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.
Sea of Thieves is going seasonal with 100 levels of progression
In an end-of-year video, Rare shared some impressive figures about Sea of Thieves' ongoing growth – over 11 million people played the game in 2020 – and spoke about its shift to a battle pass model.
In 2021, Sea of Thieves is moving away from meaningful updates to the competitive Arena mode, though it will still be supported and playable going forward. In another understandable move, Rare is switching over to a seasonal content schedule for the main Adventure experience. That means there will be a major update every three months or so headlined by "a new experience or way of play." After each season kick-off, the game will get "regular and featured live events" and quality-of-life patches.
Of course, a seasonal format wouldn't be complete without a battle pass – "the biggest change to our progression system since launch," according to Rare. In this case, there's a free tier with 100 levels of Pirate Renown progression and a premium Plunder Pass with "unique rewards" and exclusive items from the Pirate Emporium. Rare wants players to achieve "tangible" progress in "shorter sessions."
It's hard not to associate passes with FOMO – there are a lot of games trying to get us to do a lot of things in specific time frames – but a progression path beyond the Trading Company grind sounds fine.
Once Season 1 begins in January, Sea of Thieves players will be able to undertake a clue-gathering "detective" voyage with the Merchant Alliance. Creative director Mike Chapman also says that "big things" are planned for 2021 and they're "inspired" to freshen up the open-sea sandbox experience.
As for the game's continual success, Rare pointed to the Steam launch (which brought in a million players "within that first month") and a diverse audience fueled in large part by China and Korea.
Cyberpunk 2077 is going to look stupidly good with photo mode
Filters. Everyone uses 'em, and that's why everyone has a dog nose or big anime eyes. A photo doesn't make its way online anymore without some touchups and enhancements. That's life in the Insta-age.
Most everyone expects Cyberpunk 2077 to look great, but the photo mode is going to take it to a whole new level. CD Projekt Red released a trailer that showcases all the photo mode's features, and there are a lot of ways to gussy up your screenshots.
Here are the various effects and customization options across all of photo mode's categories:
Let's take a moment to appreciate this sick Castlevania art piece
Artist Dave Rapoza's take on Castlevania is one of my favorite outside interpretations I've seen.
Simon Belmont - Castlevania -
— Dave Rapoza (@DaveRapoza) December 1, 2020
(link to limited print from Cook and Becker below!) pic.twitter.com/12rmOlA7F5
In his new art piece – available as a print from Cook and Becker – Rapoza surrounds Simon Belmont with the ghoulish bosses and foes from the original Castlevania. I absolutely love the ornate detailing.
"I didn't look at the original video game for my research – for me today, a two-tone purple monster will feel silly, right? Like how's that scary at all? Yet when you dive into your nostalgic memory, the magic is still there, your interpretation of this world that was merely implied to you by the game makers," he said. "The pixels only imply certain shapes, and you fill in the blanks with your imagination."
You know a tribute piece is good when it makes you want to fire up an entire series of games. I wish Konami would do a lot of things, but at the top of the list, I wish it would do right by Castlevania.
Simon Belmont [Cook and Becker] [Thanks, Sam van der Meer]
Doom Guy comes to Fall Guys as a BFB
You probably know that BFG stands for "Big Fucking Gun." Did you know that the 2005 Doom movie retconned the acronym to mean "Bio Force Gun?" Other than that slight misstep, the movie is perfect.
Anyway, Fall Guys is about to get some Bio Force Beans.
Like Half-Life's Alyx, Portal's Chell, and Sonic's Sonic, Doom's demon-slaughtering protagonist seems set to join the Fall Guys roster of costumes:
What games are you trying to finish by the end of the year?
Now that it's December, I'm taking one last look at my backlog in hopes of wrapping up more games and rolling into the new year with a relatively clean plate (only to immediately fill it up again). It's a futile exercise – there's always going to be more to play – but it's become an end-of-year tradition for me.
The big one will be Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, which I'm happily chipping away at during most evenings. It's just mindless enough that I can half play it while watching TV, make a bit of progress, and feel like I accomplished something in spite of the jam-packed world map. I've heard the postgame isn't as stuffed as the first Hyrule Warriors – and well, that's probably for the best. I adored those absurdly long adventure maps, but I don't need to go through that again after Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition.
At the same time, I'll put the finishing touches on Spider-Man: Miles Morales. I'm more than halfway through the story and I find myself cramming in as many side-activities as I can between each main mission. It's a hard habit to break. I'm now at the point where I feel confident in Spider-Man's swinging, stealthing, and acrobatic attacks – it took a while to shake off the rust and perfect the flow. I can also safely call this ahead of time: I'm going to roll straight into New Game+ for those final skill unlocks.
At that point – and this is why I'm glad I got Demon's Souls and Bugsnax out of my literal and figurative system – we're getting dangerously close to Cyberpunk 2077. That's going to complicate my schedule. On the other hand, it's such a (reportedly) big game that I likely won't feel obligated to finish it in 2020.
From there, I'll probably spend a few evenings with Ori and the Will of the Wisps (other things got in the way this year), Overcooked 2: All You Can Eat (we need to finish several of the bonus campaigns), Fall Guys (Season 3 will hopefully be a step up), and Nioh 2: The First Samurai (the final expansion, at last).
As much as I want to stick to this outline, ymfah is making me want to screw around in Dark Souls III.
What does your end-of-year plan – or should I say pre-Cyberpunk 2077 plan – look like? Do you have a list of specific games mapped out, or are you just waiting to see what strikes your fancy?
Switch Port Report: Sam & Max Save the World Remastered
It's a real shame the story of Telltale Games ended the way it did because, at one point in its brief history, it was one of the most exciting developers in the industry. With access to some of the top IPs, including The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and Stranger Things, there was no shortage of stories it could tell, just a shortage of money to keep everything going.
It may be gone, but some of its work will live on with other developers who are keen are keeping its legacy alive. And the best way to do that is to remaster those old games as well as Skunkape Games has done here with Sam & Max Save the World.
Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond has five multiplayer modes and they're going to be wild in VR
I've been fixated on the story campaign in Respawn's VR-only Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, but the more I see of the multiplayer, the more I think that's going to be the main draw for a lot of players.
Respawn is putting a surprising amount of care into Above and Beyond, and based on this trailer – and prior experience with competitive VR games in general – the multiplayer should be pretty nuts. After decades of better-looking but familiar-feeling gaming, you start to take things for granted. With the extra immersion of virtual reality, even the simplest player interactions can feel fresh and exciting.
