Sony shipped a total of 4.5 million PS5 units in 2020
Sony Interactive Entertainment has released its financial earnings report for the quarter ending December 31, 2020. This particular report is an important one for the industry giant, as it gives the public its first look at the sales figures for the company's next-gen hardware, PlayStation 5.
As of the end of 2020, Sony has shipped 4.5 million PS5 units worldwide. This is a fantastic start for the new platform and one that has given the company confidence it will hit its forecast of 7.6 million units shipped by the end of March 2021, even with global stock shortages. It should be noted that Sony has sold each PS5 unit at a loss when compared to its manufacturing costs, though the deficit was boosted by huge software sales.
Meanwhile Sony's trusty black box, PlayStation 4, continues to enjoy a healthy lifecycle, having shifted an additional 1.4 million units during the final quarter of 2020, which brings the console's lifetime sales to a staggering 115 million units. While PS4 hardware sales have undeniably slowed in recent months, the now eight-year-old platform continues to rake in cash via steady software sales and PlayStation Plus subscription fees.
In regards to said paid subscription service, PlayStation Plus now boasts over 47.4 million subscribers, which is an increase of 8.6 million subscribers over the same period in 2019. Software continues to be the lion's share of SIE's revenue - more important than ever given the PS5's high manufacturing costs. 2020's third quarter saw PS4 and PS5 reach a combined total of 103.7 million software units sold, with the majority of revenue coming from digital full game sales and DLC, continuing the market's pivot from physical releases.
Overall, the figures represent a secure base for the PlayStation brand as it heads into a new year and a whole new generation of gaming. With impressive launch figures, millions of PlayStation Plus subscribers, catalogue of great-looking releases on deck, and even its last-gen hardware still bringing in the bucks, PlayStation looks set to continue its success well into the new decade.
Q3 FY2020 Consolidated Financial Results [Official]
Bloggers Wanted: Zelda turns 35
This is going to be the least surprising statement I've ever made on Destructoid, but I'm a huge fan of The Legend of Zelda. I have been ever since I was single digits, and over my few years here, I've written about my love and admiration for a few games in the series. I always remember where I was when I first beat Gannon -- which is how his name was spelled back on the NES -- sitting on my parents' bed playing on their tiny 13" bedroom television because that's the only place in the house they'd allow the console to be hooked up.
I have such great memories of nearly all the mainline games, and this month, they're all going to come creeping back into my mind as The Legend of Zelda celebrates its 35th anniversary on February 21. It's one of several games that will celebrate a milestone anniversary this year, and while I'm sure there are other franchises our community would love to gush about in 2021, for February, I want to see what our community has to say about Zelda.
Contest: Win a pair of EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Earbuds
In today's contest you can win a pair of EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid In-ear Earbuds!
If you're sick of using the same crappy, wired pair of earbuds that came with the phone you bought nearly four years ago (I can't be the only one, right?) then today's contest is just for you! Our friends at EPOS are giving us a pair of their fancy new GTW 270 Hybrid Earbuds, compatible with pretty much every mobile device - phone or gaming - still on the market. I think you're gonna like these.
I never thought I'd be the type of person who'd enjoy a game where you pump high school girls full of pheromones to satisfy their needs, but here I am reviewing my third Gal*Gun title. Despite clearly not being in its target demographic, I've always enjoyed the absurdity of it all. It's nice to have something downright outlandish to revel in while the rest of the industry pushes toward that homogenized center.
Of course, that absurdity and outlandishness come at a price, and the Gal*Gun franchise has always been in the middle of one controversy or another. Gal*Gun Returns is no different as a few weeks ago, we learned the Xbox One port of the title had been canceled after some "productive discussions" with Microsoft.
Having seen what this series can do, the move didn't surprise me. But now that I've played it, the cancellation seems even more ridiculous as this is easily the tamest entry in the franchise.
Definitely Not Fried Chicken is a PC sim game about running a drug empire
In the upcoming PC management sim Definitely Not Fried Chicken, you'll need to balance the day-to-day of running a genuine public-facing establishment while also growing a hidden drug empire on the side.
Pack your bags – we're heading to a "sunshine-soaked city in the glamorous '80s."
While developer Dope Games is leaning hard into fast-food iconography, you don't strictly have to run a restaurant – a nightclub or laundromat can also get the job done. And in terms of wheeling and dealing behind the scenes, your empire can revolve around weed, meth, coke, or "other goods." Take your pick.
According to the Steam blurb, Definitely Not Fried Chicken lets you build out and customize your dual businesses, upgrade equipment as you can afford it, and manage employee duties and morale.
As the devs put it: "Design and lay out your complete production line and establish distribution routes. Fortify your compound's defenses and make sure any 'overly-enthusiastic' customers can't break in. Research and develop better strains of narcotics like marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine."
This is a fantastic premise for the genre, one I think players will be into, but it always comes down to the nitty-gritty details. A management sim can't be judged in a day – it has to be fun upfront and stay fun.
Definitely Not Fried Chicken is releasing on Steam in 2021, and the creators say fans of Cartel Tycoon, Prison Architect, Two Point Hospital, and Planet Zoo will feel at home; that last one made me chuckle.
I'm curious to see how successful I can be as a good-natured drug lord with a heart of gold.
Apex Legends hits Nintendo Switch on March 9 with 'full feature parity'
While there had been rumblings about a February release for the Nintendo Switch edition of Apex Legends, the game is launching on March 9, according to Respawn. There's our confirmation!
The Switch version came together with "smart optimizations" from Panic Button (the studio behind the Switch ports of Doom, Wolfenstein II, and Warframe), and it should be the real deal. Expect "full feature parity" with all versions of Apex Legends, including cross-platform multiplayer – a must-have.
If you're wondering what it'll be like to roll in mid-season, you'll be able to start the Season 8 Battle Pass with 30 levels knocked out and everyone on Switch can earn double XP until March 23.
#NintendoSwitch players will earn double XP March 9-23, receive the first 30 levels and all associated rewards immediately with the purchase of the Season 8 Battle Pass.
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 2, 2021
It would've been nice for the Switch launch to go hand-in-hand with Season 8, but March isn't bad.
You can get a free PS4 theme while you check your 2020 PlayStation Wrap-Up
I can't say that 2020 is a year I'm eager to look back on, but when it comes to my game-playing habits, sure, I'll reflect. Sony has another year-in-review Wrap-Up for PlayStation fans to look through.
