Eurogamer

BioWare assures Star Wars: The Old Republic isn't shutting down, despite new developer

10 months ago

Bioware has reassured fans that Star Wars MMO The Old Republic isn't heading into maintenance mode, despite the shift to a new developer.

Earlier this month, the developer confirmed the game would be moving to a third-party studio so BioWare can focus its efforts on the forthcoming Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and future Mass Effect game.

Fans have since been concerned about the future of The Old Republic, but a new forum post from executive producer Keith Kanneg lays out the future of the game, and notes BioWare is currently helping with "planning for 2024 and 2025".

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Author
Ed Nightingale

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Dungeons of Hinterberg has stolen my heart

10 months ago

I'll forgive you for having missed Dungeons of Hinterberg during Xbox's big summer showcase. It was tucked away, forty-something minutes in, between a new horror from cult-favourite studio The Chinese Room and an appearance from little-known character actor Keanu Reeves, plugging little-known indie gem Cyberpunk 2077. But I won't forgive you for forgetting about it now, because I saw a little more of Dungeons of Hinterberg behind closed doors out in LA, and listen: this game looks brilliant.

In it you play as Luisa, a tourist-slash-adventurer who's gone on holiday to the Austrian village of Hinterberg. Hinterberg, a once-sleepy mountain resort, has seen a flock of these adventure-tourists recently because, a few years ago, 25 dungeons full of weird mythical creatures suddenly popped up in the mountains nearby. You're there to explore them, just because, solving puzzles and bopping goblins with your sword - but also, this is a holiday, so you're also there just to noodle around town for a bit, chatting with locals, going to bars, decompressing amongst the high-altitude air.

During the short-ish demo, guided in turns by Austrian developer Microbird's co-founders Regina Reisinger and Philipp Seifried, we saw a few different dungeons in action. The first was a kind of crystallised, popping-candy blue-pink world, where you'll unlock a snowboard for Sable-like traversal through its open areas and for use in some combat as well. Each region has its own unique group of abilities that you'll be able to use in its dungeons, so with our board we rode a kind of magic grind rail up to a little combat arena.

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Author
Chris Tapsell

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Dungeons of Hinterberg has stolen my heart

10 months ago

I'll forgive you for having missed Dungeons of Hinterberg during Xbox's big summer showcase. It was tucked away, forty-something minutes in, between a new horror from cult-favourite studio The Chinese Room and an appearance from little-known character actor Keanu Reeves, plugging little-known indie gem Cyberpunk 2077. But I won't forgive you for forgetting about it now, because I saw a little more of Dungeons of Hinterberg behind closed doors out in LA, and listen: this game looks brilliant.

In it you play as Luisa, a tourist-slash-adventurer who's gone on holiday to the Austrian village of Hinterberg. Hinterberg, a once-sleepy mountain resort, has seen a flock of these adventure-tourists recently because, a few years ago, 25 dungeons full of weird mythical creatures suddenly popped up in the mountains nearby. You're there to explore them, just because, solving puzzles and bopping goblins with your sword - but also, this is a holiday, so you're also there just to noodle around town for a bit, chatting with locals, going to bars, decompressing amongst the high-altitude air.

During the short-ish demo, guided in turns by Austrian developer Microbird's co-founders Regina Reisinger and Philipp Seifried, we saw a few different dungeons in action. The first was a kind of crystallised, popping-candy blue-pink world, where you'll unlock a snowboard for Sable-like traversal through its open areas and for use in some combat as well. Each region has its own unique group of abilities that you'll be able to use in its dungeons, so with our board we rode a kind of magic grind rail up to a little combat arena.

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Author
Chris Tapsell

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What we've been playing

10 months ago

Hello! Welcome back to our regular feature where we write a little bit about some of the games we've found ourselves playing over the last few days. This time: Diablo, a NES classic, and Spelunky 2.

If you fancy catching up on some of the older editions of What We've Been Playing, here's our archive.

How often do you switch builds in Diablo 4? I seem to be doing it all the time. I don't know if I can quantify exactly how often, but the other day it felt like I was pushing 10 times in one session, which seems excessive.

