Contest: Win Monster Prom XXL on Switch from Super Rare Games
In today's contest you can win Monster Prom XXL on Switch from Super Rare Games!
It's almost Halloween! It's by far my favorite holiday, and definitely my favorite time of the year, weather-wise (well, not anymore now that I live in Phoenix, but still...). Ghosts, zombies, mutants, and freaks roam the streets searching for souls. But what do they all have in common? They're monsters!
Today's theme is monsters: Super Rare Games just put out the highly anticipated Monster Prom XXL on Switch, and we've got a copy of the standard edition to give out! Happy Halloween, y'all!
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is a storage hog, but you can install multiplayer only on PC
Activision shared the PC requirements for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War today, and – no surprise here after the way Modern Warfare ballooned – the game needs 50GB for multiplayer alone "at launch."
If you're installing "all game modes," Cold War will need 175GB, and if you're going extreme with top-of-the-line Ultra RTX specs with a GeForce RTX 3080, you're looking at a 250GB storage requirement.
Seeing this news, thinking about future content updates to Cold War (Season 1 and Warzone are expected to launch in December), and considering the comparatively quaint storage available by default in the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X... yep, we're gonna be juggling game installs for a long time.
It'll be important for developers to give us choices – and try not to go overboard with huge updates.
You're gonna want to pick up Ghostbusters free from Epic because bustin' makes you feel good
It's time for the weekly Epic Games Store freebies, and, as we told you last week, the new crop is all about those Halloween vibes.
On the docket this week is the divisive Blair Witch from Bloober Team and the well-regarded Ghostbusters game. Ghostbusters is a remaster of the 2009 game that was fan-servicey as all hell. You should definitely check it out.
Next week is Red Dragon but not the Hannibal movie I wish it was. (Seriously, I just watched Red Dragon on Netflix two weeks ago. That shit is still excellent.) It's Wargame: Red Dragon, an RTS where western troops take on the Communist forces in the Pacific theater. Only one next-week game has been announced thus far, but you know Epic's gonna come swinging in with another.
For now, two movie-based games and one more that should be movie-based. Hannibal would probably call us rubes for playing video games.
Blair Witch, Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered [Epic Games Store]
Annapurna Interactive is staffing up for a home-grown game
How much longer can Annapurna Interactive's hot streak last? The publisher has one of my favorite lineups in recent years, and now it's building up an in-house development studio based out of Los Angeles. The team needs a game director, senior producer, and other staff for an unannounced title.
It's one thing to pick out promising, thoughtful, creative upcoming titles for your label and help make sure they're a success, but creating your own in-house? I'm curious to see Annapurna branch out.
"We've had the immense honor of working with some of the most talented independent game creators in the world," president Nathan Gary said in a press release. "Many of us came from an internal development background and are excited to make this a part of Annapurna Interactive moving forward."
I wonder what type of game they'll set out to make that (presumably) doesn't exist elsewhere.
After What Remains of Edith Finch, Gorogoa, Outer Wilds, and Sayonara Wild Hearts, they deserve the benefit of the doubt. They've already impressed me in so many genres. Next on my list: 12 Minutes.
Xbox Game Pass prices aren't going up anytime soon
For the three years Xbox Game Pass has been around, plenty of people have wondered how Microsoft can balance the books on this type of service. There's always a stupidly low-cost introductory offer and then it's a reasonable month price. Xbox Game Pass is on par with Netflix or Hulu or any of the other million entertainment subscription services that exist.
The armchair logic has always sort of been that Microsoft is eating the cost of getting stuff on Xbox Game Pass while building a robust user base. Getting people committed to the Xbox ecosystem is a valid reason for a loss leader. Down the road a bit is when you can jack up the price.
Xbox head Phil Spencer went on the Dropped Frames podcast this week (as reported by VGC) and said that Microsoft has no plans to increase the price of Xbox Game Pass anytime soon. "We like the value that Game Pass is today," Spencer commented. "From a business model, it's completely sustainable the way it is, and I mean that."
Spencer goes on to emphasize how Xbox Game Pass allows more types of video games to get published. There's a lot of things that wouldn't work from a business standpoint under the traditional retail model. However, Game Pass gives those more creative games a new home, as millions of players have the option to check them out at no risk. It ends up providing value for the consumer, the developer, and for Game Pass as a service.
That has kind of been the company line for Xbox Game Pass all along, though. The surprising part is hearing that it's perfectly sustainable as is -- either profitable or taking losses minor enough that Microsoft's comfortable absorbing them. It's a thriving service, but Microsoft isn't going to use that as an opportunity to raise the subscription price. At least not anytime in the near future.
Microsoft has 'no plans to rack up the Xbox Game Pass price' [VGC]
Review: The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope
Supermassive Games is serving up another communal horror adventure just in time for Halloween.
Whether you dug Until Dawn and only Until Dawn, or you also played Man of Medan and thought it was decent cheesy fun, or you're removed from this whole Dark Pictures Anthology saga but are kinda in the mood for a suspenseful, not-too-spooky Halloween game, I have to give Little Hope the thumbs-up.
It's striking at the right place and the right time with the right setup: a town haunted by witch trials.
I tugged on the latest No More Heroes 3 trailer and hints of what's to come came out
Yesterday was full of surprises for hack-and-slash fans who own a Switch. Not only did Nintendo release a two-hour demo of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity but then Xseed simultaneously shadow-dropped No More Heroes 1 & 2 on the system at the same time! Just like that, owners of the hot hybrid console were instantly covered in a sticky mess of violent crowd-skewering action.
Now that we've all had a day to rest on those releases, maybe it's a good time to swing back around to the new trailer for No More Heroes 3 and see what we can find. From the looks of it, the game will be less a direct sequel to No More Heroes 2 and more of a continuation of the lesser-known No More Heroes: Travis Strikes Again, the actual third game in the series. New interstellar villain FU appears to be standing on a boardroom table, which we can guess is in the office of Damon Riccitiello, Travis Strikes Again's CEO antagonist and not-so-veiled parody of former EA CEO John Riccitiello.
