The Astronauts, the team behind the exceptional The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, have revealed that their next project is a dark fantasy shooter called Witchfire. 

In Witchfire, players will be able to combat the numerous evils that plague these digital lands with a combination of firearms and magic. It seems like you'll mostly be relying on your guns, but magic will at least be available to you as a power-up option if not a full-fledged combat method. 

What really makes us excited about this game, though, is the fact that Vanishing of Ethan Carter so happened to be one of the most impressive atmospheric games in recent memory. It was criticized for being a walking simulator, but the reveal of Witchfire made it clear that the team behind that gem have taken what they've learned from their work on that game and converted it to a full-on action experience. 

Here's everything that we know about Witchfire: 

Witchfire Release Date

There's currently no release date available for Witchfire at this time.

Witchfire Trailer

The debut trailer for Witchfire showcases the game's dark atmosphere and enticing action. Will this game live up to the promise of is atmosphere, pedigree, and visuals? Take a look:

Platinum Games are developing Bayonetta 3 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. The reveal trailer showcased during the 2017 Game Awards didn't show much more than some vague visual cues and the reveal of the official logo. As such, drawing any substantial information from it - such as its release date or plot details - is especially difficult and somewhat irresponsible at this early date. 

If you still haven't had the honor of being a first-time Bayonetta player, you should first know that Platinum Games' franchise is arguably the best action experience of its kind since the glory days of the Devil May Cry series. The second game in the series was released exclusively for Wii U in 2014. It was one of the most critically acclaimed games of the year and is widely considered to be among the finest action titles ever made. 

Can Platinum do it again? Well, based on their history of meeting and surpassing expectations, we have a pretty good feeling that they'll find a way to live up their promises of delivering a game that raises the bar. 

Here's everything we know about Bayonetta 3:

Bayonetta 3 Release Date

Bayonetta 3 doesn't have a release date at this time. The game is coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch.

Further Reading: 25 Underrated PS3 Games

Bayonetta 3 Trailer

Here's the first trailer for Bayonetta 3:

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014.

Yoshi's Crafted World, the beloved dinosaur's new adventure for the Nintendo Switch, is based on a fairly fascinating gimmick involving the depth of stages. Basically, Yoshi is able to move in-between and interact with background and foreground elements that would usually be considered static in many such platforming titles. There are numerous instances of this mechanic being utilized during the trailer, but some of the most fascinating examples of this dynamic mechanic involved Yoshi attacking enemies in the foreground and flipping a stage at will to reveal brand new paths that simply looked like background objects before. 

It certainly doesn't hurt that the game's vibrant art style contributes to the storybook nature of the level design and the use of this flip mechanic. The Switch may not be a technical powerhouse, but games like this showcase why a bright color palette and creative design will sometimes best pure processing power.

Further Reading: Luigi's Mansion 3 - Everything We Know

Indeed, Yoshi's Crafted World may very well be the game for Switch fans who still harbor a deep love for classic platformers. While Super Mario Odyssey promotes a more open-world take on the platformer genre, Yoshi's Crafted World looks like the kind of classic platforming experience that we might have dreamed of as kids if we could dream quite as big as game's clearly imaginative development team. 

Here's everything we know about Yoshi's Crafted World thus far: 

Yoshi's Crafted World Trailer

A new trailer has arrived for Yoshi's Crafted World! Here it is:

And here's the announcement trailer:

Further Reading: 20 Super Mario Platformers Ranked

Yoshi's Crafted World Release Date

Yoshi's Crafted World is coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch in Spring 2019. 

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

John Saavedra is an associate editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

The designer of Payday and Payday 2, Ulf Anderson, has started a new studio called 10 Chambers Collective. His first project will retain Payday's four-player co-op gameplay but will add an element of horror that only exists in Payday when someone screws up the vault drill. 

GTFO is described as a "terrifying 4 player co-op game for hardcore FPS players." It sees a team of four scavengers explore various locales in an effort to extract valuable artifacts. Standing in their way are some truly horrifying monstrosities that seem to be quite keen on eating human beings when they get the chance to do so. 

