New Super Mario Maker 2 Details Along With An E3 Invitational Announced
In today’s Super Mario Maker 2 focused Nintendo Direct, a massive list of new features were revealed for the highly anticipated sequel. Along with all of the returning customization options from the first game, some new building options include Slopes, the Angry Sun from Super Mario Bros. 3, adjustable water levels, and even On/Off switches. New themes are also available on top of the originals, with Desert, Snow, Forest and Sky bringing even more variety to the mix. These themes also all feature new music from legendary composer Koji Kondo. The Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U styles all make their return, with the new addition being based on Super Mario 3D World. While the levels are still 2D, several features are exclusive to this new style including Cat Mario, Clear Pipes, Koopa Troopa Car, Track Blocks and Piranha Creepers. For those looking for a more traditional Mario experience, a new Story mode will be available. In this mode, Mario must rebuild Princess Peach’s castle by collecting coins through over 100 courses all designed by Nintendo. This is a great mode for those looking for inspiration for their own levels, as the Nintendo created courses are sure to be bursting with creativity. Story mode can also be played completely offline as expected. For those looking to build with a partner, a new co-op mode is available for building. Pass your friend a Joy-Con and you can both create simultaneously. Online features have also been revamped. A new online hub called ‘Course World’ has been added that allows you to share and play other users courses. You can browse by most popular, newest, or even search for certain tags. Once downloaded, you can play courses anytime, even offline. Stages can now be liked or disliked, and premade comments can be left on stages that you play. Every user will also have a Maker profile with their Mii that can be customized by completed objectives. You will also earn Maker points based on user engagement with your levels. In addition, online play with up to 4 players is now possible in either versus play or co-op. In versus, you try to beat the others to the goal or objective, while co-op will have you work together to clear the level. The stages selected in these modes will be done at random. Super Mario Maker 2 will be receiving a special bundle that includes a 12 month Nintendo Switch Online membership for $69.99. That’s half off of a normal 12 month membership, and it stacks on top of any current subscription you may have. In addition, a new limited time bonus called ‘Game Vouchers’ for current NSO members allows you to pick two eligible titles (including Super Mario Maker 2) for $99.99. The only downside to this is that it is a digital only promotion, so for those that prefer physical, this is not for you. On a final note, it was revealed that a Super Mario Maker 2 Invitational will be taking place on June 8th, the same day as the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 2 invitationals. This invitational will have Nintendo Treehouse created levels to test the platforming skills of those attending. Watching the 2017 Nintendo World Championships original Mario Maker competition round was a fun time, so this should surely take it up a notch with the new building options. Super Mario Maker 2 will be available on June 28th exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
Beat Saber Exits Early Access With Level Editor Inbound For Next Week
Beat Games’ popularity sky rocketed almost instantly when the public eye got its first glimpse of rhythm-based virtual reality title Beat Saber last year. Since then, the game grew in admiration from the industry as more and more players started hitting notes with light sabers. Enough to push the game from PC to the more mainstream PlayStation VR platform for PlayStation 4. More recently with the first care package of songs that hit the game back in March, now Beat Games seemed to have revealed that the time has come for the year-old title to finally leave Early Access on Steam. Sharing that now that the game is stable on all platforms it’s available on, the developer is pushing the bar up for new features and s challenges. Such as planning to “unify” all versions of the game across the PC and PSVR. This also means that the debut of the highly-requested Level Editor is ready to release. Beat Games clarifying that the studio initially had the feature in mind to release since originally dropping on PC, but did not have a specified way to approach adding custom tracks to the game. But now, players will have the ability to edit levels with the upcoming creator next week. Upon excitement from fans of the approaching feature, the developer later explained that Level Editor will be exclusive to the Steam version of the game when it drops. "All Beat Saber versions will now unify." Does that mean level editor for PS? — Kilroy (@OldBlackRum) May 14, 2019 So level editor is also gonna be on quest :). — Gilles21 (@Gilles2110) May 14, 2019 The official swing from Early Access is said to take place next week with the release of the Oculus Quest which simultaneously launches the respected version of Beat Saber also, on May 21st. The developer also explains that the music roadmap ahead for the game is looking bright with a roster “full of big name artists coming from across all genres”: adding on that free songs and the second music pack is already in the works for the coming future. Beat Saber is currently available for PlayStation VR, Steam, and Oculus Rift. Source: Beat Games
Blizzard Announces World Of Warcraft Classic For Later This August
