(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.
I can't wait to jump into the cutesy world of Pocky & Rocky Reshrined
Publisher Natsume has released a new trailer for its 16-bit inspired sequel Pocky & Rocky Reshrined. The new teaser gives fans their first reasonably lengthy look at the cute-em-up's frantic top-down shooter gameplay in action.
Developed by The Tengo Project - the same outfit behind recent retro revisits Wild Guns: Reloaded and Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors - Reshrined is no mere remaster, but a fully fledged sequel to the 1992 SNES release KiKi KaiKai: Nazo no Kuro Mantle - which is better known in the west as Pocky & Rocky. The new game will see the determined shrine maiden and her faithful tanuki buddy battle waves of enemies in a spanking new adventure - one that has been a long time coming, for sure!
Utilizing a brand new engine but retaining the charming 16-bit aesthetic of the original title, the cutesy sequel looks like a lightweight bit of fun for players looking to while away the weekend with a bit of old-school fun. I'm definitely going to be checking out the action when Pocky & Rocky Reshrined launches, this fall, on PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
The Division 2 to get a brand new mode and season re-runs in 2021
As previously reported, strategic shooter Tom Clancy's The Division 2 is not quite ready to hang up its holsters just yet. While many thought the team at Massive Entertainment was getting ready to sunset the team-based merc shooter, the developer announced that 2021 would see a fresh run of content for the title's dedicated playerbase.
Speaking in a new blog post titled "The Road Ahead", Massive revealed that this year will see a brand new game mode arrive in The Division 2's playlist. While no details were forthcoming, the mode is listed as "entirely new to the franchise." In addition, the team is working on new ways for players to progress their in-game operatives, with hopes of offering more in the way of both variety and viability for The Division 2's builds and classes.
Players are expected to have spent $20 billion on loot boxes by 2025
Video game players are expected to have spent an approximate $20 billion on in-game loot boxes by 2025. That's the finding of a new report from the number-crunchers at Juniper Research.
As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, Juniper Research ascertains that around 230 million players - or roughly 5% of the entire gaming community - will have laid down dollar for some form of "mystery" microtransaction, with the institute predicting an average loot box revenue growth of around 5% each year - though the report does suggest that sales will inevitably fall with players growing weary of the mechanic, as well as the ever-increasing likelihood of global government legislation.
"Loot boxes in their traditional form are often considered exploitative; leading to increased legislative scrutiny," said Juniper Research's Nick Hunt in the sobering report. "We expect to see game publishers react to this in future by changing loot box formats, in order to keep them compelling and outside the legal realms of gambling."
Unsurprisingly, mobile platforms are expected to make up the lion's share of all loot box sales, with China and other Far Eastern territories responsible for around half of all loot box sales. North America sits in second place when it comes to microtransaction expenditure.
Loot boxes remain a constant source of controversy in the industry. Electronic Arts is currently embroiled in multiple class-action lawsuits resulting from the implementation of loot boxes in popular sports titles such as FIFA and Madden. Earlier today, German officials briefly considered raising the legal age requirement to purchase a video game that features loot box mechanics, but have since relented on the decision.
Loot boxes to generate $20 billion by 2025 [GamesIndustry.biz]
Forza Horizon 4 is on Steam and there's cross-play
[Update: Forza Horizon 4 launched today on Steam and there's a free car for all platforms. You can get the 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS if you sign into your Xbox profile before March 14 at 10:00 am Pacific.]
Playground Games' crowd-favorite racing series Forza Horizon is coming to Steam. The studio is collaborating with Sumo Digital to bring the latest entry, Forza Horizon 4, to Steam on March 9, 2021.
If you've held off with the Windows 10 version, there you go. The Steam edition of Forza Horizon 4 will have cross-play, so Xbox One, Windows 10, and even Android players (using the cloud) can compete.
