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
PC, Xbox One owners will be able to buy CoD: Black Ops III Eclipse DLC Pack on May 19
As expected, Activision and Treyarch will bring the Eclipse DLC Pack to the PC and Xbox One exactly 30 days after its PS4 debut. The Call of Duty: Black Ops III expansion will add four new competetive multiplayer maps to the game, along with the next episode in the cooperative Zombies saga:
- Spire: Spire takes Multiplayer combat to a futuristic sub-orbital airport terminal set high in the clouds. Multiple levels and open areas promote intense, mid-range combat around a clean, high-tech civilian environment. Watch your step, because one wrong move could send you plummeting back through the stratosphere.
- Rift: Head to the core of a harsh futuristic military complex, set high above an active caldera. Rift funnels and forces tight, intense engagements, where the only way through is forward. Utilize the unique core movement opportunities to outsmart and outplay enemies as you traverse the suspended rail system.
- Knockout: Housed in a traditional Shaolin Temple with a retro twist, Knockout sets the stage for a bloody Kung Fu tournament. This mid-sized map showcases a sharp contrast between the mid-range engagements of the traditional exterior architecture and the tight close-quarters of an eclectic 1970’s styled interior.
- Verge: In this re-imagination of the classic Call of Duty: World At War map, “Banzai,” Verge drops Multiplayer combat into the center of a distant post-apocalyptic future, where two warring factions are entrenched in constant battle. Take control of the key bridge, fortresses, tunnel systems and waterfalls as you engage in high-speed action through this medium-sized map.
Eclipse also sets the stage for “Zetsubou No Shima,” the highly-anticipated, all-new entry in the Call of Duty: Black Ops III Zombies storyline that spans the four DLC Map Packs for Black Ops III this year. The Origins characters continue on their mission to stop the zombie apocalypse not only in this universe but in all universes. Our heroes find themselves stranded on a remote Pacific island which is home to the Division 9 facility: a secret biological research lab whose experiments with Element 115 and its effects on human, animal, and plant biology has created horrors beyond belief. “Zetsubou No Shima” features a foliage rich island map including new terrifying zombie enemies, a variety of innovative transport mechanics, more devastating traps and classic Zombies side quests.
The Eclipse DLC Pack will be available to download as part of Black Ops III’s Season Pass (for $49.99) or as a standalone purchase (for $14.99). Two more DLC Packs will be released over the Summer ahead of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare‘s launch this November.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Turtle Rock Studios is developing an original narrative-driven game
Turtle Rock Studios is moving on from Evolve. The 4v1 shooter definitely has its fans, but the developer has announced their next project will be an original property unconnected to Evolve or Left 4 Dead (which is owned by Valve, anyway). While the big details of the game are being kept under wraps for now, Turtle Rock divulged a few small tidbits of information about the title through several job listings on their Careers page.
First, and most important, we know it’s in development for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. And according to a job description for a Narrative Director, it’ll be heavily “narrative-driven”:
We are searching for a Narrative Director to help shape the entire narrative structure of our upcoming new AAA game for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. The Narrative Director will work closely with our Creative Director and Head Writer to create and oversee compelling stories, characters, and content that form the backbone of the game’s story.
And thanks to the listing for an Animation Programmer, we know that it’ll also include “unique and stunning characters”:
We are searching for an exceptional programmer to help us in developing unique and stunning characters for an unannounced, cutting edge game targeting next generation hardware. Join us and be a part of an incredible studio and project!
So let’s recap… Turtle Rock’s next game isn’t going to be Evolve 2, but it will feature characters and a story. Yup, that’s what we know so far.
Doom’s Launch Trailer is here because its launch is just a week away
Bethesda and id Software will resurrect the Doom franchise next week with their many-years-in-the-making reboot. Simply titled Doom, the companies are promising a return to the fast action and brutal gore the series made famous back in 1993-1994.
So strap your eyeballs in for a trip back in time with the newly released Launch Trailer, and be sure to rock out to its fantastic new version of “At Doom’s Gate,” the classic background music from E1M1. Also, keep your eyes peeled for a split-second recreation of the original game’s iconic cover art.
Doom will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on May 13.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Doom (2016)
Go on “New Adventures” in the latest Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer
WB Games wants in on the Star Wars Day shenanigans, so they released a brand spanking new trailer for Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens this afternoon.
The latest trailer for Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens gives us a glimpse at the “New Adventures” not seen in the blockbuster film… including Han and Chewie’s Rathtar hunt, Poe Dameron’s rescue of Admiral Ackbar, and the story behind C-3PO’s red arm. Altogether, the game will include six “New Adventures,” all with new dialogue from the cast of the film:
- Rathtar Hunting – Follows Han Solo and Chewbacca’s voyage to capture the ravenous Rathtars.
