Stone Marshall's Blog, page 22
June 20, 2019
PlayStation Store Sales Charts: Minecraft Digs Up a Unanimous Victory
Of all the games to top the PlayStation Store download charts last month, we wouldn't have predicted Minecraft. The ever popular build-em-up has been available on PS4 for nearly five years, so why has it topped both the North American and European charts? Well, the game was recently updated with a bunch of new items, so there's that.
In fact, second place on both charts goes to an older game, too: Grand Theft Auto V. In Europe, Days Gone takes the bronze, while brutal fighter Mortal Kombat 11 takes third in the US. World War Z is also quite prominent, taking fourth and fifth positions on the respective charts.
As for PlayStation VR, it's Sony's Blood & Truth that's the top seller in Europe. However, it's beaten to first place in North America by Five Nights at Freddy's VR: Help Wanted. Unsurprisingly, the newly released action title Dauntless takes the free-to-play chart.
Take a look at the North American and European charts through the respective links. Are you still chipping away at Minecraft on PS4? Don't be a Creeper in the comments below.
Xbox E3 2019 details next-gen console, new hardware, and fresh Minecraft title
The Xbox E3 2019 briefing took place today, as Microsoft hit the stage in Los Angeles to unveil its roadmap for the rest of this year and beyond. Xbox has already kicked off a notable sale in tandem with today’s event, but as expected, we saw a number of announcements and updates on the latest coming down the pipeline this year.
Xbox E3 2019 kicks-off with The Outworlds
Obsidian Entertainment and Private Division kicked off the Xbox E3 2019 event with an unveiling of The Outworlds. A dystopian FPS, this beautifully animated title started this year’s Xbox event with a bang. It is available for pre-order today and will ship on October 25, 2019.
Bleeding Edge from Microsoft’s Xbox Studios
Next up was the new combat-action brawler Bleeding Edge, which hit with jam-packed thriller detailing 4 on 4 gameplay that’s slightly reminiscent of Super Smash Brothers in its own way. It will hit Microsoft Game Pass on June 27th.
The creators of Minecraft are back
Ready for a new Minecraft title? One of the big early unveils of the Xbox E3 2019 presser was Minecraft Dungeons, a unique one versus all game that takes the visuals you know with a whole new take on the iconic game. There’s even some Zelda vibes here. Available in the spring of 2020, Minecraft Dungeons is possibly going to be an Xbox Game Pass-only release. More details are sure to come by the end of the year.
New Star Wars title in-route from EA
We’ll be getting another new Star Wars title this November, and we’re excited to see how the last few years have re-shaped EA’s approach to the series. Available for pre-order today and shipping in November, Jedi Fallen Order offers a fresh take on the iconic Star Wars lineup. It will release on November 15th with appearances by Rogue One characters and well-known Star Wars mainstays.
Remember the Blair Witch Project? It’s getting a game remake
We’re getting a Blair Witch Project reboot on August 30th, taking the ghost and zombie classic to the small screen with a classic FPS styling. Details were few and far between, but it will be available in Q3 with more to come later this summer.
Cyberpunk 2077 gets more details at Xbox E3 2019
The upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 was featured at the Xbox E3 2019 event after getting the same treatment last year. The upcoming role-playing title from CD Projekt set in a metropolis of the future got a special unveil from Keanu Reeves. Set some 57 years after the original Cyberpunk 2020, the latest version will be released on April 16th, 2020 and is available for pre-order today.
Xbox Game Pass
A few small updates for Xbox Game Pass were detailed today, including additions to its lineup: Batman Arkam Knight, Metro, Hollow Knight, and Borderlands The Handsome Collection. Otherwise, this bit of the Xbox E3 2019 briefing left quite a bit to be desired. Xbox Game Pass for PC officially launches today following last week’s unveiling. There will be 100 games available at launch, including Football Manager 2019 and Imperator Rome. The entire Halo Master Chief Collection will also be available at launch, with more titles to come after the open beta is over. It will be $9.99 per month at that time. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will bring both together on console and PC, along with an Xbox Live Gold for $14.99 monthly following a $1 trial launch discount.
New Xbox One Elite Controller
Our first batch of new hardware today was an update to the Xbox One Elite Controller, officially dubbed Series 2. It takes all of the best features from the original and adds a whole new level of customization, including customizable trigger locks, mechanical tension adjustments and a built-in rechargeable battery. A new docking system is also coming as well. It will be available for pre-order later today on the Xbox Store.
LEGO expansion coming to Forza Horizon 4
Xbox has done a stellar job of bringing expansions to its Forza games, and the latest is one you’re not going to want to miss. LEGO is coming to Forza Horizon 4 on June 13th with a new expansion pack announced today at the Xbox E3 2019 briefing. Based on what we saw from the quick video preview, this is going to be an add-on you won’t want to miss.
