Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Gaming

  • ‘Destruction AllStars’ Delayed Until February as Free PlayStation Plus Release

    ‘Destruction AllStars’ Delayed Until February as Free PlayStation Plus Release

    We are only a few weeks away from the release of the next generation of consoles. I sadly did not get a chance to pre-order it, as they sold out quite quickly. Of course, a new generation of games also comes with a variety of new launch titles. PlayStation 5 has been garnering buzz for the games that will be available with launch, which includes Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon Souls. There is, however, one more major new launch title Destruction AllStars. It was a new entry into the popular Battle Royale genre. It would add the ability to switch between vehicles during combat to add a new spice to the genre. It was planned as a full release with the next-generation price increase.

    In a sudden twist, PlayStation announced that the game will be postponed until February 2021. Not only that, as it will also be available for two months on PlayStation Plus for free. Their official blog points out that they plan to let as many people as possible to experience it. The game will strongly depend on online players, so this might be a hint that the initial sales were lower than expected. The game is a brand-new IP and comes at a high price, which may have deterred some from trying it out.

    It is unsure if the game will be available for full-price after the two-month PS+ period ends. Of course, PlayStation confirmed that people will have their pre-order refunded. We will also get a new trailer next month to showcase what the game has to offer. It is just crazy to see a full retail game being pushed to PS+ on release for free. It must be a heavy blow, but these types of games also live off of microtransactions. Its delay does not bode well for the online game, but we will see in February how it performs.

    Source: PlayStation Blog

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ is Square-Enix’s Second-Biggest Digital Launch

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ is Square-Enix’s Second-Biggest Digital Launch

    Marvel’s Avengers player base has been in question for quite some time. Shortly after the launch, it’s Steam player numbers were dwindling. It currently sits at around 2,000 players, which is a far cry from the initial 29K that started playing it. Still, the game was the best seller in the United States during September, even beating out nostalgia-driven releases like Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. It was hinting at the game’s core player base primarily being on console. Now, another release on the numbers may have confirmed that suspicion.

    Crystal Dynamics’ first attempt at a Games-as-a-Server was a hit digitally. According to SuperData, the game has sold 2.2 million digital units in September alone. As such, it is now the second-biggest digital launch for Square-Enix. It is only beat by this year’s Final Fantasy VII Remake. They were even on-par with PlayStation 4-exclusive’s Spider-Man release. They also compare it to the release of other shooters, which puts it between Destiny 2 and Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, which is some great company to be in from a sales perspective.

    These are great numbers if you considering the controversies surrounding the game. Of course, this does not reflect how many people actively are playing the game. It also doesn’t showcase how many purchased skins through microtransactions. Its main selling point was on consoles, being placed behind NBA 2K21 and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2‘s worldwide success. Those are two massive successes of this year, especially NBA 2K21‘s spike after the delayed postseason.

    Tony Hawk‘s remake was also a massive nostalgia-driven sale, as pointed out by SuperData beating out both Crash Bandicoot and Spyro’s remakes. Super Mario 3D All-Stars was also the biggest launch for a Mario-related title on the Switch. So, we should underestimate the success that is Marvel’s Avengers. These sales numbers could bode well for the game once more content is released, as console players can jump in with future additions. Still, it depends on Crystal Dynamics, who have been rather back-and-forth on when we can expect updates.

    Source: Steam Charts, SuperData

  • Key Takeaways from ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ First Q&A

    Key Takeaways from ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ First Q&A

    Marvel’s Avengers has kicked into gear with some much-needed interaction with the community. It was something that many were asking for, as we ran out of things to do in the game. We got a live-stream with the developers and a rather detailed State of the Game blog entry. It gave us some insight into what happened behind-the-scenes and what the current focus is. This week we were surprised by the announcement of a Q&A. Anyone could drop their question so that the development team would discuss current issues. Not everyone was going to make it in, but they confirmed more are on the way. Here is a quick rundown of the biggest takeaways from Scott Amos‘ first Q&A.

