Game Informer |
- Loop Hero – New Gameplay Today
- Upcoming PlayStation 5 Games Get New Release Windows
- Square Enix Files New Final Fantasy Trademarks
- Lords of the Fallen 2 Poised To Cement The Franchise As Long-Running Series
- Lucasfilm Games Is Now The Official Banner For All Star Wars Games
- Dead By Daylight Studio Outlines Upcoming HUD Changes And More Tweaks Coming Soon
- OtterBox To Release Xbox Line Of Accessories
- Gotham Knights' Open World Was Optimized For Co-Op
- This Mass Effect-Inspired Omniblade Lamp Is A Must-Have For Any N7 Hopeful
- CD Projekt RED Could Face A Hefty Fine Pending Polish Cyberpunk 2077 Investigation
- Black PS5 Orders Cancelled After Third-Party Company Receives Threats
- DS Platformer Monster Tale Getting Modern Re-Release This Year
- New Genshin Impact Trailer Shows Off Newest Character Ganyu
- New Dragon Ball FighterZ Super Baby 2 Gameplay Footage Revealed
- Pulse Red Xbox Series X Controller Revealed By Microsoft
Loop Hero – New Gameplay Today Posted: 11 Jan 2021 06:20 PM PST ![]() Announced at the Game Awards 2020, Loop Hero is an upcoming deck-builder set within a timeless loop of darkness, complete with roguelite and auto-battler elements. Each loop begins in darkness, with nothing but a brave hero and barren, looping path. As the run progresses, the player utilizes an expanding deck of various cards to place enemy units, buildings and points of interest, and terrain - all of which serve as buffs or hardships that the auto-running hero must overcome. Luckily, you can speed up or slow down time on a whim, or pause the loop if you need a little more time to plan your card placements. Join Jeff Cork, Dan Tack, and Alex Van Aken for a brand new episode of New Gameplay Today, and be sure to let us know what you think of Loop Hero. If you're looking for more information on Four Quarters upcoming release, be sure to check out the game's official website.
|
Upcoming PlayStation 5 Games Get New Release Windows Posted: 11 Jan 2021 04:40 PM PST With a new generation upon us and the holiday releases behind us, many gamers are now looking ahead to what comes next. PlayStation 5 owners are wondering when anticipated games like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Project Athia, and Kena: Bridge of Spirits will be releasing. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is usually more focused on gear and tech than software, but during Sony's presentation during the event today, we got a little bit of news about when we can expect some of the PlayStation 5 games on the horizon. Near the end of the video, a bunch of small text shows the estimated releases for certain featured games (see image below). Though these may not be solid release dates, for several of the titles, these windows are updates from what was known previously. ![]() For example, Capcom's surreal-looking sci-fi adventure Pragmata was originally revealed as a 2022 release, but is now listed as coming out in 2023. Kena: Bridge of Spirits was delayed out of 2020 to release early in 2021 instead. Now we know that "early" means sometime in March, according to this new info. If you want to learn more about Ember Lab's promising title before it releases, check out our Kena: Bridge of Spirits hub full of exclusive coverage. Another interesting tidbit is about Square Enix's Project Athia (which is presumably still a working title). The game was unveiled this summer during a PlayStation 5 event, but with no information about a release target. Now we can see Square Enix is aiming to hit January 2022. However, the game is in development at Square Enix's Luminous Productions studio, which has a history of taking its time with its projects. As for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Horizon Forbidden West, those are just listed as a vague "2021." That's not an update, but Sony has previously said that fans can expect Ratchet & Clank in the first half of the year, and Horizon in the second half. Those may be some of the highest-profile revelations, but if you want to see everything in the tiny text without squinting at the image above, here's the relevant info in plain text:
|
Square Enix Files New Final Fantasy Trademarks Posted: 11 Jan 2021 02:00 PM PST Square Enix has filed a few new Final Fantasy-related trademarks in Japan recently in preparation for the next entry of the Final Fantasy VII Remake. The included trademarks are Ever Crisis, the Shinra logo, and The First Soldier, and while that could mean anything, I know I'm not alone in hoping that Square Enix will give Crisis Core more of a spotlight. The trademarks were first spotted by Gemetsu and features file names that Final Fantasy fans would expect, especially Shinra with its centrical role of VII's narrative. Ever Crisis is where we get into Crisis Core territory, an incredible RPG prequel that came out on the PSP and the later mobile game Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII that never made it over to the west. Each of the trademarks filed were filed at the end of December 2020. For those that played the remake without having experienced the original or the attached companion stories with the PSP and mobile tales, Zach was a pivotal character in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, which first made its debut back in 2007. This particular narrative acted as a prequel to the original Final Fantasy VII and was a part of a growing metaseries called Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. Like Cloud, Zach was a SOLDIER who was assigned the task of locating the missing Genesis Rhapsodos, a fellow SOLDIER. In his quest to locate his query, Zach learns of Genesis' origin and how Project G influenced Sephiroth and Angeal Hewley. The entire narrative was exceptionally vital when learning more about Sephiroth and who he truly is, and how he grew to be the powerful character we know today (or in my case, mindlessly obsess over). Crisis Core was an incredible experience that really is paramount when understanding the bigger picture regarding what the Final Fantasy VII Remake truly gives fans. Does this trademark filing mean we're getting another shot at experiencing Crisis Core? Despite thousands of fans asking for this exact thing, the probability is pretty low. Moreso when looking at the multiple parts that will make up the Remake and how each trademark files in with the episodic release. That being said, Zach made an interesting appearance at the end of Part I, so honestly? Square Enix is poised to do whatever they heck they want with this property should they choose. Would you want to see a Crisis Core remake? What are you the most excited for when it comes to the next part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below!
|
Lords of the Fallen 2 Poised To Cement The Franchise As Long-Running Series Posted: 11 Jan 2021 11:12 AM PST Lords of the Fallen 2 has had a rocky development history thus far, but CI Games seems confident the game will be a major player going forward. The studio released a statement updating fans on the game's expanded scope, and how it's the first step in a grander vision for the series. The first Lords of the Fallen, while quite good (read our review), was largely a by-the-numbers Souls clone in terms of design. CI says the sequel will "move the franchise to dark fantasy and will offer a revised and challenging combat system." To that end, the scope has expanded to become, in CI's words, "our largest project in terms of the whole of CI Games". The publisher also unveiled the game's logo, as seen below. ![]() The publisher feels so confident in Lords of the Fallen 2 that it says the game has a chance of turning the franchise into a long-running series in the mold of Sniper Ghost Warrior. CI Games also shares that the first Lords of the Fallen has sold 3 million copies since launching in 2014. Lords of the Fallen 2 has been simmering in development for some time. Deck13, who developed the first game, began work on the follow-up before the reins changed hands to the New York-based Defiant Studios in 2018, who rebooted the project from scratch. Unfortunately, Defiant and CI Games had a falling out of sorts, and CI brought development of Lords of the Fallen 2 in-house. Last September, it was announced that Hexworks would helm development of the game. We still have no idea when to expect Lords of the Fallen 2, but it's coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Meanwhile, check out this feature about why the first Lords of the Fallen is hidden gem you shouldn't miss from the last generation.
