Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot on Switch? Bandai Namco says it was a mistake
Wait what? And it's gone!
In case you missed it, Bandai Namco's Latin America Instagram account (what a wild world we live in with global brands on social) had a little snafu recently. In a new ad for Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (which came out last year but is getting new DLC soon), a conspicuous "Switch" logo was spotted at the bottom.
Now, as we know, Kakarot is only out on PC/PlayStation/Xbox. But is there a Switch version in the cards, perhaps for a Game of the Year-like release bundled with that DLC? Not anytime soon, at least. Bandai Namco acknowledged the mistake, and noted that the logo was added in error.
It is strange, because Kakarot on Switch is entirely believable. It's not the most graphically intensive game, plus, Bandai Namco has made an effort to bring a ton of games to Switch these past few years; even from third-party developer partners.
Although it was a "mistake" to have the logo on this particular ad campaign, I wouldn't be surprised to learn about a port down the line.
Bandai Namco [Instagram via Twitter] Thanks Rick!
Rust: Console Edition videos showcase uncut PS4 and Xbox One gameplay
Earlier this week, Double Eleven put the word out to the wastelands that its survival epic Rust would be making its way to PS4 and Xbox One in the coming months. Following on from the port's first trailer, the publisher has released two "uncut" gameplay videos showcasing Rust: Console Edition in action on both platforms.
The first video runs a lengthy 17 minutes and spotlights Facepunch Studios' multiplayer adventure as it appears on PS4 Pro. The video features a raid on an isolated village, followed by a spot of scavenging and scrounging for food, weaponry, and other resources. After all, the local 7-11 is hard to come by in Rust's brutal wilderness. As this stage, gameplay looks relatively smooth, with the PS4 Pro handling Rust's action with comparative ease.
The second Monster Hunter Rise demo, with Magnamalo, is live on the Switch eShop
Capcom just put out a new Monster Hunter Rise demo, which you can download now on the eShop.
As announced, this demo is practically identical to the first one, but with one major difference; it adds a Magnamalo hunt. It's described as a "seasoned hunter" challenge, but it'll also have the other four quests available if you're not upf or it.
To accompany this new big bad, Capcom has posted a new clip that showcases Magnamalo firsthand, with a few of their abilities in tow. I gotta say, the neon purple aesthetic and the Akuma-like fireballs really make it stand out. That huge amiibo is going to look nice in the collection case.
As a reminder, this is the last demo planned for Monster Hunter Rise. The game is launching at the end of the month after all!
Monster Hunter [Twitter]
Phil Spencer leans in on Xbox Game Pass exclusivity for forthcoming Bethesda releases
With each and every passing statement, Xbox continues to lean in a harder on the exclusivity benefits the green brand has earned thanks to its mighty pricey purchase of ZeniMax Media and its subsidiary studios, most notably the AAA developer/publisher Bethesda Softworks.
During yesterday's "roundtable discussion" video, where Xbox and Bethesda converged on stream to discuss the multi-billion dollar buyout, Xbox VP of Gaming Phil Spencer stressed the exclusivity potential of Bethesda's wares, particularly as it pertains to the Xbox Game Pass subscription service.
"We have games that exist on other platforms, and we're going to support those games on the platforms they're on," said Spencer on the subject of console exclusivity. "There are communities of players. We love those communities and will continue to invest in them."
"Even in the future, there might be things that have either contractual things, or legacy on different platforms, that we'll still do [...] But, if you're an Xbox customer, the thing I want you to know is this is about delivering great exclusive games for you that ship on platforms where Game Pass exists."
During the stream Xbox and Bethesda also revealed a slew of the latter's titles that are being added to the Xbox Game Pass service. You can check the full list out right here.
Now you can struggle to hear Tenet's dialogue on Game Boy Advance, just like Nolan intended
Movies on PSP UMDs. Motion pictures on the Game Boy Camera. 3D movies on the 3DS.
Plucky young filmmakers have been messing with the medium for ages now under the lens of video games, but this YouTuber has taken it to a new level. Putting Christopher Nolan's film Tenet on a Game Boy Advance.
Wulff Den decided to riff on the idea that Nolan "really wanted people to see Tenet in theaters" during a global pandemic last year. Amazingly, it also dunks on the notion that some of Tenet's dialogue was hard to hear in theaters: an ongoing debate that has come up in several Nolan features.
The full film actually spans five Game Boy Advance carts, and uses "a legally obtained copy of Tenet," and a bunch of GBA carts to "cannibalize." As expected, the framerate tanks, it's hard to hear, and clocking in at two hours and 30 minutes, it needs to span all those carts to account for the 30 minute maximum per cart. They are .avi files and need to be scrunched down far below 480p.
The amazing thing about all this is how it reminds me of David Lynch's (NSFW) "playing the movie on a telephone" rant. Lynch is able to to just say what Nolan takes multiple paragraphs to spit out in an instant.
Madden on Switch? Wait, Madden wasn't already on Switch?! Nope!
It's crazy isn't it? I mean, I thought at some point in the last eight years or so that Madden had graced the Wii, Wii U, or Switch. For a while everything still got Wii ports: just ask Ubisoft.
But nope, there hasn't been a Madden game on any Nintendo console since Madden NFL 13 in 2012. That's almost a decade ago. But that could change, based on the verbiage in this new job listing for a Madden developer.
According to YouTuber Doctre81, not only does the listing mention "Nintendo game consoles" by name, but it's not typically wording found in specific software engineer postings for franchises: indicating that this could be proof of a Madden Switch port. As Doctre81 points out, EA is finally making an effort to port games on the Switch and get in on that money train. It's possible! Even if it's a stripped-down or spinoff version.
Even if it's not for Madden 21 this year, it could very well be proof of the next Madden hitting Switch. EA would be crazy to leave all that money on the table now that the Switch has proven it can hang.
Online Software Engineer - (C++) - Madden [EA via YouTube]
PlayStation Japan has announced a special live stream discussion to showcase some of the most exciting titles headed to PlayStation in 2021. "Play! Play! Play!", as well as sounding vaguely threatening, is described as "a talk show that makes you want to play" and will be broadcast March 21 at 20:00 JST an will run for around an hour.
Scheduled to make an appearance on the stream are Capcom's sepia-tinged horror Resident Evil Village as well as Square Enix upcoming PS5 release Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. A selection of hosts will be on hand to discuss their respective titles, including Capcom director Morimasa Sato, and Square Enix producer Yoshinori Kitase. It is unclear whether the presentation will include English subtitles, but hopefully there'll be lots of juicy new video for our eyeballs.
