Stalker: Legends of the Zone Trilogy will finally make its Nintendo Switch debut later this year.
Announced during the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, GSC Game World has revealed that the Legends of the Zone Trilogy,which includes all three games that make up the original Stalker series, including Shadow of Chornobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Prypiat will be coming to Nintendo Switch on November 14.
These three versions have been optimized for Switch, featuring support for TV docked, handheld, and tabletop mode, as well as gyroscope integration and touchscreen controls.
"Thanks to these changes, the experience in the Chornobyl Anomalous Zone will feel authentic for all players - both for those who want to refresh their memories and for new stalkers," GSC Game World said.
Before this, the three classic Stalker games were only available on PC and were also "refined" for a console.
GSC Game World is also set to release Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl on November 20, for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, and day one on Xbox Game Pass.
The upcoming game was set to release on September 5 but was hit by a two-month delay so the studio could smooth out some emergency bugs. Stalker 2 was also delayed back in January from its original Q1 2024 release date for similar reasons.
In a new press release looking back on the studio's financial report for the first half of the year, joint CEO Michał Nowakowski said that CD Projekt Red is now "gearing up to begin the full-fledged production phase" of the next major Witcher game - aka Project Polaris - and that its Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, Project Orion, is now in the planning phase.
"Work on Polaris is progressing – its development team is nearing a major milestone which will mark the end of the preproduction phase," Nowakowski said.
"The first half of the year was also a busy period for our Boston studio, which is laying the groundwork for Project Orion – a new game set in the Cyberpunk universe."
The next Witcher game "Polaris" is nearing ending pre-production and will enter full production soon.The next Cyberpunk game "Orion" makes good progress.https://t.co/2IHWXsrhiP pic.twitter.com/EVMrAmQczSAugust 28, 2024
In a separate earnings call covered by VGC, Nowakowski reaffirmed that work on the studio's ongoing projects is "pretty stable" and that they "have been progressing at a consistent pace."
"The Polaris team is maintaining the right scale to enter the production phase very soon, while our work on both announced and unannounced projects is steadily progressing," the CEO added.
Polaris was announced in March 2022 and will kick off a new saga for the role-playing game (RPG) series. As of July 31, 2024, it's now being worked on by 410 developers, which was predicted by CDPR CEO Adam Kiciński last year.
"Half of the quest team [on the next Cyberpunk] - this is the team that builds the quests which is at 24 people right now - are former modders," Sasko said. "[They come] from Witcher, Cyberpunk, and other games."
You might also like...
Best RPGs 2024 - top role-playing games for PC and consoles
Don't lose hope, Metal Gear fans! Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots may still come to PC and current-gen consoles.
Last year, Konami released the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, featuring the first five games in the popular action-stealth franchise, including Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
Ever since, fans have been eager for the studio to re-release Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4 next, which has lived on the PlayStation 3 since its launch in 2008.
Now, in a new interview with IGN, Konami producer Noriaki Okamura has strongly suggested that the company is planning to do just that.
"We definitely are aware of this situation with MGS4," Okamura said, when asked whether Metal Gear Solid 4 could potentially see a modern release.
"Unfortunately we can't really say too much at the moment with Vol. 1 containing MGS 1-3 dot dot dot… you can probably connect the dots!
"Right now we still are internally concerned about what we should be doing for the future of the series. So sorry, we can't really reveal anything at the moment. But stay tuned!"
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is currently available to play on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, which means that a potential Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 could see Metal Gear Solid 4 make its multi-platform jump for the first time in 16 years.
Last night, Ubisoft sent out an email to certain PS5 players and informed them that they are required to install the latest patch intended to address a series of bugs, as well as implement a 40FPS mode, which seemingly wasn't present in some copies at launch.
However, the publisher noted that Patch 1.000.002 may cause save files to become corrupted and advised players to start fresh otherwise they'll be faced with game-progression issues.
