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JACKY BAYILI
Multilateralism and global partnership are critical to building a new world order that will ensure people reach the future they desire, agreed the attendees of a top-level international forum in Conghua district of Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province, Monday.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced on Tuesday it will soon unveil a new round of relief measures, one day after the city recorded its biggest plunge in retail sales.
I just spent a week in Hong Kong, and luckily, it was peaceful. Radical protesters had called off violence for the previous weekend in order to "ensure" that the District Council elections would not be canceled. As a result, things were normal on the ground. However, as has been typical for the past few months, in the following weekend, things quickly sparked up again.
The government's proposal to create an Independent Review Committee to find why and how the violent protests happened and what to do in their aftermath would be a step in the right direction if Hong Kong is to move on, Lan Kwai Fong Holdings Chairman Allan Zeman said.
Although sentencing is an art and not a science, there are occasions when the duty of the courts is crystal clear. Public disorder is an obvious example of the type of criminality which invariably requires a firm response. As the Court of Final Appeal explained in its judgment in an unlawful assembly appeal in 2018, "public order must be maintained", and this requires the judges "to consider the factor of deterrence in sentencing" (FACC 8/2017).
Civil servants convicted of criminal offenses will face not only the legal consequences but also disciplinary action from the government, Hong Kong's civil servant chief said on Wednesday.
A United States senator from Florida, Marco Rubio, has pushed and prodded his colleagues with misleading information, gained bipartisan support, and finally managed to obtain unanimous Senate approval of his benignly named Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019.
The pro-establishment camp's defeat in the District Council Election is not entirely unexpected. Notwithstanding the common-sense presumption that most Hong Kong citizens are opposed to the street violence, property destruction and transportation disruption wreaked upon our once-safe and orderly society by the "blackshirts" in the past six months, there was a reliable opinion survey before the election showing that 40 percent of the citizens actually support their anarchy! With such deviant thinking, what can you expect!
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government should make no further concessions to violence, but must resist it with all the means at its disposal, the city's former director of public prosecutions said on Tuesday at a legal forum on the ongoing social unrest in Hong Kong.
On Wednesday, both houses of the United States Congress passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act - a bill designed to implement sanctions on officials and rescind the city's "special status" if Washington deems certain requirements are not met. Sponsored and pushed by hawkish senators such as Marco Rubio, the bill is expected to be signed by President Donald Trump, despite his personal ambivalence and unwillingness to get involved on the issue. The legislation is expected to cause disruption to US-China relations, with Beijing condemning it as a violation of national sovereignty and intervention in its internal affairs.
MADRID - Cristiano Ronaldo set yet another Champions League record on Wednesday, scoring in Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund to become the first player to find the net in all six group-stage matches.
MADRID - Cristiano Ronaldo set yet another Champions League record on Wednesday, scoring in Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund to become the first player to find the net in all six group-stage matches.
MADRID - Cristiano Ronaldo set yet another Champions League record on Wednesday, scoring in Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund to become the first player to find the net in all six group-stage matches.
MADRID - Cristiano Ronaldo set yet another Champions League record on Wednesday, scoring in Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund to become the first player to find the net in all six group-stage matches.
San Diego Comic Con is usually one of the biggest shows of the year, offering glimpses into the future of comic books, movies, television shows, and video games. The creators of these projects and the talent that brings them to life are usually on hand for panels and to meet fans. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year's show is once again virtual, earning the name Comic-Con@Home 2021.
This change in approach has led to less involvement from creative studios and far fewer reveals to marvel at, but this year's show still delivered a couple of surprises, especially with trailers for new animated television shows. I've rounded up the trailers that I thought were the most exciting or unexpected. You can view them all below:
Star Trek: Prodigy
Click here to watch embedded mediaThis new CGI animated series will air on Nickelodeon, and looks to slot in nicely next to other successful ventures of similar design like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous. Make sure you watch until the end for a nice audio surprise.
Blade Runner: Black Lotus
Click here to watch embedded mediaAdult Swim and Crunchyroll are creating a CGI animated series based on the theatrical films that takes place between Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049. This show will consist of 13 episodes, and follows a new replicant named Elle.
Slasher Flesh & Blood
Click here to watch embedded mediaA wealthy family comes together for a reunion, only to learn they just entered a game of life and death and are being hunted by a killer. Slasher: Flesh & Blood will debut on Shudder on September 12.
The Walking Dead
Click here to watch embedded mediaThe final season of The Walking Dead debuts on AMC on August 22 (but you can stream it on August 15 on AMC+). This trailer shows plenty of walkers and calls this final act a "death march."
The Walking Dead: World Beyond
Click here to watch embedded mediaThe Walking Dead: World Beyond is also coming to an end after just two seasons, which was the plan from the moment the show was announced. This trailer gives you a first look at how Iris' story will conclude. The show returns to AMC on October 3.
This past week, legal documents regarding a lawsuit from the state of California against Activision Blizzard surfaced. The lawsuit's details are graphic, disturbing, and detailed in a way that is causing both the gaming community and the industry to take action. Following the initial report, Blizzard co-founder and former CEO Mike Morhaime has released his own statement. Unlike Activision's response, Morhaime took full responsibility for the "failings" of the company concerning the sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and toxic behavior that was reported to be prevalent within the company's culture.
Content warning for graphic conversations regarding sexual misconduct, abuse, and suicide.
Morhaime took to Twitterwith an extended apology message to those in the company he used to lead. The first portion of his response directly called attention to the allegations, lending support to those speaking out. "I have read the full complaint against Activision Blizzard and many of the other stories," his statement began. "It is all very disturbing and difficult to read. I am ashamed. It feels like everything I thought I stood for has been washed away. What’s worse but even more important, real people have been harmed, and some women had terrible experiences."
He continued, saying, "I was at Blizzard for 28 years. During that time, I tried very hard to create an environment that was safe and welcoming for people of all genders and backgrounds. I knew that it was not perfect, but clearly we were far from that goal. The fact that so many women were mistreated and were not supported means we let them down. In addition, we did not succeed in making it feel safe for people to tell their truth. It is no consolation that other companies have faced similar challenges. I wanted us to be different, better.
"Harassment and discrimination exist. They are prevalent in our industry. It is the responsibility of leadership to keep all employees feeling safe, supported, and treated equitably, regardless of gender and background. It is the responsibility of leadership to stamp out toxicity and harassment in any form, across all levels of the company. To the Blizzard women who experienced any of these things, I am extremely sorry that I failed you."
Activision's immediate response to the details of the lawsuit going public was filled with denial and aggressive deflection, a response that Morhaime was careful not to take. Instead of taking the route the initial Activision response reflected, Morhaime offered support. More than that, he made it clear that he knows that a simple statement is nothing without action, saying, "I realize that these are just words, but I wanted to acknowledge the women who had awful experiences. I hear you, I believe you, and I am so sorry to have let you down. I want to hear your stories, if you are willing to share them. As a leader in our industry, I can and will use my influence to help drive positive change and to combat misogyny, discrimination, and harassment wherever I can. I believe we can do better, and I believe the gaming industry can be a place where women and minorities are welcomed, included, supported, recognized, rewarded, and ultimately unimpeded from the opportunity to make the types of contributions that all of us join this industry to make. I want the mark I leave on this industry to be something that we can all be proud of."
There were various reactions to his stance, including responses from former and current Activision Blizzard employees. Some were candied with Morhaime saying that he was right, he did fail them, recounting times when they tried to speak up in the past only to be bullied, belittled, gaslit, or - in some cases - physically reprimanded:
I was later reprimanded for doing that, completely ignoring how terrified I was that my trying to save someone's life had somehow put my job in jeopardy, and that I was going to be assaulted at a work event because of it.
— Cher Scarlett (@cherthedev) July 24, 2021
It felt like I was never given any grace, despite so -
When I think back specifically to how many women Afrasiabi harassed and assaulted, myself included, and how many people were traumatized by Bridenbecker, the toxic environment that Pearce's EA's had for so many years... it's hard for me to think that you couldn't have enabled it.
— Cher Scarlett (@cherthedev) July 24, 2021
Someone asked me what I thought of Dreamhaven recently and their message about creating a diverse place and I responded…how could I believe that when you tolerated what went on at Blizzard. You filled the ranks w/ old guard taken from Blizzard.
— Connie Griffith (@gamedevconnie) July 24, 2021
There’s a long way to go, and there are a lot of people who need to review past misses and lost opportunities to recognize certain behaviors/people for what they were.
— 💖💛💙Stephanie “The Vaxxed” Krutsick🏳️🌈🇺🇸 (@skrutsick) July 24, 2021
“The fact that so many women were mistreated and were not supported means we let them down. In addition, we did not succeed in making it feel safe for people to tell their truth.”
— 💖💛💙Stephanie “The Vaxxed” Krutsick🏳️🌈🇺🇸 (@skrutsick) July 24, 2021
👆
These are the key phrases.
While the words do offer a genuine reaction, they are nothing without action. Numerous former employees have come forward to respond to Morhaime saying that he "knew all along," which brings us to the course of action. Will Morhaime assist in the lawsuit? Will he provide support for those he talked about in his public statement? Legal support, financial support, job placement support in response to the allegations?
The investigation has been going on for over two years, according to the initial report, centering on a declared "frat boy" culture within Activision Blizzard. The lawsuit also cites the company being a "breeding ground for harassment and discrimination against women." As mentioned in our initial coverage, the details in the lawsuit are graphic, recounting purported incidents that include casual discrimination all the way up to sexual assault and harassment. The lawsuit goes so far as to state that certain actions led to the suicide of one developer following a trip with her supervisor, who reportedly brought "butt plugs and lubricant" on a work trip with her in hopes of coercing her into unwanted relations.
To learn more, including the reported attempts to go straight to HR, we encourage you to read our previous coverage here.
The 1980s were rife with crazy cartoon properties that were all about big battles, crazy genre settings, and over-the-top characters. Those properties often arose from the need to sell related toys, but the power fantasies they engendered also happen to be excellent fodder for video games. While I could point to any number of fallow cartoons as fertile ground for revival, none is as ready for the big time as Masters of the Universe.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe debuted as an animated series in 1983, delighting kids like myself who were excited by the myriad characters, colors, vehicles, and playsets that continually flowed out from Mattel. To this day, few children’s playsets match the style and excitement of the Castle Grayskull set, with its trapdoor, opening “jawbridge,” and other tricks. Without fail, afternoons brought the opportunity to see the castle brought to life in the cartoon, with He-Man, Skeletor, and the rest of the heroes and villains duking it out, often against the backdrop of that familiar structure.
Our kid selves recognized by instinct what our adult selves can now examine and acknowledge; Masters of the Universe is unabashed fun, tying together science-fiction and fantasy tropes in a glorious mix of lasers, swords, spells, tanks, and more. The characters, no doubt fueled by Mattel’s need to discover ever-more cockamamie things to capture childhood attention, were a delight. Ram Man was a literal battering ram, springing across the floor to smash into targets. Two-Bad had – you guessed it – two heads. Moss Man was covered in green fur. Stinkor was a skunk – and the toy actually smelled bad! No idea was too out there.
But for all its silly fun, Masters of the Universe was also potent moralistic mythology, filled with impossibly heroic good guys and laughably maniacal bad guys. Like many of the best comic book characters, it featured a main character with a secret identity, whose heroism was often unheralded by those who knew him best. And no matter how bonkers the character concepts got, there was no denying the way those gimmicks kept things fresh, letting both the cartoon and the toy play sessions it encouraged take off in all kinds of directions.
Following anticipation from fans, today brought the first episodes of Kevin Smith’s (Clerks, Chasing Amy) revival of Masters of the Universe. Rather than rebooting and starting fresh, the new Revelation animated series picks up where the 80s cartoon left off, telling a more adult story and simultaneously celebrating, poking fun at, and critiquing what came before. Revelation is an effort targeted at adult fans who grew up with these characters but are now eager to see it refreshed.
That same philosophy should guide the possibility of a new video game set within the Masters of the Universe setting. Over the years, several attempts have been made to bring the franchise to life, including everything from a 1987 arcade game to a 2012 mobile release. But the franchise deserves more. Imagine an open world of Eternia, filled with magic and technology to discover and equip. Optional playable characters or allies could expand the potential to reach new locations and sites, from confronting Mer-Man in the oceans to flying with Stratos to visit with the bird people. Melee combat sequences can be rich with potential and with no shortage of colorful and weird enemies against which to fight.
Existing licensed game properties have proven that a consummate love of a franchise, married to technical and design know-how, can lead to awesome video games. The Batman Arkham games leveraged an evocative setting and an impressive rogue’s gallery to modernize and embody the Dark Knight in a new way. The makers of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic recognized the stark moralistic tilt of the Star Wars universe and transformed it into one of video gaming’s most recognized morality systems. The developers behind the South Park games were unafraid to play with humor, brightness, and parody to reinvent what players might expect to find in an RPG. High Moon’s Transformers games reinvented an older 1980s cartoon series as a grittier story of war and loss, but without losing touch with characters and story.
While there are plenty of examples of licensed video games missing the mark, Masters of the Universe is uniquely situated to be a success story. Not only are its larger-than-life characters and setting a perfect fit for big video game action, but other mediums are actively bringing the old series back to public consciousness. Revelation is just the first of two announced Netflix animated series. New toys are back in stores. A tabletop role-playing game is in the works. And long-quiescent fan communities have remained quietly active for decades, ready to see these stories brought back to life.
Kevin Smith’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation proves that you don’t need to abandon the fun and vibrancy of an old franchise to bring it new opportunities and help it step into the modern age. Like that new animated release, a high-end video game adaptation can find success if it updates the themes and characters without abandoning what makes them memorable. More than most of those old 80s cartoons, Masters of the Universe comes ready-made for the type of action and intensity that a big new video game needs. I’m crossing my fingers that some of the other attempts to revitalize the Masters of the Universe find success; perhaps, when they do, the right game maker can come along and bring He-Man, Skeletor, and all the rest to life on the thumbsticks of my controller.
There are two things I find myself doing when my mental health gets to its worst place. The first thing is getting really angry. It is an effort in futility because I'm mostly mad at a nebulous concept. In February 2019, I checked myself into a rehab clinic to finally combat my addiction to alcohol. So many years later, what makes me mad is this wasn't the magic eraser I secretly hoped it would be. Everything that happened before I got sober still happened; all the personal failings are just as real now as they were then, no matter how much I think I've changed. Admittedly, it's unfair to be mad about this – but I still am! I find myself thinking, "If I'm only going to feel worse, then what was the point of getting sober?"
The second thing I do – almost like clockwork – is turn to Resident Evil 4. Something about that game comforts me. I love the game, but it's only when things feel apocalyptic in my brain that I obsessively consume it. It's a bizarre way to clock my mental health – when things are good, I go about my life as usual, and when things are bad, my life revolves around Resident Evil 4.
Right now, I have Game Informer'sResident Evil 4 Super Replay open in a tab on my computer. Watching the familiar levels, combined with Jeff Cork, Kyle Hilliard, Andrew Reiner, and Tim Turi's commentary, gives me some semblance of normalcy in a trying time. It's almost like a grounding technique, keeping me here and now instead of oscillating between panic and depression. I've had to pause the video to write this piece, and I can already feel my brain starting to race.
Later tonight, after work, I'll probably begin a new playthrough of Resident Evil 4. Hell, I may do this whilewatching our Super Replay. It certainly wouldn't be the first time. Last year, when I was in a similar boat, I played through Resident Evil 4 three times in less than a month. A simple comfort in a terrible time.
Part of this is, obviously, avoidance. I do not want to think about what's going on inside my brain right now, and so I play a game I know front, back, and center because it's familiar to me and gets my brain off of things. No matter how many periods of bad mental health you go through, and no matter how used to the feeling you get, sometimes you have to fight that familiarity with a better familiarity.
