September 2021

Earlier this week, we saw our first look at the cast of the upcoming Resident Evil movie reboot called Welcome To Raccoon City, and the casting choices seemed to leave some longtime fans confused. With many adaptations, there is the creative freedom to deviate from the source material. We've seen it a million times through the years, including storyline changes and casting choices. When characters like Leon, Jill, and Claire were revealed, immediately the internet was split into two groups: one that felt that the upcoming movie reboot looked promising. In contrast, the other group questioned the actors chosen for their iconic horror roles. The director, Johannes Roberts, gave a little insight into the reasons behind the casting decisions made for the upcoming Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City movie. 

Jurassic World Evolution 2 continues to march towards its Nov. 9 release date and, as it does so, developer Frontier Developments will likely continue to prep aspiring park managers on what to expect. In the case of today’s new trailer, we all get a look at proper guest management.

Guests will have varying needs that will be to be balanced out throughout your park if you want to keep everyone happy. Some guests want to experience a dinosaur adventure like no other. Others want to take in the natural beauty of the park, while some just want to have a luxurious day at the dinosaur park.

Over time, you’ll develop all the resources you need to attend to all of those needs, and it’ll be up to you to put together a park that efficiently deals with all that, and that is aesthetically pleasing not only to your guests but to you the player as well. Or don’t and let your park be a total mess like the movies if you want, it’s up to you.

Sony Interactive Entertainment has just revealed the line-up for the games that will be granted to PlayStation Plus subscribers in August 2021 at no additional cost.

This month is a pretty good one for PlayStation players, as you’ll be getting Overcooked: All You Can Eat!, Hitman 2, and Predator: Hunting Grounds.

Anyone unfamiliar with these upcoming PlayStation Plus titles can check out their descriptions below:

Overcooked: All You Can Eat! | PS5*

Today, Japanese developer White Owls Inc. dropped a new trailer for their upcoming small-town mystery adventure game, The Good Life, which is all set to arrive on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC this coming fall. Go ahead and feast your eyes on the brand new video down below:

Clearly, the newly released trailer is filled to the brim with bonkers ideas and oddball characters. From playable cats and dogs to rideable sheep to the possibility of a mysterious murder, there’s a lot for fans to dissect in this new snippet of gameplay.

Frankly, the general wackiness of the above footage should come as no surprise since the game’s development is being spearheaded by Hidetaka “Swery 65” Suehiro, the brainchild of the weird and wonderful cult classic, Deadly Premonition, and its sequel, Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing In Disguise.

The summer of 2021 is nearly over and, well, Covid-19 is still a problem, and for many around the world, life is still not completely back to normal. The same can be said of the gaming world too. Developers are still working remotely in some companies, and Covid-19 is still impacting development and production times. Hopefully, by next year we can call summer “normal” for video games again, but we’ll have to wait and see.

All that said, the summer came and went as usual and games were still released. Let’s look back at the last two summers, and see which one was better for gamers.

Obviously, your preferences will vary, and we’re not going to compare every single game that was released because there’s a lot of video games out there, but instead, we’ll look at a few highlights (and lowlights) to try and get a feel for which summer was better.

As gamers, it can feel like we spend most of our time counting down the days until that next big game releases. Until your pre-order is delivered through your door or you can finally access that digital download you purchased. You boot the game up for the first time, palms sweaty (knees weak, arms possibly heavy, too), as you press ‘New Game’ and embark on another epic adventure. But just how well do you remember those iconic game’s release dates, or even release years once you’ve finished playing them?

Well, we thought we’d put your knowledge of release years to the test, by giving you 25 of the most iconic games of all-time and seeing if you can correctly guess their release years in North America.

Don’t expect this to be some easy walk in the park, either. We’re going to be testing your knowledge on everything from the PlayStation 1 and N64 eras, right through to more modern games that have been released on the last (and current generation of consoles). It may sound easy enough, but just wait until your mind goes blank when you start the quiz. Have fun with that!

