Contest: Win Torchlight III for Nintendo Switch
In today's contest you can win Torchlight III for Nintendo Switch!
If I could stop giving away games, I would! Just kidding -- if I ran out of games from developers to give out, I'd probably just start giving stuff away from my personal collection. I'm an addict!
Today's we've got some Switch copies of Torchlight III to hand out! You know what to do from here.
Did you beat Spider-Man on PS4? You could win this LEGO Miles Morales minifig
Insomniac's Spider-Man was pretty damn great. It was our choice for 2018's PS4 Game of the Year, and we're hardly the only outlet to sling some hardware its way. Insomniac has a lot of trophies in the case after that showing.
Hey, speaking of trophies! Sony's running a contest for anyone who has managed to beat Spider-Man on PS4 and earn the "End Game" trophy for clearing the third act. Folks who meet that criteria can enter into a drawing for an exclusive Spider-Man: Miles Morales LEGO minifigure.
Only Kinect games are lost to Xbox Series X's backward compatibility
Backward compatibility is a big point of emphasis for both Microsoft and Sony heading into the new generation of consoles. Sony came out a few weeks ago and confirmed that only 10 games won't make the transition from PS4 to PS5. That's a very acceptable percentage. Xbox has similar results, but with more peripheral-induced constraints.
Xbox director of program management Jason Ronald has confirmed that every non-Kinect Xbox One game, and every single backward compatible game from the original Xbox and Xbox 360 that doesn't require Kinect will be playable on Xbox Series S/X:
Don't skip the (surprisingly big) Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity demo
I'm glad Nintendo decided to release a demo for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity – not just as someone who adored Hyrule Warriors on Wii U and Switch, but also as someone who knows there are bound to be a lot of on-the-fence Breath of the Wild fans checking out this Musou game for its prequel story.
Today's Switch demo is undoubtedly worth the download. You'll get access to a surprisingly generous chunk of the game, including two full story missions, a few slay-the-horde side levels, various shops and goals to activate and/or "check off" from the world map (using resources you've collected in battle), and a working blacksmith for weapon leveling. Heck, you even get to play as Link, Impa, and Zelda.
Without really spoiling anything, the demo cutoff point arrives just as four main missions – one for each of the Champions – appear on the map. For a split second, I thought I'd be able to play them. Not quite.
(Opening spoiler) Story-wise, time travel is very much afoot, and the helpful "mini guardian" messenger from the Age of Calamity trailers plays a significant role. The setup is bound to put lore-obsessed players in a speculative frenzy. Now more than ever I'm curious how this prequel is gonna wrap up.
Having spent entirely Too Many hours in Hyrule Warriors 1, it's an adjustment getting used to the new items, the slightly weightier feel to combat, and other tweaks like being able to chop down trees – but it's a good adjustment. I vastly prefer chucking bombs, freezing foes with stasis, summoning ice, and wielding (limited-use) elemental magic in this context compared to using rote items in the last Hyrule Warriors to open up bosses' weak points. Age of Calamity's items are just more fun and freeing.
As for the sample roster, Link is Link (dash and tap the X button to shield surf!), Impa is an early favorite with her easy-to-spawn clone squadron, and Zelda feels strange at first due to her Sheikah Slate-focused kit. (No joke: her gauge-based special attack involves taking an enemy's photograph.) If you complete some of the goals on the world map, you'll unlock new attack combos and more HP.
Before you ask: the performance could be better (I think it's adequate), and yes, there is co-op support.
I'm already having a blast with the story missions, the latter of which has a cool sequence with a laser-blasting Guardian (that you can totally side-step if you ignore Nintendo's pleas and fight it head-on). You will capture bases in true Hyrule Warriors tradition, but there's much more going on here, thankfully. All told, I took my time and spent around two hours scouring the demo. Nintendo's on a roll right now.
My impressions are positive so far – again, it's really fun to play! – but I do have some concerns about whether the story will meet rising expectations and how the breadth of content will stack up to Hyrule Warriors 1 given how ridiculously far that game went with its huge roster and Adventure maps.
If you're curious as a newcomer, try the demo, and know that these games grow more complex over time in terms of mission objectives and movesets. That said, you should have a pretty clear idea of whether you're into Age of Calamity or you should just patiently hold off until Breath of the Wild 2.
343 Industries studio head steps away from Halo Infinite amid uncertain development
It was most certainly not an easy decision for Microsoft to delay Halo Infinite out of the Xbox Series X's launch window. Halo Infinite would've been both a system seller and an Xbox Game Pass seller. It would've been the explosive start to the generation that could set the tone for years to come.
That's how you know something is very much not right with Halo Infinite. We're left to assume things aren't going as expected -- aside from some meme-worthy screenshots -- entirely by occurrences that come out of Microsoft and developer 343 Industries.
Another big one happened recently. Bloomberg reports that 343 partner studio head Chris Lee is no longer working on Halo Infinite. Lee says "I have stepped back from Infinite and I am looking at future opportunities." According to Lee's public LinkedIn profile, he has been at 343 for 12 years and at Microsoft Game Studios for 5 years prior to his time working on Halo.
Although Lee will remain with Microsoft, it's unclear whether he's leaving 343 Industries. He's being shuffled around to some extent, but that could mean he's remaining with the studio but no longer influencing Halo Infinite. It could also mean that he's moving elsewhere within Microsoft's game division, as he's probably a prime candidate to help lead one of the many new development teams under Xbox's banner.
Lee's departure is just the latest in a tumultuous development cycle for Halo Infinite. It's a project that lost both its creative director and executive producer in 2019. After a subpar showing in August 2020, Lee was no longer in charge of the creative vision for Halo Infinite. Microsoft brought in Joe Staten to head up the campaign, and Pierre Hintze to take charge of multiplayer. Lee being removed from the game altogether seemed like an inevitability.
Right now, Lee's status remains just as much of a mystery as Halo Infinite's. No one's really sure what's going on, it's just obvious that something needed to change.
