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CRITICAL HIT GAMES AND PLAION ANNOUNCE NOBODY WANTS TO DIE 

Nobody Wants to Die coming to consoles and PC this year 

​​SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 13TH, 2024 – Critical Hit Games and PLAION are excited to announce Nobody Wants to Die, an interactive noir story set in a dystopian New York City that explores immortality and the dangers of transhumanism. Lose yourself in Nobody Wants to Die’s sci-fi world on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC later this year.   

WATCH THE CINEMATIC ANNOUNCE TRAILER HERE:

Nobody Wants to Die is an innovative experience taking place in futuristic New York City, inspired by neo-noir films, offering a distinctly visual aesthetic and intriguing plot. Playing as Detective James Karra you investigate crime scenes using time manipulation and advanced technology to uncover clues and unmask a killer in an era where death is a thing of the past.  

Utilising the power of Unreal Engine 5, Polish studio Critical Hit Games have pushed the boundaries of storytelling, combining realistic cinema graphics and a distinctly unique narrative experience to deliver a non-stop, immersive story to the player in their inaugural creation.   

​​​​​​​​​About Nobody Wants to Die:  

Lose yourself in the world of New York, 2329, where immortality is possible – for a price. Following a near-death experience, Detective James Karra takes an off-the-books case from his chief. With only the help of a young police liaison, Sara Kai, to assist him. Time reveals all as they risk everything in pursuit of a killer, uncovering the dark secrets of the city’s elite.  

FEATURES 

  • Welcome to New York, 2329: Experience a noir adventure in an alternate future of New York City in 2329; technology has advanced to offer humans eternal life, allowing consciousness to be stored in memory banks or transferred from one body to another. That is, if you can afford the subscription. 
  • Lead the Investigation: See through the eyes of Mortality Department Detective James Karra on his hunt for a serial killer who targets the city’s elite citizens. Investigate crime scenes using his time manipulation augmentation and advanced technology to reconstruct events leading up to each murder and uncover clues that lead to the horrifying truth behind the murders. 
  • Noir Immersion: Lose yourself in a dystopian future through this meaningful and original interactive detective story, that explores the dangers of transhumanism and immortality. In a world of eternal life and vanishing morality, you, a hardened detective, must navigate the lines of right and wrong in a society where death is a distant memory. 
  • A Stunning Narrative Adventure: Utilising the power of Unreal Engine 5, Nobody Wants to Die pushes the boundaries of storytelling, combining photorealistic graphics and a distinctly unique narrative experience. 

Nobody Wants to Die is launching in 2024 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC via ​​Steam. 

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​​​​​About Critical Hit Games: 

Critical Hit Games, established in Wroclaw, Poland in 2020, assembles a team of seasoned game developers whose collective expertise fuels their endeavours. Committed to crafting exceptional gaming experiences, the studio focuses on immersive and meaningful narratives, innovative gameplay mechanics, and cutting-edge visuals to deliver groundbreaking adventures on both PC and console platforms. “Nobody Wants to Die” represents the studio’s inaugural project, presenting an interactive noir story set in a dystopian New York City, exploring themes of immortality and the perils of transhumanism. 

About PLAION: 

PLAION is a dynamic and diversified business in the global entertainment sector, masterfully crafting franchises that captivate audiences worldwide. Boasting a vast network of eight game development studios, sixteen regional publishing offices, and PLAION PICTURES as an independent film publisher and distributor, the company extends its influence with merchandise production and expansive distribution capabilities across the globe. 

Founded nearly three decades ago, PLAION has firmly established itself within the entertainment arena. With a diverse range of services and solutions, PLAION stands as the premier publishing partner for console and PC games across both physical and digital channels. Moreover, its strong foothold in the Virtual Reality (VR) domain highlights the company’s commitment to varied gaming experiences. 

PLAION is an Embracer Group company. 

LITTLE CITIES: BIGGER! IS OUT NOW ON PLAYSTATION® VR2

The critically acclaimed city creator has arrived on PS VR2, packed with oodles of content for endless fuss-free fun! 

March 12th, 2024 – Purple Yonder and nDreams today released their VR city creator Little Cities: Bigger! on PlayStation VR2. The critically acclaimed title unites a slew of update content with gorgeous visual improvements so players can enjoy endless cosy creativity in its ultimate form! Little Cities: Bigger! harnesses the power of the PS VR2 to ramp up the relaxation with charming visuals in stunning 4K, a 120hz refresh rate, increased immersion with haptic feedback, and even some all-new Eye-Tracking shenanigans thrown in. 