For those of you who don't closely follow the series but might be inclined to change your ways with this news, Forza Horizon 4 is the one in Britain that leans into shifting seasons. As our dear friend Brett said in his review at the time, "winter can be a pain in the ass and not nearly as enjoyable as the other three seasons," but it's the "only season that feels truly unique and actually affects the way driving works."
DLC like the Hot Wheels Legends Car Pack and expansions like Fortune Island and LEGO Speed Champions will be sold separately on Steam, but that's business as usual. I wasn't expecting otherwise.
Coming soon - the #HotWheels Legends Car Pack.
— Forza Horizon (@ForzaHorizon) February 8, 2021
1:64 just wasn't enough for these Legends. @Hot_Wheels pic.twitter.com/tFthgvaNzx
Here are the PC system requirements if you need them.
Minimum
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10 version 15063.0 or higher
- Processor: Intel i3-4170 @ 3.7Ghz OR Intel i5 750 @ 2.67Ghz
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVidia 650TI OR AMD R7 250x
- DirectX: Version 12
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 80 GB available space
Recommended
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10 version 15063.0 or higher
- Processor: Intel i7-3820 @ 3.6Ghz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVidia GTX 970 OR NVidia GTX 1060 3GB OR AMD R9 290x OR AMD RX 470
- DirectX: Version 12
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 100 GB available space
It's easy to underestimate Xbox Game Studios' involvement with Steam without thinking about it, but when take stock on the XGS landing page, there are some fantastic games. The list keeps growing.
Famed port producer Panic Button wants to bring Valheim to Switch
Valheim came out at the start of February and has been taking the survival community, and beyond, by storm. But right now it's squarely housed on PC: something developer Iron Gate may want to rectify at some point. Enter Panic Button to save the day?
Speaking to Nintendo Life in the context of bringing Apex Legends to Switch, they mused on wanting to take up the task. The famed studio that has handled many successful Switch ports like Doom, Doom Eternal, Wolfenstein, and Subnautica, expressed interest in a Valheim on Switch. After being asked if they could bring "any game" to Switch without limitations, one of the developers raised their hands.
Head of Production Dan Hernberg explains: "I'm not sure if this is my 'any game pick' but, right now I'm playing way too much Valheim and I would love to port that to Switch." But Technical Director Andy Boggs and Respawn's Chad Grenier also chimed in, saying they'd love to see Bloodborne and Dyson Sphere Program on Switch respectively.
At this point, in Panic Button I trust. If there's a game that exists and it's remotely feasible to bring it to Switch, I'd give them a call.
Panic Button And Respawn On The Challenge Of Bringing Apex Legends On Switch [Nintendo Life]
Seven years after the movie, Turbo Kid is getting a gore-filled game
Well, here's one story I didn't expect I'd ever be covering. Canadian developer Outerminds has announced it is currently hard at work on a video game adaptation of over-the-top action movie Turbo Kid, set for release some seven years after the movie's premiere.
For those less inclined, Turbo Kid was a low-budget Canadian flick produced during a movie-making zeitgeist which saw an abundance of "'80s grindhouse movies" that - while capturing the spirit of the era - weren't really like '80s grindhouse movies. Set in the post-apocalyptic future of 1997, Turbo Kid is the story of an orphaned BMX bandit - The Kid - who battles the armies of warlord Zeus (Michael Ironside) in order to liberate the wasteland and save the (extremely excitable) gal of his dreams, Apple.
Well, It's a bit like TimeRider: The Adventures of Lyle Swann, I guess.
For a moment there, Theseus, not Zagreus, was the hero of Hades
We all love Zagreus, right? Right?!
He's the broody protagonist you either enjoy or don't mind playing, but for a second there, we almost had a more boisterous hero. Speaking to The Verge, developer Supergiant Games explains that Theseus, one of the game's most contentious enemies, almost made the cut.
