"Microsoft Game Pass", Disney's 1.5B Epic deal, Helldivers 2 + more! - GameLinked Feb. 8, 2024

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NEWS SOURCES:

 

WHAT’S IN THE BOOOOOX?

GameStop tweets and displays branding on site saying “Microsoft Game Pass”

https://twitter.com/ReforgeGaming/status/1755317364038443467

Went viral after Wario64 retweeted the now-deleted GameStop tweet https://twitter.com/Wario64/status/1755318156149874955

Only added fuel to fire of multiplatform rumor backlash https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/major-xbox-influencers-pull-support-over-multiplatform-rumours/

Wario64 points out EA used this branding last year https://twitter.com/Wario64/status/1755321729248039134

-          tho they ALSO say “Xbox Game Pass”…typo? Long-term plan?

Have to wait until next week https://twitter.com/XboxP3/status/1754598552548904973

FTC not happy with Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard layoffs https://www.polygon.com/24065269/ftc-microsoft-activision-deal-layoffs-appeal

Were supposed “to maintain the pre-merger status quo” in case FTC order divestiture https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca9.344453/gov.uscourts.ca9.344453.117.0_1.pdf

Microsoft says Activision planned layoffs before merger https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/activision-had-planned-layoffs-before-merger-microsoft-says-1.2032655

“The recent announcement thus cannot be attributed fully to the merger.” https://lmg.gg/bzAlO (BNN Bloomberg)

 

DISNEY’S EPIC MONEY

Disney invests $1.5bn in Epic Games

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/02/epic-working-with-disney-on-new-gaming-universe-after-1-5b-investment/

Epic announcement https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/disney-and-epic-games-to-create-expansive-and-open-games-and-entertainment-universe-connected-to-fortnite

Disney’s announcement https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-and-epic-games-fortnite/

“persistent universe” https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/7/24065281/disney-epic-games-investment-fortnite-metaverse

“will offer a multitude of opportunities for consumers to play, watch, shop and engage with content, characters and stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar and more.” https://lmg.gg/SKpI4 (Disney)

-          JOKE: that certainly sounds like Fortnite

Teaser looks sort of like a virtual Disneyland https://youtu.be/Yf2bRcSIUsE?t=23

In the meantime, Rocket League gets a new update: Mandalorian crossover https://www.starwars.com/news/mandalorian-mayhem-rocket-league

 

MORE LIKE SELLDIVERS 2 AMIRITE?

Helldivers 2 massive launch

https://www.ign.com/articles/sonys-helldivers-2-gets-off-to-a-strong-start-on-steam

Third-best selling game globally by revenue on Steam https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2024/02/helldivers-2-off-to-a-strong-start-on-ps5-pc-currently-third-best-selling-game-on-steam

#1 in US (as of writing) https://store.steampowered.com/charts/topselling/US

#1 Globally (right now) https://store.steampowered.com/charts/topselling/global

Notably Sony’s first simultaneous PS5 and PC release https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/sonys-first-simultaneous-ps5pc-release-is-already-outselling-palworld-on-steam

PS5 launch doing well monetarily, but bug-ridden launch https://www.theloadout.com/helldivers-2/servers-bugs-performance-ps5

Arrowhead CEO gives statement https://www.gamesradar.com/helldivers-2-dev-in-crisis-mode-as-matchmaking-problems-hit-the-co-op-shooters-launch-ceo-says-we-are-seeing-the-issues-and-advises-joining-friends-directly/

Game MAY be down https://www.techradar.com/gaming/helldivers-2-servers-down

Gamesradar says servers are down https://lmg.gg/yCSxT (Gamesradar+)

TechRadar says it’s back up https://lmg.gg/gfWId (TechRadar)

Probably fixed by the time video comes out

 

QUICK BITS

 

GAME PIRATING INCREASES

Skull and Bones Open Beta actually happening

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/skull-and-bones-is-now-in-open-beta-almost-as-if-ubisoft-intend-to-finally-release-it

https://videogames.si.com/guides/skull-and-bones-open-beta-start-time-preload

former director explains lack of solo campaign https://www.pcgamer.com/former-skull-and-bones-director-says-making-a-separate-solo-campaign-would-have-prevented-the-team-from-creating-a-really-deep-open-world/

-          JOKE IDEA: my explanation is it would have prevented the team from creating a tangible open beta within the first decade of development

 

PLEASE, WHILE WE’RE STILL JUNG

Persona 3 Reload Atlus’s fastest selling game,

https://www.pcgamer.com/anime-more-powerful-than-ever-as-persona-3-reload-becomes-the-fastest-selling-game-in-atlus-history/

Persona 2 remaster/Person 4 remake rumors, PS2 will be on Switch 2 https://twitter.com/MbKKssTBhz5/status/1754683275707040151

https://kotaku.com/nintendo-switch-2-persona-3-reload-4-remake-metaphor-1851238766

 

THE WALKING DREAD

Treyarch confirms no new perks/enemy types for CoD: Zombies, fans afraid

https://www.ign.com/articles/call-of-duty-zombies-fans-fear-the-worst-after-treyarch-says-not-to-expect-new-perks-or-enemy-types

https://twitter.com/MrDalekJD/status/1755245660272554448c

Releasing The Walking Dead crossover during season with no Zombies content https://gamerant.com/call-of-duty-walking-dead-crossover-bad-timing-mwz-content/

 

I LOVE DEMOCRACY

Capcom wonders if fans still interested in their most interesting franchises

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/02/random-capcom-survey-asks-if-fans-want-sequels-to-okami-dino-crisis-more

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/capcom-survey-asks-players-if-they-want-to-see-sequels-or-remakes-of-lapsed-series/

https://www.destructoid.com/recent-capcom-survey-once-again-pokes-the-dino-crisis-interest-bear/

                NAKED KNIGHT: https://captown.capcom.com/en/super_elections/1/new

 

STELLAR…Y’KNOW

Stellar Blade dev says he “put special attention” into female protagonist’s backside

https://www.gamesradar.com/stellar-blade-dev-also-known-for-butt-jiggling-game-nikke-says-he-put-special-attention-into-the-female-leads-back-because-thats-what-players-see-most-of-the-time/

Because “That’s what [players] see most of” https://lmg.gg/QcOVP (GamesRadar+)

Might explain some focus on “costume creation” https://insider-gaming.com/stellar-blade-costume-creation/

Famitsu interview (Japanese—Google translated link) https://lmg.gg/e9hw1 (Famitsu)

Wants game to “express all the things a female character can do when wielding a sword” https://lmg.gg/URuZl (Famitsu)

Collab with previous game, NIKKE: Goddess of Victory (the jiggle physics Mecca you’ve seen ads for) https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2024/02/stellar-blade-dev-considering-crossover-content-with-saucy-smartphone-shooter-nikke