Most Recent: Switch

After four months Nintendo has sold 4.7 million Switch consoles

Posted on July 26, 2017 by John Scalzo

Nintendo launched their Switch console a little over four months ago, and earlier today, the company revealed sales figures for the system’s second quarter of availability.

According to Nintendo, they sold 1.97 million Switch consoles between April 1 and June 30, bringing the worldwide install base for the console to 4.7 million. These new Switch owners are also buying a lot of games, and Nintendo reported sales of more than a million copies during the quarter for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (1.16 million), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (3.54 million), and Arms (1.18 million).

For comparison, Nintendo sold 13.56 miilion Wii U consoles over the life of the system. It’s very possible the Switch will surpass that total before the end of its first year.

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Graceful Explosion Machine will blast its way onto the PC and PS4 on August 8

Posted on July 26, 2017 by John Scalzo

Vertex Pop’s Graceful Explosion Machine added a bit of color to launch of the Nintendo Switch this Spring, but it looks like the side-scrolling shooter will warp to several new destinations next month. According to a post on the developer’s official website, Graceful Explosion Machine will be released for the PC and PS4 on August 8.

In addition to launching Graceful Explosion Machine on a pair of new platforms, Vertex Pop has also been working to update the game on the Switch. Fans will definitely notice the faster loading times, but an expanded stats screen is also on the docket:

We started by redesigning the score screen to give a clearer breakdown of your score, weapon usage, and additional stats that better reflect your play style. It’s both fun and functional.

We also wanted to make it easier to capture and share those clutch GEM moments. Once you’re in the zone, we know it’s hard to stop the game even for a few seconds to grab a screenshot, so we had to come up with a really creative solution.

Or, more accurately, a really technical one: We designed an AI system to pinpoint the most exciting moment of your run, which we then automagically screenshot and display on the score screen. You can fullscreen it, add it to your Album, share it, etc.

This update for Graceful Explosion Machine is now available to download on the Nintendo Switch, and will be available for the PC and PS4 when the game launches on August 8.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Switch | Tagged

Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition will make its Switch debut on September 12

Posted on July 25, 2017 by John Scalzo

Ubisoft has released a new trailer for Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition, and confirmed that the much-loved platformer will be available for the Nintendo Switch on September 12. More information on the re-release is available at the UbiBlog:

Ubisoft’s exuberant platforming hero is coming to Nintendo Switch on September 12 in Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition. This colorful adventure sees Rayman and friends romping though gorgeous worlds within a series of enchanting paintings. The Definitive Edition takes advantage of the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch, enabling up to four players to play together over a wireless local multiplayer connection. Furthermore, players can use the undocked Switch touchscreen to move platforms, cut ropes, take out enemies, and more.

There are also other new features in store, including an updated version of the raucous soccer-inspired minigame, Kung Foot.

Ubisoft has several other games in development for the Switch in addition to Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition. The megapublisher will release Steep and Monopoly for Nintendo’s newest console later this year, and at least one unannounced title is also in the works.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

Square Enix will release Lost Sphear on January 23

Posted on July 25, 2017 by John Scalzo

Square Enix has announced that Lost Sphear, the next retro-styled RPG from Tokyo RPG Factory, will be released on January 23.

Lost Sphear expands upon many of the beloved features from the studio’s debut title, I Am Setsuna, and continues Tokyo RPG Factory’s dedication to blending the nostalgia of classic Japanese role-playing games with the latest technology for a new generation of gamers. The game will feature an enhanced gameplay system with a revamped ATB (Active Time Battle) system offering more freedom in combat, seamless environments, and various locations to explore.

In Lost Sphear, players will begin their adventure in a remote town where a young boy, Kanata, awakens from a devastating dream to find his hometown disappearing. To stop the world from being lost forever, Kanata and his comrades set out to rebuild the world around them with the power of Memory by manifesting thoughts into matter and restoring what was lost.

Lost Sphear will launch for the PC, PS4, and Switch on January 23, and Square Enix also confirmed the game will be available in a special physical package for the PS4 and Switch exclusively from the Square Enix Online Store. Fans who pre-order Lost Sphear, digitally or through the Square Enix Online Store, will receive two music tracks from as a downloadable bonus gift.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Switch | Tagged

New Retail Releases: Hey! Pikmin, Miitopia, Collar X Malice, More

Posted on July 23, 2017 by John Scalzo

It’s another big week for Nintendo as the consolemaker will release two games for the 3DS on Friday.

First up is the first portable game in the Pikmin series, Hey! Pikmin. The side-scrolling adventures adds touchscreen support for Captain Olimar, who can now fling Pikmin at enemies and obstacles with the swipe of a finger. Also available from Nintendo for the 3DS this Friday is Miitopia, a turn-based RPG featuring Miis “based on your favorite people.”

