Gaming - Page 621

Infinity Ward has just pushed out the latest huge update to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, with the new patch including the Crossbow -- for free. Not bad at all.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's new update sees the exciting new crossbow introduced as a deadly one-hit kill weapon, it is treated like a marksman rifle. If you want to earn the crossbow, you'll need to compete a marksman rifle-related challenge. The best ain't free, ya know? The new update doesn't just have the crossbow, there's also more going on under the COD:MW update hood.

Infinity Ward has squished a bunch of bugs, fixed player collisions (something that's been pissing gamers off since it was "accidentally" added") and even another 5 new custom loadout slots for multiplayer. The game mode rotation should "work properly" after the launch, and a bunch more you can read about here.

Valve hosted a Reddit AMA highlighting a bunch of new details on Half-Life: Alyx for us to goss over, with the team saying that the game is completely finished.

Valve said: "With the exception of some tweaks to the absolute final scene, the game is done. Lots of us at Valve, as well as playtesters, have played through the entire game multiple times. Right now we're primarily polishing and fixing bugs, which is where we'd hope to be at this point in the development cycle. We're confident we'll hit our intended release. (We let the Valve Time happen before we announced Half-Life Alyx)".

This is great to see, as it means Half-Life: Alyx should be one of the only AAA games of the last few years that hasn't been delayed. It's right around the corner, with the developer making all Half-Life games free-to-play ahead of Half-Life: Alyx's launch.

Valve has just completed a Reddit AMA session for Half-Life: Alyx, where the world has found out a bunch of new details on what should be the best VR game ever released. To bring you up to speed, check out the Half-Life: Alyx announcement trailer below:

One of the most concerning things about Half-Life: Alyx is whether it will be delayed from its March 2020 release, and the answer to that is: no. Valve confirmed the news during its Reddit AMA, saying: "With the exception of some tweaks to the absolute final scene, the game is done. Lots of us at Valve, as well as playtesters, have played through the entire game multiple times".

The developer continued: "Right now we're primarily polishing and fixing bugs, which is where we'd hope to be at this point in the development cycle. We're confident we'll hit our intended release. (We let the Valve Time happen before we announced Half-Life Alyx)".

Even with Hellblade II: Senua's Saga on the way, Ninja Theory just announced a new experimental thrillride set deep in the heart of a fractured mind.

Ninja Theory just revealed Project Mara, a nebulous and cerebral horror game that really crawls under your skin. The entire purpose for the game is to exhibit mental illness as a kind of interactive experience that forces everyday users into the dark, inky depths of a tortured psyche. It looks a bit like a modern-day Senua without the mystical lore and Nordic mythology, and only features one character in a single location.

"The game only features one character and one location. It's an experimental project and a showcase of what can become a new immersive storytelling medium," Ninja Theory co-founder Tameem Antoniades said in a development diary video.

Tencent wants to buy Conan Exiles developer Funcom, and the developers wholeheartedly agree with this proposition.

Tencent wants to wholly-own Funcom, and it just put in an offer to buy every share from Funcom's current investors. Funcom is excited about the opportunity and has urged investors to sell their stock. Tencent is currently offering roughly 326.04 million Norwegian Krone ($36 million) to complete the buyout, which is over 27% of the current share closing price.

If bought it, Funcom will retain full independence and no staff re-organizations will happen, similar to the seamless operations of Riot Games and Path of Exile developer Grinding Gear Games.

Rumor has it CD Projekt RED delayed Cyberpunk 2077 because they're having trouble optimizing the game on current-gen systems, namely the Xbox One.

Older systems like the rather weak 2013 Xbox One launch model might be the culprit behind Cyberpunk 2077's five-month delay. The report comes from Polish film director Borys Niespielak, who may have knowledge about the goings-on at CD Projekt RED. On a recent podcast, Niespielak says Cyberpunk 2077's performance is "extremely unsatisfactory" on original Xbox One systems due to the limited hardware.

This is interesting because Cyberpunk 2077 was built from the ground up for current-gen systems. CD Projekt RED says Cyberpunk 2077 will be their "crowning jewel of the current generation," and the big delay could indeed be used to pare things back for weaker console hardware. Based on everything we know, it's easy to see why Cyberpunk 2077 could be overwhelming for lower-end systems.

Nintendo is reportedly working on a new Switch revision with a custom processor, but it may not actually deliver higher-end 4K gaming.

Nintendo's rumored Switch Pro may not be a huge leap over the current Switch hardware. A new report suggests the new souped-up Switch may be a softer revision in terms of capabilities and will instead move to a new customized Volta-based SoC from NVIDIA, possibly based on the 12nm Xavier chip. The info seems shaky at best and basically reinforces things we've already speculated about, but it does make an interesting point: Nintendo may not release a beefier Switch as to not fragment its userbase.

