Sony Interactive Entertainment has debuted its first global spot for PlayStation which showcases some of the immersive gameplay that players will experience on the new PS5™console, launching Holiday 2020.
In the first global digital ad for the PS5 console, players will see the new console’s features come to life through a young woman’s eyes and her movements. It starts as she walks across a frozen lake, feeling the crack of ice at her feet. As the character senses danger, the sudden explosive reveal of the kraken from the icy surface showcases the haptic feedback sensation that can be felt from the DualSense™ wireless controller for the PS5 console.
Sound then comes from all directions as the central character reacts to everything she hears – whether it’s coming from the front, the side, above, or from behind her – showcasing the PS5 console’s Tempest 3D AudioTech. Closing out the spot – as the central character draws her bow – the tension of her bowstring is a sensation players will also feel, made possible through the DualSense wireless controller’s adaptive triggers.
Mary Je, Vice President of Global Marketing at SIE took to the PlayStation Blog to say, “We are quite excited about these features and we can’t wait for you all to get more immersed in the world of games with the PS5 console and DualSense wireless controller in your own hands.”
Sony Interactive Entertainment’s partners in the development community have been hard at work either creating or dreaming up the next generation of games. Head to the PlayStation Blog to read more as they share how the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback in the DualSense wireless controller is providing new game experiences on PS5™.
Watch the new ad for yourself here, otherwise, stay tuned for more news over the coming weeks.
Epic Games Store Exclusive 3 out of 10 Pivots to the Latest Trend in Episode 3, Out Today
Battle Royale Comes to Life in Latest Free Weekly Episode
BOSTON, MA — 20 August, 2020 —3 out of 10, the episodic playable sitcom about life at the world’s worst game development studio, repositions itself today with Episode 3 – “Pivot Like A Champion,” exclusively on the Epic Games Store for PC. New episodes of Season One release for free on Thursdays through 3 September.
Happy Halfway Through Development Day! The beleaguered devs at Shovelworks Studios inch closer than ever to completing their endless runner—with an end—but CEO Jeb has other plans. When Jeb says “Pivot,” Midge, Kevin, Pylon, and the gang are left to ask “How hard?” Without any guidance, the team is left with only one way to solve their gaming conflict: a Battle Royale!
In the Warzone of Shovelworks’ office complex, Victory Royale means proposing your idea to Jeb. Which Duo will be the Champion? How many Battle Royale references can one episode hold?!
Open Episode 3’s Supply Drop of new mini-games as 3 out of 10 turns its comedic stylings on new aspects of the industry. Test your drop skills with a stylish skydiving entrance. In first person, avoid the watchful eyes of Joan and her trademark night-vision trident goggles. Wield foam dart guns for third-person shooting from—wait for it—behind cover. Flex side-scrolling beat ‘em up skills with an enemy-tossing boss fight that will have you saying “Cowabunga!”
As Season One heats up, each weekly episode brings exciting changes to 3 out of 10’s unfolding world. Check out a fresh build of Surfing With Sharks, the studio’s work-in-progress game that changes weekly (but never for the better). Explore the ever-shifting office for new easter eggs, in-jokes, and satirical secrets. Witness new sides of Shovelwork’s lovably ridiculous team members as they fight to earn their first review score higher than a 3 out of 10.
“Working almost entirely in Unreal Engine 4—including rigging, animating, and editing the entire show!—allows us to stay very agile and make lots of week-to-week changes,” said Joe Mirabello, creative director for Terrible Posture Games. “Thankfully, we haven’t had to truly pivot yet, since people seem to like what we’re doing, but we anticipate player satisfaction and corporate profits plummeting with Season Three’s ill-conceived gritty reboot.”
Terrible Posture Games is an independent studio founded by veterans of game development on the idea that great talent is global, so studios should be completely remote. Responsible for the creation of Tower of Guns and co-development of MOTHERGUNSHIP, the studio aims to be a compassionate place for developers to grow and make fun things.
Hardspace: Shipbreaker Expands Steam Early Access Content With New Weekly Challenge Game Mode
PARIS – Aug. 20, 2020 – Blackbird Interactive and Focus Home Interactive’s acclaimed space sandbox salvaging game Hardspace: Shipbreaker, available now on Steam Early Access, has just added the new Weekly R.A.C.E. challenge mode, bringing even more replayability to this unique title. To hear more about this and other recent improvements, check out Blackbird Interactive’s latest Dev Vlog:
The Weekly R.A.C.E. offers up a special time-limited challenge, as salvagers across the world compete to extract the most value from a new ship each week. Players can vye for the top spots on this new mode’s dedicated leaderboard, accessible on the leaderboard website or through the official website.
