Microsoft once proposed buying Nintendo in order to lock in its first-party games for the Xbox. The Japanese video game company didn’t just decline to entertain the offer; it laughed the tech giant’s executives out of the room, according to a new report by Bloomberg.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest forces you to make choices and live with the consequence they have on people and the world.
The post Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest Is Gripping on the Go appeared first on Siliconera.
Square Enix will announce new dates for the art exhibit at a later date.
The post Final Fantasy XIV Artwork Exhibition Postponed Due to COVID-19 appeared first on Siliconera.
One of the biggest promos of the year, Team of the Year, is just around the corner and EA Sports has revealed that voting for the team will begin tomorrow, Jan. 7.
The news was revealed in a short video on the publisher’s Twitter account, but it reveals nothing more than the voting start time. They haven’t revealed exactly how the voting will work, who’s included, or when the cards will eventually be released into packs.
Research company SuperData has released its annual report on digital video game spending throughout 2020, which reveals that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was the highest-earning premium game of the year according to its own data. The game earned an impressive $1,913 Billion in revenue.
Below you can see the full top 10, which features usual suspects like FIFA, NBA 2K, and Sims, in addition to newly released titles like Cyberpunk 2077.
SuperData’s report includes supporting commentary, explaining that the top 10 accounts for 34% of the total market, a figure substantially higher than the free-to-play market (19%) due to the front-loaded nature of premium game releases. It notes that highly advertised games –such as Cyberpunk 2077– are always likely to succeed for that reason.
There’s some bad news for those enjoying the Nintendo Netflix app on their devices. As Netflix has yet to be introduced to the Nintendo Switch, there will soon be no way to watch the streaming service on any device in the Nintendo family.
While every device is affected by the end of the Nintendo Netflix app, the full list for those curious is: New Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS XL, New Nintendo 2DS XL, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL, Nintendo 2DS, Wii U Deluxe, Wii U Basic.
There is a slight, albeit temporary, silver lining for those who still have the app installed. While the app might have been removed from the eShop at the end of December, the service itself isn’t being shut off until the end of June. It also sounds like anyone with a current Nintendo account can download it, but no new users.
The full statement (located here) regarding closing down the Nintendo Netflix app reads:
The Netflix app was removed from Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS Family systems on Dec 31st, 2020. They are no longer available for new users to download. It is possible for existing users to re-download these applications at this time. Service for both applications will be discontinued on June 30th, 2021. Thank you for your support of these applications over the years.
If you’re planning on continuing to use the Nintendo Netflix app until the eventual shutdown, why not start with Twinfinite’s best choices for horror on Netflix?
Today third-party developer Aerosoft shared new images of its upcoming airports for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Firstly, we get to see a new gallery of images of Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (WADD), which was announced back in December.
A release date for the airport has not been announced just yet.
On top of that, we get the reveal of La Coruna (LECO) airport in Spain. This one also doesn’t have a release date for the moment.
Odds are if you're playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare still, you're probably playing the battle royale Warzone component. Activision is banking on that too, as they've completely converted the "Modern Warfare" Battle.net launcher listing into "Warzone."
Yep, outside of the tiny little "MW" logo near the giant "Warzone" letters, future players would pretty much never know that Modern Warfare was offered on the launcher at first glance. The move actually happened in late December, but a lot of folks went to boot up their game over break and just noticed the shift (or their launcher wasn't fully updated yet).
This is effectively just a rebranding. Modern Warfare still exists, but it has taken a backseat to Activision's attempt to make Warzone as popular as Fortnite. Some fans are mixed on the shift, asking Activision to make Warzone a separate app. Others, still fans of Modern Warfare multiplayer proper, are upset that their game is basically being left in the dust.
Having played every modern Call of Duty since...the original Modern Warfare though, this is a sort of natural state for this series. Activision moves on to the new hotness and rarely lingers, unless the game is a massive hit and they can keep pumping DLC into it for a time. Warzone is one of the biggest breakouts they've had in the history of the franchise, creating as much buzz as zombies when it was first released; so focusing on it is a no-brainer.
Still, completely eclipsing the Modern Warfare name that a lot of developers worked on just seems strange.
People Can Fly and Square Enix's loot-chasing shooter-RPG Outriders was delayed again, this time slipping from February 2 to April 1. As the studio said in a statement on Twitter, that date is "no joke."
