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Epic Games will add “robust competition system” to Fortnite this Fall
Epic Games hand-delivered the “August 2018” development update for Fortnite earlier today on their official website. The communique from the development team includes new information about weapon balancing and building effectiveness, as well as the first statement about the battle royale’s recent launch on Android platforms.
But the real meat of this announcement can be found under the Competitive heading, which is where Epic announced that a “robust competition system” is coming to the game this Fall:
We are aware of a strong desire from competitive players for more opportunities to compete directly against one another within the same match. Development recently began for a robust competition system which will allow for all players to compete with one another and be recognized for their accomplishments. The first version of this feature is expected later this Fall.
Ideally, this new scoring system will help Fortnite transition into the full-fledged esport that Epic hopes it’ll be.
In addition to the new competition system, the developer also confirmed that “the ability to completely remap your gamepad to exactly your preference” will also be added to Fortnite this Fall.
Indie Megabooth’s PAX West 2018 installation will include 78 games from 17 countries
The Indie Megabooth is slimming down slightly for their PAX West 2018 installation, but they’ve scoured the globe to bring playable demos for 78 games from 17 different countries to the Seattle-based show.
Among the highlights this time around are a handful of games we’ve had our eye on including Chainsawesome Games’s Aftercharge, Lab Zero Games’s Indivisible, and Wonderful Lasers’s Super Impossible Road (which will be part of the Minibooth). The Indie Megabooth’s Minibooth will also be home to Vertex Pop’s super-colorful Super Crush KO, which was announced earlier today.
You can find the Indie Megabooth’s complete PAX West 2018 lineup after the break. (more…)
Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Tagged Aftercharge, Indivisible, PAX West 2018, Super Crush KO, Super Impossible Road
Fortnite Season 5 kicks off with a dimension-hopping trailer (and a new song from Joywave)
Epic Games launched the Season 5 update for Fortnite today, giving players the chance to find out what’s going on with all those crazy portals:
Worlds collide in Season 5! A viking ship, desert outpost, and ancient statues have appeared on the island, changing the world of Fortnite as we know it. Hop in an ATK (All Terrain Kart) with your squad and uncover all new mysteries and locations. New Season, New Battle Pass.
Epic also teamed up with Joywave to provide music for the battle royale game’s spacey new trailer, and you can hear a snippet of the band’s new single, “Blastoffff,” in the Launch Trailer embedded above. If you like what you hear, you can also find an “Audio-Only Video” for the full song after the break. (more…)
Capcom’s Resident Evil 2 remake wins “Best of Show” at E3 2018 from Game Critics Awards
The “media and influencer outlets” represented by the Game Critics Awards have selected this year’s Best of E3 winners. Capcom crawled away with “Best of Show” thanks to the Resident Evil 2 remake.
Meanwhile, Media Molecule’s Dreams won “Best Original Game,” while fellow Sony stablemate Marvel’s Spider-Man won “Best Console Game” and “Best Action/Adventure Game.” The Game Critics Awards honored a rather diverse slate of games this year, giving “Best PC Game” to BioWare’s Anthem, “Best AR/VR Game” to Tetris Effect, and “Best RPG” to Kingdom Hearts III.
Unsurprisingly, the massively-popular Super Smash Bros. Ultimate took home “Best Fighting Game.”
Among non-playable games, a “Special Commendation for Graphics” was awarded to CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077, Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II, and Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima. The Last of Us Part II also received a “Special Commendation for Sound” and Cyberpunk 2077 also collected a “Special Commendation for Innovation.”
The full list of winners can be found after the break. (more…)
Anthem nabs five nominations in Game Critics Awards’s Best of E3 2018 roundup
Every year, the Game Critics Awards, a consortium of more than 50 major publications that cover the video game industry, gets together to choose the best games at the E3 Expo. The nominees for “Best of E3 2018” were announced this morning, and BioWare’s Anthem lead the way with five nominations (including “Best of Show”).
From Software’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is also in the running for “Best of Show,” and it’s standing close behind Anthem with four total nominations. After that, a mob of games collided in third place with three nominations apiece (including Battlefield V, Dreams, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Resident Evil 2, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate). All but Battlefield V and Dreams are also up for “Best of Show.”
The PS4 was the most-honored platform with 58 nominations, followed by the PC (with 55), the Xbox One (with 51), and the Switch (with 10).
