Reviewed on: Switch
Platform: Switch
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Release: July 21, 2023

Pikmin has always held a strange spot in Nintendo’s library of games and franchises. Its creation is credited to Mario and Zelda’s dad, Shigeru Miyamoto, which means Nintendo holds it in high esteem, but it has never quite reached the cultural ubiquity of his other works. And maybe it’s unfair to compare the adorable strategy game about dragging the corpses of defeated foes into your spaceship to the iconic plumber and the Hero of Time, but Pikmin 4 might be the one that moves the series closer to those legacies. It represents a high point for Pikmin, thanks in large part to Oatchi, the helpful dog that can carry you and all your Pikmin on its back.

Pikmin 4 straddles that difficult line of welcoming newcomers to the series while also featuring enough references to the past that those who have been playing the series since 2001 will be charmed by returning characters and new lore. The story is not deep, to be clear: You must rescue yourself and others after crash landing on an alien planet with the help of Pikmin, but all the characters (and there are many) have unique personalities. It also leans into the, “Are we on Earth?” subtext the series has always featured more than ever, which is an element I have always enjoyed.

The star of the show, however, is Oatchi. He doesn’t particularly look like a dog, but he acts like one, excitedly greeting you every morning for your daily adventure, defending you from danger, and helping your Pikmin carry objects they can’t quite handle alone. In a game about managing a large group of helpful creatures, Oatchi is your fantastic assistant manager that does all the heavy lifting. His greatest strength, however, is carrying you and all your Pikmin with the press of a button. As visually interesting as it has always been to corral dozens of Pikmin and throw them at your problems, it always leads to annoying issues of them falling off bridges or getting caught on corners. Gathering all your Pikmin on Oatchi’s back eliminates this issue and makes everything so much more manageable, which lets you focus on the fun.

Finding and making new paths in the traditional Pikmin levels to expand your exploration avenues in the limited time frame is rewarding, and the locations are visually distinct, making them much easier to learn. They feel less like mazes, which I appreciate.

 

The addition of underground caves is another highlight. While underground, time slows for reasons that are thankfully hand-waived away with funny dialogue, and you are free to play Pikmin without fear of the clock. These sections are frequent, enjoyable, and bite-sized. They never outstay their welcome (save for the marathon finale, but I enjoyed that as a last hurrah for the game), and they encourage you to try new strategies in spaces designed to push you creatively.

You can also venture out at night for the first time in dedicated combat sequences where you worry less about losing Pikmin while defending a home base from encroaching enemies. The night sections are repetitive but are rarely required for progress. It is the mode I engaged with the least, but I was happy to play them when I wanted a break from the typical gameplay.

Dandori sequences mix up the action even further with enjoyable competitive scenarios against A.I. opponents and sections where you are awarded medals for collecting the most in a limited amount of time. The former sequences are exciting and often intense, and the latter does a great job of making you pine for that perfect score. I replayed many despite having already completed the minimum requirement.

 

Oatchi, the caves, and Dandori are all excellent additions to Pikmin, but the new rewind option is arguably the one that most addressed my past frustrations. Rewind lets you roll back the clock a bit if you just need a little extra time at the end of a day or against that tough boss. Oatchi helps you take care of your Pikmin, and they are the smartest they have ever been, but I was still thankful for the rewind option, especially for some of the big challenges at the end. The mechanic is one I didn’t lean on a lot, but I was so happy I could when I needed it.

When it comes to iterating on the standard Pikmin gameplay established by the first release, Pikmin 4 is the smoothest, best-controlling, best-looking version, and all the additions are worthwhile and fun to play. The variety of tasks, which you can tackle in the order of your choice, prevents you from doing the same thing for too long, and I enjoyed saving other survivors and expanding my home base roster. Pikmin may never rise to the top of the Nintendo heap, and it’s probably unfair to expect it ever could, but the latest Pikmin is the best effort yet.

Score: 9

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Microsoft and Activision Blizzard now have until October to complete their merger. 

More specifically, Activision Blizzard and Microsoft have jointly agreed to extend the merger agreement from July 18 to October 18, 2023, giving both companies roughly three months to sort through this purchase. As for why, Microsoft says it is “to allow for additional time to resolve remaining regulatory concerns.” 

Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith tweeted, “Together with Activision, we are announcing the extension of our merger agreement to 10/18 to provide ample time to work through final regulatory issues. We will honor all commitments agreed upon with the EC and othe regulators and continue to work with the CMS on the issues raised in the UK. We are confident about our prospects for getting this deal across the finish line.” 

Together with @Activision, we are announcing the extension of our merger agreement to 10/18 to provide ample time to work through the final regulatory issues. We will honor all commitments agreed upon with the EC and other regulators and continue to work with the CMA on the…

— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) July 19, 2023

Smith mentions Microsoft’s ongoing wrinkles in the U.K. where the Competition and Markets Authority blocked the acquisition in April citing concerns over cloud gaming. A California Judge denied the Federal Trade Commission’s move for a preliminary injunction in the U.S.-based regulatory agency’s case against the acquisition. The FTC then moved to appeal this decision and that was denied, giving Microsoft the greenlight to complete its purchase of Activision Blizzard in the U.S. 

Despite receiving the greenlight from the European Commission, Microsoft must still contend with the CMA by either reaching an agreement or carving the U.K. out of the deal. It seems the latter is more likely because last week, shortly after winning the case against the FTC, Microsoft announced it was pausing its appeal efforts against the CMA to instead attempt to negotiate something satisfactory for both it and the U.K. regulatory agency. 

Originally, the CMA had until July 18 to complete a potentially new ruling in this acquisition. However, the CMA extended this deadline by six weeks to August 29, 2023. With more time to sort through this case in the U.K., Microsoft is likely seeking an agreement with the CMA to get the greenlight in the U.K. as well. 

