Doublejump Digest: Gamescom 2017 Edition

This week in gaming: Xbox One X pre-orders start off strongly, Age of Empires returns, and Blizzard inundates us with a buttload of Overwatch goodness!

From Doublejump:

• Cav took the time to check out Secret World Legends, finding it to be an essential try for RPG fans of all varieties.

Major news releases:

Microsoft confirms Xbox One X Project Scorpio Edition:
At Gamescom earlier this week, the software giant announced that Xbox fans can now pre-order its upcoming 4K-capable console. The company also confirmed the existence of a special “Project Scorpio Edition” system that is available in “limited quantities”. As of this writing, it appears as if all pre-ordered systems will feature this branding.

Xbox’s Mike Nichols has since announced that the system is the “fastest-selling Xbox pre-order ever”, with many retailers reporting it to be sold out.

“Within just a few days, we saw record-setting sell-out times and are currently sold out in many countries around the world,” he wrote. “You, our biggest fans, have pre-ordered more Xbox One X Project Scorpio Edition consoles in the first five days than any Xbox ever.”

The Xbox One X is scheduled to be released locally on November 7 with a $649 retail price tag.

Microsoft and developer Mojang also announced a Minecraft-themed Xbox One S console and pair of controllers that all emulate the game’s blocky art style.

After more than a decade, Age of Empires IV is officially a thing:
Microsoft Studios announced the first entry into the storied real-time strategy series since 2005 during a special livestream event celebrating the series’ 20th anniversary. Little information is available about Age of Empires IV at this early stage, but we do know that long-time RTS developer Relic Entertainment (Homeworld, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War) is leading the development, and that means there’s some serious pedigree behind it.

Blizzard details Overwatch’s next competitive season changes, Mercy + D.Va reworks and reveals new map:
In a recent Developer Update video, Game Director Jeff Kaplan announced that the game’s sixth competitive season will only last for two months as opposed to the last few seasons’ three-month rotations. Higher-ranked players will also only need to play five games to avoid skill rating decay, but those who miss out on these matches will only lose 25 skill rating points versus the previous 50-point rate. Additionally, due to ever-growing match times, Blizzard has opted to reduce Control games to best-of-three scenarios rather than best-of-five ones.

Principal designer Geoff Goodman separately outlined changes to D.Va, which are still in early testing, in response to a thread about the hero on the Battle.net community forum. Once the changes pass through the Public Test Realm and into the main game, D.Va’s Defense Matrix will use twice as much energy as it currently does (meaning that it can only be active for half the time), a nerf balanced out by the ability to fire her weapons while flying around with her boosters. She also gains a new ability, Micro Missiles, which Goodman says “launches a long salvo of small missiles that explode on impact, dealing damage in a small radius around them.”

Blizzard’s goal for the changes is to “allow for some more aggressive play” and “reduce her reliance on Defense Matrix” in order to make D.Va more fun to play; Goodman assured players that the goal of this rework was “to nerf Defense Matrix as an ability, not D.Va as a hero.” Of course, the rework may still be tweaked once it’s launched onto the PTR, so Goodman’s word is by no means final.

In the separate Developer Update above, Kaplan revealed that Blizzard is also radically changing healer Mercy by giving her a new ultimate ability named Valkyrie. After initiating this ability, Mercy can literally fly around the map, reach more distant allies with Guardian Angel, chain her healing and damage boosting beams, and shoot her gun faster. Furthermore, when in this state, Mercy can quickly earn her oft-vital Resurrect ability, which is no longer an ultimate ability and is instead a regular ability on a longer cooldown. PTR players can currently test and provide feedback on both characters’ changes.

And finally, Overwatch players can look forward to duking it out on a brand new, Mad Max-inspired map titled Junkertown.

PlayerUnknown shows off PUBG’s new location:
During his Gamescom keynote address, Brendan “PlayerUnknown” Greene revealed more details about PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’s next map. He confirmed that the map will take place in a desert environment featuring a dense urban “city” that will contain taller buildings than the ones featured in the current map.

Neither Greene nor developer Bluehole announced a release date for the new map.

Check out the official Gran Turismo Sport PlayStation 4:
Not content with giving Microsoft free reign over console announcements at Gamescom, Sony announced a special Gran Turismo-themed PS4 Slim system that is set to be released alongside the game on October 18.

The two-tone silver and black system will feature a Gran Turismo logo on its main said and will come bundled with a similarly-styled DualShock 4 controller and copy of the game’s Day 1 Edition on disc.

Sony has yet to announce a local price for the system.

Notable game releases:

• Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (PS4)

Major video releases:

Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System — The console of a generation!
Let Nintendo tease you about the system that you probably won’t get your hands on…ever.

Anno 1800 — Official Announcement Trailer:
Strategy fans rejoice!

Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition — Official Reveal Trailer:
It looks like PC Final Fantasy fans will not have to wait years before playing the latest title.

The Crew 2 — First Gameplay Trailer:
‘Murica!

Destiny 2 — Official Launch Trailer:
Hot damn does this game look epic!

Star Wars Battlefront 2 — Official Starfighter Assault Gameplay Trailer:
Battlefront fans are in for a visual treat in just over two months!

Assassin’s Creed Origins — Gamescom 2017 Cinematic Trailer:
Alright, this is a dope trailer!

Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition — Official Reveal Trailer:
Why should PC and console players have all the fun?

Far Cry 5 — There’s a lot more to Far Cry’s Montana than just shooting:
Let’s learn a little bit more about what else we can get up to in Hope County.

Overwatch — Animated Short | “Rise and Shine”:
Everyone’s favourite intrepid ice scientist Mei finally stars in her own animated short.

FIFA 18 — Official Gamescom 2017 Trailer:
This video’s a lot more fun than it should be!

Need for Speed Payback — Official Gamescom Trailer:
This BMW M5 looks like it came straight out of Baby Driver!

Overwatch — “Junkertown: The Plan”:
Junkrat and Roadhog can’t seem to catch a break.

Monster Hunter: World — Hunting 101:
Let fake Thor guide you through the basics of hunting…err..monsters.

GeForce Experience — New Ways to Customize, Capture and Share:
NVIDIA explains some of GeForce Experience’s latest sharing and recording features.

Shenmue III — Teaser Trailer:
Yu Suzuki’s latest project looks good…for a PS3 game.

Indie corner:

Epic Tavern has been brewed for an early access release:
Hyperkinetic Studios has announced that its tavern management simulator, Epic Tavern, is set to launch on PC via Steam Early Access on September 7.

Brewing together classic role-playing, roster management and social simulation, Epic Tavern will have players managing a legendary tavern where they serve drinks, recruit adventurous patrons and send brave parties on legendary quests.

Newly-established Good Shepherd Entertainment reveals first title, Phantom Doctrine
After the indie game publisher and investment platform Gambitious recently changed its name to Good Shepherd Entertainment, the publisher has announced that it is teaming up with Polish indie CreativeForge Games to create Phantom Doctrine, a turn-based tactical Cold War espionage game.

Set in 1983 during the Cold War, Phantom Doctrine is an alternate history thriller in which players lead The Cabal, a secret organization dedicated to fighting a global conspiracy committed to controlling the world by pitting world leaders and nations against one another. Deception is the great equalizer as players will have to operate from the shadows to exploit every vulnerability — ruthlessly interrogate and brainwash enemies and allies alike to create double agents, saboteurs or unwitting collaborators.

Interesting reads:

• Hideo Kojima on War, Video Games and ‘Death Stranding’: Glixel
• Creating a champion: How a father’s trip abroad led Tokido to the top: ESPN

Other news:

• DICE is adding a 5v5 competitive mode to Battlefield 1: YouTube
• Here’s some more of Dynasty Warriors 9’s cast: DualShockers
• Yes, it looks like PlayerUnkown’s Battlegrounds is still exclusive to PC and Xbox One: Eurogamer
• EA feels like Mass Effect: Andromeda copped more flak than it deserved: GameReactor
• LawBreakers’s 1.2 patch focusses on deterring players from leaving matches early: YouTube
• Ubisoft’s hosting a Rainbow Six SIege free weekend: UbiBlog
• Sledgehammer tells fans to expect “a darker, more terrifying” Nazi Zombies experience in Call of Duty: WWII: GamesRadar

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