Fire Emblem Heroes Book V reveals mech armor and exciting steampunk aesthetic
Nintendo has lifted the lid on the newest expansion to its mobile battle title Fire Emblem Heroes. Book V, which launches this week, takes a side-step from the swords and sorcery of previous seasons, adding intricately engineered armor, powerful mech units, and a new steampunk aesthetic
The background story sees the realm of Nioavellir master the fusion of both science and magic, resulting in the creation of hi-tech weaponry and battle armor. The apex of this technology comes in the form of domineering battle mechs known as Gullinbursti, which will definitely make their presence felt among the dragon riders and archers of the free-to-play title. You can check out the style and aesthetic of Book V in the new trailer below.
I am dismayed to report that the rats are better. I'm not exactly sure how they're better, but they're definitely better.
Late last week, we got a press release that confirmed Warhammer: Vermintide 2 has been optimized for Xbox Series S/X. Without mentioning specifics of the technical upgrade, we were only told "Vermintide 2 now runs smoother than ever before, allowing for some truly silky smooth and visually satisfying rat killing."
I needed to take the weekend to process and cope with the fact that the rats are now better. The rats are smoother. The rats are silkier. Next-gen was a mistake.
Xbox is allegedly announcing something big at The Game Awards
It's the most excruciating week of the year for a games blogger, the week where the only stuff that qualifies as news is "Something might happen at The Game Awards." Thus, I am here again to tell you that something else might happen at The Game Awards.
There's a breadcrumb trail of evidence that Xbox has something up its sleeve for The Game Awards. First and foremost, Xbox has been promoting the show through its social channels. Xbox has also mentioned The Game Awards elsewhere, like in its most recent Game Pass post. Most interesting (via VGC), is that Jeff Grubb said on a new GamesBeat podcast that "Microsoft has something coming to The Game Awards, I know that much."
The smart money (or at least the wishful "This could be a really big announcement" money) is that Xbox will lift the veil on whatever its new studio, The Initiative, is working on. The rumor that has picked up the most momentum over the past few months is that it's some sort of full reboot of the Perfect Dark universe.
That speculation may come to an end on Thursday evening. Xbox has something up its sleeve. Last year, it was the formal introduction (and official name reveal) of the Xbox Series X. Of course, Microsoft owns a whole bunch of studios now, so this announcement could come from any corner. It's expected to be big, whatever it is.
It's the Podtoid Mailbag Extravaganza
It is the first new episode of Podtoid for the month, and throughout 2020, that has meant opening the mailbag and answering your questions. In the past, we've got a handful of interesting inquiries, enough to make the Goddamn Mail a featured segment in the back-half of the show. But this week, the community came through with so many great questions that we had to super-size this episode of Podtoid to answer as many as we could. Want to know our thoughts on games from 2020, what we'll do when COVID is over, licensed titles, and more? Then sit back and chillax all cool with Podtoid Episode 469.
Rust is still coming to consoles, just not in 2020
Garry Newman meant it when he said the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Rust weren't "something we wanted to rush out." A year after the ports were announced, they've been delayed beyond 2020.
In a blog post, Double Eleven said Rust was coming to consoles "just a little later than planned," but stopped short of announcing a new release date. The studio also explained why it's been so quiet.
"The world of games dev is a fickle beast; you never have the full picture up front and the development process often becomes more of a journey of discovery when bringing a PC title to console. As much as engaging with players is extremely important, we believe it also has to be meaningful and as we've been working away behind the scenes, we haven't felt ready to share anything with you yet."
"We've always had some remote workers," Double Eleven said, "but moving the entire company home to keep everyone safe has presented challenges as we've found new ways to work with each other in the new normal that this year had in store for us."
As much as some of us have moved on from Rust, it's still very active on PC – it took the #10 spot today on Steam for most concurrent players – and it has such huge potential with the console audience.
Rust Console Edition Update [Double Eleven]
Forza Horizon 4 is surprise dropping a new game mode tomorrow
Forza Horizon 4 is one of the best Xbox games in years and it just keeps getting better. Playground Games has supported it far beyond the treatment these games usually get -- that might be a pleasant byproduct of being an Xbox Game Pass standout -- with a couple major expansions, a free battle royale mode, a bunch of big title updates, and weekly content updates.
Tomorrow, it gets a little wackier and a lot more dangerous. Forza Horizon 4 will receive a new game mode called Super7 that places floating out-of-place ramps all over England. Check out the trailer above to get an idea of how it looks.
Here's the description from the Forza forums: Introducing the Horizon Super7, an all-new game mode that celebrates community-created challenges. Create individual challenges based on drift, speed, air, and more. Then, when choosing to play Super7, seven randomly selected challenges appear, with each being a total surprise. If you can win all seven challenges in a row, you'll get your hands on an exclusive reward. You'll be able to enhance your challenges with Blueprint Builder, a first in Forza history, that lets you place stunts, structures, and scenery in your challenge -- whatever you want, wherever you want."
So, it's part stunt extravaganza and part level editor. And part infuriating randomness when you need to knock out seven challenges consecutively with no way to practice them. It's also worth noting that this isn't a PvP mode. Super7 seems to be strictly singleplayer (aside from the fact that you're playing other people's creations). You don't need to compete with other players while trying to knock out these stunts.
It all arrives December 8 as part of a free update. Playground gets a little closer to its vision of turning England into an amusement park.
El Shaddai is getting a better-late-than-never PC port on Steam
If you never got around to playing the hidden gem El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron on PS3 or Xbox 360, you might have better luck on PC. In a tweet today, the game's director, Sawaki Takeyasu, confirmed that his studio Crim (which acquired the rights in 2013) will bring El Shaddai to Steam.
The PC version is "currently in development," but there isn't much else to share. No date yet. Takeyasu did note that they're planning to have options for English and Japanese voice-overs and text."
I think it's fair to say that El Shaddai garnered a mixed response, but it had an unmistakable style and unique premise that drew from the Book of Enoch, so it's great to see it live on with a Steam release.
In his original review for Destructoid – an oldie but a goodie – Jonathan Holmes called El Shaddai "constantly unpredictable," citing "heaping loads of surrealism, 2D platforming, sexy dudes, dance numbers, transforming robots, and giant yellow hot dog people." I missed the boat.
