Forza Horizon developer might get absorbed by Microsoft

The upgrade path for the Marvel’s Spider-Man remaster on PlayStation 5 is nearly as messy as Control’s.

Next-gen remasters like the PS5 Remaster of Marvel’s Spider-Man are becoming a complicated business. We’ve already seen controversy spring up over limited eligibility in accessing the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 “free upgrade” of Remedy’s Control.

After a session responding to queries on Twitter, Insomniac has confirmed some of the limitations of the PS5 version of their acclaimed game.

On free upgrades to the original for PS4 players…

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Remastered likely has no free upgrade for PS4 owners, since physical media for the former version will play the original via backwards compatibility and it has its own trophy list.

You will play the PS4 game via backwards compatibility.

— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) September 21, 2020

On cross-generational saves…

Insomniac confirmed that there will be no cross-gen saves for the remaster.

Saves won’t transfer from the original game to the Remaster

— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) September 20, 2020

On a physical release for the Miles Morales: Ultimate Edition…

The remaster will be digital-only and currently the only way to get your hands on it will be to get the pricier PS5-only Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales: Ultimate Edition for £70. No other route or upgrade for now.

no plans to release physically

— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) September 20, 2020

Where you will get a free upgrade…

The yet to be released Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales will allow for a free upgrade to a PS5 version. However, since the Ultimate Edition isn’t available for PS4, there’s currently no way to access Marvel’s Spider-Man: Remastered without (re)purchasing Spider-Man Miles Morales on PS5.

If you purchase #MilesMoralesPS4 you can take advantage of the free upgrade to the PS5 version (though if you buy the physical version, you'll need a disc-drive PS5)

— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) September 21, 2020

It’s a fair number of caveats, then, but unlike the Control next-gen version – which will be replicating the existing PC version – the Spider-Man remaster is a more significant endeavour.

“The remaster for the PS5 is no simple up-res,” details the Playstation Blog. “Many of the game’s art assets have been completely updated to take advantage of the PS5 console’s horsepower. You’ll see better-looking characters with improved skin, eyes, hair, and facial animation (including our new, next-generation Peter Parker).”

“You’ll also see ray-traced reflections and ambient shadows, improved lighting, more pedestrians and vehicles stretching further into the distance, and the same optional performance mode offered on Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, allowing you to finally play the game at a targeted 60FPS frame rate. We’ll be supporting near-instant loading, 3D audio, and the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback. Lastly, we’re adding three amazing new Spider-Man suits, new photo mode features, and even new trophies for those of you looking to Platinum the game all over again.”

That kind of overhaul does help to justify the lack of a free upgrade. Still, it’s hard to see how Marvel’s Spider-Man: Remastered isn’t going to spark something similar to Control’s controversy with limited access and the above limitations. It’s just another chapter in the increasingly confusing saga of next-gen upgrade announcements.

Ray-traced reflections, though? That should make for some pretty puddles.

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This week’s Xbox One Deals with Gold and Spotlight sales are joined by discounts on games from Rockstar and Capcom.

If you didn’t manage to pick up an Xbox Series X pre-order, console yourself with some discounts on a range of excellent Xbox One titles.

This week’s Deals with Gold includes cuts on some recent(ish) AAA games like Kingdom Hearts Ⅲ Re Mind, and Devil May Cry 4. The remaster of Final Fantasy VIII is also a favourite in the Thumbsticks office.

Publisher Rockstar is also offering decent savings on titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, Grand Theft Auto V, and L.A. Noire. And Capcom has slashed up to 75% off games from the Resident Evil franchise.

A 25% reduction on the bill for Untitled Goose Game is our pick from this week’s Spotlight selection.

This week’s Xbox One deals are available until September 28, 2020. Here’s a quick rundown of the best bargains on offer. Each game is available from the Xbox digital games store and Microsoft web store.

