Game Informer

Game Informer

Remedy Reveals New Control Multiplayer Spin-off With Project Condor, New 505 Games Deal Revealed

Posted: 29 Jun 2021 02:30 PM PDT

Remedy Entertainment is keeping busy following the release of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of Control. Announced in a blog post written by Control Director Mikael Kasurinen, Remedy has inked a new deal with 505 Games to expand the Control franchise into places it hasn't gone before including a spin-off focused on multiplayer and a new high-budget Control down the road.

Kasurinen establishes why the team is bringing Control into a multiplayer experience: "Control is first and foremost a world, a place for multitudes of stories, events, and characters. A place where unexpected, strange, and extraordinary things occur. We kicked it off with Jesse's entry into the Oldest House, but there is more to this world. Oh, so much more."

"Project Condor" is the code name for this new multiplayer title set within the Control universe, though there's not many details on what the game actually is yet. Mikael's blog only has one image hinting at what Condor might be. The picture depicts a group of four people decked out in various kinds of armor and gear crammed on a bench in a waiting room with a body bag at their feet. A battle-ready squad facing bureaucratic mundanity fits Control like a glove.

Remedy may be known for single-player experiences, but multiplayer gaming is something the studio also cares about. "There are worlds and experiences that you can access collectively, with your friends, and they can shine as brightly as any single-player experience does," Mikael explains. He continues, "We get that there is going to be skepticism about multiplayer. But I believe we can create shared experiences without compromising the unique DNA of who we are, or the stories we want to tell. Yes, we need to re-think our angles, our techniques, our mindset, but we see it as an exciting challenge: What would a Remedy multiplayer game look like?"

That's a great question which doesn't get an answer in the blog post. Remedy games are known for atmosphere, mystery, the supernatural, and downright cool action, all of which would be in play for a new experience set in the Control world.

Speaking of new experiences, the lede buried deep in this announcement reveals 505 Games and Remedy "have outlined high-level collaboration terms to further expand the Control franchise with a bigger-budget Control-game." There's even less information on this game than Project Condor, but assume there will be even more adventures in or around the Oldest House coming.

Check out the Game Informer review of Control, or what Remedy might be up to with Alan Wake, another series connected to the Oldest House.

Magic: Legends Is Shutting Down

Posted: 29 Jun 2021 01:10 PM PDT

Magic: Legends, the free-to-play ARPG set in the Magic: The Gathering universe, is shutting down for good on October 31, 2021. If this seems really fast to you, you're right - the game technically never even left the beta phase for an official launch, nor did it ever get its scheduled console launches on Xbox or Playstation. On the plus side, if you did play it at all on the Epic Games Store or Arc launcher, you're getting a full refund for any purchases made.

We can theorize endlessly about the many factors that undoubtedly shaped this decision for a shutdown before launch, but certainly, there was a lot of promise and potential in the core philosophy of taking Magic: The Gathering into an ARPG format. I was fascinated by many components of the game, including its use of an AI director to craft intensifying action, during our cover story trip. You can check out our cover story and features here.

However, at the end of the day, we can speculate that lack of player retention, monetization models, lack of endgame content, gear system choices, and low activity diversity all contributed in some way, but we'll never really know. Since the game never actually made it to a launch, there's room for additional speculation too, but I'd rather keep things in the realm of reality and say it was a really cool idea with a passionate team behind it that didn't "ignite the spark" due to a variety of factors once it was unleashed into reality. I do wish we would have seen a launch and what could have been with some course correction, but turning a ship around once it's left port is an incredibly challenging (and often impossible) task in games.

Feel free to take a look at several hours of gameplay when the beta was in its infancy right here on our YouTube channel. You can also read the entire statement and shutdown FAQ over on the official site.

Did you play any Magic: Legends? Were you planning to check it out on console? Let us know in the comments!

Former BioWare Boss Casey Hudson Reveals His New Game Studio With Humanoid Studios

Posted: 29 Jun 2021 12:49 PM PDT

Casey Hudson announced that he was leaving BioWare once more back in December 2020, and now we're finally getting a look at what he's been up to since then. The former BioWare boss took to Twitter to share an inside look at his new gaming company called Humanoid Studios that has a mission statement we can stand behind, "unleash the creative freedom of developers." 

Hudson shared our first look at Humanoid Studios on June 29, with a sneak peek at what this new journey looks like. "I've been working with some colleagues on something awesome," he started. "And I wish I could tell you all about it! For now, though, I can say that [today] we are announcing a new independent videogame company built to unleash the creative freedom of developers - bringing innovation and artistry to players through an all-new IP." 

Hudson founded Humanoid, but a team isn't a team without some good folks helping push the vision forward. According to the newly unveiled studio website, Humanoid looks to employ "talented developers from around the world" as it embodies the creative blend of the "excellence in the arts with advanced sciences to deliver the future of interactive entertainment." This may be my inner BioWare fan reaching a bit, but it sure does sound like this new studio will be keeping true to those choice-driven RPG roots that Hudson is already intimately familiar with through his prior work history. 

As part of the new studio's growth, Humanoid is currently hiring for various positions, including designers, creative directors, level designers, and more. To get up to speed on what Humanoid is all about and to keep track of news as it comes, feel free to mosey on over to the newly revealed site right here. 

We wish Hudson and the team the best of luck in their new ventures!

What are your thoughts on Hudson's new studio and creative vision? What do you hope to see from this team's efforts in the future? Sound off with those spicy takes in the comment section below! 

The Elder Scrolls 6 Will Use Creation Engine 2, Like Starfield, But It's Still A Long Ways Off

Posted: 29 Jun 2021 12:37 PM PDT

Bethesda confirmed back in October of last year that Starfield would be using an overhauled engine for the studio with Creation Engine 2. This news excited fans for obvious reasons. While Bethesda knows how to tell a solid tale, that doesn't mean that franchises like Fallout and Elder Scrolls have really done a good job at keeping up with the times in terms of tech and aesthetics. Now, following the Xbox-Bethesda E3 2021 showcase, Todd Howard is talking a little more openly about The Elder Scrolls 6, including confirming that it will utilize the same engine as Starfield. 

When sitting down with The Telegraph, Howard talked about a plethora of topics, including his original 2009 Indiana Jones game pitch. He also confirmed the engine news about both upcoming games, though Howard was careful to once again reiterate that The Elder Scrolls 6 is still a long way off. In fact, it's still in the "design phase." 

"It's good to think of The Elder Scrolls 6 as still being in a design [phase]… but we're checking the tech," said Howard. He continued on saying that the team is thinking in terms of 'Is this going to handle the things we want to do in that game?' whilst pushing forward with developmental progress.  He added, "Every game will have some new suites of technology, so Elder Scrolls 6 will have some additions on to Creation Engine 2 that that game is going to require."

Both Howard and Bethesda's SVP Pete Hines have repeatedly stated why the studio chose to reveal The Elder Scrolls 6 so early. The main reason was that its announcement hinged during a time when players were concerned that Bethesda was abandoning its promise to dedicate a space for single-player games due to Fallout 76 on the heels of Electronic Arts stating that its own push towards live-service is because "nobody wants single-player games anymore." This was Bethesda's way of saying, "Look, we know you guys are excited for this. Trust us; it's still coming." The downside of that assurance is that it was massively premature, making fans of the fantasy adventure hungry to learn more. 

The pair have both made it clear that Starfield has taken a priority. The good news is that we now have a release date for Starfield, which means an end is in sight, and the dedicated team to Elder Scrolls can be head down on the sixth entry. 

What are your hopes regarding The Elder Scrolls 6? Are you excited to see what the overhauled engine will bring to the table? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

Giveaway: Mortal Kombat Digital Movie

Posted: 29 Jun 2021 10:00 AM PDT

From the Studio: MMA fighter Cole Young must train to unlock his true power and stand with Earth's greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high-stakes battle for the universe.

