This is default featured slide 1 title

Go to Blogger edit html and find these sentences.Now replace these sentences with your own descriptions.This theme is Bloggerized by Lasantha Bandara - Premiumbloggertemplates.com.

This is default featured slide 2 title

Go to Blogger edit html and find these sentences.Now replace these sentences with your own descriptions.This theme is Bloggerized by Lasantha Bandara - Premiumbloggertemplates.com.

This is default featured slide 3 title

Go to Blogger edit html and find these sentences.Now replace these sentences with your own descriptions.This theme is Bloggerized by Lasantha Bandara - Premiumbloggertemplates.com.

This is default featured slide 4 title

Go to Blogger edit html and find these sentences.Now replace these sentences with your own descriptions.This theme is Bloggerized by Lasantha Bandara - Premiumbloggertemplates.com.

This is default featured slide 5 title

Go to Blogger edit html and find these sentences.Now replace these sentences with your own descriptions.This theme is Bloggerized by Lasantha Bandara - Premiumbloggertemplates.com.

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Mobile games

Pacific Drive is a game about one's relationship with their car. As you navigate a reality-bending doomsday loop, your vehicle is the only thing keeping you from impending death – if you're good enough at driving it. I've had fun in this world speeding through the forest and grabbing glowing yellow orbs, but the car is one of the most interesting parts to me for one reason: I don't have a driver's license yet.

After years of procrastination and two expired temporary permits, I've finally started learning to drive in earnest. I spent years of adulthood in the dark, and it's been fascinating to open my eyes to something that is an everyday experience for millions of people. And as much as it's opened my eyes to a new side of the real world, it's making me see video game driving in a different light, and Pacific Drive is the first instance of that.

For starters, you drive in first person, which is something I've never tried in a game before. I typically swap to a third-person perspective as quickly as possible because it gives me a better sense of what's going on around me. The thing is, when I do that, I'm basically playing as the car, not the person driving the car. Mirrors are irrelevant when you have a camera floating around to get perspective, and all you need to do to start the engine is press the gas button.

In Pacific Drive, you play from the driver's seat, and you have to familiarize yourself with the space. Starting the car is more than the tap of a button – you have to aim at the ignition and insert the key to start the engine, then aim at the gear shift to put the car from park into drive. You're free to exit the car at will as well, but if you leave the car on, you'll waste gas, and if you don't put it in park, it will roll down a hill. While driving, you have to physically turn your character's head to look in the mirrors to see what's behind you – I just wish it had the backup camera in my partner's Honda Accord. 

I also have a more basic appreciation for the anatomy of a car. Granted, Pacific Drive does simplify things (I don't need a license to know a hatchback trunk door and a driver's side door don't have the same crafting recipe in real life [or a crafting recipe at all, for that matter]), but by forcing me to repair and upgrade the car by looking at its individual parts, I have a deeper understanding than I otherwise would. 

For example, an early goal has the player craft a handbrake. In order to actually put it in the car, you need to open the hood, at which point you can see a translucent image of where the handbrake will actually go once it's in the car. Seeing it highlighted at the base of the vehicle with lines connecting to each wheel was a surprise to me, partially because I had never considered how a handbrake actually works and partially because I was impressed the developers took the steps to actually illustrate the entire mechanism. It would have been much easier to just have the handbrake exist as an upgrade on a menu, but seeing where it's supposed to go and putting it there myself gave me ownership over the whole thing.

I'm not suggesting Pacific Drive is some kind of groundbreaking car simulator, but it is more of a car simulator than I thought it would be, and now that I'm learning to drive, I have a very real appreciation for the way the developers spent time to add some realism to the car and its upgrades. Going the (pun intended) extra mile in areas like this really makes Pacific Drive stand out, and it's made me far more invested in the game – and my car – than I would have been otherwise. 

My partner walked past me as I played the other day, crafting upgrades in the garage. I pointed to the rusted sedan on the screen and proudly said, "You see this? This is my car. I installed the handbrake myself."



from Game Informer https://ift.tt/UZoBTNW
via IFTTT

Android Games

Toys for Bob independent studio crash bandicoot 4 activision blizzad split

Toys for Bob, the studio behind games like Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Spyro Reignited Trilogy, and Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, has announced it is splitting from its owner Activision Blizzard to go independent. It is also exploring a partnership with Microsoft. 

