Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony To Require Developers To Disclose Loot Box Outcomes, ESA Shares
In yet another joint agreement between the three console giants; Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony have planned for upcoming policies regarding loot boxes and the outcome for those who pay for in-game items through the use of real-time currency. At a recent panel, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Electronic Software Association (ESA) hosted a workshop regarding the current status of loot boxes in the gaming market and the intention of the event was deemed towards how the business practice should be handled as legislation sought the activity as enabling gambling towards young children. According to a statement from the ESA, the three companies have formed a precaution regarding upcoming titles that will include loot boxes of any sort and to disclose the probability outcome when purchasing microtransactions. Several video game industry leaders are announcing new initiatives to help consumers make informed choices about their purchases, including loot boxes. The major console makers – Sony Interactive Entertainment, operator of the PlayStation platform, Microsoft, operator of Xbox and Windows, and Nintendo, operator of the Nintendo Switch gaming platform – are committing to new platform policies that will require paid loot boxes in games developed for their platforms to disclose information on the relative rarity or probability of obtaining randomized virtual items. These required disclosures will also apply to game updates, if the update adds new loot box features. While the post does verify that the companies alongside publishers plan to proceed with the proposed policy to specify what the likeliness is when initiating a loot box, an aimed timeframe for when it will make full effect has been branded with an unspecified 2020 window. The ESA did continue on to clarify that some publishers have already revealed what the chances of receiving rare items through loot boxes are and that “other major publishers” have a deadline to implement the policy before 2021. To name a few, publishers such as Activision, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Bethesda, Bungie, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, and Wizards of the Coast. The policy has already been considered by other unnamed publishers and in the long run is projected to reach the PC market as well when more publishers adopt the upcoming policy. In general, loot boxes have become quite the topic of discussion as we have already witness from proposed legislation and even the ESRB to require games in specifying if containing said microtransactions. Now this being the second instance the three major console companies have banded together towards bettering the industry this year, the likelihood of a more influenced outcome is expected to arrive following today. Source: Electronic Software Association
Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition Gets Late-September Release For Switch
Publisher THQ Nordic earlier this year revealed that the original Darksiders title will be receiving a port to Nintendo Switch slated with a release in April, and now the same can be said for the follow-up title Darksiders II. However, the port being of the original sequel would be an understatement as like with the first as THQ Nordic has revealed that the second instalment will hit Nintendo’s platform as the Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition. Taking the role of the Second Horseman of the Apocalypse, Death, you must journey on in a quest to rehabilitate Earth during this war between Heaven and Hell. The description for the protagonist reads “Become the terrifying force which everything fears but nothing can escape. Awakened by the End of Days, Death, the most feared of the legendary Four Horsemen embarks on a quest to redeem his brother’s name. Along the way, the Horseman discovers that an ancient grudge may threaten all of Creation. Death lives!” Alike the Warmastered Edition for Switch, the Deathinitive Edition follows suit as the game will offer all currently released downloadable content for the game including The Abyssal Forge, The Demon Lord Belial, and Argul’s Tomb story expansions along with various weapon packs that also came to the 2012 game. Although this will be the remastered version of the initial title, it is unsure if the Switch version of the game will be spewing out the same resolution as the other iterations for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Recently, THQ Nordic announced that the publisher will be hosting just over ten different title at this year’s Gamescom event in Cologne, Germany later this month. Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition will be available on Nintendo Switch on September 26, 2019.