Xbox One Deals with Gold Highlights

• Agent A: A Puzzle In Disguise – 75% off
• Almost There: The Platformer – 85% off
• Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition – 70% off
• Devil May Cry 5 – 20% off
• Devil May Cry HD Collection – 50% off
• Final Fantasy VIII Remastered – 50% off
• Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster – 50% off
• Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age – 50% off
• GreedFall – 75% off
• Headspun – 33% off
• Hover – 67% off
• Hunt: Showdown – 60% off
• Kingdom Hearts Ⅲ Re Mind – 25% off
• Monster Energy Supercross 2 – Special Edition – 75% off
• MudRunner – American Wilds Edition – 70% off
• Othercide – 25% off
• Romancing SaGa 2 – 50% off
• Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 – 85% off
• Warhammer: Chaosbane – 65% off
• World of Final Fantasy Maxima – 50% off
• XenoRaptor – 40% off

Xbox One Spotlight Highlights

• Crashbots – 60% off
• Crimson Keep – 75% off
• Dragon Ball FighterZ – FighterZ Edition – 85% off
• Ikaruga – 50% off
• Metaloid: Origin – 30% off
• Minesweeper Genius – 67% off
• Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath – 40% off
• One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 – 40% off
• Radiant Silvergun – 50% off
• SEUM: Speedrunners from Hell – 70% off
• Storm Boy – 80% off
• Stranded Sails – Explorers Of The Cursed Islands – 40% off
• Three Fourths Home: Extended Edition – 80% off
• Tumblestone – 85% off
• Uncanny Valley – 80% off
• Untitled Goose Game – 25% off
• Yet Another Zombie Defense HD – 75% off

Rockstar Publisher Sale Highlights

• Bully Scholarship Edition – 60% off
• Grand Theft Auto IV – 65% off
• Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition – 50% off
• Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Online Edition & Great White Shark Card Bundle – 35% off
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – 33% off
• L.A. Noire – 50% off
• Red Dead Redemption – 67% off
• Red Dead Redemption 2 – 50% off
• Rockstar Table Tennis – 60% off

Resident Evil Franchise Sale Highlights

• Resident Evil – 75% off
• Resident Evil 0 – 75% off
• Resident Evil 2 – 50% off
• Resident Evil 3 – 50% off
• Resident Evil 4 – 60% off
• Resident Evil 5 – 60% off
• Resident Evil 6 – 60% off
• Resident Evil 7 Biohazard – 50% off
• Resident Evil Revelations – 60% off
• Resident Evil Revelations 1 & 2 Bundle – 60% off

For more video game savings, visit our dedicated sales page. You can also follow Thumbsticks on Twitter and Facebook.

Doom Eternal on Nintendo Switch is “very close” according to its developer.

Panic Button Games’ port of id Software’s acclaimed demon shooter is still coming, and work on it is almost done. The news comes via Digital Foundry’s interview with the game’s executive producer Marty Stratton for PAX x EGX.

“I know people are anxious,” said Stratton.

In an interview with Eurogamer in 2018, the studio expressed their desire to launch alongside all other platforms. This faced complications, not least the global pandemic.

“We’re trying to make it the best version of the game it possibly can be. So we’ve been working with Panic Button, they’re also – like everybody – work from home, so it’s taking a little bit longer to get there…we want it to be everything it possibly can be. It’s very close, and we’re trying to be very uncompromising with what it needs to be, because there’s a high demand for it.”

“We will be talking about it again, in the not-to-distant future. It is close, but I can’t say exactly how close.”

Panic Button are responsible for many high-quality Switch ports including Doom 2016, Rocket League, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, and Wolfenstein: Youngblood. Like these, the Doom Eternal port will aim for 30 fps and should hopefully see a return of gyro/motion controls.

It remains to be seen whether the Switch will bundle in DLC as was done for the Doom 2016 port, since the recently revealed first campaign expansion, The Ancient Gods – Part One, is both more substantial and a standalone release.

