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Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Officially Launches For Mobile Today

In November of last year, Portkey Games alongside Pokémon Go developer Niantic announced that a Harry Potter-themed mobile AR game will be hitting mobile devices sometime in 2019. Since then, the developer has been teasing towards the approaching launch day throughout the course of the year. Just earlier this week, Portkey Games announced on Tuesday that the game will be dropping on June 21st, which is today. Fans of the J.K. Rowling novels can download the augmented reality title either on the App Store, Google Play, or Samsung Galaxy Store. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is currently available on said storefronts in the select regions: United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. The worldwide rollout of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite has officially begun! Download today in the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and stay tuned for more details as the rollout continues in the coming weeks! #WizardsUnite https://t.co/hG1DOFoQUT pic.twitter.com/Dhk677TaRp — Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (@HPWizardsUnite) June 21, 2019 Deprived from the game’s description, players will be able to explore series’ notorious locations through “AR-powered portkeys” as well as face challenges for only true wizards who are up to face these magical obstacles. Unlike the Nintendo-based predecessor, fans will be able to use Selfie Avatar feature which offers a catalogue of filters and lenses to decorate their Ministry ID. Portkey Games also clarified that more news will develop on the new title such as upcoming content along with more regions that can join on the Harry Potter adventures for mobile phones. At the start of June, Square Enix announced that Dragon Quest fans in Japan will be the first to test the waters of the upcoming Dragon Quest Walk AR mobile title; you can read the full piece of the game here. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is available now for Android and iOS.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Details Shared In Recent Interview

Developer GSC Game World just recently revealed some important details regarding the long-awaited sequel to 2007’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R. with information regarding the game’s development and what makes this coming follow-up title different compared to the initially planned sequel from over a decade ago. For those unaware, the original team at GSC Game Works who created the first title in the series was comprised of Alexander Maximchuk, Andrew Prokhorov, and Oles Shyshkovtsov along with a handful of other developers at the time. Following the release of the title, however, studio CEO Sergei Grigorovich favored the earnings of the game over the developers which resulted with many of those including the mentioned names to leave and form a new studio shortly after: 4A Games, the studio behind the video game adaptation of Dmitry Glukhosvsky’s best-selling novel Metro series. In the Russian to English-translated interview via Reddit, GSC states that the decision to finally bring S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 into the light is primarily to cut the anticipation fans who have been patiently waiting for the sequel can be happy knowing the game is currently in development. Mentioning that the game will be made under a larger team than any of the previous games and is self-funded project with no third-party publisher. Development is fully on shoulders of GSC Game World. But our developers have worked in many famous companies, including Ukrainian. GSC Game World also went into detail to share that the upcoming title will be completely different in contrast towards the previous 2012 planned sequel that never made it to store shelves. Sharing that there is an innovation overhaul in both the game’s look atop of the core gameplay mechanics present. Enthusiastic in the interview, GSC also expects the title’s “unique atmosphere” to be what truly grasps player’s attention for their first impression. Amid the more prevalent questions revolving around the newly announced sequel, GSC was also questioned regarding the previous titles in the series such as the original first-person survival horror game as well as the followed prequel and sequel titles. Asking if there are plans for some sort of port or remaster, where the studio responded with “not yet”, as they have not thought ahead of the coming sequel as of yet: ultimately implying that GSC has thought about the concept previously. Regarding an expected timeframe or release date, GSC explained that the developer is taking their time and pacing the development to meet expectations for the fans. On the other hand though, the studio also mentioned that employees of the team often visit events like E3 and Gamescom prior to the title’s announcement; leading to a potential reveal announcement at a coming event in the future. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is currently has no platforms listed for the title. Source: Reddit, Reddit

Report: Microsoft Dropping Lockhart SKU, Focus On Project Scarlett

This past E3, Microsoft closed out its press conference by officially revealing the next generation platform for the Xbox brand with Project Scarlett. Said to be 4x more powerful than the current Xbox One X model with help from the AMD Zen 2 CPU to make 120 frames per second a reality and reach towards the possibility of potential 8K resolution output for upcoming games. However, it seems that Microsoft was a SKU short as the company failed to introduced the rumored Project Lockhart model which was previously reported to be a light on power, entertainment-focused model similar to the Xbox One S. While the more beefy Project Anaconda resulted in becoming Project Scarlett. According to technology outlet Thurrott, Executive Editor Brad Sams shares that Microsoft is “shifting focus to one next-gen console.” Explaining that all traces of the previously reported Lockhart console has been “scrubbed clean” from existence following this E3 despite Xbox boos Phil Spencer clearly mentioning two consoles during E3 last year. Leading Sams to speculate after discussing the topic with insiders within Microsoft that the decision was made due to the difficulty and confusion of developing titles for the next-generation while worrying about two separate consoles. Elaborating more on the subject that though games are much easier to scale up compared to the opposite; added to much to developer’s plates when trying to work with the new hardware. Sams also shares that he is not the only one who have noticed the same pattern as Digital Foundry also came to the same conclusion following discussions with people at this year’s E3 as well. What are your thoughts on Microsoft deciding to put the burners on high strictly for Project Scarlett? Project Scarlett will be available Holiday 2020. Source: Thurrott  

