June 2021

Could this be related to rumors of an expansion?

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‘That scene probably wasn’t OSHA approved’

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A legendary bow! A mount! And more!

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A decent movie weighed down by an overwhelming question: Why now?

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Plus three other games you probably haven’t tried yet

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Another month, another batch of Games With Gold. As always, these games are only “free” if you have an active subscription to Xbox Live Gold. July’s Games With Gold are:

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Earlier today, former Bioware General Manager Casey Hudson announced the foundation of a brand new independent video game company, Humanoid Studios. The reveal came via a tweet, stating that he and some colleagues created the indie studio in order to unleash creative freedom for developers and bring innovation and artistry to players via new IPs.

Alongside the tweet, an official website was revealed for Humanoid Studios, which featured the following description of their goal as a company.

Founded by Casey Hudson
and talented developers from around the world,
we combine excellence in the arts with advanced sciences
to deliver the future of interactive entertainment.

We believe in hiring great people,
empowering them with the best tools and a supportive environment,
and providing them the creative freedom to do their best work.
We are building something special, and we invite you to
join us.

Hudson is best known for his work as project director on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the Mass Effect trilogy. He then went on to work for Microsoft as a creative director in 2015, before returning to Bioware in 2017, replacing Aaryn Flynn as general manager.

The reunion didn’t last too long, though, as he once again left at the end of 2020, likely with the goal in mind of creating Humanoid Studios. For more information on this new project, head on over to the official website here.

Today Atlus revealed a sizable gallery of screenshots of the upcoming JRPG Shin Megami Tensei V.

The gallery is similar to the one released a few days ago, but this time around all the menus and dialogue are localized in English.

We get to see cutscenes, character and demon progression, combat, negotiation, and fusion.

There is also the tease of multiple endings depending on the player’s choices.

Microsoft revealed another lineup of Xbox Games With Gold titles that Xbox Live Gold subscribers can claim for free during the month of July.

Planet Alpha, an Xbox One game about exploring and surviving on an alien planet, will be available to claim for the entire month starting on July 1 to July 31. Monty Python-esque tower defense and arcade game Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break is the other Xbox One title for the month and can be claimed starting July 16 through Aug. 15.

The highlight of this month’s lineup is Conker: Live & Reloaded for the original Xbox. The game contains a remake of the single-player mode from Nintendo 64 classic Conker’s Bad Fur Day and a multiplayer mode. Unfortunately, the multiplayer mode cannot be played online, but does support local multiplayer. It will be available from July 1 to July 15.

The final free title of July is Xbox 360 game Midway Arcade Origins. The game is a collection of 30 arcade titles such as Defender, Gauntlet, Rampart, and more. It will be available to claim from July 16 to July 31.

Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers still have time to claim some of the free Xbox Games With Gold games from last month.

Housemarque has a long resume of brilliant PlayStation exclusives, but it’s only today that the developer has officially become one of Sony’s first-party studios. Following the official announcement, GQ has published an interview with co-founder and managing director, Ilari Kuittinen, and head of PlayStation Studios Herman Hulst that lifts the curtain on some of the strategies behind the new arrangement, as well as some interesting takeaways pertaining to future games from Housemarque.

From Housemarque’s perspective, we learn that a major reason for its interest in an acquisition by PlayStation was as a result of the immense support the team received in developing Returnal from Sony’s other developer talent. In turn, it allowed them to create a far more ambitious game than they’d ever crafted before, and that’s exactly what they’re intent on continuing to build moving forward.

Ilari Kuittinen explained when prompted about “why now?” in regards to a merge with PlayStation after so many years as a second party studio:

“…recently we started to do something bigger, something more ambitious and we had a lot of collaboration with various studio teams as well. The results were great and that started to bring some ideas of what the future might look like. What if we could get even closer together and be even more ambitious?”

Future games, apparently, are likely to increase in size and scale, as opposed to the team making a return to smaller-scale arcade games, such as Resogun and Nex Machina. Ilari Kuittinen said:

Mario Golf Super Rush has only been out for just a few days, but a handful of characters have already positioned themselves ahead of the rest in this game. Whether curving shots, power, spin, or special shots are their specialty, there’s just something about their golf games that puts them at a higher level. These are the best characters you can pick in Mario Golf Super Rush.

