Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- BAFTA Games Awards: All the Winners from 2003 to Today
- Clair Obscur Completes the Sweep by Winning “Best Game” at 2025-2026 BAFTA Games Awards
- Boss Fight Books to Get 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
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
Tales of Zestiria will launch on PS3, PS4, and PC on October 20
Bandai Namco has also announced that the next Tales game, Tales of Zestiria, will be released for the PS3 and PS4 on October 20. But they weren’t done. The publisher revealed the game will also be released for the PC (through Steam) on the same day.
So what can fans expect from the next Tales game? Believe it or not, it’s about a “chosen one” that has to save the world:
An unseen evil force known as Malevolence is spreading across the land, corrupting the world and causing humanity to falter. Players will embark on an epic journey as Sorey, a young pure-hearted adventurer whose destiny is to become The Shepherd, an individual of great power that can banish Malevolence. Does Sorey have the courage and heart to wield this extraordinary responsibility for good, or will he fall prey to the evils of its power?
Like most games in the Tales series, Tales of Zestiria is an action RPG, but players should expect “faster combat” in this newest entry:
Tales of Zestiria introduces a new version of its celebrated real-time battle system, allowing for faster combat with side dashes and new combo opportunities with the fusion techniques. Throughout his quest, Sorey will befriend humans and spirits known as Seraphim, unseen to most humans, to aide him on his journey. Because of Sorey’s unique ability to communicate with the Seraphim he is able to fuse with their essence to create new elemental artes for strategic attacks to decimate foes.
Tales of Zestiria isn’t the only Tales title in development at Bandai Namco. The publisher announced the 16th game in the franchise, Tales of Berseria, during the Tales of Festival last week in Japan.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4
Tagged Tales of Zestiria
Xbox Store Today: Lego Jurassic World
After years of fevered anticipation, Jurassic World opened to some pretty amazing reviews this morning. Stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard will no doubt be running away from dinosaurs all weekend long, but the original Jurassic Park will be hard to top. No one says “Must go faster!” (or “That is one big pile of s—.”) quite like Jeff Goldblum. And Sam Neill was so awesome that I watched Event Horizon just because he was in it (a mistake, in retrospect). Thankfully, gamers will be able to bring Lego versions of these actors together in Lego Jurassic World, a new game that spans the storyline of all four films.
Lego Jurassic World is available to download now from the Xbox Games Store for both the Xbox 360 and Xbox One. And in case the “Lego _____” series of games is completely unfamiliar to you, here’s what you can expect if you download either version of the game today:
Xbox One Games
Lego Jurassic World ($59.99)
Following the epic storylines of Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and Jurassic Park III, as well as the highly anticipated Jurassic World, Lego Jurassic World is the first videogame where players will be able to relive and experience all four Jurassic films. Reimagined in Lego form and told in TT Games’ signature classic Lego humor, the thrilling adventure recreates unforgettable scenes and action sequences from the films, allowing fans to play through key moments and giving them the opportunity to fully explore the expansive grounds of Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna.Xbox 360 Games
Lego Jurassic World ($49.99)
Lego Jurassic World is the first videogame to let players experience all four Jurassic films in humorous Lego form. The thrilling adventure recreates unforgettable scenes and action sequences from the films, allowing fans to play through key moments and giving them the opportunity to fully explore the expansive grounds of Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna.
Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Lego Jurassic World
Tearaway Unfolded will be released on September 8
Media Molecule has announced the PS4 update to Tearaway, Tearaway Unfolded, will be released on September 8. As the papercraft platformer makes the jump from handheld to home console, Media Molecule has also announced that everyone who pre-orders Tearaway Unfolded will be upgraded to the special Crafted Edition, which includes a variety of bonus content:
- Official Tearaway Unfolded Soundtrack
- In-Game Items: Gold Leaf, Gold Stamp, and Pig Crown
- Papercraft Plans: Sackboy and Baby Wendigo
- Costumes: Journey amd Kratos
- Custom Decorations: Lemmings, Gravity Rush, No Man’s Sky, The Order: 1886, God of War, InFamous, The Last of Us, and Killzone
Media Molecule is touting Tearaway Unfolded as more than a regular remake, as it’ll also include a completely reworked control scheme to take advantage of the DualShock 4 when its released later this year. And budget-conscious gamers should take note, Tearaway Unfolded will launch with a $39.99 price tag for the PS4 this September.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 will be released on September 15
As promised, Konami officially announced Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 today and revealed a ton of new details about the soccer simulation. First things first, Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 will be released on September 15 for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Developed using Konami’s proprietary Fox Engine, PES 2016 will make a variety of major changes to the series:
- New Master League – The famous and hugely popular Master League enjoys a total revamp, allowing users to immerse themselves in the managerial world of soccer. Every element has been redesigned or reworked, from the vibrant and involving menus to the new and exciting player transfer system, PES 2016 see one of the series most integral modes redefine the single-player experience.
