Cars 3: Driven to Win – Start your engines and gear up for the ultimate racing experience in Cars 3: Driven to Win, inspired by Disney Pixar’s upcoming film Cars 3. Train and advance your abilities in six game modes and challenge your family and friends in the Battle Race to become the Ultimate Champion. Cars 3: Driven to Win will be available on June 13. (Additional accessories may be required for multiplayer mode and are sold separately.)
During today’s Pokémon Direct presentation, Tsunekazu Ishihara, president and CEO of The Pokémon Company, and Junichi Masuda, Director of GAME FREAK, announced upcoming Pokémon titles for Nintendo consoles.
Included in the announcement is the news that Pokémon is making its way to Nintendo Switch later this year with Pokkén Tournament DX. Along with all the content from both the Wii U and arcade versions of Pokkén Tournament, the Pokémon fighting game also introduces an array of exciting new features to create the ultimate Pokkén experience.
Upcoming Switch titles ARMS and Splatoon 2 will have their own dedicated tournaments at this years Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles California, Nintendo has announced. Featuring brackets for amateur and professional gamers both tournaments will allow fans and professional gamers to get some hands-on time with both titles before their respective release dates.
2017 Splatoon 2 World Inkling Invitational – Tues June 13 @ 2:30PM Pacific
4 four person teams from different worldwide regions will participate in a round-robin style tournament. The specific rulesets used in the World Inkling Invitational will change as teams progress forward: Round 1 – Turf War, Round 2 – Ranked Mode, Round 3 – Best of 5, Round 4 (finals) – Best of 7. Up for grabs are not only bragging rights but also the chance to have the winners names engraved on a special Splatoon 2 trophy.
The four teams that rose through the local tournaments to come to the E3 finals include:
Deadbeat from USA
Dynameu from Japan
Rising Moon from Europe
Blue Ringed Octolings from Australia
2017 Arms Open Invitational – Weds June 14th @ 3:30PM PST
Nintendo’s other big multiplayer title, ARMS, will have an open competition where any E3 attendees can swing by Ninty’s booth between 10am and 1PM Wednesday the 14th for a shot at being one of the final 4. The four selected attendees will go up against 4 professional gamers for a shot at bragging rights as the winner of the Arms Open Invitational and best ARMS player at E3 2017. Let’s hope those going to E3 got a lot of practice in during the Arms Global Test Punch.
Both of these tournaments will be streamed via Nintendo’s YouTube, Twitch and special E3 website. If you happen to be working or miss one of them – like all of Nintendo’s E3 presentations they are archived on Youtube the same day they are live streamed.
Today Nintendo unveilled some information about their upcoming online paid service. While online gameplay with the Wii, Wii U, and Nintendo 3DS has been free, online gaming with the Switch will be a paid service starting in 2018.
Nintendo will launch a paid service called Nintendo Switch Online, which allows Nintendo Switch owners to enjoy online multiplayer gaming as well as a dedicated mobile app that connects to the Nintendo Switch console. This app will help players chat with their friends during online matches in compatible games, set play appointments, and invite their friends to join them online.
Online play will continue to be free for Nintendo Account holders until the paid service launches in 2018.
Farming Simulator 18 – Develop and expand your very own farm… wherever you go! Become a modern farmer in Farming Simulator 18! Plant, harvest, and trade in crops, including for the first time sunflowers. Diversify your activity with animal husbandry and forestry. Develop and expand your very own farm… wherever you go! More than 50 farming vehicles including AGCO brands Breed and transport animals: cows, sheep, and for the first time, pigs Plant crops, sell the product of your labor, and invest your profits! Develop your farm in a new American environment
Season Pass ($44.99, twenty-two pieces of content): The Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Season Pass includes all five DLC packs as they release. By purchasing the Season Pass, fans who want to receive all DLC will save more than 30 percent compared to purchasing all 22 pieces of content individually.
Rise of the Deliverance Pack ($12.99, four pieces of content): Discover the previously untold history of Valentia in this Prologue pack. Complete with new story content and additional voice acting that details the rise of the Deliverance in Zofia, this collection of challenging maps includes new support conversations between selected heroes, as well as the ability to take command of a character players won’t be able to control in the main game.
Sonic Mania finally has a release date after being delayed earlier this spring. Fans of rolling around at the speed of sound can pre-order Sonic Mania for PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch or PS4 through their system’s digital store for a suggested retail price of $25.99 Canadian (prices vary depending on region).
Originally revealed during the Sonic The Hedgehog 25th Anniversary Stream last winter, Sonic Mania is the first original 2D Sonic title since 2009’s Sonic Colors for the DS. Co-developed by Sonic Classics port master Christian Whitehead, HeadCannon, and PagodaWest Games, Sonic Mania reimagines classic zones while introducing powerful bosses and pixel perfect physics.
To celebrate the reveal of Mania’s release date SEGA has released a special animatic short featuring the three playable characters – Sonic, Tales and Knuckles. This short has quite a few hidden easter eggs: my favorite being the numbers/letters on the elevator. Is this SEGA acknowledging that Sonic 4 Episodes I & II are no longer considered canon?
Sonic Mania is available for digital pre-order right now but the game will release in a limited physical Collector’s Edition as well.
Disgaea 5 Complete – In the Disgaea 5 Complete game, lead Killia and his tenacious army of rebels on their dark and dangerous path to vengeance. This strategy RPG offers hundreds of hours of over-the-top, award-winning gameplay, and marks the first time the core game is available on the go. The game includes all eight bonus scenarios, four fan-favorite characters and three character classes that were originally only available as DLC. For people who want to try before they buy, a free demo for the game is also available in Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch.
Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers – The newest iteration of Street Fighter II in 10 years, the Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers game is now available for the Nintendo Switch console. The fighting game features the full Street Fighter II roster, plus two new roster additions – Evil Ryu and Violent Ken – as well as a host of new single- and multiplayer features. Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers will be available on May 26.
Also New this Week
Astro Duel Deluxe (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 30
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia – On a continent that was torn asunder by warring gods, guide two armies through brutal tactical battles, as this reimagined RPG epic invades the West for the first time. Uncover the intertwining stories of Alm and Celica, engage foes, fend off dragons and explore 3D dungeons. Your prowess will grow as you master this melding of modern and legacy Fire Emblem gameplay. The Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia game is available May 19.
Season Pass ($44.99, twenty-two pieces of content): The Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Season Pass includes all five DLC packs as they release. By purchasing the Season Pass, fans who want to receive all DLC will save more than 30 percent compared to purchasing all 22 pieces of content individually.
DLC Pack #1 – Fledgling Warriors Pack ($7.99, three pieces of content): Ideal for early- to mid-game adventurers, this pack includes a new dungeon (The Astral Temple) and two new maps, great for gaining more items, in-game currency and experience points.
At the end of the Nintendo Direct presentation, a new trailer for Splatoon 2 debuted, showing off the game’s single-player mode.
In the newest single-player story Callie – of Squid Sisters fame – has gone missing and her right-tentacle squid Marie tasks the player to search for Callie and the Great Zapfish.
In a switch from the original Splatoon, players have more weapons to work with than just a simple splatershot. Players can use different weapons in single-player mode to overcome obstacles, defeat enemies and take down towering bosses – weapons like the Roller, Slosher, Splatling or the new Dualies.
The single-player mode is designed to teach players tips and tricks that they can then use in multiplayer.
Nintendo’s upcoming ARMS game for the Nintendo Switch was the game that most impressed our Les Major at the Nintendo pre-release event for the Switch. To be honest as I was unable to attend the event I wasn’t completely sold but the game looked like a unique take as a uniquely Nintendo fighter.
