Tinytopia is a miniature city-builder with zany levels
We've built and run virtual cities as omnipotent mayors before, but not quite like this. In MeNic Games and Mastiff's PC city-builder Tinytopia, we're working with wobbly miniatures in precarious places.
The game is less of a typical data-heavy city-builder with lots of minutia to worry about — which can be fun in its own right! — and more of a lighthearted physics-based playground. You'll stack buildings on top of each other to transform them into "megastructures" and hope they don't topple over.
Tinytopia also has challenge levels with distinct hooks, whether it's building a well-balanced town on a teetering ruler or crafting an island retreat that can hold up against a knock-off Godzilla wind-up toy.
In a note from the publisher, Mastiff said the team is looking to touch up the game before it releases on Steam this year — they want to improve the UI, tutorials, and writing, add in new level goals and achievements, and work in "a new illustrated Instructor to guide players through Tinytopia."
The game looks cute, which is something I've rarely if ever said about a city-builder.
Cloudpunk devs tease new slice-of-life sim alongside launch of sequel-scale DLC
Today, developer Ion Lands launched DLC for its cyberpunk taxi game Cloudpunk. Dubbed City of Ghosts, it's the size of a sequel, according to Ion Lands. And what's more, it's not all the developer has planned for the world of Cloudpunk.
City of Ghosts sees players return to the city of Nivalis, continuing the story of Rania and Camus. There are two viewpoints, swapping between Rania and deadbeat gambler Hayse, as well as new features like street racing and vehicle customization.
Alongside the launch of City of Ghosts, Ion Lands also launched a store page for Nivalis, a slice-of-life sim set in the same world as Cloudpunk. Taking place in the city of Nivalis, you choose how to spend your time: grow your business, hang out with characters, and decorate your home, or blow it all off to go fishing.
There's no release date or window set just yet, only a Steam page. It's nice to see that Ion Lands is finding more ways to explore this world, though. Cloudpunk was a pretty alright little experience that I've heard folks talk about for a while, and an experience that's just about running a shop and living your life in a cybernetic future? I'm intrigued.
Valve reportedly working on a portable gaming PC
It seems like Valve might be working on a new PC gaming device that's a little more portable than a PC. A new report from Ars Technica says that Valve has been working on a portable, Switch-like PC that could run games on the Steam platform through Linux.
Earlier in the week, SteamDB's Pavel Djundik noticed a change in Steam's code pointing towards a device named "SteamPal," which seemed related to another codename, "Neptune." These came with a string for "Neptune Optimized Games," though their intent was unclear.
According to Ars Technica, this "SteamPal" (which might not be the real, final name) is an all-in-one PC with gamepad controls and a touchscreen. Multiple sources familiar with the information confirmed to Ars Technica that this PC has been in development for some time.
Ars Technica also says that while it can confirm the device's existence and development, as well as gesture at a recent coincidental statement on something console-related, Valve is still in a position to switch things up—it could still get delayed or canceled or any reason. Hopefully this device fares better than other hardware attempts, because a portable PC handheld certainly sounds appealing in light of the Switch's popularity.
The Wild at Heart â€" Review in 3 Minutes
There's only so much time each week to check out new games, much less play them — much less fully review them! — and inevitably, plenty of interesting games are destined to slip through the cracks as many of us move onto the next shiny thing. To supplement Destructoid's usual coverage, we're teaming up with our sister site The Escapist to fill in some of these gaps with their helpful 3 Minute Reviews.
In this 3 Minute Review, The Escapist's KC Nwosu covers The Wild at Heart, a stylish indie adventure with Pikmin-like creature commanding. I've had my fingers crossed for this game for some time.
Maneater on Switch isn't quite jawsome, but is worth a bite if it's your only option
You all know me... know how I earn a living. I'll review Maneater for you. But it ain't gonna be easy. Switch port. Not like booting up the PC to go down to Resident Evil Village. This port report embargo... swallow your weekend... a little eyestrain, a little finger cramp, and down you go.
I'm gonna keep it quick, that'll bring back the players, put all your eShop customers on a paying basis. But it's not gonna be pleasant. I value free time more than your gaming Twitter clout, Chief. I'll check out your Switch port. I'll install it for 3,000 clicks, but I'll play it — and review it — for 10. Carter got no volunteers, and I've got no mates. But you gotta make up your minds: 10,000 clicks... For me, by myself.
For that you get the screencaps... the summary... The Whole Damn Thing.
Resident Evil Village returns to the top of the UK Charts
Resident Evil Village is back in the number one spot of the UK Charts. Capcom's horror sequel clambered over Electronic Arts' Mass Effect Legendary Edition and also held off Nintendo's cartoony social title Miitopia in order to claim the premier position once again.
Elsewhere in the Top Ten, the recent restock of physical PS5 products in the UK high street saw another round of sales for Insomniac Games' Spider-Man: Miles Morales. The web-slinger sits at number four ahead of Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, both of which have remained in the upper echelon since their respective releases.
This week sees the launch of THQ Nordic's Biomutant, Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster, as well as Deep Silver's Maneater and NIS' World's End Club. It seems that, for the time being at least, Lady Dimitrescu is set to retain her UK chart dominance. And who would deny her, frankly?
Resident Evil's Jill, Leon, Nemesis, and the Police Station are all coming to Dead by Daylight
Dead by Daylight revealed the Resident Evil chapter it teased a little while ago, and it's going back to the classics. Both Leon S. Kennedy and Jill Valentine, as well as Nemesis (or The Tyrant) and the Racoon City Police Station are coming to Dead by Daylight next month.
Leon and Jill will be Survivor characters, and they each have their own special Perks. Leon in particular can create a flash-bang grenade once the generators have reached a certain level of repair, something that's new to the asymmetrical horror game.
Nemesis also brings his own unique powers: tentacle attacks that can infect Survivors, forcing them to use limited-quantity vaccines to remove the debuff. Zombies will also appear alongside Nemesis, hounding the players as they attempt to activate the generators.