Elsewhere in the portable section of your favorite game store will be Collar X Malice, a new visual novel from Aksys that’ll be available for the Vita this week.

Finally this week, Marvelous’s action brawler Fate Extella: The Umbral Star will make its way to the Nintendo Switch after debuting on the PC and Vita last year.

That’s all for now, but we’ll be back soon with updates on the rest of this week’s downloadable additions to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.

Posted in 3DS, News, Switch, Vita | Tagged ,

The 1-2 punch of Tekken 7 and Injustice 2 sit atop the best-selling games list for June 2017

Posted on July 20, 2017 by John Scalzo

Fighting game fans have proven, once again, that the genre is alive and well. According to the NPD Group’s recounting of the best-selling games in June, Tekken 7 (#1) and Injustice 2 (#2) took the top two spots. Nintendo’s bizarro take on the genre, Arms, also made a strong debut in the #5 spot.

Speaking of the Switch, Nintendo’s newest console continued to push the game industry to new heights in June, as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (#6) and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (#7) stayed in the top ten.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, NPD Analyst Mat Piscatella said: “The Nintendo Switch has been the catalyst for year-to-date growth. Year-to-date, hardware spending has grown 19% versus 2016 to $1.4 billion.”

However, older titles also performed well in June, including Grand Theft Auto V (#3), Overwatch (#9), and Minecraft (#17). 2015’s Call of Duty: Black Ops III (#12) even managed to outsell 2016’s Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (#15).

A complete look at the Top 20 for June 2017 can be found after the break. (more…)

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Square Enix will bring Final Fantasy, Lost Sphear, Life Is Strange: Before the Storm to Comic-Con 2017

Posted on July 20, 2017 by John Scalzo

The San Diego Comic-Con kicked off today, and Square Enix brought a handful of upcoming games to the Summer’s biggest convention for fans to test out. While attendees won’t get the chance to play Kingdom Hearts III or the Final Fantasy VII Remake on the show floor, there will be plenty of demo stations in the publisher’s booth featuring these titles:

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (Now Available)
Platform: PS4
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age improves upon the 2006 classic Final Fantasy XII, now more beautiful and easier to play than ever. The HD remaster introduces a reconstructed battle design and the new Zodiac Job System, a 12-job character progression system first introduced in the 2007 title, Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System. With updated trophies and share functionalities, as well as stark visual and sound improvements, players both new and returning will experience the ultimate grand adventure through the world of Ivalice in an entirely new and improved way.

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT (Early 2018)
Platform: PS4
Developed in partnership with Team Ninja from Koei Tecmo, Dissidia Final Fantasy NT is the newly announced team-based brawler. The game pits legendary heroes and villains from Final Fantasy’s 30-year history against each other in epic and strategic 3 vs. 3 battles. Players will choose a team from a roster of more than 20 beloved Final Fantasy characters across ten iconic battle arenas and call forth fan-favorite summons. With a deep customization and progression system, players will gain experience points and unlock EX skills, weapons, skins, and more as they develop their favorite Final Fantasy characters, their way.

Lost Sphear (TBA 2018)
Platform: PC, PS4, Switch
Expanding on the beloved I Am Setsuna, the Lost Sphear adventure begins in a remote town where a young man, Kanata, awakens from a devastating dream to find his hometown disappearing. To stop the world from being Lost forever, Kanata and his comrades set out to rebuild the world around them with the power of Memory by manifesting thoughts into matter.

Square Enix will also invite the “key creative minds” behind Life Is Strange: Before the Storm to San Diego for a panel on Friday, July 21. The speakers will reveal “brand new information and insights about their game for the first time,” as well as lead the audience in a live playthrough of the game.

But in case you are on the lookout for new Kingdom Hearts III information, Square Enix unveiled a new trailer (and a 2018 release date) for their hotly-anticipated action RPG during Disney’s annual D23 Expo last week.

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

Nintendo Download: Splatoon 2, Boost Beast, Fate Extella The Umbral Star, more

Posted on July 20, 2017 by John Scalzo

Nintendo’s quest to make everyone love the Switch continues this week with the launch of Splatoon 2.

The team-based shooter will be available to download from the Nintendo eShop this Friday, and players will get the chance to compete in several different competitive multiplayer modes, as well as the cooperative Salmon Run mode, and a single-player Campaign.

Two other options are available through the eShop for Switch owners today, including Boost Beast, a match-3 puzzler from Arc System Works, and Samurai Shodown, a fighting game that was originally released for the NeoGeo in 1993.

Finally, Fate Extella: The Umbral Star will be available to download for the Switch beginning on Tuesday, July 25. Fate Extella: The Umbral Star is the first action game in the Fate series, as well as the first to appear on a Nintendo console.

You can learn more about all of these games (and the rest of this week’s additions to the Nintendo eShop) after the break. (more…)

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