June 2020

A Total War Saga: Troy Will Be Epic Game Store Exclusive For a Year, Free on Day One; Trailer Released

3 years 9 months ago

Today Creative Assembly released a brand new trailer and a release date of the previously-announced A Total War Saga: Troy, and plans have changed.

While the game was originally revealed with a Steam page (which is still available) with a 2020 release, we now learn that it’s releasing as a temporary exclusive for 12 months on the Epic Games Store on August 13.

The good news is that it’ll be free on day one and fore exactly 24 hours, so if you’re there on launch day, you won’t have to pay a dime. 

The developer also announced in a blog post that there are no plans for more of its games to be Epic Game Store exclusives. Creative Assembly wants “future Total War titles to be simultaneously available, from launch day, on as many store fronts as possible.”

You can check out the trailer and a few screenshots below.

Author
Giuseppe Nelva

Tags

Nintendo Switch Exclusive Shadowverse: Champions Battle Gets New TV Commercial

3 years 9 months ago

Today Cygames released a TV commercial of its first Nintendo Switch game, titled Shadowverse: Champions Battle. 

We get to see glimpses of gameplay and of story cutscenes, despite the fact that the video is quite brief.

Shadowverse: Champions Battle is based on the brand new Shadowverse anime series, but bring the gameplay of the collectible card title into a new console-based form.

You may be familiar with Cygames for the collectible card game for PC and mobile Shadowverse itself, while its console forays have been focused on the Granblue Fantasy franchise, with the recent release of Granblue Fantasy Versus and the upcoming Granblue Fantasy Relink, alongside the still-mysterious Project Awakening, all for PS4.

The game was announced back in March, and we just goy a trailer and a release date a few days ago.

The protagonist of the game can be both male and female, and will interact with the cast of the anime, which we can see portrayed in the video alongside the first look at gameplay.

Author
Giuseppe Nelva

Tags

Valorant Launch Trailers Celebrate Story & Gameplay

3 years 9 months ago

Riot Games’ arrival to the hero shooter scene kicks off properly today with Valorant’s official launch. After a successful beta period concluded last month, everyone can finally get their hands on the free-to-play shooter being billed by some as the next big esport.

But rather than just focus on Valorant’s gameplay –an interesting fusion of CS:GO-like shooting mechanics and Overwatch-esque hero abilities–, Riot is offering some context to its universe with a story launch trailer.

It’s actually the prologue of a fully animated backstory. This one is called Duelists, spotlighting two of its heroes in particular: Phoenix and Jett. You’ll see them both in action as Phoenix attempts to use his fire-wielding abilities to slow down the nimble Jett as she tries to make an escape.

For those who just want a refresher on how Valorant actually plays, there’s a gameplay trailer for exactly that purpose. Called Ignition, it provides an overview of the gameplay loop and Valorant’s eclectic range of heroes.

Author
Alex Gibson

Tags

Pokemon Sword & Shield: The Isle of Armor Expansion Release Date Revealed With New Trailer

3 years 9 months ago

The Pokemon Company has released a three-minute trailer for the upcoming Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield expansion pass, which includes two separate DLC packs: The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra.

The new trailer, which you can watch down below, showcases both parts of the expansion pass, alongside the new locations, new legendary Pokemon, new forms, and even the adorable Kubfu.

At the end of the trailer, the release date for The Isle of Armor was revealed, which will launch on the Nintendo Switch on June 17. The Crown Tundra is expected to release sometime this Fall, but no specific date has been set.

As of right now, the only trailer released from The Pokemon Company is in Japanese but once the English video pops up online, we’ll be sure to update this article accordingly.

The Pokemon Sword and Shield expansion pass will mark the first time that a mainline Pokemon RPG has obtained a form of paid downloadable content.

Author
Greysun Morales

Tags

Finally, a Good Portable Borderlands Experience

3 years 9 months ago

Back in 2014, I bought Borderlands 2 on the PS Vita. It was a rough port; the frame rate chugged, enemies just popped out of existence when they died, and the game just felt bad to play. But even so, it was portable Borderlands, and that was the dream. I could kill Psychos and hunt down loot wherever I went, and that was enough.