And if you want the extra level of Resident Evil immersion, there's also a new map: the Raccoon City Police Station. Yes, there's even a "Welcome Leon" banner hanging in one area. Poor guy just can't have a normal day on the job.
The Resident Evil crossover goes live on June 15, 2021, and will cost $11.99. Dead by Daylight is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Stadia, and Switch, so there's really no shortage of platforms to get your asymmetrical Resident Evil fix.
Limited Run Games to spotlight over 25 upcoming releases on June 14
Boutique retailer Limited Run Games has announced that it will be hosting a showcase of its upcoming wares during E3 week. Much like its 2020 iteration, the "LRG3" live stream will be packed full of video games set to receive a variety of physical releases over the course of the year.
The hour-long broadcast will feature over 25 titles getting set to receive the LRG treatment, including brand new games and classic re-issues, alongside merchandise, soundtracks, and more. Produced by the Mega64's RoccoBotte, LRG3 will feature fast-paced reveals and will be dishing out a selection of prizes to viewers in Twitch chat, so be sure to tune in for a chance to bag some neat-o goodies.
The action will kick off Monday, June 14 at 13:00 PT / 16:00 ET / 21:00 BST and can be viewed live on the Limited Run Games Twitch channel. I'm not one for physical media these days, but I always enjoy seeing what classic titles are being added to the catalogue. In any case, I'm hoping for some more terrible Sega CD re-releases, we're long overdue an American Laser Games collection.
Sega is hosting a Sonic virtual event this week with a first look at upcoming projects
News is on the way for Sonic fans. Sega announced today that it will be hosting Sonic Central, a Sonic the Hedgehog streaming event, on Thursday, May 27.
The virtual event will air on May 27 at 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET, on both the Sonic YouTube and Twitch channel. The stream will have a "first look" at upcoming projects, partnerships, and events to celebrate Sonic's 30th anniversary.
Did someone say news?
— Sonic the Hedgehog (@sonic_hedgehog) May 25, 2021
Tune in at 9am PT on 5/27 for a first look at some of the projects, partnerships, and events for our #Sonic30th celebration! pic.twitter.com/rd4RpyVWFj
There's no more indication on whether this will be game-related or if there will be more shown about other projects, but I imagine for Sonic fans, any and all news is good news.
This does mean Thursday is getting packed though, with both a Horizon Forbidden West State of Play and a Dying Light 2 stream planned for May 27. E3 2021 still isn't set to start for a few more weeks, but it seems like the summer of gaming news is already getting off to a running start.
Rockstar Games partners with CircoLoco to launch new record label
Rockstar Games has entered into a business partnership with club promoter CircoLoco to found a new record label. Titled "CircoLoco Records", the label will aim to promote and grow dance music and its surrounding club culture, a culture which has understandably seen a significant decrease in both status and revenue during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Axiom Verge 2 has been delayed to Q3 2021
The sequel to Axiom Verge is taking a little more time to build up to launch. Axiom Verge 2 has been pushed back from the first half of the year to Q3 2021.
The news, via IGN, came along with a sort of make-good for the second delay of Axiom Verge 2. Developer Thomas Happ confirmed that the documentary about the making of Axiom Verge, originally included as a special in the Multiverse Edition or a separate purchase on Steam, is being made freely available. You can watch it now on IGN here, and it will be available for free on Steam "soon."
Axiom Verge 2 was originally set for 2020, and now its second delay has pushed the project to Q3 2021. According to IGN, this second delay is so that Happ can avoid burnout and crunch, and also says the game will "be better for the additional time."
Hopefully the extra time does help out, both for the developer and the game. Axiom Verge 2 is still planned for Nintendo Switch and PC via Epic Games Store.
Shadow Warrior 3 introduces the grotesques who have a date with your trigger finger
Despite being yet to bless us with a launch date, Devolver Digital continues its explosive marketing drive for Flying Wild Hog's Shadow Warrior 3. Having already given us a glimpse at the shooter sequel's devastating weaponry, this new trailer gives us a look at some of the unfortunate villains that will be stood in the line of fire.
Zelda: Breath of the Wild player glitches the elusive glitched Hateno treasure chest
Making open world games is hard. There's so many variables to account for, so many potential glitches to test: it's impossible to ship it and cover everything.
The most you can hope for, however, is that the game is playable, and Nintendo more than hit that mark with Zelda: Breath of the Wild. But players have still found esoteric "hold this item and press these buttons to sink through the floor" bugs, and have been doing all sorts of wondrous things with them.
Enter the mysterious chests. For the past several years, players have been hunting down errant treasure chests that are stuck in certain objects. Redditor vohnandrew managed to snag one of the crazier ones in Hateno Village.
Basically, they use a glitch to sink into the ground (prescient example), and then fly to a point where they can place a DLC item travel point. Then they create ice platforms to pull the chest out of the "stuck" spot in the glitched zone. It's a wild series of bugs and it must have taken a lot of testing to get there.
You ready for the reward?
Tencent acquires minor stake in Control's Remedy Entertainment
Chinese conglomerate Tencent has purchased a minority stake in developer Remedy Entertainment, amounting to around 500,000 shares, or a stake of just under 4%.
As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, the stake was sold to Tencent by holding company Accendo Capital, which itself retains 14% of the Finnish studio's shares — something in the region of 1.8 million shares total. Remedy itself was unaware of the transaction until after it had been completed, but has noted that the sale represents typical stock movement, and should not be seen as any sort of commercial deal that directly affects studio ownership or future development plans.
"We are naturally aware that Tencent has extensive expertise in the industry," said Remedy CEO Tero Virtala in a brief statement. "so we are honoured by their interest in Remedy and happy to welcome Tencent as a new shareholder."
Tencent Holdings Inc.'s portfolio includes bountiful stakes within a huge laundry list of international developers and publishers. As well as owning four internal game development studios, Tencent has varying stakes in companies such as Activision, Ubisoft, Supercell, Epic Games, Riot Games, PlatinumGames, Bohemia Interactive, Dontnod Entertainment, Klei Entertainment, and Funcom.
