Nintendo is reportedly asking game developers to make their future titles 4k-ready which sparks rumors that a new high-resolution Nintendo Switch is coming next year.
According to a Bloomberg report, Nintendo has been planning to increase the production for Nintendo Switch but what caught the eyes of fans is a brief mention of the Japanese gaming giant’s request.
Third-party game developers have been reportedly asked by Nintendo to make their future games for the Switch as 4k-ready. This implies that Nintendo is considering a new Switch model that can produce higher resolution than the existing Switch console is capable of.
The report came right after rumors that a new Nintendo switch console that has a better display is coming next year. The rumors revealed that the new console has entered production and will be launched sometime during the first quarter of 2021.
There have been rumors of a Nintendo Switch Pro for months now, with several reports that it will be released on January 2021. However, Nintendo quickly denied these rumors stating that they have no plans of releasing a new Nintendo Switch any time soon.
Bloomberg also revealed that Nintendo is now recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its supply chain. Nintendo is now increasing the production of the existing Switch models again to meet the demands of consumers. Nintendo plans to release 30 million units for this fiscal year.
In related news, Super Mario 3D All-Stars is now Amazon’s 2nd best-selling game of 2020, just behind the iconic Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
New details about Ember Lab’s upcoming adventure game, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, have been revealed today. Based on a post on Game Informer, the developers answered a lot of important questions about the upcoming game including the advantages of playing the game on the PlayStation 5, length of the game, inspiration in creating the game, and more.
As most can possibly expect, there will be major visual differences between the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions. More effects and essential features will be shown on-screen on the next-gen version as well as forests and foliage will be thicker on the PlayStation 5. The developers also confirmed that Kena: Bridge of Spirits was built on the Unreal Engine 4.
For the gameplay of Kena: Bridge of Spirits, developers described it as a wide-linear experience and not an open-world game. There will be a village that players will discover as they progress in the game which will serve as a jump-off point where they can use to explore other locations.
Combat-wise, the main character will be able to utilize light, heavy, and charged attacks using her staff which can be upgraded into a bow later in the game. The little monsters featured in the trailer are called Rot which will be encountered by Kena as she travels across the map. These creatures will have a critical role in the story and will also have a use in the gameplay as well. Kena can command the Rot to help her solve room puzzles and maneuver through impassable terrain.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits PS5 details
– takes 2 seconds to launch from the PS5 OS (fresh launch) – more lush and dense environments – There are over 100 Rot (tiny creatures) in the game and PS5 can display them all – Utilizes DualSense (bow etc)https://t.co/AhyGVqlxqvpic.twitter.com/V5jWz1lPNr
The post also revealed that fans who noticed a few Legend of Zelda similarities, they are not wrong. The game was inspired by the Zelda 3D titles which aren’t shocking since Ember Labs is famous for a Majora’s Mask video which has over 10 million views on YouTube.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits hasn’t received an official release date yet. However, the developers revealed that they can expect the game in several months. They also announced that the game will not cost over $60 and that fans can finish the game casually in over a weekend. In addition, the game will not have microtransactions.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits will be available on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 as well as the PC through the Epic Games Store.
Most people love crossovers, especially when it features well-loved characters or worlds. As such, this is one of the reasons why games like Super Smash Bros. are a real hit, excluding the fact that it’s a pretty great game on its own.
Sometimes, crossovers don’t make a lot of sense, such as the Bridge Constructor x The Walking Dead crossover. However, this doesn’t really matter most of the time – why the crossover came to be usually matters less than how fun the gameplay is.
Borne out of this mindset is Bounty Battle, otherwise known as the Super Smash Bros. of indie games, as it brings together a roster of different characters from different indie titles in order to fight for the fate of the multiverse.
In order to raise the game’s hype, an animated trailer was released. The trailer gives you a bit of context and background to the game, showing how the characters were pulled from their world by a dark hole onto a barren arena.
From there, the characters face off against one another as more of the characters from the roster show up. That being said, it’s worth noting that unlike Super Smash Bros., Bounty Battle follows the more traditional fighting gameplay mechanics.
The characters included in the game are pretty much a random and unique mix, but Bounty Battle also includes some original fighters.
Bounty Battle is scheduled to launch for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One on September 10, 2020. However, you can head on over to its Steam page right now and add it to your wishlist while you wait.
If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind game that’s steeped in Philippine and Greek mythology, then we highly recommend the upcoming indie title Good Knight. Developed by Team Good Knight and published by Doublethink Games, Good Knight is a Filipino one-button bullet hell game that has an original metal soundtrack.
Besides that, the game is a wonderful blend of different genres – shooter, rhythm, arcade, retro, and more.
Using Philippine horror and literature along with Greek mythology, you control a Spanish knight as he traverses through bullet hell. It’s also worth noting that Good Knight is heavily inspired by Dante’s Inferno.
The gameplay is easy in the sense that you only have to press one button. With this sole button, you will be given the ability to attack, turn around, speed down, and more.
You are also tasked with just one job, and that is to survive bullet hell. Now, this latter part isn’t so easy. You will literally be in bullet hell i.e. you have to dodge and survive a stream of bullets heading your way.
You don’t have to do everything alone, though. Good Knight allows up to four players, and all four of you have to dodge the bullets. Sounds stressful, yet fun.
Good Knight has won several awards in the Philippines, such as ‘Best Indie Game’ at the Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit (ESGS) 2019. It’s currently scheduled for release on Q4 2020 according to its Steam page, and a mobile and Switch version is planned for 2021.
Tuned-Out Games has officially launched their Kickstarter project for a retro-inspired shooter game called Demons Ate My Neighbors! The campaign will run from today until October 15, with the team over at Tuned-Out Games aiming to raise $199,100 USD.
This nostalgic co-op game is set in 1991, where you accompany April and Joey on a quest to exorcise and fight off their demon-possessed neighbors. Basically, it features the scary yet creepy tone of Zombies Ate My Neighbors while blending in the rogue-lite combat of The Binding of Isaac.
As mentioned, Demons Ate My Neighbors! can be a two-player co-op game, so you can wield holy SPLASHA squirt guns with your partner and drench the demons. You also have the ability to swap out the nozzles so that you can change your attack pattern if you want to.
Demons Ate My Neighbors! also has a feature called the “Radwatch,” which is a high-tech device that ensures that you’ll never get lost in the game’s procedurally-generated levels. With this awesome device, you will be able to not only track down citizens, but you will be able to find treasure as well.
What makes this game even more interesting is the fact that it’s completely up to you how you want to deal with the bosses. You will be given the option to either deliver them from evil or damn them to hell.
If all goes as planned, Demons Ate My Neighbors! will launch in September 2021 and will be made available on the Nintendo Switch and PC.
Red Dead Redemption 2, as we know by now, is full of secrets and Easter eggs. Albeit not every player gets to notice these tidbits, but those who do discover them appreciate the designers very much. Some of the game’s Easter eggs are pretty cool, such as this one that reveals details about Jack.
However, some are pretty morbid and/or creepy, and one Reddit user’s discovery falls on the latter. Reddit user NarneX2 recently posted on the Red Dead Redemption 2subreddit sharing what they discovered at Micah’s hideout.
Now, Micah is probably the most hated Red Dead Redemption 2 character. As a matter of fact, some players created a mod just so that they could kick him around. He’s an awful, awful person – a murderer and a backstabber to boot.
What NarneX2 discovered in Micah’s hideout only strengthens people’s opinions about him, as the user posted a video showing a dead body stuck inside a wooden outhouse.
The outhouse has a door that you can’t get into, but it’s made out of wooden slats. As such, NarneX2 used their character’s binoculars to look through the holes and gaps of the outhouse.
This unknown man seems to be frozen while holding onto a crutch. However, the outhouse covers enough of the man that we don’t know his identity. In fact, we don’t even know if he’s even a named character.
That said, a curious Redditor used a mod in order to take a better look at the poor guy. Now, this mod has made it clear that the corpse is hunched over a crutch, but his position, unfortunately, covers up his face.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is meant to be a violent game, so dead bodies really don’t come as a surprise. However, we definitely appreciate how the game’s designers take the time to add Easter eggs such as this one, even if the man will remain a mystery.
If you enjoy puzzle games and unpacking your things out of boxes, then this game is a definite must-play for you. Unpacking is a zen puzzle game developed by Witch Beam, and it has a pretty straightforward concept.
The general game takes place after you have moved houses and you have to unpack your belongings and place them neatly in your brand-new abode. The first trailer for this title has been released and if you enjoy cleaning up and arranging, then you will definitely enjoy this relaxing preview.
Normally, you wouldn’t find unpacking to be such a relaxing and cathartic chore. However, Witch Beam has totally changed our minds regarding that aspect. The gameplay appears to be simple enough: you take out clothes and other items from boxes and neatly place them in the nook and crannies of the room you are in.
What’s more, there’s no correct way when unpacking and arranging your things, which makes Unpacking all the more relaxing, as it lifts any pressure off your shoulders. Do you want to hang your clothes or keep them folded in a drawer? It’s completely up to you!
Unpacking’sSteam page describes it as “part ‘item Tetris’ and “part home decoration,” which we find to be completely true. Also, you don’t have to worry about the boxes, as they will pop out of existence as soon as it has been emptied.
If you spend way too much time decorating your house in The Sims or Animal Crossing, then Unpacking is a game you should definitely try. Witch Beam hasn’t revealed the title’s release date yet, but its Steam page says sometime in 2021.
Bohemia Interactive’s zombie survival game entitled DayZ has recently received a brand-new update, bringing with it not only new features but major bug fixes as well. For one thing, the game has added a Revolver and a brand-new Deagle pistol.
Just like the previous updates, though, Update 1.09 thankfully addresses some annoying bugs across the PC version and consoles. According to the patch notes, the update has over 30 fixes. That’s pretty amazing.
Some of these fixes include the removal of DayZ exploits wherein the game allows you to glitch through collisions. Visual problems have also been dealt with, such as the bug where running vehicles damage your character even though they’re not moving, as well as fish floating above the ground.
Version 1.09 didn’t only having bug fixes, though – it also had some tweaks and changes that improved the game as a whole. For one thing, the textures for several buildings and various props have been improved and updated.
In addition, new characters now have the chance to spawn with damaged gear. Also, Bohemia Interactive ensured that the loot in Chernarus and Livonia stays active longer.
These are only some of the changes and fixes made on Update 1.09, but you can check the complete list over here as well as their blog post regarding the update here. Sadly, the pandemic has caused the development team to push back their initial plans of releasing five major updates this year.
However, the company still plans to release Update 1.10 sometime in November, so you definitely have that to look forward to.
DayZ is currently available to play on multiple gaming platforms such as the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Following the announcement of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, a prequel to Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nintendo also announced that they will be re-releasing the Amiibo. This highly-anticipated Legend of Zelda title will give us much-needed context to Breath of the Wild’s story, and for that, we can’t wait until November.
In relation to this, Nintendo’s official American Twitter account announced that the Amiibo of the four Champions – Daruk, Urbosa, Mipha, and Revali – will be relaunched on the same day as Age of Calamity’s release.
As of right now, we don’t know what purpose the Amiibo will serve for the upcoming title, but fans speculate that they will interact in some way. Since Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity was announced only recently, we still don’t have a lot of information about it.
What we do know is that you will be able to take control of not only Zelda and Link but of the four Champions as well. However, Nintendo has promised to release more details such as screenshots of the game by the end of the month.
That being said, the release of Age of Calamity means that it will be a while before Nintendo releases an actual sequel to Breath of the Wild. However, the fact that this will be a prequel will mean that fans will be able to take a look at Link’s memories before The Calamity took place.
Legend of Zelda Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will released on November 20, 2020, and is currently available for preorder over at the Nintendo Switch eShop. What’s more, you will receive a free in-game item if you preorder the digital version.
Given the current worldwide pandemic, it’s no surprise that finding open Tennis courts to practice and enjoy it is difficult for most and impossible for some. That shouldn’t keep anyone from finding ways to play the game. Here are a few of the best tennis video games released in recent years that you can play to scratch that itch without risking your health and others:
1. Super Mario Aces
Probably the most popular video game title on the list, Super Mario Aces, is the latest in the venerable Mario Tennis line of games. Released on the Nintendo Switch on June 22, 2018, it’s the most recent title. It’s also one of the more physically demanding games. Players can choose to play it using the Nintendo Switch’s motion controls to swing the Joy-Cons much like one would in real-life with a racket.
Its cartoony art style and mascot character lineup include the classic heroes such as Mario, Luigi, Wario, Peach, Waluigi, Daisy, Rosalina, and more. Super Mario Aces plays more like an arcade tennis experience rather than something more realistic. It’s an enjoyable and entertaining video game that you and your friends can enjoy in both singleplayer and multiplayer modes, but if you’re looking for more of a simulation, read on.
For the first mobile game in this list, we went with Ultimate Tennis. It’s a more realistic, though still very accessible tennis game with surprisingly deep character development and easy-to-learn gesture-based controls. Additionally, it offers impressive graphics with beautifully-rendered characters and detailed level design for a mobile game. You have a variety of cosmetic items with which you can customize your characters’ appearances.
Overall, Ultimate Tennis provides a complete video game package. These are eye-catching graphics, addicting character progression elements, and fun gameplay that can be enjoyed solo or against others online. It’s not just a top-tier mobile tennis game, but one of the best free downloadable sports games period.
Another mobile game with more of an old-school tennis video game flavor. Tennis Champs Returns (Simply “Tennis Champs” on iOS) is a remake of the original 1995 Amiga game, developed by the original programmer of the home computer version. A returning classic, Tennis Champs Returns is updated with modern features such as retouched animations, all-new physics, AI, new controls, Daily Challenges, and a high new Career mode.
Despite its simple presentation, Tennis Champs Returns sports a full array of game modes one wouldn’t expect from a mobile game. Daily Challenges serve up a mixture of modes, opponents, and mini-games that offer rewards to help you in Career mode. Overall, this thing pits you against a roster of 200 opponents to defeat as you climb the rankings. One impressive feature that isn’t commonplace among mobile games is the ability to play with up to 3 other friends in 4-player local multiplayer (additional controllers needed). Tennis Champs Returns is an exciting casual game with plenty of offerings worth coming back to play.
Now we’re getting into the heavy hitters. Virtua Tennis should be a familiar name to anyone even remotely interested in the sport, whether mixing videogames into the equation or not. With the first game’s debut by Sega in 1999, its place in arcades was firmly secured as the definitive Tennis arcade cabinet. Virtua Tennis 4, which came out in Spring 2011, was the first main series game to not have an arcade release before the consoles. Virtua Tennis 4 features an impressive roster of real-life tennis pros whose likenesses are immortalized in digital glory. This includes Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Tommy Haas, Gael Monfils, Juan Martin del Potro, Fernando Gonzalez, Philipp Kohlschreiber, and Andreas Seppi on the men’s front.
On the other hand, in the women’s division, Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Maria Sharapova, Anna Chakvetadze, Caroline Wozniacki, and Laura Robson represents the team; as well as tennis legends Jim Courier, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, and Patrick Rafter.
Closing off the list, we have what is widely considered by Tennis fans to be the best representation of the sport in video games, Top Spin 4. This 2011 title is a diversion from the more arcade-like tennis games, with a focus on true tennis immersion with more nuance and finesse involved in controlling the ball – much like in real life. This matter has the consequence of making Top Spin 4 a harder game to get into and master. But many think of this as a benefit. The game rewards players who take the time and know something about the sport.
Top Spin 4’s player roster is extensive, with pro players including James Blake, Nikolay Davydenko, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Gilles Simon, Bernard Tomic, and Stanislas Wawrinka from the (then) current ATP; Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Bjorn Borg, Michael Chang, Jim Courier, Ivan Lendl, Patrick Rafter, and Pete Sampras representing ATP legends; and Eugenie Bouchard, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, and Vera Zvonareva representing the WTA.
AO Tennis 2, which came out in January 2020, was met with negative reviews on release but has since received updates and patches that have fixed some of the game’s most glaring issues. It is now generally a more positively-reviewed game.
Both games are praised for their excellent graphical qualities, which take advantage of nearly a decade of progress in computer hardware and video game development techniques since the last major tennis games were released in 2011.
Hopefully, this list encourages our readers to continue playing tennis, even if only in virtual form. While nothing compares to the physical and mental thrill of the real thing, tennis video games offer an outlet for fans to enjoy the sport from the safety of home. And with many of these games taking advantage of online multiplayer features, we can even find opponents or partners to play with—all without ever needing to get off the couch.
Additionally, there’s much more than you can get as you play at home. Think of it as a great bonding time with your family and a time to upskill your abilities. Well, who knows? This event will be the start for you to apply these game techniques to a real-life tennis match! So, don’t hesitate to try and play it now with your loved ones!
Author’s Bio
Jonathan J Kingston is a video game enthusiast, gamer, and a veteran video game news writer for Games.lol. He spends his free time hunting for free game sites and testing their reliability.
