News:: Nintendo's online service is $20 per year, pushed back to 2018

Nintendo has finally solidified the details on its online service, now dubbed Nintendo Switch Online. The pricing comes in with different tiers: one month for $3.99, three months for $7.99, and 12 months for $19.99. In addition to that, it looks like the free service will run until at least the end of 2017, as the website mentions a 2018 launch date.

Virtual Console isn't mentioned by name, but subscribers will get access to classic titles with added online functionality. Nintendo specifically mentions Super Mario Bros. 3, Dr. Mario, and Balloon Fight, so those will likely launch with the service. The lobby and voice chat app will also have a trial launch this summer, probably in time for Splatoon 2. That will still be relegated to a smart device, because of course it will.

The wording on one aspect is very interesting, though. In italicized print, the website mentions, "After the free-trial period, most games will require a paid online service subscription from Nintendo in order to play online." Does that mean we'll get getting free-to-play games launching on the Switch?

At the bottom of the page, we also get a mention that this service will be available for people in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Is Nintendo staggering launching the service in other regions? I wonder what the reason would be for that?

Either way, $20 a year isn't too bad. I don't know if a small selection of classic games feels like enough to get me to subscribe, but if Nintendo makes it into a burgeoning list of titles instead of a rotation like previously assumed, then I could see myself jumping in.

Nintendo Switch Online [Nintendo]

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2qM5kZa

News:: Nintendo Switch's online features will cost just $20 a year

When Nintendo announced that the Switch would feature a paid online subscription model like Xbox Live and PlayStation Plus, it was vauge on the details. We knew the service would cost less than the competition and offer some kind of subscription bonus, but the specifics werne't clear. Today, Nintendo filled in some of those details: starting in 2018, online services for Nintendo Switch will cost just $20 a year -- a fee that buys online play, voice chat and access to a "compilation" of classic Nintendo titles that have been modded for online multiplayer.

Developing...

via Engadget RSS Feedhttp://ift.tt/2qHitHS

News:: How do you feel about a whole year of Overwatch?

We're all knee deep in Overwatch anniversary loot box shenanigans now. I've only received one anniversary skin, and Zarya's Cyberian skin isn't really the greatest (why is the texture on the mask so bad?). But leaving aside the question of the anniversary event, boy howdy Overwatch has been around for an entire year and it's never really completely left the video game zeitgeist. Just when you think you're ready to move on with something new to penetrate your reserved mind share, Overwatch breaks back in, Kool-Aid Man style, just a month or two later.

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2qLWLOg

News:: IO has a new batch of content for Hitman this month

I am so down for a second season of Hitman should that come to fruition following Square Enix's decision to "withdraw from the business of [series developer] IO Interactive." In the more immediate and definitely-gonna-happen future, we are getting some more Hitman content.

Starting tomorrow, there will be a pair of Escalation Contracts, one located in Sapienza (specifically the bonus mission "Landslide") and the other in Bangkok. The latter has "complications involving shotguns, laser tripwires, exterminators, enforcers, and kill streaks." Complications and the ability to weasel out of them in increasingly ridiculous ways are what make these games such a joy to play and replay.

10 Featured Contracts culled from the community, the penultimate Elusive Target (#25, set in Hokkaido), and an unspecified "mandatory" game update also await Hitman this month.

HITMAN – June Content Schedule [IO Interactive]

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2qGo0KP

News:: GTFO is a co-op horror FPS from the designer of Payday

You won't get much substance from this teaser trailer for GTFO, but I figured the game was worth putting on your radar all the same. It's a "hardcore co-op action horror FPS" from 10 Chambers Collective, a studio made up of former Overkill Software folks including Payday designer Ulf Andersson.

"Every expedition in GTFO is unique and the game lets you make informed decisions on what equipment and weapons to bring -- but even then survival is not guaranteed," says 10 Chambers' Simon Viklund. "GTFO throws so many curveballs and unknown factors at you that you and your team always have to stay on your toes -- and the atmosphere is suffocatingly tense."