There are going to be five multiplayer modes in Medal of Honor, including the familiar Domination, Deathmatch, and Team Deathmatch, a rocket-launcher-toting king-of-the-hill gametype (Blast Radius), and a scenario focused on planting and defusing bombs (Mad Bomber). It's a focused spread.
This footage shows what it looks like, but playing it – feeling surrounded – will be way more thrilling.
Also worth noting: Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond is playable through Steam with support for Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus, so if you want to side-step the Oculus store and the whole mess with Facebook accounts, in this particular instance, you can. That's super important for multiplayer queues.
The Just Cause creator started a new studio and named it after the Wu-Tang Clan
Liquid Swords released in 1995, a solo album side project from Wu-Tang Clan founding member GZA. This was the route most of them went after the success of the group's first album 36 Chambers. No one missed. RZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah -- they all released solo albums in the years following 36 Chambers, and they're all regarded anywhere from great to incredible.
None rub elbows with the praise of "masterpiece" and "all-time classic" and "one of the most influential hip-hop records ever" like Liquid Swords, though. GZA described the flow and feel of the album by saying "I'm trying to make it more visual. Liquid Swords is a concept of being lyrically sharp, flowing like liquid metal -- mercury, y'know? It comes from this flick, Legend of the Liquid Sword, where people would get their head cut off but it would still be on their shoulders. No one else would notice, because the sword was so sharp. Wu-Tang is a sword style, and this here is the sharpest. I'd rather slip on the pavement than slip on my tongue."
A former Avalanche Studios head either named his new studio after an iconic Wu-Tang album or after a mid-90s Hong Kong comedy. As announced on Facebook, Avalanche founder and Just Cause creator Christofer Sundberg has opened Liquid Swords in Stockholm. He's sticking with what he knows, as Sundberg says Liquid Swords will focus on "open-world action and explosions." It's rare that explosions play a key role in a company's mission statement.
While over-the-top spectacle and player freedom are pillars, Sundberg wants everyone to know that "Liquid Swords is a business, not a playground for aimless ideas. Our swords are sharpened, our mission is set and we could not be more excited about what the future holds."
Scratch "Just Cause guy reinvents Just Cause while referencing Wu-Tang" off your 2020 bingo card. I threw my bingo card out the window a long time ago. This shit's too hard to predict. I guess we could've seen Sundberg revisiting what made Just Cause 2 so popular. He's got a method, man.
Liquid Swords [Facebook]
Oh BOY, Kratos is the next Fortnite crossover
Ares killed his family, so now he's going to kill 99 of you guys while flossing.
On the heels of yesterday's Galactus-vanquishing event, Epic has new theatrics lined up for Fortnite. God-killer Kratos has leaked as the next crossover.
It started with this extremely not-subtle teaser from PlayStation:
The Game Awards is asking for your ten favorite games of 2020 for the Player's Voice award
You might not be emotionally invested in which games win which awards at The Game Awards this year, but the Player's Voice category opened today and it's kind of a fun exercise to whittle the 30 nominees down to ten potential winners. To vote, you'll need to sign in with Google, Twitter, or Facebook.
Even if you don't want to participate, it's interesting to see the tentative results. So far, Ghost of Tsushima is leading the pack with eight percent of the votes, followed closely by Hades, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and The Last of Us Part II. If I were a betting man, I'd bet big on Hades rising the ranks.
Personally, the surprisingly great Legends mode really helps cement Ghost of Tsushima's status (but I adore Hades). As for Free Fire – yeah, I had to Google it too – it's at zero percent, just below Fortnite.
This is only the first leg of three. In the second round on December 4, the community will vote again, bringing the Player's Voice nominees from ten games down to just five hopeful contenders. Then, on December 6, players will pledge their support for their number-one can't-be-beat game of 2020.
Here's the full list of Player's Voice nominees:
- 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
- Among Us
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Apex Legends
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla
- Bugsnax
- Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War
- Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
- Demon's Souls
- Destiny 2
- Doom Eternal
- Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Fortnite
- Free Fire
- Genshin Impact
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Hades
- Half-Life: Alyx
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
- League of Legends
- Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Minecraft Dungeons
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Persona 5 Royal
- Phasmophobia
- Star Wars: Squadrons
- The Last Of Us Part II
- Valorant
- Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition
I keep saying this, but as shitty as this year has been, it sure gave us some fantastic games.
The worm (re)turns as Worms Rumble explodes onto PS4, PS5, and PC
Worms is a franchise that certainly holds many memories of my formative years. A bunch of friends squeezed around a 486, blasting each other to kingdom come with pixel-perfect long-distance shots, devastating shrapnel grenades, or a Street Fighter-style Dragon Punch when the conflict got up close and personal.
Legendary British developer Team 17 is hoping to capture that same feeling of friendly rivalry with Worms Rumble, the latest release in the long-running strategy franchise, now available to purchase on PS4, PS5, and PC via Steam. While the expansive maps, huge array of weapons, and explosive action are all present and correct, Worms Rumble reinvents the battle entirely by going real-time.
Doom Eternal on Switch has optional gyro aiming support
As we know, Doom Eternal is digital-only on Switch, and it'll take up around 18GB of space at launch. But Bethesda has updated its Switch FAQ with a few more juicy tidbits.
It looks like Eternal won't be left out of the gyro aiming train, as the publisher has confirmed that it will indeed have an optional toggle for the feature. To be clear, these are supported on both the Switch and Switch Lite devices. As far as multiplayer goes, Bethesda is touting the Battlemode 2v1 experience: where one Doom Slayer (Doom Guy, c'mon) goes up against two player-controlled demons in a best-of-five format. That's it, it seems.
As far as known bugs go, everything seems very minor. Two of the three listed bugs literally include using the photo mode under certain circumstances, and one involves boosters: an XP-based multiplayer mechanic that a lot of people won't care about.
If you ordered the game early, you should get an email with a Doom 64 code through the account associated with your Nintendo device. If you don't sometime after launch, check in on that! Bethesda also recommends that you reach out to retailers if you pre-ordered the physical version before release: and get further instructions from them directly.
They also stress that no codes for bonus content will be provided at retail locations, and that you have until December 23 to unlock the Rip and Tear content.
