Warp Zoned Presents
Most Recent: Xbox 360
Dark Souls III envelops your very being in darkness and despair… it was also the best-selling game of April 2016
I’m sure this is a surprise to no one, but people really love the Dark Souls franchise. And according to The NPD Group (as reported by GamesIndustry.biz), Dark Souls III was the best-selling retail game in April 2016.
The finale to From Software’s brutally difficult trilogy beat out some stiff competition in April including the Ratchet & Clank reboot (#2), Quantum Break (#7), and Star Fox Zero (#10). MLB The Show 16 also got a boost from the opening of this year’s baseball season (#3), but it wasn’t enough to unseat the Babe Ruth of gothic action RPGs.
But even with a handful of big new releases, the retail sector as a whole suffered a huge decline from the year before, when Mortal Kombat X obliterated all expectations. “In April 2016, overall trends (hardware, new physical software, and accessories) were down 15% (or $88.5 million) compared to April 2015 due to a $41.6 million decline in hardware and a $52.8 million decline in software, with the $5.9 million growth in accessories unable to offset these losses,” said The NPD Group’s Liam Callahan.
However, Callahan added, “Despite these declines, keep in mind that Xbox One and PS4 are trending over 40% higher in cumulative sales after 30 months in the market compared to their predecessors.”
A complete look at last month’s best-selling retail games can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Dark Souls III, Grand Theft Auto V, Minecraft, MLB The Show 16, NBA 2K16, NPD, Quantum Break, Ratchet & Clank, Star Fox Zero, Tom Clancy's The Division
Rob Gronkowski is the Madden NFL 17 Cover Athlete
Rob Gronkowski is a better football player than everyone reading this, there’s no question about that. But he’s also one of the toughest Mortal Kombat X combatants you could ever face, and now he can add “Madden Cover Athlete” to his resume.
After “Gronk” secured second place in last year’s Cover Vote, EA Sports went ahead and named him the official Cover Athlete for Madden NFL 17 earlier today. The New England Patriots star is the first tight end to receive the honor, as well as a four-time Pro Bowler and the owner of a Super Bowl Ring. He’s a good choice, is what I’m getting at.
“It’s a really special honor to appear on the cover of Madden NFL 17,” said Gronkowski. “It’s one of those things that pretty much every guy in the league secretly dreams of, so to actually be the one on the cover, it’s a really big deal.”
EA Sports released a short “First Look” trailer to give fans a glimpse at Madden NFL 17, and the publisher also revealed some of the features present in this year’s game. The Franchise Mode is getting an overhaul and, according to EA, it’ll be “deeper than ever.” A new Presentation Mode will also focus on camera better on the player, and “Madden 365” will provide daily updates to the game. Finally, more creative ball carriers will be present on the offensive side thanks to Ball Carrier UI Prompts and Path Assist, but defensive-minded players will receive some help from a new “Defensive AI System.” More details on the offensive and defensive changes are available at Madden NFL 17’s official website.
Madden NFL 17 will be available for the PS4, Xbox One, PS3, and Xbox 360 on August 23.
See all four Turtles in action in these new TMNT: Mutants in Manhattan character trailers
Activision and Platinum Games recently revealed four new trailers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, each one focusing of the fighting style of an individual Turtle.
Leonardo uses speed to stomp the Foot, and he can even stop time to deliver a lethal strike. Donatello has an extended reach with his bo, as well as a bunch of gadgets. Raphael leads with brute strength, but he also mixes sneak attacks into his fighting style. And Michelangelo is a tad unpredictable… which is why he carries explosives in addition to his nunchucks.
You can check out all four trailers after the break, and don’t forget that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan will launch for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on May 24. (more…)
Disney shuts down all console development and cancels Disney Infinity franchise
Two months ago, the Disney Infinity franchise was put on hiatus by Disney Interactive. Yesterday, the Walt Disney Company announced the end of Disney Interactive with the cancellation of all console development and the closure of the entire division.
Speaking during the company’s quarterly financial report, Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy said, “During the quarter, we took a charge of $147 million in connection with the shutdown of our Infinity console games business. Going forward, our console games strategy will focus solely on licensing our great portfolio of content.”
This closure extends to developer Avalanche Software, and Disney Interactive General Manager John Blackburn thanked them for all their hard work on the publisher’s official website:
Our goal for Disney Infinity was to bring the best of Disney storytelling to life in homes around the world, and with your support we accomplished that. We hope you had as much fun playing the game as we had making it.
And as we turn to the next chapter in our story, I want to thank everyone who helped bring Disney Infinity to life, particularly Disney’s Glendale-based production and publishing teams, our external development partners, and of course the incredible Avalanche team for their tireless dedication to this project.
Avalanche will complete work on the remaining Disney Infinity content that is currently in development, including three figures from Alice: Through the Looking Glass (which will be available later this month) and a Finding Dory Play Set (coming in June).
With Disney’s console development future tied up in licensing deals, we should probably expect to hear about more third-party partnerships, like the one the company struck with EA to create Star Wars: Battlefront, soon.
Posted in 3DS, Mobile, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Disney Infinity, Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes, Disney Infinity: Star Wars
Capcom is planning a “full-scale offensive” for the Resident Evil franchise this year
Brace yourself, the Resident Evil franchise is going on a “full-scale offensive” during the back half of 2016 and into 2017. Capcom announced their battle plan during a recent Quarterly Financial Report, and it’s hard to argue with their choice of words… the publisher has already released two Resident Evil games in 2016 and will push out three more in the coming months, along with the final entry in the Milla Jovovich-starring film franchise:
| Resident Evil 0 (PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One) | January 20, 2016 |
| Resident Evil 6 (PS4, Xbox One) | March 29, 2016 |
| Umbrella Corps (PC, PS4) | June 21, 2016 |
| Resident Evil 5 (PS4, Xbox One) | Summer 2016 |
| Resident Evil 4 (PS4, Xbox One) | Fall 2016 |
| Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (Film) | January 27, 2017 |
And then there’s Resident Evil 7, which Capcom began teasing more than six months ago. Obviously, there’s no guarantee that Resident Evil 7 will be released (or even announced) this year, but the E3 Expo is right around the corner and 2016 is the 20th anniversary of the first Resident Evil game.
On top of all this, Capcom confirmed a few months back that a full remake of Resident Evil 2 is also in the works. The oft-requested doesn’t currently have a release date, but it’s very possible that it’s launch will also fall within the “full-scale offensive” period.
I guess the bottom line is that it’s a great time to be a Resident Evil fan.
Posted in Etcetera, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Resident Evil, Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil 6, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Umbrella Corps
Madden NFL 17 will be released on August 23; Cover Athlete reveal and first gameplay trailer to air during SportsCenter on May 12
Are you ready for some football? EA Sports has announced that Madden NFL 17 will be released for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on August 23. In development at EA Tiburon, the megapublisher also confirmed that EA Access subscribers will receive Early Access to the sports sim before it’s released.
While Madden NFL 17’s late August launch isn’t much of a surprise, EA Sports also confirmed we’ll get our first look at the game during the afternoon edition of SportsCenter this Thursday. ESPN’s flagship show is will be the place to be to find out who this year’s Cover Athlete/Curse Victim is, as well as to get a glimpse at the very first gameplay trailer.
So be sure to tune into SportsCenter this Thursday, May 12, at 6:00 PM (Eastern Time) for all your Madden NFL 17 needs.
Go on “New Adventures” in the latest Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer
WB Games wants in on the Star Wars Day shenanigans, so they released a brand spanking new trailer for Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens this afternoon.
The latest trailer for Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens gives us a glimpse at the “New Adventures” not seen in the blockbuster film… including Han and Chewie’s Rathtar hunt, Poe Dameron’s rescue of Admiral Ackbar, and the story behind C-3PO’s red arm. Altogether, the game will include six “New Adventures,” all with new dialogue from the cast of the film:
- Rathtar Hunting – Follows Han Solo and Chewbacca’s voyage to capture the ravenous Rathtars.
- Lor San Tekka’s Return – Uncovers secrets behind Lor San Tekka’s journey to the Jakku Village.
- Poe to the Rescue – Details Poe Dameron’s daring rescue mission to save Admiral Ackbar.
- Crimson Corsair – Explores how the notorious Outer Rim pirate, the Crimson Corsair, foiled the plans of the First Order.
- Trouble Over Taul – Follows the events leading up C-3PO’s acquisition of his new red arm.
- Ottegan Assault – Reveals a puzzle piece to how the Resistance and the First Order find Lor San Tekka on Jakku.
It would actually be quicker to list who’s not returning to The Force Awakens, as practically the entire cast will record new dialogue for the game. But where’s the fun in that? Especially when WB Games somehow got Harrison Ford to mutter “Wookiee Cookies” into a microphone. And even little BB-8 has some new things to say… pay close attention to the droid’s chirps during the Admiral Ackbar rescue in the new trailer.
The full voice cast scheduled to appear in Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens includes:
- Harrison Ford as Han Solo
- Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa
- Daisy Ridley as Rey
- John Boyega as Finn
- Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron
- Adam Driver as Kylo Ren
- Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
- Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux
- Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma
- Lupita Nyong’o as Maz Kanata
- Max Von Sydow as Lor San Tekka
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be released on June 28 for the 3DS, PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
Handicapping the 2016 World Video Game Hall of Fame Finalists
We’re just a few days away from learning which games will be inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame this year. In 2015, Tetris, Super Mario Bros., Pong, Doom, World of Warcraft, and Pac-Man were selected as the inaugural class by the institution’s induction committee. The Hall’s Class of 2016 will be announced on Thursday, May 5, and five or six games are once again expected to rise above the other finalists.
But which of the 15 finalists will be honored this year? Using the Hall’s induction criteria as a guide, I can think we can determine the odds of which games will make it in and which will have to wait until next year. (more…)