Game Informer

Game Informer

Devs Share A Behind-The Crash Look At Destruction AllStars

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 05:05 PM PST

Destruction AllStars crashed into public consciousness last June during Sony's PlayStation 5 event. At the time of its bombastic reveal, the car-combat title was set for a retail release around the then-upcoming console's launch. In October, Sony pumped the brakes, announcing that the title was getting delayed to February 2. To mitigate the sting, the company said the game would be available at no extra charge for PlayStation Plus subscribers. Hours from its worldwide launch, we spoke with Destruction AllStars' senior producer and director to learn about its old-school roots, on-foot action, and how it's treating cars like guns.

When we spoke, the game was slowly coming to life on the other side of the globe. Players in New Zealand were the first to be able to check out the game, which has been an interesting experience for Colin Berry, director at Lucid Games. "This is the first time I've launched a game and now there's somebody playing it live on Twitch," he says. "Which is cool and exciting, but I've described it as being a bit unnerving." 

Berry has been developing games for decades, working on the Wipeout series, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, and more. He says Geometry Wars 3 was the last game he's worked on that most people have heard of, adding, "It was only maybe five or six years ago, but the world was a different place back then." He says the launch of the PlayStation Portable game Wipeout Pure went well, for example, but that it essentially occurred in a vacuum. "I never actually got to see anyone playing it outside of E3. Because once it's out, you don't see people play your game. Only now you do, and that's new to me. You're more connected to the people who are playing your game."

The Shift To PlayStation Plus

If things go according to plan, there are going to be a lot of people playing Destruction AllStars. Its competitive nature was the impetus for the move away from a full-priced retail game to a PlayStation Plus release. "The reason for that was quite simply, online multiplayer games need an audience," says John McLaughlin, senior producer at Sony. "And to give the game the best audience possible was to put it into PlayStation Plus. PlayStation Plus decisions are made way in advance, so the earliest we could come out was February." It's a move that helped give titles like Rocket League and Fall Guys an early boost, and Sony is hoping for a similar effect with Destruction AllStars.

The delay gave the developers time to ensure that its online tech was up to snuff. "There's a difference between launching when there's no consoles out there and having a very small audience and then coming a few months later when you have potentially millions of players on," McLaughlin says. "We spent a lot of time on the back end, working hard and making sure that everything goes as smoothly as it possibly can."

Click here to watch embedded media

Car Combat Comeback

Back in the PlayStation 1 era, car-combat games were fairly common. In fact, the original demo disc for the console featured playable demos for Destruction Derby and Twisted Metal. "There used to be a lot of these games of this type, and then they just kind of seemed to dry up," Berry says. "It's similar not just with the car arena-combat games, but even with action-arcade racing games like the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 era of Burnout and Split/Second and Blur and those."

Arcade racers still come out from time to time, but players who just want to smash cars together until they explode have fewer options. And as Berry points out, those games don't stop being fun just because they're not being made much anymore. 

"I can remember early on in our project – I won't name-check the guy because he wouldn't be happy – but we have a concept artist who joined us fresh out of school, a really good guy, a really talented guy," Berry says. "He must be 21, 22 now, so he was 18 back when we first sort of started the project. One of the references for one of the things that we were looking at, I mentioned Burnout, and he was like, 'I've ever played Burnout.' I was like, 'What? It came out blah blah blah this year,' and he was like, 'Yeah, I was four.' Right. That explains that." Berry says that exchange made him appreciate that his team would be bringing a genre to players who may not have had a chance to experience the satisfaction of crashing virtual cars together.

The twist with Destruction AllStars is that you don't lose when your car is wrecked. Instead, your character can continue on foot – which is about as dangerous as it sounds. "In this game, even though it's car combat and it's about smashing into each other and the cars are a really heavy focus, the way we sort of think about it, for our mentality, is you are the character and the cars are your weapons," Berry says. "They're disposable. You're supposed to wreck them and cause damage. You're supposed to get wrecked. In years gone by, it's always been that thing of, 'Oh, if I get wrecked I've lost.' Or that's game over. But it's not. You get wrecked, and you come flying out of the car in an explosion of metal and wheels and bits of car, and your character comes out and lands on the floor and bang. They go, and they're off."

