Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Gaming

  • ‘Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’ is Nintendo’s Biggest Worldwide Launch Ever

    ‘Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’ is Nintendo’s Biggest Worldwide Launch Ever

    It seems people are still just as crazy about Pokémon as ever, as the latest two entries Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have now sold over 10 million units worldwide within just three days. 4.05 million units were sold in Japan alone. As such, this marks the biggest launch ever for a Nintendo console release and a continued showcase of just how big this franchise remains to this day. It’s a testament to just how big this franchise is and why it has such a memorable place on the Nintendo console to this day.

    The new open-world concept introduced in Legends Arceus has become the new staple of this mainline entry in the franchise. It even includes multiplayer modes such as four players interacting with each other, which likely played a big role in its growing numbers. Of course, Pokémon is one of the few franchises that still forces a dual release on gamers, as you have to decide between one of the two versions that offer some unique differences. The game combines elements from the spinoff with the mainline games, but there’s also been quite some controversy surrounding the title.

    The game has been facing some performance issues with many sharing their frustration online. Plus, the game has been described as rushed by many given how barebones the game seems to be while facing countless glitches. With such high sales numbers, it’s hard to see developer Game Freak not continuing their three-year release plan moving forward but perhaps having found a new system could push them to build upon it moving forward. Of course,

    Source: Business Wire

  • ‘God of War: Ragnarok’ Director on Potential DLC

    ‘God of War: Ragnarok’ Director on Potential DLC

    God of War Ragnarok has just been released on shelves and has seemingly already become a massive hit for PlayStation, as it now dethroned The Last of Us Part 2 to become the console’s fastest-selling first-party game. Of course, quite a few have already played through the game’s massive and ambitious story, as Kratos and his son Atreus take on Fimbulwinter and the Norse Gods, but there’s always that question in the back of our heads wondering if there might be more in the near future.

    As it turns out, that might be very unlikely. Director Eric Williams has revealed on the Kinda Funny Games SpoilerCast that we shouldn’t expect any DLC. It seems they worked on the game as a full package and seemingly put any theories to rest that more might be on the horizon. Of course, he doesn’t say anything about a potential sequel, which has been teased in the past especially as this film ends the Norse saga of the franchise.

    I don’t know, man, that game is big. I think we put everything we had into it, so I wouldn’t count on it.

    Eric Williams

    It’s a shame we’ll have to wait quite a bit longer until we see more of this story given it took them around 4 years to release the second entry since the first’s debut. There are a lot of potential stories to explore still in this unique take on classic mythology, especially with how the first entry teased many more pantheons beyond the ones we already have witnessed directly. So, here’s hoping that we’ll get a tease of some kind about what the future has in store for Kratos and Atreus’ future.

    Source: YouTube via EuroGamer

  • ‘God of War Ragnarok’ Dethrones ‘The Last of Us Part II’ as PlayStation’s Fastest-Selling Debut

    ‘God of War Ragnarok’ Dethrones ‘The Last of Us Part II’ as PlayStation’s Fastest-Selling Debut

    God of War was already a huge game when it sold 3.1M copies in three days back in 2018 rivaled by Marvel’s Spider-Man‘s 3.3M. It took until The Last of Us: Part 2 two years later to take the top spot with four million copies sold in three days. Well, it seems that the franchise has taken the top spot away, as God of War: Ragnarok has managed to sell 5.1M copies in its launch week and has been announced as PlayStation’s fastest-selling first-party launch ever. These sales are a combination of both PlayStation 4 and 5 entries as of its launch on November 13th. Sadly, we can’t give a direct comparison with no further details shared on how they performed throughout the full week.

    Still, the game has been doing numbers and it definitely looks like Santa Monica Studio might have to start working on the third entry soon. The game had some of PlayStation#s biggest marketing campaigns, such as an ad featuring Ben Stiller, John Travolta, LeBron James, and more in a room to promote the game. God of War is a rare continuation of a classic trilogy that managed to use familiar elements but still stands out as a very distinct game. Instead of his usual revenge-filled path, Kratos is responsible for his son after the passing of his wife Faye and finds himself on a journey that forces him to face Norse gods. Ragnarok signals the end of the Norse saga with teases of the future entries exploring other pantheons still making the rounds.

    Source: Twitter, GameSpot

  • First Details on ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Winter Soldier DLC and Cloning Lab Finally Arrives

    First Details on ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Winter Soldier DLC and Cloning Lab Finally Arrives

    It’s been a while since we got an update on what exactly Marvel’s Avengers has to offer. While the recently sold Crystal Dynamics studio made many wonders if the game might even survive the year, it seems that a major update is still on the way as teased some time ago. The game is introducing its latest hero in the form of Winter Soldier, who will be made available on the 2.7 update as of November 29th. And it looks like he’s not going to come alone.

