News:: Metal Gear Survive needs an internet connection to survive

In what is becoming a sadly common trend, Konami has updated their official website to inform users that for the spin-off, "an internet connection is required." While co-op would obviously make sense as being online only, why would the single-player campaign necessitate such a requirement?

The recently released Gran Turismo Sport did the same thing and it makes little sense. When a game is focused entirely on multiplayer or couldn't exist without internet connectivity (like an MMO or even some arena shooters), then it becomes easier to swallow, but how does Metal Gear Survive necessitate such a stipulation?

My only answer would be that Konami wants to shove microtransactions in everyone's faces, much like they did to Metal Gear Solid V. At least that game still provided an offline option; Survive isn't getting that kind of luxury. I can't think of any other reason.

So if you weren't interested in Survive for its co-op action, you better pray that your internet doesn't go out or that you don't live on a military base. Welcome to the future, my friends!

METAL GEAR SURVIVE - Products Page [Konami]

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News:: A meteorologist reviews Geostorm

Whenever you see a new action movie coming out that defies the laws of physics or sense you are always told to "check your brain at the door." Now for most movies I can do this, I'll watch a giant green man who got his powers from exposure to radiation punch a Norse god in the face for two hours and happily chow down on the popcorn because hey whatever it's a comic book. But when it comes to something I've been educated and interested in for more than half my life, the door brain checking becomes a bit harder.

I was educated and currently work in the field of meteorology; it's been a lifelong passion of mine and a subject that I've always found fascinating. As Destructoid writer Mike Sounders likes to say I enjoy "sniffing clouds." So when movies dealing with weather come about I'm always going to look at it through a critical scientific lens as well as a more universal movie-going lens. Geostorm is a disaster no matter which lens you look at it through.

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News:: Overcoming Fear: Sir Charles vs. PSX

[I always considered Metal Gear Sold something of an action/suspense/horror game...and it looks like I'm not the only one! Sir Charles of Shred takes us through his childhood in having to face his fears through three key games he experienced on the original PlayStation. It's okay, bud, Psycho Mantis freaked me the hell out - how did he know what I was doing?! Get your work featured by Destructoid by participating in this month's spooptacular Bloggers Wanted prompt. You've still got a few days to participate! - Wes]

When I think of true fear in video games, I think of the original PlayStation.

Growing up as a Nintendo kid could not have prepared me for the PlayStation when I got one for Christmas in 1998. Everything about Sony's gaming machine was decidedly different than my previous systems. The graphics were different, the cartridges turned into CDs, and unbeknownst to me, a dramatic tonal shift occurred in my gaming sensibilities.

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News:: Absolver has Halloween masks and a new prestige system

I can't imagine I'm the only one who finds the fashion of games like Absolver to be a major part of their appeal. With that in mind, the multiplayer combat game is celebrating Halloween right this week with not only a spooky map makeover but six appropriate new themed masks as well. I didn't realize how much I wanted to play as a melty-candle-faced guy until right this very moment.

The 1.08 update isn't just for show, either. Sloclap has put in some mechanics-focused work:

• The loot system has been reworked with the introduction of Rift Coins and Rift Disks: magical artifacts that will give items of various rarity levels.

• The Prestige system will give rewards to players beyond level 60: Crystals are awarded at each Prestige level, which can be used to reassign Attribute Points and buy Rift Disks. Prestige levels are also displayed in Combat Trials intro videos.

• We have updated the inventory with a new “sort” and “salvage” features allowing players to better manage their inventory and convert equipment pieces into Fragments, which can then be used to repair equipment i.e. convert “Aged” into “New”

This update is only a first step; we will develop these new systems further in the weeks to come, with other uses for Crystals and Fragments to be introduced: changing colors of equipment, purchasing specific items, changing the character’s appearance, acquiring new emotes…

Further down the line, we will also implement systems for competitive players, with leaderboards and ranked games – we are still working on the exact plans for this, but we will update as soon as we know more!

The developer has also noted that the 3v3 mode will be out in November "for sure." You can find the full patch notes at the link below and save 20 percent on Absolver as part of the Halloween Steam sale.

Absolver 1.08 Update [Absolver]

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News:: Giveaway: A Switch, a controller, and a Titan One walk into...

