Yes but it would also go against the mindset they've held for a long time on the PC market. They favor an "open garden" approach instead of a closed off one like with consoles and games exclusivity.

Like if they wanted to money hat games, they would have done it when GOG was starting to rival them as a digital store or cut the legs out of Origin when EA proclaimed they were challenging Steam's dominance.

Epic is pretty much hedging their bet that their massive pool of Fortnite users and them grabbing as many big games as possible will entice people to use their store over Steam regardless of the issues with the store itself. Its why something like a shopping cart feature gets put on the back-burner since Epic doesn't see the store itself as their priority.

* According to the NPD, last month broke the all-time record for the lowest sales of new games and hardware in the month of May since they started tracking video game sales in 1998.
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articl...ses-since-1998

* Nintendo announced Animal Crossing New Horizons features an auto-save system for progress and as a result, Mr. Resetti has been fired from his job in the series.
https://www.vg247.com/2019/06/17/ani...-resettis-job/

EA calling loot boxes, " surprise mechanics " is one of the best things i've ever heard in gaming.

It's not financial rape if you yell SURPRISE MECHANICS first.

Holy shit that whole committee was amazing.

* Gears of War series developer The Coalition announced Gears 5 will not feature a micro-transaction system. The unofficial reason due to the on-going gambling controversy involving loot boxes and several governments working on new laws to regulate it.
https://www.gears5.com/earning-content
https://www.destructoid.com/gears-5-...n-558200.phtml

* During a recent interview with Nintendo Force magazine, Cuphead developer Studio MDHR revealed they would love to make a game for the Legend of Zelda series if they were ever given permission by Nintendo to do so.
https://www.destructoid.com/the-cuph...e-558039.phtml

I can understand consoles need their own exclusives and all, but I still think it stinks that Cuphead will never be on PS4.

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford is currently facing new allegations of him siphoning around $12 million from the company for his own personal benefit.

Supposedly Borderlands 3 publisher 2K Games sent the company money meant to be paid out as bonuses to the staff for their work on the game. Pitchford managed to get approval from 2K Games to personally handle the money and allegedly diverted it away to a personal company owned by him instead.

This was revealed in a recent updated filing to a lawsuit Pitchford is currently facing from the company's former lead attorney.

https://gamedaily.biz/article/965/fo...rsonal-company

Holy shit, what a scum bag.

I mean I shouldn’t be surprised at this point, but fuck.

Samurai Shodown revival getting great reviews.

Although for some reason I can't fire it up on my PS4 until 1 this afternoon. That's when the timer ends unless it got fixed overnight.

I think 2K has to shoulder part of the blame here. I mean, they no doubt know about other similar allegations about Pitchford, so I have to wonder what the fuck they were thinking to allow him to handle the money personally as opposed to, oh, I don't know, maybe the person directly below him in the Gearbox chain-of-command?

For those interested in Samurai Shodown, apparently SNK's free Season Pass offer isn't restricted to only those who buy the game before June 30th.

https://www.destructoid.com/psa-samu...e-558712.phtml

That’s fucking awesome.

Mine was already bundled in when I purchased through the PS Store.

Yet, for some reason the Nakoruru retro outfit on the store was free through the season pass, but they wanted $2.99 for the Genjuro outfit.

Sony announced they have recently entered a partnership with Square Enix for the development of a live-action Final Fantasy XIV tv series.

Hivemind Entertainment studio was also announced to be working on this project. They are also currently working on live-action The Witcher series for Netflix.

https://www.destructoid.com/square-e...s-558968.phtml

* Besides Tetris 99 on the Switch, The Tetris Company recently announced a new Tetris battle royale game called Tetris Royale is currently in development for mobile devices and arrives later this year.
https://tetris.com/article/213/n3two...r-mobile-devic

* Based on a recent job posting, Square Enix is currently working on a new Dragon Quest game for next gen consoles.
https://www.destructoid.com/square-e...e-559047.phtml

* For those holding some slim hope that games would be cheaper on Google Stadia than on consoles, Stadia boss Phil Harrison stated that likely will not be the case when the service launches. Harrison did mention that game prices are entirely in the hands of publishers and they feel the service will be worth the full price for games.
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...-google-stadia
https://www.destructoid.com/google-d...s-559081.phtml

* During a recent interview with Nikkei, Sony Interactive Entertainment president Jim Ryan revealed that Sony is currently working on plans to purchase more gaming studios as a counter to Microsoft's recent studio purchasing spree.
https://www.destructoid.com/sony-int...n-559292.phtml

* Based on Remedy Entertainment's recent investor's meeting, the company has gained back the rights to the Alan Wake series from Microsoft. As part of the deal, Remedy was paid a one-time royalties fee of €2.5 million from Microsoft for all of 2019 and in return, the rights to the series reverted back to the studio's ownership.
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...lishing-rights

Public service announcement to PS+ members.