As a result, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard missed the July 18 merger deadline yesterday. But now we know it’s because both parties have agreed to extend the deadline to October 18, which should be enough time to sort through wrinkles in the U.K. Of course, only time will tell. 

Xbox head Phil Spencer adds on Twitter, "We’re optimistic about getting this done, and excited about bringing more games to more players everywhere.” 

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick sent the following letter to employees: 

Team,  I know many of you have questions about our merger with Microsoft. I am happy to share that based on our continued confidence in closing our deal, the Activision Blizzard and Microsoft boards have mutually agreed not to terminate the deal until after October 18. This merger is great for players, workers, and our business, and it will create opportunities to compete against companies with large talent pools, strong IP and complete control of their markets. Our merger is cleared to close in over 40 countries already, and we remain confident in resolving any remaining regulatory concerns in the UK.  I appreciate your patience through the process. As always, thank you for your continued dedication and work. I’ll share more updates as we have them.  With gratitude,   Bobby

To catch up on everything that’s happened so far, first read about Microsoft revealing it was acquiring Activision Blizzard for a colossal $69 billion, and check out this story about how the CMA blocked this acquisition in the U.K. over cloud gaming concerns. After that, read about how the FTC’s preliminary injunction request was denied by a California judge this week and then read about Microsoft’s new plans to negotiate something satisfactory with the CMA. 

Following that, the CMA extended its deadline in its case with Microsoft over the company’s proposed Activision Blizzard acquisition. And, afterward, the FTC appealed to the U.S. Appeals Court for the Ninth Circuit, which was then denied. Sony then signed a 10-year agreement with Microsoft to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation platforms shortly after that appeal was denied. And now, we wait to see how everything shakes out in the U.K. 

Do you think the CMA will reverse course? Let us know in the comments below!

Diablo IV’s first season, Season of the Malignant, kicks off tomorrow, July 20, and ahead of its start, developer Blizzard has pushed live a new update that features some significant changes for the game. 

This new update, 1.1.0a, brings new items and aspects to Diablo IV alongside bug fixes, buffs and nerfs, and more. Let’s start with perhaps the most exciting addition in this update for players preparing their builds for Season of the Malignant: six new Unique items and seven new Legendary aspects. 

Unique Items

Unique Items are the highest tier of loot you can obtain in Diablo IV – I beat the campaign last night after 28 hours and only just received my first piece of Unique gear. They feature excellent stat boosts and unique bonus effects and are tailor-made for specific builds. There are now six new Unique items to track down while playing in Diablo IV’s most challenging tier, World Tier IV. 

• Ahavarion Spear of Lycander (staff, General): Gain a random Shrine effect for 10-20 seconds after killing an Elite enemy. This can only occur once every 30 seconds. 
• Azurewrath (sword, Barbarian): Lucky Hit – your Core Skills have up to a 20% chance to Freeze enemies for 3 seconds and deal .75 to 1.5 Cold damage to them. 
• Fleshrender (mace, Druid): Debilitating Roar and Blood Howl deal .5 to 1 damage to Nearby Poisoned enemies. 
• Lidless Wall (shield, Necromancer): Lucky Hit – While you have an active Bone Storm, hitting an enemy outside of a Bone Storm has up to a 5 to 25% chance to spawn an additional Bone Storm at their location. Each of your active Sacrifice bonuses increases the chance by 25% and the total number of additional Bone Storms you can have by +1. 
• Eaglehorn (bow, Rogue): Penetrating Shot has a 30 to 80% chance to fire an arrow that bounces off walls and scenery. Hitting enemies from behind with Penetrating Shot will make them vulnerable for 3 seconds. 
• The Oculus (wand, Sorcerer): Gain the effect of the Teleport Enchantment for free. When you Evade using Teleport Enchantment, you are taken to a random location.

Legendary Aspects

• Audacity (utility, General): When there are at least 5 Close enemies, Stun them for 2 to 4 seconds, but this can only occur once every 20 seconds. 
• Craven (mobility, General): You gain 20 to 40% increased Movement Speed when moving away from Slowed or Chilled enemies. 
• Ancestral Charge (offensive, Barbarian): Charge calls forth 4 Ancients who also Charge, dealing 50 to 100% of normal damage. 
• Subterranean (offensive, Druid): Poison Creeper’s active also casts Landslide in a circle around you, and Earth Skills deal 10 to 20% increased damage to Poisoned Enemies. 
• Gore Quills (offensive, Necromancer): Blood Lance will consume Blood Orbs to also conjure lances from them, and each additional Blood Lance deals 20 to 50% of normal damage and prioritizes targeting un-lanced enemies. 
• Pestilent Points (offensive, Rogue): Every third cast of Puncture is Poison imbued with 100 to 150% of normal potency. 
• Searing Wards (offensive, Sorcerer): After spending 100 to 200 Mana, your next Firewall is free to cast and will destroy incoming Small Missiles. 

Alongside new Unique Items and Legendary Aspects, Blizzard has brought a swath of bug fixes to Diablo IV. While we won’t be breaking those down here – there are a ton – we’ll note these bug fixes cover accessibility, challenges, cooperative play, dungeons, class-specific gameplay, items and aspects, monsters, quests and events, UI and user experience, and more. Head to Blizzard’s blog here for the full rundown of fixes. 

This update brings various gameplay updates to Diablo IV as well. Altar of Lilith unlocks and map discovery is now account-wide, meaning it will progress across Eternal Realm characters and Seasonal characters, and Renown values have been increased in both side quests and dungeons. There’s even more in the patch notes, too. 

On the World Tier side of things, many of the values associated with each have been adjusted. 

World Tier II

• Bonus Gold: increased from 15 to 20% 
• Monsters now drop 15% more items

Level Scaling

Blizzard says, “Level scaling inside dungeons and most overworld territories has been adjusted in World Tiers III and IV. Monsters will begin to trail behind the player in Level after a certain point (up to a maximum of 5 levels behind). This change does not affect World Bosses, Legion Events, Fields of Hatred, Helltide, or Nightmare Dungeons.”

Here’s an example from Blizzard, using World Tier III: 

• If the the player's Level is below 55, the monster's Level is 55.
• If the player’s Level is 56-60, the monster’s Level is 55.
• If the player’s Level is 61, the monster’s Level is 56.
• If the player’s Level is 62, the monster’s Level is 57, etc. (from this point the monsters will always be -5 until World Tier III's max monster Level of 70).

Experience 

Reward experience for competing Whispers in World Tiers III and IV has been significantly increased, and bonus experience rewards for killing monsters at a higher level than you have also been increased. 

Helltide

• Helltide Monsters are now 3 levels higher than the player instead of 2
• The Tortuted Gift of Mysteries chest has had its cost increased from 175 Abberant Cinders to 250
• All interactable objects in Helltide zones now have a small chance of dropping Abberant Cinders.

Blizzard’s patch notes for this new Diablo IV update end with a rather extensive list of balance updates, and every class – Barbarian, Druid, Necromancer, Rogue, and Sorcerer – has received some buffs and nerfs. You can read those in the full patch notes blog here. 

“As our community continues to battle the Burning Hells, the builds emerging from new players have shocked and delighted us,” Blizzard writes in the patch notes. “We’ve chosen to focus Season of the Malignant balance updates on clear itemization disparities over redesigns of Class features. The Class changes are largely focused on numeric increases to Skill Upgrades and Legendary Aspects that players haven’t yet found compelling.

“Additionally, we’re changing Critical Strike Damage Paragon Glyps to empower all damage – instead of only Core skills – to enable more build strategies. There are also a few Class stat decreases on sources which grant extreme amounts of damage, healing, or Unstoppable. In general, we prefer build-specific changes to be bonuses instead of decreases, but we feel these changes are necessary for the overall health of the game.”

Blizzard ends by stating Diablo IV is meant to evolve through its Seasons, and the adjustments made with each season will evolve alongside them. 

For more about Diablo IV, check out the reveal of Season of the Malignant, and then read Game Informer’s Diablo IV review. If you’re interested in attending this year’s BlizzCon, check out this story for BlizzCon 2023 pricing and more. 

How do you feel about this update? Let us know in the comments below!

Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Ivory Tower
Release: September 14, 2023
Rating: Teen

The Crew, Ubisoft’s racing franchise akin to Microsoft’s Forza series and EA’s Need For Speed, has been around for nearly a decade. And since its inception, it has struggled to make a cultural dent in the racing genre, despite sales greenlighting a sequel and, now, a threequel in The Crew Motorfest. I went into a four-hour, hands-on remote preview of Motorfest, hoping to feel something different about this series. But, like The Crew 2 and The Crew before it, Motorfest feels uninspired, even if still a competent racer. 

If you’ve played a recent Forza Horizon from Xbox’s Playground Games, Motorfest will feel similar – perhaps too similar. It takes place on the tropical Oahu island of Hawaii, and the entire locale has been transformed into a festival celebrating car culture. There are flashy racing cinematics, fireworks, giant sculptures, and a barrage of signs telling you the Motorfest is happening. It’s bright and pretty, but doesn’t feel unique. Perhaps Oahu is the shining example of what I see in my head when I picture a tropical island, but if it isn’t, then Motorfest paints it as a generalized tropical island. This speaks to my largest issue with Motorfest – it lacks identity beyond a surface level. 

Throughout the Motorfest, I engage with various playlists to organize the otherwise open-world activities around Oahu. There’s a Porsche 911 Legacy, Made in Japan, Offroad Addict, Motorsports, Vintage Garage, Electric Odyssey, and Lamborghini playlist, and each offers a different handful of themed races. Some of these are better than others – I especially like the Porsche 911 Legacy playlist races, with archival footage speaking to the history of this famed vehicle, and the Vintage Garage one, which rethemes the races and game’s visuals to feel like the 1960s, with turbo-less cars that lack GPS for use during races. Electric Odyssey is interesting too, with its focus on electric vehicles and street lanes designed to specifically charge your battery’s turbo. But after an initial dose of each race, they mesh together, even with variance between cars, boats, and planes. 

 

This is especially present in the Made in Japan playlist, which tasks you with becoming a new member of a racing crew from Japan. While this playlist features the appropriate cars, with modded Mazdas and Hondas taking the spotlight, Motorfest’s overall idea of Japanese street racing celebration boils down to characters calling your car a “kaiju” or Godzilla often, and a rethemed Honolulu made to look like vaguely Japanese, Tokyo-esque even. Except it doesn’t – it’s just Honolulu at night, with rain, a frankly absurd amount of neon purple and pink signs and, of course, plenty of the same dragon floats scattered throughout each track.

I initially like this retheme, like the mountainside races with more toned back theming, making me curious how the Made in Japan playlist might change throughout its various races. But after three races, I sense this theming is shallow, going no further than a few Japanese phrases and neon lights somewhat reminiscent of Tokyo’s Shibuya district. 

I complete about three races in every playlist and feel the same about each – the theming and attention to history and culture is exciting at first, teasing more to come, only for it to fall short of going any deeper than this first impression. But this entire preview is a first impression, so I don’t want to give a final judgment on these playlists and how they celebrate individual car cultures just yet. 