Ever so slightly elaborating on their plans, Ulf Andersson explains that "10 Chambers is completely self funded, meaning there is no board of directors that dictates our creative choices. We can go for a more niche audience -- so GTFO goes out to the tight knit, die hard co-op teams of 2-4 people. Technically you can play alone, but really -- the world of GTFO is no place for lone wolves and stragglers. They'll die, lost in the game's endless maze."

With those descriptions and the vague "work-in-progress visuals" shown today, I can't help but envision imagery from movies like The Descent and As Above, So Below (do not watch this, you've been warned!). I'm curious to see what we're actually up against in GTFO, but the general concept has me on board.

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2sk0rsh

News:: Super Ultra Dead Rising 4 Mini Golf comes out June 20

If you never bothered to look into Dead Rising 4's season pass, I'm right there with you.

As a result, we both missed hearing about Super Ultra Dead Rising 4 Mini Golf, one of the included add-ons. It's up-to-four-player co-op mini golf on an 18-hole course with oversized golf balls, customizable clubs, and zombies roaming around. Does that premise sound decent? I think so.

The DLC releases June 20, 2017 for Xbox One, Steam, and Windows 10. Mini Golf costs $10 on its own, or you can get it in the $20 season pass, or you can go all in for the $80 Dead Rising 4 Digital Deluxe Edition. The last option -- paying full price so long after release -- is probably best avoided.

This might seem odd from the outside looking in, but it isn't -- at least not relatively speaking. Look no further than Dead Rising 3's reference-filled Super Ultra Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX + α DLC.

Also, the mere mention of mini golf reminds me that I'm unable to play Golf Story or Everybody's Golf, and that's bumming me out. I'm in a very particular video game golf mood all of a sudden.

Super Ultra Dead Rising 4 Mini Golf is coming June 20 [Capcom-Unity]

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2qLZffh

News:: Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn gets a new trailer and special treat for NBA Playgrounds Switch owners

Somehow, someway, Shaq Fu got a sequel kickstarted a few years back. While that should have been the sign of the apocalypse, the Earth is still spinning and everyone is still living their lives...somehow. That hasn't stopped Saber Interactive from actually finishing their game, even if we haven't heard much in the years since they gained funding. Hopefully it doesn't suck like the original.

One thing that has sucked is that NBA Playgrounds on Switch has had broken netplay since launch. As a way to apologize for the delay in getting fixes out, Saber is offering Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn free to Switch owners of Playgrounds for a limited time. Along with that news comes a trailer for Shaq Fu and a tentative release date of "Coming Soon".

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2rZuhF6

News:: Comments of the Week 02: An Englishman is Always Right

Good evening fellow Destructoid dwellers. This is Comments of the Week, hosted this week by me, TheLimoMaker, the only English person in the team who runs this weekly blog. 

Now, since I am the only English person in the group, I feel compelled to bring some elegance to this section every week which I'm sure, for those of a higher class amongst you, will be greatly appreciated. That being said, I do also feel compelled to feature nothing but penis jokes because who doesn't like a good phallic object? 

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2sub9Mn

News:: GTA V publisher: 'We can do more' microtransactions with our 'under-monetized' users

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick recently spoke to GameSpot regarding its stance on microtransactions and how they relate to GTA V/GTA Online, and the future doesn't seem too great if you like how they've been handling it so far.

Kicking the conversation off by saying, "You can’t give stuff away for free in perpetuity; there’s no business model in that," which is absolutely true, he goes on to claim, "We are convinced that we are probably from an industry view under-monetising on a per-user basis." To his credit he does give us a few caveats, stating, "But we’re not trying to optimise the monetisation of everything we do to the nth degree. My concern is, if you do that, the consumer knows. They might not even know that they know, but they feel it...There is wood to chop because I think we can do more, and we can do more without interfering with our strategy of being the most creative and our ethical approach, which is delighting consumers. We’re not going to grab the last nickel."

When you break this down as someone who has played GTA Online for the past several years, the lack of barriers is the chief reason why people still play it to this day. All you need to do is buy GTA V, then you get access to the entire campaign and the online realm. There's no requirement to buy droves of DLC or feel like you need to catch up or even chase down a GOTY edition, as everything is right there online without a subscription fee or any hurdles. I never once felt like I needed to buy cash in microtransaction form.