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Eurogamer staff

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What we've been playing

10 months ago

Hello! Welcome back to our regular feature where we write a little bit about some of the games we've found ourselves playing over the last few days. This time: Diablo, a NES classic, and Spelunky 2.

If you fancy catching up on some of the older editions of What We've Been Playing, here's our archive.

How often do you switch builds in Diablo 4? I seem to be doing it all the time. I don't know if I can quantify exactly how often, but the other day it felt like I was pushing 10 times in one session, which seems excessive.

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Author
Eurogamer staff

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E3 2024 and 2025 cancelled according to Los Angeles tourism department

10 months ago

UPDATE 10.45pm: In a statement provided to Eurogamer following the Los Angeles City Tourism Department's suggestion that E3 shows planned for 2024 and 2025 have been cancelled, the ESA has said it's "currently having conversations about E3 2024 (and beyond), and no final decisions about the event have been made at this time."

ORIGINAL STORY 10.11pm: Following the shock cancellation of this year's E3 back in March, new details shared by the Los Angeles City Tourism Department suggest the games industry trade show won't be making a comeback anytime soon, with shows scheduled for 2024 and 2025 now also seemingly cancelled.

As spotted by Restera, the Entertainment Software Association, which owns E3, had initially booked the Los Angeles Convention Centre for the weeks beginning 11th June 2024 and 3rd June 2025 - dates shared as part of a Los Angeles City Tourism Department report last October.

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Author
Matt Wales

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The Sims 4's Horse Ranch expansion is official, coming 20th July

10 months ago

Why, it's horse, of course! As widely expected thanks to a few cheeky leaks earlier this week, The Sims 4 is ushering in a new age of the equine for its next paid expansion; Horse Ranch, as the release is known, arrives on 20th July for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.

Horse Ranch's primary focus is Chestnut Ridge, a new rustic prairie world inspired by the American West. Here, players can live out an idyllic life - either in a traditional country cabin or in something with a few more mod cons - caring for mini goats, mini sheep, and, of course, horses, which can be rescued, bred, purchased, customised, and raised from foals.

Sims not afraid to get their hands dirty have plenty of options on the ranch, from mucking out horse beds to harvesting prairie grass for the animal feeder, and it's even possible to brew moonsh... sorry, Nectar, by smashing up fruit and veg then ageing the results on Nectar racks ready for sale. There's also sheep shearing, goat milking, and other animal interactions.

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Author
Matt Wales

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Bethesda's Indiana Jones game confirmed to be Xbox and PC exclusive

10 months ago

Speaking during today's FTC hearing, Bethesda's Pete Hines has confirmed the company's upcoming Indiana Jones game will be exclusive to Xbox and PC, with the court being told a multi-console contract was amended following the company's acquisition by Microsoft.

Bethesda announced its Indiana Jones game back in January 2021, confirming it was being developed by Wolfenstein studio MachineGames. However, it failed to make mention of the platforms it would target, a notable omission at the time given Microsoft's then-impending $7.5bn USD acquisition of Bethesda and Zenimax.

Little has been heard of the game since that initial reveal, but it's now burst back into the spotlight in something of an unexpected way - during a witness testimony from Bethesda's head of global publishing Pete Hines, as part of US antitrust agency the FTC's court proceedings to secure an injunction to block Microsoft's $69bn Activision Blizzard deal.

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Author
Matt Wales

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Activision pulling plug on original Call of Duty: Warzone this September

10 months ago

Just three years after its much-heralded arrival, Activision is pulling the plug on the original Call of Duty: Warzone. The free-to-play battle royale shooter set to go offline on 21st September.

Call of Duty: Warzone launched along Call of Duty: Modern Warfare in 2020, but was renamed Warzone Caldera after the arrival of its similarly styled successor, Warzone 2.0, last November.

Warzone Caldera has remained available in the months since then - meaning players have been able to continue using real-money purchases including skins and weapons unavailable in 2.0 - but now Activision has signalled the end is in sight for the original experience, warning that all progression, inventories, and online services will "expire" in September.

