This has been the most annoying publisher saga in recent memory. Look, Microsoft really ?screwed up with the whole DRM proposal last generation. They were essentially bullied out of it, and we sh?ouldn't forget it. But they did do an about-face, and shored up concepts like cross-play and backward compatibility to make a roaring impact on this generation. Sony then slotted into that old role nicely, fighting cross-play kicking and screaming. That might have changed, based on recent comments from PlayStation boss Jim Ryan.

Speaking to Axios, Ryan notes that they now "support and encourage cross-play" as of this past week. He explains that "??that number will continue to grow," despite trying to take a revenue cut for graciously allowing cross-play on their platform, saying that there was no point in the feature because "PlayStation the best place to play," and insisting that cross-play doesn't help the PlayStation brand.

This new leaf stance is seemingly at odds wi?th a very recent public bout with Gearbox, who noted that they will not be supporting cross-play on Sony platforms. So if Ryan actually means what he says, hopefully we see actual results as soon as this year. Hopefully more public feuds and instances of publishers speaking out will help move the needle further.

Sony has been habitually putt??ing these creators in a bad spot, forcing them to essentially explain why their game doesn't support full cross-play, without actually saying why. Okay great, Jim! So you can flip th?a??t switch and make it happen now, right? Right?

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Mech Warrior 5 cross-play? After all this time? Sure!

So today at the PC Gaming Show, Piranha Games had a little treat for fans: re-iterating that Mech Warrior 5 cross-play is live.

Yes, oddly enough, this project that was originally released on the Epic Games Store (which was one of the most heavily-criticized exclusivity deals in recent years), is still getting updates. It bounced around from Epic exclusivity to Steam just recently: and hit the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S platforms that same week. Now you can all play together. Mech Warrior 5 cross-play is live on Xbox, Steam???, and GOG via an update.

But wait, what about the Epic Games Store? Uh, that wasn't mentioned!? Man, the PC landscape is so weird these days with all of these different platforms. I mean competition for Steam is good! But not like this.

It feels like Piranha Games essentially has had a weight lifted, being able to do whatever they want outside of the confines of being chained to the Epic storefront. It's a good thing, too, as MechWarrior hasn't really be??en in the zeitgeist, truly, for some time, and now they have a chance to reclaim that legacy. I hope that the series continues on for years to come.

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Look who's stalking

As part of the myriad news dropped by Capcom during yesterday's Resident Evil Showcase, the publisher announced that it would be partnering with Behavior Interactive to develop a Resi-themed chapter for the latter's asymmetrical horror title, Dead by Daylight.

"We are excited to be working with the legendary studio Capcom to create the next Dead by Daylight chapter," said Behavior's creative director Dave Richard. It is an honor and an absolute joy to welcome the original survival horror game Resident Evil in The Entity’s universe. The result is fantastic and? will surprise new players and veterans alike. Players can expect a chapter packed with iconic content and novel ways to sacrifice or survive inspired by the renowned franchise."

A short teaser trailer sees a hapless survivor hooked onto a tree in classic Dead by Daylight style, with a blood-spattered Umbrella Corp. symbol hitting the damp forest floor. We do not see who the killer is, but the Resident Evil franchise has more than its fair share of professional hunters. Could it be Mr. X? Maybe, I'm thinking it might be Resident Evil 3??'s Nemesis - his mutated visage would fit well within The Entity.

It's like that Dead by Daylight players can also expect a new survivor to join the roster as part of this crossover event. I wouldn't be surprised if it were Jill Valentine, who is basically Resident Evil's crossover queen at this point. If it were up to me, it would be that reporter with the lame ponytail in Resident Evil 2, but then, I have a lot of growing up to do.

The post Resident Evil x Dead by Daylight event c??oming this?? June appeared first on Destructoid.

Includes cross-play with iOS and Android editions

Eclectic developer thatgamecompany has announced that its free-to-play mobile title Sky: Children of the Light will be winging its way onto Switch in June, bringing its dreamlike realms and harmonious social nat?ure to Nintendo's hybrid pla??tform.

The Switch edition of the 2019 release will retain its free-to-play nature, and will also feature cross-play with its iO??S and Android brethren, allowing players to meet up, connect with, and journey alongside an already established community of hundreds of thousands of players. As the titular "Children of the Light," players venture through seven distinct worlds, spreading hope, joy, and happiness in efforts to restore the desolate lands.

