News

State of Decay 2 fixes itself up with a huge 20GB patch

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State of Decay 2 fixes itself up with a huge 20GB patch 1

State of Decay 2 has received some positive reviews so far. Players have racked up over 600 million zombies slain in just a few weeks since the game’s launch.

I recently covered that the game garnered over 1 million players, but the game was still riddled with bugs. Now, a 20GB patch went live on June 5th, 2018 that patches a huge number of plaguing issues- no pun intended.

You can find the full list on their page, but here are some highlights of what’s new in the State of Decay 2 patch:

  • Improved game stability
  • Improved networking interactions for clients
  • Improved vehicle interactions
  • Out Of Memory crash fix
  • Networking bandwidth and CPU improvements
  • Vehicle interactions in multiplayer games to address weird “rubber-banding” and physics issues
  • Flying cars bug
  • General crash bugs
  • Bug with player HUD disappearing after NPCs are executed by zombies
  • Collision spots across all 3 maps where players or vehicles were getting stuck
  • Collision spots across all 3 maps where players were getting stuck in an infinite freefall animation loop

This should make some players very happy because they were at the point where the bugs could ruin gameplay and make the game unplayable. Now, it’s nice to see that Undead Labs are working hard on the issue.

Jeff Strain, CEO of Undead Labs, says:

Hey fellow survivors, I just wanted to drop in a quick personal note on behalf of the development team to thank you for your support and for jumping in with us on State of Decay 2. This patch today is just the beginning — we have big plans for State of Decay 2, and we’re humbled and appreciative to you for giving us the opportunity to make those big plans happen. Keep playing, keep surviving (or not, as sometimes happens), and stay tuned for more good stuff!

This is awesome for all players who’ve held off on the game. It’s a good time to get into it whether or not you’ve purchased a copy for yourself yet. Or if you’re on the fence, this should sweeten the deal!

New Diablo game confirmed by Blizzard

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New Diablo game confirmed by Blizzard 2

A new Diablo game has been confirmed by Blizzard!

A new job posting for a dungeon artist on their careers page confirms the game is in development.

Since they just went out and about with it, we can safely assume that this isn’t speculation nor a rumor. It’s pretty much fact. The only thing is that we have no idea what kind of game it’ll be- a truly new Diablo entry? A remake? A clicker? Who knows.

“We’re working on a new, unannounced Diablo project. Are you a skilled Dungeon Artist? Come work with us, and together we will build something exceptional.”

The job posting mentions that they’re looking for someone who can work on dungeon design with composition, detail, mood, and “gameplay space is readable.” The posting also hints at a variety of different dungeon designs, so it’s safe to say that multiple dungeons and environments will probably be made for the game.

Assuming this isn’t a remake, it’ll be the first new game the series since 2012. It looks like this debunks the port of Diablo III to the Nintendo Switch as rumor had it.

The Diablo series was first released in 1997 by Blizzard and was positively received. Diablo II and III later were released. This game will likely be confirmed at E3. At this point, Blizzard has not posted any other news regarding the new title. Stay tuned for updates.

Fallout 76 will be an online survival RPG

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Fallout 76 will be an online survival RPG 3

Fallout 76′s reveal took the web by storm and lots of questions were thrown by the fanbase.

Specifically, a report by Jason Schreier on Kotaku said that it’ll be “an online survival RPG that’s heavily inspired by games like DayZ and Rust.” He said that game is an experiment entry into the Fallout series.

The original plans for the game were a multiplayer version of Fallout 4 with the objective being to bring the entire universe online. It’ll contain a story and quests, but will take hints from the base-building feature in Fallout 4 and other games.

Based on Vault 76, the lore is that it’s a control vault and had no long-running experiments integrated into it and was meant to be unlocked 20 years after the war. The main objective of the vault is for players to make their mark on the world and rebuild things from the ground up after the destruction. This would also provide one of the earliest looks into the history of the Fallout universe.

The dev team includes Bethesda Game Studio’s main office in Maryland but also the Austin location, which used to be called Battlecry Studios and was acquired by Bethesda. They’ve only released multiplayer content for Doom so far.

No other details have been released yet, but the game should be revealed in full at E3 on June 10th. Some spare info reveals that it’ll be on all current-gen consoles and PC- except the Switch, which isn’t surprising.

Fallout 76 announced; possible online Fallout game

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Fallout 76 announced; possible online Fallout game 4

A 24-hour live stream debuted nothing but a “Please Stand By” sign, a figurine, a watch, and random things on screen from employees at Bethesda. Over 2 million viewers still watched it.