Project xCloud gets an update with October launch date
Project xCloud is coming in October as a means for Xbox gamers to enjoy their content and game progress wherever they prefer. It will support all Xbox One games at launch and is slated to include all backward compatible titles as well. Learn more in our announcement coverage.
Next-gen Xbox unveiled: Project Scarlett coming holiday 2020
Project Scarlett is the next gaming console coming from Xbox, but it’s sure to have a different name as you’d assume. A few of the notable specs detailed includes a new state of the art processor made with AMD that delivers performance that’s six times more powerful than Xbox One X. This includes 120 frames per second support with 8K capabilities supported by a Microsoft-exclusive solid-state drive. More details are expected in the spring of 2020.
New Halo announced at Xbox E3 2019
In typical Xbox fashion, we’ll be getting Project Scarlett in 2020 in tandem with a new Halo release. Phil Spencer noted that the original Xbox was announced 18 years ago alongside the first Halo entry, and its continuing that trend with Project Scarlett and Halo Infinite.
Watch the Xbox E3 2019 briefing
June 19, 2019
It’s been years since I played Minecraft — it’s like a whole new game today
Minecraft is be the best selling game of all time and represents a huge chunk of Microsoft's gaming efforts across cloud, cross-platform services, and merchandising. And at 10 years old it's showing no signs of slowing down.
Creators of all types have made careers producing videos, mods, and other types of content for Minecraft, which remains one of the biggest games on YouTube in terms of viewership. It has made history as the first ever game with cross-platform play between Xbox, Nintendo, VR, mobile, and PC platforms, owing to its re-written Bedrock Engine, powering cross-platform experiences. Soon, Minecraft will also take on augmented reality, in the form of Minecraft Earth.
At this point, Minecraft is a game that needs no introduction. A lot of the things I bring up here will be old news for the Minecraft faithful, too. But for me, as a lapsed player of the old Java version, returning to find out what Microsoft has been doing with modern Minecraft has been an incredible experience, and I felt like sharing. If you're an OG Minecrafter that's been away for a while, here's why it might be worth jumping back in.
A platform for adventure
While I have dabbled in the Bedrock Edition here and there, it was the recent Village and Pillage update that got me re-addicted to the game. Village and Pillage added deeper settlement systems to the game, where new types of villages could be raided and ransacked by evil “illagers.” On our particular Realm seed, the illager spawns have been relatively rare, but we have triggered at least one raid, which plays out similarly to a huge Horde-style battle, with villagers running indoors to hide.
I defeated my first raid in Minecraft
BERGHAIN, THE WORLD’S MOST EXCLUSIVE NIGHTCLUB, RECREATED INSIDE MINECRAFT
The iconic techno venue Berghain in Berlin, Germany — considered a mecca of dance music — has been brought to life inside the game of Minecraft.
With exceptional attention to detail, one player has completely recreated the dance landmark, thus bringing a unique and rarely seen night life experience to countless others from all corners of the earth. The only thing that seems to be missing is the steady thumping of music and the doorman that decides your fate.
The aesthetic of Berghain, even in virtual form, is beyond astounding. This person obviously dedicated an insane amount of time to the project, allowing players to access the elite establishment anytime they so desire — even without a passport or a flight.
To tour Berghain via Minecraft, watch below.
Berghain Minecraft Tour
Someone's made a version of Berghain on Minecraft and it's incredibly detailed.
Posted by Mixmag on Tuesday, June 4, 2019
June 18, 2019
‘Minecraft’ 10th Anniversary Map Gives Tour of Game’s History
“Minecraft” celebrated 10 years last month, but a special anniversary map is still available for players to enjoy, according to a news post on the official website for the game posted Saturday.
The map, made by Blockworks, is a celebration of all things “Minecraft,” the popular sandbox-style game which allows players to craft their own worlds. The map is completely free, and gives players a brief tour of “Minecraft’s” history. It starts in a special golden minecart, and players are taken stop by stop through the various updates “Minecraft” has had over the years.
“Hop into the golden minecart and you’ll be zipped along a powered rail down memory lane,” the news post explained. “You’ll get a brief tour of each of our updates over the years! It’s a fast paced treat through the past of ‘Minecraft’…”
After the guided tour, players are left with a puzzle to solve to unlock a virtual “Minecraft” museum. The museum has plenty for players to learn about the history of the game.
The free map is available for “Minecraft” on Xbox One, Windows PC, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, and even “Minecraft” Java.
For those who can’t get enough “Minecraft,” be sure to check out the upcoming AR game “Minecraft Earth.”
Minecraft Dungeons out in spring 2020
Microsoft’s E3 presentation today gave us a new trailer for Minecraft Dungeons, which will be a dungeon-crawling game where players will be able to team up with friends to take on new challenges.
