Amazon-published Free-To-Play Crucible Slated For May 20th Release
This year so far has not been looking too ambitious for Amazon Game Studios – at least for the first half. In a report from The New York Times, Amazon shared that its in-house video game streaming service codenamed ‘Project Tempo’ would be held off from releasing in the coming months for this year. Then shortly after the delay for the unannounced service, the development team responsible for the approaching New World MMO shared that more development time will be required to fully demonstrate the potential for the game as the release is shifted to August. Both instances fall victim to the necessary guidelines that Amazon has followed regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, despite the disappointments faced so far, Amazon still has one more project that is set to release in the coming week. In a new announcement recently, developer Relentless Games shares that Crucible will be shipping next Wednesday. You can watch the trailer in the video below: “Crucible is a free-to-play team-based PvP action shooter driven by the choices you make,” the synapse for the game reads. “In each match in Crucible, you’ll work alongside fellow hunters to take on the opposition, complete objectives, and prove that you’ve got what it takes to emerge victorious.” The free-to-play experience is shown to be yet another counterpart to the extremely popular Overwatch from Blizzard Entertainment and the approaching Valorant from Riot Games. In align with the shelved streaming service that will be debuting in the coming future, Crucible might be a hallmark seller for the service is Amazon utilizes unique goodies for those that go ahead for Project Tempo. How does Crucible grab your eye in the trailer? Crucible will be launching on May 20, 2020 for PC.
Report: Xbox Series X To Ship With Revamped UI Interface, Microsoft Reveals
Prior to last week’s Inside Xbox debuting the first of many showcase for the stringing Xbox 20/20 monthly initiative, video game outlet spoke with Microsoft and some of the lead architects on what new things will be available with the approaching Xbox Series X this holiday season. When talking to Xbox Director of Program Management Jason Ronald, the website learned that there will be some drastic changes to the overall console layout with the newest iteration of Xbox. Ronald shared that the Xbox Series X will be shaped a lot by the voices of the users for the current Xbox One. Console owner feedback has been a present focus for the platform for majority of this generation with projects like Xbox Insider circles and the included initiatives to capitalize on a better user experience. In particular, Ronald mentions that one big effort for the development team is to bring an effective dashboard with little issues which contrasts the current UI Xbox One owners have grew accustomed to already. It’s the feedback that really drives our priorities. If you’re in the Insider rings, you’ll see various experiments at different times. This is really about us learning and hearing from the community that is directly influencing the final shape of the dashboard that we’ll ship with Xbox Series X. Although the Xbox Series X is becoming the main focus, Ronald also reiterates to explain that user satisfaction will also be considered on succeeding platforms too. “The Experiences team is working extremely hard to make sure that we have a great day one experience both on Xbox Series X as well as on previous generations,” he adds. There are plenty of other expected changes that Microsoft also debuted in recent weeks. Amid the announcement for the now-passed Inside Xbox, Microsoft also shared what the boot-up chime for the Xbox Series X will be. You can view the clip in full detail by visiting our report here. What other adjustments would you like to see be made for the Xbox Series X? Xbox Series X is listed to arrive sometime in holiday 2020. Source: GameSpot
Former Respawn Entertainment Developer’s Open New Studio, Gravity Well
Amid the ongoing tensions that continue to strangle individuals during this plaguing pandemic, some individuals have found new opportunity instead despite the hardened efforts during these trying times. Coming from Drew McCoy and Jon Shiring, the two former Respawn Entertainment employees open a new studio. Announcing Gravity Well, this new developer shares to be a new card in the deck of big budget, AAA studios. “We’ve been making games together for a long time and have learned a ton about ways to lead teams and ship games,” McCoy shares on the ambitions of the newly-founded team. “We believe the time is right to shake things up in AAA game dev.” We are starting a studio because of how we want to make games. We want time to iterate on everything and get ideas and feedback from the whole team. We’re building this studio to last for decades, and that doesn’t happen without putting the team first. We take team health as an absolute top priority. That means we are anti-crunch. That means good compensation. That means everyone at Gravity Well has creative freedom, because when someone else makes all of the decisions, work isn’t fun and the end product isn’t as good. Behind the experience from McCoy and Shiring, the two have built a foundation with the first-person shooter genre