@Sawaki_Takeyasu [Twitter via Gematsu]
Epic will not be holding in-person Fortnite events in 2021
Many of 2020's major gaming events were understandably curtailed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As 2021 beckons, it seems that the coronavirus will continue to make its presence felt, with some publishers already forgoing plans for large gatherings in the new year.
Epic Games, publisher of the biggest title on the planet, Fortnite, has already announced that it will not be holding any in-person live events for the duration of 2021. While online tournaments, streams, and presentations will take place - including the heralded Fortnite Championship Series - Epic is not ready to start cramming international crowds into arenas across the glove. Quite sensibly, I might add.
"With so much still unknown about what is practical and safe, we do not plan to hold in-person events in 2021, including a Fortnite World Cup," said Epic in a press release. "We will continue to provide online competitions throughout 2021 with the hopes that physical events, in some form, can return at some point in the future."
"FNCS (Fortnite Championship Series) will be the constant measure of success in competitive Fortnite, but we're looking at other avenues for high-level competition 2021. Beyond our biggest competitions, in 2021, we're putting together a schedule featuring more weekly tournaments, unique tournaments, and Creator Cups throughout the year. There will be plenty of competitions (not just Trios!) to scratch the competitive itch between FNCS seasons."
While Epic Games is the first company to err on the side of caution when it comes to planning its 2021 schedule it seems - with the COVID-19 pandemic still heavily prevalent throughout North America and much of the world - that it will not be the last.
Epic won't hold in-person Fortnite events in 2021 [GamesIndustry.biz]
Josef Fares and his 'Fuck the Oscars' swag are making another Game Awards appearance
No matter how dull The Game Awards end up Thursday night -- and who knows how this all-at-home version of the show will end up -- there's guaranteed to be at least a couple minutes of fireworks.
Josef Fares, creator of Brothers -- A Tale of Two Sons and A Way Out, will make an appearance:
Danganronpa Decade art compendium looks back at ten years of murder 'n' mayhem
This year saw the wild, off-the-wall Danganronpa franchise celebrate its 10th anniversary. And Monokuma and friends certainly did so in style, with mobile remasters, a fresh in-house publisher, and an excellent web series, shining the spotlights on the grisly-yet-gripping murder mystery anthology.
Spike Chunsoft isn't quite done just yet, as pre-orders are now open on Danganronpa Decade, a lavish art compendium that reflects on every entry in the cult gaming franchise. Danganronpa Decade compiles several previously released tomes, housing a total of four titles and a whopping 1,500 pages of artwork, concept sketches, storyboards, and more - all pulled from the twisted minds of Danganronpa director Kazutaka Kodaka and series designer/artist Rui Komatsuzaki.
In addition to the reproduced artwork, each book features production notes, fan surveys, and developer interviews - though unfortunately Danganronpa Decade is only available in Japanese. If you want to pick up a copy for your own bookshelf, then pre-orders are open right now at various importers. Retailing for ¥18,700, or roughly $170 USD, Danganronpa Decade is admittedly quite expensive, but is certainly an opulent piece of merchandising for the dedicated Danganronpa fan.
Project Athia has a two-year console exclusivity window on PS5
It's not every day that we hear specific time windows for platform-exclusive games, and that goes double for exclusivity periods that last two whole years. In a new Sony video meant to hype up forthcoming PS5 games, there's a bit of fine print about Square Enix's release plans for Project Athia.
(Skip ahead to the 0:33 mark to see the Athia footage and "PlayStation 5 Console Exclusive" disclaimer.)
In the video, Sony and Square Enix describe Project Athia as being "in development for PS5" and "also available on PC," as previously known. However, the exclusivity asterisk also mentions that the game won't be "available on other consoles until at least 24 months after [the initial] release date."
It's good to know what kind of timeline we're working with for planning purposes, but jeez. That's a long time. And something tells me these deals are only going to get more aggressive in the next few years.
Side-note: if you're struggling with the wait to play Final Fantasy VII Remake on PC or Xbox, last we heard, it will remain a "timed exclusive" on PS4 until at least March 3, 2021.
[Via @Wario64]
Cyber Monday had little impact on last week's UK Charts
While we have already passed the typically lucrative Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend, the UK Chart remains relatively stagnant this week. The same ten titles occupy almost the exact same ten spots that they did last week, with Electronic Arts' FIFA 21 retaining the coveted number one position for a third week running.
The Top Ten is rounded out with some of 2020's most recent releases, including Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and Sony's pseudo-sequel Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Nintendo regulars Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Super Mario 3D All-Stars are present and correct, maintaining the steady sales that each Switch title has seen since launch.
There's a new gun in town however, and this week's launch of the long-in-development and highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077 is guaranteed to cause a stir when it launches December 10. With the UK high street temporarily out of lockdown, and Holiday shopping in full effect, it is very likely that next week is CD Projekt RED's for the taking.
Worms has been a part of my life since I was a kid.
My first foray into the world of tactical wormy combat was on the Game Boy many moons ago, and my wife and I have been jamming the series together for over a decade. For the most part though, things have been relatively comfortable for Worms. It might get a new gimmick, another theme, a level editor, or more customizations — but at the end of the day, you're inching around shooting guns in a turn-based manner.
This is why I applaud Team17 for experimenting yet again with Worms Rumble, even if it comes up a bit short.
The sultry Scorpina brings her sting to Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid
Publisher nWay has released the full gameplay trailer for Scorpina, the next character headed to the fun tag-fighter Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid. After a slew of Ranger-based characters, the arrival of one of Rita Repulsa's most unique and dastardly lieutenants is quite anticipated.
Appearing in the original Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers series, Scorpina ventured into battle with the super-radical rangers alongside fellow villains such as Goldar. One of the few Power Rangers villains to be sans-mask, Scorpina used her alluring looks to catch her enemies off-guard, before unleashing her curved sword with deadly intent. It seems that both Scorpina's fighting style and her femme fatale ways have been neatly recreated in Battle for the Grid, as the trailer below (courtesy of IGN) demonstrates.
Scorpina is the third character to arrive as part of Battle for the Grid's third season pass, following on from Jungle Fury's Robert "RJ" James and Super Samurai's Lauren Shiba. Scorpina will launch in-game tomorrow, December 8, and is a most welcome addition to the fighter's somewhat samey roster.
Where is our review for Cyberpunk 2077?
So the global review embargo for Cyberpunk 2077 has lifted, and we don't have a copy yet. For US outlets in particular, this is actually the norm.
