There's no denying that Death Stranding looks like Hideo Kojima's typical brand of perplexing. While it has elements of modern game design, it doesn't seem to fit into any one specific genre. Kojima says he has invented something new with this one.
The Japanese auteur took to Twitter to breakdown exactly what he's doing. Death Stranding is an action game, as evidenced by the release date trailer above, but Kojima says the game is creating a hybrid of something entirely new. He calls Death Stranding an "action game/strand game(social strand system)," a project that's not quite a stealth game but not quite a first-person shooter either.
As I'm getting similar questions so I shall re-post. DS is not a stealth game. Could move subjectively but not a FPS shooting game either. By incorporating with the concept of connection(strand), it's totally brand new genre called action game/strand game(social strand system). pic.twitter.com/1KaQUVH9zL
There are elements of both featured in Death Stranding, with protagonist Sam Porter Bridges (portrayed by The Walking Dead actor Norman Reedus) shooting and stealthing his way through the dilapidated world Kojima has conjured up, but Kojima seems more interested in the "strand" part of Death Stranding. He says the game is "incorporating the concept of connection(strand)" to create a "totally brand new genre."
Genre creation isn't new for the prolific developer. With the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, Kojima coined the term transfarring, a portmanteau of transfer and sharing in which a save file could be moved between the PSP, PS Vita, PS3, or PS4, allowing for seamless, continuous play. The Tactical Espionage Action of the Metal Gear franchise also falls into Kojima's genre-blending/creation ethos.
Kojima managed to get some big name actors to appear in Death Stranding. Along with longtime collaborators Guillermo del Toro and Norman Reedus, Death Stranding will star Lea Seydoux (The Lobster, Spectre), Lindsay Wagner (Grey's Anatomy, The Bionic Woman), Mads Mikkelsen (Doctor Strange, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Margaret Qualley (Death Note, The Leftovers), director Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, Valhalla Rising), Tommie Earl Jenkins (The Bourne Identity, Gambit), and Troy Baker (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, The Last of Us).
Death Stranding will connect on PS4 on November 8.
Microsoft is preparing for its E3 2019 presentation, and has promised to "go big" for Xbox this year. The company has added another intriguing teaser to the mix, although it's so open-ended it could mean just about anything.
In a tweet from the official Xbox account, the company said "We invited something new to #XboxE3 this year." Of course E3 presentations are often full of new announcements, but this one was conspicuous. This something seems bigger than most E3 surprises, and the mention of an invitation could imply it is bringing in something from outside its own company.
Altogether, this could be anything ranging from a surprising partnership to new hardware or services. We'll have to watch the Xbox E3 press conference to be sure. That will begin on June 9 at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET / 9 PM BST (6 AM AET on June 10). Be sure to check our full press conference schedule for more dates and times.
The brief 20-second trailer doesn't give away much of anything, but we do know this is a remake of a cult classic platformer originally released back in October of 2003. Purple Lamp Studios--who previously developed The Guild 3--is handling development, and the game's official description has revealed there will be an all-new multiplayer mode beyond the single-player hijinks of SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy.
The announcement goes on to say, "The cult classic is back, faithfully remade in spongetastic splendor! Play as SpongeBob, Patrick and Sandy and show the evil Plankton that crime pays even less than Mr. Krabs. Want to save Bikini Bottom from lots of rampant robots? Of course you do! Want to underpants bungee jump? Why wouldn't you! Want to join forces in a brand new multiplayer mode? The battle is on!"
This is the first of three new game announcements THQ Nordic has promised for this week. The second will be unveiled June 6 at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET / 7 PM BST, while the third will arrive on June 7 at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET / 7 PM BST.
Rumours have been swirling after an e-mail sent to press regarding E3 appointments gave away some scarce details that point to the possibility of new games in the Destroy All Humans and Darksiders franchises. An E3 panel certainly seems to point to the latter, with Darksiders: Action Adventure Evolved set to discuss "the inception of the Darksiders universe and where it's headed next."
We learned a wealth of new details about Pokemon Sword and Shield during the latest Pokemon Direct broadcast, from the games' release date to their new Dynamax mechanic and more. One topic the presentation didn't touch on was your Pokedex, but we've now gotten our first details about that as well thanks to the official Pokemon Sword and Shield website.
