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:
Podtoid asks: Is Ghost of Tsushima the most beautiful game on the PS4?
We're just weeks away from a new console generation and with it will come more beautifully imagined and realized worlds that will only be possible with better hardware. But as we've seen over the past few years, our current consoles are still powering some of the most jaw-dropping titles ever created. The PlayStation 4 in particular has been killing it with gorgeous games like The Last of Us: Part II, God of War, and Ghost of Tsushima, the latter of which just might be the most beautiful game found on the hardware.
That's just one of the topics of conversation for this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Chris, and Charlotte are on hand to talk open-world games, Just Dance, Street Fighter V, stupid ads in sports games, and measuring consoles in cats. All that, plus a huge announcement about a streaming deal, on Podtoid Episode 464.
Phil Spencer makes it perfectly clear that Xbox can't influence the direction of Bethesda quite yet
Ever since the morning where Microsoft dropped a bigger bombshell than the nukes in Fallout's lore, everyone has made a singular sweeping statement: Xbox acquired Bethesda.
That's not technically true yet. Microsoft and ZeniMax have completed negotiations and agreed upon terms. However, a sale isn't finalized until regulatory agencies that oversee mergers and acquisitions (likely the Securities and Exchanges Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and/or the Department of Justice) approve the deal.
In a recent interview with GameReactor, Xbox head Phil Spencer explains that he cannot yet start to direct Bethesda from a creative or business standpoint. Doing so would be illegal. "We haven't acquired ZeniMax," Spencer says. "We have announced our intention to acquire ZeniMax. It is going through regulatory approval and we don't see any issues there. We expect early in 2021 the deal will close."
He continues "I want people to know, I'm not sitting down with Todd Howard and Robert Altman and planning their future. Because I'm currently not allowed to do that, that would be illegal... But I get a lot of questions right now: 'is this game exclusive? Is this game exclusive?' And right now, that is not my job in regards to ZeniMax. My job is not to sit down and go through their portfolio and dictate what happens."
This is the exact arc Double Fine went through following the announced Microsoft acquisition at E3 2019. A few months later, we interviewed Double Fine founder Tim Schafer and he likened the process to the studio being in escrow. "The deal was agreed upon but there's this due diligence period. It's like we're in escrow," Schafer explained. "It's gonna be finalized later [in September 2019] and then we'll find out what it's really like. Right now, there's still a lot of business stuff to do to wrap it up. To officially stitch the companies together."
Soon enough Phil Spencer will be able to mandate that Elder Scrolls VII take place on the moon or that Arkane open five more studios because it's such a good developer. Or that Fallout 76 be officially renamed Fallout: This One Didn't Count. But until the deal actually closes, he'd be breaking the law if he started influencing Bethesda's direction.
Phil Spencer on exclusivity, monetisation, and game development [GameReactor]
Apex Legends Season 7's 'Stories from the Outlands' is a tearjerker
Apex Legends is gearing up for its seventh season on November 4, and at this point we know what to expect in general. Each season introduces a new playable character, and in the week before launch, we learn all of the juicy details. Today's entry in the "Stories from the Outlands" series sets the stage for the next legend, Horizon, though it doesn't make clear how she'll handle in the battle royale.
She was also teased in-game a couple weeks ago, with a small quest called "A Wee Experiment," which had the Scottish scientist leading players to newly installed gravity lifts across both the Kings Canyon and World's Edge maps. Given other in-game teases (Octane's jump pads, Rampart's paintball mod), it's pretty likely that the gravity lift will be a part of her kit. Other than that, we don't know, but we should learn more over the next week.
What today's video does let us know is her origin story. She was a mom who went looking for a new energy source for society, but was betrayed at the last moment and left to drift near a black hole. Relativity doing what it does, she escapes a fate of starvation, but while she only spends a short time in limbo, 87 years have passed for the rest of the universe. She returns to look for her son, to fulfill the promise that she would come back for him, though much later than originally expected. Presumably, she could also be harboring a grudge for the corporation that left her out in space to die, which may lead to her entry into the Apex Games.