The short of it is, CD Projekt Red gave select folks access to Cyberpunk 2077; typically in countries other than the US like the UK, Australia, and India (or outlets that have a major international presence). Only a few outlets in total were allowed to play the game before today. Last week, we were told that we were getting an advanced copy. That changed when CD Projekt Red opted to not deliver keys to mass media; down to the wire, last Friday.
As usual, this could mean a ton of different things! Now, some people might see this as a complaint, but it's not. I'll explain!
Chrono Odyssey is a stunning Korean MMO coming to PC in 2022
Korean studio NPIXEL has announced a brand new MMORPG, headed to PC and mobile platforms in 2022. Chrono Odyssey will be an epic adventure gaming blending fantastic and captivating worlds and characters, set in a universe where fantasy and sci-fi collide.
The second project from NPIXEL following its previous release Gran Saga, Chrono Odyssey will tell the story of a special organization known as "Idraiginn", who are tasked with battling a legion of all-powerful gods. Utilizing the power of Unreal 4, Chrono Odyssey will feature large-scale battles, stunning vistas, and exquisite character models - a style which you can see encapsulated in the beautiful trailer below. The soundtrack is composed by Cris Velasco, who previously scored titles such as Resident Evil 7, Overwatch, and God of War.
Currently in production for release on PC as well as iOS and Android devices, NPIXEL CEO Spike Bong-gun Bae has noted their desire to see Chrono Odyssey transition to PS5 and Xbox Series X following its initial release. It certainly looks very enticing so far.
The Switch is getting a free eShop shmup after Christmas
Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon? - Infinite Combate was released earlier this year in the US, but it did not initially come with its special shmup companion game: Is It Wrong To Try To Shoot 'em Up Girls In A Dungeon? on all platforms. Publisher PQube has since rectified that, but it has one platform left to make good on: Switch.
While you can pick up the shmup for free on PC right now and select PS4 regions, there was a complication with the Switch version. As stated on their Twitter account, PQube notes that the game will "now be heading to Switch after Christmas," and will "let [fans] know" if that changes. PQube clarified that this was due to a "hiccup with the eShop submission."
The gist is that you'll take a small party of five characters through a four-stage, four-difficulty setting shmup, with classic power-ups and bosses in tow. Amazingly, the free shmup is actually rated much higher than the base game, so it probably behooves PQube to actually follow up on this and garner some goodwill.
The Switch is no stranger to these sort of free Japanese gaiden games, especially on the 3DS. I can't believe Mighty Gunvolt came out over six years ago: when the 3Ds was alive and well!
PQube Games [Twitter]
After years of being in limbo, the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World game is coming back in January
Licensing is messy! And in this age of streaming, where different studios produce content and license it out to various services, retaining control of your creation can really suck.
That's basically what happened with 2010's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game, a beat 'em up released to rave reviews and fan reception that was basically nuked from existence. Just four years after it was released, it was delisted from every marketplace available: sent to the ether...forever? No! As it turns out.
Earlier this year it was revealed that the powers that be had reached an agreement to re-release the game as a "Complete Edition," which would see it arrive on PC once more, as well as the new platforms of PS4, Switch, Stadia, and Xbox One. As far as we knew Ubisoft was sticking to the "holiday 2020" timeline, but we've just learned today from the game's official social accounts that we're looking at a January 14, 2021 launch on all platforms. It'll help usher in a fairly busy mid-to-late January for games.
The greater proliferation of platforms ensures that it's going to be a little harder to keep down this time (especially the Switch). If it does happen again, the community will likely be ready.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World [Facebook]
Curse of the Sea Rats reveals publisher, release window, and next-gen editions
I am very much looking forward to Petoons Studios' Curse of the Sea Rats, which was confirmed for development this past summer after smashing its crowdfunding goals on Kickstarter. Today brings a rum barrel of news for the anthropomorphic "Ratroidvania," with the arrival of several exciting announcements.
Firstly, Curse of the Sea Rats has found a publisher in the form of PQube, also responsible for bringing titles such as Gal*Gun, Kill la Kill - IF, and Cat Quest to the shelves. PQube will ship Curse of the Sea Rats in 2021 confirmed, with PS5 and Xbox Series X ports added to the previously announced editions on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
PQube has released a neat new trailer to celebrate the announcements, which depicts our furry heroes as they track down the notorious with Flora Burn, in efforts to return to their original - and far more human - selves. I'm very much looking forward to this stylish adventure, and am eager to hear more about our party of seafaring adventurers soon.
GTA Online launches 'first major expansion of geography since launch'
As long as Grand Theft Auto Online has the population of a real-life city, Rockstar will continue to support and monetize it.
Years after the launch of the original the online component is still kicking; and regularly getting updates following a stalled rollout. Now, it's getting several big expansions each year, including this newest one called "Cayo Perico Heist." Rockstar calls it the "first major expansion of GTA Online's geography since launch," and "sets the scene for the biggest update in the game's seven-year history." It's hitting on December 15 on all platforms.
But the heist isn't the only thing that's getting added in, and it may not even be the main draw. Quietly over the weekend Rockstar showcased more of the expansion's content, including a new club called the "Music Locker," which is seated beneath the Diamond Casino and Resort. In short, there's going to be a new dance floor, with real featured DJs (Blessed Madonna, Solomun, Dixon, DJs Moodymann, Keinemusik, Palms Trax, and Tale of Us are name-dropped).
There's also a few mechanical upgrades coming that build upon the previous "After Hours" dance update from the game's past: like dancing with a partner and new dances in general. As a Second Life substitute, GTA Online can do the trick for a lot of people, with a large community and player count to boot. It's amazing what it's accomplished so far, and what it continues to accomplish.
The Music Locker [Rockstar]
Fall Guys teases season three's festive holiday costumes
This weekend, Mediatonic teased new information regarding "Winter Knockout," the upcoming third season of its popular battle royale title Fall Guys. The developer revealed a selection of festive and wintry skins, soon headed to the quirky slapstick multiplayer game.
A tweet on the official Fall Guys Twitter shows off four of the new skins including a reindeer, a yuletide candle, a yeti, and what appears to be a take on the Snow Princess of Russian folklore. There's no Santa Claus, surprisingly, but there is still more season three content to be revealed.
The tweet concludes asking fans to tune into the Game Awards on December 10, where we will no doubt be shown further content. It is also expected that a start date for the third season will be revealed. Given that we're already a third into December, it's pretty snug to suggest that it will be within the coming days.
