By Anonymous on Jan 04, 2019 11:48 pm It's the first GameSpot Community Friday of the year, and Jean-Luc and Ben are back checking out the new progression system for Quake Champions. Follow "seipkejl" in-game to play with us.
EA has announced that Count Dooku, aka Darth Tyranus, will become a playable Hero character in Star Wars Battlefront 2 this January. The Sith lord's arrival will precede a Battle Point Event, which should help more players have a chance to try him provided they play Galactic Assault on Prequel Era maps.
Count Dooku will be added to Battlefront 2 on January 23. That same day, the Hero character will also receive a second cosmetic appearance, titled Dark Ritual, and the Republic Clone Army will get a new skin called Coruscant Guard. Neither cosmetic has been revealed yet, but given EA's recent decision to incorporate more elements of Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series into Battlefront 2, it stands to reason that we can probably look to the show for clues.
Dark Ritual probably refers to the outfit Count Dooku wears in The Clone Wars Season 6, Episode 13 "Sacrifice" when he and Darth Sidious perform a Sith sorcery spell, called dark illusion, on Yoda. In terms of the Coruscant Guard, the show devotes several episodes to events that transpire on the city planet--most notably the trial of Ahsoka Tano arc in the fifth season--where we see clone troopers in red colored armor. The show refers to this specific clone army as the Coruscant Guard, making them the most likely candidate for the upcoming Battlefront 2 skins.
The Battle Point Event starts on January 25 and continues to the 27. This event is focused on Eras, so you'll only be able to play as Hero characters that belong to the era of the multiplayer map you're playing on. However, the Hero fighters you can play as will receive a 50% Battle Point discount.
Most of Battlefront 2's updates over the past year have been Clone Wars focused in some respect. Both Grievous and Obi-Wan have been added as playable Hero characters, with both Count Dooku and Anakin scheduled for the near future. To capture the tone of The Clone Wars series, EA secured Matthew Wood, James Arnold Taylor, Corey Burton, and Matt Lanter to record in-game lines for each of the characters they portrayed on the show. Geonosis was also added as a multiplayer map, a Prequel Era playlist was implemented into matchmaking, and new Republic Army cosmetic skins--such as Yoda's 41st Elite Corps and Windu's 91st Mobile Reconnaissance Corps--have been routinely included in updates.
Star Wars: Battlefront 2 is available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC. The Clone Wars animated series is returning with a surprise seventh season that sees Anakin and Obi-Wan once again teaming up with Ahsoka Tano to aid in the Siege of Mandalore.
This marks the beginning of the end of Vikings. The History original series, which first premiered in 2013, will end after its sixth season. Vikings is currently in the second half of its fifth season, which returned on November 28.
The news was first reported by Deadline and has been confirmed by GameSpot. The final season of the Michael Hirst created historical drama will debut later in 2019, though production has already come to an end.
It's not all bad news, though. In addition to the remaining Season 5 episodes and all of the installments of Season 6 still to come, a potential spin-off is in the works. According to Deadline, the new series would be co-created by Hirst and Jeb Stuart, who was one of the screenwriters on 1988's Die Hard. It's unclear how the new series would follow the Vikings story.
Of the original Vikings cast of regulars, only three actors remain on the series: Katheryn Winnick (Lagertha) and Gustaf Skarsgård (Floki) are still regulars, while Clive Standen returned in Season 5 in a recurring role as Rollo. Travis Fimmel, who led the series' first four seasons as King Ragnar, saw his character killed off in Season 4 as Vikings shifted to follow the story of his sons. It's entirely possible the proposed spin-off could follow one or more of them.
Earlier this week, Slightly Mad Studios CEO Ian Bell announced his company was developing the Mad Box, a new standalone video game console to rival the PlayStation and Xbox. Bell has now revealed a few more details about the mysterious platform, including how an early version of it looks.
