Report: Controversy Surrounding Cooking Mama: Cookstar Explained To Be False, Pulled Due To Legal Trouble/Needed Polishing

This past weekend it was reported that the recently released Cooking Mama: Cookstar was swiftly delisted from the Nintendo eShop alongside a handful of retailers due to uncertain reasons. Although neither the developer nor the publisher spoke out on the matter to clarify as of why the decision was made, users on the internet went to unearth that the game actually compromised player hardware for those who played the game. What exactly the claims were for directed that the company responsible for the game were using a “blockchain-based DRM” to utilize player Nintendo Switches in effort to mine crypto currency. However, in a new report with one of the team’s developers, that happened to not be the case at all. According to an interview conducted by Screen Rant, the initial claims made by Cybershroom happened to be far from the truth in fact. It was disclosed by an anonymous team member that the game was pulled due to legal troubles with the game’s license between Planet Entertainment and the IP hold office create. The statement about crypto-currency was all buzz words. The head of planet entertainment knows very little about these things… he just put some fancy language to get potential investors who like that stuff. As for the crashes/ overheating. That would be because the game is made in unity. By many people working on their first game… it’s not the best product but it made it through several vigorous reviews by nintendo and Sony. There is no way crypto-mining stuff could get through those tests. I doubt anyone at 1p would even be able to make such a thing. Moreover, it was then told that Planet Entertainment went out of its way to release Cookstar without office create’s knowledge which also broke a request from the property holder to continue polishing the game. The unnamed employee told that developer 1P was only aware of the game’s release window for March with no further news following. “Planet entertainment released the game against a request by office create to keep polishing the game, or perhaps even canceling it.” The source then went on to share that after office create discovered that the game was released under without it approval, the company went to Nintendo to retract the game from the online store alongside halting production on cartridges. Even more, there was discussion of several advertisements that were created for the game including YoutTube ads and Tik Tok promotions that never made it to public view. The worse is that this unfortunate scenario that was initiated by Planet might have jeopardized the game from properly releasing and potentially returning to the Nintendo eShop. “As I understand planet entertainment is sueing office create having it removed for money lost. It’s hard to say if it will ever be released properly.” Unfortunately, the same might also be applied to the planned PlayStation 4 version of the game as well. Source: Screen Rant
Charity Safe In Our World Launches New Hub For Players & Streamers Dealing With Stress Of COVID-19

This year unlike years prior have certainly not been in favor due to the tensions that continue to strangle society as the COVID-19 and the entailed precautionary measures have affected virtually everyone. And although avid players can indulge indoors with video games in the meantime, there still is the burden left as reality surely stresses people in the long term if social distancing and mandatory quarantine can affect your wellbeing. Thankfully, newly formed charity Safe In Our World has announced that the organization will be offering advice during these troubling times with the COVID-19 Hub. It is understandable how much pressure that anyone could be facing from decisions swayed by the novel coronavirus and Safe In Our World is available to assist to lighten the weight on your mind. With this new initiative from the charity, people can look towards the COVID-19 Hub for solutions on mantling stress sourced from the issue, techniques for extended periods of isolation, and showcase titles that might sooth your mental troubles until we return back to a properly functioning society. As a charity, we’re doing our best to support those around us, and the wider industry. Whether working from home within the industry, or our players, everyone will be adjusting to a new normal. This dedicated hub is designed to signpost techniques to help deal with the challenge of isolation. We’ll continue to do everything we can to help. Leo Zullo, Safe In The World Chairman The past few weeks have been met with cancellation/postponement of approaching shows that were scheduled for 2020 like the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles and Combo Breaker in Illinois. And while other events like the Game Developers Conference (GDC) have sought to late Summer for the virus to die off, other organizers like Game for Gamescom have contemplated potential digital formats instead of in-person shows. The response to the growing outbreak in the gaming industry has focused on the shift of anticipated events for the most part, however, the mental being for players & streamers is also a concern that we as people must also take into consideration as the world surely will not be the same as we left it before the pandemic became a global issue. If there are any issues that you are currently dealing with, Rectify Gaming strongly suggests you visit the COVID-19 Hub to relieve any problems during these unprecedented times.
Rumor: More Details Elaborating On Setting, Characters, Plot For Alleged Resident Evil 8 Emerge