Doom Eternal Nintendo Switch FAQ & Known Issues [Slayer's Club]
Panzer Dragoon: Remake gliding onto Xbox One December 11
MegaPixel Studios has revealed that its modern-day take on 1995 Sega Saturn classic Panzer Dragoon will finally take flight on Xbox One next week, following its earlier release on PS4, PC, Stadia, and Nintendo Switch.
Panzer Dragoon: Remake features all of the high-fantasy rail-shooter action of the original 1995 release, spruced up with dynamic new visuals and an overhauled control system. Players will once again mount the fabled Blue Dragon before embarking on a long and hazardous quest to reach an ancient tower and prevent the world from falling at the hands of the mysterious Prototype Dragon.
Panzer Dragoon: Remake launches on Xbox One December 11 and is available right now on PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia. You can check out Chris Carter's review for the Switch edition right here.
Oh look, it's an Adventure Time BMO Switch charging station
Adventure Time, come on grab your Switch, we'll go to the very...distant Japan, with Reggie the rep and Miyamoto the president, the fun will never end, it's Adventure Time!
Yes, this intrepid artist has managed to marry both Adventure Time and Nintendo's latest console in the cutest way possible. The little portable companion BMO is front and center with this "Nintendo Switch Charging Station Dock Stand," which is now taking pre-orders.
The Etsy store MadeinUrbana crafted this Switch stand, which slots the "original Switch" (likely not the Lite), so you can dock it and play games on BMO's screen. When you're not gaming, the stand doubles as a little action figure of sorts with an insert for the face. Note that this isn't a proper dock per se, as you'll need to do a bit more work to get that up and running: the store recommends an HDMI multihub. The stand also has proper vents in the back for "safety" reasons.
The only issue for some might be the price. It's $199.20 right now, and new orders are aiming to be shipped for free in "4-6 weeks." The store is looking to get pre-orders out "by Christmas." So it might not arrive in time for someone to accept a pricey gift, but it looks fantastic nonetheless!
Adventure Time BMO Nintendo Switch Charging Station Dock Stand [Etsy]
Rainbow Six Siege launches Operation Neon Dawn alongside PS5 and Xbox Series X editions
It's a huge week for Ubisoft's Rainbow Six Siege. Not only is new season Operation Neon Dawn now live in-game, but the intense multiplayer shooter is now available for download on PS5 and Xbox Series X, launching a brand new generation of door-kickin', smoke-poppin', hostage fuzin' action.
Operation Neon Dawn brings with it Team Rainbow's first prosthetic-wearing operator: Thailand's Apha Tawanroong, better known by her call-sign "Aruni." The 2-Speed 2-Armor Defender brings the high-tech Surya Gate to the battlefield, an intelligent laser fence that attaches to doors and windows, destroying enemy projectiles and providing more than a slight burn to any Attackers crossing its threshold. Aruni will be the only operator added to the roster this season, allowing the development team time to focus on tweaking Siege's core mechanics.
You really got to give it to 343 Industries and their support of the Halo: Master Chief Collection.
It's still a marquee title for the Xbox brand in that it basically collects every Halo game ever made in one place: and it's still lively to the point where I can jump in near-weekly and get into a game quickly. Given how convenient the whole launcher system is, it makes it easy to sift around and dive into whatever sort of experience you want at any given time.
That's in part due to the continued development of the game, which has spread to the PC platform as Microsoft sticks to their plan to expand their ecosystem beyond the Xbox family. Halo 4 is on PC now, in fact, with multiplayer cross-play, an enhanced Forge system, and all of the enhancements from the Series X/S. But what about going back and reworking older games? Well, that's tricky.
Answering a player question on their official November update blog about adding four player co-op to Halo 1 and 2, Community Support & Engagement Coordinator "Postums" noted that although the team "loves" the idea, it's "further down the list" in terms of priorities. Postums hints that although it can be done, there are more important tasks to get to, like updating co-op netcode or "bringing lost content to the [older] games," or other "global updates."
Postums says that 343 actually hopes that players mod the game to make this possible on PC, and thinks the modding community will be "where the game lives on" after it sunsets eventually. Another 343 developer explains that the game would have to be "solved and debugged" first, as two player co-op is hard-coded in.
I can see Halo 1 being a little easier to do as you just need to clone Master Chief two more times: but for Halo 2, the two player co-op was a thematic choice to help put the focus on the Arbiter, so it may look a little wonkier. Even still, 343 says that Halo 2 is "more at the ready" for adding four player co-op, but notes that there are still design challenges.
343 has done enough in my mind. Not that I wouldn't mind four player co-op across all the games, but as they've noted, there's more work to be done.
Master Chief Collection Development Update - November 2020 [Halo Waypoint]
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade Of Light is coming out on Switch on December 4. That's good!
It's also going away forever on March 31, 2020. That's bad!
I know I've been using that Simpsons bit a lot, but hey, I'm rewatching the entire series (I'm on season 18, and keeping current with season 32!). Plus, it's extra applicable to this particular situation.
VA-11 Hall-A sequel N1RV Ann-A delayed from its 2020 release window
Sukeban Games has announced that N1RV Ann-A, the highly anticipated follow-up to cult classic VA-11 Hall-A, will not meet its previously announced 2020 release date, and has been rescheduled to the vague release window of "when it's done."
The popular indie developer announced that it intends to focus on the promotion of some of its other upcoming projects, though Sukeban reassured fans that production on the cyberpunk sequel would not falter as a result of this, merely that the marketing around N1RV Ann-A would be a little more subdued for the foreseeable future.
N1RV Ann-A writer Fernando Damas also explained the events that have led to the delay, candidly revealing problems with project direction and work scheduling, requiring a recent reboot of the team's production methods. A more detailed explanation of these hurdles is available over on the official Sukeban Games website. For the most part, it seems that N1RV Anna-A's production remains steadfast, we're just going to have to wait a little longer before we return to the neon-soaked nights of 207X.
Xenoblade 2 is three years old, so its character artist celebrated with a new piece
Saito Masatsugu, character artist for Xenoblade Chronicles 2, did an amazing job at bringing that cast to life. While the Xenoblade series is typically full of memorable party members, there was something special about Rex and Pyra/Mythra.
Masatsugu thinks so too, as they are celebrating the third anniversary of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 with a new piece of art starring the latter pair. As a reminder, the sequel came out on December 1, 2017: which is still hard to believe. That's mostly because the DLC expansion arrived nearly a year later, so the game is still fresh in my mind.
