Author: Trafficblast

Just as predicted, a new Nintendo Switch model is coming next year to help keep sales going strong. This is according to a report from The Wall Street Journal, which sources the information to suppliers and other people with “direct knowledge” of Nintendo’s plans.

“Nintendo is still debating what new hardware and software features to include in the upgrade and weighing the cost of the features, people with knowledge of the discussions said,” WSJ reported.

One possibility is that Nintendo will improve the Switch’s display with the update, sources said. As WSJ points out, the display on the current edition of the Switch lacks some of the tech found in modern smartphones. A new display could make the tablet smaller and more energy efficient.

Sources told WSJ that the updated Switch model could launch as soon as summer 2019. It is expected and normal for platform holders to update their consoles over time in part due to new technology becoming viable and to drive interest and spur sales.

WSJ reported in March that Nintendo would wait until 2019 or later to release the first Switch hardware revision, with the company instead focusing on beefing up the Switch’s online features. That is precisely what happened, as Nintendo recently launched its Nintendo Switch Online paid membership.

Importantly, the new Switch model does not appear to be a generational change like the one from Wii U to Switch, but instead a smaller-scale upgrade of components such as potentially the display and other elements. WSJ’s report specifically states that the new Switch model will share “many features” with the original model and play existing games.

Back in January, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima teased that the Switch will have a longer lifecycle than previous Nintendo consoles. “Up until now, the hardware lifecycle has trended at around five or six years, but it would be very interesting if we could prolong that life cycle, and I think you should be looking forward to that,” he said.

As of June 30, Nintendo has sold 19.67 million Switch units and 86.93 million games worldwide.

One of the Switch’s next big games is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which launches in early December and is sure to be a big-time system-seller.

Dreams, the wildly ambitious PlayStation 4 exclusive that lets you create games within the game, will allow players to make battle royale-style experiences.

Game Informer interviewed Media Molecule co-founder Alex Evans, and he succinctly stated “yes” when asked if can make a battle royale game within Dreams. However, Evans also confirmed that online multiplayer will not be available until after launch.

Later in the interview, Evans said Dreams supports 4-8 players, though it wasn’t clear if he was talking about local or online play.

Media Molecule studio director Siobhan Reddy previously talked about making a battle royale game within Dreams. “The answer to a lot of these questions is, ‘Where there is a will, there is often a way.’ We learned that with LBP. We would be like, ‘No, that can’t be done.’ And then someone would go do it, and you’d go, ‘Oh, okay, that can be done!'” she said.

Announced all the way back in 2013, Dreams is not a typical game that you play from start to finish and then move on. From what we have seen and understand, it is more akin to a platform where you can play all types of different games. Dreams is a game and the tools to make games in one package. There is a central campaign featuring three “interweaving narratives,” but what seems to be more exciting is what the community creates.

A beta for Dreams is coming this year, and Evans confirmed in the interview that the levels you create in the beta will carry forward to the full release in 2019.

With no PlayStation Experience event happening this year, it’s unclear when we might see more of Dreams next. For more on Dreams, check out GameSpot’s preview that covers the nine new things we learned about it. You can also watch the video above to learn more.

We might still be in the early days of October but Sony has revealed what games PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to download for free and play on their PS4s come November. The official PlayStation website currently has a neat little graphic outing Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition and Yakuza Kiwami as November’s freebies.

There will likely be additional titles for PS4, PS3, and PS Vita, but Bulletstorm and Yakuza Kiwami are the headliners. Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition is a remaster of the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC shooter developed by Epic Games and People Can Fly. It launched in April 2017 and received an 8/10 from GameSpot, with reviewer Scott Butterworth saying “the experience absolutely holds up.” He continued: “The skillshot system remains wildly fun and inventive, the weapons are still a gruesome joy, and the writing…well, it’s as distinctive as ever.” You can read the full Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition review for our full take.

Yakuza Kiwami is also another remake, this time of Sega’s PS2 classic. The new and improved version released in 2017 and was received well. In GameSpot’s Yakuza Kiwami review Peter Brown said it “does a great job as both a remake of the original Yakuza game and as a sequel to Zero. Despite that combat remains more of a bump in the road than a rewarding pursuit, it’s a no-brainer for existing fans of the series, and shouldn’t be overlooked by newcomers, even if Zero passed them by. There’s nothing else quite like Yakuza, and Kiwami isn’t afraid to show it.”

October’s title are currently available to download and include Friday the 13th: The Game and Laser League for PS4. Master Reboot is available for PS3, while Rocketbirds 2: Evolution, 2064: Read Only Memories, and The Bridge are available for PS Vita (and also PS4 via Cross Buy). You can learn more about October’s PS Plus titles here.