We're not sure what's behind the miniature resurrection of four-player co-op shooters, but this one does feature a few elements that have us undeniably intrigued. Not the least among them is that awesome synth soundtrack that played over the game's debut trailer. 

However, it's really the design of the game's monsters that deserves the most attention. This isn't the usual army of zombies but a series of utterly bizarre creatures. Actually, it feels like there might be a hint of Starship Troopers in the design of the enemies and the style of action. 

Here's everything else you need to know about GTFO:

GTFO Release Date

GTFO currently does not have a confirmed release date. 

GTFO Trailer

Here is the debut trailer for GTFO:

The trailer showcases a few gameplay hints that suggest this will be a rather deep action experience. For instance, it appears that players can set-up basic defenses when things go wrong and access a kind of x-ray scouting device that provides a brief glimpse at what lies ahead.

Also of note is the way that GTFO incorporates story into the missions. Your crew of scavengers clearly know each other well and seem to make quite a few references to prior events and the current situation via in-game dialog. 

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

Were you one of many gamers who played Assassin's Creed: Black Flag's ship sections and thought, "Why doesn't Ubisoft just turn this into a game?" Well, it appears that Ubisoft heard that very valid question. 

Skull and Bones can't exactly be described as a continuation of Black Flag. While the two share many pirate aspects (we'll never tire of hearing our crew sing a shanty) Skull and Bones seems to place a far greater emphasis on multiplayer gameplay, but it's still not clear what the extent of the game's single-player offerings is. 

The game will allow you to assemble an online crew and participate in 5 v 5 battles with rival pirates in ship-to-ship combat sections. While sinking the enemy is certainly a plus, the true goal here seems to be to collect as much sweet, sweet loot as you can while also vanquishing your foes. It's not entirely clear at this time whether or not you and other players will be able to assume multiple roles on the ship or how that system of role management will work, but it does appear that much of the action will take place on the open waters. 

Here's everything else we know about the game:

Skull and Bones News 

E3 2018 actually brought us two new trailers for Skull and Bones. The first is a cinematic preview that explores the game's rich universe. 

The second, though, is an extensive gameplay preview that gives us our best look yet at what Skull and Bones will actually play like. Based on the footage shown at the event, it appears that you'll be able to command your own ship in Skull and Bones, but the seas you sail will be populated by other players doing the same. There will be several ways to interact with those other players that include blowing them up or using them to take down powerful enemies. 

Skull and Bones Release Date

Skull and Bones has been delayed until 2019 or even 2020 according to the latest Ubisoft earnings report. The delay is attributed to the scope of the experience as well as the studio's desire to expand the lore of the in-game world. 

Skull and Bones Trailer

Here is the first trailer for Skull and Bones:

And here's a gameplay trailer:

This interview video posted by Ubisoft also hints at the game's RPG mechanics and the way that you'll be able to upgrade your ship and crew as you gain gold and infamy. 

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

Cyberpunk 2077 will be CD Projekt Red's first game outside The Witcher universe, and its first foray into science fiction. Based on the Cyberpunk series of tabletop games, it is, as its name suggests, inspired by the pioneers of the cyberpunk subgenre - namely William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. We can, therefore, expect plenty of cyborgs, AI, benighted cities, and scary corporations.

While Cyberpunk 2077's very different in setting from The Witcher, we'll see the same mature themes and unforgiving difficulty level in this new outing.

"The Witcher helped Cyberpunk quite a bit, because the game got so big and so complex that it really taught us,” visual effects artist Jose Teixeira told MCV. “If anything, working on The Witcher 3 was a really good and often brutal learning experience. Cyberpunk is going to benefit greatly from it. I can almost guarantee it."

Here's everything else we know about the game:

Cyberpunk 2077 Release Date

Cyberpunk 2077 doesn't have a release date at the moment. The game is coming to XBO, PS4, PC.

Further Reading: The Witcher TV Series Details

Cyberpunk 2077 Trailer

Here's your first look at the action-packed gameplay you can expect from Cyberpunk 2077:

Further Reading: 10 Things You Missed from the Cyberpunk 2077 Gameplay Trailer

Image 1 of 8

The official E3 2018 trailer for Cyberpunk 2077 showcases a more playful and lively vibe for the game than we were expecting to see. Expected or not, the game looks incredible. 

