Sega set to produce Yakuza live-action movie
According to the Hollywood insiders over at Variety, Sega is getting set to begin production on a live-action movie adaptation of its skull-cracking RPG series, Yakuza.
The movie is a joint production of Sega, 1212 Entertainment, and Wild Sheep Content, and is currently in the process of securing script writers, so this news comes extremely early into the feature film's production.
"Yakuza offers us a new playground in which to set compelling stories with complex characters in a unique environment that audiences have rarely seen before," 1212 Entertainment told Variety. "The saga of Kazuma Kiryu has a built-in cinematic appeal – a mix of kinetic action with bursts of comedy, multiple converging storylines, and a gripping journey towards redemption."
While there is no plot to speak of, logic would dictate that the film will follow events similar to those of the video game series, as protagonist Kazuma Kiryu steps out of prison and straight into a brutal and bloody clan war. It also seems a given that characters such as Haruka, Nishikiyama and, of course, the dastardly Goro Majima will be putting in appearances - though this is all purely speculation on my part. Sega has more Yakuza news to reveal this Sunday at the Tokyo Games Show, so no doubt we'll be hearing more about this movie very soon.
I do not envy the casting director's task of filling the role of Kazuma. This is a character with a style and personality that has become so embedded with the psyche of fans, that it would take someone special to don his snakeskin shoes. In movies such as The Bodyguard and The Street Fighter, Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba played protagonists which clearly had an influence on the creation of The Dragon of Dojima, but it ain't 1976, so I doubt he's in the running. Regardless, I'm intrigued to see how this project will turn out.
Sega developing live-action adaptation based on Yakuza [Variety]
In case you haven't heard, Blizzard recently provided an update on World of Warcraft's level squish system and managed to bury a pretty big (previously known, but big) nugget inside of that blog post: the paid cosmetic alteration system is going away, and is being replaced by a free in-game barber option.
Now, thanks to a dedicated blog on the subject, we know that the system will be getting a few upgrades to make every race shine a bit more. The character creation screen is completely different now, with animations that convey the flavor of each class ("Priests levitating toward the heavens" is one example). You'll also be allotted more customization options, like "skin tones, hairstyles, eye colors, tattoos, jewelry, beards, scars or flower hair ornaments."
Blizzard says that while the past system tied some of these concepts together (as in, a certain hair type would alter your eye color), they're now independent one of another, allowing for more freedom of expression. In that same vein, Druids can now alter their shapeshifting forms too, including the option to use glyphs, Legion alterations or shapeshifting cosmetics picked up from other areas of the game.
Between this and the relaxed requirements for unlocking allied races, we're about to see a lot more character variation in Azeroth going forward.
Character Customization [Twitter]
(Update) Rumor: New Yakuza title to be revealed September 27
[Update: Speaking on Twitter, Yakuza producer Masayoshi Yokoyama has said that Sunday's stream will not feature the debut of a new Yakuza title, but did note that a new game in the series is currently in production. New information pertaining to the Yakuza series is still expected. The quote was translated by Gematsu.]
In a statement since deleted from Twitter, it was seemingly revealed that Sega has plans to debut the latest entry in the Yakuza franchise this Sunday at the Tokyo Games Show.
The news is expected to be announced as part of the Sega Nama live stream, which is scheduled to broadcast on September 27 at 20:00 JST. While Sega had previously stated that said stream will offer "the latest information concerning in the Yakuza series," it appears that one of the stream's hosts, Ayana Tsubaki, might have possibly let the cat of the bag early by revealing the existence of a new entry in the popular RPG/brawler franchise.
Of course, this would hardly be a surprise. After all, the Yakuza / Ryu go Gotoku series has seen a new entry - or spin-off - almost every single year for the past decade - its most recent venture being the strategy-based Yakuza: Like a Dragon. As to whether this new title will be a Like a Dragon sequel, a classic Yakuza brawler, another Kiwami remake, or a new entry in the Ishin sub-series remains to be seen.
But as long as you're dropping a bike on someone's noodle, Everything will be copacetic.
New Yakuza title to be announced on September 27 [Games Talk / Gematsu]
Hyperdimension Neptunia anime now streaming on Steam
Hey NEPNEPS, Do you feel like you need some Nep to Nep you through this coming weekenep? If so, then Idea Factory has got you covered, as Hyperdimension Neptunia: the Animation is now available to purchase and stream via Steam.
Joining the gaming platform are two feature-length compilation episodes, as well as the 2019 OVA Summer Vacation, which is making its English sub debut! All of the above episodes are presented with original Japanese voice tracks, with subtitles available in both English and traditional and simplified Chinese, and will run you around $15 USD each.
Blade is in Fortnite now, and it's open season on all suckheads
Nearly a year ago now (time flies) I saw a re-release of the original Blade in theaters, and it still holds up. Wesley Snipes just embodies the character (a little too method in later years!), and it quietly managed to make superhero movies cool way before the original 2000 X-Men broke the dam. The daywalker is about to get even more relevant too, as he's been recently confirmed for the MCU.
Before that happens, Epic Games has added Blade to their Marvel Fortnite event in skin form. Available today, you can snag Blade in one of two ways: just the two skins (cloaked and non-cloaked) for 2000 V-Bucks (roughly $20) or in bundle form for 2300 V-Bucks. The bundle will stay at that price until roughly 12AM ET tonight, and comes with a special glider, as well as a sword back-bling, an emote and a sword-themed pickaxe. After that time it'll revert to 3500 V-Bucks.
