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Anthem Lead Producer Leaving BioWare

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Ben Irving, the lead producer on BioWare’s action-RPG Anthem, has announced he’s leaving the company. In a statement on Twitter, Irving said that he has accepted a position with another company and that the game still has a “bright future” under current leadership.

In his series of tweets, Irving says BioWare was “the dream place” since the first time he played Baldur’s Gate. He thanks the community for being so engaged “through the good times and the tough times,” and says they’re in good hands with Jesse Anderson and Andrew Johnson. It’s unclear, from his statement, who will be filling the lead producer role for future Anthem updates.

Irving has been with BioWare since 2011, serving a variety of roles including lead development director for The Old Republic franchise and the lead producer on Star Wars: The Old Republic. Anthem struggled with a rocky launch, and recently launched its anticipated Cataclysm update.

GameSpot has reached out to EA for comment.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/anthem-lead-producer-leaving-bioware/1100-6469114/

Epic Games Store Adds Cloud Saves, Humble Bundle Keyless Integration, And Announces Its Next Free Game

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The Epic Games Store’s latest update has seen the storefront receive a visual face-lift, while also implementing Humble Bundle keyless integration and additional cloud save functionality.

Cloud save support has been added for a number of new games, including The Sinking City, World War Z, and the recently released Rebel Galaxy Outlaw. All Ubisoft titles have supported cloud saves since launch due to their Uplay integration, and Epic says more games will include the feature moving forward. “We’re working with the developers of other released games to test cloud saves, and will be enabling more games over time,” the studio said. “Upcoming games that support cloud saves will have them enabled at launch!”

Here’s the full list of games with added cloud support over the past month:

  • Alan Wake
  • Close to the Sun
  • Darksiders III
  • Enter the Gungeon
  • Genesis Alpha One
  • GNOG
  • Hyperlight Drifter
  • Kingdom New Lands
  • Limbo
  • Moonlighter
  • Mutant Year Zero
  • Overcooked
  • Rebel Galaxy Outlaw
  • Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter
  • The Sinking City
  • This War Of Mine
  • World War Z

Keyless integration with Humble Bundle and Humble Store has also launched on Epic’s service. Once you’ve linked your Epic Games account to a Humble account, you can purchase games from the Humble Store and they’ll automatically be added to your Epic Games Store library without requiring a redemption key. “This is one step we are taking towards creating an open ecosystem for players, and we’re looking at more partnerships with highly reputable digital game sellers.”

Elsewhere, product pages on the Epic Games Store have received a redesign that revolves around visual and informational improvements when it comes to purchasing games. There are now more comprehensive game descriptions, improved release date visibility for upcoming titles, and additional space for images and videos, allowing developers more control over how they present their games and placing more pertinent information in the hands of potential customers.

Epic is also close to rolling out some other new features such as special patch optimization for developers that will cut down on patch download sizes, and a playtime tracking feature that will help when it comes to submitting refunds.

Aside from this, Epic also revealed the next free game in the Epic Games Store’s library. Both Hyper Light Drifter and Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden are free from now until August 22, at which point Fez will be available for free until August 29.

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GameSpot reviewed Fez back in 2012. Critic Tom McShea awarded it a score of 8/10, saying, “Fez has pitfalls you have to accept if you’re going to enjoy this adventure. Technical problems, baffling map design, and obtuse puzzles can serve as a serious barrier to entry. But it’s worth putting up with the missteps for the wondrous adventure that awaits. Fez goes far deeper than the simple platformer it initially appears as, and figuring out the solutions to the many puzzles is an experience that harks back to a time when games weren’t scared of taking off the leash and letting you run wild. Invest time in Fez’s colorful world, and enjoy the wealth of incredible ideas buried within.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/epic-games-store-adds-cloud-saves-humble-bundle-ke/1100-6469111/

Epic Games Opens A New Studio In Europe

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Epic Games–the creators behind the popular shooter Fortnite: Battle Royale–has announced the opening of a new studio in Cologne, Germany. The newest studio to fall under Epic’s umbrella is imaginatively titled Epic Games Cologne and will be led by the former founders of Factor 5, creators of the Turrican and Star Wars: Rogue Squadron franchises.

