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New Dark Depths Event For Apex Legends Includes Arenas Map ‘Habitat’ And Limited-Time Cosmetics

So far for Season 11 of Apex Legends, many fans feel fatigued dispute the newest Legend Ash disturbing the meta dominated by Wraith for several seasons prior. While the initial release was stellar, content remain limited and having players hungry for new additions to the free-to-play game. And with the likes of Halo Infinite on the rise, the team at Respawn Entertainment needs to respond urgently to maintain the momentum. Last month, the developer introduced the Raiders Collection Event, however, the most included was some pirate-themed cosmetics and the new Wattson Heirloom. Looking forward, there is remarks for details on a possible TV series for Apex Legends coming sometime in January though. But for the game, another event has been revealed this week. On Thursday, Respawn Entertainment announced the Dark Depths event for Apex Legends which takes place from January 11 to February 1. You can watch the new trailer in the video below: Most notably aside from the inspired cosmetics for Apex Legends is the new Arenas map, Habitat. “Habitat 4 was inspired by Leviathans and how it would feel to fight in their breeding grounds. It represents our vision of an arena established in a natural environment, while holding true to the tentpoles of arena design. “With that being said, one of Habitat 4’s key features is a large waterfall. Through the passage of time it has eroded the landscape, forming trenches and terraces of varied elevation. Making this island a paradise for slides and quick getaways. Teams will have plenty of options and choices to make from the start.” Recently, a string of lead roles at Respawn Entertainment departed from the developer including Design Director Jason McCord and Game Director Chad Grenier. The exodus of leadership at the team is presumed to be due to Electronic Arts continued involvement in the team’s projects. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you excited for the Deep Depths event? Apex Legends is out now for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC; comes to Nintendo Switch – playable via backwards compatibility on Xbox Series X|S & PlayStation 5. Source: Respawn Entertainment

Remake For The Last Of Us Claimed To Release Later In 2022

It was just over a year ago that developer naughty Dog delivered the long-awaited sequel, The Last of Us Part II. And while the wait between the first entry which shipped in 2013 to the follow-up that arrived in 2020 felt like an eternity, there are already plans to expand the IP in new ways. For one, there is the new HBO television series on the way as filming already begun so far. However, a new game has been said to be in the works for a few years according to one report by Bloomberg. The story by industry insider Jason Schreier tells that a now-closed internal team – Sony Interactive Entertainment Visual Arts – was working on a remake for The Last of Us. The game was originally planned to be a reworking for Uncharted, but fell onto the new series before the small team shut down and Naughty Dog got a hold of the reigns. Recently from @_Tom_Henderson_ on Twitter, he is suspicious of the alleged project to be releasing this year after being tipped by insiders involved with the project. He also nods to a remark of the original game from a brief glimpse at Sony’s CES presentation this week. On the topic of CES, the PlayStation company steered new excitement in its direction with the reveal of the PlayStation VR2. While there is no certain release date just yet, it is confirmed there will be a new exclusive game, Horizon Call of the Mountain. The firm also presses on the next-generation features only available on the coming peripheral as well. During the same showcase, Sony Interactive Entertainment President & CEO Jim Ryan revealed plans to integrate a new PlayStation Tournament feature later this year. While it is not entirely disclosed as to how it will function, Ryan did share it is planned to be for PlayStation 5. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you hoping to play The Last of Us remake soon?

Second Game For Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Claimed To Be Revealed In Spring 2022

While Electronic Arts was on a downward slope with the Star Wars Battlefront IP last generation, there was a swift 180 with the release of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Following the game release, the Respawn Entertainment title raised to be the highest-selling release for Electronic Arts at the time. Looking ahead, it was told the title was only the first stepping stone for a greater franchise. Later on, Bespin Bulletin disclosed that plans for the follow-up to the 2019 release was slated to release by 2022. And while details were slim at the time, it also indicated the likeliness of a Star Wars Battlefront III was not to be in favor. More recently in an earnings report from Electronic Arts, the publisher shares to “continue investing” in the new series is underway. From the most recent episode of Jeff Grubb’s Grubbsnax Giant Bomb Show, he discloses that the game is set to be revealed ahead of E3 – likely in May this spring. @Nibellion on Twitter transcribed the segment of the show which you can read below: In our full review for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order at the time of its release, our critic David Rodriguez had this to same on the title: “I absolutely recommend Star Wars the Fallen Order. Its the next great Star Wars single player game many of us has been waiting for.”  As for Grubb’s credibility, he was recently correct about the development for Alan Wake II which was revealed last month. There is some caution to this new release which could be concerning for this and future titles from Respawn Entertainment. Over the last month, roughly a handful of founding leadership for the developer has departed from the team which left Apex Legends at a questionable state already. This stacks on top of the new responsibility of studio head Vince Zampella overseeing the Battlefield IP. You can read the full report by heading here. What are you most excited about for a sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order?