If you want to watch the Play! Play! Play! presentation, then you can check out the action on the PlayStation Japan YouTube channel. In the west, the stream will broadcast on March 21 at 03:00 PT / 06:00 / 11:00 GMT... Maybe just wait for the highlight reel on this one.
Resident Evil 2 Remake actors will return for Netflix series Infinite Darkness
Netflix has released new details regarding its upcoming CGI animation series Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, which will premiere on the TV/movie streaming service later in 2021.
The series will see two of Resident Evil's most likable heroes, Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield, cross paths once again when their individual investigations converge, pointing toward more shady conspiracies, reanimated horrors, and a zombie raid on The White House itself. In a very fan-pleasing piece of news, Netflix has confirmed that actors Nick Apostolides and Stephanie Panisello will be reprising their roles from 2019's excellent Resident Evil 2 Remake, adding some immersive familiarity to the show's protagonists.
Behind the scenes, the production of Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness will be supervised by Capcom's Hiroyuki Kobayash, who has worked in close proximity on many Resident Evil games and anime adaptations. The animation is being produced by the legendary TMS Entertainment, a long-running anime studio most recently renown for their great work on CGI movie Lupin III: The First.
While no specific date has been announced for Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness' premiere, the show will feature at the Anime Japan 2021 festival on March 27. Hopefully we'll receive further details, and perhaps even a new trailer, during the course of that weekend.
Contest: Win Monster Energy Supercross 4 for PS4, Xbox Series X, and PC
In today's contest you can win Monster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame 4!
Look, I just refuse to put the "The Official Videogame" part in this title. It's just too long. Monster Energy Supercross 4 is a perfectly fine title without having to complicate things by noting that's it's the official videogame of the brand. Are there imposters? Is there an unofficial version? We can just assume it's official at this point.
Anyway, we've got some copies of Monster Energy Supercross 4 to give away! Just remember that it's the official videogame.
Little Nightmares II sold a million copies and the series has five million players
The creepy horror-adventure game Little Nightmares II has cleared one million sales in its first month. After recently getting into the original game in preparation for the sequel and ending up loving them both, it's nice to hear. If you enjoyed the panicked intensity and dread of Inside, add 'em to your list.
In a press release today, publisher Bandai Namco also confirmed that the "Little Nightmares franchise has now reached over five million players, a very important milestone for this western-lead franchise."
What's on deck for the series? We're for sure getting PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of Little Nightmares II this year, and if you're upgrading, you won't have to pay again. I also have to believe there will be DLC sooner than later – like the original game, there's great potential for side-stories here.
"We can't wait to share with you what's next in the Little Nightmares universe," the publisher said.
We can't talk about the future of Little Nightmares without acknowledging that the developer, Tarsier Studios, was added to Embracer Group's staggering lineup. That said, Bandai Namco owns this brand. Based on the early sales for Little Nightmares II, I have a feeling there will be a third game.
It can be dodgy whenever a series is handed off to a new team, but I'd be down for more.
The original version of Metro 2033 is free to keep on Steam
Celebrating a whole decade of Metro – oh my gosh, it's really been that long? – developer 4A Games has decided to give out free PC copies of Metro 2033 on Steam this week. It's free to keep for good.
All you need to do is claim the game by Monday, March 15 at 10:00 am Pacific.
In a fun twist, 4A Games is giving out the original version of Metro 2033 from 2010, not the Metro 2033 Redux release that showed up four years later – so if you ever wanted to go back, now's the time to act. Some fans prefer the distinct look and feel of the original over the glossed-up, optimized remaster.
Meanwhile, the rest of the series is on sale right now, including the most recent game, Metro Exodus. With the anniversary discounts, you can get the Redux titles for $3.99 each and Exodus for $13.59.
Ten years ago, I wouldn't have expected Metro to be where it's at. 4A Games has done well for itself.
Have you got what it takes to bring down Monster Hunter Rise's Goss Harag?
With a little over two weeks to go until the release of Monster Hunter Rise on Nintendo Switch, Capcom continues to release videos in order to give fans new and old some insight into the mechanics of the iconic adventure series newest entry.
One such video features a breakdown of an entire hunt, from its planning stages, through tracking, and finally a titanic showdown with the fearsome Goss Harag. The near 15-minute video gives new players an example of Monster Hunter Rise's gameplay, showing how the early stages of the hunt can be as important as the fight itself, while also spotlighting the need for quick wits and the need for adaptation in battle.
Beyond a Steel Sky brings old-school adventure to consoles later this year
Microids has announced that it will be bringing Revolution Software's cyberpunk adventure Beyond a Steel Sky to PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in the third quarter of 2021. The dystopian adventure - a sequel to the 1994 DOS classic Beneath a Steel Sky - launched on PC and Apple Arcade in the summer of 2020.
"Signing this publishing deal with the renowned Revolution Software studio delights us!" said Microids CEO Stephane Longeard. "We're thrilled to give players the possibility to rediscover the long-awaited sequel to Beneath a Steel Sky on consoles by diving into a captivating story supported by clever gameplay mechanics and gorgeous graphics."
WRC 9 puts pedal to the metal on Nintendo Switch today
The latest entry in the long-running World Rally Championship series finally got the green flag on Switch today, as WRC 9 finally launches on the Nintendo platform, following its September 2020 release on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC
WRC 9 for Nintendo Switch comes jam packed with all of 2020's WRC content, including three rallies through Japan, New Zealand, and Kenya, along with 15 iconic vehicles, 14 environments, and a huge 110 special stages. WRC 9 also features a deep career mode, which adds mechanics such as staff and calendar management to the free-wheelin' action.
WRC 9 is now available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Switch platforms, as well as on PC via Epic Games Store. You can check out a new trailer for the Switch release below.
Humble Bundle raised over $30 million for charity in 2020
While 2020 was most certainly not a year to look back on with any great fondness, the trials and tribulations of what should have been a promising start to a new decade did not stunt the kindness and generosity of the gaming community. Games Done Quick, Pokemon GO Fest, itch.io, Extra Life, and many other events and companies donated/raised funds for a variety of important and worthwhile causes. And discount gaming store Humble Bundle was no different.
Over the course of the year, Humble Bundle raised a total of over $30 million USD via the sales of its gaming and book bundles, with the impressive total reaching a total of 224 global charities. Of this figure, some $8.1 million was donated to COVID relief and healthcare causes such as Direct Relief, Medecin Sans Frontiers, and Partners in Health, all of whom worked tirelessly in efforts to provide resources, PPE, and healthcare during one of the worst global pandemics the planet has ever faced.