Featuring over 18 months’ worth of content from the Meta Quest version of the game, Little Cities: Bigger! offers something for every type of creator – from a vibrant, multi-island campaign of uniquely rewarding creative challenges, to the boundless creative freedom of Sandbox Mode, where players can craft, sculpt, and finesse their dream islands from scratch. 

“We are so pleased to be working with nDreams once again to expand the world of Little Cities” said James Howard of Purple Yonder. “Bringing the game to PS VR2 is a huge accomplishment for us and we can’t wait for the game to be in the hands of new city creators! Being able to expand the Little Cities community and share so much lovingly crafted content is a privilege, and we can’t wait to see what PS VR2 players create.” 

Little Cities has been a true VR success story and we’re thrilled to bring its unique brand of wholesome city creation to PS VR2,” said David Corless, VP of Publishing at nDreams. “It’s been so rewarding to work alongside Purple Yonder from the start of Little Cities’ journey and we’re excited to see the game earn a whole new group of fans!”

About Little Cities

Developed by UK indie studio Purple Yonder and published by award-winning VR studio nDreams, Little Cities has become the most loved VR city creator since its release on Quest and Quest 2 in May 2022. The game has an average user rating of 4.6 on the Quest Store, making it one of the highest rated games in Quest history, plus a current score of 81 on tvrgamecritic, with critics particularly praising the game’s UI, accessibility and VR-first design.

About Purple Yonder

Purple Yonder is a new VR studio, based in Cambridge, UK. Founded by husband-and-wife team, James and Kelly Howard, Little Cities is Purple Yonder’s debut game. The studio is committed to creating captivating VR experiences, using their experience of working on AAA and indie titles to deliver compelling gameplay in VR. Follow Purple Yonder on X.

About nDreams

nDreams is a world-leading VR game developer and publisher headquartered in Farnborough, UK. They are the team behind hit titles Phantom: Covert Ops, Far Cry: Dive Into Insanity and Fracked, as well as publishing innovative VR games developed by the brightest indie talents including the cosy smash hit, Little Cities. 

Fully dedicated to VR games since 2013, no publisher has greater virtual reality experience and specialism. With the recent acquisition of Near Light, nDreams is now comprised of five internal development teams, across four studios: the original nDreams Studio, nDreams Studio Elevation, nDreams Studio Orbital and now Near Light.

With a $35 million investment from the Aonic Group in March 2022 and several exciting projects in development across our teams – including Synapse and Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord – nDreams has cemented its place at the forefront of VR gaming. 

Hotel Renovator is out now on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with a Five-Star Launch Trailer

PARIS Mar. 12, 2024 – Focus Entertainment and Two Horizons are thrilled to announce that Hotel Renovator, the simulation game where you design the hotel of your dreams, is now available to play on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Experience Hotel Renovator to the fullest with the Five Star Edition, which includes the base game, five Furniture Sets and two Room & Furniture Sets planned for release after launch. Make your hotel stand out with kawaii decoration, steampunk contraptions, futuristic furnishings and more!

Embark on your dream makeover journey

Unleash your inner designer in Sandbox Mode, or explore your grandfather’s past and continue his legacy in Story Mode. When you inherit a dilapidated hotel, it’s up to you to transform it from a shabby establishment to a thriving one with your sharp management and investment skills.

Start your business adventure now and embrace endless renovation possibilities with over 2,000 furniture items. Become an expert in interior architecture, decoration and hospitality, and transform your unique vision of home design and customer service into a 5-star business.

Hotel Renovator and the Five Star Edition are available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Sign up as a Focus member to get exclusive news and upcoming special offers for Hotel Renovator and the whole Focus catalog.

Who You Gonna Call? Discover Bubble Ghost Remake in The New Developer Gameplay Trailer

Join the dev team on a journey through the whimsical tale of an adorable little ghost and its bubble

Barcelona, Spain – 12th March, 2023. Global publisher and distributor Selecta Play invites you to join developer VIDIBOND in a brand-new developer gameplay trailer for the upcoming adventure platform-puzzle game Bubble Ghost Remake. Coming to PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch in 2024, Bubble Ghost Remake promises to breathe new life into the beloved classic, offering players an immersive and visually captivating experience. 

Watch as Fran Romguer – Music and sound design, Chema Esteo – Art director and 3D artist and Manu Scythe – Game and level designer walk you through the brand new trailer talking about some of the fantastic visual, audio and gameplay treats gamers can look forward to embarking on a nostalgic yet refreshingly modern journey through the haunted mansion, guided by the adorable little ghost and its bubble.