The first images of the Mad Box were shared on Bell's official Twitter account, which you can see below. The console resembles a PC, with an M-shaped tower and the Slightly Mad Studios logo etched into one side. The system's internal components have been blurred out in the images, however, as Bell says the team is "still in discussions" regarding that. He also notes this is "not the final design."
According to Bell, the Mad Box is very light and features a deployable carry handle on the top so you can easily transport it. He also says the system "will talk to other Mad Boxes without cables," although he didn't elaborate any further on that.
Bell claims the Mad Box is "the most powerful console ever built," featuring specs that "will be equivalent to a very fast PC two years from now." Speaking with Variety, he said the system "will support most major VR headsets" and allow up to 90 frames-per-second "per eye" for virtual reality play. He also says the system will offer 4K visuals.
Pricing and release details for the Mad Box have yet to be announced, but Bell says the system will ship around the world in about three years and be "competitive with upcoming console prices."
Warner Bros. is bringing back two classic Hitman games in one package, with some new bells and whistles to take advantage of this console generation. The Hitman HD Enhanced Collection will bring back Hitman Blood Money and Hitman Absolution for $60. It will be available for PS4 and Xbox One, and Warner boasts the games will be 4K resolution and run at 60 FPS. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the Collection is how close it is: it's coming next week, on January 11.
Along with the improved resolution and framerate, WB promises that the updated games will include increased texture resolution, upgraded texture formats, super-sampling, upscale support, better shadow map and mirror resolutions, better lighting, and updated controls.
Blood Money from 2006 takes Agent 47 around the globe, with iconic locations ranging from Chile to the Paris Opera House to the White House. Absolution told a more personal story about Agent 47 dealing with his own bloody history. These were the last two core Hitman games released until IO Interactive took a new approach with the episodic soft-reboot game in 2016, simply called Hitman.
"We're very happy with this collection and how we were able to update and remaster two of our classic Hitman titles for modern consoles," said Hakan Abrak, CEO, IO Interactive. "Hitman: Blood Money and Hitman: Absolution have helped us on our journey to where we are today, and we're looking forward to players enjoying them in 4K and 60 FPS."
Most recently IO released Hitman 2, which ditched the episodic format but kept some of the previous game's live features intact, such as rotating one-chance targets. It earned a spot among our best games of 2018.
One of the less-frequently touted perks of being an Amazon Prime member is that you get a free subscription to Twitch Prime for no extra charge. Amazon owns the streaming company and presumably wants to create synergy between the two brands. All Prime members have to do is link their accounts to take advantage the perks Twitch Prime get each month. As it turns out, those perks are valuable: in 2018, Twitch Prime members received over $3,000 worth of free PC games and digital items.
Right now, Twitch Prime members can grab January's free games and loot on the company's giveaway page. This month's games include the action game Hyper Light Drifter, the cyber-detective game Orwell, and the Devolver Digital Holiday Pack. The latter contains highly acclaimed titles like The Messenger and both Hotline Miami games.
To access your free Twitch Prime games, you'll need to download the Twitch desktop app for Windows. Open the app, and you'll find all the titles you've claimed in the "My Games" section, where you can install and launch them.
Another bonus for Prime members is a free Twitch channel subscription each month. Normally $5, a subscription helps financially support your favorite streamers. That's in addition to the standard set of Amazon Prime perks, like free two-day shipping on many items, access to Amazon Prime Video, and more. You can learn more about Amazon Prime here.
With 2018 behind us we've got a whole new year of games and gaming news to look forward to. There are a lot of upcoming games we're already excited about--check them out in our Most Anticipated Games of 2019 hub--but we all know that platform holders and publishers alike love to keep surprises close to their chest. It's the reason why shows like E3 are so exciting, after all.
Though we work in a corner of the video game industry, GameSpot rarely finds out about the biggest announcements ahead of time. So, just like you, we're left wondering "what if?"
