Bethesda Opens New Studio As Prey Dev Closes Its Doors

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Bethesda has announced the closure of Human Head studios, alongside the opening of a new studio composed of some of its key staff members. The new developer is called Roundhouse Studios and will operate out of Madison, Wisconsin. Bethesda says it will immediately begin work on unannounced projects.

“Sadly, we had to wind down the business of Human Head Studios and close its doors, which was particularly devastating due to the passion and creativity of the team we’d assembled,” said Roundhouse creative director Chris Rhinehart, in the announcement. “We reached out to our friends at Bethesda for help, and they saw that same creativity and passion in our team. With the formation of Roundhouse Studios, Bethesda offered every employee of Human Head a position at the new company. We are excited our team will remain together, pursuing the work we love, as part of a company we already know and admire.”

Todd Vaughn, senior VP of development at Bethesda, said the company is “excited by the opportunity to bring under the Bethesda umbrella this talented, established development team.”

This announcement was made in conjunction with an update from Human Head announcing the closure. Rune 2, which recently launched on the Epic Games Store, will be its last game under that studio name.

“We want to thank all of you for your incredible support over the last 22 years,” the update reads. “Your passion and excitement for games is what has driven and motivated us for many, many years. We’re really excited for what the future holds for us and look forward to you joining us on this new adventure.”

Human Head was founded in 1997 and also operated out of Madison. It’s known for its work on Prey, BioShock Infinite, and The Quiet Man.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bethesda-opens-new-studio-as-prey-dev-closes-its-d/1100-6471406/

Pokemon Sword And Shield Review Roundup

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Pokemon has appeared on Nintendo Switch with Pokken Tournament and the Let’s Go games, but Pokemon Sword and Shield marks the series’ big generation-shifting debut on Nintendo’s latest hardware. And like each new generation, that means new characters, a new region, and a bunch of new monsters to collect.

Reviews for Pokemon Sword and Shield have started to publish ahead of its release on November 15. The critics agree that this edition of the long-running series trims some of its more unwieldy elements but keeps the most important elements well intact and more streamlined. That opinion was reflected in GameSpot’s Pokemon Sword and Shield review.

“In collecting, battling, and exploring, Sword and Shield cut out the bloat and focus on what makes these pillars of the Pokemon games so captivating in the first place,” Kallie Plagge wrote. “You’re not held back by overly complicated back-end systems or hoops to jump through; from the outset, you can start wandering the Galar region, seeing its new Pokemon, and trying out its new battle strategies with very little in your way. This leaves you free to enjoy what Pokemon is all about, and that makes for an incredibly strong showing for the series’ proper debut on Switch.”

We’ve collected a smattering of critical opinions below. For an even wider view, check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

  • Game: Pokemon Sword and Shield
  • Platforms: Nintendo Switch
  • Developer: Game Freak
  • Release date: November 15
  • Price: $60 / £45 / $62 AUD

GameSpot – 9/10

“With each new Pokemon game comes a new set of Pokemon, mechanics, and a region to discover, and Sword and Shield are no exception. The vibrant Galar region is a consistent delight to explore, incentivizing and rewarding collecting and battling in equal measure, and grandiose battles add an exciting dimension to the familiar Gym formula to deliver an engaging adventure beginning to end. But most notably, Sword and Shield cut down on the tedious and protracted elements from previous games in favor of amplifying what makes Pokemon great in the first place. This is the most balanced a Pokemon game has felt in a long time, and with that, Sword and Shield mark the best new generation of Pokemon games in years.” – Kallie Plagge [Full Review]

IGN – 9.3/10

“Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield are closer to my dream Pokemon RPGs than anything that’s come before. I’d still like better cutscenes, companion Pokemon, the complete Pokedex, and a more visually interesting Wild Area, but nitpicks are just not very effective when everything else was such a complete joy to play. The way they respect my time is wonderful, and the removal of monotony from random encounters and other odds and ends distills it down to only the pure and charming fun of capturing, training, and battling wonderful creatures. And hey, if I’m missing any tedious repetition, I can always get back into breeding.” – Casey DeFreitas [Full Review]

GamesRadar – 4.5/5

“Thankfully though, this is a seriously memorable Pokemon adventure. The story delivers enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, steeped in the kinds of myths and legends that you forget the British Isles are chock-full of. It might lack the puzzling areas of previous series’ entries like Silph Co, but there’s plenty to love about Pokemon Sword and Shield, especially the loveable cast of characters, and the impeccable attention to detail in the Galar region both visually and in terms of the regional dialogue. It’s a great way to start the next core generation of Pokemon games.” – Sam Loveridge [Full Review]

