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PUBG Creator Steps Back From Game, Announces New Focus

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The creator of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has announced that he is stepping away from day-to-day operations of the popular battle royale game, and will instead be focused on “special projects” in a new office under the PUBG Corp. banner. Lead designer Brendan Greene made the announcement in a letter on Twitter.

“While I’ll remain as a consulting creative director on PUBG, development will be led by Taeseok Jang and the fantastic team I have had the honor of working with over the past three years,” he said. “They have some great things planned for this year, and I can’t wait to share more with you soon!

“Going forward, I’ll be based in Amsterdam, rather than Seoul, and focused on building out an entirely new division to focus on research & game development.”

Greene said the new position would focus on “exploring, experimenting, and creating new technologies, tools, pipelines, and gameplay.” Those experiments could feed back into PUBG, or develop into an entirely new game or middleware. At this point it isn’t clear what will come of this work, or even if it will be public as a consumer product at all.

PUBG is widely regarded as the first hit battle royale game, which inspired imitators like Fortnite and Apex Legends. The field is wide open now, even including new modes in well-established shooters like Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. PUBG has remained in development with an active userbase, though. The studio just announced a free-to-play Lite PC version, and its maps will be remastered.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-creator-steps-back-from-game-announces-new-fo/1100-6465550/

Hollow Knight Is Finally Getting A Physical Edition For Switch, PS4, And PC

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Hollow Knight released in 2017 and debuted on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One in 2018; however, the exceptional Metroidvania-style game has never been available in a physical format–until now. Both a standard edition and a collector’s edition of Hollow Knight are now available for pre-order, with the collector’s edition exclusive to Fangamer.

According to Fangamer, pre-orders for Hollow Knight’s physical edition will start shipping on May 31, which means you can expect to receive your copy in early June.

Team Cherry, the developers of Hollow Knight, initially partnered with Skybound Games to bring a physical release to the market last year, but the studio announced last November that the deal had fallen through, possibly due to limited resources. So for fans of the game, news that a physical edition is finally happening is a welcome surprise.

In his Hollow Knight review, GameSpot’s Alessandro Barbosa gave the platformer a 9/10 and praised its lengthy, compelling narrative, smart combat design, gorgeous visuals, and fantastic soundtrack. “Its expansive enemy roster and routinely surprising areas and platforming challenges ensure that your journey through this fallen bug kingdom is one you’re unlikely to forget,” he wrote. “Hollow Knight offers a surprisingly large and harrowing adventure, and it’s a treat that every bit of it is just as divine as that last.”

With a newly announced sequel for Hollow Knight on the way, there’s no better time to pick up the game and journey into the world of Hallownest. Here’s how you can pre-order Hollow Knight’s physical edition:

Pre-Order Hollow Knight: Physical Standard Edition

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As of right now, the only two places to buy Hollow Knight’s standard edition are Best Buy and Fangamer. We’ll update this post if more retailers begin offering pre-orders. Hollow Knight’s physical standard edition comes with a manual, a fold-out map of Hallownest, and all DLC: Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster.

Switch:

PS4:

PC:

Pre-Order Hollow Knight: Physical Collector’s Edition

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The collector’s edition is only available for purchase from Fangamer, and it’s packed with plenty of bonus materials. Along with everything included in the standard edition, you’ll receive a metal brooch with a display stand, wall hook, and dual-pronged fastener; a 14-page Quirrel comic book; a gold foil collector’s box; and a gold foil art print set. If you pre-order, a papercraft set is also included (not pictured here). And finally, if you opt for the Switch version, you’ll also receive a Hollow Knight-themed cleaning cloth.

  • Fangamer — $69 on Switch, $64 on PS4 and PC

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hollow-knight-is-finally-getting-a-physical-editio/1100-6465534/

Top 10 UK Games Chart: Devil May Cry 5 Finishes Top In Debut Week

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Devil May Cry 5 has enjoyed a strong start on the UK physical sales chart, topping the all-format list in its debut week. For the week ending March 9, sales monitor Chart-Track says Capcom’s hack-and-slash game displaces the previous No.1, Anthem, becoming the first in the series to top the chart since DmC in 2013.

Below Devil May Cry 5, Red Dead Redemption 2 finishes at No.2, with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe claiming the final podium position at No.3. The week’s only other new entry is Square Enix’s stealth game Left Alive, which sneaks in at No.39.