BioWare Shares Its Target To Re-earn The Trust Of Its Players In New Development Blog

Under the ongoing reign of BioWare for the last generation of console hardware, the Electronic Arts studio contorted its reputation after being one of the most prominent teams for close to a decade. While the game studio release 2015’s Game of the Year Dragon Age: Inquisition, the followed releases of Mass Effect Andromeda alongside Anthem soured the team’s stance within the industry. And while the developer attempted to undo the damage left by its latter release, BioWare went on to announce that efforts to do so has been cancelled as new focus shifts entirely for the coming Dragon Age & Mass Effect titles respectively. But, many still question the future of these IPs as leadership for both series departed back in 2020. In a new blog post from BioWare this Thursday, the team emphasizes on its ambitions to regain the trust of its users and continue to rework the current reputation that the team holds at the moment. When I took on the GM role, I talked about rebuilding our reputation, and that remains a huge priority. We are laser-focused on building back the trust of our fans and community, and we plan to do that by delivering the types of games that we are best known for and ensuring they are of the highest quality. Our mission is to “Create worlds of adventure, conflict, and companionship that inspire you to become the hero of your story.” We want the launch of our games to be seminal moments in the industry. We want each game to earn the kind of reaction we’ve seen with Mass Effect Legendary Edition. We feel that we have the right people, the right creative focus, and the support from EA to deliver on the promise. Gary McKay, BioWare Studio General Manager And rightly so for BioWare to celebrate the reception of Mass Effect Legendary Edition with the state of the game at release. Following the launch of the game, the developer did elaborate on further work for the remastered trilogy. In that, the possibility to ship multiplayer for Mass Effect 3 was on the table for later down the line. From our review for the game, critic David Rodriguez shares, “Most of the original games core combat, interface and inventory design was completely redesigned to resemble the later games. It never feels as good as three or modern shooters, but the changes really make an impact and bring a level of cohesion to the trilogy as a whole. I’m not going to say much more, Mass Effect Legendary Edition is one of the best packages ever made, and if you have yet to experience the story buckle in and prepare for a thrill ride. Are you hopeful in the new campaign set by BioWare to return to its original state with its fans? Source: BioWare

Sony To Integrate New PlayStation Tournament Feature Later In 2022 For PlayStation 5

Over in the realm of PlayStation, fans are awaiting more unique, next-generation features to arrive to the latest PlayStation 5. Already, users are patiently waiting for more elements to include extended 120Hz support on the new console. Alongside that, support for 1440p displays is also a priority that users are also hoping to see be integrated later down the line. The PlayStation firm even pressed on a supported web browser as well at the time too. But in the most recent news update for PlayStation 5, Sony Interactive Entertainment officially revealed the PlayStation VR2 this week. During the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Sony unveiled features including ‘Headset-based controller tracking’ alongside eye tracking and even a new sensory system to better the sense of immersion when in use. From the same presentation, Sony Interactive Entertainment President & CEO Jim Ryan spared light information on plans for this year. He reveals, “we’re also planning to introduce a new Tournaments feature on PS5.” You can watch the segment of the presentation in the video below: Over the past year, Sony Interactive Entertainment has slowly injected itself into the competitive esports scene. The most notable moment comes from the acquisition of the Evolution Championship Series (EVO) back in March 2021. As for plans on its platform, the firm is in search to integrate a tournament apparatus into its latest console later on in 2022. As tipped by GamesRadar+, Sony Interactive Entertainment did patent a tournament feature for its platform stretching as far back as July last year. The toolset is structured to a incorporate tournament-like suite for smaller scale titles without being required to be a truly competitive entry. What are your thoughts on a tournament feature for console?

Ubisoft Announces Service Ubisoft+ Is Coming To Xbox

In the age of subscription services, even the most prominent publishers are tapping into the business model. So when it came time for Ubisoft to reveal Uplay+ at the time, it was a surprise to discover the list of titles available for the service then, In total, more than fifty titles and more promised down the line. Another niché from Ubisoft is offering the Ultimate Edition for games on the service as well which others at the time did not truly include. However, the largest takeaway then is that Ubisoft only included the then-named Uplay+ to be only for PC. But, alike Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Now, and EA Access, it was expected it will inevitably come to console sometime later down the line. And now that time is on the horizon according to a new announcement from the firm this week. On Wednesday, Ubisoft shares that Ubisoft+ will be breaking its PC ties later this year and will be testing the console waters on Xbox first. Ubisoft announced that its Ubisoft+ subscription service will be coming to Xbox in the future. Originally launched for PC, the service allows access to more than 100 Ubisoft titles at a single monthly cost, with games and DLC available on launch day, and monthly rewards including cosmetics, boosters, in-game items, and more.  Daniel O’Conner, Ubisoft Corporate Community Manager “Ultimately, we will offer the Ubisoft+ subscription service to Xbox owners so that they can enjoy the full extent of our Ubisoft+ game library, including new releases, on their consoles, Chris Early, Ubisoft Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Business Development added in the blog post. Previously, claims circulated suggesting that Ubisoft+ could be coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate similar to how its included with EA Play already But, credible leaker @klobrille stated there are no plans last year for the move. But, Windows Central’s Jez Corden is adamant to believe there is still a chance to see how the service performs on the platform before making the commitment to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. For users worried over on PlayStation, it is in due time that Ubisoft+ will eventually come to the Sony console. Previously, EA Access before its rebranding to EA Play was originally unique to Xbox for several year before the transition to PlayStation officially arrived later on. You can read the full report by heading here. Does Ubisoft+ catch your eye at all? Source: Ubisoft