    • Campaign replay has already entered the first testing phase. The biggest challenge is adjusting the individual character’s levels so that they work within the story.
    • They are hard at work trying to fix some of the lingering issues. As such, they are not going to roll out any seasonal content or events for now. Yet, Amos has highlighted that they have thought of it, and they will be adding new pieces of content in the future, such as gear, locations, enemies, villains, and more.

    • The current Tachyon missions will lead to the upcoming AIM Cloning Labs. As such, these two will be the set-up for Kate’s new operation. It will contain brand new cutscenes, adapted locations, and new missions. They do highlight that she will have some unique environments that will act as baby steps.
    • Existing Avengers will receive brand new skill trees, so we will see them evolve. They also teased unique story missions for the characters that continue where we left off.
    • New mechanics are already in development. They teased that the Tachyon rifts are just a simple version of what is coming.
    • Cross-platform is top-of-mind, but they are finalizing cross-generation play with the transition to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

    • They did tackle a question on the current lack of content. It is sadly an issue that they don’t want to give any exact dates. The dev team is trying to avoid rushing the content out. Amos did have the poor wording of “release this calendar year” which doesn’t give us a feeling if Kate will be available in November after all.
    • They teased larger expansions, which will offer new level design, warzones, and biomes. It seems very likely this will be the Black Panther addition.
    • They are working on how they can communicate the road map without setting specific dates. They want to avoid the issue of it getting released prematurely.

    So, I do believe the Q&A did a decent job. They tackled some of the most frequently asked questions and offered some minor glimpses into what is coming. The biggest issue is the Kate timeline. She was going to be released this month but was then “slightly” postponed. Now, they are expanding the deadline until the end of the year. I doubt it’ll be that long, but the wording just wasn’t great to give people hope on an upcoming content drop. Right now, people want content as soon as possible, but we don’t have a feeling for how long the wait will be.

    Also, they didn’t talk much about the AIM Cloning Lab, so we have no idea when that drops. My best guess was next weekend, but it’s hard to say at this point. It is a Q&A to show that they are actively giving feedback to the community, but we do need some kind of plan. I hope that the November War Table video is released earlier than later, as this will be the thing to keep people playing once the holiday gaming markets get filled. I am still excited about how the game will grow, but I do believe we need a clearer picture, as many like to joke, soon.

     

    You can check out the complete Q&A right here:

    Source: YouTube

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Spider-Man DLC Eyeing January Release

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Spider-Man DLC Eyeing January Release

    There was a lot of drama this year when it was announced that Spider-Man would be an exclusive character for Crystal Dynamics’ Marvel’s Avengers game. As the character’s latest single-player game was a PlayStation exclusive, Sony jumped at the chance to keep that brand consistency. Of course, we have no idea how exactly this would work with consistent updates promised for all systems. We have no idea when he would be released with some rumors pointing him to being a March addition. Well, an eagle-eyed reader of the PlayStation magazine noticed a little detail during their Spider-Man: Miles Morales coverage. u/icematt12 noticed that a small section on the Avengers game states that Spidey will release in January.

    Avengers PS5 paragraph in latest UK PlayStation Magazine
    byu/icematt12 inPlayAvengers

    This is actually a huge reveal, as we were uncertain when he would release. Also, this is from the official PlayStation Magazine, so there is some validity to it. So far, the only confirmed characters are next month’s Kate Bishop, Hawkeye, and Black Panther. The latest State of the Game hinted at a War Table coming next month that will give us a clearer picture. Keep in mind that anything can also change, as CD is currently facing delays due to the first month being quite rocky.

    So, for now, take this as a potential release window and no official confirmation until the developers actually give us a date. Still, it is helpful to get a feeling for when we can expect him, and early 2021 is a good estimate for now. Our best guess is to wait for next month’s War Table video to give us some insight into what Crystal Dynamics is working on and when we can expect it. Hopefully, things will be much clearer for the coming months.