Just as in Pokemon Sun and Moon, your Pokedex in Sword and Shield contains a Rotom, a Ghost/Electric Pokemon that is capable of inhabiting electronics. However, rather than being its own dedicated device, it appears your Pokedex this time will be part of your character's smartphone, which is fittingly dubbed the Rotom Phone. You can see how it looks below.
Interestingly, it appears the Rotom Phone has more functions than simply logging the Pokemon you encounter. According to the website, you'll also be able to attach it to your bicycle, which will allow you to move faster and even cross water. During the games' latest trailer, we can briefly see the player character pedaling across a lake using a water bike. It wasn't clear if that bike was a separate item you needed to acquire or if it worked similarly to Sun/Moon's Poke Ride feature, but the website makes it seem it's a form your regular bicycle can take thanks to the Rotom Phone.
If that's indeed the case, then it appears the Rotom Phone will effectively replace HMs, the special moves you needed to teach Pokemon in the past to navigate the region. Recent titles have been doing away with HMs, and it appears Sword and Shield will be continuing that trend. One of the new Gen 8 Pokemon, Corviknight, acts as a sort of taxi service and can ferry players back to towns they've previously visiting, much like the old Fly HM did.
The June 5 Pokemon Direct showed off a new trailer and more details for Pokemon Sword and Shield. One of those new details was a bit unclear; the trailer and subsequent clips showed Pokemon roaming the overworld, similar to Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee, but we also saw a random-style encounter in the tall grass. So are there random encounters or not?
From what we can tell so far, it seems like random encounters are mostly, if not totally, gone. The Direct showed a variety of Pokemon roaming the overworld, much like in the Let's Go games. You encounter these wild Pokemon in something called the Wild Area, which refers to the expanse of nature between cities; in the Wild Area, you'll encounter different Pokemon based on your specific location and the weather. You initiate battles with these Pokemon by running into them, though some will chase you down once they spot you.
The Direct also showed a more typical wild Pokemon encounter in the tall grass. As it turns out, you have some control over these encounters as well. A small exclamation point will appear in the grass, indicating that a Pokemon is there, and then you can initiate the battle by running into it--just like with the Pokemon that physically appear in the overworld. It's unclear if there are any occasions where Pokemon will attack you totally at random and as a surprise, but it seems like that's unlikely. We've reached out for clarification and will update this story once we hear more.
For more news from the Pokemon Direct, see our explanation of the new Dynamax mechanic and all the new Galar Pokemon. Pokemon Sword and Shield are set to release on November 15; you can learn more about that in our pre-order guide.
Nintendo's latest Pokemon Direct revealed a bunch of new details for the upcoming Pokemon Sword / Shield. Among the two games' new features, one of the more notable additions is Dynamax evolutions, which up the scale of Pokemon battles to gigantic sizes.
Similarly to Mega Evolutions and Z-Moves, Dynamax Evolutions are temporary moves you can activate in battle. Doing so grows your Pokemon to giant sizes and boosts their overall power, transforming all their moves into Max Moves. "Max Moves are powerful, and some can even trigger additional effects," Nintendo wrote in a press release. "For example, the Normal-type Max Move, Max Strike, has the additional effect of lowering the Speed stat of an opponent it hits. The Max Moves the player's Pokemon can use are determined by the kind and types of moves they knew before Dynamaxing."
Much like Mega Evolutions, Dynamax Evolutions can only be activated once per battle. The transformation only lasts for three turns as well so you'll need to be strategic in deciding when to activate it. You're not the only one who can tap into Dynamax's power either. Gym Leaders will use the transformation on their strongest Pokemon, adding a challenging new hurdle to defeating them in battle. You can also encounter Dynamax Pokemon in Sword / Shield's new Wild Area--a location where you encounter wild Pokemon in the open world, much like in Pokemon, Let's Go! Pikachu / Eevee.
To battle against these giant wild Pokemon, you and up to three other players (or NPC-controlled trainers) join forces. These new types of battles are called Max Raid Battles, and they'll see your team of trainers take on a Dynamax Pokemon in a challenging fight that will require coordination. Only one of the trainers in your group will be able to Dynamax Evolve their Pokemon to match the wild giant Pokemon, so you'll have to choose wisely. These wild Dynamax Pokemon vary by area and weather, so you'll have to explore the entire region to beat and catch 'em all.