The only potentially great character not included on this list is the Mii since it also has the potential to be abysmal depending upon how you distribute your stats. But these five characters listed will always give you a leg up on the competition in most game modes.

One of the most common things people wonder about Final Fantasy XI in 2021 is whether the game is still alive or not. For the average gamer who hasn’t kept up with Final Fantasy XI, the game died back when the lights went out on the console versions back in 2015. Back then, Square Enix announced that Rhapsodies of Vana’diel would be the final major content update, and it seemed like Final Fantasy XI was being pushed into maintenance mode.

Except, Final Fantasy XI has refused to die. Aside from the console versions being shut down, none of those other things happened. Final Fantasy XI receives monthly updates from developers of varying sizes and has received major content updates since Rhapsodies of Vana’diel, including a brand new storyline (despite once claiming Rhapsodies would be the end). It has carved out a niche, appealing to fans that want to play an old-school MMORPG, and enjoy the comfort of its Final Fantasy trappings.

While the headline to non-fans is likely the fact that Final Fantasy XI is receiving a new story in the way of the Voracious Resurgence, it hasn’t had a major impact in-game yet. The story has been rolling out slowly, with new missions being added every other month or so. This process will continue all the way through the game’s 20th anniversary next year.

Third-party developer SamScene3D recently released “Japan Fukuoka Wow,” an add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator, including scenery for both the largest city in the Japanese western island of Kyushu and its airport (RJFF).

This is certainly a very interesting package for those who love flying in Japan. Fukuoka is an important destination for domestic traffic and also sees quite a lot of international traffic mostly from China, Korea, and South-East Asia.

It’s also one of the increasingly rare large high-traffic airports located right in the middle of a major city, offering scenic approaches in both directions. It’s actually even rarer because instead of being replaced by another outside the urban area (often on artificial islands in Japan) it’s being expanded with a second runway scheduled to be completed in 2025.

Of course, this complicates matters considerably when trying to reproduce it in a flight simulator. But we’ll get to that later.

First, if you’d like to see what the scenery looks like in detail, above you can check out a video showcasing the ILS approach to runway 16. The video below includes a full flyover of the airport and of the city itself, in a diverse range of lighting and weather conditions.

It’s been a long three month wait since the PC version of Risk of Rain 2 received the Anniversary Update, but today is finally the day for PlayStation and Xbox consoles. There is no word on when the Anniversary Update will be coming to the Nintendo Switch. The update is live as of now when we checked, so you should be able to download it soon if it isn’t life for you yet.

Among other usual changes and new additions of the game, the standout of the Anniversary Update is the inclusion of a new character, the Bandit. This is another returning character from the first Risk of Rain, but has been reworked to better fit with the mechanics of the sequel.

For anyone who is just now picking up the game, the Huntress character that used to be locked behind a challenge is now available from the start. This is good news for players wanting to unlock the Bandit right away, as he takes her place as the reward for that particular challenge. No spoilers here.

Assuming all of the Anniversary Update patch notes will be the exact same, (which they should be, none of the notes directly call out anything that could be considered PC only) they can be found on the Steam page.

Aside from the Bandit, new items in an update like this are nice in that they give new reasons to run through the game even if you have already said and done everything. This time around you can look forward to:

From the Studio: MMA fighter Cole Young must train to unlock his true power and stand with Earth’s greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high-stakes battle for the universe.

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While it is available for purchase on digital now, we have 10 Mortal Kombat digital movies to give away, all you need to do is enter below by 7/12/2021 for your chance to win one. You can enter once per day via some methods below. Winners will be selected by random drawing from all eligible entries on or after 7/12/2021 and digital codes will be sent via email. Mortal Kombat is rated R. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Must be a legal resident of the U.S. age 17 or older to redeem movie code. Full rules available with each entry method below. Good Luck!

Forza Horizon 5 is right around the corner, but the launch of a new game means less time to focus on delivering new content to its predecessor. ...

Don†™t miss Xsolla's sponsored Devnote on the state of the game industry at GDC 2021. ...

Good Smile Company opened pre-orders for its Demon Slayer Nezuko Harmonia humming doll, and it will cost people $315 to bring her home.

The post Demon Slayer Nezuko Harmonia humming Doll Costs $315 appeared first on Siliconera.

The latest Genshin Impact Collected Miscellany trailer is here, and Dainsleif goes over the entire Kazuha moveset while gameplay is shown.

The post Kazuha Moveset Showcased in Genshin Impact Collected Miscellany Video appeared first on Siliconera.

Magic: Legends, the ARPG that combined Diablo-style aesthetics with the card game mechanics of Magic: The Gathering, will shut down October 31.

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Today, Remedy Entertainment and 505 Games announced plans for a multiplayer spin-off to Control, the mind-bending third-person shooter released in 2019. The project, codenamed Condor, is being developed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

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Heads up: Next month, Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI will no longer be available via Steam. Square Enix will replace those games with the recently announced “Pixel Remaster” versions. Eventually.

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Today third-party developers shared quite a few interesting reveals about upcoming Microsoft Flight Simulator add-ons.

First of all, we hear from Just Flight that announced the vintage airliner Fokker F28 Fellowship. It’ll come in four variants including 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000.

Below you can read how the developer describes the project and see quite a few screenshots.

“Just Flight are excited to bring you four variants of the F28 Fellowship regional jet – the 1000 to 4000. Announced in 1962, the F28-1000 first flew in 1967 and entered airline service in 1969. The stretched 2000, 3000 and 4000 variants followed in the 1970s, and production ended in 1987. The aircraft proved to be popular and entered airline service around the world, with the last commercial operation ending in 2018.

The F28 for Microsoft Flight Simulator features a native model and 4096 x 4096 PBR materials for the highest possible texture detail and clarity. Realistic animations include dynamic wing-flex, all passenger, service and cargo doors, and the distinctive spoilers and tail-mounted airbrake.

Moving to the cockpit, the Captain, Co-Pilot and jump-seat positions are modeled with nearly all switches, knobs and levers animated and functional. The aircraft will feature custom-coded autopilot, hydraulic, electrical, engine bleed, fuel and pressurisation systems. Wear and tear based on extensive reference photos and custom sounds will produce an authentic cockpit environment, with highly realistic flight dynamics completing the immersive experience. 

Development work is now well underway on the F28 Fokker Fellowship and we’re glad to be able to showcase this first set of screenshots for you. These are WIP of course but nice to see this new regional jet inside the sim.”

Mario Golf Super Rush has only been out for a few days and players are already making mind-blowing shots that you have to see to believe. Whether it’s a chip-in, a special shot, or just a lucky shot, you can find it all here. And what’s even more impressive is that the first handful of shots were done on day one.

First up is Digibutter64 on the Mario Golf subreddit. Playing as Chargin’ Chuck, she managed to land the ball straight into the hole from around 100 yards away. Usually, in Mario Golf Super Rush, you’ll see a chip-in shot end up landing on the green and rolling into the cup. That is already impressive, but shooting it straight into the hole is just downright ridiculous.

The Last of Us series continues to take the entertainment medium by storm, as its video games and an upcoming television series are all anyone can talk about. Unfortunately for those of you that are dying for more content, the remake and HBO adaptation are still a while out. Luckily, there is something that can hold you over till then: a fan film going by the name of Project Spores.

Depicting the events of The Last of Us Part II, this fan project is a collaborative effort between cosplayers to help bring their favorite Naughty Dog game to life. You can see a teaser from Project Spores below.

The Youtube description for the project described it in the following way:

Remedy Entertainment has just released a blog post on its website announcing that a Control multiplayer game is being worked on. Remedy and 505 Games have signed an agreement to co-publish and develop this upcoming spin-off.

The game is codenamed “Condor,” and it’ll be expanding the Control universe through multiplayer, in a way we haven’t seen before. Game Director of the Control franchise, Mikael Kasurinen, had this to say about the spin-off:

Control is first and foremost a world, a place for multitudes of stories, events, and characters. A place where unexpected, strange, and extraordinary things occur. We kicked it off with Jesse’s entry into the Oldest House, but there is more to this world. Oh, so much more.

And Project Condor will be an expression of that.

Kasurinen goes on to say that he knows there will be skepticism about multiplayer since Remedy has made single-player games for over 25 years. But the developer aims to add a social multiplayer aspect to Control’s world “without compromising the unique DNA” of who they are.

The blog post also contained a concept art image that “tells pretty well what Condor is about.”

Bandai Namco has release new screenshot and videos showcasing elements of Tales of Arise’s combat gameplay.

We get to take a look at each character’s special ability in a series of new images.

For Alphen’s Flaming Edge we also get a video of its activation animation.

Codemasters’ upcoming F1 2021 is set to deliver another finely tuned iteration of its longstanding Formula 1 series of racing games, but there’s a reason for players to be excited even beyond the driving mechanics. Braking Point is the name of the series’ new story-driven career mode that looks set to deliver a dramatic tale of a young up-and-coming Formula 2 driver attempting to make it in the big leagues, and today it’s been detailed alongside some new screenshots.

Here’s an overview of the storyline’s key protagonists via the game’s website:

• Aiden Jackson

Aiden is a potential star in the making. A young, promising driver embarking on his first F1® season, who idolises his teammate, Casper Akkerman. Jackson is viewed as a success story, having worked his way up from F2™. Easy to like, Aiden can put up a good front for the cameras. However, behind the scenes he’s struggling with the transition to the big league. Expected to be courted by one of the bigger teams, he has hit the ground running and is already making waves.

• Casper ‘Cas’ Akkerman

Known for his ice-cold and no-nonsense approach, Casper is a steady hand determined to lift his team away from the midfield battle. His calm temperament and dogged determination have served him well throughout his illustrious career. However, with a crop of young talent breaking through, he’s feeling the pressure of trying to remain at the top of his game despite being in the twilight of his career.

And seven more takeaways from Tarantino’s first novel

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Before the Dawn, Speedhack, and Crack and Decrypt 3 in Season 14

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Emphasis on the rush

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The developer is inviting you back to the oldest house, and it wants you to bring your friends

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The game won’t come to Windows PC via Steam or console, after all

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All player purchases made during the beta period will be refunded, while Magic: Legends is slated to go offline this year. ...

Magic: Legends, the free-to-play ARPG set in the Magic: The Gathering universe, is shutting down for good on October 31, 2021. If this seems really fast to you, you’re right - the game technically never even left the beta phase for an official launch, nor did it ever get its scheduled console launches on Xbox or Playstation. On the plus side, if you did play it at all on the Epic Games Store or Arc launcher, you’re getting a full refund for any purchases made.

Magic: Legends is shutting down on October 31, 2021. Read the full statement and FAQ here > https://t.co/BMQZDHTWrU pic.twitter.com/6viue1Sbs6

Casey Hudson announced that he was leaving BioWare once more back in December 2020, and now we're finally getting a look at what he's been up to since then. The former BioWare boss took to Twitter to share an inside look at his new gaming company called Humanoid Studios that has a mission statement we can stand behind, "unleash the creative freedom of developers." 

Hudson shared our first look at Humanoid Studios on June 29, with a sneak peek at what this new journey looks like. "I've been working with some colleagues on something awesome," he started. "And I wish I could tell you all about it! For now, though, I can say that [today] we are announcing a new independent videogame company built to unleash the creative freedom of developers - bringing innovation and artistry to players through an all-new IP." 

We are Humanoid Studios. This is the first tiny step in our journey, and we hope you'll come along with us on the adventure. https://t.co/b77Z2hbKFG

Bethesda confirmed back in October of last year that Starfield would be using an overhauled engine for the studio with Creation Engine 2. This news excited fans for obvious reasons. While Bethesda knows how to tell a solid tale, that doesn't mean that franchises like Fallout and Elder Scrolls have really done a good job at keeping up with the times in terms of tech and aesthetics. Now, following the Xbox-Bethesda E3 2021 showcase, Todd Howard is talking a little more openly about The Elder Scrolls 6, including confirming that it will utilize the same engine as Starfield. 

When sitting down with The Telegraph, Howard talked about a plethora of topics, including his original 2009 Indiana Jones game pitch. He also confirmed the engine news about both upcoming games, though Howard was careful to once again reiterate that The Elder Scrolls 6 is still a long way off. In fact, it's still in the "design phase." 

The Planetarian items will have starry designs.

The post SuperGroupies Will Release New Merchandise From Key’s Planetarian appeared first on Siliconera.

Sony officially announced Housemarque is part of PlayStation Studios, and an image in a tweet mentioned Bluepoint Games as well.

The post New PlayStation Studios Include Housemarque and Maybe Bluepoint appeared first on Siliconera.