To participate, you'll need to have logged 10 hours last year and, in certain regions, including Europe and Australia, you will have needed the Additional Data toggled on in the PS4 system settings. All set?
Your personalized PlayStation stats will cover the number of games you played in 2020, your favorite genre, your hour count, your top day of the week for gaming, your trophy unlocks, and, if you actually got a PlayStation 5, some insight about your favorite PS5 game and total PS5 gameplay hours.
If you scroll to the bottom, you'll be able to claim a code for a PlayStation 2020 Wrap-Up dynamic PS4 theme – it's a minimalist gray theme with PlayStation shapes calmly floating across the background.
Apparently, I spent the most time with Nioh 2 (141 hours), Fall Guys (81 hours), and Ghost of Tsushima (58 hours), with a total of 859 hours spent across everything on PS4, and 142 hours spent on PS5. It's also amusing to me to learn that Friday afternoons are my most game-packed day of the week. Huh.
Celebrate your gaming year with PlayStation Wrap-Up 2020 [PlayStation Blog]
Longplay of canceled GoldenEye 007 Xbox 360 port slips onto YouTube
In an undercover operation worthy of Bond himself, a full playthrough of the canceled Xbox 360 remaster of Rare's GoldenEye 007 has surreptitiously slipped onto YouTube, giving fans of the legendary N64 title perhaps their only opportunity to see the lost game in its entirety.
Originally planned for release on the XBLA service in 2008, Microsoft, Rare, and Nintendo somehow aligned the moon and the stars in order to get the remaster developed. However, the James Bond license serves many, many masters, resulting in endless issues that have plagued the franchise for decades. GoldenEye 007 for Xbox was no different and ultimately required too much plate-spinning in order to get the remaster into the hands of the players.
It amazes me what the Stardew Valley community can still come up with
When it comes to action games, I see things like Neo in The Matrix. But as soon as you tell me to start crafting an elaborate design in a builder: I freeze.
People like NetWarrior FM see it as a challenge. They rise to the occasion. That's how they were able to build a giant "Super Mario Bros. theme song" speedway in Stardew Valley. You've probably seen these sorts of things before, but regardless, it still amazes me. They even use the Mario costume for extra effect! It's 433 flute blocks in all. That's dedication.
Sumo Group acquires Polish indie studio PixelAnt
UK digital marketer Sumo Group has acquired indie developer PixelAnt, adding the Polish outfit to its family of ten-strong studios - although PixelAnt is Sumo's first acquisition from mainland Europe.
PixelAnt, based in Wroclaw, will retain the leadership of studio heads and industry veterans Pawal Rohleder and Adam Lasoń, who co-founded the company just last summer. Going forward, PixelAnt will now work exclusively with Sumo Digital on its upcoming releases.
"We're incredibly excited by the opportunities that being part of the Sumo family offers to PixelAnt," said Rohleder in a press statement. "Sumo has demonstrated a proven commitment to each of its studios to give them what they need to make incredible games and hire the best people. We have very ambitious plans in place, and we know that Sumo is going to support us every step of the way."
Sumo MD Gary Dunn also spoke of his pleasure at the new partnership. "In addition to adding supremely talented people to our family of studios in the form of Pawel, Adam, and their team, we now have our first base of operations in mainland Europe, allowing us to tap into Poland's phenomenal talent pool. As a full-service studio, PixelAnt will provide game development services to clients across the world, as well as own-IP opportunities, and will continue to work on Sumo projects."
In addition to PixelAnt, Sumo Group consists of studios The Chinese Room, Lab42, and Red Kite Games, as well as internal developers based out of Sheffield, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leamington, and Warrington in the United Kingdom and Pune in India.
Fall Guys' new level Snowball Survival is a bloodbath
Fall Guys pushed out its Season 3.5 update today with a chaotic Snowball Survival round, an on-screen Fall Feed to keep you up to date as the competition progresses, and 40 variations for the old stages.
New levels are a highlight whenever they pop up – well, assuming the Fall Guys community takes to them – and Snowball Survival looks like a potential favorite for team-haters. Players have to dodge boulder-sized snowballs on a cracked floor until the timer runs out. Every bean for themself!
To get a leg up before you run into this level in a live match, here's a clip from Reddit user ThinkFree:
New final from r/FallGuysGame
If you've held off with Season 3 until now, this mid-season content will be even sweeter.
Heck, I'm less interested in figuring out precisely what's been tweaked in the existing levels than I am just revisiting all of this stuff in general. I enjoyed what I've seen of Season 3 but I haven't kept up as much as I'd like. I'm considering this a gentle nudge in that direction. We'll see if I can find the time.
If nothing else, I gotta pop into the store for the Godzilla costume and try my hand at Snowball Survival.
iOS 14.5 will add support for PS5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers
Well la-de-dah, check out you, the rich kid with the next-gen console and the fancy iPhone. You're the equivalent of that one kid at school in the 1990s who had a Neo Geo. But if you can tear yourself away from your vinyl collection long enough, Scrooge McDuck, I have some news for you concerning your shiny new hardware.
Apple has released the beta version of iOS 14.5, adding support for the PS5's snazzy DualSense and the Xbox Series X's own slick controller. This will allow next-gen players the opportunity to enjoy their iPhone/iPad games with the latest handheld tech. It should be reiterated iOS 14.5 is currently only in beta, but full compatibility with both next-gen controllers will be cleanly implemented once the software launches in the near future.
In addition to the controller support, iOS 14.5 will also allow for emergency contact calling via Siri, dual-SIM 5G support, and the ability to unlock your Apple Watch - which you also own, Ted DiBiase - while wearing a mask. A mask probably made of solid gold.
iOS 14.5 will support PS5 Dual Sense and Xbox Series X controllers [The Verge]
Control is still stunning on PS5
Control left a mark on 2019: I still think about it.
It's hard to believe that it came out roughly a year and a half ago, but here we are, a console generation later, and we're still talking about Control. With the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S editions out today, that's not going to change.
Microsoft seeks EU approval on $7.5 billion ZeniMax purchase
Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the biggest stories in the gaming industry last year was Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax Media, which saw the former dole out a staggering $7.5 billion for the umbrella group and its subsidiary companies, including publisher Bethesda Softworks.
But despite the initial sale declaration made back in September 2020, Microsoft still has to settle several matters of red tape before the purchase can be completed, the latest of which sees Microsoft appealing to the European Union for its approval of the industry-shaking transaction.