Hardspace: Shipbreaker’s passionate community has proven to be hugely important in the game’s development throughout early access. Several fan-requested features have already made their way into the game since launch two months ago, including an Open Shift mode that allows for a more relaxed playstyle with no time or oxygen restrictions. Take a look at the game’s roadmap on Steam for a summary of what’s been added and what’s still to come — between new campaign acts, ships, tools and more, the adventure is far from over!
Hardspace: Shipbreaker is available now on Steam Early Access. The game is also in development for PlayStation®4 and Xbox One.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today launched the PlayStation® 4 closed beta for its action MMORPG free-to-play title, Bless Unleashed. Starting today and lasting until August 24, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. PDT, the PS4 closed beta will test performance for the upcoming PS4 launch later this year and give PS4 players an introduction to the world of Bless Unleashed. Players can choose from various classes and races as they acquire new skills and gear throughout their closed beta gameplay experience. In the realm of combat, players will experience Bless Unleashed’s unique combo system as they play solo or team-up with friends to defeat mighty bosses that will challenge even the mightiest of warriors.
Bless Unleashed takes place in the untamed world of Lumios, presents a rich backstory created with hardcore MMO players in mind, features deep combo-driven mechanics, player customization, and cooperative (PvE) and competitive (PvP) multiplayer. At launch, the land of Lumios featured 13 zones for players to explore and battle against countless foes within. There are seven powerful Field Bosses scattered across the wilds and 26 Elite Bosses who drop amazing rewards for those heroes who can defeat them. Additionally, there are six unique Dungeons to explore, enabling players to truly feel the dangers of Lumios. Players may also engage in battle across eight Arena Challenges and eight Lairs belonging to powerful foes who eagerly wait to dispatch unprepared adventurers. Developed using Unreal Engine 4, Bless Unleashed brings unparalleled visuals to a fully realized fantasy world, offering one of the most stunning MMORPGs developed specifically for console players. Players adventure across an open persistent world where mythical beasts roam the land and player vs. player battles can take place at any time.
For more information about Bless Unleashed, please visit: https://blessunleashed.com, follow us on Facebook at https://bandainam.co/BUfacebook, or join the conversation on Twitter at https://bandainam.co/BUtwitter
Get ready to team up with a friend or go head-to-head for some fun new gaming memories! Beginning now and running until Aug. 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can find great deals on select digital multiplayer* titles for the Nintendo Switch family of systems.
Games featured in the sale include multiplayer experiences like Luigi’s Mansion 3, 1-2–Switch, Burnout Paradise RemasteredandJust Dance 2020, among many others. Take a spooky tour through the ScreamPark with Luigi, host a hilarious cow-milking competition, burn some rubber on wild mountain roads or even hold an impromptu dance off set to a custom playlist! With so many different offerings, you’re sure to discover the next must-play game for you, your friends or your family.
The titles that are part of the Share the Fun Sale include the following:
Today, Crunchyroll is revealing a huge slate of guests, panels, and additional details on our first-ever Virtual Crunchyroll Expo.
Guests include Sofía Alexander, the creator of the upcoming “Onyx Equinox,” a huge lineup of guests for “The God of High School,” the director and voice actors for “Noblesse,” and Shusuke Katagiri, the producer of “Dr. STONE,” just to name a few.
V-CRX attendees can also expect a digital scavenger hunt for “Onyx Equinox,” Yuzu’s Cat Cafe, an anime rave, and a concert featuring Hatsune Miku.
Virtual Crunchyroll Expo Announces 14 Guests, Alongside Huge Roundup of Panels, Experiences, and More!
With only a little over two weeks left, Crunchyroll is announcing yet another wave of guests, panels, additional districts, and exciting fan activations at Virtual Crunchyroll Expo this year.
Fans will experience Virtual Crunchyroll Expo through New Crunchy City. The online platform will provide distinct destinations similar to what fans are used to seeing at conventions: panel, premieres, and screenings in the Theater District; fan activations and activities in the Super Arcade; artist alley where fans can purchase directly from each artist’s store in the Anime Arts District; and an exhibitor hall in the Central Shopping District.
