Yakuza Kiwami 2 rated for PC release by ESRB
It seems more Yakuza series games will release for the platform in the near future.
source /news/8384-yakuza-kiwami-2-rated-for-pc-release-by-esrb
Super Neptunia RPG to release on Steam this Summer
Still waiting on a date for the console versions.
source /news/8383-super-neptunia-rpg-to-release-on-steam-this-summer
Google Maps Creates “New” Snake Game; Will Be Available For One Week
Google Maps has released a “new game” for April Fool’s Day called Snake. The title is free-to-play, and doesn’t require any sort of download. This new game does actually exist, unlike some other April Fools’ Day jokes, and you can play it right now. The joke Google is making is that Snake–a game that’s decades old–is somehow new.
Google’s Snake is relatively simple. After booting it up, you select one of seven different locations–Cairo, São Paulo, London, Sydney, San Francisco, Tokyo, or the whole world. You then take control of a train that’s constantly moving forward, which you can redirect with the arrow keys on your computer. Your goal is to pick up passengers and drop them off at city landmarks, all while avoiding driving into the ocean. As you pick up passengers, the train grows longer, making it easier for you to accidentally corner yourself.
According to GameSpot sister site CNET, a Google spokesperson said that Snake will remain available to play on Google Maps for about a week. This isn’t the first time Google has made an old-school style game for April Fools’ Day, as, back in 2015, a Pac-Man game was added to Google Maps. For more gaming-related April Fool’s Day gags going on this year, check out our round-up.
The original Snake released on the Nokia 6110 back in 1997. In it, you did play as an actual snake. The mechanics and goals of the game are similar to Google Maps’ title, only you were eating little dots as opposed to picking up passengers.
Google recently made a fairly large splash in the gaming industry with the announcement of Stadia, a cloud-based streaming service designed solely for video games. The service is scheduled to launch in the US, Canada, UK, and most of Europe within 2019. Both Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Doom Eternal have been confirmed for the platform. With Stadia, games can be streamed to any Google-connected device, whether that’s a mobile phone, tablet, computer, or TV. We had the opportunity to try Stadia at GDC 2019, and though we weren’t blown away, Google’s service has potential.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/google-maps-creates-new-snake-game-will-be-availab/1100-6465956/
PlayerUnknown Is Done With Battle Royale, Won’t Make PUBG 2
Battle royale is everywhere, from Battlefield V to Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. Even Tetris has been infected, with Tetris 99 offering the same every-player-for-themself design in the Tetris universe. While the genre’s overflowing with a myriad of titles, the man who popularized it in the video game space, Brendan “PlayerUnknown” Greene, is moving on to something new.
Greene recently announced that his “new day-to-day focus will be heading up to a new division of PUBG Corp.: PUBG Special Projects.” Green served as both the director and designer of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and while he’ll “remain as a consulting creative director on PUBG,” he’s leaving the project behind to concentrate on new initiatives for the company. He’s also leaving PUBG Corp.’s headquarters in Seoul, which will continue to work on PUBG, and moving to the newly-established Amsterdam office where he’ll put his attention “on building out an entirely new division to focus on research & game development.”
In a new interview, Greene signaled that he’s also done with the battle royale genre. “The last man standing concept is great, but I’ve done that,” Greene said in a GamesIndustry.biz interview. “I don’t really intend to make PUBG 2. I’ve done battle royale, it’s time to try something else.” Greene also doesn’t have much interest in players killing each other anymore, either. “I think I’ve provided others with a good way of killing each other. But I want to explore some other things.”
So what exactly is Greene doing now? According to GI.Biz, PUBG Corp. CEO Chang Han Kim approached Greene about taking the ideas in his head and “[turning them] into something that may be playable.” Kim’s allowing Greene to form a new team in a new location to create new things. The purpose of Special Projects, it seems, is to experiment. There are no in-depth details “because I don’t have them yet,” Greene said, but he does want to continue “[exploring] online experiences and how to connect people in ways that we haven’t really done before.”
Greene’s considered the father of the battle royale gaming genre. With both H1Z1 and PUBG, Greene’s proved that it’s possible–albeit difficult–to strike gold twice. However, according to Greene, there’s no pressure to strike gold again with Special Projects. “There is no deadline here, this is us with a few years to play,” he said. “Gaming and the industry has become so hard this is a very lucky thing to have. We can genuinely explore and be curious for some time.”
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playerunknown-is-done-with-battle-royale-wont-make/1100-6465950/
Sega Genesis Mini Release Date, Game List, And Pre-Order Guide
Releasing mini versions of classic consoles is an ongoing trend that took off with Nintendo’s SNES and NES Classics and continued with Sony’s PlayStation Classic. Now Sega is throwing its hat into the ring–the company announced March 30 that its own nostalgia console, the Genesis Mini (or Mega Drive Mini, for those in Europe), will launch worldwide on September 19.