Instead this new Switch Pro revision could be the start of something bigger, perhaps a soft iterative upgrade similar to the Xbox One S over the original Xbox One, instead of going all-in with a powerful Xbox One X-esque model. Nintendo has already revised its base Switch to use a new 16nm Tegra X1+ SoC to fix a hardware vulnerability (the Switch Lite also uses this chip) without actually changing any raw perf specs. Only battery life and thermals changed--GPU and CPU clock speeds remained the same.

The Xbox Series X may use a DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD with up to a 2TB capacity that delivers up to 3.75GB/sec read and write speeds, all built with Phison's newer PS5019-E19T flash memory controller.

A bit ago we reported the Xbox Series X could use Phison's potent flash memory controllers--custom chips that communicate with a host CPU--to enable high-end transfers. Now Xbox Series X's flash controller has apparently been identified as Phison's PS5019-E19T chip, giving us an idea of the system's max storage performance and what to expect from the console.

The news comes from Phison software engineer Jerry Lou's LinkedIn page, which specifically outs the Xbox Series X's solution:

Two photos of an Xbox Series X prototype devkit build have leaked online, showing rear ports, ventilation, and console dimensions.

An early prototype for Microsoft's next-gen Xbox Series X console has apparently been spotted online, giving gamers an idea of what to expect from the new system's look and proportions. Of course this isn't the final hardware and things could change from now until Holiday 2020, but the prototype reinforces the original footlocker shoebox-shaped design shown off by Microsoft at The Game Awards 2019.

The prototype has all of the ports described by recent source info--HDMI out, 2x SuperSpeed USB ports (with 1x USB 2.0 in the front), a power port, SPDIF audio port, ethernet, and a strange vertical slit that's likely for developer testing.

Microsoft's new Xbox Series X console has been shown off in the best detail so far, with the great folks at LetsGoDigital recently hiring Italian designer Giuseppe Spinelli, who has made this gorgeous render video of the Xbox Series X console.

The new video is available in the glorious 4K resolution, where we get a look at all of the inputs and outputs that we are to expect from the new Xbox Series X.

This will include 2 x USB Type-A ports, an Ethernet port, HDMI out, optical audio out, and the power supply connector. The 3D visualization itself shows a super-fast USB-C port, but this can change before consumers see the real Xbox Series X.

I don't know what it is about the internet wanting Shaggy from Scooby-Doo in fighting games, but I certainly love it and definitely don't want it to stop.

Bandai Namco just released its latest installment in the Dragon Ball franchise, Dragon Ball Fighter Z: Kakarot. So far, the game is getting above average reviews, but what if you want to spice up your gameplay just a little bit more? Don't worry, Beatz has your back as he is currently working on Shaggy mod that will replace Goku.

In the above video, we can see that Beatz has trained Shaggy to fight exactly the same as a Z fighter. At the moment, there is no word on what this mod will be released, but as soon as it is, I will be sure to follow up with another post that provides the download link. For now, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is available to purchase on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Ready at Dawn had one of the best-looking games of the year when it released The Order 1886 in 2015, but rumor has it the developer is hard at work on a sequel destined for the next-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles.

The Order 1886 was a gorgeous game for the game and while the gameplay didn't match the gorgeous layer of graphics, it seems its sequel will be in a league of its own. The rumored The Order 1886 successor is reportedly in-development at Ready at Dawn, and has graphics that are so good you can't tell the difference between the cut scenes and actual gameplay.

According to NeoGAF poster 'BlackOsiris', The Order 1886 sequel is coming to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and this poster has seen the trailer for the game. He posted that the game looks out-of-this-world, where he said: "It is the best looking anything that I have ever seen and the character models lighting and physics are on another level. The main character is impossible to confuse with anyone else and this game has not been revealed but I have hinted at it several times. This is not a cut scene or a render target it is actual game play and it is very impressive. Well the end is a cut scene but man... You literally cannot tell the difference and Yes This was definitely all one shot".

Konami could be working on new Silent Hill games for next-gen consoles, sources tell YouTuber Dust Golem.

Following the cancellation of Hideo Kojima's ultra-terrifying Silent Hills horror game, the Silent Hill franchise has been notoriously dead for years now. Apart from annualized PES soccer games, Konami has barely stirred the decaying crypt that is its IP trove. This could change soon amid reports of two new Silent Hill projects that may now (or once have been) in development at the games-maker.

According to reports from Dust Golem, Konami has accepted multiple pitches from developers in an attempt to revitalize the Silent Hill IP. Apparently the two projects consist of a major AAA game that will softly reboot the series, as well as smaller episodic-style experience to reinforce the main game's narrative. These games may be made by third-party development teams and not by Konami's internal studios.

Following an 8-month stint at Epic Games, Maxime Beland will rejoin Ubisoft to lead the company's new re-focused creative teams.

Maxime Beland, who's had a transformative influence on some of Ubisoft's biggest games, is coming back to help guide new games, Video Game Chronicle reports. Beland has worked as creative director on a number of high-profile franchises for Ubisoft, including Assassin's Creed, Rainbow Six, Far Cry, and Splinter Cell.

