Sony Features 10 New Games For PlayStations’ Play At Home, Horizon Zero Dawn First This Friday

Now as we proceed well beyond the one year mark for the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, Sony Interactive Entertainment plans to resume its ambitions to ensure the safety of its users on PlayStation by remaining home as much as can be. And by doing that is providing free games to keep you occupied. Last year the firm offered Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection & Journey for a limited time. Now in 2021, the PlayStation company plans to follow through with another year of free games. Already, the firm has done so with Ratchet & Clank (2016) at the start of March. Sony Interactive Entertainment pledged to offer roughly four months of free games and planned to expand on its promise in the coming weeks. In a new blog post, the company returns with a new list of free games – 10 in total. You can read the full list below: Abzû Astro Bot Rescue Mission Enter The Gungeon Herizon Zero Dawn Moss Paper Beast REZ Infinite Subnautica The Witness Thumper “This time our focus is a selection of free games from some of our top independent partners, and the previously announced extended trial offer for Funimation (or Wakanim) in the countries where they are available,” Sony Interactive Entertainment President & CEO Jim Ryan writes. “PlayStation and some of our favorite indie partners are collaborating to provide more free games to explore while you’re staying safe and staying home. Sony Interactive Entertainment  goes on to mention that the free games start with Horizon Zero Dawn on March 19. To further reiterate on before, Sony Interactive Entertainment is to still offer the free 14-day trial for Funimation. The promotion is said to kick off on March 25 and remain until April 22. To continue the momentum this week, Sony Interactive Entertainment also unveiled a new internal team, Haven Entertainment Studios. Most unique about the announcement is that former Electronic Arts/Ubisoft/Stadia lead Jade Raymond will be at the helm of this new first-party team. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you planning to pick up any of the featured titles? Source: PlayStation Blog

Microsoft To Offer Auto HDR Functionality For PC In Windows Preview Program

Well before Xbox Series X fans could even grasp the price or the capabilities of the next-generation machine more than a year ago, Microsoft’s first bomb drop last February featured the advancements in its backwards compatibility technology. One namely feature is the tool to automatically apply an HDR fix to games that shipped without it. And while a billboard feature on Xbox, fragments of it also appears from Sony’s work on PlayStation 5 too. But for the most part, Microsoft’s approach to revitalize pre-available releases continues as the firm looks to also pursue this venture outside of consoles. In that, the company presses the opportunity to also provide the tool to games on PC as well. According to a new Developer Update, Microsoft plans to offer the feature in a new update today for Windows Insiders. While some game studios develop for HDR gaming PCs by mastering their game natively for HDR, Auto HDR for PC will take DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 SDR-only games and intelligently expand the color/brightness range up to HDR. While some game studios develop for HDR gaming PCs by mastering their game natively for HDR, Auto HDR for PC will take DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 SDR-only games and intelligently expand the color/brightness range up to HDR. It’s a seamless platform feature that will give you an amazing new gaming experience that takes full advantage of your HDR monitor’s capabilities. The Auto in the title implies how easy it is for you to enable the feature; a simple settings toggle flip will let you turn the feature on and off. Hannah Fisher, Microsoft Program Manager It’s a seamless platform feature that will give you an amazing new gaming experience that takes full advantage of your HDR monitor’s capabilities. The Auto in the title implies how easy it is for you to enable the feature; a simple settings toggle flip will let you turn the feature on and off. Although current news breaking for PC to welcome HDR functionality from Microsoft, a similar initiative is coming to Xbox Series X later this year. In that, Dolby Vision is another graphic-improving approach that furthers the experience of HDR and expands that in volumes. The project will follow the launch of Dolby Atmos support which launched with the console back in November. Additionally, this is not the only feature coming to PC from Microsoft. Atop of the new HDR client, the Xbox company is planning to welcome xCloud to keyboard & mouse users later this spring. The addition will also accompany the long-awaited iOS support as well. You can read the full report by heading here. Do you see yourself using the HDR tool on PC? Source: Microsoft

