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Articles by Aidan SimondsWednesday
PSP Repair Services Ending in Japan in September 2019
While the PlayStation Portable has been out of the running for a hot minute now, Sony is about to put one more nail into the proverbial coffin. Sony has announced that it will officially end repair services for the PSP-3000 model in Japan on September 30, 2019. Until then, however, people in the region will be able to send your system in, should they need to. According to Sony, the reason is due to a shortage of necessary repair parts.
PlayStation Plus August 2019 Free Games Announced
It’s that time, again, friends. Sony has announced the two games that will be available for PlayStation Plus members in August 2019. And hopefully these titles will create a little less outcry than the month prior. Both the WipEout Omega Collection and Sniper Elite 4 will be available for free beginning August 6, 2019. For starters, the WipEout Omega Collection brings together two entries in the futuristic WipEout series: WipEout HD (and its HD Fury expansion) and WipEout 2048.
New Apex Legends Event Launching in August With a New Feature
As a live service game, Respawn Entertainment’s Apex Legends continues to grow and evolve. New features, weapons, and characters are added to the battle royale hit as time goes on. Come August, expect to see a new feature hit Apex Legends, one that has apparently been “one of the most fan-requested.” It will coincide with a brand new event, though that’s all we know at this moment. The news was revealed in the most recent EA earnings call by CEO Andrew Wilson.
EA Next Gen Games Set to Release in Fall 2020 With Console Launches
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, but EA has gone on the record saying it’s ready to support next-gen consoles. While obviously the publisher isn’t ready to reveal what titles it’s planning for the next generation of consoles yet, we definitely know it’s got something in the pipeline, and you should expect to see it when they launch in 2020. During EA’s first quarter earnings call, CFO Blake Jorgensen laid out the publisher’s initial plans for the next round of consoles.
Final Fantasy 14 Patch Notes for Patch 5.05 Released, Read Them Here
Final Fantasy XIV fans are still likely riding the high of Shadowbringers. However, Square Enix is giving players even more to love with the newest update. As we can tell from the pre-launch patch notes, Shadowbringers brought quite a lot of content to Final Fantasy XIV. However, the 5.05 update will bring even more, including the savage difficulty for the already-available Eden Raid.
Artist Addresses Why Overwatch Sigma Isn't Wearing Shoes
As always, the reveal of the newest Overwatch hero has caused quite the conversation. The most recent character is Sigma, a gravity-defying hero who went mad after an experiment gone wrong. While some were excited to see his gravity-based powers in action, many noticed one detail in particular: his noticeable lack of shoes.
Black Desert PS4 Beta Dates and Times Announced
Pearl Abyss has announced when the the Black Desertbeta will be held on the PlayStation 4. Beta testing will occur from August 9-13, 2019. Not only will the beta be open to all PS4 users, those who take part will also get some special rewards as a thank-you for joining. More specifically, the beta will begin on August 9th at 12 am PDT, then will end on August 13th at 2 am PDT. All players will need to do to take part in the beta is download Black Desert from the PlayStation Store.
Cyberpunk 2077 Religion Comments Clarified With Accurate Translation
CD Projekt RED set off some chatter recently with some apparent comments regarding religion in the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077. While the quote that made the rounds online seemed to indicate an indifference to offensive topics, that turned out to be a mistranslation. Cyberpunk 2077 will indeed have religion in it, but not once did CD Projekt RED even talk about how it may offend some groups. In fact, the opposite may actually be true.
Cyberpunk 2077 Weather Effects Will Include Acid Rain
As an expansive, living world, the futuristic city known as Night City in Cyberpunk 2077 will not be the same day-to-day. One such way in which the world will differ on any given day is the weather. While we had already heard about the dynamic weather featured in CD Projekt RED’s latest game, we now know of one such condition players will face: acid rain. You may want to find a quick way indoors, huh?
Live-Action Warhammer 40K Series in Development
Warhammer 40,000 is getting yet another adaptation, one it’s never gotten before: a live-action TV series. Entitled Eisenhorn, it will center around titular Inqusitor Gregor Eisenhorn. Man in the High Castle creator Frank Spotnitz and his team at Big Light Productions will be producing the series. No network or release date is currently attached to the product. Eisenhorn will actually be based off of the series of novels written by Dan Abnett.