And it’s that familiarity that makes me come back to it over and over again. I'm less interested or preoccupied with how good I think the game is, and I'm just focused on the motions, flexing muscle memory and completing macro and micro-objectives until my brain finally calms down. These days I just play with the infinite rocket launcher and blow everything to kingdom come. I'm hardly paying attention to what's on screen, I'm skipping every cutscene and just giving myself something to do. Something I like doing. Or at least something I know how to do.
I think that's important. Not specifically a game, but I think it's essential to have something familiar you return to at your lowest, to focus your mind on anything else. I have a lot of complicated feelings about my life post-sobriety and how I've dealt with that (not very well!), and while those are things I need to work on, sometimes it doesn't do a person any good to spend every waking moment inside the worst parts of their brain. Sometimes it's best to turn all that off, to focus on killing zombies or whatever it might be. I hope you have that thing in your life, too. And if you don't, I hope you find it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to return to Resident Evil 4.
We first made Sheik in Ocarina of Time back in 1998, but what if she had her own game entirely? It almost happened, and following our previous feature talking about why we'd like to Zelda get her own game courtesy of our own Jason Guisano, the surfaced canceled Sheik adventure has captured our hearts and attention.
A recent leak spotted by Source Gaming'sEIC features a canceled Sheik-focused game that was seemingly in development from Retro Studios. This is the same studio that is also currently working on Metroid Prime 4. Former Retro Studios artist Sammy Hall has shared looks at the alleged game before with artwork of Sheik. Sheik has the appearance of a male Sheikah, but it is later learned in the games that it is actually Princess Zelda in disguise. It was an awesome storyline when Ocarina was first released, making the prospect at a standalone game seem immensely appealing. That being said, the project seems to be canceled given a recent leak that comes via a few different sources, but the original source comes from a leaked document that showcases the Sheik title planned between the years 2005 and 2008.
It says Retro Studio in katakana there so I'm pretty sure that is exactly what it is lol https://t.co/6RObu8p7ax
— Joshua 'NantenJex' Goldie (@MrNantendo) July 20, 2021
In the above document, it looks like the plan was to have Ocarina's Sheik be a playable character for fans of the Legend of Zelda franchise. According to the archive of this document, the game was going to be an action RPG, which is the usual style for the Zelda series, and it was set to be "ten times weirder" than the usual adventures of Link and co. The story was reportedly set to be during the Dark Gerudo's 100-year arrival of Ganon, which honestly sounds amazing.
Je découvre également ce site (https://t.co/BhznwfiOBA) qui répertorie plein de jeu annulé ou de version béta/proto de jeu. Il y a pas mal de jeux de niche mais aussi pas mal de curiosité dont un projet de plateformer 3D commandé par Valve et Xbox annulé.https://t.co/esaigcuFmc pic.twitter.com/yE5kPRes8E
— Kyio🌛 (@Kyiosuke13) July 15, 2021
Nintendo has made no mention of a possible Sheik game in the past, making this venture an interesting rabbit hole to dive into.
So, we've got to ask: would you be down to play a Sheik-focused Legend of Zelda game? Why or why not? Sound off in the comments below!
[H/T Nintendo Life]
Morteshka and HypeTrain Digital have announced a release date for Black Book, which arrives on August 10. Where can you find it? Well, just about everywhere. Black Book is coming to Steam, EGS, GOG, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch. If you’re looking for a demo experience before diving into a purchase, the game has a prologue segment available for free right now on Steam and Xbox that covers the tale of Vasilisa becoming a witch, a narrative that flows into the core game.
Click here to watch embedded mediaIn the base game, Vasilisa is seeking the titular Black Book for its magical powers, specifically the ability to bring back the dead. Card-based battles are the order of the day as you move through a dark world of Slavic folklore. You’ll meet friendly companions, employ demons to your cause, and collect cards to strengthen your powers as you head through the main story and side content. Make sure you keep your demons occupied, because they’ll begin to annoy and even harm you if you don’t keep them entertained! The various villages, towns, and other somewhat friendly fare as you proceed through dark forests offers some respite from hordes of dangerous enemies and sinister supernatural foes.
If you have tried the prologue chapter, what did you think? Do card collecting, deckbuilding RPG systems work for you? After Slay the Spire, Monster Train, and numerous other offerings have become available as this genre goes more mainstream, they’ve been a blast to experiment with. There’s something special about cutting all the chaff out of your deck and having only your perfect power combos to draw, or creating a massive, towering card giant that’s fueled by its size. What are your favorite deckbuilders, if any? Are you planning to check out Black Book? Let us know in the comments!
We're happy to announce a project that's been in the works for a long time — the Official Game Informer Community Discord! Yes, we finally made one. So if you're interested in hanging out, playing games, and chatting with Game Informer staff and our friendly community, this is the place for you. Want to join? Awesome. We want you to join, too. Simply subscribe to our Twitch channel, sync your Discord and Twitch accounts, and then join the fun!
Need guidance on how to join our Community Discord server once you've subscribed on Twitch? Follow these steps once you're signed into Discord, according to the Discord Twitch Integration FAQ:
Q: How do I join a sub-only channel? A: From the top! Here are the steps:Why are we connecting the Discord to Twitch? Well, we want this to be a positive and inclusive space that we can all enjoy together, and we have some wonderful community moderators in place. This link makes it easier to ensure our Discord remains a safe place for our fans at all times.
We can't wait to chat with all of you wonderful folks on Discord. We'll see you soon!
Last Stop is the latest game published by Annapurna Interactive, developed by Variable State. Variable State is no stranger to creating meaningful gaming experiences as seen with 2016's Virginia, so when I dove into Last Stop, I couldn't wait to see what else this studio had in store. As a massive Albert Camus fan, I was not disappointed by the intricate existential philosophy interwoven into the Last Stop storyline.
After our Last Stop review went live, I had a few readers reach out to me asking who Albert Camus even was. He was a French philosopher, journalist, and author of some of my favorite humanistic books like The Stranger, The Myth of Sisyphus, and The Fall. His belief is that humans need to embrace the absurdity of our very existence, which blends the philosophies of existentialism and nihilism in the face of chaos. Last Stop's story reflects that blend that the Absurdism philosophy centers on with the story offering a dualistic experience that pits the mundanity of daily life against the absurdity of a supernaturally driven fate.
Last Stop features three characters, each with six chapters detailing their journeys towards an epic conclusion seen in the final arc. The journey starts off slow, monotonous, and without any real purpose. Moments in time captured that we can all relate to: feeling stuck, feeling too tired from being alive to where even picking out a simple outfit feels like too much work, feeling suffocated by overbearing family and expectations, feeling hurt when you feel slighted by a person you care about, feeling aimless when hanging out with friends, feeling like a failure when faced with someone younger and more successful. The instances are endless, but all equally relatable. This level of the mundane is the perfect juxtaposition to the unbridled chaos seen with the supernatural element. Each character is faced with a different aspect of the supernatural despite there being a connection to all three. This is where the Camus reference comes in. This story is about embracing that absurdity and realizing that sometimes there is no choice but to succumb. This is especially evident in the final two chapters, and it was within those arcs that I couldn't put the game down.
But it was much more than just the narrative itself that had me reminiscing about The Stranger and other reflections of human thought. It was the design elements that Variable State included, as well. The characters we play as and those that matter to them all have detailed faces, features, and expressions that reflect their own human experience. Everyone else? No facial features at all, not even in vague detail. I've seen some conversation that seemed to indicate this was a "lazy" design choice, but I have to disagree. To me, it felt like a deliberate decision to reflect a few points: one, a focus on the main characters. The story is about their individual experience, their choices, and their reactions. It's not about those on the "outside," and that's very much how we are in real life. When we are hyper-focused on our own reality, anything outside of that reality is non-existent or seeming unimportant. We almost become like faceless ants to one another unless our paths directly intersect in a way that our mind deems notable. The choice to make the faces of those not directly correlating with our characters be completely featureless, even when up close, reflects that tunnel vision that we are all intimately familiar with.
The story of Last Stop also delves into themes of perception as reality, meaning my perception may be different than your perception but both perceptions are our realities as we know them. What we see is what we know, therefore that is what is "real" in that moment in time. With that aforementioned tunnel vision, those outside characters are not an impactful part of our perception, making them blend into the background almost equitable to that of furniture: replaceable existence.
Last Stop also tackled issues that were less philosophical and more ethical, such as candidly talking about crunch in games. Crunch isn't working a little extra here and there, which is a common misconception and a reason why I tend to avoid using that word in casual conversation. It's about extended periods of overworking, oftentimes under leadership that doesn't really see their teams as human. We've seen it time and time again in the news, and even the media side experiences it. I had one job in games media where I worked 8 months straight without a single day off and was expected to write from the hospital when I had a seizure and even had to work from the front row of a funeral of a close relative. Luckily, that was years ago, but those types of working conditions are more common than many might think, and not just in games. Last Stop opened the door to this conversation once more when the character Jack is introduced, who works in the game industry. There is a scene after Jack and John, who is a middle-aged single father, swap bodies and John (as Jack) is faced with his first interaction in the world of game development. The "cool" boss comes in using "hip" lingo and trying a little too hard to seem "chill." He comes in and drops the casual, "Pressure from the top is high, so we've got to work through overtime with no benefits and no days off." But don't worry! He offered a pizza party to make being "down in the trenches" more bearable. Because as we all know in the corporate world, pizza parties fix all.
It's those types of interactions that make Last Stop a much deeper tale than I think many might perceive at first glance. The graphics are simplistic, the movement of the game is limited, and the story is linear. But that final choice? Playing through all the options, tempering with different reactions, and choosing empathy over scorn proved to me that Last Stop has a depth that is needed sometimes. Sometimes, you just need a game to unwind and shoot the proverbial s**t, while other times our brains crave something a bit more meaningful. If you find yourself looking for the latter, I can't recommend Last Stop enough. If interested, feel free to check out our full review here.
Frontier Developments today released the first developer diary for Jurassic World Evolution 2, the upcoming sequel that places more emphasis on story and dinosaur realism. Players are still tasked to build the theme park of their dreams in various locations, but that isn't the only way they'll be interacting with dinosaurs this time around. The story dictates the goals and sets up a variety of scenarios across the United States.
I saw 30 minutes of Jurassic World Evolution 2 in action a month ago, and also talked to the development team about what players can expect from this sequel, but this diary offers the first glimpse of the new dinosaur aggression systems. You'll see raptors chase prey as a pack, and triceratops battle for dominance within a habitat – perhaps showing us who the alpha will be.
The video walks through many of the new features and changes within this sequel, and also provides beautiful glimpses of the dinosaurs and customizable structures they'll be near. Frontier gives a brief look at the enhanced flying habitat, and mentions water creatures will be in the game for the first time, but doesn't give us a look at what these watery areas will look like. If the Mosasaur is in included in park spaces (which has been teased), the habitat will have to be huge. If it is, I hope you feed it sharks, just like we saw in the Jurassic World movie.
The biggest piece of information we all want still remains a mystery: the release date. Frontier is still saying just "2021." The good news to this is the messaging is still this year. Until we learn more, take a good look at the detail included in the dinosaurs in this video. They looked great in the first game, but look so much more lively this time around. It'll be interesting to see just how many behaviors they have, especially when predators around around.
In celebration of skateboarding being included in the Olympics for the very first time,Skate City has been updated with a new Tokyo, Japan level, available today. As publisher Snowman tells it, this level is the biggest added to the game to date. It's available exclusively through Apple Arcade.
The level will combine various parts of Tokyo, including famous skate spots from the real-world city, new large metropolitan areas, and small backstreets. The new level will also come with 21 new challenges, 30 new goals in Skate City's Endless Skate mode, new songs in the game's soundtrack, new skateboard decks and clothes in the shop, and a new leaderboard.
Check out the level's new trailer right here:
Click here to watch embedded media"For the last few years, we’ve been looking for an interesting way to tie a real-world event into something we make, but we never wanted to do anything that didn’t feel meaningful," Snowman co-founder Ryan Cash said in a statement about the update. "When the Tokyo games were announced, it was a no-brainer for us. Skateboarding’s coming to the Olympics for the first time in history, which is a triumphant moment for the sport. We knew we had to be part of it in some small way.”
"Skateboarding being included in the Olympics for the first time is a pretty big cultural milestone for the sport," Snowman senior producer Andrew Schimmel added. "We wanted to celebrate the moment by releasing our take on one of our most favorite cities in the world: Tokyo."
While the new Tokyo level is exclusive to the Apple Arcade subscription service, Snowman recently brought Skate City to consoles and PC back in May. The game is also available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch. Snowman recently added amajor expansion to one of its other games, Alto's Odyssey, released on July 16.
Look at me: I am the captain now.
After watching Dan Tack wipe the floor with Bloodborne in our last Super Replay, it’s time that I, Marcus Stewart, do the same with its successor, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Released in 2019 to critical acclaim, this tough-as-nails ninja epic flipped the FromSoftware formula on its head with a combat and parry system that promotes pure skill and aggression. The game’s memorable bosses can’t be felled by simply grinding and out-leveling them. You have to out-finesse them. It’s a challenging game, but at 2 p.m. CT, I’ll be tackling Sekiro in its entirety in a quest for redemption.
Click here to watch embedded mediaAs much as I enjoyed Sekiro I never finished the game after I hit a wall whose name rhymes with “Lardian Grape”. After suffering defeat after defeat I walked away for over a year and decided to travel the globe in search of enlightenment. I scaled mountains, meditated under waterfalls, and trained under the tutelage of Tibetan monks: all to acquire the mental and physical skills necessary to beat Sekiro once and for all.
Okay, I may have embellished that last bit. However, I have an even better support system. FromSoftware expert Dan Tack will act as my trusty coach, and I’ll also have Andrew Reiner in my corner to provide his entertaining brand of commentary and moral support. It doesn’t matter if it takes 5, 10, 15, 20 episodes or more. When the dust settles, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will be nothing more than another notch in my belt and I’ll finally become a master shinobi.
Join us every Friday on Twitch at 2 p.m. Central as we go live with what’s sure to be a raucous and entertaining playthrough of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Our livestreams are a blast and we love interacting with our readers, so we hope to see you there! If you can’t catch us live, we’ll have the archived episode uploaded to our YouTube channel 24 hours later. Can I finally exorcise Sekiro's demons for good? I may need your encouragement and advice to pull it off.
Be sure to check out the entire Bloodborne Super Replay as well as check out past Replay episodes by visiting our archive. Be sure to also let us know what games you’d like to see us tackle in future Super Replays!
As Destiny 2: Season of the Splicer continues to inch towards completion, Bungie continues to provide updates for what's next in the immediate future and for season 15. When the current season implemented the long-requested Transmog feature, it was met with mixed feedback. Some didn't mind the seasonal cap and the grind for materials because it fell in line with similar aspects of the online game. In contrast, others were frustrated by the cap and felt that the studio overcomplicated the process. Bungie has just revealed a few changes it is making to Synthstrands and the overall transmog process with that feedback in mind.
The latest Bungie Blog post opened up about some of the feedback players have given about the entire Armor Synthesis system. The first step to taking that feedback to heart includes a few small changes to the currency used to transmog: Synthstrands. "Effective at the start of Season 15, we will deprecate the passively-earned world currency, Synthstrand, that was used to purchase Armor Synthesis bounties from Ada-1," reads the latest blog entry. "In its place, these bounties will be purchasable for 10,000 Glimmer instead."
The reason for this small but impactful change is to cut down on the grind time for Synthwave tokens that each class needs to spruce up their gear. Another byproduct of removing this currency is that it allows for the Consumables inventory slots to be a little bit more freed up while also making the entire transmog process just a little bit simpler. The change won't go live for next week's update, but Bungie states that it will be effective at the launch of Season 15.
If you're worried that these changes aren't enough, don't be. Bungie concluded its transmog update by stating that the team is still paying close attention to feedback concerning the Armor Synthesis system, including player reactions to when the changes roll out next season, to ensure that transmog works the way it's meant to and can be enjoyed by all.