Limited Comic Series Apex Legends: Overtime From Dark Horse Comics Announced, Issue #1 Coming Later This June

Granted the talent behind Respawn Entertainment being the forefathers for the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare trilogy, the developer later went on to create the thriving Titanfall universe. With rich amount of story and hidden lore found in the current intertwined battle royale Apex Legends, the game studio plans further envelope its story elsewhere outside conventional video games. Already, the team has done so with the paperback release “Apex Legends: Pathfinder’s Quest” earlier in 2021, but now a new project is underway at the same publisher, Dark Horse Comics. Via a report from IGN, and in collaboration with Dark Horse Comics, a new four-issue limited series comic “Apex Legends: Overtime” is set to release later this June. The outlet also went to feature the cover for the first issue which you can view in the image below: The overview relayed by IGN: “Apex Legends is a squad-based battle royale experience where players select from one of 16 Legends – each with their own unique abilities and playstyles – and the last team standing wins. In the comic series, the Legends find themselves pulled together to rescue the city from Mad Scientists, brutal assassins, and the sudden and sinister grip of The Syndicate, a corrupt cabal attempting to ‘fix’ arena outcomes in their favor. Will the Legends hold up to their celebrity status and be the heroes Solace needs?” As for the team comprised responsible for Apex Legends: Overtime, it is revealed that long time Titanfall writer Jesse Stern is also writing the story, Assassin’s Creed: Origins artist Neil Edwards to illustrate, Stranger Things’ prequel graphic novel illustrator Keith Champagne to ink, Skyward artist Antonio Fabela to color, and The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys letterer Nate Piekos to do the letter work. Elsewhere outside of video game that Respawn Entertainment collaborated in the past, the developer teamed up with Artifact Studios to bring designer Apex Legends footwear to life. In total, there were a total of five designs including Crypto, Lifeline, Octane, Rampart, and Wattson. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you planning to pick up the new Apex Legends comic series when it arrives? Apex Legends: Overtime #1 arrives on June 2, 2021. Source: IGN

Organizers Shelves 2021’s San Diego Comic-Con As Online Event Scheduled For To Return

Now a year after the initial beginning of lockdowns and other precautionary measures in regards to the novel coronavirus, society looks to finally be taking a turn for the better as vaccines are being administered by the millions in the United States and restraints are being loosened by states respectively. However, that does not directly mean events are entirely back. Alike 2020’s San Diego Comic-Con, organizers tell a similar story for this year as well. In a new press release from the Comic-Con group, the event scheduled for July later this year has been shelved for another year. Howbeit, plans to follow with another Comic-Con@Home virtual event is said to take place for a second consecutive year. In that, attendees can enjoy the same content online without the need to travel or pay for admission in this new approach. Here is a segment from the press release which you can read below: It is the policy of the organization to continue to closely monitor information from local and national healthcare officials as it pertains to the COVID-19 pandemic. Never could we have imagined what the world experienced in 2020 and continues to experience today. While we are buoyed by the rollout of the vaccine and the growing number of individuals being inoculated, it appears that July will still be too early to safely hold an in-person event of the magnitude of Comic-Con. For this reason, we have made the challenging decision to postpone Comic-Con 2021 as an in-person gathering until our 2022 dates, and once again hold this year’s celebration as the free online Comic-Con@Home. Unfortunately, the challenges of this past year and the multiple postponements of our two largest events have left us with limited financial resources, so this year the online experience will be reduced to a three-day event, spanning July 23-25, 2021. But to reiterate on the advancements of the pandemic as stated at the beginning of the article, the organizers do acknowledge more clarity on hosting a tester show later this fall if things do happen to restore order for the masses later. “For this reason, we are happy to announce that San Diego Comic Convention is planning to present a three-day in-person convention in San Diego in November. “At this time, we are still working on specific details as to attendance capacity, badge cost, and related information, and those details will be forthcoming.” While Comic-Con is still adamant on hosting its online alternative in replacement for its July show, Penny Arcade is eager to return to normal starting in June. In that, the group announces to be hosting PAX East in Boston, Massachusetts later this year. You can read the full report by heading here. Did you plan to attend San Diego Comic-Con this year? Comic-Con@Home is said to take place from July 23, 2021 to July 25, 2021. Source: Comic-Con