    Source: Reddit

  • First Official Look at Tom Holland’s Nathan Drake in ‘Uncharted’

    First Official Look at Tom Holland’s Nathan Drake in ‘Uncharted’

    Just today, we got our first real tease of the upcoming Uncharted film. It will adapt the iconic franchise by the game developer Naughty Dog. It will feature Tom Holland in the iconic role of Nathan Drake. Once voiced by Nolan North, the treasure hunter traveled the world to uncover hidden treasures and lost cities. The last entry was a spin-off title The Lost Legacy that was released in 2017, which took the focus away from the iconic character and give his supporting cast more attention. Drake’s story officially ended in the fourth entry known as Thief’s End. Now, we are all waiting anxiously for the upcoming film that is slowly finishing up production. After a short tease of North visiting the set, we also got our first official look at Holland in costume.

    He certainly has the looks down for the iconic character. The colors of his outfit seem similar to the one he wears in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. It would be interesting if they pay tribute to the various colors he has worn throughout the franchise in this film. We also see Sir Francis Drake’s iconic ring, which states Sic Parvis Magma, which translates to: “Greatness from small beginnings”. It is an item that heavily defines Drake’s character in the games. We also get a tease of the set design, as he is standing on a destroyed galleon There aren’t any dead giveaways if this connects to the recent reveal of Ferdinand Magellan or if it is part of an expedition that tried to find whatever treasure they are hunting. In the games, you spend a lot of time going from one clue to the next until you uncover the actual secret of the story. Still, Holland looks fantastic in the role, and cannot wait to see how they translated this game franchise to the silver screen.

    Source: Instagram

  • Three New Spider-Man Suits Coming on the Remastered PS4 Version of ‘Marvel’s Spider-Man’

    Three New Spider-Man Suits Coming on the Remastered PS4 Version of ‘Marvel’s Spider-Man’

    Confirmed by the Community Director at Insomniac Games.

     

    Recently, Sony Entertainment discussed some new details regarding a remastered release of the popular game, Marvel’s Spider-Man, which is included with Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales: Ultimate Edition. From ray-tracing and high-quality graphics to controversial changes to Peter Parker’s original design, the game had a lot of changes that excited fans to play the game once again. The most popular topic of conversation amongst fans was the confirmation of The Amazing Suit being available in the game, along with 2 more suits that are planned to be revealed in the future.

     

     

    Originally, fans had their concerns regarding these suits. Many believed that these suits would’ve been locked behind a huge paywall for the console and the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales: Ultimate Edition. Well, James Stevenson confirmed today via Twitter that The Amazing Suit and more will be available on the PS4 version of the game as well, with details pending.

     

     

    This is certainly exciting news for Spider-Man fans and gaming fans alike who have not been able to get their hands on the PS5 pre-orders.

     

  • How the Success of ‘Genshin Impact’ Only Adds to the Current AAA Gaming Industry Standards

    How the Success of ‘Genshin Impact’ Only Adds to the Current AAA Gaming Industry Standards

    So far, I haven’t talked about one of this year’s biggest surprise hits, Genshin Impact. To those few that don’t know what I am talking about, the game in question is a free-to-play mobile game strongly inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You enter an open world of Teyvat. There you meet Paimon, who will help you find your lost twin after you got separated in a fight. It is easy to recognize thanks to its anime aesthetic and memorable design. I did call it a mobile game, but it has been made available via PlayStation and Windows. There are even plans to add it to Nintendo Switch later in the year. Yet, the game’s success might set a scary precedent for the gaming industries’ future development in an era where an entire genre is already facing massive issues for its focus on microtransactions.

    Genshin Impact’s…Impact

    It is an understatement to call this game a massive success for the Chinese developer miHoYo. The game has garnered $100 million within its first two weeks. These sales numbers make this game the most successful Chinese release we’ve seen on a global scale. Of course, Genshin‘s marketing push was also nothing to scoff at. As of now, miHoYo has made back its development costs and can be considered profitable in record time. So, you might be wondering how this game made its money on a free-to-play basis? Well, the game’s core monetization lies in its Gacha-mechanic. It is a gambling concept where you can unlock characters and weapons by using real-world money.

