Life is Strange 2 releases on Nintendo Switch in February

Square Enix and Don’t Nod are finally bringing Life is Strange 2 to the Nintendo Switch on February 2, 2023. Life is Strange 2 was initially released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on September 27, 2018 with its first episode. Nintendo Switch users won’t have to worry about waiting for the seasons to come out for Life is Strange’s sequel as all five episodes will be available on its release date. Life is Strange 2 is a narrative-adventure in which your decisions influence both the game’s story and characters. You play as sixteen-year-old Sean Diaz, a normal kid growing up in the suburbs of Seattle. After your younger brother Daniel’s telekinetic powers are unleashed by a traumatic incident, you are forced to abandon your home and flee from the police. As a big brother, you are solely responsible for not only Daniel’s safety, shelter, and wellbeing – but also how he grows to harness his power as you travel across the USA in an attempt to cross the border into Mexico. Source: Gematsu

Latest Rumor Suggests Scalebound Is To Be Revived By PlatinumGames Over At Xbox

During the midriff of the Xbox One console cycle, the hardware faced a slew of game cancellations pertaining to its first-party, exclusive lineup. Among those, PlatinumGames’ Scalebound happens to be one that hit players the most in disappointment came the reveal. And now more than half a decade later, many still hold out that a potential revival of the project is still plausible for the title. In the past, there have been claims that Microsoft was soughting out to acquire the team – which was later denounced. Additionally,  PlatinumGames itself even suggested the idea of simply purchasing the rights to Scalebound to finish the project. Even in one instance, president Hideki Kamiya screamed to Microsoft to email him is efforts to resurrect the project too. Now in a new rumor mill segment on the Xbox Era podcast, it is said the Microsoft is internally discussing bringing Scalebound back to life with PlatimumGames once again at the helm of this. You can watch the segment of the podcast in the video below: “I’ve been told that Platinum[games] is working with Xbox again to look at bringing back Scalebound,” host Nick Baker says. “Now- don’t ask me what form this is going to take; don’t ask me when this is- this is a long way away. This is like ages away. I don’t know what form it’s going to take, I don’t know if they’re going to try to put the pieces that was left back in whenever it was when did it get canceled […] I don’t know if they’re going to start from scratch – I have no idea.” As for the reasoning for the game’s demise, Kamiya did press on that in a previous interview. Then he expressed the state of the game was not satisfactory for the team’s standard and would be reflected even heavier for its audience. With the team’s lacking input on Unreal Engine 4, it felt proper to shelve the game indefinitely rather than continue chasing unreal expectations. While the claim is left up to conjecture if true or not, ultimately it would be a good place for PlatinumGames. Whilst Bayonetta 3 shows to be a perfect installment form the series, its recent Babylon’s Fall is the opposite of that. It was confirmed that the game would be shuttering its servers hardly a year after its release. You can read the full report by heading here. Do you hope the Scalebound rumors are true for its return?

EA Sports PGA Tour Officially Launches This March

Coinciding with the ongoing annual release from the likes of NBA, NHL, and FIFA, the PGA has been inactive in comparison. While publisher 2K & HB Studios has rolled out its own series with PGA Tour in bi-annual pattern, Electronic Arts has yet to tap into this market for more than half a decade. The last significance of PGA tour from the publisher billboarded with Rory McIlroy in 2016. As for what Electronic Arts is facing now, competition featuring Tiger Woods as its cover athlete for PGA Tour 2K23 this fall. However, Electronic Arts has its own move under its sleeve by featuring the U.S. Masters in its upcoming game. The game was originally slated to ship in 2022, but later ushered a new release window aimed for 2023. Now recently, Electronic Arts announced EA Sports PGA Tour is to hit store shelves later this March. You can watch the new gameplay trailer in the video below: “We’re bringing the premier PGA TOUR experience to players around the world with real-world golf data powering incredibly realistic gameplay with every shot, and some of the most iconic courses in the world rendered in painstaking detail,” EA Sports executive vice president and general manager Cam Weber writes.  “From The Old Course at St Andrews Links to Pebble Beach Golf Links and more, we’re giving players the chance to tee off in bucket list golf experiences like never before in EA Sports PGA Tour.” Additionally, similar to NFL FieldSense and FIFA HyperMotion2, EA Sports PGA Tour incorporates its own unique animation mechanisms with Pure Strike. “Pure Strike gives golf fans all the tools they need to realistically attack every hole on every course the same way the pros do. Featuring ShotLink® powered by CDW and TrackMan, Pure Strike also helps ensure that each professional golfer’s unique swing and attributes will be accurately reflected in the game. “Pure Strike incorporates the three parts of every golf shot – fluid swing mechanics that are highly accurate to a player’s backswing length and speed of follow through, innovative ball behavior allowing every bounce and roll to behave more accurately across a variety of terrain and course conditions, and lifelike course dynamics that play true to their real life course counterparts.” What are you most excited about EA brining back PGA Tour? EA Sports PGA Tour releases on March 24, 2023 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Source: Electronic Arts