Composers for Streets of Rage 4 Soundtrack Announced
There’s still a whole lot we don’t know about Streets of Rage 4. However, we do know one important aspect of the upcoming game: who will be making the soundtrack! Original series composers Yūzō Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima will be back one again, though they won’t be alone. Some true video game all-stars will also be helping make the music in this highly-anticipated title. Having composers from Streets of Rage’s past definitely helps to make this long-awaited title feel more real.
Secret Gran Turismo 5 Tracks From Earlier Titles Discovered
Gran Turismo 5 may be approaching its ninth birthday, but it evidently still has some secrets within its files. Some particularly sleuthy players have managed to discover some previously-undiscovered content. Tracks from Gran Turismo’s past are apparently hidden within Gran Turismo 5, with some even coming from the series’ PS1 days. Naturally, most of these tracks are in a form that’s far from complete, but it’s a fascinating look at what could have been.
Splinter Cell VR Game May be in Development Exclusively for Oculus
Yes, another Splinter Cell rumor has emerged. However, this is definitely one of the more intriguing ones that have come to pass. A Splinter Cell revival is reportedly being developed, though in a somewhat surprising move, it will be a VR-exclusive title. Even more surprising, it won’t be found on the PlayStation VR, but will instead be an Oculus exclusive. The original rumor came from The Information (you’ll need to give your email address to read the article).
Power Rangers Battle for the Grid DLC Characters Released
When Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid first launched, one of its main criticisms was its fairly lackluster roster. With only nine characters available, many agreed it didn’t take advantage of the wealth of characters in the Power Rangers pantheon. However, nWay has worked to expand the roster, and now the first round of paid DLC characters are available. In addition, some new multiplayer-focused improvements were released, though sadly some of them (predictably) don’t include the PlayStation 4.
Lord of the Rings MMO Coming from Amazon Game Studios
Get ready to explore Middle-earth in a brand new way. Amazon Game Studios has announced it is working on a free-to-play The Lord of the Rings MMO. While it will be for “consoles and PC,” specific platforms were not named at this time. In addition, the currently-unnamed online title does not have a release date, suggesting it could be a ways away.
New Super Monkey Ball PS4 Game Rated in Taiwan, Suggesting a Revival
Are we getting a new Super Monkey Ball game? A new entry in the long-running series was recently rated by the Taiwan rating board. While Sega hasn’t commented on this discovery, it definitely indicates something from the series is on its way. The title is roughly translated from Chinese to Now Taste Good! Super Monkey Ball, with its Japanese title being something to the extent of The Food is Great! Super Monkey Ball. This game would be for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Konami Loses PES Liverpool License After Signing Manchester United Deal
Just as soon as Konami announced it reached a deal with Manchester United, it lost one of its most enduring deals. Konami’s deal with Liverpool has been terminated as of June 30, 2019. The fallout has already been felt—the termination of this deal has implications for Pro Evolution Soccer 2019. Obviously this means Liverpool won’t be found officially in the upcoming eFootball PES 2020.
Some Unachieved Shenmue 3 Stretch Goals Will Still be Included
While a majority of the Shenmue III news cycle has been dominated recently by the fallout of its Epic Store exclusivity, some intriguing news has emerged regarding the game itself. A recent update on its Kickstarter page gave fans an update on how the Shenmue III stretch goals will be implemented in-game. And in a pleasantly surprising turn of events, even stretch goals that failed to reach their funding will be implemented in the final game, as well.
Langrisser 1 and 2 English Released Confirmed by NIS America
Langrisser I & II is officially heading West. NIS America has announced it will be publishing and localizing the recent remakes of the beloved tactical RPGs. While it won’t be released until early 2020, you can already prepare yourself by preordering an exclusive limited edition copy! Already available in Japan, this compilation allows both fans and newcomers alike experience the first two Langrisser games in an all new way.
GTA 6 Leak Suggesting a 70s-Set Title Officially Debunked
Another day, another Grand Theft Auto VI leak has been debunked. Thankfully, this one came and went in relatively short order.
Final Fantasy 14 Shadowbringers Patch Notes Released
By this point, it’s not a stretch to say Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers is one of, if not the most ambitious expansion in the MMO’s relatively short history. From new jobs to the new races, it looks as if Square Enix really is going all-out on this new chapter. Ahead of its July 2nd release, the publisher has released the preliminary patch notes for the expansion, known as Patch 5.0. These patch notes give us a clear look at what exactly will be changing in the expansion.
Lackluster PlayStation Plus July 2019 Free Games Revealed
Sony has announced the free games PlayStation Plus members can get for themselves in July 2019. And, well, it’s certainly not the strongest month in the service’s history. However, if you’ve been itching to try Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 and Horizon Chase Turbo, you’re in luck! Those are the two games members can download for free beginning on July 2, 2019. Please contain your excitement.
Wolfenstein Youngblood Germany Release Will be Uncensored
Some major news has come out regarding the newest Wolfenstein games. Both Wolfenstein: Youngblood and Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot will be released uncensored in Germany, which is a first for the series. This means that all Nazi imagery and references will be kept intact for the German releases. Known as the “International Editions,” these will each actually be one of two releases the Wolfenstein titles will get in the country. The news was announced on a Bethesda community post.
Samurai Shodown Season Pass Characters Announced, Available for Free
Fresh off of the release of Samurai Shodown, SNK has announced all of the characters who will be joining the roster in the future. Even better, the publisher is giving away the season pass for free, so you don’t have to pay for them. Not just for those who purchased Samurai Shodown, either; it’s free for everyone. The deal lasts until June 30, 2019, so you better act fast. The quartet include the previously-announced Rimururu, who was announced along with the season pass.
EA Loot Boxes are Actually 'Surprise Mechanics,' and 'Quite Ethical'
It’s certainly not a stretch to say that the major crackdown on in-game microtransactions all started with EA. The oft-criticized publisher set off a storm of criticism due to its implementation of microtransactions in Star Wars Battlefront II. And the ball just kept rolling from there, like a Katamari of controversy, much of it levied at so-called “loot boxes,” that contain a random assortment of items.
Final Fantasy VII, Cyberpunk 2077 Among Most-Tweeted E3 2019 Games
Nostalgia can do a lot for something, huh? The Hollywood Reporter has revealed some exclusive stats from E3 2019, and these show that a remake of a 1997 PlayStation original dominated the show. According to Twitter, Final Fantasy VII was the convention’s most-tweeted about game, showing it still has plenty of fans out there in the world. Following its initial re-reveal earlier in 2019, Square Enix went big on Final Fantasy VII Remake at E3.
New Kingdom Hearts 3 ReMIND DLC Information Revealed by Nomura
As with all things Kingdom Hearts, the upcoming Re:MIND DLC for Kingdom Hearts III is a bit of an enigma. However, Tetsuya Nomura is peeling back the curtain just a little bit on this upcoming expansion. There’s still a lot we don’t know about it, though more light was shed on how the ability to play as characters other than Sora, as well as the extra-tough boss battles included. Interestingly, this DLC will consist of multiple parts.
Randy Pitchford Legal Drama Takes a Shocking Turn
In a time when Gearbox and 2K Games should be beginning to ramp up promotion for Borderlands 3, more stories come out threatening to overshadow it. The newest piece of intel may be the most damning against Gearbox president Randy Pitchford. A new document in the ongoing legal battle between Pitchford and former Gearbox counsel Wade Callender has given evidence for one of the case’s most alarming allegations.
Upcoming Sekai Project Games for 2019 Revealed at E3 2019
Sekai Project came to E3 2019 with a load of brand new titles. The American publisher will be bringing plenty of games from Japan to the West, on a variety of platforms. Expect to see plenty of titles on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and even PlayStation VR in the near future.
Trials of Mana English and Japanese Voice Options Will be Available
One of the biggest surprises of Square Enix’s E3 2019 conference was the announcement of Trials of Mana, a complete remake of 1995’s Seiken Densetsu 3. While the fact that the third entry in the Mana series will be releasing worldwide is exciting on its own, we also got confirmation that it will be completely playable in both Japanese and English! In addition, there will be an array of subtitle options.