I haven't bought a Fortnite skin in ages, so I plunked down my own cash for Blade this time around. The skins themselves are well-made, and the glider has one of the most over-the-top animations thus far. As a reminder, Fortnite is running a special Marvel-universe brawl mode right now, on top of their experimental "Party Royale" hangout gametype (which is kind of like Second Life but more action oriented: a clear response to the current global lockdown).
Fortnite [Twitter]
Fallout 76 is opening the public test server back up for some big changes
As a reminder, plans have changed for Fallout 76.
Even if the current global situation wasn't happening this game isn't exactly known for hitting release targets, so shifting some upcoming features into 2021 makes a whole lot of sense. But we do know that more content is coming to the public test server (PTS) very soon, including a taste of some big upcoming story content.
Straight from Bethesda's newest Inside the Vault update, we know that the PTS is planning on testing the new C.A.M.P. Shelters mechanic as soon as next week. Basically, the idea is that you can build your own custom shelter that has a "separate build budget" from your above-ground lair. In other words, you can avoid all of the restrictions that come with C.A.M.P.s, a big win for the custom content crowd.
Bethesda says that they want to test "three different types" of shelters in the PTS period, allowing players to utilize "one of each type," which will sport their own budgets. I know Fallout 76 gets knocked on often, but that's going to be pretty rad for all of the folks who love building stuff more than they like actually playing the game. This sort of creative freedom reminds me of the Bethesda games of old.
"In the weeks to follow" after that, Bethesda will bring Steel Dawn quests into the mix. As a reminder, Steel Dawn is the (still planned for winter) update that will bring more Brotherhood of Steel story components into the mix. It's going to be a big one!
Inside the Vault [Bethesda.net]
Halloween spooks are back in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons fall update
Do you know what one of my favorite things about Autumn is? Sitting outside a cafe, slowly slipping away on a nice chai latte. Sadly, I haven't been able to do that this year because of COVID and all the noxious smoke from the California wildfires, and it looks like I won't be able to do it in Animal Crossing: New Horizon either because Brewster isn't part of the upcoming Fall update.
But Jack the O' Lantern is, and he's bringing a bunch of Halloween goodies with him. The Fall update will get players ready for All Hallows' Eve with candy they can buy and give to residents, and pumpkins they can grow and craft into new items. I'll admit it's been a month since I last visited my island, but I just can't resist making some jack o' lanterns to get my town into the spirit.
Marvel's Avengers recently got a patch that fixed "hundreds of issues," but in a modern games-as-a-service "AAA" game (hello Fallout 76), it can be tough to track down every glitch. Or worse, sometimes, those updates actually add more bugs.
Square Enix recently ran into another issue with Avengers, this time involving the inability to accept Faction Missions or Villain Sectors for some players. As a result, they're granting everyone 250 Polychoron and 500 Uru currency for your troubles. Yes, those are real names of real currencies in Avengers: a telltale sign of a real games-as-a-service title that wants you to juggle-grind as many numbers as possible.
There's a catch, though. You need to claim the reward before October 1 at 10AM PT. It doesn't just auto-claim either, as there's another catch: you need to "view one of your challenge cards to activate this reward." That's either a technical concession or a sneaky way to not give everyone the reward automatically!
Beyond that whole fiasco "various crash and stability fixes" are also arriving in the most recent patch (1.3.1). Next up? Subtitle text size options, a high contrast mode, a War Zone ping system and the option to toggle the game so that hero icons are always visible. Square Enix says that most of these changes are a direct result of fan feedback. Aw!
Version 1.3.1 [Square Enix]
The amazing Scorpina is headed to Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid
Now THIS is more like it. Following the addition of a slew of cool but relatively faceless Rangers to the roster, nWay's Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid has revealed that the third and final DLC character for season three is classic, incomparable villain, Scorpina.
Debuting in the original Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers series, Scorpina was one of Rita Repulsa's most ruthless lieutenants, battling the Rangers alongside fellow villains such as Goldar and Revolto. Bedecked in - frankly - fucking amazing armour, Scorpina fights off her enemies with a vicious spiked gauntlet and a curved sword which had boomerang-style properties. Like most Power Rangers villains, Scorpina can assume gigantic form, in which she becomes a twisted, not-very-like-scorpion-like, monster.
You can check out a teaser trailer for Scorpina below, she looks great!
Here's what the Monster Hunter Rise amiibo actually look like
Last week, Capcom revealed Monster Hunter Rise and three new amiibo: which were curiously shown off via artist renderings. Thanks to some detective work from Twitter user Gajinhunter, we now know what they actually look like, and the reality is quite different.
As a reminder, these three amiibo (as standalones) are exclusive to GameStop in the US, and have varying degrees of exclusivity elsewhere in the world. Anyone can grab the middle Magnamalo if you can snag a collector's edition of Monster Hunter Rise; but the other two need to be purchased individually.
Right now there is no online listing for these amiibo on GameStop's site. Unfortunately, it looks like you need to pre-order them in-person at this time: so eBay might be the only option for a lot of people. Good luck!
If you're not keeping track, there are currently seven unreleased amiibo as of today: Joker, Hero, Cat Mario, Cat Peach and the trio above. Joker and Hero are out in some regions now, but are officially being released on October 2 in the US. Here's a full list of every known amiibo to date!
Gajinhunter [Twitter]
Resident Evil Village may come to PS4 and Xbox One
During its Tokyo Games Show presentation, Capcom noted that upcoming gothic horror title Resident Evil Village could potentially arrive on PS4 and Xbox One, alongside its PC and next-gen brethren.