The racing in each playlist feels fine, competent. The Crew has subtly differentiated itself from other racing franchises by including car-to-boat-to-plane, on-the-fly transitions, and it’s still good fun in Motorfest. Beyond that, though, it feels like any other racer. I already prefer the likes of Forza and Need for Speed, so Motorfest’s gameplay isn’t selling itself to me much here. But if you’re after another racing game because you’ve completed whatever else is out there, you’ll have decent fun with Motorfest’s vehicles. 

I complete my preview by tiptoeing into the Main Stage, a confusing menu of races to finish on a seasonal basis. In the seasonal Compete playlist, I play a few legitimately challenging competition-style races where the aim is to take a trophy home. In the Explore track, I engage in freestyle stunts around Oahu, find loot crates with special parts around the island, and more. And finally, in the Revisit track, I aptly revisit races from the Playlists elsewhere in the game. Main Stage feels like a solid attempt at keeping players engaged with Motorfest beyond credits, but how it works as a live-service seasonal mechanic remains to be seen. 

My four hours with Motorfest aren’t bad, but they aren’t all that thrilling either. At its best, Motorfest seems to be a totally fine racing game. But my first (long) impression is that it’s boring and falls flat in a genre constantly expanding with unique ideas on the racing formula from AAA and independent developers. Motorfest aims to compete with the former, but after this hands-on preview, I’m not sure it has the traction needed to compete on that track.

Purchase

Join Wesley LeBlanc, Marcus Stewart, and Kyle Hilliard as we discuss The Crew Motorfest, Ubisoft's upcoming threequel in its open-world racing series that began back in 2014 with The Crew. Wesley played roughly four hours of the game in a hands-on remote preview to learn more about its open world Oahu, Hawaii, various vehicles, racing playlists, Main Stage mode, and more. 

Enjoy more than 15 minutes of new gameplay from The Crew Motorsport in the latest NGT below: 

Ubisoft Ivory Tower developed both 2014's The Crew and 2018's The Crew 2, and the Lyon, France-based studio returns to developer The Crew Motorfest. Unlike the first two games in the series, which feature maps spanning the entire United States, The Crew Motorfest takes place in just one state: Hawaii. The island of Oahu, Hawaii, to be specific, and it features Honolulu, plenty of beautiful beaches, mountain paths to drift through, and more. 

In our NGT for The Crew Motorfest, we showcase some gameplay from the Vintage Garage playlist, which is a racing playlist devoted to vintage cars from as far back as the 1950s, the Made in Japan playlist, which is all about Japanese street racing, and a boat race on the ocean surrounding the island. 

For more about The Crew Motorfest, read Game Informer's full preview here. 

The Crew Motorfest hits PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on September 14, 2023. 

For more previews and discussions of some of the biggest games of 2023 and beyond, be sure to head over to our YouTube page for NGTs about Ra Ra Boom, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, Mortal Kombat 1, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, XDefiant, and Sea of Stars.

Are you excited for The Crew Motorfest? Let us know in the comments below!

Overwatch 2 is making a big jump over to Steam on August 10, Blizzard has announced. Furthermore, it will be followed by a selection of Blizzard games migrating to the storefront for the first time. 

In a blog post, Blizzard explains it wants to expand its reach to players beyond its proprietary PC launcher. It believes the free-to-play Overwatch 2 is the best game to kick off this major shift in its PC release strategy. There’s currently no word on what other Blizzard games are coming to Steam, but the publisher says it will announce them “when the time is right.” 

“Battle.net is the home of all our PC players, and over the years, we’ve evolved our platform to support updated technologies, capabilities, and our communities’ expectations. But as we’ve evolved, the industry has evolved too–gaming is no longer just for specific communities as it was when Battle.net launched over two decades ago, gaming is for everyone–and though we remain committed to continually investing in and supporting Battle.net, we want to break down the barriers to make it easier for players everywhere to find and enjoy our games.”

Though you’ll still need a Battle.net account to play Overwatch 2 on Steam (as you do on all platforms), it will run directly through the storefront instead of simply acting as a middle-man to run Battle.net, as confirmed by Blizzard president Mike Ybarra on Twitter. Thus, players will have access to the features of Battle.Net, such as cross-play, but will reap the benefits of Steam, such as earning achievements. Blizzard states this move will not affect those who still choose to play Overwatch 2 through Battle.net. 

This is good news for Steam users interested in Overwatch 2 as they won’t have to worry about downloading another PC launcher to play it. The same is true for PC players who have eyed Blizzard's catalog as a whole, as they have only been accessible through its storefront. We're curious to see what other games make the jump; Diablo IV or World of Warcraft, perhaps? We'll just have to wait and see.

For more on Overwatch 2, you can check out our hands-on impressions of its upcoming PvE story missions. 

Activision Blizzard has laid off around 50 employees, according to a new report from The Verge. 

This news arrives the same day Activision Blizzard released its Fiscal Year 2023 Q2 results, which highlights a murky future for the company’s esports efforts despite an otherwise financially successful quarter for the Overwatch 2 maker. Activision Blizzard’s results show that net bookings grew 50% year-over-year in the second quarter, from $1.64 billion to $2.46 billion, due to a lucrative Diablo IV launch, an increase in revenue from various franchises, mobile growth, and more. But, despite that growth, the company laid off around 50 employees in Blizzard’s esports department, Activision Blizzard esports senior director of global communication Brad Crawford confirmed to Game Informer. 

One person laid off told the publication that this round of layoffs “seems like a significant gutting of Activision Blizzard esports,” while another told it, “There was no warning. This was a complete shock to everyone, and none of us who were laid off were offered any opportunity to switch roles or teams.” 

These layoffs precede what might be a large shakeup to Activision Blizzard’s esports efforts, although that will come down to a vote made by esports team owners later this year. Here's what the company's financial results say on that vote: 

“As previously disclosed, our collaborative arrangements for our professional esports leagues continue to face headwinds. During the second quarter, we amended certain terms of our collaborative arrangements with team entities participating in the Overwatch League. According to the amended terms, following the conclusion of the current Overwatch League season, the teams will vote on an updated operating agreement. If the teams do not vote to continue under an updated operating agreement, a termination fee of $6 million will be payable to each participating team entity (total fee of approximately $114 million). As of June 30, 2023, a termination liability has not been accrued. Total revenues from the Overwatch League comprise less than 1% of our consolidated net revenues.”

It’s important to note that this potential vote does not mean Activision Blizzard esports, primarily the Overwatch League, will end; it just might be a different program following this vote and moving forward, but only time will tell. 

In a statement to Game Informer, Crawford writes, “We remain committed to the future of esports, and we regularly assess how our staffing aligns with our business goals to ensure we can evolve with changing trends and best deliver for our teams, players, and fans. As always, supporting our employees through transition is our top priority.” 

These layoffs at Activision Blizzard happened just a day before it and Microsoft jointly agreed to extend their deadline to complete the merger that would make the publisher-developer giant an arm of Xbox’s first-party output. However, Microsoft, Xbox, and Activision Blizzard must contend with the U.K.’s regulatory agency, the Competition and Markets Authority, which blocked the acquisition in April, before it can move forward as planned. Microsoft and Activision Blizzard now have until October 18, 2023, to close this purchase. 

[Source: The Verge]

Mortal Kombat 1 will make a big appearance at San Diego Comic Con this year.

Mortal Kombat creator and director of MK1, Ed Boon, tweeted yesterday what fans can expect at the SDCC panel, “Resetting Mortal Kombat: A New Beginning With Mortal Kombat 1,” tomorrow, and it’s going to be perhaps the most significant drop of new information we’ve received for the game yet. Boon says MK1 voice actors will be there alongside NetherRealm Studios developers to tell the “making of” story of the game. Plus, there will be three new MK1 trailers during the panel, including gameplay and a “surprise.” 

Mortal Kombat fans at San Diego Comic-Con. Wanna see a TON of new #MortalKombat1 stuffs?

- MK1 voice actors
- MK1 team members & "making of"
- 3 trailers! WTF? (game-play + Surprise!)

..then join us Friday at our panel! Hosted by @briantong pic.twitter.com/CLtD705udG

— Ed Boon (@noobde) July 20, 2023

As for when, the “Resetting Mortal Kombat” SDCC panel begins tomorrow, July  21, at 3:15 p.m. PT and lasts one full hour, ending at 4:15 p.m. PT. If you’re ready for new Mortal Kombat 1 footage, be sure to tune in!

MK1 was announced two months ago with a teaser trailer indicating the wider Mortal Kombat universe has been completely reset (hence the “1” in the title). The following month, in June, NetherRealm released our first look at MK1 gameplay with a trailer that featured new looks at the roster, story details, the reveal of Kameo fighters, and more. 

During Summer Game Fest, we went hands-on with it that same month and had a blast with the Kameo fighters and gory and fun fighting action. You can check out some of that action in our MK1 New Gameplay Today here. 

The latest news NetherRealm released about MK1 was a trailer earlier this month revealing Smoke and Rain in the game’s fighter roster. And tomorrow, we’ll receive more information, including three trailers. 

Mortal Kombat 1 hits PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC on September 19.

Are you tuning in tomorrow to learn more about Mortal Kombat 1? Let us know in the comments below!

Gundam Evolution, the competitive multiplayer title set within the popular Gundam universe, is shutting down.

Despite launching less than a year ago in September 2022, executive producer Kazuya Maruyama shared in a blog post that support for the game will be winding down, though he doesn't provide any specifics as to why.  

“We wanted to create a title that brought FPS fans and Gundam fans together," Maruyama writes. "We challenged ourselves to create an authentic Gundam FPS game that could be played globally. Unfortunately, we have determined that it is no longer possible for us to provide a service that satisfies our players.”

A livestream detailing the sunsetting roadmap will air tomorrow, July 21 at 11 p.m. PT. Gundam Evolution’s services officially end on November 29. Until then, Maruyama states that it will still receive updates. Season 6 arrives on August 23, and the final season hits on October 25. Both seasons will introduce a new unit and maps. 

Today, the following services will be suspended:

• Ending sales of EVO Coins
• Ending sales of EC Pod Limited
• Ending updates to EC Pods, CAP Pods, and Ticket Pods

Gundam Evolution was announced at a PlayStation State of Play in March 2022. The FPS title lets players suit up as their favorite mobile suits to battle in 6v6 matches across various game modes. Unfortunately, it now joins the growing list of multiplayer titles that closed their doors this year, which includes Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier, Babylon's Fall, Rumbleverse, Apex Legends Mobile, and Knockout City.

Despite launching in less than a month, we haven’t seen too much of Atlas Fallen since it was revealed nearly a year ago. A general overview video released last month gave curious players a primer on what to expect from this world of sand, magic, and monsters. Publisher Focus Entertainment has followed that up with a new gameplay-focused video breaking down the game’s combat.

The five-minute video shows off the action RPG's sand-shaping action. Players can equip two main weapons to alternate attacks in fast-paced combat. These include arms like a whip, axe, and even giant fists made of sand. Attacks build momentum, which raises your power and can be spent to unleash flashy special attacks. However, the higher your momentum, the more damage you take, promoting a strategic risk/reward system.

The video also provides a look at customization, showing off Essence Stones. There are over 150 of these skills, which range from aerial attacks to setting traps to firing projectiles. The trailer also shows off the game’s two-player online co-op. Two players can complete Atlas Fallen, including its story campaign, in its entirety together. In fact, the video states some Essence Stones promote cooperative play. 

Atlas Fallen looks promising, and developer Deck13 has a decent track record (The Surge series, Lords of the Fallen), so we hope this information dump at the eleventh hour is a sign of confidence instead of a bad omen. We look forward to seeing how it shapes up when it arrives on August 10 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Skull Island: Rise of Kong is a new action-adventure game starring King Kong, and it will hit PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC later this year. 

More specifically, Skull Island: Rise of Kong will come to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC sometime this fall, according to publisher GameMill Entertainment. The game is being developed by IguanaBee and is a third-person action-adventure game set on Kong’s home turf, Skull Island. As the name implies, you control Kong (presumably before he becomes King) to take out dinosaurs, massive snakes, and other creatures vying for the top spot on the island. 

Check out the first look of Skull Island: Rise of Kong for yourself in the reveal trailer below: 

Gematsu has more details on the game, including that it will cost $39.99 for the standard edition, whereas a digital deluxe “Colossal Edition” will cost $49.99 and comes with eight exclusive film grains to change the visual presentation of the game, eight different color schemes for Kong, a boss-rush mode, a behind-the-scenes pack with artwork and an orchestral soundtrack, and more.

In Skull Island: Rise of Kong, players control Kong on a “quest to avenge the death of Kong’s parents at the hands of the ultimate alpha predator: the saurian terror Gaw,” according to GameMill Entertainment. You must fight against waves of primal beasts, unique bosses, and anything else in Kong’s way. 

There is no release date for Skull Island: Rise of Kong, but it hits PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC this fall. 

Here’s hoping the achievements in the game are as bountiful as those in 2005’s Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game Of The Movie, which is infamous for its easy-to-obtain 1000 Gamerscore on Xbox. You can watch us play the game in our King Kong Replay here. It seems that Kong is on the rise in games with an appearance in Call of Duty Warzone last year, featuring his frienemy Godzilla too. Here’s hoping Skull Island: Rise of Kong is just the start of a new wave of monster-bashing games. 

Based on today’s reveal trailer, what do you think of Skull Island: Rise of Kong? Let us know in the comments below!

Much has been made about Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon’s mech-based gameplay, but a new trailer shines a light on its narrative. To the surprise of no one, though, this new look still packs in plenty of cinematic action. 

Despite the "VI" in the title, Fire of Rubicon serves as a reboot. The game unfolds on planet Rubicon in which its most sought-after resource, Coral, was the cause of a disaster that engulfed the planet in flames. Decades later, the now-contaminated planet has been condemned, but the rediscovery of Coral has attracted various factions, sparking a new war on the destroyed world. Players control mercenary C4-621 or "Raven" for short, who is thrown into this epic struggle pitting megacorporations, military forces, and other groups against each other. Based on the trailer's somber tone, it won't be pretty. 

Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon launches on August 25 for PlayStation/Xbox consoles and PC. You can learn more by checking out our recent cover story. 

Dinosaurs are pouring into this week's episode of The Game Informer Show as editor Marcus Stewart unpacks his evolving thoughts on Capcom's new dino-flavored shooter, Exoprimal. Kyle Hilliard discusses his Pikmin 4 and Viewfinder reviews while also dishing out his early impressions of Gunbrella. Charles Harte chats about playing the re-release of Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective for the first time, but not before Kyle serenades listeners with his soulful rendition of a lunch-themed Sonic the Hedgehog cover song. 

Follow us on social media: Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7), Kyle Hilliard (@KyleMHilliard), Charles Harte (@chuckduck365)

The Game Informer Show is a weekly gaming podcast covering the latest video game news, industry topics, exclusive reveals, and reviews. Join host Alex Van Aken every Thursday to chat about your favorite games – past and present – with Game Informer staff, developers, and special guests from around the industry. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Matt Storm, the freelance audio editor for The Game Informer Show, edited this episode. Matt is an experienced podcast host and producer who's been speaking into a microphone for over a decade. You should listen to Matt's shows like the "Fun" And Games Podcast and Reignite, a BioWare-focused podcast. 

Jump to the timestamps to get to a particular point of discussion:

00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:51 - Bet Explanation
00:05:55 - Marcus' PC Update
00:13:35 - Kyle's Musical Performance
00:21:44 - Exoprimal
00:40:55 - Pikmin 4
00:54:21 - Viewfinder
01:01:44 - Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
01:14:22 - Gunbrella Preview
01:20:44 - Housekeeping and Listener Questions

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PlayStation and developer Insomniac Games have released a new story trailer for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. 

Released during a special San Diego Comic Con panel about the game, this trailer features plenty of Peter Parker, Miles Morales, MJ, Kraven, a dose of the Lizard, lots of symbiotic action, and of course, Venom. While the last showing of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 focused on gameplay, today’s is all about the narrative, and it seems to be teasing who our Venom might be. 

Check it out for yourself below in the new Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 story trailer: 

As you can see, this trailer gives us our first look at Harry Osborn (outside of the floating green liquid we presumably last saw him in), another look at Hunter and the Lizard, and a heaping of Venom, and all of it looks like a great time. The story seems to be a good bit darker than Marvel’s Spider-Man and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, too, especially with Peter Parker struggling to contain the darkness that the symbiote brings out within him.

PlayStation has also released some new details from the game’s narrative director, Jon Paquette: 

“At the beginning of our story, our Spider-Men are at the top of their game,” Paquette writes in a PlayStation Blog post. “But both Peter Parker and Miles Morales are struggling with their personal lives. Miles is trying to find time to write his college entrance essay, but he keeps procrastinating and focusing on Spider-Work instead. Meanwhile, Peter is underwater on payments for Aunt May’s house, but he can’t sell, it means too much to him. And just like Miles, Peter tries (and fails) to find balance with so many responsibilities. MJ wants to help Pete with the mortgage, but her job is on the line now that J. Jonah Jameson is back at the Bugle and looking to clean house. Our heroes have arrived at a confluence of crossroads, with uncertain futures, and some tough decisions ahead.”

As if that wasn’t enough, Kraven arrives soon after, and the Spider-Men and friends must determine why he’s in New York City and who he’s hunting. And on top of that, the Venom symbiote makes its way into town, presenting another set of challenges for the Spider-Men to tackle. 

Surprisingly, we get a quick snippet of Martin Li, aka Mister Negative, one of the antagonists of Marvel’s Spider-Man, and Miles isn’t too thrilled to see him either. 

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 creative director Bryan Intihar says he and Insomniac Games have always thought of the Spider-Men as “acrobatic improvisers,” and that the studio wanted to equip them with new combat abilities to demonstrate this further. 

“This includes Pete’s Spider-Arms and Symbiote power, while Miles now brings two forms of bioelectric Venom to every fight,” Intihar writes in the blog post. “And when you start combining these abilities with all-new Spider-Gadgets like the Web Grabber, it can lead to some exciting combos.” 

Elsewhere in the trailer, we see Peter and Miles swinging to new parts of the city, like across the East River and into Brooklyn and Queens. Coney Island makes an appearance as well. 

“We are really excited for people to try out the Web Slings,” senior game director Ryan Smith writes in the blog. “For us, it was a cool opportunity to bring something people have seen in comics and movies and integrate it in the game. Swinging is the core of our Spider-Man traversal, so we designed the Web Wings to work with swinging and complement it. That way you can weave back and forth between the two to build up speed and height. 

“When you use the Web Slings with our wind tunnels, though, that’s one of the ways to go across the city super-fast and really push the speed of traversal, which was one of our goals.”

In the PlayStation Blog post, Paquette says after the team determined it would be telling a Venom story, it knew there’d be a “bit of a tonal shift.” 

“The best symbiote stories serve as an allegory: We all have darkness inside of us – but what would happen if we let it take over? With the introduction of the symbiote into our franchise, our heroes are forced to battle darkness, in all its forms. We wanted to see them change, both inside and outside, and feel the effect it has on those around them. And when Venom takes control, they face the real danger that they could lose themselves, and their loved ones, forever.” 

Senior art director Jacinda Chew says the game’s Venom is inspired by the comics, but with a “unique take on the white spider icon” and the anatomy of a human. He also uses tendrils that can take on many forms, with all of Venom able to shift between liquid and solid quickly. 

Insomniac Games also revealed a new limited edition Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PlayStation 5 bundle, including a custom PS5 console cover design and a matching DualSense controller. It will include a digital copy of the game. Pre-orders begin on July 28, and the PS5 covers and DualSense can be purchased separately. The console and accessories will be released on September 1. 

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 hits PlayStation 5 on October 20. 

For more about Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, watch the original reveal trailer and a gameplay trailer from earlier this summer. Read about how the game’s tone is comparable to Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back after that, and then read about the game being confirmed to be single-player.

Who do you think Venom is in Marvel's Spider-Man 2? Let us know in the comments below!

PlayStation and developer Insomniac Games have revealed a new limited edition Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 bundle releasing this September, ahead of the game’s October release. 

This bundle has a PlayStation 5 Disc console, custom console covers, and a matching DualSense controller, and was announced shortly after PlayStation released a new story trailer for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Pre-orders will open for this bundle, and the custom covers and DualSense (both of which you can purchase separately), later this month on July 28. All of it will be released on September 1. The PS5 bundle includes a voucher for a digital copy of the game for when it launches on October 20.

You can check out the limited edition Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 console and DualSense controller for yourself in the new trailer below: 

“Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will be featured on custom PlayStation 5 hardware,” a PlayStation Blog post reads. “The PS5 console – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition Bundle has a custom PS5 console cover design with the symbiote closing in on our white spider icon. Additionally, a matching DualSense wireless controller is included, which again shows the symbiote threat creeping across the entire controller.”

Anyone who pre-orders the bundle, which includes a digital copy of the Standard Edition of the game, will also receive the same pre-order bonuses as those who pre-order the game separately. These bonuses consist of an early unlock for the Arachknight Suit for Peter with three color variants, an early unlock of the Shadow Spider suit for Miles with three color variants, an early unlock for the Web Grabber gadget, and three skill points.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 hits PlayStation 5 on October 20. 

For more about Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, watch the original reveal trailer and a gameplay trailer from earlier this summer. Read about how the game’s tone is comparable to Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back after that, and then read about the game being confirmed to be single-player.

Editor's Note: The story has been corrected to indicate that the Marvel Spider-Man 2 limited edition PS5 bundle only includes a Disc version of the console and not a Digital version. However, cover plates for both the Disc and Digital version will be sold. 

Are you picking this PS5 bundle up? Let us know in the comments below!
 

The Pokémon Company has released another trailer for Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and it’s also the first English-dubbed trailer, too. 

This anime is the one replacing the long-running Pokémon anime that recently wrapped up after 25 seasons of pocket monster adventures. Horizons features new protagonists, Liko and Roy, who are joined by Friede, the Professor of this series, alongside Captain Pikachu. In this new English-dubbed trailer, we see Liko and her Sprigatito, Roy and his Fuecoco, Friede and Captain Pikachu, and plenty of other Pokémon. 