The Crunchyroll Theater District will host premieres, panels, screenings, and some very special guests across four virtual stages including
Guests from Crunchyroll Original series including Sofía Alexander (Executive Producer and Show Creator, “Onyx Equinox”), Yasutaka Yamamoto (Director, “Noblesse”), Tarusuke Shingaki (Voice Actor, “Noblesse”), and Daisuke Hirakawa (Voice Actor, “Noblesse”),
An exclusive panel with the cast and crew of “The God of High School,” including Sunghoo Park (Director), Setta (Creative Designer), Tatsumaru Tachibana (Voice Actor, Jin Mori), and Manabu Akita (Character Designer). “The God of High School” musicians will also make a special appearance including KSUKE (from the anime’s opening sequence), and a special message from CIX (from the ending theme).
Additional special guests include panel discussions with Shusuke Katagiri (Producer, “Dr. STONE”), Myth & Roid (Musical Act), Rian Tachibana (Crunchyroll-Hime, Voice Actor), and Matt Schley (Writer & Host of “The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter” panel).
The finalists for Hime’s Cosplay Cup sponsored by Bokksu will compete for prizes on Saturday, September 5, and fans can look forward to what they bring to the competition.
The complete schedule for Virtual Crunchyroll Expo can be found here.
Fans can look forward to the New Crunchy City Super Arcade that will be home to content like the “Onyx Equinox” scavenger hunt, Yuzu Cat Café, exclusive art galleries, and more! The full list of activities coming to the Super Arcade include:
“Onyx Equinox” Scavenger Hunt: Fans can play on the Virtual Crunchyroll Expo app starting September 3 to win a year of Crunchyroll Premium or tickets to CRX 2021.
Gallery Tour featuring MAPPA: This will be an inside look at some Studio MAPPAs biggest hits, alongside behind-the-scenes commentary from Sunghoo Park (Director, “The God of High School”).
Anime Runs Deep: A Celebrity Fan Exhibit: Crunchyroll will share some anime-inspired interpretations of celebrities who a big anime fans like Idris Elba (Actor, “Thor” & “The Wire”), John Boyega (Actor, “Star Wars” sequel trilogy films), and LJ Collier (Athlete, Seattle Seahawks)
Yuzu’s Cat Cafe: A 24/7 live stream of kittens from The Kitten Academy where fans can donate or adopt a cat of their own.
Anime Rave: Each night of the show fans can listen to music from DJs on Twitch and dance the night away.
Virtual Schwag: There will be cosplay backgrounds, posters, as well as virtual item giveaways from some of our industry panels.
Quiet Rooms: A place for fans to unwind with laid-back music and see anime artwork from “Tower of God”, “Somali and the Forest Spirit,” and “Laid-Back Camp.”
Hatsune Miku Symphony Orchestra Concert: The Miku Symphony is celebrating its 5th anniversary with this special performance by vocaloid Miku Hatsune and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Fans can experience Virtual Crunchyroll Expo all weekend starting at 10 AM PT on Friday, September 4 until Sunday, September 6 at 10:00 PM PT. The live content will be uploaded to the V-CRX On-Demand section periodically throughout the weekend to ensure fans don’t miss anything.
Registration for V-CRX is open at crunchyrollexpo.com. The global anime community is encouraged to sign up for a free pass for this year’s event to catch all the action, announcements, guest panels, and more.
Virtual Crunchyroll Expo is a digital take on Crunchyroll’s yearly flagship convention that brings together the anime community to celebrate the best and brightest in Japanese animation. The event will be streaming from September 4-6 only on crunchyrollexpo.com.
Although the Battletoads first appeared in 1991 as an attempt to capitalize on the thriving market for humanoid animals fighting crime, they never really stuck around outside of their initial rise to fame since their last game ended up being an arcade release in 1994. Despite this, these three toads named after skin afflictions always had something of a place in video game culture and have risen once again to try and shine once more. With a fresh style of design and a new take on the characters as a whole, has this revitalization of the Battletoads been a success or a failed experiment?
Story
What do you do when a series has spent twenty six years languishing with only the internet and a 2015 game compilation keeping it alive? Well when it is revived you immediately take a shot at that fact of course. Rash, Zitz, and Pimple might have thought they were living the sweet life of fame after defeating the Dark Queen but it quickly turns out that their time in the spotlight was far different than what they had imagined. Instead now these action heroes now find themselves working standard jobs trying to make ends meet, and rather poorly at that.