"While Resident Evil Village is being developed specifically for next-generation consoles and PC, we're looking into delivering the experience on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as well," said a Capcom producer during the stream. "We're looking into it but we can't make any promises, however we will do our best to bring a top-tier survival horror experience to current-generation consoles."
Capcom also released a new developer diary, which you can check out below.
Classic Metal Gear titles now available on PC via GOG.com
[Update: Well, that took all of 10 minutes. Shortly after the Konami teaser, GOG.com announced that Metal Gear, Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, and Konami Collector's Series are all now available to purchase from the GOG.com website.]
Konami has posted a teasing tweet this morning, which simply features an emoji of a cardboard box and an "at" for classic PC game publishers Good Old Games.com (GOG).
So, what's it all about? Well, when it comes to gaming and cardboard boxes, most people's minds will drift to the Tactical Espionage Action of the Metal Gear series. And given that there has been a slew of rumors floating around of both PC ports and remakes of the legendary stealth franchise, that association will no doubt prove pretty snug in this scenario.
We will keep you informed once Konami is ready to officially open the box and reveal its contents.
Samurai Shodown is headed to Xbox Series X this winter
SNK has announced that its excellent one-on-one fighter Samurai Shodown will be making the leap to Xbox Series X this winter, bringing all of the steel-clashing, claret-spewing action of the 2019 release into a whole new generation.
Already available on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, Samurai Shodown takes the very deliberately paced hand-to-hand action of the classic Neo-Geo series and dresses it up with an attractive modern sheen, accompanied by a varied roster of classic, all-new, and even special guest characters.
Contest: Win Fight Crab for Switch, and a copy of its cool-as-shell soundtrack
In today's contest you can win a Switch copy of Fight Crab and its soundtrack!
It's official: Fight Crab is pretty good! I mean, how could it not be? It's crabs fighting with human weapons. Hard to screw that one up.
If you want to experience the game for yourself, you can either buy it (please do so these types of games keep getting made), or you can win it here! As a bonus, we've also got CD's of the soundtrack to give away with your digital copy. What more could you ask for?
Starstruck: Hands of Time captures that wacky experimental PS1 energy so well
As a multi-genre adventure drawing from rhythm gaming, role-playing, and claymation, Starstruck: Hands of Time isn't easily classified, but that's a good thing! The upcoming PC and PS4 title from Createdelic brings me back to the let's-try-anything-and-everything oddball energy of the PS1.
As much as I'm more interested in the "giant destructive time-traveling hand" that strolls around like Thing from The Addams Family and stomps a playground-esque diorama city, I respect Starstruck for trying to blend other elements (like guitar gameplay) into a multi-protagonist puzzle adventure.
The first act – around an hour of two or gameplay – is readily available on Steam in a Prologue demo.
As for the final release, it's planned for PlayStation 4 and PC in 2021. What a cool-ass game.
New to Rocket League? Here are the best YouTubers to follow
Rocket League is free-to-play now and that has brought a ton of new players into the fold. Today, Rocket League hit one million concurrent players for the first time ever. There are a lot of people checking out this delightful five-year-old game, and many of them will inevitably like what they find.
And, for some of them, it'll turn into an obsession. It'll transform into more than just playing. They'll start watching esports. They'll start subscribing to YouTubers. They'll tune in for Twitch streams every night. Rocket League has no shortage of content to consume.
I know because I've lived it. I want to pass along my experience with some recommendations of my favorite Rocket League YouTubers. It'll be a little bit of everything -- pro play, entertainment value, and tutorials. Hopefully someone finds something they like.
For the first time since the WWE series of games was handed off to 2K Sports, they've released something drastically different on consoles from the annualized and borderline sim-like WWE 2K series.
WWE 2K Battlegrounds features a wide cast of WWE superstars new and old, throwing each other dozens of feet into the air, into cars, and into alligators, all with over-the-top power-ups and abilities. This is anything but a simulation of modern professional wrestling.
All of that spectacle wears off quickly, though. Battlegrounds is incredibly shallow in regards to gameplay, and the overall progression is downright mind-numbing.
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Complete Edition is free to grab on the Epic Games Store
Frontier Developments re-released 2004's RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 on Nintendo Switch, Steam, and the Epic Games Store today, and if you're down for some management-sim escapism, the latter is free.
You have until Thursday, October 1 to add RCT3 to your Epic library. Here's a simple but effective crash montage to get us all in the spirit – not that we'd ever intentionally harm our guests. Not a chance!
This particular version of the theme park game is a Complete Edition with 1080p support, two packed-in expansions (Soaked! and Wild!), and "increased compatibility for new PC hardware," as Frontier puts it.
The next spot on Epic's freebie calendar is going to Pikuniku on October 1. I adore that silly game.
Review: Mafia: Definitive Edition
This story takes place a long time ago and most video games don't age like fine wine. The rare, great ones do but most don't. The ones that are merely good have a shelf life before they turn. Playing an open-world shooter from 2002 leaves about the same taste in your mouth as chewing the bubblegum that came with 1950s baseball cards.
Mafia: Definitive Edition is a prime example of how those good games can have great foundations. A lot of all-timers like Final Fantasy VII, Link's Awakening, and Resident Evil 2 have gotten the remake treatment lately, and no one is surprised when they're excellent the second time 'round. Mafia, which had to live in GTA III's shadow back in 2002, gets its first chance to be truly excellent in 2020.
You have another (probably slim) chance to pre-order a PS5 tomorrow
It's been a struggle to secure a PlayStation 5 in time for the mid-November launch, and we're gonna keep on struggling for months. If you missed the chaotic first evening of pre-orders, your odds are dwindling, but they aren't at zero. A few retailers are planning to open orders back up on September 25.
