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Devil May Cry 5 new key art, pricing, and Deluxe Edition goodies revealed

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Devil May Cry 5 new key art, pricing, and Deluxe Edition goodies revealed 1

Capcom is surviving its Devil May Cry fans. After the DMC5 trailer was released earlier yesterday, Capcom then went on to reveal some major details regarding the Deluxe Edition of the upcoming entry into the long-running series.

For starters, a new piece of key art was shown off for the Deluxe Edition of Devil May Cry 5. The art looks similar to the standard key art- it contains Dante, Nero, and the newly revealed V all standing next to each other with Nico and the Devil May Cry van in the background. This is some pretty awesome key art and gives that “badassery” the game deserves.

The Deluxe Edition will contain a few extra goodies, namely the following (taken from the Microsoft Store page):

  • Devil Breaker weapons: Gerbera GP01, Pasta Breaker, Sweet Surrender, Mega Buster
  • Dante weapon: Cavaliere R
  • Battle music: 3 tracks each from Devil May Cry, Devil May Cry 2, Devil May Cry 3, and Devil May Cry 4
  • Alternative voices: Style Rank Announcers, Title Calls
  • Live Action Cutscenes

And for pre-orders, players will receive:

  • Alt Hero Colors (Nero, Dante)
  • Alt Heroine Colors (Nico, Lady, Trish)
  • Buster Arm Early Access (new weapon for Nero)
  • 100,000 Red Orbs

The Deluxe Edition retails for $69.99, which is just a measly $10 more than the base game price at $59.99. Hey- it’s cheap for a Deluxe Edition compared to other AAA titles. Fans will likely opt for the Deluxe Edition for the extras. The physical version of Devil May Cry 5 isn’t available for pre-order yet but will be available soon considering that it’s already available for digital retail.

DMC5 is scheduled for release on March 8th, 2019 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Stay tuned for updates.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown: Pre-order goodies, pricing, season pass, and Deluxe Edition revealed

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Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown: Pre-order goodies, pricing, season pass, and Deluxe Edition revealed 2

Bandai Namco Entertainment finally revealed the pre-order goodies player will receive for pre-ordering Ace Combat 7: Skies Uknown. Fans of the game who have been long-time players will be delighted with the special exclusives that are included with this next-gen aircraft dogfighting simulator title.

Producer Kazutoki Kono was giving a presentation about this reveal at Bandai Namco Entertainments HQ in Tokyo. He noted the following points:

  • All players who pre-order Ace Combat 7 on PS4, Xbox One, or via Steam for PC will get the special, limited edition F4-E Phantom II aircraft and three special exclusive aircraft skins to deck it out.
  • PS4 players will also get a free digital copy of Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
  • Xbox One players will get a free digital copy of Ace Combat 6: Fires of the Liberation.

Kono then goes over the pricing and editions for Ace Combat 7:

  • The Deluxe Edition includes the base game, season pass content, eight emblems, and will retail at $84.99.
  • The season pass itself will include three planets, three levels, and a special music player (sound test) and retails for $24.99. Players can buy each item individually at $4.99 also.

Regardless, pre-orders will get their respective goodies whether or not players choose o buy the Deluxe Edition or basic season pass. If you buy it on PS4, you’ll receive Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War, which is regarded as one of the best Ace Combat games ever. Ace Combat 6: Fires of the Liberation is also a strong competitor and is on-par with AC5. Players can argue all day over which is the better Ace Combat game. But they’ll be getting one or the other for free- as long as they’re on a console.

Bandai Namco also released a new trailer showing off some of the visuals and adrenaline-fueled gameplay. The game will be released on January 18th, 2019 for PS4 and Xbox One. PC players will get the game on February 1st via Steam. Ace Combat 7: Skies Uknown is the latest entry into the long-running Ace Combat series and features a new VR mode, fast-paced strategic gameplay, and amazing graphics.

CoD: Black Ops 4’s Blackout mode will have at least 100 players (possibly 115)

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CoD: Black Ops 4's Blackout mode will have at least 100 players (possibly 115) 3

The beta test period for Black Ops 4′s Blackout mode has officially ended. From more player feedback and game optimization, Treyarch has raised the player count to 100. Before, it started at 80. During the beta, it was raised to 88. Now, it’s finally at 100 players.

For the battle royale genre, 100 players is the norm. Treyarch understands that this is the sweet spot to be competitive with other popular battle royale games like Fortnite, so having 100 players will at least get their foot in the door, whether or not they plan to challenge the top dogs in the battle royale world.

After all, Blackout is just a piece of the pie for Black Ops 4 and isn’t the core gameplay. The game is still largely a tactical shooter with the Blackout mode being an alternative, experimental mode.

Treyarch seems to be happy with this number, especially on consoles where performance is an issue. They said they experiment with 115 players but didn’t confirm whether or not this will make the cut when the game launches officially next month. The beta was extended for an extra two hour period of time beyond its original scheduled time.

A few other changes were made before the beta was over.

For starters, the damage players receive from being outside the collapse in the map saw an increase. The Cargo plane will be harder to shoot down for airdrops- it’ll have increased HP and not take damage from regular bullets. The wingsuit also underwent some changes, as it can’t gain altitude at fast speeds and steep dives now and increased the time it takes to pull up from one.

Other fixes like players getting stuck, multiplay players spawning in the same location, collision detection, and killcam issues were also fixed. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 releases next month on the 12th of October.

Nintendo Switch Online goes live tonight. But, maintenance first.

