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.

Minecraft: Story Mode’s final chapter will be available next week; 3 bonus episodes will launch later this year

Posted on March 23, 2016 by John Scalzo

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Telltale Games has announced that Minecraft: Story Mode‘s tale will come to an end next week with “Order Up,” the game’s fifth and final episode… though fans should get ready for more adventures with Jesse and friends. Later this year, the developer plans to launch a three-episode miniseries following the further Adventures of the New Order of the Stone. Unlike the standalone The Walking Dead: Michonne, these bonus episodes will be released as add-on content for Story Mode.

But first, let’s look at the upcoming finale:

In the upcoming Episode 5, on a tip from Ivor, Jesse and friends head to an abandoned temple holding mysterious treasures. Ambushed by former Ocelot Aiden and his crew, our heroes find themselves in an entirely new world: Sky City! As they explore, the Order finds that resources are at a premium, and nothing but ‘The Void’ exists below the known world. When Aiden convinces Sky City’s ruler that the New Order of the Stone are up to no good, you’ll need to make some tough choices to clear your name, and keep Aiden from destroying an innocent world.

Minecraft: Story Mode – Order Up will be available to download for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on March 29. Unfortunately, a release date for the episode’s Wii U launch wasn’t announced.

Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged

Sega will release Yakuza Zero in Early 2017

Posted on March 22, 2016 by John Scalzo

Prepare to rejoin the Yakuza in 2017, as Sega has announced that Yakuza Zero will be released for the PS4 early next year.

Set in Tokyo in 1988, Yakuza Zero goes back to the beginning of the story and reveals how Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima became, respectively, the Dragon and the Mad Dog. In addition to brawling in the street, players will be able to wine and dine a bevy of beautiful women while also showing off their best disco moves.

You can find a new trailer for Yakuza Zero embedded above.

Posted in News, PS4 | Tagged

Call of Duty: Black Ops III’s “Nuk3town” map is now free for everybody

Posted on March 22, 2016 by John Scalzo

A lot of Call of Duty: Black Ops fans will be happy to tell you that “Nuketown” is one of the best multiplayer maps the series has to offer. So it made perfect sense when Activision announced they were going to remake it (as “Nuk3town”) for Call of Duty: Black Ops III and release it as a pre-order bonus.

But Activision wants everyone to get a chance to play a round or two in “Nuk3town,” so they’ve announced (via the Activision Games Blog) that the map is now free to download on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

The publisher also revealed that all players will also receive access to the Nuk3town Personalization Pack, which includes a Nuk3town-themed Weapon Camo, three Nuk3town-themed Weapon Reticles, and a Nuk3town-themed Calling Card.

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

Telltale reconfirms that The Walking Dead Season 3 will be released this year

Posted on March 22, 2016 by John Scalzo

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We say it all the time, but Telltale Games really does have a lot on their plate. From The Walking Dead: Michonne to Minecraft: Story Mode to Batman, and beyond, the team probably has a dozen games in various stages of development. But it looks like one of those games is still on track for a 2016 launch.

Speaking to Mashable, Telltale’s CEO, Kevin Bruner, confirmed that The Walking Dead Season 3 will make its debut later this year. According to the executive, Telltale is working very hard to make Season 3 appeal to new players, as well as returning fans:

“How do we go back and make sure all Walking Dead fans can get in while still keeping all of our storylines going? I think where we’re landing with the story for Season 3 does a really good job of both of those things.

“It allows people who maybe haven’t played [the first two seasons] to come in and get up to speed really quickly. But it definitely respects, honors and facilitates all of the various end points that Season 2 had.”

Telltale plans to shamble into this year’s San Diego Comic-Con with the first details of The Walking Dead Season 3, so we definitely shouldn’t expect to see it before the Summer. For now, you’ll have to be satisfied with the second episode of The Walking Dead: Michonne, which will be released on March 29.

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Doom’s six multiplayer modes include Freeze Tag, Soul Harvest, Team Deathmatch, more

Posted on March 22, 2016 by John Scalzo

While Doom has excited solo players with its promise of a 13-hour campaign, id Software’s reboot of the beloved franchise will also include six multiplayer modes for those with a competitive streak.

In addition to a traditional Team Deathmatch, Doom will include other multiplayer modes that prove you can always teach an old dog some new tricks. For example, Freeze Tag teleports the childhood favorite to Mars, while Warpath adds a rampaging Demon to a King-of-the-Hill-type mode. A new trailer, embedded above, will give you a quick overview of all six modes. Bethesda also provided a more in-depth description of each mode, which is available after the break.

And don’t forget, Doom will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on May 13. (more…)

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Hyper Light Drifter will be released for the PC (Windows/Mac) on March 31

Posted on March 22, 2016 by John Scalzo

Hyper Light Drifter, the overhead action RPG from Heart Machine, finally has an officially release date… and it’s next week. The Kickstarter success story will be released for the PC (Windows/Mac) on March 31. A Linux launch will hopefully happen on the same day, though it may slip if the team needs a bit of extra time. To celebrate the release date announcement, Heart Machine has also uploaded a brand new trailer for Hyper Light Drifter that feels suitably epic and looks absolutely gorgeous.

Hyper Light Drifter will also make its way to consoles (PS4, Wii U, Xbox One) and Sony’s Vita handheld sometime this year.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One | Tagged

Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice will be released on September 27

Posted on March 21, 2016 by John Scalzo

sonicboomfireandiceOriginally slated for a Fall 2015 debut, the launch date for Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice was pushed into 2016 last September. This weekend, at the 2016 SXSW Gaming Expo, Sega confirmed that the Sanzaru-developed 3DS title will be released on September 27.

It’s not exactly a speedy return for Sonic the Hedgehog, but the character (and his famed red sneakers) will hoof it to San Diego this Summer for a special Sonic 25th Anniversary Party on July 22. Taking place alongside the glitz and glamour of San Diego Comic-Con, Sega will treat fans to special guests, musical performances by Crush 40 and Hyper Potions, exclusive 25th Anniversary merchandise, and more.

Tickets can be purchased now through Universe.com for $25 apiece.

[Source: EGM]

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No more delays… development is officially complete on Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Posted on March 21, 2016 by John Scalzo

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It took a little longer than expected, but Naughty Dog announced this weekend that development on Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is complete (or “gone gold” as they say):

Since the beginning, Naughty Dog has referred to Uncharted 4 as the “final game” starring Nathan Drake, which has caused many people to wonder if this is the end for the roguish adventurer. But like superhero comics, death is rarely final in video games.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End was originally expected to launch for the PS4 last Fall, before being pushed back to March 18, then April 26, and now finally to May 10.

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