As we've done every year in the recent past, we put our heads together and came up with a handful of predictions that we believe are most likely to occur in the new year. Sometimes our hunches are on the money, and other times we're admittedly way off the mark. Only time will tell how our best guesses will pan out in 2019.
Microsoft Will Release A Disc-Free Xbox One | Eddie Makuch
The video game industry--like the music, TV, and film businesses before it--is moving away from physical media. Digital sales of games are increasing at every major publisher. When I think about my own buying habits, I recognise I'm skewing towards downloadable purchases and away from physical games. No doubt discs and even carts for portable systems will remain in the market and continue to be popular, but it is clear video games are increasingly becoming more of a digital-first business.
Microsoft knows this, and I believe the company will release a disc-free Xbox One in 2019.
There are already rumours that say this is true, and it could be an attractive package. Without a disc drive, the console would presumably cost less, weigh less, and use less energy.
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has spoken often about providing players with choice when it comes to everything Xbox. Already, you can buy into the Xbox One ecosystem with the lower-price Xbox One S or the mega-powerful Xbox One X. A disc-free Xbox would be yet another welcome option. The company will absolutely continue to offer Xbox consoles with disc drives (there are too many markets in the world that require it), but for those who are ready to more fully embrace the digital revolution, a disc-free Xbox One sounds like good news.
A Crash Bash Remaster Will Be Announced | Oscar Dayus
May as well cash in while you can, right? We're living in the Age of Nostalgia--where Sony can put a seemingly random collection of games on a flash drive with an emulator and call it a PlayStation Classic--so of course Activision could do another '90s mascot remaster while everyone is still caught up in the Crash Bandicoot hype. We've of course already had the N. Sane Trilogy, which still charts highly even over a year after its initial release, while the Spyro Reignited Trilogy appears to be performing well too. Furthermore, a remake of Crash Team Racing, subtitled Nitro-Fueled, was announced at the Game Awards this year and will launch on June 21, 2019. After this, what next? While no further remasters have been announced, one for Crash Bash makes perfect sense.
Eurocom's take on a Crash Bandicoot party game was an unappreciated gem that still holds up today. Many fans remember it with a similar level of affection as they do the original Crash or Spyro trilogies. This means the game is ripe for a remaster: fans will likely fall back in love with their multitap-laden memories and Activision will likely make dollar after dollar from that sweet, sweet nostalgia. Make it happen @bobbykotick.
Sony Offers Combined PlayStation Plus And PlayStation Now Service | Chris Pereira
The introduction of Xbox Game Pass has been one of Microsoft's best moves of the generation. Sony already has a somewhat equivalent (but I'd argue inferior) service in PlayStation Now, and I think 2019 will see it try to expand the reach of Now.
One of Game Pass's biggest advantages was the ability to download games, rather than stream them, as was the case with PS Now. Sony has addressed that, but it still doesn't release its new first-party games right away on Now, as Microsoft does with Game Pass. While I find that unlikely to happen on PS4 in the near future, Sony could still try to make it more appealing by leveraging the audience it has with PS Plus.
We already know that PS3 and Vita games will no longer be offered through Plus beginning in early 2019. Taking something away and offering nothing to replace it is a bad look, so why not try spinning this into a positive by introducing some form of limited access to PS Now for Plus subscribers? I'm not expecting Now--which Sony charges $10 per month for--to be included in its entirety with Plus, but it would be smart to have a limited version that could lure in more customers. That could even be combined with a new, premium subscription that offers full access to both Plus and Now--PS Plus+, perhaps?
Mother 3 Will Get An English Release on Switch | Matt Espineli
My old boss, Justin Haywald, always wished for Mother 3 to get a western release--so much so, that he wrote about it threeyears in a row. However, he has since left the company to pursue the adventure of fatherhood. While I admit I don't have a personal stake in this, it doesn't feel right not to include a mention of Mother 3 in our 2019 predictions. After all, there are countless fans out there who still want this just as much as Justin does.