Here's a big one for you guys. No, not that. Heathens. It is arousing to be back though. I meant this contest however. The awesome folks at ConsoleTuner.com are at it again: letting you pick your choice of controller (xb360, xb1, PS3 or PS4), a free Nintendo Switch, and of course, the Titan One and Two. Now some of you may be asking, "What's a Titan One or a Two?" Fair enough, let's check the blurb:

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News:: Date announced for EVO Championship Series 2018

Next year will see world fighting game tournament EVO return once again to the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, situated in Las Vegas, Nevada. The greatest fighting game players in the world will descend on the venue to face off on the biggest fighting games of the time.

EVO 2018 is scheduled to run from August 3 through 5. This is a little later than the tournaments usual July slot. While the games for 2018 haven't been announced, it can be taken as given that Street Fighter V, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Tekken 7 and the Smash Bros. games will feature, among others.

A trailer was released to push the hype train out of the station. You still have time to get your mad skills down, guys 'n' gals, so get practicing!

EVO Championship Series returns August 2018 [Event Hubs]

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News:: UK responds to petition to adapt gambling laws to include video games

Today, in response to a petition made to the UK Parliament, the government has given its response to concerned English citizens about loot boxes in video games. First, here is what the petition said:  

“Many video game companies in recent years have introduced mechanics which are essentially gambling of which are targeted at children and vulnerable adults. While not currently considers gambling by law they do copy many traits to make them as addictive and can lead to real money being lost/earned.”

“Gambling in video games mostly involves 'loot boxes' where players use virtual currency (often bought with real money) to earn in game items often worth less than what they paid (sometimes more) hence its gambling.  Currently only china has introduced new laws to force companies to display the odds of winning which had been standard in the uk gambling industry for years.”

The government’s response is wordy and not very fun to read, so I will try and break down the main points.

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News:: Xbox Game Pass is getting some big names in November

As promised, Microsoft keeps building its subscription-based Xbox Game Pass. Seven new titles are coming in November, and some of them are installments in huge franchises. You know, the kind of name recognition that drives $10 memberships.

Xbox Game Pass' most notable addition is certainly Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. It was one of the very best games of 2015, and that makes for a decent value for most subscribers. The other games being added in November are: Resident Evil HD, Halo Wars Definitive Edition, Oddworld New 'n' Tasty, The World of Van Helsing: Death Trap, Sky Force Anniversary, and Mega Man 9.

Microsoft also has an interesting twist for Game Pass alongside this week's launch of backward compatibility for original Xbox titles. Ninja Gaiden Black, one of the 13 backward compatible games, is also coming to Xbox Game Pass. It's a small taste of the origins of Xbox for people who don't own any of those titles.

November, however, also represents the first month Microsoft is subtracting from Xbox Game Pass. Later this month, some of the games will leave the program (although we don't yet know which ones). We've confirmed with Microsoft that subscribers will get a fair warning heads-up so that they can try to finish anything they've started. That's probably coming in the very near future.

Xbox Game Pass: Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Halo Wars DE, Resident Evil HD and More Available November 1 [Xbox Wire]

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News:: The Art of Overwatch compendium out now

Overwatch's popularity is in no small part related to its bright, colourful and fun cast of heroes (and anti-heroes). The roster and surrounding universe of Blizzard's arena-shooter has helped to make the game a smash hit worldwide, as well as inspiring cosplayers, fan-artists and Rule 34 aficionados everywhere.

Now you can see all of the artistic decisions and creative choices that went into forming the Overwatch universe, thanks to the release of The Art of Overwatch, a huge tome from Dark Horse publishing. The new book features just over 350 pages over preliminary sketches, concept art and alternate designs for the game's locations, weaponry, vehicles and, of course, characters.

The book is available in a standard hardback edition and a Limited Edition featuring a magnetic clamshell cover, an acetate slipcover featuring Tracer, and three glossy prints. For all you Kindle-lovers, the book is also available in digital format.

The Art of Overwatch, from Dark Horse, is available now.

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News:: Win a Super Nintendo Classic

Last week I woke up at the crack of dawn to grab an extra Super Nintendo Classic to give away on Destructoid and, sure enough, I was met with a line of people at every location I went to -- and few shy about their intent to list it on eBay the second they got home. While I have to hand it to these lanky youngsters for their enterprising attitudes, it royally fucks over the fan on a tight budget. Thus, this contest is for you.

Destructoid is giving away a very small Super Nintendo in 2017 in very high demand, a concept that still baffles the mind and puts a smile on my face. It's my favorite childhood system and I want more people to have them. I'll probably continue to give them away until the price returns to sanity.