So fresh, in fact, that I kind of want to play it again! It's a good thing that Monolith Soft aims for a more timeless angle for their games: so beyond the time commitment, it's easy to wrap my head around doing that again. DLC included!
If you're interested in the finer details of Masatsugu's work, Nintendo did a little deep dive with him a few years back.
saitomasatsugu [Twitter]
Bandai Namco to team with Wallace & Gromit's Aardman Animation on new project
British animation studio Aardman Animation - renown for its Wallace & Gromit stop-motion features - has entered into a new agreement with publisher Bandai Namco to collaborate on a brand new IP.
While both companies remain tight-lipped on the project, the new IP will exist in multiple media formats, with Bandai Namco no doubt handling the video game iteration of the brand. Aardman Animation will begin work on the project early in 2021, with more details to be revealed at a later date.
"Interactive Entertainment is a huge growth area within the entertainment world," said Aardman's MD Sean Clarke. "With new emerging technology blurring the lines of watching and playing, we are keen to develop strategic partnerships with partners such as Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe that share our vision of creating new IP that embraces this new world and cement our studio's reputation as a multi-disciplinary creative hub."
"This new partnership with Aardman is a dream come true, as it opens up a world of possibilities," states Bandai Namco SVP Hervé Hoerdt. "The teams at Aardman and BNEE are a perfect cultural and creative fit to build a successful long term partnership. I can't wait to see what we can achieve together."
This partnership will be the first collaboration between Aardman Animation and Bandai Namco since the release of impressionist graphic adventure 11-11: Memories Retold, which launched on PS4, PC, and Xbox One back in November 2018.
Aardman partners with Bandai Namco Entertainmenton new IP [MCVUK]
Genshin Impact sees continued success, raking in almost $400 million in two months
There's no sopping MiHoYo's Genshin Impact. In the two months since the fantasy adventure's release, Genshin Impact has raked in an incredible $393 million USD on mobile platforms - as reported by the statisticians over at Sensor Tower.
For the period September 28-November 28, Genshin Impact's numbers push the mobile edition past several other major titles including Pokemon GO, PUBG Mobile, and Coin Master. Even more shockingly, this figure does not include any revenue made on the Android platform in China, believed to be Genshin Impact's most lucrative market.
Nvidia is launching the $400 RTX 3060 Ti tomorrow, another GPU you won't be able to buy
Nvidia has been relentless in its quest to launch a brand new line of graphics cards over the past few months, and that pursuit sees its most sudden addition tomorrow. With exactly one day between announcement and release, Nvidia has introduced the lowest-end (and cheapest) RTX 30 series card that'll still give the 20 series a run for its money.
On December 2, Nvidia will launch the RTX 3060 Ti at a price of $399. In its announcement post, Nvidia says the 3060 Ti is faster than both the RTX 2080 Super (barely) and the 2060 Super (by 40 percent). Like all the 30 Series cards, the 3060 Ti makes use of the new Ampere architecture. It features: "second generation ray tracing cores, third generation tensor cores for AI, Nvidia DLSS, Nvidia Reflex, and Nvidia Broadcast."
Predictably, the initial reviews for the 3060 Ti are coming up all positive. PC Gamer's benchmarks found that it's a great 1440p monitor, can hit some rather high framerates at 1080p, and is capable of doing 4K at 60fps under the right settings. Ars Technica found it to be a quite competent card, especially at the price point. It obviously can't outperform the 3070 (although it's close), the 3080, or the 3090.
Like the other 30 series cards, the 3060 Ti will make good on two of three important factors. They're all powerful and fast. They're all priced competitively. And it's impossible to buy any of them. The 3060 Ti goes on sale tomorrow morning and no one think it's going to be easy to get one. Considering it's the cheapest of the cards, it's expected to see the highest demand. Best of luck 'cause you're gonna need it.
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Coming December 2nd. Faster Than RTX 2080 Super, Starting at $399 [Nvidia]
Planet Zoo is getting penguins, otters, and a new 'animal talks' activity on December 8
Whether you're here for the penguins (please read that in Benedict Cumberbatch's voice) or you're just sticking to the ongoing free content updates, December 8 will be a busy day for Planet Zoo players.
The next slice of DLC for Planet Zoo is the Aquatic Pack, and in terms of new species, it's adding the king penguin, giant otter, diamondback terrapin, Cuvier's dwarf caiman, and grey seal (please sing that like Elton John). For $10, you're also getting 170-ish scenery customization pieces (these numbers always sound inflated) and a challenge scenario set in Oregon that revolves around a "drained riverbed."
On the free-content front, Planet Zoo is getting update 1.4 on December 8. Apart from access to the new Water Temperature Regulator and Underwater Feeder (to coincide with the DLC theme), the update will add a summary screen for transport rides, informational "animal talks" that you can organize with newly-hired Educator staff members, and a multi-select option for animal storage in Franchise mode.
The submersible feeding station will only be compatible with the saltwater crocodile at first, but Frontier Developments says it "will be adding [support for] more animals in the future."
Beyond those free-for-everyone quality-of-life features, there's also a free challenge scenario tucked into update 1.4 – it's set in the Philippines, and you'll design your zoo around "disused rice terraces."
The Aquatic Pack might not go far enough for marine-loving players who have been plotting out the aquarium of their dreams, but I'm here for baby otters and penguins any day of the week.
Mega Man X and Battle Network live on in these new official models
Mega Man merch may never die.
The Mega Man series died at one point. Then it came back to life! It may die again. But we will always have merch. Merch...never changes.
Like the George Lucas of the video game world, Capcom has more merch SKUs each year than there are Mega Man games at this point. Many of them are figures and the like, ranging from the most casual blind box packages to the discerning hobbyist models. Manufacturer Kotobukiya has been partaking in that latter line for a while, and this past week, they just unveiled a few more beauties.
Shown off via their new livestream (the model talk for Mega Man X starts about 35 minutes in, timestamped here, with the Battle Network model talk kicking off around an hour and a half), Mega Man X and Battle Network non-painted models are incoming. The Mega Man X version will be more posable, even including an option to make him look like he's jumping through a boss door, or squinting while holding in a charged buster shot.
The Battle Network model has its own flair, with cuter more casual poses, as well as the option to wield his signature sword. You can find more info on the figures on this landing page. At this time, release dates and pricing are "undecided," as per a listing on the site.