Toys for Bob announced this in a statement released today, which explains why now is "the time to take the studio and our future games to the next level." 

Here's Toys for Bob's statement, in full

"We're thrilled to announce that Toys for Bob is spinning off as an independent game development studio.  Over the years, we've inspired love, joy, and laughter for the inner child in all gamers. We pioneered new IP and hardware technologies in Skylanders. We raised the bar for best-in-class remasters in Spyro Reignited Trilogy. We've taken Crash Bandicoot to innovative, critically acclaimed new heights.  With the same enthusiasm and passion, we believe that now is the time to take the studio and our future games to the next level. This opportunity allows us to return to our roots of being a small and nimble studio.  To make this news even more exciting, we're exploring a possible partnership between our new studio and Microsoft. And while we're in the early days of developing our next new game and a ways away from making any announcements, our team is excited to develop new stories, new characters, and new gameplay experiences.  Our friends at Activision and Microsoft have been extremely supportive of our new direction and we're confident that we will continue to work closely together as part of our future.  So, keep your horns and your eyes out for more news. Thank you to our community of players for always supporting us through our journey. We can't wait to share updates on our new adventure as an indie studio. Talk to you soon." 

Toys for Bob did not disclose a price (if there is one) associated with its split from Activision Blizzard, which arrives just a few months after Microsoft purchased the company for a colossal $69 billion.

Toys for Bob joins another studio leaving the hands of its owner today: With a $500 million deal, Embracer Group has sold Saber Interactive to a group of private investors, as reported by BloombergKotaku is also reporting today that Gearbox, the makers of the Borderlands series, is looking to break away from Embracer Group as well. 

What kind of game do you hope Toys for Bob makes first? Let us know in the comments below!



from Game Informer News https://ift.tt/rxkpcLV
via IFTTT

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Mobile games

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Queen's Blood Best Deck Tips and Tricks

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is finally out, and it's a treat, especially for fans of the original game – you can read Game Informer's review here to find out what we loved and didn't love across our 80 hours with the game. However, regardless of whether you're a long-time fan or not, one thing new to everyone playing Rebirth is Queen's Blood. 

Introduced early in Rebirth, Queen's Blood is an in-universe card game that seemingly everyone around Gaia's various continents plays, from Junon to Nibelheim and elsewhere. And after spending dozens of hours playing it, I can understand why - it rules. It's easily my favorite game-within-a-game ever, and one I hope spins out into its own thing in some form, be it a digital card game, a physical one, or something else. 

It can be a difficult game, though, but it's one worth learning. It's both satisfying in its own right but also unfolds across a mysterious side story that plays out through the game's entire runtime. If you're struggling to keep up with Gaia's various opponents, though, we have you covered with the best Queen's Blood deck, tips and tricks, and more. 

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: Queen's Blood Tips And Tricks 

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Queen's Blood Best Deck Tips and Tricks
  • Don't skip the tutorial: Perhaps you think this goes without saying, but someone – and we won't name who (Kyle Hilliard) – skipped the tutorial and later regretted it. It's quick, easy, and will open up the door to Rebirth's best piece of side content. 

 

  • Placement is key in the beginning: In the early hours of Rebirth, winning Queen's Blood is decided by placement and how much of the board you control. However, because you, the player, always go first, your opponent has an advantage: they can see where you place pawns (the green-lit markers that appear on the board depending on where you place cards) and can appropriately counter with a card that turns your pawn into theirs. For that reason, focus less on moving left to right across the board and more on countering your opponent's moves by taking over their pawn placements. 

 

  • Check every general store for booster packs: As you venture to the Grasslands, Junon, Nibelheim, and elsewhere, you'll come across general stores where you can buy potions, accessories, and more. At the bottom of the store's inventory, there are often one or two new booster packs to purchase – do so. Even if you don't use the cards in the pack, each pack costs 500 gil, which is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Better to spend 500 gil on a potential card experiment than miss out on what could be your new favorite card. 

 

  • Use local maps to find players: There are 30 matches of Queen's Blood to complete in the game, and they're typically doled out to you in groups of two to three matches and a boss. After completing a group of Queen's Blood matches, you'll receive another set of challengers to track down. However, and especially as you progress through the game further, you might find yourself struggling to locate these players on the game's various maps (I did). It wasn't until my final hours with Queen's Blood that I realized you really need to utilize the local maps on the map screen to find them. This reveals players in locations like inns and other buildings where they might not appear on region maps. 

