This week in gaming: Naughty Dog announces The Last of Us Part II’s release date, Twitch rebrands itself, Logitech acquires Streamlabs, and more!
In the spirit of keeping our readers up to date with what’s happening in the video game industry, the Doublejump Digest is a brief collection of the major news stories from the past week. Keep an eye out for the Digest every Sunday night, and head on into the archive for news from weeks gone by!
MAJOR NEWS
Naughty Dog announces The Last of Us Part II’s release date:
During the latest State of Play stream, The Last of Us Part II developer Naughty Dog announced that its hotly-anticipated sequel is scheduled to be released on February 21, 2020 in a new gameplay demo.
Lifelong PlayStation fans were also treated to a special announcement in the form of a playable demo version of the upcoming MediEvil remake that is available now on PlayStation 4. Furthermore, Sony also revealed that is going to release a limited Death Stranding-branded PS4 Pro bundle that will include a customised white and black system as well as a translucent orange DualShock 4.
Twitch rebrands itself to “match the energy” of its community:
For the first time in the company’s eight-year history, Twitch has rebranded itself to feature a more vibrant look that embodies “the vibrant energy” of its streamers and their fans. In addition to using a brighter shade of purple and creating a new font for its website, the company has added more than two dozen colours as gradients for creators to use to match their own branding.
Logitech acquires Streamlabs:
The Swiss computer hardware manufacturer announced that it has agreed to acquire independent live streaming software developer Streamlabs in a deal worth approximately US$89 million in cash and a further US$29 million in Logitech stock should Streamlabs meet “significant revenue growth targets”.
Respawn unveils Apex Legends’ next map:
Not long after formally revealing the game’s next legend, Crypto, Respawn Entertainment has unveiled a new map for Apex Legends that will launch alongside Season 03: Meltdown this week. The new Meltdown map features urban, snowy, and lush environments centred around a moving freight train.
Epic reveals new Epic Games Store features:
In a recent blog post, the publisher revealed that it is developing an updated storefront for the Epic Games Store that will include curated game collections, filtering by genre, and highlights of “trending” games. Furthermore, the company is also working on implementing an in-game overlay to allow players to quickly chat with friends, access their library, and more in addition to adding “3D Secure” support adhere to strict European consumer protection legislation.
Project xCloud testing and Minecraft Earth due in October:
Not content with letting Sony hog all the limelight, Microsoft held its own Inside Xbox presentation and announced that players in the US, UK, and South Korea can now register for October’s Project xCloud beta. As part of this beta, participants will be able to play Gears 5, Halo 5: Guardians, Killer Instinct, and Sea of Thieves.
In related news, Mojang has tweeted that it will begin rolling out Minecraft Earth, its hotly-anticipated augmented reality title, worldwide from October.
NOTABLE GAME RELEASES
- Code Vein (PC, PS4, and Xbox One)
- Mario Kart Tour (Android, iPadOS, and iOS)
- Tropico 6 (PS4 and Xbox One)
VIDEOS AND TRAILERS
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – Story Trailer:
The Uncanny Valley is strong with this one.
Destiny 2: Shadowkeep – Launch Trailer:
Moon’s Haunted.
Dauntless – Aether Unbound Launch Trailer:
Phoenix Labs says goodbye to Early Access for its hugely-popular multiplayer title.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint – Join Skell Technology:
A man-made utopia built on greed? What could possibly go wrong?
Code Vein – Launch Trailer:
A year late is better than never!
OTHER NEWS
- AtGames has acquired the rights to Ms. Pac-Man despite being tangled up in a lawsuit with BANDAI NAMCO: Polygon
- Bethesda has committed to release a public test server for Fallout 76 next year: Engadget
- Google Play Pass has started rolling out, but Aussies will have to wait a little longer: AusDroid
- Report: We might get to play a new Batman: Arkham game after all: Kotaku
- Report: Australia’s growing Esports industry is ripe for corruption: ABC
- This four-hour long video recaps Destiny’s lore so far: YouTube
- Bungie is planning to drop Pinnacle Weapons for Destiny 2: Shadowkeep: Polygon
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