Check out the new Pokémon Horizons English-dubbed trailer for yourself below: 

“We are incredibly grateful to the fans who joined us for our first Comic-Con International panel, and it was an absolute joy to connect with members of the Pokémon community who have contributed to making Pokémon animation the success that it is today, while providing a closer look at what’s to come for the series,” said Taito Okiura, vice president of marketing for The Pokémon Company International during a San Diego Comic Con panel. “As we gear up for the upcoming release of ‘Pokémon Horizons: The Series,’ we remain passionate about delivering animated content with captivating stories and lovable characters that appeal to fans across the globe and look forward to sharing more soon.”

Alongside this new trailer, The Pokémon Company also released a new 11-minute sneak peek at Horizons’ first episode:

As you can see, Friede and Captain Pikachu lead a group known as the Rising Volt Tacklers, and they will seemingly be at odds with the antagonistic group known as the Explorers, which includes Amethio and his partner Pokémon Ceruledge. Somebody in the show also has a shiny Rayquaza fighting for them, indicated by its black (instead of green) color. 

Elsewhere during the panel, The Pokémon Company also released a new trailer for Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master, which is a collection of episodes that will conclude Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series when it launches on Netflix on September 8. These “nostalgic episodes will bring back fan-favorite Pokémon and characters, such as Misty and Brock, while providing a glimpse at what the future may hold for Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu in this final chapter of their 25-season journey,” according to a press release. 

Check out the Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master trailer below: 

Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master hits Netflix on September 8. Pokémon Horizons is due out sometime this year, but there’s no official release date yet. 

For more, check out this story about Ash’s English voice actor thanking her Japanese counterpart for 17 years of inspiration, and then watch the original reveal of Pokemon Horizons. Read Game Informer’s Pokémon Scarlet and Violet review after that, and then check out the latest details about the upcoming Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. 

Are you going to be watching these anime when they launch this year? Let us know in the comments below!

Gunbrella is a video game about a guy who carries a gun that is also an umbrella. Despite the wordplay in the title, the game is unexpectedly dark and violent, which is surprising considering the team's last game is about a cat on a Metroid-inspired mission. In any case, we like what we've played so far. Gunbrella is coming to PC and Switch some time this year.

Join Marcus Stewart and me as we check out some early gameplay and defeat the game's first boss.

For more previews and discussions of some of the biggest games of 2023 and beyond, be sure to head over to our YouTube page for NGTs about The Crew Motorfest, Ra Ra Boom, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, Mortal Kombat 1, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, XDefiant, and Sea of Stars.

Super Replay returns, and we're checking out Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts!  Released for the Xbox 360 on November 11, 2008, the third (and, so far, final) entry in Rare's beloved platforming series centers on vehicle creation, where players collect and slap together hundreds of parts to assemble their own wacky contraptions to explore. The bevy of possible combinations and emphasis on player choice and creativity was largely unprecedented at the time, paving the way for future games such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. However, this direction would divide fans due to how much it strays from the traditional Banjo formula. So where will we land on it? Let's find out. Join Marcus Stewart and Kyle Hilliard as they explore one of the Xbox 360's biggest hidden gems to see whether it holds up or falls apart like a poorly constructed doohickey. 

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Part 13
Part 14

If you enjoy our livestreams but haven’t subscribed to our Twitch channel, know that doing so not only gives you notifications and access to special emotes. You’ll also be granted entry to the official Game Informer Discord channel, where our welcoming community members, moderators, and staff gather to talk games, entertainment, food, and organize hangouts! Be sure to also follow our second YouTube channel, Game Informer Shows, for to watch other Replay episodes as well as Twitch archives such as Replay, GI Live, and more. 

On this episode of All Things Nintendo, Brian invites Kyle on to render his final verdict on Pikmin 4. The franchise has long remained a favorite of Shigeru Miyamoto's, so does this entry live up to the hype of the legendary creator? Before that, Brian and Marcus talk some Pokémon, some Sonic, and some TMNT.

If you'd like to follow Brian on social media, you can do so on his Instagram/Threads @BrianPShea or Bluesky @brianpshea.bsky.social. You can follow Marcus on Twitter: @MarcusStewart7 or Bluesky @marcusstewart7.bsky.social. You can follow Kyle on Twitter: @KyleMHilliard.

The All Things Nintendo podcast is a weekly show where we can celebrate, discuss, and break down all the latest games, news, and announcements from the industry's most recognizable name. Each week, Brian is joined by different guests to talk about what's happening in the world of Nintendo. Along the way, they'll share personal stories, uncover hidden gems in the eShop, and even look back on the classics we all grew up with. A new episode hits every Friday!

Be sure to subscribe to All Things Nintendo on your favorite podcast platform. The show is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and YouTube.

00:00:32 – Introduction
00:01:42 – Pokémon Sleep Out Now
00:04:03 – New Pokémon Anime Trailers
00:10:26 – Sega of America Unionizes/Sonic SatAM Discussion
00:13:05 – TMNT: Shredder's Revenge DLC/Movie Discussion
00:26:02 – Pikmin 4 Review
00:47:20 – Definitive Ranking: Little Guys
00:57:20 – eShop Gem of the Week: Streets of Rogue

If you'd like to get in touch with the All Things Nintendo podcast, you can email [email protected], messaging Brian on Instagram (@BrianPShea), or by joining the official Game Informer Discord server. You can do that by linking your Discord account to your Twitch account and subscribing to the Game Informer Twitch channel. From there, find the All Things Nintendo channel under "Community Spaces."

For Game Informer's other podcast, be sure to check out The Game Informer Show with hosts Alex Van Aken, Marcus Stewart, and Kyle Hilliard, which covers the weekly happenings of the video game industry!

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