Humble Bundle also raised around $2.2 million to help fight the terrible Australian Bushfire crisis, which saw 46 million acres of land and wildfire decimated between the months of September 2019 and March 2020. In the summer of 2020, at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests, Humble Bundle raised almost $5 million in a single week to benefit multiple Black charities including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Race Forward, and The Bail Project. The publisher also committed $1 million to an initiative that prioritizes publishing titles from Black developers.
Since its inception in 2010, Humble Bundle's "Pay What You Want" sales methodology is expected to have raised over $200 million for charity. This is one in any number of stories I've reported on that showcase the compassionate and supportive side of this often maligned industry and community. While the world remains deeply embroiled in much of 2020's negativity, it's endlessly comforting to see publishers and players contribute toward better times, even in the hardest of times.
Loop Hero is adding more speeds and mid-run saves
Devolver Digital and Four Quarters have quite the roguelike strategy hit on their hands with Loop Hero, a game that's hard to fully "get" until you've looked at the clock and realized you just lost several hours in an instant. Plenty – and I mean plenty – of curious players have come to that realization this week.
Loop Hero has passed 500,000 sales in its first week on Steam, and players are averaging 12 hours.
What is this game? It's a distillation of moody old RPGs, card-drawing deck builders, idle games, and gambling. Okay, that last one isn't technically true – but I sure feel like I'm pushing my luck whenever I play. I never know when to retreat with my pile of resources before it's too late and I'm screwed.
Litter the map with structures from randomly-drawn cards to help and hinder your hero, passively watch them battle it out with fantasy foes, actively equip incrementally better gear drops that fit your class, and keep them alive until they can face the big boss – that's the idea, anyway. Loop Hero is tough.
It's one of those games with an old-school mystique about it where you've got to test things out for yourself to discover synergies or even whole game mechanics, or you've gotta consult the wiki.
I've yet to clear the second stage – I was so close with an absurdly fast-hitting Rogue once – but maybe I'll have my breakthrough soon. I also want to get better with the Necromancer because skeletons rule.
Apart from the sales update, Four Quarters also confirmed a few upcoming features: "a system for saving during expeditions, new speed settings, and a deck of traits gained from bosses." The developers also intend to give Loop Hero more card types, character classes, and tile transformations this year.
Denuvo is offering its Anti-Cheat technology to PS5 developers
Tech firm Irdeto has partnered with PlayStation in order to offer Denuvo's anti-cheating technology to any developer creating titles for the latter's newest gaming platform, PS5.
"Cheating ruins video games for honest players," said Denuvo MD Reinhard Blaukovitsch in a statement. "This can lead to lower engagement, game traffic and shrinking revenues for game publishers. We are really proud to be able to help the world's most talented developers to bring rich experiences for gamers on PlayStation 5."
As part of the Tools and Middleware program, developers will be able to license Denuvo's patented Anti-Cheat tech for use within their titles to "secure online gameplay and securely reward offline progress." Understandably, the news has been treated with concern from some PS5 owners, as Denuvo's controversial "Anti-Tamper" PC software has come under fire from players and developers in the past, accusing the piracy-prevention tech of hampering performance and draining CPU resources.
It should be noted that, for now at least, Denuvo is specifically offering its Anti-Cheat tech to PS5 developers, not its Anti-Tamper tech. Denuvo claims that some PS5 games are already utilizing Anti-Cheat, (though it negates to divulge which games), so hopefully we won't see a repeat of the furor that hit Doom Eternal back in 2020. Regardless, for some video game fans, the mere term "Denuvo" is linked with negativity, so this news will understandably be treated with trepidation, regardless of its ultimate outcome.
Borderlands 3 Director's Cut DLC pushed back to April 8
Borderlands 3 players waiting for that next – and surely not final – reason to revisit the game will have to wait a few more weeks. Gearbox has delayed the Director's Cut DLC to April 8, 2021.
Hey Vault Hunters, we have an important update for you. pic.twitter.com/Vqn1VSrDGK
— Borderlands 3 (@Borderlands) March 11, 2021
In a statement on Twitter, the studio cited "challenges arising from the severe weather that impacted Texas" in February as the main force behind the delay. "Thankfully, all of our team members and their families are safe and healthy, but our work on Director's Cut was unavoidably disrupted and we've ultimately decided to shift the release date to ensure we deliver the best possible experience."
As a quick recap, the Director's Cut DLC is the second half of Season Pass 2 and it's focused primarily on Hemovorous the Invincible, a Varkid raid boss, and a series of "murder mystery" missions with Ava.
The add-on also adds Vault Cards to keep the progression/reward grind alive for the rest of 2021.
As I said last time we talked about Borderlands 3, I'm not too keen on Season Pass 2 – I don't feel a "need" any of this stuff – but enough of you put in a good word for the first content pass that I'll check it out. As it stands, I enjoyed my time with the main campaign in split-screen co-op. It was fun!
Xbox Game Pass has 20 Bethesda games lined up including Fallout 76 and Morrowind
There are short- and long-term implications with Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax Media and all of its studios, and we're already starting to see them play out. Unsurprisingly, Xbox Game Pass is getting a lot of Bethesda titles this week – 20 games, almost all of which will be playable on Xbox and PC.
Here's the list of Bethesda games that you can play with Xbox Game Pass on March 12, 2021:
- Dishonored Definitive Edition (Console, PC, Cloud)
- Dishonored 2 (Console, PC, Cloud)
- DOOM (1993) (Console, PC, Cloud)
- DOOM II (Console, PC, Cloud)
- DOOM 3 (Console, PC, Cloud)
- DOOM 64 (Console, PC, Cloud)
- DOOM Eternal (Console, PC, Cloud)
- The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (Console, PC)
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Console, PC)
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (Console, PC, Cloud)
- The Elder Scrolls Online (Cloud, Console)
- The Evil Within (Console, PC, Cloud)
- Fallout 4 (Console, PC, Cloud)
- Fallout 76 (Console, PC, Cloud)
- Fallout: New Vegas (Console)
- Prey (Console, PC, Cloud)
- Rage 2 (Console, PC, Cloud)
- Wolfenstein: The New Order (Console, PC, Cloud)
- Wolfenstein: The Old Blood (Console, PC, Cloud)
- Wolfenstein: Youngblood (Console, PC, Cloud)
Better yet, the Xbox team noted that "a few of these games will also benefit from FPS Boost on Xbox Series X/S." Could it be time to revisit Morrowind and Fallout: New Vegas? Some people never even left!
It's worth noting that quite a few of the aforementioned games either currently are – or were, at some point – included with Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. It can be tricky to track this stuff as games are added or pulled from the service each month, but hopefully the list above will only grow over time.
