Spider-Man isn't hitting Marvel's Avengers until later in 2021, and yikes
Just yesterday, we learned that Marvel's Avengers will be welcoming Black Panther into the fray "later this year." But what about Spider-Man, the still PlayStation exclusive hero? Later...than later, apparently.
Speaking to IGN, Scot Amos, Crystal Dynamics' head of studio, noted that "formally, officially, people are working on him right now." However, there is a faint hint as to when that might be. He is coming "after Black Panther," which is listed in the "beyond" section of the "summer and beyond" point of the roadmap.
This comes after the news that Spider-Man is not even on the official content roadmap at all for 2021. Given that folks are "working on him right now," that isn't great news that he'll even hit that "later than later than" target. Marvel's Avengers is still struggling to acquire new players and keep the audience it has, and the slowish roadmap for new characters isn't helping much.
It makes sense that development is constrained right now, and not every studio has unlimited resources; but the rollout and messaging for this game has been all over the place. It could have been nipped in every avenue, but the drip-fed nature and release schedule of new heroes (two of which were archers named Hawkeye in the opening salvo), isn't helping things.
Marvel's Avengers: Spider-Man Being Developed, But Not Coming Before Black Panther [IGN]
Review: Kaze and the Wild Masks
While most rabbits prefer the simple life - hanging around in fields, lolloping in runs and hutches, playing basketball with Bill Murray - such mediocre pastimes do not trouble the head of tomb waidin' wabbit, Kaze. Kaze chases excitement and adventure, burrowing her way into hazardous worlds and uncovering the treasures that lie within...
...This time however, our headstrong hero might have bitten off more carrot than she can chew.
As a result of Kaze's unquenchable curiosity, a curse long-forgotten has fallen on her world, draining it of its peaceful atmosphere and idyllic nature. What's more, this plague has severely affected the crops of her people, turning all of the land's fruit 'n' veg into strange, rabid monsters. The worst fate was reserved for Kaze's dear friend Hogo, whose spirit has been drained and imprisoned within a mystical artifact, leaving him a literal wisp of his former self.
With seemingly nobody on hand, and with her entire world and community at stake, it is up to Kaze to set things right. It will take all of her skill, dexterity, and courage if she is to battle the killer crops, restore her land, defeat this dark evil and, most importantly, rescue Hogo. Kaze might have spent her whole life wisely eating her greens, but now her greens are coming to eat her...
Contest: Win an iPhone 12 Pro, courtesy of Cobra Kai: Card Fighter
In today's contest you can win an iPhone 12 Pro and in-game prizes for Cobra Kai: Card Fighter!
Hey, so this is a new one! I'm used to giving out game keys, in-game contest, and even consoles, but this is my first time giving away a phone! I mean, a phone technically is a console, right?
Cobra Kai: Card Fighter hits Google Play and the App Store tomorrow, and to celebrate, the team over at Boss Team Games (responsible for the upcoming Evil Dead: The Game!) wants to give away a brand new iPhone 12 Pro! I'll just sit over here all jealous with my four year old Galaxy S8 while y'all enjoy your new toys.
Street Fighter V Juri mains deserve her new skins as reparation for THE STRUGGLE
Capcom has released two brand new skins as DLC for its flagship scrapper Street Fighter V: Champion Edition. Both outfits belong to slick-kickin' antagonist Juri Han, chosen as the winning entries in a costume-designing contest held by the publisher back in 2020. The outfits are available for a couple of bucks each, or are included in the latest Premium Pass.
The Street Fighter community, jam-packed with talented artists, came through with an amazing collection of costumes for a variety of SFV's World Warriors. When the finalists were put to a public vote, however, the #JuriFeet army came out en masse, and both winning entries now hang in the Korean assassin's wardrobe. Admittedly, it would have offered more variety to incorporate a "one finalist per character" ruling, especially given how awesome some of the other entries were. But what's done is done.
The Fall is free right now on the Epic Games Store
For this week's giveaway, the Epic Games Store is handing out The Fall, a sci-fi adventure game about an advanced AI that has taken control of a combat suit after its pilot crash lands on an alien planet.
It's an older release – the original PC version of The Fall launched in May 2014 – but it is still remembered for its story and atmosphere. Even if the "side-scrolling shooter" screenshots put you off a bit from the puzzle-adventuring, it's worth a look. Doubly so when we're talking about a free promo.
If you're intrigued, we've got a review in the archives. The deal lasts until March 25.
I'll also need to set a reminder for Creature in the Well next week. The pinball-esque dungeon-crawler has been on my mind ever since I heard about Flight School Studio's next project, Stonefly, and I feel like I ought to play it. The inventive action game will be free on the Epic Store from March 25 to April 1.
Ubisoft's Rainbow Six Siege has lit the fuse on its sixth year of content, with its newest season, Operation Crimson Heist, now live on PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The event sees the arrival of a brand new operator, as well as the addition of several new weapons and features in the immensely popular tactical multiplayer shooter.
Operation Crimson Heist welcomes Argentinian inventor Santiago "Flores" Lucero to the fold as a new attacker, bringing with him charm, wit, and a collection of highly explosive remote control drones - the "Ratero." Flores will be using all of his cunning and guile, earned during his dubious former life cat-burglar, to help his squad-mates with infiltration, recon, and the disturbance of even the most fortified locations. You can read more about this debonair and highly intelligent fellow in our previous report.
Xbox is hosting an indie game showcase on March 26
We're early enough into 2021 that I'm not burned out on video game news streams, but I'm bracing for impact. You thought last summer's events were too drawn-out? Here, how about a Spring Game Fest.
I'm kidding – kind of. But digital showcases have become second nature for many publishers. Next on the docket, we've got an indie-game-centric stream from Xbox on Friday, March 26 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific.
The ID&Xbox event is a collaboration with Twitch, and it'll feature "new trailers and gameplay for more than 25 games," including known-ish quantities like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and mystery projects from studios like DrinkBox. I've been dying to see what the team has been up to since Guacamelee 2. Annapurna Interactive, Devolver Digital, Team17, Humble Bundle, and Raw Fury are also on the presenter list.
Between the game reveals, new trailers, and Xbox Game Pass announcements – to say nothing of developer interviews with "community favorite Twitch streamers" – it sounds like a busy event
You'll be able to watch the show on Twitch. It's gonna be a two-coffee morning for me.
Evo was just picked up by Sony Interactive Entertainment and RTS
After a particularly rough 2020, the annual fighting game tournament Evo is still hanging in there, in part, due to Sony Interactive Entertainment. Your eyes aren't playing tricks: Sony has "jointly" acquired Evo in a partnership with RTS, "a new venture born out of Endeavor's esports business."
The surprising news was shared on Twitter to the wider fighting game community this afternoon by PlayStation and Tony and Tom Cannon, the co-founders of Evo, who will stay on as "key advisors."