The PS Vita may be dead now, but the Nintendo Switch carries on that little console’s legacy of quality handheld gaming. It’s fitting that the Borderlands Legendary Collection should find a new home here, and let me tell you, it plays beautifully.

Capped at 30 frames per second, the Switch version of all three Borderlands games isn’t technically the best way to experience these games. When playing handheld, the analog sticks and buttons are still too small for long, comfortable play sessions. But when docked, it’s pretty much a dream.

I dipped into all three Borderlands games over the weekend, though I spent more time with the second game, and it runs beautifully on Nintendo’s little console. When docked and with a pro controller, the games run almost as well as their PS4 and Xbox One counterparts. If there’s any difference or discrepancy in quality, it’s not noticeable.

Thanks to the series’ timeless cel-shaded graphics, aside from a few dated UI choices here and there, it’s hard to tell that these are last-gen games. While the handheld experience isn’t exactly optimal –the Switch is never a good option for shooter games, in my view– it’s more than serviceable if you’re looking to play for a few quick minutes, or to complete a mission on the couch or right before bed.

Author
Zhiqing Wan

Tags

Black Lives Matter

3 years 9 months ago

You will no doubt be aware that protests, marked by a violent police response, are ongoing in America. These protests were sparked by the death of George Floyd, who was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin. Chauvin kneeled on George Floyd’s neck for almost 9 minutes. Today you will see many people, websites and individuals, participating in what is being called Blackout Tuesday. By not posting on social media, it clears the way for Black voices, particularly of the Black community in the US, to speak about the systemic racism and police brutality that they suffer.

We will be participating in this social media blackout for 24 hours from 2pm BST today, and have joined in a joint statement of solidarity from all the websites across our network. We’re going to spend the time playing and writing about games by BAME developers and creators, and those posts will appear in the next 24 hours and beyond.

Author
RPS

Black Lives Matter

3 years 9 months ago

We are appalled by the violence, oppression and injustice suffered by Black communities around the world. In common with many other organisations, we won't be publishing any content today, to allow other voices and more important issues to be heard.

Here's a statement co-signed by Eurogamer and many other sites in our network:

It reads:

Read more

Tags

Mortal Kombat: Aftermath characters might be released individually later this month

3 years 9 months ago

Currently, the only way to obtain Mortal Kombat 11's newest roster additions is by picking up paid DLC expansion Aftermath. But a recent update on the Steam database seems to suggest that these characters will be made available for individual purchase later this month.

As noted by EventHubs, yesterday's Steam update added Sheeva, RoboCop, and Fujin to the SteamDB as three individual purchases, complete with a release date of June 16. As of this writing, neither Warner Bros. Interactive or NetherRealm Studios have announced that the kombatants are to be sold individually, but these SteamDB entries all but confirm just that.

Mortal Kombat: Aftermath characters might be released individually later this month screenshot

Read more...
Author
Chris Moyse

Phantasy Star Online 2 is having a rough PC launch, here's some helpful tips

3 years 9 months ago

Phantasy Star Online 2 launched on April 14 of this year on Xbox One, and although there's a few quality of life upgrades on my wish list, things were mostly stable. The PC edition that arrived just this past week on May 27: not so much.

After a number of folks had issues even logging in, much less keeping the Windows 10 build (which is the only PC option right now) stable, Sega has acknowledged the problems and opened up a landing site for players. The page instructs users on what to do for numerous error codes, from downloading the game from the Windows Store to sign-in bugs to patch problems.

A lot of the strife seems to stem from the Widows Store. While Microsoft was instrumental in bringing this classic west, they also need to be on top of the impending fixes so people can jump back in as soon as possible. You can find those instructions below, but the unofficial PSO2 Tweaker might help.

Then there's the stuttering in-game, once you conquer all of those error codes. Sega is working directly with the development team to implement fixes for that on June 10.

Windows 10 Issue Report [PSO2]

Phantasy Star Online 2 is having a rough PC launch, here's some helpful tips screenshot

Read more...
Author
Chris Carter

The first Pokemon Sword and Shield expansion arrives in two weeks

3 years 9 months ago

Back in January of this year, Game Freak pulled back the curtain on the Pokemon Sword and Shield expansion pass. Basically, you fork over $30, and you get two DLC packs: one in "June" (Isle of Armor) and the other "later this year" (The Crown Tundra). For the first time since then, they're giving us more info this morning.

New footage was revealed for both expansions in the video below, which showcase the return of some classic Pokemon, as well as a look at some of the expanded zones. We learned more about the two forms of Kubfu, the new Galar tournament and a new recycling and rare soup mechanic,  While there were plenty of little brief teases here and there, the big news comes at the very end: the June 17 release date for Isle of Armor.

While some speculated that the expansion would be pushed back, it appears the heavy lifting is done and Game Freak/Nintendo are ready to let it rip. As someone who finished the Galar Pokedex back in December, I've been looking for any excuse to get sucked back in.

The first Pokemon Sword and Shield expansion arrives in two weeks screenshot

Read more...
Author
Chris Carter

#BlackLivesMatter

3 years 9 months ago
We stand in solidarity with Black communities in the US, UK and around the world in the fight against systemic racism, police brutality and oppression

Miniature Board Game Dragon Gyas With Story by Sakura Wars Writer Hits Kickstarter

3 years 9 months ago

Today Arclight Games announced a Kickstarter campaign for Dragon Gyas, a new miniature board game coming all the way from Japan. 

The game features battles between human and dragons in a fantasy setting, and it looks really promising.

What makes it potentially attractive to those who love Japanese video games is that the story is written by Jiro Ishii, whom you may know as the writer behind the recent Sakura Wars, Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, and 428: Sakura Scramble.

Illustrations are by Kinu Nishimura, well-known for his work at Capcom, on the Zero Escape series, and on Code of Princess.

The miniatures have been created by Good Smile Company, that is also well-known for making a lot of video game figures, including the Nendoroid and Figma lines.

The Kickstarter campaign asks for 5.5 million yen (which translates into roughly $50,000) and the game already gathered $140,000 on the Japanese crowdfunding site Makuake.

Here’s an official description of the game, an introduction video, and a lot of visual materials that came with the press release.

“A distant world, far from our own.

A place known to its residents as Njargrængardr.

Once every 100 years or so, history repeats itself as battles rage with the dragons that appear all too suddenly. The dragons always emerge in chaos, and they always destroy in chaos. To break this cycle, the people built a fortified city surrounded by towering walls, and on the whole, live within them. The only thing they have that can stand against these dragons is a titan mech under the control of a witch.

Author
Giuseppe Nelva

Tags

Pokemon Sword & Shield Expansion Pass Gets Tons of Screenshots and Gorgeous Artwork

3 years 9 months ago

After releasing a brand-new trailer for the upcoming Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield expansion pass, The Pokemon Company put out tons of official screenshots and artwork for The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra, as well as additional information on the new Pokemon, locales, and features.

We learned from the new trailer that part one of the expansion pass will launch on June 17 and The Crown Tundra is still set to launch sometime in the fall. During the trailer, we got a good look at several new Pokemon, including Galarian Slowbro, Regidrago, and Regieleki.

Galarian Slowbro is a Poison/Psychic-type Pokemon with the ability of Quick Draw. Galarian Slowbro can learn the move Shell Side Arm, which is a Poison-type special move that inflicts either physical or special damage depending on which will damage the target more –it may poison the target as well.

Two new Regi forms were shown off as well; Regiekeli is an Electric-type legendary that knows the special move, Thunder Cage, which not only deals damage to opponents when it lands but it will also cause damage every turn for four to five turns and prevents opponents from fleeing or being changed out.

As far as Regidrago, this one is a Dragon-type legendary that can use Dragon Energy, a move that deals damage depending on the remaining HP of the user.

There are several new features that are being introduced in The Isle of Armor like the Cram-o-matic, which allows players to combine items to create entirely new items like Poke Balls and PP Ups.

In The Crown Tundra, players can compete in the Galarian Star Tournament, which according to the press release from The Pokemon Company, will have trainers battling against various characters from Sword and Shield, and you can even team up with them to tackle the tournament together.

Author
Greysun Morales

Tags

PS Now Adds New Three Games in June

3 years 9 months ago

As Sony looks to position its PS Now game streaming subscription service as a competitor to Microsoft’s Game Pass and upcoming Project xCloud, the Japanese publisher continues to bolster its lineup. For June, three new games join the library: Metro Exodus, Dishonored 2, and NASCAR Heat 4.

It’s the two first-person action games that have our attention in particular; Metro Exodus and Dishonored 2 represent two of the best in their respective genres.

Metro Exodus is a superb mash-up of story-driven FPS action and survival mechanics, and there’s a good deal of steal gameplay thrown in for good measure, too.

Although, if it’s stealth you’re after especially then Dishonored 2 is a must-play. The sequel from Arkane Studios is among the best stealth games of all time, with every level a gloriously detailed sandbox that offers players near limitless options to tackle them any which way they choose.

Twinfinite reviewed Dishonored 2 back in 2016 and scored it 4.5/5, concluding:

“Dishonored 2 is the bigger, badder, and bolder version of the original game, thanks to its densely packed world and wonderfully enjoyable mechanics. Even though the experience only has nine main missions, the amount of replayability and exploration offered allows this title to always feel exciting.”

For those who haven’t tried PS Now, there’s a free seven-day trial promotion running at the moment. You’ll have full access to stream all of the 800+ PS2, PS3, and PS4 games to either your console or PC before choosing whether to continue the subscription as a paid service.

Author
Alex Gibson

Tags

Europa Universalis IV: Emperor Video Explains New Holy Roman Empire Features and More

3 years 9 months ago

Today Paradox Interactive released a new video of the upcoming Europa Universalis expansion Emperor.

Appropriately, a lot of new features focus on the Holy Roman Empire in order to spice up its gameplay and events.

We also hear about changes made to naval blockades, which will become pretty much a sort of legalized piracy, while ship combat will be less lethal, allowing part of the involved fleet to disengage with heavy damage.

You can check out the video below. 

In case you missed it, here are the features coming with the expansion, which was announced back in March.

Author
Giuseppe Nelva

Tags

The Phone Settings You Need to Know Before Protesting

3 years 9 months ago

Tempting as it might be to just roll on up to a protest, a little planning can go a long way, especially if you’re going to take your phone with you. We’ve talked about a helpful shortcut iOS users can use to keep themselves safe (and we have an Android version in the works!), but there’s a lot more you need to do…

Read more...

Author
David Murphy on Lifehacker, shared by Riley MacLeod to Kotaku

Tags

(Update) Curse of the Sea Rats is a new Metroidvania...with rats

3 years 9 months ago

[Update: Petoons Studio has proudly announced that the Kickstarter campaign was a runaway success, reaching 135% of its initial funding in a mere nine hours. Curse of the Sea Rats is currently in development for PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.]

I'm always down for new Metroidvanias, and there's no shortage at the moment, including this new one from Petoons Studio: Curse of the Sea Rats.

The below trailer pretty much has it all. There's plenty of gameplay, as well as a look at the cutscene animation style, the multiple-character mechanic and of course: an evil rat that can summon bats and ghost snakes. The clip coincides with the Kickstarter launch today, which is asking for a respectable $16,690 goal with the intention of launching in April of 2021 on PC (Steam), PS4, Xbox One and Switch.

Amazingly, the Kickstarter clarifies that these heroes are not rats by nature: they were merely transformed into rats by a "pirate witch." "Transformed into rats by a pirate witch" is not just the hottest new metal band title up for grabs, but one of the coolest things I've been able to type out in 2020.

Although I'm shifting gears a little bit to mice now, I always thought a proper Secret of NIMH adaptation (akin to an adventure game) would have been pretty rad. There's a lot of interesting themes to explore, particularly when it comes to the novel (Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH).

Curse of the Sea Rats [Kickstarter]

Author
Chris Carter

Codemasters secures World Rally Championship licence

3 years 9 months ago

Codemasters has announced that it has secured the official World Rally Championship (WRC) licence, allowing the British developer to create games based on the off-road racing sport. Currently owned by Bigben Interactive, Codemasters will become the official WRC licensor in 2023.

The news might come as something of a surprise, given that Codemasters already has its own successful rally franchise in the form of DiRT - an evolution of the Colin McRae Rally series of the early '00s. Codemasters has stated that it intends to remain committed to the DiRT series, a new entry for which was announced just last month.

Going forward, Codemasters will helm individual franchises under the DiRT and WRC banners, with the first WRC title expected to release in 2024. The publisher will also play host to all related esports tournaments DiRT 5 is currently in development for a 2020 release on current and next-gen platforms.

Codemasters to create games based on the World Rally Championship [GamesIndustry.biz]

Codemasters secures World Rally Championship licence screenshot

Author
Chris Moyse

Wizards just implemented some huge Magic: Arena card bans

3 years 9 months ago

Although the last major set of bans for Magic: The Gathering was completely expected (Oko), the situation that has been unfolding in Ikoria has been a lot more complicated.

Right now, the meta has been dominated by the use of several cards (as much as 33% of the meta in some cases): Lukka Coppercoat Outcast, Agent of Treachery and Fires of Invention. Piloting this triple-threat is fairly simple. All you really need to do is buy time until you can cast Fires of Invention, then get out Lukka the next turn without having to pay his full two mountain mana cost (since Fires lets you cast two cards without mana matching each turn).

Then, simply use Lukka's -2 ability to destroy any token, then your Agent of Treachery (an otherwise high-cost card that is prohibitive to cast) can be "cheated out" early to take control of the enemy's lands or a key part of their board state. Given that the deck is usually combined with Torion Sky Nomad, you can also cast that card to blink (temporary remove, then restore cards to cause triggers) whatever you want, queuing up another Agent of Treachery steal. At this point, most opponents concede.

Author
Chris Carter

Pokémon Sword & Shield The Isle Of Armor Expansion Hits June 17

3 years 9 months ago

Pokémon Sword & Shield Expansion Pass

When the Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass and Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass were revealed earlier this year, Game Freak promised to inject two story-based adventures in new areas of the Pokémon world, as well as new and returning Pokémon, into Sword & Shield. While we haven't received much news since, today, we got a new trailer that gives us a refreshed look at the two expansions that are due this year. 

The Isle of Armor sees you venturing to an island to study at a prestigious Pokémon trainer school under the apprenticeship of former Galar-region champion Mustard. The Crown Tundra casts your trainer in the role of expedition leader as you venture through the snowy landscape and delve deep into a Pokémon Dens to battle myriad Legendary Pokémon from past games, including Galarian forms of the Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. 

In addition to seeing several returning Pokémon roaming the green pastures and desert expanses of the Isle of Armor, we also got a look at Galarian Slowbro and many of the new characters we'll be encountering, including Klara, Avery, and Mustard. The trailer below also gives us glimpses of Gigantamax Venusaur and Blastoise, as well as new Legendary Pokémon like Kubfu (and its evolved Urshifu forms) and Calyrex.

Author
Brian Shea

Total War Saga: Troy Will Be Free On The Day Of Its Release

3 years 9 months ago

Creative Assembly's Total War strategy series is almost always consistently good. However, there have been so many Total War games over the years that it is hard to know where to start. How about with this year's Total War Saga: Troy, which lets players assume the roles of Achilles, Hector, and many other legendary heroes from the Greek Trojan War. 

When Troy releases exclusively on the Epic Games Store on August 13, it will be free for the first 24 hours, so you have one less excuse to give this prolific series a shot. Mark your calendars now. 

Click image thumbnails to view larger version

Author
Ben Reeves