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
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture will launch on August 11
The weird and wonderfully titled Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, the kooky collaboration between developer The Chinese Room and publisher SCE Santa Monica Studio, is set to make its PS4 debut August 11.
Set in an eerie village in the English county of Shropshire, the screenshots released thus far depict thatched roof houses and quaint British pubs, a million miles away from the popular image of a world hit by an apocalypse. Players will explore the village and the surrounding landscape to try and piece together what took place when the world ended 31 years before.
There will be six location hubs in total, each one telling the story of a separate character. Floating orbs will allow the player to tune into frequencies and conversations from the past, gathering clues as they listen to the long-raptured residents talking and gossiping. The Chinese Room has made the experience an unsettling, non-linear one, so players will be free to visit the stories in any order they see fit.
If this gets your interest up, Dan Pinchbeck, the Creative Director for The Chinese Room, recently dove deeper into the game’s world for the PlayStation Blog. The developer also launched the game’s official website, which is packed with even more information and spooky screenshots.
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged Everybody's Gone to the Rapture
Ratchet & Clank PS4 remake is actually a game based on a movie based on a game
Insomniac Games has been busy of late, debuting on the Xbox One last year with Sunset Overdrive, plugging a few iOS games this year, as well as developing Edge of Nowhere, the company’s exclusive game for the Oculus Rift. Yet, with such a full plate, Insomniac is returning to its roots with a new Ratchet & Clank game for the PS4.
Instead of producing a sequel to the modestly well-received PS3 title Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus, Insomniac has chosen to get very meta, reworking the 2002 original for the PS4, but also adapting part of the upcoming animated feature film about the space-faring duo. Confused? So are we! The PlayStation Blog put it best: “Play the game, based on the movie, based on the game!”
But Ratchet & Clank is more than just a glossy version of the 2002 original game, and has been reworked to specifically tie-in with the film’s plot, which tells the story of Ratchet’s origins. In short, it is almost a brand new game with elements of the original, but with modern controls, sleek graphics, and more missions, planets, and bosses, thanks to the power of the PlayStation 4. You can see the only thing in motion in the E3 2015 trailer embedded above.
But let’s not forget the franchise’s focus on new weaponry, like the Pixelizer, which turns enemies into something out of Minecraft. Old favourites also return, from the Groovitron to Ratchet’s cybernetic bodyguard Mr. Zurkon. If you pre-order the game, you will also get The Bouncer, an exclusive weapon originally featured in Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando!
Ratchet & Clank will be available for the PS4 next Spring.
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged E3 2015, Ratchet & Clank
Video Game Release Calendar Changelog: Pre-E3 2015 Edition
Don’t Forget! This is just a changelog of recently announced release dates. Warp Zoned’s complete Video Game Release Calendar includes every title we could find with a 2015, 2016, 2017, or unannounced release date.
The 2015 E3 Expo will kick off in just a few days with the first-ever E3 Press Conference from Bethesda. The publisher has promised a first look at Fallout 4, as well as Doom 4. Both games currently have “TBA” release dates, but that will likely change this Sunday. As I dive into the rest of the new release dates in this Pre-E3 2015 Edition of our Video Game Release Calendar Changelog, I can’t be sure I got them all. Dozens of games have release dates (or, at the very least, release windows) that didn’t before.
So here’s a few more games we can start looking forward to…
- Until Dawn, Sony’s “kids in the woods” horror game for the PS4, will be released on August 25.
- Skylanders SuperChargers will bring its “interactive game toys” (we need a better name for this genre) to nearly every platform on September 20.
- The Mega Man Legacy Collection will collect the first six games in the series on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One this Summer.
- Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection will bring the three PS3 games to the PS4 on October 9.
- Square Enix will release Dragon Quest Heroes on the PS4 on October 13.
- Bandai Namco’s Tales series will expand on October 20 with Tales of Zestiria on the PC, PS3, and PS4.
- And the next Tales game after that, Tales of Berseria, has been officially announced, but it’s release date is currently “TBA.”
