Ghosts could be a pretty scary modern version of Night Trap
FMV games can already range from campy to outright scary, but what about one you can only play at night?
That's the pitch behind Ghosts, a new FMV adventure that just launched its Kickstarter campaign. This live-action horror game from developer Visible Games and Limited Run Games takes place in real time, and the trick is, it's meant to feel like it's live. So essentially, you'll only be able to boot up and play Ghosts when it's 10 p.m. in your time zone.
Excited to announce that I'm making a REAL-TIME, live-action HORROR video game w/ creature design by @slimyswampghost & made by Jim Henson's Creature Shop!
— Jed (@Jedshepherd) April 7, 2021
Released by @LimitedRunGames & starring Haley, Jemma, Emma, Radina and Caroline. They can tell you all about it-#ghosts pic.twitter.com/5PeUa4CrHT
Ghosts is written and directed by Jed Shepherd, who also wrote the Zoom horror movie Host. Five actresses from Host—Emma Louise Webb, Haley Bishop, Jemma Moore, Radina Drandova, and Caroline Ward—star in Ghosts, with Trevor Henderson (SirenHead) on creature design and those creatures fabricated by the Jim Henson Creature Shop.
The plot of Ghosts is that you're a broadcast producer of the live specter-hunting program Ghosts, as the cast is on the prowl for the rumored Long Lady. With camera feeds and heartrate monitors in front of you, you decide what gets sent out live over the air.
The choices you make, and what you broadcast, will change the story, but you can also only boot it up at 10 p.m. (The campaign notes that you can crack the "test" card and play a version with saves, though where's the fun in that?)
If you leave the broadcast station, the cast dies, so take care of any other responsibilites before 10 rolls around. Ghosts seems like a mash-up of modern-day FMV game Not For Broadcast and older titles like Night Trap, and as someone who grew up around live-action games, I'm pretty excited to see whether it can come together.
Ghosts is targeting an estimated delivery of Feb. 2022, though it notes that funding amount could move that around.
The launch of Fantasian really snuck up on us. After getting announced back in 2019, it flew under the radar until right around New Year's when developer Mistwalker confirmed the JRPG would release this year. Then, out of the blue, it dropped last week alongside a slew of new titles for Apple Arcade.
For many people, this was the first time they read the words "Apple Arcade" in months as the subscription service has more or less dropped out of the spotlight since its high-profile launch. I don't know if that will change with these new titles, but if there is any game that will get people paying attention to it again, it's probably this stunning RPG from the father of Final Fantasy.
Hot Wheels Unleashed is worth watching for arcade racing fans
Whether or not you have strong ties to the Hot Wheels brand in 2021, I'd say that based on the first gameplay trailer for Hot Wheels Unleashed, Milestone's upcoming arcade racer could easily still click.
The cars look suitably cool, the winding plastic tracks look fun to drift across, and that surprising leap-of-faith shortcut at 1:27 helped establish depth beyond the pick-up-and-play exterior.
Depending on how varied the stages and hazards are (I like the web-shooting spider obstacle that can stick players to the course, but I'm less into the warehouse vibe in general), Hot Wheels Unleashed could end up being one of the fondly-remembered video game tie-ins. Did you ever play Hot Wheels Turbo Racing on PS1 or N64? I never rented it, but refreshing myself now, I'm starting to wish I had.
In terms of cars, the currently-known roster includes Night Shifter, Dragon Blaster, Sharkruiser, Rodger Dodger, Twin Mill, Bone Shaker, and Rip Rod, but there will be more than 60 cars at launch on September 30, to say nothing of alternate skins. That whole side of the game could get out of hand with DLC. There's also going to be a livery editor, a track editor, and – heck yeah – two-player split-screen.
We'll keep an eye out and see how the game progresses from here. This was just a surface-level look today – a chance to figure out if Hot Wheels Turbo Racing is worth following at all. I think it will be.
Ancient evil and massive caravans abound in Path of Exile 2's latest trailer
It's a new year, and today developer Grinding Gear Games debuted a new trailer for its upcoming dungeon-crawling sequel Path of Exile 2.
The new Path of Exile was revealed back in 2019, right on the heels of Diablo IV. Still keeping the dungeon-crawling, loot-grabbing spirit alive, Path of Exile 2's trailer today gives us a better look at some of the locales we'll be visiting, and they sure do look pretty.
You can get a greater sense of what they look like in action with the in-depth gameplay walkthrough also revealed today, but these visuals are pretty striking. The caravan aspect in particular is cool—there's a part where you're fighting across a bridge while the massive wagons drift underneath, and it really adds a sense of scale to what's happening. It's got kind of a dark fantasy Fury Road vibe, y'know?
I'm admittedly not as well-versed in Path of Exile as I am with other loot games, but it seems to have found a sizeable audience. The sequel seems like a good time to get even more folks like me onboard, even if it's now competing with both a Diablo sequel and a remaster of Diablo II. It all just means more loot for the loot god.
Path of Exile 2 still doesn't have a release date, though on its site Grinding Gear Games says it doesn't expect to start a beta until "2022 at the earliest." Until then, there's also a new update coming to base Path of Exile to tide players over.
The last time we checked in with the long-awaited Oddworld: Soulstorm, things were looking good.
Let's see how it turned out.
PC Gaming Show and Future Games Show set for June 13 and please keep it under two hours
Two more showcases have been added to the growing calendar of summer live streams. PC Gamer has announced that the PC Gaming Show 2021 will premiere on Sunday, June 13, to be immediately followed by another iteration of the Future Games Show.
Last year's PC Gaming Show was notable for three specific elements: the exciting announcement that Persona 4 Golden was launching that moment on Steam; the fact that it was almost two-and-a-half hours long on a Saturday, and the appearance of fun co-host Devbot, who kept things trucking along with his Telebug ways... You don't know what Telebugs is because you're 19.
We will, of course, be on hand to cover the biggest stories out of this year's event. Do you think they'll drop Persona 3 FES onto Steam? How about Persona 5 Royal? That would be exciting - though to be clear this is just wishlisting on my part - so don't run with it like people did with that Abandoned rumor... Wait, what if Devbot is Hideo Kojima?..
Outriders studio is giving in-game gifts to its players for launch issues
People Can Fly's Outriders went live last week, and it had some trouble keeping servers up right out of the gate. Though the situation has mostly stabilized since then, the developer announced today that it's sending launch window Outriders players an "appreciation package."
