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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...

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.

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...

In sports, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 already facing elimination games

By Owen S. Good on May 24, 2015 05.24.15

Sports video games are a kind of coal-mine canary for old video game consoles once their younger and better-looking successors hit the market. When the sports genre stops supporting the old hardware, you know it's time to get your ass to the elevator and press UP. The last new game published for the Dreamcast was NHL 2K2. For the PSOne, FIFA 2005. The last game published for the GameCube was Madden NFL 08, and Madden NFL 09 was the last game published for the Xbox. The last PlayStation 2 game was Pro Evolution Soccer 2014. Sports video games are the last to turn off the lights in a console cycle, in other words. When they start clocking out, get out. EA Sports' NHL series started flipping the switch this week when it announced its Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 edition would be something...

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...

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...

First screenshots of Madden 16 tout new lighting and interactions

By Owen S. Good on May 23, 2015 05.23.15

EA Sports has offered eight screenshots of its latest edition of Madden NFL, illustrating, they say, new visual features to enhance the game when it launches this August. New two-man interactions, demonstrated by a variety of receivers and defenders shoving off one another, are coming in Madden NFL 16, which will expand on the system of on-field cameras it introduced last year to deliver a more lifelike game broadcast. That will be supported by "new player spotlights, dynamic goals and achievements," EA Sports said. Player likenesses also should get an upgrade thanks to an improved time-of-day lighting system, they added. Madden NFL 16 launches Aug. 25 on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Xbox 360. Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is on the cover. The Madden...

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

All Games

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...

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...

Why Destiny's Trials of Osiris is the game's most exciting mode yet

By Griffin McElroy on May 22, 2015 05.22.15

Watch on YouTube | Subscribe to Polygon on YouTube Destiny's new House of Wolves expansion has a ton of new cooperative content in the form of story missions and the Prison of Elders arena, but its highlight might be the new weekly Trials of Osiris PvP event. It throws two teams of three against each other in a fast-paced, strategic survival match, offering huge rewards to the victor — but losing three games ends your run, and cuts off higher tiers of rewards. It's genuinely exciting, even if you're not that great at PvP, which is good, because we definitely aren't. Check out the Overview video posted above to see me and Samit, the King of the Battlefield, take on the Trials of Osiris, and try not to focus too much on the parts where we embarrass ourselves. For more on Destiny's House...

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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.

There's a new secret area in Destiny that only the best players will ever visit

By Griffin McElroy on May 22, 2015 05.22.15

Spoilers for Destiny's Trials of Osiris mode ahead!Earlier today, Destiny's new player vs. player mode, the Trials of Osiris, opened its gates to owners of the new House of Wolves DLC. The new mode grants rewards based on how many wins players can rack up before suffering three losses — at which point their ticket to the event can be exchanged for different reward tiers. But what happens if you rack up nine wins (the current maximum) without a single loss? You achieve the highest street cred Destiny has to offer: Access to The Lighthouse, a new social hub that is only open to players who achieve a flawless 9-0 victory. In the video below, you can see YouTube user (and remarkably talented Destiny player, we assume) MrJonathannovak1 reach the area with a perfect card, and reap some sweet...

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.

Here's what's worth buying from Destiny's Xur, May 22-24

By Jake Lear on May 22, 2015 05.22.15

Watch on YouTube | Subscribe to Polygon on YouTube If you're playing Destiny, you're probably familiar with Xur, the weekly exotic-item merchant who arrives in the tower on Friday at 5 a.m. ET and departs on Sunday at 5 a.m. ET. If you're a casual player, it can be hard to know where your hard-earned Strange Coins are best spent. Watch the above video for a quick review of Xur's inventory this week, which includes The Last Word, which is the only weapon currently in the game with a custom firing animation. Xur is in the the left side of the new Reef social location that was released with House of Wolves. House of Wolves did not add any new guaranteed strange coin sources, so the Weekly Heroic strike at the highest difficulty is still the fastest way to net nine coins. Xur's...

Minimap May 21, 2015: Let's talk about the news, Optimus

By Dave Tach on May 21, 2015 05.21.15

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 Bloodborne will get an expansion, Sony confirms Need for Speed gets a reboot with eponymous game this fall Witcher 3 team on downgrade accusations: 'Maybe we shouldn't have shown that trailer' Witcher 3 PC version gets stability, graphics patch; console version inbound Rockstar parent company sues BBC over upcoming GTA drama The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman is working on the Transformers movies now Techland's Hellraid sent back to drawing board, didn't meet expectations PlayStation's E3 press...

Arkham Knight's new trailer shows there's a bit of Batman in all of us

By Ben Kuchera on May 21, 2015 05.21.15

Batman: Arkham Knight has seen its fair share of trailers and promotional videos, but this live-action look at the game is a bit different. The idea focuses on the bravery and competence that Batman can, hopefully, inspire in the people around him. If you're doing something great, if you're helping someone, you're being like Batman. Batman has, in fact, been in your heart the whole time. It's an effective trailer, catching the feeling of the game rather than the actual gameplay, and uses the music of Nine Inch Nails well. We know what the game looks like; we're well past the point where that's a surprise, and this gives Warner Bros. another way to sell the game's ideas to the player.

Telltale rolling out Game of Thrones' fourth episode, 'Sons of Winter,' starting May 26

By Samit Sarkar on May 21, 2015 05.21.15

"Sons of Winter," the fourth episode of Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series, will be released next week on all platforms, developer Telltale Games announced today. Episode Four will be available Tuesday, May 26, on Mac and Windows PC via Steam, the Telltale Online Store and other digital distribution services. It will also arrive that day on PlayStation Network in North America and Europe for both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. "Sons of Winter" will launch May 27 on the Xbox Games Store for Xbox 360 and Xbox One. The Android and iOS versions will both go live May 28. "Sons of Winter," the fourth of six episodes in the debut season of Telltale's Game of Thrones, finds our heroes risking life and limb in an effort to ensure their family's survival in the War of the Five Kings....

Need for Speed gets a reboot with eponymous game this fall

By Brian Crecente on May 21, 2015 05.21.15

The Need for Speed franchise is getting a reboot, Electronic Arts announced today, with the launch of Need for Speed this fall. Need for Speed is set for release on PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One and, according to the press release, will deliver "deep customization, authentic urban car culture, a nocturnal open world, and an immersive narrative that pulls you through the game." This will be the 22nd Need for Speed game released since the original in 1994. The franchise stopped numbering the games after the third installment and instead used standalone titles like "Nitro," "Shift" and "Most Wanted." This year's Need for Speed is in development at Ghost Games, the studio behind 2013's Need for Speed Rivals. "Need for Speed is one of the most iconic names in gaming, and we're...

Witcher 3 PC version gets stability, graphics patch; console version inbound

By Brian Crecente on May 21, 2015 05.21.15

The PC version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt received a patch today meant to improve stability and increase performance, the studio announced this morning. The console version of the patch will be "available very soon." Here's a rundown of the patch notes. Improves stability in gameplay and the UI Improves performance especially in cutscenes and gameplay Fixes grass and foliage popping that could occur after density parameters were changed Improves Nvidia Hairworks performance Boosted texture anisotropy sampling to 16x on Ultra preset Sharpen Post-process settings extended from Off/On to Off/Low/High Blood particles will now properly appear after killing enemies on the water Corrects a bug where player was able to shoot bolts at friendly NPCs Improves menu handling Corrects...

Witcher 3 team on downgrade accusations: 'Maybe we shouldn't have shown that trailer'

By Brian Crecente on May 21, 2015 05.21.15

Despite garnering almost universal praise, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has been catching some heat about the PC version and whether it was downgraded since its initial 2013 trailer. The game was graphically downgraded on PC, members of the company tell Eurogamer. But that original video wasn't all smoke and mirrors, it was captured PC footage, it just showed a game that it turned out the developers couldn't deliver. "Maybe it was our bad decision to change the rendering system," company co-founder Marcin Iwinski told Eurogamer, "because the rendering system after VGX was changed." It turns out that the one used to create the video for the VGX show couldn't deliver the same look across the entire world both in the day and at night. "Maybe we shouldn't have shown that [trailer], I don't...

Battlefield Hardline's first expansion pack coming in June

By Megan Farokhmanesh on May 20, 2015 05.20.15

Criminal Activity, the first of four planned expansions for Visceral Games' Battlefield Hardline, will be available in June, according to a post on the game's official site. Criminal Activity was previously revealed for a summer release, along with Robbery. Getaway is expected in the fall, while Betrayal is coming in early winter 2016. Those who own the $50 premium subscription get access to the content two weeks early. Full details for Criminal Activity are as follows: Four fast-paced new maps - Backwoods, Code Blue, The Beat and Black Friday Two new rides Two new ammunition types for specific weapons A new gadget Three new weapons A nailgun battlepickup New Bounty Hunter game mode Six new masks: two animal masks, and four new police headgear options The DLC sets up the...

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