Take a closer look at No More Heroes 3's user interface, and Travis's Joy-Con-studded glove in the opening of the trailer, and you'll see hints that the "chips" from Travis Strikes Again may also be coming back... again. Previously, those chips were used to give Travis and other playable characters (Shinobu, Bad Girl, and Badman) massive, over-the-top abilities like Jedi-style telekinesis and the power to create black holes. Speaking of Badman, it looks like he'll also be back for the threequel, though it's not clear if he'll be playable or just a punching bag (that's him getting pummeled at the 00:58 mark).
As someone who loved the highly personal, pseudo-autobiographical story of Travis Strikes Again but was in and out of love with actually playing it, it's great to see that No More Heroes 3 may be bringing the best of all worlds to the table.
PS5 and Xbox Series X are both getting an online restock at Best Buy
If you don't already have a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X pre-ordered by now, you probably have to just accept the fact that you're not getting one on launch day. That's the unfortunate reality of new-gen fever. Maybe -- if you're quick and lucky and punctual and seriously very lucky -- you can get one shortly thereafter.
Best Buy has released its Black Friday deals, and the paper ad spills the beans on an upcoming restock for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. Limited quantities will be made available online.
Now here's the tricky part: It doesn't say when the "Out of Stock" button gets its Cinderella moment and turns into an "Add to Cart" button. It's a Black Friday deal and it's in the flier that's going in Thanksgiving Day newspapers. You have to think it's sometime actually on Black Friday. Still, we don't know the exact time, and that's a very crucial detail considering the inventory will last minutes at most.
All hope isn't quite yet lost when it comes to getting a next-gen console before 2020's over. You'll just need to be extremely diligent. Sending good vibes your way that you're lucky enough to get to that "Add to Cart" button before it turns back into a pumpkin.
2020 Black Friday newspaper ad [Best Buy]
The Steam Halloween Sale has lots of cheap games that still hold up in 2020
Horror games are some of my absolute favorites to revisit, so when I see Halloween sales pop up, that's immediately where my mind goes: "look at all these scary games I could totally be replaying right now." There's something about re-facing my fears and knowing what lies ahead that I find so satisfying.
The 2020 Steam Halloween Sale began today, and while there are deals on newer releases – I suspect plenty of people will nab Phasmophobia while it's 10% off – the bulk of the sale concerns older games.
I could point to The Forest ($8.99), Darkest Dungeon ($6.24), Little Nightmares ($3.99), Dead Space ($4.99), Outlast ($2.99), Grim Dawn ($6.24), SOMA ($2.99), or Amnesia: The Dark Descent ($1.99).
In terms of newer stuff, I have just one suggestion: the Junji Ito-inspired adventure RPG World of Horror ($13.04). I know, I know. It's still coming along in Early Access. But it's a morbid delight, and the mood is right. If you're looking for something less outright scary and more sinister, this is my chiller of choice.
The Steam Halloween Sale is running until November 2 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. Take a nervous peek.
The Last Blade is the latest Neo-Geo Pocket title to hit Nintendo Switch
In the continuation of its efforts to bring a range of Neo-Geo Pocket Color classics to Nintendo Switch, SNK has released The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny, which first launched for the super-clicky handheld back in 2000.
A scaled-down version of one of SNK's most noble but underplayed fighting titles, The Last Blade is similar in design, tone, and theme to Samurai Shodown, but hosts its own party of sword-swinging ninjas and samurai. The NGPC edition not only features Story and Survival modes alongside its standard Vs. play, but also includes a couple of fun mini-games - a regular feature of many great NGPC releases.
Now available to purchase from the Nintendo eShop for around $8. This retro re-release will give pocket fighting fans the chance to check out one of the harder-to-find titles for the Neo-Geo Pocket Color platform, and hopefully sets the way for the future release of Match of the Millenium, which is undoubtedly mired in some form of licensing hell.
In related news, SNK has announced that a mystery Last Blade character will also be joining the roster of Samurai Shodown (2019) as part of the latter's season three content.
Xbox Live Games with Gold doesn't put its best foot forward to welcome Xbox Series X
There's an inevitable comparison between every month's PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold games. Sometimes it's a knock-down drag-out war, as it's tough to declare a definitive winner. This month, it's a massacre.
Yesterday, Sony revealed Bugsnax, Hollow Knight, and Middle-earth: Shadow of War as the three PS Plus games that will welcome the PS5's arrival. Today, Xbox announced its Games with Gold, and none of the four freebies live up to any single game in PlayStation's lineup.
Here's the Games with Gold offerings that ushers in the Xbox Series X: Stealth platformer Arigami, underwater shooter Swimsanity, original Xbox tactics game Full Spectrum Warrior, and LEGO Indiana Jones (which I admittedly have nostalgic love for).
The problem is that Xbox Game Pass is cannibalizing any real value that Games with Gold could offer. Game Pass is a tremendous service that has near-universal love. But it has impacted Games with Gold to the point where we're left wondering why it even exists anymore. At this rate, it can't be long before Microsoft just kills it altogether and makes Xbox Live Gold perks free or rolls them into various Game Pass tiers.
Here's the full breakdown of November's Games with Gold:
There's more evidence that Crash 4 is coming to Switch
Crash 4 is good. Better than I thought it would be!
I'm still going through from time to time, poking my head into some of the tougher challenges and enjoying the hell out of it. But I know a lot of people are waiting for it to appear on their system of choice (PC, Switch). There's good news on that front.
So, we already kinda knew that Crash 4 would be coming to Switch, as it appeared on the game's official website as a platform option: before being unceremoniously quelled. Plus, given the eventual release of the Spyro Reignited Trilogy and the Crash trilogy on Switch, it's very clear that Activision isn't leaving the Switch out. YouTuber Canadian Guy Eh agrees, and uncovered a new finding in the Crash 4 Switch saga.
After musing on the potential next-gen versions of Crash 4 (which are also clearly a given now that we have an ESRB rating), at 3:15 in the video below, Canadian Guy Eh notes that there is a Switch profile in the .ini file of the game. They explain that the Switch is referenced "multiple times" in the code, including notes for how Activision managed to optimize the Switch edition by borrowing some tricks from Spyro Reignited. According to the file, the Switch could be looking at 720p resolution docked and portable: with an educated guess of 30FPS.