|
Lucasfilm Games Is Now The Official Banner For All Star Wars Games Posted: 11 Jan 2021 10:50 AM PST Everyone loves Star Wars. The galaxy far, far away has been expanded in various forms of media: Films, television shows, collectibles, novels, comics, etc. But being able to dive into new and unique video game stories that build upon the popular space opera's lore is, perhaps, the best way to experience the extensive world(s) of Star Wars. Starting today, all past and future Star Wars games will fall under the newly announced Lucasfilm Games banner - ca collaborative effort with a bevy of Star Wars-focused developers around the globe. You can read a little more about Lucasfilm Games on the official Star Wars website. Watch the new sizzle reel below. Click here to watch embedded media
|
Dead By Daylight Studio Outlines Upcoming HUD Changes And More Tweaks Coming Soon Posted: 11 Jan 2021 10:27 AM PST Click to watch embedded media Behaviour Interactive has continuously made improvements to Dead by Daylight since launch, cultivating a loyal community of players that are always looking ahead to the next content drop. While more horror stories are inevitably on the way, the studio behind the adventure outlined a few other key changes that are on the horizon such as HUD alterations, matchmaking, and more. Before talking about HUD changes, the team took a moment in its most recent developer diary update to showcase a few tweaks to The Clown mid-chapter. "Our resident funnyman has been cooking something up. Introducing the Afterpiece Antidote: This new throwable bottle shatters and releases a delayed yellow gas," reveals Behaviour Interactive. "Once the gas activates, anyone who steps in the gas receives a 10% movement speed bonus. Like your Tonic, this effect lingers for a few seconds after leaving the gas. You can swap between Tonics and Antidotes by tapping the Active Ability button at any time." The post continues, saying: "[Afterpiece Antidote] will also cure any negative effects from the Afterpiece Tonic, so you'll want to be careful where you throw them. They may make you faster, but a poorly thrown bottle will make the Survivor faster as well. Or you may want to lure a Survivor to an area with no pallets remaining with a juicy Antidote. But remember: If the two gases collide, they will neutralize each other and disappear." The HUD is also undergoing its own metamorphosis with a brand new layout, which can be seen below: ![]() Character portraits are also added, allowing players to see their Survivor with a nameplate attached. Next to the Survivor's portrait is also a hook counter for those that want to track who has - and hasn't - been hooked. Killers will also be able to benefit from this with a meter showing off their hook's progress as the match carries on. UI options are also being implemented for accessibility reasons, allowing players to mess around with the settings to take up as much - or as little - space as desired. Some new Survivor animations are also being implemented in the name of realism, including turn rates, how fast each character can move, and more. A lot of these changes will be familiar, because it's all coming directly from player feedback. Matchmaking is also getting a needed improvement, allowing matchmaking ratings to return and making skill-based matchmaking more effective. Additionally, Behaviour is adding a reward system for the most dedicated of players, giving them Bloodpoints as a monthly reward that will reset with each 20 rank marker reached. ![]() Graphics updates, mechanic tweaks, and miscellaneous smaller changes can also be seen. To see the full deep-dive into what's next for Dead by Daylight, you can read the full developer's diary right here.
|
OtterBox To Release Xbox Line Of Accessories Posted: 11 Jan 2021 10:01 AM PST Click here to watch embedded media OtterBox has long been a big player in the mobile space, creating a variety of cases and accessories for phones. Today, Otterbox is expanding its operations into console gaming with a line of accessories designed for Xbox. The first line of products arrive in mid-February and are designed to take advantage of Xbox gaming both at home and on the go. I got my hands on all of the products OtterBox is releasing and found them all to be of high quality, easy to use and assemble. An OtterBox spokesperson told me that Xbox is hopefully just the start for accessories in the console space. Click image thumbnails to view larger version ![]()
Easy Grip Controller Shell ![]() Mobile Gaming Clip Click image thumbnails to view larger version ![]()
Gaming Carry Case
|