In a message to the community, the Cannon brothers acknowledged not just the pandemic's impact on the long-running event, but also "the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of Evo Online involving a former team member [Joey Cuellar] who has been completely separated from our company."
"We want to reaffirm that harassment or abuse of any kind has no place within Evo or any of our future events, and we're taking every precaution to make sure members of our community will always be treated with the respect, dignity, and decency you deserve," reads the letter.
Evo Online 2021 is set for August 6–8 and August 13–15, with more details coming soon. The headliners are Guilty Gear Strive, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, Street Fighter V: Champion Edition, and Tekken 7. For what it's worth, the Evo site suggests "more games to be announced soon."
In terms of Sony potentially blocking games – or companies pulling out of future events given the change in management – Evo's director of global business development Mark Julio says "Evo is still open to all platforms. The teams at PlayStation and RTS are enabling us to continue working with our community to support fighting games." Some fans aren't going to believe it until they see it.
In a statement to IGN, Nintendo said it has "enjoyed engaging with fans at past Evo tournaments" and it will "continue to assess Evo, and other opportunities, as we plan for future online and offline Super Smash Bros. tournament activity." Anything can happen when Nintendo's involved. Feeling lucky?
Even with the stability SIE can lend Evo, the future of this FGC staple still seems hazy. I'm curious to see what this move means for Sony's interest in the genre in general going forward. More deals, I suppose.
Call of Duty: Warzone bans a further 30,000 players, while Mara actor takes down cheaters
Developer Raven Software has announced that it has purged Call of Duty: Warzone of a further 30,000 players on the grounds of cheating and/or hacking. The popular battle royale title is awash with foul play, and both Raven and Activision have stated that they are committed to the uphill battle of keeping Verdansk even relatively free of shenanigans.
This newest wave of bans sees a total of 100,000 players pruned from Call of Duty: Warzone so far in 2021. Of course, the free-to-play title is one of the most popular shooters on the market, with a playerbase of millions. As such - while the removal of every cheater or hacked account is to be praised by the community - it's a drop in the ocean compared to the rule-breakers who remain, not to mention those who simply rejoin under a proxy account.
In related news, two further Warzone cheaters were singled out and removed by one of Call of Duty's own. Alex Zedra, the streamer/model who portrays character "Mara" in the military shooter's universe, spotted some sketchy behavior from a couple who were both using in-game hacks while streaming. With the merciless nature befitting of a Warcom operator, Zedra sent word through to Twitch, an action that would eventually see both players suspended.
Cheating, particularly in FPS titles, is as old as the genre itself, and unfortunately very much "goes with the territory." Regardless, it's good to see developers at least make some effort to remove those who are spoiling the enjoyment of others. Ultimately, as long as there are video games, there will be cheating - some people simply have to win. But watch your step in Warzone, or you might even find yourself in Mara's crosshairs.
Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis will be free-to-play, and monetized through loot boxes
Did you miss that there are multiple Final Fantasy VII projects in the works...again?! It...begins!
The one in question here is Ever Crisis, which is a mobile game developed by Applibot, and will be a "reimagining" of the original in "monthly" episode form. Now, thanks to a new Famitsu interview with Tetsuya Nomura, we know that it's free, and will "try" to stick to 10 chapters.
Nomura explains that the party will get out of Midgar "in chapter three," leaving plenty of room to revisit the rest of the world of the game. But there's also "completely new, original" content, including a story team-up with The First Soldier (which is 30 years in the past, dealing with the founding of the SOLDIER organization).
It'll also have an original soundtrack that is based on the source material (neat), and will not function as a "replacement" for the remake project, but a "casual" version of it. In terms of monetization, chapters will be free, but it will be a loot box-based game, with boxes "containing random weapons." Nomura says that some weapons will also include "new costumes," which is exactly how they're going to get hardcore fans with the FOMO gacha system.
Are you ready for a ton of Final Fantasy VII media? I lived through it once before, and survived!
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade [Famitsu via Gematsu]
Scarlet Nexus launches June 25, Sunrise-produced anime coming this summer
Bandai Namco has released a mecha-load of exciting information concerning its dynamic-looking action-RPG Scarlet Nexus. The post-apocalyptic anime adventure will come exploding onto PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X on western shores June 25, a mere day after its Japanese release.
First revealed back during last summer's Inside Xbox stream, before being showcased in December's Game Awards, Scarlet Nexus is set in a future completely engulfed by technology, where mankind has learned to harness the psychic powers of the human mind, evolving humanity far beyond its means. Unfortunately, this outpouring of mental energy has drawn in a species of mind-eating mutants, "The Others." who are attacking Earth in the hopes of devouring our all-powerful brains.
Of course, once man learned how to harness psychic power, he immediately weaponized it, resulting in the creation of The OSF (Other Suppression Force), a tactical military unit trained in the synergy of mind and machine to defeat the invaders. Scarlet Nexus will tell the story of one such battle unit's war to save the city from legions of truly grotesque, spine-shivering creatures from your darkest imagination.
The Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy is out now, and it's 20 bucks for a limited time
It's the 25th anniversary of Tomb Raider this year, and to celebrate, Square Enix is releasing a trilogy collection where the earliest release is from 2013. Oh, and Lara croft is also in Fortnite, too.
It's called the Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy, and includes the 2013 Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: that's a whole lotta Lara Croft! It's technically a $59.99 release, but it's on sale now for $20 if you grab it in the next two weeks (read: until April 2). The "Definitive" moniker refers to containing all pertinent updates and DLC for all three games.
Note that you can also buy the games piecemeal, if that's what you want. The 2013 reboot is a really respectable $2.99, Rise is $5.99 for the "20 Year Celebration" version, and Shadow is $14.99, which is nearly the price of the whole compilation on sale.
I can safely recommend them all in that one bundle at that price if you're prone to Tomb Raider shenanigans. They each have their merits, and although they don't redefine the action adventure genre in any major way, they're fun little tales, and a great way to reintroduce Lara Croft to the world.
You can grab the Xbox edition here.
And the PlayStation version here.
It's still hard to believe that Final Fantasy VII Remake has an upgrade...DLC...thing.
It's...kind of weird to me! To see a modern re-release of an old Final Fantasy game get a story extension, but the series is known for DLC now; that's just the way it is. Well, thanks to a new Famitsu interview, we've learned that it wasn't necessarily the intent for this to happen, and it may not happen again for the foreseeable future.
Speaking to the outlet, Tetsuya Nomura, who is one of several directors for the Intergrade project (but not for Part 2), notes that "Due to the nature of the upgrade system, it resulted in us having to label the new Yuffie sections as 'downloadable content.' However, the original intent was to create a PS5 version of Final Fantasy VII Remake and not to produce downloadable content. Accordingly, we do not have any plans for downloadable content at this time."