That all checks out and seems incredibly logical! With the sales it has, it would behoove Activision to make this successful sequel as accessible as possible. Anything to help us get a Crash 5 with the same developers, I'm on board with.
When does Shadowlands drop? Right before Thanksgiving, as it turns out.
After missing its previous October 27 release date, the World of Warcraft expansion will launch on Monday, November 23 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific. That's not as bad as "later this year" originally sounded.
Here's what the worldwide rollout looks like:
Find out when #Shadowlands launches in your region. ðŸ'‡ pic.twitter.com/tGfrjLF2X3
— World of Warcraft (@Warcraft) October 29, 2020
"Since we first told you about our decision to delay, we've used the time to further polish the expansion and shore up the endgame, including overhauling the combat and rewards in the Maw, and reworking the Covenant systems to make your choice more immediately impactful and have clearer long-term goals," said Blizzard. The team also brought up a couple of other important dates worth remembering.
Shadowlands' pre-launch event is happening on November 10 (expect a Scourge invasion), and the Castle Nathria raid will arrive several weeks later, on December 8, alongside Shadowlands Season 1.
Busy month. I'm going to have to make some tough calls on which games to prioritize.
Shadowlands Arrives November 23 [World of Warcraft]
Far Cry 6 delayed well into 2021 and possibly beyond
Ubisoft shared its second quarter financials today and informed investors that it's delaying one of the biggest upcoming games in the publisher's portfolio. Far Cry 6 will no longer launch on February 18, 2021.
Far Cry 6, along with Rainbow Six Quarantine, is being moved back to a nebulous window that encompasses the rest of 2021 and some of 2022. The February 18 date would've contributed to Ubisoft's 2020-21 fiscal year, but now both games have been delayed into the 2021-22 fiscal year.
The reason for the setbacks is the same one we've heard throughout most of this calendar year: "the impact of the COVID-19 crisis" and "production challenges related to work from home." Ubisoft, big as it may be, is just as vulnerable to the same workflow bottlenecks as everyone else.
There's no solid indication of when Far Cry 6 will launch. That almost certainly means this is a significant delay. If it were a slight postponement, Ubisoft would've more than likely had a new date ready to go. You can always just delay again. (See: Cyberpunk 2077.) As is, we probably shouldn't expect Far Cry 6 anytime before Fall 2021, although Spring 2022 is quite possibly the most realistic target.
Gearbox finally tells us what Borderlands 3's Arms Race mode is, unveils 'Final Form' skins
If you haven't been paying attention to Borderlands 3, Gearbox revealed a second season pass recently, with more content and updates on the way beyond the scope of that pass. There's still plenty of life left in this game yet, if the latest episode of the Borderlands Show is any indication.
The big unveiling was easily the explanation of Arms Race: the new mode that's coming as part of the Designer's Cut DLC on November 10 (which also heralds in extra skill trees for each class).
Rune Factory 5 trailer reveals Japanese release date and Premium Edition
During the Japanese edition of yesterday's Nintendo Direct Mini, publisher Marvelous finally revealed a release date for Rune Factory 5 in Japan. The horticultural sequel will launch on Nintendo Switch on May 20, 2021, with a western release to follow sometime later in the year.
The new Final Fantasy XVI website gives us more info than ever before
Final Fantasy XVI is on my radar in a big way.
I think people are sleeping on it for now, as a lot of non-Final Fantasy XIV players aren't aware of the raw talent that Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida possesses. And that's fine! XVI will probably have its day soon enough as we pry more actual info out of Square Enix. It seems like that era is dawning today, as the official website for XVI has opened up.
With it, we get our first real look at the main characters, as well as the world itself. Our protagonist seems to be Clive Rosfield; a firstborn son of an Archduke who was supposed to be some sort of chosen one. Instead, that honor went to his younger brother Joshua, who is described as "bookish," but nonetheless is tasked with the power of the Phoenix. Jill Warrick, an adopted daughter of the Archduke, will also be a major player in the story.
The fantastical setting is the kingdom of Valisthea, a land "studded in Mothercrystals," and inhabited by Eikons; which are basically the name summons are called in the world of XVI. It seems like XVI is also going to have a very strong "warring nations" vibe, as there are six factions, all of which have a different vision for Valisthea.
So far, I'm really digging the return to the classic setting, and I hope the "destroy the crystals" feeling of the story trailer so far is really pushed to the limit. This has the potential to give us that warm and fuzzy feeling that so many people adored from Final Fantasy IX, but subvert our expectations with the narrative at the same time.
Final Fantasy XVI [Square Enix]
Fire Emblem: Three Houses' Dimitri is Fire Emblem Heroes newest Legendary Hero
Nintendo has revealed the newest Legendary Hero for its mobile battle title Fire Emblem Heroes. Standing atop the mass carnage this time around is Dimitri, star of 2019's Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
The crown prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, Dimitri is a valiant young warrior and proud leader, attributes that serve him well in his role as Captain of The Blue Lions. one of the RPG's titular "Three Houses". A master of the lance, Dimitri is tactically minded and an excellent ally in battle, though his strong reserve hides a deep-rooted sense of survivor's guilt.
You can check out Dimitri and his various special skills in action in the trailer below.
Nintendo Download: Pikmin 3 Deluxe
Pikmin is back! In Switch form!
Alas, Pikmin 3 is the latest game to get an update on the Switch, as Nintendo tries to move every single game possible from the Wii U to their newer, successful system. Not "more successful," mind. Just successful. Poor Wii U! I still have mine hooked up and play it. There are some things it just did better than the Switch, but I know I'm alone on my U-shaped island here.
Outside of Pikmin 3 Deluxe, there's a few other big releases this week on Switch. Part Time UFO makes the full-time move out of the mobile arena, with Control Ultimate Edition hitting the Switch in the form of a cloud edition. No More Heroes 1+2 are also both out now, as well as Jurassic World Evolution: Complete Edition. WayForward's Bakugan game is coming on November 3.