Lend us a tenner.
According to Steam stats, Tali is the most popular Mass Effect party member yet again
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is sparking a new interest in many prospective N7 fans, and re-sparked the passion of millions of folks who ate, slept, and breathed this series for years before it was put on ice.
And lo and behold, we're back in the schoolyard talking about what companion is "best." Well, now we have actual stats to help prove our cases. Enter Steam stats. There's just so much to glean from this giant list, but for the most part, the achievements showcase just how many people started with the first Mass Effect; and how many dedicated fans have completed large chunks of Mass Effect 2.
But one of the most illuminating bits of data is easily the stats that deal with squadmates. According to the list, "Quarian Ally" (Tali) is the most popular achievement, with 54.6% of players at the time of publication having completed five missions with her. This is a direct display of popularity, as folks favor her above any other party member.
In second, but deservingly of first, is Garrus, with the "Turian Ally" achievement hitting 51.9%. Next is Liara (Asari Ally) at 41.5%, then Wrex (Krogan Ally) at 37.8%, followed by Ashley (Soldier Ally) at 33.8%, and Kaiden (Sentinel Ally) at 33.5%.
Although Garrus is my boy, if I had to put money on this list, this is exactly how I'd frame it. Tali is one of the most consistently beloved characters throughout the series, and one of the few (along with Garrus) with an arc going through all three games.
Global Gameplay Stats [Steam] [Thanks John!]
A State of Play centered around Horizon Forbidden West is coming this week
Sony is gearing up to reveal more of Horizon Forbidden West. A new State of Play showcase centering on the Horizon sequel is coming later this week, with some new gameplay in tow.
The State of Play will air on Thursday, May 27. It kicks off with a specially made countdown timer at 9 a.m. PT, followed by the main event, which starts at 2 p.m. PT.
In today's announcement, Sony said it will be a 20-minute segment, with 14 minutes of "brand new in-game action" captured on the PlayStation 5.
It's been almost a year at this point since Horizon Forbidden West's reveal, so Horizon fans are likely eager to see what this new game looks like in action. Even for folks who just have a PlayStation 5 on their shelf, it's another big game to add to the collection. We'll hopefully learn a lot more about what Guerrilla Games has in store this Thursday.
In case you missed it, Konami recently revived the 1987 classic Getsu Fuma Den in the form of GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon, which is now in Early Access. Konami has a soft spot for Getsu Fuma Den, as it pops up every now and then; with the titular Fuma even appearing in Castlevania: Harmony of Despair as a playable character.
The deal came about through a collaboration between Konami and developer GuruGuru: with the former keen on outsourcing more than making games these days. Speaking to JP Games, Undying Moon and Konami producer Shin Murato explains: "We are continually inspired by various indie titles, and how they innovate and produce exciting games. We felt that GetsuFumaDen would be an interesting IP to bring back to follow this indie approach, and so we decided to contact GuruGuru as we know the team well."
Given Konami's missteps in recent years, this practice could be a favorable end for all of us. Murato had something to say about the possibility of this kind of practice continuing, noting: "In terms of other collaborations, please wait for future projects like this!"
This is the point where we all make huge lists of great Konami IP that we hope another studio serves as a worthy steward of. I can get behind this "lending" approach over stuff like Metal Gear Survive.
A new Dying Light 2 stream is airing later this week
There's more to come about Dying Light 2 later this week. Developer Techland has teased a new Twitch stream with the catchphrase "Dying 2 Know More?"
The stream is currently set to air at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT on May 27, over on Techland's Twitch channel.
And how did we find out about this? Well, they—Techland—sent me a package with a poster, paper, letter, and what looked like a flashlight. The letter reads:
Hello, survivor!
Remember Harran?
Of course you do. But all that—that was just the beginning... Now The City is our refuge, and it needs your help.
Want to know more?
You will, but you'll have to hunt. I had to hide the info—this place isn't safe. Track down the clues and remember, it's all for your eyes only. This message cannot fall into the wrong hands.
You're our last chance, survivor!
So I grabbed the flashlight out of the tube, assuming it to be a little more than your average flashlight, and sure enough it didn't cast normal light—it's a little UV light, similar to the one in the original Dying Light. And by shining it on the poster, it showed a message:
That's the 27th of May, at 9 p.m. CEST—or 12:00 p.m. PDT. A neat little detective game to go with the announcement, though I'm really not sure what I'm going to do with this UV light now. I'm definitely not taking it to any conventions.
Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown launches June 1, exclusively on PS4
JÅ«nen hayainda yo! Sega has announced that the recently leaked Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown will be released as soon as next week. As revealed by IGN, the updated edition of one of the finest 3D fighters of all time will return as a PS4-exclusive title on Tuesday, June 1.
Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown is the final (for realsies this time) iteration of Sega's legendary one-on-one fighting sequel, which first launched in arcades back in 2006 before receiving updates in the form of 2008's Virtua Fighter 5 R and 2010's Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown.
Ultimate Showdown has been developed by a team comprised of both Sega AM2 and Team Yakuza. The classic fighter has been rebuilt with the latter's Dragon Engine technology, affording it updated visuals, new light & shadow effects, a fresh U.I., an alternate soundtrack, and new online features — including tournament brackets, a spectator mode, custom lobbies, emotes, and other communication options.
Hunting My White Whale: The Tales Series Retrospective
[Destructoid user Kerrik52 is coming in hard and fast with an incredibly detailed blog covering their thoughts on the entirety of the beloved Tales series of games. The absolute mad man wrote over 9,300 words here, highlighting each game with its own dedicated section. Whether you've only played a single game in the franchise or every single entry, there's likely something here for you. Just be aware, there are a few spoilers below.
Personally, my favorite entries were probably Vesperia, Xillia, and Symphonia. They're not exactly groundbreaking or genre-defining, but they're wonderful "comfort food" games. It's easy to get lost in their worlds and watch the hours melt away. I love that about them!