- New Visuals – Incorporating the many advancements of the Fox Engine, the visuals have seen a huge upgrade. See the rain splash as players slide in to win possession, or the turf kick up as you strike the ball into the top corner. New night-time lighting and real turf textures are among some of the many improvements.
- Dynamic Weather – For the first time in the PES series, dynamic weather has been introduced, with the chance of rain starting during the game. Combined with the ever more realistic ball physics, the rain changes how the game can be played with passes speeding up, and less skilled players likely to struggle with trapping. The defender taken by the 1-on-1 will also be more likely to slip and fall due to incorrect studs or blades. This feature is applied to all offline modes including the Master League, and is an important element to decide the outcome of the match.
- Human Motion – Seeking to humanize player movement, 3x new animations have been added to bring the in-game superstars to life. Goalkeepers have seen an abundance of save animations added, while outfield players shoot, pass, dribble and tackle with incredible variety depending on the situation. Players complain when a foul isn’t given, or lament a teammate when a pass isn’t made when in open space. The new 1v1 control also benefits from this, with players being able to fool their opponents with shimmies and feints that can result in causing the opposing player to lose his balance and fall in the wrong direction!
- New Ball Physics – The past few years has seen the series make huge advancements in ball physics, and for PES 2016 new levels of realism have been reached. Each spin, bobble and ricochet has been calculated using real ball physic data, helping keep every moment in every game unique and unpredictable.
These additions and enhancements are only the beginning of Konami’s plan to rework PES 2016. The developer will also include a significantly improved collision system, a “aerial battle” experience, improved 1v1 player control, more intelligent player AI, individuality in performance for goalkeepers, and “Celebration Control” prompts. That’s right, PES 2016 gives players the chance to input a series of button presses to create their own unique celebration.
Konami will reveal even more information about Pro Evolution Soccer 2016, along with the first screenshots, during next week’s E3 Expo.
Lords of the Fallen developer is working on an untitled sci-fi action RPG
Publisher CI Games recently told the world that Lords of the Fallen 2 would not be developed by original developer Deck 13 Interactive. Rather than resting on their laurels, the German developer sought out a new partner and teamed up with another small publisher, Focus Home Interactive, for their next game. Currently untitled, Deck 13 plans to release an action RPG set in a “dystopian sci-fi future” in 2017.
Aside from a teaser image depicting a man augmented with cybernetic implants, we don’t have much to go on just yet. We know the game will be an “original property” with a PC, PS4, and Xbox One release planned. Focus Home went on to add the action RPG will feature “innovative combat mechanics and an original character progression system based on modular upgrades gained through tight, visceral combat.”
Focus Home Interactive’s Managing Partner, Cedric Lagarrigue, also said: “We are ecstatic to announce this new partnership with one of the very best independent European development studios. We’ve been excited by Deck 13’s new project since our first exchange with them, and as we’ve just got through the pre-production phase, we’re fully convinced by their capacities to deliver one of the most exciting RPGs to come in the future.”
We’ll learn more about Deck 13’s action RPG, including its title, at a later date.
Bloodstained becomes most-funded video game in Kickstarter history (and there’s still 13 hours to go)
As its wild (and wildly successful) Kickstarter campaign comes to an end, Koji Igarashi’s Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has risen to the top of the pack as the most-funded video game of all time. Currently sitting at $4.7 million, the campaign proves that gamers still care deeply about Igarashi’s Metroidvania-style gothic castle crawlers. And Igarashi still has 13 hours to gather more pledges as the campaign isn’t scheduled to close until 11:00 PM (Eastern Time) tonight.