It's a huge week! Good luck picking just one thing to snag.
Here are the things people didn't like about Bravely Default II that are being fixed
Bravely Default II is a weird one.
There was all sorts of buzz around it and we even got a playable demo! Then for months at a time a lot of people collectively forgot about it. Well, now it's back on the radar: as Nintendo has confirmed a February 26, 2021 release date for the Switch exclusive. RIP Bravely Default on 3DS.
As promised during the surprise Nintendo Direct Mini (the last of the year!), Square Enix and Nintendo went over some of the changes that resulted in direct feedback from the demo earlier this year. In short, there's a lot of changes to unpack.
The addition of difficulty options is a huge one and a no-brainer. But now Square Enix says the "early part of the game is now easier," while still retaining challenges of big battles. In other words, the "trash" fights are likely quicker to go through while bosses stay at the same power level to increase tension.
There's a few other quality of life things too, like the chance to skip battle intro scenes (this should be in every game), more bold fonts and background colors and a remade UI. This all sounds good on paper! Now we wait the four months to see if they executed on it.
As a note Square Enix says that these fixes are based on one million downloads and 22,000 direct responses. 80% of the folks involved said they liked the music the most of any feature of the demo; while 33% hated the difficulty spikes, which was the most polarizing aspect of the demo.
Incoming Samurai Shodown DLC character is a fan-favorite from The Last Blade
SNK has teased one of the next DLC characters headed to its mythical fighter Samurai Shodown. While the publisher has not revealed the character's identity, we do know that the new warrior will show up in the season three character pass, and is a guest from SNK's own The Last Blade.
Speaking in a recent video, Samurai Shodown director Hayato Konya noted that the guest star was "someone the fans absolutely adore". Now, your mileage may vary, but I'm willing to take the bet that he's referring to the stoic swordswoman Hibiki Takane, who is probably best known for her appearance in the excellent 2001 crossover fighter Capcom Vs. SNK 2.
Masahiro Sakurai cannot be stopped: except by one thing, apparently! While it was already pretty insane to hear that every level in Smash Ultimate was tweaked to support Steve's entrance into the arena, a new Famitsu column digs deeper into what might have been.
According to Sakurai (as translated by Twitter user Sephazon), he tried to add another element into the game that would allow for players to create Minecraft levels, then import them into Smash. I can't imagine how crazy the groundwork must have been for that sort of project, but ultimately, Sakurai deemed it "impossible."
In that very same column, Sakurai says that "various circumstances" prevented him from using certain Minecraft music: something he alluded to earlier by stating that specific tracks wouldn't work in a fighting game scene. It appears that complications arose even beyond that.
Sakurai also candidly shares some info on how he's been getting on during the pandemic, noting that Steve was developed "entirely" during this period and that development was "difficult." However, he maintains a cherry demeanor and is "happy" to be working on the further four challengers that are coming to Smash.
I know he won't take this advice, but he deserves a break after all of this. Smash Ultimate is one of the most ambitious and complete fighting games of all time, spanning multiple generations and IPs in a way that no other game is doing right now. After the DLC is done, he can rest easy!
Sakurai [Famitsu via Sephazon]
Demon's Souls PS5 gameplay trailer will get those hype fires stoked
Sony and Bluepoint Studios have released a second gameplay trailer for their upcoming remake of PS3 classic Demon's Souls, which launches on PlayStation 5 in November. The new footage will no doubt be eagerly gobbled up by fans of the rock-hard RPG, with the remake arguably one of, if not the most anticipated launch title of the next generation.
Among the features included in Bluepoint's revisit are an alternate camera option, a Photo Mode, various screen filters, faster load times, and a "true to the original" difficulty setting, alongside other mystery new content. In addition, Demon's Souls will support 4K visuals at variable FPS settings. Quite honestly, it looks stunning.
Demon's Souls will launch day-and-date with the PS5 on November 10/19. A $90 special edition is also available for pre-order right now.
Path of Exile update delayed to avoid Cyberpunk 2077 clash
Grinding Gear Games has announced that it will be delaying the next major update for its free-to-play RPG Path of Exile. Originally scheduled to launch in December, Version 3.13 has been pushed back to January, with the developer citing the recent delay of CDPR's Cyberpunk 2077 as the reason behind the calendar shift.
"We were previously targeting a launch date of December 11 for our 3.13 end-game expansion," stated the developer on its official forums. "Yesterday, CD Projekt Red announced that Cyberpunk 2077 will now be released on December 10. We do not want to put our players in a position of having to choose between these two games, so we have decided to step out of the way and delay the release of Path of Exile 3.13 until January. We still expect to finish 3.13 by early/mid-December. The scope of this expansion will remain unchanged. During the month of delay before release, we will start work on the 3.14 expansion."
In order to keep Path of Exile die-hards occupied over the holiday season, Grinding Gear announced that it will be running at least one special multi-week in-game event, with details to follow in the near future. The developer is extremely confident that Version 3.13 will be ready to rock come January, with a specific date to follow soon.
Path of Exile 3.13 launch delayed until January [Official]
Genshin Impact rakes in an incredible $245 million in debut month
miHoYo's evocative mobile RPG Genshin Impact has gotten off to an amazing start. Within its first month of release, the free-to-play title has already raked in a staggering $245 million USD in in-game purchases worldwide.
The number-crunchers over at Sensor Tower have noted that Genshin Impact has had one of the strongest launch months ever for a mobile title, beating out the launches for titles such as Nintendo's Fire Emblem Heroes and even Epic Games' almighty Fortnite for mobile. Amazingly, this figure does not include any profit made from the PS4 and PC editions, nor from the Android version in China, it seems pretty snug to suggest that the charming adventure title has seen record-breaking success.
Contest: Win Torchlight III for Nintendo Switch
In today's contest you can win Torchlight III for Nintendo Switch!
If I could stop giving away games, I would! Just kidding -- if I ran out of games from developers to give out, I'd probably just start giving stuff away from my personal collection. I'm an addict!
Today's we've got some Switch copies of Torchlight III to hand out! You know what to do from here.