Todd appears later and thanks everyone for showing up. Then shows off a new trailer for the newest Fallout game.

Fallout 76 was announced. The trailer shows off some of the fine artwork and ends with an unknown character wearing a jacket with the logo. Vault 76 is one of the 17 control vaults and had 500 occupants at one point. It was set to be unlocked only 20 years after a nuclear war. It has been referred to in Fallout 3 Mothership Zeta and Fallout 4 in the prologue segment.

Jason Schreier, a Koatku reporter, stated that he hard about Fallout 76 being an online game developed by Bethesda in Maryland and Austin. There’s no detail about whether or not this is true. Details expected at E3 this year.

Is Temtem is the Pokemon MMO we’ve all been waiting for?

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Is Temtem is the Pokemon MMO we've all been waiting for? 5

Crema, the developers of Immortal Redneck, is developing a Pokemon MMO-like game called Temtem.

They got the sources to crowdfund it and it’s supposed to the MMO every Pokemon player has been waiting for. It’s very similar to Nintendo’s monster-catching game. You’ll travel across many lands to find 8 Dojo leaders and lots of Temtem trainers. You need o capture creatures in the form of a digital card and then use them to fight other Tamers and their monster as well. This is just what you’d expect.

However, the game also has trainers all around the floating island each with their own Temtem monster in  Heart Gold-style format. The trailer shows off players going into battle and trading from the overworld, and the game has been designed as an online-focused game.

The characters, UI, and layout are all made for online gameplay. Some game mechanics have also been improved. If you breed the same monster repeatedly, it’ll net you diminishing returns. Battles are also 2v2 encounters and there will be no RNG elements as well.

The game is still in crowdfunding mode on Kickstarter. You can expect some very generous goodies for very generous backers. At $70,000, the game will be funded. Everything from an appearance in the game to your custom creature is possible. There’s already a Steam page for curious players if you’re interested in the game.

Agony censoring extreme content; beyond “Adults Only” rating

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Agony censoring extreme content; beyond "Adults Only" rating 6

Agony is a game developed by Madmind Studios and has been heavily censored due to the controversial nature of its content.

It’s so bad that the dev team no longer allowed it to be planned as an Adult Only game due to legality. They announced that it would be banned and they’d be sued if they kept it the way it was. However, they were able to get some content approved by PEGI and similar rating organizations.

Agony was originally a failed Kickstarter campaign that didn’t get the funds needed to complete the game. It has you avoid monsters in an evil place and you need to escape it by following a goddess. It’s a horror first-person survival game released on Steam, Xbox One, and PS4 on May 29th.

Now, only a few seconds from two out of seven endings will be censored with some other unlockable scenes. The following will still be included in Agony:

  • Gore
  • Brutal Sex Scenes
  • Lesbian and Gay Sex Scenes
  • Genital Physics
  • Eye Gouging
  • Heart Plucking
  • Children Heads Exploding
  • Setting Fire to Martyrs and Demons
  • Intense Violence
  • Strong Language
  • Drugs

But the rest will be cut out.

They released a comparison video on May 30th, which showcases the differences of what got removed from the original version.

 

GTA Online getting new music? DLC? New update coming June 2018.

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GTA Online getting new music? DLC? New update coming June 2018. 7

Rockstar posted an image on their page that looks like some kind of promo art for a concert in Los Santos, their fictional city. It consists of a lineup of electronic artists- Solomun, Tale of Us, Dixon, and The Black Madonna all ready for Summer 2018.

The GTA Online community is all ripe with a lot of activity about the flyer all with their own theory on what it could mean. The Black Madonna also tweeted their own version of the flyer, which only adds to the mystery.

New music is awesome, but this could be a new radio station or new tracks to GTA Online’s playlist. Or it could be a new DLC for a GTA Online nightclub stream, similar to Gunrunning and being a Motorcycle Club owner. Supposedly, it’ll be released in June– whatever it is. Stay tuned for updates.

Image via Rockstar.

Build your own prehistoric civilization in Madruga Works’ next game – Dawn of Man

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Build your own prehistoric civilization in Madruga Works' next game - Dawn of Man 8

Madruga Works is announcing a new game called Dawn of Man.

They’re the devs behind the space colony game Planetbase, which allowed players to explore space and colonize a wide variety of planets- each with their own pros and cons. The game had a few minor issues and wasn’t perfect, but that still didn’t make it a huge flop. It was released on PC and later ported to Xbox One in May 2017.

