Dataminers were already knocking on The Red Door, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War's leaked internal alpha test, but now it seems there's another leak in the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War ship, this time courtesy of what is reported to be a Doritos marketing campaign.

While the images are unverified at the time of writing, ModernWarzone reports that snaps of the promotional packaging list its title as Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, as Eurogamer sources previously confirmed.

If the promotional launch is anything to go by, it also intimates a potential release window of October 2020, which fits into Activision's typical Call of Duty annual release window quite nicely. The competition small print reveals that the campaign kicks off on 5th October, which is leading some to speculate that that might be the formal release date...

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The governments of Tsushima Island and Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan have partnered with Sony to promote tourism based on Ghost of Tsushima.

The post Ghost of Tsushima Tourism Partnership Shows Off the Real Sites Behind the Game appeared first on Siliconera.

In regards to video games, you can define the phrase "dice-roll" with three simple letters: FMV. Once considered the future of gaming by starry-eyed pioneers, Full-Motion-Video games were fast proven linear and short-lived experiences, generally suffering from repetitive gameplay, poor video quality, and an overall lack of interactivity, despite the best efforts of Megan and her fucking tennis racquet.

But despite sentencing Wirehead, Prize Fighter, and Quarterback Attack with Mike Ditka to the Hall of Infamy, the FMV genre has had its share of engaging releases. Recent years saw titles such as Telling Lies, Dark Nights with Poe and Munro, and the award-winning Her Story totally reinvent the genre. These games utilise the same FMV framework but feature crisp HD video, a modern presentation, and an innovative approach to agency. It appears the once-maligned "Interactive Movie" is seeing a resurgence, finally earning the critical acclaim that evaded Make My Video: Marky Mark.

Taking a stab (literally) at this reappraised genre is Japanese auteur Kazutaka Kodaka. Apparently not content with melting our minds and realities with his anime series Danganronpa, the master of the weird and wonderful is transitioning his penchant for strange storytelling and grisly murder into the real world, courtesy of his brand new thriller Death Come True.

As if reality didn't have enough problems... Hold on to your sanity, it's gonna be a wild ride.

A great deal on a year of PlayStation Plus, a low-price Insignia Fire TV, 3 for $100 chinos, monster energy drinks, and more are some of Sunday’s best deals.

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Hello! It’s time for Kotaku’s Sunday Comics, your weekly roundup of the best webcomics. The images enlarge if you click on the magnifying glass icon.

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Update: Team Rocket has taken over Pokémon Go Fest on the second day.  They bring a new quest line that leads to surprises and encounters. You'll need to do a little battling to get through this quest line, but you should be able to finish it off in under an hour. Good luck out there, trainers! We hope you get your fill of shiny Pokémon today.

Niantic's annual Pokémon Go Fest isn't in Chicago this year. It's now worldwide, allowing anyone to play. The event is today and tomorrow, and kicks off at 10 a.m. (in your time zone) and runs until 8 p.m. each day. To participate in the fest, you'll need to purchase an in-game ticket for $14.99. You can play on both days once it is purchased.

In previous years, players would walk through a Chicago park to different habitats where Pokémon specific to that region would spawn. For this fest, you don't have to walk anywhere to reach a new habitat. They now rotate every hour. Here's the breakdown:

10 a.m. 11 a.m. – Battle zone
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Friendship zone
12. p.m. to 1 p.m. – Fire zone
1 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Water zone
2 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Grass zone
3 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Battle zone
4 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Friendship zone
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Fire zone
6 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Water zone
7 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Grass zone

Classic games, like you’ve never seen them before

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Back in 2008, developer Tale of Tales released the black-and-white verse on death called The Graveyard. In it, you control an old woman who walks into the graveyard, sits for a brief scene, and then walks out. Or, if you purchase the game rather than just play the demo, she might die unexpectedly of natural causes.

I remember this game not for the experience but for the debate that popped up around it. Was it even a game? With a 10-minute runtime and barely any interaction, it could be argued that it was nothing more than a demo. Even the developers called it an "explorable painting." Even if it wasn't much of a game, this pre-Dear Esther walking sim could certainly stir up some emotions. The old woman's movements captured the frailty of our golden years, and the ever-present specter of death was the lesson in cherishing even the little moments in our lives.

I haven't thought about The Graveyard in years. But as I watched the credits roll on Arrog, it was the first thing my mind registered.

The long-running anime idol franchise is popular for a reason

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Screenshot Saturday Sundays! That reliable portal to other worlds has opened up once again, a sneak-peak at a smattering of screenshots, gifs, and video delights that are sure to sate our curiosity for a Sunday afternoon. This week: a snowboard throwback, dead clocks, squeaky anecdotes and a frightful return to John Walker’s favourite game.

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A Respawn dev has posted a brief message to assure Apex Legends fans who play on console they should not worry about upcoming crossplay plans detrimentally affecting matches.

