Most Recent: Switch

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice wins “Best of Gamescom” at Gamescom 2018

Posted on August 25, 2018 by John Scalzo

Gamescom 2018 closed its doors for the last time today, and From Software’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice slashed its way towards the coveted “Best of Gamescom” award.

There were a wide range of winners at this year’s expo, with all three consolemakers predictably winning “Best Game” on their respective platforms. In case you were wondering, those awards went to Spider-Man (“Best PS4 Game”), Ori and the Will of the Wisps (“Best Xbox One Game”), and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (“Best Nintendo Switch Game”). Nintendo’s fighter also collected the audience-voted award “Most Wanted Consumer Award.”

Other platform-specific awards were claimed by Ubisoft’s Anno 1800 (“Best PC Game”) and Madfinger’s Shadowgun War Games (“Best Mobile Game”).

The complete list of nominees and winners can be found after the break. And it’s never too early to start planning for next year’s expo. Gamescom organizers announced that next year’s show will begin on August 20. (more…)

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Epic Games will add “robust competition system” to Fortnite this Fall

Posted on August 24, 2018 by John Scalzo

Epic Games hand-delivered the “August 2018” development update for Fortnite earlier today on their official website. The communique from the development team includes new information about weapon balancing and building effectiveness, as well as the first statement about the battle royale’s recent launch on Android platforms.

But the real meat of this announcement can be found under the Competitive heading, which is where Epic announced that a “robust competition system” is coming to the game this Fall:

We are aware of a strong desire from competitive players for more opportunities to compete directly against one another within the same match. Development recently began for a robust competition system which will allow for all players to compete with one another and be recognized for their accomplishments. The first version of this feature is expected later this Fall.

Ideally, this new scoring system will help Fortnite transition into the full-fledged esport that Epic hopes it’ll be.

In addition to the new competition system, the developer also confirmed that “the ability to completely remap your gamepad to exactly your preference” will also be added to Fortnite this Fall.

Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One | Tagged

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, Night Trap, Blade Strangers, more coming to Nintendo eShop this week

Posted on August 23, 2018 by John Scalzo

Nintendo surprise-launched three games for the Nintendo eShop earlier this week at Gamescom 2018, and that was on top of an already packed lineup for the week…

Whether you got the chance to attend Europe’s biggest gaming event or not, every Switch owner got the chance to download Prison Architect: Nintendo Switch Edition, a prison management simulation from Introversion; Bad North, a minimalist real-time strategy game from Plausible Concept; and Morphies Law, a multiplayer shooter where players can change their size to gain an advantage.

Also available this week is Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, a Switch re-release of the monster-hunting game Capcom originally released for the 3DS in 2015. And speaking of unexpected relaunches, Screaming Villains is bringing Night Trap: 25th Anniversary Edition to the Switch this week… even after former Nintendo Vice President Howard Lincoln vowed the game would never appear on a Nintendo console. The colorful puzzle platformer De Blob 2 will also make its way to the Switch this week after originally debuting on the Wii in 2011.

Further down this week’s eShop update we find Blade Strangers, a crossover fighting game from Studio Saizensen and Nicalis; Little Dragons Cafe, a cafe management and dragon-raising simulation; and Victor Vran: Overkill Edition, a Diablo-like action RPG.

You can learn more about the rest of this week’s additions to the Nintendo eShop (including Real Bout Fatal Fury 2, Kero Blaster, Space Ribbon, and more) after the break. (more…)

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Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler was the best-selling game in July 2018

Posted on August 23, 2018 by John Scalzo

It would have been amusing if Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler took the #8 spot in The NPD Group’s monthly report of best-selling games (as reported by GamesIndustry.biz). But instead, the retro-styled RPG smashed expectations and landed in the top spot for the preceding four-week period. That means the publisher is likely less amused and more amazed.

Nintendo Switch exclusives dominated the list of best-selling games last month, with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (#3), The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (#5), Super Mario Odyssey (#7), and Mario Tennis Aces (#10) all cracking the top ten. The recent Switch launch of Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy (#9) also likely accounted for its rise in the rankings (the game is also available for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One).

The Switch was also the best-selling console in July, the first time that’s happened since December 2017.

