Bravely Second: End Layer is right around the corner, and what that means for 3DS owners and RPG fans alike is that we’ll surely be sinking dozens of hours into Square Enix’s next big adventure. What made the original game stand out so much was its unique spin on the old school turn based JRPG, combining familiar elements like the Job System with the Brave and Default systems, which let you use turns in advance or store them for future use. While we anxiously anticipate what the future holds for the sequel, we held ourselves over with The Ballad of the Three Cavaliers, the demo / prologue for the upcoming sequel. Here’s what works, (and what doesn’t,) based on the preview build of the game.

Starting off as the three cavaliers led by Yew, (get it!?), their town guide, Magnolia, eventually rounds out the party to make it four. Instructed by the Wind Vestal, Agnes, from the original game, the team is sent out to accomplish various tasks as they travel through the game world, all while introducing you to these characters in a way the main game won’t feature. What surprised us was the appearance of some of the prominent enemies from the first game, each of which unlocks more asterisks, which in turn grant access to more jobs. Featuring a decent variety to get a taste of what the main game will offer, the party can be customized to become sword masters, performers, valkyries, black mages, white mages and red mages to name a few of the jobs offered. Fighting monsters will both level up the characters and the jobs, granting access to a wider array of abilities.

Everything so far sounds pretty routine, (if not ambitious for a demo,) but combat is where the game becomes anything but. As mentioned, the Brave and Default systems were a big draw previously, and that aspect continues in the demo for Bravely Second. By defending, each party member will store that turn for future use, allowing you to use up to four turns at once to unleash a flurry of attacks. Doing so without enough turns to spare can lead to a quick victory, but if that turn doesn’t end with your victory, you’ll be stuck for up to four turns without any actions. It’s a high risk / high reward style that made the original so appealing.

As if to sweeten the pot even further, the sequel has added a type of gambling system into its battle system. If you can win in one round of turns, you’ll be given the option to start another fight with the promise of extra EXP, JP, (for job leveling,) and Gil. Of course, your status, including your turn count, will be the same as it was at the end of that battle, so eventually, you’ll find yourself at a turn deficit and become stuck without being able to move. While this can lead to disastrous results, it can also mean the difference between leveling up rapidly vs. fighting a serious of mundane one off battles for the sake of grinding. Not only does this add an extra layer of risk to consider heading into battles, but it rewards efficient players with a faster way to get stronger.

You’ll find these multipliers to be a godsend when you realize how much levels will skew battle into the enemy’s favor, which was my only real complaint. Playing on normal difficulty, walking into new dungeons where my equipment was up to par and my level was within the recommended range often led to me getting killed in a few turns regardless. These dungeons and bosses would eventually be conquered after many cure spells, potions, and trips to the Inn, but unless I’m playing on hard, my expectation when properly leveled would be to be able to at least get through most of the dungeon without getting completely decimated within a few fights. That’s traditional JRPG difficulty for you!

Regardless, I’m loving what I’ve played so far, and can’t wait to get the full version in my 3DS when it releases on April 15th. What are your impressions with Bravely Second so far? Sound off below!

Geekscape Games Reviews ‘Ratchet & Clank’

by Josh JacksonApril 13, 2016

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 14 years since the first Ratchet & Clank game released on the PS2. What was even harder to believe at the time was what a legendary series it would become. In what was a golden age for its genre, Ratchet has endured long after mascots like Jak and Daxter and Sly Cooper bowed out of the spotlight, (although the latter has attempted a comeback in recent years.) After over a dozen sequels and spinoffs across four different platforms, Sony and developer Insomniac have decided that it was time to revisit the duo’s roots. In conjunction with the upcoming film based on the franchise, Ratchet & Clank comes to the PS4 as a complete reboot of the original title, making some modern adjustments to go with its new take on the story. While a reboot felt unnecessary to me at first, the series’ PS4 debut serves as more than a simple do over. What we get is a love letter to the fans who have stuck through this decades plus journey while reintroducing the Lombax and his robot pal to new eyes, creating what ends up being one of the best 3D platformers in years.

Can a simple mechanic save the galaxy?

Told through Captain Quark’s perspective in a scenario that’s different from the film, the square jawed hero takes us back to the days before the titular duo were an inseparable pair. Ratchet is a simple mechanic with big dreams of joining the Galactic Rangers, a team of interstellar heroes who protect the galaxy from any threat that may rise. When tryouts come to Ratchet’s home planet, he takes the chance to become something greater, (or at least to try and impress Quark, his hero and leader of the team.) Meanwhile, a defective Warbot who would go on to be known as Clank overhears his creators discuss their intentions to invade the Rangers’ home planet and take them out so their plan to destroy planets will go unchecked. Since the tiny robot failed to inherit the malicious intent of his brethren, (as well as their height,) he escapes the factory in an attempt to warn the Rangers of what was coming to them. After crash landing on Ratchet’s planet, the pair team up to save the galaxy from some of the most nefarious criminals in the system, all while impressing the Rangers in the process.

As great as the original Ratchet & Clank was, its control scheme has not aged well, leading future games to adopt a more traditional third person shooter method that revolves around strafing. No remake worth its bolts would keep these flaws unchecked, which is why the first thing you’ll notice with this latest game is how easy it is to move around. As a platformer/shooter hybrid, attacking waves of enemies and swapping weapons with a tap of the control pad while jumping out of the way of danger is as seamless as its ever been. As more weapons are unlocked, your quick select options can be customized so you can have easy access to any four weapons at any given time. When ammo is running low however, a solid swing from Ratchet’s trademark Omniwrench still does the trick. One of the most rewarding aspects of Ratchet & Clank is how accustomed you’ll become with each type of weapon and movement, especially as more options become available to you.

Speaking of options, the series has become synonymous with its over the top weapons over the years, and this reboot is no exception. Acting as a “best of” list for longtime fans, the weapons available span the entire series, with a few new weapons to boot. Staples of the PS3 games such as the pistol-like Combuster, the Groovitron, a disco ball that forces enemies near it to dance uncontrollably, and the trash talking battle companion, Mr. Zurkon, join PS2 classics like the Glove of Doom, a bomb that summons self destructing robots, and the Sheepinator, a beam that turns any enemy it hits into a sheep. New weapons like the Pixelator, a shotgun-esque weapon that gives enemies an 8-bit makeover, round out one of the most exciting weapons lineups in the series to date. Encouraging players to switch up which weapons they use, the level up system from past games returns, making it so each weapon gets stronger as you destroy more enemies with them. In addition, extra boosts can be purchased with Raritanium, where you’ll pay to fill in a board where each space adds a perk, such as extra damage or ammo. When these perks surround a hidden boost, buying all the ones around it will unlock extra surprises, making them even stronger. The would-be rangers are further complimented by gadgets such as the jet pack from Into The Nexus, and the 02 mask from the original, so you can explore both the air and sea, so there’s never a shortage on new tools to try out.

You’ll have to get creative with your gear to take out the worst of Drek’s army.

Thankfully, there is plenty to explore with all your tools. More so than any other game in the series thus far, Insomniac makes the most out of the series’ PS4 debut with some of the richest environments in the series to date, each one littered with enemies and hidden areas with only occasional slowdown. Featuring a mixture of the original planets from the series’ PS2 debut to brand new areas original to the film and game, even repeated areas are either partially, or fully rebuilt. Each planet is so different from the last, that they’re always a joy to visit, which is emphasized by the game’s gorgeous visuals. Flying up as high as I could and surveying the landscape was one of my favorite things to do on the planets that allowed it, really giving you a sense of how big the game really is. When taking the character models, which rival their CG film counterparts on occasion, and you have what’s easily one of the best looking games on the PS4.

One feat that I found particularly admirable was how the game’s script made it look easy to mix in the right amount of nostalgia with new content, making it feel familiar without ever feeling like a retread. The top notch voice acting and witty script continues to impress after all these years, with Quark’s charming stupidity once again taking center stage. New characters bring in some Hollywood talent to join James Arnold Taylor’s Ratchet and David Kaye’s Clank, including Bella Thorn, John Goodman, Rosario Dawson and Sylvester Stallone. In fact, franchise purists can rest assured that aside from the game’s main bad guy, Chairman Drek, who is now voiced by Paul Giamatti, all the returning characters have kept their actors in both the games and films, while the new voices fit right in with the characters we’ve come to love.

Ratchet rarely takes itself seriously, and it’s better off for it.

If the story content isn’t enough of a callback for you, (on top of the handful of Resistance references for the hardcore Insomniac fan,) unlockable trading cards can be found throughout the game, each of which contain details on both this, and past games. Collecting all the cards in a series provides extra boosts like bolt, card and Raritanium increases, as well as access to stronger versions of your weapons, so even if a walk down memory lane isn’t your thing, at least there’s that extra incentive to find them. To make finding them easier, five duplicates can be traded for the card of your choice, so you’ll want to remain on the lookout for as long as possible.

It’s easy to see that the developers know that there’s plenty we’ve come to love with this series, much of which returns to tickle our nostalgia. Certain scenes, characters and interactions will remind you of some of the charm of 2002 while making you forget that you’ve visited these worlds years before until these callbacks pop up. And yet, for every reminder of the originals, like the plumber you meet in your first full world or the hoverboard races which are even more thrilling now as they were back then, you’ll come across new battles like dog fights in space and a city defense mission where you’ll use magnets to hurl enemy robots back at their ships. It’s moments like these that really make it feel like the series has been fully realized for the current generation.

Fights can get pretty intense.

Still, it can’t be all action all the time, which is where Clank’s solo missions take center stage. These puzzle inspired areas ask players to transform helpful robots in the area either into generators, bridges or springs in order to power nearby doors and open the exits. Simple on the surface, yet more complex as the game progresses, these distractions are challenging enough without becoming overbearing, only popping up a few times throughout the game’s story. That’s not to say Clank can’t handle himself in a fight, since some of the most visually impressive moments in an already gorgeous game come from when he must outwit the Warbot commander, Stallone’s Victor Von Ion. These short, but sweet sequences have Clank running towards the camera as Ion slices apart the corridors they’re running through in order to destroy the defect with his beam blade. Everything from the sparks, laser effects and fire looks so good while being fun to play, that you’ll be disappointed that these sequences aren’t featured more often.

Thankfully, disappointments are few and far between with this reboot, although one aspect that might come off as divisive is the changes to the story. Surprisingly acting as an origin story for more than just Ratchet and Clank, the big twist at the end is twofold this time around, introducing characters that originally debuted later in the series’ timeline. Unfortunately, that comes with concessions to what would become my favorite character arc throughout the games, fundamentally changing what would go on to happen in the sequels. That puts the game in a strange position because if this reboot is a one and done game to coincide with the movie’s release, then the story works better to a degree, setting up story elements for the future of the franchise. If it isn’t a one off and the whole series will begin branching out again from here, I don’t see it playing out on the track its on without completely invalidating the second game and part of the third. Considering how much I enjoyed this take on the series, knowing that the changes to the story closes off some of the best parts of potential future installments isn’t ideal, although this is more of a nitpick than a damning flaw. Still, I enjoyed the way the twist was handled in the original more so than in the reboot. You know, minus the whole Ratchet being a jerk to Clank part, which was thankfully omitted.

Outside of these story nitpicks, the only real flaws I encountered were technical issues such as “falling” off of a cliff when stuck between boxes, landing on certain mountains that were programmed like lava, and some poorly placed checkpoints that will force you to replay large fights, all because you missed that one guy stuck in the corner at the end of the third wave. While length might be an issue for anyone who is looking to only complete the story, I got a good 12-ish hours out of it on a hard mode run where I found half of the 28 Golden Bolts and leveled up all the weapons, which is pretty good for a platformer. When you consider I still had numerous collectables to find and side missions to complete, a 100% run was still hours away. For those who want the full experience however, a type of new game plus called “Challenge Mode” asks players to run through the game again while getting hit as little as possible. The more enemies you kill without taking damage, the higher your bolt multiplier, which you’ll need to take full advantage of if you want to buy the Omega versions of your weapons, which can be upgraded even further for maximum destruction. While playing the same game multiple times isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, Insomniac provided plenty of content for those who enjoy exploring every nook and cranny of the game’s world. As mentioned earlier, there’s plenty to explore.

Just so we’re clear, this game is gorgeous.

Ratchet and Clank has been advertised as “the game, based on the movie, based on the game!”, but it’s so much more than that. On one hand, it might be the best “game adaptation” of a film to date, although that might not be fair to compare since it has almost 15 years of games worth of experience to build on. But what is fair to say, is that this release is not only one of the highlights of a growing PS4 library, but possibly the best game in Insomniac’s long history with the franchise. This game could have been a quick nostalgia trip that capitalized on the movie. What it ended up being was a nod to new and old fans alike as a shining example of what a reboot should be. I might be slightly nervous on the narrative direction the game is headed in, the formula is admittedly feeling a little samey despite its many upgrades, and small technical glitches hurt a near perfect package, but fans of platformers, fans of shooters, fans of the series… heck, fans of gaming can’t go wrong with picking up Ratchet and Clank, and have a chance to rescue the galaxy all over again.

tl;dr

+ Ratchet and Clank are back with plenty of new content to go with a dash of nostalgia.

+ The platforming is as fluid as ever, with both new and old weapons to keep combat interesting.

+ Plenty of worlds to explore, each with huge areas, waves of enemies and secrets to uncover.

+ Side missions like Clank’s puzzle stages and dog fights keep the game feeling fresh.

+ A new game plus mode that will more than double the standard length.

– Some story changes make us nervous for the future.

– Small technical issues pop up from time to time.

– Though offset by the Challenge Mode, those looking for a one and done game will be done with the story in a weekend.

– While great, the formula is feeling a little familiar.

Final Score: 4.5/5

Geekscape Games: 6 Ways Nintendo Can Improve ‘Miitomo’

by The_aczApril 8, 2016

Miitomo released about a month ago, and it’s become a huge success. Reaching over a million downloads in just 3 days during their japan only launch, and then reaching 3 million downloads during its U.S Launch just goes to show how many people Nintendo’s little mobile game that could is reaching, but while all of us do enjoy it, there are things that could better or added to make the game even more fun. That’s what I’m here to ramble on about. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the top 6 things that Miitomo can do to improve itself!

#1: Ability to Like Comments

Now I know this one sounds weird, but hear me out. We all love striking up a conversation with friends and sharing photos, but there ends up being a time when a friend will post a reply or picture that you really enjoy, and would like to show others, and being able to like comments would help me keep track of some of those favorite comments. I know you can favorite entire conversations, but sometimes a full conversation can be a bit boring with only some specific parts that stand out.

#2: Expand on Contests

Since Miitomo launched in japan, we’ve seen the introduction of Miifoto contests, a way for Japanese users to get really creative with their Miifotos. We have yet for this to happen in America. Now I’m not just suggesting that they add photo contest, but instead expand on it. How about being able to win a 5 game tickets for 3^rd place, 5 game tickets and 1,000 coins for 2^nd, and 10 game tickets and 3,000 coins for 1^st. You could also throw in special promotional stamps to encourage people to at least enter. Not only would this motivate people to start experimenting even more with Miifoto. Having that much money would allow you to buy some excess clothes for the month as well as well as the #3 item on this list.

#3: Decorating Your Mii’s House

Oh yeah. I bet you could see this one coming from a mile away. Since this game is so similar to the 2014 3DS game Tomodachi Life, many people (including myself) have been asking Nintendo to add the option to be able to buy new themes and decorations for your room. When you first start up the game, you’re given a randomly selected room, but the problem with this is that unlike a lot of other things in the game, this feels the least personal. This is a big problem since everything else is so customizable. So why not personalize one of the most personal things? Open up a furniture shop where you can buy misc. stuff like beanbag chairs, TV’s, Nintendo related items, wallpaper, etc. The possibilities are endless!

#4 & 5: The Compatibility Tester & Rankings Come Back

Yet another feature that can return from Tomodachi Life is the ability to use a compatibility tester to measure the love between 2 Miis of your choice and a rankings chart to see where you measure up with your friends. I know it seems a bit strange and maybe a bit unnecessary to add these, but a little always goes a long way. Just the thought of having a rankings chart for how many times you’ve changed costume or perhaps most candies used would be a small, but fun feature to see. Even most questions answered would be cool to see. Say, that reminds me.

#6: More Questions

The 6^th and final wish is a simple one. There’s no doubt about it that asking you and your friends questions is the main meat of Miitomo, but if you’re addicted to it just as much as all of us here at Geekscape are, chances are that you’ve already burnt through a lot of the questions and are starting to see repeats by your friends. There were times when no joke, my Mii asked us the same question about what I had just done twice in a row. I’d love to see Nintendo add more seasonal questions. Questions like: “What is your favorite Summer blockbuster this year” for summer, or even: “What’s your favorite part of Thanksgiving?” during Fall.

There’s still tons of untapped potential for this game, and I’m sure everyone wants to see it succeed and go on to live a healthy mobile life where it’s still relevant and fun to play by next year. If Nintendo really listens to fan feedback and implement new features such as these down the line, I have no doubt that the game can remain just as fun and relevant in the future as it is now. What features do you think they should add? Comment below, and have a great day!

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 70 – ‘Is Somebody In Latex?’

by GeekscapeStaffApril 8, 2016

Join Carlos, Kenny, Lee and Shane as they discuss the last week in video games!

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

Subscribe with another program!

This Week:

We’ve got new hosts!

Square will be making more Final Fantasy XV collectors editions.

Final Fantasy XV demo opinions.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake episodes will contain at least 40 hours of gameplay.

Playstation 4 3.5 operating system launches.

Playstation 4 remote play comes to PC and OSX.

Activision has layoffs at Guitar Hero Live studio.

First gameplay footage of Castlevania spiritual successor, Bloodstaine, is released.

Fallout 4 Wasteland DLC releasing.

Fallout 4 Automotron DLC.

Miitomo.

Hyper Light Drifter.

Adr1ft.

Tribes: Ascend.

Age of Empires II.

CS:GO.

Dark Souls III.

Fractured Space.

Mission Objective:

What is the most expensive game, or the game you regret the most, selling/losing/throwing away?

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

Subscribe with another program!

Subscribe to our Twitch Channel!

Get Psyched For ‘Hyper Light Drifter’ With We Love Fine’s Latest Plush

by Natalie KipperApril 6, 2016

Hyper Light Drifter looks to be the next big indie game and We Love Fine has just the thing to celebrate the title’s upcoming release. The online store recently put up pre-order listing for a plush of the Drifter. To celebrate the support for the game’s Kickstarter campaign, the toy will be 15 percent off of the $28 price tag (equating to $23.80) until April 14.

The Drifter’s character design made the transition to plush splendidly, don’t you think? It is made from combination of minky and fleece fabrics and comes armed with his energy sword, which can be affixed to the plush’s hand via velcro (unlike the Shovel Knight plushes‘ magnetic limbs and accessories).

The Drifter can also be set in all manner of poses with the help of its weighted bottom and feet. The toy is very photogenic, especially with its multiple layers of clothing.

If you plan on purchasing this plush, I would recommend doing so before the April 14 sale deadline. It will still be available to pre-order after that but you will end up paying more. We Love Fine’s Hyper Light Drifter plush is scheduled to ship on July 19.

Watch The First Trailer For ‘The Bunker’, A Horror FMV Game!

by Derek KraneveldtApril 4, 2016

Briefly: Last year I learned that a modern-day FMV title could actually be really, really good (thank you Her Story), and today I learned that a modern-day FMV title could also look absolutely terrifying.

Enter The Bunker. The game “tells the story of John, the last survivor living in a government bunker after a nuclear attack wiped out England. But the bunker holds many secrets, and John must confront his suppressed memories to survive the horrors deep underground…”

The game stars Adam Brown (The Hobbit trilogy) and Sarah Greene (Penny Dreadful, Assassin’s Creed 3), and it looks super freaking scary. Yep, the story sounds a bit cliché (or a lot), but the addition of the entire game being in FMV at least adds a new element to the tried and true plot.

Take a look at the first trailer for The Bunker below, and be sure to let us know what you think! The game is set to hit PC, consoles, and mobile later this year!

The ‘DOOM’ Live Action Trailer Is Cool As Hell

by Shane O'HareMarch 31, 2016

The fourth release in the Doom franchise is right around the corner, and the folks over at Id Software are really putting the hype train into full steam.

Their latest offering is this slick “live action” trailer. I say “live action” in quotes, because it’s really just an actor in power armor running around a green screen, BUT GOD DAMN if it doesn’t get me excited!

https://youtu.be/KSZ4tSoumNk

DOOM hits store shelves May 13th on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

Xbox Developers Are Now Allowed To Support Cross Platform Play! Xbox Meet PS4

by Shane O'HareMarch 14, 2016

The future of gaming is here. This is literally, a big fucking deal.

Announced today on the official Xbox Blog. Chris Charla, the director of Xbox’s GDC presence, announced a myriad of things you can expect to see at this years Game Developers Conference. Arguably, the most important one is the Cross Network Play.

Cross-Network Play
First, in addition to natively supporting cross-platform play between Xbox One and Windows 10 games that use Xbox Live, we’re enabling developers to support cross-network play as well. This means players on Xbox One and Windows 10 using Xbox Live will be able to play with players on different online multiplayer networks – including other console and PC networks.

Of course, it’s up to game developers to support this feature, and Xbox Live players will always have the option of choosing to play only with other Xbox Live players. We’re thrilled to confirm that Psyonix’s Rocket League will be one of the first games to take advantage of this new capability by enabling cross-network play between Xbox One and PC players, with an open invitation for other networks to participate as well.

This is EXTREMELY exciting news. The way Chris punctuated the statement is what everyone should be excited about. “…open invitiation for other networks to participate as well.” is a nice way of saying, “Hey Sony! Lets bury this shit and lets our gamer’s game!”. This isn’t the first time Microsoft has dabbled with cross platform play. If you remember way back in 2007, they attempted to bridge the Xbox 360 and PC market with their online shooter, Shadowrun. It failed miserably, mostly due to the fact that players on the PC had an inherent advantage over their controller wielding counter parts. Yes this go round their putting Windows 10 in the forefront, it’s the possibility that users on OTHER consoles can join in on the fun.

I hope that Sony will get on board with this, and developers will start patching their games! Getting the Xbox One and PS4 Destiny, The Division, Rocket League, etc. etc. together is going to be HUGE. HUGE!

Chris goes on to discuss their Indie Game support, as well as allowing their XNA framework an open source option for Xbox One.

Maya Fey Channels Our Inner Fanboy With Her Return In ‘Ace Attorney 6’

by Josh JacksonMarch 10, 2016

As the Ace Attorney series drifted back towards a focus on Phoenix in the fifth entry in the popular text adventure series, it was only a matter of time before his friends started filtering back in as well. This felt even more inevitable when it was confirmed that the upcoming sequel, Ace Attorney 6, would heavily focus on spirit channeling, allowing the Wright Anything Agency to relive the final moments of the victim’s lives. If you were expecting to see the return of the famed Fey family, then you were right! Phoenix’s old assistant from the original trilogy, Maya Fey, will make her comeback in the upcoming sequel.

Despite making recent appearances in a wide variety of spinoffs, including Professor Layton Vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, and most recently, Project X Zone 2, the ~~noodle~~ burger loving head of the Fey family hasn’t had an appearance in the main series since Trials and Tribulations back in 2007. With Phoenix firmly taking center stage in the fifth game, it was strange not to have an appearance from someone so close to him considering the violent events that took place throughout the story. Apparently this time around, the call of spirit channeling was too much for Ms. Fey to ignore, showing that her penchant for assisting Nick during trials, (and almost becoming a victim herself,) is still in effect.

That’s not to say Apollo and Athena will be ignored. On the contrary, the two proteges are left to defend the agency in Japan while Phoenix is dealing with his problems in Kurain Country. Does this mean that the two will finally get to stand on their own and outside of Phoenix’s shadow? As a big fan of Apollo and wanting to see his story that started in the fourth game resolved, I can’t object to that!

Check out the trailer below and see Ms. Fey in all of her non-aging glory. Wait… shouldn’t she be 27-ish in this game? Why does she still look like a teenager!? Ehm… anyway, let us know your thoughts, and be sure to check back with us as more information surfaces on a Western release date.

‘Fable Legends’ Cancelled As Lionhead Studios May Be Shut Down

by Josh JacksonMarch 10, 2016

After being in development for well over two years, Microsoft has decided to pull the plug on the free to play Fable Legends, with apparent plans to shut down Lionhead Studios altogether.

In a statement, Microsoft Europe General Manager Hanno Lemke discussed their plans going forward for the legendary studio once helmed by the controversial Peter Molyneux, as well as their planned closure of Press Play Studios, the folks behind the Wii, (and eventual multiplatform,) favorite, Max and the Magic Marker.

“After much consideration we have decided to cease development on Fable Legends, and are in discussions with employees about the proposed closure of Lionhead Studios in the UK,”… “Additionally, we will close Press Play Studios in Denmark, and sunset development on Project Knoxville.”

Lemke went on to say,

“We have nothing but heart-felt thanks for the members of Lionhead and Press Play for their contributions to Xbox and gaming. We are committed to working closely with those affected by today’s news to find them new opportunities at Xbox, or partnering with the broader development community to help place them in jobs elsewhere in the games industry should they desire.”

This news is very unfortunate, especially because both studios have had a hand in some incredible games over the years. Especially in Lionhead’s case, it’s hard to believe that the studio behind some of the biggest games of the Xbox and Xbox 360 generations would end up in this position. Yet, once you consider that Fable Legends was taking such a drastic turn compared to its predecessors, as well as the somewhat tarnished reputation earned by their former head’s habit of over promising while under delivering, the idea of the studio fading away isn’t completely unheard of. Still, Legends looked pretty much done a year and a half ago when we saw it at Comic Con, so there must have been some real trouble behind the scenes for it to get cancelled after so long.

Here’s to hoping for the best for anyone who’s affected by the news.

Source: IGN.com

Could ‘Finding Dory’, ‘Alice In Wonderland’ and more ‘Star Wars’ Be Coming To ‘Disney Infinity 3.0’?

by Josh JacksonMarch 10, 2016

During Disney’s first Disney Infinity NEXT presentation, the official news came to no surprise to most of us, since the new Marvel and Baloo figures were leaked last month. Despite the excitement of the reveal, (or disappointment over being spoiled,) the most newsworthy news was hinted at towards the closing moments of the video.

Alluding to us taking a trip to the sea and walking “through the looking glass,” this could only mean that Finding Dory and Alice in Wonderland will be making their Toys To Life debut sometime this year. Why Finding Dory and not The Little Mermaid, Atlantis, or any other Disney property that takes us underwater? Earlier in the presentation, it was confirmed that 2016 will get one Pixar, Disney, Marvel AND Star Wars expansion, hinting at the possibility that 3.0 will be further built on rather than releasing a 4.0. Since Alice is getting a movie later this year and was clearly teased, that leaves Finding Dory as our best bet.

But what’s even more exciting is the confirmation of more Star Wars content. While it likely will be based around this year’s Rogue One, I would love Rebels to get the full campaign treatment after releasing so many figures inspired by the animated series.

What do you want to see when it comes to the future of Disney Infinity? Sound off in the comments, and check out all the new figures in action for yourself in the presentation below!

Not Quite ‘Tekken’ And Not Quite ‘Pokemon’, ‘Pokken Tournament’ Is A Completely Different Monster

by Josh JacksonMarch 9, 2016

Gamers such as myself have been patiently waiting for the release of Pokken Tournament since it was first revealed in 2013. While Super Smash Bros. is great and all, the idea of a fighting game dedicated to Pokemon designed by the the team behind the Tekken series seemed like the greatest thing I never knew I wanted. Luckily for us, we didn’t have to wait until the March 11th release date to get our first taste of how our favorite monsters fare in the fighting arena, as we found ourselves at the Pokken Tournament preview event to give the game a spin. Whatever it was that I was expecting, that all went out the window when I picked up the Game Pad and played a couple of rounds, because it was unlike any fighter I’ve played to date.

More specifically, what makes Pokken Tournament so unique is its Shift Change mechanic. Fights start off in a 3D diagonal perspective reminiscent of the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games where each fighter will have full range of motion within the circular arena. That’s when some of your favorite Pokemon like Charizard, Lucario, Machamp and Pikachu among others will vie for positioning by confusing opponents with their projectile, homing and quick attacks. However, when specific hits are landed either as a one off or in a combo, the perspective shifts to a 2D plane, changing the way the fight is approached with the change in conditions. Of course, hitting certain attacks in 2D will shift the battle back to 3D, so if you or your character is better in 3D, you’ll want to switch back as fast as possible.

Making matters more interesting are the assist characters that can jump in during a match. By choosing a predetermined pair before the fight, each round asks players to choose which one of the two they want to bring out as their partner. Some like Emolga and Frogadier are straight attackers, while Pokemon like Eevee will give stat boosts for an extra advantage in battle. In Pokken Tournament, it’s not just enough to fight well, because synergy with your support character will be the difference between two evenly matched combatants.

Managing your supports, laying in your standard attacks, knowing when to unleash your Mega Evolution, (and the super move that comes with it), and utilizing guard breaking throws are just some of what you’ll find yourself mastering in the retail version of the game, and that’s on top of the many counter mechanics I’ve yet to fully explore! Feeling much deeper than what you would expect from a Pokemon spinoff while being friendly enough to pick up and play without much trouble, I expect that fans new and old will love their time in the arena when Pokken Tournament is in our hands. Look out for our full review in the coming days, but one thing’s for sure from our short time with the game; it’s nothing like you’ve played before.

Nintendo Direct: ‘Monster Hunter Generations’ Has Been Announced, And Is Right Around The Corner!

by Josh JacksonMarch 6, 2016

The latest Nintendo Direct had plenty of great first party news for Wii U and 3DS owners, but that didn’t mean third party announcements would get left in the dust. Perhaps the biggest announcement of the entire presentation, Capcom and Nintendo unveiled the latest Monster Hunter title, which will arrive on our 3DS handhelds a lot sooner that we thought.

Coming Summer 2016 and no longer titled Monster Hunter X, Monster Hunter Generations looks to bring even more mobility and attack options for our custom hunters to take advantage of when battling these towering beasts. Guns are seemingly getting a big overhaul, allowing gunners to leap above monsters and shoot them from the air, alongside some new air based sword attacks. My only concern is that MH4 was significantly easier thanks to its added attack options combined with many of the early monsters failing to adapt with the game play. If Generations’ early screens are anything to go by however, both new and returning monsters should be even more vicious, hopefully keeping up better with our new tricks.

Not to be outdone in the DLC department, Generations is already following up on MH4U’s massive amount of free costumes by revealing Marth’s gear from Fire Emblem being available for the title. You know why that’s awesome? Because the prince’s androgynous appearance would work for both men AND women!

Want more details on Monster Hunter Generations? Take a gander at our screenshot gallery below, and re-watch the trailer to your heart’s content.

What are you looking the most forward to as you embark on your next hunting quest? Sound off in the comments, and be sure to share your friend codes so we can give MH4U a proper send off!

The ‘Pokémon GO’ GDC Presentation Has Been Cancelled!

by Derek KraneveldtMarch 3, 2016

Briefly: Back in September of last year, Nintendo and Ingress developer Niantic announced an incredible-looking mobile title called Pokémon GO, and essentially the entire world flipped out at the endless possibilities that the game could bring to the cellular world.

At its reveal, Pokémon GO was marked for an early 2016 release. Early 2016 is disappearing, we haven’t heard anything from Niantic or Nintendo about the project, and now Niantic has cancelled the scheduled March 14th Pokémon GO GDC presentation.

The news has been spreading like wildfire, and has many fans around the world worried about the status of Pokémon GO. Niantic later gave a statement to Gamespot, noting that:

“We have decided to forego our GDC talk on Pokemon Go in order to focus on getting the product ready for beta test and launch. As much as we hate to disappoint those in the industry attending GDC, we feel our time and energy right now are best spent on making sure every aspect of the product is where we want it to be.”

We’re all beyond excited for the game, and we hope that Niantic takes all the time it needs to make Pokémon GO and incredible experience. At the same time, we’re a little worried that we’ve seen and heard nothing about the project since its announcement trailer all those months ago.

What do you think is going on with Pokémon GO? Are you looking forward to the title? Sound out below!

Nintendo Direct: SNES Games Hit 3DS Virtual Console TODAY!

by Shane O'HareMarch 3, 2016

Nintendo is bringing a huge update to the Virtual Console platform for 3DS. Gamers will be able to play classic SNES titles as soon as today!

You can get your hands on Pilotwings, Super Mario World and F-Zero today! More titles will be released later this month, and even more early April.

The SNES on 3DS will feature a “pixel perfect” mode, which guarantees that games will play/display in their original formats. Staying true to the retro titles we know and love.

Nintendo Direct: ‘Star Fox: Zero’ & ‘Star Fox: Guard’ Show Up April 22nd!

by Shane O'HareMarch 3, 2016

We have a nice little Nintendo Direct going on right now over on Nintendo’s Twitch channel, and they started out the bat with some great Star Fox: Zero news.

The game will feature the classic branching path structure from the N64 and SNES releases. Miyamoto put off great emphasis that paths will really alter how the levels will play out.

They also announced that the Fox Amiibo will unlock the classic, SNES Arwing skin. It looks really cool, and I got chills seeing that old bird flying.

If you were ever worried that this game was going to be thin, then you’re in for a surprise. Miyamoto announced an additional game that will ship with the retail versions of Star Fox: Zero, Star Fox: Guard.

You take up the role of Slippy, protecting his Uncle’s (Grippy) mining operations on alien planets.

It is a unique twist on the Tower Defense genre, and it felt a lot like Sanctum. You will command 12 video cameras, and have to switch between them in order to defeat enemies.

Both Star Fox: Zero & Guard hit stores April 22nd, and can be purchased separately digitally.

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 67 – ‘Where Are My Boobie Games?’

by GeekscapeStaffMarch 2, 2016

Join Juan and Shane as they discuss the last week in video games!

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

Subscribe with another program!

This Week:

Geekscape 400!

www.mabtw.com.

Uncharted 4 gets delayed, AGAIN!

Sony announces the Playstation glove.

Microsoft HoloLens dev kit announced at $3,000!

HoloLens tech demo, Young Conker, is terrifying.

Pokemon Sun & Moon EU trademarking leaks.

Pokemon Sun & Moon announced by Nintendo.

Celebi Free for Pokemon Omega Red and Alpha Sapphire users all of March.

Star Fox Zero delayed?

Nintendo NX may get launched this year.

Nintendo Direct on 3/3.

Fire Emblem: Fates.

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD.

Destiny.

Sega Saturn collecting.

Mission Objective:

Seems many voters aren’t satisfied with any of the candidates running for the Presidential nomination. Which videogame character(s) do you believe would be a great candidate to run for the presidency of the United States?

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

Subscribe with another program!

Subscribe to our Twitch Channel!

‘Uncharted 4’ Has Been… No Really… Delayed Again!

by Derek KraneveldtMarch 2, 2016

Briefly: Not again…

Based on last week’s gorgeous new trailer, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is coming together very nicely.

It’s just too bad that… yep, again, we’ll be waiting just a little longer to play it.

Uncharted 4 has been pushed once again, this time from its April 26th release date to May 10th.

Sony notes that this time around it has nothing to do with the game itself, but that “In an effort to meet the considerable worldwide demand, and to ensure that all gamers worldwide have the opportunity to play the game on day one, we have chosen to postpone the launch of the game by two weeks to allow for extra manufacturing time.”

They also say that they’re very sorry.

In any case, who’s excited to play Uncharted 4 one day?

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 66 – ‘It’s Anti-Bullying Day So Let’s Just Leave Shane Alone All Week!’

by GeekscapeStaffFebruary 29, 2016

Join Derek, Josh and Shane as they discuss the last week in video games!

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

Subscribe with another program!

This Week:

Fallout 4 survival mode leaked.

New Uncharted trailer uses Ubisoft assets.

Pokemon Day incoming, so is a Nintendo Direct.

20 Year old Mortal Kombat cheat code found.

DICE MGS5 award.

Postal Redux announced.

Fire Emblem Fates has a huge US launch.

Anti-Video Game politician arrested for gun smuggling.

Neptune.

Splatoon.

Gravity Rush.

Fire Emblem Fates.

The Walking Dead: Michonne.

The Division Beta.

Street Fighter V.

Mission Objective:

Do you ever spend money on Free to Play titles? Which ones? And why or why not?

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

Subscribe with another program!

Subscribe to our Twitch Channel!

Sony Files Patent For ‘Playstation Glove’ Controller

by Shane O'HareFebruary 28, 2016

This must be the week for patents and trademark leaks. First we got the Pokemon Logos from the EU patent office, now we got our hands on some interesting tech from Sony.

NeoGaf user Rosti has collected the, now public, patent and trademarking documents for an upcoming hardware peripheral. Check out the Playstation glove!

Bear in mind that this patent was originally filed way back in 2014, but now have just become public information.

The contents of the patent specifically include three items of note to gamers.

Thumb Controller

Glove Interface

Systems and methods for providing feedback to users while interacting with content.

The extent of the patent show the “glove” having multiple flexible sensors in it, and may provide force feed back. Take note that the glove may be able to read gestures, and take them in as commands.

Sony plans to have a VR event come March 15th, so expect to see something about the Playstation Glove there as well as confirmation of the Morpheus 2016 launch.

The Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow 3DS eShop Releases Will Support Pokemon Bank!

by Josh JacksonFebruary 26, 2016

During today’s Pokemon Nintendo Direct, the big news was the official confirmation of Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon, an announcement that would have surely had a bigger impact if it wasn’t leaked yesterday. While this is exciting news for sure, the shock of the announcement being eliminated if you were anywhere near an Internet connection, combined with a lack of footage or details outside of a 2016 release window, left me craving a groundbreaking surprise.

Well, we got one! In the closing moments, we were reminded of how we were never able to transfer our Game Boy and Game Boy Color monsters over to the Game Boy Advance, which would go on to be transferable all the way up to the 3DS. That changes with the release of tomorrow’s Red, Blue, and Yellow remakes, because the eShop titles will fully support Pokemon Bank, where your favorite nostalgia monsters can be stored, and eventually transferred into Sun and Moon when they are released.

One of the major questions floating around once the eShop ports were announced was whether or not those Pokemon would be able to be transferred to the new games. The silence regarding the matter made us think that these characters would be confined to their native generation once again, especially since the mechanics have drastically changed since 1996. Fortunately for us, this is clearly not the case.

But with this answer comes new questions. Only Sun and Moon were mentioned as compatible games, so does that mean we can’t move them into other Pokemon Bank compatible games like X, Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire? What’s going to happen if we transfer one of the glitched level 300 Pokemon? With unlimited EV points in Gen 1, how will that affect their use in future games? And will they be assigned natures once they make the move? We have no way of knowing for now, but if nothing else, here’s to hoping we’ll FINALLY get to play the Surfing Pikachu mini game in the West, and eventually transfer the freak of nature into our new games. Now I just need to figure out how to move that truck so I can finally get Mew…

All I know for sure is that $5 a year for Bank is more than worth it. What are you most excited about from this morning’s presentation? Are you hoping your MissingNo. will materialize in 3D? And are you dreaming of dominating the tournament scene with your overpowered pocketed monstrosities for Gen 1? Share your thoughts in the comments, and continue to check back with us for more Pokemon news as we approach its 20 year anniversary!

‘Pokemon Sun’ & ‘Pokemon Moon’ Trademarks; Logos Appear Online

by Shane O'HareFebruary 25, 2016

We’re less than 24 hours away from a special, Pokemon Themed Nintendo Direct, and we just got our first glimpse of what we can expect tomorrow!

Nintendo, as of this morning, have filed for trademarks for two new Pokemon related items. Take a look at the OHIM entries below!

OHIM (Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market) is the European trademark association, so these are for EU specifically. Both entries have the same “Nice Classifications” of 9, 16, 28, and 41. These are Scientific, Paper, Games, and Entertainment respectively. For Nintendo to trademark these two items, with logos in these categories we can safely assume that these are the newest Pokemon games to be announced!

Be sure to check out the Nintendo Twitch Channel tomorrow morning at 7 AM PST to see the full release!

The Latest Trailer For ‘Uncharted 4’ Is Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking!

by Derek KraneveldtFebruary 24, 2016

Briefly: Just two. more. months.

Naughty Dog has just debuted a brand-new story trailer for April’s Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.

It’s a fantastic look at the game, and Naughty Dog director Neil Druckmann even said that it’s the “best trailer in Naughty Dog history.”

That’s high praise.

The trailer offers a fantastic new look at a game that we cannot wait to get our dirty paws on, and shows off a lot of Uncharted 4 elements that we haven’t seen yet.

In the game, “Several years after his last adventure, retired fortune hunter Nathan Drake is forced back into the world of thieves. With the stakes much more personal, Drake embarks on a globe-trotting journey in pursuit of a historical conspiracy behind a fabled pirate treasure. His greatest adventure will test his physical limits, his resolve, and ultimately what he’s willing to sacrifice to save the ones he loves.”

A Thief’s End (finally) hits PS4 on April 26th. Who’s excited?

https://youtu.be/oU8CQbzkpwc

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 65 – ‘Nice Ninjato!’

by GeekscapeStaffFebruary 18, 2016

Join Derek, Juan and Shane as they discuss the last week in video games!

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

Subscribe with another program!

This week:

GameBoy vs. Neo Geo Pocket.

Fallout DLC Detailed.

Shane talks about waifus.

Squid Concerts.

Street Fighter V has a terrible launch.

CS:GO Update.

Sega FREE GAMES.

Kojima makes us sad.

AfterShokz Giveaway.

Pokemon Omega Ruby.

Street Fighter V.

WWE 2K16.

Jet Set Radio.

Mission Objective:

What is ‘stupidest’ game that you’ve ever spent an exorbitant amount of time on?

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

Subscribe with another program!

Subscribe to our Twitch Channel!

Geekscape Giveaway: Destroy Your Competition With An AfterShokz ‘Gamez’ Bone Conducting Wireless Headset!

by Shane O'HareFebruary 18, 2016

We’re at it again Geekscapists! It’s giveaway time, the go around we’ve teamed up with AfterShokz to give you gamers a chance to get your hands on a pair of their Gamez bone conducting wireless headsets!

First, a little bit about AfterShokz and the Gamez headset.

AfterShokz has strived to bring bone conducting technology to lightweight headsets. They’ve prioritized situational awareness, safety and comfort in their designs. They’ve brought what they’ve created and are known for to the gaming market. Gamez headsets don’t actually sit ON your ears, but right in front of them. Two bone conducting transducers sit right on your cheekbone. They send vibrations through your cheekbone and into your inner ear, completely bypassing your ear drum. This means you aren’t shut out from what is around you (perfect for CS:GO LAN parties where making calls to the people in the room is essential), and gamers with hearing impairments aren’t kept away from the action. They also feature:

PremiumPitch+™ Stereo Sound: Bone conduction audio has earned its bad reputation due to a blend of natural sound leakage and weak bass. PremiumPitch+™ technology optimizes the sound and includes additional features like LeakSlayer™ technology, which ensures sound is directed exactly where it should be.

OpenFit™: A promise of uncompromised situational awareness and extended comfort due to our revolutionary open ear design. That means you can tune in to your games without tuning out the world around you.

Sweat Resistant: IP55 rated to repel sweat, moisture and dust.

Six Hours of Gaming and Calls: A single charge will reliably deliver six hours of game play and talk time. You can charge fully in 1.5 hours; a quick 15-minute charge provides enough boost to get you through a long gaming session or call.