The developer has responded to this deluge of money by running one of the most bizarre campaigns in recent memory. He included “achievements” to “unlock” stretch goals, he asked for fan art for a game that barely exists (and which he received by the bucketful), and he created a series of whimsical videos to respond to fans. Igarashi also expanded the scope of Bloodstained considerably through a ridiculous number of stretch goals, including these recently funded features:
- Online Challenge Mode… FUNDED
- Third Playable Character… FUNDED
- Standalone Prequel for PC/Consoles… FUNDED
- Standalone Prequel for 3DS/Vita… ALMOST FUNDED
If the campaign reaches $5 million, Igarashi has promised to create a roguelike mode that reshapes the game into a series of procedurally-generated hallways. But for now, Bloodstained will definitely receive an Online Challenge Mode, a third playable character (details coming soon), and a retro-styled standalone prequel developed by Inti Creates for the PC, PS4, Wii U, and Xbox One. Igarashi and his team are also reasonably confident the standalone prequel will come to handhelds as they’re only a few thousand away.
And they’re not done. This morning, a new update revealed that Yacht Club’s Shovel Knight will be included in the game in some way. Is he friend? Is he foe? Igarashi isn’t saying, but his inclusion is sure to be interesting.
After all these reveals, it’s hard to believe we’ll have to wait until 2017 to play Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Hopefully, Igarashi can keep the crazy updates coming for the next two years.
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One
Tagged Bloodstained Prequel, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Capcom says Street Fighter V will never come to the Xbox One
The “console exclusive” is a bit of a misnomer as games that were originally exclusive to one platform usually find their way to the rest with time. Just look at this Fall’s Rise of the Tomb Raider. It’ll make its debut only on the Xbox One and Xbox 360, but this deal “has a duration” and the game will eventually be released for the PC and PS4 (and probably the PS3).
So it’s reasonable to assume this will also happen with Street Fighter V (or the inevitable Super Street Fighter V and/or Ultra Street Fighter V upgrades), which is currently exclusive to the PS4. But not so fast, a Capcom spokesman has told GameSpot that Street Fighter V will never (emphasis mine) come to the Xbox One in any form:
“One comment we see a lot is that something like a Super Street Fighter 5 is going to come out on Xbox,” said the representative. “But the reality is that this is a real partnership. We are console exclusive for this franchise for this numbered run.”
While this news is disappointing for Xbox One owners, the spokesman went on to say that Sony’s assistance extends beyond marketing support. According to the spokesman, Sony is deeply involved with Street Fighter V’s development:
“We’re not talking about how we’re handling post-launch content, but I can say the relationship with Sony does open doors for things we haven’t been able to do in the past,” the representative said.
“The relationship serves a gameplay and development purpose, and not just a marketing value.”
With the 2015 E3 Expo upon us, Capcom and Sony recently released a new trailer highlighting the game’s battle system. Street Fighter V will be released for the PS4 (and PC) sometime next Spring. A multiplayer beta test is scheduled to take place sometime this year or early next year.
Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Street Fighter V
The Witcher 3 hunts down the top spot as May 2015’s best-selling game
The NPD Group has published their monthly report on the financial state of the video game industry and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has emerged as the best-selling game of May 2015.
The Witcher 3’s victory was assured after the game leapfrogged both of April’s big releases including Mortal Kombat X (#2) and Grand Theft Auto V (#3). The only other May release to make the list, Nintendo’s Splatoon, swam its way into the fifth spot. Though Splatoon should get extra notice for being the only platform-exclusive title in the top ten.
All told, retail sales for games, hardware, and accessories were down 13% versus May 2014. However, Mario Kart 8, Watch Dogs, Wolfenstein: The New Order, and the continued success of TitanFall more than explain the sales gap. The drop-off might have been even bigger if it weren’t for a new wave of Amiibo figures. According to NPD’s Liam Callahan (speaking to GamesIndustry.biz), accessories rose 20% year-over-year, with a 73% increase for “interactive gaming toys.” Callahan also confirmed that the PS4 was the best-selling console of the month.
The complete top ten list of best-selling games for May 2015 can be found after the break. (more…)