Mega Man [Kotobukiya]
PS4's End of Year sale is back for 2020
If you didn't stock up on PS4 games during Black Friday or Cyber Monday, here's another chance. The PlayStation Store is hosting one of its final sales of 2020: the End of Year sale. We've almost made it.
For those of us who have switched over to PS5, it's not always obvious that a promo is running in the storefront unless you specifically go looking for it. But honestly, playing PS4 titles is one of my favorite parts of PS5 now that I've made the rounds with the console's launch lineup. I'm still interested.
Your mileage is really going to vary with this sale given its proximity to the Black Friday selection – and the recurring nature of which games keep popping up in these sales – but I have some suggestions.
- Death Stranding ($19.99) – a wonderful "holiday break" game to throw yourself into.
- Alien: Isolation - The Collection ($7.99) – keep the Halloween vibe going.
- Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition – a gem of an open-world at a great price.
- Little Nightmares ($4.99) – catch up before next year's sequel.
- Team Sonic Racing ($17.99) – it's no All-Stars Racing Transformed, but still.
- Monster Hunter World: Iceborne ($20.09) – it's the perfect time to upgrade the base game now that Capcom is about to open up the rotating Event Quests.
- The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan ($9.89) – this is the right price for this one.
- Dragon's Crown Pro ($7.99) – beat them up!
- MediEvil ($14.99) – worth another look for many of us.
- The Surge 2 ($12.49) – the discount might be steep enough to push me off the fence.
- Contra Anniversary Collection ($9.99) – if nostalgia is calling.
- Castlevania Anniversary Collection ($9.99) – samesies.
- Far Cry 3 Classic Edition ($9.89) – a simpler time for open-world Ubisoft games.
- Rise of the Tomb Raider ($5.99) – I don't love this game, but the price is right.
- Prototype ($5.99) – cathartic open-world carnage and traversal that mostly holds up.
- Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King ($11.99) – a much better price, but I'm afraid of facing The Lion King again after what it did to me as a kid.
- Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight ($9.89) – I don't know, ask one of the Chrises.
- Doom 64 ($1.49) – it's oddly relaxing to go back to this game after Eternal.
- Jotun: Valhalla Edition ($2.99) – another nice budget pick.
- Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved ($3.74) – god I love Pacifism mode.
- Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap ($7.99) – one of my favorite retro revivals.
- Dead by Daylight: Special Edition PS4 & PS5 ($11.99) – this game has legs.
- Bloodborne ($12.99) and The Old Hunters ($9.99) – name a more iconic game/DLC duo.
- Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin ($9.99) – if you're in a ravenous Souls mood.
- Dark Souls III - Deluxe Edition ($21.24) – I can't wait to revisit this on PS5 with 60fps.
The End of Year sale will stick around until December 22. I'd expect a Holiday sale around then.
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.
The new Nintendo Switch image transfer system is so wild, it's hard to believe it exists
So uh, a new Switch firmware update is out, and it actually adds features! That's good! But it's a Nintendo update: so be careful what you wish for.
In a monkey's paw of firmware, Nintendo has patched in the ability to transfer images "directly to your smartphone." But I question how direct the whole process is. Strap in, it's a bit weird.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War update includes weapon XP tweak
Treyarch has released a new update for its recent military shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. The patch specifically targets in-game Weapon XP, which has now been tweaked to be a little more generous than it once was.
As players rack up the body count with Cold War's array of death-dealers, various scopes, silencers, extended mags, muzzles, handles and more are unlocked for each weapon, adding stat-adjusting buffs and nerfs to the arsenal of rifles, handguns, and sub-machine guns. The knife does not, however, receive a scope, nor an extended mag.
Since Cold War's launch, some players have felt that the game has been a little stingy with the XP, which led to an all-out assault on tiny map Nuketown '84 this past weekend - frantically grinding out the recent Double XP weekend. But now it seems that the CoD faithful can relax a little, as going forward Weapon XP will be doled out in both Multiplayer and Zombies at a much more substantial rate. Brrap.
Additionally, Activision has announced further Double XP events later this month. So maybe this time don't leave me the sole m'f'er on Checkpoint B while you massage your sniper K/D ratio.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War patch means you now level up weapons faster [Eurogamer]
Dead Cells gets its second round of paid DLC early next year
The first time was so nice, that we're gonna do it twice. In February, Dead Cells got its first premium add-on, Bad Seed, at a very affordable $5. It was so good that Jordan said in his review "I could go for a few more DLC packs with this exact structure."
Good news, buddy. Motion Twin has announced Fatal Falls, another $5 expansion to Dead Cells that's slated for release in the first quarter of 2021. Fatal Falls adds two mid-game biomes (The Fractured Shrines and The Undying Shores) alongside some boss area parallels and alternate paths. Basically, it brings new content while shaking up the structure of any given run.
If you're the visual learning type (or just too lazy to read and process the information), there's a teaser trailer up top and seven screenshots in the gallery below.
Accompanying the DLC announcement, Motion Twin revealed that Dead Cells has cleared 3.5 million copies sold across all platforms. That's approximately 238 trillion deaths, assuming everyone died about 68 million times. The all-timers always leave you coming back for more, and Dead Cells definitely fits the bill.
WoW Classic just updated to the Naxxramas patch, as it marches on to the end of Vanilla's lifetime
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]
This ultra-adorable Apex Legends Lifeline Nendoroid is now available to pre-order
If you are a fan of Apex Legends' support specialist Ajay Chae, better known as "Lifeline," then this new Nendoroid from the good folk at Good Smile Co. would make a perfect gift for yourself - or the Lifeline lover in your vicinity.
This super-cute realization of the double-tough combat medic stands just under four inches tall and comes bundled with a selection of dinky accessories. These include her a healthful syringe and her trusty D.O.C. droid, as well as her less-than-healthy Shock Sticks and a rapid-fire SMG. Additionally, Lifeline is packed with alternate arms and legs, as well as a clear stand for dynamic posing. Surprisingly, Lifeline only has one faceplate, which makes her unnervingly cheerful as she lets rip with the SMG.
If you want to add Lifeline to your shelf, then pre-orders are now open on the official Good Smile Co. website. Lifeline will retail for a typical $59 USD, not including shipping or any potential customs charges. Pre-orders close on January 6, with Lifeline expected to ship in the summer of 2021.