Microsoft's New Halo Game Loses Top Director After Project Delay [Bloomberg]
Lair of the Clockwork God PS4 port arrives next week
Size Five Games' Lair of the Clockwork God will be hitting PS4 next week. The genre-blended adventure will be made available to download from the PlayStation Store on November 6, following on from its PC release in February, and its Xbox One and Switch ports back in September.
Lair of the Clockwork God is the next entry in Size Five's "Dan and Ben" games, and can be considered a pseudo-sequel/ spin-off to Ben There, Dan That and Time Gentlemen, Please - though the developer notes that Lair of the Clockwork God is a standalone title, and can be enjoyed regardless of the player's experience with previous releases. In this latest escapade, The duo must prevent "all of the apocalypses" by "teaching an old computer about feelings." I just report it, folks.
In order to pick their way through this epic adventure, Dan and Ben must rely on their respective skills to overcome any challenges in their path. Ben is a point-and-click fan, and as such has mastered the (Lucas)arts of item gathering, puzzle-solving, and disc-swapping (probably). Ben's pal Dan is all about modern indie platformers, and so is more comfortable traversing to out-of-reach spots and leaping chasms. Players must synchronize both characters' skills to progress through each area and, ultimately, save everybody's ass from Armageddon. So hop to it, because I've got big plans for 2021.
Your meme is a dream: Xbox made the Xbox Series X fridge
You joked about it. You laughed and had a good time. You didn't think the mad lads would actually do it.
Xbox has made the Xbox Series X fridge. It, like the console, is a big-ass black rectangle. The Xbox logo is illuminated whenever the fridge is plugged in. If you know anything about refrigerators and responsible food preservation, it should stay plugged in pretty much all the time.
It could be yours, cold storage for all your Gamer Fuel and leftover pizza. Retweet this before November 4 for a chance to win the Xbox fridge. It's a meme but it's also a household appliance. Appliances ain't cheap.
Now we wait for Sony to turn the PS5 into a router.
There's no way Pikmin 3 came out over seven years ago.
Wait, I'll just check...nah, I don't believe it, it must be a typo. Wait, we reviewed it! That info box looks pretty legit. Maybe it did.
Either way, it's hard to believe it's been that long, as Pikmin 3 has remained a staple of my dusted-off Wii U since. I still head back into the little pint-sized world to blow off some steam from time to time, and the Bingo Battle mode has been a perpetual font of fun for my wife and I.
The Deluxe version on Switch makes things a little easier on us if we want to boot it all back up again, even if it's not a huge upgrade.
Here's the site to request a PS5 adaptor for PlayStation VR
Hoping to take your PlayStation VR games for a spin on PS5? You're going to want an adaptor while they're being given out. Today, Sony opened the website for PlayStation VR owners to request them.
Long story short, the PlayStation 5 is getting a new HD Camera that isn't compatible with the current PlayStation VR setup, so if you have the headset and want to use it on PS5, you'll need a special adaptor for your existing (made-for-PS4) PlayStation Camera. Got it? Not really? There's an FAQ.
The important thing to note is that "anyone who owns a PS VR headset" can request the PlayStation Camera adaptor (with a limit of one per household). All you need is the serial number found on the PlayStation VR processor unit – the box that your HDMI cables go through. That said, at the time of writing, it's been a struggle to get the form to cooperate. The CAPTCHA is buggy at the moment.
If you keep getting an error with a correctly typed serial number, just keep re-entering it. I had that problem and after several attempts, it eventually worked and I was able to enter my address info.
As for how the PlayStation Camera adaptor fits into the picture:
- Step 1: Connect the PlayStation Camera adaptor to a USB Type-A port on the back of your PS5 console. The PlayStation Camera adaptor cannot be used with the PS4 console.
- Step 2. Connect the PlayStation Camera to the AUX port on the PlayStation Camera adaptor.
Sony is expecting to begin shipping them in mid-November in most regions, and there's no fee.
We got an Xbox Series X: Here's what's in the box
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's the PS5! No wait, that was yesterday!
The time has come to unveil both new consoles in all their unboxed glory, which means we can take comparison shots.
Despite having "box" in the name, the Xbox box is surprisingly not as big of a box as the PS5. In fact, the Xbox box fits inside of the PS5 box.
Box.
Apex Legends Season 7 launch trailer shows off the beautiful new map
Just a couple days ago, we got a new "Stories from the Outlands" video introducing the new playable character in Apex Legends for Season 7. Past that, the official site mentioned the new map that has been teased since Season 5. Today, we got our first look at a stylized representation of it.
The trailer also ties into Season 6's graphic novel-told story, picking up right after Rampart learns Mirage packed all of her stuff up on a shuttle as it's launching. The two follow that shuttle to Olympus and we get to see the lush city in the sky where we'll be fighting. It's futuristic and verdant, and it still appears to have a good balance of open space and clusters of features.
We also get to see the new legend Horizon in action, and can make some more educated guesses on her abilities. She carries a drone on her back that looks a little like Lifeline's D.O.C., but instead of dispensing healing, it acts as her ultimate ability, creating a black hole that sucks nearby enemies in. Her tactical ability is indeed tied to the gravity lifts that have been showing up around Kings Canyon and World's Edge, though as demonstrated here, they can be used to flush an enemy team out of cover in addition to just providing some vertical mobility for her own team.
The last big thing in today's trailer is the footage of the Trident in action. This is the first time Apex Legends will have vehicles, and it appears there will be one fairly protected driver and spots for up to two teammates, one on either side, to hang out and fire weapons at the risk of being largely exposed to incoming fire. The trailer also shows the Trident suffering some brief malfunction when hit by a powered-up shot from a Sentinel, so that may provide another reason to pick up the sniper rifle that doesn't get a lot of love.
Check out the trailer above; it's a good one. We can still expect one or two more videos to release before Season 7 launches on November 4, and those will likely include actual gameplay footage to mull over and finer details on Horizon's abilities to pick apart.
Dare you enter the terrifying house of Visage?
