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
- 2025 GOTY Scoreboard: In Progress
- 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”
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- With Grand Theft Auto 6 poised to take over the world, I reached out to Jack Thompson and it did not go well – PC Gamer (2026)
- Vib-Ribbon: An oral history – Design Room (2026)
- How a Second-Grade Teacher Revived a Beloved Video Game – The New York Times (2026)
- Spore: An oral history – Design Room (2026)
- Diablo IV PC Cooled With Real Human Blood Is Still Going Strong Two Years Later, Says Guy Who Won It – Aftermath (2026)
Most Recent: PC
Microsoft will shut down Project Spark this August
Microsoft and developer Team Dakota have announced plans to discontinue online support for Project Spark, a game creation tool originally released for the PC and Xbox One in 2014. Community Manager Thomas Gratz delivered the verdict over the weekend through Project Spark’s official website:
Despite this news, we want to celebrate the accomplishments of our team and community of creators and players. Our team released 46 content packs, thousands of assets and 16 updates since launch (averaging more than one update every two months). We produced hundreds of livestreams and videos to educate and celebrate our community. In turn, our passionate fans have then gone above and beyond supporting “Project Spark” by uploading hundreds of thousands of creations and dreaming up millions of objects, behaviors, and experiences. Outside the game, they created fan sites, tutorials, forums, apps, and more! We thank everyone who has played or created anything within “Project Spark,” as it would have never existed without you.
Project Spark was removed from the Xbox Games Store on Friday, and all other online services will be shuttered this Summer. Even with the end of Project Spark’s online accessibility, the game will still be playable offline, though players won’t be able to download any of the community’s creations after August 12.
Microsoft also announced that players who purchased the Project Spark Starter Kit will receive a credit that can be used for a future Xbox Games Store or Windows Store purchase.
Posted in News, PC, Xbox One
Tagged Project Spark
New Retail Releases: Valkyria Chronicles Remastered, Homefront The Revolution
The month of May continues to lumber forward, as just two games will be added to retail store shelves this week.
Japanese strategy fans have received two more entries in the Valkyria Chronicles series since Sega stopped publishing the games in North America in 2011. But the publisher might be having a change of heart, as First up is Valkyria Chronicles Remastered will be released for the PS4 this week. The new version of the game will include enhanced graphics, a new set of Trophies, and all of the previously released downloadable content.
Also available this week is Homefront: The Revolution, Deep Silver’s alternate history first person shooter for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Starting life at THQ, Homefront: The Revolution shifted to Crytek, and then finally to Deep Silver, in a whirlwind development process that many are amazed is finally over. But after all that time… the idea of North Korea invading and occupying the US seems as far-fetched as ever.
We’ll be back to look at the latest digital releases on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop throughout the rest of the week.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Homefront: The Revolution, Valkyria Chronicles
Here’s two more screenshots from Cyanide’s Call of Cthulhu adaptation
Like an eldritch horror slowly stirring from its slumber, Cyanide Studio continues to tease images from their Call of Cthulhu adaptation, which will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One in 2017. Based on Chaosium’s tabletop RPG of the same name, two more screenshots of bloodcurdling horror were released by the developer, alongside this official description of the game:
In Call of Cthulhu, players will control Edward Pierce, a former veteran and private investigator in 1920s Boston. Pierce will be investigating the tragic and mysterious death of Sarah Hawkins and her family in Darkwater Island. Today’s images give you a first glimpse of the locations players will have to visit: from the sinister docks, to the manor of the deceased family, Call of Cthulhu offers a dark and oppressive ambiance that shall pay tribute to Lovecraft’s work and universe. Indeed, this banal investigation might lead you to more sinister forces and darker secrets buried deep within Darkwater Island.
You can find the new screenshots (which, if I’m being honest, aren’t that bloodcurdling) after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Call of Cthulhu
Dark Souls III envelops your very being in darkness and despair… it was also the best-selling game of April 2016
I’m sure this is a surprise to no one, but people really love the Dark Souls franchise. And according to The NPD Group (as reported by GamesIndustry.biz), Dark Souls III was the best-selling retail game in April 2016.
The finale to From Software’s brutally difficult trilogy beat out some stiff competition in April including the Ratchet & Clank reboot (#2), Quantum Break (#7), and Star Fox Zero (#10). MLB The Show 16 also got a boost from the opening of this year’s baseball season (#3), but it wasn’t enough to unseat the Babe Ruth of gothic action RPGs.
But even with a handful of big new releases, the retail sector as a whole suffered a huge decline from the year before, when Mortal Kombat X obliterated all expectations. “In April 2016, overall trends (hardware, new physical software, and accessories) were down 15% (or $88.5 million) compared to April 2015 due to a $41.6 million decline in hardware and a $52.8 million decline in software, with the $5.9 million growth in accessories unable to offset these losses,” said The NPD Group’s Liam Callahan.
However, Callahan added, “Despite these declines, keep in mind that Xbox One and PS4 are trending over 40% higher in cumulative sales after 30 months in the market compared to their predecessors.”