Winning numerous awards - particularly for its ethereal soundtrack and calming sound design - Sky: Children of the Light was critically praised for its relaxing social nature and spirit of community and camaraderie, recalling that of thatgamecompany's most celebrated release, Jo?urney. This new Swi?tch port will likely see thousands of new players added to the fold - and at a time where we could all use a little R'n'R, its arrival can't come a moment too soon.

You can check out CJ Andriessen's review of the mobile release right here.

The post The evocative Sky: Childr??en o??f the Light is coming to Switch in June appeared first on Destructoid.

It's like the guts are actually exploding on your face

Are you digging WW2 monster-masher Zombie Army 4: Dead War, but just feel like the blood and viscera flying through the air is missing that certain je ne sais quoi? Well, worry no more, as developer Rebellion has announced a free next-gen upgrade for the console editions of its alternate-history shooter, which rol?ls out this week on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Players who are currently run 'n' gunning through Dead War and its many expansions on PS4 and Xbox Series X will be able to access the upgrade on the same console family gratis. The PS5 edition has already unlocked faster loading times, 4K resolution options, and a 60Hz mode partnered w??ith Dynamic Resolution Scaling (DRS). On April 8,  Xbox Series S will receive similarly reduced loading times, and 1080p at 60Hz, while bigger brother Xbox Series X will be afforded a new Quality/Performance Mode toggle, offering the same visual boosts as the PS5 edition. You'll be popping skulls like never before.

In addition, to the technical upgrades, Rebellion has released a new patch on all platforms, fixing a slew of general and specific bugs and glitches, while also adding crossplay between the Windows 10, Steam, and Epic Game Store editions of the game. With Zombie Army 4: Dead War hitting PlayStation Plus this month, and an Xbox Game Pass debut on the horizon, it looks l?ike the manic shooter is about to lock 'n' load ??for a fresh round of decay and destruction. Brrraiinnnsss.

The post Zombie Ar?my 4: Dead War gets free next-gen upgrade on PS5 and Xbox S??eries X appeared first on Destructoid.

Let me hear you scream

The newest chapter is now live in Behavior Interactive's asymmetrical survival horror title Dead by Daylight. The "All-Kill" event ?brings with it a new survivor, record producer Yun-Jin Lee, and the psychopathic, mass-murdering K-Pop megastar Ji-Woon, better known by his stage pseudonym of "Trickster."

Recounting the backstory from our previous report, Ji-Woon was part of a super-successful boy ??band, who were indirectly killed on account of his actions. Finding a taste for death gave him an appetite for art, Ji-Woon began abducting and murdering fans and industry pundits, recording their death throes as samples to be worked into the young star's music. Swiftly abandoned by his recor?d label, Mightee-One, the now-reinvented "Trickster" is out at large and out for revenge.

The "All-Kill" chapter adds Ji-Woon/Trickster to Dead by Daylight's growing roster of utter maniacs, while the singer's former producer Yun-Jin Lee is heading for the hills as a new Survivor. Behaviour Interactive collaborated with real-life K-pop legends, including BTS songwriter Jordan? "DJ Swivel" Young and U-Kiss member Kevin  Woo in ord??er to plot out and design the chapter's aesthetic and backstory.

While some Dead by Daylight fans a??re annoyed at this crossover of K-pop and survival horror, I think they've do??ne a solid job.

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Do Not Stan

Now this is something a little different. Following on from the appearance of cinematic horror legends such as Freddy Krueger, Leatherface, and Michael Myers - and not forgetting video game monsters like Silent Hill's Pyramid Head - the newest chapter in Behaviour Interactive's Dead by Daylight will see players stalked and slaughtered by a psychopathic K-Pop supersta?r.

The new chapter, titled "All-Kill", tells the tale of budding Korean boy-band superstar ??Ji-Woon, whose desire to become the greatest music sensation of all-time led, in a roundabout way, to the deaths of his fellow band members. Going solo as "The Trickster", Yun-Jin then took to murdering innocent people - including friends and fans - torturing them for days while sampling their death throes to be included in his newest records.