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Author
Matt Wales

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Microsoft says 'we have lost the console wars' as FTC hearing gets underway

10 months ago

Microsoft says it has "lost the console wars" in a court filing ahead of its legal battle with US antitrust agency the Federal Trade Commission.

The Xbox maker is currently in court to defend its $69bn USD Activision Blizzard acquisition, which the FTC is fighting to block through an injunction ahead of its own internal deliberations.

As part of a (heavily redacted) court filing intended to supplement the five-day case, Microsoft has once again attempted to portray itself the underdog in the console market.

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Author
Matt Wales

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Here's everything included in Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1

10 months ago

Konami has officially revealed everything included in the £50 Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1.

When first announced, the core games were Metal Gear Solid 1, 2, and 3, with some confusion on what else was included. Later, it was confirmed Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake would also be part of the collection.

Now we have the full list, including extras. What's more, Konami has confirmed Metal Gear Solid 1, 2, and 3 will be available to purchase separately as digtal downloads for £16 each.

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Author
Ed Nightingale

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Nintendo makes clear there's life in Switch yet

10 months ago

This week on the Eurogamer Newscast, we discuss yesterday's Mario-packed Nintendo Direct and Microsoft's surprise price rises.

For Nintendo, yesterday's online extravaganza acted like a shot of adrenaline to Switch's aging heart. There had been questions around how much Nintendo might still have for Switch, post Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Now we have answers - and a release schedule busier than either Microsoft or Sony's for the remainder of 2023. Switch 2 certainly now feels even longer away.

Microsoft, meanwhile, took advantage of the Elephant Mario in the room to announce it's long-suspected price rises for Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Series X. It was an oppurtune moment for Microsoft to deliver the bad news, with the value of Game Pass demonstrated last week at its well-receieved Xbox Game Showcase. Still, was it really necessary? Or could it just get away with it because PlayStation blinked first? Joining me this week are Ed Nightingale and Liv Ngan.

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Author
Tom Phillips

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Twitch launches paid Hype Chat feature to pin messages

10 months ago

Twitch has launched a new Hype Chat feature to allow viewers pay to have messages pinned at the top of the chat window.

The main aim is to provide a new way for viewer messages to stand out in a busy, fast moving chat, as well as an additional method for streamers to make money.

Messages can be purchased from $1 to $500 (with streamers able to set a minimum up to $100) and the duration, character count, and visual design of the pin will depend on the amount spent. Twitch will take a 30 percent cut of revenue earned.

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Author
Ed Nightingale

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Eve Online's Excel integration is now live

10 months ago

In May 2022, developer CCP Games announced an official collaboration with Microsoft to officially bring Excel into sci-fi MMO Eve Online. Excel spreadsheets are a popular way for players to manage the huge amounts of data gained whilst overseeing and expanding their space assets.

At the beginning of this year, CCP Games announced its year-long roadmap for the game, where it stated its aim to launch Excel integration in May for Omega subscribers.

The Excel add-in is now free to use for all players, after launching yesterday. Eve's API is used to import player data, meaning no programming knowledge is required.

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Author
Liv Ngan

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Rusty Lake's acclaimed co-op puzzler The Past Within out on Switch in July

10 months ago

The Past Within, developer Rusty Lake's wonderfully sinister time-travelling co-op puzzler, is ready to make the jump to a new platform, and will be launching for Switch on 6th July.

The Past Within is the latest in a series that has so far spanned 15 loosely interconnected games under the Rusty Lake and Cube Escape banners, with another one - the recently announced Underground Blossom - expected to arrive on PC later this year.

Like its predecessors, The Past Within delivers a deliciously surreal mix of casual point-and-click puzzling and room escape action, albeit this time given a devious co-operative twist.

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Author
Matt Wales

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Midautumn's roguelike reflection deals with power, damage, and experiences of the Asian diaspora

10 months ago

Action roguelike Midautumn is named after the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most important events of the calendar for many countries in Asia. It's a celebration of the full moon, usually falling in September or October, though traditions vary between countries. For me, it's a time of year I'll always associate with the mooncakes my grandma shares with us. For Midautumn developer Sherveen Uduwana, it brings back memories of attending these festivals as a child, and the comfort of lanterns and fireworks floating in the dark night sky.

