Xbox is done divulging console sales numbers
We'll be able to estimate but never truly know how many units the Xbox Series X or the Xbox Series S moved. It could be one, it could be one hundred billion. It could be somewhere in the middle.
Microsoft's done disclosing how many consoles it sells simply because that's not a relevant metric for Xbox anymore. More is better -- yes, obviously -- but Xbox head Phil Spencer says that's not the game division's primary focus anymore.
In an interview with The Guardian, Spencer commented "I know it seems manipulative and I'll apologize for that, but I don't want my team's focus on [overall console sales]. The primary outcome of all the work that we do is how many players we see, and how often they play. That is what drives Xbox."
Instead, Spencer will put the spotlight on active players and subscribers. Considering that Xbox's strategy is for people to be able to play as much as possible on any platform, which is something that Xbox Game Pass greatly enables, it makes sense that Spencer isn't interested in talking hardware count. It's why Microsoft has started divulging Game Pass subscriber totals in recent financial reports.
It also probably doesn't behoove Microsoft to talk sales numbers. The goal for Microsoft is to get people in the Xbox ecosystem, whether that be on console, PC, or mobile. Xbox actively gives people options that discourage buying new hardware. Sony, on the other hand, has plenty of games that you need a PS5 to play. The companies have different goals and those diverging directions almost certainly means that PS5 will outsell Xbox Series X.
However, Spencer guarantees that he won't have a change of heart if Xbox does actually start to outperform PlayStation. "I can promise you I won't do that," Spencer says regarding divulging sales figures in this hypothetical scenario. He remains firm that player counts paint a better picture for how Xbox is doing. Given the way that Xbox has spent the last few years positioning itself, his logic checks out.
Xbox's Phil Spencer: 'We're not driven by how many consoles we sell' [The Guardian]
Rocket League's toughest seasonal challenges just got a lot less ridiculous
Anyone who found them fretting over Rocket League's revamped challenge system can breathe a lot easier. Psyonix effectively nerfed some of the toughest challenges of the season so that they're much more attainable.
Alongside Rocket League going free-to-play, Psyonix overhauled and expanded how challenges work. Now, there's a set of seasonal challenges that accompany the usual weekly challenges. The season challenges are divided into four tiers, and Psyonix has been unlocking new tiers on a schedule. There are also free and premium challenges based on whether you bought the current Rocket Pass (which is Rocket League's battle pass). All of this goes toward earning XP and getting item drops.
There's incentive to knock out all the season's challenges because Psyonix has promised a reward to anyone who completes them all. Two of them have had some players a bit overwhelmed, though: Reach the quarterfinals of four tournaments, and accumulate 200 assists (in approximately a month). Getting to the quarterfinals requires winning the first two rounds in a Psyonix-scheduled tournament.
Today, Psyonix has changed those requirements. Now, you only need to simply participate in four tournaments and net 50 assists. The former ensures that there's less of a skill barrier (especially for people who don't play 3s), and the latter makes the late-season stuff less of a grind. Truly, 200 is a lot to rack up in a month unless you play a ton.
As Rocket League navigates and matures through free-to-play, Psyonix will get a better feel for how this should all work. Chalk these too-tough challenges up to growing pains. Now, they're a lot more reasonable.
Happening Now: Changes to Season 1 Challenges + Tournaments Feedback [reddit]
When Godfall was first announced, it had a few telltale signs of an apocryphal "games as a service" crash: Gearbox and a loot-based focus were enough to raise some eyebrows.
As it turns out, there are no microtransactions in the game (that's good!). But, it is one of the few $70 next-gen titles (that's bad!). Let's see how it fares.
The next time you play Bloodstained, make a new save to play as Bloodless
Every now and then, I catch a passing glimpse of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, and I think "Yeah, I could obsessively play that again." The moment hasn't come yet, but one of these days, it will.
Some of you might be at that point with the arrival of Bloodless, a boss-turned-bonus-playable-character. You can play as her with a new save file named "BLOODLESS." (Classic!) As for the lady in red's stat progression, be on the lookout for crystal globes to earn "new skills and improve her attributes."
This update is live on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and – you know how this goes – it's coming to Nintendo Switch in December. The developers also worked in bug fixes for Bloodstained's Randomizer Mode.
It's worth mentioning that Bloodless is bonus content that's separate from the "previous development roadmap." With that in mind, the game is still getting a new "unnamed playable character."
Realistically, I'm probably going to hold off until then.
Review: Destiny 2: Beyond Light
Amid some connection issues, I've been blasting my way through Destiny 2's Beyond Light expansion.
How are things going? Well, about the same as they have been for a while.
Halo TV show gets the Cortana actress from the games
Showtime's Halo television series was poised to make a grave mistake. It was going to cast Cortana as someone other than the voice we've heard in our ears across every mainline Halo game. What a catastrophe that'd have been.
Because of COVID-19, the near-error has been righted. IGN reveals that the Halo TV show has recast the role of Cortana with the role's original voice actress. Originally, Natascha McElhone was set to play both Dr. Catherine Halsey and Cortana. However, the pandemic imposed scheduling problems that forced McElhone to back out of the Cortana role.
Now, Jen Taylor is taking over. Taylor is the most recognizable Cortana, as she has served as the voice actress in every major Halo game. She's also the voice of Cortana as the virtual assistant on Windows devices.
This iteration of the Halo TV show was announced more than two years ago as a 10-episode season that'd be produced as a collaborative effort between Amblin Entertainment and 343 Industries. There's no real indication as to how far along into production the project is, meaning we have no idea when it'll actually premiere.
Halo TV Series Recasts Cortana With Original Voice Actress [IGN]
Review in Progress: Sackboy: A Big Adventure
LittleBigPlanet has a really special place in my heart for many reasons, but chiefly, it was one of the first games that my wife and I were excited for as a couple. When we were dating we'd introduce each other to all sorts of oddities and new experiences, but when that first LBP preview hit in a magazine we picked up, it was something we could share together.
Over the last 12 years, somehow this underdog is still alive after being bounced around multiple developers and subject to several spinoffs. Now it's back, in adventure form: and we're playing it together once again.
Grounded is worth checking out again, especially if you just got an Xbox Series X/S
I knew this update was coming, but I'm still kind of shocked now that it's here: Grounded has a massive koi fish watching over the unnerving pond biome, and it's giving me nervous Sekiro flashbacks.
Rather than just setting the scaly fiend loose and calling it a day, the large-scale update includes more in-depth swimming mechanics (with recipes for items like the Gill Tube rebreather and Fluid Flippers) and new overgrown foes to stare down including pudgy tadpoles and nightmarish diving bell spiders.
In a letter shared by the team, Obsidian said it has "a bunch of quality-of-life fixes" and "improvements to base building" on its plate, to say nothing of flying threats, which are "a high-priority feature." The developers are still pumping out smaller updates, but they're "focusing on larger content releases."