Notable omissions at a glance? DOOM (2016), The Evil Within 2, Wolfenstein II, and Fallout 3.
Nintendo Download: Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
The time has come!
Like other Activision remasters/remakes, Crash 4 has inevitably hit the Switch. Today!
Also on Switch, Stubbs the Zombie is being resurrected, and is out on March 16. Then there's Cyanide & Happiness - Freakpocalpyse. And a bunch of other stuff!
Oh, and Apex Legends just arrived on Switch yesterday. There's a lot of old/semi-new stuff to explore on the eShop this week.
Murder most foul in The Outer Worlds' next DLC expansion
Dig out your Sherlock Holmes hat and prepare to re-open your detective agency, because there's foul play afoot in the world of The Outer Worlds. Eridanos' most treasured celebrity, Halcyon Helen, lies dead in her office, right before her endorsement of new brand Spectrum Brown Vodka. But whodunnit? And why? WHY?
These will be among the questions you and your crew will have to answer in The Outer Worlds' newest DLC expansion "Murder on Eridanos." Armed with only your wits, the sleuthing Discrepancy Amplifier, and, oh yeah, a shit load of laser guns, it will be up to you to journey through the floating islands of Eridanos and get to the bottom of Halcyon Helen's untimely end. Just be sure that someone doesn't end up getting sent to investigate your untimely end.
The Outer Worlds: Murder on Eridanos will launch on PS4, PC, and Xbox One March 17. A date was not announced for the Switch release, but given the delayed arrival of previous DLC Peril on Gorgon, no doubt it will make its way to the Nintendo platform in good time.
But, it's not even the "summer of streams" yet!
Alas, every publisher and their brother is getting a stream, and now Square Enix is ready to announce their next project: Square Enix Presents. It's a new Nintendo Direct-like video program, and it's described as a "series of shows," so we're getting more than just the upcoming March 18 debut, folks.
It's crazy how diverse Square Enix's catalog is at this point, but updates for Life is Strange, Outriders, Just Cause mobile, Marvel's Avengers, Balan Wonderworld are announced, as far as specific titles go. In the broader picture, they'll "celebrate" the 25th anniversary of Tomb Raider somehow, and show us "new mobile game announcements," as well as what TAITO (Bubble Bobble) has been working on.
The exact time for the first Square Enix Presents stream is 1PM ET on March 18, and it will last "approximately 40 minutes." You can find a full list of everything the publisher intends to showcase below.
So the new Nintendo dream island is finally open for business in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and it's fairly easy to access.
While it's nothing to write home about within the confines of the game, it does get you a quick and easy Mario mission completion. Here's a quick runthrough.
Yesterday saw publisher Dotemu come leaping out of the sewers (erm... no offense) with the announcement of a brand new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade brawler.
TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is in development for PC and consoles at Tribute Games - a studio not only responsible for the enjoyable Mercenary Kings, but who also houses developers who worked on Ubisoft's great 2010 brawler Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game. Powered by this trinity of brand, studio, and frenzied fan nostalgia, it's fair to say that much of the internet lost its collective mind when the trailer dropped yesterday morning.
From the short gameplay teaser, it's clear that TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is hoping to capture the awesome multiplayer action of Konami's 1989's arcade classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and its 1991 sequel, Turtles in Time. With fans suffering from severe shell-shock at the announcement, there's a few details featured in the trailer that might've passed them by.
(Update) Microsoft to discuss Bethesda acquisition and what it means for Xbox fans later this week
[Update: Xbox has announced that it will premiere a "Bethesda Joins Xbox" video today at 10:00 PT / 13:00 ET. Described as a "roundtable conversation," Xbox Aaron Greenberg notes that the video will not focus on major news or any game announcements. You can check out the video on the official Xbox YouTube channel.]
Earlier this week, Microsoft received approval from both the U.S. Securities & Exchanges Commission and the European Commission regarding its $7.5 billion USD acquisition of ZeniMax Media, essentially making the latter's studios and publishers Xbox-owned studios.
According to sources speaking with VentureBeat, Microsoft is planning to discuss what this industry-shaking transaction means for Xbox going forward, with specific regard to the Xbox Game Pass service. According to VentureBeat's sources, Microsoft is currently preparing a video presentation for broadcast Thursday, March 11, in order to better explain its plans for its newly owned studios such as Bethesda Softworks.
Of course, one of the biggest concerns from a customer standpoint revolves around exclusivity deals, and whether Xbox will now hold firm to titles such as The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, Wolfenstein, and others. At present it remains unclear as to whether Microsoft intends to broach this subject in the presentation, focusing more on its plans to bring the aforementioned franchises to the Game Pass service.
It is also noted that the presentation is not an E3-style "reveal" deal. This isn't going to be a showcase for new and upcoming games. The report states that this is more a matter of business, as Microsoft begins to set out its goals for its soon-to-be-acquired portfolio of new studios and blockbuster brands, boosting its inventory to some 23 development teams. We will, of course, let you know as/when further details of this presentation are officially confirmed.
Xbox and Bethesda will talk this week about what the acquisition means [GamesBeat]
PSA: If you're playing Apex Legends on Switch maybe turn off cross-play
So Apex Legends is out on Switch. That's good!
But it also has some performance issues. That's bad!
But it has cross-play. That's good!
But cross-play can cause you to get smoked by players with twice the framerate and better visuals. That's bad!
Electronic Arts has announced it has begun a "thorough investigation" into allegations that one of its employees has sold rare FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) cards directly to players in the FIFA 21 community.
In what has been dubbed by the internet as #EAGate, (because of course it has), multiple Twitter users posted images - as collated by Eurogamer - that allege to show evidence of deals made between FIFA players and at least one EA employee via direct messaging services.
The supposed transactions revolve around the direct selling of FUT "Icon Moments" - incredibly rare cards based on legendary footballers such as Pele, Zinedine Zidane, and Ruud Guillet. One tweet shows an alleged transaction that features one Icon Moment and two Team of the Year cards changing hands for a total of €1,000 (roughly $1,200 USD). Another example allegedly shows three Icon Moments and two Team of the Year cards selling off-market for €1,700 (or around $2,000 USD).
This morning, Electronic Arts released an official statement regarding the scandal, announcing that it was in the process of launching a thorough investigation into the situation. "We understand how this creates concern about unfair balance in the game and competition," said the publisher on Twitter...
...because sometimes a punchline just writes itself.
FIFA 21 rocked by "EAGate" scandal after employee is alleged to have sold cards [Eurogamer]
(Update) Kickstarter campaign launched for X-COM: UFO Defense book
[Update: The Monsters in the Dark Kickstarter has hit its target goal of $12,000. The crowdfunding campaign will remain open until April 8, at which point the book will go through its final proofing and publishing process. It will launch in digital format soon thereafter, with a physical paperback to follow in summer 2021.]
A Kickstarter campaign has been launched for a new book that will tell the story behind the development of 1994's X-COM: Enemy Unknown, (released in North America as X-COM: UFO Defense and also as UFO: Enemy Unknown in Europe), the first release in the genre-defining strategy series that is still zapping aliens and fending off intergalactic invasions to this day.
Monsters in the Dark: The Making of X-COM: UFO Defense is an independently produced book by author David L. Craddock, who previously penned the excellent Stay Awhile and Listen series, recounting the formation of Blizzard Entertainment and Blizzard North, as well as the development and launch of the legendary Diablo series
"I read David Craddock's book, Stay Awhile and Listen, and I thought it was quite an intricate, deep-dive into the inner workings of Blizzard Entertainment," said X-COM co-creator Julian Gollop. "I would like to see the X-COM book as kind of a historical record of a game that was influential. Hopefully, it can provide some inspiration, and also some fascination for how things were done in the early days of the games industry- and in some cases, how badly things were done as well."
The Magnificent Trufflepigs is an adventure game with 'laid-back metal detecting'
The Magnificent Trufflepigs is a walking, talking, metal-detecting narrative adventure game from the lead designer of Everybody's Gone to the Rapture. Doesn't that sound cozy? As someone who just yesterday tossed on this background-noise video of cows grazing in the mountainside, I'd say so!
The upcoming game – a collaboration between Andrew Crawshaw's new studio Thunkd and publisher AMC Games – will set you loose on an English farm with a metal detector and a walkie-talkie.
You're looking for a long-lost earring, a sort of "local treasure," before the farm is taken over by an energy company. Playing as Adam (voiced by Arthur Darvill), you'll chat with Beth (Luci Fish), who found the first half of the pair years back and hopes to feel a "childhood sense of adventure" again.
Beyond the easygoing premise, there are hints that this seemingly simple task might spiral out of control by the end. It's tough not to point to Firewatch even if the comparisons are probably surface-level, but either way, there's plenty of room for more games in the conversing-in-nature space.
The Magnificent Trufflepigs is coming to Steam and Nintendo Switch in early summer 2021.
Yakuza's Ichiban Kasuga is an awesome dude, and his story may have only just begun
Back when Destructoid nominated its favorite new characters of 2020, I talked about Yakuza: Like a Dragon's hapless hero, Ichiban Kasuga. Nobody but nobody, it would've seemed, could successfully fill the role of long-term Yakuza protagonist Kazuma Kiryu - one of the coolest, likable, and most beloved protagonists in Sega's, nay, in gaming history.
But, somehow, new boy Kasuga hit the ground running, masterfully blending stoicism, bravery, pathos, heroism, and just the right amount of complete and utter idiocy to immediately win the hearts of the Yakuza faithful. The boy came good, and despite having only been around for a single release, it already feels like Kasuga has been around for the franchise's full 15 years.
Speaking in a (spoilery) interview with The Verge, Team Yakuza writer and designer Masayoshi Yokoyama reflected on the impact created by the burgundy-suited maniac. Yokoyama noted that, having spent the past 18 years in prison, Kasuga has a whole life to catch up on, with more than enough time to get tangled up in a hell of a lot of dramatic and catastrophic shenanigans as he readjusts to the outside world.
"I think that Yakuza: Like a Dragon is only the first chapter of Ichiban Kasuga's life," mused Yokoyama on his character's future. "Since he was in prison for 18 years, he has only just begun his life as an adult man. I'm sure there's probably many trials and tribulations that await him."
As a huge Castlevania: Symphony of the Night fan, I feel honor bound to check out Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth. It has looked fantastic in Early Access, but you know me, I like to wait. Now's the time to strike as Team Ladybug's action-platformer is about to fully launch on March 27.
Better yet, there's still an early-bird discounted price – how does $10.39 sound?
I don't know the source material (I'll leave that to Chris), but I'm convinced I'll enjoy this adaption. When a not-insignificant part of the HUD is devoted to a future boss's health bar, I'm in my happy place.
This is an older trailer, but a good starting point nonetheless. You'll know if you're feeling it.
What's up with the Early Access build? I've heard mostly good things about Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth. That said, I've also seen comments about it being too short even for an unfinished game. The final version will further round out the experience by adding Stage 5 and Stage 6 with the March 27 update.
If for whatever reason you want to wait it out, the final game will cost $19.99 on Steam.
Watch Dogs: Legion launches online multiplayer on PlayStation, Xbox, and Stadia
Ubisoft has launched the online component for its blah open-world sequel Watch Dogs: Legion. The new multiplayer modes are now live on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Stadia platforms. The PC update has been halted for the time being due to technical issues.
Watch Dogs: Legion now offers a "Co-Op Free Roam" mode, which allows budding Brit hackers the opportunity to team up with a squad of three friends and take a stroll through the streets of London, completing activities and side-quests while enjoying the bizarre juxtaposition of character models paired with ill-fitting voice-actors.
Worship is a cult-commanding action-exploration game that takes cues from Pikmin
Worship is a game about leading your cultists into battle, Pikmin style, and I am so, so here for it. It reminds me of the first time I saw Don't Starve. The art style and concept immediately grabbed me.
This is the next game from Struggling developer Chasing Rats Games, and it's making the rounds through Kickstarter right now with a hopeful 2022 release planned for PC and consoles. It's on Steam.
As a cult leader striving to unleash an old god – there are multiple; you get to pick! – you'll perform rituals, convert bystanders to help the cause, and command them in real-time battles with beasts and inquisitors. Exploration is a focal point in Worship, and on a related note, it has roguelike elements.
I could take or leave that choice, but I will say, (optional) multiplayer helps sell me on a roguelike structure – there will thankfully be local and online co-op for four players. "A right mix of procedural and handcrafted elements will make each game session different and fun to dive in," the developers say.
Apart from combat and puzzles out in the world, there's also base building – you'll raise monuments to regenerate blood more quickly for rituals and increase the number of followers you can lead. There's a lot to like in the pitch, including overviews of the freaky old gods and how they impact gameplay.
More than anything, though, you've gotta see this game, not just read about it:
The base funding goal was already met this week, so don't feel like you have to chip in.
Looking ahead, "some things and design aspects of the game might change during the iteration process," according to Chasing Rats Games. "This doesn't mean that the core vision of the game will change, but that some elements of the final product may differ from what we presented in the early stages of development if we realize that the game would benefit from some design adjustments."