Review: Immortals Fenyx Rising
Ubisoft is sometimes referred to as the king of open world games. For some of you, it has a divine right to rule. For others, it's a proverbial crown that needs to be overthrown.
Immortals Fenyx Rising (the artist formerly known as Gods & Monsters) doesn't really make a strong case for either position. It exists in a purgatorial state of sorts; albeit clawing its way up to the heavens.
Things have gone from bad to worse, from unfortunate to bizarre, and from Kinda Suspect to Super Murdery. That's Dontnod's MO, and everyone should know it by now. The French developer loves examining personal relationships, amplifying them through the lens of a much larger conflict, and then heaping an avalanche of emotion on top of it all.
Twin Mirror is Dontnod's first attempt at explicitly leaning into the psychological thriller label, something it toyed with in previous games but never outright committed to. In a lot of ways, it feels like Alan Wake by way of Life is Strange. However, Twin Mirror is also Dontnod's first self-published game and that might be the reason it falls short of its promise. Everything isn't quite alright in the end.
Hostages: The original Rainbow Six Siege
Now five years into its lifespan, Rainbow Six Siege is arguably more popular than it's ever been. After an admittedly stumbling debut, Ubisoft's intense multiplayer shooter has gone on to attract over 55 million registered players with its taut, unforgiving, and breathless tactical gameplay. Eschewing the typical run-and-gun nature of most FPS shooters, Siege rewards patience, planning, precise team synergy, and efficient use of weaponry to create fast-paced, heart-stopping action.
Rainbow Six Siege is the sixth entry in the Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six series of strategy-based shooters that took the PC scene by storm in the 1990s. In the ensuing decades, the tactical franchise has been reinvented time and again in releases such as Rogue Spear, Rainbow Six: Vegas, and the canceled Rainbow Six: Patriots. For many, Siege represents the natural evolution of the franchise, melding everything that came before into one explosive and utterly compelling title. One of the greatest shooters of all-time? No doubt.
But Ubisoft is not the first developer to create a counter-terrorist gaming experience, nor was Red Storm Entertainment - the team behind the original 1998 release Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. Way back in the late '80s, French developer Infrogames - still some years out from their industry-changing horror title Alone in the Dark - took its own shot at the high-drama, high-stakes world of siege warfare.
Cute Taito platformer The Fairyland Story returns on PS4 and Switch
If you're up for a hardcore dose of classic Taito cuteness, then retro publisher Hamster has you covered. Arriving this week in the Arcade Archives range is the sickeningly adorable platformer The Fairyland Story, now available to download on PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
Released in arcades in 1985, The Fairyland Story exists within the same universe as other Taito classics such as Bubble Bobble, Parasol Stars, and The NewZealand Story. Players guide a super cute young witch known as Ptolemy, as she battles her way through single-screen stages against small armies of fantasy creatures. Fortunately, our little magic master has perfected the art of turning people into cakes, which she can then use to squash her other enemies. Once the screen is clear, it's on to the next stage.
Check out the action below, in this video from YouTuber World of Longplays.
Cblogs of 11/28 to 12/4/2020: Kingdom Hearts, Virtua Fighter, and waving goodbye to Flash
Cblogs Recap: Week 49
-Nior mourns the end of Flash Player by focusing on some of the best games designed with that limited program.
-JagGentlemann analyzes the history of the Musou games through its spin-offs.
-Kerrik52 reviews Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters as part of his Traveler in Playtime review blogs.
-Black Red Gaming reviews Chronos: Before the Ashes on PCs.
-Riley1sSpook thinks the publisher ignore function in Steam is a joke.
-Chimpomagee wonders about how video games can convey the past in the language of its own medium.
-Humantofu revisits Far Cry 2, which is actually a popular blogging topic here.
-Black Red Gaming shares a list of his most anticipated games to be released in December 2020.
-Shoggoth2588 shares his gaming journal of November 2020.
-CorruptAI125 reviews Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory.
-Virtua Kazama sheds a light on Virtua Fighter x eSports.
-Gamingnerd shares their thoughts regarding the Idle/Clicker genre.
-Queen of Philosophy opens last week's TGIF community thread.
-RiffRaff shares their Top 5 music albums of 2020.
Naughty Dog promotes Neil Druckmann to Co-President
Developer Naughty Dog has announced that it is promoting its Vice President, Neil Druckmann, to the position of Co-President. Druckmann will now work alongside President Evan Wells, overseeing the Sony partner studio going forward.
"Neil Druckmann now joins me as Co-President of Naughty Dog, after serving almost three years as Vice President," said Wells in an official press release. "In addition, we're welcoming Alison Mori and Christian Gyrling as Vice Presidents of Naughty Dog. Prior to becoming Vice President, Alison served as our Director of Operations and Christian served as our Co-Director of Programming."
"We have such an incredible team at Naughty Dog and being able to work alongside each and every one of them is especially meaningful these days. I feel proud of the team when I'm able to recognize their accomplishments and contributions to the studio. Please join me in giving them all a big congratulations!"
Druckmann has worked with Naughty Dog almost his entire video game career. Joining the company in 2004, The Israeli-American worked as an intern before taking up coding roles on titles such as Jak 3 and Jak X: Combat Racing. Druckmann's break came as a designer on the Uncharted series, which would eventually lead to a celebrated creative director role on uber-grim adventure The Last of Us.
Druckmann was promoted to the position of Naughty Dog Vice President during the lengthy production of equally dark sequel The Last of Us Part II. Druckmann's new role as Co-President arrives in the wake of the title's release this past summer, where it sold over four million copies worldwide in its opening week. Druckmann will also serve as a producer on the coming The Last of Us television adaptation.
Whatcha been playing this week, Destructoid?
And just like that, it's December. 2020 - both the fastest and longest year in the history of time and space - is about to come to an end. As the nights draw darker and the air a little chillier, the winter months see the coming of GOTY awards, spending sprees, gift-giving, and lashings of eggnog and hot chocolate. Even if a year as strange as this one, there's likely to be no stopping the typical spirit of the season. Just, y'know? stay sensible and safe. I'm not your dad (unless I am) but I do care about the well-being of you and your loved ones.