Admittedly, the biggest question in this discussion now is how Nintendo could release Mother 3 in 2019. We've learned since last year that the company is replacing the Virtual Console with its online service, which currently seems more focused on the NES library. My guess would be that Nintendo might expand the legacy games you'll see in its online service in 2019, possibly starting with SNES and N64, but then moving into Game Boy territory by the end of the year--a perfect opportunity to unveil Mother 3 to western audiences.
This would be a fantastic way to make it happen, but I think we can all agree that for a highly-requested game like Mother 3, a standalone release would be the true crowd pleaser. Heck, Nintendo could do us one even better by making a Mario & Luigi-style remake on Switch (Not on 3DS, please)--possibly with new gameplay features, bonus commentary, and a physical version that includes a handwritten apology letter for taking so long.
Regardless, Nintendo is certainly paying attention to the possibility of a western release of Mother 3, seeing as Reggie Fils-Aime has repeatedly proclaimed his awareness of the matter. Of course, I'd be remiss not to point out once again that much of the heavy lifting in translating Mother 3 has been handled by an unofficial patch, which I'm told is excellent.
With each year that passes, a western release of Mother 3 seems all the more attainable, so please, Nintendo, make it happen in 2019. Not for me, but for all the Justins out there who have been desperately wanting this for over a decade now.
Nintendo Will Announce A Metroid Fusion Remake For 3DS | Jordan Ramee
Metroid: Samus Returns is a phenomenal remake of 1991's Metroid II: Return of Samus. The 2017 3DS game takes the core concept of one of Metroid's weakest titles and enhances it in almost every way. Simply imagining the possibility of Metroid Fusion, my favorite game in the franchise, receiving the same treatment gets me more excited than I can possibly express.
All the signs for a remake are there already. Samus Returns' post-credits scene includes an X parasite-infected Hornoad, the very first enemy seen in Fusion. Also, depending on your completion rate for Samus Returns, you can unlock the history of the Chozo, X parasites, and Metroids, which is the entire set-up for Fusion. Nintendo has to be hinting at a Fusion remake. It's either that or the company somehow knows how much I want this and is purposely teasing me.
I'd be perfectly fine with a Fusion remake on Switch instead of 3DS. That said, how cool would it be to see Metroid Prime 4 on Switch and a Fusion remake on 3DS release on the same day, just like the original Prime and Fusion did back in the day? It's too perfect a nod for Nintendo to pass up, and I can't imagine the company would. Plus, it would give players like me a reason to pick up a 3DS again, which--aside for playing Samus Returns and Style Savvy: Styling Star--I tucked away with the release of Switch.
Fusion remains the only game in the mainline 2D series that isn't readily available on 3DS, as it's only playable for those in the Ambassador Program. C'mon Nintendo, give the people--namely me--what they want and announce a remake in 2019.
Red Dead Online Will Make, Like, All the Money | Nick Sherman
Much like Valve has shifted their focus away from games with the success of Steam, or Epic halting development on Paragon after Fortnite took off, Rockstar found themselves in a very similar situation when they released GTA Online after GTA V in 2013. The immense success of not only how much time players were spending back in Los Santos, but how much money they were spending on "Shark Cards" (its in-game currency) led Rockstar to cancel two planned GTA V single-player DLC releases. In their place: a steady stream of cheaper content drops for the online component that to this day, has yet to run dry.
In addition to profiting off of GTA Online's "games as a service" design (which was relatively new for consoles at the time), they re-released GTA V on PC and next-gen consoles. With a first-person mode and slightly better graphics, they not only welcomed back an entirely new audience into San Andreas (and also, it's economy), but brought back those who had purchased it on PS3 and Xbox 360 for another round.
I wouldn't be surprised if Rockstar follows the exact same distribution plan for Red Dead Redemption II. Why wouldn't they?