The ultimate guide to earning My Nintendo points quickly and easily
With My Nintendo physical rewards popping up like daisies every week, I've had a ton of requests from readers to explain what Platinum Points are, and how to earn them quickly.
Good news! This is that guide. It'll walk you through the entire process comprehensively, from starting a My Nintendo account to some of the more advanced ways of earning digital bread.
Control is the biggest get for Xbox Game Pass in December
This morning, Microsoft let it slip that Doom Eternal would be hitting Xbox Game Pass on PC. But as it turns out, December is getting at least one other big release; and a few good ones.
As revealed today, Control is hitting Xbox Game Pass for consoles (and Android devices via xCloud) on December 3: the same day as Doom Eternal on PC. That's followed by Haven, Rage 2, Slime Rancher, Va-11 Hall-A, Yes Your Grace, and Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age.
Okay so where to begin with this?! I see you, Bethesda-Soft! With your Rage 2 addition, like all Bethesda games won't eventually end up on daddy's system. Also, Control! That's like, pretty recent, as far as AAA goes, and a nice get for the system that helped bring Alan Wake into this world. Oh, and Va-11 Hall-A, Yes Your Grace are fine indie editions, with Dragon Quest XI serving as one of the more interesting big budget JRPGs in recent years. It's a huge month for the service.
Nearly a week after that starting on December 8, you'll find Call of the Sea, Monster Sanctuary, Starbound, Unto the End, Assetto Corsa, Gang Beasts, GreedFall, Superhot: Mind Control Delete (!), and Yooka Laylee and the Impossible Lair. Again, it's a good spread! Racers, first-person puzzle shooters, cute mascot puzzle platformers. Game Pass is getting even better.
You can find the full schedule below. Happy holidays!
Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass: Control, Doom Eternal, Holiday Offer, and More [Xbox Wire]
Review: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Time and again, media has utilized problematic real-life events and figures to carry its entertainment. Whether for comedic or dramatic purposes, movies, comics, books, and video games have taken recognizable personalities and world events and replicated them to offer a slice of "relatable" authenticity to their pulp fiction.
Hollywood has made a billion-dollar business out of setting fictional narratives against the backdrop of real-world atrocities, while satirical shows from Saturday Night Live to Animaniacs have lampooned political figures on every side of history's global conflicts. Ultimately, truth and fiction will forever collide in the name of entertainment, it is up to us to remain focused on the former, once the dust has settled.
Presented for your consideration: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, which raised eyebrows with its much-hyped inclusion of the staunchly conservative 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Those of an age will remember the utter terror of the 1980's Cold War era, where daily obliteration felt a mere button push away. With world leaders such as Reagan, Thatcher, and Brezhnev in power, it was easy for the people – particularly minorities and the working class – to feel that life was dangling by a thread, utter destruction at the hands of both the right-wing media and aggressive, warring world leaders.
As such, it is understandable that some audiences might find distaste at Reagan's inclusion in Cold War, as his party of war criminals gets its hands dirty in the name of freedom. But ultimately, Reagan's (fleeting) appearance is no more damaging to us than any knuckle-headed movie about political furor. Black Ops Cold War – for all of its real-life news footage and chin-stroking pontification – might as well be set in fucking Narnia, such is its loose grip on history. Reagan here is a mere NPC, and is about as reverential as the Spitting Image puppet in Genesis' Land of Confusion video.
As you chase down an escaping jet-liner with a radio-control car, pick your way unhindered through KGB headquarters, or fire a bow-and-arrow while zip-lining over a mountain pass, it seems fruitless to feel offense at Cold War's illusory take on the Reagan years. Now approaching its 20th year, Call of Duty is so utterly absorbed by its narrative that it's essentially become its own fictional universe.
In a franchise that once had JFK fighting Nazi zombies, the shadow of an uncanny-valley Reagan and his gross, outdated sensibilities are powerless to hurt our modern, enlightened eyes. We know what's right and what's wrong, and the digital ghost of '80s conservatism isn't to be feared when we have enough of our own problems today. Besides, given the increasing ridiculousness of CoD's universe, they might as well have just used The Hamburglar, and the fit would have been equally as snug.
Heroes of the Storm boss says Hogger timing was a 'happy coincidence'
Part Tasmanian Devil, part Crash Bandicoot, all World of Warcraft boss: Hogger is now a part of Heroes of the Storm as a playable character. Who would have thought!
We just had to pick the brain of David Warner, senior game designer, to see how this weird and wild choice came to be.
PSA: You only have a few more days to get Borderlands 2 DLC for free on Switch
Wait, Borderlands 3 is on Switch? No! We're talking about Borderlands 2 today! I know, re-releases in this modern era have made everything pretty confusing. Often times we're talking about the old more than the new these days.
Anyway, here's a bit of a PSA. If you own Borderlands 2 on Switch, you can get the Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary DLC for free. Is it particularly good? Nah. But it's free! And it serves as lead-in for Borderlands 3, which...isn't on Switch. Still, it's free! You just need the Legendary or Handsome collections to play it.
In fact, you can download it regardless of your ownership of Borderlands right now. Just head to the eShop landing page for Borderlands 2, and scroll to the bottom. Find "individual DLC" and click the Fight for Sanctuary link. Get it even if you have no intention of buying Borderlands 2 on Switch: just in case you get it for free one day.
To access the DLC, you'll need to be level 30, but you can also take advantage of an in-game option to create a level 30 character from the main menu, which will automatically warp you into the new stuff. You have until December 3, 2020 at 8:59 AM PT to get it!
Commander Lilith DLC [Gearbox]
UK mobile game spending broke records on Black Friday
Last week, lockdown legislation and Black Friday's hypnotic "I must spend money" vibe combined to take their toll on the wallets of UK mobile owners. Mobile game spending reached a record high, with almost £5 million GBP, (approx. $6.5 million USD), raked in by a selection of titles on November 27.
As reported by GamesIndustry.biz - and confirmed by the number-crunchers over at Sensor Tower - the UK spent the staggering seven-figure sum on popular titles including Roblox, King's Candy Crush, and Moon Active's ironically titled Coin Master, (the latter of which is the UK's highest-grossing mobile title). In addition, 2.2 million games were newly downloaded onto iOS and Android devices.
The spending spree represents an increase of 16% on Black Friday 2019, with the UK's current lockdown legislation keeping many in their homes and away from the workplace. Notably, sales of physical games were actually down when compared to the same time period last year, no doubt due to the current shutdown status of the UK high street.