The regulators of the EU must investigate Microsoft's purchase regarding matters of Antitrust - essentially checking to make sure that the purchase does not break any of the EU's laws designed to prevent the formation of monopolies. This is a standard stage of legality in mergers of this nature, and was also applied to Tencent's 2016 purchase of mobile developer King, as well as the 2008 merger that spawned the company we know today as Activision Blizzard.
Shortly after the purchase was announced, Microsoft officials were quick to note that the deal did not necessarily mean future Bethesda products would be Xbox exclusive, noting that game platforms would be decided on a "case-by-case" basis. In fact, out of the gate, Sony will retain its PlayStation exclusivity deal on Bethesda's Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo.
The EU has until March 5 to complete its investigations and come to a decision, but it remains likely that the commission will offer Microsoft its approval of the ZeniMax purchase, which will then enter its completion stages later in 2021.
PSA: Grab some free packs in Magic: Arena now with the code 'PLAYKALDHEIM'
The viking-themed Kaldheim set is out now in Magic: Arena, and people seem to be taking to it.
A few new archetypes have already sprung up to combat the popular Dimir Rogues theme, and I love seeing all new lovely card art. But before you dive in, you probably want to grab some free packs. Just like in the past, you can enter a code in the storefront to get free stuff. Right at the top, enter the code "PLAYKALDHEIM" without the quotes and you're good to go with three packs.
So how is Kaldheim going in general? Goldspan Dragon is a really fun and interactive card that I'm seeing a lot more of now, as well as new hotness like Magda, Brazen Outlaw. As usual, new cards from previous packs are also now seeing more life in the competitive circuit.
As a reminder, you can check what sets are in standard here: it's quite a bit until later this year! Next up is Strixhaven: School of Mages in the spring, followed by the D&D set in July, then Innistrad (which is two sets) in September and November respectively.
February's PlayStation Plus games strike a nice balance between PS4 and PS5
The PlayStation Plus lineup for February 2021 is one of my favorites in recent memory – a mix of new, familiar, and overlooked. These are the games you'll be able to claim starting Tuesday, February 2:
- Concrete Genie (PS4)
- Control: Ultimate Edition (PS4 and PS5)
- Destruction AllStars (PS5 only)
I think it's fair to say that Concrete Genie flew under the radar for a lot of people in 2019, and to me, those are the kinds of games I want to see included with PlayStation Plus. It's a magic-paint-brush adventure that Chris called "Pixar-esque" in his review. Bonus points for the PlayStation VR side modes.
Control: Ultimate Edition has been through the wringer over its new-console-generation upgrade path for existing players, but it's a great Remedy game, and as a PS Plus freebie, I definitely want to revisit it for the 60 FPS Performance Mode (and to play the two expansions I never got around to trying on PC).
As for Destruction AllStars – who knows! Could be good, could be bad, but it's probably fine as a hero-based car combat game. The main question is: will people be into it? And for how long? I genuinely don't know. Sony released a State of Play overview that's a comprehensive look at gameplay.
Another heads-up: Destruction AllStars will be free-to-claim until April 5, 2021. Go ahead and claim it for your future library even if you don't have a PS5 in-hand yet. Just hop over to the web store or app.
Resident Evil x The Division 2 crossover is now live
Today sees the start of a surprising crossover between two popular franchises, as Capcom's Resident Evil tips its decayed hat to Ubisoft's team-shooter The Division 2. Strange bedfellows indeed... and this isn't even the weirdest Division crossover you'll read about this week...
Can't go to Japan's Super Nintendo World park? Explore it in Minecraft
We've been learning a lot about Super Nintendo World, the newest addition to Universal Japan, lately! The opening might be delayed even further past February 4, but we still basically know everything about it.
So basically no one, outside of a select few industry insiders and theme park journalists, have gone in. Well, you can fix that, digitally! Over on Planet Minecraft, intrepid designer Dippy22 is hard at work crafting up a 1:1 replica of the park.
Here's a quick rundown of the project: "If you may recall, I created a fan adaption of the land last year based on some early concept art. Now, as more footage and promotions begin to release, I am finally able to recreate the entire land faithfully on a 1:1 scale. I've just started this new undertaking and any experienced help would be welcomed."
They need help people! You can check out the call for action on the aforementioned Planet Minecraft page, where they link the appropriate Discord.
Super Nintendo World Japan | 1:1 Recreation [Planet Minecraft] Thanks Tom!
Cris Tales resets the clock with July release date
Modus Games has announced an approximate release window for its delayed but charming looking adventure Cris Tales. The time-hopping RPG, which did not meet its initial November 2020 release date, will now arrive in July on PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia.
A new overview trailer gives us a fresh look at Dreams Uncorporated and SYCK's magical world of spirit and adventure, as young time mage Crisbell and her newly met companions journey through the kingdom of Crystallis. This party is on a seemingly insurmountable quest to stop the nefarious Empress of the Ages, who is using her mastery of time itself to wreak chrono-based havoc on the kingdom.
Described by Modus as a "gorgeous, indie love letter to classic JRPGs," Cris Tales features vibrant hand-drawn art and a plethora of characters and locations inspired by Colombian architecture and culture. When last year's demo received a fairly lukewarm reception, Modus' candidly stated that a delay would be put in place to allow for further polishing. I'm looking forward to exploring Cris Tales' world and meeting its characters, so here's hoping that said delay will allow this intriguing new adventure to shine in all its splendor.
Here are the digital rewards for this year's BlizzConline
BlizzCon's chance for a physical meetup (safely) came and went, but now it's time for the publisher to shine...digitally, in February. As previously announced, it's going to be free to watch.
But before that happens, you can get in on the festivities with goodies for World of Warcraft, Heroes of the Storm, Overwatch, StarCraft, Hearthstone, and Diablo. It's the usual smorgasbord and smattering of stuff: pets/mounts, player icons, and loot boxes: that sort of stuff.
What about that Heroes bonus, though? On the most recent episode of the podcast Into the Nexus, the duo speculated that we might not get anything from the Heroes of the Storm team at BlizzConline: but now you're saying there's a chance?
With the addition of the OSV-03 Rogue mount as well as the Tracer hero bonus, it seems like Heroes is still sticking around for the BlizzConline festivities in some form. We know, the game is alive and well, and is still getting updates and new heroes. I think it is telling, however, that the premium packs only contain items for World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and Diablo III.
You can find the full list and breakdown of all the packs below!
Celebration Collection [Battle.net]
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition launches May 14, features extensive technical improvements
Electronic Arts and developer BioWare have announced that remaster trilogy Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will launch on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, (via Steam and Origin), on May 14. A brand new trailer has been released to help get fans' warp engines in overdrive.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will remaster BioWare's fantastic space opera, which took players on a wild and emotional ride on PS3, PC, and Xbox 360 between 2007-2012. These three sci-fi epics tell the story of Commander Shepard and their party of beloved, rogueish, and memorable allies, thrown together in a battle for the very fate of the galaxy, held at the mercy of a generational doomsday race known as "The Reapers."
Street Fighter V: Champion Edition Feb. 11 live stream will debut new mechanic
Capcom has announced that it will be hosting a live stream next week for its flagship fighting title Street Fighter V: Champion Edition. The winter update stream will go live on Thursday, February 11 at 09:00 PT / 12:00 ET / 18:00 BST on Capcom's official Twitch and YouTube channels.
The stream is expected to delve further into upcoming events and DLC as it pertains to Street Fighter V's fifth and final season. The stream will feature a showcase for its next DLC fighter Dan Hibiki, and will also unveil a brand new mechanic. Additionally, the team will address SFV's esports plans for 2021, and with the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't particularly good news.
Street Fighter V season five will see one last batch of World Warriors added to the fighter's meaty roster. Joining Dan will be Street Fighter Alpha's Rose, Street Fighter III's Oro, Rival Schools guest star Akira, and a mystery fifth character. This new season will see SFV enter its twilight period, with plans for the next entry in the enduring fighting franchise already well underway.
Pokemon Sword and Shield is the most successful Pokemon game since Gold and Silver
Well, this is where we're at. Amid all of the controversy, people showed up for Pokemon Sword and Shield. In overwhelming amounts.
According to the latest sales data from Nintendo, Pokemon Sword and Shield, billed as a duo (which is historically how Game Freak and Nintendo handle generations), have sold 20.35 million copies. That's huge! Like, right behind Zelda: Breath of the Wild in a much shorter timeframe, and "fifth biggest Switch title so far" sales.
But as ResetEra points out, it's actually kind of monumental. This makes Sword and Shield the only Pokemon set of games to cross the 20 million mark since Gold/Silver so many years ago. The only other generation to break 20 million (and soar into 31 million actually) is the very first: Red/Green/Blue.
It's really interesting, looking at the sales data throughout the series. Platinum/Emerald/Crystal are at the bottom, beaten ever so slightly by a collective of sequels: Black/White 2 and Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon. While 8.89 million for the latter pair isn't something to shake a stick at, I can definitely see why Game Freak might be reticent for full-on sequels in the future.
Why limit your audience when you can just sell a season pass for a game with a 20 million install base?
IR Sales Data [Nintendo via ResetEra]
Final Fantasy XII triumphantly leads the Xbox Game Pass February offerings
One Final Fantasy game shall stand, one shall fall.
That latter game is Final Fantasy XV, which recently left the Xbox Game Pass service. But some would say that Microsoft is "trading up," as Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is about to enter center stage. Starting on February 11, FFXII will be available on Xbox Game Pass on both consoles and PC. It's a pretty nice get, alongside of Jurassic World Evolution, Stealth Inc. 2, and Wolfenstein: Youngblood (just Android, aka xCloud) on that same date.
Rewinding a bit (I had to lead with the headliner!), on February 4, Ghost of a Tale will hit on PC, as well as Project Winter and Falconeer on PC, console, and Android. Note that Falconeer just launched as a premiere game on the Xbox One X/S (and PC), so it hitting Game Pass already is a good deal for folks who were curious.
You can gaze at the full list below!
Nintendo allegedly canned The Legend of Zelda live-action series after Netflix leak
You might remember, back in 2015, several reports emerged that Netflix was working with Nintendo to produce a live-action Legend of Zelda series. Mere weeks later, it seemed as if this exciting project was nothing more than wishful thinking. Well, in today's hot gossip, it is being reported that the Zelda series was indeed in the works, but Nintendo canceled the project after its existence was leaked to the press.
The intriguing new tidbit comes from U.S. comedian Adam Conover, dating back to a time when Conover worked with viral website CollegeHumor. According to Conover, the CollegeHumor team were working on a series of StarFox skits that featured stop-motion animation - a play on Wes Anderson's 2009 movie Fantastic Mr. Fox. These skits had Nintendo's backing, with Shigeru Miyamoto himself visiting the CollegeHumor office.
But speaking on podcast TheSerfTimes yesterday, (as noted by superrerogatory), Conover recounted how, out of the blue, the plug was abruptly pulled on the StarFox project. You can hear Conover's story for yourself at 39:00 in the video below.
Netflix has its own GameStop stonks movie in the works
It was just yesterday that we reported MGM Studios had acquired the movie rights to an as-yet-unwritten book concerning the strange case of GameStop, WallStreetBets, and the U.S. financial market. Well, I hope you're up for a double - or even triple - bill, as Netflix is apparently also getting to work on its own small screen adaptation of the phenomenon.
Again reported by Deadline, the movie-streaming service and production company is already outlining a currently untitled retelling of the past fortnight's events, which has seen Redditors skyrocket ailing GameStop stock, much to the chagrin of short-selling hedge fund managers. The Netflix production will reportedly be written by Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty), and will star Noah Centineo (The Diary, Black Adam) in an unspecified role. Producer roles fall to Makeready's Brad Weston and Definition's Nick Styne.
While Netflix is yet to officially announce the film or its direction, it is believed that the production will focus on the changing world market in the advent of social media, and how the proliferation of sites such as Reddit and Twitter have allowed for the challenging of long-held norms and status quos within society - fueling movements, activism, and involvement within circles that were previously gated-off to the public at large.
This isn't the first time a complex and strange incident has been the subject of multiple movie productions. Back in 2019, Netflix's Fyre Fraud was released alongside Chris Smith's Hulu documentary Fyre, both of which took an in-depth look at the planning and execution of the 2017 Fyre Festival, an "elite" live music event that was ultimately a disaster on almost every conceivable level.
Netflix finalizing GameStop stock movie package [Deadline]
(Update) What is this strange Nippon Ichi Software site teasing?
[Update: NIS has added a second, equally bizarre video featuring a pair of plush-headed weirdos and what appears to be a stack of dead bodies. The plot thickens, though the iconography is business as usual for NIS and its catalogue of dark Japanese releases.]
