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    Opinion: Epic should honestly ditch the Epic Games Store or give it a complete overhaul

    There comes a time when you feel like a company is jumping the shark. Epic Games isn’t doing just that, it’s running around in circles with its head on fire. There’s so much wrong with the Epic Games Store from a fundamental level and it’s not helped by an incompetent CEO. Let me get this out the way, I’m not against the existence of a Steam competitor.

    The problem is that Epic is forcing these new incentives down everyone’s spine. It all started around the time Metro Exodus was supposed to be released on Steam. Less than a month before release, Epic and Deep Silver announced that it would be a timed exclusive to EGS. This angered people much like myself who were looking forward to the game and had the Steam page on wishlist for months. They still honored pre-orders for about a week and let people play it at launch, but it was a terrible business decision made by Epic and Deep Silver.

    I was willing to give Epic the benefit of doubt if they didn’t do this again. Then they did it for Outer Worlds, Control, Shakedown Hawaii, Untitled Goose Game, Borderlands 3 and Shenmue 3. Just recently in fact Enhance announced that Tetris Effect was announced as an EGS exclusive and it got me thinking. Why is Epic so bad at obtaining exclusives if some of these were already on Steam.

    The reason is quite simple when you look at Epic’s strategy. You see, Epic gives developers exactly 65-88% of the profit earned. Valve eventually followed by giving developers 75% more revenue but it was too late. Epic already took advantage of the one thing that Valve lacked for years. It’s no wonder why Epic were initially successful with the store at first. Epic also gives out free games every 2 weeks which is a huge advantage over Steam. However, with every upside there is a downside.

    With Epic Games, there are so many negatives that it would take me forever to list them all so I’ll just list a few of them. Tim Sweeney is known for being rather incompetent when it comes to his opinions. One of the most controversial is him saying “We won’t accept trash games.” Yet IMO he still had the dignity to approach Quantic Dream and put 3 of David Cage’s games on the store. Nothing wrong if you think Detroit, Beyond or Heavy Rain are good but there’s a reason why people continue to make fun of them.

    It doesn’t help that Fortnite has been involved in several controversies. Fortnite is the profitable game that Epic has and there is a reason it’s everywhere. Unfortunately the continued development of this game has resulted in work crunch and several horrifying stories have surfaced. They also blatantly reused the reaper skin for the Fortnite John Wick event. I could go on and on but the fact remains, Fortnite as popular as it became is slowly getting worse because of the company that started it all. It even forced them to cancel development of the Unreal Tournament reboot.

    Epic has also been caught doing several suspicious acts including the launcher essentially being spyware. While that has been debunked, it’s still puzzling to think that they could get away with it but it makes sense since the company itself has a majority stake owned by Tencent. It doesn’t help the Epic Store is severely lacking features. While most of them are coming over time, some of these are such basic features that it’s kind of hilarious when they promote the search engine as a new addition. They don’t even have a shopping cart so you can’t buy more than one game at a time.

    So you may be wondering, if I despise Epic then what should they do to improve as a whole? I think the first thing they should do is either scrap the Epic Store or give it a much needed overhaul because while it’s good for developers, the number of problems and controversies is becoming way too apparent. I’m sorry but some of these exclusives deserve a better home such as Steam or GOG. This doesn’t mean that Epic should go out of business, far from that but I think they should start focusing on the Unreal Engine and their original IPs.

    Fortnite is huge and will continue to be for years, but I think it would benefit to put it on more PC platforms. Unreal Engine should stay roughly the same and as such the Epic Games launcher should be dedicated to that. If anything this would go back to what the launcher was before the store was introduced. This is just my opinion but all of these changes would be for the better. At the end of the day, the Epic Games Store is a giant mess and it needs to be changed or scrapped.

    Torchlight II Xbox One and PS4 pre-orders are live

    You can now pre-order the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Torchlight II for $19.99! The Nintendo Switch pre-orders will, unfortunately, be a little bit longer. Thankfully though, you’ll be able to see the game on all three platforms come September 3rd, with some new refined mechanics.

    The game’s console port will offer a bunch of new content for players to enjoy, along with a free pet if you pre-ordered the game. That new pet is a goblin by the name of Yapper! In addition to this pet, players will see the debut of pets for their respective platforms. Xbox One players have access to a molten imp for example, and the PS4 players getting a Faerie. A Nintendo Switch pet will be arriving later this summer.

    Torchlight II is a hack and slash role-playing game developed by Runic Games. It’s the sequel to the original Torchlight, and has players return to the land of Vilderan to take on additional monsters and quests. The console port will refine the already solid controls and interface that are signature in the game. The game will also keep its 4-player coop mode. If you’d like to play the game right now, it’s available on Steam for $19.99.

    6 new titles coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC this month

    Xbox Game Pass is arguably one of the best deals in gaming right now and right now it’s the gift that keeps on giving.  Subscribers to Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate can start diving in to the new titles starting tomorrow and throughout the rest of the the month of July for console and PC.  Games being added along with release dates are listed below.

    July 17th:

    Night Call (Xbox Game Pass PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)

    A corrupt detective plans to pin a series of murders on you unless you can aid the investigation. As a cab driver working the Paris night shift, pick up passengers, listen to their emotion-fueled stories, and gather clues to solve the mystery in three unique cases.

    July 18th:

    Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)

    A first-rate gaming experience as players are offered tactical freedom to carry out open-world missions as the iconic Snake (a.k.a. Big Boss) in the latest entry of the long-running Metal Gear series.

    The Banner Saga 3 (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass for PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)

    The final dramatic chapter in this critically acclaimed Viking RPG series. As the world continues to crumble around you, how will you protect your allies and what choices will you make as the Darkness draws near?

    July 25th:

    For The King (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)

    None before you have returned from their journey; can you put an end to the Chaos? A strategic RPG that blends tabletop and roguelike elements in a challenging adventure in either single-player or online and local co-op.

    Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass for PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)

    Play the legendary fighting game with stunning 60fps visuals, over-the-top action, a wild cast of combatants, rocking reactive music, and c-c-c-combo breakers! Includes all 26 characters from Seasons 1-3.

    Resident Evil 4 (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)

    The survival horror masterpiece comes to Xbox One in 1080p HD with an improved frame rate, a thrilling storyline, and that classic third-person action gameplay you’ve come to love from the long-running Resident Evil series.

    Be on the look out for these titles coming at you this month!

    Tetris 99 Physical coming to North America on September 6th

    Tetris 99 will be receiving a physical in North America on September 6th, 2019. The game is free if you have Nintendo Switch Online, and has DLC with added content. The physical edition includes Tetris 99, 1 year of Nintendo Switch Online, the Big Block DLC, and the DLC that will be released later this year. You can learn more about Tetris 99 below.

    In Tetris 99, your goal is to rotate and move falling blocks called Tetriminos to complete horizontal lines. Completed lines disappear, clearing space for more Tetriminos, which fall faster and faster.

    Attack other players by sending Garbage Blocks their way! These Garbage Blocks will fill up their screens, making it harder to clear lines.

    The game has online cups often, where you can sometimes get a theme for the game while you play. There has been a Gameboy theme and a Splatoon 2 theme so far.

    What are your thoughts about this physical? Will you be picking it up? Let us know in the comments!

    Uplay+ full lineup revealed

    At E3 2019, Ubisoft revealed Uplay+, the $14.99 per month service which gives you the ability to play over 100 Ubisoft titles. You can take a look at all of the titles offered below.

    • Anno 1800 – Deluxe Edition
    • Anno 2205 – Ultimate Edition
    • Assassin’s Creed – Director’s Cut
    • Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood – Deluxe Edition
    • Assassin’s Creed Chronicles – China
    • Assassin’s Creed Chronicles – India
    • Assassin’s Creed Chronicles – Russia
    • Assassin’s Creed Freedom Cry – Standalone Edition
    • Assassin’s Creed II – Deluxe Edition
    • Assassin’s Creed III + Liberation Remastered
    • Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag – Gold Edition
    • Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Ultimate Edition*
    • Assassin’s Creed Origins – Gold Edition*
    • Assassin’s Creed Origins – Discovery Tour
    • Assassin’s Creed Revelations – Standard Edition
    • Assassin’s Creed Rogue – Deluxe Edition
    • Assassin’s Creed Syndicate – Gold Edition*
    • Assassin’s Creed Unity – Standard Edition
    • Beyond Good and Evil
    • Brothers in Arms: Earned In Blood
    • Brothers in Arms: Hells Highway
    • Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30
    • Child of Light
    • Cold Fear
    • Far Cry 2 – Fortune’s Edition
    • Far Cry 3 – Blood Dragon (Standalone)
    • Far Cry 3 – Deluxe Edition
    • Far Cry 4 – Gold Edition
    • Far Cry 5 – Gold Edition*
    • Far Cry New Dawn – Deluxe Edition
    • Far Cry Primal – Digital Apex Edition
    • Flashback Origin
    • For Honor – Marching Fire Edition
    • From Dust
    • Gods & Monsters (coming soon)
    • I Am Alive
    • Imperialism
    • Imperialism 2
    • Might & Magic IX
    • Might & Magic VII – For Blood And Honor
    • Might & Magic VIII -Day of the Destroyer
    • Might & Magic X Legacy – Deluxe Edition
    • Might & Magic: Heroes II – Gold Edition
    • Might & Magic: Heroes III – Complete Edition
    • Might & Magic: Heroes V – Standard Edition
    • Might & Magic: Heroes VI – Gold Edition
    • Might & Magic: Heroes VI – Shades of Darkness
    • Might & Magic: Heroes VII – Deluxe Edition
    • Might & Magic: Heroes VII – Trial by Fire
    • Monopoly PLUS
    • Ode
    • Panzer General 2
    • Panzer General 3D assault
    • POD Gold
    • Prince of Persia (2008)
    • Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands – Deluxe Edition
    • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
    • Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
    • Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
    • Rayman 2
    • Rayman 3
    • Rayman Forever
    • Rayman Legends
    • Rayman Origins
    • Rayman Raving Rabbids
    • Silent Hunter 2
    • Silent Hunter 3
    • Silent Hunter 4: Wolves of the Pacific – Gold Edition
    • Silent Hunter 5: Battle of the Atlantic – Gold Edition
    • South Park: The Fractured but Whole – Gold Edition
    • South Park: The Stick of Truth – Standard Edition
    • Speed Buster
    • Starlink – Digital Deluxe Starter Kit
    • Steep – X Games Gold Edition*
    • The Crew – Ultimate Edition*
    • The Crew 2 – Gold Edition*
    • The Settlers 1 – History Edition
    • The Settlers 2 – History Edition
    • The Settlers 3 – History Edition
    • The Settlers 4 – History Edition
    • The Settlers 5: Heritage of the Kings – History Edition
    • The Settlers 6: Rise of an Empire – History Edition
    • The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom – History Edition
    • Tom Clancy’s EndWar
    • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon
    • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier – Deluxe Edition
    • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands – Ultimate Edition*
    • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint – Gold Edition (coming soon)
    • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six – Standard Edition
    • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3 – Gold Edition
    • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Lockdown
    • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege – Ultimate Year Four Edition*
    • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas
    • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas II
    • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Quarantine (coming soon)
    • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell
    • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist – Deluxe Edition
    • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Chaos Theory
    • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction – Deluxe Edition
    • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent
    • Tom Clancy’s The Division – Gold Edition
    • Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 – Ultimate Edition
    • Trackmania Turbo
    • Transference – Uplay
    • Trials Evolution – Gold Edition
    • Trials Fusion – Standard Edition
    • Trials Rising – Gold Edition
    • Uno
    • Valiant Hearts
    • Warlords Battlecry
    • Warlords Battlecry 2
    • Watch_Dogs – Complete Edition
    • Watch_Dogs 2 – Gold Edition
    • Watch_Dogs Legion Ultimate Edition* (coming soon)
    • World In Conflict – Complete Edition
    • Zombi

    Uplay+ allows you to download games directly to your PC, and will launch on September 3. Players who sign up for Uplay+ now will be able to access** a free trial of Uplay+ from September 3 to September 30. At launch, the service will include more than 40 premium editions, meaning you’ll not only get the base game, but also additional content, expansions, and DLC.* That includes all 48 Operators for Rainbow Six Siege, and of course, all 18 assassins from across the Assassin’s Creed franchise.

    Upcoming titles like Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, Rainbow Six: Quarantine, Watch Dogs: Legion, and Gods & Monsters will be available on the service when they launch. Uplay+ launches on September 3rd, 2019.

    Are you going to be subscribing to Uplay+? Let us know in the comments below!

    The Legend of Heroes: Akatsuki no Kiseki Mobile coming to Switch in Japan

    The Legend of Heroes: Akatsuki no Kiseki

    Userjoy Japan has announced that the Legend of Heroes: Akatsuki no Kiseki Mobile is coming to Switch this summer in Japan. Akatsuki no Kiseki is the first online project in the Trails series from Falcom. It first launched on PC and later released for PS Vita and PS4. Akatsuki no Kiseki features a new story with an original protagonist and guest appearances by characters from the Trails series.

     

    The official Japanese site is available here. We will make sure to update you on more Akatsuki no Kiseki Mobile news if the game receives a localization. Keep in mind that the Switch is region free and Akatsuki no Kiseki Mobile will also be free to play.

    Resident Evil Triple Pack Announced on Nintendo Switch for October 19th, Resident Evil 4 to only be included in the cartridge.

    Initially announced during E3, publisher Capcom just announced today on the official RE twitter account that both the 5th and 6th installments of the legendary survival horror franchise now have confirmed dates. Their campaign to apparently bring every single Resident Evil title to the Nintendo Switch through various means continues as they confirmed Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 are both set to release on October 29th.

    Both RE5 and RE6 were welcomed with very mixed receptions, especially for the latter but they can be very fun experiences nonetheless, especially on the go. We assume both will also be fully playable in coop like in other versions which are always a better way to play these two games, in our opinion.

    In addition, the action trilogy including Resident Evil 4, 5 and 6 are all confirmed for a physical triple pack edition and it is important to note that only Resident Evil 4 is actually included on the cartridge. The other two will only be downloadable through a code included in the box.

    Are you personally picking up Resident Evil 5 or 6 separately when they release or did you stop at Resident Evil 4’s previous 20$ price tag? Are you going for the triple pack ?Let us know!

    Eric Chahi’s New VR Game “Paper Beast” Gets Trailer and Playable Demo At Gamescon

    Pixel Reef, the new studio of renowned French game designer Eric Chahi (Another World, From Dust), has released today a new video for their new playful exploration VR title Paper Beast.

    Paper Beast lets intrepid player-explorers discover a blossoming virtual world where the environments and quirky animals have independently evolved from lost code and forgotten data. Following an unspoken narrative, players will interact with fascinating wildlife that adapts its behavior to the player’s actions.

    “Imagine you are dropped in virgin land, you walk and you don’t know where to go. Interactions lead you forward, and in the end, you have a natural view of everything,” said Eric Chahi, founder at Pixel Reef.

    Paper Beast is a poetic fusion of VR technology and immersive gameplay experiences. A deep simulation system has been developed to bring the game universe to life.

    Paper Beast will release on PS VR later in 2019.

    Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0-yAROPC2Y

    Straw Hat Pirate Pikachu is real and he is coming to Pokémon GO.

    Kumamoto is a city on the Japanese island of Kyushu that was unfortunately hit by two earthquakes back in 2016, the disaster killed at least 50 people and injured nearly 3,000 others in total. Needless to say, the city was completely ravaged after the incident. While this wasn’t necessarily a joyful way of starting the news, the follow up is much more wholesome.

    One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda is teaming up with The Pokémon Company, bringing a special event that will take place from July 22nd through July 29th in Pokémon GO, all for the sake of the Kumamoto Reconstruction, we say it’s a win-win! The Straw Hat Pirates are getting immortalized as actual statues in the Kumamoto prefecture and in Pokémon GO, well, they are Pokéstops! The event will also feature sequential images drawn by Oda himself forming a continuous manga. And yes, you’ve been waiting for it, YOU can also pick up Luffy’s straw hat as an avatar costume item. The icing on the cake, this event is also meant to celebrate Pokémon GO‘s third birthday in Japan.

    Note that we still have no info on the impact of such an event in the west, while we obviously can’t join these Pokéstops from here, it would be nice to still have those themed costumes that could very well be rare collector items in the future.

    Pokémon and One Piece are two of the biggest franchises ever created and this event while being a “cool news” over there in the west is absolutely gigantic in Japan. This also could open the gate for future partnerships with Pokémon GO, what franchise would you like joining the hunt to catch them all next?

    Gears 5 will feature new Bootcamp Mode training mode

    The highly anticipated Gears 5 releases September 10th for Xbox one and PC and since the official reveal at E3, we have been getting updated information about the next huge entry from The Coalition.

    According to the post on the official Gears 5 website, Bootcamp will be a new way to practice your skills and learn new mechanics before joining the fight in Gears 5.  You’ll play as Del as he helps Damon Baird gather combat data. This all takes place in specially-designed Training Grounds outside the House of Sovereigns.

    Bootcamp seems like a great way to get comfortable with your skills and loadouts as there is a bit of a learning curve when fighting other players I’m multiplayer.  For newcomers, this is also a great way to get you ready for what’s to come.

    Gears 5 shines with Unreal Engine 4. The game looks stunning and should run at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second (FPS) on Xbox One X.  Gears of War 4 ran at 4K 30 FPS during the campaign and 4K 60 FPS during multiplayer. This time around, both modes are the same frame rate.

    Check out the video preview below to learn more about Bootcamp.