"That being said, Worship isn't our first rodeo, as we previously shipped a game, including a console port on Switch," the developers noted. "We were thrilled with how players received our wacky co-op adventure game Struggling, with a 95% of positive user reviews on Steam. We are confident in our ability to deliver the project you are backing."
I can't tell you the last time a game resonated so strongly with me right out of the gate.
Alternate WWII adventure Paradise Lost hits PC and consoles this month
It's been quite some time since we last heard from PloyAmorous' twisted history title Paradise Lost. This bleak-but-intriguing tale is set against the backdrop of an alternate World War II, one where the fighting between allies and The Third Reich raged for over 20 years, ultimately plunging society into a devastating nuclear apocalypse.
In Paradise Lost, players will control the destiny of Szymon, a child living in the irradiated wasteland that was once Poland. While scavenging for resources during a self-imposed quest to track down a mysterious guardian, Szymon stumbles across an abandoned Nazi bunker, filled with frightening technology and decked out in haunting Pagan iconography. What was its purpose? Why was it abandoned? And who is the mysterious "Ewa" who calls to him from deep within its labyrinthine walls?
Fall Guys Season 4 has seven new levels and Skyline Stumble makes a good first impression
It's hard to believe we're almost ready for Season 4 of Fall Guys, but I've given up on my ability to accurately judge the passage of time; leave that to the Sandman. As the still-running Season 3 winds down, Mediatonic has begun teasing the seven new levels arriving soon-ish with Season 4.
In a clip on Twitter, the studio showed off Skyline Stumble, a traversal-heavy level built for 60 beans. The stage looks challenging in the ways I want to be challenged, with varied obstacles – including pinball flippers, low-gravity zones, and intermittent bridges – as well as routes to plan out.
Here's one of the S E V E N new levels from Season 4!
— Fall Guys 4041 🤖 SOON (@FallGuysGame) March 10, 2021
🤖 Skyline Stumble 🤖
âš¡ï¸ A 60-player gauntlet with Low Gravity Zones, Forcefields, Flippity Bippities, Chonky Buttons, and Spicy Light Swingers! âš¡ï¸ pic.twitter.com/GR5Oe4dH1E
So yeah! If you hadn't heard, the next seasonal theme for Fall Guys is futuristic. It's a common enough trope, but based on this first gameplay footage, I'm excited to see these levels in the rotation.
According to Mediatonic, the Season 4 release date will be announced on March 15. We also recently learned that Season 4 will have 50 progression/reward levels, not the usual 40 levels of Fame.
With a summer 2021 launch window in mind for the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One versions of Fall Guys, players on those platforms are going to have a lot of activities to figure out all at once from the get-go, for better or worse. I wonder if there will be more specialized or focused playlists at that point?
Some of my favorite memories with the game were at launch, when chaos truly reigned.
(Update) There's a set of three new Pokemon physical My Nintendo rewards, and they could go fast
[Update: The Pokemon pens are gone!
But Nintendo has also added two Mario 35 rewards into the mix: a "three year journal" and a pencil case. You can find them here.]
In what is becoming a biweekly event, there are now new physical My Nintendo rewards available.
Following the recent Bravely Default II reversible poster, Nintendo just dumped three new physical Pokemon rewards into the mix: a set of four ball point pens (with the three Pokemon Sword and Shield starters, as well as Pikachu), a Pokemon Sword and Shield memo pad, and a Pokemon Sword and Shield sticker set. You can grab them for 500, 400, and 500 Platinum Points each respectively.
The pens come in a 6"x3" package for reference, and the note pad is 6"x4"x1/8". The sticker set includes "two sheets featuring Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble," and clocks in at 11"x7". Stationary is becoming quite the go-to for My Nintendo, as there's also an 800 point Mario & Luigi notebook available, as well as a Hyrule Warriors memo pad (which is a little bigger and 200 more platinum to compensate).
While stationary generally stays in stock for a while, by and large it does disappear over time. My guess is the extreme popularity of Pokemon could result in at least the pens selling out relatively soon.
If you need some quick points, remember to check out our guide!
Rewards [My Nintendo]
There's no turning back for Outriders' superhuman outcasts
We are less than a month out from the release of People Can Fly's class-based sci-fi shooter Outriders. Publisher Square Enix has released a short animated trailer offering an abridged version of the events that led to a squad of no-hopers somehow becoming the makeshift saviors of humanity.
With the Earth on its last legs and the best of society's experts lying in ash, the final hope for mankind lies in an expedition party made up of expendable mercenaries - tasked to explore the planet Enoch in hopes of finding a new world for colonization. Things go awry fast, however, when a powerful energy storm blasts the planet's inhabitants, infusing everything in its path with powerful elemental abilities, including our unlikely heroes.
You get a free mount! Everyone gets a free World of Warcraft Wandering Ancient mount for logging in
So in 2020, Blizzard announced that folks were able to vote on a new free mount that would be added for everyone who owned World of Warcraft: Shadowlands. The time has come to claim it.
As a reminder, The Wandering Ancient, based on the classic Warcraft III structure motif, won. At this point you can log into WoW, and go grab it directly from your collection tab; which should be pulsing with a notification. Note that it's not obtained via the mailbox, but through the collection tab. I logged in earlier and confirmed that it does indeed work!
Here's a bit of lore-based info on it, which includes a little worm-like creature at the top of its head: "Not all ancients are interested in war or lore, some just want to travel the world! This arboreal nomad has traveled to many places and with each passing season embraces change, both in scenery and in the foliage atop its branches."
If you want an in-depth look at the mount, Blizzard artists did a low key full rundown of its creation during BlizzConline a few weeks back. You can watch that clip below.
Now Available: Wandering Ancient Mount [World of Warcraft]
I'll get Isabelle from the Animal Crossing x Build-A-Bear collection to end all my procrastination
International plush toy brand Build-A-Bear has announced that it is teaming with Nintendo to produce a brand new range based on the latter's super-cute social sim Animal Crossing. The company made the succinct announcement on Twitter, but did not offer any information regarding characters, prices, or release dates - merely offering a mailing list for interested parties.
I'm an interested party. Not particularly because I care for Animal Crossing, but I do appreciate the hard-working, desk-bound attitude of cheerful good girl and staunch office worker, Isabelle. I think a plush edition of the pringle-wearing hound, sat just outside of my field of view, will offer me the drive and oppressive guilt needed to stay sat at my desk working - not wandering off to the kitchen to open the fridge... boil the kettle... look out the window... open the fridge again. Isabelle's jovial death stare will see my output increase an estimated 138%
You can sign up for more Animal Crossing x Build-A-Bear news here in the U.S. or here in the U.K.
Is your copy of Nioh 2 on PC crashing? Team Ninja is 'looking into it'
So you've been enjoying Nioh 2 on PC? That's good! Things seem to be mostly fine, and the reception on Steam has been pretty positive. But not everyone is operating at the same capacity.
Just recently, Team Ninja put out a new set of bug fixes mostly aimed at the PS5 edition of the game, which cleared up a number of bugs that were unique to that version. Specifically, there was a problem with reduced input latency for certain control schemes, as well as save transer issues from PS4. Also, 120FPS mode was causing some issues (which happens a lot more than you'd think in action games).
But things were mostly quiet on the PC front, outside of one response from Team Ninja's Twitter account directly. When asked about random crashes for some PC users, the developer explained that they were "looking into it." So if it's happening to you, it's on their radar.
As more and more Japanese developers have moved into the PC realm, these sorts of patches and checks have become more expected and commonplace. Not every game can rely on a Durante patch!
Team Ninja [Twitter]
Someone recreated the Pokemon Diamond and Pearl remakes in a new style in this mockup trailer
So! The Pokemon Company showed off a lot of new franchise news recently, and confirmed two new games. Well, one brand new game and one set of remakes for Diamond and Pearl.
Although each generation has its fans, Diamond and Pearl are beloved by many, so the new remake style didn't really grab a lot of folks. The thing is, it's not even Game Freak that's working on the official remakes; it's ILCA.
Enter fan remakes! Well, fan mockup trailers, at least. Content creator millenniumloops decided to take it upon themselves to deliver a new take on the series, complete with a near-two-minute reimagining clip. It even has the same intro and outro, which is a nice touch to make it all look more official.
Is it going to satisfy everyone? Probably not, but neither is the official set of remakes. Although this fan project would be a much bigger undertaking, I do like a lot of what is shown here. Maybe we'll get there eventually?
TMNT: Shredder's Revenge sees Dotemu revisit the Ninja Turtles' brawlin' roots
Dotemu has announced a brand new arcade-style brawler starring those Heroes in a Half Shell: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Produced in conjunction with Nickelodeon, TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is currently in development at Tribute Games (Mercenary Kings) and looks to capture the fun, chaotic gameplay and nostalgic spirit of Konami's legendary 1989 arcade beat 'em up.
The just-released teaser trailer below sees Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael laying waste to The Foot Clan in colorful, old-school, arcade action. Also popping up in the preview are punk rock bad dudes Bebop and Rocksteady, as well as The Shredder himself, no doubt up to one of his nefarious, world-conquering schemes. The new adventure will see the totally tubular foursome kicking shell all over New York City, en route to a climactic showdown deep the mysterious Dimension X.
Dotemu is yet to announce platforms or a release date for TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, but the new title is available for wishlisting on Steam and will be coming to "consoles." For more details, call April O'Neil in on this case, and you better hurry up, there's no time to waste. We need help, like quick, on-the-double. Have pity on this city, man, it's in trouble.
PSA: Capcom warns players of fake Resident Evil Village beta invites
Capcom has become the king of private and public "pre-release" events, so to speak.
They've run a private group for testing out Resident Evil games for years, but they also hold a decent amount of public-facing demos. Resident Evil Village already got one, but if you're getting notifications for another, stop right there. Specifically, for "Early Access Invitations from a "Capcom.com no reply" email.
We've obtained a message directly from Capcom confirming the scam: "We want to inform you that these messages are NOT from Capcom and appear to be phishing attempts by an unauthorized third party. If you have received such a message, please DO NOT download any files or reply, and delete the message immediately."
Normally we don't pick up on every single phishing scam (there's a lot), but Capcom felt the need to address this publicly as it's become fairly widespread. Consider this your PSA!
Capcom has newbie Monster Hunters covered with Monster Hunter Rise video guides
For many Nintendo Switch owners, the upcoming Monster Hunter Rise will be their first foray into the dangerous world of... monster hunting. As such, developer Capcom has some new videos in order to help budding young stalkers find their feet within the fantasy franchise - as opposed to just finding their feet detached from the rest of their body.
The first two videos in the "Hunting 101" series look at the fundamentals of Monster Hunter. The "Overview" video takes a brief look at the hunt in its entirety, from inventory and preparation, to tracking your chosen beasties, to the epic battle itself, one that will ultimately find you the victor, or lunch. The video also looks at the spoils of the battle, and how loot and resources are used to improve your weapons and gear, setting you up for bigger and hardier prey.
Resident Evil movie poster leaves fans asking 'Barry? Where's Barry?'
Constantin Films has released a basic teaser poster for its upcoming big-screen adaptation of Capcom's horror franchise, Resident Evil. The new poster first appeared on Twitter courtesy of actor Chad Rook, who will star in the movie reboot as S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team member Richard Aiken.
While the poster leaves much to the imagination, one can't help but immediately notice the influence of Resident Evil 4's creepy artwork, putting the red in "redwoods." Somewhat clunkily dotted around the image is a selection of names, offering a who's who of Resident Evil characters who will all presumably be making their presence felt in the new movie.
Of note are the "Big Four" of Chris & Claire Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Leon S. Kennedy, alongside femme fatale Ada Wong, doomed scientist William Birkin, scuzzy Raccoon City police chief Brian Irons and, of course, antagonist Albert Wesker. But hugely conspicuous by his absence is lovable dolt Barry Burton - he of many of Resi's finest quotes and memes. If the new movie plans to mash together the casts and plotlines of the survival-horror franchise's earliest releases, it certainly would be odd not to see Mr. Burton put in an appearance.
Barry-less or otherwise, Resident Evil is scheduled to premiere in theaters September 3.
Castlevania II is a strange and pleasing thing
[Destructoid user Moths is here to suggest that the world could use more games like Simon's Quest, and for as bewildering as it can be even with a well-laid-out walkthrough, I can't say I disagree. It's a strange gem, one that sticks with you. -Jordan]
I recently replayed Castlevania II: Simon's Quest for the first time in years. Coming into it a little older and a lot more pretentious, I was struck by what a special kind of game it is. It is a failure, yes. There have been plenty of those since 1987. But it is a failure that had stood the test of time. One that has earned love and a place in history largely on the merits of its failings. This honestly hits me at a personal level. I can only dream of one day becoming an interesting failure.