In case you missed the Nintendo Pokemon Direct, we've compiled all the information in a series of articles, which you can find listed below. Pokemon Sword / Shield is scheduled to release for Nintendo Switch on November 15.
As promised, The Pokemon Company shared a ton of new details about Pokemon Sword and Shield during the latest Pokemon Direct broadcast. On top of confirming the games' release date, we got a look at some of the new characters players will encounter on their journey, as well as a handful of new Gen 8 Pokemon you'll be able to catch.
First is the Grass-type Gossifleur, whose pollen has healing properties. Gossifleur is able to evolve into Eldegoss, the Cotton Bloom Pokemon. We also got a look at Wooloo, an adorable sheep Pokemon covered in fluffy wool, as well as the vicious snapping turtle-like Drednaw. Finally, The Pokemon Company revealed Corviknight, the raven Pokemon. Interestingly, Corviknight will be able to taxi players back to any town they have previously visited, much like the Fly HM of old.
Those aren't the only new Pokemon we got a look at. The Pokemon Company also revealed Sword and Shield's Legendary Pokemon, the wolf-like Zamazenta and Zacian. Few details about the Legendaries were revealed, but the former is covered in armor that resembles a shield, while the latter wields a sword in its maw. In their reveal trailer, the Legendaries could be briefly seen fighting each other before a sound catches their attention.
That certainly isn't all we learned about Pokemon Sword and Shield during Wednesday's Direct. As speculated, the games are introducing a new battle mechanic called Dynamaxing. Like Mega Evolution and Z-Moves before it, Dynamax is triggered via its own button and can only be used once per battle. This causes your Pokemon to grow into a massive size, giving them a power boost and turning their attacks into Max Moves. However, Dynamax Pokemon will only remain in that state for three turns. Players will also be able to team up with others and battle wild Dynamx Pokemon in Pokemon Go-like Raids while exploring the Wild Area, an open-world like environment between cities in Galar.
In the June 5 Pokemon Sword and Shield Direct, we got our first look at the characters and overall story of the upcoming Nintendo Switch games. This included the Galar region's Pokemon professor, your rival, and the Champion, all mainstays of the Pokemon series. And while we didn't get a look at a Team Rocket equivalent or any overall mysteries to the story, we did get a better idea of what the Galar region is all about: Pokemon battles, of course.
In the new Galar region, Pokemon battles are an especially big deal. The stadiums shown in the reveal trailer are, in fact, Gyms, and tons of people gather to watch challengers take on Gym Leaders. According to The Pokemon Company, "Pokemon battles are regarded as the most popular form of entertainment" in Galar. Pokemon are also important in the Galarian economy and actively participate in the workforce when they're not battling.
Of course, the main goal of Sword and Shield is to take on the Pokemon League and become the Champion. The current Galar Champion is an exuberant anime-looking guy named Leon who's shown with a Charizard. His younger brother, Hop, is your rival and, in classic fashion, wants to train to be the best. You'll be helped along the way by Professor Magnolia--who studies the new Dynamax phenomenon--and her granddaughter and assistant Sonia, who is also Leon's childhood friend. All roads seem to lead back to Leon.
Finally, we were briefly introduced to the Grass-type Gym Leader, Milo. Gym Leaders have powerful Dynamax Pokemon, a big new battle mechanic introduced in Sword and Shield. It also appears that Milo uses at least one of the new Galar Pokemon, Eldegoss.
In other Pokemon Direct news, we were introduced to Sword and Shield's legendary Pokemon, Zamazenta and Zacian. The Direct also revealed the games' release date: November 15. They'll be sold both individually and as a double pack, the latter of which includes a special steelbook.
In the Nintendo Direct presentation for Pokemon Sword and Shield, Nintendo introduced a new mechanic called Dynamax. This makes your Pokemon huge and boosts their abilities, but it also plays into another brand-new feature: cooperative raid battles.
The Wild Area is all of the territory between towns where you can encounter Pokemon, and some special areas in the Wild have nodes where you can join up with other trainers to fight in Max Raid Battles. While your own Pokemon can only go Dynamax for three turns and can only be triggered once, these Max Raid Battles will have you face off against a mega-sized Pokemon for the entire encounter. You'll need to coordinate with other players to bring them down, and only one of the trainers will be permitted to use a Dynamax of their own. If you manage to beat them, you can catch them.