     

     

    The Washing Post’s own Gene Park wanted to get one character based on their design and ended up spending $90 to get one of them. Some have reported receiving the same items multiple times after investing a considerable amount. This type of game is something that has become almost standard within the mobile industry. There are even studies on these topics, such as the Fear-of-Missing-Out being a factor in its success. The company already had experience with this model thanks to its predecessor Honkai Impact 3. The game builds on familiar grounds and the companies’ past experiences. Even Wired’s review of the game highlighted that its quality overshadows its basis as a clone.

    Genshin Impact‘s greatest strength lies in its use of the anime aesthetic that simplifies the designs. The environments are brimming with life through simple shading effects that can easily pop out on a mobile device or screen. They also put a lot of work into creating unique regions. It focused on a single-player experience with some multiplayer thrown in. Yet, at its core, it is still pay-to-win, as stronger characters are behind a paywall. Controversy does exist, but it isn’t as aggressive as with other titles.

    AAA Gaming Standards

    To give an example, the recent release of Marvel’s Avengers was under fire for its microtransactions or MTX for short. They were upfront of its base as a Game-as-a-Service with no pay-to-win functions. Up to the release, they also stuck to that promise with MTX commonly used for aesthetic purposes. So, it is entirely optional if you want to invest the money, and you can select what you are buying. Moreover, all-new missions, characters, or stories are for free. So, you only pay once with additional content as a bonus. It isn’t the only game to be hit by this controversy surrounding MTX. Even Blizzard’s massive release Overwatch alongside FIFA 18, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive were all heavily scrutinized for their inclusion. Some even playing close to the Gacha-formula with loot boxes. It went so far as the Belgium court ruling them as illegal.

    First and foremost, there is a cultural influence at play. Genshin Impact has its largest player base in China, which is pretty open to pay-to-win games. Currently, around 16 million pre-registrations are local players, which makes up 75% of its player base. Plus, keep in mind that most of these games’ players are on experiencing it through their mobile phones. Just last year, the mobile gaming market was analyzed to be around $68.5 billion, which is 45% of the gaming market at this point and still growing. It is no wonder that these gacha elements have become quite popular within the mobile market.

    There is also the topic of the AAA gaming industry and its current practices. We live in a time filled with Early Access, Beta, and other types of brandings to help players accept new standards. For example, Avengers’ release was at the boiling point of these issues. It just brought every aspect together that was criticized in the past. The game included countless brand deals, Influencer cooperations, and, to top it off, Sony wanted exclusive rights to Spider-Man on the PlayStation. These already frowned upon practices in the industry just added to the MTX discussion. Anthem, Destiny, and Fallout 76 all initially released barebones with bugs. There was, of course, a range of how affected they were by this, but they establish an instant comparison point. Anthem especially is the go-to when it comes to Avengers’ current launch issues and delays. In a way, the massive appeal of the Marvel brand just put a much stronger focus on existing practices that have been becoming more and more apparent with each subsequent release.

    Early Access to Funds

    Genshin Impact wears its mobile nature on its sleeve, which makes it easier to accept its approach. It is free-to-play, so why not give it a shot and maybe throw in some money to get that one character you like. Yet, that is part of the issue. GameRant shared an article stating this approach to MTX should become an industry-standard, which I believe is a rather dangerous statement. Yes, some might get away with a free game, but the gambling aspects are rather dangerous. There is a reason that Belgium tried to outlaw these game principles, as some people are easily susceptible to this kind of design. Avengers‘ skins are heavily overpriced, but you know what you are purchasing upfront. If you are after a specific character in Genshin Impact, you might have to invest quite a bit before you get him. Gambling addiction is a real problem nowadays. Mobile games have the added issue of also being played by young and impressionable children.

    The industry is facing a massive change that is also affecting the way games are produced. Even the term “Early Access” is creating an easy way out to sell unfinished games under a specific umbrella. Hades was recently officially out of Early Access to critical acclaim, but it had time to learn since it was technically available since December 2018. Yes, the game is fantastic, but it gives others a sign that it can get away with this approach. Hell, Fortnite didn’t officially lose the Early Access status until three years after it launched, which wasn’t until this year in June. If people are willing to pay MTX even as it is in Early Access, why then risk leaving it if it can safely handwave any issues under that umbrella? Epic Games made $3 billion in profit two years ago without being officially released.

    We somehow give F2P games a pass because anyone can try it out, but you are incentivized to pay to make the grind easier. In a way, GaaS games to the opposite approach. They try to sell you on the potential of future content and its ongoing development, so you pay upfront with the option to invest more. It opens up the question if we would forgive it if it took an approach similar to Genshin Impact. We saw a recent test with Destiny 2, which now has specific content available for free. If you want more, you have to pay for the complete experience. Moreover, if controversial games can make a comeback like Star Wars Battlefront II, so the risk of facing early controversies may have lost its impact outside of a temporary setback.

    A Slow Expansion

    I can go on with examples, as even other genres are utilizing MTX, as Mortal Kombat 11 introduced customizable loot that you can purchase. Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled added microtransactions after it had already launched. Still, the point of the matter is, Genshin Impact‘s success highlights the industry’s new standard of implementing MTX, and Gacha-concepts is justified. If we accept games for a price in their early stages, we let that become a standard, no matter if Early Access, Beta, or GaaS. That umbrella term can redefine how companies approach their releases, as it worked in the past.

    I am not exempt from this. Avengers is the first time I decided to bite the bullet after being let down by the initial release of Destiny. I also enjoy Genshin Impact quite a bit, so I do enjoy spending my time playing these games. It just seems that the success of this game and its mobile background may be overshadowing the fact of how it feeds into the current gaming industry. These standards have become more apparent over time, slowly increasing with each year. Now, we are at a boiling point on the topic yet make an exception. Genshin might be a rather unique addition this year that brings with it a lot of good, but also potentially a lot of dangers. Just some food for thought, as it started to dawn on me over time as I have played most of the games mentioned in this article. Sometimes, we don’t even realize it until we are deep into it.

     

    Source: PC Gamer (Genshin Impact), South China Morning Post, The Washington Post, Research Gate, PCGamesn, Looper, MiHoYo, CNBC, DualShockers, ScreenRant, Wired, TechCrunch, Kotaku, GameRant, Trusted Reviews, Super Giant Games (Early Access), Super Giant Games, Polygon, Destructoid, GamesRadar+, Variety, ScreenRant (SW: BF2), TechCrunch, TechRadar, GameIndustry.biz, Metro, TweakTown, TechRadar, PlayStation, Forbes

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Assembles as Best-Selling Game in September

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Assembles as Best-Selling Game in September

    There has been a lot of focus on Marvel’s Avengers steam performance. As people have faced bugs and the post-games repetition, it has fallen below 1,000 at times. Still, this is just one of the three releases. Furthermore, these numbers hopefully increase as the game starts rolling out new content. We already saw a slight uptick with the recent Tachyon Missions that will keep people busy for a bit. It will be a challenge to build up its audience, but there is a sign that it will grow once more content added, as going by NPD, the game was the best-selling game of September.

    Crystal Dynamics’ first foray into GaaS was a bumpy one, but it seems the game still paid off. It is now the second-best-selling Marvel game after PlayStation’s Spider-Man. The character’s popularity was probably also a factor in the exclusivity deal for him to appear in this game. Also, keep in mind that the game went up against Super Mario 3D All-Stars, which was Nintendo’s second-best Switch launch. The list included a lot of newcomers with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, NBA 2K21, Star Wars: Squadrons, and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.

