5 Exciting, Recent, Early 2021 Video Game-Related News Items
Regardless of whether or not you are still quarantining full-time, odds are that some of your favorite dining and entertainment spots are still not open like they used to be. In turn, you are spending more time at home and are consuming more digital and streaming-based content that you were in 2020.
Fortunately, video games are still in a “golden age” of sorts. No matter your console of choice, the games these days are amazing, including the music used in them. And even if most of the video game developers were forced to change up how they make their games as of late, there are still plenty of new and exciting things for gamers to be psyched about, no matter how much gaming you do. Below is a look at some recent video game industry developments which recently hit my radar.
2021 marks the 10th anniversary of the theatrical release of Universal Pictures’ Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. The film adaptation by director Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Baby Driver) of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series starred Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Kieran Culkin and has since become a cult classic. Earlier this year, Stadia released the Complete Edition of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, a side-scrolling arcade brawler from Ubisoft. Fans of the original Double Dragon series ought to get a kick out of this one.
Agent 47 is back in HITMAN 3, which is being billed as “the dramatic conclusion to the World Of Assassination trilogy.” This time the stealth action is coming with a twist that is only available on Stadia, as dubbed “State Share.” State Share lets you capture a playable slice of the game itself and share it with friends, even letting you use a friend’s game state to use items you have not unlocked yet. In turn, you get the excellent gameplay you have come to expect from the HITMAN series yet more options to keep the game fun and exciting on a long-term basis.
Inarguably the gold standard when it comes to NFL video game franchises, Madden 21 continues the long-term streak of greatness from EA Sports. It had admittedly been a few editions since my last Madden, yet there was no uphill battle when it came to learning how to play Madden 21. Excellent game-play to the point that at quick glance it would be hard to differentiate between the video game and a NFL television broadcast. I am yet to have experienced any problems or delays with the gameplay within the Stadia version of the game.
Prior to its release to the public, FUSER was called “the next evolution of interactive music games” as it put players “in control of the music” as “the ultimate celebration of music festival culture.” Developed by Harmonix Music Systems — the creators of Rock Band and Dance Central — and published by NCSOFT, FUSER empowers players to live out their DJ fantasies from their own home on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC. The game’s recent 1.3 update features new modes, big changes, and “quality of life” improvements to the game.
Red Dead Redemption 2: The Housebuilding EP soundtrack
One of the most popular and critically acclaimed games of all time, Red Dead Redemption 2 has reportedly sold over 34 million copies and won multiple game of the year awards, as well as “Best Music” at the 2018 Game Awards and “Best Soundtrack Album” at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Featuring 5 previously-unreleased tracks created for the game by artists David Ferguson and Matt Sweeney, The Housebuilding EP includes fan-favorite “The Housebuilding Song,” which features prominently in the epilogue of Red Dead Redemption 2’s epic story. The Housebuilding EP also features four additional Americana songs from Red Dead Redemption 2 that play in several emotionally pivotal moments in the hit game.
Nashville’s David Ferguson grew up as the right-hand man for Johnny Cash and “Cowboy” Jack Clement and is known for his production work on Sturgill Simpson hit albums A Sailor’s Guide To Earth and The Butcher Shoppe Sessions. New York’s Matt Sweeney is a guitarist, composer and producer whose work can be heard on albums by Johnny Cash, Adele, Run The Jewels, and Iggy Pop, along with his celebrated collaborations with Bonnie Prince Billy and Chavez. This title effectively builds upon the poignant Original Soundtrack produced by Daniel Lanois, as featuring D’Angelo, Willie Nelson, Rhiannon Giddens, and Queens Of The Stone Age’s Josh Homme.
TweetAbout the Author
Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."
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