Most Recent: Switch

Ubisoft’s new Berlin studio begins work on “unannounced AAA project”

Ubisoft is expanding once again.

The megapublisher has announced plans to open a new studio in Berlin, which will join the well-established Ubisoft Blue Byte in the German capital. Ubisoft Blue Byte is best known as the creator of the Anno series of strategy games, and they will work alongside the newly-created Ubisoft Berlin on an “unannounced AAA project.”

Ubisoft didn’t reveal any more information about this “unannounced AAA project,” but they did mention a few more details about the plan for Ubisoft Berlin on the UbiBlog:

Ubisoft Berlin
Germany is home to Blue Byte, one of the most established names in German gaming and an industry leader in PC strategy games. The team in Berlin will work closely with the BlueByte teams in both Düsseldorf and Mainz on an unannounced AAA project, and will help Ubisoft establish a presence in the German capital. The studio is looking for newcomers and industry veterans alike, as they plan to grow to around 50 people within their first 12 months. Keep up with the latest news from the BlueByte team and check job openings locally at http://jobs.ubisoft.com.

Ubisoft also announced that they’re opening a satellite studio in Bordeaux, France. Ubisoft Bordeaux will collaborate with other Ubisoft studios on franchises like Just Dance, Steep, and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands.

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

Learn all about Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers in this new trailer

Capcom wants to educate all would-be World Warriors with a new trailer for Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers. The Switch-exclusive remake is set to launch on May 26, and it’ll include a wide variety of new features and modes to revitalize the 25-year-old game.

Ultra Street Fighter II will add two new characters to the game (Evil Ryu and Violent Ken), as well a first-person “Way of the Hado” Mode, Touchscreen Super Moves, two-on-one Buddy Battles, a Character Color Editor, and Arcade Standby for online play.

Ultra Street Fighter II will also include two soundtrack options (“Classic” and “New Generation”), and Capcom has created a special sampler video for players interested in a preview of the new music. You can find it after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

Nintendo of America sold 906,000 Switch consoles and 1.3 million copies of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in March

There’s been an electric feeling in the air since Nintendo’s launch of the Switch on March 3. Come on, I’m sure you can feel it too. Nintendo is back… and now we have the sales figures to prove it.

Yesterday afternoon, Nintendo of America announced that more than 906,000 Switch consoles were sold in the United States during the month of March. If that weren’t impressive enough, the consolemaker added that more Switch consoles were sold during its first month of availability than any other game system in Nintendo’s history.

Nintendo also revealed that they sold even more copies of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild during the month. Zelda fans purchased more than 925,000 copies of the game on the Switch, as well as nearly 460,000 copies for the Wii U. With total sales of 1.3 million, Breath of the Wild is the “fastest-selling Nintendo launch game of all time, as well as the fastest-selling game ever in The Legend of Zelda series.”

But what about Breath of the Wild’s insane 102% attach rate on the Switch? Nintendo attributed the unprecedented sales success for Breath of the Wild to fans who purchased two copies of the game… a limited edition to keep sealed and a standard edition to play.

“Nintendo always strives to offer consumers something fun, new and different,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s President and COO. “With its various play modes and the innovative features of the Joy-Con controllers, Nintendo Switch provides unique experiences that people can take with them anywhere and share with anyone.”

Worldwide sales figures for the Nintendo Switch will be announced on April 27 during Nintendo’s annual financial report.

Posted in News, Switch, Wii U | Tagged

Nintendo Download: Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, Mr. Shifty, Bye-Bye BoxBoy!, more

Nintendo added two surprising new 3DS games to the Nintendo eShop this morning…

Team Kirby Clash Deluxe is a standalone expansion of the “Team Kirby Clash” minigame included with Kirby: Planet Robobot. The game is free-to-start and features four different Kirbys battling it out with a series of giant boss monsters.

Also available to download for the 3DS today is Bye-Bye BoxBoy!, the conclusion to the black-and-white BoxBoy trilogy. This time around, Qbby has to overcome obstacles and rescue the Qbabies in this new side-scrolling platformer from developer HAL Laboratory.