    Marvel is a popular franchise, but it still kept up its sales in September even as it faced media controversies. Its sales will calm down in the coming months, but the reception has been more positive online since the last update was released. It will still be an uphill battle for CD to regain its player base, but character updates will get them the attention they need. These sales numbers at least showcase that there is interest once the game starts getting into gear. In a recent podcast, we got a tease of that the Black Panther-focused Raid will offer. Its size could work as a new way to soft launch the game in 2021. You can read a recap of it right here. I am optimistic about the future of this game and cannot wait to see how it grows over time.

    Source: GameRant (Sales), VG247, GameRant (Mario)

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Data Miner Teases Black Panther’s Wakanda Raid

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Data Miner Teases Black Panther’s Wakanda Raid

    We just got our first official content update for Marvel’s Avengers. It was a bit underwhelming, but we did hype it up a lot more than we probably should’ve. Their State of the Game blog confirmed that we are facing some delays with Kate postponed. We still will get some minor updates to tide us over until then, such as the A.I.M. Cloning Lab. I still firmly believe that the game has faced some challenges that made its release a much more harrowing experience for both developers and players. Games-as-a-Service have plagued with Day One issues, so this experience was nothing new for veterans.

    Their latest blog also confirmed that they were hit pretty hard by the ongoing pandemic and the California wildfires. It is crazy to think about how much they were able to get out within the given timeframe with such hurdles. It doesn’t excuse the game’s launch issues, but it puts everything into perspective. This genre is all about the community and ongoing developments. The Twitter user @mmmmmmmmiller has been very active in sharing what he found through data mines. Now, he also appeared in a podcast on the game by Assembly Podcast, where he teases some future developments. If you want to hear the entire thing be sure to check out the podcast below but you’ll find a summary of the biggest insights below.

    Keep in mind, Miller does not work for Crystal Dynamics, so he doesn’t have the insight into what happened. He purely can base his assumptions on the data he has uncovered through the game’s code. Still, it gives a somewhat feeling of how exactly the original plans looked like when the game initially launched. The recent release of the SHIELD Substation Zero alongside the Tachyon Rifts seemed to have planned for September. Even the first major event the AIM Cloning Lab was going to release during that time. It is possible that the bug fixing, the current conditions, and some internal meddling due to the reception have created a chaotic environment. In my opinion, CD’s focus on fixing bugs was the right move though current updates feel a bit lackluster.

    There is one aspect that Miller gets into more detail on, and that is the Omega Threats. He kind of grounds our expectations for the AIM Cloning Lab. This new mission type was probably part of the original operation for that addition. We now know they changed that to ensure that expectations for Kate Bishop’s story wouldn’t be affected, as she will have an actual storyline that is set-up by the Tachyon rifts. I do hope we will see more new mission types that add more reasons to return to the game.

    While discussing it, Miller does tease how expansive the Wakandan’ event will be. He teases a crazy boss fight, which he leaked to be Ulysses Klaue a long time ago. Black Panther is a popular character, and the addition of endgame content could get people back into the game. He described it as a potential to “soft launch” the game, which seems possible. He also confirms that Shuri, Okoye, and the Dora Milaje will have a role in this event. So, we will see how large this raid will end up being with hopefully a tease in the upcoming November War Table. He also says that it should be something to look forward to once it releases, which they believe could be the beginning of 2021.

    This reveal doesn’t downplay the upcoming operations, as we still get new playable characters with unique missions. Kate Bishop’s delay was a bit disheartening for some, but with the release being the end of October and the wording, it seems realistic to expect her early November. In CD’s first stream, they confirmed it won’t release during Thanksgiving, which is towards the end of the month. The chat did reveal that we will get some unique arrows with Kate that will add some fun alongside her teleporting skill. Miller does state that Clint was the one to utilize unique status effects, so he was surprised with this reveal. He does, however, confirm that these two characters will play different from each other, which is a good sign for future additions. He describes Kate as a Ranger while Clint is a Hunter. Kate has a drone that she uses in the fight while her former mentor can utilize traps.