Gotham Knights' Open World Was Optimized For Co-Op Posted: 11 Jan 2021 09:55 AM PST Gotham Knights was first announced during the DC Fandome streaming event. And even though it's not a part of the acclaimed Arkham series, the visuals and gameplay are informed by the popular Batman games. Players can take on Gotham's criminal underbelly as Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing, and Red Hood. In a deep-dive interview with GamesRadar, Gotham Knights' executive producer Fleur Marty and creative director Patrick Redding talked about WB Montreal's mission to create a seamless, engaging two-player co-op experience while staying true to the Arkham series' gameplay. "We have entirely redesigned the combat system in order for it to work well in co-op," said Marty. "Of course, we're still a brawler, and some of the mechanics won't feel totally alien for people who played and enjoyed the Arkham series, but it is in many ways very different." Additionally, the entirety of Gotham City has been redesigned so that co-operative play feels more natural and intuitive. Redding mentioned how co-op experiences will make players feel like an unstoppable duo, "The two-player dynamic fits the fantasy and the Gotham City setting. The 'duo' or team-up is such a central feature of the universe that there's a literal shorthand for it in the comics, animation, film, and TV versions. Gotham is a city of alleyways and rooftops, so the footprint for gameplay needs to be compatible with that." Click here to watch embedded mediaGotham Knights launches for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in 2021. For more info on the game, check out our own interview with Gotham Knights' creators. [Source: GamesRadar via IGN]
|
This Mass Effect-Inspired Omniblade Lamp Is A Must-Have For Any N7 Hopeful Posted: 11 Jan 2021 09:06 AM PST I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite Mass Effect-inspired lamp (not) on the Citadel. The BioWare Store made its triumphant return last year and every day it seems like the stock being offered adds something new. While my personal bank account is weeping, my N7-hopeful heart is absolutely living for this omniblade LED acrylic light now that was recently added. The latest BioWare Store temptation is actually pretty affordable, coming in at $23 and available now to pre-order. Shipping is expected to occur around March, though an exact date hasn't been confirmed at this time. According to BioWare, here is what interested buyers should know about the omniblade collectible that is also quite functional: ![]()
The lamp comes in at just over 10 inches tall and looks awesome lit and dormant, as well. "This acrylic lamp takes the design of Mass Effect's Omni-Blade without the dangers that come with the melee weapon," reads the official light's description. "What looks like a searing, futuristic dagger suspended in a mass effect field is actually an elegantly crafted and die-cut acrylic plate. "The design takes the style of a clean line art illuminated with an LED light on the base. This creates a soft glow. It looks especially good in the dark when the clear acrylic fades from view." For those that know me, you know I've already slapped that pre-order down. I have no shame, but I do have all of the excitement. You can scoop up your own right here if you fancy!
|
CD Projekt RED Could Face A Hefty Fine Pending Polish Cyberpunk 2077 Investigation Posted: 11 Jan 2021 08:26 AM PST ![]() Cyberpunk 2077's launch went the exact opposite of many's expectations: game-breaking bugs, talk over safety concerns, allegations of cut content, and misleading company jargon from CD Projekt RED has all led to a tremendously chaotic game release. Now, the Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection is investigating the studio, an investigation that could lead to a hefty fine for the company should the future Cyberpunk 2077 updates fail to address the majority of concerns. Pending the investigation, CDPR stands to lose 10% of its annual income due to a fine. That's not factoring in the amount of returns seen across all platforms and the pending civil suits that are currently in progress. Polish representative Malgorzata Cieloch recently spoke with a Polish business newspaper to outline the current situation: "We will check how the manufacturer is working on the introduction of amendments or solution to difficulties preventing the game [to work] on different consoles, but also how it intends to act in relation to the persons who filed complaints and are dissatisfied with [their] purchase due to the inability to play games on owned equipment despite previous assurances [that it would]." News of the investigation first broke by way of Polish biz-facing newspaper Dzinnik Gazeta Prawna and detailed that the next steps going forward depend on what fixes CDPR has lined up. In the initial newspaper report, Dominik Jedrzejko also weighed in, a Polish attorney with insight into the current investigation. According to Jedrzejko, he thinks that even if the fixes address the changes the studio is hoping to achieve, that it "may not be enough" to fight back against allegations of "unfair market