With the major review season mostly under wraps, I've actually taken a little time out from playing games this week, and instead have focused on trying to take a little time out when the day is kind enough to offer me the opportunity. I've been dropping in and out of regular haunts such as Street Fighter V, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and Bloodstained (nearly finished!), but mostly I've just been trying to recharge the brain cells and reflect upon this particularly grueling year. Oh, I have had a run around in cutesy brawler Wonder Blade, so you expect some words about that soon.
I hope all y'all are still finding lots of great titles to keep you occupied on these frosty nights. Whether still beaming starry-eyed at your new next-gen console, cramming in some last-minute hits of 2020 for your own personal GOTY awards, or just sitting back with familiar favorites, we love to hear what you've been up to. You know the score, drop into the comments below and fill us in on the games that are keeping you warm as winter approaches.
Have a safe and pleasant weekend, from all of us at Destructoid.
Podtoid wants your questions one last time before we say goodbye to 2020
Back in January, December 2020 felt like a lifetime away. Today, January seems like it was eons ago. Twenty-twenty was the year where time truly became a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff. Hours felt like days, days felt like weeks, and something that happened just a few weeks prior felt like a lifetime ago. I mean, the election was less than a month ago. Doesn't it feel like that took place back in August?
What a weird year this has been, and while we can't blame it all on COVID, it certainly played its part in making these 366 days we'll never forget. It upended the lives of people around the world, forced businesses to offer work-from-home solutions, and pointed out who you should unfriend on Facebook. I know we have some frontline workers who frequent Destructoid, so to them, I just want to say thank you and sorry for having to deal with the troglodytes of our society.
I honestly don't know how I'll explain the year that is 2020 to my kids. Where do you start? All the canceled movies? All the delayed games? All the people arguing that crunch "is not that bad because they're getting paid?" Remember the awfulness that was the never-ending Summer of E3? Or how about watching Microsoft and Sony see who'd blink first in showing off their next-gen consoles? Or Ubisoft and all the shit that went down there this year?
I can't wait to say good riddance to bad rubbish, though I know the clock striking midnight on December 31 won't magically make everything better. Twenty twenty-one is going to be just as much a hassle of a year as this one but without the unfortunate sight of Rudy Giuliani's hair melting onto his face. I'm happy to mostly be through this year, and happy to have one more shot at answering your questions for the Podtoid team. Chris, Charlotte, Dan, Occams, and I are all on this week, so please leave your questions below. And remember, the more creative the question, the more likely it is we'll ask it on air.
[Update: Looks like we won't have to wait long for the trailer to officially be reposted. Following this morning's leak, Altus posted to Twitter that all will be revealed on December 8.]
A funny thing happened on the official Atlus YouTube channel tonight. A trailer confirming the western release for Persona 5 Strikers, the highly anticipated Musou spin-off of the best-selling JRPG, was put up with the title "ANNOUNCE." Less than ten minutes later, it was gone but not before the most important details leaked out. Persona 5 Strikers will launch on February 23, 2021, on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Steam.
Warzone's new map is delayed by a little bit
War never changes. Sometimes war gets stuck in traffic and shows up fashionably late.
Activision has pushed back Black Ops Cold War's season one content drop from December 10 to December 16. There's good reason for the slight delay. As Activision puts it, this is "an unprecedented amount of free content and the teams are currently prepping for the biggest Season One launch week ever seen."
The star of the show is probably the new Warzone map as Activision continues to push the free-to-play battle royale as its own platform. This update will add a second map, a new take on the Gulag, and more than 30 weapons.
However, Cold War itself is getting a lot bigger. New Zombies modes, new multiplayer maps (including Raid from Black Ops 2), 2v2 Gunfight, a new Fireteam map, and the cross-title prestige system -- that's all coming to Cold War in a couple weeks.
For your trouble (or patience), Activision is giving out double XP and double weapon XP from December 12 until December 16. There's also two free bundles -- "Field Research" and "Certified" -- that players can claim between December 8 and December 15.
Season One for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Warzone Release Date Moved to December 16 [Call of Duty]
The non-Definitive version of Dragon Quest XI was delisted on Steam and the PlayStation Store
In a move that probably won't hugely affect that many people but is still interesting to note, Square Enix has stopped selling Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age on the PlayStation Store and Steam in favor of only offering the just-launched Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition.
The digital PS4 version of Dragon Quest XI is "not available for purchase" from the PlayStation Store and the PC version is "unlisted on the Steam store and will not appear in search." So it goes.
In many regards, the Definitive Edition is a big step up from the prior release. There are worthwhile new features – like the labor-of-love 2D mode, a lovely orchestrated soundtrack, and an even faster battle speed option – but the visual fidelity took a hit, and that's been a sticking point for some fans.
As previously noted by Square Enix, Definitive Edition is "a port of the Nintendo Switch version, so the graphics are not the same as they were for the original Dragon Quest XI for PlayStation 4. Please note, however, that the resolution and frame rate are at least as good as they were for the [original release]."
Of course, the bigger issue is that the publisher didn't give players an upgrade path or discount. If you want to experience the new stuff, it's gonna be $40, even if you bought the original edition.
At least there's a gigantic demo!
[Via Reddit]
The Witcher is free, but don't let that distract you from Cyberpunk
Bold promotional move from CD Projekt Red. The Polish publisher is giving away the original Witcher: Enhanced Edition Director's Cut on GOG in the days leading up to the release of Cyberpunk 2077.
Imagine a world where some PC players who are eagerly awaiting Cyberpunk take advantage of this and check out The Witcher for the first time. They're hooked. After this, it's right on to Witcher 2. Then, they get to experience the magic of Witcher 3. Before long, they do not care or remember Cyberpunk. It's all Witcher all the time, baby.
A stretch, maybe. A video game from 2007 probably won't steal too much of the spotlight from the most highly anticipated video game since Red Dead Redemption 2. But if it does, CD Projekt has no one to blame but itself.
Anyway, claim your free copy of The Witcher by heading over to the GOG Galaxy app, hit the giveaway banner, and agree to receive promotional emails. After that, you'll have a beefy RPG in your library. Just make sure to not get distracted and forget that Cyberpunk exists.
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Now Free for All GOG Galaxy Users [GOG]
Wattam brings its quirky world to the Steam Store December 18
The "ultimate goof around simulator", Wattam, is preparing to make its debut on the Steam platform. Annapurna Interactive's curious tale of fun and freaky friendship has previously been available on PS4 and PC via the Epic Games Store, but will hit Steam on December 18.
