Category: Video Games

Team Ninja: How Ninja Gaiden and Nioh connect to Rise of the Ronin

Many of you who have already played Rise of the Ronin may have noticed some elements of our previous works such as Ninja Gaiden and Nioh from Team Ninja. Today we’re excited to share some of the behind-the-scenes development stories for the first time. Plus we share details on an upcoming game update.

Ninja Gaiden connections

The Iga-Ninja Armor is one of Rise of the Ronin’s connections with Ninja Gaiden, an action game from Team Ninja.

From a very early development stage, we have discussed with PlayStation Studio’s XDEV team our desire to include costumes from the Ninja Gaiden series. When considering which costumes and weapons to implement, we’ve agreed on the costume of the main character, Ryu Hayabusa, as an iconic and recognizable costume for an in-game armor design.

Historically, ninjas are said to have existed during the Bakumatsu period (late 19th century), which is the setting for Rise of the Ronin so there is a high degree of affinity with the worldview of these titles.

One of the combat styles, Hayabusa-ryu, was initially implemented at the same speed as in the original, but the attacks were so fast and extremely powerful that we struggled to adjust them to match the game speed of this new version for Rise of the Ronin. 

In addition to Hayabusa’s iconic moves, such as the Izuna Drop, we also incorporated as many of Ninja Gaiden’s techniques as possible, such as his Ultimate Technique. 

Rise of the Ronin marks the first appearance of Ninja Gaiden-related content on PS5, so re-creating these features in high-resolution 4K format was a challenge. The distinctive costumes of the Hayabusa-ryu ninja, such as the raptor-inspired headgear and sleeveless armor, were newly designed with the image of reconstructing them with weapons and materials from the end of the Edo period. We believe that this fits seamlessly into the worldview of this game and hope that our fans of the series will enjoy these references.

Nioh series connections

As it has been nearly two months since the release of Rise of the Ronin, let me give you a bit of a spoiler, that William, the main character of Nioh, appears as a hidden boss in this game. We decided to have him appear early in the planning stage, as we thought it would be a pleasant surprise for those who have played the Nioh series.

As the game is set in the late Edo period when Japanese and Western cultures started mixing, and many Westerners such as Commodore Matthew Perry appear, so I believe the appearance of William wearing armor was implemented in a way that didn’t feel out of place.

Regarding the combat style Nioh-ryu, we initially had an idea of making the three stances that are characteristic to the series, upper, middle, and lower, into independent styles, but since the controls would have been too complicated, and because we felt that Nioh really is about fighting while switching between the three stances in real time, we implemented it as one style that encompasses the three stances. Nioh has a large number of techniques, so we had a hard time deciding which techniques to include.

The armor he is wearing is based on the Obsidian Armor that appeared in the Nioh series, and incorporates distressed design that evokes the passage of time from the Nioh era to the end of the Edo period.

The effect of the Blade Flash in Rise of the Ronin is the Ki Pulse in Nioh. Flux can also be used, and by holding down the martial arts input, you can perform the martial arts move directly from any stance without changing stances. It’s a difficult style to master, but we think it’s been incorporated into the action in a Team Ninja style, so we hope you’ll give it a try.

Other than William’s appearance, just like Ninja Gaiden, Nioh is not influenced by the story, so even those who have never played Nioh will be able to enjoy the world of Rise of the Ronin purely.

Looking back on the start of this project, Rise of the Ronin had been in development for more than seven years. The game takes on many new challenges and pursues the kind of action and worldview that is characteristic of Team Ninja, and as we explained in this article, we believe that the game is packed with elements that will please fans from previous titles. I hope this article will help you better enjoy the game’s world even more.

Additionally, we’ll be releasing a new update later this week.

New and expanded content

  • 5 new Ally Missions added.
  • When replaying a world in Midnight, you can choose to have Public Order deteriorate again.
  • Level sync selection feature added to missions from Testament of the Soul.
  • Two new Set Bonuses added to Midnight difficulty.
  • Addition of dojo training partners.
  • Add Martial Skill type bonus and raise limit of target score.

Gameplay Improvements

  • When equipped with the same weapon type on weapons 1 and 2, the number of styles can be expanded to a maximum of 6.
  • Changed the specifications so that special equipment will be given even if the player does not confess.
  • Changed the specifications so that greetings with characters after a breakup will return to normal over time.
  • Adjusted to make it easier for asynchronous characters to be selected.

Thank you for continuously supporting Rise of the Ronin!

The First Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Teaser Is Here

Activision’s Call of Duty marketing machine has kicked into gear with the release of the first teaser for Black Ops 6.

The teaser, below, posted by the CharlieIntel X/Twitter account, shows live action footage depicting Mt Rushmore’ being vandalized with the phrase “The Truth Lies”.

The clip comes as part of a teaser website that features an interactive television with just six channels, referencing the name of the game.

Microsoft will reportedly announce its intention to release Black Ops 6 straight into Game Pass during its June Xbox showcase. Microsoft has so far declined to comment on the reports, but they tally with recent comments from Xbox president Sarah Bond, who indicated all Microsoft’s games, including those developed by the recently acquired Activision, will launch straight into Game Pass.

Activision is reportedly targeting a late October 2024 release for this year’s Call of Duty, which is expected to be called Black Ops 6 after teasers discovered in battle royale Warzone were acknowledged by developer Treyarch. Microsoft is also rumored to be ready to release the Call of Duty back catalog of video games into Game Pass ahead of Black Ops 6’s release.

Developing…

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

After Helldivers 2’s Huge Success, Arrowhead Wants to Be the Next Blizzard or FromSoftware

After a shakeup at the top of the business and the enormous sales success of Helldivers 2 behind it, developer Arrowhead has said it has a grand ambition to become the next Blizzard or FromSoftware.

In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, former Arrowhead CEO and now Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt and new CEO Shams Jorjani insisted they have no plans to sell the company, but do want to realize their ambition of taking it to the next level, with the developers behind the critically acclaimed and commercially successful World of Warcraft and Dark Souls games a particular inspiration.

“We pride ourselves on being an independent studio,” Pilestedt said. “We have to see what the future holds, but there’s nothing in the plans where we want to be acquired by somebody. I want to see how high we can fly. And bringing Shams on board, we have a good potential to realize that future of turning into the next From Software or Blizzard.”

Jorjani added: “The goal of the studio is to make really great co-op games. We really want to turn Arrowhead into a flagship studio, where people who want to make these kind-of games say to themselves: ‘I want to work at Arrowhead.’ When we were growing up, we really wanted to work at Blizzard, it was one of the bucket list places to work at. I think Arrowhead has the potential to be that.”

Arrowhead will inevitably grow in size after Helldivers 2 sold 12 million copies in 12 weeks to become the fastest-selling PlayStation game of all time. However, Pilestedt and Jorjani insisted Arrowhead wants to focus on “measured growth”, and has no plans to go public.

“We have a good potential to realize that future of turning into the next FromSoftware or Blizzard.

“We don’t run the business for monetary gain,” Pilestedt said. “The humbleness and the desire to just make great games is the only reason we exist.”
Meanwhile, Arrowhead has sald Helldivers 2’s success has brought with it a huge amount of toxicity to deal with even as it works to add more content to the game’s live service. To that end, Arrowhead has indicated it plans to take more time with patches in order to get them right.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Destiny 2 is mighty lucky it has good shooting because it’s impenetrable otherwise

In a twist of fate I’ve mentioned in some recent Destiny 2 news posts, I am fully back into Destiny. Former vidbud Liam and I used it, initially, as something we could do while catching up on life. But now? Now we’re all in. Liam has created a spreadsheet of things we’re ticking off to prepare for the upcoming expansion, and I think it’s the perfect summation of what the game is to us: something that makes no sense at all and yet something that makes our brains hum with happiness.

And what we’ve found with Destiny, in all of its bloat, is that we haven’t explored for a single second since our return. Everything is accomplished through menus, making it quite Starfield-esque, which is terrible… but also good. We can’t make sense of it and we don’t think we ever will.

Read more

Helldivers 2 Dev Says It’s Seen a ‘Horrifying’ Amount of Threats and Rude Behavior From Some in the Community

Helldivers 2 is a smash hit for developer Arrowhead and publisher Sony, but its huge success has caused a problem for the studio: there’s more community toxicity that it’s ever had to deal with before.

The co-op PlayStation 5 and PC shooter has sold an incredible 12 million copies in just 12 weeks, becoming PlayStation’s fastest-selling game of all time ahead of previous record-holder God of War Ragnarok.

Prior to the release of Helldivers 2, Arrowhead had enjoyed big hits with the first Helldivers game and Magicka, but the success of its latest game is on another level. Now, according to former Arrowhead CEO and now Arrowhead Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt, bigger success means bigger toxicity.

“The big difference now, which is horrifying, is the amount of threats and rude behavior that people in the studio are getting from some really shitty individuals within the community,” Pilestedt told GamesIndustry.biz. “That’s something new we have to deal with.”

When Helldivers 2 launched it faced significant server issues that made the game unplayable for many, sparking an initial backlash. But since that issue was largely resolved, Arrowhead has faced complaints about everything from weapon balance to low impact Premium Warbonds. But by far the biggest backlash was sparked by Sony’s controversial decision to force PC gamers to link to a PlayStation Network account to play. Sony eventually reversed its decision, but not before a review-bombing campaign savaged Helldivers 2 on Steam. Arrowhead community managers have said the PSN backlash caused staff to lose a week simply having to deal with the fallout.

“The big difference now, which is horrifying, is the amount of threats and rude behavior that people in the studio are getting from some really shitty individuals within the community.

That’s plenty to contend with in just a few months post-launch. But Pilestedt suggested the way Helldivers 2 was designed, with frustration deliberately in place to craft the co-op experience hardcore players fully understand and appreciate, may also fuel toxicity from the wider playerbase. “If you don’t have those lows, you can’t get those highs,” Pilestedt said.

New Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani added: “Arrowhead’s philosophy has always been ‘a game for everyone is a game for no-one.’ That is the company slogan. It’s how our games are designed. You can feel it in every feature. I think it’s one of the big reasons that Helldivers 2 has been so successful. It feels fresh because it does a lot of unpopular stuff.

“When you hit this big, much bigger than anyone thought – Sony, us, everyone – what happens is the game finds an audience outside of that niche fan group. So you get this amplification of different voices. Almost all games have a bit of toxicity in the community, but with these big numbers you just get so many, so we need to work with the community to get them to self-moderate, give people the tools to speak with each other in a positive fashion, so we can keep talking to the players openly. The more voices being added to the choir does add complexity.”

“The more voices being added to the choir does add complexity.

Jorjani said that Arrowhead is currently “learning painfully” how to create systems to deal with this level of toxicity, but the work will benefit the studio’s “next thing, whatever that may be.”

Arrowhead isn’t the first developer to call out toxicity within video game communities. Earlier this year, Cities: Skylines 2 developer Colossal Order asked players to help create a more positive environment after noticing “a growing tendency of toxicity” in its community.

As for Helldivers 2, Arrowhead is full steam ahead on adding content to its live service, although it has indicated plans to slow down the frequency of patch releases to make sure it gets them right.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Poll: A New Donkey Kong Game Must Be Coming, But What Should It Be?

The wait is driving us bananas.

It feels like Donkey Kong is everywhere at the moment. With the lovable ape’s significant appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the upcoming DK-themed expansion at Japan’s Super Nintendo World, and the safe, but enjoyable Mario vs. Donkey Kong Switch remake, you could say we’re in the midst of a Kong-aissance reawa-Kong-ing revitalisat-Kong… a return for DK. But something’s missing, right?

Yes, despite Nintendo’s renewed focus on Mario’s former nemesis, we’ve still yet to see the very thing that fans have been clamouring for since the 2014 release of Tropical Freeze: a brand-new Donkey Kong game. Of course, recent details surrounding the cancelled ‘Freedom’ project at Vicarious Visions have exacerbated an already-agonising wait, but it nevertheless feels like something might well be cooking within Nintendo’s iron-clad fortress.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

How the Developers of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Introduced Future Saga

How the Developers of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Introduced Future Saga

Summary

  • Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Producer Jun Song shares new details on how they’re bringing the villainous Future Saga into the game.
  • Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 – Future Saga Chapter 1 launches May 24, 2024, for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
  • The Xbox Series X|S version will support Smart Delivery, allowing all progress and DLC to carry over from the Xbox One version.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 celebrated its 7th anniversary back in October 2023 with a big update featuring new modes and in-game events. Keeping to the development team’s determination and wish to keep Xenoverse 2’s content fresh and new for the players, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 takes a step towards the future by introducing an entirely new four-part saga for both Xenoverse 2 and Dragon Ball fans to enjoy with Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 – Future Saga Chapter 1 coming on May 24, 2024, alongside the release of the Xbox Series X|S version of the game — fans who own the game digitally on Xbox One can enjoy a free upgrade thanks to Smart Delivery tech.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Screenshot

Producer Jun Song joined us recently to share new details on what players can look forward to when Future Saga arrives in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 later this week.

Bandai Namco Entertainment America: When did you start planning new chapter Future Saga?

Producer Jun Song: It was considered in conjunction with the plan for the major update that was implemented last October. To ensure that Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 will continue to be enjoyed for a long time, we added new content and made various modifications in the October major update so that all users can enjoy it equally.

For similar reasons, we thought it was necessary to provide a fresh and exciting story for users equally by entering a new Saga. The message “Take a Step Towards the Future” expresses the meaning that with the October update and the upcoming new saga — Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 will break from the past and move on to the next “future.”

Bandai: What is the concept of the “Future Saga”?

Song: There are two major points: To settle the battle against “Fu” and to depict the struggle for the “future” of the world. This concept is also expressed in the name of DLC.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Screenshot

Until now, Fu has often conducted experiments out of curiosity, causing trouble for the protagonists and other Time Patrollers. However, since Fu himself was not doing it out of malice, the protagonists ended up getting flabbergasted every time.

