Spider-Man Homecoming hits theaters in early July, and to mark the upcoming release, Sony is launching a tie-in experience for virtual reality headsets. It's coming a week ahead of the film's release date, and it's free.
Sony announced the experience with a short trailer which shows a bit of what you can expect. It looks like a series of mini-games that'll have you shooting webs, eliminating enemies, and, most importantly, swinging through the city. You can check out the video above.
Spider-Man Homecoming VR arrives on June 30, a week before the film's July 7 release. Although the game was produced by Sony Pictures Virtual Reality, it's not limited to PlayStation VR. It'll be available for all major VR systems, including the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. If you don't own a VR headset, you can still try it out at certain Cinemark theaters in the United States.
By Anonymous on Jun 22, 2017 12:00 am (Produced in partnership with Lenovo) Chastity sits down to talk to Jeff Palumbo and talks about Lenovo Legion, E3, and why this is a great time to be a PC gamer!
Mario as a T-Rex? Yes please! Mario's latest adventure for the Nintendo Switch offers a new type of open-world-esque adventure where our mustachioed hero can possess the bodies of his enemies.
The game is due for release on October 27, 2017.
Image credit: Nintendo
Splatoon 2
The sequel to Nintendo's paint gun shooter offers many ways to play: There's a single-player Hero Mode, a new co-op Salmon Run mode (PvE) and the classic Turf War team battle mode. Expect new weapons, dodge rolls and jetpacks to add extra layers of strategy to matches.
Get your ink on when Splatoon 2 launches for the Nintendo Switch on July 21, 2017.
Image credit: Nintendo
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Nintendo gave fans an extended look at this open-world, sci-fi RPG at E3 2017. In the game, all-new characters Rex and Pyra join together in search of paradise.
The game is slated for release in Q4 2017.
Image credit: Nintendo
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Ubisoft's Raving Rabbids franchise is getting a big makeover for its debut on the Switch. This turn-based, tactical RPG tasks Mario and friends with defending the Mushroom Kingdom against a rabbit menace.
The game is due for release on August 29, 2017.
Image credit: Ubisoft
Yoshi (Working Title)
This yet-to-be-titled game trades the soft textile look of Woolly World for a handcrafted paper look. Each stage has two sides--a front side and a rear view. This means uncovering all of the game's secrets will take a lot of exploring. (And egg-flinging.)
This game is due for the Nintendo Switch sometime in 2018.
Image credit: Nintendo
Kirby (Working Title)
Nintendo's tough pink puffball is getting a new multiplayer adventure on the Nintendo Switch. The game requires teamwork with your real-world friends or recruited in-game enemies. It also has plenty of awesome new abilities to be inhaled.
Kirby (working title) is expected to launch sometime in 2018.
Image credit: Nintendo
Sonic Forces
Sonic fans rejoice: The speedy blue hedgehog is about to get a brand new adventure. The game mixes two-dimensional platforming with some 3-D elements, and allows you to create a custom playable character.
Keep an eye out for this one sometime later in 2017.
Image credit: Sega
New Mario Amiibo
Great news for Amiibo collectors: Nintendo has some really cool new statues planned for the coming year. This dapper wedding party will have yet-to-be-announced functionality with Super Mario Odyssey when it launches.
Image credit: Nintendo
New Metroid Amiibo
There are some rad new Metroid Amiibo coming this year, as well. We're particularly excited over the squishy, eponymous alien breaking out of its glass capsule. A new Samus Aran Amiibo in the classic Metroid II pose is also due.
The new Amiibo will add functionality to Metroid: Samus Returns, which arrives on the 3DS on September 15, 2017.
Image credit: Nintendo
Sonic Mania
Created by famed Sonic retro-scenester Christian "Taxman" Whitehead in conjunction with Headcannon and PagodaWest Games, Sonic Mania is a pixelated 2-D adventure with new zones plus remixes of classic stages.
This Sonic "passion project" drops on August 15, 2017 for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One and Windows.
Image credit: Sega
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
One of the best RPGs of the decade is getting a port to the Nintendo Switch. The title makes good use of Joy-Con motion controls and includes all three major expansions: Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonguard.
The game is slated for a Holiday 2017 release.
Image credit: Bethesda
Skyrim has Zelda-flavored Amiibo functionality
One great feature of the Switch Skyrim port: It works with your existing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Amiibo, allowing you in-game access to the Master Sword, Hylian Shield and Champion's Tunic. Very cool.
