Pokemon Sword And Shield Introduces New Rivals And Team

The Pokemon Company revealed more details about Pokemon Sword and Shield today in a Galar Research Update. The presentation showed some new Pokemon and variants, but the big reveals were your newest rivals and the new evil team you’ll be taking on.

The rivals are Bede and Marnie. Bede is a boy in a long maroon coat with curly hair. He’s described as a skilled trainer who has joined the Gym Challenge. Marnie is a girl in a leather jacket with a distinctly punk aesthetic. She’s also the ostensible head of Team Yell, a group of hooligans that are called “Marnie’s wild fans.” They’re similarly punk, and an accompanying press release says they try to interfere with other competitors to help Marnie take the championship.

The presentation also showed off several new Pokemon and variants, including a Hangry new Pokemon and the Galar-region version of Weezing in a fancy top hat. It’s fabulous and you can see it below.

The Pokemon Company also recently announced that it will be opening a Pokemon pop-up store in London this October, leading up to the November 15 launch of Sword and Shield. That will house Pokemon merch including some exclusives. We can only hope there’s a Galar Weezing plush.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-sword-and-shield-introduces-new-rivals-and/1100-6468957/

Watch The Pokemon Sword And Shield Galar Research Update

The Pokemon Company has teased “more information” on its upcoming Pokemon Sword and Shield titles. The new Galar Research Update will drop today, August 7, at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET / 2 PM BST / 11 PM AET.

We don’t yet know what information could be included in the update–the major details such as the games’ release date and legendaries have already been revealed. It’s possible we could learn more about the games’ evil team, who haven’t been revealed yet, or see some new creatures.

The most recent Galar Research Update brought news on Gigantamaxing, the Galar Pokemon League, and on the game’s Gym Leaders, among other details. We also learned Sword and Shield have version-exclusive gyms–for more check out all the differences between Pokemon Sword and Shield.

The games launch for Nintendo Switch on November 15. It’s unclear as of yet how many Pokemon will appear in the game, but we know you won’t be able to transfer every old monster to them–a decision that has proven so controversial that the games’ producer, Junichi Masuda, had to issue a statement addressing the drama. For more on the titles, be sure to check out our Pokemon Sword and Shield pre-order guide.

In other news, The Pokemon Company announced its plans for a Pokemon Center pop-up store in London in October. The store will be located in Westfield, Shepherd’s Bush, with further details to be revealed in the coming months.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-the-pokemon-sword-and-shield-galar-research-/1100-6468903/

Action adventure RPG ‘Decay of Logos’ launches later this month for consoles and PC

Action adventure RPG 'Decay of Logos' launches later this month for consoles and PC

An indie Fantasy/Adventure RPG lands later this month.

source /news/8808-action-adventure-rpg-decay-of-logos-launches-later-this-month-for-consoles-and-pc

Tactical RPG ‘Dark Envoy’ to release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in late 2020

Tactical RPG 'Dark Envoy' to release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in late 2020

A non-linear RPG inspired XCOM, FTL, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age.

source /news/8807-tactical-rpg-dark-envoy-to-release-on-playstation-4-xbox-one-and-pc-in-late-2020

Ninja Hits 1 Million Subscribers On Mixer

In one of the biggest moves ever in the game-streaming world, Tyler Blevins AKA Ninja recently quit Twitch to stream exclusively on Microsoft’s Mixer platform. His move to Mixer was immediately successful, it seems, as Ninja has racked up 1 million active subscribers in under a week.

That makes him among the most popular streamers on Mixer; this is the kind of quick success that Microsoft was likely looking for when recruiting him to the platform. Ninja’s rapid climb on Mixer was expected, given he tallied 100,000 subscribers in 24 hours.

It’s likely Microsoft paid Ninja to leave Twitch for Mixer, but no terms have been announced. Responding to the 1 million subscriber achievement, Ninja said, “Thank you for all the incredible support. I haven’t felt this good in a long time.”