The Genesis Mini will cost $80 / £70/ €80 / AUD $140 and comes with 40 games. Only 10 games have been confirmed so far: Sonic the Hedgehog, Ecco the Dolphin, Castlevania: Bloodlines, Space Harrier 2, Shining Force, Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, ToeJam & Earl, Comix Zone, Altered Beast, and Gunstar Heroes. According to Sega, the rest of the games will be announced intermittently leading up to the console’s release date.
Based on the Model 1 Genesis, the mini console is about 55 percent smaller than the original and comes with two classic three-button controllers, a USB-to-Micro-B power cable, and an HDMI cable. If you live in America, a power adapter will also come with it.
If you’re itching to play all those old-school games from your childhood ASAP, there’s another option: the Analogue Mega Sg, which is more expensive at nearly $200 but comes with more adaptability. You can read more on that in our Mega Sg review. In the meantime, the Sega Genesis Mini is already available for pre-order–more info on that below.
Pre-order the Sega Genesis Mini
A few retailers already have listings for the Sega Genesis Mini, and we’ll update this story as more become available. The Sega Genesis Mini is offering twice the number of games that the PlayStation Classic had for $20 less, so we expect it’ll sell out quickly, just as the SNES Classic and NES Classic both did. So if you want the Sega Genesis Mini, consider pre-ordering now before scalpers get their hands on the console.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-genesis-mini-release-date-game-list-and-pre-o/1100-6465948/
Rainbow Six Siege Kicks Off Ridiculously Colorful April Fools’ Event
April 1 has arrived, and in the spirit of April Fools’ Day, Ubisoft has kicked off a ridiculous new event in Rainbow Six Siege. The Rainbow Is Magic event is now live across PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and it introduces a special playlist along with an assortment of colorful new cosmetic items in the popular tactical shooter.
For a limited time, players can take on a special rescue mission set in a redesigned, candy-colored version of the Plane map. The object: safely retrieve a VIP teddy bear from the vehicle. For this mission, players will be able to choose between four Operators–Blackbeard, Montagne, Smoke, and Tachanka–and nine “toy soldiers.”
In addition to the special mission, Ubisoft has rolled out a new line of exclusive Rainbow Is Magic cosmetics. The collection consists of 17 colorful items ranging from BDUs to headgear. Players will receive one free Rainbow Is Magic Pack when they log in during the event and can earn additional ones by completing Ubisoft Club Challenges or purchasing them for 300 R6 Credits. As with other Rainbow Six Siege loot packs, there will be no duplicate items.
The Rainbow Is Magic event runs until April 8, while the Rainbow Is Magic cosmetic packs will be available for an additional week until April 15. You can read more details about the event on the official Rainbow Six Siege website and on Xbox Wire.
In addition to Rainbow Six Siege, Ubisoft is holding a ridiculous, 24-hour April Fools’ event in its swordfighting game, For Honor. Until 9 PM PT on April 1 (12 AM ET on April 2), players can take on swarms of Rabbids, and everyone who participates will get a melee pack. You can watch footage of the Rabbids crossover on YouTube and see all the other April Fools’ pranks and events going on in games in our big roundup.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/rainbow-six-siege-kicks-off-ridiculously-colorful-/1100-6465951/
Wrestlemania: Someone May Win $1 Million If They Can Beat AJ Styles At WWE 2K19
When 2K released its latest installment of its wrestling series, WWE 2K19, there was an interesting challenge included in the game. If the player could beat an ultra-hard mode, they would have a chance to face WWE superstar AJ Styles in a one-on-one match, and if successful, they’d win $1 million. And the finals for the event will take place during Wrestlemania weekend.
On Friday, April 5, 2K and WWE will host the semifinals for the Million Dollar Challenge at Wrestlemania Axxess at Pier 12 in Brooklyn, New York. The finals will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and those who aren’t in attendance will be able to at least watch the finale, which is taking place during the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn preshow. At 6:30 ET, it will be streamed on multiple platforms: Fox Sports digital platforms, WWE Network, WWE on YouTube, WWE 2K on Facebook and Twitter, on-demand after air on the USA Network.
During the event, WWE superstar Kofi Kingson, Big E, Paige, Ember Moon, and the Miz will be in attendance to coach the final four participants. The winner of the challengers will then take on AJ Styles one-on-one. If they win, they’ll be awarded with $1 million. Gregory Davis from Jacksonville, Florida; Stephan T. Benson from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; David Hoey from Sydney, Australia; and Roman Droßard from Pfalzfeld, Germany are the final four that will compete in this tournament.