A complete look at last month’s best-selling retail games can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Dark Souls III, Grand Theft Auto V, Minecraft, MLB The Show 16, NBA 2K16, NPD, Quantum Break, Ratchet & Clank, Star Fox Zero, Tom Clancy's The Division
Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst’s theme song is “Warning Call” from Chvrches
“You can run for this skyline / Your eyes open wide.”
Getting a famous musician to do your game’s theme song is all the rage nowadays, which is why Karen O recently contributed “I Shall Rise” to Rise of the Tomb Raider and Florence + The Machine covered Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” for Final Fantasy XV.
Yesterday, we were treated to “Warning Call” from Chvrches, a brand new song from the Scottish band, and the theme song to the upcoming Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst.
“We were honored to be asked to contribute to the soundtrack for Mirror’s Edge Catalyst,” said Iain Cook, the band’s guitarist. “The sound of Chvrches’ music resonates with the minimalist sci-fi dystopia of the Mirror’s Edge world, and we feel that the song complements the drama, emotion and empowering themes of Faith’s story.”
Developed by DICE and published by EA, Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on June 7.
See all four Turtles in action in these new TMNT: Mutants in Manhattan character trailers
Activision and Platinum Games recently revealed four new trailers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, each one focusing of the fighting style of an individual Turtle.
Leonardo uses speed to stomp the Foot, and he can even stop time to deliver a lethal strike. Donatello has an extended reach with his bo, as well as a bunch of gadgets. Raphael leads with brute strength, but he also mixes sneak attacks into his fighting style. And Michelangelo is a tad unpredictable… which is why he carries explosives in addition to his nunchucks.
You can check out all four trailers after the break, and don’t forget that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan will launch for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on May 24. (more…)
Civilization VI will be released exclusively for the PC on October 21
Firaxis Games is returning to Earth for the next entry in the Civilization series, which will be available exclusively for the PC on October 21. Civilization VI marks a new beginning for the franchise, as players will be able to expand their empire across the map and interact with the world in new ways:
Civilization VI Features
- Expansive Empires: See the marvels of your empire spread across the map like never before. Each city spans multiple tiles so you can custom build your cities to take full advantage of the local terrain.
- Active Research: Unlock boosts that speed your civilization’s progress through history. To advance more quickly, use your units to actively explore, develop your environment, and discover new cultures.
- Dynamic Diplomacy: Interactions with other civilizations change over the course of the game, from primitive first interactions where conflict is a fact of life, to late game alliances and negotiations.
- Combined Arms: Expanding on the “one unit per tile” design, support units can now be embedded with other units, like anti-tank support with infantry, or a warrior with settlers. Similar units can also be combined to form powerful “Corps” units.
- Enhanced Multiplayer: In addition to traditional multiplayer modes, cooperate and compete with your friends in a wide variety of situations all designed to be easily completed in a single session.
- A Civ For All Players: Civilization VI provides veteran players new ways to build and tune their civilization for the greatest chance of success. New tutorial systems are designed to introduce new players to the underlying concepts of Civilization so they can easily get started on a path to victory.
“Sid Meier’s Civilization VI builds on the firm foundation of the Civilization franchise, and we’ve added many exciting new elements,” said Ed Beach, the Lead Designer at Firaxis Games. “The visual presentation of the game is inspired by the maps and tools of the Age of Exploration, and we’ve made several key gameplay changes such as expansive cities and active research that makes Sid Meier’s Civilization VI an entirely unique experience while remaining true to what makes the Civilization series so special.”
In addition a game-only standard edition ($59.99), Civilization VI will also be available as a special Digital Deluxe Edition ($79.99) that includes the 25th Anniversary Digital Soundtrack and access to four post-launch DLC packs with new maps, scenarios, civilizations, and leaders.
Posted in News, PC
Tagged Civilization VI
Motiga partners with Perfect World to publish Gigantic later this year
Motiga relentlessly crisscrossed the country last year to promote Gigantic, their third-person 5×5 arena fighter. But after some money troubles forced the game to miss its planned Late 2015 launch, the developer went quiet.
But like an ancient god awakening from a lengthy slumber (hey, just like the Guardians at the center of Gigantic), Motiga is back, and they’ve got big plans for Gigantic. Partnering with Perfect World, Motiga will expand Gigantic’s reach beyond its originally-announced platforms. The game is still on track for Windows 10 PCs and the Xbox One, but it’s now also in development for 64-Bit users of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1. The 64-Bit version of Gigantic will be available as a standalone launcher and through Perfect World’s Arc Games service.
“Our team is thrilled to work with Perfect World Entertainment who shares our vision for our game. This partnership will enable us to focus on creating the best experience possible.” said Chris Chung, the CEO of Motiga. “Motiga has always thrived off of the excitement of our players, and the continued success that Perfect World Entertainment has had in the free-to-play space has solidified our desire to partner with them for our upcoming launch.”
This is all good news, but we still don’t know when Gigantic will be released. Though it is expected to be out sometime this year.