News:: Sea of Thieves is holding one last beta this weekend

There's one more chance to try out Sea of Thieves before Rare's shared-world pirate adventure game launches on March 20. The final beta went live earlier today for everyone -- you'll only need Xbox Live Gold if you're playing on Xbox One -- and it's accessible until Sunday, March 11 at 2:00am Pacific.

This build has a few juicy extras not seen in previous beta tests. Namely, skeleton forts (sail toward the skull cloud in the sky), quests from the Merchant Alliance, and native 4K support on Xbox One X.

I'm sad I won't have time to play this, but it's not like the full game is far off. My squad is ready.

Announcing the Sea of Thieves Final Beta [Rare]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/sea-of-thieves-is-holding-one-last-beta-this-weekend-493587.phtml

News:: NieR: Automata video celebrates anniversary and announces fan-events

Sci-Fi, anime, steampunk, hack 'n' slash, RPG brawler sequel, NieR: Automata hit Western shores one year ago this week. To celebrate the first anniversary of the game's localisation, Platinum Games have released a (somewhat unnerving) video featuring the game's creator Yoko Taro.

Donning an Emil mask -- unless it's his actual head -- Taro thanks the fans for the support of the game, which was big hit on PS4, and later PC, in 2017. The opportunity is also taken to announce some upcoming "fan events", that are being planned in territories Worldwide (though only America and Europe are mentioned in the video) with dates and details to follow. Exciting!

In related news, NieR Automata is 50% off this weekend on Steam and on the U.S. PSN store (as of this writing, the Euro PSN store is unfortunately not carrying the same discount.) So if you missed the opportunity to guide 2B and pals through their chaotic, emotional story, now's your chance.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/nier-automata-video-celebrates-anniversary-and-announces-fan-events-493543.phtml

News:: Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp's Mario event looks great

The Animal Crossing series is no stranger to crossover content and the mobile spin-off Pocket Camp is soon going to honor Nintendo's biggest franchise. Starting on March 10, you'll be able to nab a bunch of 8-bit inspired Mario items to show off to all the campers in your town.

Not much is known about which specific items will be available (or how much they'll cost), but if this is anything like New Leaf, I'll be able to make an entire museum room dedicated solely to Mario items.

Super Mario Crossover Event Image! [Japanese Nintendo]

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/animal-crossing-pocket-camp-s-mario-event-looks-great-493541.phtml

News:: EGLX, Canada's biggest gaming convention, is underway

After years of pining for a "Destructoid Convention" in the comments of many a cblog, we finally have the opportunity to help host EGLX in Toronto with Enthusiast Gaming. Papa Niero, our founder is here, as well as myself, Jordan, Brett, Wes, and CJ -- if you see us, come say hi!

In case you haven't been in previous years there's a pretty wide variety of stuff to do at EGLX, from checking out indie games to picking up merch from local vendors, as well as big-ticket convention activities like panels (ours was earlier today, thanks to everyone who attended!), PC free play stations, speedrun competitions, and eSports tournaments. As I was walking into the convention center I overheard someone say "this is more intense than I thought," which I feel adequately explains the scope of everything Enthusiast is trying to accomplish.

Check out the gallery below to get a feel for the show, and if we don't see you this weekend, we'll catch you next year!

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/eglx-canada-s-biggest-gaming-convention-is-underway-493580.phtml

News:: Contest: Win a copy of Super Rare Games' physical edition of Human: Fall Flat for Switch!

Do you guys like winning super rare physical editions of previously digital-only releases for brand new consoles that everyone can't stop talking about? So do I!

Good news, then - our friends over at Super Rare Games have given us three copies of the just-released Human: Fall Flat for Nintendo Switch to give away to the beautiful people of Destructoid!

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/contest-win-a-copy-of-super-rare-games-physical-edition-of-human-fall-flat-for-switch--493165.phtml

News:: Neo Sploosh-O-Matic is this weekend's Splatoon 2 weapon

It's been a really great week for fans of Nintendo's Splatoon 2. They got news of an entire new expansion, a tease for Super Smash Bros. a new music video, a returning map, and now, of course, their weekly weapon, just in time for a major Splatfest. Spoiled, that's what you are.