Always fans of a good mystery, the scamps at Nippon Ichi Software (NIS) are at it again, with the appearance of a strange and creepy new website that is teasing a new title.
The site itself features several red hands clawing toward its central video embed. Playing the video results in some old-school fairground-style music, along with a stuttering image with what appears to be brief glimpses of a corridor of sorts. A warning about flashing images is accompanied by a button-eyed bear, who isn't supposed to be possessed at this hour. A matching Twitter account titled "Bokumetsu" was also launched, featuring silhouettes of a large cast of characters. Curious.
Given that NIS are key publishers of some Japan's most weird and eccentric titles, the video could be teasing an anime franchise sequel, a visual novel spin-off, or an entirely new IP. Either way, we'll be sure to let you know when NIS finally shows its hand.
Probably something to do with school kids and alternate dimensions and death, right?
Capcom just tossed another lore-infused ember into the Lady Dimitrescu fandom fire.
In a message regarding a "very curious fact you may have wondered about," Resident Evil Village art director Tomonori Takano said the tall vampire antagonist and her daughters got "a fair amount of attention, far more than we anticipated," and the team is "extremely happy" fans latched onto them.
He also divulged her height: "if you include her hat and high heels, she's 2.9m (approximately 9'6") tall."
Your love for Lady Dimitrescu is loud and clear. ðŸ''
— Resident Evil (@RE_Games) February 2, 2021
Here's a message from our RE Village art director Tomonori Takano, along with a very curious fact you may have wondered about: pic.twitter.com/Lj4m5pN2dJ
In the lead-up to Village, I've been revisiting past Resident Evil games, as is the time-honored tradition. In the case of Resident Evil 7, which I've already burned through countless times before (in and out of VR), I finally started messing around with Jack's 55th Birthday, a kooky side-mode about running through stages to find food, killing Molded to extend your timer, and feeding the old man as quickly as possible. I am obsessed. In fact, I'm taking a break from S-rank attempts to write this article.
While the pre-release cycle for Village has been fixated on Lady Dimitrescu – to say nothing of Punished Chris and the werewolf gang – I hope beyond hope that Capcom doesn't skimp on the game's side activities. Whether that's pack-ins or paid DLC, I don't really mind, just so long as they're entertaining.
I know there have been some less-than-ideal missteps, but damn am I happy to be a fan right now.
BlizzConline begins February 19 and here's when to tune in
BlizzCon was called off in favor of the online-only BlizzConline, and the replacement show is nearly ready for our prying eyes. Today, Blizzard shared the dates and stream start times for the event.
Day 1 (February 19) begins at 2:00 pm Pacific with a "first look" preview of the "latest game content the development teams have been working on." It's safe to expect updates on Overwatch 2, Diablo 4, and World of Warcraft, among others. After the main opening segment, BlizzConline will have "three-plus hours" of deep-dive streaming content divvied up between "six different themed channels."
Day 2 (February 20) starts at 12:00 pm Pacific with more of the choose-your-channel approach and Q&As. "Throughout this second day, we'll be shining a spotlight on the global Blizzard community, including the winners and outstanding entries in the Community Showcase contests and exhibitions."
Everything will be streamed through Twitch and YouTube – no ticket necessary. It's free. "Most everything will be available by VOD after it's aired," according to executive producer Saralyn Smith.
I'm holding out for official news on that rumored Diablo II remake – or even just a mention of Vicarious Visions, in general. The company was recently reassigned from the Activision side over to Blizzard.
Get Ready for BlizzConline February 19–20 [BlizzCon]
Back in 2019 Sega unleashed Judgment out into the world: a spinoff of sorts for the Yakuza series that focused on detective Takayuki Yagami.
It was a success for the publisher, which I'm sure came as a relief given that it probably seemed like a gamble at the time: detaching itself from the Yakuza name. Either way it paid off, doubly so given that Sega is giving it a new lease on life very soon.
Announced today, Sega is bringing Judgment to the PS5, Stadia, and Xbox Series X/S platforms on April 23 for $39.99. There's a few things to unpack here, beyond the Stadia push, most notably the Xbox Series X release.
As you may recall, Judgment was originally a PS4 exclusive up until, well, today. It was one of many gets for Sony in the previous generation, but now, with Sega cozying up to Microsoft and putting multiple Yakuza games on Game Pass, this move makes a ton of sense.
As far as advancements go, Sega says that the game has "refined visuals" and now runs at 60 FPS, with "improved load times" and "all previously released DLC" included.
Since this was a massive "wait and see" kind of game, getting everything with all of the current-generation bells and whistles sounds like a perfect way to jump right in with two feet. It'll hit all of the aforementioned platforms on April 23.
Google calls it quits on internally developed Stadia games
We tend to associate Stadia with third-party games like Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Cyberpunk 2077 rather than home-grown games created from within Google, and that'll remain the case. As announced today, the company is moving away from developing games internally. The other shoe has dropped.
Google isn't abandoning the Stadia technology or brand, but it "will not be investing further in bringing exclusive content from our internal development team [Stadia Games and Entertainment], beyond any near-term planned games," according to Stadia VP Phil Harrison. In a blog post, he cited the "exponentially" rising costs involved with "creating best-in-class games from the ground up."
"Over the coming months, most of the SG&E team will be moving on to new roles," he said. "We're committed to working with this talented team to find new roles and support them." At least one high-profile name, Jade Raymond, is out – she "decided to leave Google to pursue other opportunities."
According to reporting from Kotaku, Google's closure of its Montréal and Los Angeles development studios will "impact around 150 developers." When I covered the latter studio's formation in 2020, I remarked that it was "wild to think about where this service will be several years from now."
As for where Google's cloud-gaming ambitions are headed, Harrison is staying on-board as VP and GM of Stadia, and he's pursuing more partnerships with external game developers and publishers.
"In 2021, we're expanding our efforts to help game developers and publishers take advantage of our platform technology and deliver games directly to their players," Harrison said. "We see an important opportunity to work with partners seeking a gaming solution all built on Stadia's advanced technical infrastructure and platform tools. We believe this is the best path to building Stadia into a long-term, sustainable business that helps grow the industry."
The told-ya-so-ers are out in full force, and I can't blame 'em. This was a futile exercise for Google.
Focusing on Stadia's future as a platform, and winding down SG&E [Google]
What is the oldest console you still have hooked up?