You can find out how the rest of the top ten shook out, with a quick rundown of the remainder of July 2018’s best-selling games, after the break. (more…)

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Gamescom 2018 Trailer for Daemon X Machina offers an expanded look at the action game

Posted on August 21, 2018 by John Scalzo

The Gamescom 2018 Trailer for Nintendo’s Daemon X Machina is very similar to the one we first saw during the E3 Expo, but the heavily-stylized mech game still looks great, and any excuse to spy a few extra seconds of footage is definitely worth a rewatch.

Daemon X Machina is currently in development at Marvelous Entertainment and First Studio, and will be released exclusively for the Switch in 2019.

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Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night’s launch pushed back to 2019; Vita version canceled

Posted on August 20, 2018 by John Scalzo

In a new Kickstarter update, Koji “IGA” Igarashi announced that Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night‘s PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One launch has been pushed back to 2019. Within that same update, Igarashi also confirmed the game is no longer in development for the Vita.

According to the developer, the delay is to “raise the quality level” of the game:

Our first announcement is that the game will now launch in 2019. The most important reason for this is to raise the quality level, especially after all the very valuable feedback from the Beta Backer Demo.

He went on to say that the Vita version of Bloodstained was canceled due to Sony’s plans to discontinue the handheld:

The second announcement is that the game will no longer launch on PlayStation Vita. This decision is largely due to Sony’s plans to discontinue the Vita console, ending production of physical copies and stopping certain online store support features.

It is extremely unfortunate, but as a result, we won’t be releasing the game on Vita. For the backers who have ordered the PS Vita version of the game, you will be able to choose another platform or request a refund.

You can see “IGA” deliver this message personally in the video embedded above.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Switch, Vita, Xbox One | Tagged

New Retail Releases: Shenmue I & II, F1 2018 Headline Edition, Little Dragons Cafe, More

Posted on August 20, 2018 by John Scalzo

It’s Gamescom Week, and like E3 Week last month, most game publishers have decided not to launch any new games during Europe’s biggest gaming event. But a few brave souls are racing ahead and trying anyway…

This week, Sega will give gamers another chance to experience the Shenmue franchise with the launch of Shenmue I & II for the PS4 and Xbox One. This re-release will include original and modern control options, as well as Japanese audio.

Codemasters got the green light to release F1 2018: Headline Edition for the PS4 and Xbox One this week. The speedy simulation will include the full calendar of circuits from the 2018 Formula One Season. Racing game fans will also be able to look into All-Star Fruit Racing for the PS4 and Switch this week.

Also this week, Aksys Games will bring Little Dragons Cafe to the PS4 and Switch. Players can raise their own little dragons and master the art of cooking by running a cafe.

And speaking of firepower, Grip Digital’s Mothergunship, a “bullet hell” first person shooter, is now available on retail shelves for the PS4 and Xbox One.

Finally this week, Retroism will release Return of Double Dragon for the Super NES. The game is actually a re-release of 1992’s Super Double Dragon, but it includes several bonus levels that were exclusive to the Japanese version of the game, as well as an expanded moveset for the ninja brothers.

That’s all for now, but we’ll be back later this week with a complete look at the latest additions to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.

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The Walking Dead: The Final Season, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, Next Up Hero, more coming to Nintendo eShop this week

Posted on August 16, 2018 by John Scalzo

Telltale Games was widely expected to bring The Walking Dead: The Final Season to the Switch sometime later this year, but there it is, front and center in this week’s Nintendo eShop update, just two days after its PC, PS4, and Xbox One debut. Switch owners will be able to experience the first episode of Clementines final journey, as she searches for a home for her and AJ.

Also available to download for the Switch today is Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, Steel Crate Games’s bomb defusal party game. One player sits down in front of a ticking time bomb, while the other players talk them through it (without looking at the bomb) with the use of the game’s Bomb Defusal Manual.

Finally this week, Switch owners will get the chance to purchase Next Up Hero, a massively multiplayer brawler from Digital Continue where every time you die you get a little closer to defeating the boss.

You can learn more about the rest of this week’s additions to the Nintendo eShop (including Metal Slug 4, CastleStorm, Manual Samuel, and more) after the break. (more…)

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