Destruction AllStars

Wear And Tear

Destruction is, obviously, a huge part of the game. As cars degrade and take damage, they begin to perform more poorly. As it turns out, finding the balance for that aspect of the driving was a little tricky. "It's mostly cosmetic, and this was something that we deliberately tuned because we could have gone either way," Berry says. "Because you can get out of the car at any point, it became a question early on, 'If we gimp your handling as soon as you get impacted, you're just going to get out of that car and go and get another one.' And that means we end up with an arena littered with abandoned cars that are of no use to anybody, and it means that we'd probably get less spectacular wrecks because you take a bit of damage, lose a wheel, and then get out because the car feels really, really gimped.

"On the flipside, if we never reflect the damage in the handling and in the car's performance, that's not going to feel completely right, either, because it's going to feel like a little disconnect. We tailor it so that as the car has taken quite extreme damage and it's on its last legs, say its last 25-percent of health, you can start to feel it pull to one side if it's taken damage to one side or lost a wheel. And you start to feel the bite on the accelerator on the adaptive triggers and also the brake, they start to rattle and you can feel that your car has taken damage. It's going a little bit slower, but not massively slower. It was a conscious choice of wanting to reflect damage in the vehicle performance but we don't want to do it to a level where it becomes too much and the players just leave the car behind."

Destruction AllStars is available February 2 on PlayStation 5 via PlayStation Plus.
 

Resident Evil Village's Lady Dimitrescu Is Officially Over Nine Feet Tall

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 05:04 PM PST

People are excited for Resident Evil Village. Part of that enthusiasm comes from the recent gameplay demo, along with additional details revealed as part of the latest trailer. However, another part of the excitement comes specifically from Lady Dimitrescu, the ghastly, yet compelling woman who has captured fans' attention with her disturbing mystique and towering height.

Capcom is clearly not blind to the role Lady Dimitrescu has played in driving interest in the game so far, because Resident Evil's official Twitter account just released a brief statement from Resident Evil Village art director Tomonori Takano.

https://twitter.com/RE_Games/status/1356391885816823808

First, Takano says the team is very happy about the response the game has received. But most importantly, the message then goes on to clarify the height of everyone's favorite vampiric lass from the upcoming game: Lady Dimitrescu is 2.9 meters tall – or approximately nine feet and six inches.

Click here to watch embedded media

Up until now, fans have been left to guess about how tall she is, but this more specific measurement is a cool new detail. On the one hand, Capcom is definitely playing into the online fervor surrounding the character. On the other hand, it is actually a useful tidbit will help people know exactly how big to make their stilts when making their own Lady Dimitrescu costumes.

The Resident Evil Village info doesn't need to stop there. For example, you can see some of the actual game in action with this gameplay walkthrough. If you just can't wait to get your hands on this new installment, you might want to check out the Deluxe Collector's Edition to get a load of additional goodies beyond the core game.

And if knowing how tall Lady Dimitrescu is just isn't enough, all you need is a little patience. Players will learn even more about her when Resident Evil Village releases on May 7. The game is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Nuts, A Squirrel Surveillance Game, Comes To Switch And PC This Week

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 04:04 PM PST

When you see squirrels doing their thing in the wild, have you ever wondered what they're really up to when no one's looking? As they forage for nuts and make those weird cries, what are they hiding? That's the premise of Nuts, a bizarre and intriguing narrative surveillance game that's all about spying on squirrels.

The strange game comes from developer Joon, Pol, Muutsch, Char & Torfi and published by Noodlecake. Players control a rookie researcher, who, at the behest Viago University, is tasked with setting up cameras in the remote Melmoth Forest to capture footage of squirrels. The goal is simple: See what they get up to, primarily at night. Gameplay requires trial and error in terms of setting up the correct placement and angle of your cameras to record the best shots. Once that's done, you'll review your footage back at your caravan to piece together clues for how squirrels behave in terms of their routes in order to figure out where they hide their stash as well as unravel a larger, potentially sinister mystery surrounding them. 