We don't know when Destiny 2: Season 15 will kick off, but we do have August 24 to look forward to. Bungie confirmed a special event for August 24 that will presumably reveal exactly what the next season will have to offer as well as a look at the Witch Queen expansion on the horizon. Which is great, but Osiris? He's acting more than a little sus, and now that Savathun is walking around the city under the guise of someone we know? Well, it's about to get real.
The Tokyo Olympics are in full swing, and despite some odd policies involving cardboard beds, there is no mistaking that the excitement is high for Olympic fans. For those that may have missed this year's Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, the competitive event kicked off with some killer songs from some of our favorite games.
From Final Fantasy to NieR, the opening ceremony was rife with amazing tracks from some of our favorite video games. I'm a little sad to see that there were no Nintendo tracks featured. Can you imagine the music from Legend of Zelda? That being said, they'd probably get sued, so maybe it's best that the Big N's amazing music was left out of this year's opening ceremony.
For those interested in the full tracklist:
Click here to watch embedded mediaThe Tokyo Olympics is officially underway from July 20 and will continue until August 9. The closing ceremony will commence on the final day, with the Tokyo Paralympics commencing on August 24 before the Winter Games kick off on February 4, 2022.
Thoughts on the opening ceremony sounds for this year's Tokyo Olympics? Do you have plans to watch the games this year? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below!
[Source: NikkanSports]
Earlier this week, Motive and EA revealed the Dead Space remake after numerous rumors that some sort of revival was on the way. While the teaser was just that — a teaser — we did get a few more details about what the remake will have in store. Get ready to dismember some limbs, folks, and let's dive into what we know so far.
In an interview with IGN, senior producer Philippe Ducharme and creative director Roman Campos-Oriola revealed a little more about what the remake has in store. For those worried that the remake will remake a little too much: don't be. The pair assures fans of the iconic space franchise that the team has the original vision in mind when tackling this project. That being said, it's not just a tiny polish job either; there is a lot of work going into rebuilding this game utilizing EA's Frostbite engine.
“We started with the original level design of the original Dead Space," said Campos-Oriola when talking about referencing original assets, including those that never made launch. "What's funny is that you can see some of the iterations that were made prior to ship by the team. In the first chapter, you can see some corridors that they wanted to do first in a certain way, and then you can understand why they changed it for technical constraints or [some other reason].
“Then, in terms of visuals, sound, gameplay, everything, we are rebuilding all of these assets. We are not porting them; it's not uprezzing the texture or adding more polygons to the model. It's really rebuilding all these elements, shooting all the animations, et cetera.”
The duo confirmed that the remake is still very early in development, which is giving the team more time to find creative ways to harness Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 technology in an effort to take the immersion of Dead Space "even deeper" and a more "fully interactive" experience. A good example of this is that there will not be any loading screens, that way "there's not going to be any m moment where w'ere going to cut your experience" or cut away from any scene players find themselves in.
According to Campos-Oriola, "What was really important was to be able to capture the unique look of Dead Space. That unique sci-fi look, but it's gritty and dirty and you feel that everything has been used for a long time. Capturing that dirty, industrial look, but with the level of detail that we can afford now, was something important during the production of that atmospheric benchmark.”
With a full rebuilding of the game, the team is implementing changes inspired by unused concept art and character designs, environmental changes, and adding volumetric effects and more dynamic lighting to bring each scene to life in frightening detail. From the sounds of the game being far more immersive than the original by using 3D audio, to the entire experience rooted in dark colors and threateningly lit corridors, everything about the changes are still very much "rooted in the DNA of what Dead Space is."
The two devs also stated that while this is a remake of the first game, the studio did look at the franchise as a whole to get a better vision for how they want the remake to play out in an effort to "flesh out" concepts a little more thoroughly in the first adventure.
“For us, the foundation is the Dead Space 1 story. So, by default, that's what is canon. But then there are some improvements that we want to make to that story,” Campos-Oriola said. “And not necessarily improvements because those things were not really working in the original, more improvements because of what came after, and we're like, ‘Aw man, that's interesting if we could reference that, or if we could make a link to that."
The pair confirmed that there will be no microtransactions for this game and that there were "never" any plans to add them into this single-pplayer experience. This concern doesn't come out of nowhere. EA decided to add microtransactions to Dead Space 3 and that inclusion wasn't met with the most positive reception. With microtransaction blunders that continued to follow after, most notoriously, Star Wars Battlefront II, Motive and EA agreed that this sort of additional pay model has no place in the Dead Space remake. Thankfully.
“We want to make games that deliver the experiences our players are looking for. Sometimes that is a single-player story-focused experience, where players can immerse themselves in another world,” Miele said. “Other players want us to show up every day with new content and events in our live services like Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, The Sims, Apex, and FIFA to name a few. We want players to choose an EA game or experience, and that means we need to make the type of games they want to play. Focusing on just one genre or model limits the number of players we can reach. We want to meet the players where they play and commit ourselves to impressing our fans with games that continue to surprise or delight them.”
We don't have a release date at this time, which is expected considering it is so early in its development, but at least we know we can experience the horrors of Dead Spaceonce more sometime in the near future.
Thoughts on the Dead Space remake reveal? What sort of changes are you hoping to see? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below!
"What games should I get for my PlayStation 5?" This is the question we've been asked the most since Sony's new generation of gaming arrived last November. People want to see what games are the best showpieces of PlayStation 5's power, and also which ones take their beloved medium to new heights. Although the PlayStation 5 is still in its infancy, it has already amassed a nice library of games, including a few titles that you can't play anywhere else.
The Game Informer staff has selected 10 games that we consider to be the PlayStation 5's absolute best. Over time, this article will be updated with the latest releases that we think crack the top 10.
Please note that while the list below contains 10 entries, we aren’t ranking them. If a game has made it this far (and managed to stay here), it’s a must-play, period. As such, we’ll be listing entries in reverse chronological order. Also, with future updates, you’ll find a rundown of previous entries at the bottom of the list. While those titles have gotten bumped over time, they are still all great games in their own right and worth exploring if you’re already caught up on the latest hits.
Here are Game Informer’s picks for the top 10 games on PlayStation 5:
The Resident Evil series has struggled with balancing horror and action in the past, but Village hits the sweet spot, offering a series of tense atmospheric frights punctuated by sweat-inducing firefights. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard protagonist Ethan Winters returns for another round with everything that goes bump in the night. However, this time Ethan is on a mission to save his daughter from gangs of werewolves and vampires who have set up shop in a medieval castle and its surrounding village. Capcom’s first-person combat has been refined so the combat feels better than ever, and a whole host of ghastly monsters stalk Ethan from the shadows, so whether you’re in or out of combat Village generates a powerful sense of tension. Sure, these puzzles could use a little polish, but Resident Evil’s boss battles have never been better.
Click here for our review.
As both a fast-paced third-person shooter and an atmospheric, mysterious journey through alien horror, Returnal succeeds at delivering an incredibly competent and cohesive experience. Returnal takes advantage of all that next-gen gaming has to offer, including comprehensive feedback from the DualSense controller. With adrenaline-fueled and creative boss fights, hundreds and hundreds of impressive “bullet-hell” projectiles to dodge, and an assortment of impressive weapons to experiment with, Returnal keeps you enthralled to the very end.
Click here for our review.
One of the best cooperative games ever made, It Takes Two demands teamwork, communication, and a little bit of patience in every second of play. Both players have different abilities that must be combined to overcome challenges. Just when it seems like you and your partner have developed a good rhythm, the gameplay changes to challenge you in an entirely different way. The vast array of gameplay concepts that are explored is just part of what makes It Takes Two such a joy to play. It Takes Two also captivates with a heartfelt story that explores themes not often seen in games.
Click here for our review.
The Yakuza games of old followed the exploits of Kazuma Kiryu and delivered combat through real-time brawling. Like a Dragon upends that formula with turn-based combat seen through the eyes of series newcomer Ichiban Kasuga. This dramatic shift doesn't steal away any of Yakuza's charm or fun. Like a Dragon is another excellent addition to this long-running series, serving as a refreshing turn-based role-playing take that will hopefully lead to years and years of new adventures seen through the eyes of Ichiban.
Click here for our review.
Call of Duty has long been one of the biggest series to date with almost every release topping the sales charts each year. In 2020, the series grew even bigger with two releases: Warzone, the new standalone battle royale experience, and the next entry of Black Ops called Cold War. Both of these Call of Duty experiences are phenomenal on PlayStation 5, delivering different haptic feedback for most of the firearms, gorgeous visuals, and a ridiculous amount of content in all of their avenues of play. The way the two games build off of each other for seasons also gives plenty of reason to play both.
Click game for our Black Ops Cold War review and here for our Warzone review.
The Assassin's Creed games are massive in size and scope, delivering exhilarating combat, sprawling exploration, and quests galore. Valhalla is the first entry in the series that truly balances all of these aspects, giving them equal time in the spotlight and not leaning too much on one. With the Viking theme leading the charge, Ubisoft once again brings players into a setting that feels new and is rich in discovery. Like Odyssey before it, Valhalla is another excellent evolution of the beloved Assassin's Creed formula. It never wavers from engaging in big and meaningful ways. The Assassin's Creed series just keeps getting better.
Click here for our review.
A free pack-in with every PlayStation 5 system, Astro's Playroom delivers a delightful platforming experience that demonstrates why the DualSense controller is so special. The adaptive triggers tighten when jumps are charged, and distinct rumble effects shake the controller in dynamic ways that line up perfectly with the action on-screen. Each world that Astro explores is themed after a different PlayStation 5 component (such as the GPU forest), and over 25 years of PlayStation history is on display in the characters, secrets, and imagery that players unearth. Astro's Playroom is the first game every PlayStation 5 owner should play, as it immediately shows you why this high-end console is a game changer.
Click here for our review.
The wait for From Software's Elden Ring was made a little less painful thanks to the excellent Demon's Souls remake. Returning to the roots of this series and seeing it come to life in such beautiful (and disturbing) ways was one of the highlights of PlayStation 5's launch. The small changes that developer Bluepoint Games made help give this classic a modern touch, and helps it stand tall against the other great Souls games. If you already played this game to death on PS3, the new Fractured Mode changes up the dance just enough to make it feel new again.
Click here for our review.
When Destiny is firing on all cylinders, it roars with excitement. While Beyond Light's launch last November didn't hit all of the gameplay and narrative notes players wanted, Bungie has since course-corrected and has updated the game in meaningful ways. Season Of The Chosen shakes up the foundation nicely, offering rewarding progression and a story that delivers interesting twists and turns. Destiny 2 has proven to be one of the strongest ongoing games out there, and it's even better on PlayStation 5.
Click here for our review, and here for our latest impressions.
Insomniac Games' Spider-Man universe is starting to look a little like Marvel's Cinematic Universe with a story continuing through the eyes of different characters. Miles Morales' debut game is shorter than the original game, but is every bit as enthralling. Miles' coming-of-age story is excellently spun, and while he shares the same Spider-Man name as Peter, he emerges as a different type of hero, using invisibility and electricity to clean up the evildoers who are threatening New York City. Here's hoping the next game puts both Peter and Miles in the spotlight equally. We can't wait to see where this Spidey story goes next.
Click here for our review.
If you're wondering what games are coming up in 2021, we've put them all in one convenient location. This list will be continually updated to act as a living, breathing schedule as new dates are announced, titles are delayed, and big reveals happen. This should help you plan out your next several months in gaming and beyond.
As the gaming calendar is constantly changing, we highly recommend you bookmark this page. You'll likely find yourself coming back to this to find out the most recent release schedule for the most anticipated games across PC, consoles, handhelds, and mobile devices. If you notice that we've missed something, feel free to let us know! Please note that games will not get assigned to a month until they have confirmed release dates.
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing has filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard after years of investigation. The reason for the suit centers around "violations of the state's civil rightsand equal pay laws," specifically regarding the treatment of women and other marginalized groups.
Content warning for graphic conversations regarding sexual misconduct, abuse, and suicide.
The investigation has been going on for over two years, and as Bloomberg reports, the lawsuit charges that the environment within Activision Blizzard hosts a "frat boy" culture. The studio is also being called a "breeding ground for harassment and discrimination against women." The report is graphic at times, recounting purported incidents that scale from more casual discrimination all the way up to sexual assault and harassment. The lawsuit goes so far as to state that certain actions led to the suicide of one developer following a trip with her supervisor.
As detailed in the lawsuit documents found here, the report alleges thatActivision Blizzard has many women fending off "unwanted sexual comments" and "being groped" during what is being called a cube crawl:
In the office, women are subjected to 'cube crawls' in which male employees drink copious amounts of alcohol as they 'crawl' their way through various cubicles in the office and often engage in inappropriate behavior toward female employees. Male employees proudly come into work hungover, play video games for long periods of time during work while delegating their responsibilities to female employees, engage in banter about their sexual encounters, talk openly about female bodies, and joke about rape.
According to the report, sexual harassment and misconduct even resulted in one woman committing suicide during a work trip with her supervisor, who reportedly brought "butt plugs and lubricant" in hopes of coercing her into unwanted relations.
As is increasingly common with reports like these, the report claims that many attempts were made to talk to HR for any sort of resolution and go up the chain of command for assistance. "Employees were further discouraged from complaining as human resource personnel was known to be close to alleged harassers," reads the lawsuit documents. "As a result of these complaints, female employees were subjected to retaliation, including but not limited to being deprived of work on projects, unwillingly transferred to different units, and selected for layoffs."
Also included in the lawsuit is the pay gap between male and female co-workers, which alleges that many women are offered a similar role as a male counterpart at a much lower compensation rate. The suit also details opportunities that were seen as primarily going to men first, stifling progressive growth within the company's infrastructure. The documents also report that many of the women under the Activision Blizzard umbrella felt they needed to work harder and longer than their male counterparts for a chance at the same opportunities. The lawsuit details specific examples of this, which can be found here.
Game Informer reached out to an Activision Blizzard spokesperson about the lawsuit, and they responded with the following statement:
We value diversity and strive to foster a workplace that offers inclusivity for everyone. There is no place in our company or industry, or any industry, for sexual misconduct or harassment of any kind. We take every allegation seriously and investigate all claims. In cases related to misconduct, action was taken to address the issue.
The DFEH includes distorted, and in many cases false, descriptions of Blizzard’s past. We have been extremely cooperative with the DFEH throughout their investigation, including providing them with extensive data and ample documentation, but they refused to inform us what issues they perceived. They were required by law to adequately investigate and to have good faith discussions with us to better understand and to resolve any claims or concerns before going to litigation, but they failed to do so. Instead, they rushed to file an inaccurate complaint, as we will demonstrate in court. We are sickened by the reprehensible conduct of the DFEH to drag into the complaint the tragic suicide of an employee whose passing has no bearing whatsoever on this case and with no regard for her grieving family. While we find this behavior to be disgraceful and unprofessional, it is, unfortunately, an example of how they have conducted themselves throughout the course of their investigation. It is this type of irresponsible behavior from unaccountable State bureaucrats that are driving many of the State’s best businesses out of California.
The picture the DFEH paints is not the Blizzard workplace of today. Over the past several years and continuing since the initial investigation started, we’ve made significant changes to address company culture and reflect more diversity within our leadership teams. We’ve amplified internal programs and channels for employees to report violations, including the “ASK List” with a confidential integrity hotline, and introduced an Employee Relations team dedicated to investigating employee concerns. We have strengthened our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and combined our Employee Networks at a global level to provide additional support. Employees must also undergo regular anti-harassment training and have done so for many years.
We put tremendous effort into creating fair and rewarding compensation packages and policies that reflect our culture and business, and we strive to pay all employees fairly for equal or substantially similar work. We take a variety of proactive steps to ensure that pay is driven by non-discriminatory factors. For example, we reward and compensate employees based on their performance, and we conduct extensive anti-discrimination training, including for those who are part of the compensation process.