Developer SadSquare Studio has announced that its terrifying psychological horror, Visage, will be launching on PS4, PC, and Xbox One on October 30, just in time for Halloween.
In Visage, players will enter an old Gothic mansion loaded for bear with memories of ghastly and violent events - which kind of raises the question as to why you'd visit in the first place. As players wander the corridors of this grim homestead, stories of the past and its previous occupants and visitors will be revealed, offering clues that must be pieced together in order to reveal the truth behind the house and our protagonist's connection to it.
Defenseless in this quest against the vengeful dead, Visage hopes to attack the player's very sanity, with constantly changing environments and numerous tricks and traps to leave the audience on the edge of their seat and unable to believe the evidence of their own eyes... It's too spoopy for me, is what I'm basically saying.
But if you have the wherewithal for it, then maybe you can check out Visage this witching weekend. The first two chapters are available now on Steam Early Access, with the full game launching October 30. What have you to lose? Except your MIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNND!
Those elusive Super Mario pins were worth the trouble after all
Did you get 'em? Did you manage to get a hold of those 35th anniversary Mario pins?
Even for people who completed all of the necessary My Nintendo goals way in advance and were around when the pins became available from Nintendo's shop, it was still a mad dash to get an order placed before the servers came crashing down and the supply ran out. It's been one of those years.
In all of the hustle and bustle lately, the pins slipped my mind... until they showed up at my door.
Having gotten my fair share of less-than-stellar collectible gaming stuff over the years, I'm pleasantly surprised by how well they turned out. They're solid. And the box, in particular, is a nice little touch. I'm not sure I'll ever stick them on my laptop bag – I don't want to lose them! – but I'm glad I bought them.
Here are the pins up close with some fresh Halloween candy and a big-ass thing of Tums for scale.
It was a hell of a delivery day at the Devore household.
Tomb Raider movie sequel delayed from March 2021 release
As reported by the movie snoops over at Deadline, MGM Studios has announced that the sequel to its 2018 Tomb Raider movie will no longer meet its March 2021 premiere date and has been delayed until further notice.
The latest in a long, long line of movies to have its plans usurped by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Tomb Raider 2 was to see the return of Alicia Vikander as death-defying adventurer Lara Croft, embarking on another dangerous adventure into the darkest corners of the globe. Directed by Kill List's Ben Wheatley, shooting of the new sequel was expected to start in late spring, but the pandemic has rendered production impossible.
Tomb Raider 2 joins a host of other blockbusters currently sitting in limbo due to the global lockdown. The list of delayed movies includes billion-dollar titles such as 007 adventure No Time to Die, Fast & Furious 9, and numerous releases in the Marvel cinematic universe. Other pictures have gone ahead despite the ongoing strife, such as Sony's Uncharted movie, which the studio believes is on course to meet a July 2021 release date.
MGM pulls Tomb Raider 2 [Deadline]
K/DA, League of Legends' virtual pop group, returns with stunning new music video 'MORE'
League of Legends' diva-riffic pop group has returned. K/DA - consisting of Ahri, Evelynn, Akali, and Kai'Sa - have released another hyperactive... erm.. "banger" titled "MORE," which is surely set to take the Young Person's Hit Parade by storm.
Following on from 2018's "Pop/Stars" and this year's "The Baddest," "MORE" sees K/DA collaborate for the first time with one of their own rivals - the colorful Seraphine - whose mastery of audio attacks makes her a good fit for K/DA's bass-heavy beats and heavenly harmonies. But enough of my yakking, you can check out the gorgeous new video for "MORE" below.
PlayStation Plus is moving into the new generation: although it won't be leaving the PS4 behind.
Just today Sony confirmed that in addition to Destruction All-Stars, Bugsnax will be joining the PS+ lineup. Although, while the former is due in February of 2021, the latter is coming at launch in November. There is a catch with Bugsnax though: it's PS5-only.
Even though Bugsnax is launching on PC and PS4 in addition to Sony's new console, it's a PS5 Plus exclusive. That offer is good from November 12 through January 4, 2021. Developer Young Horses says that "anyone who buys Bugsnax for the PS4 will be able to upgrade to the PS5 version for free. Those who purchase the PS5 version will also own the PS4 version. However, players who redeem Bugsnax on the PS5 through their PlayStation Plus subscription will not be entitled to the PS4 version." Got it? It's no Smart Delivery, that's for sure.
"All PS4/PS5 owners" will be able to redeem Middle-earth: Shadow of War and Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition. Those will be on offer from November 3 to November 30. Don't forget: there's also the "PlayStation Plus Collection" on PS5. You can find a recap of that lineup below, which has some extremely heavy-hitting games on it.
PlayStation Plus [PS Blog]
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is getting a Switch eShop demo
While the next generation of gaming is stealing all of the headlines as of late, Nintendo still has a heavy-hitter coming in 2020: Age of Calamity.
The Zelda: Breath of the Wild prequel is proving to be quite the surprise, as the story is billed as a direct link to the popular 2017 iteration; right down to some extra lore details on top of broader story strokes. I'm stoked to find out a little more about this version of Hyrule, so long as Nintendo and Omega Force don't go too overboard on the retcons and exposition.
Alas, while most of the details are left to pure speculation, it looks like we'll all be able to go hands-on with it together very soon. Spotted on the Nintendo News section (first in Korea and now in the US), a demo is "available" as of today. The Nintendo Direct Mini today re-iterated this!
It's a genius move to get ahead of the buzz of any potential scene-stealing next-gen games: to get people talking about Zelda again before the hype takes hold. Also, it's nestled very nicely between the next-gen launches and the now-December-dated Cyberpunk 2077.
Everything is in place for Age of Calamity to sneak up on people, especially given the large Switch install base; some of which may not even be interested in upgrading their consoles just yet.
No Man's Sky to receive free upgrade on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC
Hello Games has revealed that No Man's Sky is the latest title to be afforded a major upgrade for next-gen platforms. No Man's Sky: Next Generation will be offered as a free download to all current NMS players on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.
