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Blizzard announces Overwatch Anniversary event, an upcoming Free Weekend, and Game of the Year Edition

Posted on May 21, 2017 by John Scalzo

In case you missed it, Blizzard has announced that Overwatch will play host to a special Anniversary in-game event beginning on May 23. The Overwatch Anniversary festivities will continue until June 12, and Blizzard kicked things off earlier this week with a “Year One” video thanking their fans for a great launch.

And if you’re someone who hasn’t joined the Overwatch community yet, Blizzard wants to entice you with an upcoming Free Weekend, scheduled for May 26-29, and a brand new Game of the Year Edition. The Game of the Year Edition will be available to download on May 23, and it’ll offer a range of goodies for all of Blizzard’s games:

Overwatch: Game of the Year Edition Contents

  • Overwatch – 10 Bonus Loot Boxes — Enjoy 10 bonus Loot Boxes, which each contain random items that can be used to personalize your heroes. Loot Boxes may include skins, emotes, victory poses, voice lines, sprays, and highlight intros, as well as credits you can use to acquire many different customization options.
  • Overwatch – Hero Skins — Pay homage to the original Overwatch strike force by wearing the vintage Blackwatch Reyes or Strike-Commander Morrison skins. Explore other heroes’ origins with Overgrown Bastion, Security Chief Pharah, and even Slipstream Tracer.
  • Heroes of the Storm – Tracer Hero — Jump into the Nexus with Tracer and surprise your enemies in the blink of an eye.
  • World of Warcraft – Baby Winston Pet — Adorably cuddly and highly intellectual, the Baby Winston pet will be at your side as you fight your way through Azeroth.
  • Diablo III – Mercy’s Wings — Slay demonic forces throughout the High Heavens and Burning Hells as you don Mercy’s wings. All of Sanctuary will know of your allegiance to Overwatch!
  • StarCraft II – In-Game Portraits — With portraits of Tracer, Reaper, Pharah, Winston, Bastion, and Soldier: 76, you’re sure to become a champion of the Koprulu Sector.
  • Hearthstone – Card Back – You can also battle it out in Hearthstone with an Overwatch-themed card back fit for a hero!

Blizzard likely has big plans for Overwatch’s second year, and hopefully we’ll hear more about them soon.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

New Retail Releases: Ultra Street Fighter II, Disgaea 5 Complete, Rime, More

Posted on May 21, 2017 by John Scalzo

After recording a huge retail victory in April, Nintendo and its third-party partners are storming back this week with another batch of fresh Switch software.

Leading things off, Capcom will release Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers for the Switch on Friday, May 26. The publisher is hoping that this re-release will introduce the arcade classic to an entirely new generation, but it also includes a brand new first-person minigame, new color variations for all characters, and two new fighters (Evil Ryu and Violent Ken). Another re-release will make its way to the Switch this week courtesy of NIS America. The import house will launch Disgaea 5 Complete on Nintendo’s console, which will include the original strategy RPG and all of its downloadable content.

If you’re looking for new and never-before-seen games this week, Tequila Works will bring their puzzle platformer Rime to the PS4 and Xbox One. Featuring a unique and moody graphical style, the exploration game should offer an interesting change of pace.

Finally this week, THQ Nordic will bring the original Darksiders to the Wii U as Darksiders: Warmastered Edition. This new version of the action/adventure game include enhanced visuals and redone graphical effects.

A complete list of this week’s new releases can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Switch, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One | Tagged , , ,

Daily Scoop: May 19, 2017 – Humble Indie Bundle 18 is now available

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Holly Scalzo

Hey there, Scoopites! There hasn’t been a lot going on, plus I’ve not been feeling well, so there wasn’t a Scoop for a couple of days. But, I come back bearing Nicole news! We received a cryptic email from an untraceable account that we assume is from her, that is somewhat disconcerting.

It reads…

We were not the first evolved creatures on the planet. Our gods and mythologies were not the first either. The jungle speaks to those who listen, and I have learned things from sources I cannot name, for even if I tried you would think me insane. Sometimes I think I have gone mad. I must leave this damp, overgrown place.