Click to see more!

While it is available for purchase on digital now, we have 10 Mortal Kombat digital movies to give away, all you need to do is enter below by 7/12/2021 for your chance to win one. You can enter once per day via some methods below. Winners will be selected by random drawing from all eligible entries on or after 7/12/2021 and digital codes will be sent via email. Mortal Kombat is rated R. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Must be a legal resident of the U.S. age 17 or older to redeem movie code. Full rules available with each entry method below. Good Luck!

MUST REDEEM DIGITAL MOVIE OFFER BY 12/31/2021. Consumer must reside in the U.S. and register for a digital service provider account (go to wb.com/RedeemMovie for a list of digital service providers (e.g., Movies Anywhere). May only include HD Main Feature. NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ALL DEVICES. SOME DISPLAY RESOLUTIONS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING OR DOWNLOAD ON ALL DEVICES FROM ALL DIGITAL SERVICES. Consult your digital service provider for compatible devices, available display resolutions, streaming and download capability and Terms of Service. Ultimate display resolution on playback is dependent upon connection and device characteristics, including screen resolution. High-speed Internet connection required. Go to wb.com/RedeemMovie for additional details, requirements and technical support. Neither Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. nor any affiliate is responsible for maintaining any digital service. THIS DIGITAL MOVIE OFFER MAY NOT BE RESOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Doom Eternal Next-Gen Update For PS5 And Xbox Series X/S Is Now Available

Posted: 29 Jun 2021 09:06 AM PDT

The next-gen update for Doom Eternal was first announced during the Xbox Games Showcase at E3. Today, the optimized game finally arrives on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X (on Game Pass as well). A post on the official Bethesda website details the performance and graphical settings that'll be available for next-gen console owners. For Consoles, there are three different modes that can be enabled while playing: Performance Mode which focuses on frames and smoothness, Balanced Mode which is a happy medium, and Ray Tracing Mode which, unfortunately, is not available on the Series S. 

Next-Gen Breakdown

Xbox Series X

  • Performance Mode: 1800p – 120 FPS
  • Balanced Mode: 2160p – 60 FPS
  • Ray Tracing Mode: 1800p – 60 FPS

Xbox Series S

  • Performance Mode: 1080p – 120 FPS
  • Balanced Mode: 1440p – 60 FPS
  • Ray Tracing Mode: Not Available

PlayStation 5

  • Performance Mode: 1584p – 120 FPS
  • Balanced Mode: 2160p – 60 FPS
  • Ray Tracing Mode: 1800p – 60 FPS

PC

  • Ray Tracing Mode; reliant upon the power of the monitor that you own. FYI: The full effects of this next-gen update are also only made for consoles. 

At no additional cost, you can enjoy Doom Eternal's high-speed carnage with eye-popping visuals and fluid physics. This update applies to both digital and physical copies of the game. The DLC (and any other additional content, for that matter) will also transfer over with the next-gen update. However, PlayStation 4 and 5 owners should know that their campaign saves aren't transferable. 

Andrew Reiner reviewed Doom Eternal back when it was released last year, "From a combat standpoint, you couldn't ask for much more from Doom Eternal. It roars with excitement and just keeps getting bigger and better as it goes. Yes, it stumbles a little in puzzles, but players are frequently rewarded handsomely for making the efforts to crack them. Id Software made Doom relevant again with the 2016 game, and now the developer is clearly having fun showing players how wild this vision can get."

Are you going to hop into the game right away? Let us know which of the three modes you're planning to run and gun within the comments section below!

This Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Cosplayer Shares Stunning Urbosa Cosplay

Posted: 29 Jun 2021 08:25 AM PDT

With our latest look at The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 during this year's E3 2021 Nintendo showcase, it's easy to see why so many have this particular universe on the brain. The first open-world adventure for the Breath series was expansive, beautiful, and a joy to traverse. While we wait to see what the sequel has to offer, one Breath of the Wild cosplayer brings her Urbosa cosplay to life in stunning detail. Which, of course, sent me down the rabbit hole of looking at her previous cosplays, and now I'm just sitting here thinking about how I can't even sew a button on correctly and basking in the talent that the cosplay community continues to share. 

The cosplayer in question goes by CutiePieSensei on socials, and her cosplay portfolio includes everything from Metroid to Apex Legends - even Marvel. But we're here to talk about her Urbosa take because, let's be real: it's pretty awesome. 

For those that may not know, Urbosa is a Gerudo champion who is the master of the Divine Beast Vah Naboris. She's incredibly skilled with her ability to control and craft lightning with Urbosa's Fury, and her strength of character could be felt from a mile away while in Breath of the Wild. Known for her sisterly love for Zelda and her heroic efforts at protecting those around her, Urbosa is definitely one of those characters we hope to see more from in the future. She has also invaded other games along the Nintendo vertical, including Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. 

CutiePie absolutely nailed the look. From the chest piece to the adorning jewelry seen on her neck and hairline, the attention to detail is impressive, especially for a character design that looks deceptively simple. And can we also talk about that wig styling? Because as someone that has tried my hand at it for my own cosplay, that control over the wig to match the character is pretty dang awesome.

If you like the cosplayer seen above, consider supporting her and her craft with her creative hub here. Feel free also to shout out your thoughts on her cosplay take in the comment section below!

Xbox Games With Gold July 2021 Free Games Revealed

Posted: 29 Jun 2021 08:11 AM PDT

June is coming to a close, which means it's time to see what Xbox Games With Gold's July 2021 free games lineup has to offer. A little more niche than previous months, including June's which currently includes Injustice Gods Among Us and The King's Bird, July's offerings includes an arcade collection and a return to the Conker universe. 

Just like every month, Microsoft offers a select few games to give away for free, both for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. Whether you want to beat the tar out of a previous high score or you're looking to explore a vast world in Planet Alpha , here's what you have to look forward to on Xbox next month. 

Xbox Games With Gold July 2021 Free Games

  • Planet Alpha: Available July 1 to 31
  • Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break: Available July 16 to August 15
  • Conker: Live & Reloaded: Available July 1 to 15
  • Midway Arcade Origins: Available July 16 to 31

The older titles are still playable on current-gen systems, thanks to the Xbox Backwards Compatibility feature. I personally can't recommend Planet Alpha enough. You can explore a beautifully strange alien world while trying to survive untold dangers. The gameplay is magnificent but it's the art style that truly sells this particular adventure. 

Or, you can go the old school route and rock out with Conker: Live & Reloaded to relive the glory days. 

Xbox Game Pass is a solid deal, one that has been a hot topic for the gaming community since its inception, and Ultimate members can enjoy the games above at no additional cost. Since it first burst onto the scene, the library has continued to evolve and show value, especially with grabs like MLB The Show 21. With day one access to many launch day titles, including the expansive Bethesda library that will only continue to grow, and access to additional libraries like with EA Play, it's easy to see why many Xbox players are joining the subscription service. 

For those interested, there are two versions available: Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Xbox Game Pass is $9.99 a month and provides an ever-evolving rotation of free games to enjoy. Ultimate takes that membership a step further by including Xbox Live, a service that provides the free games listed above and special sales daily on some of the biggest games in gaming. 

Just like how Sony does it with PS Plus, the games for the Xbox Games With Gold membership are yours to keep as long as the membership remains active. Once that membership runs out, the access to the downloaded games also goes away. 