Over the weekend, a tweet sent out by the Game Awards had me feeling like an ancient, decrepit mummy of a man. It asked people to name the best classic Nintendo console from a selection of four: the NES, the SNES, the Nintendo 64, or the GameCube. Four excellent devices with a wealth of treasured gaming experiences, I got hung up not by the difficulty of choosing which one I like the best but by the realization the GameCube is now considered a "classic" gaming console.
Later this year, the GameCube will turn 20 years old, and the world will be treated to a deluge of articles ranting and raving about how it was "forgotten" or "under-appreciated." I still remember lining up at Walmart that November morning to pick up my purple lunchbox along with copies of Luigi's Mansion and Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II. It was a great day for me, and because that memory is still so vivid in my mind, it's tough to wrap my head around the idea that it's old enough to be thought of as old.
Maybe it's because I'm 35 and fighting the gray that's trying to take over my scalp, but I still think of classic consoles as the shit I played when I was a young child. The NES, the Sega Master System, the Atari 7800, those are the classics to me, though I guess as time marches on, I'm just going to have to accept that some of my favorite gaming experiences will forever be referred to as retro. It'll be tough, though. I don't think I'm ready for people to start calling Star Fox Adventures a "classic game" in the same way I was never ready for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to be considered old enough to begin airing on TV Land.
But if the GameCube is now a classic, then I guess that makes me a classic gamer. Through the magic of an HDMI adapter, I still have my console hooked up for the once in a blue moon when I'm in the mood for some Chibi-Robo or The Simpsons: Road Rage. It's the oldest console I own. It may not get much play with the PS5, Series S, and Switch all battling for my attention now, but unlike those consoles, I don't see myself selling my GameCube when I move onto the next generation of gaming. This thing is going to be with me until I die or it dies.
That's the oldest piece of gaming equipment I have in my house. Let us know which retro hardware you're still rocking in the comments below.
MLB The Show 21 is coming to Xbox and PlayStation in April, but no word on Switch yet
In one of those unexpected "Oh, right... neat!" moments, MLB The Show 21 is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on April 20, 2021 – and there's even online cross-play and cross-progression.
Sony's long-running (and fairly well-liked) baseball series hasn't appeared on Xbox before, and it's a welcome sight. Curiously, when we first heard in 2019 that MLB The Show would venture outside of PlayStation, Nintendo of America responded with a baseball emoji on Twitter. No word on a Switch port.
For PlayStation and Xbox players, there will be a standard edition and a collector's edition of MLB The Show 21, but the latter wasn't shown off yet – more details about the game will roll out on Wednesday. MLB The Show 21 will cost $60 on the older consoles and $70 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Sony says that there won't be an "upgrade path" across console generations, so if you want to own, say, the PS4 and PS5 versions, you'll need to buy "any collector's edition of MLB The Show 2021."
Cross-generation saves won't let you import "year to year saves" into MLB The Show 2021, according to an FAQ. As for cross-progression, you'll be able to "earn and use content on whichever platform and generation you choose" – with caveats. Purchases of the Stubs currency won't transfer from one platform to another, but Stubs "earned through gameplay" can "be used on any platform."
For multiplayer, you'll need PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold and you can compete "against other players who are on a different console, including all console generations," which is a nice surprise. In other words, "PS5 to Xbox Series X and PS4 to Xbox One," or PS4 to PS5 and XSX to Xbox One.
What's the one thing from Final Fantasy VII Remake that you want to see carried over to Part 2?
There are a lot of lingering questions when it comes to Final Fantasy VII Remake - Part 2.
Like...what does it entail? How far off the beaten path will the new story go? Is it going to be a true open world adventure, or another linear, narrative-driven action romp? Right now, as of the end of January 2021, all Square Enix is saying is that it will introduce people to the world at large.
It's vague! But I'm also kind of glad that the publisher isn't giving us wild promises, or even timelines right now. We'll get Part 2 when we get it, and a lot of those potential story twists should be concealed, so they're surprises when they actually do happen (much like they were with the remake).
God of War has a free 'Enhanced Performance' boost for PS5 players
There's a list of must-play PS4 games that warrant a visual and performance upgrade on PS5, and soon, we can check off God of War. Sony Santa Monica is pushing out a free PS5 update on February 2.
The update adds an "Enhanced Performance Experience" as the default graphics setting in God of War. With it enabled, you can bond with your boy at 60 frames per second and 4K checkerboard. Fans have been calling for an upgrade of this sort, and it's arriving seemingly well before Ragnarok – perfect!
The old visual setting – Original Performance Experience – will still be available should you want to stick with 4K checkerboard at 30 frames per second while playing God of War on your PlayStation 5.
Who's up next for the free-PS5-boost treatment? Horizon Zero Dawn? Lead right into Forbidden West.
I know some of you would prefer to have thoughtful DualSense feedback and other PS5 niceties that you might see in a full-on PS4-to-PS5 remaster, but for a free update, I'm happy enough.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons once again rules the UK Charts
Next month will see the first anniversary of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. That's one whole year of Nook Island shenanigans. And the Nintendo Switch social sim has more than proven its staying power, once again returning to the number one spot on the UK Charts.
Since launch, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has dallied in and around the Top Ten, returning to the number one spot on numerous occasions throughout its first year of release, with many players openly noting how its cheerful and social nature has helped lift spirits during this miserable COVID-19 times. Nintendo continues to add seasonal updates and events in its cute fantasy world, and with Festivale just around the corner, this looks set to continue into spring and beyond.
Elsewhere in the charts, there is little to report. IO Interactive's murderthon Hitman 3 has already dropped out of the Top Ten, having spent one week in the premier position, and now sits just outside at number 11. The rest of the Top Ten is rounded out by the steady physical sales of Grand Theft Auto V, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, FIFA 21, and Switch releases such as Ring Fit Adventure and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, bringing a stagnant end to a very quiet January.
My Nintendo is dishing out double Gold Points for several Switch games
This is much more of a friendly low-key PSA than an urgent drop-what-you're-doing notice, but if you're thinking of getting Paper Mario: The Origami King or one of several other older first-party Nintendo Switch games anytime soon, you can earn double Gold Points for your My Nintendo account.