practice." Following up to the launch of Cyberpunk 2077, there have been other conversations that have counted against the company including concern over trans representation in the game and grueling work hours for the staff that brought Night City to life. It was reported shortly after launch that many developers went straight to the shareholders, demanding accountability and answers regarding how the launch went so wrong. The troubles with Cyberpunk 2077, despite there being an enjoyable narrative in the game and characters that matter, are more than just the bugs. It was the broken communication between the company and fans (despite deliberate attempts to make it seem otherwise) and the outright attempt at deception by not allowing reviewers access to console versions of the game and purposeful intentions to hid the current state of the game on last-gen systems; especially the PS4. Following its delisting from the PS4 store and easier means to a refund via the Microsoft storefront, the troubles continued to pour in, effectively destroying a lot of trust that fans had in the CDPR name. Respectfully, what do you think about the ongoing situation regarding CDPR and the Cyberpunk 2077 launch? Overhyped? Over-publicized? Just desserts? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below, but please keep it civil. [Source: GameIndustry.biz]
|
Black PS5 Orders Cancelled After Third-Party Company Receives Threats Posted: 11 Jan 2021 08:16 AM PST Last week, third-party store SUP3R5 announced the launch of the black PlayStation 5. Inspired by the PlayStation 2's widely beloved aesthetic, the darker consoles would come with the classic PlayStation logo as well as customized DualSense controllers donning colored buttons that Dual Shocks were known for. Of course, SUP3R5 had an extremely limited supply of black consoles: 304 to be exact. The default PlayStation 5s are particularly difficult to secure because of their popularity so it's only natural that when black PS5s became available on January 8, they flew off the shelves almost immediately. SUP3R5's consoles were expected to arrive in late spring, but now all the orders have been cancelled following an extensive series of threats sent to the company. VGC reports that SUP3R5 released a statement on its now-deactivated Twitter account that confirmed the cancellations, "Last night, our team began receiving credible threats to their safety. We take these threats seriously. We aren't willing to risk the safety and well-being of our team, or the potential impact this would bring to delivering your order." With no further updates, it's safe to say that SUP3R5 might not be re-releasing its black PS5s any time soon. There's also no word from Sony on whether or not it will provide alternate skins or faceplates for the PlayStation 5. Xbox, however, released information about its upcoming Pulse Red Xbox Series X controller, which you can read about and look at here.
|
DS Platformer Monster Tale Getting Modern Re-Release This Year Posted: 11 Jan 2021 08:06 AM PST Majesco Entertainment announced that Monster Tale, the beloved and dare I say underappreciated Nintendo DS platformer, is heading to "modern game platforms" sometime this year. There's no specification on which consoles those are, but one would have to assume Switch at the very least given the game's Nintendo roots. Monster Tale released in 2011 and is a unique blend of Metroidvania exploration and action-platforming with pet simulator elements. Players control a young girl named Ellie and her monstrous companion Chomp as they try to free Monster World from the clutches of the Kid-Kings, dastardly little rascals who have taken the world away from its rightful inhabitants. In addition to unlocking new abilities for Ellie, who can shoot fireballs using her bracelet, players can feed and train Chomp to make him transform into larger, more powerful forms. The original game made use of the DS' two screens by giving players the ability to send Chomp to the bottom screen to attack enemies hiding below or solve puzzles Ellie can't access. Thus, balancing Ellie and Chomp's gameplay between the two screens formed the crux of gameplay. It'll be interesting to see how this dynamic is adapted for a single-screen experience. This isn't the first time Monster Tale was supposed to re-release on new hardware. In 2015, a 3DS port with enhanced features was announced but never materialized for unknown reasons. In our review, former Game Informer editor Annette Gonzalez scored Monster Tale an 8 out of 10 saying "Criticisms aside, Monster Tale is a polished platforming adventure with light RPG elements that make it more than just another pet simulator. It uses the aged DS hardware to full effect for a novel experience." I'm also one of the seemingly few who played Monster Tale back in the day, and I can co-sign on its quality; it's a very cool game.