- Lor San Tekka’s Return – Uncovers secrets behind Lor San Tekka’s journey to the Jakku Village.
- Poe to the Rescue – Details Poe Dameron’s daring rescue mission to save Admiral Ackbar.
- Crimson Corsair – Explores how the notorious Outer Rim pirate, the Crimson Corsair, foiled the plans of the First Order.
- Trouble Over Taul – Follows the events leading up C-3PO’s acquisition of his new red arm.
- Ottegan Assault – Reveals a puzzle piece to how the Resistance and the First Order find Lor San Tekka on Jakku.
It would actually be quicker to list who’s not returning to The Force Awakens, as practically the entire cast will record new dialogue for the game. But where’s the fun in that? Especially when WB Games somehow got Harrison Ford to mutter “Wookiee Cookies” into a microphone. And even little BB-8 has some new things to say… pay close attention to the droid’s chirps during the Admiral Ackbar rescue in the new trailer.
The full voice cast scheduled to appear in Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens includes:
- Harrison Ford as Han Solo
- Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa
- Daisy Ridley as Rey
- John Boyega as Finn
- Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron
- Adam Driver as Kylo Ren
- Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
- Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux
- Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma
- Lupita Nyong’o as Maz Kanata
- Max Von Sydow as Lor San Tekka
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.
Fallout 4: Far Harbor gets a new trailer and a May 19 release date
Bethesda announced this morning that Fallout 4‘s Far Harbor expansion will be available on May 19. The publisher likes to refer to the Far Harbor expansion as “the largest landmass for an add-on” they’ve ever produced, and they’ve packed it with places to go and things to fight including new faction quests, settlements, lethal creatures, dungeons, and higher-level armor and weapons.
Bethesda is also looking to explore the spookier corners of the Fallout 4 universe with Far Harbor, and a new trailer definitely seems inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, and John Carpenter:
In Far Harbor, a new case from Valentine’s Detective Agency leads you on a search for a young woman and a secret colony of synths. Travel off the coast of Maine to the mysterious island of Far Harbor, where higher levels of radiation have created a more feral world. Navigate through the growing conflict between the synths, the Children of Atom, and the local townspeople. Will you work towards bringing peace to Far Harbor, and at what cost?
Far Harbor will be available to download for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One as part of the Fallout 4 Season Pass or as a standalone expansion for $24.99.
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire is now available on GOG.com for Star Wars Day
The intergalactic haberdashers at good old GOG.com have made this a Star Wars Day (AKA “May the Fourth Be With You”) to remember by re-releasing the Windows version of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire through their digital storefront.
Originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1996, and later ported to the PC a few months later, Shadows of the Empire was Lucasfilm’s first attempt at a cross-media “sequel” to the original trilogy. Set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, the game (and companion novel) stars roguish smuggler Dash Rendar, and follows his journey to help the Rebellion in Han Solo’s absence.
Like a lot of games from the late 90s, the third-person controls were a bit unforgiving, and you needed to be one with The Force to competently play Shadows of the Empire back in the day. But its depiction of the Battle of Hoth is legendary, and is the reason why game developers keep returning to the icy planet after all these years.
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire will be regularly priced at $5.99, but nostalgic fans who grab it from GOG.com in the next seven days can pick it up for just $4.79.
Handicapping the 2016 World Video Game Hall of Fame Finalists
We’re just a few days away from learning which games will be inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame this year. In 2015, Tetris, Super Mario Bros., Pong, Doom, World of Warcraft, and Pac-Man were selected as the inaugural class by the institution’s induction committee. The Hall’s Class of 2016 will be announced on Thursday, May 5, and five or six games are once again expected to rise above the other finalists.
But which of the 15 finalists will be honored this year? Using the Hall’s induction criteria as a guide, I can think we can determine the odds of which games will make it in and which will have to wait until next year. (more…)
Relic unveils Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III with an epic announcement trailer
Relic Entertainment has announced they will make their glorious return to the Warhammer 40,000 universe with the upcoming Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III. So feast your eyes on the epic announcement trailer embedded above, and get yourself reacquainted with the Space Marines, Eldar, and Orks as they continue to wage endless war on each other.
According to the developer, Dawn of War III will “combine the epic scale of Dawn of War, with the customization and elite heroes of Dawn of War II.” Relic is also promising to deliver a “rich strategic experience” and “stunning visuals” as they bring the franchise into the modern age.
“This is the Dawn of War that fans have been waiting for,” said Executive Producer Stephen MacDonald. “Our biggest units ever? Check. Giant orbital lasers? Check. Base-building, epic heroes, huge battles, it’s all in there. Get ready for the biggest Dawn of War yet. For the Emperor!”
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III is currently in development exclusively for the PC, but Relic isn’t ready to announce a release date just yet.