Author: Derek Kraneveldt

Derek Kraneveldt is Geekscape's managing editor. A media, comic, and technology enthusiast, he's happy to call Geekscape home. Looking for more from Derek? Keep up with him on twitter or email him here!

E3 2017: Yes, ‘Super Mario Odyssey’ Will Feature Co-Op

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Super Mario Odyssey remains one of the coolest-looking games that was shown off at this year’s E3. The title looks to bring a ton of new ideas to the series, and the idea of being able to play such a breathtaking Mario title on the go is beyond exciting. 

Since the game’s initial announcement last year , the main question about the game on every gamer’s mind was in regards to multiplayer. The Wii U’s under appreciated Super Mario 3D World and its intense, insane four-player multiplayer led to some of the most fun times I’ve ever had playing a video game. 

Revealed today on Nintendo’s Treehouse livestream, the company revealed that while the game won’t have the same frantic multiplayer mode as the last title, it will feature two player co-op. 

In co-op mode, Mario no longer controls Cappy. The second player will control the newly-living hat, who can fly around, attack, and control some camera movement. He (it?) is also invincible, so you can play with a non-gamer spouse or even your kids, and they won’t be able to cramp your style too much. 

According to Polygon, it sound like Nintendo may have even added a few teamwork-oriented puzzles to the game to force players to work together. 

In any case, while I’d love a more in-depth multiplayer mode, I’ll take what I can get, and Super Mario Odyssey looks freaking fantastic. 

Rewatch the game’s E3 trailer below, and let us know if you’ll be picking this one up on October 27!

E3 2017: That Post-Kojima ‘Metal Gear’ Game Will Not Release This Year

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Last Summer, Josh asked just what the hell was wrong with Konami after the reveal of Metal Gear Survive, a WTF-inducing Solid Snake and friends fighting zombies game that Hideo Kojima clearly had nothing to do with.

We’ve seen little else from the title since its reveal at GamesCom 2016, to the point where we’d almost forgotten that it even existed (leaving the world a slightly brighter place). It turns out, however, that the title is playable on the show floor amidst the giant lines at this year’s ongoing E3, but at this point the game will not be hitting your platform of choice until next year.p

Polygon learned earlier today that the development team requires a little more time to polish the game, and thus the title has been “pushed back a few months.” Naturally, Metal Gear games and delays are no stranger to one another — this game’s existence at all however, remains a mystery to all of us. What would it have been like to be a fly on the wall when this concept came up?

Forgot what it’s all about? Watch the reveal trailer below, and let us know if you’ll be picking this one up in early 2018.

E3 2017: Sony Offers Silly Reasoning For Being The Only Console Not Offering Cross-Platform Play

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The entire internet seemed pretty disappointed with nearly every. single. publisher at this year’s E3 Expo (save for Nintendo, surprisingly). As wrong as the internet was about the convention as a whole (it was super great and I can’t wait to buy Skyrim two more times for two distinctly different reasons), every gamer on Earth rightly jumped for joy when the once pipe-dream that was Cross Platform play suddenly became a reality.

We’ve heard a lot of talk of building walls over these past six months — but this weekend, a longstanding virtual wall humbly began to crumble, and this is a trend that I certainly hope garners even more support over time.

The wall begins to crumble, that is, unless you’re playing on Sony’s platform.

Microsoft showed off their first Cross Platform title during their Keynote on Sunday with a gorgeous new version of Minecraft. It’s trailer began by showing off the Xbox One X version’s fancy new still-very-blocky graphics and talking about massive new server upgrades, among other things, before showing off a pixellated iPad, iPhone, Nintendo Switch, and a window (for Windows, duh).

That’s right. Later this year Xbox Owners will be able to play Minecraft with their pals playing on another platform, including Nintendo’s latest console. Yep, Nintendo, that company that makes the best games, but is so conservative with online capabilities that they’re typically not even worth trying. The same Nintendo that’s never really offered any useful form of online voice chat because you shouldn’t swear at kids when they beat you at Mario Kart 8. That Nintendo.

Today, the way-more-fun-than-it-has-any-right-to-be Rocket League was revealed to be coming to the Nintendo Switch, with developer Psyonix noting that Cross-Platform play would be supported on every platform that Rocket League can be played on… again, except Playstation.

Eurogamer had the chance to speak with PlayStation global sales and marketing head Jim Ryan about cross platform play, who noted:

It’s certainly not a profound philosophical stance we have against this. We’ve done it in the past. We’re always open to conversations with any developer or publisher who wants to talk about it. Unfortunately it’s a commercial discussion between ourselves and other stakeholders, and I’m not going to get into the detail of that on this particular instance. And I can see your eyes rolling.

Sony had to have been one of the first companies to support some semblance of cross platform play, with Final Fantasy XI having PS2 and PC players playing in the same servers. Obviously I’m speculating here, but Ryan’s response almost sounds like he thinks that it’s silly that he doesn’t have a different answer to give. He mentions stakeholders specifically — could this have been shareholder led decision? In any case, I  don’t think that Sony or anyone else would have guessed that Nintendo would have been announced as a cross platform partner. Maybe the Switch truly is the rebirth of the company from a core values level.

When asked about Minecraft specifically, Ryan gives a canned, classic Nintendo answer (except that he works for Sony and Sony is totally being the Nintendo in this situation):

We’ve got to be mindful of our responsibility to our install base. Minecraft – the demographic playing that, you know as well as I do, it’s all ages but it’s also very young. We have a contract with the people who go online with us, that we look after them and they are within the PlayStation curated universe. Exposing what in many cases are children to external influences we have no ability to manage or look after, it’s something we have to think about very carefully.

This entire debacle just seems like an extremely shortsighted move from Sony — if Sony’s decision to block cross platform gaming is a monetary one, I don’t really see how it will benefit the behemoth in the long run, especially if we begin to see cross platform multiplayer become a more regular occurrence. Naturally, I’m going to pick up the version of a game that will let me play it with the most friends, which won’t be Sony’s console in most cases. On top of that, if I’m a parent looking to buy a new console for the family, am I going to choose the one that will allow my kids to play Minecraft with their iPad touting friends, or limit them to just other Playstation owners? That’s a pretty easy decision to make.

Thankfully, while it doesn’t sound like support is being actively talked about, it doesn’t sound like it’s been completely ruled out, either. Ryan closed saying “I don’t think anything is ever a done deal. Anybody who is dogmatic in that manner is typically a fool. That said, to my knowledge, there is no live conversation ongoing at the moment.”

As a gamer whose Dualshock 4 controller has a permanent place on my coffee table: Sony, we’re disappointed in you.

Which multiplayer titles would you like to see made available on all platforms? Be sure to sound out below.

E3 2017: Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Expands To Original Xbox Titles!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We can’t exactly file this one under ‘total surprise’, but it’s still a cool piece of news from Microsoft’s just-concluded E3 conference.

Yep. After making nearly 400 Xbox 360 titles backwards compatible with Xbox One, Microsoft has announced that original Xbox titles are next in line for the backwards compatibility treatment.

Details on the program itself are scarce as of now, but Xbox head Phil Spencer notes that “OG games will look better and play better across the Xbox One family,” while noting that fans can expect the first backwards compatible titles to be available later this year (with one of his favourites, Crimson Skies, being among the first few).

As someone who largely missed out on the first generation Microsoft console, this came as pretty exciting news to me. Which games would you like to see added to the list? What was the best part of the Microsoft presentation? Sound out below!

E3 2017: The First Trailer For ‘Life Is Strange: Before The Storm’ Already Has Us Crying!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It may not be as surprising as the Metro: Exodus reveal, but the surprise first trailer for the I-never-thought-it-would-happen Life is Strange prequel, Life Is Strange: Before The Storm may have been my favourite part of the presentation.

Yeah, the oddly named Xbox One X looks pretty incredible (I’m already trying to convince my fiancé to let us get one), but Life Is Strange is one of my favourite games of all time, and I never, ever thought that I’d ever have more Max and Chloe in my life.

The trailer takes us through some of the tough moments we saw or heard about in the 2015 game, and I really, really cannot wait to see what’s in store for us this time around. Life Is Strange: Before The Storm will span three episodes, and will kick off on August 31st.

For now, watch the trailer below, and let us know what you’d like to see in the title!

Before the Storm is set in Arcadia Bay, three years before the events of the first game in the series. Players will take on the role of a rebellious 16 year-old Chloe Price who forms an unlikely friendship with Rachel Amber; a beautiful and popular girl destined for success. When Rachel’s world is turned upside down by a family secret, it takes this new-found alliance to give each other the strength to overcome their demons.

https://youtu.be/Dj-2Q4nCMAw

E3 2017: There’s An Open World ‘Metro’ Game Coming, And It Looks Incredible

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Wow.

We’re still digesting everything that we saw in the just-concluded Microsoft E3 press conference, but the reveal of a new, open world game set in the Metro 2033 universe was one of the coolest (and definitely the most surprising) moments of today’s Microsoft presentation.

Metro Exodus is an epic, story-driven first person shooter from 4A Games that blends deadly combat and stealth with exploration and survival horror in one of the most immersive game worlds ever created.

Flee the shattered ruins of dead Moscow and embark on an epic, continent-spanning journey across post-apocalyptic Russia in the greatest Metro adventure yet.
Explore the Russian wilderness in vast, non-linear levels and follow a thrilling story-line inspired by the novels of Dmitry Glukhovsky that spans an entire year through spring, summer and autumn to the depths of nuclear winter.
Yeah, technically the next Metro game isn’t actually in Metro, but guys, we’re getting a new Metro game.

Watch the gameplay reveal trailer below, and let us know what you enjoyed most about today’s Microsoft conference.

Metro Exodus hits Xbox One, PS4, and PC in 2018!

E3 2017: Watch A Gorgeous New Trailer For DONTNOD’s ‘Vampyr’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Wow.

This is the first E3 2017 trailer that I’ve had the pleasure of seeing thus far, and damn if it doesn’t kick of this year’s expo with a bang (yeah, I understand that the actual expo is still several days away).

DONTNOD won my heart in 2015 with the phenomenal Life is Strange, so you’d better believe that I’m watching Vampyr with a close eye, and along with the just revealed three minute long E3 trailer for the game, the company has also announced that Vampyr will launch for PS4, Xbox One, and PC this November – I thought that it would be much further away than that.

In Vampyr, you are Dr. Jonathan Reid, a famous surgeon home from the Great War and recently turned into a vampire against your will. As a doctor, you have taken an oath to save lives and take care of the sick; as a vampire, you are cursed to hunt those you vowed to heal.

To survive against deadly foes roaming the streets – vampire hunters, undead Skal and other monstrosities – you will need to choose which civilians to feed on, so you can grow stronger and evolve your vampiric abilities. Use your unholy powers to manipulate and delve into the lives of those around you – but be prepared to live with the consequences of your actions. A web of interconnected citizens with unique lives and relationships react to your decisions, and killing just one may cause the downfall of an entire city district. Your actions will save or doom London.

Take a look at the new trailer below, and be sure to let us know what you think!

Netflix’ Upcoming ‘Castlevania’ Gets A Classic New Poster!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Following that gorgeous first teaser from just a few days back, Netlfix has just debuted a new poster for the upcoming series, which brings us way, way back.

Like before I was born back.

Here’s that classic box art for Konami’s (remember when they made video games) entry into the Castlevania series for the NES:

And here’s the poster for the upcoming Netflix series:

Inspired by the classic video game series, Castlevania is a dark medieval fantasy following the last surviving member of the disgraced Belmont clan, trying to save Eastern Europe from extinction at the hand of Vlad Dracula Tepe himself. The animated series written by best-selling author and comic book icon Warren Ellis and executive produced by Warren Ellis, Kevin Kolde, Fred Seibert and Adi Shankar.

Castlevania hits Netflix on July 7th.

Watch The First Teaser For Neill Blomkamp’s Oats Studios’ ‘Volume 1’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Beautiful.

As a big fan of Neill Blomkamp’s work (well, aside from much of Elysium) I was pretty sad when his Alien project seemed to be shelved forever.

Now, Blomkamp has been teasing this one for what seems like forever, and today he finally revealed the first trailer for his new studio, Oats Studios’ anthology of experiemental short films, simply titled Volume One.

The trailer opens with a striking shot of an overgrown Eiffel Tower, and throughout its one minute duration showcases a variety of incredible looking creatures and unique settings.

The project is set to hit Steam in the coming months, and according to Blomkamp’s Twitter, assets from the project, including 3D models and concept art may be offered up as well.

https://twitter.com/NeillBlomkamp/status/869347947099561984

For now, watch the gorgeous teaser below, and be sure to let us know if you’re looking forward to the project!

The Great War Is Here – Watch The New Trailer For ‘Game Of Thrones’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The great war is here.

At least, it will be in a couple of months.

HBO has just debuted an epic new trailer for the upcoming season of Game of Thrones, and while I haven’t actually watched the previous few seasons (I’m still very slowly trying to play catch up), this trailer certainly gets me closer to simply binging my way through.

Game of Thrones returns on July 16th, and I’m sure you all can’t wait. For now, watch the trailer on repeat below, and let us know what you hope to see this July!

Kickstarter-Funded ‘Perception’ Gets A Release Date!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Yes!

I’ve had my eyes on The Deep End’s upcoming first title, Perception, since its Kickstarter campaign first went live back in 2015.

The team has been filling hungry gamers in on all of the titles’ development news since the Kickstarter was successfully funded, and even revealed a very welcomed console version of the game back in January.

Today, we welcome the best Perception news of all – the game’s extremely close release date.The title will hit Steam, Xbox One, and PS4 on May 30th.

Perception is a first-person narrative horror adventure that tells the story of Cassie, a blind heroine who uses her extraordinary hearing and razor-sharp wits to unravel the mysteries of an abandoned estate that haunts her dreams.

The game looks extremely original, and from a team that consists largely of ex Irrational Games developers, we’re bound to be in for quite the adventure.

Take a look at the release date trailer below, and be sure to let us know if you’re excited for this one!

‘Call Of Duty: WWII’ Looks Brutal And Epic, Watch The Reveal Trailer!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It’s been a number of years since I was truly excited for a Call of Duty game.

The games are always fun and flashy, but at this point of my life (with my super limited amount of game time), I’ll almost always choose a deeper, single player experience over nearly anything with multiplayer in it.

Last year, I dabbled with Modern Warfare Remastered and had a blast playing through Infinite Warfare’s campaign, but they were experiences that I just sort of fell into, rather than truly being excited for them.

I played (and loved) the unique campaigns of Battlefield 1, and at that point imagined just how much of a thrill ride it would be to play through Medal of Honor: Frontline‘s D-Day campaign, with the power of today’s consoles.

This November Call of Duty will take us back to its roots with the fittingly titled WWII. As much as I love a good Sci-Fi shooter (I’m downloading the Prey demo a little early right now using an Australian account), the next Call of Duty is the most excited I’ve been about the series (and large the genre) in years.

Here’s the synopsis:

Featuring a global cast of characters across Europe, players will follow the gripping story of Ronald “Red” Daniels, a young United States Army private, as he and his squad, the legendary US 1st Infantry Division, trek through the harrowing European theater of war. Joining Allied forces from the U.K. and the French Resistance, across the beaches of Normandy, to the liberation of Paris and ultimately into Germany, the squad must fight alongside a global and diverse cast of characters to achieve victory. The story campaign delivers the gritty authenticity and cinematic intensity of WWII combat, honoring the unforgettable heroism of the Fighting First.

We can’t wait to get our boots on the ground and give WWII a shot at this year’s E3. For now, take a look at the in-game reveal trailer (over and over and over again), and let us know what you think!

‘What Remains Of Edith Finch’ Gets A Beautiful Launch Trailer

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Somehow this one completely slipped my radar until the glowing reviews began to hit the web this morning.

The game officially launches for PS4 and PC tomorrow, and is already being hailed as the next Gone Home (meaning that Shane O’Hare is definitely going to love it).

The game is a self proclaimed “collection of strange tales about a family in Washington state.”

Yeah, that doesn’t sound all that interesting, but the synopsis continues to reveal what sounds like an incredibly unique experience:

As Edith, you’ll explore the colossal Finch house, searching for stories as she explores her family history and tries to figure out why she’s the last one in her family left alive. Each story you find lets you experience the life of a new family member on the day of their death, with stories ranging from the distant past to the present day.

 

The gameplay and tone of the stories are as varied as the Finches themselves. The only constants are that each is played from a first-person perspective and that each story ends with that family member’s death.

 

Ultimately, it’s a game about what it feels like to be humbled and astonished by the vast and unknowable world around us.

This is also a game by the team behind the wonderful and heart wrenching The Unfinished Swan, so you better believe I’ll be picking this one up when it releases tomorrow.

For now, you can watch the game’s beautiful launch trailer below, and be sure to let us know if you plan to pick this one up. Gah, Outlast 2 and this in one day, and Prey in barely a week? Talk about too many games, and too little time.

https://youtu.be/WtScfS0eVqM

This Final Trailer For ‘Outlast 2’ Is Creepy As Hell!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Oh man, it’s finally almost here!

I have such a love/hate relationship with horror games. Often the atmosphere of these titles is absolutely incomparable, and the last few years has seen a huge resurgence in quality horror titles. My only problem is, when they’re good, they tend to be terrifying, and I can only play in short chunks before I simply get too freaked out – meaning that it takes me forever to finish these games.

This was the case with Outlast. This is still the case with Resident Evil 7, and I’m sure that this will be the case with Outlast 2.

In the game, “as journalists, you and your wife have a reputation for taking risks and digging into the stories no one else dares to touch, but this time you may have gone too far. Your investigation of a seemingly impossible murder has lead you deep into the Arizona desert, and into a darkness so wicked that no light could ever shine upon it.

No conflict is ever black and white. But once the dust has settled, the victors get to decide who was right and who was wrong. Who is good and who is evil. Human nature pushes us to extremes of violence and depravity, which we then justify by divine inspiration and a promise of paradise to come. Horror rises from desperation and blind faith. Outlast 2 will test your faith, pushing players to a place where going mad is the only sane thing to do.”

The game launches for PS4, Xbox One, and PC tomorrow, and for PS4 and Xbox One gamers, there’s even a $40 limited physical release that includes Outlast, Outlast: Whistleblower, and Outlast 2.

For now, take a look at this super creepy final trailer, and let us know if you’re looking forward to the game!

‘Halo Wars: Definitive Edition’ Is Getting A Standalone Release Next Week!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: While it began as a sweet, sweet bonus for fans who purchased the Ultimate Edition of Halo Wars 2, as expected, it won’t be long now before the enhanced edition of the Xbox 360 classic becomes available to anyone with an Xbox One or Windows computer.

Brian Jarrard, Community Manager at 343 Industries revealed today via Xbox Wire that the title will become available on April 20 for Xbox, Windows 10 PC and Steam, reminding us that this version runs natively on Xbox One and Windows, featuring improved graphics, additional Achievements and includes all of the DLC created for the classic real-time strategy game.

As someone who has never played Halo Wars in any capacity at this point, for the cool $19.99 asking price of this Definitive Edition, I certainly can’t wait to give it a shot. The game is also a Play Anywhere title, meaning that a digital purchase of the game on either platform will provide the other version at no additional cost.

You can watch the Halo Wars: Definitive Edition trailer below, and let us know if you plan to play!

Watch The Launch Trailer For Telltale’s ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It feels like it’s been forever since this thing was announced, and we’re finally just hours away from the first episode of Telltale’s sure-to-be-hilarious Guardians of the Galaxy adventure series.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series is a brand new story of the universe’s unlikeliest Super Heroes: Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot. In the wake of an epic battle, the Guardians discover an artifact of unspeakable power. Each of them has a reason to desire this relic, as does a ruthless enemy who is the last of her kind, and who will stop at nothing to tear it from their hands.

From Earth to the Milano to Knowhere and beyond, and set to the beat of awesome music, you wear the rocket-powered boots of Star-Lord in an original Guardians adventure, where your decisions and actions drive the story you experience.

The game looks to retain the same addictive humour as the film did, and should surely drive a ton of excitement for next month’s Vol. 2.

The first episode launches tomorrow on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Windows/MacOS, iOS, and Android! For now, watch the game’s launch trailer below, and let us know if you’re excited!

Looking For Themed Snacks For This Weekend’s Wrestlemania? Look No Further!

by Derek Kraneveldt

I am really excited for this year’s Wrestlemania.

Yeah, I had an absolute blast watching last year’s Wrestlemania 32 with some close pals (and enjoying the rest of the content that the weekend had to offer as well), but I really, really had no idea just how big of a deal it was.

It still floors me when I see the size of last year’s Wrestlemania crowd, and watching the WWE24 special about the spectacle really drives home the fact that the company and the WWE Universe completely take over the week for the entire city that the event is in, and the entire weekend for everyone else.

So this year, I decided to make a bigger deal out of it. I took a paid day off from work (it’s basically a holiday), I forced my fiancé to take one too, and we’re still having people over – this time however, we’re making a day of it and are having a ton of WWE themed snacks (and by themed I mean we’re just having regular snacks but we’re changing the names to loosely fit WWE superstars and special moves ).

Need some sweet, sweet snacks for your Wrestlemania party? Here’s what we have planned (with descriptions of each down below). Feel free to print these out (in full size here: Batch1, Batch2, Batch3, Batch4), label your snacks, and we hope that you have your own ULTIMATE THRILL RIDE TM this Sunday!

Sadly, I didn’t think of Cesaro Salad until I had already printed these out.

Here’s how the snacks break down:

Pop-Up Powerade – This is just Powerade… but with a new label.
Zigglers – Twizzlers… but with a new label.
End of Lays – Bags of Lays chips… with a new label (get the pattern here)?
Calf Crushers – I just bought a BBQ, so this is definitely just burgers.

DD-Peas – Snap Peas (mmmm).
Superman Punch – Fruit punch but way stronger. Believe that.
Booker Tea – Probably just iced tea.
Broccoli Lesnar – It’s Broccoli (and it’ll probably be dipped in Ranch otherwise it’ll be too dry).

Helluva Dip
 – This is the dip that’s meant to make the End of Lays a little less boring.
Vince McMahonwich – Sloppy Joes (Manwich brand so that the name fits)
Samosa Joe – Can you guess this one?
Alberto Doritos – Back to the white labelled standard snacks.

Triple H20 – This is bottled water… or tap water (it depends on how much I like you).
Coffee Kingston – Wrestlemania is long AF. You’re going to need this by the end of the night.
Beck’s Chex – Chex Mix, any variety (but probably the chocolate one because it tastes the best).
Rusev Crush – Another white labelled beverage, I’m probably going with Orange.

That’s what I’ve got (and I didn’t even look online for help). What kind of snacks will you be serving this weekend? Sound out below!

The images were taken right from the official WWE page, while the text template can be found here!

The Latest ‘Wonder Woman’ Trailer Is All About Dianna’s Origin!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Damn this movie looks awesome.

Warner Bros. has debuted a brand new, chock-full of new footage trailer for this June’s Wonder Woman, and it’s all about Dianna’s origins.

The trailer takes us through Dianna’s childhood on Themyscira, her meeting of Chris Pine’s character, some of their early adventures, a few action set pieces, and even some comedy. It’s a great new look at the DCCU’s most anticipated film yet, and it certainly excites me further for the fantastic looking film.

Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.

Obsessed With ‘Breath Of The Wild’? Nintendo To Debut A Making Of Series Tomorrow!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: If you’re like pretty much everyone else on the planet, you can’t freaking get enough of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

I’ve barely scratched the surface of the game itself, and I’ve already been ignoring some of my other duties (including sleep) just so that I can clear one. more. shrine. It’s about to re-ignite my dormant Amiibo obsession, and my other Nintendo Switch games have been all but ignored up to this point.

Nintendo has taken to twitter this morning to reveal a three-part making of series that’s set to debut tomorrow morning at 6AM Pacific time. The teaser posted today features some of the game’s breathtaking soundtrack, showcases some slick concept art, and more.

We’ll be watching, will you? How have you been enjoying the Switch and Breath of the Wild so far?

If you’ve got a cool 90 minutes to kill, you can also take a look this beyond-interesting BotW panel from this year’s GDC:

The First Teaser Poster For ‘Game Of Thrones’ Seventh Season Is Here!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We still have no idea when we’ll be able to watch the damned thing, but along with the first images from Thor: Ragnarok, EW has also debuted the very first teaser poster for Game of Thrones‘ upcoming seventh season.

It pretty much just shows off the hashtag that you should use while talking about how it’s still not out yet on Twitter, but it also features a slick background of not just ice, but also fire.

Honestly, whenever I think of fire and ice together, I don’t think of Game of Thrones, but instead think about those terrible Fire and Ice condoms, which is a feeling that I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy. Ouch.

For now, you can take a look at the teaser image below, and be sure to let us know what you think we’ll be seeing whenever this thing comes out.

For reference:

‘The Division’s Year Two Content Is Coming… For Free!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: While I’ve only put a few hours into The Division at this point (after paying a cool $11 Canadian for it, which is like $0.50 in Freedom Dollars), I’ve been a big fan of what I experienced so far.

Shane’s also a huge fan of the game, and while we unfortunately play it on different consoles, I know that he’s going to be a YUGE fan of the news that Ubisoft has just revealed.

This week marks The Division‘s one year anniversary, and Ubisoft has revealed some interesting facts about the game’s first year, like just how surprised they were “to see how attached people were to The Division, citing an average playtime of multiple hours per day,”  while also detailing some cool bonuses that players are in for this week.

You can get the gist of this week’s bonuses from the image below, but head just below that for the coolest reveal of all.

Creative Director at Massive Entertainment Julian Gerighty, went on to note that “The one-year anniversary is a celebration of everything we’ve done in the first year of the game’s release. But we also want to turn ahead and look at Year 2 and how we’re going to support the game for everyone, for free.”

Yep. New content over a year after the game’s release… for free.

Here are the content details that have been revealed thus far:

That free content for Year 2 is coming in the form of two separate expansions planned for release this year. The first unnamed expansion will be based on an event system that drives players to activities that feature modifiers, leaderboards, and unique vanity items that will only be available through these activities. In addition, Gerighty says the team has plans to include a loadout feature that will let players switch efficiently and quickly between their favorite gear combinations, as well as a system to mark a player’s feats. “[It] will reward players for different activities – long-term activities, short-term activities, and medium-term activities within the game,” Gerighty adds. “Basically, our Division achievements, if you will.”

The second expansion is still far enough away that the team doesn’t want to comment on it, and while Gerighty stresses that it will be “more content-focused”, new story missions won’t necessarily be a part of the package. “Story missions are tricky, but that doesn’t mean we won’t have narrative content,” he says. “We can’t really deliver story missions that will fit into the RPG aspects of the game in a simple way. So we’re not going to be doing the classic main mission type of thing, but narrative content is something that we are definitely looking at.”

I guess I need to get through the game’s vanilla content and year one expansions pretty quickly here. That’s going to be tough with the new Switch currently sitting on my shelf.

You can take a look at Ubisoft’s entire blog post here, but be sure to share your favourite The Division moment below!

Are you still playing the game? Will this bring you back for another run?

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Gets Its First Official Photos!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Thor sure looks… different.

Ahead of the film’s release this November, EW has just let loose the very first batch of official images form the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok. Yeah, we knew that Hemsworth would be getting a new look, but it’s crazy how much a new ‘do can affect one’s image. I barely even recognize the Odinson here.

Hopefully we’ll see some actual footage sometime soon, but for now, take a look at the images below, and be sure to let us know which Marvel flick you’re most excited for this year (it’s Guardians, isn’t it)! Thor: Ragnarok hits theatres on November 3rd.

‘Stardew Valley’ Confirmed For Switch, Multiplayer Mode Incoming!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Yes!

Stardew Valley is a game that has taken my television by storm. I picked up the game as a Christmas gift for my fiancé, and while I’ve played the fantastic title for a few hours myself, my non-gamer fiancé has just cleared 60 hours played (and in fact, is playing as I write this).

She’s completed hooked, and while developer ConcernedApe noted late last year that he was looking into a Nintendo Switch version of the game, that version became official during today’s Nindies presentation (which also brought some much appreciated news from Team17, among others).

Now, while a Nintendo Switch version of the game is a little terrifying (if she can bring the game to bed and the bathroom, I’ll never get to see her or the Switch), Nintendo also revealed that the Wii U version will be the first console to feature the game’s long wished for, often ‘maybe’d multiplayer mode.

To be able to play Stardew Valley at the same time, on the same console, with the same farm? Damn. The game was already on my best-of list for 2016… could it make my 2017 list too?

Watch The Bad-Ass, Hilarious New Trailer For ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Up to this point, I wasn’t fully convinced that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 would be able to live up to the hilarity and unexpected charm of the phenomenal first film.

Then this new full trailer debuted on tonight’s Jimmy Kimmel live, and any fears I had about the film were put to rest. This is the same gang, with the same incredible chemistry, the same dumb one-liners, and an even more adorable Groot.

Seriously, this trailer had me laughing more than most dedicated comedies. I can’t wait to get in line for this one.

You can take a look at the incredible trailer below, and be sure to let us know what you think. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theatres on May 5th.

The First Teaser For Bong Joon Ho’s ‘Okja’ Is Here!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I’m beyond excited for this one.

Not because I was a big fan of Snowpiercer (that would be our old pal Eric Francisco, who is bound to have multiple Snowpiercer tattoos at this point), but because I had the pleasure of being a part of the film’s month-long Vancouver shoot. The care, intensity, and passion that every one of Okja‘s crew members (and getting to speak regularly with the film’s impressive visual effects team) has firmly planted Okja on my ‘must see the moment it becomes available’ list.

Finally, Netflix has revealed the very first teaser for the film, which doesn’t showcase just what Okja is, but definitely leaves you wanting much, much more. The company also revealed that the film will launch on June 28th.

This grand global adventure follows a friendship too big to ignore. Meet Mija, a young girl who risks everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend – a massive animal named Okja. Following her across continents, the coming-of-age comedy drama sees Mija’s horizons expand in a way one never would want for one’s children, coming up against the harsh realities of genetically modified food experimentation, globalization, eco-terrorism, and humanity’s obsession with image, brand and self-promotion.

Here’s The First Teaser Poster For Netflix’s Upcoming ‘Castlevania’ Series!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We’ve only known that the series is officially in the works for a couple of weeks at this point, but Netflix has just released the very first teaser poster for its upcoming Castlevania series.

Inspired by the classic video game series, “Castlevania” is a dark medieval fantasy following the last surviving member of the disgraced Belmont clan, trying to save Eastern Europe from extinction at the hand of Vlad Dracula Tepe himself. The animated series is from Frederator Studios, a Wow! Unlimited Media company, written by best-selling author and comic book icon Warren Ellis and executive produced by Warren Ellis, Kevin Kolde, Fred Seibert, and Adi Shankar.

Shankar took to Facebook late last night to reveal the image and to reiterate that the series will launch later this year.

It’s been some time since I’ve really played a Castlevania title, but as a huge fan of the series growing up, with the incredible team behind the project, this is going to be bad ass.