The upgrade will boost the visual and technical prowess of No Man's Sky across the board, allowing for 4K resolution at 60 FPS, longer draw distances, deeper texture density, improved grass physics and "warp-speed" loading times. Console players are expected to see the most significant changes in comparison to the current PS4 and Xbox One release, while PC players - particularly those playing on "Ultra" settings - will also see some improvements in overall visual fidelity.
Additionally, No Man's Sky: Next Generation will support 32-player multiplayer, cross-play functions, and advanced audio and VR improvements, as well as support for the PS5's Haptic Feedback capabilities. The upgrade will launch on the same day as the new consoles (so November 10 for Xbox Series X and November 12/19 for PS5), with the PC version expected to arrive within the same time-frame.
Here's a recap of today's surprise October Nintendo Direct Mini
So how about 2020 guys! Amid all of the awful things happening, marketing is sort of all over the place. We could get a massive first-party announcement at any point with no buildup! Cats and dogs I tell ya!
Billed as the "last partner showcase of the year," Nintendo dropped new news on us today from studios both big and indie via a new Nintendo Direct Mini partner showcase. Here's the rundown.
Claire and Leon looking mighty fine in Netflix's Resident Evil Infinite Darkness
Capcom's Resident Evil franchise most assuredly has its fair share of characters, having introduced a huge cast of heroes and villains since the series inception back in 1996. But I'm not sure if any of the series' protagonists have received quite the same number of tweaked reiterations as the beloved heroes of 1998's Resident Evil 2: Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield.
Netflix has released two new images of the aforementioned monster smashers as they appear in the upcoming CG series Resident Evil Infinite Darkness, first revealed by the streaming service in September. As is to be expected from Resi's resident hipsters, both Leon and Claire are looking hot to trot, with Kennedy rocking his iconic bad-boy side-parting, while Redfield has adopted a form strikingly similar to her Resident Evil Revelations 2 appearance.
TMS Entertainment, the producer of Resident Evil Infinite Darkness, has stated that the series will feature an all-new Resident Evil narrative "unlike any you've seen before" but will probably see Claire and Leon team-up against spine-tingling horrors and clandestine conspiracies. You can check out the teaser trailer for the series in our previous coverage.
Resident Evil Infinite Darkness will premiere on Netflix in 2021.
PS4 worldwide shipments hit 113.8 million as PS5 launch beckons
Sony has released its latest quarterly financial report, which includes the final run of statistics for the industry giant ahead of the launch of PlayStation 5, which will be hitting the market in November.
PlayStation 4, which launched back in November 2013, has successfully shipped an incredible 113.8 million consoles over the course of its generational lifespan, with 1.5 million black boxes sold within the past three months. Year-on-year, PS4 hardware sales have dropped significantly, but this is an inevitability as the generation winds down in preparation for the PS5's debut.
Software itself, however, is on the up-and-up. Some 80.9 million PS4 games were sold in the second quarter of 2020, which is an increase of over 10 million units when compared to the previous year. It is a snug theory that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is partly responsible for the boost in game sales on all platforms. Additionally, the PlayStation Plus service currently has 45.9 million subscribers, which is an increase of nine million users on the previous year.
Over the course of its continued lifespan, PlayStation 4 remains a solid-selling platform, with every year delivering a steady stream of excellent software enjoyed by players across the globe. While many video game fans are preparing to move into the next generation, PS4 consoles and games will continue to sell for the foreseeable future, further validating the PS4's status as one of the most successful consoles in video game history.
PlayStation 5 launches worldwide November 12/19.
Contest: Win Ray's the Dead for PS4 or Steam
In today's contest you can win a PS4 or Steam copy of Ray's the Dead!
You know what's even spookier than ghosts, goblins, and ghouls running amok in the streets? Waiting seven years for a game to come out!
We first covered Ray's the Dead all the way back in 2013, and now that it's out, we thought we'd celebrate by giving some copies away! Have you been waiting all this time? If so, you're probably a zombie by now, yourself!
Predator: Hunting Grounds turns the Predator into a Viking
The newest DLC for Predator: Hunting Grounds takes inspiration from God of War or Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. Imagine pissing off a Viking Predator and knowing you're about to get fucked all the way up.
Predator: Hunting Grounds gets a new Predator class for its latest add-on. The Viking Predator is a Norse dude -- honestly, he kinda looks like he's doing some Kratos cosplay -- with an ornate design. It'll never be fully appreciated as he's blurring around the battlefield.
The Viking class is actually going to be the slowest Predator yet. Developer Illfonic says he's "insanely strong" but even slower than the Beserker. The Viking also has a Norse two-handed battle axe. It's good for hulking overhead chops and quicker two-hit combos.
Predator: Ragnarok is accompanied by Hunting Grounds' sixth free title update. To combat high wait times, players are granted a 20 percent XP bonus for jumping into low population queues. There's also a new perk system that encourages team diversity. Here's a sample breakdown (but it's far from comprehensive as each class has 16 perk possibilities):
Left 4 Dead's Bill is back for a Dying Light cameo and he brought Gnome Chompski along for the ride
Techland is still having the time of its life with Dying Light. After hosting a cool but mostly weapon-focused Left 4 Dead crossover event last year, the team is back with something even better for Halloween 2020: an update that lets you play as Bill and use Gnome Chompski as a skull-crusher.
Starting today on PC – and coming to Dying Light "a few weeks later" on consoles – this free in-game event also involves an "extremely challenging" Viral Rush survival mode and lots of incendiary shotgun ammo. If you take out 50 Virals, you'll pick up the Gold Gnome Gear. Consider it your civic duty.
Whether you have time to spare this week for the Halloween event or you're planning to get back into the game eventually, feel free to grab the L4D2 Bill & Gnome Chompski Pack just so you have it.
Claiming digital content that I realistically won't ever use is my favorite pastime.
Left 4 Dead 2 crossover event is back! [Steam]
Rogue Legacy 2 got a huge content boost with the Far Shores update
If you burned through Rogue Legacy 2's Early Access launch-day content and are looking for an excuse to jump back in, first of all, same. Secondly, today's the day. The beefy Far Shores update is here.
