Rumor: Nintendo’s NX system could be released as early as July 2016

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In March, Nintendo announced that information on their next hardware platform, currently codenamed NX, would be revealed in 2016. Since then, everyone has been trying to get the notoriously tight-lipped company to open up about the system. Even President Satoru Iwata isn’t immune, as he had to remind shareholders that he wouldn’t be discussing the NX multiple times during the company’s recent annual meeting.

Yesterday, DigiTimes went one better and revealed that Nintendo has asked their manufacturing partners to begin production on a pilot run of NX components beginning this October, “at the latest.” The outlet’s source believes that final orders will be placed early next year with mass production of the system set to begin by May or June. The source added that a July 2016 launch for the NX “may” be possible.

DigiTimes believes that Nintendo wants to ship 20 million NX systems in its first year of a availability, which would be more than any previous home console. This number seems like a rather high estimate as the Wii U has yet to reach that number after three years on the market.

The schedule sounds a bit insane to me (The Legend of Zelda Wii U might not even be out by July 2016), but if it is true, I trust that Nintendo knows what they’re doing.

Posted in News, Switch |

Donkey Kong and Bowser take center stage in this Skylanders SuperChargers trailer

Activision has released a new trailer for Skylanders SuperChargers that focuses on the game’s Nintendo-exclusive guest stars… “Turbo Charge Donkey Kong” and “Hammer Slam Bowser.”

Naturally, both characters will only be playable in Skylanders SuperChargers for the Wii U, Wii, and 3DS. However, that won’t stop Activision from releasing a Skylanders figure for both characters, which will be available exclusively in the game’s 3DS and Wii U Starter Packs. Bowser will be packaged with the 3DS version, while Donkey Kong will share a barrel with the Wii U version. Each figure will also include Amiibo functionality, as Nintendo has endorsed both figures (a switch on the bottom toggles the figure between Skylanders and Amiibo).

Skylanders SuperChargers will be released on September 20, and it’ll also be available for the iPad, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged ,

WB Games is preparing to release Batgirl DLC for Batman: Arkham Knight on July 14

batmanarkhamknight-batgirlWhile the PC version of Batman: Arkham Knight continues to be plagued by glitches and other assorted problems, WB Games is pressing ahead with the game’s DLC schedule and plans to release the Batgirl: A Matter of Family expansion in a few weeks:

Set prior to the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batgirl: A Matter of Family will allow players to take on the role of Batgirl for the first time in the Batman: Arkham franchise. This exciting story add-on features an all-new location with multiple missions, side quests and secrets; a new hacking feature to progress through the world and solve puzzles; and Dual Play functionality with Robin for dynamic take-down maneuvers.

Owners of Arkham Knight’s Season Pass will receive access to Batgirl: A Matter of Family on July 14. However, if you’d prefer to purchase the expansion on its own (for $6.99), you’ll have to wait until July 21. Naturally, the expansion will only be released for the PS4 and Xbox One as the PC version remains unavailable for purchase.

Batgirl: A Matter of Family was developed by WB Montreal, the same team behind Batman: Arkham Origins. This likely explains the speedy turnaround, and WB Games promised that all subsequent DLC additions to Arkham Knight will be developed by Rocksteady Studios.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

The Games of July 2015

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You can almost hear the tumbleweeds going by out there! There’s so little coming out in the month of July, which is for the best, as that Steam sale, and this great succession of amazing Wii U games, have really made us all broke. So let’s talk about what we think has potential coming out this July!

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Posted in Features, Top Story |

CoD: Advanced Warfare Supremacy Pack now available for PC, PS4, PS3

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Consider this your reminder that the Supremacy Pack is now available for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare on the PC, PS3, and PS4. Just like every other map pack, the Supremacy Pack will include four new maps for the game’s competitive multiplayer mode:

  • Parliament: Docked on the River Thames, this military cargo ship delivers a view of the London cityscape along with a fast-paced combat experience. Mixed site-lines provide opportunities for all styles of play to dominate this medium-sized map. Players can take control of the map-based scorestreak to unleash a barrage of missiles that annihilate enemies.
  • Kremlin: Gamers must prepare for intense combat outside Russia’s presidential palace in the new map Kremlin, as they navigate the worn-torn buildings of Red Square in this medium-sized, three-lane map. Secure elevated positions to give the team a strategic advantage, or use exoskeleton capabilities to avoid being caught in the minefield that activates mid-match.
  • Compound: Players take combat preparation to the limit in an Atlas training facility hidden away in the Colorado wilderness, as they’ll have to be quick on the trigger in this small, symmetrical map, which funnels high-speed combat through tight corners to the main tower structures.
  • Skyrise: Players deploy to an Atlas Skyscraper overlooking the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Based on the fan-favorite, Highrise, from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 by Infinity Ward, this map brings new exoskeleton mechanics to the classic multiplayer layout. Gamers must dominate the power positions in the center of this small-to-medium sized map to control the key navigation points.

The Supremacy Pack will also include the third episode of the Exo Zombies cooperative campaign… now with an expanded role for the man with Hollywood’s most impressive chin, Bruce Campbell.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’s final downloadable expansion, Reckoning, will likely be released in August (for Xbox players) and September (for PC/PlayStation players).

Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4 | Tagged

MKX: Predator will be available on July 7 for Kombat Pass players, July 14 for everyone else

After previously teasing The Predator’s Mortal Kombat X debut for this month, NetherRealm Studios is finally ready to announce when players will get a chance to play as the intergalactic hunter.

If you own the Mortal Kombat X Kombat Pass, The Predator will be available to download on Tuesday, July 7. In addition to the new character, Kombat Pass owners will also gain access to the Predator/Prey Pack, which includes new costumes for Jax (Carl Weathers as Dillon), Johnny Cage (Commando), and Scorpion (Infrared).

Mortal Kombat X players who wish to purchase The Predator or the Predator/Prey Pack on their own will have to wait until July 14. The Predator will be priced at $4.99, while the Predator/Prey Pack will be priced at $3.99. Both DLC items will be available together in a bundle for $7.99.

One more additional character for Mortal Kombat X remains and it’s likely Tremor will be released sometime this August.

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

Warpback: What We Played in June 2015

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We were all over the map this month here at Warp Zoned! While most of us were on our Wii Us getting our Nintendo on, some of us were also digging into some other games from our backlogs, or revisiting old favorites. Some of us have even discovered we are… gasp… mobile gamers! Read on to find out everything we played in the month of June.

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Posted in Features, Top Story |

Daily Scoop: July 2, 2015 – Almost the weekend!

There’s a nice long three-day weekend here in America starting tomorrow, thanks to the Fourth of July! We’re hopefully going to spend Saturday doing some grilling with friends, and also checking out some sweet fireworks. How will you be celebrating?

Leading Ladies 2 is the newest weekly bundle at Humble! Pay what you want for Trine 2: Complete Story, Lumino City, and Hack ‘n’ Slash. Beat the average to unlock A City Sleeps and The Marvellous Miss Take. Pay $12 or more to unlock Gravity Ghost and Sunset.

Over at Steam, the Weekend Deal is Anno 2070. You can pick it up for just $7.49, or get the complete edition for $9.99. The Daily Deal is Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas, which is on sale for just $7.49.

Let’s wrap this up with some t-shirts!

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Posted in Daily Scoop |