Cruelty Squad’s aesthetic sure was a thing. It presents this tone evocative of a K-Mart bargain bin that has awoken with an appetite for human flesh. A lot of that was its insulting visuals, but it was backed by the most uncomfortably bizarre music. Well, you can just listen to that music if you want. If you want.

That’s because the Cruelty Squad soundtrack has penetrated streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. I’m listening to it right now and have been transported back to a particular pocket of Web 1.0 where teenagers attempted to recreate video game music while chewing on their grandmother’s prescription drugs. It haunts me. It’s both nostalgic and agonizing. I feel like I could end this article just by typing out the screams inside of me. But I won’t. Here’s what I said about it in my coronavirus-trapped 2021 review:

“It’s this mix of low-quality MIDI and uncomfortable sounds. Disturbing is probably the best way to describe it. Even at its most musical, it tends to clash with the murder on screen. Sounds just creep into the background, and it’s hard to be sure if they’re part of the music or something in the environment is about to jump you.�/p>

Does that sound like something your kids would listen to? Is this what passes for music these days? It’s 27 tracks and 49 minutes long. What’s the opposite of meditation? That??’s what this is. Listen to such hits as, uh, “Combat Cocktail�which begins with what sounds like someone chewing on a live eel; a sound that bleeds into the background to support the percussion. It's the perfect way to let your guests know that it's time to leave.

Gosh, this is great. This is music to work to. I’m so glad that Consumer Softproducts sold out to Big Streaming. Now I can feel uncomfortable while cooking or organizing my collection of toenail clippings. Listen to the Cruelty Squad OST on S??potify, Apple Music, Ama??zon Music, and maybe other places where music is streamed.

The post You can sand off your ears with the Cruelty Squad OST on streamin??g services appeared first on Destructoid.

Even if you’re not yet playing Hades 2 via Early Access, you can get in on the experience by way of your earholes. Supergiant Games has uploaded the entire soundtrack to YouTube so you can get a listen.

I’ve been playing Hades 2 for the past week or so. I’m not sure how much I should give away, but suffice it to say, there’s a song in there that? you experience on every run. It’s called �a href="//youtu.be/N7QSavYWEE0?feature=shared" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coral Crown�and it is quite the earworm. Unco?mfortably so, since after I heard that the soundtrack was available, my first response was, “Oh no,�because now I wouldn’t ha??ve to play through a run just to get to the spot where the song plays.

I’m listening to it now. I’ll probably be listening to it a few times more throughout the day. And the??n I can guarantee you that it will be echoing around in there for a few days. I already had it stuck in my head, but now it’s going to be louder and I’ll know the lyrics.

The soundtrack is composed by Supergiants�in-house musician, Darren Korb, and it’s ano??ther banger. It’s broadly atmospheric and varied. More importantly, it’s extremely listenable outside the context of the game itself. I recommend giving it a try.

Hades 2 is available now on PC via Early Access. The soundtrack can now be streamed from YouTube.

The post The Hade??s 2 soun?dtrack is available to stick into your ears on YouTube appeared first on Destructoid.

One of the appeals of Stardew Valley is its chill soundtrack. Accompanying players while they farm crops, talk to neighbors, and go exploring, the musical score is such an integral part of the game that a Festival of Seasons tour was ??announced last month. However, demand has been so high that the developer has added in more dates.

In a rec?ent post on the website-formerly-known-as-Twitter, Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone has said the global orchestral tour has been expanded, adding new dates?? and locations.

Looking at the image, we can see additional shows have been added in Toronto, Los Angeles, Melbourne, London, and more. There are also now stops in New Zealand, Paris, Berlin, Manchester, Tokyo, and plenty of others. The tour will begin in Los Angeles on February 16. Tickets go on sale on December 1.

Might want to get yours in quick

The Stardew Valley tour is a celebration of the melodies that have become an iconic part of the farming simulator. The official website describes the upcoming event as an "intimate, immersive live concert featurin?g fresh arrangements of the most cherished songs from the game's mesmerizing soundtrack."

You may, however, need to get a ??move on if you do want ??tickets. Some of the major cities have already sold out, which is most likely what spurred the addition of extra days in these locations.

In other news, there's still no word on when the next major patch for Stardew Valley is inbound. Barone has said that update 1.6 is in development, but it will only be released when it's good and ready. And rightly so. The developer is also working on a new project, which we know next to nothing about other than it's called the Haunted Chocolatier.

The post Due to popular demand, Stardew V?alley? orchestral tour is adding more dates appeared first on Destructoid.

We all heard the news. Quake 2 has been officially remastered, and non-other than Nightdive Studios was responsible for its creation. While the contents of id Software??'s classic game are enough to keep us satiated (especially those of us who love the original 1997 release), there'??s something else to look forward to.

In a recent post on Twitter, Laced Records, a company that specializes in vinyl soundtracks for video games, is unleashing Quake 2's music. The tweet links to the website, which shows there are two versions, one of which will be?? a limited e??dition.

//t?witter.com/Laced_audio/status/1689683030313500672

While both of them will set you back $38 each, the limited edition press will feature "two solid red and orange A-side/B-side effect LPs," which looks pretty fancy judging by the?? images.

When can I get it?!

Hold your horses. This Quake 2 vinyl is not out just yet. The website says both versions will be released in January 2024, but you can pre-order yours now.

The soundtrack to the game is quite memorable, heading much more into rock/metal territory than the NIN ambient sounds of the first Quake game. Q2's music was conducted by Sonic Mayhem (who also did soundtracks to games like The Division and Deux Ex: Mankind Divided) and Jer Sypult. Horror ??director and musician Rob Zombie also contributed to the game's main theme.

It may be more than two and a half decades old, but Quake 2 is an important part of 90s gaming, especially in the FPS genre. Okay, it may not have had the same impact as the first Quake or the OG Doom entrie??s, but it's still a classic, and now we have a remaster (and soon the vinyl) we can enjoy.

The post Q???uake 2 limited edition vinyl can be yours to own soon appeared first on Destructoid.

The Undertale creator shares some of his latest musical creations

The latest Pokémon game is out in the wild, and players have been exploring the new region of Paldea. As it so happens, some of the tunes playing while they roam around this Pokémon world were penned by Toby Fox, the creator of Undertale.

Fox announced he'd be working on Scarlet and Violet's soundtrack before the game's release. Now, Fox has shared his exact contributions in a newsletter mailing list that he spun up for fans of Undertale and Deltarune. (Destructoid has received a copy of this because yes, I would like to receive news about Undertale and Deltarune.)

In it, the developer writes that he had the honor of making a few songs for the game. These include the tracks "Tera Raid Battles", the "Academy Ace Tournament", and "Battle! Zero Lab". (Beware of spoilers if you go digging ??into that last one, by the way.)

Fox also composed "Area Zero", which was re-arranged by Pokémon composer Go Ichinose. Fox also apparently wrote a "majestic theme melody" for the song "Academy", which ended up used as a field theme for the game. All songs using t??he melody were made by other composers.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK20iZfOU1k

Turn up the PokéTunes

I had a sneaking suspicion that certain tunes in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, particularly the ones that play during the endgame section, had to ??include contributions from Toby Fox. So ??it's nice to have those guesses validated.

This isn't the first time Fox has contributed to a Pokémon game, as Sword and Shield also had tunes from Fox in the soundtrack. But it's nice to see this collaboration continue, and especially see how it's helped shape the sonic direction of Pokémon.

As for Fox's personal projects, Deltarune is still in development. We heard earlier this year that there won't be another chapter in 2022, and Fox confirms as much in his newsletter. There's a lot of minutiae in the update, but it sounds like progress is proceeding apace for Deltarune. Until then, we'll always have Area Zero to hold u??s over.

The post Toby Fox dis??cusses his musical contributions to Pokémon Scarlet? and Violet appeared first on Destructoid.

A new development in the ongoing Doom controversy

Last week, video game composer Mick Gordon issued a lengthy statement detailing his side of the behind-the-scenes details of Doom Eternal's soundt?rack. Tod??ay, Bethesda issued its response.

In Gordon's post, the composer alleges that id Software failed to pay him for part of the game's soundtrack. He also specifically cites executive producer Marty Stratton's letter from 2020 as a statement full of "lies, disinformation, and innuendo." Issues arose after fans noted sound mixing discrepancies in the Doom Eternal soundtrack.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a9E3n_VZRQ

Gordon's? statement is lengthy, going into detail about the harassment he received from fans following the statement. He also alleges crunch and being berated over a call during the development proc??ess. In his conclusion, Gordon says that he has afforded Stratton and the company "ample opportunity" to address the issue, and by publishing the blog, he's exercising his right to defend himself.

"I never quit Doom," wrote Gordon. "I quit a toxic client."

Bethesda responds

Today, Bethesda issued an official statement on its social channels. In it, the company says Gordon "both mischaracrerized and misrepresented the team at id Software, the development of Doom Eternal, Marty Stratton, and Chad Mossholder" with his account.? The studio goes on to say the professional relationship is irreparable, and says statements online have incited harassment and threats of violence.

Gordon did post a follow-up, on November 10, saying that the team's work deserves celebration, and "their efforts should not be the? target of a protest."

//twitter.com/bethesda/status/1592971214817222656?t=YNQT9??SUW12A?vqW142mOKig

Bethesda, in its statement, backs Stratton, Mosshol??der, and id Software. "We reject the distortion of the truth and selective presentation of incomplete 'facts,'" said the company. "We stand ready with full and complete documented evidence to disclose in an appropriate venue as needed."

The post Bethesda responds to Mick Gordon’s allegations over the Doom Eternal soundtrack appeared first on Destructoid.

Elden Ring's music like you've never heard it before

Elden Ring was far and away one of the biggest games of 2022, and is one of the frontrunners for Game of the Year. Every aspect of the game is incredibly well-thought out, from the art to the gameplay to the enemies. Bandai Namco, however, seems especially proud of the music from Elden Ring, because they're hosting a special jazz concert to showcase some of the most popular songs and "recognizable melodies from the game's soundtrack??.

The event is called Elden Ring: A Night In The Lands Between, and will be for one night only on December 3 at The Bourbon Room in Los Angeles. The iconic melodies will be performed by musicians led by award-winning saxophonist Kenny Garrett, as well as jazz upcomer and trumpeter Takuya Kuroda. Tickets are on sale now for the in-person event, ranging anywhere from $75, known as the "Tarnished" tier, to the $200 "Elden Lord tier that also gets you a poster, a t-shirt, dinner, and VIP seating. If you're unable to make it, you can also get access to a livestream of the event for $25, or ?to a VOD available after the concert for?? $15 -- the catch is that the stream is only available to fans in the United States.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1LwS0UHJnA

It seems that video game concerts are becoming more and more popular these days, and as a fan of live music, I hope they keep it up. Playing games can be something of an isolating hobby, so the idea of getting out and appreciating music we know and love played by insanely talented musicians is absolutely an idea I can get behind. Given that Elden Ring's soundtrack is so orchestral, I'll be interested to see what it would sound like with a jazz spin as well. Here's hoping that game studios keep up the live music thing in the future, because making live music a more accessible activity is a ??win for everyone.

The post Elden Ring’s music gets a jazzy new twist at an upcoming concert from Bandai Namco appeared first on Destructoid.

Some fantastic songwriters are on board for this adventure

When Mario and the Rabbids hit the battlefield this October, they'll have some solid tracks backing them. During today's Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope showcase, Ubisoft unveile??d three well-known composers crafting the tunes behind the ba??ttles.

Grant Kirkhope, the BAFTA-nominated composer, is back for the new Mario + Rabbids game. Joining him to contribute to the soundtrack are Gareth Coker and Yoko Shimom??ur??a.

Coker accrued many accolades and recognition for his work on the Ori series. Shimomura, meanwhile, is a legendary name in the world of video game music with credits on everything from Final Fight and Live a Live to Kingdom Hearts and, particularly relevant, the Mario & Luigi RPG series. This trio of composers could mean very, very good things for the tunes of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope.

A tactical approach

Alongside what looks like a stellar lineup for the music, we also got a look at some more gameplay of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. It's still a tactical a??dventure, mixing action and platforming with a turn-based strate??gy system.

A few new faces are joining the fray, including the sword-wielding Rabbid Edge, the Rabbid version of Rosalina, and the big lizard himself: Bowser. Bowser was shown in yesterday's Nintendo Direct Mini, but today we got a little more ??of a ??look at him and his, uh, Bowzooka?

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_NLXtKToHg

With a release date set for this October 20, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is entering a fairly busy fall. But this new adventure looks like a fun, interesting twist on the systems of the first. With even more composer star-power behind it, Sparks of Hope might be one for ??Switch owners to watch out for this fall.