We are confident in our ability to demonstrate our practices as an equal opportunity employer that fosters a supportive, diverse, and inclusive workplace for our people, and we are committed to continuing this effort in the years to come. It is a shame that the DFEH did not want to engage with us on what they thought they were seeing in their investigation.
To read the full report, you can learn more about the ongoing lawsuit from Bloomberg here, including personal retellings from numerous sources within the company.
I know. You read the headline and came here to lambast me for my mediocre taste in video games. I get it, you're skeptical. Even a few of my coworkers gave me weird looks when I told them I was eagerly awaiting Pokémon Unite, Nintendo's new free-to-play MOBA that was released yesterday on the Nintendo Switch. The truth is, I can't put this damn game down. It's a genuinely fun MOBA with a pocket monster twist, and it's probably better than you think.
What's a MOBA, some of you might ask? Well, us cool kids call them multiplayer online battle arenas (not really), and they provide a distinct blend of PvP and PvE gameplay. In short, each player on a team picks a unique champion to control and then levels them throughout the match, starting from level one. Players gain experience points by eliminating AI minions, destroying enemy objectives, killing other players; and then they spend those points to unlock abilities and stat boosts until they have access to their character's entire toolset at max level. All of this happens on a large map that is divided into multiple paths, often referred to as lanes, that each team vies for control of. Similar to team-focused games like Overwatch, team composition is really important for synergy and competitive advantage in MOBAs.
So why should you give Pokémon Unite a chance? Well, it's a great starting place for players who have always been curious about the genre but have been put off by its traditionally difficult learning curve. In Unite, Nintendo takes the genre's aforementioned format, simplifies it, and injects a heavy dose of Pokémon into the formula.
Battles in Pokémon Unite feature two teams of five Pokémon each. After picking their characters and items, players start the match on opposite ends of the map, to the east and west respectively. Then the team splits up. Typically, two teammates go to the top path, two fight it out on the bottom path, and one brave player ventures into the center of the map to defeat all sorts of wild Pokémon. Each team has two goal zones they must defend on each path while also defeating wild Pokémon to obtain Aeos Energy. Aeos is a resource that players gather and then slam dunk into the enemy’s goal zones. After depositing enough energy, the enemy’s goal zone is overloaded and destroyed, allowing your team to more easily push forward to the next part of the path. After 10 minutes, the team with the most deposited points wins the match. There are also smaller objectives in the form of wild Pokémon, like the legendary Zapdos, that pop up throughout the match and can be defeated for buffs and other competitive advantages.
The roster features over 20 playable Pokémon, ranging from fan favorites like Charizard and Gengar to more obscure picks like Cramorant and Crustle. Each character is grouped into one of five battle classes: All-Rounder, Attacker, Defender, Speedster, and Supporter. While there aren't any elemental weaknesses like in the series' normal installments, each character has unique stats, ability trees, and Unite Moves that make them distinct from one another.
Click here to watch embedded mediaCharizard, for instance, starts at level one as Charmander, then evolves into Charmeleon at level five, and then finally reaches its final form at level nine. The first two abilities you unlock are Flame Burst and Fire Spin, and then throughout the match, you can swap those out for Flamethrower, Fire Punch, Fire Blast, or Flare Blitz before finally unlocking Charizard's ultimate Unite Move, Seismic Slam. I love experimenting with different pathing options and ability load outs from match to match. In some games, I'll focus on making Charizard more of a ranged caster by picking up Flamethrower and Fire Blast, while in other matches I'll play a bruiser role by choosing Fire Punch and Flare Blitz. Each ability shines in different situations, so it's important to pay attention to which opponents you're fighting to properly customize your Pokémon to counter them.
Despite my overall enthusiasm for Pokémon Unite, it certainly isn't perfect. The game's microtransaction systems allow you to purchase all sorts of fashionable cosmetics for your trainer, stylish Pokémon skins called Holowear, a Battle Pass, and more. This is all standard fare for free-to-play games, especially MOBAs, but unfortunately, The Pokémon Company and Tencent's TiMi studios have dropped the ball by allowing players to purchase stat-boosting Item Enhancers. Before you close your browser and swear off the game entirely, it's not as serious as it sounds.
First of all, every player can obtain these Item Enhancers by simply playing the game and unlocking the free battle pass tiers associated with them. Second, in-game items have a level cap of 30, so there are a limited amount of Item Enhancers you can pour into any one item. So is Pokemon Unite pay-to-win? Well, technically, sort of, I guess. But not really. The problem is that there's a small number of Item Enhancers tied to premium battle pass tiers, so technically you could level up more items than someone who didn't purchase the battle pass. Honestly, this mistake feels more like an oversight than a malicious act, and the competitive advantage is negligible so far. I've won 19 of the 25 matches I’ve played, and in most cases, I was our team’s MVP – all without purchasing any stat boosts. If folks on my team or the enemy teams have been trying to pay to win, it hasn’t been working. Despite this, I think the developers should remedy this issue by making all battle pass tiers associated with Item Enhancers free for all players.
Since Pokémon Unite was released early yesterday morning, it has consumed my thoughts. I spent a large portion of my day and evening saying, "Just one more match," and I'm sure you know how that story ends. Whether playing solo or with friends, I've had an absolute blast trying out new Pokémon and working alongside teammates to form powerful combat synergies. If you're at all curious about MOBAs or are even just a big fan of Pikachu, Pokémon Unite is worth checking out.
New World goes is in beta, with the actual launch not too far away. Actual release is scheduled for August 31, but we’re going in to explore the beta right now! Amazon Games’ MMORPG has been under development for ages and gone through multiple iterations - how do things look right now with a month to go before release? Let’s take a look! We explored some late-game expedition (dungeon) and PVP content a little bit ago, and now we’re going in fresh for a new look at all things New World!
Click here to watch embedded mediaBig mauls. Magic spells. Crafting. Dungeon dives and player-vs-player faction battles. MMORPG players are always voracious for new offerings within the space, so the question is simple. Will New World satiate that hunger? What faction will we join? Will we be eaten by bears? What’s the world like? Come join Dan Tack for answers to these important questions on an all-new episode of Game Informer Live today at 2 PM CST. We’ll be talking all things MMORPGs and attempting to navigate our way through these bold new lands.
Supernatural terrors await us around every turn, but the standard denizens of the environment such as wildlife are sure to present a challenge as well. How much leveling can we get done? How’s the game look? What’s cool? What’s not? And of course, perhaps the most important question - will the servers even be stable enough to play on? Will there be a huge player queue to get in?
Join us for our livestream on Twitch today at 2 PM CT for a look at New World! If you miss the action, don’t worry - you can catch it on YouTube later! Are you interested in MMORPGs? Are you interested in New World? What are you playing in the space right now? Let us know in the comments!
The Last Of Us took the industry by storm when it first released in 2013. A definitive shift in video game storytelling, Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic journey about Joel and Ellie continues to resonate with people around the world almost a decade later. The HBO adaptation will follow the events from the first game, and Joel’s first battle buddy (and, perhaps, romantic interest at one point?), Tess, has finally been cast.
Anna Torv of Heavenly Sword (Nariko’s voice actress) andFringe fame is joining an already growing family of talent, led byChernobyl’s Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the mind behind both games. Tess will be a recurring character that will travel across a devastated America alongside Pedro Pascal’s (The Mandalorian) Joel and Bella Ramsey’s (Game of Thrones) Ellie. Other cast members include Nico Parker (Dumbo) as Joel’s daughter, Merle Dandridge (The Last Of Us video game) as Marlene, and Gabriel Luna (Terminator: Dark Fate) as Joel’s brother, Tommy. Jeffrey Pierce, Murray Bartlett, and Con O’Neill will also be starring in the television series.
If you’re unfamiliar with the central plot of the game, The Last of Us chronicles the relationship between a grieving, but hardened, father and the young girl he must escort in a decaying America, rampant with infected creatures looking for their next meal. Joel and Ellie must come to grips with their own traumatic pasts in order to band together and survive the journey. Striking moments of happiness and heartbreak ensue.
If the series does extremely well, it would be interesting to see an adaption of The Last Of Us Part II which Andy McNamara awarded a rare 10:
“I can rave about the attention to detail, the world, and the combat, but the story is where The Last of Us Part II sets a new bar. It is more about challenging your heart than your reflexes, and I simply cannot recommend it enough. There is much to be said about this game that can’t be said here due to spoilers, but you should play it as soon as you can with as little info as possible. But you don’t need to know specifics to appreciate how the gameplay and environmental cues all play into a single purpose: They make you feel the choices, helplessness, and the violence at the heart of this world and its characters. I can safely say this is the best narrative game I have played. I felt the loss. I felt the confusion. It is a game that turned me inside out with each twist of the screw.”Are you excited to see Anna Torv’s portrayal of Tess? What moments from the first game are you looking forward to when the show premieres? How about ideas for some original story beats? Share your hopes and dreams down below!
[Source: Deadline]
Amazon Games’ upcoming MMORPG New World is in the spotlight as a lengthy closed beta session shows off the action ahead of an August 31st release. New World has changed its vision multiple times over the course of development, and now the question on everyone’s mind is – where is this going to land on release? What kind of player is it for? What kind of MMORPG is it? And perhaps the most important question, is it worth your time at all? Over the course of the beta (and a demo session that took me into an endgame slice with a fully-geared character), I’ve seen some areas with huge potential that are currently underserved in the MMORPG space – and some others that could be intense detriments for the title. Let’s talk about New World!
Click here to watch embedded mediaIf you’re familiar with survival games that have you punching wood to get a house going, New World delivers on this front initially by giving the player myriad survival pursuits. Hunting turkey on the borders of your established safe zones to raise your cooking skill and create rations is far more engaging than it has any right to be. Hunting down elusive saltpeter deposits in mines and crafting your own shells for your old-timey rifles feels fun. Being able to skill up in everything to your liking is a classic system à la Runescape, and its nice to know you can work up every single crafting and gathering skill if you wish, right down to doing some fishing. Banging together your first batch of gathering tools is actually freaking awesome.
Digging up carrots and potatoes feels meaningful. Coming back to your town in the middle of the wilderness to trade feed and talk with your fellow explorers has all the allure of bustling about Disney’s Frontiertown, and I’ve rarely had so much investment into crafting and trading systems in MMOs. I can see potential problems with these aspects later down the line, i.e. do I really want to spend my time in the endgame gathering resources just so I can play the game, but for now, there’s plenty of magic in creating my own food, ammunition, and supplies before I trek out into the wild. It feels gritty, it feels raw, and it feels fresh.
Territory control and faction-based opt-in PVP not only bring back a bit of realm-vs-realm feel from the glory days of Dark Age of Camelot, but they inject something that many online experiences have moved away from in the last decade – social interaction. That means yes, you are going to see a player named PoopyPants (Yes, this was a real player I saw) cutting down trees and screaming outside of town about the price of silver ore, and your chat feed is going to be inundated with comments that make the infamous Barrens chat look downright erudite. However, it also successfully adds shared social stakes to the experience, even if you choose not to interact at the verbal level with any other players. By funneling players into three different factions, you have an investment in your tribe regardless of how deep you want to take it. If you still just want to solo and bring back a load of furs to trade in town, you can – but the real fun is to be had by grouping up, interacting with others, and eventually taking over some territory as your chosen faction.
At the solo, guild, and greater level, having game flow dictated by players instead of the “theme park” experience is a bold choice and more than a bit refreshing. The issue here is how interesting and meaningful are these faction wars going to be in the endgame? While I don’t have the answer to that yet, the prospect of really engaging with other players in a meaningful way in a MMORPG gives me a powerful nostalgia bump and some serious differentiation from many other genre offerings today. On the flip side, if you’re not really interested in territory wars or PvP, other existing MMORPGs might be a better choice.
In almost every MMORPG, you’re going to be doing a ton of combat. It’s probably the biggest portion of the entire gameplay experience. With limited skill options, awkward animations, and very little excitement, New World’s combat is decidedly dull. Now, there’s something to be said about popping an opposing faction member from a great distance before you engage in a 3v3 skirmish that gets real greasy, but that’s more about the player-to-player interaction than the combat, which can often feel wooden and wonky. While I enjoy systems that attempt to break the genre out of the tab-targeting standard that’s been grandfathered into MMOs for ages, it misses the mark here.
I found it hard to determine if the other aspects of the game that seem enjoyable can carry this particular aspect either, as combat is the core of almost every other pursuit. Even if you’re just spelunking for saltpeter, you’re going to have to fight a ton of various zombie-like creatures, wolves, or bears, and it simply does not feel good. This problem is exacerbated in group experiences, both PvP and PvE, but more pronounced in the latter. Chewing into spongey opponents as a pack with the glaring lack of feedback from weaponry is almost comical, and your options in combat feel extremely limited and lacking.
Enemies, locations, and activities can become a big bowl of mush without breaking it up with some PvP pursuits. You’ll see many of the same rickety little fishing villages, decrepit farms, and crumbling ruins as you traverse the giant world. Killing some undead buccaneers at level 5 feels the same as it does at level 15, and you’re going to be doing a ton of daily-quest/fetch style activities in order to grind out your faction reputation, like wandering around the aforementioned locations for boxes and killing X undead baddies. It feels intensely repetitive even after only twenty hours of gameplay, so I’m concerned about how that will translate to the endgame – will I still, as an elite member of the Syndicate, still be wandering farms killing undead and picking taters? I mean, I do like picking taters...
When you’re just starting, it’s fine that you’re walking everywhere because you don’t have far to go. However, this takes a turn at around level 12, where you’ll find the autorun button and some movies on your favorite streaming platform to be your best friends. The world is large, and traveling it all on foot is a huge pain. Without mounts, and the fact that fast travel is limited by resources, moving around the map is an absolute bore and a chore. I realize there are other meaningful concerns that probably flow into this decision, like the implications of having everyone zoom around in a game that’s attempting to create stakes with territory control and PvP, but this becomes harder and harder to ignore the more you play and get quests on opposite ends of your map.
Based on the beta, New World is going to be an interesting but potentially niche addition to the current crop of MMORPGs. However, it seems to really serve players that want to play with small groups of friends for faction skirmishes and that are interested in greater territory control wars with big guild politics and all that. If you’re not interested in that kind of greater pursuit with plenty of social interaction and PvP, the PvE elements by themselves do not seem compelling enough to keep things rolling.
While I love the feeling of crafting my own stuff, slowly increasing the areas that I’m strong enough to explore, and fastidiously upping all my gathering and crafting skills, I can see those charms fading rapidly as the activities become somewhat rote. The dynamics involved in faction wars and territory control seem to be the peppy antidote for the never-ending rock farm in various undead shacks and homesteads. As with other games that lean into this kind of emergent gameplay (RIP Shadowbane), some of New World will be what players shape it into.
Earlier today, Ripple Effect Studios debuted Battlefield Portal, a new creative suite for players to essentially build the Battlefield match of their dreams. From pulling from previous games' assets to being able to get silly like going a round with nothing but defibrillators, Portal offers a lot of freedom for players to enjoy. That being said, the Logic Editor requires a little coding goodness, so how easy it that for those that may be completely new to this sort of editing? Turns out, pretty easy!
Speaking with creative director Thomas Anderesson from Ripple Effect Studios, we wanted to know how easy a massive creation tool like this to use would be for coding "noobs" and what Ripple Effect is doing to make it enjoyable for all. "I don't think it's so much of a concern, as we don't expect the logic editor and the depth of the logic editor to maybe be of interest to everyone," said the creative director when we asked if there were any concerns about usability for Portal. "What we are offering is, of course, we expect a lot of people to come in and look at experiences. So giving more power, a little more advanced logic editor for the power users will allow for more interesting and unexpected experiences for the masses, if that makes sense. And I also there's an in the builder portion of Portal, there's, of course, aside from the logic editor, you have mutators, and settings that are very easy to tweak and very easy to set up. So I expect a lot of people to be able to curate and customize their server the way they want it without having to dabble in logic."