In Future Saga, however, Fu acts with a clear purpose. And as a result, the battle will develop into a battle for the “future” of not only the “Time Rift” but also that of the protagonists and the entire world.

Note for Readers: The Time Rift is a crack in history that has been created by repeated altered history. The inside is an alien space, but the events that take place there, for better or worse, do not affect the “history” of the world itself.

The Future Saga will be comprised of 4 chapters, each of them has its own story but would be most enjoyable to know the story of Fu if you play all the chapters.

What will happen to you and Fu as you throw yourself into the battle for the future? We hope you check out Chapter 1 of the “Fu”ture Saga to find out!

Bandai: Who is “Fu” anyway?

Song: Fu made its first appearance in the extra mission of the paid DLC Extra DLC Pack 2. He’s an experimental mutant created by Dabura, who utilized the cells of his sister Demon Queen, Towa, and Demon King, Mira, to revive the Demon Realm.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Screenshot

However, Fu only has interest in experimentation and research, and not in the revival of the Demon Realm. Due to this, he rebelled against Dabura, and since then, he has repeatedly conducted experiments (incidents) and research on “energy produced by altered history.” The protagonists have found themselves caught in the trenches in the process.

Bandai: What is the new form of “Ultra Supervillain” that has been newly introduced?

Song: Throughout the Xenoverse series, the “Villainous Mode” and “Supervillain” sorceries have been a source of trouble for the protagonists and Time Patrollers, but in Future Saga, the “Ultra Supervillain” sorceries are introduced.

While it can provide tremendous energy, it is also very dangerous because its impact on history is so great, but it seems that Fu intends to harness this power. This “Ultra Supervillain” will be an important key throughout the Saga, so we hope you will pay attention to it.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Screenshot

Also, the relationship between Fu and the protagonists is also of great interest. Fu and the protagonists have formed a strange friendship through past incidents, and this Saga will focus on the relationship between the two.

Bandai: Any additional comments you’d like to share?

Song: Future Saga will tell a story that Dragon Ball fans will be excited about, but the DLC is also designed to be enjoyable for those who have stopped playing after clearing the game.

We are also preparing a lot of additional content for the free update that will be delivered at the same time, so we hope that you will take this opportunity to play Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Screenshot

The concept of the Xenoverse series, “enter the Dragon Ball world yourself,” is an important pillar of the Dragon Ball game franchise, so we will continue to work hard on with proper plans for future development.

Xenoverse will continue to run and there’s more to come!

Take a step into the future of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 with Chapter 1 of the Future Saga on May 24, 2024, on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S! Stay tuned for more updates from the Xenoverse 2 team with a 2nd Festival of Universes coming soon and the three additional Chapters of Future Saga coming next.

We hope to see you in Conton City!


DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2
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DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2

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$19.99
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YOUR STORY, YOUR AVATAR, YOUR DRAGON BALL WORLD

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is the ultimate Dragon Ball gaming experience, packed with thrilling action, epic battles, and endless customization options. Create your own character, explore Conton City and team up with iconic characters from the series as a teacher to train and be ready to battle against formidable enemies to rescue the flow of History!

As you progress through the game, you can customize your character’s appearance, abilities, and moveset, allowing you to create a truly unique and powerful fighter.

The fun doesn’t stop there! Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 also features online multiplayer modes, where you can battle against other players from around the world in epic showdowns or participate in Raid Battles to face gigantic foes with other players.

With 7 years worth of DLC packs, there’s always something new to discover and experience in Conton City!

THE FIGHTER YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE.
With a vast array of customization options, you can create a character that truly fits your style and personality. From race and appearance to abilities and moveset, you have complete control over your fighter.

AN INFINITE ONLINE EXPERIENCE.
With several online multiplayer modes and in-game events, battles never stop! Face against other players from around the world in epic showdowns or team up with them against gigantic threats in Raid Battles.

LET YOUR FIGHTING SPIRIT BURN!
Dive into the intense and action-packed battles typical of Dragon Ball. Whether it’s during one-on-one fights or massive battles against multiple enemies, let yourself go in the thrill of the fight!

THE WHOLE DRAGON BALL UNIVERSE AWAITS.
Jump into different locations and timelines of Dragon Ball! Battle in iconic locations from the Dragon Ball universe and interact with famous characters to protect history.

EVERYTHING DRAGON BALL, ALL HERE.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is packed with fan service, featuring all iconic characters, locations, and moments from the series that fans will love to see and experience in-game.

7 YEARS OF EXPANSIONS!
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is bigger than ever! After 7 years of regular releases of new DLC content, discover more than 40 new characters, storylines, and much more from Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super and even Dragon Ball movies. Stay tuned and enjoy the free updates as well!

The post How the Developers of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Introduced Future Saga appeared first on Xbox Wire.