in, the 2018 game – will not carry over to 2020's Spider-Man Remastered on PS5. (Also, the remaster is tied to the Ultimate Edition of Miles Morales and that's a whole 'nother annoyance.)
Beyond shedding light on the save-file situation, Insomniac Games also opened digital pre-orders for Miles Morales today – if you pre-order, you'll get the T.R.A.C.K. suit, another bonus suit that hasn't been revealed yet, an "early unlock" of the Gravity Well gadget, and three extra Skill Points. Nothing wild.
The bonuses are similar to the ones in Spider-Man (2018), meaning you'll be able to get them in-game.
Xbox goes all-in on the Halloween theme for October's Games with Gold
A lot of times, Microsoft misses the mark with Games with Gold. That's not in terms of the quality being crappy -- although that has certainly been a problem in the past -- but in terms of disassociating months from their biggest holiday. Everyone's in the mood so just give us what we're already vibin'.
That is not a problem for this October's Games with Gold. It is Halloweened to the max, with no time for anything other than scares and slayings. This is exactly how October should be.
It starts strong on Xbox One as Slayaway Camp: Butcher's Cut is the first to die freebie. I actually wrote about this little gem a few years ago. It's a cutesy block-moving puzzle game where the goal is to murder everyone in any given scene. It's well worth a try. Also, its name is a nod to Sleepaway Camp which is my favorite camp slasher movie. Joining the festivities halfway through the month is Maid of Sker which certainly looks more the part of a traditional horror game.
On the backward compatibility side of things, Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is available for the first half of October as an original Xbox game. Next up is Double Fine's Costume Quest which I unapologetically adore. It might be time for a replay of that one. It's breezy and light in all the right ways. This one doesn't even have a Hardcorn mode to trip you up.
Here's the full Xbox Games with Gold breakdown for October:
Demon's Souls is out here with a $90 Digital Deluxe Edition
If the $70 price tag for Sony's PS5 games didn't pummel your wallet enough, well, wait until you see some of these special editions. I would spend a lot on Demon's Souls, but $90 for a Digital Deluxe Edition with the soundtrack and around a dozen in-game items? Yeah, I'm gonna have to sit this one out.
PlayStation has opened pre-orders for Demon's Souls, and here's what the extra $20 gets you:
- Legendary Hero Soul
- Renowned Warrior Soul
- Storied Warrior Soul
- Red-Eye Knight Armor
- Boletarian Royalty Armor
- Ritual Blade
- Hoplite Shield
- Ring of Longevity
- Preservation Grains
- Phosphorescent Grains
- Bearbug Grains
- Large Hardstone Shard
- Moonlightstone Shard
- Original soundtrack
If you pre-order any edition, including the $70 standard version, you'll get the Reaper Scythe.
Essentially, most of these items are a head-start for the opening hours – nothing to fret over – with the exception being a pair of armor sets. It's unclear if the Red-Eye Knight and Boletarian Royalty armor can be earned in-game, but I wouldn't be particularly shocked to find out they're Digital Deluxe exclusives. For what it's worth, the official image only calls the Reaper Scythe pre-order bonus an "exclusive."
I'm also curious to find out what the deal is with these grains.
In brighter news, the store page has several new screenshots and they're delectable. I truly hope my Demon's Souls remake machine shows up at my house in time for the Demon's Souls remake.
Hades patched on Switch, cross-save estimated for 'sometime in October'
Hades is out on both PC and Switch following a lengthy Early Access period, and for the most part, all is well. There's just a few loose ends to tie up, most notably some errant bugs and of course: cross-save.
While Supergiant wasn't able to get the feature out on time for the cross-launch, it will be coming sooner than we anticipated. According to a new tweet from the company this week, the feature will apparently arrive "sometime in October." For now though, you can download a recent Switch patch that addresses "save data not loading properly," as well as "several other minor fixes and improvements."
Supergiant is also aware of several other known issues, like the fact that Achilles won't give the player the codex (in-game dictionary). That one sounds rough! As for me, I cleaned up my "true ending" runs and completed the final boss on Extreme Measures 4, so I think I'm good for a bit; maybe until I get the itch to finish the epilogue.
Supergiant Games [Twitter]
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty hits Nintendo Switch October 27
Oddworld Inhabitants has announced that its remake of classic PlayStation platformer Abe's Oddysee is all set to make its debut on Switch. Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty will launch on the Nintendo platform on October 27 in both physical and digital download formats.
Originally released in 2014 on PS4, Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is a ground-up remake of the first puzzle platformer in the Oddworld series, as put-upon Mudokan Abe embarks upon an epic quest to free himself and his brethren from RuptureFarms, where the Mudokans are set to be turned into delicious treats for the nefarious Glukkons.
