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: PC
Kickstart This! Islands of Nyne: Battle Royale
Business is booming on the Kickstarter block this month. In the last couple of weeks, there has been a plethora of game projects launched which I have wanted to throw money at. That includes Copper Dreams by Whalenought Studios, an isometric cyber-espionage RPG that looks like the Syndicate update we all deserve. There was also the launch of Nadia Was Here from Dutch developer Joep Aben. It is a beautiful top-down RPG with classic 8-bit graphics and sound fused with a brand new battle system.
However, my pick this week falls into a genre I often shy away from: online shooters. Forgive me readers, I am trying to move with the times. I have Destiny and Star Wars Battlefront in my pile, but I’m old-fashioned in the sense that I like to immerse myself in a single-player story campaign. Despite this, I have found something appealing in Define Human Studios’s Islands of Nyne: Battle Royale.
Read on to see what made me get my multiplayer on… (more…)
Codemasters announces F1 2016 for PC, PS4, Xbox One
Codemasters gave the green light to F1 2016 this morning, and publisher Deep Silver confirmed the racing game will be available for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One this Summer. Once again, the developer is pumping even more realism into the game, and F1 2016 will feature an expanded Career Mode with the option to create your own racer for the first time.
Principal Game Designer Lee Mather had a bit to say about the team’s vision for F1 2016 at the Codies Blog:
“F1 2016 is a massive step forward for the franchise. The new Career Mode sits at the heart of the game and allows gamers to create their own legend over a career that can span for up to a massive ten seasons. Beyond improving upon the fastest and most thrilling on-track racing experience in gaming, F1 2016 uniquely offers the drama and vehicle development that goes on behind the scenes. A rich car upgrade system is fully integrated into a new and deep practice development programme which mirrors the tests carried out by the teams in real life.”
The Create-A-Racer option in Career Mode will give F1 2016 players the chance to build their own avatar in the game’s world. This includes choosing a number for your car, as well as a custom helmet and the ability to jump between teams in search of a new contract. Of course, players can also stick with the same team and develop it into a championship contender after upgrading their car with new the Research and Development system.
Codemasters will reveal more about F1 2016 at this year’s E3 Expo, but a handful of screenshots and additional details about the Career Mode are available now at the Codies Blog.
Hitman Episode 3: Marrakesh will be available on May 31
IO Interactive’s episodic Hitman adventure will continue next week with a trip to Morocco. In Episode 3, Agent 47 will be heading to the mysterious city of Marrakesh in search of two new targets:
The mission, titled “A Gilded Cage,” enlists Agent 47 to take out two targets, private investment banker Claus Strandberg and Army General Reza Zaydan.
In a city teaming with life on the brink of a full-scale riot, these are the moments before a coup d’état, where the visible military presence exacerbates a situation where tensions are running high. Bustling Berber markets, alleyways crammed with stalls and shops, a clinical Swedish consulate and shaded rooftop terraces are just some of the areas that players can explore in Marrakesh.
IO is also planning more live content for Hitman, and the Marrakesh map will serve as the location for future Escalation Contracts and Elusive Targets. But for now, fans can scope out three screenshots from Hitman: Episode 3 at the game’s official website, alongside a few details about the episode’s new Challenges and Opportunities. As always, Episode 3 will be a free download for owners of Hitman’s Full Experience Pack, or it can be purchased individually for $10.
Agent 47 will star in three additional episodes of Hitman, which will all be released by the end of the year. The assassination will next travel to Thailand, before heading to the United States and Japan later in 2016.
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Season Pass includes 3 Level Packs and more than 50 new characters
WB Games has announced a Season Pass for Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens that’ll include three Level Packs and more than 50 new playable characters.
Priced at $9.99 (packs can also be downloaded individually for $2.99 apiece), the Season Pass will feature 15 playable characters and three never-before-seen scenes from The Force Awakens, including Poe Damerson’s journey back from Jakku, Kylo Ren’s assault on Maz Kanata’s castle, and the Resistance escape from Starkiller Base. The Season Pass will also include five Character Packs, which will add 40 additional playable characters to the game.
The full contents of the Season Pass (which is available for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One) can be found right here:
Poe’s Quest for Survival Level Pack
A whole new adventure following Poe Dameron’s journey back to the Resistance base. After his daring escape from the First Order that left him stranded on Jakku, Poe must search for BB-8 and locate a ship to escape the desert planet in an effort to find his way home.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: Naka Lit, Ohn Gos, Poe Dameron (Jakku), Strus Clan Leader, Strus Clan Raider, Strus Clan Speeder (Full-Size Vehicle), Strus Clan Speeder (Microfighter Vehicle)First Order Siege of Takodana Level Pack
Experience the thrilling assault on Maz Kanata’s castle in a new way. Storm the shores of Takodana with Kylo Ren and the First Order in a quest to capture Rey and BB-8 to crush the Resistance forever.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: Jashco Phurus, Rosser Weno, Strono “Cookie” Tuggs, Thromba, Laparo, Jakku Freighter (Full-Size Vehicle), Jakku Freighter (Microfighter Vehicle)Escape from Starkiller Base Level Pack
After crash landing on the surface of Starkiller Base, join the battle from the perspective of two Resistance pilots. With the help of a loyal astromech droid, outmaneuver the First Order to escape the planet before it explodes.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: C’ai Threnalli, Colonel Datoo, Lieutenant Rodinon, Lt Wright, R3-Z3, Assault Walker (Full-Size Vehicle), Assault Walker (Microfighter Vehicle)The Jedi Character Pack (Available June 28, 2016)
Features powerful members of the Jedi Order. Available exclusively to Season Pass owners.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: Aayla Secura, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Kit Fisto, Luminara Unduli, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, Saesee Tiin, Shaak Ti, Jedi Interceptor (Full-Size Vehicle), Jedi Interceptor (Microfighter Vehicle)The Prequel Trilogy Character Pack
Play as select characters from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: Anakin Skywalker (Damaged), Captain Panaka, Darth Maul, Jango Fett, Jar Jar Binks, Padmé Naberrie, Watto, Zam Wesell, Naboo Starfighter (Full-Size Vehicle), Naboo Starfighter (Microfighter Vehicle)The Freemaker Adventures Character Pack
Showcases the galaxy’s bravest family of scavengers from the upcoming Lego animated series, debuting June 20th on Disney XD.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: Baash (Iktotchi), Graballa the Hutt, Kordi Freemaker, Naare, Raam (Iktotchi), Roger (Battle Droid), Rowan Freemaker, Zander Freemaker, Star Scavenger (Full-Size Vehicle), Star Scavenger (Microfighter Vehicle)Star Wars: Rebels Character Pack
Play as the crew of the Ghost from the popular Disney XD animated series.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: Ahsoka Tano, Chopper, Ezra Bridger, Hera Syndulla, Kanan Jarrus, Sabine Wren, Seventh Sister Inquisitor, Zeb Orrelios, Ghost (Full-Size Vehicle), Ghost (Microfighter Vehicle)The Clones Wars Character Pack
Exciting characters from the acclaimed animated series.
Playable Characters and Vehicles Include: Asajj Ventress, Aurra Sing, Barriss Offee, Cad Bane, Captain Rex, Commander Cody, Hondo Ohnaka, Savage Opress, Republic Gunship (Full-Size Vehicle), Republic Gunship (Microfighter Vehicle)
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be released on June 28.
Deep Silver continues their goofy advertising pitch for Mighty No. 9 with new “Masterclass” trailer
Prospective fans of Mighty No. 9 are understandably upset that the game has taken so long to go from Kickstarter campaign to finished product. But game development takes time, and creator Keiji Inafune started work on Mighty No. 9 with little more than an idea and a dream.
So here we are, less than a month away from its launch, and publisher Deep Silver has delivered a new “Masterclass” trailer that focuses on Beck’s many special abilities. Narrated by the same goofy announcer as last November’s “Features Trailer,” it has a similar retro vibe, and probably would have felt right at home on Nickelodeon in 1992.
Will this kind of advertising fly in 2016? It’s too soon to say, but we do know that Mighty No. 9 will be released for the PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on June 21. The game will also appear on the 3DS and Vita later this year.
Finn stars in the second Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Character Trailer
WB Games is back with a second “Character Vignette” from Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and this time they’ve focused on Finn, everyone’s favorite ex-Stormtrooper.
Watch as Finn helps Chewbacca stuff Captain Phasma down the garbage chute, and hear new dialogue recorded by John Boyega as Finn explains to Han Solo that everything’s going to be OK (grumpy Han Solo sounds less than convinced).
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be released on June 28 for the 3DS, PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
Umbrella Corps adds two RE2-themed maps and an Upgrade Pack full of famous faces
Capcom’s “full-scale offensive” for the Resident Evil franchise is in full swing, and the publisher is widely expected to announce Resident Evil 7 during this year’s E3 Expo (if not sooner). But Capcom is also hard at work on Umbrella Corps, a team-based shooter set within the Resident Evil universe, and it’ll be available to download for the PC and PS4 on June 21.
Today, the Capcom-Unity blog gave us got our first look at two new maps from Umbrella Corps that are based on some rather recognizable places from Resident Evil 2: the streets of Raccoon City and the Police Department.
The first new battlefield revealed is the Raccoon City map, which recreates the hazardous city streets first seen in RE 2 and RE 3. Overturned vehicles, walls of flame, and the shambling undead are scattered around the streets. Mercenaries can also venture down into the sewers below Raccoon City, shooting it out in the same narrow passages where infected rats once spread the T-Virus.
Speaking of Raccoon City’s Police Department, the headquarters’ main hall plays host to one of the most open maps in Umbrella Corps. The ruinous RPD building interior is reimagined as a patchwork refuge, with metal sheeting and scaffolding connecting the first and second floors. Mercenaries can even take cover beneath the ornate statue which held a key item in RE 2. Don’t get too nostalgic exploring the crumbling hall, however, because players are extremely exposed to enemy fire in this map.
And if you think these famous locales won’t be the same without Albert Wesker, Leon S. Kennedy, or Chris Redfield, don’t worry, Capcom feels the same way. That’s why the publisher will also release the Upgrade Pack, which includes masks for each of those characters, as well as Barry Burton, Jake Muller, and HUNK. The Upgrade Pack (which will be available as a $14.99 add-on or as part of a $39.99 Deluxe Edition bundle) will also include additional weapons, patches, custom colors, and emotes.
Finally, Capcom announced that everyone who pre-orders Umbrella Corps will receive access to the Fashion Victim Pack, which will add a few garish color options for your mercenary. Good thing zombies only see in BRAINNNNNSSSSSSSSS.
Posted in News, PC, PS4
Tagged Umbrella Corps
Spider-Man joins Lego Avengers today as part of free Spider-Man Character Pack
Spider-Man officially joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in this month’s Captain America: Civil War, and now the webhead is heading to Lego Avengers as part of the Spider-Man Character Pack. Available as a free download for Lego Avengers owners on the PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One, the Spider-Man Character Pack will actually include six different webslinging characters:
Spider-Man Character Pack
- Spider-Man (Captain America: Civil War)
- Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
- Spider-Man (Mile Morales)
- Spider-Girl
- Iron Spider
- Scarlet Spider
You can also check out the Spider-Man Character Pack trailer embedded above to see Spider-Man (and friends) do whatever a spider can.