Bethesda's first new IP in decades, Starfield, launches in September, but unreleased gameplay footage is already making the rounds. However, after sharing almost an hour of Starfield's opening scenes weeks before launch, it seems the source was arrested.

The debacle began at the start of the week when said leaker posted low-quality videos of himself playing Starfield. Most of the original uploads are no longer available. YouTube's takedowns cite copyright claims by ZeniMax Media, Bethesda's parent company, and removed within hours of going live early on August 22.

However, this didn't seem to dissuade the original uploader. Additional videos later followed featuring himself with several copies of Starfield for sale ahead of the official release date. The original uploads are gone, but other users reposted some of the videos. One line in particular, "Todd, no offense man, that's a good game," seems to have endeared itself already as new internet lingo.

https://twitter.com/Mr_Rebs_/status/1694124414416060459

Naturally, Starfield leaks drew quite a few critical looks. Many of them grew suspicious as the leaker listed copies of Starfield, along with several other items, on the online store Mercari (where his profile seems to have since been deleted). In a bid to prove authenticity, he posted additional videos of himself sending sealed copies of the game to buyers via FedEx.

Not long after, a record of what appears to be the leaker's arrest emerged via Recently Booked and the Shelby County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office site, as reported by Kotaku. Booked as 29-year-old Darin Harris, his charges include two theft of property counts - one felony and a misdemeanor. At the moment, there's no official word linking the leaks and charges. However, the person behind them did not seem to conceal their identity.

If they are related, it wouldn't be the first time crimes involving big publishers landed someone in legal trouble. In 2022, a 17-year-old was arrested in the UK for a hacking spree and GTA 6 leaks. HoYoVerse has also pursued individuals over Genshin Impact leaks, seeking information to obtain identifying information through Discord subpoenas.

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The paranormal horror game Phasmophobia originally launched on September 18, 2020, on PC where it enjoyed popularity among streamers. Kinetic Games has PS5 and Xbox Series X/S ports in the works, but you'll have to wait a little longer than expected before you can get your hands on them. The studio has announced that the game has been delayed, pushing its Early Access console launch from August to October, in the week leading up to Halloween.

https://twitter.com/KineticGame/status/1694849069045194958?t=tRaDEz-xKbFYrOeZT2OxnQ&s=19

As the studio explains on Twitter, the delay is the result of a "fire incident" in its office building, along with "unpredicted development issues." With the extra time gained by the delay, the studio hopes to perfect and fine-tune the ports.

[caption id="attachment_399024" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Kinetic Games.[/caption]

Phasmophobia lands just in time for Halloween

The delay isn't too long, and in the meantime, PC players can enjoy the recently released Ascension update which brings several changes, including a new leveling system with "new rates of progression, new unlocks, and a prestige system," along with several minor bug fixes.

PS5 owners will be happy to know that a PS VR2 version is also in the works, and crossplay will allow friends to play together regardless of what platform they're on. The game has already demonstrated that it is capable of providing a terrifying VR experience thanks to its VR support on PC.

Phasmophobia's minor delay pushes it into an appropriately spooky time, which could end up being a positive for it. However, Phasmophobia will have to contend with several other headliners scheduled for October, including horror titles like Alan Wake 2 and Alone in the Dark.

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GSC Game World's S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has had quite an eventful development timeline. Fans were initially excited when the game was announced, though it quickly drew criticism when developers announced that NFTs would be included. The Ukrainian studio backtracked on this, though it then had to contend with the Russian invasion of Ukraine which resulted in the game's delay.

As revealed in a fact sheet from the studio at Gamescom 2023, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has been delayed yet again, pushing its release date to Q1 2024. This may be disappointing news but with a new trailer out, you can rest assured that GSC Game World is still working hard on the upcoming game.

[caption id="attachment_398998" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via GSC Game World.[/caption]

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's development has been anything but predictable

It was inevitable that the Ukranian studio would be affected by the ongoing conflict, as it was based in Kyiv. When the invasion began, development was paused as the studio relocated to Prague and employees fled the conflict zone. Some decided to stay and fight alongside the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

https://youtu.be/bcDHClWRHd8

The studio has also found itself subject to cyberattacks originating in Russia, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's site was banned from the country after it ceased operations there. Despite the setbacks, the studio has continued to condemn the Russian invasion while embracing its Ukranian roots.

https://twitter.com/stalker_thegame/status/1694655679271690472

On a more positive note, preorders for the game are finally available, which represents some progress. It has also received positive reception at Gamescom 2023 where a playable demo was available, indicating that the long wait might be worth it.

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BioWare is a large studio known for titles such as Mass Effect: Andromeda and Dragon Age: Inquisition. It appears that all is not well at the studio, as on August 23, it announced that it is "eliminating approximately 50 roles."

According to a statement released by general manager Gary McKay, the move was made to help BioWare become a "more agile and more focused studio." McKay states that this is an unavoidable outcome, and steps will be taken to "ensure the process is handled with empathy, respect, and clear communication."

[caption id="attachment_398647" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Bioware.[/caption]

What's going on at BioWare?

According to McKay, BioWare's long-term vision is to deliver "exceptional story-driven single-player experiences filled with vast worlds and rich characters." This involves ensuring that the upcoming Dragon Age and Mass Effect games are a success. The announcement reveals that the studio's dedication to Dragon Age: Dreadwolf hasn't wavered, and that a team led by Mike Gamble is still working on the next Mass Effect game.

Employees affected by the layoffs won't be left stranded, according to McKay who promises to provide "impacted colleagues with as many internal opportunities as possible," though he does state that it is unlikely that everyone will find new internal roles. With several roles opening up in Electronic Arts' other studios, affected workers will also be assisted with their applications for these positions.

This is unfortunate news, though BioWare isn't the only studio that has suffered layoffs this year. The AR gaming studio Niantic has also met the same fate, as well as CD Projekt Red and  The Callisto Protocol's Striking Distance, to name a few.

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Microsoft first announced its intentions to acquire Activision Blizzard in 2022. Since then, the road to closing the deal has been a long, sinuous one. The megacorporation has faced pushback from several sources, including Sony. The competitor argues that the acquisition would be anti-competitive, especially if franchises like Call of Duty become Xbox and PC exclusives. Some governing bodies have also stepped in, now prompting Microsoft to revisit its initial agreement.

Previously, Microsoft claimed it was committed to keeping Call of Duty on PlayStation, at least for the next 10 years. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) also voted to block the buyout, driving the companies to push back the merger deadline to October 18. Initially, the CMA made its case against the deal over Microsoft's potential monopolization of cloud game streaming. To appease the CMA, Microsoft has decided to give Ubisoft a piece of the cloud game streaming pie.