The Koi Pond zone isn't finished yet – underwater caves and "a revamp of the lab in the depths" are on the docket – but looking ahead, Obsidian will shift to the Haze biome "and then the Sandbox."
"Once we feel all the content is in a good place, the next step is a story, quest, and content pass over all the existing labs," said Obsidian. "The goal is to unify the experience by adding quest connective tissue and a satisfying payoff for completing each lab. In an upcoming story update, you will be able to complete this quest, which will tie into what we are calling the first story chapter of Grounded."
Grounded has surpassed five million players thanks in large part to its inclusion in Xbox Game Pass. If you're struggling to find something to play in the library (analysis paralysis is very real!), I'd give it a nod for sure – especially the 60FPS version for Xbox Series X/S. This world is so much fun to explore.
I have no doubt that when everything is said and done, Grounded will be one of my survival favorites.
Sam and Max are coming to wreck VR in This Time It's Virtual
It's been a pretty wild week for fans of Steve Purcell's iconic comic-book characters Sam and Max. Not only did we receive news of a series of upcoming remasters for the duo's Telltale adventures, but now the freelance police are getting set to take their crime-fightin' ways to the untapped realm of virtual reality.
As revealed by developer HappyGiant, Sam and Max: This Time It's Virtual will see the player recruited to work alongside our favorite dog and rabbity-type thing investigation team. After being put through a series of training courses to ascertain that they have said skills to pay the bills, the player will be dispatched to Sam and Max's neighborhood, on a mission to root out evil and loose change.
Sam and Max: This Time It's Virtual's development team is made up of a party of franchise veterans, including team members from both the Telltale Games series, as well as the classic 1993 Lucasarts adventure Sam and Max Hit the Road. Steve Purcell is, of course, on-hand as a story, design, and writing consultant, ensuring that the duo's personal brand of verbal abuse is in check. You can check out new gameplay footage in the trailer below.
Sam and Max: This Time It's Virtual will launch on unspecified VR platforms in early 2021.
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a photo-snapping chill time from the makers of Monument Valley
I've really dropped the ball covering games for Apple Arcade this year, even though its selection of titles has only improved in recent weeks and months. It's really living up to its expectations, bringing subscribers fun, ad-and-microtransaction-free experiences that are all too rare in the mobile arena. There have been a lot of fun games to hit the platform recently, but the best may be yet to come.
Developer ustwo Games today dropped a gameplay trailer for its upcoming title Alba: A Wildlife Adventure. The game features young, precocious child Alba who's on vacation visiting her grandparents on an island in the Mediterranean. As an animal lover, she wants to document all of the island's fauna with her smartphone, but when she sees critters in distress, she'll have to reach out to the town folk to help save them.
New Mortal Kombat 11 Mileena trailer gives you plenty to sink your teeth into
Y'all looking forward to the return of Mileena? I know I am. The deadly clone of Princess Kitana will be arriving in Mortal Kombat 11 in a little under a week from now, alongside fellow kombatants Rain and - Sly Stallone himself - John Rambo.
NetherRealm Studios has released a second trailer, giving Mileena's fans another look at their usurped Empress. The video not only showcases ol' fang-face's acrobaticfighting style, but also gives us our first look at some of her Brutalities, which include her classic "nail-spitter" fatality from 1995's Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. We also get to see some of her alternate looks, including a wide variety of ornate sai daggers and sinister face-masks.
Also on display is a neat "side-shave" haircut, which suits the psycho-sibling quite well.
Mileena, Rambo, and Rain will all be available to purchase on November 17 as part of Kombat Pack 2. The same day will also see the launch of Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, containing the base game, the Aftermath expansion, and both Kombat Packs, on current and next-gen platforms. In addition, players who already own MK 11 on PS4 and Xbox One will be able to upgrade to a visually enhanced edition of the fighter on the respective next-gen platform free of charge.
This Smash Ultimate event poster features Kirby at his most masochistic
Just look at this poster. I mean, really look at it.
What might seem like an innocent ad for an upcoming Super Smash Bros. Ultimate event is a tad more insidious the more you stare at it. All of them are completely possessed, eating meat products that may or may not consist of other combatants. Yoshi eats steak? I thought he was a vegetarian with all of the fruit from Super Mario World.
Bowser, Dedede and Wario? Yeah that checks out, though I can see Wario being secretly vegan when he's not with his friends. But Kirby? He's arguably the creepiest of them all, ready to eat the actual plates the food is on.
Rant aside, you probably want some info about this actual in-game thing, right? "All Mouth" starts on November 13 and will run through the weekend; allowing players to take control of fighters "whose deadliest weapon might be their mouth." The levels are also "chock-full of consumables."
It's a neat idea! But that Kirby will probably haunt your dreams tonight. Here's another look!
Nintendo of Europe [Twitter]
Feel the colorful retro vibe of Shiren the Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate
Are you amped for the return of Shiren the Wanderer? If so, then you'll be equally amped for this new trailer, providing an overview for what will be the fifth entry in the long-running RPG franchise, headed to PC and Nintendo Switch next month.
Blossoming out of the Mystery Dungeon franchise way back in the mid-1990s, Shiren the Wanderer is a roguelike adventure series which sees the titular hero brave dank caverns and danker dungeons on a series of fantasy adventures, often involving the saving of a nation/planet/galaxy (delete as applicable.)
Destiny 2's PVP component will be 120 FPS on new consoles
Destiny 2's "next-gen upgrade" is shaping up to be pretty boss. It doesn't come until December 8 (nearly a month after the latest expansion), but it's great on paper regardless.
Next-gen console owners can expect 4K resolution, as well as 60FPS, a field of view slider (secretly the best bonus), faster load times (also good), cross-generational play (read: inside the same console family) and free version upgrades, even on PS5. But those sneaky folks at Bungie managed to add something else into the overall rundown this week: 120hz Crucible support for both Series X and PS5 users.
In case you don't follow Destiny 2, Crucible is the main PVP mode of Destiny, allowing folks to play through modes like capture the flag, deathmatch/team deathmatch, Call of Duty's kill confirmed, and more. There are some people who are just Crucible hounds and that's all they play, but it's also a great way to rack up some rewards, even if you're mostly a PVE person.
120hz is a big upgrade indeed, but Bungie reminds us that not every TV will support it. If you can run it, Destiny 2 will "switch to 120hz" just for Crucible play, but with a "lowered resolution and some lowered advanced graphics settings." "All other modes remain at 4K/60FPS, Bungie warns.
Although I've never really been a fan of how Bungie handles PVP overall, 120hz ensures that I'll be messing around with it here and there.
The Next Generation of Destiny [Bungie.net]
Xbox boss says he's 'played quite a bit of Elden Ring,' calls it Miyazaki's 'most ambitious game'
I don't think anyone is as excited for Elden Ring as me. I've been there day one (or before) for nearly every From Software game since...Armored Core 2, which is about when I learned that they existed in earnest, and King's Field games weren't magically grown on an RPG tree somewhere. They're a special studio, in part due to president Hidetaka Miyazaki's leadership and beautiful mind style approach to game design. As it turns out, Xbox boss Phil Spencer thinks so too.
