Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Clair Obscur Completes the Sweep by Winning “Best Game” at 2025-2026 BAFTA Games Awards
- Boss Fight Books Gets a New Look for Richard Moss’s “Age of Empires”
- GDC Awards: All the Winners from 1996 to Today
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wins “Game of the Year” at 2025-2026 GDC Awards
- Silent Hill, Dragon Quest, Skyrim, and More Announced as Finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- 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)
- In 2005, games started rewiring our brains – The AV Club (2025)
Most Recent: Switch
New Retail Releases: Kirby Battle Royale, Rocket League, Street Fighter V Arcade Edition, More
We’re three weeks into 2018, and it’s finally time for the first “New Retail Release” report of the year.
This week, Nintendo’s pink puffball will return with the launch of Kirby: Battle Royale for the 3DS. Up to four players can battle it out in ten different minigame-like scenarios, but those who prefer to go it alone can tackle the game’s Story Mode and challenge King Dedede in the Cake Royale Tournament.
Speaking of arena battles… Rocket League: Collector’s Edition will make its Switch debut this week. The package will include the original game as well as all content from three previously-released expansions (Supersonic Fury, Revenge of the Battle-Cars, and Choose Run).
Also available in stores this week are a pair of new PS4 games including Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition (an updated version of Capcom’s fighting game) and Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory (a side-story/sequel to 2015’s Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth).
That’s it for now, but we’ll be back soon with a close-up look at all of this week’s additions to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.
Posted in 3DS, News, PS4, Switch
Tagged Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker's Memory, Kirby: Battle Royale, Rocket League, Street Fighter V
2018 DICE Awards nominees announced and Horizon: Zero Dawn leads the way with ten
The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences has announced the nominees for this year’s DICE Awards, and Horizon: Zero Dawn leads the pack with ten.
The action-adventure game from Guerrilla will compete for “Game of the Year,” as well as… deep breath… “Adventure Game of the Year,” “Outstanding Achievement in Character” (for Aloy), “Outstanding Achievement in Game Design,” “Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction,” “Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition,” “Outstanding Achievement in Story,” “Outstanding Technical Achievement,” “Outstanding Achievement in Animation,” and “Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction.”
Whew.
Other games nominated for “Game of the Year” include Studio MDHR’s Cuphead, PUBG Corporation’s PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and Nintendo’s Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
The 2018 DICE Awards will be handed out in a ceremony at the conclusion of this year’s DICE Summit on February 22. A complete list of this year’s nominees can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS4, Switch, Wii U, Xbox One
Tagged Cuphead, Horizon: Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Super Meat Boy, The Escapists 2, Art of Fighting 2, more coming to Nintendo eShop this week
While I’m sure you’re still excited about this morning’s Nintendo Direct Mini, the consolemaker also added a handful of new titles to the Nintendo eShop today.
The ultra-hard platformer Super Meat Boy rushed ahead of the pack, and is now available for the Switch with a brand new splitscreen Race Mode. It’s joined by Mouldy Touf’s jailbreak simulator, The Escapists 2, and a re-release of 1994’s Art of Fighting 2. Finally today, a playable demo of Dragon Quest Builders, Square Enix’s upcoming action RPG, is also available to download for the Switch.
You can learn more about all of this week’s additions to the Nintendo eShop (including a few 3DS and Wii U titles) after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, Switch, Wii U
Tagged Super Meat Boy, The Escapists 2
Super Mario Odyssey will expand this February with Luigi’s Balloon World
It looks like the rumors were true, and the newest Nintendo Direct presentation has just been unleashed upon the world. Though the video clocks in at just over 14 minutes, this “Nintendo Direct Mini” still features a treasure trove of new announcements for the Switch.
Super Mario Odyssey took everyone’s favorite plumber around the world when it launched for the Switch this past October. But Luigi will finally get to join the fun in February as part of the free Luigi’s Balloon World expansion:
A new mini-game called Balloon World is coming to one of the highest-rated games of all time. Once players download the free update and complete the main story, Balloon World will become available. In “Hide It” mode, players have a certain amount of time to hide a balloon. In “Find It” mode, players have the same amount of time to locate balloons hidden by other players from around the world. Players can move up the rankings by finding hidden balloons and becoming expert hiders.
