PC News, Videos & Reviews

NBA 2K16 will ship four days early to those who pre-order it

By Owen S. Good at 11:00a 05.26.15

2K Sports really wants you to preorder NBA 2K16. The sports publisher is offering its flagship game four days early — the full game, in both disc and digital form — to those who preorder the game from a North American retailer participating in the promotion. (GameStop is one). Doing so guarantees a copy of the game in the buyer's hands on Sept. 25, which is the Friday preceding the game's Sept. 29 launch date. Preorders also come with extra virtual currency and items used in the game's career and MyTeam modes. The pre-order offer is good for all versions of the game: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. The NBA 2K series has had significant problems with online features for weeks after the game's launch over the past few years, in some cases affecting...

Blind first-person adventure Perception coming from ex-Irrational team The Deep End

By Samit Sarkar at 9:30a 05.26.15

Bill Gardner spent 12 years at Irrational Games, and his work at the studio included leading the design on some of BioShock's most striking locations: Welcome to Rapture, the Medical Pavilion and Fort Frolic. Now he's launching a Kickstarter campaign for a new project with a studio of his own: Perception, an adventure game that marries the horror and mystery sensibilities of the BioShock series with the first-person adventuring of Gone Home."I think if you look at the levels that I worked on, you get a sense for a little bit of my perspective of, like, I'm really passionate about horror — really passionate about trying to build up the tension and really slow things down," Gardner told Polygon in an interview last week. Perception takes place in an appropriately creepy setting: a...

Issue 06

April 30, 2015

Indie Developer Science Fair

By Matt Leone

17 fun projects from some of the game industry's most creative teams.

Star Wars: Twilight of the Republic images released

By Colin Campbell at 9:15a 05.26.15

Disney Interactive today released screenshots and character model images for Star Wars: Twilight of the Republic, a game based on the trilogy of movies released between 1999 and 2005. Designed to be played on Disney Infinity 3.0 and due for release later this year, Twilight of the Republic was developed by Ninja Theory along with Avalanche Software. Based heavily on melee and lightsaber combat, the game takes place on Tatooine, Coruscant, Geonosis and Naboo. It is played with play-to-life models for the likes of Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Maul and Yoda. Star Wars: Twilight of the Republic Play Set is included in the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack available this fall for $64.99, which also includes the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Base, Ahsoka Tano...

How the post-apocalyptic warrior fights on four wheels ...

Mad Max is melee car combat in an open wasteland

By Colin Campbell at 9:00a 05.26.15

Avalanche's Mad Max fixes a determined grapple hook to certain open-world conventions. The game comes from the developer of the Just Cause games. It also hails from the publisher of Batman's Arkham series and of last year's smash hit Shadow of Mordor. Obviously, there is a store of knowledge here about maps and missions, upgrades and quests, plot and progression. All the elements that have projected open-world titles to the forefront of combat gaming today are at play in Mad Max, which is due for release on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC on Sept. 1. But there is a key element in this game that is largely untested: its major reliance on car combat. Playing the game for an hour at a publicity event last week, I was put through the paces of various driving missions that...

Resident Evil 0 remaster coming to PS4, Xbox One, PC and more in 2016

By Michael McWhertor at 3:24a 05.26.15

Capcom will release a remastered version of Resident Evil 0 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox 360 and Xbox One next year, the company announced at an event in Japan today. Resident Evil 0 director Koji Oda will return to work on the remastered version of the 2002 GameCube title, as will other team members from the original game. Originally released as a GameCube exclusive, Resident Evil 0 was re-released for Wii in 2008 in Japan, and later came to North America under the Resident Evil Archives label. Resident Evil 0 serves as a prequel to the original Resident Evil and gives players control of S.T.A.R.S. medic Rebecca Chambers and ex-soldier Billy Coen. RE0 introduced the "partner zapping" system, which let players switch between characters to take advantage of their...