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Nintendo Switch Online goes live tonight. But, maintenance first. 4

Nintendo Switch Online will finally go live tonight- the 18th of September. After many long waits and a much-overdue service, players will be able to upload their game saves to the cloud, play classic NES titles, and finally- play games online. With some exceptions, of course.

Nintendo’s official date for the launch of Nintendo Switch Online is today, however, it won’t go live until about three hours of Nintendo eShop maintenance. Just the final frontier before the service goes live to the public. A post on their support site says that the eShop maintenance will take place from 5 PM to 8 PM PST.

Afterward, players can then purchase membership plans from the eShop or Nintendo’s site. MyNintendo Gold Coins can be used to make a purchase for both the Individual and Family membership subscriptions.

You can check out a full list of features that Switch Online will offer here. One thing worth mentioning is that Nintendo cloud saves won’t be compatible with all games. This means some games will continue to be saved locally on your console.

Pricing starts at $3.99 a month, $7.99 for three months, $19.99 for a year, or $34.99 for a plan that covers between 2-7 people (Family Plan). There will also be a free trial that lasts one week for players who want to try it out before making the purchase.

Darkstalkers Costume DLC bundle coming to Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition

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Darkstalkers Costume DLC bundle coming to Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition 5

Capcom has announced earlier today that they’ll be using the theme of the Darkstalkers universe in an upcoming costume DLC bundle for their Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition title.

Given that they’ve been teasing Darkstalkers fans long enough, they’ll shed a small sliver of light by including costumes into their newest fighting title. It’ll include six costumes that replicate some characters in Darkstalkers using their Street Fighter counterparts. Urien is Donovan, Chun-Li is Morrigan, Juri is Lili, Ed is Demitri, and the weirdest combo is Menat getting Felicia and Khaibit.

The DLC costumes pack will retail for $14.99 and rolls out September 25th. Capcom released a trailer showing off the new costume counterparts, which you can check out below. Fans of the Darkstalkers series will be gleeful no doubt.

Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition is currently available for purchase on PS4 and PC.

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition “Internet Download Required” rumors debunked

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Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition "Internet Download Required" rumors debunked 6

Bandai Namco Entertainment recently announced that they’ll be releasing Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition on consoles and PC. This isn’t a remake, but rather a remaster of one of the best Tales games ever made- on par with Tales of the Abyss and Tales of Symphonia.  The Definitive Edition comes with new content and exclusives that will be only available in the remaster.

Just earlier today, they announced new premium and anniversary editions of the game for North America and Europe releases.

However, rumors started surfacing around the web from folks who noticed that the Nintendo Switch version had something “strange” about the box art for the North American Anniversary Bundle.

The speculation was that the Switch box art appears to have small disclaimer warning players that the game will require additional, mandatory download. These warnings appear on other Switch games like LA Noire and NBA 2K18 which read “Internet download and microSD card required” or a similar disclaimer.

What this means for the players is that they’ll have to get an external drive in order to download and play the game since it’s too large to fit onto the Switch’s cartridge. Cover art and game preservationists both also cringe at the fact that the game has a huge warning label over the box art.

After several Twitter users sent questions to the official Tales of Vesperia Twitter account, they replied that the EU Switch version won’t need an additional download as it’ll be sold on a 16GB Switch cartridge. If publishers use the larger carts, there won’t be a need for an SD card.

Soon after this confusion spread about, Bandai then clarified that the box art they released earlier today isn’t the final version and that the physical versions of the game across all regions will ship on a standard 16GB cartridge and won’t require any additional downloads in order to play the game. Fans were relieved.

Diablo III Eternal Collection on the Switch: New video and release date

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Diablo III Eternal Collection on the Switch: New video and release date 7

Diablo III Eternal Collection will be released on the Nintendo Switch on November 2nd, 2018. Blizzard released a press release and a recent announcement video confirming the game’s release.

Diablo III came out a few years ago, and with the recent talks about a new Diablo project in the works (or, rather multiple projects), fans got excited.

The Diablo III Eternal Collection takes all of the original game’s content, with the Reaper of Souls expansion and the Rise of the Necromancer content pack into one giant game. The Switch version will be getting its piece of the action in just about two months from now.

The game will be able to be played single or co-op with up to three of your buddies onto one Switch using Joy-Cons or Pro Controllers. The game will be able to be played docked or portable, or even both if you have friends at your place.

The game will include the full five-act campaigns and special random dungeons or Seasons mode to keep the game going. It was revealed in August of this year, but it was only a rumor.

Now, it’s confirmed.

This is the first Blizzard game on a console in 15 years. The Switch version will include some exclusives: a Cucco companion pet, a Triforce portrait frame, unique cosmetics, and even a Ganondorf transmogrification set. Diablo III Eternal Collection is currently available for pre-order on Nintendo’s eShop.

Nintendo Switch Online: Required check-ins and no grace period?

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Best indie games. Ever. Nintendo shows off their list.

Nintendo just released an online FAQ page with updated information about their Nintendo Switch Online service. After a rather vague description that was released on Nintendo Direct, a much more detailed page was created to make some necessary clarifications. But the wording is still subject to interpretation.

For starters, it turns out that players will lose their cloud saves if they choose not to renew their Switch Online subscription. While some games, like NES games, will be available offline, there will be an online check-in with a frequency of once per week. This seems to be required or else access will be blocked to the game. A “check-in” is possibly required in order to preserve this data.

