HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Xbox / Xbox Series X – Halo Infinite Limited Edition & Elite Series 2 Controller Gamescom 2021 is officially underway, and to kick things off, Microsoft showed off a new Xbox Series X and Elite Series 2 Controller with some Halo Infinite flavor. With the world sadly still in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to the even more highly contagious Delta Variant, Geoff Knightly had to host his Opening Night Live kickoff event for Gamescom from Los Angeles instead of Germany, where the conference is annually held. It was a night of many reveals during the presentation, with Knightly premiering a plethora of big titles. One big reveal, in particular, was a cinematic trailer for season one of Halo Infinite’s free-to-play multiplayer and, of course, con...
It’s been over 16 years since Psychonauts released and nearly 6 since its sequel was announced, and while fans got a bite-sized virtual reality adventure back in 2017 with Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, yesterday was the big day for those waiting on the next full-length adventure from Razputin Aquato and the rest of the Psychonauts. It’s the long-awaited release week of Psychonauts 2, and the folks at Double Fine Productions know how much the title means to some fans. That’s one of the many reasons they worked hard to keep the sequel as true to the original as possible in some respects — like bringing back veteran composer and Double Fine founder Tim Schafer’s go-to musical collaborator, Peter McConnell (Sly Cooper 2-4, pretty much every Star Wars/LucasArts game from the ‘90s and 2000...
Aliens: Fireteam Elite has some big shoes to fill. When the cooperative multiplayer shooter releases next week, it’ll need to find a way to bring the three-person squads directly into the Alien universe — one of the most recognizable franchises in sci-fi, horror, and everything in between. But while Alien: Isolation (2014) channeled the original movie by focusing on the horrors of trying to hopelessly survive against a single Xenomorph, the upcoming title is more about the nonstop sci-fi action of Aliens. Of course, it’ll still need to keep some suspense and terror in the air to fit in with the classic movie trilogy and numerous spinoffs, but players won’t feel nearly as helpless this time around. To set the mood for the adrenaline rush of a release, Cold Iron Studios brought in award-winn...
For those who haven’t played Hades yet, well, you should. And now that it’s coming to PlayStation and Xbox (including physical releases through a partnership with Private Division), you really don’t have an excuse not to. Not only is it one of the most nominated and award-winning games of 2020, but it’s also arguably Supergiant Games’ masterpiece up to this point. In addition to being the finest work from one of the most beloved indie studios, Hades takes roguelikes to a new level as well. Much like how Pyre used Supergiant’s beloved art style and narrative talents to bring elements of sports to an audience that would never play a sports game, Hades serves as a perfect introduction to the often merciless and repetitive gameplay associated with roguelikes. Aside from the visuals and stories...
Over the past several years, the music industry has opened its eyes to gaming as a new way to connect with fans and drive revenue. In-game performances offer multiple revenue streams to artists, from up-front payments to virtual goods and a streaming spike for the artist’s music that tends to follow an in-game show. Compared to “Astronomical,” Grande’s performance is less visually chaotic, with fewer scene changes, and has an expanded focus on the player experience. In Grande’s world — which looks like if the Lisa Frank brand were an entire planet — players aren’t just watching the show, but actively participating in it, a key element that will be part of future experiences, according to Phil Rampulla, head of brand at Epic Games, Fortnite‘s parent company. “You’ll ...