Assassins, heed the call: ‘Hitman 2’ launches this fall, pre-order bonus now live
Warner Bros. Games and IO Interactive revealed Hitman 2, a direct sequel to the 2016 title, will launch on Xbox One, PS4, and PC on November 13. Unlike its predecessor, Hitman 2 won't be episodic. If you pre-order now, you'll gain access to a brand-new online co-op mode right now in Hitman.
‘Forsaken’ looks to reinvent your ‘Destiny 2’ experience on September 4
Much like The Taken King, Destiny 2's Forsaken expansion looks to reinvent the game in meaningful ways. Launching on September 4, Forsaken takes players to The Tangled Shore to square off against a new species of enemy. A new raid, an interesting multiplayer mode, and welcome weapon changes are also inbound.
Microsoft’s E3 sale includes the first discount on the Xbox One X
Microsoft is temporarily slashing the price of the Xbox One X for the first time during its E3 sale. The premium console will be available for $450 -- 50 bucks off from June 7 until June 23. Xbox One S consoles will also drop 50 bucks, and more than 300 games will be on sale for up to 75 percent off.
Bungie will reveal the latest on new ‘Destiny 2’ content next week
On June 5, Bungie will announce Destiny 2's year two content plans in a Twitch stream. With E3 right around the corner, it's possible Bungie uses this time to tease the game's fall expansion, which will likely be more substantial than the first two expansions. A full expansion reveal is expected at E3.
Insomniac to unveil an open-world Oculus Rift game on June 7
It turns out Insomniac has been working on more than just Spider-Man these past few years. On June 7, the acclaimed independent studio will reveal its next VR game for Oculus Rift. This marks Insomniac's fourth game with Oculus, and judging by the hints, the upcoming game will be the most ambitious yet.
‘Battlefield V’ minimum system specs mirror those of ‘Battlefield 1’
Although the recently unveiled Battlefield V is five months away, we already know the minimum PC system requirements. While they are higher than the typical AAA PC game, if you played Battlefield 1, you're in the clear. Recommended specs haven't been revealed, but they are probably quite demanding.
The Days of Play limited-edition PlayStation 4 sure is a beauty
Sony's Days of Play promotion returns this year with discounts on hardware, accessories, and games, including price slashes on the PS4 Pro, PSVR, and numerous exclusives such as God of War. The annual promotion also features a slick royal blue limited-edition PlayStation 4 with a matching controller.
Bethesda tweets a tease for an upcoming Fallout announcement
Bethesda tweeted Fallout's signature testing screen alongside the words "Please Stand By." With E3 a couple weeks away, it seems likely the studio will reveal a Fallout project during its press conference. It's almost definitely not Fallout 5, but it could very well be a Fallout 3 remaster.
‘Madden NFL 19’ kicks off early on August 10 for PS4 and Xbox One
Madden arrives early this year. EA Sports announced Madden NFL 19 will launch August 10 on Xbox One and PS4. Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens is the cover athlete for the special edition, and changes are coming to franchise mode and Ultimate Team. No word yet on if Longshot will return.
Xbox One ‘PUBG’ players can now get lost in the desert of Miramar
PUBG's second map, Miramar, has finally arrived on Xbox One. The map originally launched on PC six months ago, just prior to PUBG's Xbox Preview release. The map comes alongside a few new weapons and vehicles created for Miramar's wide open desert spaces. There's also two new limited time DLC packs.
‘H1Z1’ PS4 open beta has already brought in more than 1.5 million players
H1Z1, the battle royale game that started the craze, made its PS4 debut early this week. The open beta saw 200,000 concurrent players just hours after it went live and has brought in more than 1.5 million players in all. And the PS4 version doesn't even have Auto Royale yet. Its future appears bright.
Goodbye, old friend: Online game ‘RuneScape Classic’ to shut down after 17 years
RuneScape Classic, the original version of the popular MMORPG, will go offline in August. The development team cited the inability to patch the game and respond to nefarious behavior as reasons the game needs to be shut down. Old School RuneScape and the current version of the game will still be supported.
Nintendo starts banning Switch hackers from online services
Nintendo is starting to ban users who hack the Nintendo Switch. The ban removes the ability to enter the eShop, play multiplayer games, and use social features, though you can still receive game updates. The bans come after a major and unpatchable exploit was discovered in the Switch's hardware.
Citing morality standard, Australia’s ratings board rejects ‘We Happy Few’
The psychedelic dystopian survival game We Happy Few was apparently deemed too over the top for the Australian Classification Board. We Happy Few joins a group of games that were initially denied release by Australia's version of the ESRB, including Saints Row IV and South Park: The Stick of Truth.