Rainbow Six Extraction To Ship Alongside Xbox Game Pass Addition Later This Month

From the ongoing wait for Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Extraction, the game is just on the verge from release. However, the title was already promised to ship this past fall from the publisher. Then, the team paved a scheduled release date for September 2021 earlier in the summer. But it did not take long for Ubisoft to hesitate with a new release date later slated for January in the new year later on. In a new announcement on Wednesday, Ubisoft & Microsoft announces the game is to launch simultaneously with the game’s addition to Xbox Game Pass this month. Already, Microsoft scheduled its releases for the service so far for January 2022 with Spelunky 2 and Outer Wilds on the menu. Now, a new AAA Ubisoft game is part of the next serving. By making Rainbow Six Extraction available to Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass members on the day and date of its launch via Xbox Game Pass, we’re demonstrating that we believe in the value and choice that game subscriptions offer to players. Rainbow Six Extraction for Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass members is just the beginning. Chris Early, Ubisoft Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Business Development “When it releases on January 20, 2022, Xbox Game Pass members can jump into this intense, thrilling, and unpredictable PvE co-op experience alone or in squads of up to three players to take on dynamic incursions. Rainbow Six Extraction is a tactical co-op FPS that brings a whole new squad-based PvE experience to the millions of players in the Rainbow Six universe and beyond. “That’s not all though – Rainbow Six fans on PC will be happy to hear that Rainbow Six Siege will also be available with PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate starting January 20 as well. With Rainbow Six Siege available for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members on console and cloud already, fans have the opportunity to brush up on their tactical shooter skills while awaiting the release of Rainbow Six Extraction. “And players who play both Siege and Extraction can unlock the epic gear included in the United Front Bundle,” Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief Will Tuttle adds. That same day, Dotemu & Microsoft plans to introduce WIndjammers 2 for Xbox Game Pass to according to a prior announcement recently. You can read the full report by heading here. Do you plan to try out Rainbow Six Extraction when it comes to Xbox Game Pass? Rainbow Six Extraction ships on January 20, 2022 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, and Stadia. Source: Xbox Wire, Ubisoft

Nobody Saves The World Launches January 18th, Day One Release For Xbox Game Pass Confirmed

In terms of the overall value for Xbox Game Pass, users across console, PC, and slowly now cloud streaming are noticing the increasing number of anticipated titles coming to the service. From the entirety of 2021 last year, The Loadout did a story on how much exactly Microsoft delivered then for the monthly service revealing more than $6,300 was issued across all twelve months. Looking forward, Microsoft already pressed on the first issue of fresh titles for Xbox Game Pass on Tuesday. In that, Spelunky 2, Outer Wilds, and even Mass Effect Legendary Edition [EA Play] were added. Looking forward, developer Dotemu disclosed the release date for Windjammers 2 will also be met with the game coming to Xbox Game Pass then as well this month. On Wednesday, Microsoft alongside Drinkbox Studios shared plans for more Xbox Game Pass welcomings this month. The developer responsible for the Guacamelee! series is returning with Nobody Saves the World which launches this month. Xbox Game Pass is to introduce the game to is subscribers the same day. You can watch the launch date trailer in the video below: “You start as a little baby thing called Nobody, but soon gain the ability to take on more and more forms. There’s over 15 total, including a Zombie, Horse, Bodybuilder, and Dragon,”Drinkbox Studios Lead Designer Ian Campbell explains for the game’s overview. “Every form has its own playstyle and abilities, which you can mix-and-match to create wild combos like a fire-breathing Zombie or a galloping Bodybuilder. With the help of these powers, you set out to save the world from the vile Calamity by completing quests and exploring dungeons.” As Microsoft continues to invest in new titles being added to Xbox Game Pass, platform executives reassure it is not a money pit as some would claim. From boss Phil Spencer, he expresses that the service is sustainable and not simply burning money for the sake to do so. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you excited for Nobody Saves the World? Nobody Saves the World launches January 18, 2022 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Source: Xbox Wire