Of course that is until Rash grows tired of it all and, through copying detective dramas, tries to reinvigorate the team to hunt down the Dark Queen once more and bring their names back into the spotlight and reclaim the fame they thought they once had. This style of self-deprecating humor and fourth wall breaking jokes quickly becomes something of a norm as the story quickly goes places that no one could have honestly imagined, even when it comes to a trio of toads capable of morphing body parts to attack enemies. Even if this style of humor isn’t up your ally, there is always something there for everyone outside of those looking for a super serious take on the group’s adventures.
While the initial reaction to the new cartoonish take on Battletoads may seem a bit rough, it is rather amazing to see how far the developers have actually managed to develop these characters and provide each of the three toads their own unique personalities all while giving some extra side-characters plus some returning faces for longtime fans some more exposure as well. With some great writing, the story surprisingly keeps things moving at a brisk pace that changes just as often as the genre of the game itself does. This means that, although the game itself may only be about four hours long depending on the difficulty the player plays at, the story itself easily could have been pushed beyond that point. Let us just hope that this new take on Battletoads isn’t the last time we’ll see this style of humor and writing for the toad trio.
Gameplay
When it comes to Battletoads players will find a rather strange blend of brawler, platformer, bullet-hell, and more as this entry takes the series to new heights in a variety of different ways that see the game move a bit beyond standard brawling combat, even if that brawling is still the bread and butter of the game. Players, when playing solo, will be able to swap between the three Toads on the fly with Pimple being the slow heavy hitter, Zitz being the faster combo building fighter, and Rash serving as the middle ground. All three of these characters share the same style of combos but unleash different types of attacks depending on who is being used at the time. There are the standard X strike combos, Y that serves as a launcher, and a special B move that can either deal tons of damage when worked into a combo or charged and used to smash an enemy’s guard.
This fluid combat works incredibly well as players can also dodge incoming projectiles with quick dashes, use the Toads’ long tongues to either grab and pull enemies or pull themselves toward a foe, shoot a wad of bubblegum to temporarily stun an enemy, and more. These aspects work great and it is a real blast how much action can be happening on screen at one time. It is a bit unfortunate however that the game only features local three player co-op and has no way of playing online with others.
Other than brawling against plenty of enemies, players will find that many other elements have been added into Battletoads as well, including the return of the infamous speeder bikes. Players will be tasked with taking part in platforming sections, simple hacking puzzles, bullet-hell style shooting, and more. This unique aspect allows for players to never really know what to expect when it comes to the game, as it is clearly willing to throw anything at the player to surprise them. That being said, the short length does end up playing a factor here in the end as many of these mini-game style sequences could easily have been expanded upon though even this is often used as a butt of a joke most of the time.
As for the franchise’s infamous difficulty level, Battletoads is no slouch should the player want to truly challenge their skills. There are three difficulty options that players can select when starting a save, Tadpole, Toad, and Battletoad which are fairly self explanatory and while the easy mode allows the game to be acessible to newcomers, even the normal difficulty may pose a challenge to many especially when it comes to the speeder bike levels as higher difficulties here increase the speed of the bikes though a fairly generous checkpoint system makes things bearable at least. Those looking for a real challenge will want to try Battletoad however be prepared for plenty of game over screens in this mode.
Visuals & Audio
When the new cartoonish art style was revealed for Battletoads many were concerned about the nature of the game but thankfully those concerns can be put to rest as this art style actually fits the tone of the series perfectly, especially with the way that the story has taken our Battletoad heroes. Between extremely fluid animations during combat that see the Toads’ morphing abilities look absolutely absurd while decimating foes that constantly vary in design from level to level to the fully animated and voiced cutscenses spread throughout the game, it truly feels like the developers were trying to capture the 90s cartoon style of edgy humor with a more modern aesthetic.
As mentioned before, the game features a fully voiced cast of characters that all speak frequently both during cutscenes as well as while fighting against enemies in the game. The voice work for the Toads fits their personalities perfectly while the enemies that players face off against are also voiced in a fittingly outlandish fashion.