Madruga Works now is working on Dawn of Man, which is another colonial-type game except it takes place on a smaller, yet more detailed, scale. This time you build out and village tens of thousands of years ago back in the caveman era, or at least it appears so. Humanity is still on the brink of survival and is struggling to make it past the days with basic tools and no electricity. Players will create their own prehistoric village and guide its development and evolution over a period of 10,000 years. It’s like Spore but stuck in the prehistoric era.

Like many other games in this genre, you’ll have to gather basic supplies in order to the proposer. You can farm animals, hunt them, craft stuff, and breed out your population. Gathering materials like wood, stone, flint, berries, meat, skin, clothing, and food are all necessary to mankind.

The Steam store page shows that you can build up your village in preparation for conflict. There will likely be some PvE elements or possibly even PvP as well. The trailer shows off some raiding between players, so PvE is likely confirmed. Wild animals, humans, and other savage beasts lurk around your village and it’s up you to defend it.

The title will be available sometime in late 2018. Sit tight for updates. This time around, it may just be a hit.

Source: TechRaptor.

State of Decay garners 1 million players; Framerate and bugs “number one” priority

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State of Decay garners 1 million players; Framerate and bugs "number one" priority 9

State of Decay 2 has reached over 1 million players in just a mere two days after its Standard Edition launch.

It was launched on May 22 for PC and Xbox One. The exclusive title to Microsoft launched on the Xbox Game Pass on the same day as well. The Ultimate Edition launched on May 18- a few days prior. But the 1 million player number includes everyone who has bought the game, used copies, Game Pass users, and game sharing also. Either way, it’s a pretty decent title.

The milestone was first announced on the Xbox Wire. 675 million zombies were killed, 6 million bags of snacks were eaten, and over 6 million firecrackers and fireworks were used. Plus over 6 million player hours played. The player count is probably due to the Game Pass inclusion at launch, following Sea of Thieves back in March. Plans to launch every first-party title on release day has been upheld so far.

State of Decay 1 broke records early as well. It reached over 500,000 players in just two weeks back 5 years ago. It was fastest-selling original XBLA game ever made. Players complained about FPS and bugs, but the game is new. They’ll be patched soon enough as Undead Labs continues to work on the game and fix it up.

Microsoft and Undead Labs say:

“The team at Microsoft Studios and Undead Labs continue to work on updating the game to address these issues as our number one priority”.

Dark Souls-like Action RPG Unworthy coming out on May 29th

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Dark Souls-like Action RPG Unworthy coming out on May 29th 10

Unworthy is a new 2D Metroidvania game that plays similar to Dark Souls.

It’s the second game from indie developer Aleksandar Kuzmanovic and plays in the classical tradition of being a hardass action RPG. It’s a “hardcore combat-focused Metroidvania” where players can explore a grim universe. The game also offers a ton of weapons, unique abilities, and plenty of lands to explore.  He also uploaded a new video showing off the game as sort of a teaser trailer.

From the trailer, you can see that the game is very similar to Dark Souls. in that players must defend themselves and forge a new path in a grim world with black-and-white pixel art. The game has enemies, bosses, and plenty of hazards that can be dodged by rolling or blocking. The game also has an in-game cash shop where players can buy items and gear. The game is pretty much an indie version of Dark Souls.

Players will be controlling an unknown hero who wanders the lands in search of meaning. The narrative is similar to Dark Souls., so it’s not surprising to see indie games paying homage to it.

Unworthy will be released on Steam on May 29th with a $14.99 price tag.

Destiny 2’s new Iron Banner emote costs as much as the base game

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Destiny's future may now shift gears with Activision gone.

Activision and Bungie have been getting plenty of flack regarding the Eververse vendor in Destiny 2.

While it was in the first game, microtransactions weren’t really an issue with the community. But then, the new Iron Banner $10 emote is just making the fire between the developer and gamers worse.

Before the expansion The Taken King came out, Bungie announced that there would only be a cosmetic microtransaction marketplace in Destiny. The store named Eververse featured some emotes, shaders, and horns for player vehicles. This wasn’t really adored by gamers, but it was acceptable and would help fund the game’s development. Most players ignored it and just went with eh regular grind.

In Destiny 2, Eververse was a bigger thing. Now with revamped loot and leveling, players were given a free loot box ever level gained. This is just free access to what would be blocked behind a microtransaction, though some people believe it’s invasive to the game’s ethics of making it fair for all players. Some decisions even cause player campaigns to surface over the internet.