We enjoyed Devil May Cry 5 here at GameSpot, with critic Matt Espineli awarding the game a 9/10. “DMC5 thrives on the stylistic and mechanical prowess of its predecessors,” he wrote in our Devil May Cry 5 review. “It sticks to tradition above all else, pursuing a few ambitious new ideas along the way, but mostly maintaining the series’ focus on intricate fighting systems and campy bravado. Rarely does the game stumble, consistently leveraging its spectacle and mechanical depth to push aside any small frustrations. All the while, the story exudes a charismatic charm that keeps you constantly intrigued as you’re refining your skills. DMC5 proves the series can still be brilliant and imaginative without compromising its longest-held traditions.”

You can read the full top 10 sales chart for this week below, courtesy of UKIE and GfK Chart-Track. Note this table does not include digital sales data, and so should not be considered representative of all UK game sales.

  1. Devil May Cry 5
  2. Red Dead Redemption 2
  3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
  4. Anthem
  5. FIFA 19
  6. Far Cry: New Dawn
  7. The Lego Movie 2 Video Game
  8. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
  9. Metro: Exodus
  10. Grand Theft Auto V

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/top-10-uk-games-chart-devil-may-cry-5-finishes-top/1100-6465549/

After Controversy, Spyro Reignited Trilogy Finally Adds Subtitles

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Although reviews for the Spyro Reignited Trilogy were mostly positive, praising the remaster’s faithful recreation of the originals’ charm, the PS4 and Xbox One collection also attracted some criticism upon launch. Some people were angered by the game’s lack of subtitles, which many gamers–for example, the hard of hearing–rely on to be able to enjoy games to their fullest.

Now, developer Toys for Bob has finally added complete subtitles to the three remastered games in a new update. The patch notes state the subtitles include “character headers to identify active speakers, succinct line splits for readability, [and] colored text for improved character association in most languages.”

Publisher Activision had previously avoided directly addressing the Reignited Trilogy’s lack of subtitles. At the time, it simply stated, “While there’s no industry standard for subtitles, the studio and Activision care about the fans’ experience especially with respect to accessibility for people with different abilities, and will evaluate going forward.”

Video game accessibility options have become a more openly-discussed topic in recent years, though some titles do not meet basic standards of accessibility. Colorblindness options are only just becoming commonplace, for example, while full closed captions–such as those offered by Far Cry: New Dawn–are still rare.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/after-controversy-spyro-reignited-trilogy-finally-/1100-6465548/

Sega Stops Sales Of Yakuza Spinoff Judgment In Japan After Actor Arrested For Alleged Cocaine Use

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In a strange and surprising round of news, Sega has announced that it has stopped physical shipments and digital sales of the Yakuza spinoff Judgment in Japan following the arrest of actor Pierre Taki.

The actor was arrested for reportedly using cocaine, which apparently violates Japan’s drug control laws. An official news release from Sega, translated by Gematsu, states, “Sega has received the arrest reports and are currently confirming the facts, but for the time being, we will voluntarily refrain from shipments and digital sales of [Judgment], as well as from things like posting on the product’s homepage. We apologize for any inconveniences this may cause for customers, as well as the parties involved.”

Judgment, which is called Judge Eyes in Japan, launched in Japan back in December. The game is scheduled to arrive in America and Europe this June on PS4, but there is no word yet if that’s still the plan given the controversy surrounding Taki.

Taki plays Kyohei Hamura in Judgment. He’s voiced by Fred Tatasciore (Soldier 76 in Overwatch and Xur in Destiny) in the English version of the game.

Taki is an actor and musician known for being a member of the band Denki Groove and the voice of snowman Olaf in the Japanese dubbing of Disney’s Frozen.

According to Japan Times, the punishment for possessing or using cocaine in Japan is a prison sentence of up to seven years.

In Judgment you play as Takayuki Yagami, a detective who is looking into grisly crimes. Like the Yakuza series, it is set in Kamurocho, the fictional city modeled after Kabukicho in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

For more on Judgment, check out our extensive hands-on preview.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-stops-sales-of-yakuza-spinoff-judgment-in-jap/1100-6465547/

See Teaser For Google’s Big Gaming Announcement

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Google is set to make a big-time gaming announcement next week during the Game Developers Conference, and now the company has released a teaser video.

Google plans to reveal its “vision for the future of gaming” during the March 19 event, and this teaser video may contain some initial clues. As you can see, it appears to reference a number of different game genres, including sports, racing, action, fantasy, and others. The suggestion could be that Google’s new gaming platform would be a place for all of them.