It would have dealt with Theseus delving into the Crete labyrinth, building the hero myth as you played. The team notes: "So kind of cerebrally, he was interesting. But when we were trying to bring him to life as a protagonist, he has this risk of being kind of very generic. But as soon as we start adding specific detail to him, he just doesn't really feel like Theseus anymore."
Here's the crux of why the change was made. Studio co-founder Amir Rao elaborates, stating: "[Creative Director Greg Kasavin] sort of had this idea that we could probably keep everything in the game, but recast it as Zagreus. These different ideas, all these different characters, they all kind of came together. Within I think a day or two he had convinced everyone that it was a better idea."
I mean, to be real, Hades probably would have been fine with a different main character. The interpersonal relationships could have been just as deep and the gameplay could have been 100% the same, as Zagreus was like mechanical modeling clay for whatever the developers wanted him to do.
It's nice that it turned out the way it did, but Supergiant likely had a hit on their hands either way. And that Theseus idea is still fire. A sequel, perhaps?
Hades almost starred its worst character [The Verge]
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel anime coming in 2022
Legendary developer Nihon Falcom has announced that it is teaming with a quartet of production companies to produce an anime adaptation of adventure series The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel. The new series is expected to launch on TV in 2022.
Details are incredibly thin on the ground at this pre-production stage, but the title would suggest that the series will follow a similar narrative to the Trails of Cold Steel series - also known as the "Erebonia arc" - which began in 2013 on the PS3 and PS Vita and concluded in the fall of 2018 with the release of Trails of Cold Steel IV on PS4.
The project will see Falcom team with its Asian distributor UserJoy Technology, renown anime distributor Funimation Global Group, anime production company NADA Holdings, and finally content funding affiliate SYOU.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel TV anime project announced [Gematsu]
Even Netflix is ditching Mario at the end of March
The Mario apocalypse continues.
As most of you know by now, several games, one device, and even one instance of Wii U online play functionality are going away on March 31 for several Mario games. Even an old Fire Emblem game is being removed from the eShop for good measure! But now, it's come to light that The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 on Netflix will be removed from some regions on that same date.
As a note, the US doesn't even have the show, but for the regions that do, there's an obvious reason for this. CBS All Access has been revamped into Paramount+, which is where the shows will be headed.
It's just another casualty of the streaming wars, as Netflix continues to be stripped for parts and attempt to rely on its original programming to weather the storm. They planned for this! But it's still hilarious timing given everything else that's happening to Mario on March 31, 2021.
Mevans [Twitter via Nintendo Life]
A new trademark could hint at a Chocobo Racing return
Chocobo Racing was an absolutely staple '90s game. I mean, it came at the tail-end of the '90s, but it epitomized Square Enix's attempt to spin off anything and everything Final Fantasy related after VII hit it so big. And mascot kart racers? They were '90s comfort food. It was the perfect combination that formed a very fun little racer, and it might be coming back.
Square Enix tried to resurrect it once before! In the mid-2010s there was talk of reviving the series on 3DS, but it was quietly canceled because of the "quality of the game" behind the scenes. But hopefully this new trademark will give us some hope, as "Chocobo GP" and "Chocobo Grand Prix" have been registered in several countries (Europe, Australia, Canada) recently.
It could be a remaster or remake, or a new game: we don't really know at this point. But either way, I'd definitely welcome the chicken overlord back into the fray given how long he's been gone. I mean if Crash Team Racing can get a revival, and Mario Kart is still around and selling, why not?!
Chocobo GP [Chizai-Watch via Gematsu]
Microsoft has completed ZeniMax/Bethesda acquisition, notes 'some' games will be Xbox exclusive
This morning, Microsoft officially confirmed that it has completed its $7.5 billion USD acquisition of ZeniMax Media and its subsidiary companies. As of today, Bethesda Softworks, its studios, and range of IPs and licenses are now officially Xbox-owned properties.