 

  • Your opponent's first few moves will tell all: Is your opponent advancing quickly from the right side of the play area to the left? They're probably trying to lock you out of play space, and this could indicate their deck is built around getting as many cards as possible in play to stack up their numbers quickly. Are they focusing on building up a strong queue of cards on their side of the play area? They might have a deck built around replacement where they replace weaker cards with more powerful ones by placing them on top (and usually, with a special card that gains power after cards are destroyed through this replacement method). Over time, you'll pick up on these cues that players give off in their opening turns, so keep an eye out for patterns. 

 

  • You can quickly restart a match, and it's better than losing: When you lose a match in Queen's Blood, you have to sit through the score tally animation and a screen that tells you that you've lost the match – it's humiliating and, across the game's various matches, adds up to time wasted. However, if you can already tell you've lost the match, you can quickly restart the battle by pressing start and hitting the retry battle button. 

 

  • Build multiple decks: You get six deck slots in the game, which means you can build six wildly different decks. We recommend doing so, especially in the earlier hours, as you run across many different types of opponents. You could have a replacement deck, a deck around destroying cards, a deck for weakening enemy cards, and one around taking over an entire board, for example. It's worth doing and gives you an opportunity to experiment with new cards without messing up your favorite deck. 

 

  • Just because a card is new doesn't mean it's great: I'm not sure if it's a coincidence on my end or something else, but more often than not, the cards I received upon beating opponents weren't the greatest. A few hit – and they really hit, gaining a permanent spot in my favorite deck below – but most of them went unused after my initial testing. Maybe it will be different for you. What I'm trying to say is that just because you receive a new card after defeating an enemy doesn't mean it's a sure-fire win you should include in your favorite deck. Experiment and see what works and what doesn't work for you.  

The Best Queen's Blood Deck In Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Queen's Blood Best Deck Tips and Tricks

After ranking up a few times in Queen's Blood, which requires defeating a specified amount of opponents and various named "boss" characters, you'll gain what is, in my opinion, the single best card: Migardsormr. Boasting a base strength of 6, a wide array of mat placement, and a special ability that increases its strength by +1 for every card destroyed after it is played (both enemy and ally cards destroyed, mind you), it's a card I continuously win on the back of. 

Now, you're, of course, free to build your deck however you want, but my personal deck, the one I consistently win with, is below (ignore the card on the right as it's just the reward card): 

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Queen's Blood Best Deck Tips and Tricks

As you can see, the most important card is Migardsormr. From there, you can build it out how you'd like, but when using Migardsormr, it's important to cater to its special ability. You should be using cards that destroy enemy cards and cards you can place on top of your own, thereby destroying the (ideally) weaker card beneath it.

When using this deck, it's extra important to get Migardsormr placed as soon as possible. My typical start begins with a Security Clone placed in the middle row to the far left. This turns the two far-left spots above and below it into slots ready for cards that require two placement pawns. I often then place an Archdragon directly to the right of the Security Clone to turn those two-pawn spots into three-pawn spots, which allows me to throw down Migardsormr the next turn. 

There are other options to turn around a three-pawn spot quickly, and you'll want to keep those options open in case your opponent immediately pushes from right to left, but for the most part, this three-turn setup gets Migardsormr out onto the playing field fast. From there, it's all about playing cards that destroy enemy cards and replacing your own cards with stronger ones, like placing a Grandhorn (with a strength of 3) on top of the Security Clone. That move alone adds 2 to your total count (replacing Security Clone with Grandhorn) and an additional 1 to Migardsormr's strength since you destroyed the Security Clone. 

Regardless of how you build your deck, we highly recommend using Migardsormr to create a deck themed around destroying enemy and ally cards to boost the strength of this serpentine fiend. Do that, and you'll pick up some powerful wins, like a few of my best wins below: 

 

For more about the game, read Game Informer's Final Fantasy VII Rebirth review, and then head to Game Informer's Final Fantasy VII Rebirth hub for exclusive behind-the-scenes features, video interviews, and more. 



from Game Informer https://ift.tt/OQIsdrK
via IFTTT

Mobile games

Final Fantasy VII 7 Rebirth Best Side Quests Don't Miss

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is chock full of activities to do when you aren't controlling Cloud, chasing after Sephiroth, and trying to save the planet. With multiple open world zones to explore, there are dozens of objectives to complete ranging from Queen's Blood matches to treasure caches to combat challenges and more. It's safe to say completing everything Rebirth offers will take 100 or more hours, and that's before you add in dozens of minigames to the game's slew of offerings. 

With so much stuff to do, though, not everything sticks the landing and that goes for side quests too, which range from fine and forgettable to great. If you're looking to get the Platinum trophy, you'll need to complete every side quest, but if you're just trying to play through the game's best offerings, we have you covered – here are the best side quests. 

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's Best Side Quests

Final Fantasy VII 7 Rebirth Game Informer Review

Note: If you consider the names of the game's open-world locations a spoiler, you might want to avoid the information below. 

Last chance to avoid location names that you may or may not find spoilery...

  • Flowers from the Hill – Level 17, Grasslands: While this isn't the most exciting quest in Rebirth, it's one of the first you'll receive and not one to be missed as it helps you unlock your first chocobo. 

 

  • A Rare Card Lost – Any Level, Grasslands: This is a side quest centered on Queen's Blood, the game's best side activity. For that reason alone, it's worth completing. However, you'll also receive a great card and more Tifa-related story content. 

 

  • Stuck in a Rut – Level 20, Junon: Like Flowers from the Hill, this side quest is required in order to obtain your chocobo for this region. 

 

  • Calling All Frogs – Level 22, Junon: Just do it. It's hilarious and unlocks a fun minigame. 

 

  • The Hardest Sell Level 23, Junon: This is a combat-focused side quest that will have you defeating several tough enemies. It's a fun challenge and you run into a familiar face from Midgar. 

 

  • Dreaming of Blue Skies – Level 23, Junon: One of the biggest highlights of the Junon region in the original Final Fantasy VII is the massive condor that calls it home. This is a quest all about that condor and worth doing for the spectacle of the bird. It also features a really sweet mini-story. 

 

  • Tides of War and Worry – Any Level, Junon: This is one of the game's zanier side quests and lets you partake in a fun dolphin-centric minigame. 

 

  • Bodybuilders in a Bind – Level 26, Corel Region: Remember the gym segments from Final Fantasy VII Remake? They're back, and this quick side quest is how you gain access to the crunch-off minigame. 

 

  • Of Robed Men and Ransoms  Level 28, Corel Region: This quest will have you tracking some men wearing black robes and people who may or may not have kidnapped them. It's a simple follow-and-find type of quest, but it leads to some important information about Cloud's standing as an ex-SOLDIER. 

 

  • The Saga of Seaside Inn – Level 31, Corel Region: Okay, so this side quest was actually one of my least favorite because it's a long string of fetch quests. However, it features a beloved character (voiced by one Yuri Lowenthal, a voice you might recognize as Peter Parker in Insomniac's Spider-Man games) and unlocks one of the biggest side activities in the game. We won't say what here, but we highly recommend this quest for completionists. 

 

  • Trouble in Paradise – Level 44, Corel Region: This side quest leads to another run-in with a familiar face from Midgar and features a great story. 

 

  • Sand and Circuses – Level 45, Corel Region: This side quest unlocks a colosseum-like battle arena that's a lot of fun to partake in if you're obsessed with Rebirth's combat like me. It also has a great story tucked within it. 

 

  • The Pursuit of Perfection – Level 31, Gongaga: Completing this will unlock a new weapon for Barret, and it's a great one. 

 

  • O Chicken, Where Art Though  – Level 33, Gongaga: This is the funniest side quest in the game. If you like laughing, it's not one to miss. 

 

  • The Spice of Life – Level 35, Gongaga: Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core fans, this one's for you. Have fun gathering mushrooms and cooking soup with a familiar face. 

 

  • Escape from Endless Writer's Block – Any Level, Gongaga: This side quest is quick and easy, and you get to have a lot of fun with Red XIII, who will be posing for various pictures you need to take. 

 

  • Woodland Vigil – Level 44, Gongaga: Another one for the Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core fans. Enjoy. 

 

  • Bonds of Trust – Any Level, Cosmo Canyon: You must complete this one to unlock the chocobo of this region. It will also teach you how this region's pathways and air lifts work. 

