Dragon's Dogma 2 is "100 Percent" Using RE Engine – Rumor
With Monster Hunter Rise and Resident Evil Village both being huge successes for Capcom, it's interesting to see what the company has planned for the future. According to the enormous leak from last year, Resident Evil 4 Remake is a thing along with Resident Evil Outrage. Street Fighter 6 is also rumored though it faced a delay into next year.
Then there's Dragon's Dogma 2. It's apparently a high-profile title and will release in the second quarter of financial year 2022. Though next to no new details have been leaked, insider AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem noted on Twitter that it was "100 percent" using the RE Engine. Of course, he noted that it wasn't a surprising thing. "It's pretty safe to assume most Capcom games that aren't ports, remasters, or very specifically using an engine for one reason or another will be using RE Engine."
Devil May Cry 5 and Dragon's Dogma director Hideaki Itsuno last talked about his new project on December 31st 2020 and indicated that it was "still a long way off." Capcom could potentially announce Dragon's Dogma 2 at E3 and look at a July to September 2022 release window in the coming year. Time will certainly tell so stay tuned for more details. E3 2021 is scheduled to take place from June 12th to 15th.
It's pretty safe to assume most Capcom games that aren't ports, remasters, or very specifically using an engine for one reason or another will be using RE Engine. Dragon's Dogma 2 100% is using the RE Engine, but that's not a surprising thing I'd say. https://t.co/jDE0qlCue9
— AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem (@AestheticGamer1) May 22, 2021
Monster Hunter Rise Update 3.0 Includes Valstrax, Allmother Narwa and Apex Zinogre – Rumor
Capcom is hosting another Monster Hunter Digital Event today at 7 AM PDT which will have details on Monster Hunter Rise's Update Ver. 3.0. Leaker PracticalBrush12 has spilled the beans on the update beforehand via Reddit. Much of the information is spread across comments which have been helpfully compiled here by SshImTheRealDeadpool.
It seems that Valstrax of Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate fame is coming. This version is described as "more raspberry colored" though with new patterns and moves. Allmother Narwa is also included and will take place in a new area that's specific for the "final boss" (indicating that the story does indeed conclude with this update). Apex Zinogre is another monster though there will be "at least eight monsters mid-tier and higher in this update."
Some other features include Rampage weapons that can be layered to take on the appearance of other Rampage weapons. There will also be event quests in June, July and August that see other Capcom games being featured as collaborations. Though these details should be taken with a grain of salt, PracticalBrush12 has been on the money with leaks thus far. Stay tuned for more details at the Digital Event today.
Valve is Making A Portable PC Similar to the Switch – Rumor
Valve, the popular developer behind franchises like Portal, Half-Life, and Team Fortress, and the proprietor of Steam, has been secretly building a portable PC, much like the Switch. The system is designed to run games through Steam on a Linux-based OS and could potentially launch by the end of 2021.
That's according to a report from Ars Technica, who confirmed the device's existence, and that it has been in development for quite a while, with multiple sources. Valve recently added new hardware-related code into the latest version of Steam. The code, first spotted by SteamDB operator Pavel Djundik, points to a device named "SteamPal." That code is linked to a previous device called "Neptune." There was also a reference to "Neptune Optimized Games." At the time, the belief was that Neptune was a controller. As it turns out, it was much more than that.
According to Ars Technica, the "SteamPal" (which has no official name yet, hence the quotes) "is an all-in-one PC with gamepad controls and a touchscreen. In other words, it looks and functions like a Nintendo Switch." It just won't have a removable Joy-Con equivalent. When asked if Valve would be releasing more games on consoles, Valve boss Gabe Newell said that we'd be hearing more about that "by the end of this year." Turns out Newell was thinking about something much different than the person who asked the question.
Ars Technica believes that the chip powering "SteamPal" will come from either AMD or Intel, but it's unclear whether Valve will release multiple versions of the device. "At least one SteamPal prototype version is quite wide compared to the Nintendo Switch," Ars Technica reports. "This extra width accommodates a slew of control options. No, Valve is likely not slapping an entire QWERTY keyboard onto its system, but the company has packed in a standard array of gamepad buttons and triggers, along with a pair of joysticks and at least one thumb-sized touchpad (in addition to the device's touch-sensitive screen)." The device will also be able to connect to other devices via USB, but whether Valve plans to release a dock like the Switch's is unknown.