Image credit: Bethesda
Rocket League
Multiplayer eSports favorite Rocket League is coming to Switch! The game--essentially soccer played with cars--allows for cross-platform play with Xbox One and Windows players.
The game is slated for release on the Nintendo Switch in Q4 2017.
Image credit: 505 Games
Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star
Story-heavy action game Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star is getting a port to the Switch, as well. Originally released for the PS4 in January, the game pits you and your spirit servants against massive numbers of enemy hordes.
Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star will include all 35 previously-released paid DLC costumes, and the option to hear its original Japanese dialogue. It arrives on Switch July 25, 2017.
Image credit: Marvelous
Zelda BotW: The Master Trials
The Master Trials is the first DLC pack for Breath of the Wild. It adds a new hard mode, a Hero's Path mode that shows you exactly where you've explored, new armor and a 45-room Trial of the Sword. Once completed, the trial permanently powers up your Master Sword.
The Master Trials, part of the $19.99 Zelda Expansion Pass, launches June 30, 2017.
Zelda BotW: The Champions' Ballad
The second DLC pack, The Champions' Ballad, adds a new dungeon, an original story and "even more new challenges." It will be available as part of the Expansion Pass that also includes access to The Master Trials.
The Champions' Ballad is due Holiday 2017.
Image credit: Nintendo
New Zelda: Breath of the Wild Champion Amiibo
Timed for release with Breath of the Wild DLC Pack 2, Nintendo will be releasing Amiibo versions of champions Mipha, Daruk, Revali, and Urbosa, each with in-game functionality.
These new Amiibo will be available Holiday 2017.
Image credit: Nintendo
Metroid Prime 4
In one of the biggest shockers of E3 2017, Nintendo confirmed that a brand new Metroid Prime game is in development for the Nintendo Switch. It'll be the first game from the Prime franchise in over 10 years, created by a new development team.
A release date has yet to be announced.
Image credit: Nintendo
Fire Emblem Warriors
Developed by the same team that created Hyrule Warriors, Fire Emblem Warriors is a strategic hack-and-slash combat with what Nintendo calls "over-the-top-powerful Dynasty Warriors-style moves." Expect new characters and plenty of old favorites such as Marth and Chrom.
The game launches on Nintendo Switch and the 3DS in Fall 2017.
Image credit: Nintendo
Minecraft: Story Mode
Great news for younger Switch gamers: Minecraft: Story Mode is coming soon. Telltale Games' choose-your-own-adventure title includes all eight episodes (Season One plus Adventure Pass), and features voice acting by Patton Oswalt, Corey Feldman, Paul Reubens and more.
Nintendo's great Tekken-like Pokemon fighter is getting a port to the Switch. While the Wii U version offered 16 Pokemon to battle with, the Switch version has 21, including Croagunk, Empoleon, Darkrai, Decidueye, and Scizor.
Pokken Tournament DX launches for the Switch on September 22, 2017.
Image credit: Nintendo
Untitled Pokemon RPG
At E3 2017, Nintendo announced that Game Freak is working on a new "core RPG" Pokemon game for the Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, that's all we know about the game, save for the fact that it "may not release for more than a year."
Image credit: Pokemon USA
FIFA 18
Nintendo's version of FIFA 18 doesn't run on the same engine as the PlayStation 4 version. But GameSpot's Oscar Dayus says it's still "fairly feature-rich and as competent a FIFA port as you could realistically expect on Switch."
The game launches across all major gaming consoles on September 29, 2017.
Image credit: EA
NBA 2K18
The Nintendo Switch will also get 2K Sports' NBA 2K18 when it launches September 19, 2017.
Image credit: Take-Two Interactive
2064: Read Only Memories
Midboss's LGBTQ-inclusive cyberpunk adventure, 2064: Read Only Memories, is a point-and-click game inspired by the Sega classic Snatcher. You play a struggling journalist who teams up with an adorable, sentient robot named Turing to find its kidnapped creator.
The game, currently available on Steam and PS4, is expected to arrive on Switch sometime in 2018.
One of the big announcements from E3 2017 was that a new Wolfenstein game is in development. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is the follow-up to The New Order, and it takes main character BJ Blazkowicz to a Nazi-occupied United States. According to creative director Jens Matthies, this may not be the last game in the modern Wolfenstein series--and Mecha-Hitler may one day return to the games.
Appearing on Giant Bomb's E3 live show, Matthies fielded a question about Mecha-Hitler, the imposing, robotic Nazi leader from some of the original Wolfenstein games. To answer, he revealed that developer Machine Games has hoped that the new Wolfenstein series would be three parts--hinting at a possible reemergence of the antagonist later on.