Noise Canceling Mics: Precisely placed dual noise canceling microphones exclude surrounding noise, effectively enhancing speech when communicating with other gamers during game play.

Voice Prompts: Audrey Says™ seamlessly guide you through power, pair, play and talk, and everything in between.

Now, read below for what you’re really looking for (how to enter, of course):

Al that you need to do to enter is sign up using your email or Facebook login in the widget below, and then choose from multiple ways to gain ballots! The more you do, the better your chances, and you can even tweet once a day to maximize your entries! Please be sure to use an email you check regularly, as we will use it to contact you to obtain your shipping information. This contest is open to U.S. & Canadian residents only!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more information on Gamez, check out AfterShokz official website. Gamez are PC, MAC and Mobile compatable (pretty much anything that is Bluetooth v4.0). They’re also offering a 20% discount through this Sunday (2/21) with the coupon code GAMEZ20 , so if you want to snag a pair guarantee’d this is a great chance!

Good luck!

Geekscape Games Podcast: Bonus Stage 2 – ‘Firewatch’ SPOILERS

by Shane O'HareFebruary 14, 2016

Join Derek, and Shane as they discuss Firewatch (in an in-depth, spoilery manner).

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

Subscribe with another program!

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

Subscribe with another program!

Subscribe to our Twitch Channel!

Woo Your Waifu With These ‘Hyperdimension Neptunia’ Valentine’s Cards!

by Josh JacksonFebruary 14, 2016

Have you been having a hard time finding a way to show your waifu how much she means to you? Or maybe you want to surprise your husbando with some thoughtful words, but can’t manage to put sentences together after days of texting in acronyms? Well, Idea Factory has our backs with these Hyperdimension Neptunia Valentine’s Day cards courtesy of their Facebook page.

Featuring the four main CPU’s, IF, Compa, Warechu, the sadomasochistic Iris Heart, dandy Umio, and the newest CPU introduced in the recently released Megadimension Neptunia VII, Uzume Tennouboshi, these cards are sure to warm your cold, weeaboo heart better than any body pillow ever could. I mean, who wouldn’t want to go on an all night raid? We are talking Four Goddesses Online, right? Sadly, the CPU Candidates are nowhere to be found, but promoting underage love might not be what the company is going for… This year.

Check out the cards below and tell us what your favorites are! While your at it, let us know your your waifu or husbando is on this day of love! We’ll only accept the best of the best girls and boys, so choose well!

‘Splatoon’ Meets ‘Pokemon’! Team Red Vs. Team Blue Is The Next Splatfest!

by Josh JacksonFebruary 12, 2016

Nintendo and The Pokemon Company have been pulling out all the stops when it comes to celebrating #Pokemon20, the year long celebration of the 20th anniversary of the revolutionary RPG. After announcing that 2016 would be full of events, including the re-release of Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow, a mobile game that brings Pokemon to life, and even a Super Bowl commercial, how do you top airing a spot during the biggest sporting event of the year?

Well, the only thing bigger than the Super Bowl is a Splatfest, of course! Getting in on the festivities, Splatoon‘s next Splatfest asks us what our favorite Pokemon game is between Red and Blue. Voting has started now, with the event running from February 19 at 10:00 PM PT to February 20 at 10:00 PM PT. As a first for the semi-monthly events, this Pokemon Splatfest will be a worldwide affair, with Europe getting the same contest and Japan getting theirs slightly adjusted with Red vs. Green. Unfortunately, each region will be restricted to playing against participants in their own area as usual, despite all three events starting on the same day with the same theme. We’re so close to worldwide squid unity!

With Callie firmly on Team Red while Marie reps Team Blue, which side will you choose? As someone who’s first Pokemon journey started because of my love for Squirtle, I’ve picked up the second version in almost every case, so you know where my loyalty lies. Who will you choose when it’s time to paint the town red, (or blue?) Let us know in the comments, and share your Nintendo ID’s so we can get some practice runs in before the big showdown!

Ubisoft Announces They Are NOT Releasing An ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Game In 2016; Re-Examining The Franchise

by Shane O'HareFebruary 11, 2016

Today Ubisoft that there will be no Assassin’s Creed titles coming out in 2016.

In a very short, and albeit to the point, blog post the French game publisher said in so many words that they know the games have faltered.

Since the release of Assassin’s Creed Unity, we’ve learned a lot based on your feedback.

Those are the words of a studio that knows where they went wrong, and hopefully how to fix the problems.

Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate was a much improved experience over the prior years Unity. Most likely Syndicate was already too far into development to push back when the buggy as hell Unity hit store shelves. If you don’t recall, or don’t listen to Geekscape Games, Unity was full of problems. It remained unfixed for a few months.

The backlash from the community on the shoddy product that was Unity obviously made Ubisoft step back and refocus on what they were doing. It will be refreshing to see what a year off will do for what is my favorite game franchise. Hopefully they bring back the “modern” timeline. Check out the full press release below:

It’s an exciting time for Assassin’s Creed.

We’re only a few months removed from the debut of Jacob and Evie Frye, the stars of Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. We’re proud of the talented team in Quebec City, and all of our studios around that world that took part in bringing the Victorian London adventures of our twin Assassins to life. We truly hope you enjoy playing Assassin’s Creed Syndicate as much as our studios enjoyed making it.

Also, we recently unveiled the first images of Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender in action as our lead Assassin in the upcoming Assassin’s Creed movie that hits theaters on December 21, 2016. Having already visited the set, we can’t begin to describe how surreal and exciting it is to walk the real-world halls of Abstergo, or see the intricate replicas of Assassin weaponry. We have an outstanding cast and crew that want to honor the rich lore of Assassin’s Creed and bring a fresh perspective to the ongoing battle between Assassins and Templars that’s fit for the big screen.

This year, we also are stepping back and re-examining the Assassin’s Creed franchise. As a result, we’ve decided that there will not be a new Assassin’s Creed game in 2016. Since the release of Assassin’s Creed Unity, we’ve learned a lot based on your feedback. We’ve also updated our development processes and recommitted to making Assassin’s Creed a premier open-world franchise. We’re taking this year to evolve the game mechanics and to make sure we’re delivering on the promise of Assassin’s Creed offering unique and memorable gameplay experiences that make history everyone’s playground.

We’ll have more to share on all of the above soon. In the meantime, we want to say thank you to our millions of fans around the world for your continued support.