Even more new release dates from this edition of the Video Game Release Calendar Changelog can be found after the break. And check back with us after E3 when we’ll surely get the chance to pencil in even more release dates. (more…)
Tales of Zestiria will launch on PS3, PS4, and PC on October 20
Bandai Namco has also announced that the next Tales game, Tales of Zestiria, will be released for the PS3 and PS4 on October 20. But they weren’t done. The publisher revealed the game will also be released for the PC (through Steam) on the same day.
So what can fans expect from the next Tales game? Believe it or not, it’s about a “chosen one” that has to save the world:
An unseen evil force known as Malevolence is spreading across the land, corrupting the world and causing humanity to falter. Players will embark on an epic journey as Sorey, a young pure-hearted adventurer whose destiny is to become The Shepherd, an individual of great power that can banish Malevolence. Does Sorey have the courage and heart to wield this extraordinary responsibility for good, or will he fall prey to the evils of its power?
Like most games in the Tales series, Tales of Zestiria is an action RPG, but players should expect “faster combat” in this newest entry:
Tales of Zestiria introduces a new version of its celebrated real-time battle system, allowing for faster combat with side dashes and new combo opportunities with the fusion techniques. Throughout his quest, Sorey will befriend humans and spirits known as Seraphim, unseen to most humans, to aide him on his journey. Because of Sorey’s unique ability to communicate with the Seraphim he is able to fuse with their essence to create new elemental artes for strategic attacks to decimate foes.
Tales of Zestiria isn’t the only Tales title in development at Bandai Namco. The publisher announced the 16th game in the franchise, Tales of Berseria, during the Tales of Festival last week in Japan.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4
Tagged Tales of Zestiria
Xbox Store Today: Lego Jurassic World
After years of fevered anticipation, Jurassic World opened to some pretty amazing reviews this morning. Stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard will no doubt be running away from dinosaurs all weekend long, but the original Jurassic Park will be hard to top. No one says “Must go faster!” (or “That is one big pile of s—.”) quite like Jeff Goldblum. And Sam Neill was so awesome that I watched Event Horizon just because he was in it (a mistake, in retrospect). Thankfully, gamers will be able to bring Lego versions of these actors together in Lego Jurassic World, a new game that spans the storyline of all four films.
Lego Jurassic World is available to download now from the Xbox Games Store for both the Xbox 360 and Xbox One. And in case the “Lego _____” series of games is completely unfamiliar to you, here’s what you can expect if you download either version of the game today:
Xbox One Games
Lego Jurassic World ($59.99)
Following the epic storylines of Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and Jurassic Park III, as well as the highly anticipated Jurassic World, Lego Jurassic World is the first videogame where players will be able to relive and experience all four Jurassic films. Reimagined in Lego form and told in TT Games’ signature classic Lego humor, the thrilling adventure recreates unforgettable scenes and action sequences from the films, allowing fans to play through key moments and giving them the opportunity to fully explore the expansive grounds of Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna.Xbox 360 Games
Lego Jurassic World ($49.99)
Lego Jurassic World is the first videogame to let players experience all four Jurassic films in humorous Lego form. The thrilling adventure recreates unforgettable scenes and action sequences from the films, allowing fans to play through key moments and giving them the opportunity to fully explore the expansive grounds of Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna.
Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Lego Jurassic World
Tearaway Unfolded will be released on September 8
Media Molecule has announced the PS4 update to Tearaway, Tearaway Unfolded, will be released on September 8. As the papercraft platformer makes the jump from handheld to home console, Media Molecule has also announced that everyone who pre-orders Tearaway Unfolded will be upgraded to the special Crafted Edition, which includes a variety of bonus content:
- Official Tearaway Unfolded Soundtrack
- In-Game Items: Gold Leaf, Gold Stamp, and Pig Crown
- Papercraft Plans: Sackboy and Baby Wendigo
- Costumes: Journey amd Kratos
- Custom Decorations: Lemmings, Gravity Rush, No Man’s Sky, The Order: 1886, God of War, InFamous, The Last of Us, and Killzone
Media Molecule is touting Tearaway Unfolded as more than a regular remake, as it’ll also include a completely reworked control scheme to take advantage of the DualShock 4 when its released later this year. And budget-conscious gamers should take note, Tearaway Unfolded will launch with a $39.99 price tag for the PS4 this September.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 will be released on September 15
As promised, Konami officially announced Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 today and revealed a ton of new details about the soccer simulation. First things first, Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 will be released on September 15 for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Developed using Konami’s proprietary Fox Engine, PES 2016 will make a variety of major changes to the series:
- New Master League – The famous and hugely popular Master League enjoys a total revamp, allowing users to immerse themselves in the managerial world of soccer. Every element has been redesigned or reworked, from the vibrant and involving menus to the new and exciting player transfer system, PES 2016 see one of the series most integral modes redefine the single-player experience.
- New Visuals – Incorporating the many advancements of the Fox Engine, the visuals have seen a huge upgrade. See the rain splash as players slide in to win possession, or the turf kick up as you strike the ball into the top corner. New night-time lighting and real turf textures are among some of the many improvements.
- Dynamic Weather – For the first time in the PES series, dynamic weather has been introduced, with the chance of rain starting during the game. Combined with the ever more realistic ball physics, the rain changes how the game can be played with passes speeding up, and less skilled players likely to struggle with trapping. The defender taken by the 1-on-1 will also be more likely to slip and fall due to incorrect studs or blades. This feature is applied to all offline modes including the Master League, and is an important element to decide the outcome of the match.
- Human Motion – Seeking to humanize player movement, 3x new animations have been added to bring the in-game superstars to life. Goalkeepers have seen an abundance of save animations added, while outfield players shoot, pass, dribble and tackle with incredible variety depending on the situation. Players complain when a foul isn’t given, or lament a teammate when a pass isn’t made when in open space. The new 1v1 control also benefits from this, with players being able to fool their opponents with shimmies and feints that can result in causing the opposing player to lose his balance and fall in the wrong direction!
- New Ball Physics – The past few years has seen the series make huge advancements in ball physics, and for PES 2016 new levels of realism have been reached. Each spin, bobble and ricochet has been calculated using real ball physic data, helping keep every moment in every game unique and unpredictable.
These additions and enhancements are only the beginning of Konami’s plan to rework PES 2016. The developer will also include a significantly improved collision system, a “aerial battle” experience, improved 1v1 player control, more intelligent player AI, individuality in performance for goalkeepers, and “Celebration Control” prompts. That’s right, PES 2016 gives players the chance to input a series of button presses to create their own unique celebration.
Konami will reveal even more information about Pro Evolution Soccer 2016, along with the first screenshots, during next week’s E3 Expo.
Lords of the Fallen developer is working on an untitled sci-fi action RPG
Publisher CI Games recently told the world that Lords of the Fallen 2 would not be developed by original developer Deck 13 Interactive. Rather than resting on their laurels, the German developer sought out a new partner and teamed up with another small publisher, Focus Home Interactive, for their next game. Currently untitled, Deck 13 plans to release an action RPG set in a “dystopian sci-fi future” in 2017.
Aside from a teaser image depicting a man augmented with cybernetic implants, we don’t have much to go on just yet. We know the game will be an “original property” with a PC, PS4, and Xbox One release planned. Focus Home went on to add the action RPG will feature “innovative combat mechanics and an original character progression system based on modular upgrades gained through tight, visceral combat.”
Focus Home Interactive’s Managing Partner, Cedric Lagarrigue, also said: “We are ecstatic to announce this new partnership with one of the very best independent European development studios. We’ve been excited by Deck 13’s new project since our first exchange with them, and as we’ve just got through the pre-production phase, we’re fully convinced by their capacities to deliver one of the most exciting RPGs to come in the future.”
We’ll learn more about Deck 13’s action RPG, including its title, at a later date.