Do you have a favorite entry in the series? Is Symphonia kind of overrated but still pretty dang good overall? Do you think Kerrik is right or wrong about some absurdly minuscule detail that is completely open to interpretation? Feel free to head on down to the comments and let us know! - Kevin]
During my formative years, when I was exploring what kinds of games I like, I spent a lot of time trying out loads of different JRPGs, particularly Atlus' games. But, while I did try out some Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest stuff, one series that felt like a giant unknown to me was Namco Bandai's Tales series.
Dodgeball brawler Knockout City has already hit 2 million players
Velan Studios' and EA's multiplayer dodgeball arena game Knockout City has been having a free trial period in celebration of its launch, and it looks like a lot of people are giving it a shot.
The team announced that two million players have already hopped on to play during the "Block Party" free trial period. The trial isn't over yet either; it's running through May 30, after which point it will be available as a $19.99 game.
It's also available on a lot of platforms—PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PS5 and Xbox Series X|S via backward compatibility—with cross-play and cross-progression. So basically, you've got the rest of this week to try out the dodgeballin' and see if it's something you're into.
I hopped in over the weekend and despite my low expectations, I came away pleasantly surprised. Knockout City has some cool ideas with tense games of back-and-forth, fake-out and mind-game battles, and powered-up ball spawns reminiscent of arena shooters. It being cross-play also meant it was really easy to get everyone on and playing, and I'll probably still be going back this week. Let us know if you tried it out and what you thought below!
The Elder Scrolls Online's next-gen update has been pushed back a week
The upcoming Blackwood expansion and update for The Elder Scrolls Online was set to coincide with its next-gen "Console Enhanced" version, with both launching for consoles on June 8 and PC getting it a week earlier. Now, Bethesda has announced it is separating its launches out to give each their undivided attention.
In what the team describes as an "abundance of caution," the Console Enhanced launch has been pushed out to June 15. This means PC, Mac, and Stadia players will get Update 30 on June 1, Xbox One and PS4 will get it on June 8, and then the new console update will arrive on June 15. (The Xbox One and PS4 versions will still be playable via backward compatibility on their respective newer consoles.)
"We apologize for the inconvenience, but want to ensure that everything launches smoothly during this very busy time," Bethesda said in today's announcement.
While it's a week later, the enhanced version will be a free update for anyone who owns The Elder Scrolls Online already on a previous-gen console, so players will just either have to wait or play the new update and Blackwood for a week on a backward-compatible version of the game. The new enhanced version will include a 60 FPS performance mode and improved load times, so it sounds like it could be worth a little extra patience.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) was an embarrassing 15th birthday present
This may sound peculiar, but I don't necessarily pick games for this column and expect to hate them. Spelunker, for example, I legitimately like, despite its reputation. So I went into Sonic the Hedgehog '06 with a little bit of history with the title. I figured I'd mostly be picking it apart for its mediocrity; a disappointing release for the new generation of consoles. I'd probably make fun of the typically daft Sonic plot.
But after I sat down with the game for a little while, I got this feeling of betrayal. I was warned, sure, but someone should have intervened. The person who sold it to me should have first demanded a psychological evaluation. My PS3 should have just obliterated the disc. Why does no one care that I do this to myself?
What I'm saying is Sonic '06 is shockingly bad. I thought I knew what I was in for, and I was wrong.
The open-world genre gives me hesitation these days; it's almost a bad word. I blame Ubisoft. Not another waypoint! Not another tower to climb! Not another cathedral to parkour through! I'll get to the main plot soon, I promise! Just a few more collectibles!
It's not that I'm entirely down on the genre. I'll readily admit to enjoying it. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Spider-Man have captured my attention and drawn me in, but to me, it's like eating a bag of chips; my brain tells me I love it while it's happening, but almost as soon as I'm done, I feel empty. The expanse of the vacuum varies, but I think even the best open-world games have given me this feeling.
What gave me further pause about Biomutant was its protracted development time. It was announced back in 2017, I pre-ordered it in 2019, and here is finally in 2021. Its feature list has always struck me as over-ambitious, especially for a small team like Experiment 101. It was billed as this fully adaptable game that let you make all the decisions in what you do and how you approach the game's main objectives. I had my doubts that it would deliver, and now that it's finally here, I can firmly say that no, it doesn't quite make it. It's a bag of chips. Delicious, delicious chips.
Final Fantasy action-RPG spinoff could reportedly be revealed at E3 2021
E3 is getting closer, and so the pre-E3 rumor mill has started to spin up. One particular rumor, about a new take on the world of Final Fantasy, seems to be pretty solid.
Rumors of a new Final Fantasy spinoff were swirling in online forums like Reddit and ResetEra. These claimed that Team Ninja is working with Square Enix on a new Final Fantasy spinoff, akin to Nioh or a Souls game, and taking place somewhere tangential to the first Final Fantasy game.
Fanbyte reports that its sources have corroborated the rumor, and suggest the name of this game is Final Fantasy Origin. This new Final Fantasy appears to be exclusive to PS5 with a PC release further out, and could be one of Square Enix's tentpoles at its upcoming E3 event. The publisher is also reportedly hoping to launch an alpha demo this summer.
Things are always in motion, especially with a virtual E3 this year rather than an in-person event. This new take on Final Fantasy, blending Nioh with the oldest entry in the series, could be something to see if it does make the show, however.
We're still a couple of months out from the premiere of Netflix CG series Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, and honestly, I think it's looking pretty sweet. Capcom obviously has stock in the adaptation, as the publisher has planned a slew of merchandise for the series, including clothing apparel and — of all things — Biohazard booze.
Fallout 76 team is keeping a 'close eye' on recent testing feedback
Fallout 76 will host the second part of its Steel Dawn update, Steel Reign, soon enough. But before that happens, Bethesda is doing a little self-reflection.
