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
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 whips its way into stores on February 25
Everyone expected Konami to officially push Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2‘s release into 2014 eventually and they’ve done just that at this year’s Gamescom expo. Dracula’s modern day epic will be released for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on February 25 in North America, February 27 in Europe, and February 28 in the UK.
Developer Mercury Steam has always claimed that Lords of Shadow 2 would be the finale for their take on the Castlevania mythos. And with the addition of open world gameplay, new weaponry, and a wider range of demons to slay, they plan to make their mark on a video game landscape that will now include the PS4 and Xbox One.
“[N]ow we come to the conclusion of the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow story,” said Producer Dave Cox. “As such, we have gone all-out to create a fitting climax to one of the most warmly-welcomed series resurrections to date. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is bigger, more epic and more challenging – and tells a tale that will live on in video game lore forever.”
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, Gamescom 2013
The criminals have “Nowhere to Run” in the latest Batman: Arkham Origins trailer
Batman wasn’t always The Dark Knight. In the beginning he was, in Alfred’s words, “a young man with a trust fund and too much anger.” But Batman: Arkham Origins wants to tell the story of how the brash and reckless Caped Crusader became the World’s Greatest Detective. It wants to tell the story of Jim Gordon coming to terms with Gotham’s need for a nighttime protector. And it wants to tell a ripping yarn about Batman battling eight assassins on Christmas Eve. I think this new trailer, released to coincide with this year’s Gamescom event, makes the case that it does.
“I am the reason the criminals breath easier when the sun rises.”
Tell him, Batman! The trailer, titled “Nowhere to Run,” also introduces us to another assassin, Firefly, and the delves into the Batcave for the first time. Developed by WB Games Montreal, Batman: Arkham Origins will be released for the PC, PS3, Wii U, and Xbox 360 on October 25.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360
Tagged Batman: Arkham Origins, Gamescom 2013
Saints Row IV, The Bureau, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, more added to PS Store
It’s another big week for the PlayStation Network as the majority of this week’s retail releases also found their way onto the PlayStation Store.
Volition’s Saints Row IV leads off the craziness and its joined by another title on the PS3 that focuses on an alien invasion, 2K’s The Bureau: XCOM Declassified. There’s no aliens for Sam Fisher to fight in Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist (at least, I don’t think), but he makes his return to the PS3 as well. Finally, Air Conflicts: Pacific Carriers, a budget aerial combat sim, is new to the PS3 section of the Store.
Gamers interested in quirkier fare who also have an interested in PSN/Vita Cross-Buy titles would do well to check out the one-on-one fighter Divekick and the puzzler Ms. Germinator. Speaking of the Vita, The Walking Dead: The First Season shambles onto Sony’s handheld this week.
Finally, a pair of PS2 Classics, Kessen III and Naval Ops Commander, round out this week’s new additions to the PlayStation Store.
More information about all of these titles can be found after the break. And if you’re interested in a rundown of this week’s new game add-ons, that’s available at the PlayStation Blog. (more…)
Posted in News, PS3, Vita
Tagged Divekick, Saints Row IV, The Walking Dead, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist, XCOM
Borderlands 2 will be released for Vita in 2014
OK, are you sitting down? No, seriously, I think you should probably sit down for this one. There’s lots and lots (and LOTS) of news coming out of this year’s Gamescom, but the only thing I care about is that Borderlands 2 is coming to Vita in 2014.
According to the PlayStation Blog, “PS Vita gives Borderlands 2 fans the ability to play the game anywhere they want, complete with of all the unique benefits of the Vita system, and will truly bring the four-player cooperative experience to the palms of your hands.” Does this mean PS3/Vita cross-play? It’s neither confirmed nor denied, but it’s one of those things that just makes sense and needs to happen. What game could highlight that functionality better?
This was also part of the announcement: “You spoke, we listened, and with the wonderful collaboration between 2K, PlayStation and the team at Iron Galaxy Studios – makers of indie fighting game Divekick – we can finally make Borderlands 2 on PS Vita a reality!” Yes, that’s right, the creators of Divekick are involved. There’s too much awesome happening in this article.
Posted in News, Vita
Tagged Borderlands 2, Gamescom 2013
Sony announces Minecraft, N++ for the PS4
It’s been a long time coming, but Minecraft will finally be available on a Sony system this year. The mining and crafting hit was released for the Xbox 360 last year and is expected to be available on the Xbox One this November. Minecraft for the PS4 (no word yet on if it will use the “Minecraft: PS4 Edition” name) will be available during the system’s launch window and will be released sometime between November 15 and December 31.
And N++, the “definitive” ninja platformer from Metanet Software, will also be available for the PS4 this year. It too will be released during the system’s launch window and Metanet has promised a colorful new look for the franchise, which you can get a taste of (thanks to the first teaser trailer) after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged Gamescom 2013, Minecraft, N++
PS4 will launch on November 15 in North America
As expected, Sony announced a release date for the PlayStation 4 during their 2013 Gamescom presentation.
The next-generation console will be released in North America on November 15 for $399.99. Two weeks later, November 29, it will make its debut in European countries. During the remainder of 2013, the PS4 will be released in a number of additional countries (32 in all).
According to Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Andrew House, more than one million PS4 consoles have already been pre-ordered by gamers around the globe.
[Source: GamesIndustry International]
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged Gamescom 2013
Killer Instinct: Ultra Edition announced
Along with revealing Chief Thunder as the latest character in their long-awaited Killer Instinct reboot, Microsoft and Double Helix today announced a few different purchasing options for the game. They are as follows:
Free To Play (Free) – Includes the game plus one playable character. Additional characters (including Thunder, Jago, Sabrewulf, and Glacius) will be available to download for $4.99 / £3.99 / €4.99 each.
Combo Breaker Pack ($19.99 / £16.99 / €19.99) – Includes the first eight characters, six at launch and two as DLC.
Ultra Edition ($39.99 / £34.99 / €39.99) – Includes all of the above, plus character accessory packs, costumes, and (best of all) the original Killer Instinct arcade game!
Killer Instinct will be available when the Xbox One launches in November.
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged Gamescom 2013, Killer Instinct
See the smarter Sims of The Sims 4 in first gameplay trailer
According to Electronics Arts, life just got better for citizens of The Sims. They’re getting smarter. And more emotional. And more relatable. They might even be able to “experience the excitement and delight of life’s moments.” You can see all of these new attributes in action in the brand new gameplay trailer for The Sims 4, which was released by EA today.
The Sims 4 brings all new ways to play with life. Built on the foundation of a brand new technology platform, the nuance and delight of being human come together to create more intelligent, more emotionally rich and more relatable Sims. These Sims have evolved into beings whose every action is informed and affected by interactions and emotional states. Because players are in control of life’s triumphs and failures, life’s moments make stories richer, Sims more relatable and their homes more personal. Pair these revolutionary new Sims with brand new creative tools that are powerful, agile and tactile, and the result is a provocative new gameplay experience that powers a new era for The Sims.
The Sims 4 will be released exclusively for the PC next year. If you decide to pre-order the game, you’ll receive the upgraded Limited Edition, which includes a special “Life of the Party” DLC pack.
Posted in News, PC
Tagged Gamescom 2013, The Sims 4