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: PS4
Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 will be released on September 15
As promised, Konami officially announced Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 today and revealed a ton of new details about the soccer simulation. First things first, Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 will be released on September 15 for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Developed using Konami’s proprietary Fox Engine, PES 2016 will make a variety of major changes to the series:
- New Master League – The famous and hugely popular Master League enjoys a total revamp, allowing users to immerse themselves in the managerial world of soccer. Every element has been redesigned or reworked, from the vibrant and involving menus to the new and exciting player transfer system, PES 2016 see one of the series most integral modes redefine the single-player experience.
- New Visuals – Incorporating the many advancements of the Fox Engine, the visuals have seen a huge upgrade. See the rain splash as players slide in to win possession, or the turf kick up as you strike the ball into the top corner. New night-time lighting and real turf textures are among some of the many improvements.
- Dynamic Weather – For the first time in the PES series, dynamic weather has been introduced, with the chance of rain starting during the game. Combined with the ever more realistic ball physics, the rain changes how the game can be played with passes speeding up, and less skilled players likely to struggle with trapping. The defender taken by the 1-on-1 will also be more likely to slip and fall due to incorrect studs or blades. This feature is applied to all offline modes including the Master League, and is an important element to decide the outcome of the match.
- Human Motion – Seeking to humanize player movement, 3x new animations have been added to bring the in-game superstars to life. Goalkeepers have seen an abundance of save animations added, while outfield players shoot, pass, dribble and tackle with incredible variety depending on the situation. Players complain when a foul isn’t given, or lament a teammate when a pass isn’t made when in open space. The new 1v1 control also benefits from this, with players being able to fool their opponents with shimmies and feints that can result in causing the opposing player to lose his balance and fall in the wrong direction!
- New Ball Physics – The past few years has seen the series make huge advancements in ball physics, and for PES 2016 new levels of realism have been reached. Each spin, bobble and ricochet has been calculated using real ball physic data, helping keep every moment in every game unique and unpredictable.
These additions and enhancements are only the beginning of Konami’s plan to rework PES 2016. The developer will also include a significantly improved collision system, a “aerial battle” experience, improved 1v1 player control, more intelligent player AI, individuality in performance for goalkeepers, and “Celebration Control” prompts. That’s right, PES 2016 gives players the chance to input a series of button presses to create their own unique celebration.
Konami will reveal even more information about Pro Evolution Soccer 2016, along with the first screenshots, during next week’s E3 Expo.
Lords of the Fallen developer is working on an untitled sci-fi action RPG
Publisher CI Games recently told the world that Lords of the Fallen 2 would not be developed by original developer Deck 13 Interactive. Rather than resting on their laurels, the German developer sought out a new partner and teamed up with another small publisher, Focus Home Interactive, for their next game. Currently untitled, Deck 13 plans to release an action RPG set in a “dystopian sci-fi future” in 2017.
Aside from a teaser image depicting a man augmented with cybernetic implants, we don’t have much to go on just yet. We know the game will be an “original property” with a PC, PS4, and Xbox One release planned. Focus Home went on to add the action RPG will feature “innovative combat mechanics and an original character progression system based on modular upgrades gained through tight, visceral combat.”
Focus Home Interactive’s Managing Partner, Cedric Lagarrigue, also said: “We are ecstatic to announce this new partnership with one of the very best independent European development studios. We’ve been excited by Deck 13’s new project since our first exchange with them, and as we’ve just got through the pre-production phase, we’re fully convinced by their capacities to deliver one of the most exciting RPGs to come in the future.”
We’ll learn more about Deck 13’s action RPG, including its title, at a later date.
Bloodstained becomes most-funded video game in Kickstarter history (and there’s still 13 hours to go)
As its wild (and wildly successful) Kickstarter campaign comes to an end, Koji Igarashi’s Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has risen to the top of the pack as the most-funded video game of all time. Currently sitting at $4.7 million, the campaign proves that gamers still care deeply about Igarashi’s Metroidvania-style gothic castle crawlers. And Igarashi still has 13 hours to gather more pledges as the campaign isn’t scheduled to close until 11:00 PM (Eastern Time) tonight.
