Tag Archives: Video Games

Life is Strange spiritual successor delayed to avoid Life is Strange sequel

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Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a brand-new game from the creators of Life is Strange. It's been described as a spiritual successor to that series and was previously scheduled to arrive in late 2024. However, publisher Don't Nod has opted to delay Lost Records: Bloom & Rage and release it in early 2025 instead.

In fact, the delay is in large part due to a new Life is Strange game from another studio. Life is Strange: Double Exposure marks the return of the original game's protagonist Max Caulfield. The sequel, from Square Enix and developer Deck Nine Games, is set to hit PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in October, with a Switch release planned for later.

Don't Nod says it wanted to give Lost Records: Bloom & Rage some breathing space to succeed following "an in-depth assessment of recent trends and developments in the industry." But a quote from CEO Oskar Guilbert makes the reasoning more explicit. "We know that many of our fans are eagerly awaiting this game, just as they are the recently announced next installment of Life is Strange," Guilbert said in a statement. "Let's give both titles the space they need to be enjoyed by our players within the large community we have built." 

While this update might be disappointing for those who were looking forward to Lost Records, it's a smart call. It gives fans plenty of time to experience both games without too much overlap. 

In the meantime, Don't Nod reckons that Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, a surprisingly emotional action RPG from earlier this year that I enjoyed quite a bit, will boost its bottom line, especially in the long term. It also released the thoughtful climbing puzzle game Jusant late last year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/life-is-strange-spiritual-successor-delayed-to-avoid-life-is-strange-sequel-124553471.html?src=rss

Ubisoft CEO says Assassin’s Creed remakes are in the works

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Older Assassin's Creed titles are about to get modern reimaginings, mostly likely with better graphics and other improvements for newer consoles and more powerful PCs. Yves Guillemot, the CEO of Ubisoft, has revealed in an interview on the company's website that Assassin's Creed remakes are in the works when he was asked what's next for the franchise. The remakes will allow the company to revisit and modernize older worlds it has created, he explained, telling the interviewer that "there are worlds in some of [its] older Assassin's Creed games that are still extremely rich."

Guillemot also said that Ubisoft's goal is to have Assassin's Creed games come out more regularly, "but not for it to be the same experience every year." The upcoming Assassin's Creed Hexe that's set during the witch trials in the Holy Roman Empire is "going to be a very different game from Assassin's Creed Shadows," he said. Shadows is set in Japan at the end of the Sengoku era and features real events and historical figures from that period, including feudal lord Oda Nobunaga. It will be available worldwide on November 15. 

While Guillemot didn't say which titles Ubisoft is remaking, Kotaku previously reported that it's working on a new version of Black Flag. The action-adventure game, which focuses on 18th century pirates, was released back in 2013 and was one of the most beloved entries in the franchise. Ubisoft is also expected to launch a new platform called "Animus hub" that players can use to launch and play games from the franchise on the same day Shadows drops. Animus hub, formerly known as Infinity, could be potentially be a store, as well, and if that's true, then it makes sense for Ubisoft to work on more AC releases that it can sell through the hub. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-ceo-says-assassins-creed-remakes-are-in-the-works-035852195.html?src=rss

‘Dead Rising’ is back with a new Deluxe Remaster

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Capcom announced a new remaster of its 2006 zombie smasher Dead Rising. The new update, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, is currently scheduled for a release this year on "the newest generation of platforms." We can assume that means at least the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X/S, though it may hit previous-gen consoles as well. Both Frank West and the Willamette Parkview Mall are looking great (although Frank seems to have a different voice in this version). This project looks like a big rebuild with completely redone assets, but we don't have any confirmation yet about the extent of the possible changes afoot. Check out the teaser above to see the differences.

This is the second time Capcom has overhauled the look of this fan-favorite title. It received an HD remaster in 2016 that marked the original's ten-year anniversary, with updates that brought Dead Rising, Dead Rising 2, and Dead Rising 2: Off the Record into the modern era to run at 1080p and 60 fps. But gaming hardware has made even more leaps forward since then, so the Deluxe Remaster could up the ante to 4K, or possibly add in some HDR so that those blood splatters look extra vivid. After all, Frank's a photographer. Gotta go for the best image quality.