EA Play Officially Arrives To Xbox Game Pass For PC Tomorrow On March 18

This week alone looks to only continue the number of announcements Microsoft has issued in regards to Xbox Game Pass. Already, the Xbox company welcomed the addition of approximately 20 games to the monthly service from Bethesda with the firm’s official finalization for its acquisition of parent company Zenimax Media. The following Monday, Microsoft went to issue that both Undertale will headline the Xbox Game Pass in addition to the launch adding of People Can Fly’s Outriders at the start of next month, April 1. In extension to that, the firm continued by pressing on more games like Yakuza 6: Song of Life, Octopath Traveler, and Empire of Sin the second Xbox Game Pass increment for March. Now in a new Xbox Wire blog post, Microsoft furthers its momentum with Xbox Game Pass. This time unique to Xbox Game Pass for PC, the firm shares that EA Play is officially coming tomorrow on March 18. It was originally understood the addition would arrive back in December, but never arrived with no direct reason for the decision. Microsoft also offered a step-by-step video on how to use EA Play which you can view in the footage below: “We want to thank the PC community for your patience over the past few months as we worked to deliver a better Xbox App experience for EA Play,” Microsoft pens in the blog post. In addition, the firm also remarks, “More than 60 of EA’s biggest and best PC games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, FIFA 20, Titanfall 2 and Need for Speed Heat, as well as titles from some of EA’s most popular franchises like Battlefield, Madden NFL, Command & Conquer, and The Sims.” One thing worth noting about the delay for EA Play coming to Xbox Game Pass for PC, it is suspected that the PC app for EA Play on desktop is to blame. Thurrott’s Brad Sams explains as such in a tweet following the announcement on Wednesday. Also relevant to the announcement, the release for Xbox Game Pass on PC support of EA Play comes at an even better time. In that, games like Madden NFL 21, Star Wars Squadrons, and NHL 21 are headline for EA Play List for March and leading into April. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you excited Xbox Game Pass for PC finally welcomes EA Play? Source: Xbox Wire

Final Fantasy VII Remake Director Clarifies DLC Is Not Planned For The Game, Justifies Intergrade Due To Upgrade For PlayStation 5

Next month, Final Fantasy VII Remake clocks in to a year since the game’s release on PlayStation 4. And while the title is playable via backwards compatibility with minimal enhancements on PlayStation 5, Square Enix is planning to introduce a new version for the next-generation system. Unveiling Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, forefront upgrades including lighting, performance, and load times are included in the version. Additionally, Square Enix also showcased a new story “episode” for the titular version that is also underway for this June. The add-on is revealed to feature Yuffie Kisaragi alongside Sonon that accompanies the character during the experience. However in a new interview with Famitsu, Game Director Tetsuya Nomura reveals that the DLC is presented as an add-on due to the upgraded version. Nomura goes on to elaborate that despite the episode underway, there is no planned downloadable content for Final Fantasy VII Remake outside of the one instance. You can read the statement Gematsu transcribed from the article below: “Due to the upgrade, it was necessary to separate the Yuffie episode as ‘downloadable content.’ However, the idea was to make a PlayStation 5 version of Final Fantasy VII Remake—not downloadable content—so there are currently no plans for downloadable content. Preparing the environment on PlayStation 5 with Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade has allowed for a smooth transition to development of the sequel. The roadmap to completion is the top priority, so if downloadable content is to be considered, it will be after completion.” The interview between Famitsu and Nomura continues by elaborating on other neighboring announcements made recently. In regards to Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier, the game director continues by disclosing the project pursued a battle royale-type experience to reach an audience unfamiliar with Final Fantasy. Mainly, it appears the action-oriented take on Final Fantasy VII is aimed for more western players. Additionally, the conversation also turned to Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis as well. In that, the game director also remarked that chapters for the game will be free – featuring 10 in total. However, there will be weapon microtransactions present for players looking to sport better gear on the mobile game. Sony Interactive Entertainment this month also features Final Fantasy VII Remake as a free PlayStation Plus game for PlayStation 4. However, the console holder clarifies that the version will not be eligible for a free upgrade to the PlayStation 5 version arriving this June. You can read the full rundown by heading here. What details are you most piqued by? Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade arrives June 10, 2021 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Source: Gematsu