Available in demo form during LudoNarraCon last month, Midautumn's blend of thematic storytelling and action mechanics immediately caught my eye - as well as its name. Still, Uduwana is aware Midautumn's title - and the experiences within Asian diaspora communities that inspired him - won't immediately feel familiar to many others. "I think a lot of folks I was pitching it to were like, why is it called Midautumn?" Uduwana tells me, adding that he settled on the name very early on. "There's a specific type of person who, when they find out the game is called Midautumn, gets very excited."

Uduwana tried pitching the game in a traditional way to secure funding, but the culture gap - and then, more significantly, the pandemic and the wave of anti-Asian sentiment surrounding it - caused him to opt for a more indie development approach instead. "That galvanised me to just be like, I'm just gonna message people and we'll try and make it," he says. "I was tired of having to explain why people would relate to it, or why it would be something that would be exciting for folks. A lot of people in those positions of power are just not really tuned into those specific communities."

Author
Liv Ngan

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Roblox launches new 17+ age category

10 months ago

Roblox, the hugely-popular game platform used by millions of younger players, has introduced a 17+ age category for experiences aimed at older audiences.

Current categories exist for All Ages, 9+ and 13+, and Roblox has traditionally been seen as a place popular for children to play.

But Roblox's audience is growing older - a natural step as the game matures in age and retains players as it does so - and 38 percent of Roblox's most active users were 17 and older in 2022, Roblox has said, making it the game's fastest-growing age group.

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Author
Tom Phillips

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Sony says it wouldn't share PS6 details with Microsoft-owned Activision

10 months ago

PlayStation boss Jim Ryan has said that Sony would no longer be able to share details of its upcoming console hardware with Call of Duty maker Activision, if Microsoft's proposed $68.7bn buyout was approved by regulators.

Speaking to the US Federal Trade Commission, which is currently involved in legal proceedings to block the deal, Ryan said Sony "simply could not run the risk of a company that was owned by a direct competitor having access to that information".

Ryan's comments date from April this year, when the FTC questioned the PlayStation CEO on statements submitted by Sony designed to give its perspective on the deal. Chief among those is the worry by Sony that its game development processes would be interrupted as it "could no longer share confidential details about its next console in development".

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Author
Tom Phillips

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If you're only going to play one Steam Next Fest demo make it...

10 months ago

Steam Next Fest is easily one of my favourite parts of the videogames calendar. Loads of demos for forthcoming games suddenly appear on Steam and you can just download as many as you like and try them out. As much as I love it, I've never really found a way to cover it adequately. Over time, though, a sort of process has emerged. I go in with a few of my own targets, and then I ask people I work with for recommendations, hunt around online a bit, and eventually give way to just clicking on stuff. The end result is as close to random as I can willingly make it, I think. It suits me pretty well.

What I love about Steam Next Fest, when approached in this chaotic manner, is that for one week of the year I feel like the hero in Quantum Leap, the old TV series (I know there's a new version and I'm intrigued) about an amiable genius who travelled through time, abruptly leaping into other people's bodies for a few days. It's a lovely old show, and also the reason why certain forty-somethings, when handed a calculator, will always assume an exasperated expression and start talking about "Ziggy". You had to be there. Anyway, instead of offering order or any kind of meaningful structure to what follows, earlier this week I fired up the PC... and leapt.

Thronefall is a game I've had my eye on for a while, so it was a conscious choice. It's made by the team who created Islanders, which is one of the most intriguing and spatially-oriented city-builders I've ever encountered, a proper classic I still play almost every week. The team's next game initially seems rather more traditional, but with loads of polish and plenty of room to become really compulsive.

Author
Christian Donlan

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Rusty Lake's acclaimed co-op puzzler The Past Within out on Switch in July

10 months ago

The Past Within, developer Rusty Lake's wonderfully sinister time-travelling co-op puzzler, is ready to make the jump to a new platform, and will be launching for Switch on 6th July.

The Past Within is the latest in a series that has so far spanned 15 loosely interconnected games under the Rusty Lake and Cube Escape banners, with another one - the recently announced Underground Blossom - expected to arrive on PC later this year.

Like its predecessors, The Past Within delivers a deliciously surreal mix of casual point-and-click puzzling and room escape action, albeit this time given a devious co-operative twist.

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Author
Matt Wales

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Vampire Survivors getting four-player couch co-op in free August update

10 months ago

Vampire Survivors, developer Poncle's conspicuously vampire-free minimalist survival RPG, is getting four-player couch co-op in a free update for Xbox, PC, and Switch on 17th August.

When couch co-op makes its Vampire Survivors debut, up to four players will be able to squish comfortably against each other on the same settee (or other easily accessible mutal bottom support) in order to play the whole game togeher, including all updates and DLC.

Poncle notes it'll also be possible to switch seamlessly from single- to co-op play and back between stages, and that achievements will be unlockable when playing with friends.

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Author
Matt Wales

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Sega's holding a showcase this Friday to mark Sonic the Hedgehog's birthday

10 months ago

Happy almost-birthday Sonic and your plimsolls of wonder! The blue blur is celebrating another year of not being Bubsy the Bobcat this Friday 23rd June, and Sega is marking the occasion with a special Sonic Central showcase of announcements and things.

This Friday more specifically marks 32 years since Sonic's western debut on Sega Mega Drive, which technically (if I have my hedgehog lore right) means he'll be celebrating his 47th birthday given his age in the first game. So before his back gives out completely, Sega will presumably be keen to shove as many announcement out as possible.

Friday's Sonic Central, then, is promising a "sneak peek of some of our upcoming projects, partnerships, and events happening in 2023".

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Author
Matt Wales

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Microsoft raising prices for Xbox Series X, Game Pass in coming months

10 months ago

Microsoft has announced a price hike for its Xbox Series X console across most of the world, as well as for monthly Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions, with the increases set to come into effect over the next few months.

As reported by The Verge, Xbox Game Pass for Console and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will be impacted by the changes first. Prices are set to rise for new customers on 6th July, but existing monthly subscribers won't see the changes until 13th August (13th September in Germany).

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will increase from £10.99/€12.99/$14.99 USD a month to £12.99/€14.99/$16.99, while Game Pass for Console rises from £7.99/€9.99/$8.99 a month to £8.99/€10.99/$10.99. Xbox Game Pass for PC will be unaffected.

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Author
Matt Wales

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Everything from June's Nintendo Direct

10 months ago

After the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Nintendo's Switch slate was looking a little bare bones for the rest of 2023.

But after today's Nintendo Direct we have a much clearer picture of what's still to come, with a look at Pikmin 4 headlining the showcase, plus reveals of a Super Mario RPG remake and a brand new 2D Mario game.

First, though, Nintendo showed a fresh look at the forthcoming Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC heading to Switch later this year.

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Author
Ed Nightingale

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Kamek and Wiggler join Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass this summer

10 months ago

As part of this afternoon's Direct, Nintendo shared more details on the next wave of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC content.

Wave five will arrive this summer, complete with a new course known as Squeaky Clean Sprint.

From what we can see in the trailer, this course looks to be taking us around a sud-filled bathroom, with plenty of bubbles and bottles to negotiate. It will be joined by another seven courses, which are yet to be announced.

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Author
Victoria Kennedy

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Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a delirious new side-scrolling platformer coming to Switch in October

10 months ago

As rumoured ahead of today's Direct, Nintendo has a new side-scrolling Mario platformer in the works. It's called Super Mario Bros. Wonder and it comes to Switch on 20th October.

At first glance, Super Mario Bros. Wonder's presentation is all very New Super Mario, with its crisp, clean lines - albeit this time slightly stylised - and familiar Mario motifs. But then, midway through its announcement trailer, Mario encounters a new power-up and things get weird.

Warp pipes come alive in wiggly choreography, heaving and bending all over the place; spherical cows come tumbling in; Mario - and the world around him - gets a new stretchy, silhouetted look, and here come mega-herds of adorable sheep!

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Author
Matt Wales

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Final Fantasy 16: as close to flawless as we've seen in a long time

10 months ago

With new worlds to explore, characters to meet, and battles to fight, all paired with a world-class soundtrack and a sharp presentation, Final Fantasy 16 arrives in excellent condition and gives players exactly the experience the developers intended. It's one of the most polished games we've seen this year on a technical level, taking into account elements from visuals and audio to technology and performance. It's not quite flawless, but it's as close as we've seen for a long time - and that's worth celebrating.

Unlike most long-running series, each mainline Final Fantasy entry is unique, and FF16 is no different. Helmed by Creative Business Unit III within Square-Enix, 16 is a gorgeous action RPG that plays with expectations for the series even more than usual. It's fast, it's action-driven, and its story is dark and political, resembling the likes of Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy 12.

Rather than using an off-the-shelf engine, Final Fantasy 16 is also built using technology created for this game - at least in part. Square has been remarkably tight-lipped, but it's likely we're seeing an evolution of work done originally for Final Fantasy 14, albeit greatly enhanced. As a PlayStation 5 exclusive, the development team has the freedom to implement new features designed for the new hardware. It's not the most cutting-edge experience on the market, mind you, but what's here is so remarkably solid and polished that it's hard not to be impressed.

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Author
John Linneman

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There's a new WarioWare coming to Nintendo Switch this year

10 months ago

Nintendo has just announced WarioWare: Move It! for Switch, which is set for launch on 3rd November.

This latest entry in the fast-paced microgame series contains 200 quickfire rounds, controlled via your Joy-Con.

There's co-op play for two players, plus party modes for up to four. A quick trailer shown off in today's Nintendo Direct featured a smattering of classic Nintendo titles repurposed as party game experiences, such as being able to skid down Princess Peach's slide from Mario 64, and an appearance from Olimar in Pikmin 1.

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Author
Tom Phillips

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Solid Snake and Commander Shepard stars discuss threat of AI on voice acting

10 months ago

AI is a hot topic of discussion across the video game industry right now. Several developers have flirted with this new technology, with the likes of Ubisoft announcing its Ghostwriter AI tool earlier this year. Meanwhile, the High on Life team used AI to create video game voice dialogue.

Last week, I had the opportunity to chat with voice actors Jennifer Hale and David Hayter about their upcoming release, Synapse, and during this conversation, the topic of AI came up.

"I have been staying on top of it," Hale assured me when I asked about the actors' personal take on the matter. "And the number one thing I want to say to everybody out there is: Stay out of fear. Stay in action."

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Author
Victoria Kennedy

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Jennifer Hale and David Hayter on voice acting for VR, reuniting for Synapse, and Shrivelled Snake

10 months ago

Jennifer Hale and David Hayter are two of the most prolific voice actors in the industry today. Their careers span decades, with TV, film and video game credits to their names.

Last week, I sat down to chat with them both about their upcoming PSVR2 game, Synapse. This PSVR2 release will see the two actors working together once again (Hale was Naomi Hunter in the Metal Gear series, where Hayter of course played Solid Snake).

Synapse's action plays out in a twisted mindscape that combines firepower and telekinesis with a striking art style. Hayter plays Colonel Peter Conrad, a once-respected black ops leader gone rogue, while Hale plays handler Clara Sorensen. Clara guides players through the Colonel's mind, as you (a highly trained operative) are transported into his neuro-synaptic relay, in a bid to stop a devastating global attack.

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Author
Victoria Kennedy

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Pikmin 1 & 2 get a surprise Switch eShop release later today

10 months ago

Pikmin 4 not enough Pikmin for you? Well then it's your lucky day! Nintendo has announced Pikmin 1 & 2 are coming to Switch, with both titles getting a surprise release on eShop today.

The first Pikmin introduced the world to Captain Olimar and his titular half-plant, half-animal pals back on GameCube in 2001. A sequel followed in 2004, expanding on the original's real-time strategy style puzzling with new Pikmin, cave exploration, and more.

Since then, both titles have received gentle updates for Wii, introducing a pointer-style control system. However, it's not entirely clear which editions of Pikmin 1 & 2 are coming to Switch, with Nintendo only referring to them as "HD versions".

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Author
Matt Wales

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Princess Peach game, enhanced version of Luigi's Mansion 2 coming next year

10 months ago

An upcoming Princess Peach-focused game was announced at today's Nintendo Direct.

Details are still incredibly sparse. The short teaser showed the platform's Princess Toadstool making her way along a rather fairytale-looking street set on a theatre stage. Then she made a tree burst into bloom to open a door, all thanks to a nifty use of magic.

She then magically changed from her standard pink dress into something a little more dazzling, and the trailer ends.

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Author
Victoria Kennedy

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Pikmin 4 demo on the way next week

10 months ago

A demo for Pikmin 4 will be available to the public from 28th June.

The demo will comprise the opening area of the game, with save data transferring over into the main game.

The news was revealed during today's Nintendo Direct, which included further details on the Pikmin sequel.

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Author
Ed Nightingale

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Detective Pikachu Returns this October on Switch

10 months ago

It's been a long time coming, but Detective Pikachu is finally set to make his long-awaited return in the appropriately named Detective Pikachu Returns, coming to Switch on 6th October.

A sequel to Detective Pikachu's original 2019 3DS adventure was announced that same year, but The Pokémon Company has shared little about the project in the years since.

Now, though, Detective Pikachu has resurfaced during Nintendo's latest Direct showcase. It'll once again see the titular sleuthing fuzzball team up with human pal Tim Goodman for some crime-fighting adventure, but beyond that details are limited.

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Author
Matt Wales

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Nintendo announces remake of Super Mario RPG

10 months ago

UPDATE 22/6/23: Yoko Shimomura, the original composer for Super Mario RPG, has confirmed she will return for the remake.

"I am in charge of the music for the remake version of Super Mario RPG announced at the Nintendo Direct today," she said on Twitter (via Google translate).

"I put all my heart into arranging all the songs, hoping that both the fans of the original and those playing for the first time can enjoy it!"

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Author
Ed Nightingale

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Batman Arkham trilogy headed to Nintendo Switch

10 months ago

Rocksteady's brilliant series of Batman Arkham games will be coming to Nintendo Switch this autumn, in one package.

The Batman Arkham Trilogy will include all three games - Arkham Asylum, Arkham City and Arkham Knight - and "all DLC".

An initial trailer for the re-release was shown today in the Nintendo Direct.

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Author
Tom Phillips

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Final Fantasy 16 - easy to like, hard to adore

10 months ago

A smart combat system straining under the weight of a characterful but ponderous pseudo-medieval soap opera, with some of the grandest bosses and dullest sidequests in FF history.

The Final Fantasy games are so-called because the very first instalment was to be Square's swansong, its last release before going bankrupt. Another way of explaining that triumphantly ironic title is that each Final Fantasy is about journeying in the shadow of the final fantasy - the apocalypse. In being stories about saving the world, each game also asks you to spend untold hours living with the prospect of its demise. They all explore how people buckle or find themselves when they're obliged to exist in a climate of pervasive anxiety.

I think this atmosphere of encroaching crisis, with its abundant real world parallels, has played an unacknowledged role in Final Fantasy's appeal over the years. And it's this atmosphere, I think, that really binds together a series celebrated for constantly reinventing itself, from turn-based combat through rhythm-game spectacle to, in the case of Final Fantasy 16, a conflicted but enjoyable hack-and-slash with some engaging writing, beautiful if slightly soulless locations, and a heck of a lot of toing-and-froing.

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Author
Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

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Keeping Bethesda games Microsoft exclusives "powerful evidence" against Activision Blizzard takeover, says FTC

10 months ago

Microsoft's decision to keep Bethesda's games exclusive is "powerful evidence" against its Activision Blizzard takeover bid, US antitrust agency the Federal Trade Commission has said.

Earlier this month, the FTC succeeded in getting a temporary ban placed on Microsoft's $68.7bn Activision Blizzard buyout bid. Now, ahead of an upcoming hearing regarding the agency's request for a preliminary injunction, the FTC has submitted further documentation on the matter.

In a new and heavily redacted filing, the FTC has refered back to Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax and Bethesda. The company stated Microsoft's decision to make ZeniMax games exclusive is "powerful evidence of incentive to foreclosure".

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Author
Victoria Kennedy

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