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'Sekiro' takes the 'Dark Souls' formula to ancient Japan
Woven in with Activision's anticipated E3 lineup of Destiny 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, there's the latest game from the studio behind Dark Souls. Indeed, FromSoftware's knack for creating dark and brooding gamescapes is on display once more in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, but this time that trademark look is applied to the stunning visuals of 1500s Sengoku Japan. It's not history retold, but instead a reimagined story set in that time. And based on the small piece of gameplay I've seen, FromSoftware has created quite the action-packed work of art.
FromSoftware is making a PSVR game called ‘Deracine'
When you think of FromSoftware, what comes to mind? Dark, grisly worlds and tense, strategic combat I imagine. Well, the developer is working on a new PlayStation VR game which seems to have none of those things. Déraciné is about a young girl in a boarding school who manages to summon a mysterious spirit and sets out to prove its existence while bonding with her fellow students. The so-called "story adventure" will be out later this year, and follows the announcement of cyber-ninja adventure Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which is also being made by FromSoftware.
Xbox Japan's cult hit 'Metal Wolf Chaos' is back
Microsoft didn't have much success with the original Xbox in Japan, but it did manage to create a few games by local developers that were coveted by fans of the platform. The mech game Metal Wolf Chaos made by From Software (Dark Souls) was one of those, and even though it never saw a US release beyond a hidden demo on the Official Xbox Magazine disc, people have been looking out for it ever since. Tonight at E3 Devolver Digital announced that a remastered version, Metal Wolf Chaos XD will be released for Xbox One, PS4 and PC this year. This game will feature upgraded 4K and widescreen-ready graphics, tweaked controls and a new save system. Get ready to play as the President of the United States piloting a mech fighting against a revolution started by your own vice president. Yes, that's the plot of the game.
'Sekiro' is the latest game from the studio behind 'Dark Souls'
During its E3 press conference, Microsoft teased the next game from the studio behind Dark Souls and Bloodborne: It's called Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. If you're familiar with FromSoftware's previous work, you have a good idea of what to expect here. The beauty of ancient Japan is portrayed in a way that's dark and brooding, yet still lovely. Despite the aesthetic appeal, late 1500s Sengoku Japan is a brutal time. There's a ton of blood and gore, as the main character, a ninja with a powerful prosthetic arm, sets out on a path of revenge.
'Demon's Souls' servers are shutting down for good February 28th
One of the coolest things about From Software's original, brutally difficult Demon's Souls was the in-game messaging system. No, you weren't able to pen letters to your friends, but you could drop hints anywhere you wanted in the game — before a nasty drop or difficult set of enemies, for example — that other players would then see as they made their way through the virtual wastelands. Such a system required servers, however. Those holding Demon's Souls' messages have been maintained for years with various reprieves from threatened shutdowns. Now, however, it appears that publishers Sony and Atlus are shutting down the servers for good as of February 28th, 2018.
The best PlayStation 4 games
There's a big reason why the PlayStation 4 is the best-selling console: It has a smattering of games that you can't play anywhere else. Think: blockbusters like Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, Horizon: Zero Dawn and Bloodborne. But even if Indiana Jones simulators and massive open worlds where you hunt down robo-dinosaurs aren't your thing, there are still plenty of exclusives to pick from. Whether it's the best baseball video game franchise, a choose-your-own-adventure horror or an engrossing social simulator/JRPG hybrid, there's a lot to play on Sony's latest console. And then there are games from massive third-party publishers like Activision and Ubisoft, along with quirky indie offerings to round out the selection.
The 'Dark Souls' franchise is over... for now
At what could be the height of the Dark Souls franchise's popularity, developer From Software is ready to move on.
The first 'Dark Souls 3' add-on doesn't hit until this fall
Given that plenty of folks went to impressive lengths to play FromSoftware's latest game early, I'm betting the following Dark Souls 3 news isn't going to sit well with them. Why? Because you'll have to wait until this fall to play anything beyond what's in the base game. That's according to UK enthusiast site Videogamer. And even then, that's only the release window for the first of two post-launch add-ons. Any other details are as scant as an Estus Flask when you really need it, but you can expect new bosses and enemies in addition to gear for your undead warrior.
Downloading 'Dark Souls 3' early makes the game even harder
Star Wars: The Force Awakens isn't the only thing hitting the internet ahead of its official release this week: The latest entry in FromSoftware's absolutely punishing Dark Souls series has as well. But rather than going to your torrent site of choice, all you need to do to access it is make a dummy account for your PlayStation 4 or Xbox One with Japan as its home region -- Dark Souls 3 launched there on the 24th. You'll still have to drop cash on the game, so if you were hoping for some nefariousness you're out of luck here.
Watch the cinematic opening for 'Dark Souls 3'
Dark Souls 3 is almost here, people of the internet. But while you patiently wait until April 12th, when the game's scheduled to launch, there's now a cinematic opening for it to keep your emotions at ease. In the video titled To the Kingdom of Lothric, you'll see cameos from Yhorn the Giant, Aldrich Saint of the Deep and Farron's Undead Legion -- characters you're set to encounter throughout Dark Souls 3. And if you haven't pre-ordered yet, From Software's new fantasy action title will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
'Dark Souls 3' is coming for your patience next April
Don't have a PlayStation 4 and Bloodborne but still want in on some punishing action by way of the folks at From Software? Good because Dark Souls 3 hits PC, PS4 and Xbox One next April -- right in line with the "early 2016" window we were teased with during E3 this year. And for those who need something to do between now and then, perhaps the recently announced "The Old Hunters" expansion for Bloodborne will whet your whistle come its November 24th release date. Here's to hoping you're suitably prepared to die evade peril by then.
The Big Picture: 'Dark Souls' gets creepy with 'Limbo'-like mod
The Dark Souls series might not be the game for those folks who lack patience, but what you see up above is something just about anyone can appreciate. Reddit user CystisomaMagna was fooling around with the Reshade mod for the game and happened across some settings that turned the world of Lordran into a monochromatic, but still absolutely dangerous, wonderland. The user notes that the Limbo-esque modification isn't just for show, and that it's even possible to keep the game's HUD intact with it active. It might not get you soft-banned, either. Wanna know how to activate it on your system? That's what the videos embedded below are for.
'Dark Souls III' is coming in early 2016
What, did you think From Software would take a break from releasing its punishing Souls games just because Bloodborne is out the door? Just the opposite. The studio has just teased Dark Souls III, the next title in its dark fantasy action series. There's not much to know beyond its early 2016 release date, but From's signature bleak landscapes are intact. There's also what looks to be a lava giant in the brief preview clip, so there will very likely be some epic battles ahead. And while it's safe to presume that DS3 will reach the Xbox One given its appearance at Microsoft's E3 event, it's not an exclusive -- the odds are that it's headed to the PlayStation 4 as well. Update: Dark Souls III will indeed be released for Xbox One, PS4 and PC (via Steam). Check here for everything happening at E3 2015!
Leaked image suggests 'Dark Souls 3' is coming in 2016
Dark Souls 3 exists and it's due to launch in early 2016, an official image obtained by IGN suggests. Rumors of a third Dark Souls game have been swirling over the past few days, first (and most credibly) with a report on VG247 that the game would be revealed at E3 next week. Word has it that Dark Souls 3 will launch in early 2016 for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 -- but it looks like we'll find out for sure during E3, which runs from June 16th - 18th in Los Angeles. We'll of course have all of the news from the show right here, so stay tuned. [Image credit: Dark Souls 2, Bandai Namco]
Using 'Dark Souls 2' mods on PC? That's a dealbreaker
The Dark Souls series' relationship with PC gamers has been contentious at best. The vanilla versions of the first two games weren't unplayable per se, but if it weren't for the enterprising community of modders around the franchise it'd look and run kind of, well, crappy. This apparently extends to the recently released Scholar of the First Sin as well. But there's a twist this time: Players installing the popular "DS2fix" softmod that addresses weapons durability glitches and save corruptions have found that they aren't able to easily summon other players into their game for help or adversarial combat. As Kotaku reports, the players aren't hacking in a nefarious way, they're just using a patch that makes the game work better on their platform of choice. Instead of pulling "undead" (how the series refers to its protagonists) from a general population, it's grabbing them from a comparatively smaller pool of other players that've been deemed cheaters for using DS2fix.
Recommended Reading: Designing a roller coaster that'll make you weep
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. How to Design a Roller Coaster That'll Make You Beg For Mercy by Jeff Wise Bloomberg Business When it comes to designing a roller coaster, there are any number of tools that can achieve that maximum thrill. At Carowinds, a theme park that borders North and South Carolina, the Fury 325 debuted this spring. The ride packs a 325-foot drop and top speeds of 95MPH. How does something like this come about? Bloomberg's Jeff Wise will take you for a ride to find out.
JXE Streams: We conquer our fear of 'Dark Souls 2' on PS4
It's been just under two weeks since Bloodborne brutalized me on JXE Streams. After years of building up the gumption to actually tackle one of From Software's vicious action role-playing games, I finally braved its rank, monster-filled hallways. Know what? I loved it; the tension, the terror and the challenge are intoxicating. Not content to only explore Bloodborne's Victorian nightmare, I've decided to finally try its swords-and-sorcery predecessor, Dark Souls 2. We streamed Dark Souls 2 when it came out on PC in 2014, but this is the brand new PlayStation 4 version. We'll play it for the first time live, for your pleasure.
JXE Streams: Blindly marching into PlayStation 4's 'Bloodborne'
Being an enormous fan of From Software, the truly insane studio behind PS4's new gothic role-playing game Bloodborne, I imported Demon's Souls from Hong Kong back in 2009. No one knew anything about it at that point, but I learned quick: the game is vicious, cruel and devoid of altruistic design. It punished me repeatedly, so when Dark Souls and Dark Souls II cemented the series as a deep, dark well of mystery that will never help you, I gave up. Now that successor Bloodborne has arrived, I'm ready to try again. Join me as I blindly embrace its brutality for the first time on today's stream.
Are you good enough for 'Bloodborne'?
Am I "good" at games? I don't know. I'm 30 years old: I've been playing video games for 25 of those years, give or take, and covering games professionally for just over six years. I spent two weeks this year completing Mega Man 1 through 4. I've sunk hundreds of hours into Spelunky. Whether I'm "good" at games is up for debate; I love challenging games. Despite this, I've never loved the divisive, feverishly adored/hated Souls games (Demon's Souls, Dark Souls 1 and 2). Their challenges felt too great to overcome, their systems too inscrutable, their technical issues too great in number. They felt frustrating instead of challenging. Bloodborne -- the latest entry in the series and the first without a "Souls" moniker attached -- changes that. This is a game I love to hate. But I mostly just love it.
Rise from your demise in this Dark Souls 2 trailer
The indomitable human spirit is the subject of this latest Dark Souls 2 trailer, which shows the punishing series isn't defined by how often you die, but what you learn from your demise each time.