In their latest blog update, the team notes that they are going to be "reviewing" data and opinions from public test server (PTS) participants, in an effort to adjust all of the upcoming changes like legendary reworks, as well as the Steel Reign content itself. The developers are "keeping a close eye on discussions," and will potentially alter the testing ground as they gear up for the full release.
Here's the full statement: "While it is still early in this phase of playtesting, we are looking to make some improvements in future PTS updates. For example, we're looking into adjusting some Legendary Core drop rates and permanently increasing the Legendary Scrip limit, to help players more easily scoop up components they need to make legendary items. So, please keep sending your feedback to us on Legendary Crafting, as well as all of the other improvements, content, and features that are headed your way with the Steel Reign Update in July."
In other words, the bulk of the content is done, they just need to shore it all up and check for bugs/make adjustments before the actual July drop. In that case they have plenty of time to massage the numbers to avoid potential Reddit pushback if the new systems are overly stingy: an avoidable event that happens all too often in live service games.
To facilitate all of this, Bethesda is adding "several premade characters" to every PTS tester account. Convientnly, two of them can start right at the beginning of the Steel Reign questline. Another character is basically maxed out with every reward, which you can use to "try out legendary crafting." It helps to get more voices and a bigger sample size than just a few dedicated hardcore 1% players for sure!
"Every Friday" the team will add them to accounts that don't have time, so long as you log on before each Thursday.
Inside the Vault [Bethesda.net]
(Update) Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition is coming to iOS and Android next week
[Update: As reported by TouchArcade, Spike Chunsoft has discovered a last-minute flaw in the final build of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition. The publisher has been left with no option but to delay the launch of the title. A new date will be announced once the build has been fixed.]
We may have moved beyond Danganronpa's 10th anniversary celebrations, but that doesn't mean that there aren't still some goodies in-store for Kazutaka Kodaka's super-twisted murder-mystery franchise. As spotted by Touch Arcade, next week will give fans the opportunity to take the series acclaimed second sequel for a pocket-sized spin, courtesy of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition, which launches on iOS and Android platforms May 26.
Originally released on PS4, PS Vita, and PC back in 2017, Killing Harmony was the first mainline series entry to launch on home consoles alongside their handheld brethren. The dark sequel features the typical investigative gameplay of its predecessors, as abducted high school student Kaede Akamatsu finds herself trapped alongside a group of similarly aged strangers, each an expert in his or her own field. The party is forced to take part in a violent "game" of kill-or-be-killed, once again presided over by the sinister Monokuma.
Devolver Digital outlines its plans for Summer Games Fest 2021
Devolver Digital has offered a teasing glimpse into its plans for the upcoming Summer Games Fest 2021 event. The irreverent, punk-rock publisher has four brand new game titles waiting in the wings, alongside new footage from some of its previously announced releases.
Fans can expect more footage and details from morbid, soul-stealing adventure Death's Door, which is currently in development at studio Acid Nerve. We'll also get to see Team WIBY's asynchronous dungeon crawler Phantom Abyss, as well as more details on Flying Wild Hog's utterly boombastic shooter sequel Shadow Warrior 3. Here's hoping for that long-awaited release date.
As for the four new titles? Well, Devolver is currently remaining completely tight-lipped, so we don't know whether to expect sequels and spin-offs, or entirely new releases from some of the industry's coolest up-and-coming studios. Devolver's announcement also featured an appearance from the disgusting Carrion puppet from last year's event, set up like a political party organizer, but this may just be a funny image, as opposed to any sort of sequel hint.
Summer Games Fest 2021 kicks off June 10 at 11:00 PT / 14:00 ET / 19:00 BST.
New Switch eShop patent could allow Nintendo to suggest games to each user
Algorithms are all the rage!
If you watch the TV show Shark Tank, it's a buzzword that comes up in nearly every online-enabled pitch: "we've developed unique algorithms that suggest personalized content for each user." Of course, not all of them are created equal, and some of them are just marketing opportunities for investors; or you may have mixed results with your Netflix suggestions. That whole system might be coming to the Nintendo Switch eShop soon.
Here's the full rundown on Patentscope, via a patent recently filed for "generating implicit ratings for video games using external metadata:"
"In certain example embodiments, a computer system for generating an implicit video game rating is provided. The system generates a base rating that is a function of gameplay data for a specific user and other users. The system also generates an average external rating for the video game based on external data categories such as, user reviews, critic reviews, ownership data, etc. An adjustment factor is then calculated from an average base rating and external rating and then applied to the user's individual base rating to obtain an implicit rating of a video game for the user."
Sounds simple right? Well, it's likely just going to boil down to "mining data to suggest stuff for you to buy" in the end. It may even be wildly incorrect or suggest things you would never pick up. As Nintendo Life points out, Nintendo files patents constantly for new physical and digital concepts, whether they actually intent on implementing them or not.
This is all sort of innocuous for now, but don't be surprised if one day you wake up to a random update for your Switch and see them proudly displayed on the eShop.
US20210097584 [Patentscope via Nintendo Life]
Sony shuts down speculation surrounding God of War's TV and film chances
Sony's video game properties have been steadily turning into film productions as well over the last few years. With both movies and TV shows in the works, there are several franchises looking to hit screens in a different way, but it sounds like God of War may not be one of them.
In a story from The New York Times detailing the production of Sony's video game adaptations, a spokesperson shoots down God of War hopefuls. A Sony spokesman told The New York Times that, contrary to speculation, one series that is not getting the TV or film treatment—at least not anytime soon—is God of War.
This doesn't close the door completely, but it does put a damper on some rumors that have been floating around for a little while about Kratos' silver screen prospects.
Sony, meanwhile, is still working on other productions. The Uncharted film is slated for Feb. 18, 2022, production on the HBO series adaptation of The Last of Us is underway, and franchises like Ghost of Tsushima and Twisted Metal are getting their own adaptations too.