Speaking to GameSpot, Spencer reveals out of nowhere that he's "played quite a bit" of Elden Ring, From Software's new project that was mysteriously revealed ages ago and went radio silent. Spencer calls this "the most ambitious game [Miyazaki] has done," which is high praise given that his games are full of subtle lore hints from top to bottom: all of which require a ton of groundwork. Not to mention the strong action-RPG framework on top of all of that.
Spencer says that Miyazaki is a "good friend," and notes that he "loves seeing him challenging himself." When Spencer tests Elden Ring, Miyazaki allegedly leaves the room, then comes back and discusses the game as a team. It's an adorable concept and now I need a buddy comedy with them in it.
Either way, Spencer is being vague here regarding cold hard details on Elden Ring, but he's told us enough. It's absolutely his job to hype up a game that's appearing on Xbox from a Japanese studio, but it also means two things. Spencer is cozy with From Software, which could impact a potential decision to acquire a Japanese studio.
Also, Elden Ring is not a myth. It exists, and it is playable. Which means it can stay as the number one game on my "most anticipated" list.
Phil Spencer On Xbox And Japan, Halo's Future, Playing Elden Ring, And More [GameSpot]
Danganronpa series is currently on sale on Steam
If you've ever been curious about diving into the murder and mayhem of the Danganronpa franchise, then now might be the perfect time, as multiple titles from Kazutaka Kodaka's grisly 'n' gripping adventure series are currently discounted on PC via Steam.
As of today, wannabe sleuths can bag several Danganronpa titles at around 60% cheaper than their regular retail prices. Original entry Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc and its sequel Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair are both in the mix, alongside the critically acclaimed Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony and spin-off entry Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls.
And if Danganronpa isn't your bag, baby, then several other Spike Chunsoft titles are also enjoying price reductions, including excellent sandbox wrestling title Fire Pro-Wrestling World, the Zero Escape series, and a run of Steins;Gate visual novels. The sale ends on November 16, so act fast!
Spike Chunsoft Publisher Sale [Steam]
Fallout 76's next big expansion launches on December 1
In this crazy world of ours, there is but one constant: Fallout 76 will continue to be updated.
And in some ways, salvaged, from the disaster of a state it launched with in 2018. But while the team over at Bethesda tackles constant quality of life upgrades and bug fixes on a regular basis, we do get massive free expansions from time to time. The next one drops on December 1.
We've been waiting for Steel Dawn for what feels like ages, but now a new trailer for the update has finally given us the aforementioned release date. It's too close to the target to be delayed (knock on wood), so folks out there who still play Fallout 76 will have some extra content to look forward to before the final holiday rush of releases.
This is directly after the update that adds in underground customizable shelters, and the advent of the next battle (season) pass, which heralds in allies. Bethesda has been adamant about saving this game in more ways than one, but it's also aggressively monetizing it, with the "Fallout 1st" subscription service still standing even amid the season pass structure.
Is it a house of cards, waiting to fall down one day as Bethesda halts development? For now, everything is going full speed ahead. Hopefully we learn about what's coming next now that the last known major expansion is done and dusted.
Mythical Pokemon Zarude will be distributed outside of Japan
It's been around nine months since Zarude was announced for Pokemon Sword and Shield, but getting him has been troublesome. No doubt the current state of the world put the kibosh on distribution events: including the very event that it was supposed to debut at.
Yep, the "Rogue Monkey" was originally going to be a bonus for the next Pokemon film, but that event was further delayed. The good news is that Europe is starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel, which means that North America can't be too far behind.
Serebii.net has uncovered the next distribution event for Sword and Shield, which involves Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This time around you'll need a TCG code from the Vivid Voltage set: a promotion that is going on from November 13 to December 13. Hmmm, "going to GameStop," or dealing with TCG code distribution? What's more ideal?
I got it! Just make it a mystery gift that everyone can pick up in the safety of their own home and end this madness.
Pokemon Sword and Shield [Serebii.net]
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, an expansion, is rising in Capcom's top-10 seller list
Whenever I hear the phrase "Capcom," my mind goes to a lot of different places.
The DuckTales NES game. Micky Mousecapade. Goof Troop. Okay, so I might have played every single Capcom Disney game under the sun, but on occasion, it also goes to Resident Evil and Monster Hunter. Those two franchises are probably on Capcom executive's minds, too, if these new financial results are any indication.
Capcom has once again updated its "Platinum Titles" list, which shows which games have reached the one million units sold mark. While Monster Hunter: World continues to show its dominance with a commanding 16.4 million lead (a full eight million and change over the next-closest contender of Resident Evil 7), it's double-dominant when you consider that Iceborne has just reached the 6.6 million mark. Note that Iceborne is an expansion for World. That's kind of a big deal.
In other Capcom sales news, Resident Evil titles continue to dominate the charts overall as the most successful series, with spots two through five consisting of 7, 5, 6, and 2 (remake) respectively. After that Street Fighter shows some love, followed by more Resident Evil and Monster Hunter Freedom 3, which caps off the top 10 list. The full rundown of every game is listed here, so you can see how your favorite series is doing in 2020.
I think we can plainly see why Monster Hunter Rise was greenlit so quickly.
Platinum Titles [Capcom]
Mortal Kombat movie delayed indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic
It appears that the upcoming live-action movie based on NetherRealm Studios' violent franchise Mortal Kombat will not meet its previously announced January 2021 release date, the latest in a long line of movies to have its production efforts blocked by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
A tweet from the film's co-producer, Todd Garner, suggests that the pandemic has affected the cast and crew's abilities to complete several necessary re-shoots required for wrapping. Garner also suggests that Warner Bros. is not likely to release a debut trailer or a rescheduled date for the martial-arts adventure "until theaters re-open."
Directed by Simon McQuoid, the Mortal Kombat movie gathers together a cast of professional martial-arts actors and stuntmen for what is promising to be a bone-snapping, R-rated experience that will live up to the gory reputation of the video game series. While no official plot synopsis has been revealed as of yet, veteran characters such as Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Jax, Raiden, Mileena, Shang Tsung, Sonya, and Kano all feature in the movie's narrative.
Mortal Kombat is currently in post-production at Warner Bros. Studios.
PlayStation Store dates Deathloop for May 21, 2021
A new update on the New Zealand branch of PlayStation Store has revealed a possible release date for super-cool, time-bending adventure Deathloop. According to the PSN landing page, Arkane Studios' tale of clocks and glocks will launch on PS5 on May 21, 2021. A PC version is also expected within the same release window.
As a quick refresher, Deathloop is the story of an expert assassin, Colt, who wakes up on the shores of Blackreef, a mysterious island doomed to persistently restart the same day every time the clock hits midnight. Seven island inhabitants have decided to make the most of their strange fate, rocking a perpetual party day-in, day-out.