Did you beat Spider-Man on PS4? You could win this LEGO Miles Morales minifig
Insomniac's Spider-Man was pretty damn great. It was our choice for 2018's PS4 Game of the Year, and we're hardly the only outlet to sling some hardware its way. Insomniac has a lot of trophies in the case after that showing.
Hey, speaking of trophies! Sony's running a contest for anyone who has managed to beat Spider-Man on PS4 and earn the "End Game" trophy for clearing the third act. Folks who meet that criteria can enter into a drawing for an exclusive Spider-Man: Miles Morales LEGO minifigure.
Only Kinect games are lost to Xbox Series X's backward compatibility
Backward compatibility is a big point of emphasis for both Microsoft and Sony heading into the new generation of consoles. Sony came out a few weeks ago and confirmed that only 10 games won't make the transition from PS4 to PS5. That's a very acceptable percentage. Xbox has similar results, but with more peripheral-induced constraints.
Xbox director of program management Jason Ronald has confirmed that every non-Kinect Xbox One game, and every single backward compatible game from the original Xbox and Xbox 360 that doesn't require Kinect will be playable on Xbox Series S/X:
Don't skip the (surprisingly big) Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity demo
I'm glad Nintendo decided to release a demo for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity – not just as someone who adored Hyrule Warriors on Wii U and Switch, but also as someone who knows there are bound to be a lot of on-the-fence Breath of the Wild fans checking out this Musou game for its prequel story.
Today's Switch demo is undoubtedly worth the download. You'll get access to a surprisingly generous chunk of the game, including two full story missions, a few slay-the-horde side levels, various shops and goals to activate and/or "check off" from the world map (using resources you've collected in battle), and a working blacksmith for weapon leveling. Heck, you even get to play as Link, Impa, and Zelda.
Without really spoiling anything, the demo cutoff point arrives just as four main missions – one for each of the Champions – appear on the map. For a split second, I thought I'd be able to play them. Not quite.
(Opening spoiler) Story-wise, time travel is very much afoot, and the helpful "mini guardian" messenger from the Age of Calamity trailers plays a significant role. The setup is bound to put lore-obsessed players in a speculative frenzy. Now more than ever I'm curious how this prequel is gonna wrap up.
Having spent entirely Too Many hours in Hyrule Warriors 1, it's an adjustment getting used to the new items, the slightly weightier feel to combat, and other tweaks like being able to chop down trees – but it's a good adjustment. I vastly prefer chucking bombs, freezing foes with stasis, summoning ice, and wielding (limited-use) elemental magic in this context compared to using rote items in the last Hyrule Warriors to open up bosses' weak points. Age of Calamity's items are just more fun and freeing.
As for the sample roster, Link is Link (dash and tap the X button to shield surf!), Impa is an early favorite with her easy-to-spawn clone squadron, and Zelda feels strange at first due to her Sheikah Slate-focused kit. (No joke: her gauge-based special attack involves taking an enemy's photograph.) If you complete some of the goals on the world map, you'll unlock new attack combos and more HP.
Before you ask: the performance could be better (I think it's adequate), and yes, there is co-op support.
I'm already having a blast with the story missions, the latter of which has a cool sequence with a laser-blasting Guardian (that you can totally side-step if you ignore Nintendo's pleas and fight it head-on). You will capture bases in true Hyrule Warriors tradition, but there's much more going on here, thankfully. All told, I took my time and spent around two hours scouring the demo. Nintendo's on a roll right now.
My impressions are positive so far – again, it's really fun to play! – but I do have some concerns about whether the story will meet rising expectations and how the breadth of content will stack up to Hyrule Warriors 1 given how ridiculously far that game went with its huge roster and Adventure maps.
If you're curious as a newcomer, try the demo, and know that these games grow more complex over time in terms of mission objectives and movesets. That said, you should have a pretty clear idea of whether you're into Age of Calamity or you should just patiently hold off until Breath of the Wild 2.
343 Industries studio head steps away from Halo Infinite amid uncertain development
It was most certainly not an easy decision for Microsoft to delay Halo Infinite out of the Xbox Series X's launch window. Halo Infinite would've been both a system seller and an Xbox Game Pass seller. It would've been the explosive start to the generation that could set the tone for years to come.
That's how you know something is very much not right with Halo Infinite. We're left to assume things aren't going as expected -- aside from some meme-worthy screenshots -- entirely by occurrences that come out of Microsoft and developer 343 Industries.
Another big one happened recently. Bloomberg reports that 343 partner studio head Chris Lee is no longer working on Halo Infinite. Lee says "I have stepped back from Infinite and I am looking at future opportunities." According to Lee's public LinkedIn profile, he has been at 343 for 12 years and at Microsoft Game Studios for 5 years prior to his time working on Halo.
Although Lee will remain with Microsoft, it's unclear whether he's leaving 343 Industries. He's being shuffled around to some extent, but that could mean he's remaining with the studio but no longer influencing Halo Infinite. It could also mean that he's moving elsewhere within Microsoft's game division, as he's probably a prime candidate to help lead one of the many new development teams under Xbox's banner.
Lee's departure is just the latest in a tumultuous development cycle for Halo Infinite. It's a project that lost both its creative director and executive producer in 2019. After a subpar showing in August 2020, Lee was no longer in charge of the creative vision for Halo Infinite. Microsoft brought in Joe Staten to head up the campaign, and Pierre Hintze to take charge of multiplayer. Lee being removed from the game altogether seemed like an inevitability.
Right now, Lee's status remains just as much of a mystery as Halo Infinite's. No one's really sure what's going on, it's just obvious that something needed to change.
Microsoft's New Halo Game Loses Top Director After Project Delay [Bloomberg]
Lair of the Clockwork God PS4 port arrives next week
Size Five Games' Lair of the Clockwork God will be hitting PS4 next week. The genre-blended adventure will be made available to download from the PlayStation Store on November 6, following on from its PC release in February, and its Xbox One and Switch ports back in September.
Lair of the Clockwork God is the next entry in Size Five's "Dan and Ben" games, and can be considered a pseudo-sequel/ spin-off to Ben There, Dan That and Time Gentlemen, Please - though the developer notes that Lair of the Clockwork God is a standalone title, and can be enjoyed regardless of the player's experience with previous releases. In this latest escapade, The duo must prevent "all of the apocalypses" by "teaching an old computer about feelings." I just report it, folks.
In order to pick their way through this epic adventure, Dan and Ben must rely on their respective skills to overcome any challenges in their path. Ben is a point-and-click fan, and as such has mastered the (Lucas)arts of item gathering, puzzle-solving, and disc-swapping (probably). Ben's pal Dan is all about modern indie platformers, and so is more comfortable traversing to out-of-reach spots and leaping chasms. Players must synchronize both characters' skills to progress through each area and, ultimately, save everybody's ass from Armageddon. So hop to it, because I've got big plans for 2021.
Your meme is a dream: Xbox made the Xbox Series X fridge
You joked about it. You laughed and had a good time. You didn't think the mad lads would actually do it.
Xbox has made the Xbox Series X fridge. It, like the console, is a big-ass black rectangle. The Xbox logo is illuminated whenever the fridge is plugged in. If you know anything about refrigerators and responsible food preservation, it should stay plugged in pretty much all the time.
It could be yours, cold storage for all your Gamer Fuel and leftover pizza. Retweet this before November 4 for a chance to win the Xbox fridge. It's a meme but it's also a household appliance. Appliances ain't cheap.
Now we wait for Sony to turn the PS5 into a router.
There's no way Pikmin 3 came out over seven years ago.
Wait, I'll just check...nah, I don't believe it, it must be a typo. Wait, we reviewed it! That info box looks pretty legit. Maybe it did.
Either way, it's hard to believe it's been that long, as Pikmin 3 has remained a staple of my dusted-off Wii U since. I still head back into the little pint-sized world to blow off some steam from time to time, and the Bingo Battle mode has been a perpetual font of fun for my wife and I.
The Deluxe version on Switch makes things a little easier on us if we want to boot it all back up again, even if it's not a huge upgrade.
Here's the site to request a PS5 adaptor for PlayStation VR
Hoping to take your PlayStation VR games for a spin on PS5? You're going to want an adaptor while they're being given out. Today, Sony opened the website for PlayStation VR owners to request them.
Long story short, the PlayStation 5 is getting a new HD Camera that isn't compatible with the current PlayStation VR setup, so if you have the headset and want to use it on PS5, you'll need a special adaptor for your existing (made-for-PS4) PlayStation Camera. Got it? Not really? There's an FAQ.
The important thing to note is that "anyone who owns a PS VR headset" can request the PlayStation Camera adaptor (with a limit of one per household). All you need is the serial number found on the PlayStation VR processor unit – the box that your HDMI cables go through. That said, at the time of writing, it's been a struggle to get the form to cooperate. The CAPTCHA is buggy at the moment.
If you keep getting an error with a correctly typed serial number, just keep re-entering it. I had that problem and after several attempts, it eventually worked and I was able to enter my address info.
As for how the PlayStation Camera adaptor fits into the picture:
- Step 1: Connect the PlayStation Camera adaptor to a USB Type-A port on the back of your PS5 console. The PlayStation Camera adaptor cannot be used with the PS4 console.
- Step 2. Connect the PlayStation Camera to the AUX port on the PlayStation Camera adaptor.
Sony is expecting to begin shipping them in mid-November in most regions, and there's no fee.
We got an Xbox Series X: Here's what's in the box
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's the PS5! No wait, that was yesterday!
The time has come to unveil both new consoles in all their unboxed glory, which means we can take comparison shots.
Despite having "box" in the name, the Xbox box is surprisingly not as big of a box as the PS5. In fact, the Xbox box fits inside of the PS5 box.
Box.
Apex Legends Season 7 launch trailer shows off the beautiful new map
Just a couple days ago, we got a new "Stories from the Outlands" video introducing the new playable character in Apex Legends for Season 7. Past that, the official site mentioned the new map that has been teased since Season 5. Today, we got our first look at a stylized representation of it.
The trailer also ties into Season 6's graphic novel-told story, picking up right after Rampart learns Mirage packed all of her stuff up on a shuttle as it's launching. The two follow that shuttle to Olympus and we get to see the lush city in the sky where we'll be fighting. It's futuristic and verdant, and it still appears to have a good balance of open space and clusters of features.
We also get to see the new legend Horizon in action, and can make some more educated guesses on her abilities. She carries a drone on her back that looks a little like Lifeline's D.O.C., but instead of dispensing healing, it acts as her ultimate ability, creating a black hole that sucks nearby enemies in. Her tactical ability is indeed tied to the gravity lifts that have been showing up around Kings Canyon and World's Edge, though as demonstrated here, they can be used to flush an enemy team out of cover in addition to just providing some vertical mobility for her own team.
The last big thing in today's trailer is the footage of the Trident in action. This is the first time Apex Legends will have vehicles, and it appears there will be one fairly protected driver and spots for up to two teammates, one on either side, to hang out and fire weapons at the risk of being largely exposed to incoming fire. The trailer also shows the Trident suffering some brief malfunction when hit by a powered-up shot from a Sentinel, so that may provide another reason to pick up the sniper rifle that doesn't get a lot of love.
Check out the trailer above; it's a good one. We can still expect one or two more videos to release before Season 7 launches on November 4, and those will likely include actual gameplay footage to mull over and finer details on Horizon's abilities to pick apart.
Dare you enter the terrifying house of Visage?
Developer SadSquare Studio has announced that its terrifying psychological horror, Visage, will be launching on PS4, PC, and Xbox One on October 30, just in time for Halloween.
In Visage, players will enter an old Gothic mansion loaded for bear with memories of ghastly and violent events - which kind of raises the question as to why you'd visit in the first place. As players wander the corridors of this grim homestead, stories of the past and its previous occupants and visitors will be revealed, offering clues that must be pieced together in order to reveal the truth behind the house and our protagonist's connection to it.
Defenseless in this quest against the vengeful dead, Visage hopes to attack the player's very sanity, with constantly changing environments and numerous tricks and traps to leave the audience on the edge of their seat and unable to believe the evidence of their own eyes... It's too spoopy for me, is what I'm basically saying.