How to enter: Just tell a friend about our humble blog and you're entered to win. If you're overseas we can't ship you one but you'll get the cash equivalent instead. If I'm lucky we'll also have the imported Super Famicom mini to give away as well next month, because Mystical Ninja was a criminal omission. No purchase necessary, see rules below for more details. The winner will be randomly drawn by the Gleam widget below. Good luck!

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News:: 'Stranger Things' invades 'Minecraft' with new skin packs

Minecraft players who love the upside down of Stranger Things have a new skin pack to acquire. It's available now in concert with the new season of the hit retro-horror show on Netflix. It looks like the whole cast is represented as a Minecraft character, including Hopper, Mike, Eleven, Dustin, Lucas and Will.

Source: Minecraft

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News:: These mini Centipede and Tempest arcade cabinets are beyond cute

Maybe you've always wanted an arcade cabinet but you don't quite have the budget or room to spare. Or, and bear with me here, because this is about to get real dumb real fast, maybe you'd like to get really good at playing with one hand but the controls are spread too far apart and hand-enlargement science just hasn't caught up to your aspirations. In any event, a company called New Wave Toys has started a line of fully-functional, 1/6th-scale arcade cabinets licensed by Atari. First up? Centipede.

The machines have a 3.5" LCD screen, LED backlighting for the marquee, a lithium-ion rechargeable battery, and use the "original arcade game ROM." New Wave is running a Kickstarter campaign with early-bird pledges putting the price as low as $90 for folks who contribute in time, but the final retail pricing will be significantly higher ($160) when the units become available in mid-2018.

If you're into this general "Honey, I shrunk the arcade cabinets" idea but aren't the biggest Centipede fan, New Wave Toys announced that its next project will be a mini Tempest cabinet complete with tiny spinner controls. Of the two, that'd be my pick for sure. Centipede Kickstarter backers will get a "generous discount" for the Tempest machine once pre-orders "open later this year."

Assuming this pans out longer-term, what other machines would you like to see miniaturized?

$100K and the Reveal! [Kickstarter]

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News:: Classic weapon and arena return to Splatoon 2 this weekend

Some new content is set to drop on Nintendo's colourful shooter Splatoon 2 this weekend. Not only will a powerful weapon be made available for your Squid Kid's arsenal, but an old battleground returns for your ink-based chaos.

First of all, the Gold Dynamo Roller returns to battle, bringing with it not only the ability to steamroll generously wide paths of ink wherever you travel, but can also be hammered to the ground, with devastating impact for any squid foolish enough to get in its way. The Gold Dynamo Roller comes equipped with a Splash Bomb sub and an Ink Armour special.

Players will be able to run rampant with the latest toy on Blackbelly Skatepark, a locale returning from the original Splatoon, featuring curved corners, ramps and half pipes galore.

Both additions are set to go live at 19:00 PT in North America and thus very early tomorrow morning in Europe. Have fun, folks!

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News:: Sony will make seven 'all-new game announcements' on Monday

Last we heard, Sony was preparing a "slew of updates and announcements" for Paris Games Week. So, about that... let's just say it's going to be an eventful Monday morning.

At 8:00am Pacific, we can expect "an introductory livestream featuring 21 game updates, including seven all-new game announcements for PS4 and PS VR," according to Sony. Then, at 9:00am, the media showcase "will give you an exclusive new look at the next wave of huge PlayStation titles."

In typical fashion, the showcase will carry over into an extended stream with more footage. You'll be able to catch everything live on Twitch and YouTube, or right here on Dtoid.

Paris Games Week tends to fly under the radar compared to other industry events, so I appreciate Sony's specificity here. No hitting the snooze button for me.

Monday: Paris Games Week 2017 Brings a New PlayStation Media Showcase [PlayStation Blog]

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News:: We're giving away an Amplifi HD home WiFi system

[Update: We're closing this contest up tomorrow afternoon. Get those entries in!]

Routers are kind of an overlooked part of most of our day-to-day activities. You set it up, the magic internet signal fills the air, and then you're online. Routers only get attention when they aren't doing their job.

Ubiquiti has a more unique and high-end solution to wireless networking. It created the AmpliFi HD home WiFi system -- a slick package of a router base and two antennas that extends wireless coverage in homes that have dead spots. Here's what it looks like:

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News:: Kinect's value to artists overshadowed its gaming roots

The Kinect is officially dead. But the reality is that Microsoft signed the do-all sensor's fate years ago. Faced with slumping hardware sales in 2014, then-new Xbox chief Phil Spencer had a decision to make. Either Microsoft would drop the price of the Xbox One, or continue letting Sony and the $400 PlayStation 4 eat its lunch. So it stopped bundling the Kinect with the console and cut $100 off the asking price.

