Red Dead Redemption 2 cowboys up as the best-selling game of 2018

Posted on January 23, 2019 by John Scalzo

A wise man once said, “When you have to shoot, shoot. Don’t talk.” And that’s exactly what Rockstar Games did with Red Dead Redemption 2.

The publisher’s western epic has been nine years in the making, and it blew away all expectations (and chased every other big release away from its October 26 launch date) as the best-selling game in November. Now, The NPD Group has revealed that it’s also the best-selling game for all of 2018.

Activision’s mighty Call of Duty franchise claimed the #2 spot with Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, and many of the other usual suspects can be found throughout the top ten including NBA 2K19 (#3), Madden NFL 19 (#4), Far Cry 5 (#7), and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey (#10).

It was also a good year all around for single-player games as Spider-Man (#6) and God of War both cracked the top ten. Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was also able to break into the top five (at #5) after only being on sale for a few weeks. Finally, the surprising success of Capcom’s Monster Hunter: World helped the latest entry in the franchise come in at #9.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, the NPD Group said that the entire game industry generated $16.7 billion in sales in 2018, a 13% increase over 2017. That includes a 33% increase for accessories, as a 7% increase for software, and 8% for hardware. On that note, the Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console of 2018.

The NPD’s Top 10 best-selling games for 2018 (in handy list format) can be found after the break.

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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate beats up the competition as the best-selling game from December 2018

Posted on January 23, 2019 by John Scalzo

Even though it’s one of Nintendo’s marquee properties, the Smash Bros. series has always drifted a bit below the radar of the average gamer. That is definitely no longer the case, as The NPD Group revealed the best-selling games from December 2018 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate absolutely blew away the competition.

In fact, the tracking firm told GamesIndustry.biz that Smash Bros. Ultimate had a record-setting debut, and set a new “Launch Month” sales record for a platform exclusive. More impressive, it set this record even though Nintendo doesn’t share digital sales data with The NPD Group.

With the gift-giving season in full swing, some of 2018’s biggest games populated the rest of the list. Red Dead Redemption II slid down to #2, and it was followed by Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (#3), Battlefield V (#4), and NBA 2K19 (#5).

Nintendo dominated the back half of the top ten, with three more titles on the list… Mario Kart 8 (#6), Super Mario Party (#8), and Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu (#9). Madden NFL 19 (#7) and Insomniac’s Spider-Man (#10) rounded out the top ten.

A complete look at The NPD Group’s list of the best-selling games from last month (in handy list format) can be found after the break.

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Yakuza Kiwami will be released for the PC on February 19

Posted on January 22, 2019 by John Scalzo

Sega has announced that they’ll bring Yakuza Kiwami, the enhanced and updated remake of the first game in the long-running series, to the PC on February 19:

Yakuza Kiwami, the franchise’s very first original title, tells the tale of Kazuma Kiryu, an up-and-coming yakuza who takes the fall for the murder of a crime boss, only to emerge from prison ten years later to a changed world. Take a trip through the twisted world of Japan’s criminal underground, where alliances will be tested, and blood will be shed. Players will encounter “extreme” battles, a wide range of minigames, refined side missions and lots of other fun distractions.

With enhanced gameplay, an expanded cinematic story, the return of thrilling battle styles and re-recorded audio by the series cast, Yakuza Kiwami is the ultimate version of the original vision of the series, now optimised for PC with 4K resolutions, uncapped framerates, and customisable controls.

Yakuza Kiwami will be available to download through Steam for $14.99. Fans who pre-order the game will receive a 10% discount and a Bonus Content Pack (a Digital Manga, Exclusive Wallpapers, and Avatars).

A new trailer promoting Yakuza Kiwami’s PC debut has been embedded above.

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New Retail Releases: Resident Evil 2, More

Posted on January 21, 2019 by John Scalzo

The Resident Evil franchise will rise again this week with the launch of Resident Evil 2 for the PS4 and Xbox One (it’ll also be available as a digital download for the PC). More than a simple re-release, Capcom has taken the already-popular second entry in the series and given it the full remake treatment. Players will be able to play through Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield’s fight for survival with a new “over-the-shoulder” camera and a modernized control scheme.

Also available this week is a pair of smaller re-releases that are bound for new platforms. Senran Kagura Burst ReNewal is a new Director’s Cut of the 2012 beat ’em up for the PS4. And The Raven Remastered is a point-and-click adventure game from 2013 that’ll be making its way to the Switch after a re-release on other platforms last year.

That’s it for now, but we’ll be back later this week with a look at every new game coming to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.

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Overkill’s The Walking Dead has been indefinitely postponed on PS4 and Xbox One

Posted on January 20, 2019 by John Scalzo

Overkill’s The Walking Dead, a team-based shooter set within Robert Kirkman’s vast comic universe, was originally released for the PC back in November. At the time, it was expected that a console launch would follow on the PS4 and Xbox One in February. But according to publisher Starbreeze, that’s no longer the plan.

In a press release, Starbreeze said they’re going to postpone the console launch for Overkill’s The Walking Dead:

Starbreeze is currently evaluating and reviewing the performance of the game Overkill’s The Walking Dead on consoles.

Starbreeze has decided to postpone the release date from its original February 2019 date, further information regarding the future release will be announced at a later date.

No new release date was given, but prospective players will receive further information on Overkill’s The Walking Dead future “at a later date.”

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Power Rangers: Battle For the Grid fighting game will be released this April

Posted on January 17, 2019 by John Scalzo

Today has been a big day for fighting game fans. Not only did NetherRealm Studios unveil the first details for Mortal Kombat 11, but nWay has announced they will release Power Rangers: Battle For the Grid for the PS4, Switch, and Xbox One this April. A PC launch will follow later in 2019.

According to nWay, Battle For the Grid will feature Rangers from multiple eras of the show, as well as an “easy to learn but hard to master” control scheme:

Power Ranger: Battle for the Grid is an easy to learn but hard to master fighting game that delivers a modern take on the Power Rangers franchise. The game features stunning graphics with vivid details and pits new and classic Rangers and villains against each other in team battles. Featuring a streamlined combat system, the game welcomes newcomers to the genre with simplified controls, while maintaining depth and detail for more intense and experienced competitors. Players will be challenged to test their skills online against friends and other players around the world, providing endless replayability. With new content and game modes releasing throughout the year, the game will continuously offer the community new ways to play and compete.

A special Digital Collector’s Edition of Power Rangers: Battle For the Grid will also be available for purchase, and it’ll include the full game, a Season One Pass, and two exclusive character skins (Lord Drakkon Evo II and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Pink Ranger).

The first trailer for Power Rangers: Battle For the Grid has been embedded above.

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NetherRealm officially reveals a ton of new trailers and information about Mortal Kombat 11

Posted on January 17, 2019 by John Scalzo

Today was the day. NetherRealm Studios officially pulled back the blood-soaked curtain on Mortal Kombat 11 in a massive livestream that featured a ton of new information and a handful of new trailers.

You might be disappointed if you were expecting something radically different from the eleventh game in the long-running series, but fans of the franchise got exactly what they wanted out of this first look at Mortal Kombat 11. That includes a “time-bending” new storyline that picks up directly where Mortal Kombat X left off, as well as a glimpse at some gruesome new Fatalities, seven confirmed kombatants (Baraka, Raiden, Skarlet, Scorpion, Sonya Blade, Sub-Zero, and new fighter Geras), and an Injustice-inspired Gear System:

The Story Mode [is an] all-new, time-bending narrative, featuring Kronika, the first female boss character in Mortal Kombat history, who is the Keeper of Time and creator of existence. New fighter Geras [is] a powerful and loyal servant of Kronika, who is able to manipulate time.

Mortal Kombat 11 will be released for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One on April 23. PS4 and Xbox One owners who pre-order the game will receive access to a Private Beta that begins on March 28, and players who pre-order the game on any platform will be able to play as Shao Kahn at launch.

Seven new trailers for Mortal Kombat 11 can be found after the break, including Reveal Trailers for Geras and Sonya Blade (who will be voiced by WWE’s Ronda Rousey), a Story Trailer, a Gameplay Trailer, a Fatalities Trailer, a walkthrough for the new Gear System, and a Behind-The-Scenes Trailer filmed at NetherRealm.

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Nintendo will drop the price of Super Mario Maker 3DS, Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, and Star Fox 64 3D on February 4

Posted on January 15, 2019 by John Scalzo

Nintendo has announced that three games for the 3DS will be getting a price cut on February 4. Super Mario Maker For Nintendo 3DS, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, and Star Fox 64 3D will all get a more wallet-friendly price of $19.99 as part of the consolemaker’s Nintendo Selects program:

In Super Mario Maker For Nintendo 3DS, build, play and share your own side-scrolling Super Mario levels using a wide variety of tools. Want to make your cannons shoot coins or have Bowser fly? With the intuitive touch-screen controls of the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, creating levels is easy and fun. Plus, you can take on 100 built-in courses as you tackle the Super Mario Challenge.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D brings Link’s classic adventure to Nintendo 3DS. This remastered and enhanced version features a cast of memorable characters, unforgettable gameplay and a dark and mysterious story. With control of time itself, Link must save the world of Termina from destruction by helping citizens, battling bosses and solving challenging puzzles.

Join ace pilot Fox McCloud in Star Fox 64 3D, an action-packed space shooter that puts you in the control of the classic Arwing ship as you blast, warp and barrel roll across space. Each mission in the game takes you through a different planet of the Lylat system as you face off against enemies, collect power-ups and fight powerful bosses on the way to the final battle against the evil Dr. Andross.

More than a dozen 3DS games are currently available through the Nintendo Selects program. You can find the full list at Nintendo’s official website.

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