There are two biomes to hit up (Axis Mundi and the Kerguelen Plains), three classes to learn (the Valkyrie, Duelist, and the Chef), and old classes to rediscover (now that the talent system has been reworked to be less reliant on mana and there are stat incentives for "mastering" each archetype).
As Cellar Door Games puts it, "We heard you loud and clear about the lack of substance when the game first released in Early Access, so we scrapped our best-laid plans and decided to go all-out."
I sympathize with anyone who wants to hold off until Rogue Legacy 2 is in the 1.0 home stretch, but if you're even remotely on the fence, this content update is a huge step in the right direction.
It's already immensely fun. It just needs to keep going.
Rogue Legacy 2 – Patch v0.2.0 – The Far Shores Update [Steam]
The Devil Went Down to Georgia is coming to Rock Band... but it's by Nickelback
Some real conflicting emotions coming out of the Rock Band DLC this week. "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" is being added to the Rock Band library. That's the bad news. However, it's performed by Nickelback. That's its saving grace.
Wait, I'm being informed that I've severely mixed those two things up.
Apparently Nickelback covered "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" a few months ago, and now it's a Rock Band track. It's a song that's etched in rhythm game history as made famous by the Steve Ouimette speed metal cover as the final boss battle in Guitar Hero III.
But, alas, this is not the Steve Ouimette version -- and who even knows what the rights are like for that because Activision published Guitar Hero III and quite possibly owns the song -- and it's not even the Charlie Daniels version (who has major beef with the canonical representation of his song). It's the Nickelback version. At least it doesn't sound like "Photograph."
Did you know that Hades voice actor Logan Cunningham juggled six roles in the game?
Supergiant Games and memorable voice acting go hand-in-hand, and the same goes for Logan Cunningham, the actor behind Bastion's narrator, Transistor's Transistor, and Hades' stubborn dark lord.
If you've been running laps in Hades like the rest of us lately, you've almost certainly recognized Cunningham's familiar voice here or there – but did you know that he plays six different named roles in the game? Not just Lord Hades, but also Poseidon, Achilles, Charon, Asterius, and The Storyteller.
That tidbit is making the rounds again with this wholesome "special message" video posted today by Supergiant. The best part? He's far from the only one on the cast pulling double duty. I had no idea!
This insane stat about PS5 pre-order numbers explains why they're so hard to get
As you are all perfectly aware, it has been extremely difficult to secure a PlayStation 5 pre-order. We've detailed the retailer pre-order snafu in the past, but here's the takeaway: Only the very fortunate have managed to pre-buy the PS5. Everyone else is left to hope they can get one around launch; more realistically, they'll be able to find one in 2021.
According to a Reuters report, there's a good reason why PS5 pre-orders flew off the proverbial shelves. Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan explains that PS5 pre-orders in the first 12 hours of availability matched the PS4's pre-order numbers over its first three months. Ryan points out the obvious by saying "The demand as expressed by the level of pre-order has been very, very considerable." It took PS5 half a day to do what PS4 took 90 days.
Analyst Daniel Ahmad extrapolates on this statistic and estimates that the PlayStation 5 has cleared one million global pre-orders. It's not a perfect estimate, however, as Ryan's quote seems only pointed at US pre-orders and the PS4 pre-order data is worldwide. Still, that seems to be the ballpark we're working with.
Ryan also hinted at launch availability issues that everyone foresaw. "It may well be that not everybody who wants to buy a PS5 on launch day will be able to find one," he says. However, there's a glimmer of hope as Ryan adds that Sony is "working as hard as we ever can [to ensure supply for the year-end shopping season]."
Sony seeing 'very considerable' PS5 demand ahead of launch [Reuters]
Here's Itsuka Kendo's My Hero One's Justice 2 trailer, let's give her a big hand
Bandai Namco has released the debut gameplay trailer for the next evil-defying hero headed to My Hero One's Justice 2. As revealed just last week in Japanese publication Weekly Jump, Itsuka Kendo will be made available to the anime fighter's roster in the very near future.
Known to her peers as "Battle Fist," Itsuka Kendo is a cheerful, hard-working student of U.A. High, where she hones her superhero skills while also adopting a "big sister" role to many of the academy's younger students. When out-smashing evil-doers, Kendo is not only a highly skilled martial artist, but is also equipped with powers that allow her hands to grow to a ridiculous size.
As you can see in the trailer below, this allows for some devastating combo-enders.
Hold onto your Fall Guys crowns for another week so you can get this sweet Godzilla costume
That headline goes for all of you just as much as it goes for me and my bad habits.
Don't be tempted. Don't waste your crowns on patterns, poses, or other frivolous shit you'll never use (even though you secretly enjoy adding fluff to your collection). You gotta earn 10 crowns and hold strong until Tuesday, November 3 – that's when Fall Guys is getting a sweet-as-hell Godzilla costume.
LOL
— Fall Guys ðŸ'' (@FallGuysGame) October 27, 2020
I can't explain how excited I am to let you know that GODZILLA will be coming to Fall Guys next week
THE GODZILLA@TOHO_GODZILLA
THE ACTUAL GODZILLA
LITERALLY GODZILLA
OFFICIAL GODZILLA
Better start getting your crowns together now ðŸ'€ pic.twitter.com/cMgUdqHCgX
Why not unleash it this week, just in time for Halloween? November 3 is officially Godzilla Day.
Our minds will very much be elsewhere next Tuesday, and I'm as dread-filled as they come, but I'm still going to try to take a quick Fall Guys break with the King of Monsters. I have to show some respect.
As much as I still prefer to wear wild patterns over costumes ("as a symbol of my individuality and my belief in personal freedom"), I think I'm going to put on the Godzilla costume and never take it off.
We got a hands-on look at the PlayStation 5 and it's a big boy
The time has nearly come for the next-generation.
On November 10, "next-gen" becomes just..."the gen," and the cycle begins anew. Beginning, the console wars are. Sort of.
