Sony’s official video breaks down the PS5 in detail

Continue reading…

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Holiday Special: The Official Soundtrack will be available earlier

Continue reading…

The GameStop Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity pre-order incentive was shared, and it lets you take a little Guardian with you.

The post GameStop Has a Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Pre-order Bonus appeared first on Siliconera.

Sun's out, guns out. Beta's out, PC minimum and recommended specs out. Not as catchy, twice as important.

The Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War open beta is nearly upon us and that means it's time to figure out if your rig can handle the rigors of war. Activision has revealed the beta's minimum and recommended specs (which should serve more or less as the full game's final specs with the possible exception of storage space).

Here's what's needed to just get the Cold War beta running:

Intel have unveiled the first details about their upcoming 11th Gen desktop Core CPUs today, confirming their rough release window and that they’ll have PCIe 4.0 support from the off. Code-named “Rocket Lake”, this new family of desktop processors will be arriving sometime between January and March next year, according to a new Intel blog post, succeeding their current line-up of 10th Gen Comet Lake CPUs.

(more…)

The legal dispute between Epic Games and Apple will go to trial in May 2021, which is a little earlier than the July 2021 date that was previously being touted. ...

During the opening segment of Baldur’s Gate 3 you’ll work your way through a terrifying ship, looking to escape. There’s plenty of loot hidden around that will help give you an edge in the early hours of the game, including some valuable items hidden inside an Elaborate Chest. Problem is, you’ll need an Elaborate Key to open it. Luckily, we’ve marked its exact location on a map, so that you can hoover up the contents of the chest and continue on with your escape.

(more…)

The opening of Baldur’s Gate 3 takes place aboard a tentacled ship called the Nautiloid. You’ll need to fight your way to the control room to initiate a warp, before the ship crashes into the fiery hellscape below. While exploring the gooey interior of the Nautiloid you’ll come across a number of characters that have been captured by the Mind-Flayers, including a woman trapped inside one of their pods. Let’s take a look at whether or not you can save them.

(more…)

Trial lasts from Oct. 13 to Oct. 20.

Continue reading…

Morris Lupton is like no lead character I’ve played before. It’s not because he’s dead (because if you think about it, a surprising number of video game characters are dead), it’s his voice. Played by David Shaughnessy – whose velvetine English West Country tones are thoroughly unusual for any game character other than ‘fantasy yokel’ – Morris’ voice is your vehicle through I Am Dead’s short story, a narrator who basically knows as much as you do at any given time. He’s charmingly useless enough as to become an absolute delight, floating through the plot on a cloud of good vibes and light befuddlement, without ever really knowing what’s going on.

In a way, Morris is a bizarre reflection of decades of video gaming’s amnesiac antiheroes – he too is on a quest to find out what’s really going on around here, possibly even to save the world (or at least a piece of it). Except, instead of some spurious revenge motive, he’s doing it because he was a curious old museum owner who’s quite surprised to find out there’s an afterlife, and his dead dog is now telling him to do stuff.

And Morris is I Am Dead in microcosm – a game as fluffy and warm as its hero’s jumpers (British parlance very much intended), and just as interested in aimlessly wandering as it is actually getting to the business end of its story. But, again like Morris, there’s also a layer of deep intelligence just under its warm exterior.

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=i-am-dead-screenshots&captions=true"]

Junzo Hosoi said a hypothetical Ryza Super Smash Bros Ultimate appearance is something Gust'd say "yes" to.

The post Gust Dev Team Would Say ‘Yes’ to an Atelier Ryza Super Smash Bros Ultimate Appearance appeared first on Siliconera.

Steam Game Festival is quickly becoming one of my favorite facets of PC gaming. The limited-time showcase returned today on Steam with hundreds – and they do mean hundreds – of game demos to sort through, download, and try to play before they go away on Tuesday, October 13 at 10:00 a.m. PT.

Like finding fresh games in general, it can be overwhelming to figure out what's worth your energy. That was true for prior festivals and it's still true for this week's Steam Game Festival: Autumn Edition.

Aside from leaning on your friends (and maybe some in-the-know Destructoid readers), it's worth running through your wishlist and skimming the Most Downloaded list for ideas. This time, the criteria for applicable games is slightly stricter – they're all "set to be released within the next six months."

These are my Autumn festival highlights:

Activision Blizzard, the mega publisher behind the likes of Overwatch and Call Of Duty, are reportedly shutting down their office near Versailles, France. According to Bloomberg, employees at the company will learn more about the closure next week, but at the moment it’s unclear when exactly it’ll happen, or how many people might lose their jobs in the process.