Balan Wonderworld creator says that this is his 'one chance' to prove himself to Square Enix
It's been a bit since we've heard anything substantial about Balan Wonderworld, but Sonic co-creator Yuji Naka recently sat down with IGN Southeast Asia to hammer out some of the game's details and explain his design philosophy.
To frame the conversation a bit, Naka is all-in on Balan, citing this as his "once chance" to prove himself to Square Enix as a developer. He says that Square Enix "has an RPG image," so he is humbled by the fact that he's able to make a marquee action platformer for the publisher. There's even going to be a novelization in Japanese and English that will help add to the lore of the world. He's so all-in, in fact, that he formed the studio "Balan Company," which he hopes will continue on with the genre after Balan Wonderworld.
Naka says that since players can use costume powers (the game's core mechanic) whenever they want (instead of designing levels around restricted abilities), a lot of different strategies are possible. It seems like some of these more intricate moves will be more graceful on next-gen hardware, as Naka confirms that the game will run on 4K at 60FPS on those machines: as well as make use of haptic feedback.
Well, it sure looks like Balan Wonderworld is getting plenty of chances to succeed, if the spread of platforms is anything to go by. Square Enix is releasing it on just about every system under the sun, including all current and next-gen consoles, on top of a PC port. I just hope it's good! It seems delightful.
Balan Wonderworld's Next-Gen Features Discussed by Sonic Creator [IGN]
Super Mario 3D All-Stars holds off Mafia double-hit to retain top spot in UK Charts
Nintendo's retro compilation Super Mario 3D All-Stars is celebrating a second week in the top spot of the UK Charts, having fended off not one, but two of 2K Games' Mafia re-releases.
Both Mafia: Definitive Edition and Mafia Trilogy debuted in the top ten at numbers three and six respectively. Recent releases such as Square Enix's Marvel's Avengers and Activision's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & 2 have continued to hold onto steadfast positions in the premier league. The rest of the top ten is rounded out by chart veterans such as Take-Two's Grand Theft Auto V, and regular Switch sellers Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Minecraft.
As we head into October, the heavy-hitters will start arriving on store shelves, vying for holiday cash. This week sees the launch of Activision's Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, and given the UK's incessant love affair with the mad marsupial, it seems almost a given that the sequel will be rocketing straight into the number one spot
Uro has been banned in Magic: The Gathering and Arena, but is it enough?
Last week Wizards of the Coast said that they were "monitoring" standard play for Magic: The Gathering Arena, and would report back with any potential bans to smooth out the meta. Well, they did: Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath is now banned from standard (best-of-one and best-of-three) and singleton play.
Uro was released with the Theros set in January of this year and caused all sorts of problems due to its power level. In short, it did too much, offering players three life, card draw, land ramp and the ability to be recalled later as a powerful creature that recurred all of the aforementioned abilities again. The concept, in theory, was that he would be tougher to cast: but with an obscene amount of ramp in the game (Goose and recently, Cobra), it was extremely easy to cast Uro on turn two and outpace most aggro decks.
Here's Wizards' decision in their own words: "In order to weaken these post-rotation ramp strategies, we're choosing to ban Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath in Standard. Our goal is to bring these decks down to a level where they are still appealing and competitive, but where natural metagame forces are enough to keep them in check. In general, we prefer this approach to overshooting the mark and removing an archetype from viability. However, we've certainly noted this weekend's strong results for the Four-Color Omnath deck and will continue to watch how that strategy and the overall metagame adjust in the coming weeks."
You may have noticed Omnath in there: that one, another dominate card that benefits from extra ramp (like Uro), is still legal, as is Lotus Cobra. Right now, Omnath/Cobra/Uro decks comprise around 38% of the competitive meta, which is an obscene figure that's roughly 13% higher than the average (even with 3-Feri was running wild). It's a good first step, but hopefully if Omnath is still crushing standard they don't hesitate further.
As folks have pointed out, Cobra and Omnath are both brand new cards: so there might be some hesitation to ban them quickly. Very few cards (Oko comes to mind) are banned from a freshly minted set for myriad reasons. With Uro out of the way things should be smoother, but Omnath still has plenty of ramp to help propel players into a quick game-ending Genesis Ultimatum.
Banned and Restricted Announcement [Wizards of the Coast]
Zynga's legendary FarmVille to close after a decade of success
Zynga has announced that its era-defining Facebook app, FarmVille will be closing its barn doors for good in December, following almost 11 successful years of operation.
Zynga revealed the news in a statement on its official website. "We're aware that many of you have been with us since the very beginning, helping to build an incredible global community of players over the years who've enjoyed this game just as much as we have," said the developer. "For that we say thank you."