- In the US, GameStop will have "further quantities of PS5 consoles" online at GameStop.com and in-store.
- In Canada, Walmart will offer more PS5 pre-orders online only at Walmart.ca "late tomorrow morning EST."
- And in the UK, GAME will sell a "limited stock of the PS5 coming tomorrow late morning" online only at GAME.co.uk.
Assuming this goes about as quickly and painfully as the last round, you'll want to have your account of choice primed and ready to go. If you're hoping to land a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition in 2020, that has increasingly felt like a pipe dream. Be prepared to fork over full price for the disc-compatible big boy. There's no room for hesitation at this point. Scarcity – and the perception of scarcity – has taken over.
The retailers didn't specify an exact start time, so you'll want to keep tabs on @Wario64 and pray.
Users on ResetEra have reported that Sony is offering another round of direct-to-consumer PS5 pre-orders on September 25. If you registered way back when, be on the lookout for a potential email soon.
I still can't believe that the original Serious Sam came out nearly 20 years ago.
Since then Croteam has broken away from their reputation as "the Serious Sam studio" a bit, having given us the universally acclaimed Talos Principle. They aren't ready to let go of Sam just yet, though.
As predicted, an extra terabyte of storage for the Xbox Series X won't come cheap. You'll have to pay nearly half the price of the Series X just to double the amount of space you're working with.
Microsoft has been touting the Xbox Series X's 1TB expandable storage card for a while now. It's a proprietary PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD which is top of the line right now in terms of speed. It's also very expensive, as Microsoft confirmed today that the official Seagate SSD will retail for $220. However, that's in line with what PCIe 4.0 tech costs for now.
For anyone who's looking at the Series X's base 1TB internal SSD (or the Series S' 512GB) and realizing it's not enough for next-gen's inevitably huge file sizes, biting the bullet on the external SSD isn't the only option. USB 3.1 HDDs are supported on Xbox Series S/X, just as they were on Xbox One.
Going that route will require some install location Tetris, though. Microsoft presented the capabilities of HDDs and SSDs with this table:
The Medium will offer an out-of-body experience on PC and Xbox Series X
Spooky game specialists Bloober Team has released a new story trailer for its creepy upcoming adventure The Medium, which will launch on PC and Xbox Series X this holiday season.
The Medium will tell a tale of psychological horror as players step into the mind-reading shoes of a young psychic practitioner, Marianne, who must harness her powerful abilities to traverse both the real world and the spirit world at one and the same time, unearthing clues and speaking with lost souls in order to solve a mystery embedded within an abandoned communist resort.
Amazon Luna is a $6-per-month cloud gaming service for PC, Mac, iOS, and Fire TV
Are you totally over the "streaming wars" yet? Well, they're just getting started. This morning, Amazon announced the cloud gaming service Luna, its answer to Google's Stadia, and it costs $6 per month.
The pitch is familiar. Through the power of the cloud, you can stream games like Control, Resident Evil 7, Sonic Mania Plus, and Trails of Cold Steel III to your PC, Mac, Fire TV Stick, or – and this is surprising in light of Microsoft's recent xCloud struggles with Apple – even your iPhone or iPad via web app.
You can use the Luna app on:
- PC (requires Windows 10 with support for DirectX 11)
- Mac (OSX 10.13+)
- FireTV devices (Fire TV Stick - 2nd gen, Fire TV Stick 4K, or Fire TV Cube - 2nd gen)
Additionally you can use:
- Chrome web browser (version 83+) for PC and Mac
- Safari web browser (iOS14) for iPhone and iPad
Amazon says it's "working to add support across more devices in the future."
With a Luna+ subscription, you'll be able to stream on up to two devices at 1080p/60fps, although Amazon says "select titles" will go up to 4K. There's a $50 gamepad – the Luna Controller – but you could (and probably should) just stick with your Xbox One pad, DualShock 4, or mouse and keyboard.
As for internet speeds, the requirement is 10 Mbps for 1080p and 35 Mbps for 4K.
Currently, Luna+ is invitation-only, the 100+ game library will grow over time, and that $6-per-month fee is the "introductory price." Early access sign-ups in the US are over here on this landing page.
Cleverly, Amazon is using a channel-based approach not unlike the paid subscription add-ons found on Amazon Prime Video. The first example: Ubisoft. Pricing wasn't mentioned yet, but a separate Ubisoft channel will include games like Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion along with DLC.
As someone with a strict data cap, I'll be sitting this one (and all of them!) out.
Hell yeah, Doom Eternal joins Xbox Game Pass next week
It didn't take long for Microsoft to test drive Bethesda's cars and then park them in the Game Pass Garage. Ten days after the mega-blockbuster ZeniMax acquisition, Bethesda's most prolific game of the last couple years is joining Xbox's primary subscription service.
Doom Eternal will be added to Xbox Game Pass for consoles on Thursday, October 1. It'll be coming to Xbox Game Pass for PC sometime later this year.
We've already been assured that Bethesda's future launches, just like all Xbox first-party games, will come to Xbox Game Pass on day one. However, we can probably rely on a lot of Bethesda's back catalog showing up there too. It won't happen all at once. Rather, they'll trickle onto Game Pass as distinct marketing beats to encourage new signups. They'll eventually (mostly) all get there.
Microsoft has fallen into a routine where it posts the next two weeks' worth of Game Pass additions all at once. We're due for that in a few days, closer to October 1. For now, we only know one of those games. But it's one hell of a start.