Game Informer – 8.75/10

“Pokemon Sword & Shield are strong first attempts for the series’ full transition to consoles. While some frustrations hold it back from true legendary status, this new generation proves the Pokemon franchise is still great more than two decades after its debut.” – Brian Shea [Full Review]

VG247 – 3/5

“Pokemon Sword & Shield is all too often a bit disappointing, and in some places actually feels a little unfinished, but it also fully provides that warm, fuzzy feeling that one expects from the series. Crucially, even through frustration, never once did I think about putting it down, which is to its credit. It comes recommended almost for the Galar setting and new Pokemon alone, but with a long list of caveats indeed. With the level of fan hyperbole surrounding this release, that recommendation is worth repeating and underscoring–but this is not the revolution that was promised or hoped for, and some may prefer to wait for a sale or wait and see if an improved, definitive release is on the cards.” – Alex Donaldson [Full Review]

US Gamer – No Score

“Pokemon Sword and Shield for the Nintendo Switch is a solid reminder that Pokemon will probably never run out of the stardust that helps keep it an endearing franchise for old and young alike. It’s also a solid reminder that Game Freak is unlikely to unchain itself from the ‘Three Starters, Eight Gyms’ formula that launched Pokemon into the stratosphere to begin with.” – Nadia Oxford [Review in Progress]

The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-sword-and-shield-review-roundup/1100-6471400/

Yakuza: Like a Dragon demo releases on Japanese PSN store with a new trailer

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Yakuza: Like a Dragon demo releases on Japanese PSN store with a new trailer

The Dragon of Dojima and the Koi-Ryu of Ijincho meet face to face.

source /news/9172-yakuza-like-a-dragon-demo-releases-on-japanese-psn-store-with-a-new-trailer

Xbox Live Deals With Gold And Spotlight Sale For November 12-18–Here Are This Week’s Bargains

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This week’s Xbox Live Deals with Gold and Spotlight Sale discounts are now live for Xbox One and Xbox 360, serving up plenty of savings on digital titles. The Xbox One list contains a lot of indies this week, with the big headliner being Cities: Skylines, which is currently discounted by 75%. There are certainly some other interesting titles in here though, including The Count Lucanor and Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles.

The list of discounted Xbox 360 titles is shorter, but no less interesting. Curio RPG Resonance of Fate is half off, as are several Sonic the Hedgehog titles, just in time to celebrate the blue blur’s new movie trailer. If you want to finally pick up Sonic CD, now’s the time.

Prices will vary between regions, but below are the discounts and store links for this week’s titles.

Xbox One

Xbox 360

These deals will remain up until November 18, so you’ve got a week to take advantage. If you’re after more bargains, check out our Black Friday hub for all the best savings on games out there right now.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-live-deals-with-gold-and-spotlight-sale-for-n/1100-6471397/

Mario Kart Tour Microtransactions “Off To A Good Start,” Nintendo Says

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Nintendo expects big things from the newly released mobile racing game, Mario Kart Tour. President Shuntaro Furukawa said in a recent earnings Q&A that the Japanese gaming giant expects the mobile game to have great results. It has big shoes to fill, as Super Mario Run has been downloaded more than 300 million times, but things are going well already.

Mario Kart Tour released at the end of September, and Furukawa said the game got off to a “very good start” compared to Nintendo’s previous mobile games. “Continuing on from Super Mario Run, which more than 300 million consumers are enjoying, I think we can expect remarkable results with Mario Kart Tour,” Furukawa said.

Despite the millions of downloads, Nintendo went on record to say that Super Mario Run was a disappointment as it relates to revenue. That game is free-to-start, and players need to spend $10 to unlock the full game.

That’s a different payment model than Mario Kart Tour, and the shift seems to be paying off. Mario Kart Tour is a free-to-play title supported by microtransactions. Furukawa said of the game’s profitability so far that “earnings are also off to a good start.”

The microtransactions in Mario Kart Tour come in the form of random items and the Gold Pass subscription package. “By including these mechanics and multiplayer functionality, we want to make it an attractive application that will be enjoyed by consumers in the long-term,” Furukawa said.

Also during the Q&A, Furukawa was asked if Nintendo would release Mario Kart Tour in China, but the executive declined to say. He said only, “I cannot say anything at this time about the mobile business in China.”