Watch the new developer gameplay trailer below:

In more exciting news, fans will soon be able to try the whimsical gameplay of Bubble Ghost Remake for themselves in the upcoming public demo for both Nintendo Switch and PC. Selecta Play will release more news on the release of these demos very soon. 

About Bubble Ghost Remake 

Guide a little ghost and his bubble through an enchanted mansion filled with dangers and thrilling challenges in this incredible remake of Bubble Ghost. Master levels of skill and clever puzzles as you unveil the story hidden behind the spirit of Heinrich Von Schinker. This remake of the game features a fresh new look and a myriad of new features (like new game modes, fierce bosses, collectibles, and many more surprises) that will captivate you for hours. Get ready to protect your bubble through the rooms of this mysterious castle… Will you uncover all its hidden secrets?

  • Enjoy an adventure with over 40 skilful levels and clever puzzles that promise hours of entertainment and challenge.
  • Dive into Story, Arcade, Challenge and Speed Run game modes or prove your worth and compete for a spot in the pantheon of “Bubble Ghost Remake” legends in the Hall of Fame. 
  • Fully revamped graphics and sound bring the magical world of the castle to life.
  • Unlock in-game achievements and compare your scores with the world’s best players.
  • Discover new hidden game modes, collectables, and secrets for an even more thrilling gameplay experience.

Bubble Ghost Remake will launch for PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch in 2024. Fans can Wishlist the game on Steam now and soon for Nintendo Switch. 

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About SelectaPlay

SelectaPlay is SelectaVisión’s video games publishing branch. The company works with talented studios on unique video games and helps them publish their titles in both physical and digital formats in Europe and worldwide.

About SelectaVisión

SelectaVisión is a video publishing company founded in 1984. Based in Spain, SelectaVisión’s catalog includes anime and live-action feature films, TV shows, and movies. Publishing both anime classics and the latest Japanese productions since 1997, SelectaVisión has built a long relationship with fan-favorite Japanese producers and distributors, becoming the major publisher of anime content for Spanish audiences. 

Street Fighter 6, Monster Hunter Stories, and Exoprimal Level Up at Capcom Highlights

London (March 12, 2024) – Capcom unveiled new details on a beastly combo of titles in its Capcom Highlights Day 2 video presentation. The broadcast unleashed the first look at Akuma ahead of his highly anticipated arrival in Street Fighter™ 6; tracked down when Monster Hunter Stories™ and Monster Hunter Stories™ 2: Wings of Ruin return on new platforms; and featured a dinosaur forecast for Exoprimal™ showcasing new modes, playable Exosuit variants, and a Mega Man™ series collaboration.

The full Capcom Highlights presentation is available to view on the official Capcom YouTube and Twitch channels.

The Wait is Almost Over… Akuma Hits the Streets in Spring 2024

The demonic Akuma joins the Street Fighter 6 roster and rounds out the list of the award-winning fighting game’s Year 1 characters when he hits the streets starting in spring 2024! Players can throw hands with Akuma across all three game modes, including Fighting Ground, World Tour, and Battle Hub. We look forward to sharing much more on Akuma soon. And stay tuned later this year for captivating announcements on Year 2 content and potentially even some fun events coming to the Battle Hub!

Don’t forget to also check out this month’s Mega Man-themed Fighting Pass in the Street Fighter 6 Battle Hub. There’s a ton of content and rewards related to everyone’s favorite robot to explore, including this month’s Street Voter event, where players can vote on their favorite Mega Man game.

Lastly, it was announced that at Capcom Cup XI, the epic conclusion for this year’s upcoming Capcom Pro Tour (CPT) season, will once again award a $1 million grand prize to the Grand Finals winner! Good luck to all the competitors from around the world who are ready to test their mettle throughout the CPT 2024 season. Street Fighter League (SFL): Pro-JP 2024 is also welcoming three new teams – Crazy Raccoon, FUKUSHIMA IBUSHIGIN, and Yogibo REJECT – making it the most jam-packed season yet with 12 teams vying for the title. The SFL JP 2024 season starts this July!

Street Fighter 6 is available now for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin Soar to New Platforms This June

Get ready for the return of Monsties, as Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin spread their wings onto new platforms this summer! The first entry in the series will bring its turn-based RPG action to Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam on June 14, 2024. The sequel, which is currently available for Nintendo Switch and PC, will also arrive on the same day for PlayStation 4.