This eShop promo runs until 11:59 pm Pacific on February 28, 2021. Here's the list of supported games:
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Super Mario Odyssey
- Paper Mario: The Origami King
The idea of spending $60 on a not-that-new Switch game in order to earn 600 Gold Points (instead of the normal 300 Gold Points) is so incredibly Nintendo, it hurts. For those of you who haven't bought anything in a while and need a refresher, the points conversion would be $6 off (instead of $3 off).
At least Origami King came out in 2020! For the rest, talk about staying power.
MGM already at work on movie detailing GameStop-Wall Street wildness
Well, I guess I called it, though - to be fair - it was an inevitability. MGM has already landed the movie rights to an as-yet-unwritten book charting the chaotic events of the GameStop stock / Wall Street carnage, which is still unfolding in the finance world today.
The new book will be written by NYT best-selling author Ben Mezrich, whose previous works have been adapted for the big screen as The Social Network and 21. Titled The Antisocial Network (ehh), the book will meticulously detail the events of the past week, when members of Reddit group WallStreetBets rocketed the stock price of ailing retailer GameStop, causing major headaches for hedge fund traders. The "once-in-a-lifetime" happening has received global media attention, and has even found its way to the nation's capitol, with the U.S. government "monitoring" the unfolding situation.
As reported by Hollywood publication Deadline, MGM leapt on the movie rights to Mezrich's book, scoring the deal within days of the book's initial proposal. MGM has assigned producer Aaron Ryder (Donnie Darko, The Prestige, Greyhound) to the project, which the studio considers a "priority" given the highly topical nature of its story.
For details on this fascinating story, check out our earlier report from Anthony Marzano.
MGM lands rights to The Antisocial Network [Deadline / Eurogamer]
This Monster Hunter Rise Frost Islands concept art is beautiful
Monster Hunter Rise continues to amaze me.
The demo did a pretty good job all on its own, but the concept art and the zones themselves really take the cake. This could be the coolest collective of Monster Hunter locales to date.
Just take a look at the Frost Islands concept art below (as well as a gameplay video), which proves my point. The official Monster Hunter Twitter account has been showing off many aspects of the game near-daily, including how various weapons work and art for the game.
Ice is a huge aspect of the series (they even just had a full icy expansion for World!), and it looks like they're nailing it here.
Monster Hunter Rise [Twitter]
SuperGroupies unveils range of Cyberpunk 2077 apparel
Fashion and Cyberpunk have always gone hand-in-cybernetic hand. And while we aren't quite in a place where we can replace our faces with super-cool, x-ray laser beams, Cyberpunk 2077 fans can at least bag themselves several slick items of apparel from Japanese fashion label SuperGroupies.
The premium brand has unveiled a range of clothes, watches, and other accessories based on CDPR's futuristic neo-noir, all of which are now available to pre-order from the outlet's official stockists. Of course, this being SuperGroupies, interested parties might want to check their wallets before ordering.
The new range includes a Cyberpunk 2077-themed jacket for $268 USD, a ring & cuff set for $198, a wallet at $118, a sweatshirt at $108, and a pretty sleek watch for a princely $308. There's also some replica clothing styled after Cyberpunk 2077's protagonist "V". A variant of V's cool "Samurai" jacket is available for $268. Additionally, a pair of slip-on hi-top sneakers will set you back $118, while some cool short-heeled boots retail for a pricier $198. Perfect for you or the drekhead in your life.
Finally, there are a range of more discreet items based on some of Night City's gangs. These include bags and watches sporting the logos of Tyger Claws, The Mox, Voodoo Boys, Animals, and Valentinos. To check out the full range of all of the above items, or for pre-order information, visit the U.S. SuperGroupies store right here. Pre-orders close on February 14, with all items scheduled to ship across the remainder of 2021.
Destiny 2 vows to cut down on FOMO but will keep seasons and vaulting
Vaulting and a heavy focus on seasonal cadence, both in tandem, has probably been the worst decision Bungie has made when it comes to Destiny 2. And I've seen some head-scratchers.
In the before-times, Bungie could create larger expansions, which had longer lifetimes and less of a sense of a ratrace-esque seasonal grind. Now, we're getting the worst of all worlds, it seems. Beyond Light is very small in terms of content, a ton of (good) old content was straight-up erased from the game, and seasonal progression, coupled with vaulting gear (most notably armor for some reason), creates a situation where earning certain items feels pointless: since their efficacy will be nuked mere months later.
We're at the point where some sort of shakeup needs to happen. But for the time being, Bungie is sailing ahead with the above plans: with a twist. On their newest This Week at Bungie blog, the publisher explains that they're going to be cutting down on FOMO (fear of missing out) with some new changes. Here's the basic rundown of what they hope to achieve:
The Medium already turning a profit in its release week
The horror aficionados over at Bloober Team are resting easy this week, following the news that their latest spooky-ooky joint The Medium has already become profitable after just a few days of release.
Despite being an unknown IP, in a relatively niche genre, and only being available on two platforms, (PC and Xbox Series X), The Medium has managed to recoup all of its development and marketing costs since it hit the market on January 28. Going forward, all future sales will now be profit, which is the kind of success that studios today see as a green light to get an inevitable franchise up-and-running.
From a critical stance, the third-person adventure has been very polarizing, with some outlets leveling praise at The Medium's use of technology, visual storytelling, and mind-bending dual-worlds, while others have decried its pace and lack of scares. The Medium seems to be an interesting experiment and such titles - in any... uhh... medium - will draw a differing response. Either way, Bloober Team's new entity has achieved financial security, allaying publisher fears bigger than those of any boogeyman.
The Medium is profitable after just a few days [Money.pl / Gamespot]
Sonic's former voice actor isn't done with the industry, thanks fans for support
Last week, Sonic (and Chris Redfield, and Ezio) voice actor Roger Craig Smith, who has predominately voiced the character for the last decade, announced that they would be no longer be playing the role of the Blue Blur.
Following an outpour of support for the actor, here's what Smith had to say in a video message to his fans.
Skullgirls teases new DLC character and I hope it's Black Dahlia
Publisher Autumn Games, in conjunction with developer Hidden Variable, has released a new gameplay trailer for Annie, the next character headed to excellent tag-fighter Skullgirls 2nd Encore. No date was revealed for The Star Child's debut, but she is available in Skullgirls Mobile right now.
Annie's gameplay trailer, which you can check out below, sees the literal superstar battling Skullgirls regulars Ms. Fortune, Filia, and Painwheel on the set of her hit TV show, where she showcases her fast-paced, knife-wielding style. Annie - who has been a long time coming - lost out on the character vote during Skullgirls crowdfunding campaign, but has been fortunate enough to find her way into the fighter via its mobile counterpart
Is Marvel's Avengers still salvageable for you?