It's been a quiet couple years from the Dead Rising team. After releasing DLC for Dead Rising 4, the only other big news was that Capcom had closed down the Capcom Vancouver studio responsible for the franchise. After weathering the layoffs that have been plaguing so much of the games business, it's heartening to see some care still being given to this goofy, campy series.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/dead-rising-is-back-with-a-new-deluxe-remaster-210535941.html?src=rss

‘Dead Rising’ is back with a new Deluxe Remaster

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Capcom announced a new remaster of its 2006 zombie smasher Dead Rising. The new update, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, is currently scheduled for a release this year on "the newest generation of platforms." We can assume that means at least the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X/S, though it may hit previous-gen consoles as well. Both Frank West and the Willamette Parkview Mall are looking great (although Frank seems to have a different voice in this version). This project looks like a big rebuild with completely redone assets, but we don't have any confirmation yet about the extent of the possible changes afoot. Check out the teaser above to see the differences.

This is the second time Capcom has overhauled the look of this fan-favorite title. It received an HD remaster in 2016 that marked the original's ten-year anniversary, with updates that brought Dead Rising, Dead Rising 2, and Dead Rising 2: Off the Record into the modern era to run at 1080p and 60 fps. But gaming hardware has made even more leaps forward since then, so the Deluxe Remaster could up the ante to 4K, or possibly add in some HDR so that those blood splatters look extra vivid. After all, Frank's a photographer. Gotta go for the best image quality.

It's been a quiet couple years from the Dead Rising team. After releasing DLC for Dead Rising 4, the only other big news was that Capcom had closed down the Capcom Vancouver studio responsible for the franchise. After weathering the layoffs that have been plaguing so much of the games business, it's heartening to see some care still being given to this goofy, campy series.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/dead-rising-is-back-with-a-new-deluxe-remaster-210535941.html?src=rss

Atari’s 50th anniversary collection is getting a hefty update with nearly 40 additional games

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Atari pretty much started this whole home console gaming thing with the 2600, a precursor to the NES. That console is 45 years old and Atari itself was formed well over 50 years ago. To originally commemorate its 50th birthday, the company released a robust collection of games called Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration. Now, it’s getting a hefty update with nearly 40 additional games, though Atari has yet to release a full list of the new titles.

This brings the total of games available with this collection to almost 130, derived from multiple home and portable consoles. Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition also adds two new timelines to the software. Basically, these timelines are interactive history lessons about the company, complete with video segments and playable games.

One of the timelines is a deep dive into the company’s history, called The Wider World of Atari. This features retrospectives into the classic arcade cabinet Berzerk, Pong creator Al Alcorn and artist Evelyn Seto, who designed the company’s iconic logo. The First Console War timeline gets into the battle between the Atari 2600 and the Intellivision, which was a prelude to Nintendo versus Sega. Incidentally, Atari just bought Intellivision, officially ending the rivalry.

The update rolls out this fall. It’ll also be the definitive version moving forward. For new buyers, Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition costs $40, with a Steelbook edition retailing for $50. It’ll be available on just about every platform, including the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X and PC. The physical Steelbook edition, which is just for the Switch and PS5, comes with art cards, arcade marquee signs, replica business cards and more. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ataris-50th-anniversary-collection-is-getting-a-hefty-update-with-nearly-40-additional-games-150827022.html?src=rss

Amazon is giving away 15 free video games ahead of Prime Day 2024, including Star Wars: KotOR 2

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Amazon Prime Day 2024 will be here next month, but the company has already pushed out its latest batch of free(ish) games that Prime members can snag right now (there are also a number of regular early Prime Day deals live today, too). In the run up to Prime Day on July 16 and 17, Prime members can grab 15 PC games at no extra cost, and there are actually some pretty groovy titles in the mix.

On July 11, you can scoop up Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 — The Sith Lords for the Amazon Games App. This sequel to one of the most beloved RPGs of all time is set five years after the events of the original game. It tells the tale of a Jedi Knight who was exiled from the Jedi Order, which the Sith has almost entirely eliminated by this point. You're tasked with finding the remaining Jedi to help you take on those on the dark side of The Force.

On the same day, you'll be able to claim Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge at no extra cost for the Epic Games Store. This arcade beat 'em up, a throwback to classics like Turtles in Time, is a blast, especially if you can persuade a few friends to pick it up and play co-op with you.

Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX (also available July 11 for the Epic Games Store) is a solid modern remake of the 1986 Master System original. I've heard good things about Card Shark (June 27, Epic Games Store) and Hitman Absolution (July 3, GOG) as well, but I've yet to check those out.

