Despite being a PlayStation 5 exclusive, there is simply not enough talk about Returnal. A real shame, since with Housemarque, true legends of the action genre are at the helm.

The Finnish studio is well-known for awesome arcade action with titles like Resogun, Super Stardust Delta, and many more. But Returnal looks to be the studio’s most ambitious project to date. After years of spending time in the 2D and 2.5D space, Housemarque finally goes full 3D.

The matter of fact is that this shift makes Returnal instantly is more appealing to many more gamers. That doesn’t mean it lacks in action or beautiful effects. On top of that, the game also features an interesting science-fiction story that seamlessly combines roguelike elements into its story.

Each death restarts a time loop. But Returnal features a clever progression system that lets you keep some upgrades across runs. The more you play, the better upgrades you receive.

But none of that matters if the actual gameplay is any good. And Returnal promises the entire package here. You can get a nice overview of the types of weapons both in the new trailer and detailed PlayStation Blog post.

As expected, a range of futuristic weapons is available. But the brilliant part here is that combat doesn’t revolve entirely around projectiles. Many weapons also have unique mechanics and secondary modes. Combined, they add an extra layer of depth to the combat.

Rounding the package are alien artifacts and items that give the player additional bonuses. Both active and passive. Overall, Returnal is a highly promising title that should be on every PS5 owner’s radar when it launches this May 19th.

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The hits keep coming after yesterday’s reveal of a new Indiana Jones game. Today, Wired reports that Disney and Lucasfilm Games have big ambitions for the Star Wars franchise in the gaming world. And one key aspect of achieving that is to grow beyond the bounds of Electronic Arts.

Back in 2013, Disney and Electronic Arts made a multi-year deal that gave EA the exclusive game right for all things Star Wars. The result was a mixed bag. While the Battlefront series rose from its ashes, it failed to live up to expectations. Mainly because of excessive microtransactions.

EA just recently started to fulfill its promise with great single-player Star Wars games. We’re of course talking about Jedi: Fallen Order and Squadrons. Nonetheless, both in quantity and quality, EA failed to satisfy fans.

Disney announced just earlier this week the revival of the legendary Lucasfilm Games division. An iconic brand that is responsible for many of the best games of the 90s. Today, we learn that Disney has a lot more planned.

Ubisoft’s Massive Entertainment is working on a full-fledged open-world Star Wars game. You’ll best know Massive for The Division games. Hence, the pedigree for good open-world action games is there. We also learn that the same capable Snowdrop Engine used in The Division will be used.

While we know the developer of this elusive new Star Wars title, Lucasfilm Games hasn’t shared any other details yet. But one thing is for certain as of today. The days of Star Wars fans being at the mercy of EA to deliver great games is over.

Lucasfilm Games also states that there is ‘room for others’ when it comes to licensed Star Wars games. It looks like we can look forward to more studios creating games set in a galaxy far far away.

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The surprise success of the Nintendo Switch led to many nice results. Both first-party and third-party developers not only outdo themselves with new titles, but many classic hidden gems get a second chance, too.

Arguably none other than the ill-fated Wii U’s game catalog profited from the Switch’s comeback story. Almost all notable exclusives of Nintendo’s prior console were ported to the Switch. Soon, that will be the case for Super Mario 3D World, as well. It’s not only one of the best Wii U exclusives but one of the best 3D Mario games to date.

With Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, owners of a Nintendo Switch can look forward to experiencing the game on the go. But there’s even better news. Bowser’s Fury adds an entirely new expansion to the already great package.

And now, we can see for ourselves what the fuss is all about. Suffice to say, Bowser’s Fury is a big package in more ways than one. The new trailer for the remaster shows gameplay from said expansion, and we get to see Bowser like never before.

Mario’s nemesis is more threatening and dangerous than ever before. Featuring a towering stature that’s more akin to Kaiju flicks like Godzilla or Pacific Rim. Thankfully, our round little plumber has an ace up his sleeves and can transform into a giant version himself, as well.

As an added bonus, you’ll be able to play Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury in full co-op, too. Whether it’s local or online. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury comes exclusively to the Nintendo Switch on February 12th.

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HITMAN 3 – All Locations Revealed: https://t.co/gxw79z1kpC

This is a spoiler-free list of all six locations in the game, where we’re focused on the locations and not the story. pic.twitter.com/SCq33KBsnj

— IO Interactive (@IOInteractive) January 11, 2021

In case you plan to experience Hitman 3 as an entirely clean slate, you might want to steer clear. To be fair, there are no story spoilers of any kind in the location reveal. But getting to grips with each new locale is arguably one of the best parts of the Hitman series.