It worked. Microsoft doubled sales the next month, and this move has set the tone for Spencer's tenure: reversing the string of bad decisions Microsoft made leading up to Xbox One's debut. To illustrate the sensor's waning importance to Microsoft, the Xbox One S didn't have a dedicated Kinect port on the back when it was released in 2016. It's the same with the upcoming Xbox One X except Microsoft isn't offering a free USB adapter anymore. The writing has been on the wall for awhile now. If this week's news was surprising, you probably haven't been paying attention.

The truth is that Kinect's greatest successes had nothing to do with gaming. Hackers adopted the sensor with open arms, using it for everything from interactive art installations to motion capture and even trippy stage shows for massive bands like Nine Inch Nails. Why? Because for the tech that's on board, Kinect was relatively inexpensive and easy to use.

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News:: Review: Jigsaw

What started out as a low budget, generic "torture porn" film has slowly morphed over the years into an endearingly goofy film franchise. If you've never seen a Saw film before, I'm sure its lasting success seems like a mystery from the outside. But underneath its increasingly complicated Rube Goldberg death contraptions and labyrinthine timeline lies an attention to detail and dedication to its overall canon pretty much unseen in any other horror series. 

As the first new entry in the series in seven years (after the The Final Chapter, no less) I had completely forgotten the kind of itch this series tends to scratch. The phrase "you know what you're getting" usually carries a negative connotation, but that isn't the case with Jigsaw.

It's like a warm, goofy as hell blanket. 

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News:: Final Fantasy XII re-release passes one million sales

Square Enix have proudly announced that last Summer's HD re-release of 2006's classic RPG Final Fantasy XII has sold over a million copies.

Launching in July, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, came to PS4 with a huge visual overhaul, along with tweaked battle mechanics and a revamped soundtrack. The title even managed to make its way to number one of the UK charts, briefly usurping the mammoth-selling Crash Bandicoot: N.Sane Trilogy.

Producer Hiroaki Kato thanked the fans in a press statement, saying that he and the team “are overwhelmed with the response from both new players and fans of the original.” As a small thank-you, Square Enix released a beautiful new illustration by the game's artist, Isamu Kamikokuryo, which can be seen below.

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is available now on PS4.

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News:: Warner Bros. receives rights to distribute upgraded Rocket League retail release

Warner Bros. Interactive have announced that they have picked up the retail rights to release an "updated" physical edition of the hugely popular online destruction derby/soccer hybrid, Rocket League.

"Rocket League has such wide appeal across all audiences," said Warner Bros' Kevin Kebodeaux. "It’s no wonder the game is such a huge success. We’re very excited to be working with Psyonix to bring the game to retailers across the globe.”

Psyonix VP of publishing, Jeremy Dunham, echoed the sentiments. "We have continued to be impressed with the team’s knowledge, professionalism, reach and enthusiasm for video games." said Dunham in a statement. "They are the ideal partner to help us push Rocket League to another level at retail.”

Though no specific details were forthcoming about what particular upgrades will be applied to the title, it is known that the new retail edition of the game will be released on PS4 and Xbox One.

Rocket League is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One. A Switch release is planned for the Winter.

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News:: FIFA and EA will put on the first-ever 'eWorld Cup' next year

FIFA and Electronic Arts are taking their partnership to the logical conclusion point: the pair will put on the first-ever eWorld Cup next August. Competition starts next month on November 3rd. From the press release:

Source: Electronic Arts

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News:: This mini-documentary makes me love Yoshitaka Amano even more

If you're into Final Fantasy at all, you'll likely be well acquainted with the ethereal artwork of Yoshitaka Amano. Final Fantasy VI was my introduction to the series, and I was obsessed with the character sketches in the game's manual, often flipping through just to look at them. Years later, I discovered the Vampire Hunter D books when their cover illustrations caught my eye. I recognized the art right away as Amano's distinct style.

Yoshitaka Amano is as much of household name for Final Fantasy fans as creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and composer Nobuo Uematsu. His beautiful illustrations helped lay the groundwork for a beloved series, and now it's hard to imagine Final Fantasy without his conceptual imagery. 

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News:: The L.A. Noire remaster is looking sharp in 4K

Rockstar is revisiting its 2011 detective adventure L.A. Noire with a remaster for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and even Nintendo Switch. It's maybe not our first choice of game for the company to spruce up and re-release, but that's what we’re getting on November 14.

