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Detroit: Become Human will become self-aware (on store shelves) on May 25

Posted on March 2, 2018 by John Scalzo

In a new post on the PlayStation Blog, Quantic Dream’s David Cage has announced that Detroit: Become Human will be released for the PS4 on May 25:

Detroit is by far the most ambitious title ever created by Quantic Dream; with this game, we wanted to push our limits by creating the most bending game we have ever made. Your actions have real and spectacular consequences: there are entire scenes that you can see or miss based on your actions, your closest allies may help you until the end or die just after you meet them, your destiny itself can be totally different depending on your choices. You must also be very careful with your three main characters, because any of them may die at any time.

Cage is very proud of all the work his team put into Detroit, but he seems most impressed by the technical hurdles they were able to conquer on the PS4:

In order to depict the world of Detroit, we have also developed the most spectacular 3D engine we have ever created. We tried to push the limits of the PS4 as far as we could, with hundreds of highly realistic characters, full performance capture, scenes featuring crowds, all with a level of quality that we had never reached before. We have also imagined a new way of playing a story where you are in direct control of a complex story where any of your choices may have consequences.

In addition to the release date announcement, a handful of new screenshots from Detroit: Become Human have been attached to the PlayStation Blog post.

Posted in News, PS4 | Tagged

Outlast, Subsurface Circular, Scribblenauts Showdown, more coming to Nintendo eShop this week

Posted on March 1, 2018 by John Scalzo

The Nintendo Switch’s eShop got a little scarier this week.

With the launch of Outlast: Bundle of Terror, which contains the original game and its Whistleblower expansion, players can take Red Barrels’s demented romp through an insane asylum on the go for the first time. Also now available for the Switch is Subsurface Circular, a text-based detective game from Mike Bithell (the creator of Thomas Was Alone).

And on Tuesday, Switch owners will be able to download Scribblenauts Showdown, a multiplayer party game spinoff of the long-running franchise.

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

Posted in News, Switch, Wii U | Tagged ,

Brigitte is Overwatch’s next Hero… and Torbjorn’s daughter

Posted on February 28, 2018 by John Scalzo

Blizzard has announced the next Hero coming to Overwatch… Brigitte. Her “Origin Story” has been embedded above, but players will be more interested in learning that she’s a Support specialist with a variety of melee attacks, as well as healing abilities and a portable shield. Within the world of Overwatch, she’s also well known as Torbjorn’s daughter.

More information about Brigitte’s fighting style can be found at Overwatch’s official website:

Overview
Brigitte specializes in armor. She can throw Repair Packs to heal teammates, or automatically heal nearby allies when she damages foes with her Flail. Her Flail is capable of a wide swing to strike multiple targets, or a Whip Shot that stuns an enemy at range. When entering the fray, Barrier Shield provides personal defense while she attacks enemies with Shield Bash. Brigitte’s ultimate ability, Rally, gives her a substantial short-term boost of speed and provides long-lasting armor to all her nearby allies.

Ability: Rocket Flail
Brigitte’s melee weapon has an extended range, enabling her to strike multiple enemies with a single swing.

Ability: Repair Pack
Brigitte throws a Repair Pack that can heal an ally. Any healing over that ally’s maximum health provides them with armor instead.

Ability: Whip Shot
Brigitte throws her flail a long distance, dealing damage and knocking an enemy away from her.

Ability: Barrier Shield
Brigitte deploys a frontal energy barrier to absorb a limited amount of damage.

Ability: Shield Bash
Once her Barrier Shield is deployed, Brigitte can dash forward to stun an enemy.

Ability: Rally
Brigitte moves faster and provides all nearby allies with armor that lasts until it’s removed by damage.

Game Director Jeff Kaplan sat down for another Developer Update video to discuss Brigitte’s introduction to Overwatch, and you can find it after the break. In addition to providing insight on her abilities and overall strategy, Kaplan confirmed that Brigitte is now available to play in Overwatch’s Public Test Region on the PC. Presumably, everyone will get the chance to play as the character soon. (more…)

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

Deep Rock Galactic, Darkest Dungeon: Crimson Edition, De Blob 2, more added to Xbox Store

Posted on February 28, 2018 by John Scalzo

Today’s Xbox Games Store update is brought to you by the letter “D.”

Coffee Stain Publishing and Ghost Ship Games will bring Deep Rock Galactic to the Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs through Microsoft’s Game Preview program. Players can also pick up the co-op RTS, featuring “badass space Dwarves,” on both platforms thanks to the Xbox Play Anywhere program.

Also now available for the Xbox One is Darkest Dungeon: Crimson Edition, a gothic roguelike that brings “the psychological stresses of adventuring” to the turn-based RPG genre. If you’re looking for something lighter, Xbox One owners can also download THQ Nordic’s colorful platformer, De Blob 2.

There’s no “D” in Bridge Constructor Portal, but there is in GLaDOS, and Xbox One owners will once again go toe-to-toe with the rogue AI in this bridge construction puzzler that’s crossed over into the Portal universe.

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

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Call of Duty: WWII’s Resistance DLC Pack will come to PC, Xbox One on March 1

Posted on February 28, 2018 by John Scalzo

Actvision has announced that Call of Duty: WWII‘s first expansion, the Resistance DLC Pack, will be available to download for the PC and Xbox One on March 1.

The Resistance DLC Pack is part of Call of Duty: WWII’s Season Pass, and it’ll give players access to three new multiplayer maps and the next chapter in the game’s Nazi Zombies saga:

Multiplayer Maps
Anthropoid – Based in Prague, Czechoslovakia, this map is inspired by Operation Anthropoid – the famous assassination attempt on a high-ranking German officer during World War II. This map features a center lane divided by a river, with long-flanking paths that can be used by snipers for ranged attacks.
Call of Duty: WWII – The Resistance

Occupation – In this remake of a classic Call of Duty map, players battle through the streets and shops of German-occupied Paris during WWII. Long side streets encourage mid-range combat, with nearby homes and storefronts lending defensive positions for ambush and recovery.

Valkyrie – Located in the Masurian Woods, East Prussia, this map was inspired by The Wolf’s Lair – Hitler’s Eastern-front headquarters during Operation Barbarossa – the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. This is a medium-sized map with gameplay focused around a dangerous center lane covered by multiple overwatch positions and mounted machine guns.

Nazi Zombies
The Darkest Shore follows our heroes into the next chapter of their dangerous journey. Only days after the horrific disaster of Mittelburg, the crew has received intel that suggests Doktor Straub is on an island just north of Germany. Blanketed in fog, this island is surrounded by Nazi air and sea power – and crawling with the Undead. Marie, Drostan, Olivia, and Jefferson will need to battle all this and more to uncover the mysteries hidden within the Darkest Shore.

If you’ve skipped out on Call of Duty: WWII’s Season Pass so far, and you’re playing on the Xbox One, the Resistance DLC Pack will also be available as a standalone download for $14.99.

Posted in News, PC, Xbox One | Tagged

Injustice 2: Legendary Edition will be available on March 27

Posted on February 28, 2018 by John Scalzo

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios have announced that an Injustice 2: Legendary Edition will be available for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on March 27.

As expected, the Legendary Edition will include the original game, as well as every downloadable character from the three Fighter Packs (Darkseid, Red Hood, Starfire, Sub-Zero, Black Manta, Raiden, Hellboy, Atom, The Enchantress, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and all the character-swapping Premiere Skins (Power Girl, John Stewart’s Green Lantern, Reverse-Flash, Grid, and Black Lightning) from the Ultimate Edition.

An upcoming update available to all Injustice 2 owners will also add a slew of improvements and enhancements to the game, including an expanded tutorial known as the Learn Hub, new Gear for all characters, and an increased Level Cap.

The Injustice 2: Legendary Edition will be priced at $59.99.

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

Moss, Bridge Constructor Portal, De Blob 2, more coming to PS Store this week

Posted on February 28, 2018 by John Scalzo

Go on an adventure, build a bridge, or recolor the world in this week’s PlayStation Store update.

Polyarc will launch Moss for the Sony’s PlayStation VR headset this week, and the game’s titular little mouse will star in a big action-adventure that’s “tailor-made for VR.”

Also available to download this week for the PS4 is Bridge Constructor Portal, a bridge construction game that crossed over with Valve’s Portal universe, and De Blob 2, a platforming re-release that originally made its PS3 debut in 2011.

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

Posted in News, PS4 | Tagged

ESRB to add “In-Game Purchases” descriptor to games with loot boxes and DLC

Posted on February 27, 2018 by John Scalzo

In response to the growing furor over loot boxes, especially their similarity to gambling, the Entertainment Software Ratings Board has announced plans to create a new descriptor for “In-Game Purchases.”

According to the ESRB, the “In-Game Purchases” label will be affixed to any game that gives players the chance to purchase loot boxes, in-game currency, subscriptions/season passes, and other downloadable content (such as bonus levels, skins, upgrades, and music) with real money.

“The video game industry is evolving and innovating continually, as is the ESRB rating system. ESRB’s goal is to ensure that parents have the most up-to-date and comprehensive tools at their disposal to help them decide which games are appropriate for their children,” said Patricia Vance, the ESRB’s President. “With the new ‘In-Game Purchases’ interactive element coming to physical games, parents will know when a game contains offers for players to purchase additional content. Moreover, we will be expanding our efforts to educate parents about the controls currently at their disposal to manage in-game spending before their kids press Start.”

As part of their push to educate parents on loot boxes and other digital purchases, the ESRB will also launch ParentalTools.org, a new online resource that includes…

  • A detailed introduction to the new “In-Game Purchases” and other interactive elements;
  • Links to step-by-step guides for setting parental controls to help manage different aspects of video game use in the home, including money and time spent playing; and
  • A link to the ESRB Ratings Guide that provides an explanation of ESRB’s three-part rating system.

Players should begin to see games with the “In-Game Purchases” descriptor in stores soon.

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