According to SensorTower, Mario Kart Tour had more than 120 million downloads in its first month, with players collectively spending more than $37 million.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-tour-microtransactions-off-to-a-good-st/1100-6471396/

Overwatch Reveals Mercy’s Past In Valkyrie, A New Short Story–Here Are The Lore Highlights

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A new official, canon Overwatch short story has been released. Valkyrie, written by the game’s senior lore and story designer Michael Chu, is a first-person story about Mercy coming to terms with the role she performed in the Overwatch organization after it has disbanded. The short story appears to be set shortly before the beginning of the game, and ties in to an in-game story event that can net you a new Mercy costume.

We’ve gone through the story and summed up the lore highlights from it below–stop now if you’d like to read it yourself without spoilers.

The story begins with Mercy remembering her parents, who were volunteering at a hospital in Switzerland during the Omnic Crisis, and were killed by an airstrike one day when she was still young. The story jumps forward to Mercy as an adult, working at an aid camp just outside Cairo. She’s been there for two years removed, having ended her tenure as head of medical research for Overwatch when the organization collapsed sometime earlier. Her reputation was in tatters when Overwatch was disbanded, and she headed to Egypt to help out because Overwatch was “responsible for much of the country’s suffering.”

The story then cuts to Mercy being reunited with Soldier 76 and Ana, who have tracked her down as 76 badly needs healing. Mercy and 76 have a heated discussion about the state of things–76 is out for revenge, especially against Reaper, and the two don’t see eye to eye.

The story flashes back to Mercy and 76’s first meeting, sparked by Mercy’s research into nanobiotic healing (which is, the story assures us, not related to nanobot technology). We’re given some insights into Mercy’s research background, and how she was brought on bought with the promise of letting her develop healing technologies for use off the battlefield–which is, of course, not exactly what happened.

Back in the present, the trio is jolted by an explosion at the nearby Anubis facility, and a reluctant Mercy straps into her Valkyrie suit alongside the other two to go help fend off Talon forces. In the heat of battle, Mercy finds Hanan, a young girl trapped by rubble, who recognizes her as Mercy when she uses her healing staff. She soon finds herself having to rescue Hanan’s brother, too, who is trapped in a collapsing building.

A mortar hits the building during the rescue attempt, and Mercy’s suit is badly damaged. She manages to save both children as the building collapses, getting trapped as the building collapses around her. But 76 comes back for her, and ultimately everyone survives. In the aftermath, 76 and Ana tell Mercy that they’re leaving to continue hunting Reaper, who was responsible for what happened that day. Mercy does not go with them, but as she continues her work, and as she reflects on saving the two children and how excited they were to meet Mercy, she starts to reassess the value of her work with Overwatch.

If you’re hungry for more Overwatch lore, the recently announced Overwatch 2 promises to deliver much more.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/overwatch-reveals-mercys-past-in-valkyrie-a-new-sh/1100-6471395/

Major New Ghost Recon Breakpoint Patch Resolves Some Of Its Issues

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Ghost Recon: Breakpoint’s 1.0.3 title update patch is available from today on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and the full patch notes have been released. The patch weighs in at 7GB on both PS4 and Xbox One, and a slightly slimmer 6.7GB on PC. It includes a number of bug fixes, tweaks, and improvements, as well as a few basic gameplay updates.

Some major issues have been addressed–drones will now deploy reliably, and players should no longer respawn under the map. The “Mission Completion” tutorial pop-up won’t display after loading screens anymore, and mission interactions are now prioritized over vehicle interactions. These are just a few examples, with the full patch notes listing many more.

Some controls and mechanics have changed too to make for a more enjoyable experience. Players can now do a camera shoulder swap in cover, which was not possible before. Your character’s base stamina has increased by 66% and regenerates 75% faster than before, while sliding now only consumes half the stamina it used to. This should make for a less frustrating game.

The full patch makes multiple changes to the enemy and NPC AI, as well as animation, audio, camera, chat, loot, and menu updates. Missions and general gameplay have also seen multiple improvements. The patch notes detail over 100 changes that have been made as of 1.0.3, which will hopefully go some way to improve the experience.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint has had a difficult launch period, and the game’s middling-to-negative reviews have disappointed Ubisoft, especially as the game has not sold as expected. In the wake of this disappointment, Ubisoft promised that the game would become a more “gritty and authentic military experience” in the future, and promised two major updates for November; this is the first of those.

If you’re jumping back in post-patch, make sure you check out our guide for dealing with drones in Breakpoint.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/major-new-ghost-recon-breakpoint-patch-resolves-so/1100-6471393/