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Despite the seemingly innocent premise, the trailer shows that something is definitely afoot, such as the discovery of an underground acorn stash filled with dynamite. Between the eyebrow-raising premise and eye-catching art direction, featuring spectral, vibrant outlines and a bold color palette, you'd have to be ... okay, I won't say "nuts" there, but let's just say you're bound to be curious after seeing Nuts in action. Who doesn't want to see how much trouble a few squirrels can possibly get into

If you don't want to wait to discover whatever furry madness awaits, Nuts recently launched for Apple Arcade. The game comes to Switch and PC on February 4. For more on Apple Arcade, you can watch us revisit the fledgling subscription service on this episode of The Game Informer Show.

Overwatch Lunar New Year Event Begins Thursday

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 03:35 PM PST

Fans are waiting with bated breath for any inkling of Overwatch 2 news (and they might not have to wait much longer with BlizzCon Online happening this month), but in the meantime, the Overwatch in-game event calendar presses on. Just a week removed from the Kanezaka challenge centered on Hanzo, and less than a month after the conclusion of its latest event, Winter Wonderland 2020, Overwatch players can begin getting excited for the Lunar New Year 2021 event: Year of the Ox.

As usual, fans can expect new and returning skins, emotes, voice lines, highlight intros, and sprays. Those who jump into the mix can also likely look forward to weekly challenges to unlock exclusive skins, player icons, and sprays, plus special limited-time event-specific modes; the Lunar New Year event typically revives the Capture the Flag mode in the Arcade section of the menu.

Last year's Year of the Rat event brought new celebratory skins for Sombra (complete with a changing mask), Moira, Brigitte, Lucio, Winston, Doomfist, and Wrecking Ball, while Bastion and Soldier: 76 were the recipients of new emotes. As usual, the event also brought back all the limited-time items players may have missed out on with past Lunar New Year events at reduced gold cost. There hasn't been any word on what characters will receive new skins this time around, but Blizzard has typically begun rolling out teases every day once a new event is announced, so keep your eyes on the Overwatch social media channels in the lead up to the Year of the Ox event.

The Overwatch event celebrating the Year of the Ox runs from February 4 to February 25.

Blizzard Reveals Impressive Arthas Helm Of Domination Replica

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 03:03 PM PST

Blizzard is celebrating 30 years of fandom glory this year and a small part of the celebratory festivities includes a first look at an impressive Helm of Domination replica. This collectible comes at a good time, considering Sylvanas destroyed it in the World of Warcraft: Shadowlands DLC.

While the in-game helmet is used to control the Scourge, this replica (seen above) just looks really cool in your house. Still, it's an impressive take on an important aspect of World of Warcraft lore and its painstakingly detailed finish makes this a worthy trophy for any hardcore fan (or a casual one, since collectibles are for everyone).

The helmet itself comes in at over 15 inches – 17 if you count the stand – and is an exact replica of the powerful WoW artifact. Forged according to the Jailer's will, the Helm of Domination was meant to be the vessel of Death's influence on Azeroth. The Nathrezim imprisoned the spirit of the orc chieftain Ner'zhul within the helm, giving the chieftan command over a vast army of undead Scourge. The fallen Prince Arthas Menethil freed the Helm from the Frozen Throne, donning it to take up the mantle of the Lich King. That was until Sylvanas Windrunner said "haha, just kidding, I'll take that."

This Blizzard-exclusive replica will be available to purchase during this year's BlizzConline virtual event on February 19 starting at 3:00 P.M. Pacific Time. To make sure to nab yours, and to learn more, you can check out Blizzard's post about the upcoming event right here. 

Though BlizzCon is doing something a little differently this year because of COVID-19 restrictions, the company is still aiming to recreate that same fan-driven and community-focused atmosphere. The virtual event will take place February 19 and 20, and promises a new look at Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 alongside a few other surprises. 