Psyonix Announces Loot Boxes To Be Gone From Rocket League Later This Year
The concept surrounding pay-to-win loot boxes continues to create an ugly storm cloud over titles that offer the lucrative microtransactions. While some games reverted the initial business practice to cosmetic-only options like Borderlands 3, other popular titles still host the option to pay for better items through the process of virtual capital and real-time currency. Rocket League being one of them, however, that won’t be the case for much longer. This week, developer Psyonix alongside it’s still fresh publisher Epic Games have revealed that “crates” are scheduled to be removed from the game entirely at some point later in 2019. Here at Psyonix, and Epic Games as a whole, we are dedicated to creating the best possible experience for our players all over the world. In pursuit of that goal, later this year we will remove all paid, randomized Crates from Rocket League, replacing them with a system that shows the exact items you’re buying in advance. The post continues on by clarifying that downloadable content car packs, Esports Shop items, and Rocket Pass Premium will be unaffected from the decision and will proceed as per usual. Regarding how the companies plan to tackle this new system that will replace the current randomized crate structure is left for time to reveal as “more information, including timelines and roll-out specifics, in the coming months.” Recently, console giants Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony have once again stood together as the three put the industry first by committing to a policy which will require publishers as well as developers to disclose what the outcomes are to be with future titles that will offer loot boxes. You can read the full report on the matter here. Rocket League is out now for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Source: Psyonix
Brawlhalla Crossover With WWE Adds Four Superstars To Roster, Drops Tomorrow
Blue Mammoth Games’ Brawlhalla continues to grow a diverse roster of characters for the fighter as the developer continues to craft more unique additions to add to the mix. However, the game also nabs a selection of third-party entries for the cast of characters to choose as we have already seen with the most recent addition being the crossover with Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time introducing Finn, Jake, and Princess Bubblegum to the game.crossover In an abrupt announcement from Ubisoft today, a new crossover will be initiating tomorrow with a cast of wrestlers from World Wrestling Entertainment to be making their debut in the free-to-play fighting title. Superstars Dwayne ‘The Rock” Johnson, Xaiver Woods, Becky Lynch, and John Cena have been revealed in the announcement trailer. Alongside the new characters that will be playable with the approaching update, a new stage will also be added that brings the fight to Summer Slam in a WWE-influenced ring. Paired with the level also introduces the new Brawldown mode that plays close to the theme of WWE as players will fight out their differences with props like tables, ladders, and chairs. To even make this announcement more exciting, Ubisoft disclosed in the announcement that the crossover will be available tomorrow for all users to download the new update. Regarding the esports spectrum surrounding Brawlhalla, Rectify Esports’ Brandon “Lil Capped” Anderson recently placed first in the Summer 2019 2v2 Champions with Andrew “ithrowow” Lim just last month. This achievement also stands monumental for the overall Rectify Esports organization as this is the first ever win since the organization’s debut back in 2016. Brawlhalla is out now for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One ,and PlayStation 4.
Journey Gets A Surprise Release For The App Store
The initial PlayStation 3 exclusive title Journey has been unique to the platform since the title’s debut back in 2012. Although the game eventually received a port for PlayStation 4 later in 2015, the game overall was still exclusive to Sony’s platform for the time being. That was until publisher Annapurna Interactive announced that the game will be breaking its exclusive ties with Sony as the game was heading to PC via the Epic Games Store back in June. Now, in a sudden tweet from Annapurna Interactive, the company announced that the recently ported title will also be coming to mobile; iOS that is. Revealing that the game following the post will be available on the App Store. Journey by @thatgamecompany is now available on the App Store // https://t.co/3X3xR5avMG pic.twitter.com/UZkMMwNOgN — Annapurna Interactive (@A_i) August 6, 2019 Alike the version that debuted for PC on Epic Games’ storefront two months ago, the thatgamecompany title is listed for $4.99 on the Apple marketplace right now. Unlike the ‘Epic’ discount that the other platform offers for new titles, it does not specify if the price will change back to $14.99 following a certain time frame. Regarding a potential Android port hitting Google Play following this abrupt release, the chances does not seem likely as depicted from a following tweet from the publisher, However, the same tweet did specify that the a port is on the way for Steam sometime in the coming future. tbd for Steam, and the only platforms we did the port for are PC and iOS — Annapurna Interactive (@A_i) August 6, 2019 You can get Journey on the App Store here. Journey is available now for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PC (Epic Games Store), and iOS.
