Top Story
GamesCom Opening Night Highlights
GamesCom’s Opening Night Live aired a selection of trailers for previously announced games, as well as a few brand new game announcements. Here are all the best bits from the two hour press conference.
There will be an ‘open alpha’ test for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on PlayStation 4 this weekend starting on August 23rd, with the opportunity to try out the 2v2 mode. Erica, an interactive thriller about a girl searching for answers about traumatic childhood events is available on PS4 right now.
New game announcements includes Little Nightmares II for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Switch as well as Kerbal Space Program 2 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, both launching in 2020.
Games of today, games of tomorrow – all here!
There were also tons of new trailers for lots of hotly anticipated games, including a Gears of War 5 campaign story trailer, a quick look at Monster Hunter World: Iceborne and gameplay trailers for Predator: Hunting Grounds, Disintegration, Need For Speed Heat and Stadia-exclusive launch title GYLT – oh, and a teaser for Life Is Strange 2: Episode 4.
Hideo Kojima’s gigahyped Death Stranding had a special showing at the end of the press conference, complete with Kojima taking the stage to talk about the game – although it didn’t really help us understand what the game is about.
No less than three new trailers were released, with one revealing that game journalist and Doritos pope Geoff Keighley will have a cameo appearance. Gameplay footage shows walking, walking, more walking, ladders, Sam consoling his bridge baby and – somewhat unexpectedly – revolutionary urination mechanics.
Time For A Quick Daily Quiz?
Which franchise was Hideo Kojima working on when he left Konami?
- Metal Gear Solid
- Silent Hill
- Castlevania
- Contra
The answer will be revealed at the end of this issue!
News Bits
Strange things in Dead by Daylight
A new chapter of Dead By Daylight is on the way, featuring characters and enemies from popular Netflix show Stranger Things. The creepy Demogorgon will feature as antagonist in the asymmetrical horror game, with characters Steve Harrington and Nancy Wheeler appearing as protagonists.
The new chapter will arrive on PC and consoles in September, alongside a new map – the Underground Complex, situated below the Hawkins Laboratory.
No upcoming bad fur days for Conker
Gory Detail, an indie studio comprised of Rare veterans Shawn Pile and Chris Seavor, has stated that the spiritual successor to Conker’s Bad Fur Day won’t be out any time soon. Chris Seavor confirmed that the game has been shelved in an interview with VGC.
Their new project, currently referred to as ‘Project4’ is supposed to have broader appeal and is well-suited to Early Access. Gory Detail’s most recent game, The Unlikely Legend of Rusty Pup, is also unlikely to be released on Switch since the team is busy on their new title.
Daily Fact
There are already 3 Blair Witch games
There’s a new Blair Witch game on the way, but did you know there were already three games in the series? They were all released around the same time to coincide with the second movie, Book of Shadows – which you’ve probably also forgotten.
Blair Witch Volumes 1-3 were released in 2000, and they expanded on the myths and lore introduced in the film – and that’s not all, each game were made by a different notable developer! Volume 1: Rustin Parr was developed by Terminal Reality, who made Ghostbusters: The Videogame (which is getting remastered this year).
Volume 2: The Legend of Coffin Rock was developed by Human Head Studios, responsible for the original Prey and the upcoming Rune II, while Ritual, who made the SiN series and Legacy of Kain: Defiance, was behind Volume 3: The Elly Kedward Tale. Unfortunately none of them were particularly good, but we hope the new game can break the curse…
Daily News
Inside Xbox GamesCom Roundup
It’s fair to say that Microsoft has created the biggest buzz so far at GamesCom with Inside Xbox, which showcased a number of reveals and exclusives. Here’s a roundup of some of the biggest news!
Xbox Game Pass’s library is growing, and eight new games are coming to the subscription services in the next month, including Devil May Cry 5, Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Blair Witch Project. Microsoft’s celebration of all things Xbox, X019, has been confirmed for November 14th to 16th in London. Free-to-play mobile game Gears POP! will be out on August 22nd, while Age of Empires II: Definite Edition comes out November 14th.
A flurry of big announcements for gaming fans
We got our first look at Gears of War 5’s Horde mode, which features Ultimate abilities similar to the special abilities in Overwatch for each character. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint also appeared, giving players a peek at the new 4v4 competitive multiplayer mode.
Romero Games and Paradox Interactive showed off Empire of Sin gameplay for the first time, giving a taste of the 1920s crime-boss lifestyle. We also found out Destiny 2’s upcoming expansion Shadowkeep brings players back to the moon. the first story DLC for Metro Exodus, The Two Colonels, also made an appearance.
Finally, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds made a big splash with its Season 4 update: the developers revealed that cross-platform play is coming to the console versions, enabling PlayStation 4 and Xbox One players to either join up or fight against each other. The cross-platform feature is coming to the live servers sometime in October.
Additionally, the map that started the phenomenon, Erangel, will receive a massive visual overhaul giving well-known locations like Mylta Power and Military Base a much-needed make-over. The update will also feature balance changes to weapons and vehicles to ensure the battleground remains fair.
If you’d like to watch the full Inside Xbox livestream, you can check it out on YouTube.
Mount & Blade II Early Access date
TaleWorlds Entertainment has announced that the much-anticipated Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord will be entering Early Access in March 2020. Players who can’t wait to explore the game’s sandbox and get punished by unforgiving combat will be able to sign up for a closed multiplayer beta.
A closer look at the Galar Region in Pokémon Sword and Shield
Game Freak have revealed another little glimpse of upcoming titles Pokémon Sword & Shield. Game Director, Shigeru Ohmori, featured in a short video that introduces fans to new scenes from a town in the Galar region.
The video begins at the Pokémon Research Lab, where Professor Magnolia has been researching the Dynamax phenomenon and later reveals the new games will feature trains for transport, in addition to the familiar Flying Taxi services from previous games. Additionally, different stores and boutiques were shown, before the video finishes with a quick glance at the wilds of Galar.
Pokémon Sword & Shield are due to release for Switch on November 15th.
