Microsoft cancels Fable Legends and makes plans to close Lionhead Studios

Posted on March 7, 2016 by John Scalzo

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There are big changes happening at Microsoft Games Studios this morning.

After several starts and stops over the years, Microsoft has announced plans to cease development on Fable Legends. This announcement comes just a few months after developer Lionhead Studios delayed the free-to-play title’s launch from Late 2015 to Spring 2016. Sadly, it’s not just the end for Fable Legends, Microsoft is currently in discussions with representatives from Lionhead about the proposed closure of the studio.

Microsoft also confirmed that Press Play Studios, the team behind Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and Kalimba, will also close its doors. The Danish studio was working on a multiplayer survival game known as Project Knoxville, but it too will be canceled.

Microsoft released a statement about the closures through the Xbox Wire:

These have been tough decisions and we have not made them lightly, nor are they a reflection on these development teams – we are incredibly fortunate to have the talent, creativity and commitment of the people at these studios. The Lionhead Studios team has delighted millions of fans with the Fable series over the past decade. Press Play imbued the industry with a unique creative spirit behind games like Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and Kalimba, which both captured passionate fans. These changes are taking effect as Microsoft Studios continues to focus its investment and development on the games and franchises that fans find most exciting and want to play.

We wish everyone at Lionhead and Press Play the best of luck in the future.

Posted in News, PC, Xbox One | Tagged

Super Meat Boy will be available for the Wii U in “a couple of months”

Posted on March 7, 2016 by John Scalzo

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Tommy Refenes, one half of Team Meat, has confirmed that Super Meat Boy will be released for the Wii U in the next few months:

Super Meat Boy is an ultra-hard side-scrolling platformer that actually takes more than a few cues from the Super Mario Bros. series. It was originally released for the PC and Xbox 360 in 2010, before making its way to the PS4 and Vita last year. The Wii U port will be handled by BlitWorks, a team that has quite a bit of experience porting indie side-scrollers to new platforms.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged

Here’s your first look at Obduction, Cyan’s spiritual successor to Myst

Posted on March 6, 2016 by John Scalzo

Myst changed everything when it was released in 1993. The puzzle game popularized the first-person exploration genre, kickstarted the adoption of CD-ROM technology, and became the best-selling PC game of all time (a record it held for almost a decade). After creating a handful of sequels and an online-only spinoff, developer Cyan is working on a spiritual successor to Myst that’ll be available this June.

Obduction will take place on an alien world that is also home to a farmhouse from Kansas and other locales that properly belong on Earth. Somehow, these buildings have merged with this alien world, but by piecing together a series of clues, players might be able to return home.

The first teaser trailer for Obduction has been embedded above, but be warned, Cyan said it may include potential spoilers.

Posted in News, PC |

Paper Mario: Color Splash will be released for the Wii U in 2016

Posted on March 6, 2016 by John Scalzo

It looks like the rumors were true and Nintendo is planning to release a brand new Paper Mario game for the Wii U this year. In Paper Mario: Color Splash, players will travel to Prism Island, and attempt to restore the color that’s slowly draining from the world:

Prism Island is being drained of its color and it’s up to Paper Mario to stop it! Use Paper Mario’s paint hammer to splash paint on anything it hits and bring the color back to the island in this new action-adventure game.

Paper Mario: Color Splash will be released sometime in 2016, probably closer to the end of the year.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged

Kirby battles aliens with power armor in Kirby: Planet Robobot

Posted on March 6, 2016 by John Scalzo

Not a hoax! Not a dream! Kirby, Nintendo’s adorable pink puffball, is going to battle aliens and pilot a walking mech in his next game. Set to be released for the 3DS on June 10, Kirby: Planet Robobot is all too real:

Invaders have mechanized Dream Land. To restore his home to its original form, Kirby must use their technology against them with the new Robobot Armor. The Robobot Armor can even destroy a variety of obstacles in his way.

Kirby: Planet Robobot will support a wide variety of Amiibo figures, each of which will grant Kirby new copy abilities. A brand new Kirby series of Amiibo figures (featuring Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight, and Waddle Dee) will also be available. Finally, the game will include a four-player co-op mode known as “Team Kirby Clash.” Players will be able to select one of roles and battle it out with a series of bosses.

Power armor in a Kirby game… The only way this dream could be more beautiful is if Kirby: Planet Robobot is just a prelude to “Super Mario Warriors.”

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Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem will be released in US as Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE on June 24

Posted on March 6, 2016 by John Scalzo

Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem, which was released in Japan this past December as Genei Ibun Roku FE, finally has a North American release date… and a new name. Now known as Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE, the Atlus-developed RPG will be released for the Wii U on June 24.

Taking place in modern-day Japan, Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE combines the “deep RPG gameplay from an Atlus game and the adrenaline-fueled fun of a pop idol concert.” But there’s also monsters to slay and a world to save:

Slay monsters—and slay like a pop star—all at the same time, in this brand-new RPG from acclaimed developer Atlus. A sinister force from another dimension has invaded modern-day Tokyo, resulting in a fantastical barrage of style, fashion, music and, of course, danger. So play to your strengths in high-energy turn-based battles, then fuse items to craft powerful weapons and crush your foes. Around every corner you’ll find fan-service—including Fire Emblem references—original songs by Japanese entertainment giant Avex, dungeons themed after the entertainment industry and eye-catching music performances.

Nintendo and Atlus have decided to make exclusive use of Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE’s Japanese language track, and include English subtitles, for its North American release to stay true to the setting.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged

Tusk crushes his enemies in the latest Killer Instinct Season 3 trailer

Posted on March 6, 2016 by John Scalzo

Iron Galaxy has returned with another new trailer for Killer Instinct Season 3, this time focusing on the immortal barbarian Tusk. Last seen in 1996’s Killer Instinct 2, Tusk is still an homage to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Conan at his core, but the character’s voice actor also seems to be channeling Chris Hemsworth’s Thor.

Tusk will be part of the initial quartet of characters in Killer Instinct Season 3, which will be released for the PC and Xbox One on March 29. If you want a closer look at Tusk, developers from Iron Galaxy recently uploaded a 90-minute steam starring the character.

Posted in News, PC, Xbox One | Tagged

Weekly Warp-Up: Two More Publishers Drop Out of E3 2016…

Posted on March 6, 2016 by John Scalzo

No, that’s not a typo. Welcome to the Weekly Warp-Up, your weekly wrap-up of the biggest and the best articles posted at Warp Zoned this week…

Activision has decided to follow EA’s lead and drop out of this year’s E3 Expo. However, the megapublisher also announced a partnership with Sony and confirmed that Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty 2016 will make its public debut during the consolemaker’s E3 Press Conference.

Disney Interactive will also join Activision and EA on the sidelines because Disney Infinity 4.0 won’t be ready to go this Summer. Instead, the House of Mouse has announced plans to continue supporting Disney Infinity: Star Wars.

Elsewhere around Warp Zoned this week, we published a review of Tharsis, Choice Provisions’s survival board game. The staff also got together to talk about What We Played in February 2016 and The Games of March 2016.

More news from the past seven days can be found after the break.

Press Start to Continue →

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