Thoughts on Xbox Games With Gold July 2021's free games lineup? What would you have preferred to see instead? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

Bethesda's Todd Howard Says He First Pitched Its Indiana Jones Game Back In 2009

Posted: 29 Jun 2021 07:54 AM PDT

Bethesda revealed its new Indiana Jones game back in January of this year, and fans were immediately interested in what Machine Games would bring to the fandom table. Now, Bethesda's Todd Howard is opening up a little bit on the road to here with the adventurous new game, sharing that he's actually been campaigning for this since 2009. 

Sitting down with The Telegraph, Howard revealed that the Indiana Jones game is something he and his team are very excited about and that he's been pitching this project since 2009. Back in 2009, he first shared the idea for Indiana Jones with George Lucas, and he's been "trying to find a way to make that" since that point. Luckily, that vision is seeing fruition thanks to the efforts by MachineGames, efforts that are "phenomenal" when looking at narrative craftsmanship and game design as a whole. 

"I think the work MachineGames have done, they're just phenomenal developers and storytellers," Howard gushed. "And when I started talking to them about it, it was a good fit. And we got the opportunity to talk to Lucas and Disney about it, and they were super excited." 

He added, " I really like Indiana Jones but never thought I'd have the opportunity to make a game. And you'll hear about more of that in the future. But the team at MachineGames are the best team in the world to pull this game off, and they're doing a phenomenal job."

MachineGames was first founded in 2009, with founding members from Starbreeze Studios making up its bulk. This studio was acquired by ZeniMax Media back in 2010, and from there, the team has focused on story-driven games, including  Wolfenstein: The New Order. Personally, I'm excited to see where the team takes the Indiana Jones name. It looks like it could have the perfect elements for success, but only time will tell. In the meantime, in the wise words of Howard himself: "It just works."

What do you hope to see from the upcoming Indiana Jones game? Thoughts on MachineGames and Todd Howard's commentary? Shout out with those hottest of hot takes in the comment section below! 

PlayStation Website Removes Parties, Friends, Trophy Info, And More From MyPlayStation

Posted: 29 Jun 2021 07:25 AM PDT

Sony has been making quite a few changes to its PlayStation website over the past few years, slowly removing features to consolidate down to the mobile app and console interface. In the latest update, Team Blue confirmed that a few more features are being slashed from the PlayStation site, including removing access to your game library, friend information, Trophies, and more.

[Update]: June 29, 2021 - The removal of the web-based functionality of the below features has now gone live. The original article was written on June 2, 2021. Original story is as follows: 

In a new blog update from Sony, the company confirmed that MyPlayStation will no longer be supported, which limits the following features: 

  • Games library
  • Parties
  • Friends
  • Trophies
  • Profile information

The above features will still be accessible via PlayStation 4 and 5 consoles, as well as the PS App that continues to see more modernized updates. I would love to see the app offer a way to see your screenshots like the Xbox app does. It would be great for those who, like me, love to use those in-game captures as fancy wallpapers and such. 

The removal of MyPlayStation will be finalized on June 28, alongside the removal of the PS Vita messaging service. Back in April, Sony also removed PlayStation Communities from PS4 systems, though you can still access it through the app, as well. 

You can read the full list of features being removed, as well as what has already been taken away, right here direct from Sony's website.

PlayStation fans have been pretty vocal about their disappointment regarding feature removal decisions made by Sony. Many have expressed frustration on forums such as Reddit and Resetera about how the push for the mobile app seems almost aggressive. There are sound reasonings as to why certain features are being removed, especially for outdated systems like the PS Vita, but can that be said for everything getting the app dependency? You decide in the comment section below. 

No New Witcher Game To Be Revealed During WitcherCon 2021

Posted: 29 Jun 2021 06:43 AM PDT

With WitcherCon right around the corner, many fans are gearing up to learn more about the various shows going on surrounding the witchers and their tales. This includes Netflix's The Witcher season 2 and the anime adaptation. What it won't have to offer, as confirmed by the fully-released schedule, is a new Witcher game announcement.