Here's the first teaser trailer from 2013:

Further Reading: How SimCity Influenced Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 Details

Cyberpunk 2077 may very well feature a complex multiplayer mode that involves the use of several technological tools and grants the developers have apparently applied for. When PC Gamer reached out to the developers for comment, they were told that CD Projekt Red have been applying for such tools but are not able to elaborate on their functionality at this time. 

“Cyberpunk is far bigger than anything else that CD Projekt Red has done before,” visual effects artist Jose Teixeira told MCV. “Far, far bigger. We're really stepping into the unknown in terms of complexity and size and problems we encounter.”

Following a statement by developer CD Projekt Red regarding Cyberpunk's online elements and their "games as a service" approach, the studio has stepped forward to clarify that they do not currently intend to add microtransactions to the game. 

"Worry not," reads a post on the studio's Twitter account. "When thinking CP2077, think nothing less than TW3 [The Witcher 3] — huge single player, open world, story-driven RPG. No hidden catch, you get what you pay for — no bullshit, just honest gaming like with Wild Hunt. We leave greed to others."

It's still unclear what the games as service comment applies to, but it could just be a comment related to the possibility that Cyberpunk may feature expanded online modes. That makes sense given that the game is based on modern and futuristic technology as opposed to The Witcher 3's fantasy setting.

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

John Saavedra is an associate editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

Age of Empires IV is finally on the way!

Microsoft has passed off development duties of the famous real-time strategy game to Relic Entertainment, creators of the Dawn of War franchise. What Relic Entertainment have in mind for the franchise is truly anyone's guess. The above reveal trailer only serves as a stylish confirmation that the game is in development. It showcases war throughout various time periods and regions which is, creatively speaking, in-line with the standards of the series thus far. 

Of course, some people are a bit worried that Relic Entertainment might not be the premier name in strategy game design that they used to be. Dawn of War III was berated by many longtime fans for its changes to the franchise formula as well as for some of the features it lacked in comparison to previous Dawn of War games. 

Still, Relic Entertainment's library contains far more hits than misses, and there is a timeless quality to the Age of Empires franchise which has helped ensure that the original titles remain some of the most popular strategy games in the world. There's a great chance that this will be the Age of Empires game you've been waiting for. 

Here's everything else we know about the game:

Age of Empires 4 Release Date

Age of Empires IV doesn't have a release date at this time. The game will arrive on PC.

Age of Empires 4 Trailer

Here's the first trailer:

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

Team Ninja is working on a sequel to their well-received Souls-like title, Nioh. In a way, it's not too surprising to hear that Team Ninja is working on a sequel to Nioh. After all, the game reportedly sold even better than they were expecting it to sell and performed especially well on PC where the developers had some worries regarding its ability to succeed. 

On the other hand, nothing leading up to E3 2018 suggested that Team Ninja was going to reveal a new Nioh game. After all, the original Nioh was released in February of 2017, so we're not that far removed from the franchise's debut. 

Here's your first look at Nioh 2:

We get the impression that there still might be quite a bit of work to do on Nioh 2 considering that Team Ninja didn't showcase any gameplay from the sequel or revealed any details regarding what we can expect from the upcoming game. However, we'd be a little surprised to hear that it will differ too wildly from the original game given its relatively quick turnaround time and the fact that the first game didn't demand too many improvements. 

Story-wise, it's entirely possible that Nioh 2 will pick up relatively close to where Nioh left off, but it's not too much of a stretch to suggest that the game could go in a new direction entirely given that the story of the first game was clearly not specifically intended to be picked up at a later date. 

Regardless, it's enough to know that Team Ninja is working on a new Nioh game given that the original title was a pretty fully-realized take on the Dark Souls concept. While there's still a lot we need to learn about this game, we're very excited to learn more about Nioh 2 as it nears its 2019 PS4 release date.