These Max Raid Battles will vary by area and weather, and some Pokemon can only be caught by participating in a Max Raid Battle. You can team up with three other players, but if three humans aren't available, AI support trainers will be automatically added to your team. It all seems inspired by the Raid battles in Pokemon Go, albeit with a super-sized twist.
Dynamax Pokemon swap their abilities for Max abilities, and during the presentation we saw several Dynamax battles taking place in specialized Pokemon arenas full of fans. Other details from the Nintendo Direct include new character and story details, and our first look at the two new Legendary Pokemon that represent the Sword and Shield.
Pokemon Sword and Shield is coming on November 15. Read our Pokemon Sword & Shield pre-order guide for more details on where to get it and the special dual pack.
As part of a special Nintendo Direct for Pokemon Sword and Shield today, Nintendo introduced us to the newest Legendary Pokemon to grace your Pokedex. As you might expect, the two new Legendaries represent the "Sword" and "Shield" aspects of their titles.
The two Pokemon, named Zamazenta and Zacian, look like similarly colorful wolves. Zamazenta has a fur pattern on its face and chest that looks like a shield, while Zacian carries a sword-like object in its mouth. In the brief trailer, the two are seen fighting with each other, before something else attracts both of their attention.
Presumably, Pokemon Sword and Shield will follow the pattern of prior Pokemon games and make one Legendary available in each version. Nintendo also announced a double-pack available for pre-order that will include both versions when the games release on November 15.
Other details from the Nintendo Direct included other new Pokemon, multiplayer raid battles, and the new kaiju-sized Dynamax system that can make a Pokemon grow to massive size. Check out our pre-order guide for more details.
Since they were first shown off, Pokemon Sword and Shield have become two Nintendo Switch games at the top of fans' wishlists. Thanks to a new Nintendo Direct, we now know the games' global release date has been set for November 15.
In addition, developer Game Freak shared more details on the gameplay innovations seen in Sword and Shield. A new battle mechanic named Dynamax turns Pokemon far bigger than they've been seen before. Like Sun and Moon's Z-Moves, Dynamax can be triggered once per battle. It boosts your Pokemon's power and turns all their moves into Max Moves. The creature returns to normal after three turns.
Additionally, Sword and Shield will feature Max Raids, a new battle type seemingly inspired by the raids seen in Pokemon Go. There are sections of the game world in which you can team up with up to three other human players and battle a Pokemon which is permanently in Dynamax form, and hence is very powerful. You'll need to work together to bring down the wild Pokemon and then catch them for yourself. The creatures seen in these wild Dynamax battles vary by area and weather, Game Freak said.
Finally, the developer revealed the box art for Sword and Shield, which features two new legendary creatures, Zamazenta and Zacian. Alongside the two separate games, a dual pack will be available that includes both games together. In Europe, this includes an exclusive gold steelbook, which is currently unconfirmed for other territories. The standard editions of the game will cost $60 / £50 each, while the dual pack is $120 (international pricing is yet to be revealed).
Sword and Shield mark the eighth generation of Pokemon games and are set in an entirely new region with all-new Pokemon. That region is named Galar, and it's primarily made up of picturesque countryside inspired by the UK.
Not only will players encounter an assortment of returning Pokemon here--including fan-favorites like Tyranitar, Lucario, and, of course, Pikachu--the region will also be home to many new kinds of Pokemon. We've already gotten a look at the three new starters, and the latest Pokemon Direct presentation gave us a glimpse at a handful of other Gen 8 monsters, with many more undoubtedly still waiting to be revealed.
Starting with The Elder Scrolls VI, Howard said Bethesda is designing the game to be played for a decade "at least." He wants the game to have longevity in the way that Skyrim has. That game was released in 2011 and it remains popular and sells well on every platform Bethesda brings it to, Howard said.
He gave no indication as to when The Elder Scrolls VI will release, but he says you will understand why it's taking so long once Bethesda finally shows it off.
"On one hand, I think it's good to miss things. I think that makes people come to it with really really fresh eyes," he said about the gap between Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls VI. "When you eventually, eventually see the game and what we have in mind [you'll] understand the gap more in terms of technology and what we want it to do."
The only piece of media for The Elder Scrolls VI released so far is the briefest of teaser trailers from E3 2018. The game will likely release on next-generation platforms, Howard has said in the past and mentioned again in the IGN interview.
As for Starfield, Howard talked about how it's important for the game to have its own tone to help it stand apart from the numerous other sci-fi games on the market.
