CULTURE

The 10 Most Anticipated Games of 2021

The future of gaming looks bright. Here is our list of most anticipated arrivals of 2021.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2

Xbox Game Studios

While 2020 was a mess all around, there was no shortage of amazing games this year.

With most of us confined to our couch, video games took on a new meaning in our lives. Our Animal Crossing islands served as our vacation homes and the only way to experience normalcy. Call of Duty chat rooms were the only way for us to have honest human interactions, and don't even get me started on the time spent traversing the wilds in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

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Culture Feature

9 Movie Tie-In Video Games That Actually Don't Suck

Sometimes movie tie-in video games are...actually great?

Marvel

No matter how much you love a movie, chances are good that its tie-in video game will be a pile of hot dookie.

For video game developers, movie tie-in games are not what one might consider "passion projects." On the contrary, movie tie-in games tend to be cheap rush-jobs that studios churn out for quick profit from all the grandparents who don't know what birthday presents to buy their grandkids, but then remember that lil' Brayden has a Game-chamacallit and probably saw Shrek 5. Of course, when Brayden actually tries Shrek 5: Battle of the Swamp, he realizes it sucks ass and goes right back to Fortnite.

But sometimes that's not the case. Once in a blue moon, a movie tie-in video game will actually be great, doing justice to its inspiration and, in the rarest of occasions, even surpassing it. These are those few times:

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Culture News

Xbox Series X Seems Like a Disappointment

The console wars might be over before they've even begun.

Ubisoft

It's hard not to be excited for the upcoming generation of home console gaming.

During a time when many people are turning to video games to escape the horrors of the real world, a new console brings the promise of more immersive games and better functionality. Now, with the Playstation 5 and the Xbox Series X set to release at the end of 2020, console gamers have a lot to look forward to.

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popular

An Old Gamer Recommends Classic Video Games to Gen-Z

Allow an elder millennial gamer to show you young'uns the ropes.

SSX 3

Eurogamer.net

2020 marks the expected release for both Sony and Microsoft's next generation consoles, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Even better, both companies have promised potential buyers backwards compatibility with games from past console generations. So when Pandora's Box of old school video games is opened for the masses, what games should Gen Z prioritize to dust off the digital cobwebs? Allow an elder millennial to show you young'uns the ropes.

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CULTURE

E3 2019 Sunday Roundup: Microsoft, Bethesda, and KEANU REEVES

All the E3 2019 Sunday trailers are here, from Keanu Reeves in Cyberpunk 2077 to Elden Scrolls, Halo Infinite, and Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.

E3 2019 is finally here, and that means loads of new trailers and game announcements.

Sunday featured Microsoft pulling out all the stops with the best cameo appearance in E3 history (hint: it's KEANU REEVES) and Bethesda desperately trying to save their failing Fallout 76. Check out all of Sunday's trailers right here in one spot:

Microsoft

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077's presentation easily stole the show on day one. Could there possibly be a better way to end a gorgeous cinematic trailer than by introducing VIDEO GAME KEANU REEVES as a character? Well, yes actually, but that would require getting...They did it. Those absolute mad men. They got the REAL KEANU REEVES to come onstage. This game announcement is a work of art. One might even call it "breathtaking."

Xbox Project Scarlett

Xbox Project Scarlett Console Announcement | Microsoft Xbox E3 2019www.youtube.com

Microsoft's next-gen console, Xbox Project Scarlett, is said to be four times as powerful as the Xbox One. So maybe they should have just called it the Xbox Four?

Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite - "Discover Hope" Cinematic Trailer | E3 2019www.youtube.com

Could Xbox Project Scarlett's biggest launch title be anything other than a new Halo? The Halo games have always been some of the best shooters on the market, and they're probably the only Microsoft exclusive games worth buying an Xbox for.

Elden Ring

Elden Ring - Announcement Trailer | E3 2019www.youtube.com

The rumors were true! Elden Ring is indeed a collaboration between Dark Souls creator Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. We look forward to the spooky arm lady killing us over and over again.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot - E3 2019 Trailer | PS4www.youtube.com

Formerly Dragon Ball Project Z, the upcoming DBZ RPG is now titled Kakarot. The cinematics look great so far, and it'll be interesting to see what RPG elements are incorporated into the gameplay.

Gears 5

Gears 5 - Official Escape Announcement Trailer | E3 2019www.youtube.com

Gears 5 doesn't look that different from the previous four Gears of War games, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. If it's not broke, why fix it?

Dying Light 2

Dying Light 2 - Reveal Trailer | E3 2019www.youtube.com

More parkour. More zombie killing. More choices. The first Dying Light was one of 2015's best new IPs, and the sequel already looks promising.

Tales of Arise

Tales of Arise - E3 Announcement Trailer | PS4, X1, PCwww.youtube.com

Tales of games have always been about living your best anime life, and Arise has plenty of anime. There's anime boy with white hair and a fire sword and anime girl with a magic light gun and stilettos. It might be anime trash, but so are we.

Blair Witch

Blair Witch - Official Reveal Trailer | E3 2019www.youtube.com

TheBlair Witch Project is a horror game now. It actually looks pretty spooky.

Crossfire X

CrossfireX - E3 2019 - Announce Trailerwww.youtube.com

Crossfire is a free-to-play FPS that's incredibly popular in Asia. Now it's coming overseas as Crossfire X. Will it take off in the States? Considering the popularity of FTP shooters: probably.

Minecraft Dungeons

Minecraft Dungeons Gameplay Trailer - E3 2019www.youtube.com

Procedurally generated dungeon running games are awesome. Minecraft skins are ugly. So basically, this is just a very ugly dungeon running game. Leave Minecraft skins in Minecraft.

Bethesda

Ghostwire: Tokyo

GhostWire: Tokyo – Official E3 Teaserwww.youtube.com

A new horror game from the devs of The Evil Within, Ghostwire: Tokyo's initial trailer looks intensely unsettling. The realistic design of Tokyo looks great, too.

Deathloop

DEATHLOOP – Official E3 World Premierewww.youtube.com

From the studio behind Dishonored, Deathloop appears to feature an action-based Groundhog Day type premise.

Doom Eternal

DOOM Eternal – Official E3 Story Trailerwww.youtube.com

The Doom franchise has always been about shredding demons to pieces. Doom Eternal seems to deliver on that front.

Wolfenstein: Youngblood

Wolfenstein: Youngblood – Official E3 2019 Trailerwww.youtube.com

It's always nice to kill Nazis. A new Wolfenstein means more Nazi killing. Nice.

Commander Keen

Commander Keen — Official E3 Announce Trailerwww.youtube.com

Probably Sunday's weirdest reveal, the '80s PC game Commander Keen is being revived as a free-to-play mobile game. Just...why?

Fallout 76 Wastelanders

Fallout 76 Wastelanders Official Reveal Trailer - E3 2019www.youtube.com

The newest expansion for the disastrous Fallout 76 MMO brings...NPCs? Yes, seriously, the characters populating the world—a core element of every other MMO in history—are just now being added over six months after launch. There's also going to be a battle royale mode, because of course there is.

Screenshot from Fortnite Season 6 Battle Pass - Now with Pets! / Fortnite / Youtube.com

Season 6 of Fortnite starts today. Here's a rundown of all the updates:

One thing that will stay the same is how the usual Weekly Challenges will be broken up into Free Challenges and Battle Pass Challenges. Before Season 5, Weekly Challenges were only accessible to players with a Battle Pass — now, there will be three Challenges for both pass holders and non-pass holders.

However, the Challenges themselves will present new gameplay. For example, you'll have the option to regain health from a Cozy Campfire in a Free Challenge. Other Free Challenges will include Pickup a Legendary Item in Different Matches and Stage 1: Search Chests. Battle Pass Challenges will include Apply Shields, Stage 1: Land at Junk Junction, Dance Under Streetlight Spotlights, and Eliminate Opponents in different locations.

After completing three Challenges, the player will unlock a mystery loading screen that contains a secret Battle Star. After completing four, the player obtains a bonus of 4,000 XP. Completing extra Challenges will gain you extra XP and Battle Stars, helping you to level up more quickly and encounter free loot, including skins, emotes, gliders, and pickaxes.

The new Battle Pass will include 100 levels and over 100 rewards. Battle Passes will cost 950 V-Bucks, available for purchase either directly in-game or earned through playtime. To gain more V-Bucks, prices in USD include: 1,000 V-Bucks for $9.99, 2,500 for $24.99, and 6,000 V-Bucks for $59.99.

Other than the new Battle Pass, the update will include Pets, little creatures that will travel with you on your adventures. Also introduced are Shadow Stones, new consumables that can be found around the map, which will also be updated. Players will be able to find floating islands, growing crops, and approaching storms.

Fortnite will also introduce a new enemy to its Save The World mode: Riot Husky, a zombie-like masked figure who carries around a refrigerator door for protection. Also, there will be a Cram Session mini-event to earn additional rewards. Other updates will fix general issues and bugs to enhance gameplay.


Amber Wang is a freelancer for Popdust, Gearbrain and various other sites. She is also a student at NYU, a photographer and a marketing intern.


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