Originally launching on the hellish social media site in 2009, FarmVille immediately attracted the attention of millions of players, with the user base rising to a staggering 84m active farmers during its 2010 peak. But with Adobe's plans to stop distributing Flash Player in 2021, Facebook will no longer be supporting flash games, spelling the end for the flower-growing, crop-arranging time-filler. FarmVille will close on December 31, 2020.
While most assuredly the end-of-an-era, the closure will not affect the FarmVille franchise in the bigger picture. FarmVille 3: Animals is set to launch on iOS and Android platforms later this year, thus pocket-croppers will still have no problems cultivating private worlds whilst hidden away in the office toilets.
Live A Live 26th anniversary live stream promises a 'surprise'
Square Enix has announced that it will be holding a live stream this weekend to celebrate the 26th anniversary of quirky Super Famicom RPG Live A Live.
Originally released back in 1994, Live A Live shook up the RPG scene by infusing several unique gameplay ideas. These include the concept of guiding multiple characters through wildly disconnected scenarios, as well as showcasing adaptive gameplay that changes up the battle system and other mechanics as the story progresses.
The stream will feature guest appearances from original Live A Live team members, including director Takashi Tokita, artist Kazuyuki Kurashima, composer Yoko Shimomura, and battle director Nobuyuki Inoue. Most notably, Square Enix promises a "surprise," which is likely connected to the new trademark filed by the publisher back in July.
The Live A Live stream will take place Saturday, October 3 at 20:00 JST, which is a bleary-eyed 04:00 PT / 07:00 ET. You can check out the presentation on the official Square Enix YouTube channel. We'll be sure to keep you informed of any reveals right here on Destructoid - so maybe just have a lie-in instead... And remember yer boy's working for ya.
Live A Live 26th anniversary live stream set for October 3 [Gematsu]
Brutal Legend and Doom Eternal headline October's Game Pass offerings
Xbox Game Pass continues to get better. As Brett pointed out recently, Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda is a boon for the service, as Doom Eternal was announced mere days after the news. We knew it was coming on October 1, but there's more than just Doom arriving in October.
This morning, Microsoft unveiled the full October 2020 Game Pass lineup. Doom Eternal will be joined by Drake Hollow on October 1: so far, so good. On October 8, we'll also get Brutal Legend, Forza Motorsport 7 and Ikenfell. Talk about a spread!
Man, seeing Brutal Legend in any context again brings back a rush of memories. I remember how stoked everyone was about the demo (a playable Jack Black metal game with Tim Curry as the villain? How could you go wrong?!); and how polarizing it was after people realized that it was actually part (janky) RTS. What a whirlwind of discussion that game was.
Now we can relive it all over again with a new generation! And race some cars and go on adventures together at the same time. Game Pass is going to be killer once the new generation hits. Speaking of!
Electronic Arts has announced today that EA Play is coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on November 10. Hey, that's right when the next generation starts!
Xbox Game Pass [Xbox Wire]
Here's how to get your free Ash's Pikachu in Pokemon Sword and Shield
Today during this morning's special Pokémon stream, The Pokémon Company unveiled a new promo for Sword and Shield. Naturally, it involves Pikachu.
From here on out, special Pikachu will be distributed for Sword and Shield, tailored around the idea of it being "Ash's Pikachu" with eight different hats. The first one is available today, with more coming later "through various means." If history is anything to go by, codes doled out during tournament streams and the like are a safe bet.
To get the initial rat, enter "P1KACHUGET" into your copy of the game.
To unlock the second version, use: "1CH00SEY0U."
There's even going to be a full website for it! It's not live at the time of publication, but The Pokémon Company says more info will be available here. You can also take a look at the array of hats below.
Here's a new look at Pokemon Sword and Shield's Crown Tundra
This morning, The Pokémon Company showed us a rather lengthy trailer for Pokémon Sword and Shield's upcoming Crown Tundra expansion, which includes a ton of new Pokémon and locations. It'll also open the Galarian Star Tournament, complete with familiar faces (past gym leaders, Hop, Isle of Armor trainers). You can "form a dream team" with these trainers.
The gist involves a person named Peony, who will send you on an adventure through the new region. The Pokémon Company reminds us that "every legendary" is up for grabs in this expansion. Dynamax Adventures are also in, allowing you to team up with up to three trainers and battle Pokémon in the depths of caves. Pokémon Go functionality with Pokémon Home is imminent ("before the end of the year"); linking them will grant you a special Melmetal that can Gigantamax.
Crown Tundra is out on October 22, and a physical "all in one bundle" is out on November 6: it'll include the expansions.