"It's an honor to welcome the eight incredibly talented development studios – Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, Arkane, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios - and their passionate global communities to the Xbox family," said Xbox head Phil Spencer in a statement. "Our goal is to give these teams the best foundation for doing their greatest work and to learn from them as we continue to build Xbox into an inclusive platform for all players."
"This is the next step in building an industry-leading first party studios team, a commitment we have to our Xbox community. With the addition of the Bethesda creative teams, gamers should know that Xbox consoles, PC, and Game Pass will be the best place to experience new Bethesda games, including some new titles in the future that will be exclusive to Xbox and PC players."
Sonic the Hedgehog and pals to join Tomy's Club Mocchi plush collection
As Sonic the Hedgehog's 30th anniversary year continues, more and more companies are producing merchandise celebrating the Blue Blur and his army of fuzzy friends. The latest in this line of product announcements comes from Japanese toy manufacturer Tomy, who is adding Sonic and his friends to its collectible "Club Mocchi" line of plush dolls.
The Club Mocchi range of plushies are cute and cuddly toys stylized after a variety of video game icons. Characters and items already featured in the range include Kirby, a Zelda Octorock, a Splatoon Squid, Super Mario Bros.' Boo, and Mario Kart's Blue Shell. The first item from the Sonic license will be the smart-alec hedgehog himself, alongside his fox pal Tails. Further characters to be announced down the line - a must for Sonic memorabilia collectors.
Rumor: Microsoft to discuss Bethesda acquisition and what it means for Xbox fans later this week
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]
Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy leaks onto Xbox Store
An as-yet-unannounced compilation of recent Tomb Raider releases appeared on Microsoft's Xbox Store this past weekend, only to vanish just as quickly.
According to the long-gone listing, spotted by ResetEra users, The Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy is comprised of three titles taken from Lara Croft's grisly modern reboot: Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. The trilogy supports HDR/4K visuals and comes packaged with all previously released DLC, along with each title's respective online/multiplayer modes.
According to the listing, the Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy is scheduled to launch on Xbox One March 18, although it would seem very likely that the same package will also be available on PlayStation platforms. Once official confirmation from Tomb Raider publisher Square Enix is forthcoming, we will be sure to update you. So stay tuned.
Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy popped up on Microsoft Store [Eurogamer]
Apex Legends for Switch will likely receive cross-progression, but not for some time
Today sees the release of EA's futuristic battle royale title Apex Legends on Nintendo Switch, bringing all of the explosive action of the Respawn Entertainment developed shooter to the hybrid console. Players can dive straight into the action with a huge roster of "Legends", a double XP event, and the option to play with the community-at-large, thanks to its optional cross-play capabilities.
But for those perhaps hoping on making a permanent transition from Apex Legends' current PC and console ports to the Switch, I'm afraid that you'll have to start from scratch, as the new release does not support cross-progression - at least not in the immediate future. Speaking to Nintendo Life, Game director Chad Grenier spoke of his regret that the team cannot offer cross-progression at present, but noted that they are working hard to make it a possibility at some point down the line.
You don't need a slingshot to pop balloons in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
My favorite video game clips are the ones where players show off a mechanic, feature, or trick that's either obscure, entertainingly unnecessary, or just plain easily overlooked by most people. If the idea is hiding in plain sight, even better! I want to feel silly for not even considering doing it before.
One recent-to-me example: you can use a bug net to pop balloons in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
When you don’t have a slingshot... from r/AnimalCrossing
You could be a normal player and just use a slingshot, of course. Or, if you want to live a little after spending countless hours with this game, you can load up the Island Designer app on your phone, plop down a cliff, climb up it with your ladder, and knock down the floating present with your humble net.
As impractical as this is, more than anything, I appreciate Reddit user ItzStarr86 demonstrating an alternate use for the terraforming tools. They're great in theory but they're too finicky for me.
Realistically, I'm never going to use this trick, but I love that I can – a cute a-ha moment.