(more…)

I remember seeing the crowdfunding campaign for the Virtuix Omni years ago (seven, apparently) and thinking to myself, full of awe in my early 20s, “The future has arrived! Or, it will soon!” The Virtuix Omni was a cool concept, sure, but where the heck would I actually get to try the 360° ultra gamer virtual reality treadmill? Well Virtuix are unveiling a new consumer version that’s meant to fit in your home.

(more…)

Today Bloober Team released a brand new video of its upcoming third-person psychological horror game The Medium.

This time around the video focuses on the soundtrack, which sees the collaboration of Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka and Layers of Fear composer Arkadiusz Reikowski.

You can check out the video below.

The Medium can already be pre-ordered both for Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam. It’ll release in the Holiday season 2020.

Below you can read an official description. You can also check out the story trailer, another trailer,  more gameplay, and a behind-the-scenes video.

The prequel novel will be out next month, followed by an art book next year.

The post Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales Prequel Book Will Arrive in November appeared first on Siliconera.

When it comes to Marvel's Spider-Man, developer Insomniac isn't the only one writing Miles Morales' story. This PS5 launch game is getting a prequel to provide some backstory.

Marvel has revealed that it's teaming up with Titan Books to publish a prequel novel to Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Titled Wings of Fury, this arc is being written by Slay author Brittany Morris. Here's the description: "Wings of Fury features Miles Morales coming to terms with what it means to be Spider-Man. A mix-up with the law leaves Miles questioning everything and when Vulture and his accomplice Starling unleash experimental tech on Marvel's New York, Miles must decide what kind of hero he wants to be."

But words are hard and reading is for nerds. Maybe the officially licensed art book is more your speed. Spider-Man: Miles Morales -- Art of the Game is a hardcover coffee table book that includes "concept art and in-game renderings including characters, locations, tech, gadgets, Spider suits and much more." Much easier on the brain.

Wings of Fury will launch on November 10, just a couple of days before the game. The art book is slated for February 2021. Images of both covers can be found in the gallery below. Swing on down there, that's a Spider-Man pun.

Two New Companion Books Announced for 'Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales' [Marvel]

During this unprecedented time, Iron Galaxy†™s COO Chelsea Blasko discusses how she quickly transitioned her team to work-from-home settings while maintaining a unique culture. ...

Brendan Caldwell, formerly/currently-ish of this parish, has launched a new video games podcast of his own and it sounds: well good. It’s named Hey, Lesson! and uses video games as a way into talking about the real subject behind them, with actual experts rather than just, y’know, podcasters. He’s released the first three episodes in one blast, talking about Spelunky 2 and actual spelunking (and which animals get lost in caves), about The Last Of Us Part 2 and a post-humanity world, and about Death Stranding and our cravings for social media ‘likes’. It’s a solid podcasting premise, that, and Brendy is quite great.

(more…)

Players are always looking to rack up achievements and nail all the trophies in their favorite games. Well, PlayStation announced today that changes are coming to the trophy system, and players can expect to start seeing these changes as early as tonight. Don't worry, you'll still be able to platinum Bloodborne. Trophies you have earned on other PlayStation systems will carry over to the PlayStation 5 as well.

First, the trophy level just got bigger. A lot bigger. Instead of going 1-100, trophy level is slated to expand from 1-999. We're not quite at Final Fantasy levels of 9999 yet, but who knows what the future holds. If you've acquired a ton of points on your way to 100, don't worry — your points will scale to reflect the new system. So if you had 10 points, expect it to translate into the hundreds somewhere.

The calculation structure has also changed, designed to help players advance more quickly during the earlier tiers. Platinum trophies are also worth more than ever, so it might entice you to go back and finish off some of those more difficult achievements.

You can read more about the shifting structure over on the official PlayStation blog. Go get those trophies!

Just yesterday, 2K Sports shared a trailer showcasing next-gen gameplay for NBA 2K21. Today, a report was released that actually goes into detail on specific changes that players can expect to see when they pick up NBA 2K21 for next-gen consoles.

This next-gen “Courtside Report” is the first of three that’ll be provided in the coming weeks leading up to the Nov. 10 Xbox Series X launch, and the Nov. 12 PS5 launch.

In short, the report focuses on the following gameplay changes:

• The next-gen shot meter
• Pull-up jumper categories
• 3PT line recognition
• Size-up speed control
• New moves and animations
• Revamped ball physics

The shot stick gameplay is being revamped in little ways for the next-gen version of NBA 2K21. Flicking the stick quickly will result in a flatter shot, while flicking it slowly will provide higher arcs on jump shots. Using the correct shot arc will provide small bonuses.

Additionally, flicking the stick slightly towards the backboard will result in a bank shot. These next-gen gameplay changes are for those who want even more control over their shots in NBA 2K21.

If you’re eager to know when Square Enix and People Can Fly’s upcoming cross-gen game Outriders will hit the shelves, it’s almost time.

Today Square Enix announced that the release date will be announced tomorrow, coming alongside a dedicated trailer.