Prior to joining Epic, the Factor 5 team–including Epic Games Director of Online Technology Julian Eggebrecht and Cologne Studio Director Achim Moller–were working on media delivery with Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, as well as serving as technology partners for both Nintendo and Sony. It doesn’t sound like Epic Games Cologne will deviate too far from this focus, as Epic says the new studio will “[serve] as part of the company’s expanding focus on emerging forms of interactive media and streaming technologies.”

“At the core of Epic’s success are highly-skilled and passionate individuals,” Eggebrecht says in the company’s press release. “Germany is a nation at the forefront of technology and we look forward to extending our local presence as we fill newly created roles and hire exceptional talent.”

Eggebrecht and Moller both joined Epic earlier this year and previously headed Factor 5 before the studio’s closure in 2009. It’s exciting to imagine a future where a new Rogue Squadron game could feasibly exist, but it doesn’t sound like Epic Games Cologne will be developing games of its own. Maybe we’ll see some kind of cross-media Fortnite content, or a streaming platform to rival Twitch and Mixer. Epic Games has already taken on Steam with the Epic Games Store, so anything is possible, but this is all pure speculation at this point.

Perhaps we’ll discover more next week when the gaming industry shifts its focus to Cologne for Gamescom 2019.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/epic-games-opens-a-new-studio-in-europe/1100-6469108/

WWE 2K20’s First Originals DLC Pack Allows You To Play As “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

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Although Bray Wyatt’s new persona, “The Fiend,” didn’t have a sanctioned match until August 11’s Summerslam, you will be able to play as him in WWE 2K20 in the first Originals pack titled “Bump in the Night.” The new addition to the wrestling game series mashes horror and wrestling.

While WWE 2K20 Originals Mode was mentioned in the first press release for the upcoming October game, everything about the new mode was cryptic, until now. The game will have its traditional Showcase Mode–this time focusing on the Four Horsewomen–and the first originals pack will bring a creative element to the series, combining WWE Superstars with famous monsters to create stories you would never see on weekly WWE television.

Those who pre-order WWE 2K20 will get the WWE Originals pack titled “Bump in the Night.” If you don’t pre-order the game, the first Originals pack will be available to purchase for $15.

There is a lot of content coming with the first WWE Originals pack. The main focus is the Showcase Mode, with an original story revolving around Bray Wyatt and Finn Balor. Bray Wyatt is “The Swampfather” and has become incredibly powerful and the embodiment of the swamp itself. Wyatt tries to recruit Finn Balor into his family, but Balor has to fight his way out.

Aside from the aforementioned “The Fiend,” one of the highlighted characters for this mode is Braun Strowman. He may not have his own story or 2K Tower, but he’ll be one of the monsters you’ll have to battle.

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“You have a chance to play as Braun Strowman and his character is done like Frankenstein, Frankenstrowman,” Strowman told GameSpot. “And it’s going to allow you to cause even more destruction than you’ve been able to cause with me, the Monster Among Men, in the past. It’s a new feature in the game that isn’t the normal wrestling that you’d seen so many times. WWE 2K has been able to deliver special features for more content, more playability, doing different things in the game, so there’s so many evolutions of everything in our sports industry that we’re staying ahead of the curve and bringing more to the table than anybody else does in this business.”

For the Bump in the Night pack, aside from this horrific Showcase Mode, Towers returns to WWE 2K20. This time around, Bump in the Night will feature numerous Towers revolving around horrific versions of WWE Superstars battling their way to victory. There are five story towers being introduced in this first pack, and in total, there will be 10 playable horror-themed characters–in addition to “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt. Bump in the Night will also deliver new arenas and parts for Create-a-Wrestler Mode. Check out all the content for the pack below.

Bump in the Night pre-order content:

Showcase content:

  • Play as Demon Finn Balor taking on “Swampfather” Bray Wyatt, as the Wyatt Family tries to recruit Balor.

Story Towers:

  • The Fiend: Play as Bray Wyatt’s darker side.
  • All Fed Up: “Fed Up” Sheamus takes on WWE Superstars who have all become zombies.
  • Nowhere to Run: “Twisted” Nikki Cross looks to play a game with other Superstars.
  • One of the Family: “Swampfather” Bray Wyatt takes on his past recruit, Daniel Bryan.
  • Nowhere to Hide: “Survivor” Mandy Rose puts an end to Nikki Cross’ games.