Take-Two and WWE face lawsuit over WWE 2K's replication of tattoos
WWE and Take-Two Interactive could be headed to court after a tattoo artist filed suit over the replication of her artwork being featured in numerous titles in the WWE 2K series.
As noted by The Hollywood Reporter, artist Catherine Alexander is asking for remuneration after several tattoos she designed and inked for pro-wrestler Randy Orton between the years of 2003 and 2009 have repeatedly been featured on Orton's in-game character model. The six tattoos in question include a dove, a skull, a bible verse and several tribal patterns.
On Saturday, Illinois judge Staci Yandle offered partial summary judgement on the case. Yandle ruled that while WWE and Take-Two did copy Alexander's work in-game by recreating her art on Orton's character model, it would be up to a jury as to whether this move qualifies as copyright infringement. The outcome of this lawsuit could set an industry-changing precedent for tattoos and their representation going forward.
Contest: Win a World of Tanks Blitz prize pack to celebrate its release on Nintendo Switch
In today's contest you can win a key to unlock premium in-game contest for World of Tanks Blitz!
Whenever a game hits a new platform, I usually get PR reps shouting out to me to help promote it by giving away free stuff. Since I like free stuff, and you like free stuff, I pretty much always say yes. Free stuff!
In today's free stuff bonanza, we're giving away in-game goodies for any platform of World of Tanks Blitz to celebrate its recent release on Switch. That's right -- this hit Switch, so now everyone who plays can win!
You'll get a free Xbox Series X if you can become an Xbox Hall of Famer
Plunking down $500 isn't the only way to get ahold of an Xbox Series X this holiday. You could get lucky and win one from Taco Bell. Or, you could become such an elite video game player that Microsoft feels compelled to give you an Xbox Series X.
Microsoft has a new Xbox Hall of Fame promotion where it's "celebrating gamers who've achieved excellence on Xbox One." Over the course of the next couple months, Microsoft is inducting 8 people from 13 regions (104 total winners) into the Hall of Fame for various short- and long-term accomplishments. Your shot at some of them is long gone, but maybe you can give some other competitions the ol' college try.
Here are the eight competitions for the Xbox Hall of Fame:
Nioh 2 is getting ninja claws with Darkness in the Capital
It feels like I just beat up yokai with Benkei in Nioh 2: The Tengu's Disciple the other day, but Team Ninja is already coming back with Darkness in the Capital, the second story expansion, on October 15.
During Tokyo Game Show 2020, the studio shared an eight-minute preview of the DLC's new claw weapon that's going to look familiar to any Ninja Gaiden II fan who enjoyed slicing and dicing limbs with Ryu's Falcon's Talons. I'm liking this trend so far. Ninja Gaiden is a fantastic series to draw from.
The footage shows a Demon Parade Picture Scroll mission, so we aren't going to glean any lore or see new enemies this time, but it's a good first look at the claw moveset. The leaps and backflips look fun.
As for the story, it's another time-traveling romp. We're headed back to ancient Kyoto.
Here's more evidence that points toward a Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit remaster
So often, the path that connects rumor and reality passes by all the same landmarks. A lot of times, we'll get a leak by way of retailer listing. A little while later, some country's ratings board will confirm a game long before a publisher announces it. By then, the suspense is long gone.
That's the route we're taking with an upcoming remaster of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. In June, VentureBeat first outed the remaster. Then, in August, Amazon UK went live with a new Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit listing. Now, the Korean Games Rating and Administration Committee has a new page for the remaster.
One, two, three strikes and you're a real game. Sources say that the Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit remaster is due in November, but that might've changed because of COVID delays. Switch is the primary platform that has been mentioned, but it'll probably come elsewhere too. We'll find out the details whenever EA feels like formally announcing it. For now, however, it seems pretty likely that Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit remastered is more than just a rumor.
The still-unannounced Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit remaster has been rated [Video Games Chronicle]
Podtoid asks which film is worse: Superman IV, Over the Top, or Masters of the Universe?
While Podtoid is and will always be a podcast about gaming, sometimes the crew just likes to chat about movies. And when it's only Chris, Occams, and CJ on the show, you can be sure those movies will be from the '80s. On this week's show, the boys talk about the rise and fall of Cannon Films, horror flicks, Spellbreak, and the big Bethesda purchase. All that, plus pumpkin spice flavors where they don't belong, on Podtoid Episode 460.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon doesn't have cross-saves between PS4 and PS5
It took mere hours for that goodwill Sega earned to go right out the window. Earlier this morning, we found out that Yakuza: Like a Dragon will offer free next-gen upgrades on PlayStation. Of course, it's not just that easy.