Microsoft intends for Ubisoft to compensate it "for the cloud streaming rights to Activision Blizzard’s games through a one-off payment and through a market-based wholesale pricing mechanism." Ubisoft could also offer Activision Blizzard games to cloud services running non-Windows operating systems.

[caption id="attachment_358407" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Ubisoft.[/caption]

Microsoft restructures its agreement to include Ubisoft

The proposed changes would, in theory, limit Microsoft's ability to monopolize cloud game streaming. According to vice chair and president Brad Smith, the company would "not be in a position either to release Activision Blizzard games exclusively on its own cloud streaming service – Xbox Cloud Gaming – or to exclusively control the licensing terms of Activision Blizzard games for rival services."

Navigating cloud streaming rights remains tricky for Microsoft, as it has several preexisting commitments in place. The company currently maintains obligations to "provide cloud streaming rights in the European Economic Area". Currently, Microsoft holds contractual agreements with cloud streaming providers such as Nvidia, Boosteroid, Ubitus, and Nware.

The merger agreement expired in July, though it received that 90-day extension. Nevertheless, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard continue to make headway slowly, and the "transaction is now in a position to move forward in more than 40 countries". If completed, the $68.7 billion acquisition will be the most expensive in gaming history by a significant margin.

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Sony previously unveiled its plans to release a handheld streaming device codenamed Project Q. After a period of silence, we’ve now gotten a better glimpse of the device and its specs. The streaming device's official name is the PlayStation Portal, and it is set to launch this year with a $199.99 price tag.

The handheld has many of the immersive features of the DualSense controller, including haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. It'll also sport an 8-inch LCD screen capable of 1080p resolution at 60 FPS.

[caption id="attachment_398407" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sony.[/caption]

Who's the PlayStation Portal for?

According to Sony, the Portal is for people "in households where they might need to share their living room TV or simply want to play PS5 games in another room of the house." This is a feature that has been available since at least the PS3. Remote play has only become more accessible since then, and you can easily take advantage of this feature on PCs, mobile devices, and tablets.

Perhaps the biggest benefit comes with the DualSense features which will ensure you can have the full PS5 experience even when you're not on your couch. A few publications have had hands-on experience with the remote play device. IGN reveals that you won't have to be connected to the same network as your PS5, which means you'll be able to use the device anywhere as long as your PS5 is on and connected to the net.

If you're interested in the Portal, you should be aware that there are some limitations. Most notably, it lacks Bluetooth, you won't be able to play VR2 games on it, and it can't access PlayStation Plus Premium's cloud streaming. There are also general issues that arise with remote play, including latency issues and the need for a constant internet connection. Lastly - and this should be stressed - it is purely a remote play device not capable of running any games locally. If you're not connected to the internet, it is useless.

The lack of Bluetooth likely isn't an oversight, as Sony will be using PlayStation Link wireless audio technology which "delivers low latency, lossless audio and easy switching between multiple PlayStation Link hosts such as PS5 with the USB adapter and PlayStation Portal." Conveniently for Sony, this appears to limit users to using PlayStation Link-compatible headsets, or settling for wired ones. It's hard to not cringe at this choice, as the push for proprietary peripherals such as memory cards played a role in the death of PlayStation's handheld devices.

There are still a few unknowns surrounding the device. Its battery life hasn't been confirmed, nor is there an official release date. The Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore headsets - which, as you'd suspect, leverage PlayStation Link - are also set to release this year, though no release date has been given.

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The Steam Deck comes with a beautiful 1280x800 LCD screen, and you can have an anti-glare filter slapped onto it if you buy the premium 512GB version. For those who aren’t satisfied, there’s the DeckHD screen which boasts a 1920x1200 resolution and promises to deliver more vibrant colors.

After going on sale, the aftermarket screen replacement sold out within 5 minutes. The possibilities are exciting, and the Steam Deck is designed to be easily disassembled, though owners of the handheld should proceed with caution if they intend on making such modifications.

[caption id="attachment_398335" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

A better screen, but at what cost?

With the DeckHD, you’ll enjoy a wider color gamut along with an anti-glare coating, allowing you to play in varied light conditions. For Deck owners who want to give the aftermarket screen a shot, a waiting list is available.

If you’re interested, you should be aware of a few things. Firstly, installing the screen will require you to dismantle your Deck. This isn’t too hard, and Valve has provided instructions on how to do so (with plenty of warnings). Nevertheless, you should be careful when handling delicate electronics.

https://youtu.be/Dxnr2FAADAs

Secondly, after installing the new screen, you will need to customize your handheld’s BIOS to be compatible. Though this isn’t too complicated of a process, it does come with the risk of permanently bricking your Deck. You’ll also need to do this multiple times because every SteamOS upgrade will revert the BIOS.

Lastly, you have to remember that the Deck was designed to power an 800p screen. As PCGamesN explains, installing a higher resolution screen without more power could “irrecoverably cripple frame rates in already demanding games." Issues with powering a different screen are one of the reasons why Valve hasn’t released an OLED version of the Deck. According to Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais, “the idea that you could just swap in a new screen and be done - it would need more than that to be doable.”

The Deck is a highly customizable gaming device, both on the software and hardware level, but it does have its limits. If you’re interested in making changes as drastic as a screen replacement, make sure you know what you’re doing and understand the risks.

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NetherRealm's Mortal Kombat 1 is just a few weeks away, and players are slowly learning about what's in store. GamesHub's Edmond Tran recently revealed an interesting detail that suggests the upcoming game may feature some nifty accessibility options. After losing in the Mortal Kombat 1 beta, he did a little sleuthing and discovered that he was playing what he believes to be a blind gamer. This led to him learning that the fighting game features a descriptive audio option for Fatalities.

https://twitter.com/EdmondTran/status/1693244537651785899

The example Tran posts has a narrator describing how Li Mei yanks out her victim's guts and decapitates them with a kick. The gruesome descriptions should serve as a great aid for visually impaired gamers hoping to immerse themselves in Mortal Kombat's gory world. That said, they're nauseatingly vivid enough to use for the awesome factor alone.