The fading light is playing tricks on my eyes, and the dimly lit trees echo the obelisks of long ago ruins, ruins that plague my restless, horror-filled sleep. I fear I know too much to stay and yet not enough to come home. I cannot tell you where I am headed to for answers, nor may I be able to contact you again for some time, for your safety and mine. I hope to meet again on the other side of this journey, though you may not recognize who I have become. Send ramen, they will know how to get it to me.

So… Not really what we were expecting, but we continue to wish her well.

Some new games have been added to the Humble Store’s “Spring Sale” extravaganza, so be on the lookout for 75% off the Life Is Strange Complete Season, 60% off of Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, and 50% off of Table Simulator. You can also get 50% off a large batch of Activision games including Call of Duty: World At War, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, and a Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Bundle. And don’t forget, this mega-sale ends May 25th!

There is also a new Humble Bundle, the “Humble Indie Bundle 18,” which will be ongoing for about the next 11 days. As part of the “Pay What You Want” tier, they are offering Ziggurat, Windward, and SteamWorld Heist. Beat the average to add Kentucky Route Zero (Season Pass Edition), Beholder, Goat Simulator: GOATY (incuding all DLCs), and a mystery game to be announced in several days. Pay $13+ and you can also get Owlboy. Bonuses include the soundtracks to Kentucky Route Zero and Owlboy.

Steam has some “Weekend Deals” going on so prepare yourselves for 50% off of games from the Call of Duty Franchise, as well as 70% off of Wolfenstein: The New Order and Wolfenstein: The Old Blood. And take 75% off The Wolf Among Us as their “Daily Deal” which ends Saturday.

Four great shirts today, so let’s jump right into them. (more…)

Posted in Daily Scoop |

Xbox Store Today: Chroma Squad, Shadow Warrior 2, The Last Blade, more

Posted on May 19, 2017 by John Scalzo

It’s “90s Day” on the Xbox Games Store today, and that’s because three games inspired by the grungy decade are now available to download for the Xbox One.

That inspiration is front and center in Bandai Namco’s Chroma Squad, which uses “Inspired by Saban’s Power Rangers” right in its marketing. The tactical RPG follows five actors who want to create their own show like Power Rangers… but then an actual alien invasion throws a wrench into their plans.

Also available to download today is Shadow Warrior 2 from Flying Wild Hog. The “offbeat” shooter sequel features the “further misadventures” of Lo Wang as he lives out his days as a reclusive mercenary. Finally today, Xbox One owners will be able to download The Last Blade, a fighting game from SNK that was originally released in 1997.

You can learn more about all of these games (and a few other new releases) after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged

The Switch continues to soar as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was the best-selling game in April 2017

Posted on May 19, 2017 by John Scalzo

Nintendo continues to dominate the retail charts with another strong showing in April for their Switch console. According to The NPD Group, Nintendo added another 280,000 Switch consoles to its tally last month, and the newly-launched Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold more than 459,000 copies (in just two days) to take the top spot on the list of best-selling games. The company’s success also seems to be great for the industry as a whole, as the industry generated $636 million in sales in April 2017, a 10% increase over the year before.

The other big news in April is that Persona 5 pushed the franchise and gave the RPG the #2 spot on the best-seller list, just below Mario Kart 8.

“Persona 5 experienced the strongest debut month for any title in Persona franchise history, with packaged dollar sales five times that of the previous best-selling debut, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4,” NPD Analyst Mat Piscatella told GamesIndustry.biz.

Additional new releases were thin on the ground in last month’s Top 20, but Lego Undercover‘s re-release on the PC and current-generation consoles helped it secure a spot (#13). And as expected, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild continued to sell well, landing in the #3 position for the month. But the big retail winners in April all came from the backlist, including Grand Theft Auto V (#6), Overwatch (#9), Call of Duty: Black Ops II (#10), and Minecraft (#20).