Nomura says they are "prioritizing the roadmap for completing the next game," and to never say never, and that although DLC isn't planned, it could come after the second part is finished. As for more details on Yuffie's story, there are several control modes (you can have Sonon, your companion, "act independently," or one where he mimics your commands). You can also "press L2 to switch between combo modes."
Oh, and Yuffie will have "new materia and summons." Remember, we also already know that it's two chapters. It sounds like a fully fledged adventure!
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade [Famitsu via Gematsu]
Black Panther and Klaw are headed for Marvel's Avengers 'later this year'
During the Square Enix Presents showcase, we got a peek at Black Panther and Wakanda in Marvel's Avengers. It's hard to get excited about a nebulous "later this year" release window, but it's something.
The War for Wakanda expansion will unsurprisingly add Klaw, "new enemies," and a jungle biome in which to endlessly fight them. It's a long time coming for Black Panther as a playable hero in Marvel's Avengers, and at this point, with the way this game's rollout has gone, I'm glad he's still coming.
Maybe the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions will magically turn things around? Anyone?
Project Athia is now called Forspoken and it has freaky bears
The Square Enix Presents showcase had a last-minute surprise: Project Athia! Or should I say Forspoken? The fast-moving magical action-adventure game from Luminous Productions has a real name now, and we got a proper look at its protagonist, Frey Holland, in a new trailer.
Somewhat surprisingly, Square Enix describes the game as a "narrative-driven adventure." The game is set in the world of Athia (hence the working title), and Frey is played by Ella Balinska (Charlie's Angels).
Do I want to leap up mountains and cast spells on nightmare bears? Absolutely. I'm in.
Life is Strange and Before the Storm are being remastered
Dontnod's original supernatural adventure Life is Strange is getting a remaster this fall alongside Life is Strange: Before the Storm. If you've been looking for a reason to revisit Arcadia Bay, this is it.
The remastered versions will be bundled together in Life is Strange Remastered Collection, which you'll be able to pick up standalone or in the Ultimate Edition version of Life is Strange: True Colors. Platform-wise, we're looking at PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia. No Switch version, it seems.
What's different? Deck Nine has "refined" the puzzles, reworked character animations with "full facial mocap," improved the visual fidelity for characters and environments, and upgraded the "engine and lighting." You're also getting the standalone bonus episode, Farewell, packed in.
As fate would have it, I just started replaying Life is Strange a couple of months ago – but I only finished the first episode before I got distracted by other games. Things worked out! No rewind necessary.
Life is Strange: True Colors is the next adventure from Deck Nine
During this morning's Square Enix Presents spring showcase, we got our first (official) look at Life is Strange: True Colors, a new adventure-with-a-twist from Life is Strange: Before the Storm developer Deck Nine. It's launching on September 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia.
Unlike past games, this is an all-at-once dealio. It's not an episodic format.
The new lead, Alex Chen, has psychic empathy: she can "experience, absorb, and manipulate the strong emotions of others, which she sees as blazing, colored auras." Alex will need to use her supernatural power to figure out what really happened to her brother, Gabe, during his "accidental" death.
The setting, the mountain town of Haven Springs, looks cozy. And the soundtrack for True Colors is a focal point, as you'd hope and expect. The game will feature licensed tracks from Radiohead and Phoebe Bridgers as well as an original score from the Australian folk group Angus & Julia Stone.
Square Enix is juggling a lot of properties to varying degrees of success, but when it comes to Life is Strange, I'm just generally happy to see the series continue to branch out. It's a special one. That said, for some fans who were enamored with Chloe and Max, the original game is still a tough act to follow.
It's time to watch the Square Enix Presents showcase together
Square Enix is hosting a digital event today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific, and running down the list of news on-deck, Life is Strange is the headliner – but that's just me. Maybe you unexpectedly adore Outriders, you're clinging onto Avengers, or you have a great feeling about Tomb Raider's 25th anniversary.
If you don't want to watch on YouTube, you can also catch the show on Twitch.
After some decent highs and horrible lows last year during the endless summer of video game news streams, I don't know what to expect from Square Enix Presents. I just know that the first 30 seconds or so will set the tone. I'm contractually obligated to stick with it, but you? You can bounce whenever.
At a minimum, we'll learn more about Life is Strange, Outriders, Balan Wonderworld (godspeed), Tomb Raider, Marvel's Avengers, Just Cause Mobile, other mobile games, and some "delightful" Taito titles.
The Square Enix Presents showcase for Spring 2021 is expected to last around 40 minutes. That's a lotta time for Takes. You might want to pace yourself, though – it's going to be another long year.
[Update: It's over! Here are the major announcements from the show:
- Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy is out now, and it's 20 bucks for a limited time
- Life is Strange: True Colors is the next adventure from Deck Nine
- Life is Strange and Before the Storm are being remastered
- Black Panther and Klaw are headed for Marvel's Avengers 'later this year'
- Project Athia is now called Forspoken and it has freaky bears
All in all, it was better than expected given the relatively low stakes involved. Life is Strange: True Colors already looks compelling to me, and I'm all about Forspoken's magic-infused traversal. The showcase's actual news wasn't groundbreaking or anything, but the quality of the presentation was pretty nice.]
(Update) Necromunda: Hired Gun already looks like one of the good ones
[Update: Following yesterday's leak, Focus Home Interactive announced Necromunda: Hired Gun for PC (Steam and Epic), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. It's not going to be for everyone, but I'm on-board – it looks fast. And the store page had the date right. Hired Gun is coming out on June 1, 2021.]
There are arguably too many Games Workshop-based video games vying for our attention, but when so many ideas are thrown at the wall, some of them are bound to stick. Streum On Studio, the team behind E.Y.E. and Space Hulk: Deathwing, is back with a first-person shooter called Necromunda: Hired Gun.
I don't always like to bring up Microsoft Store leaks – sometimes, the store pages are too sparse or the games are too uninteresting for me to justify coverage – but that's decidedly not the case here.
This game looks sick as hell. You can take on bounties as a merc with a Cyber-Mastiff by your side.
The unannounced game will be published by Focus Home Interactive, and the Microsoft Store lists the Xbox versions of Necromunda: Hired Gun for June 1, 2021. (In case the page is pulled down before the official reveal, yes, there's an "Optimized for Xbox Series X/S" badge.) PC should be a no-brainer.
Even without seeing a trailer, I'm much more into this hive-city joyride than prior attempts. That said, it's too sunny outside for me to be tumbling down wiki lore rabbit-holes again. Release me!
[Thanks, Vesalius]
Fire Emblem Heroes gets its hop on with super-cute bunny update
Spring is in the air, and there's perhaps no video game that enjoys the changing of the season more than Nintendo's Fire Emblem Heroes. To that end, the mobile battler has launched its newest summoning event, bringing the spirit of funny bunnies to a selection of characters from its huge roster.