While the game doesn’t offer anything that’ll really break the game other than some buffs and faster sparrows, the expansions have offered some pretty good loo that can only be claimed from Evergreen. You need to pay $9.99 for an emote that’s a direct reference to a PVP event in which you can’t earn it from. But then if you think about it, Destiny 2 itself can be found for as low as $10. That means an in-game emote costs as much as the game itself.

This will probably only fuel the fire between the community and Bungie. #RemoveEververse

Sega confirms Yakuza 3, 4, and 5 getting remasters – 60FPS and HD resolutions

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Sega confirms Yakuza 3, 4, and 5 getting remasters - 60FPS and HD resolutions 11

Sega will be releasing a remaster of Yakuza 3, 4, and 5.

Yakuza 3 will be released on 8/9/18 in Japan, as reported by Dengeki PlayStation and Weekly Famitsu. The remasters will update the entire Yakuza library in order to make it playable on the PS4, but not in English. They’ll all run at a smooth 60FPS as well, and also have support for 1080p resolution. There’s no report on when the English version will release as of now.

The game will retail in Japan for 4000 yen. Yakuza 3 is the first of the trilogy to get the remaster. The other titles will come following afterward, as expected.

Yakuza 3 continues the story of Kazuma Kiryu and Haruka Sawamura as they try to forge a new life in Okinawa. Kazuma returns to the Morning Glory orphanage where they plan to hide and wait for the events of Yakuza 1 and 2 settles. Kazuma then has an encounter with Goro Majima and other characters from his past and then finds himself sucked back into the world of crime once again.

Producer Daisuke Saito believes there’s a market for remasters in Japan. Especially with the reception of Yakuza Kiwami and Kiwami 2, remastering older games is a good idea. Several reviews stated that a number of minigames and additional content was implemented for the NA release of the game. Fans should sit tight for the announcement.

We Happy Few banned from release in Australia due to “drug use”

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We Happy Few banned from release in Australia due to "drug use" 12

Indie survival We Happy Few has reportedly been banned in Australia due to drug use.

The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts gave the game a “refused classicization” rating which means it’ll basically be illegal to distribute in Australia. The reason has to do with drug use, which is obvious if you’ve played the game. It takes place in an alternate timeline back in history and is based on the roles of denizens who take a fake drug called Joy that keeps them calm and relaxed in order to forget about WWII.

Players play as 3 different protagonists who decide to stop taking the drug and need to traverse the world as it really is rather than the illusion that Joy makes it. It’s also a part of the gameplay; if you don’t take Joy, it makes the game significantly more difficult because guards will catch you easily. Completing objectives also gets difficult as a result of that.

The game was banned because it’s possible to take Joy during the game. And thus, this is “drug use.” The report does acknowledge that drug use is optional and that there are “alternative methods to complete the game,” but it also notes that “gameplay requires the player to take Joy to progress,” which is doubly confusing. Australia has a rating classification which states that “drug use related to incentives and rewards is not permitted.”

Other titles that were banned include Outlast 2, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, and South Park: The Stick of Truth, which all got the ban hammer from Australia’s Classification Board. Whether or not developer Compulsion Games and publisher Gearbox will try to release a censored version of the game is still unknown, but it’ll likely be difficult given the game’s mechanics.

As for the rest of the world, We Happy Few will be rolling out in mid-2018. Players who have bought the game in Australia will likely receive a refund.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall shoots for the stars in 2019

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Age of Wonders: Planetfall shoots for the stars in 2019 13

A new game called Age of Wonders: Planetfall is in development.

It’s made by Triumph Studios and published by Paradox Interactive. The game is the next in the Age of Wonders series and the developer hopes that it’ll bring all the combat from the previous games back in this fantasy setting. The news was released with a new trailer as well, which you can see here:

From the trailer, we can see that it’s definitely a gorgeous game. There are also a few snippets of gameplay that looks amazing with a ton of different things to manage. if you like turn-based strategy, Age of Wonders is a hidden gem in the genre. Triumph wasn’t to make a game that expands upon its predecessors and employs the core principles of the game. While this is a new futuristic setting for the series, they’re sure that it’ll remain the same and fans will feel right at home with it.

Dutch-based developer Triumph is known for this series and Overlord series also. Paradox is also a well-known company in this genre with games like Crusader Kings.

Planetfall offers players everything they’re accustomed to. You can build, fight, negotiate, and build up your city to a utopian society with advanced technology. The game will use their own engine which was also used on  Age of Wonders III. this will be the first title to be published by Paradox Interactive, and Triump is “thrilled” to be working with them.

The game will release in 2019. Stay tuned for updates!