Anyone who buys Yakuza: Like a Dragon on PS4 will get a free upgrade to the PS5 version when it launches on March 2, 2021. However, developer RGG Studio clarifies that saves aren't compatible between the two versions:
Are you collecting every star in Super Mario 3D All-Stars?
We're two weekends into Super Mario 3D All-Stars' limited availability window, and I've gotta ask: is anyone else out there collecting every last trinket in Mario 64, Sunshine, and Galaxy? I can't help myself.
After reaching the castle basement, I decided to sideline 64 and circle back once I had completed Sunshine and Galaxy. Capping off this Switch bundle with the oldest (and arguably dearest) game in the lineup just seems right to me. And don't tell anyone, but I've secretly been most excited to replay Sunshine – not because it's the best, which it absolutely, definitively is not – but because Delfino Plaza is my favorite hub to explore and hang out in by far. It's a joy to traverse the moment you're let loose.
Looking out into an endless ocean in this spruced-up Switch version? Blissful summer vibes.
Sunshine becomes much less of a joy when you're going after frustrating optional Shines like the toxic lily pad ride or you're combing multiple episodes in the same stage to unearth all 240 Blue Coins.
[Let me put it this way: my YouTube feed is flooded with Blue Coin location videos – if you're in a pinch, I suggest EmptyGarbageCan's "condensed" guides – and mistakes were made. You should've seen the look on my face when I ended three different zones with 29 out of 30 coins. I swear I shot the blue bird!
I can't stress enough how mischievous some of these blasted things are (spray everything), but I don't regret searching for most of them. The best and worst Nintendo secrets push me to fully explore and appreciate these densely-packed spaces, and really, that's why I play and love Mario games.
I've since moved onto Galaxy, which has been a vastly smoother experience. I wasn't sure about using the Pro Controller to nab Star Bits at first, but I've gotten used to the pointer and don't mind it. Nintendo's creativity is in full force in this game. It holds up. That said, I'm nervous about Luigi's stars.
Where are you at in 3D All-Stars and where are you headed next?
Xbox Series X has speedy file transfers between HDD and SSD
Microsoft has been selling us on the solid state drive being a key component of the Xbox Series X. It's all about speed. A lightning fast SSD unlocks the ability to boot games incredibly quickly, and to go through them without obtrusive loading screens.
There's another perk to the SSD that won't necessarily make any of marketing's bullet points. We learned last week that Xbox Series X's proprietary expandable storage will be rather expensive, clocking in at $220 for a 1TB SSD card. An alternative to paying through the nose for a second SSD is to use a USB 3.1 HDD to store your games. However, an HDD can't actually run the next-gen games; it can only run backward compatible games. Instead, users will have to store the games they don't play on the HDD and then transfer them to the SSD when they want to play them.
This morning, a blitz of Xbox Series X previews ran as a lot of tech-focused outlets had access to prototype units. Most of the coverage centered around how the console runs backward compatible titles. There were a few revelations about other aspects of the Xbox Series X, though.
One of them comes from GamesBeat's Jeff Grubb who tested how long it takes to transfer files between various drives. In the video embedded above, Grubb moves Assassin's Creed Origins (which is a 49GB file) around his storage locations in different configurations. Here's what the tests found.
Moving Origins from an external SSD to an internal SSD took only 2 minutes and 18 seconds. The inverse, going from internal SSD to external SSD, took 4 minutes and 33 seconds. Probably most important, transferring from an external HDD to an internal SSD took 7 minutes and 46 seconds. Finally, moving from internal SSD to external HDD took 10 minutes and 36 seconds.
That third result is the one most people will want to keep in mind. It's the one that dictates whether they can live with swapping installs back and forth or whether they'd rather pony up for the official external SSD. Approximately 8 minutes to get the game where it needs to go in order to be played. Assuming next-gen installs are much bigger -- let's just call a file 100GB for convenience's sake -- it'll take about 16 minutes to transfer a game.
That isn't immediate enough to gel with Microsoft's vision that everyone jumps into every game without waiting. But, with a little planning and a little patience, it might be immediate enough to warrant saving the $220.
Psikyo Shooting Collection will bring a bevy of shmups to PS5
Publisher City Connection has announced that it will release a compendium of classic Psikyo arcade shmups on PS5, following the titles' previous releases on Steam and Nintendo Switch.
The Psikyo Shooting Collection will include 12 titles from the Psikyo series, include both Gunbird and Gunbird II, Sol Divide, the Samurai Aces games, and the Strikers 1945 trilogy. As per the Steam/Switch releases, each title in the collection will feature original arcade dip switch settings, a selection of visual filters, and screen orientation options.