The new event sees lop-ears and fluffy tails adorning Fire Emblem Awakenings' hot-blooded Severa and handsome archer (does Fire Emblem have any un-handsome archers?) Inigo. Also joining the festivities are veteran franchise character Minerva, as well as The Sacred Stones' dragon gal Myrrh, accompanied by her equally scaly pal, Nah. Don't they all look totes adorbs?
Of course, the new summoning event will also see the coming of a brand new paralogue chapter. Titled "Wilfull Rabbits," the mini-adventure sees our batch of bunnies hopping into a lavish spring parade, filled with color, wonderment, and brutal, weapon-based combat. The new summoning event is now live in Fire Emblem Heroes on both iOS and Android.
Nintendo Download: Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
It's re-release day again on the eShop!
Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is one of the big headliners, as the little online shooter that could is finally arriving on Switch. It's technically the "Complete Edition," and hits the eShop tomorrow.
Overcooked: All You Can Eat is huge too, as it rebrands both games into one package, and either of them is worth the price of entry that the All You Can Eat bundle includes. Tales from the Borderlands is a welcome trip down memory lane too.
Finally, Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is out on March 23 as another fairly marquee Switch release. Here's the rest!
Sony has revealed its VR controllers for PS5, and they look kinda funky
Sony has offered PlayStation fans a first look at its incoming VR controllers, which are currently in development for use with the company's new PlayStation 5 hardware in the future. The headset itself, however, remains a closely guarded secret for now.
"Our new VR controller speaks to our mission of achieving a much deeper sense of presence and stronger feeling of immersion in VR experiences," said Sony Senior VP Hideaki Nishino on PlayStation Blog. "It will build upon the innovation we introduced with the DualSense wireless controller, which changed how games 'feel' on PS5 by unlocking a new way to tap into the sense of touch. Now we're bringing that innovation to VR gaming."
Super Nintendo World is officially open for business, and man, is it making an impact on people.
Between the little thematic "activities" to do around the park, the Power-Up Bands that double as amiibo, the cool looking food, and the three rides for folks of all ages, I've seen so many "I wish I lived in Japan" comments these past few weeks. For many people, it's a magical place come to life.
But it might get a little more magical. As reported by VGC, there's a mysterious door that leads to...nothing. But doesn't it look so obviously Donkey Kong themed? Yeah, everyone else thinks so!
Amid rumors of a potential Donkey Kong expansion, some users have taken to Twitter to provide an aerial look at the zone in which the door inhabits, which certainly allows for a proper expansion. Late last year, the official Universal app was also datamined, which confirmed the existence of Donkey Kong content. Coincidence? I think not!
Hopefully once the park concept comes to the west, they'll build the whole thing, expansions and all. I don't think a lot of people are going to be able to wait as-is!
Japan's Super Nintendo World is already hinting at its Donkey Kong expansion [VGC]
[Update: So it seems as if NieR: Automata's PC version is different from the Steam iteration, which has given many people issues. The PC for Game Pass port is the "Become as Gods Edition," which is reportedly more stable.
It's a very strange situation because the Steam port is still broken some folks, yet this special Game Pass version has sidled in with a better, more stable build. If Steam was giving you issues, you have another option.]
Microsoft is ready to share a few new Xbox Game Pass titles today, and it's quite the list!
As we knew, Outriders and Undertale are coming to the service, but there's several other big names too. Empire of Sin is already making its way to Xbox Game Pass, just several months after launch. NieR: Automata is another heavy-hitter too, as it will be available on the PC arm of Game Pass. It's one of the many evergreen titles that will give Game Pass value as long as it's on the service.
Octopath Traveler is another welcome title, which will be arriving on both consoles and PC on March 25! Add in Yakuza 6 and Star Wars: Squadrons, and you got a stew going.
This is easily one of the strongest months yet for Game Pass. You have a few classics to choose from, several newish titles that are bankable "Game Pass rentals," and Outriders, a brand new game coming day-and-date.
Microsoft is going all-in on Game Pass and I'm loving it.
Can Selene stop the clock in Housemarque's Returnal?
It must have been at least a week since I last told you all how much I'm looking forward to Housemarque's bullet-hell, third-person roguelike Returnal. So it's a good job the Resogun dev released a new trailer so I can remind you: I'm really looking forward to Housemarque's bullet-hell third-person roguelike Returnal.
And that repetition is fitting, as Returnal itself will see brave intergalactic explorer Selene forced to relive an onslaught of epic and brutal encounters again and again, having crash-landed on a mysterious planet and found herself locked into some sort of time-loop. As the new trailer below demonstrates, there's definitely more going on than meets the eye, as not only will Selene engage in pulse-pounding combat with an army of grim extra-terrestrials, she will also - somehow - find herself coming face-to-face with her own realized memories.
[Update: Nintendo now has an official landing page that is ready to usher Super Mario 3D All-Stars out, and let us know they mean business. They remind us: "If you've already purchased the digital version, you'll still be able to play the game after March 31st. Even if you remove the game from your system, you'll still be able to re-download any time."]
So the time is quickly approaching for the end of Mario's 35th anniversary. Wait, an end? Yes, doomsday.
But there's a chance that Nintendo will have a change of heart last minute, right?! I mean, Jump Rope Challenge got a zero hour reprieve! Well, maybe! Never say never. But as of March 1, 2021 (today), Nintendo isn't budging.
Over on Twitter, Nintendo reminded folks that the anniversary celebration will come to an end; and that includes "pulling products." By way of a further link provided in the tweet, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Super Mario Bros. 35, Game & Watch Super Mario Bros., and various shirts are re-confirmed as part of the purge.
Not included in this list is another purge for the original Mario Maker, as well as the end of sales for Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light on the eShop. Plan accordingly!
Nintendo [Twitter]
NieR Replicant x NieR Reincarnation event will see console and mobile titles collide
Square Enix has announced a new event - set to take place later this month - which will see upcoming remake NieR: Replicant crossover with the phenomenally popular mobile title NieR: Reincarnation.
As reported by GameWith, (with translation from Siliconera), the event will see NieR Replicant protagonists Nier, Kainé, and Emil venture into the bleak-yet-serene world of "The Cage," where they will no doubt encounter NieR Reincarnation's own protagonist "White Girl," accompanied by her ghostly sidekick, Mama. The event, which is being held to celebrate the upcoming launch of NieR Replicant, will offer NieR Reincarnation players the opportunity to bag exclusive themed items and login bonuses.
NieR Reincarnation has taken Japan by storm, having been downloaded over 10 million times since its launch a mere month ago. The free-to-play gacha title is currently in the process of being localized for a western release, and is expected to hit these shores at some point later this year. In the meantime, NieR Replicant will launch on PS4, PC, and Xbox One April 23.
Genshin Impact developer asks fans not to share Update 1.5 leaks
Yesterday was a day of highs and lows for developer miHiYo. The day started out very positively with the launch of the long-awaited Version 1.4 of its money-printing gacha title Genshin Impact, but this release was also followed by the news that a chunk of content from its next major update had already up and leaked onto the information superhighway.
As these things are wont to do, the information was supposedly scored by savvy players via datamining, before quickly making its way throughout the internet via social media. The info supposedly authenticates the arrival of two new characters, as well as several other tidbits of information. miHiYo has released an official statement asking players not to spread the impromptu news.
"Recently, we discovered the dissemination of leaked version 1.5. content. Such behavior not only disrupts our plans to develop and promote the new version, but also causes some Travelers to have misconceptions about the content of the new version." said the developer on Twitter. "Here, we kindly ask for the support and help of all Travelers to resist leaks, and maintain a fair gaming environment. We will also increase our efforts to deal with such illegal disclosures."
Genshin Impact's Version 1.4 update, now live on all platforms, brings with it the new character Sister Rosaria as well as a fun spring event - The Windblume Festival - and new quests, gear, recipes, login bonuses, rewards, and side-features. You can read all about it in the official patch notes.
Also, I like the term "illegal disclosures" and will be using it more in conversation.
Contest: Win a custom-skinned Xbox Series X, courtesy of Dungeon Defenders: Awakened
In today's contest you can win a brand new Xbox Series X, courtesy of Dungeon Defenders: Awakened!
I'd say the worst part of my job here is that I give away all sorts of cool stuff, but can't actually win any of it, myself. Case in point; I don't have an Xbox Series X. Today I'm giving one away. All my blood, sweat, and tears results in you winning a brand new next-gen console!
Isn't that kinda messed up? I want to play Dungeon Defenders: Awakened. But I can't. Well, at least you can if you win this Xbox.
Puzzling Places makes me want to dust off my PlayStation VR
Don't pack up your PlayStation VR for good just yet – there are a handful of new games coming to the platform in 2021, and one of them, Puzzling Places, is a 3D jigsaw puzzle game. Some might scoff, but I genuinely love that idea, I can already picture myself getting cozy with the PS4 version this winter.
Instead of grabbing flat puzzle pieces, inspecting them up close, and finding their rightful home on a board, in Puzzling Places, you get to construct "3D scans of interesting places from around the globe."
If I were allowed to upload audio recordings in my articles, you'd hear a distinct gulp. Assembling detailed photogrammetry models, one chunk at a time – in VR – sounds tricky. But watching the gameplay footage in the trailer and clips on the PlayStation Blog, it seems surprisingly doable.
"Each puzzle will also have multiple difficulty variants, so you have the choice if you just want to jump in for a quick 50-piece session or want to dive deep into the puzzle flow, challenging yourself with hundreds of pieces that could take a few days to finish," said Realities.io co-founder Daniel Sproll.
Better yet, you can try the beta now if you have an Oculus Quest or Quest 2. Imagine if this had co-op!
Xbox Game Pass PC subscribers are getting 60-plus EA games on March 18
After a longer-than-expected rollout, Xbox Game Pass subscribers on PC will soon be able to play a bunch of EA-published games at no extra cost – including Star Wars: Squadrons. Game Pass and EA Play are bundling up. While that already happened on Xbox consoles, the PC side of things has been weirdly slow-going. The official start date? March 18 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific. Hey, that's tomorrow!
If you aren't sure where to start with this stuff, there's a minor hassle involved before you can access your free-with-a-membership games. You'll have to download the EA Desktop app, log in with a current or newly-created EA Account, and link it with your Xbox account. I know, I know. Too many steps.
That said, the actual process is pretty straightforward: just try to install an EA Play game through the Xbox app on PC and the system will point you in the right direction as far as the EA app is concerned.
It's also worth mentioning that you don't need to "sign up" for EA Play. It's an automatic perk.
You can find an up-to-date list of included EA Play games over here; highlights include Jedi: Fallen Order, Titanfall 2, A Way Out, Unravel Two, Spore, and 10-hour new game trials (click "See Games" in the Xbox app). All told, there's 60-plus PC games. Many aren't what you'd consider "recent," but they hold up fine.
If you have Xbox Game Pass for PC or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, knock yourself out. I've said it before, but more often than not, "renting" EA games is my preferred method. Game Pass makes it easy.
Four months later, Spider-Man: Miles Morales swings in at No.1
In an interesting turn of events, Insomniac Games' pseudo-sequel Spider-Man: Miles Morales has clambered to the top of the UK Charts, just over four months after its initial November 2020 release.
Miles Morales' belated arrival at the No.1 position comes after the UK received a major restock of PS5 releases, with the next-gen version of the open-world adventure accounting for 90% of all Spider-Man sales over the past week. As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, even if you discounted PS4 sales, our boy Morales would still have found himself in the top spot, usurping Nintendo's Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury after one full month in the premier position.
The PS5 restock also saw a sales boost for other older releases, with the PS5 edition of Warner Bros. Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate returning to the Top 40 at number 18, and Ubisoft's Immortals: Fenyx Rising returning at number 14. It's still very much a Nintendo-led Top Ten, however, with over 50% of the division taken up by Switch releases including Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Ring Fit Adventure, Minecraft, and Super Mario 3D All-Stars - all of which will no doubt be joined by Capcom's incoming Monster Hunter Rise in just a matter of weeks.
(Update) We'll finally get a fresh update on Dying Light 2 this week
[Update: Techland's March status update for Dying Light 2 showed a few gameplay snippets, an unnecessary Mean Tweets-style bit, and a notice to "stay tuned" with a "2021" closer – you good?
"This is a huge and complex project, and we needed time to make sure it will live up to our vision," the team said in the video. "All of us here are putting our hearts into delivering a game that you will keep playing for months. We will be ready to start talking about Dying Light 2 very very soon."
It's tough to believe that release window will stick, but we'll see.]
Techland is finally ready to offer new information on the development of Dying Light 2. The developer will release an update pertaining to the long-in-limbo sequel on Wednesday, March 17, giving patient fans a little more insight into the current state-of-play regarding the survival-horror release. The new info will be first announced via the official Dying Light Discord channel.
In a follow-up to Techland's update announcement on Twitter, the developer admitted that it had jumped the gun on Dying Light 2's reveal, which took place way back at E3 2018. However, Techland said that production has been continuously moving forward since the initial reveal, and as such the sequel was not in any form of "development hell."
Originally announced for PS4, PC, and Xbox One, Dying Light 2 was initially scheduled for launch in spring 2020, before being pushed back to an as-yet-undisclosed release date. Hopefully this week's update will shed a little more (dying) light on the release, lest fans continue to consider the sequel dead and buried.
Controversial horror title Devotion now available via Red Candle Games
Delisted horror title Devotion is back on the market, some two years following its initial release, after Taiwanese developer Red Candle Games opened its own store in order to sell the creepy adventure game directly to anybody who wishes to purchase it.