That's mighty fine art for Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods - Part Two
Bethesda shared the key art for Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods - Part Two, and yep, it's awesome.
Let's not forget that the art for The Ancient Gods - Part One was also on-point.
What about the DLC itself? When can we play it?
Based on the difficulty of the first part, I hope your aim, your traversal skills, and your ocular-patdown instincts are ready to go. Bethesda plans to release a teaser trailer for The Ancient Gods - Part Two on March 15, so the wait shouldn't be too much longer now. Doom Eternal turns one on March 20.
It's worth reminding everyone – myself included! – that Doom Eternal will have a free PS5 and Xbox Series X/S upgrade. I'm expecting to feel like Milhouse when he entered his name in Bonestorm.
In the meantime, if you're okay with spoiling yourself, the Part Two achievements leaked.
I hope you like monotony, because The Tick on SNES and Genesis is crammed full of it
Licensed games are sort of a low-hanging fruit in terms of kusoge, and I have no shame in picking them. They have always, always been hit or miss. You either get a developer that loves the property and tries to do it justice, or you get someone that's just cranking games out of contractual obligation. That's why, on one hand, we have Batman on the NES, which is awesome, while on the other hand, we have Predator on the NES, which is the video game equivalent of drinking a warm glass of garbage water.
Then there are these games that are in between. They're not horrible, someone on the team obviously had some affection for the license, but somewhere along the line, something was lacking. Maybe it was talent, maybe it was vision, or maybe it was corporate meddling. The Tick on SNES and Genesis is one such game. It's not completely bad at first glean, but dig too far beneath the frosting on top, and you wind up eating sand.
Nintendo Switch has deals on Mario games (and Luigi's Mansion 3) for MAR10 Day
With Nintendo still pledging to stop selling "Mario 35th anniversary celebration" games like Super Mario 3D All-Stars at the end of March, our attention is elsewhere in the Mushroom Kingdom this month, but it wouldn't be MAR10 Day – March 10 – without several discounts on "Mario games" for Switch.
If you're in the mood for a Mario romp – or want to show your support for Luigi instead – the following Nintendo Switch titles are discounted until March 13 at 11:59 pm Pacific on the Nintendo eShop:
- Super Mario Party ($38.99)
- Super Mario Maker 2 ($38.99)
- Mario Tennis Aces ($38.99)
- Luigi's Mansion 3 ($38.99)
35 percent off during a 35th anniversary? You lucked out on this one, Nintendo.
Strangely, Super Mario Odyssey – arguably the best Mario adventure in a good long time – isn't a part of Nintendo's MAR10 Day eShop sale. That said, Amazon and Walmart have it for $38.88 right now.
You can make a case for any of these games, especially Luigi's Mansion 3 and Mario Maker 2, but I'll add that Super Mario Party is a real I-guess-I'll-get-it-at-that-price sort of jam. Go in expecting that the game is what it is – there won't be content updates – and cook some meat cubes. The mini-games are fun, just don't forget that you need a Joy-Con for every player since Pro Controllers are prohibited.
Me? I'm too busy ignoring Super Mario 3D World in favor of Bowser's Fury.
Mario leads Nintendo's continued success in the UK sales charts
Nintendo Switch titles remain the most popular physical purchases in the UK's gaming market, a trend that has seen the Japanese industry giant dominate the UK Charts for the first quarter of 2021. Leading the charge is the indelible Super Mario Bros. series, which has seen steady and persistent sales across its range of re-released Switch titles.
This past week saw Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury retain the number one spot for a fourth week running, making it a month on top for the Wii-U remaster. Social sim Animal Crossing: New Horizons sits at number three, having held a Top Ten position for almost an entire year. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario 3D All-Stars sit at number four and six respectively, while the Switch edition of Minecraft and exercise 'em up Ring Fit Adventure fill out the back end of the Top Ten.
