Murphy's Multiverse

Author: monarchwrites

  • What to Expect From the ‘Resident Evil 4’ Remake

    What to Expect From the ‘Resident Evil 4’ Remake

    It’s Summer Game Fest time in the gaming world, which means announcements, news, updates, and a whole lot to look forward to in the near and long term futures in the gaming space. The first major event of the season is now behind us, with PlayStation airing its June State of Play earlier this month. We got plenty of news from third-party developers as well as what to expect to play on the PlayStation VR 2. While there is plenty to comb over, I’d like to take a look at what to expect from the announced lineup. While there was plenty to choose from, I think the most interesting title in terms of speculation to come from the event may just be the remake of Resident Evil 4.

    Resident Evil as a franchise has gone through a massive transformation in recent years, and for good reason. What started as a benchmark zombie-horror franchise quickly rose to mainstream attention after the massive success of the original four games, even spawning multiple film adaptations. However, the franchise was in a slump following Resident Evil 5 & 6, the two games of the franchise that many argue are more action and less horror. When I first began paying critical attention to the games industry, I remember the sentiment towards the franchise being rather low. However, following the massive success and revitalization of the franchise with Resident Evil VIII, from my own experience, the games seem to be more popular than ever, which, of course, spawned re-releases and remakes of the first three games by fan demand. One game in the franchise has always had the attention of gamers more than any other, and that game is Resident Evil 4.

    Resident Evil 4 went through a bit of a development hell of sorts, going through 4 massive iterations before finally releasing in 2005 (one of said iterations would become Devil May Cry, as a fun fact). I won’t go into specifics in this article (but you can read up on the development on Wikipedia) but due to the massive changes made to the game over the course of the development cycle, many fans argue that the game, while delivering a new and refreshed Resident Evil experience, the game could have been even better if it didn’t suffer such a struggle filled development. The remake of Resident Evil 4 could very well be the game’s second chance for an even bigger success.

    Set to release on March 24, 2023, Resident Evil 4 Remake promises to reimagine the game’s storyline while modernizing the game world and gameplay in order to deliver a new experience suitable for the new generation of consoles it is arriving on. Complete with content available for PlayStation VR 2, the game is definitely promising to deliver an entirely new experience, and hopefully one that can learn from the amazing Resident Evil: Village, the newest entry in the franchise.

    While news on the game is still a little sparse, we know that the game will see a change to the original game’s tone and story, but no further details on that have emerged. Based on the trailer, we can expect a darker atmosphere, which hopefully means a lean into the horror aspect that the Resident Evil games are known for, especially considering that while 4 was a massive hit, some fans still consider it to be the reason 5 and 6 fell flat on their face, starting the more actiony vibes and the move away from scary. I suspect we will likely be seeing this game a lot in the upcoming months. We can expect to see more of the game at the upcoming Capcom Showcase set to air on June 13th. Further out, I would bet on the game appearing at whatever is next for PlayStation, considering the strong partnership Sony and Capcom have had on Resident Evil as of late.

  • New ‘Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2’s Warzone Map Leaks Online After Reveal

    New ‘Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2’s Warzone Map Leaks Online After Reveal

    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II was just officially revealed with a teaser trailer yesterday, but it seems as if leakers weren’t too far behind as we have the first details of the accompanying Warzone 2 map coming from leaker Tom Henderson. The game is rumored to be arriving with Modern Warfare II in October, with the game’s new Escape From Tarkov type mode also being playable on this new map.

    We had previously learned that the new Warzone map would be scattered with locations similar to older Call of Duty maps, similar to what we have seen in Warzone and Blackout. Rumored locations include the Airport which is a remake of the Modern Warfare franchise’s Terminal, an expanded version of Quarry, and possibly even bits of Favala, all beloved maps from Modern Warfare’s past. Although we don’t have a clear legitimate picture of the map as of yet, Henderson has drawn a mock-up of what he believes the map to be based on his insider knowledge, which has been pretty spot on with Modern Warfare II. You can see the mock-up below.

    As you can see, multiple other POI exists on the map, possibly leading the way for even more classic locations to be featured, as we know is a staple of these larger Call of Duty maps by now. With the large focus on remastering the original Modern Warfare II maps, I would not be surprised to see Activision attempting to capitalize on the standout title that many fans consider the peak of Call of Duty games. Modern Warfare II is certainly shaping up to deliver on fan expectations, are you excited for the future of Call of Duty? Let us know!