It's a pretty wonderful thing, but it will be increasingly rare as publishers attempt to find every way to sell games "as a service" instead of selling just plain video games. There's a time and place for it (a shooter supported year after year with a competitive element), and there's a time when it feels excessive (making Assassin's Creed, what is ostensibly a narrative driven game, a "service").

Rockstar's Parent Company Talks Microtransactions, VR Doubts, Nintendo Switch Optimism [GameSpot]

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2rqiuNz

News:: NBA 2K17 predicts Warriors beat the Cavs with Game 7 blowout

2K has simulated the NBA Finals in NBA 2K17, giving the championship to the Golden State Warriors following a Game 7 blowout led by a 41-point effort from Kevin Durant.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors face off tonight at 6PM PST for the third-straight year. Two years ago, the Warriors won. Last year, despite Steph Curry's insane 3-point shooting and the Warriors having the best record in NBA history, the team managed to blow a 3-1 lead and lose the NBA championship. It was rough. For me personally, it was only slightly helped by the fact that I was in LA for E3 during the loss and could assuage my spirit with a shit ton of free booze.

The Warriors haven't lost a single game in these playoffs thus far and the LeBron James' Cavs have only lost a single game. NBA 2K17 has the Warriors losing tonight to even that out. At the start of the year, NBA 2K17's simulation had the Cavs beating the Warriors in seven games.

This meeting has been preordained and the interminable, wasting wreck of these "playoffs" has only been in sacrifice to what we are about to see. I don't see how the Cavs can win, but I thought that last year, too.

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2sjD5Dh

News:: Xbox's Netflix-style game service is available for everyone

Microsoft has kept its promise to add more backwards compatibility to the Xbox One, enabling owners to play select Xbox 360 titles on the new machine. But it's the console's Game Pass that shows the most promise: A Netflix-style monthly subscription service giving access to old and new games. While Xbox Live Gold members got early access last week, Game Pass is now live for anyone with an Xbox One.

Source: Major Nelson (Twitter), Xbox Game Pass

via Engadget RSS Feedhttp://ift.tt/2rwd7OG

News:: Square Enix and People Can Fly are doing a game together

People Can Fly is partnering with publisher Square Enix for a "new high-end original title for console and PC." There. Now you know as much as I do about it!

"We're building a game we all want to play which will be the perfect addition to our portfolio," said Lee Singleton, head of studio at Square Enix London Studios.

Whatever this mystery project is, we won't be seeing it in a couple weeks at E3 2017. Today's press release also notes that People Can Fly is staffing up for the new game, with openings in Warsaw for gameplay programmers, an AI programmer, and a VFX artist, among other jobs.

I am a fan of the studio's prior games, so consider me interested.

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2sucFxS

News:: Overwatch PTR patch sees rare Reaper, McCree buffs, as well as Roadhog changes

After all of the excitement with the new lore-heavy level coming to Overwatch this week by way of the PTR, you might have missed a few other key changes.

McCree got a straight buff for his ultimate, Reaper no longer sports those shiny health orbs in a rare buff (he regains 20% health now when dealing damage to heroes as a baseline), and Roadhog had his head hitbox reduced and his Scrap Gun was tweaked.

Using the word rare for a Reaper change is kind of funny, as the melancholy stealth character just recently got a buff for his Shadow Step that automatically reloads your weapons after its use. But any alterations he's gotten since launch have mostly been incremental -- in fact, he's been one of the least messed with heroes in the game.

Hopefully this is a sign of things to come, as Reaper is currently one of the least used heroes in competitive play and has one of the worst winrates. McCree is slightly more popular in ranked, but has a worse winrate than Reaper in many cases.

Overwatch PTR [Battle.net]

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2rpY07s

News:: Elex will launch on October 17

The fantasy/sci-fi RPG ELEX from developer Piranha Bytes will be releasing on October 17, 2017 for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. The game's world sees players searching for a substance known as elex that has covered the planet after a meteor strike.

Here is the latest trailer, from earlier this month, showing off a bit of the Berserker faction.