The trailer showcased a variety of locales, from forests to lava-filled castles. We also saw a bunch of enemy hordes that players will take down in the search for loot. Players will accordingly be able to equip all sorts of weapons and armor, and will have levels, enchantments, and various stats to boot. In addition to standard weapons like hammers, fans will also be able to use magic. There will also be a wide variety of customization options to help players personalize their characters. Overall, the game seems to be way more action-oriented than the base Minecraft experience, but unlike Diablo, it will have more of a family-friendly appeal.
Minecraft Dungeons will be out in spring 2020 for PC, consoles, and Xbox Game Pass.
June 17, 2019
Minecraft: Dungeons gameplay debuts at E3 2019
The Minecraft Team showed off some new gameplay for its Minecraft: Dungeons action game. This adventure takes the blocky setting and applies it to a Gauntlet-style four-player cooperative game that is launching in the spring of 2020.
You can watch the trailer above, which shows off the isometric-view and hack-‘n’-slash action. Players can equip new weapons and magical abilities. And all of this works for local cooperative play or online over Xbox Live.
Minecraft Dungeons — a Minecraft action-adventure game — is coming to Nintendo Switch in 2020
If you've been feeling a little bored with your world-building adventure in Minecraft but you don't want to ever stop digging and building and fighting in your blocky, pixelated world, you've got something big to look forward to in 2020. Majong has just unveiled the upcoming release of an entirely new title, set within the realm of Minecraft — Minecraft Dungeons.
Fight your way through an all-new action-adventure game, inspired by classic dungeon crawlers and set in the Minecraft universe! Coming to PC, consoles and Xbox Game Pass in spring 2020. Sign up to learn more! ↣ https://t.co/Yp6rAX7o44 ↢ pic.twitter.com/XitfPycQZN— Minecraft Dungeons (@dungeonsgame) June 9, 2019
If you're wondering what Minecraft Dungeon even is, it's a stand-alone action-adventure game designed with the classic dungeon crawler in mind. Players traverse all new lands, fight all new baddies, and solve all-new puzzles to unlock new items, weapons, spells, and more.
It's an all-new action-adventure game inspired by classic dungeon crawlers, where you'll constantly discover new weapons and items that will help you defeat a ruthless swarm of new-and-nasty mobs. You'll fight or flee through canyons, swamps and – of course – mines!
You can brave the dungeons alone, or team up with friends. Up to four players can battle together through action-packed, treasure-stuffed, wildly varied levels, all in an epic quest to save the villagers and take down the evil Arch-Illager!
As you wander through various dungeons, you'll fight mobs and loot their corpses. Of course, no good dungeon crawl is complete without a couple of nice, fat chest of treasures along the way.
You'll be able to personalize your character, including picking your favorite fighting style. Then, hit the ground running as a tank, ranged fighter, healer, or fighter.
You won't be fighting alone in Minecraft Dungeons (unless you want to, of course). It'll support four-player multi-player local and online gaming. Between you and your buddies, you'll be sure to make it to the mob boss in no time. As long as one of your party members is still alive, they can resurrect everyone and continue the game.
Minecraft Dungeons is coming to a variety of platforms, including Windows, Xbox One, Playstation 4, and Nintendo Switch. It's not going to be ready until sometime in 2020, but you can sign up for updates at Mojong's Minecraft Dungeons portal.
June 16, 2019
‘Minecraft Dungeon’ Coming Spring 2020 with Co-Op and Online Play
“Minecraft Dungeon” is set to launch in Spring 2020, it was announced during Microsoft’s E3 conference on Sunday.
Developed by Minecraft creator Mojang, “Minecraft Dungeons” is an action-adventure game inspired by classic dungeon crawlers. The game, which was first revealed during Minecon Earth in 2018, allows for up to four player co-op and both local and online play.
In “Minecraft Dungeon,” players can unlock dozens of unique items and weapon enchantments to unleash devastating special attacks, and explore treasure-filled levels as they quest to take out the evil Arch-Illager. You can check out the new gameplay trailer above.
E3 2019 is coming to Los Angeles on June 11 through 13, and we’ll cover all the highlights of the event here at Variety as well.
Minecraft Earth: How monetization works (and doesn’t)
Microsoft just unveiled Minecraft Earth, bringing the augmented reality (AR) world of Pokemon Go and combining it with the social creativity of Minecraft. Players will be able to go adventure using their phones, be it Android and iOS, obtaining rare blocks, building huge structures, and collecting unique mobs for their own personal build spaces.
As a free-to-play game, Minecraft Earth raises the specter of some of gaming's most predatory monetization practices on mobile phones. Thankfully, Microsoft doesn't seem to be going down the same route other games have.
Speaking to Executive Producer Jesse Merriam, we learned that Minecraft Earth will have some form of funding model but it doesn't sound as though it'll be aggressive.