For reasons as yet unknown, Colt is tasked with eliminating all eight marks before the day is out, or is fated to return to the wet shores from which he awoke, destined to repeat the day over and over again. If that wasn't enough, Colt himself is in the sights of a fellow assassin, Julianna, and must keep himself alive while he scouts, tracks, and ultimately eliminates his prey. Neat concept.
Along with the standard edition, the PSN page also hosts a Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes a copy of the game along with several exclusive weapons, equippable buffs, and alternate character skins for both Colt and Julianna. Pre-order customers will also bag themselves the PS5 exclusive "Royal Protector" machete, and "Storm Rider" skin for our boy Colt.
Deathloop launches May 21, 2021 [Gematsu]
Even though Pokemon Unite has Switch-to-mobile cross-play, Nintendo boss says not to expect it
There's still a lot we don't know about Pokemon Unite, which was revealed back in June.
We do know that it's a MOBA that's basically designed around League of Legends' now-defunct Dominion mode, and that TiMi Studios (not Game Freak) is developing it, in conjunction with Tencent as its publisher. Basically, this feels like Game Freak and The Pokemon Company licensing Pokemon in name only for a MOBA project that Tencent wanted to make. We know how the general public at large will react to it, but for now, it's been quietly beta tested.
When it does hit though, it will feature cross-play between the Switch and mobile platforms: which is not typical of a game featured around what is ostensibly a Nintendo property. Is this a gateway into more first-party Switch-to-mobile titles? Not really, says current Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa. Speaking on a recent financial briefing to investors, Furukawa stated that this was an "advanced discussion," which is basically another way of saying it was a special case (and alludes to the complicated relationship between all of the parties involved).
He clarifies by stating: "It was decided that given the genre of the game and the anticipated player population, a cross-platform format was appropriate." Furukawa goes on to put the nail in the coffin, noting, "that said, we have no plans for cross-platform [mobile] play for Nintendo titles."
"Business as usual" is the Nintendo mantra, though things have been changing a bit with the advent of gacha-fueled mobile titles.
Q&A Summary [Nintendo]
Metroid: Samus Returns possibly coming to the Switch makes a whole lot of sense
Now that the Switch has become the prime directive for Nintendo: any legacy content from the Wii U or the 3DS is fair game for ports.
I mean, we've seen it with the Switch even in just the past three years, as Nintendo has begun the process of moving over every major first-party title from the Wii U graveyard (RIP) to their next generation. It's honestly kind of staggering that in the end, the Wii U could have very little, if any exclusives (you'll pry Nintendo Land from my cold, dead hands).
In the meantime, internet sleuths have found a possible hint at a potential upcoming port that just makes a whole lot of sense. Over on the official Nintendo site, an image pertaining to a "Super Metroid Skin & Screen Protector Set" that shows someone playing a Metroid title on a Switch has been spotted.
Metroid: Samus Returns, the 2017 title from 3DS, could be in play. Or, of course, this could be a marketing mistake. We've reached out to Nintendo for comment, but don't expect a reply.
Either way, I think it's an interesting prospect and worth looking at. Samus Returns would pretty much port over nicely (amiibo support and all) and give it new life. Plus, it would segue nicely into the next Metroid project. I'm keeping an eye out for this one.
Super Metroid Skin & Screen Protector Set [Nintendo via Nintendo Life]
AEW announces new video game division, reveals first three titles
There's a new player in the stagnant world of pro-wrestling video games, as All-Elite Wrestling (AEW) has announced the founding of a brand new gaming division - AEW Games. Revealed during a live stream that featured AEW Executive VPs Kenny Omega and Cody Rhodes, referee Aubrey Edwards, and pro-wrestler Dr. Britt Baker, AEW Games also took the opportunity to announce its first three releases.
For consoles, AEW is currently working with Japanese developer Yuke's on an as-yet-titled pro-wrestling game. As long-time fans will be aware, Yuke's has a storied history with the genre, having been responsible for classics such as the Shin Nippon Touken Retsuden series, as well as multiple titles in the WWE Smackdown! franchise.
Notably, AEW has also brought on board director Hideyuki "Geta" Iwashita, who was responsible for both Def Jam Vendetta and WWF No Mercy, the latter of which is thought by many as one of - if not the - finest wrestling games of all-time. No platforms nor a release window for the new AEW project was specified, but you can check out some early footage in the video below.
Pokemon Go to Pokemon Home transferring is out and it's completely a bummer
Mobile gaming has gotten out of control in the past 10 years or so. While there are plenty of premium experiences, some studios have chosen to monetize every aspect of their game while creating a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out), among other tricks to get people to spend money. Pokemon Go just added Pokemon Home functionality, but as expected, it's bad.
Let's start with the basics first. So, as of today, Go-to-Home transfer is in. Right now it's only available for level 40 and above trainers, but it will be rolling out eventually for everyone. The gist is that you can move over creatures to Home (and thus, Sword and Shield) via the mobile edition, but the process is governed by a very stingy "transporter energy" meter.
As discovered by Serebii.net webmaster Joe Merrick, it will take roughly seven days to charge your transporter after it has been consumed. If you don't want to wait that long, pay up! It costs 1000 coins (about $10, the way microtransactions are priced) to fully recharge the meter. The meter is drastically lowered if you transfer shinies or high-value Pokemon. One user estimated that with 500 shinies, it would take 100 weeks (about two years) to bring over their collection without paying up.
It's frankly, absurd. The idea is that you're transferring characters into Sword and Shield, ultimately, which is a premium game that you already spent money on. Then, users are expected to pay a fee for the premium version of Home. Now you're manipulated into spending cash to transfer everything in a reasonable amount of time in Go; after you've spent years acquiring an army of creatures.
This whole debacle is extremely 2020.
[It's the final stretch! Enter now for a FREE GAME!]
In today's contest you can win one of Hypertrain Digital's games on Steam!
Hypertrain Digital has been cranking out games for five years now -- can you believe it? They're celebrating their huge milestone by running a sale for all of their games on Steam. But what's better than a cheap game? A free one, of course!
For the next four days, we're giving away 500 copies of their games daily, including Breathedge, Stoneshard, Desolate, The Wild Eight, and Police Stories. I said, there are 500 winners per day! Make sure you tell your friends. If I had any, I sure would!
They remade XIII. Craziness. Awesome craziness, but craziness none the less. I've always had a soft spot for this fps conspiracy fest. Maybe it's Adam West, or ole Smouldering Mulder. Maybe it was the cel shading, which blew me away at the time (and made me miss Shogo). Doesn't matter what it was, because PlayMagic and Microids went and did it, and it's out today! That's we are here, with four copies of the Steam version to giveaway to you lovely folks. What is XIII you ask? Let's hit the blurb:
The new multiplayer modes in Tetris Effect: Connected are fun even as a (mostly) solo player
Whether you're a first-time Tetris Effect player or you're showing up for the new timed-exclusive multiplayer modes, Tetris Effect: Connected is worth checking out – especially with Xbox Game Pass.