Wattam allows players to explore a bizarre and colorful universe, with the goal of befriending as many people, creatures, and seemingly inanimate objects as possible. Lacking a strict sense of focus, Wattam rewards players' exploration and puzzle-solving abilities with a cast of over 100 completely off-the-wall characters, including sentient rocks, plants, animals, toilets and... erm... poo.
Created by Katamari Damacy's Keita Takahashi, Wattam retains not only the esoteric developer's eye for creating strange and charming worlds and inhabitants, but also his profound message on the natural joys of life, living and companionship. A message that goes some distance in 2020.
Neptunia ReVerse will be headed west on PS5 in 2021
Idea Factory International has officially confirmed that upcoming PS5 release Neptunia ReVerse will indeed be coming to North America and Europe at some point in 2021. Arriving in both physical and digital form, pre-orders are now open on the official Idea Factory store.
Neptunia ReVerse, (or Go! Go! 5 Jigen Game Neptune reVerse) is the "definitive edition" of 2018 PC and PS Vita release Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 1 Plus, which itself is a remake of the very first title in the cute Hyperdimension Neptunia franchise. ReVerse will feature the Re;Birth RPG adventure in its entirety, along with a skill re-balance, new fishing mini-games, revised stats and abilities, and a completely unlocked cast from the get-go.
As I've noted before, it's disappointing to see that Nep-Nep's first foray into next-gen gaming is - of all things - a remake of a remake. But still, it is at least good to see that Idea Factory has faith in western Neptunia fans and will continue to push the adventures of Neptune, Vert, Blanc, Noire and friends into the coming year and beyond.
Oscar Isaac as Solid Snake makes a whole lot of sense for the Metal Gear Solid movie
Sony Pictures and Jordan Vogt-Roberts' long-awaited movie adaptation of Metal Gear Solid has seemingly found its Solid Snake. As reported by Deadline, Oscar Isaac is on deck to play the gaming icon.
Sources told the outlet that Isaac – known for his roles in Inside Llewyn Davis, Ex Machina, and Star Wars, to say nothing of the upcoming Disney+ series Moon Knight – is attached to play Solid Snake
Also, it's just meant to be. You can see it in his eyes.
MARCH 2019.
— Big Boss (@LordBalvin) December 4, 2020
OSCAR ISAAC CAST HIMSELF AS SOLID SNAKE. pic.twitter.com/bFbZ9K2TLf
ðŸ"¦ðŸðŸ'€â—ï¸ pic.twitter.com/69LTfORITV
— Jordan Vogt-Roberts (@VogtRoberts) December 4, 2020
I'm still wrapping my head around the fact that an Uncharted movie is finally happening with Tom Holland playing Nathan Drake, so I need more time to fully conceptualize an honest-to-goodness Metal Gear Solid adaptation. On that front, there's no new word on when production might start.
Isaac makes total sense here, and Vogt-Roberts did a bang-up job with Kong: Skull Island, but there are so many other things that need to go right for this project to live up to MGS fans' expectations.
Oscar Isaac To Star As Solid Snake In Sony's 'Metal Gear Solid' Movie [Deadline]
The next Dragon Age will be revealed next week
A new Dragon Age is something that we've known has been in the works for a long while now. The series has been on pause for six years now, patiently waiting its turn behind the likes of Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem. But it's almost time to go back to Thedas.
Geoff Keighley has confirmed that the next Dragon Age will make an appearance at The Game Awards, which takes place on December 10:
A whole lot of people really wanted that Destiny 2 raid jacket
Did you finish the new Deep Stone Crypt raid in Destiny 2? Well, you still have plenty of time to do it going forward, but if you wanted the jacket, you had until December 1.
As it turns out, a lot of people tried to get that jacket, as Bungie has shared that 258,049 players cleared Deep Stone Crypt in the first 10 days of launch (starting on November 21). On day one, 29,814 plucky raiders finished the crypt and earned their "first-ish" emblem.
While the excitement for the raid opening is in the rear view mirror, December 8 is also a huge day for Destiny 2. The "next-gen" upgrade is coming, on top of the return of Iron Banner. At 9AM PT on that day, Iron Banner will return (a 6v6 PVP event), as will the chance to earn upgraded gear.
But the real main event is that new upgrade! It'll allow 4K visuals in both the Xbox Series X and PS5 arenas, as well as 60 FPS across all new platforms (PS5, Series X/S), 120hz Crucible (PVP) support on X/PS5, and enhanced field of view sliders and faster loads. It's a doozy! I wash hoping to jump into Beyond Light day one with these enhancements, but for now, a couple more days of waiting will have to do.
This week at Bungie [Bungie.net]
Wonder Woman, Spider-Man and Captain Marvel will be in virtual attendance for The Game Awards
We are just under a week away from The Game Awards 2020. Once again, producer Geoff Keighley will be hosting the annual show, dishing out awards to some of the industry's best developers and releases, while also offering a cornucopia of new trailers and updates for some of 2021's most-anticipated titles.
Among the guest hosts helping Keighley out this year are a trinity of superheroes - in a fashion - as Tom Holland, Brie Larson, and Gal Gadot have all been announced as virtual hosts for the ceremony. Tom Holland is, of course, known for his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as web-slinger Spider-Man, while Brie Larson blasts through the stars as the titan-headbutting Captain Marvel. In the corner of DC Comics, Gal Gadot dons the golden lariat of the incomparable Wonder Woman, whose new sequel, Wonder Woman '84, is set to premiere on HBO Max later this month.
While this year's socially distanced endeavor will certainly feel a bit more low-key than previous TGAs, I must admit the idea of an all-star superhero showdown certainly livens up matters. Gadot is a little outnumbered here, going head-to-head with Holland and Larson's Team Marvel, but maybe she could call in her Fast & Furious/Game Awards alumni Vin Diesel for backup... Wait, he was also Groot, wasn't he?... Six degrees of Vin Diesel...
...And that's the end of the article. Have a good afternoon.
The Game Awards 2020 takes place Thursday, December 10.
Bethesda plans on releasing more Fallout 76 Brotherhood of Steel content
This past week, Bethesda unleashed their Steel Dawn update for Fallout 76, a follow-up to their big Wastelanders expansion earlier this year. Like the latter, Steel Dawn was also free, and is seemingly being fueled by the game's Fallout 1st subscription service and new expanded season pass: on top of all the microtransactions.