Whatever the case, we’ll learn more soon. The event is scheduled for 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET on March 19. The event will be streamed live, and GameSpot will bring you all the news from the show as it happens.

One part of Google’s reveal might be related to Project Stream, the company’s ambitious game-streaming platform. Last year, Google partnered with Ubisoft to make Assassin’s Creed Odyssey playable in a browser. There are also rumors about Google’s “Project Yeti,” which could be the company’s take on a home console.

For more on cloud gaming, check out GameSpot’s primer that explains what cloud gaming is all about and how it could shake up the industry.

In other Google news, the company recently hired former Ubisoft and EA boss Jade Raymond as a new vice president. Given her background, it seems likely that she’ll be contributing to Google’s new gaming division, but nothing is certain yet.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/see-teaser-for-googles-big-gaming-announcement/1100-6465546/

“Please Don’t Send Any More Pizzas,” Halo Dev Says

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Halo developer 343 Industries made some big Halo announcements today, and excited fans responded by sending pizza to the studio. Now, the developer has pleaded with fans to please stop sending pizza. Community manager Brian Jarrard wrote on Twitter that he and the studio are appreciative, but it’s just too much pizza.

“The Halo community is awesome. We’re excited, too! Please don’t send any more pizzas to 343 Industries,” Jarrard said. “The building receptionist isn’t here, so it’s getting logistically challenging and we really don’t want to see food go to waste.”

Why the pizza? Before all the big Halo reveals today, Jarrard tweeted the pizza emoji for some reason, and now people are running with it and flooding 343’s offices with pizza.

Here is a visual rundown of some of the pizzas that 343 received today:

Some of Microsoft’s announcements today included Halo: The Master Chief Collection for PC and Halo: Reach being added to the collection. Those are two things that fans have been requesting for a long time, so it’s understandable that there would be significant excitement over the announcements.

For more on all the big Halo and Xbox news today, check out this rundown that covers everything you need to know.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/please-dont-send-any-more-pizzas-halo-dev-says/1100-6465545/

Xbox News: Halo Returning To PC, Minecraft For Game Pass, And All The Other Reveals

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Microsoft held its latest Inside Xbox video broadcast today, and it was packed with news. In the space of just an hour, Microsoft made a series of big-time announcements, including Halo: The Master Chief Collection coming PC and adding Halo: Reach, the next big Xbox Game Pass game, a new Xbox One controller design/color, and more.

We’ve rounded up all the big news in once place here to give you a quick look at all the big news announced during the Inside Xbox briefing. While the broadcast had a lot of big news, it didn’t confirm the rumoured disc-free Xbox One or the rumoured launch of Xbox Game Pass for PC. Looks like we’ll have to wait to learn more about those topics.

With that out of the way, here is a rundown of all the big news from Microsoft’s Inside Xbox stream:

Halo: The Master Chief Collection For PC

Confirming earlier rumours and reports, Microsoft officially confirmed that Halo: The Master Chief Collection is coming to PC. It’ll launch later this year on Steam and the Microsoft Store, and the release structure is anything but traditional. Microsoft is releasing each title within the package individually for download and purchase, beginning with Halo: Reach. Microsoft hasn’t confirmed pricing yet, but the entire package on Xbox One sells for $30, so somewhere in that are seems likely for PC. For more, check out these stories:

Halo: Reach Coming To Halo: The Master Chief Collection

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Responding to fans’ requests, Microsoft announced that Bungie’s 2010 game Halo: Reach, will join The Master Chief Collection at some point down the road. It’ll be available on Xbox One and the newly announced PC edition. This includes the campaign and multiplayer elements, including Forge and Theatre, along with the fan-favourite Firefight mode. On Xbox One, the multiplayer (including Forge and Theatre) is free, while Microsoft will charge for the campaign and Firefight mode–pricing has yet to be divulged. Xbox Game Pass members, however, will seemingly get the entire package at no extra cost. It’s less clear how it’ll all work on PC, but campaign, multiplayer, and Firefight are coming. Take a look at the story linked below to find out everything we know so far.

A New Xbox One Controller

The Phantom White Special Edition controller was announced during the Inside Xbox briefing. The $70 USD controller goes on sale in April worldwide. Its described as blending “luxury and sci-fi,” whatever that means. You can see it close up in the story linked below.

Minecraft For Xbox Game Pass

One of the biggest games on Earth, Minecraft, is coming to the Xbox Game Pass library on April 4. That’s big news in its own right, as it expands the already-massive sandbox game’s reach further still. It also becomes just the latest family-friendly title in the catalog.

A New Look At Project xCloud

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One of the other big reveals during the Inside Xbox stream was a new look at Microsoft’s ambitious game-streaming technology, Project xCloud. The game lets you stream titles directly to a device connected to the internet, which allows you to play high-end games on a low-spec device because the heavy lifting is happening in the cloud. Forza Horizon 4 was shown running on an Android-based phone connected wirelessly to an Xbox One controller. Microsoft also confirmed that public trials for xCloud–or whatever official name Microsoft decides to give the platform–will begin later this year.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-news-halo-returning-to-pc-minecraft-for-game-/1100-6465544/

Former EA, Assassin’s Creed Boss Joins Google Ahead Of Big Gaming Reveal

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Video game industry veteran Jade Raymond, who produced the original Assassin’s Creed before joining EA where she worked on Star Wars, has landed a new job at Google.

Raymond announced on Twitter today that she’s working at Google as a vice president. That’s all she had to say on the matter, so it’s unclear exactly what she’s doing at Google.

Google operates a gaming business with its Project Stream technology that is set to be formally unveiled next during the Game Developers Conference. Raymond would be at least Google’s second high-profile gaming hire, following former PlayStation and Xbox boss Phil Harrison who joined Google as a VP in January 2018.

In her most recent position at EA, Raymond served as senior vice president group general manager of Motive Studios. In that role, Raymond was responsible for leading a new business unit and studio team centered on making new IP and action games. She was also responsible for leading the strategy around EA’s new Star Wars games. She left EA in October 2018.

Many video game industry higher-ups congratulated Raymond on her move to Google. Xbox boss Shannon Loftis said Google is lucky to have Raymond, while Capybara Games boss Nathan Vella enthuses, “Congrats, this is rad.”

As for Google’s GDC event, the company plans to unveil its “vision for the future of gaming”–and it could be related to streaming. In 2018, Google partnered with Ubisoft last year to test its Project Stream technology that made Assassin’s Creed Odyssey playable straight through a Google Chrome browser.

For more on cloud gaming, check out GameSpot’s primer that explains what cloud gaming is all about and how it could shake up the industry.

In other news, recent rumors have circulated regarding Google’s so-called “Project Yeti,” which is said to be its own take on the home console. It would focus on streaming, and may even have its own exclusive games, but the price and details are unknown.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/former-ea-assassins-creed-boss-joins-google-ahead-/1100-6465543/

Bringing Halo: MCC To PC Is A “Monumental Undertaking,” So Microsoft Is Getting Help

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Halo: The Master Chief Collection is coming to PC, and Microsoft is getting help from a pair of external studios to bring the collection to Steam and the Microsoft Store. In a blog post, developer 343 Industries said bringing Halo: MCC to PC is a “monumental undertaking,” and to get help, it’s hired Ruffian Games and Splash Damage.

Another factor at play here is that the “bulk” of 343 developers are now working on Halo Infinite, so the team is turning to outside studios to spread the development load.

“Bringing all these classic games together and integrating the huge matrix of features and experiences PC gamers and Halo fans deserve and expect is a monumental undertaking,” 343 said. “It’s no secret that the bulk of the team of 343 Industries is hard at work realizing the future of the franchise with Halo Infinite so the same amazing Publishing Team who diligently brought all the recent improvements and updates to MCC over the last year has invited a few friends to help us achieve victory. The experienced and passionate folks at Splash Damage and Ruffian are partnering with us to help make this dream a reality.”

Splash Damage CEO Richard Jolly said in a statement that it is a “tremendous honor” to work on Halo. He noted that Splash Damage has been making multiplayer games for nearly two decades; some of its recent projects include the multiplayer elements of Batman: Arkham Origins and Microsoft’s own Gears of War 4.

As for Ruffian Games, the studio made Crackdown 3‘s Wrecking Zone multiplayer mode, so it, too, already had an established relationship with Microsoft. “We love Halo and are mindblown to help bring this franchise back to PC,” reads a statement from Ruffian Games. “343 has assembled an amazing team who’re working hard to build the Halo PC experience fans deserve. It’s a privilege to be along for the ride.”

Halo: MCC is coming to PC in a unique way. Microsoft is releasing each game individually, as a separate download and purchase, beginning with Halo: Reach and continuing chronologically through Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo 4. Halo 1 and 2 are the new, remastered Anniversary editions.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bringing-halo-mcc-to-pc-is-a-monumental-undertakin/1100-6465542/