Aside from the original Tetris Effect story campaign and the objective-based Effect modes that I've been raving about for two years now, with Connected, you're also getting a multiplayer suite. The new package is $40 on Windows 10 and Xbox consoles (including Xbox Series X/S), and Enhance has committed to a free update in "summer 2021" for Tetris Effect owners on PS4, PC, and Oculus Quest.
So, what are the modes? There are three head-to-head modes – Zone Battle, Score Attack, and Classic Score Attack – along with the namesake Connected mode, a three-player-vs.-one-AI-boss mode.
Out of those versus modes, Zone Battle feels the freshest – it's all about clearing lines to build up attacks and then either strategically defending against or negating your foe's attacks as much as possible by knowing when to enter the Zone to clear out junk. Score Attack is a one-on-one high-score battle, and once a player taps out, the other player has two extra minutes to cement their score.
Classic Score Attack works much the same way, albeit with a retro visual style, "stiffer" controls/rules, and a more back-to-basics approach to Tetris. You can't do Hard Drops and there isn't a Hold Queue.
I'm not so sure I'll stick with any of these long-term – I'm not that cut out for them – but I am very invested in Connected mode. In short, you'll fight a series of (progressively harder) AI-controlled Zodiac Bosses with an assist from two other (human or AI) players. At first, your team's play fields are totally separate, but as you clear lines and build up your shared meter, the three fields will temporarily merge into one. At that point, it's an all-out race. You'll take turns rapidly dropping pieces one after another in hopes of clearing as many lines as possible to send an avalanche hurtling toward the boss.
Connected mode is definitely chaotic and even stressful at first, but with practice, I started to feel more comfortable with the flow. (The music cues help.) In an attempt to make co-op Tetris fun and not maddening, you'll get occasional purple pieces that can push down and "correct" bad placements.
It wasn't live for testing yet, but there's also a Connected Vs. mode in which a human player can stand in for the AI boss. That'll be playable during 24-hour "Full Moon" events during weekends.
The multiplayer modes have their own fancy-looking space hub that feels right at home in Tetris Effect (take a minute to fly around and explore it) and player progression uses a tier system "based on an aggregate of your skill rating in all the different modes" as it rises and falls with each win or loss.
Curiously, the game hints that "as you move up tiers, you'll also move ever closer to the mysterious obelisk radiating from the center of the galaxy: the Tetrimidion." As for me? I just wanna unlock avatars.
If you're super competitive, there's a Ranked match option; otherwise, you can stick with Friend matches or Local matches against the AI. That goes for all multiplayer modes, too. You can set the AI's competency, so if you're struggling against the tougher Zodiac fights, you can crank up the AI partners.
I don't necessarily think the new Connected content exceeds anything that was already in Tetris Effect, but after a couple of hours (with the Windows 10 version), the multiplayer modes do live up to expectations. This is an all-around excellent package for new players, and it'll be a fantastic free update for returning PS4 and Steam Tetris Effect players next summer. We're all together in this life.
[These impressions are based on a retail build of the game played via Xbox Game Pass on PC.]
Rocket League's next-gen features are much better on Xbox than PS5
As consoles move into the future, so does the beloved soccer-but-with-cars game that's somehow already five years old. Although Rocket League is old enough to be a kindergartener, it's still a completely relevant game. In fact, it's more relevant than ever now that Epic has made it free-to-play. It actually surpassed CS:GO's concurrent player record back in September, peaking at somewhere around 1.3 million people online at once.
Psyonix has revealed its next-gen plans for Rocket League. One platform represents an advancement, the other does not.
Players on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X will have the option to play Rocket League at 120fps, which is a significant improvement over the 60fps mode on Xbox One X and the 30fps cap on the Xbox One S. Here's the breakdown of next-gen enhancements:
PlayStation exec says he's looking forward to VR games that make the 'best use' of the PS5
How early is too early to start thinking about what's next for PlayStation VR on PS5?
Not that I'm looking forward to dropping hundreds more on a new headset so soon after buying a PlayStation 5, but I am excited by the potential leap forward for console-based VR. We've seen such great strides in the PC VR space, and as an avid PSVR supporter, I'm waiting for it to catch up.
While PlayStation VR is supported on PS5, things have been fairly muted so far, all things considered. For one, the hardware doesn't just work out of the box – you need to request a free adapter (mine showed up this morning) before you can revisit your old PS4 VR favorites on PlayStation 5.
On that note, while we've heard a lot about PS5 boosts for PS4 games, there hasn't been much to say about PSVR games being substantially better on PS5. One exception: Blood and Truth. On PS5, it'll support a higher resolution and framerate ("up to 90FPS") and better asset and texture details.
Planning to play #BloodAndTruth on #PS5?
— PlayStation London Studio (@LondonStudioHQ) November 9, 2020
Our latest update means you already have the new enhancements for next gen to make the experience
EVEN
BETTER!
ðŸ"¥ pic.twitter.com/2HLr3JBBsE
Another point worth bringing up: Hitman 3 and No Man's Sky are getting PS5 versions, but when it comes to the VR modes, you'll need to stick with the PS4 versions even if you're playing on PS5. In other words, the current PlayStation VR model is supported on PS5 as a backward-compatible device.
Hideaki Nishino, PlayStation's Senior Vice President of Platform Planning & Management, recently spoke with AV Watch about this topic. The interview sheds light on why things are the way they are.
"For those consumers that purchased a PSVR and own a PS5, the idea of not being able to connect a piece of software is ludicrous," Nishino told AV Watch in an interview translated by Video Games Chronicle. "And we are thinking there is merit in [PS5's] performance boost too."
As for what the future holds for PlayStation VR as a platform, Nishino said his current answer would be that he's "looking forward to VR games that truly make the best use of the PS5."
Nishino said that he "can't comment any further than that," but he does have "high expectations."
What does that mean from a timeline perspective? When could there be a PS5-only headset? (We've seen the patents.) In late October, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan told The Washington Post that "Sony believes in VR" – but he thinks "we're more than a few minutes from the future of VR."
"We definitely believe at some point in the future, VR will represent a meaningful component of interactive entertainment," Ryan said. "Will it be this year? No. Will it be next year? No. But will it come at some stage? We believe that. And we're very pleased with all the experience that we've gained with PlayStation VR, and we look forward to seeing where that takes us in the future."
I'd like to see them knock it out of the park. If that takes a couple more years, I'm ready to wait.
PlayStation exec suggests full PSVR support could eventually come to PS5 [VGC]
It's no secret that Microsoft was fighting an uphill battle with the Xbox One. The initial announcement of the draconian DRM strategy did not go over well, with Sony and the gaming community at large taking every opportunity to dunk on it. But over time, the console landscape shifted dramatically. Microsoft, along with Phil Spencer, completely changed the conversation.