Simon's Quest falls between the original Castlevania and Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. It represents a wild detour in the progression between those two games. It moved the focus away from a traditional action-platforming style and onto adventure elements, with progress being gated more by exploration and puzzles than by challenge. There's a day/night cycle, and rudimentary experience and inventory systems. Grinding for currency is a relevant part of the game, but getting knocked into pits by medusa heads is not. Any player with the knowledge of how to do so can stomp Dracula to pieces in a few seconds. The knowledge of how to get that far in the first place is the hard part. And so on.
In short, it's a complete reversal of the things that make its immediate neighbours tick. That's pretty interesting! Not many sequels are so bold, nor have their boldness so immediately undone. The trouble is that none of it actually works very well. The developers were attempting to coax the NES, the Castlevania framework, and themselves into doing things that they just couldn't quite do. To put it more bluntly, it is frequently laborious, runs poorly, and makes no sense.
The result is a sort of surreal anti-game, half-dressed in the trappings of a traditional classic.
None of the normal rules seem to apply. Boss fights present no challenge, and death means nothing. Dungeons contain huge dead ends – actual dead ends, the kind that there is no reason to visit and that you almost never see in games. Sometimes you just have to go a different way. Sometimes you have to jump through a wall that isn't actually there, but looks just like all the ones that are. It's a distant precursor to Souls' illusory walls, I suppose. But these ones are mandatory.
Puzzles... aren't. Not in the prevailing sense of the word. They feel all but completely arbitrary in both narrative and mechanical terms. A greyscale man will trade you a red crystal for a blue one. You can then hold the red crystal and kneel in front of a cliff, and a whirlwind will appear to carry you up to the top. Garlic can be purchased from a man in a hidden basement, then taken to a cemetery and thrown on the ground so that another man will appear and give you a silk bag. It's a whole lot of 'what' with a giddy dearth of 'why'. There are hints available through dialogue and hidden throughout the game, but these serve more as another layer of oddness than as a guide. Indeed, many are outright lies.
The whole thing creates an alien, frustrating, deeply charming sense of something that barely knows how to be a video game, but isn't going to let that stop it.
Having this oddity squelching about in the middle of a retro dynasty like Castlevania really resonates with me, and I get the impression that I'm not alone in that. When Simon's Quest comes up, people rush to its quirks: the stilted poetry of its translations, the meekness of its final battle, the act of kneeling in front of that cliff for just long enough that you begin to wonder if you're doing it right before it works. These things stick with people. They're memorable, and they're memorably unlike the feeling that most games create. It is a game of non sequiturs and anti-climaxes. Those are taboo in this medium. And it isn't just that Simon's Quest breaks that taboo – it's that it doesn't even seem to notice it.
And that's my best attempt at talking about Simon's Quest. A sort of backhanded love letter, I guess. All comments always welcome. A parting note: Castlevania III is almost universally considered a better game than Castlevania II, and I can't disagree with that in good conscience. But I will say that the world needs Simon's Quests more than it needs Castlevania IIIs.
[Image Credit: LaunchBox]
To The Rescue is a simulation game about running a dog shelter
A dog shelter management game is a solid idea that should immediately click with a lot of people, myself included. I've run all sorts of failed virtual ventures, from theme parks to farms to hospitals to entire cities, but none of those scenarios feel as high-stakes as getting a new shelter off the ground.
Do I have what it takes to succeed in Little Rock Games' To The Rescue? I hope so!
Building out the best space, taking good care of the dogs, managing finances, dealing with health crises, promoting the shelter, and picking out the right pup for the right person – I'm into this game concept.
I want to specialize in basset hounds. If you've seen that basset hound clown car video, you'll get it.
After a successful Kickstarter in 2019, the shelter sim is back with a publisher – Freedom Games – and a new release window: Autumn 2021. On top of the original PC and Mac plans on Steam, there's also going to be a Nintendo Switch version of To The Rescue. It's aiming to be a simultaneous release.
"The game has come so far from its original scope and vision," the team wrote in a Kickstarter post. "If you've been following development, you can see what a complete overhaul our art and aesthetic has undergone, and if you've been one of our earliest supporters at events both digital and physical, you'll know that the mechanics have evolved just as much. You all made it possible for us to find a publishing partner, which in turn has made it possible for us to deliver the best experience that we possibly can!"
The development team at Little Rock Games has pledged to donate "20 percent of profits to pet shelters," which is honestly above and beyond what I would've expected. That's an extra nice gesture.
It may only be March, but I'd wager the cast of Gnosia is the most infatuating group of eclectic weirdos we'll see in gaming this year.
The 14 characters that make up the passengers of this wayward spaceship are a diverse bunch, with captivating stories to tell and styles that will undoubtedly inspire professional and amateur cosplayers alike. Throughout the game, you'll get to know each one of them, learn their often devastating histories, and figure out their tells for when it comes time to eliminate them.
Because one or more of these passengers is not who they say they are. They may look human, but in reality, they've been replaced by a Gnosia, an alien entity hellbent on the destruction of the human race. If any survive this galactic voyage, humanity is most assuredly doomed. But with no way to easily identify a Gnosia, the only thing you can do is hold a vote for who you think is most likely to be the enemy and hope to God you are right.
Hazelight's It Takes Two looks like a fun and resonant yarn
Electronic Arts has released a jovial new trailer for its upcoming co-op only adventure title It Takes Two, which will unravel on PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X March 28.
Developed by Swedish studio Hazelight - founded by charismatic shouter Josef Fares - It Takes Two is the story of feuding couple Cody and May, who find themselves turned into dolls following a magical wish made by their daughter. Now at the mercy of "Love Guru" Dr. Hakim, the pint-sized couple must conquer a series of challenges set in and around their shared home, and maybe even learn a thing or two about themselves, their relationship, and their family along the way.
Roadhog mains can't skip Overwatch's PachiMarchi Challenge
Overwatch is running the PachiMarchi Challenge this week, and folks, I need the new Roadhog skin. I know I've said I'm done playing this game, but I want to kill everyone with kindness. This is my look.
The PachiMarchi Challenge runs until March 22, and there are a few distinct rewards up for grabs, the easiest of which is just a matter of logging in. If you pop into Overwatch before the deadline, you'll get an assortment of sprays: Junkimari, Tranquilmari, Pachirilla, Pachimada, Doomari, and Hackimari.
Of course, as a "challenge," you'll also need to actually play some Overwatch.
There are three tiers of rewards, the first of which is a Pachimari Hat player icon.
Then there's this squishy new emote for Junkrat.
And best of all, Roadhog's Pachimari outfit. Nine wins and it's yours.
I appreciate that Roadhogs's love of the onion-tentacle plush is a part of his lore, and I'm sure I'm not alone in deeply missing arcades right now – not just the games, but ticket and prize machines, too.
