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: Switch
Nicalis and Treasure will bring Ikaruga to the Switch on May 29
Way back in 2003, Treasure’s Ikaruga redefined the vertically-scrolling shooter with a strategic style that required players to quickly switch the polarity of their ship to survive (and ultimately, fight back against) an unending wave of enemy gunfire. And now, a decade-and-a-half later, it’s coming to the Switch.
Nicalis has announced (via their official website) that Ikaruga will make its Switch debut with a Nintendo eShop release on May 29. The frantic arcade action will remain intact, and Switch owners will even be able to tilt their screen and play the game vertically (AKA TATE Mode) when in Tabletop Mode:
Playing as the rebel freedom fighter Shinra, pilot of the advanced Ikaruga aircraft, you must defeat the relentless forces of a conquering nation not only by dodging and shooting, but also by switching between two polarities—black or white—to absorb enemy bullets of matching color. The ability to switch polarities at the press of a button adds a tactical, puzzle-like element to the action, and as you absorb bullets you’ll power-up your ship’s homing laser to dish out up to 10 times more punishment. Additionally, blasting enemies of opposite polarity allows you to inflict double damage on your foes. But beware: One hit from an opposite-polarity bullet will mean the destruction of your ship.
Ikaruga will be priced at $14.99 on the Nintendo eShop and the first trailer has been embedded above.
Dark Souls Remastered Network Test coming to PS4, Xbox One on May 11-13
Bandai Namco has announced plans to host a Network Test for Dark Souls Remastered later this month on the PS4 and Xbox One.
If you want to get involved, you’ll need to download the Network Test client beforehand, and it’ll be available as a free download through the PlayStation Store and Xbox Games Store beginning on Wednesday, May 2, at 3:00 AM (Eastern Time). PS4 and Xbox One owners will have until the following Wednesday, May 9, to grab the client, but after that, “no new participants will be accepted.”
The Network Test itself will begin on Friday, May 11 (at 9:00 PM Eastern Time), and continue until the early morning hours of Sunday, May 13 (the servers will go offline at 3:00 AM Eastern Time, to be exact). According to the publisher, the test will take place within the game’s “Undead Parish” location and players will be asked to summon co-op partners or invade the games of other players.
Dark Souls Remastered will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on May 25. Switch owners will get the chance to purchase Dark Souls Remastered later this Summer, and Bandai Namco is planning a second Network Test before the game’s launch on Nintendo’s newest console.
Posted in News, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Tagged Dark Souls
Free 2018 World Cup Update coming to FIFA 18 on May 29
EA Sports is bringing the World Cup to FIFA 18 owners next month, as they’ve announced plans to release a 2018 World Cup Update for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch on May 29.
The free update will include all 32 teams from this year’s World Cup in Russia, as well as the ability to redo the tournament draw with national teams that didn’t qualify for the Group Stage (including the USA and Italy):
The 2018 FIFA World Cup update will deliver a complete and official tournament experience through official FIFA World Cup elements, including authentic teams, stadiums, kits, badges, Official Match Ball, and the Official Winner’s Trophy.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia update lets players choose one of 32 qualified nations to live out their FIFA World Cup dream and write their own history from the group stage to the final in Moscow in Online Friendlies and Online Tournament modes. Dive into Custom Tournament mode to select any licensed national team in FIFA 18 to create a unique tournament draw with non-qualified nations, including Italy, Chile, USA, among others. Additionally, experience the authentic stadium atmospheres in a quick Kick-Off experience, either solo or with friends.
A new trailer for FIFA 18’s 2018 World Cup Update has been embedded above.
New Retail Releases: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Nintendo is bringing another Wii U re-release to the Switch in the very near future, and it’s set to be the lone new game available on retail shelves this week.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was originally released in 2014 by Retro Studios, and since then, Nintendo’s secretive American partner has been working on something that’s… wait for it… super-secret. We don’t know if we’ll learn more about their next game anytime soon, but we do know that Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze has been enhanced and expanded for its Switch debut this coming Friday, May 4:
Barrel-blast into a critically acclaimed Donkey Kong adventure as this beloved franchise makes its Nintendo Switch debut with a banana-bunch of new features. Traverse islands packed with platforming perfection and nonstop action as the classic Kongs in the original game, or mix things up by playing the story as Funky Kong in new Funky Mode!
Arctic invaders have turned Donkey Kong Island into their personal frozen fortress, and it’s up to you to save the day. Play as Donkey Kong in Original Mode and team up with Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, and Cranky Kong—each with unique abilities—to overcome platforming challenges and frosty foes.
For a more accessible experience, start a game in Funky Mode to enjoy a range of gameplay updates and a new main-character option, spectacular surfing simian Funky Kong! His extra hearts and unique abilities make for a more relaxed gaming experience. And no matter which mode you choose, a wealth of collectibles and two-player co-op round out the fun!
That’s all for now, but we’ll be back later this week with a look at all the new additions to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Splatoon 2’s next Splatfest is a three-week showdown to determine the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle
Nintendo has scheduled the next Splatfest for Splatoon 2, and it looks like fans are in for a “radical” reinvention of the monthly event.
This time, Nintendo has partnered with Nickelodeon to determine everyone’s favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. But wait, I hear you saying, there are four Ninja Turtles, how will this work? I’m glad you asked, imaginary Internet person, because Nintendo has come up with a “bodacious” solution.
The “Ninja Turtles Splatfest” will take place over three rounds, with fans first choosing between Raphael and Leonardo on May 5th. A second preliminary round will pit Michelangelo against Donatello on May 12th, before the winners battle it out in a third round on May 19th.
“We love working with unexpected partners to expand our brand and bring smiles to people’s faces in surprising ways,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Teaming up with Nickelodeon and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles made perfect sense, as we share many of the same fans who enjoy family-friendly entertainment and classic characters.”
You can catch a glimpse of the Inklings in their Turtles-inspired t-shirts after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged Splatoon 2
Jotun, Light Fall, Saturday Morning RPG, more coming to Nintendo eShop this week
Nintendo has once again updated the Nintendo eShop, and more than a dozen new Switch titles will once again be added to the digital storefront over the next seven days.
Leading the way this week is Jotun: Valhalla Edition. The isometric action game from Thunder Lotus Games includes hand-drawn graphics and five “epic” boss fights against giant Norse elementals known as Jotuns. Jotun: Valhalla Edition will be available to download beginning tomorrow.
Light Fall is a puzzle platformer from Bishop Games where players will control a magical box known as a Shadow Core, and it’s available to download today. Also launching today is Saturday Morning RPG, a turn-based RPG that was inspired by 80s pop culture.
Bandai Namco will also bring the Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy to the Switch, and players will be able to purchase each title in the anime-inspired series individually or they can pick up the entire trilogy in a discounted bundle.
Finally this week, Nintendo fans will be able to download 10-Yard Fight, an early football experience from the 80s arcade era, on May 2.
You can learn more about the rest of this week’s additions to the Nintendo eShop (including Aqua Moto Racing Utopia, A Robot Named Fight, Agatha Knife, and more) after the break. (more…)
Far Cry 5 and Sea of Thieves sail to the top of March 2018’s list of best-selling games
The number of high-profile new releases has slowed to a trickle in April, and that’s probably because game publishers threw open the tap in March. Not surprisingly, gamer scooped up these new titles by the armful, with Ubisoft’s Far Cry 5, Microsoft’s Sea of Thieves, Sony’s MLB The Show 18, and Nintendo’s Kirby Star Allies taking the top four spots in The NPD Group’s monthly tally of best-selling games.
The venerable Grand Theft Auto V remains in the top five, but other new releases, including Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (#8) and A Way Out (#15), managed to break into the NPD’s top twenty.
According to GamesIndustry.biz, overall sales for the industry were down by 11% in March, however, “first quarter 2018 spending across the four categories [software, hardware, game cards, and accessories] was up by 15% year-on-year to $3.4 billion with growth in all areas.”
You can find the full list of The NPD Group’s best-selling titles for March 2018 after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged A Way Out, Assassin's Creed Origins, Call of Duty: WWII, Dragon Ball FighterZ, EA Sports UFC 3, Far Cry 5, FIFA 18, Grand Theft Auto V, Kirby Star Allies, Mario Kart 8, MLB The Show 18, Monster Hunter: World, NBA 2K18, Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, NPD, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Sea of Thieves, Splatoon 2, Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Siege
The Road to E3 2018: Smash Bros., Pokemon, Fire Emblem, and the Rest of Nintendo’s Surprises
The 2018 E3 Expo begins in exactly 49 days… so let the speculation begin! Today, we’re peering into our crystal ball at what Nintendo might have in store for gaming’s biggest showcase. (more…)
Posted in Features, Switch, Top Story
Tagged E3 2018, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Metroid Prime 4, Pokemon Switch, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Yoshi