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‘Dark Souls Trilogy’ collection is coming to PS4 and Xbox One
The critically-acclaimed Dark Souls series is getting a three-disc bundle release for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 later this year. Dark Souls Trilogy will include the remastered original, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin and Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition. Publisher Bandai Namco is promising "all DLC content" too, making this a pretty definitive collection for fans of the FromSoftware franchise. It's an obvious move, though one that could rile some players — Dark Souls: Remastered was only released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC in May, and the Switch version comes out on October 19th, the same day as Dark Souls Trilogy.
'Devil May Cry 5' hits Xbox One, PS4 and PC on March 8th, 2019
Devil May Cry 5 is due to land on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on March 8th, 2019, Capcom announced today during the special Gamescom edition of the Inside Xbox livestream. Devil May Cry 5 is the sequel to Devil May Cry 4, which came out in 2008, and it marks the return of series shepherd Hideaki Itsuno as director. Ninja Theory briefly took over the franchise with DmC: Devil May Cry in 2013, and while Devil May Cry 5 takes some styling tips from that game, it doesn't follow its storyline directly.
The latest Xbox One gamepad innovation: trigger grips
As sure as the sun sets, Microsoft spent some time at Gamescom talking about a new variant of its killer Xbox One gamepad. This time, it's one themed around PlayerUnknown's BattleGrounds. But rather than just being a superficial upgrade as is the norm, this one features a functional embellishment too: a grippy texture on the tops of the triggers. Cool. There's also a subtle digital camo pattern replete with scuffs and scrapes from battle. The metallic D-pad shows a similar kind of wear, and there's a blue-zone-esque circle around the left thumbstick. It ships in October and pre-orders are open right now.
'Shenmue III' makes its long-delayed debut on August 27th, 2019
The long-awaited, crowdfunded Shenmue III was originally supposed to arrive by December 2017, but that clearly never came to pass -- delays have pushed it back two years. The developers at Ys Net appear ready to hold their ground, though. They've announced that the third installment in Ryo's martial arts saga will launch on August 27th, 2019. The studio hasn't shed much more light on the story in the process, but the accompanying trailer (below) reiterates the prophecy that Ryo and Ling Shenhua would join together on a "rocky path."
'Until Dawn' creators return with 'The Dark Pictures Anthology'
Until Dawn developer Supermassive Games is back with another branching horror game, but it's breaking from tradition in more ways than one. It's launching The Dark Pictures Anthology, a collection of self-contained titles that touch on various horror genres. There's no (known) connection to the Until Dawn universe, and this won't be a PlayStation-only franchise -- it'll be available on Xbox One and PC as well.
'Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night' delayed until 2019
Things were looking rosy for the upcoming release of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night -- the game had even gotten as far as a private beta demo. But, citing similar reasons to its previous delay, the team at ArtPlay has announced it'll be held back again, this time until somewhere in 2019.
Watch Xbox’s Gamescom event right here at 10:30AM ET!
If you've been patiently waiting to discover what Microsoft will be announcing and previewing for Xbox at Gamescom 2018, you're in luck. You can watch the event at the livestream below today, starting at 10:30AM ET.
Sony has some colorful new DualShock 4 pads for your PS4
The DualShock 4 wireless controller has been kicking around for a while now, so it was only a matter of time before PlayStation did something to give it a little marketing boost. And what's the easiest way to do that? New colors, of course. Joining the already extensive color lineup are four new schemes: Berry Blue, Sunset Orange, Blue Camo and Copper. They'll be available across retailers in the US and Canada from September, at $65 USD / $75 CAD each. Take a look at the new colors below.
'Transference' demo gives a taste of Elijah Wood's PSVR thriller
The Elijah Wood-backed mind-bender Transference is due to arrive September 18th, but you don't have to wait until then (or spend hard-earned cash) to see if it lives up early buzz. Ubisoft and SpectreVision have released a prequel demo, The Walter Test Case, for both PlayStation VR and regular PS4 users. The title has you living through the 1993 experiment that sets up the main game, making you experience the "digitally recreated" memories of a PTSD patient while tackling puzzles in a mysterious apartment. Suffice it to say this won't be a walk in the park.
'Diablo III' on Switch is a comprehensive, faithful port
Rumors were swirling for weeks ahead of Blizzard's heavily hyped Diablo announcement on Wednesday. Were we to see a potential spin off series, perhaps an all-new sequel to the long-running franchise? Nope, because Diablo III is coming to the Nintendo Switch this fall.
Microsoft promises 'all-new Xbox hardware' next month (update: no)
Microsoft is bringing new Xbox hardware to Germany next month for Gamescom. The news comes from Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, who teased "all-new Xbox hardware and accessories" in a blog post this morning. What could it be? Well, there have been rumors (and leaked images) surrounding a revised Elite controller with three-way hair-trigger locks, tension control for thumbsticks, a magnetic USB-C connector and new grips since January, which makes it a good candidate. The last Elite controller was released in 2015. Or, it could be a new SKU of the Xbox One.
Action-RPG 'Code Vein' delayed until 2019
Just a month after Bandai Namco revealed a release date for the much anticipated RPG Code Vein, the company says it's now delaying the launch until next year. Originally expected to drop this September, Code Vein is a Dark Souls-meets-anime mash-up that's created a lot of excitement since its announcement in 2017, which according to Namco is the reason for its postponement. In a release, the company's vice president of marketing and digital Hervé Hoerdt said they made the decision in order to "further refine its gameplay in an effort to exceed the expectations fans already have of the title."
'Destiny 2' gives Bungie's online shooter the narrative it deserves
Bungie's shared-world shooter is known for a lot of things. It has a dedicated community and excellent gunplay mechanics -- but Destiny has never been known as a game with a great story. In fact, the original title's story is notoriously vague, to the point that a single quote from the core game is both emblematic of the entire narrative and an in-joke: Destiny doesn't "have time to explain" what it doesn't have time to explain. The original game's storytelling was bad enough that I almost dismissed its sequel without playing it -- but Luke Smith promised me that Destiny 2 was being written for players just like me. I gave the game a shot at a recent review event and you know what? He's right. Bungie has finally figured out how to tell a story.
The hits and misses of Gamescom 2017
We've just wrapped up another games show, and found plenty to keep us busy in Cologne, Germany. Gamescom might not have the flagship reveals of E3, but all the major games makers are here -- and they usually have plenty to show off. Whether it was VR tasters, indie hits of the future or adding drama to the beautiful game, there's likely something for everyone. Here's what wowed -- and what underwhelmed -- the Engadget team. And don't forget: You can check out the rest of our coverage right here.
The director of 'Final Fantasy XV' isn't finished yet
Final Fantasy XV was a long time coming. After a decade of delays, it's not surprising that both Square Enix and the game's director, Hajime Tabata, are saying they aren't finished with Noctis and his bro squad. With not even a whisper of Final Fantasy XVI, the rest of this year (and part of 2018) is focused on the Final Fantasy XV universe: PC versions, more chapter expansions, more mobile iterations and a multiplayer mode. I talked to Tabata, the man who steered the 15th iteration to the finish line, here at Gamescom and he explained what worked, what didn't and somehow tricked me into evangelizing about that mobile game. (Unfortunately, he didn't say a thing about that bizarre Assassin's Creed collaboration, mere hours before it was announced.)
'Dishonored' gets unleashed in 'Death of the Outsider'
Our next taste of Dishonored isn't DLC -- it's an entirely new standalone title called Death of the Outsider, which lands on September 15th. That might seem like an odd move for developer Arkane Studios, but it probably makes sense. Dishonored 2, like the original game before it, never quite reached the audience it needed to. The series built up a loyal fanbase (myself included), but it's typically been overshadowed by bigger, flashier titles. So for one last hurrah in the Dishonored world, it makes sense to take a stab at a cheaper ($30) and smaller experience. Who knows, if it succeeds, perhaps the series would fair better with bite-sized entries, similar to Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice.
The new story mode in 'FIFA 18' is all about choice
The Journey was one of the best additions to FIFA 17, crafting a dramatic but believable story around a rookie football (sorry, soccer) player in England. With FIFA 18, EA is building on the mode with a "second season" for rising star Alex Hunter. It promises a "global" story with more football clubs, branching pathways and some character customization, culminating in a campaign that should feel less scripted but no less cinematic.
Microsoft's Xbox One X is still a tough sell
We get it, Microsoft. The Xbox One X is a beast! It'll run games in native 4K! (Not like that sometimes-4K from the PlayStation 4 Pro.) It's basically everything we've ever wanted, spec-wise, from a video game console. And yet, many aspects of the Xbox One X still fall flat, even though we're just a few months away from its November 7th release. That was more clear than ever at Gamescom this week, where Microsoft kicked things off with an overly long presentation that didn't give us many reasons to actually get excited for the One X.
'Destiny 2’: A more open and impactful shared-world experience
My first experience with Bungie's shared-world online shooter was the result of a challenge. It was 2014, and I still hadn't upgraded to the new console generation. It was early in the cycle, and I had yet to stumble across a game that justified the upgrade. Then, Engadget's gaming staff insisted I try Destiny. I did. And I hated it. My friends had primed me for an epic space opera with tight gunplay and exciting challenges -- but to me, the game felt like an intentionally tedious shooting gallery filled with generic enemies that soaked up bullets like a dry sponge. I found Destiny and its expansions so boring that I was hesitant when Bungie invited me to try the game's sequel ahead of launch. Today, I'm eating my words. Destiny 2 is shaping up to be everything its predecessor wasn't.
Wait, 'Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition' is actually fun?
A part of the Final Fantasy XV universe (it's a thing), I wrinkled my nose at the news of Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition for smartphones. I've completed the game on PS4, have played through the episode content and will be playing the multiplayer add-on once I'm back from Gamescom, but this left me cold. This was a corporate mobile cash-in that vaguely tied into the original game, one that would relentlessly nudge players to either buy in-app items or the full console version. Nothing was appealing about this, whatsoever. That was, until I played an early beta on FFXV Director Hajime Tabata's phone. I was rude, it was in the middle of an interview but, hey, it was actually a lot of fun. Wait, what just happened?