Playable characters:

  • “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

Playable horror-themed characters:

  • “Demon King” Finn Bálor
  • “The Swampfather” Bray Wyatt
  • FrankenStrowman
  • “Wicked” Aleister Black
  • “Unleashed Apex Predator” Randy Orton
  • “Fed-Up” Sheamus
  • “Twisted” Nikki Cross
  • “Survivor” Mandy Rose
  • +2 mystery versions of WWE Superstars

Extras:

  • Wyatt Swamp Arena
  • Cemetery Brawl Arena
  • Horror themed Create-a-Wrestler and arena parts

WWE 2K20 hits stores on October 22 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The Bump in the Night pack will be included with those who pre-order the game at participating retailers. All four WWE Original packs will be included in the Deluxe Edition ($90) and the SmackDown 20th Anniversary Edition ($130). The WWE 2K20 Backstage Pass will be available for purchase for $30 and will give access to Packs 2-4.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wwe-2k20s-first-originals-dlc-pack-allows-you-to-p/1100-6469089/

Xbox Announces Gamescom Press Conference Time And Date, Promises “Big News”

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Key Points:

  • The world’s biggest gaming conference, Gamescom, takes place next week in Germany.
  • Microsoft is coming to the show with its next Inside Xbox briefing.
  • There will be “nearly a dozen” new game trailers and “big news,” including the reveal of Ghost Recon: Breakpoint’s multiplayer mode.
  • Gears 5’s Horde Mode will be revealed as well
  • Google Stadia and Geoff Keighley also have press conferences scheduled for Gamescom

One of the world’s biggest gaming shows, Gamescom, takes place next week in Germany, and Microsoft is among the big companies attending the event. Microsoft has now announced more details about its plans for the show, one part of which is an Inside Xbox episode that promises news and more.

The new Inside Xbox episode is scheduled to premiere on Monday, August 19, at 5 PM local time in Germany. That works out to 8 AM PT and 11 AM ET. For viewers in Australia, well, it’s not an ideal time–1 AM. The broadcast airs on Mixer, Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

As for the content of the Inside Xbox event, Microsoft is premiering Gears 5‘s Horde mode, while the company will also show “nearly a dozen” brand-new trailers for other games. On top of that, there will be “big news and reveals” for a number of games and expansions, including Ghost Recon: Breakpoint (the multiplayer reveal), Destiny 2: Shadowkeep, Wasteland 3, Empire of Sin, Greedfall, The Surge 2, Vigor, Metro Exodus, and Blair Witch. There will also be news about Xbox Game Pass and the return of Microsoft’s X0 event in London later this year.

What’s more, Microsoft is promising news about “new accessories,” as well as a series of other surprises.

Those who travel to Cologne, Germany for Gamescom can watch the Inside Xbox broadcast live at the Gloria Theater. It’s not clear if this is a live episode or if people will simply sit in a theatre and watch the broadcast. Whatever the case, entry is on a first-come, first-served basis; you must be 18 years or older to attend.

Additionally, Microsoft is holding an event called Xbox Open Doors, where people can attend every night of the show from 5-10 PM local time August 21-23 to play games and more. More details will be shared on Xbox Dach’s Twitter and Facebook accounts.

In addition to Xbox, there is an Opening Night press conference hosted by Geoff Keighley scheduled for August 19. Publishers like 2K, Activision, EA, and others have signed on, so you can expect news or trailers for their upcoming games, while Keighley’s close friend Hideo Kojima will be on hand to provide an “exclusive” preview of Death Stranding.

Google Stadia also has a press conference of its own scheduled for August 19. This is the company’s Nintendo Direct-style pre-recorded Stadia Connect briefing where the company is expected to reveal more details about the streaming service.

Gamescom 2019 Press Conference Schedule

Monday, August 19

  • Inside Xbox — 5 PM CEST, 8 AM PT, 11 AM ET
  • Google Stadia Connect — 7 PM CEST, 10 AM PT, 1 PM ET
  • Opening Night Live Conference — 8 PM CEST, 11 AM PT, 2 PM ET

Read next: Phil Spencer Is Exactly Who You Think He Is

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-announces-gamescom-press-conference-time-and-/1100-6469082/

Monthly Sea Of Thieves Updates Will Kick Off With Dark Relics

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Rare has announced a new update cadence for Sea of Thieves, promising new content on a regular monthly schedule. The studio says that updates will begin dropping on the second Wednesday of every month, giving the community a more predictable schedule to clear their calendar and take to the high seas.