Compared with other consoles, cloud saves on Xbox One are completely free. PS4 requires a PS Plus subscription but players have half a year for players to access it should they choose to subscribe again within that grace period. The Switch seems to be the worst of the bunch- it costs cash to save to the cloud and possibly has no grace period.

After my Nintendo Switch Online membership expires, will my online save data and my Nintendo Entertainment System™ – Nintendo Switch Online data be erased?

Save data stored via the Save Data Cloud backup is available for as long as you have an active Nintendo Switch Online membership.

Can NES – Nintendo Switch Online games be played offline?

Yes, these games can be played offline for up to 7 days as long as you have an active Nintendo Switch Online membership.

As for classic NES games, the FAQ states that players will have offline access to the classic titles for seven days if the subscription is active. But doesn’t clarify on what exactly will be required- a check-in? However, data will be saved locally unless the user chooses to do so manually. An online subscription is still required in order to play the games.

NES Classic controllers coming out exclusively for Switch Online subscribers

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NES Classic controllers coming out exclusively for Switch Online subscribers 8

Nintendo is coming out with a classics NES controller as part of the Nintendo Switch online service. The controllers are modeled after the original NES controllers and can be attached to the Switch. They have the same control scheme as the original controller and plug in to recharge just like the Joy-Cons.

With these controllers, you can “play the classics they’re meant to be played!”

This special controller is likely for the huge library of NES games that’ll be available for players as the online service will release a ton of classic games.

Each controller can be used separately for the co-op NES games. Shipments will begin in mid-December 2018 and will run you $59.99 USD for a pair. To order them, you’ll have to be on the lookout as they’ll be available for order as a special offer for online subscribers at a later date that’s yet to be announced.

Their sales page currently says “New offers will be added, so be sure to check back regularly” and that they’re “Exclusively for Nintendo Switch Online members.”

If you’re a fan of the NES classics, you’ll want to look into these controllers.

Image: Nintendo.

Marvel’s Spider Man is the fastest-selling game in the UK right now

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Marvel's Spider Man is the fastest-selling game in the UK right now 9

Spider-Man was released last Friday, but the game already is shattering records in 2018- given that the holiday season is still yet to come. In the United Kingdom, the game licensed by Marvel is the fastest-selling game so far in all of 2018.

GameIndustry.biz reports that Marvel’s Spider-Man surpassed many other titles in sales, including Far Cry 5, which is the fastest-selling game in the UK on the scale of the entire year. Not to mention Far Cry 5 came out on multiple platforms including the PC, Xbox One, and PS4. And this game is just a PS4-only title. This was the same case with LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, which is another Marvel-branded title.

Spider-Man also sold twice the amount of units that God of War sold during launch back a few months ago. Given that the game continues to sell, it could be the best-selling PS4 game of 2018- provided that it beats out other popular titles coming out soon for the holiday season like Fallout 76, just to name one.

The previous game to shatter records was Call of Duty: WWII back in 2017. Spider-Man beat it out in terms of sales volume over time. However, these records only count physical game purchases at UK retailers. Digital sales are a whole other story, which would easily inflate the number to even greater extents.

Regardless, Marvel’s Spider-Man is currently the hottest selling game- if anyone asks.

Image: PlayStation.

 

Gone Home for Nintendo Switch includes real, licensed SNES titles

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Gone Home for Nintendo Switch includes real, licensed SNES titles 10

Gone Home fans will remember that the emotional and atmospheric indie game had some various NES cartridges (carts) scattered around the house that you explore. In the mid-90s time period, you play as a female character discovering and uncovering the ties between her and her friend.

You’ll find fitting objects that take place within the same slice of time, including older furniture, toys, and appliances. The SNES cartridges were blank, with no specific Nintendo games used on them as there was no licensing granted to the developer Fullbright.

However, for the Gone Home Switch release, players will be delighted to see that real SNES carts have replaced the fake carts. Some classic and fan-favorites have now taken the spotlight, including Donkey Kong Country, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Super Mario Kart.

Developer Steve Gaynor of Fullbright recently posted on Twitter confirming the licensing gig Nintendo has granted them. They’re now able to use real SNES games from the 90s to put in the Switch version of Gone Home.

Although it doesn’t do much to change the core gameplay, it’s like an easter egg for those who care.

Gone Home has been released on the Nintendo Switch last week. It’s available through the Nintendo eShop now. Pretty awesome of Nintendo to cooperate with Fullbright.

Thanks to liamdohertee for the featured image on this post!

CoD: 4 Blackout Beta spawns hotfix; Increases player count

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CoD: 4 Blackout Beta spawns hotfix; Increases player count 11

Treyarch released a list of improvements they’ll be focusing on in the next patch. This was largely due to the community feedback they received on the first day of the Blackout Beta event. The developer has rolled out the first hotfix for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and it’s a pretty significant update.

For starters, they’ve increased the player count from 80 to 88 players. This follows Treyarch’s statement a few weeks ago that they’ll increase the player count based on how well the game runs. With this significant increase in player count, it shows that the game runs pretty smoothly even for a beta. Perhaps when the full game releases, it just may hit 100 players by launch day.

Item pick-up speed has also been adjusted. There’s no more stopping at an item just to stare it in order to pick it up. Now players can simply hold down the Square button while running over any item to snag it. This seems like something that should definitely improve quality of life experience and basic gameplay mechanics. Weapon reloading will be done independently without picking up an item by pressing the reload button.

Some game stat-tracking has also been improved.