|
New Genshin Impact Trailer Shows Off Newest Character Ganyu Posted: 11 Jan 2021 08:01 AM PST ![]() Genshin Impact lives up to its name, because this free-to-play adventure has had a significant impact on the gaming community with its Breath of the Wild-inspired experience and endless potential. To celebrate the upcoming release of a new character known as Ganyu, studio miHoYo has revealed a brand new character trailer to show off what they will bring to the experience. The latest trailer is titled "Ganyu: Radiant Dreams" and shows an in-depth look at "the girl descended from qilin." Take a look at the character demo in the video below to learn more about who Ganyu truly is: Click here to watch embedded mediaWhile not the first time the studio has shared information on Ganyu, this is the first detailed look at what sort of skills this character brings to the table. For those that have played Genshin Impact (our own Daniel Tack can't recommend it enough), achieving the Adventure Rank 40 will unlock a special story quest just for Ganyu that dives deeper into who she is and how she came to be. The exploratory open-world Gatcha game is a hard one to put down, admittedly. It wasn't a game that immediately garned my interest until eventually I had to try it out for myself since no one in my circle would stop talking about it. It's easy to just roam and explore and it's also easy to get lost in the story (in a good way). This free-to-play adventure is a surprising treat, one that we called a "whimsical, wondrous land" in our review that scored the game at 9.25. Genshin Impact is a whimsical, wondrous land dripping with unbridled charm and appeal, combining a ridiculously compelling reward loop with unfettered, continuous discovery. In this world I felt like a child visiting theme park for the first time — dazzled, mesmerized, and completely swept away. I only wish the shimmering glow wasn't marred by a ghoulish monetization model, but that's something I'm willing to overlook for my ticket to this fascinating realm. For those that haven't checked out Genshin Impact yet, the open-world journey is available now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, iOS, and Android devices. What are your thoughts on the above Genshin Impact trailer about Ganyu? Thoughts on this title and what it has to offer gamers? Sound off in the comment section below and tell us what you think!
|
New Dragon Ball FighterZ Super Baby 2 Gameplay Footage Revealed Posted: 11 Jan 2021 07:40 AM PST ![]() Back in December, it was confirmed that Dragon Ball GT's Super Baby 2 would be making his way onto the Dragon Ball FighterZ roster. While the latest addition has yet to arrive, we do have our first look at Super Baby 2 gameplay footage to see how the latest roster arrival impacts the game. Baby's got some swagger to him and that Zoning looks like it's going to be a tough thing to go up against. Take a look at our first sneak peek at Super Baby 2 gameplay in the video below: Click here to watch embedded mediaAs we've previously noted, the Z-Assist Revival is an interesting addition because there aren't any other characters on the current roster with the ability to bring back someone who has fallen in a match. This addition could be totally epic, or completely OP, but we'd need to try it out for ourselves to be a solid judge. As for the game itself, Dragon Ball FighterZ continues to have a strong player base and is available now on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. With numerous DLC drops and more on the way, Super Baby 2's arrival on January 15 is just the latest reason why players keep coming back. You can learn more about the Bandai Namco fighter with some of our previous coverage here. What do you think about the arrival of Super Baby 2 to Dragon Ball FighterZ? What other characters do you think deserve some time in the spotlight? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below!
|
Pulse Red Xbox Series X Controller Revealed By Microsoft Posted: 11 Jan 2021 07:16 AM PST Microsoft has revealed a brand new option for Xbox fans looking to scoop up an additional controller for their new-gen consoles. The Pulse Red Xbox Series X controller works both for the X and S and will be launching in China later this month on January 12 with a February 9 release planned for "most Xbox markets." "With a vivid, fiery-red topcase and crisp, white backcase, the new Pulse Red controller brings the same energy and equally striking color as the Shock Blue," Microsoft describes the latest controller in a new blog post. "Matte black triggers, bumpers, and hybrid D-pad reduce slip against sweaty fingers and thumbs for greater control, while a textured dot pattern on the triggers and bumpers to keep your grip locked in. Dynamic Latency Input delivers controller inputs more frequently to your Xbox Series X|S for a more responsive gaming experience and seemingly instantaneous action." The new Pulse Red Xbox Series X controller will offer the newly added Share button with custom mapping options available. Players can utilize the Share button to capture and share their screenshots with friends as well as record any gameplay they see fit. The latest controller also works on the Xbox One systems from the last generation. Microsoft also confirms that the new controller is also compatible with Windows 10 PCs and any Android device that uses Bluetooth Low Energy for remote play purposes. The Pulse Red Xbox Series X (and beyond) controller will be available outside of China next month and will retail for $64.99. What do you think about the newly revealed Pulse Red Xbox Series X controller? Have you been enjoying your time with this new generation of gaming so far? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below!
|
You are subscribed to email updates from Game Informer. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States |
No comments:
Post a Comment