Welcome to our video game news for week 39. From cowboys to husks and everything in between, GeekDad gives you the latest in the video gaming world each week right here in Re-Spawn.
Video Game News Recap
Red Dead Redemption II from Rockstar Games
Though I highly doubt anyone missed this one, an exciting new trailer for Red Dead Redemption II dropped this week. The game will release for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles in Spring of 2018. Pre-orders are already available.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds vs. Fortnite Battle Royale
Fortnite, created by Epic Games, recently unveiled their own battle royale mode and Bluehole, makers of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), are none too pleased. Quotes from the head of Bluehole and PlayerUnknown himself Brendan Green, head game developer for PUBG, indicate that they are concerned that Epic Games not only created a battle royale game but that they seem to have copied the entire approach for it from their own PUBG. From the size of the island, to how the players arrive via parachute from a flyover, to how gear is found is essentially the same. The Fortnite version adds in some unique things like the ability to gather resources and build your own shelter and so on. The question being hotly debated is whether it is too similar or will all battle royale type games from now on be forever compared to PUBG.
Here is the latest from a great Fortnite Battle Royale streamer, dakotaz.
If you want to hear Brendan’s thoughts on the matter you can check out the archive of his AMA on Reddit from a little over a week ago.
This is Star Wars Battlefront 2
EA enlisted everyone’s favorite stormtrooper to narrate their latest Star Wars Battlefront 2 video. Listen to John Boyega aka Finn explain what you will get when Star Wars Battlefront 2 is released.
Ataribox Details Released
Atari returns to the console biz with Ataribox. With a price point goal of $249 – $299 USD depending on editions and memory configurations, Ataribox is not to be confused with the plethora of throwback boxes that have been released the past year. This is an all-new system with the latest tech behind that familiar woodgrain faceplate. It is expected to release Spring 2018.
So, what do you get for your $299? According to Fed Chesnais, Atari Chief Executive Officer “We wanted to create an open system, a killer product where people can game, stream and browse with as much freedom as possible. Atari games and content will be available as well as games and content from other providers.” He goes on to say “Ataribox is an open system, and while our user interface will be easy to use, people will also be free to access and customize the underlying OS.”
For those curious, that underlying OS will be Linux OS and it will be customized for the TV. The console will launch, via Indiegogo, with an already large catalog of prior Atari classic games and some current titles from independent developers.
If you want to keep up on the latest information you can bookmark www.Atari.com, follow them on Facebook at https://facebook.com/atari, or follow them on Twitter @Atari.
Blizzard’s Latest Video Game News
Overwatch
Confession time. I’ve been so busy with work and home and trying out some newer games (see below for a list of what I’ve been playing lately) that I did not play Overwatch for over 2 weeks. Until last night. Where I naively picked up Mercy again like no big deal and then didn’t know what in the heck I was doing for a round. My team was extremely cool about my faux pas and I picked up the recent changes quickly but I wish y’all could have heard my reaction when I couldn’t figure out which button to use for resurrecting. It definitely wasn’t safe for innocent ears.
Searching – Featuring Zarya
The latest comic for Overwatch features Zarya, aka Aleksandra Zaryanova on a mission to eliminate a threat to Mother Russia in the form of the elite hacker, Sombra. Follow along as we see Zarya forced to ally with an omnic in order to get the intel she needs.
Xbox’s Latest Video Game News
Xbox does a weekly video and written recap of all the major news from their individual press releases and blog posts. Here you can find the video or follow this link to read the recap. This past week included the announcement that Xbox One X is heading to several retail locations soon including Best Buy, Microsoft Stores, and GameStop. Watch or click through to find out the rest!
Upcoming Games on Xbox
Xbox has 12 new video games releasing next week. No highlights this week, but here is a full list of the games.
- theHunter: Call of the Wild
- Mystik Belle
- Let Them Come
- Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
- Marble Void
- N++
- Inversus Deluxe
- Jydge
- The Culling 1.0
- Iron Wings
- Zombie Party
You can check out the games on sale right now on the Deals With Gold page.
Nintendo’s Latest Video Game News
Wii Shop Closure
Nintendo announced that the Wii Shop Channel will close on January 30, 2019. All customers are encouraged to spend their Wii Points and download any already purchased content ahead of that date.
Darkest Dungeon on Switch
Darkest Dungeon had a little fun with Twitter followers this week with this post:
Wait for it… wait for it… pic.twitter.com/7nx0zpDglG
— Darkest Dungeon (@DarkestDungeon) September 29, 2017
Nintendo Video Game Releases
You can view all the new releases as well as upcoming ones on this game store page.
PlayStation’s Latest Video Game News
This week’s The Drop highlights 12 new releases in the upcoming week. Here is a full list:
- Batman: The Enemy Within
- Battle Chasers: Nightwar
- Battle Garegga Rev.2016
- Detention
- Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
- Expand
- theHunter: Call of the Wild
- Jydge
- Mystik Belle
- Save the Ninja Clan
- Twin Robots
- WRC 7
Steam’s Latest Video Game News
Current pricing specials can be found on the Specials page. This page is updated frequently so check back often.
New releases and upcoming releases are available on the Steam Games page.
New releases and upcoming releases are available on the Steam Games page.
GeekMom and GeekDad Recent Video Game Articles
GeekMoms and GeekDads often write about video games and related items. It has been a quiet week for video games on the site, but here is what we have since I last recapped things:
- GeekDad Ken Denmead – “Geek Daily Deals Oct. 1, 2017: Refurbished Deals on PlayStation Vita, Kitchenaid Stand Mixer“
- GeekMom Kelly Knox – “5 Reasons to Hunt Down the Super NES Classic Edition“
- GeekDad Preston Burt – “Gameroom Junkies #72: From Dragon Con With Al Lowe and Mike Capps“
- GeekDad Darren Blankenship – “GeekDad Geekaway: The Xbox One X Giveaway“
- GeekDad Z. – “GeekDad Review: Super NES Classic Edition“
- GeekDad Ricardo Rebelo – “Geek Tunes: Top 10 Songs for Grinding XP (Metal Edition)“
- GeekDad Mike LeSauvage – “Watching My Frail Human Crew Expire in ‘Destination Ares’“
- GeekDad Ken Denmead – “Geek Daily Deals Sep. 25, 2017: Bluetooth Game Controller for $16; Air Purifier“
Below are the video games some of the Geek Parents have been playing lately.
Samantha Fisher:
- Fortnite (PC)
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PC)
- Overwatch (PC)
- Splendor (Android)
- Ticket to Ride (Android)
Randy Slavey:
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PC)
- Fortnite (PC)
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (PC)
- Avalanche (Polycade)
- Space Invaders (Polycade)
- Frogger (Polycade)
- Epic Eric (Android)
Joey Mills:
- Various games on SNES Classic
- Fortnite (PC)
Anthony Karcz:
- Hearthstone (iOS)
- Marvel Puzzle Quest (iOS)
- Transformers: Forged to Fight (iOS)
- Pathfinder Adventures (iOS)
Will James:
- Transformers: Earth Wars (iOS)
- Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes (iOS)
- Star Wars: Force Arena (iOS)
Gerry Tolbert:
- Cat Quest (iOS)
Mike LeSauvage:
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PC)
- Fortnite (PC)
- Destination Ares (PC)
Z.:
- Golf Story (Switch)
- Pokémon Gold Version (3DS)
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions (3DS)
- Yo-Kai Watch 2: Psychic Specters (3DS)
- Dead by Daylight (PS4)
Michael Harrison:
- Prey (PC)