    In the latest blog entry, the Winter Soldier update will also be the final introduction of the Cloning Labs Omega-Level Threat. For those that may have only recently tried out the game or heard of it, Cloning Labs was one of the first major additions teased for the game’s launch. It was originally meant to release shortly after the rollout but a troubled release led to many delays.

    Still, it’s finally going to arrive and will be added as an Omega Level-Threat, which is pretty much the game’s major event. The main villain has been teased with a recent warzone addition as AIM has revived the original game’s antagonist MODOK and he’s ready to take his revenge. You can join the event if you’re over Power Level 175, which was hinted at earlier and we have a new level cap at 185 moving forward.

    Back to Winter Soldier, Scott Porter will voice the character and joins a star-studded cast. They already teased we’ll once again get an animated intro to the character hinting at how he finds himself in this world similar to what we received with Jane Foster’s Thor earlier this year. He is highlighted as not an echo character but as a combination of Captain America and Black Widow with a unique move-set. He’ll also come with a Heroic Mission chain but don’t expect a story mode as we’ve last seen with Black panther last year. Sadly, it seems the game has moved on from that element and is mainly focusing on its multiplayer offerings moving forward.

    Source: Play Avengers

  • Fool’s Theory Developing a Remake of ‘The Witcher’

    Fool’s Theory Developing a Remake of ‘The Witcher’

    The Witcher is back, literally. While work has begun on a fourth entry of the iconic gaming franchise by CD Project Red, developer Fools Theory is actively working on a remake of the first entry. It is the project that was hinted at with the codename Canis Majoris and will be developed in Unreal Engine 5 according to the new announcement. they also unveiled the logo for the Remake, which teases the firey return of the game that started it all.

    If you’re wondering if the game will release anytime soon, it is only in its early stages of development. Veteran Witcher staff are working on the project under the banner of the Polish studio Fool’s Theory with CD Projekt Red still having full creative supervision of the project. Studio head Adam Badowski had the following to say about the game’s development:

    The Witcher is where it all started for us, for CD PROJEKT RED. It was the first game we made, ever, and it was a big moment for us then. Going back to this place and remaking the game for the next generation of gamers to experience it feels just as big, if not bigger. Collaborating with Fool’s Theory on the project is just as exciting, as some of the people there have been previously involved in The Witcher games. They know the source material well, they know how much gamers have been looking forward to seeing the remake happen, and they know how to make incredible and ambitious games. And although it will take some time before we’re ready to share more about and from the game, I know it’ll be worth the wait

    Adam Badowski

    Given that the first Witcher game was released in 2007 and was a far cry from what the series would develop into, it’s also a great chance fo those that didn’t get a chance to play it. Plus, with the hype surrounding the Netflix series, it’s a perfect time for the franchise’s return.

    Source: The Witcher

  • Skybound Developing Video Games Based on Robert Kirkman’s ‘Invincible’

    Skybound Developing Video Games Based on Robert Kirkman’s ‘Invincible’

    Invincible has grown as a franchise in the last few years. Robert Kirkman‘s comic series about a young teenager uncovering his true heritage and joining the unlikely world of superheroes just recently became a hit animated Amazon series with a live-action film still in some form of development. While we’re still anxiously awaiting a second season and an update on the adaptation, it does seem like they have added one more to the project.

    In a new report, Skybound Entertainment has unveiled that they plan to adapt the series as a game. As Invincible celebrates 20 years, it’s the perfect time to highlight how it is about to expand beyond what we already know. There’s no word on if they already have a developer attached, but it seems like they are definitely interested in bringing this franchise to the next step.

    They have done similar projects in the past, such as their rapid expansion of The Walking Dead franchise throughout the years. The game has quite a set of characters o there are many directions they could take it. Ironically, the heroic Mark Grayson may have the name Invincible but he gets beat up repeatedly throughout the comic’s run. So, it seems unlikely they’ll go down a story route with boss fights you have to overcome, but as ComicBook.com’s Logan Moore points out, its vast cast of characters would be perfect for a fighting game. We’ll have to see which direction they take with this project.

    Source: ComicBook.com

  • ‘Persona 3’ and ‘Persona 4’ Hitting Modern Platforms in January

    ‘Persona 3’ and ‘Persona 4’ Hitting Modern Platforms in January

    Persona‘s anniversary event which took place across an entire year has sadly ended. It kicked off with the return of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax and went on to the confirmed re-release of the third and fourth entries on modern consoles. Persona 5 Royal also was going to return with a new Nintendo release. While it seems the wait for a Persona 6 announcement is going to take a bit longer, the anniversary concert did end with the reveal that the upcoming re-releases of Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden have been confirmed for January 19th, 2023.

    It’s pretty surprising that they will re-release both entries on the same date, as it seemed like the best plan to map it out throughout the year as they build up each new entry. Yet, fans have long wanted to return to these games, especially the versions that were only available on PlayStation Portable, a console that not many owned back in the day. January is going to be busy for role-playing game fans, as One Piece Odyssey is also going to release on January 12th.

    Persona 6‘s absence is definitely a curious surprise, as it seemed like the perfect time to build up to a tease of some kind. It didn’t even need to be a look at the game but rather a confirmation of what color they are going to make its main theme. The last ones followed the primary colors of blue, yellow, and red, which makes it even more curious what direction they might be heading towards. Guess they might be keeping it for a bigger event.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Silent Hill’ Film Director May Have Confirmed the Long-Rumored ‘Silent Hill 2’ Remake

    ‘Silent Hill’ Film Director May Have Confirmed the Long-Rumored ‘Silent Hill 2’ Remake

    If there was any rumor mill that has been going on for quite some time in the industry, it would be that a new Silent Hill game is in some form of development. Konami has moved away from producing films itself and it made many wonders if the iconic horror franchise would ever see a return. Surprisingly though, there were hints that multiple games might be in some form of development and now the director of the 2006 film adaptation, Christophe Gans, may have just confirmed those rumors.

    In an interview with the French website Movie & Game, Gans hinted that there are “several games in development” with “several teams” involved. Now, that alone isn’t the biggest aspect of this confirmation, as he also has pointed out that Bloober Team is working on a remake of Silent Hill 2, which has been rumored for some time now. Just recently, South Korea’s rating boards have hinted at a project titled Silent Hill: The Short Message which many have theorized is the other original entry in the franchise that was teased for some time.

    Of course, the question remains how viable is his confirmation, as he confirms he’s not actively involved with any of the projects directly. Well, he mentions that he’s actively in contact with Team Silent and is also actively working on another film adaptation. There’s still no official confirmation on who is working on what game, but perhaps they are waiting for a joint announcement to tease the return of the project. In May, it was hinted that there are three projects in development and with enough months having passed, here’s hoping that news on it may be closer than we think.

    Source: Movie & Game via Bloody Disgusting

  • Google Shutting Down Stadia in January 2023

    Google Shutting Down Stadia in January 2023

    It looks like Google has decided that their cloud gaming service has no more future, as the service is set to shut down on January 18th, 2023. Not all is doom and gloom, as it seems they have decided to refund owners of Google Stadia for all games and add-on content that was purchased through its store, which will be completed by mid-January.

    Stadia Vice President Phil Harrison released the following statement on the official blog announcing the service’s being shut down:

    A few years ago, we also launched a consumer gaming service, Stadia. And while Stadia’s approach to streaming games for consumers was built on a strong technology foundation, it hasn’t gained the traction with users that we expected so we’ve made the difficult decision to begin winding down our Stadia streaming service.

    Phil Harrison

    It’s definitely curious how much was invested into this project. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier has hinted that the investment is quite substantial, especially for massive IPs like Red Dead Redemption 2, Assassin’s Creed, and many more. While they are taking the positive spin highlighting they can re-use the technology in other markets, it definitely is a heavy hit for the company.

    It’s not too surprising, as many expected the fact that Stadia is likely going to end sooner rather than later. Not a lot of games support Stadia and its player base has seemingly never truly grown beyond its baseline from the launch. There’s a lot we don’t know about how they handled this project, as they may have just hoped it could pick up again or mapped out a way to sundown the project some time ago. At least players are given a refund for their investment.

    Source: The Verge, Twitter

  • EA’s Motive Working on Single-Player ‘Iron Man’ Game

    EA’s Motive Working on Single-Player ‘Iron Man’ Game

    Not too long ago we learned that the studio behind Just Cause, Avalance Studios, was working on an open-world Iron Man game. Yet, that project was swept under the rug some time ago. As it turns out, that wasn’t the end of that gaming franchise as Motive and Electronic Arts have just announced they are working on a new single-player, third-person action-adventure game exploring the character of Iron Man.

    It seems that the game is only in early development. As such, we shouldn’t expect any news anytime soon. It will see a Marvel gaming veteran return with Olivier Proulx spearheading the project after his previous experience on the Guardians of the Galaxy game. He’s also joined by some industry veterans like Ian Frazier, Maëlenn Lumineau, and JF Poirier. Marvel Games’ Vice President and Creative Director, Bill Rossman, shared the following statement:

    We are thrilled to collaborate with the talented team at Motive Studio to bring their original vision of one of Marvel’s most important, powerful and beloved characters. Their experience delivering both established entertainment worlds and thrilling gameplay — combined with their authentic passion for the armored icon — will fuel our quest to deliver a love letter to a legendary hero in the form of the ultimate Iron Man video game.

    Bill Rossman

    It’s certainly exciting to see the many iconic characters of Marvel’s history getting their time in the spotlight in gaming. There are still rumors of a Black Panther game on the horizon and while the reception has been mixed, Marvel’s Avengers is still going strong with Winter Soldier set to arrive at some point later this year. Spider-Man‘s getting a sequel while Insomniac’s also working on a Wolverine game. So, the future looks bright for Marvel.

    Source: Electronic Arts