Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Silent Hill, Dragon Quest, Skyrim, and More Announced as Finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Has Another Big Night and Wins “Game of the Year” at the 2025-2026 DICE Awards
- 2025 GOTY Scoreboard: In Progress
- The Game Awards: All the Winners from 2003 to Today
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Racks Up Nine Wins, Including “Game of the Year”, at the 2025 Game Awards
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
Uncharted film adaptation will open in theaters on December 18, 2020
The pieces are finally coming together for Uncharted’s big screen debut. Tom Holland has officially signed on to play a younger version of Nathan Drake in the film adaptation and, according to The Hollywood Reporter, it even has a release date… December 18, 2020.
It’s been a long, long road for the Uncharted movie to even make it to this point. A fan campaign tried to secure the role of Drake for Nathan Fillion all the way back in 2010, but it was Mark Wahlberg that eventually got the part (with Robert De Niro aboard as Victor “Sully” Sullivan). Both would later drop out, and Holland was put in place in 2017 (though Fillion would get to portray the character in a fan film released last year).
There’s still a lot we don’t know about Uncharted‘s cinematic aspirations, but we do know that Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) will direct the film for Sony Pictures, and the current draft of the script was written by Jonathan Rosenberg and Mark Walker.
Posted in Etcetera, News, PS3, PS4
Tagged Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Darksiders Genesis is a top-down action RPG from Airship Syndicate
THQ Nordic teased an upcoming announcement for the fourth game in the Darksiders franchise last week… but they confirmed today that it’s not the Darksiders 4 that many fans were expecting.
Instead, the publisher has teamed up with Joe Madureira’s Airship Syndicate to create Darksiders Genesis, a top-down action RPG set within the Darksiders universe. Madureira co-created the Darksiders franchise for Vigil Games back in 2010, and this Diablo-inspired spinoff will finally give players the chance to play as the last Horseman, Strife:
In Darksiders Genesis, the fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse, Strife, is called upon to save humankind from certain destruction at the hands of Lucifer. True to its roots, Darksiders Genesis will feature intense combat, exploration, puzzle-solving, epic boss battles, and serpent holes from heaven to hell. The game marks the first, full-scale Darksiders adventure played from the top-down perspective.
Darksiders Genesis will be playable at next week’s E3 Expo and it’ll be available for the PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and Google Stadia later this year. In the meantime, a pretty fantastic new Announcement Teaser has been embedded above.
Grandia HD Collection is coming to the Switch and PC “soon”
GungHo Online Entertainment America has announced that Switch owners will “soon” be able to purchase the Grandia HD Collection, a compilation of the first two entries the franchise.
While GungHo wasn’t ready to announce a release date just yet, they did say that a re-release of the first game, Grandia HD Remaster, will be available to download for the PC on the same day (a Grandia II HD Remaster is already available through Steam). As of now, it looks like PC players will have to purchase both games individually and won’t receive the HD Collection as a single package.
Both games in the Grandia HD Collection will receive a graphical makeover with high definition sprites, along with an enhanced user interface. But fans new and old will be able to experience the classic RPGs just as they were in the late 90s/early 2000s:
Grandia HD Collection Features
- Real-Time, Turn-Based Action – Experience and employ a unique action bar system for real-time fighting with distinct characters
- Magic-Based Combat – Gather Mana Eggs to learn and use magic-based skills, ranging from elemental attacks to character-enhancing magic for defense and offense statistical boosts
- Illustrious Worlds to Explore – The vibrant worlds in Grandia HD Collection include nostalgic starter cities such as Parm (Grandia) and Carbo Village (Grandia II) to iconic fields and areas such as The End of the World (Grandia) and Valmar’s Moon (Grandia II)
- Gather Skill Points and ATTACK! – Skill Points or Skill Coins can be used to earn incredibly intense moves that make for an extraordinary fighting experience
- Eclectic Enemy Encounters – The worlds of Grandia and Grandia II bring forth a plethora of challenging and epic enemies in the wild, as well as main storyline bosses
- Ear-Indulging, Melodious Compositions – Experience world exploration, momentous battles, and legendary in-game experiences in beautiful harmony with musical compositions from acclaimed Japanese composer Noriyuki Iwadare
GungHo Online Entertainment America is planning to bring the Grandia HD Collection to next week’s E3 Expo and we should learn more about the compilation then.
Google Stadia will launch in November for $10 per month (but you’ll have to buy new games separately)
Google has been teasing their Google Stadia game streaming service for months now, and after a short tease back in March, the tech giant stepped back into the spotlight earlier today with an even more in-depth look at what it’ll offer.
The big news is that Google Stadia will launch in November, but the company also revealed a lot more information about how the service will work, including confirmation that players will need to individually purchase most of their games through the service.
The streaming service will be split into a Pro tier and a Base tier, and Pro players will pay $10 per month to stream games at 4K resolution, but they’ll also receive access to an “ever-expanding library of free games.” The Base tier will offer free access to Google Stadia, but it’s not scheduled to launch until 2020, streaming quality will be limited to 1080p, and players will need to purchase every game they wish to play individually.
That pricing plan is a tad surprising, but Google also said that players who want to be there from the beginning will need to purchase a special Founder’s Edition Bundle. Priced at $129.99, the bundle will include an exclusive Night Blue Stadia Controller, a Chromecast Ultra dongle, a copy of Destiny 2: The Collection, and a three-month subscription to the Pro tier.
That said, the streaming service will receive support from a large number of publishers and developers, and Stadia players will be able to stream games such as Borderlands 3, Darksiders Genesis, Wolfenstein: Youngblood, and many more at launch (or shortly after). The complete list of confirmed titles can be found after the break.
And in case you missed it, the Google Stadia Connect livestream where all these announcements happened has been embedded above. (more…)
Ubisoft will unveil Watch Dogs Legion at E3 2019
Thanks to a new tweet on the official Watch Dogs Twitter account, we now know that Ubisoft will unveil the third game in the franchise at the E3 Expo next week. Featuring the tagline, “God Save the NPCs,” it’s a safe bet that Watch Dogs Legion will be taking the franchise to London.
This mini-announcement jibes with a recent report from Kotaku about Watch Dogs Legion. According to Jason Schreier, the game’s tagline is quite literal, as players will be able to take control of any character they find on the streets of London:
Watch Dogs Legion is set in London, as we confirmed a while ago, and here’s the really interesting gimmick: You can play as any NPC you recruit in the game. From the product description:
“Play as anyone, Every individual you meet in the open world, has a full set of animations, voice over, character traits and visuals that are generated and guided by gameplay systems.”
I’ve heard the same, and also that you’ll see different things at different points in the game depending which NPC you’re playing as.
We’ll learn more about Watch Dogs Legion during Ubisoft’s E3 2019 Press Conference on Monday, June 10.
Sega will include brand new editions of Tetris and Darius in Sega Genesis Mini
Sega revealed the final ten titles set to be included in the Sega Genesis Mini microconsole this morning, as well as two bonus games that absolutely no one was expecting… because they aren’t technically Genesis games.
Back in late 80s, Sega produced one of the earliest arcade cabinets for Alexey Pajitnov’s puzzle phenomenon, Tetris. Around the same time, Taito introduced arcade gamers to Darius and kicked off a long-running series of side-scrolling shooters. Both games were also in development for the Genesis, but neither managed to make its way onto retail shelves. So to right this historical wrong, Sega will work with M2 to create brand new Genesis-style ports of Tetris and Darius, and they’ll be included as bonus additions to the Genesis Mini’s game lineup.
