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See the fists (and bones and blood) fly in Mortal Kombat X
Courtesy Sony's E3 conference, we have our second look at Mortal Kombat X, though unlike the announcement trailer, this vignette is chock full of new fighters, brutal special attacks and the copious gore fans have come to expect from NetherRealm's flagship series. [Image: WBIE]
Mortal Kombat X heads to Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC in 2015
An official teaser for Mortal Kombat X landed on YouTube this morning, which raised as many questions as it answered. Yes, a new installment in the ultra-violent series from Netherrealm Studios is on track for release sometime in 2015. Yes, it's headed to the PlayStation 4, PS3, Xbox One, 360 and PC. And yes, that's Wiz Khalifa bringing his quick-witted lyrics to the original sound track. But what can we say about the game itself? Some of the teaser video almost has an in-game feel to it, with plausible graphics, fantastical moves (including the use of weapons from the environment) and hints of gruesome Sniper Elite-style forensic sequences -- but it's probably all just conceptual at this point. In any case, have a gander for yourself, and be advised that the video isn't for youngsters. But hey, after nine MK titles, you probably guessed that already.
Ed Boon teases new Mortal Kombat with decreasing subtlety
NetherRealm Studios creative director Ed Boon has been offering innocuous images seemingly suggesting a new Mortal Kombat game on the horizon for quite a while now, but with yesterday's appearance of a leaked promotional poster, the franchise co-creator has grown much less coy. The poster that appeared on Reddit features a mangled human spine, the familiar dragon's head logo of the Mortal Kombat series, and the phrase "Who's Next?" Though his earlier attempts at teasing fans were far more obscure - this photo of a car's bumper would be dull coming from anyone but Boon - Boon embraced the poster, borrowing that monochrome dragon's head for use as his Twitter icon and replacing his account's header image with that "Who's Next?" slogan. Following a host of questions from fans, Boon has apparently given up on his attempts to tease his Twitter followers. "I don't suppose there's anything I can do to make you think we still MIGHT be announcing Injustice 2 in #five days is there.....?" Boon later asked no one in particular. Assuming there is a new Mortal Kombat in the works, it seems quite likely that we'll hear all about it at the upcoming E3 conference, though Boon may spill the beans a bit early. That "MKX" bumper photograph was part of a slow countdown Boon had been updating on Twitter that is slated to hit zero on June 2. We'll keep a close eye on NetherRealm Studios, and report back on anything that might emerge. [Image: WBIE]
Celebrate one year of Injustice iOS with multiplayer combat
For a mobile adaptation of a hit fighting game, the iOS version of Injustice: Gods Among Us has always lacked one crucial component: multiplayer combat. Now, one year after the game's debut, that flaw has been amended. Keep in mind, this multiplayer addition isn't quite what you'd expect from a one-on-one fighter. Instead of real-time combat, Injustice players will send teams of their favorite Heroes and Villains to battle other people in the form of AI-controlled opponents. The winner of the match is awarded Multiplayer Points which are then tallied at the end of each "Weekly Leaderboard Season." The players with the highest point totals will then be awarded "tiered rewards," though neither Warner Bros. nor developer Netherrealm Studios has revealed what those rewards might be. Alongside the multiplayer mode, this update also adds additional gold characters, new missions, and increases each character's level cap. Those playing Injustice on Android devices won't entirely be left out, but will be waiting until sometime in May to receive this new content. [Image: WBIE]
Best of the Rest: Earnest's picks of 2013
Team Joystiq is barging into 2014 with a celebration of last year's best games. Keep reading throughout the week to see our assembly of ingenious indies and triple-A triumphs. Pokémon X/Y Nintendo is generally a risk-averse company, but with its most recent Pokémon entries it proves that when the normally predictable gaming giant decides to switch things up, it does so in spectacular fashion. Not content to merely increase the number of Pokémon yet again, Nintendo added proper, full-featured online gameplay to Pokémon X and Y alongside gorgeous, colorful 3D graphics. The basic "gotta catch 'em all" gameplay formula still underlies X and Y, but for the first time since the original generation of Pokémon games, catching a Pikachu in the tall grass is complemented by a feeling of modernity and aesthetics superior to anything the franchise has ever seen. While Nintendo will likely have a very hard time topping the success of X and Y with their inevitable sequels, that's less a knock against the company and more high praise of just how hard Nintendo pushed itself for the franchise's 3DS debut. Whether you're old hat at tossing Pokéballs or just want to add a new vice to your life, Pokémon X and Y are phenomenal games that obsolete everything the series has spawned previously.
Mortal Kombat Producer Hector Sanchez leaves NetherRealm Studios
After contributing to the well-received Mortal Kombat rebirth and the comic-oriented Injustice: Gods Among Us, NetherRealms Producer Hector Sanchez has announced his departure from the studio as he moves on to "another adventure." "It's been an absolutely AMAZING experience," Hanchez wrote on Twitter. Though details concerning his next move were not offered, Sanchez's final day at the studio was yesterday. Whatever his future plans are, it sounds like he'll be free to pursue them shortly.
Have an early knight with Batman: Arkham Origins iOS brawler, out now
Injustice dev NetherRealm released its free-to-play companion sidekick app for Batman: Arkham Origins, and it's available now as a free download on the App Store. The iOS brawler precedes the game proper coming to PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and Wii U next week. I suited up for a brief go this morning on my iPhone 5, and the app looks to be a mobile adaptation of the combat, albeit in one-on-one scenarios. The controls are simple enough: You tap to punch, put three taps together quickly to pull of a combo, and hold two fingers down to block. There are QTE-like swipes that appear as you put together moves, and you can switch combat stances as you deal with successive goons. Progress along and you can upgrade Batman's skills and stances, as well as unlock Batsuits, some of which are exclusive to the mobile game. The App Store blurb also notes "cross-platform unlocks" to tempt those planning to reunite with the Dark Knight next week. On that note, check out Arkham Origins' TV commercial after the break for some full-on, hardcore Bruce Wayne staring.
Batman: Arkham Origins mobile game for iOS, Android revealed
Fisticuff enthusiast NetherRealm Studios is developing a free-to-play adaption of the upcoming Batman: Arkham Origins for release on iOS during the "console game launch window," Warner Bros. announced in a press release yesterday. An Android version will surface later on "in the holiday timeframe." The mobile version will stage fights between Batman and "a number of DC Comics' most deadly assassins" within Gotham City. Besting bad guys will reward players with a "number of unique Batsuits" as well as "in-game currency and rewards." Those who register both the mobile and console versions with a Warner Bros. ID account will also gain access to exclusive content.
Free 'Arrow' skin available for Injustice: Gods Among Us
Fans of teenage melodrama and superheroes punching each other incessantly will be happy to know that a Green Arrow skin inspired by the CW television series Arrow is now available for Injustice: Gods Among Us. The skin was previously exclusive to WB newsletter subscribers, but is now available to all for free.
Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition coming to PS4
Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition, which includes last year's critically acclaimed fighter and all its downloadable content, will smash retail walls on November 12 and 29 in the Americas and Europe, respectively. The super-powered spectacle is priced at $59.99 for PS3, Xbox 360 and PS4, $49.99 for PC and $39.99 for Vita. And yes, you saw that right: a PlayStation 4 version but nothing for Xbox One. Curious. The extra DLC, valued at over $120 according to publisher Warner Bros., includes Lobo, Batgirl, General Zod, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna and Jim Lee's reimagined Scorpion from Mortal Kombat. There are also 40 more character skins, 60 S.T.A.R. Labs Missions and – for American copies – a soundtrack to boot.
Injustice: Gods Among Us patch 1.06 brings free Zod 'Man of Steel' skin
Injustice: Gods Among Us invites patch 1.06 to join its ranks on October 1, bringing in a range of balance adjustments and gameplay fixes. Also dropping tomorrow, for free, is the Man of Steel skin for Zod. Fixes impact most of the characters in Injustice, with a notable amount of tweaking for Black Adam, Zatanna and Flash. With patch 1.06, Black Adam's Lightning Strike only hits grounded opponents when performed outside of a combo, his back-dashing covers less ground, the duration of his Orbs of Seth power is reduced and its cool-down increased, and he has an improved hit advantage with the Eye of Horus combo. The hitbox on Flash's Flying Uppercut has been improved and Zatanna no longer has an infinite combo against larger characters. Check out the hefty list of patch 1.06 fixes below.
Injustice: Gods Among Vitas, according to German rating [update: next-gen, PC too]
Warner Bros. may be planning a Vita port of DC fighter Injustice: Gods Among Us, if a new classification is accurate. As Siliconera spotted, German ratings board USK has a Vita version listed as of September 6. This isn't the first time a Vita port has cropped up; as PlayStation LifeStyle reports, Amazon France listed a Game of the Year edition in the summer for PS3, Xbox 360, and the Vita. When approached about the USK rating, a Warner Bros representative told us, "We have no comment." Injustice, developed by Mortal Kombat studio NetherRealm, landed on Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii U back in April. It notched four and a half stars in our review, Jordan saying "its dark thematic overtones and mature ideas explore the psychological dangers of power, the temptations of absolute authority and the effects of grief on the psyche of metahumans, all while delivering a polished, thrilling fighting game experience." Update: Brazil's rating board (via @lifelower) lists Injustice GOTY for Xbox One, PS4, and PC as well as Vita and the three original platforms of PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U. Eyebrow raised, Injustice, eyebrow raised.
Injustice mobile brings the fight to Android this fall
The mobile game companion to NetherRealm Studios' superhero fighter, Injustice: Gods Among Us, will reach the Android platform this fall, according to a tweet posted to the official Injustice Twitter account. The mobile game offers a touchscreen-based fighting experience that complements its Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 counterparts, unlocking costumes and bonus content within the console incarnation. Though the iOS version of Injustice is a free download, it features microtransactions that speed the process to unlock content, including characters. NetherRealm has offered no price point for the Android game, but it's likely to follow the same business model.
PSA: Injustice: Gods Among Us conjures Zatanna DLC today
The latest DLC character for Injustice: Gods Among Us, magician Zatanna Zatara, is available for download on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network today for 400 MS Points ($5). If you're unfamiliar with the sometime Justice Leaguer, the catch-up trailer above hits all the backstory beats you'll need before jumping into the fight. The Injustice DLC train has been chugging along since May. Zatanna joins previous DLC characters Lobo, Batgirl, Scorpion from Mortal Kombat, General Zod and Martian Manhunter. NetherRealm Studios has yet to announce whether there will be more DLC characters after Zatanna.
Zatanna is the next Injustice: Gods Among Us DLC character
Well that was quick! It's barely been a week since Martian Manhunter began floating around the war-torn, interactive stages of Injustice: Gods Among Us, and NetherRealm Studios has already announced the game's next DLC character: Zatanna Zatara. What's more, Zatanna is being released next Tuesday, August 13, for 400 MS Points/$5 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, respectively. As always, the announcement made no mention of Zatanna's potential/eventual availability on the Wii U version of the game. Zatanna's in-game abilities appear appropriately magical, with her playstyle seemingly split between melee rushdown and top hat/wand-based zoning. We find it interesting that NetherRealm decided to base her look off of her classic appearance, rather than her New 52 regalia, since the majority of characters in Injustice have taken their design cues from DC's current generation. Who knows, though – maybe her alternate costume has some pants.
New Mortal Kombat game in development, says Legacy producer
There's a new Mortal Kombat game in development, according to Mortal Kombat Legacy Producer Lance Sloane. When asked about the status of the upcoming Mortal Kombat movie, Sloane said to GamerHub.tv at San Diego Comic-Con that the studio is "just figuring out the business side of it, and when we would do it... and how do we sync up with the launch of the game they're working on now, the next game." Of course, "they" would likely mean NetherRealm Studios, which developed the latest Mortal Kombat game first launched in April 2011, and recently brought it to Steam. We'll know for sure in due time, but we'll also keep our hopes alive that the project is a point-and-click adventure game set in the Mortal Kombat universe.
PSA: Martian Manhunter now stalks Injustice: Gods Among Us
J'onn J'onzz, the shapeshifting, telepathic last-of-his-kind alien also known as Martian Manhunter, is now available as the fifth DLC fighter for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Injustice: Gods Among Us. No word on when/if J'onzz will make his way to the Wii U version, as has historically been the case with new DLC character releases for this game. The price on J'onzz's head tallies up at 400 MS Points/$4.99, which also fits the status quo. It's worth mentioning, however, that he is not free for those that purchased the game's DLC Season Pass, which only acted as a voucher for the first four DLC characters: Lobo, Batgirl, Scorpion and Zod. Carl Lumbly reprises his role as the voice of J'onzz, proving that there is at least a small amount of justice still left in the universe.
Injustice: Gods Among Us welcomes Martian Manhunter next week
He's Martian, he hunts men, and he's coming to Injustice: Gods Among Us next week. The game's fifth DLC character has a date with PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Marketplace on Tuesday, July 30, so says the game's official Facebook page. Martian Manhunter, AKA the equally brilliant moniker of J'onn J'onzz, was revealed as the first of the non-season-pass characters at EVO 2013 earlier this month. There's no news on a price - the preceding four newbies were priced $5/400 MSP - or when Wii U players can expect their portion of Martian.
Injustice lands Martian Manhunter DLC, John Stewart Green Lantern skin
Martian Manhunter is the fifth DLC character for Injustice: Gods Among Us, after NetherRealm made the announcement fans had long been j'onzzing for. As revealed at this weekend's EVO 2013 event, the extra-super-terrestrial is the next DLC character to sign up following the season pass inclusions of Lobo, Batgirl, Scorpion, and General Zod. As for when he'll be touch down for the DC fighter, that's yet to be announced. Injustice director Ed Boon also confirmed the impending arrival of a John Stewart skin for the Green Lantern, which Shoryuken reports features a new voiceover.
Injustice DLC debuts on Wii U with General Zod
The fourth DLC character for Injustice: Gods Among Us, General Zod, is now available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U. The game's entire back catalogue of DLC has finally been pushed to Nintendo's console, along with a few new costumes that aren't available elsewhere in the US. The "Ame-Comi" pack includes a new costume for Harley Quinn, Catwoman and Wonder Woman based on their respective appearances in the "Ame-Comi Girls" universe, which is rooted in DC Collectibles' anime-inspired line of action figures. Previously, these costumes were exclusive to the Japanese version of the game. Additional costumes also dropped for all three versions of Injustice, including New 52 threads for Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, Blackest Night zombie skins for Batman, Aquaman and Hawkgirl, and Earth 2 variants for Solomon Grundy, Flash and Hawkgirl. The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game also get some fresh Man of Steel digs for Supes. A full breakdown of how much all this stuff costs can be found after the break.