The developer has responded to this deluge of money by running one of the most bizarre campaigns in recent memory. He included “achievements” to “unlock” stretch goals, he asked for fan art for a game that barely exists (and which he received by the bucketful), and he created a series of whimsical videos to respond to fans. Igarashi also expanded the scope of Bloodstained considerably through a ridiculous number of stretch goals, including these recently funded features:
- Online Challenge Mode… FUNDED
- Third Playable Character… FUNDED
- Standalone Prequel for PC/Consoles… FUNDED
- Standalone Prequel for 3DS/Vita… ALMOST FUNDED
If the campaign reaches $5 million, Igarashi has promised to create a roguelike mode that reshapes the game into a series of procedurally-generated hallways. But for now, Bloodstained will definitely receive an Online Challenge Mode, a third playable character (details coming soon), and a retro-styled standalone prequel developed by Inti Creates for the PC, PS4, Wii U, and Xbox One. Igarashi and his team are also reasonably confident the standalone prequel will come to handhelds as they’re only a few thousand away.
And they’re not done. This morning, a new update revealed that Yacht Club’s Shovel Knight will be included in the game in some way. Is he friend? Is he foe? Igarashi isn’t saying, but his inclusion is sure to be interesting.
After all these reveals, it’s hard to believe we’ll have to wait until 2017 to play Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Hopefully, Igarashi can keep the crazy updates coming for the next two years.
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One
Tagged Bloodstained Prequel, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Capcom says Street Fighter V will never come to the Xbox One
The “console exclusive” is a bit of a misnomer as games that were originally exclusive to one platform usually find their way to the rest with time. Just look at this Fall’s Rise of the Tomb Raider. It’ll make its debut only on the Xbox One and Xbox 360, but this deal “has a duration” and the game will eventually be released for the PC and PS4 (and probably the PS3).
So it’s reasonable to assume this will also happen with Street Fighter V (or the inevitable Super Street Fighter V and/or Ultra Street Fighter V upgrades), which is currently exclusive to the PS4. But not so fast, a Capcom spokesman has told GameSpot that Street Fighter V will never (emphasis mine) come to the Xbox One in any form:
“One comment we see a lot is that something like a Super Street Fighter 5 is going to come out on Xbox,” said the representative. “But the reality is that this is a real partnership. We are console exclusive for this franchise for this numbered run.”
While this news is disappointing for Xbox One owners, the spokesman went on to say that Sony’s assistance extends beyond marketing support. According to the spokesman, Sony is deeply involved with Street Fighter V’s development:
“We’re not talking about how we’re handling post-launch content, but I can say the relationship with Sony does open doors for things we haven’t been able to do in the past,” the representative said.
“The relationship serves a gameplay and development purpose, and not just a marketing value.”
With the 2015 E3 Expo upon us, Capcom and Sony recently released a new trailer highlighting the game’s battle system. Street Fighter V will be released for the PS4 (and PC) sometime next Spring. A multiplayer beta test is scheduled to take place sometime this year or early next year.
Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Street Fighter V
The Witcher 3 hunts down the top spot as May 2015’s best-selling game
The NPD Group has published their monthly report on the financial state of the video game industry and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has emerged as the best-selling game of May 2015.
The Witcher 3’s victory was assured after the game leapfrogged both of April’s big releases including Mortal Kombat X (#2) and Grand Theft Auto V (#3). The only other May release to make the list, Nintendo’s Splatoon, swam its way into the fifth spot. Though Splatoon should get extra notice for being the only platform-exclusive title in the top ten.
All told, retail sales for games, hardware, and accessories were down 13% versus May 2014. However, Mario Kart 8, Watch Dogs, Wolfenstein: The New Order, and the continued success of TitanFall more than explain the sales gap. The drop-off might have been even bigger if it weren’t for a new wave of Amiibo figures. According to NPD’s Liam Callahan (speaking to GamesIndustry.biz), accessories rose 20% year-over-year, with a 73% increase for “interactive gaming toys.” Callahan also confirmed that the PS4 was the best-selling console of the month.
The complete top ten list of best-selling games for May 2015 can be found after the break. (more…)
Tales From the Borderlands: Episode 3 will “Catch A Ride” to release on June 23
Telltale Games has announced that Tales From the Borderlands will continue with the release of its third episode, Catch A Ride, during the week of June 23. Going by past history, the game will be available for the PC, PS3, and PS4 on Tuesday, June 24. The Xbox 360 and Xbox One launch will take place a day later on Wednesday, June 25. And lastly, the mobile versions will follow on Thursday, June 26.
So what shenanigans have Rhys and Fiona gotten themselves into this time? Well…
After a dizzying escape from a very-near-almost-certain-death scenario (involving statuesque buttocks), Rhys and Fiona find themselves looking for another piece of the puzzle that will lead them to the untold riches of Vault key ownership. Lost in the mysterious jungle of an Atlas terraforming facility, Fiona finds help from an unexpected mentor, Rhys continues to share brain-space with the disembodied mind of a dead dictator, and love is in the air. Pursued by the ruthless criminal ‘Queenpin’ Vallory, and with very little help from Vaughn’s accountancy skills (or stellar abs), getting anywhere near the Vault will be entirely up to you.
