It’s onerous to believe any information this week competing with Valve making a brand new Part-Existence recreation. I don’t truly know why you’d even check out, in fact.
However some unfortunate builders did check out, so we’ve performed our due diligence and rounded up the scoop of the week. Anthem’s getting back from the lifeless, Larian’s became Divinity: Unique Sin right into a board recreation, Grinding Equipment declares sequel(ish) Trail of Exile 2, Black Friday gross sales kick off per week early, and extra.
That is gaming information for November 18 to 22.
Loose the North
In line with standard, we begin with the freebies. It’s some other one-game week from Epic, this time the miniature Viking-themed technique recreation Unhealthy North. I truly love the glance of this one, and it’s a neat lil’ spin on real-time technique. Subsequent week’s an all-time favourite of mine even though, the unbelievable platformer Rayman Legends, so stay up for that.
Humble’s additionally giving freely a recreation, even though simplest till Sunday. Serial Cleaner, during which you blank up after a Hotline Miami-esque bloodbath, is unfastened if you happen to join Humble’s e-newsletter.
And whilst the ones are the one everlasting giveaways, it’s value noting that Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is unfastened for the weekend if you happen to like to wash within the blood of rats. Reception for this brawler turns out much less sure at the present time than it used to be at launch, however hiya, would possibly as neatly check out it for your self.
Black(ish) Friday
It’s additionally the beginning of everybody’s fall gross sales, per week previous than anticipated. The Epic Video games Retailer began its Black Friday sale, taking $10 to $20 off Crimson Lifeless Redemption II, The Outer Worlds, Metro Exodus, and extra. Numerous nice video games confirmed up simplest on Epic’s storefront this 12 months, so it’s most probably value a peruse.
Humble’s working a sale as neatly. Costs fit Epic’s the place acceptable, however Humble’s were given a much broader vary of video games as neatly. You’ll select up Civilization VI’s newest growth for 40 % off, Planet Coaster for 70 % off, and so on.
Trail of Exile 2
We’re formally within the generation of the non-sequel. Slap a “2” at the finish for branding functions and let’s cross, I suppose. First, it used to be Overwatch 2 and its shared multiplayer. Now, Grinding Equipment’s introduced Trail of Exile 2. It includes a new seven-act tale set 20 years after the occasions of the present recreation, and can power you to start out leveling a personality from scratch. Except for that it’s structured extra like a (very) massive growth even though. The tagline is “One recreation, two campaigns.” Can’t get a lot clearer than that.
Nonetheless, as any person who’s fallen off Trail of Exile regardless of its greatness, it’ll be great to have a blank level of access once more.
Entombed
Whilst we’re celebrating Part-Existence: Alyx, let’s cross forward and mourn Within the Valley of Gods. It’s simplest conjecture nowadays, but it surely looks as if Campo Santo’s Firewatch follow-up may well be lifeless. And that is smart, proper? Whilst I’d was hoping Valve purchased Campo Santo and would go away neatly sufficient on my own, I am getting the sensation maximum of that staff is most probably inquisitive about Alyx someway. Perhaps now not! Perhaps it’ll launch some day. And I am hoping so, as a result of that preliminary divulge trailer used to be nice.
Undead Island
You already know what’s now not canceled? For sure, certainly now not canceled? Lifeless Island 2. Certain, it’s been like 4 or 5 years since we first (and final) were given hands-on time with it, and it’s been thru 4 builders and counting. However Deep Silver CEO Klemens Kundratitz reiterated to Gamesindustry.biz this week that, “We’re truly assured that after it comes out it’s going to be a kick-ass zombie recreation.”
We’re going to look a Part-Existence sequel prior to a Lifeless Island sequel. I by no means would’ve guessed.
Loot field lockout
The final paid loot field techniques are being quietly killed off. Rocket League, having added a crates-and-keys gadget post-release, is phasing it out in prefer of the Merchandise Store. Psyonix detailed the new storefront this week, including a rather strange bit that “Following next month’s update, all Premium DLC packs will no longer be available for purchase.” Apparently you won’t be able to just buy the DeLorean through Steam anymore, you’ll have to wait for it to maaaaybe show up in the in-game Item Shop. Ugh.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is also ditching its crate-and-key system on December 18. You’ll still get crates unfortunately—loot boxes are clinging to life—but the keys are going away. All remaining crates can be opened with the in-game currency. It’s an imperfect solution for an imperfect system, but an improvement on paying for pulls at the slot machine at least.
Street Fighter V, finished
Never one to shy away from multiple editions of the same game, Street Fighter V is set to release its third iteration in February. Subtitled Champion Edition, Capcom’s basically bundled up 2018’s Arcade Edition and all the DLC that came afterward into one big package. It’s a bit cheaper as well, listed at $30—though that’s unlikely to placate the people who bought Arcade Edition, given they’ll have to pay $25 to upgrade. Only a $5 discount? Oof.
Original Sin 2D
Forget video games. Tabletop is all the rage right now, as evidenced by Paradox’s recent foray into board games. And now Larian’s followed, with Divinity: Original Sin – The Board Game. There are plenty of details on the Kickstarter page, but it’s basically a co-op adaptation that leans heavily on story-driven events and tactical combat. I get my fix of that from Gloomhaven but…well, maybe I need two $120 board games. Maybe.
The campaign’s already funded thrice over, but there’s still a month to go if you want to chip in.
Electric Air
We reviewed Google’s game streaming service Stadia this week and weren’t too impressed. But even 2,000 words weren’t enough to cover the launch trailer, a psychedelic nightmare that culminates in the tagline “Unthink the things you think are things.” I’d like to say it’s the most baffling choice Google’s made with Stadia, but I’d be lying. This is very on-brand.
Oh and hey, while we’re at it: The latest rumors out of CNET point to Amazon launching its own competing game streaming service next year. Get ready for the gold rush.
Finally human
I was pretty sure Quantic Dream’s Detroit: Become Human was going to release on PC in August. Heavy Rain came in June, Beyond: Two Souls in July, and that seemed enough to indicate a pattern. December 12 is actually the date though, as announced this week. Finally, I can experience David Cage’s thinly veiled robot racism metaphor for myself. Maybe I should rewatch A.I. to prepare.
Anthem? Anthem.
We end on Anthem news, as is tradition. Turns out, reports of Anthem’s death were a bit premature—by which I mean, BioWare hasn’t completely given up on the game yet. Instead, Kotaku reports that “BioWare and parent company EA have been planning an overhaul of the online shooter…Some call it Anthem 2.0 or Anthem Next.” When will we see it? Probably not for years, yet. But the bar is low and people like a No Man’s Sky-style comeback story. Keep an eye out, I guess.
And stay tuned for the end of the story, where there’s news that “A new Mass Effect game is in very early development at the Edmonton office.” Best of luck to the team that needs to follow up Mass Effect: Andromeda. I hope you can do right by the series.