Can Marvel's Avengers even afford the "Real Reborn Treatment?" Will people come back if it does miraculously get it? These are things I wonder at random moments whenever I see the icon flash across my PS5 menu.
Marvel's Avengers was always fighting an uphill battle. No matter how much Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics showed of it, a lot of folks felt like it didn't capture that Marvel, or even general comic book spark.
Now that Reggie Fils-Aimé, is working for himself and no longer with Nintendo, we've gotten a number of frank post-mortem observations from him: it's refreshing! This time Fils-Aimé spoke again on the subject of the Wii U, and how the burned phoenix of its remains allowed Nintendo to achieve an ever greater feeling of success with the Switch.
Speaking on the New York Gaming Awards stream, Fils-Aimé recalls the "poor performance" of the Wii U, and how the achievement of the Switch is a "lasting memory" for him. He reminds us that "when the Wii U launched, the performance over that life cycle was so poor," and calls it the "worst-selling platform," outside of the Virtual Boy. He goes on to state that it "underperformed pretty radically," something we know due to hard sales figures.
Fils-Aimé says that when "your only business is video games," it's kind of important for your flagship product to soar. So when the Switch did what it did, both in terms of concept and cold hard sales, it's something he can "always be proud of." Boldly, he says that the Switch was a "make or break product" for Nintendo, and that it "luckily was a hit."
It's hard imagining a world where the Switch, which did basically everything the opposite of the Wii U (both in terms of marketing and ease of hardware), wasn't a hit, but it would be really interesting to see the state that Nintendo would be in if it failed.
New York Game Awards [Twitch via Nintendo Life]
Nintendo once again denies that new Switch hardware is coming soon
Is the Switch Pro out yet? No? Well, it's a normal day then.
As part of the festivities of the new Nintendo financial dump, Bloomberg's Takashi Mochizuki reports that Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa proclaimed that there would be no announcement for new Switch hardware "anytime soon." Naturally, they also play around with Furukawa's statement a little bit. As they point out, last year Furukawa noted that there would not be a Switch Pro in 2020. Well, that happened! But now it's "not anytime soon." So maybe later in the year? Around E3 perhaps?
It's all wild speculation, and frankly, when it comes to the Pro, not an arena I want to enter fully (but I'll peek in from the outside). A lot of Switch Pro rumors have been some of the most worthless bits of info in years, but a select few, from mostly trusted sources, could have a tinge of truth to them.
Nintendo also reminds us that there's going to be a Mario edition console in February and a Monster Hunter version in March: sneakily avoiding the whole Pro debacle altogether.
Nintendo Smashes Expectations With Best Quarter Since 2008 [Bloomberg]
Sega announces new show Sonic Prime, right after departure of the character's main voice actor
Today, Sega is vaguely teasing the next generation step for Sonic the Hedgehog's long TV career: Sonic Prime.
Sega is very mum on details at the moment, but right now, we do know that the series will involve a joint production between Sega and WildBrain, and will premiere in 2022 on Netflix. Right now the plan is for a 24-episode order, and the show is aimed at "kids, families, and long-time fans."
WildBrain Vancouver will handle the show, and Man of Action Entertainment, of Ben 10 fame, will take up the showrunning duties. A voice actor for Sonic has not been announced at this time; but many suspect that Ben Schwartz, who voiced the character in the feature film series (and is now free after the cancellation of the DuckTales reboot), is expected to tackle the role.
This comes directly following the departure of Roger Craig Smith, who announced that he would no longer be active in the Sonic franchise this past week. It seems like Sega was paving the way for someone else.
Tokyo store's attempt to sell PS5 stock ends in crowd chaos
Photo credit: @yamato_1234
It's been almost three months since the launch of Sony's brand new gaming platform, PlayStation 5, but as a hapless Japanese retailer found out this weekend, the customer drive to bag the next-gen hardware remains as hot today as it was back in November.
Police were called to Tokyo-based outlet Yodobashi Camera on Saturday after the store's efforts to sell a fresh batch of PS5 consoles descended into crowded chaos. Despite having implemented a ticketing system - in order to service several hundred individual customers in a noble effort to prevent scalping - the crowd became unmanageable once said tickets became available, pushing forward en masse and forcing staff into retreat.
Ultimately, police were called and Yodobashi Camera was forced to cancel the entire sale. A teeming mass of people surging in a single direction is dangerous at the best of times, but when you add the risks from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to the mix, you have a very dangerous recipe for disaster. Pokemon designer Dave Gibson was on the scene, noting that he'd "never seen that kind of insanity" in Japan before.
Launching on November 12, 2020, PlayStation 5 has already seen worldwide success, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and a struggling economy. The hardware has, however, fallen victim to a global scalper market that seems far more prevalent than that of previous console launches. As noted by Bloomberg back in December, the Japanese reseller scene is particularly savvy, using smart software to scoop up swathes of units, before selling them online at inflated prices. This global issue constitutes largely to ongoing PS5 shortages.
Crowded chaos ensues at a Tokyo store due to PS5 restock [PSU]
The Switch Lite has nearly outsold the Wii U on its own
Oh Wii U. We'll probably never stop talking about it in some capacity. I mean, people still readily reference the Virtual Boy! Even Reggie talked about that amazing red-hued eye-burning system recently.
But to shift gears back to the Wii U, Nintendo's other financial failure (and only financially, because that system utterly ruled), it's been surpassed yet again by a sub-console. As per its new financials, Nintendo reports that the Switch Lite has pushed 13.53 million units by the end of December 31, 2020. That's roughly one sixth of all Switch hardware sales, which have hit 79.87 million in that same timeframe. Here is additional data.
One big thing to really nail home? The Switch Lite has nearly outside the lifetime figures of the Wii U. Nintendo still displays them on their site (which leaves off the Virtual Boy), and the number is forevermore at 13.56 million sold. The Lite probably already has beaten the Wii U, because data from January alone would likely push it over the edge: we just don't have it yet.
Coupling in the Lite, the Switch in general is still doing fantastic. With the new 79.87 million figure, it's encroaching the top-10 all-time best-selling system list. It just needs to crack the 80 million-ish sales of the PSP, then it's ready to take on the Game Boy Advance line next, which boasts 81.51 million.
IR Information: Sales Data [Nintendo]