Nintendo also announced that the update will include a trio of new costumes (Sunshine Shades and Outfit, Musician Hat and Outfit, and Knight Helmet and Armor) and new filters for Snapshot Mode.
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged Super Mario Odyssey
SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy will be released for the Switch this Summer
It looks like the rumors were true, and the newest Nintendo Direct presentation has just been unleashed upon the world. Though the video clocks in at just over 14 minutes, this “Nintendo Direct Mini” still features a treasure trove of new announcements for the Switch.
NIS America is inviting the leading ladies from SNK’s stable of fighting games to the Switch for SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy. This two-on-two fighting game will feature a Character Customization mode and “Dream Finishes” for each character:
Play as iconic heroines from SNK’s history in a new, two-on-two tag-team fighting game. Players can activate a variety of Special Moves with the press of a button, and make use of special items to turn the tide of battle. One of the competitors will be Yuri Sakazaki from Art of Fighting 2.
SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy will be released for the Switch this Summer.
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy
Kirby’s Switch debut will be known as Kirby Star Allies
It looks like the rumors were true, and the newest Nintendo Direct presentation has just been unleashed upon the world. Though the video clocks in at just over 14 minutes, this “Nintendo Direct Mini” still features a treasure trove of new announcements for the Switch.
Nintendo first teased Kirby’s Switch debut during last year’s E3 Expo, but now we’ve learned that it’s a co-op side-scroller with tons of new Copy Abilities known as Kirby Star Allies:
Kirby’s debut on Nintendo Switch is a grand new adventure packed with content. The new Artist ability lets Kirby unleash his creativity, while the new Spider ability lets him ensnare enemies in webs. Kirby also can hurl new friend hearts at enemies to win them over with love and add them to his party. Plus, up to four friends can team up and combine Kirby’s unique abilities with ally abilities for powerful new Friend Abilities.
Kirby Star Allies will be released for the Switch on March 16.
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged Kirby Switch
Nintendo serves up Mario Tennis Aces on the Switch this Spring
It looks like the rumors were true, and the newest Nintendo Direct presentation has just been unleashed upon the world. Though the video clocks in at just over 14 minutes, this “Nintendo Direct Mini” still features a treasure trove of new announcements for the Switch.
Nintendo will serve up a new entry in the Mario Tennis franchise this Spring with the launch of Mario Tennis Aces. The Switch game will include more realistic tennis gameplay and (for the first time since 2005’s Mario Tennis: Power Tour) a Story Mode:
A new Mario Tennis game is bringing a new level of skill and competition to Nintendo Switch. Mario steps onto the court in classy tennis garb for intense rallies against a variety of characters in full-blown tennis battles. New wrinkles in tennis gameplay will challenge your ability to read an opponent’s position and stroke to determine which shot will give you the advantage. And this time the game adds the first story mode since the Mario Tennis game on Game Boy Advance, offering a new flavor of tennis gameplay, with a variety of missions and boss battles.
Nintendo has promised to reveal more information about Mario Tennis Aces soon.
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged Mario Tennis Aces
The World Ends With You will be remastered for the Switch this year
It looks like the rumors were true, and the newest Nintendo Direct presentation has just been unleashed upon the world. Though the video clocks in at just over 14 minutes, this “Nintendo Direct Mini” still features a treasure trove of new announcements for the Switch.
Square Enix released The World Ends With You for the DS in 2008 to widespread critical acclaim, and fans have been clamoring for a sequel ever since. There still don’t seem to be plans for a followup, but the publisher has announced The World Ends With You: Final Remix will be coming to the Nintendo Switch:
This 2008 Nintendo DS game has been updated for Nintendo Switch with HD visuals and a new epilogue that sheds new light on the game’s story. Players can join rhythmic battles using either Joy-Con controllers or the Nintendo Switch touch screen.
The World Ends With You: Final Remix will be available for the Switch sometime this year.
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged The World Ends With You