Let's jam through the rest of the latest Prime Gaming freebies, including details on where and when they'll be available:

Available now

  • Deceive Inc. (Epic Games Store)

  • Tearstone: Thieves of the Heart (Legacy Games code)

  • The Invisible Hand (Amazon Games App)

  • Call of Juarez (GOG)

Available June 27

  • Forager (GOG Code)

  • Heaven Dust 2 (Amazon Games App)

  • Soulstice (Epic Games Store)

Available July 3

  • Wall World (Amazon Games App)

  • Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood (GOG Code)

Available July 11

  • Samurai Bringer (Amazon Games App)

Amazon is promising more offers on Prime Day itself. The company gave Prime members a strong batch of extra freebies for last year's July shopping bonanza, including Prey, Baldur's Gate 2, Shovel Knight and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

There's a whole bunch of other titles you can snag from Prime Gaming at no extra cost right now too, such as The Lullaby of Life, Star Wars Battlefront 2 (the original 2005 one), Weird West, Genesis Noir and Everdream Valley. I just claimed MythForce, a first-person co-op dungeon crawler that's an ode to Saturday morning cartoons, since I've been meaning to check it out. At least based on the gameplay trailer, the vibes seem impeccable.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Amazon Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-is-giving-away-15-free-video-games-ahead-of-prime-day-2024-including-star-wars-kotor-2-124506410.html?src=rss

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Summer Game Fest Play Days 2024

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Summer Game Fest 2024 officially wrapped up on June 10, after a long weekend of game previews, developer interviews and unlimited cold brew — but we just published our final stories from the show this week (held under embargo, of course). Those were Mat Smith's impressions of Black Myth: Wukong and Tales of the Shire, and they capped off a month of juicy video game news out of the summer's biggest show.

No, Silksong did not make an appearance.

There were, however, plenty of bright and shiny games at the show, and many of them were available to play for the first time ever. Our hands-on and first-look stories include Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Astro Bot, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, Lego Horizon Adventures, Marvel Rivals, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Neva and Skate Story.

On top of the playable previews, Day of the Devs, Devolver, Xbox and Ubisoft held their own showcases brimming with new information and game reveals, and the big Summer Game Fest kickoff event was similarly stacked. Just to name a few of the hits: There's a new Doom with a medieval flair (and flail), Civilization VII is coming out in 2025, Slitterhead will land on November 8, Heart Machine is building a gorgeous-looking platformer called Possessor(s), and the Fable reboot is due out in 2025. There are also new Xbox Series consoles coming out this fall — and as it turns out, Microsoft's mid-cycle refresh says a lot about the Xbox hardware business as a whole, especially when compared to the company's internal roadmap that leaked in October 2022.

After E3 collapsed on itself like a sad soufflé, Summer Game Fest has emerged as the home of mid-year video game goodness, offering a little more room for smaller studios and plenty of space to grow. It's been four years of digital and physical Summer Game Fest events at this point, and the show just keeps getting better.

Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/take-a-behind-the-scenes-tour-of-summer-game-fest-play-days-2024-153009861.html?src=rss

Embracer Group plans to use AI in game development

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Embracer Group is making the move to using AI in game development following the mass layoff and game cancellations months ago. The parent company of THQ Nordic, Gearbox Entertainment and Crystal Dynamics - Eidos Montreal detailed in its annual report (via Game Developer) that it is adopting an AI policy to its game production model, despite the controversy around the use of AI in the games industry and beyond. It said that not using AI will lead to the company lagging behind other major game developers and publishers like EA, Sony, Square Enix and Ubisoft, claiming that the tech will help expedite the development process and give players an optimized gameplay experience.

“AI has the capability to massively enhance game development by increasing resource efficiency, adding intelligent behaviors, personalization, and optimization to gameplay experiences,” Embracer said in the report. “By leveraging AI, we create more engaging and immersive experiences that provide each player with a unique, dynamic and personalized experience.”

Along with listing the benefits of using AI in and outside of game development, Embracer said it understands that adopting the technology is not without risks. It noted that AI may “produce unethical, biased, discriminatory or completely wrong results if it has not been properly trained, instructed or used for purposes it was not designed.”