Additionally, City Connection plans to release the titles one-by-one on PS4 and Xbox One, in much the same way it has done for PC over the course of the year, however no dates were announced for any of the above releases. In related news, the publisher recently announced that DeathSmiles I & II will also be putting an appearance on PS4, Xbox One, and Switch in 2021. You can check out the full list of games below.
YuYu Hakusho's Hiei unleashes hell in new Jump Force trailer
Another day, another lightning-fast Bandai Namco trailer. This time we get our first look at YuYu Hakusho's Hiei, as he prepares to wage war in the publisher's anime crossover fighter Jump Force.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will show off Zombies on September 30
We've seen a lot more of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War in recent weeks, but what about Zombies? It's coming – and yes, I've also been thinking about the possibility of an undead Reagan stomping around.
Treyarch is planning to lift the lid on Cold War's Zombies at 10:00 a.m. Pacific on September 30.
Zombies. Are. Back. #BlackOpsColdWar
— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) September 28, 2020
ðŸ"º https://t.co/h49FpibkFJ
ðŸ"… 10am PT on September 30. pic.twitter.com/D8DIv9fK2n
Semi curiously, Treyarch describes this showcase as the beginning of "a new Zombies story." For people who have kept up, that could be good or bad depending on your view of the two sagas.
Here's a super short teaser, and here's a house-sized skeleton to get you in the spooky mood.
Panzer Dragoon: Remake is out now on PS4
Megapixel Studios' 2020 remake of classic Sega Saturn title Panzer Dragoon is now finally available on PS4, following its earlier releases on Nintendo Switch, PC, and Stadia. It can be purchased from the PlayStation Network right now, priced at around $25.
Capcom clarifies that PS4 and Xbox One will get Vergil in Devil May Cry 5 as 'premium DLC'
Back when Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition was first revealed on Sony's recent PS5 stream, there was a lingering question: what will become of the previous generation?
That query was briefly answered, buried near the bottom of the PlayStation Blog post, stating: "And if you own DMC5 on PS4 stay tuned, the Playable Character: Vergil Paid DLC will be available at a later date." Vague! And neither hide nor hair of the Xbox One edition. But thanks to a recent TGS Live stream from Capcom, we now have a definitive answer.
The stream confirms that the playable Vergil component, arguably the most important piece of the new Special Edition package, is coming to PS4 and Xbox One eventually as "premium DLC." Capcom says that much of the actual visual upgrades are exclusive to the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but at least original Devil May Cry 5 buyers will be able to experience the main attraction down the line.
Just (weirdly) don't expect it to come to PC in the near future.
Capcom TGS Live [YouTube via VG247]
Dynasty Warriors is coming to iOS and Android
During this weekend's Tokyo Game Show, publisher Koei Tecmo announced that its feudal franchise Dynasty Warriors will be making the leap to mobile platforms iOS and Android.
Not much in the way of intricate detail was offered regarding the new Dynasty Warriors mobile title, though a short teaser trailer appears to show that it will feature a scaled-down version of the franchise classic musou gameplay. Players will select a team of up to three characters, pulled from various entries in the Dynasty Warriors franchise, before diving into typical, mass-brawling action.
Sony kicked off their recent PS5 event right: with confirmation of Final Fantasy XVI. But it wasn't just any old Square Enix trailer, though. It actually had gameplay! According to producer Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida, that was deliberate.
According to a new panel during TGS (translated by Twitter user Audrey), the team was "pressed for time" to make the trailer, but also wanted to ensure that it had in-game visuals. As a result, the team says that they couldn't "fine-tune the graphics," and will reveal a "more polished version" in the future.
Yoshi-P hints that the publisher wanted to avoid the backlash of just showing a shiny CG trailer and a logo: something Square Enix is notorious for. He even jokes that people would have said "see you in 2035!" if they had done that. I hear that!
I mean, I'm satisfied with what we got. I thought it was brutal and unique, yet familiar with the crystal and summon iconography. It did its job and I'm stoked to play the new entry, especially with Yoshida at the helm.
Square Enix Presents [YouTube via Audrey]
Here's our first look at Street Fighter V's Dan Hibiki in his taunting element
During this weekend's Tokyo Games Show event, Capcom released a teaser trailer for the first season five character headed to Street Fighter V later this year: the incomparable Dan Hibiki.
First appearing in 1995's Street Fighter Alpha, Dan was created as a tongue-in-cheek jab at rival fighting game developer SNK, being a hybrid of Art of Fighting heroes Ryo Sakazaki and Robert Garcia. In Street Fighter lore, Dan is a brash, obnoxious, and painfully over-confident fighter, who has mastered his custom "Saikyo Style" martial arts technique. Despite his overbearing personality, Dan is a good man at heart, driven to see success not only for himself, but for his protege Sakura Kasogana.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will have a small Zelda: Breath of the Wild save data bonus
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is coming. Imagine that! It didn't exist a few weeks ago and now it's being shown off at TGS like it's been around the block. Classic Nintendo "surprise!" tactics.