Microsoft has been adamant that the generational leap is going to be handled differently with more parity, while Sony is sailing full speed ahead into the classic iterative strategy. We'll see how it works out for them soon enough, but for now, let's take a closer look at the PS5.
Cthulhu Saves Christmas hitting Nintendo Switch tomorrow and PS5 'soon'
Indie outfit Zeboyd Games has announced that its quirky 2019 RPG Cthulhu Saves Christmas will be ready to deck the halls on Nintendo Switch as soon as tomorrow, October 28. Zeboyd also added that a PS5 port was in the works and would be arriving on the next-gen platform "soon."
Cthulhu Saves Christmas - a prequel to 2010's Cthulhu Saves the World - sees the tentacled "Master of Insanity" team up with the Snow Maiden, Belsnickel, and Baba Yaga-chan on a quest to rescue Santa Claus from the villainous League of Christmas Evil. Battle a host of yuletide enemies while sharing the spirit of the season with your party members and increasing the strength of your "R'lyehtionships." Only Cthulhu can save Santa and ensure that the world sees a holly jolly festive season.
The Switch edition of Cthulhu Saves Christmas will include an all-new New Game+ feature, which will be added to the PC edition as a free update in the future. This mode allows players who have completed the campaign to re-run the fun with new cutscenes and tougher enemies. Additionally, Limited Run Games has announced that it will press a physical release of the prequel for both PS5 and Nintendo Switch, with pre-orders set to go live on November 6.
Review: Pokemon Sword and Shield: The Crown Tundra
The last time we checked in with Pokemon Sword and Shield, it was hosting its first major DLC: The Isle of Armor.
It was small, but it wasn't bad! The new locale was a breath of fresh air, especially given that Game Freak was doubling down on the Wild Area mechanic, allowing the entire DLC to make use of the feature.
But given Sword and Shield's latent shortcomings, it wasn't enough for everyone. The Crown Tundra aims to turn that all around as the second half of the season pass.
Destiny 2 is jettisoning content soon, but this YouTuber preserved it for everyone
We're getting down to the wire when it comes to Destiny 2's "vaulted" content. Look, I sort of get it. Bungie doesn't want the game to be overly bloated to the point where it requires an unwieldy amount of storage space on consoles. But...that's sort of the game you made when you introduced more and more live service elements to Destiny?
Whatever your opinion on the matter might be, it's happening, but one YouTuber is vowing to preserve that removed content (which will allegedly be cycled back in eventually) in the form of Destiny: The Series videos. While it isn't exactly playable, content creator Jabonte is chronicling the portions of the game that will be gone by the time the next expansion hits: complete with rundowns of their loadouts (down to the armor piece).
Each "episode" is around 15-30 minutes long, allowing players to conveniently catch up on story elements once the narratives are missing. On their YouTube channel, they pretty much have it all covered, hitting the "Red War" chapter from 1.0, through Curse of Osiris, into Warmind, Forsaken, and Shadowkeep.
Jabonte is going God's work! While the story wasn't firing on all cylinders (or even a few cylinders at times) until Forsaken, there are moments that are worth remembering in there. If you're going into Destiny 2 for the first time when the new consoles hit, make sure you bookmark their work and catch up on some lore.
In case you need a refresher, you can find a list of core content (there are a few more nuances like vaulted items) that's being vaulted on November 10 below.
[Thanks John!]
Cyberpunk 2077 hit with another small delay, but it'll still launch before the year's over
Just because a game goes gold doesn't mean it's immune to delays. It's rare, but the long-awaited Cyberpunk 2077 is an example.
Minutes ago, CD Projekt Red announced that it's delaying Cyberpunk 2077 by three weeks. Originally set to launch on November 19, it's now scheduled for December 10. It'll still be here before the year's out.
Galloping Ghost Arcade opens GoFundMe to make largest arcade in the world even larger
As I've recounted here many times before, most of my formative years were spent loitering in the glowing neon paradise that was the arcade. But today, some 30 years later, arcades are very much few and far between, with only a few curators and buildings truly dedicated to the halcyon color and buzzing retro atmosphere of change machines, jingling pockets, and Operation W.O.L.F.
Retro game fans living in or around Brookfield, Il are in luck, however, as the city plays host to The Galloping Ghost Arcade: The Largest Arcade in the World. Keeping the dream alive long after the scene faded into history, The Galloping Ghost hosts over 600 titles from the golden age of the coin-op - all of which available to play, seven days a week, for a modest entrance fee.
For those who grew up around the arcade scene, The Galloping Ghost Arcade is a time capsule of some of the '80s and '90s' most unforgettable titles. For younger video game fans, The Galloping Ghost offers a peek into the past, where arcades were truly considered the place to go if you wanted to experience the best games in existence, before PlayStation came along and ruined the party with its powerful home hardware and catalog of incredible titles.
The short documentary below, by filmmaker Ryan Skyrd, recounts The Galloping Ghost's history, while taking a look at its corridors of cabinets. How many of your favorites are on show?
The PS2 is 20 years old this week and by God it might be the best system ever
As some of you may know, I've stuck by the PS2 through thick and thin. When I first started my Destructoid profile over a decade ago I noted that the PS2 is probably my favorite console, right alongside of the Dreamcast. When I asked our readers what they thought in 2019, the PS2 won our poll by a landslide.
10 years later and I don't think I've changed my mind. The PS2 officially turns 20 this week in North America: let's remember it together.
(Update) It looks like we're getting a Sonic double-pack on Switch because why not
[Update: After sitting on the listings for two months, Sega has finally confirmed the double-packs officially. They are: Team Sonic Racing + Sonic Mania and Sonic Forces + Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD. They're out today for $39.99 each and you can find images for them below.]
Sega loves to bundle all their games together from time to time: bonus points of a bunch of Sonic titles are headlining it!