Originally launching in February 2019, Devotion was pulled from the Steam platform following a massive surge of negative reviews after a talisman was discovered in-game openly criticizing Chinese President Xi Jinping. Red Candle removed Devotion from sale, claiming that the offending message was a placeholder, never intended to ship in the finished product. But egos had already been damaged and, ultimately, Devotion would not return to the Steam store. In completely unrelated events, Devotion publisher Indievent had its business license revoked by China later that year.
The situation would then go quiet until December 2020, when publisher GOG.com announced on Twitter that it was preparing to carry Devotion on its retail store. GOG would do a complete u-turn mere hours later, refusing to release the game "after receiving many messages from gamers." Clearly, Red Candle Games has decided that the only course of action - some two years later - is to step up and sell the controversial title directly to players.
Destiny 2's Trials of Osiris mode has imploded again
Bungie has been having an issue with Trials of Osiris, one of its high-level premiere PVP events (alongside of Iron Banner) ever since it debuted in Destiny 2 last year.
Like many things Bungie, the team can't really figure out how to balance the mode's bugs, as well as player exploits. It's a balancing act for sure, but it's tough for Bungie to keep Trials up for extended periods of time at any rate.
What was the issue? Well last week, "fireteam rejoin functionality" was acting up, amid "win trading," which lets players earn high-end Trials gear. The short of it is that Trials is that it's intended as a "win repeatedly or you're out" sort of high stakes deal, with the victors earning their right to see a special in-game area through "flawless" runs.
Instead of doing that, some folks are trading wins to guarantee victory. Right now the plan is to disable Trials again until March 23, at which point a decision will be made. Either way, folks won't "miss" rewards, as per Bungie, during this craziness.
Cheating and exploits have always been huge problems for the Destiny series, thanks to some spaghetti code in many respects and a lack of proper anti-cheat software. Instead of really giving a lot of these facets the love and care they need, Bungie is keen to take the "band-aid" approach to a lot of this; resulting in situations like this past week. It's becoming increasingly difficult to predict when they'll actually figure this all out. Some of us have been waiting nearly seven years.
Bungie [Twitter]
Hi there! My name is Noelle and I'm the new Features Editor here at Destructoid. I'm a cat mom, dancer, and K-pop fan (I'm particularly into girl groups like Blackpink, Twice, ITZY, and LOONA). But we all know what I'm really here for: video games.
My love of games has been lifelong, but I didn't really fall back into them wholeheartedly until a few years ago. It starts back in the days of 3D Pinball Space Cadet when we had the aptly named "Computer Room" in our family home, and through to the graduation up to various handheld consoles, a PS2, and an Xbox 360 in my pre-teen years.
However, around the time I hit middle school, I set games on the backburner to follow my love of books, and dove deep into a love of literary storytelling (much to the excitement of my mom, a third-generation English teacher). In college, I majored in Classic Literature, and planned to pursue a master's degree in that field as well -- that was until a friend sat me down and had me play The Last of Us. I was immediately floored by Naughty Dog's 2013 masterpiece of cinematic interactive narrative, which is really an all-but-perfect character study disguised as apocalypse genre fiction.
From that moment on, all I could think about was how games are paving their way as a new storytelling medium, and I knew I had to be a part of it. I dug into researching narrative design, the history of storytelling in games, and how they're evolving to tell better and better stories year after year. I even gave a TEDx talk about it at my university. Unsurprisingly, all of my current favorite games focus a lot on narrative, like Disco Elysium, Kentucky Route Zero, and Hades.
I landed an editorial internship with Nerdist and then began freelance writing for games, both on the development side and as a journalist. After graduation, I made the move from my small town in South Carolina to Los Angeles, working first as a games writer at Skybound Entertainment, and then a QA Tester at Naughty Dog, the very studio that inspired me to uproot my entire life in the first place.
That brings me here, to Destructoid, in a position that is incredibly exciting to me. One of the things I love most in the world is thoughtful, productive conversations about art, how it affects us, and what it says about our experiences as people. Is that a little pretentious? Well sure, but I was planning on going into academia, remember? It comes with the territory.
My ultimate goal is to look at games, and the industry that surrounds them, through a critical lens that will hold them to the same standard as any other artistic medium out there, literature included. Journalistically, that's what features are perfect for, hence my enthusiasm in this new role. I really believe that if we continue to elevate our conversations about games, it will foster a reciprocal relationship that inspires better art, which will in turn create similarly rich and meaningful conversations as a reflection of that art.
Jumping into a well-established community like Destructoid is admittedly a bit intimidating, but it seems that those conversations are already happening here. All I can hope is that I can lend a unique perspective, and help enrich that environment even more. So thanks for having me, and I will do everything in my power to make you all fans of K-pop as well!
Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol.1 out now on Switch, includes Metal Slug titles
I'm going to cover this news even though they didn't include Leona in the promotional shot. Harumph.
SNK has released Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 on Nintendo Switch. The retro compilation is now available to download from the Nintendo eShop for around $40, which is less than these titles would cost you if you picked them up today in their original form.
The compilation brings together great titles from SNK excellent but ill-fated handheld from the early '00s. Included in the package are the previously released Samurai Shodown! 2, King of Fighters R-2, SNK Gals' Fighters, Fatal Fury: First Contact, The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny, and the brilliant SNK vs Capcom: Match of the Millennium. New to this compilation are cutesy golf sim Big Tournament Golf, RPG Dark Arms: Beast Buster, and both Metal Slug: 1st Mission and Metal Slug: 2nd Mission.
PlayStation is giving out 10 fantastic PS4 games for Play at Home 2021
We had heard that more free-to-keep PS4 games were coming soon from Sony after the Ratchet & Clank giveaway (which you can still claim today!), but I can't say I was expecting 10 more titles to show up for the Play at Home promo. It's not just about quantity, either – these are all quality releases.
You'll be able to grab nine games from March 25 at 8:00 p.m. Pacific until April 22 at 8:00 p.m.
- Abzu
- Enter the Gungeon
- Rez Infinite (PlayStation VR optional)
- Subnautica
- The Witness
- Astro Bot Rescue Mission (PlayStation VR)
- Moss (PlayStation VR)
- Thumper (PlayStation VR optional)
- Paper Beast (PlayStation VR)
Sony is also kicking in one of its own: Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition. You can add the robo-dino-hunting adventure to your PS4 library for free from April 19 at 8:00 p.m. Pacific until May 14.
Play at Home 2021 also has an "extended" 90-day trial for Funimation/Wakanim. If you're a new member and you want to go on an anime binge to end all binges, you have from March 25 to April 22 to take them up on the offer. I'll leave recommendations to the readers – they know what's good.
Unlike the usual monthly "free games," you do not need PlayStation Plus for any of these.
To give you a little bit more context on how much I like the games on this list, I own everything here except for Paper Beast – and the only reason it's on my yet-to-play list is that I've been on a VR break lately. Subnautica is one of my all-time favorites, Astro Bot is PSVR at its best, and Horizon Zero Dawn is a crowd-pleaser. I'm envious of anyone about to carve through these games for the first time.
