Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Clair Obscur Completes the Sweep by Winning “Best Game” at 2025-2026 BAFTA Games Awards
- Boss Fight Books Gets a New Look for Richard Moss’s “Age of Empires”
- GDC Awards: All the Winners from 1996 to Today
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wins “Game of the Year” at 2025-2026 GDC Awards
- Silent Hill, Dragon Quest, Skyrim, and More Announced as Finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- We Pitched a Museum a 1993 Game Hint Line (And They Actually Said Yes) – Yarn Spinner (2026)
- The History Of The Word “Metroidvania” And How It Spread – A Critical Hit (2025)
- Creator of Hit Game Shovel Knight Is at a ‘Make or Break’ Moment – Bloomberg (2025)
- Shadow of the Colossus: An oral history – Design Room (2025)
- In 2005, games started rewiring our brains – The AV Club (2025)
Author: John Scalzo
Rockstar releases third trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2
As promised, Rockstar Games has released the third trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2, as well as a few more details about the game’s story:
America, 1899.
The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed.
After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him.
Red Dead Redemption 2 will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One on October 26. And hopefully, we’ll learn quite a bit more about it as the 2018 E3 Expo approaches.
Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Red Dead Redemption 2
Just Shapes and Beats will be released for PC and Switch on May 31
Berzerk Studio recently updated the official website for Just Shapes and Beats, and they’ve announced that their “trippy/couch co-op/musical/bullet hell” game will be released for the PC and Switch on Thursday, May 31.
Just Shapes and Beats was originally in development for solely for the PC, but Nintendo’s most recent Nindies Showcase revealed that it would also be sliding over to the Switch. Berzerk described the game’s Switch launch as a “timed exclusive,” so it’ll likely also make an appearance on the PS4 and/or Xbox One later this year.
Posted in News, PC, Switch
Tagged Just Shapes and Beats
Oculus launches standalone VR headset that doesn’t require a PC or wires for $200
The Oculus Rift’s hefty price tag caused more than a few gamers to pass on the virtual reality headset, but it looks the company’s newest offering is going after those budget-conscious players in a big way. Offering a standalone (and wireless) VR experience for as low as $199, the Oculus Go headset was unveiled today at the F8 conference, and on Oculus’s official website:
Our first standalone VR headset, Oculus Go is the easiest way to jump into VR. With a 538ppi 2560 x 1440 WQHD, fast-switch LCD display, we’re able to offer the best optics of any VR system we’ve built at our most affordable price point yet. Starting at $199 USD for 32 GB of storage (or $249 USD for the 64 GB model), Oculus Go was designed with comfort in mind.
Built-in spatial audio and an integrated microphone allow for maximum immersion straight out of the box, while headset weight, support straps, and the facial interface have all been optimized for the best fit and feel possible. And with no need to drop in a phone or power up a PC, it’s never been easier to share VR with friends.
Oculus Go will be cross-compatible with more than 1,000 Gear VR apps, so early adopters will have plenty of options on the Oculus Store. More than 100 Go-exclusive games and apps will also be available to download through the headset’s digital storefront.
A trailer for the Oculus Go has been embedded above.
Nicalis and Treasure will bring Ikaruga to the Switch on May 29
Way back in 2003, Treasure’s Ikaruga redefined the vertically-scrolling shooter with a strategic style that required players to quickly switch the polarity of their ship to survive (and ultimately, fight back against) an unending wave of enemy gunfire. And now, a decade-and-a-half later, it’s coming to the Switch.
Nicalis has announced (via their official website) that Ikaruga will make its Switch debut with a Nintendo eShop release on May 29. The frantic arcade action will remain intact, and Switch owners will even be able to tilt their screen and play the game vertically (AKA TATE Mode) when in Tabletop Mode:
Playing as the rebel freedom fighter Shinra, pilot of the advanced Ikaruga aircraft, you must defeat the relentless forces of a conquering nation not only by dodging and shooting, but also by switching between two polarities—black or white—to absorb enemy bullets of matching color. The ability to switch polarities at the press of a button adds a tactical, puzzle-like element to the action, and as you absorb bullets you’ll power-up your ship’s homing laser to dish out up to 10 times more punishment. Additionally, blasting enemies of opposite polarity allows you to inflict double damage on your foes. But beware: One hit from an opposite-polarity bullet will mean the destruction of your ship.
Ikaruga will be priced at $14.99 on the Nintendo eShop and the first trailer has been embedded above.