following their investment in Call of Duty 4: Modern, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Titanfall, Titanfall 2, and Apex Legends. Now after yet another console generation under their footing, the two want to expand on creating a flexible and communicative team in the AAA industry. “Once your team size crosses 100 people, everything changes. It’s nobody’s fault – big organizations just move slowly. You need meetings just to make decisions,” Shiring explains. “Choices get siloed and brilliant creatives become less creative. So let’s just not do that. We’re going to build a team that is 80-85 people at peak.” The two also identify the sensitivity of the issue and is opening positions to virtually any individual who thinks they are eligible to apply. Audio technician, QA management, and office manager some of the positions listed with all offering remote roles to work during the pandemic. McCoy also emphasizes on the severity of crunch by stating that Gravity Well will be the antithesis of what other studios in the industry still operate with. This is not the first we have seen veteran developers founding their own studio to morph the basis for the next-generation of games. Raphael Colantonio and Julien Roby did the same in late 2019 with the opening of WolfEye Studio. You can read the full announcement by heading here. Source: Gravity Well
Ubisoft Announces Ubisoft Forward Online Presentation For July
It has been enough time to consider reflecting on the cancellation of this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) as a long enough period ago since the announcement was made back in March. The organizers for the show made the decision with the city of Los Angeles under state of emergency due to the ongoing pandemic and have shared to reevaluate the premise of the event for the new efforts in 2021. Following the announcement, both Ubisoft alongside Microsoft have shared to be pursuing alternatives in the digital medium to project new information for the coming year in replacement for this coming June. Since then, Microsoft has announced Xbox 20/20 to relay all platform-related news each month for the majority of the titular year. And now today, the French publisher has announced Ubisoft Forward, an online presentation to share new details on all upcoming projects from its associated teams across the globe. “With physical gaming shows around the world postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ubisoft will be hosting its first digital conference, called Ubisoft Forward,” the announcement reads. “Get ready for an E3-style showcase with plenty of exclusive game news, exciting reveals, and much more.” It is expected that Ubisoft will share more information on upcoming projects such as the recently announced Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and the awaited official release for Roller Champions at the show. There also happens to be a bulk of looming details that need to be addressed for other awaited properties as well. Ubisoft happened to delay a myriad of titles arranged for 2020 release, but since then has yet to share an update on the projects. The publisher told that Watch Dogs: Legion, Rainbow Six Quarantine, and God & Monsters will be delayed to properly meet expectations for the teams behind the projects and the following player base. These titles were then implicated to be also shipping with respected versions for next-generation hardware when the systems arrive later on. Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft CEO told that five big budget titles are expected to release within the next year back in February. Three are already known to be receiving a new release in the current fiscal year while the remaining two were understood to be the then-unnamed Assassin’s Creed title and a new mainline entry for the Far Cry series. You can read the full report by heading here. What do you hope to see at Ubisoft Forward? Ubisoft Forward will take place on July 12 at 12 PM PST / 3 PM EST. Source: Ubisoft
Report: Mass Effect Trilogy Planned For Nintendo Switch As Part Of Initiative To Bring More Games From EA
Recently, publisher Electronic Arts shared in a recent earnings call to be working on shipping a bulk of titles to the ever growing Nintendo Switch. The platform stands out to be a commercial success in the short amount of time it has been on store shelves and continues to prove so even during the ongoing situation hindering society with the ongoing virus pandemic. However, Electronic Arts has yet to properly establish a solid foundation on the Nintendo eShop. While there are some games to enjoy like Unravel 2 and the latest FIFA 20 available to pick up, the platform has yet to meet the full potential that the publisher has on its back burner for competing platforms. The ambitions Battlefield series, prolific battle royale Apex Legends, or recognized Madden series has yet to debut on the hybrid handheld. But according to a report from VentureBeat, we have an understanding one on addition that wil be hitting the Nintendo Switch later on. When reporting the statement made by Electronic Arts’ CEO Andrew Wilson recently, the outlet disclosed that the Mass Effect Trilogy will be one of the releases in the coming year. Oh, and that HD remaster of an EA game is the Mass Effect Trilogy. Just