USgamer

Eurogamer with a US twist. When you want to read something different, hit up USgamer! This is where we drop all the links we find interesting.

[usgamer]

Heroes of the Storm is adding a host of new characters to the game. Here’s the scuttle from Gamescom this week:

First up, we have the Diablo monk Kharazim, a melee hero who can deal damage, heal, or split the difference between the two.

Then we have World of Warcraft ranged warrior Rexxar, who brings his big-ass bear companion Misha to the fight.

The first Starcraft warrior joins the fray with Artanis, leader of the Protoss.

Finally, Blizzard has also hinted as another Starcraft character, Medic, who is supposed to be a ranged support character.

The company also detailed the Infernal Shrines, a new Diablo-themed map with three lanes and powerful bosses that spawn at random.

The new addition are shaping up nicely and Blizzard is absolutely killing it with these characters designs. Such a wide variety of character types and styles on display.

[usgamer]

Square Enix and Sony have released this horribly mystifying trailer for Final Fantasy XV. A trailer is supposed to get you excited or provide some insight into the game, but this trailer does neither. Ah, well. At least Episode Duscae was fun.

[usgamer]

Capcom has just revealed that the Spanish Ninja is making a return for Street Fighter V! 

Also Capcom must have have caved to social pressure, as Vega is now wearing more clothes. Shame.

[usgamer]

This trailer for a Castlevania pachinko game has an odd focus, but is completely honest about that focus.

I’d say, “Not like this,” but if you’re going to abuse Castlevania, you might as well get crazy with it.

[usgamer]

No one told Tetsuya Nomura that he was directing the Final Fantasy VII Remake. (Via Kotaku)

It turns out Nomura himself was surprised by the fact that he was directing the FFVII remake.

“As preproduction went along and I offered my opinions on what I thought should be done, Mr. Kitase would asked me how the individual elements should be adjusted in fine detail.” Nomura recalled. “It was very perplexing. Then one day, as I was checking the internal company presentation video it said ‘Director Tetsuya Nomura’ at the end.”

Apparently this was news to Nomura who had assumed that Kitase would be reclaiming the director’s chair for the remake of his game. “So I called up Mr. Kitase and said, ‘It says that I’m the director for some reason.’ To which he replied, ‘Of course it does.’” Nomura said with a nervous laugh.

The “’I thought you were going to direct!’ ‘Well I thought YOU were going to direct!’” episode was something that happened in the initial stages of the project’s inception and Nomura has stated that he is presently well aware of and well into his position as director.

Square Enix has everything running like a smooth train.

[usgamer]

You may have heard this already, but 2K and Firaxis Games have announced that XCOM 2. Here’s the shiny new trailer. The sequel to XCOM: Enemy Unknown is skipping consoles this time, with Firaxis handling the PC version and Feral Interactive is handling the Mac and Linux. The game is coming on November 2015.

XCOM 2 transports players 20 years into the future, where humanity lost the war against the alien threat that has established a new world order. The secret paramilitary organization known as XCOM is largely forgotten, and must strike back to reclaim control of Earth and free mankind from the aliens’ rule. 

In XCOM 2, the roles have been reversed, and XCOM is now the invading force. They are hampered by limited resources and must constantly evade the alien threat in their new mobile headquarters. Players must use a combination of firepower and stealth-like tactics to help XCOM recruit soldiers and build a resistance network, while attempting to expose the evil alien agenda and save humanity. XCOM 2 will introduce gameplay features such as procedurally-generated levels, which will make each experience unique to the player, as well as offer a much deeper level of modding support. Additionally, XCOM 2 will offer a variety of new content including five updated soldier classes, increased soldier customization, more alien and enemy types, evolved tactical combat and more.  

That sound good? Man, this is going to be a long wait.

[usgamer]

Today, during a Japanese Nintendo Direct, Nintendo gave us a new glimpse at Fire Emblem IF’s new My Castle system. (Trailer here.) You can build your own Castle, layout specific buildings that offer player benefits (BATHHOUSES!), and interact with your army.

Another new highlight is the amie system, allowing you to interact directly with your followers by... uh... petting them. But hey, it’s totally innocent here!

Fire Emblem IF is coming to Japan on June 25, 2016, with an Western release some time in 2016.

[usgamer]

Larian Studios has announced a brand-new version of Divinity: Original Sin! The new Enhanced Edition is coming to PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac, and Linux. If you already have Divinity on PC, you get Enhanced Edition for free!

What’s the Enhanced Edition all about?

Well, couch co-op play for one! As well as local co-op, split screen and controller support, the Enhanced Edition also features:

All characters are now fully voiced by AAA-voice actors

New quests, new characters, and new content

Entirely new gameplay modes and character builds

A heavily rewritten story with a brand new ending

Massively reworked visuals and sound effects 

Divinity: Original Sin getting updated is good news. The bad news? Your saves won’t transfer over. Enhanced Edition is all-new, for 64-bit PCs only, with Direct X 11 support, and a host of other changes; Larian couldn’t find a way to correctly mirror your old save across. Sadness.