PSA: Nintendo is offering bonus Gold for Switch Online memberships
It's time for a really simple PSA post. Don't get too excited! It is dealing with Switch Online after all; one of the least flashy online services (you get what you pay for!).
As of now until May 10 at 11:59PM PT (so specific!), Nintendo is running a promotion that grants you extra Gold Points (read: gold can be redeemed on the eShop as cash) for Switch Online subscriptions. Specifically, 12-month plans.
If you get an individual membership, it's $19.99, and you'll be granted 200 Gold Points. If you're aiming for a 12-month family membership, that's $34.99, and 350 Gold Points. As a reminder, Gold Points roughly equate to one cent per one gold.
Normally, you earn them through buying digital stuff (which nets you 5% back), or physical games (1% back). Annoyingly, Gold Points expire after 12 months on the last day of the month they were earned. If you need an explainer, you can find one here.
That's it, it's basically a few bucks off the price of a 12-month membership, and not really "a few bucks off" so much as "you have funny money/gift card cash to spend on the eShop now." This should barely be considered a promotion, but it's something to be aware of nonetheless.
Buy a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online membership and get My Nintendo Gold Points [Nintendo]
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut seeps onto PlayStation, PC, and Stadia March 30
It's time to wake up once again, detective. Developer ZA/UM has announced that its amazing, award-winning RPG Disco Elysium is getting ready to enthrall adventure fans all over again with the release of expanded edition Disco Elysium: The Final Cut, which will launch on PS4, PS5, PC, and Stadia on March 30. Xbox and Nintendo Switch editions will follow at some point this summer.
The Final Cut is described by the developer as the "definitive edition" of the abstract 2019 graphic adventure, which sees a beat-up, amnesiac detective on a brutal murder case, set against the backdrop of a dilapidated civilization, struggling to press forward in the aftermath of a nightmarish war. Upon its original release, Disco Elysium received rave reviews across the board for its fascinating universe, excellent writing, and inventive conversational style. It would go on to win numerous end-of-year awards, and was even chosen by TIME magazine as one of the previous decade's best releases.
Hello Destructoid! I'm Eric, and I'm joining on as a Senior News Reporter for the site.
Over the past six or so years, I've covered a lot in the realm of video games, reported and otherwise. I've written for a few different sites as both a staff member and as a freelancer, though you'll probably recognize me most as one of the folks from USgamer.
One thing the last year has made very clear is that news, as it pertains to video games, can be a much wider blanket than you'd think. Reporting has expanded a lot, even in just the last year; events shut down and game development slowed due to a health crisis, political candidates made Animal Crossing islands and Among Us lobbies, and a brick-and-mortar retailer became the focal point of a short squeeze.
My own work has stretched over a lot of these topics—covering how musicians used Minecraft to host concerts amid shutdowns, and how a studio managed to right the ship after a rough launch. I've also profiled some inspiring competitors in the scene, watched some really terrible movies, and yes, one time I found out why a guy was taped to the ceiling.
I like stories: untold histories and forgotten legacies, the how and why of what's happened, and how they inform what's to come. Video games are a part of our modern culture, even more today than they've ever been, and my goal is to find those fascinating stories and share them with y'all.
Otherwise, I'm based out of Texas, watch a fair bit of sports, and have been trying to up my cooking game while we've all been stuck inside. I usually keep up with whatever's big on streaming, and I sorely miss live music. (I listen to a lot of different music, though lately I've been really digging Phoebe Bridgers!)
I've got a bit of a competitive drive, so I play a lot of Valorant, Overwatch, and Dota 2, and I'm eagerly looking forward to Guilty Gear Strive. My favorite games include The World Ends With You, Nier Automata, the Zero Escape series, and Mass Effect—which I've spent literal years discussing with my friend and co-host on our podcast, Normandy FM.
I'm looking forward to getting to know the ins and outs of this community, and I hope y'all enjoy the news, reviews, and stories I'll be bringing your way.
Nintendo low key lets it slip that the next Mario Maker 2 Ninji speedrun event is the last
Nintendo is killing Mario Maker 1 online support at the end of the month (don't forget!), but it seems like they're going to be stopping support for Mario Maker 2 soon too, in some form or another.
In this innocuous tweet, Nintendo reminds us that the "Cap Mario Master" Ninji Speedrun Course is out now, which tasks players with collecting 100 coins amid the Super Mario World theme. Fine, right?
Well, in the next tweet reply, which is a little more sly and sans a marquee accompanying image or hashtag, Nintendo also notes that another Ninji speedrun event is "planned to launch on April 14." That's fine too, right? Read the fine print: "The volume of this 20th and final Ninji Speedrun will be bigger than usual and last for 2 weeks. Please be sure to keep an eye out!"
Wait, what? Yep, if you're still enjoying those Ninji speedruns, keep in mind that they seem to be ending in roughly a month. Also, note that Nintendo is willing to drop Mario Maker support like a sack of potatoes, so it stands to reason that in a few more years, Mario Maker 2 could be shut down like its predecessor.
Especially if there's a Mario Maker 3 in the works, with 3D support. I kind of want it, but I also don't want it to be inevitably shut down. Catch-22!
Nintendo of America [Twitter]
Chicory: A Colorful Tale describes itself as 'like Zelda in a coloring book world'
Prepare to grab your brush and beat the devil out of it, as publisher Finji has announced that charming-looking paint 'em up, Chicory: A Colorful Tale, will be launching on PS4, PS5, and PC this spring.
Developed by Greg Lobanov, previously responsible for the joyful Wandersong, Chicory tells the tale of a pupper artist who must wield a mystical artifact simply known as "The Brush" in order to recuse a fantasy world from its drab, monochromatic aesthetic. Guided by the titular spirit, our modest hero will bring extraordinary life, light, and color to the surroundings, using the power of art to solve puzzles, overcome obstacles, and generally put a little joy in some hearts.
Zelda: Breath of the Wild in 8K with ray tracing: need I say more?
We've seen various "4K Zelda" mods and the like, quite often actually, in the past year or two. But 8K and ray tracing? Well that's not something you witness every day.
Over on YouTube the channel Digital Dreams did just that, with the following parameters: "8K Zelda Botw CEMU - Raytracing GI Revo Reshade -Ultra graphic comparison - Gameplay." To say it looks gorgeous is an understatement.
At the start of the video we're in the classic Lost Woods zone, sans extra framerate issues. Then they whisk us away to the open world, where we get to see a little combat demonstration against an unsuspecting Blue Bokoblin. Then we're sent to Faron, which is one of the most striking regions in the game and a perfect opportunity to show off the ray tracing effects, as well as the lovely water visuals.
