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Switch vs Wii Sales Comparison - November 2021

William D'Angelo — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 17:10:48 GMT

The VGChartz sales comparison series of articles are updated monthly and each one focuses on a different sales comparison using our estimated video game hardware figures. The charts include comparisons between the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, as well as with older platforms. There are articles based on our worldwide estimates, as well as the US, Europe, and Japan.

This monthly series compares the aligned worldwide sales of the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Wii.

The Wii launched in November 2006, while the Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017. Therefore, the holiday periods for the two consoles do not lineup, which is why there are big increases and decreases.

Switch Vs. Wii Global:

Gap change in latest month: 2,690,364 - Switch

Gap change over last 12 months: 10,944,883 - Switch

Total Lead: 10,100,453 - Switch

Switch Total Sales: 96,925,862

Wii Total Sales: 86,825,409

November 2021 is the 57th month that the Nintendo Switch has been available for. During the latest month, the Switch grew its lead by 2.69 million units when compared to the launch aligned sales of the Wii. In the last 12 months, the Switch has outsold the Wii by 10.94 million units. The Switch is currently ahead of the Wii by 10.10 million units.

The 57th month for the Nintendo Switch is November 2021 and for the Wii it is July 2011. The Switch has sold 96.93 million units, while the Wii sold 86.83 million units during the same timeframe. The Wii reached current Switch sales in month 73 where it sold 97.28 million units.

The Wii sold 101.63 million units worldwide during its lifetime. The Switch needs to sell another 4.70 million units to outsell the Wii.

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452056/switch-vs-wii-sales-comparison-november-2021/

Ubisoft to Continue Exploring NFTs

William D'Angelo — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 17:08:57 GMT

Ubisoft earlier this month introduced a new NFT platform called Quartz and will start by adding NFTs to Ghost Recon Breakpoint that include unique in-game cosmetic items.

Ubisoft blockchain technical director Didier Genevois in an interview with Decrypt says they have eard positive and negative feedback about adding NFTs to games. The company plans to continue exploring adding NFTs to its games.

"We have received a lot of feedback since the announcement, and we hear both the encouragement and the concerns," Genevois said. "We understand where the sentiment towards the technology comes from, and we need to keep taking it into consideration every step of the way.

"This experiment is meant to understand how the value proposition of decentralization can be received and embraced by our players. We know it is a major change that will take time, but we will stay true to our three principles."

Genevois says the three principles are to use the technology responsibly, build a safe environment for players to see how NFTs work, and only use energy-efficient proof-of-stake blockchains. Ubisoft will also "focus on meaningful value propositions for players that benefit their gaming experience."

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452064/ubisoft-to-continue-exploring-nfts/

Uncharted Movie Gets 2nd Official Trailer

William D'Angelo — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 16:53:30 GMT

Sony Pictures has released the second official trailer for the upcoming Uncharted movie starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg.

"Street-smart thief Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor 'Sully' Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) to recover a fortune lost by Ferdinand Magellan 500 years ago," reads the description to the trailer.

"What starts as a heist job for the duo becomes a globe-trotting, white-knuckle race to reach the prize before the ruthless Moncada (Antonio Banderas), who believes he and his family are the rightful heirs. If Nate and Sully can decipher the clues and solve one of the world’s oldest mysteries, they stand to find $5 billion in treasure and perhaps even Nate’s long-lost brother...but only if they can learn to work together."

View the second official trailer below:

The Uncharted movie will hit theaters on February 11, 2022.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452063/uncharted-movie-gets-2nd-official-trailer/

Treyarch Says There is No Room for Discrimination as it Works on Creating an Inclusive Environment

William D'Angelo — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 16:48:46 GMT

Developer Treyarch, a subsidiary of Activision and one of the lead developers for Call of Duty, has released a statement via Twitter says there is no room for discrimination of any kind at the studio.

"Our goal as a studio is to make awesome games for the world to enjoy," reads Treyarch's statement. "Having the privilege to pursue that endeavor is made possible because of Treyarch's people: we are a studio comprised of smart, talented, world-class creative professionals who seek to perform at our best.

"Our culture has no room for sexism, harassment, racism, bigotry, discrimination, or bullying. As we move forward, providing a safe, diverse, inclusive working environment so that all may thrive will be our highest priority.

"Everyone at Treyarch is drawn to game development because we possess a deep love for the artistry of video games and the magic that can create moments that matter. This is a moment that matters and it starts by being better."

As we look ahead to 2022, we felt that it was important to share a few thoughts... pic.twitter.com/lWdEaZVN4w

— Treyarch Studios (@Treyarch) December 21, 2021

The ABK Workers Alliance, which consists of employees of Activision Blizzard King working together for change, in a statement thanked Treyarch for stepping up.

"We'd like to thank Treyarch for stepping up and beginning to have this conversation. Admitting that things haven't been perfect is hard, but it's even harder to take a stance against it," reads the statement from the ABK Workers Alliance.

We'd like to thank Treyarch for stepping up and beginning to have this conversation. Admitting that things haven't been perfect is hard, but it's even harder to take a stance against it. Thank you. We look forward to making #ABetterABK with you. https://t.co/cEggfvxlZn

— ABetterABK 💙 ABK Workers Alliance (@ABetterABK) December 22, 2021

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452062/treyarch-says-there-is-no-room-for-discrimination-as-it-works-on-creating-an-inclusive-environment/

Switch Dominates the Japanese Charts Once Again

William D'Angelo — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 16:35:35 GMT

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl (NS) has remained in first place on the retail charts in Japan with sales of 116,657 units, according to Famitsu for the week ending December 19, 2021.

Mario Party Superstars (NS) is in second place with sales of 60,555 units. Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain (NS) is in third place with sales of 33,796 units. Minecraft (NS) is in fourth place with sales of 29,638 units.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (NS) is in fifth place with sales of 28,075 units. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (NS) is in sixth place with sales of 27,260 units. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (NS) is in seventh place with sales of 26,432 units.

The entire top 10 are games for the Nintendo Switch.

The Nintendo Switch was the best-selling platform with 176,832 units sold. The PlayStation 5 sold 8,664 units, the Xbox Series X|S sold 2,889 units, the 3DS sold 302 units, and the PlayStation 4 sold 61 units.

Here is the complete top 10:

[NSW] Pokemon Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl (The Pokemon Company, 11/19/21) – 116,657 (2,162,697)
[NSW] Mario Party Superstars (Nintendo, 10/29/21) – 60,555 (519,556)
[NSW] Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain (Nintendo, 12/03/21) – 33,796 (103,816)
[NSW] Minecraft (Microsoft, 06/21/18) – 29,638 (2,365,783)
[NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo, 04/28/17) – 28,075 (4,219,343)
[NSW] Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo, 03/20/20) – 27,260 (7,038,121)
[NSW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Nintendo, 12/07/18) – 26,432 (4,579,273)
[NSW] Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban! (Konami, 11/19/20) – 15,913 (2,464,196)
[NSW] Pokemon Sword / Shield (The Pokemon Company, 11/15/19) – 14,234 (4,242,081)
[NSW] Ring Fit Adventure (Nintendo, 10/18/19) – 13,903 (2,970,388)

Here is the hardware breakdown:

Switch OLED Model – 93,406 (675,654)
Switch – 46,372 (17,681,055)
Switch Lite – 37,054 (4,364,738)
PlayStation 5 – 7,790 (1,005,415)
Xbox Series X – 2,282 (73,190)
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – 874 (191,533)
Xbox Series S – 607 (53,832)
New 2DS LL (including 2DS) – 302 (1,178,946)
PlayStation 4 – 61 (7,819,177)

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452061/switch-dominates-the-japanese-charts-once-again/

January 2022 Xbox Games with Gold Announced

William D'Angelo — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 16:27:11 GMT

Microsoft has announced the Xbox Live Games with Gold for January 2022. Two Xbox One games and two Xbox 360 games will be free to download next month.