What in Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition coming? When it’s done! (And in the meantime, Larian is still working on two other RPG projects.)

[usgamer]

Today during its Nintendo Direct, the company gave us another look and some more information about the upcoming Fire Emblem game. The background conflict is a war between two clans: the noble Hoshido and the warlike Nohr. Unlike Fire Emblem: Awakening, where you played Robin, a second banana to the main character, here you are the real main character. Born in the Hoshido clan and raised by the Nohr, you ultimately have to choose a side.

Here’s the trailer:

[usgamer]

So, Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem is still alive! It’s still coming to Wii U! No release date yet, but the teaser trailer below and GIFs galore!

[usgamer]

Oh shit! Alongside Yarn Yoshi on Wii U, there will be Yarn Yoshi Amiibos in Green, Blue, and Pink!

[bandainamcous]

Are you ready to experience a whole new Dark Souls II experience? Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is coming soon and we put together a FAQ to help answer any questions you might have. Let’s get started!

Why did Bandai Namco Games and FromSoftware choose to produce Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin?

We wanted to give the fans an opportunity to participate again, this time in an even deeper experience in the Dark Souls II universe. With that goal in mind, in Scholar of the First Sin, we created not just a mere all-in-one package, but a completely new Dark Souls II experience.

We also wanted an opportunity to implement a multitude of features made possible now with the new generation of hardware on the market. We want users on these new platforms to be able to experience Dark Souls II, as well as all the advanced features we are now able to implement.

When will Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin be available?

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin will be available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 digitally and at retailers on April 7th, 2015. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin will be available on Steam on April 1st, 2015 at 3:00 PM PST.

I’ve never played any Dark Souls games before, is this a good time to jump in?

Yes. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is the most complete version of Dark Souls II and will deliver an experiencing including all of the DLC content.

What is the difference between Dark Souls II, along with all of the Lost Crowns DLC and Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin?

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is a “Director’s Cut” of all Dark Souls II content that includes additional features. Content from all DLC packs is included along with the original game. The DirectX11, Xbox One, and PS4 versions of the game will also include:

New enemy placement, map shortcuts, and gameplay design.

Graphics, sound, and performance upgrade.

New weapons and armor for players to experiment with.

New NPC invading player’s world.

Max online players up from 4 to 6.

It is a fresh new experience that even grizzled veterans will find surprising and challenging!

What about the other content that I heard about? Additional Story NPC and elements, new item descriptions, improved online matching, improved game mechanic balance, etc.?

That content has already been made available via a free update to all current Dark Souls II owners in February. Visit Facebook.com/DarkSouls to read the full list of improvements!

Will my Dark Souls II saves carry over to Scholar of the First Sin?

Dark Souls II to Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin on PS3/Xbox360/DirectX9 - Yes

Dark Souls II to Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin on PS4/Xbox One/DirectX11 - No

What are the recommended system requirements for the DirectX9 and DirectX11 versions of Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin?

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (DirectX9)

Minimum System Requirements:

OS: Windows Vista SP2 / Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8 CPU: AMD Phenom II X2 555 3.2GHz / Intel Pentium Core 2 Duo E8500 3.17GHz Memory: 2GB RAM GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 9600GT / ATI Radeon HD5870 DirectX: 9.0c Network: Broadband Internet Connection Hard Drive: 12GB available space Sound Card: DirectX9 sound device Additional Notes: Controller support: Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller for Windows (or equivalent) recommended

Recommended Specifications:

OS: Windows 7 SP1 / Windows 8 CPU: Intel Core i3 2100 3.10GHz / AMD A8 3870K 3.0GHz Memory: 4GB RAM GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 / ATI Radeon HD 6870 or better DirectX: 9.0c Network: Broadband Internet Connection Hard Drive: 15GB available space Sound Card: DirectX9 sound device Additional Notes: Controller support: Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller for Windows (or equivalent) recommended

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (DirectX11)

Minimum System Requirements:

OS: Windows 7 SP1 64bit / Windows 8.1 64bit CPU: Intel Core i3 2100 3.1GHz / AMD A8 3870 3.6GHz Memory: 4GB RAM GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 / ATI Radeon HD 6870 DirectX: 11 Network: Broadband Internet Connection Hard Drive: 23GB available space Sound Card: DirectX11 sound device Additional Notes: Controller support: Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller for Windows (or equivalent) recommended

Recommended Specifications:

OS: Windows 7 SP1 64bit / Windows 8.1 64bit CPU: Intel Core i7 2600 3.4GHz / AMD FX 8150 3.6GHz or better Memory: 8GB RAM or better GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 (700 series) or better / ATI Radeon HD 7850 (7000 series) or better DirectX: 11 Network: Broadband Internet Connection Hard Drive: 23GB available space Sound Card: DirectX11 sound device Additional Notes: Controller support: Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller for Windows (or equivalent) recommended

If my computer cannot run DirectX11 and I already own Dark Souls II along with the DLC on Steam, is there any reason for me to purchase Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin?

