Sunshine & Slaughter: Dead Island 2 Debuts Gameplay at Gamescom 2014

Deep Silver revealed the first gameplay trailer for Dead Island 2 today , the next installment in the multi-million-selling Dead Island franchise. In the debut gameplay trailer, sunshine meets bloody melee violence once again, this time in the sunny realms of California. Dead Island 2 developed by YAGER is coming spring 2015 for the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, as well as Windows PC.

Fans at Gamescom will enjoy the Dead Island 2 zombie slaughter fest under the blue skies of Los Angeles, just below the iconic Hollywood sign in the first hands-on showcase at the Deep Silver booth in Hall 9.1, B11/C10.

Dead Island 2 picks up the Dead Island and Escape Dead Island storyline several months after the events on the Banoi islands. The United States military has put the Golden State under full quarantine which, for some, is a dream come true with a promise of a fresh start. California’s newfound bloody paradise is an action-packed playground featuring the acclaimed, seamless multiplayer for up to eight players who cooperate, compete or simply coexist in a truly social, new-gen multiplayer experience.

“We are bringing the Ryse experience to PC, with 4K resolution support,” said Carl Jones, director of Business Development at Crytek. “4K gaming is another leap in graphics quality for PC gamers and Ryse is the perfect showcase for what’s now possible in high-end PC games. We’ve given our team the opportunity to show what CryEngine can really achieve, without compromising quality, thanks to the incredible hardware available now to PC gamers.

“Ryse will be a benchmark PC graphics showcase this year and probably for a long time in future. Our community asked for a Ryse PC version, and we have the means and technology to deliver this title with the highest quality possible.”

Ryse: Son of Rome will be the second Xbox One exclusive to make its way to PC, following shortly after the release of Dead Rising 3 next month.

Via Crytek

Redux includes remastered versions of 4A Games shooters Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light alongside all previously released add-on content.

The legendary Ranger Mode is included in both games.

Metro 2033 Redux and Metro: Last Light Redux are also available separately as download titles.

The Redux versions of the Metro games are reasonably cheap, for those who missed out on these games the first time around or want to relive them in their definitive edition. Both titles come with all of their DLC packed in for a total of $24.99 / £15.99 / €19.99 each digitally, or they can be purchased together in the boxed Metro Redux compilation for $49.99 / £34.99 / €39.99.

Additionally, the Steam versions of both titles can be pre-ordered for half off if you already own the original game. [Note: This doesn't work with the bundle, so you'll have to purchase the games separately.]

The game takes place four years into the occupation of the U.S. by Korean forces, as the story of the first game goes. In this title, however, new characters represent a dawn of freedom fighters, guerrilla style, in the streets of Philadelphia, which gives them the ability to terrorize KPA troops and attempt to gain the upper hand either alone or along with friends in online co-op.

Crytek was first developing the game for THQ, but when the publisher dissolved last year, Crytek bought the franchise to preserve the work it had already done of the game. It’s now being helmed by the firm’s UK branch dubbed Crytek UK, formerly Free Radical. It’s being published by Deep Silver.

Video Thirst: Homefront: The Revolution

Saints Row IV’s Enter the Dominatrix DLC pack will launch on October 23, publisher Deep Silver has announced. It will include new weapons, characters, enemies and missions, all in a handy package that will set you back £5.99/$7.99/€7.99. Season Pass holders get it at no additional cost.

The once-Saints Row The Third expansion that was cancelled has been revived, and will return in IV. It involves a malevolent AI program known as Enter the Dominatrix, and is as crazy as it sounds. Looking forward to it?

Enter The Dominatrix sees players plunged into a “demented simulation” in an alternate take on Saints Row 4′s original story. In order to escape to the real world, players must face the Dominatrix’ army of “gimps and sex-workers” and join forces with “unlikely allies”.

The DLC also includes behind-the-scenes commentary into the content’s creation, the return of “fan-favorite characters” and a look into the origins of Saints Row 4, which started life as a Saints Row 3 expansion pack of the same name.

• Saints Row IV : Commander in Chief Edition
• A full sized replica Dubstep Gun
• A full day of spy training
• A trip to space with Virgin Galactic
• One year’s membership of E25 Super Car Club and a Lamborghini Gallardo to make it worthwhile
• Plastic Surgery of the purchaser’s choice
• A shopping spree with a personal shopper to create the ultimate Planet Saints capsule wardrobe
• 7 nights for two at The Jefferson Hotel in Washington
• Hostage rescue experience
• A brand new Toyota Prius and insurance to give something back to the environment
• 7 nights stay in the Top Royal Suite at the Burj-al-arab with flights for two

Deep Silver stated you can pre-order it at GAME, but if you’re really interested you should mail them at makemeasaint@deepsilver.com. We should rob a bank or something, it’s worth it. If you can’t get the one you love with the Dubstep Gun, the Gallardo or the trip to space, you should make good use of that plastic surgery included in the package.

Yeah, it’s another MOBA. With twists. No new information has been announced yet, but we’ll keep you updated when more comes, as always.

The whole problem was a single side-mission, which was removed in order to meet classification guidelines. The cause for the rating refusal was that the mission involved “alien narcotics”  that improved super-powers temporarily. Yes, that was the problem. The anal probe will still make an appearance, though as DLC, later on.

A statement provided by publisher Deep Silver reads:

“To achieve this rating one loyalty mission featuring the character Shaundi has been removed. This mission has been widely reported on and contains the use of alien narcotics to obtain certain superpowers. This mission represents approximately 20 minutes of gameplay out of the hours available to purchasers. The removal of this mission has no negative impact on the story or the superpowers and will not detract from the enjoyment players will get from their Saints Row IV experience.

The rectifier weapon will be available as part of a DLC package as originally intended. Deep Silver stands by this decision and thanks the Australian Classification Board for their assistance with this matter.”

Games like State of Decay and Fallout 3 have successfully passed classification, by changing the names of the items in order to meet the guidelines. However, Volition chose to remove the mission altogether. The game is still coming out August 23, on Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Any Australians here, picking this up?

In the board people’s words:

“In the Review Board’s opinion, Saints Row 4 could not be accommodated within the R 18+ classification as drug use related to incentives and rewards is not permitted.”

Not judging the decision or the board, I see no reason for an R18+ rating, when it can’t be applied to games with adult content, while created to be applied to such games. Nevertheless, Saints Row IV has gone gold and will be released August 23 on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC by Deep Silver, which acquired the rights to the game from the bankrupt THQ.

Deep Silver unveil the ‘Faction Pack’ DLC for Metro: Last Light, and reveal future DLC details…

Deep Silver today announced that the ‘Faction Pack’ – the first piece of DLC for 4A Games’ critically acclaimed Metro: Last Light – is set for worldwide release on Steam and Xbox Live online entertainment network from Microsoft on July 16th, and will hit the PlayStation Network on July 16th in North America and July 17th in Europe and the rest of the world.

The ‘Faction Pack’ includes three original single player missions, each casting the player as a different specialist from the warring Factions. Returning to some classic locations from Metro 2033, these missions feature new weapons, the return of a truly terrifying mutant foe, and offer three distinct gameplay challenges…

• As a Special Detachment Sniper of the Red Line, players must infiltrate a heavily guarded Reich Outpost at night,under the cover of a deadly radioactive storm…

• … before defending the Frontline as a Reich ‘Heavy’, armed with some of the most devastating weaponry found in the Metro.

• Lastly, players take the role of a Polis Ranger in training, tasked with exploring the vast Library complex for artifacts and relics. Salvage can be exchanged for ammunition, filters and hazard suits allowing ever deeper exploration into the Library. Rangers are advised to light torches and leave a trail of lights so they can find their way back to the base before their precious oxygen runs out…

The Faction Pack will cost just $4.99 / £3.99 / €4.99 / 400 MSP, and is the first of four DLC packs to be included in the Metro: Last Light Season Pass, which at $14.99 / £11.99 / €14.99 / 1200 MSP offers a discount over buying the packs separately, and also includes an additional exclusive weapon, the Abzats.

Deep Silver also revealed additional details on the content of the future DLC packs

• The ‘Tower Pack’ presents a unique experience for seasoned Metro gunslingers – a challenge based game mode, with online Leaderboard support, as players fight their way up the combat simulator known as The Tower

• The ‘Developer Pack’ boasts a fully stocked Shooting Gallery, the AI Arena and Metro Museum… And a bonus solo mission – The Spiders’ Nest – offers some new tools for dealing with an infestation of the skittering Spider mutants

• Lastly the ‘Chronicles Pack’ will feature original single player missions that cast the player as three of the game’s standout characters – Pavel, Khan and Anna – and explore their side-stories away from Artyom’s adventure.

 

According to the board, “Saints Row IV, includes interactive, visual depictions of implied sexual violence which are not justified by context. In addition, the game includes elements of illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards. Such depictions are prohibited by the computer games guidelines.”

Since the announcement, the game’s publisher Deep Silver has issued a statement revealing that Volition, Saints Row IV developer, is already at work on a friendlier version of the game they hope will be cleared to be sold in Australia.

“Deep Silver can confirm that Saints Row IV was denied an age classification in Australia. Volition, the developer, are reworking some of the code to create a version of the game for this territory by removing the content which could cause offence without reducing the outlandish gameplay that Saints Row fans know and love. Saints Row IV has been awarded PEGI 18 and ESRB M ratings where fans can enjoy their time in Steelport as originally intended,” the statement reads.

It was former THQ boss Jason Rubin who revealed this news via an expose’ piece on GamesIndustry, adding that one of 4A Games’ team member even had his apartment seized by armed men. Lease be damned.

Said Rubin:

The budget of Last Light is less than some of its competitors spend on cut scenes, a mere 10% of the budget of its biggest competitors.

Yet it is lauded for its story and atmosphere. It is built on a completely original and proprietary second-generation engine that competes with sequels that have stopped numbering themselves, with more engineers on their tech than 4A has on the entire project. Yet its tech chops are never in question.

He added:

Accounting for the budget and adversity that the team faced, and considering the size and talent of the teams they are competing with, [Last Light] is a stunning achievement.

If 4A had been given a more competitive budget, in a saner environment, hadn’t wasted a year-plus chasing the irrational requirement of THQ’s original producers to fit multiplayer and co-op into the same deadline and budget(!), hadn’t had to deal with the transition to a new publisher in the crucial few months before final, what could 4A have created?

Rubin found the need to take a swipe at Metro: Last Light’s new publisher Deep Silver, saying that they hadn’t done enough to highlight the developer. In kind, Deep Silver representative Aubrey Norris quipped, witting that 4A Games has only been with them for about 4 months, and were knee deep trying to complete Metro: Last Light. Norris also made a point of the fact that 4A Games was with THQ for umpteen years, yet THQ, while Rubin was boss there, did nothing. A spat then ensued on twitter.

“4A is awesome. Everyone here knows that. And now that Metro is done and they are not so crazy busy, their story can be told,” she added.

Spat aside, it’s pretty amazing that 4A even completed development of Metro: Last Light, and even more so that they managed to create an awesome experience. That’s enough reason to go out and support the developer, then. Because if it sells well, it means better games in the future, and better working conditions, too.