Kingdom Hearts III Will Be Good, Not Great | Nick Sherman
Kingdom Hearts III has a lot of things going for it leading into its January release. Square Enix has put out some flashy, dramatic trailers, and the game looks gorgeous. I'm excited to ride the wave of tears that will be streaming from my face from all the nostalgia induced by teaming up with Buzz Lightyear. That said, I'm hesitant that at this point, 13 years after Kingdom Hearts II, it won't be able to tap into what made us fall in love with the series in the first place due to how disjointed its storytelling has become.
When I think of what makes Kingdom Hearts Kingdom Hearts, I don't think of the Keyblade war, dream-eaters, or Sea-Salt Ice Cream, I think of floating away from Kairi after defeating Ansem (and don't even get me started on who that actually is) or reuniting with Riku in The World That Never Was. At its heart (heh), Kingdom Hearts was a story about three friends doing everything they could to reunite.
I fully anticipate we'll have those moments in Kingdom Hearts III, but I'm worried they'll be clouded by everything else going on—all the loose ends we'll have to tie up from 13 years of spin-offs that as much as I may have enjoyed some of them, have made the story needlessly complicated and melodramatic. I was a bit more forgiving of that when I was playing the series for the first time as a teenager, but myself, and gaming as a whole, have grown up. I'm worried that Kingdom Hearts, in its sometimes floundering meandering, never got around to it.
Sony Comes Back With PSX, Officially Announces PS5 Development | Michael Higham
Another generation of consoles is almost certain; the more enticing mystery is when they'll launch and what new features they'll offer. Microsoft has already confirmed that it's working on the next Xbox, but haven't given any details as to what exactly it is. So now we're looking at Sony to say something about what's in store for the next PlayStation console.
Timing is everything as it lays the groundwork for how and when development teams build their next games, but it can also inform expectations for consumers over the next couple of years. It's been five years since the launch of the PlayStation 4 and while it shows no sign of slowing down, it's only a matter of time before we get details on the PlayStation 5. Comments earlier this year from Sony's head of PlayStation John Kodera have also suggested that new hardware may land sometime in 2021.
Considering the fact that Sony did not hold a PSX event in 2018 and has pulled out of E3 2019, it's not out of the realm of possibility that the company is saving its efforts for a much bigger showcase in the second half of 2019. I predict that PSX will come back, and Sony will take advantage of the spotlight to show off the next wave of PS4 exclusives with an official PS5 announcement as the headliner to top it all off.
BioWare Will Announce A Mass Effect...Something | Phil Hornshaw
The last few years have been a bit rough on the Mass Effect franchise. First there was the controversial ending to the original Mass Effect trilogy, which brought an unsatisfying conclusion to a series beloved for its story, characters, and reaction to player choices. Next there was Mass Effect: Andromeda, a game that tried to expand the franchise in new directions but which was marred by plodding gameplay, a weak story, and goofy technical gaffes. The response to Andromeda was so rough that even though the game included story hooks for DLC expansions--something pretty widespread in the trilogy--none have been released. It feels like BioWare has hung up Mass Effect for good.
Or at least, it did until this year. On November 7, known among Mass Effect fans as N7 Day, BioWare boss Casey Hudson gave some cryptic remarks that suggested there could be more Mass Effect on the horizon. It would make sense; despite its missteps, the Mass Effect franchise was a strong success, with lots of spin-offs in comics, novels, and even mobile games. But EA has shelved franchises for less (pour one out for Dead Space).
Hudson's words (and intense, prolonged eye contact with the camera) are enough to bring back some hope for the Mass Effect franchise, and with Anthem coming out in early 2019, BioWare might be banking on some renewed goodwill from fans. That'd make the coming year a good time to announce a revival of Mass Effect. Maybe that's a remastered version of the original trilogy in one giant package, as we predicted last year, or maybe it's a new offering in the franchise. Either way, it'd be a good time for BioWare to try to renew some faith in its beloved sci-fi series.
