The MAFIA official Twitter account mysteriously woke up this week with cryptic tweets and yesterday 2K Games finally announced that a possible MAFIA Trilogy of remastered games is about to be revealed on May 19th:
I am expecting this to be a collection rather than individually released remastered versions of MAFIA 1 and 2 seeing how 3 is already a current gen release but all will be revealed next week. This is such a smart move to remaster the series now and could this even be a lead into a next generation MAFIA title for 2021 perhaps?
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios today released a new Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath gameplay trailer spotlighting Fujin, Sheeva and RoboCop, who are all joining the character roster as part of the upcoming, action-packed expansion. The trailer provides the first in-depth look at all three playable fighters with brand-new gameplay footage showcasing their different abilities, move sets and visual styles. The entire Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath expansion will be available in the UK and Ireland from 4pm BST on 26 May, including Fujin, Sheeva and RoboCop.
Also featured in the video are the new Dead Pool, Soul Chamber, Kronika’s Keep and RetroKade Stages, as well as select Stage Fatalities, which will be available (along with Friendships) as a part of a FREE content update in conjunction with the Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath release.
For those who may not know who the new DLC characters are, some additional information for Fujin, Sheeva and RoboCop is provided below:
Fujin is the God of Wind and serves the Elder Gods alongside his brother, Raiden, as a Protector of Earthrealm. First playable in Mortal Kombat 4, he’s adept at inspiring goodness and heroism to conquer the forces of hatred and tyranny and fights to ensure Earthrealm’s bright future. The immortal Fujin uses his sword and crossbow in combat and unleashes his powers as a God through a variety of wind-manipulating attacks to control his weapons, his movements and even his adversaries.
Sheeva is the four-armed, half-human, half-dragon queen of Outworld’s ancient Shokan race. First playable in Mortal Kombat 3, the powerful Shokan warrior leads her people in the quest to attain their rightful place as partners in Outworld’s rule. The male Shokan once scoffed when Sheeva entered the contest to become their next leader, but after a resounding victory, she proved herself to be superior and was crowned the first queen of the Shokan. The heavy hitting, master brawler employs her grappling fighting style to take down enemies and uses her faithful shield and unblockable teleport stomp to strike fear into the hearts of anyone who might oppose her.
RoboCop, formerly known as Alex Murphy, was a dutiful police officer who was brutally executed by a local gang. Brought back to life through OCP technology, Murphy was transformed into RoboCop, a highly advanced cybernetic police officer designed to uphold the law and protect the innocent. Now making his debut in the Mortal Kombat franchise, RoboCop has received a few upgrades and enters into battles equipped with a deadly arsenal of weapons, including his Auto 9 pistol. He also employs a flamethrower, riot shield and shoulder cannon that he can load with various types of ammunition to apprehend any Kombatants who stand in his way. RoboCop inMortal Kombat 11: Aftermath features the voice and likeness of actor Peter Weller, who portrayed the popular character in both the original “RoboCop” (1987) film and “RoboCop 2” (1990) sequel.
New players can join the fight with the Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Kollection, featuring all three characters, story content and game modes in one ultimate package. This compilation includes Mortal Kombat 11 along with all content from Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath and the previously released Kombat Pack, containing six downloadable content (DLC) characters – Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, Sindel, Terminator T-800, The Joker and Spawn – plus 25 additional character skins. The Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Kollection can be pre-ordered now for £49.99 / €59.99 (SRP) with digital preorders offering immediate access to Mortal Kombat 11 and the Kombat Pack upon purchase. The physical version will be available this June in the Americas only.
Those who have already purchased Mortal Kombat 11 can preorder the Mortal Kombat 11Aftermath expansion now, which includes the franchise-first story expansion, three new playable characters, three character skin packs (incl. three skins each) to be released over time and the “Thanks a Million” Johnny Cage skin, all for £34.99 / €39.99 (SRP).
Players can also preorder the Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath + Kombat Pack Bundle for £39.99 / €49.99 (SRP).
All preorders will receive the Eternal Klash Skin Pack at launch, featuring three new character skin variants – “Unbound Rage” Scorpion inspired by Mortal Kombat (2011), “Son of Arctika” Sub-Zero inspired by Mortal Kombat: Deception and “Kori Power” Frost, a Klassic version of the Lin Kuei warrior.
The Halo fun continues as Halo 2: Anniversary releases today as the next installment comes to PC in Halo: The Master Chief Collection with Xbox Game Pass for PC, on the Microsoft Store and on Steam.
The game that changed online multiplayer forever, Halo 2: Anniversary is the impeccably remastered edition of the original Halo 2 game released alongside Halo: The Master Chief Collection on console in 2014. Following the Chief’s victory in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, experience the pivotal battle in the Human-Covenant war to defend Earth, where the Master Chief finds an unlikely ally on a new Halo ringworld and fights to prevent the destruction of humankind. Enjoy legendary multiplayer with seven remastered multiplayer maps from Halo 2: Anniversary and 25 multiplayer maps from the original Halo 2, as well as the ability to toggle between the remastered graphics in the Anniversary edition and the graphics from the original Halo 2 campaign.
Halo 2: Anniversary on PC comes equipped with new features, optimizations, and customizations built for the platform. The game looks and plays better than ever at 60 frames-per-second (or greater) with 4K UHD support, and players can fine-tune their experience with a vast array of options, including customizable mouse and keyboard support, ultrawide support, FOV customization and more.
Like all titles in Halo: The Master Chief Collection on PC, players will have a few different ways to experience Halo 2: Anniversary depending on their platform of choice:
Xbox Game Pass – Join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Game Pass for PC (Beta) and get Halo 2: Anniversary, the next chapter in Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST (Campaign), and Halo 4 will also be included in your membership and will be available on each game’s respective release date, completing the collection in 2020.
Microsoft Store and Steam –The Halo: The Master Chief Collection bundle is available today for $39.99 USD, which includes Halo: Reach and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, and now Halo 2: Anniversary, plus the remaining titles as they launch next year. Halo 2: Anniversary can also be purchased individually for $9.99 USD.
The Geoff Keighley produced ‘Summer GameFest’ has begun and the first announcement of this 4 month celebration that replaces E3 2020 with digital events all through the summer, was the news that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2 Remastered was being released for current gen consoles on September 4th:
Get ready to shred again. The original birdman, Tony Hawk, and Vicarious Visions, the studio behind the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, have come together to bring back Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2, radically remastered for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and in stunning 4K resolution on Xbox One X with updated and enhanced graphics, running at a frame rate crisper than a perfect 50-50 grind: 60 fps.
Dropping on September 4, 2020, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 brings back the original levels, skaters, tricks, modes, and songs from the iconic soundtrack, plus new ways to play including online multiplayer.
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 and 2 features the full original roster of pro skaters, including Steve Caballero, Geoff Rowley, Bucky Lasek, Elissa Steamer, Kareem Campbell, Andrew Reynolds, Bob Burnquist, Eric Koston, Rodney Mullen, Jamie Thomas, Rune Glifberg, Chad Muska…and of course, Tony Hawk.
The remaster will feature all of the original levels from the first two games in the franchise, from the Warehouse to The Bullring, as well as songs from the original games to amp you up while you go for that Sick Score. The levels can be played solo with goals old and new, with a buddy on local co-op, or online with original multiplayer game modes.
The game that influenced a generation is returning to Xbox One, PS4, and PC in glorious 4K on September 4th 2020.
The post on the Official PlayStation Europe Blog explained what to expect from this special State of Play Episode:
The episode will be focused entirely on Ghost of Tsushima, coming to PS4 17th July. You’ll get an extended look at new gameplay footage, including exploration, combat and more. The current cut is clocking in around 18 minutes, give or take.
And just to be clear — there won’t be any PS5 news or updates in this episode, just a big, beautiful look at Sucker Punch’s PS4 open-world epic
Ghost of Tsushima has been on my radar since its reveal last year but what is very striking about this State of Play special is sadly not the game it is showcasing but in the official statement from the PlayStation Blog, it makes sure to let fans know not to expect any news or updates regarding the PS5 console, a week after Microsoft and Xbox were showcasing, in very minimal fashion to be fair, and announcing third party games that will come to Xbox Series X in the next year.
Sony PlayStation are being extremely reserved about all things PS5 even now with only the new Dual Sense controller and some console specs having officially been revealed but as we approach July which could be the real launch pad for the next console generation with pre-orders, release date and most importantly pricing being finally revealed. We already know that Xbox will be holding a special Microsoft Studios edition of Inside Xbox to showcase their line up of games for Xbox Series X that I would be surprised if they do not deliver the final information fans are waiting for.
Time to see if Sony PlayStation is finally ready to unveil all thing PS5 this summer!
The Walt Disney Company, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jeffrey Seller and Thomas Kail are pleased to announce that Disney+ will fast track the premiere of the filmed version of the original Broadway production of Hamilton, bringing the 11-time-Tony Award, GRAMMY Award, Olivier Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning stage musical to homes around the world on July 3, 2020.
Producers for Hamilton, the film of the original Broadway production, include Miranda, Seller, and Kail, who also directs.
The film is a leap forward in the art of “live capture” which transports its audience into the world of the Broadway show in a uniquely intimate way. Combining the best elements of live theatre, film, and streaming, the result is a cinematic stage performance that is a wholly new way to experience Hamilton.
“No other artistic work in the last decade has had the cultural impact of ‘Hamilton’—an inspiring and captivating tale told and performed in a powerfully creative way. In light of the extraordinary challenges facing our world, this story about leadership, tenacity, hope, love and the power of people to unite against the forces of adversity is both relevant and impactful,” said Robert A. Iger, Executive Chairman of The Walt Disney Company. “We are thrilled to bring this phenomenon to Disney+ on the eve of Independence Day, and we have the brilliant Lin-Manuel Miranda and the team behind ‘Hamilton’ to thank for allowing us to do so more than a year before planned.”
“I’m so proud of how beautifully Tommy Kail has brought ‘Hamilton’ to the screen. He’s given everyone who watches this film the best seat in the house,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda. “I’m so grateful to Disney and Disney+ for reimagining and moving up our release to July 4th weekend of this year, in light of the world turning upside down. I’m so grateful to all the fans who asked for this, and I’m so glad that we’re able to make it happen. I’m so proud of this show. I can’t wait for you to see it.”
Filmed at The Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway in June of 2016, Hamilton features Tony Award® winners Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton; Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson; Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler; Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr; Tony Award nominees Christopher Jackson as George Washington; Jonathan Groff as King George; Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton; and Jasmine Cephas Jones as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds; Okieriete Onaodowan as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison; and Anthony Ramos as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton.
The cast also includes Carleigh Bettiol, Ariana DeBose, Hope Easterbrook, Sydney James Harcourt, Sasha Hutchings, Thayne Jasperson, Elizabeth Judd, Jon Rua, Austin Smith, Seth Stewart and Ephraim Sykes.
ABOUT DISNEY+
Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more. As part of Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment, Disney+ is available on most internet-connected devices and offers commercial-free programming with a variety of original feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series and short-form content. Alongside unprecedented access to Disney’s incredible library of film and television entertainment, the service is also the exclusive streaming home for the latest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney+ is available as part of a bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu (ad-supported), and ESPN+. Visit DisneyPlus.com to subscribe and/or learn more about the service.
Here is our review of the Clckr Grip and Stand Case for iPhone.
Use your phone better with this multi-functional stand & grip fabric case. It prevents dropping your phone and tired fingers. Thin, stylish and protective. Take the perfect selfie, Facetime all night or binge-watch your favorite series. The possibilities are endless.
What’s in the box?
The box contains the case.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
It’s always a good idea to protect your phone with a case, so why not include a case that has a built in stand? This is where the Clckr Grip and Stand case comes into play.
Fitting your phone into the stand is simple and requires very little effort. The phone fits perfectly into the case and feels secure. The case is drop tested to 2 metres (6.6 feet) – I decided not to test that though!
To use the grip element, you just pull the strap out and place your hand through the strap. It feels very secure and comfortable you use.
If you want to use the case as a stand you just pull the strap out and then fold the strap into place until you hear the click. Then you can use the case in either landscape or portrait, whichever you need.
When you have finished you just click the strap into place and that’s it.
You can still use wireless charging with the case too so you don’t need to remove your phone from the case each time.
The Clckr Grip and Stand for iPhone is available now priced around £29.99 and is available in different sizes and styles and is certainly worth checking out.
Today, Apex Legends Season 5 – Fortune’s Favor is set to launch for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Respawn has further expanded on the ever evolving lore of this critically acclaimed multiplayer action shooter and is ushering in even more content with Season 5 including the new Legend Loba, new Quests mode, major map changes, an all-new Battle Pass, and more.
This cunning new legend has a vendetta against the terrifying, seemingly immortal Revenant. This has given her a thirst for blood and the skills to avenge her family’s untimely death. After her parents’ murders, Loba grew up to become a famous high society socialite by day, and the Outlands’ most impressive and dangerous thief by night. Now she is looking for answers, loot and most of all, Revenant’s demise.
With Apex Legends Season 5 – Fortune’s Favor, Respawn is introducing a myriad of new content and changes including:
New Legend: Her powerful teleportation skill allows Loba to get a jump on her foes, while her passive ability gives her a leg up when scoping out loot. Loba’s ultimate ability, the Black Market, will open up a one-stop-shop for her squadmates to collect the best loot in the area.
Quests – A brand new mode in Apex Legends, players looking for riches, glory and additional story can hunt for treasure and participate in a nine-week series of PvE quests in Season 5.
Map Changes: Loba’s entrance to King’s Canyon to hunt down and destroy Revenant has had a ripple effect on the arena, shaking up beloved drop-in locations including Skull Town, and changing how competitors may choose to navigate their next strike or defensive hold.
Battle Pass – An all new battle pass boasting over 100 exclusive items including skins, Battle Pass content and Apex Packs.
Ranked Leagues Series 4: Ranked Leagues Series 4 is introducing “reconnect.” If players get disconnected due to internet weather, a quick brownout, or a crash in the game they can now restart and reload back into the session.
Gamers’ charity SpecialEffect are inviting runners to take on a ‘virtual’ 10k on 5 July in lieu of the postponed ASICS London 10k.
They’re encouraging runners to stick to the same date, time and distance but instead run in their own locality rather than central London and in accordance with the prevailing Government social-distancing guidelines.
The charity is aiming to recruit 100 people to run and fundraise together as part of a ‘Virtual Team SpecialEffect’ in the hope of making-up some of the donation shortfall resulting from the real-life race being postponed. Over the past decade the London 10K has become the central challenge event in the SpecialEffect calendar, attracting over 190 supporters in 2019 who raised nearly £25,000 between them. One of the main drivers of this success has been support from the games industry, with companies such as Rocksteady, SEGA and Green Man Gaming each entering teams of 20+ in recent years.
Runners can sign-up through the SpecialEffect website [link below], for FREE, and will receive a special edition finishers medal on completion. There are also plans for a pre- and post-race online meet-up to try and recreate the usual race-day experience as closely as possible. Over the years, it has become something of a tradition for Team SpecialEffect runners to dress-up as their favourite games characters and SpecialEffect are heartily encouraging anyone who wants to run in costume to still do so this time around!
With in person gaming events like E3 and Gamescom all cancelled for 2020 due to COVID-19, more and more Game Publishers are moving their usual showcase big events to a digital online event instead. Yesterday Ubisoft announced their own digital event which will take place on July 12th:
Save the Date! Join us July 12 for Ubisoft Forward, a fully digital showcase with exclusive game news, reveals and more 🎉 Stay tuned… #UbiForwardpic.twitter.com/JLYEyF1YnL
In an official statement released on the official Ubisoft Website, the digital event is described as:
With physical gaming shows around the world postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ubisoft will be hosting its first digital conference, called Ubisoft Forward, on July 12 at 12PM PDT/9PM CEST. Get ready for an E3-style showcase with plenty of exclusive game news, exciting reveals, and much more.
With Assassin’s Creed Valhalla leading the way into the next generation for Ubisoft, we are still awaiting on news of all the delayed games of 2020 following the utter mess that was the launch of Ghost Recon Breakpoint such as Watchdogs Legion for example. The event will likely miss the big dance moments of their usual E3 presentation show but expect news and updates on the next 12 months at least of all things Ubisoft.
There are plenty of science fiction games out there, such as the Mass Effect franchise, but it’s difficult to come across a game set in space based on fairly realistic technology. Along comes Deliver Us The Moon and its bleak take on what the future will most likely hold for humanity.
First of all, this game is in no way related to Ryan Murphy’s popular 911 TV show and the outlandish accidents that the team deals with in each episode. Instead, 911 Operator is more of a simulation of what life is like for brave people such as firefighters and police officers.
Here’s our review of the HyperX CloudX Chat Headset for Xbox One.
The Officially Xbox Licensed HyperX CloudX Chat Headset is built with 40mm driver for clear voice chat communication. It has a flexible noise-cancellation mic, pop filter, and in-line audio controls to easily adjust volume and mute the mic. The single ear cup allows you to hear game audio from your TV or home entertainment system as you chat in-game with your squad or party chat with friends. Featuring a lightweight, reversible design, the chat headset can be worn comfortably on either ear.
Features
Official Xbox Licensed chat headset
Clear voice chat communication
Lightweight comfort and reversible design
Convenient in-line audio controls
Forward compatibility: Works on Xbox Series X
What’s in the box?
The box contains the headset and a quick start guide.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The HyperX CloudX Chat Headset is small and lightweight – in fact to make it easy to carry and store the headset breaks into two pieces. It’s also primarily designed so that you reverse the headset if you wish. When you first open the box you need to fix it together which is very easy, pulling it apart takes a little more effort but isn’t that hard.
All you need to do is then plug the headset into your Xbox One controller and away you go. HyperX say that the headset is also compatible with the forthcoming Xbox Series X console.
The headset sits comfortably on your head, with the one ear cup on whichever side you are most comfortable with. You can then use your other ear to listen to the game, or whatever else you need.
The headset is controlled from the in-line controller – you can change the volume on in-game chat or party chat, and you can choose to mute the mic entirely if you want to.
The microphone is permanently connected to the headset so if you are not using it you can move it out of the way. The audio quality on the mic is good and picks up your voice clearly.
The HyperX CloudX Chat Headset for Xbox One is available now priced around £19.99 and for that price you can’t go wrong – just remember it’s designed for chat.
Nusakan Studio and Perp Games are delighted to reveal that Taurus VR has received a major new Friend or Foe Seasonal Update on Steam Early Access.
The Friend or Foe event is designed to encourage competition with a new point-based system added to the leaderboards.
Nusakan Studios have introduced a brand new environment to the game which has very dark and swampy vibes.
A new mystery spaceship, known only as the Taur-20, has also been added to the game and can be unlocked if you beat the score of Nusakan Studio’s finest pilot who has 3,120 points!
The final release of Taurus VR is expected Summer 2020 on the Steam Oculus and HTC Vive Stores and will be compatible with all major PC headsets.
The new update also coincides with a price drop on Steam Early Access, and Taurus VR is now available for £4.64.
Taurus VR is retro reimagined for VR with its focus on arcade-style space shooting action and an emphasis on 6-degree body movement that really gets your adrenaline pumping.
Taurus VR pits you against an ever-present alien threat, requiring the player to use full-body movement to steer the ship and arm gestures to fulfil the attack and defensive mechanisms.
During the game’s Early Access period, Nusakan Studio have an extensive and generous content roadmap laid out, leading into the game’s full launch in the summer of 2020.
Taurus VR currently features four worlds and six spaceships. Each spaceship has unique properties, with some better suited to certain encounters than others.
With the release of this first tier, there are still a further three tiers on the content roadmap leading into launch. The final release of Taurus VR is expected to have five worlds, nine spaceships with additional mods, as well as boss battles, seasonal events and much more. Purchasing Taurus VR during the Early Access period will represent incredible value for money with the amount of content being generated by Nusakan Studio.
Of the announcement, Jaime Núñez, Creative Director at Nusakan Studios says “Adding seasonal events shows our ongoing commitment to making Taurus VR bigger and better, adding fresh content all the time. With a brand new ship, environment, and point-based leaderboard, you can try lots of new things. But I recommend you unlock all the other spaceships and worlds first so you’re fully prepared for the challenges that await in the Friend or Foe update. Do your best, pilot.”
Taurus VR is now available on Steam Early Access along with a full demo. Taurus VR will leave Early Access and release in full Summer 2020 for all major PC Headsets.
About Perp Games
Perp Games is a global videogames publisher, with a proud track record of publishing award-winning titles, exciting indie games and some of the world’s most recognized franchises, from the most talented studios. Perp Games is an established and recognised global force in entertainment, bringing extraordinary and exciting games to market, across multiple formats and media.
About Nusakan Studio
Nusakan Studio is a hub of professional extremely passionate about VR and games, with the sole purpose of taking their creative thinking to the limit.