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Beta Drops On PlayStation 4 Tomorrow

Capcom previously announced that the coming Iceborne expansion for Monster Hunter World is set to drop snow on the 2018 title this coming Fall for console. But for those on PlayStation 4 specifically, users on Sony’s platform will have exclusive hands-on time with the coming LC through a beta that will launch starting tomorrow. Kicking off at 3 AM PST/5 AM EST, PlayStation Plus subscribers will have immediate access to the beta on June 21st and have until July 1st. As for those who don’t own the platform-exclusive service will have to wait until June 28th and catch up with the few days left as the beta closes the following Monday. Get ready, hunters! The #Iceborne PS4 Beta (PS Plus required) starts June 21st at: 3:00am PDT6:00am EDT11:00am BST12:00pm CEST [Ownership of MH:World or Iceborne is not required] pic.twitter.com/bie47dFBrq — Monster Hunter (@monsterhunter) June 20, 2019 The publisher also mentions that the approaching beta for Iceborne are not required to own the base game nor pre-order the focused expansion either. Regardless of those who manage to get into the beta, players who complete the given objectives will receive unique loot to flaunt when the expansion drops later this year. For more on Monster Hunter World, read our review on the game here where Rectify gaming’s David Rodriguez shares that the PC version “is easily one of Capcom’s best games in years, and one of the best Monster Hunter titles in a very long time.” Are you planning on joining the fun on PlayStation 4 for Iceborne? Monster Hunter World is available now for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

GET RECT Ep. 11: It’s a Moving Target

This week the boys welcome Sam “MasterPlatypus42” to the show! And he’s right on time to get in on the Pre E3 speculation and prestidigitation. Also in this episode find out what Nick is mourning now, Sam’s ideas to improve pro sports rule-sets, and Evan’s tip for making your platform popular with the youths. (Spoilers: it involves Fortnite) All that and more await you within this episode of GET RECT! iTunes Stitcher Check out the podcast crew and learn more about them here.  Check out the YouTube version below:

Cyberpunk 2077 Said To Have Expansions Similar To The Witcher 3, CD Projekt Red Shares

Despite the long wait for new information regarding Cyberpunk 2077 as the title has been announced tracking back to 2012. CD Projekt Red did not fail to disappoint as John Wick’s Keanu Reeves took the main stage to announce his involvement with the highly anticipated title. Amid the overly enthusiastic reception of Reeves’ presence at Microsoft’s press conference, the developer closed out the segment for the sci-fi, futuristic game by announcing that the game will hit store shelves on April next year. In a recent interview with Prima Games, UI Coordinator Alvin Liu shares with the publishing company that expansions for Cyberpunk will be very similar to how the developer brought new content to 2015’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. “We are talking about expansions in the future, we want to make sure everything’s complete, but we also want to build open worlds,” Liu tells the publisher. “I know when I was playing The Witcher 3 and I finished everything, I still want to know what everyone was up to. I think we’re going to have opportunities like that as well for Cyberpunk 2077.” Liu continues on by sharing that the open-world, first-person game will offer a genuine story arc that fans will appreciate for the unannounced expansions planned to come as for post-launch. “It’ll be a very rewarding ending. We’re not withholding content, we’re not withholding story for the future to try to, you know, monetize it or sell it in pieces or anything like that. You’re going to get the whole, full value game here” Previously, the pre-order editions for the upcoming title leaked just hours before Microsoft’s press conference, which ended up being legitimate and are currently available now for fans to pay ahead of the game’s launch. Cyberpunk 2077 will be available on April 16, 2020 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Source: Prima Games  

Amid Massive Layoffs, Amazon Also Cancels Unannounced Title

As the industry was dazed from this year’s E3 held in Los Angeles from Keanu Reeves’ presence at Microsoft press conference and Nintendo finally revealing some information on the upcoming Animal Crossing title, however, at Amazon it was a complete 180 for some. Dozens of developers at Amazon Game Studios were laid off as reported by Kotaku. In the report, the source within Amazon shares that the choice to layoff staff in an attempt to reorganize the teams currently working on both Crucible and New World online titles. Despite the saddening news, Amazon did provide those affected with a 60 day grace period to find new work within the company as well as severance packages. However, on how many employees were let go as part of the initiative to restructure the development teams on the two titles, Amazon did not release the specific number of employees affected from the decision. Now in a more recent report from the Wall Street Journal, the outlet shares that despite the decision to layoff an unknown amount of employees for the internal developer, Amazon has now pulled the plug on one title that has yet to even receive a proper announcement. The reasoning for the cancelation however, is primarily due to Amazon’s Lumberyard engine which all games from the studio are required to use. They’re still ironing out the kinks of what it means to own and maintain your own engine. Employees who work with the engine share that Lumberyard is difficult to use mainly when working with online-centric titles as like the now canned game. This obstacle led Amazon Game Studios to look towards other company’s engines for their titles to utilize as an alternative for the still developed titles. This is a similar problem that developers at Bioware faced when forced to work with the Frostbite engine for Anthem. Seeing how some engines despite the outcome in graphical performance does leave bug-ridden games which either makes the title a hassle to enjoy or simply just unplayable for many. Source: Wall Street Journal