We have some additional information about Season 7 via the official Apex Legends website. There will be a third map set on Olympus, and some sort of vehicle called the Trident. If past seasons are any indication, we can expect a couple more videos leading up to the start of the season. We should be in for a gameplay trailer showing off the new map and the Trident, a battle pass trailer exhibiting the new cosmetics, and finally a character introduction video focused on Horizon's abilities.
As I sat down to begin playing Ghostrunner for review, I started explaining the basics of the game to my significant other. When I got to the point about it featuring a one-hit kill mechanic, I was questioned why I would play a game that has such a potential to frustrate me. I didn't have a good answer other than the fact that when you win, the good feelings wash away all the anger and there's something cathartic in that.
Ghostunner absolutely put me through my strides and tested the limits of my willpower, but the joy of victory was worth it all in the end in this high-paced sci-fi ninja romp.
Someone added drums to the Luigi's Mansion 3 Egad theme and it absolutely rules
Every so often I get the itch to jump back into Luigi's Mansion 3. Sure the multiplayer could be better: but the story is such a breezy thing to replay that it's easy to get sucked in. This video from Coryeavesap makes it very easy to explain why.
Noting that they "got Luigi's Mansion 3 for Christmas last year," they held onto the game for all of 2020 to save it for this spooky October month (neat idea!); and have been "vibing super hard" on Egad's ringtone. I know the feeling! It's one of my favorite little musical bits of the past year.
Coryeavesap decided to take it to the next level though, putting a drum beat to the ringtone. The result is a very impressive solo that you can listen to below. Since Egad's theme changes with each iteration, I wouldn't mind a new take on it similar to this in the fourth game.
I mean, we are getting a fourth Luigi's Mansion at some point, right? It would be cruel not to! Plus, given the insane (and ever-rising) install base of the Switch, it would behoove Nintendo to pump out a few sequels to some successful games before the next system.
Star Wars: Squadrons' free Mandalorian DLC has a Baby Yoda bobblehead
"Star Wars: Squadrons won't have any post-launch content" is a headline we wrote earlier this month. Less than three weeks later, we find out that isn't explicitly true.
Ahead of The Mandalorian's second season debuting on Disney+, Star Wars: Squadrons is getting some Mandalorian-themed cosmetics. It's a free set of eight unlockable items -- some universal, and some exclusive to New Republic and Imperial ships.
Here are some of the items in the Mandalorian DLC:
Dragon Marked for Death Ver. 3.1.3 features a monster list of adjustments
Inti Creates has released a huge update for its platform adventure Dragon Marked for Death. Available to download right now on all platforms, Version 3.1.3 brings a huge list of adjustments, bug fixes, and balance tweaks to the multiplayer title on PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.
First and foremost, 20 new quests have been added for Level 120 players, offering increased XP, rewards, and a higher percentage of rare loot for top-tier adventurers. All of the player characters have been tweaked across the board, with Empress, Warrior, Shinobi, Witch, and other classes having gone through an intricate re-balance. For the most part, all characters have been left in a better position than they were before.
The huge catalog of weapons, gear, and accessories has also been re-balanced, with changes made to the stats and effects attached to both Dragon Marked for Death's arsenal of death-dealers and its sharp wardrobe. In addition, several nagging bugs and issues have finally been corrected. There are far too many individual changes to list here, but hardy adventurers can check out the full patch notes over on the official website.
Are you going to replay God of War on PS5? With 60fps support and New Game+, I definitely will
Aside from playing actual PlayStation 5 games, one of the first things I want to do with the console is revisit old PS4 favorites – especially games with uncapped frame rates that stand to benefit the most.
One such release is 2018's God of War, which will be even better on a PS5. As Sony Santa Monica tweeted this morning, God of War will run at 60 frames per second (with the Favor Performance option selected), your PS4 save file will transfer (this is a backward-compatible game, after all!), and New Game+ is still an enticing opportunity for those of us who never made time for a second playthrough.
