Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- 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”
- GDC Awards: All the Winners from 1996 to Today
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wins “Game of the Year” at 2025-2026 GDC Awards
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: Xbox 360
New Releases: Fallout 4, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void, More
It is time. Bethesda is ready to open the Vault and unleash Fallout 4 on the world. The first-person RPG will be available for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and it’ll let players explore a post-apocalyptic New England and craft a new world to their heart’s content. And if that kind of openness and epicness doesn’t appeal to you, there’s always Super Mutants to shoot.
Bethesda has also partnered with Microsoft to offer a 1TB Xbox One + Fallout 4 Bundle in case you haven’t made your new-generation console decision yet.
Speaking of Microsoft, the consolemaker will also partner with Square Enix this week to exclusively launch Rise of the Tomb Raider for the Xbox One and Xbox 360. Lara Croft’s next adventure will eventually make its debut on the PC and PS4 in 2016, but for now, you’ll need to raid tombs and make insane archaeological discoveries on a Microsoft platform.
Stepping out of the past and rocketing into the future, this week will also see the release of Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void, the finale to Blizzard’s StarCraft II trilogy. Focusing on the Protoss, the standalone game will actually “unite the three races in the ultimate battle for survival against an ancient evil threatening all life in the universe.”
Finally this week, a pair of Wii U exclusives prove that Nintendo’s little corner of video gaming is still an interesting place to be. Nintendo themselves will publish Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival, a board game that is changed and shaped as Amiibo figures and Amiibo Cards are dropped into play. And NIS America will release Rodea: The Sky Soldier, another skybound adventure from Yuji Naka, the creator of Nights Into Dreams.
The complete list of this week’s new releases can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival, Fallout 4, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Rodea: The Sky Soldier, StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void
Xbox Store Today: Call of Duty Black Ops III
There’s just one new addition to the Xbox Games Store today, but it’s a big one as Activision has released Call of Duty: Black Ops III for the Xbox One and Xbox 360.
With the latest game in the long-running military simulation series, Treyarch decided to scale the game back on the Xbox 360, ultimately cutting the Campaign Mode from the last-gen version. The noirish “Shadows of Evil” Zombies Mode and Competitive Multiplayer are included on both platforms, but only the Xbox One edition will include the near-future Campaign involving augmented soldiers (and starring Stabler from Law & Order: SVU).
If you’ve completely tuned out on Call of Duty this year, an expanded description for both versions of the game, provided by Activision, can be found right here:
Xbox One Games
Call of Duty: Black Ops III ($59.99)
Call of Duty: Black Ops III combines three unique game modes: Campaign, Multiplayer and Zombies, providing fans with the deepest and most ambitious Call of Duty ever. The Campaign has been designed as a co-op game that can be played with up to four players online or as a solo cinematic thrill-ride. Multiplayer will be the franchise’s deepest, most rewarding and most engaging to date, with new ways to rank up, customize, and gear up for battle. And Zombies delivers an all-new mind-blowing experience with its own dedicated narrative. The title ushers in an unprecedented level of innovation, including jaw-dropping environments, never before experienced weaponry and abilities, and the introduction of a new, improved fluid movement system.Xbox One Games
Call of Duty: Black Ops III ($49.99)
Call of Duty: Black Ops III for Xbox 360 features two game modes only: Multiplayer and Zombies, providing fans with an expansive Multiplayer and an all-new film-noir inspired Zombies adventure. Multiplayer provides new ways to rank up, customize, and gear up for battle. Zombies delivers a full-experience experience with its own distinct storyline.
Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Activision will develop Call of Duty “cinematic universe” and Skylanders animated TV series
Activision is going to Hollywood! The megapublisher has announced the formation of Activision Blizzard Studios, a new film and television studio that will create content based on their most popular game franchises. Nick Van Dyk, a former executive at Disney, will co-lead the studio along another executive who will be named later.
Not surprisingly, the first project from the studio will be an animated television series based on the Skylanders range of games and toys. A premiere date wasn’t announced, but the series is alreadyy in production and Activision has lined up an impressive voice cast including Justin Long as Spyro, Ashley Tisdale as Stealth Elf, Jonathan Banks as Eruptor, and Norm MacDonald as Glumshanks. Eric Rogers, a writer best known for his work on Futurama, will serve as the showrunner.
Activision Blizzard Studios is also hard at work on laying the groundwork for a Call of Duty “cinematic universe,” which they hope to launch with “a series of Call of Duty feature films as well as the possibility of television adaptations.” It takes guts to promise multiple movies, a television series, and an interconnected cinematic universe.
Bobby Kotick, Activision’s CEO, is confident that his new division can make it work: “Activision Blizzard is home to some of the most successful entertainment franchises in history, across any medium [and we] intend to approach film and television development with the same unwavering commitment to excellence we are known for in game development.”
Posted in Etcetera, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Skylanders SuperChargers
Xbox Store Today: Need For Speed, Snoopy’s Grand Adventure, Barbie: Puppy Rescue
Three new games are now available through the Xbox Games Store…
- Need For Speed (Xbox One) is EA’s latest reboot of the long-running racing series. “Become the ultimate icon of today’s urban car culture” as you drive fast and look good doing it.