 

  • Absence of a Sign – Level 38, Cosmo Canyon: Clerith fans, this is not one to miss. 

 

  • Promises to Keep  – Level 42, Cosmo Canyon: A must-play for Red XIII fans and those who want a tough combat challenge. 

 

  • Esoteric Secrets of the Elder – Any Level, Nibel: You must complete this one to unlock the chocobo of this region. It will also unlock a "discovery" to complete as you explore this region. 

 

  • My White-Haired Angel – Level 41, Nibel: Do you like cute cats? Do this side quest.

 

  • Lament of the Damned  – Level 44, Nibel: This side quest will unlock a new type of combat simulator and features some tough boss-like battles. If you want some combat challenges or are looking to obtain the Platinum trophy, you'll need to complete this one. 

And those are our favorite side quests in Rebirth. Complete them and let us know what you think!

For more, read Game Informer's Final Fantasy VII Rebirth review, and then check out Game Informer's Final Fantasy VII Rebirth coverage hub for exclusive behind-the-scenes features, video interviews, and more. 

Let us know if you have any other questions about side quests or the game in the comments below!



from Game Informer https://ift.tt/0Do2YnP
via IFTTT

Android Games

Remedy Entertainment Control 2 505 Games Condor Multiplayer Sequel IP Rights

Remedy Entertainment, which released Alan Wake 2 to critical acclaim in October, has acquired the full rights to the Control franchise from publisher 505 Games. Released in 2019, Remedy developed Control but it was published by 505 Games, which also had a stake in the franchise's rights at the time. Now, after a roughly $18.4 million purchase, the entirety of the Control franchise belongs to Remedy. 

This includes the original Control game, its in-development sequel Control 2, the multiplayer spin-off Project Condor, and all future Control products. 

"The Control franchise is in the core of Remedy," the studio writes in a statement released today. "Having acquired the full rights to Control, Condor, and Control 2, Remedy is now in a position to make the right product and business decisions focusing on long-term franchise growth." 

With this deal, all publishing agreements between 505 Games and Remedy in regards to the Control franchise are terminated immediately by mutual agreement. All publishing, distribution, marketing, and other rights licensed to 505 Games are reverted to Remedy with immediate effect, as well. However, the two companies have agreed that 505 Games will continue as the publisher of Control through a transition period ending December 31, 2024. 

After this transition period, "505 Games will have no future royalty or other rights to Control." 

As for the $18.4 million price, Remedy says it's equal to "the amount that 505 Games has paid for the development of codename Condor and Control 2 to date including a minor premium." 

"Remedy is entitled to set off certain receivables from the purchase price, and therefore, the cash flow effect from the transaction will be clearly less than the purchase price," the statement reads. "Remedy will pay the net purchase price in three cash installments during the next twelve months." 

This transaction arrives a few months after 505 Games parent company Digital Bros Group laid off 30 percent of its staff to align with "the new competitive market." Other 505 Games-published titles include Ghostrunner 2, Payday 2, and the PC version of Death Stranding, amongst others. 

For more, read Game Informer's Control review, and then check out the latest update from Remedy about Control 2 and its Max Payne remakes. After that, read about what to expect with the multiplayer Control spin-off Project Condor

Are you more excited for Control 2 or Project Condor? Let us know in the comments below!



from Game Informer News https://ift.tt/MEK0eDG
via IFTTT

Mobile games

Remedy Entertainment Control 2 505 Games Condor Multiplayer Sequel IP Rights

Remedy Entertainment, which released Alan Wake 2 to critical acclaim in October, has acquired the full rights to the Control franchise from publisher 505 Games. Released in 2019, Remedy developed Control but it was published by 505 Games, which also had a stake in the franchise's rights at the time. Now, after a roughly $18.4 million purchase, the entirety of the Control franchise belongs to Remedy. 

This includes the original Control game, its in-development sequel Control 2, the multiplayer spin-off Project Condor, and all future Control products. 

"The Control franchise is in the core of Remedy," the studio writes in a statement released today. "Having acquired the full rights to Control, Condor, and Control 2, Remedy is now in a position to make the right product and business decisions focusing on long-term franchise growth." 

