Gaming - Page 854

The cost of AAA game development is at all time highs right now, with Shadow of the Tomb Raider costing upwards of $100 million to make.

During a chat with GamesIndustry.biz, Shadow of the Tomb Raider developer Eidos Montreal said: "Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and other different AAA single-player games, cost $75 million to $100 million. And that's production only; it's close to $35 million on the promotion".

This shouldn't surprise anyone as games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider are complex to develop, have hundreds of people working across multiple studios to get it to market on multiple platforms, as well as the associated marketing costs ramping upwards of $35 million.

Fortnite players were disappointed to see the 50 vs 50 game mode live a short life before being removed back in December. Now, Epic Games has brought back the game mode for another limited time; jump into the 50 vs 50 matches now!

Epic Games has taken to Twitter to announce that the new game mode is making its grand return back to the live servers. The game mode is quite self-explanatory, instead of the 100-player lobby being every man for himself or squads, players will be split cleanly down the middle, placing 50 players on one team and 50 players on another.

50 v 50 V2's main change when compared to the game modes first release is that each team will now have their own respective bus. The two buses will start at opposite ends of the map and travel along the same path, this decision made by Epic Games is in hopes of providing players with a more effective dividing system, to in-turn create a more balanced game mode.

Crytek has released their new title Hunt: Showdown and to support their new release the developers are rolling out the first major content update.

The content update which is now live will be adding in five new weapons players get to enjoy, two new tactical bombs, 11 new hunter outfits, 12 new traits and much more.

Other small changes include fall damage, map readability improvements, footstep sound changes and more. The update will be a total of 3.3GB and will be downloaded automatically the next time players open Steam. If you are interested in checking out the full patch notes visit the official Steam HUNT: Showdown patch notes here.

In the recently released Square Enix fiscal year report, it has been revealed that Kingdom Hearts III is planned for release alongside other titles such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Octopath Traveler.

There has been quite a lot of skepticism for Kingdom Hearts III debuting this year, but according to the fiscal year report released by Square Enix, Kingdom Hearts III should be expected sometime closer to the end of the year.

Fans of the series have been teased several times for the upcoming title, for those that have missed these trailers there has been a Classic Kingdom trailer as well as a Monsters, Inc trailer. If you are interested in viewing the Square Enix fiscal year reports yourself check out the official company financial results here.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze first began on the Wii U and while the sales of the title weren't fantastic on the older generation console the tide has changed with the titles re-release on the Nintendo Switch.

According to the sales charts by Dengeki Online, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze has sold a massive 90,000 copies in just the first week of release in Japan. This figure is almost three times the amount that was originally sold on the Wii U version of the game.

The sales numbers within the first week suggest that Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze has sold 65% of its initial shipment. When compared to the Wii U's version, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze only sold 35% of its shipment within its first week of release.

Motion Twin, the developers behind the smash-hit indie success Dead Cells have announced that the title will be debuting to its full release this August.

Dead Cells is currently in Early Access, but sometime during August it has been announced the title will be released fully. Motion Twin and Merge Games are partnering up to provide players will a physical copy of the game for both the PS4 and the Nintendo Switch.

Also debuting with the announcement is the "Back to the roots / Baguette" update. The update brings new items into the game, adds legendary drops and patches general needed fixes. If you are interested in the full patch notes check out the official Dead Cells website.

Deus Ex and Shadow of the Tomb Raider dev Eidos Montreal wants to experiment with new methods and technology to help power its games, including more robust online elements.

As the industry pushes towards more online-based service games, it only makes sense for developers and publishers to follow the latest trendsetters like Fortnite. While not every game dev needs not make a battle royale game, there is a long-term lucrative sustainability to be found in the live game model. As a result we've seen publishers like Ubisoft merge online content into singleplayer components in games like Assassin's Creed: Origins and more recently with Far Cry 5, and this is something Eidos Montreal would like to pursue.

"We need to try new things, experience stuff and learn," Eidos Montreal's studio head David Anfossi told GamesIndustry.biz.

BioWare is making a new Dragon Age game...but everything we've heard so far hints at a long-away release date.

With Anthem on the horizon, aka BioWare's most ambitious open-world online-connected action game to date, it should seem obvious that the dev's other IPs will fall on the back burner. On the same heel we know that Dragon Age is next in line for a new game, especially considering Mass Effect has been tagged out after the PR disaster that was ME: Andromeda. Over the course of many months BioWare has steadily teased and drip-fed info about the next Dragon Age project. Everything we've learned thus far tells us two things: Dragon Age 4 (or whatever it's called) could be a big-budget mainline sequel and it is probably in early phases of development. Just how early though? Apparently early-early.