Doom Eternal The Ancient Gods, Part Two Trailer Reveals March 18 Release Date

In the past week alone, Bethesda remains to stay in the headlines. Most notably, the deal between Microsoft and Zenimax Media for the Xbox company to fully acquire the Bethesda parent company has been fulfilled and finalized. As a symptom of the transaction, Microsoft issued about 20 titles to Xbox Game Pass from Bethesda the day following the held roundtable livestream last Thursday. Elsewhere, developer id Software issued a teaser trailer for Doom Eternal’s story DLC. Unveiling a snippet of The Ancient Gods, Part Two, the game studio issues that this coming add-on will be “the epic conclusion to the DOOM Slayer’s saga.” Additionally, the id Software also pressed that a full trailer will be arriving later on March 17 the following week. Now with the day arriving, the developer uploaded the full extent of the trailer and shares that Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods, Part Two arrives on March 18. You can watch the full video in the footage below: “You denied the gods and awoke an ancient evil. Now rally the scattered Sentinel armies, lay siege to the last bastion of Hell, break through the fortress walls, and face the Dark Lord himself,” the description’s overview for the final add-on reads. ”The soul of the universe hangs in the balance. Your war against Hell ends here.” Predating details on the downloadable content emerging this month, id Software pressed on contemplating in bringing a female Doom Slayer to the table. While working on Doom Eternal, the developer reveals that there were thoughts of the idea, but evidently was never executed. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you planning to return to Doom Eternal for The Ancient Gods, Part Two? Doom Eternal is out now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia.

Riot Games Welcomes League Of Legends: Wild Rift Open Beta To North America Later This March

To many fans that learned of League of Legends: Wild Rift, it came to be an interesting time for the franchise as the series reached its ten years of running. And now after a decade, the game will officially arrive to other platforms including mobile devices and the standard plethora of video game consoles atop of that. What took more by surprised is the selective testing for Wild Rift via open betas. While it is presumed that the American developer would favor its native region to sample Wild Rift initially, Riot Games decided to handle public playtesting in regions on the opposite hemisphere. Notably, Eastern Asia with promises for the west to expect the addition later in 2021. Now in a new announcement trailer, Riot Games announces League of Legends: Wild Rift is officially arriving to North America with its open beta at the end of March. You can watch the video in the footage below: “Dive into Wild Rift: the skills-and-strats 5v5 MOBA experience of League of Legends, now built from the ground up for mobile (and coming soon to console),” the synopsis in the trailer’s description reads. “With fresh controls and fast-paced games, players of every level can team up with friends, lock in their champion, and go for the big plays.” Riot Games listed a handful of territories that Wild Rift will be available in later this month and those are: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Mexico, Peru, and United States. Of course, pre-registering for Wild Rift is available now on Google Play Store & Sumsung Store; App Store to expect availability at day of launch. What device do you plan to play League of Legends: Wild Rift on? League of Legends: Wild Rift comes to North America on March 29, 2021.