- Snoopy’s Grand Adventure (Xbox One, Xbox 360) is a side-scrolling game based on the beloved Peanuts character. Players will go on a journey in search of Charlie Brown and all his friends… and the Flying Ace just might make an appearance.
- Barbie and Her Sisters: Puppy Rescue (Xbox 360) is a game starring Barbie and all her sisters as they help a pound full of puppies find their “fur-ever” homes. I’m sure little girls everywhere will love it.
More information on all of these games can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Need For Speed, The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy's Grand Adventure
Rise of the Tomb Raider launch trailer includes Karen O’s theme song, “I Shall Rise”
Rise of the Tomb Raider will make its Xbox One and Xbox 360 debut next week, so now’s the perfect time for Microsoft and Square Enix to release the game’s launch trailer. The three-minute video is a deep dive into Lara Croft’s next adventure, which cribs from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade with its paternal quest for immortality (and a watery escape is borrowed wholesale from Temple of Doom). While they might feel familiar, the stunning environments that Lara visits should be enough to entice fans of the franchise.
However, if they’re not, the trailer is also soundtracked by Karen O, the lead singer of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. She told Rolling Stone that her song, “I Shall Rise,” is about the exact moment that Lara Croft: Young Archaeologist transforms into Lara Croft: Tomb Raider…
“It all sounded really tasty. They wanted drama and high-stakes and melodrama. That was very appealing to me because I love making music connected to a storyline. It was all stuff I loved like having the theme song to [Lara Croft] becoming an icon and the creation myth to the moment she becomes Lara.”
You can listen to “I Shall Rise” in its entirety after the break. (more…)
New Releases: Call of Duty Black Ops III, Need For Speed, Yo-Kai Watch, More
Are you ready to answer the call of duty? Right on schedule, Activision and Treyarch will release Call of Duty: Black Ops III for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One this week. Taking place in a near future where technologically-augmented soldiers form the backbone of modern war, the game will also be available for the PS3 and Xbox 360, though it won’t include the single-player Campaign Mode. Players in the market for a PS4 will also be able to pick up a 1 TB PS4 + Call of Duty: Black Ops III Bundle this week.
This week’s other major new release is Need For Speed, the latest entry in the long-running racing franchise. Developer Ghost Games considers the PS4 and Xbox One game a complete reboot of the series and has packed Need For Speed with five overlapping storylines and dozens of cars.
The kids will get their chance to play as well as Nintendo and Level-5 will release the Pokemon-like Yo-Kai Watch for the 3DS, while Little Orbit will launch Snoopy’s Grand Adventure for the 3DS, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
Finally, a number of games are getting special edition re-releases including Evolve: Ultimate Edition (PS4, Xbox One), Lords of the Fallen: Complete Edition (PS4, Xbox One), and Shovel Knight (3DS, PS4, Wii U).
A complete list of this week’s new releases can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Evolve, Lords of the Fallen, Need For Speed, Shovel Knight, The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy's Grand Adventure, Yo-Kai Watch
Xbox Store Today: Halo 5: Guardians, WWE 2K16, Divinity: Original Sin, more
Xbox One owners get ready… Halo 5: Guardians is finally here. According to Microsoft, “the Master Chief is missing and his loyalty questioned” in “the most dramatic Halo story to date.” The consolemaker has always tried to position Halo as a Star Wars for a new generation, but they also worked with a cadre of professional gamers to get the multiplayer portion just right. Will it all work out? We’ll have to find the Master Chief and ask him.
Also available this week is WWE 2K16, the latest professional wrestling sim from 2K Games. Featuring the biggest roster in the franchise’s history, WWE 2K16 for the Xbox One and Xbox 360 will also star “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and include an expanded and enhanced Create-A-Wrestler mode.
Speaking of expanded and enhanced things, Larian Studios will release Divinity: Original Sin – Enhanced Edition for the Xbox One. The classic-style RPG now includes splitscreen cooperative play and a brand new user interface. Oh, and there’s also new quests, combat styles, locations, and story sections. And speaking of the word “story,” Telltale Games continues Minecraft: Story Mode this week with Episode 2: Assembly Required for the Xbox One and Xbox 360.
More information about all of these games can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Divinity: Original Sin, Halo 5: Guardians, Minecraft: Story Mode, WWE 2K16
Call of Duty: Black Ops III’s launch trailer asks us to “Paint It Black”
Activision and Treyarch have more or less adopted “Paint It Black” as the official theme song of the Black Ops series. So it’s not a surprise to hear the Rolling Stones classic blasting in the background of the Call of Duty: Black Ops III launch trailer. The quick cuts and big action setpieces are worthy of any Summer blockbuster and it should keep fans of the franchise happy for another year.
While you can watch the launch trailer now, we’re still two weeks away from Call of Duty: Black Ops III’s actual release. Players will be able to get their hands on the game on November 6 for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. It’ll also be available for the PS3 and Xbox 360, however, last-gen players will have to make due with only competitive multiplayer and the “Shadows of Evil” Zombies Mode.