Nonetheless, here’s a rundown of all six locations featured in Hitman 3:

• Dubai, UAE
• Dartmoor, United Kingdom
• Berlin, Germany
• Chongqing, China
• Mendoza, Argentina
• Carpathian Mountains, Romania

If you followed the release of Hitman 3 so far, you’ll notice that three of the six locations were already heavily promoted. The jaw-dropping skylines of Dubai are prominently the poster child of the new Hitman game.

But beyond that, IO Interactive also showcased Hitman 3’s Dartmoor and its unique appeal. Unlike many other destinations, here it’s all about depth, not width. The unassuming estate in the British countryside also features a rather unique twist on classic murder mysteries.

With Chongqing, Agent 47 also makes his way into China. And while the city’s name might not ring any bells, it totally should. It’s a massive city with a population of over 30 million people. Prepare for large crowds and seedy back alleys filled with neon.

In that regard, Berlin, Mendoza, and the Carpathian Mountains are the big surprises today. You can read more about each location’s unique appeal on the developer post here. Just a heads up. While there are no story spoilers, you’ll learn the order of progression.

Hitman 3 launches this month, January 20th, for PC, Stadia, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. A cloud version for the Switch will come at a future date.

The post Hitman 3 teases globetrotting adventure in full location reveal appeared first on GameZone.

The Arkham games revolutionized the superhero gaming genre. Before Warner Brothers handed the reins to Rocksteady and WB Games Montreal, comic book game adaptations were mostly middling affairs. Good games were more of a surprise than the opposite.

Thankfully, things have changed drastically in the past decade. Not the least thanks to the Arkham series and Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man games. But after four Arkham games featuring Batman, Warner Brothers wants to try something different.

Gotham Knights is a wild departure from the past. Not only is Batman gone – like literally dead – but the entire game heavily features co-op gameplay. It’s not difficult to see why WB Games Montreal decided to go this route.

Co-op gaming is bigger than ever. And with highly successful AAA games like Destiny proving that it works long-term, it was only a matter of time. Furthermore, Batman’s universe is ripe for the genre. Gotham Knights features a varied cast of comic icons with Red Hood, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Robin.

Each character sports a unique and deep moveset and personality. This makes fighting goons a personal experience with every character. But the rabbit hole goes even deeper. While there are multiple heroes to chose from, Gotham Knights is designed for two-player co-op.

This also reflects in the combat itself. As seen in the reveal trailers, the hero duos fluidly create combo attacks. A large open world of Gotham City builds the playground of this brawling sandbox.

While the co-op aspect stands out, you’ll of course be able to play Gotham Knights solo as well. Either way, you’ll be able to switch your character anytime you want at your base. To secure fluid progression, every hero levels up with you. A welcome decision that ought to prevent needless grind every time you decide to play as another hero.

Gotham Knights targets this year for release for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

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Big-budget games require lots of manpower to be made. Especially, with technological advancements enabling more detailed game worlds with the start of a new console generation.

As such, it’s a very common occurrence for talent to change their workplace regularly. But on the flip side, certain positions have an arguably larger impact on a game’s direction than others. Writers, in particular, can affect a game’s experience like few others.

Hence, the departure of Pawel Selinger created mixed emotions among gamers. Selinger was with Techland since 1999 and had a large input on the Call of Juarez series among other games. Most interestingly, he was the lead writer for Dying Light 2.

Techland, I will always be rooting for you, as well as the great people I have met thanks to you. I wish you that Dying light 2 and subsequent projects will become world hits. – Pawel Selinger

Techland revealed the sequel to the excellent first Dying Light two years ago. But things got very quiet for over a year at this point. We last got substantial footage and information about Dying Light 2 back in 2019. Then silence for only to get a delay early last year. Ever since fans waited for more news.

Furthermore, allegations of sexual misconduct against game writer Chris Avellone led to Techland dropping him from Dying Light 2 last year. In the end, the excitement by fans shifted towards concern over time.

The news of the lead writer’s departure doesn’t help in this case. Techland told Gameinformer in a statement that they wish Selinger the best. They also teased that they will share exciting news for Dying Light 2 very soon, too.

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It might come as a surprise that despite revealing a new title into one of their biggest fighting game franchise, SNK didn’t really reveal a lot about it. But there’s a good reason for that. SNK themselves accidentally leaked promo images for The King of Fighters XV yesterday.

Obviously, there was no doubt left at all about the truth of the 15th KOF game afterward. Still, it’s always nice to get formal confirmation of leaks. But due to SNK’s original plans, the timing is a bit off.

This led to The King of Fighters XV’s reveal to only come in the form of a single trailer. But there is already a lot to go by just with that. For one, players of the previous The King of Fighters XIV will immediately notice a rather massive change in visual style.