Xbox Games with Gold provided players with permanent copies of 360 games. Microsoft extended its hand to other publishers, opening the floodgates for cross-platform play — while Sony opposed the program for another year, only relenting for certain big-ticket games. Xbox Game Pass utterly shifted the landscape of "generations," becoming the first major successful "Netflix for games" concept.
That philosophy extends to the Xbox Series X family.
[Since this is our first of the two new hardware reviews, here's a quick side note. We've made both articles fairly uniform, so you can compare and contrast them together when the PS5 review hits. You can find our Xbox Series X unboxing article here.]
The Xbox Series X 1TB SSD expansion card is gloriously plug and play
While the Xbox Series X has an out-of-the-box legacy storage option for older games, you can't run "made for Series X" titles on it. And as a reviewer, I know I'm going to be running out of space fairly soon. Storage Tetris be damned.
I mean, the SSDs on next-gen consoles only fit...a few Call of Duty games! Without DLC! So I picked up the official SSD Seagate Storage Expansion Card on my own dime (it's $219.99), both for practical reasons, and for science. Thankfully, it didn't disappoint.
NBA 2K21 and Call of Duty are co-conspiring to murder your PS5 and Xbox Series X's SSDs
Imagine, if you will, someone who buys a PlayStation 5 this week and only has a couple of holiday 2020 games on their radar. Let's suppose, for the sake of the exercise, that they're going to pick up NBA 2K21 and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. That's a reasonable assumption. Those are two of the biggest games every single year.
It's a very quick way to put yourself behind the 8-ball when it comes to next-gen storage. We already knew Call of Duty would be huge; it needs 135GB on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Now, NBA 2K21's file size has leaked and it similarly hits triple digits.
Redditor robo3687 had their PS5 copy of NBA 2K21 arrive a couple days early, and revealed that the box lists a minimum of 150GB reserved space on the SSD as the requirement. As 2KInsiderr points out, it's actually 101GB on Xbox and will be about the same on PS5.
Just those two games together will eat up about 35 percent of the PS5's usable 667GB on its 1TB SSD after accounting for the operating system (and the pre-installed Astro's Playroom). Stupidly big file sizes are nothing new, and they're only going to keep shooting up as developers ship more and more high-res texture packs. But, it feels kind of defeating to know that you can only install five or six games on a brand new hard drive.
It's to the point where secondary storage is almost a requirement. It's like the time when I was a kid and I bought a GameCube but didn't realize that I also needed to buy a memory card. I had to go back to Target and plop down like an extra $30 just to be able to save my games. When you're a kid, an unexpected $30 is the sort of thing that could bankrupt you for life. So, for anyone who's already stretching their financial limitations and is annoyed that NBA 2K21 needs all the gigabytes, you have my sympathy.
Review in Progress: Destiny 2: Beyond Light
Destiny 2, like Destiny before it, has had its ups and downs.
Players were upset that Destiny 2 even made the sequel leap at all, having jettisoned all of the old content in favor of a new game that was one step forward, two steps back. Then the initial DLC came, and people just weren't having it with the half-hearted Osiris and Warmind add-ons.
Arguably, Destiny 2 never had its "Taken King" moment with Forsaken, despite drastically upping the overall quality of the experience. Shadowkeep was more of the same. Now Beyond Light tries to work its magic with some substantial additions.
Dead by Daylight will be getting stabby on PS5 and Xbox Series X
Behaviour Interactive has confirmed that its asymmetric slasher title Dead by Daylight will be continuing is monster body count on next-gen consoles from launch day. The adrenaline-pumping multiplayer horror launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X day-and-date with the hardware's arrival.
Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X editions of Dead by Daylight will feature visual upgrades and will support 60FPS at resolutions up to and including 4K. The development team is already at work on overhauling Dead by Daylight's animations, maps, character models, and visual effects - hoping to make the hide 'n' kill experience more immersive and frightening than ever before.
Behaviour Interactive has re-stated its intent to offer free content drops going forward. So while a new generation of gaming might be upon us, its seems that Leatherface, Ghost Face, Amanda Young, Michael Myers, and the rest of Dead by Daylight's rogues' gallery will continue to stalk you into 2021... and beyond.
In the last 10 years or so we've seen a rise of "solo developer" cottage industries. Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone made a living (and then some) out of Stardew Valley. Mike Bithell became a megaphone for the indie industry off of Thomas Was Alone and his other subsequent projects.
There are so many similar stories, spanning just about every platform known to man: now it's Zeng "FYQD" Xiancheng's turn to be in the spotlight with Bright Memory.
Fall Guys got a chaotic mid-season update and Perfect Match is a bloodbath
Mediatonic has the unenviable job of trying to keep Fall Guys from feeling stale, and today's update – the Season 2 mid-season patch – is a much-needed shakeup. Following criticisms about the initial batch of Season 2 levels, there's a new stage (Big Fans) and chaotic reworks of existing stages.
Remember all those times you snoozed through Perfect Match by simply following other players to a safe spot at the last second to avoid plummeting? Well, now there's a spinner in the middle of the tiles. Enjoy! You can also expect to see variations of Fruit Chute and Tip Toe pop up, among others.
Big Fans is a race across spinning platforms with "an unhealthy amount of opportunities for dive jumps."
The Season 2.5 update adds a server region selector, a matchmaking option to look for matches in "multiple shows at the same time," and a new player name system on PC. Mediatonic is still trying to stamp out the infamous Fall Mountain crown glitch and a bug that causes missed jump inputs.
I have too much to play, but this is enough to put Fall Guys back on my sooner-than-later radar.
Tetris Effect: Connected is available now on Xbox and PC via Game Pass
Xbox-owning fans of the mind-trippin' Tetris Effect will have reasons to be cheerful today, as publisher Enhance Games has launched a brand new edition of the PS5 VR puzzler, which is available to purchase on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC via Xbox Game Pass.
Tetris Effect: Connected is described as a "robust multiplayer expansion" which takes single-player modes such as Tetris Zone and re-imagines them for head-to-head multiplayer action. The titular "Connected" mode allows for three players to connect their individual Tetris playfields and work as a team to brings down the blocks in perfect synchronicity.
Unfortunately, it seems that other platforms will have to wait a little longer, as the Connected multiplayer expansion will not launch on PS4, PS5, Oculus Quest, or PC via Steam until the summer of 2021. It will, however, arrive as a free download for all Tetris Effect owners.
Here's a closer look at Genshin Impact's upcoming update, as well as newcomer Tartaglia
Genshin Impact is going to be a hot holiday game as everyone picks up their shiny new PS5s and finishes all of their premium titles. It's really easy to gravitate toward a free RPG that you can finish without spending money, especially if major updates are happening at a regular cadence.