But with multi-millions raised by a single territory in a single day, it's no wonder why developers and publishers continue to clamber atop of one another while grasping for a piece of the mobile gaming pie.
UK mobile game spending reaches new record on Black Friday [GamesIndustry.biz]
This My Nintendo Christmas ornament came at a perfect time
Nintendo keeps adding new rewards to their My Nintendo site. I can't hold them all!
The newest additions are a cute Mario ornament for 800 Platinum Points, as well as a set of three greeting cards (Mario, Peach, Bowser) for 300 Platinum Points. The ornament doesn't look very cheap either and seems fairly robust for something you can get for free (plus shipping).
If you want them but are utterly confused, here's a few tips if you've never ordered from My Nintendo before. If you're looking to get both, order them at the same time. That way, you can combine the shipping costs into one package. This is a great way to grab a bunch of cheaply-costed items like the 300-point Xenoblade sticker sheets.
Also, remember that we have a running guide of how to get quick My Nintendo points. If you want the ornament but have literally started from zero, by signing up and playing a few hours of Fire Emblem Heroes (which is a free download), you'll have enough to cover the 800 platinum.
Spread holiday cheer with new physical rewards featuring Mario and friends [My Nintendo]
Slay bells ring as Doom Eternal hits Xbox Game Pass on PC this week
Tired: Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Wired: Doom Eternal is a Christmas video game.
Is the logic and thematic connection there? Probably not, but a lot of new people will try Doom Eternal in December. Microsoft has announced that it's joining the Xbox Game Pass for PC roster on December 3. Go play the part of Kris Karnage rather than Kris Kringle.
Doom Eternal will soon be available on all three corners of Xbox Game Pass. It came to Xbox One back in October. It has already been added to the cloud-based game streaming that's part of Game Pass Ultimate. Now, it's making its way to PC as Microsoft had promised.
There's some more granular Doom Eternal news today too. Bethesda and id Software have released the Super Gore Nest master level, a challenge-oriented remix of the game's fifth campaign stage. It has various difficulties and modes, and clearing each one rewards you with a new cosmetic prize. Beat them all and you get the gold combat shotgun skin. There's also a Classic Mode Challenge, where you start with just the shotgun and have to find all your weapons. Clear that mode and get the Classic Green Slayer skin.
Doom Eternal -- New Master Level is Available Now, Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass for PC [Xbox Wire]
Zelda: Breath of the Wild Nendoroid animation will get your day off to a cute start
The creativity, patience, and skills utilized in fanarts will never cease to amaze me, as dedicated devotees offer up time and effort to creative projects based on their favorite franchises. Case in point: This delightful Zelda: Breath of the Wild animation, produced by the talented Animist.
The fun short sees yer boy Link as he travels across a lonely... erm.. study desk atop his trusty steed. As his horse tires, Link fortunately chances upon a large carrot, which gives his ride a little more "horsepower" than he had expected. But enough of my yapping, check out the cute tale below.
The new Switch firmware adds Mario avatars for a celebration that basically expires in March
So a new Switch firmware update is out, and it's not just "stability!" Like, there are actual features!
Version 11.0.0 adds a few new things into the mix, including automatic cloud save data download, a Switch online app, a "trending games your friends are playing" feature on the user page, a new way to transfer screenshots, a download prioritization feature (finally!), button mapping alterations, and 12 more icons (we'll get to that).
Easier, non-social-media-or-SD-card screenshot transferring is probably the biggest addition. But in natural Nintendo fashion, it's not as simple as say, Xbox or PlayStation make it with their apps. With this process you need to scan a QR code on your Switch, then scan it again to create a URL that allows you to download the picture. Obtuse, but it does work: I just tried it to capture the header image above. You can transfer them directly to your PC via USB, too.
Nintendo also added a few Mario 35th anniversary avatars...which...are a little late given that on March 31, 2021, a lot of what they're celebrating is going away. Nintendo! Why must you do this. It's like rubbing our faces in it!
Ver. 11.0.0 [Nintendo]
Doom Eternal Switch is about 18GB, and with no physical release, good luck with space
As a reminder, Bethesda canned the physical release of Doom Eternal on Switch at this juncture. The same Doom Eternal port that's due out in a few days on the eShop. Now that everything is all set, a Switch eShop page just opened for the game, which showcases a few more bits of key information: namely, the file size.
As stated on the eShop, it's estimated at 17.5GB, base. But Bethesda's site says differently, noting that it's around 18.8GB (TBD), which could account for first-hand information of the day one patch. The first DLC campaign isn't arriving on time on Switch for the launch of the port (it's already available elsewhere), but that will pack even more on, not to mention all of the free updates Bethesda and id provide for Eternal as a whole.
It's getting to the point where even with a larger SD card, I'm constantly deleting games to make space. One of the biggest selling points of the Switch is that physical games do not require users to install the entire thing to the HDD/SSD from the disc: a great way to save a lot of space that Xbox and PlayStation games otherwise take up.
While I completely understand the logistical nightmare of launching a physical product right now, I hope it does enter production eventually.
Doom Eternal [Nintendo]
Wizard of Legend is free with Prime Gaming this month
"Prime Gaming" is still chugging along, and I'm still struggling with not calling it "Twitch Prime." There's only so many years you can write that phrase out, and not have it stick in your mind permanently. "Prime" is even still in the name!
That's in part because not much has changed. The name is different, but the landing page and the concept is basically 99% the same. You're still getting access to free games and content drops each month, and all your old stuff is still there. They did a pretty great job with the transition, keeping everything intact in the backend. So anyway, on to the December offerings.
The new games are: Turmoil, Sigma Theory: Global Cold War, HyperDot, Close to the Sun, and Wizard of Legend. All you have to do today is go to that aforementioned landing page, and mass-click on them and you're good to go. From there, you could wait for some of the more enticing DLC to arrive.
Immortals Fenyx Rising content is pretty fresh given that it's not even out yet: that drop involves a "helmet, outfit, wings, and campaign horse." On December 9, a Star Wars: Squadrons drop will arrive, and award two helmets: Bold Approach and Vibrant Focus. All of the same promotions will be running from before too, like the Destiny 2 stuff.
It's not the most exciting December update, but given that most of you just happen to have this thing because you subscribe to Prime for two-day shipping, I'll take it. You can find a full rundown for December below.