[caption id="attachment_393384" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via NetherRealm.[/caption]

Mortal Kombat 1 blends the old with the new

The closed beta test ran from August 18 until August 21, and several players have been showing off the upcoming game's slick visuals and bloody Fatalities. Johnny Cage has received quite a bit of attention, with many players enjoying his moves.

https://twitter.com/JockyRhonson/status/1692629225444970702

Fatalities are a key focus of Mortal Kombat 1. These are of course joined by Quitalities, which will make a return. This finishing move will activate when the loser of a match quits before the end of the round, causing their character to suffer a spectacularly violent death. The game will also introduce Kameo Fighters to provide you assistance during matches. Kameo Fighters revealed include classic franchise characters such as Ferra, Khameleon, Mavado, and Tremor.

Mortal Kombat 1 will be making an appearance at Gamescom 2023, though it won't be the only fighting game available. Tekken 8 is also scheduled to show up, and it'll be playable at Bandai Namco's booth.

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KO_OP's Goodbye Volcano High was first revealed during Sony's 2020 PlayStation Showcase. Featuring colorful dinosaurs in their last year of high school, the game has been subject to numerous delays. The first came in 2021, when countless other games were subject to the same fate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, it was pushed to this year and then delayed again after missing its June 15 release date.

https://twitter.com/KOOPMode/status/1693691706737103311

Its August 29 launch date appears to be the one to stick, as KO_OP has announced that the game has gone gold. The announcement congratulates the team for their "huge achievement", which is understandable, as it appears development was a trying process. Finally, almost four years after the first reveal, we'll finally get a taste of what the studio has been cooking up.

[caption id="attachment_397940" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via KO_OP.[/caption]

What to expect from Goodbye Volcano High

Fang, Reed, and Trish, members of the band VVORM DRAMA, are three dinosaurs in their final year of high school. With only a limited time left, they'll have to make some tough decisions. In a PlayStation blog post, KO_OP described it as a cinematic game that's meant to feel like binging on a series, though "unlike with TV, you’ll have the power and the emotion in your hands as you guide our characters through a branching narrative."

The game has rhythm elements to complement its musical themes and features an original soundtrack by Montreal-based artist Dabu. A demo of Goodbye Volcano High is available on Steam for players to discover more about what the game has in store.

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Gamescom 2023 will be kicking off today, and Geoff Keighley is the host. He recently hopped on Twitter to reveal that Zack Snyder will be promoting the upcoming epic space opera, Rebel Moon. The Snyder-directed film will be available on December 22, though that’s not the only thing he’ll be promoting, as Keighley also stated that the director has a “special announcement” in store.

https://twitter.com/geoffkeighley/status/1693659685428117822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

What Snyder could be planning to announce here is anyone's guess. For instance, he has mentioned that Rebel Moon will be receiving a video game adaptation. Not many details have been revealed, though Snyder has excitedly stated that it is an RPG that is “literally insane and so immersive and so intense and so huge.” It wouldn’t be a surprise to discover that his announcement involves the upcoming Rebel Moon game.

[caption id="attachment_397886" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Gamescom.[/caption]

Gamescom 2023 is finally upon us

Gamescom begins with Opening Night Live today at 11 AM PDT. You can watch it on YouTube and Twitter, and if you tune in half an hour earlier, you’ll catch the pre-show. A few games have already been confirmed to make an appearance, including:

• Alan Wake 2
• Assassin’s Creed Mirage
• Lords of the Fallen
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Sonic Superstars

The trade fair will run until August 27. Planned events include Awesome Indies which, as you might guess, will showcase the latest and upcoming indie games. You can also expect the Future Games Show on August 23, and Level Infinite’s Into the Infinite event on the same day.

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After a long period of rumors followed by an official announcement, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is finally nearing launch. Ubisoft's next installment takes place in 9th-century Baghdad, with Basim Ibn Ishaq taking center stage. Mirage is said to return to the Assassin’s Creed series roots, embracing stealth and parkour.

As the case with past Assassin’s Creed games, Mirage features historical locations and figures that complement more fantastical aspects of its story. In the latest developer behind-the-scenes, the Mirage team discussed the meticulous details and research that went into making Mirage. It's all in an effort to deliver a more authentic recreation of Baghdad—one that doesn’t fall victim to common tropes and cliches.

[caption id="attachment_397660" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via Ubisoft YouTube.[/caption]

Assassin’s Creed Mirage focuses on the beauty of Baghdad

With its rich history, Baghdad is an easy city to draw inspiration from. It was once the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, and it had the honor of being one of the world’s biggest cities during the Islamic Golden Age. Even so, despite its rich history, Mirage developers were aware modern depictions of Baghdad often neglect this rich cultural heritage.

According to artistic director Jean-Luc Sala, research for Mirage was a little harder than usual because, unlike other settings, “almost nothing from the period has survived to the present day.” Hence, they consulted various experts and relied on descriptions from Medieval travelers, as well as archaeological findings from neighboring cities. Using this information, the team carved out their rendition of Baghdad into four distinct regions:

• Abbasiyah - Baghdad’s cultural hub where scholars and scientists congregate.
• Karkh - A market district where people barter, bargain, and trade.
• Harbiyah -The industrial district,  described as a "dense, grimy part of the city."
• Madinat As-Salam - Baghdad's vibrant center.

https://youtu.be/nruL1RS4gKs

In the video, Sala highlighted how modern depictions of Baghdad in movies and games often portray it as a ruined landscape. While developing Mirage, the team took their approach the opposite direction, attempting to capture the city's beauty and culture instead. As you explore Baghdad, you'll experience the city’s vibrant culture and note some of those small, attention to detail moments. Listen closely and you'll hear the Adhan - the Muslim call to prayer - when approaching the mosque. Through these moments, developers hope to “tackle some of the common cliches about the region and its culture.”

Assassin’s Creed Mirage is slated to release on October 5 on PC, as well as current and last-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

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There were previous reports that Lenovo may be preparing to release a handheld PC gaming device that will compete with the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally. A recent article from Windows Report goes more in-depth regarding the rumored handheld device, while also revealing that there could be AR goggles to accompany it.

According to Windows Report, the glasses are part of a gaming ecosystem being developed by Lenovo. No release date or price is given for the handheld or the glasses, and Lenovo has yet to confirm or deny the reports.

[caption id="attachment_394545" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Taki Udon.[/caption]

Lenovo’s Legion Go could have accompanying AR glasses

Windows Report had previously revealed a few images of the Legion Go handheld gaming device from Lenovo. It is reported to run Windows 11, and it may be unveiled at this year’s IFA Berlin Trade Fair in September. The Legion Go wouldn’t be Lenovo’s first attempt at a handheld gaming console. The company once had plans to release the Legion Play, and a few prototype units were made available in China. However, the product was never widely released.

No specs are given regarding the AR glasses, though images suggest that it is meant to be used in tandem with the Legion Go. As for the handheld, it appears it will feature a microSD reader, an FPS mode switcher, as well as detachable controllers similar to the Nintendo Switch’s joy-cons. It is also expected to feature an “AMD Ryzen Z1 processor specifically designed for handheld Windows-based devices.”

Using AR glasses, players could potentially blend virtual elements with the real world. A simple example of this can be found in Niantic's mobile game Pokemon Go which allows you to see your favorite critters in your living room. With a much more powerful device, such as a handheld gaming PC, even more opportunities could be opened up.

Though AR glasses are an interesting idea, they won’t be the only ones on the market. Apple has unveiled the upcoming Vision Pro headset that will offer both augmented and virtual reality. Lenovo’s AR glasses could gain a competitive advantage if it manages to undercut the Vision Pro’s hefty $3,499 price tag.

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Resident Evil 4 received a remake in March 2023 which brought Leon’s classic adventure to modern consoles. As was the case with Resident Evil 7 and Village, Capcom has promised a VR mode for the remake. We’ll get to see a little more of the VR mode at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show, which kicks off on September 21 and runs until September 24.

Resident Evil 4 isn’t the only Capcom game that’ll be making an appearance. The company also lists Street Fighter 6, Exoprimal, Monster Hunter Now, and the Ace Attorney trilogy on its official webpage outlining its Tokyo Game Show plans.

[caption id="attachment_397688" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Capcom has big plans for the Tokyo Game Show 2023

Capcom will have its own booth at the Tokyo Game Show where attendees will have the chance to try out some of the company’s latest games. The event will also feature the return of the Resident Evil airsoft shooting range in collaboration with Tokyo Marui. For those who can’t make it, there’ll be a prerecorded stream which’ll share some of Capcom’s biggest news. It airs on September 21 at 07:00 AM PDT.

We received our first teaser for Resident Evil 4’s VR mode during the May PlayStation showcase, though not much was revealed. We'll hopefully see a few more details this time around, including whether game modes outside of the main campaign will also receive the VR treatment.

The company will have to put on a good show if it hopes to stand out, as several other gaming giants have confirmed that they’ll be showing up, including Bandai Namco and Square Enix. Sony will also be there, though they’ll only be exhibiting indie titles.

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Gran Turismo is a Neill Blomkamp-directed film based on the popular PlayStation franchise. It tells the tracks the tale of how Jann Mardenborough turned his love of Gran Turismo games into a fully-fledged motorsport career. Though the wide release for the USA is set for August 25, the film has aired in international markets, reception has been good thus far, and it has been reported that the film has already grossed $22.7 million.

[caption id="attachment_395283" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Polyphony Digital.[/caption]

Gran Turismo racing to theatres

The Gran Turismo movie is a star-studded affair featuring Archie Madekwe as Mardenborough, Djimon Hounsou as Mardenborough’s father, and Orlando Bloom as Nissan marketing executive Danny Moore. As Blomkamp has explained, to capture the most cinematic shots, filmographers used FPV drones to carry IMAX sensor-approved cameras. Several cockpit shots were used which will be familiar to franchise fans.

https://twitter.com/BORReport/status/1693278878792642768

Critical reception to the Gran Turismo movie has been positive overall, which reviewers complimenting the film’s authenticity and sincerity. It has not managed to avoid all criticism, and there has been some controversy regarding the film's depiction of Mardenborough’s Nürburgring crash which led to the death of a spectator. Some have described it as insensitive, with Polygon calling it “a tasteless reframing of a fatal event.”

Gran Turismo’s road to theatres has featured a few obstacles. Most notably, it has had to contend with the SAG-AFTRA strike which has affected all of Hollywood. As a result, the movie had its August 11 release date delayed in the USA.

The Gran Turismo movie is but one of several video game adaptations Sony has in store. A Ghost of Tsushima movie is in the works, and fans can also look forward to television adaptations of the Horizon and God of War franchises.

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Ubisoft has announced that the upcoming Assassin's Creed Mirage has gone gold. Even more surprisingly, the game's release date has shifted up a week, from October 12 to October 5. No explanation was given for the changed release date, though it's unlikely fans are complaining.

https://twitter.com/assassinscreed/status/1691117533846482944

Assassin's Creed Mirage is supposed to be a smaller, more streamlined Assassin's Creed. Promotional material for the upcoming game, which is centred on Valhalla's Basim, reveals that it returns to the franchise's roots by placing greater focus on parkour and stealth gameplay.

[caption id="attachment_396580" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Ubisoft.[/caption]

Assassin's Creed Mirage coming sooner than expected

The "gone gold" announcement simply means that a release version of the game is complete and ready for duplication and shipping. Rather than sit on the game, Ubisoft has decided to release the game earlier. While this does suggest some confidence in the game, it doesn't necessarily mean it won't be getting any post-launch patches.

One of the benefits of the new release date is that Mirage gets to launch relatively early in a month which is absolutely stacked with headlining releases. Ubisoft has avoided releasing Mirage on the same week as Forza Motorsport and Lords of the Fallen, though it now shares a release week with Detective Pikachu Returns. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Alan Wake 2 are both highly anticipated sequels also scheduled to release in October.

In many ways, it feels like Assassin's Creed Mirage is a response to some of the complaints lodged against Valhalla. If it can avoid the open-world bloat that plagued Valhalla while providing a compelling narrative for Basim, Mirage could be the breath of fresh air the franchise needs.

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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will soon be receiving DLC called The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero to expand the main game. The first half of the DLC is titled The Teal Mask, and it is set to release on September 13 while the second half, titled The Indigo Disk, will be available in Winter.

In the lead-up to the launch of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, a trailer has been released that teases a 19thTera Type. Not much has been revealed about it, though it has the potential to shake up Pokemon battles.

[caption id="attachment_396558" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Game Freak.[/caption]

Lots to discover in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero

All we know so far is that the symbol for the new Tera Type is rainbow-colored and features six pentagons surrounding a hexagon. As it currently stands, Terastallizing a Pokemon strengthens moves of the same type. Though it is unclear how the 19th Tera Type works, it does appear that it may be related to the new Pokemon Terapagos, which also has a hexagon surrounded by pentagons on its shell.

https://youtu.be/0VLPfiX5VJU

The latest trailer primarily focuses on The Indigo Disk. Taking advantage of nostalgia, the upcoming DLC will feature several past Starters, with critters such as Froakie, Piplup, Totodile, and Bulbasaur making an appearance, to name a few. A couple of new Pokemon moves are also showcased in the trailer. Gardevior is seen using Psychic Noise, a harsh attack that deals damage while preventing the target from healing, while Hariyama is seen using Upper Hand which allows it to strike before a target's priority move.