Whether you’re picking up the game for the first time or looking to finish that NG+ save, God of War (2018) on the #PS5 will offer:
— Santa Monica Studio Is Hiring (@SonySantaMonica) October 26, 2020
ðŸŽžï¸ Up to 60 FPS using the ‘Favor Performance’ video option
🎮 Save Transfers â€" start right where you left off on the PS4!
This summary might not come as a surprise – the original PS4 game already had visual/performance options (that you probably messed around with if you played on a PS4 Pro), so it makes sense that it would fare even better on PS5 without needing a significant update – but it's worth reiterating.
It's also interesting that this is how Sony is handling (at least two of its) high-profile PS4 games on PS5. God of War will just work on the new console – that's it! Nothing wild. Don't expect bells and whistles. If you were really hoping for 4K and 60fps, it doesn't sound like that's in the cards (barring an update).
Sony Santa Monica also noted that God of War III Remastered save files will transfer to PS5, which, 1) any takers? and 2) I didn't know that needed to be clarified. (Maybe it's more of a PSA than anything.)
With Ragnarok seemingly still coming in 2021, I can't procrastinate much longer.
@SonySantaMonica [Twitter]
Nintendo still dominates the UK Charts ahead of November's major releases
Another very quiet release week has seen Electronic Arts' football simulator FIFA 21 retain the top spot of the UK Charts, despite a huge week-on-week drop in physical sales of around 50%.
A lack of major launches - along with the continued slump in physical sales across the board - results in a stagnant chart listing, which sees Square Enix's Marvel's Avengers, Take 2's Grand Theft Auto V, and Activision's Crash Bandicoot 4 jostle for position against a string of Nintendo Switch mainstays, including Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Ring Fit Adventure, and Super Mario 3D All-Stars.
Next month will most definitely switch things up, as the gaming industry launches an entirely new generation of hardware. Accompanying that will also be a run of major releases, including Ubisoft's Watch Dogs: Legion, Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and Nintendo's Pikmin 3 Switch port, among others. With the holiday season approaching, the stage is set for a major chart shakeup.
The new Destiny 2 Twitch Prime (sorry, Prime Gaming) drop includes three exotic items
Man it's going to take me the rest of the year to get that right. "Prime Gaming."
In case you missed it, Twitch Prime is no more. Oh no! Wait, there's more. It's "Prime Gaming" now, and everything you redeemed in the past is still linked to your account. In passing, I still refer to it as Twitch Prime: especially in the context of Destiny 2, which has had a number of loot drops under the old name.
But alas Amazon is moving forward with Prime Gaming, so we need to get with the times! This month's Prime Gaming drop includes three exotics (Cryptomnesia Sparrow, Ada-1's Lone Wolf Ship, Peerless Precision Ghost Shell) and one legendary emote (Flare Gun). The Ada-1 ship will probably be the most enticing drop for lore nuts, but the Ghost Shell is pretty cool looking as well.
As a reminder, you can grab all of these in the hangar in The Tower via Amanda Holliday. They won't be delivered to your mailbox. Now is a fairly good time to stock up, as Bungie is driving headfirst into a new expansion next month, as well as a next-gen upgrade with drastic visual overhauls.
I remember when Destiny first made the leap from PS3/Xbox 360 to PS4/Xbox One! It feels like it was yesterday.
This Week at Bungie [Bungie.net]
Rainbow Six Siege crew transform into unnerving puppets for 'Sugar Fright' Halloween event
Every Halloween, Ubisoft's multiplayer shooter Rainbow Six Siege likes to get into the spirit of the season with strange and usually horrific in-game events. But seeing as 2020 is a truly maniacal year, Siege's new event, "Sugar Fright," is taking a particularly weird turn.
Beginning tomorrow, October 27, Sugar Fright is set within the head of Canadian operator Frost, as her subconscious whisks the R6 trapper away to a dream-scape world of "candy and death." Here, four operators battle it out in new a Deathmatch-style mode, "Candy War" which includes re-spawn abilities (a first for the notoriously punishing shooter), and the caramel-coated goal of gathering as much candy as possible before the time limit expires.