WWE 2K23 Stars John Cena On Its Cover, Slated To Release This March

Over the past couple of years, the WWE 2K franchise has faced an overwhelming shift in its development. Notoriously, the games suffered greatly with bugs and other issues when releasing with WWE 2K20. This indicated the farewell for developer Yuke’s that long worked on the series for over a decade. It was later revealed the team was working on the new All Elite Wrestling title on the way. Additionally, it was announced that Visual Concepts – the team responsible for the release of NBA 2K – is to now handle the load for WWE 2K as well. So far, the firm appeared to land its shot with WWE 2K22. From our review we wrote : “WWE 2K22 is a well-rounded and fun wrestling experience. The lack of content is felt, but excellent community tools help alleviate some of those growing pains.” Now on Monday, 2K & Visual Concepts announced WWE is to return this year with WWE 2K23 this March with Superstar John Cena to return as the cover athlete for this year’s game. Cena will pose for the Standard Edition, Digital Deluxe Edition, and Icon Edition versions for WWE 2K23. “It is a pleasure to tell the story of my career through the WWE 2K23 Showcase. “2K has done a fantastic job capturing and invigorating the WWE 2K franchise through this concept, and I am honored to grace the cover of WWE 2K23,” Cena shared in a comment on the announcement. Cena is also said to pose as the executive soundtrack producer for WWE 2K23 as well. “Much like our cover Superstar John Cena, the Visual Concepts team didn’t back down from the challenge to prove that the quality of the WWE 2K franchise is here to stay,” Visual Concepts president Greg Thomas writes. “WWE 2K23 takes a winning formula and adds so much more. We’re especially excited to see how fans react to the 2K Showcase and WarGames.” Most notably is musician Bad Bunny is also to make is WWE 2K debut as well in the coming release. Are you excited for the newest installment for WWE 2K this year? WWE 2K23 is listed to release on March 17, 2023 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. Source: 2K

New Game+ Hits The Callisto Protocol In New Update

Exercising excitement for space thrillers, these past two months will be to the brim for fans of this specific genre. So far, Glen Schofield’s Striking Distance shipped its own Dead Space successor, The Callisto Protocol. In our review we wrote: “The Callisto Protocol also ventures into its territory despite the overt Dead Space inspiration, and they have created a stunning and horrific sci-fi worth getting scared over.” Additionally, Electronic Arts is preparing to roll out the official return to Dead Space in January with an official remake helmed by its Motive team (Star Wars Squadrons). So for more of this content, it is already confirmed The Callisto Protocol is receiving post-launch support. In that, the game will face new story add-ons, cosmetics, alongside additional death animations as well. In a new patch release from Striking Distance, The Callisto Protocol has issued multiple fixes to the game including a bug unlocking the ‘Maximum Security’ Achievement/Trophy. The team also notes New Game+ has also been included as well to revisit the experience with your unlocks as well. “Users who previously completed the game will have access to NewGame+ after the patch,” the official Reddit post shares. “Complete the game to unlock New Game Plus and carry your pression over to a new save. All weapons, upgrades, and Callisto Credits can be collected at the first Reforge” The meat of this patchwork also includes improved performance for the game across all platforms, immunity when vaulting over obstacles, odd clipping of the character when camera is places obtusely, and adjusted vocal leveling for major localization languages. What do you think is the best addition from this patchwork for The Callisto Protocol? The Callisto Protocol is out now for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Source: Striking Distance 

Marvel’s Avengers To Halt Content By April 2023, Official Support To Close This September

For those that recall the launch for Marvel’s Avengers more than two years ago, the game sharply missed becoming a long-lasting, AAA hit from Square Enix. The title would capitalize on the exceeding heights that the films made in the box office for players across the globe. But came its release left a husk of a live-service title that only left many revolted from returning. Aspects such as individual Avenger battle passes and monotonous end-game grinding.  The game shortly after its release was reported to be a major hit to the publisher. In one discovery, over $63 million was a loss for Square Enix. Not to mention even the firm criticizing Crystal Dynamics being unsuited to take on the task as the helmed studio for the game’s development. It is considered to be the reasoning for Square Enix’s low asking price when selling its western talent to Embracer Group last year. Recently, Crystal Dynamics announced that Marvel’s Avengers will shutter its services later this year. By the end of March will be the last content update for the game following with official support by this October in the fall. After two-and-a-half years and introducing twelve of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, following Update 2.8 on March 31, 2023, we will no longer add new content or features to Marvel’s Avengers. All official support for the game will end on September 30, 2023. As for the online servers for the game, multiplayer will still be accessible beyond the cutoff date this autumn, the developer presses. “Even after official support ceases on September 30, 2023, both single- and multi-player gameplay will continue to be available. […] Multiplayer will still be accessible after support discontinues on September 30, 2023.  Multiplayer will continue to require Xbox Live Gold on Xbox platforms and PS Plus on PlayStation platforms.” To reward players still active on Marvel’s Avengers, all cosmetic items will be available to pick up absolutely free following the March cut off date for content. “We will make all the game’s Marketplace, Challenge Card, and Shipment cosmetic content available to all players for free. Every single Outfit, Takedown, Emote, and Nameplate from the Marketplace, Challenge Cards, and Shipments will be free for all players from this date onwards if you own a copy of the game.” Are you surprised by the fate handed to Marvel’s Avengers? Marvel’s Avengers ships to Xbox Game Pass on September 30, 2021; out now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, and Stadia. Source: Crystal Dynamics