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
- 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)
Most Recent: News
New Retail Releases: Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, Fade to Silence
Just a pair of new titles will make their way to retail shelves this week.
After bringing Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age to the PS4 in 2017, Square Enix will now give Switch and Xbox One owners the chance to relive the acclaimed RPG. The remaster includes several improvements over the original PS2 release, including enhanced visuals, 7.1 surround sound, and an Auto Save option. Meanwhile, the new Zodiac Job System features more customization in leveling up characters and the punishing Trial Mode asks players to survive 100 consecutive battles.
Elsewhere on store shelves this week, THQ Nordic will bring Fade to Silence to the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The post-apocalyptic survival game will feature wintry environments and massive monsters as players gather resources in the hopes of “balancing short term needs versus your long term goals” while unraveling “a puzzling story.”
That’s it for this week’s retail releases, but you’ll find plenty of other new games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop this week.
EA Sports will put Patrick Mahomes on the cover of Madden NFL 20 when it launches on August 2
EA Sports has officially announced that Madden NFL 20 will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on August 2. It looks like fans of the Kansas City Chiefs will have to fret over the Madden Curse this year as quarterback Patrick Mahomes will serve as the game’s “Cover Athlete.”
In addition to his appearance on Madden NFL 20’s cover, the 2018 NFL MVP will contribute directly to the game’s development in “Face of the Franchise: QB1,” Madden’s new Career Mode…
Mahomes inspired and contributed to the development of Face of the Franchise: QB1, a brand-new and personalized career campaign in Madden NFL 20 that allows fans to create their own college quarterback to play through the College Football National Championship playoff, the NFL Combine, the NFL Draft, and a career as a starting Quarterback for an NFL team. In Face of the Franchise: QB1 and traditional Franchise, a new Scenario Engine generates unique playable scenarios, events and dynamic challenges that build the story of each fan’s distinct NFL career.
“The last year has been life-changing for me and landing the cover of Madden NFL 20 is both a huge honor and a dream come true as a lifelong Madden fan. To also get the opportunity to impact the experience in the new Face of the Franchise: QB1 by providing input on the gameplay is something I never expected,” said Mahomes. “I played Madden with my dad when I was a kid, and this is definitely a full circle moment for me.”
While Mahomes will serve as the spokesman for Madden NFL 20, many of the NFL biggest stars will get a unique showcase in the game thanks to the “Superstar X-Factor” system.
Seann Graddy, the Executive Producer of Madden NFL 20, explained the basics behind the new feature: “The team this year wanted to ensure that the superstars of the NFL responded and played differently in all aspects in Madden, just as they do on the field every Sunday. We wanted to make sure the stars felt like stars.”
Fans of the franchise can get a taste of the superstar vibe that Madden NFL 20 is going for in the Reveal Trailer embedded above, and they can also look forward to “new player celebrations, run/pass option (RPO) plays, and unique playbooks” when the game ships this August.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Madden NFL 20
Play as Thanos for a limited time in Fortnite’s new Avengers: Endgame event
After what seems like an impossible wait, Avengers: Endgame is finally in theaters… but Marvel has also made sure that Thanos the Mad Titan made his way back to Fortnite in a new limited time event that begins today.
The “Fortnite X Avengers: Endgame” event will split players into two teams: the Chitauri and the Heroes. The Chitauri invasion squad has been tasked with searching for Infinity Stones, and according to Epic’s official website, the first player to find a Stone will transform into Thanos and receive a massive power boost:
Each time an Infinity Stone is claimed, Thanos’ abilities grow more powerful and the Chitauri gain health.
- Reality Stone (Red) – Heath and Shields doubled
- Soul Stone (Orange) – Siphon activated
- Mind Stone (Yellow) – Jump Height doubled
- Space Stone (Blue) – Ground Pound AOE size tripled and damage X6
- Time Stone (Green) – Big Knockback added to each hit and damage X3
- Power Stone (Purple) – Laser Damage X6
But the Heroes will also be able to obtain more powerful implements of destruction during the event, including Thor’s Stormbringer, Hawkeye’s Bow, Captain America’s Shield, and Iron Man’s Repulsors. With these Mythic Weapons, they’ll be able to take the fight straight to Thanos and possibly prevent the supervillain from collecting all six Infinity Stones and performing a “Snap Royale” on the universe.
New Marvel-branded gear will also be available during the “Fortnite X Avengers: Endgame” event. Players will be able to unlock free rewards (such as Sprays, Banners, and a Quinjet Glider) by completing challenges, and two Outfit Sets (one featuring Black Widow and a mystery set coming next week) will be available for purchase through the Fortnite Store.
