Microsoft Rumored To Be Closing In On Deal With Kojima Productions On New Upcoming Project

Upon reflecting on Microsoft’s stance on the video game market, its presence in Japan is notably absent. While its competitors, Sony & Nintendo, are notable opponents in the respected region, Microsoft still continues to tackle its way into the eastern hemisphere. But as we witnessed with deals like Sega and most recently with reports of Square Enix, there might be a different story being written behind the scenes. As for what is already established, Microsoft’s acquisition of Zenimax Media ala Bethesda does push its foot through the door. That being Tango Gameworks, the Evil Within developer shows to be a prominent asset in this new venture. And Xbox lead Phil Spencer is adamant to further develop a relationship with that team. Now according to a report from GamesBeat as you might expect, Jeff Grubb in a new report indicates to have word on the new Kojima Productions project. However, the juicy detail is that Hideo Kojima is to be pursuing a deal with Microsoft for the next effort from the Tokyo-based developer. Grubb goes on the implicate that the previous image of Spencer during a livestream is to be the hint for the arrangement. In that, the Xbox boss is speaking as a Kojima Productions’ ‘Luden’ stands on a shelf behind Spencer. You can view the image in the photo below: “And yes, that statue on Phil Spencer’s shelf was referencing a potential deal with the legendary developer,” Grubb asserts in the piece. “I cannot confirm if Xbox closed the deal yet, but my understanding is that Kojima is the focus of a Microsoft plan to leverage Japanese talent.’ And with Kojima Productions employees hinting at a “soon” announcement, only time will reveal what is truly underway. In regards to another story circulating around Microsoft, in some aspects, Grubb previously spoke on Alan Wake officially receiving a sequel. The Xbox 360 exclusive is said to find a follow-up as part of the publishing deal between Remedy Entertainment & Epic Games. Similarly, it was revealed previously that another Japanese firm is interested in collaborating with Microsoft. Tomonobu Itagaki, creator for the modern Ninja Gaiden franchise and now founder of self-named Itagaki Games spares his excitement to partner up with Microsoft if the opportunity goes his way. You can read the full report by heading here. Do you believe that the rumor is true between Xbox & Kojima Productions? Source: GamesBeat
Nvidia Launches New ‘Priority’ Membership For GeForce Now Bumping Up Price For The Service

Upon eyeing over at Nvidia’s GeForce, the cloud streaming video game platform happens to be what pioneered the pursuit before Google, Microsoft, and Amazon joined the market in that aspect. However, as competition rises, so does the expectancy in quality for the platform – alike we find with most services in today’s age. In a blog post made back in mid March, Nvidia announces that the firm will be welcoming a new membership tier, Priority. However, the new affiliation status is to also be accompanies by a larger price point. Originally, the service only asked for $4.99 a month. But now, $9.99 is the new benchmark for those that plan to use the service. “As GeForce Now enters year two, and rapidly approaches 10 million members, the service is ready to kick things up a notch. GeForce Now launched out of beta last February with Founders memberships — a limited time, promotional plan.” The company continues by stating, “Founders memberships will close to new registrations and Priority memberships, the new premium offering, will be introduced.” Upon further questioning by The Verge, Nvidia offers a statement on those that relinquished its ‘Founders’ subscription ahead of the decision being made effective. “Members need to be subscribed to the Founders membership as of 3/17/2021, and keep their membership in good standing, to be eligible for the benefit. If you were previously a Founders member but downgraded, unfortunately you’re not eligible.” Additionally, there is a new annual plan for GeForce Now costing $99.99 a year, or $8.33 a month. In contrast to Microsoft’s xCloud, the service is currently behind Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. But, the Xbox company plans to ship a browser-based application for the service sometime in the coming weeks this spring. Do you use GeForce Now or plan to following the announcement? Source: Nvidia
Crytek Launches Patchwork For Crysis Remastered Versions On Xbox Series X|S & PlayStation 5

