There’s so much to look forward to right now. Nintendo is already working on their next console, and every day brings about new speculations that may or may not have some truth to them. There’s also an influx of AAA juggernauts that will soon flood gaming platforms. Before we get too excited about future prospects, let’s focus on this wonderful Wednesday evening. In today’s Gaming Daily: The Legend of Zelda is not listed for a 2016 release, our own Jessica Chobot discusses whether VR is the key for Nintendo’s NX, Asia is going to get their own PC version of Titanfall, stylish League of Legends necklaces hit the web, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be getting a tabletop pen-and-paper RPG.
The Legend of Zelda is not listed for a 2016 release.
Nintendo’s recent financial report has revealed some discouraging news about their upcoming Legend of Zelda project. Though the document covers a multitude of items, it features a list of upcoming first-party and third-party games along with their projected release windows. The Legend of Zelda is listed as TBD, as opposed to a 2016 date like the titles listed above it. Cue the internet’s collective groan. This doesn’t mean that it won’t hit next year, but the company has had no trouble pushing the date further and further down the line, making a 2017 release date more likely. It seems this means that the Big N isn’t quite ready to make a commitment on a release window.
It’s looking more and more like this might turn out to be a The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess situation. This Zelda title may end up being the Wii U’s swan song and a launch AAA exclusive for the NX. It’s not the worst possibility, though I don’t want it to be held back by the Wii U’s limitations. I’d much rather it become a full-fledged next-gen experience.
The Wii U has been a failure in almost every possible way. It made less-than-stellar noise at retail, the consumers were confused by its marketing, and Nintendo was not able to catch lightning in a bottle with the tablet craze. For the most part, it’s been hard to justify the gamepad’s viability. It has the best exclusive lineup by far, but this could be a sign that the Japanese company is abandoning ship.
Is VR the key for Nintendo’s next console.
Our very own Jessica Chobot discussed the rumors swirling around the internet concerning Nintendo’s NX actually being an AR/VR based console in today’s Nerdist News. The theory was concocted by Silicon Valley tech advisors Digi-Capital. According to the theory, Nintendo could use a combination of virtual reality and augmented reality to provide a fun factor that the company believes is sorely lacking from its competitors iterations of the technology. I still believe it’s in their best interest to create a handheld/home console hybrid that combines the best of both worlds. Again, this is all speculation. Some form of Pokémon battles in an AR setting would be the best though. I kind of need that in my life (because reasons).
HT: Nerdist
Asia to get their very own PC version of Titanfall.
Respawn Entertainment is partnering up with Nexon to bring Asia its very own PC version of Titanfall. What that entails has yet to be disclosed, though, it sounds like it may take a free-to-play approach according to the following statement made by Nexon CEO, Owen Mahoney.
“With its pilot vs. titan gameplay, among other innovations, Titanfall is a uniquely intense game experience. We look forward to working with the talented teams at Respawn and EA and leveraging Nexon’s free-to-play expertise to deliver a new and engaging online game based on Titanfall to the Asian marketâ€.
It’s no secret that EA has wanted to have their very own Call of Duty “killer” for a long time now. Titanfall is certainly the closest they have ever been to having just that. To put out a version of it in Asia is smart, just because it gets it in more people’s hands. This seems like it has been their approach ever since the Xbox One staggered out of the gate. Dropping mechs and raining hellfire in a free-to-play form probably makes sense for the market they are trying to target.
At various times, Microsoft has been giving the game away on Xbox One, selling it for as low as $13 and bundling it with the console. Soon after its release, the community died out because of the lack of gameplay modes. You can’t be too upset at the calculated risk EA took, not many believed the situation would be so dire for the Xbox One when it launched. Clearly, the title never hit the crescendo they wanted it to.
HT: Nexon
Declare your lane preference with these stylish League of Legends necklaces.
The online nerd shop Trinket Slot took advantage of the meteoric rise of the MOBA scene by releasing some rad League of Legends and Dota 2Â word necklaces. You can show the world what your in-game preferences are with these trinkets that declare your play-style. Whether you’re a support character or an attack damage heavy character, there’s a necklace for you. These sort of knickknacks are always fun to have for expos and events with like-minded people. It adds to your cosplay or just overall swag. Remember to stay in your lane!
HT: Nerdist
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be getting its own tabletop pen-and-paper RPG.
CD Projekt Red and R. Talsorian Games have announced a brand new tabletop The Witcher RPG. This pen-and-paper game will allow fans to recreate popular characters to go on grand adventures with. It will include a multitude of spells, rituals, curses, gear, and even the bestiary that features the most feared creatures from the series. The game will supposedly allow varying types of gameplay that range from becoming the ultimate beast-killer, to becoming a merchant kingpin. I’m sure our friends over at Geek & Sundry will have a ball with this. You can expect to get your hands on this mid 2016.
We are still holding out for some form of mobile or physical version of Gwent, but this will more than quench our need for more Witcher content. The Polish developer needs to ride this wave of popularity for as long as they can, because this is as good as it gets in the video game industry. People rarely have anything negative to say about the franchise’s last hurrah, and those that have completed the title are clamoring for more. The success is well deserved, as the company has done their best to treat their most loyal fans extremely well by showering them with free DLC, and providing a fun, polished product, which is more than a lot of other developers can say.
HT: CD Projekt Red, Gameinformer
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That’s another successful Wednesday afternoon, folks. The prospect of having to possibly wait even longer for the next The Legend of Zelda title is a complete bummer, but we at least have all this extra time to come up with our own theories on what the NX will be. Imagine running around Hyrule using a VR headset, or having Pokémon battles using AR tech. Please, someone make this happen. Make your way to the comments section below to let us know what you want the NX to be.