    Source: Try Hard Guides

  • Hangar 13 Developing a ‘Mafia’ Prequel Game

    Hangar 13 Developing a ‘Mafia’ Prequel Game

    After 2K announced the departure of Hangar 13 studio head Haden Blackman, rumors began spreading over the project he walked out on. Hangar 13 is best known for the Mafia franchise, an open-world prohibition-era game franchise similar in a lot of ways to games like Grand Theft Auto. While Mafia may have never gotten the acclaim and popularity of its competitors, it does have a pretty dedicated fanbase and has seen some moderate success.

    It’s rumored that Blackman departed very early in the development Mafia project, which is expected to be a prequel to the franchise and will be running on Unreal Engine 5, unlike the recent remasters collections that ran on Mafia III’s proprietary engine. No more details are known about the game at this time as it is still not technically confirmed by Hangar 13 or 2k who publishes the franchise.

    After suffering two rounds of layoffs following Mafia III’s release and now losing not one, but two higher-ups, Hangar 13 has definitely been in a bit of a problem area for years now. While the studio head departing may not mean the project is in trouble, a lot of things are stacking up to have me guessing that something isn’t quite right. Hopefully, they are able to deliver on the new title and stabilize, a rocky development studio is almost never a good sign for a new game. Hangar 13 has been recently assisting other developers on their projects, including Gearbox’s Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. This has led many people to speculate that they may be moving into more of a support role, but we will see what the fate of the company is over the next few years.

    Source: Kotaku

  • RUMOR: Warner Bros Discovery Possibly Looking to Sell Game Studios

    RUMOR: Warner Bros Discovery Possibly Looking to Sell Game Studios

    The acquisition war is seemingly not going to end anytime soon. New rumors suggest that the newly united Warner Bros. Discovery is looking to sell its gaming studios, and instead, license out its IP to other game developers for future projects instead.

    Multiple rumors about WB Games being sold off have been floating around for a while now, however, it seems more likely than ever with Discovery and Warner Bros merger. The two companies have already been restructuring elsewhere, including canceling all scripted television from two of their largest TV networks. With more cuts likely to make their way to the company during these restructures, It doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibilities to see the game development side of things get sold for good.

    According to the rumors, interested parties include Microsoft, Sony, EA, Tencent, Take-Two, and NetEase. As a reminder, franchises like Mortal Kombat and studios like NetherRealm (Mortal Kombat, Injustice) and RockSteady (Batman Arkham, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League) would be up for grabs if this rumor is true, while new DC games may go the route of Marvel Games, being developed by companies far and wide across the industry.

    Other notable developers owned by Warner Bros are Monolith Productions (Shadow of Mordor, Wonder Woman), Avalanche Studios (Hogwarts Legacy), and WB Games Montreal (Gotham Knights). This could be a very large shakeup in the gaming space, make sure to keep up to date here with any new information that may come as this rumor develops.

    Source: Twitter

  • New ‘Ghostbusters’ Film is in the Works at Sony

    New ‘Ghostbusters’ Film is in the Works at Sony

    Sony is calling the Ghostbusters again. A new film was announced in the closing sizzle reel during Sony Pictures’ CinemaCon presentation. The fifth film in the franchise is coming hot on the heels of the largely successful Ghostbusters: Afterlife which was released in 2021.

    No talent or other details were given. It currently remains unknown if this will be a sequel to Afterlife, another reimagining like 2016’s ill-fated Ghostbusters, or some sort of spinoff. While the 2016 film was panned by critics and fans alike, Afterlife finished its opening weeks just behind the viral Disney film Encanto at the box office. Ghostbusters: Afterlife received a decent reception, hopefully allowing the franchise to breathe again after many considered it to be dead. While we still don’t know much about the new movie, it would make a lot of sense for Sony to try and improve and capitalize on the formula that finally found them some success. Whether that means we see the new recruits step up and lead the franchise into a new future, or once again relying on fan service is anyone’s guess.

    Ghostbusters: Afterlife, directed by Jason Reitman, and released in 2021, received $204.6 million at the global box office on a $75 million budget. The film was released on November 19, 2021. It was the 10th highest-grossing film of 2021.