Dating back to almost a year ago now, developer & publisher Crytek shared that the then-upcoming reworking, Crysis Remastered, is set to launch in late July. However, with development hiccups internally, the game was delayed – aside from the Nintendo Switch version that dropped ahead of other systems. But of course, other platforms also welcomed the game. After two more months of delays and other uncertainty for Crysis Remastered for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, the title shipped in September. And while the beefier iterations of Xbox One & PlayStation 4 can take advantage of more generation-defining aspects, that was only in preparation for what the next-generation iterations can produce. And while there are visible improvements on the latest Xbox & PlayStation now, there has yet to be a dedicated update/version for Crysis Remastered on the aforementioned systems. But in a surprise release on Wednesday, Crytek officially ships a new update for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. PlayStation 5 Performance mode – 1080p – 60 fps Quality mode – 1800p – 60 fps RayTracing – 1440p – 60 fps Xbox Series S Performance mode – 1080p – 60 fps Quality mode – 2160p – 30 fps RayTracing – 1080p – 30 fps Xbox Series X Performance mode – 1080p – 60 fps Quality mode – 2160p – 60 fps RayTracing – 1440p – 60 fps The most notable contrast is the quality mode for Crysis Remastered in comparing both Xbox Series X & PlayStation 5 versions” while both offers 2160p resolution, Microsoft’s system produces 60 frames per second while Sony’s only targets 30 frames per second. This appears to corroborate with a previous report done by Eurogamer where Xbox Series X holds more games with a higher framerate when held against PlayStation 5 and its count of titles. In talks of Crysis Remastered, it was previously reported that Crytek held a meeting discussing its plans for new projects. Among that, Crysis 2 Remastered and Crysis 3 Remastered were referenced alongside even a sequel to 2013’s Ryse: son of Rome. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you playing Crysis Remastered on Xbox or PlayStation? Crysis Remastered is available now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Source: Crytek, (1)
30 Percent Stake In Supermassive Games Acquired By Nordisk Games

While developer Supermassive Games concluded with the release of until Dawn for PlayStation 4 in 2015 followed by the prequel virtual reality release, The Impatient, the game studio is now tackling its current project, The Dark Pictures Anthology. With the second entry ‘Little Hope’ arriving in October last year, the team also had other endeavors planned. In that, the team collaborated with Google’s Stadia Games and Entertainment to work on unique work for the cloud streaming platform. The deal was also arranged with Harmonix & Uppercut Games as well. However, the arrangement was diminished following the abrupt closure of Stadia’s internal game studios at the start of February previously. But despite the setback for future projects from Supermassive Games, the team has other prospects to reach it appears. Recently, the developer received a minor acquisition by Nordisk Games for roughly 30 percent of the team. We are delighted to have Nordisk Games alongside Supermassive for what we are sure will be very exciting times ahead. […] Our companies share a passion for delivering beautiful games with stories that emotionally engage, and we are very much looking forward to working closely with them and their colleagues at Nordisk Film and Egmont. Pete Samuels, Supermassive Games CEO In the a separate statement transcribed by gamesindustry.biz, Nordisk Games Managing Director Mikkel Weider shares, “What impressed us about the team at Supermassive — beyond their obvious talent and creativity — was their openness to collaboration and their vision for building the best possible narrative games. In our opinion, there are few studios better at creating rich, narrative-driven games, built around unique stories and IPs.” For what is currently scheduled under Supermassive Games is the third installment for The Dark Pictures, dubbed ‘House of Ashes’. The third game is also said to be planned for a 2021 release later this year. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you excited for Supermassive Games’ future following the purchase? Source: gamesindustry.biz
The Last Of Us’ HBO Series To Kick Off Filming In Calgary Later This Summer

While discussion for HBO’s The Last of Us television series continued for more than a year now, filming is to officially kick off later this year. Despite the number of months that followed the initial report of the production, it wasn’t until February 2021 that casting for the iconic duo was decided. The Madalorian’s Pedro Pascal to portray Joel while Bella Ramsey is casted to play Ellie in the upcoming series. Most noted about the coming production is how to core the show will be of the original game. Executive Producer Neil Druckmann when speaking to IGN at South by Southwest 2021 issued that the HBO series while to adapt the 2013 game will string and deviate to other forms of storytelling not in the game as well. In a recent report from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, filming for The Last of Us show is to commence on July 5. However, the network goes on to include that production is to resume well into the following year where it is scheduled to end on June 8. Reflecting on previous reports surrounding HBO’s The Last of Us, it was indicated that Chernobyl director Johan Renek will be reprising his position for the pilot of the new series. Previously working with writer Craig Mazin on the other HBO series, Renek tells to be excited to work again and is optimistic to direct on following episodes. Looking in the direction of what PlayStation Productions is aiming to incorporate for its stance in the entertainment market, Sony Interactive Entertainment President & CEO Jim Ryan tells to only scratch the surface. “This is just the beginning of the expansion of our storytelling into new media and even wider audiences,” Ryan asserts. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you excited for the coming The Last of Us HBO series? Source: CDC
Diablo II: Resurrected Scheduled Alpha Playtest For PC Starting This Friday

