Most Recent: Xbox One

NetherRealm Studios adds Black Canary (and her Canary Cry) to Injustice 2

Posted on February 2, 2017 by John Scalzo

After listening to the cries of their fans, NetherRealm Studios has added Black Canary to Injustice 2 as a playable character.

The latest gameplay trailer for Injustice 2 gives us a pretty good look at Black Canary, and the comics character seems to have a very similar moveset to Mortal Kombat‘s Sonya Blade. In addition to a variety of flips and kicks (a few of which seem to really work the groin), Black Canary also deploys her famed Canary Cry to pummel her opponents with sound waves.

Injustice 2 will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One on May 16.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Madden NFL 17’s Super Bowl LI prediction picks the Patriots to win it all

Posted on February 2, 2017 by John Scalzo

The digital prognosticators at EA Sports have delivered their official Madden NFL 17 prediction for this year’s “Big Game.” It may not be the result everyone wants, but according to EA, the New England Patriots will defeat the Atlanta Falcons 27 to 24 in Super Bowl LI.

According to the simulation, the Patriots will trail the Falcons 24 to 20 with just a few seconds left on the clock. From an unenviable 4th and 4, and with no timeouts remaining, Tom Brady will drop back and hit Julian Edelman for the game-winning touchdown.

But before that bit of last-second magic, EA’s simulation of Super Bowl LI plays out pretty much how you’d expect. Atlanta’s running back committee of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman will each score a touchdown, while the always-impressive Julio Jones will add 89 receiving yards. But the Patriots will get the chance to spread the ball around and Brady’s pair of touchdown tosses to Dion Lewis and Chris Hogan (along with the game-winning score) will earn him the Super Bowl MVP trophy.

Is it likely that any of these controller-aided conclusions will come to pass on Sunday? Your guess is as good as mine, but EA’s Madden-powered Super Bowl prediction is usually a pretty accurate barometer of Super Bowl Sunday. Last year, Madden NFL 16 predicted the Carolina Panthers would win Super Bowl 50 in a nail-biter, but they actually lost a lopsided game to the Denver Broncos.

Patriots fans would probably rather look to the Madden NFL 15 simulation from two years ago, which perfectly predicted Super Bowl XLIX’s final score of 28-24.

Whatever happens, I’m sure the commercials will be good.

Posted in News, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged

EA Sports will release Madden NFL 18, FIFA 18, NHL 18, NBA Live 18, UFC 3 this year

Posted on February 2, 2017 by John Scalzo

There’s no need to panic… EA Sports will indeed release a full slate of sports simulations in 2017.

CEO Andrew Wilson shared the completely unsurprising news during EA’s quarterly financial report earlier this week, and he seems particularly proud of the enhancements planned for FIFA 18, including an expanded new storyline for “The Journey”:

FIFA 18 will build on the foundation we created with Story Mode this year, bringing players back to “The Journey” with Season 2, featuring new characters and new storylines. Our development team in Vancouver is delivering deeply innovative new experiences across this year’s game, including an Ultimate Team, and creating the most emotionally immersive and connected FIFA we have ever produced.

Wilson also announced that development of the Madden franchise will finally transition to the Frostbite Engine with Madden NFL 18:

Our Madden NFL franchise will transition to the Frostbite Engine with Madden NFL 18, unlocking major visual advancements and new gameplay experiences that will excite dedicated Madden players, football fans, and sports fans overall.

The executive closed the EA Sports portion of his report with confirmation that EA Sports UFC 3 is set to be released sometime in 2017, while NHL 18 and the “all new” NBA Live 18 will be released in the Fall.

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

BioWare will deliver the first entry in a brand new franchise in Early 2018

Posted on February 2, 2017 by John Scalzo

During EA’s quarterly financial report earlier this week, CEO Andrew Wilson gave investors and fans alike a sneak peek at the year ahead for the megapublisher, and he even peered out into 2018 for one brief moment.

After discussing Star Wars: Battlefront 2 and Need For Speed 2017, Wilson turned his attention to BioWare and confirmed that the developer’s next project after Mass Effect: Andromeda will be released in Early 2018. But rather than return to Dragon Age or Jade Empire, BioWare will release the first entry in a brand new franchise that’ll feature “new concepts, new game play mechanics, and new stories.” According to Wilson, the title will also include an “exhilarating” multiplayer component:

At the end of the fiscal year, our BioWare studio will be delivering an all new IP. A clean-sheet design with new concepts, new game play mechanics, and new stories, set in a unique new universe. This game has the potential to fundamentally disrupt the way people think about an action title, bringing friends together to play in an exhilarating new way. We’re very excited about the future of this new franchise and its ability to attract a large global audience.

Later, Wilson added that the game will have “greater action and greater adventure” than any of BioWare’s previous games, though it’ll also contain “the great RPG character development and storyline progression” that has become the developer’s trademark:

[BioWare’s next game is] action-adventure, not RPG. So, what we’re starting to see more and more in game genres is kind of genre melding, which is great components of a number of different genres really kind of coming together into single games. And so, when you think about this game, you should be thinking about the great RPG character development and storyline progression that BioWare is known for, but in a world of greater action and greater adventure, which is growing to be one of the larger categories in games. It will be a wholly-owned IP. We’re very excited about it, and we’ll share more in the year to come.