Thoughts on the Blizzard Helm of Domination replica? Too cool for Blood Elf school or a hard pass? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Yakuza Spinoff Judgment Coming To New Gen, PC, Stadia In April

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 03:00 PM PST

If you missed out on the Yakuza spinoff Judgment when it hit PlayStation 4 in 2019, you'll soon have another chance to check out the detective thriller. Sega has announced that a remastered version of Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio's game will be coming not only to PlayStation 5 but also the Xbox Series X/S and Google Stadia on April 23.

Judgment is getting a bit of an upgrade during the transition, too, with shorter load times, 60 frames-per-second gameplay, and the inclusion of all of its previously released DLC. The re-release is priced at $39.99. A Sega representative told us there aren't any cross-buy plans, so if you've already purchased the game on PlayStation 4 you'll have to buy it again to enjoy the PlayStation 5 enhancements. 

Judgment isn't my favorite game in the Yakuza universe, but it's a solid entry that brings plenty of new ideas to the familiar structure. It's set in the same Kamurocho district that longtime Yakuza fans have etched into their memory, but you don't need to come into the game with any prior knowledge. It features a standalone story starring a down-on-his-luck investigator, Takayuki Yagami, who uses his perception and deductive reasoning to solve cases. Failing that, he's also a pretty capable fighter.

It's understandable that, with so many numbered entries, players who have been curious about the Yakuza series may feel a little intimidated getting started. It's a feeling that Blake recently wrote about, too. Judgment wasn't his top recommendation for on-boarding prospective fans (that honor goes to, unsurprisingly, Yakuza 0), but Judgment was his top third pick. It offers a nice slice of what you can expect from the mainline games – exploration, minigames, silly side stories, lengthy cutscenes, and plenty of fighting – while telling a self-contained story that's satisfying in its own right.

Judgment's upcoming re-release means that Xbox players will soon have access to the majority of Yakuza and Yakuza-adjacent games. The remastered versions of Yakuzas 3, 4, and 5 recently hit the console (and Game Pass), and Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is set to arrive on March 25 on Xbox and PC.  

Apple's iOS 14.5 Will Support DualSense And Xbox Series X Controllers

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 02:29 PM PST

Apple has released iOS 14.5 for public beta testers today. Per The Verge, the most exciting feature in terms of gaming is controller support for the PlayStation 5's DualSense and the Xbox Series X controller. 

There's no confirmation on when the update will go live for everyone, but iOS 14.5 allows users to use the new-gen controllers for the latest versions of iOS and iPadOS. This is on top of the existing support of the last-gen controllers. While it might not be the most exciting news for some, having more controller options for mobile gaming (specifically for Apple Arcade) is always welcomed, not to mention getting extra mileage out of your kind-of-expensive gamepads. The new consoles have gradually found support outside of their platforms; for example, both controllers recently became playable on Nvidia's Shield TV for Android. 

iOS 14.5 will also introduce App Tracking Transparency, the ability to use FaceID while wearing a mask to unlock your phone, AirPlay 2 support with Apple Fitness+, among other features. Apple doesn't generally intermingle much with Microsoft and Sony, so it's nice to see the bridges extended like this as well as other examples, such as Apple TV's presence in both the PS5 and Xbox app stores. What do you think of the iOS update and how do you plan to use the controllers in your mobile gaming? Let us know down in the comments.

[Source: The Verge]

Best Practices For Becoming An Esports Host - Shout! Esports

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 01:24 PM PST

Click here to watch embedded media

Looking to improve as a host or caster in Esports, or even want to get into the profession for the first time? In this episode of Shout! Esports, Jess Brohard shares a few essential tips for becoming a better commentator, developing chemistry with other hosts on set, and more.

If you enjoyed this week's show, be sure to check out the previous episode wherein Jess Brohard teaches you how to set up a Twitch stream.