Prepare to Raze Hell: Doom Eternal is Coming to Xbox Game Pass on October 1 [Xbox Wire]
Rockman x Dive is still alive and will launch this fall in Japan
Rockman x Dive is intriguing as hell. While "Mega Man mobile" is enough to scare away entire buildings of people, Dive seems like a very interesting celebration of the series: an "all star" treatment, if you will.
Mobile gaming has also come a long way since Rockman Xover, as Dive will support mobile controllers for a classic Mega Man experience. I've heard some good things from folks who have been playing the Asia-region release of the game earlier this year, and now a lot more prospective players can try it for themselves soon enough.
By way of 4Gamer, we have learned that Rockman Dive will be hitting iOS and Android devices in Japan this fall. You can pre-register starting today on both storefronts, at which point you'll earn extra in-game items for your trouble. As a reminder, it is a free-to-play game with microtransactions.
You can get a decent look at the gist of the game (the expansive cast) and some of the multiplayer elements in the video below.
Rockman Dive [4Gamer.net]
NieR Reincarnation western release confirmed
It's been a big news day for NieR fans. First we got a glimpse at this beautiful statue in production Prime 1 Studio. We later received a launch date for the long-awaited NieR Replicant on PC and consoles, and to complete the trifecta, Square Enix has confirmed that mobile title NieR Re[in]carnation will be heading west on iOS and Android devices.
Pre-registration has been opened for the Japanese version of the pocket-sized adventure on both the App Store and Google Play. In addition, English language accounts have been opened on both Facebook and Twitter. As a game, however, Re[in]carnation remains mostly shrouded in mystery.
Nintendo Download: Kirby Fighters 2
Well, Nintendo did it again: they unleashed a "surprise, it's out!" game.
You can now buy Kirby Fighters 2 on Switch (RIP 3DS), alongside of Going Under and Embracelet. Nintendo also reminds us that Rocket League is now free-to-play. Two first-party games in two weeks! It's like Christmas in September.
I also have to take this opportunity to remind people that the 3DS is officially dead. While there are sparing releases for it by very small studios (sometimes once a month), it seems like that infrequent trend will become even more infrequent. Long live the 3DS.
Mafia: Definitive Edition has a great callback to Mafia III's kinkiest moment
The Mafia remake launches tomorrow, and developer Hangar 13 did a great job with it. If you're looking for our final verdict, you can check out our review.
Among all the finer details that Hangar 13 nailed to create a stunning remake, the studio also tucked away a callback to possibly the weirdest moment in Mafia history. In Mafia III, while breaking up the sex racket, you're tasked with killing three kinky VIPs. They're just some old dudes trying to get their rocks off. One of them has a very particular fetish where he dresses up like this:
Adidas producing Cyberpunk 2077 sneakers for young and cool people
With CD Projekt RED's Cyberpunk 2077 prepped to set cash registers alight in November, it figures that brands outside of gaming will be looking to grab themselves a piece of the action through their own merchandising options. Case in point: These new Night City-themed sneakers, coming to store shelves courtesy of big bucks sportswear company Adidas.
The "Adidas X9000L4 Boost Cyberpunk 2077" shoe features a slick, lightweight, running-shoe style design, perfect for keeping you one step ahead of Cyber 5-0 in Night City's long, violent twilight. The shoe is emblazoned with the Cyberpunk 2077 logo, and features instantly recognisable brand tones of purple and gold.
Nioh 2's big second DLC is out in just a few weeks
Nioh has been a font of fun for me for years. This series completely rules, as it finds a fine line between action and exploration and sticks to it: the level-based system is great for some bite-sized romp itches that other open world games won't quite scratch.
I'm still replaying the first Nioh from time to time, but the sequel does a lot of heavy lifting too. Plus, with DLC accompanying the total package (just like the original!), there's going to be even more to come back to years from now. The second DLC, just unveiled today, looks like it'll continue that legacy.
Revealed on the PlayStation Blog, it's called Darkness in the Capital and will follow up Tengu's Disciple from July. It'll boast new bosses, extra narrative bits, more Guardian Spirits and extra skills/Ninjutsu/Onmyo Magic abilities. Amazingly, it'll take place in Kyoto City and will involve a time-traveling storyline conceit that will whisk the player character back to "an ancient version of the capital."
Darkness in the Capital is out on October 15. It's probably one of my most-anticipated October releases at this point!
Nioh 2's Darkness in the Capital expansion arrives October 15 [PS Blog]
No, Microsoft isn't buying Sega at TGS this year
While Microsoft has been acquiring studios left and right these past few years, they made big headlines when they picked up ZeniMax/Bethesda this past week. The publisher has noted that they are still in the market for more pickups, but rumors have been swirling about Microsoft grabbing a huge Japanese publisher to widen their appeal in Japan: rumors that Microsoft has since squashed.
Building off a tweet that showcased their Tokyo Game Show (TGS) lineup earlier this month, Microsoft noted: "…and btw, there won't be any new acquisition news at the show." A clear nod to the aforementioned rumor mill. And if there won't be "any" acquisition announcements, that includes the most popular studio named in various reports: Sega.
Microsoft has tried, with mixed success, to court the Japanese market. In previous years the Xbox 360 hosted a ton of interesting games from JRPGs to shmups, while the Xbox One lagged behind and saw the cancelation of a huge marquee collaboration project.
Time will tell just how Microsoft intends to jumpstart their eastern presence, but for now, we won't be seeing any new acquisitions.