Before it launches on current- and technically-now-last-gen platforms, Outriders will have a multi-hour demo with co-op, all four classes, and data migration to the full version – which is good, because this game needs it. If you're willing to give it a chance to sell itself, the demo will go live on February 25.
As much as many of us have fond memories of Bulletstorm – a chaotic shooter that managed to cut through the noise in 2011 with fun gunplay and a "bold" personality – there's something about the general look, feel, and maybe even timing of Outriders that hasn't resonated. It can't just be me!
What's your gut reaction to this loadout screen (aside from its... familiarity)?
It feels like people have an idea of what this game is like, but that perception may not line up with what it's setting out to do. Case in point: Outriders isn't games-as-a-service, a fact I keep forgetting. It's meant to be "complete" at launch as opposed to the Destiny 2 model that's more than covered by other games. That's not to say it'll be inherently good or bad, of course – we'll have to see when we play it.
The new console wars have begun, and we are all winning this battle.
This generation, it feels like there's something for everyone. PC is still an ever-present constant. VR is gaining traction on some platforms. The Switch offers up a long-term Nintendo experience that shows no signs of tanking anytime soon (sorry, Wii U). The PS5 seems to be doing well right now. And Microsoft climbed out of the depths of despair with the Xbox One launch and is rocking it with Game Pass. There's options.
Microsoft, however, is arguably the king of options. The DualSense is a great controller, don't get me wrong, but I really love the fact that basically all of my existing Xbox hardware works on the Series X/S. It makes everything so easy when I want to jack up a local player count or try out a controller I haven't played with in a while. But Microsoft might be trying something new down the road.
According to Tech Radar, the publisher sent out a fan survey asking if they wanted to see new features for future Xbox controllers. Specifically, the survey seems to inquire about "PlayStation controller" features that users would like to see in future iterations, and whether or not the Xbox Series X controller (with its dedicated share button) is "next-gen enough."
I have to say, I'm satisfied with both the Series X and PS5. I actually swap between both quite often now, in part because my Series X has a lot more space after I invested in the SSD storage solution. We're spoiled for choice, but if Microsoft does add these features to a future controller just to compete, we'll have even more options down the line.
miHoYo has posted a lovely teaser trailer introducing us to the next hero headed to its ever-evolving RPG Genshin Impact, which is practically printing money at a phenomenal rate. The relaxing video takes us on a stroll with Ganyu, a charming young woman who works as an emissary for the governing body, Liyue Qixing.
In the short teaser, Ganyu performs her role to a tee, showing us around the merchant village that is Liyue Harbor, stopping to gaze at its beautiful vistas and hypnotic, star-filled skies, segueing the seductive abilities of the surroundings and her own inviting nature to sneak in a request that you work your ass off... Wait a minute? Is this a job interview?!
For those of you hoping to roll for the cryo-archer's arrival, Ganyu will be joining the pull-pipe sometime around mid-January, with the current Albedo banner expected to end on Tuesday, January 12.
"106,327 heartbearts... The time that has passed since I last knew rest..." You and me both, sister.
After embracing violence for at least the past four years and explicitly encouraging Trump supports to swarm Washington D.C. today, Republican leaders from Ted Cruz to Don Jr. are now wringing their hands that the exact outcome many people predicted has come to pass.
Recently, Square Enix announced a Final Fantasy XIV artwork exhibition to be hosted in Tokyo’s trendy Roppongi Hills complex. Today, the publisher announced with a press release that it has been postponed.
The exhibition was supposed to be hosted from January 8 to January 12 at the scenic O-YANE Plaza venue in Roppongi Hills.
Square Enix announced that it had been preparing for the exhibition making sure that infection protection measures at the venue. Yet, after taking in consideration the current situation, they decided not to hold the event at this time in order to ensure the safety of attendees.
This doesn’t mean that the exhibition is canceled, but it’ll likely be hosted at a later time. No new date has been announced, but Square Enix promised to make a decision on the timing of the event depending on how the situation evolves.
The event was supposed to showcase artwork from the game, scenic views displayed in different weather conditions via beautiful screenshots (many of which taken by actual players), and even a LEGO reproduction of one of Final Fantasy XIV’s cities created with over 200,000 blocks by The University of Tokyo LEGO Club.
We already know that Square Enix will host a big online event in February, when the new Final Fantasy XIV expansion will likely be revealed.
Final Fantasy XIV is currently available for PlayStation 4 and PC and Square Enix recently announced that it has passed 20 million players.
Plenty of anime get released every season, including new seasons of popular shows. 2020 has had more than a few standouts, but which all-new upcoming anime adaptations should you be on the lookout for in 2021?
An entire list could be made using new seasons of established shows like The Promised Neverland, My Hero Academia, or Shield Hero, but here are a few brand-new anime that you should have on your radar.
You may have heard that Stardew Valley had had another huge update in December bringing a new farm map and some cool endgame secrets. It’s not the just the main game though, some of Stardew’s biggest mods were updated on the same day, including one of my personal favorites, Stardew Valley Expanded. This giant mod has also gotten its share of new characters, content, and a new farm map too.
Everything going terribly wrong is the theme of most of my Divinity: Original Sin 2 experiences. Fire everywhere, right? Speedrunners know this big RPG’s ins and outs much better than I do, but it turns out even they aren’t impervious to disaster—or fire. This year’s D:OS2 speedrun during the Awesome Games Done Quick marathon went totally off the rails but was an even more fun watch because of it.
While not explicitly my "game of the year" list, what follows does actually include two of my top three games of the year. The rest? Incredible games that I genuinely think everyone should play. Games that appeal to those beyond their genre(s) and simply appeal to basic human nature and interest. Games that have those moments that you will tell your grandchildren about one day.
Normally, this would be a list of me rattling off my indie hipster bullshit, and, well, it is actually mostly that. But! There's even a triple-A title on here. Isn't that enticing? And hey, while you may not have played these in 2020, there is still plenty of time to rectify this! So stay safe, wear a mask, and isolate yourself with these killer games from 2020.
Niantic has announced that it has acquired community gaming platform Mayhem.gg with an eye to boosting the social and global aspects of Pokémon GO and future community-driven titles. As of this writing the terms of the sale, including cost, are undisclosed.
Mayhem was founded in 2017 as a downloadable platform with which gaming communities could organize tournaments, team leagues, and other events – not unlike esports platform Smash.gg, which itself was purchased by Microsoft last month. However, quite unlike the Smash.gg acquisition, it appears that Mayhem's team will be directly integrated into Niantic, and as such will be ending its status as a community league gaming platform.
"Through our games, many Niantic explorers have found incredible meaning in playing and interacting with other explorers," said Niantic CEO John Hanke in an official blog post. "They create memories, they make friends, and they end up with some amazing stories to tell. We look forward to working together with Mayhem to amplify those moments, bring our player community closer together, and make a positive impact on the world."
The Mayhem acquisition is the seventh of such major purchases by Niantic, who has seen nought but incredible success since the launch of Pokémon GO. The community-based mobile title continues to draw bank-busting revenue, having pulled in over $4 billion since its launch back in 2016.
In case you forgot, My Nintendo has been offering up physical rewards for a few months now. Some of them are constantly out of stock, some are lightly restocked, and others have remained in the store basically the entire time they've been there. But unless you check the site every day, it's hard to keep track of everything. Enter this helpful user-created tracker.
Found on Reddit from user RootBearr, the tracker basically takes care of everything. It showcases every currently available physical reward, displays the Platinum Point cost, and allegedly displays the current stock of the item. It updates "every 10 minutes" automatically, and you can opt to have in-browser notifications poke at you when something changes.
Of note, it only works in the US right now, but they are working on "incorporating many other regions as well." They are currently running into geo-location issues at the moment. As far as "in development" features go, they want to eventually expand the notification system and possibly create an app for it. RootBearr is actually testing European functionality right now.
Great timing! We recently published a gigantic comprehensive guide for all things My Nintendo. Use it in conjunction with this tracker site!
Rewards [My Nintendo Rewards Items via Reddit]
[Update: Upon review, I have altered the text to better reflect the amount of time developers spent pouring their talent and passion into Battleborn’s creation. I apologise for misrepresenting the situation. My intent was noble, but I should've put more thought into my choice of words.]
Gearbox's multiplayer release Battleborn will be taken offline later this month. The imaginative but unfortunately unsuccessful release will shut down its servers on January 25, rendering the game entirely unplayable, even in single-player mode.
Launching in May 2016 on PS4, PC, and Xbox One, Battleborn offered players a selection of team-based multiplayer modes, featuring a roster of great-looking and creative hero archetypes. While Battleborn offered a much different experience to that of Blizzard's Overwatch – released mere weeks later – the latter title completely overshadowed and dominated Gearbox's effort, essentially killing Battleborn right out of the starting gate. Battleborn would transition to a free-to-play format in 2017, but by that point the iceberg was well in view.
In a mournful thread on Twitter, Battleborn writer Aaron Linde lamented the impending shutdown, noting that a game developers had poured tireless days, weeks, and months of their lives into creating will simply cease to exist in its entirety. Linde's thoughts offer a human reality to much of modern gaming. Where once today's games were just tomorrow's "retro releases," Always-Online titles such as Battleborn will essentially "vaporize", consigned to be remembered in history books and the memories of those who experienced them.
CD Projekt Red took to Twitter to refute a post created by an alleged anonymous Cyberpunk 2077 developer. The post in question received a lot of attention on Cyberpunk 2077's Reddit page, but was originally sourced from GameSpot's sister site GameFAQs.
Normally we don't comment on rumors but this time we wanted to make an exception as this story is simply not true.https://t.co/JuOTY2qJbM
— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) January 6, 2021
The post contained a lot of rumors, from update schedules to descriptions of what content was cut. It alleged that Cyberpunk 2077 would possibly receive a "No Man's Sky style comeback," and that the redone Cyberpunk 2077 would be finished in June 2021 with a "good chunk of code...getting scrapped and rewritten from scratch." June's update supposedly would sort out all the bugs found on all versions, and would bring back a lot of cut content.
Elaborating on the cut content, the writer told players that if they "see that you guys are asking for s*** to be put back into the game, we might actually make the game we intended back in 2018." The writer alleged that there was a huge underground area that looked like "Malkavian/Nosferatu path on Vampire the Masquerade," and stated that apartments with "Closed (locked) indications used to be lootable."
EA is teasing new Sims content on Twitter. The studio will reveal the first 2021 content pack for the hit simulation game on January 12.
EA posted a GIF of a Sims character surrounded by ghosts on Twitter. Players believe that the pack will include more content for ghosts, or Sims who have died.
Let the investigation begin! 😱👻
— The Sims (@TheSims) January 6, 2021
Tune in January 12th for the first pack reveal of 2021! #TheSims4StuffPack pic.twitter.com/Qs1XrtVBR2
This is a "stuff pack," or a downloadable pack that adds more objects and fashion items. There aren't any gameplay features in stuff packs as they are "smaller packs," according to EA. Expansion packs add more substance to the game with new systems and gameplay elements. Previous stuff packs include items based around laundry day, tiny living, and a first pet.
Continue Reading at GameSpotHalo: The Master Chief Collection has brought back one of the Halo franchise's most famous modes: Grifball. Available now in The Master Chief Collection, Grifball is one of the zaniest and most enjoyable/frustrating modes across all of Halo.
For those just catching up, Grifball is a non-traditional team-based multiplayer mode where players are equipped with a gravity hammer and energy sword and must try to plant and detonate a bomb. Things rarely go to plan, and the mode often leads to some white-knuckle action and excitement.
The future is now and with it comes the greatest sport known to Spartans. Grifball returns to MCC bringing you the chance to smash enemies and score goals! pic.twitter.com/mChQg34dCg
— Halo (@Halo) January 6, 2021
Developer 343 often rotates multiplayer modes in Halo: MCC to keep things fresh and to avoid having too many playlists online at the same time to benefit the overall experience. But with Grifball being such an iconic mode that is super fun and lighthearted, many are wondering why it's not a permanent fixture in the game.
Continue Reading at GameSpotWhile Arkane Lyon is busy working on the PC and PlayStation 5 title Deathloop, Dishonored co-creator Harvey Smith has his hands on a separate unannounced project at Arkane Austin.
Smith said in an interview with the Spanish site Vandal that, after moving back to Austin, Texas following the conclusion of Dishonored 2's development at Lyon, he started working on something else. Though he didn't name the project, Smith confirmed he's not involved with Deathloop and instead collaborating with developers that worked on both Dishonored and Prey.
"At the end of Dishonored 2 I went back to Austin," Smith told Vandal. "I'm not on Deathloop, I'm on another [project], working with those who made Dishonored and Prey."
Continue Reading at GameSpotThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has changed how conventions operate--or don't--and this certainly applies to CES 2021. The event won't be held in-person this year, but there will still be plenty of virtual presentations and announcements beginning Monday, January 11. The biggest names in technology will share news on upcoming products and services, including gaming brands. Here is everything you need to know about CES 2021, including the dates, key presentations, and expected announcements.
CES 2021 will take place online from January 11 through January 14, and events are scheduled throughout each of these days. It kicks off with a keynote presentation from Verizon CEO and chairman Hans Vestberg on January 11 at 3:30 PM PT / 6:30 PM ET.
You can see a full list of when each event kicks off on the official CES website. Keep in mind that some of the scheduled events during these CES 2021 dates are actually replays of previously-streamed presentations. This is the case for every single event on January 14.
Continue Reading at GameSpotNow that Cyberpunk 2077 has been available on PC for a while, modders and dataminers have wasted no time in combing the game’s code for any sort of cut content that might not have made it into the final product. One discovery that YouTuber FredrickFlower has made is that players can apparently romance Judy as V with a male body type and voice tone.
In the base game, Judy is only available as a romance option for female V, but it would appear that the game contains the same voice lines spoken by male V in the romantic scenarios with Judy as well. By modding the game, players would be able to romance her even with a male body type, as demonstrated in the video below.
However, CD Projekt Red has since clarified the situation when speaking with Eurogamer, and stated that they had simply recorded the voice lines in the game with both male and female voice actors to prevent situations where they might miss out on something by mistake.
Nintendo of America is looking for a bilingual Japanese speaker to join its team as an 'Assistant Manager, Special Projects.' ...
"Steve [Ballmer] made us go meet with Nintendo to see if they would consider being acquired. They just laughed their asses off." ...
Twitch has removed the extremely popular “Pogchamp” emote from its service after the man featured in it, streamer Ryan “Gootecks” Gutierrez, tweeted some Extremely Bad Shit about the events currently unfolding in Washington.
Artdink announced today that the newest game of the long-running A-Train series has a release date.
The game, titled “A-Ressha Deikou Hajimaru Kankou Keikaku” will launch in Japan on March 12, 2021.
While there is no mention of a western release, it will support English language on top of Japanese, Chinese (traditional and simplified) and Korean.
The price will be 6.980 yen plus taxes.
This game is the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the first A-Train, even if it’s slightly late. The original game was released in December 1985.
For those unfamiliar with the franchise, it’s basically a railway-focused urban development game in which the player focuses on developing public transportation lines.
This new game adds a sightseeing element with a strong focus on tourism. You can fully customize trains, buses, and trucks with colors, lights, pantographs, stickers, and more.
Company management is an important factor, and you both have a scenario mode and a free sandbox mode.
Last, but not least, the character design in this new A-Train is handled by Yuji Himukai, known for the Etrian Odyssey series.
Today Npixel revealed the Korean release date and more trailers of its upcoming MMORPG Gran Saga.
The game for PC and mobile (both iOS and Android) will launch in the country on January 26.
The first trailer showcases the game’s characters, while the second focuses on gameplay, and more specifically on a rather hectic boss battle.
You can check both out below.
Today Acquire released the first trailer of Akiba’s Trip: First Memory, known in the west as Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound and Debriefed.
The trailer provides a look at the gameplay and the characters, which may not be familiar to many considering that ten years have passed since the release of the original game in 2011 for PSP.
The Japanese release is coming on May 20 for PS4 and Nintendo Switch, while the western release is coming this year. For now, only PS4 and PC have been announced as the platforms for North America and Europe, but this doesn’t mean it won’t come for the Switch, as the announcement is quite old.
You can watch it below.
If you’re unfamiliar with the game, you can read the official description from Xseed below.
You can now pre-order these adorable Final Fantasy XIV Fat Cat nail clippers and a strange Serpent of Ronka pencil case.
The post New Final Fantasy XIV Items Include Fat Cat Nail Clippers appeared first on Siliconera.
I was so disappointed the first time I saw the credits roll in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. I’d heard it was short before I booted it up, but I don’t think I knew how short. Where were my oddly-timed codec conversations about how Jack met Rose? Why didn’t I have to climb a giant ladder while an acapella version of the theme faintly played in the background? Why didn’t a man that was clearly in disguise reveal his true identity by taking off his sunglasses?
Then I saw a load of side missions unlocked and I started over again. And then again. And again. And again.
