10 Exciting, Mid-2021 Video Game Titles & Related Developments
Regardless of whether or not you are still quarantining to any extent, odds are that some of your favorite dining and entertainment spots are still not open like they used to be. In turn, you are likely spending 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.
DIRT 5 is the most ambitious title yet in Codemasters’ legendary off-road franchise. With brand new features and breathtaking action, DIRT 5 creates a vibe that delivers big on epic racing, pure expression, and unbridled style. In short, it offers off-road racing for players who want to build careers and challenge other players online or through 4-player split-screen play. Now available for $59.99 on multiple platforms, Stadia included.
Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with 4500+ employees and offices spread all over the world. Via World Of Warships: Legends, you can experience a multi-player online game where you master the seas in history’s greatest warships. It brings the online naval action loved by millions to home consoles for the very first time, alongside a host of content and features exclusive to the console experience. Now available on Playstation and Xbox, while World Of Warships Blitz is out there on iOS and Android mobile devices.
Amanotes is a fast-growing music-tech company from Southeast Asia. Some of its chart-topping hyper-casual games include Magic Tiles 3, Tiles Hop and Dancing Road, with over 1.5 billion downloads accumulated worldwide via Amanotes. The aforementioned Magic Tiles 3 is a piano game reportedly enjoyed by over 4 million users every day, leading to it being called “the #1 Music Game title” in over 150 countries. A remix by “2 Phut Hon” by the recording artist Pháo was recently added to this very fun mobile game.
The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me: Another Reincarnation
As launched in April by Japan’s ViSUALIZE Co., Ltd., The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me: Another Reincarnation is available on the App Store and Google Play in many countries, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, United Kingdom, Australia, and Israel. The first mobile game adaptation for the anime The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me?, this title is based on the best-selling novel series, which has recorded over 2.7 million copies in sales. For those unfamiliar with the series itself, it is the story of ordinary young businessman Shingo Ichinomiya, who ends up in the body of Wendelin, the eighth son in a poor noble family of another world. It is in serialization under KADOKAWA’s Media Factory Books, with 21 volumes currently in publication.
Billed by many as “the original shooter-looter,” Borderlands 3 promises “bazillions of guns and a mayhem-fueled adventure.” Players can blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four new Vault Hunters, playing solo or with friends. A sequel to 2012’s Borderlands 2, and the fourth entry in the main Borderlands series, it is playable on Stadia, PlayStations 4 and 5, Microsoft, Mac and Xbox.
An action-adventure video game developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega, Judgment is a spin-off to the Yakuza game series. Its latest release was via the Stadia console, which delivers the best frame-rate imaginable. A sequel titled Lost Judgment has already been announced, and is hotly-anticipated, as slated for a September 24, 2021 multi-console release.
A new generation of survival horror has arrived, thanks to Resident Evil Village. The eighth major entry in the Resident Evil series, you can expect ultra-realistic graphics, thanks to its RE Engine. Storyline-wise, this one picks up a few years after Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, as based around Ethan Winters and his wife Mia initially living peacefully in a new location, free from their past nightmares.
As released in 2018, Far Cry 5 is a first-person shooter game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Toronto and published by Ubisoft. The fifth main installment in the Far Cry series, it is the precursor to the forthcoming Far Cry 6. Taking place in Hope County — a fictional region of Montana — this game was the fastest-selling title in the history of the franchise. It won “Best Action Game” of 2018 at the Titanium Awards and was further honored by numerous other award-granting organizations. Now available on the Google Stadia console.
Speaking of Stadia, I also had the pleasure of trying out Doom 64 on the console. Yes, that very same Doom 64 was first released in 1997. The Doom II sequel that most people felt to have been the most visually-stunning title within the original Doom franchise. A fun trip down memorize lane as the graphics are “classic” yet the gameplay and functional are steady and up to modern standards.
Sick style and high-energy action come together in this completely over-the-top football — or as we call here in the States, soccer — experience. Featuring 6 distinct game modes from open-ended Freestyle and Trick Shot modes to head-to-head competition in Panna and up to 3v3 matches in Street Power mode, you’ve never played football/soccer quite like this. Ready to take it to the next level? Join street football/soccer legend Sean Garnier and face off with freestyle greats on crazy playgrounds and pitches around the world. Somewhere between NBA Jam, Arch Rivals and FIFA.
The newly-launched RIG Pro Compact Controller is reportedly the world’s first Dolby Atmos controller, providing an immersive 3D audio sound experience for any headsets it combines with. Additionally, the controller offers user-friendly features, including the ability to customize the controller’s button mapping using the dedicated Pro Compact Windows 10 app.
Meanwhile, RIG’s PRO 500 Gen 2 is built for gamers seeking a durable, performance headset that can give them a competitive edge. It is compatible with Xbox Series XS, Xbox one, PS4, PS5, PC and portable consoles. The headset features RIG’s signature unbreakable metal head-band and self-adjusting straps, along with 3D Audio precision. Purchase of the PRO 500 Gen 2 includes a 2-year Dolby Atmos activation code, helping gamers react faster and more accurately via the top-notch sound.
Via Capcom Arcade Stadium, Capcom is bringing the electric thrill of the arcade to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. This collection of 32 arcade classics from multiple eras, including Super Street Fighter II Turbo, Strider, Bionic Commando, 1943: The Battle For Midway and Final Fight. Each of the 32 games will give players access to online leaderboards to compete against retro newcomers and longtime enthusiasts alike. The collection also allows players to experience the excitement of bumping elbows while going head-to-head or working together in local multiplayer. Furthermore, each title comes with a number of” quality-of-life improvements,” including a Rewind feature, difficulty options, the ability to save and load within each title at any time, and unlockable frames including 2D and 3D arcade cabinets. Classic titles meet up with modern technology so that gamers get the best of both worlds.
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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