Switch owners will get the chance to purchase several new games this week as well, and TinyBuild and Team Shifty added Mr. Shifty to their side of the eShop today. The overhead action game mixes will look familiar to fans of Hotline Miami, but Mr. Shifty is a thief with superheroic teleportation abilities and a penchant for “distraction and trickery.”

Finally today, Jackbox launched The Jackbox Party Pack 3 for the Switch, and it includes five new party-friendly games… “Quiplash,” “Trivia Murder Party,” “Guesspionage,” “Tee K.O.,” and “Fakin’ It.”

You can learn more about all of these games (and a few more new additions to the Nintendo eShop) after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, News, Switch, Wii U | Tagged

A new version of Namco Museum is coming to the Nintendo Switch this Summer

People love to play classic arcade games on the go with their mobile device, but the touchscreen controls leave a lot to be desired. Thankfully, Bandai Namco and Nintendo are getting together this Summer to release a new version of Namco Museum on the Switch.

The compilation will feature arcade perfect recreations of ten titles including Pac-Man, Galaga, Galaga 88, Dig-Dug, The Tower of Druaga, SkyKid, Splatterhouse, Rolling Thunder, Rolling Thunder 2, and Tank Force. A series of Special Challenge Modes will also be included.

The first trailer for Namco Museum has been embedded above.

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Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition will include Super Mario Mash-Up Pack when it launches on May 11

Even though its available for nearly a dozen other platforms, Minecraft fans are probably pretty excited about its upcoming launch on the Nintendo Switch. Yesterday, the consolemaker confirmed that Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition will be available to download through the Nintendo eShop on May 11.

Minecraft’s Nintendo Switch Edition will come bundled with the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack, which transports your Minecraft experience to the Mushroom Kingdom:

Super Mario Mash-Up Pack Features

  • 40 Super Mario‐Themed Skins! Including Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach, as well as troublemakers like Bowser, Wario, and all seven Koopalings.
  • Super Mario World itself! Professional Minecraft builders have remade the likeness of the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond, with Mario‐themed versions of the Overworld, The Nether, and The End for you to explore.
  • So Many Mario‐Inspired Surprises to Discover! from islands shaped like Warp Pipes to towering sculptures of Nintendo’s iconic characters. We’ve recreated villainous hideouts, too: like Bowser’s Castle, Bowser’s ship, and Boo’s House.
  • And More! Super Mario‐style textures, numerous Mario‐themed puzzles, dozens of character skins, and music from Super Mario 64 to enjoy.

Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition will also include local multiplayer for up to four players (in TV Mode and Handheld Mode), as well as online multiplayer for up to eight.

A retail release for Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition is also in the works, and it’ll be available at a later date.

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Get a quick glimpse at a side-scrolling stage from Sonic Forces right here

Sonic the Hedgehog only got a few seconds to shine during yesterday’s Nintendo Direct presentation, but Sega delivered by showcasing a side-scrolling stage from Sonic Forces during that time.

If you’re more of a fan of “Classic Sonic,” don’t worry, the publisher used the remainder of their time to show off a little more gameplay from the retro-styled Sonic Mania.

Sonic Forces will be released this Fall, while Sonic Mania will be available exclusively as a digital download this Summer. Both games are in development for the Nintendo Switch, as well as the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

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

Splatoon 2 adds a wave-based Salmon Run mode when it launches on July 21

After last month’s Global Testfire, fans of the franchise were very curious if Splatoon 2 could live up to its status as a full-fledged sequel. Those fears were alleviated a tad during yesterday’s Nintendo Direct presentation, which introduced a co-op mode known as Salmon Run.

In Salmon Run, four Inklings will team up to battle wave after wave of Salmonids, a species of walking fish that have overtaken an abandoned oil rig. Defeated Salmonids drop Power Eggs and Golden Eggs, which can be exchanged for “Fresh” new equipment in Splatoon 2.

Nintendo also unveiled a second series of Amiibo figures for Splatoon. The Splatoon 2 Series, which will unlock specialized gear and “remember” your favorite outfits, will include new figures for the Inkling Boy, Inkling Girl, and Inkling Squid.

The consolemaker also announced that new details about the single-player campaign will be revealed during a future Direct presentation.

Finally, Nintendo confirmed that Splatoon 2 will be released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on July 21. The new Amiibo figures will be available on the same day.

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