Take a look at the image below, and let us know if you’re excited!

https://www.facebook.com/theadishankarbrand/photos/a.1595984600635168.1073741829.1425430891023874/1882190505347908/?type=3&theater

Geekscape Mobile: Watch The First Trailer For ‘Alto’s Odyssey’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I can’t wait for this.

I’m having an absolute blast with a myriad of recent mobile titles. Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes, WWE Champions, Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Links, and more have slowly drained my wallet while offering hours upon hours of small screen fun.

With all of the new, flashy titles that are constantly releasing, there’s a beautiful little Journey-esque title that I can’t stop myself from coming back to – Alto’s Adventure.

Alto’s Adventure is a super chill, super fun endless snowboard ride. The game took the mobile world by storm back in 2015, and back in December its developer noted that a sequel was now in development.

Today, developer Built By Snowman released the first teaser trailer for the game, noting a Summer 2017 release, and showing off some absolutely beautiful, still Journey-esque effects.

If you’ve missed out on the first game, I implore you to give it a shot (and apologize that you’ll be saying “Just one more run,” for the rest of the day.

Take a look at the trailer for Alto’s Odyssey below, and be sure to let us know if you’re looking forward to the title.

Microsoft Announces Its E3 Press Conference, Now On Sunday!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: E3 is still nearly four months away, but the house of Xbox wants us all to mark our calendars now.

There’s probably a couple of reasons for this. The post notes that the conference will take place on a different day of the week – Sunday June 11 instead of last year’s Monday, but more importantly than that, we’re expecting some major Project Scorpio news during the presentation.

Will we get a launch date? Price? Just what sort of performance improvements can we expect with this thing? It’s too early to tell, but this is one conversation that I’ll be watching closely.

Are you looking forward to E3 this year? Which presentation are you most looking forward to?

Geekscape Mobile: 80+ New Pokémon, Plenty Of New Features Hitting ‘Pokémon GO’ This Week!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Following the appearances of the first few Gen 2 Pokémon in the game’s December update, Niantic has just revealed a myriad of incoming Pokémon GO content.

First up, the ‘mons. Niantic has revealed that (finally) we’re set to see more than 80 new Pokémon in the world, beginning later this week. All of these monsters were originally discovered in the Johto region in the Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver video games, and include fan favourites Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, and many, many more.

I’m playing the game a lot more casually at this point, and therefore I’m still at the point where I haven’t found a Gen 2 egg. Now I’m beyond excited to jump in later this week in order to begin expanding my collection.

Here’s what else is in the update, straight from Niantic:

New Evolutions: There are now more opportunities to evolve your Pokémon in Pokémon GO than ever before. Some Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region will soon be able to evolve—into Pokémon that inhabit the Johto region! Be on the lookout for new Evolution items at PokéStops, which you’ll need to evolve some Pokémon.

New Encounter Gameplay: When you encounter Pokémon in the wild, don’t be surprised if they react in new ways as you’re trying to catch them. You’ll also notice the addition of new item carousels that allow you to select Berries and Poké Balls directly from the encounter screen. Hone your skills and catch those elusive Pokémon!

New Berries: Pokémon enjoy eating Berries, and you’ll have the opportunity to get two new Berries by spinning the Photo Disc at PokéStops—Nanab Berries and Pinap Berries! Giving a Pokémon a Nanab Berry will slow its movements, making it easier to catch. The Pinap Berry doubles the amount of Candy you’ll receive if your next catch attempt succeeds.

New Avatars and an Expanded Wardrobe: Now you’ll be able to give your avatar a complete upgrade! Customize your look with a whole new selection of hats, shirts, pants, and other items.

The selecting of berries and Poké Balls from the encounter screen should save a lot of time. Overall, this sounds like potentially the biggest update that Pokémon GO has seen since its release last Summer.

Are you still playing? Is this update enough to make you open the game up again? Sound out below!

‘South Park: The Fractured But Whole’ Gets Another Major Delay!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: So close, yet so far…

Ubisoft let us know back in September that South Park: The Fractured But Whole would not be making its original December release date, and would instead be launching sometime in Q1 of 2017.

The publisher took a moment during today’s earnings call to let us know that, once again the game won’t be making its planned release date. Last time around, they noted that “The development team wants to make sure the game experience meets the high expectations of fans and the additional time will help them achieve this goal,” while this time, Ubisoft simply let us know that the game will now release in the company’s next fiscal year. This means that we’ll see the title sometime between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018.

Josh was pretty excited about the title after its E3 showcase last year – the game even made his most anticipated games of 2017 list. After spending some time with The Stick of Truth late last year myself, I can see why fans may be disappointed, the game looks fantastic, hilarious, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

What are you going to play instead? Sound out below!