June 2020 tracked spending across Video Game hardware, software, accessories and game cards totaled $1.2 billion, gaining 26% when compared to a year ago. This is the highest tracked spend for a June month since $1.3 billion was reached in June 2009.
Year-to-date tracked spending across Video Game hardware, software, accessories and game cards reached $6.6 billion, an increase of 19% when compared to a year ago. This is the highest total for the year-to-date period since $7.0 billion was achieved in 2010.
Rank Rank Last Month Title Publisher 1 NEW The Last of Us: Part II Sony 2 1 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Activision Blizzard 3 3 Animal Crossing: New Horizons* Nintendo 4 2 Grand Theft Auto V Take 2 Interactive 5 5 Mortal Kombat 11 Warner Bros. Interactive 6 6 Red Dead Redemption II Take 2 Interactive 7 835 Ring Fit Adventure Nintendo 8 4 NBA 2K20 Take 2 Interactive 9 11 Mario Kart 8: Deluxe* Nintendo 10 14 Minecraft Dungeons* Microsoft * Digital sales on Nintendo eShop not included
To help you become a licensed Kill It With Fire exterminator, the arsenal, map and more equipment are upgraded in the new chapter to maximize your spider hunting skills. In the meantime, the eight-legged enemies should not be underestimated as there are more types of spiders with different features and more challenging tasks. The new content includes:
- Spiders do not limit themselves at bedroom, restroom and living room any more, now you can explore the kitchen, laundry room, and garage for their traces, complete new objectives, and find new equipment.
- The first two missions have been re-mixed with content from later in the full game.
- Each mission now features an Arachno-Gauntlet with a unique challenge.
- Cheese Puffs now come in multiple flavors which can transform spiders into new types.
- Exciting new upgrades, including a radar display on the spider tracker!
- New Equipment: energy drink, assault rifle, frying pan, and molotov.
- New Spiders: Queen Spider, Jumping Spider, Invisible Spider.
- Destructible glass and other objects, updated spider SFX, improved spider climbing, and much much more!
Gallic Wars: Battle Simulator is a rouge-like tactical strategy game.Continue here to read the full story.
Fast gameplay, crazy rag-doll physics and challenging rouge-like approach to strategy.
Features:
- One of a kind approach to the strategy genre
- Cartoony style inspired by Asterix and Obelix comic books
- Fast gameplay
- Powerful magic and mighty generals
- Ragdoll physics - everyone likes ragdoll physics
Fight your way through roman legions. DEPLOY your troops, PLAN their movement, use magic and items to give yourself an edge, and WIN
Rites of War features a tightly crafted storyline composed of 24 missions and varied victory conditions as you lead the Eldar in their fight for survival. Additional scenarios allow for control of Tyrannid and Imperial armies and a glory point system lets you build and customize your own army, with 8 distinct troop classes ranging from War Machines to Assault Troops to Devastator Squads. A level-based experience system enhances the game's RPG (Role-Playing Game) element, allowing you to upgrade and customize units, enhance warrior skills and employ "psyker" (psychic) abilities.
- 24 mission campaign features a tightly crafted storyline, detailed atmosphere and varied victory conditions.
- Additional scenarios let you command Tyrannid and Imperial armies
- Glory point system lets you build and customise armies, with your choice of unit types, wargear and warrior skills
You stand in the center of a firefight. A hail of slow motion bullets is inching slowly towards your face. You see bright red enemies frozen in place as they run towards you. Weapons in hand, they’re stepping over the shattered remains of the foes you just dispatched.Continue here to read the full story.
Everything is sharp, silent, and still. Light flickers in the red crystal shards coating the cold concrete floor around you. There’s a gun slowly turning in flight right in front of you. An enemy must have dropped it as their dying body exploded in a shower of brilliant red shrapnels.
Iceflake Studios was founded in 2007 and has developed games for PCs, consoles and for all current VR and mobile platforms. The studio is currently developing Surviving the Aftermath with Paradox, a survival management-strategy game now available in early access on PC and Xbox.
“When we started our discussion with Paradox, we knew that we had a very like-minded approach. Our collaboration with Surviving the Aftermath has been excellent and showed how similar our approach to development is. So when Paradox suggested that we could become part of the family, we were thrilled,” said Lasse Liljedahl, Co-Founder and Studio Manager at Iceflake. “It did not hurt that we were fans of Paradox games ourselves, to begin with! This new step helps us to focus on our dream of becoming one of the best developers in the game genres we love so much.”
