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Project CARS 2 races into E3 2017 with a new trailer and onto store shelves on September 22

Posted on June 10, 2017 by John Scalzo

Bandai Namco and Slightly Mad Studios have announced that Project CARS 2 will be available for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on September 22. The two companies have also released a brand new (and very shiny) E3 2017 trailer for the game. It’s been embedded above.

Slightly Mad is adding a number of new features to the racing simulation sequel, and they’re on full display in the E3 2017 trailer:

Multi-Class Action
Passion for motorsport is embodied in the fan-requested multi-class racing that enables drivers to compete in any car and track in a field of multiple car classes which replicates the world’s most famous endurance racing championships, past and present. Whether it’s iconic cars from the golden age of sports cars, modern prototypes, or GT3, all classes of cars can now race together in either single or championship mode as Project CARS 2 scores the driver’s position not just overall, but in-class too.

Capturing all the thrills of motorsport means drivers are able to competing in any car, anytime, anywhere, off- and-online, against both in-class competitors and other classes too.

Feel the adrenaline rush as you close-in fast on a GT race car in the coldness of night at Le Mans in your Le Mans Prototype; scan your mirrors on a wet day at the Nurburgring as a Porsche 911 GT3 R monster bursts from the fog and cuts past your Renault Clio as if you were standing still. This is motorsport in Project CARS 2.

Career Mode Showcased in E3 Sizzle Trailer
Showcasing the accessibility of the Project CARS franchise, the game’s “sandbox” approach to its career mode gives drivers an open path to achieving their motorsport dreams. Drivers can begin their motorsport career in grassroots series such as karts and race their way to the very top echelons where many of the world’s most prestigious brands and cars await; they can choose to begin in any motorsport discipline; or even go straight into one particular type of motorsport, and spend one or multiple seasons in that championship. With nine motorsport disciplines to choose from, a racing career has never been more rewarding or challenging.

Optimized Handling
Project CARS 2 delivers an unparalleled racing experience for players of all skill levels and driving desires. Players can hop in and drive any car, on any track, at any time. Bleeding-edge visuals, precise car physics, revamped confidence-inspiring gamepad controls combined with advanced and newly refined tire grip and slip physics provide drivers with optimized control and feel in all situations. Recalibrated and highly realistic A.I. make Project CARS 2 the most immersive and technically-advanced racing simulation on the planet.

Players who decide to pre-order Project CARS 2 will be upgraded to the Day One Edition, which include four bonus cars (2016 Honda Civic Type R (Euro Spec), 2015 Honda 284 Concept, 1981 Nissan 280ZX IMSA GTX, and 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 Group A) as part of the Japanese Cars Pack.

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Sega and Atlus announced their E3 2017 lineup

Posted on June 10, 2017 by John Scalzo

Sega originally acquired Atlus in 2013, but the two companies continued to operate separately in the years that followed. But they’ve been growing closer in 2017, and this year’s E3 Expo marks the first time that Sega and Atlus are presenting a joint booth to the industry.

As you might expect, the Sega half of the booth will be anchored by Sonic the Hedgehog… more specifically, this Summer’s Sonic Mania and this Fall’s Sonic Forces. Both games will share space with two upcoming Yakuza games (Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and Yakuza Kiwami), as well as Total War: Warhammer II and a bevy of Atlus-branded RPGs.

“We’re really pleased to see Yakuza and Sonic back on the biggest stage for video games, and having the first public hands-on for Total War: Warhammer II underlines a really strong showing from Sega and Atlus this year,” said John Clark, the Senior Vice President for Sega Europe. “We look forward to welcoming trade visitors but we’re especially looking forward to having the public come and see our line-up this year, it’s great for E3 and it’s great for publishers. We’re confident there’s something for everyone on the Sega stands this year.”

The 2017 E3 Expo opens its doors this Tuesday, June 13, and you can find Atlus and Sega’s full lineup after the break. (more…)

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Content Crash #1: The Eve of E3 2017

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Dan Hartnack

What better way to start a new podcast than the eve of E3? I mean, it’s in a couple of days. I’m recording this on Thursday, and I’ll probably put this up for your consumption on Friday, but the actual convention begin on Monday. Well, the conferences start on Sunday, but Monday will be the start of the whole event. But I’m so looking forward to it. It’s… It’s something I always take the time to watch all the conferences that I can… or as many conferences as I can and this year I finally have time to watch almost all of them barring Microsoft and possibly Nintendo.

