Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Angry Birds, Dragon Quest, FIFA Soccer, and Silent Hill are the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
- 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
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- Spore: An oral history – Design Room (2026)
- 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)
Most Recent: News
Minecraft-like Dragon Quest Builders will be released in North America this October
As part of Dragon Quest’s 30th anniversary celebration, Square Enix has announced that Dragon Quest Builders will be released in North America this Fall. Starring a mysterious character known only as the Legendary Builder, players will set out to rebuild the kingdom of Alefgard after a cataclysmic attack by the Dragonlord:
A long time ago, the realm of Alefgard was engulfed in an ongoing battle between the humans and the monsters. A celebrated hero stood up and confronted the Dragonlord, the wicked king of the monsters, to try to put an end to the conflict. Through his vile trickery, the Dragonlord deceived the hero into a false deal, and Alefgard was destroyed in the process. The few survivors were robbed of the power to build and scattered around the world to live out their lives in despair and apathy. The very idea of creativity and imagination became mere legend, and mankind was reduced to a meager existence, surviving only by scavenging what remained among the ruins for centuries to come.
Until one day, a new hero is awoken by the spirit of the land – one who will become the Legendary Builder, within whose fingertips dwells the long-lost power of creation. Rebuild the ruined realm in your own image and bring an end to the Dragonlord’s reign of evil once and for all.
The Minecraft-like game is certainly getting into the anniversary spirit, as it seems to take place during the aftermath of the “bad ending” from the first Dragon Quest game. And in a way, Dragon Quest Builders might be the closest thing we’ll ever get to a sequel to the NES classic.
In development for the PS4 and Vita, Dragon Quest Builders will be released this October.
Posted in News, PS4, Vita
Tagged Dragon Quest Builders
Codemasters announces F1 2016 for PC, PS4, Xbox One
Codemasters gave the green light to F1 2016 this morning, and publisher Deep Silver confirmed the racing game will be available for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One this Summer. Once again, the developer is pumping even more realism into the game, and F1 2016 will feature an expanded Career Mode with the option to create your own racer for the first time.
Principal Game Designer Lee Mather had a bit to say about the team’s vision for F1 2016 at the Codies Blog:
“F1 2016 is a massive step forward for the franchise. The new Career Mode sits at the heart of the game and allows gamers to create their own legend over a career that can span for up to a massive ten seasons. Beyond improving upon the fastest and most thrilling on-track racing experience in gaming, F1 2016 uniquely offers the drama and vehicle development that goes on behind the scenes. A rich car upgrade system is fully integrated into a new and deep practice development programme which mirrors the tests carried out by the teams in real life.”
The Create-A-Racer option in Career Mode will give F1 2016 players the chance to build their own avatar in the game’s world. This includes choosing a number for your car, as well as a custom helmet and the ability to jump between teams in search of a new contract. Of course, players can also stick with the same team and develop it into a championship contender after upgrading their car with new the Research and Development system.
Codemasters will reveal more about F1 2016 at this year’s E3 Expo, but a handful of screenshots and additional details about the Career Mode are available now at the Codies Blog.
SteamWorld Heist’s PS4/Vita launch has been delayed by a week
Image & Form has some bad news this morning… SteamWorld Heist‘s PS4 and Vita debut has been delayed. Originally scheduled to launch on May 31, the game will now be available a week later, on June 7. According to the developer’s Community Manager, Julius Guldbog, the delay is due to a few bugs they found at the last minute:
The reasons for the delay are related to publishing, localisation and quality assurance. We basically encountered a few scattered problems with the PlayStation versions that we have to fix before releasing the game. The extra week will hopefully give us enough time to fix these issues.
Image & Form is working with Sony to get the bugs ironed out as quickly as possible, but to fill the next seven days, they suggest taking a shot at the SteamWorld Dig speedrun record, which is an astounding 22 minutes and 57 seconds.