Tetris and Darius will be joined by 40 other Genesis games, and the final ten titles to be announced include classics such as Columns, Strider, Eternal Champions, and Kid Chameleon. Prospective Genesis Mini owners might also be interested to know that Virtua Fighter 2, Alisia Dragoon, Monster World IV, Road Rash II, Dynamite Headdy, and Light Crusader made the cut as well.
The Sega Genesis Mini will launch on September 19, and it’ll be priced at $79.99. But first, the company will have their upcoming microconsole available to try out at next week’s E3 Expo.
Everyone else can view its full lineup of games (all 42 of them) after the break. (more…)
Blasphemous is a wild-looking gothic MetroidVania from The Game Kitchen
Spanish Developer The Game Kitchen has teamed up with Team17 to unveil Blasphemous, a gothicly-themed MetroidVania that pits a sword-swinging badass against a neverending cavalcade of eldritch abominations.
Showcasing themes and locales that wouldn’t look out of place in Castlevania, Bloodborne, and God of War, Blasphemous’s Reveal Trailer invites viewers to soak in the stylishly grotesque atmosphere of its unique world:
Prepare for a descent into a dark and punishing MetroidVania world where fast-paced, skilled combat combines with a deep and evocative narrative core. You will play as The Penitent One, a sole survivor of the massacre of the Silent Sorrow. Exploring the nightmarish world of Cvstodia and unlocking the hellish secrets within, only you can free it from a twisted fate and reach the origin of your torment.
- Explore A Non-Linear World: Overcome fearsome enemies and deadly traps as you venture through a variety of different landscapes and search for redemption.
- Brutal Combat: Release the power of the Mea Culpa, a sword born from guilt, to slaughter your foes. Acquire devastating new combos and special moves as you purge those who stand in your path.
- Executions: Unleash your wrath and relish in the gory dismemberment of your adversaries – all in beautifully rendered, pixel-perfect animations.
- Customize Your Build: Discover and equip Relics, Rosary Beads, Prayers, and Sword Hearts to give you new abilities and stat boosts to help you survive. Experiment with different combinations to suit your playstyle.
- Intense Boss Battles: Hordes of gigantic, twisted creates stand between you and your goal. Learn their attack patterns, strike them down and more importantly, survive.
- Unlock the Mysteries of Cvstodia: The world is full of tormented souls. Some offer you aid but may ask you for something in return. Uncover their stories to gain rewards and delve into the deep lore of the land.
Blasphemous is currently in development for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One, and it’ll be released “soon.”
New Retail Releases: Persona Q2, Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II, MotoGP 19, More
The 3DS (sort of) rides off into the sunset this week with the launch of Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, a brand new crossover RPG from Atlus. That’s because, barring an E3 surprise from Nintendo, Persona Q2 is currently the last major release planned for the venerable handheld. Players who decide to take the plunge will get to interact with characters from Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 as they explore a series of labyrinths parodying popular film genres.
RPG fans will also be able to revisit Falcom’s Legend of Heroes franchise this week, as XSEED will re-release the second game in the series for the PS4 as The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II – Relentless Edition. The Relentless Edition will include a visual upgrade, a Turbo Mode to explore the map at high speed, a Japanese dual-audio option, expanded English voiceovers, and all previously-released downloadable content.
Elsewhere on store shelves this week, a trio of new games will fill out the lower tier of titles that typically launch ahead of the E3 Expo (which, remember, is happening next week).
Milestone will rev their motorcycle simulation engine one more time with the launch of MotoGP 19 for the PS4 and Xbox One (and on the PC as a digital download). Bigben’s Warhammer: Chaosbane, the first hack and slash based on Game Workshop’s fantasy universe, will also appear on all three platforms this week. And PQube returns with a new visual novel, Kotodama: The 7 Mysteries of Fujisawa, for the PS4 and Switch (and on the PC as a digital download).
Finally, after a slight delay, Bethesda will release The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr expansion for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
That’s it for this week’s retail releases, but you’ll find plenty of other new games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop later this week.