The post Mario + Rabbids Sparks ??of Hope unveils a stellar lineup of composers appeared first on Destructoid.

Get some good jams for your next world-record attempt

Neon White went live today, on Nintendo Switch and PC, for anime speedrunning freaks everywhere. But even if you're not into going fast in an anime world, you should also take some time to check out the Neon White OSTs from Machine Girl that hit Bandcamp today.

Artist Machine Girl composed not one, but two OSTs—or original soundtracks—for Neon White. They're the ??tunes that play in the background as you speed along, zipping from demon to demon and blazing through the outer limits of heaven. They're extremely good.

Check out this track, dubbed The Wicked Heart, from the first OST. It starts out at full throttle, with punchy drums and raw noise bleeding throughout the track. The melody drops in around the 1:13 mark and is one of my favorites in Neon White.

Or maybe you want something a little more chill. We can head on down to the Neon Bar in Neon White and catch some relaxed, easygoing beats. It's perfect for kicking back after a long day of setting?? r??ecords.

Tracks like Bloody Sneakers, the theme for Neon Violet, almost remind me of early PlayStation days. I think of the Racing Lagoon soundtrack, and in the best way possible.

Beats to blast your record in half

What I'm saying is, the Neon White OSTs are? a jam. It's already a contender for best soundtrack of the year, in my book.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0b-qZTF0Mc

As for Neon White itself, it's great. I've spent the last week setting and then besting my times, competing with other early players along the way. It's anime as heck, like the sort of series you'd find on a VHS tape in the '90s at your local mom-and-pop rental place. Suffice to say, if you like going fast, Neon White ??is worth your time—and it's got some killer beats, too.

The post The Neon White OSTs are on Bandcamp, and they’re fantastic appeared first on Destructoid.

More Toby Fox jams will back Pokemon Trainers' adventures

A new trailer for the next Pokemon entries, Scarlet and Violet, dropped this morning. Alongside the announcement, there was also confirmation that Undertale creator Toby Fox is lending his talents to the Pokemon series soundtrack again.

As confirmed on Twitter by Toby Fox himself, the composer put together the field music for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. "After creating a concept sketch, Game Freak arranged it into many versions that you'll hear throughout the game," Fox wrote. You can even hear a little bit of it in today's trailer.

//twitter.com/tobyfox/status/1532038920183205888

That's not all, either. In a follow-up tweet, Fox confirms that a "fe?w more" of his tracks will appear in the game too. "This time, my music is not optional!!!" he writes.

Filled with determination

These contributions aren't Fox's first time working on the Pokemon series. The developer and composer contributed a song for Pokemon Sword and Shield's soundtrack, specifically the theme for the Battle Tower. It's a pretty great track too.

That's not a huge surprise, given Undertale and Deltarune fans will happily tell you that the soundtracks for those games are also stellar. The tunes are so good, people have been trying to get the Pope to hear them. Knowing Fox is on the Scarlet and Violet soundtr??ack, and in a pretty s??ubstantial way, is exciting news.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7AmximCnRg

Fox has also had his work appear in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, after playing Smash with Sakurai no less.

As for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the reception to the trailer seemed pretty positive, especially for newcomer Lechonk. Which is fair, because Lechonk is ad??o?rable and perfect.

The new monster-training game debuted a host of new features this morning, including version-specific Professors, the new legendary Pokemon, and a focus on full-on co-op. Between the new generation and Pokemon Legends: Arceus launching earlier this year, it's going to be a Pokemon-filled year in gaming.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will launch on Nov. 18, 2022 for Nintendo Switch.

The post Undertale creator Toby Fox is contributing music to Pokemon Scarlet?? and Violet appeared first on Destructoid.

My mind is too fast for eyes...

While each and every title of the Persona franchise is typified by its delicious, captivating soundtracks, perhaps no entry blew up as that of 2016's Persona 5. In particular, battle theme "Last Surprise" was everywhere, with its? "You'll never see it com-innnnng" refrain going viral �borderline mainstream.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUWQFnC2zqU

Today, you can check out all of the smooth jazz stylings of the JRPG all over again, as the soundtracks for Persona 5 and its 2019 revamp, Persona 5 Royal, have been uploaded to the music streaming service Spotify. In addition, the OST for 2020 muso-like Persona 5 Strikers has also joined the party. That's well over 100 tracks and hours of slick grooves, ready and waiting to fulfill your heart-stealing, metaverse-running, reape??r-hunting needs.

With the addition of these Persona 5 scores, the Spotify Persona 5 playlist is almost complete. As previously noted by Siliconera, all that remains is the soundtrack to the great rhythm action title Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight. This remaining release is conspicuous by its absence, given that the scores for both Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 4: Dancing All Night are already available on the service. Ehh, I'm sure we'll get there all in good time. Until then, this Spotify collection will be a little kinder to your wallet than rolling out some major dough for the (admittedly awesome) Persona 25th Anniversary Boxset.

Now, if you'll excuse me, some gang?sta? is dissin' muh fly-girl.

The post The smooth grooves of Persona 5 now spinnin’ on Spotify appeared first on Destructoid.

Celebrating 25 years of fantastic tunes

As any Persona fan knows, the franchise's electrifying soundtrack is a key component of what makes each of the five mainline entries so completely?? memorable and iconic. As much a "character" as the many protagonists, villains, and love interests that the series has blessed us with.

In honor of the Persona series' 25th anniversary, merchandiser iam8bit has unveiled a vinyl soundtrack collection, which collates the scores of the five mainline entries in the beloved RPG franchise. The Persona 25th Anniversary Boxset offers up the haunting, dungeon-crawling tunes of the original Persona, to the bubblegum stylings of Persona 4, and the instantly recognizable jazz sound of Persona 5 �15 LPs, culminating in a??lmost nine hours of music. Each LP is individually colored in fitting with the tone of its respective game, and housed in sleeves featuring faithful art from iam8bit veteran artist Drew Wise. The collection is then housed with a super sleek, super stylish slipcase.

Ok, so it's damage time. The Persona 25th Anniversary Boxset will retail for $400 total. Alternately, fans can pick up Persona 3, Persona 4, or Persona 5 individually for $100 each, while Persona and Persona 2 are available in a double pack for $90. For those who may have already purchased the Persona 5 collection, iam8bit will be offering the opportunity to purchase the slipcase separately, so that you can complete your collection without double-dipping Persona 5.

Yes, it's expensive, but such is the way of vinyl in the modern age, which has seen something of a serious price hike in recent years. For 15 colored LPs, this price seems snug, (though that certainly doesn't mean it's cheap). If you're interested in bagging one of these gorgeous sets, then pre-orders open on December 14 over on the iam8bit store. Be sure to factor in shipping or any potential customs and handling charges. The Persona 25th Anniversary vinyl collection will ship ??in two waves, w??ith the first wave arriving in the third quarter of 2022.

The post iam8bit unveils sli?ck $400 Persona vinyl soundtrack collection appeared first on Destructoid.

It's a good day to put 'New World Order' on repeat

Danganronpa Decadence is out today, bringing three mainline Danganronpa games and a newly e?xpanded side game to the Nintendo Switch. It's a good day to dive into these murder-mystery adven??tures and discover some truth amongst the despair, but you know what? It's also a good reminder that these soundtracks from composer Masafumi Takada are absolute, front-to-back bangers.

As I was booting up the newest addition to the Danganronpa family this morning, jetting off to a summer vacation in Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp, I heard some familiar tunes start to play. The tabletop-RPG hybrid is pretty fan service-y so far, bringing together the casts of Trigger Happy Havoc, Goodbye Despair, Killing Harmony, and Ultra Despair Girls.

As different characters popped up on the screen, different themes and melodies played for specific ones, like the telltale theme for the Monokubs. And it wasn't long before I went d?own? a rabbit hole of soundtrack nostalgia.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5AZFDBdQKQ

If you haven't played the series, the mainline Danganronpa games—or at least, three of the four included in this Decadence collection—center around a bunch of young prodigies held in captivity, forced to play ?a deadly game. If they can kill a fellow classmate and get away with it, they get to leave; but if their classmates can prove who-dunnit in a Class Trial, only the m?urderer is punished.

It's a pretty dark series that still has a lot of heart. The cast often struggles to keep hope alive in finding a way out, or developing some form of peaceful coexistence, while always fretting that a murderer is lurking among them. Comparisons to other text-heavy adventures like Phoenix Wright are pretty easy to draw, though I think their overlap is less about both series frequently involving reasoning and deduction, and more about how they use mysteries a??nd trial settings to dr?ive a larger story.

A key part of this is the music. I was talking with fellow Danganronpa aficionado Chris Moyse this morning, and he made a point that Danganronpa's characters have very straightforward animations for the most part. Text windows are punctuated with exaggerated character stills, but a large part of the broader mood-setting in Danganronpa is with its soundtracks. Take 'Beautiful Days,' which often plays when the vibe is pe??acefu??l and you're just hanging out, chatting with other Ultimate students.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5K9CIf-XoQ

This is contrasted by 'Beautiful Dead,' which starts to amp up the tension. It's still got an open exploration feel to it, but the long drawn-out chords tug a little a bit. You can feel a little bit of the anxie??ty as each chord stretches out.

Then, of course, we get to the trial music. The Danganronpa series soundtracks have some excellent trial music, really heightening the frantic debates and wild accusations that get thrown around as the Ultimates argue over who could have killed another student. A favorite of mine arrived in the most recent Danganronpa entry, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, with its Debate Scrum. When the opinion of the room gets evenly split, the sides g??o in??to a face-off where you have to fire retorts back and forth. And as the platforms go up into the sky, the music just ramps higher and higher until it breaks out into an all-out scrum.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh0F4X1Ru1k

What Danganronpa does so well with its music is establish cues and moods early on, and then use them to instill a sense of dread or surprise. It's to the point that a certain set of numbers makes me hear 'New World Order' in my head. Across the soundtracks, it veers around different musical styles and genres, capturing a lot of the absurdity a??nd despair of?? the events of the series.

With the collection out today, a new group of console owners have a good opportunity to play these games. And there's also the summer camp board game, too. I've only played a bit of it, but so far it seems like a fan service-heavy expansion of the V3 side game.

But if you do hop in today, make sure you're playing with the sound on. I know it's tempting to just second-screen something when you're playing a Switch game, but the Danganronpa soundtrack is well worth making all the noise those lil' S??witch speakers can make.

The post The Dangan?ronpa series hits Switch t??oday, and its soundtracks are still incredible appeared first on Destructoid.

Hello darkness, my old friend...

One of the many elements that makes Acid Nerve's dungeon-crawling adventure Death's Door so dramatic, immersive, and charming is its brilliant score, soundtracking our young reaper's journey into a very gloomy yet wryly comic world. And if that also describes your own personal living environment, then you're in luck, as the Death's Door OST is now available to pre-order in vinyl for??mat, courtesy of publisher Devolver Digital and labe??l Laced Records.

The triple-LP package contains 50 tracks pulled from David Fenn's haunting score �pressed to disc and packaged in a slick sleeve featuring artwork by designer Frits Olsen. Each LP comes in its own individual sleeve, emblazone?d with the image of the game's memorable and unsettling boss characters, The Urn Witch, The Frog King, and the tough-as-nails "Betty."

Interested parties can pre-order the Death's Door vinyl right now directly from Laced Records via the Devolver Digital store, where it retails for £45 GBP,?? (or roughly $60 USD). You can also find a complete track listing for the collection, from its somber title music, to its exciting guardian confrontation themes, to the tones of its intense, world-shattering climax. Just remember that is only the pre-order stage, with the vinyl itself not expected to ship until the summer of 2022... Don't worry, you'll still love the game by the??n.

Death's Door ?is available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nin?tendo Switch.

The post Death’s Door vinyl soundtrack now available to pre-order appeared first on Destructoid.

Final Fantasy, Nier, and more were on deck

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics hosted their opening ceremony today, officially kicking off the festivities in Japan. As part of the ceremony, the athletes all? entered the stadium bearing their nation's flags. And if you've been playing vi?deo games for a while, the music for the Parade of Nations might have sounded a little familiar.

The tunes that swept through the arena included a bunch of cuts from video games from the host country. So yes, you did hear the Victory Fanfare from Final Fantasy and the Song of the Ancients from Nier.

