Pretty soon, we’re going to need more than one hand to count the number of heatwaves this summer is bringing here in the UK, but we might finally be out of the woods after this week, so to speak.
At any rate, you didn’t join us to hear us preach about the weather once again; you joined us to get a recap of the week that was in gaming news, and that’s exactly what we’re going to give you.
Draw up a chair, grab your favourite mug (full of something to drink, of course), and let’s take a look at what’s been happening in the world of gaming. It’s been a very busy one indeed this week, so there’s plenty to talk about!
Shenmue 3 is coming back
This week brought news that Yu Suzuki’s controversial Shenmue 3 is making a return in remastered form, complete with improved visuals and performance, gameplay tweaks, and lots more.
The appropriately-named Shenmue 3 Enhanced will boast improved textures and faster loading times, especially on the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, where it’s bound for the first time.
You can also look forward to gameplay improvements like camera tweaks, less grinding for money, and expanded quicktime event windows, but if you prefer, you can also turn all of these extras off.
Kirby Air Riders is coming in November
Thanks to a Nintendo Direct presentation this week, we now know that Kirby Air Riders, the sequel to the cult hit 2003 racing game, is coming this November, and that it’ll be absolutely jam-packed with things for you to do.
Launching on November 20th, the game, which will be directed by Super Smash Bros. and Kirby alumnus Masahiro Sakurai, will pack in lots of different modes and gameplay features, as well as a ton of Kirby characters.
Nintendo also says you can expect “new Air Ride machines, returning game modes, and new Special moves”, so even if you think you know the original Kirby Air Ride, this one should give you a new experience.
Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 4 has been officially announced
This week saw the airing of Gamescom Opening Night Live, a presentation that usually contains more than its fair share of game announcements and reveals, and this week’s show was no different.
Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 4 was just one of the announcements made during that show, and it looks like it’s taking the real-time strategy series back to basics after two controversial sequels.
This one won’t be helmed by usual developer Relic Entertainment; instead, it’s being handled by Iron Harvest studio King Art Games, an outfit that knows its way around RTS games.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 finally has a release date
It’s been many years, but through a number of delays, developer changes, and more, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has a release date at last.
The long-awaited action RPG will be launching on October 21st, with two additional clans available at launch in the form of the Toreador and the Lasombra (although you’ll have to pay for them for some reason).
Suffice it to say it’s going to be very strange indeed getting to check out this long-delayed game, but we can honestly say we’re excited to do so. We only hope it doesn’t turn out quite so hopelessly broken as its predecessor.
Black Myth: Wukong developers are working on a new game
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During Gamescom Opening Night Live, we got to see the beginnings of a brand new game being worked on by the Black Myth: Wukong folks at Game Science, and it’s focusing on another Chinese folk hero.
Black Myth: Zhong Kui takes the titular ghost-vanquishing character and presumably places him into the same action Soulslike milieu in which Wukong and his successor found themselves for 2024’s Black Myth: Wukong.
Of course, we don’t have a release date for this one yet; it’s in active development, so it’s probably going to take a while before we hear anything. Still, it’s nice to know the excellent Black Myth: Wukong is getting a sequel.
Ex-BioShock producer Rod Fergusson takes over the franchise
BioShock is a franchise that, to put it mildly, appears to be in some trouble. Earlier in August, we learned of staff shakeups at Cloud Chamber amid dissatisfaction with BioShock 4, and now, there’s a new producer in town.
Enter Rod Fergusson, who previously worked as a producer on 2013’s BioShock Infinite, a game that went through its own production troubles before Fergusson guided it over the finish line.
It’s likely that 2K expects him to do the same for the beleaguered BioShock 4, but if Fergusson is to be believed, he won’t be doing so without staff layoffs, unfortunately.
Hollow Knight: Silksong has a release date
In more “game that we never thought would see the light of day” release date news, Hollow Knight: Silksong finally got itself a release date this week, and it’s not very far off at all.
As revealed by developer Team Cherry this week, Hollow Knight: Silksong is coming to PC and consoles on September 4th, which means it’s just a couple more weeks until you can play it.
If you’re wondering why the game took so long, well, according to a report by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, it’s essentially simply because the team has been having fun making the game, which is the best possible reason.
Bungie’s CEO Pete Parsons departs the studio
Pete Parsons, who’s probably one of the most controversial CEOs in gaming, has departed his studio Bungie, claiming it’s time for the next chapter at the company to begin.
In a post on Bungie’s website, Parsons says that he’s handing the CEO reins over to Justin Truman, who’s worked “as a leader in engineering, production, and design”, as well as on Destiny 2 as a general manager.
Truman says he’s “committed to supporting and working alongside every member of the team” at Bungie, but whether he can give the struggling studio a boost remains to be seen.
