Dying Light 2 Stay Human developer Techland unveiled a new story trailer during the PC Gaming Show at E3 2021, where the studio discussed elements of the narrative and reiterated that the infected aren’t zombies (despite looking and behaving a lot like your traditional zombie).
In the four-minute-long trailer, Techland walked through the narrative setup, revealing that the virus from the first game spread to the sequel’s setting. Dying Light 2 Stay Human takes place in 2036 and follows protagonist Aiden as he hunts for his sister Mia. The two were medically experimented on as kids, but after a fire, Aiden managed to escape. Where Mia is remains unknown, as she is the only one who can fill in the gaps to Aiden’s story.
What’s most interesting about the video, though, is the classification of the game’s zombies–er, Freakers. According to Techland, the infected aren’t zombies at all but instead “half-alive, suffering people.” They attack everything that lives because of their pent up pain and rage, Techland said.
You can check out Dying Light 2 Stay Human’s new story trailer below.
In other news, Techland came under fire earlier this year following accusations of workplace toxicity that stemmed from management and limited developer creativity. The studio responded, saying the game was not in development hell.
Techland recently attached a December 7 launch date to Dying Light 2 Stay Human, confirming the game will drop on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S with a release date trailer.
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Paid DLC for co-op shooter Back 4 Blood will be available to all party members as long as the leader of the party owns it developer Turtle Rock Studios confirmed during its E3 2021 livestream. This includes new maps and gameplay additions.
E3 host Greg Miller tweeted two screenshots from what appears to be Back 4 Blood‘s official support page. The images read, in part, that as long as the party leader owns any paid content drop, other members can play it for free as well. It’s worth noting that this refers to the game’s PvE content, not PvP.
Still, any content drop that the leader pays for–including maps, campaign add-ons, and gameplay additions–will be made available to other members.
All PvP DLC, though, will be free for everyone through in-game progression. Furthermore, every player has access to the same cards at the start of a match, ensuring that DLC owners don’t get an unfair advantage in PvP.
Back 4 Blood launches on October 12 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. An open beta goes live on August 5.
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Once you download the demo, you may be greeted by the following message: “Can’t continue using this game or app. The data is corrupted. Delete it from your PS5, and then download it again from your library.”
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Now Playing: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin | Square Enix Presents E3 2021
We’re not the only ones facing this issue. On Twitter, Nibel and IGN’s Matt Kim have posted that they have also gotten this message after trying to download and play the Origin demo.
In a tweet, developer Team Ninja says that it is aware of the issues and is working to resolve them. This demo is only available for a limited time (it’s live until June 24, 7:59PM PT) so hopefully a fix is coming sooner rather than later.
We’re aware of issues being experienced while trying to download and play #StrangerOfParadise#FinalFantasy Origin Trial Version. We’re working to resolve this issue and will tweet an update as soon as we can, we appreciate your patience.
— STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN (@fforigin) June 13, 2021
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin injects a more Nioh-like gameplay formula into the Final Fantasy universe. In a press release, creative producer Tetsuya Nomura said, “While it is Final Fantasy, it feels different–but there’s no doubt that the blood of Final Fantasy runs through its veins. We’ve undertaken the challenge of finding this difficult middle ground for this mature and stylish title. We need a little time until we’re able to complete it, and while the battle system is a bloody one, it does link to the story, so I hope you’ll use this opportunity to give it a try.”
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This Sunday is all about Xbox Game Pass. With dozens of awesome games about to be dropping onto the service, now is a great time to sign up. If you’re a first time user, you can sign up for just a $1, and for returning users, we have a deal to save you 11% across a three month term. If you’re looking to preorder some games, we’ve got that as well and of course a nice mixture of other stuff, like a handy air fryer at Best Buy and an ongoing Anime sale at Amazon.
One of the biggest games revealed during Microsoft’s E3 2021 showcase was undoubtedly Forza Horizon 5, a new open-world racing game set in Mexico. Forza Horizon 5 releases on Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC on November 9, just in time for the holidays. Those interested in burning rubber across a sprawling and gorgeous open world can preorder their copy of Forza Horizon 5 now.
Forza Horizon 5 is available to preorder in three editions: standard, Deluxe, and Premium. The Premium version of the game comes with early access starting November 5. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play the standard edition for free at launch, and add-on bundles will be available for purchase if you want the Deluxe/Premium content. If you’re not already signed up for Game Pass, be sure to take advantage of a limited-time offer that gets you your first three months for $1.
Forza Horizon 5’s standard edition is available to preorder now at Best Buy for $60. Digital preorders are available on the Xbox Store. You can also add it to your wishlist on Steam (preorders should be live soon).
Forza Horizon 5’s $80 Deluxe edition is available to preorder at Best Buy and the Xbox Store. At this time, only digital versions of the Deluxe edition are up for grabs. It comes with the Car Pass, which grants access to a bunch more vehicles in the game.
Forza Horizon 5’s $100 Premium edition is available to preorder digitally at Best Buy and the Xbox Store. In addition to the Car Pass, you also get two expansions when they release, a VIP membership, and Welcome Pack (contents of the pack are unknown at this time). You also get to start playing on November 5, four days before Forza Horizon 5 officially launches.
Developer Playground Games promises that Forza Horizon 5 will have the largest world to date in the spin-off racing series. It will also have some dynamic weather events, which were shown off in the debut trailer, such as dust and tropical storms. Horizon 5’s weather events will change on a weekly basis, so you can expect a lot of variety from week to week. It seems as if Horizon 5 will have more diverse terrains and trappings than previous entries in the series, as you’ll drive through cities, ruins, jungles, deserts, beaches, and many more environments across the scenic tracks.
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Square Enix closed out its E3 2021 presentation with an official reveal of Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, the previously leaked Final Fantasy spin-off from Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja. The game is slated to release in 2022, and it’s coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. What’s more, PS5 owners will be able to try the game out today.
As rumored, Final Fantasy Origin is an action-RPG in the vein of Nioh, featuring a much darker atmosphere than most previous Final Fantasy games. The game casts players in the role of a warrior named Jack, who sets off with his allies Ash and Jed to defeat Chaos.
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Now Playing: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin | Square Enix Presents E3 2021
Jack is able to wield spells and weapons from an assortment of classic Final Fantasy jobs, including dragoon and black mage. In the reveal trailer, he can be seen using crystals to freeze enemies and smashing them into pieces. You can watch the reveal trailer for Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin above.
PS5 players will have the first opportunity to try out Final Fantasy Origin, as Square Enix is releasing a limited-time demo of the game later today, June 13. The demo is set in the Chaos Shrine and lets you sample some of the different job classes. However, it will only be available until June 24. You can read more details on the official Square Enix website.
Square Enix has announced Life is Strange: Remastered Collection’s release date, and luckily for all you Max and Chloe fans, it’s just around the corner. The Remastered Collection, which bundles the first Life is Strange and its prequel game Life is Strange: Before the Storm, is coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and PC on September 30, 2021. This release comes 20 days after the newest entry in the series, Life is Strange: True Colors, hits shelves on September 10.
However, as soon as this may be, many fans anticipated the collection would release alongside Life is Strange: True Colors, especially considering it comes included in True Colors Ultimate edition. While it most assuredly will still be a part of the Ultimate edition–and is not required to play prior to starting True Colors–it looks like those picking up that edition will have to wait a while before digging into the first entry in the Life is Strange series.
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Now Playing: Life Is Strange Remastered Trailer | Square Enix Presents E3 2021
On the bright side, the extended trailer shows the Remastered Collection has made major improvements to the overall look of Life is Strange and Life is Strange: Before the Storm. The upcoming remasters boast sharper textures, improved character animations, and several other visual improvements that make the games look a lot less stiff than they were when initially released.
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Hitman Sniper: The Shadows received a brand-new trailer during Square Enix’s showcase at E3 2021 today, introducing us to Initiative 426–a collection of skilled assassins who can make any shot look like an accident. The Square Enix Montreal title is set to launch on iOS and Android later this year.
This mobile title takes inspiration from numerous Hitman sniper-focused titles, where you engage with the same stealth-based killing from afar. This time, however, you won’t play as the titular Agent 47. Instead, you’ll take control of The Shadows, a team of multi-skilled assassins from the ICA whom you’ll be able to experiment with across multiple missions to eliminate a new criminal organization threatening the world.
Hitman Sniper: The Shadows exists as a new story within the Hitman universe, building on the mythos established by the core games. You likely won’t be encountering Agent 47, but his handler, Diana, is back to guide you through your missions.
Hitman Sniper: The Shadows is coming later this year for iOS and Android. Catch up on everything at Square Enix’s showcase and all the other announcements from E3 2021 in our Play for All hub.
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Mobile players will soon be able to dive into a new Hitman adventure, as Square Enix Montreal announced Hitman Sniper: The Shadows for iOS/Android devices during the E3 2021 Square Enix Presents livestream. The game is slated for release later this year.
The Shadows follows 2015’s Hitman Sniper, utilizing its unique environment-based sniper gameplay. The brief trailer shows off a few instances of the assassin using the world as a distraction, dropping a chandelier with a bullet just before pulling the trigger on his victim. The trailer also shows the five unique assassin players will choose from in the game while mentioning that the series’ iconic hero Agent 47 has gone missing, marking the first time in Hitman’s history that a game will not feature him.
With Hitman Sniper: The Shadows the team looks to expand Hitman even further, this time including the story of this universe along with its gameplay. Agent 47 is gone, and “Initiative 426” has been activated. GameSpot recently spoke with two key members of the game’s development team, lead game designer Fahad Khan and senior producer Simon Doongoor, about why this new Hitman Sniper “takes the franchise to a new level.”
We spent time discussing the five new assassins, including the brand-new additions to the Hitman franchise designed by Square Enix Montreal in collaboration with IO Interactive. Core gameplay changes, attention to the Hitman universe, and accessibility are all major topics as well, and I came out of the interview with a clear sense of Square Enix Montreal’s direction with this new Hitman game.
This interview was conducted via video conferencing and edited for readability and clarity.
The big hook of this game is you’re not playing as 47 this time; there’s five new assassins to choose from. How does each one stand out in gameplay? Do each of them have their own perks, rifle, etc?
Khan: Yeah, these are supposed to be five separate agents, people who have the assassin’s DNA as a starting point. So essentially, each of their flavors and styles will be very unique. Every player, regardless of their preference for how to play, can respond to conflict in a very distinct way. Each agent will have a unique rifle, a new backstory, a new location in the world, unique abilities, and a new play style.
Doongoor: To add to that, the world of Hitman, including the original Hitman Sniper, was built on what they often refer to as “creative killing” or using the environment to your advantage to remain in stealth, not raise the alarm, things like that. With these assassins, or agents as we like to call them, because of their unique skills and abilities, it forces you [to adjust your gameplay]. When you think you’ve mastered a contract with a given character then try again with a different one, you realize that you definitely need to change your strategy to be as advantageous as possible in gaining the most points and rewards from a contract.
That actually answered my next question, which was going to be “does that mean each character is assigned to one specific mission,” but you just said every character can play every mission and you’ll be changing your strategy. That being said, is there one character that has stuck out to you as a favorite when you are playing, or do you try to mix it up and use all five of them evenly?
Doongoor: Personally for me, if I had to choose, it would be Agent Kolzak and that’s just simply for the emotional attachment, given that Knight and Stone were existing characters already in the Hitman universe. Kolzak was our very first character that we created with our friends at IO Interactive, which was a proud achievement for the team to contribute a brand-new character to the Hitman universe. If I had to choose a second, just for argument’s sake, it definitely would be Agent Soji. I think the team really pushed the visual boundaries in order to give her a unique look and style.
Khan: As the lead game designer I have to play all of the agents to make sure that they’re fair across the board. But if push comes to shove and I was to pick a particular agent, I think it would be Kia for me, most primarily for his electrocution rounds. He has a very cool ability which allows him to fire a special electrocution round, which can chain and electrocute anyone standing nearby as well. It’s a very powerful and satisfying ability for a player to use whenever the situation calls for it.