    Source: Deadline

  • REVIEW: Jackass Forever Blu-Ray w/ Bonus Features

    REVIEW: Jackass Forever Blu-Ray w/ Bonus Features

    The Jackass crew is back! After Jackass 3, fans of the franchise have been eagerly been awaiting the return of the Jackass crew. There were plenty of bumps along the way, but the film finally arrived in theaters this past February. After a pretty successful run at the box office followed by its release on Paramount+, the movie finally arrived to purchase on digital, and now Blu-Ray with some bonus features, including some never-before-seen stunts that didn’t make it in the final cut of the film.

    Jackass Forever is definitely the Jackass fans know and love with some new faces added to the mix. The franchise has always pushed the boundaries of what audiences are willing to accept in a film, from the original Jackass‘ infamous butt x-ray to Jackass 3‘s poo cocktail supreme. Unsurprisingly, Jackass Forever takes things even further, and is not for the feint of heart. After all, there is a penis dressed as a Godzilla type monster in the opening scenes.

    While Jackass 3 remains the pinnacle of the series in terms of pacing, Jackass Forever certainly ups the ante in terms of stunts. The latest film is sure to bring fans back to the old days of watching this group of guys perform outlandish stunts with makeshift ramps, to now having the budget to build a human cannon that seemingly stands 50 feet in the air. It has definitely been a massive evolution, but it begs to question whether it really was for the better. While the advancements have been amazing to see, it is hard not to wonder if some of the hook of the original, being normal guys make-shifting stunts and pranks, was lost because of it. 

    On top of the original film, the Blu-Ray release is packed with bonus features. It comes with 16 deleted scenes that include a VR prank and extended looks at some of the pranks done in the film. What stands out most is that, while the film added multiple new cast members, we never really got to know them the same way we got to know the original crew. Thankfully, the deleted scenes do managed to provide fans with more footage of the new cast. Unfortunately, that’s not nearly enough to help keep fans interested in the new cast. Rather than include the various celebrity cameos in the film, surely these new characters could have received the spotlight instead of being shoved to the bonus features.

    Jackass Forever on Blu-Ray is definitely worth the purchase for any Jackass fans out there. If you loved the film, you get more of what you’d expect. While the film’s release made it seem like this was the end of the franchise, one might wonder if the new cast members are a look into the next evolution. You can currently purchase Jackass Forever on Blu-Ray and Digital, or stream it without bonus features with your Paramount+ subscription.

  • ‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s Next-Gen Upgrades Have Been Delayed Indefinitely

    ‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s Next-Gen Upgrades Have Been Delayed Indefinitely

    More problems seem to have arrived at The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red. The studio has been working to better the catastrophic release of 2077 while also working on bringing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. They’ve just recently announced the fourth entry in their Witcher series, but it looks like they are facing a few issues managing their various projects.

    Announced today via Twitter, it seems that the next-generation upgrades of The Witcher 3 are being delayed out of their Q2 2022 release window in order for CD Projekt Red to take development in-house and finish up the project with their first-party development studio. Previously, the studio was working with outside talent in order to get the game on the new consoles. This is certainly not abnormal for the game industry, development studios and publishers are constantly working by outsourcing some of their work to other dev teams to quicken the development process.

    This time, however, it appears CDPR either didn’t like the work that was being completed or possibly felt that they could do it faster. Of course, the real reason for this change is unknown, but we can only assume something happened to cause this change in path, especially considering that the bulk of CDPR is still working on fixing Cyberpunk 2077 as well as beginning pre-production on the new Witcher title.

    CD Projekt Red went from being one of the top developers in the world, entrusted by gamers to deliver quality products with pro-consumer interests at heart to being considered a mixed bag after the devastating blow that was Cyberpunk’s release. The team has been doing a lot to fix their reputation, and hopefully, this change to The Witcher 3’s development is another step in regaining the trust of gamers that they previously had.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: ‘Among Us VR’ May Be Eyeing a November Release

    RUMOR: ‘Among Us VR’ May Be Eyeing a November Release

    There’s nothing like a game that lets you stab your friends in the back and lie to them just like Among Us. What started with a quiet release would grow into one of the biggest games of the last year. Then, it was announced back in December that the hit game was getting the virtual reality treatment. We haven’t heard much since but it looks like the game might finally have a release date due to a posting on SteamDB.