Elsewhere in the Top Ten, Square Enix' RPG Bravely Default II plummeted from number 11 to number 33, which is de rigueur for most non-Final Fantasy JRPGs, at least in regards to the UK's physical sales. Sega's Yakuza: Like a Dragon poked its head back into the chart scene at number 35, thanks to the release of the new PS5 port, while Atlus' Persona 5 Strikers has already left the Top 40 entirely.
Disintegration didn't catch on and now V1 Interactive is closing
V1 Interactive, the studio behind last year's squad-commanding strategy shooter Disintegration, is shutting down this month. The FPS-meets-RTS game about robots with transplanted human brains didn't review all that well, and five months after it was released, the multiplayer modes went offline.
"We want to thank all the talented people at V1, both past and present, who helped make the last five years wonderful," V1 tweeted. "And a heartfelt thanks to the amazing community that supported us."
In another tweet, V1 Interactive president Marcus Lehto said that "our priority has been to the wellbeing of our employees. We've been transparent with them about the state of things for months and are making this decision now so they still have ample time to search for new jobs while being supported by our studio." Other than V1, Lehto is best-known for his hand in creating the Halo series.
As grim as the post-launch outlook seemed for Disintegration, I had hoped the studio's publishing deal with Private Division (a label under Take-Two Interactive) would've insulated V1 to a greater extent.
It's always a shame to see a smaller- or mid-sized studio working on a new IP go out so soon.
Microsoft's $7.5 billion ZeniMax/Bethesda deal approved by SEC and EU Commission
Microsoft is now one step closer to completing its acquisition of ZeniMax Media, having sought and received approval from both the European Commission and the U.S. Securities & Exchanges Commission (SEC) both of whom offered no opposition to the multi-billion dollar deal from taking place.
By law, Microsoft was obliged to seek approval from the statutory bodies on the basis of Antitrust - essentially global laws that are in place in order to supervise and prevent the formation of monopolies within a given industry. This is a common legal procedure in transactions of this nature, and was also sought by Tencent during the conglomerate's acquisition of mobile giant King in 2016.
Having received approval from both the EU Commission and the SEC, Microsoft is now expected to press forward with the $7.5 billion transaction, which is expected to see completion in late-2021. The deal gives Microsoft ownership of ZeniMax Media and its subsidiary studios and licenses, including those of video game publisher Bethesda Softworks.
Bethesda and Microsoft have previously assured video game fans that the new deal does not automatically designate all future Bethesda releases as Xbox/PC exclusives, suggesting that title exclusivity will be designated on a "case-by-case" basis. Bethesda's next release, Deathloop, will retain its initial PlayStation exclusivity despite the Microsoft purchase.
Nintendo and Universal are planning on opening Super Nintendo World on March 18
It's crazy to think that Super Nintendo World "isn't open yet," because there are hundreds upon hundreds of videos of people crowding into the park and doing vlogs of every single facet of it; but alas, it's not "officially open." That allegedly changes on March 18.
If you recall, the latest delay snatched away the prior launch date of February 4, due to a state of emergency that was declared in the Osaka prefecture. That delay was in mid-January, but here we are, mere days away from the new March 18 target, and Nintendo is giving the all-clear.
Things could change, but as of now, even the official Nintendo account is banking on March 18, beyond the purview of the Universal of Japan PR machine. Universal mind, elaborates on the opening, stating that there will be "strengthened" health measures to account for the decision.
If you can't go just check out this full park map and look up anything you're interested on YouTube. Again, there are hundreds of videos combing over every single part of the park in full HD, even full ride walkthroughs. We also have a hands-on look at the new Power-Up Bands!
Nintendo [Twitter]
Zynga pledges $100,000 to support Girls Who Code initiative
Mobile game giant Zynga has pledged $100,000 from its Social Impact Fund in a new partnership with Girls Who Code (GWC), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and tutoring girls and young women in computer sciences, with an aim to close the gender gap in technological industries.
