Poll: 4 of the 5 most wanted holiday games are Nintendo Switch exclusives
The Nintendo Switch is dominating the 2019 holiday season. As some shoppers wait for next-generation consoles from Microsoft and Sony in the latter part of 2020, more are considering a Switch purchase, and the company's games are by far the most desirable this holiday season.
Don’t expect Microsoft’s Project xCloud to get exclusive games
Microsoft's Project xCloud will let you play Xbox games on devices such as mobile phones and tablets, but don't expect the service to offer exclusive games like Google does with Stadia. Microsoft is currently working on developing the service as a different form factor for Xbox players, rather than a competing service.
CD Projekt Red won’t rule out microtransactions in Cyberpunk 2077 spinoff
CD Projekt Red has said that it has not ruled out microtransactions or some other form of monetization in its upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 multiplayer spinoff. The game will not be part of Cyberpunk 2077 itself, which will only be single-player and will launch next April on consoles, PC, and Google Stadia.
Players upset about Stadia’s 4K issues get response, but no apology, from Google
Google has issued a statement addressing players upset that certain Stadia games are not hitting true 4K resolution, largely putting the blame on the developers behind individual titles. Games like Destiny 2 and Red Dead Redemption 2 are being upscaled to higher resolutions rather than running at native 4K.
Apex Legends players think Mirage deserves buffs, Pathfinder needs to be nerfed
An unofficial survey that involved nearly 2,000 Apex Legends players revealed the characters that the community thinks are overpowered, balanced, or underpowered. Mirage is the character that deserves to be buffed, while Pathfinder needs to be nerfed, according to the survey results.
Valve may start working on Half-Life 3 if Half-Life: Alyx succeeds
Half-Life: Alyx may not be what fans of the franchise expected, but if it succeeds, Valve may start working on Half-Life 3. Valve programmer David Speyrer said in an interview that the company will love to "push forward" with the franchise, but it will wait to see how gamers react to the VR exclusive.
Hideo Kojima hints that next project may be a horror video game
Hideo Kojima, with Death Stranding now released, dropped clues that his next video game project may be in the horror genre. In a tweet, Kojima hinted that he is already thinking about how to "make the scariest horror game," following the success of P.T., the playable teaser for the canceled Silent Hills.
A remake of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis may be in development
Capcom is reportedly working on remaking Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, with the game's release date possibly slated for sometime in 2020. Several sources have reported that Capcom was indeed giving the third numbered sequel in the Resident Evil franchise a long-awaited revamp.
Give thanks for the long-awaited arrival of Zombies on Call of Duty: Mobile
Activision and Tencent are finally adding Zombies mode to Call of Duty: Mobile in the game's latest update. The free-to-play shooter launched a few months ago with competitive multiplayer and battle royale modes, and a third option was shown but inaccessible on the game's main menu.
GameStop offers huge savings on Call of Duty and The Division 2 for Black Friday
GameStop has released its Black Friday 2019 ad, and it will be offering huge savings on new video games including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Gears 5, Borderlands 3, and Ghost Recon Breakpoint. There will also be deals available for new game consoles, including Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite.
Another one! Amazon could announce game-streaming service in 2020
Amazon could be preparing to announce its own game-streaming service in 2020. The company founded a game development division several years ago but has canceled multiple projects since then and seen several high-profile developers leave the company and return to veteran game studios instead.
Pokémon Sword and Shield blow past franchise launch record
Pokémon Sword and Shield managed to have the highest-grossing launch in the series' history, with 2 million copies sold in the United States alone and 6 million worldwide. The games are only available on Nintendo Switch, which recently saw its own sales increase after the launch of the Switch Lite.
Some Stadia users say their Chromecast Ultra is overheating and abruptly dying
A few Google Stadia’s early adopters report that their Chromecast Ultra has been abruptly shutting down and overheating while in an active game session. The device doesn’t provide any warning, either, leaving players no option to save their progress in the game.
The Game Awards biggest nominees include Death Stranding and Sekiro
Geoff Keighley revealed the nominees for The Game Awards in 2019 and some of the biggest nominees include Death Stranding, Resident Evil 2, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Control. The awards will be streamed on December 12 and will also be shown in select Cinemark theaters.
A new Half-Life game is official, and it isn’t what you’d expect
After a long wait, Valve has finally announced a new Half-Life game. It's called Half-Life: Alyx, and it will be released on the Valve Index virtual reality headset. Additional details are sketchy, though it seems fair to assume the game will focus on Alyx.
Roku rolls out update to solve issues with Pokémon, but is it super effective?
Roku has issued an update for its televisions and external devices to resolve a problem affecting Pokémon Sword and Shield. Users were having their televisions power down while playing the game, and the problem appeared to be caused by wireless communication features used in the game.
Hide your data plan! Google’s Stadia sucks down over 10 gigabytes every hour
Google Stadia lets you play Destiny 2 on your smartphone, but that doesn't mean you'll be walking around town with Cayde-6 in your pocket (and not just because the character's dead). Stadia's high data usage of 10.2 gigabytes every hour is the enemy of data plans everywhere.