Google Is Ending Its First Party Game Development, Closing Two Studios

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 12:33 PM PST

Google is ending its exclusive Stadia game development initiatives and closing its two internal studios, Kotaku reported earlier today. Google's development houses in both Los Angeles and Montreal will be closed, affecting "around 150" employees. Kotaku broke the news just minutes before Google issued its own statement from Phil Harrison, vice president and general manager of Stadia, about its shifting business directions with Stadia. 

Jade Raymond, most well known for her work at Ubisoft on the Assassin's Creed series, will also be leaving the company and her position as the head of Stadia Games and Entertainment (SG&E). According to Kotaku's report, Google said it's trying to find displaced Stadia employees new jobs within the company, something echoed by Harrison, who said, "Over the coming months, most of the SG&E team will be moving on to new roles. We're committed to working with this talented team to find new roles and support them."

Citing an anonymous source, Kotaku also reports that Google is cancelling "multiple" exclusive Stadia projects that didn't already have specific 2021 release windows. Kotaku's source adds they do believe that games already close to release will still come out. Again, this is echoed in Google's own statement, though in less specific terms. "Given our focus on building on the proven technology of Stadia as well as deepening our business partnerships, we've decided that we will not be investing further in bringing exclusive content from our internal development team SG&E, beyond any near-term planned games," Harrison said.

According to one source speaking to Kotaku, making video games at Google was similar to Amazon's rocky attempt at making games, telling the outlet, "Google was a terrible place to make games. Imagine Amazon, but under-resourced."

This isn't the end of Stadia as a platform. Though Google will no longer be investing in its own first party exclusives, third parties titles will still be released on the service. The company also plans to offer its cloud streaming to other game developers and publishers, allowing them to stream games to players themselves via Stadia's technology. "We believe this is the best path to building Stadia into a long-term, sustainable business that helps grow the industry," Harrison said.

God Of War PS5 Update Drops Tomorrow

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 12:18 PM PST

Get ready to "Boy!" all over again with this generation of consoles because the God of War PS5 update is set to go live tomorrow, February 2. 

God of War got a juicy revamp with Cory Barlog and his team at Santa Monica. Seeing Kratos in his new role as a father was a breath of fresh air for the franchise, taking a beloved series even further with a heartwrenching story and gameplay mechanics to die for. 

The PlayStation 5 update goes live on Tuesday, February 2, and will be a free download for those that own the game. In a detailed blog over on the official Santa Monica Studios website, a few outliers about the free patch were offered so fans know what to expect before diving in. 

Players will be able to choose between two options: one option that favors performance versus one option that favors resolution. The update also includes synching to 60 FPS, 4K Checkerboard Resolution, and 2160p. 

For those that want to play the original God of War (2018) experience on their PS5s, there is an option to do just that with the Original Performance Experience selection within the resolution settings. This will keep the 4K Checkerboard Resolution but drops the FPS down to 30, instead of the 60. 

It's also important to note that a 4K device is required in order to get the optimal 4K experience. 

The God of War PS5 update is a good chance for those that may have missed out on the PS4 journey to join in on the fun, especially with speculation about Ragnorok being such a hot topic in the gaming community. Plus, if you haven't played yet, you can finally join in on all of the "BOY!" memes that I hope never die. 

[Source: Santa Monica Studios]

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Valentine's Day Items Are Available Now

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 11:35 AM PST

Two new limited-time Animal Crossing: New Horizons Valentine's Day items are available now, bringing a little more lovey-doveyness to islands everywhere. 

Two new Valentine's Day items are available now with a chocolate heart and a heart-shaped bouquet, with more on the way leading up to the event itself on February 14. 

For those players looking to get those sweet tooth cravings satiated in-game, both of the newly added items can be bought from the Seasonal Tab in the Nook Shopping center. Before buying, note that each item retails for 1,200 Bells each. Not horrible, but you're definitely going to want to be aware of that when budgeting for special items. 