Microsoft starts on Sunday at 5:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time, and they really have to set off this show right…

Other press conferences I’ll preview include Bethesda Softworks, the PC Gaming Show, Ubisoft, Sony, and Nintendo, as well as a brief roundup about what we can expect from the rest of the show.

You can subscribe to the Content Crash podcast on YouTube or SoundCloud.

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EA will announce at least two never-before-seen games during their 2017 E3 event

Posted on June 9, 2017 by John Scalzo

The 2017 E3 Expo will unofficially begin this weekend, when Electronic Arts opens the doors to “EA Play 2017,” their E3 Press Conference. EA Play 2017 will feature eight new titles, and it can be viewed online at EA.com or Twitch beginning on Saturday, June 10, at 3:00 PM (Eastern Time).

So what will EA talk about during their 90 minutes in the spotlight? In addition to a closer look at six previously-announced blockbusters, the publisher plans to unveil “more surprises,” including at least two never-before-seen projects. The six games currently confirmed for EA Play 2017 are:

EA Play 2017 Lineup

  • Star Wars: Battlefront II – Featuring all Star Wars eras, a single player campaign and epic scale multiplayer battles, Star Wars: Battlefront II presents the most robust Star Wars game to date. The game is developed in partnership with three powerhouse studios: DICE, Motive Studios and Criterion Games, each with a rich background of creating award-winning games.
  • FIFA 18 – Powered by Frostbite, FIFA 18 blurs the line between the virtual and real worlds, bringing to life the heroes, teams, and atmospheres of the world’s game.
  • Madden NFL 18 – With Frostbite, the spectacle of NFL gameday comes alive delivering photorealistic players, crowds and stadiums, and introduces an all-new mode to the Madden NFL franchise.
  • NBA Live 18 – Delivering gameplay innovations and a brand-new way to play with “The One,” NBA Live returns with an experience completely centered around a player’s individual journey.
  • Need For Speed Payback – This explosive adventure is filled with intense heist missions, high stakes car battles, epic cop pursuits and jaw dropping set pieces. It’s blockbuster gameplay never before seen from the series, fueled by a gripping story of betrayal and revenge. With Need for Speed Payback, it’s about building the perfect ride, getting behind the wheel and playing out an action driving fantasy.
  • Battlefield 1 – It’s a Summer of Battlefield including the entry of the Russian Army and the biggest front of WW1 in Battlefield 1: In the Name of the Tsar. Partake in the skirmishes of the Albion assault in a freezing archipelago and fight in the snow-covered ravines of the treacherous Lupkow Pass.

EA Play 2017 will be followed by a second livestream that includes further details about the all-new “Nivelle Nights” map in Battlefield 1 Need For Speed Payback, Madden NFL 18, FIFA 18, and Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes.

If you’re going to be in Los Angeles for this weekend, you can attend the EA Play FanFest at the Hollywood Palladium to play any (or all) of games. More than 150 demo stations will be available, and tickets are free (but limited). You can learn more about how to attend the EA Play FanFest at the event’s official website.

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God of War 4, Insomniac’s Spider-Man, new Assassin’s Creed, multiple unannounced titles, more to be unveiled during E3 Coliseum

Posted on June 8, 2017 by John Scalzo

The full lineup of panels for Geoff Keighley’s inaugural E3 Coliseum has been announced, and it looks like the series will give fans a closer look at God of War 4, Assassin’s Creed 2017, Insomniac’s Spider-Man, and several other upcoming titles. Keighley will also offer a showcase to a few games yet-to-be-announced from Bethesda Softworks, Square Enix, and Epic Games.

If you won’t be attending this year’s E3 Expo, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to tune in as most E3 Coliseum panels will be broadcast through Facebook Live, Twitch, Mixer, and YouTube.