While I miss the days of rampant economical collections (sometimes we still get them!), double-packs are alive and well, as evidenced by a new Amazon listing from Sega. Simply titled Sonic Mania + Team Sonic Racing Double Pack, the Switch bundle is a physical release for both of the aforementioned games in one SKU. The retail price? $39.99.
As a note: this isn't a horrible deal, especially for hardcore collectors. Sonic Mania and Team Sonic Racing will run you around $35 each for new physical copies on Switch. Digitally, Sonic Mania is $19.99 on the eShop, with Team Sonic Racing clocking in at $39.99. At the worst, this bundle could drive the physical prices down for each game. We've reached out to Sega to see exactly what version of Sonic Mania is included here.
Sonic Mania + Team Sonic Racing Double Pack [Amazon] Thanks Jeff!
See for yourself what that $70 price tag for NBA 2K next-gen gets you
So I missed my prediction of Lakers in five: but in six still isn't half bad.
Now that the NBA playoffs have ended and we're waiting on an announcement for when the 2021 season will begin, all eyes are on NBA 2K21; which came out last month on previous generation consoles and added in unskippable ads after launch. In a little over two weeks the next-gen versions are on the way with a $70 price tag: one of the first-ever announcements before Sony followed suit.
So what is that extra $10 buying you? According to 2K Sports, it's a version of the game built for next-gen systems. While we'll be the judge of that when it actually hits, the publisher is sharing a video that goes over more details of the next-gen experience beyond the fidelity enhancements.
2K Sports is boasting quicker load times due to the SSD, "next-gen movement advances," "150 AI-powered characters" in the lower bowl of the arena for enhanced crowd reactions, and a "dynamic rail cam" that helps center on said visual upgrades. The roughly four-minute video below with director Mike Wang's commentary will give you a quick rundown. Although we've had brief looks in the past with quick cuts, this is one of the only times we've gotten raw unedited gameplay.
Genshin Impact has only been out for a month or so and developer miHoYo has already shared some big things in store for this already big game. But just recently they also held a "developer discussion" Q&A on their official website, discussing several popular issues; some of which have already been addressed.
Resin is a big point of contention, which allows players to engage in activities on a daily basis (or pay to increase it). It's not a necessary resource to manage if you're a casual fan, but hardcore folks might be interested in how miHoYo plans on changing it. Well, update 1.1 decreased the resin requirement from 1,600 to 1,200 for weekly battle pass missions, plus you can store up to 160 now by default (up from 120). Expect more resin tweaks in the future, as this is one of the more finicky elements of Genshin Impact.
Then there's the quality of life concerns. The inability to bind custom keys was a big omission (particularly for the PC edition) and the studio is rectifying that mistake. Update 1.1 also has key bindings and controller setup baked in. You'll also be able to filter artifacts by attribute in that same patch, plus wield a new item that lets you "set your own teleport waypoints." The best news though? Now it'll show which character has an item equipped with their own avatar rather than just a generic marker. As a reminder, 1.1 is coming on November 11.
There's also some inside baseball to read up on if you're a hardcore player: miHoYo gets into the nitty gritty of how multi-shield damage is calculated, as well as other elemental combat breakdowns. The upcoming update sounds on point with a good mix of gameplay and mechanical changes.
Developers Discussion [Genshin Impact]
Persona 5 Scramble localization is curiously absent from Koei Tecmo's quarterly report
Koei Tecmo has released its latest quarterly report, detailing its sales and projections for second quarter of 2020. However, conspicuous by its absence is any mention of the western localization of Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers.
The hack 'n' slash spin-off from the phenomenally successful JRPG Persona 5 hit PS4 and Nintendo Switch in Japan back in the fall of 2019. Given the success of titles such as Persona 5, Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight, and the recent PC port of Persona 4 Golden, a western release for Scramble seems like an absolute shoo-in, making its absence from Koei Tecmo's report a genuine curiosity.
Of course, this does not necessarily spell doomsday for western Persona fans. Perhaps Atlus has decided to self-publish the title in the west, or maybe Koei Tecmo has decided to keep quiet on the release until it has more concrete news - or even a release date. Additionally, this is also a Japanese report, so perhaps Koei consider the news of any western localization irrelevant its readers.
Atlus and Sega have taken proactive steps in recent years to transform the Persona brand into a globally successful franchise. The Persona 5 Scramble localization would be an obvious part of this plan. So while things may have gone all quiet on the Persona front for now, I wouldn't go breaking your stolen heart just yet.
Persona 5 Scramble localization not mentioned at Koei Tecmo report [Siliconera]
Netflix to produce Assassin's Creed live-action series
Streaming service Netflix has entered into a collaboration with publisher Ubisoft to produce several media projects related to the latter's long-running adventure franchise, Assassin's Creed.
The first of these projects is expected to be a live-action series, set to premiere on the streaming service at some point in the future. While there are no plot details to speak of, Netflix promises Assassin's Creed will be an "epic, genre-bending adventure," and has begun its search for a showrunner and other production crew members.
"We're excited to partner with Ubisoft and bring to life the rich, multilayered storytelling that Assassin's Creed is beloved for," said Netflix VP of Original Series, Peter Friedlander. "From its breathtaking historical worlds and massive global appeal as one of the best selling video game franchises of all time, we are committed to carefully crafting epic and thrilling entertainment based on this distinct IP and provide a deeper dive for fans and our members around the world to enjoy."
The live-action series is one of a number of projects that Netflix has on the books. The press release also hints at the possibilities of future "animated" and "anime" adventures set within the time-hopping franchise. Whether a live-action Assassin's Creed series receives the same level of global adoration as Netflix's The Witcher remains to be seen.
After fan demand, Nintendo is adding inverted control options to Mario 3D All-Stars
Super Mario 3D All-Stars arrived back in September and it's kind of been sitting quietly ever since.
I mean, it is a "limited-time release" after all: patching it or adding new features is kind of a weird area if it's just going to be gone in a couple of months. Alas, Nintendo has listened to the countless cries for inverted controls and will acquiesce: soon.