In a TikTok video, Respawn software engineer Jake Smullin acknowledged that the team developing the battle royale had seen "lots of console players worrying about this", but confirmed that unless you have a PC player in your own fireteam, you won't be matched to a PC lobby.

"Wanted to clear something up about crossplay," Smullin said via his TikTok video (thanks, DBLTAP). "You will only be in PC crossplay lobbies if you have a PC player on your team.

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PlayStation Plus 1-Year Membership | $29 | CDKeys

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Earlier this week, Media Molecule finally released its much anticipated VR update for Dreams and of course one of the first things made by the community was a remake of Beat Saber.

You can watch me take this tribute for a test drive in today's episode of Ian's VR Corner, along with a selection of other Dreams VR creations that have been made by both Media Molecule and the community.

In the video above, you'll be able to watch my first impressions of the update, which includes some genuine yelps of joy, surprise and amazement. This is especially true when I take Tectonic for a spin, a racing game that is by all accounts a VR version of Motorstorm Apocalypse. It comes complete with earthquakes that radically alter the track layout, a skyscraper that splits in half as your car jumps towards it and a helicopter crash or two for good measure.

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Halo: The Master Chief Collection | $20 | Amazon
Halo 5: Guardians | $15 | Amazon

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The directors behind the real-life movie adaptation of Mega Man have teased there's "big news" on the way for fans.

Capcom announced Mega Man is being adapted into a live-action Hollywood film this time last year to mark Mega Man's 30th anniversary. The publisher/developer said at the time that it believed a live-action film will "energise the brand further" but since then, news on the movie's development has been sparse.

Co-directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman - the team behind horror films like Paranormal Activity 3 and 4 - appeared at Comic-Com@Home to confirm that not only was the live-action film still in development but also teased that there was big news coming "soon", too.

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Every so often, something hits my Dtoid inbox that's so gloriously stupid that I have to write about it. Fight Crab is this week's gloriously stupid find.

I'm not going to ruin it too much with unnecessary words: This is a game where the gods have bestowed Fighting Rage to crabs, who now must battle one another with weapons for Ultimate Crab Supremacy. Watch this trailer.

What are crabs if not aquatic spiders? They're similarly shaped, have the same number of legs (I think), move the same way, and thoroughly creep me out. The big difference? Crabs are delicious, whereas spiders are not. What I'm saying is, today the gods are giving crabs roid rage. Tomorrow it could be spiders. We've all been warned, and must take heed of this impending doom.

Fight Crab scuttles creepily onto Steam on July 30 and Nintendo Switch on September 15.

Team Rocket is trying to ruin Pokémon Go Fest

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Multiple Shadow Legendary Pokémon and a new Mythical Pokémon await

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Hideo Kojima has been in contact with famed manga artist Junji Ito once again to discuss plans for a new horror game.

Talking at Comic-Con@Home, Ito was asked by a fan if he was working on any video games. While he wouldn't be drawn on the details, he did admit he'd been in "conversation" with famed developer Kojima.

"I do know director Kojima and we have been in conversation that he may have a horror-based game that he may be doing, and so he has invited me to work on that, but there are no details on it yet," Ito told Comic Book via a translator.

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I can't say I'm big into the visual novel scene. I love me a good story, but it's rare that I actually play visual novels. I do thoroughly enjoy what have been deemed "walking simulators," though, so please don't think of me as someone who wouldn't consider these genres as "games." 

I've got to say, if other visual novels are of the same quality of Necrobarista, I need to play more visual novels.

Psychological horror The Medium was showcased in last week's Xbox event with a new trailer that debuted its "dual-reality" mechanic, but developer Bloober Team has also released a trailer that showcases the gameplay.

The additional teaser, which was debuted in the event's post-show coverage, doesn't give away much at just four minutes long. But it does highlight how Marianne can exist in both realms simultaneously and confirms her "Out of Body" psychic abilities need to be recharged with a "spirit well". We also see her "spirit blast" powers in action, too.

Here, take a peek for yourself:

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Codemasters has released a mode-specific trailer for its wheel-spinning sequel Dirt 5. The video focuses specifically on "Path Finder", one of the new events headed to the upcoming off-road racer.

Path Finder events will put hardened drivers behind the wheel of a tough "rock bouncer" ATV, before testing their mettle against aggressive uphill tracks, filled with potholes, bumps, and rough, violent terrain. Good thing you've got that roll cage fitted. You're gonna need it.

You can check out all the bum-numbing action in the work-in-progress video below.

I'd probably make a horrible detective. It's not that I have any issues with observation or deduction, but rather I'm empathetic and I tend to trust people immediately. I also don't smoke or drink coffee, which I think instantly disqualifies me.

I still fantasize though, and what better way to do so than through the medium of video games? This way I can smoke and drink as much coffee as I want while also digging through the mucky cesspool where not even the bravest sanitation workers are willing to dwell. Rainswept is one such murder mystery, except rather than uncovering the dirt that people keep hidden, the focus is more on the dirt that builds up inside of us.