Starting today, Project Genesis, a team based space combat & FPS genre mash up, will let viewers of Project Genesis streams on Twitch earn a chance to receive a free Early Access Steam key.
A sci-fi online multiplayer game, Project Genesis merges frenetic space combat in battle craft with close quarters skirmishes in first person using an unusual, but oddly gratifying, “breach and board” mechanic. The game draws gameplay inspiration from titles like Star Wars Battlefront II (2005), where players can play in two game modes at the same time depending on their preference of play: FPS or space combat. Once a giant capital ship is targeted for infiltration in space, players can use their battle craft to breach a cruiser’s hull and fight inside aboard decks in FPS mode, completing high-risk high-reward objectives. The opposing team must consider the attack strategies and counter accordingly.
Ooblets is a farming, creature collection, and town life game where you build up your farm, befriend townsfolk, grow ooblets, and have dance-offs.Continue here to read the full story.
Features
- Grow crops on your farm and sell them in town
- Build your team of ooblets, level them up, and unlock new dance moves
- Style your character in a bunch of different outfits and accessories Join an ooblet club to get your first little baby ooblet
- Compete in dance-offs to earn new ooblet seeds and win tournaments
- Expand and decorate your house from a dinky shack to a stately farmhouse
- Get to know the townsfolk and befriend them if you'd like!
- Complete daily challenges, earn badges, help the Mayor save the town from questionable forces, and unlock the secrets of Oob
- Explore Badgetown to find new ooblets and seeds
Inked Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.Breakfast Links
- Mosquito Bites: Everyone is at Risk. Thanks Acleacius.
- How Fantasy Literature Helped Create the 21st Century.
Stories
- Laser-Shooting Planes Uncover the Horror and Humanity of World War I.
- Vantablack? Meh. Meet the Ultra-Black Vantafish.
- $64,000 Arribas Castle Destroyed in Seconds.
Science
Thanks RedEye9.
- Bacteria that eats metal accidentally discovered by scientists. Thanks Neutronbeam.
- 3 Countries Are Scheduled To Send Spacecraft To Mars This Summer.
- NASA delays the launch of its next powerful space observatory, the James Webb, by seven months.
Media
- Honest Trailers - The Rock.
- Your Dog thinking You're the "Alpha" is NOT a Real Thing.
- Can Lego BREAK a Steel Axle?
Auction
Follow-up
- Iceland is broadcasting the world's screams to relieve coronavirus stress. Thanks brother19.
- James Bond: No Time To Die release date could be delayed, according to new reports.
The Funnies
Torchlight II is filled to the brim with randomized levels, enemies and loot. Capturing all the flavor and excitement of the original, Torchlight II expands the world and adds features players wanted most, including online and LAN multiplayer.
From Charles Cecil, creator of the Broken Sword series, with art direction by Dave Gibbons, legendary comic book artist behind ‘Watchmen’, comes ‘Beyond A Steel Sky’, the long awaited sequel to the cult classic ‘Beneath a Steel Sky’.Continue here to read the full story.
You are Robert Foster. A child has been abducted in a brutal attack. You have vowed to bring him home. The trail has led you to Union City, one of the last remaining mega-cities in a world ravaged by shattering wars, and political meltdown.
Dead Age 2 follows a group of determined survivors who have fled to Freedom City in search of a cure for the plague that triggered the zombie apocalypse ten years ago. Join them on their journey for survival as they complete quests, scavenge valuable resources, and build up their base to live long enough to see the world at peace.Continue here to read the full story.
Tense turn-based tactical combat against gangs of looters and hordes of brain-devouring monsters can result in death for their character — permanently — while unlocking persistent upgrades can bring hope for the future of the weary group of survivors. With a branching story-line and six unique endings, every decision made counts as the player’s group must befriend other survivors, navigate difficult choices, and maybe even find romance along the way.
So what exactly does Idaho have to offer? This new expansion features:Continue here to read the full story.
- Over 3,300 miles of new roads to discover and explore
- 11 new cities - drive through downtown Boise, Coeur d'Alene set on a gorgeous lake or Idaho Falls with a lovely touristic center
- A brand new viewpoint feature that gives you a new perspective of the world
- Expanded fan-favorite industries such as farming, timber harvesting or wood processing
- Visit the famous Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
- Over 40 recognizable spots from the Historical Highway Marker program
- State-specific geographical landmarks such as canyons, valleys or basalt rock formations
- Many familiar truck stops and rest areas that truckers will know from the real world
- Finely-tuned road layouts and true-to-life signage
- Idaho-specific achievements to unlock
We have made the decision to move the release of Destiny 2: Beyond Light to November 10.