Stellaris: Distant Stars DLC update – what’s coming

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Stellaris: Distant Stars DLC update - what's coming 14

Paradox Interactive has recently announced that their awesome epic strategy game Stellaris has a new DLC pack coming next week.

Fans of the game will already know what to expect. But those who aren’t really familiar with it or have put it down for a bit may be surprised to see the updates.

Stellaris: Distant Stars will bring a new focus on discovering new and weird creatures that lie in the far reaches of space. New surprises will occur that may help or harm your exploration adventures, and new revelations will be received in this DLC pack geared towards building a backstory.

There will also be new solar systems to be discovered each with their own tale to tell. The more you traverse the galaxy, the more you’ll find in terms of new tech to implement to your ship and new resources to utilize. If you’re a fan of exploration, you’ll probably like this update. Then again, this game is all about exploration in space.

You’ll find some hidden traces of a gateway network that gives way to a hidden constellation that lies outside of your own galaxy. You don’t know what’s hiding in this far void, but you’ll have to find out by taking the dive. As you travel to this new galaxy, you’ll find some notable resources and events that’ll allow your team to learn new methods of observing and analyzing the entire galaxy.

The new DLC pack pretty much focuses on having you do what the game does best- explore. You’ll get rewarded handsomely for exploring deep space and a lot fo backfill storyline for those who care.

There will also be plenty of new monsters waiting for you also. You’ll find huge creatures that live in wide areas that are behemoths in scale. Some of them are gentle, others not so much.

Stellaris: Distant Stars will arrive on PC, Mac OS X, and Linux on May 22, 2018. Be ready to explore some real space.

Metro Exodus delayed until 2019

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Exodus will be delayed.

Metro: Exodus has been pushed back to early 2019.

The latest game showcasing the adventures of Artyom in post-apocalyptic Russia has had its release date pushed to Q1 next year based on a Tweet from their official account.

The game will be the newest installment of Artyom and a group of people who travel far from the Moscow Metro on a train called the Aurora. It’ll expand upon the original mechanics of Metro: Last Light which did the same for Metro: 2033. Metro: Exodus will be continued in the story from the Redemption ending of the previous game.

It’ll still feature a linear storyline, but it’ll take place in wider areas for the player to explore.

A news post on the Steam Community page for the game had the release displayed as Fall 2018 which would’be been the original release. The Tweet says that they’re trying to make the game “its absolute best.”

Players will have something to look forward to even with the delay. As the Tweet states, there will be new gameplay trailers showing off some new environments during this year’s E3 event. Stay tuned for updates on this AAA title soon.

GoG giving away Unreal and Return to Na Pali expansion pack

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GoG giving away Unreal and Return to Na Pali expansion pack 15

GoG is giving away the full package of the first game in the Unreal series, which contains both Unreal and the expansion pack Return to Na Pali. This is called Unreal Gold.

It was first released back in 1998 by GT Interactive. It was the main game of several development teams including Digital Extremes, Epic Games, and GT. It was the product of companies that later went on to produce games like WarFrame and Gears of War. And it was one of the most successful FPS games for PC of all times and is often compared to Quake and Doom for the gameplay, fast-paced action, and graphics at the time.

It was also the first game ever to use the Unreal Engine, which is now one of the most popular development tools in the whole industry. It’s been used in many video games from AAA companies to indie titles and has received tons of awards from industry leaders. It’s also gotten the record for the “most successful video game engine” by the Guinness Book of World Records.

GoG is now giving away the first full package of the game for free for the next 48 hours, so grab your copy now. If you like the series, you can get the whole bundle for 80% off which includes pretty much all the Unreal games. This will only cost you $5.97 for those looking to play the following successors tot he first game.

Whether or not you’re a fan of the game, it’s still worth a play through. It’s backlog-worthy. Free is free. Grab it now from GoG. So worthy.

PC Building Simulator gets colored cables and new hardware in newest update

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PC Building Simulator gets new hardware and keeps dropping content.

PC Building Simulator released another update which adds a bunch of new stuff any PC builder will appreciate.

If you’ve never heard of this game, it’s one of those simulator games that went viral. PC Building Simulator will let you build a custom PC from scratch and also repair PCs in a struggling repair shop that challenges players to bring it back to profitability. Start with simple tasks like virus removal and work up to fixing hardware issues.

The newest update to the game adds the Antec DF500 case and is probably one of the first of many cases added to the game. The developers have developed a partnership in order to get the license to use their products.

