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
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- 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)
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- Shadow of the Colossus: An oral history – Design Room (2025)
Most Recent: News
This E3 2015 trailer gives us our first look at Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst
EA took their turn on the E3 Press Conference merry-go-round and they came out shooting with both barrels. But one of their biggest new games mostly eschews guns for a more physical form of combat. I’m talking, of course, about the insane parkour that’s at the center of Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst.
In addition to showing the trailer embedded above, developer DICE got a chance to talk about their latest passion project, which seemed unlikely to ever exist just three years ago. Taking place in the city of Glass, and serving as a prequel (of sorts) to the original Mirror’s Edge, Catalyst will reveal the backstory behind Faith, a “Runner” working against the dystopian government:
In Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst, you will experience the rise of Faith, a daring Runner who uncovers a hidden truth within the walls of the city of Glass. Through her journey, Faith will explore every corner of the city, from the highest, most pristine skyscrapers, to the dark and gritty tunnels that lie beneath. Players will need to master the environment, using their momentum and timing their combat to fight the oppression of the ruling elite, uncovering the dark secrets behind the city’s beautiful façade. Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst gives players the freedom to explore the entire city, discovering a variety of new activities, like Dash, races from point A to B, environmental puzzles and story missions to complete at their own pace.
Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst is built on top of a sprawling open-world of glass and steel, and DICE has decided to tease out some of the details of that world through the official Mirror’s Edge website. In addition to a biography of Faith, the developer also published a primer on the art of freerunning in the game and a small glimpse at some of the darker corners of the city.
Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on February 23, 2016.
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is coming August 25… but a public beta is available now
Finally pulling back the curtain on the worst-kept secret in gaming, Microsoft has announced that Gears of War: Ultimate Edition will be released for the Xbox One on August 25.
To make this the biggest version of Gears of War ever available, Microsoft and The Coalition will add five campaign chapters to the Ultimate Edition that were previously only available on the PC version. An extensive visual upgrade, running at 1080p, will also make the game look better than ever before.
Fans who can’t wait to dive back in to Gears of War won’t have to wait long, Microsoft also announced that a public multiplayer beta test is now available to download through the Xbox Games Store. As long as you’ve got an Xbox Live Gold subscription, you’re good to go.
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged E3 2015, Gears of War
Xbox One will get Xbox 360 backwards compatibility update this Fall
Do you miss your old Xbox 360 games now that you’ve upgraded to the Xbox One? Well then, I’ve got some good news for you! Microsoft will begin offering backwards compatibility for select Xbox 360 (and Xbox Live Arcade) games this Fall. But how will it work? Glad you asked…
Players won’t have to pay anything for the privilege as backwards compatibility will be included as part of a free update to the Xbox One. However, Microsoft has to have permission from the original publisher to enable backwards compatibility. As such, only 100 Xbox 360 games will work when backwards compatibility goes live this Fall. Once backwards compatibility is enabled for a game, players will have the option to use them with all the Xbox One’s new features, including in-game screenshots, Twitch broadcasting, and the GameDVR.
If you’re part of the Xbox Preview program, you’ll be able to test out Xbox 360 backwards compatibility starting today with a limited number of titles. Microsoft plans to add more games to the list all the time and the consolemaker is even accepting suggestions through the Xbox Feedback forum.
Forza Motorsport 6 will be released on September 15
Microsoft unveiled the first gameplay trailer for Forza Motorsport 6 today during their 2015 E3 Press Conference. In addition to some of the prettiest car racing you’ll ever see, the trailer ends with confirmation that Forza Motorsport 6 will be released exclusively for the Xbox One on September 15:
Experience unrelenting action in the most beautiful and comprehensive racing game of this generation, available exclusively on Xbox One beginning September 15, 2015. Collect, customize, and race over 450 Forzavista cars, all with working cockpits, opening doors, and full damage, including the all-new Ford GT. Compete in epic 24-player races across 26 world-famous locales. Master wet weather and night racing on your road to victory.
As always, Forza Motorsport 6 will be developed by Turn 10… a group of developers who clearly love their cars.
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged E3 2015, Forza Motorsport 6
Bandai Namco confirms Dark Souls III will launch in early 2016 for PC, PS4, Xbox One
After last week’s accidental reveal, fans knew to expect a Dark Souls III announcement sometime during this year’s E3 Expo. Bandai Namco didn’t disappoint and Microsoft got to do the honors during their E3 Press Conference, unveiling a teaser trailer for the medieval action RPG.
Dark Souls III is the latest chapter in the critically acclaimed Dark Souls series with its trademark sword and sorcery combat and rewarding action RPG gameplay. Players will travel across a wide variety of locations in an interconnected world of unrelenting challenge and deep RPG gameplay as they search for a way to survive the coming apocalypse.
Set to be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One in early 2016, Dark Souls III will once again be developed by From Software with Hidetaka Miyazaki at the helm.
Get your first look at Gears of War 4, which will be available Fall 2016
Microsoft gave fans their first look at Gears of War 4 during their E3 Press Conference. In development at The Coalition under the guidance of Rod Fergusson, the nearly seven-minute gameplay trailer embedded above introduces us to two new characters, JD and his unnamed female partner. They’re looking for something… before they’re attacked by something… and then they find something (which turns out to be slimy pods)… before the something from before comes back to bite them with its many teeth.
Aside from all the somethings, what we do know is that Gears of War 4 will feature incredible graphics and an arsenal brimming with fan-favorites (the chainsaw-equipped Lancer, the Snub Pistol, and the Gnasher Shotgun).
I wish I could say more, but the trailer is very dark and very mysterious. Which makes sense when you realize that Gears of War 4’s Fall 2016 release is still a year-and-a-half away.
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged E3 2015, Gears of War 4
Rare Replay collects 30 classic games including Battletoads, Perfect Dark, a lot more
Rare has produced a huge number of classics over the years, beginning with their first game, Jetpac, in 1983. That title lead to dozens of others over the next 30 years including R.C. Pro Am, Battletoads, Killer Instinct Gold, Perfect Dark, Jet Force Gemini, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Banjo-Kazooie, and many others. Rare has developed for it all, but now, nearly their entire history will be collected in one place.
Rare Replay, which will be released exclusively for the Xbox One on August 4, will compile 30 games developed by Rare for the low, low price of $30. It won’t include games that Rare created while under contract with Nintendo such as GoldenEye and Donkey Kong Country, but the number of games it will include is pretty staggering. Even Rare’s Xbox 360 games will be part of Rare Replay.
Boasting more than “700 hours of gameplay” (clearly, this number doesn’t take the Battletoads “Turbo Tunnel” into account) and Achievements worth 10,000 Gamerscore, Rare Replay will keep any gamer busy for a long time.
So just what will the collection include? A complete list can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged E3 2015, Rare Replay
New trailer confirms Gigantic beta for PC/Xbox One will begin in August
Motiga has announced that a multiplayer beta test for Gigantic will take place this August. Gigantic is in development for Windows 10 PCs and the Xbox One and the team is looking for testers on both platforms. You can sign up for a chance to join the closed beta test at GoGigantic.com.
Motiga also released a new trailer, during Microsoft’s E3 Press Conference, that shows off many of the unique personalities available in their 5v5 team-based action game (Motiga hates it when you call it a MOBA). And with 16 different characters to choose from, Motiga is hoping to create enough options to fit every player’s style. If you prefer to go in guns blazing, you can. But if you’d rather hang back and set traps, you can do that too. The developer wants players to feel like the choice is theirs.
The full version of Gigantic should be available for the PC and Xbox One sometime later this year.