//twitter.com/SamMaveri?ckMac/statu??s/1418537668380614658

//twitter.com/Jord??anOloman/status/141854758??8958203915

//twitter.com/TailsChannel/sta??tus/141854487223??6232712

//twitt??er.com/T??ropicalMaku/status/1418548671453351936

Here's a short track list of the medley that played today, courtesy of Nikkei Asia:

• Dragon Quest "Overture: Roto's Theme"
• Final Fantasy "Victory Fanfare"
• Tales of series "Sorey's Theme - The Shepherd"
• Monster Hunter "Proof of a Hero"
• Kingdom Hearts "Olympus Coliseum"
• Chrono Trigger "Frog's Theme"
• Ace Combat "First Flight"
• Tales of series "Pomp and Majesty"
• Monster Hunter "Wind of Departure"
• Chrono Trigger "Robo's Theme"
• Sonic the Hedgehog "Star Light Zone"
• Winning Eleven (Pro Evolution Soccer) "eFootball walk-on theme"
• Final Fantasy "MAIN THEME"
• Phantasy Star Universe "Guardians"
• Kingdom Hearts "Hero's Fanfare"
• Gradius (Nemesis) "01 ACT I-1"
• NieR "Song of the Ancients"
• SaGa series "The Orchestral SaGa - Legend of Music"
• Soulcalibur "The Brave New Stage of History"

I appreciate the inclusion of Sonic tunes a little bit more than usual, after playing some of this year's 2020 Tokyo Olympics video game. Though sadly, I don't think the mascot costume will make an appearance on the track at the actual games. Conspicuously, there was no Nintendo music played. You would think some of the songs from Mario, The Legend of Zelda, or even something like Fire Emblem would've made for good Parade of Nations tunes.

If you missed the event live and want to catch some of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics later, the opening ceremonies will air again on NBC tonight during primetime, at 7:30 p.m. ET. For those using streaming options, NBC also has an Olympics streaming hub.

The post The 2020 ?Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony featured some familiar video game tu?nes appeared first on Destructoid.

Uh-oh, I don't see RIDE THE TIGER anywhere...

One of the Virtua Fighter franchise's finest traits is without a doubt its awesome soundtrack. With each and every release, Sega has somehow managed to afford the series a cool new sound while never straying too far from its '90s roots. The soundtrack to the recently released Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown is no exception, with its own set list of ass-kicking tunes, perfect for all y??our "I'm constantly +2" needs.

And if you fancy listening to the Ultimate Showdown soundtrack while you're kicking ass in the real world, (or maybe just washing the car... shopping... taking out the bins), then you can, as Sega is releasing the Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown soundtrack in Japan on June 24. The double CD set features 29 tracks taken from Ultimate Showdown, while the second CD features the retro-tastic score from the original 1994 release of Virtua Fighter. Man?, th??at rave piano sure brings back some memories.

Sega has not yet confirmed whether it intends to bring the Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown soundtrack to the west �and in all honesty it seems very unlikely �so anybody wanting a copy might have to go down the import route. The OST is currently available to pre-order at several outlets, including Amazon Japan, w??here it ?retails for ¥3,300 (or roughly $30) not including shipping or any possible custom charges. Watch out for those... they'll getcha.

Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown is available now?? on PS4 as par??t of June's PlayStation Plus offerings.

The post Virtu??a Fighter 5: Ultim??ate Showdown soundtrack coming to Japan later this month appeared first on Destructoid.

The Sound of the Underground

One of the elements that makes FromSoftware's Demon's Souls so utterly engaging is its epic score, composed by the brilliant Shinsuke Kida. If you're both a Demon's Souls fan and one of those "It has a much 'fuller' sound" types, then you'll definitely be pleased to hear that the grim adventure's OST is now available to pre-or??der in sleek, double-LP vinyl format.

Published by Light in the Attic, the Demon's Souls Original Soundtrack features 21 tracks cut directly from the 2020 PlayStation 5 remake. The music is pressed onto high-qua?lity double vinyl, and presented in attractive gatefold packaging, complete with credit insert, and emblazoned with artwork of beloved Nexus guide, The Maiden in Black, as stylized by artist? Ken Taylor.

Pre-orders for this lavish release are now live at a selection of outlets, with several stores boasting their own exclusive colored vinyl designs. While the wide release is pressed with a golden amber hue, stores such as Channel 3, Mondo, Black Screen, Newbury Comics, and LITA itself have their own fascinating designs.  Whichever you choose, the Demon's Souls Original Soundtrack retails for around $35, not including sh?ipping charges, with a tentative release date of J??une 18.

Which one is your favorite? They all have thei??r charm. I can't dec??ide!

The post Sexy Demon’s Souls vinyl soundtrack now available to pre-order at select stores appeared first on Destructoid.

Eight and a half hours sounds like a lot until it all flies by

It's a rainy Friday afternoon, it's somehow almost March, and the weekend feels just out of reach. I want to shut off my brain and zone out to the wonderful Final Fantasy VII Remake soundtrack without bouncing around YouTube – doubly so in the aftermath of Intergrade. Anyone else in the mood?

Yesterday was overflowing with FFVII news and here's one more nugget: the Remake soundtrack is streaming on Spotify today. It's also on Amazon?? Music Unlimited?? and Apple Music if you prefer.

The tracks aren't the easiest to follow out of order – their titles are currently listed in Japanese by Square Enix – but you can use your intuition if you're pretty familiar with the flow of Remake.

Take us away, Uematsu. We're in your hands now.

Sad, funny story: I recently dropped my Spotify Premium because "I don't use it that much anymore." Less than 24 hours later, after trying out the free version once in my car, I was back. They got me. It had been many years since I used non-Premium and ??I didn't realize what I was in for; good timing, ?I guess.

The post Why yes, I *would* like to stream? the Final Fantasy VII Remake soundtrack on Spotify appeared first on Destructoid.

Makes you think about death and get sad and stuff

One of the key ingredients that makes missing-in-action brawler Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game so c??ompelling is its brilliant?? soundtrack. Composed by American chiptune artists Anamanaguchi, the OST is chock full of hard-rockin' tunes, blending the classic sounds of the arcade with modern melody to score Scott and friends' hard-hitting battle through Toronto.

And if you missed that opportunity to bag the soundtrack the first time around, fear not, as Limited Run Games has announced a second pressing of the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game soundtrack vinyl, to arri?ve alongside the scrolling braw?ler's long-awaited return.

The re-release will feature two colored-vinyl records, with the first being a repressing of the original 2010 release, while the second vinyl will feature a selection of previously unreleased tracks. So die-hard fans who already own the original record, might want to double-dip. The sleeve features wonderful art of Scott Pilgrim's memorable cast of char?acters, recreated by artists?? Julia Scott and Christy Frisby.