With this deal, all publishing agreements between 505 Games and Remedy in regards to the Control franchise are terminated immediately by mutual agreement. All publishing, distribution, marketing, and other rights licensed to 505 Games are reverted to Remedy with immediate effect, as well. However, the two companies have agreed that 505 Games will continue as the publisher of Control through a transition period ending December 31, 2024. 

After this transition period, "505 Games will have no future royalty or other rights to Control." 

As for the $18.4 million price, Remedy says it's equal to "the amount that 505 Games has paid for the development of codename Condor and Control 2 to date including a minor premium." 

"Remedy is entitled to set off certain receivables from the purchase price, and therefore, the cash flow effect from the transaction will be clearly less than the purchase price," the statement reads. "Remedy will pay the net purchase price in three cash installments during the next twelve months." 

This transaction arrives a few months after 505 Games parent company Digital Bros Group laid off 30 percent of its staff to align with "the new competitive market." Other 505 Games-published titles include Ghostrunner 2, Payday 2, and the PC version of Death Stranding, amongst others. 

For more, read Game Informer's Control review, and then check out the latest update from Remedy about Control 2 and its Max Payne remakes. After that, read about what to expect with the multiplayer Control spin-off Project Condor

Are you more excited for Control 2 or Project Condor? Let us know in the comments below!



from Game Informer https://ift.tt/MEK0eDG
via IFTTT

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Mobile games

Twisted Metal game canceled

A massive sweep of layoffs has rocked various Sony first-party studios today, including Naughty Dog, Guerilla Games, and Insomniac. Another victim is Firesprite Games, the UK studio behind The Playroom games and The Persistence, and an additional casualty from that studio is reportedly a new Twisted Metal title.

According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, Firesprite had a Twisted Metal game in the works that has now been canceled. He reports that the game was a live-service title was very early in development, so it was not yet officially greenlit. You can read his full report here

Twisted Metal was PlayStation’s original flagship series, launching a couple of months after the PS1 was released in North America in the fall of 1995. The series includes eight sequels/spin-offs, the last of which remains the 2012 reboot for PS3. Peacock’s well-received live-action series has at least kept the series alive and is getting a second season. 

The number of layoffs to hit Firespirte is currently unknown. Sony acquired Firesprite in 2021, where it helped co-develop Horizon Call of the Mountain with Guerrilla Games. 900 employees have been laid off across several Sony 1st-party studios in various department. Blood & Truth creators London Studio has been shut down entirely. PlayStation Studios Hermen Hulst has cited overgrowth as the reason for the layoffs, and that the publisher has examined its portfolio of upcoming projects to determine which ones will cease production. It would appear that whatever this Twisted Metal project would have been, it's among several titles getting the axe. 

[Source: Bloomberg]



from Game Informer https://ift.tt/3qXPQaA
via IFTTT

Android Games

Twisted Metal game canceled

A massive sweep of layoffs has rocked various Sony first-party studios today, including Naughty Dog, Guerilla Games, and Insomniac. Another victim is Firesprite Games, the UK studio behind The Playroom games and The Persistence, and an additional casualty from that studio is reportedly a new Twisted Metal title.

According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, Firesprite had a Twisted Metal game in the works that has now been canceled. He reports that the game was a live-service title was very early in development, so it was not yet officially greenlit. You can read his full report here

Twisted Metal was PlayStation’s original flagship series, launching a couple of months after the PS1 was released in North America in the fall of 1995. The series includes eight sequels/spin-offs, the last of which remains the 2012 reboot for PS3. Peacock’s well-received live-action series has at least kept the series alive and is getting a second season. 

The number of layoffs to hit Firespirte is currently unknown. Sony acquired Firesprite in 2021, where it helped co-develop Horizon Call of the Mountain with Guerrilla Games. 900 employees have been laid off across several Sony 1st-party studios in various department. Blood & Truth creators London Studio has been shut down entirely. PlayStation Studios Hermen Hulst has cited overgrowth as the reason for the layoffs, and that the publisher has examined its portfolio of upcoming projects to determine which ones will cease production. It would appear that whatever this Twisted Metal project would have been, it's among several titles getting the axe. 

[Source: Bloomberg]



from Game Informer News https://ift.tt/3qXPQaA
via IFTTT

Android Games

Paranormal Activity game 2026

A video game based on the Paranormal Activity film franchise has been announced. Developed by Darkstone Digital, makers of the 2022 horror game The Mortuary Assistant, along with publisher DreadXP and Paramount Pictures, the upcoming game is slated to release in 2026. 