Oh, and also, everyone is now a freaky-ass bug-eyed puppet.
Yes, for a little added weirdness, a selection of operators - including Ela, Castle, Pulse, I.Q. Goyo, Zofia, and Frost herself are now stylized with Muppet-style heads, a nightmarish vision that has to be seen to be believed. These looks, along with new, candy-based weapon skins, can be unlocked in limited-time Sugar Fright packs - which are earned in-game or purchased at a cost of 300 R6 Credits/125,000 Renown each.
The Sugar Fright event will end on November 10, so be sure to satisfy that sweet tooth while you can.
I'm putting the kettle on, fancy a cup of Persona 5 Royal tea?
We're only at the halfway mark on Monday and, frankly, I might already be out of gas for the week. But still, there's many a way to reinvigorate a tired drive and a lousy brain - a pleasant walk, a quick round of Huntdown, clawing at your scalp while ugly crying (my personal favorite), or settling down with a nice cup of tea.
And what tea could be more perfect for the video game fan in your life than this all-new Persona 5 tea, which is headed to Japan stores in December courtesy of blend specialists Tea Salon of Ginza. Each member of the Phantom Thieves has been given their own specific blend, offering bespoke flavors for Joker, Lady Ann, Morgana, Futaba, and even Persona 5 Royal newcomer, Kasumi. Each blend is attuned to the character's personality, which is a neat idea. I bet Goro Akechi's tastes of piss and betrayal.
A small tin of Persona 5 tea will retail for ¥1,800, or roughly $17 USD. A cheaper option offers the tea in paper packaging for ¥1,250, or about $12 USD. You can check out the full range of flavors on the official Tea Salon website. You can also find full translations for each blend over at Persona Central.
Which is your favorite? I'd personally go for the sharp tang of Makoto's Ginger and Caramel. Sounds delicious, as befitting a brew fit for a Queen.
Persona 5 Royal tea blends to be released in December 2020 [Persona Central]
We'll get our first look at Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 soon
It's kind of amazing how far the Azure Striker Gunvolt series has come.
I've talked about it quite a bit over the past few years, but multiple core iterations and several spinoffs: that's quite the win for Inti Creates, who has managed to craft multiple new IPs and revivals in recent years. They're really killing it year after year; and hopefully Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 will continue that trend.
Due out on Switch at some point next year, Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 brings back the titular Gunvolt after Copen took the spotlight away with his spinoff, as well as the sword-wielding newcomer Kirin. As is tradition it was announced at BitSummit earlier this year, but since then we've been waiting for any real news beyond the basics. It won't be much longer now, though.
Inti Create says that we'll get to peek behind the curtain soon enough, as the game will be shown to the public for the first time ever at the Akihabara UDX digital games expo on November 29. The studio says that "playable demos will be on-hand" as well. That's a little over a month! I'm beyond excited, as I'm pumped to see how Kirin plays. Hopefully she does the old school melee style justice: I know Inti Creates is capable of it.
Inti Creates [Twitter]
New Science Adventure entry Steins;???? announced
Japanese publisher MAGES has announced a new entry in the Science Adventure series of visual novels. The title was announced during a MAGES live stream that took place this weekend.
Details are incredibly slim, but the new Science Adventure project currently exists under the tentative title of Steins;????, with the latter word expected to be revealed at a later date. MAGES president Chiyomaru Shikura has revealed that the new game should be considered a sequel, rather than an expansion, and while it will be a property in and of itself, fans can expect characters from Steins;Gate to put in an appearance.
Neither platforms nor a release date were confirmed.
New Science Adventure game Steins;???? announced [Gematsu / GamesTalk]
One of the few next-gen exclusives, PS5's Destruction AllStars, has been delayed into 2021
Delays are happening in 2020. It's just the reality of things. And sometimes those delays come down to the wire. Destruction AllStars is the latest casualty of this crazy year.
In case you forgot, Destruction AllStars was revealed earlier this year and is one of the few true launch PS5 exclusives (generational exclusives, really), along with Demon's Souls and Astro's Playroom (the rest are also being released on either PC or PS4). Today, Sony director of product development Pete Smith broke the news that Destruction AllStars would indeed be missing the next-gen launch, and has been pushed back to February 2021.