With Netflix getting deeper into video game series and films like Castlevania and the upcoming Resident Evil CG movie—as well as a reported foray into gaming in the works—it's a big time for video games to get their very own adaptation.
Jess Margera hints that there might be another Tony Hawk's Pro Skater in the works
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Jess Margera: two things I did not expect to write about this morning!
Yep, the CKY drummer and brother of Bam Margera himself recently confirmed on the Behind Closed Doors podcast that his band's music would appear in "the new one coming out too," referring to a new Tony Hawk game. As PushSquare points out, Margera notes that he's not talking about the recently released 1+2. The whole conversation starts around 39:00 into the interview.
So there are multiple possibilities at play here, but the more than likely situation is that Activision is/was developing a Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, and was working out getting '96 Quite Bitter Beings on the soundtrack for THPS3. Celebrity leaks for new Activision projects is just par for the course.
A theoretical 3+4 would be a no-brainer and would likely sell very well. But will they be ballsy enough to keep the good times going with THUG and THUG 2? I hope so! I mean they can go for one more and do American Wasteland and Project 8 if they really want to. It's a little complicated because Vicarious Visions as we know it is gone, but it's possible a lot of work is already completed; and they did continue to work on 1+2 after the transition.
Note that CKY is actually still around, with band member Chad Ginsburg taking over for Deron Miller in 2016. They haven't released a studio album since 2017's The Phoenix, but they have dropped some singles since and have performed live. Miller still plays too, under the guise of several project names, including the confusing "96 Bitter Beings" moniker.
Yep: all the folks that maybe defined your childhood are still at it!
[Update: Bungie addressed the bungle in their recent This Week at Bungie post, noting that their "current goal is for cross-play to ship in season 15," but a "beta" will begin early this week.
It actually kicks off Tuesday, May 25, and will run through May 27, and will feature "a unique Vanguard cross-play beta playlist" for all Destiny 2 players." PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and Stadia users are confirmed to make the cut, and if you finish three strikes (dungeons) in the aforementioned playlist, you'll get a special "Stars Crossed" emblem. There is a caveat though: it's matchmaking only, no fireteams [friends] or invites.]
Remember when Sony said that cross-play was a no go, and then Epic "accidentally enabled cross-play for Fornite" showing us that it was all a scam? Well, under different circumstances, Destiny 2 just got surprise-cross-play.
We're far removed from the dark times of Sony excusing a lack of cross-play as "Sony systems being the best place to play" (yikes), but not every game has true cross-play even still, including Destiny 2...at least right now. This week a bunch of Destiny 2 players were randomly noticing, with incontrovertible evidence, that folks were interfacing with players from different platforms.
This was officially acknowledged by community manager Cozmo, who addressed the situation on Twitter. Cozmo notes: "We are seeing reports that some players are able to get a sneak peek at Crossplay. This isn't meant to be live yet and is not representative of the full experience. We will be implementing a fix to remove public access later this week, but in the meantime feel free to partake."
In this situation, Bungie gets to have their cake and eat it too. Simply enabling cross-play is a huge effort, as we've been told by publishers and developers alike in the aforementioned dark days. So players get to enjoy this little bonus period and drum up good PR while Bungie smooths the feature over. You'd think that a casual "we'll get to it later this week" reply wouldn't fly with all of the publishers involved, but it seems fine!
Still, it is a good thing in the end, and now that we know it works, we can be fairly certain that when it is "ready," it will actually come. We've seen it! Now everyone can commiserate over the insane transmog system together as one.
Cozmo [Twitter]
Netflix looking to get further involved in the games industry
Netflix is circling the video game industry, with an eye to getting deeper involved in the realms of interactive entertainment. The movie/TV streaming giant is now on the hunt for a new executive to lead a non-specific gaming division within the company.
According to The Information, sources state that Netflix is attempting to find avenues into the gaming industry, though whether this concerns game development, production, distribution, sales, rentals, or all of the above remains a mystery. Netflix has dipped its toe into gaming before — renting video games in its early years, producing TV series based on titles such as Castlevania and The Witcher and working alongside developer BonusXP for a Stranger Things tie-in title for Nintendo Switch.
Given that we now live in a media world where Everybody wants to do Everything with Everyone and earn All The Money, it figures that Netflix would look to expand into gaming's multi-billion-dollar industry, no doubt hoping to carve out a piece of that pie for itself. What exact form this expansion takes remains to be seen, but given the company's stranglehold on streaming, it would be wild if Netflix chose to launch its own Stadia-style cloud gaming service. Don't change that dial.
Sonic the Hedgehog Collection pops up on French retail website
An online retailer may have outed the existence of a new Sonic the Hedgehog compilation, currently being produced by Sega for the blue blur's 30th anniversary.
French retailer Sogamely, (interestingly the exact same retailer that leaked the supposed Sonic Colors remaster), put up a listing for "Sonic Collection EU version" for PS4 — with the title obviously being a webpage placeholder. This is no confirmation that said compilation even exists, of course, but given the anniversary year, the upcoming movie sequel, and Sogamely's rep for early Sonic the Hedgehog info, it's a strong possibility that said title is en route.
Making its Sega Mega Drive debut in 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog was an absolute smash hit platformer, birthing Sega's first true global multimedia mascot. Sonic and his dopey pals would go on to star and/or appear in well over 40 titles in the ensuing decades, while also appearing on a slew of merchandise and a string of animated TV and web series. To date, the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has shifted over one billion sales and downloads.
We'll keep you informed should Sega officially acknowledge the compilation's existence.
It looks like Sega could be planning a new Sonic Collection [VGC]
Thunderbird is bringing portable healing to Rainbow Six Siege: Operation North Star
For the past few seasons, Ubisoft's Rainbow Six Siege has added multiple new weapons, gadgets, and techniques to reduce your opposition to dust — regardless of whether you're playing Defender or Attacker. To date, only Doc and Finka can be considered anything close to "healers" within Siege's fast-paced, fast-dying universe. But that's all set to change come the tactical shooter's newest season.