CPU water cooling is also added in the newest update. It’s a simplified version of the water-cooling system used to cool the CPU. It’s an all-in-one water cooler rather than the complex ones enthusiasts use today. Perhaps in a later update, we’ll get the hardcore version.

Colored cables with over 100 options can be selected to brighten up the computer parts to make it a little prettier. Not all of the colors work properly, but it should be fixed within a new update. It’s a major patch of the cabling feature and the devs will surely improve it.

Other bug fixes have also come along in the newest update. You can see the full patch notes here.

GTA V gets battle royale in Trap Door update

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GTA V gets battle royale in Trap Door update 16

The battle royale trend continues. Its next bandwagoner is GTA V.

Five years after its release, the game is still getting content updates to the online mode. The newest one is a new Adversary mode called Trap Door. Players also get discounts accompanying the update as usual.

The Trap Door mode sits with other GTA V Adversary Modes like The Vespucci Job and Hardest target. However, this is a true battle royale mode, with two teams facing off on a shrinking platform upon the Pacific Ocean. Well, it’s not true battle royale. But it’s pretty much GTA’s take on it.

Teams are small with no aspirations like the 100-player matches of the battle royale leaders. The contests take place over several rounds and any player that gets killed is dropped into the red zone, which gives them a chance to escape it in order to redeem themselves.

The system is vastly different from revivals on other teammates. The player’s second chance depends on themselves rather than strangers, which is a welcome twist to the genre. Rockstar’s continual improvement to the game isn’t anything surprising, given that it’s one of the best-selling games of all time and makes sense to continue giving it some TLC.

But this isn’t the first time GTA has done this. Motor Wars was similar and was released to the game last year.

Discounts to new weapons and vehicles will apply with this update and discounts on vehicles and weapons. Players will also get extra cash for doing Smuggler’s Run and Biker Business games.

RAGE 2 being made by Avalanche Studios and id Software

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RAGE 2 being made by Avalanche Studios and id Software 17

RAGE 2 didn’t seem like it would happen. After all, how would Bethesda convince Mr. Goodman to come back to making games in 2018?

Nevertheless, the 2011 shooter is getting a sequel and id Software is teaming up. With Bethesda.

RAGE 2 packs a carnival of carnage so intense it can only come from two legendary AAA studios. That’s right, this is a f****ing AAAAAA game.

That’s right. RAGE 2 is coming as announced by a trailer. It’ll be made from the people behind DOOM. Avalanche Studios are the creators of Just Cause and Mad Max. While this is id Software’s real RPG, they’re following the guidance of companies who know how to do it right.

From the trailer, you can see how awesome this game is going to be. It’s not a dungeon crawler anymore, but rather a huge environment with regular battles and driving. There may be some racing as well with some mutants competing towards a finish line. The trailer also shows off mech suits and giant robots as well. It’s definitely the game on steroids.

The Wingstick is also here, which is a combination of boomerang and machete for those who don’t know. This tool was probably the best part of the first game, so it’s nice to have it back. Nanotrite abilities will let players cush baddies from above or go into rage mode.

RAGE 2 will be discussed at Bethesda’s E3 press conference. It’ll be released in Spring 2019 and available on PC, Xbox One, and PS4. This game will be followed for updates nonstop until release. Stay tuned.

SteamVR Input allows control scheme support for pretty much any controller

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SteamVR Input will allow players to use any controller and use custom schemes.

Value has just announced the beta for SteamVR Input.

It’s a new input system that allows players to make bind configs for controllers in the game. This works whether or not the controller is in production when the game is released. This lets Valve’s homegrown JoyToKey or XPadder to work within SteamVR. Players can make any input system and any other player can choose to use it if they want in the Steam Community.

Support for SteamVR Input is built-in to the system and anyone with the application can access the new input system. Developers can also customize default bindings for every controller type and create new control all the schemes without having to go back and change them for each controller type. SteamVR Input is currently in beta, but you can try it out by going to Properties > SteamVR > Beta and select your build.

There’s basic documentation in the announcement post for software and hardware development information that’s worth checking out.

SteamVR Input comes from the announcement that Nintendo Switch Pro Controller will be supported by Steam. The support for this controller and the new input system allows Valve to make a new effort to expand controller support across other builds.

 

Space Agency Sim Mars Horizon confirmed

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Space Agency Sim Mars Horizon confirmed 18

UK developer Auroch Digital announced a new space game called Mars Horizon where players will manage their own spaceport.

It combines rocket building, mission control, and space agency management, according to the devs. It lets players choose agencies in all major countries in the space race and guide it through decades of technology. The country to first send a ship to Mars is the hero.