Head back to GameSpot during Wrestlemania week for coverage of the Million Dollar Challenge from the event, including interviews with competitors and WWE superstars as well as live results and a review of Wrestlemania.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wrestlemania-someone-may-win-1-million-if-they-can/1100-6465952/
Stolen Metro Exodus Steam Keys Deactivated, Game Removed From Owners’ Libraries
Metro Exodus going exclusive to the Epic Games Store was a controversial move for publisher Deep Silver. Valve called the move “unfair to Steam customers,” apologizing for the short window the company had to inform customers that Metro Exodus wouldn’t be available through its platform. Despite this, Steam keys for the game were sold online, and it turns out that those keys were stolen–and have now been deactivated as a result.
According to an update on the game’s official Steam page, these keys for Metro Exodus on Valve’s platform will no longer work. “These keys have been obtained illegally from the factory where physical key printing had taken place prior to the announcement of exclusivity with Epic Games,” publisher Deep Silver wrote. “Due to the criminal nature of these keys, all unlicensed keys have been deactivated and activation/download of Metro Exodus without the executable file is no longer possible.”
Further, Metro Exodus will be removed from your games library if you got one of these illegal Steam keys. “In addition, the software will be removed from the Steam library of any players using an unauthorized code. The keys being sold on this platform are stolen goods, and are therefore illegal.”
So what’s Deep Silver’s recommendation after the company removes the game from your games library? “If you have been affected we strongly recommend you contact the seller who sold you the unlicensed key and demand a refund,” it said.
Deep Silver says only two distributors were legally authorized to sell Metro Exodus on PC at launch: Humble Bundle and the Razer store. While the game’s currently exclusive to the Epic Games Store, Metro Exodus will be sold on Steam after February 14, 2020.
Metro Exodus recently received a New Game Plus in the Ranger Update, a 6GB update that adds a host of new features and various tweaks. In addition to New Game Plus, the Ranger Update comes with a fourth controller sensitivity preset, platform-specific improvements and additions, addresses numerous bugs and crashes, and adds full Ukrainian localization. The Ranger Update is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/stolen-metro-exodus-steam-keys-deactivated-game-re/1100-6465945/
Borderlands 3’s Release Date May Have Leaked
Borderlands 3 had weeks of build-up for a PAX East announcement that put a proverbial ring on it, officially announcing the anticipated loot-shooter. But like a Russian nesting doll, that was yet another teaser, for more details to come on April 3. Those details may have leaked, with a social media post that appears to have dropped the release date.
The official Borderlands account tweeted (and subsequently deleted) word that the game is coming on September 13, and teased a Gold Weapon Skins Pack for pre-orders. The tweet is still visible through Archive.org, so we can say with certainty that it did exist at one point. Another tweet made a second mention of a Gold Weapons Skins pack, and yet another contained a video ad that showed the Epic Store logo. This suggests the game may be the latest to see an exclusive release there, rather than on Steam.
It is April 1, mind, so these accidental leaks may not be accidental at all, and instead a bit of playful high-level trolling. Still, this at least makes a September 13 release date, and exclusivity on the Epic Store, distinct possibilities. We’ll probably know for sure once the official reveal event comes on April 3.
For better or worse, the initial reveal trailer left us a bit underwhelmed, so the event later will give Gearbox a chance to show off the game in detail. So far we only know what we could glean from the initial trailers, so check out everything we know.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/borderlands-3s-release-date-may-have-leaked/1100-6465949/
Pokemon Go Brings Back Ash Hat Pikachu For April Fools’ Day
April Fools’ Day is here, and like many other developers, Niantic is celebrating with a special event in Pokemon Go. Last year, the developer memorably replaced the game’s 3D Pokemon models with 8-bit sprites, but this year, it’s giving players another chance to capture a Pikachu wearing Ash Ketchum’s signature hat from the Pokemon anime series.
Throughout the day, you’ll be able to come across a hat-wearing Pikachu when you take pictures using the new Go Snapshot feature. Like Smeargle, the Pikachu–or even Ash himself–will potentially photobomb the pictures you take; if that happens, back out of the mode and the Pikachu will appear in the wild, giving you an opportunity to catch it.
This marks the first time in more than a year that Ash’s hat Pikachu has been available in Pokemon Go. Niantic first introduced it as part of the game’s anniversary event, although there have been numerous other hat-wearing Pikachu since, such as a Santa hat Pikachu during the game’s annual winter event.
This also marks your final chance to catch Giratina in its Altered Forme. The Legendary Gen 4 Pokemon returned to Raid Battles last week following Dialga’s departure. Starting 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET, Giratina will transform into its Origin Forme–the more serpent-like appearance it takes in Pokemon Platinum–until it leaves Raid Battles on April 29. You can find tips on how to catch Giratina here.
Niantic is also kicking off a Bug Out event on April 2, during which Bug-type Pokemon will appear more frequently and Incenses will last twice as long as normal. Following that, the developer is hosting this month’s Pokemon Go Community Day on April 13. The featured Pokemon this time will be Bagon, the base form of the popular Dragon Pokemon Salamence.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-brings-back-ash-hat-pikachu-for-april-f/1100-6465947/
