Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Gaming

  • UPDATE: ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ AIM Cloning Labs Release Date Debunked

    UPDATE: ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ AIM Cloning Labs Release Date Debunked

    UPDATE #02: Well, it looks like it may have been false after all. It was a scheduled post that got released too early. This sadly opens up the question if it will be released this weekend but it is interesting that the post went up too early. So, there is a chance it could still happen but for now, Crystal Dynamics’ Community Manager Andy Wong has debunked the posting’s reveal.

     

     

     

    We have been starving for content over on Marvel’s Avengers. It has already been some time since we got our hands on a new update with the Tachyon Rifts. They didn’t add too much new but it was a fun way to play existing missions. In a stream, we got the tease that they are currently finalizing the release of the AIM Cloning Labs that act as the first introduction to Omega Level-threats. They will build up into the massive raids we knew from other Games-as-a-Service franchises, such as Destiny. Now, it looks like their official German Facebook page may have accidentally revealed that the labs will release this weekend. Living in a German-speaking country really paid off with this one.

    UPDATE: Looks like the Facebook Post was swiftly deleted giving some confirmation to its validity. Luckily, there is an image of the post:

    This reveal is fantastic news for those just waiting for a new addition to the game. The developers have teased that this is just the first in an ever-escalating evolution of the game that will add new challenges over time. We already know from leaks that Black Panther will feature a raid even, where you have to infiltrate the Wakandan mines. Funny enough, an early and unfinished version of the labs was made available to some players early on. As such, they got a taste for what it offers and confirmed it includes some new environments.

    Also, your actions will matter. Depending on how you play the game, the final battle will change. Crystal Dynamics did state it could take around six hours to complete it, so this will be quite a lengthy addition. Keep in mind, this will only be playable on weekends, so it is a limited window to play through and get the unique rewards at the end of the game. I cannot wait to try it out and see what an Avengers raid could look like.

    Source: Facebook, Image by @mmmmmmmmiller, Twitter

  • Leaks Tease an Upcoming ‘Silent Hill’ Reboot Trailer

    Leaks Tease an Upcoming ‘Silent Hill’ Reboot Trailer

    Silent Hill is one of my favorite franchises. It hasn’t seen a new entry in years, and the last project being canceled prematurely by Konami. I even covered what would’ve been Hideo Kojima‘s Silent Hills as our Halloween special, which you can check out here. In it, I also mentioned that rumors abound that a new reboot of the franchise may be heading to PlayStation 5. Now, a bit more info is coming together on what exactly it could be. Industry insider Roberto Serrano teased a potential reveal date for the upcoming reboot during Halloween. He seems to believe that it will be part of December’s The Game Awards. At one point, it was part of the PS5 reveal event but got postponed for some reason. 

    https://twitter.com/geronimo_73/status/1322454498921644033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1322454498921644033%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgamerant.com%2Fsilent-hill-ps5-exclusive-reveal-date-leak-when%2F

    Now, another Insider known as KatharsisT shared in a forum post that the announcement is planned for this year. Now, we still need to take it with a grain of salt, but there have been some big rumors surrounding the project. It seems to have been titled “Project 0” and got handed to Sony’s Japan Studio. Supposedly, the original Silent Hill director Keiichiro Toyama will return alongside Silent Hill 2′S composer Akira Yamaoka. Some rumors point to this project already being developed for two years with a 2021 or early 2022 release planned.

    It won’t be Silent Hills but a new project altogether, which will act as a reboot of the franchise that will be exclusive to the PlayStation 5. We are only a month away from the Game Awards, so I do hope that there is some validity to these rumors. They have been piling on over the last few months, so it seemed like the right time to talk about it. Sony has been good at revamping older franchises, so I cannot wait to see what they can do with such an iconic series like Silent Hill.

    Source: Inverse, GameRant (Reveal Date), Twitter, GameRant (Further Tease), Glitched

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak Offers First Look at ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Jemma Simmons

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak Offers First Look at ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Jemma Simmons

    We have discussed Marvel’s Avengers here quite often. There were the leaks of War Machine and Black Panther’s design. Among them, there was a strange audio leak teasing a ghost-related storyline featuring Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Jemma Simmons. Of course, as a fan of the series, I was excited to see this character potentially getting added in a later update. Well, it looks like she might already be in the game but not in the way you would think.