According to a new tweet from the Mario 35th anniversary account, version 1.1.0 of 3D All-Stars is coming around the pike. It'll launch on November 17, at which point "you'll be able to change the camera operation [to inverted] for all three titles."
Hey, I didn't know Mario was a flight sim?! Wakka wakka.
For all of your inverted fiends out there, this should be pretty exciting news, especially if you put it down and have been holding out for a patch. It should impact Mario Sunshine more proportionally, if you were having trouble aiming the FLUDD.
Super Mario [Twitter]
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War prepares to get its hands dirty
We are just a short fortnight away before once again loading up with the shadow dancers of Call of Duty: Black Ops. In Cold War, the latest entry in the bombastic spin-off series, our closed-door operators will again be tasked with performing morally grey and lawfully dubious objectives, with the fate of the free world hanging in the balance.
Activision has released a launch trailer for the new sequel, which will see CIA operatives Alex Mason, Frank Woods, and their fellow mercs hot on the trail of a Soviet spy known only as "Perseus." For a mission with only a single mark, it seems that much death and destruction will follow our point-team during their journey across the globe. And for a "Black Operation," the boys sure seem to be making a helluva lot of noise.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will feature a single-player story campaign, complete with multiple endings and a custom protagonist. The package will be rounded out with typical CoD multiplayer modes and the return of the beloved side-mode, Zombies. You can check out our thoughts on the recent multiplayer beta right here.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War launches November 13 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
Astro's Playroom brings out the uniqueness of the PS5's DualSense controller
When the PlayStation 5 ships on November 12, it'll arrive with a built-in game: Astro's Playroom. It's a very smart move by Sony, to evoke the era of pack-ins and demo discs with this inclusion.
Although Astro is a breezy "few hour" adventure, it also showcases one of the PS5's best features: the DualSense controller.
If you're waiting to see bad boy Vergil make his debut in Capcom's Devil May Cry 5, then the publisher has a few dates for your calendar. While the stylish, silver-haired antagonist will as part of PS5 and Xbox Series X release Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition on launch day, he will be a little late to the party on PS4 and Xbox One, ultimately arriving on December 15.
In addition to this news, Capcom has also confirmed that the Xbox Series S version of Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition will not feature ray-tracing effects. Regardless, Capcom is assuring all Xbox players that both the Series X and Series S editions of the game will run at "high frame rates up to 120FPS."
Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition is a revamped version of 2019's highly acclaimed hack 'n' slash sequel. Special Edition will feature upgraded visuals, all previously released DLC, and two new battle-hardened challenges - Legendary Dark Knight Mode and Turbo Mode - in order to provide the definitive experience for the Triple S adventure.
Contest: Win Fallback, a unique 2.5D roguelike platformer, on Steam
In today's contest you can win a Steam copy of highly-acclaimed roguelike Fallback!
If you're into high-rated indie titles, massive content updates, and not paying for video games, then today's your lucky day! The kind folks over at Microids have given us copies of the Very Positively Steam rated roguelike Fallback, which means you can win a copy for yourself!
The Baby Yoda Xbox controller looks cool but probably costs more than you want to pay
I suppose, if we're being pedantic and letting semantics get in the way, this isn't explicitly a Baby Yoda controller. It's a Mandalorian controller. But, something tells me people will just call it "The Baby Yoda controller" so let's get formalities out of the way.
Controller Gear, who makes officially licensed accessories, has a new Xbox controller for The Mandalorian. It's a gunmetal gray with the Mandalorian clan insignia on it. Most importantly, Baby Yoda is etched across the back.
This controller comes with a charging stand, which features Mando's helmet across the front. Here's what the whole package looks like:
A million people played the Battletoads reboot and the response was 'nice'
The 2020 revival of Battletoads is interesting on multiple fronts – not just as an out-of-nowhere reboot of the dormant beat-'em-up series, but also as a capital-n New take on Rash, Zitz, and Pimple.
As Chris said in his review, it's a "polarizing" game, one that juggles a lot of different elements with varying degrees of success. Will Battletoads travel further down this path, or is it a one-time deal? In the current Xbox Game Pass-fueled landscape, it feels like almost anything has green-light potential.
For what it's worth, over a million players have checked out Battletoads.
As Battletoads bounces past a million players, we've swiped some staggering in-game stats since launch! Poor Chet and his turbo bikes, we'll be surprised if he's still in business. Read the post for the lowdown and take a swing at the game today: https://t.co/ZNlGjdzGt0 pic.twitter.com/e1W3PHZGDW
— Rare Ltd. (@RareLtd) October 26, 2020
Rare tweeted out that figure and a few other silly statistics (you know the kind), including the number of Turbo Bike crashes (42.5 million) and how many collectibles players have picked up so far (8.6 million). Also worth noting: Rash is the crowd favorite. Zitz, meanwhile, is the tragic dead-last choice.
Adding more context to the million-player milestone, in a recent interview with Kotaku, Xbox head Phil Spencer said the "response to Battletoads was nice" and "Dlala did a good job with the game."
I don't feel strongly about the revival either way, but I'd like to see this team get another crack at Battletoads knowing what it now knows. I'm open to seeing the grand vision come to fruition beyond a single game, to say nothing of the potential to smooth out rough edges and incorporate online co-op.
Sad news about Zitz, though.
@RareLtd [Twitter]
Microsoft finally puts all its cards on the table with a full overview of the Xbox Series X
This next-gen console reveal cycle has been excruciatingly patchwork. Both Microsoft and Sony have slowly unveiled bits and pieces about their new machines, never collecting all the information we want in one place. We're left to go back to old information, apply it to the new details, hope we're interpreting it correctly, and assume that some unspoken-of details aren't mucking it all up. I guess that's how marketing beats go but it can be so frustrating from a consumer's perspective.
Finally, about two weeks away from next-gen's launch, Microsoft has completely shown its hand. This Xbox Series X video gives a full overview of all the things it does well, and it's all in one place just as you'd use the console. Xbox's principal program manager Linus Tech Tips Harrison Hoffman walks you through the entire demo.
Let's bullet-point the takeaways:
