The Last Of Us Part II To Arrive In June & Ghost Of Tsushima Now Shipping In July, Sony Announces
The chronology for The Last of Us Part II release dates surely has been quite the roller coaster for fans who have been anticipating the game since the initial announcement these past few months. The initially slated date for February although already passes surely upset fans as they would only have to wait a tad bit longer for the game’s release. However, due to growing tensions sourced by COVID-19, Sony Interactive Entertainment shelved the game indefinitely from the rescheduled May launch window. That is not including the hypothetical fall 2019 release implied from previous reports following the delay of Kojima productions’ Death Stranding to November: then there is a total of three delays. Getting back on track – Sony Interactive Entertainment just today has announced that The Last of Us Part II will be arriving this June. Not even that, but also Ghost of Tsushima from Sucker Punch Productions have also been pushed to the following month as well from its original June release date. As our teams at Sony Interactive Entertainment and Worldwide Studios approach development milestones and confront a world changed by COVID-19, we find ourselves having to adapt to today’s ever-changing environment. Amidst some disruptions to our working styles, we wanted to provide an update to PlayStation gamers who are eager to learn when our next exclusive titles will arrive to PlayStation 4. As we begin to see an ease in the global distribution environment, I am pleased to confirm that The Last of Us Part II will arrive on June 19. And Ghost of Tsushima will follow on July 17. Hermen Hulst, Head of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios With the continuous vice grip that the novel coronavirus holds on society, this is reassuring to witness for a good change of pace. But there is still some questions unanswered. Regarding the conjoined delay of Camouflaj’s Marvel’s Iron Man VR which took place alongside Naughty Dog’s sequel, the PlayStation VR title has yet to receive an update on its arrival. As for Ghost of Tsushima, Sucker Punch Productions shared on Twitter that the decision to usher a new release date in the month after of its initial release date is due to the new efforts of working from home. “There have certainly been challenges in adapting to game development in a Work From Home environment, but thanks to an incredible effort by our worldwide team, Ghost is nearly ready for release.” The team reassures the extra time to also minimize any scattering bugs still left in the project. It surely was an uncertain time for The Last of Us follow-up for the last few months as concerns continued to escalate. The discussion of the ongoing pandemic was also told to potentially withhold the release of the approaching PlayStation 5 console. But luckily, Sony reassured that the launch window will be unaffected for later this year. What game are you most excited for to release this coming July? The Last of Us Part II will arrive to PlayStation 4 June 19, 2020 and Ghost of Tsushima will release on July 17, 2020 for the same platform. Source: PlayStation Blog
New Trailer Reveals Pushed Release Date To May For Super Mega Baseball 3
Back in March, developer Metalhead Software announced that the newly approaching Super Mega Baseball 3 will officially be available on major platforms the following month. However, it looks that the game will now instead be shipping in the following month of May according to a new trailer that released for the game recently. According to the development team themselves on Reddit, Metalhead Software shares that the rescheduling for the game’s release happened to be a result issued by the affects of the ongoing pandemic. “When we first announced the game, we were very confident in an April 2020 release – but unfortunately, industry-wide impacts of the COVID-19 crisis have led us to this revised release date.” You can watch the latest trailer for the game in the video below: Metalhead Software Co-Founder Scott Drader gives a showcase of the upcoming features that players can indulge in when Super Mega Baseball officially ships later next month. Introduced elements such as Franchise Mode and is panning options to the visually tangible overhaul of the game’s look are just some to name off hand. Elsewhere on r/SuperMegaBaseball, Metalhead Studios announced that the studio plans to ship following updates for the game after its rescheduled release in May. “We will continue to do post-launch updates for some time! TBD on more videos,” the team responding to one fan on Reddit shares. What has you most excited for Super Mega Baseball 3? Super Mega Baseball 3 is slated to arrive on May 13, 2020 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Source: Reddit, (1)
2K Shares Future Plans For WWE With WWE Battlegrounds From NBA 2K Playgrounds Studio
Late last week, World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE) shared through the firms’ First Quarter Earnings Call that the expected annual 2K-published title would not be releasing for 2020. Painting fans surprised on the information disclosed, what will come from this new discovery left uncertainty for WWE & 2K for this year with no game planned at the time. However, both 2K alongside the official WWE 2K Twitter account announced that more will be said on the matters of the “future of the WWE 2K franchise” this coming Monday, today. And now that the day has arrived, 2K announces WWE Battlegrounds. You can watch the teaser trailer in the video below: 2K reveals that NBA 2K Playgrounds’ developer Saber Interactive will be helming the project. Looking at aspects of the game from the brief video, there are pretty evident elements of the basketball series in the upcoming game. This also happens to be evidence to what the New Jersey stated previously: talking with IGN, the developer confirmed to still be working with 2K despite its recent acquisition from THQ Nordic parent company Embracer Group. On the matters of the mainline WWE 2K series, the publisher goes on to clarify future plans for the series. The firm does share that the game will be not present in 2020 as development time has been extended for quality assurance following the aftermath of last year’s release. Even more, 2K announces that Patrick Gilmore (Medal of Honor, New World) will be given the role as Executive Producer at Visual Concepts to oversee the development to truly encapture the essence initially framed for the franchise. What are your thoughts on WWE Battlegrounds? WWE Battlegrounds is said to ship sometime in Fall 2020. Source: 2K
IGN To Feature Cyberpunk 2077 In Upcoming Summer Of Games Presentation
Just stretching out the last few days of April into May, we start to prime ourselves in anticipation for this coming June for the influx of new details that will unravel from the handful of online presentations that will be taking place. One being IGN’s Summer of Gaming: the site announced to be partnering with several companies to broadcast the latest news for the industry with E3 officially out of the picture for 2020. The website disclosed the publishers like Bandai Namco, THQ Nordic, and Square Enix will be just some of the highlights that will be attending the internet-hosted presentation in the coming month. However, regarding the showcased software that will be presented, the outlet did not spare details on what exactly will be presented later this June. In a new announcement, IGN has revealed that Cyberpunk 2077 will be featured at the approaching Summer of Gaming broadcast in the following weeks. Preparations for IGN’s Summer of Gaming are continuing apace, but we thought we’d take a quick break from all the planning to let you know an exciting addition to the line-up – CD Projekt Red will be bringing Cyberpunk 2077 to the show in June. The website goes on to disclose that the game despite its multiplatform status has toppled upcoming anticipated exclusives from both Microsoft and Sony. Sharing that both Halo Infinite and The Last of Us Part II were in lesser favor that CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077. This happens to say a lot seeing how close we are to the arriving next-generation of hardware that are still scheduled to ship later this holiday season. Aside from Summer of Gaming, PC Gamer announced that the titular 2020 PC Gaming Show will be kicking off on June 6. The showcase happens to be the only one intact from the initial E3 lineup as other participating presentations has yet to be announced as of reporting. Elsewhere, GamesRadar announced to be hosting a Future Games Show that same month. Alike IGN’s broadcast, the show is said to take place in June, but the exact date has yet to be disclosed. We are still in intermission from both Ubisoft and Microsoft as well. The two companies announced to be in search for digital alternatives for June 2020, but has yet to officially address what will be taking place in the coming month. You can read the report in full by heading here. What are you most excited to learn about this coming June? Summer of Gaming is slated for sometime in June 2020. Source: IGN
New Details Surface For Unannounced Project From Former The Initiative Employee
Just on the edge of transitioning into May, fans are preparing to learn more details of the approaching new consoles in the coming weeks. In particular regarding Microsoft’s Xbox Series X, users keeping their ear close to the ground should be familiar of ongoing claims which direct that an upcoming event from Microsoft is expected to take place sometime next month. Even more, the contents of said presentation has potentially also been spared through known leaker @XcloudTimdog on Twitter; disclosing that Project Lockhart will officially be making an appearance. In addition to that, Xbox Head Phil Spencer also disclosed in a response on Twitter deeming that the next proper showcase, which isn’t too far away, will focus on software for the upcoming platform. And while we’re are certain of two games that will ship for the new platform already (Halo Infinite; Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2), a new stream of information has surfaced regarding an unannounced project from Santa Monica-based The Initiative. According to the LinkedIn page of former Technical Designer Christopher Ng, his listing tells more detail of the studio’s upcoming title. The meatiest piece of this discovery happens to be that the upcoming game will be crafted through Unreal Engine 4.With the majority of the studio comprised of industry veterans, Unreal Engine will be a familiar forte that employees can mold into something greater. Atop of foundation unearthed for the project, Ng goes on to tell of some aspects which might influence the game’s core gameplay. According to his job description for The Initiative, Ng explains to have worked on sculpting different weapons and other technological accessories for the game. He adds to have implemented a “camera surveillance system for an unannounced project.” To imbed some speculation towards what this can entail, perhaps this unnamed title will offer a stealth-focused experience of some sort. While not much was expanded on the matters of the “various weapons” and “gadgets,” it is insinuated that the project will offer gameplay to utilize a spy-like experience. Since the founding of the Initiative back in 2018, the team has been working quietly on the first inaugural title for the team. While the studio has shared a glimpse of the building in southern California, not much has been relieved on the matters of developed software. However, we have witnessed the addition of more developers from recognized projects like 2018’s God of War previously. What do you hope to see from The Initiative regarding its first title? Source: LinkedIn
Development Team For Animal Crossing: New Horizons Ensures New Content Years Down The Line
While players are still building and deciding how they want to encapture the perfect image for their island, Animal Crossing: New Horizons continues to run as a top selling release for 2020 as we approach May later this week. And while there has been little time since the game actually arrived back in March, Nintendo has managed to ship two separate events already for the game. First being Bunny Day which ran for the first half of April and the currently ongoing Nature Day that urges players to act for the sake of the planet. And with three more events still slated to take place well into May and June, the team behind the project has shared there is still plenty to expect for the growing entry for years to come in fact. When speaking with CNET last month, Animal Crossing: New Horizons Director Aya Kyogoku spared detail that more regarding added content is expected to ship down the line for the booming title. Animal Crossing is a game where you’re able to enjoy seasonal changes throughout the year, and it syncs with real time and through that you are able to basically sync your real life with the game. We want to make sure that in two years or three years down the road, players will still continue to find new surprises in the game. So we hope to create an update that you can do that with. While decorated events are a primary focus to organize when new content arrives, fans can also expect new additions through other means as well. With the introduction of this month’s new batch of add-ons, fans were also handed a new upgrade to their museum run by Blathers as the sketchy Redd debuts in the game. Alongside the contraband offered from the undermining fox, Leif also makes an appearance proving players with shrubs to further decorate your island’s landscape. Other additions to the game can also be expected when reflecting on previous installments. One being the Café which players would visit for K.K. Slider’s weekly Saturday concerts. While other introductions of features like swimming to make a return especially as the mechanic would surely complement the island lifestyle players adopt in the newest release. What do you hope gets added to Animal Crossing: New Horizons later on? Animal Crossing: New Horizons is out now for Nintendo Switch. Source: CNET