As of the past few months so far in 2020, we have potentially unearthed a good chunk of information regarding the potential next mainline installment for the Resident Evil franchise. The first report of the supposed eighth entry for the series surfaced through emails provided by Biohazardcast, a Resident Evil-focused outlet. The details shared disclosed aspects such as the setting, enemies, and the return of first-person gameplay once again. Fortunately for these claims, there happened to be a similar story which was told by known leaker @AestheticGamer1 on Twitter who shared to “expect a lot of people will be pissed off,” assuming the reference is made towards first-person peripheral making a comeback for the follow-up as well. Even more, they also told that the game is aimed to be a cross-gen release for sometime in 2021. Now a new set of claims coming from Biohazardcast has surfaced online elaborating more on the details shared from the beginning of the year. The outlet reveals that the setting actually plays a larger role for the game as it makes its place into the titling for the game, Resident Evil: Village. It seems likely that 8 will have a subtitle, this time Village. At the least, this is the working title. Given the formatting for 7, it’ll likely be this way so as to highlight the VIII for a Roman numeral 8. The website shared in the original leak that the game is to offer a “clever title” parallel to how we saw with Resident Evil 7, and that looks to be true according to the new rumor from their anonymous emailer. The title for Village will hold the Roman numeral ‘VIII’ in the titling to read as ‘VILLage’ which they interpreted into an image which you can view in the header at the top of the article. Corresponding to the separate claim of the initial rumor regarding the woman-like creature terrorizing the player, Biohazardcast tells that this “Witch” to hold a likeness of Marguerite from Resident Evil 7. Supporting the claim of her dissipating elements, she acts as so when defeated and insects give the transparent effect as her body disappears. The leaker shares there is a demo of the game with the antagonizing monstrosity present as you can hear her chuckle at you terror. The rumor goes on to suggest that a reworked Chris Redfield will be a reoccurring character that visits the player during segments of the game, primarily through flashbacks sequences. Other characters like Mia and protagonist Ethan are also involved with said flashback: a baby is mentioned to also be present, but no details as to where the infant correlates with the story. The outlet goes onto speculate that Ethan being a retuning playable character will introduce a more “Ash Williams” role in the follow-up. Suggesting that Capcom would make the character develop a joking overtone to spew wise cracks and other vocal displays for scenarios while progressing through the story. The leaker disclosed that Capcom is testing two inventory systems as of late: one from Resident Evil 7 and the other derived from Resident Evil 4. On the discussion of older Resident Evil properties, the game is told to give a “Resident Evil 3.5” vibe regarding the entire atmospheric feel of the game that Capcom is striving for. Ending the report, the game is told to have a Q1 2021 slated release due to the global pandemic. Elsewhere, Capcom has shared intentions of potentially releasing the next sequel for the Resident Evil series for next-generation hardware. In a recent survey made by the company, one question asks if the player would be interested in buying a Resident Evil sequel, where one of the responding answers reads “I will purchase the game even if I had to buy a new console.” This looks to run parallel with the claim for the game to be a cross-gen release. What are your thoughts on these alleged details for Resident Evil 8? Source: Biohazardcast
Microsoft Adds A Near Dozen European Countries to Project xCloud Support

With the global concern to continue social distancing, players in certain European nations should have no problem doing so thankfully due to the new announcement made by Microsoft regarding Project xCloud. Today, it was revealed that the list of supported regions for the stream-based, on the go initiative from Microsoft has grown by almost a dozen. Microsoft told back in November during the annual X019 event in London that fans of Project xCloud can expected that more regions can anticipate to be added to the test flight for the service. Here are al newly added countries for Project xCloud: Belgium Denmark Finland France Germany Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Spain Sweden Luckily, those who are now granted access to Project xCloud in the listed regions are also provided with the opportunity to access the service via Apple devices as well. Initially, the first supported regions (United States, United Kingdom, South Korea) only could access Project xCloud through Android-based smart phones. But it wasn’t until this February that Apple owners could finally indulge in the service. Even more, this opens to the expectedly approaching release of the PC version for Project xCloud as well. Just last month, The Verge received word from a undisclosed employee for Microsoft that all working for the firm were provided access to the early build of the service keyboard & mouse users. You can view the full report with images of Project xCloud for PC by heading here. Have you tried Project xCloud yet, and on what devices? Project xCloud Test Flight is available for specific region for Android and iOS devices. Source: Xbox Wire
Capcom Polls Fans If They Would Be Interested In Another Remake For The Resident Evil Franchise

It was just last week that the second remade title erected from the Resident Evil franchise, Resident Evil 3 Remake, released for modern platforms. And while fans continue to unravel this anticipated follow-up to last year’s Resident Evil 2 Remake, publisher Capcom is already invested in hearing player input on the events leading up to the game’s arrival and their reasoning for purchasing the game primarily. Just recently, Capcom sent out a survey for fans asking about their interest in the latest entry for the Resident Evil Remake subgenre surrounding how word got across and other demographical details as you would expect. While the questionnaire does not stand out from the ordinary on the surface, it wasn’t until later in the questions does things get interesting. During the last segment of the survey, Capcom asks users if they would be interested in seeing yet another remade entry for the series. You can view the question in full below: If a new remake title of “Resident Evil” series is released, would you like to purchase? • I will purchase the game even if I had to buy a new console. • I will purchase the game if it can be played on the console I own.• I will wait and consider purchasing after the release.• I have no intention of purchasing the game, but I want to play.• I do not want to play anymore. What makes the polling even more peculiar is that the following question also asks about a sequel which lists the same questions, even if the player would go out of their way of purchasing a new console to do so. The final question goes on by listing all respected entries of the series –most likely for the publisher to grab an understanding of what the player base in interested in returning to next. On the discussion of sequels for newer hardware, this instance looks to easily align with the previously reported claim that the next mainline entry for Resident Evil will potentially be a cross-gen release. Even more, that rumor also happens to correspond with a separate claim which tells of the return of the first-person approach to the gameplay for the unannounced title. Companies surveying its fan base is nothing new as it has been done before, most notably with Sega regarding Atlus’ repertoire as of recent. The publisher asked of what titles would the players like to see be releasing on Nintendo Switch. Evidently, that later happened to be Catherine: Full Body: you can read the full report on the announcement by heading here. If you have yet to play the latest Resident Evil release, head over to Rectify Gaming’s full review for the Resident Evil 3 Remake. What do you want to see come next from Capcom concerning Resident Evil remakes? Source: Capcom
Microsoft Announces All Scheduled Events Will Be Hosted In Digital Formats Until Mid 2021

Technology giant and console pioneer Microsoft has decided to transition all live, in-person events and presentation to digital means for the next 15 months. This comes as a result from the swelled pandemic of the COVID-19 ailment which has already chokehold dozens of firms and organizations from hosting shows involving public grouping. Not only will this affect upcoming Microsoft Build presentations to present the next line of upcoming products from the continuously innovating tech company, surrounding shows tailing the Xbox brand will also face the same precautionary measures as well. The news comes from an email sent to Microsoft MVPs, this being @gcaughey on Twitter. You can read the portion of the email provided in the tweet below: “As a company, Microsoft has made the decision to transition all external and internal events to digital-first experiences through July 2021,” Microsoft discloses in the email. Microsoft has already announced approaching events such as this year’s Microsoft Build to be resorting to a digital format alongside sharing a similar approach with Ubisoft to virtual alternatives for this year’s E3 timeframe. Not only will this influence this year’s presentation in June for the Xbox brand, but fans can also expect the same to be dealt with next year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) also – going against ambitions from the Electronic Software Association (ESA) regarding next year’s E3 slated for mid June next year already. The same can also be assumed for the expected X020 showcase that the company has organized for the last two years. Hosted in Mexico City in 2018 and London just last November, it is expected another international show was intended to take place in the latter of 2020 prior to tensions from the novel coronavirus. Respectively, Microsoft also hosts a ID@Xbox event in Seattle the day prior to PAX West in Seattle, Washington: perhaps the firm will look to means similar to the Steam Game Festival to showcase upcoming independently developed titles. Will you be fine with Microsoft’s decision to host digital shows until the middle of next year?
Ratings In Japan To Be Shelved By CERO For A Month While State of Emergency Is In Effect

Entering yet another month of hesitant precautions to battle the gripping novel coronavirus, the video game industry has just ran into another wall as of lately. It has become accustomed to anticipate upcoming events or even releasing titles to be on standby as organizers/companies are hindered by the disease’s impact on society. But the latest result from COVID-19 has officially put a nation into standstill for the time being. Just this week, it was announced by Japanese Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, he declared a State of Emergency to combat further spread of the ailment. And while we have witnessed similar measure being taken in the United States, cancelling the monumental Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), this instead faltered the nation’s respected ratings system for the duration of the order. While E3’s postponement for 2020 has resulted with companies and even covering outlets resorting to digital means of disclosing upcoming announcements, Japan’s Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO) has halted operations for the following month, the firm reveals. Japanese media outlet Automaton disclosed the news on Twitter today. Thankfully Nintendo Life’s @Sephazon on Twitter translated the post for English readers to understand the seriousness of the matter, which you can read above. “All reviews will cease for one month, which may have an enormous impact on new game launches in Japan,” the post reads following localized interpretation. What this directly means is that all title releases and/or announcements for approaching projects planned in the country of Japan will be shelved for the next month until operations are back in order for CERO. The Japanese government announced in conjunction with established State of Emergency that all business should convert to work-from-home strategies, essentially restricting the organization from properly processing upcoming software. With the dramatic effect imposed on Japan directly, other anticipating fans globally will also be impacted by the decision. If you thought it took long for localized releases to arrive normally, this will certainly make the situation more prolonged. Working from home has already shown to take a toll on development processes in the west, but the delay from the ratings system will undoubtedly delay approaching releases. Were there any upcoming video games you were anticipating to release from Japan?