Earlier this week, Blizzard has revealed to the abundance of nostalgic World of Warcraft fans that World of Warcraft Classic will be coming later this Summer at the end of August. Last year at 2018’s Blizzcon held in Anaheim, California the developer/publisher announced that WoW Classic is currently in the works, leaving countless fans who’ve been playing since the start of the franchise at the beginning of the new millennium anticipating for the coming year. Detailing the changes that will be coming to the classic game and listing the ‘stages’ of content planned to come post-launch. In the news post, Blizzard shares that despite the full version of Classic will be dropping at the end of the Summer practically, players will be invited to participate in a set of playtests that will run between May to July. Next week, the first stress test will take place between May 22nd & 23rd. Following in June with another test session held running from June 19th to June 20th. And After in July one more will take place on July 18th to July 1th. As part of preparation to jump right into the Classic MMO, Blizzard will allow players to create and customize their characters as soon as August 13th. World of Warcraft Classic will be available on August 27, 2019 for PC. Source: Blizzard
First Raid For The Division 2 Drops Tomorrow
Shortly after the launch of The Division 2 back in March, Ubisoft laid out the first few waves of content that is planned for the post-apocalyptic, D.C.-set open-world RPG. The already arrived Tidal Basin dropped at the following month in April and now the next piece of Year 1 content is the first raid, “Operation Dark Hours.” The approaching raid will go into effect tomorrow on May 16th, at 9 AM PST / 12 PM EST this Thursday players will have the go to take part in the first ever raid for the Tom Clancy title. In the latest operation, up to eight different agents travel to the Washington National Airport and must push through waves of Black Tusk soldiers and managing t make it to the end will reward those with a bevy of unique loot for your agent. Ubisoft has advertised that those who manage to finish the raid within a week, May 23rd, will receive an exclusive arm patch to flash on other players. A operation-themed clan banner and trophy will be awarded to everyone who completes Operation Dark Hours by default. Have you made your journey to what we used to call the nation’s capitol. Don’t worry, you can read up on our review for The Division 2 here. The Division 2 is out now for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.
Skulls & Bones Has Been Delayed
Upcoming online naval open world game set during the golden age, Skulls and Bones has been delayed. Today, through a tweet the team had announced that they will be pushing the game’s arrival back and we will not see the game at E3 next month. With the delay it will help the team make the game as good as it can be and quality is important to them. We’re going to batten down the hatches and push back on the game’s arrival—this is a challenging news for us all, but it’s what’s needed to make Skull & Bones as awesome as it can be! Our focus remains on quality first and we’re grateful for your undying support ☠️⚔️ pic.twitter.com/ZCt85tY3TG — Skull and Bones (@skullnbonesgame) May 15, 2019 With Ubisoft’s E3 conference coming around next month this was one game we thought we’d see there and a game that would be playable, but it looks like that won’t be the case. It’s fair to assume at this point Skulls and Bones will be ready for the next generation which isn’t that far away. Ubisoft should have an interesting briefing next month since Watch Dogs 3 and Splinter Cell are both rumored to be there. Skulls & Bones was originally planned for a 2019 release date and will now launch after March 2020.
Release Of Devil May Cry 5 Rejuvenates The Franchise, Capcom Says
Capcom on a roll after reaching their first year anniversary of Monster Hunter World releasing back in January with Resident Evil 2 dropping the same month, and following into March with Devil May Cry 5 which many have been anticipating since the game’s reveal back in June 2018. Now Capcom in their latest financial report have revealed that both titles have “exceeded expectations” leading up to the end of March. Resident Evil shipping more than 4 million units alongside Devil May Cry with 2 million units. Capcom emphasizes on the hack and slash by sharing that DMC 5 unit sales is “successfully reinvigorating” the brand seeing how well it performed in its first month alone. Unsure exactly how sales is received over purchased sales of the title, Capcom is nonetheless exhilarated from how Devil May Cry has performed. Implying that the future continues to look bright for the series and that more from the franchise is expected to be on the way in the coming future. Already aware of the Netflix series from Castlevania Producer Adi Shankar currently being in the works, other projects related to the 18 year-old series are anticipated to be on the way. Seeing that Hideaki Itsuno has already set his vision on the next project for Capcom, it’s unsure what is planned for Devil May Cry for the next installment. Seeing from Itsuno’s statement regarding his preference for DMC over Dragon’s Dogma, it’s likely the follow-up for the 2012 title is his next main focus for Capcom. Check out our review for the latest installment in the Devil May Cry series here. Devil May Cry 5 is available now for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Source: Capcom
Ubisoft Launches Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey VR Escape Room Beyond Medusa’s Gate