Capcom partners with iam8bit to re-release Mega Man 2 and Mega Man X cartridges
It looks like Capcom has a few more “Mega” surprises for 2018…
The publisher announced today that they’re teaming up with iam8bit to release 30th Anniversary Classic Cartridges for Mega Man 2 and Mega Man X. Each cartridge will be fully playable on the NES (MM2) or Super NES (MMX), and each will be limited to a very small print run of just 8,500 cartridges.
Both 30th Anniversary Classic Cartridges will be produced in two distinct colors… Opaque Light Blue (limited to 7,500) and Glow-In-The-Dark Blue (limited to 1,000) for Mega Man 2… and Opaque White (limited to 7,500) and Glow-In-The-Dark Blue (limited to 1,000) for Mega Man X. To make it more fun, iam8bit has said collectors won’t know which color they’re getting until they open the box. The games will also come packaged in a foldout box with “Foil, Gloss, and Embossments,” and include a Premium Instruction Booklet, and other “Retro Pack-In Surprises.”
The 30th Anniversary Classic Cartridges for Mega Man 2 and Mega Man X are now available to order from iam8bit (for $100 apiece), and shipping is expected to begin in late September.
Posted in News, Retro
Tagged Mega Man 2, Mega Man X
Dark Souls Remastered Network Test coming to PS4, Xbox One on May 11-13
Bandai Namco has announced plans to host a Network Test for Dark Souls Remastered later this month on the PS4 and Xbox One.
If you want to get involved, you’ll need to download the Network Test client beforehand, and it’ll be available as a free download through the PlayStation Store and Xbox Games Store beginning on Wednesday, May 2, at 3:00 AM (Eastern Time). PS4 and Xbox One owners will have until the following Wednesday, May 9, to grab the client, but after that, “no new participants will be accepted.”
The Network Test itself will begin on Friday, May 11 (at 9:00 PM Eastern Time), and continue until the early morning hours of Sunday, May 13 (the servers will go offline at 3:00 AM Eastern Time, to be exact). According to the publisher, the test will take place within the game’s “Undead Parish” location and players will be asked to summon co-op partners or invade the games of other players.
Dark Souls Remastered will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on May 25. Switch owners will get the chance to purchase Dark Souls Remastered later this Summer, and Bandai Namco is planning a second Network Test before the game’s launch on Nintendo’s newest console.
Posted in News, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Tagged Dark Souls
Free 2018 World Cup Update coming to FIFA 18 on May 29
EA Sports is bringing the World Cup to FIFA 18 owners next month, as they’ve announced plans to release a 2018 World Cup Update for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch on May 29.
The free update will include all 32 teams from this year’s World Cup in Russia, as well as the ability to redo the tournament draw with national teams that didn’t qualify for the Group Stage (including the USA and Italy):
The 2018 FIFA World Cup update will deliver a complete and official tournament experience through official FIFA World Cup elements, including authentic teams, stadiums, kits, badges, Official Match Ball, and the Official Winner’s Trophy.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia update lets players choose one of 32 qualified nations to live out their FIFA World Cup dream and write their own history from the group stage to the final in Moscow in Online Friendlies and Online Tournament modes. Dive into Custom Tournament mode to select any licensed national team in FIFA 18 to create a unique tournament draw with non-qualified nations, including Italy, Chile, USA, among others. Additionally, experience the authentic stadium atmospheres in a quick Kick-Off experience, either solo or with friends.
A new trailer for FIFA 18’s 2018 World Cup Update has been embedded above.
New Retail Releases: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Nintendo is bringing another Wii U re-release to the Switch in the very near future, and it’s set to be the lone new game available on retail shelves this week.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was originally released in 2014 by Retro Studios, and since then, Nintendo’s secretive American partner has been working on something that’s… wait for it… super-secret. We don’t know if we’ll learn more about their next game anytime soon, but we do know that Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze has been enhanced and expanded for its Switch debut this coming Friday, May 4:
Barrel-blast into a critically acclaimed Donkey Kong adventure as this beloved franchise makes its Nintendo Switch debut with a banana-bunch of new features. Traverse islands packed with platforming perfection and nonstop action as the classic Kongs in the original game, or mix things up by playing the story as Funky Kong in new Funky Mode!
Arctic invaders have turned Donkey Kong Island into their personal frozen fortress, and it’s up to you to save the day. Play as Donkey Kong in Original Mode and team up with Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, and Cranky Kong—each with unique abilities—to overcome platforming challenges and frosty foes.
For a more accessible experience, start a game in Funky Mode to enjoy a range of gameplay updates and a new main-character option, spectacular surfing simian Funky Kong! His extra hearts and unique abilities make for a more relaxed gaming experience. And no matter which mode you choose, a wealth of collectibles and two-player co-op round out the fun!
That’s all for now, but we’ll be back later this week with a look at all the new additions to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze