Supermassive Games have revealed the next game in The Dark Pictures Anthology and, as we found out quite a while ago, it’s called Directive 8020. This time we are off into space for some body horror, checkout the trailer.

I don’t think Supermassive would mind us saying that The Dark Pictures Anthology format had got a little stale after four games so it’s nice to see they are switching things up for this new release. “In a dramatic step forward for the series, the game features persistent real-time threats, all-new stealth gameplay mechanics, and enhanced interactive cinematics powered by Unreal Engine 5,” they say.

The game will feature Hollywood actor Lashana Lynch who you may have caught in Bob Marley: One Love or the superb The Woman King. Here’s more from Supermassive:

“Earth is dying and humanity is running out of time. 12 light years from home, Tau Ceti f offers a small sliver of hope. When the colony ship Cassiopeia crash lands on the planet, its crew soon realize they are far from being alone.”

“Hunted by an alien organism capable of mimicking its prey, the crew of the Cassiopeia must outwit their pursuers to make it home alive. As they battle to survive, they are confronted with the hardest choice of all: to save themselves, they must risk the lives of everyone on Earth. In space, death takes many forms.

• Next-Gen Cinematic Survival Horror – Experience immersive cinematic storytelling and edge-of-your-seat horror on a deep space mission to save humanity.
• Real-Time Alien Threats – Evade a deadly alien threat that roams the dark corridors of the ship, intent on eradicating human life. Overcome your enemies using improvised weapons, lightning reflexes, and stealth.
• Trust No One – Encounter an alien lifeform that perfectly imitates its prey. Years of training and trust are lost among the crew when their enemy hides in plain sight. Who is human and who is not? Your choices are now more important than ever!”

Source: YouTube / Press release

Dying Light: The Beast is a new stand alone game that brings back Kyle Crane from the first Dying Light game and it’s DLC. Kyle was absent from Dying Light 2, probably because at the end of The Following players could experience two different endings and neither of them were particularly… healthy.

The game is set thirteen years since Kyle was last seen and finds him exploring the post-apocalyptic Castor Woods, a once-popular tourist destination. The area is populated with human factions as well as monsters including “the mysterious creature that’s turned the woods into its personal hunting grounds.”

As you might have gathered Kylie is no longer fully human. “Years of brutal experimentation took its toll, but the zombie DNA and yours are now intertwined so that you are able to unleash a beast-like power,” say Techland. “It flows through your veins. No one can take it from you. Use it. And you’ll discover it’s not just a curse.”

Voice actor Roger Craig Smith will be returning to the role of Kyle Crane. “Stepping back into Kyle Crane’s shoes feels like a reunion with an old friend,” Smith said. “And even though he’s gone through a terrible time, there’s still plenty of legendary hero left in him.”

The extra nice news is that if you own  Dying Light 2: Stay Human Ultimate Edition you will get The Beast for free!

“Development of Dying Light: The Beast originally started as a story DLC for Dying Light 2 Stay Human. But after two years of work, its size and scope has changed so much that it evolved into a standalone, self-contained experience,” say Techland. “To show appreciation for the community who patiently waited for the DLC, Techland will be offering Dying Light: The Beast at no extra cost to all owners of the Dying Light 2 Stay Human Ultimate Edition, delivering a full standalone adventure instead of just a DLC.”

Dying Light: The Beas coming to to PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, Xbox and PlayStation – and that includes last gen  – but no release date has been given.

Source: YouTube / Press Release

Rumours of a new Mafia game have been floating around for a while and they have now been confirmed with the reveal of Mafia: The Old Country. This time you will be heading to the 1900s Sicily underworld and the game will be out on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam.

“Uncover the origins of organized crime with a gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily. Fight to survive in this dangerous and unforgiving era, with action brought to life by the authentic realism and rich storytelling that the critically acclaimed Mafia series is known for.”

“Across the first three entries in the Mafia franchise, we introduced players to the world of the Mafia through brutal stories set in different eras,” said Nick Baynes, President of Hangar 13. “In Mafia: The Old Country, we’re going back to the roots of what fans love about the franchise, crafting a deep, linear narrative with that classic mob movie feeling, visiting a stunning new setting, and delivering it all in a tight, focused package perfect for fans of immersive experiences.”

A full reveal of the game will occur in December, so I would guess that would be at The Game Awards 2024.

Source: YouTube / 2K

Gamescom Opening Night Live just pulled the rabbit out of the hat with the return of gaming legend Peter Molyneux. Younger readers not have a clue who he is, but suffice to say he was one the rockstar developers in the 16 bit days and created the God game genre with Populous,

He then went of to make the likes of Black and White and Fable before deciding to make a mobile game, Curiosity: What’s Inside the Cube? The “game” involved everyone in the world tapping away at a cube to remove layers, with the person who made the final tap winning a prize. It was an absolute mess, so he then went to make a mobile god game, Godus, which also ended up as a mess. Thankfully he seems to have realised he made some mistakes and opened his interview saying “After messing around on mobile – what the hell was I doing?!?”

So then, on to his new god game, Master of Albion which is coming to PC. Created by a team of 20 veterans it allows your create and customise almost everything, from buildings to weapons. During the day the aim is to craft and build your town, but by night you have to defend it from evil creatures. The key feature here is that you can swap from God mode to third person and take control of a character and go and smash some skulls in yourself.

“The story of Albion is one of power and consequence, a rich and deep narrative set in a world full of quests and moral choices. Navigate your way through intrigue and plot – kings come and go, lords shake you by the hand then stab you in the back, and the people work like dogs and are treated no better.”

“Gifted god like, ancient powers, you face an enemy the likes of which have not been seen in hundreds of years. Magic is returning to the hills and halls of Albion, threatening to tear down the the very foundations of society. Unravel the mystery of the mages, defeat the enemy that lurks in the night and conquer a sorcery that could kill us all.”

You can Wishlist the game on Steam right now.

Source: Youtube

Gamescom Opening Night Live has taken a short break from game trailers to preview a new anthology series coming to Prime Video which is a love letter to gaming. Created by the same team behind the excellent Love, Death, and Robots it features stories set in the worlds of some of our favourite games.

That includes (deep breath) Armored Core, Concord, Crossfire, Dungeons & Dragons, Exodus, Honor of Kings, Mega Man, New World: Aeternum, PAC-MAN, Sifu, Spelunky, The Outer Worlds, Unreal Tournament and Warhammer 40,000.

It also includes “various PlayStation Studios games” and you can see from the header image that includes God of War! It seems this will be a special “PlayStation” episode that features our favourite characters, so Kratos may finally get to meet Nathan Drake, Aloy, Joel and Ellie and Ratchet and Clank. That’s just a guess by the way, but wouldn’t that be awesome?

“Secret Level weaves a tapestry of iconic games across multiple mediums, to tell a series of unique and captivating stories,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios. “Created and led by Tim Miller, Blur Studio, and Supervising Director Dave Wilson, each episode will take our global Prime Video customers on a brand new journey with breath-taking animation and imaginative storytelling.”

Source: YouTube

Starfield is getting two updates and the first is the free Rev-8 vehicle that will be available right about now. “Now is your chance to explore new frontiers (and reach new heights) in your very own land cruiser,” say Bethesda,

We also got an release date for the Shattered Space DLC and that will be out on September 30th 2024.  There’s some decidedly spooky vibes to the DLC and trailer, with a mysterious power stirring the city of Dazra on House Va-runn’s hidden homeworld – this will be a big new area to explore akin to the other capital planets in the base game. Here you’ll investigate a new cosmic threat, explore a brand new planet and find new weapons, spacesuits, and gear.

“The home planet of House Va’ruun remains a mystery to the vast majority of the citizens of the Settled Systems,” say Bethesda. “The religious zealots that make up this clandestine faction are known only by their dangerous reputation. When a distress signal originating from a derelict star station leads you on a path to Va’ruun’kai, you’ll begin to uncover the secrets surrounding the followers of the Great Serpent. Explore a new location, take on new enemies and experience the story of House Va’ruun when Shattered Space launches later this year.”

We took a look at Starfield when it was released and this is what Stefan had to say:

“Skyrim and Fallout 4 had a space baby and named it Starfield. As with every child, there’s the hope that it will better its parents as it grows into adulthood, and from the time spent with Starfield, I’d say it’s right up there with Bethesda’s best. I’ve certainly enjoyed what I’ve seen so far and the new setting, but there’s just no getting away from the fact that it has its mother’s eyes and its dad’s nose.”

Source: YouTube

Funcom have released a new trailer for Dune: Awakening  explaining how the game will play, the different character types, multiplayer features, mining, and base building. There are also secrets, co-op missions, flight, and the in game radio will give you regular updates of key event.

You will also get to play politics and pledge yourself to one of the houses and best of all, deploy a thumper and summon a sandworm!

Dune: Awakening unfolds in an alternate universe where Paul Atreides never existed, and House Atreides survives the attempt to destroy it. This setting grants Funcom the freedom to craft a unique narrative within the Dune universe, empowering players to make characters who can  influence the world without Paul overshadowing everything. The war between House Atreides and its enemies does continue on the surface of Arrakis, yet the Emperor has decreed that the Spice must continue to flow without any hindrance.

One of the core mysteries of Dune: Awakening is the disappearance of the Fremen. They have left behind remnants of their society, and their disappearance also leaves a vacuum of power that different factions are trying to fill. It is not confirmed if the Fremen do still exist, or if they have been wiped out completely. The narrative diverges from the original books and movies, as certain characters who would have perished still live, and various factions are advancing their agendas without Paul’s influence.

In Dune: Awakening players will come into contact with different religious and spiritual beliefs, which differ from group to group. This feeds into the overall story of how the various groups and sects clash with each other for dominance of Arrakis. This influences the gameplay as players will experience the mystical trials of the Fremen and explore various belief systems. It’s important to understand that although Paul was on the Messiah’s journey in the original Dune story, the player’s character does not assume the same role of the Messiah.

Dune: Awakening launches on PC early next year, you can pre-order the game on Steam via this link.

Source: YouTube

Gamescom Opening Live has kicked off with a new look at Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The video shows part of the Most Wanted level from the Campaign, Epic would be one word to describe the footage, check it out.

“While the Gulf War commands the global spotlight, a shadowy clandestine force has infiltrated the highest levels of the CIA, branding anyone who resists as traitors. Exiled from their agency and country that once hailed them as heroes, Black Ops veteran Frank Woods and his team find themselves hunted by the military machine that created them.”

The video also shows off a new feature which they have called Omnimovement. “Across the entire game, players will push beyond their limits with several new global innovations, including omnimovement, the most fluid boots-on-the-ground Call of Duty movement to date, that utilizes the ability to seamlessly chain combat maneuvers in any direction.”

As usual the game will include multiplayer with 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6. There will also be the “return of a more traditional Prestige system, bigger and more rewarding than ever.”

Of course there is also a zombies mode, “Black Ops 6 also marks the return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.”

There are two versions available to pre-order. The “Cross Gen Standard Edition” includes:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Early Access to the Open Beta
• Woods Operator Pack
• Reflect 115 Camo Pack

There is also the “Vault Edition” that includes

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Early Access to the Open Beta
• Woods Operator Pack
• Reflect 115 Camo Pack
• Hunters vs. Hunted Operator Pack
• Mastercraft Weapon Collection
• BlackCell (1 Season)
• GobbleGum Pack for Zombies

Source: YouTube / Activision

If you took a guess at the many. many games that could have influenced a King Kong game I doubt you would have guessed “Flashback” even if you did have one hundred guesses, but that appears to be the case with Kong: Survivor Instinct.

Set in the official Monsterverse the game is set shortly after the events of 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong and finds you playing a father searching for his lost daughter in the wreckage of a city.  It will also include the first ever appearance of Abaddon, a giant spider Titan who is briefly referenced but never seen in the film. Hopefully it will be better than the last Kong game!

“7Levels has brilliantly captured a unique corner of the Monsterverse through a gripping 2.5D action-adventure experience, weaving in a very human storyline,” said Legendary Entertainment’s VP of Interactive Media Sam Rappaport. “Experiencing the narrative through the eyes of a civilian, unaffiliated with any agencies, adds a layer of realism and emotional depth that we hope will resonate with our fans.”

Here are the key features;

Key Features

• True Monsterverse Adventure – Influence the Titans with Monarch tech and use their enormous strength to your advantage as you navigate a treacherous maze of collapsing buildings, toxic leaks, and raging fires. Scavenge for resources, weapons, and tools to solve environmental puzzles and defend yourself against both human and monster enemies.
• Face the Legendary Kong – Explore and survive as you encounter Kong in all his majestic glory, face the formidable Abaddon, and confront other new and returning superspecies and Titans! Whether you scavenge through half-destroyed buildings or fight off mercenaries, these enormous monsters are nearby, directly or indirectly impacting your gameplay. Though the Titans pose a lethal threat, you can—and must—influence their behavior with the ORCA Σ, a new prototype inspired by Monarch’s technology.
• Alan Jonah Returns – Discover an official Monsterverse story set shortly after the events of Godzilla vs. Kong. Stand your ground against the Hyenas, a mercenary group led by Alan Jonah. Reemerging after the events of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the former eco-terrorist leader returns in Kong: Kong: Survivor Instinct with a new villainous scheme.
• A Father’s Mission to Rescue His Daughter – Take on the role of David, an oil rig worker braving a crumbling city to find your only child, Stacy. Make your way through the districts while encountering fellow survivors taking shelter among the rubble, mourning their loved ones or on the verge of giving up hope. Feel the awe-inspiring terror Titans bring upon a city through the eyes of a father desperate to find his daughter!

Kong: Survivor Instinct will be launching later this year on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Yep, no last gen or Switch versions which seems slightly odd, it doesn’t look like it be too much of a push to get it running on a Switch.

Source: Press release/YouTube

Square Enix have announced that Final Fantasy XVI will be coming to both Steam and the Epic Game Store on September 19th 2024. The whet your appetitive there is a free demo available right now on both stores, here’s the link for EGS, and here’s the link for Steam.

As usual there are a couple of variations of the release.  Final Fantasy XVI Standard Edition  includes the base game, or the Complete Edition  includes the exciting DLC chapters “Echoes of the Fallen” and “The Rising Tide” at a discounted price. You can also buy the DLC chapters individually or as part of the Final Fantasy XVI Expansion Pass, which includes both chapters. All of these will be available on launch day.

If you pre-oder the game on either Steam or the Epic Games Store will also receive the following in-game DLC items:

• Brave Blade Weapon
• Cait Sith Charm (Gil Boost Accessory)
• “Sixteen Bells” Orchestrion Roll

The game originally launched in June 2023 on PlayStation 5 and we gave it a whopping 9/10 in our review.  “If you’re a fan of strong narrative experiences, Final Fantasy lore, breath-taking graphics and a particularly sassy Moogle, and you don’t mind a sprinkling of The Witcher, The Handmaids Tale and the many accents of Old Blighty, then Final Fantasy XVI is the game for you,” said Nic. “Heck, it might just be the best Final Fantasy yet!”

If you need even more convincing you should get the game then let me remind you it won our PlayStation Game of the Year foe 2023.

“Final Fantasy XVI is very different to its predecessors. First and foremost, it’s a lot more grown up, with the sex, swearing and everything else that its muse, Game of Thrones, offers. Then there’s the set-piece Eikonic battles, where players duke it out as the Summons the franchise is famed for. It looks and sounds utterly spectacular.”

“This game is a must-play for all action-RPG fans who want something a little more grown up. It shines for its lore and its lack of exposition for the sake of it, with reams of backstory hidden just a button-press away, offering a flow that feels more natural than any other Final Fantasy game to date. Its characters are fantastic, and as you grow to love them, their moments of sacrifice hit in a way unfelt since the likes of Final Fantasy X.”

Source: Press Release

We have two new videos for the remake of Silent Hill 2 from Konami which will be landing on 8th October. The first is almost all cut scenes and gives you an idea of the story of the game.

This second video is from footage from a preview event earlier this month in Japan. This is a preview build so may not be exactly the same as the final game, and the video focuses on the new features that are found in the game, as well as a decent look at combat which has also been enhanced. Just a quick note, the English captions are auto generated from the Japanese so they’re not perfect.

In development by Bloober Team, Silent Hill 2 is a big step up for the studio, but one that absolutely makes sense. They’re best known for their work on psychological horror games like Layers of Fear, Observer and The Medium. That experience will be vital when updating a game made and designed for the limitations of the PlayStation 2 hardware in 2001.

In terms of the core gameplay, Silent Hill 2 will most noticeably be transformed by a shift away from fixed cameras and tank controls to over-the-shoulder and a more modern control scheme, similar to the treatment that Capcom gave to their Resident Evil remakes.

Of course, there’s also a massive leap forward graphically, with Bloober Team tapping into Unreal Engine 5 and all the cutting edge technology that this features like Lumen for realistic lighting effects and Nanite for exceptionally detailed 3D modelling and texturing.

It had been a while since Silent Hill 2 was first announced back in 2022 – of course, it had been heavily rumoured for a good long time before then – but true to their word, it seems that development had been progressing smoothly in the time since then.

Silent Hill 2 will be released on 8th October 2024 for PC and PlayStation 5.

HBO’s massive hit, The Last of Us, based on the PlayStation games of the same name is heading towards Season 2 which will launch sometime in 2025.

The new trailer gives us hints of what is to come with some shots mirroring scenes from The Last of Us Part 2 such as the Barn Dance in Jackson. The voice overs also suggest that some of the plot will of the tv show will also follow Part 2 of the game. However there are also new scenes such as Joel and Ellie in a wrecked train which could suggest not every plot point will be followed – I think you know the one I am talking about. There again the Joel scenes could be flashbacks, who knows.

We do know that Season 2 of the show will not include the full story of Part 2, the plan is for more than two seasons and to break up the story from the video game. This was revealed by co-creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin in an interview with GQ. When asked if The Last of Us season 2 would feature the entirety of the second game, Mazin said, “No. No way.” Druckmann added, “It’s more than one season”.

Would that mean a full run of three seasons or even four? Mazin said, “You have noted correctly that we will not say how many. But more than one is factually correct.”

Kaitlyn Dever will be playing Abby with Pedro Pascal returning as Joel, joined by Bella Ramsey’s Ellie. The cast also includes Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Jeffrey Wright as Isaac, and Ariela Barer as Mel.

Neil Druckmann has confirmed that while  The Last of Us 3 may not be in active development, he has a concept for the game that could tie the trilogy together. He admitted that for years he hadn’t been able to find that concept, “but recently that’s changed.”

I don’t have a story, but I do have that concept. That, to me, is as exciting as one, as exciting as two, is its own thing, yet has this through line for all 3. So it does feel like… there’s probably one more chapter to this story.

Source: YouTube

The next set of PlayStation Plus games have been revealed by Sony and it’s a mixed bag of family friendly fun, horror. and dark fantasy. Let’s have a look at what you are getting.

LEGO Star Wars The Skywalker Saga (PS4/PS5)

It’s time to play through the entire Skywalker saga but you don’t have to always play as a Skywalker, why not play as a Sith lord instead? “Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the most ambitious Lego game yet, and despite the occasional technical mishap it delivers a daring and often delightful romp through the most iconic film franchise of all time,” we said in our 8/10 review.

Five Nights at Freddy’s Security Breach (PS4/PS5)

An older game here from 2021 and we did not review it at the time, so here’s something from the PlayStation Blog. “Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach is the latest installment of the family-friendly horror games from Steel Wool Games. Play as Gregory, a young boy trapped overnight in Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex. With the help of Freddy Fazbear himself, Gregory must survive the near-unstoppable hunt of reimagined Five Nights at Freddy’s characters – as well as new, horrific threats.”

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (PS4)

Another game from 2021 and another game we did not review, but we did have a look when it hit  Early Access. “When it comes to wowing its audience from the start, few early access titles have done quite as well as Ender Lilies. Sure, there are areas that could be improved, such as the addition of more cinematic cutscenes to aid the story, but even without those, this has the potential to be a masterpiece,” said Emma.

All three games will be available to PlayStation Plus members on August 6th until September 2nd. PlayStation Plus members have until August 6 to the add the July games – Borderlands 3, NHL 24 and Among Us – to their game libraries

Source: PS Blog