This is the first-ever Hitman-branded game where you’re not starring as 47. Does that fact cause any added pressure on the team, considering you’re about to expand this universe in a way that’s never been done before?
Doongoor: So there’s no denying that Agent 47 has been the face of the franchise, but the previous introductions of new agents like Knight and Stone sort of paved the way for bringing in new agents. Following up with that and bringing new agents into the Hitman universe seems to be a welcome path.
I think the pressure would come from making sure the players actually enjoy these characters as much as we do creating and playing them, but more importantly that they actually feel part of the Hitman universe. That’s the main thing that we’ve been striving for to ensure with IO Interactive, so we hope that our audience feels the same way.
Khan: Yeah, I would agree. Agent 47 is definitely the main character of the Hitman universe. His presence and influence is embedded within the franchise’s DNA. However I am really excited for everyone to meet our new agents and get to know them through the gameplay.
How has the interaction been with IO while developing The Shadows? Have they been open to your ideas or have they been telling you how to proceed?
Khan: The relationship with IO has been very good. The Shadows is a wholly independent and separative narrative from the “World of Assassination,” so they’ve been very cooperative in allowing us to use the existing agents while also expanding the universe within the confines of the franchise DNA.
A quote in the press release that stuck out to me states that The Shadows is not a sequel to 2015’s Hitman Sniper, instead it “takes the franchise to a new level”. Why is that distinction important to point out as you first reveal the game to the world?
Doongoor: I think many factors actually lead to this. First and foremost, we specifically wanted to craft a much different experience with more depth. Secondly, the focus on these new characters is definitely a variable, making a new experience that also includes improved creative killing. But last but not least, the entirely new storyline is an extension of the franchise but set in its own Hitman universe.
Could you explain to me what is happening in the scene shown in the trailer? Are there any story elements concerning who the target is or where they are, or is that just a teaser for what’s coming in the game?
Khan: The announcement trailer is very much linked to what you will see in-game, including the location. If you pay very close attention, you might find some of our key characters, and you’ll start to see some creative killing aspects that will be in the game as well. As the camera pans out and pushes back towards the agents, you can see some of the creative carnage that you can cause.
What other new features are coming to The Shadows from the original Hitman Sniper game? How are you building on that gameplay?
Doongoor: The original Hitman Sniper was definitely a great learning experience. It allowed us to better understand what the audience was actually looking for. We’ve improved a lot of creative killing, even for the most novice player. It sometimes could be deemed as something difficult to grasp, but we’ve definitely made it more approachable. However, we didn’t compromise any of the advanced strategies in the experience for the most experienced users.
In addition we are bringing more sandbox levels rich in different creative kill opportunities, but more on that will be coming in future updates. Finally, we’re adding a new competitive gameplay experience, which again will be more fleshed out in detail later on.
Khan: Obviously we’re very excited for players to try the new roster of agents and their new rifles, abilities and backstories. We obviously want players to experience the new narrative within the Hitman universe as well, so hopefully we can do that justice. The number one priority for us though is to enhance creative killing, doubling down on the very core experience of Sniper. It’s what made the game so engaging, so tactical and strategic, so we focused on providing a more accessible version of that for our audience.
At Square Enix’s E3 2021 showcase, the company announced the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series, which revamps the six original Final Fantasy adventures. Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is coming soon to PC via Steam and mobile devices.
The remaster series spans Final Fantasy 1-3, which were originally released on the NES/Famicom, as well as Final Fantasy 4-6, which were originally released on the Super NES/Super Famicom. Some of those games–namely FF2, FF3, and FF5–were not released in the West until years later in remastered forms.
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Now Playing: Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Trailer | Square Enix Presents E3 2021
No pricing details were announced, but Square Enix confirmed on its website that the Final Fantasy remasters are being released individually. You can watch a teaser trailer for the remasters above.
Square Enix also debuted a new animated trailer for Legend of Mana, another classic RPG getting a re-release soon. It’s coming on June 24 to PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.
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