The two additions are available alongside a few Groundhog's Day goodies, which are still available until February 3, including: 

  • Bean-tossing kit for 800 Bells
  • Football Cher Megaphone for 1,500 Bells
  • Football Rug for 2,000 Bells
  • Resetti Model for 2,200 Bells

After the holiday of love comes and goes, the Festivale event is next on February 15. It's a carnival-themed experience that will offer a few surprises as well as new DIY recipes to enjoy. You can learn more about what sort of festivities are on the horizon with our previous coverage here, including a special Super Mario crossover coming soon. 

Excited for the future of Animal Crossing: New Horizons? What are you hoping to see next with new events and returning villagers? Shout out those fandom thoughts in the comment section loud and proud, let's see what you've got! 

Battleborn Servers Go Offline, Shutting It Down For Good

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 09:00 AM PST

Battleborn, Gearbox's ill-fated competitive hero shooter/MOBA, finally went offline for good yesterday, January 31. According to publisher 2K Games earlier in the month, Battleborn is now completely unplayable, which includes its single-player campaign. 

This marks the end of a sad and painfully long decline for the game. Battleborn launched May 3, 2016 and had an intriguing premise, blending first-person shooter gameplay with MOBA-style arenas and design. However, it had an uphill battle from the get-go, due in no small part to launching within the same window as Overwatch, which caused a fair amount of confusion and (perhaps unfair) comparison between the two at the time. Unfortunately, while Overwatch would thrive, Battleborn struggled to find the same mass appeal (Game Informer scored it a 6 out of 10), performing below sales expectations at the time. 

The game's audience and relevancy rapidly declined almost immediately after launch, though it did receive the occasional new character and gameplay mode for the small but dedicated audience who stuck with it. In September 2016, only a few months after release, there were rumors Battleborn would go free-to-play, but they were shut down by Gearbox CEO, Randy Pitchford. However, Gearbox launched a substantial free trial version in June 2017 that more or less functioned like a free-to-play version of the game. That didn't remedy the game's woes, and Gearbox released Battleborn's final update in the fall of 2017. Gearbox announced the gradual shutdown of the game in late 2019, removing it from sale and disabling in-game purchases in February 2020.

As the story of Battleborn finally comes to a close, let us know if you have any fond memories of playing it and relive old memories of our experience with the game in this classic episode of Test Chamber. 

Bernie Sanders Inauguration Meme Invades Resident Evil 7, Skyrim, And More Games

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 08:46 AM PST

The Bernie Sanders inaguration meme is the gift that keeps on giving both with the glorious memes and the politician selling merchandise, offering 100 percent of the proceeds to Meals on Wheels Vermont. We previously showed off a SoulCalibur VI mod that brought those cute little mittens into the fight, but it turns out that was just one of many on the way. 

The latest rush of Sanders meme mods comes by way of YouTuber ToastedShoe with mod help from several modders in the gaming community. 

Click here to watch embedded media

Personally, the Dark Souls Bernie Sanders mod is the best just because of how hilariously out of place those itty bitty little mittens are in a world as brutally unforgiving as this. That being said, I will never turn down an opportunity to see more Devil May Cry, so the DMC5 addition is a nice touch as well. 

Interested in putting a politician in your gaming experience? Here's what you need to know about the mods shown off in the video above with the Bernie model courtesy of JoeMashups: 

The memes are great by themselves but what really makes them special (and wholesome) is how Sanders flipped the latest internet crazy into being something to do a little good in the world. When Sanders noticed the popularity of his attempt to stay warm when the 46th President of the United States was inaugurated, he immediately set to work on how this could be a positive. When he put the meme on a sweatshirt and sold each for $45, he then took that money and donated 100% of the revenue to Meals on Wheels Vermont. 

Meals on Wheels is an organization available in the U.S that delivers food to senior citizens in their homes for an affordable rate. It has always been a good option for the elderly, but its importance became even more vital with COVID-19 posing a unique risk to those of older generations. The photo-turned-meme helped that organization immensely in a situation. It's heartwarming to see, especially when it would have been just as easy to pocket that money (or even a portion of it) and call it a day. 