As Bethesda has shared in the past, originally, Steel Dawn was going to be multiple updates. But instead, they decided to mesh two of the three parts together into one giant patch. Truth be told, it's probably the much smarter move, as these sorts of big free upgrades generate so much more buzz than a half-hearted tease.
This isn't the end of the Brotherhood of Steel though. Bethesda notes that there's still a third part, titled Steel Reign, that is coming in 2021. What lies beyond that, outside of more season pass runs, is unknown: that's the sort of thing they usually announce at an E3 showcase.
In more "right now" news, there's a double S.C.O.R.E week underway until December 7, with a Double XP Weekend set for December 10. On December 15 season three will start, with December 17-31 serving as the period for the holiday scorched event.
Inside the Vault [Bethesda.net]
Microsoft purchases online tournament platform Smash.gg
In a truly surprising bit of industry news, Microsoft has purchased online tournament esports platform Smash.gg. Microsoft acquired the site for an undisclosed amount earlier in the week, with news of the purchase being broken on the Smash.gg Twitter account.
For those less-inclined, Smash.gg is a website that allows for the preparation, marketing, and execution of video game tournaments - both online and localized. Promoters can arrange events, receive sign-ups and collect entry fees, run brackets, post results, and more. Since its inception in 2015, Smash.gg has been considered a "go-to" site for tournament runners, and is used by local communities of players for friendly weekend punch-ups, as well as by major league esports companies for mass-market events.
Smash.gg has stated that it will be "business as usual" going forward, and that the site will still provide its tournament platforms for worldwide gaming communities in a self-service capacity. In these early days, it appears that Microsoft's initial plans are to boost the strength of the site via the use of its massive network of support resources, with a view to making Smash.gg the de-facto website for global esports tournaments.
[Update: The 40-person Naxxramas (Naxx) raid is now live in WoW Classic. Blizzard put out a trailer for the raid below, which is absolutely wild to see in 2020. So many memories are flooding back! Naxx felt like a punishing and proper end to Vanilla WoW, and a great way to usher in the new era of Burning Crusade. Now we see what Blizzard has planned next: a new announcement in February for BlizzCon online sounds likely.]
World of Warcraft Classic will eventually get to the point where it hits the end of Vanilla's lifetime: patch 1.12.2 (which is confusingly different from the nomenclature used for Classic, bear with me here!).
I mean, it's cruising there right now, as Classic just introduced the concept of Naxxramas to its Azerothian denizens, which heralds the end of the expansion and the lead-in to Burning Crusade, the best expansion: no need to at me, you know I'm right. It's also the point where a lot of my friends quit the game, as me and a few others got more into it starting with Burning Crusade on. It was an exciting time for WoW!
Let's break down where we're at right now. Classic just added the "Shadow of the Necropolis" patch this week, which is version "1.13.6" for Classic. In WoW terms, it's patch 1.11.0. After that, there are only five more patches to go until we start to get into 2.0 Burning Crusade territory. Most of them are minor fixes, before the "Drums of War" patch hits with 1.12.
As we know, WoW: Classic uses the Drums of War patch as the framework of WoW: Classic, allowing years of innovations to shine through on day one of the re-release. In other words, Classic is nearly "complete" following the launch of Naxxramas. What's next? Well, I hope we get Burning Crusade. Maybe Blizzard is working on it right now, and will pull the switch when the Classic playerbase starts dwindling. Once that announcement hits (at February's BlizzCon Online? Or November 2021's potential BlizzCon?), people will start flocking back in en masse.
World of Warcraft Classic Patch Notes: Version 1.13.6 [Battle.net]
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is now available for iOS and Android
Team IGA's great platform adventure Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is now available to purchase on mobile devices, squeezing the Gothic horror title right into your front pocket. The new port can be purchased today on iOS and Android for around $10 USD.
The mobile port of Bloodstained features the 2019 metroidvania in its entirety, as our hero Miriam traverses a grim, monster-filled kingdom en route to a showdown with her former pal Gebel. Bloodstained for mobile not only includes all previously released console DLC, but also sports a redesigned U.I. that offers a little more clarity for the smaller screen.
Developer Artplay notes that it has brought Bloodstained to mobile without compromising on visual quality or gameplay fidelity. Impressive. In the near future, Bloodstained for mobile will receive additional features such as Boss Rush and Speed Run modes, as well as new playable characters.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, Switch, and mobile platforms.
Mortal Kombat movie to premiere simultaneously on HBO Max and in theaters
It wasn't two weeks ago that Warner Bros. cinematic adaptation of Mortal Kombat was teetering on the brink of The Pit. Initially, it seemed that the new movie was "indefinitely delayed" due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, then it seemed that it was to be released directly to paid streaming service HBO Max, before WB shot that idea down.
However, it seems that Scorpion and crew will finally have their day. In an industry-shaking piece of news, Warner Bros. Studios has announced that its entire movie slate for 2021 will launch in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously, allowing audiences to choose where they wish to view the latest blockbusters in the current climate - unlikely to return to normalcy for the foreseeable future.
Mortal Kombat is among a string of major WB releases that will premiere on both the big and the small screen in 2021. Other titles include Denis Villeneuve's Dune, DC Comics' Wonder Woman '84 and The Suicide Squad, the fourth entry in The Matrix franchise and, most importantly, Space Jam: A New Legacy. These and other films will be available for streaming on HBO Max for 30 days from the date of their North American theatrical premiere.
Additionally, fans also got a new look at the Mortal Kombat movie's take on the franchise's iconic dragon logo. Replacing the previously seen (and rather bloody) affair, the new logo has a crisp metallic sheen to it, but remains true to the original artwork. I dig it.
Mortal Kombat will premiere in theaters and on HBO Max in 2021.
Supergiant recorded a 10th anniversary orchestral album that takes us all the way back to Bastion
Supergiant Games revisited 10 of its songs from Hades, Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre for a special 10th anniversary orchestral album recorded at Abbey Road Studios with a guiding hand from Austin Wintory.
In a behind-the-scenes video, Wintory said the collaboration with Supergiant was "such a privilege."
"These songs are like opera. They're so dramatic, and tell such incredible stories. I love that. They don't just lay down a bunch of random words, but they actually really tell you something meaningful."
You can buy a digital copy of The Songs of Supergiant Games: 10th Anniversary Orchestral Collection directly from the studio for $10, and there are pre-orders for $35 and $50 vinyl sets shipping in Q1 2021 if that's more your style. Graciously, the entire album was also officially uploaded to YouTube.