As the first chapter in a new trilogy of expansions, Beyond Light is the beginning of a new era of Destiny 2. We have a powerful story to tell and incredible new features that we're really excited for players to experience. As always, our goal is to make the coolest, most entertaining expansion we can possibly make for our fans. To that end, we are doing what’s best for the game and moving the launch date.
The past few months have been a challenge and will continue to be during this pandemic. We’ve learned to create together in a new way, by having to work apart from one another. Despite these hurdles, we’re still committed to the same level of quality that our fans expect.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be unveiling more of what we’re working on for Beyond Light and what that also means for Season of Arrivals, which will now extend to November 10. Beyond Light sets the stage for an incredible future in Destiny 2 and, though it’s coming later than we originally anticipated, we’re excited to continue that journey with you this November.
After pulling back the hospital curtains on upcoming operation sim, Surgeon Simulator 2, last month, Bossa Studios has today unveiled yet another medical marvel in the form of the Bossa Labs Creation Mode. A secondary gameplay option, playable alongside the title’s story mode, it will provide players with a set of easy-to-use tools with which they can create any number of levels and experiences, ready to upload and share with the wider community. In addition, the brand new Creation Mode Trailer also confirms that Surgeon Simulator 2 will launch on 27th August 2020, with players able to access a Closed Beta weekend (7-9th August) by pre-ordering on the Epic Games Store now.Continue here to read the full story.
Surgeon Simulator 2 is the gut-busting sequel to the original bonafide operation sim, Surgeon Simulator. Released in 2013, Surgeon Simulator was notorious for its chaotic gameplay and hilarious disregard for medical accuracy. For the sequel, Bossa Studios has prescribed a double dose of physics-based pandemonium and a full course of unbridled creativity, providing players with all the tools they need to doctor their own chaos, thanks to the Bossa Labs Creation Mode.
The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild releases #Funtime with OneGuyGames today. #Funtime is a twin-stick action shooter featuring bright lights and space fights! Blast your way through grids of multicolored madness while changing color to adapt to your environment and overcome the digital hordes. Persistent ship upgrades will keep you going further and longer into the great unknown. Buy it this week on any platform for a special launch week discount of 25% off!Continue here to read the full story.
OneGuyGames singular employee Brandon Robinson describes #Funtime as "all about action. It's a high-score chasing twin-stick shooter with a color swapping mechanic thrown in to keep things fresh. Match the color of lasers or fire to avoid taking damage. Color background tiles to destroy similarly colored enemies and receive triple the points. Take cover in safe zones of the same color. Each of these simple color interactions stack together to create a unique, yet familiar arcade shooter experience."
“Wild Mutations” improves Monster Train’s endgame and competitive play experiences with over 35 new mutators to use across all run types, plus advanced challenges, balance updates and more. Battle your friends and the community on a rotating series of challenges with new mutators that’ll turn your knowledge of the game’s existing mechanics upside down. And it’s just the beginning, as the Monster Train team continues to develop new content for the game with community feedback for future updates.Continue here to read the full story.
Set on a train ride to hell, Monster Train brings a new strategic layer to roguelike deck-building games with three vertical battlegrounds to defend at a time in solo play and competitive multiplayer. Construct a deck of spells and minions from over 220 cards and position your champions carefully to win!
Using a unique narrative choice mechanic, you'll craft sentences in response to the in-game characters in We should talk. Through this careful choice of words, you'll be able to express yourself as you discuss ongoing problems about life and romance with Sam, your in-game partner, over text messages, while also chatting with friends and strangers at your favorite local bar about what’s on your mind.Continue here to read the full story.
The combination of words you choose impacts the conversations you have, how genuinely you can connect with your partner, and whether your relationship can survive the night. It's up to you how you respond -- depending on how you communicate, you'll see one of many possible endings.
Today, publisher tinyBuild announced that they have acquired the development team of Hello Neighbor from Dynamic Pixels. The new team will be called Eerie Guest Studios and based in Hilversum, Netherlands. Overall, tinyBuild plans to invest over 15M USD in the franchise, the acquisition being part of this sum.Continue here to read the full story.