As previously revealed, developer miHoYo is planning a big 1.1 update for the game, which is scheduled to arrive on November 11. At that time we're getting more events and a new area, as well as more characters. Speaking of characters: miHoYo is giving us a peek at what's to come with the trailer below, which shows off Tartaglia, the "cunning Snezhnayan" that wields hydro element (the site says electro, but this seems to be a misnomer based on his skillset).
Like most of the cast Tartaglia is flashy, capable of multiple playstyles both close-up and from afar. He's described as "a velvet sheath that houses an ostensibly ornamental blade." Studio miHoYo is dispensing the real secret sauce here, just like Riot Games does for new Champions: plussing up the characters and the lore to get people pumped for how these seemingly random additions slot into the bigger picture.
From this point on, updates will hit "every six weeks," with "Wednesday" patches. It's a good spot to be in!
"This video game is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or any real persons, living is purely coincidental. No organization or government agency has approved endorsed or authorized the use of their names or logos or product."
For some time now, Ubisoft has opened many of its titles with a disclaimer similar to the one above, often placed front and center each time the game in question loads. While a company wanting to "cover its back" is understandable, it gets harder to swallow said message with each release. Ubisoft is heavily invested in narratives concerning political upheaval, corrupt governments, class rebellion, and the breakdown of society. But the publisher's persistence in distancing itself from the topics it capitalizes on is getting long in the tooth.
Ubisoft's fiction is frequently embedded in recognizable real-world drama. The publisher openly linked Watch Dogs: Legion with Brexit before reiterating that Ubisoft games are "not political." The Division 2 featured war in the streets of Washington. 2018's Far Cry 5 was about doomsday preppers following a false idol, while the upcoming Far Cry 6 concerns a fascist dictatorship on an island off the shores of the United States.
There's nothing wrong with tackling socio-political subjects in any medium - creators can and should when the opportunity arises - but at least own your stake. Telling the audience that your wares "aren't political" doesn't wash when you set your latest adventure in "post-Brexit" Britain, open the story with terrorist attacks, feature dialogue referencing "fake news" and "social media conspiracies," and then add British xenophobia, a work-shy Prime Minister, and a crumbling NHS to the mix.
When companies take this tack, it comes off as having your cake and eating it too, allowing the product's marketing to bask in the headline-grabbing buzz of real-world concerns while not having to actually enter legitimate discourse with those for whom these themes may be disturbingly relevant. Make your point, but also own it. To do otherwise is arguably exploitation.
Borderlands 3 just got a huge patch and more premium DLC
Did you blink? Well you missed the announcement that Borderlands 3 was getting more DLC.
It's a second season pass actually, and the first part of that pass is out in the form of the Designer's Cut. We reviewed it! You're basically getting a new mode and four new skill trees: so your mileage may vary. Gearbox has a patch to go along with that DLC, which brings about a few changes to the overall framework of the game.
First up, Mayhem 11 is in the game, as well as new anointments for the fourth skill trees: all of which should help the never-ending chase. Other small tweaks including "updating some loading screen tips for clarity," as well as optimization of the game's memory and UI, and several bugs like photo mode crashes.
Zane's Hitman tree has also been changed (Death Follows Close and Seein' Red have swapped spots), with Seein' Red getting +15% kill skill bonus. The Under Cover Tree (Confident Competence and Distributed Denial were swapped, with gun damage buffed from the former) and Double Agent Trees were also messed with (Duct Tape makes Zane immune to his own weapon and grenade damage, nice!). Amara and FL4K got a few small tweaks mostly to adjust anointment interactions, while Moze remains the same.
Gearbox has also finally unveiled the price of the second season pass: $29.99. This will include two DLCs, with the Designer's Cut serving as the first half. I'm getting Destiny 1 flashbacks here with the never-ending SKUs on top of the $60 entry fee.
Patch and Hotfixes [Gearbox]
Epic is toying with the idea of a Fortnite monthly subscription on top of the battle pass
I still can't believe that I witnessed Fortnite go from a game that was barely breaking headlines to a global phenomenon, but here we are. And I say this as someone who still actively plays Fortnite!
Epic Games doubled down on the popularity of the battle royale functionality of Fortnite (which is basically the game now) quickly, and it paid off. Now there are millions of fans worldwide and countless collaborations: from digital concerts, to Christopher Nolan film screenings, to Marvel crossovers. Oh, and it cleans up with a premium store as well as a battle pass that incentivizes players to chip into the economy regularly. Or monthly, if a new player survey comes to fruition?
Based on info from prolific Fortnite leaker FireMonkey, Epic sent out a survey recently that asks players if they would be interested in a monthly subscription service. Mind, this would be on top of the battle pass, and could provide perks such as: discounts on V-Bucks (premium currency), exclusive content, early access to the battle pass (FOMO marketing strikes again!), and/or a monthly allowance of V-Bucks.
So what is the cost of this potential service? Well, it could be as high as $15.99, according to more questions on the survey. It's a lot to take in. Epic didn't get to where they are with Fortnite by resting on their laurels, and the time may have come to ramp up the game's seemingly unsustainable growth.
Accessibility will be a big selling point for sure though, as Epic was quick to confirm next-gen upgrades: so Fortnite will live on through the next generation and beyond.
Fire Monkey [Twitter]
Exit the Gungeon: Hello to Arms update opens fire November 13
DodgeRoll Games has announced that its frenzied shoot 'em up Exit the Gungeon will receive a major update later this week. Hello to Arms launches on November 13, bringing with it a full metal jacket of features and firepower.
Among the new goodies headed to the dungeon-destroying title are a new "Arsenal" mode, which sees players gather and "bank" an ever-growing variety of un-blessed weapons as they progress through the adventure; expanded Shop Hubs and Hub Rooms; and a variety of new boomsticks, just in case there isn't already enough firepower for your grubby mitts. Be sure to keep an eye out for the deadly Glocktopus!
In addition, the update will include a list of balance changes and bug fixes, with full details available on the Exit the Gungeon Reddit. Oh, and apparently, you can now Pet the Dog.
Exit the Gungeon: Hello to Arms launches November 13 on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
The Xbox Series X can perfectly balance a GameCube
Microsoft and Nintendo have been buddying up for a while now: but this is something else entirely!
Twitter user watosan seems to be one of the first to get in on the craze of balancing things on top of the Xbox Series X, which just so happens to perfectly fit a GameCube like it was meant to happen. People are even going further with it, crafting Minecraft Creepers out of the pair: which is actually incredibly fitting given the two publisher's partnership for Minecraft cross-platform and Steve in Smash.
Aesthetically pleasing tech or a horrible abomination? You choose! Either way it really reminds me of those wild multi-tower configurations for older consoles (which Sega and occasionally Nintendo were fans of), as well as the Super NES CD-ROM.
As a reminder, you can get a good look at the console and check out its measurements in our full hardware review.
Watosan [Twitter via Nintendo Life]
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot's 1v100 DLC arrives next week
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot might be nearly a year old now, but it just hit a new stride.
