Latest news with #SonyStateofPlay
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Games Inbox: Is Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2 a disappointment?
The Friday letters page is surprised the Sony State of Play didn't go down better with more people, as readers share images of the Switch 2 midnight launches. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ Initial experience I've spent a few hours playing Mario Kart World in single and multiplayer, and my first impression is that it's a bit… boring. The free roam aspect of the game seemed like it had heaps of potential but, for the most part, it feels aimless. Sure, there are things to collect and discover, but in-between there's just driving. Lots and lots of driving. It's not exactly a world brimming with things to do in the same way as the sandbox areas in Super Mario Odyssey, for example. As for the races, in principle it makes sense that the tracks need to be wider to accommodate 24 racers. However, the races themselves don't generally feel any busier because you're still, generally, just competing against those closest to your level of ability. Consequently, I felt the game lacks the chaotic energy of jostling your rivals to get ahead because there's so much space on the otherwise well-designed courses. I know it's unfair to compare Mario Kart World to Mario Kart 8 at this point, given the latter spanned two consoles, with a plethora of content reflecting that. But it's hard not to feel that while the free roam section is a solid demonstration of technical advancement (even if the inability to integrate it with Grand Prix mode seems like a missed opportunity), the core gameplay is consistent, at best. In some respects, I'd say it's more of a step backwards, if anything. That being said, I don't think this is the same version of Mario Kart World we'll be playing five years from now. Free roam mode feels like a playground in which Nintendo can experiment, and I fully expect them to do so. There'll undoubtedly be a slew of DLC and perhaps better integration of the various modes into one seamless experience. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. In the unlikely event that this is the final iteration of Mario Kart World, it's currently a six or (generous) seven out of 10 and probably the least enthralled I've ever been with a new Mario Kart title. But I'll give Nintendo the benefit of the doubt for now because this doesn't feel like a game that's even close to being finished. Needlemouse Just add Sony Firstly, I'm surprised by the relatively lukewarm response to the State of Play from some people; I thought it was one of the best in recent memory and there were only a few games that I personally had little interest in. The main reason for writing in is the recent addition of Destiny 2: The Final Shape to PS Plus subscription. In short, I played a lot of Destiny 2 back in the day but have subsequently not played any of the most recent DLCs/additions. Can The Final Shape be played as a standalone? (both logistically and in terms of the story)? John GC: We think people were upset that Sony themselves had nothing to show from their first parties, even though we agree it was overall a good show. As far as we understand, you don't need any other expansions to play The Final Shape. Only one Just a quick heads up for anyone buying digital content on either a Switch or Switch 2 console, if you are Switch online subscriber you can purchase a voucher for £84 that lets you purchase any two titles from a list of games. This reduces each game to a reasonable £42 and the vouchers are valid for a year. I didn't get an alert about this until after I'd purchased Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which I paid £59.99 for. I did at least then go on to buy a voucher for £84 and redeemed each token for Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Super Mario 3D Land + Bowser's Fury. Charlie H. GC: It's important to note these can't be used for Switch 2 exclusive games. Email your comments to: gamecentral@ Midnight gathering I've seen a lot of pictures from the Switch 2 launch, so I thought I'd send you a picture of the queue at Smyth's in Dublin city centre, a couple of minutes after midnight. I think there were a couple of hundred people there when I arrived. if I'd known then that I wouldn't get out of the store until 2:30am, I might have gone home and tried again in the morning. But in the end, I'm glad I waited. I've just been tinkering with it so far, hooked it up to the TV, and played a little bit of Mario Kart World and Cyberpunk 2077, so I can't really give any conclusions. But when my (dedicated non-gamer) wife saw it, her reaction was, 'Oh, it looks much better! Can I play it?' So I think Nintendo are on to another winner. Mickah American retail I was on my way down to Smyths Leeds to collect my Switch 2 Mario Kart bundle, that I had pre-ordered a month ago. I called in at Costco on the way and was surprised to find they had the Mario Kart bundle for £419.99, so I decided to get one from there. It was late afternoon Thursday and they looked to have plenty left. It is limited to one per customer. I will let my pre-order lapse so it will cancel in two days. Martin GC: We had no idea Costco existed in the UK. Maybe we're not the only ones and that's why they have so many left. C'mon Doreen Somebody (not me, don't know how) should start a petition to get Squirrel Girl in that Marvel game for you guys. How good did it all look? How good was that showcase? What have Sony been up too? That's what. Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection is already on my wishlist. That surfing sword game wasn't bad either. With Nintendo too, great times ahead. Indiegaz (PSN ID) GC: At least she's in Marvel Rivals. Autumnal purchase So I won't be buying the Nintendo Switch 2 at launch. I'll be instead visiting Tenerife in August. But I do hope the system reviews well and those who have purchased it are zooming around on Mario Kart World. I'll be hopefully purchasing the device before autumn of this year. But you never know what could happen. So my sister paid for my ticket and it of course must be paid back. A debt is a debt. Which is quite fitting, since I just finished my playthrough of Red Dead Redemption and just as John Marston paid his debt to a life of crime and Edgar Ross paid his debt to a vengeful son. I'll be hopefully paid up in less than three months, then I'll be purchasing the Switch 2 and with more information on the games, reviews, and what's to come for the future. For now however, I look towards a week spent in the beaches of Spain and my focus on the remainder of my maths course. Also, a playthrough of Resident Evil 3 remake. Only six hours long. Can't complain. Shahzaib Sadiq Free for all Borderlands 2 and Hellslave are currently free on Steam on PC. Hellslave is available for free until Sunday, 15th June. Also, Deathloop is currently free on Epic Games Store. I hope everyone who gets a Switch 2 enjoys it. I will have to probably get one next year now, as I need to buy a new gaming computer because my current gaming PC will not upgrade to Windows 11, unfortunately. Andrew J. Old reliable Just writing this after a couple of hours with the Switch 2. I always end up with whatever Nintendo's latest console is at some point in its lifetime (going back to the Game Boy Advance) but for the first time I decided to jump onboard day one. The price rises for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have shown that the assumption consoles will get cheaper in the medium term isn't a guarantee, and the feature list for the Switch 2 ticked pretty much every box I wanted from an upgrade to the original. Bump in specs, sturdier Joy-Con, and a new interface with the mouse controls. What I've not seen many people comment on yet is the set-up experience. It isn't always a given with Nintendo that this is going to be smooth, but I found that the transfer from my original to Switch 2 was seamless. I had one error message in setting up GameChat, but restarting the process fixed that, and now I can settle into at least another few years of Nintendo gaming joy. As I approach the business end of 40 years old, it's a comfort to know that the likes of Mario, Yoshi, and the other inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom are still karting away 30-odd years after the SNES original. Electric Crocosaurus GC: That's a cool name. Inbox also-ransYes! My Switch 2 has turned up and have the rest of the week off, and it's Summer Game Fest on Friday night. Now that is what I call eating well for games fans! Lempton As promised, here is the pic from the queue at Smyths toy store at midnight. Sorry I couldn't get one from inside but they were only letting two at a time in. Not a bad turn out. I had about 20 people behind me too. woz_007 (NN ID) Email your comments to: gamecentral@ More Trending The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers' letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader's Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot. You can also leave your comments below and don't forget to follow us on Twitter. MORE: Games Inbox: What are your Nintendo Switch 2 first impressions? MORE: Games Inbox: When will there be Nintendo Switch 2 console reviews? MORE: Games Inbox: How much are you spending on the Nintendo Switch 2 launch?
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
007 First Light announcement trailer: James Bond is a bullet looking for a target in the new game, watch
In one of the most exciting pieces of gaming news in recent times, IO Interactive has finally released the announcement trailer for the James Bond game. It's titled 007 First Light, and the game was revealed to fans during the Sony State of Play showcase, and the trailer was later dropped on YouTube. According to the trailer, the game seems to pay homage to the films by including several interesting details which help differentiate 007 from any other agent with a licence to kill. While an exact release date hasn't been communicated by the Danish game developers, the game is all set to release in 2026 for Microsoft Xbox, Windows PC, Sony PlayStation 5, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. The game will focus on the early years of Bond, before he earned his credentials as MI6's most lethal weapon, and even the tagline for the game is 'Earn Your Number'. While this is just a sneak peek and games have a way of turning out to be very different from the trailer, it does look promising. To be clear, 007 isn't winning any realism awards and going up in the upper echelons with projects like Red Dead Redemption, but the graphics do seem to hold themselves together. The trailer opens up with the director of MI6 (presumably M) talking to her subordinate about recruiting a young Bond. As portrayed in the books and the films, he is a talented, intelligent and efficient troublemaker who, if honed correctly, could become an asset. ALSO READ: Who is the Next James Bond? Theo James, Henry Cavill, and Bridgerton stars lead the top 7 frontrunners to replace Daniel Craig as 007 We see some clips from the gameplay as Bond trains in the MI6 developmental programme in order to qualify for field duty. The first proper shout-out to the existing literature comes when he goes into the workshop to prepare for his first mission. Omega watches, dangerous gadgets and vehicles with over-the-top engine power – it's all there. The game will also feature the forever iconic Aston Martin, and the trailer features what looks like the special edition DBS from 2019, which was built to commemorate 50 years of the film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. IO Interactive has made it clear that the narrative of the game itself is completely original and has not been picked up from any of the books or the films. With GTA 6 also slated for a 2026 launch, it will be interesting to see how this game competes with the most anticipated project of all time in gaming history.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Marvel Tokon fighting souls announced by Arc System Works for PS5 in 2026
Marvel fans can look forward to a new fighting game developed by Arc System Works, the studio behind the acclaimed Dragon Ball FighterZ. Announced during the June 2025 Sony State of Play, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls will feature popular Marvel heroes and villains in an exciting new 4v4 team-based fighting format. With Capcom stepping back from Marvel fighting games, Arc System Works brings fresh expertise to the franchise's legacy. Capcom's earlier titles, popular in the 1990s, faced challenges related to character licensing—especially around the X-Men—which contributed to the decline of Marvel fighting games over time. Arc System Works, known for fighting game franchises such as Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, and the Persona fighting game series, has a strong reputation for delivering visually stunning and well-balanced gameplay. Their work on Dragon Ball FighterZ was particularly praised for capturing the anime's aesthetic, raising expectations for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. The game will feature a robust lineup of characters and a new 4v4 team fighting system, offering fresh gameplay dynamics. So far, confirmed fighters include Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Star-Lord, Ms. Marvel, Storm, Dr. Doom, and Ghost Rider, with more to be revealed. The 4v4 format allows players to build large teams, an ambitious approach that will test the developers' ability to maintain game balance. Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is set to release on PlayStation 5 in 2026. Fans can watch the debut trailer and a behind-the-scenes development video from the Sony State of Play event, available on The Game Awards' official YouTube channel.
Mint
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Final Fantasy Tactics returns once again with remastered edition - The Ivalice Chronicles; all details here
Livemint Published 5 Jun 2025, 06:00 AM IST Mint Image It's never truly a Sony State of Play presentation without some kind of Final Fantasy news, and Square Enix was not about to disappoint today. This year, the JRPG giant revealed a new take on an iconic 1997 classic, Final Fantasy Tactics. This is a game that's no stranger to additional content, seeing not only two new games in its wake in the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance series, but countless remasters and re-releases, from the vaunted War of the Lions edition on PSP to its recreations on Android and iOS. Today, we were treated to the latest version, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, which looks to solve the eternal problem of 'which version to play?' by simply including both.
Metro
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Games Inbox: What are your Nintendo Switch 2 first impressions?
The Thursday letters page reacts to Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls and the Sony State of Play, as readers prepare for the Nintendo Switch 2 launch. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ Early access As one of your Aussie readers I'm pretty sure I technically got the Switch 2 before anyone in Europe, so I thought I'd write in with my in-depth observations after half an hour with it. First off, this is definitely a Switch 2 but bigger. Secondly, I'm perfectly fine with that. The new Joy-Cons are definitely an improvement, the mouse controls work great, and the magnet thing is pretty cool. Other than that, there's not really much to say about the console itself, other than the dock is surprisingly heavy. As for Mario Kart World, I've only played around in the open world a bit and done one track but it looks really nice. The size of the open world looks really impressive and I like there being so many opponents at once, and all the weird obstacles and traffic in your way. Maybe all the British sites should've come here to review it. Sounds like they would've got more time with it than Nintendo gave them before launch. Coops Unexpected Play So that State of Play was not what I expected at all: no Resident Evil 9, no new Sony games, almost no live service games… I have no complaints, it was pretty good, but considering the way they announced it, as a troll to Nintendo, I didn't predict that a Marvel fighting game by Arc System Works would end up being the mic drop at the end. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. It looked good but that Sony guy talking about the difficulty of finding a developer to make it… really? I mean Capcom are right there at the beginning of your showcase. I won't deny I'd still prefer Marvel Vs. Capcom 4 but I'm definitely interested in this too. And a new Lumines game and Nioh 3? I definitely did not predict that, but I am all for them. So overall, a good but strange showcase. I'm not sure why it deserved such a last minute annoucement, and I very much doubt that'd going to make anyone think twice about buying a Switch 2, but it's all good. Korbie Bond is not back? I'm not really convinced by that first James Bond trailer. There's no way they didn't design the character to look exactly like Tom Holland and that is the last person I'd want playing Bond in real life. It's okay, I'm not against it so far, but at the same time I'm not blown away. There was something about the graphics too… they weren't really photorealistic, more like something from a Telltale Game or something. I dunno, there was just something off about it all. Maybe it'll be okay but there were no real jokes in the trailer and somehow I doubt they're going to portray Bond as a boozing, womanising, smartass. But if they don't, what's the point? Other than the product placement, of course. Purple Ranger Email your comments to: gamecentral@ Today's the day Well, I've taken off the day and assuming you show this on Thursday I will be impatiently waiting at home, hoping that