Xbox [Twitter]
NieR Replicant launches April 2021 on PS4, PC, and Xbox One
Square Enix has announced that NieR Replicant will launch in North America and Europe on PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam on April 23, 2021. The date was revealed during a special Tokyo Game Show presentation held by the publisher this morning.
NieR Replicant - or to give it its full title: NieR Replicant Ver. 1.22474487139 - is an "alternate edition" of original 2010 release NieR. Replicant was previously made available exclusively on PS3 in Japan, following the launch of the first game in the dramatic fantasy adventure series.
PSA: It's Voter Registration Week, are you game?
This week is Voter Registration Week, so there's no better time to double-check that you're registered to vote. If you've recently turned 18, moved since 2016, changed your name, or started an underground cult your information may be out of date. It's easy to check if you're registered. It takes literally 30 seconds and you're done.
The big Skull Kid DLC is out in Cadence of Hyrule, here's a breakdown
The time has finally come: all of the (currently announced) Cadence of Hyrule launches are fully complete!
As of today, Cadence has three DLCs on offer: a character pack (Impa, Aria, Shadow Link, Shadow Zelda, Frederick), a 39-song melody pack and today's "Symphony of the Mask" DLC with Skull Kid. The latter one is really the main attraction as the "story DLC" of the pack, which ushers in three brand new modes (Skull Kid, puzzle, arena).
In addition to brand new maps, the Skull Kid DLC also has five new songs, as well as new enemies and such. At this point, Cadence of Hyrule is packed with stuff to do. The characters already feel fairly different, but the mechanic of Skull Kid being able to swap its powers is going to be very enticing for subsequent playthroughs.
It's hard to believe this game is over a year old! It was one of my favorites from 2019, so be sure and put it on your radar if it isn't already. You still have time if you're not a digital person; as a complete edition is arriving on October 23 at multiple retailers in physical form.
Cadence of Hyrule [Brace Yourself Games]
Stunning NieR: Automata statue coming from Prime 1 Studio
Square Enix is teaming up with premium merchandiser Prime 1 Studio to release a jaw-dropping polystone statue, based on the former's dystopian sci-fi adventure NieR: Automata.
While details are still thin on the ground, Square Enix has released a two-minute teaser showing off the painstaking production of this fantastic-looking diorama. The statue itself depicts protagonists 2B, 9S, A2 and, of course, Pod as the quartet pose atop a miserable pile of rusted metal that was previously a fearsome foe. It has to be said, it's an absolutely incredible piece.
Belial brings his own brand of sexy chaos to Granblue Fantasy: Versus
CyGames has released Version 2.01 for anime fighting title Granblue Fantasy: Versus. The new update brings a slew of tweaks and bug-fixes to the cult fighter, along with the first DLC character of GF:V's second season, Belial.
One of the main antagonists of Granblue Fantasy: Versus' single-player mode, The Fallen Angel is now available for purchase as a playable roster addition. Luring in opponents with a rogueish, nonchalant attitude and an amazing midriff, Belial is then quick to dispatch his foes with damaging "slashing" attacks, and powerful metaphysical weaponry.
Sony clarifies that PS5 Spider-Man remaster is not a free upgrade for PS4 Spider-Man players
Sony has offered complex information pertaining to its recent announcement of a PS5 remaster of Marvel's Spider-Man, including details regarding the various upgrade paths to the web-slinger's acclaimed open-world adventure.
Speaking in a statement to Kotaku, Sony confirmed that there is no upgrade path that allows PS4 Spider-Man players to receive the new PS5 remaster for free. PS4 players can upgrade Marvel's Spider-Man to a PS5 version of Marvel's Spider-Man at no cost, but this is just a "standard" version of the game, and not the new PS5 remaster. With me so far?
PS4 Spider-Man players wishing to pick up the PS5 remaster will need to first purchase the upcoming Spider-Man: Miles Morales release, and then purchase a special "upgrade voucher" at the cost of an additional $20. Alternately, players can outright purchase the Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition on PS5 for $70, which includes both the PS5 remaster of Marvel's Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Sony has confirmed that there are "no plans" to offer a standalone release of the PS5 remaster. It's also worth a reminder that PS4 save files for the original Marvel's Spider-Man will not be compatible with the PS5 remaster.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales will launch on PS4 and PS5 November 12.
Kirby Fighters 2 gets a surprise release less than a day after it was first leaked
It was just this morning we were telling you about some internet sleuths spotted Kirby Fighters 2 on Nintendo's website, and now, it's available for purchase. The original Kirby Fighters, for those who don't remember, appeared in Kirby: Triple Deluxe before being spun off as its own release for the Nintendo 3DS. This sequel brings the action to Switch and features local and online play, a story mode, more than a dozen stages, and the new copy ability Wrestler.
Among Us is getting lots of new content instead of a sequel
Among Us is a fiendish friendship-wrecking game about sussing out imposters in your crew, and while it's almost two years old, it recently snowballed to climb the sales charts. It's the number-one best-selling game on Steam right now, and it had 360,000 peak concurrent players on PC today. It's a beast.
The team behind Among Us had been planning a sequel – a way to escape the "outdated" codebase and build fresh content – but in light of renewed interest in the game, there's been a change of plans.
"We have decided to cancel Among Us 2 and instead put all our focus into improving Among Us 1," Innersloth said today in a blog post. "All of the content we had planned for Among Us 2 will instead go into Among Us 1. This is probably the more difficult choice because it means going deep into the core code of the game and reworking several parts of it. We have lots of things planned and we're excited to bring new content to everyone as you continue to enjoy playing!"