There is good news, though. When it does arrive, it'll be a PlayStation Plus title (and as such, is one of the first-ever confirmed PS5 Plus perks). Smith notes that there will be more news for the game next week, which is great; as we know very little about it. He also confirms that if you already pre-ordered it you will be refunded: whether it's digitally or at retail.
For reference, Destruction AllStars was previously a $70 game. Perhaps Sony wasn't happy with the pre-order numbers and decided to make it a Plus perk. It's a smart move in multiple ways, as it'll allow this multiplayer-centric game to thrive with a bigger playerbase out of the gate. Everyone wins with this.
Destruction AllStars coming to PlayStation Plus in February [PlayStation Blog]
(Update) Here's how to get your free Ash's Pikachu in Pokemon Sword and Shield
Today during this morning's special Pokémon stream, The Pokémon Company unveiled a new promo for Sword and Shield. Naturally, it involves Pikachu.
From here on out, special Pikachu will be distributed for Sword and Shield, tailored around the idea of it being "Ash's Pikachu" with eight different hats. The first one is available today, with more coming later "through various means." If history is anything to go by, codes doled out during tournament streams and the like are a safe bet.
To get the initial rat, enter "P1KACHUGET" into your copy of the game.
To unlock the second version, use: "1CH00SEY0U."
A third version has been released: "P1KAADVANCE."
As well as a fourth version: "V0LTTACKLEP1KA."
And the fifth version: "P1KABESTW1SH."
And the sixth: "KAL0SP1KA."
Here's the seventh: "ULTRAP1KA."
There's even going to be a full website for it! It's not live at the time of publication, but The Pokémon Company says more info will be available here. You can also take a look at the array of hats below.
My Time at Portia sequel My Time at Sandrock announced for PC and consoles
Fans of life-sim RPG My Time at Portia will be waking up to the delightful news that developer Pathea Games is hard at work on an all-new sequel. Expected to launch in Early Access in the spring of 2021, My Time at Sandrock is currently in development for PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch.
My Time at Sandrock hopes to expand upon 2019's Portia in every way, with an overhauled engine, updated visuals and sound, and a wide variety of locations, tasks, and NPCs, all set within a beautiful "Miyazaki-style" world. Set in the titular city, located deep within the Eufaula Desert, players will be charged with gathering resources, scavenging for relics, and working to create a functioning town and economy for Sandrock's civilians and merchants.
The new sequel hopes to include a new multiplayer mode, as well as an improved battle system, more relationship options, and a slew of back-breaking tasks related to building, farming, and cultivating crops and products for the townsfolk. A new storyline promises "heroes and villains" alongside "comedy and tragedy".
To this end, Pathea Games has opened a Kickstarter campaign, in order to raise additional funds to help with the scale of the new title. The developer has set a target of $100,000 USD, to help with staffing costs and to secure self-publishing rights. You can find out more about the back rewards, alongside further detail on the sequel itself, over on Kickstarter.
Xbox Game Pass is a good mix of new and old in late October and November
The time has come for more info on what the rest of October brings for Xbox Game Pass, and it's looking good. Oh! And a little preview of November isn't half bad either.
Old school adventure games are absolutely dominating the rest of the month, including the spooky Day of the Tentacle Remastered, which is joined by Grim Fandango Remastered and Full Throttle Remastered. Never in my youth, did I ever think that these games would live on beyond the joy I experienced playing them at my uncle's house. They always felt like such niche little things, so seeing them still around, decades later, is a sight.
The rest of October will also be populated by some newer titles, including Carto, Five Nights at Freddy's, PUBG, ScourgeBringer and Unruly Heroes. Well, newer in comparison to when the aforementioned adventure games originally came out: sans "remastered" versions.