Here’s the full list of changes:

  • General:

    • Changed Featured Playlist to DUOs.

    • Raised player cap to 88.

    • General stability and stat-tracking improvements.

    • Quick equip menu will automatically close if not used for 5 seconds.

  • Item Pickups

    • Increased the speed of picking up Items off of the ground – you will still be able to reload your weapon independently without picking an Item up by tapping the reload button.

  • Equipment

    • Reduced duration of Sensor Dart to 2 minutes

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey trailer shows off the “Power of Choice”

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Assassin's Creed Odyssey trailer shows off the "Power of Choice" 12

Ubifost released a new trailer of its next game in the Assassin’s Creed universe- Odyssey. The trailer is titled “Power of Choice” and showcases how player influences can affect the outcome of the game.

The trailer is a firsthand demo of how player choice plays a huge role in the game. Players can choose and customize everything from the character, dialogue choices, abilities, battle approaches, and even the armor style. If anything, this is the most open-ended Assassin’s Creed game to date. With the success of Origins, Odyssey takes a similar approach to player freedom and kicks it up a notch (or two).

Odyssey is scheduled for release for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on October 5th. Early access is available to those who purchase one of the special editions of the game, which can be pre-ordered right now from major retailers.

Here are some official selling points (taken from the Ubisoft product page):

  • LEGENDARY SPARTAN HERO – Embark on your journey from outcast to legendary Spartan hero.
  • ANCIENT GREECE AWAITS – Explore an entire country full of unexpected encounters in untamed environments and bustling ancient cities.
  • CHOOSE YOUR PATH – Your choices shape the world around you. Play in a living world that constantly reacts to your every decision.
  • FIGHT EPIC BATTLES – Charge into epic clashes between Sparta and Athens in battles pitting 150v150 soldiers against each other.
  • SAIL THE AEGEAN SEA – Recruit crewmembers and customize your ship as you explore and battle your way on the open seas.

The game will be available in a variety of different versions. The Gold Edition costs $99.99 and includes the base game, season pass, and the Secrets of Greece mission with 2-day early access.

The Digital Deluxe Edition costs $79.99 and includes the Deluxe Edition pass. Pre-orders get The Blind King mission and the Secrets of Greece mission.

The Ultimate Edition costs $119.99 and comes with the special missions, Deluxe Edition pass, and a 2-day earlier access.

There are also two special editions of the game. The first is the Spartan Edition, which retails at $159.99 and includes the following:

  • Early access starting on October 2.
  • Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey Gold Edition and additional digital content including: the Deluxe Edition Pack, the Season Pass, which will give players access to all upcoming major expansions, as well as the additional mission The Blind King.
  • By Ubicollectibles : The Spartan Leap statue (height 15.55 in)
  • The Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey Steelbook™.
  • A 64-page art book featuring the original designs and concept art from the Ubisoft Quebec artists.
  • An exclusive lithograph by Hugo Puzzuoli from Ubisoft Quebec.
  • A printed version of the game’s hand-drawn world map.
  • The selected game soundtrack.

The second is the Pantheon Collector’s Edition, which will cost $219.99 and includes:

  • Early access starting on October 2.
  • Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey Gold Edition and additional digital content including: the Deluxe Edition Pack, the Season Pass, which will give players access to all upcoming major expansions, as well as the additional mission The Blind King.
  • By Ubicollectibles : Two statues forming The Nemesis Diorama (height 39.5cm, width 65cm).
  • The Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey Steelbook™.
  • A 64-page art book featuring the original designs and concept art from the Ubisoft Quebec artists.
  • An exclusive lithograph by Hugo Puzzuoli from Ubisoft Quebec.
  • A printed version of the game’s hand-drawn world map.

There are plenty of goodies to be had for those hardcore fans of Assassin’s Creed and plenty to get excited about.

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition – Release date and exclusive content

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Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition - Release date and exclusive content 13

Bandai Namco accounted the confirmed release date for the much-anticipated Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition.

The game will be launching on January 11, 2019, for the PC, Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.

Tales of Vesperia is a JRPG that features emotional plot twists and a winding storyline. The game is known for its cast of memorable characters and real-time combat system.

The Definitive Edition will be updated with full HD graphics, new music tracks, mini-games, bosses, and unreleased costume DLC. The game was first released back on the Xbox 360 and is considered to be one of the best Tales games released by Bandai Namco- of all time. Tales of Symphonia and Tales of the Abyss are other two contenders within the community.

The Definitive Edition isn’t a remake by any means. But it’s packed full of features and characters, events, and new content that was never released outside of its Japan release. The game will also feature higher resolution to match today’s modern console outputs.

Bandai Namco also announced an new Anniversary Bundle which includes some special, exclusive collectibles including Yuri Lowell, Patty Fleur, Flynn, Scifo, and Repede for PS4, Xbox One, and PC editions. The Anniversary Bundle is only available through the official store. Details are yet to be released other than some speculative rumors.

Here’s a product description of the game:

“A BELOVED TALE RETURNS! — The tale of a young hero on a quest for justice that captivated Tales fans returns to Xbox and makes its way for the first time to PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam!

EVERYTHING IN ONE EDITION! — Dive into the Definitive version of this game with updated full HD graphics, brand-new music tracks, exciting mini-games, bosses, and a collection of unreleased costume DLC!