This bit of clarity is needed because the rumor mill began to swirl immediately upon the revelation of the first-ever WitcherCon, and for good reason. CD Projekt RED has already confirmed that a new Witcher experience is currently in the works alongside more work being done on Cyberpunk 2077. With members of the studio in attendance at WitcherCon for some of the panels, speculation was high about if the Polish studio would have anything official to reveal. Time to reign in those expectations a little bit, because the full schedule can be seen below: 

WitcherCon will have a plethora of ways fans can enjoy the fantasy series that we love so much, including interactive panels during the showcase that highlights the various teams that have brought The Witcher to life. This includes teams from Netflix, the games, and more to share deeper insight into the franchise. WitcherCon will offer deep dives into the anime film and the expanded lore like the comic adaptations while also exploring more about the lore that drives it all. 

The first stream kicks off on July 9 at 1 p.m. Eastern time, with the second kicking off on the same day at 9 p.m. Eastern. Interested fans can tune in both on YouTube and Twitch at their respective links. You can also learn more about the upcoming stream event right here. 

What do you hope to see from the upcoming WitcherCon? A release date for Netflix's The Witcher season 2? A closer look at the upcoming anime? Disappointed in the no new game reveal confirmation? Don't let those dreams be dreams; shout out those hopes in the comment section below! 

Sony Acquires Returnal Studio Housemarque, Evidence Suggests Bluepoint Also Acquired

Posted: 29 Jun 2021 06:23 AM PDT

Both Sony and Microsoft are making power moves in recent years regarding studio acquisitions for the PlayStation and Xbox camps. Following E3 2021's Xbox showcase that celebrated the acquisition of Bethesda and other ZeniMax studios, Sony has just announced that it has purchased Housemarque, the studio that gave us Returnal. More than that, evidence suggests that Sony has also acquired Bluepoint. But first, let's start with what's confirmed.

PlayStation's Hermen Hulst took to the PlayStation Blog to talk about the latest acquisition. In the post, Hulst celebrates Housemarque's most recent successes with Returnal while reflecting upon the studio's past. "I have been a fan of Housemarque since the studio's early days when they introduced Super Stardust HD to PlayStation fans," he said. Adding Housemarque to PlayStation's growing creative team is a smart move and one that the studio's co-founder couldn't wait to celebrate, as well. 

"Today is a big day for Housemarque, and it has been over 26 years in the making," said Ilari Kuittinen, the co-founder and managing director of Housemarque. "Our strong partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment started with Super Stardust HD on PS3, and since then, we have made arcade-inspired games for all of the PlayStation platforms. With Returnal for PS5, our most recent release, our biggest foray into third-person action gaming solidified our voice and brand in the industry as delivering unique and quality player experiences."

They continued saying how excited they are for the move and being a part of the expanding PlayStation Studios family. But what does this mean for Housemarque's future? Kuittinen closes their celebratory statement by adding, "We at Housemarque are gamers, and we have grown from the need to perfect and tinker with facets of games that we have found most fascinating. We are also not known for shying away from running our own course and trying out new combinations. With the backing of SIE and its family of studios supporting us, we can truly grow into our place in the industry and show what Housemarque can create with no limitations. We can't wait to show everyone what will be in store in the upcoming years, and we hope to usher in more lasting memories and exhilarating titles for the next quarter-century and beyond."

Keen-eyed @Nibel also spotted something else in the most recent acquisition announcement. It turns out that PlayStation Studios Japan accidentally used the wrong image in its now-deleted tweet. Still, the internet is forever, and because of that, we've got our first look at Bluepoint, also being a studio acquired by Sony. This get would also be a good one to celebrate, given Bluepoint's talent at crafting and recrafting excellent experiences, especially in the realm of remakes such as Shadow of the Colossus. 

The moves being made by Xbox and PlayStation means good things for gamers. Both companies are doing what they can to grow the respective ecosystems and driving to enrich the gaming experience. It will be interesting to see what moves are being made currently and what will be revealed as the year ticks by. 
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