Riders can expect an epic summer full of adventure with Monster Hunter Stories and its new features, including full Japanese and English voiceovers, seven new subtitle languages, a new Museum Mode that spans over 200 pieces of concept art, background music, and developer sketches, and title updates that were previously only available in Japan. Experience riding Monsties in stunning detail on larger screens, enhanced with refined modeling, textures, and lighting in high definition.

Riders can also partake in a new expedition with Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin,the thrilling second entry in the turn-based RPG series. Set in the expansive and dynamic world of Monster Hunter, players follow the footsteps of their grandfather Red, a legendary Rider, and ride Monsties with Ena, a Wyverian girl who has been entrusted with an egg with the potential to hatch into a Rathalos. This legendary monster holds immense power capable of wreaking havoc if its destructive abilities are unleashed. It’s up to players to test the bonds of friendship with Monsties and discover the hidden truths behind ancient legends.

Pre-orders for both titles will be available soon with special bonuses including Navirou’s King and Queen outfits for Monster Hunter Stories, as well as Ena’s Kamura Maiden outfit for Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin.

Exoprimal Summons New Modes, a Mega Man Collab, and More in April

Exoprimal Title Update 4 is preparing for dimensional integration on April 17, 2024. The dino-blasting action game’s latest free content expansion is summoning two new game modes and six additional Exosuit variants to wield in the wargames. The coming season will also include a collaboration with the Mega Man series, which will roll out a rockin’ new boss battle and Blue Bomber-themed cosmetics.

The fresh modes debuting in Title Update 4 include:

  • “Time Loop Rebellion” – In this co-op challenge mode, 10 players take on the game’s final boss, the Behemoth, in an even more powerful form. By achieving certain feats in this high difficulty mode, Exofighters can earn rewards, including golden “first class” Exosuit skins to display their combat mastery.
  • “Custom Match” – Players can create their own lobbies in this mode and select exactly which map and mission type they wish to play. These custom rooms can also be shared with players on different platforms, so friends can progress through the story in Dino Survival mode together and team up to take on Savage Gauntlet and Time Loop Rebellion. Custom Match also offers a new setting called “Quick Brawl,” which allows Exofighters to choose and jump straight into their favorite final missions – including those that are more PvP-focused.

Exoprimal Title Update 4 also introduces six shiny new Beta variant Exosuits, boosting the game’s playable roster to a total of 30, plus more modules and a mortar rig for further customization.

  • Zephyr Beta: Boost Claws
  • Vigilant Beta: Bowhunter
  • Krieger Beta: Blitz Cannon
  • Murasame Beta: Windcaller
  • Witchdoctor Beta: Plasma Shot
  • Nimbus Beta: Wild Bomb

Exoprimal is out now for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam. It is also available with Xbox Game Pass for console, PC, and Cloud.

About Capcom

Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices. Founded in 1983, the company has created hundreds of games, including groundbreaking franchises Resident Evil™, Monster Hunter™, Street Fighter™, Mega Man™, Devil May Cry™ and Ace Attorney™. Capcom maintains operations in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Tokyo, with corporate headquarters located in Osaka, Japan. More information about Capcom and its products can be found at www.capcom.com  or news.capcomusa.com.

Capcom, and the Capcom logo are registered trademarks of Capcom Co., Ltd. in the U.S. or other countries. Ace Attorney, Devil May Cry, Mega Man, Monster Hunter, Resident Evil and Street Fighter are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Capcom Co., Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries, in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

Contra: Operation Galuga – Gameplay

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The elite Contra unit may be used to taking on various military forces but when the organization hears that the Red Falcon terrorists are mobilizing on the Galuga Islands, the group finds themselves in for far more than they bargained for in Konami and WayForward’s complete re-imagining of the run-n-gun classic.

Contra: Operation Galuga – Story Mode Full Playthrough

The legendary Contra series returns! This reimagining of the classic run-‘n’-gun action game from the ‘80s features new stages, new enemies, new play mechanics, and co-op combat for up to 4 players!

Contra: Operation Galuga
Developer: WayForward
Publisher: KONAMI
Platform: Windows, PlayStation 5|4, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: 12th March, 2024

Available here – https://www.konami.com/games/contra/og/us/en/

Summary:

Recommended – Contra: Operation Galuga is a reimagining with fresh touches to gameplay and story to breathe new life into a series that fans have been dying for, yet brevity and limited co-op hold it back.”

Check out our review for Contra: Operation Galuga here!

Check out all the latest in the world of video games, anime, and entertainment at Capsule Computers:

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LEGO 2K Drive Announces Drive Pass Season 4 Available this Wednesday

Drive Pass Season 4 features 100 tiers, an all-new biome, new rewards, and more

Today, 2K and the LEGO Group announced that the fourth Drive Pass* Season is coming to LEGO 2K® Drive on March 13. In the free update, players can play through 100 tiers, with the ability to earn 21 free rewards including four vehicles, five brick packs, five drivers and more! Season 4 also introduces an entirely new biome and new game modes available to all players.   

  • Stargaze Summit – The icy mountain range and tundras of Stargaze Summit capture the majesty of the frozen north, but things will get extra cold when players start cruising through outer space in later races. As players explore this frigid expanse, they’ll find seven races, three challenges, and nine On-the-Go (OTG) events. Make sure to keep a lookout for hidden Herring Barrel collectibles while dashing through the snow!
  • Goal Karts Hockey -Players can take their custom ride to the ice, slam into a gigantic puck, and use teamwork to score in Goal Karts Hockey, a new 3v3 online multiplayer mode** that can also be played in 1v1 local split screen. It’s absolute chaos in the rink as both teams try to knock the colossal puck into the opposing goal, all while activating destructive Power-Ups that can blast the other team to bits.
  • Time Trial Races -Time Trial mode is a new way for players to test driving abilities as they strive for even faster times. In these races, it’s just the player and the track, so there won’t be any distractions while trying to beat their personal best. Players have the option to race against a Ghost of their best time as they continue to refine their route, and they can compete on the Leaderboards in an effort to overcome any friends who posted a faster time.
  • Special Flairs In The Garage -All players will also find new Special Flairs to collect and add to their collection in The Garage. Special Flairs have unique effects – like notifying players when they’re near a collectible item, or a full-on flamethrower that can melt other vehicles and the environment – and can only be used in single-player and non-competitive modes. Collect them all by completing Stargaze Summit’s races and add them to vehicles for some extra fun!

Those who purchase the Premium Drive Pass for Season 4, which is included in the Year 1 Drive Pass, will also have the ability to earn 84 Premium Rewards including nine new Vehicles and 10 new Drivers. Players can earn creations inspired by the all-new biome, Stargaze Summit, including new viking and sci-fi themed creations and more! With Premium Drive Pass Season 4, players can also take their creativity in the Garage to new heights with new Brick Packs, Stickers, Sounds, and Flairs.

There are no time limits for LEGO 2K Drive Seasons so players can pick up and play each Season at their own pace. The Premium Drive Pass for Season 4 is included in the Year 1 Drive Pass*, and is also available for individual purchase. Players who have been playing through the Free version of Season 4 and decide to upgrade to the Premium version of Drive Pass Season 4, will instantly unlock all the Premium Rewards they have earned based on their current level.

Online Account required to access online features. See www.take2games.com/legal and www.take2games.com/privacy for additional details.

Visual Concepts is a 2K studio. 2K is a wholly owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

* Drive Pass rewards require unlocking with gameplay. Premium Rewards are only available as part of the paid Premium Drive Pass. Season 4 of the Premium Drive Pass is available for individual purchase and included in the Year 1 Drive Pass. The Year 1 Drive Pass is included in the Awesome Edition and Awesome Rivals Edition and is available for individual purchase. Base Game, Internet Connection and 2K Account or 2K Child Account required.

** Crossplay not available on Nintendo Switch. Base Game, Internet Connection and 2K Account or 2K Child Account required. Online console play requires paid subscription.

©2024 Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. 2K and the 2K logo are trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Brick and Knob configuration and the Minifigure are trademarks and/or copyrights of the LEGO Group. ©2024 The LEGO Group. All other marks and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

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ANNOUNCING “OPEN” AN IMMERSIVE MULTI-GENRE METAVERSE, BATTLE ROYALE EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPMENT FOR PC AND CURRENT GEN PLATFORMS

OPEN, a multi-biome, multi-IP, multi-mode battle royale experience interoperable with globally recognized IP will set the stage for the future of gaming

Los Angeles, California and Stockholm, Sweden – March 11, 2024 – From recently announced publisher Readyverse Studios in partnership with developer Walker Labs, comes OPEN, the first AAA quality metaverse experience interoperable with AAA IP that leverages web3 technology. 

The third-person battle royale experience OPEN will be the hero experience in The Readyverse. The Readyverse is a next-gen immersive and interoperable platform for discovering metaverse games and experiences. A first glimpse of OPEN was debuted in a trailer today by Readyverse Studios Co-Founders at SXSW; below:

Enter OPEN’s immersive multiverse filled with nostalgia-infused biomes featuring characters and cultural legends across iconic franchises. Challengers embark on game-show styled, multi-round collaborative and competitive game modes, but only one hero can emerge victorious. Hone and showcase a vast array of gaming disciplines, where tactical positioning, sly movement, strategic shooting, and driving skills take center stage, as you join forces with worthy allies, plan together for strategic advantages, and engage in intense gameplay sessions.

OPEN derives its name from the principles that The Readyverse will champion including asset interoperability, digital ownership, decentralization and security. Among additional globally recognized IP, such as Reebok and DeLorean featured in the teaser, OPEN will feature a Ready Player One biome where fans can engage in competitive experiences born from the novel and film itself; including branded environments and skins. 

“We are incredibly proud to announce OPEN as our flagship experience in The Readyverse. Joining forces with Walker Labs to create a super-team of seasoned game developers from Epic Games, DICE, Microsoft, PlayStation, Mojang, Remedy, Ubisoft, Lucasfilm, Electronic Arts and more has allowed us to tackle the ambitious genre-defining challenge of building a AAA, MMO open metaverse experience worthy of iconic IP in a way that has never been done before,” said Readyverse Studios Co-Founders Aaron McDonald, Shara Senderoff, Ernest Cline and Dan Farah.

“With OPEN, our team of experienced game developers is passionately committed to bringing fan-favorite and original IP to life at highest fidelity,” said Wajhi Jafri, Executive Producer at Walker Labs. “As avid fans ourselves of the IP entering OPEN, especially Ready Player One which came to define the open metaverse for mainstream consumers, we understand the responsibility we have to satisfy gamers and enthusiasts, who have been dreaming of engaging in this type of world for a long time. In close collaboration with Ernest Cline, we’re busy crafting a memorable lore where players can immerse themselves for years to come.”

Readyverse Studios recently announced its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery to exclusively bring the Ready Player One franchise to the metaverse. Readyverse Studios is a first-of-its-kind studio co-founded by Futureverse Co-Founders Shara Senderoff and Aaron McDonald, as well as Ernest Cline, the best-selling novelist and renowned creator of the groundbreaking franchise Ready Player One and Dan Farah, Ready Player One film producer. 

OPEN is now in development for PC and current-generation platforms. For more information, check out the official OPEN website at visitopen.game, and follow @visitopen on X. 

About Readyverse Studios

Readyverse Studios is a first-of-its-kind next-gen technology and experience studio co-founded by Futureverse Co-Founders Shara Senderoff and Aaron McDonald, as well as Ernest Cline, the best-selling novelist and renowned creator of the groundbreaking franchise Ready Player One and Dan Farah, Ready Player One film producer. For more visit: readyverse.com

About Walker Labs

Walker Labs is a venture-backed videogame and next-gen web technology developer with a strategy to combine experienced AAA veterans with best in class web-tech developers to create never-seen-before experiences in gaming and digital social spaces. Walker Labs is a seasoned team of senior game developers that hail from Epic Games, DICE, Microsoft, PlayStation, Mojang, Remedy, Ubisoft, Lucasfilm, Electronic Arts and more. For more visit: walkerlabs.io

WARNER BROS. GAMES ANNOUNCES MULTIVERSUS WILL LAUNCH ON MAY 28

Warner Bros. Games have announced that MultiVersus, the free-to-play platform fighter videogame featuring an all-star cast of iconic characters, will officially launch on May 28, 2024. MultiVersus will release with a new PVE mode, more heroes and personalities added to the roster, additional stages based on reimagined universes and environments, first-class online play, improved visuals, and much more. MultiVersus will be available as a free download for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) with full cross-play and cross-progression support. 

View and share the MultiVersus – Official Launch Date Announcement feat. Tony Huynh, Game Director, Player First Games below:

Developed by Player First Games, MultiVersus features a strong emphasis on online cooperative gameplay that is complemented by an ever-expanding roster of popular characters based on Warner Bros. Discovery franchises, including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, and Black Adam (DC); Shaggy and Velma (Scooby-Doo); Bugs Bunny, Tasmanian Devil a.k.a. Taz, and Marvin the Martian (Looney Tunes); Arya Stark (Game of Thrones); Tom & Jerry (Tom and Jerry); Finn the Human and Jake the Dog (Adventure Time); Steven Universe and Garnet (Steven Universe); Iron Giant (The Iron Giant), LeBron James (Space Jam: A New Legacy); Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith (Rick and Morty); Gizmo and Stripe (Gremlins); and an extraordinary original creature named Reindog

For additional information, visit MultiVersus.com or join the community conversation on Twitter/X (@MultiVersus), YouTube (MultiVersus), Instagram (MultiVersusGame), Facebook (MultiVersus), and Discord (MultiVersus). 

MULTIVERSUS software © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Developed by Player First Games. All DC characters and related elements are trademarks of DC © 2024. ADVENTURE TIME, STEVEN UNIVERSE, RICK AND MORTY and all related characters and elements © & ™ Cartoon Network. TOM AND JERRY, SCOOBY-DOO and all related characters and elements © & ™ Turner Entertainment Co. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. GAME OF THRONES and all related characters and elements © & ™ Home Box Office, Inc. GREMLINS, LOONEY TUNES, SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WARNER BROS. GAMES LOGO, WB SHIELD: ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s24) 

Contra: Operation Galuga Review

Contra: Operation Galuga

Developer: WayForward
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S (Reviewed)
Release Date: March 12, 2024
Price: $39.99 USD – Available Here

Overview

The Contra series used to be one of Konami’s familiar workhorses that the publisher could trot out to excite fans with some new stylistic take on the run-and-gun formula that made it so popular since the late 1980s but that hasn’t been the case in quite a few years. Following a strange choice made back in 2019’s Contra: Rogue Corps, the series has remained dormant with Konami finally turning to a familiar developer to work on an entirely new reimagining of the original game. WayForward isn’t entirely new to the series, as they produced Contra 4 back in 2007 and offered a few unique takes on the formula despite the DS’ limitations, so now that they have a full console to work with and seemingly free reign to take Contra wherever they feel like, how has Contra: Operation Galuga turned out?

Story

Six months after a meteor shower strikes the Galuga islands Bill Rizer and Lance Bean have been tasked as members of Contra to investigate the terrorist group called Red Falcon that has begun making strange movements on the isolated island, movements that coincide with world-threatening gravity readings. After blasting away at countless enemy soldiers with a few strange events along the way, the pair encounter a surviving native from the island named Ariana who warns the group that the Red Falcons are not seemingly in control anymore and that a far more dangerous force seems to be leading the once human terrorist organization. Soon, this threat becomes reality as the Contra forces begin to face off against an alien threat mixed with some human soldiers still in the mix, only to learn that their true objective lies deep within the heart of the Galuga islands.

When it comes to storytelling, Contra games tend to be on the thin to non-existent side of things so it is nice to see that WayForward was given wriggle room to work with here as Contra: Operation Galuga basically reworks the entire beginning of the franchise as a whole while introducing a couple of new characters along the way and even establishing the origins of a few other characters at the same time that ended up appearing in later entries in the franchise, including Hard Corps. Now the only place this story is told at all is during the story mode gameplay as arcade mode simply removes all dialogue with players running straight through levels and fighting bosses right away, while the story often features pauses in gameplay that see the characters talking to either their allies at HQ, the enemy boss they are about to fight, or even each other while trying to expand on the lore of the series, or establish some at all.

It is nice to note that players are given a bit of incentive to replay through the story mode, or at least certain stages, besides simply obtaining points which we will go over a bit later. That is because playing through story mode is the only way to unlock additional playable characters outside of Bill and Lance for the game’s other mode, as Arcade initially only offers the pair and their easter egg replacements in overseas versions, the red and blue Probotectors. Playing through the storyline eventually unlocks Ariana, the familiar Lucia who features an entirely new role this time, and even an armored fighter named Ironsides. Playing through levels in story mode as some of these new unlockable characters does provide new unique dialogue from some boss encounters and character interactions which is a nice touch. It is also worth noting that anyone that is a fan of Contra’s long history of games and spin-offs will adore what the game does with some of the characters that have already been established in older games, making us wonder just where Wayforward and Konami can go from here with these developments especially since this entry is fairly short, clocking in at under an hour and a half with all cutscenes and some extra failures here and there.

Gameplay

Players will be presented with three different game modes when starting Contra: Operation Galuga with these modes being the aforementioned Story Mode alongside Arcade mode and Challenge mode. Arcade Mode will be where players who want to make the most out of the co-op function go as that allows for up to four players to run-and-gun alongside each other while story mode limits things to only two players. Strangely enough, there is no online co-op of any kind, not even with friends. The only way to play co-op is through local play which is a nice offering, but feels strangely lacking. Challenge Mode features a wide array of objectives to complete within certain limits, such as never firing your gun, only using one type of weapon, speed running a stage, never getting hit, etc. and rewards extra points and unlocks additional Challenges when completed.

Now, Contra is the game that started the famous “Konami Code” (which still works) in an effort to make things easier for players in the original game and players can heavily customize their challenge level here as well. In both Story and Arcade modes players can select from three difficulty levels and even choose to play the classic 1-hit kill mode or the more modern HP bar system that allows for players to take a few extra hits before losing a life. To add to this level of customization, each player can also equip up to two perks to their chosen character at the selection screen. These perks can be purchased using points earned simply by playing the game, with bonuses coming for completing a full run or multiple stages in a row without restarting, and can include things such as extra overall lives, bonus HP, starting with certain weapons, etc. Players can choose to simply not do any of these things and make things as hard as they want to or load up the perks to make things a bit simpler.

Contra: Operation Galuga still plays in a way that many fans of the franchise are familiar with, enemies will shoot at the player character’s and fill the screen with bullets while the player does the same, all while trying to avoid incoming fire and progressing through a stage and taking on a boss at the end. Along the way players will pick up power-ups that include all of the classics such as Laser, Flamer, Homing, Spread, etc. but a few tweaks have been made to the formula besides the aforementioned difficulty options. Players can choose to have the ability to aim in any direction or be limited to classic style in options and can still stand still to aim as they please with a press of the trigger but what is perhaps the most unique element here comes from the fact that each character now has two weapon upgrade slots and can swap between them on the fly. This also includes the ability to power-up a weapon by picking up an extra version of itself, such as increasing the amount of homing rockets or range of the flamer. Along these same lines, players can now make use of a special power attack unique to each weapon by sacrificing it through Overload. This ability varies depending on the weapon but often triggers a massive barrage, a shield, or even moments of invulnerability. This is highly useful since, upon death, players will lose their current weapon anyways.

Some classic levels still feel the same as always while others have been given complete overhauls to work better with new systems and the newly established characters and lore. It is worth noting that both Bill and Lance control the same way with the ability to double-jump and even dash a little to avoid incoming fire but the other playable characters do have unique abilities of their very own, including variations of certain weapons. Ariana has the ability to slide and dive during jumps and one variation of her weaponry involves throwing grenades instead while Lucia cannot double jump at all but can make use of her grappling hook to reach climbable surfaces and has a chargeable spread shot variant. This lends some new playability to trying out each character and seeing who fits best for the player, but it also does mean that some simply play a bit better than others depending on the stage.

Now as mentioned before, it is worth noting that there is a Perk Shop in the game. As players advance through either Story or Arcade Mode they will gain points and can use them to purchase perks, many of which are mentioned earlier. The thing is, some of the most unique perks happen to involve either extra BGM from classic Konami series, a speed-running mode, and additional characters that are nearly the most expensive unlock available. While players will be able to obtain points at a fairly quick pace, especially when they get the hang of the stages and use perks to help them out, unlocking some of these bonuses is a bit of a slog, especially given the game’s lack of online multiplayer options.

Audio & Visuals

Contra: Operation Galuga offers a solid amount of variety between its eight different stages with players being able to quickly traverse locations should they please or annihilate everything in their path, though a few occasions do call for expedience. The 3D models of the characters and enemies on the 2D stages look decent enough, especially on faster moving stages where a lot is happening at once, unfortunately the actual character models are a bit too simplistic looking most of the time. Sure, everyone expects the Contra characters to be buff muscular guys but even the newcomers and easter egg characters could be more impressively designed. It is nice to note that, playing on the Xbox Series X, saw no slowdown in any way even when absolutely filling the screen with as much firepower as possible during the largest boss battles, so this level of smoothness is appreciated.

The game features some solid voice work for the game’s story mode with the voice actors handling their characters decently, though it is worth noting that a lot of these characters also happen to only ever appear in story scenes that are unfortunately a bit cheap in production. Some are full blown CGI looking scenes while others are comic book style and a few are barely above a standard visual novel presentation of dialogue. As for the soundtrack it is nice to say that the game features a wonderful collection of background music both new and old as well as the option to purchase a wide-array of classic tracks from other Konami properties in the Perk store.

Overall

WayForward and Konami have come together to create a Contra game that literally seems like a perfect “way forward” for the series to continue from this point on. By establishing a solid albeit short storyline filled with easter eggs for longtime fans and hinting at more developments in the future, Contra: Operation Galuga’s wonderfully refined run-and-gun gameplay is as enjoyable as ever with players having a wide-array of customization options that can make the game as punishing as they wish while leaving the door open for those simply looking to dip their toes into the series and look to get better for what will hopefully be more Contra games in the future, though hopefully these will feature some form of online multiplayer.

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