Posted in News, PS4, Vita
Tagged SteamWorld Heist
Theatrical “swamp noir” Knee Deep will be released for PS4 and Xbox One this Summer
Prologue Games closed the book on their Florida-set episodic adventure, Knee Deep, earlier this Spring. But PS4 and Xbox One owners who missed out on it will get their own chance to try it out when Knee Deep launches for the consoles this Summer
Currently available for the PC through Steam, Knee Deep is classified as a “swamp noir” by the developer, who also looked at David Lynch’s surreal TV production, Twin Peaks, for inspiration. But rather than re-explore the rainy corners of the Pacific Northwest, Knee Deep drags three different characters into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of a washed-up actor in the Sunshine State:
When a washed-up actor hangs himself on location, a spotlight is cast on the backwater Florida town of Cypress Knee. Your screen becomes a stage on which you investigate this mysterious suicide as three distinct characters: cheeky blogger Romana Teague, down-and-out local reporter Jack Bellet, and cynical private investigator K.C. Gaddis.
With a story that unfolds like a three-act play, Knee Deep’s characters are transported between scenes as if they were delivering their lines from the world’s largest stage. You can see just how big the game’s world gets in the trailer embedded above.
Nintendo Download: StarTropics, StarTropics II, Dragon Fantasy: The Black Tome of Ice, more
Two NES classics, and an RPG that just looks like an NES classic, are now available to download through the Nintendo eShop.
When fans reminisce about Nintendo’s great franchises, they often leave the StarTropics series off the list. But I’m quite fond of these NES action RPGs and they’re both now available to download for the Wii U. StarTropics and Zoda’s Revenge: StarTropics II both star adventurer Mike Jones, who has come to the tropics to save his missing uncle. But the action moves far beyond blue water and palm trees after the aliens show up.
Also available to download this week for the Wii U and 3DS is Dragon Fantasy: The Black Tome of Ice, a game built from the ground up to honor the JRPGs that were popular in the 80s and 90s (Captain a pirate ship! Battle giant bosses! No random encounters!).
More information on all of these games (as well as a few other new releases) can be found after the break. (more…)
Hitman Episode 3: Marrakesh will be available on May 31
IO Interactive’s episodic Hitman adventure will continue next week with a trip to Morocco. In Episode 3, Agent 47 will be heading to the mysterious city of Marrakesh in search of two new targets:
The mission, titled “A Gilded Cage,” enlists Agent 47 to take out two targets, private investment banker Claus Strandberg and Army General Reza Zaydan.
In a city teaming with life on the brink of a full-scale riot, these are the moments before a coup d’état, where the visible military presence exacerbates a situation where tensions are running high. Bustling Berber markets, alleyways crammed with stalls and shops, a clinical Swedish consulate and shaded rooftop terraces are just some of the areas that players can explore in Marrakesh.
IO is also planning more live content for Hitman, and the Marrakesh map will serve as the location for future Escalation Contracts and Elusive Targets. But for now, fans can scope out three screenshots from Hitman: Episode 3 at the game’s official website, alongside a few details about the episode’s new Challenges and Opportunities. As always, Episode 3 will be a free download for owners of Hitman’s Full Experience Pack, or it can be purchased individually for $10.
Agent 47 will star in three additional episodes of Hitman, which will all be released by the end of the year. The assassination will next travel to Thailand, before heading to the United States and Japan later in 2016.
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Season Pass includes 3 Level Packs and more than 50 new characters
WB Games has announced a Season Pass for Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens that’ll include three Level Packs and more than 50 new playable characters.
Priced at $9.99 (packs can also be downloaded individually for $2.99 apiece), the Season Pass will feature 15 playable characters and three never-before-seen scenes from The Force Awakens, including Poe Damerson’s journey back from Jakku, Kylo Ren’s assault on Maz Kanata’s castle, and the Resistance escape from Starkiller Base. The Season Pass will also include five Character Packs, which will add 40 additional playable characters to the game.