This should be the game’s initial release year in the territory, too, and not one for a remaster or remake that came at a later date. Similarly, we’re looking for the full release of the game, no betas or anything like that… not that that’s a clue for any of the games… Oh, and of course, no cheating!

If you’re looking to continue testing your release date knowledge, then we’ve got some good news for you. We’ve got quizzes on PS4 game release dates, console release dates, and Nintendo Switch game release dates, too!

Last week saw a brand-new, never-before-playable character within the Mario Kart series debut in the rather successful Mario Kart Tour. This character was none other than the most prominent of Magikoopa, Kamek.

Kamek was originally supposed to debut in Mario Kart 64, 25 years ago. Instead, Donkey Kong took his place on the roster, and poor Kamek has been in Mario Kart limbo ever since. That was until this week of course, as he was added into Mario Kart Tour.

Mario Kart Tour itself has seen the appearance of several new playable characters introduced to the Mario Kart series, such as Pauline, Nabbit, Dixie Kong, King Bob-Omb, the Hammer Bro, Ice Bro, and Fire Bro, for instance. However, there are several other prime candidates deserving of an appearance in future Mario Kart games or even Mario Kart Tour itself that haven’t yet been added in an entry.

We have come up with a list of six characters more than overdue of having themselves added to the ever-expanding roster of racers within the Mario Kart series.

NBA 2K22 is promising a lot of improvements with its upcoming release, and they aren’t afraid to let fans know it. In a recent post to their official website, NBA 2K Gameplay Director Mike Wang went over what fans can expect from the next iteration in the franchise.

It should come as no surprise that the main areas of focus for updates to NBA 2K22 will revolve around Defense, Dribbling, and Shooting. Notable changes revolve around feel more rhythmic, as the game introduces improved AI defenders, 32 unique dribble sequences, and a brand new shot meter that is based on a timing and quality-based stat combination called Shot IQ.

These improvements will also help in other areas, as Finishing and Post Play also have received considerable touch-ups. You can see an example of a lot of these features in the gameplay reveal trailer below.

Last but not least, NBA 2K22 looks to build upon the player builder that was introduced in the last game, adding plenty of new builds and badges. Here are the new badges you can play around with in NBA 2K22:

Today, during the Asobu Indie Showcase 2021, Bokeh Game Studio founder Keiichiro Toyama provided an update about his game.

The title, developed by Toyama-san’s new indie team Bokeh Game Studio, is defined as a “horror game featuring fast-paced action.”

At the moment, there is no information about platforms, release windows, or anything of the sort, but the video you can see below showcases a few interesting glimpses from behind the developers’ shoulders.

Toyama-san mentions that the gameplay prototype is still rough is “already delivering new and unexpected kinds of fun.”

You can watch the full segment below, alongside the full showcase, that provides a look at plenty indie games in development out of Japan and from the rest of the world.

If the name of Keiichiro Toyama doesn’t ring a bell, he worked in directorial roles on the Silent Hill, Siren, and Gravity Rush franchises.

He has left Sony’s Japan Studio last year among a wave of veteran departures during the team restructuring, and some of these developers joined Toyama-san himself at Bokeh Game Studio.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the greatest game ever made (according to me, Renata), is driven by dozens of interlocking systems and physics interactions. It is a modern marvel of craft and design. Which also means that it breaks in some pretty tremendous ways when you push those interlocking systems to do…

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The Indie Houses is a new initiative from a collection of seven independent games publishers, working together to better support one another, and help gain greater attention for the games they publish. Last night they hosted their first ever Indie Houses Direct, an hour-long presentation featuring 35 game…

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The latest SMT V video focuses on Ananta, a multi-headed snake known for mainline Shin Megami Tensei and spin-off appearances.

The post Ananta is Ready to Make Hisstory in SMT V appeared first on Siliconera.

As part of the its first anniversary celebrations, miHoYo kicked off a series of Genshin Impact guides, fan art, and cosplay contests.

The post Genshin Impact Anniversary Guides, Fan Art, and Cosplay Contests Begin appeared first on Siliconera.