Anyway, Age of Calamity is arriving on Switch on November 20 and I think we have a pretty good idea of how it'll play (a lot like the original Hyrule Warriors). If you're not sold yet you can check out the recent gameplay overview, but Nintendo also used the TGS hype as an opportunity to share another tidbit with us: a bonus item.
Shared via a tweet, Nintendo of America clarifies that if you have save data for Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the same Switch as the one you're using for Age of Calamity, you'll net a bonus. It's very simple: a training sword weapon for Link.
A simple, yet effective way to get people to collect all the weapons. Support for amiibo has also been confirmed for Age of Calamity, so there's going to be a ton of items swirling around the game, in true Warriors fashion.
Nintendo of America [Twitter]
Pokémon Sword and Shield still has gas left in the tank. While Isle of Armor came out earlier this year, it's only one half of the season pass. Crown Tundra has yet to be released, but thanks to a new announcement of a Pokémon stream, we may have an idea of when it could be arriving.
As a general rule, Nintendo likes to hold big first-party streams for games that have imminent releases. We've seen it before with games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and it might happen again tomorrow with Sword and Shield. "Fall 2020" is currently underway, after all.
The stream will take place on September 29 at 9AM ET, at which point "updates about the upcoming expansion pass" will be provided. Given that the icons for the stream are the emblems for the two DLCs, it's likely that this will not feature Pokémon Unite news or reveal a new title. Instead, we'll probably get the date for Crown Tundra, as well as more info on the DLC.
If Nintendo/The Pokémon Company really want to wow us, they'll tease something else, like a third add-on. I'd take it!
Pokemon [YouTube]
Yakuza: Like a Dragon won't require a monster PC to run, PS5 version out in 2021
Sega is finalizing their Yakuza: Like A Dragon launch plans now that all of the consoles are out of the woodwork! It's about time.
As a final push, Sega reminds us that Like a Dragon will arrive on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X on November 10. The publisher does clarify, however, that the PS5 edition is coming on March 2, 2021 — and that it will come with a free upgrade. Here's the exact wording just in case, so you aren't setting yourself up for disappointment (emphasis mine): "Once players purchase the digital PS4 version of Yakuza: Like a Dragon at PlayStation Store they are able to download the PS5 version at no extra cost when it launches on March 2, 2021." The publisher has since clarified that physical will work too.
In terms of the PC version, now that the game is ready, the minimum and recommended requirements are out in the wild. It's all pretty standard stuff, and with an i5 and GTX 660 needed for the former parameters, it should be easy enough to run on most PCs. This is all a formality really. Bring on the next chapter of Yakuza! We were all waiting to see how the series would fare with Kiryu out of the picture.
When Genshin Impact was first revealed, developer miHoYo was very firm on the idea that the visuals were inspired by Zelda: Breath of the Wild. That mere fact, plus the news that it was being ported to Switch [eventually], was enough to turn heads and get the game on the map in the west. But now that it's actually here (having been in a testing period for some time), folks are able to see just how influential Breath of the Wild was on development.
Before you come to your own conclusions though, FreeMMOStation caught up with miHoYo to get their perspective. The studio says that they still hold Breath of the Wild "in high regard," and reiterate that they have been clear about the inspiration from the Nintendo title since the start.
But miHoYo goes a step further, stating: "That said, it is important to note that once you actually pick up the game, you will find the experience of Genshin Impact to be very different from that of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Genshin Impact features a fully original story and characters, and the core gameplay revolves around assembling a party of multiple characters and engaging in a combat system based on interactions between different elements. As we go from closed beta to official release, players will soon be able to discover the unique features and joy that Genshin Impact delivers."
Genshin Impact is out today on PC, PS4 and mobile devices for free: so you can give it a go and try it out for yourself. Grab it here, but note that the PC version is currently being hammered, leading to very slow installations. If you do opt for the PS4 version, just know that it will not allow data transfer between the other editions. Everything else is safe, though.
Genshin Impact interview [FreeMMOStation via Nintendo Life]
Guilty Gear Strive live stream set for October 11
Arc System Works has announced that it will be hosting a live stream presentation this coming weekend to offer the latest news and details regarding its exciting anime fighter Guilty Gear Strive, which will launch on PS4, PS5 and PC in early 2021.