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2qGcOO8

News:: Nintendo’s solution for ‘Splatoon 2’ chat requires lots of wires

Saying Nintendo's solution to voice chat on the Switch is inelegant would be a gross understatement. At least for Splatoon 2, that is. This morning the game's Twitter account posted images of how you'll talk smack in the ink-fueled multiplayer shooter. The setup, dubbed "Empera Hook HDP," consists of a arrow/squid-shaped dongle, a set of swoop-style on-ear headphones with a boom mic and a trio of 3.5mm aux cables. One cable goes from the Switch's headphone port to the dongle, another runs from your cellphone to the dongle, and the last one connects the dongle to said headset. Phew.

Via: Kotaku, Nintendo Switch

Source: Splatoon (Twitter) (Japanese)

via Engadget RSS Feedhttp://ift.tt/2qGGRcE

News:: Sonic Mania has a not so nostalgic price

Remember when games used to launch on the SNES and Genesis for $70? Cartridges were expensive, guys! I know I bought Shadows of the Empire in 1997 for about $75, so the whole argument of games being more expensive now a days is baloney.

Thankfully, Sonic Mania isn't following every nostalgic trend as Sega has announced that the standard edition of the game will be $20. While this is confirmed for the eShop, seeing as how there is no physical release planned for the game (apart from the Collector's Edition, which still has no disc/cart), it would be reasonable to expect that the other versions will go for the same price.

Along with this news comes a couple of screenshots and concept art. Cool stuff. I don't think August can get here soon enough, what with this and Yakuza Kiwami coming out. Sega will dominate this summer!

Sonic Mania will cost $20 [Nintendo Everything]

 

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2qLmE0z

News:: Ubisoft has a new property to reveal at E3

There's a lot to unpack from this teaser trailer for Ubisoft's E3 press conference. It's full of "redactions," sly winks toward the audience that they'll have to wait the week and a half to learn what Ubisoft's up to. Still, there are more takeaways than usual from this sort of thing.

Let's "live blog" them even though I watched the trailer an hour ago and then got distracted by E3 scheduling:

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2rpTi9J

News:: VR headsets could soon be half the size of the Oculus Rift

The digital worlds we see through today's virtual reality headsets are amazing, but the goggles themselves leave something to be desired. Despite offering high resolutions and room-scale VR, the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are bulky, front-heavy devices. Wouldn't it be better if they were smaller? Soon, they could be. Today at Augmented World Expo, Kopin revealed a new, 4K reference design VR headset that's half the size of today's consumer goggles.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttp://ift.tt/2rpVezh

News:: PSA: Ekoro DLC is free in Blaster Master Zero until June 14

Your opportunity to pick up Gunvolt as a free character for Inti Create's Blaster Master Zero may have came and went, but Ekoro has jumped in as of today and will be available until June 14. As a reminder, you just need to manually head to the eShop, go to Blaster Master Zero, then locate the DLC. Both characters are also available as paid DLC for $1.99.

Ekoro and Gunvolt appeared together in Mighty Gunvolt with Beck, a small project that was bundled in as an incentive for the original Azure Striker Gunvolt before the Mighty No. 9 franchise crashed and burned. Now, the humble Mighty subfranchise seems to have more love than Inafune's multi-million Kickstarter jaunt.

Inti Creates (who was a co-developer on No. 9) was able to sidestep that disaster zone and keep creating great games while Comcept is stumbling along with ReCore and the upcoming Red Ash.

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2rvKMbB

News:: Fighting game rereleases top the charts in Japan

As we limp into summer, a couple of fighting game updates released with relative success in Japan last week. Although sales across the board are lower at this time of year, Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers and Guilty Gear Xrd: Rev 2 were top five sellers with over 10,000 copies sold in the first week. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana raked in 27,000 at number one. Previous Ys games debuted with over 40,000 in their first weeks, but released later in the year.

NieR: Automata keep chugging along, and for whatever sad reason people are still purchasing 1-2-Switch.

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2rvKpxt

News:: So, it has come to this (you asking us questions for Podtoid)

Faithful listeners, were you faithful in listening to Podtoid 371 this week? You need to. We require the utmost dedication and loyalty and trust from you. And we swear we're not a cult like The Knife of Aristotle, the fake-news-debunking-organization-but-actually-a-cult cult that Paste exposed earlier this week. (If I disappear, just assume they got me.)