The Games with Gold for January are:

NeuroVoider ($13.99 ERP): Available January 1 to 31
Aground ($14.99 ERP): Available January 16 to February 15
Radiant Silvergun ($14.99 ERP): Available January 1 to 15
Space Invaders Infinity Gene ($9.99 ERP): Available January 16 to 31

Here is an overview of the games:

NeuroVoider

Set in a cybernetic world and featuring an original soundtrack from cyberpunk artist, Dan Terminus, battle through hordes of vigilante robots using endless combinations of nuclear-powered weapons. Play co-op with up to four of your friends or rampage alone in this hack ’n’ slash twin-stick shooter RPG.

Aground

For humanity to survive and reach the stars, you’ll need to craft and build. Whether unlocking new technology, raising dragons, or launching into space, the sky is literally not the limit. Recover what was lost and rebuild everything!

Radiant Silvergun

Restored by Treasure, the legendary vertical-shooter returns with the same shoot ‘em up gameplay which made the original arcade version so famous. New additions, such as the “Ikaruga-style” shooting mode help elevate the fun in this fantastic shooter.

Space Invaders Infinity Gene

The game that defined video games for generations is back with a new twist. Play a total of 143 stages which evolve in both look and feel the more you play. Unlock new stages, new power ups, and new features, all to imaginatively stunning visuals.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452060/january-2022-xbox-games-with-gold-announced/

Vampyr is Free on the Epic Games Store

William D'Angelo — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 16:24:43 GMT

Epic Games announced Dontnod's narrative-driven action RPG, Vampyr, is available for free on the Epic Games Store for 24 hours. The free deal ends on Friday, December 24 at 8:00 am PT / 11:00 am ET / 4:00 pm GMT.

"London, 1918. You are newly-turned Vampyr Dr. Jonathan Reid," reads the description to the game. "As a doctor, you must find a cure to save the city’s flu-ravaged citizens. As a Vampyr, you are cursed to feed on those you vowed to heal. Will you embrace the monster within? Your actions will save or doom London."

The next free game on the Epic Games Store will be available tomorrow at 8:00 am PT / 11:00 am ET / 4:00 pm GMT.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452059/vampyr-is-free-on-the-epic-games-store/

Roguelite Tower Defense Game Duel Princess Arrives January 13, 2022 for Switch

William D'Angelo — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 16:19:15 GMT

Publisher and developer Qureate announced the side-scrolling roguelite tower defense game, Duel Princess, will launch for the Nintendo Switch via the eShop on January 13, 2022 for $24.99. It is also planned for PC.

View a trailer of the game below:

Here is an overview of the game:

Beautiful girls x side-scrolling tower defense x roguelite all in one! Build your own deck and capture the Princess’ castle!

This is a side-scrolling tower defense game where you lead your units from your own castle towards the Princess’ castle and capture it. There are roguelite elements that lets you enjoy building new decks each time you play the story mode. There are also many sexy rewards that men all over the world can enjoy!

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452058/roguelite-tower-defense-game-duel-princess-arrives-january-13-2022-for-switch/

Steam Winter Sale is Live Until January 5

William D'Angelo — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 22:32:43 GMT

The latest Steam sale has now begun. The Steam Autumn Sale will run until January 5 at 10:00 am PT / 1:00 pm ET.

Some key games discounted include New World discounted by 25 percent to $29.99, Jurassic World Evolution 2 discounted by 30 percent to $41.99, and Deathloop discounted by 50 percent to $29.99.

You can vote for the Steam Awards until January 3 at 9:00 am PT / 12:00 pm ET in each of the 10 categories. You can early a random card from this year's set of Winter Sale Trading Cards for each vote cast.

Steam has set a new record with over 27 million concurrent users last month. This beat the previous record of 26.9 million set in April 2021. This is according to the SteamDB Twitter account.

Valve is recently said it is "on track" to launch the Steam Deck in February 2022.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452057/steam-winter-sale-is-live-until-january-5/

Sea of Thieves Sales Top 5 Million on Steam

William D'Angelo — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 20:37:23 GMT

Developer Rare announced Sea of Thieves has sold more than five million units on Steam.

In celebration of the milestone, Rare will be giving away the All Together Now! Emote for free to everyone who logs into the game by December 29 at 23:59 GMT.

"Even as we finish celebrating the grand milestone of 25 million Sea of Thieves players, we’re already rolling out the barrel again as we surpass five million units sold on Steam!" reads a news post from Rare.

"With Sea of Thieves being our first game developed in-house for PC as well as Xbox, we’re absolutely delighted to see such a huge influx of new pirates starting their adventures since the game made it to Steam in June last year. No matter which platform you play Sea of Thieves on, it would never have had this success without the support of you, the players – so all we can say is thank you!

"We’re overjoyed to see more and more players – regardless of platform, device or where they are in the world – joining us on our pirate odyssey and making the Sea of Thieves an ever more vibrant place. On Steam alone, our thriving community now features over 10,000 discussions, thousands of people seeking others to sail with and close to 500 guides written by you, the players.

"We’re also especially pleased with the growth of spaces like our official Discord server, which is nearing 300,000 members! If you’re ever looking for fellow crewmates to sail with, lore specialists to muse on your theories or simply a place to hang out, these are welcoming spaces for pirates of all stripes."

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452054/sea-of-thieves-sales-top-5-million-on-steam/

PS5 vs Xbox Series X|S vs Switch Launch Sales Comparison Through Week 57

William D'Angelo — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 16:28:21 GMT

This weekly mini-series compares the aligned launch sales of the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.

It should be noted the Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X|S had a worldwide launch, while the PlayStation 5 launch was split over the course of two weeks. Also, the Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017, while the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S launched during the holidays in November 2020.

PS5 Vs. Xbox Series X|S Vs. Switch Global:

PS5: 16,103,410
Switch: 15,848,071
XSX|S: 10,630,502

Through the first 57 weeks available worldwide the PlayStation 5 is ahead of the Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X|S. The PS5 is ahead of the Switch by 0.26 million units units and is 5.47 million units ahead of the Xbox Series X|S. The Switch is ahead of the Xbox Series X|S by 5.22 million units.

The PS5 has sold 16.10 million in 57 weeks worldwide, while the Switch sold 15.85 million units and the Xbox Series X|S 10.63 million units.

Looking at the marketshare through 57 weeks, the PS5 is in the lead. The PS5 has a 37.8 percent marketshare, the Switch sits at 37.2 percent, and the Xbox Series X|S at 25.0 percent.

PS5 Vs. Xbox Series X|S Vs. Switch US:

Switch: 5,699,765
PS5: 5,615,755
XSX|S: 5,001,630

Through the first 56 weeks available in the US the Nintendo Switch is ahead of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Switch is ahead of the PS5 by 0.08 million units and is 0.70 million units ahead of the Xbox Series X|S. The Switch is ahead of the Xbox Series X|S by 0.61 million units.

The Switch has sold 5.70 million in 57 weeks in the US, while the PS5 sold 5.62 million units and the Xbox Series X|S 5.00 million units.

Looking at the marketshare through 57 weeks, the Switch currently leads. The Switch has a 34.9 percent marketshare, the PS5 sits at 34.4 percent, and the Xbox Series X|S at 30.7 percent.

PS5 Vs. Xbox Series X|S Vs. Switch Europe (56 weeks):

PS5: 6,381,072
Switch: 4,033,968
XSX|S: 3,241,145

The PlayStation 5 has been available for one week less than the Xbox Series X|S in Europe. After 56 weeks the PS5 is ahead of the Switch by 2.35 million units and is 3.14 million units ahead of the Xbox Series X|S. The Switch is ahead of the Xbox Series X|S by 0.79 million units.

The PS5 has sold 6.38 million in 56 weeks in Europe, while the Switch sold 4.03 million units and the Xbox Series X|S 3.24 million units.

Looking at the marketshare through 56 weeks, the PlayStation 5 currently leads. The PS5 has a 46.7 percent marketshare, the Switch sits at 29.6 percent, and the Xbox Series X|S at 23.7 percent.

PS5 Vs. Xbox Series X|S Vs. Switch Japan:

Switch: 4,017,226
PS5: 1,193,634
XSX|S: 126,150

Through the first 57 weeks available in Japan the Switch is ahead of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S by a wide margin. The Switch is ahead of the PS5 by 2.82 million units and is 3.89 million units ahead of the Xbox Series X|S. The PS5 is ahead of the Xbox Series X|S by 1.07 million units.

The Switch has sold 4.02 million units in 57 weeks in Japan, while the PS5 has sold 1.19 million units, and the Xbox Series X|S 0.13 million units.

Looking at the marketshare through 57 weeks, the Switch currently leads. The Switch has a 75.3 percent marketshare, the PS5 sits at 22.4 percent, and the Xbox Series X|S at 2.3 percent.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452030/ps5-vs-xbox-series-xs-vs-switch-launch-sales-comparison-through-week-57/

Weird West Delayed to March 31, 2022 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC

William D'Angelo — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 16:27:40 GMT

Publisher Devolver Digital and developer Wolfeye Studios have delayed Weird West from January 11, 2022 to March 31. It will launch or the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.

"Devolver Digital and Wolfeye Studios today announced that in order to make Weird West the most immersive and well, weird, journey through the west as possible, the game will now be launching across PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on March 31, 2022," reads a message from Devolver Digital.

"Weird West is an impressively deep mix of action RPG and immersive sim elements built on the Wolfeye team’s experience with Dishonored and Prey. Early feedback is fantastic but, as is the case with any immersive sim, there are a lot of variables that can lead to unintended consequences.

"More time is needed to deliver an experience that the community expects from Wolfeye and Devolver. The team understands that this might be a disappointment to folks, but want to ensure that the game they’ve worked on for years is launched in the best form possible."

View a new developer diary below:

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452051/weird-west-delayed-to-march-31-2022-for-ps4-xbox-one-and-pc/

PlayStation Plus Games for January 2022 Reportedly Leaked

William D'Angelo — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 16:23:56 GMT

The PlayStation Plus games for January 2022 have reportedly leaked online by Dealabs who has revealed the PlayStation Plus games ahead of the official announcement. Dealabs accurately leaked the December, November, October and September lineups.

The January 2022 PlayStation Plus games, according to the leak, will be Deep Rock Galactic for the PS5 and PS4, Dirt 5 for the PS5 and PS4, and Persona 5 Strikers for the PS4.

The PlayStation Plus games for December 2021 are available until January 3. The list of games include Godfall Challenger Edition for the PS5 and PS4, Mortal Shell for the PS4, and Lego DC Super-Villains for the PS4. The PS4 games are also playable on the PS5 via backward compatibility.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452050/playstation-plus-games-for-january-2022-reportedly-leaked/

EA Has Had the Most UK Christmas Number 1 Games

William D'Angelo — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 16:18:57 GMT

Head of GamesIndustry Christopher Dring via Twitter has revealed the list of the all the number one video games for the UK for Christmas week going back to 1984 via GfK.

Electronic Arts has had the most number ones for Christmas in the UK with 13, followed by Activision at 10. Two IPs are tied for the most number ones with Activision's Call of Duty and EA's FIFA at nine each.

Ghostbusters was the first Christmas number one in 1984, while FIFA 22 was the number one in 2021.

Nintendo has only ever had one game at the top for Christmas week with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in 1998. Sony Interactive Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios have never had a Christmas number one in the UK.

Courtesy of those fine folks over @gfk, here is the updated list of all the UK video game Christmas No.1s since 1984 pic.twitter.com/VNmwtpoesh

— Christopher Dring (@Chris_Dring) December 21, 2021

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452049/ea-has-had-the-most-uk-christmas-number-1-games/

Original Xbox Designer on Toxic Behavior: 'This Wasn't the Future for Xbox Live We Envisioned'

William D'Angelo — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 16:07:29 GMT

Original Xbox designer Seamus Blackley via Twitter has reacted to a video of streamer Grenade Queen being harassed in Halo Infinite. He condemns the toxicity and says players, developers, and console manufacturers need to come together to stop this problem.

Blackley does admit he knows this problem isn't anything new and seeing this video has motivated him more. He says it is possible to clean up the toxicity.

"This wasn’t the future for Xbox Live we envisioned," said Blackley. "As a community and with the help of Microsoft this needs to be highlighted and stopped. It will take teamwork between players, devs, and console manufacturers to change this and it’s time. It’s past time.

"I know this isn’t new. I know you’re angry because nothing has been done for a long time. You’re right. It only motivates me more. It’s possible to clean these environments up. Let’s do it."

I know this isn’t new. I know you’re angry because nothing has been done for a long time. You’re right. It only motivates me more. It’s possible to clean these environments up. Let’s do it.

— Seamus Blackley (@SeamusBlackley) December 20, 2021

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452048/original-xbox-designer-on-toxic-behavior-this-wasnt-the-future-for-xbox-live-we-envisioned/

Age of Empires IV Design Director Leaves Relic Entertainment

William D'Angelo — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 15:59:34 GMT

Age of Empires IV design director Quinn Duffy via LinkedIn announced he has left developer Relic Entertainment after working at the studio for 24 years.

"I’m am very proud of the team's work on Age of Empires IV," said Duffy. "At Relic, I had a passion for both history and the RTS genre. That’s why I could not have been more excited to have helped build a new part of this beloved and iconic franchise."

Duffy first joined Relic Entertainment in January 1998 as a designer and worked his way up to design director in June 2010.

Age of Empires IV released for PC and PC Game Pass on October 28.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452047/age-of-empires-iv-design-director-leaves-relic-entertainment/

Bravely Default II Ships 1 Million Units

William D'Angelo — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 06:14:44 GMT

Square Enix announced Bravely Default II has shipped over one million units. The figure includes digital sales.

Bravely Default II first launched for the Nintendo Switch worldwide on February 26, followed by a PC release on September 2.

Here is an overview of the game:

Introduction

Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, nature’s masters. The Crystals’ power exceeds the hand of man, and if unleashed, would bring down death, disaster, calamity and blight upon the land—ancient quatrain of Kingdom Musa.

Guided by fate, it’s up to you to stop the forces that threaten these heroes and all of Excillant.

A new entry in the Bravely series. A new world, a new story, and all-new Heroes of Light. “Four new Heroes of Light emerge.”

Characters:

Seth – A young sailor who drifts to the continent of Excillant and is the main character of this story. Meet Gloria, an exiled princess whose kingdom was robbed of its Crystals, and set out on a journey to recover them with her.
Gloria – The princess of Musa, a kingdom that once watched over the harmony of the world – but the loss of the kingdom’s Crystals led Musa to destruction. Having fallen into despair and gone into hiding, she decides to embark on a journey to retrieve the Crystals.
Adelle – A mercenary for hire. She travels with Elvis as his bodyguard in his search for an asterisk.
Elvis – A scholar who travels the world. Embark on a journey in search of a particular asterisk needed to unravel the last spellbook left by his master.

Systems:

In addition to a traditional, turn-based battle system that combines jobs and abilities, you can enjoy innovative and strategic battles unique to the Bravely series by taking control of your turns via the Brave and Default system.

Brave and Default – Brave Points (BP) dictate how many actions a character can use in a single turn. Players can have characters ‘Default’ to stock up to three additional BP to use in a turn, or characters can ‘Brave’, to use more than one BP to perform multiple actions. Balancing stockpiling and using BP is a key component in battle strategy.
Jobs and Abilities – Each character can exhibit both a primary and secondary job class, with each job specializing in different abilities. Combining jobs allow you to handle two abilities simultaneously. You can create an all-rounder balanced in offense and defense, or perhaps a character that specializes in magic. Your tactics and how you develop each character are up to you.
Acquire New Jobs – “Asterisk bearers” will often block your path forward. By defeating them, you will obtain an Asterisk that enables you to change jobs.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452046/bravely-default-ii-ships-1-million-units/

Over $6,300 Worth of Games Were Added to Xbox Game Pass in 2021

William D'Angelo — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 23:13:29 GMT

There were dozens of games added to Xbox Game Pass on Console and PC in 2021 worth over $6,300, according to calculations done by The Loadout.

The total value of all the games added to the subscription service was $6,317.35 in 2021. This is based on the price of each game on the Microsoft Store.

March 2021 added the most value to the service worth $964.67. During the month nearly two dozen Bethesda games were added, which is when Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda parent company ZeniMax was completed.

30 Bethesda games were added in 2021 with a value of $604.71. This is just under 10 percent of the total value of all the games added.

Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC Game Pass are each priced at $9.99 per month, while Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes Game Pass for Console and PC, EA Play, and Xbox Live Gold, is priced at $14.99 per month.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452045/over-6300-worth-of-games-were-added-to-xbox-game-pass-in-2021/

PS5 vs Xbox Series X|S vs Switch Sales Comparison Charts Through December 11

William D'Angelo — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 19:53:59 GMT

Here we see data representing the global sales through to consumers and change in sales performance of the three current platforms (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch) and three legacy platforms (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo 3DS) over comparable periods for 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Also shown is the market share for each of the consoles over the same periods.

Year to Date Sales Comparison (Same Periods Covered)

Market Share (Same Periods Covered)

2018 – (Week ending January 13 to December 15)

2019 – (Week ending January 12 to December 14)

2020 – (Week ending January 11 to December 12)

2021 – (Week ending January 9 to December 11)

"Year to date" sales for 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 sales are shown in series at the top of the table and then just below a comparison of 2021 versus 2020 and 2021 versus 2019 is displayed. This provides an easy-to-view summary of all the data.

Total Sales and Market Share for Each Year

Microsoft

Xbox One – Down Year-on-Year 2,072,877 (-72.5%)
Xbox Series X|S – Up Year-on-Year 5,346,099 (+237.8%)

Nintendo

Nintendo Switch - Down Year-on-Year 2,165,567 (-8.8%)
Nintendo 3DS – Down Year-on-Year 391,972 (-92.1%)

Sony

PlayStation 4 – Down Year-on-Year 5,845,741 (-73.5%)
PlayStation 5 – Up Year-on-Year 8,213,535 (+234.7%)

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452029/ps5-vs-xbox-series-xs-vs-switch-sales-comparison-charts-through-december-11/

Todd Howard: We Can't Wait to Show Starfield to You Next Year

William D'Angelo — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 19:52:37 GMT

Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard in a new video posted on YouTube revealed the team has made great progress on Starfield this year and they can't wait to show more of it next year.

"Hi from all of us here at Bethesda Game Studios," said Howard. "We want to thank you for becoming part of Constellation. The team has much such great progress on Starfield this year. We can't wait to show it to you next year.

"We just want to wish you and your families an incredible, and very happy holidays. Thanks for everything you do for us."

View the short clip from Todd Howard below:

Starfield will launch for the Xbox Series X|S and PC on November 11, 2022.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452044/todd-howard-we-cant-wait-to-show-starfield-to-you-next-year/

Ghost of Tsushima Movie Director: 'We're Taking Our Time and Doing it Right'

William D'Angelo — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 17:05:10 GMT

The director of the upcoming live action Ghost of Tsushima movie Chad Stahelski spoke with IGN in an interview on the red carpet for The Matrix: Resurrections.

Stahelski said he wants to take the time to do it right and are working closely with the developers for the game, Sucker Punch Productions.

"We just want to do it right," Stahelski said. "You know how video game adaptions can go. So we're taking our time and doing it right. We're working very closely with the game developers to make sure we stick to what's great about it."

Stahelski added the production team is working on the script and that fans of the game "would be very happy with what we're working on." He has played Ghost of Tsushima "many times," which is what drew him to work on the movie.

The production team is remaining quiet on the cast. IGN asked if the English voice actor for protagonist Jin Sakai, Daisuke Tsuje, would reprise his role in the film and Stahelski said, "we'll see. We haven't gotten that far yet."

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452043/ghost-of-tsushima-movie-director-were-taking-our-time-and-doing-it-right/

Ubisoft is Reportedly Facing an 'Exodus' of Developers

William D'Angelo — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 16:54:03 GMT

Multiple key developers at Ubisoft have been confirmed to have left the company this year. This includes chief studios operating officer Virginie Haas, Far Cry executive producer Dan Hay, and Assassin’s Creed art director Raphael Lacoste.

A new report from Axios has revealed that far more employees have left Ubisoft in the past 18 months, according to current and former Ubisoft developers. Ubisoft employees have described the large number of people leaving the company as "the great exodus" and "the cut artery."

Five of the top 25 credited people who worked on 2021's Far Cry 6 have already left Ubisoft and 12 of the top 50 people who worked on 2020's Assassin's Creed Valhalla have left as well.

Ubisoft's Montreal and Toronto studios have also each seen at least 60 employees leave in the last six months.

Two developers told Axios that with so many people leaving it has slowed down or stalled the development of games.

A range of reasons from current and former employees were given as to why so many were leaving the company. This includes "low pay, an abundance of competitive opportunities, frustration at the company's creative direction, and unease at Ubisoft's handling of a workplace misconduct scandal that flared in mid-2020."

One former Ubisoft employee was disappointed by the directives given from Ubisoft's headquarters and said, "there's something about management and creative scraping by with the bare minimum that really turned me away."

Ubisoft management says it is on top of the exodus by hiring 2,600 people since April. However, in the previous two years it had hired over 4,500 people.

"Our attrition today is a few percentage points above where it typically is," Ubisoft's head of people ops, Anika Grant. "But it's still within industry norms."

LinkedIn reports the attrition rate at Ubisoft is 12 percent. This is lower than the 16 percent at Activision Blizzard, but higher than Electronic Arts (9%), Take-Two (8%), and Epic Games (7%).

One employee who left said they tried to work with the company to reform its culture as there were reports of abuse, discrimination, and more at the company. However, the employee was disappointed by what they heard from their bosses.

"They constantly emphasized 'moving on' and 'looking forward' while ignoring the complaints, concerns and cries of their employees," the developer said. "The company's reputation was too much to bear. It's legitimately embarrassing."

Ubisoft last week announced a Splinter Cell remake is in development at Ubisoft Toronto.

Ubisoft has greenlit the development of a Splinter Cell remake that will draw from the rich canvas of the brand," said Ubisoft in the announcement.

"Led by Ubisoft Toronto, the game will be rebuilt from the ground up using Ubisoft’s own Snowdrop engine—the same engine being used to develop Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, as well as Ubisoft’s upcoming Star Wars game—to deliver new-generation visuals and gameplay, and the dynamic lighting and shadows the series is known for."

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452042/ubisoft-is-reportedly-facing-an-exodus-of-developers/

Ubisoft Looking to add 60FPS to Assassin's Creed Origins

William D'Angelo — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 16:30:30 GMT

Assassin's Creed Odyssey had a recent update on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S to increase the framerate to 60 FPS. It now looks like Ubisoft is planning to do the same for Assassin's Creed Origins.

In a tweet today celebrating Assassin's Creed day, Ubisoft said they are "looking into adding 60FPS support for Assassin's Creed Origins, so stay tuned!"

Assassin's Creed Origins is available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Google Stadia. It is also playable on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S via backwards compatibility.

We are also looking into adding 60FPS support for Assassin's Creed Origins, so stay tuned! 👀

— Assassin's Creed (@assassinscreed) December 21, 2021

Assassin's Creed Valhalla will be getting the Dawn of Ragnarök expansion on March 10, 2022, which Ubisoft says is the "most ambitious expansion in the history of this franchise." It will release for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia.

Crossover Stories DLC for Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Assassin's Creed Odyssey were also released last week, alongside Title Update 1.4.1 for Assassin's Creed Valhalla on December 14.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452041/ubisoft-looking-to-add-60fps-to-assassins-creed-origins/

Embracer Group Acquires 5 More Studios - Dark Horse, DIGIC, Perfect World, Shiver, and Spotfilm

William D'Angelo — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 16:24:04 GMT

Embracer Group announced it has acquired five more studios - Dark Horse, Perfect World Entertainment, Spotfilm Networx, DIGIC, Shiver Entertainment.

Read details on the acquisitions below:

Dark Horse

Embracer Group AB has today entered into an agreement to acquire Dark Horse Media, LLC, a leading entertainment company.

Post-closing, Dark Horse will become the tenth operative group of the Embracer group.

Through the acquisition, Embracer strengthens its transmedia capabilities by adding expertise in content development, comics publishing, and film and TV production.

Dark Horse owns or controls more than 300 intellectual properties, many of which are attractive for future transmedia exploitation, including the creation of new video games.

Dark Horse founder and CEO Mike Richardson will continue to lead the company together with existing management.

Through the acquisition, Embracer strengthens its transmedia capabilities by adding expertise in content development, comics publishing, and film and TV production.

Dark Horse owns or controls more than 300 intellectual properties, many of which can build a strong foundation for the future development of transmedia IPs and the opportunity to cross-fertilize IP and strengthen licensing partnerships across PC, console, virtual reality, and mobile.

Perfect World Entertainment

Embracer Group AB, through its wholly owned subsidiary The Gearbox Entertainment Company, has entered into an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the shares in Perfect World North America Corporation and Perfect World Publishing B.V. from Perfect World Europe.

Perfect World Entertainment is a video game developer and publisher for consoles and PC, including Perfect World Entertainment Publishing and developer Cryptic Studios.

The acquisition adds 237 staff to Embracer Group. The purchase price comprises a one-time payout of $125 million.

Upon completion of the transaction, Perfect World Entertainment will operate as a subsidiary of The Gearbox Entertainment Company, with a continued focus on publishing and creating games.

Perfect World Entertainment’s next game launch is planned for 2022, with five additional releases by 2024.

Spotfilm Networx

Embracer Group AB, through its wholly owned subsidiary Koch Media GmbH, has acquired 100 percent of the shares in Spotfilm Networx GmbH from its five current owners.

Spotfilm Networx is the leading Advertising-based Video on Demand channel network in Germany, located in Berlin.

DIGIC

Embracer Group AB, through its operative group Saber Interactive, has entered into an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the shares in Hungary-based DIGIC Holdings Kft from its current owners, including founder Alex Rabb.

DIGIC is an animation studio founded by Alex Rabb and late Hollywood legend Andrew G. Vajna.

Embracer adds a highly skilled team of close to 400 people through the acquisition, with a strong track record within commercial trailers and cinematics for best-selling game titles as well as animations for streaming media.

The closing of the purchase is subject to various conditions including, without limitation, approval of the transaction by lenders of DIGIC and of the Hungarian Ministry of Innovation and Technology.

Shiver Entertainment

Embracer Group AB, through its wholly owned subsidiary Saber Interactive Inc., has acquired 100 percent of the shares in the United States-based Shiver Entertainment Inc. from its founders.

Shiver is a game development studio founded by industry veterans John Schappert and Jason Andersen.

Through the acquisition, Saber Interactive adds a highly skilled team of nearly 20 people, focusing on game development, co-development, and porting projects across platforms and genres.

Within Embracer group, Shiver will operate as a subsidiary under the Saber operating group. Schappert will take on significant responsibilities within Saber’s work-for-hire business. The acquisition of Shiver further strengthens Saber’s presence within the U.S.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452038/embracer-group-acquires-5-more-studios-dark-horse-digic-perfect-world-shiver-and-spotfilm/

Starfield Concept Art is About Discovering 'Unique Environments' That are 'Abundant With Life'

William D'Angelo — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 16:17:38 GMT

Publisher Bethesda Softworks and developer Bethesda Game Studios via Twitter have released brand-new concept art for the upcoming space RPG, Starfield.

The tweet teases that players during their travels in the game will "discover many unique environments, some lush and abundant with life." This does suggest there will be many unique looking worlds to explore in the game.

View the concept art below:

Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard in an interview last month said that Skyrim is part of their DNA and described the upcoming space RPG as "Skyrim in space."

"I think it’s part of our DNA," Howard said. "Those things that we like- being able to touch the world, and what are you looting from people, what are the factions… I think there is more Skyrim in terms of game structure in Starfield. Now that you mention it, the way the factors work.

"The skill system [in Skyrim] is really, really like the skill system in Starfield, and it follows a bit from things we’ve done in Fallout and Elder Scrolls. So I think this is part of our DNA. You’re gonna see those hallmarks in anything we do that is kind of a mainline Bethesda game."

Starfield will launch for the Xbox Series X|S and PC on November 11, 2022.

During your travels you'll discover many unique environments, some lush and abundant with life. pic.twitter.com/fMpT2vd0Ax

— Starfield (@StarfieldGame) December 20, 2021

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452040/starfield-concept-art-is-about-discovering-unique-environments-that-are-abundant-with-life/

Destruction AllStars Dev Hiring for 'Exciting Next Generation Multiplayer Game'

William D'Angelo — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 16:07:56 GMT

Lucid Games, a British studio that most recently released Destruction AllStars for the PS5, is currently hiring for its next game. A job opening for a Senior Multiplayer Programmer does reveal the game will be released for the next-generation.

"We are looking for a talented multiplayer programmer to join our experienced team and work on an exciting next generation multiplayer game," reads the job opening.

It does appear the game will be using Unreal Engine as the job opening cite a desire for the programmer to have "knowledge & experience of the Unreal Engine networking framework."

It is rumored that a new Twisted Metal game is in development and Destruction AllStars had a very similar concept. Lucid Games working on a new Twisted Metal game could make sense.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452039/destruction-allstars-dev-hiring-for-exciting-next-generation-multiplayer-game/

Sci-Fi RPG Gnosia Delayed to Early 2022

William D'Angelo — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 15:52:00 GMT

Publisher Playism and developer Petit Depotto have delayed the science-fiction social deduction RPG, Gnosia, for PC via Steam from 2021 to early 2022.

"Originally announced for release in 2021, the release for Gnosia on Steam will be pushed back to early 2022," reads a post from Playism. "This decision was made in order allow extra time for additional fine-tuning, with the aim of delivering the same feel of the critically acclaimed PlayStation Vita and Nintendo Switch versions.

We offer our sincerest apologies to all of you who have been looking forward to playing Gnosia on PC and we will make a separate announcement when the final release date is fixed."

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452037/sci-fi-rpg-gnosia-delayed-to-early-2022/

Hack-and-Slash Game CosmicBreak Gun & Slash Arrives December 23

William D'Angelo — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 15:49:05 GMT

Publisher and developer CyberStep announced the hack-and-slash game, CosmicBreak Gun & Slash, will launch for PC via Steam on December 23 for $19.99.

View a new trailer of the game below:

Here is an overview of the game:

A hack-and-slash with the CosmicBreak characters! CosmicBreak Gun & Slash is a spin-off of CosmicBreak, an massively multiplayer online battle shooter featuring robots and humanoids! Take control of familiar characters from a top-down perspective and defeat enemy robots that come at you!

Key Features:

Push Yourself Past Your Limits
- Main Mode – Aim to clear all six stages, including the tutorial! In Main Mode, you can unlock weapons and characters!
- Time Attack Mode – In Time Attack mode, the goal is to clear the stage in the shortest time possible.
- Challenge Mode – The objective of this mode is to defeat incoming enemies and survive as long as possible.
Charming Characters – Unlock and control 12 of the most popular characters from CosmicBreak Universal! Characters will be released based on the number of stages you complete in Main Mode and your clear time!
Use Your Weapons to Defeat the Enemy – Characters can equip up to two weapons, and each weapon has a main weapon and a sub-weapon. Switch between up to four weapons in your quest for victory! Weapons are randomly dropped during the game in Main Mode.
Compete for the Best Record – Time Attack Mode and Challenge Mode are compatible with Steam leaderboards! Compete with players from all over the world to become a top ranker!

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452036/hack-and-slash-game-cosmicbreak-gun-amp-slash-arrives-december-23/

Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster - FFVI Launches in February 2022

William D'Angelo — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 05:51:46 GMT

Square Enix announced Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster - Final Fantasy VI will launch for PC via Steam, iOS, and Android in February 2022.

"In order to bring you the best experience possible, we're giving ourselves the necessary time to apply final polish while finishing development on the game," said Square Enix in a news post.

Pre-orders for the game will include the following:

Special Soundtracks

・Locke's Theme (Timelapse Remix) [NOW ADDED TO PRE-PURCHASE ITEMS]
・The Decisive Battle (Timelapse Remix)
・Terra's Theme (Timelapse Remix)
・Searching for Friends (Timelapse Remix)
・Aria di Mezzo Carattere (Instrumental) [NOW ADDED TO PRE-PURCHASE ITEMS]

Special Wallpapers

・FF6: 2 types of wallpapers
・FF1-6: 2 types of pixel remastered series wallpapers [NOW ADDED TO PRE-PURCHASE ITEMS]

“Timelapse Remix” is a special soundtrack data that starts off with the original soundtrack version, but lets you also enjoy the reworked alternative soundtrack version as the soundtrack gradually transitions to the reworked alternative soundtrack version.

Each wallpaper is available with 5 different sizes: 3840 x 2160, 2560 x 1600, 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 1024, 1024 x 768.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452035/final-fantasy-pixel-remaster-ffvi-launches-in-february-2022/

Phil Spencer Says the Metaverse Should be Player-Focused

William D'Angelo — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 22:18:16 GMT

Head of Xbox Phil Spencer in an interview with Protocol discussed the new obsession in the technology and gaming industry, the metaverse.

He thinks of Minecraft with how open it is and how it can be used to build your own creations, create your own worlds, and more. The creations can be shared on the community marketplace.

"Minecraft is really an open creation tool, where people can go and create things, share them through our community marketplace and sell them to other members of the community," Spencer said. "And I think that openness inside of Minecraft is such a critical part in terms of what it's become."

Spencer also brought up a point that talks about metaverse all seem to be focused on how it can be better for companies, rather than how it can be better for players.

"We're spending a lot of time as leaders coming together talking about the learnings that we've had and how the technical underpinnings might come together," he said. "But more fundamental to me is why Microsoft? Like, why is this metaverse that a lot of people are focusing on, why is it better for players? Why is it better for creators?

"I think it's easy for a lot of tech companies to describe why the metaverse might be better for their company. But we've just learned that if we put the player at the center, to use my gaming vocabulary again, and try to build an ecosystem that works around their needs and creator needs, that the platform dynamic will take off."

Spencer also pointed to Xbox and how it is growing outside the console market with first-party games coming to PC and now available on smartphones with Xbox Cloud Gaming.

"We're kind of in a unique position in that people play Minecraft on our platform. They play Roblox on our platform. They play Fortnite on our platform," Spencer said. "We don't actually view Roblox or Fortnite as competitors to what we're doing. They're critical partners in the progress that we're making as a gaming platform company."

He added, "I want to be able to experience the things I own on any screen that can render those. I want to be able to have the experiences I have anywhere. I want to have them with the people I want to experience them with and it requires a lot of cloud infrastructure to make that happen. It requires, like I said, a real open approach."

"We will go at this on the metaverse side with the same sensibilities that we've had in gaming, that people should be able to play the games they want, where they want to play them, with the people they want to play with," he added. "Because we've actually thought that in the end that opens up the largest experience for creators and for players."

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452034/phil-spencer-says-the-metaverse-should-be-player-focused/

The Game Awards 2021 Sets New Record With 85 Million Livestreams

William D'Angelo — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 21:33:46 GMT

The Game Awards creator and host Geoff Keighley via Twitter announced this year's show has set a new record with 85 million livestreams across more than 30 platforms. This is up from 83 million in 2020 and 45.2 million in 2019.

There was also a record number of tweets about the show with 1.6 million, as well as a record number of viewer votes with 23.2 million. The show also has the highest watch time to date on YouTube with 1.75 million hours.

We're thrilled to share that #TheGameAwards delivered a record 85 million livestreams in 2021.

Plus:
- Record number of Tweets about the show (1.6M)
- Record number of viewer votes (23.2M)
- Highest Watch Time to date on YouTube (1.75M hours) pic.twitter.com/MA2UsjYFM3

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) December 20, 2021

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452033/the-game-awards-2021-sets-new-record-with-85-million-livestreams/

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition PC Owners Offered Free Rockstar Game

William D'Angelo — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 21:26:05 GMT

Rockstar Games is offering a free game for PC owners of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition. The offer is available for those who purchase the remastered collection by January 5, 2022.

Available for free includes five games - Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition, Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition, Max Payne 3, LA Noire, and Bully: Scholarship Edition, as well as A Great White Shark Cash Card for Grand Theft Auto Online, or 55 Gold Bars for Red Dead Online.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition is available for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via the Rockstar Games Launcher.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452032/grand-theft-auto-the-trilogy-the-definitive-edition-pc-owners-offered-free-rockstar-game/

Hot Wheels Unleashed Sales Top 1 Million Units

William D'Angelo — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 21:17:45 GMT

Milestone announced Hot Wheels Unleashed has sold over one million units worldwide since it launched on September 30. It is the fastest-selling game ever for the developer.

"Ever since we announced Hot Wheels Unleashed back in February, we’ve received thousands of heartfelt messages from fans,” said Milestone CEO Luisa Bixio. "This milestone is the umpteenth display of affection from our passionate community."

Mattel head of digital gaming Andrew Chan added, "Hot Wheels is all about encouraging the challenger spirit and Hot Wheels Unleashed brings that mission to life for gamers of all ages. We’re proud of this exciting milestone, and we look forward to even more fans discovering the game and new upcoming content as we head into 2022."

Here is an overview of the game:

Collect the best vehicles in the Hot Wheels universe, build spectacular tracks and dive into breathtaking races.

Key Features:

Collector or Artist? Both – The most iconic and sought after Hot Wheels vehicles are waiting for you. Get ready to make them race at full speed!
Always Running – Prove your skills by competing in awesome races and get ready for pure fun! Drift, charge the booster and launch yourself into spectacular loops. But be careful! If you’re too slow gravity will do its job. The bigger the challenge, the greater the glory. Race side by side with your friends in split screen mode for 2 players or face up to 12 opponents in online challenges.
Create the Shape of Your Track – Waiting to host your races are enormous interactive environments with their own distinguishing features, where every object can become an integral part of the track. Unleash your creativity with the most exciting track editor ever! Build your track by taking advantage of what surrounds you, and create amazing layouts inside and outside the race course. Bend and stretch the iconic “orange piece,” add loops, special boosters, obstacles and special elements to make an incredible amusement park for your races.
Race in Your World – Furnish your own personal room with a huge number of elements that you will collect during your adventure and host the most amazing races inside it.

Hot Wheels Unleashed is available for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452031/hot-wheels-unleashed-sales-top-1-million-units/

Switch Nears 100M, PS5 Tops 16M - Worldwide Hardware Estimates for Dec 5-11

William D'Angelo — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 18:01:00 GMT

The Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console with 1,245,034 units sold for the week ending December 11, according to VGChartz estimates. The Switch has now sold an estimated 99.36 million units lifetime.

The PlayStation 5 sold an estimated 428,366 units to bring its lifetime sales to 16.10 million units. The Xbox Series X|S sold 408,264 units to bring their lifetime sales to 10.63 million units.

PS5 sales compared to the same week for the PS4 in 2014 are down by nearly 224,000 units, while the Xbox Series X|S compared to the same week for the Xbox One are down by nearly 25,000 units. PS4 sold 651,893 units for the week ending December 13, 2014 and Xbox One sales were at 433,239 units.

The PlayStation 4 sold an estimated 24,404 units, the Xbox One sold 11,610 units, and the Nintendo 3DS sold 303 units.

Nintendo Switch sales compared to the same week a year ago are down by 156,065 units (-11.1%), while the PlayStation 5 is up 77,318 (22.0%) and the Xbox Series X|S is up 128,051 units (45.7%).

The PlayStation 4 is down 124,266 (-83.6%), the Xbox One is down 80,356 units (-87.4%), and the 3DS is down 4,542 units (-93.8%).

Looking at sales week-on-week, Nintendo Switch sales are up by over 59,000 units, PlayStation 5 sales are up by over 30,000 units, while Xbox Series X|S sales are up by over 24,000 units.

Global hardware estimates (Followed by lifetime sales):

Switch - 1,245,034 (99,356,640)
PlayStation 5 - 428,366 (16,103,410)
Xbox Series X|S - 408,264 (10,630,502)
PlayStation 4 - 24,404 (116,752,444)
Xbox One - 11,610 (50,516,008)
3DS - 303 (75,942,851)

Americas (US, Canada, Latin America) hardware estimates:

Switch - 566,883
Xbox Series X|S - 260,231
PlayStation 5 - 175,852
PlayStation 4 - 11,513
Xbox One - 9,468

Europe hardware estimates:

Switch - 356,863
PlayStation 5 - 208,514
Xbox Series X|S - 120,421
PlayStation 4 - 11,472
Xbox One - 1,931

Asia (Japan, mainland Asia, Middle East) hardware estimates:

Switch - 277,881
PlayStation 5 - 23,583
Xbox Series X|S - 9,308
PlayStation 4 - 941
3DS - 309 (Japan only)
Xbox One - 128

Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) hardware estimates:

Switch - 43,407
PlayStation 5 - 20,417
Xbox Series X|S - 18,304
PlayStation 4 - 478
Xbox One - 83

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452028/switch-nears-100m-ps5-tops-16m-worldwide-hardware-estimates-for-dec-5-11/

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond Tops the French Charts

William D'Angelo — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 16:49:13 GMT

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond (NS) has remained in first place on the French charts for week 49, 2021, according to SELL. Pokémon Shining Pearl (NS) dropped out of the top five.