So long, EA Sports: ‘The Golf Club’ developer secures PGA Tour license
HB Studios, the developer of The Golf Club series, has secured PGA Tour licensing for the third entry in the franchise, The Golf Club 2019. Along with an authentic PGA Tour career mode, the game will feature six real courses at launch, including TPC Sawgrass, the famous site of The Players Championship.
Back to World War II? ‘Battlefield V’ will be revealed on May 23
Thanks to some expert Battlefield 1 Easter egg hunters, we know the next Battlefield game will be revealed on May 23. After a year of work, players unlocked a door on a multiplayer map that led to a room with a dripping pipe. The drips were Morse code, leading to a teaser site for a game called Battlefield V.
‘The Crew 2’ drives, sails, and flies into closed beta May 31
Ubisoft has announced a closed beta for The Crew 2 that will run from May 31 to June 4. The beta will give users a chance to try out the four vehicle classes, including the brand-new additions, boats and planes. The beta will give us a good idea as to whether the technical issues of the original still exist.
‘Doom’ creator John Carmack reminisces about working with Steve Jobs
In a long Facebook post, Doom creator John Carmack discussed his fraught yet productive working relationship with Steve Jobs. All of the prickly Jobs anecdotes are here, but Carmack's post reminds that Jobs could be receptive to ideas, even when they were about games, a medium he wasn't a fan of.
Designer Cliff Bleszinski’s Boss Key Productions closes its doors after 4 years
Cliff Bleszinski's independent venture Boss Key Productions is shutting down, the veteran game designer announced on Twitter. Boss Key's two games, LawBreakers and Radical Heights, both failed to find audiences. Bleszinski also announced he will take an indefinite leave from the industry.
‘Rage 2’ is all the rage on Twitter; announcement appears imminent
Over the past couple of days, Bethesda has dropped several hints about a follow-up to its 2011 open-world shooter Rage. The latest hints suggest the studio is planning an announcement on May 14, and all signs point to Rage 2. This comes after Walmart inadvertently leaked stock box art for the game.
Japanese game company SNK revives 40 classic games with the Neo Geo mini
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, SNK has announced the Neo Geo mini. The console comes with a built-in 3.5-inch screen and is loaded with 40 games, including the original Metal Slug and The King of Fighters '98. Two versions will be produced for Japan and overseas markets, with different colors.
‘Dota 2’ is hopping on the battle royale train in its own unique way
Dota 2's 2018 International Battle Pass brings three new game modes to the popular MOBA, including one that definitely sounds like a battle royale mode. The Underhollow tasks a bunch of teams of three to search for Roshan's cheese and battle to the death...and the playing field progressively shrinks.
Xbox One sales figures are shockingly low, less than half of the PS4
In an earnings call, EA CEO Andrew Wilson revealed the combined sales of PS4 and Xbox One through 2017 to be about 103 million. Although Microsoft doesn't release sales figures, it's easy to deduce that the Xbox One is trailing the PS4 by a wide margin, and the Nintendo Switch could surge past it, too.
Who says print is dead? Nintendo turns its attention to kids’ activity books
Nintendo has partnered with Random House to release a series of coloring and activity books based on popular Nintendo franchises including Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing and Splatoon. Three books are slated for July, following the two sticker books that launched earlier this year.
‘Beat Saber’ becomes highest-rated Steam game on Star Wars Day
Beat Saber, a new VR title for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, has become the highest rated Steam game of all-time a few days after launch. Although not affiliated with the Star Wars franchise, the inspiration is clear, and Beat Saber just so happened to accomplish this mighty feat on Star Wars day.
Nintendo Labo: Here’s how to make your own apps in the Toy-Con Garage
If you have built all of your Toy-Cons and are growing tired of the apps, perhaps it's time to make some Labo creations of your own? With the Toy-Con garage, you can make games and even put your Toy-Cons to new use. Here's how to get started with Nintendo Labo's node-based programming suite.
Warmind update will make ‘Destiny 2’ exotic weapons much more powerful
In a developer video released ahead of Destiny 2's third season, which starts May 8, Bungie detailed changes to exotic weapons. Essentially, exotics will be more sought-after due to increased attack power and Masterworks. There's also a pretty sweet reward for rising up the ranks in Crucible in season 3.
Nintendo Labo can be a teaching tool for parents, too
I became interested in Nintendo Labo because I thought my seven-year-old daughter would have fun with it and learn some basic engineering. That’s been true, but I didn’t anticipate Nintendo Labo would also push me to do something that is often hard for a father — sit back and let her figure it out.
Nintendo Labo: Tips for a clean and efficient building experience
Nintendo Labo, the latest quirky Nintendo product, revolves around building cardboard toys. Thanks to solid instructions, none of them are particularly challenging or confusing to put together, but there are some things you should know to avoid frustration and enjoy a stress-free building experience.