As Steven noted last week after we stopped recording, that podcast was my Michael Jordan Flu Game. I felt awful and had food poisoning but nevertheless, I persisted. I turned in a chipper, upbeat, energetic episode and then I went and died for two days. I did it for you. (Everything I do) I do it for you.

But we can't dwell on our successes. We leave the past in the past, no matter how heroic we may have been. There's another podcast to record today which means that we again need your help. We can't produce this damn thing all by ourselves.

We need you to leave us questions about whatever's bouncing around in your brain. Bonus points if they aren't video game-related. But, if they are, we understand. Comments below, you know what to do. podtoid@destructoid.com if you're big into the emails. I know I am.

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2rvE0SS

News:: We'll get our first look at the new Need for Speed tomorrow

About the only thing we've known of the new Need for Speed game for 2017 was that it was in development. There was no name, no car list, no platforms; just a bunch of speculation. Well, mostly speculation, since EA had to clarify that the game wasn't always online.*Shrug*

Tomorrow, June 2, we'll finally get more details about this new game.

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2rgkg5n

News:: Diablo's Malthael is coming to Heroes of the Storm

Diablo is one of the most requested universes for Heroes of the Storm, and now we have another addition to the Nexus -- Malthael from Diablo III. He's an assassin that can sustain himself through healing abilities, as well as teleport and apply marks (Reaper's Mark) to enemies that grant various bonuses.

For those who haven't been keeping track, it's been six heroes since we've seen a Warcraft entry. Before that there were five Warcraft characters in a row.

Malthael [Heroes of the Storm]

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2rvzbJm

News:: Middle-earth: Shadow of War suffers a delay

If you were setting aside your August plans to jump back into Middle-earth, then I have some bad news for you; WB Games has announced that Middle-earth: Shadow of War has been delayed until October, 10, 2017. In a further bit of disappointment, it looks like New Zealand, Australia and Japan will have totally different (and unannounced) release dates.

The reason for the delay? I'll just let WB's words speak for themselves:

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2rvgqGa

News:: Can a Switch survive after a drop from 1,000 feet?

This is probably the dumbest thing you'll watch all day, but it's well edited and less than four minutes long.

The UnlockRiver YouTube channel decided to fly a Switch up 1,000 feet attached to a drone, then let it drop (skip to two minutes in if you want the actual drop). Surprisingly it actually works after impact, but a hilariously flimsy Joy-Con was demolished.

A lot of you out there are probably watching this Switch get wrecked by a popular YouTuber and going "I can't even find one." I feel your pain. Vicariously, of course, as I pre-ordered a Switch the minute it went up.

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2qG196b

News:: Download your E3 2017 bingo card today

E3 is right around the corner, and that means soon every goddamn gaming website will publish some article on how to make a game out of what we see there. Some will do drinking games, others prop bets, but most are as uninventive as I am and will just throw up some shitty bingo card.

With E3 being less than two weeks away, I thought I might as well try to get the jump on the competition and create the 2017 Destructoid E3 Bingo Card.

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2rvcZPR

News:: Archie pitched a Metroid comic, cementing that everyone but Nintendo cares about the series

The picture of a sad Samus celebrating her birthday alone is probably my favorite summation of the state the Metroid series has been in for for last seven years. We've seen plenty of great fan games that have been shut down by Nintendo, a decent amount of merch, and basically every effort by a company that isn't the Big N to keep this series alive.

Archie, which did a fantastic job on the Mega Man series (RIP), tried to pitch a Metroid comic in 2009 -- something we already knew about -- and even had concepts from comic book artist Steven Butler (which he says were created in 2011) to boot. Butler was paid by Archie for his efforts (and went on to work on the Sonic comic series), but the series was never picked up.

2011 was right after the ill-fated Other M, which would have actually been pretty okay if it cut out its entire narrative. We were thrown a bone last year with Federation Force, which was similarly okay, but not what people wanted at all.

What's crazy to me is that Nintendo doesn't just sequester off some small team somewhere to make a low risk, low budget 2D platformer for the 3DS/Switch. It doesn't need to be a AAA Prime joint, just something like AM2R.

Steven Butler [Facebook]

Read more...

via destructoid http://ift.tt/2ssRTij