If you own Dark Souls II and the DLC on Steam, the content update in February has already upgraded you to the Scholar of the First Sin experience for DirectX9!

With the DirectX9 and DirectX11 version launching, how do I know what version I am buying?

Two separate Steam Store pages will exist for these different versions. All relevant information and links for the other page will be present. Please read carefully and make sure you understand which version you’re looking at before buying and let us know if you have any questions!

If I buy the DirectX9 version of the game now, and upgrade my computer next year, is there a way for me to obtain the DirectX11 version of the game without buying it over again?

If you purchase the DirectX9 version of the Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin now, you will be able to upgrade to the DirectX11 version of the game through the upgrade path highlighted above. ($29.99 for existing game owners, $19.99 for existing game and DLC owners)

I’ve heard that players with the DirectX9, Xbox 360, and PS3 versions of the game cannot play with owners of the DirectX11, Xbox One, and PS4 versions of the game. Is that true?

Yes. The difference in the DirectX11, Xbox One, and PS4 versions of Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin pertaining to where enemies spawn, items are located, and other environmental differences will not allow players running newer hardware versions to connect and interact with players experiencing the game on older hardware running DirectX9, Xbox 360, and PS3.

How much will Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin cost?

Please note - These details are for North and South American territories. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin will be $59.99 on Xbox One and PS4. If you are purchasing on Steam, you can check the details below:

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (DirectX9): $39.99

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (DirectX11): $49.99

DirectX11 Upgrade price for existing owners of Dark Souls II on Steam: $29.99

DirectX11 Upgrade price for existing owners of Dark Souls II and all DLC on Steam: $19.99

Join the Bandai Namco Games Community: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Tumblr

[usgamer]

Prepare yourself.

[usgamer]

Sony has upgraded its Project Morpheus prototype and given the VR headset a tentative release date: The first half of 2016. 

Here's what you can expect from the hardware now:

OLED display: In exchange for the 5 inch LCD, the new Morpheus VR headset is equipped with a 5.7 inch 1920 X RGB X 1080 resolution OLED display. This new screen expands the field of view and enables low persistence, removing motion blur.

120hz refresh rate: The previous refresh rate spec has been doubled for this new prototype, which means games for Morpheus can be rendered at 120fps. When combined with the OLED display’s high refresh rate and the power of PS4, Morpheus is able to output amazingly smooth visuals.

Super low latency: We know how critical low latency is to delivering a great VR experience, and we’ve reduced latency to less than 18ms, about half of what the first Morpheus prototype had. Low latency is critical to deliver a sense of presence, at the same time making the VR experience comfortable to players.

More accurate tracking: To make positional tracking more precise, we’ve added three LEDs to the headset – one on the front and two on the side – for a total of nine LEDs to support robust 360 degree tracking.

User-friendly design: We’ve made the Morpheus VR headset easier to put on and take off, with a single band design and quick release button. The headband supports the weight of the unit on the top of your head, so there is no pressure on your face. Other components have also been adjusted and configured to make the headset lighter, so that players do not find the headset cumbersome or uncomfortable to use.

That brings the total list of major VR headsets to three: Project Morpheus (PS4-only), Valve/HTC's Vive, and the Oculus Rift. 

VR is coming folks. Which one are you leaning towards?

[usgamer]

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker is coming to North American shore on May 5, 2015 (5/5/15!). Here's a new trailer with English voice acting to keep you jamming until then.

[usgamer]

This is a real thing: a Halo-themed motorcycle helmet that's supposedly Department of Transportation-approved. 

It's only see you back $500.

[usgamer]

PCGames DE has snagged some absolutely amazing high-res shots of Rise of the Unchart-- I mean Rise of the Tomb Raider for Xbox One. It's also a feature story for this month's Game Informer, so there's a bit more information about the game.

Rise of the Tomb Raider is coming to Xbox One some time in 2015.

[usgamer]

Re-Logic and Engine Software have announced Terraria: Otherworld, which is not a Terraria sequel. Instead Otherworld is an off-shoot that explores different gameplay within the confines of the Terraria universe.

Set in an alternate dimension within the Terraria universe, Terraria: Otherworld places the player in a life-and-death struggle to restore a once-pristine world – now overrun by a malevolent force that has corrupted nature itself – to its original splendor. Along with a rag-tag band of survivors, will you be able to successfully harness the power of an array of weaponry, magic, defenses, and even the world itself to thwart the designs of this unseen evil? Combining the experience of sandbox gameplay with role-playing and strategy elements, Terraria: Otherworld explores the Terraria experience in an innovative and unique way - providing a fresh approach to the “open world” genre.

So far it looks like more Terraria to me, but if they say it's different, I believe them. Terraria: Otherworld is coming for PC/Mac, but the developers are also exploring a PS4/XB1 version. No release date yet.