Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Angry Birds, Dragon Quest, FIFA Soccer, and Silent Hill are the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
- 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
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- Spore: An oral history – Design Room (2026)
- 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)
Most Recent: Xbox One
Sega will release Sonic Mania, a 2D Sonic game with remixed classic levels, in Spring 2017
While we already knew that Sonic Team would talk about their next Sonic game during this year’s Comic-Con convention, Sega had a surprise up their sleeve and also announced a second Sonic game set to debut in 2017.
Co-developed by Sega of America and Pagoda West, and with contributions from Christian Whitehead and Simon “Headcannon” Thomley, Sega Mania is a 2D side-scrolling Sonic game that’ll reimagine familiar levels from Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Sonic and Knuckles. But instead of going full remake, the developers will also create “completely new Zones with all-new Acts, and bosses” for Sonic Mania.
Running with its theme as a celebration of the entire Genesis era, Sonic Mania will also give players the chance to play as Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles.
“Sonic Mania was born out of our fans’ love of the classic Sonic 2D platform games,” said Takashi Iizuka, Head of Sonic Team. “This type of collaboration is a first for Sega and we hope everyone will be both surprised and delighted by this title. Sonic Mania has been a passion project for the entire team and we look forward to sharing more details about it later this year. Having the game actually playable at the event itself tonight was testament to the dedication of the team behind it.”
Sonic Mania will be released in Spring 2017 as a digital download for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One… though Comic-Con attendees will get to try it out this weekend. For the rest of us, the debut trailer embedded above will have to be enough.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Comic-Con 2016, Sonic Mania
Overwatch climbs to the top of the NPD’s list of best-selling games for June 2016
June is typically a slow period for new game releases, but The NPD Group’s look at last month’s best-selling games proves just how slow it was. According to tracking firm, consumer spending on games was down 20% from last year, when Batman: Arkham Knight launched to strong reviews and even stronger sales.
To make matters worse, the only new release to crack the top ten were Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens (#3) and Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst (#5). But that means the path to the top of the list was clear for Overwatch, which rode a wave of support from fans to become June 2016’s best-selling game. Grand Theft Auto V (#2) and Doom (#4) rounded out the top five.
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom in June, as NPD Analyst Liam Callahan told GamesIndustry.biz: “After 32 months since the launches of the PS4 and Xbox One, the combined cumulative hardware sales for these two consoles exceed the sales of [the PS3 and Xbox 360] by 40% at the same point in their lifecycles.”
However, the biggest news this month might be the new way that the NPD reports their monthly sales data. Provided a publisher supplies the numbers, the company has agreed to begin integrating digital sales into their monthly tally. Most publishers have already signed on, though Bethesda, Sony, and Mojang remain holdouts, and Blizzard has decided not to share sales data from Battle.net.
A complete look at last months top ten best-selling titles 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, Destiny, Doom (2016), Grand Theft Auto V, Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Minecraft, Mirror's Edge: Catalyst, NBA 2K16, NPD, Overwatch, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Life Is Strange’s first episode is now available to download for free
Dontnod Entertainment has announced that players who have yet to try out Life Is Strange can now download the first episode for free on the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
In case you missed it last year, Life Is Strange follows Max Caulfield, a teenage photographer who finds out she can reverse time after saving her best friend from a school shooter. But that one act could have apocalyptic consequences for everyone in her small town…
“Although our team set out to create an award-winning narrative we still cannot believe the response we’ve had from players of Life is Strange” said Oskar Guilbert, the CEO of Dontnod Entertainment. “We’re really glad that Square Enix have decided to give the first episode away for free so more players can begin their journey and see why people have fallen in love with the game for themselves.”
Life Is Strange’s near-universal critical acclaim, highlighted in the new trailer embedded above, eventually lead to several year-end awards including a Peabody Award, the “Games For Change” trophy at The Game Awards, the “Audience Award” at the GDC Awards, and “Best Story” at the BAFTAs.
Bandai Namco officially announces Pac-Man Championship Edition 2
Lace up those sneakers and get ready to compete for the Championship Edition once more, because Bandai Namco has announced that Pac-Man’s hypersonic spinoff series will receive a new entry this September.
Players will be able to use portals to zip around the mazes even faster in Pac-Man Championship Edition 2, and the massive Giant Ghost will add boss fights to the series for the first time. Even more new features are visible in the trailer embedded above, and in this short blurb direct from Bandai Namco:
Currently under development at Bandai Namco Studios Inc. in Tokyo, Japan; Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 features new eye-popping 3D mazes with unique visuals, a wide variety of dynamic mazes, the new ability to bump ghosts, and the addition of intense giant sized ghost boss battles. Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 will also build upon Pac-Man Championship Edition DX’s “Chain Eating” mechanics by enabling fans to build up to four ghost trains before chowing down for maximum chompage points. Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 returns with the fan favorite Score Attack mode where players need to gather as many points within a specified time and a new Adventure mode that will have players chasing fast moving fruit, battling big bad bosses, and experiencing fun new ways of playing Pac-Man.