The developer also outlined its newly-pivoted plan, including colorblind support, a friends/account system, a new stage themed after Henry Stickmin, and solving the current server issues.
Beyond those features, some of which will "definitely take some time" to implement, Innersloth says there are "LOTS of other things planned too, we just need to prioritize and organize all our plans."
They have their work cut out for them, but from a player's perspective, this is fantastic news.
Death Come True PS4 port delayed from October release date
The PS4 port of Izanagi Games' FMV murder mystery Death Come True will not meet its originally scheduled October 15 release date, and will now launch at an unspecified point in the future.
Speaking on Twitter, Izanagi Games noted that last-minute fixes made to the title have caused delays in Sony's QA classification procedure, thus pushing back the port's launch window.
"Due to an issue flagged up requiring a fix after passing the QA test, we are postponing the release," reads the tweet. "We offer our heartfelt apologies to everyone. We will provide an update when a new release date is confirmed."
Death Come True is a reality-bending thriller that follows the nightmarish adventures of an amnesiac young man trapped in a time loop. Awakening in an opulent but mostly empty hotel, our hero is tasked with recalling the truth behind his identity, clearing his name from a series of grim murders, and staying one step ahead of a terrifying hooded killer. You can check out my own thoughts on the strange and esoteric adventure in our review.
Death Come True is available now on PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile platforms. It will launch on PS4 at some point in the future.
The Game Awards will close out this stream-filled year on December 10
Geoff Keighley is ending a drawn-out year of streams the only way he knows how: with The Game Awards. After reaching "50 million global viewers" in 2019, this year's show is set for December 10.
The Game Awards will be broadcast from audience-less studio locations in Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo, and these cities "will be digitally connected for an innovative celebration with live award presentations, musical performances, and spectacular world premiere game announcements."
Apart from that structural change meant to bridge fans, a greater emphasis on "interactive extensions on leading streaming platforms," and a new award – Innovation in Accessibility – the show will mostly continue down its usual path. Expect to see big game reveals, deals, and limited-time demos of upcoming releases. (More details about the sale and The Game Festival are coming in November.)
This year we introducing a new award @thegameawards:
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) September 23, 2020
Innovation in Accessibility
Recognizing developers that are pushing the medium forward by adding features, technology and content to help games be played and enjoyed by an even wider audience. pic.twitter.com/yCt8M8czaK
"Our team is working hard to deliver an innovative and thoughtful program that celebrates excellence, previews the future, and amplifies important voices that are shaping the future of this medium," said Keighley. After orchestrating a first-of-its-kind Summer Game Fest, I'm sure he'll pull it off.
I don't show up to The Game Awards to see who took the top honor or even to catch the trailers – above all, I'm there for the sense of camaraderie that arises when a bunch of us are in this together.
It's going to be a cathartic night.
Farah and Nikolai are finally headed to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Two of Call of Duty's finest characters - Farah Karim and Nikolai - will finally arrive as playable operators in Season Six of both Modern Warfare and its accompanying battle royale title, Warzone.
Farah made her series debut in 2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. A passionate, fearless freedom fighter and founder of the Urzikstan Liberation Force, Farah has a deeply held and personal interest in seeing the toppling of the invading Russian forces. Farah is one of the highlights of the Modern Warfare campaign, and it is staggering that it has taken almost a year to see her playable debut.
A Call of Duty veteran, Nikolai has featured in multiple Modern Warfare releases. Nikolai is a Russian informant who has helped out Captain Price and his squad on numerous occasions when there was nowhere else to turn, often transporting himself right into the thick of battle at huge personal risk. Despite his common appearances in CoD lore, little is known of Nikolai's true past and identity.
Maneater has a 4K60FPS upgrade for PS5 and Xbox Series X on launch day
It's not going to top many (or any?) game-of-the-year lists, but I can't close out 2020 without remembering Maneater. It's not every day we get to be a shark, much less morph into an unstoppable terror with RPG-style upgrades, and beyond the cold-blooded chaos, I enjoyed tracking down all of those just-hidden-enough collectibles. Honestly, the region-based exploration was my favorite part.
Tripwire is going to jog my memory in November with a free next-gen upgrade for Maneater.
We're incredibly pleased to announce that Maneater will swim onto next-gen systems at launch! Fully evolved for the new hardware with a free upgrade for all current-gen owners!
— Maneater (@maneatergame) September 23, 2020
🦈â¤ï¸ðŸ•¹ï¸ pic.twitter.com/XMGI4PyJzR
If you bought Maneater on PS4 or Xbox One, you'll be able to upgrade to a decked-out version on PlayStation 5 (starting November 12) or Xbox Series X/S (starting November 10). In other words, this is an unexpected day-one launch title for both systems. As for the lower-spec Xbox Series S specifically, the developer says that players will "benefit from increased graphical fidelity and frame rate."
Unlike other games that are getting a next-gen refresh, "this is not a different application/game, and where the platforms support it your stats, saves, and trophies/achievements will carry forward."
Beyond the upgrade, Maneater will have new physical editions on PS5 and Xbox Series X. The studio teased that "more Maneater" is on the way and said PC will get "visual enhancements" in 2021.
With free upgrades, I feel like some of these current-gen games can really stand out on PS5 and XSX. That's not to say there's nothing to play at launch, but once we're done with the big-hitters, games like Maneater will be calling my name. After all, I'm a few trophies shy of earning that platinum.