If you want in on the party, then pre-orders are open now over at the Limited Run Games store. The double-vinyl set is retailing for around $35 USD, while a package including an Anamaguchi shirt featuring Frisby's vibrant art will set you back around $55 USD. Pre-orders will remain open unt??il Februa?ry 23, with the soundtracks scheduled to ship early-summer.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game Complete Edition launches tomorrow, January 14 on PS4, PC, Xbox? One, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia. ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!...

The post Sco?tt Pilgrim soundtrac??k vinyl re-release available at Limited Run Games appeared first on Destructoid.

I want you to claw me as hard as you can

In today's contest you can win a Switch copy of Fight Crab and its soundtrack!

It's official: Fight Crab is pretty good! I mean, how could it not be? It's crabs fighting with h??uman weapons. Hard to screw that one up.

If you want to experience the game for yourself, you can either buy it (please do so these types of games keep getting made), or you can win it here! As a bonus, we've also got CD's of ??the?? soundtrack to give away with your digital copy. What more could you ask for?

The less I specifically say about this one the better, so here's a quick rundown. Crabs are strong and mean, and can now wield human weapons to destroy each other to obtain Ultimate Crab Power. It's simple.?? You're a crab, and you fight a bunch of other crabs. It's great and you're going to enjoy it! Read some bullet points so I can fill some space.

• Claw through a Campaign Mode with 34 stages spread out across 7 chapters, plus 7 tutorial stages.
• 23 types of playable crab, 48 different weapons and 11 unique battle stages.
• A variety of matchmaking options including 1v1, 2v2, and offline and online co-op and versus battle modes.
• Unlock special skills like the fabled Kanihameha, devastating Crab Copter and more.
• Level up your crab, recruit new crabs, and purchase deadly new weapons to build the ultimate crab warrior.
• Nintendo Switch Joy-Con motion controls let you freely manipulate limbs to punch, grab and flip your way to victory.
• Use Photo Mode to capture, share and immortalize epic confrontations and intense battles.

I am Crab's complete lack of surprise.

So, we're giving away three Switch copies of the game, and a physical CD of the soundtrack to accompany it! All's you have to do is use the widget below to enter. Be sure to check in daily for extra chance??s to win, and do all the other stuff I listed because why not?

Our three Switch keys are for NA Switch accounts; as this contains a physical prize, you must have a US ship?ping address in order to win. Our winners will be draw?n next Thursday, so enter now.

Fight Crab is available now on the Switch eShop.

Contest??: Win Fight Crab for Switch, and a copy of its cool??-as-shell soundtrack

The post Cont??est: Win Fight Crab for Switch, and a copy of its cool-as-shell soundtrack appeared first on Destructoid.

It's like candy for your ears

In today's contest, spoil your ears and win an EPOS GSX 300 External Sound Card!

My ears are weirdly sensitive, but I'm also oddly deaf. It's a?? really, really stupid combo that doesn't make any sense. I can feel bass in my eardrums from miles away and detect the smallest change in audio atmosphere like a big, white bat, but have to ask my wife to repeat herself several times because I can't hear her. I don't understand it at all.

So when EPOS gave me a few units of their GSX 300 External Sound Ca?rd, I didn't really know?? what to do with them. I thought about trading them on the black market for adult diapers, but figured I'd just give them away, instead.

Read abou??t this sound card because I honestly don't know what to say!

The GSX 300 external sound card is the first upgrade step for the gamer passionate about t??he quality of their game audio. For the gamer with a good quality headset that is seeking to invest in their gaming gear for better performance, ?without jumping off the top end in complexity and price, the GSX 300 external sound card will deliver the goods.

Used in line between the headset and the PC with, the GSX 300 delivers high resolution audio in stereo and customizable 7.1 surround s??ound with the PC gaming suite.

As most gamers know, high quality game audio which delivers realism and positional accuracy helps with your in-game reactions and performance. Level up your game audio and hence your game performance with the GSX 30?0 external sound card. A small investment in price, a huge advancement in your game audio and performance.

To enter to win, s??imply register using the widget below. You can enter daily. Bonus entries, click, yeah yeah yeah, you know what to do. Also, in the meantime, please tell me the proper usage of this. I'm a total idiot when it comes to computers, so I'm not entirely sure what one would do with this. I mean, I read the description and everything, but I need it in layman's terms.

We have two GSX 300 External Sound Cards - Snow Edition to give away. Winners will be ??drawn Monday, August 10. As this is a physical prize (that I'm shipping, myself) you'll need a U??nited States shipping address in order to qualify. Better luck next time, Canada.

Check out the EPOS GSX 300 External Sound Card for yourself over at the EPOS Store.

Contest: Win an EPOS GSX 300 External Sound Card

The post Contest: Win an EPOS GSX 300 External Sound Card appeared first on Destructoid.

'Bangers', fellow kids

One of the key elements that goes into making a classic Tony Hawk title is a great, memorable soundtrack. And while Activision's upcoming Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & 2 will feature most of (but not all) of the classic hits from the original PlayStation releases, the new OST will also be expanded with the addition of 37 new songs.

A gamut of genres will be featured in the remaster, with heavy leanings toward the skate-friendly ska-punk sound. Names even Old Man Moyse recognises lik?e Reel Big Fish, Sublime, The Ataris and A Tribe Called Quest will be joined by the likes of DZ Deathrays, Chick Norris and - checks notes - Viagra Boys. Back in my day, etc.

You can check out a select cut of the complete soundtrack right here on Spotify. I mean, we're all ?just going to be playing "Superman" by Goldfinger on a loop anyway, right?

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & 2 launches September 4 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Epic Ga??mes ?Store.

Get ready to turn up the volume 🔊 with a brand new expanded soundtrack coming to #THPS 1+2 🎧 Check out the incredible reveal event with @NoiseyMusic //t.co/F6yNmCcHzC Then drop in and go big listening to even more new artists in THPS 1+2 🎵 //t.co/MMEao4HMic pic.twitter.com/V9INrD9YH0

— Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 (@TonyHawkTheGame) July 28, 2020

The post Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2 soundtrack adds 37 bangers appeared first on Destructoid.

Digital and physical formats incoming

Square Enix has announced that the Kingdom Hearts III soundtrack will see its official release on November 11, offering up majestic and dramatic scores taken from the epic RPG sequel as well as a selection of recent Kingdom Hearts side-titles.

The soundtrack will feature the music of Kingdom Hearts III, Kingdom Hearts III ReMIND, Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, Kingdom Hearts Unchained X, and finally Kingdom Hearts Union Cross. While?? the full tracklist is yet to be revealed, the set will include somewhere in the region of 160 tracks taken from across the five titles.

The physical edition will consist of eight discs and will retail for ¥13,200, or roughly $125 USD. Pre-orders are open now at a variety of Japanese outlets including Tower Records, Amazon Japan, Sony Music Shop and Square's own digital store.? While the digital release has been described as "worldwide", seemingly no western retail store is offering pre-orders on the physical edition, so fans might have to bite the bullet on ??an import.

Kingdom Hearts III is available now on PS4 and Xbox One.

?Kingdom Hearts III? soundtrack set to release worldwide [KH13 for Kingdom Hearts]

『キングダム ãƒãƒ¼ãƒ„IIIã€ã®ã‚ªãƒªã‚¸ãƒŠãƒ«ãƒ»ã‚µウンドトラックãŒ2020å¹´11月11æ—¥ã«å…¨ä¸–ç•ŒåŒæ—¥ç™ºå£²æ±ºå®šï¼æœ¬æ—¥ã‚ˆã‚Šãƒ‘ッケージ版ã®äºˆç´„å—付を開始ã—ã¾ã™ã€‚

✨大ボリュームã®CD8枚組💿
✨ 有料DLC『 #KH3 リマインドã€ãƒªãƒŸãƒƒãƒˆã‚«ãƒƒãƒˆã‚¨ãƒ”ソード等ã®è¿½åŠ æ¥½æ›²ã‚‚åŽéŒ²ï¼

ðŸŒå•†å“HP //t.co/iE53Gfz6SU#_KH pic.twitter.com/kmCruVnug8

— SQUARE ENIX MUSIC (@sem_sep) July 27, 2020

The post Kingdom Hearts III soundtrack will finally see release in Novemb??er appeared first on Destructoid.

Chill beats to maneuver tetriminos to

The next time you're in The Mood, you can easily throw on the Tetris Effect soundtrack – it's now officially strea??ming through Bandcamp, Spotify, and YouTube. That's nearly three hours of good vibes.

In a post about the soundtrack's production, Tetris Effect composer Hydelic explained the big idea.

"Mizuguchi-san (our producer) and Ishihara-san (our director and art director) expressed the idea of taking you on a journey through your mind, consciousness, and emotions. 'This is like zen Tetris,' they said. From there, I set the theme for the sound and music as element??s that enhance your immersive experience or soothe, calm, and make you relax. Mizuguchi-san also emphasized 'timelessness' – sounds ?and compositions that are not 'on-trend,' but can be appreciated for many years to come."

I can't hear the Tetris Effect soundtrack without picturing the individual levels, each of which has its own aesthetic – the music and visuals are that inseparable to me. The first level, Deep Sea, went through "over 10 music tracks" until the team arrived at "Connected (Yours Forever)." It was so worth it.

I'm pumped to have 🎵 Nothing can stop us. Nothing can stop us. We can touch the sky! 🎵 stuck in my head for the rest of the day. "Look Up" isn't my favorite???? track, but dang does it stick with me.

[Bandcamp] [Spotify] [YouTube]

The post You can add the Tetris Effect soundtrack to your streamin??g rotation appeared first on Destructoid.

The 2020 remaster got most of the way there with the track list

If you were anxious or curious about the soundtrack for this year's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 remaster, wonder no more: Activision released a "first look" at the track list on Spotify today.

• "Police Truck" by Dead Kennedys
• "Superman" by Goldfinger
• "Jerry was a Racecar Driver" by Primus
• "New Girl" by The Suicide Machines
• "Here & Now" by The Ernies
• "Euro-Barge" by The Vandals
• "Blood Brothers" by Papa Roach
• "Guerilla Radio" by Rage Against the Machine
• "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" by Naughty by Nature
• "You" by Bad Religion
• "When Worlds Collide" by Powerman 5000
• "No Cigar" by Millencolin
• "Cyclone" by Dub Pistols
• "May 16" by Lagwagon
• "Subculture" by Styles of Beyond
• "Heavy Metal Winner" by Consumed
• "Evil Eye" by Fu Manchu
• "Five Lessons Learned" by Swingin' Utters

Along with these 18 tracks, Activision also shared ??a promo image with a few more n??ames.

I see you, Sp?eedealer. And that goes for you too, Evenrude.

THPS wouldn't be nearly as iconic or groundbreaking without its soundtrack. That's a ?fact of life. At the same time – licensing being the mess that it is – there were bound to be omissions like "Cyco Vision" and "Bring the Noise." Those cuts hurt in such a nostalgic remaster, but I'm pleasantly surprised overall.

Do you feel old listening to these time-capsule tracks? Embrace it! ?It's the mood of 2020.

The post Spotify is streaming the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 soundtrack appeared first on Destructoid.

Signs language

In today's contest you can win unique deckbuilding narrative adventure game Signs of the Sojourner!

There are plenty of card games on the market these days -- hell, the genre practically blew up a few scant years ago. Most focus on using decks to demolish foes, ??cast spells,? and crumble empires. But where's the nuance of it all?

Enter Signs of the Sojourner. This deckbuilder guides player??s through an emotional narrative using cards to make or break connections with its denizens. This one looks and sounds really neat, so we're giving a??way both the game and the OST!

Read all about it below:

Left with only a family-owned bodega and memories after your mother's passing, embark on an adventure into a hopeful, near-future world ravaged by ?climate change. Meet a diverse cast of charming and quirky characters while journeying through an eccentric, colorful land ??by caravan. Along the way, seek out goods to bring home and sell in the family store, keeping the town afloat with rare treasures, tasty snacks, and other interesting goods. Forge bonds, connect with old friends as well as mysterious strangers, and change the story to come.

Conversations between characters, driven by an emotive deck of cards, unlock the way forward. Adapt to different communication styles by matching symbols using empathy, logic, and other approaches, to create long-lasting friendships or even make enemies. Every conversation changes your voice, or i??n this case, your deck, asking you to grow from the encounter by leaving a piece ??of your deck behind while moving forward with something new.

I love it when a game goes against genre norms.

To enter to win your copy, use the widget below to leave your name and email address. You can enter daily. For bonus entries, click around in the widget, and be sure to check out PC Invasion for even more chances to win.

We have five Steam keys for the game and OST to?? give ??out; winners will be drawn May 20.

Signs of the Sojourner is available now for PC.

