Most Recent: PS4
EA Sports will put Patrick Mahomes on the cover of Madden NFL 20 when it launches on August 2
EA Sports has officially announced that Madden NFL 20 will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on August 2. It looks like fans of the Kansas City Chiefs will have to fret over the Madden Curse this year as quarterback Patrick Mahomes will serve as the game’s “Cover Athlete.”
In addition to his appearance on Madden NFL 20’s cover, the 2018 NFL MVP will contribute directly to the game’s development in “Face of the Franchise: QB1,” Madden’s new Career Mode…
Mahomes inspired and contributed to the development of Face of the Franchise: QB1, a brand-new and personalized career campaign in Madden NFL 20 that allows fans to create their own college quarterback to play through the College Football National Championship playoff, the NFL Combine, the NFL Draft, and a career as a starting Quarterback for an NFL team. In Face of the Franchise: QB1 and traditional Franchise, a new Scenario Engine generates unique playable scenarios, events and dynamic challenges that build the story of each fan’s distinct NFL career.
“The last year has been life-changing for me and landing the cover of Madden NFL 20 is both a huge honor and a dream come true as a lifelong Madden fan. To also get the opportunity to impact the experience in the new Face of the Franchise: QB1 by providing input on the gameplay is something I never expected,” said Mahomes. “I played Madden with my dad when I was a kid, and this is definitely a full circle moment for me.”
While Mahomes will serve as the spokesman for Madden NFL 20, many of the NFL biggest stars will get a unique showcase in the game thanks to the “Superstar X-Factor” system.
Seann Graddy, the Executive Producer of Madden NFL 20, explained the basics behind the new feature: “The team this year wanted to ensure that the superstars of the NFL responded and played differently in all aspects in Madden, just as they do on the field every Sunday. We wanted to make sure the stars felt like stars.”
Fans of the franchise can get a taste of the superstar vibe that Madden NFL 20 is going for in the Reveal Trailer embedded above, and they can also look forward to “new player celebrations, run/pass option (RPO) plays, and unique playbooks” when the game ships this August.
Play as Thanos for a limited time in Fortnite’s new Avengers: Endgame event
After what seems like an impossible wait, Avengers: Endgame is finally in theaters… but Marvel has also made sure that Thanos the Mad Titan made his way back to Fortnite in a new limited time event that begins today.
The “Fortnite X Avengers: Endgame” event will split players into two teams: the Chitauri and the Heroes. The Chitauri invasion squad has been tasked with searching for Infinity Stones, and according to Epic’s official website, the first player to find a Stone will transform into Thanos and receive a massive power boost:
Each time an Infinity Stone is claimed, Thanos’ abilities grow more powerful and the Chitauri gain health.
- Reality Stone (Red) – Heath and Shields doubled
- Soul Stone (Orange) – Siphon activated
- Mind Stone (Yellow) – Jump Height doubled
- Space Stone (Blue) – Ground Pound AOE size tripled and damage X6
- Time Stone (Green) – Big Knockback added to each hit and damage X3
- Power Stone (Purple) – Laser Damage X6
But the Heroes will also be able to obtain more powerful implements of destruction during the event, including Thor’s Stormbringer, Hawkeye’s Bow, Captain America’s Shield, and Iron Man’s Repulsors. With these Mythic Weapons, they’ll be able to take the fight straight to Thanos and possibly prevent the supervillain from collecting all six Infinity Stones and performing a “Snap Royale” on the universe.
New Marvel-branded gear will also be available during the “Fortnite X Avengers: Endgame” event. Players will be able to unlock free rewards (such as Sprays, Banners, and a Quinjet Glider) by completing challenges, and two Outfit Sets (one featuring Black Widow and a mystery set coming next week) will be available for purchase through the Fortnite Store.
Mortal Kombat 11’s Launch Trailer teases an epic new storyline for the franchise
Mortal Kombat 11‘s launch is less than a week away and now NetherRealm Studios has capped their months-long media barrage with a new Launch Trailer that teases the epic events ahead. Promising massive battles and multiple versions of your favorite characters, the time-hopping two minutes of this trailer are a must watch for all fans of the Mortal Kombat franchise.
Mortal Kombat 11 will be released for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One on April 23.
Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will be released on November 15, 2019
As promised, Electronic Arts and Respawn Entertainmen delivered the first look at Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order at this year’s Star Wars Celebration earlier today.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will take place in the shadow of Order 66, and players will take control of a young Jedi named Cal Kestis (played by Gotham‘s Cameron Monaghan) as he goes on the run after surviving the slaughter:
The game will feature an authentic story set shortly after the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, when the Jedi have fallen. Fans will play as a young Padawan named Cal Kestis, brought to life by Cameron Monaghan, who has survived Order 66, the Emperor’s secret decree to eliminate all Jedi. Players must pick up the pieces of Cal’s shattered past to complete his training and master the art of the iconic lightsaber – all while staying one step ahead of the Empire and its deadly Inquisitors.
According to the publisher, players will visit several “iconic” locales in Fallen Order, but they’ll also get the chance to explore new planets and meet “a roster of fresh characters” new to Star Wars. And of course, the Empire will always be right on your heels:
Players will meet Cal on Bracca, a brand-new Star Wars planet and one of several new locations introduced in the game. Cal is hiding from the Empire in plain sight but is forced to go on the run when he exposes his Force powers. Along the way, Cal will make new friends, like his mysterious companion Cere, as well as run into some familiar faces, all while being accompanied by his faithful droid BD-1. Cal’s flight from the Empire is made even more dangerous as he is being pursued by the Second Sister, one of the Empire’s elite Inquisitors, who seeks to hunt Cal down and extinguish this surviving Jedi. Assisting the Second Sister are the terrifying Purge Troopers, special Imperial forces trained to seek out Jedi and aid the Inquisitors in their dastardly work.
Unlike EA’s previous Star Wars projects, Fallen Order will offer a completely single-player experience with no multiplayer options, loot boxes, or microtransactions. In a way, Fallen Order’s scenario almost feels like a continuation of 2008’s The Force Unleashed, albeit from the other side of The Force.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on November 15. The game’s jaw-dropping first trailer has been embedded above.
New Retail Releases: Nintendo Labo: VR Kit, Dangerous Driving, More
Nintendo will finally dip their toe into the virtual reality waters this week with the launch of Nintendo Labo: VR Kit for the Switch. The consolemaker’s latest Labo set will include instructions to construct several new cardboard controllers including Toy-Con VR Goggles, a Toy-Con Blaster, a Toy-Con Elephant, a Toy-Con Camera, a Toy-Con Bird, and more.
While Nintendo is busy asking their players to pretend to be elephants, the team at Three Fields Entertainment will finally get the chance to give the public a look at Dangerous Driving, their spiritual successor to the Burnout franchise. Set to be released for the PS4 and Xbox One, Dangerous Driving will let players drive with “speed” and “aggression” as they tear up the track. A digital release for the PC will also be available exclusively through the Epic Games Store.
Finally this week, a pair of specialist publishers will release some new games that might have flown under your radar. Spike Chunsoft will launch their latest RPG, Zanki Zero: Last Beginning, for the PS4 (and with a digital release on the PC through Steam). Meanwhile, NIS America will bring their exploration sim, Neo Atlas 1469, to the Switch for the first time.
That’s it for this week’s new retail releases, but you can expect a wide variety of new titles to also make their way to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop (including Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy, Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain, and the Switch debut of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice) over the next seven days.
NetherRealm adds the four-armed Kollector to Mortal Kombat 11
NetherRealm Studios has been busy stacking Mortal Kombat 11‘s roster with plenty of returning fan favorites, but the developer has also been hard at work adding several new characters to the game. And just today they revealed The Collector, yet another new enforcer for Shao Kahn.
Nah, I’m just kidding. He’s actually known as “The Kollector” (because, of course he is).
Kollector is a four-armed beast similar to Goro and Sheeva, but with a more slimmed down and Gollum-like appearance. The comparison to Tolkien’s creation is particularly apt as Kollector claims that his purpose is to collect “blood and gold” for Shao Kahn. You can see just how he goes about this mission in the new trailer embedded above, and be on the lookout for his absolutely vicious Fatality at the end.
Mortal Kombat 11 will be released for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One on April 23.
First full-length footage of Stranger Things 3: The Game recreates the show’s brilliant trailer
Netflix revealed a few months ago that a game adaptation of Stranger Things 3 was in the works and scheduled to launch this Summer, but the developers at Bonus XP needed a little extra time to filter the third season’s brilliant trailer through the game’s glorious pixelated hues. The result was certainly worth the wait and this Teaser Trailer has been embedded above.
Stranger Things 3: The Game is an isometric brawler with a 16-bit art style for up to two players, and it’ll be released alongside the premiere of the show’s third season on July 4 for the PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and mobile devices.
Borderlands 3 will rain “billions of guns” on PC, PS4, Xbox One on September 13
As promised, Gearbox Software has unveiled a new trailer for Borderlands 3, as well as the highly-anticipated game’s release date. Fans eager for more mayhem will be able to begin playing Borderlands for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on September 13, and they’ll be able to do it alongside “billions of guns” and four brand new Vault Hunters:
A Mayhem-Fueled Thrill Ride
Blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four brand new Vault Hunters – the ultimate treasure-seeking badasses of the Borderlands, each with deep skill trees, abilities, and customization.Play solo or join with friends to take on insane enemies, collect bazillions of guns and loads of loot, and save your home from the most ruthless cult leaders in the galaxy… the Calypso Twins.
“For the past several years, the team at Gearbox Software has been devoting every ounce of our passion, creativity and love into making Borderlands 3 the biggest, baddest and most ambitious Borderlands adventure we’ve ever made,” said Randy Pitchford, the President and CEO of Gearbox Software. “Borderlands 3 is being crafted not only as a love letter to fans of the series, but also as an ideal entry point for new players to jump-in alone or cooperatively, on or off-line, in the latest and greatest installment of the definitive best-in-class benchmark shooter-looter.”
We’ll get our next look at Borderlands 3 during a “Worldwide Gameplay Reveal Event” livestream on May 1, and Gearbox also confirmed the public will have four different options to choose from when the game launches on September 13. Of course, there’s the expected Standard Edition ($59.99), but fans will also be able to pick up one of three different special edition packages.
You can learn more about all of Borderlands 3’s “Deluxe” options after the break. (more…)