Sony pulled a last minute switch with this month's free games. Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 got switched out with Detroit: Being Human.

become human was real good

Far cry from Omikron The Nomad Soul

I'd heard it was pretty MEH.

Seems to be a love it or hate it game.

If the game was just the Hank-Connor stuff, it arguably would have been David Cage's best game ever. The other two stories are not as good overall and start to fall apart in quality around mid-way depending on your choices, especially the Markus "Moses" stuff.

* Marvel announced they will be revealing more details regarding Square Enix's Avengers game during their panel at the San Diego Comic-Con event later this month. Also will be revealing new details for Ultimate Alliance 3 and Iron Man VR games.
https://www.destructoid.com/marvel-w...n-559395.phtml

* Update on the recent Shenmue III Epic Games Store controversy news as both Deep Silver and developer Ys Net recently backed down from their stance on offering no refunds to those upset at the PC version being exclusive to Epic's store. They also updated the options available for game keys to include Steam for those willing to wait an extra year.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects.../posts/2553891
https://www.destructoid.com/after-ma...s-559387.phtml

* According to a recent report from Poland, CD Projekt Red is currently working on three Cyberpunk series projects with one being Cyberpunk 2077, the second as a standalone multiplayer game rumored to be launching close to Cyberpunk 2077's release, and a unannounced third game planned for a 2021 release date.
https://www.destructoid.com/oh-you-t...--559341.phtml

I mean, I'm thinking of giving it a chance, but I wouldn't be terribly surprised if I just "nope" it right back off my PS4 out of boredom before I see the story wraps.

I'd also heard tell that one of the voice actors' performances is pretty flat, but like I said, I suppose I can give it at least a fair chance.

* Update on the recent CD Projekt Red Cyberpunk series news as the company clarified they are not actually working on multiple Cyberpunk series games but instead have multiple studios currently working on Cyberpunk 2077.
https://www.pcgamer.com/cd-projekt-s...berpunk-games/

* As part of the fallout from the recent Shenmue III PC version controversy, Epic Games announced going forward any crowdfunded game that later becomes an Epic Store exclusive will have all of its crowdfunded refunds fully covered by them.
https://twitter.com/TimSweeneyEpic/s...332649985?s=20
https://www.destructoid.com/epic-gam...e-559500.phtml

* WayForward Studios recently released the debut trailer for their new River City Ransom inspired game called River City Girls.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/40MRASC-Ndw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

River City Girls looks mint.

That's a sweet tribute for River City Ransom.

I know Arc System Works snatched up the Technos Japan IPs from Million. But if some of the key people still alive gave their blessing for this, then that's even better.

So Activision/Blizzard is hiring for the same positions they vacated when they laid off 800 employees following their most successful financial year ever.

Jesus man, this industry.

Didn't help that when the former community manager of Hearthstone brought this up on Twitter, she got blocked by the game's current community manager.

Her main issue was the lack of effort or care by Activision & Blizzard to first hire back as much of their old staff as possible and former employees only finding out about this via outside reports.

Cuphead was recently revealed to be the next video game IP getting the television series treatment.

The animated TV series is being produced by King Features studio for Netflix and plans for a potential 2020 release at the earliest.

https://www.destructoid.com/you-know...w-560137.phtml

Nintendo recently confirmed rumors of a Switch Lite model is currently in production.

Unlike the regular Switch, the Lite model is portable-only, has an actual d-pad, and has a smaller screen size (5.5 vs. 6.2 inches).

In terms of improvements, it weights around 1/4th less, has a stronger battery, and an upgraded chip design for performance boosts and less overheating.

In terms of pricing, it will be $199.99 and launches on September 20th.

https://www.nintendo.com/switch/compare/
https://www.destructoid.com/nintendo...s-560326.phtml

How about the WiFi chip? Cause the one on the regular switch is trash.

Joe Taslim playing Sub Zero in the Mortal Kombat movie. That’s the protagonist from The Raid.

Very good.

Gives me hope that we finally get a fighting game movie with fight choreography that can rival first rate martial arts flicks.

Road House.

...is not a fighting game.

In other news, the writer of Mortal Kombat's script said on twitter that it will be rated r, and feature fatalities.

* For those interested in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, the only way to get the game's DLC packs is by purchasing the game's Season Pass. It will cost $19.99 and covers 3 DLC packs with the first arriving this Fall.
https://www.destructoid.com/marvel-u...t-560496.phtml

* For those interested in Marvel's Avengers, Square Enix reportedly will not be releasing the game's debut gameplay trailer to the public and instead it will be a San Diego Comic Con exclusive for attendees.
https://www.dualshockers.com/marvels...lay-comic-con/