Microsoft’s signing of Ninja comes not long after the company laid off content creators and producers at Mixer and Inside Xbox, according to GameDaily.

According to Ninja, nothing will change in terms of content on his streams for Mixer compared to Twitch. “It’s the same me, just a different platform,” he said. Intriguingly, Ninja also said he plans to “get back in touch with my roots” as it relates to streaming. That’s noteworthy because Ninja started out as a popular Halo streamer before going on newer titles; he is most recently famous for streaming Fornite. Microsoft’s next Halo game, Halo Infinite, launches in Holiday 2020.

Ninja coming to Mixer could be part of Microsoft’s plan to promote Halo Infinite, but nothing is confirmed at this stage.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ninja-hits-1-million-subscribers-on-mixer/1100-6468950/

Rocket League Removing Paid Crates Later This Year

Following its acquisition by Epic Games in May 2019, Rocket League developer Psyonix has starry plans for its vehicular soccer game. One of these plans includes the complete removal of “all paid, randomized crates” from the game later this year.

Pysonix confirmed in a brief blog post that the current paid, randomized loot boxes will be replaced by a new system that “shows the exact items you’re buying in advance.” The developer cited Fortnite‘s changes to V-Buck Llamas, which now display the contents before you buy them, as a point of reference. Pysonix said this decision reflects its “dedicat[ion] to creating the best possible experience for our players all over the world.”

There’s no confirmation as to when this new system will be implemented. Pysonix said that the new system will come “later this year” and that information about it will be shared “in the coming months.” Though paid, randomized crates will no longer be offered in Rocket League, Psyonix made it clear that Rocket Pass Premium, DLC Cars, and Esports Shop items will still be offered for direct purchase alongside the new system.

Loot boxes, much like crunch, are a hot-button topic in the games industry–particularly among elected officials. In April 2019, Pysonix axed loot boxes in two European countries because of “government regulations.” This follows a string of other games scrapping loot boxes, including Overwatch and Star Wars Battlefront II. Earlier this year, EA removed FIFA Points from FIFA in accordance with new laws in certain countries where the game thrives.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/rocket-league-removing-paid-crates-later-this-year/1100-6468948/

Light-Up Dock Shields Are The Switch Accessory I Never Knew I Needed (And They’re On Sale)

If you have a Nintendo Switch, chances are you have the standard, grey dock that came with the console (unless you sprung for special editions like the Pikachu and Eevee console or the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate one). I had accepted my plain, boring dock as a fact of life–until I spotted these PDP Switch dock shields that light up with Pikachu, Mario, or Legend of Zelda-inspired designs. They’re currently on sale for $15 and normally sell for $20, which is a great price considering these things are stunning.

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Legend of Zelda / Super Mario Odyssey Light-Up Dock Shield

$15 ($20)

See it at Amazon

There are two different dock shields available. One dock shield is Pokemon-themed, with a lightning-charged Pikachu on one side and a Poke Ball design on the other. The other dock shield is a Legend of Zelda / Super Mario Odyssey combo design–one side has a Sheikah crest pattern, and on the other side, you’ll find a Mario Odyssey theme. Both dock shields have 17 different colors and light effects, such as Flash Mode, Strobe Mode, and Smooth Mode. The product itself comes with an electronic base (that holds and connects to the dock via USB) and two acrylic panels that display the artwork.

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Pokemon Light-Up Dock Shield

$15 ($20)

See it at Amazon

Amazon’s product pictures (shown above) don’t really do it justice, so when you look at the listing, I recommend scrolling down to check out the photos customers have posted of the dock in action. The LED lights are vibrant and glow beautifully in a darkened room. There’s also a color cycle mode where you can customize the light effects to your preference, as well as a plain “on” mode. You can also just leave the lights off and enjoy the design itself (but at that point, you might as well just get a simple dock cover that doesn’t light up).