There was also a reveal trailer released for the game as well that showcases the game’s artwork and mechanics. Auroch also got back in from the UK Space Agency during the development as well. They provided a grant, advice, and info on space exploration and space agency management, so the game is somewhat realistic.

It’ll feature custom rocket building, diplomatic relations with other nations, and a realistic space agency sim. The company has worked with many other titles that have been socially conscious.

Mars Horizon is coming out for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and a PC release with an unknown price to be announced.

SUPERHOT VR announced for PC and PS4

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SUPERHOT VR announced for PC and PS4 19

SUPERHOT JP will be the newest game in the SUPERHOT saga of games.

The gameplay will be pretty much the same with its classic rhythm slow-motion combat with a new variety of Japanese environments like Toky alleyways, trains, castles, and karaoke bars. You’ll be fighting the red baddies in lots of different locations across the country.

The Japnese devs at Game Tomo say the game will have about 18 regular levels and about 3-4 endless lives. There will be new weapons including a bow, and the game modes will be the same. Players can also expect new menus, UI, and even a storyline. The game will also have new abilities like see-through shoji screens and new items.

The gameplay and artwork will be the same as the original SUPERHOT.

SUPERHOT JP will take place in Tokyo for development with the original team helping out. A JP release will come first then more countries following. No price nor release date has been announced yet.

It’ll be available on the PC and PS4. VR may or may not be included.

 

Rainbow 6 getting a new map – what’s new in the update

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The popular FPS is getting another content update even though it’s a pretty dated game now.

They just keep on releasing more and more maps, weapons, and content for this game as the playerbase and community remains pretty stable over time. Ubisoft announced that Rainbow 6 Siege will be getting a new map based on a Tuscan Villa. And it’ll be named “Villa” as appropriate.

Villa is a part of the upcoming Operation Para Bellum update which will include two unknown GIS Operators. It’ll be the most competitive map ever made by Ubisoft and features staircases, tunnels, and plenty of nooks and crannies. The floors will also be destructible.

Operation Para Bellum will include a new internal gadget, buffs for Echo, and adjustments for the Clubhouse map as well as dropshotting. There will also be a new system to Pick and Ban which allows for an “extra layer of strategy between teams” because each side allows the other to counterpick during the banning phase. This will allow some interesting combinations the 6th Operator pick is chosen and teams will have to react to it accordingly.

Villa will be the next location as it’s owned by the Vinciguerra, a family rooted in crime and smuggling art pieces. They’re trying to rid their documents and save their prized valuables before the counter-terrorists investigate the villa.

Stay tuned for more news on the latest Rainbow 6 Siege update on the 20th of May during the Pro Finals.

NEOGEO mini by SNK loaded with 40 classic titles

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The NEOGEO that debuted back in 1990 is now coming back as a NEOGEO mini because SNK is celebrating their 40th anniversary.

This console loads up 40 nostalgic titles and sports a 3.5-inch display. Classic games can be played without the need for a TV at all. The small display is comfortable to the touch and allows it to be held in just your hand. It measures only 162mm tall and 135mm wide and weighs just 600g.

The console will be available in two different designs that cater to the western and eastern markets uniquely. The eastern version is red, white, and black that mimics the original NEOGEO cabinet. The western version is a modern take with white, black, and blue. It comes with an AC adaptor. The frame includes a joystick, ABCD buttons, HDMI output, headphone jack, and two external controller ports in case you want to connect to your TV.

The 40 games are unknown at this point, but promo ads show off some popular titles like The King of Fighters and Real Bout Fatal Fury.

Other details like price, release date, and games haven’t been confirmed as of now. SNK fans will log some hours.

Nintendo shuts down Miitomo, but plans to expands mobile line

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Miitomo, Nintendo’s planned smartphone app, has been shut down.

There wasn’t a specific reason for the shutdown, but it’s likely because no one uses the app. While it’s nice to have a smartphone app for everything, some apps are just not necessary- at all. Miitomo was launched with over 10 million users in the first month but then dropped over time.

Nintendo will still have a mobile extension of their company. The new president, Shuntaro Furukawa, said he’s interested in making more mobile games and make it a big business.

We’ll have to see what Nintendo’s plans are in the future for mobile gaming. The president wants to expand it to capture mobile gamers that are fans of Nintendo. He wants to make it turn into a huge, 100 billion yen platform.

Han Solo update coming to Star Wars Battlefront II – get the details

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EA has finally revealed details on a new event coming to Star Wars Battlefront II.

The Han Solo Season event with be live on May 15th and allows all players to celebrate him with new content that spans many eras in Solo’s history. Players will be able to play through many contents from the original trilogy this May including before Solo: A Star Wars Story content in June.

Here are some details of what’s coming in the Han Solo update:

A new map. Players will be able to play in Jabba’s Palace and play in Blast, Hero Showdown, and Heroes vs. Villanins. Hero Showdown allows players to duke it out in a round-based eliminiation mode where players can use their favorite duos per match.

New Appearances. Players will be able to snag neww Appearences from the Return of the Jedi, such as Calrissian with his Skiff Guard or Organa wearing the boounty hunter Boushh’s gear with a new voice over. Starfighter Custom Arade is also a new mode where players can play airborne in the cockpit with Starfighters from all ears.

The Ewok Hunt had players battleing as either an Ewok or Stormtrooper in Endor. The update introcuded some microtransactions that were removed previoiysly. Crystals were also added as a way to unlock Appearnaces.

More details will be coming soon. Stay tuned.

Dragon Ball FighterZ Co-Op mode, character balancing, and new content

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Bandai Namco has announced an update to its most recent fighting game Dragon Ball FighterZ.

It’ll be a free content update arriving May 9th with two new features and improvements as well as gameplay patches.

DBFZ is the newest fighting game which launched earlier to commercial success. It’s been praised with awesome graphics and looking just like the TV show.

The most exciting thing is the co-op mode. Patry Battle will allow up to three players to play together in co-op and fight epic bosses. And the game will be host to a monthly competition where players can duke it out and get points for their Z-Union. There will also be many various gameplay changes from Training Moe to character balancing.

Self-damaging attacks no longer affect the combo damage displayed. Goku’s Black’s medium and heavy versions of Fierce God Kick won’t lock down a knocked out opposites, and the damage scaling of Vegeta several Ki-Blast moves has been matched with a single Blast instead.

Nintendo Switch Online price, launch titles, cloud saves, and more details

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Nintendo has revealed some pricing details of their Nintendo Switch Online platform launching this September 2018.

It’ll come with a large library of 20 games, 10 of which have been announced. It’ll also have cloud saves, special deals, and other goodies for subscribers.

Here’s a brief summary of what to expect so far.

Pricing will be as follows:

  • One month (solo): $3.99
  • Three months (solo): $7.99
  • Twelve months (solo): $19.99
  • Twelve months (Family): $34.99

There aren’t any 1 or 3-month plans for the Family Membership because these accounts allow up to 8 accounts total which can be spread out worldwide.

Cloud saves will be much-improved and won’t have that horrible save disaster the Switch previously had. Now the cloud platform should be working 100%. No more data wiping! That’s something to be excited about.

And the library of games will have an online feature to play with friends. They can also watch your screen and you can watch theirs and take turns. Screen sharing will also be available s well. Voice chat will be done with an app on smartphones. All games will work offline as well. So far, 10 games have been announced:

  • The Legend of Zelda
  • Ice Climber
  • Balloon Fight
  • Donkey Kong
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Dr. Mario
  • Mario Bros.
  • Super Mario Bros.
  • Super Mario Bros. 3

Nintendo is behind it he online marketplace, but now they hope to claim a market share with their online platform. Switch owners won’t be able to play games without an online payment plan after September 2018. More details to be revealed.

We’ll have to see how this plays out. Stay tuned for updates.

They Are Billions gets Six Wonders update – see what’s new

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Numantian Games has released a new update for their Steampunk RTS They Are Billions.

In a Steam post, they outlined the new content that’s coming to the game. It’s called The Six Wonders update, and here’s what new.

They’re adding six new major buildings to the game:

  • The Lightning Spire gather energy from lightning strikes for the use of your people and also gives you 1500 victory points (VP).
  • The Victorious is a fortified shelter that shields your colony from the infected.
  • The Atlas Transmutator takes common materials and turns it into oil and gives you 2000 VP.
  • The Academy of Immortals trains your people by famous heroes and gives you 1500 VP.
  • The Crystal Palace allows climate control to help crops thrive in barren lands and gives you 1500 VP.
  • And the Silent Beholder reveals the whole map and enemies permanently and gives you 1500 VP.

The update is currently available to all owners of the game. Some new campaign content may be added to Survival Mode, such as map themes, features, and infected as well, according to the post.

The game is still currently in Early Access on Steam, but a campaign mode will be released on launch. They Are Billions is one of the most unique RTS games I’ve played in recent times. If you’re looking for a game that’ll keep you busy for a while, look no further.