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
Microsoft acquires rights to Gears of War franchise from Epic
While the Gears of War franchise has always been exclusive to the Xbox 360, the rights to the series, as well as all development, were handled by Epic Games. Today, Microsoft has ensured that Marcus Fenix and the rest of the Gears grunts will remain exclusive to the Xbox platform as the publisher has purchased the rights to the Gears of War franchise from Epic. Terms of the deal were undisclosed, but Microsoft now owns all intellectual property rights to the franchise, the right to republish or remake any previous title in the series, all development assets, and the right to produce original Gears games in the future.
Just as 343 Industries took over for Bungie when they gave up their claim to the Halo series, Microsoft plans to place the Gears of War franchise in the hands of Black Tusk Studios, their studio in Vancouver. Black Tusk is currently working on an unnamed “AAAA” game that is not based on the trailer they showed during Microsoft’s E3 2013 Press Conference. Phil Spencer, the Vice President of Microsoft Game Studios, referred to it as a “concept piece.” Whatever form this “AAAA” game eventually takes, a new Gears game will likely be produced in parallel with it.
And what kind of Gears game does Black Tush have in mind? Microsoft wasn’t ready to announce anything today, but Spencer told GamesIndustry International: “We’re not announcing anything right now, but I think if you look at what we did with 343 and getting them up to speed for Halo 4, you can maybe anticipate some things that are similar to that. But it does give me confidence knowing that we’ve done this once with 343.”
If you remember, 343 Industries famously produced Halo Anniversary as a practice run before development began on Halo 4. Spencer’s words are a very strong hint that an Xbox One remake of one or more Gears games is currently in development.
Rod Fergusson, a producer on the first three Gears of War games, has been hired by Microsoft to oversee the franchise’s future at Black Tusk. Hopefully, we’ll learn more about that future soon.
Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Gears of War, Gears of War 4
Madden NFL 25 simulation says Broncos will beat Seahawks in snowy Super Bowl XLVIII
EA Sports has run a Super Bowl simulation using the latest edition of Madden NFL Football every year for the past ten years. And in that time, they correctly picked the winner eight times, including last year’s scarily accurate prediction. This year, if the Madden NFL 25 simulation of Super Bowl XLVIII is just as accurate, the Denver Broncos will emerge victorious over the Seattle Seahawks in a snow-filled game that’ll go into overtime.
According to the EA’s crystal ball, Peyton Manning will throw for 322 yards and three touchdowns en route to MVP honors. Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, and an unnamed third receiver will cross the goal line with receiving touchdowns while Knowshon Moreno will add a rushing touchdown. Marshawn Lynch will perform well in the loss, rushing for 109 yards and a touchdown, which forced the fourth quarter tie after a successful two-point conversion. The Seattle defense will also put up seven points as Richard Sherman will return an interception for a touchdown.
After finishing the first four quarters tied at 28 apiece, Denver lost the overtime toss but forced the Seahawks to punt. This set up Matt Prater for the game-winning field goal. Final Score: 31-28.
You gamblers might want to wait before you put a call in to Vegas. Historically, Peyton Manning is 0-3 in playoff games when the temperature is below 40. And it is going to be cold in New Jersey this weekend.
Final Fantasy XIV will be released for PS4 on April 14; Collector’s Edition announced
Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn will be available for the PS4 on April 14. The game will be available in a standard edition (priced at $39.99) and a newly announced Collector’s Edition, which has been priced at $79.99.
The Collector’s Edition will include your usual assortment of bonus items including an artbook, collector cards, and a fancy box:
- Exclusive Box: Featuring artwork by Yoshitaka Amano
- Artbook: The Art of Eorzea: A Realm Reimagined
- Special Movie Content Disc: The Waning of the Sixth Sun
- Seven In-Game Items: Fat Chocobo mount / Coeurl Mount / Behemoth Barding / Wind-up Moogle / Baby Behemoth / Helm of Light
- Special Soundtrack: The Sounds of Eorzea
- Art Card Set: Five exclusive character cards
- Themed Security Token: Enhance the security of your account and protect it from unauthorized access
Pre-orders for both editions are now being accepted and those who pre-order the game will receive two additional in-game items (Mog Cap and Cait Sith Doll minion) and the ability to participate in Early Access starting on April 11.