Embracer’s plans to adopt AI comes several months after it laid off 1,500 employees and canceled 80 games over the past year, along with shuttering studios like Volition of Saints Row fame. Despite concerns that AI will replace human workers, Embracer says it doesn’t intend to use it that way. It went so far as to say AI will open doors to entry into the games industry for some developers, including those with disabilities who can’t operate certain equipment the same way as non-disabled people. Only time will tell if they’ll keep that promise.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/embracer-group-plans-to-use-ai-in-game-development-163040373.html?src=rss

The Morning After: The biggest announcements from Nintendo Direct

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Nintendo sidestepped sharing the spotlight with all the other gaming companies at Summer Game Fest last week, promising its own Direct later in June. And that happened yesterday, teasing a lot of new games with Nintendo favorites. Mario games, yes. Zelda games, yes, and even a new Metroid game, confirmed. (More on that below the fold).

The funny thing is the new Zelda game is all about… Zelda. You play as the princess in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. It opens where most Zelda games finish, with Link defeating Ganon. But just as he frees Princess Zelda, our usual hero is sucked into an alternate dimension. The game is played top-down and borrows the art style of the Link’s Awakening remake. However, Zelda’s main weapon and tool is the trirod. With this, she can copy many items and use these “echoes” to navigate the world. You can even create echoes of monsters to fight for Zelda.

Nintendo’s 40-minute update also included release dates for the forthcoming Dragon Quest remake, a new Mario Party title and news that feline adventure Stray is coming to Switch.

Quick note: We're updating our newsletter distro, and we apologies for any formatting hiccups on the way. And if you're reading this on the site, why not sign up for this very newsletter? Subscribe right here!

— Mat Smith

Here are all of the just-announced Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X chips

Black Myth: Wukong is pretty, intriguing and as challenging as it looks

TMA
Engadget

The Solo Buds cover the basics, but that’s about it. Audio quality is flat, unless you’re listening to Dolby Atmos content in Apple Music, but at least the earbuds are comfy with long battery life. Then again, they only cost 80 bucks.

Continue reading.

Fisker has officially declared bankruptcy. The US-based startup filed for Chapter 11 protections and plans to restructure its debt and sell its assets. This means the Alaska EV with a designated cowboy hat space — not a joke — will likely never happen. Fisker revealed in a recent report that it had produced 10,193 units of its sole EV available, the Ocean SUV, in 2023, but only delivered 4,929 vehicles.

Continue reading.

Habbo Hotel: Origins, on Mac today, revives the 2005 PC game in all its nostalgic glory. If you never played Habbo Hotel 20 years ago, the game is an online community, in the format of, well, a hotel. Your avatar can chat with your friends in the virtual hotel lobby and spend in-game credits on furniture and accessories.

Continue reading.

After 18 years and a complete reboot, Samus Aran will return in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, next year. We got our first glimpse of the game too, with Samus duking it out with aliens in typical Metroid style. The teaser ends with the reveal of a new big bad. It’s wearing a suit like our hero but is flanked by two floating metroids. Ominous? Yes.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-the-biggest-announcements-from-nintendo-direct-111547910.html?src=rss

Super Mario Party Jamboree comes to Switch in October

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The newest title in the Mario Party series was revealed in this morning's Nintendo Direct stream: Super Mario Party Jamboree is rolling its way over to Nintendo Switch on October 17.

Super Mario Party Jamboree will feature 110 minigames and five new game boards that are part of a large island resort: Rainbow Galleria, Roll ‘Em Raceway, King Bowser’s Keep, Mega Wiggler’s Tree Party and Goomba Lagoon. Each board presents different gameplay mechanics and environmental hazards. For example, a lucky roll of the Turbo Dice allows you to move up to 40 spaces in Roll ‘Em Raceway, while the tide can change your route in Goomba Lagoon. Some minigames will have you shake the Joy-Con controllers, while others require you to tilt them.

To spice things up, Mario’s Rainbow Castle from Mario Party and Western Land from Mario Party 2 are being added as maps for fans to revisit. What’s more, up to 20 players can play with each other online in a new competitive racing mode called the Koopathlon.

Super Mario Party Jamboree will arrive just over six years since the last main entry in the series — Super Mario Party — and three years after Mario Party Superstars, which updated classic boards from the Nintendo 64 era. Those boards include Peach’s Birthday Cake and Space Land from the first two games, the former of which inspired the ice cream flavor Superstar Sprinkle Blast at Cold Stone Creamery in 2022.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/super-mario-party-jamboree-comes-to-switch-in-october-181055353.html?src=rss