    We are facing a delay for now. These small glimpses into what the game will offer us in the future showcase that Crystal Dynamics truly has a plan. Yes, the player base, especially on Steam is low right now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t grow again. We have seen support since the first day, so this isn’t another Anthem scenario. It is easy to make comparisons, but sadly, the negative press has not been helping. I do believe that a lot of it is connected to the general discomfort with the AAA GaaS standards. Marvel’s Avengers has a very popular that just put it into the spotlight. Hopefully, as Miller pointed out, the Black Panther release could be the change this game needs in the public eye.

    Source: State of the Game, Assemble Podcast, Twitch

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ State of the Game Confirms Slight Kate Bishop Delay

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ State of the Game Confirms Slight Kate Bishop Delay

    Marvel’s Avengers has been a crazy but enjoyable journey. I went into this game knowing full well what it means to start a Games-as-a-Service at launch. They get plagued with bugs at launch due to its online nature. The game is structurally sound, but it has some issues it needs to fight through. Sadly, it lost players fast in the beginning and became an easy target for repeating talking points online.

    Still, Crystal Dynamics has been hard at work trying to fix the bugs and show the players that they care. They initially patched as much as possible early on. We just recently got our first content patch, which was slightly underwhelming but still offered something new to do. This week, we finally got a blog discussing the journey to this point. In it, they did what many avoid, they confessed that the bugs deterred players. It is a big move to confess to something like this. Yet, they aren’t stopping there but are also giving away free resources to thank players for their patience.

    • Credits: 1500
    • Units: 7000
    • Upgrade Modules: 250
    • DNA Keys: 20
    • A Sarah Garza-Inspired Nameplate (Because seriously, you’re the best.)

    Those credits can get anyone a Legendary Skin and a nameplate. They are giving away $15 in value for the credits alone. Plus, the in-joke of the game of Garza repeating her line is just a nice touch. It will be available as of October 22nd. The blog entry also includes some details about new community-driven features that are coming our way, such as a campaign replay option of the game’s story, a unique ping system for multiplayer and more clarity about mission rewards. We have seen a lot of Quality-of-Life improvements in their last update, so these will add a whole new level to the game.

    They also dedicated an entire section to the issues that have been plaguing the game since launch. They also discuss the performance and stability issues, and their dependency on NVIDIA for the PC port. Crystal Dynamics is also looking into ways to optimize matchmaking by rethinking its structure and updating the rewards system. They also highlighted that work is underway to offer a multiplayer alternative to the Mega Hive. This game made was a big discussion point among players, as it is a single-player only mission.

    It would be one thing to just focus on the fixes, but they also teased some new content coming soon. They will be introducing a new mission type called Omega-Level Threats. These are multiplayer-focused challenges for high-level players with unique rewards. In the blog, they also tease an Avengers-worthy fight at the end, which could hopefully include new villains. They also point out this is just the first step. Crystal Dynamics also finally confirmed that the first Omega threat is going to be the A.I.M. Cloning Lab, which will be a weekend-only event. Sadly, they do not include an exact release date but could be in the coming weeks.

    They also confirmed that Kate Bishop is not going to release in October. They state it is a slight delay, so that means it could be at the beginning of the month. I am okay with a later release, as it is for free, and that could mean they are adding more content to it. Their recent patch had many underwhelmed, so they might want to focus on making it deliver on what everyone is expecting. We will know more in November, as they have also confirmed we will finally get a tour next War Table video by then, which most likely will include the long-promised road map. They confirmed Clint will be included and what we can expect from 2021. I do fear that this means Black Panther won’t release this year, as originally predicted.

    I believe this was a necessary and important move by the developer. It is very detailed and honest about the faulty launch. I did not expect a free bundle for early players, but it is a nice gesture. Hopefully, this is the beginning of continuous content drops for the game. I am having a blast with the game and I want to see where they are heading. Kate Bishop’s addition will be our first indicator of what we can expect from the game moving forward, so I am looking forward to that. Yes, the delay isn’t great but it means they are focusing on getting the game where it needs to be. Let’s see where this journey brings us in the near future.

    Source: Play Avengers