The fantastically titled "Guilty Gear Official Live Stream: Latest Information Extra-Large Special" will feature the hottest info on the newest entry in the hype fighting series, complete with a brand new trailer, and a music video that I guaran-damn-tee will feature multiple wailing guitars.
The stream will also see some pro GG players from Cyclops Athlete Gaming engage in head-to-head battles on the new title. Additionally, the stream will host a "Developer's Backyard" segment, where the team behind GG Strive will offer details on how the new game's design has changed in response to player feedback received following the closed beta earlier this year.
The stream will take place Sunday, October 11 at 11:00 JST, which is 19:00 PT / 22:00 ET on Saturday, October 10 for those in the west. You can watch the stream on ArcSys official YouTube and Twitch channels, but we will be sure to post the new trailer and any other pertinent info right here on Destructoid.
Guilty Gear Strive is scheduled to launch in early 2021 on PS4, PS5, and PC.
Kunimitsu II will bring her ninja ways to Tekken 7 this fall
Bandai Namco has revealed the first DLC character headed to Tekken 7 this fall, kicking off the 3D fighter's fourth season of content. As previously suspected, the returning warrior is none other than young kunoichi Kunimitsu.
Well, that's sort of a half-truth. As the original Kunimitsu, who made her debut as a sub-boss in the original Tekken, is getting on in years, the family's ninja tradition has fallen on the shoulders of her daughter, who will don the faithful mask and take up her mother's ways in Tekken 7. It also seems that vengeance runs in the family, as Kunimitsu II will also continue her lineage's dogged pursuit of the master warrior, Yoshimitsu.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne's final update arrives this week
Capcom has released a short trailer for Title Update 5, the fifth and final major update headed toward its blockbuster-selling fantasy epic, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. The new update will arrive on PC and consoles in on September 30/October 1.
Leading the pack in regards to new content is the terrifying return of Fatalis. The infamous Black Dragon has been a part of the MH universe since the series' inception, and is capable of wiping out even the strongest of heroes with a mere whip of its tail or a powerful blast of fire. Capable of flight, Fatalis brings death from on the ground or up on high, and is a suitable final test for long-time Monster Hunter: World aficionados.
(Update) New CGI series Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness coming to Netflix in 2021
[Update: Netflix has officially revealed Resident Evil Infinite Darkness, a new CGI drama series that will arrive on the streaming service in 2021. Produced by TMS Entertainment, the show promises to present a Resident Evil world "unlike anything seen before." You can check out the teaser trailer at the foot of the article.]
A since-removed tweet from the Portuguese Netflix Twitter account has revealed that a brand new Resident Evil CGI movie is in the works, and will premier on the streaming service in 2021.
Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness will star two of the survival horror franchise's most beloved protagonists, Claire Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy. The Resident Evil 2 superstars will reunite for what appears to be an all-new adventure. While there are currently no plot details to speak of, I'm sure fans can expect a deadly adventure packed with conspiracy, intrigue, and more than a few nightmare-inducing monsters.
In other recent Resident Evil news, publisher Capcom has suggested that the next video game entry in the series, Resident Evil Village, could potentially arrive on current-gen consoles PS4 and Xbox One, though the team stopped short of guaranteeing this possibility.
How I made the most out of a terrible, terrible summer
[TheBlondeBass put together a game jam and invited the Destructoid community to join him for the journey. After all the smoke had settled, he wrote this blog detailing his experience and even shared a link to the finished product, along with the page for the other entries as well! Be sure to check them all out and let these fine folks know what you think! - Kevin]
2020's been a crummy year for just about everyone. Unless your name rhymes with Beff Jezos, you've probably felt it too. The stress of a situation of which we feel like we have little control over, or maybe of not knowing if your job is safe. The loneliness of not seeing your friends in person, while losing the motivation to do so online. It all around sucks to spend that much time in one's apartment, worrying about the world.
Due to a variety of factors I won't get into, the year has affected me a lot. I've been tired, unhappy, anxious, and irritable. The situation was showing no signs of improvement back in May, and I needed something to change. I needed something, other than work, to think about. Something like...
Review: Mafia: Definitive Edition
This story takes place a long time ago and most video games don't age like fine wine. The rare, great ones do but most don't. The ones that are merely good have a shelf life before they turn. Playing an open-world shooter from 2002 leaves about the same taste in your mouth as chewing the bubblegum that came with 1950s baseball cards.
Mafia: Definitive Edition is a prime example of how those good games can have great foundations. A lot of all-timers like Final Fantasy VII, Link's Awakening, and Resident Evil 2 have gotten the remake treatment lately, and no one is surprised when they're excellent the second time 'round. Mafia, which had to live in GTA III's shadow back in 2002, gets its first chance to be truly excellent in 2020.