In a lengthy Reddit post outlining the first major updates to Outriders after its launch, the studio says it's disappointed the launch didn't go as planned. As a show of appreciation to those who stuck it out and sent messages of support, the team is sending out a special package of in-game gifts to players who either played between March 31 and April 11, or who experienced an automatic inventory wipe restoration.
The items are a level-appropriate Legendary Weapon and quantity of Titanium, as well as a "Frustration" emote that is, for the time being, unattainable aside from this package.
There will also be a balance patch, which among other things addresses a Legendary exploit and tunes down the power of the "Vulnerable" status and the Trickster's Twisted Rounds. In the case of the latter, People Can Fly says it wants the infinite bullet uptime build to be "high risk, high reward," but it sounds like it was mostly just high reward and little to no risk.
Despite these issues, Outriders appears to be going strong. It's a pretty alright loot-shooter, and the number of players hopping online and slamming the servers is also a testament to how many folks want to play the game. It will be interesting seeing how Outriders develops over the coming months, considering the studio's stance against it being a "games-as-a-service" game.
Street Fighter V's 'professional' costume DLC sees Juri channel her inner Daryl Hannah
You wait three seasons for Juri to get some decent clobber, and then an entire wardrobe comes along at once. Yes, in addition to the great, contest-winning outfits that dropped just last month, Street Fighter's spider-lovin' assassin is now getting her Kill Bill on as part of a pack of "Professional" DLC skins headed to Capcom's foremost fighting title.
As revealed during this week's "Street Fighter V Spring Update," Juri, Vega (or "Claw" for all you pedants), and Seth will each receive new gear representative of the workforce. Juri is rocking a nurse's outfit with just more than a passing resemblance to Elle Driver, the deadly assassin played by Daryl Hannah in Tarantino's 2003 slash-fest. Of course, this outfit also recalls Skullgirls' own nefarious nurse, Valentine, so I better name-check her too, lest I get "ACKSHUALLYD" in the comments.
Analogue is restocking the Super Nt and Nt Mini Noir tomorrow and, well, good luck!
I'm going to wake up tomorrow morning and try to grab a Super Nt – but I'm not holding my breath. My lucky streak for successfully placing online orders for sought-after consoles is bound to run out soon. If you're up for it, the Super Nt will be available again tomorrow, April 9, starting at 8:00 a.m. Pacific.
Super Nt will be restocked in Classic, SF, and Black.
— Analogue (@analogue) April 8, 2021
Available April 9, 2021 at 8am PDT.
Limit 2 per customer. pic.twitter.com/yhYeSjeBfW
The transparent design has been discontinued, but the other three models – Classic, SF (Super Famicom), and Black – will pop up in the online shop. The console costs $189.99 (plus shipping), and Analogue is limiting two per customer, a move that has spread anxiety about scalpers swooping in.
According to a heads-up newsletter I got today, "all orders will ship by the end of the week." As for 8BitDo's matching SN30 - Classic and SN30 - SF controllers, they're currently still out of stock.
If you're reading this, you're likely familiar – maybe a little too familiar – with the Super Nt. If not, it's a well-crafted FPGA system designed for folks who want to get the most out of their Super Nintendo and Super Famicom cartridges in 2021. I'll kindly direct you to My Life in Gaming's extensive video review.
With the recent Pocket postponement news, we learned that Analogue was planning to restock a few of its products soon. Apart from the Super Nt, the "very last" Nt Mini Noir units will be available on Analogue's shop at 8:00 a.m. Pacific on April 9, with a limit of one per customer. It's a $499.99 beast.
"Shortly after" that mad dash, the company will also restock the Mega Sg and DAC.
On the one hand, I'm kind of relieved these systems aren't readily available – I'd feel like a kid in a candy store that was accidentally given a twenty. On the other hand, I want to play my SNES carts on a modern TV without jumping through a bunch of hoops. After a recent splurge, I am so so ready.
I'm sending you all of my best "online shopping in the Covid era" vibes. Godspeed.
Blasphemous is getting an unholy physical edition in June
Fans of the grim 'n' gory a Blasphemous might want to mark June 29 on their calendars, for that is the day when Team17, in association with physical media marketers Sold Out, will be releasing a physical edition of the gothic horror title on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Brace yourself, we're getting five Smurfs video games 'over the next five years' from Microids
I don't know how you go about making five distinct and worthwhile games based on The Smurfs, but I'm curious to see Microids try. The publisher struck a deal with IMPS to roll out four new untitled Smurfs video games that will "gradually launch over the next five years" and "explore different genres."
There's something about Microids' exact phrasing – "Four new Smurfs video game adaptations will be released over the next five years!" – that tickled us this morning in the Destructoid staff chat. Will one of them be a straight-faced gacha game? We didn't need much imagination to picture it and start riffing.
"Get ready for the holiday event, grind for SSR Papa Smurf (Santa) and SSR Smurfette (Elf), with 0.001 drop rates." [...] "I already spent $2,000 rolling for Grouchy Summer Smurf, please no more."
On top of the four-game deal, there's also a fifth Smurfs project, The Smurfs - Mission Vileaf, from OSome Studio. It's a Gargamel-thwarting 3D platformer for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One due out in 2021. Microids released a piece of concept art today and it's... unexpectedly beautiful? Wow!
If you're going to tap into an older brand like this, you might as well go all-out. I respect it. And as someone who knows far more about the old Hanna-Barbera cartoon than the original Belgian comic that – from what I've heard – really goes places, I better start brushing up on my extended Smurfs lore.
Well, I didn't expect Pac-Man 99 to spring up out of nowhere on the eShop, but here we are.
As of yesterday, Pac-Man 99 was announced and dropped on the eShop. It's there! And it's a Switch Online pack-in just like Tetris 99 and Mario 35 was. Yep, that one is still dead as of this past week.
Cozy Grove rounds out the offerings this week, as does the JRPG Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV, Don't Give Up: A Cynical Tale, and Say No More. The eShop is about to get scalding hot soon as Nintendo gears up to launch Pokemon Snap later this month. Until then, you'll play Pac-Man 99 and you'll like it.
There's a good chunk of games (especially from big publishers) I kind of avoid until they're basically out. "No, I don't want to watch this NPC backstory video. Call me when it's out!"
Our own Jordan Devore can't count the number of times I've asked "is [x] out yet?" whenever he's tasked with covering a specific beat. It's weird to think about now, but Fortnite was a big one. When it was just the "Save the World" edition I never really bothered to pay attention to its development process until it was finally out.