Two new Paradox Pokemon and their moves are also showcased. The giraffe-necked Pokemon named Raging Bolt is based on Raikou, and it can learn a new Electric-type move called Thunderclap. Iron Crown is a Paradox Pokemon based on Cobalion, and it learns a new move called Tachyon Cutter which is guaranteed to strike twice in a row.

There's more Pokemon on the way beyond the generational DLC

In addition to The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, fans have a few more Pokemon events to look forward to this year. Detective Pikachu Returns launches on October 6, while the animated web series Pokemon: Paldean Winds will debut on September 6.

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During the August 8 Pokemon Presents events, there were a few noteworthy announcements and reveals. A new Pokemon animated series called Path to the Peak received some of the spotlight, and the first episode was released on August 11.

The series tells the tale of a girl named Ava who finds it difficult to fit in after moving to a new town. Although she gets off to a rocky start, she is quickly able to make friends through the shared hobby of playing Pokemon TCG. Although Path to the Peak isn't a must-watch kind of series, it is a great treat for fans.

[caption id="attachment_396512" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via The Pokemon Company.[/caption]

Ava and the Pokemon TCG Club

The social aspects of Pokemon are one of the reasons the franchise found monumental success. By allowing and encouraging players to trade creatures and compete, a vibrant global community has formed. This element of the franchise is reflected in Path to the Peak, though it is focused on card collecting.

Like most kids who find themselves in a new town, Ava struggles to fit in. In the first episode, we discover how she finds a strange Pikachu origami that leads her to a Pokemon TCG club. At first, she is quickly trounced, but after learning a few tips from her dead, she is able to come out victorious and become a member of the Pokemon club. It seems her greatest battle is still to come because the episode ends with her catching the attention of Celestine, the best player in the school.

The cartoon comes at just the right time, as it has been quite an eventful year for Pokemon TCG. This year, the Scarlet and Violet generation of Pokemon TCG kicked off, and the Obsidian Flames set was released on August 11. Fans can also look forward to the Pokemon 151 set that will celebrate the original Kanto creatures.

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Overwatch 2 has been available for a while on multiple platforms, though it was in Early Access. With the Invasion update, the game left early access and officially launched on August 10.

Reception hasn't been particularly good, and the game currently sits with "Overwhelmingly Negative" user reviews on Steam. The main reasons for the review bombing relate to how the free-to-play model was implemented, as well as the lack of previously promised content.

[caption id="attachment_373661" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Blizzard Entertainment[/caption]

Overwatch 2 has had a less-than-perfect launch

One of the main criticisms Overwatch 2 is facing is that it is far more money-oriented than its predecessor. For example, some Heroes and game modes are locked behind a Battle Pass system. They can be unlocked through normal gameplay, though paying players can simply bypass it all. Some content has also been cut from the game, including the planned PvE Hero Mode.

Explaining why this is the case, Blizzard's Aaron Keller wrote a blog post revealing how plans were made but developers struggled to find their "footing with the Hero Mission experience early on,"  leading to the decision to cut it. The Invasion update does come with PvE Hero missions, but they are locked behind the Battle Pass system, leading to further annoyance.

When scrolling through the user reviews, it is easy to see a trend among the complaints. They're succinctly summarized in Steam user BraySC's review: "They released Overwatch 2 as a free-to-play business model, which leans more heavily into microtransactions, overpriced skins and predatory behaviour. To make matters worse, they shut down the first game, making it unplayable for people who purchased it, meaning the player base has to move over to this free-to-play business model to keep playing the game." There are also plenty of mentions of Blizzard's history of workplace sexual harassment allegations in the reviews.

As of August 13, only 9% of the 92,028 reviews are positive, making Overwatch 2 one of the most negatively reviewed games on Steam. The negative reviews aren't limited to Valve's store, and players have also been voicing their dissatisfaction on Metacritic where the game sits a user score of 1.4 as of August 13, indicating "Overwhelming Dislike."

Things haven't been all bad for Overwatch 2, however. On Metacritic, the critic review score is a respectable 69 as of August 13. It also hit a commendable peak of 75,608 concurrent Steam players on August 11, indicating that there may still be hope for the colorful FPS.

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Everybody's favorite blue hedgehog has been having a good few years thanks to the success of the Sonic the Hedgehog films and the excitement surrounding the upcoming Sonic Superstars game. Sega recently launched a campaign, called Fast Friends Forever, to celebrate the millions of fans the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has amassed over the decades.

The campaign has kicked off with a promotional video, as well as the launch of a website where fans can expect updates. Fast Friends Forever will last "all year long with a variety of events and activations."

[caption id="attachment_396029" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sega.[/caption]

Sonic and his pals

The Fast Friends Forever site currently promotes a few Sonic-related events. It announces the opening of an official Sonic-themed restaurant in San Diego on August 20. Here, you can enjoy "Sonic's classic chili dogs, Knuckle sandwiches, Blue Blur slushies, Golden Rings, and more."

Music has always been an integral part of the Sonic franchise, and Sega has previously celebrated the series with beautiful orchestral recreations of Sonic soundtracks. As the Fast Friends Forever site reveals, The Sonic Symphony Tour will kick off on September 16 in London before heading to several cities including Los Angeles, Boston, Paris, and more.

https://youtu.be/RMHLBPGouwc

As part of the campaign, a series of Fast Friends Forever digital comics is planned. These comics have been created by fans from around the world, and the first one, titled "Live Without Regrets!", is already available. Created by Ian Jones-Quartey, the comic features Tails and Sonic, and it tells a story about never giving up.

https://twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/status/1689310641897750528?s=46&t=S0QbrEQa7rSHobLwyn8t0Q

Though plenty of franchises have loyal and dedicated fan bases, Sonic is a little different, as the community has been particularly motivated to create tons of fan-made projects. The focus on friendship is relevant because, as the site highlights, Sonic "knows the importance of friendship, teamwork, inspiration, and loyalty." This has been demonstrated throughout the franchise, with Sonic becoming great friends with Tails, Amy Rose, and even Knuckles who initially appears as a rival.

Sonic fans also have Sonic Superstars to look forward to. The upcoming game seeks to capture the fun of the classic Sonic games, but it ditches the pixel art style of Sonic Mania. It is set to launch on October 17 on PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.

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In the lead-up to the release of the PlayStation VR2, Sony ran a marketing campaign to hype up fans. One of the ads featured musician Ozzy Osbourne, who also promoted the VR2 headset on Twitter. One of his tweets, posted on February 20, stated: “Did this spot with @Playstation team. We had a lot of fun. Their new VR2 is really amazing.” The tweet also included a PS VR2 video ad featuring Osbourne.