In a recent "state of BioWare" blog post, studio head Casey Hudson said something that could mean the new Dragon Age is far down the line. Hudson's choice of words may be deliberate or vague, but if it's the former, the next Dragon Age project is basically in envisioning and designing phases.

As an online-based experience, Anthem should indeed be monetized in some form...but EA might hold off on those specific live services at launch.

The Battlefront II controversy taught EA a hard-learned lesson. As the second games titan behind Activision, you better believe EA has taken lots of notes about what not to do regarding microtransactions and the like. Fast-forwarding to this fiscal year, FY2019, and we see two big games that are prime for engagement monetization: Battlefield V and Anthem, BioWare's big new IP. We know that Anthem is an online-driven game that will most certainly be monetized with live services, but the timing is just as important as the methodology, and we could see EA taking careful steps with their massive new investment.

In many ways Anthem is EA's dream game in terms of long-term potential monetization: it's a shared-world, genre-melding, action-RPG-shooter with narrative-driven components and online play. Essentially it has all of the critical pieces needed to turn the the billion-dollar engagement wheelhouse that dominates the games industry, and EA loves engagement (after all it made $2.19 billion from live services last fiscal year). But EA also knows it can't mess this one up. Anthem has to be handled just right lest it receive the ire of the gaming world...and that's not something you want after investing untold millions into a big new IP.

Sony's big E3 2018 presser will focus on what sells PS4 consoles: games.

Like any console-maker, games are massively important to Sony's PlayStation business, especially when it comes to exclusives. At E3 2018, Sony will continue its long-standing tradition of showcasing tantalizing sizzle reels of juggernaut PS exclusive titles: the company announced its E3 press conference will revolve around four major headliners including Death Stranding, The Last of Us II, Marvel's Spider-Man, and Ghost of Tsushima.

I'm predicting that we should get a concrete release date for Death Stranding at the event, or at the very least a "2019" release window. We already know the game will launch "before the 2020 Olympics," and Kojima has said progress on Death Stranding is going quite well.

Following the recent Walmart Canada leak, Bethesda teases what certainly has to be RAGE 2.

id Software's next big game appears to be RAGE 2, and should be highlighted during Bethesda's big E3 2018 showcase in June. But the publisher's Twitter account strongly hints the post-apocalyptic shooter sequel could be revealed this month--on May 14th to be exact. Bethesda's Twitter has been ramping up with not-so-subtle teases and at the time of writing has five pictures that progressively hint at RAGE 2's presence.

What's most interesting about the images is that they show areas around the world, which could indicate a global cross-continent experience. The first image is of Big Ben, and another image shows a Tokyo street. This could indicate RAGE 2 will have an online live service component of some sort with more widespread and dynamic multiplayer action, possibly both drop-in/drop-out online co-op and/or competitive play. In a sense there's a very real possibility RAGE 2 could mirror Borderlands in terms of play modes.

BioWare has revealed in a blogpost that the company is currently looking to the future for what games they will be producing, in the post it was revealed that there is unannounced projects in the works.

Casey Hudson, BioWare exec explains in a blogpost that BioWare has "teams envisioning future BioWare games, and they're designing approaches that are different from Anthem-including one that's very Dragon Age." This could suggest one of two things, either BioWare is creating another Dragon Age game and this is a clue, or BioWare has a completely new title in the works that shares similar gameplay aspects.

Hudson also details the upcoming Anthem, he explains that BioWare's main goal when creating a game is that the players should feel as if they are the center of the story. Even though Anthem is a multiplayer title BioWare still chooses to respectfully stand by this rule, Hudson says "In a BioWare game, you should feel like the story is about you. You create your own character, you decide what happens next, and you become the hero. I think the reason people are concerned about whether these things are possible in a multiplayer game is because it just hasn't been solved well before."

The success of Monster Hunter World caused many Nintendo Switch fans to want the game to debut on their handheld console, Capcom has put those requests to the side for now and have decided to bring Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate to the Nintendo Switch next month.

Nintendo Switch players that decide to pick up this title will be able to enjoy the slaying of monsters with up to three friends over local and online multiplayer simultaneously. A side note for players that previously owned Monster Hunter Generations, there is an option to transfer your save data to the Nintendo Switch version, if you choose to.

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate will be releasing on the Nintendo Switch on August 28, for further information regarding Capcom's upcoming title check out the official Monster Hunter website here.

As every Nintendo Switch owner patiently waits for the new Super Smash Bros, a leak for the upcoming titles game engine has surfaced, strangely enough the leak comes from a former Bandai developer.