The new schedule starts with this month’s update, Dark Relics. It features spooky skeletons stealing dangerous artifacts, which you can trade for gold and rep. Plus the update includes special challenges for pirate legends, Reaper’s Mark chests with special loot, grappling hooks for your dinghies, and more. Check out the trailer below to see it all in action.

Sea of Thieves had a rough launch with middling reviews, but Rare has continued to add more content on a regular basis with free updates. Those included a big anniversary update and a ship that paid homage to the Halo series.

As a first-party game from Microsoft, Sea of Thieves was included with Xbox Game Pass at launch, and it’s still available through the subscription service if you want to give these latest updates a whirl. One third-party developer recently revealed that, somewhat counter-intuitively, being included on Game Pass appears to have dramatically boosted its sales. For more on Microsoft’s strategy surrounding Game Pass as it heads into the next generation, check out our in-depth interview with Xbox head Phil Spencer.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/monthly-sea-of-thieves-updates-will-kick-off-with-/1100-6469084/

Crunch Wasn’t Enforced On Borderlands 3

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Video game “crunch”–or the process of overworking developers towards the end of a game’s production or in the lead up to milestone reviews–has been a hot button issue for many years, but particularly in 2019.

Gearbox Software, the developer of Borderlands 3, recently spoke with VG247 about the studio’s policy on crunch, and why they don’t do it.

“We are not a crunch studio,” multiplayer producer Chris Burke said. “We don’t do the thing where we say, ‘Hey, everyone’s going to be working 10 hours, or 12 hours a day,’ or whatever. We don’t do that.”

“It is hard to completely avoid it, because you’ve got people–Okay, I’m going to name drop a guy, he’s probably going to be pissed. We have a guy, Brad Sierzega. He is one of our level artists for the game, so if you like the way Promethea looks, you can thank Brad Sierzega. He is a guy who knows that every second he puts in the game improves the game. I can’t actually even stop him.”

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“On the one side, you’ve heard the horror stories of devs who’ve driven their people into the ground. And then, there are other stories, where it’s like, ‘Man, you guys have to calm down, it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. And you can’t just burn yourself up right now,'” Burke continued.

More and more developers and studios have spoken out about crunch this year. Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser claimed that some employees were working 100-hour weeks on Red Dead Redemption 2, the closure of Telltale Games unearthed some painful truths, MachineGames admitted it’s trying to eliminate crunch, Massive Entertainment talked to us about it, and top Bethesda devs spoke out on why crunch is bad. Crunch has always existed in video game development, but with more developers speaking out and the public becoming more aware, it seems to be a slightly less frequent issue at least.

Borderlands 3 launches on September 13 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/crunch-wasnt-enforced-on-borderlands-3/1100-6469080/

Need For Speed Heat Announced With Release Date

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After a two-year break, Need for Speed is back with a new entry in the long-running racing series. Developer Ghost Games, responsible for 2017’s Need for Speed Payback, is back at the starting line with Need for Speed Heat, which will launch on November 8 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Need for Speed Heat takes you to Palm City, a “brand-new open world where street racers have gathered to make their names known,” according to a press release. On the streets of Palm City, you will compete in Speedhunters Showdowns to earn cash to customize and upgrade your rides. But be careful during nightfall, as rogue cops patroling the darkened streets eagerly look for racers to knock down a few pegs. Need for Speed Heat is said to feature “expressive customization, authentic urban car culture, and an immersive narrative.” Check out the announcement trailer below.

Pre-orders for Need for Speed Heat are available now. Reserving the standard edition nets you a special edition Mitsubishi Evolution X, while banking on the Deluxe Edition gives you three special edition cars: a BMW i8 Coupe, Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, and Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe. In addition to those, the Deluxe Edition contains exclusive character clothing and extra in-game currency. A 10 percent discount is awarded to those who pre-order through Need for Speed Payback’s in-game menu.