As we’ve already seen with Ubisoft launching Escape the Lost Pyramid last year, a virtual reality escape room set in Ancient Egypt, 2019 will receive a similar experience this time set in Ancient Greece inspired by Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. This new escape room experience titled Beyond Medusa’s Gate launched just this Monday offering a new adventure with a team between two to four players to solve puzzles, answer riddles, and interact with objects in a 60 minute period to escape the VR spaced room successfully. Among players putting their minds to the test to figuring a way out of the themed room, players are also given the ability to customize their persona with Greek artifacts also. The new event can be found from an abundance of locations varying between North America and Europe. The website reads that the new VR experience is “coming soon to the following locations,” listing cities like Montreal, San Jose, Paris, and London. Are you up to take part in an Assassin’s Creed-themed escape room? Source: Ubisoft
Latest Update For Red Dead Redemption 2 Adds New Story Missions, Poker, and More
Today Rockstar Games has revealed that a major update for the developer’s October-released Red Dead Redemption 2’s Red Dead Online has dropped featuring a whole arsenal of new content including story missions, poker, world changing mechanics, and the journey ahead for the online segment of the action adventure title. Firstly, it’s worth noting that Rockstar has finally dropped the ‘beta’ portion of Red Dead Online since the mode’s debut back in November. Which is very exciting as it got pretty worrying when that would actually happen as fans were unsure how long it would stay in the playtest phase. As part of the new update, players anticipating to participate in games of hold em’ after already seeing it available in the single player portion of the game can be rest assured as poker is now out for Red Dead Online. Divide up between the five counties, players can face in private games with friends in their posse or hit high-stakes against other players in public games. Rockstar emphasizes on playing poker in free-roam will lead to higher payouts compared to closed matches. The story mission arc for Jessica LeClerk continues on for The Land of Opportunity with missions for both players honing either honorable or dishonorable social stats. As you grow closer to discovering who killed LeClerk’s husband, there two paths for the respected player: The honorable Gunslinger mission involving a fight against the Del Lobos gang to save Valentine or the more dishonorable assignment to assist Samson Finch in puling a heist on the Saint Denis Bank. A handful of free-roam activities have also dropped as part of the new update including missions and dynamic events which could vary from assisting travelling NPCs to planned raids from antagonizing gangs. Posse Versus Challenges also make its debut as a bundle of different contests are available such as catching the most fish, shooting the most birds, or collecting the most herbs in a set time. Amid the roster of adversary modes such as Plunder and Up In Smoke, Rockstar has added the newest addition labeled Overrun. Players are given the objective to conquer and as the name of the game, overrun enemies from their territories while managing to keep their own at the same time. Brushing upon the previously reported defensive/aggressive play styles, this new update fully introduces the two mechanics bringing more ease to those who prefer different ways of enjoying the Five Counties in Red Dead Online. The more pacifist style allows players to take in the world around them without having to worry about the troubles that come from aggressive players like fishing or simply riding your mount. While the more hostile style allows players to fully go at it and cause as much trouble with those who seek the same chaos. For the already introduced Hostility System, player visibility and hostile player countermeasures have been added on to assist those that run into more troublesome player. Such as when one player begins shooting at another nearby player, the one being attacked will not be penalized for defending himself and this will not affect those who are not involved in the incident. As in tradition for every update, a list of balances/fixes have been added to better player experience when playing Red Dead Online: Auto-aim headshot tracking removed to up the difficulty on earning headshots on rivalling players. Increased swapping between weapons and make projectile weapons faster to launch. Update to the FPS control scheme making it more responsive when playing in the first-person view. PvP-centered challenges have been removed from Daily Challenges and new rewards have been added. New awards are available for newly added, gameplay-focused challenges. Global signal timer has been increased to create more flexibility for Free Roam Missions. Hostile players who do not respond to being attacked can now ‘press charge’ on the attacking player in the respawn scree. Horse pre-set selection is now available to pick which horse to choose when in free-roam. In-game economy has been adjusted for a bigger gold payout across all activities. For what to come in the coming weeks for Red Dead Online, Rockstar games have revealed that a handful of different missions, showdown modes, and events will be coming as soon as next week and further into June. The bigger picture that Rockstar has mapped for Red Dead Online is the new roles that the developer has planned for players to take on when playing. There are three roles said to be available: the criminal hunting Bounty Hunter, the entrepreneur-focused trader, or the adventurous Collector of rare items and foreign items. It is said that each place will offer unique experience, clothing options, progression systems, and creating your own path in the growing world. This being the meat of the matter as players continue to look for purpose to return to Read Dead Online, specific roles will complement players based on their actions looks to work well for future updates. Red Dead Redemption 2 is available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Source: Rockstar Newswire