Funnily enough, this is something of a PR nightmare for The Trickster's producer, Yun-Jin Lee, and her label, Mightee One. The label dropped the mania?cal star in a four-four beat. Unfortunately, however, The Trickster remains at large and out for revenge, setting his sights on his former producer with plans on making her his latest and greatest hit. Literally.

Damn. That's a solid premise. The "All-Kill" chapter will add Ji-Woon/The Trickster to Dead by Daylight's roster of throat-slashing maniacs, while the sty?lish producer Yun-Jin Lee will be added as a new Survivor. Behaviour Interactive has called upon the expertise of rea?l-life K-Pop alumni such as BTS song-writer Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young and U-Kiss member and actor Kevin Woo to help devise the chapter's  storyline and setting.

Available to preview now in the Player Test Build, The Trickster will be bringing his killer tracks to Dead by Daylight on PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X?, Nintendo Switch, and mobile?? devices at some point in the near future. Will you make The Trickster number one...with a bullet?

Dead by Daylight collaborates with BTS producer on new? K-Pop chapter [IGN]

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Building Bridges

Mojang has announced that its cubic fantasy adventurer Minecraft Dungeons will be adding cross-play support next week via a scheduled update. As of November 17, players on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Switch will be able to rally t??ogether for exciting escapades within the creepy caverns of the Overworld.

Released back in May, Minecraft Dungeons won over a loyal army of followers with its charming and cutesy aesthetic, as well as its stripped-down approach to the? dungeon-crawling genre, making it an ideal adventure title for families and kids to enjoy together.

December will also see the launch of third DLC expansion Howling Peaks, bringing new dungeons, enemies, gear, and missions to the title. The continued drip-feed of continued, coupled with the cross-play update, should help consolidate the Minecraft Dungeons playerbase and thus e?xtend the title's lif??e-span for the foreseeable future.

Heroes, are you listening?!

Cross-platform play arrives on November 17 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One! It’s almost time to join forces – whatever platform you play on! pic.twitter.com/wDusUWYYOY

— Minecraft Dungeons (@dungeonsgame) November 11, 2020

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Free upgrades available for PS4 players

A new pre-release FAQ for Arc System Works' attractive fighter Guilty Gear Strive includes de?tails regarding the sequel's cross-play capabilities, as well as the relationship between the PS4 and PS5 editions of the title, due to launch on April 9, 2021.

In the FAQ, Arc System Works explains that cross-play support will allow both PS4 and PS5 players to battle it out with each other, but unfortunately the PC community will not be included within the same player pool. This is pretty shitty news, as allowing for cross-play with PC - ala Street Fighter V - would have gone some way to help to support the life of the title on that platform. As it is, PC fans will just have to ho??pe that t??hey can maintain a strong base community from launch onward.

Elsewhere in the FAQ, it was noted that fans purchasing Guilty Gear Strive on PS4 would be entitled to a free upgrade to PS5 should they eventually take the leap onto the new hardware. Players making the upgrade will carry over their accounts and all requisite DLC purchases. ArcSys has said that - aside from loading times and 4K resolution - the PS4 and PS5 editions of Guilty Gear Strive will be practically identical.

Guilty Gear Strive launches on PS4, PS5, and PC on April 9. You can check out the trailer for its most recently revealed new star, Giovanna, right here, and learn more about its revamped Ranked Vs. mode right here.

Guilty Gear Strive supported for PS4 and PS5 [Siliconera]

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Serve the UNSC by testing

343 Industries will finish the fight as soon as it finishes the flight. Closed testing on the final Halo game has officially begun. Once that has wrapped up, Halo: The Master Chief Collection on PC will be complete.

Halo 4's test flight is liv??e for everyone who's enrolled in the Halo Insider program. Here's the content that's included:

Campaign missions:

• Mission 2: Requiem
• Mission 3: Forerunner
• Mission 5: Reclaimer
• Mission 6: Shutdown
• Mission 7: Composer

Spartan Ops missions:

• Land Grab
• Sniper Alley
• The Challenge
• Sacred
• Core
• Clean Up
• For Science
• Hacksaw
• Pelican Down
• Gagarin

Multiplayer maps:

• Adrift
• Exile
• Haven
• Longbow
• Meltdown
• Ragnarok
• Impact
• Landfall
• Skyline
• Perdition
• Pitfall

343 is using Halo 4 as an opportunity to bring a bunch of features to the whole Master Chief Collection suite. It'll introduce input-based ma??tchmaking, crossplay be??tween PC and Xbox One (available in competitive multiplayer, Forge, and Firefight), server region selection, and advanced text chat options. 

It's expected that after a few weeks of testing, Halo 4 will launch proper. It's expected to run $10 as a standalone purchase; it's also rolled into the $40 complete Master Chief Collection Then -- with Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo Reach, and Halo 4 all in one package -- it will ?be finished on PC.

The post Halo: The Master Chief Collectio?n on P?C is almost done as the Halo 4 test flight is underway appeared first on Destructoid.

One Shot, Forty Kills

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War might only be in its beta stage, but players are already finding out that it's never too early to start breaking the rules, as aimbotters, wall-hackers, and other villains are already ruining the experience for many in the CoD community.

Over the course of the beta weekend, players encountered Killcam replays that showed others utilizing mods to rack up insane killstreaks - a practice that has dogged shooters on PC since the genre's inception. This frustration led to many Call of Duty console players choosing to switch off cross-??play capabilities, essentially banning PC players from their matches, but also shrinking the player base.

Now, this being Call of Duty - the biggest FPS franchise on the planet - turning off cross-play is hardly going to result in Black Ops Cold War becoming a "dead game", but it's a shame that players do end up having to wall off other communities because of the actions of a few cheaters. Last year, Activision adopted a "zero tolerance" stance against hackers in both Modern Warfare and Warzone - banning nearly quarter of a million players in the last 12 months alone - but you're never going to catch everybody, and some of these banned accounts will simply find? ways to circumvent the ban and continue playing.

Ultimately, it's positive to see titles like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Rainbow Six Siege push back against shadier or more toxic players, but they'll be unlikely to ever truly eradicate the relentless mentality of those who want to cheat. This is just a beta, and people are already breaking the rules to rack up kills and XP in the new sequel. For? some players, for whatever reason, cheating is ap??parently an integral part of playing - and winning - at video games.

Call of Duty: Bl??ack Ops Cold War beta already has cheater?s [PC Gamer]

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Feel the Need?

One of the most popular entries in the Need for Speed franchise is getting ready to excite road-racers all over again, as Electronic Arts and Criterion Games have finally announced that Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered is ?coming to PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switc??h in November.

Originally released back in 2010 on PS3, PC, and Xbox 360, NFS: Hot Pursuit takes the gloss and sheen of the long-running racing franchise and applies it to a?? super-dramatic knock-down, drag-out road rager. Players can choose to hit the tarmac in a selection of high-performance roadsters, while others chase them down and take them off-road in several sou??ped-up police cruisers, armed with a bevy of hi-tech gadgets and weaponry.

You can check out a cheesy-ass trailer, that doesn't feature n??early enough gameplay footage, below.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered is described as the "ultimate edition" of Criterion's debut entry in the NFS f?ranchise, and will feature 60 FPS gameplay in stunning 4K resolution on PS4 Pro, PC, and Xbox One X. Other visual tweaks include a longer draw distance, support for more on-screen particles and objects, and improved shadows and reflective effects. All of the base game's modes and content will be included, as well as its DLC expansions. The new remaster will feature cross-play support and will see the return of the "Autolog" synchronous profile/multiplayer system.

While it appears that there will be a lot of minor changes in terms of overall resolution, lighting, and visual effects, in all the remaster doesn't look like a ground-up, redrawn affair. Still, Hot Pursuit has always looked and played solidly, and hopefully this new edition will give fans new and old a fresh opportunity to get out there and smash? some roadblocks.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered launches November 6 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and GOG. It ??will follow on Nintendo Switch on November 13.

The post Need for Speed?: Hot Pursuit Remastered coming to PC and consoles next month appeared first on Destructoid.

The Battle just got even... more... Royale?

The explosive sci-fi world of Apex Legends is getting set to open the doors to a helluva lot more wannabe Legends, as developer Respawn Entertainment has announced that it will be launching its cross-play ??beta on Tuesday, October 6.

The new feature will allow battle royalers (royalty?) on PS4, PC, and Xbox One platforms to all thrown down on the World's Edge. Players will be able to add or invite their friends on other platforms, before dropping in for a bout of bombastic action. It should be noted that, due to the mouse-and-keyboard advantage, PC and console players wil?l automatically be kept separate when searching for games, but PC players can invite willing console players into the PC pool.

As a beta, it should be noted that connectivit?y and stability m?ay be a little shaky. This is more an experiment by Respawn to see the mechanic in a real-world environment, allowing them to gather data, test servers, and iron out bugs, ahead of the feature's official implementation. The addition of cross-play is rarely ever a bad thing, expanding the player base and helping to secure a longer lifespan for the title in question.

As you can see in the new trailer above, Apex Legends is also preparing for the launch of its new "Flashpoint" event. This limited-time mode will remove all healing items from the map, and will in?stead replace them with regenerative points dotted around the map, but with eve?ryone headed there to heal up, these waypoints are sure to be hotly-contested areas. It's kind of like Quasar... You remember Quasar?... Just me?... Never mind.

Apex Legends is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.

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Better get restocked on body bags

Dead by Daylight fans can now take their machete-swinging mayhem to entirely new communities of players, as Behaviour Interactive has announced that cross-play is now supported on the PC and console editions of ?the asymmetrical survival-horro?r title.

Players on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch can now intermingle for more bloodthirsty stalk-and-slash action, increasing the player pool and thus strengthening the future of Dead by Daylight. It should be noted that th?e mobile editions ?of the game do not support cross-play.

Behaviour Interactive has also implemented a new "cross-friends" feature, allowing players to add new victims friends to their contact list regardless of their platform of choice. All of these new features are part of the publisher's drive to unify Dead by Daylight across all of its main formats, consolidating in-game content, acc?ount p??rogression, and player lists across the board.

Dead by Daylight is available now on PC, PS4,?? Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and iO?S and Android devices. It will be ported to the Stadia platform in September.

The post ?Dead by Daylight now supports cross-play on PC and consoles appeared first on Destructoid.

Version 1.14 now live

This past weekend's Japan Fighting Game Publisher Roundtable live stream saw almost every major player in the fighting game ??market gather together to discuss the genre, its most difficult year ??in recent memory, and several upcoming surprises for some of the biggest fighters in today's scene.

Over the course of the event we saw Bandai Namco announce new content for Tekken 7 and Soulcalibur VI, Arc System Works drop new character trailers for Guilty Gear Strive, SNK confirm a third season for Samurai Shodown, while Capcom continues to hold its cards to its chest, holding on for this week's Street Fighter V live stream.

But amidst all of this new content, arguably the most actually proactive, positive, and important announcement was made by Arika, concerning its ultra-niche fighter Fighting EX Layer. In an update that is live in-game right now, Arika has implemented the highly-vaunted rollback ?netcode to its one-on-one slugfest, hoping to improve online stability far beyond that of its AAA contemporaries.

There is a strange and sad irony behind Fighting EX Layer and its inability to "play among the big boys." Many people, myself included, complain about publisher behavior in regards to modern fighting games. More often than not, these gripes relate to expensive DLC, player-punishing mech??anics, and sub-standard online gameplay.

Yet Fighting EX Layer, the quietest fighter, with the smallest budget, not only gave away a chunk of its DLC for free but - with this latest update - is now attempting to be the slickest example regarding stable gameplay. Arika has directly addressed common fighting game complaints and taken steps to rectify them. During the stream, as noted by EventHubs, Arika said it was also testing cross-play integration between PS4 and PC platforms, which would certainly help expand FEXL's admittedly modest player pool.

In a live stream which ultimately boiled down to "Here is the next run of DLC we're getting set to sell you," it's an almost melancholic irony that the smallest developer, with the smallest title, is the only party that directly addressed one of the genre's most dogged issues. Will rollback netcode and crossplay help grow the FEXL audience to a Tekken or a Street Fighter level? Probably not. But there's certainly lessons to be learned from the underdog here, one of prioritising your title's core ??issues before queuing up run after run of paid content. Whether this l?esson was learned - or even acknowledged - remains to be seen.

Fighting EX Layer is available now on PS4 and PC.

The post Fighting EX Layer’s rollback netcode was the most productive news out of the fighting game roundtable appeared first on Destructoid.

Listen up

In today's contest you can win a set of Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds, courtesy of brand new action MMORPG V4!

Good news, everyone! V4 just hit the open air and you know what that ??means: Free stuff to promote it!

We've got a super fancy set of Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds to dole out to a lucky winner, so keep them fingers crossed! Except while you're playing V4, because then you'll lose.

First, read about V4.

Powered by Unreal Engine 4, V4 is a cross-platform free-to-play fantasy MMORPG that gives players the ability to customize their heroes as they defend a breathtaking world from the forces of darkness. With exquisitely detailed battles and offense-focused classes, players can team up with? warriors from all over the world on mobile and PC to defeat evil.

V4 challenges players to save Syllunas, a once paradisal land that is now being threatened by demonic forces led by the villainous Guardion and the Scoria Knights. Featuring six offense-focused classes, V4 allows players the opportu??nity to deal maximum damage as they navigate through the adventure-packed environment.

Hey, ?you can play?? it from your phone on the train. Or the toilet. So far, so good. Now read about these sweet buds.

With low latency connection, waterproof design and custom tuned 13mm drivers, the Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds enhance the gaming experience while players explore the open world of V4 whether at home or on-the-go.

The wireless earbuds have an extremely low 60ms input latency, which means its audio stays synced with your device and will never stutter, providing a competitive gaming advantage and a ??more immersive experience for videos and music.

Ok, enough talk: Enter to win by using the widget below. You can enter daily. Click around a?nd follow the instructions for ways to earn bonus entries.

We have one set of earbuds to give away; our winner will be randomly selected August 7. This is a physical pri?ze, so you must have a United States shipping address to qualify. Better luck next time, Lithuania.

V4 is available to play now -- free on both PC and mobile.

Con??test: Win a set of Razer Hammerh??ead True Wireless Earbuds, courtesy of action MMO V4

The post Contest: Win a set of Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds, c??ourtesy of action MMO V4 appeared first on Destructoid.

The undead horde now bigger than ever before

Saber Interactive's frenzied shooter World War Z might not be a title that gets shouted from the mountaintops on a daily basis, but t??here's no denying that it's a generous, well-supported, and very popular multiplayer experience. And the zombie-popper is set to grow and grow, with a new update that adds PS4 support to the chaotic cross-play party.

While Xbox One and PC players have been able to cross-fraternise for some time now, PlayStation players have been typically late to join in on the action. But as of this new update, players across all platforms can team up to take on World War Z PvE and challenging Horde Z modes. Hopefully this will help the WWZ community thrive for years to come.

Alongside the PS4 cross-play function, the new update adds a brand new class: The Dronemaster. These tech-minded mercs are equipped with a programmable drone that can be sent into battle to provide extra firepower, shock zombies, buff team-mates, or go in on an all-or-nothing?? explosive attack. An exclusive skill tree lets players customise the drone to their strategic preferences.

It wouldn't be a World War Z update without some handy new weaponry, and this week's update features the powerful ACW-20 - a semi-automatic rifle with built-in grenade launcher. Kaboom. The current WWZ arsenal will also receive a run of new upgrades and perks, giving you a better stocked shed than Schwarzenegger in Commando.

World War Z is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.

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Smash the registration link

Ubisoft is mostly?? kno?wn for one type of game: the open-world action game, usually a shooter. Not a lot of people associate Ubisoft with fighters.

Well, Brawlhalla is still going strong and coming to some new platforms within the next month. As part of today's Ubisoft Forward stream, it was announced that Brawlhalla is launching on iOS and Andro??id devices on August 6?.

Brawlhalla originally launched on PC and PS4 in 2017, and then on Switch and Xbox One in 2018. Ubisoft says that the mobile versions will have cross-play with everyone, so Brawlhalla is seemingly mixing all of its ??platforms into the same userbase.

If you're interested, you can register ahead of time right here.

The post Brawlhall?a comes to mobile with cross-play ??on August 6 appeared first on Destructoid.

Green light for the community

A new update - going live tomorrow, June 9 - will add crossplay support to tarmac-turner Need for Speed Heat. As announced by publisher Electronic Arts this morning??, the patch will allow players on PS4, PC, and Xbox One platforms to burn rub??ber with each other for the first time in the racing franchise's history.

"We've always believed that games are better with friends. We don't want your platform of choice to be a barrier for that experience," said Criterion Games' Matt Webster. "We're thrilled to let you all know that on June 9, Need for Speed Heat will be the first Electroni???c Arts title to offer cross-play, meaning that player - regardless of their platform - can jump into Palm City together as one, united community."

The crossplay update is set to be the final update for the 2019 racer, as the team at Criterion Games embarks on developing the next release in the legendary Need for Speed series.

"Since the launch of Need for Speed Heat and as players continue to tear it up in Palm City, we're listening to what you love about this experience, and what you all believe could be even better," continues Webster. "With these insights, we have a terrific foundation to create the most expressive, most socially connected, action-packed game yet for Need for Speed fans and beyond."

This is not just the first Need for Speed game to support crossplay, but the first Electronic Arts title period. So if you've ever wanted to know which platform's playerbase was the fastest and f??urious...ist, it looks like you'll be able to find out very soon indeed.

Need for Speed Heat is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.

Need for Speed Heat the ??first EA game to get crossplay [Eurogamer]

The post Crossplay comin??g to Need for Speed Heat tomorrow, Crit??erion Games revving up for next entry appeared first on Destructoid.

Cross-play was already a thing

Last year, Sony started to relax its cross-play initiative, seemingly fueled by a meaningless marketing term: "PlayStation is the best place to play." As it turns out PlayStation is a fine place to play, but it would be even greater if you can play with more people: like the PC, Switch and Xbox One pla??tforms already allowed.

Fortnite kicked off that full, actual cross-play trend, and many other games have since followed suit. That list includes PUBG, which is adding a new feature in the mix in addition to that basic cross-play functionality: cross-party play on consoles. So this one is really simple. The friend list on PUBG now supports multiple platforms, so you can actually play with friends directly across, say, Xbox One and PS4.?? Said li??st will actually show the platform they play on and will allow you to invite anyone.

PUBG is also getting an 8v8 team deathmatch mode with patch 6.2 (FPP, or, first-person perspective only), as well as sweeping grenade changes (led by 20% less damage with frags to prone p??layers), a rework of the peeking/leaning mechanic, a waypoint feature for the map, a more clear Blue Zone (read: the encroaching, deadly wall that defines battle royale games), and a follow feature for parachuting.

If you're a hardcore player there's a lot more to pore over, but that's the big stuff!

PUBG Update 6.2 [PUBG]

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Now everyone can Battle for the Grid

In the original Power Rangers, five heroes (Jason, Zack, Kimberly, Trini, and Billy) would eventually combine their powers every episode to form something greater than their individual parts (the Megazord). Nearly a year after launch, Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid&nb??sp;is finally creating a Megazord out of its platforms.

As a part of the Version 2.0 update, developer nWay has accomplished full platform cross-play in Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid. PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One players can all group up together in e??ight-person lobbies. PS4 was the lone man out this whole time, as cross-play was implemented between the other three a while ago. 

The other m??ajor addition is the introduction of a proper spectator mode. After finishing their matches in these mini-tournaments, players can zip over to other matches that?? are still in progress to watch that action. It's better than waiting in the queue for your next opponent.

Battle for the Grid has been getting increasingly more robust and feature-heavy ever since its launch in March 2019. Also, it's being taken more seriously as a competitive fighter. A professional Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid league just debuted a couple weeks ago. The season will end in Las Vegas at EVO 2020 (although not actually as a part of the EVO tournament itself).

For a full list of changes today's changes, check out the Version 2.0 patch notes.

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Yes, they're really calling it that

In a surprise update, the latest patch for NetherRealm Studios' Mortal Kombat 11 includes a beta for a new "Krossplay" feature, which will allow players on PS4 and Xbox One? to battle it out against each other.

The new feature is now live in the console editions of the gruesome fighter. All you need do is go into the Kasual Battle lobby and toggle the function from there. Unfortunately it does not appear that PC or Nintendo Switch players are included in the player pool at this moment in time. You can find out full details on the krossplay feature over on the official Warner Bros. blog.