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

This is not a drill: The Elder Scrolls VI is officially in development! While we really wish that we had more information to share with you regarding the finer details of this game, we tragically do not. See, Bethesda's Pete Hines remarked that this isn't a game that is going to come out this year or even the next year. Instead, it's a title that they are working on that is somewhere on the horizon. 

However, that's really not the important detail of this story. What really matters is that Bethesda is, right now, working on a new Elder Scrolls game. Not Skyrim, not a Skyrim sequel, not a Skyrim spin-off, but a game that is actually being called The Elder Scrolls VI. At present, we have no reason to believe that this is not a proper single-player epic Elder Scrolls adventure in the style of classic Elder Scrolls experiences. 

Here's everything else we know about the game:

The Elder Scrolls 6 Trailer

Bethesda shared the first trailer for the game at E3 2018:

If you're really reaching for more information, you can try to figure out where the game will take place based on the teaser footage that we saw in the trailer. However, we have a feeling that nothing about that footage is anywhere close to being finalized. However, it does seem like we're leaving the snow-covered world of Skyrim for a more diverse climate that somewhat resembles the world seen in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. 

The Elder Scrolls 6 Release Date

No release date has been set for The Elder Scrolls 6. Expect a long wait for the next installment in Bethesda's coveted fantasy RPG series.

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

Bethesda has revealed that there are two new Wolfenstein games in development. The first is a title known as Wolfenstein: Youngblood. 

While this isn't the next mainline Wolfenstein game - there's still no word regarding whether or not we'll be treated to a Wolfenstein III - it is a fascinating "spin-off" of sorts that is primarily meant to be played as a co-op shooter. Yes, Wolfenstein: Youngblood is a co-op shooter that lets you play as B.J. Blazkowicz's daughters as they shoot their way through an alternate version of 1980's Paris. 

This does seemingly make Youngblood a pseudo-sequel to the events we saw in Wolfenstein II, but it's not entirely clear whether or not this game will touch upon the story threads that were left lingering by Wolfenstein II. Instead, it appears that this game will tell a story that more of its own. 

The good news is that Youngblood is being developed by the folks at Machine Games (who have been responsible for the modern Wolfenstein games we've enjoyed thus far) and that you'll be able to play it by yourself in some form if you aren't able to find a friend to stick with you until the end. It also seems like Machine Games is planning on releasing the game for major platforms sometime in 2019. 

We, unfortunately, know less about the other Wolfenstein game on the horizon, but we can tell you that it is a VR title called Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot where you play a hacker who is trying to turn the Nazis' own machinery against them. There's no word on when this game will be released or which VR platforms it will be available for. 

Even though we'd love to hear something about the next mainline Wolfensteingame, these projects look like fun deviations from the norm that should manage to kill the time until we get our hands on what figures to be the final game in the mainline Wolfensteinreboot series.

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the next game from the studio that brought us Dark Souls. FromSoftware's new action game takes place during the Sengoku era of Japan. In it, you play a warrior who has set out on a dangerous quest to save his master from a powerful foe who the warrior and his mater have been battling for years. The warrior's loss of a ligament means that some of his weapons and abilities come in the form of exchangeable prosthetics. 

Regardless of what weapon you use, you'll have access to a resurrect ability that will let you instantly revive yourself upon death. This is a far cry from the Dark Soulsseries which often punished the player for death and used death as a way to teach the player how the game's mechanics - and the universe - really worked. It remains to be seen how Sekiro will retain the difficulty and mechanical mastery requirements of Dark Souls given that it sounds like the title won't treat death as quite the roadblock that it was in Dark Souls. 

We're still waiting to hear more about this game, but for now, here's everything else we know about Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice:

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Trailer

A new trailer for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has arrived ahead of Tokyo Game Show. Check it out below:

And here's the debut trailer:

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Release Date

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is set to release on March 22, 2019, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. On that day, you'll be able to pick up the regular version of the game alongside a special Collector's Edition that includes a map, some art, coins, and a statue. 

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

The Sinking City takes place in the fictional city of Oakmont, Massachusetts during the 1920s. Lovecraftian deities have wreaked havoc on the area and have left the town of Oakmont largely underwater. Despite the inconvenience - and the sudden presence of fish people who roam the city - some human citizens remain trying to make the best of a bad situation. You play as a private investigator who soon finds himself caught up in a web of conspiracies.