Today Nintendo premiered a new Nintendo Direct video presentation all about its upcoming ARMS game for the Nintendo Switch console which dove deeper into the characters, their weapons, and the different modes within the game. To say the least the video presentation did a superb job of selling me on the game, which will be released next month.
ARMS was created by many of the same team members that developed Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch, promising the same level of polish and competitive action as the hit racing game.
“With games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, ARMS and Splatoon 2, the next few months will be a summer of social competitive gaming on Nintendo Switch,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “This Nintendo Direct presentation offered great reasons why ARMS is perfect for players of all ages, whether they are familiar with fighting games or not.”
Check out the full Nintendo Direct presentation below as well as the point by point breakdown of the features from the game.
SEGA announced today that they will be making every early 2000s Sonic fan’s dream come true by allowing the creation of custom characters who will fight alongside the blue blur in the upcoming Sonic Forces. These new characters will use a “third gameplay style” which combines the behind the camera fast paced motion of Modern Sonic with the 2D gameplay of Classic Sonic and the added twist of equipable gadgets.
Players will be able to select a number of different base animal forms for their original character, each with their own unique bonuses. Here are the ones that SEGA has announced thus far:
Wolf – Automatically draws in rings when near them
Rabbit – Has longer invincible time after receiving damage
Cat – Keeps one ring after being hit
Dog – Restarts with five rings after the player dies
Bear – Blows away enemies with a homing attack
Bird – Flies high with double jump abilities
Hedgehog – Collects rings when getting damaged
A brand new trailer released today showcases the number of options available for these OCs.
Here is some raw gameplay featuring a custom character:
Also released were some new screens centered around the player character:
Sonic Forces will be released later this year on Xbox One, PS4, PS4 Pro, Nintendo Switch and Windows PC.
Today, SEGA revealed the third gameplay style in Sonic Forces is a powerful gadget touting customizable character. For the first time in the Sonic series, players can create their own original Hero Character, and customize how the character plays and how it looks. This newly revealed playstyle in Sonic Forces is in addition to the previously revealed fast-paced action of Modern Sonic and the thrilling platforming of Classic Sonic.
Players will be equipping their custom Hero Character with one of a variety of powerful unique gadgets called Wispons. Wispons are an evolution of the Color Powers from Sonic Colors and double as both offensive abilities and as a way to platform through levels quickly. Along with the Wispon, the Hero Character will have a grappling hook they can utilize to quickly traverse across zones. Players can also customize the Hero Character’s looks by choosing and swapping between hundreds of accessories and outfit options to change the character’s appearance as they play through the game.
There are seven base animal types that players can select from, each with varying special abilities:
Wolf – Automatically draws in rings when near them
Rabbit – Has longer invincible time after receiving damage
Cat – Keeps one ring after being hit
Dog – Restarts with five rings after the player dies
Bear – Blows away enemies with a homing attack
Bird – Flies high with double jump abilities
Hedgehog – Collects rings when getting damaged
The created character will also be a key part of the story, appearing not only in cut scenes, but by being a crucial element in the story.
Sonic Forces will be available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, & PC this holiday.
Natsume and Rising Star Games today announced an all-new title in the long running Harvest Moon series, which will be making its debut on the Nintendo Switch, Steam, and PlayStation 4 later this year. The game will be called Harvest Moon: Light of Hope and will encompass twenty years of spirit that has made the franchise what it is today.
This is the first time the Harvest Moon brand will be on Steam and the Nintendo Switch. The title will be playable on both Switch and PC in the Natsume booth at E3 in June.
Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition – Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles. Play in Creative Mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in Survival Mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off dangerous mobs. Share the experience with four-player split screen or up to eight players online*. Several fan-favorite add-on packs, including the Super Mario Mash-Up pack, are included in the Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition game, available at 6 p.m. PT on May 11 in Nintendo eShop.
Nintendo released some details for the first DLC for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which will be released this summer. The first of two planned DLCs will be released for both the Wii U and Nintendo Switch versions of the game this Summer with the second planned for a holiday release.