Earlier in 2021, Blizzard Entertainment announced Diablo II: Resurrected. As implicated by the title for the game, the titular 2000 release is being “resurrected” for the latest systems. And yes, that means consoles including Xbox, PlayStation, and even Nintendo Switch. However, there is also a plus to the initial PC players that grinded through the game more than two decades ago. In an interview with IGN later on, Producer Matthew Cederquist announced that those that plan to return can still bring their save progress as well. Noted that the game is just over twenty years-old, it was presumed that the initial saves would be lost in time – or at least be unique to the original version. But, Vicarious Visions is now planning to deliver cross-save to the new reworking. As for a new announcement this week, Blizzard Entertainment unveils that the previously-promised alpha technical playtest is to commence for this weekend. The closed testing is to only be exclusive to PC, however. Starting this Friday, a limited amount of PC players who have pre-registered on the Diablo II: Resurrected website will be able to download the Technical Alpha. Invitations to the Technical Alpha will be distributed throughout the day in waves starting at 7:00 AM (PT). Noted, there is only three of the seven classes available for the alpha technical playtest: Amazon, Barbarian, and Sorceress. In the Q&A portion of the blog post, Blizzard Entertainment also goes on to press that recording of your playtime including videos and screenshots will be permitted when it launches at the start of the weekend. The playtest begins on April 9 and ends that following Monday, April 12. The largest take away is that the playtest will be single-player only. The developer explains, “The scope of this test we will be focusing on early game systems, the three playable classes, and client performance data.” Adding, “We will be including multi-player in an upcoming playable testing phase.” Are you planning to get into the alpha technical playtest for Diablo II: Resurrected this weekend? Diablo II: Resurrected arrives to PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch sometime in 2021. Source: Blizzard Entertainment
Analyst Explains Xbox Game Pass Is A “Risk-Averse” Approach To New IPs And Releases

When viewing Xbox Game Pass and the growing library that Microsoft has accumulated since its inception, the question lingers directly how the long-term effect for showcasing titles on the service. While the Xbox company has scored namely deals with publishers in the past to feature recognized releases on Xbox Game Pass, it is still left uncertain as to how games ultimately are received down the road. Although these games receive an influx of active and impressionable users when arriving to Xbox Game Pass, standing at 18 million currently, where does that game expect to be later on beyond the initial hype and potential of being removed from Xbox Game Pass? In theory, the service is told to be a safer approach than a traditional release says Ampere Analysis Research Director Piers Harding-Rolls. Upon speaking about the arrangement for Major League Baseball to orchestrate MLB The Show 21’s launch on Xbox Game Pass, he also elaborates on the “risk-averse” approach new games can establish with the service as well, ala People Can Fly’s Outriders earlier in April. For some titles, launching day one into Game Pass is an increasingly risk-averse strategy: It secures a payment upfront, offers an engaged audience of over 18 million subscribers that can still be monetized through in-game spending, and there is the flexibility of removing the title to boost premium sales at a later date if required. Those titles that are not top-tier in sales volume terms or that are based on new IP — i.e., do not have an established audience — could be solid candidates for day one releases. So titles that have yet to establish a standing in the market are sure to find a boost in activity through Xbox Game Pass over the conventional approach of a ‘naked’ launch. And the results already prove to be impactful for Outriders with the title reported to harbor more than 100,000 users in the first 24 hours of its release last week. Harding-Rolls continues on the topic when discussing Microsoft’s aim on the matter with MLB The Show 21: “From Microsoft’s perspective, even paying a substantial sum to secure the game on release is worth it. Microsoft is not thinking about short-term profitability as it continues its aggressive content and subscriber acquisition path for Game Pass. Competitively, the optics of this move are strong, and it keeps the Game Pass momentum building.” Previously, Phil Spencer commented that future acquisitions would to best spin in favor of Xbox Game Pass. And now following the finalizing for the purchase of Bethesda parent company, Zenimax Media, subscribers are to further benefit. “delivering great exclusive games for you that ship on platforms where Game Pass exists,” Spencer asserts. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you actively using Xbox Game Pass? Source: Inverse
Sony Explains MLB The Show 21 Launching On Xbox Game Pass Was Decided By MLB To Reach New Platforms