"We always envisioned this as a trilogy," he said. "If we get to make the third one--once we introduce Mecha-Hitler, you can't go up from there."
Matthies' statement should be taken with a grain of salt, and he tempers expectations himself. There's no third game in development yet, and publisher Bethesda would have to greenlight it first, presumably based on how The New Colossus performs. But it's exciting nonetheless to envision a modern, high-fidelity Mecha-Hitler appearing in a later Wolfenstein game. Also worth noting is that Matthies and Machine Games are seemingly not counting The Old Blood, a standalone expansion to The New Order, as one of the entries in the trilogy.
The LeSportsac X Nintendo line encompasses tote bags, backpacks, pouches, and other accessories inspired by Nintendo's iconic mascot. The collection features "two unique designs" created specifically for this collaboration. The first, Power-Up Burst, is a collage of the classic power-ups and enemies Mario encounters on his adventures in the Mushroom Kingdom. The second print, Mario Travel, features Mario-themed postcards, luggage tags, and passport stamps on a red background. You can take a look at photos of the bags below.
Other items in the LeSportsac X Nintendo collection include a round Piranha Plant pouch, a pouch that resembles the original Game Boy, and a cosmetic bag adorned with Fire Flowers and Stars. Each item features a Mario coin as a zipper.
The LeSportsac X Nintendo collection launches in Japan on July 19 and in the US and other countries this fall. Prices for the bags and accessories have not been announced yet.
What if you could re-live your memories and the memories of others to see the world through their eyes? How would that make you feel about your own life decisions? Get Even, from Polish indie studio The Farm 51, tackles those questions and more. Get Even's best element is no doubt its story. With plenty of twists and misdirection, this psychological thriller contains an emphatic and thought-provoking ending. But its gameplay, which consists of puzzle-solving and shooting, does nothing of note other than distract you along the way.
Get Even starts in dramatic, bewildering fashion. Playing as Cole Black, a former soldier with a long criminal record and cloudy motivations, you start in what looks like a creepy psychiatric hospital. You're armed only with a silenced pistol and a smartphone. You are told nothing about why you're there or where you are, but you quickly discover that your objective is to save a young girl with a bomb strapped to her chest. After taking down the men who captured her, you try to defuse the bomb, but it goes off. Casualties are presumed. Fade to black. You then wake up with a virtual reality device strapped to your head.
Black cannot make sense of what's happened to him or why. (You might also note that he sounds just like Sean Bean, but he isn't). The story gets even more distressing from there, as you try to piece together what happened as a mysterious scientist, Red, guides you through the asylum over monitors and speakers as part of your "treatment." You eventually discover that the asylum is not all it seems, and Red's motivations only become more murky.
The first half of Get Even is spent under the guidance of Red, who is later revealed to be a character named Ramsey. You revisit Black's memories, piecing together clues and attempting to unravel the story behind the mysterious victim. You find evidence as you explore these virtual memories, which ultimately ends up on a board scattershot with photos and newspaper clippings. You may not discover everything there is to see during your first recollection of each memory, but you're free to return at any time to find what you might have overlooked and add a new piece to the puzzle.
Your vehicle to the virtual world--the Pandora headset--is Red's life work. It allows you to be a fly on the wall in Black's memories, where you can look but you can't touch. Finding the answers you seek is complicated by memories that are maliciously corrupted. Apparently someone or something is trying to conceal the truth to make it difficult to understand what is real and what merely appears to be.
For a while, trust in your own judgement feels out of reach. It's an intriguing way to tell a story, though it can be a lot to wrap your head around as the new and complex possibilities are introduced. But it all comes together in the end for you (and Black) in a very satisfying and unexpected way.
The action in the early stages of the game revolves around puzzle-solving and a limited amount of shooting, mostly with a weapon called a CornerGun. Black steals this item from a business rival of Ramsey's, and like its name suggests, its barrel can turn 90 degrees, allowing you to shoot around corners. This is one of the more unique aspects of Get Even's shooting. It takes some getting used to, as firing around corners can be disorienting at first. It 's a logistical challenge to learn where you need to stand or crouch to effectively fire around a corner, and it is very satisfying when you get the hang of it. Once you do, you can sneakily creep around, taking down enemies in secret.