Unlike a lot of other mods, this one doesn't sacrifice the core integrity of the game's visuals. It pretty much looks the same? Just a little snappier and more responsive. I know a lot of people are purists when it comes to this stuff, but I'd take a stable framerate and clearer draw distances any day.
EA working on new ways to tackle racist and toxic content in FIFA 21
Electronic Arts is working on new technology with which it hopes to tackle the problem of racism and other toxic behaviors within its globally popular soccer sim, FIFA 21. The publisher announced it is investigating new measures to reduce problematic behavior in-game in response to an online investigation conducted by Eurogamer.
Eurogamer found that one of the core problems with FIFA 21 relates to the title's Pro Clubs mode - a sort of "Fantasy Football" league which allows players to create their own which allows players to create their own individual footballers and clubs with which to compete in online leagues and tournaments. Players have used this mode in order to name their team members and clubs with racist or homophobic slurs, or direct references to far-right groups.
Despite the Pro Clubs feature being around for well over a decade, it seems that the problem remains not only prominent, but happen with very regular occurrence. EA told Eurogamer that it works to eradicate racism and toxic behavior in FIFA, noting that it had banned over 9,000 accounts and issued 35,000 warnings since FIFA 21's launch in October of last year. Furthermore, EA says that it is working on implementing new technology with hopes of further reducing the toxicity within Pro Clubs, as well as in FIFA 21 in general.
"Under our Positive Play Charter, our teams are focused on improving in-game reporting and moderation tools, along with a players' ability to report any offensive content at ea.com/report," EA told Eurogamer. "This helps ensure that when people don't play by the rules, there are easily accessible channels to report problem players or inappropriate content."
"We take all reports seriously and regularly action against our findings [...] We're committed to continuously advancing our tools and solutions to address new challenges, including more intelligent monitoring and migration technology that will be released in the coming months."
FIFA is not the only video game brand combating racist user-created content, with almost every title/platform that allows user-uploaded material facing a battle against toxic content on a daily basis. In regards to gaming, this issue stems as far back as the medium's formative years, when arcade developers would add filters to high-score tables in order to prevent swears and slurs. It's an indictment that, decades later, these problems remain - both in gaming and, sadly, in the world at large.
EA Vows to do more to tackle racist content in FIFA 21 [Eurogamer]
Doom Eternal DLC The Ancient Gods Part 2 launches tomorrow, March 18
Following its tease earlier this week, Bethesda Softworks has released the full trailer for The Ancient Gods: Part 2, the second DLC expansion for id Software's hellish shooter Doom Eternal.
The new DLC, which drops on PS4, PC, and Xbox One tomorrow, March 18, sees the Doom Slayer and his small army of hellions rise up in battle against his vicious alter-ego, The Dark Lord. (I mean, Doom Slayer is pretty vicious himself but you get what I'm saying. The violent trailer is particularly epic in scale, with an all-out war perhaps beyond anything seen in the legendary franchise to date.
The time has nearly come for Mario to face the music.
In just a few weeks, a handful of games will be removed from sale or service. One of the weirdest parts of this operation is that Super Mario Bros. 35 is going bye-bye, which is a huge shame given that it's one of the very few perks that Switch Online is actually offering up.
Alas, we're getting one last hurrah for Mario 35, a "Special Battle" that will take players through the full game. That's World 1-1 to World 8-4, mind, and it'll be in order of the original. Nintendo warns that this event is "short," and they mean it. It'll run from March 19 at 16:00 JST to March 22 at 15:59 JST.
Do I think that Mario 35 is gone forever forever at the end of the month? Probably not. It'll likely come back at some point, as Nintendo views this classic take on the franchise as evergreen. But it'll be going away for the foreseeable future, that's for sure.
It's just especially strange when Tetris 99 is still alive and kicking, but this has to be the one that gets the axe.
Super Mario 35th [Twitter]
Animal Crossing: New Horizons breaks European record for fastest-selling title in Nintendo history
Nintendo has proudly announced that Animal Crossing: New Horizons has had better first-year sales in Europe than any release in the company's storied history. The news of this record-breaking milestone comes just a few days shy of the cute social sim's first anniversary.
Since its release on March 20, 2020, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has sold over seven million copies in Europe, with the incredible number taking into account both physical and digital sales. The figure is a healthy chunk of New Horizons' global sales, which ranked around the 32 million mark as of Nintendo's December 2020 financial report. Nintendo has gone on record as stating that the title is responsible for a huge increase in Switch hardware sales. Whether Isabelle and chums will surpass Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the best-selling Switch release ever, (around 33.4 million copies and counting), remains to be seen.
"We're truly grateful that Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been embraced by so many players across Europe," said Stephan Bole, president of Nintendo Europe in a statement posted by VGC. "Animal Crossing has long been a popular franchise in Europe, and its continued growth is due to the love of our fans for this unique series."
While Animal Crossing: New Horizons was already a highly anticipated release for a very popular gaming franchise, its comfortable and relaxing atmosphere also provided something of a haven for many players against the backdrop of 2020's darker days. The upcoming anniversary is to be celebrated via the arrival of several fun in-game items, while the incoming spring update will see the return of mischievous, egg-hiding bunny Zipper.
(Update) Players figured out how to glitch 12 people into Destiny 2 raids
[Update: And it's gone! It took roughly two weeks, but Bungie has put an end to the fun, as evidenced by the latest patch notes. Here's the rub: "Fixed an issue where players were able to cram 12 people into activity that clearly couldn't handle the might of that many Guardians." It makes sense, but it was cool while it lasted!]
Interestingly, people are breaking Destiny again to make it more fun. Expect the police to arrive any day now!
As spotted by PC Gamer, folks have been forcing 12 players into Destiny 2 raids, which are normally six-player affairs. The gist? You form two fireteams (groups), one with five players on it, another with seven. Then you do some trickery with the invite/chat system and launch an activity; right as the timer hits two, you load both in at once.
So there's a bit of history around this. Scrub, the YouTube channel embedded below, perhaps showcases the effect the best in a very short video. But the trick was allegedly discovered by ChildCelebrity on Twitter, then popularized by this group in the Last Wish raid on February 26. Before that, it was only whispered about in some circles. It's gone viral now.
So it's been nearly a week since the playerbase has been engaging in these "extra player" raids, and the development team is aware of it. There has been no formal announcement on what a fix might entail or when it's coming.
Genshin Impact Version 1.4 is now live on all platforms
miHoYo has released the hugely anticipated Version 1.4 edition of its gacha RPG Genshin Impact. The new update - now available to download on all platforms - brings with it a brand new character alongside new events, gear, quests, weaponry and much, much more.
Joining Genshin Impact's ever-burgeoning roster of characters is the solemn Sister Rosaria. This almost ghostly woman is a member of Monstadt's Church of Favonius and sports an attitude and social style as cold and sharp as her intimidating style, demeanor, and devastating polearm skills. One thing is for certain, she sure doesn't look like any nun I've ever encountered. And I've met, like, loads.