"[Starfield will have its] own tone in terms of there is so much science-fiction in the same way that Fallout has its own tone in post-apocalyptic," he said. "Elder Scrolls has found its own tone, but originally didn't. It was very generic fantasy."
Howard wants Starfield to be the "be all, end all science fiction game that everyone's always wanted to play." He clarified that it is his own personal be all, end all sci-fi game, and not necessarily yours.
Whatever the case, it's a bold ambition for Starfield, but Howard thinks he has put the pieces in place to make it happen. "We could be the ones to pull this off," he said. "We have enough talent and experience and technology; we need to write a whole bunch of new technology that we're doing [for Starfield]. But we think that we can pull it off."
A scene from Starfield's announcement trailer
Also in the interview, Howard said Bethesda knew it wanted Starfield to be its next game after Fallout 4 and that development is now underway across the developer's North American studios.
But when will we see more of Starfield? "Everyone should be very patient," Howard said.
Like Fallout 4, which was announced in June just five months before its release in November 2015, Howard said he wants to have a short announce-to-release window for Starfield. The five month window for Fallout 4 was the quickest turnaround the Bethesda's sales team would allow, he said. Howard acknowledged there are complexities related to announcing and releasing quickly, due in part to allowing retail partners to prepare for release.
In terms of a release schedule, Starfield is coming first and then The Elder Scrolls VI, at least according to the current plan.
Apart from being remembered as an amazing open-world RPG, Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is also known for being one of the first console games with microtransactions. Specifically, horse armor. Bethesda boss Todd Howard has now reflected on the horse armor controversy.
Speaking to IGN, Howard said, "People will buy anything." He added: "That doesn't mean you should do it. [But] they will buy anything. That sounds terrible."
Howard went on to say that there is nothing wrong in practice with horse armor, but the issue with it is how pricey it was. He said someone at Microsoft--he wouldn't say who--told the team at Bethesda to charge more, so they did.
At the time, themes--or wallpaper for your Xbox 360--were a big deal. The price point Bethesda proposed for horse armor was below the price of a theme. So Microsoft asked Bethesda to increase the price; it was sold at the time for $2.50 USD.
"Horse armor is not bad. I think horse armor is fine. The price point, at the time, was the issue. We felt, it's probably worth this," he said. "I won't say who at Microsoft said, 'Well, that's less than we sell a theme for; a wallpaper is more than that. You should charge this; you can always lower it.' We were like, 'Okay!' It's a price-to-value proposition at the time, not do I want armor for my horse. And looking back now, it's quite cheap."
In the ensuring years, Bethesda sold Oblivion's horse armor for twice the normal price as an April Fool's joke, and it sold well because people were in on the joke and wanted to participate, Howard said.
While Sony is not attendingE3 2019 next week, the PlayStation company still has news to share, specifically about its much-anticipated next-generation console. Sony's Jim Ryan, who recently stepped into the position of SIE president, sat down with GameSpot sister site CNET to discuss some of Sony's high-level plans for its next console, believed to be the PlayStation 5.
One of the biggest talking points was what Ryan called "cross-generational play." This means those who pick up a PlayStation 5 (or whatever it is called), will be able to continue playing their PlayStation 4 games on the new box. Not only that, but Ryan suggested that PlayStation friends list will span both systems.
"Whether it's backwards compatibility or the possibility of cross generational play, we'll be able to transition that community to next-gen," he said. "It won't be a binary choice about whether you have to be either on PlayStation 4 or next-gen to continue your friendship."
This is a big deal because the PS4 does not currently offer backwards compatibility like the rival Xbox One does. Ryan said in a previous interview that backwards compatibility and cross-gen play is "incredibly important" to helping make the transition between systems as seamless as possible.
Also in the interview, Ryan confirmed that the PS5's new SSD that was custom-made for the system will be part of the standard edition, not a more expensive premium version. The SSD allows the PS5 to improve load times; you can see a demonstration of the faster load times here.
Ryan also talked about how the PS5 is capable of supporting 4K visuals at 120Hz for those who have TVs that can support that. 120Hz is a refresh rate around double the rate of standard TVs.
As for why Sony is talking about the PS5 (Mark Cerny shared numerous details earlier) before actually announcing the console, Ryan said it's an effort to get ahead of leaks. PS5 development kits are being sent to outside studios currently, and Ryan said he wants PlayStation fans to have "clear and unambiguous" details about the system instead of "garbled nonsense."
