Xenoblade Chronicles X Is Coming To Switch, The Concord Studio Gets Shut Down, And More Of The Week’s Top Stories
Image: Sony, The Pokémon Company, Sony, Ubisoft, Arrowhead Game Studios / Kotaku, Bungie, Screenshot: Dr Disrespect / YouTube / Kotaku, Nintendo, Nintendo / Kotaku, Photo: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images (Getty Images)
This week, people desperate for Nintendo to finally pull back the curtain on the successor to the Switch instead got an announcement that the acclaimed role-playing game Xenoblade Chronicles X, previously only available on Wii U, will make its way to the handheld hybrid next year. Also, Guy “Dr Disrespect” Beahm was denied by YouTube in his efforts to have his channel’s monetization reinstated, and Sony shuttered Firewalk Studios, the team behind sci-fi shooter Concord. These stories and more await in the pages ahead.
Image: Sony
The PlayStation 30th Anniversary bundles look awesomely retro, so it was a shame when pre-orders for them all sold out within the blink of an eye following a confusing online queuing process. Fortunately, a surprise update to the PlayStation Direct store page indicates that Sony is getting additional stock in that fans can call dibs on starting October 29. – Ethan Gach Read More
Screenshot: Dr Disrespect / YouTube / Kotaku
It’s been a few months since Guy “Dr Disrespect” Beahm lost sponsors and had his YouTube channel demonetized after he admitted to “inappropriate” contact with a minor on Twitch. The controversial online personality is still playing and streaming games on the Google-owned platform, however, even though his request to have monetization of his 4.5 million follower channel reinstated was recently denied. – Ethan Gach Read More
Image: The Pokémon Company
Image: Sony
Firewalk Studios is shutting down, PlayStation co-CEO, Hermen Hulst, announced in a press release on Tuesday. The team was responsible for Concord, the company’s sci-fi hero shooter that bombed so badly it was taken offline just weeks after its launch earlier this year. The news comes less than two years after the PlayStation 5 maker first acquired Firewalk Studios as part of its ambitious plans for live service gaming. – Ethan Gach Read More
Image: Ubisoft
Ubisoft has finally released its first blockchain game, and it’s all about collecting and battling with NFT figurines. It’s called Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles, it’s a PvP tactical RPG, and its marketplace currently lists the most expensive collectible NFT at over $63,000. – Ethan Gach Read More
Image: Arrowhead Game Studios / Kotaku
To protect Super Earth from the bug and bot menaces lurking along the outer rim, Helldivers have access to some of the most potent weapons scientists could dream up. Then, you have the new R-2124 Constitution—a modern iteration of the iconic M1903 Springfield, complete with a fixed bayonet for recklessly charging bugs head-on. It’s the latest weapon introduced to Helldivers 2, and it’s become something of a meme due to how horrendous the rifle is in-game. But hey, it’s fun to bayonet charge your friends and enemies alike! – Brandon Morgan Read More
Screenshot: Nintendo
Cult-favorite Xenoblade Chronicles X has been trapped on Wii U for nearly a decade. No longer. The open-world sci-fi RPG is getting a Switch port at long last early next year. It could be the final game to make that jump before Nintendo finally reveals the Switch 2. – Ethan Gach Read More
Screenshot: Nintendo / Kotaku
In August 2024, Nintendo’s free-to-play mobile incarnation of Animal Crossing was announced to be coming to an end this November. It’s now been revealed that its replacement, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete, will appear December 3, and ditch all of the 2017 game’s microtransactions for a one-off sum. Except, the sum is huge, the game’s losing features, and there’s no exception for long-time players of the original Pocket Camp. – John Walker Read More
Image: Bungie
Marathon was originally supposed to arrive this year. Instead, Bungie’s new sci-fi extraction shooter was delayed until 2025 and still hasn’t reemerged with new gameplay since its initial PlayStation Showcase reveal. At least now, however, we do have a new development update from the project’s game director, Joe Ziegler. It details what fans can expect from the bold reboot, including “harsh” survival mechanics that might not be for everybody, but is surprisingly light on information about a game expected to arrive in just a year. – Ethan Gach Read More
Photo: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images (Getty Images)
As we all prepare to buy extra bags of our favorite candy this Halloween, knowing full well that trick-or-treaters will only see a fraction of the bowl because your partner ate most of the fun-size bars the night before, it’s dawning on many that the cost of chocolate is exorbitantly high this year. Of course, ever since the pandemic, rising prices throughout the grocery store have left us awestruck. Still, this Halloween feels different, more terrifying—it’s not the witches and ghouls roaming the streets. It’s the price tags on your favorite chocolate! – Brandon Morgan Read More