Hello Kitty is the latest character to be announced as paid DLC for the upcoming Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania.

You'll be able to purchase her for $5 on day one of the game's release, 5th October, alongside other DLC.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania, an updated compilation of the series' first two legendary games, has a bulging roster of characters to play as. Some of these characters are free. Some of these are not.

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Microsoft has partnered with Marvel to create a special Xbox Series X inspired by the soon-to-release MCU movie Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings.

The custom console features the Shang-Chi logo and the Ten Rings imagery that we've seen in trailers and posters for the film. The controller, meanwhile, has striking red accents on the handles that are meant to look like dragon scales. Overall, the console and controller designs are fairly minimalistic.

Microsoft is releasing this special edition console and controller through a giveaway, and it also comes with a Shang-Chi action figure and a 12-month Xbox Game Pass card. The lucky winner will get all the goodies inside a specially created and themed box, which you can see above.

Sega's free-to-play Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is celebrating the release of Sonic Colors: Ultimate with a limited-time crossover event where players can earn a variety of Sonic-themed items. Unfortunately, some of the most in-demand items featured in the event require spending $100 to unlock, something that players are, understandably, not thrilled about.

Most of the reward tracks during the event are relatively easy for players to obtain. If enough players retweet #NGSxSonicCollab, everyone will receive an in-game Tails doll, for example. Logging in for consecutive days will earn players items like Sonic-themed stamps, earrings, and shoes.

But for items like a Tails, uh, tail, or the ability to dash around in a ball like Sonic, players will need to spend some cold, hard cash, and a lot of it. Unlocking Tails' tails, the lowest-level event reward in the "Treat' Chao-Self" reward track, costs 2,000 AC (PSO2: NG's premium currency), or $20. To unlock the Sonic dash along with previous rewards in track, players need to spend more than 10,000 AC during the event period, which is the equivalent of $100.

An emote reward that summons Sonic and Tails requires players to purchase a premium set (a subscription of sorts that unlocks various bonuses in-game), of which the cheapest costs around $15.

That's a lot of money to dress your PSO2: NG character in a goofy-looking Sonic cosplay, and players are rightfully not thrilled about the fact. Replies to the crossover event's announcement on Twitter are overwhelmingly negative, with many fans in disbelief over the price of the cosmetics.

The Battlefield Twitter account is having some fun with its fans today, posting a meme about the forthcoming Battlefield 2042 beta and trolling fans in the process.

Using the American Chopper meme template, the tweet calls out the fact that it's now September so the beta should be announced and detailed soon based on EA's previous announcements. September has 30 days, so today might just be the first disappointing day of many over when the beta may begin, however, says the joke/meme. Looking at the mentions and replies to the tweet, the joke really did its job of riling up the community.

The Battlefield 2042 beta is scheduled to begin sometime in September, and it could be as soon as September 7, according to a report. All we know so far is that preordering the game will provide early access, but we're still waiting to find out exactly when the beta will begin and what it will contain, among other key particulars.

No Man's Sky's last few updates have been explosive, adding tons of new features like flying pets, new multiplayer game modes, and more. However, the game's latest update, Frontiers, could potentially have a larger impact than any other. Frontiers, which players can download now, adds a settlement system to No Man's Sky, letting players build their own town that they can manage on an alien planet.

As of today's update, players can find settlements across the universe. Players won't be able to plop their own settlement down wherever they'd like, but will instead have to earn the title of Overseer at an existing one. Once they're in change, players can start taking on the duties of a space colony mayor, which don't sound too out-of-this-world.

Along with naming the settlement and deciding what's built in it, the role of a town Overseer also includes sorting out all kinds of disputes. Players will have to both resolve arguments between villagers and defend the town from attacking Sentinels.

There’s nothing quite like a solid strategy game. Some of the biggest names in news play strategy games, and it’s no surprise; they hone forethought and adaptability. Yet, how do they get made? If you’ve ever wanted to create a strategy game of your own, a great learning bundle has gone on sale. The Build a Strategy Game Development Bundle is now available and comes with lifetime access.

Only one payment of $40 and you’ll have lifetime access to 10 courses on the design, creation, and refinement of your very own strategy game. You’ll be developing skills to create your own game, whether for fun, a new business, or just to improve on the skills that you have. The Build A Strategy Game Development Bundle goes over all the aspects you’ll need in any groundbreaking strategy game: resource gathering, unit movement, and of course combat are covered by the instructors from Zeneva.

Zeneva has over 1,000,000 students enrolled in their world-class online programming classes. They’ve taught thousands of courses on game design and programming with coding languages like Godot, C++, HTML5, Unity, and more. Their graduates have gone on to work on their own games, satisfied with the experience gained through Zeneva. That’s why Zeneva averages 4.7/5 stars across hundreds of reviews on Facebook, Google Play, and the App Store. With Zeneva you get 24/7 on-demand access to content, certificates of completion, and a highly responsive helpline for any obstacles you run into.

It's now September, and that means Xbox Game Pass subscribers are getting a fresh batch of games to play through the subscription service. It also means some games are leaving the program, and this month includes some big, notable ones. We're rounding up all the games being added to and removed from Game Pass here.

Coming to Xbox Game Pass on September 2 is Craftopia, which is an open-world survival game that will be available across cloud, console, and PC. Also arriving that day is the RPG Final Fantasy XIII for console and PC and the narrative card game Signs of the Sojourner for cloud, console, and PC. Bossa Studios' Surgeon Simulator 2 comes to Game Pass on September 2 as well across cloud, console, and PC.

Then on September 7, Xbox Game Pass welcomes the procedurally generated dungeon crawler Crown Trick for console and PC. Breathedge, a game inspired by retrofuturism and Soviet aesthetics, comes to cloud, console, and PC on September 9. Also arriving that days is the post-apocalyptic roguelike Nuclear Throne on console and PC, while the psychedelic guitar game The Artful Escape also comes out September 9 for console and PC.

Square Enix has confirmed that it'll be hosting a dedicated Tokyo Game Show segment that will offer "the latest news about our upcoming titles, along with pre-announced information."

The stream will take place on October 1 from 3 AM PT / 6 AM ET, and will run for just under an hour. Square Enix has no shortage of games that could make an appearance, including Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, Final Fantasy XIV's Endwalker expansion that's due out in November, and several mobile games such as Final Fantasy: The First SOLDIER and Hitman Sniper: The Shadows.

Final Fantasy XVI is likely one of the biggest games from the company that it could provide more information on, as very little of the game has been revealed since it was first shown off almost a year ago during the PS5 console reveal showcase.

During a recent Final Fantasy XIV stream--via Aitai Kimochi and Siliconera--Final Fantasy XVI’s producer Naoki Yoshida added that development deadlines meant that the game wasn't ready for the virtual show floor.

One of Atari's oldest games is making a comeback this month, as Centipede: Recharged gives the cult-classic game a more modern makeover on consoles, PC, and the Atari VCS.

Now sporting a 16:9 aspect ratio, Centipede: Recharged adds new power-ups such as explosive bullets, spread shots, and a railgun. Players can once again battle it out for a spot on the global high score leaderboards, earn more than 15 achievements, and compete for a Platinum trophy on PlayStation 4 and 5.

On PS5 and Xbox Series X, the game will support 4K resolution at 120 frames per second, and if your PC can handle it, there's graphical support for up to 240Hz. As for the soundtrack, there's an '80s-inspired selection of tracks from composer Megan McDuffee.

If you pick up the game for the Atari VCS console, Centipede: Recharged will include a few extra challenges and support for Atari’s Wireless Classic Joystick.

This isn't the first time that Atari has gone back to the past to refresh one of its iconic games, as the company previously released Missile Command: Recharged last year.

As with previous weeks' Red Dead Online updates, this week continues to go hard on incentivizing players to complete Blood Money crimes. As well as bonuses on cash and exp, there's a handy list of weekly discounts for players to enjoy as well.

This week, Red Dead Online will be paying out double $RDO on certain crimes: specifically A Lit Fuse, Back Pay, Stagecoach Stickup, and Wrongful Property. These crimes can be started by talking to mission givers Anthony Foreman, James Langton, Joe, or Sean Macguire.

If players complete one of these crimes they'll also unlock a discount offer for 50% off selected boots. In addition to the double $RDO on the listed Crimes, all Crimes and Opportunities completed this week will award double Ability Card XP.

Players will also be able to redeem a handful of freebies this week, including 100 Express ammo for the Repeater, Rifle, and Revolver, and a Treasure Map for all players over Rank 100. Setup costs for Persistent Posses have also been waived for the week.

Microsoft will host a showcase at Tokyo Game Show later this month, and the company is promising some "exclusive news." VGC noticed that the Tokyo Game Show website shows that Microsoft will have a 50-minute Xbox showcase on September 30.

The Xbox Tokyo Game Show Showcase 2021, as it's called, is slated to take place September 30 at 6 PM local time in Japan, which is 2 AM PT / 5 AM ET / 10 AM BST.

"Jump in and join Xbox as we bring our gaming ecosystem gaming to the world," reads a line from the showcase's description, via VGC. "We have some exclusive news and content to share and Tokyo Game Show 2021 is our stage."

Tokyo Game Show 2021, like last year's event, will take place entirely online due to the pandemic. Konami, Capcom, Square Enix, Ubisoft, and 505 Games are among some of the other companies that are hosting their own events this year as well.

Xbox has never historically performed all that well in Japan, but the company is seeing "phenomenal growth" in the market following the launch of the Xbox Series X and S.

Microsoft has one wholly owned game development studio in Japan, which is Tango Gameworks, the developer of Ghostwire: Tokyo and The Evil Within. Microsoft assumed ownership of the studio following its acquisition of ZeniMax/Bethesda.

Microsoft revealed its freebies for the month of September earlier this week, now it's Sony's turn to show off which games it is giving away for free. Every month, PlayStation Plus members get a small selection of free titles to download, and they're yours to keep as long as the PS Plus membership remains active. Whether you're looking for a run-and-gun-type adventure or something a little lighter, here is the free PS Plus September 2021 free games lineup. 

PS Plus Free Games For September 2021

• Overcooked: All You Can Eat
• Hitman 2
• Predator Hunting Grounds

The new batch of freebies arrives on September 7, though I would be amiss if I didn't suggest Overcooked. It may sound silly, but this game is ridiculously fun and surprisingly competitive. With its whimsical aesthetic and high-stakes gameplay, there is more to Overcooked than what meets the sunny-side up eye. 

The 2021 Tokyo Game Show kicks off on Thursday, September 30. Like many in-person conventions have done over the last year and a half, the event will be an entirely digital affair and will feature 44 programs livestreamed over the course of four days. 

Presentations from Xbox, Square Enix, Ubisoft, Capcom, Konami, miHoYo, and more will livestreamed nearly every hour. You can visit the event’s website for full descriptions of each event, but here’s the rundown of what will be shown and when. Companies that haven’t yet revealed the nature of their presentation are labeled as “undecided”. Keep in mind that the times listed are Japan local, kicking off in the morning and running into the evening. 

September 30

• 10:00: TGS Online Opening
• 11:00: Keynote: We’ll always have games.
• 12:00: GameraGame Now Tokyo Game Show 2021 Special
• 1:00: SNK - King of Fighters XV Special Program (English）
• 4:00: SK Telecom Game Show
• 5:00: Team Madness Games - It's Mealtime! Presentation
• 6:00: Microsoft - Xbox Live Stream​
• 7:00: Konami - New information to reveal for Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel along with updates across key titles
• 8:00: Spike Chunsoft Special
• 9:00: D3Publisher Live broadcast
• 10:00: Capcom Online Presentation
• 11:00: IzanagiGames - Yurukill Special!

October 1