When shooting the CornerGun, you must land a headshot and make sure other enemies aren't closeby or else they will be alerted to your presence and come after you in an organized way. It's a bit unforgiving, especially on the Traumatizing difficulty (of note: Traumatizing and Gentle are the only two difficulty levels.) But it's a good challenge and very satisfying when you get it right. Enemies inside Pandora vaporize when you kill them, and the action pauses for a moment as they disintegrate into shards. This is a cool-looking effect the first time, but it eventually wears out its welcome as the ensuing pause slows down the action with frustrating frequency.
Another item at Black's disposal is his smartphone. It does basic things like display text messages and play voice calls, but is also equipped with a scanner that you can use on key items to learn more about them, while a heat vision camera alerts you to nearby enemies. A Vision tab on the smartphone illuminates certain key elements based on the context of a particular scene. All of this is critical info when problem solving.
Though it's an unremarkable looking game, Get Even is backed by a wonderful soundtrack from Olivier Deriviere that heightens tension and accentuates action with pulsing, pounding electronic sounds and string instruments.
Get Even's puzzles are rarely challenging or unique, and some can be frustrating when you have to look at the environment through your cell phone; bumping into objects while staring at the phone's screen is a common annoyance. But there are a few puzzles that provide new and interesting challenges. One of the more memorable instances comes in the second half of the game, where you essentially play out a game of Clue. Using evidence like newspaper cutouts and police reports scattered in a room, you must correctly name a murder weapon, a perpetrator, and the bullet's entry wound on the victim. It's not the most difficult task, but it's exciting to play the role of an investigator and it feels satisfying when you finally solve the mystery.
Eventually, you assume control of Ramsey, and this is where the story and gameplay get even more interesting. Ramsey performs an "audit" of Black's memories to try to learn more about the events leading up the the girl in the warehouse. He wants to...get even with the people responsible.
When you're playing as Ramsey, you have even more abilities than Black, one of which is a scanner that shows you where all nearby enemies are. Ramsey isn't armed by default, but he can "assimilate" into the enemies, taking over their bodies and picking up their weapons in the process. You can sprint, but you can move even faster by warping, and when performed in rapid succession, warps allow you to get the jump on enemies in superhuman fashion.
As you play through these memories, you will feel a sense of deja vu, as you're revisiting some of the places you played through as Black, but the story is experience in a new, unique perspective way. It is sort of like The Lion King 1.5, where you see the events of The Lion King from the perspective of Timon and Pumbaa. You tap into "engrams" scattered throughout the memories to see who Black spoke with, what they talked about, and how it contributes to the girl with the bomb. The mystery of the story is key to the intrigue of Get Even, and unraveling it yourself is the best part.
Though it's an unremarkable looking game, Get Even is backed by a wonderful soundtrack from Olivier Deriviere that heightens tension and accentuates action with pulsing, pounding electronic sounds and string instruments. If you are in a memory that begins to break down, strange things can happen. In one situation, I was shooting my way through enemies and a pop song played over the action because I was going in guns-blazing instead of the quiet and controlled manner that Ramsey advised, leading to the memory breaking down and glitching. The performances of the voice actors is also notable, as lines are delivered with believable conviction and emotion, especially in the case of Ramsey.
Get Even tells a devastating story that ends with a striking M. Night Shyamalan-like twist. Interestingly, it's the most crucial part of the entire story, and you see none of it. The visuals are left entirely to the imagination, which is unexpected and impactful. It is these kinds of powerful moments that emphasize Get Even's key strength--delivering a twisting narrative that is fascinating enough to make up for its lackluster gameplay elements.
Game of Thrones Season 7 premieres in less than a month, and the latest trailer is here. It's aptly titled "Winter is Here", and begin with a variety of moody, snowbound shots, before showing most of the main cast and exploding into some epic-looking battle sequences. Check it out above.
Game of Thrones Season 7 premieres on Sunday, July 16. Although Season 8 will be the final one, there are already multiple scripts for prequels in the works. Last month, author George R.R. Martin revealed that there are five potential spinoffs being developed by HBO. However, HBO boss Casey Bloys subsequently clarified this statement, and explained that fans shouldn't expect several new shows.
"I want to put the prequels in context. I wanted to make sure fans know this is a really embryonic process," he told EW. "I haven't even seen outlines. In the press at large, everybody said, 'There are four spinoffs,' and they assume that means each one is happening and we're going to have a new Game Of Thrones show per quarter. That's not what's going on.
"The idea is not to do four shows. The bar set by [showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss] is so high that my hope is to get one show that lives up to it. Also, this is a long-term plan. Our No. 1 goal is the seventh season this summer and getting the eighth season written and aired."
The latest game in the Fire Pro Wrestling series, Fire Pro Wrestling World, is on its way to PC, and it launches in a matter of weeks. The Steam Early Access version of the game debuts on July 10, Spike Chunsoft announced on Twitter today.
That falls a bit outside of the Q2 window the developer had previously provided, but given the wait--the most recent game came to Xbox 360 in 2012--a couple of extra weeks seems insignificant. It will cost $20, which is a discount on the (still undecided) post-Early Access price.
This in-development version of World is "fully playable with online matchmaking and basic editing tools to create custom wrestlers/belts/referees/rings/logos." It does not yet have a full suite of modes and match options, and more editing tools will be added for the full release. Spike says the Early Access period is expected to last for a "few months, depending on the scope of feedback."
When it was first announced earlier this year, it was believed that Killer7 and No More Heroes designer Goichi "Suda51" Suda, who got his start working on the series, was involved. In fact, he is not working on the game and only participated in the announcement video.
A list of confirmed game modes can be seen in this post on Steam. So far, these include cage matches, Battle Royale, and Landmine Deathmatch (where landmines are littered around the ring), among others.
By Anonymous on Jun 21, 2017 09:30 pm We got a chance to play Battlefield 1's Name of the Tsar DLC while at E3 2017, check out this gameplay to get a look at what you can expect from it.
Sega is bringing a catalog of its classic games to mobile devices via a new service called Sega Forever. The service will encompass titles from every era of Sega consoles, including Master System, Genesis, Game Gear, Sega Saturn, and Dreamcast.
Each game available through Sega Forever will be free to download and features in-game ads. Like the recent mobile release of Crazy Taxi, however, players have the option to remove the ads via a $2 in-app purchase per game. Every title will also support new features such as leaderboards, cloud saves, offline play, and controller support.
The first batch of Sega Forever titles goes live worldwide tomorrow, June 22, and consists of the following five Genesis classics:
The service will be updated with additional titles every two weeks, according to a press release. Each Sega Forever game will be available to download individually on Android and iOS devices from the Google Play and App stores.
By Anonymous on Jun 21, 2017 09:00 pm It's fair to compare to Dauntless to Monster Hunter: there are plenty of weapons to choose from and a horde of behemoths to take down.
Sega has released a new video for Total War: Warhammer 2, offering an in-depth look at the shimmering isle of Ulthuan and the Lustrian jungle, where players will battle as part of the campaign. The video provides a fly-over tour of different features of the map and an overview of the various gameplay opportunities available within it.
The major landmark in Ulthuan is the great vortex at its center, which was forged by the high elves of old to siphon the winds of magic. This vortex will no doubt become a focal point of battles, but players will first need to overcome the perilous seas and shores to reach it.
Of course, there's also plenty of opportunity to meddle in political affairs, strong arm other races, and generally manipulate the enemies to swing events in your own favour. Watch the video above to get a good look at the map.
Total War: Warhammer 2 introduces four new playable races: High Elves, Dark Elves, Lizardmen, and a fourth one still to be announced. It also takes players to "mystery-shrouded continents far to the west of The Old World," spanning Ulthuan, Naggaroth, The Southlands, and Lustria.
Publisher Sega and developer Creative Assembly claim Total War: Warhammer 2 features a "new style of narrative campaign." Each of the four races is competing to either save or destroy the Great Vortex over Ulthuan, and you'll have to rush to do so before anyone else can. This "struggle culminat[es] in a cataclysmic endgame."
The new campaign is said to offer hundreds of hours of gameplay. Total War: Warhammer 2 launches on September 28. If you own both this game and its predecessor, a free update coming "shortly" after launch will merge Warhammer 2's map with the map from the first game to provide a combined campaign map that consists of the regions from both games. This will let you play through campaigns with any playable race you own.
Network issues plaguing Final Fantasy XIV as Stormblood expansion launches.
(Produced in partnership with Lenovo) Chastity sits down to talk to Jeff Palumbo and talks about Lenovo Legion, E3, and why this is a great time to be a PC gamer!
Retro Jason is now available on PC and PS4, but Xbox One users will have to wait.
Game of Thrones Season 7 will soon be with us, but what will it bring?
We got a chance to play Battlefield 1's Name of the Tsar DLC while at E3 2017, check out this gameplay to get a look at what you can expect from it.
It's fair to compare to Dauntless to Monster Hunter: there are plenty of weapons to choose from and a horde of behemoths to take down.
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