Ripple Effect Studios doesn't expect players just to already know how to use this feature, so they are creating guides and tips for Portal users to utilize before diving all in. Anderesson confirmed that the studio has a few plans in the works to help players through using Portal, saying: "So in the website itself, there will be hints, we're talking about videos, we want to, we wanted to have a robust set of tutorials and stuff ready for launch, so people can learn how to do this. And then of course, we're hoping that the community takes over for things that maybe we have missed falling through the cracks, that kind of stuff, where maybe influencers, community, people set up their own tutorials for things and that people even share, I think Rob or Justin mentioned that you can actually copy the URL for your creation and get help for from the community in like, Oh, this doesn't quite work as I expected it kind of I get helped to fix this. And through the tools you can, you can get other people to help you. It's pretty cool."
For those that may feel intimidated by the coding aspect: don't be. When asked if he had any advice for those that may feel that the coding aspect might be a little too difficult, he responded, saying, "Oh, that even goes farther than a portal question. I think it's easy to say I think there's nothing really to be intimidated by, I think the system is robust enough for you to be able to experiment and see what happens when you do a certain thing. If people want to practice and look at this programming language before released, it's based on something called blockly that you can find in various implementations. I know I saw something that I think makes code is what Microsoft calls it. And people can experiment with that on other platforms today. But it's nothing to be afraid of if it's not the most amazing experience. In the beginning, I'm sure people will pick this up fairly fast. And it's based on a very kind of, in a human way you can think of it as When this happens, do this. And there's plenty of options and things to choose from. But there's no better way and get stuck in it. And just try things out, experiment, and play against AI. If you're afraid that people will laugh at something that you created play against AI, it's a safe, safe environment for you to test your creations."
If Ripple's answers put you at ease a little bit, don't be afraid to dive into the new features that the studio is creating. To learn more about what Battlefield Portal has to offer, including how it's pulling from older games, check out the full reveal right here.
Keeping your head in the game is tough. It's even tougher when you don't have a decent pair of 3D gaming headphones that you can rely on to give you proper feedback for the virtual world around you, making it easy for anybody to sneak up and get the jump on you.
It's true: staying competitive in games like Fortnite and Gears of War 5 is nigh on impossible without the right set of gear. And when you can't even hear your opponents coming around the corner, you certainly won't be able to react to them quickly enough to evade certain death. It never feels great to lose at your favorite game simply because you aren't quite equipped to play well, which is why the Rig Gaming RIG 500 PRO HC Gen 2 may be the right Xbox gaming headset for you.
At an MSRP of $69.99, this may seem like just another budget headset, but the RIG 500 PRO punches well above its weight in more than one category. Boasting features like 3D audio when you plug your headset into your Xbox controller, high-powered 50mm drivers, and a license that grants you the ability to use Dolby Atmos® for two years, you will absolutely find something to love about the Rig Gaming RIG 500 PRO HC Gen 2, no matter who you are.
Whether you're a casual gamer who is simply looking for a nice pair of headphones with which to partake in some Stardew Valley, or you're a far more hardcore player who wants to stay on top of your opponents in a competitive Fortnite match, you owe it to yourself to check out the Rig Gaming RIG 500 PRO HC Gen 2 before settling on another headset in the same price range.
The included 3D sound and attached Dolby Atmos® access allows you to hear things with incredible precision when you hook the headset’s 3.5mm cable into your Xbox controller. This means that every sound in your game is positioned according to where your avatar is. If another player is sneaking up from behind you, that's exactly where you'll hear their footsteps coming from – just like if they were approaching you in real life!
Precisely tuned low-distortion 50 mm drivers drive powerful audio signals in every frequency of the audio spectrum. You can feel the lows while getting crystal clear mids and highs, and while those 50mm drivers add a ton of oomph to games like Final Fantasy XIV and Apex Legends, your music and movies will sound clear and balanced as well. It's hard to beat great audio at such a comparatively low price, which is why Rig Gaming is offering a steal at this price.
This Rig Gaming headset is officially licensed for the Xbox Series X|S and the Xbox One, but it is also compatible with PC, console, and personal electronic devices, as long as they have a 3.5mm aux cable input that you can plug the headset into. If so, you can enjoy stereo audio on any gaming device you own while getting the full pump of the RIG 500 PRO HC’s 50mm drivers.
In order to get your Rig Gaming RIG 500 PRO HC headset for $69.99, check out the official store page at GameStop today!
In this week's episode of The Game Informer Show, we discuss a handful of games we've been digging recently, including New World, Psychonauts 2, Death’s Door, Cris Tales, and Overboard!
Death’s Door is the big highlight. In his review, Marcus called it "an entertaining and engrossing action-adventure romp that you’d do well to enjoy before your time is up." Cris Tales is also a delightful little surprise. This inventive RPG lets you explore a world through multiple timelines. Brian is still working on a review, but in his early impressions he said, "the game is undeniably gorgeous, possessing one of the most consistently beautiful art styles I've seen in a long time." Sadly, New World isn't clicking with us as much. Amazon Games’ MMORPG comes out August 31, but we’re exploring the beta right now and should have more impressions soon.
It's a full show, but we make time for another fantastic round of community emails. So please join Dan Tack (@dantack), Blake Hester (@metallicaisrad), Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7), Alex Stadnik (@Studnik76), Brian Shea (@BrianPShea), and Ben Reeves (@Benjaminreeves) for a new wild and ever-entertaining episode!
Thanks for listening! Please make sure to leave feedback below and share the episode if you enjoyed it. You can watch the video above, subscribe and listen to the audio on iTunes or Google Play, listen on SoundCloud, stream it on Spotify, or download the MP3 at the bottom of the page. Also, be sure to send your questions to podcast@gameinformer.com for a chance to have them answered on the show!
Our thanks to The Rapture Twins for The Game Informer Show's intro song. You can hear more of their music on their website.
To jump to a particular point in the discussion, check out the time stamps below.
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:22 - Death's Door
00:12:24 - New World Beta
00:24:42 - Cris Tales
00:35:15 - Psychonauts 2
00:52:05 - Overboard!
00:54:55 - Community Emails
Today’s EA Play presentation concluded with a bang with the reveal that the original Dead Space is getting a full-on remake. The long-rumored project is being developed exclusively for new-gen consoles and PC and will give a premium facelift to Isaac Clarke’s horrific adventure aboard the USG Ishimura.
EA's Motive Studios, the developer behind Star Wars Squadrons and Star Wars Battlefront II, is rebuilding Dead Space from the ground-up using the Frostbite Engine. Besides reassembling the game with high-end lighting, textures, and assets, EA’s press release states that the game will feature an “improved story, characters, and gameplay mechanics”.
The publisher doesn’t go into details on what those improvements entail, but the narrative premise remains the same: as everyman space engineer Isaac Clarke, you’re on a mission to repair the USG Ishimura,a mining ship, only to discover it's been overrun by terrifying alien creatures called necromorphs. These monsters have not only slaughtered most of the Ishimura’s crew, but they can also reanimate corpses. The worst news is that your girlfriend Nicole, is stationed somewhere on the ship. Isaac must race to find Nicole while combating the necromorph scourge as well as his own deteriorating sanity.
Click here to watch embedded mediaDead Space released in October 2008 and was hailed as a horror masterpiece that blended the tense sci-fi horror ofAlien with exceptional storytelling and satisfying, dismemberment-focused combat.Game Informer scored the game a 9.25 out of 10, with reviewer Andrew Reiner summing up the game’s horror saying “Dead Space is technically a survival horror game, but it should really be compared to motion picture juggernautsThe Thing andAliens, as it channels the essence of those films more than it does any other game. If horror is your forte, dim the lights, crank up the surround sound, and take the deepest breath you ever have. I think you'll agree, no game has ever been this frightening.”
In a press release, Phillippe Ducharme, senior producer on the project, expresses the love and care going into the project saying “The Dead Space franchise made a huge impact on the survival horror genre when it was released 12 years ago, and I came to Motive as a fan first to specifically work on this game. We have a passionate team at Motive who are approaching this remake as a love letter to the franchise. Going back to the original and having the opportunity to do so on next gen consoles excited everyone on the team. As we look to modernize the game, we’ve reached out to dedicated fans and invited them to provide us with feedback since the early stages of production to deliver the Dead Space game they want and for new players to enjoy as well.”
The original Dead Space, as well as its two sequels and Wii spin-off, were developed by Visceral Games, which was shut down in 2017. Even before the studio's closure, the series had been on hiatus since Dead Space 3 launched in 2013. Meanwhile, Dead Space's creator, Glen Schofield, has since formed his own studio to develop a new sci-fi horror game, The Callisto Protocol.
Sadly, EA didn’t share a release window for the Dead Space remake but it’s slated to launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
What improvements do you hope to see in the Dead Space remake? Let us know in the comments!
Ever wanted to create your own Battlefield experience? With Battlefield Portal in 2042, you can do just that! Revealed during the latest EA Play Live showcase, Electronic Arts and Ripple Effect Studios (formerly known as DICE LA) shared a new Battlefield 2042 gameplay trailer that shows off the community-driven experience that is Battlefield Portal.
Everything seen thus far of Battlefield 2042 has had longtime fans of the FPS franchise excited. Despite the always-online requirement, the return of total verticality and the freedom that Battlefield is known for has the community buzzing. That's why the community-driven feature known as Portal is so exciting; it's a feature that was designed specifically because players have been asking for years for a detailed experience like this, one where players could completely tailor a game however they see fit. As seen in the video below, that even includes bringing a defibrillator to a knife fight, but that's just the start.
Click here to watch embedded mediaPlayers can go all sniper if they want, reduce the pool size to a much lower number, pull from assets - including maps - from several Battlefield games from the past, and so much more. So how does it work? Battlefield Portal is a creation suite that allows players to customize game settings to their liking. It includes various settings, custom modes, and a Logic Editor. The Logic Editor will allow players to play around with the game's code to not only create the ultimate Battlefield experience, but also to share it with the community.
While creative modes aren't totally new to the Battlefield franchise, the level of customization seen with Portal and the Logic Editor is. “Battlefield Portal is truly a love letter to our passionate and long-time fans,” said Justin Wiebe, senior design director at Ripple Effect Studios. “We’ve created a set of tools that really gives the community the chance to create their own signature Battlefieldexperiences, while also bringing back these iconic Battlefieldclassics for our veteran players to revel in and our new players to experience for the first time.”
With pulling from previous Battlefield experiences, here is a breakdown of assets available through Battlefield Portal:
Classic Maps:
Weapons:
Vehicles:
Gadgets:
Armies:
Soldiers
With confirmed four seasons of Battlefield 2042 for the first year after launch, Battlefield Portal will also see new content added with each new season. To learn more about all things Battlefield, including our previous impressions with some up close and personal time with the game, check out our game hub here.
Outages come and go all the time; it’s always an inconvenience because these things always seem to happen when we’re enjoying a favorite show, getting ready to confirm a purchase on a favored item, or simply grinding in a multiplayer game with a crew of friends. Earlier today, however, multiple internet services were reportedly suffering from outages. These outages extended beyond platforms like the Steam Store and PSN. Apparently, a couple of banking pages and the Airbnb site were affected too.
Ah.
— Greg Miller (@GameOverGreggy) July 22, 2021
Great.https://t.co/rmcQKssyUT
According to The Verge, “a spike of over 40, 000 users are having issues with the PlayStation Network, and the Steam store is also not currently functioning.” At one point today, the web browser version of the Steam store would lead to a DNS failure server error. This was also appearing on the Steam app. Specific titles like Fortnite and Call of Duty were also experiencing similar problems. The Verge went on to state that there were even reports of 911 systems being down across the country.
If you check the notation on the PSN webpage, all services are up and running as of right now. The browser version of the Steam store looks to have been restored as well. However, the sheer scale of the outage leaves a lot of room for the re-emergence of internet issues. We’ll keep you updated if these problems come back and end up persisting throughout the day.
Were you affected by these issues today? Are certain websites and services still down for you? If so, which ones are giving you trouble? Let us know what your situation is in the comments below!
Lost in Random by Zoink, the makers of Fe, is a promising-looking EA Originals title we’ve been waiting to get our hands on since it was announced last summer. Today’s EA Play presentation treated us to a new gameplay breakdown of the game’s unique combat and also finally pulled the curtain back on a release date.
On September 10, you can guide a young girl named Even on a quest to rescue her captive sister, Odd. She’s joined by Dicey, a living dice, as they explore the Kingdom of Random. An evil queen reigns over this dark fairytale world, which is divided into six realms governed by a cursed black dice.
At its core, Lost in Random is a third-person action-adventure title but combat takes the form of flashy dice battles that unfold in board game-like arenas. By collecting coins, players can trade them to purchase cards that grant new attacks, abilities, and more. For example, one card causes Dicey to explode on contact with enemies. Another card transforms him into a giant hammer. Other cards can afflict enemies with curses and spawn traps in the environment.
Click here to watch embedded mediaEven herself can drop baddies using a slingshot. She can also knock off energy cubes that fuel Dicey. When Dicey’s at full power, he can unleash a time-freezing spell that brings enemies to a halt, giving you a temporary window to unleash the power of randomness.
Lost in Random’s Tim Burton-esque vibe combined with its unique tactical combat has all the potential of a gem in the making. It was recently honored as part of the Tribeca Film Festival’s first official games selection, so it’s already doing something right. We’ll find out once we get our hands on it when it launches for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
Are you interested in checking out Lost in Random? Let us know in the comments!
During EA Play today, we got a look at the next big updatefor Apex Legends called Emergence. Coming with this release is the brand new Legend Seer, a substantial update to the 3v3 Arena mode, and the future of the Apex Legends Global Series.
Opening the Apex segment of the show was a trailer featuring Seer, a new recon-focused Legend, taking out a bunch of the existing characters. The cinematic is stylish with the creole vampire narrating as he hunts his prey in lava-covered areas and snowy terrain. Here we get a glimpse of his abilities utilizing tiny drones that emerge from a jeweled compartment in his chest.
Apex director Chad Grenier gave some more details on his gameplay in an interview segment following the video. Seer can track opponents by using insect-like drones, sending them out to reveal targets that normally can’t be seen. His ultimate constructs a sphere in a chosen area that allows you to see movement within. While having knowledge of enemy positioning is a strong ability, Grenier revealed savvy players can sneak through undetected if they move slowly. Sprint through Seer’s globe, and you’ll surely be spotted.
Emergence isn’t just about adding to the roster, it's also expanding on Apex’s Arena mode. Grenier talked about the importance of giving players more to do outside of the traditional Battle Royal mode, and how adding Ranked Arena matches to the game does just that. Ranked Arenas will give players the chance to take these smaller three-on-three skirmishes seriously by bringing a ranking system to the mode and matchmaking players of similar skill together.
Closing out the segment, EA Play’s host Austin Creed and Grenier talked about the continuation of the Apex Legends Global Series. This year’s Global Series bumps the prize pool to $5 million and is letting PlayStation and Xbox players join in thanks to the recently implemented crossplay feature. Previously, the Global Series was only for players on PC, so this greatly opens the pool of potential competitors. Switch players will have to wait for another time, it seems. Pro League and Challenger Circuit events will be included in the competitive season as well.
Apex Legends: Emergence with Seer and Ranked Arena matches launches August 3 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
How’s this new update for Apex Legends looking? Does Seer have what it takes to make an impact with his superior tracking skills? Give us your thoughts in the comments!
Codemasters got today’s EA Play Live off to a strong start. Now that the developer has been acquired by EA, a bevy of fan-favorite racing franchises like Grid, F1, and Project Cars are now under a new banner. A short montage of these experiences aired and then Senior Gameplay Designer Becky Crossdale took to the stage (virtually) to announce the next chapter in the Grid series: Grid Legends.