Now this may not mean what you think it does. Despite our previous coverage, a new Splinter Cell may not be in development. Sources close to the matter have told reliable reporters like Kotaku's Jason Schreier this isn't actually happening.

Every Half-Life game is going free-to-play on Steam until March 2020, Valve today announced.

Haven't played the Half-Life games, but want to buy the new Half-Life: Alyx VR game? Valve has you covered. Gordon Freeman's entire sci-fi saga is now free-to-play on Steam for the next few months, including the original 1998 PC classic, its spin-offs, and of course the excellent Half-Life 2 and its accompanying episode. You'll still have to buy them after the free period ends, though. They're not free to keep, just free-to-play.

Remember that Half-Life: Alyx is a prequel that bridges the original Half-Life and Half-Life 2, not an actual sequel. Valve wants you to play through the current games before you try out its new VR-only experience. And honestly if you've yet to play these games you really need to jump in. The original is pretty much timeless and holds up well today (my friends and I still fire up Sven Co-op for some hilarious antics).

Doom Eternal is shaping up to be the ultimate Doom game in content scope, execution, and raw

Gamers who buy Doom Eternal will have plenty to do on day one. The campaign itself is twice as long as Doom 2016, culminating in a story that has you unleashing total havoc on the bowels of hell to the highest reaches of heaven. The game also has double the demons as the yesteryear reboot, complete with old monstrosities like the cyberdemon, and new baddies like the Doom Hunter and the Marauder.

That's just the tip of the iceberg though. We've known for a while Doom Eternal would be a big, grindy game based on exploration with some RPG-like mechanics thrown in for good measure. But now we're seeing how this will actually manifest. Not only are the levels and maps absolutely massive with a new dimension of verticality thanks to the grappling hook shotgun, but there's tons of enemies and unlockables peppered throughout that incentivize you to keep on playing--and keep on racking up Combat Points to spend on upgrades.

Doom Eternal has a hub area called the Fortress of Doom where you can unlock armor variants and test out new weapons in a training room, further solidifying it as an engagement-driven game.

Doom Eternal is kind of like an RPG-FPS hybrid. It'll be a long, grindy experience with a lot of unlockables and upgrades, complete with material gathering and emphasis on non-linear exploration and replayability. "Engagement" is one of the core tenants of Doom Eternal, and id is somewhat taking the service game-like route by injecting tons of stuff to do. Thankfully all of this serves the brutal FPS action.

Another piece of this puzzle was revealed in some new previews. Doom Eternal features an interesting hub called the Fortress of Doom, a kind of floating hallow high-tech cathedral with lots of stylish explorable areas--one such area is called the Ripatorium--that house nifty upgrades including armor sets (even the classic original Doom Slayer garb is unlockable), new weapons, and new mods. There's just one catch: These upgrades are gated off, forcing gamers to collect items like Empyrean Keys and Sentinel Batteries as they play.

The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X could sell up to a combined 8 million units in 2020, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter predicts.

Next-gen consoles might not sell as well as their forebears. The systems will feature enthusiast-grade hardware to belt out 4K 60FPS gaming (as well as 8K gaming support) thanks to a beefy new Zen 2 CPU and Navi GPU SoC from AMD, as well as a new kind of custom SSD storage tech. These kinds of specs should bring a hefty price point of up to $500, but there's also reports the PS5 could be lower-specced to hit the magical $399 launch price to conquer next-gen sales.

Based on historical current-gen data we can make some predictions, and that's exactly what analyst Michael Pachter has done. Remember next-gen systems are extensions of PS4 and Xbox One ecosystem that will support accessories and games from the current gen. That could buffer or hinder sales figures depending on the price and extent of inter-generation support (people may be less likely to adopt an Xbox Series X if it costs too much and doesn't have a lot of new games, for example).

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has tweeted out that he and his team are currently in Japan talking with game studios and publishers about 2020, and beyond.

Spencer tweeted: "Great to be back in Japan with the team talking and listening to amazing studios and publishers about 2020 and beyond. Really strong energy and excitement here about gaming's future". Microsoft hasn't been as tight in Japan as Sony has in its home country, but we could see that change in 2020 and beyond once the Xbox Series X launches later this year.

Microsoft having a larger influence in Japan going forward only makes sense, especially as it will want to battle Sony wherever it can against the PlayStation 5 with its new Xbox Series X console. Maybe Spencer and his team were there to talk with Japanese game studios about a possible acquisition? I guess we'll find out soon enough.

The games marketplace is about to get even more fractured as Google joins the likes of Epic Games in buying timed exclusive titles.

Google will use its cloud billions to secure timed exclusivity deals for its Stadia game streaming service. The company announced its plans in a recent blog post, confirming over 10 games will be temporarily exclusive to Stadia throughout 1H 2020. Neither the games nor their exclusivity windows were revealed.

"Looking at our upcoming lineup, we are tracking more than 120 games coming to Stadia in 2020, and are targeting more than ten games in the first half of this year alone that will be only available on Stadia when they launch. We're working with our partners to share more on those games soon."