With 4.7 out of 5 stars and over 300 reviews, it’s clear this is one accessory Switch owners have put their stamp of approval on, and you’re getting a great deal at $15. Check out the dock shields at Amazon if you’re interested, and see some fan photos we spotted on Twitter below.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/light-up-dock-shields-are-the-switch-accessory-i-n/1100-6468941/

DuckTales Remastered Being Removed From Digital Storefronts

The old adage “good things don’t last forever” could not be more accurate, as Capcom has announced that DuckTales Remastered will leave digital storefronts very soon. The classic platformer is scheduled to be delisted beginning Thursday, August 8.

In a blog post on Capcom’s official website, the publisher explains DuckTales Remastered will be “75% off on most platforms” before getting removed digitally. It will remain purchasable until August 8 at 5 PM PT (for Xbox 360 and Xbox One via backwards compatibility), August 9 at 8 AM PT (for PS3), and August 9 at 4:59 PM PT (for Wii U). PC doesn’t have a specified date, but DuckTales Remastered will be delisted at 4:59 PM PT on the platform.

Capcom notes that those who bought DuckTales Remastered digitally can redownload it even after its removal (unlike Konami’s P.T., which was totally removed from the PlayStation Store back in May 2015). Further, those who own physical versions can install and play as normal. DuckTales Remastered can be purchased physically for $10 USD (on the Wii U) or $15 USD (on the other platforms) at GameStop.

In our DuckTales Remastered review, we said, “WayForward Technologies focused on the wrong elements in their attempt to bring DuckTales to the modern era. Getting the cartoon voice actors to reprise their roles is kind of neat, but now there are way too many tedious story segments. Meanwhile, the action has been made worse because of the less responsive controls, and there haven’t been any elements added to make the simple combat and jumping more interesting. DuckTales Remastered will make you doubt happy memories from your childhood, or leave you baffled as to why people were nostalgic for such dull platforming in the first place.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ducktales-remastered-being-removed-from-digital-st/1100-6468947/

Team Rocket Boss Giovanni Makes First Appearance In Pokemon Go

The final Pokemon Go Fest of the summer is now underway in Yokohama, Japan. As part of the event, special Pokemon like Shiny Poliwag and hat-wearing Pikachu are spawning in the wild around the world, but players at the venue have spotted another unusual sight: Team Rocket Leader Giovanni.

It appears the enigmatic Team Rocket boss is photobombing pictures that are taken using Pokemon Go’s AR Snapshot function. A similar situation occurred during Chicago’s Pokemon Go Fest this past this past June. During that event, Team Rocket grunts would similarly appear in screenshots that players took at the venue.

As we know, the villainous team would make their proper debut in the game several weeks after Chicago’s Pokemon Go Fest, which suggests that Giovanni is likewise on his way to the game. What his exact role will be is still unclear, but it seems like a safe bet that players will somehow be able to challenge him to a battle.

Team Rocket grunts are still periodically appearing in Pokemon Go. The evil trainers can be found at certain PokeStops, and when the Photo Disc at one of these stops is spun, they’ll emerge from hiding and challenge players to a battle using their Shadow Pokemon. If players can defeat the Rocket grunt, they’ll have a chance to rescue one of their Shadow Pokemon, which can then be purified for various benefits. You can read more in our Team Rocket Shadow Pokemon guide.

Even if you aren’t able to attend Yokohama’s Pokemon Go Fest in-person, you still have a chance to take part in the festivities. As previously mentioned, Shiny Poliwag will appear in the wild around the world for the duration of the event, and each day you’ll have another chance to capture a Pikachu wearing a different hat. Niantic is also holding global challenges that all players can contribute to, with another chance to encounter the Legendary Suicune awaiting if the challenge goals can be met.

In addition to Pokemon Go Fest, a gift-themed event is now underway in Pokemon Go. As part of the event, you’ll have a chance to hatch a Shiny Bonsly from the Eggs you receive in gifts. Rayquaza has also returned to Raid Battles until September 2, and this time, you may encounter its Shiny form. If you need help taking the Legendary on, be sure to check out our Rayquaza guide.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/team-rocket-boss-giovanni-makes-first-appearance-i/1100-6468940/