This weekend sees the Neo Sploosh-O-Matic hit the game's arsenal. The gun, returning from the original Splatoon, is essentially a mess-maker, with an incredible rate of fire and pretty poor accuracy. In close quarters it can lay waste to multiple opponents without much effort paid to sniper-like sharpshooting. This time around the tool is equipped with a Squid Beakon sub and Tenta Missile special.

The weapon is arriving just in time for returning map, Shifty Station, itself almost custom-designed for close-quarters battles, and also in time for the weekend's Splatfest, which sees U.S. and European players battle it out over the mind-bending Chicken or Egg question.

As always, the new weapon goes live today in North America, with Europe and Japan to follow early tomorrow. Hope all you squid kids got a kick out of all of this week's great news!

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/neo-sploosh-o-matic-is-this-weekend-s-splatoon-2-weapon-493485.phtml

News:: Valve is getting back into shipping new games

Valve held a presentation for its upcoming DOTA 2 card game spin-off Artifact yesterday, but the biggest news to come out of the conference was that Valve is getting back into the business of shipping games. During a bit about how Valve focused on developing Steam and creating new hardware, co-founder Gabe Newell stated, "Artifact is the first of several games that are going to be coming from us. So that's sort of good news. Hooray! Valve's going to start shipping games again."

The main reason for the company's decision to focus on expanding Steam above creating new content was that they were worried the PC market was heading into a closed Eco-system similar to the Apple App Store. "That really started to worry us," Newell stressed, "because we thought that the strength of the PC is about its openness...So we started to make some investments to offset that." That is an understandable assumption, especially seeing as how Microsoft has been chasing Apple's business plan with Windows 10.

This focus on expanding beyond just software then gave way to Valve co-developing the HTC Vive. This was spurred because, "We've always been a little bit jealous of companies like Nintendo," as Newell puts it. "When Miyamoto is sitting down and thinking about the next version of Zelda or Mario, he's thinking what is the controller going to look like, what sort of graphics and other capabilities. He can introduce new capabilities like motion input because he controls both of those things." Newell says we can expect the company to start creating experiences tailored to new hardware based on the knowledge they've earned creating new inputs (like the Steam controller).

While I doubt this means we're any closer to Half-Life 3 coming out, Newell's words do give us some evidence that Freeman's return might be more based on a new hardware gimmick instead of just a regurgitation of past formulas. Whatever the case, Valve looks to have a busy future with Artifact and its VR games being worked on.

Gabe Newell: 'Hooray! Valve's going to start shipping games again' [PC Gamer]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/valve-is-getting-back-into-shipping-new-games-493544.phtml

News:: Nintendo announce online tournament for North American and Canadian ARMS players

For a game it seemed had been all but abandoned by its makers, arena-brawler ARMS has been seeing some news and updates lately. The Switch-based arena-brawler is now in line for an online tournament, announced yesterday on the Nintendo Direct.

The tournament is open to U.S. and Canadian players of the colourful limb-flinger and will see contenders battle it out in the game's Ranked mode from now until March 18. The Top eight players when the heats close will progress to an online Grand Finals, to be streamed online from the Nintendo America HQ in Washington.

A three-day Global Testpunch was also announced. The trial is scheduled to run concurrently with the finals, and will be accessible from March 30.

Clearly these events are being held in an attempt to bring more players into the fold, as Nintendo have recently seemed wary in their efforts to promote the title, which only made its debut on the console in June 2017.

Nintendo ARMS tournament and Testpunch [Official site]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-announce-online-tournament-for-north-american-and-canadian-arms-players-493474.phtml

News:: Helltown is a special mix of low-poly horror

If you've been paying attention to the games I write about here, then you've probably noticed that I gravitate towards low-poly games with weird art. If it looks like it was created twenty years ago, I'm in. I love that chunky stuff; I can't help it.

With that in mind, it's only natural that I'm stoked on Helltown, a supremely atmospheric horror game that could pass as a long-lost PlayStation game if viewed from the right angle.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/helltown-is-a-special-mix-of-low-poly-horror-493512.phtml

News:: This tricky DOTA 2 pro play involving wards is worth studying

DOTA 2 is fun to watch both from a casual and hardcore perspective, especially if you have skilled casters breaking down the action at hand. This play by Jesse "Jerax" Vainikka at the PGL's Bucharest Major this week makes a very good case for why said explanatory provisions are important.

A huge part of many MOBA titles involve "wards," items that are typically invisible and stationary, which allow players to scout out certain zones like a security camera of sorts. The thing is they cost money, which is a huge commodity in the early game when there isn't a whole lot to go around.

Jerax, using the mobile hero Earth Spirit, manages to fake out his opponents into thinking he planted down wards, before quickly warping back and resuming his normally scheduled soaking. The opposing team, assuming he planted wards, ends up spending cash on two anti-wards, hurting their early-game. Jerax's party would go on to win this matchup.

It's subtle things like this play that make MOBAs worthy of this sort of examination. Even if you can't stand the genre, its complexity transcends above last-hitting and soaking.

PGL_DOTA 2 [Twitch] Thanks Jack!

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/this-tricky-dota-2-pro-play-involving-wards-is-worth-studying-493298.phtml

News:: Trump's video game meeting may not lead to any further action

Early this week, Trump at last announced that he would meet with leaders of the video game industry. Not to discuss the rising frustration with loot boxes, but to rehash the exhausted and research-debunked notion that playing games causes people to become more violent. Predictably, Trump invited zero scientists or respected researchers to the summit, instead stacking it with outspoken video game critics and a trio of Republican lawmakers. And surprising nobody, the hour-long meeting produced very few actionable results.

Source: The Washington Post, Glixel

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/09/trumps-video-game-meeting-may-not-lead-to-any-further-action/

News:: Review: A Wrinkle In Time

I do not envy anyone that wants to make a high concept sci-fi epic. There are so many different pieces that need to fall into place in order to make something that's truly special and engaging. Most of the time, when you see a massive sci-fi fantasy epic come to theatres, it flounders and falls apart for a couple of the same reasons. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Transcendence, and Tomorrowland were filled with such potential and promise, but the execution left a lot to be desired. 

Most of the time, these movies crumble under the weight of their own premise. How could any movie possibly live up to the lofty expectations that the trailers and plot synopsis drip fed to us? A Wrinkle in Time is the latest sci-fi epic delivered to theatres, but this time bestowed upon us by the glorious House of Mouse. 

I'm going to cut right to the chase; A Wrinkle in Time is a complete mess of a movie. I would call it a disaster, but it's not special enough to be that big of a failure. 

 

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/review-a-wrinkle-in-time-487281.phtml

News:: Flash sale: $36 Breath of the Wild, Switch games, Xbox One and PS4 console bundles

Start your savings engine because these flash deals are worth running for - is what we'll be saying if this was a used car dealership commercial. But in all seriousness, these are some sexy deals that Bob from across town wouldn't be able to get you. eBay is currently running a sitewide 20% off coupon code on anything over $25. Unlike before, this discount isn't limited to select retailers and eBay has also generously capped the coupon at $100 - this means you can now pick up a number of great items for dirt cheap pricing.

Our top pick would be The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for only $36. This is the same deal at Best Buy stacked with the 20% off coupon, so it's a good option for those without GCU. Other goodies include a number of Nintendo items including refurbished Nintendo 2DS for only $48, or a refurbished white New 3DS for only $100. These are all being shipped straight from Nintendo and comes with a full 1-year warranty and support.

You'll also find a bunch of great HDTV deals along with Xbox One S and PlayStation 4 console bundles. Of particular note is a Xbox One S Battlefield 1 bundle for only $175. That's Black Friday level pricing in March. This is also a good time to pick-up PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold one-year membership, given they haven't been discounted in awhile.

eBay Flash Sale

• Use coupon: PSPRING20
• Expires tonight at 8 PM Pacific (or 11 PM Eastern)

Nintendo Deals

• New Nintendo 3DS XL Black (Refurbished) — $128  (list price $200)
• Nintendo 2DS Crimson Red (Refurbished) — $48  (list price $100)
• Nintendo 2DS (Electric Blue Refurbished) — $48  (list price $100)
• Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch) — $35.99  (list price $60)
• FIFA 18 (Nintendo Switch) — $31.99  (list price $60)
• Super Bomberman R (Nintendo Switch) — $31.99  (list price $50)
• Soldam: Drop, Connect, Erase (Nintendo Switch) — $15.99  (list price $40)

Console Hardware Deals

PlayStation

• PlayStation 4 Pro 1TB Star Wars Battlefront II Limited Edition Bundle + Dynasty Warrior 9 — $319.99  (list price $460)
• PlayStation VR Doom VFR Bundle + RE7 + Dualshock 4 Controller — $239.99  (list price $520)
• PlayStation 4 Slim 1TB Star Wars Battlefront II Bundle + Warriors All Star + Mass Effect Andromeda — $239.20  (list price $420)

Xbox One

• Xbox One X 1TB Console + Overwatch: GOTY — $429.99  (list price $530)
• Xbox One S 1TB Playerunknown's Battlegrounds Bundle — $191.99  (list price $299)
• Xbox One S 500GB Battlefield 1 Bundle — $175.99  (list price $279)
• Xbox One S 500GB Ultimate Halo Bundle (Refurbished) — $173.84  (list price $249)

Accessories

• Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller — $119.99  (list price $150)
• Xbox One Wireless Controller (Black, White) — $31.99  (list price $60)
• Sony PlayStation Gold Wireless Stereo Headset (2018) — $71.96  (list price $100)
• PS4 DualShock 4 Wireless Controller + $20 PSN Gift Card (Black) — $47.19  (list price $111)
• Xbox Live Gold 12 Month Membership (Physical Card) — $40.39  (list price $60)
• PlayStation Plus 12-Month Card — $46.39  (list price $60)

HDTV Deals

Samsung/LG

• Samsung QN65Q7F 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart QLED TV — $1,699  (list price $3,999)
• Samsung UN65MU7500 65-inch Curved 4K Ultra HD Smart TV — $649  (list price $2,299)
• LG OLED55B7A 55-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart OLED TV — $1,199.26  (list price $2,299)
• LG 65SJ8000 65-inch Super UHD 4K HDR Smart TV — $849  (list price $1,597)
• LG 60SJ8000 60-inch Super UHD 4K HDR Smart TV — $699  (list price $1,399)
• LG 55SJ8000 55-inch Super UHD 4K HDR Smart TV — $549  (list price $999)
• LG 55UJ6200 55-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV — $319.20  (list price $800)

Vizio/TCL

• Vizio E65-E1 65-inch SmartCast 4K Ultra HDTV (Refurbished) — $500.14  (list price $778)
• TCL 55P605 55-inch 4K UHD Roku Smart TV (Refurbished) — $410.99  (list price $1,000)
• TCL 55S405 55-inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart TV (Refurbished) — $271.99  (list price $1,100)
• TCL 49S405 49-inch 4K Roku Smart LED HDTV — $263.99  (list price $360)

External HDD & SSD

• WD Easystore 8TB External Hard Drive — $143.99  (list price $300)
• WD Easystore 4TB External Hard Drive — $79.99  (list price $200)
• WD Easystore 2TB External Hard Drive — $59.99  (list price $130)
• WD Elements 2TB Portable USB 3.0 Hard Drive — $54.39  (list price $75)
• WD Easystore 1TB External Hard Drive — $47.99  (list price $100)
• HP S700 2.5" 120GB SATA III SSD — $31.19  (list price $50)

Game deals from Dealzon. Sales help support Destructoid.

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/flash-sale-36-breath-of-the-wild-switch-games-xbox-one-and-ps4-console-bundles-493548.phtml

News:: Little Nightmares coming to haunt your Switch with creepy Pac-Man tribute

It was announced yesterday by Nintendo and Swedish outfit Tarsier Studio's that Little Nightmares, the highly-acclaimed, twisted horror title, is headed Switch-ward.

The puzzle-adventure launched last Spring to a great reception, being praised for its haunting atmosphere and creepy audio/visual style, as well as some of its imaginative characters and the feeling of unease that permeates throughout.

The Switch port will feature all previously released DLC. In weird twist, activating the Pac-Man amiibo with the game will unlock the "Pakku Mask", which can be worn by the game's young protagonist, pretty much turning them into the most frightening element of the adventure.