Dtoid Contest: Speak with? your cards in unique deckbuilding adventure Signs of the Sojourner

The post Contest: Speak with your cards i?n unique deckbuilding ??adventure Signs of the Sojourner appeared first on Destructoid.

Movin' round while you just prattlin'

There's something wildly addictive about the music of the Persona series, what with its slick samples, block-rockin' beats and fucking baffling lyrics. These infectious rhythms are made non-more-evident than in the great trilogy of titles that make up the Persona Dancing series on PS4 and PS Vita.

And if you wanted to listen to all of the hits from 2018's Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight at whim, then you're in luck,?? as this June will see the release of both titles respective OSTs in Japan, which will be made available in both standard format and a resplendent box set.

The standard edition is a double CD set featuring a selection of tracks from both games, along with brand new remixes, and the Persona Dancing ex??clusive versions of rare franchise tracks such as "Let's Go! Phoenix Ranger Featherman". This edition will retail for around ¥3,500 (roughly $35 USD).

For collectors, the "Advanced CD Collector's Box" will feature four CDs - every single track from both games - as well as a Blu-Ray of the "Persona Show Case Shijou Saikyou no Shimai Genka" 2018 concert, all h??oused in sleek gatefold packaging. This edition will retail for around ¥9,800, (roughly $90 USD).

Unfortunately, it appears that neither set will contain the score for Persona 4: Dancing All Night, although it has been previously made available in you want to seek it out. The Persona Dancing standard editions and Advanced CD Collector's Box will launch in Japan on June 24, and are available to pre-order now at retailers such as CDJapan.

Persona soundtrack launching this June [COG Connected]

The post You can BabyBa??byBabyBabyBaby to the Persona Dancing soundtracks this June appeared first on Destructoid.

CD and vinyl sets available at Square Enix Store

As any Final Fantasy VII fa??n would tell you, the classic RPG's soundtrack is as much an integral character as Cloud, ??Tifa, or Aerith. A sweeping score of beautiful, emotive tunes, effectively punctuating the drama of the story, and staying with you long after the final credits roll.

Square Enix also understands this, and as such is giving the regal treatment to the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Remake's accompanying OST release. The soundtrack set features seven CDs, packed with over 150 music tracks taken from the new edition of this timeless adventure. The full track listing is available right here, but watch out for potential spoilers.

The OST will be available in two formats, both are which are undeniably slick. The first-print "Buster Sword" set will include a bonus disc, a Midgar art card, and more intricate packaging, based on hero Cloud?? Strife's iconic, oversized blade, this will be eventually replaced by a still classy-looking standard edition, which foregoes the bonus disc.

For vinyl fans, it's worth remembering that Square Enix also has a double-LP set available for purchase right now. This set includes two picture discs featuring a selection of tracks taken from both Final Fantasy VII Remake and the 1997 PlayStation release.

All of the above sets are available to pre-order/purchase over o??n the Square Enix Store, each priced at $77.77 USD. This price does not include shipping or any potential customs charges?. The soundtrack sets are expected to ship on May 27.

Final Fantasy VII Remake launches on PS4 April 10.

The post Final Fantasy VII Remake reveals sleek ‘Buster Sword’ soundtrack set appeared first on Destructoid.

A celebration of the whole dang series

Need more Witcher stuff in you???r life? Sure you do! It's time to get cozy.

CD Projekt RED is giving out a massive collection of art, soundtracks, wallpapers, and making-of videos for the whole video game series. You can download the Witcher Goodies Collection until 7:00 a.m. Pacific on March 18, 2020. Once claimed (from the GOG.com front page), you'll be able to download digital "goodie" packs for The Witcher, The Witcher 2, The Witcher 3, and Thronebreaker.

There's also an up-to-4K download for the two-hour Witcher 3 concert that was performed in Kraków, Poland. Basically, if you're a fan, there's a lot to pore over.?? These digital packs are in the 3–4GB range.

As Ice-T would put it, this is "Gamer Stuff" through and through.

I downloaded the Witcher 3 goodie pack out of curiosity. It includes a pdf of the art book, additional art pieces, avatars, comics, character renders, wallpapers, a world map, paper toys, trailers, music, and a compendium. If nothing else, you'll want to nab the soundtracks for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Hearts of Stone, and Blood and Wine – they're available in mp3 and flac form. Again, that's just one pack.

CD Projekt RED's games are also heavily discounted thanks to GOG's 2020 Spring Sale. If you??'re looking to stock up ??on those or other PC titles right now, note that this sale runs until March 30, 2020.

The post GOG is givin?g out The Witcher soundtracks, wallpapers, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

You can buy and download a soundtrack without the base game

In a long-overdue? change, Valve is improvin?g the way soundtracks are handled through Steam.

Under the previo??????????????????????????us structure, soundtracks on Steam were classified internally as DLC, a decision that initially made some sense but has proven to be prohibitive for developers and ?users alike.

Going forw??ard, developers can use a new "soundtrack"?? app type. Here's what that means for us:

• Customers can now purchase soundtracks without purchasing the base game.
• Customers can now download soundtracks without downloading the base game.
• Customers can browse and manage their owned and downloaded soundtracks directly from the new Steam library.
• Customers can configure a Steam "music" directory where all soundtrack content will be placed, rather than having to locate it in subdirectories of game content.
• Developers can upload and manage soundtrack content entirely through the partner site, without using steamcmd.
• Developers can sell soundtracks where the base game itself is not available for sale on Steam.

Buying and listening to music on Steam is going to be much less of a chore,? in other words.

Aside from those user-experience fixes, Steam is promising several new features for soundtracks. Developers will be able to incorporate multiple qualit?y levels (so users can opt-in for high-quality audio files), and there's the ability to offer "bits of associated content, including? album art and liner notes."

On the front end, Valve is also ro???lling out a minimalist UI for soundtracks in the Steam library.

Existing Steam soundtracks won't be automatically upgraded with the new features, but Valve is providing developers with a conversion tool to make the "DLC"-to-"soundtrack" transition easier.

"This is an initial rele?ase of these features for partners," the company explained in a post to the Steamworks Development group. "We're planning on launching these features in a wider way, including a sale event, on January 20. We're excited to release, even in this early state, so we can get more feedback from both partners and customers and figure out what makes sense to do next."

Steam Soundtrack Updates [Steamworks Development]

The post Steam is finally giving soundtracks some much-needed l?ov?e appeared first on Destructoid.