But if you have the wherewithal for it, then maybe you can check out Visage this witching weekend. The first two chapters are available now on Steam Early Access, with the full game launching October 30. What have you to lose? Except your MIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNND!
Those elusive Super Mario pins were worth the trouble after all
Did you get 'em? Did you manage to get a hold of those 35th anniversary Mario pins?
Even for people who completed all of the necessary My Nintendo goals way in advance and were around when the pins became available from Nintendo's shop, it was still a mad dash to get an order placed before the servers came crashing down and the supply ran out. It's been one of those years.
In all of the hustle and bustle lately, the pins slipped my mind... until they showed up at my door.
Having gotten my fair share of less-than-stellar collectible gaming stuff over the years, I'm pleasantly surprised by how well they turned out. They're solid. And the box, in particular, is a nice little touch. I'm not sure I'll ever stick them on my laptop bag – I don't want to lose them! – but I'm glad I bought them.
Here are the pins up close with some fresh Halloween candy and a big-ass thing of Tums for scale.
It was a hell of a delivery day at the Devore household.
Tomb Raider movie sequel delayed from March 2021 release
As reported by the movie snoops over at Deadline, MGM Studios has announced that the sequel to its 2018 Tomb Raider movie will no longer meet its March 2021 premiere date and has been delayed until further notice.
The latest in a long, long line of movies to have its plans usurped by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Tomb Raider 2 was to see the return of Alicia Vikander as death-defying adventurer Lara Croft, embarking on another dangerous adventure into the darkest corners of the globe. Directed by Kill List's Ben Wheatley, shooting of the new sequel was expected to start in late spring, but the pandemic has rendered production impossible.
Tomb Raider 2 joins a host of other blockbusters currently sitting in limbo due to the global lockdown. The list of delayed movies includes billion-dollar titles such as 007 adventure No Time to Die, Fast & Furious 9, and numerous releases in the Marvel cinematic universe. Other pictures have gone ahead despite the ongoing strife, such as Sony's Uncharted movie, which the studio believes is on course to meet a July 2021 release date.
MGM pulls Tomb Raider 2 [Deadline]
K/DA, League of Legends' virtual pop group, returns with stunning new music video 'MORE'
League of Legends' diva-riffic pop group has returned. K/DA - consisting of Ahri, Evelynn, Akali, and Kai'Sa - have released another hyperactive... erm.. "banger" titled "MORE," which is surely set to take the Young Person's Hit Parade by storm.
Following on from 2018's "Pop/Stars" and this year's "The Baddest," "MORE" sees K/DA collaborate for the first time with one of their own rivals - the colorful Seraphine - whose mastery of audio attacks makes her a good fit for K/DA's bass-heavy beats and heavenly harmonies. But enough of my yakking, you can check out the gorgeous new video for "MORE" below.
PlayStation Plus is moving into the new generation: although it won't be leaving the PS4 behind.
Just today Sony confirmed that in addition to Destruction All-Stars, Bugsnax will be joining the PS+ lineup. Although, while the former is due in February of 2021, the latter is coming at launch in November. There is a catch with Bugsnax though: it's PS5-only.
Even though Bugsnax is launching on PC and PS4 in addition to Sony's new console, it's a PS5 Plus exclusive. That offer is good from November 12 through January 4, 2021. Developer Young Horses says that "anyone who buys Bugsnax for the PS4 will be able to upgrade to the PS5 version for free. Those who purchase the PS5 version will also own the PS4 version. However, players who redeem Bugsnax on the PS5 through their PlayStation Plus subscription will not be entitled to the PS4 version." Got it? It's no Smart Delivery, that's for sure.
"All PS4/PS5 owners" will be able to redeem Middle-earth: Shadow of War and Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition. Those will be on offer from November 3 to November 30. Don't forget: there's also the "PlayStation Plus Collection" on PS5. You can find a recap of that lineup below, which has some extremely heavy-hitting games on it.
PlayStation Plus [PS Blog]
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is getting a Switch eShop demo
While the next generation of gaming is stealing all of the headlines as of late, Nintendo still has a heavy-hitter coming in 2020: Age of Calamity.
The Zelda: Breath of the Wild prequel is proving to be quite the surprise, as the story is billed as a direct link to the popular 2017 iteration; right down to some extra lore details on top of broader story strokes. I'm stoked to find out a little more about this version of Hyrule, so long as Nintendo and Omega Force don't go too overboard on the retcons and exposition.
Alas, while most of the details are left to pure speculation, it looks like we'll all be able to go hands-on with it together very soon. Spotted on the Nintendo News section (first in Korea and now in the US), a demo is "available" as of today. The Nintendo Direct Mini today re-iterated this!
It's a genius move to get ahead of the buzz of any potential scene-stealing next-gen games: to get people talking about Zelda again before the hype takes hold. Also, it's nestled very nicely between the next-gen launches and the now-December-dated Cyberpunk 2077.
Everything is in place for Age of Calamity to sneak up on people, especially given the large Switch install base; some of which may not even be interested in upgrading their consoles just yet.
No Man's Sky to receive free upgrade on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC
Hello Games has revealed that No Man's Sky is the latest title to be afforded a major upgrade for next-gen platforms. No Man's Sky: Next Generation will be offered as a free download to all current NMS players on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.
The upgrade will boost the visual and technical prowess of No Man's Sky across the board, allowing for 4K resolution at 60 FPS, longer draw distances, deeper texture density, improved grass physics and "warp-speed" loading times. Console players are expected to see the most significant changes in comparison to the current PS4 and Xbox One release, while PC players - particularly those playing on "Ultra" settings - will also see some improvements in overall visual fidelity.
Additionally, No Man's Sky: Next Generation will support 32-player multiplayer, cross-play functions, and advanced audio and VR improvements, as well as support for the PS5's Haptic Feedback capabilities. The upgrade will launch on the same day as the new consoles (so November 10 for Xbox Series X and November 12/19 for PS5), with the PC version expected to arrive within the same time-frame.