FIFA 22 (PS4) is up from third to second place, while Mario Party Superstars (NS) drops from second to third place. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (NS) re-entered the top five in fourth place. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (NS) remained in fifth place.

Top sellers per system were as follows:

PS5

Call of Duty: Vanguard
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
FIFA 21

Xbox Series X|S

Halo Infinite
Forza Horizon 5
Far Cry 6

PS4

FIFA 22
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Far Cry 6

Xbox One

FIFA 22
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Battlefield 2042

Nintendo Switch

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond
Mario Party Superstars
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Nintendo 3DS

Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Luigi's Mansion 2
Super Mario 3D Land

Farming Simulator 22
Farming Simulator 22 - Collector's Edition
Football Manager 2022

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452027/pokemon-brilliant-diamond-tops-the-french-charts/

FIFA 22 Tops the Italian Charts in a Week Dominated by Nintendo Switch

William D'Angelo — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 16:44:58 GMT

FIFA 22 (PS4) has remained in first place on the Italian charts for Week 49, 2021, which ended December 12, 2021. The Nintendo Switch version is in fifth place.

Just Dance 2022 (NS) is up one spot to second place, while Pokémon Brilliant Diamond (NS) dropped from second to third place. Pokémon Shining Pearl (NS) fell from fifth to ninth place.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons (NS) remained in fourth place. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (NS) re-entered the top 10 in sixth place.

There are eight Nintendo Switch titles in the top 10 and two PlayStation 4 title.

Here are the top 10 best-selling games for Italy for Week 49, 2021:

FIFA 22 (PS4)
Just Dance 2022 (NS)
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond (NS)*
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (NS)*
FIFA 22 (NS)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (NS)*
Minecraft (NS)
Mario Party Superstars (NS)*
Pokémon Shining Pearl (NS)*
Call of Duty Vanguard (PS4)

*Retail sales only

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452026/fifa-22-tops-the-italian-charts-in-a-week-dominated-by-nintendo-switch/

PlayStation Plus Owners of Final Fantasy VII Remake to Get PS5 Upgrade

William D'Angelo — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 16:36:13 GMT

PlayStation Plus members who redeemed the PS4 version of Final Fantasy VII Remake were originally not eligible to upgrade to the PS5 version of the game. However, Square Enix announced this has changed and the upgrade will be available starting this Wednesday, December 22.

The Episode Intermission DLC featuring Yuffie will be available for a 25 percent discount for a limited time.

Starting this Wednesday...

• PS Plus subscribers who previously redeemed @FinalFantasy VII Remake via @PlayStation Plus will be able to upgrade to the PS5 version of the game.

• Episode Intermission, the DLC featuring Yuffie Kisaragi, will be 25% off for a limited time! pic.twitter.com/mnkCIRR586

— FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (@finalfantasyvii) December 19, 2021

Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade released for PC via Epic Games Store last week on December 16. A new datamine by Twitter user @AtelierTool reveals the game will most likely be coming to Steam once the Epic Games exclusive contract ends. The game itself has a Steam AppID that was created six months after the release of the PS4 version in October 2020.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade first released for the PlayStation 5 on June 10, while the original Final Fantasy VII Remake released for the PlayStation 4 in April 2020.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452025/playstation-plus-owners-of-final-fantasy-vii-remake-to-get-ps5-upgrade/

Rumor: Battlefield 2042 Originally Meant to Have 'Earthquakes, Fire Tornadoes, Tsunamis, and Volcanoes'

William D'Angelo — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 16:31:40 GMT

Battlefield 2042 has had a rocky launch with features missing that were in previous Battlefield titles and plenty of bugs. It now looks like new features that were originally planned for the multiplayer first-person shooter were also cut.

Journalist and insider Tom Henderson took to Twitter to reveal that a presentation for the game in Summer 2020 revealed the game was going to have earthquakes, volcano eruptions, tsunamis, and fire tornadoes. However, none of these made it into the final release.

"A summer 2020 presentation of Battlefield 2042 contained earthquakes, fire tornadoes, tsunamis, and volcano eruptions - But due to lack of time, they needed to just focus on the twister," said Henderson.

Henderson has also claimed that the post launch plans he originally revealed have all changed as the developer is focused on fixing on bugs and other issues with the game.

However, without any official work from EA or DICE this should be treated as a rumor until confirmed.

Battlefield 2042 is available on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Also, post-launch plans for the title are completely fucked. So everything I said about all the post-launch plans before the game was released... Just ignore it.

These past couple of months have been exhausting... And I'm not even a dev! pic.twitter.com/oPw8u0Hc6N

— Tom Henderson (@_Tom_Henderson_) December 19, 2021

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452024/rumor-battlefield-2042-originally-meant-to-have-earthquakes-fire-tornadoes-tsunamis-and-volcanoes/

Yoshinori Ono to Move from Delightworks to New Company Under Aniplex

William D'Angelo — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 16:22:10 GMT

Aniplex announced last week it had agreed to acquire Delightworks' games business through a corporate split and by creating a new company, which has yet to be named. The Delightworks' games business will be transferred to this new company.

Former Street Fighter series director Yoshinori Ono, who was appointed president and chief operating officer of Delightworks earlier this year, announced in a blog post he will move to the new company under Aniplex.

"The development and operations staff, as well as myself, will move to the new company," Ono said in the blog post translated by Gematsu. "Fate/Grand Order and other service titles will continue operations under the new company. We look forward to your continued patronage for many years to come."

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452023/yoshinori-ono-to-move-from-delightworks-to-new-company-under-aniplex/

George R.R. Martin on Elden Ring: 'It Looks Incredible'

William D'Angelo — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 16:07:05 GMT

Publisher Bandai Namco and developer FromSoftware are putting on the final touches to Elden Ring ahead of its February release.

George R.R. Martin, best known for writing the epic fantasy novels A Song of Ice and Fire, did some of the writing for Elden Ring, as well as helping build the world. In a new blog post he shared new details on the work he did with FromSoftware.

"A few years back, Hidetaka Miyazaki and his incredible team of game designers, the creators of the Dark Souls videogame series, reached out from Japan to ask me to help them create the backstory and history for a new game they were working on," said Martin.

He added, "Miyazaki and his team from FromSoftware were doing groundbreaking stuff with gorgeous art, and what they wanted from me was just a bit of world building: a deep, dark, resonant world to serve as a foundation for the game they planned to create. And as it happens, I love creating worlds and writing imaginary history.

"So I did my bit, and handed off to my new friends in Japan, and they took it from there. And years passed. Videogames are as big as movies these days (bigger, actually)… and take just as long to create.

"But the day of Elden Ring is finally at hand. And I’ve got to say, it looks incredible."

Elden Ring will launch for the Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on February 25, 2022.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/452022/george-rr-martin-on-elden-ring-it-looks-incredible/