Also of note, the update includes the option to unlock Raiden as an in-game announcer, joining the currently available roster of Shao Kahn, Kronika, and Johnny Cage. It was also revealed at last night's Game Awards that the next DLC character, Joker, will arrive in early access on Jan?uary 28.

Mortal Kombat 11?? is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One and?? Nintendo Switch.

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Better Together (eventually)

It's taken some time, but the PS4 port of globally-popular build-'em-up Minecraft will be updated to the "Bedrock Edition" tomorrow, finally allowing the same cross-play features that the Xbox One, Nintend??o Switch and mobile editions have been enjoying for almost two years.

When PlayStation first rolled out its own cross-play capabilities, the brand drew ire from fans for not teaming up with its contemporaries on games such as Minecraft and Fortnite, coincidentally two of the biggest games in the world. Although Sony would eventually relent and allow cross-play for Fortnite, (along with other major releases such as Rocket League and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare), PS4 owners would remain locked out of the global Minecraft party.

Once the free update goes live, PS4 Minecraft players will be able to play, build and interact with users on PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and mobile, further widening the community and no doubt increasing the game's global reputation. It should be noted that, speaking with Eurogamer, Microsoft confirmed that PS4 players will require a Microsoft or Xbox login in order to use the crosspla??y feature.

Finally, PlayStation gets cro??ss-platform Minecr?aft tomorrow [Eurogamer]

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Don't party too hard while on pretendtowanna, sometimes you do things you don't wanna!

While Lyle continues to?? celebrate the death of Thoth, here's what's been happ??ening in video games this past week that are featured in this episode:

• Jeff Kaplan has Tracer as his pick for Smash!
• An Uncharted movie is still happening (yes, really)!
• Meanwhile, Sony is finally allowing developers to develop crossplay with the PS4 in mind and more!

In this bold new world ?of Earth 325-b without any knowledge or god of knowledge, people have been reborn into the world as blank slates. Completely clueless to their surroundings, who they once were, or what they were even doing the second Thoth was murdered by Lyle. It's terrifying.

But, a select few?? are rediscovering video games for the first time all over and it's pretty magical to witness firsthand. Thankfully, we backed up this existing universe from which you're reading this very pos?t before the effects of Thoth's death. We're always a step ahead.

Discharged question of the week: Which video game do you wish you could forget and rediscover all over? Personally, I'd love to re-experience Red Dead Redemption 2 all over again. Simply exploring that world until the early hours of the morning only to be mauled by a grizzly that popped?? out of a cabin door is still one of my favorite highlights from tha?t game.

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'PlayStation is the best way to play'

Sony is in a precarious spot with full all-console cross-play. Very few games support it (basically Fortnite, Rocket League and Dauntless, which are all Epic-hosted or Epic-owned, as well as PUBG), and even fewer projects are confirmed to support it on the horizon. But with the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare coming up next month, that outlook could change.

As reported by Wired, Sony has now taken the cross-play feature "out of beta." The publisher isn't officially announcing this (oddly), but it seems as if the door could be cracked open for games like Elder Scrolls: Legends, which Bethesda will not put on a Sony platform unless full cross-play is supported. Chucklefish's CEO, among other indie developers, have also chided Sony for the closed garden approach that Microsoft t?ook in previous genera?tions.

Sony needs to prepare for th??e incoming next-??gen war, and actually supporting cross-play is a good start. Microsoft could easily turn things around with a killer Project Scarlett E3, and Nintendo is steadily earning its fans back with the Switch and Switch Lite (and possibly a Switch Pro).

PlayStation Doubles Down on Cloud Gaming Star??ting ..?. Now [Wired]

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A surprising development

Tokyo Game Show kicks off this Thursday but already companies are dropping trailers for some highly-anticipated, upcoming games. Last night, Square Enix showed off its latest trailer for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition that details some of the new features players can expect from it. In addition to online co-op, new dungeons and bosses, and new voice-overs, the trailer also confirms we will be able to team up across platforms with the cross-pla??y function.

Only problem: It doesn't specify which platf??orms will utilize t?he feature.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition will launch on January 23,? 2020, for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo ?Switch, Android, and iOS. Hopefully, cross-platform play is implemented for all versions of this game. I'd hate to see those who buy it on one specific console be kept out of the fun.

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