Like the films, Paranormal Activity will feature found-footage-style gameplay as well as a “Haunt System,” which dynamically changes the types of scares that unfold based on players’ actions. Unfortunately, a brief teaser trailer doesn’t do much but show some logos, so we may be waiting a while to see the game in action. 

“We are thrilled to work with Paramount Game Studios and to have the opportunity to bring the world of Paranormal Activity to gamers everywhere,” said Epic Pictures CEO and DreadXP producer Patrick Ewald in a press release. “The films are steeped in rich lore and creative scares, and under the stewardship of creative director Brian Clarke, DreadXP’s Paranormal Activity video game will honor those core tenets and offer horror fans one of our most terrifying games yet.”

Paranormal Activity has no announced platforms. It’s not the franchise’s first foray into video games. A 2017 game called Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul was released for PS4 and PC and was playable in VR. 



from Game Informer News https://ift.tt/HLSdEjv
via IFTTT

Mobile games

Paranormal Activity game 2026

A video game based on the Paranormal Activity film franchise has been announced. Developed by Darkstone Digital, makers of the 2022 horror game The Mortuary Assistant, along with publisher DreadXP and Paramount Pictures, the upcoming game is slated to release in 2026. 

Like the films, Paranormal Activity will feature found-footage-style gameplay as well as a “Haunt System,” which dynamically changes the types of scares that unfold based on players’ actions. Unfortunately, a brief teaser trailer doesn’t do much but show some logos, so we may be waiting a while to see the game in action. 

“We are thrilled to work with Paramount Game Studios and to have the opportunity to bring the world of Paranormal Activity to gamers everywhere,” said Epic Pictures CEO and DreadXP producer Patrick Ewald in a press release. “The films are steeped in rich lore and creative scares, and under the stewardship of creative director Brian Clarke, DreadXP’s Paranormal Activity video game will honor those core tenets and offer horror fans one of our most terrifying games yet.”

Paranormal Activity has no announced platforms. It’s not the franchise’s first foray into video games. A 2017 game called Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul was released for PS4 and PC and was playable in VR. 



from Game Informer https://ift.tt/HLSdEjv
via IFTTT

Mobile games

lego fortnite new islands raft survival obby fun

Epic Games and Lego unveiled Lego Fortnite, a brick-based survival game with crafting, combat, and more, back in December. Now, the companies have unveiled a new way to experience Lego in Fortnite: Lego Islands. Available today, Lego Islands is a family-friendly, all-ages play experience within the Lego Fortnite experience, and it's kicking off with two islands. 

The first is Lego Raft Survival. Created in Unreal Editor for Fortnite, Raft Survival "combines frenetic multiplayer problem solving with the classic Lego Pirates theme, as the infamous Blackbeard challenges players and their friends to stay afloat on a raft in unfriendly waters," a press release reads. Players must survive on their raft against cannon balls shot from Blackbeard's Barracuda ship, all while collecting wood and treasures as resources and building more rafts. 

Here's a look at Lego Raft Survival

 

The second island available starting today is Lego Obby Fun. Epic Games calls it the first official Lego-themed obstacle course in Fortnite, stating it "offers a Lego-inspired take on climbing and problem solving through brick-built platforms designed by actual Lego designers and packed with hot dogs, pizzas, unicorns, and much more."

Players are spawned randomly on a section of a course inspired by popular Lego themes, like Lego Friends, Lego City, Lego Ninjago, and Lego DreamZzz, and "the experience offers a different challenge each time to put their skills to the test, either solo or with friends." 

Here's a look at Lego Obby Fun: 

 

Epic Games says the Lego Fortnite journey, which began with Chapter 5 of Fortnite alongside Rocket Racing and Fortnite Festival, is just the beginning, with new world building, gameplay features, and Lego Style Outfits arriving in updates throughout the year. 

Both Lego Raft Survival and Lego Obby Fun are now live in Fortnite. 

For more, read about how Lady Gaga is now available in Fortnite, and then check out this partnership between Epic Games and Disney to bring the latter to Fortnite in a big way.  

Are you going to check out these Lego Islands? Let us know in the comments below!



from Game Informer https://ift.tt/sTZbOFt
via IFTTT