    For those that might be wondering what SteamDB is: it is simply a reporting tool that takes information from the online storefront of Steam, posts all of the information uploaded to the service, and lists it in a handy database for us to view. The site has consistently posted pretty reliable information, from unknown release dates to unknown games. Ever since it launched, the service has been giving tidbits to gamers for years now.

    Found in the files recently was a listing for Among Us VR with a release date of November 10, 2022. The game has made huge waves in gaming, going from a small indie game ready to release a second title, and ending up as an expanding love service that was able to find success on PC, Consoles, and Mobile. The game is ripe for VR content, between its simple concept to its “keeping you busy” type tasks, the game should certainly translate to VR.

    Among Us might be one of the biggest surprise hits in gaming history. As a result of an uptick in content creators playing the game during the pandemic, the game went from being almost a write-off to a very successful property. The game, toys, and even online media have made the IP grow exponentially, and with VR continuing to grow, especially with the likes of the Meta Quest 2 and PSVR2, I feel the game will certainly have a long life in VR.

    Source: SteamDB

  • Takashi Doscher to Write ‘Ghost of Tsushima’s Screenplay

    Takashi Doscher to Write ‘Ghost of Tsushima’s Screenplay

    The Ghost of Tsushima film continues to make progress at Sony Pictures. The game was an instant hit, selling more than 8 million units to date. The IP was fast-tracked to be adapted as a film due to the success which was supported by Sony’s large desire to bring more PlayStation franchises to the big screen. With Uncharted and Ratchet & Clank being the first franchises to get films, they are soon going to follow up with The Last of Us as an HBO series.

    Ghost of Tsushima is a samurai adventure game with heavy inspiration from classic samurai films, making it a perfect franchise to adapt to film. It is currently in production at PlayStation Productions and Sony Pictures, which recently tapped Takashi Doscher to pen the screenplay. The writer recently finished Blue, which is still in production. His debut film Still can be found on Hulu today.

    With Doscher‘s writing, we now have a pretty good idea of the creative talent producing the film. Chad Stahelski (John Wick) is set to direct. His action and combat scenes, largely considered to be a modern evolution of the genre, should translate well to a samurai action film. So, we might see a great combination of its Akira Kurosawa-inspired roots with a modern twist.

    Developed by Sucker Punch Studios, Ghost of Tsushima became one of PlayStation’s most successful IPs practically overnight. The game went on to win multiple awards, including the Player’s Voice award at The Game Awards, an annual award show that celebrates the year in gaming. You can currently check out Ghost of Tsushima, as well as its Iki Island DLC on PS5 and PS4.

    Source: Deadline

  • Gearbox’s Parent Company Embracer Group Plans to Continue Acquisition Spree

    Gearbox’s Parent Company Embracer Group Plans to Continue Acquisition Spree

    The acquisition wars in the gaming industry continue. In a new norm where IP and top-tier studios are being snatched up like candy on Halloween, it seems no independent studio is safe anymore. Microsoft and Sony are certainly the big players in the space currently, and they definitely aren’t the only ones trying to expand. Take-Two recently purchased mobile game company Zynga for $12.7 billion, Netflix has purchased two studios in the last month, and Embracer Group has completed over 60 acquisitions, big and large, since 2020.

    As it stands, Embracer Group has spent more than $8 billion on acquisitions. This is noteworthy as a brand most people have never heard of has suddenly become one of the biggest players in gaming today. Between Gearbox Software (Borderlands), Deep Silver (Saints Row), THQ Nordic (Destroy All Humans), and Saber Interactive (World War Z, Witcher 3), the holding company has managed to secure some of the most recognized AA studios in existence.

    Not only that, but they also have managed to acquire some big-name IP that will certainly bolster their portfolio. While they won’t own The Witcher 3 as Saber was just a port house for the project, they did secure Borderlands, one of the largest IPs in gaming today. The CEO of the company recently said that this wasn’t the end. Lars Wingefors has said in an interview that he plans to make a similar number of acquisitions in the upcoming months and years.

    While the company continues to look at the gaming industry for new opportunities, game studios aren’t the only companies the group has looked at. Embracer recently bought Dark Horse Comics for an undisclosed sum. So while any studio may be in the crosshairs, Embracer is definitely diversifying its portfolio, meaning your favorite studios may be able to hold out for now.

    Source: Video Game Chronicle