don’t expect that to also launch on Switch — at least not at first. The statement actually follows a previous post made by Nintendo insider Liam Robertson who shared that Mass Effect 3 will be one of the titles arriving to the platform. With the new report, this entails there could be one bundle alongside separate titles for purchase on the eShop when the games debut in the unforetold future. Reflecting on the wording of the statement, VentureBeat subjects the Mass Effect Trilogy to be one of the later releases for the Switch. So while there are other, unnamed projects planned to hit the system as well, those will occur sometime before BioWare’s most notorious series to be available on the Nintendo eShop. VentureBeat as of recent has began honing a consistent track record with Nintendo-related accuracies. The outlet previously disclosed a Nintendo Direct for March which later happened to be correct with the Direct Mini taking place on the suggested date. So there is some backing to believing the current claim made recently. Are you planning on reliving Commander Shepard’s story on Nintendo Switch? Source: VentureBeat
Here’s The First Screenshots For Lord Of The Rings: Gollum Coming To Next-Generation Systems
The current lineup of Lord of the Rings games does show to be steadily growing the past couple of years. The most prominent is the Middle-earth series from Monolith Productions with the release of 2014’s Shadow of Mordor and the following sequel Shadow of War in 2017. However there are additional projects alongside the team directly ties to Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. One happens to be from Amazon Game Studios as it was reported back in July last year to be collaboration with Athlon Games in creating a new experience based off of J. R. R. Tolkien’s most recognized series of novels. The project was told to be a MMO taking place “long before the events of The Lord of the Rings” to give a new experience never witnessed for the series. However, there also happens to be a lesser known project coming from Daedalic Entertainment based on the same universe. Dubbed Lord of the Rings: Gollum, the new title is to take place in the role of the shoes of the ring bearer who obtained the piece from killing his cousin, Déagol. Sméagol grew obsessed with ring after obtaining the item and conflicted with himself for loving it while simultaneously hated having it in his possession. As of yet, there happens to not be much information on the project itself. Howbeit, a bulk of new screenshots for the game did emerge online which you can view on Danish site GameStar. The images listed show scenarios of Gollum’s self-conflicting arguments and different vistas that will be explored in the full game. The new listing also shares that the game is in development by German company Daedalic Entertainment which was not previously disclosed. What is more interesting is that the project is also listed to ship for the next-generation wave of consoles alongside the expected PC release as well for sometime next year. What do you take from the screenshots for the game? Lord of the Rings: Gollum is listed for Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and PC to arrive in 2021. Source: GameStar
The Elder Scrolls VI Still Years Away Following Starfield Release, Bethesda Vice President Reveals
Treading back nearly two years ago now, Bethesda during its annual E3 press conference in 2018 officially announced that The Elder Scrolls VI is in development. That same show, the publisher also shared Starfield to be another project from the firm. Both anticipated entries from Bethesda were at the time mentioned to be next-generation projects and was left with implications we might not hear of the two for quite some time. However, we did not expect the same tune to be played two years later following the initial announcement. According to Bethesda Senior Vice President Pete Hines, details on the game is not expected for a couple more years. Hines emphasizes that by explaining this will take place after Starfield has arrived. Responding to a questioning user on Twitter, Hines tells that there is plenty still to be learned about both projects as followers know virtually anything on Starfield let alone The Elder Scrolls VI. Another user shares to be hopeful for a future, in-depth presentation from Todd Howard to take place later on for Starfield, where Hines replies with a reassuring “someday.” To some degree, this is not as surprising as you might suspect. When speaking with Dualshockers back in 2015, Hines shared that The Elder Scrolls VI is still a “very long time” away from releasing. This coming about a year before even talks of an upgraded Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were in the ball park, so the discussion for a next-generation title is fairly outlandish for the time. Hines is well-recognized for his efforts to squander burning questions within the Bethesda following the past few years. Following the initial announcement for Wolfenstein: Youngblood, Hines shares that the co-op focused title will be a break for the main installments as MachineGames plans to work on making a third to form a trilogy. You can read the full report by heading here. Will you be patient enough to wait a few more years to see the next Elder Scrolls title?