Overall
When taking a franchise that has been beloved by many despite being mostly dead for nearly three decades, the way Battletoads was handled is probably the most correct approach possible. Sure, the short length and lack of online co-op is disappointing and those who prefer brawling only will also find the wide variety of stages not to their liking, however not only has this served as a reboot that has modernized the game’s brawling mechanics but it has also served as a way to develop personalities for all of the cast while delivering a humorous story that, while simple at its core, serves as a great starting point for what will hopefully be more games to come.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Focus Home Interactive & Rogue Factor’s tactical RPG emerges Sept. 8 on PlayStation®4, Xbox One & Steam
PARIS — Aug. 20, 2020 — Necromunda: Underhive Wars, Focus Home Interactive and Rogue Factor’s third-person tactical RPG, which represents the debut of Games Workshop’s renowned Necromunda IP in a video game, hits PlayStation®4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam on September 8. But you can learn everything there is to know about creating a gang and fighting in the Underhive in today’s new gameplay overview trailer!
Deep below the hive cities of Necromunda, build, customize and lead your gang in the twisted tunnels of the dystopian Underhive. Each fighter is a unique character, with a combination of traits, perks, careers, House, gear, skills, virtues and vices.
Combine fighters of different careers in interesting ways to best your enemies — bring your heavies to higher ground with Necromunda’s signature verticality and freedom of movement, then sabotage the ziplines so your enemies can’t follow. Control enemy movement with overlapping overwatch zones, then hit them where it hurts with brawling melee fighters. Bring it all to bear in three unique game modes — the story campaign, operations, and multi/single-player skirmishes.
MEI HATSUME, NOMU, PHOTO MODE, NEW PATCH NOTES AND MORE NOW AVAILABLE FOR MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced that a variety of new content is now available for MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2, including:
Playable character Mei Hatsume as paid DLC
Outlaw Suit Costumes and Mei Hatsume’s Cheer Outfit as paid DLC
Photo Mode as a free update to all players
Playable character Nomu as a free update to all players
Character balancing adjustments
To see how Mei Hatsume utilizes her Zoom Quirk to pinpoint enemy weaknesses, and then uses her Capture Gun, Electro Booster, and Wire Arrow to exploit those weaknesses
Players can separately unlock and purchase Mei Hatsume, Hawks, and the three upcoming DLC characters, or can gain instant access to each as they are released by purchasing the MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 Season Pass for $19.99.
Additionally, various character balancing adjustments have now been implemented into MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2. Full patch notes are available for review via the following link: bandainam.co/2FCnFVP
MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PCs via STEAM.
Circadian City Takes New Steam Early Access Job on Sept. 24
Nintendo Switch™, PC 1.0 Versions Dream Big in Q3 2021
ISTANBUL – Aug. 20, 2020 – Circadian City, the 24/7 life simulation about building relationships in the day to developing personality in surreal dreams at night from publisher Way Down Deep and developer Nowhere Studios, enters Steam Early Access for Windows PC on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. The Nintendo Switch version will arrive alongside the PC 1.0 launch in Q3 2021.
Join 3,000,000 citizens in the most free-minded city in the world. Build friendships based on mutual interests, making time to attend events at art galleries, enjoy concerts, or shop at farmer’s markets together. Friendships may deepen into love, with LGBTQ+ romantic options also available. Don’t take relationships for granted, though, as gifts only go so far and affection will fade unless nurtured by spending time together.
The difference between night and day is more literal than figurative. Outlandish dreamscapes feature farms and wilderness in contrast to the bustling city. Bizarre creatures roam, challenging dreamers to mini-games which provide rewards of crafting material. Use those and harvested ingredients to create items capable of shaping personality, making it easier to get ahead in life.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle, fulfilling daily needs of food, happiness, and social well-being to manage stress before laying down to rest, lest dreams become nightmares. Develop new and improved traits during sleep, becoming a more balanced person better able to connect with the people around you, then live your best life.
“Dreams are an important part of our lives, helping us process daily happenings and become better people,” said Burak Tezateser, founder and designer, Nowhere Studios. “With Circadian City, we wanted to be the first game to capture that loop, creating a life sim with a different perspective on what life is and what it can be.”
Circadian City Steam Early Access starts on Sept. 24 for 20% off the regular price of $11.99 USD, and will offer English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese (Brazilian), and Chinese (Simplified) support.
This boutique Texas publisher aims to bring to life non-violent games set in the real world based on love and life experiences.
About Nowhere Studios
Based out of Istanbul, Nowhere Studios is a diverse team of developers looking to change the world’s perception of games by creating stories conveying positive messages that can bring people together around a peaceful and inclusive culture.