Possible PlayStation 5 controller design looks strikingly similar to DualShock 4
A design for a potential PlayStation 5 controller has been published in Japan's patent office, and it looks extremely similar to the DualShock 4 currently available for the PlayStation 4. Changes will include a better speaker, as well as haptic feedback that goes beyond simple rumble.
Roku devices crashing due to Pokémon Sword and Shield: Here’s a temporary fix
Roku device owners recently started reporting crashes, and apparently, the issue is linked to Pokémon Sword and Shield for the Nintendo Switch. Roku said that it is aware of the issue and is working to roll out a permanent fix, but in the meantime, there is a temporary solution to the problem.
BioWare reportedly in early stages of developing next Mass Effect game
BioWare is reportedly in the "very early development" stage for a new Mass Effect game, which will be the fifth in the franchise after Mass Effect: Andromeda. The next Mass Effect has been teased for a while, most recently at this year's N7 Day celebrations, but it will not be releasing any time soon.
Resident Evil 2 takes home Ultimate Game of the Year at Golden Joystick Awards
Resident Evil 2 was crowned Ultimate Game of the Year at The 37th Golden Joystick Awards, wherein the winners are determined through public voting. Fortnite, last year's winner of the top award, was named Esports Game of the Year, while the Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Yu Suzuki.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare data miner leaks Battle Royale mode details
A dataminer leaked the upcoming Battle Royale mode for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. The leak includes most of the details of the game mode, including its massive map, a new respawning mechanic, and in-game missions, but it remains unclear if it will be a free update or paid DLC.
Path of Exile developer reveals sequel, new expansion, and mobile version
Grinding Gear Games revealed Path of Exile 2, the Conquerors of Atlas and Metamorph League for Path of Exile, and a mobile version for the title at ExileCon in New Zealand. The sequel is not an entirely new game, as it will function as an upgrade to its predecessor while adding new mechanics.
Magic: The Gathering maker Wizards of the Coast suffers database breach
Wizards of the Coast, the company behind Magic: The Gathering, suffered a database breach involving the accounts of MTG Arena and Magic Online players. The passwords in the database were protected, but as a precaution, affected users are recommended to change their passwords over the next seven days.
Xbox Game Pass will soon add Final Fantasy games from VII to XV
Microsoft will add 10 Final Fantasy titles to Xbox Game Pass in 2020, from Final Fantasy VII to Final Fantasy XV. The list does not include the MMOs Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV, but the addition of the latter to the subscription service is in the works, according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer.
Anthem is getting huge changes to save the game from irrelevancy
Anthem developer BioWare is reportedly making huge changes to the game, including its mission structure and even the world itself, in order to save the project after it released earlier this year to poor reviews. The game followed Mass Effect: Andromeda, which also was met with a disappointing reception in 2017.
Stormtroopers invade Fortnite, and you can get the character skin for free
Epic Games collaborated with Star Wars to release a limited-time Stormtroopers skin for Fortnite. Those who purchase Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order via the Epic Games Store get the skin for free. The game can also be purchased on PC via Steam or Electronic Arts' own Origin digital store.
Exclusive: AT&T will prove the potential of 5G at DreamHack’s CS:GO tournament
AT&T will be at the DreamHack Open to show what a 5G network can do by streaming footage of the CS:GO tournament live. Three 5G-enabled smartphones will be on hand to capture unique perspectives, and their footage will be spliced into the official Twitch livestream.
Xbox brings brand-new franchises from Rare and Obsidian to X019
During its X019 celebration, Microsoft hosted a special episode of its Inside Xbox show and announced new franchises from studios Rare, Obsidian, and Dontnod Entertainment. Project xCloud was also featured, and a whole bunch of the biggest games will soon be available for Xbox Game Pass.
Age of Empires 4 is finally happening, and this is the first gameplay trailer
After it's official announcement back in 2017, Microsoft released a new trailer for Age of Empires IV during X019 presentation in London. The new teaser trailer for the upcoming title displays a battle in the middle ages as two sides — the Mongols and the English as they face off in an epic battle.
Rockstar is already banning players for modding Red Dead Online on PC
Red Dead Online players who had been playing modded versions of the game are already being suspended or outright banned by Rockstar, with their progress being reverted back to the start. Rockstar does not appear to be handing out similar bans to those who mod the single-player portion of Red Dead Redemption 2.
Cinemark Theaters brings The Game Awards to the big screen with Jumanji
Cinemark Theaters is partnering with Sony and The Game Awards for a special event on December 12. The film Jumanji: The Next Level will be screened before a live broadcast of The Game Awards. The awards will still also be shown on streaming platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and Twitter.
Could Google Stadia “go far beyond video games?” The dev behind Kine thinks so
The dev behind Stadia launch title Kine thinks the service aspires to pilot technology Google could use in more than games. That's assuming, however, that Stadia makes it past a rocky launch, which is held back by as slim launch library.
Google Stadia will be missing some of its biggest features at launch
Google Stadia's unique social features like State Share and Crowd Play could revolutionize how we play games with others, but neither feature is actually going to be included when it launches this month. These missing features only make its limited launch game library seem more barren.