2020’s Tokyo Game Show Shelved As Online Alternative Takes Its Place
Initially, this summer looked to be a reassuring timeframe for events to resume for gaming shows and society as a whole with many organizers still confident in scheduled events taking place in the latter of 2020. However, inching closer to the approaching season, now it seems that the coming months might still be too early for these activities to encourage large gatherings during these current unprecedented times. First it was Game – the group responsible for Gamescom in Cologne, Germany that squandered its plans for August to host a public show and announced to continue plans with efforts for an online event instead. This alongside the Opening Night Live show that initiates the event will both be expected to present through digital means. The same also applied to this coming Game Developers Conference (GDC) shortly after as organizer Informa Tech announced that its doors this summer will be closed in San Francisco as well to prevent further fueling the ongoing ailment with an online show. The orchestrators penned that the decision will also be beneficial to teams already accustomed to the work style that was established for teams across the globe. Now in a new announcement, the same can be said for September’s Tokyo Game Show. A new press release was submitted recently which shares there will be no event later this fall and will instead be resorting to entertain participants through an online event instead. Due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on a global scale and the situation remains unpredictable in Japan as well, the organizer and the co-organizers have reached this decision after a long consideration to place the utmost priority on the health and safety of visitors, exhibitors and stakeholders. We ask for your kind understanding and cooperation. The Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA) shares that more information on the matters of the online event will be released later on this month. It is presumed that the initially slated late-September show will still be taking place on the scheduled timeframe already released. Another affected event taking the same route is this year’s Evolution Championship Series. The annual Las Vegas show alike the other previously mentioned events also hoped to last for this August, but the organizers revealed that the event will be taking its business online for 2020. You can read the full report by heading here. Will you be attending the Tokyo game Show online later this September? The 2020 Tokyo Game Show will commence on September 24 until September 27. Source: Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association
Release Date For Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Slipped For This Coming October
In celebration of May the Fourth last Monday, Traveller’s Tales went to indulge on the recognized holiday by sharing the key art for the team’s next related project, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. Seen from the image, the collage incorporates all three trilogies of the film series and their respected prominent, starring characters in minifigure form. While this new reveal happens to be the biggest break of news for the new title since its initial announcement back in June of 2019, fans still are left unaware of the game’s release aside from the generalized 2020 release window. But now according to an unearthed video, the launch date for this year looked to have accidentally slipped. According to the official Star Wars YouTube channel, a new video uploaded recently shared that the release date for the game is scheduled for October 20. But following the discovery as traction picked up online, the video was delisted and private on the channel. While this surely happened to be a mistake on the team’s behalf, it has yet to be clarified if perhaps the stated release date is also incorrect or an error. And the absent statement from either Traveller’s Tales or Lucasfilm also entails the date’s legitimacy of the date for this coming fall ultimately. As shared previously, The Skywalker Saga will incorporate all nine films for the Star Wars anthology. This includes the initial seven productions that received Lego adaptations alongside the following Episode VIII & Episode IX that did not receive a reworking in Lego attire which offers a new experience for returning players. Are you excited to see more Lego fun this coming autumn? Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is listed to release for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Ninjala Now Coming In June As Developer Pushes Release One Additional Month
For the fun that players could get out of the recent open beta for Ninjala last month, that was not too much of a worry as the game would only be a full month away from release later this coming May. With fans only on hold for a month, it is only a matter of time until everyone will be able to enjoy the free-to-play title from GungHo Online Entertainment. However, that mentality might have been a little too optimistic as now user’s wait might have been extended by another month. As we are all aware due to the current global situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic going on, studios have to follow specific guidelines to ensure the safety of their employees while simultaneously conjuring their next big project for release. In a new press release shared by the Japanese team this past week, GungHo Online Entertainment shares that due to the precautionary measures applied, Ninjala will now be arriving this coming June instead. Although we are working hard to launch Ninjala and release it to our fans, the health and safety of our employees is paramount. We apologize to our Ninjala fans who were eagerly anticipating its launch, and we ask for your understanding as we work to bring you the best game we can in this additional month. Kazuki Morishita,GungHo Online Entertainment President & CEO The studio does reveal that Ninjala is “near completion,” but the ongoing circumstances hinders the team from performing efficiently in the last stages of development since the developer “cannot be in the same room.” Scrapping the initial May 27 release date to the third week of June, GungHo Online Entertainment reveals in the press release. Prior to the announcement, a new report surfaced from dataminers who dissected the game during the open beta to uncover unannounced secrets for the title. The users who did the deed unearthed that there will be a paid story mode, microtransactions, and even crossover cosmetics with Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog. You can read the full report by heading here. Will you be fine waiting the additional month for Ninjala to properly be finalized? Ninjala will be launching for Nintendo Switch June24, 2020. Source: GungHo Online Entertainment
