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All Articles: God of War 4
Multiple nominations for Red Dead Redemption 2, Spider-Man, and God of War will make this year’s Game Awards an EPIC event
It’s been a big year for super-sized games like Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 and Sony Santa Monica’s God of War, and it looks like they’ll be front and center (alongside a few other epic titles) at this year’s Game Awards show on December 6.
Rockstar’s western and Sony’s Norse fable tied for the most nominations (eight apiece), and they’ll both be competing for “Game of the Year” against Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, Insomniac’s Spider-Man, Capcom’s Monster Hunter: World, and Matt Thorson’s Celeste.
This year, fans will be able to make their voices heard in the balloting by joining the official The Game Awards Discord server, and voting for their favorites in all categories. Voting through the Discord server is now open and will be available through December 5.
The Game Awards will kick off at 9:00 PM (Eastern Time) on December 6, and fans can watch the show through their favorite video streaming service or at TheGameAwards.com. As usual, we can also expect to see “exclusive game world premieres” and “new game announcements.”
The full list of nominees can be found after the break.
Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Tagged Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, Celeste, Dead Cells, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Florence, Fortnite, Forza Horizon 4, Game Awards 2018, God of War 4, Into the Breach, Monster Hunter: World, Overcooked 2, Overwatch, Red Dead Redemption 2, Return of Obra Dinn, Spider-Man, The Messenger
Madden NFL 19 beat out Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to become the best-selling game of August 2018
As new entries in the series always do, EA Sports’s Madden NFL 19 broke away from the pack and sprinted for the end zone as the best-selling game of August 2018. But it’s one of the games it beat out that might be the most interesting story from The NPD Group’s latest report.
According to the market research company (via GamesIndustry.biz), the #8 spot in last month’s list of best-selling games was occupied by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a title that was originally launched in 2009. So why the sudden sales surge? The most likely explanation is because Microsoft recently added the Xbox 360 edition of the game to the Xbox One’s Backwards Compatibility Library.
Adding new sales to perennially best-selling games was absolutely a trend in August, as 2015’s Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege (#3), 2013’s Grand Theft Auto V (#4), and 2014’s Mario Kart 8 (#5) all cracked the top five. But if you’re looking for newer titles, Capcom’s Monster Hunter: World continued its improbable run at the top of the charts by landing at the #2 spot thanks to the PC edition’s August launch.
Overall, the game industry grew 26% year-over-year with total sales of $796 million, including $214 million in hardware (a 28% increase), $330 million for software (a 16% increase), and $251 million for accessories (a whopping 39% increase).
A list of last month’s best-selling games can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, God of War 4, Grand Theft Auto V, Madden NFL 19, Mario Kart 8, Monster Hunter: World, Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, NPD, Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Siege
Dark Horse will release a God of War comic miniseries in November
Sony and Dark Horse Comics are planning to give fans another God of War adaptation to add to their bookshelves this Fall.
The first issue of the God of War miniseries will be available on November 14, and it’ll be written by Chris Roberson (iZombie, Witchfinder). The art team will include artist Tony Parker (Mayday, This Damned Band), colorist Dan Jackson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and letterer John Roshell of Comicraft. E.M. Gist (The Strain, Will Save The Galaxy for Food) will provide cover art for Issue #1.
According to Dark Horse, the miniseries will serve as a prequel to this Spring’s critically-acclaimed sequel for the PS4:
The God of War comic series finds Kratos living in the remote Norse wilds after his war on the gods of Olympus. Seeking to put the rage that defined most of his life behind him, Kratos inadvertently sparks a feud with a mysterious cult of berserkers after attempting to save a stranger being mauled by a monstrous bear. But for the former Ghost of Sparta, no good deed goes unpunished.
In case you missed it, Titan Books will publish a God of War novelization later this month, and it’ll be written by J.M. Barlog (the father of Game Director Cory Barlog).
Posted in Etcetera, News, PS4
Tagged God of War 4
Titan Books will publish a God of War novelization on August 28
Sony Santa Monica jettisoned the over-the-top gore and gratuitous minigames from the newest entry in the God of War franchise, and they were rewarded with huge sales and stellar reviews. This time, the developers chose to focus on a (relatively) kinder and gentler Kratos to tell a more grounded story about fatherhood and responsibility.
So it’s only fitting that Titan Books has selected J.M. Barlog (the father of Game Director Cory Barlog) to pen an official novelization of God of War:
His vengeance against the Gods of Olympus years behind him, Kratos now lives as a man in the realm of Norse gods and monsters. It is in this harsh, unforgiving world that he must fight to survive… and teach his son to do the same. This startling reimagining of God of War deconstructs the core elements that defined the series—satisfying combat; breathtaking scale; and a powerful narrative—and fuses them anew.
The God of War novelization will be available in bookstores on August 28.