Here's a recap of today's surprise October Nintendo Direct Mini
So how about 2020 guys! Amid all of the awful things happening, marketing is sort of all over the place. We could get a massive first-party announcement at any point with no buildup! Cats and dogs I tell ya!
Billed as the "last partner showcase of the year," Nintendo dropped new news on us today from studios both big and indie via a new Nintendo Direct Mini partner showcase. Here's the rundown.
Claire and Leon looking mighty fine in Netflix's Resident Evil Infinite Darkness
Capcom's Resident Evil franchise most assuredly has its fair share of characters, having introduced a huge cast of heroes and villains since the series inception back in 1996. But I'm not sure if any of the series' protagonists have received quite the same number of tweaked reiterations as the beloved heroes of 1998's Resident Evil 2: Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield.
Netflix has released two new images of the aforementioned monster smashers as they appear in the upcoming CG series Resident Evil Infinite Darkness, first revealed by the streaming service in September. As is to be expected from Resi's resident hipsters, both Leon and Claire are looking hot to trot, with Kennedy rocking his iconic bad-boy side-parting, while Redfield has adopted a form strikingly similar to her Resident Evil Revelations 2 appearance.
TMS Entertainment, the producer of Resident Evil Infinite Darkness, has stated that the series will feature an all-new Resident Evil narrative "unlike any you've seen before" but will probably see Claire and Leon team-up against spine-tingling horrors and clandestine conspiracies. You can check out the teaser trailer for the series in our previous coverage.
Resident Evil Infinite Darkness will premiere on Netflix in 2021.
PS4 worldwide shipments hit 113.8 million as PS5 launch beckons
Sony has released its latest quarterly financial report, which includes the final run of statistics for the industry giant ahead of the launch of PlayStation 5, which will be hitting the market in November.
PlayStation 4, which launched back in November 2013, has successfully shipped an incredible 113.8 million consoles over the course of its generational lifespan, with 1.5 million black boxes sold within the past three months. Year-on-year, PS4 hardware sales have dropped significantly, but this is an inevitability as the generation winds down in preparation for the PS5's debut.
Software itself, however, is on the up-and-up. Some 80.9 million PS4 games were sold in the second quarter of 2020, which is an increase of over 10 million units when compared to the previous year. It is a snug theory that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is partly responsible for the boost in game sales on all platforms. Additionally, the PlayStation Plus service currently has 45.9 million subscribers, which is an increase of nine million users on the previous year.
Over the course of its continued lifespan, PlayStation 4 remains a solid-selling platform, with every year delivering a steady stream of excellent software enjoyed by players across the globe. While many video game fans are preparing to move into the next generation, PS4 consoles and games will continue to sell for the foreseeable future, further validating the PS4's status as one of the most successful consoles in video game history.
PlayStation 5 launches worldwide November 12/19.
Contest: Win Ray's the Dead for PS4 or Steam
In today's contest you can win a PS4 or Steam copy of Ray's the Dead!
You know what's even spookier than ghosts, goblins, and ghouls running amok in the streets? Waiting seven years for a game to come out!
We first covered Ray's the Dead all the way back in 2013, and now that it's out, we thought we'd celebrate by giving some copies away! Have you been waiting all this time? If so, you're probably a zombie by now, yourself!
Predator: Hunting Grounds turns the Predator into a Viking
The newest DLC for Predator: Hunting Grounds takes inspiration from God of War or Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. Imagine pissing off a Viking Predator and knowing you're about to get fucked all the way up.
Predator: Hunting Grounds gets a new Predator class for its latest add-on. The Viking Predator is a Norse dude -- honestly, he kinda looks like he's doing some Kratos cosplay -- with an ornate design. It'll never be fully appreciated as he's blurring around the battlefield.
The Viking class is actually going to be the slowest Predator yet. Developer Illfonic says he's "insanely strong" but even slower than the Beserker. The Viking also has a Norse two-handed battle axe. It's good for hulking overhead chops and quicker two-hit combos.
Predator: Ragnarok is accompanied by Hunting Grounds' sixth free title update. To combat high wait times, players are granted a 20 percent XP bonus for jumping into low population queues. There's also a new perk system that encourages team diversity. Here's a sample breakdown (but it's far from comprehensive as each class has 16 perk possibilities):
Left 4 Dead's Bill is back for a Dying Light cameo and he brought Gnome Chompski along for the ride
Techland is still having the time of its life with Dying Light. After hosting a cool but mostly weapon-focused Left 4 Dead crossover event last year, the team is back with something even better for Halloween 2020: an update that lets you play as Bill and use Gnome Chompski as a skull-crusher.
Starting today on PC – and coming to Dying Light "a few weeks later" on consoles – this free in-game event also involves an "extremely challenging" Viral Rush survival mode and lots of incendiary shotgun ammo. If you take out 50 Virals, you'll pick up the Gold Gnome Gear. Consider it your civic duty.
Whether you have time to spare this week for the Halloween event or you're planning to get back into the game eventually, feel free to grab the L4D2 Bill & Gnome Chompski Pack just so you have it.
Claiming digital content that I realistically won't ever use is my favorite pastime.
Left 4 Dead 2 crossover event is back! [Steam]
Rogue Legacy 2 got a huge content boost with the Far Shores update
If you burned through Rogue Legacy 2's Early Access launch-day content and are looking for an excuse to jump back in, first of all, same. Secondly, today's the day. The beefy Far Shores update is here.
There are two biomes to hit up (Axis Mundi and the Kerguelen Plains), three classes to learn (the Valkyrie, Duelist, and the Chef), and old classes to rediscover (now that the talent system has been reworked to be less reliant on mana and there are stat incentives for "mastering" each archetype).
As Cellar Door Games puts it, "We heard you loud and clear about the lack of substance when the game first released in Early Access, so we scrapped our best-laid plans and decided to go all-out."
I sympathize with anyone who wants to hold off until Rogue Legacy 2 is in the 1.0 home stretch, but if you're even remotely on the fence, this content update is a huge step in the right direction.
It's already immensely fun. It just needs to keep going.
Rogue Legacy 2 – Patch v0.2.0 – The Far Shores Update [Steam]