THE PARTY GROWS STRONGER! — Yuri sets sail on his adventure with Estelle, a young noblewoman; Karol; a boy in pursuit of a guild to call his own; Rita, an eccentric scholar; Raven, a laid-back archer; Judith, a mysterious dragoon; and Repede, a pipe-smoking dog… and now two more playable characters join the fray!

FIGHT WITH FLAIR! — Assemble your favorite team and enjoy exciting real-time battles with all new Mystic Artes and skills!”

WWE 2K19: Lana shows disapproval with her character’s outfit

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WWE 2K19: Lana shows disapproval with her character's outfit 14

Lana, the WWE wrestler is finally available as a playable character in WWE 2K19. The issue is, the real actual Lana seemed to be somewhat unhappy with her character’s attire in-game.

In previous titles, she was only selectable as a manager. Now, she can actually be used a wrestler the ring which is pretty awesome. 2K Games announced that Lana will be playable for the first time ever since it’s pretty exciting news.

Lana’s character model wears an attire she never once wore inside the ring. It’s an attire she wore during a photoshoot when the WWE were partying Oscar-nominated shows/movies. Lana was parodying Margot Robbie’s “I, Tonya” based on the ice skater Tonya Harding. Lana then tweeted about it with disapproval and her rating score of 70:

This isn’t an issue because Lana and Lana fans will be able to change her attire in the game easily. 2K Games is just offering a preset costume, but the players will be able to use whatever they wish currently available in the skin pack.

2K Games may release an updated character attire before the game releases on October 9th for the PC, Xbox One, and PS4.

Xbox Australia unveils an extremely rare PUBG-themed grease-proof controller

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Xbox Australia unveils an extremely rare PUBG-themed grease-proof controller 15

The Australian branch of Xbox just unveiled a new PUBG-themed Xbox controller. But it’s not just another typical controller skinned with a game theme. This one is kinda special.

Too many times, I’m eating when I play games. Whether it’s during the loading screens, cutscenes, or even during mid-combat, I’ll take a bite of something and end up with some greasy or oily fingers. Occasionally, some of that food residue gets onto the controller, to which I’ll have to wipe off later. It’s not really an issue, but it does leave a nasty feeling to it.

This controller is said to be grease-proof. The solution to an issue all gamers have faced sometime or another. If it’s not grease, it’s probably sweat.

The PUBG controller features a gray/green design that’s glossy to the look. It’s line with a special coating that makes it grease-proof and any residue won’t collect on it. If it doesn’t, it’s easy to wipe off. This is something that’s actually useful for once, rather than those overpriced controllers that are just varying in colors and skins. This has an inherent functionality.

However, only 200 have been produced. And there’s no way to buy this thing. And you need to be in Australia. So it’s pretty limited if I had to say so.

Xbox One – Limited Edition Greaseproof Controller

Get ready to control the battleground with our limited edition Greaseproof controller celebrating the launch of PLAYERUNKOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS – Just reply below with your best ‘Winner Winner Chicken Dinner’ story for your chance to win 1 of 5 controllers. #Greaseproof

Posted by Xbox ANZ on Wednesday, September 5, 2018

However, if you don’t care about the theme and you just want the grease-proofing, you can get the two new black or grey/blue variations that were released a few weeks ago.

Black Ops 4’s Battle Royale “Blackout” trailer released

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Black Ops 4's Battle Royale "Blackout" trailer released 16

Call of Duty has been releasing some tidbits of details regarding their latest entry into the Black Ops lineup over the past few days. Fans have been demanding a more detailed look at Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s Blackout mode. Just a few hours ago, Activision and Treyarch officially released their first ever full trailer for … Read more

CoD: WWII Covert Storm event is live – new weapons, challenges, and events

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CoD: WWII Covert Storm event is live - new weapons, challenges, and events 17

Earlier this week, Sledgehammer Games revealed a new in-game event for Call of Duty: WWII gamers. It’s called Covert Storm. And it’s a decent one. This event is now live for Xbox One, PC, and PS4.

Unlike the previous events, this one adds a ton of content for free, though it’s just a tad less than normal. Three new weapons have also been added:

  • AS-44 AR
  • Prot X-1 SMG
  • VMG 1927 LMG

The AS-44 can be earned by reaching the max level in the Commando Division.

Aside from weapons, newly animated camos and a community challenge are also now live in CoD. This content pack, however, has no new maps with the update. But then again, this is more likely the last event before the next Black Ops game rolls out in October.

For players who’ve already played their share of WWII, you may want to check out the trailer to see what’s new while your game is updating. It pretty much highlights everything that’s new in this update.

The Binding of Isaac’s final DLC “Repentance” announced

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The Binding of Isaac's final DLC "Repentance" announced 18

The Binding of Isaac is getting its final DLC pack. Creator Edmund McMillen announced it over Twitter as the “FINAL (for real this time) DLC for Isaac.” It’ll be called The Binding of Isaac: Repentance and includes the popular fan-made Antibirth mod which adds a number of new rooms, enemies, and treasures to discover and a hidden end … Read more

Agent 47 goes to Columbia in Hitman 2

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Agent 47 goes to Columbia in Hitman 2 19

Warner Bros. and IO Interactive just released a new trailer showing off some footage and backstory for the next entry in the Hitman franchise- Hitman 2.

The trailer shows off the setting of the game which is the country of Columbia. Agent 47 has been sent to Columbia to take on a new series of missions and targets to assassinate.