The full contents of the Season Pass (which is available for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One) can be found right here:
Poe’s Quest for Survival Level Pack
A whole new adventure following Poe Dameron’s journey back to the Resistance base. After his daring escape from the First Order that left him stranded on Jakku, Poe must search for BB-8 and locate a ship to escape the desert planet in an effort to find his way home.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: Naka Lit, Ohn Gos, Poe Dameron (Jakku), Strus Clan Leader, Strus Clan Raider, Strus Clan Speeder (Full-Size Vehicle), Strus Clan Speeder (Microfighter Vehicle)First Order Siege of Takodana Level Pack
Experience the thrilling assault on Maz Kanata’s castle in a new way. Storm the shores of Takodana with Kylo Ren and the First Order in a quest to capture Rey and BB-8 to crush the Resistance forever.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: Jashco Phurus, Rosser Weno, Strono “Cookie” Tuggs, Thromba, Laparo, Jakku Freighter (Full-Size Vehicle), Jakku Freighter (Microfighter Vehicle)Escape from Starkiller Base Level Pack
After crash landing on the surface of Starkiller Base, join the battle from the perspective of two Resistance pilots. With the help of a loyal astromech droid, outmaneuver the First Order to escape the planet before it explodes.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: C’ai Threnalli, Colonel Datoo, Lieutenant Rodinon, Lt Wright, R3-Z3, Assault Walker (Full-Size Vehicle), Assault Walker (Microfighter Vehicle)The Jedi Character Pack (Available June 28, 2016)
Features powerful members of the Jedi Order. Available exclusively to Season Pass owners.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: Aayla Secura, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Kit Fisto, Luminara Unduli, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, Saesee Tiin, Shaak Ti, Jedi Interceptor (Full-Size Vehicle), Jedi Interceptor (Microfighter Vehicle)The Prequel Trilogy Character Pack
Play as select characters from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: Anakin Skywalker (Damaged), Captain Panaka, Darth Maul, Jango Fett, Jar Jar Binks, Padmé Naberrie, Watto, Zam Wesell, Naboo Starfighter (Full-Size Vehicle), Naboo Starfighter (Microfighter Vehicle)The Freemaker Adventures Character Pack
Showcases the galaxy’s bravest family of scavengers from the upcoming Lego animated series, debuting June 20th on Disney XD.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: Baash (Iktotchi), Graballa the Hutt, Kordi Freemaker, Naare, Raam (Iktotchi), Roger (Battle Droid), Rowan Freemaker, Zander Freemaker, Star Scavenger (Full-Size Vehicle), Star Scavenger (Microfighter Vehicle)Star Wars: Rebels Character Pack
Play as the crew of the Ghost from the popular Disney XD animated series.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: Ahsoka Tano, Chopper, Ezra Bridger, Hera Syndulla, Kanan Jarrus, Sabine Wren, Seventh Sister Inquisitor, Zeb Orrelios, Ghost (Full-Size Vehicle), Ghost (Microfighter Vehicle)The Clones Wars Character Pack
Exciting characters from the acclaimed animated series.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: Asajj Ventress, Aurra Sing, Barriss Offee, Cad Bane, Captain Rex, Commander Cody, Hondo Ohnaka, Savage Opress, Republic Gunship (Full-Size Vehicle), Republic Gunship (Microfighter Vehicle)
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be released on June 28.
Xbox Store Today: Overwatch, TMNT Mutants in Manhattan, OlliOlli 2, Not A Hero
Strap on your cape, we’re going heroing in today’s Xbox Games Store update.
First up is Overwatch, Blizzard’s massive “Hero Shooter” that drops players into the arena as their chosen hero (there’s almost two dozen… though a few look pretty villainous to me). It’s now available to download for the Xbox One, and I’m sure plenty of you are already playing it.
Also available to download this week is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, a beat ’em up from Platinum Games starring the beloved heroes in a half-shell. Featuring four-player online co-op on both the Xbox One and Xbox 360, Mutants in Manhattan will pit the Turtles against Shredder, Krang, Bebop, Rocksteady, and many others.
Switching gears slightly, Roll7 will release Not A Hero: Super Snazzy Edition for the Xbox One this week. Though it says “Not A Hero” on the tin, players will most definitely feel like heroes as they blast their way through a crime-ridden city in the very British side-scroller. Roll7 also released OlliOlli2: XL Edition, their side-scrolling skateboard sim, for the Xbox One this week. Both games can even be purchased together, and for a discounted price, as part of the “BunnyLord Pro Hater Pack.”
More details on all of these titles can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Overwatch, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan