Minecraft Dungeons will launch a little later than expected on May 26

Posted on March 31, 2020 by John Scalzo

Mojang has announced (via Twitter) that Minecraft Dungeons will miss its previously-announced April 2020 release date. But fans won’t have to wait too much longer to play it, as the developer later penciled the dungeon-crawler in for a May 26th launch on the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.

Minecraft Dungeons will be available in a game-only edition ($19.99), as well as a special Hero Edition ($29.99) that includes a few extra in-game goodies (a Hero Cape, two additional Player Skins, a and Chicken Pet). The Hero Edition will also come packed with the Hero Pass, which will give players access to two post-launch expansions when they’re ready.

Fight your way through an all-new action-adventure game, inspired by classic dungeon crawlers and set in the Minecraft universe! Brave the dungeons alone, or team up with friends! Up to four players can battle together through action-packed, treasure-stuffed, wildly varied levels – all in an epic quest to save the villagers and take down the evil Arch-Illager!

Minecraft Dungeons will also be available to download through Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass subscription on both the PC and Xbox One at launch.

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Square Enix is working on an “upgraded version” of Nier for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One

Posted on March 29, 2020 by John Scalzo

Square Enix’s Nier is nearing its tenth anniversary, and the publisher has decided to celebrate by announcing that an “upgraded version” of the action RPG is currently in development for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

The re-release will be developed by Toylogic and fans will be happy to learn that it won’t stray too far from the franchise’s trademark sense of weirdness, as it’ll officially be known as Nier Replicant Version 1.22474487139… (and yes, the ellipsis is part of the title). Yoko Taro will return to direct the upgrade, and he’ll be joined by producer Yosuke Saito and composer Keiichi Okabe:

Nier Replicant is the prequel of the critically acclaimed success NieR:Automata.

Nier Replicant Version 1.22474487139… invites players into a dark, apocalyptic world as they join a brother’s captivating quest to cure his sister of a deadly disease – a quest which will in turn make them question everything.

Square Enix made some changes to Nier when it was originally released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 back in 2010, swapping out the game’s teenage protagonist for an older man and changing the relationship between the two characters at it’s center from brother/sister to father/daughter. But with Nier Replicant Version 1.22474487139…, it looks like we’ll finally get the chance to experience the game as the developers originally intended.

We don’t yet know when Nier Replicant Version 1.22474487139… will be released, but a 2020 launch seems likely.

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Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice wins “Video Game of the Year” at the 2020 SXSW Gaming Awards

Posted on March 26, 2020 by John Scalzo

The cancellation of this year’s South By Southwest feels like a distant memory, but in the weeks since the announcement was made, a few people have started to wonder if the winning envelopes from the 2020 SXSW Gaming Awards would also remain locked away forever. Thankfully, the festival’s organizers recently fired off a press release that revealed all the winners.

Drumroll, please…

From Software’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice won “Video Game of the Year,” and the one-armed ninja also snuck away with a win for “Excellence in Visual Achievement.” Only ZA/UM’s Disco Elysium (the “Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award” and “Excellence in Narrative”) and Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding (“Excellence in Musical Score” and “Excellence in Technical Achievement”) were able to earn more than a single award from this year’s voters.

“Gaming is a key part of the creative ecosystem that brings us together, and now more than ever it provides us with a unique sense of escape and adventure in uncertain times,” said Hugh Forrest, the Chief Programming Officer for South By Southwest. “We were devastated that we weren’t able to celebrate our honorees in person with the cancellation of our event, but glad that we’re still able to share their achievements and creative works with our community.”

A complete list of winners from the 2020 SXSW Gaming Awards can be found at Video Game Canon.

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Copyright notice seemingly confirms Evil Dead’s Ash will be included in Mortal Kombat 11’s next Kombat Pack

Posted on March 25, 2020 by John Scalzo

Alright you primitive screwheads, listen up!

Even though Bruce Campbell told the Twitterverse that Ash from The Evil Dead wouldn’t be appearing in Mortal Kombat 11, it appears that NetherRealm Studios has other plans. IGN is reporting that a recent email newsletter from the developer included a copyright notice for Ash in the footer, alongside similar copyright information for The Terminator, The Joker, and Spawn:

You’ll notice that the notice specifically mentions the inclusion of “Ash from Army of Darkness,” so we can look forward to seeing the character in his S-Mart garb while gassing up a chainsaw. However, Campbell’s earlier denial could mean that we’re also looking at a soundalike, similar to how Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t provide the vocal performance for the T-800.

NetherRealm Studios concluded Mortal Kombat 11’s first Kombat Pack earlier this month with the launch of Spawn, and while they’ve hinted at a desire to release more characters, Kombat Pack 2 remains unannounced as of today.

Mortal Kombat 11 is currently available for the PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and Google Stadia. I have no doubt we’ll be hearing more about NetherRealm’s future plans for the game very soon.

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God of War: Fallen God is an upcoming comic miniseries that fills in the story between GoW3 and GoW2018

Posted on March 25, 2020 by John Scalzo

Kratos spent decades wandering the world in between the events of 2010’s God of War III and 2018’s God of War. Rather than leave this story untold, Sony Santa Monica is teaming up with Dark Horse to give fans a glimpse at part of his travels in an upcoming comic miniseries.

Told over four issues, God of War: Fallen God will be written by Chris Roberson, with artwork from Tony Parker (artist), Dan Jackson (colorist), John Roshell (letterer), and Dave Rapoza (covers):

Can a man ever be free of his past? Can the tides of time ever wash away the bloody sands of sin? Or do transpired trespasses permanently and inescapably stain one’s soul?

God of War: Fallen God follows Kratos after conquering Zeus and thwarting Athena. Believing himself to be finally free of his bondage, he sets sail for the desert in an attempt to distance himself from his home and his shame only to find his rage and guilt follow close behind. Kratos rages against the one foe that has proven to be unconquerable—himself. But a war against oneself is unwinnable, and only invites madness.

The first issue of God of War: Fallen God will be available on June 24, with a collected edition sure to follow sometime after its conclusion.

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Square Enix will summon two Final Fantasy VII artbooks to bookstores this Fall

Posted on March 23, 2020 by John Scalzo

After more than a half-decade in development, Final Fantasy VII Remake‘s launch date of April 10th is finally in sight. But Square Enix also wants to give fans the chance to delve deeper into the highly-anticipated RPG, so they’ve partnered with their Manga & Books imprint to produce a pair of artbooks that go further behind the scenes.

Priced at $24.99 apiece, Final Fantasy VII Remake: World Preview and Final Fantasy VII Poster Collection were designed to “celebrate the iconic characters, massive world, and beautiful visuals” of Final Fantasy VII Remake:

Final Fantasy VII Remake: World Preview, releasing on September 8th, is a lavishly illustrated, full-color introduction to the world of the beloved game. The hardcover volume offers both new players and long-time fans essential information on characters, gameplay, and more, in addition to exclusive commentary from Director Tetsuya Nomura and Producer Yoshinori Kitase.

Final Fantasy VII Poster Collection, shipping on November 17th, is a collection of 22 full-color, premium-quality removable posters celebrating the game’s rich legacy, with images depicted from the world of Final Fantasy VII, including Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Dirge of Cerberus, Crisis Core, Final Fantasy VII, and Final Fantasy VII Remake.

Final Fantasy VII Remake will launch “first” on the PS4, and a demo of the game is currently available to download through the PlayStation Store.

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Finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020 have been announced

Posted on March 19, 2020 by John Scalzo

The finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020 have been announced… and they’re on fire.

This year’s honorees include titles from every era of gaming, though the Star Power of Guitar Hero looms large over the competition. But that’s OK, because there’s a few other firestarters vying for a spot in this year’s class, including Midway’s NBA Jam, Mojang’s Minecraft, and Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. Melee.

There’s also the groundbreaking GoldenEye 007, the unforgettable Nokia Snake, the edutaining Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, and the addicting Bejeweled. Rounding out this year’s crop of finalists is Naughty Dog’s Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and a trio of classics from the early 80s (Centipede, Frogger, and King’s Quest).

This isn’t the first opportunity to join the World Video Game Hall of Fame for some of these games, and fans will have the chance to make their voice heard by submitting a Player’s Choice Ballot. The public can vote once per day now through April 2nd, and the three games that receive the most votes will join the 29 other ballots submitted by members of the Hall of Fame’s International Selection Advisory Committee.

The Strong Museum’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games, the entity that oversees the World Video Game Hall of Fame, will announce the inductees from the Class of 2020 at a date to be determined in a special ceremony. For now, you can learn more about this year’s finalists after the break.

Press Start to Continue →

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Untitled Goose Game wins “Game of the Year” at 2020 GDC Awards

Posted on March 19, 2020 by John Scalzo

The 2020 Game Developers Conference isn’t happening in San Francisco this year due to global health concerns, but the event’s organizers still put together a a pre-recorded version of the Game Developers Choice Awards, and House House’s Untitled Goose Game won “Game of the Year.”

In addition to The Goose running away with yet another “Game of the Year” award, the rest of the indie world had a pretty good night as well.

Hempuli’s Baba Is You collected statuettes for “Best Design” and the “Innovation Award,” ZA/UM’s Disco Elysium danced away with “Best Debut” and “Best Narrative,” and thatgamecompany’s Sky: Children of the Light claimed the “Audience Award.”

But the most-decorated game of the night was Remedy’s Control, which won in three categories. The mindbending action-adventure game was honored with awards for “Best Visual Art,” “Best Audio,” and “Best Technology.”

A full list of winners, nominees, and Honorable Mentions from this year’s Game Developers Choice Awards at Video Game Canon.

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