It’ll happen exactly in 24 hours, at 8:00 am PDT.

You can find the premiere of the trailer embedded below, so you can watch it as it happens.

There is no denying that the PlayStation 5 is a thicc boy, but what does the new generation look like on the inside? Now we don't have to wonder any longer, because a new video by VP of mechanical design at Sony, Yasuhiro Ootori, is taking the PS5 console apart bit by bit. 

The Sony designer talks about the differences seen in the PlayStation 5 system in relation to the current generation, showing off the vast improvements seen in the hardware that make performance smoother and much quieter. Given all of the memes and jokes about how loud the PlayStation 4 systems can get sometimes, that last part is a nice touch: 

Vertical, horizontal, it's up to you how you want to display this behemoth, but putting it horizontal is needed to detach the base of the console for dissection glory. Ootori also reveals the exhaust port and the system's ventilation system, keeping the PS5 from overheating and making any unneeded sounds. 

After removing the side panels and the impressive cooling fan, Ootori also shows off the vacuum ports and the air intake mechanisms that keep the insides clean. He also shows off the metal sheet case that is layered to prevent unnecessary noise as well.

This Pokemon TCG set comes with card protectors, a deck case, and a Pokemon coin featuring Nessa from Pokemon Sword and Shield.

The post Pokemon TCG Shiny Star V Set Features Nessa From Pokemon Sword and Shield appeared first on Siliconera.

Two rules, everyone knows 'em: No killing in the hotel, and all good games have to come to Switch. Follow those and everyone stays happy. Deviate and we're gonna have problems.

John Wick Hex is getting ported to the major platforms it isn't already on. Developer Mike Bithell just announced John Wick Hex for Switch and Xbox One. It's also breaking free from its Epic Games Store exclusivity and coming to Steam. All this action goes down on December 4.

For those who missed it a year ago (tomorrow is its one-year anniversary), John Wick Hex is a smart adaption of the stylish action that made the movies widely beloved. Rather than straight mimic John Wick's gunplay, Hex turns it into a strategy game. It's not turn-based, though. Instead, time is the resource, as each action takes a preset number of seconds. Spend too much time on anything and you're likely to catch a bullet. It's a wonderful dance.

Just like when it launched on Epic and PS4, John Wick Hex will be $20 on Switch, Steam, and Xbox. You're not an assassin, so gold coins won't get you anywhere. You gotta pay with straight cash, homie.

Bungie teased a bunch of new exotic guns and armor coming to Destiny 2 in Beyond Light next month in a new trailer today. One of them summons a floating orb that shoots bullets from an alternative timeline.

Read more...

Finally, games like Crackdown can fulfill their potential

Continue reading…

Bungie lifted the veil today on a ton of new upcoming exotic weapons and armor in the latest trailer for Destiny 2: Beyond Light. Let’s take a peak and enjoy how awesome they all look now before they release and they are sorted into the OP, OK, and Trash piles upon Beyond Light’s release.

If you’re keeping track at home, like me, you’ll see the following exotics make an appearance:

UPDATE 07/10/20: We've seen Geralt's fancy new ab armour, but the teaser images for Season 2 of The Witcher didn't stop there, as photos of Ciri and Yennefer have also been released.

The images of Ciri shared on Instagram show the character has undergone a fair transformation in the second season, with actress Freya Allan having swapped the princess robes for a sword and a rather intense look. Seems like Ciri's getting ready to begin her transformation into the fierce fighter we know her to be in The Witcher 3.

Yennefer, meanwhile, is not looking like she's not having a brilliant time, with the photos shared on The Witcher Twitter account showing her chained up and wounded from battle. Will she manage to wriggle her way out of trouble? Knowing Yen, most likely.

Read more

They fight crime, they’re cars, and they’re new in town

Continue reading…

While western releases of Japanese games aren’t rare nowadays, there are some that are still completely surprising. Enter I Am an Air Traffic Controller 4.

Veteran Kyoto-based developer TechnoBrain announced an English version of I Am an Air Traffic Controller 4, the latest in its long-running series of ATC simulators.

It will be released via Steam on October 15.

The series has been ongoing since 1998, and the version we’re getting is actually based on Haneda 2, the improved version of the game that was released in Japan in 2018.

The title puts you in command of the ATC of the super-busy Tokyo Haneda airport, and you have to guide plenty of airliners to take off and land safely in what is basically a challenging and fairly realistic puzzle.

I’ve wanted a localization of this series for at least a decade, but I never actually expected it.

The only downside is that the English version won’t feature the many real-world Japanese airlines that are portrayed in the Japanese one, likely due to licensing issues. Hopefully, someone will mod them back in when the game is released.

The ATC4 product range in Japanese includes many more local airports, the latest of which is Sapporo Chitose released in Japan this year. We don’t know whether those will be released in English as well at some point.

Below you can check out a trailer and plenty of screenshots, alongside an official description directly from the Steam listing.

Timberline Studio‘s The Red Lantern received a new trailer and a release date today; the story-driven rogue-lite will be releasing later this month.

The game revolves around a young woman who puts together a team of five sled dogs to race in the Iditarod, a dream she’s had since childhood. You play as “The Musher,” who is voiced by Ashly Burch (voice of Life is Strange’s Chloe Price and Horizon Zero Dawn’s Aloy).

In the game, you must adapt to the changing Alaskan wilderness to complete the journey by finding items to help you survive and keep your team alive.

Hundreds of different events can occur in the game that could set back your journey. You must not only brave the harsh winter elements, such as avoiding frostbite, but you can also find yourself face to face with deadly bears, wolves, and other dangers.

Another factor in the game is that you must hunt and scavenge for food and other resources in order to keep yourself and your dogs happy and healthy during the race.

You choose how you want to interact with the environment, whether it be facing everything offensively or being cautious and defensive.

And yes, you can pet the dogs.

The Red Lantern was first revealed in early 2019 during one of Nintendo’s Nindies Showcase presentations and will finally be releasing later this month.

The Red Lantern will launch on PC via the Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One on Oct. 22 for $24.99. It will be 20% off during the launch window sale.

You can watch the release date trailer for The Red Lantern below.

Xbox Design Lab was quietly one of the neatest offerings of the Xbox One generation. Microsoft built a portal where users could create their own controllers and every component's look could be customized. No longer restricted to official models on store shelves, players could design a controller to look however they wanted.

Design Lab is going offline for a bit. On October 14, Microsoft is temporarily pulling the plug on the whole Design Lab service and it won't return until sometime next year. Presumably, it's a shift in production so that Microsoft can sell the new slightly-revamped Xbox Series X controllers.

Microsoft is sending off the old Design Lab with one last bang. If you're fine with the old model of Xbox controller (which will still function perfectly fine on Xbox Series S/X), you can get $10 off a custom controller. There's no need for a coupon or anything; the discount automatically applies on the Design Lab site. The offer is good until October 14, which is when Design Lab disappears for a bit.

If you're on the fence about current- and next-gen controllers, here are the upgrades for the Xbox Series X's gamepad. It has: A hybrid D-pad instead of the cross design, a dedicated share button, rubberized textured grips around the back, and a USC-C charging port. It's mostly minimal stuff, which is why Microsoft isn't raising the prices for controllers on Xbox Series X.

A Cyberpunk 2077 pre-order and The Mandalorian Monopoly lead Wednesday’s best deals.

Read more...

If you can't hang on until the full game releases on PS4 and PS5 on 12th November, then I have news for you, as Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is getting a prequel book - and it's releasing a whopping two days before the game. It's one way to get back into the swing of things.

Titled Wings of Fury, the novel written by Brittney Morris (author of Slay) will be available from Titan on 10th November. According to the official description, the book focuses on Miles "coming to terms with what it means to be Spider-Man," and dealing with Vulture and Starling as they "unleash experimental tech on Marvel's New York" (via IGN).

Along with the prequel novel, the Miles Morales game is also getting an art book in February 2021. Written by Matt Ralphs, The Art of the Game will explain the creative processes behind Miles Morales and showcase concept art and in-game renders, along with analysis from the artists and developers.

Read more

Quake

‘s a gritty fast-paced shooter where you dance around enemies and splatter them with beefy guns. Modder “Redfield” clearly thought, “But what if I inject some Bloodborne into it?”, and so Raven Keep was born. It’s a mod which throws players into a gothic castle where “Old Ones” (sound familiar?) have left some spooky chalices behind. To uncover their mystery, we’ll have to blast knights, ghosts, and even some bosses straight from Dark Souls and Bloodborne. Count me in.

(more…)

Sony has uploaded a PlayStation 5 teardown video to showcase the shiny innards of its next-gen console. ...

Player ranks now go 1 to 999; Platinum trophies count more

Continue reading…

Marvel Games and Titan Books today announced Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales – Wings of Fury, the official prequel novel to the upcoming game. You just won't have much time to read it before the game hits on November 12. Titan is releasing Wings of Fury on November 10. You'll have two days to get through 288 pages.

In details shared with IGN by Titan, Wings of Fury leads directly into the game, and pits Miles against Vulture and his accomplice Starling. Vulture has apparently gotten his hands on experimental tech. The story is penned by Brittney Morris, who also wrote SLAY.

In February 2021, well after you've played the game, Titan is also releasing an official art book for Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. This book is 192 pages, is written by Matt Ralphs, and retails for $39.95.

Super Nintendo World opens next year

Continue reading…