Author: John Scalzo

John Scalzo is Warp Zoned's Editor-In-Chief and resident retro gaming expert. You can email him at john AT warpzoned DOT com.

Here’s a trailer for the season finale of Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2… which launches on December 19

Posted on December 14, 2017 by John Scalzo

Telltale Games has announced that Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2 will come to an end on December 19. That’s because the season finale, Episode 5: Above and Beyond, will be released next week for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and mobile devices. Naturally, Jesse and friends will need to perform some bigtime heroics to make it out alive:

The home Jesse left so long ago — Beacontown — has succumbed to the iron rule of the Admin. Menacing guards patrol the streets, anxious citizens tremble in fear, and worst of all, everyone believes Jesse is responsible thanks to the Admin’s devious disguise. In order to save the city, the real Jesse must find a way to zap the Admin’s powers and take him down once and for all…

And as long as you’re all caught up, a new trailer for Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2 – Episode 5: Above and Beyond has been embedded above.

Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Okami HD, Night in the Woods, more added to Xbox Store

Posted on December 13, 2017 by John Scalzo

One of 2017’s biggest games, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, has made its way to the Xbox One this week, and it’s now available to download through the Xbox Games Store. Capcom’s Okami HD joins the 100-player battle royale on the Xbox One this week, and a new generation of players will be able to experience the action-adventure in an (optional) widescreen format with enhanced visuals (including 1080p and 4K resolutions).

Finally today, Infinite Fall’s young adult adventure game, Night in the Woods, will make its way to the Xbox One.

You can learn more about all of today’s additions to the Xbox Games Store after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PC, Xbox One | Tagged , ,

Image & Form will bring SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate Edition to Switch on December 28

Posted on December 13, 2017 by John Scalzo

Image & Form has announced plans to release an Ultimate Edition of SteamWorld Heist for the Nintendo Switch on December 28. SteamWorld Heist’s Ultimate Edition will include the original turn-based tactical shooter, as well as The Outsider expansion, and touchscreen controls when played in Handheld Mode:

A few centuries after SteamWorld Dig 2, it’s up to a hearty steambot crew to board, loot and shoot their way through enemy spaceships. With you as their captain! Take on the challenges of the vast frontier by upgrading your recruits with unique abilities, weapons — and even stylish hats!

SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate Edition is fully optimized for Nintendo Switch and comes with extra content previously only available as DLC. Including a mysterious ally and a shipload of weapons, upgrades, hats, and missions. Accompanied by a catchy soundtrack by Steam Powered Giraffe, you’re in for an out-of-this-world adventure.

You can spy a new trailer for the SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate Edition up above.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

Okami HD, Papers Please, Romancing Saga 2, more coming to PS Store this week

Posted on December 13, 2017 by John Scalzo

Fresh off this year’s PlayStation Experience, Sony has added a fresh batch of new games to the PlayStation Store.

Leading the pack (yes, that’s a dog joke) is Okami HD, a PS4 re-release of Capcom’s beloved action adventure. Players will once again be able to follow Amaterasu on her quest to defeat Orochi, and the game’s sumi-e ink art style is now available in 4K resolution.

Going slightly smaller is the launch of Lucas Pope’s Papers Please on the Vita. The Communist immigration inspector simulation made a big splash on the PC in 2013, and a portable version is now available for Sony’s handheld.

Finally this week, Square Enix will bring Romancing Saga 2 to the PS4 and Vita on Friday, December 15. The turn-based RPG was originally released for the Super NES in 1993, this new version will include enhanced graphics, as well as a new dungeon, two new character classes, a new “Avalonian Gardens” game system, an additional scenario, and a New Game Plus mode.

You can learn more about all of this week’s additions to the PlayStation Store after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PS4, Vita | Tagged

Overwatch’s “Winter Wonderland” event begins today

Posted on December 12, 2017 by John Scalzo

Starting today, Overwatch players will once again get to walk through a “Winter Wonderland.” Players will be able to take part in the seasonal event until January 2nd, which will include more holiday-themed loot, two “Mei-themed brawls,” and a few redecorated maps:

Winter Wonderland has returned to Overwatch! From now until January 2, take a stroll through the decked halls of Hanamura, King’s Row, and Black Forest, put your enemies on ice in not one, but two Mei-themed brawls, and unwrap all new holiday-themed loot including legendary skins like Casual Hanzo, Rime Sombra, Beachrat Junkrat, Snow Owl Ana, and more.

Stay frosty, heroes, and happy holidays from all of us at Blizzard!

Jeff Kaplan, Overwatch’s Director, had more to say about this year’s “Winter Wonderland” event in the latest Developer Update video. You can find it after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Life Is Strange will be released for iOS devices this week

Posted on December 12, 2017 by John Scalzo

Square Enix and Dontnod Entertainment have announced that the first three episodes from Life Is Strange will be available to download through the iOS App Store beginning this Thursday, December 14. The reality-bending adventure game will be brought to iOS devices by Black Wing Foundation, and it’ll include several mobile-exclusive features:

Features Exclusive to Mobile

  • Enhanced User Interface for full touch screen integration.
  • Life Is Strange iMessage Stickers.
  • Share your game progress on social media and compare your story choices with friends.
  • An all-new Photo Mode allows you to take pictures, modify them with filters and share them easily.

“Everyone here at Dontnod is really excited to share the adventures of Max and Chloe in Life Is Strange with a new audience on mobile,” said Oskar Guilbert, Dontnod’s CEO. “We welcome new players to Arcadia Bay’s community and look forward to discovering the story choices that they make during their stay.”

After completing the first three chapters, players will be able to continue Life Is Strange’s story on their iOS device in Early 2018, which is when Square Enix plans to release Episode 4: Dark Room and Episode 5: Polarized.

Posted in Mobile, News | Tagged

Bandai Namco delays Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom again… this time to March 23, 2018

Posted on December 12, 2017 by John Scalzo

Bandai Namco and Level-5 have announced another delay for Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom. Previously scheduled to launch in January, the RPG will now be released for the PC and PS4 on March 23, 2018.

According to Level-5’s CEO, Akihiro Hino, the delay was necessary to make sure “everything works together in a fun and cohesive way”:

As you all know, Level-5 is committed to delivering the highest levels of design and quality in each of our titles. The development of our latest project, Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, is coming along very nicely and we can’t wait to share this new adventure with you, our fans. In an effort to constantly innovate, we’ve also implemented new modes in Ni no Kuni II, including the new Skirmish and Kingdom Modes.

However, with innovation and new ideas comes the need to ensure everything works together in a fun and cohesive way; this means we’ll need a bit more time to make sure the entire Ni No Kuni II experience meets our highest quality standards. So today, I would like to ask for everyone’s patience as we move Ni No Kuni II’s worldwide release date to March 23, 2018. We will be sharing more news about Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom in the coming weeks and months as we move closer to our new launch date. On behalf of everyone at Level-5, I want to thank you all for your patience and continued support.

Akihiro Hino – President & CEO of Level-5

In addition to the delay, Bandai Namco unveiled a new trailer for Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom that focuses on the game’s Japanese voicework, and it’s been embedded above.

Posted in News, PC, PS4 | Tagged

Nintendo sells TEN MILLION Switch consoles in first nine months

Posted on December 12, 2017 by John Scalzo

The Switch has clearly exceeded Nintendo’s wildest expectations, and today the consolemaker confirmed that notion with some official sales numbers. According to Nintendo’s internal tracking, ten million Switch consoles have been sold since its launch on March 3.

“As you can see in people’s living rooms, on a plane or riding the subway, fans all over the world can enjoy playing Nintendo Switch wherever they go,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s President and COO. “The response from fans has been great, and we’re doing our very best to satisfy demand during the holiday shopping season.”

In case you were curious, the Switch’s sales success is currently blowing away both the Wii U and the Wii. Nintendo sold 3.61 million Wii U consoles and 9.27 million Wii consoles in each console’s first nine months after launch. The Wii U’s userbase would eventually stall out at 13.56 million consoles sold last year, but Nintendo managed to sell 101.63 million Wii consoles over the system’s lifespan.

But if the Switch keeps up its current pace, it’ll eventually become the best-selling Nintendo console ever.

Posted in News, Switch |