"To best experience the Outer Rim, we rolled out a maintenance to make sure everyone is playing the latest version of the game," the email reads (via IGN). "As one of the players affected who had access to an older version of the game, we are aware you might be encountering some issues after this recent patch. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.
"Once you’ve confirmed you have the latest version, please start a new save to fully enjoy Star Wars Outlaws as our team intended. If you continue on a prior save you will unfortunately face issues and progression blockers."
Massive Entertainment's open-world Star Wars game is now available three days ahead of its official August 30 release date for those who purchased the Gold Edition for $109.99 / £94.99 or the Ultimate Edition for $129.99 / £114.99.
Players affected by the latest patch, and put in hours of game time during the access period, will now be forced to begin their adventure all over again.
"Bit of a bummer because I spent several hours in it last night and restarting would kill a lot of hype for the game for me," one Reddit user wrote.
Another said, "I’m disgusted. Paid $110 and played all night, 12 hour stretch. This is how Ubi thanks us??"
Ubisoft has since released another statement (via GamesRadar) that provides some additional context into the matter, as well as offered compensation rewards for PS5 players affected by the issue, including a trinket for their ship and Ubisoft Connect Units.
"On August 27, our teams identified an issue where some PS5 players were playing on a previous version of the game," a Ubisoft spokesperson said. "We quickly deployed an update and informed affected players to ensure their game was updated to the latest version (1.000.002) and advised that they begin a new save to avoid additional issues and progression blockers.
"We've followed up with affected PS5 players today to inform them we have provided them an in-game Trailblazer trinket as well as 100 Ubisoft Connect Units (to redeem for in-game rewards, for example) to make their return to the Outer Rim a little more special."
Sorry, PSVR 2 owners. It looks like Astro Bot won't be getting any support for the VR headset.
This was confirmed in an interview with the upcoming game's creative director, Nicolas Doucet. MinnMax's Ben Hanson posed the question as to whether Astro Bot will make it to PSVR 2, to which Doucet replied: "no chance," adding that "it would be a different game."
While this is probably not the answer many PSVR 2 owners would've wanted to hear, it's understandable. Astro Bot: Rescue Missionfor the original PlayStation VR was designed from the ground up for the headset, meaning many of its gameplay elements could only work in VR. Much like Astro's Playroom before it, Team Asobi seems set on developing the best console experience that it can.
In better news, Doucet doesn't shut down the possibility of a PC version of Astro Bot somewhere down the line. When asked if he has a message for PC players who'd like to play the game, Doucet replies: "Well, we want to hear from you. Absolutely, we want to hear from you." Not a concrete yes, then, but at least the door is open there.
Astro Bot is slated to launch exclusively on PlayStation 5 on September 6. A full-fledged 3D platformer that celebrates PlayStation's rich history while also making full use of the DualSense wireless controller's functionality.
The game is also set to feature more than 150 PlayStation character cameos. Like previous games in the series, such as Astro's Playroom, we're expecting plenty of deep cuts here - which has us excited.
The latest reports on a potential PS5 Pro are stating that the mid-gen refresh console is still on track for a release this year and yes, it'll likely cost you an arm and a leg.
As reported by GameSpot, the reports come from reporter Jeff Grubb, who spoke about the PS5 Pro in a recent episode of the Game Mess Mornings podcast. During the episode, Grubb stated that: "The last I heard, this thing [PS5 Pro] is still coming out this year."
Grubb also remarks that a State of Play presentation could be airing soon: "More recently, what I've heard is there is probably going to be a State of Play, not a Showcase, by the end of September," he says.
To be clear, Grubb does not specify whether or not the PS5 Pro will make its debut at this potential State of Play presentation. But there is certainly a possibility of it if the PS5 Pro is set to launch in the coming months; most likely over the Holiday season. Lastly, Grubb estimates that the PS5 Pro could cost around $600, but isn't ruling out a price as high as $700 for the upgraded hardware.