This is pretty rare as the environment will be natural and probably heavily reliant on natural obstacles rather than buildings and structures. Jungles, forest, and other planted areas should be a refreshing take for players since this is one of the few times the game takes place in such an arena. New and veteran players will both be exposed to a new gameplay environment.

Sarner Bros. posted some more info about the new trailer via press release that was published earlier this week. The following is straight from their release:

“Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and IO Interactive released a new video at PAX West teasing the next destination featured in HITMAN 2 – Colombia. This new setting will put players directly in the heart of a dark and dangerous South American rainforest, providing a vastly different canvas for Agent 47 to carry out his deadly missions. Truly a living, breathing jungle environment with threats lurking around every corner, Colombia will feature a unique gameplay experience with multiple paths to explore, unparalleled game depth and countless interactive possibilities for players. Stay tuned on the HITMAN 2 channels in the coming weeks for more details on this exciting new location.”

Hitman 2 comes out in November for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

 

Forza Horizon 4 promo event in Australia goes all out

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Forza Horizon 4 promo event in Australia goes all out 20

Xbox Austraila is giving players the chance to play video games on a huge screen. To be exact, they’re giving players the chance to play on a movie screen, but limited to just one AAA game- Forza Horizon 4.

They announced all of the details regarding this earlier this week:

“Xbox is celebrating the launch of Forza Horizon 4 in Australia with a real-world Forza Horizon Drive-in Cinema!

For one night only, we are giving fans the chance to be amongst the first in Australia to explore the fourth addition to the open-world playground racing series. This event promises to be part car show, part game experience and part cinema.

Start your evening with a GamePlay session to trial the game or watch game demonstrations on the big screen, played live from a Forza McLaren 720S! Check out some demonstration vehicles from our partners at McLaren and Porsche and visit the OMEN Rig for some additional GamePlay opportunities. Then grab some food or movie snacks available for purchase from the Forza Diner, before settling back into your car for a screening of the award winning 2015 Action film Mad Max: Fury Road.”

Fans of the series will be the first in Australia to play through the game in a real-world Drive-in Cinema. Players will be able to play the game in a movie theater for one night only. They’ll be able to watch game demos live from a Forza McLaren 720S complete with food, movie snacks, and beverages followed by a screening of Mad Max: Fury Road.

Ben Penrose, Art Director for Playground Games, will also be at this event to answer fan questions. The event takes place at the Skyline Drive-In Blacktown on Septemeber 7th in Blacktown, Australia. Entry is $20 with a car and additional riders cost 410 per person. The game will release October 2nd for PC and Xbox One.

More details can be found here.

Anthem demo rolls out February 1, 2019

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Anthem demo rolls out February 1, 2019 21

Bioware announced at PAX West 2018 that their newest title Anthem will be getting a playable demo in February of 2019, which is right ahead of its official release date on February 22nd, 2019. The demo comes out on the first of the month, so the full game is right around the corner.

The Anthem demo will be playable on PC, Xbox One, and PS4. EA will release it to those who are subscribed to EA/Origin Access on Xbox One and PC. PS4 owners will get to play it if they pre-ordered the game already.

At EA’s booth at PAX West, lead producer Mike Gamble said that it’s “not a test or beta” and that it’s a full “slice of our game.” So the game is already complete and will play identically to the beta- well, at least that “slice” of it.

EA: Battlefield V delayed until November 20th

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EA: Battlefield V delayed until November 20th 22

EA just announced yesterday that Battlefield V has been delayed from October 19th to November 20th. The reason behind the delay is to make final adjustments to the game and deliver an awesome experience for players.

Fans that are pumped for this AAA title in the long-running Battlefield series don’t really seem to be disappointed, as they’re okay with the company fixing up the game so it doesn’t release with an unpolished finish.

While it may be disappointing for some fans looking forward to the game next month, it’s for good reason. I’m pretty sure EA has learned that it’s always quality over quantity.

Oskar Gabrielson, BF:V developer, says the following:

“Today, we’re announcing that Battlefield V will have a new launch date – November 20, 2018. I wanted to give you a little bit of insight into how we arrived at this new date.

Over the summer, we’ve had tens of thousands of players get their hands on the game during our Closed Alphas and at E3 and Gamescom – where we were honored to receive the awards for Best Multiplayer Game at both shows.

You have told us that you are seeing an increased focus on squad play come through, you are also feeling the difference in our revamped player movement and we are getting a lot of positive feedback for our improved weapons handling.

You’ve also spurred us to make some meaningful improvements to the core gameplay experience, including adjusting the gameplay tempo, improving soldier visibility and reducing player friction. You’ll see a lot of these reflected in our Open Beta that starts on September 6.

We believe we have one of the best Battlefield games ever on our hands. A game that will deliver on an emotional journey through the return of unseen single player War Stories, a deep multiplayer experience, Battle Royale, along with our new live service, Tides of War – a journey across multiple theaters of WW2 and designed to keep our community together.”

He then talks about the beta launching this month in just a few days:

“With the Open Beta just around the corner, we are excited about the millions of you who will join us and experience the game. And we fully expect to see even more feedback coming our way.

And that’s why we’re moving our launch date. We’re going to take the time to continue to make some final adjustments to core gameplay, and to ensure we really deliver on the potential of Tides of War.

We know moving the launch date means that we all have to wait a little longer. But we’re going to take our time to make sure we get it right.

Thank you for your continued passion and support. We can’t wait to see you on the battlefield in just a few days.”

Source: EA.