Little Nightmares is available now on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. It is currently in development for Nintendo Switch for an as-yet undisclosed date.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/little-nightmares-coming-to-haunt-your-switch-with-creepy-pac-man-tribute-493473.phtml

News:: Phantasy Star Online 2: Cloud will have a Link costume

Yesterday's Nintendo Direct was quite the show, but Japan got their own exclusive little announcements. While we were already aware of Phantasy Star Online 2 coming to the Switch, now Link is going to be available in the game. While this looks like merely a costume based on Breath of the Wild, crossovers like this get me way more excited than they probably should.

I'm too diehard of a Zelda fan to pass this up. Thankfully, the Switch is region free, so I'll gladly give this a shot when it launches on April 4. I just need to get on making a Japanese eShop account.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/phantasy-star-online-2-cloud-will-have-a-link-costume-493537.phtml

News:: Snowpiercing ship The Centurion debuts in new Valkyria Chronicles 4 trailer

Sega has put out a new gameplay trailer for their upcoming strategy title Valkyria Chronicles 4. The new video features the Edinburgh Army's pride and joy: war frigate The Centurion.

The Centurion is an almighty ship that can arrive ashore within the upcoming sequel's harsh, icy terrain. Players can use "Ship Order" turns to allow The Centurion to supply them with support in battle, either through the delivery of extra units and vehicles, repairing damaged utilities, or simply letting rip with its almighty cannons.

In the game's lore, The Centurion is the second of three such ships, designed to provide backup in inhospitable terrain, bringing help to it's allies and devastation to its foes.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 launches in Japan March 21 on PS4 and Summer on Nintendo Switch. It is scheduled for release in the West on PS4, Xbox One and Switch later in 2018.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/snowpiercing-ship-the-centurion-debuts-in-new-valkyria-chronicles-4-trailer-493488.phtml

News:: Nintendo Switch export option coming to GameMaker Studio 2

YoYo Games, developers of video game creation software GameMaker Studio 2, have announced that a "Switch Export" option is to be implemented into the package this Summer. This will allow budding creators to get started on their own adventures for Nintendo's hybrid-console.

"We’re thrilled to be entering into a relationship with Nintendo, with the opportunities this will bring to our game development community, and most importantly, the players themselves," said YoYo Games General Manager, James Cox. "Nintendo has been hugely supportive of bringing independent releases to the Nintendo Switch console, and this partnership will mean even more wonderful games are released on the platform."

"We’re working hard to ensure the Nintendo Switch version of GameMaker Studio 2 retains the already excellent functionality of the engine, and we are committed to supporting developers and studios who are keen to make the jump to Nintendo’s record-breaking console."

It also appears that this is the very reason we saw an Undertale announcement yesterday, as creator Toby Fox has already stated that he is "Excited to use GameMaker Studio 2 to put Undertale on Nintendo Switch." before adding that he "hopes Mario plays his game."

GameMaker Studio 2 is available now on PC.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-switch-export-option-coming-to-gamemaker-studio-2-493514.phtml

News:: Super Bomberman R, former Switch exclusive, might be getting a PS4 port

Super Bomberman R was a rare recent showing for Konami. Despite its outrageous price it was a pretty fun game, didn't have microtransactions, and doled out a ton of free content after its launch.

At this point a lot of Switch owners have picked it up via the bargain bin, but now non-Switch owners might be able to get in on the action. According to the Korean Ratings Board, R is now bounding off the Switch and is PS4-bound.

It's weird to see Bomberman bouncing around so much from place to place, starting life on various PCs, then heading to Nintendo platforms for a long while, then making its home on the Xbox Live Arcade before going back to Nintendo. At least he's still around!

Super Bomberman R [GRB.or.kr]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/super-bomberman-r-former-switch-exclusive-might-be-getting-a-ps4-port-493482.phtml

News:: PS4 zombie survival game ‘Days Gone’ delayed until 2019

Kotaku UK has confirmed that Days Gone, the PS4-exclusive peripatetic post-apocalypse game from SIE Bend Studio, has been delayed until 2019. The title was announced in mid-2016 but we first got our hands on it at E3 2017, where a gameplay demo showcased a bit of the the not-zombie (they're "freakers") game's open world and sneaky survival action. It's unclear how far into 2019 Days Gone's release window has shifted, as its website simply lists its launch date as next year.

Via: Kotaku UK

Source: Days Gone (Sony website)

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/09/ps4-zombie-survival-game-days-gone-delayed-until-2019/

News:: Sony confirms Days Gone delayed into 2019

Days Gone, the PlayStation 4-exclusive game about bikers and hordes of zombies, won't make its planned 2018 release window. According to a statement made by Sony to USGamer, the open-world title has been delayed until 2019.

Days Gone debuted at Sony's E3 conference back in 2016, where viewers were introduced to its post-apocalyptic world full of badass bikers and a roaming mass of zombies. Though the walking dead aren't exactly the most exciting enemies in the world, developer Bend Studio's efforts looked pretty neat.

There's no official word on when Days Gone will hit store shelves in 2019, but it's safe to expect an announcement sometime soon.

PS4 Exclusive Days Gone Delayed to 2019, Sony Confirms [USGamer]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/sony-confirms-days-gone-delayed-into-2019-493517.phtml

News:: Nintendo has patented a keyboard and Donkey Konga drums for Switch

Nintendo might be onto something great, if their whole "extended the life of the Switch through accessories" plan actually follows through. In addition to the whole "portable/console" angle they could also heavily push good accessories, which they may or may not do with their recently patented Donkey Konga drums and keyboard. Found at the US patent and trademark office, this August 28, 2017 patent involves the aforementioned drums and a keyboard from inventor Hitoshi Yamazaki.

Now, Nintendo has patented an awful lot of stuff, and much of it never sees the light of day. Hell, things that have working prototypes and are fully announced may never see the light of day, like the Wii Vitality Sensor. But with Nintendo bringing Donkey Kong back to the spotlight again with Tropical Freeze, there's a chance we could see a Konga rendition at some point.

Search 15/687771 [USPTO.gov via ResetEra]

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-has-patented-a-keyboard-and-donkey-konga-drums-for-switch-493478.phtml

News:: Gundam x tokusatsu game The Great Battle gets a fan translation

Before Gundam appeared in the Super Robot Wars games, the anime's Mobile Suits were in an older crossover franchise known as the Compati Hero series. The strange part about these titles is that the mechs team up with characters from the Ultraman and Kamen Rider shows. To this day, I'm still wrapping my head around this aspect.

Speaking of Compati Hero, the group Aeon Genesis created a fan translation of The Great Battle I through V. The neat part about these SNES titles is that the first one is a top-down platformer shooter, the next two are beat em' ups, the fourth instalment has a Contra vibe, and the fifth feels like Wild Guns. That said, they deserve props for having these iconic characters and robots appear in different gaming genres. Most importantly, you get to see G-Gundam's God Gundam defeat his enemies while wearing a cowboy outfit.

Interestingly, Fighter Roar and the Compatible Kaiser from the Super Robot Wars OG series made their debut in The Great Battle games. In fact, the classic titles serve as his backstory before he arrived in the OG universe and merged with Kouta Azuma. As a person who loves the franchise's lore, I look forward to learning about his early encounters with his adversary called Dark Brain.

Gideon Zhi [Twitter]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/gundam-x-tokusatsu-game-the-great-battle-gets-a-fan-translation-493460.phtml

News:: Jon Favreau to develop Star Wars live-action series

If you needed another reminder that there will continue to be Star Wars media even after you're dead, here's a television show announcement for you. Lucasfilm today confirmed that Jon Favreau, the director of Iron Man, The Jungle Book and Chef will "executive produce and write" a new live-action Star Wars series for Disney's online streaming platform.

As with most of these recent Star Wars projects announced by Lucasfilm, including a trilogy with Rian Johnson and an unspecified number of films from the showrunners of Game of Thrones, no plot details are known—alls we know is that these filmmakers are really excited to be making Star Wars stuff.