Cyberpunk slice 'n' dicer Ghostrunner coming to Switch in October
Ghostrunner exploded onto the scene with a stupendous demo earlier this year and quickly became the second most anticipated cyberpunk game coming out in 2020. With sleek cyber-ninja action and a no-delay resurrection for when you ultimately die, it's looking to be a wonderful action accompaniment to Cyberpunk 2077.
Originally planned for a simultaneous release on October 27 for PC (Steam, GOG, and Epic), Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, Ghostrunner will now also release on the Switch on the same day as all the other platforms. Announced today at the Tokyo Game Show, this new release is planned to be digital-only, but I wouldn't be surprised to see this end up as an LRG selection in a year or two.
It's going to be interesting to see how it performs on Switch as from the little I've played of the PC version, it feels that any dip in performance will be detrimental to the enjoyment of the combat. Still, that is what reviews are for.
Ghostrunner will launch on October 27 for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and now Nintendo Switch.
R-Type Final 2 will battle the Bydo Empire in spring 2021
Developer Granzella Inc. has finally revealed a release window for crowdfunded shmup R-Type Final 2. As noted in the latest edition of Weekly Famitsu, the interstellar action will blast off on PC and consoles in spring 2021.
R-Type Final 2 - a pseudo-sequel/remake of Irem's 2003 release R-Type Final - went into development in the summer of 2019, following a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign that raised almost double its initial target of $400,000 USD in less than a few days.
Newest Hearts of Iron 4 DLC focuses on the Black and Aegean sea
The main appeal of historical grand strategy games is to answer those gnawing questions that keep history buffs awake at night. What if the Germans had continued their full march towards Stalingrad instead of splitting off for Leningrad in an attempt for a moral victory? What if France and England, disregarding all human emotion enforced the Treaty of Versailles in the 1930s instead of following a policy of appeasement?
Hearts of Iron IV developers Paradox Development Studio understand these niche nerd desires and continue to develop DLC to help my people get some sleep at night. Their latest DLC, titled Battle for the Bosporus will focus its eye on the Aegean and Black sea powers of Turkey, Greece, and Bulgaria.
With a focus tree for each of the three powers, Battle for the Bosporus will give you the choice of following history, or carving your own path. Along with new focus trees, there will be new voice-overs for the three powers, along with new unit art for the Balkan and Turkish armies.
Knowing full well that the Battle for the Bosporus is a smaller DLC, Paradox has priced it at $9.99/£7.19/€9.99 with plans for it to be released on October 15. As is the case with these smaller packs, there are no plans for any new features to be brought to the base game, so if you want to bring back the Ottoman Empire then you're going to have to pay up!
No Man's Sky just got way closer to being the game fans originally dreamed of
No Man's Sky is living its best life with the just-released Origins update. After Hello Games' Sean Murray promised this moment would mark "the beginning of something new," I came in with big expectations, but I'm still caught off-guard by the scope of what's included. The list keeps going and going.
If I had to roughly sum up Origins, I'd say that it pushes No Man's Sky within reach of many fans' wild hopes and dreams before the game launched. You know, back when the possibilities felt endless? Kinda like that. Update 3.0 aims to make the universe "stranger, richer, and more varied" across the board.
There are too many highlights to rattle off, but I'll try my best:
- "New life has been breathed into every planet in the universe," including giant flying beetles, sandworms, roaming synthetic creatures, and infestations. Some species will "flock together."
- There are new planets in "most star systems" and they can "generate much more varied terrain, including mountains four times larger than anything previously possible." You might also find towering vaults with "data, treasure, and directions to long-forgotten ruins."
- Active volcanoes, firestorms, meteor showers, tornadoes, lightning storms, and gravitational anomalies will make surface exploration more dynamic and memorable.
- "Black market traders, piloting their ships across planets, will now sometimes land on the planetary surface."
- "The game's interface has had a total visual overhaul, including the boot flow, all in-game menus and screens, and the Analysis Visor."
- "A local information guide has been added to the mission log. This guide displays detailed information about your current planet or star system, as well as tracking the progress of your discoveries."
- "Portal interference for conventional portals has been removed. Players may explore freely."
Reading through the full patch notes (and knowing Origins isn't the end of the road), I feel like No Man's Sky has secured its future for another four years. I just can't see it becoming irrelevant anytime soon.
I'm especially curious to see what Hello Games can bring to the table on PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Nintendo Switch is finally getting Donkey Kong Country 2
[Update: DKC2, Mario's Super Picross, The Peace Keepers, and S.C.A.T. – yes, S.C.A.T. – are now on Nintendo Switch if you have a Nintendo Switch Online account. What are you playing first?]
Our pleas have made it to Nintendo and the king is finally about to return. Donkey Kong Country 2 will be playable on Nintendo Switch starting September 23 for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.
It has consistently topped fans' most-wanted lists, and I'm right there with the crowd. I'd love the chance to reconnect with EarthBound, but DKC2 is my favorite game of all time. We made it, fam.
The SNES library is also getting Mario's Super Picross (a first-time release outside of Japan) and The Peace Keepers, a funky Jaleco beat-'em-up. On the NES front, it's S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team, a Natsume shmup. Imagine if these retro releases happened on a regular basis. That sure would be nice.
Anyone else going for 102% completion?
Heroes of the Storm is a beast of a game. It's survived multiple directorial shifts and countless MOBAs have come and gone since it was initially released.
It's also one of my most-played games of all time. Through thick and thin, the Heroes team has proven their dedication to the project with numerous balance patches, reworks, arenas, game modes, tweaks, and new characters.
I sat down with Brett Crawford, Lead Game Designer on Heroes of the Storm, to catch up a bit on how things are going in terms of a few recent releases and how things have changed.