Bethesda Will Relaunch Fallout 76 | Alessandro Fillari
To say that Fallout 76 had a particularly rough launch would be putting it mildly. What should have been a bold step forward for the post-apocalyptic RPG series turned out to be a misfire, due in part to several poor design choices and debilitating technical issues. As the first online-only Fallout, 76 left many players feeling a bit burned--myself included. Though the game isn't in the best shape at the moment, I predict Bethesda will take a long hard look at Fallout 76 for a much needed relaunch later in 2019.
A fresh start can sometimes be for the best. With other successful revamps including Final Fantasy XIV and No Man's Sky: Next, both of which were in dire straits, Fallout 76 is by no means a lost cause. Despite the reception and the poor state it's in, the developers have been cranking away with updates and hotfixes. Though it has many faults to be sure, it still offers a lot of content for players to dive into, highlighting some of the best moments of exploration and discovery that the series is known for. As Bethesda VP of Marketing Pete Hines stated in an interview before release, the developers aim to keep Fallout 76 going for the long term.
Since the core team behind the franchise is knee-deep in their new IP Starfield, Fallout 76--developed by Bethesda Game Studios Austin--will be the Fallout game for the foreseeable future. As with the game-changing update for No Man's Sky, a relaunch for 76 can offer a number of new innovations and revisions to the core gameplay, making it feel worthwhile for fans and newcomers alike. It was clear that Fallout 76 needed some more time to cook, but now that it's out in the wild, all the feedback from players can be used properly to make a better game. And if they're going to take the time and effort to whip it into shape, they may as well do it in grand fashion.
Nintendo Will Release Updated Switch Hardware | Kallie Plagge
I'm aware that this isn't the riskiest prediction, but hear me out. Earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal reported that Nintendo would release a new Switch model sometime in 2019. While nothing is set in stone, it's a safe enough bet. However, the WSJ report indicated that Nintendo was still deciding on the exact features to be included in the new model, so I'm here to predict what some of those features could be.
The most obvious one is better battery life. The Switch's battery isn't terrible, but if you prefer to play in handheld mode, you likely won't be able to play for more than a handful of hours without having to charge the console. With both Animal Crossing and Pokemon launching next year, being able to play in handheld mode for long stretches is a must.
But that's not all! The Switch could benefit from features that are commonplace in other consumer electronics: Bluetooth (it would be nice to be able to use my AirPods with the Switch), a larger screen capable of 1080p resolution, and perhaps even official Joy-Cons with proper D-pads on them. Also, Nintendo, if you're reading this: I will buy an Animal Crossing Switch bundle with any such upgrades included.
By Anonymous on Jan 04, 2019 09:30 pm It's the New Year and Arty wants to celebrate with his friends, but unfortunately, he has none! Will he be able to ring in the turn of the century with new acquaintances? Or will he be partying alone?
Diablo 3 has once again kicked off its limited-time event celebrating the anniversary of the original Diablo. The Darkening of Tristram event is running through the end of the month, and offers some exclusive rewards for plumbing the depths of its dungeons and taking down some tough bosses.
The event has you hunting down cultists until you find yourself in a familiar cathedral. The twist is that the event recreates the look and feel of old Diablo, with retro-style graphics and UI, classic bosses, and even limitations to your movement.
Completing challenges and taking down each of the four bosses will grant you banner elements, pets, transmog weapons, and special portraits. This is the first time the event is available to Switch owners, so if you picked it up on that platform you can earn yourself the rewards on the go.
This is the same event as in previous years, even down to including one pesky bug. Fans on the official blog and subreddit have complained that the Wirt's Leg bug has been left intact. That transmog weapon is supposed to appear as a Legendary, but the bug has left it appearing as a less valuable blue item.
Most recently, Blizzard took the stage at its annual BlizzCon event to announce Diablo Immortal, a mobile-only addition to the franchise. This led to no small degree of fan backlash, which may have even impacted Activision Blizzard's stock price. Our hands-on impressions of Diablo Immortal were fairly positive, while acknowledging a lot we don't know yet about it.
"Immortal has translated the core framework and mechanics down to mobile devices in an impressive way," wrote Alessandro Fillari. "While it certainly isn't Diablo 4, it's also clear that it's not trying to be. I don't see it as a true replacement for Diablo 3--the recent Switch version will keep me from doing that for sometime--but I can see myself playing this game during my usual downtime. I was surprisingly pleased with how Immortal played, and it'll be interesting to see how the game will pan out once it launches in 2019."
Anyone who likes shooters and wants a new or renewed PS Plus membership can get a nice discount this week. Between now and January 13, PS4 owners can get a good deal on a bundle containing the new-to-PS4 battle royale game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and a year's subscription to PlayStation Plus for just $70. That saves you $20 off the cost of the items if purchased separately. Not a bad deal!
PlayStation Plus grants users access to online multiplayer, free games each month, and exclusive discounts on the PlayStation Store. Your PS Plus subscription doesn't have to be up for renewal when you purchase the bundle, either. When you add it to your account, an additional 12 months will be tacked onto your subscription regardless of when it's due to expire.
PUBG is a battle royale game whose matches involve 100 players dropping onto a map, searching for weapons and armor, and battling it out in a shrinking play area until only one player or team is left alive. The game launched in early access on PC in March 2017 before getting a full release in December of that year. It has since come to Xbox One and mobile, with its PS4 version launching just last month on December 7.
In GameSpot's PUBG review, Michael Higham wrote, "Each phase of a match presents a different type of tension that is equal parts thrilling and terrifying, driven by the insatiable desire to be the last person (or squad) standing. Whether you play solo or in a group, successfully executing adaptive tactics to win intense, high-stakes firefights makes for an incredibly rewarding experience."
If you'd like to save $20 on PUBG and 12 months' worth of PS Plus, make sure you buy the bundle before the deal goes away on January 13.
Epic Games is giving away a free PC game every two weeks this year via its new Store, and the next of those free titles has now been revealed. What Remains of Edith Finch, one of 2017's best games, will be available free of charge from January 10 until January 25.
All you need to do is create an Epic account on its Store and claim the game within those dates. You'll then be able to play the game for free whenever you like, even after January 25. Currently, the free game on offer is Super Meat Boy, which is free until What Remains of Edith Finch takes over on January 10.
Edith Finch is a relatively short adventure game about a girl whose family have all suddenly died under mysterious circumstances. Playing from Edith's perspective, you explore the family home to discover more about the events leading to each person's death.
Our reviewer, Justin Clark, enjoyed the narrative-driven game immensely, awarding it a 9/10. "It's not often that a game's plot slips past the bitterness of grief to finally get to the acceptance, but that's the triumph in What Remains of Edith Finch," he wrote of the PS4 version in our What Remains of Edith Finch review. "Ultimately, if the game has any resemblance of a moral, it's that the bravest, most beautiful thing every one of us does is choose to keep going, despite knowing what's coming."
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has provided another indication that Catherine, Atlus' narrative-driven puzzle game, will be released on PC. The Catherine ESRB listing has been updated to include PC alongside PS3 and Xbox 360, the platforms on which the game was originally released back in 2011. The listing also has Xbox One included in the platforms section, suggesting it may also make its way to Microsoft's console at some point.
This follows a teaser that appeared on the Steam page for Bayonetta, another game published by Atlus' parent company Sega. The teaser was a picture of a sheep, an animal used in Catherine to represent male characters that aren't the protagonist, Vincent. These sheep are usually vying for the affection of Vincent's love interest, Catherine, by way of competing in block-pulling puzzles.