There is very little confirmed knowledge for the new Super Smash Bros, so far we know Masahiro Sakurai is working on the project and that the title is planned for release sometime this year. Former Bandai Namco developer, Tiago Sonobe has leaked information about the games engine, according to the tweet which has now been removed, the engine for the new Super Smash Bros was actually created by Sonobe and not Nintendo.

After this post was made both the post and the account has been deleted. Nintendo and Bandai are yet to give an official statement about this matter so do take this information with a grain of salt for the time being. Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Switch will be released sometime this year.

Battlefield 5 will be one of the biggest games of 2018, and it seems EA and DICE will be kicking off the major announcements on May 23 according to the latest rumors.

A very dedicated Battlefield 5 fan has found a teaser website that was discovered after solving an easter egg in Battlefield 1 map Fort Vaux. A door was opened that led to a chamber where pipes were dripping in morse code. The teaser website features the #Battlefield hashtag, and a May 23 date.

The game will include a single-player campaign, with EA boss Andrew Wilson saying that BF5 will feature multiple maps and modes in the multiplayer side of things, as well as on-going services that will be enabled on day-one.

Running backwards usually isn't a fun thing to do in a video game as most of the time it impedes your character in some form or another. Binx Interactive has turned that synopsis on its head with I Hate Running Backwards, which features Serious Sam and other iconic characters.

I Hate Running Backwards will force players into running backwards against hordes of enemies such as skeletal kleer, unstoppable werebulls, headless kamikazes and many more. All of which will be trying to overpower Serious Sam and his chosen partner that will of course have a endless supply of completely overpowered weapons.

I Hate Running Backwards will also be feauturing numerous other characters, Nuclear Throne's Crystal, Chicken-head from Hotline Miami Rambro and even Rambo from Broforce can be spotted. I Hate Running Backwards will be released on May 22.

A new trailer has been released for the Unreal Engine 4 powered hell experience, Agony. Madmind Studio has released the new trailer for their upcoming controversial title.

Recently we heard about the controversy of Agony arriving with a censorship option as the title was slightly to gratuitous. Now, a new trailer has been released and this time Madmind Studio has revealed the games story.

For those that are not aware of what Agony is based around, players will awaken as a tormented soul within the confines of hell. Being a soul allows for players to take command of demons and other forms of life that harbor in hell with you. Currently, Agony is planned for release on May 29th.

On a developer update post from Stunlock Studios, the first screenshots for Battlerite Royale have been released. Accompanied by the screenshots is also the developers focus for the upcoming game mode.

Peter Ilves took to the developers blog to shine a light for fans of Battlerite on the upcoming new battle royale gamemode. Ilves explains the developers goal when designing the new mode, "With 27 Champions out, we are quite satisfied with the current numbers of characters and moving forward we've decided to spend more time on balancing the game and putting more work into new ways of enjoying Battlerite. There will still be more champions and features coming this year, but at the moment we're investing in trying new gameplay experiences, and as such we're happy to present some details about our upcoming game mode, Battlerite Royale."

Peter Ilves continues and says that him and his team wanted to "stay true to Battlerite's action-packed gameplay while giving our players a fresh experience beyond the arena, with the added perk of exploration." If you are interested in the new coming gamemode check out the official developers update on the Battlerite website here.

NBA fans will be glad to know that NBA Playgrounds 2 has received the first gameplay trailer from the developers Saber Interactive, the trailer showcases the improvements the title has made when compared to the first game.

According to the above video, Saber Interactive have added new player models, brand new animation system, online ranking system, new season mode, new lottery pick power ups, dedicated servers, 4-player online, redesigned AI and more playgrounds.

NBA Playgrounds 2 will be released on May 22 for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC and Nintendo Switch. If you want to catch up on some older NBA Playgrounds 2 news check out the debut trailer that was released back in April.

EA's own upper management strongly underlines the veracity of previous Battlefield V campaign rumors.

A few months ago sources told VentureBeat that Battlefield V's campaign would once again be episodic, meaning every mission or sets of missions would change perspectives in a fresh location, and that the story mode would be complete with optional co-op. Now EA seems to hint these rumors were accurate.

In its most recent Q4'18 earnings call, EA CEO Andrew Wilson said something quite interesting about the next Battlefield game: the exec referred to the game's "singleplayer stories," as in plural. Now this could be a generalization and refer to each mission as telling a different story or something along those lines...or...it could be an indicator that Battlefield V's campaign will have rotating, multi-perspective objectives and levels. The game is also supposedly set in World War II, and given Call of Duty WWII's tremendous success, this makes a lot of sense and offers DICE a natural progressive shift from Battlefield 1's established assets and toolset.