Operation: North Star welcomes new Defender Mina Sky, better known by her call-sign "Thunderbird". Heralding from the Indigenous Nakoda nation, Mina grew up with a deep love and reverence for Mother Earth, dedicating her early life to the study of both hydrology and medicine. Now a trustworthy pilot, a fearless explorer, and a master of field adaptation, Mina's brave heart and skillful application of aid under fire saved the life of Rainbow operator Saana "Nomad" El Maktoub, an act which brought Mina to attention — and eventual induction — at Team Rainbow.
Which Marvel characters would you like to see in their own game?
Marvel Studios recently released a dramatic trailer for the fourth phase of what has come to be known as "The Marvel Cinematic Universe" (MCU). Leading on from over a decade of fantastic comic-book movies — each and every one a chapter within a compelling, emotive, and wildly entertaining universe — the coming years will see a new breed of heroes step from page-to-screen, defending a planet and its populace from the fallout of the devastating Infinity War.
As regular readers will be aware, I love movies. I've had the good fortune to spend four solid decades enjoying many films, from many countries, many budgets, and many generations. And while it's super fashionable to scoff at and mock the MCU, the fact remains that I am completely in love with this franchise. I consider it a blessing that I was able to not only experience the full cinematic run of movies — from Iron Man to Avengers: Endgame — but that I was also able to feel the hair-raising highs, heartbreaking lows, pulse-pounding action, and intense drama of this smash-hit series of blockbusters.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier... since you asked.
Zelda: Breath of the Wild cured my media burnout
These days, my mental health has been on the rocks. There's a myriad of factors involved, the pandemic being the most obvious contender, and I'm sure most people out there have been feeling something similar.
When the lockdown started last year it was obviously stressful, but my personal silver lining was that I was going to catch up on all of the media I hadn't otherwise had the time for. Every game, every book, every show became a respite when seemingly every part of my life — from my work to my relationships to my religious identity — were all exploding.
But after a while though, the effects of my escapism began to lose their potency. Playing games felt like a chore, and any time I put on a show I found my mind wandering back to my stressors instead. Social media became the only thing that could hold my attention, but the constant bombardment of information became too much for me.
My anxiety had fully taken over, and the distractions I usually deployed to cheer me up suddenly all blurred into noise in my head. I knew I was in trouble when I had no interest in watching Tangled, my comfort movie to end all comfort movies. I was burned out not only on work, but on my favorite media too, and that is not a good feeling.
Resident Evil Village's Mercenaries is way too picky, but I keep playing anyway
I've thoroughly enjoyed my 2.5 playthroughs (and counting) of Resident Evil Village. But while the main story is a blast to roll through, I've been having a much less consistent time with The Mercenaries.
It could be worse. It absolutely could be. Capcom could've packed in the throwaway PvP spin-off Re:Verse and called it a day. (No joke, I forgot Re:Verse existed until I spotted it in my PS5 library last weekend.) Instead, we also have The Mercenaries — even if it doesn't quite feel like "Mercenaries."
I'm not sure how the rest of you are faring in this score-chasing arcade gauntlet (or if you've only scratched the surface so far), but I thought I'd share my quick take and we could commiserate.
I'll say this much: as someone who recently went through all of Resident Evil 4 again in the lead-up to Village, including taking the time to earn those five-star ranks with every character in The Mercenaries to unlock the Handcannon, this new version of the mode falls way short of its potential. It's less that it's structured differently — which is fine! — and more that it's just too dang picky for its own good.
Fairy quick tips for Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD
Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD is nearly here (or now if you did the edition with incredibly odd early access). Owing to the fact it's roughly an 18-year-old game, some of its ways might feel obtuse to the modern JRPG player or newcomer to the SMT series.
I began my life here at Destructoid as something of an enthusiast for this game, even going by Pixie the Fairy for a time because she's actually the Demi-Fiend's canon sidekick. She serves as a way to introduce you to the wild ways of the post-apocalyptic Vortex World, a hellscape I'm starting to prefer to the one we currently live in.
Things can get dire in the Vortex World very fast, especially if you try to play Nocturne by the logic of other JRPGs, so let me set you on the right path.
Review: Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster
Shin Megami Tensei is criminally underrated.
Look, I understand that it's rated. In JRPG circles, it's spoken of constantly, and fondly. But the name doesn't carry as much weight in general scenes as, say, Persona. That needs to change at some point.
And Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster is helping that happen.
Review: Path of Exile: Ultimatum
Somehow, Path of Exile is simultaneously in its best and worst state. Every league, it just gets more bloated as Grinding Gear Games (GGG) adds previous league mechanics into the "core" game. As someone who has played in a pretty serious capacity the last handful of leagues, I enjoy the new challenges and additions as I come up with zanier and zanier build ideas.
But the new player experience is at an all-time low. I cannot seriously recommend people to just jump into Path of Exile today and enjoy what's there. I'd recommend spending hours and hours performing some research first, and probably DMing me, and then tempering expectations before jumping into Wraeclast. As a result, this review will mostly be catered to those who have a decent understanding of the game, and ideally a conversation piece for others to share their opinions.
Deathloop preview: Arkane's greatest hits with an asymmetrical twist
Deathloop always starts back at the beginning. Colt, struck with amnesia, wakes up on a beach with one heck of a hangover and the revelation that time, on this island, is looping. He has a simple objective: to hunt down the Visionaries spread around Blackreef and kill them all in a day, closing the loop in the process.
He can wield handguns, nail guns, shotguns, a machete, and a handheld hacking device, all in the name of taking out Blackreef's partygoers and scholars, but there is one problem larger than the legion of Eternalists between him and his targets: Julianna Blake. She's armed, and she has one goal: stop Colt from ending the loop.
I recently attended a preview session for Deathloop, where we got to see a slice of hands-off gameplay of the time-looping adventure. Across the preview, we saw a few different options for Colt: means of approach, ways of playing, and methods with which to dispatch the various Visionaries. And it looks pretty dang good.