With all of the hilarious mods above showing off the Bernie Sanders inauguration meme, what other titles would you like to see get Sandersfied? Sound off with your mashup dreams in the comment section below! 

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury Multiplayer Gameplay Footage Revealed

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 08:42 AM PST

Online multiplayer is coming soon to Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury on Nintendo Switch and this new video shows off what this experience will have to offer Mario fans. 

In a new video courtesy of GameReactor, the Super Mario 3D World multiplayer can be seen with returning favorites such as Peach, Toad, and the beloved Mario brothers. 

Click here to watch embedded media

If for some reason the above video isn't loading, you can also check it out right here. 

Ghosts, rain, and a haunted castle? Check. Playing with friends as iconic Super Mario characters? Check. Solid teamwork to make it through the experience? Eh, that part we'll have to wait and see. 

We got down on some Bowser's Fury action last week, teaming up with Bowser Jr. to help calm daddy dearest down. You can check out that experience with our latest New Gameplay Today right here. 

"We hope players enjoy pouncing their way through two great Mario adventures in Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, with lots of feline fun to be had whether playing solo or with family and friends," said Nick Chavez, Nintendo of America's Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing when the game was first announced. "Along with the Nintendo Switch – Mario Red & Blue Edition system, we're delighted to offer these new products that mark more than 35 years of Super Mario adventures."  

Switch owners will be able to dive in for themselves when Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury launches on February 12. 

Thoughts on the above Super Mario World 3D multiplayer gameplay footage? Will you be picking up this Mario adventure on day one? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

[Source: GameReactor]

Why Anticipated Fallout: New Vegas The Frontier Mod Was Taken Down

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 07:37 AM PST

Fallout: New Vegas The Frontier is a fan-driven mod overhaul project that has been in development for years. At long last, it was finally released on Nexus Mods at the end of January but the launch was anything but smooth. After just a short period of time since it was made available to the public, The Frontier has officially been shut down and this is why. 

First things first: what IS The Frontier? The Frontier is a new Fallout experience set within New Vegas that takes survivors to new snowy terrains in Portland, Oregon. With new characters, new quests, and over 15 hours of new story, this mod was one of a handful that longtime fans couldn't wait to get their hands on. So why was it canned so shortly after release? 

While the mod itself was released with a ton of bugs that made it unplayable for many (including feedback on the poor voice acting and writing), that wasn't actually the reason for the pull. In a recent post on the mod's listing on Nexus, the team issued a statement surrounding artwork from one of the modders on the project that was pedophiliac in nature. This is in addition to a plethora of post-launch changes based on "questionable" content. 

Click here to watch embedded media

"It has recently come to our attention that one of the artists for the project has been creating inappropriate content involving anthropomorphic minors for some time," reads the latest mod update. "None of the team members were aware of this person's actions prior to them coming to light and we condemn them in the strongest possible way." 

Since the revelation, The Frontier team says that said artist was removed from the project immediately alongside their contributions. The team also added a clarification that the artist was at any way involved with the writing of the mod, which they claim is untrue. 

The mod team says in their statement that they made the decision to take The Frontier down, not that it was forcibly pulled, and that the Steam launch has been pushed back as well to give the group a chance to rest and regroup before tackling the additional effort needed to make up for the artist's removal. 

Since the artist made the Pip-Boy icons, The Frontier will launch with the vanilla icons from New Vegas as the team prepares to go back to the drawing board to replace them. The team also outlined a few other aspects of the mod that have been removed/changed: 

  • We have removed ZuTheSkunks content from the mod, namely icons and self-inserts
  • We have made changes to America and Mae's content
    • We have removed the Slavery lines and the lines from Mae that were inappropriate. We recognize that these topics were not handled tactfully, however, there was never any malicious intent behind the writing of the lines.
  • We have locked the Trochili 
    • Temporarily they are inaccessible but they will be re-added in an esp that will be provided optionally later.
  • We have unfortunately had to remove multiple characters-worth of voice acting as people have requested that they not be associated with the project going forward
    • We will be revoicing these characters in the future.
  • We have removed content that has been asked to be removed by artists
  • We have removed the music for the breach outreach as the artist has requested his content to be removed
  • We have modified and removed a few pieces of questionable content mod-wide

From the artists to a sizeable amount of "questionable content," the work is far from over. How so much slipped during the seven years of development is a little odd, but changes upon reflection are currently in progress as Fallout: New Vegas fans await further updates.  