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, in continuing her pattern of only hiring white dudes for these jobs, said in a statement:

“I couldn’t be more excited about Jon coming on board to produce and write for the new direct-to-consumer platform. Jon brings the perfect mix of producing and writing talent, combined with a fluency in the Star Wars universe. This series will allow Jon the chance to work with a diverse group of writers and directors and give Lucasfilm the opportunity to build a robust talent base.”

Favreau states:

“If you told me at 11 years old that I would be getting to tell stories in the Star Wars universe, I wouldn’t have believed you. I can’t wait to embark upon this exciting adventure.”

Star Wars will soon be so money that it won't even know it. Favreau is no stranger to the galaxy far, far away, having voice roles in animated series The Clone Wars and a role as a CGI alien in the upcoming Solo. In the meantime, Favreau is hard at work on the 2019 remake of The Lion King.

Jon Favreau to Executive Produce and Write Live-Action Star Wars Series [StarWars.com]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/jon-favreau-to-develop-star-wars-live-action-series-493439.phtml

News:: Fortnite Battle Royale is coming to iOS and Android devices

Epic Games has announced that Fortnite Battle Royale, the survival-shooter currently taking the world by storm, is to be ported to, of all things, mobile devices. The announcement was made via a post on the game's official site.

It also seems that we ain't talk some isometric strategy rework, or a wacky card-battler, as Epic state that the mobile version of the title will feature the "Same gameplay, same map, same content, same weekly updates." as its console and PC brethren. Not only that, but the mobile version will feature cross-play and cross-progression with the PC and PS4 editions of the game!

From Monday, iOS users can sign up to declare their interest in an upcoming "Invite Event" with selected invitations being rolled out over a period of time afterwards. The mobile build will require you to have iOS 11 installed on one of the following devices: iPhone 6S/SE, iPad Mini 4, iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, iPad 2017. Android support is set for sometime in the future.

For more details, or for those wishing to sign-up on Monday, visit the official site right here.

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/fortnite-battle-royale-is-coming-to-ios-and-android-devices-493480.phtml

News:: The Dark Souls Solaire amiibo is a GameStop exclusive, sold out immediately, costs more than the average figure

We've had quite a few horrible amiibo experiences, but for the most part, the last few years have been smooth sailing. As of yesterday though the Solaire amiibo has slid right in to complicate things again.

Remember when exclusive amiibo deals were basically the only way the figures were released? That era when retailers at the corporate level had no clue how to actually roll out this highly in-demand items, and would often drop a five-minute window pre-order session at 2AM Eastern with no warning? That's sort of how Solaire is playing out right now.

As a newly minted Dark Souls amiibo, Solaire was highly sought out by some fans, which were rudely awakened when they found out that he was a GameStop exclusive. For amiibo collectors it's one of the worst places you can get figures at these days, as Best Buy offers Gamers Club Unlocked discounts, Amazon offers prime shipping, and GameStop...forces you to pay shipping and $16 for this particular amiibo, $3 higher than the average MSRP.

I'm getting Wave 4 flashes all over again.

Solaire of Astora [GameStop]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/the-dark-souls-solaire-amiibo-is-a-gamestop-exclusive-sold-out-immediately-costs-more-than-the-average-figure-493487.phtml

News:: New Persona Dancing trailers show off Morgana, Akihiko and 'Commu' mode

To get the weekend started, Atlus has dropped another two character trailers for upcoming rhythm-action titles Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5: Dancing Star Night.

Cutting a rug this week are Persona 3's dapper, glove-loving gent Akihiko Sanada and Persona's 5 infuriating-but-adorable exposition machine Morgana, who has pretty good rhythm for someone so amazingly top-heavy. It isn't long before both heroes are joined by their friends, with Ken Amada dancing alongside Akihiko and Ann Takamaki strutting her stuff with Morgana.

Another video showcases the game's "Commu" mode, which replaces the story mode of previous release Persona 4: Dancing All Night. The new mode allows the player to interact with various characters through "mini-events" which can lead to special unlocks, including costumes and music tracks.

Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5: Dancing Star Night are set for release in Japan May 24 on PS4 and PS Vita. A box set,, which includes Persona 4: Dancing All Night, will also be available.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/new-persona-dancing-trailers-show-off-morgana-akihiko-and-commu-mode-493471.phtml