“We are working on more acquisitions to strengthen the brand and investing heavily into cross-media,” - says Alex Nichiporchik, CEO of tinyBuild. - “We just announced Hello Neighbor board game, there’s a graphic novel coming in October, and our internally produced Hello Neighbor Animated Series pilot hit 12M views on YouTube”
Today, NEOWIZ announced that it’s hit rhythm game DJMAX RESPECT V is receiving two brand new DLC: The Cytus Pack and the Deemo Pack. Both are available for $14.99, with a week-long launch discount to celebrate their release. These two DLC are collaborations with the hit rhythm of the same name from renowned development studio Rayark.
The Deemo Pack includes 10 tracks from Deemo games, as well as a unique UI skin and Special Gear. Meanwhile, the Cytus Pack includes 12 tracks, a unique UI skin and Special Gear. Both packs will be on sale for a week at a 15% discount.
*Blue's News may receive a commission on sales of this item
S.C.A.R is a retro inspired shooter where the relentless hordes of demonic creatures have only one thing on their mind, your untimely demise. To avoid becoming a red stain on the wall, you’ll look to gain the advantage over your relentless foe armed with an assortment of ridiculously devastating weaponry in the form of shotguns, grenade launchers and death dealing rocket launchers.Continue here to read the full story.
S.C.A.R is a nostalgic throwback to the epic shooters of yesteryear, its fast paced and unforgiving nature means that you’ll need to stay frosty as you blast your way through the relentless hordes of demonic beasts.
In Hunting Simulator 2, you explore bigger, more varied and more spectacular natural environments thanks to completely redesigned graphics and sound effects. The game provides many hours of challenges and immersion among the flora and fauna of some of the most beautiful areas of Europe and the United States. There are over 33 animal species to find in Hunting Simulator 2. The artificial intelligence for each species has had significant work put in to recreate their unique and realistic behaviours.Continue here to read the full story.
Being a small dot amongst the stars can bring a sense of awe and wonder, but we’ve always wanted to explore a little more those feelings of fear and dread that come from being alone in the depths of space. Terror in the face of the unknown, or the dawning realisation that you’re treading in the footsteps of those who met a lonely end at the edge of the universe – it’s a rich science fiction tradition, and one not really touched on in No Man’s Sky – until now.Continue here to read the full story.
The Desolation Update adds abandoned freighters to explore to No Man’s Sky, along with a very different style of gameplay. Alone or in groups, players can breach the airlock and explore the hazardous, procedurally generated, interiors of these derelict capital ships. The only trace of the crew is in logs they’ve left behind, a mix of procedurally generated and hand-written text that means each vessel has its own unique story for you to piece together.
Scheduled for release in autumn 2020 for Windows PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, King of Seas immerses you in a time of pirates, ferocious sea battles, hidden treasure and lost islands, all set in a stunning procedurally generated game world. Embark on an epic journey to avenge the death of your father, navigating through unknown waters and waging battle with other ships as you stake your claim to become the king of all pirates.Continue here to read the full story.
King of Seas’ dynamic game world will react to your every action forcing you to evaluate your strategy at every turn and adapt to the new challenges facing you. Naval routes might change meaning you will need to look for new ways to conquer settlements or adverse weather conditions might require new, more dangerous routes to be navigated when heading to islands to trade goods or upgrade your ships. Engage with an intriguing cast of characters who may steer you towards hidden treasures or lead you into deadly traps as other pirates look to plunder your gold. One thing is for certain, there are adventures to be had and battles to fight as you shape your empire on the high seas.
Rebound is a retooled version of the original 3on3 FreeStyle console game with the PC audience in mind. Rebound brings a tailored user interface and experience such as a full-featured chat system added exclusively for PC. It continues the dynamic, strategy infused gameplay of the original, and has a roster of unique characters, each bringing their own unique play styles, a signature feature of the FreeStyle series. 3on3 FreeStyle: Rebound carries over the Unreal Engine foundation of the original game, and the same free-to-play gameplay which made the original release one of the most popular free games downloaded on consoles.Continue here to read the full story.
Line Simulator is the newest virtual reality experience about standing in line with five exciting levels that will perfectly recreate some of your favorite line standing experiences. Leaving the house no longer needs to be an option, as you enjoy this high tech flawless recreation of standing in line.
Round-up Most Fowl
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.Stories
- Jon Hamm To Lead "Fletch" Reboot.
- Chris Evans sending Captain America shield to young boy who saved sister from dog attack.
Science
Media
- Avengers Endgame Final Battle Part 1 - 16 Bit Scenes and Part 2.
- Alligator Charging Kayak. When GoPro becomes GoPoo!
- Young Pit Bull Has One Speed.