Things have settled down a bit since this time last week. The PlayStation 5 reveal has had time to sink in, and the string of faux-E3 streams have largely come to an end, just in time for the launch of Sony and Naughty Dog’s mega-blockbuster of a game.
Who’s on a trip through The Last of Us Part II this weekend?
In the News This Week
- Cyberpunk 2077 delayed again, new release date set for November, but it’s confirmed there will be free PS5 and Xbox Series X enhanced upgrades after launch
- Star Wars: Squadrons gameplay revealed, showcasing single player and multiplayer
- Horizon Forbidden West is not a PS5 launch title, aiming for release in 2021
- Skate 4 is happening! Skateboarding fans rejoice!
- New Pokémon Snap is coming soon to Nintendo Switch
- Dirt 5 release date set for 9th October on PS4, Xbox One and PC – PS5 & Xbox Series X details to follow
- It Takes Two is the next co-op title from Josef Fares and Hazelight
- Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time leaked by Taiwan game rating board
- Xbox Series X will reportedly have the same system UI as Xbox One
- PlayStation 5 system UI will be a “100% overhaul” from the PS4
And make sure to grab the following gaming freebies:
- Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition is free to download until next week
- Epic free games list adds Pathway, AER and Stranger Things 3 coming soon
- Get The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt free on GOG.COM, if you own it on any PC or console platform
- Nintendo release free Jump Rope Challenge fitness game for Switch
Games in Review
- Persona 4 Golden – PC – 8/10
- West of Dead – XBO, PC – 8/10
- Summer in Mara – PS4, XBO, NSW, PC – 8/10
- Lonely Mountains: Downhill – PS4, XBO, NSW, PC – 8/10
- Waking – XBO, PC – 5/10
And we had a clutch of gaming hardware reviews as well:
- Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero Gaming Headset – 9/10
- Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition – 8/10
- Elgato Wave:3 Microphone – 7/10
Featured Articles
We’ve been diving into a bunch of games pre-release and talking to devs this week. Aran caught up with Octodad developer Young Horses for their new game Bugsnax, exploring its surprising inspirations and how that ever-so-catchy theme music was created, while Dom spoke with Funkotronic Labs about their skateboating game Wave Break.
He also spoke with ZeniMax about Elder Scrolls Online coming to Stadia, while Tom explored the creation of the fantastic Little Orpheus with developer The Chinese Room.
Jason said that Haxity is much more than a cyberpunk Slay The Spire, as I got a preview of the upcoming virtual Pokémon Go Fest 2020, and then went hands on with Rocket Arena, a 3v3 multiplayer shooter that’s completely different to the classic Quake mods.
Rounding all of this out, What We Played included The Last of Us Part II, The Outer Worlds and Pokémon Smile.
Trailer Park
Star Wars: Squadrons gameplay revealed, showcasing single player and multiplayer
Destroy All Humans! new trailer shows off Crypto’s arsenal
New Pokémon Snap is coming soon to Nintendo Switch
Surgeon Simulator 2 features walking around, co-op and more – coming out in August
PGA Tour 2K21’s new trailer details MyCareer mode and tons of character customisation
Your Achievements
Here’s what the community has been up to this week:
- TSBonyman gave Doom VFR a try and said “it’s pretty good.” Alongside that was some Renegade Ops, Ratchet & Clank 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One his PS3, while he was waiting for The Last of Us Part II to unlock.
- Sad times for Andrewww as his projector stopped working! While he searches for a suitable replacement, he played some PSVR games, but was not terribly impressed with the controls in The Inpatient or Titanic VR.
- ron_mcphatty blew stuff up with his mates… in Star Wars Battlefront II. He can see himself playing a lot more while waiting for Star Wars: Squadrons.
- MrYd polished off the last multiplayer trophies in Call of Duty: WWII, a fair bit of Need for Speed: Heat, and some more RDR2.
- And Mick S had a spot of Destiny and Battlefield 4 on his gaming plate.
I hope you have a good week and I’ll see you again soon!
ron_mcphatty
I’m so, so, so, sooo excited for Squadrons, there’s so many tiny little nods to the old X-Wings and Rogue Squadron games, which is all I’ve ever dreamed of! Fingers crossed for a next gen update like Cyberpunk, I’m sure EA are capable of such magics.
Dominic Leighton
Me too! I’ve always loved the Star Wars games where you fly around in X-Wings – much better than hitting things with lightsabers and them not instantly being carved in two.