Pokemon Sword and Shield might have already been announced, but we now know there’s another new Pokemon game on the way from DeNA. The Japanese developer, which has partnered with Nintendo on a number of smartphone games before this, says it plans to launch a new mobile Pokemon game in the coming months.

“[We] plan to launch a new and exciting smartphone game this fiscal year based on the globally popular Pokemon franchise in partnership with The Pokemon Company,” DeNA stated in its latest financial report. “More details, such as information about the game and launch timing, will be announced later.” The current fiscal year ends on March 31, 2020, so we can expect the game to launch before then.

DeNA has previously made a number of games for Nintendo franchises, including Super Mario Run, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Miitomo, Fire Emblem Heroes, and the upcoming Mario Kart Tour. However, the developer has not been involved in any of the existing mobile Pokemon games, such as Pokemon Duel, Pokemon Shuffle, and Pokemon Quest.

Pokemon Sword and Shield are also due to launch in the next few months: no release date has been announced, but they’re scheduled to be released in 2019. We might learn more during Nintendo’s E3 2019 Direct presentation, which kicks off on June 11 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM BST (2 AM AET on June 12).

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/a-new-pokemon-mobile-game-is-in-development/1100-6466797/

Mortal Kombat 11 players recently received a thank you make-good gift of in-game currency across almost all platforms, and now Nintendo Switch has joined them. The latest patch for the Switch version adds the Community Thank You gift alongside a series of other balance fixes and other tweaks.

Most importantly, if you own the Switch version you’ll want to log on soon to claim the currency bundle. It will award you 500,000 Koins, 500 Hearts, 1,000 Souls, and 1,000 Time Crystals. That last currency is the premium type, equaling about $10, or enough for two of the premium skins. The other rewards are used to unlock chests in the Krypt. The bundle is only available for a limited time, so you’ll need to claim it by May 20, 2019 at 6 AM PST / 9 AM ET / 2 PM BST.

Those changes come alongside a huge host of improvements to the Towers of Time, which was commonly cited as a weak point in early reviews and player impressions. It tweaks the modifiers and difficulty curve, increases Koin rewards, and adjusts cooldowns and difficulty options. All of it is aimed at making the Towers less of a grind. You can read more about it in the full patch notes posted on Reddit.

“MK11 isn’t just a sequel for series fans and NetherRealm devotees, it’s a gateway into the realm of fighting games for anyone who has a passing interest in watching ruthless warriors beat each other silly,” Edmond Tran wrote in GameSpot’s review. “Streamlined mechanics keep the act of fighting furiously exciting no matter what your skill level, and comprehensive tutorials encourage you to dig into the nitty-gritty. There’s a diverse roster of interesting characters and playstyles, and the story mode is an entertaining romp. The randomization of Krypt rewards and the odd issue with the game’s always-online nature can occasionally chip away at your patience, but Mortal Kombat 11 absolutely hits where it matters.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mortal-kombat-11-switch-patch-adds-thank-you-rewar/1100-6466795/

The popular free-to-play Nintendo Switch game Tetris 99 is expanding. A new paid DLC, Big Block, is available today, and it adds multiple offline modes and more.

The $10 Big Block DLC adds the following modes:

• CPU Battle — Lets you play offline against 98 CPU opponents.
• Marathon — Clear as many lines as you can.

These modes are playable offline, and that’s notable because the main Tetris 99 experience is an online-only game. It also means that you no longer need to have a Nintendo Switch Online membership to play Tetris 99 (if you buy the $10 DLC).

Nintendo also announced more details on the next Maximum Cup online event for Tetris 99. Maximus Cup 3 begins May 17, and just like the previous ones, you get points for the matches you play regardless of how you finish. Those who get 100 points or more will receive a new theme modeled after the original Game Boy. The event runs until May 19 at 11:59 PM PT.

Nintendo teased that it will announce even more new modes for Tetris 99 at a later date.

Tetris 99 has been very successful. Just this week, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa talked about how the game has “helped maintain Nintendo Switch engagement” and also get more people to sign up for Nintendo Switch Online.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tetris-99-adds-paid-dlc-that-introduces-offline-mo/1100-6466790/

The massive scale of Monster Hunter World is set to grow even bigger this year with the release of Iceborne. Launching on September 6 for the PS4 and Xbox One, with the PC release coming later this winter, you’ll be able to explore the new region of Hoarfrost Reach, unearthing new challenges and gear to craft. To celebrate the launch of Monster Hunter World’s expansion, players who haven’t had the chance to dive into the game will be able to purchase the Master Edition of the game, which features all existing content along with the Iceborne expansion. At launch, this edition of the game will cost $60.

During Capcom’s Monster Hunter livestream, the developer detailed what to expect from Iceborne, and how much there is to find in the new expansion. For fans who’ve already spent hundreds of hours hunting and crafting new gear, you’ll be able to buy the expansion separately for $40 MSRP. There’s also a special deluxe edition of Iceborne, which includes special items and gear, including a new Yukumo armor set and additional items for your hunter.

Iceborne features a massive amount of new content to uncover. In addition to new challenges to tackle, there’s also a suite of new upgrades and gadgets to use, including a new grappling hook and modifiers to existing gear. Moreover, there’s also a suite of new monsters to battle, such as the brute wyvern Banbaro and the new elite monster Velkana.

In our review of 2018’s Monster Hunter World, Ginny Woo gave the game a 9/10 and stated:

“Ever since the title was first announced, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It’s not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large.”

Be sure to check out our more detailed breakdown of Iceborne following Capcom’s livestream, along with some of the highlights from Sony’s recent State Of Play.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/monster-hunter-world-iceborne-will-launch-with-a-n/1100-6466788/