Bandai Namco just hosted some free card battler DLC, and now the second major add-on has been dated for November 17. The news comes by way of the clip below, which shows off the Frieza resurrection storyline involving Vegeta. The real draw, however, is the new "Mob Battle" mode, which pits players against "over 100" enemies.
The core of the DLC itself will deal with the Frieza Force, adding what seems to be a "story lite" into the mix, similar to the first add-on. Bandai Namco also reminds us that you can "only acquire the DLC through the season pass," or the "New Power Awakens" bundle.
New Power Awakens Part 2's trailer unfortunately doesn't give us more footage of Mob Battle, instead opting to give us a four-minute dramatic fight between Vegeta and Golden Frieza. Hopefully Mob Battle will elevate the DLC above the current premium bar.
Sam and Max Save the World Remastered hits PC and Switch in December
Telltale Games' 2006 point-and-click adventure Sam and Max Save the World is to receive a remastered re-release, courtesy of indie outfit Skunkape Games. The episodic adventure will launch December 2 on PC and Nintendo Switch priced at around $20, with a 50% discount for players who own the original release.
The first of what would go on to be a huge catalog of graphic adventures for Telltale Games, Sam and Max Save the World sees everyone's favorite Freelance Police take to the streets in order to solve an increasingly bizarre series of Earth-shaking events, taking the intrepid duo across America, inside the internet, and to the moon and back like Savage Garden.
Sam and Max Save the World Remastered features enhanced widescreen visuals, support for modern controllers, and an expanded soundtrack. Many members of the original title's development team are on-board for the remaster, which has the blessing of Sam and Max creator Steve Purcell. A new website appears to hint that follow up releases Beyond Time and Space and The Devil's Playhouse are also in-line for a facelift in the near future.
Overcooked is arriving on next-gen Microsoft platforms this week after all
It felt like Overcooked: All You Can Eat was going to board the next-gen train late after it was confirmed that the PS5 edition would be arriving this week; but publisher Team17 has announced that the Series X/S versions are indeed making launch. Specifically, today. It's "next-gen" y'all!
In case you missed it, Overcooked: All You Can Eat is basically a definitive compilation. It hosts both games in the series under one umbrella with 4K visuals and 60FPS. It also makes the original Overcooked playable online, with cross-play capabilities "at a later date." As far as content goes, it's getting seven new levels and three new chefs.
Ah, a whole new generation of broken friendships and families...sniff. It really feels like the next generation has arrived when a party game is right there to make people argue about how the console owner should have bought more DualSense remotes. At least you'll be able to jump into a full local session on Series X/S if people already have their Xbox One controllers!
A Serious Sam Collection is coming to Switch
Last month Devolver Digital acquired Serious Sam developer Croteam; now they're starting to roll that partnership out beyond the scope of future entries in the Serious Sam series.
Announced today, the Nintendo Switch is getting the Serious Sam Collection. It's priced at $29.99, netting you "all content" from Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter, Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter and Serious Sam 3: BFE (with the two expansions). The collection is out soon, on November 17. So if you're a Switch-only user and want something to do during the two new console launches and before Age of Calamity, you're good.
This new SKU was initially spotted on the Nintendo eShop by prying eyes, before Devolver Digital decided to just tweet it out and make it official. No physical release plans have been discussed...yet. Nor are there any announcements for Series S/X or PS5 ports.
Devolver Digital [Twitter]
(Update) This Zelda: Breath of the Wild Great Flameblade replica is amazing
[Update: Now you can check out a replica of the Great Frost Blade from the same creator below! It's similarly magnificent, with a glowing plaque to boot. I still love that they have the game right there to showcase how close to the Hyrule version it is.]
We've seen a lot of memorable replicas of various Zelda: Breath of the Wild paraphernalia over the past three years or so, but sometimes a unique work still catches my eye.
This particular one is from Redditor thehyliann, showcasing their Great Flameblade life-size replica. While the actual quality of the sword is impressive enough, in the below video they show off how it can actually light up, just like how it glows in the game.
As a reminder, Great Flamblades are incredibly useful weapons that can get you out of a jam in Breath of the Wild: allowing you to burn enemy wooden shields or solve puzzles more easily when they require a flaming touch and you're out of elemental arrows. The pedestal that thehyliann puts the sword on is reminiscent of the ones that Link uses in his Hateno Village home: which is conveniently on the monitor in the video.
As far how long it took to make, thehyliann says it was around a week's worth of work. They used wood to make the handle and guard: a process they say that they will probably use again for potential future Frost and Thunder blades. The light is a cathode anode at low voltage; which is triggered by placing the sword on the pedestal.
The first version already sold on their Etsy store!
I made a life size replica of the great flame blade [Reddit]
(Update) Take-Two Interactive in negotiations to purchase Codemasters
[Update: Take-Two Interactive and Codemasters have come to an agreement on the previously reported acquisition. Codemasters will officially become part of Take-Two's holding company next year, joining studios such as Rockstar and 2K Games.
"We are exceedingly pleased to announce this recommended transaction with the Board of Codemasters," said Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick in a Business Wire statement. "Codemasters has a renowned history of creating some of our industry's most beloved and commercially successful racing franchises, and we believe that their offerings will be highly complementary to our sports portfolio and enhance further our organization's long-term growth."
Codemasters also expressed delight at the acquisition, said to be in the region of $994 million USD.
"With a leading position in sports gaming, the Board of Codemasters firmly believes the Company will benefit from Take-Two's broad capabilities which will help propel the long term success of Codemasters." said chairman Gerhard Florin. "In recommending this offer to shareholders, the Board of Codemasters believes it is in the best interests of all stakeholders in the Company."
The deal is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2021.]
Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of developers such as Rockstar Games and 2K Games, is in talks to purchase veteran UK publisher Codemasters, responsible for multiple racing series such as DIRT, OnRush, GRID, and the official F1 franchise.
Codemasters announced to its investors that Take-Two had made a non-binding offer to purchase the company at 485 pence (around $6.40 per share), payable at 120 pence-per-share in cash and the remainder in Take-Two stock. This values Codemasters at around $974 million USD, which is an increase on Codemasters' self-value approximation of around $873 million.
Should Take-Two make an official bid, Codemasters has stated its intention to unanimously recommend that its shareholders accept the deal, officially making Codemasters part of the Take-Two Interactive portfolio. Take-Two has a deadline of December 4 to solidify its offer.
"Take-Two believes that the combination of Take-Two and Codemasters would bring together two world-class interactive entertainment portfolios, with a highly complementary fit between Take-Two's 2K publishing label and Codemasters in the racing genre," reads a statement from the holding company. "In addition, Take-Two believes that it can bring benefits to Codemasters' performance by leveraging Take-Two's global distribution network and 2K's core operating expertise in publishing, including live operations, analytics, product development, and brand and performance marketing."
Codemasters' most recent release, DIRT 5, is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.
Codemasters confirms its in talks with Take-Two [VGC / GamesIndustry.biz]