    Avengers data miner @mmmmmmmmiller has been a reliable source in the past. He revealed quite a few details on the game and was the one to showcase War Machine’s initial design. He initially pointed out that there were voice files for the character. Well, it looks like he managed to get a good look at the character’s earlier in-game design.

    Okay, so she looks nothing like Elizabeth Henstridge, which shouldn’t be surprising. They would have to pay to use her likeness in the game. Also, as Miller points out, this is not a finalized character model as she isn’t in the final build of the game. Still, there are many big takeaways from this. It seems that her unique mission might’ve been scrapped at some point in development.

    Miller also confirms she was far into development, so they might still want to use the existing assets later. He does point out she may have been replaced by Maddy Cho, which is interesting if you consider she is part of the Inhuman Resistance rather than SHIELD. It could be that they used the character model as a template. I have to point out that her surroundings would place her in Substation Zero, so we will see if there is more to this story. I hope to see her added to the Helicarrier in the currently unused science lab.

    These weren’t the only older models he could find that got replaced later on. Sadly, it also debunks the other leak that Big Hero 6‘s Go-Go Tomago could make an appearance, as we finally get a reveal for the character, who was named Tanaka in the audio files. Jitterbug was also in these audio files, so it may confirm that these ended up unused at some point in development.

    It is interesting to see these NPCs so far into development before they got scrapped. They have names, audio files, and rendered models, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we still see them added at a later date. Hopefully, we will see these characters return as the game grows. Simmons’ inclusion would also be perfect once they add Quake, who is mentioned in the game and was part of the DLC leak a while back. Still, this is a nice look into what may have changed throughout development and could tease what else might be coming our way further down the line. 

    Source: Twitter (Simmons), Twitter (Characters)

  • Looking Back to What Could’ve Been ‘Silent Hills’

    Looking Back to What Could’ve Been ‘Silent Hills’

    A few years back, I started this tradition of replaying the franchise of Silent Hill. The PlayStation franchise reinvented our understanding of survival horror, as it introduced us to a much more personal nightmare. Each entry in the franchise puts you in the shoes of a new character. Their visit to the quaint town of Silent Hill leads them to face their demons. The suburban town is invested with manifestations of their innermost nightmares, as it forces them to accept their past actions. It wasn’t scary because of a lack of ammunition or a creepy monster. It was what it forced us to think about while playing it.

    We haven’t seen the franchise return since its last mainline entry Silent Hill: Downpour in 2021. Even then, the original team that developed the franchise, known as Team Silent, hasn’t worked on a game since Silent Hill 4: The Room. Konami hasn’t shown much love to the franchise since, as it shipped from one external developer to the next. There was a glimmer of hope in 2014. A secret teaser at the end of the Playable Teaser, or P.T. for short, revealed that it was for a game titled Silent Hills. Hideo Kojima started work on a project together with the film director Guillermo Del Toro and acclaimed horror manga artist Junji Ito. It seemed like the perfect team for such an ambitious project, but suddenly Konami pulled the plug on the game.

    So, the wait continues with the franchise making a somewhat return in Dead by Daylight as DLC. The upcoming The Medium game also pays tribute to the franchise with its former composer Akira Yamaoka joining the production. It almost seems like we are at the point where the franchise will live on through tribute games. Yet, there are rumblings of PlayStation potentially working on a brand new entry for their upcoming next-gen console. Sadly, we never got an announcement or official tease, so it could just be a pipedream. There was even the rumor that Sony wants Kojima‘s new development firm Kojima Productions to work on the project that he once had to delay after purchasing the rights from Konami.

    I would love to see Kojima‘s Silent Hills project come together. Junji Ito is one of my favorite manga artists, whose works, like Uzumaki or Tomie, will brand themselves into your mind. At the time, we even got a concept trailer that showcased what kind of insane and horrific visuals we could’ve experienced once the project was released. It would’ve been interesting to see how Japanese horror would’ve meshed with the Western influences the original games were inspired by. Yet, no matter how interesting the monsters could look like, the game still is a character study at heart that uses the foggy town to explore the inner workings of regret, depression, and whatever may affect our fragile minds. Well, sometimes specific imagery and memories are enough to get the gears turning.