November is looking good too, with Celeste, Comanche, Deep Rock Galactic, Eastshade and Knights and Bikes hitting on November 5. After that, ARK: Survival Evolved Explorer's Edition arrives on November 17. Celeste makes everything better and instantly legitimizes that month. Remember that by the time November 17 rolls around, the Xbox Series X will have been released.
Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass [Xbox Wire]
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is headed to mobile platforms 'soon'
Koji Igarashi's lavish adventure title Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is coming to iOS and Android. According to mobile publisher NetEase and developer ArtPlay, the dangerous and labyrinthine quest of Shardbinder Miriam will be arriving on the mobile platforms "soon."
Released for PC and consoles in 2019, following a long and somewhat troubled development period, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is Igarashi's first post-Castlevania release, and features the opulent surroundings, grim monsters, great music, and exploration elements that cemented the auteur's previous releases among the all-time classics. Players guide Miriam through a huge castle and its surrounding grounds, equipping new weapons, skills, and spells while defeating an army of hellish enemies en route to a showdown with the vengeful Gebel.
Giveaway: Transformers: Battlegrounds (NA- XB1, Steam, NSW)
Welcome folks! It's been awhile since I've popped my face up on the ole front page. Wes really needed a night off (he works hard for y'all), so I'm here to bring you some Transformers action (strategy)! We have a copy for Xbox One, Steam, and Nintendo Switch to giveaway (sorry PS4 folk), so let's rollout and see what Transformers: Battlegrounds is all about:
Review: G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout
When "movable fighting man" G.I. Joe first made his way to British shores in the 1960s, he was renamed as the less nation-specific "Action Man." Despite this amusingly bland new moniker, Action Man was still a smash success with British kids, going on to sell thousands of dolls, ("It's an action figure, mum!"), in the ensuing decades.
The plastic military man and his kung-fu grip became so huge here in Britain, that when the super-popular G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero animated series made the leap overseas, it also needed to be renamed, to keep marketing in line with the toy range. So do you know what we got? Action Force. ACTION FORCE. The Brits are nothing if not great at poorly localizing American properties. That and making abysmal political decisions.
Nice history lesson, Moyse, but what does this have to do with G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout, GameMill Entertainment's new video game adaptation of the aforementioned Saturday morning show? Honestly, not all that much. But what's important is that now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
There was a brief time in my childhood where I was obsessed with the Iditarod. The allure of that type of competition, just a guy and his dogs traveling the snowy wilds of Alaska, was enticing to a more youthful version of me. My obsession with it resulted in Iron Will finding its way into my family's VCR on an almost weekly basis.
Like most of the things I fancied in my youth, the call of the wild eventually stopped speaking to me. I outgrew the childish notions of becoming a world-famous dog sled racer and settled for more realistic goals, like becoming a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. I'd even forgotten how often I watched that movie in the '90s until a little trailer for The Red Lantern popped up on my YouTube feed and reminded me that, oh yeah, I'm still kind of obsessed with this.
You could win a PlayStation 5 from Daily Esports GG
[Just a friendly reminder we're giving away a brand new PlayStation 5 -- just participate in the Daily Esports forums for your chance to qualify to win!]
Well, this is a pretty big one.
The next console generation is nearly upon us, which means it'll soon be time for folks to trade up to some brand new hardware. However, the cost of entry for the next console generation is going to be considerably lower for one lucky individual.
www.DailyEsports.gg is giving away a free PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. We launched some brand new forums and comments software and want people kicking the tires on it. If core esports aren't your thing, they also frequently cover Pokemon trade codes and various game guides, so please consider adding it to your feed.
Our family of websites have committed to purchasing the console for a member of the site's forums. To win it, all you need to do is head on over to the Daily Esports forums and start chatting! It's really that easy. Destructoid founder Papa Niero is also the invisible hand there, along with editor-in-chief and chief of all beards, Taha Zaidi. Go say hi!
On November 24th, we'll pick out one member of the forums and pre-order the console to be shipped directly to them. Or, if they're not in North America, give them the equivalent cost of the console in US Dollars via bank transfer, Paypal, or Amazon gift card.
Head on over to the Daily Esports forums for more details. Good luck!