It only makes sense for sequels to look better, but the deal with The King of Fighters XV is on an entirely different level. 2016’s KOF XIV was famously the first foray of the series into full 3D. As such, it was met with mixed emotions from fans. Not only did many miss the franchise’s signature outstanding pixel art, but the 3D in KOF XIV simply wasn’t as impressive as the competition.

That’s exactly where The King of Fighters XV apparently received a lot of work. The models, lighting, and details are a marked step up over the previous game. The game’s creative director Eisuke Ogura also promised to show a new trailer and share much more details about KOF XV next week.

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Monster Hunter Rise will launch on March 26th, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. That’s somewhat a surprise considering how the previous Monster Hunter World became one of the most successful entries in the action-RPG series by going multi-platform.

Nintendo users famously were left in the dust with that one. So, it’s without a doubt very nice that Rise satisfies the needs of that large player base. But the story continues.

‘Thanks’ to last year’s massive cyberattack against Capcom, we already learned that Monster Hunter Rise will not stay exclusive to the Switch for a long time. Seeing how prior leaks from said ransomware attack turned out to be correct, there’s no reason to doubt this one.

Just last month, users who examined the Capcom leaks discovered curious details about Monster Hunter Rise’s situation. According to alleged company internal documents, Nintendo paid Capcom $2m. In return, Monster Hunter Rise is going to remain a Switch exclusive for 9 months.

After that period, the game will supposedly launch on the PC. It’s quite interesting that neither a PlayStation nor Xbox ports are mentioned. With the popularity of Monster Hunter World on those systems, it does sound like a no-brainer.

Nonetheless, the only people who know for sure that they’ll get to play Monster Hunter Rise, for now, is the Switch crowd. And they have good reason to be excited. Rise adds some pretty nice new additions like the ‘Wirebug’ that turns traversal into a jolly aerial affair.

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An important update regarding Outriders. pic.twitter.com/HHZrq5GIik

— Outriders (@Outriders) January 6, 2021

The PvE shooter space is pretty crowded these days. With live service games more popular and numerous than ever before, it takes a lot for newcomers to become successful. Outriders has just the right pedigree to succeed.

Published by Square Enix and developed by People Can Fly, the sci-fi co-op shooter could become the next big thing. Even if you don’t recognize the studio’s name, you’ll surely remember their games. They worked together with Epic Games on Gear 2, 3, and Judgement.

But their crowning achievement is the ridiculously fun Bulletstorm. Hence, Outriders is promising from the start. These developers sure know how to create extremely satisfying combat.

Outriders originally targeted next February for release but alas. The developers decided it would be better to take the extra time to polish their new IP. After all, first impressions do matter in the contested online shooter market like no other.

And from our early experience with it, Outriders is definitely one title to look out for. You can read more about our thoughts in our preview coverage here. Especially, if you’re looking for a traditional complete game. As the developer states, Outriders is not a live service game and instead a complete product.

Still, that doesn’t mean eager gamers won’t have anything to look forward to next month. Outrider will receive a meaty demo towards the end of February. People Can Fly promises the full experience in the demo which spans the first few hours of the campaign.

It also features access to all characters classes and solo & co-op gameplay. The cherry on top, you’ll be able to transfer your progress from the demo once Outriders fully releases in April.

Outriders will launch for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on April 1st.

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HITMAN 3 takes immersion to the next level with PSVR. HITMAN has always been about immersing yourself in a living, breathing world. But you’ve never experienced it like this…

Pre-Order HITMAN 3 now: https://t.co/XYtWCY2p2H pic.twitter.com/6lonD3RVA0

— IO Interactive (@IOInteractive) January 7, 2021

With Hitman 3, the final entry into the ‘World of Assassination’ trilogy will soon arrive. There’s even a cloud version for the Nintendo Switch in the works. That one works via cloud streaming. But unlike the previous two Hitman titles, the third one manages to change the entire trilogy in a huge way.

Hitman 3 not only is a full-fledged experience on its own, but it also features VR. A first for the series. And unlike many other big studios that release VR versions that are often compromised, it’s a very different story here.

Players will be able to experience the entirety of Hitman 3 in virtual reality without any drawbacks. The developer promises the full Hitman experience. Furthermore, this VR support will extend to the previous two games as well.

So, even if you played Hitman (2016) and Hitman 2 (2018), this is a perfect reason for a replay. VR not only changes the viewpoint from third-person to first-person, it basically offers an entirely new game.

Playing the entire trilogy in VR will no doubt lead to a fresh experience. As the new trailer already shows, a more action-oriented playstyle might even come naturally. A strategy most players probably didn’t take in the past at all.

Developer IO Interactive only mentions PlayStation VR up until now, but the studio also didn’t say PC gamers will be left out. We suspect VR support will also come to PC sooner or later. Then again, Sony did make VR-exclusivity deals with other third-party companies in the past. Just remember that Resident Evil’s VR mode never made it to the PC.

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