It's an incredibly interesting story, and could have a major impact on the way we play games. For more on the "SteamPal," be sure to read Ars Technica's original report through the link above.
The Elder Scrolls Online's Xbox Series X|S and PS5 Editions Delayed to June 15th, 2021
The Elder Scrolls Online was originally slated to hit next-gen consoles on June 8th, but that will be pushed back a week, according to an announcement posted on the game's website. The PS5 and Xbox Series X|S version of the game, titled The Elder Scrolls: Online Console Enhanced, was previously scheduled to launch on June 8th, alongside the Blackwood Chapter and Update 30.
"In an abundance of caution, we are moving the ESO: Console Enhanced launch out a week," the announcement reads. "We are doing this so we are not launching Update 30 (Blackwood) at the same time as Console Enhanced and can give both our undivided attention. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we want to ensure that everything launches smoothly during this very busy time. Thank you all for the ongoing support, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Blackwood next month."
The Elder Scrolls: Online Console Enhanced will run at 60 FPS in Performance Mode, and features a number of upgrades over the other console versions of the game including increased draw distances, high resolution textures, and improved anti-aliasing, shadows, reflections, and load times.
Dead by Daylight's Resident Evil Chapter Coming June 15th
We've known Dead by Daylight was getting Resident Evil content since April, but we didn't know exactly what that content was at the time. Now, however, we do. The chapter will add Resident Evil mainstays Leon S. Kennedy and Jill Valentine as Survivors, Nemesis as a Killer, and The Raccoon City Police Department as a map. It will retail for $11.99.
Each survivor will come with three perks. Flashbang, which is one of Leon's, even allows him to spawn a unique item. Leon can hide in lockers and craft flashbangs grenades once the survivors have made a certain amount of progress repairing generators. The grenades can be used to both blind and distract Killers.
Nemesis, known as The Tyrant in-game, can infect survivors with his tentacles. The more survivors he infects, the longer and more powerful his tentacles become. Survivors can counter the mechanic by using vaccines scattered throughout the levels. There are only so many vaccines on any map, however. In addition, zombies will also appear on any map where Nemesis is the killer, making things more complicated for Survivors.
The Resident Evil Chapter will be available for purchase for $11.99 on Switch, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Players who purchase the chapter will also get a Umbrella Corporation charm.
You can watch a trailer for the DLC below:
Sega to Reveal "Projects, Partnerships, and Events" for Sonic's 30th Anniversary This Week
It's a big year for Sega as Sonic the Hedgehog, the company's most iconic and enduring character, turns 30 this year. The company no doubt has big plans for Sonic's 30th, and while we've had the odd leak and a few rumors, but we finally seem to have something official from Sega itself, straight from the official Sonic Twitter account.
The account announced an official Sonic Central live stream scheduled for this Thursday, May 27th , airing at 9am Pacific / 12 PM Eastern / 5pm UK / 6pm CEST. The stream will offer "a first look at some of the projects, partnerships, and events" planned for the 30th anniversary celebration. The stream will be available on both Twitch and YouTube.
Naturally, we're expecting some merchandise, tie-ins, brand partnerships and all of that, but hopefully that bit about "projects" means we're getting some games, too. Sonic Mania 2, Sega? Make it happen.
If you just can't wait until May 27th, you can check out a trailer celebrating Sonic's 30th anniversary below:
Days Gone's PC Port is Selling Well, Still Only Hitting Half of Horizon: Zero Dawn's Numbers
Days Gone's PC port is better than Horizon's was at launch, though we didn't have as many issues with the latter as many other people did. Still, that bit's not really debatable. What's also not debatable is that Horizon had more players, and therefore more sales, at release.
That's not to say Days Gone hasn't done well. The game, which launched a week ago, was the highest selling game on Steam the week it released according to SteamDB, topping Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. But it still has nothing on Horizon in terms of sheer numbers. Days Gone's highest concurrent player count during its release week was 27,450. That's less than half of what Horizon's 56,557 when the game launched.
It's worth noting that this data only applies to Steam, and both Days Gone and Horizon also released on the Epic Games Store, so it's not the whole story. Days Gone could be doing better (or worse) than we think. It's still surprising given how much better Days Gone's port is than Horizon's was, which required several patches from Guerilla before it ran well for most people. Horizon's PS4 release was much better received than Days Gone's was, partially because Days Gone was very buggy at release, and while Days Gone ended up selling well, it apparently didn't do well enough critically to justify a sequel, at least right now. That negative reception is probably still impacting the game's sales. We'll have to see how Days Gone's PC port does in the long run to be sure.
Microsoft's E3 2021 Presser Set for June 13 – Rumour
It's been confirmed for some time now that E3 2021 is going to take place from June 12 to June 15, while we also know at this point exactly who is going to be attending. But the more specific schedule that details which conferences are set for what date and what time hasn't yet been shared. However, Microsoft, it seems, is going to be one of the first ones to go live with their event this year, as has usually been the case in the past.
Journalist Jeff Grubb recently streamed a new episode of his Summer Game Mess show, in which he stated that Microsoft's E3 press event is set for June 13. While he is unsure about the specific timing, it seems the show will go live at 10 AM Pacific Time. Of course, this is unconfirmed, but we should be getting an official announcement from Microsoft soon as well, seeing as E3 is very close now.
It's been previously confirmed that Microsoft and Bethesda are going to have a joint showcase at E3. Halo Infinite is guaranteed to make an appearance, while it's also looking extremely likely that Starfield will show up with a specific release date announcement. Recently, an insider suggested that Microsoft would announce at least five new AAA Xbox games, amidst rumours of a Mexico-set Forza Horizon 5 and a new vampire-based IP codenamed Omen by Arkane Studios.
Cyberpunk 2077 Still Needs Sony's Approval to Return to the PlayStation Store
It's hard to believe its been more than five months since Sony took the unprecedented step of delisting Cyberpunk 2077 from the PlayStation Store. Hard to believe because it's shocking it happened at all – games, especially triple-A titles, never get delisted for being buggy – and because CDPR still hasn't managed to get the game back on the PS Store yet after numerous patches and hotfixes.
Despite all that work, it could be a while before we see Cyberpunk back on the PlayStation Store, at least if today's news is anything to go by. The news comes courtesy of a shareholder meeting today, and was reported by VGChronicle. CDPR's management team was asked for an update on its negotiations with Sony about bringing Cyberpunk back to the PS Store and when those talks might be finished.
"Unfortunately, I have no new information in this regard," said president and joint CEO Adam Kiciński through a translator. "We are still in discussions and with every patch the game gets better and there is a visible progress, but as we said the decision is an exclusive decision of Sony, so we are waiting for the information about the fact that they took the decision to bring back this game. Until then I am not able to tell you anything more."
The company was asked the same question in March, and while the developer was optimistic, CD Projekt's SVP of business development Michał Nowakowski reiterated that "the final decision you have to understand belongs to Sony. We do believe we're closer than further, but of course the final call is theirs, so let's wait and see."
Looks like we'll all be continuing to do just that.
Axiom Verge 2 Delayed to Q3 2021
Originally slated to release this Spring, Thomas Happ Games' Axiom Verge 2 has been delayed again. It's now set to release in Q3 2021. Speaking to IGN, Happ said that the game "will be better for the additional time" and that the delay can help in avoiding burnout and crunch.
The story centers on Indra, the head of Worldwide Globe 3 Conglomerate and her adventure to Antarctica where she finds another Earth. While there are various ruins, mountains and other environments to explore, there are also plenty of secrets and hidden areas to uncover. Much of the story takes place before the first game but is meant to serve as a "complimentary piece" to the series as a whole.
Axiom Verge 2 is coming to Nintendo Switch and PC via the Epic Games Store as an exclusive. Along with the standard story mode, there's also a Speedrun Mode that provides a streamlined interface for those keen on speedrunning the game. Stay tuned for more details on the title in the coming months.