The expansion is due 20th October, 2020 and it sounds like we aren’t too far off hearing a release date for the Switch port.

Our editor, Tom Baines, wasn’t too enamoured with the sequel, calling it ‘technically solid, blistering in parts, but lacking in soul.’

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Looking to spend your earned My Nintendo Gold and Platinum points? Here’s a quick round of the latest rewards on offer.

With Nintendo officially confirming that production on the Nintendo 3DS ended earlier this year, it’s no surprise to see the latest batch of My Nintendo rewards pivot towards physical goods.

Here’s a quick roundup of what’s newly available in Europe and North America.

My Nintendo Rewards – Europe

Super NES Controller for Nintendo Switch

This super cool replica of the iconic SNES controller is perfect for playing the Switch’s library of retro games. Upcoming additions include Donkey Kong Country 2 and Mario’s Super Picross. This wireless controller comes with a USB charging cable and is exclusively available to My Nintendo members. It’s priced at £26.99.

Splatoon 2 Summer Postcard Set

This set of eight Splatoon 2-themed postcards are available in exchange for 400 Platinum Points, plus postage and packing. The postcards measure 10 x 14.8 cm and are printed on 300g/m² card with a matte finish.

Splatoon 2 Splatfest Keychain Set and Splatfest T-shirts

This range of Splatoon 2 tees and keychains feature Mario’s Super Mushroom and Super Star power-ups, both of which are the subjects of an upcoming Splatfest held in honour of the plumber’s 35th Anniversary. The t-shirts cost at £22.99 in the UK and the keychains are 100 Platinum Points.

The rather nice Animal Crossing: New Horizons Reusable Bag also remains available in exchange for 400 Platinum Points.

My Nintendo Rewards – North America

Nintendo-themed Lunchable packages

Until Dec. 31, famous Nintendo characters are appearing on packs of Lunchables. Inside each box is a code that can be redeemed online for the chance to win a Nintendo Switch prize pack or 100 My Nintendo Platinum Points.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition rewards

New rewards based on Nintendo’s remastered RPG Xenoblade Chronicles include a Phone Ring Holder based on the Monado and a set of three sticker sheets. They cost 400 and 300 Platinum Points, respectively.

Splatoon 2 Summer Postcard Set

This is the same postcard set issued in Europe, and it’s also priced at 400 Platinum Points.

Super Mario Desktop Wallpapers

A series of four Super Mario Bros-themed wallpapers are available depicting the original Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros 2, and Super Mario 3D All-Stars. They cost 50 Platinum Points each.

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Visit the Thumbsticks new releases page for the latest games. You can also follow us on Flipboard, Facebook, Google News, and Twitter

Xbox Series X and Series S pre-orders are open right now, but will there be an excess of units available?

Good morning everyone. Here’s a public service announcement for our UK readers (at the time of publication) and our North American readers a little later.

Xbox Series X and Series S pre-orders open today to 8 am at a variety of online retailers around the globe.

Here’s a list of Xbox Series X and Series S pre-order retailers confirmed by Microsoft, but it won’t hurt to check other stores if it looks like demand is outstripping supply.

Hopefully, the issues experienced with the PlayStation 5 pre-order rollout won’t be repeated. Microsoft has reportedly taken steps to avoid that situation by warning retailers that their allocation of consoles will be reduced if they break the street date and time.

Xbox Series X and Series S pre-orders

UK – 8AM BST

• Amazon
• Argos
• AO
• Currys PC World
• GAME
• John Lewis
• Microsoft Store
• Shopto
• Simply Game
• Smyths Toys
• Tesco
• VERY

United States – 8AM PT

• Amazon
• Best Buy
• GameStop
• Microsoft Store
• Newegg
• Sam’s Club
• Target
• Walmart

Canada – 8AM PT

• Amazon
• Best Buy
• EB Games
• Microsoft Store
• The Source
• Walmart

Good luck!