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is in development for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and it’ll be available sometime this September. In the meantime, fans can visit the Bandai Namco booth (#129 in Hall A) at this weekend’s Comic-Con for their first chance to play the game before it launches.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Comic-Con 2016, Pac-Man Championship Edition 2
Xbox Store Today: Sword Coast Legends, Ninja Pizza Girl, 10 Second Ninja X, more
The Summer continues to soldier on and with another Wednesday comes another batch of new additions to the Xbox Games Store. Today, Xbox One owners will be able to go on an RPG adventure, and follow along as a pair of ninjas battle robots and… deliver pizza.
In Sword Coast Legends, players will be able to have a “shared storytelling experience” in a multiplayer game that allows one player to become the Dungeon Master in a special DM Mode.
Elsewhere on the Xbox Games Store today, Xbox One owners will be able to battle robots in 10 Second Ninja X, and deliver pizzas in Ninja Pizza Girl. Believe it or not, the Ninja Turtles aren’t involved in either game.
More details about all of these titles (and a few other new releases) can be found after the break. (more…)
Ubisoft will release Uno for the PC, PS4, Xbox One on August 9
Believe it or not, Uno was one of the first big hits for the Xbox 360. The classic card game was perfect for online play, and it’ll return to consoles and the PC this August as Ubisoft has announced plans to release a new version of the game.
Set to launch on August 9 for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One, Uno will include online multiplayer, themed decks, house rules, and video chat support:
Uno makes its return to consoles and PC with an assortment of exciting features such as added video chat support and an all new theme system which adds more fun to enjoy your Uno game!
Match cards either by matching color or value and play action cards to change things up. Race against others to empty your hand before everyone else in either Classic Play or customize your experience with a variety of House Rules and match settings to ensure you and your friends never play the same game twice!
Also, get ready to shake things up with new branded themes introducing never-before-seen Theme Cards that really change the way you play the game!
A few screenshots for Uno can be found at the game’s official website.
First Batman: The Telltale Series trailer reveals an August 2 launch date for Episode 1
As promised, Telltale Games has lit up the Bat Signal and unveiled the first trailer for Batman: The Telltale Series. We’ve also learned that Episode 1, Realm of Shadows, will be available to download for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and mobile devices on August 2.
Also making good on their promise to create a game that puts just as much focus on Bruce Wayne as it does on the Caped Crusader, the first trailer showcases how both sides of the superhero’s personality fight for the soul of Gotham:
Enter the fractured psyche of Bruce Wayne and discover the powerful and far-reaching consequences of your choices as the Dark Knight. In this gritty and violent new story from the award-winning creators of The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series, you’ll make discoveries that will shatter Bruce Wayne’s world, and the already fragile stability of a corrupt Gotham City.
Designed to resemble a “living, breathing comic book,” Batman: The Telltale Series will feature a huge case including Troy Baker as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Travis Willingham as Harvey Dent, Erin Yvette as Vicki Vale, Enn Reitel as Alfred Pennyworth, Murphy Guyer as Lieutenant James Gordon, Richard McGonagle as Carmine Falcone, and Laura Bailey as Catwoman/Selina Kyle
Rise of the Tomb Raider coming to PS4 on October 11 in 20 Year Celebration Edition; Bonus content also available on PC/Xbox One
Square Enix has been celebrating the 20th anniversary of Tomb Raider all year long, and it all culminates this October with the release of the Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration Edition for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
The 20 Year Celebration Edition will mark Rise of the Tomb Raider’s PS4 debut after last year’s PC/Xbox One exclusivity period, and it’ll give players a chance to dive into the sequel, along with all previously-released downloadable content, and a huge amount of new content. The 20 Year Celebration content starts with Blood Ties, a new Story chapter that allows players to explore Croft Manor, and Lara’s Nightmare, which pits the adventurer against a zombie invasion of her home. PlayStation VR owners will even get the chance to explore Croft Manor in a special first-person view.
In addition to new locales, players will be able to re-explore the main game in new ways, including an “Extreme Survivor” difficulty setting and a Co-Op Endurance Mode. “Extreme Survivor” will remove all Checkpoints from the game, while the Co-Op Endurance Mode gives two players the chance to raid tombs and survive the brutal wilderness together. Square Enix will also add five new in-game models to the 20 Year Celebration Edition for Lara based on some of her classic looks from the last two decades. Finally, players who pre-order Rise of the Tomb Raider’s 20 Year Celebration Edition will also receive a Limited Edition containing an exclusive Art Book.
But don’t worry, if you previously purchased Rise of the Tomb Raider for the PC or Xbox One, all of the 20 Year Celebration content (minus PlayStation VR support, obviously) will be available to download separately. And those who purchased the Season Pass on either platform will get everything for free.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Rise of the Tomb Raider