It sounds like the PS5 is still a long time off, as Ryan said, "This is just the start of the unveil process." There is no word yet as to when Sony may officially announce the PS5.
As part of Sony's Corporate Strategy Meeting recently, Sony said the PS5 will offer experiences that "greatly exceed" what is possible on PS4 and PS4 Pro. Sony said people can expect "completely transformative and immersive gaming experiences" on the PS5.
The production of James Bond 25 has suffered another filming accident. Not long after 007 actor Daniel Craig injured his ankle and needed surgery, the producers have now confirmed that a controlled explosion went wrong, with one crew member getting hurt.
There were no injuries on set at Pinewood Studios when the accident occurred on June 4, but one person outside the stage suffered a "minor injury." No other details were provided.
According to the UK tabloid The Sun, part of the stage was blown off during the filming of a stunt involving a fireball inside a laboratory.
During the filming of a controlled explosion on the set of Bond 25 today at Pinewood Studios, damage was caused to the exterior of the 007 Stage. There were no injuries on set, however one crew member outside the stage has sustained a minor injury. pic.twitter.com/8O9tOgwMYK
Presumably some extra time will be required to repair the stage at Pinewood Studios, though it's unknown if this latest mishap will result in a delay for Bond 25. Craig needed about two weeks of downtime to recover from his own ankle injury and surgery sustained while filming in Jamaica. Despite that, the production team said at the time that the movie will not be delayed.
James Bond 25, or whatever it ends up being called, hits theatres in April 2020. In addition to Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, and Lea Seydoux will all reprise their roles for the 25th James Bond movie. Jeffrey Wright and Ben Whishaw also return, while Rami Malek has joined the movie as the villain.
Bond 25's story begins with Bond no longer on active service but instead enjoying himself in Jamaica. "His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help," reads a lin efrom the description. "The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology."
Up until now, the Halo series had been on a semi-regular release schedule with each title in the main series launching within three years of each other, and sometimes faster. But it's been almost four years already since the release of Halo 5: Guardians in 2015, meaning fans have had to wait longer than ever for Halo Infinite. Why is it taking so long for the game to come out?
Halo transmedia boss Kiki Wolfkill explained to GI.biz that one of the reasons is because the team at 343 Industries has spent a lot of time working on "retooling" the franchise's infrastructure. That probably is a reference to the brand-new Slipspace engine that Microsoft showed off at E3 2018.
"Part of why there's been that span of time between Halo 5 and Infinite is the retooling of the infrastructure to give us the flexibility to do whatever we wanted with that game," she said.
In addition, Halo Infinite marks the "next generation of Halo," Wolfkill said. As such, and because the game is a "spiritual reboot," Wolfkill said the team is taking extra time to make sure Infinite is a game that newcomers can also play and enjoy.
"But it's also about setting off the next generation of Halo," she said. "We want people to be able to come into Halo Infinite who may not have played any other Halo game before."
Part of Wolfkill's job as the leader of the Halo transmedia team is to find ways to expand Halo's profile and reach. There is a new Halo TV show coming, and this, as well as the other Halo transmedia efforts, might help draw in new players for Infinite.
"Part of what my role is and my goal with the transmedia pieces is, how do we start to engage new audiences and bring people into the universe so that when Infinite comes out, maybe people who haven't played before are interested in playing," she said.
Nickelodeon is moving forward with a SpongeBob Squarepants spinoff. The network announced today that it's given the green light to a spinoff series with the working title Kamp Koral.
The show focuses on a 10-year-old SpongeBob, and specifically his adventures at the sleepaway camp called Kamp Koral. Nickelodeon is producing 13 episodes for the animated series first season. Production is beginning this month, though there is no word yet on when the show will premiere.
"SpongeBob has an incredible universe to expand upon and the greenlight for Kamp Koral is a testament to the strength and longevity of these characters known and loved by generations of fans around the world," Nickelodeon animation boss Ramsey Naito said in a statement.
In the show, SpongeBob and friends will do all sorts of wild and weird things like "building underwater campfires, catching wild jellyfish, and swimming in Lake Yuckymuck at the craziest camp in the kelp forest, Kamp Koral."
SpongeBob series producers Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller are Kamp Koral's co-executive producers.