Catherine is set to be re-released on PS4 and PS Vita as Catherine: Full Body, an updated version of the game that will feature new content. Since it's the ESRB listing for the original version of Catherine that's been updated, it could be that the PC release will be the vanilla version of the game, should it materialize.
In GameSpot's Catherine review, Kevin VanOrd said the game is "mature and occasionally profound, exploring themes like sexual fidelity, personal responsibility, and trust. Catherine doesn't just challenge your hand/eye coordination: It challenges your intellect and your emotions."
Sony's big January PS4 game sale is still ongoing, and now the company has discounted even more titles. Big games like Assassin's Creed Origins, Far Cry 5, and Hitman 2 are going cheap in Europe in addition to the titles that were already discounted.
These deals are in addition to a plethora of discounts that went live in December. Those included such promotions as Battlefield V for £30, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 for £36, and God of War's deluxe edition for £25. The whole sale runs until January 18; for the full list of games on offer, head over to the PlayStation Store.
The upcoming sequel to 2017's popular Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle may see its cast grow and include the rapper-turned-actress Awkwafina. According to Variety, Awkwafina, whose real name is Nora Lum, is in talks to appear in the sequel.
Awkwafina had a big year in 2018, having appeared in popular movies like Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean's 8.
All the major stars of the 2017 Jumanji movie--Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan--are all expected to come back for the sequel. What's more, director Jake Kasdan, who is the son of legendary Star Wars writer Lawrence Kasdan, is returning as well.
Plot details are under wraps for the Jumanji sequel, but The Rock teased that Kasdan gave a "dynamite pitch" for the plot. The film hits theatres in December 2019.
The Rock and Kasdan are also working together on a new Netflix movie called John Henry and the Statesman.
Actor Will Poulter, who played the star video game designer on the buzzy choose-your-own-adventure Black Mirror episode, Bandersnatch, has announced he's reconsidering how he uses social media in the wake of his "recent experiences." He said he's taking a "step back" from Twitter to focus on his mental health.
In a statement released on Twitter, Poulter said he thanked everyone for watching Bandersnatch, and added that he accepts "all criticisms." He's stepping away from social media due to his "recent experiences." Though Poulter didn't mention any specific experience, he may be referring to the reaction on social media to his character, a game designer named Colin Ritman who has some interesting ideas about the way the world works and conspiracy theories.
"In light of my recent experiences I am choosing to take a step back, of sorts, from Twitter. Before I do, I'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to everybody who has watched Bandersnatch and for their responses (whatever they may be) to the material we created. I accept all criticisms and it's been a delight to learn that so many of you enjoyed what many people worked very hard to produce," he said.
The statement continues: "As we all know there is a balance to be struck in our engagements with social media. There are positives to enjoy and inevitable negatives that are best avoided. It's a balance I have struggled with for a while now and in the interest of my mental health I feel the time has come to change my relationship with social media."
Poulter said he'll continue to use social media to advocate for the various charitable organisations he works with for things like anti-bullying, but apart from that, it appears the actor is done with social media for now.
"I don't want to appear unappreciative of all the amazing support I have received online for which I am genuinely so grateful, nor do I want my disengagement with social media to be at the expense of any of the organisations I am lucky to work with," he said. "I am privileged to have this platform. I hope that this shift to reduce my personal expression and increase the focus on issues that matter will result in a better outcome for everyone. This is not the end. Consider it an alternative path."
Poulter's first major role was in Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 2010. He's since gone on to appear in the Oscar-winning movie The Revenant, along with The Maze Runner and Kathryn Bigelow's Detroit.
In other news about Bandersnatch, Netflix has released a pair of neat behind-the-scenes features in which writer Charlie Brooker, some of the actors, and other creatives talk about how they made the unique episode that lets you choose how events play out.
As you can clearly tell, Bandersnatch was no small endeavour. It required a lot of work, and the extended production time led to a delay for Black Mirror Season 5.
Recent Articles:
You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment