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Most Recent: Mobile
Blizzard announces Diablo Immortal for mobile devices at BlizzCon
It’s BlizzCon time, and Blizzard has used their annual convention to announce a rather unexpected new entry in the Diablo franchise. We all know that Diablo IV is in the works (the developer more or less confirmed the existence of a new numbered sequel back in August), but Blizzard threw us a curveball today with the announcement of Diablo Immortal for mobile devices.
In development at NetEase, Diablo Immortal is described as a “Mobile Massively Multiplayer Online Action Role-Playing Game” (or MMMOARPG for short), and players will be able to join the fight against evil as a Barbarian, Crusader, Demon Hunter, Monk, Necromancer, or Wizard. Don’t worry if your favorite isn’t listed, more playable classes will be added to the game in a future update.
Diablo Immortal takes place between the events of Diablo II: Lord of Destruction and Diablo III. The “Herald of Terror,” Skarn, is massing an army to resurrect Diablo, and players must band together to stop him. To do this, they’ll need to master the game’s new touchscreen controls:
The transition from mouse-and-keyboard or controller to mobile touchscreen device was designed to feel completely natural, intuitive, and fun in Diablo Immortal. Directional controls make it easy to move heroes around the world, and activating a skill is as easy as holding a thumb down on a skill to aim, then releasing it to unleash hell on your foes. And reinforcements are always only a tap away thanks to the native Blizzard Battle.net UI designed specifically for Diablo Immortal, which allows you to chat and form groups with ease in the middle of the most frantic battle.
Diablo Immortal is currently in development for iOS and Android devices, and prospective players can sign up for updates about special rewards and a Beta Test for the game at DiabloImmortal.com. After its release, Blizzard and NetEase plan to support the game with “new storylines, new playable character classes, new loot, and all-new challenges” on a regular basis.
Finally, you can sneak a peek at a Cinematic Trailer and a Gameplay Trailer for Diablo Immortal, both of which are available after the break. (more…)
Posted in Mobile, News
Tagged Diablo Immortal
EA will launch Command & Conquer: Rivals for mobile platforms on December 4
Aside from a browser-based spinoff from 2012, the Command & Conquer franchise has been silent since the release of Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight way back in 2010. But that all changes this December with the launch of Command & Conquer: Rivals for mobile devices.
Available to download for iOS and Android devices on December 4, Command & Conquer: Rivals is a 1v1 strategy game that, according to EA, will be “true to [the] RTS classics”:
In Command & Conquer: Rivals, a real-time player versus player (PVP) game, players lead their faction to victory in the war for Tiberium. True to RTS classics, preparation and planning are as pivotal to matches as tactical execution. Unlike games with “drop-and-watch” mechanics, players in Rivals maintain 100% control of their units at all times, adding immense strategy and depth to a fun, frenetic and fair gameplay experience.
“We set out to build an RTS game for mobile players that thrives on head-to-head competition and where strategy and skill matter. With continuous unit control and intense battles where comebacks are possible, Command & Conquer: Rivals delivers this and more,” said Michael Martinez, Redwood Studios GM. “We’ve been thrilled to see the early response from players during soft launch. Player feedback has made the game stronger for our launch in December and we’ll continue to work with the community as we accelerate into esports next year.”
Players who sign up through the game’s official website before December 4 will receive a special Early Bird Bundle after Command & Conquer: Rivals is released.
Epic delays free-to-play version of Fortnite: Save the World into 2019
Fortnite was a very different game when it was first released in July 2017. Originally, the game was developed as a team-based shooter where players would battle zombies and rescue survivors (not unlike Left 4 Dead) while also crafting and building weapons and defensive fortifications.
That all changed when Epic Games launch the Fortnite: Battle Royale expansion. Very quickly, the 100-player free-for-all was all anyone was talking about, and the main game (which was retroactively retitled as Fortnite: Save the World) was moved to the back burner.
But Epic always planned to offer a free-to-play version of Fortnite’s Save the World mode, and it was expected to launch before the end of this year. However, the developer has now confirmed (via their official website) that it won’t be available sometime in 2019:
We decided to move the free-to-play launch of Save the World out of this year. We’re working on a broad set of features, reworks, and backend system scaling we believe are needed to go free-to-play. Save the World has grown consistently since our launch in July 2017 and Fortnite overall has experienced unprecedented growth. Scaling up for the legions of player heroes who will be joining the fight is key to providing an excellent experience. This applies to all of our players, old and new, so we’re taking the time to get this right.
To make amends for this delay, Epic also announced that players will be able to pick up Fortnite: Save the World for 50% off beginning this week when they buy one of the game’s four Founder’s Packs.
Alphabear 2 is now available to download for mobile devices
Spry Fox announced Alphabear 2 almost a year ago, and just when it felt like I couldn’t wait any longer, the developer has revealed that the word-based puzzler is now available to download for iOS and Android devices:
Hey people, Alphabear 2, the bigger and better sequel to the original Alphabear, is now AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE!!! Download it! https://t.co/lqYbKbtWiU :-D pic.twitter.com/qzbXgEVfrx
— Spry Fox (@spryfox) September 4, 2018
Alphabear 2 features the same word-building gameplay as its predecessor, as well as an even bigger selection of adorable stuffed bears to collect, Daily Events, a series of standalone Time Warp puzzles, and a Story Mode inspired by Back to the Future.
Great Scott!
Posted in Mobile, News
Tagged Alphabear 2
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice wins “Best of Gamescom” at Gamescom 2018
Gamescom 2018 closed its doors for the last time today, and From Software’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice slashed its way towards the coveted “Best of Gamescom” award.
There were a wide range of winners at this year’s expo, with all three consolemakers predictably winning “Best Game” on their respective platforms. In case you were wondering, those awards went to Spider-Man (“Best PS4 Game”), Ori and the Will of the Wisps (“Best Xbox One Game”), and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (“Best Nintendo Switch Game”). Nintendo’s fighter also collected the audience-voted award “Most Wanted Consumer Award.”
Other platform-specific awards were claimed by Ubisoft’s Anno 1800 (“Best PC Game”) and Madfinger’s Shadowgun War Games (“Best Mobile Game”).
The complete list of nominees and winners can be found after the break. And it’s never too early to start planning for next year’s expo. Gamescom organizers announced that next year’s show will begin on August 20. (more…)
Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Tagged Battlefield V, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Destiny 2, Divinity: Original Sin II, Farming Simulator 19, FIFA 19, Forza Horizon 4, Gamescom 2018, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Spider-Man, Super Mario Party, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Team Sonic Racing, The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan, Total War: Three Kingdoms
Epic Games will add “robust competition system” to Fortnite this Fall
Epic Games hand-delivered the “August 2018” development update for Fortnite earlier today on their official website. The communique from the development team includes new information about weapon balancing and building effectiveness, as well as the first statement about the battle royale’s recent launch on Android platforms.
But the real meat of this announcement can be found under the Competitive heading, which is where Epic announced that a “robust competition system” is coming to the game this Fall:
We are aware of a strong desire from competitive players for more opportunities to compete directly against one another within the same match. Development recently began for a robust competition system which will allow for all players to compete with one another and be recognized for their accomplishments. The first version of this feature is expected later this Fall.
Ideally, this new scoring system will help Fortnite transition into the full-fledged esport that Epic hopes it’ll be.
In addition to the new competition system, the developer also confirmed that “the ability to completely remap your gamepad to exactly your preference” will also be added to Fortnite this Fall.
Indie Megabooth’s PAX West 2018 installation will include 78 games from 17 countries
The Indie Megabooth is slimming down slightly for their PAX West 2018 installation, but they’ve scoured the globe to bring playable demos for 78 games from 17 different countries to the Seattle-based show.
Among the highlights this time around are a handful of games we’ve had our eye on including Chainsawesome Games’s Aftercharge, Lab Zero Games’s Indivisible, and Wonderful Lasers’s Super Impossible Road (which will be part of the Minibooth). The Indie Megabooth’s Minibooth will also be home to Vertex Pop’s super-colorful Super Crush KO, which was announced earlier today.
You can find the Indie Megabooth’s complete PAX West 2018 lineup after the break. (more…)
Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Tagged Aftercharge, Indivisible, PAX West 2018, Super Crush KO, Super Impossible Road
Fortnite Season 5 kicks off with a dimension-hopping trailer (and a new song from Joywave)
Epic Games launched the Season 5 update for Fortnite today, giving players the chance to find out what’s going on with all those crazy portals:
Worlds collide in Season 5! A viking ship, desert outpost, and ancient statues have appeared on the island, changing the world of Fortnite as we know it. Hop in an ATK (All Terrain Kart) with your squad and uncover all new mysteries and locations. New Season, New Battle Pass.
Epic also teamed up with Joywave to provide music for the battle royale game’s spacey new trailer, and you can hear a snippet of the band’s new single, “Blastoffff,” in the Launch Trailer embedded above. If you like what you hear, you can also find an “Audio-Only Video” for the full song after the break. (more…)