How's it look? Great, I'd say. In terms of specific touch-ups, the official line from Rockstar is to expect "enhanced lighting and clouds, new cinematic camera angles, high resolution textures, and more."

This latest trailer is a hint of what it’ll look like at 4K on PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X.

As a reminder, the Switch version will have "a Joy-Con mode with gyroscopic, gesture-based controls, HD rumble and new wide and over-the-shoulder camera angles, plus contextual touch screen controls."

My memory of L.A. Noire is reserved exclusively for Cole Phelps' funny facial expressions, the basic path his career takes over the course of the game, and not liking the ending. I couldn't begin to tell you about the individual cases, so I'm probably overdue for a replay. That said, if I'm returning to 1940s Los Angeles, I'd prefer to do so with L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files for HTC Vive -- even if it is only seven cases, I bet this type of game lends itself well to virtual reality.

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News:: Two more Dragon Ball FighterZ characters will be revealed next week

Two more characters for Bandai Namco's upcoming Dragon Ball FighterZ are expected to be announced to eager fans some time next week.

The characters will be revealed during an episode of IGN's Next Big Game online show. No date has been given for the airing, but the previous episode was broadcast on Monday. It is not known whether these additions will be a part of the launch roster, or among the recently-announced DLC characters.

News for ArcSys anime fighter has been coming thick and fast in recent weeks, getting players hyper (both positively and negatively) ahead of the game's launch at the start of next year.

Dragon Ball FighterZ will be released on January 26 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

Two new Dragon Ball FighterZ characters to be revealed [Event Hubs]

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News:: ‘Overwatch’ director details plans to improve eSports viewing

eSports are becoming a bigger and bigger industry, and game directors are taking notice. Today, Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan released a YouTube video detailing changes the team is making to the game based on user feedback when it comes to eSports. You can see the video below.

Via: Twitter

Source: YouTube

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News:: Review: Yomawari: Midnight Shadows

Yomawari: Midnight Shadows begins with a simple instruction: "Focus only on this screen. From this point on, do not divert your eyes from this screen." My initial response was something like, "Suuuuure, okay, game." Six hours later, I realized I never did look away from the screen. Yomawari is undoubtedly horror-filled, but both Night Alone and Midnight Shadows are beautiful to look at, with gameplay that's so engrossing I felt the need to focus on every detail.

Like its predecessor, Midnight Shadows begins with a morbid shock. Within the first few minutes, you're given a clear indication of what you're in for. Nippon Ichi has delivered another isometric horror adventure that's equal parts gruesome and lovely.

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News:: Amazon's 'Breakaway' game is on hold while developers make changes

Breakaway, a competitive battle game under development Double Helix and published by Amazon Game Studios, is going on a bit of a break. Following a report from Kotaku claiming that the game was being put on "indefinite hiatus," the team working on the game said it was "taking some time to iterate and evolve Breakaway's core gameplay." That work is being done based on feedback the team received from players during an Alpha period that ran from June though September. In the meantime, however, there won't be any more Alpha matches hosted, and there's no timeframe given for how long the Breakaway team will spend retooling things here.

Source: Breakaway

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News:: Amazon's Breakaway is in dire straits

Breakaway may be dead before it could ever truly live. The hybrid sports brawler was a blue chip prospect for Amazon's newly-formed game development division. It seemed like it was shaping up to be something special. Plans have changed, though.

According to a report from Kotaku, two sources have said that Breakaway may be canceled. At the very least, it's on an "indefinite hiatus." Amazon has held several public playtesting events for Breakaway over the past few months, and that data seemingly indicated that the game isn't on the right path.

Shortly after Kotaku published its story, Amazon released its own statement that reads, in part: "In order to get it right, we're letting our team take the time to iterate and evolve Breakaway's core gameplay to deliver what you've asked for. We aren't sure how long this will take, but we think it's the right thing to do for the game, and you, the community."

Whether it's canceled, on hiatus, or being retooled, this development can't really be construed as anything other than a major loss for a developer that hasn't had any real wins. Known designers Clint Hocking and Kim Swift both left Amazon before shipping a game. Across its three studios, it has only produced mobile titles that haven't made much of a splash. Now that Breakaway is shelved, the two PC games in its lineup are New World and Crucible -- neither of which has gotten the attention that Breakaway did.

Amazon Game Studios really needs something to go right soon. The one undeniable positive (and this really can't be overstated enough) is that it's funded by the world's biggest retailer.

Sources: Amazon’s Breakaway Is Basically Canceled [Update] [Kotaku], Plans for Breakaway [Breakaway]

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