Posted in Etcetera, News, PS4
Tagged God of War 4
State of Decay 2 rises as the best-selling game of May 2018
I think we can all agree that the Xbox’s two biggest franchises are Halo and Gears of War. But it looks like Microsoft can add the State of Decay series to the list, as The NPD Group (via Game Informer) has confirmed that State of Decay 2 was the best-selling game of May 2018.
The zombie survival sim beat out other several other May releases including Detroit: Become Human (#3), Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (#5), Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition (#7), and Street Fighter: 30th Anniversary Collection (#17).
While it might have seemed like a slow month for new releases, The NPD Group confirmed that increased hardware sales gave the game industry a 13% bump over May 2017’s retail figures.
The complete Top 20 for May 2018 can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Assassin's Creed Origins, Call of Duty: WWII, Detroit: Become Human, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Far Cry 5, FIFA 18, God of War 4, Grand Theft Auto V, Hyrule Warriors, Mario Kart 8, MLB The Show 18, Monster Hunter: World, NBA 2K18, NPD, Overwatch, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, State of Decay 2, Street Fighter II, Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Siege
God of War slays all comers and emerges as the best-selling game of April 2018
You might say that Kratos returned with a vengeance last month, and that’s because Sony’s God of War reboot climbed to the top of The NPD Group’s list of best-selling games for April 2018. According to the NPD (via GamesIndustry.biz), God of War was also the “best ever launch for a PlayStation exclusive.”
Sony and Kratos weren’t done setting records, and the former “Ghost of Sparta” helped sell a lot of PS4 consoles too. Thanks to a push from the newly-available PS4 Pro 1TB + God of War Limited Edition Bundle, Sony’s console was propelled to the top of the NPD’s Hardware Chart for both “units sold” and “dollar sales.” The PS4 also set a new record for console sales during the month of April, besting the previous mark set in April 2008 by Nintendo’s Wii.
While Nintendo lost out on one record, they almost stole Sony’s thunder by placing six games in the NPD’s Top 20 last month, including the Nintendo Labo: Variety Kit (#4), Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (#5), Mario Kart 8 (#6), Super Mario Odyssey (#9), The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (#13), and Kirby Star Allies (#19).
You can find the full list of The NPD Group’s best-selling titles for April 2018 after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged A Way Out, Call of Duty: WWII, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Far Cry 5, FIFA 18, God of War 4, Grand Theft Auto V, Kirby Star Allies, Mario Kart 8, MLB The Show 18, Monster Hunter: World, NBA 2K18, Nintendo Labo: Variety Kit, NPD, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Sea of Thieves, Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Siege, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
God of War, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, more coming to PS Store this week
This week’s PlayStation Store update doesn’t offer a deep bench, but it includes possibly the best one-two punch of the year.
The first swing comes from Sony Santa Monica, and that’s because they’re bringing Kratos back for his first appearance on the PS4. But this isn’t the same rage-filled Kratos that we all know and love. The God of War must protect his son as they explore the unfamiliar lands and unexpected threats of the Norse pantheon.
While Kratos gets a new start this week, another unlikely hero from the PlayStation era is riding off into the sunset. Kazuma Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima, will take on the Japanese underworld for the last time in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, which is now available to download for the PS4.
You can learn more about the rest of this week’s additions to the PlayStation Store after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged God of War 4, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
New Retail Releases: God of War, Nintendo Labo, Yakuza 6, More
Kratos lives again as Sony Santa Monica brings God of War to the PS4 for the first time this week. The reboot promises a new beginning for the Ghost of Sparta, as Kratos (and his son) are transported to the harsh realm of Midgard. In his quest to earn the respect of his son, Kratos will be forced to battle the gods and monsters from the Norse pantheon.
Nintendo Switch owners will be able to take part in a different kind of epic battle this week with the release of the Nintendo Labo: Robot Kit. Using the included cardboard cutouts, and combined with the Joy-Con’s motion controls, players will be able to build their own robot suit and fight it out with other mechanized monsters.
On the other side of the spectrum, Switch owners will be able to flex their creative muscles with the Nintendo Labo: Variety Kit. Six cardboard contraptions are featured in the Variety Kit, including RC Cars, a Fishing Rod, a House, a Motorbike, and a Piano.
Also available this week will be the swan song for Kazuma Kiryu, as Sega brings Yakuza 6: The Song of Life to the PS4. And Klei Entertainment will launch the Don’t Starve: Mega Pack for the PS4 and Xbox One. The Mega Pack includes Don’t Starve, as well as the Reign of Giants and Shipwrecked expansions, and the Don’t Starve Together standalone spinoff.
Finally, Natsume will release Wild Guns Reloaded, a “fast-paced gallery style shooter mixing the Wild West with steampunk,” for the Switch.
That’s all for now, but we’ll be back later this week with a look at all the new additions to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.
Posted in News, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Tagged Don't Starve, God of War 4, Nintendo Labo: Robot Kit, Nintendo Labo: Variety Kit, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life