DualShockers - Interviews

'We Have More Stories To Tell': Dave The Diver Creator On His Breakout Hit

Kyle Knight — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 18:00:26 GMT

With only a few months left in the year, Dave The Diver has popped its head up from under the water and cemented itself as one of this year's smash hits. It's the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure that has had me hooked from the moment I picked it up.

'We Made SSX 20 Years Too Early:' Creating A Successor To A PS2 Classic

Robert Zak — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 18:00:28 GMT

Just recently, I spoke to Steve Rechschaffner, the mastermind behind the legendary yet long-gone EA Sports BIG label, about those halcyon days when EA dabbled in sports games that let go of reality. Remember? Remember when sports games actually dared to be different?

What Happened To EA Sports BIG, EA's wackiest experiment?

Robert Zak — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 18:00:27 GMT

2001 was a vibrant time, a garish time. We were running around with Nokia 3310s with replaceable faceplates (I still remember owning a skull-themed one, with an impractical hologram over the screen obscuring everything I did). We were listening to the questionable sounds of Nu-metal—questionably procured off Kazaa—whose lyrics still find a way bubble up from the bowels of my long-term memory and belch out of my mouth sometimes. Christina Aguilera pioneered the low-slung jeans-and-whale-tail look much to the uncontrollable excitement of adolescents everywhere, and God knows what rags a 13-year-old me was trying to pass off as clothing back then.

Diablo 4 Devs Tell Us Why Season 1 Works The Way It Does, And They May Have A Point

Jack Coleman — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 18:01:26 GMT

Diablo 4’s Season 1 has begun and with it, the grind is officially back on. With the launch of Season of the Malignant, the community is diving back into Sanctuary once more to pursue new chase items, experiment with new builds and power through new content. Of course, all of this is being done with new characters. You won’t be able to access seasonal content with pre-existing characters, a decision that sparked some controversy among the community.

The Outlast Trials Devs Have Some Crazy Ideas For The Future Of The Game

Robert Zak — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 18:00:21 GMT

Each time I dive back into the Murkhoff Facility, the dystopian MK-Ultra style research lab where The Outlast Trials takes place, I’m amazed at how well it all just clicks. The excellent social hub, the balance between shallow-breathed suspense and co-op silliness, the unlikely performance polish for an Early Access game—from the cutscenes, to the sound design and graphics. It’s odd to say, but to me The Outlast Trials never had a right to be this good. Yes, the Outlast games has a strong legacy of commercial success, but they were very much ‘jump-a-minute’ ghost train rides, and by the time the second one came out, I for one had already had my honeymoon with the ‘run from things in straight lines’ genre.

Interview: Salad Fingers Creator Talks Making And Playing Games

Robert Zak — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 18:00:18 GMT

The early 2000s were a golden era in gaming, when the likes of Silent Hill 2, GTA 3, Metal Gear Solid 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker were propelling the medium in terms of storytelling, graphics, and open-world design, moving 3D graphics from their blocky infancy towards a level of verisimilitude that still resonates when we play those games today.

We Spoke To The CDPR Veterans Developing An "Extraordinary Game"

Jack Coleman — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 21:00:20 GMT

CD Projekt Red is a gaming behemoth. With over a thousand employees, CDPR has become one of the biggest studios in the world on the back of The Witcher’s success. But even with the biggest studios, it’s not uncommon to see veteran talent break off to forge their own path in the industry, and that’s precisely how Blank (stylised Blank.) was formed last month.

Interview: LEGO 2K Drive's Creators Talk Customization And The Garage

Matthew Schomer — Mon, 01 May 2023 00:16:18 GMT

LEGO 2K Drive is out in just a few weeks, bringing us an open world driving simulator in which the possibilities stretch just as far as the player's imagination. I recently had the privilege to sit down with the game's Design Director David Msika and Senior Software Engineer Jacob Longazo, to talk about the spectrum of vehicle customization options that will be available to players via the upcoming game's Garage.

Pokemon: Ash's 10 Most Powerful Pokémon, Ranked

Rodrigo Sandoval Lahut — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 11:15:17 GMT

For 25 years, Ash acted as the protagonist of the Pokémon anime. During this time, he encountered, befriended, and trained some of the most powerful creatures we have seen in the show. Each new season of the anime came with new friends who joined Ash on his journey.

The Making Of Citizen Sleeper, With Its Creator

Jack Coleman — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 09:41:06 GMT

“It’s at worst when waking, when your self has spent many dark hours recalling what it felt like to be real, to be a person, to be in a body that was indisputably yours,” so reads the introduction of Citizen Sleeper, one of the most popular indie games of last year. The opening lines of dialogue were one of the first things written by solo developer Gareth Damian Martin, drawing on their own personal experiences as a non-binary person who’s battled depression and depersonalisation. Though the latter can be useful, they quip.

Interview: Rampaging Around Hell-A With Dead Island 2's Director

Robert Zak — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 15:00:18 GMT

The zombie genre has, in recent years, become kind of serious, hasn't it? As The Last of Us establishes itself as the new king of zombie television, and recent years have been shaped by games like Days Gone, The Last of Us, The Walking Dead, and even Resident Evil (to a lesser extent), what's happened to the zany, flamboyant zombie games like Dead Rising, and, well, Dead Island? The ones that show us we don't need to take a zombie apocalypse that serious?

We've Found And Spoken To The Last Wii-U Developer On Earth

Elijah Beahm — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 20:00:17 GMT

In the scheme of things, the Wii-U and 3DS are old consoles at this point - some might even call them retro. Nintendo has, overall, moved on from the systems, with both platform's versions of the eShop shutting in mere days from the time of this writing. With the closure announced in 2022, there was still a backlash from fans who either held onto their systems or had a few titles they'd hoped to grab, particularly via Virtual Console and the indie scene.

How Gaming's Most Nightmarish Online Shooter Was Made

Robert Zak — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 23:00:17 GMT

It only takes one foray into Hunt: Showdown's bayou to realise that, as the kiddies (who definitely don't play this game) say, it 'just hits different.' Unless you have the cruel misfortune of making your Hunt debut on a night map, the scene that greets you is pretty, idyllic even, in that distinctly rural American kind of way. The sun is bouncing off the tin roof of a distant farmstead, before which stands a rickety little windmill, lazily rotating in the breeze. It's a fair distance away, but a golden cornfield should help keep you covered as you approach.

Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog Interview

Mohamed Hassan — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 21:00:17 GMT

I have always been fascinated by the idea of space travel in science fiction–there's nothing quite like the thrill of adventure and discovery in the unknown reaches of the universe. So when I heard that studio Space Colony was sending out invites to embark on a new space adventure titled Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog, I couldn't resist. Having played the demo on Steam, I feel that the studio understands the magic of not only sci-fi genre but also retro gaming hardware, with the game having a nostalgic emerald green palette reminiscent of early 90s CRT screens.

A Dark Descent Into Amnesia: The Bunker, With Its Creators

Robert Zak — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 23:00:18 GMT

Ever-depleting resources, inky darkness that chips away at your sanity, and unspeakable horrors chasing you through clammy crepuscular corridors; these have been the hallmarks of the Amnesia series ever since it single-handedly revolutionised video game horror with The Dark Descent back in 2010. Now, with Amnesia: The Bunker around the corner, we’re set to dive into this eldritch universe for a fourth time.

Composer Ian Dorsch On His Journey Into Video Game Music

Elijah Beahm — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 12:00:16 GMT

You might not know the name Ian Dorsch, but you've undoubtedly heard the award-winning music he's known for. From composing some of the most iconic intro tunes in online content for iconic series, like Zero Punctuation and Unskippable, to stringing the epic music of Praey For The Gods, Dorsch has achieved what many of us could only dream of. I had the privilege of sitting down with him to discuss his journey and what advice he had to share for other aspiring creators along the way.

Remaking A 'Civilization in Hell' Strategy Game Isn't Easy

Jack Coleman — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 21:00:13 GMT

League of Geeks’ next strategy game Solium Infernum is set in the depths of Hell - a rendition inspired by John Milton’s interpretation of the underworld. During my hands-off at Gamescom, I was struck by how stunning the game’s art direction was. The ashy barren landscapes of Milton’s hell have never been this picturesque, and I felt compelled to pick the brain of Ty Carey, League of Geeks' co-founder and creative director as well as Solium Infernum's game director, about it.

Romancelvania's Directors Are Resurrecting Vampire Romance

Elijah Beahm — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 00:30:16 GMT

It feels like only a minute ago that I was looking at Romancelvania, the hybrid Metroidvania-dating sim romantic comedy from Perception developer The Deep End Games. Though the platforming and controls are still getting fine-tuned, the writing already impresses with a mixture of heart and laughs powerful enough to get Dracula's cold, dead heart pumping again. Dragged into a reality show by his best friend The Grim Reaper, Drac's thrust into all manner of over the top madness.

What Was It Like Inside Atari Before The 1983 Video Game Crash?

Robert Zak — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 17:00:17 GMT

In time for the 50th anniversary since Atari was founded, one of its key developers Howard Scott Warshaw recently published a book, Once Upon Atari: How I made history by killing an industry, charting those final tumultuous years at Atari before the video game crash of 1983. This interview with DualShockers touches on some of Warshaw’s achievements and stories from that time, but for the full story you can buy the book on Amazon.

Weird West Is Much Better Than It Was At Launch, With The Community's Help

Robert Zak — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 20:45:15 GMT

Weird West is, as you might imagine, a weird game - a uniquely systems-reliant isometric immersive sim that evokes the original Fallout games if their combat was real-time, as well the excellent Dishonored. The latter really shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering that Dishonored co-creator (and Arkane Studios co-founder) Raph Colantonio made Weird West with his new indie outfit WolfEye Studios.

Red Candle Games Talks 'Taopunk' And Moving On From Horror Games

Joshua Furr — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 17:30:15 GMT

It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from the Taiwanese game dev Red Candle Games, and understandably so. For the past three years, they’ve been enduring the long road out of hell due to the now-infamous incident of Devotion’s ridiculously petty pull from international shelves in 2019 by the Chinese government. Since that time, the RCG team was forced to not only promote the game strictly from the safety of their own website, but back up and consider their future.

Entropy: Zero 2: How Half-Life Modders Made Their Own Episode 3

Elijah Beahm — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 17:30:15 GMT

Half-Life 2 Episode 3 is more than vaporware at this point, it’s become a meme - a monument to how Valve left an entire fanbase hanging for over a decade until Half-Life: Alyx. While we’ve been told more Half-Life is coming, the inevitable wait as Valve always operates on “it's done when it's done” is likely to be a long stretch. Fortunately, for those without VR or just yearning for more, the intrepid modders at Breadmen have produced a mod that answers the call: Entropy: Zero 2.

"Interplay Said 'We Don't Need Fallout'": How Fallout Was Nearly Not Made

Robert Zak — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 18:31:14 GMT

Listening to Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky talk about their experiences making Fallout, it's hard not to get intoxicated by their enthusiasm, which endures even 25 years on from when the game was made. As one of them begins outlining a particular story from the game's development, even before any of the details have been made explicit, the other one is already chuckling to themselves in anticipation of what's about to be said next.

Interview: Looking Back On Dishonored With Its Creators

Robert Zak — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 18:31:14 GMT

When Dishonored descended from the rooftops in 2012, it felt like a game out of time - a deft blade in the neck of a medium that, at the first-person triple-A end, felt a bit stodgy. Amidst the games that were pushing towards graphical realism and linear storytelling, Dishonored was a flashback to the smart, systemic design of Looking Glass games like Thief and System Shock, or Ion Storm and Deus Ex. It also offered (like every good immersive sim does) an alternative path forward - one where games aren't checkpointed, prescriptive, or overly scripted, and created systems and mechanics that lift each other to inspire curiosity and creativity in the player.

Interview: As Dusk Falls Creator Talks Choice, The Game's Launch, And What's Next

Robert Zak — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 23:30:15 GMT

As Dusk Falls is one of the most interesting games of the year - an interactive movie with a distinctive art style that involved taking stills of actors as they performed their scenes, capturing their most expressive moments, then digitally painting over those moments and superimposing the actors’ dialogues over the images. It’s weird, it’s bold, but it really works, as do many other moving parts of this riveting road movie crime thriller.

Tymon Smektała Talks Bloody Ties & Dying Light 2's Future

Jack Coleman — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:00:14 GMT

Dying Light 2: Stay Human was a mega-hit, with over 5 million copies flying off the digital shelf during its launch month alone. With the first story expansion, Bloody Ties, coming out October 13, I sat down with game designer Tymon Smektała to glean a bit of insight concerning what we're in for.

Solium Infernum Is About Taking Over Hell Through Politics And Cunning

Jack Coleman — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 16:16:14 GMT

Solium Infernum is a turn-based strategy game from League of Geeks, the creators of Armello. The game puts you in the role of an Archfiend of Hell, striving to ascend to the throne of Pandaemonium through a combination of deceit and cunning. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with the ever-enthusiastic League of Geeks co-founder Trent Kusters for a chat about the upcoming Hell-based strategy game - a reimagining of Vic Davis’ 2009 game of the same name, and I could tell that Kusters was brimming with excitement to be working on the title.

Ken Levine Talks Politics in Games, And How to Get it Right

Robert Zak — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 21:45:14 GMT

In a classic case of art imitating life, politics is a dicey topic in videogames. On the one hand, it’s a sign of the medium’s ongoing maturation that it’s being used to explore the kinds of topics that would once have been reserved for more ‘serious’ media. On the large scale, Paradox games like Crusader Kings and Victoria throw us into meticulous simulations of complex periods in human history, embroiling you in the schmoozing, politicking of the time while letting you make your own imprint. They don’t comment on what’s right or wrong, leaving you free to do such things as kill off children with claims to the throne or crack down on worker unionisation - with pragmatic pros and cons to all these decisions.

Ken Levine Talks About Making Of Bioshock

Robert Zak — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 18:30:00 GMT

One of the most important shooters of all time, BioShock, has turned 15. Playing it today, it doesn't feel like a 15-year-old game, and I realise that's in large part because so few games have attempted to really follow in its footsteps. It's a predecessor to certain genres that would come later - like the 'walking sim' - and it was the first blockbuster game that showed the medium to be capable of seriously exploring some high-minded ideas, but that mix of emergent gameplay, eccentricity, and worldbuilding where you piece together the story of a fallen city through desecrated rooms, meticulously positioned corpses, and brilliantly delivered audio diaries hasn't quite been repeated.

How One Of The Most Complex PC Games Was Adapted For Consoles

Robert Zak — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 20:00:00 GMT

RimWorld is a deep management game - an AI-and-numbers-driven colony survival simulator and story generator that, since its full launch in 2017, has been one of the most persistently played games on Steam. Being a descendant from legendary (and legendarily obscure) colony sims like Dwarf Fortress, it's a game about managing peoples' needs, stockpiling and hunkering down for harsh winters, defending against (and invading) rival tribes, establishing ideologies to unify your people, and - whether for fun or necessity - cannibalism. Its simple visual language belies one of the most moreish and compelling management and building games out there.

Hexany Audio Composer Robert Wolf Discusses Critical Role Score "Welcome to Tal'Dorei"

Natalie Schmidt — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 01:31:11 GMT

In this interview, Hexany Audio composer Robert Wolf touches on crafting musical flexibility and composing narrative in Critical Role's score "Welcome to Tal'Dorei."

Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course - Maja Moldenhauer Interview

Samuel Woods — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 15:00:00 GMT

It's been five years since Cuphead took the world by storm and a further three since we were promised The Delicious Last Course DLC.

Dying Light 2 Interview - "The Best Weapon is Your Creativity"

Samuel Woods — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 20:00:00 GMT

Despite a handful of delays, Dying Light 2's release date is finally closing in and it's shaping up to kick off 2022 in style.

The Witcher: Monster Slayer Interview – Pokémon Go Comparisons, New Monsters and Plans to Keep Players Wanting More

Rachael Fiddis — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 15:00:00 GMT

The world of the Witcher has just gotten that little bit bigger all thanks to the new mobile AR title, The Witcher: Monster Slayer. We talk to the creators to find out what makes this game tick.

Instinction Interview: Devs Talk New Zealand, 8K/120FPS, Inspirations and Zombie Dinosaurs

Samuel Woods — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 11:30:00 GMT

There's one thing that we don't get to see enough of in video games these days, and that's dinosaurs.

AGDQ and Adapting to the Pandemic and Online Environment

Otto Kratky — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:00:08 GMT

The gaming community is full of yearly celebrations. E3 is a celebration of gaming, as is the annual The Game Awards. But whereas these events are self-congratulatory, one series of events instead looks outwards. Games Done Quick, otherwise known as GDQ, is an organization that regularly hosts gaming marathons. Donations are open during the course of these marathons, with every cent going towards one charity or another. But like everything else in today's world, Games Done Quick events have had to change to fit the Covid-19 era.

Five Dates Interview -- Writer & Director Paul Raschid on Making a Romantic Comedy for Gamers

Mario Rivera — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 16:30:59 GMT

We all know dating is hard, especially when it comes to online dating. Granted, 2020 has proven to be extra challenging in the dating field, which makes Five Dates, the newly-released online dating FMV sim, even more of a relatable experience than it already is. Even more impressive is the fact that the game was made remotely during the COVID-19 lockdowns, bringing an extra layer to a game about finding love during unusual times.

Dragon Quest XI S Staff On Bringing The Definitive Edition To PS4, PC, Xbox One

Iyane Agossah — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 17:54:35 GMT

Ahead of the December 4 release of Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition on PS4, PC, and Xbox One, DualShockers recently had the opportunity to interview the game's staff. Speaking with Director Masato Yagi, and Producer Hokuto Okamoto, we have a few new details on how Square Enix created the Definitive Edition to one of the best JRPGs of the last decade.Note that if you'd like to try out Dragon Quest XI S right now, a demo has just been released, with ten hours of content.

Watch Dogs: Legion Interview -- Lead Producer on What Makes This Massively Interactive Open World Tick

Allisa James — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 14:30:18 GMT

After I able to get my hands on the upcoming Watch Dogs: Legion and dive into the open world myself (you can check out my preview of the game here), I was able to speak with Ubisoft Toronto lead producer Sean Crooks in a brief but very enlightening interview. We discussed the size and scope of London, permadeath mode, how real world politics shaped the story and gameplay, and more.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Interview — Producer Discusses the Viking Fantasy, Immersion, and the Future of the Series in Next-Gen

Cameron Hawkins — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 16:30:07 GMT

Assassin's Creed Valhalla introduces fresh new features to the franchise while retaining some of the best elements that have built the series' success as early as Assassin's Creed II. Taking place during the 9th century of England, Valhalla doesn't focus on a well-known era, but that in turn makes it a little more exciting to see what is in store. After spending six hours with the game, we can guarantee there are many surprises ahead whether you're new or returning to the franchise.

Genshin Impact miHoYo Interview - Striving For The Ultimate Anime Open World ARPG

Iyane Agossah — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 15:02:37 GMT

Genshin Impact by miHoYo is finally available worldwide on PC, PS4, iOS, and Android. A Switch version is also in development. Set in the fantasy world of Teyvat, Genshin Impact mixes an action battle system using elemental affinities, with open world RPG and gacha mechanics. Many eagerly awaited the release date of Genshin, seeing only Closed Beta Tests were held before the official launch on September 28, 2020. With an engaging single player adventure, fun co-op online multiplayer, and charismatic characters, Genshin Impact is a strong contender for being one of the best anime themed, Japanese-stylized open world Action RPG. And yet, Genshin Impact's developer miHoYo isn't primarily based in Japan, but in Shangai, China.

The Witcher: Blood Origin Writer's Room Revealed; Featuring Swamp Thing, Iron Fist, Snowpiercer Veterans

Allisa James — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 22:47:54 GMT

The Witcher: Blood Origin, the prequel series announced back in July, will be getting plenty more talent in their writer's room. The Redanian Intelligence: The Witcher Twitter account revealed the full writer's room today:

Elder Scrolls Online Interview - Rich Lambert Talks Markarth, Performance Improvements, and More

DS Staff — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 19:42:42 GMT

Elder Scrolls Online has been steadily growing in size over the past six years since its original launch. Now boasting over 15 DLC packs and four full-length expansions across 28 updates, the Tamriel that players experience today is much more developed than it's ever been before.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory Interview: Pointing to KH's Next Story

Lou Contaldi — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 18:25:45 GMT

Who else had a new Kingdom Hearts console game on their 2020 bingo card this year? We certainly didn't, and the reveal of Melody of Memory caught us by surprise in its early teases and later reveal. Taking some of the most popular elements from the Theaterythm series, the spin-off is a departure from Kingdom Hearts 3 sporting an action rhythm gameplay scheme and online modes.

I Am Dead Preview — Life After Death

Charlie Wacholz — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 15:30:06 GMT

Much like the previous two games from Richard Hogg and Ricky Haggett (Hohokum and Wilmot's Warehouse), I Am Dead oozes offbeat, chill charm with a familiar, relaxing and unique art style. Unlike their last two games, however, it's much more grounded in reality. And unlike the trailers make it looks like, it's not some gritty, hyper-realistic vision of the world. The game knows this fact and more importantly, it owns it.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Interview — Square Explains Why it Returned to the Spin-Off

Logan Moore — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 18:00:19 GMT

Originally released all the way back in 2003 on the Nintendo GameCube, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles has a soft spot in the hearts of many longtime FF fans. Over the year, the game has gone on to become one of the most popular spin-offs in the long-running franchise. So much so, in fact, that Square Enix decided a couple of years back to bring back the title for a whole new generation.

Skater XL Interview -- Easy Day Studios on Bringing Skateboarding Culture to Gaming

Michael Ruiz — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 18:30:20 GMT

Throughout my years with DualShockers, my "E3 dream" was for a formal announcement for Skate 4. Now that EA actually made that announcement, I'm not as enthused as I thought I would be. "Why is that," you ask? Well, there are a whole lot of skateboarding games launching in the near future. From Crea-ture Studios' Session to Vicarious Visions' Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2, there are so many different variations of the beloved yet niche genre. Heck, there is even one where you can skate as a bird.

Splash Damage on the Creation of Outcasters, Working with Stadia

Charlie Wacholz — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 17:00:16 GMT

"Outcasters is this top-down multiplayer shooter, that centers around this curve shot," Lily Zhu, the product lead on Splash Damage's most recent project, Outcasters said in an interview with DualShockers. She went on to describe how this specific mechanic was a departure from the studio's shooter-centric roots. "So if you look at the history of what Splash Damage has been doing, we have done quite a lot of shooters and in every one of them, we shoot straight."

Sakura Wars Interview - Revitalizing a Legendary Series and Localizing For The West

Iyane Agossah — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 17:32:58 GMT

Sakura Wars. Sakura Taisen. These words bring forth many feelings for quite a number of people both in and outside Japan. The mix of Japanese Adventure games, Dating Sim, Steampunk, Theater, Mecha, Fantasy and much more has changed anyone who has met its path. Whether you've actually experienced the franchise yourself, or only gazed at it from afar, it's one of the most iconic series Japanese pop-culture has to offer. It's never too late to try out the series either, and the newest entry on PS4, Sakura Wars, demonstrates this perfectly.

Hyper Scape Creative Director on Creating a "Game as a Spectacle"

Michael Ruiz — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 18:30:18 GMT

Ubisoft is finally dipping its toes into the popular battle royale genre with Hyper Scape. Set in a futuristic world and familiar first-person shooting mechanics, it will surely interest players. But will it have any lasting power? We recently spoke with creative director Jean-Christophe Guyot about how the upcoming game will stand out in such a crowded genre.

Romancing SaGa Re;univerSe Interview – Producer On Hopes and Appealing to the West

Iyane Agossah — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 19:11:23 GMT

Romancing Saga Re;univerSe, the latest iteration of the Romancing SaGa series, is now available globally on iOS and Android. For the occasion, DualShockers had the opportunity to speak with SaGa series Producer Masanori Ichikawa. We were able to ask him about multiple aspects of Re; univerSe, including the game's story, accessibility for newcomers to the SaGa series, and how the global version will be handled compared to the Japanese version.

Cake Bash Interview — Laura Hutton on Indie Gaming in 2020 and Cake Philosophy

Lou Contaldi — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 18:20:23 GMT

In 2020, there's a lot on the mind of the average gamer -- through a global health crisis and mass civic unrest, many games and high-level publishers are delaying their games to both respect the moment, account for changes in the work environment, and realize all possible press potential. In a way, it's almost the perfect time for fledgling studio High Tea Frog's first game, Cake Bash, to release.

Command and Conquer Remastered Interview -- Joe Kucan On His Role as Kane and the Series' Legacy

Kris Cornelisse — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 17:00:32 GMT

When granted the opportunity to have a 1-on-1 interview with Joe Kucan, I excitedly leapt at the chance. Joe is instantly recognizable to someone who grew up playing the Command and Conquer games, like yours truly. He’s the actor responsible for portraying the series’ iconic antagonist Kane, the leader and messianic figure of the Brotherhood of Nod. Joe has played this role in every installment of the series (even the more reviled ones), and his enigmatic but charismatic character was a core component in giving the real-time strategy classics their personality. Behind the scenes, he also directed the voice lines and cutscenes for Westwood Studios' early games.

Ubisoft Is Making Accessibility Part of the Company's DNA (Exclusive)

Ben Bayliss — Thu, 21 May 2020 09:00:24 GMT

In recent years, game companies have been trying their best to implement the best accessibility practices for video games. One studio that always impresses me is Ubisoft, which seems to strive to improve accessibility features in its games, title-after-title.

Final Fantasy XI Interview - Director and Producer Reveal Experiences and Hopes, Special Message to Western Fans

Allisa James — Sat, 16 May 2020 20:45:21 GMT

This year marks the 18th anniversary of Square Enix's long running MMORPG Final Fantasy XI. To celebrate the incredible milestone, I was able to interview Director Yoji Fujito and Producer Akihiko Matsui and get some insight into both the past and present of the game, Fujito and Matsui's history before they worked on FFXI, what the future entails for the title, as well as a special message to Western fans.

Disintegration Interview — Marcus Lehto Shares Details on Development, Inspirations, and Working From Home

Otto Kratky — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 16:30:54 GMT

Marcus Lehto has had an extraordinary career. His big break came when he joined up with Bungie in 1997 and worked on Myth: The Fallen Lords. After that, the company started working on Halo, which he co-created. Officially, he was the Creative Art Director at Bungie, and he made Master Chief, the iconic hulking green spartan. He worked on the series up until 2012 when he left the studio.

Hearo Live Is Fixing Live Streaming by Pairing You with Friends and Cutting the Chaos

Lou Contaldi — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 14:04:46 GMT

Whether you watch Twitch, Mixer, or YouTube Gaming, video and live streaming has become the predominant way to enjoy your favorite gaming content. As the arena of video content expands, so does its chaos and noise. With hundreds or thousands of fans tuning in, live stream comments become impossible to read, and Discord channels are totally overwhelming. Too much community, instead of spicing up the experience, overwhelms it. Should game watchers give up on the social aspect of streaming?

AEW Action Figures Maker Talks Pro Wrestling Toys and Dream AEW Video Game

Michael Ruiz — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 21:00:13 GMT

A few weeks back, AEW action figures were revealed. Yes, All Elite Wrestling will have their own line toys featuring some of the faces and heels of the groundbreaking pro wrestling company. DualShockers' own Mario Rivera was able to chat with Wicked Cool Toys Senior Director of Marketing and Brand Management Greg Mitchell and Senior Designer Magic Almos at C2E2 about the upcoming figures, as well as their dream AEW video game.

Samurai Shodown Interview -- Lead Producer Discusses Switch Port and Continued Support

Michael Ruiz — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 20:00:57 GMT

There has never been a better time to be a fighting game fan.... okay, maybe there has been a better time, but you cannot deny how fantastic the modern fighting game scene is. Sure, titles like Street Fighter 5, and Mortal Kombat 11 are expected to be decent. But even the lesser-known games bring something unique to the table. This includes SNK's stylish fighter, Samurai Shodown.

Baldur's Gate 3 Interview — David Walgrave Shares Game Details and Reflects on Obtaining the IP from Wizards of the Coast

Josh Starr — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 21:15:12 GMT

After watching a three-hour presentation on an alpha build of Larian's Baldur's Gate 3 at a preview event in San Francisco, I had the privilege of interviewing Larian senior producer David Walgrave about the Dungeons and Dragons-based RPG which Larian plans on releasing in early access this year.

Persona 5 Royal Interview — Atlus Details Localization Changes and Challenges for the West

Allisa James — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 15:30:31 GMT

After getting my hands on Persona 5 Royal during a preview event in Los Angeles, I was able to sit down with Arianne Advincula, the head of Atlus West PR, for a quick yet incredibly revealing interview about the updated version of the game that's coming to the West on March 31.

Rogue Planet Games Interview -- Andy Sites Discusses Renewed PlanetSide 2 Support, PlanetSide Arena's Failure and PlanetSide 3

Tomas Franzese — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 14:00:09 GMT

In the day before Destiny and Warframe, there was PlanetSide. This sci-fi MMO series has always managed to have an impressive scale, even through its ups and downs. We are coming off a particularly rough year for the series as PlanetSide Arena divided fans of the series, flopped and subsequently shut down. That being said, things are starting to look better for the PlanetSide series as PlanetSide 2 has seen increased support recently and the franchise got its own dedicated studio with Rogue Planet Games.

Dimensional Ink Games Interview -- Jack Emmert Explains MMO Pitching Process, DC Universe Online Support and More

Tomas Franzese — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 14:00:27 GMT

This past year has been very eventful for DC Universe Online and its team. Not only did the MMO go through new episodes like Justice League Dark, Metal Part I and Metal Part II, it also came to Nintendo Switch and the team behind the MMO was spun off into its own studio: Dimensional Ink Games. In addition to DC Universe Online, Jack Emmert and co. are growing their team and working on an unannounced "high-profile action MMO."

Gamers for Freedom Interview — BlizzCon Protest and Politics in Games

Chris Compendio — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 18:27:36 GMT

As we look back at 2019, one of the most shocking controversies (and DualShockers' 2019 Worst Moment of the Gaming Industry) involves Blizzard and their response to the ongoing Hong Kong protests. After Blizzard suspended Hearthstone player Blitzchung from competitive play for declaring his support for the protestors, much of the gaming community expressed their outrage online. This snafu became part of a larger national conversation where American businesses and bodies like the NBA were scrutinized for their ties to Chinese businesses. The saga also included another suspension for an American University Hearthstone team for similar reasons, a bipartisan letter from members of the United States Congress, and a highly-criticized official statement from Blizzard.

GTFO Grand Moff Talks About The Future of the Hardcore Shooter: "We're a Niche Game"

Ben Bayliss — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 18:00:17 GMT

GTFO is a hardcore horror shooter that prides itself on being a niche game. It wants to invoke fear and inspire teamwork. It wants to push its community to the limits with hardcore gameplay. Developer 10 Chambers Collective also plans to support the game for a long time — and with it arriving on Steam Early Access today, DualShockers wanted to know more about the game and its future.

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove Interview -- Yacht Club Games Reflects on Five Years of Support

Tomas Franzese — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 16:00:02 GMT

Next week, Yacht Club Games will finally release Shovel Knight: King of Cards and Shovel Knight Showdown, the final two hefty pieces of free DLC for the indie darling. It will mark the end of over five years of support for that title that put Yacht Club Games on the map. While things are looking bright for the studio going forward with Shovel Knight Dig and Cyber Shadow, this is also a time of reflection for the developers.

SoulCalibur 6 Collaboration Interview — Pure Arts Explains the Process Behind the Soul Charge Line

Tomas Franzese — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 15:00:46 GMT

Hilde was added to SoulCalibur 6 this week, kicking off the game's second season of DLC. Pure Arts, a statue and collectible maker who has created tie-in products for Dark Souls III, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint and Assassin's Creed, piggybacked off that excitement last week and unveiled their Soul Charge collection of statues. This line will be made up of 1/8 scale, $80 statues of SoulCalibur 6's fighters. The first two statues will be of Mitsurugi and Kilik, and they are expected to arrive in Spring 2020.

Fairy Tail Interview – Producer Discusses Game Balance and Difficulty, Optional Content and Game Systems

Iyane Agossah — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 17:00:33 GMT

Fairy Tail's RPG adaptation was surprisingly announced by Koei Tecmo worldwide in early September. Fairy Tail initially started in 2006, and yet, Hiro Mashima's manga didn't get many game adaptations in the past, and none of them ever left Japan. The most surprising aspect was how despite Fairy Tail being a shonen manga, Koei Tecmo didn't announce a fighting game, nor a Musou game, but a turn-based JRPG.

How Wrestledunk Sports Plans to Stand Out in a Crowded Indie Market

DS Staff — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 14:00:55 GMT

Matt Trobbiani, the developer behind 2015’s excellent Hacknet, recently revealed to the world the new game he’s working on: Wrestledunk Sports. After this, no one can say that Trobbiani is afraid to take risks. Wrestledunk Sports is nothing like the immersive, narrative-heavy hacking simulator he put out four years ago. Instead, it’s an action-packed multiplayer sports party game. So why make such a massive shift in both genre and likely audience? And how can Wrestledunk stand out in an increasingly crowded multiplayer indie space? Trobbiani spoke to that and much more in an interview with DualShockers.

Wild Hearts Never Die: An Interview with Sayonara Wild Hearts Developer Simogo

DS Staff — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 14:00:38 GMT

In a blog post in 2016, Swedish developer Simogo talked about “Project Night Road,” which began production after launching the Wii U version of Year Walk. After working on several games for PC, Mac and iOS, the team wanted to do something bigger, faster and more direct. Several years later, we have Sayonara Wild Hearts, a rhythm action game that features a pop/electronic soundtrack, motorcycles, and dancing.

WWE 2K20 Creative Director Explains the Split Between Yuke's and Visual Concepts

Michael Ruiz — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 18:00:00 GMT

Back in August, 2K announced that WWE 2K20 would be developed solely by Visual Concepts, ending their partnership with Yuke’s. While it may have been a shock for WWE 2K players initially, it was by no means a surprise. The wrestling game franchise has had its problems since WWE 2K15, with each entry improving on some aspects but taking steps back on others.

WWE's Becky Lynch Discusses Women's Revolution and Being The Man

Michael Ruiz — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 14:47:35 GMT

During the WWE 2K20 preview event in Las Vegas, Nevada, DualShockers' resident wrestling connoisseur Michael Ruiz got to talk with WWE's Becky Lynch (a.k.a. THE MAN) about the game, the women's revolution, and "beating Seth's ass" in a game of Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite. Also, if you ever wanted to know how to become "The Man," Lynch gives some solid advice to start that journey.

Disintegration Interview - Lead Director Marcus Lehto Speaks On Past Experiences, eSports, and the Future

Cameron Hawkins — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 19:30:22 GMT

Earlier this year, V1 Interactive announced Disintegration, their first title as a new studio. Since then, I have been lucky enough to play the game and it made me fall back in love with competitive multiplayer. A portion of the V1 team previously came from Bungie, including Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto. Lehto is the President and Game Director at V1 Interactive and when I talked with him about his new studio I learned more about the direction he wants to take for the upcoming strategic shooter.

Icons: Combat Arena — The Past and Future of this Troubled Fighting Game

Tomas Franzese — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 18:00:41 GMT

Over one year ago, developer Wavedash Games announced that it was laying off a majority of its staff and ceasing support for its online, free-to-play fighting game Icons: Combat Arena. Even though it was clear that Icons had not caught on like its developers and dedicated player base were hoping, this news was still saddening within the indie fighting game community. An offline Definitive Edition of Icons: Combat Arena was promised after that shutdown, but the word on that also fell silent soon after.

She Dreams Elsewhere Interview - Creator Davionne Gooden Speaks On Creative Decisions and Inspirations Behind The Upcoming Indie Title

Cameron Hawkins — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 14:30:59 GMT

She Dreams Elsewhere became one of my most anticipated games after I played its prologue at PAX West last month. It stars a young woman named Thalia who deals with anxiety along with problems transitioning to deal with day to day life of adulthood. Outside of the music and character design, the game was developed by just one person. After going hands-on I wanted to know everything I could about the upcoming indie. After meeting with creator Davionne Gooden at the event I recently got to ask him questions about what players can expect from his game.

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners VR Game Interview

Allisa James — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 16:00:12 GMT

During my time with the upcoming VR title The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, I was able to sit down with Creative Director, Adam Grantham and VP of Global Interactive Marketing, Guy Constantini. We delved deeper into the mechanics, story, and what makes the game feel like a living, breathing world that players can fully immerse themselves in.

Moonrakers Board Game Lets You Manipulate and Negotiate Your Way to Power

Lou Contaldi — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 16:30:14 GMT

You know the standard science fiction trope of faction wars sending out fleets of ships to mine resources from other planets? What eventually gets everyone on the ship stranded or attacked by parasitic aliens? An emerging new board game by Nashville-based team IV Studios is letting you be those ship leaders in a semi-cooperative attempt to become the head of a rebel group through strategic decision making, cunning negotiation skills, and the luck of the draw. Welcome to Moonrakers.

Life is Strange 2 Interview - Co-Creative Director Michael Koch Speaks on Episodic Structure, Opportunity for a New Genre, and Narrative Decisions

Cameron Hawkins — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 15:00:06 GMT

The world of Life is Strange is vast and full of opportunities. Max and Chloe have had their goodbyes after the original, with Life is Strange 2 entirely focusing on the adventures of Sean and Daniel that must go on the run after an incident at home. Sean must teach Daniel how to use his telekinetic powers in the way players see most fit. Recently, the penultimate episode of Life is Strange 2 released and we continued to find that it has a "strong blend of character development and hard decisions."

Contra: Rogue Corps Intervew with Executive Producer Nobuya Nakazato

Tomas Franzese — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 13:30:10 GMT

At E3 2019, the Contra series made a pretty unexpected return with the release of the Contra: Anniversary Collection and the announcement of Contra: Rogue Corps. This new PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch title is quite different from most Contra games as it plays like a 3D top-down shooter instead of a 2D sidescrolling shooter. Developed by Toybox Inc., the game releases tomorrow. A launch event for the game was held this past weekend in Seattle, and Konami flew DualShockers out there to try out the game's campaign and a bit of PvP right before it launched.

Borderlands 3 Interview - Composer Finishing Move Discuss Musicality, Creativeness, and Bringing Personal Experience Into Their Score

Cameron Hawkins — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 16:30:42 GMT

The Borderlands franchise is known for having subtle, yet grasping music. While destruction is all around you and explosions to the eyes galore, the music is always prevalent. For Borderlands 3 there are numerous different composers who worked on the upcoming title's score including Finishing Move Inc. Finishing Move is a production company that creates music for video games, television, film and more.

Ghost Recon Breakpoint Interview -- Writer Talks Ethical Decisions In-Game and Creating a Great Antagonist

Jordan Boyd — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 17:00:22 GMT

Ghost Recon Breakpoint is the latest entry in Ubisoft's tactical shooter franchise. During a preview event last month, DualShockers sat down with the game's writer, Emil Daubon, who also was a Green Beret in the U.S. military. With that in mind, we talked about what his life experiences have brought to the writing in the game, as well as recent controversies surrounding ethical decisions in games depicting real-life combat. Of course, we also talked about working with Jon Bernthal and bringing the character of Cole Walker to life in Ghost Recon Breakpoint.

Panic Button Interview -- Technical Director Discusses Torchlight II Console Ports, Studio's Future, and More

Tomas Franzese — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 13:00:32 GMT

Panic Button is a developer that has been nearly synonymous with Nintendo Switch since 2017. Thanks to their impressive ports of Doom and Rocket League in the system's first year, the developer has been able to continually create solid Nintendo Switch ports for everything from Warframe to the upcoming Doom Eternal. Earlier this year, they partnered with Perfect World Entertainment to not only bring Hob to Nintendo Switch, but Torchlight II to all consoles as well.

Justin Wong Interview - The Fighting Game Legend Discusses Fatherhood, Career History and Rivalries

Cameron Hawkins — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 14:30:15 GMT

Justin Wong is arguably one of the best fighting game players in the world as he has won nine EVO (Evolution Championship Series) titles throughout his career across numerous titles. Starting with Marvel vs Capcom and spanning across other franchises like Street Fighter and Samurai Shodown, Wong is undeniably a master of the genre.

Rainbow Six Siege Operation: Ember Rise Operators Discussed By Presentation Director

Michael Ruiz — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 16:00:25 GMT

Formally revealed at the Six Major in Raleigh, North Carolina, Operation: Ember Rise brings a ton of new content to Rainbow Six Siege. This includes two new Operators, the Kanal map rework, a new Ranked system, and the introduction of the Battle Pass. After speaking with the Rainbow Six Siege Presentation Director Alex Karpazis, it is clear that this is one of the more unique and fun additions to come to the game.

Mobius Final Fantasy Interview -- Square Enix Talks Three-Year Anniversary, More Collaborations, and the Future of Mobius

Jordan Boyd — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 15:00:25 GMT

Mobius Final Fantasy recently celebrated its third anniversary. The game initially launched with the goal of bringing a modern console-like take on Final Fantasy to phones across the world. To celebrate this milestone, we sat down with the game's project leader, Takashi Shiraga, to talk about the future of the game and keeping up with the returning fanbase after all of these years.

Borderlands 3 Interview -- Lead Writers on Expanding the Series' Universe, Embracing Its Humor, DLC, and the Future

Ryan Meitzler — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 15:00:29 GMT

While it's been quite some time since we last saw the series--especially since the last "main" installment with 2012's Borderlands 2--it's safe to say that Borderlands 3 is easily one of the most anticipated titles to arrive later this year. With the third core installment of the series tying together all of the series' storylines and characters, from the first two games, to The Pre-Sequel!, to Tales from the Borderlands, Borderlands 3 has a lot of narrative heavy-lifting to do. But from speaking to its lead writers, it seems like they are more than up to the task of not only delivering a satisfying story that is worth the wait, but seemingly to set up the Borderlands series in the years to come.

The Outer Worlds Interview — Developer Talks Role Playing, Exploration, and Quests

DS Staff — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 19:00:27 GMT

I got to play a bit of The Outer Worlds at a hands-on event a few weeks back. I'm pretty content with what I saw overall because there seemed to be a solid understanding of how fresh and familiar this game should be. I also got to speak with Obsidian's Senior Narrative Designer Carrie Patel. We broached a few topics: how similar this game really is to Fallout, making a classic single-player RPG modern, politics, flaws, exploration, and botching quests.

Quantic Dream Interview - David Cage Discusses Breaking Away from PlayStation, PC Ports, Cloud Play, and Epic Games Store

Tomas Franzese — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 14:00:01 GMT

2019 may be one of Quantic Dream's most important years ever. After twelve years of working with Sony Interactive Entertainment to release Detroit: Become Human, Beyond: Two Souls, and Heavy Rain for PS3 and PS4, they are finally switching to multiplatform development. They secured some funding through NetEase, who acquired a minority stake in the company, and revealed their plans to release the three aforementioned games for PC through the Epic Games Store back in March.

Quantic Dream's PC Releases Signify a Major Shift For the Company

Tomas Franzese — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 14:00:48 GMT

Ever since the 2010 release of Heavy Rain, Quantic Dream and their titles have been heavily associated with PlayStation platforms. That being said, they were never a first party studio. This enabled them to recently break off from Sony, take an investment from NetEase, and start releasing games for other platforms. The first milestone in this new era for the company are the PC releases of their last three titles - Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and Detroit: Become Human - through the Epic Games Store.

David Cage Believes Beyond: Two Souls is the "Most Important Game" of His Career

Tomas Franzese — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 14:00:55 GMT

David Cage has made a lot of interesting games over the course of his career, but none seems to be more divisive than Beyond: Two Souls. Released for PS3 in 2013, it's an intriguing psychological and somewhat supernatural thriller starring the likes of Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe, but it's nonlinear structure turned off many. We are almost six years out from the game's initial release, and it just came to PC through the Epic Games Store last month.

David Cage Weighs in on Cloud-Based Platforms Like Google Stadia

Tomas Franzese — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 15:30:49 GMT

Google Stadia and the "cloud play" revolution it is potentially signifying for the gaming industry has been a point of debate for many since Stadia was officially unveiled in March. Thousands of developers are applying to work on the console, so many are enthusiastic; that being said, some have also voiced hesitation about possible problems with input lag and the like on a platform that relies on streaming like Google Stadia.

FIFA 20 Volta Interview -- Producers Discuss Gameplay Improvements and Fun New Mode

Tomas Franzese — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 14:00:25 GMT

Outside of some sweeping additions to FIFA's Ultimate Team mode, the biggest thing that the developers of the FIFA series are adding this year is called "Volta." This mode, which contains a suite of things to do like a story mode, Volta Tour, and a simple Kick-Off option, evokes streetball and will hopefully entice players who have been calling for the return of the FIFA Street series. As usual, FIFA 20 also features a sweet of smaller improvements to make the game more authentic to the actual sport.

At Game Developers of Color Expo 2019, Creators Showed a Theme of Coping with Anxiety

Chris Compendio — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 17:30:26 GMT

On the last weekend of July, I drove over to the heart of Harlem in New York City to attend the Game Developers of Color Expo. This was their fourth annual event, gathering independent developers from across the globe, as well as representatives from bigger sponsors like Nintendo and Microsoft, at the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. With a meeting of the minds for people of diverse backgrounds, I was curious about what the tone of the event would be given the current political climate.

David Cage Points Out the Potential Weaknesses of Next-Gen Consoles

Tomas Franzese — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 14:30:16 GMT

2020 is poised to be an exciting year for gaming. Xbox's Project Scarlett is going to hit store shelves next fall, and Sony's PS5 is not too far off either. Next-generation consoles will also herald several technical improvements such as ray-tracing and 8K support. As we are just over a year out from this next console jump, many developers are starting to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of what is coming next.

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Interview — Developers Discuss the Series' Legacy, Episode IX, and Prequel Memes

Chris Compendio — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 16:00:11 GMT

It may have been easy to overlook the announcement of Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga when it was just a press release and a cinematic trailer, but at E3 2019 TT Games earned some buzz with a closed-doors hands-off demo. While the game is still a ways off, it had to be seen to be believed. It was a huge step for the series in terms of gameplay concepts and technology, but in retrospect, this seemed to be the natural evolution and trajectory for the long-running series.

IndieCade Interview — Festival Director Talks Indie Trends, Streaming, AAA Game Companies

Chris Compendio — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 16:00:54 GMT

In a corner of the Los Angeles Convention Center's West Hall, you can find a glowing cube covered with LED lights. This is PiXXL Maze, a part of IndieCade's showcase at E3 2019. This cube might not be exactly what one would expect to find at the IndieCade booth, but that's because IndieCade is more about independent video games: it's about the concept of play. Specifically, a type of play that is a part of video games as a social outlet.

Watch Dogs: Legion Interview—Lead Producer Talks London, Brexit, and Simulated Personalities

Chris Compendio — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 13:00:31 GMT

We've seen a number of dystopian societies in video games—you didn't even have to look beyond E3 2019 to get a glimpse of them. Still, something about Watch Dogs: Legion strikes more of a chord than many of the other fantastical games vying for our attention. In a time where political unrest permeates every aspect of our lives, whether we admit it or not, there is something intriguing about the pitch of a game set in a theoretical post-Brexit London.

John Wick Hex Interview -- Mike Bithell Talks to Us About Bringing the Action Series to the Gaming World

Tanner Pierce — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 18:28:00 GMT

Before I played John Wick Hex, strategy games were absolutely not my cup of tea. However, once I picked up the game I was blown away by how fun and fast-paced Mike Bithell and his team were able to make it. So I was happy when I got to sit down and chat with Bithell himself for a few minutes at E3 2019 and discuss just exactly what the game has to offer and what it was like bringing the franchise to PC and consoles.

Heroes of the Storm Developers Delve Into New Character and Storm League

Michael Ruiz — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 12:30:56 GMT

Blizzard Entertainment’s MOBA Heroes of the Storm has been around since 2015. It’s a four-year-old game that has seen some very high highs, and recently, some very low lows. The latest PTR update is the biggest update the game has received since the company announced they would be moving developers from the Heroes of the Storm team to other projects and canceling its esports league, the Heroes Global Championship (HGC). Not only does the new update add a brand new original hero, but it also makes significant changes to HotS’s ranked play.

Watch Dogs: Legion Has a Timely Premise and Gameplay That Emphasizes "Freedom of Approach"

Chris Compendio — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 18:00:54 GMT

It's quite easy to be incredulous about such a high-concept pitch, especially the one that Ubisoft gave for Watch Dogs: Legion back in E3 2019. With the main mechanic of Legion being the ability to control essentially any NPC in the game's open-world London in mind, I thought of all of the ways I would want to potentially break it. Such a large and ambitious game invites one to find a chink in the armor.