The seemingly innocuous message caught the attention of the UK's Advertising Standards Authority. The main complaint is that the tweet did not adequately identify itself as marketing material. On August 9, The ASA concluded that the “ad must not appear again in the form complained about.” Furthermore, Sony and Osbourne were also warned to “ensure that in future their ads were obviously identifiable as marketing communications and made clear their commercial intent.”

[caption id="attachment_381372" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sony.[/caption]

A little trouble from a little tweet

When the complaint was made, Sony responded by stating that it believed the word “spot” in the now-deleted tweet “would be clearly understood by Twitter users to reference an ad or advertising spot.” To bolster its case, Sony also provided media articles that use the word “spot” when referring to TV ads.

This wasn't enough for the ASA and it ruled that the word was “not sufficient to clearly indicate to consumers that the tweet was part of a commercial relationship between Sony and Ozzy Osbourne and that the tweet was therefore an ad.” The ASA concluded that “the ad breached CAP Code (Edition 12) rules 2.1, 2.3 and 2.4 (Recognition of marketing communications).” The video ad is still viewable on the PlayStation YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XL2YASn9xE

Overall, it seems like the entire issue is just an oversight on Sony and Osbourne's part. Though the ordeal may be a little bump in the road for the PS VR2, its first year on the market has been relatively strong. Titles like Tetris Effect, Synapse, Horizon Call of the Mountain, Resident Evil Village and VR Skater continue to make a strong case for the headset.

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The highly anticipated Tekken 8 recently caused a stir among fans when they noticed that the End User License Agreement on Steam made mention of the controversial anti-tamper software Denuvo. Fortunately, game director Katsuhiro Harada took to Twitter to announce he has “no plans to introduce Denuvo or anything else.”

https://twitter.com/Harada_TEKKEN/status/1688677772116504576

According to Harada, the mention of Denuvo is likely because the EULA is a copy of Tekken 7’s. Although Harada’s Tweet isn’t a definitive confirmation that Tekken 8 won't use the anti-tamper software, it is a good sign.

[caption id="attachment_394394" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Tekken 8 could avoid some of Tekken 7’s problems

Developers use Denuvo to prevent (or at least stall) games from being cracked and pirated. Ideally, it shouldn't affect gameplay. Nevertheless, both players and developers have previously complained about the anti-tamper software, with some developers eventually removing it from their games. Denuvo has acknowledged the negative press, though the issues surrounding it continue.

Tekken 7 was well recieved when it released in 2015. However, it did suffer from frame rate drops and other performance issues on PC. Harada attributed this to the game’s anti-tamper software, which happened to be Denuvo. This naturally explains why fans felt upset about the mention of Denuvo in Tekken 8's EULA, and why Harada is so adamant on avoiding it.

https://twitter.com/Harada_TEKKEN/status/984835707209375744

Though Harada has suggested players “sit quietly”, impatient fans have been exploiting the Closed Network Test to play beyond the test period. Tekken 8 will release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, though it has yet to receive a release date.

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Take-Two Interactive, the publishing company which owns both Rockstar Games and 2K, released its first-quarter financial results on August 8. There are some pretty impressive numbers in there.

Overall, Take-Two is in a strong position, kicking off its financial year with a net booking of $1.2 billion, as chairman and chief officer Strauss Zelnick stated in a conference call. The Red Dead franchise is highlighted, with Zelnick revealing that Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold over 55 million copies. Grand Theft Auto 5 and NBA 2K23 also receive a spotlight here. According to Zelnick, they exceeded the company’s expectations, proving the “long-lasting benefits of producing the highest-quality offerings.”

[caption id="attachment_395658" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Red Dead and Grand Theft Auto are still cash cows

Red Dead Redemption 2 left a strong impression in 2018 thanks to its large scope and immersive realism. Rockstar's investment in the game seems to have paid off, as it is one of the studio's bestselling titles. News of RDR 2’s latest sales figures comes just after the announcement of PS4 and Switch ports of Red Dead Redemption.

The Grand Theft Auto franchise was also discussed at length. GTA 5 has “sold-in more than 185 million units,” according to Zelnick. GTA: Online continues to print money for Rockstar, and in June it "recorded more players than any other June in its history outside of the height of the pandemic." The online phenomenon also rakes money in through the GTA+ subscription service which Zelnick claims is still seeing strong growth in adoption with every passing quarter.

Though Rockstar titles received a lot of attention, they didn’t hog the entire spotlight. Sporting titles by 2K have also performed well. NBA 2K23 has “sold-in over 13 million units, representing 11% year-over-year growth.” The game has the franchise’s “highest sell-through ever – with only NBA 2K20 achieving higher unit sales.” WWE 2K23 was also mentioned, with Zelnick describing it as “the highest-rated game in our wrestling franchise’s history and the second highest-rated sports simulation title of the year.”

Both Rockstar and 2K are performing well financially, and they have big titles ahead. While 2K continues with its lucrative sporting franchises, Rockstar is hard at work on Grand Theft Auto 6. Despite a controversial leak last year, Rockstar has yet to announce a release date for the long-awaited sequel.

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Mega Cat Studios’ WrestleQuest has turned heads thanks to its gorgeous pixel art world that blends RPG fantasy exploration with wrestling action. Though it was originally slated for an August 8 release, the game has since been delayed to August 22 on all platforms.

https://twitter.com/skyboundgames/status/1688712585175261184

It is a brief delay triggered by a slight bug developers found. As a Tweet by Skybound Games explains, it was “discovered that it was possible for players to lose their save game progress when playing WrestleQuest on multiple different devices.”

[caption id="attachment_360115" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Mega Cat Studios.[/caption]

WrestleQuest gets pushed back a few weeks

The delay may be disappointing, though the stated reason for it is understandable. WrestleQuest has hours of content, taking players on a journey to become the greatest pro wrestler. The tweet also suggests that WrestleQuest will have cross-save capabilities.

Early impressions of the game have been mostly positive, with critics praising the art style and its engagement with the wrestling world. A few real-world wrestling superstars also make an appearance, including Andre the Giant, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and Jeff Jarrett.

The delay may have been necessary, but it does push WrestleQuest into quite a busy time in gaming. It launches in the same week as Immortals of Aveumn and Armored Core 6. Sea of Stars, another pixel art game, releases the following week on August 29.