Kamp Koral is the first SpongeBob TV show spinoff. Further spinoffs focused on other SpongeBob characters are coming, according to Deadline. Additionally, a new movie called It's A Wonderful Sponge will premiere in 2020.
Following a retail leak, Ubisoft has now officially confirmed Watch Dogs Legion. The game's Twitter account came to life today, and it basically confirms the rumoured London setting and more.
A teaser video states, "God Save the NPCs. Reveal at E3."
"God Save the Queen" is the national anthem of the United Kingdom, and the mention of NPCs is likely referring to how Watch Dogs Legion reportedly has players controlling an NPC.
According to the Watch Dogs Legion Amazon UK product description, the game takes place in a near-future, dystopian version of London. "It's a post-Brexit world in which society, politics, and technology have changed and altered London's fortunes," it says.
It's also rumored that the main character of Watch Dogs Legion is an NPC that you select. "The product description states, "Play as anyone, Every individual you meet in the open world, has a full set of animations, voice over, character traits and visuals that are generated & guided by gameplay systems."
Some parts of the game will play out different based on the civilian you choose to play, according to a report. The system underpinning this is apparently very ambitious, so much so that it's led to at least one delay.
No platforms have been announced for Watch Dogs Legion, and Ubisoft also has not shared a release date. Presumably more details will come to light at E3 2019 next week.
E3 2019 is expected to include a lot of big announcements, but the next game from Batman: Arkham studio Rocksteady Games will not be among them. Game director and co-founder Sefton Hill wrote on Twitter that the studio "won't be showing at E3 this year."
"We'll be watching as fans but remaining in London, hard at work on our next big project," he said.
Hi all! A number of you have asked so we wanted to let you all know up front that @Rocksteadygames won't be showing at E3 this year. We'll be watching as fans but remaining in London, hard at work on our next big project. Enjoy the show!
Rocksteady is clearly still not ready to show off its new game. There are a number of rumours floating around about it what be, but nothing is confirmed at this stage. Rocksteady created the Batman Arkham series, the latest instalment of which, Arkham Knight, was released in 2015.
Batman: Arkham Origins developer WB Games Montreal, meanwhile, is also working on a new game, but it too is shrouded in mystery.
WB Games Montreal and Rocksteady share a parent company in Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, which is one of the companies attending E3 2019 this month. That being said, nothing yet has suggested any new Batman games will be revealed at the show.
It's been almost a year since we saw The Surge 2's reveal trailer at Gamescom in August 2018. The 50-second gameplay trailer, above, shows more slashy, Souls-like action in a lush forest but little in the way of a release window. However, a new leak suggests The Surge 2 could arrive in a few months.
The Surge 2's release date was uncovered via an Australian Microsoft Store listing. The listing states that The Surge 2 will launch on September 24, 2019. It is, of course, possible this date will prove to be inaccurate; Nintendo's website recently led us to believe Cadence of Hyrule would be out at the end of May, but it now looks as if it's instead launching this month. But given this Surge 2 date is listed directly on the page, it seems as if it could be real.
According to the list, The Surge 2 will retail for approximately $60 USD / £50 GBP / $90 AUD. Pre-orders are available now, and doing so secures you the exclusive URBN Gear Pack, which comes with the following items:
The well-used Cutter from The Surge
The full-body URBN armor set
The URBN Judgement Axe
The URBN Skimmer Drone
The Lootscan.exe Radar Module
A unique online message icon
The Surge launched in May 2017. Developed by Deck 13 Interactive and published by Focus Home Interactive, The Surge brought Souls-like combat to a mechanical wasteland with a twist: you can dismember enemies and use their parts against them. In our The Surge review, we said, "It bucks the trend towards creative bankruptcy, adopting some fresh ideas and layering those together with aesthetics, tone, and play to create an inspired adventure."
Based on the gameplay trailer, The Surge 2 looks to feature a similar gameplay loop to its predecessor. However, according to a Deck 13 statement, this sequel will feature "a sprawling, devastated city with larger and more ambitious level design, made possible by Deck13's upgraded and improved engine."
If you're interested in pre-ordering The Surge 2 already, several retailers have listings up for the standard edition now. In addition to the general pre-order bonuses listed above, GameStop is offering a limited-edition exclusive, which comes with an exclusive sleeve and cover, an eight-page comic book, a double poster with artwork and the game's map, and three lithographs.
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