Carrion flips the script in a super cathartic way.

Instead of playing as a heavily-armed soldier, you're in control of an uncontainable monster that has to tear through an underground research facility because that's just what gruesome flesh beasts do.

You'll squeeze through vents, fling doors and vending machines with your tentacles, snack on  scientists, mutate into even deadlier forms, and try not to get burned to a crisp by flamethrowers.

It turns out that San Diego Comic-Con isn’t the only digital event happening this weekend. There’s also “Justice Con,” the fan-run convention dedicated to Zack Snyder’s Justice League, which was recently announced to be coming to HBO Max. This side event had some serious energy and gave fans a new look at Snyder’s …

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The producer of Kamen Rider: Memory of Heroez discussed more gameplay details and the concept behind its “Chain Action" system.

The post Kamen Rider: Memory of Heroez Producer Discussed the ‘Chain Action’ Concept appeared first on Siliconera.

During an interview by YouTube user iJustine, Xbox division head Phil Spencer talked about the recent Xbox Games Showcase.

He was asked if he had a message to convey about the showcase, and he talked about the presence of games by Japanese developers.

He also added that an area of focus for the team is welcoming creators from all over the world.

“As you said, I’ve been in the industry for a long time and I visit studios, and I thought it was really cool to see the way Dragon Quest showed up as a game coming to Xbox.

The support from Japanese publishers, Square bringing new IP into our show, obviously Tetris Effect was there, PSO is coming to Xbox again with their new version.

It’s just an area of focus for all to make sure all creators globally feel like Xbox is a great platform for them and that they can deliver their games to a large global audience. It’s an area that our team in Japan has really been working hard on and to be able to open the preshow with Dragon Quest and then continue to see support from great Japanese publishers, I think it was something that really popped for me in the show and it’s nice to see a lot of fans of Japanese publishers react to that.

That’s something I just wanted to call out because it means something to me.”

The Idolmaster series will celebrate its 15th anniversary in Japan on July 26, 2020, and there's countdown artwork and a 15 hour livestream.

The post The Idolmaster’s 15th Anniversary Celebrated With Artwork and Videos appeared first on Siliconera.

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight, and I, @zombiepie am once again honored to be your host as we look back on the best community creations the past two weeks. It feels odd saying that last bit, but I did indeed find myself unable to publish a Spotlight last week, but that means we have double the content we normally would have for this week! As we have a lot to review this week, let's jump right into it!

They say eyes are the windows to the soul. I assume that if the eye in question is super high resolution, then you probably have a 4k soul. Regardless, last week I asked you folks to take a high-quality Luigi eye and create images with it.

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Bandai Namco Entertainment provided more information on the upcoming action JRPG Scarlet Nexus during the latest episode of its BNEFunLive broadcast.

We hear from producer Keita Iizuka and director Kenji Anabuki as they discuss the game in-depth also showing quite a bit of footage.

The discussion includes gameplay, the story and its characters, what inspired the game’s setting and its design, and much more.

You can watch it below.

If you’re unfamiliar with the game, here’s how Bandai Namco describes Scarlet Nexus.

“In the far distant future, a psionic hormone has been discovered in the human brain, granting people extra-sensory powers and changing the world as we know it.

As humanity enters this new era, deranged mutants known as Others begin to descend from the sky with a hunger for human brains. Impervious to conventional weapons, those with acute extra-sensory abilities, known as psychics, are our only chance to fight the onslaught from above and preserve humanity.

To become a character so impactful Means the World to me. The story of Miles is what this generation & the next need! I just thank the heavens above for blessing me with the opportunity & responsibility to bring him to Life!! #MilesMoralesps5 pic.twitter.com/iz2vLZrHgD

Following the latest reveal during the Xbox Games Showcase, Bloober Team released another gameplay video of the upcoming third-person psychological horror game The Medium.

The video, narrated by lead game designer Wojciech Piejko, we get to see how protagonist Marianne can interact with both the real world and the spirit world at the same time, adding an intriguing puzzle element to exploration and investigation.

You can check it out below.

The Medium can now be pre-ordered both for Xbox Series X and PC via Steam. It’ll release in the Holiday season 2020.

Below you can read an official description.

This week on Snapshots: Ghost of Tsushima might have the best photo mode I’ve ever seen and folks are using it to take some amazing shots. So this week, most of the pics are from that game. Though there are few shots from other games like Death Stranding mixed in below.

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Cellar Door Games co-founders Kenny and Teddy Lee talk about Rogue Legacy, Rogue Legacy 2, and making it a Metroidvania.

The post Rogue Legacy 2 Teddy and Kenny Lee Interview: ‘We’re Turning it Into a Metroidvania’ appeared first on Siliconera.

Despite the fact that this year’s physical San Diego Comic-Con was canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has killed just about 150,000 people in the U.S. alone, the annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards were presented last night, virtually, by Phil LaMarr.

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