It was already ground-shattering to learn that MLB The Show will no longer be an exclusive release for PlayStation. Previously in 2020, Sony Interactive Entertainment explained that the deal with Major League Baseball was extended in the agreement to offer the series to new systems which includes Xbox and possibly even Nintendo Switch as well. So when the game finally received its announcement, many users took a few seconds to process that the latest entry is also coming to Xbox as well. But what no one saw coming from left field happened to be the arrangement in bringing MLB The Show 21 to Xbox Game Pass at launch. But, many would presume the decision was not on behalf of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Well, in a statement to Inverse from one PlayStation spokesperson, it is shared that the deal for its debut on Xbox Game Pass was under MLB’s handling. As part of the goal for this year’s game, MLB decided to bring the franchise to more players and baseball fans. This decision provides a unique opportunity to further establish MLB The Show as the premier brand for baseball video games. Although there was no direct clarification at the time of the announcement previously, many did swiftly gather that Major League Baseball was to be responsible for the deal and not Sony Interactive Entertainment ultimately. Rectify Gaming also went with the presumption of the arrangement prior to the statement from Sony being dealt on Tuesday. In reference to anticipate more games coming to Xbox Game Pass from PlayStation Studios, Ampere Analysis Research Director Piers Harding-Rolls presses that he is not confident a similar event will repeat for other PlayStation games. “I don’t expect Sony to make a habit of it, no,” he concluded when telling Inverse. Are you planning to play MLB The Show 21 when it arrives to Xbox Game Pass? MLB The Show 21 arrives on April 20, 2021 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S. Source: Inverse
Turn 10 Announces Forza Panel Signees Are To Receive Access To A Playable Build For The Newest Forza Motorsport

Although Forza as a franchise is still a recognized hallmark on the Xbox platform, there is not much to digest in regards to a new release for the series. Namely, the series has not welcomed a new addition since late 2018 with the release of Forza Horizon 4. Although the game received a revamp for anticipation of the next-generation Xbox Series X & Xbox Series S, that can only go so far for users looking for a new game to play. However, it was back in July at the Xbox Game Showcase that Turn 10 broke out from hiding. In the announcement, the Xbox Game Studios team announced Forza Motorsport. And gathered from the initial cinematic trailer from the game, it is concluded that the new game will stand to be a reboot for the franchise. Howbeit, there is no decided date for the title as of yet. Despite the undetermined wait, Turn 10 in its recent ‘Forza Monthly’ announced that early hands-on with the game is very soon. Turn 10 Creative Director Chris Esaki reveals that Forza Panel members can find access to a early version of the game. You can watch the snippet of the discussion in the tweet below: “In addition to these Forza Panels, we actually have been running weekly playtests within our Xbox Game Studios and getting a lot of data and feedback on how the game’s progressing and how to really fine tune our details and get the racing right for everyone. The new news is that today we will soon be able to share; to our people in our Forza Panel, They will actually be able to get their hands on a part of our new Forza Motorsport game.” Esaki continues, ”[I] highly recommend if you’re not already if you’re not in the Forza Panel. The only way to get your hands on this part of the new Forza Motorsport title is to be part of that panel. We’re going to continue to plan this type of testing as we go in the months ahead and get more and more people from the community in and enjoying this experience.” In other ground-breaking news surrounding Forza, Playground Games announced that the Steam release for Forza Horizon 4 – the debut for the franchise on the storefront – is the most successful launch for a racing series to date. You can read the full report by heading here. For those interested to sign-up for Forza Panel can do so on the game’s website. Do you play to get your hands on the pre-release build for Forza Motorsport? Forza Motorsport is listed for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Nintendo Welcomes Pac-Man 99 To Nintendo Switch Online Users Later Today

For those that might need a refresher, Nintendo when launching its online for Nintendo Switch – Nintendo Switch Online – the Japanese firm also shipped a free game for all users that pay the entry fee, Tetris 99. On paper, the game stands to be a battle royale-like release as players play the titular game against 98 other users as they level up and use their feats to overcome other opponents in-game. In summer 2020, Nintendo as part of celebrating the 35th anniversary of Super Mario announced a similar game for Nintendo Switch, Super Mario 35. While sharing the same characteristics for the most part, the only difference aside from the platforming gameplay is the lobby count only ticking up to 35 users per session. Now in a surprise announcement that took place late on Tuesday, Nintendo announces Pac-Man 99 is arriving in a similar ordeal to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. You can watch the trailer below: “40 years after the classic Pac-phenomenon rocked the gaming world, PAC-MAN is back in a new 99-man battle royale,” the description for the game reads on the Nintendo eShop page. Get back in the maze and chase down the iconic ghosts. Who will be the last PAC-MAN standing?” As for other recent goodies for Nintendo Switch Online, it was previously announced that Nintendo will be adding four more games to the NES/SNES virtual libraries: Fire n’ Ice, Doomsday Warrior, Prehistorik Man, Psycho Dream. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you thinking about playing Pac-Man 99 when it arrives? Pac-Man 99 arrives to Nintendo Switch via Nintendo Switch Online later on April 7. 2021.