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August is going to be a good month for Gran Turismo fans. The Gran Turismo movie hits theaters on August 25, and you can enjoy some new content in Gran Turismo 7 to celebrate the movie's launch. Update 1.36 goes live on August 7 at 12 AM PDT, and it adds a new livery that’ll allow you to recreate the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 ’18 seen in the Gran Turismo movie.

Polyphony Digital is also running a gift campaign. From August 7 until September 28, you’ll be able to claim the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 ’18 showcased in the upcoming movie.

[caption id="attachment_395283" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Polyphony Digital.[/caption]

Get your engines ready

To claim your nifty Nissan from the Gran Turismo movie, all you need to do is hop into GT 7 and select the special panel on the upper right side of the World Map screen. In addition to new movie-related content, new cars have been made available:

• Chevrolet Corvette (C1) ’58
• Maserati MC20 ’20
• Toyota GR Corolla MORIZO Edition ’22
• Toyota Ambulance Himedic ’21 (Purchasable at Brand Central from late September)

Fukuoka Eastern Fire Station has been added to the Scapes, and the following Extras Menus have been chucked into the GT Cafe:

• Extra Menu No. 26: ‘Maserati’ (Collector Level 40 and above)
• Extra Menu No. 27: ‘Aston Martin’ (Collector Level 44 and above)
• Extra Menu No. 28: ‘Kei cars’ (Collector Level 27 and above)

Gran Turismo 7 will also be celebrating the World Series Showdown 2023 Amsterdam taking place between August 11 and 12. With the "Predict the Winners" campaign, you can score in-game credits by predicting which teams will win the Manufacturers Cup and Nations Cup at the World Series Showdown.

The Gran Turismo movie, directed by Neill Blomkamp, has been touted as a true story based on the life of Jann Mardenborough and his unusual rise in motorsport. Gran Turismo is one of many PlayStation franchises receiving film adaptations, including Ghost of Tsushima and possibly Days Gone.

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Remnant 2 has been a trending game since its release on July 25. Recently, Game director David Adams hosted an AMA on the Remnant subreddit. It was a generally positive AMA, with many fans expressing their love for Gunfire Games' latest title. Adams discussed the future of Remnant 2, revealing that the studio has plans for DLC and updates to the game's quality of life.

[caption id="attachment_387141" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Gunfire Games[/caption]

More content is coming to Remnant 2

In the AMA, Adams spoke about both the past and future of Remnant 2. Giving a bit of insight into the development process of the game, Adams revealed that a team of roughly 90 people worked on it. Emphasis was placed greatly on the design process, with only about 8 people working as programmers. As for the game's future, Adams claimed that developers have general plans to “tighten up the current game and try to build on it over time” as well as a “lot of plans and schemes for the franchise.” Fortunately, he did go into detail regarding what you can expect.

Adams mentioned Remnant 2 DLC a few times in the AMA. He revealed that work on the first DLC started immediately after the main game was completed, and he promised that developers aren’t planning to “phone it in.” There are currently three DLCs planned, and like the main game, they’ll have plenty of puzzles and secrets. At least in Adams' opinion, the first DLC is "already looking pretty cool."

It was confirmed that DLC will bring more armor, allowing players to be a bit more fashionable when they’re out exploring. It was also revealed that there are new archetypes on the way, though Adams predictably did not specify precisely what's in store. Quality of life improvements are in development, and Adams did list some of them, including adding loadouts, improving latency in co-op, including the option to hold a button to sprint, and tweaking the trait system.

Some Reddit users asked about crossplay, as this would allow players on different consoles to play together. According to Adams, crossplay is something that developers are looking into, though they are encountering “issues with the different platforms and what they require in order to allow crossplay.”

It should please fans to know that Remnant 2 has been a hit, and it has already sold over a million copies. This puts Gunfire Games in a good position, and the studio has the chance to impress fans again with the upcoming DLC and updates.

The post Gunfire Games discusses future of Remnant 2 in Reddit AMA appeared first on Destructoid.

Final Fantasy XVI is the latest entry in the long-running RPG franchise. It represents a new direction for the series, and the game earned itself considerable critical acclaim upon release, scoring a 9 here on Destructoid. This hasn’t quite translated into financial success, at least according to the latest reports following the release of Square Enix’s first-quarter financial briefing.

Square Enix’s financial report reveals that although net sales are up thanks to the release of new titles such as Final Fantasy XVI, operating income is down partly due to amortization of development cost. According to Bloomberg, Square Enix President Takashi Kiryu told analysts on a post-earnings call that Final Fantasy XVI did not meet the high end of the company’s expectations.

[caption id="attachment_395215" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

The Final Fantasy franchise and the PS5's install base

Though Final Fantasy is one of Square Enix's flagship franchises, it appears it is not performing well enough to meet the company's goals. In a note to investors (per Bloomberg), Citigroup analyst Junko Yamamura stated that “the Final Fantasy franchise’s profitability is weakening and improvements will take time.” This doesn’t mean that Final Fantasy XVI was a complete failure, as it managed to sell 3 million units shortly after launch.

The financial report also reveals that net sales are down year-on-year for its MMOs, though the dip is easily attributed to Endwalker launching last year and no new expansion until next year's Dawntrail. PC browser and mobile games were unable to “offset weak performances from existing titles.” News of Square Enix’s declining operating income has affected the value of the company’s stock, driving “the stock down as much as 15% in Tokyo” according to Bloomberg.

Square Enix isn’t about to give up on Final Fantasy just yet. Part of the problem, according to Kiryu via Bloomberg, is the slow adoption of the PS5. Addressing comparisons of FF XVI's launch numbers to FFVII Remake's, the company released a statement to IGN arguing that "the attach rate of Final Fantasy XVI is considerably high, given the PS5 install base," though the company has plans to "carry out a wide range of initiatives to encourage even more people to play the game." This should be easier now that supply constraint factors for hardware are no longer as big of a problem for Sony.

As the financial report also reveals, Square Enix has various initiatives in store to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, and Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is slated for a 2024 release. Of course, the highly anticipated Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is also in the works and it has a 2024 release date.

Final Fantasy XVI is available now on PS5.

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Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studio’s latest RPG, launched on PC on August 3 after spending some time in Early Access. Already, there are signs that the game has had a monumentally successful launch.

The SteamDB charts reveal that Baldur’s Gate 3 hit a peak of 472,136 within 24 hours, giving it the second-biggest Steam launch of 2023. It has since clung onto a steady player count and continued rising today, August 4.  Baldur's Gate 3 has also been performing well on Twitch, where it reached a massive peak of 481,523 views on launch day at an average of around 156k (via StreamCharts).