 

Subnautica: Below Zero officially annouced

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Subnautica: Below Zero officially annouced 23

The standalone expansion to Unkown Worlds Entertainment’s Subnautica has been officially announced. It’s called Subnautica: Below Zero and the news comes from a post on their official page.

It’s the highly-anticipated expansion game that takes place in a similar setup to the original game. By concept, I mean it’s the same style of survival. It’s not DLC. It’s standalone. Let’s get that straight.

If you’ve never played the original game, it’s a survival game where you need to survive the depths of the ocean by collecting resources, exploring, and building a fully-functioning base. There are tons of fish, species, and creatures you’ll encounter in the ocean. The further and deeper you go, the more dangerous it gets.

Subnautica itself is a complete experience with survival mechanisms and a complete storyline. The game was in Early Access on Steam for a few years before becoming a full release.

The expansion has been in development for quite some time and has been discussed among fans of the game. It takes place on Planet 4546B and your character has been sent on a mission to study alien technology on the frozen arctic biome. The character is completely different than the previous one in the original game. It’s a different protagonist who’s been sent by Alterra.

The game already has some concept art floating around out there and even a dedicated Trello board which shows the plot (and spoiler).

The game will be released on Steam Early Acess before becoming a full game just like the previous game. You can get some more information on their official page and check out the progress of it.

Pokemon Essentials shut down by Nintendo

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Pokemon Essentials shut down by Nintendo 24

Pokemon Essentials, a free fan-made mod, just got the axe from Nintendo.

It’s a game that was started back in 2007 and provided many tools that allowed developers to build a near true copy of a handheld Pokemon game. It had graphics, music, maps, and tilesets that were nearly identical to the original games. The toolset has been used many times in the past and created games like Pokemon Uranium. The community behind it was also huge- involving folks at the PokeCoummunity forum and a dedicated wiki, which has also been shut down via DMCA.

The shutdown was due to a copyright claim by Nintendo of America, according to a post on the PokeCommunity by a moderator who goes by Marin. Marin stated that everything related to Pokemon Essentials will no longer be distributed by the community, including derivate works like Essentials GS and Essentials DS which were used to create fan games like Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Pearl.

Marin also asked the community to not go after Nintendo and fight for the engine. He wants to keep this as a peaceful cease and desist:

 “Please don’t freak out about the claim.”

“There’s no reason to get angry with Nintendo or anyone else involved. It doesn’t need to be a bigger deal than it should be.”

The Verge also reports that a representative from the wiki stated the following:

“[The] fandom received a DMCA notice on behalf of Nintendo notifying us of content that was in violation of its copyright holdings. After carefully assessing the violations in regards to the Pokémon Essentials wiki, we came to a decision to take it down.”

We shouldn’t be surprised. Nintendo will aggressively protect their copyright from fan games or modified games. They’ve taken down games like Pokemon Uranium and the Metroid 2 remake AM2R. They’ve even attacked Game Jolt and GitHub for providing fan games in their databases and blocked HD remakes of games like Super Mario 64.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: A developer’s perspective

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Marvel's Spider-Man: A developer's perspective 25

Marvel Entertainment released a new trailer showing off the new action adventure game Marvel’s Spider-Man. The video shows off some footage that depicts how Insomniac Games developed and created the game that was first shown in the E3 trailer. It’s more of a developer’s behind-the-scenes commentary look the new Spider-Man game.

They used Previz (previsualization) sequences rather than a storyboard like typical adventure games. And it shows how they captured the motion of the hero using stuntmen. The second video also shows some gameplay in action by the Japanese arm of the PlayStation.

Spider-Man rolls out on September 7th exclusively for the PS4. It’s available for pre-order right now on Amazon, and the physical release just came out yesterday. Fans are stoked. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting new entry into the series.

Image: Marvel

Blizzard removes loot crates in Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm for Belgium players

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Blizzard removes loot crates in Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm for Belgium players 26

Blizzard has just announced that paying for loot crates in two of their major titles has been removed for Belgium players due to a report from the Belgian Gaming Commission. It states that option falls under the “gambling” category according to local law, and thus, can’t be a feature in videogames. Blizzard has fought against this decision and expressed disagreement, but they’ve gone ahead and removed loot crates in Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm in order to comply.

To obtain the crates, players will have to play well by performing well in a game or leveling up, or even buying them with in-game currency. Content hasn’t been affected by this removal:

In April 2018, the Belgian Gaming Commission published a report that was endorsed by the Belgian Ministry of Justice in which they concluded that paid loot boxes in Overwatch are considered gambling under local law. While we at Blizzard were surprised by this conclusion and do not share the same opinion, we have decided to comply with their interpretation of Belgian law. As a result, we have no choice but to implement measures that will prevent Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm players located in Belgium from purchasing in-game loot boxes and loot chests with real money and gems.

This decision originated from the Battlefront II loot creates which allowed players to use cash on the game with the chance of getting gameplay boosts that gave unfair advantages to those not willing to spend on the game. Some players who don’t want to shell out their cash are forced to play on an uneven playing field.

EA has removed the paid option hours before its launch due to this blowback, but European courts began on investigating the issue across all games. blizzard has removed the option from Chinese players due to their gambling laws also.

Other countries haven’t really made a decision yet and are still deciding. The UK ruled that loot crates aren’t legally gambling and has kept them within their games.

Source: PlayStation Life.

Square Enix’s The Last Remnant being delisted from Steam

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Steam removes movies and videos.