GameStop Appoints WallStreetBets’ Ryan Cohen In New Initiative To Work On Restoring The Company

Over the past month or so, the conversation of GameStop is one that many would not predict just a year prior. In that, the brick-and-mortar video game retailer continued to face a downfall in performance as several locations continued to close doors and even the mass layoffs of conjoined Game Informer staff affiliated with the storefront. However, events went in a new direction following the bombardment of growth on the stock market. In February, GameStop $GME faced an all-time high in performance at Wall Street thanks to Reddit board, r/WallStreetBets. Through influence, and a couple tweets from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the stock surged well above $300 per share at average. However, the stock faced steady decline following intervention from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). But, despite the setback, GameStop returned now opening today at $225.16. Acknowledging the impressive success on behalf of the posters on the Reddit page, GameStop in a new press release this past week welcomes r/WallStreetBets’ Ryan Cohen to its newly constructed Strategic Planning and Capital Allocation Committee. GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME) (“GameStop” or the “Company”) today announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) has formed a Strategic Planning and Capital Allocation Committee (the “Committee”) to identify initiatives that can further accelerate the Company’s transformation. The Committee is comprised of Alan Attal, Ryan Cohen, and Kurt Wolf, with Mr. Cohen serving as Chairperson. Cohen, founder of Chewy.com, is said to serve as chairman for the new committee. Additionally, former Chewy Chief Marketing Officer Alan Attal will also serve as Chair of the Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. GameStop’s Kurt Wolf will also stand as Chair of the Board’s Compensation Committee. “Announcing Chief Financial Officer succession plan and commencing a search for a new Chief Financial Officer with relevant technology and/or e-commerce experience, the press release continues reading. “The Committee will continue to focus on identifying actions that can transform GameStop into a technology business and help create enduring value for stockholders. “It is responsible for evaluating areas that include GameStop’s current operational objectives, capital structure and allocation priorities, digital capabilities, organizational footprint, and personnel.” What are your thoughts in the appointed involvement of r/WallStreetBets at GameStop internally now? Source: GameStop

Irdeto’s Denuvo Revealed To Be PlayStation 5’s Official Anti-Cheat Solution For Video Game Publishers

While the meat of a next-generation console relies on the capabilities that the hardware within offers either that being a beefier CPU, more storage, or even an SSD memory drive, these new machines bring new definitions to household gaming. Howbeit, other oriented initiatives are also being brought to the table. While console is not primarily familiar with the pursuit, PC is already familiar with anti-cheat. The process to determine the dishonesty of a individual in online gaming has surged in the last decade over on PC and now it appears that PlayStation 5 is next to introduce the mechanic to the newest console hardware. In a new blog post from Irdeto, the firm introduces Denuvo which is shared to be the official anti-cheat solution for game publishers planning to release projects on PlayStation 5. “Denuvo joins exclusive PlayStation 5 Tools and Middleware program to offer Anti-Cheat technology to game developers,” the header for the press release reads. Cheating ruins video games for honest players. This can lead to lower engagement, game traffic and shrinking revenues for game publishers. We are really proud be able to help the world’s most talented developers to bring rich experiences for gamers on Playstation5. Reinhard Blaukovitsch, Irdeto Managing Director of Denuvo While Denuvo is posed to being the emphasis on player safety and ensure in-game rule breaking is squandered, the project is also sported to offer other features like cross-play between platforms and deflect piracy. “Denuvo has a solid track record of protecting AAA titles for over a decade and collaborates with game developers of all sizes, offers cross-platform technologies on PC, Consoles, iOS and Android to secure against games piracy as well as protecting the integrity of the experience “Securing revenue sources beyond the game sales has become increasingly important for the publishers who rely on ad-revenues, in-game currency, downloadable content (DLC) and more broadly gamers long-term engagement into the games.” Irdeto also comments that Denuvo will not negatively affect performance for games using the program and refrains from impacting the workflow of the developer on the respected game. Upon the topic of improving PlayStation 5 user experience, Sony Interactive Entertainment recently is reported to be welcoming the support for the utilization of the currently dormant and inactive M.2 drive for internal SSD drives. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you in favor for anti-cheat coming to PlayStation 5? Source: Irdeto