[caption id="attachment_394171" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Baldur’s Gate 3 arrives with a bang

Originally slated for an August 31 release, Baldur’s Gate 3 was pushed up to August 3 for PC players. It has overtaken Sons of the Forest, which hit a peak of 414,257 players at launch, to become the second-biggest Steam launch of 2023. Only Hogwarts Legacy sits ahead of it, and with a peak of 879,308 at launch, it will take a lot to defeat it. The game's success can also be illustrated when looking at its download stats on Steam where the total bandwidth used on it skyrocketed to 146.3 Tbps.

https://twitter.com/MatPiscatella/status/1687139940113825792

Baldur's Gate 3 has “Overwhelmingly Positive” reviews on Steam, where it joins an exclusive club of games that have gained over 450,000 concurrent players at launch. Hogwarts Legacy is the only other title to achieve this feat in 2023. In 2022, Elden Ring managed to do this, while New World entered the club upon release in 2021.

Over on Twitch, Baldur's Gate 3 continues to rake in high stream numbers. Its popularity has been boosted by streamers such as Cohhcarnage, whose broadcasts have been receiving tens of thousands of views.

Baldur's Gate 3 has a chance to boost its popularity yet again on September 6 when the PS5 version is released. The studio is also targeting September 6 for its Mac release, though an official release date has yet to be confirmed. Xbox players haven’t been left out in the cold, and they’ll be able to join in on the fun “when it's ready” for the Series X/S.

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Pokémon fans should mark their calendars, as a new Pokémon Presents event has been announced.  You can watch it on YouTube at 6 PM PDT on August 8. The presentation will be a full 35 minutes long, which gives plenty of opportunity for some big presentations and announcements.

Though there has yet to be any word on what fans can expect, some reasonable guesses can be made. It had been previously revealed that DLC titled The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero is in the works for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. It will be released in two parts, with part 1 The Teal Mask, scheduled for Fall. Part 2, titled The Indigo Disk, will hit stores in Winter.

https://twitter.com/Pokemon/status/1687449174021660672

Pokémon Presents comes at the right time

With the release window creeping nearer, it is likely that the DLC will make an appearance in the upcoming Pokémon Presents event. Thus far, we know that The Teal Mask will take players to the Kitakami region as part of a school trip. Some new Pokémon have been showcased, including a trio consisting of a dog-like creature called Okidogi, a monkey-like critter called Munkidori, and a bird Pokemon called Fezandipiti.

There are a couple of spin-off titles that could also make an appearance. Detective Pikachu Returns is slated for an October 6 release. It will serve as the sequel to 2018's Detective Pikachu which spawned a film. Updates and announcements for Pokémon Unite and the recently released spin-off Pokémon Sleep could also pop up.

There is also plenty going on in the world of Pokémon TCG. The upcoming Obsidian Flames expansion could show up, though it is far more likely that the Pokémon 151 and Classic expansions will get the spotlight. These highly anticipated expansions return to Kanto to showcase the original 151 Pokémon.

Of course, there is every possibility that The Pokémon company could reveal something entirely unexpected. This could include a new remake or Nintendo Switch port, or new spin-off titles. We'll find out more on August 8.

The post A new Pokémon Presents is airing next week appeared first on Destructoid.

Sonic Superstars is attempting to recapture that classic Sonic feeling, though it will be bringing a few new elements to the franchise. A villain named Trip is preparing to make her debut, and though she's decked out in spiky armor, she won't be your typical Sonic enemy. In an interview with Game Informer, Sonic Team creative officer Takashi Iizuka discussed a bit more about Trip’s origins and role in Sonic Superstars.

[caption id="attachment_394939" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sega.[/caption]

Trip and her trouble

Not much is known about Trip yet, though the official site for Sonic Superstars reveals that she has been enlisted by Fang and Dr. Eggman to protect them as they venture through the Northstar Islands. She has a striped, furry tail, and she is completely covered in metal armor that has prevented us from seeing her face.

In the interview with GI, Iizuka revealed that Trip was created by him and Naoto Ohshima, the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Eggman. In order to have a truly new story, they felt that a new character would be necessary. When designing her, they bounced around a few ideas, including an armored lizard and the ouroboros. Some of the ideas made it into the final design, as the “base of her character is a sungazer lizard” - literally an “armored lizard” in Japanese.

Trip's personality and backstory will also be an important part of her character. Instead of a one-dimensional character, they were aiming to create something that would “stand out and be a character that people can kind of relate to and empathize with and enjoy as a character in the world.” Unlike your average Sonic villain that is presented as a formidable foe, Trip—at least initially—is quite clumsy and she even “falls on her face in the very first scene that you see her in."

Of course, Trip won’t be there alone. Dr. Eggman and Fang will also be present, presenting a nice blend of both old and new. Though he is also an iconic villain, Iizuka confirmed that Shadow won’t be making an appearance.

The platformer is expected to launch on PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox in late 2023.

The post Sega reveals more about Trip, Sonic Superstars’ new villain appeared first on Destructoid.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launched to widespread critical acclaim, and it currently sits as one of the highest-rated games on Metacritic. It was predictable that this would be accompanied by strong commercial success, but we are now getting an even clearer picture of just how impactful Breath of the Wild’s sequel has been.

As revealed in the latest financial report from Nintendo, Tears of the Kingdom has already sold 18.51 million copies. Thanks to the high sales, the company has seen strong financial performance for its first quarter.

[caption id="attachment_394907" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Tears of the Kingdom drives hardware sales for Nintendo

Released on May 12, Nintendo claims that the latest Zelda game "has made a major contribution to Q1 sales in the current environment." Though many of the players were returning from Breath of the Wild, the report notes that a growing percentage of customers haven’t played Tears of the Kingdom’s predecessor.

To put the success of Tears of the Kingdom into perspective, the report claims that "sell-through of this one title constitutes approximately half of the first-party software sold this fiscal year." It is also a massive success when compared to Breath of the Wild. Released in March 2017, it took until August 2020 to sell 20 million copies.

Nintendo’s financial report paints an overall positive picture for the company. Though the Switch may be dated, it continues to bring in a steady income through hardware and software sales. Nintendo has also been profiting from non-gaming media, with the company attributing its financial success, in part, to "royalties and income from visual content related to The Super Mario Bros. Movie."

The report gives a roadmap for the company going forward. October will be a particularly busy month, with Detective Pikachu Returns releasing on October 6, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder releasing on October 20. November will be equally packed, with WarioWare: Move It! hitting shelves on November 3 followed by Super Mario RPG on November 17.

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