Several games that clicked with fans at home during the pre-E3 press conferences (including Cyberpunk 2077, Death Stranding, The Last of Us Part II, and many others) weren’t eligible for nomination because they weren’t available to play by the judging panel.
But most of those games will likely get another shot next year (especially since I expect to be old and gray before Death Stranding is released), and you can find all of this year’s nominees after the break. The winners will be announced this coming Monday, July 2. (more…)
Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Tagged Anthem, Battlefield V, Dreams, E3 2018, FIFA 19, Fortnite, Forza Horizon 4, Kingdom Hearts III, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Overcooked 2, Resident Evil 2, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Spider-Man, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Tetris Effect, Total War: Three Kingdoms
Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee! coming to the Switch this November
Nintendo and Game Freak will bring a Pokemon Go-like experience to the Switch this Fall with Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee! Based on one of the first Pokemon games ever released, Pokemon Yellow, Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee! will ask players to explore the Kanto Region and capture Pokemon using motion controls:
Taking place in the diverse and vibrant Kanto region, this new pair of games is packed with adventure for Pokemon Trainers of all ages. In the Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee! games, you will partner up with either Pikachu or Eevee and embark on an exciting adventure where you’ll catch and battle Pokemon, meet other Trainers and discover the region of Kanto.
Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee! will also include cooperative play for up to two players, and can be linked with Pokemon Go to transfer Pokemon from the Kanto Region to the Switch games.
Fans who are looking for an even more “immersive” Pokemon experience can also pick up a Poke Ball Plus controller this Fall. Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee! will be fully playable with the Poke Ball Plus, which’ll feature motion controls, a pressable Control Stick, and an Action Button. Transferring a Pokemon to the controller’s included memory slot will also get it to play lights and sounds.
Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee! will be released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on November 16. The Poke Ball Plus controller will be available in stores on the same day. You can learn more about both games and the the controller in the very informative Announcement Trailer, which has been embedded above.
Posted in Mobile, News, Switch
Tagged Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu/Let's Go Eevee
Oculus launches standalone VR headset that doesn’t require a PC or wires for $200
The Oculus Rift’s hefty price tag caused more than a few gamers to pass on the virtual reality headset, but it looks the company’s newest offering is going after those budget-conscious players in a big way. Offering a standalone (and wireless) VR experience for as low as $199, the Oculus Go headset was unveiled today at the F8 conference, and on Oculus’s official website:
Our first standalone VR headset, Oculus Go is the easiest way to jump into VR. With a 538ppi 2560 x 1440 WQHD, fast-switch LCD display, we’re able to offer the best optics of any VR system we’ve built at our most affordable price point yet. Starting at $199 USD for 32 GB of storage (or $249 USD for the 64 GB model), Oculus Go was designed with comfort in mind.
Built-in spatial audio and an integrated microphone allow for maximum immersion straight out of the box, while headset weight, support straps, and the facial interface have all been optimized for the best fit and feel possible. And with no need to drop in a phone or power up a PC, it’s never been easier to share VR with friends.
Oculus Go will be cross-compatible with more than 1,000 Gear VR apps, so early adopters will have plenty of options on the Oculus Store. More than 100 Go-exclusive games and apps will also be available to download through the headset’s digital storefront.
A trailer for the Oculus Go has been embedded above.
What Remains of Edith Finch wins “Best Game” at 2018 BAFTA Games Awards; Hellblade wins practically everything else
Giant Sparrow’s mystery adventure, What Remains of Edith Finch, won “Best Game” at the 2018 BAFTA Games Awards… but Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice stole the show. Ninja Theory’s action-adventure took home top honors in five categories during tonight’s ceremony, and their haul included awards for “Artistic Achievement,” “Audio Achievement,” “Best British Game,” “Game Beyond Entertainment,” and “Performer” (which was given to Melina Juergens for her vocal work as Senua).
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which swept its way to multiple victories at The Game Awards, the GDC Awards, the DICE Awards, and the SXSW Gaming Awards, was limited to a single victory at the BAFTAs for “Game Innovation.” However, Nintendo’s Super Mario Odyssey had a good night, winning for “Game Design” and “Family.”
The complete list of winners from the 2018 BAFTA Games Awards can be found after the break. (more…)