A handful of new screenshots from Tales From the Borderlands: Catch A Ride can be found at Telltale’s official website.
CoD: Advanced Warfare Supremacy Pack will be available for PC, PS3, PS4 on July 2
Activision has announced the Supremacy Pack will be available to download on July 2 for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare players who own the game on the PC, PS3, or PS4. In case you missed the multiplayer maps that will be part of this DLC add-on, more information on all of them can be found right here:
- Parliament: Docked on the River Thames, this military cargo ship delivers a view of the London cityscape along with a fast-paced combat experience. Mixed site-lines provide opportunities for all styles of play to dominate this medium-sized map. Players can take control of the map-based scorestreak to unleash a barrage of missiles that annihilate enemies.
- Kremlin: Gamers must prepare for intense combat outside Russia’s presidential palace in the new map Kremlin, as they navigate the worn-torn buildings of Red Square in this medium-sized, three-lane map. Secure elevated positions to give the team a strategic advantage, or use exoskeleton capabilities to avoid being caught in the minefield that activates mid-match.
- Compound: Players take combat preparation to the limit in an Atlas training facility hidden away in the Colorado wilderness, as they’ll have to be quick on the trigger in this small, symmetrical map, which funnels high-speed combat through tight corners to the main tower structures.
- Skyrise: Players deploy to an Atlas Skyscraper overlooking the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Based on the fan-favorite, Highrise, from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 by Infinity Ward, this map brings new exoskeleton mechanics to the classic multiplayer layout. Gamers must dominate the power positions in the center of this small-to-medium sized map to control the key navigation points.
The Supremacy Pack will also include Exo Zombies: Carrier, the latest episode in the cooperative multiplayer portion of Advanced Warfare. A character played by Bruce Campbell will join the co-op campaign in this episode, and you can check out his groovy entrance in the previously-released Exo Zombies: Carrier trailer.
The Supremacy Pack can be purchased on its own for $14.99. It’s also available as part of the Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Season Pass, which retails for $49.99.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4
Tagged Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Latest Street Fighter V gameplay trailer introduces the V-Gauge battle system
While Street Fighter V may have a visual style when placed side-by-side with 2008’s Street Fighter IV, Capcom is taking the battle system for their upcoming one-on-one fighter in a completely new direction.
The “Variable System” (AKA V-Gauge) is a three-tiered gauge that will slowly build as you play the game, though it’ll fill faster as your character takes damage. As the V-Gauge fills, players will be able to perform special skills and reversals, or enter into a unique “V-Trigger” state once the V-Gauge fills completely. A second bar, the EX Gauge, will allow players to unleash a “highly damaging, cinematic attack” known as a Critical Art.
A very informative post on the Capcom-Unity blog breaks down the mechanics of the Variable System and how it’ll apply to the four currently-revealed characters:
V-Skill
V-Skills are unique skills per character that can be accessed at any time by pressing medium punch and medium kick together. These skills do not require use of the V-Gauge and have different uses per character (e.g. mobility, offensive, defensive). V-Skills are rather important in battle as they may help a character in an area they’re weak at or help to fill up the V-Gauge quicker. Learning how to properly and efficiently use each character’s V-Skill will be key in winning matches.V-Reversals
V-Reversals take up one stock of V-Gauge, and allow a player to counter the attack of the opponent while blocking, thus creating some breathing room. They are similar to “Alpha counters” from the Street Fighter Alpha series, but this time not every counter results in a universal effect; some push the opponent back, some knock them down and some switch sides. Players should explore each character to see how their V-Reversals function.V-Trigger
V-Triggers are unique abilities per character that can only be activated once the V-Gauge is full, by pressing heavy punch and heavy kick together. V-Triggers, much like Ultras in Street Fighter IV, are a way for your character to turn the tide of battle. That, however, is where the similarities end. Activating the V-Trigger, which allows access to a character’s full potential, is merely step one. It is completely up to the player to properly utilize the benefits received from the V-Trigger to change the course of the match. As V-Triggers add quite a bit of depth to each character, mastering their use will be paramount to victory.EX Gauge
That’s not all, however, as there is also the EX Gauge, which builds as you deal damage to the opponent. The EX Gauge allows characters to perform powered up versions of their special attacks and when maxed out, their Critical Art. Critical Arts are highly damaging, cinematic attacks that are unique to each character.
Street Fighter V will be released for the PC and PS4 next year. Capcom plans to bring the game to this year’s E3 Expo, so we should learn a bit more about it next week.
Posted in News, PC, PS4
Tagged E3 2015, Street Fighter V