Destiny 2 Cross Play Not Made More Difficult by Being on Google Stadia
When Destiny 2 got cross-save functionality, it was a major milestone. Now the question on everyone’s mind may be whether it will ultimately get cross-platform play or not. Many have wondered whether bringing Destiny 2 to Google’s Stadia platform would throw a wrench into any sort of cross-play plans. Thankfully, though, it looks like Stadia has no major impact on introducing cross-play to a particular game, which may make fans elated.
Latest Cyberpunk 2077 Controversy Puts LGBTQ Depiction in Doubt
CD Projekt Red is once again finding itself in hot water. Cyberpunk 2077 had a major presence at E3 2019, getting a release date and Keanu Reeves as a character, but eagle-eyed users noticed an unfortunate in-game advertisement. It appears to portray a problematic (to say the least) depiction of a transgender character, one that has made many immediately question how Cyberpunk 2077 will ultimately handle LGBTQ+ depictions in the rest of the game.
There Will Not be a Marvels Avengers Open World Map
Marvel’s Avengers: A-Day was one of Square Enix’s heaviest hitters coming into E3 2019. While the initial reveal trailer wasn’t particularly gameplay-heavy, the game is in a playable form. As such, we’ve been getting more details on how Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will behave in the world of video games. Unlike a certain web-crawler who is known to cross pass with the super hero team, Marvel’s Avengers will not include an open-world map.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Development Length Unknown for Future Parts
Final Fantasy VII Remake is almost like a double-edged sword. While we finally have a release date, one that’s not so far away, we really don’t have any idea what exactly this release will consist of. It has been confirmed that Final Fantasy VII Remake will still be releasing in multiple parts, and while the first part has obviously been mapped out, the future is still up in the air.
Black Desert PS4 Release Announced for Later in 2019
Another major MMORPG will be coming to the PlayStation 4 soon. Developer Pearl Abyss officially announced that Black Desert will be heading to the platform later in 2019. While we’ll have to wait for a release date announcement, Black Desert will be available for preorder on July 2, 2019. The PlayStation 4 version follows releases on PC and the Xbox One. Black Desert originally released back in 2015 in Korea, and has since expanded to nations all over the world.
Battlefield 5 Chapter 4 Will Include Four Brand New Maps
EA wants Battlefield V fans to get excited about EA Play 2019. The publisher dropped a tantalizing new teaser regarding the fourth wave of content coming to DICE’s shooter, which will be known as “Chapter 4: Defying the Odds.” Not one, but four new maps were teased, with more information promised on June 8, 2018. We also got a glimpse of some further-out content, including what looks to be a trip to the Pacific.
PlayStation CEO Unsure if the PS5 Will be Sony's Last Traditional Console
There’s no denying that the games industry has been moving its way towards a predominantly digital future. For better or worse, both game publishers and console manufacturers have been going all-in on purely digital services and hardware. With that in mind, many are unsure as to whether or not the upcoming batch of consoles will be the last “traditional” ones. In fact, there’s a fairly high-profile name who’s appears to be just as unsure: PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan.
PlayStation Cloud Gaming Will be a Major Focus of Next-Gen for Sony
PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan recently sat down with CNET to talk about the company’s success and future. While the interview isn’t as much of a deep-dive as the one with Mark Cerny earlier in the year, it does provide some fascinating insight into PlayStation’s mindset going into the next generation of consoles. According to Ryan, “The landscape is changing fast.” Despite the PlayStation 4 closing in on 100 million units, he believes company still needs to adapt to an ever-changing industry.
Fatal Twelve PS4 Release Will Come with an English Language Option
While a Western release for the upcoming PlayStation 4 version of Fatal Twelve has not yet been announced, it has been confirmed that it will be released in Japan with an English language option! This means that even more fans will get the chance to experience this upcoming visual novel for themselves. It will debut on August 8, 2019, but it’s available to preorder on Play-Asia right now.
Death Stranding Release Date Finally Announced in New Trailer
After what felt like years of waiting, the much-hyped Death Stranding stream revealed a new full trailer, which included some surprises. As many had speculated, the newest look at Hideo Kojima’s newest game ended with a release date. To the surprise of many though, it’s set to release later in 2019. We’ll see it on November 9th, to be exact. This date had originally leaked prior to the stream. In addition, it’s officially available for preorder now, following another leak earlier.
Need for Speed 2019 Release Confirmed, Won't be at EA Play
EA announced a new Need for Speed in an almost offhanded way, being announced by COO and CFO Blake Jorgensen while giving the company’s financial results back in February 2019. Since then, word has been silent on the newest entry in the long-running franchise. However, the next Need for Speed has been somewhat reconfirmed, along with confirmation that it will be releasing sometime in 2019.
PlayStation Days of Play 2019 Details and Dates Announced
Sony has officially revealed details for the annual Days of Play celebration for 2019. The event will take place between June 7-17, 2019 and feature great deals on official PlayStation hardware and software. However, the highlight of Days of Play is no doubt the limited edition PlayStation 4 Steel Black Console. Officially going on sale on June 7th, the system may be a good way to show your love for Sony gaming products.
Launch Metro Exodus Sales Were the Biggest in THQ Nordic History
THQ Nordic had a very strong 2019 so far, mostly thanks to the release of Metro Exodus. Not only is it almost single-handedly responsible as a major increase in net sales, it’s become the biggest launch in the history of the THQ Nordic Group. The news was announced in a financial report for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. THQ Nordic earned around 1,630 million Swedish krona in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, which was an increase of a whopping 158%.
THQ Nordic Acquires ELEX Developer Piranha Bytes
THQ Nordic (of 8chan fame) has grown yet again, thanks to the acquisition of German studio Piranha Bytes. The developer is best known for its RPG series Gothic. This marks the latest purchase by THQ Nordic, which has become known from buying an unprecedented number of small studios and IP, many of them dormant. The terms of the acquisition, including price, were not disclosed.
Three Mystery Ubisoft Upcoming Games Announced
Ubisoft will release three unannounced AAA games in the current fiscal year, the publisher has revealed. The news was announced in Ubisoft’s earnings report for its fiscal year 2019. The three titles will release in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year, which takes place during January and March 2020. In the report, Ubisoft said it predicts a “strong growth” with the release of four AAA in the 2020 fiscal year, which ends in April 2020.
BAFTA Special Award Will be Presented to Epic Games
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has announced that video game developer and publisher Epic Games will be receiving a special award. The award will be presented during a special event at the London in West Hollywood on June 12, 2019, coinciding with E3 2019. The award is to commemorate Epic’s numerous contributions to the video game industry, most notably its creation of the Unreal Engine.
Castlevania Anniversary Collection Update Will Bring Japanese Variants
The Castlevania Anniversary Collection is coming very soon, giving players a chance to explore the beginnings of the legendary series. However, Konami is giving fans even more to look forward to. Details are slim at the moment, but Konami has confirmed that the collection will be receiving an update that will enable players to play “Japanese title variants” of the Castlevania titles. It will come “shortly after launch,” though that’s all the information we have at the moment.
Square Enix Fiscal Report Reveals Profits Have Dropped
Fiscal year 2019 was a big one for Square Enix, with the release of plenty of high-profile new games, including highly anticipated sequels like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Dragon Quest XI, and Kingdom Hearts III, as well as original releases like Octopath Traveler. However, due to the costs of launching such games, Square Enix saw a 28.5% drop in profits from the previous fiscal year. That is despite an increase in net sales of 8.2%.
Days Gone Launch in Japan Bigger than Horizon Zero Dawn, God of War
It looks like Days Gone is the next long-running franchise from Sony. It’s already had some strong sales numbers, but it had a horde-sized debut in Japan. Bend Studio’s newest title moved 114,319 units at launch, making it the third-highest debut of a Western-developed Sony title, behind only Marvel’s Spider-Man and Uncharted 4. That also means it beat heavyweights like God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn in that country. The numbers come from Famitsu’s sales charts.
EA Earnings for the Beginning of 2019 Down From 2018
EA released two high-profile games in the first quarter of 2019, Apex Legends and Anthem, and launched Battlefield V’s battle royale mode. However, the major publisher is having a rough start so far, as profits are down from 2018. EA’s net revenue for the beginning of 2019 was $1.2 billion, which is down from the $1.6 billion it made in 2018. In addition, net income was at $209 million, down from $607 million the year prior. EA held off on disclosing any sales figures for its titles.
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