If Sony is set to launch a PS5 Pro this year, it would have beaten Microsoft to the punch in terms of mid-range refresh releases. Team Green does have new Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S hardware on the way, including an all-digital Xbox Series X, a white variant of the 1TB Xbox Series S, and a special edition Series X with 2TB of storage and a unique galaxy pattern. We've even got a new Xbox console pre-order guide for those machines due to launch in October if you're keen to get one of those new models.
Amazon Prime Gaming members can now claim three Lord of the Rings games free of charge.
To celebrate the upcoming release of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 on August 29, Amazon is now offering subscribers the chance to add three games inspired by the Tolkien universe to their collections.
The exclusive offer is running from today through September 30, 2024, with each title being offered a code for either GOG or access via Amazon Luna.
Those subscribed to Amazon Prime, which automatically unlocks the Prime Gaming benefit, can head over to PrimeGaming.com, log in to their account, and simply claim the three following games at no extra cost.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition - GOG
LEGO The Lord of the Rings - GOG
Middle-earth: Shadow of War - Amazon Luna in supported countries
While Lego The Lord of the Rings is inspired by the popular film trilogy, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War are spin-off action-adventure role-playing games (RPG) featuring an original narrative.
If you're not already a Prime member, you can currently claim a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime to get access to these games. Just like a regular membership, you'll get access to a ton of discounts, including savings on free delivery and access to other Amazon services like Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Gaming, and more.
You can see the very best prices on an Amazon Prime subscription or claim your free trial below.
LocalThunk has released a free update for its roguelike card game Balatro, featuring decks inspired by The Witcher, Vampire Survivors, Dave The Diver, and Among Us.
The announcement kicked off today's Nintendo Direct IndieWorld Partner Showcase, where it was revealed that the free Balatro: Friends of Jimbo update is now available across all platforms, which includes PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
From the gameplay trailer, which you can see below, it looks like each new deck included in the free update will feature themed cards inspired by their respective collaborations.
For instance, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt deck includes cards with designs based on the series' main characters, Geralt of Rivia and Yennefer of Vengerberg. It seems that the Vampire Survivors, Dave The Diver, and Among Us decks will also feature characters and locations drawn from their games, too.
LocalThunk also seemed to tease that additional Balatro collaborations will arrive in the future, as the end of the trailer hints, "That will do... for now", suggesting even more to come.
Balatro launched earlier this year and is a roguelike card game inspired by poker with satisfying deckbuilding mechanics, boss battles, an in-depth campaign mode with eight difficulties, as well as challenge and seeded runs.
"Combine valid poker hands with unique Joker cards in order to create varied synergies and builds," the description reads. "Earn enough chips to beat devious blinds, all while uncovering hidden bonus hands and decks as you progress. You’re going to need every edge you can get in order to reach the boss blind, beat the final ante, and secure victory."
It's among Steam's most popular games of 2024 and is sitting at an "Overwhelming Positive" rating with over 41,140 reviews.
Sony has announced a new way for users to customize their DualSense Edge controller on PC.
As revealed in a new X / Twitter post today, PC players will now be able to fully customize their DualSense Edge controller directly from their desktop thanks to the brand-new PlayStation Accessories app.
With this app, which you can download here, Windows users can change settings and update the controller's firmware directly from their PC. All you'll need after installing the program is a USB cable or Bluetooth to connect your controller to your PC.
In a short tutorial video provided alongside the announcement post, it looks like users can not only change button layouts but also change other aspects of the controller, such as Stick Sensitivity/Deadzone, Trigger Deadzone, and Vibration/Trigger Effect Intensity.
Starting today PC gamers can unleash the full customizable power of the DualSense Edge controller directly on their computer.With the PlayStation Accessories app, customize the controller’s settings and update its firmware directly from your Windows PC: https://t.co/QoPFGu8qC7 pic.twitter.com/FQHNkkfbSfAugust 27, 2024
Sony calls PlayStation Accessories the new name for "Firmware updater for DualSense wireless controller" in the Version 2.0.0.13 patch notes on the download page, and notes that it's made "significant improvements to the overall design and user experience."
The company also recommends installing the latest update for your app and controller as soon as possible now that the update has been released.
The company cites a "challenging external environment" that includes the "current fluctuations in the global economic situation" for its decision to deliver a price hike to its PlayStation tech.
This means that both the PS5 standard and digital edition will cost an additional 13,000 yen (roughly $90), making it the third price hike since the console launched in Japan in 2020.
That's according to a new PlayStation Japan Blog post (which we machine translated), where Sony announced that it will be revising the suggested retail price of the PS5 and "related peripherals" on September 2, 2024.
"Given the recent challenging external environment, including the current fluctuations in the global economic situation, and the impact it will have on our business, we have reached this decision," the company explained.
This means both versions of the PS5 - the standard and digital edition - will cost an additional 13,000 yen (roughly $90), making it the third price hike since the console launched in Japan in 2020.
As of September 2, the PS5 will cost 79,980 yen ($552.39 / £417.98) and the PS5 Digital Edition will cost 72,980 yen ($504.05 / £381.39).
Sony is raising PS5 prices in Japan on September 2nd. Both models are going up by 13,000 yen (nearly $90), in the third PS5 console price hike in Japan since its launch in 2020 https://t.co/1i3QOEkdDV pic.twitter.com/J7Y5OCT8YYAugust 27, 2024
As Sony details in the blog post, other PlayStation tech will also be getting a price increase, including all DualSense Wireless controllers and their color variations, which will now cost 11,480 yen ($79.29 / £59.99), as well as the PlayStation VR2 and the PlayStation VR2 "Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle", both of which will cost 89,980 yen ($621.15 / £470.19) and 94,980 yen ($655.67 / £496.11) respectively.
The latest retail price increase comes just after new rumors recently emerged about the PlayStation 5 Pro.
According to industry commentator Jeff Grubb and reported by GameSpot, Sony is gearing up for an upcoming State of Play in September, where he said it could potentially reveal its next console. Grubb also said that if it were to be announced at this time, it could then go on sale in October at an estimated price of $600 - $700.
Thanks to a Direct event that aired in early June, we know that we'll be getting the Worldwide Multiplayer Reveal event at Call of Duty NEXT, on August 28. Stay tuned for more details so you can be prepared to jump into the MP Beta and experience the incredible Omnimovement and additional innovations for yourself.
The Call of Duty Black Ops 6 beta will allow players to jump into the game before launch, giving them a taste of the new weapons and Omnimovement mechanics later this week (commencing Monday, August 26).
There are two distinct beta periods, one week apart, with different ways to access each one. If you're looking to play Black Ops 6 as early as possible, you'll need to know the details on the Early Access weekend, before the game is opened up to more players the following weekend.
From what we've seen of Black Ops 6 so far, it's certainly got a great chance of ending up on our best FPS games list by the end of the year, with a globe-trotting campaign, a new set of movement skills, and new Warzone integration. The upcoming beta is the best way to find out how the game feels, and whether or not you'll be diving in fully when launch comes around.
Here's everything you need to know about the Black Ops 6 beta start date, including how to get Early Access, and when the open beta goes live. As we approach launch day, we'll update the page with the latest comms from developer Treyarch.
Black Ops 6 beta start date
(Image credit: Activision)
The Black Ops 6 beta goes live on August 30 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST. This is the early access period, the first of two weekends that'll allow players to jump into the game early. You'll find the full schedule below:
Early Access (Weekend One): August 30 - September 4
Open Beta (Weekend Two): September 6 - September 9
As we get a bit closer to Friday, Activision is likely to reveal the exact timings per time zone. Once it does, this section will be updated.
Black Ops 6 Early Access - how to get in
(Image credit: Activision)
To get into the Black Ops 6 Early Access beta weekend, you'll need to have pre-ordered the game, or be an Xbox Game Pass subscriber (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, or Game Pass Console).
You can often find cheap Game Pass deals, so that's what we'd recommend if you're unsure about pre-ordering Black Ops 6 just yet. Note that the Early Access beta ends on Wednesday, September 4 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST.
Black Ops 6 open beta
(Image credit: Activision)
The Black Ops 6 open beta weekend runs from September 6 - September 9. It'll go live at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST on the Friday, and then end at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST on the Monday. You'll be able to download the beta from the PlayStation, Xbox, and Battle.net storefronts.
What to expect from the Black Ops 6 beta
(Image credit: Activision)
We don't yet know what'll be included in the Black Ops 6 beta, but we expect that to change on Wednesday, during the Call of Duty NEXT event. Looking at last year's beta, Modern Warfare 3 offered up a handful of maps, preset loadouts, and modes for players to try out. The selection is likely to be expanded with the arrival of the second beta period, alongside the open beta. Stay tuned to find out exactly what maps and modes will be available.
Black Ops 6 beta FAQ
Can you preload the Black Ops 6 beta?
You can preload the Black Ops 6 beta from August 28, 2024, on all platforms. This works whether you're jumping into the Early Access weekend, or the open beta the week after. Just search for it in your respective store, and free up enough space (we estimate it'll be around 70 - 80GB).
What is the Black Ops 6 beta Vault Edition bonus?
If you pre-ordered the Black Ops 6 Vault Edition, you'll be able to use some of your bonuses during the beta. Expect to play as any of the four Operators from the Hunter vs Hunted Operator Pack. These include Park, Adler, Brutus, and Klaus. You'll also get to try five weapons from the Mastercraft Weapon Collection.
Is the Black Ops 6 Beta on Game Pass?
The Black Ops 6 beta will be available on Xbox Game Pass starting August 30 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST. Just log into your Xbox or PC subscription and it'll appear in your collection. Game Pass Subscribers can access both beta weekends at no extra cost.
Following its PC and combat spotlight last week, the studio has officially kicked off what it's calling the "Companion's Week" part of its roadmap ahead of the release of its next Dragon Age game.
In an updated blog post, BioWare offered new insight into the characters you'll be able to recruit as the playable hero Rook with updated character profiles, including Harding, Davrin, Bellara, Taash, Lucanis, Emmrich, and Neve.
We've already seen sneak peeks of the characters through the 20-minute gameplay demo and the release date trailer the studio has previously released, but now we finally have confirmation on how these companions will aid you in battle, as well as what faction and class they belong to.
You can take a look at their character profiles below, but we know that there will be two warriors, two rogues, and three mages available for you to build a party. As for what exactly their abilities do, BioWare could potentially release additional gameplay teasers showcasing each character in action as we proceed through Companion's Week.
Lace Harding (Rogue) - Inquisition
Harding's skills with the bow are unmatched - her arrows can stagger enemies and shred armor.
Abilities:
Davrin (Warrior) - Grey Wardens
Fiercely loyal, Davrin brings his enemies down hard with a combination of mighty attacks, teaming with Assan to keep their companions out of danger.
Abilities:
Bellara Lutare(Mage) - The Veil Jumpers
Bellara manipulates the Fade and uses electricity and control magic to support her Companions and diminish the powers of their foes.
Abilities:
Tassh (Warrior) - The Lords of Fortune
Blunt and straightforward, Taash is a mighty warrior, who wields dual-axes and breathes out flames, igniting enemies with draconic fury.
Abilities:
Lucanis Dellamorte(Rogue) - The Antivan Crows
Lucanis stylishly deals necrotic damage in battle with his dual-daggers, whilst supporting his companions with potions and buffs.
Abilities:
EmmrichVolkarin(Mage) - The Mourn Watch
Emmrich summons forth spirits of the dead to both entangle and hinder his enemies and heal his companions.
Abilities:
Neve Gallus(Mage) - The Shadow Dragons
Neve uses her talents as an ice mage to freeze and slow enemies, stopping them in their tracks.