Minimap May 25, 2015: Let's talk about the news, Trevor

By Dave Tach on May 25, 2015 05.25.15

Welcome to Polygon Minimap, a daily audio podcast touring the latest news about video games, related technologies and culture. Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Download this episode directly as an MP3 Here's what we're covering today: THE BIG STORIES The creators of Crossy Road are making a cool new Pac-Man game Oculus founder Palmer Luckey sued by ex-VR employer for breach of contract Repeated bomb threats against NYC high school done to impress gamers, say investigators Gauntlet reboot's creator promises free overhaul with 'brand new mode' League of Legends introducing near-instant punishments for verbal harassment Modder brings Just Cause's outrageous grappling hook to Grand Theft Auto 5 THE BEST OF THE REST Introducing Tanaan Jungle: six...

League of Legends introducing near-instant punishments for verbal harassment

By Ben Kuchera on May 25, 2015 05.25.15

Riot has long been interested in making sure League of Legends provides a fun, welcoming environment, and a new system being tested in the European Union will be able to punish players for negative behavior nearly instantly. "The system’s initial tests in EU kick off today and take aim at verbal harassment," the blog post states. "The system delivers reform cards (notifications that link evidence of negative behavior with the appropriate punishment) that help players address their negative behavior. Your reports help the instant feedback system understand and punish the kind of verbal harassment the community actively rejects: homophobia, racism, sexism, death threats, and other forms of excessive abuse." The new system moves quick: Players can be punished with a two-week or...

Review | More
Bloodborne
- Platforms: PS4
- Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
- Developer: From Software
- Release Date: 2015-03-24
Review | More
Destiny
- Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, 360, PS3
- Publisher: Activision
- Developer: Bungie
- Release Date: 2014-09-09
Review | More
Mortal Kombat X
- Platforms: PS4, PS3, Win, Xbox One, 360
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: NetherRealm Studios
- Release Date: 2015-04-14
Review | More
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
- Platforms: Win, PS4, Xbox One
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: MachineGames
- Release Date: 2015-05-05

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Battlefield 4's Spring Update arrives on Tuesday with new guns and a new multiplayer mode

By Owen S. Good on May 24, 2015 05.24.15

Battlefield 4's spring update arrives on Tuesday on all platforms, reintroducing the "Gun Master" team deathmatch and bringing five new weapons, developer DICE said yesterday. The Spring Update will require an hour of multiplayer downtime, and the schedule for that is as follows: PC: 1 to 2 a.m. PT. Xbox One: 2 to 3 a.m. PT.Xbox 360: 3 to 4 a.m. PT.PS4: 4 to 5 a.m. PT.PS3: 5 to 6 a.m. PT. The weapons have not been named and DICE has offered no screenshots, but they will be new editions of the assault rifle, carbine, PDW, sidearm, and LMG. DICE gave details for those last week. Additionally, all weapons are being rebalanced for their effectiveness at varying ranges. "Gun Master," which became popular in Battlefield 3: Close Quarters, is a team deathmatch playlist in which players...

Modder brings Just Cause's outrageous grappling hook to Grand Theft Auto 5

By Owen S. Good on May 24, 2015 05.24.15

About a month into Grand Theft Auto 5's PC debut and we've got what figures to be an all-time great mod: Someone put a grappling hook, a la Just Cause 2, into the game. See it in action above. It's not a completely polished mod, in that the line frequently disappears but, coupled with the parachute, you can tear through San Andreas as if it was Panau, zooming to the tops of buildings and chaining vehicles together with comical, over-the-top results. The mod is the work of JulioNIB, the modder behind Iron Man and Flappy Bird mods for Frand Theft Auto 4, and is available here. The hook can attach to buildings, vehicles and bystanders and chain together multiple targets. The modder is working on adding the ability to steal vehicles while attached to them or standing on their roofs. "I...

Press Start: Stick Saves, the Witcher explained and Destiny's hall of fame

By Owen S. Good on May 24, 2015 05.24.15

The past week didn't lack for wild news. Nintendo hired Bowser. Literally. The CIA found a GameSpot guide in Osama bin Laden's compound. And a Canadian teenager was finally brought to justice after a SWATting and harrassment spree spanning nearly all of 2014. There were also news and events of more expected and ordinary origins. Both David Letterman and Mad Men ended their runs with huge numbers tuning in. Frank Gibeau probably thought he'd never be mentioned in the same sentence as those two, but he also ended a 20-year stint with Electronic Arts. But M. Bison will be returning when Street Fighter 5 does, in 2016. That's just a slice of the week that was in video gaming and pop culture. Below you will find some of the week's must-read stories, a mix of original reporting and long...

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Gauntlet reboot's creator promises free overhaul with 'brand new mode'

By Owen S. Good on May 23, 2015 05.23.15

The studio behind Gauntlet's reboot is promising big changes, but the news is more why they're promising big changes. Basically, they themselves aren't happy with the game they released in September. "In truth, we were never fully satisfied with how Gauntlet turned out," Emil Englund, the game's director, wrote on Arrowhead Game Studios' site. "So, rather than just fixing little things here and there, we have been working on the core of the game to turn it into what we originally envisioned." For those who bought the game, fear not — the improvements will come in the form of "a free major content update for the game," which include "a brand new game mode," as well as improvements to the game's campaign and Colosseum mode. "I can't tell you too much right now, but if you keep watching...

Body parts intact or not, Jason refuses to die in this Mortal Kombat X glitch

By Megan Farokhmanesh on May 22, 2015 05.22.15

Huh, so here's a weird Mortal Kombat X glitch for you. Friday the 13th's Jason, true to his nightmare legacy, can survive getting half of his body ripped off or even having his head removed entirely. According to YouTube user YVX1222, it only works with "Jason's Unstoppable Variation, while in Test Your Luck or Kustom Kombat using the Brutality Kombat Modifier." In Unstoppable mode, this usually means that whenever Jason is knocked down for the second time, he'll be revived based on how much energy he has in his power meter. Most reports suggest that this glitch will only work with the two brutalities demonstrated above. In the video above, Jason gets knocked down by vicious brutalities, aaaaand then gets right back up minus some key bits. You've got good spirit, kid. For more on M...

Check out the first in-game look at Total War: Arena

By Megan Farokhmanesh on May 22, 2015 05.22.15

The latest trailer for Total War: Arena, Creative Assembly's free-to-play, team-based strategy game, zooms through the game's battlefields and shows off in-game alpha footage. Total War: Arena features 10v10 matches in which players navigate three warrior units to victory or defeat. As they progress, units will level up and unlock specialist skills and abilities. Watch the trailer above for more on the game. Total War: Arena was announced at GDC in 2013. The game is still in closed alpha, though players can sign up through the official website. The alpha is currently only available in Europe; U.S. servers are expected to open soon.

Minimap May 22: Let's talk about the news, Scrooge

By Dave Tach on May 22, 2015 05.22.15

Welcome to Polygon Minimap, a daily audio podcast touring the latest news about video games, related technologies and culture. Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Download this episode directly as an MP3 Here's what we're covering today: THE BIG STORIES Teen pleads guilty to nearly two dozen charges in connection to nationwide swatting spree Anger mounting over non-payment from games marketplace There's a new secret area in Destiny that only the best players will ever visit Bill Murray will star in a Christmas special for Netflix this December THE BEST OF THE REST The first first-person shooter Tomorrowland Review: Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow Watch the terrifying market research that would have killed Psychonauts Here's a sneak preview of the B...

War, identity and the swanky '70s in Sunset

By Danielle Riendeau and Charlie Hall on May 22, 2015 05.22.15

Watch on YouTube | Subscribe to Polygon on YouTube Tale of Tales' latest game, Sunset, is about a lot of lofty things. It takes on race, class, gender and war — all from the confines of a single, swanky '70s apartment. Join Charlie Hall and me as we explore the inner workings of Sunset and find a simple game that tackles a lot of complicated issues.