While BioWare’s next project remains unannounced as of today, it’s likely in development for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Expect to learn more about it during this year’s E3 Expo.

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

Women of Color In Video Games: A Much Needed Dialogue

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Brittney Williams

Have you ever heard of the “magical negro” trope? Perhaps you haven’t. How about the one regarding black women being “hypersexual?” No, haven’t heard of that trope either? Well, here’s the thing… you’ve definitely seen it, read it, digested it, but you might not have consciously absorbed it. Don’t feel too bad; most people don’t recognize it, either.

The fact that most people don’t see how offensive the portrayal of black and brown women in video games is, is exactly why commentary on this valid argument is so direly needed. (more…)

Posted in Mobile, Opinions, PC, PS3, PS4, Top Story, Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged , , ,

Xbox Store Today: Candleman, Subject 13, Kill the Bad Guy, Wells

Posted on February 1, 2017 by John Scalzo

Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but today’s additions to the Xbox Games Store all seem to feature heavily stylized worlds and characters…

First up is Candleman, a platformer where players control a candle who can burn for only ten seconds. Now available to download for the Xbox One, players will use this unique ability to explore Candleman’s and attempt to reach the distant light.

Also available to download this week is Subject 13, a new adventure game from Paul Cuisset, the creator of Flashback: The Quest for Identity and Fade to Black. Co-developed by Microids, Xbox One owners will take on the guise of Franklin Fargo, a teacher held against his will in an underground lab and referred to be his captors only as “Subject 13.” The black-and-white world of Kill the Bad Guy is equally unique, as Xbox One players plot to rid the world of “Bad Guys” through inventive assassin attempts and puzzle mechanics.

Finally today, Xbox One owners will get to explore a steampunk world in the side-scrolling shooter Wells.

You can learn more about these games after the break thanks to complete descriptions from the Xbox Games Store. (more…)

Posted in News, Xbox One |

Morrowind is coming to The Elder Scrolls Online in the next expansion

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Brittney Williams

Yes, you read that headline right… Morrowind is coming to The Elder Scrolls Online. Players will return to the island of Vvardenfell in the next expansion, while also exploring a new story arc and character class:

Morrowind is on the verge of destruction and it’s up to you to save it from a deadly Daedric threat. Embark on a dangerous journey through legendary locales, from the volcanic Ashlands to mushroom-filled forests. Dive into the murderous realm of Dunmer house politics and gain the trust of an elite assassin. Experience the beautiful world of Morrowind like never before.

  • New ESO Chapter: Return to Morrowind and begin an epic story arc in an all-new adventure
  • New Class: Harness nature-based magic to master a powerful new character class — The Warden
  • New Game Mode: Take the battle to the Ashlands and fight to the death in Battlegrounds, an all-new 4v4v4 PvP mode set in competitive arena-style environments

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is considered by some to be the best entry in the franchise. With its dark, gritty backdrop and the complex mechanics, why wouldn’t people love Morrowind? However, it’s been nearly 15 years since Morrowind first made its way to the PC and the original Xbox, and since then, the only dedicated Morrowind experience that fans have had was confined to an Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim expansion, Dragonborn, back in 2012. Fans have been begging for a return to Morrowind, and as Bethesda Softworks usually does, they’ve delivered.

So, how does this work? Current ESO players can add the Morrowind expansion to their current copy of The Elder Scrolls Online for $39.99, while newbies to the ESO universe can purchase the Standard Edition (which also includes the original game) for $59.99, or pick up the awesome Collector’s Edition (Digital: $79.99, Physical: $99.99). Both Collectors Editions will feature several in-game items including an Armored War Horse, Dwarven Spider Pet, Morag Tong Armor Converter, Gray War Bear, and Character Emotes. But opting for the physical Collector’s Edition will add an exclusive game case, map of Morrowind, Dwarven Colossus Statue, and Naryu’s Journal.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind arrives for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on June 6, 2017, but you can pre-order it now, and don’t forget to check out the Announcement Trailer above.

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

Next Need For Speed game is still on track for 2017 release

Posted on February 1, 2017 by John Scalzo

Almost a year ago, Ghost Games announced they were working on a brand new entry in the Need For Speed franchise, which would launch sometime in 2017. Yesterday, CEO Andrew Wilson offered an update on the game to fans and investors as part of EA’s quarterly financial report.

Wilson revealed that the currently untitled Need For Speed sequel will be released sometime between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018. He is also said that the team at Ghost Games is “pushing the boundaries of action driving”:

We’re also excited to have a new Need For Speed title launch in FY 2018. We’ve given the game an extended development cycle to focus on innovation, and the Need For Speed team is pushing the boundaries of action driving with what we believe is the most exciting and best looking Need For Speed game we’ve ever produced.

The next Need For Speed game will be Ghost Games’s second lap with the franchise, as they also produced 2015’s Need For Speed.

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