New Sonic The Hedgehog Netflix Animated Series Revealed, Sonic Prime

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 07:26 AM PST

A new Sonic the Hedgehog animated series has just been revealed for Netflix with Sonic Prime. The latest gaming-related show will be making its grand debut sometime in 2022. While we wait, here are the first details revealed about what Sonic fans can look forward to.

The upcoming animated series will be 24 episodes long (so far). Netflix tells us that the new series will be made for "kids, families, and long-time fans" as it "draws upon the keystones" of what Sonic lovers want the most. 

Sonic Prime will be a blend of sorts, with a new multiverse that will be helmed by everyone's favorite blue hero. But the "gotta go fast" icon has more on his plate than to simply save the universe; he's also on the road to self-discovery and redemption.

Regarding who is bringing this animated series to life, the company WildBrain Vancouver studio is taking point alongside Sega. Man of Action Entertainment is on board to executive produce, the studio behind Ben 10. 

"Sonic is a beloved character and holds a special place in everyone's heart including my own," says Domnique Bazah, Director of Original Animation over at Netflix. "I spent many hours with the blue blur as a kid and it's a privilege to be able to bring this character everyone knows and loves on a brand new adventure with Netflix -- one that a generation of loyal fans and brand new fans around the world can enjoy." 

"Sonic the Hedgehog is a global entertainment icon that has captivated audiences since its video game debut in 1991," adds SEGA Chief Brand Officer, Ivo Gerscovich. "With over 1.14 billion game units sold and downloaded to date, an exciting feature film, a robust licensing program and more, SEGA's iconic hedgehog continues to surprise and delight audiences worldwide. We're thrilled to partner with WildBrain, Man of Action Entertainment and Netflix to speed into this new, animated chapter in the Sonic franchise."  

We don't have an exact release date for when Sonic Prime will debut on Netflix other than its 2022 release window, but we're looking forward to seeing how it shapes up, especially compared to its well-received predecessor, Sonic Boom (which Game Informer is canonically a part of).  

Sony's MLB The Show 21 Is Coming To PlayStation AND Xbox Platforms

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 06:32 AM PST

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In December 2019, Sony announced the long-running MLB The Show series would be "moving beyond PlayStation platforms as early as 2021." Today, Sony followed up on that statement with the announcement that MLB The Show 21 would be releasing on Xbox Series X (and S) and Xbox One alongside PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on April 20.

The move to Xbox systems isn't surprising, but the lack of a PC version is. There was also some speculation that Switch could be a landing spot, but for this year's game it appears the first steps into a new gaming stadium will just be on Xbox's green field.

In a PlayStation Blog post, Ramone Russell, Sony San Diego's game designer, and online community manager revealed MLB The Show 21 features cross-platform play, allowing players to "earn and use content on whichever platform and generation."

This year's cover athlete is Fernando Tatis, Jr. of the San Diego Padres, who is showing off one of his signature home run bat flips. Sony hasn't officially revealed the Xbox box art yet, but Tatis is likely on those versions as well.

The next-generation iterations of MLB The Show 21 come with a price hike up to $69.99, whereas the current-gen versions remain the standard $59.99. We don't yet know any features about any of the versions, but this implies the next-gen versions will be enhanced in some way.

Russell also said a collector's edition will be revealed on February 3, adding "There will be no standard edition upgrade path from current-gen to next-gen. If you are interested in having access to the game on both current and next-gen platforms, please wait for more info about the collector's edition."

What do you think about MLB The Show 21 moving to Xbox? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, and keep in mind that Xbox players' only MLB game has been the RBI series up until this point.

[Source: PlayStation]
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