The first look at Dreamfall Chapters: Book 3 teases some dramatic changes

By Megan Farokhmanesh on May 22, 2015 05.22.15

Dreamfall Chapters: Book 3 is "getting close" to release, and in the meantime, Red Thread Games has shared the first look (pictured above) at the upcoming episode, titled Realms. In it, we see protagonists Kian and Zoe looking drastically different than their appearances in Book 2: Rebels. "Please note that this art is not final," a post on Kickstarter reads. "Art director Christoffer will continue to tweak the art next week — but Book Three is indeed called 'Realms'...and both Kian and Zoe have gone through some dramatic changes in the time that's passed since the end of Book Two!" The third episode is progressing well, the post adds, and the focus now has shifted to finishing final assets. Red Thread said it won't announce a release date until the game is five to seven days away...

Undead Labs' Moonrise comes to Steam Early Access on May 27

By Michael McWhertor on May 22, 2015 05.22.15

State of Decay developer Undead Labs is bringing its colorful, Pokémon-inspired role-playing game Moonrise to PC next week with a Steam Early Access release. The free-to-play game has been in a closed beta for months, but the upcoming Early Access release will let players buy into the pre-release version of Moonrise. Undead Labs will sell two Early Access bundles for Moonrise, one at $14.99 and the other at $19.99. The developer shared details on what's included in each bundle on its forums earlier this month, but that buy-in will grant Early Access players access to certain creatures — called Solari — and in-game gold, gems and boosters. Moonrise will be available for both Mac and Windows PC through Steam Early Access on May 27. Undead Labs describes Moonrise as a real-time tactical...

F1 2015 pushed back into July, but here's a first look at gameplay

By Megan Farokhmanesh on May 22, 2015 05.22.15

F1 2015 will miss its original June launch date and instead release on July 10, Codemasters announced. The developer also released a trailer showing off a first look at gameplay, which you can watch above. Those who pre-order the game will get a special metal case and the Race Like a Champion guide for hints and tips. F1 2015, which will use a new version of the EGO engine, is being developed for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. In addition to new content, the game will also include drivers, cars and tracks from the 2014 season as bonus content.

Introducing Tanaan Jungle: six things to know about World of Warcraft's newest zone

By Philip Kollar on May 22, 2015 05.22.15

World of Warcraft's patch 6.2 has been on test servers for a while now. When it goes live in the coming weeks, it will bring a number of major new features to those playing the popular MMO, most notably a whole new zone called Tanaan Jungle. We spoke with World of Warcraft lead designer Ion Hazzikostas to find out what players should be looking forward to with the new zone. 1. You've seen Tanaan Jungle before When the Warlords of Draenor expansion first launched on Nov 13, 2014, Tanaan Jungle was actually the first glimpse players got of the new/old (time travel!) world of Draenor. But after a series of quick quests, players were whisked away to elsewhere on the planet, unable to return to that starting area. "We knew this was coming pretty much from the start," Hazzikostas says....

These are Batman: Arkham Knight's characters, and the Batmobile counts

By Dave Tach on May 22, 2015 05.22.15

A video released today for Batman: Arkham Knight explores the characters in developer Rocksteady Games' upcoming superhero title. Press play above to learn about the designs and roles of characters like the Arkham Knight, Penguin, Scarecrow and the Dark Knight himself. Stick around to learn more about a less traditional character, the Batmobile. Batman: Arkham Knight is set for a June 23 release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC. For more on the game, you can watch a live-action trailer below.

Listen to Nobuo Uematsu's new Final Fantasy theme for Heavensward

By Michael McWhertor on May 21, 2015 05.21.15

Veteran Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu is lending his musical talents to the series' impending release, Final Fantasy 14 expansion Heavensward, and Square Enix is giving fans a chance to hear his theme a bit early. Square Enix released "Dragonsong," Final Fantasy 14: Heavensward's main theme today alongside new media for the massively multiplayer online role-playing game. The title of Heavensward's theme refers to the Dragonsong War, the conflict between the knights of Ishgard and the dragons of Dravania, which is core to the story of Final Fantasy 14's upcoming expansion. You'll see scenes from Heavensward in the above music video, which also features the vocal talents of singer Susan Calloway. Final Fantasy 14: Heavensward is coming to PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and Windows...

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