Grid Legends tells a compelling story about the intensity that surrounds the World Championship. The uniqueness of this game, however, comes from the implementation of live-action performances. This unique approach is bolstered with the help of filming tech used on The Mandalorian. Players will go toe-to-toe with a dominant team of drivers that will stop at nothing to keep their opponents off the track. In addition to the traditional structure of organized racing, Crossdale also mentioned the welcome addition of mixed class racing. This includes potentially dropping F1 cars, rally cars, trucks, hyper cars, muscle cars, and open wheel vehicles all in the same match for some wacky-looking contests.
Other game modes like Boost Mode and Elimination Mode will be in the game (you’ll probably catch me totalling everyone else’s ride in the latter). And some awe-inspiring locations are making first time appearances. Crossdale mentioned that you could drive the new Aston Martin Valkyrie down tracks in Moscow, London – don’t forget to keep an eye out for Buckingham Palace! – and the world-famous Alpina course, which will push your favorite hyper cars to their limit. There are over 130 places routes in total so you'll have plenty of content to dive into.
Grid Legends is slated for a 2022 release on next- and current-gen consoles as well as PC.Are you looking forward to diving into the single-player narrative or would you prefer racing your friends? What modes or cars do you hope to see? Post your thoughts in the comments section below!
While most of the big publishers took their turns presenting their upcoming slate of games earlier in the year, EA has held off for the most part. That all changes today, as one of the largest publishers in the industry, is set to take the digital stage once more and unveil more about what's coming next for fans of Battlefield, Madden, FIFA, and other surprises!
Click here to watch embedded mediaAs always, your friends at Game Informerwill be there to cover all the fun from today's EA Play Live. Join Alex Stadnik and Alex Van Aken as they react to all the news, gameplay, and hopefully a few surprises along the way. The show starts at noon CT but we'll be kicking off the fun fifteen minutes early with our preshow to discuss our hopes and dreams for today's digital event.
While we know games such as Skate 4, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age 4 won't be present at today's show (sorry, Liana), the crown jewel of today's festivities is undoubtedly Battlefield 2042. Developer DICE is giving players another look at the bombastic new shooter, including a substantive look at the new game mode and maps the company has been teasing.
Sports fans are also in luck, as EA is set to give us another peek at what it has cooking with this year's Madden NFL 22 and FIFA 22 ahead of their respective August 24 and October 1 release dates.
What are you most excited to see from today's EA Play Live? What surprises do you think the publishing giant has in store for us? Be sure to let us know in both the comments below and when we go live in our Twitch chat!
For more on Battlefield 2042, be sure to check out our look at how the AI works in DICE's latest shooter, our chat about the game on an episode of The GI Show, and a look at some gameplay right here!
With Ted Lasso being a hit show for Apple TV Plus – Jason Sudeikis front and center – now is the perfect time to dive into the Apple service. Don't feel like adding another subscription cost to the pile? No worries, Sony and Apple are teaming up to offer PlayStation 5 owners six months of free Apple TV Plus.
If you have a PS5, though the current-gen systems are still tough to get, all you have to do is boot up the Apple TV Plus app and sign in with an Apple ID, and boom, you've got access to Plus for six months. As recommended with any sort of promotion like this, make sure to cancel the month before that six-month period ends. That way, you're not charged $4.99 a month (unless you want to keep it going, that is).
The offer for six free months of Apple TV Plus is available now and will be accessible until one year from now on July 22, 2022. It's honestly a great service, especially with the joy that Ted Lasso brings, a show that is entering its second season later this week. Mythic Quest is also a must-watch, as well as a plethora of new lineup TV shows slated for later this year.
For those interested in taking Sony up on this offer, you can learn more here at the PlayStation website.
Hopefully, PlayStation 5 restocks will become a little more common when the holiday season arrives. Sony has said that the shortage is expected to continue into next year, though a small burst of restocks have been continuously becoming available for several months.
Between anime services and Apple TV, what do you think about partnerships like this with Xbox and PlayStation? Are they enough to entice you into trying out a new service, or do you typically tend to steer away? Sound off in the comments below!
While we have some time still before we can get our hands on Horizon Forbidden West, that doesn't mean we can't dive into a gaming adventure as Aloy in the meantime. For a limited time only, Guerrilla Games and miHoYo are teaming up to bring Aloy to the Genshin Impact roster for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 players.
PlayStation took to Twitter to reveal the news, including how rank 20 players can get their hands on Aloy's Predator Bow. The new update is coming soon with version 2.1, which will include the new crossover. We don't have specific details yet, but PlayStation promises to reveal more soon:
Want to obtain Aloy’s Predator Bow? Travelers above Adventure Rank 20 will receive this for free via in-game mail.
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) July 22, 2021
And if you’re playing on PS4 or PS5, you’ll get exclusive access to Aloy as of Update 2.1! pic.twitter.com/RY6m8oqM6F
Genshin Impact has seen a lot of success since the free-to-play game has hit the market. While it is a gatcha game, our own Dan Tack — who is known for his blunt criticisms about this particular trend in games — has mentioned in the past that this mechanic doesn't actually hurt the game. Genshin gives players the freedom to explore and take on new challenges while exploring a world, not unlike that seen in Nintendo's Breath of the Wild. Heavily inspired by the open-world Link adventure, Genshin Impact continues to evolve with more updates, new characters added to the roster, and new expansions to make the ride all the more enjoyable.
Thoughts on the Genshin Impact x Horizon Forbidden West crossover? What other games would you like to see make their way into the world of Teyvat? Sound off with those hot takes in the comment section below!
Injustice is an animated movie inspired by Netherrealm Studios' fighting game and the DC comic series from Tom Taylor called Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year One. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, and DC, the upcoming animated tale will transport fans to an alternate Earth where Joker turned Superman's inside out.
Announced via The Hollywood Reporter, the upcoming animated film takes place in a world where the Joker tricked Superman into murdering his beloved Lois Lane. We know how this story plays out: Superman goes berserk and aims to control Earth in its entirety while deep within his spiral. Can Batman and company stop him before it's too late?
Justin Hartley will be voicing Superman alongside Anson Mount as Batman, Zach Callison as Damian and Jimmy Olsen, Laura Bailey as Lois Lane, Brian T. Delaney as Green Lantern, Brandon Michael Hall as Cyborg, Gillian Jacobs as Harley Quinn, Yuri Lowenthal as Mirror Master, Shazam, and Flash, Edwin Hodge as Mr. Terrific and Killer Croc, Fred Tatasciore as Captain Atom, Derek Phillips as Nightwing and Aquaman, Anika Noni Rose as Catwoman, Kevin Pollak as Joker and Jonathan Kent, Faran Tahir as Ra's al Ghul, Reid Scott as Green Arrow and Victor Zsasz, Janet Varney as Wonder Woman, and finally: Andrew Morgado as Mirror Master Soldier.
At the helm of this project is Justice League Dark's Matt Peters as the animated film's director with a script written by Batman: Hush's Ernie Altbacker. Jim Krieg is set to produce the movie with Sam Register as the executive producer.
While we don't have a release date at this time, the Injustice movie is expected to release sometime this fall.
Are you excited to see the narrative of Injustice: Gods Among Us once more in a different format? What are you the most hopeful for regarding this animated take? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below!
You know those games where you think you know where the narrative is going and the journey eventually becomes a predictable ride that feels like a chore? Variable State’s latest supernatural adventure is anything but. Last Stop’s story ties the fates of three strangers together, with life choices and perceived failures blending into a bubble of existential crisis that would make famed philosopher Albert Camus proud. Last Stop is a two-sided experience where one side is relatable monotony and the other offers unbridled chaos and imaginative conundrums.
Last Stop is a deceptively complex story set in present-day London. It starts slow, introducing players to John, Donna, and Meena. Each character is a stranger to one another, but they all have simplistic lives that speak to that looming existential dread we all know and put up with. The three tales are bound together by the supernatural, and the twists the narrative takes that make Last Stop feel like you’re playing a TV show. The game has intro cuts as you’d see on a British sitcom with character names and their associated actors. It has dramatic music that flares at just the right time, and it has story recaps that offer a helpful reminder of the “road so far”which is a nice touch given Last Stop’s episodic format.
The three main characters have nothing in common other than their monumental bad luck. Meena is the “career-obsessed” archetype; a woman who is driven by her ruthless ambition no matter the collateral damage. She’s torn between her goals and her past, a division that is felt by those closest to her. That wedge between her and those she loves grows deeper when suddenly she is forced to compete for a promotion she’s had in her sights for years.
Click here to watch embedded mediaDonna is a high-schooler that plays the average teenage archetype; a little bit unbothered in some ways, a little too bothered in others, and she’s simply trying to find herself whilst navigating her teens. In an effort to separate from the shadow of family, she throws herself into a complicated friendship with Becky and Vivek. That friendship is put to the test when a night of hanging out with friends goes terribly wrong after a mysterious stranger upends their lives.
John is a middle-aged father who is underappreciated and overworked. As a single parent, he resents his young, successful, and rich neighbor Jack. Instead of letting that jealousy play out naturally, however, fate has other ideas pulling a good 'ol fashioned Friday the 13th body swap. The core of the three tales is the crux of what Last Stop has to offer: Supernatural destiny. While I won't don't want to reveal what the supernatural tie actually is because it would be a massive spoiler, I will say that's not what you'd expect and that the revelation was wild. The twist ending also provides unique closures for each character, reflecting growth and their inner truths. I enjoyed that the three characters were so different from one another, it made each chapter feel fresh, especially when bouncing between John and Donna. I related to John’s resignation to the daily grind, but I found myself wistfully throwing myself into Donna’s naivety and youthful belief that anything is possible. Meena was a hard character to love, a lot of her choices were borderline cruel, though later in the story we learned why she is so guarded and that revelation made me appreciate her as a part of this story.
Click here to watch embedded mediaEach character’s story is broken into six chapters, allowing the player to choose from John, Donna, or Meena before continuing onto the next stretch of the story.Three choices help guide how these characters act in-game, usually depicted as diplomatic, sarcastic, or aloof, such as the ability to comfort someone in a time of need or to vindictively hold a grudge. For example, John (in Jack's body) must choose between keeping his mouth shut about his toxic work environment or “play it safe” to keep his job. These choices command certain actions during pivotal parts in the story, though the truly game-impacting choices are reserved for the very end. If you’re looking to double back on a part of the story, there is no way to skip through dialogue, which is tedious when replaying a chapter. Luckily, thisdidn’t impact my enjoyment too much, becauseI found the pacing of the dialogue and the story calming in a way similar to British sitcoms, providing even-toned conversations between each character despite the wacky ongoing narrative. It also nailed the dry humor that those sitcoms are known for throughout each chapter, though these moments were peppered in and don’t detract from the mysterious nature of Last Stop’s storyline.
Mechanically speaking, Last Stop is as simple as it gets. Movement is limited to walking and is extremely linear to fit the guided experience similar to a TV show. At first, I felt this design was too straight-and-narrow and hurt the game. As I progressed through the story, however, the pacing made sense when looking at the bigger picture.
Click here to watch embedded mediaWhile traversing the world of Last Stop is limited, one exception to the game’s walking-only limitation is Meena’s analytical ability. This feature allows her to scan anyone she chooses to glean details from them: are they guilty? Lying? Scared? This ability doesn’t really impact the narrative, the choices are mainlined in a way to keep the story on course, but it does offer another look inside her mind and the almost clinical way she perceives the world.
Last Stop is dripping with existential philosophy juxtaposed against the illusion of a simple life. At 34, I identified, on some level, with all three characters, which made some of the more drastic decisions difficult, like choosing whether Meena is honest about the specific ways she hurts her family or Donna’s decision between her family and her struggles. How do you act when there is no right choice, there’s only the right choice for that moment? What if that “right” choice comes at the cost of someone’s life? Their happiness? What do you do at that moment when it hits you in the gut that the world is so much stranger and bigger than you believe? Last Stop isn’t for everyone; it’s a slow-paced narrative that requires a bit of time invested before the payoff. The conclusion of Last Stop, however, is unique, surprising, and it left me contemplating my choices in the game itself and in real life. It was a thoughtful journey, one that concluded on a satisfying note tinged with wonder and a renewed feeling of what it means to be human.
Summary:Last Stop is a two-sided experience where one side is relatable monotony and the other offers unbridled chaos and imaginative conundrums.
Concept:Three strangers are brought together by a chaotic twist of fate rooted in the supernatural
Graphics:The characters are more detailed while NPCs are left with featureless faces, providing an aesthetic to match the game’s existential nature
Sound:The music and sound effects make the player feel like they are playing an episodic TV series
Playability:A focused narrative that leaves no room to explore, designed to carry each character to their fated destinations
Entertainment:Last Stop blends classic British humor, the contrast of human mundanity, and the chaotic nature of the supernatural flawlessly
Replay:Moderately low
Guilty Gear Strive was released a little over a month ago, and now Arc System Works is ready to start delivering new characters to the game. In a trailer released last night, we looked at the first DLC character, Goldlewis Dickinson, and the roadmap for the upcoming slate of content in Strive’s Season Pass.
Goldlewis Dickinson is the “Secretary of Absolute Defense,” a slightly different position than what we have in the real world United States. Slightly cooler, too. He’s dressed in what I’m sure isn’t a standard-issue uniform, complete with jeans covered with chaps, a big horned belt buckle, and actual horseshoes emblazoned on his gloves to give a little extra impact to his punches. This big brawler carries a heavy-duty coffin with an Area 51 sign slapped on the front. He claims that there aren’t any aliens around in the trailer, but the blue otherworldly arm punching from the coffin says otherwise.
Dickinson’s move-set is reminiscent of other burly fighting game characters with big sweeping attacks utilizing that heavy coffin and his alien friends to apply pressure. Also at his disposal are flying drone bomb projectiles to keep enemies busy while Goldlewis finds a way in to attack. Once the Secretary does get in, he has options by using his command grab to apply three skull-cracking headbutts or shoulder charging in to start a combo. Goldlewis packs some serious firepower with a massive chain gun he can combo into from a coffin attack and a super that blasts his unfortunate victims with an orbital laser from space.
Click here to watch embedded mediaGoldlewis Dickinson is slated to hit Guilty Gear Strive on July 27 for season pass owners and on July 30 for those who wish to pick him up individually on PlayStation consoles. Steam users will be available to find the DLC for individual purchases on July 27. Arc System Works gave a rough timeline for the rest of this season’s DLC along with this character announcement. No price was given on buying Dickinson solo, but the season pass runs $29.99. August will bring another character, with another fighter coming sometime before the end of the year. 2022 is the current time for the final 2 DLC characters and new stages for the season, the final one bringing new story content along with it.
Who’s missing from Guilty Gear Strive’s roster that you’d like to see return? Have you been playing Strive, and what do you think of it? Tell me about it in the comments!
Skyrim is easily one of the most heavily modded games out there, more so since Bethesda started supplying console mod support. Some of these fan creations are complete retellings and new adventures, while others — like this Skyrim mod — are more about the simple things in life.
The Self Hug Spell Mod from Nexus Mods user The Seagull (uploaded by DevicsPrey) is bringing a little wholesomeness to the world of Tamriel. "We all need a hug from time to time, but not all of us have someone around to provide such luxury," said the mod's creator when explaining how this came to be in the first place. "Use your mighty magics to emulate the sensation of being hugged and improve your mood drastically."
According to the mod's creator, it's a simple spell that was added for brevity, and you know what? Sometimes, simple is good. Simple is just what we need. The world would be a better place if we had a little more empathy and a little more compassion towards one another. Apparently, that applies to our toon selves in-game, as well.
To download this mod, which is a first for this creator, check it out right here.
If you want even more hugging, there's another mod called "I'm Glad You're Here" that lets you hug it out with your followers, in-game spouse, and other characters littered throughout Tamriel.
Want even more mod goodness? Check out some of our other favorites with previous Mod Corner entries below, including more Bethesda fun:
What are your thoughts on a hug-centric mod for Skyrim? Any particular mods out for PC that is your go-to? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! You can also request recommendations for future Mod Corner stories, as well! Happy to help!
A new Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut trailer dives deep into the dangers of Iki island, a new playable area for fans of the samurai game to roam. This expansion is exclusive to the Director's Cut, giving newcomers even more of a reason to jump in, as well as those that may have already completed Jin's journey.
"If you’re a history buff, you may know that in addition to Tsushima, the neighboring island of Iki was also invaded during this time period," said Sucker Punch when the Director's Cut was first revealed. "We’re excited to reveal that a whole new chapter in Jin’s journey is coming and will take place on Iki. In this new story, Jin travels to the island to investigate rumors of a Mongol presence. But soon, he finds himself caught up in events with deeply personal stakes that will force him to relive some traumatic moments from his past."
Take a look at the latest video below to see what awaits in Iki island:
Click here to watch embedded mediaIki Island is the next step for Jin's journey where he discovers a mysterious Mongol tribe has begun to claw its way into the island. Jin learns about a Shaman called Ankhsar Khatun, which we witness in the video above, and about her followers called the "eagles." The Shaman claims to dominate even the souls of man, not just the nations they run, which proves to be Jin's greatest challenge yet. To face this new threat, Jin must travel to Iki Island, though past traumas ensure that this adventure is anything but smooth sailing.
The new expansion comes with fresh armor for Jin, new horse armor, mini-games, fighting techniques, enemies, environments, and even new mapping options. For the trophy hunters out there, the Director's Cut will include new earnable trophies, as well.
For those who have already completed the adventure of Ghost of Tsushima on the PlayStation 4, Sucker Punch promises that save transfers from the PS4 to the PS5 are doable, so it'll be easy to dive right in see some of the new features for yourself. Enhancements include Dual Sense haptic feedback and 3D audio, as well as 60 FPS targeted framerates.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut is available to pre-order now, with a full release slated for August 20, 2021.
Are you excited for what Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut has to offer? What aspect of Iki island has your attention the most? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below!
The announcement of Nickelodeon's All Star Brawl had the gaming world buzzing last week. This isn’t the first time the Gak pack has gotten together for a beat ‘em up, but something about additions like Powdered Toast Man and Nigel Thornberry has got people excited to battle with their favorite Nickelodeon characters. Where else can this Smash Bros. formula be applicable? There would have to be a big and enticing enough cast to bring together for fun throwdown with friends. Here are the universes I think are capable of handling the Smash Bros. treatment.
Since we, unfortunately, don’t know of any projects in the works with Capcom, its usual partner in fighting games, Marvel has incredible options for sparring partners found within the Disney vault. Mickey, Donald, and Goofy are of course, easy inclusions to square off against the likes of Scarlet Witch, Captain America, and Magneto. Sticking with Disney-proper, Elsa’s ice powers would be entertaining to use, as would Maui’s shapeshifting. History is one of the greatest assets the company has to leverage and has been a big strength for Smash Bros. over the years as well.
We haven’t even gotten to the really exciting stuff yet: Star Wars. Rey, Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, Palpatine, Finn, and IG-88 could go to war with the Guardians of the Galaxy and Thanos, a true battle of galactic proportions set in some of your favorite worlds. Think of the items you could use. Collecting Infinity Stones to warp time, space, and reality over the course of a match and outright win upon collecting all 6. Everyone could be swinging lightsabers, with each character having their own unique design and color scheme. Mjolnir, blasters, Baby Yoda assists trophies, Ant-Man’s size-shifting devices, and so much more would make for dynamic and memorable moments.
Cynicism is easy to let creep in when thinking about the entirety of what Disney does and doesn’t utilize. Bringing all of its entertainment pillars together in one game could be a way to surface characters lost in the shuffle of the House of Mouse’s current planned trajectory. There’s a whole new world of opportunities for Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars All-Stars. Maybe, just maybe, Square Enix would even let Kingdom Heart's Sora participate.
There’s a term being thrown around a lot in the wrestling community over the last couple of years, but especially in the last few months: the forbidden door—a door that separates the biggest wrestling companies from interacting with each other. A door that, when opened, can make dream matches possible. Promotions like AEW, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and Impact have been chipping away at this mystical barrier as of late and stirring up the excitement of fans wondering who will show up in which ring next.
Smash Bros. was, in some ways, the forbidden door for video games and an appropriate template for a pro wrestling game bringing together larger-than-life brawlers throughout time and different companies, including those in WWE. It’s unimaginable having today’s top stars going toe-to-toe against one another. Roman Reigns versus Kenny Omega. Kazuchika Okada against The Rock. The New Day taking on The Young Bucks. We live in a golden age of professional wrestling where some of the biggest names may never be in the same ring, though in the same game is a step in the right direction.
A best-case scenario for bringing all these wrestling worlds together would be a clever play on the battle royal matches or even the Royal Rumble itself. Matches could involve finding ways to eliminate characters by slamming or tossing them to specific screen parts. Being the most grounded subject on the list, these strong men and women might need to be spiced up a tad by giving each character splashy moves and powers reflective of their strong personalities. The Undertaker already has kayfabe powers, but allowing him to cast lighting strikes down on other wrestlers would be possible in this fantasy setting. Bringing this cast together may only happen with Fire Pro and WWE2K create-a-characters for now, but this dream of mine won't go away any time soon.
Okay, this one is a joke, but there’s potential here. WayForward has already proved it can do right by the Dark Universe better than the movie industry with The Mummy: Demastered. Give them the keys to reviving the failed cinematic universe and jam these iconic characters in the next best collaborative format: a 2D platform fighter. Bring in all the legendary Universal monsters like Dr. Jekyll, the Wolfman, the Invisible Man, Tom Cruise, and Dracula to fight for the soul of the Dark Universe.
I wouldn’t stop at the current iterations of these iconic characters either. Since most of these entities are available in the public domain, countless variants of these monsters exist. Adding them as skins or additional characters would give players the chance to use their favorite Frankenstein or Mummy. Since this joke is still going, they could lean in even harder and bring in Booberry, Count Chocula, and the gang. Get Konami involved and bring in Castlevania characters for some brand-appropriate fun, and while we’re mentioning outside collaborations — Hotel Transylvania could cross over nicely, as well. Considering the surprising number of options this may no longer be joke, but a legitimate monster mash.
Yes, this one has been done before with Jump Super Stars and its sequel Jump Ultimate Stars on Nintendo DS, but over a decade has passed, and Shonen Jump’s roster has only grown more substantial and iconic. Series like One Piece, My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Demon Slayer have been top players in anime and manga. All four of them have incredible casts of wild characters with special skills and abilities. Hell, One Piece alone could fill ten rosters.
When you move into the other weapons at the disposal of the manga publisher, you have little titles like Dragon Ball, Boruto, Bleach, Hunter x Hunter, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Chainsaw Man, Dr. Stone, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Yu Yu Hakusho; the list just keeps going and every entry is a slam dunk. Jump provides plenty of name recognition, even for those who don’t consider themselves fans of anime or manga. Goku and Vegeta are known well enough for newcomers to dip their toes in, and names like Luffy, Deku, Yugi, and Naruto cast an even wider net. Not to mention the crossover potential from other publishers. Guts from Berserk, Erin, and Mikasa from Attack on Titan, or somehow incorporating Gundams? Bring them all in.
Even when factoring in Disney’s slate of franchises, Shueisha’s Shonen Jump contains the collection of characters and worlds most deserving of the full genre celebration treatment. Games like Jump Force from a few years ago tried but failed to hit the mark; however, an approachable party fighter showcasing the great adventures and characters of manga and anime has the potential to do justice to these stories.
Who would be your main in any of these games? Which other spaces of entertainment would you like to see get the Smash Bros. treatment, and why is it primetime sitcoms? I see you, Frasier and My Name is Earl fans. Fill those comments below.
The Alien franchise has seen its fair share of ups and downs in not only the movie series but in its video game adaptations as well. While some titles have missed the mark, Alien: Isolation was incredibly successful at channeling the terror and suspense that made the original 1979 film one of the greatest works of sci-fi in the history of film.
In the same way Isolation is able to invoke Ridley Scott's masterpiece, Aliens: Fireteam Elite hopes to duplicate what made the James Cameron directed Aliens such a special experience. Developer Cold Iron Studios' newest third-person shooter places you squarely in the boots of space marines ready to slaughter a whole Nostromo's worth of alien enemies.
But how does Fireteam Elite actually play? Join Marcus Stewart, Alex Van Aken, and Alex Stadnik on New Gameplay Today as they take you through their hands-on impressions of the latest Aliens game to grace our gaming rigs. The crew discusses the shooting mechanics, how the different classes play, and how the game tips its cap to longtime fans of the series.
Today's video is focused on the Demolishonist, a powerful tank-like class that has the ability to launch rockets off the player's shoulder and trigger a massive area of effect blast that sends Xenomorphs flying. The boys also describe their experience as the healing-focused Doc class, the damage-dealing Gunner, and the tech-savvy Technician, all making for interesting combinations when you're trying to save people from an acid-soaked death at the hands of some of fiction's greatest antagonists.
If you're a fan of what you see on this episode of New Gameplay Today, then you're in luck. Aliens: Fireteam Elite is fastly approaching its August 25 release date when the game launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC!
EA Sports has announced a truer representation of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) in the upcoming EA Sports PGA Tour game. The next phase of the years-long partnership is said to go beyond simply character selection and instead includes in-depth female representation across all modes.
In addition to bringing more female golfers to EA Sports PGA Tour, this edition of the game features the Amundi Evian Championship, which is one of the five major championships of the LPGA Tour. That means you can tee off as a female golfer at a true representation of the Evian Resort Golf Club. Players can expect additional game modes on top of the Amundi Evian Championship from the long-term LPGA partnership, including being able to create their own female athletes in the newly overhauled create-a-player mode. Players can also expect LPGA-themed challenges, amateur tournaments, and more.
"We are also making sure that notable events produced by the leading women's golf association were included as well; just like any of our other tours," EA Tiburon senior producer Jenny Martin says. "One great example is our announcement today of adding the Amundi Evian Championship, one of the major championships in women's golf, and of course where it's played – the Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains, France – in high-fidelity for the next generation of female golf professionals, enthusiasts, and gamers to enjoy."
To more realistically capture the spirit of the women's game, the development team worked with a diverse group of professional golfers and broadcasters, including former professional golfer Iona Stephen, who not only worked with EA for over a year on the design, audio, visuals, community, and golf trends, but also joins the commentary team as the first female on-course commentator in the game. She joins the team as a member of the EA Sports Creative Council.
"We know that women's golf is not the same as men's golf, and the LPGA differs from the PGA," Stephen says. "We wanted to take the same approach in partnering with the PGA with the LPGA, which includes involvement from female professional athletes and professionals, like me, to amplify the authenticity of women's golf and female golfers in EA Sports PGA Tour."
The team isn't ready to delve deeper into the LPGA-centered modes or the female golfers in the game, but EA Tiburon has revealed that the 2019 winner of the Amundi Evian Championship and current #2 ranked LPGA golfer in the world, Jin Young Ko, is on the roster. "We can't yet share the complete list of names just yet, as this process is still ongoing," Martin says. "Our goal is to include more female golfers than any other golf game out there. With the help of the LPGA, Creative Council, and a diverse dev team, we will be able to represent women in golf in a broader stroke."
EA Sports PGA Tour is set to launch in spring 2022 on new-gen consoles. For more on the partnership the game has with The Masters, head here.
Netflix is on a rollwhen it comes to adding more anime and gaming adaptations to its library. With adaptations like Dota, Resident Evil, Castlevania, and more, it's clear that the streaming service is all-in on "geek culture," as it markets this branch, and that includes even more The Witcher on the horizon. With the live-action The Witcher season 2 coming soon and the prequel well underway, there is yet another Polish-inspired adaptation in the works, and that's with Netflix's The Witcher anime called Nightmare of the Wolf.We've got a brand new look at what's ahead with a fresh trailer and a full cast reveal.
Netflix shared the latest trailer of Nightmare of the Wolf on the official Witcher Twitter account, which you can see below. Additionally, Netflix also confirmed the cast behind the mainstay characters. But first, let's take a look at the trailer:
When you’re a monster hunter, every deal has a price. The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf premieres August 23 only on @netflix. pic.twitter.com/M6vFlBG1cO
— The Witcher (@witchernetflix) July 21, 2021
As for the cast:
The anime is a prequel with Vesemir taking center stage. He's an older veteran to the witcher order and somewhat of a father figure to Geralt of Rivia. According to Netflix, the official description states: “Long before mentoring Geralt, Vesemir begins his own journey as a witcher after the mysterious Deglan claims him through the Law of Surprise.”
Lauren S. Hissrich, the current showrunner of the live-action The Witcher series, is at the helm as showrunner and co-executive producer on Nightmare of the Wolf. She is joined by Kwang Han (The Boondocks, The Last Airbender) as the anime's director. Writing the new series is Beau DeMayo, rounding out the creative team.
The anime take will be dropping on Netflix sooner than you might think. The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf arrives on August 23, 2021, exclusively on the streaming platform.
For the first time, Z-Man Games is expanding the Pandemic formula into a licensed partnership, as today brought details of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King – A Pandemic System Board Game. It’s a mouthful of a title, but the game itself has the potential to be a big hit in tabletop circles.
Long before the real world was wrestling with the concept, a board game called Pandemic was released in 2008 and took tabletop enthusiasts by storm. Designed by Matt Leacock, the cooperative experience challenged players to work together as doctors, researchers, and scientists to confront a series of deadly illnesses and save the world. The clever system, which emphasizes specific threat areas that arise, again and again, is one of the foundational games of the modern board game era, and it’s often recommended as an ideal launchpad into deeper thematic tabletop experiences. Pandemic became so popular that it has seen numerous expansions and offshoots, from fast-playing variants like Pandemic: Rapid Response, to a trip to ancient times to halt Rome's Fall. One evolution of the formula, Pandemic Legacy, helped usher in the new style of play known as legacy gaming.
Wrath of the Lich King is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated expansions and eras for the long-running MMO, especially for how it culminated important storylines first glimpsed way back in Warcraft III. The continent of Northrend was also a fan-favorite location, with numerous memorable sites to discover, including the imposing Icecrown Citadel that loomed in the distance.
The new Pandemic System board game embraces that celebrated corner of the Warcraft fiction and puts players in charge of individual heroes as they range out across the frozen continent. Playable characters include Sylvanas Windrunner, Thrall, and Varian Wrynn, who set aside their enmity to work together and confront the Lich King and his undead armies.
Our first glimpses of the game reveal a large board with interconnected locations, which should be familiar to experienced Pandemic players. But where the original saw those locations gradually filling with disease cubes, this World of Warcraft game sees the slowly encroaching ghouls and abominations of an undead scourge. Players visit iconic dungeon and raid locations like Naxxramas and The Nexus. And even as detailed plastic minis range about across Northrend, a large cardboard standee of Icecrown dominates the middle of the board.
Designed for 1 to 5 players and meant to be played in about an hour, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King – A Pandemic System Board Game is currently targeting a $59.99 price point. Check out a trailer for the new board game below.
Click here to watch embedded media
Earlier this month, we reported that Netflix has begun its ventures into gaming beyond adaptations by naming former EA Mobile exec Greg Peters its new Chief Operating Officer for the company's game goals. Now, Netflix has confirmed said reports, stating the goal behind the games as well as confirming that they will be available at no additional cost.
Netflix confirmed the news in a new letter to investors. In the letter, the streaming services mentioned interactive experiences like Black Mirror Bandersnatch when talking about new goals. Seeing gaming as a category that already fits inline with Netflix's goals for expansion, Netflix has begun the process of integrating games into its service with a mobile focus in mind to start out.
You can read the full gaming portion of the notice to investors below:
We’re also in the early stages of further expanding into games, building on our earlier efforts around interactivity (eg, Black Mirror Bandersnatch) and our Stranger Things games. We view gaming as another new content category for us, similar to our expansion into original films, animation and unscripted TV. Games will be included in members’ Netflix subscription at no additional cost similar to films and series. Initially, we’ll be primarily focused on games for mobile devices. We’re excited as ever about our movies and TV series offering and we expect a long runway of increasing investment and growth across all of our existing content categories, but since we are nearly a decade into our push into original programming, we think the time is right to learn more about how our members value games.If interested in the other plans Netflix has, including more non-fiction options to go along with its new reality TV series initiative, you can read the full financials document here.
The company did not state specifically which types of games will be the focus, both in terms of other platforms and genre of choice, nor did it detail exactly how this will work through the service's UI, but for now we at least have a confirmation about immediate goals.
I'm interested to see what this recent pivot means for the Netflix name and for a larger relation to other industries outside of the scope of movies and TV. The video games industry has surpassed the value of the film and TV market, which has led to a more creatively open mind towards the narrative tales gaming has to offer. As the games industry continues to stay in a hyper-focused spotlight within mainstream media, the next few years will be vital when looking at how the next step of entertainment evolution will progress.
If you've watched movies like District 9 and Chappie, then you're familiar with Neill Blomkamp's creative mind and some of his body of work. Now Blomkamp is making his way into gaming by joining the Gunzilla Games studio as its newest Chief Visionary Officer.
The studio is gearing up for its "next evolution of multiplayer AAA shooters," but with a strong focus on narrative and delivering an impactful story. To make that vision a reality, Blombkamp is offering his creative talents and directing experience.
“Gunzilla has a strong vision that clearly stands out. With a team of incredible talents and long-time industry veterans, it is creating a new, exciting multiplayer AAA shooter game that pushes the boundaries of gameplay, player freedom, customization options as well as narrative experience within the shooter genre. My own big-screen film experience will hopefully help shape new ways of interactive storytelling and next-generation visuals. And by making the best use of everything today’s video game development technologies have on offer, we will jointly create an immersive experience as we’ve never seen before,” says Blomkamp about his most recent move.
“As Chief Visionary Officer, Neill will be a key member of our team. Adding the perspective of filmmaking to video game development brings interactive entertainment to the next level. We all share the same vision, and Neill is the perfect completion to the narrative and visual art lead roles in our team. We are extremely proud that he is joining us - while we are creating our own universe, some of our inspiration originates in his works. We always hoped we could add a bit of his magic to our game - now this is happening. The team has been working hard on pre-production over the past year - having Neill joining us at this stage is bringing us closer to fulfilling our mission of delivering the next evolution of shooter games”, adds Vlad Korolev, CEO and co-founder of Gunzilla Games.
In addition to his new role, Blomkamp also has a new movie coming out, called Demonic, in theaters and to streaming services on August 20, 2021. You can learn more about his latest cinematic venture here while also checking out the Gunzilla Games website hereto learn more about the road ahead.
Last month, we offered some exclusive screenshots for the highly anticipated RPG from Atlus, Shin Megami Tensei V. This month, we have more screenshots, as well as some additional information about the characters you will encounter in the early stages of the game.
As we already know, the story of Shin Megami Tensei V puts you in the shoes of a third-year high school student in Tokyo, but when the tunnel he enters collapses, he's taken to another dimension that's overrun by demons. While the protagonist fuses with a mysterious man named Aogami to become a condemned being known as a Nahobino, it turns out he's not the only person who was transported to this alternate version of Tokyo known as Da'at.
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The protagonist soon reunites with Yuzuru Atsuta and Ichiro Dazai, two of his classmates. They each had their own close encounters with Da'at's demons, but together they're able to return to their version of Tokyo. Yuzuru is a good friend of the protagonist. Described by Atlus as "principled and upright," as well as "responsible, capable, and assertive." Meanwhile, Ichiro is a cheerful guy who can be a bit bumbling at times. He's not the best student, and many of his classmates see him as a loser. Still, Ichiro loves livestreaming, which he was doing in the tunnel when it collapsed.
Once they group is back to their version of Tokyo, they encounter the caring and kind-hearted Tao Isonokami, another classmate of theirs. She explains that two parallel versions of Tokyo exist: their version, and Da'at. The demons are localized to Da'at for now, but she says they have their sights set on Tokyo. She then reveals to them that she knows all of this because she is a member of of Bethel, an organization that fights the demons they encountered in Da'at. Not only that, but the Japanese prime minister, the strategic and collected Hayao Koshimizu, serves as the main representative of the Japanese branch of Bethel.
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The trio of the protagonist, Yuzuru, and Ichiro decide to join Bethel to protect Tokyo from the impending demonic invasion. The protagonist uses his powers as a Nahobino, while Hayao grants Yuzuru and Ichiro the power of the demon summoning program. Just as the team is getting back to their normal, everyday lives, they receive an emergency notice from Bethel that demons have appeared all over Tokyo; the invasion has begun in full force.
While the protagonist and his friends head out to protect people in the areas the demons are swarming, they learn that a group of demons are attacking their high school. Not only does this trap their classmate, Sahori Itsukishima, but also Yuzuru's little sister and only living relative, Miyazu Atsuta.
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With his newfound powers, the protagonist can fight demons using the standard command-based press-turn battle system, where striking enemy weaknesses can not only give you the upper hand, but also give you more turns with which to execute your plans. You do have to be careful though, as enemies can also strike your weaknesses and gain the momentum for themselves. All new skills such as Humble Blessing, Maziobarion, and Sanguine Drain allow you to employ a wider range of strategies in combat, while the Magatsuhi Skill system lets your party and your enemies activate special moves that can unleash powerful attacks or provide healing and support at crucial times.
It's been a long road to the release of Shin Megami Tensei V, but fans are ready to dive back into the series that has spawned other hit franchises like Persona and Devil Summoner. Thankfully, the release date is just on the horizon, as Shin Megami Tensei V launches on Switch on November 12.
FIFA 22 is the first installment in the popular football franchise to be completely designed for a true next-gen experience. The sheer power of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S have led to advancements for the team at EA Canada that are sure to excite devoted fans of the franchise. With the new addition of Hypermotion Technology (exclusive to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia versions), FIFA 22’s gameplay, on a visual and analog level, feels much tighter this year. I got some hands-on time to test out these new features and was impressed at the new level of immersivity.
Click here to watch embedded mediaFirst thing’s first: what is Hypermotion Gameplay Technology? You may have watched the trailer above and are still unsure about how this shifts the FIFA formula. As opposed to capturing life-like football maneuvers by way of optical means – going to the studio and applying conventional mocap procedures with only a few players on the pitch at a time – Hypermotion allows EA Canada to implement what it calls “advanced 11v11 match capture” and “machine learning.” For the first time ever, FIFA’s physics and fluidity are directly informed by motion capture from 22 professional footballers playing intense, untampered, real-time matches. Cutting-edge computers use the data gained from these matches to imitate player movements and create new animations on the fly – and there are over a whopping 4,000 new animations! This is three times more than previous titles.
How does this translate in-game? I only had access to the classic kickoff mode, but after choosing a team and walking onto the pitch, I immediately noticed that the stiff movements from FIFA 21 were rarer. In fact, each footballer looked and felt more human. Players step into passes and readjust depending on where the ball meets their feet. Moreover, those odd ragdoll entanglements that happen during air battles or sudden tackles are nowhere to be seen. In FIFA 22, the smaller interactions truly go a long way. Players argue with one another (although this animation was hard to see with the default, zoomed out camera) and you might even catch someone wiping the sweat from their brow. This seems minimal, but each interaction gives matches more nuance.
I’ve never been a particularly skilled player, but the “Tactical AI” in FIFA 21 offers more challenge and is consequently more rewarding. The defense moves as a unit, which was a little robotic from time to time. Opponents close in on your position and limit passing lanes as often as possible. This also makes racing past defenders more difficult, which is a nice touch seeing as how the FIFA series (and many other sports series, for that matter) prioritize high speed stats. Sprinting down the pitch on offense is a blast too. Smoother transitions allow you to be more explosive. Lob and through passes are more natural when the receiving footballer slows down to seemingly assess the ball’s trajectory and prepare accordingly. And since the defense pressures you as much as it can, you're better off performing agile dribbles or fakes to get out on top.
My time with the game was brief, but the moment-to-moment action feels steps ahead of its predecessor. The new animations and realism go a long way in making bouts more atmospheric and visceral. Outside of gameplay, EA Canada is working to fine-tune FIFA 22’s other modes but, for now, polishing up the on-pitch physicality has emerged as a primary objective for the developer; one that fans should notice when the game launches later this year.
As get ever closer to the new-gen launch of Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online, the latter game just got a big (and free) content update that’s now live. Los Santos Tuners speaks to the gearheads and general car enthusiasts with a new social space dedicated to hanging with friends and showing off your rides, more high-stakes heists to pull off with your crews, additional race types, and more.
The LS Car Meet is a combat-free, underground social hub where up to 30 players can gather and flaunt their prized vehicles. Not only can you use this area to customize your cars, but you can watch others do the same in real-time. You can also take vehicles out for a spin or race against others on a new private test track. The LS Car Meet serves as an ideal spot to show off the game's 10 new vehicles along with other new rides set to arrive in the coming months. Best of all, you can test drive unreleased vehicles during the first few weeks of launch.
The LS Car Meet also lets players host private meets and test track races, set the location as a spawn point upon starting the game, and Car Meet members who join front he Social Club Crew are rewarded with bonus goodies such as a Property Crew Emblem for the new Auto Shops.
Auto Shops are new, customizable shops players can acquire to generate extra cash while also providing a private space for tricking out your rides. Here you can store up to 10 vehicles, mod your cars, and hire mechanics to help deliver vehicles to customers. Auto Shops also display a handy list of 10 cars to steal across Free Mode (which you can complete alone or with friends) that rewards a big payoff if you manage to swipe them all.
Los Santos Tuners also features six new multi-part Contracts robbery missions as well as new race types for Car Meet members. The Pursuit Series, for example, is a collection of races where 4-16 players race for top prize while wanted by the cops. Car Meet members can earn Car Meet Rep by engaging in this activity and others. Garnering enough rep allows players to host invite-only Car Meets and decoration options for their spaces.
The update also features the return of Kenny “Moodymann” Dixon Jr., who put together a new mix of exclusive tracks from himself as well as artists including Carl Craig, Sama' Abdulhadi, and Luciano. A customizable Radio Wheel, a first for GTA, will allow players to favorite the stations they want to appear. You can also seek out hidden media sticks containing tracks from the Monday Dreamin’ EPs from Rockstars’ CircoLoco Records label.
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Over the coming weeks Rockstar plans to add more Contracts, a new go-kart themed Adversary Mode called Kart Krash: Full Auto, and a new arcade game called Camhedz, a co-op light gun shooter. You can learn the full details about what Los Santos Tuners entails by reading Rockstar’s blog post.
While Los Santos Tuners isn’t playable on the soon-to-be-closed PS3/Xbox 360 versions of GTA Online, it is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC (with backwards compatibility for new-gen hardware of course).
Planning to check out Lost Santos Tuners? Let us know in the comments!
Ubisoft's Skull & Bones has been an enigma ever since it was first revealed. The hyper-realistic nautical pirate adventure looked intriguing, but the silence on its development has been oddly telling, that is until Ubisoft announced that it now has a release window targeting a time between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023. After spending years working on this game, it looks like it is now in a playable alpha state, but a new report suggests that the time leading up to now has been anything but smooth sailing.
A new report from Kotaku talks about the road thus far, including how Skull & Bones was initially meant to be an expansion to Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, the first entry in the franchise that focused heavily on nautical warfare. According to the site, more than 20 developers that worked at Ubisoft talked with Kotaku anonymously to discuss the journey that has been Skull & Bones. Originally slated to be a multiplayer expansion for Black Flag, Ubisoft eventually pivoted to it becoming an MMO tie-in to the Assassin's Creed game called Black Flag Infinite. That obviously didn't work out, but the idea eventually transformed into its own IP, though even that has had some apparent growing pains.
One aspect of the new information about Skull & Bones is that there were a few different settings in mind for this sea-faring adventure, including the Indian Ocean and a completely fabricated new world called Hyberborea. When a direction was finally decided on, Skull & Bones made its first appearance back at E3 2017 with a deeper dive the following year focusing on the PvE elements rather than the PvP. Since then, however, it has reportedly undergone a few more directional shifts. While that may sound scary, it is important to remember that this isn't as uncommon as one might think. There are many times when focal ideas are suddenly scrapped, features are left on the cutting room floor, or the narrative has taken the journey to a new and interesting place. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't, but game development is intricate and nuanced, meaning not everything always goes according to plan.
That being said, one developer did tell the site that if this were any other publisher, the entirety of Skull & Bones would have been scrapped by now. Ubisoft's reported agreement with the Singapore government has kept the game alive, regardless of what the hundreds working on it felt. According to the developer that opened up about this, Ubisoft Singapore is contractually obligated to launch original games in relation to subsidy payments. With a production cost of over $120 million, according to the report, and the shifting goals for what this is meant to become, many Ubisoft staff have departed the company with the site calling it an "exodus" of sorts. This vacancy was also spurned on by reported toxicity at the Singapore studio, which you can learn more about, in full detail, here.
The original launch date for Skull & Bones was anticipated to release sometime in late 2018. Numerous pushbacks have delayed the game's launch. Now, we have some insight as to the possible reasons for why this was the case.
A Ubisoft spokesperson told the site, "The Skull & Bones team are proud of the work they’ve accomplished on the project since their last update with production just passing Alpha, and are excited to share more details when the time is right. That being said, any unfounded speculation about the game or decisions being made only works to demoralize the team who are working very hard to develop an ambitious new franchise that lives up to the expectations of our players."
The statement continued: "Over the past year, we’ve made significant changes to our policies and processes to create a safe and more inclusive workplace and empower our teams to create games that reflect the diversity of the world we live in."
One developer added that the concept of Skull & Bones looks easy to create on paper, but the reality is far from public perception. From Sid Meier inspirations to a "cathedral on water" concept, what this game ends up being at launch is anyone's guess. At this time, a current developer at Ubisoft said that the game is "still evolving" and that the design "simply isn't there yet."
To read the full report, check out the lengthy timeline explored here.
Delays are a common occurrence in this industry. Naturally, developing games during the pandemic was particularly tedious and led to a bevy of release date changes. Despite being one of the most prominent development companies in the world, Ubisoft did not emerge unscathed. Both Rainbow Six Extraction (originally known as Rainbow Six Quarantine if you’ve been following the title for a long time) and Riders Republic have been hit with delays in the past. However, after another delay, we now have another release period date for the latter.
An update on Riders Republic was published on the official site and emphasizes the excitement for the game’s upcoming beta despite ending on a less enthusiastic note, “To ensure we can deliver the best game for all players, we've made the tough decision to delay our release date from September 2 to October 28,” the post reads. “This will give us more time to fine tune the experience and give you another chance to jump in before launch and provide feedback.”
Click here to watch embedded mediaRiders Republic, like Ubisoft’s Steep, is a multiplayer-focused sports game that supports up to 50-player races. However, you can also play solo or cooperatively. Biking, snowboarding, skiing, wing suiting, and even rocket wing suiting are some of the activities that you can partake in. There are even a number of cool North American locations like Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton, and Yosemite Valley to ride around in. Check out the game preview trailer above.
Riders Republic was originally supposed to launch in February but the delays have pushed the game back to October 28. You’ll eventually get your chance to bike around Sequoia Park on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, and PC.
Let us know which sports ladder(s) you’ll be grinding in Riders Republic when it launches below!
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