"Zynga is honored to team up with Girls Who Code to help forge a more inclusive industry in tech and games by expanding opportunities for girls and women across the globe," said Zynga's Chief Legal Officer Phuong Phillips. "Through their virtual workshops, school clubs, mentorship programs, networking and more, we are hoping to build the next generation of women in STEAM to help them to prepare and thrive in the tech workforce."
The support from Zynga will go towards the operation of computing clubs across the United States, Canada, the UK, and India. These free-to-attend events offer training and education for girls and young women interested in coding, design, and other computing-based roles. The clubs offer tutelage and information from a professional body of mentors, helping to train and inspire students while providing access to technology and resources unavailable to those from low-income communities.
"We know that passionate, diverse, ambitious young women are the key to transforming our workplace and our world," said Dr. Tarika Barrett, Girls Who Code's incoming CEO. "We're excited to partner with Zynga this International Women's Day to send a loud signal to young women everywhere that they belong in technology and that they have support in their journey from school into the workforce. Zynga and Girls Who Code share a vision of a more fair and equitable workforce, where women of all backgrounds rise to the top."
To date, GWC has reached over 300,000 women worldwide, with 80,000 college-aged alumni now majoring in Computer Science or other related fields. GWC hopes to have closed the gender gap for entry-level jobs in the computing industry by the year 2030, utilizing and expanding its club program - as well as its global network of mentors and industry professionals - in order to offer more young women the opportunity to achieve their goals.
For more information about Girls Who Code, please visit the organization's official website.
Rust: Console Edition looks pretty good all things considered
2020 was a quiet year for the still-happening PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Rust, but big plans are in motion this year. Double Eleven put out a new trailer for Rust: Console Edition today, thanked fans for their ongoing support, and sent out the first batch of closed beta keys. No release date, though.
[Update: Double Eleven is now aiming for a Spring 2021 release for Rust: Console Edition, and the studio shared a handful of new screenshots. The closed beta will stick around for "the next few weeks."]
If you put your name in the hat for the Rust console beta and haven't heard back, it's not a lost cause. The initial invitees will help "test out server stability," but the developer "can't invite everyone just yet."
I appreciate that Facepunch Studios and Double Eleven didn't try to rush out the console ports (or drop them for PS5 and Xbox Series X). I mean, Rust is doing tremendously well for itself on PC with a bright future still ahead of it, and there's no real hurry so long as the wait is worth it. As short as this footage is, it looks in line with what I was expecting for "Rust running on a PS4 and Xbox One" – decent enough.
Let's just say console versions of PC-first survival games aren't always up to the task.
The Dynasty Warriors movie looks just as over-the-top as the games
Wait, there's a Dynasty Warriors movie? And it has crazy fantasy action just like the Koei Tecmo game series? Yes! But you may have even vaguely heard about it already.
For a while now the Dynasty Warriors film, crafted in China, has seen multiple delays, but it looks like it's going to finally come out very soon. As analyst Daniel Ahmad reports, it's due out on April 30 of this year in China, with an additional release in Hong Kong. There is no confirmation of a western release at this time.
The new trailer, which debuted this morning, showcases a few fan favorite characters, as well as plenty of action and a little drama. The costumes are completely on point, as is the "1 versus 100" action sequence later in the clip.
Whether all of that will come together for a good, or even enjoyable viewing experience is yet to be seen. But the trailer did pique my interest!
Dynasty Warriors [YouTube via Daniel Ahmad]
Content Warning: This game, and thus the review, contains depictions and descriptions of depression, anxiety, and suicide.
Having been Kickstarted in 2014, Omori seems to have gone under many people's radar, myself included. While at a glance, it may be easy to write this off as something chasing the popularity of Undertale. But that does this game an incredible disservice. Sure, plenty of similarities exist, and I do think that fans of Undertale will enjoy Omori, but man is Omori in its own category here, for better or worse.
