Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm collections dated

Ubisoft’s Hyper Scape headlines next week’s lineup of new PlayStation 4 video game releases.

Hyper Scape is next week’s big new PS4 release following a month in open beta on PC. Ubisoft’s free-to-play FPS battle royale is certainly ambitious, and you can expect it to be well supported by Ubisoft. Nonetheless, it has a ways to go to convince us that it will be as successful as other F2P shooters like Apex Legends or Valorant. Lovely art direction, though.

Alto’s Adventure and Alto’s Odyssey made their names on mobile, but we can’t wait to play Noodlecake Studios’ dreamy snowboarding games on the big screen. Both titles come to PS4 – as well as Xbox One and Switch – in The Alto Collection on Thursday.

Other new PS4 releases that catch the eye include Zero Strain, which is a vibrant top-down shoot ’em up with MOBA elements, and Dying Light: Hellraid, a new, hellish, expansion for Techland’s Dying Light. EA Sports UFC 4 also makes an entrance on Friday.

We’ll update this page throughout the week as we get more PS4 release dates confirmed.

The Drop: New PS4 releases for August 10-14, 2020

Monday, August 10, 2020

• No releases.

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

• Brunch Club
• Hyper Scape
• Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon? Infinite Combate

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

• Banner of the Maid
• Escape From Tethys – TBC
• Metamorphosis
• Prehistoric Dude – TBC
• Zero Strain

Thursday, August 13, 2020

• The Alto Collection
• Bite the Bullet
• Boomerang Fu
• Darkestville Castle

Friday, August 14, 2020

• Dying Light: Hellraid
• EA Sports UFC 4

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Bookmark the Thumbsticks new releases page for the latest video games. You can also follow us on social media via Flipboard, Facebook, Google News, and Twitter.

Next week’s lineup of new Xbox One releases features snowboarding, slayings, slams, and brunch.

A glut of new games come to Xbox One this week, headlined by the full release of Ubisoft’s new battle-royale shooter, Hyper Scape. It looks rather lovely, but the hype escapes us on this one, unfortunately.

Instead, you’ll find us on the slopes enjoying the delights of The Alto Collection, a compilation that includes Noodlecake’s sublime duo of snowboarding games, Alto’s Adventure and Alto’s Odyssey. To be frank, it’s all downhill from here.

Other new releases include EA Sports UFC 4. EA says the introduction of “Real Play Motion” technology will overhauls the experience from the clinch to the takedown. One for fans of furious but friendly fumbling.

Meanwhile, residents of Harran can take a trip to a dark and dangerous stronghold in the long-awaited Dying Light: Hellraid. This new expansion is based on Techland’s long in development fantasy slasher.

Brunch Club, Through the Darkest of Times, and Bite the Bullet are also among next week’s Xbox One releases.

Each new game can be purchased from the Xbox One digital games store and the Microsoft web store. We’ll update this post throughout the week with any last minute additions.

New Xbox One releases: August 10-14, 2020

Monday, August 10, 2020

• No releases. Why not watch the extended Lord of the Rings trilogy?

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

• Brunch Club
• Car Mechanic Simulator Classic
• Hyper Scape

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

• Escape From Tethys
• Metamorphosis: Xbox Edition
• Prehistoric Dude
• Zero Strain

Thursday, August 13, 2020

• The Alto Collection
• The Ambassador: Fractured Timelines
• Boomerang Fu
• Darkestville Castle
• Faeria
• Through the Darkest of Times

Friday, August 14, 2020

• Bite the Bullet
• Cooking Simulator
• Dying Light: Hellraid
• EA Sports UFC 4
• The Explorer of Night
• Linn: Path of Orchards
• Of Tanks and Demons III

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Bookmark the Thumbsticks new releases page for the latest games. You can also follow the Thumbsticks team via Flipboard, Facebook, Google News, and Twitter.

Nearly half as many people who bought the original have already bought the Final Fantasy VII Remake.

It’s no secret that Final Fantasy VII has always been one of the biggest sellers for Square Enix, then Squaresoft. No single game in the series has sold more units, either upon original release, or when you include re-releases and remasters.

There is one modern Final Fantasy game that’s coming up fast on the rails of Final Fantasy VII, though – its own remake.

Where the original game has sold over 13 million copies, the Final Fantasy VII Remake sold 3.5 million in its first three days, and in the following four months, has now sailed past 5 million sales overall. It’s an impressive achievement for something we were genuinely very worried about prior to release.

It’s even more impressive when you remember that the Final Fantasy VII Remake has only (thus far) released on PS4. Final Fantasy XV, for instance, which launched on PS4, Xbox One and PC, has sold nearly 9 million units. When the Final Fantasy VII Remake inevitably releases on Xbox One and PC – and presumably with a graphical bump on PS5 and Xbox Series X at a later date – those figures will only increase.

And then remember that we’ve only seen a fraction of the story. The scope of the Final Fantasy VII Remake only covers the first eight hours or so of the original game. If each segment of the Remake – and we’re assuming there’ll be at least three parts – sells 5 million copies, then it could very well surpass the original and become the best-selling Final Fantasy game ever.

August’s PlayStation State of Play included a detailed look at Crash Bandicoot 4, more information on Spelunky 2, and a deep dive into the PS5’s Godfall.

Of all the games on last night’s broadcast, it was the indie titles that caught our attention. Derek Yu’s tantalising walkthrough of Spelunky 2 was the highlight, but we’re also excited for the remaster of Braid, and the more we see of Bugsnax, the more we want to move to Snaktooth Island.

Here’s a quick rundown of all the announcements from August’s PlayStation State of Play. You rewatch the broadcast in full at the bottom of the page.

PlayStation State of Play – August 2020

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

Developer Toys For Bob promise precise platforming action that builds on the original trilogy with new abilities and wide-open environments. The game includes cosmetics to unlock and playable characters including Dingodile and Doctor Neo Cortex. The cool-looking N’ Verted mode changes the camera perspective and adds varied new gameplay and art styles existing levels. Bend the laws of time and space on October 2, 2020.

Hitman III

IO interactive give the acclaimed stealth series the full VR treatment as part of the upcoming Hitman III. Sneaking onto consoles in January 2021.

Braid Anniversary Edition

Jonathan Blow’s subversive platformer receives a subtle but sumptuous makeover to celebrate its, erm, thirteenth anniversary. Improved graphics and audio are accompanied by a comprehensive developer commentary. Scratching heads in early 2021.

The Pathless

New PlayStation 5 footage from Giant Squid’s open-world adventure game. The demo includes traversal and Eagle cleaning gameplay. We expect the pleasure will come in the playing for this one. Soaring onto PS5 in 2020

Spelunky 2

Derek Yu, we love you! Spelunky 2 will include online multiplayer, a raft of new items and an expanded, more intricate world. And ridable turkeys. Ridable. Turkeys. Saddle up on September 15, 2020.

Bugsnax

More offbeat PS5 gameplay footage from Young Horse’s curious and quirky trip to Snaktooth Island. Starting singing that song this holiday

Vadar Immortal – August 25, 2020

The hit virtual reality Star Wars experience is coming to PlayStation VR. Be as clumsy as you are stupid on August 25, 2020.

Auto Chess – October 31 PS4

The popular online competitive multiplayer strategy game is coming to PlayStation 4. Make your move on October 31, 2020.

The Pedestrian – January 2021

Skookum Arts’ inventive 2.5D side-scrolling puzzle platformer is PS4 bound. All signs point to a January 2021 release.

Hood: Outlaws and Legends

It looks like Robin Hood is finally getting a AAA – or perhaps AA – game. Rob from the rich and give to the poor on PS5 sometime in 2021.

Godfall

New combat gameplay from Counterplay’s upcoming looter slasher. Looks okay we suppose. Godfall drops on PS5 this holiday.

And also

• Genshin Impact  – A new trailer for the game of the manga that we know little about. Shriek hysterically in Autumn 2020.
• TemTem – A popular Pokélike appears on PlayStation 5 consoles in 2021.
• AEON Must Die! – A new trailer for the upcoming tactical beat-em-up RPG.
• Anno Mutationem – There’s neon aplenty in the new trailer for Lightening Games’ blend of action and role play. Light up in December 2020.
• Control – Remedy’s sublime third-person action adventure receives its second expansion. Alan wakes on August 27.

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Visit the Thumbsticks new releases page for weekly updates on the latest Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 games. You can also follow us on Flipboard or Twitter.

Steven Spohn teams up with that bloke from Green Lantern and X-Men Origins: Wolverine to raise awareness for the Able Gamers charity.

You may not know Steven Spohn – though you absolutely should, and we’ll get to that in a minute – but you probably do know Ryan Reynolds. He’s a big Hollywood superstar. You’ve probably seen him hawking Aviation Gin and in such movies as The In-Laws, Green Lantern, and playing Wade ‘Deadpool’ Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

(We’re kidding, Ryan. We think you’re great. You totally redeemed Deadpool and you’re easily the second-best actor to ever voice Pikachu.)

Right, anyway, that’s the Hollywood bloke out the way. Now let’s get onto the really interesting guy: Steven Spohn.

Steven is the founder and chief operating officer of Able Gamers, a global charity that champions accessible gaming. He’s won prestigious awards for his positive contribution to the video game industry, developed numerous accessible controller options and contributed to the Xbox Adaptive Controller, and has consulted on accessibility options for numerous games. He’s a powerful voice in this industry and you really need to know who he is. He’s brilliant, and we need more people like Steven.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, Steven tweeted the following:

Hi Internet,

In less than two months I turn 40. For a profoundly disabled guy with terminal illnesses, I'm proud I made it this far

I'd like to ask a star for a video collaboration for my 40th to raise awareness you can live a great disabled life

Which kind celeb should I ask? pic.twitter.com/MqvKt8Wvzk

— Steven Spohn (@stevenspohn) July 21, 2020

And to be honest, we forgot about it. The only “famous” people we know are game developers, and we had a feeling that wasn’t exactly what Steven had in mind for extended outreach for Able Gamers, so we didn’t really give it any more thought.

Then today, imagine our surprise when we saw the following tweet on Steven’s account:

For 15 years, I've been telling people how video games improve the quality of life for people with disabilities

But to really give the maximum effort, I asked my friend @VancityReynolds to help support the mission of @AbleGamers

Will you join us?https://t.co/WjPi5T1LuJ pic.twitter.com/fJb8trbwm2

— Steven Spohn (@stevenspohn) August 6, 2020

That is big Hollywood celebrity actor man Ryan Reynolds going into bat for Steven Spohn and Able Gamers, which is amazing to see. Well done to everyone involved, it’s quite the collaboration. (We’re also reliably informed that Ryan still hasn’t blinked.)

You can find out more about Able Gamers – and, of course, donate to the cause – on the Able Gamers website.