Super Mario Maker 2 will be released on June 28
Nintendo told us that Super Mario Maker 2 would be launching this June when they first announced the game a few months ago. Today, the consolemaker got even more specific and confirmed that Mario’s next course creator will be available for the Switch on June 28:
This full-fledged sequel to the original groundbreaking Super Mario Maker game for the Wii U system lets your imagination run wild as you make and play your own Super Mario courses using new tools, items and features.
With an incredibly intuitive toolset ready to be explored and experimented with, including the new ability to create slopes for the first time, nearly anything is possible in Super Mario Maker 2.
We still don’t know if courses from the original Super Mario Maker will be compatible with the sequel, but be sure to rewatch the otherwise-very-informative Announcement Trailer from February if you’ve got the time.
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged Super Mario Maker 2
Nintendo is hosting a Closed Beta for Mario Kart Tour (for Android users) from May 22 through June 4
Nintendo plans to launch Mario Kart Tour for Android and iOS devices sometime this Summer, but first they want to put the mobile racing game through its paces in an upcoming Closed Beta.
Android owners in Japan and the United States can head over to the game’s official website and apply for an invitation now, though registration for the limited number of Beta slots will remain open through May 7.
Mario Kart Tour’s Closed Beta will be available beginning on Wednesday, May 22, and run through Tuesday, June 4.
Posted in Mobile, News
Tagged Mario Kart Tour
Mortal Kombat 11’s Launch Trailer teases an epic new storyline for the franchise
Mortal Kombat 11‘s launch is less than a week away and now NetherRealm Studios has capped their months-long media barrage with a new Launch Trailer that teases the epic events ahead. Promising massive battles and multiple versions of your favorite characters, the time-hopping two minutes of this trailer are a must watch for all fans of the Mortal Kombat franchise.
Mortal Kombat 11 will be released for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One on April 23.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 will be available exclusively for the Switch on July 19
We are officially in a post-Reggie world, but Nintendo isn’t wasting any time to took about their future plans for the Switch. Earlier this morning, the consolemaker confirmed that Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order will be released exclusively for the Switch on July 19.
While the game doesn’t take place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 looks to be heavily influenced by Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and all the films that came before:
While iconic characters like Iron Man, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Hulk and Captain America are back, newly announced heroes like Black Panther, Deadpool, Spider-Gwen and Doctor Strange also join the action, each with individual abilities or special moves.
In this new story, Super Heroes unite in a race across iconic locations in the Marvel Universe to find the Infinity Stones before Thanos and The Black Order use them to unleash cosmic chaos. Up to four people can play together in local or online co-op, with the ability to drop in and out at any time.
Continuing their partnership from Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is currently in development for the Switch at Team Ninja.
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will be released on November 15, 2019
As promised, Electronic Arts and Respawn Entertainmen delivered the first look at Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order at this year’s Star Wars Celebration earlier today.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will take place in the shadow of Order 66, and players will take control of a young Jedi named Cal Kestis (played by Gotham‘s Cameron Monaghan) as he goes on the run after surviving the slaughter:
The game will feature an authentic story set shortly after the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, when the Jedi have fallen. Fans will play as a young Padawan named Cal Kestis, brought to life by Cameron Monaghan, who has survived Order 66, the Emperor’s secret decree to eliminate all Jedi. Players must pick up the pieces of Cal’s shattered past to complete his training and master the art of the iconic lightsaber – all while staying one step ahead of the Empire and its deadly Inquisitors.
According to the publisher, players will visit several “iconic” locales in Fallen Order, but they’ll also get the chance to explore new planets and meet “a roster of fresh characters” new to Star Wars. And of course, the Empire will always be right on your heels:
Players will meet Cal on Bracca, a brand-new Star Wars planet and one of several new locations introduced in the game. Cal is hiding from the Empire in plain sight but is forced to go on the run when he exposes his Force powers. Along the way, Cal will make new friends, like his mysterious companion Cere, as well as run into some familiar faces, all while being accompanied by his faithful droid BD-1. Cal’s flight from the Empire is made even more dangerous as he is being pursued by the Second Sister, one of the Empire’s elite Inquisitors, who seeks to hunt Cal down and extinguish this surviving Jedi. Assisting the Second Sister are the terrifying Purge Troopers, special Imperial forces trained to seek out Jedi and aid the Inquisitors in their dastardly work.
Unlike EA’s previous Star Wars projects, Fallen Order will offer a completely single-player experience with no multiplayer options, loot boxes, or microtransactions. In a way, Fallen Order’s scenario almost feels like a continuation of 2008’s The Force Unleashed, albeit from the other side of The Force.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on November 15. The game’s jaw-dropping first trailer has been embedded above.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order