Outriders is another big one. It's one of those huge releases that is whispered in the wind, and I'll see it when I see it. Well, I saw it! And it's better than some of the other ill-fated looter shooters in recent memory, but it still has plenty of issues.
Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise is apparently headed to PC later in 2021
Rising Star Games may be getting set to port rubbish adventure Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise to PC in 2021. As spotted on ResetEra, the wack and wacky supernatural thriller popped up in a financial report issued by Rising Star's parent company, Thunderful Group, suggesting that the Nintendo Switch title will come skateboarding onto Steam this year.
Deadly Premonition 2 tells a dual story of investigation featuring returning protagonist Francis Zach Morgan and FBI agent Aaliyah Davis. The two characters work to unearth the truth behind a weird case of occultism, located in the unnerving town of Le Carré, Louisiana. The adventure's singular plotline spans the course of a decade, with players bouncing between both the past and the present while indulging in odd conversations and sill mini-games.
Cliffy B teases potential return to gaming, and it better be a Jazz Jackrabbit revival
Cliff Bleszinski, also known as "Cliffy B," has been an enigmatic figure ever since the launch of Gears of War, but no matter how you slice it, I think the industry is better with him in it.
Following the closure of Boss Key Productions I've missed his impact on the industry, and I found myself wanting him back in the fray these past few years. Well, I might get my wish, based on a new cryptic tweet.
This week, he tweeted: "And, yes, for the record, I'm working on some new stuff, and you should know every damned day it's agonizing to not talk about it." So in a follow-up tweet, Cliff notes: "bear in mind it might not necessarily be a video game." However, he also has a playful conversation with Rami Ismail, famed co-founder Vlambeer (which is no more), in that same breath.
So "new stuff" could involve both game and non-game projects. Cliff has been involved in the latter as of these past few years following the closure of Boss Key, including Broadway production.
What am I hoping for? A Jazz Jackrabbit revival. It's time! Get a killer art team to do the visuals and bring it back for $10 on every platform you can muster.
Cliff Bleszinski [Twitter]
So, Stadia announced a bunch of games today that are coming to the platform as part of the "Stadia Makers" program, and one caught my eye. Snoochie boochies!
The dynamic duo of Jay and Silent Bob are back in beat 'em up form, with Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch. So as I intimated in the header, Chronic Blunt Punch has been around for a while: it's not a brand new Stadia exclusive thing. It was funded on Fig in 2016, and is currently "in its final development push" according to developer Interabang Entertainment. In case you're confused, this is not the Mall Brawl retro-tinted game that was released in late 2020.
Also note that this is still "coming soon," as it's been billed for quite some time. We didn't get any new hard information on the release date today, so hopefully the final push line is correct, and everything goes smoothly for an actual soon, and not Blizzard soon (tm) launch.
I also wanted to showcase this game to talk about how much I appreciate that folks are holding water for the beat 'em up genre. I mean Battletoads just came out, Streets of Rage 4 rocked, and now we have a Turtles revival. Oh and that Asterix project. Is it 3AM in the Big Apple, or am I dreaming?
So how has ol' Kevin been doing lately? Well, he just helped his daughter, actress Harley Quinn Smith, get her vegan podcast off the ground, and appeared as a presenter in The Last Blockbuster documentary. He's also working on a horror anthology flick called Killroy Was Here, and is in the planning phases of Clerks 3.
Spring's Resident Evil Showcase will take place April 15
Capcom has announced that it will be bringing another bloodsucking bevy of Resident Evil news next week, with the screening of the second Resident Evil Showcase live stream. Taking place on April 15, the online presentation will offer new news related to Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil RE:Verse and any other matters pertaining to sexy giant heels the undead.
While fans can definitely expect new trailers and gameplay footage from the survival horror franchises' incoming releases, the Resi community is waiting with bated breath for the announcement of a brand new Resident Evil Village demo - a listing for which was spotted on the PlayStation database just yesterday by website MP1ST. The popular "Maiden" demo was launched in conjunction with the previous showcase event, so this fan fervor is understandable, even if there has been no official word from Capcom as of yet.
You can watch the Resident Evil Showcase live on PlayStation's YouTube and Twitch channels. The action kicks off on April 15 at 15:00 PT / 16:00 ET / 23:00 BST. If you cannot watch the stream live, have no fear, as we'll be sure to get you up to speed right here on Destructoid!
Resident Evil Village launches May 7 on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms.
Deathloop has been delayed to September
Deathloop, Arkane's time-looping shooter, is being delayed once again. The studio announced today that Deathloop will now be arriving on Sept. 14, 2021.
In a statement from game director Dinga Bakaba, art director Sebastien Mitton, and the Arkane Lyon team, they say they are committed to the quality and ambitions set out for Deathloop, while also ensuring the health and safety of those at the studio.
An update on DEATHLOOP from @ArkaneStudios: pic.twitter.com/tJwUSM5vum
— DEATHLOOP (@deathloop) April 8, 2021
"We apologize for the extended wait and thank you all for your passion and excitement," read the statement. "It is the fuel that powers our creativity and our hard work. We can't wait to show you more Deathloop soon!"
Deathloop was previously set to launch next month, a date pushed back from its original window of the PlayStation 5's launch. There have still been updates over the last few months on Arkane's mix of superpowers, firepower, and a Groundhog Day-style loop with two assassins on the prowl.
It seems like we're not done with delays yet this year, though. TT Games recently confirmed that LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga will miss its spring window, and games like Back 4 Blood, Humankind, and even the Analogue Pocket have all suffered delays. Xbox's Phil Spencer said last year that 2021's games would feel the impact of the pandemic and shift to remote work on development, and that seems to be coming to fruition.
Nintendo tweets in support of a digital E3, and uh can we get a Direct this year?
E3 2021 is back in digital form, and it's not going to be a paywalled affair. That's good!
Nintendo and Microsoft were also confirmed to be in on the festivities, and the former actively showed their support on Twitter via Nintendo of America president and Reggie successor Doug Bowser.
Bowser tweeted, stopping short of confirming a showcase or stream event like a Nintendo Direct: "It's going to be great to get the video game industry back together with our fans this June. We'll make the virtual format fun and engaging. Looking forward to seeing you all in June!" If you recall, Nintendo did not have a proper Direct in all of 2020 (just Minis or Directs for specific games), much less an E3 presentation.
As you may recall, Microsoft was also proudly announced to be part of the festivities too by the ESA, and Phil Spencer joined in on the hype. Spencer tweeted out that he's "glad to see the game industry coming together again in June," and that E3, and "other summer events are proof that our industry is strongest when we work together."
Working together, eh? Now, this is all theatrics and PR optics, but at the same time, that's clear shade being thrown at Sony, who may once again be a no-show at E3 this year. That's their choice, and it might make business sense for them! But in terms of the consumer-side, Sony was super slow to implement cross-play and cross-progression in the past, and in recent years, has become a sort of island.
Doug Bowser [Twitter]
Streets of Rage 4 'Mr. X Nightmare' DLC will include new mode, music, and playable Estel Aguirre
Dotemu, Lizard Cube, and Guard Crush Games have just delivered news the entire world (well, me at least) has been waiting for: Streets of Rage 4 is getting new DLC later this year, which will bring with it a new mode, new music, new weapons and - best of all - a new playable character in the form of cop-turned vigilante Estel Aguirre.
Mr. X Nightmare is set after the events of Streets of Rage 4, will see Axel, Blaze, Cherry and Co. engage in a virtual training program concocted by Streets of Rage 3 star Dr. Zan. This virtual arena will see our bone-breaking heroes come up against numerous villainous scenarios, allowing the gang to keep in fighting shape for future throwdowns... Axel's getting up in years and yer boy has to keep those aging knees in shape. I can relate.
Developer clarifies Abandoned is not a 'secret Hideo Kojima project'
Lordy, the internet loves a good conspiracy story. Developer Blue Box Games, who recently showed off its upcoming PS5 exclusive, Abandoned, has been forced to insist that the creepy survival horror title is not, in fact, a top-secret Hideo Kojima collaboration, following internet rumors to the contrary.
After the Dutch studio revealed its eerie-looking new project on PlayStation Blog yesterday, internet tongues immediately set to wagging that the Metal Gear creator was involved in the next-gen title's development, with theorists suggesting that "Blue Box Games" and director "Hasan Kahraman" (THE INITIALS!!) are mere pseudonyms for Kojima Productions. A new statement on the studio's admittedly sparse website, however, claims that there is no truth to the speculation.
"We received several emails regarding the Hideo Kojima rumour," states Blue Box Games. "We have no association with Hideo Kojima nor do we claim to have any association nor was it our intention to claim such a statement. We are a small group of developers working on a passionate title we wanted to work on for a long time."
"We have been assisting other studios in the past with their projects and we wanted to work on our very first big project. While it is true that we've been working on small projects in the past, we certainly didn't use that for marketing purposes. We hope this has clarified this matter and hope to see you all in our very first gameplay reveal of Abandoned."
It should also be noted - as discovered by VentureBeat - that Blue Box as a studio has not simply launched out of nowhere, having had previous releases meander around Steam's Greenlight and Early Access programs as far back as 2015. Still... that's just that kind of long-con scheme Hideo Kojima would perform.*
Abandoned is scheduled to launch later in 2021, exclusively on PS5.
*He wouldn't. It's not him.
Crysis Remastered receives a PS5 and Xbox Series X/S next-gen upgrade
Developer Crytek has released a next-gen upgrade for Crysis Remastered. The update allows PS4 and Xbox One owners to upgrade their copy of the interstellar shooter to a newly-enhanced version on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S respectively.
IO Interactive confirms Agent 47 is getting some rest following Hitman 3
With the rebooted Hitman trilogy come to a close with Hitman 3, IO Interactive is looking ahead to its next project. Part of that, it sounds like, is giving Agent 47 a little break.
In a recent interview with IGN, IO Interactive CEO and co-owner Hakan Abrak discussed the future of the Hitman franchise, after Hitman 3 put a neat bow on the trilogy's story.
"Our thinking right now is Agent 47 deserves a bit of a rest," said Abrak. "He's been busy the last three games."
IO Interactive has still been busy with live elements, supporting the platform that's been built across the three recent Hitman games, which it calls the "World of Assassination." Abrak says the studio will continue releasing new things for its communities moving forward. Even if he's taking a breather, this is not the end of Agent 47.
"As we talked about before, it's synonymous with IO, it's a very beloved franchise of ours and, of course, Hitman will continue," said Abrak. "Agent 47, maybe, is going to take a bit of a rest, but that doesn't mean we're not working on some cool, cool stuff with the World of Assassination. So there's definitely activity coming and I'm looking forward to talking about that sometime in the future."
IO Interactive, meanwhile, is gearing up for its next game set in the world of a very different international operative: 007. Project 007 will see IO take on the classic Bond franchise, and hopefully see some of that Hitman charm and physical comedy sneak its way into the world of international espionage and shaken martinis.
FMV mystery Erica is coming to PC May 25
Flavourworks has announced that it is bringing mystery title Erica to PC. The dark FMV mystery, which launched on PS4 back in 2019 before hitting iOS in January of this year, will launch on the Steam platform May 25, priced at around $12 USD.
Erica is the story of the titular young woman's struggle to come to terms with the traumatic memories of her father's untimely death. After strange new visions find their way into her life via constant, mind-bending nightmares, Erica is forced to confront the past in an investigation that will lead her to the doors of abandoned asylum Delphi House, and the ancient, occult mysticism that lines its dilapidated halls.
Adorable city-builder The Colonists moves in on PS4, Xbox One, and Switch next month
Publisher Auroch Digital, in association with indie outfit Mode 7, has announced that it is bringing The Colonists to PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on May 4, following the super-cute bot-builder's previous release on PC, waaaay back in October 2018.
The Colonists tasks players with building a fully-functioning society of adorable droids, effectively managing a self-replicating squad of bots as they create a sprawling and peaceful settlement to cater to their every need. As three ages pass, players will keep on top of the changing technology - providing homes, transport and resources to keep the cyber city and its populace content. Harvest and refine materials such as metal, wood, stone and fish, create farms and factories, and research new and more efficient technology to turn your small settlement into an expansive haven.
Survival horror game Abandoned is about waking up alone and hunted in the woods
Waking up in the woods by yourself is usually a bad sign, and finding out there's a cult hunting you throughout said forest isn't much help. Abandoned is a new survival horror game is coming to the PlayStation, combining open-world environments and realism with a really bad night in the woods.
According to the game's reveal today, Abandoned follows player character Jason Longfield, as he finds himself waking up in an unknown forest without any memories. He soon learns there's some evil afoot, possibly an evil cult, and now is as good a time as any to escape.
Hasan Kahraman, game director for developer Blue Box Game Studios, says that the team wants to deliver a gameplay experience that feels realistic. If Jason sprints for a really long time, for example, his accuracy might suffer. Guns themselves are also pretty slow to fire, so make any shots count.
Abandoned will also be making use of some of the PlayStation 5's features, like the DualSense controller. The adaptive triggers, for example, will make pulling the trigger on a loaded or unloaded gun feel different from each other. The PS5's 3D audio will also help you identify where shots are coming from, so you can react accordingly.
It also seems to be an extremely high-fidelity game. Kahraman says the team is working to render at 4K native, and I will say, the woods and trees have a bit of an uncanny valley effect on me in this footage. Sadly, it doesn't seem like this particular survival horror game will have any tall vampire ladies in it, but it still looks fairly interesting. A gameplay reveal is set to come soon, and Abandoned will launch exclusive to PS5 sometime in Q4 2021.
Zombie Army 4: Dead War gets free next-gen upgrade on PS5 and Xbox Series X
Are you digging WW2 monster-masher Zombie Army 4: Dead War, but just feel like the blood and viscera flying through the air is missing that certain je ne sais quoi? Well, worry no more, as developer Rebellion has announced a free next-gen upgrade for the console editions of its alternate-history shooter, which rolls out this week on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Players who are currently run 'n' gunning through Dead War and its many expansions on PS4 and Xbox Series X will be able to access the upgrade on the same console family gratis. The PS5 edition has already unlocked faster loading times, 4K resolution options, and a 60Hz mode partnered with Dynamic Resolution Scaling (DRS). On April 8, Xbox Series S will receive similarly reduced loading times, and 1080p at 60Hz, while bigger brother Xbox Series X will be afforded a new Quality/Performance Mode toggle, offering the same visual boosts as the PS5 edition. You'll be popping skulls like never before.
In addition, to the technical upgrades, Rebellion has released a new patch on all platforms, fixing a slew of general and specific bugs and glitches, while also adding crossplay between the Windows 10, Steam, and Epic Game Store editions of the game. With Zombie Army 4: Dead War hitting PlayStation Plus this month, and an Xbox Game Pass debut on the horizon, it looks like the manic shooter is about to lock 'n' load for a fresh round of decay and destruction. Brrraiinnnsss.
Borderlands movie casts villain, will remain 'authentic to characters, tone and style'
Lionsgate's cinematic adaptation of Borderlands promises to retain the characters, world, and overall tone of the video games, while allowing for new and original storytelling within the wastelands of Pandora. At least that's the score according to Eli Roth, who will be sitting in the director's chair for the star-studded movie, which starts rolling later in 2021.
Roth made the comments in a recent interview with Deadline, where the goremeister addressed the plot of the upcoming movie. Borderlands will see a team of unlikely heroes on a hazardous quest to locate and protect the daughter of "the universe' most powerful S.O.B." Atlas, as the child allegedly wields unimaginable power that could shape the destiny of not only Pandora, but the entire universe.
Nier Replicant went gold 'a while ago,' and will have free mystery DLC
Ha! Even the "gone gold" announcement for Nier Replicant is sufficiently Nier-like.
The game's producer, Yosuke Saito, took to Twitter to confirm the news, noting that Replicant's new release was completely ready to go and went gold. In fact, they note that it had gone gold "quite a while ago," and even has DLC approved. Yep, Nier Replicant got a final confirmation of some form of free DLC, which has already been greenlit and will be offered at a later point in time.
Rumors are already swirling that this could be the "Papa" or "Old Man Nier" storyline grafted into the game as an optional way to play. Now that would be extremely ambitious, but even a side story of sorts wouldn't be out of the question. Or, it could be costumes. Either way, it's free! Saito also states that there will be an announcement of what the DLC is "and the date" at some point in the future; then tells people to pre-order the game.
Nier Replicant is only a few weeks away and a lot of new Nier converts from Automata are waiting with bated breath. Until that day comes, read our preview, and our review will be arriving around launch.
Yosuke Saito [Twitter via Gematsu]
Girls Make Games teams with Google Play for Change the Game initiative
Google Play, in association with the Girls Make Games group, has opened submissions for this year's annual Change the Game Design Challenge. The initiative encourages girls and young women to put forward their own original game ideas, with the possibility of earning a spot in a series of upcoming game design workshops.
"Though women are playing mobile games at record numbers and make up 45% of gamers, they are heavily underrepresented in the gaming industry and as protagonists in video games." reads the initiative's website. "At Google Play, we have a mission to make mobile gaming truly for everyone by enabling women to be celebrated and empowered as both players and creators. We're calling on teens to become Game Changers by sharing an original game idea and a unique vision for the future of the gaming industry."
Capcom breaks down Monster Hunter Rise's Wirebug in this helpful video guide
In my review, I noted how impactful the Wirebug was in Monster Hunter Rise, and since launch, I've heard the same sentiment from countless readers.
What is the Wirebug you ask? Well, it's like a thematic grappling hook, which you can use to not only zip around the map and scale areas vertically (hence the "Rise" bit of the moniker), but you can also deploy it actively for special Wirebug moves and for recovery: like getting up quickly in a fighting game.
The entire system is governed by a meter, which provides a cooldown for each Wirebug charge. On paper, it can seem complicated, but after a few missions, it becomes second nature. This handy six-minute video from Capcom helps break it all down.
If you're pressed for time, the actual guide sans primer pageantry begins at 1:40 in. It starts at basic traversal, then moves into combat pointers at 3:40. Finally, at 4:40, they get into Silkbind techniques, which vary from weapon to weapon and can be customized.
The biggest tip that people miss is using the "halt momentum" technique by pressing A in the air after using a Wirebug traversal technique. You'll hang in the air and you can even air evade. Also a lot of people forget that wallrunning can actually lead to attack opportunities.
Sony says it was MLB's decision to bring The Show to Game Pass
The announcement that Sony's baseball sim MLB The Show is coming to Xbox Game Pass at launch was a bit of a surprise, to say the least. But Sony is saying the decision didn't come from them.
Speaking to Inverse, a PlayStation representative says the decision to bring MLB The Show 21 to more consoles, and to Game Pass, came straight from MLB itself.
"As part of the goal for this year's game, MLB decided to bring the franchise to more players and baseball fans," the rep told Inverse. "This decision provides a unique opportunity to further establish MLB The Show as the premier brand for baseball video games."
It was already a surprise in 2019 when the end of MLB The Show's exclusivity was announced. Now the Sony San Diego-developed baseball sim is not only arriving same-day on Xbox, but launching on Microsoft's subscription gaming service as well. These are certainly interesting times for being a sports-game fan.
MLB The Show 21 arrives on PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on April 20, 2021.
Turtle Power: Oro comes out of hiding for Street Fighter V: Champion Edition
It has been a long time, a real long time, since we last saw mysterious warrior Oro step up to the plate. Being a hermit, I guess that's kind of his deal. But the Street Fighter III veteran is almost ready to take a break from his life of solitude to take a break on a few clavicles.
During yesterday's Street Fighter V Spring Update live stream, we finally got our first look at Capcom's resident 140-year-old in his all-new Champion Edition form. Having mastered the secrets of immortality, the old boy is looking pretty spritely - still rocking his ramshackle robe and ball-bag skin structure. Oro has also brought a little turtle along for the ride. Not content with just whooping your ass, he's gonna carry a little amphibian while he does it.
I want to live in this minature Zelda: Breath of the Wild Link house model
We frequently put spotlights on Zelda: Breath of the Wild in-game accomplishments, but the crafting community is just as talented. Breath of the Wild is a big world full of tons of little surprises, many of which have been recreated by immensely gifted crafters.
Take this miniature model from Ethirdes on Reddit of Link's House, found in Hateno Village. I mean, just look at it! Any hardcore Zelda: Breath of the Wild fan will be able to start pointing out the little details. Like the Flameblade, or the Desert Voe Spaulder. They even have Renado's Letter!
The creator notes that the bulk of this was done with cardboard and glue, but the components include: super sculpey, popsicle sticks, cardboard, tacky glue, and acrylic paint. Evidently the floor is 35x22 cm, which serves as the base for the model, and the bedroom wall is 25 cm high.
In all it took four months to build it, and the original concept involved an amiibo house of sorts, but ultimately they felt like it would be too busy with them in it. Ethirdes says that this is the "first project of this kind" that they've done, and they have another one planned.
Well, you blew me away.
Miniature Link's house [Reddit]
Huntdown brings its lurid cyberpunk carnage to Steam May 12
2020 was a kick-ass year for video games, I'm sure y'all would agree. But when it comes to the crunch, I don't there's any new release I played more than Easy Trigger Games' anarchic, explosive, kick-you-in-the-crotch-fantastic platform shooter, Huntdown.
One of the best indie releases from a top-tier year, Huntdown offered pulse-pounding, trigger-twitching mayhem, backed by some of the year's best sound design, and dripping in sordid '80s cybersleaze. Compelling in all of the right ways, Huntdown is a tribute to the staying power of Raw Unashamed Arcade Action. A retro love letter - written on rusted metal and inked in blood.
Super stylish rhythm game Unbeatable has cleared its initial Kickstarter goal
Unbeatable is an anime-infused rhythm game where music is illegal and you do crimes.
D-Cell Games launched its Kickstarter campaign for Unbeatable yesterday with a goal of $55,000. As of this morning, less than 24 hours later, that goal's already been cleared.
It's pretty easy to explain what makes this Kickstarter pitch so compelling, from its extremely stylish look and rockin' soundtrack to the two-button rhythm gameplay. Seeing it all in motion last night, I was already down for what D-Cell is working on.
With a story about rebellious musicians rocking out and a look that D-Cell says "aims to look like a long lost bootleg '90s VHS recording of the newest anime on the block," everything about this just seems rad.
There's even a demo on the way, called Unbeatable [white label], that's set to be a "special episode" in the world of Unbeatable. On the Steam page, D-Cell says that every week for the length of Unbeatable's crowdfunding campaign—now through May 7—the demo will be updated with new story content and beatmaps, eventually creating a complete stand-alone narrative.
Unbeatable is currently targeting a release date by Dec. 2023, judging by their Kickstarter tiers' estimated delivery. Honestly, take all the time. Unbeatable already looks rad, and with an initial funding goal cleared, I'm excited to see what the team can put together for the future.
Monster Hunter Rise is giving out a free item pack to celebrate five million units shipped
In case you missed it, Monster Hunter Rise hit five million units shipped in just under two weeks. It's a big accomplishment for Capcom, and there's more to come as Rise continues to hit that word of mouth stride and builds up to its PC launch in 2022.
In the meantime, Capcom is celebrating with some free items, which they're calling "Kamura Pack 1: Big Hit Celebration."
It's in the cards: Rose returns in Street Fighter V: Champion Edition April 19
In all my years - decades - of playing Street Fighter, there is no one character I have put more time into than gaming's foremost fortune-teller, Rose. From her first appearance in 1995's Street Fighter Alpha, to her great, EVO-winning comeback in 2008's Street Fighter IV, I've poured months' worth of time into the Italian psychic. And that clock is set to keep turning, with Rose's long-awaited return in Street Fighter V: Champion Edition.
As revealed during yesterdays' "Street Fighter V Spring Update" live stream, Rose's high-fashion heels are set to come click-clacking into battle on April 19. The solemn, tragic diva will return to the ring armed with her trusty scarf, her mastery of Soul Power, and more than a few tubs of hair gel.
Notably, for the first time, Rose will truly use the power of the Tarot in battle, as her V-Trigger I ability will afford her the use of a selection of cards, which can be used to either buff herself or apply de-buffs to the opponent. This mechanic alone offers Rose a tactical depth that is missing from so many fighters on the SFV roster - welcome creativity that bodes well for the design of future iterations in the franchise.
School's Out: Akira Kazama kicks ass in her first Street Fighter V: Champion Edition trailer
Capcom has released the first teasing look at Rival Schools' Akira Kazama making her distinct presence felt in Street Fighter V: Champion Edition. The teenage biker gal will step back into the ring for the first time in decades, but her inimitable and impactful martial-arts style to Street Fighter's roster of sluggers.
Pac-Man 99 is out tomorrow for Nintendo Switch Online and there's a single-player mode
Pac-Man 99 is the next last-player-standing game for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers following Tetris 99 and Super Mario Bros. 35 (RIP), and you know what? Sure. I'm down. There's going to be a point of diminishing returns for these nostalgia-mining pack-ins, but we aren't quite there yet. (Or are we?)
Bandai Namco Entertainment is launching Pac-Man 99 for Switch Online on April 7, 2021, and you'll be able to download it and compete against the pellet-munching masses starting at 6:00 p.m. Pacific. Beyond the basic recurring battle royale concept, the game is also throwing in fun elements like ghost trains, which I'm stoked to see after recently revisiting Pac-Man Championship Edition 2.
To outlast other players, you'll need to clog up their screens with jammers by waking up sleeping ghosts, powering up, and tearing through trains. It's going to get chaotic fast, but that's the appeal.
If you aren't into the idea of facing off against strangers or you're just looking to practice, there's single-player CPU Battle, as well as Score Attack and Blind Time Attack, so you can play offline. You can also switch up the look and sound of Pac-Man 99 with optional DLC themes based on other classics. You can get everything (including themes) bundled together for $30, or spend $15 on a Mode Unlock pack.
Yep, I'm going to have to buy the Dig Dug theme for two bucks. There's no resisting it.
Harold Halibut, a hand-made adventure game set on a sunken ark, is coming 'soonish'
Point-and-click adventure fans with a soft spot for hand-crafted worlds will want to keep an eye on Harold Halibut, "a cross between game and stop motion film." I'm sure I've seen it before – the creators at Slow Bros. have toiled away for years – but now it's back on my radar with a story trailer for 2021.
The latest release window? "Soonish." It'll be done when it's done, of course. Video games, particularly ones that incorporate stop motion animation, shouldn't be rushed out. Aesthetics can only go so far.
This new preview is a fairly comprehensive look at Harold Halibut's colony of capital-C Characters, and it's an enjoyable watch in and of itself. It's a legit trailer. Hundreds of years after fleeing the Cold War, our current-day oddballs are stuck aboard a spaceship that's stranded on a surprisingly inhospitable ocean planet, and the stars are about to align for a possible re-launch for greener pastures. You'll fit in the picture as Harold, a well-meaning lab assistant. You're gonna point, and you're gonna click.
The original vision for the game goes as far back as 2012, during a "conversation over dinner about our love of stop motion and story games," according to the team. "It wasn't long after that we started building dollhouse-sized sets and puppets in our bedrooms." And thankfully, they stuck with it.
High-effort hand-made games haven't always fared that well commercially, but I think I speak for a lot of us when I say the ambition is appreciated. It's wonderful to see games merge with other disciplines.
I'm expecting a huge sigh of relief from the creators when this project finally wraps up. No rush!
Threes creator's new studio announces mouse-bouncing battler Beast Breaker
The creator of mobile hit Threes has a new studio and a new project. Vodeo Games has announced its inaugural game, Beast Breaker, is coming to PC and Nintendo Switch this summer.
Shown off in a new trailer, Beast Breaker seems like a mix of pinball physics and the sort of brick-smashing action you'd expect in Breakout or Holedown. You command a tiny heroic mouse named Skipper on their quest to destroy massive beasts, which are already conveniently split into mosaic parts for your squeaky squire to bounce between.
According to Vodeo's description of the game, it will combine those physics with tactical decision making, where you have to line up angles and strike the beast. There's also persistent upgrades and crafting new equipment, as you travel the land with Skip to take down more beasts.
Vodeo Games is founded by Asher Vollmer, the creator of Threes, and they describe their particular brand of games as "cozy-crunchy." The team plans to launch one new "Vodeo Game" every year, with diverse settings and genres, but always cozy-crunchy. If it's anywhere near as engaging and time-consuming as Threes, it's gonna chew the battery right out of my Nintendo Switch.
Canceled Dreamcast Castlevania prototype surfaces online
A forgotten piece of Castlevania history seems to have been recovered. Preservationists have recently found a playable demo of Castlevania: Resurrection, a canceled 3D Castlevania game for the Sega Dreamcast.
Dreamcast preservationists (via Polygon) got their hands on a disc that seems to predate E3 1999, when Castlevania: Resurrection was reportedly shown behind closed doors. A video shows a presenter booting up the game, accessing a menu, and running around 3D environments in this old prototype.
The story would have featured Victor Belmont and Castlevania Legends protagonist Sonia Belmont, teaming up across time to deal with Dracula. According to an old interview with art director Greg Orduyan, it would have been point A to B, closer to side-scrolling games than any sort of free-roaming. However, it ended up getting canceled.
For preservationists, it's neat to have this record of a game that existed, even if only in a prototype. And it's a little odd to think of an alternate timeline where Castlevania's legacy continued on to the Dreamcast, especially when the series has been so quiet as of late. At least we have some other series still trying to keep the torch alight.
Diablo II: Resurrected will have a single-player technical alpha this weekend
Diablo II's resurrection is close at hand, or at least, an alpha of it is. Blizzard is hosting a single-player-only technical alpha for Diablo II: Resurrected on PC this weekend.
A limited number of players who opted into the technical alpha will be chosen randomly to participate, and should receive emails about it soon. The alpha will go live on Friday, April 9, at 7 a.m. PT, concluding on April 12 at 10 a.m. PT.
Three of the seven classes will be available in the alpha: Barbarian, Amazon, and Sorceress. Those who make it in will be able to play through the first two Acts, and there will be no level cap, so alpha players can grind as much as they'd like until the end of the weekend.
Though single-player is the focus, Blizzard says that a separate test focusing on multiplayer will be coming later this year.
Diablo II: Resurrected was announced earlier this year during BlizzCon 2021's online showcase. It's set to bring the classic dungeon-crawling action RPG to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, with cross-progression and the ability to keep your old saves. You can check out our interview with the developers for more on this resurrection, but hopefully, it can keep that Diablo magic alive—or at least set a more positive tone for Blizzard re-launches.
Fire Emblem Heroes revisits its past with new Blazing Blade warriors
Now that NON-DENOMINATIONAL EGG AND RABBIT day is behind it, Nintendo's mobile battler Fire Emblem Heroes can get back to its typical, war-faring ways. The newest update for the gacha title is feeling a little nostalgic, offering up a quartet of characters from 2003 Game Boy Advance release Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, incidentally the first title in the storied adventure series to see an official release on western shores.
BioWare details how it's rebalancing Mass Effect for the Legendary Edition
The Mass Effect trilogy remaster is just over a month away now, bringing the story of Shepard to modern consoles. Of course, this means fine-tuning the games, especially the older ones.
BioWare already confirmed that the Mass Effect Legendary Edition will include some technical improvements, as well as some minor changes to camera framing. Today, in a new PlayStation blog, community manager Jay Ingram goes over a more detailed list of exactly what those changes entail.
One of the biggest differences in the trilogy is the leap from Mass Effect to Mass Effect 2, which eschewed heat gauges for "thermal clips" (ammo). The first Mass Effect also had some more traditional RPG mechanics, and some odd quirks to its control scheme.
Minor changes, like being able to sprint outside of combat, flag items as junk and bulk sell or reduce them to Omni-gel, and having a dedicated melee attack button all seem like genuinely solid quality-of-life updates to the first Mass Effect. All classes will be able to use any weapon without penalty (though classes can still only specialize into certain weapons) and weapon accuracy and handling has been "significantly improved."
Some boss fights have also been tweaked—Ingram highlights a certain fight on Noveria as one—and most importantly, squadmates can now be ordered around independent of each other in the first Mass Effect, like you can in the sequels.
Of course, the Mako is the big one. Mass Effect's infamous all-terrain vehicle has plenty of in-jokes about how it handled in the first game, even if some people (me) ended up finding its quirks endearing. Ingram says that physics have been tuned to feel "weightier," the camera controls have been improved, a new speed boost thruster has been added, and lava no longer results in instant death.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition will also have a unified launcher and updated character creator, including the previously confirmed canonization of Mass Effect 3's default "FemShep" across all three games as the default female Shepard.
It sounds like the Galactic Readiness system from Mass Effect 3 has also been a bit rebalanced. The numbers aren't laid out, but Ingram says in comparison with the previous version of Mass Effect 3 with the Extended Cut (which included a rebalance of Galactic Readiness), being fully prepared for the final fight against the Reapers will be more difficult in the Legendary Edition. Also, the Extended Cut ending is now the default finale.
Other changes, like fixes and backend improvements to the Paragon-Renegade system, abound throughout the Legendary Edition, so it sounds like a lot has been done alongside the visual update. It's a mild bummer this won't include the stellar multiplayer of Mass Effect 3, but I'm also just keen on having another way to play through these games, and another excuse to roll a new Shepard with these changes, especially in Mass Effect 1.
FBI reportedly investigating CS:GO match-fixing in North American league
The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has announced that it is working in close proximity with U.S. law enforcement, including the FBI to investigate accusations of match-fixing in the competitive world of online shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Ian Smith, Integrity Commissioner for the ESIC, revealed the operation in a conversation with YouTube channel Slash32. According to Kotaku Australia, Smith confirmed that there was indeed an investigation underway concerning a "relatively small but significant group of players" suspected of fixing matches in the CS:GO North American Mountain Dew League.
"[It's] what I would describe as classic match-fixing," said Smith in the interview. "In other words, it's players being bribed by outside betting syndicates in order to fix matches. Rather than players doing it off their own backs, opportunistically [...] it's been going on for longer, it's much more organized [than previous match-fixing schemes]."
Smith says that the ESIC has been gathering evidence and is preparing to go public with its findings, and any related charges, within the next fortnight. The investigation comes a mere six months after the previous scandal, which saw seven Australian CS:GO players banned for a year after breaching the MDL's Anti-Corruption rules. This was followed by the ESIC issuing a total of 35 bans in January against players found to be betting on their own matches.
Perhaps the introduction of a law enforcement agency as powerful as the FBI might lead some players within the esports world to toe the line a little more. But, (perhaps a little more realistically), it's a competitive scene and there's money involved - hence, corruption. As surely as night follows day.
This deal is getting worse all the time!
Remember weeks ago when Sakurai confirmed that Pyra and Mythra were joining the Super Smash Bros. squad? Although the amiibo figures for the duo are far away, the larger, more detailed Good Smile statues were confirmed for another round of pre-orders following the broadcast.
Well, they're up now for the "second round," and they're about on par with a lot of other Good Smile offerings in terms of price: Pyra and Mythra will run you $192.99 each. Here's the kicker though, they aren't slated to ship until March 2023. Note that this second round will run until April 28.
Previously, you could have gotten in on this racket in 2018 for Pyra and 2019 for Mythra. The company did another run that's coming in June, with another round in late 2022. But this official "second round" (the one you can get today) is going to be even more elusive.
Consider this a PSA!
This possessed schoolkid almost stepped up to the River City Girls
One of the key features that made WayForward's high-school brawler River City Girls so utterly appealing was its wicked cast of characters. Led by the dynamic duo of Misako and Kyoko, RCG was absolutely bursting fun enemies, shopkeepers, bystanders and boss characters. So many neat characters, in fact, that sadly not everyone got a turn getting their nose broken.
Apropos of nothing, WayForward has released an image of one such boss character that didn't make the cut for the bone-breaking punch-up. According to the publisher, "Noroi" was a kind-hearted schoolkid possessed by a malicious Yokai demon, turning him into a meat-cleaver wielding maniac with a ghostly visage. The River City Girls cast was already pretty much packed-out, and our boy never made it off the page.
River City Girls has an amazing array of Big Bads, from franchise favorites such as Misuzu and Abobo, to the amazing arachnid fashionista Hibari, the hard-rockin' but troubled megastar Noize, and the sexy, sword-swinging, crime lord Sabuko. There isn't a dud among them, which just leaves one wondering what other awesome design ideas hit the cutting room floor alongside the demonic Noroi. So knuckle up, ladies, it looks like there still might be further evil lurking in the avenues and alleyways of your burned-out 'burg.
PlayStation Plus really wants us to play Days Gone in April
[Update: It's time to claim the PlayStation Plus games for April 2021, so follow those links.]
Sony is back with three games for PlayStation Plus in April, and it's an interesting lot.
Some people – notably, PlayStation 5 owners – are probably going to feel short-changed by Sony's decision to double-dip. From April 6 until May 3, PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to claim Oddworld: Soulstorm (PS5 only), Days Gone, and Zombie Army 4: Dead War for their library.
In a vacuum, I like this lineup, but for anyone who got a "free" copy of Days Gone with their PS5 through the PlayStation Plus Collection promo, it's a retread. Of course, there's a lot to like with this open-world romp – more than people were initially thinking – and it's a meaty game. As a freebie, it's a solid pick.
We already knew about Oddworld: Soulstorm's inclusion after a recent State of Play (what felt like the sixth time we've seen this long-time-coming game appear on a stream), so that's not a surprise. Are you curious? It's worth reiterating that even though Soulstorm is launching on PS4 as well, you can only claim the PS5 version through PS Plus – although you don't need to own the console yet to do so.
As for Zombie Army 4, I've never fooled around and fallen in love with this wild series, but I'm weirdly open to the idea. I'm back on the Resident Evil 4 train and have been going hard with Mercenaries. When I've done all that I can with the full crew, I'll be in the mood for more frantic head-popping mayhem.
On the off-chance you haven't done this already, don't forget to grab the Play At Home 2021 games before April 22. Unlike April's PS Plus titles, anyone can redeem this stuff with a free account.
