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Nintendo Switch Online’s Free NES Games For April Now Available
April’s free NES games for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers are now available. While the selection of titles in recent months has varied between the West and Japan, this month’s lineup is the same across regions and includes the classic boxing game Punch-Out, the shoot-’em-up Star Soldier, and the notoriously difficult Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.
In addition to those three games, Nintendo has added a special save state of one of last month’s titles, Kid Icarus, to the NES library. This version starts players off in the final level before the climactic confrontation with Medusa, with all three Sacred Treasures already equipped. You can watch a trailer for this month’s NES lineup below.
The NES library is one of the perks Switch owners receive for subscribing to the Nintendo Switch Online service, offering unlimited access to more than 30 NES games with added online multiplayer support for as long as you have an active membership. Nintendo adds new games to the catalog every month; March brought Kid Icarus and StarTropics, while Kirby’s Adventure and Super Mario Bros. 2 were added in February.
Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions run for US $4 / £3.49 / AU $6 for one month, US $8 / £7 / AU $12 for three months, and US $20 / £18 / AU $30 for one year. Nintendo also offers a Family Membership that can encompass up to eight Nintendo Accounts for US $35 / £31.49 / AU $55. Other benefits for subscribing include the ability to play Switch games online, cloud save data backup for most games, and exclusive offers such as Tetris 99, which is free to download for NSO members.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-switch-onlines-free-nes-games-for-april-n/1100-6466167/
Vampyr Sells 1 Million Copies, As Dev Signs Deal For Ambitious New Game
Vampyr, the 2018 game starring a doctor who turns into a vampire and struggles with his new bloodthirst, is a commercial success, it seems. Developer Dontnod Entertainment announced today that the game has sold more than 1 million copies since release. The game was published by Focus Home Interactive, and the two companies are now renewing their publishing deal.
Terms of the renewal were not disclosed, but Dontnod said in a press release that the “new co-production promises to be one of the most ambitious in the history of the publisher and the studio.”
Focus Home COO John Bert said the publisher has been “delighted” to work with Dontnod, going to to tease that the developer’s new game is “intended to be among the most ambitious” in the history of both Focus Home and Dontnod.
Dontnod CEO Oskar Guilbert said in his own statement that Focus Home is an “ideal partner” for their new game thanks in part to Focus Home’s expertise in the areas of marketing, digital distribution, and other factors. “Vampyr is a great success and we are very happy to develop this partnership with this exciting new project,” Guilbert said.
Vampyr is currently available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It’s free on Xbox One for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. The game is also reportedly coming to Nintendo Switch, but a release date hasn’t been announced.
Based in France, Dontnod was founded in 2008, and its first title was 2013’s Remember Me, which was published by Capcom. The studio went on to create the Life is Strange series with Square Enix, including the spin-off The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit. In addition to Life Is Strange 2, the developer is working on another episodic game, Twin Mirror, which is going to be published by Bandai Namco. The studio is independent, which allows it to choose a publishing partner.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/vampyr-sells-1-million-copies-as-dev-signs-deal-fo/1100-6466174/
NHL 19 Is Now Free For EA Access Subscribers On Xbox One
The EA Access catalog of free games continues to grow. The newest addition, NHL 19, arrived this week, and the timing is notable given that the NHL Playoffs just began.
NHL 19 is a fantastic simulation ice hockey experience, and it stands out from previous entries with its addition of pond hockey. GameSpot’s NHL 19 review scored it an 8/10.
EA Access is only available on Xbox One right now, but it’s reportedly coming to PlayStation 4 as well. A PC edition called Origin Access is also available, but NHL 19 is not available on PC.
EA Access costs $5/month or $30/year, and for that, subscribers get access to a growing catalog of EA Games including other 2018 sports titles like NBA Live 19 and Madden 19. Outside of those, titles like Battlefield 1, Skate 3, Titanfall 2, and many others are in the Vault of freebies. Subscribers also save 10 percent on all EA digital content, while members also usually get to play upcoming EA games multiple days before their public release. There are also perks like bonuses in new EA games like Apex Legends.
During an earnings call in February, management discussed bringing EA Access to another “major” platform, so that could be a reference to PlayStation 4. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nhl-19-is-now-free-for-ea-access-subscribers-on-xb/1100-6466173/