You can find the complete E3 Coliseum schedule after the break. (more…)

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Telltale will launch Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2 on July 11

Posted on June 7, 2017 by John Scalzo

Telltale Games has announced they’ll return to the world of Minecraft next month with the opening chapter of Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2. Jesse and the gang saved the world… so naturally it’s time for more shenanigans:

Now that Jesse and the gang have vanquished the Wither Storm, saved the world, and become totally super famous heroes, life has gotten a bit more…complicated. With more responsibilities and less time for adventure, old friendships have started to fade — at least until Jesse’s hand gets stuck in a creepy gauntlet that belongs to an ancient underwater temple. Together with old pals and new comrades alike, Jesse embarks on a brand new journey filled with tough choices, good times, and at least one temperamental llama.

Patton Oswalt (Male Jesse), Catherine Taber (Female Jesse), Ashley Johnson (Petra), and Scott Porter (Lukas) have all signed on to once again lend their voices to the episodic adventure series, and Telltale will also add their popular Crowd Play feature to Season 2 for players who want to share their decision-making with others. And speaking of decisions, choices from Minecraft: Story Mode will carry over into Season 2, but new players will be able to jump right into the story.

Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2 – Episode 1: Hero in Residence will be available to download for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and mobile devices on July 11. A retail version will also be available this Fall.

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Gears of War 4’s “Rise of the Horde” update adds new Skills, Achievements, Inconceivable difficulty, and more

Posted on June 6, 2017 by John Scalzo

Rise of the Horde, the biggest update yet for Gears of War 4, is now available to download for free. The update features a massive update to Horde Mode, along with new difficulty modes, maps, and Achievements. But before you jump in, the Xbox Wire has a complete rundown of what’s included in Rise of the Horde:

Horde is getting a massive shakeup with the arrival of Rise of the Horde, with 15 brand new Horde Skills (three per Class) to collect, Level 6 skills, Loot Drops, tuning changes and new difficulty levels!

Microsoft will also add an “Inconceivable” difficulty level to Horde Mode and the Campaign, as well as an Ironman option for players that want to complete Gears of War 4 without dying. Once again, Xbox Wire delivered the details:

In Horde, Inconceivable is a direct step up from Insane – you’ll be even weaker, and your enemies will be even stronger. Level up your skills to their new Level 6 peak and maximize the bonuses of your classes if you want to get through all 50 Waves of Inconceivable.

In Campaign, Inconceivable takes a more Survival based twist, giving you less health than Insane difficulty but also less health to your enemies. That’s because surviving on Inconceivable is all about effectiveness – weapons and crates drop significantly less ammunition, so you’ll have to make every shot count with whatever pickups you can find on the battlefield.

The Rise of the Horde update also includes remakes of two classic Gears maps (“Avalanche” from Gears of War 2 and “Rust Lung” from Gears of War 3), along with 30 new Achievements worth 500 Gamerscore.

Finally, if you haven’t had a chance to play Gears of War 4 yet, Microsoft also announced plans to offer a free demo of the game through the Xbox Games Store between June 9th and June 15th.

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Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice will be released on August 8

Posted on June 6, 2017 by John Scalzo

Ninja Theory has announced that Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, their “Independent AAA” action-adventure game, will be released for the PC and PS4 on August 8.

In a brand new post on the PlayStation Blog, Ninja Theory’s “Product Development Ninja,” Dominic Matthews, revealed exactly what the team is trying to accomplish by creating an “Independent AAA” game:

In Hellblade, we are aiming to revive the lost space between indie and AAA gaming. Where creatively diverse experiences made with AAA values can thrive once again.

We’ve taken a small team of around 20 people and created a focused and rich experience that looks and feels as good as any blockbuster title. Hellblade is about half the length of a regular AAA game and priced at about half the cost. A price that we think is fair to both you and us.

Our hope is that if we make our Independent AAA work with Hellblade, other developers will follow, leading to a more creative and diverse gaming world for developers and players alike.

Matthews also reiterated Hellblade’s plot, which focuses on the trauma and psycosis experienced by a Celtic warrior named Senua:

For those new to Hellblade, the game is the story of Senua, a traumatized Celtic warrior journeying into the Viking underworld of Hel. We have created the game in collaboration with neuroscientists as well as people who live with psychosis. We hope Hellblade is an experience like no other.

You can get a short taste of Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice in the new trailer embedded above.

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