Square Enix’s The Last Remnant, a nearly 10-year-old game, is being removed from the Steam store in just a few weeks. On the Steam News page, Square announced that it’ll be delisted from the DRM platform on different schedules for different regions:

  • Japan region: Wednesday 5th September, approximately 2:00 (JST)
  • NA region: Tuesday 4th September, approximately 10:00 (PDT)
  • EU region: Tuesday 4th September, approximately 17:00 (GMT)

For owners of the game, it’ll still be playable. But for those looking to buy it, it’ll be gone. The title was released for the Xbox 360 back in 2008 and a PS3 version of was never released. It wasn’t a flop by any means, but it is a pretty dated game.

It’s a JRPG developed by the same team behind SaGa and the Final Fantasy games. Get it on Steam for $9.99 if you’re interested in the PC version. The console version will be available used (or possibly new) and can easily still be had from various retailers that carry specialty or retro games.

Microsoft explains why they bought Ninja Theory

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Microsoft explains why they bought Ninja Theory 27

At this years’ E3 showcase, Microsft made some big announcements regarding the fact that they acquired five new developers. One of them happens to be a new team called Playground Games, based in Santa Monica and are best known for their Forza Horizon games. They also bought Compulsion Games (We Happy Few), Undead Labs (State of Decay), The Initiative, and Ninja Theory (Heavenly Sword).

This was pretty big news because although they’re not huge companies, they’re still pretty significant in the titles they’re known for. Seeing how Ninja Theory is now an in-house developer, people got excited about the future game lineup from this developer. Head of Microsoft Studios Matt Booty talks about the reasoning behind buying a studio like Ninja Theory in a recent interview:

“When you think about our existing content as it relates to Game Pass… you can see that we’re fortunate to have some really large franchises, with Halo, Gears of War, Forza, Minecraft, Age of Empires… these are all well-established franchises.”

“I use the world franchise deliberately, because these games are typically multi-platform, they have a presence off of Xbox, they have millions of players and iterations of the game going back a decade or more.

“An amazing thing about Ninja Theory is that it is very clear that the studio orbits around ideas and creativity, and the characters, storytelling, and settings really come first for them. That just meshes really well with our desire to provide our players, especially those in Game Pass, with content that is new, unique, has variety, and sits outside of the stuff we are doing with our bigger franchises.”

The main reason is Game Pass, which is Xbox’s subscription service aside from their Gold Service for online play. Game Pass allows players to unlock over 100 indie and first-party titles for just $10 a month with unlimited play. New games are always added and older games are rotated out. Some third-party titles are also in the mix- even some AAA titles like DOOM.

Square Enix’s game lineup for PAX West 2018 revealed

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Square Enix's game lineup for PAX West 2018 revealed 28

Square Enix has announced its lineup for PAX West 2018. The publisher has an exciting list of games it’ll showcase at the event with plenty of panels for fans seeking more information.

The following titles will be playable at PAX coming straight from Square Enix’s official page:

  • Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
  • Kingdom Hearts 3
  • The Quiet Man
  • Life is Strange 2
  • Shadow of the Tomb Raider

There will also be plenty of panels fans can attend as well to get more information regarding their games. This was confirmed via press release:

“EXPANDING THE LIFE IS STRANGE UNIVERSE
Friday, August 31, 12:00 PM, Wyvern Theater
Join writer Christian Divine and key figures from the LIFE IS STRANGE 2development team as they take you behind the scenes of their most ambitious game in the series to date. Discover how they apply the core concepts of the LIFE IS STRANGE franchise to bring the relatable characters and realistic environments in the LIFE IS STRANGE Universe to life. Learn how they tackle the challenges of telling a branching story of education and brotherhood within an evolving episodic narrative adventure.

LIFE IS STRANGE 2 FAN MEET UP PARTY with What’s Good Games
Friday, August 31 from 6:00 – 9:00 PM at  Unicorn 1118 E. Pike Street
Relax at PAX with the team from What’s Good Games and developers from DONTNOD Entertainment to celebrate the upcoming launch of the first episode of LIFE IS STRANGE 2. Share your favorite moments from the series, enjoy refreshments and a chance to win games, SQUARE ENIX prizes and custom What’s Good Games items.  For additional information about the event visit: https://www.facebook.com/WhatsGoodGames/.

JUST CAUSE 4 SHOWCASE
Saturday, September 1, 11:30 AM, Hydra Theater
Join key members of the JUST CAUSE 4™ development team – Avalanche Studios – as they talk exclusively about the next game in the hugely popular, multi-million selling JUST CAUSE series. Set in the fictional South American world of Solis, JUST CAUSE 4 takes the incredible destruction and unique physics the series is known for to a whole new level with the introduction of fully simulated tornadoes and other Extreme Weather events. Rico Rodriguez returns in JUST CAUSE 4 with his trademark parachute, wingsuit and, of course his grappling hook, now enhanced with new functionality and fully customisable, making it the most powerful and creative tool the player has ever had.

SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER – Uncovering the Hidden City of Paititi
Saturday, September 1, 4;30 PM, Wyvern Theater
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is filled with many surprises and secrets. Perhaps the biggest discovery Lara Croft® will make is the hidden city of Paititi, a civilization untouched by modern culture and the largest hub ever created in a Tomb Raider® game. Moderated by Andrea Rene, join the team behind Lara Croft’s defining moment as she becomes the Tomb Raider. The panel will feature Dan Chayer-Bisson (Game Director), Mario Chabtini (Senior Producer), and Rich Briggs (Senior Brand Director).”