The NPD Group’s complete list of best-selling games for April 2017 can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Wii U, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Weekend Pipeline: 5/19/17 – Steam Sales With a Shot of Overwatch

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Brittney Williams

The weekend has arrived, and it’s about damn time! Things have been hectic in the real world, and if you’ve been busy adulting all week long, and keeping up with the world news cycle, then you my friend, deserve a fun-filled break from reality. That’s where we come in. We’ve got deals, betas, esports, and a convention. We’ve got everything but the greens, beans, potatoes, and tomatoes!

So pull up a chair, grab your planners, and pop open that glass of wine. Because we’ve got some intense weekend scheduling to do! (more…)

Posted in News |

Nintendo Download: Fire Emblem Echoes, Thumper, Darksiders Warmastered Edition, more

Posted on May 18, 2017 by John Scalzo

It’s Thursday, and Nintendo is back with another update to the Nintendo eShop. Here’s what you’ll see on the storefront’s digital shelves…

After 25 years, Nintendo is finally Fire Emblem Gaiden to a North American audience as Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia for the 3DS. Fire Emblem Echoes is a tactical RPG with a pair of intertwining stories that began life as an NES exclusive previously only available in Japan. Set to launch tomorrow, Fire Emblem Echoes is expected to be the last game in the series to appear on the 3DS.

Jumping over to the Switch shelves, Drool has brought their “rhythm violence” game Thumper to Nintendo’s newest console. Guide your “Space Beetle” down a track by hitting the right notes, and do then battle with a “Giant Head From the Future” to win.

Finally, the Wii U lives for another week with the release of apocalyptic action game Darksiders: Warmastered Edition on Tuesday, May 23.

You can find more information on all of these games (and a few other new releases) after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, News, Switch, Wii U | Tagged , ,

CoD: Infinite Warfare’s Continuum DLC Pack is now available to download for PC, Xbox One

Posted on May 18, 2017 by John Scalzo

The latest exclusivity period for a piece of Call of Duty add-on content has expired, and Activision can now launch Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare‘s Continuum DLC Pack on the PC and Xbox One. Like other DLC Packs for Infinite Warfare, the meat of the Continuum DLC Pack is four new maps for the game’s multiplayer modes:

Multiplayer Maps in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare’s Continuum DLC Pack

  • Turista – A plush spa and resort, “Turista” is nestled in the middle of a giant skeleton of an ancient creature. With sniper spots scattered across a majestic, central waterfall, Turista also boasts tight interiors for fans of close-quartered combat and a three-lane design that caters to a variety of play styles.
  • Scrap – Set in an abandoned junkyard on the Moon, “Scrap” features a combination of extended sightlines and tactical pathways that reward players who engage in both long and short range combat.
  • Archive – Fast, frenetic engagements set the pace in “Archive,” a post-futurist art gallery where tight engagements contrast with open exterior battlegrounds in this wide three-lane style map.
  • Excess – Perched atop a gilded penthouse in a sprawling future metropolis, “Excess” is a small, circular map re-imagined from the classic Modern Warfare 2 map, “Rust,” that retains the intense, fast-paced combat from the original.

The Continuum DLC Pack also includes “Shaolin Shuffle,” a new chapter in Infinite Warfare’s Zombies saga. The add-on is set during the 1970s, and Activision released a funk-tastic trailer for “Shaolin Shuffle” a few weeks ago:

“Shaolin Shuffle,” the next thrilling chapter of the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare zombies experience, features the return of Willard Wyler, the mysterious movie director villain portrayed with voice and likeness by Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday, Gotham). This time, Wyler has trapped the four protagonists inside a new horror film, set in the unforgettable 1970s. Players will face all-new zombie enemies across a variety of disco-era New York locations, including subways, flashy nightclubs and a martial arts dojo headed up by the Shaolin Sister, played with voice and likeness by Pam Grier (Jackie Brown, Foxy Brown). In addition to hallmark Call of Duty action, “Shaolin Shuffle” introduces four unlockable kung fu fighting styles, each with its own set of unique combat moves.

The remaining downloadable expansion packs for Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare should launch for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One this Summer.

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