What's your all-time favorite Game Boy release?
Cblogs of 5/15 to 5/21/2021
-Eggs&Brewsterjr discusses eight Game Boy games they know they would love to play.
-GamingDino highlights another gaming dinosaur in ARK.
-D-Volt writes about how the Sonic franchise may be limited by their own focus on Sonic's speed.
-Manasteel88 highlights an incoming Sonic fan gaming jam.
-Lord Spencer reviews Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee as part of his PS1 REVIEWS blogging series.
-Black Red Gaming reviews Days Gone on the PC.
-Queen of Philosophy opens this week's TGIF open community forum.
Arcade Archives back on its shmup kick with NMK's Task Force Harrier
If you think Hamster has already re-released every single 1980s shmup to its Arcade Archives range, they've only scratched the surface. Easily replicable at speed, the credit-killing genre saw a tidal wave of releases, reaching well into the treble figures in a short space of time. Thus, it's likely that we'll see many more examples of the genre's lesser-known entries over the coming weeks, months, perhaps years.
This week's entry is NMK's Task Force Harrier, which hit the arcade scene in 1989 before eventually being reworked for Sega Genesis in 1991. A fairly standard vertically scrolling shmup, Task Force Harrier has players pilot a futuristic jet fighter, alternating between air-to-air and air-to-ground weaponry against waves on enemy fighters and terra firma-based defenses. Power-ups add miniature "escort fighters" which add the player vessel with additional firepower.
Task Force Harrier offers little of note, slotting in-between the myriad shmups that packed out arcade centers in the late-'80s. Without much in the way of unique or groundbreaking gimmicks, Task Force Harrier is more of a "completionist" release, only really for those who are really digging building a collection of forgotten sky-fighters. Task Force Harrier is available to download now on Nintendo Switch, priced at around $8. Check out the action in the trailer below, courtesy of YouTuber World of Longplays.
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion fails to live up to the eccentricity of its name
It's pretty difficult for small indie games to get noticed these days. There are so many platforms out there and so many other tiny studios pushing out new games on a weekly basis, that getting lost in the crowd is the expectation for so many titles. Small games have to do anything they can to stand out, something to hook people in. That can be a clever game concept, beautiful artwork, or, in the case of developer Snoozy Kazoo, one catchy-ass title.
The name Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion easily burrows itself into the brain. It's the type of name that I hear once and immediately want to see what it's about, like Snakes on a Plane or Love Death + Robots. Of course, when you have such an exceptional title, you should probably make sure there is an exceptional game lying underneath.
Get out some of that pent up aggression against pedestrians in Courier Crisis
Nineteen ninety-five was a rough time for games. The market was transitioning to 3D graphics, and there was a lot to figure out. To prove this, you need only look at the earliest PlayStation games; the ones that came in those ugly cardboard clamshells. Games like ESPN Espn2 Extreme Games and the original Twisted Metal plainly show the difficulties developers had with the new hardware. Warping textures, awkward physics, and…
Oh, hold on a moment...
Courier Crisis came out in 1997!? Wow, that's embarrassing.
Whatcha been playing this week, Destructoid?
Howdy, buckeroos! Welcome to the weekend! I hope that this week was a good one for you, and send love that the weekend will be even better. It was a rough one for yer boy, who had a horrendous flare-up of tendonitis. For those who don't know, my knees are totaled — a hard-run life of exploration, pro-wrestling, retail, and spending a lot of time kneeling down, (grow up). And occasionally, my patellas simply explode. It feels like having ground-glass in your kneecaps. So yeah... sign up for that.
As for video games, feeling under the weather has kept me from really indulging as I'd like. I spent some time in the red, red waters of Maneater for Nintendo Switch, (so expect a port report next week). I also checked out some of the new content for Call of Duty: Warzone, which sees Johns Rambo and McClane enter the world of Battle Royale. Once the pain subsides, I'm finally going to dive into Resident Evil Village... Well, at least until the first jump-scare, when I'll just uninstall it and go hide under the sheets.
But I don't want to know about me, I want to know about you. So before you dive headlong into your weekend, please take the time to drop a comment below and let us know what games you've been playing lately. The release year has started to pick up, and there's all sorts out on the market right now — not to mention the backlog I know all y'all have. So take a second to join the party below and share your current quests with us.
Have a wonderful weekend, from all of us at Destructoid.
Destructoid is live on Twitch to finish The Evil Within
Tonight I'm playing The Evil Within on Destructoid's Twitch channel starting at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
The Evil Within is WILD! I thought I had dipped my toes into survival horror enough to know the genre but I've never played anything like this and it's just so cool! There's so much choice and customizability on top of the setting and pacing.
Last Friday we burned through the first six chapters in a single sitting (and I finally picked up the sniper so I'm set for life). The combat can be daunting as a new FPS player, while still manageable, and the areas/storyline have me hooked. There are so many Resident Evil type callbacks and I honestly feel like this series outshines RE sometimes. If you're a fan of survival horror, join us tonight! You'll quickly be a fan of The Evil Within, too.
Miss the last stream? Catch up with the video on demand for part one of The Evil Within.
Come catch me live at Destructoid's Twitch channel every Friday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern! Let's chat it up about anything and everything while playing cool games! I hope to meet you there. :)
This Lady D vs. Lady Maria fight in Bloodborne didn't go the way I expected
I never fully "got" the so-and-so fighting such-and-such mod craze, but that was before I came across this gem on the Bloodborne subreddit — it's a brawl between Lady Dimitrescu and Lady Maria.
This video was orchestrated by Garden of Eyes, and it truly goes places I wasn't expecting.
After watching all ten minutes of dueling, I'm expecting a mess of boss-vs.-boss mod videos to flood my already pretty questionable YouTube recommendations feed. It's a worthy price to pay to see these two fandom-capturing personalities vie for our continued admiration. I have room in my heart for both.
...that's what I'd say if I wanted to play it safe. Go Lady Maria go!