the postman is going to knock at the door with my Switch 2 at any minute. Whatever else happens, there's nothing quite like a new console launch for excitement, as far as I'm concerned, and even though I'm only getting one game (I'll let you guess which one) it looks really good and I can't wait. Here's to hoping it's all been worth the money and the wait, and that I'll be playing Mario Kart World with fans around the world all weekend! Gorf Rental only Just a quick heads up for anyone buying the Arcade Archives 2 version of Ridge Racer. If you have access to purchase it on a Nintendo Switch 1 or 2 and have Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack then you have access to Ridge Racer 64, which features tracks from the original Ridge Racer and Ridge Racer Revolution, along with original N64 tracks, so arguably represents better value. The only issue with Nintendo Switch Online games is they can't be purchased outright, which seems very odd to me as Nintendo could still have the Switch Online service and simultaneously allow for games to be brought individually. Nintendo just seems to be leaving money on the table because there are quite a few games I would like to purchase. Charlie H. Big surprise I think the new RoboCop expansion is going the right route by concentrating on the action this time and not so much the other bits. I really enjoyed Rogue City but it was a little slow in places. When I played it on New Game+, fully boosting Murphy's auto pistol, I haven't felt so overpowered since walking around with the golden gun on GoldenEye 007 in cheat mode, but it felt good in an overpowered RoboCop kind of way. Tomorrow I'll be coming off the night shift and dropping my car off at the garage at lunch time for a service, no doubt tired out and in zombie mode, then watching my phone as I've ordered my Switch 2 delivery to the local post office and I'll be anticipating collecting it. I've got it coming with Mario Kart World. I've dodged all your previews and any videos of the game, just so I can go in blind and not know what to expect. I had the console ordered since mid-May and didn't want to get too excited for it. If anyone ever saw those episodes of South Park where Cartman gets himself cryogenically frozen because he can't stand to the thought of having to wait for the Wii release date, I didn't want that to happen to me getting too excited about it. Hopefully my car pick-up time won't be too late, so I can get home and get going, shifting the data from my Switch to the new one. I'm really looking forward to it. My son doesn't know I'm getting the Switch 2 this week. It's going to be pretty exciting as he's a Mario Kart addict. Nick The Greek Secret plans I wonder if the whole thing around day one updates and not releasing any Switch 2s and Mario Kart World to the press for reviews partly links with what happens in the open world section of Mario Kart? Perhaps they are planning to integrate open online events which have a big impact on the game, or something similar that would not be available until 5th June? Or perhaps not…we will find out soon enough. Elliott GC: This is an excellent thought and something we'd pondered ourselves, even though there's no sign of it so far. There are clearly plans for DLC though, even from little details like some major characters having half a dozen costumes but others, like Donkey Kong, only one. The Xbox timeline I was reading another letter about Microsoft's failings with the Xbox and nodding along in agreement when I had a thought: what would have happened if Microsoft had 'won' the Xbox One/PlayStation 4 generation by a mile instead? The last decade or so has seen Microsoft make some big and crazy decisions in an effort to play catch-up and, as we know, they haven't really worked. They have had massive amounts of cash to throw at the problem, and this has worked to some degree, as they have remained competitive and are now the biggest publisher in the world. However, if Sony had been lagging a long way behind, then what would they have done without the purchasing power and backing of Microsoft Corp.? I fear they would have struggle to compete without the same massive financial clout of Microsoft and potentially would have gone the way of Sega and stopped making consoles altogether. If that was the case, then I'd like to think that they still would've been able to churn out the (mostly) brilliant single-player offerings. Microsoft have kept Sony honest, at least. Although, it is an odd one to think that Sony still haven't really done much the last few years, so maybe they haven't kept them as honest as we all would have liked! How do you think it all would have played out in the darkest timeline, GC? NatorDom Currently playing: God of War: Ragnarök and – hopefully – Mario Kart World later today… GC: Well, you would've seen the concept of digital ownership disappear a lot quicker. But ironically Microsoft probably wouldn't have ended up buying Activision Blizzard or Bethesda, because they wouldn't have needed them. Inbox also-ransAll the fuss about Mario Kart World's price, it's a bargain compared to what Virtua Racing on the Sega Mega Drive cost me back in 1992. That was just my random gaming thought of the day. Mark Matthews You know what, there was more stuff in that State of Play that got me salivating than anything I've seen of the Switch 2 and I don't even have a PlayStation! (granted most of it was multiformat). And I say that as a lifelong Nintendo fan. big boy bent More Trending Email your comments to: gamecentral@ The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers' letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader's Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot. You can also leave your comments below and don't forget to follow us on Twitter. MORE: Games Inbox: When will there be Nintendo Switch 2 console reviews? MORE: Games Inbox: How much are you spending on the Nintendo Switch 2 launch? MORE: Games Inbox: Will Nintendo games ever come to PC?