Square Enix updates NieR: Automata streaming guidelines three and a half years after release
NieR: Automata is pretty great. Great enough to still be relevant three and a half years after it came out? Absolutely. Great enough to be relevant...forever? Yes. Emphatically, yes. I hope Yoko Taro keeps making games for all time.
Naturally, I'll take any excuse to talk about Automata, especially given that NieR is about to go back in style soon with a new mobile game and a kinda-sorta-remake-kinda-not re-release of the original. The last we heard it was being called a "version up." You can keep that lingo in the vault along with transfarring, buddy!
Anyway, old Yoko Taro took to Twitter this week to update us on NieR: Automata, or rather, its streaming guidelines. As most folks know, certain publishers sometimes put heavy restrictions on what can be shown in certain games, even years down the line. Some of it is an ill-fated, PR-nightmare of an effort to restrict people from streaming in general; some of it is because of story spoilers.
Well, these guidelines are now updated, in English, for all to see, Taro says. It's pretty standard stuff, including the regular legal notices, and the ways in which you can use content from the game (Twitter and other microblogging platforms, sharing in-game audio and sharing gameplay videos).
In case you haven't heard, people have been stretching the "developer mode" of the Xbox Series X/S to its limit. And it's only been a few weeks.
Amazingly, intrepid and plucky users have managed to get tons of old games running on the systems, most notably PS2 games. The below clip from the Modern Vintage Gamer (using the S, which is capable of the same things as the X) shows off the power of its emulation capabilities just fine, using the "dev mode" option in the new Xbox consoles: a 2016 Xbox One feature. The new horizon of PS2 games is due to developments within RetroArch, which just recently added PS2 support and is still in active development.
Modern Vintage Gamer assesses that the level of emulation offered in the Series S, for the $299.99 base price, is "unrivaled." Given that you don't really need all of that SSD space for emulation, nor would you need to build a PC capable of running these games; I'd agree. Just know that, like Modern Vintage Gamer suggests, this isn't a "set it and forget it" process. You do need to do a bit of diligence (and legally, own the games) to get this up and running.
This whole process is in its infancy, and proponents suggest that nearly anything is possible with Series X/S emulation. The only limitations right now are a 2GB ROM size maximum, which could change down the line. As a proponent of (legal) game preservation, it's a big step forward to keeping the classics alive without digging out old hardware that's prone to malfunctioning mishaps.
[Update: The very same intrepid user who found the logo also noted the "Wumpa League" banner in the background of a new Crash Bandicoot ad. A Crash Battle Royale is suggested as a possible spinoff/outcome from this cute little scavenger hunt. Again, bring on anything Crash. I'll try it once! They could even use the Crash Bash name again.]
So Crash 4: It's About Time is fairly manageable if you're a platforming hound, but if you want to get the full 106% completion rate: good luck!
The extra content and time trial/limited life requirements are among the hardest activities I've played in 2020, and it looks like all those efforts do pay off; to some small degree. Sharing their discovery on Twitter, Kevin Fagaragan managed to uncover a secret logo that appears on the first level's television set.
The kicker is that the logo only appears when you've reached the aforementioned percentage. Like all secrets that pop up out of nowhere the solution was crowdsourced, and it seems like it doesn't work for a mere 100% completion rate: only 106%. It explains why it hasn't been as widely known this far out from launch. It's also a "blink and you'll miss it" moment, as it only appears on the screen for a split-second after you cycle through all of the main entry logos.
So what is it? Well, a tease of a new game, some DLC, or a Super Smash Bros. appearance would all work for me. I'm just happy to see Crash back and actually relevant again with a good game.
(Update) Here's a quick look at Fallout 76's new big free DLC update
[Update: Bethesda has posted an "everything you need to know" blowout post following the trailer below. It goes over everything from the main story, to shelters, to potential bundles.]
Microsoft got in on Bethesda at a decent time. Fallout 76 was in the rear-view mirror.
Everyone is abuzz about Ghostwire: Tokyo, Deathloop, Starfield, and the next Elder Scrolls. Right now, they have basically all of the hype behind them and none of Bethesda's failures too fresh in people's minds. I also wouldn't put it past Microsoft to allow Bethesda to delay some of the more broken games and bankroll that extra development time for the sake of their reputation. With a strong lack of exclusives for this new console generation, Microsoft needs that rep more than ever.
But before we get too ahead of ourselves, Bethesda did just launch the already-in-progress Steel Dawn update for Fallout 76; which improves the slightly-better-since-Wastelanders-but-still-partially-barren open world with new questlines. Although the DLC just launched, the below trailer just a decent job of spicing up the world of 76, while reminding us that NPCs do in fact now exist.
The main focus is on Paladin Leah Remini Leila Rahmani, as well as Knight Shin, and Scribe Valdez. Choices will be made! Faction loyalties will be tested! It is a Fallout game after all.
Finally, an excuse to write about John Mulaney on a video game site
Look, so the good news is that John Mulaney is in a video game. The bad news is that it's Marvel Contest of Champions: a multi-currency free-to-play mobile game.
Look I'm just the messenger, don't sue me! Unless, as that messenger, I improperly serve you legal papers...then it's fair game!
Yes, the beloved writer, comedian and brief sitcom star (I'm SO sorry) is reprising his role from the universally liked Into the Spider-Verse film as Spider-Ham. There's even a quick clip below to get people hyped up about his appearance as Peter Porker.
The bad news (there's MORE bad news?!) is that he's only part of an Event Quest, called Framed by Fame. Pretty great title though! The update is out today and will run through December 31, which will grant players a "two-star Spider-Ham" if they participate. Gacha-like mechanics: can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. Oh, and you also get to fight against a team of super heroes and villains "hand-picked" by Mulaney. If that's real — and not a series of hasty choices by a highly-paid intern, I'm sure —I'm not gonna lie, I kind of want to experience that.
You totally read this entire post in Mulaney's signature voice, didn't you? That's no accident.
Contest: Win Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? for consoles and PC
In today's contest, you can win Who Wants to be a Millionaire? for Switch, PS4, Xbox One, or Steam!
It's that time of year where sales are going on for everything you want. Also for everything everyone else wants. Essentially, people want things and you've only got a limited amount of money. Wouldn't it be nice to be rich?
Well, you can be, with a brand new copy of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?! I mean, not really, but you can pretend in video game form!