Here's the track list and timestamps:
- We All Become (00:00)
- Never to Return (03:54)
- In Circles (07:41)
- Lament of Orpheus (11:07)
- The Spine (14:56)
- Vagrant Song (18:28)
- She Shines (21:55)
- In the Flame (26:30)
- Paper Boats (29:46)
- Remember the Bastion (34:04)
"The orchestral arrangements themselves sort of revealed stuff to me about some of the drama of those pieces, which is heightened by those arrangements," said long-time Supergiant Games composer and audio director Darren Korb. "When I recorded these tunes originally, I recorded them in my closet or a little tiny vocal booth at our office in San Francisco, and it is pretty nuts that now we are recording them again in Abbey Road Studio Two where the Beatles did their thing."
It's been a tremendous year for Supergiant, and this is a great way to end it.
Two of Obsidian's quality RPGs are free on Epic next week
There are three very good Epic freebies on the horizon. One you can grab this week, the other two you can grab next week.
Let's start with the here and now. This week's free game on the Epic Games Store is Cave Story+. It's quite possibly the most influential and quintessential indie game ever. You owe it to yourself to play Cave Story, as it's a piece of gaming history.
Next week's freebies are going to eat up a lot of your time. Epic has lined up two of Obsidian's recent CRPGs to give away at the same time. Kickstarter mega-success Pillars of Eternity and 2016's Tyranny are free starting on December 10.
If free games are your thing -- and they probably are by virtue of the fact that you're even reading this article -- you might want to keep your eye on December 10. That's when The Game Awards airs, and it's always ripe for promos and free stuff. But even if it isn't, Obsidian's got about 100 hours worth of RPG lined up for you.
Cave Story+ [Epic Games Store]
Borderlands 2 is working again on Nintendo Switch with the new update
If your Nintendo Switch copy of Borderlands 2 has been broken for weeks, it's finally time for an update.
When players claimed the Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary DLC for free and installed it, many of them were unable to access the content and some couldn't even play the game in general due to persistent crashing. It got to the point where people had to use a workaround to delete the DLC and manually prevent it from re-materializing when they installed Borderlands 2 again on their Switch.
As of this week, the recurring crash should no longer be an issue. An update went out.
A patch for Borderlands 2 on Nintendo Switch has been pushed live to address reported stability issues some players experienced. Thank you for your patience as we worked on the fix.
— Borderlands 3 (@Borderlands) December 2, 2020
According to users on the BorderlandsSwitch subreddit, Borderlands 2 is all-clear.
The most fascinating part of this story is that players recently stumbled on (now-disabled) developer commands for Borderlands 2 that let them max out their Badass Rank, kill all nearby enemies, instantly level-up, earn a stockpile of Eridium, and use other mad-with-power cheat codes. What a saga.
Madden and FIFA's next-gen upgrades arrive one day early
Kickoff came a day early. The PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of Madden NFL 21 and FIFA 21 are scheduled to launch tomorrow, December 4. However, anyone who owns last-gen versions of those games can upgrade today.
EA Sports pulled the trigger on pushing upgrades out the door, which is a nice little surprise for anyone who's playing Madden or FIFA and making use of backward compatibility. Of course, PS4 versions can only be upgraded to PS5, and Xbox One versions can only be upgraded to Xbox Series S/X.
There are a few different scenarios at play here with EA's Dual Entitlement program. Anyone with a digital copy of either game can simply go to the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store and grab the next-gen version for free. Those who have discs will be able to pop it into their new console and download a digital upgraded version. However, anyone with a disc but a disc-less console has to hit up EA support to validate the purchase.
Those who waited to buy Madden or FIFA can't take advantage of this early next-gen arrival. They have to wait until December 4 which is when it was supposed to go live in the first place.
In a surprising turn of events today at BioWare, two long-time staffers – Casey Hudson, the studio's general manager, and Mark Darrah, the executive producer of Dragon Age – announced they're retiring.
"Arriving at this point has been an opportunity for me to reflect on my own future, and 2020 has been a year that forced all of us to re-imagine how we think about work and life," said Casey. "For me, it's been the realization that I still have tremendous energy to create, but also that I need to try something different." With his retirement, he's opening the door "for the next generation of studio leaders."
"BioWare has always been about telling emotional stories through characters," said Darrah. "We have wandered away from this central guiding pillar at times, but I am confident that the next Dragon Age will show that we remain committed to this kind of game. We will have a lot to show you."
"Mass Effect too has an exciting future," he added. "I won't say too much but I am impressed by the growth of Mike Gamble and I am looking forward to all that franchise will do under his leadership."
EA's chief studios officer Laura Miele shared her own high-level update in a public statement.
"Samantha Ryan, who came to Electronic Arts after leading Warner Brothers Games, is one of the strongest leaders in the industry. She will continue to oversee the studio. I'm also excited to announce Christian Dailey, who joined BioWare from Blizzard, will be leading our Dragon Age project currently in development. Christian is a fantastic creative leader and I look forward to you all getting to know him in the coming days. We recently announced Mass Effect: The Legendary Edition and Mike Gamble is leading a team hard at work on that franchise's future." BioWare is still lining up a new general manager.
These are two series that fans are hoping against hope will turn out well. Count me among them.
A Message From Laura Miele, Chief Studios Officer, Electronic Arts [BioWare]
New MMORPG Crimson Desert will premiere at The Game Awards 2020
This month's Game Awards are expected to feature a slew of announcements, trailer, and reveals, with many developers taking the opportunity to direct the audience's eyes towards their latest wares. One such developer is Pearl Abyss, who will be debuting gameplay footage from its upcoming fantasy MMO, Crimson Desert.
The natural evolution of 2014's Black Desert Online, Crimson Desert promises to be another dramatic and lore-heavy adventure set within a dangerous mythical universe. Players will explore a huge kingdom, engaging with "worldviews, religions, and characters" unique to Crimson Desert's universe. Threat and danger will come in the form of a menagerie of terrifying monsters and beasties, so come loaded for bear, and best bring comrades.
Currently in development for PC and consoles, Pearl Abyss is yet to offer a launch window for Crimson Desert, but perhaps more information will be revealed during this upcoming gameplay premiere. The MMORPG market is hardly starved of titles, so let's hope Crimson Desert can turn enough heads to carve out a sizeable following for itself.
The Game Awards 2020 takes place Thursday, December 10.