Whether you pre-order or not, if you’re a current player of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn on the PS3, Square Enix has confirmed that you’ll be able to transfer your character to the PS4 version at no charge.
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
Weekly Warp-Up: I Want Candy Edition
No, that’s not a typo. Welcome to the Weekly Warp-Up, your weekly wrap-up of the biggest and the best articles posted at Warp Zoned this week…
Nintendo’s President, Satoru Iwata, recently told investors that the company is evaluating a “new business structure” in light of their third consecutive yearly loss and the underperforming performance of the Wii U. This has only further stoked the rumor fires that Nintendo is developing a home console/handheld hybrid known as the “Fusion.” They’re probably not (or if they are, they’re not going to release it for a long time), but it’s fun to talk about.
In other business news, King, the makers of Candy Crush Saga have attempted to trademark the word “candy” as it relates to video games. The European Union has already given them the green light and the US Patent and Trademark Office is currently reviewing the application. Hopefully, someone within that office realizes what King is trying to do and puts a stop to it.
While King’s action are definitely unsweet, might I suggest the ultimate sugar rush? This three-hour video of NES Title Screens. After you’ve watched it, be sure and read all about the rest of this week’s big news stories after the break. (more…)
Posted in News
New Releases: Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z
This is the latest “New Releaes” update and the lovely Lara Croft and will be your host. Everyone’s favorite second-favorite third-favorite hunter of relics and antiquities makes the jump to the next-generation consoles in Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition for the PS4 and Xbox One. If you haven’t played it yet, you definitely should as the rebooted Tomb Raider was included in last year’s “Apocalypse List” as one of the best games of 2013. A special Tomb Raider: Game of the Year Edition will also be released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 if you haven’t made an investment in the next-generation yet.
Also this week, the multiplayer battler Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z brings Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, and all the rest back to the PS3 and Xbox 360) for another round of fighting.
Posted in News, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z, Tomb Raider
The Last of Us: Left Behind will be the game’s only single-player expansion
Were you hoping for more single-player DLC for The Last of Us after the upcoming “Left Behind” expansion? You might want to sit down, I’ve got some bad news.
Eric Monacelli, Naughty Dog’s Marketing Manager, has responded to fans on PlayStation Blog Europe and confirmed that “Left Behind” is the only single-player expansion planned for The Last of Us. That is definitely disappointing.
The Last of Us: Left Behind will be available to download from the PlayStation Store on February 14. But if you’re at all interested in the expansion, you should definitely watch the recently released opening cinematic.
Posted in News, PS3
Tagged The Last of Us, The Last of Us: Left Behind
Here are three new screenshots from Mighty No. 9
Development on Keiji Inafune’s Mighty No. 9 is humming right along inside the walls of Comcept and Inti Creates. In fact, development is going so well that Inafune recently released a new trio of screenshots for the game’s Kickstarter backers. But with the Internet being the Internet, the images are now available to all. The game is still clearly in the early going, but be sure to check out the screenshots after the break and savor that sweet Mega Man-like flavor.
Mighty No. 9 will be available on nearly every platform imaginable (current-gen consoles, next-gen consoles, handhelds, and the PC) sometime in 2015. (more…)
Get a closer look at “Nightfall,” the first expansion to CoD: Ghosts’ Extinction Mode
A gun that shoots exploding alien blood. That should be all that’s required to get you to watch this trailer for “Nightfall,” the first expansion to Call of Duty: Ghosts‘ Extinction Mode that is packaged with the Onslaught Map Pack. Sure, there’s also a ton of stuff about a secret research facility in Alaska and aliens run amok, but seriously, it’s all about the alien blood gun.
Because that is just insane.
The Onslaught Map Pack (and “Nightfall”) will be available to download from the Xbox Live Store (for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One) on January 28. The DLC pack will be released for the PC, PS3, and PS4 (and hopefully the Wii U) at a later date.