Need for Speed Heat is set to launch on November 8, but those with EA Acess and Origin Access Basic (or Origin Access Premier on PC) get 10 hours of game time beginning on November 5.

Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/need-for-speed-heat-announced-with-release-date/1100-6469083/

New Nintendo Switch Model Now Available At US Online Retailers

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Both Amazon and Best Buy are now selling the new and improved Nintendo Switch model, with the latter currently advertising $25 extra trade-in credit for those looking to purchase the updated console.

The star of the show for the updated Switch model is longer battery life. Nintendo’s official estimate puts the new model’s battery life between 4.5 and 9 hours, depending on the game you’re playing. This is an improvement over the original Switch, which lasted for between 2.5 and 6.5 hours, and the 3 to 7 hours offered by the upcoming Switch Lite.

Early tests run by a Hong Kong YouTube channel called MeeMeGame Channel, shows the new Switch lasting for five hours and 36 minutes while playing launch title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Another test shows the recently released Fire Emblem: Three Houses running for two hours in portable mode, with 60% of the battery life still remaining.

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Kevin Kenson, another YouTube creator, had previously confirmed that the new Switch model has an updated screen model number, which would explain why his tests revealed that the screen is both brighter and closer to true white balance in tone. This would also fit Sharp’s announcement that its IGZO display would be used by Nintendo’s consoles in the future.

Beyond this, the updated Switch model’s Tegra X1 processor also runs cooler, which in turn keeps your Switch from heating up as much. It’s worth mentioning that despite these improvements, the new Switch model isn’t a comparable upgrade to the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, so there aren’t any increases in performance other than a longer-lasting battery.

If you have one of the older Switch models and don’t want to purchase the new one outright from either Amazon or Best Buy, GameStop stores are currently running an offer where you can trade in the launch model for $225, up from the usual $200, as part of a limited-time deal. This brings the $300 Switch revision to $75, netting you a tasty saving. This offer is valid until September 15.

If you’d rather trade in your old launch model for the upcoming Switch Lite, you can use your $225 trade credit towards a pre-order for that instead. The Switch Lite costs $200 and releases on September 20, five days after this trade-in promotion ends, so you’ll need to live without your precious Switch for a few days.

For more Nintendo Switch news, stay on GameSpot:

Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-nintendo-switch-model-now-available-at-us-onli/1100-6469079/

Epic Is Selling A Reskinned Version of A Fortnite Battle Pass Item

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Epic has always made a big deal out of the fact that the cosmetic items contained in Fortnite’s Battle Pass are exclusive to the pass and will never be sold separately. This provides an extra incentive for Battle Pass owners to keep coming back and playing every day, knowing that they only have one season to unlock every unique item available.

So it’s disappointing that today’s Fortnite shop update has arrived with a very familiar-looking pooch. Season 6 of the Battle Pass introduced pets to Fortnite as a type of back bling, including everything from dogs to dragons and chameleons. Bonesy was one of these pets–a small dog with a scarf–and had various styles throughout season 6, all more elaborate than this new store item.

Gunner, as the new pet is called, is a simple reskin of Bonesy. He has a slightly lighter shade of fur, is wearing a mask, and has a small skull logo on his scarf, but that’s about it. Epic isn’t fooling anyone.

Reddit user PhantomRacer32 made the following comparison to highlight the similarities or lack thereof:

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Back in June, fans claimed Epic had already reneged on its self-imposed rule by selling a beachwear version of season 5 Battle Pass character Drift. However, the model had a new hairstyle, a completely new set of clothes, new accessories, and a separate back bling item, so it was somewhat justifiable. The same cannot be said of Gunner.

The Fortnite Battle Pass costs 950 in-game V-Bucks. The cheapest V-Bucks bundle you can purchase is 1000 for $9.99 / £7.99, leaving you with a few leftovers to spend. By comparison, Gunner costs a flat 1000 V-Bucks–more than a Battle Pass–for a barely noticeable reskin.

It sets a worrying precedent moving forward if Epic decides to sell previous Battle Pass cosmetics separately with only slight tweaks.

Fortnite Season X Coverage

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/epic-is-selling-a-reskinned-version-of-a-fortnite-/1100-6469078/