    Source: Metacritic (Downpour), IGN, Game Informer, CNet, RockPaperShotgun, Inverse, YouTube (Teaser), YouTube (Concept Trailer)

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Teases Inhumans, AIM Lab Update, Loot Revamp and So Much More

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Teases Inhumans, AIM Lab Update, Loot Revamp and So Much More

    Just today, we got the first full look at Black Panthers’ costume leaked online for Marvel’s Avengers. It was a little something to tide us over until the next update arrives. Players are still anxiously waiting for the first release of the AIM Cloning Lab, which is being teased by Crystal Dynamics. The good thing is that the developers have been very active in their communication. You’ll find them reacting to tweets, Discord chats, and Reddit throughout the day to find the best to solve people’s issues. The developers are very passionate about the game, and it shows. Today, we got a live-stream of the developers that highlight this fact. It included their Community Manager @StrumSlinger and one of the developers from behind-the-scenes Phil, who many might recognize from his many Reddit posts. We didn’t get any reveals as it was a community stream. Yet, they did answer a lot of questions that included some teases for the future. 

    Before we get into any game-related topics, I have to highlight the biggest reveal from this stream. Crystal Dynamics, like many other companies, was hit hard by the pandemic. They confirmed that motion-capture work is happening, but they have to abide by the two-week quarantine rule putting them back weeks. Not just that, they also had to face the California wildfires, which don’t even count issues that they face in their own homes, such as power outage or Internet loss. All this can set you back days or even weeks of work. With the mo-cap reveal, an afternoon of recording turns into multiple weeks of work. The honesty was a great touch, and it must’ve been hard. They also confirmed that all these delays were because of these circumstances. We would’ve seen most of this content much earlier. It doesn’t make it easier for anyone, but I do believe that it is essential to note what kind of circumstances these developers are facing. Even with all of this happening, they still manage to get out patch after patch, which I believe is impressive.

    Now, let us recap the reveals and major talking points from the stream:

     

    • There was a brief mention that caught my attention. It seems a small little addition will be available with an upcoming patch that focuses on a highly demanded Inhuman. CD highlighted it is a small addition. So, this could be a character showing up in an outpost, or maybe even a short cutscene. My theory right now is that it is Inferno, also known as Dante Pertuz. He had a brief cameo in the campaign, so we hopefully get more of him.
    • A frequent question during the stream focused on if they will add Marvel Cinematic Universe skins. It seems they are actively looking into it and that new skins for every character are already in development.
    • One major reveal is that they are actively working on multiple new villains. Currently, the game only includes four Villain sectors, excluding MODOK and Monica from the campaign. So, it is a welcome and needed change to give an incentive for the daily challenges. The way they phrased it gives me some hope that we could see their addition outside of character expansions. So far, it got confirmed that every new character received a unique villain, but that would restrict them quite a bit. I think smaller villain updates could add some flair to the faction missions that tend to repeat very frequently.

    • Our hosts also mentioned that they are adding some complexity to bosses, so that is an exciting prospect. There was mention of the AIM Cloning Lab as the first step towards that direction. It’ll be interesting to see how this game evolves once its content updates start rolling out.
    • They teased the AIM Labs quite heavily. So, there is a chance we might see it sooner rather than later. There was mention that they are doing some final testing over the weekend, so if everything goes well, we could see it next week potentially. They teased a larger patch update, so there might be a connection here. Do not expect Kate before the Labs update. 
    • They are actively looking at revamping their loot system. CD has some short-term and long-term plans for its development, which is promising. I shared my idea of a weapon slot that could add some incentive with visual changes and even gameplay adaptations. If you’re interested, you can check it out here. They also confirmed they are looking into loadouts as well, which will help people with their builds.
    • Currently, they are not planning on anything relating to PvP, so that probably should not be expected anytime soon. I do believe there is potential here with inspirations from Secret Wars or Avengers Arena. Heroes fighting each other is a tradition of its own at this point.

    • Events are coming, but as a result of the current issues, it will take some time. We can potentially expect seasonal additions once things calm down, so here’s looking forward to it.
    • There was a brief mention of them working on better ways to communicate with the community. As I mentioned above, they’ve been much more active. However, they are trying to find new ways to effectively tease content changes and additions, which might be their way of solving the “soon” issue. We got another tease of the road map, which seems to be taking shape. We could see it during the upcoming November War Table video.
    • There were rumors on Reddit that Thor got nerfed, as his Heroic rating is very high. Luckily, those rumors were untrue through an official confirmation during the stream.
    • CD also mentioned some other minor updates. They are working on changing up existing content, highlighted the issue with Captain America’s slow running speed, and that the trophy bugs might get fixed with the next update.

    Overall, this was a fun stream to watch. Yes, we didn’t get any timings, but that wasn’t the point of the stream. They took their time to be as transparent as they can while spending time with the community. A personal highlight was the reveal that Phil created a Mjolnir prop, which got used during the motion capture. There were some fun moments, and sadly I didn’t have the opportunity to join them in a game. Hopefully, I’ll get the chance in a future stream, as they are planning on making this a weekly event. I believe we are slowly nearing the end of the dry spell with Avengers, but I know as little as everyone else. The delays have made it difficult for many, which is understandable, so hopefully, the November War Table video isn’t too far away, and we finally get to see the game grow.

    Source: Twitch

  • First Full Look at ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Black Panther Leaked

    First Full Look at ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Black Panther Leaked

    Marvel’s Avengers teased during its premiere that we will see Black Panther added to the game at one point. The reveal was shortly after the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman, so they decided to postpone it out of respect to the actor. It was a fitting decision at the time, and we’ve been very anxious about what design they may have cooked up over at Crystal Dynamics. A while back, someone shared a cropped version of what looked to be a Black Panther costume. This snippet was then confirmed by Avengers data miner @mmmmmmmmiller to be true at the time, but we never got the full view of it. Well, as Miller was sharing some icons from the game, which seem to be connected to future missions, a user going by @Evan18217824 shared the first full look at Black Panther.

    The thing that confirms this design is that it matches the snippets we saw initially. The additions on the shoulders are a dead giveaway that this is the same design that was confirmed. This take on the character is unique, but it does feel fitting. Instead of a bodysuit, it has these armor-like elements to highlight T’Challa’s Royal position. I especially love the attention to detail here, as his symbol is on the chest plate surrounded by what seems to be traditional Wakandan inscriptions. Of course, we will get various other costumes, so this may be the default design for his story arc.
    In general, I like this design, as it’s such a unique take on the character. The idea of using a traditional king’s armor is an interesting one to focus more on his role within the African country. I am curious to see what other costumes they include and if we get this design in action once the promised November War Table video is released. Still, we finally got a good look at the character and something to tie us over until Kate Bishop is playable.

     

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ Suit Revealed for ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’

    ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ Suit Revealed for ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’

    We are only a few weeks away from PlayStation’s Spider-Man spin-off finally releasing. The new game will focus on Miles Morales growing into his role as Spider-Man. It was a fantastic reveal during the PS5 reveal event, and everything we saw of the game was already quite promising. Now, they are adding an easter egg for fans of the character. Spider-Man: Miles Morales is paying tribute to his cinematic debut Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse by including an original animated costume from that film.

    The animation looks beautiful. It even seems like Insomniac has even adapted the animation style of the character to fit the way the design. If you look closely, you can even see some pop-ups of Onomatopoeia when you punch someone. We did get something similar, as the 2018 game also included an animated Spider-Man costume that paid tribute to the original 90s Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

    As Miles just recently had his cinematic debut, it made sense to add the costume from his first cinematic appearance. Some might have noticed that he is part of the pre-order, but Insomniac has confirmed that you can unlock the costume in-game, so there is no exclusivity deal. I have to say that these costumes look amazing. My personal favorites so far are the one that includes Spider-Cat and the Daft Punk-inspired suit. I cannot wait to see what other designs they might have ready once the game releases on November 12th.

    Source: Twitter

  • First Details on ‘Final Fantasy XVI’ Story and World Revealed

    First Details on ‘Final Fantasy XVI’ Story and World Revealed

    Just recently, we got the reveal of Final Fantasy latest numbered entry. XVI is set to explore the game’s original fantasy setting moving away from its more futuristic development. We only got a brief trailer teasing the overarching plot and playstyle. Now, Square-Enix has revealed some details on the game’s setting and characters through an official website. Funny enough, the following image of this world was leaked a while back without any confirmation until this point.

    The game will take place in the world of Valisthea, which is studded by so-called Mothercrystals. These crystals bless the inhabitants with aether, which is their source of magic. Of course, with great power came greed and the world finds itself in the middle of a war. At the heart of it, all are the Dominants. These are people that have the ability to summon the most powerful and deadly creatures, which are known as Eikons. These are this game’s version of the summons, which were teased in the trailer.

    Our protagonist is Clive Rosfield, who was believed to be a Dominant, as he was the son of the Archduke of Rosaria. The Phoenix, however, ended up choosing his younger brother Joshua, which led him to dedicate his life to swordsmanship. He made it his mission to protect his younger brother. They were also raised alongside Jill Warrick, who was taking in as a ward by Rosaria after her homecountry in the Northern Territories have fallen. Their lifes are met by tragedy as a dark Eikon named Ifrit would set them all on a dangerous path. It also push Clive on a very dark path, which is teased in the official poster for the game, which includes a clearer picture of the Phoenix and Ifrit.

    Source: Official Website

  • First Look at ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Prowler Released

    First Look at ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Prowler Released

    Now, this is an interesting way to reveal a major character in a game. Spider-Man: Miles Morales has teased its primary antagonist in the first gameplay trailer a while back. We got our first look at a very unique interpretation of the Tinkerer, who is in the middle of a gang war with Roxxon. Miles finds himself in the middle of the battle trying to keep people safe. We all wondered who else would be added with a short tease of Rhino as the first boss battle followed the initial announcement. Now, it looks like one more major villain will be added to the game, as they offered us our first look at the Prowler in the latest variant cover for Amazing Spider-Man #55.

    Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduced many to the iconic villain, who has deep ties to Miles’ family. Originally, the character made his debut back in 1969. Many held the title but none were as iconic as Miles’ own uncle, Aaron Davis. His design already teases that he may have gotten his hands on the equipment through Tinkerer. This is a callback to the comics, where he did the same thing in the Ultimate universe. Spider-Man: Miles Morales seems to be playing around a lot with its colors. Tinkerer stands out with her purples and Prowler will be utilizing green. It is interesting to note that purple was associated witht he Prowler in the past, as even his original Ultimate costume was a purple version of Deadpool’s. He also seems to have green-glowing claws similar to that of Black Panther. Sadly, his iconic cape isn’t included from the animated film but hopefully we will find out his role in the story soon, as we are only a few weeks away from the games’ release.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Series in Development at Netflix

    ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Series in Development at Netflix

    Assassin’s Creed is one of those gaming franchises that are perfect for a live-action adaptation. We finally got the first attempt in 2016, which featured Michael Fassbender in the titular role. Sadly, while the film was a step-up of previous video game adaptations, it still only managed to get an 18% on Rotten Tomatoes with a mixed audience score of 43%. It seemed like that would be it for any future adaptations of the iconic Ubisoft franchise for the time being. Seems like they weren’t done yet, as Netflix has announced that they are developing a brand new series that wishes to re-explore the history of the Assassins. Jason Altman, Head of Ubisoft Film and Television gave the following statement.

    or more than 10 years, millions of fans around the world have helped shape the Assassin’s Creed brand into an iconic franchise. We’re thrilled to create an Assassin’s Creed series with Netflix and we look forward to developing the next saga in the Assassin’s Creed universe.

    Netflix is known for greenlighting projects early on before they even have a creative team ready. Just recently, they did the same thing with their new show focused on the iconic Conan the Barbarian franchise. This time it is no different as Netflix is still searching for a showrunner. As such, it is uncertain how long it would take before the show would enter production. Netflix’s Peter Friedlander also gave the following statement.

    We’re excited to partner with Ubisoft and bring to life the rich, multilayered storytelling that Assassin’s Creed is beloved for. From its breathtaking historical worlds and massive global appeal as one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time, we are committed to carefully crafting epic and thrilling entertainment based on this distinct IP and provide a deeper dive for fans and our members around the world to enjoy.

    It also looks like an official logo to mark the new cooperation was released. This reveal will also be the start of larger cooperation that will include animated and anime series, similar to their approach with The Witcher.

    It also will be exciting to see how they explore the different eras. The show concept could lend itself to each season focusing on a unique timeline to further develop the plot. Plus, this would allow Netflix to keep the show running for multiple seasons, as each one would feel fresh and new. It won’t be cheap to constantly switch between new sets, costumes, and much more so we’ll see what direction they take.

    Source: Rotten Tomatoes, The Hollywood Reporter, Twitter