The Lovecraftian elements of Sinking City are obvious and entirely unabashed. While few Lovecraftian creatures have been name-dropped thus far, the game's monsters are most certainly inspired by both Lovecraft and the creations of H.R. Giger. Additionally, there seems to be an insanity mechanic in place which can affect how the player's character sees the world. Anyone familiar with the GameCube classic Eternal Darkness should have an idea of how sanity can affect the game's world.

While the Lovecraftian elements of the game are deeply embedded into its every dark corner, The Sinking City is actually more of a defective title in the style of L.A. Noire. That means that players will often receive requests and assignments that require them to investigate, interview, and ultimately solve the case. Unlike L.A. Noire, there are very few objective markers in the game or other clear points of direction. Instead, you'll be required to pick up on context clues and certain pieces of dialogue in order to understand where you should go next in the process of your investigation.

Further Reading: 5 Essential H.P. Lovecraft Stories

Put it all together and you've got a taut mystery thriller bolstered by certain horror elements that compliment the underlying noir story quite well. If that sounds too much like we're describing a particularly fine wine, just imagine a scarier version of L.A. Noire with tighter gameplay and you'll know why we're so excited about this one.

Here's what we know about The Sinking City. 

The Sinking City Release Date

The Sinking City is currently set to release on March 21, 2019, for PC. 

The Sinking City Trailers

The Sinking City is a detective story at heart. Here's a look at some investigation gameplay:

And here's another look:

Further Reading: Call of Cthulhu Review

This next one features a few brief glimpses at the title's mysterious gameplay. Check it out:

Here's everything else that's been released so far:

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

Marvel announced in January 2017 that it has signed a multi-year, multi-game deal with publisher Square Enix to develop titles based on the popular superhero universe. The first title in the works is an Avengers game. 

According to Marvel, the game will feature a completely new and original story, and will introduce a universe gamers can play in for years to come. The project will be jam-packed with characters, environments, and iconic moments that will thrill Marvelites.

It also looks like Marvel will continue the trend of hiring top-notch talent for games based on their most popular characters. "The Avengers project," as it's being referred to at the moment by Marvel, is being developed by Crystal Dynamics (Tomb Raider), with help from Eidos Montreal (Deus Ex). Shaun Escayg, former Naughty Dog creative director, and Stephen Barry, a 27-year games vet from EA and Visceral Games, have also joined the project in leadership roles at Crystal Dynamics.

That's one hell of a team-up. It's too early to call, but based on the teams working on this game, this could be an action-adventure superhero game with a nice helping of RPG elements.

Here's everything else we know about the game so far:

The Avengers Project Release Date

No release date has been set for The Avengers Project.

The Avengers Project Trailer

Check out the trailer below:

The Avengers Project Story

We can gather a few story details from the trailer. The game seems to take place at a time when superheroes are persecuted by the public and the Avengers are all but broken. The setting looks very bleak, indeed. From the looks of it, Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, and Thor will appear in the game in some form. It's unclear who is narrating, though. 

Further Reading: Avengers Endgame Trailer Breakdown and Analysis

John Saavedra is Games Editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

BioWare is working on Dragon Age 4. The studio announced the sequel during the 2018 Game Awards with a cryptic trailer that reveals the return of Dragon Age: Inquisition character Solas. 

No release window was given during the announcement. The game is still apparently "at least three years away," according to a report from Venture Beat. The report claims the game is still in very early development and doesn't even have an official name yet.

For now, check out the trailer:

This is hardly the first time that we've heard rumblings of a new Dragon Age game from BioWare. Hudson himself had previously stated that he is aware of the interest in a new Dragon Age game and that BioWare was working on secret projects possibly related to the franchise. 

"We hear loud and clear the interest in BioWare doing more Dragon Age and Mass Effect," said BioWare GM Casey Hudson as part of the company's mid-summer update. "...rest assured that we have some teams hidden away working on some secret stuff that I think you'll really like - we're just not ready to talk about any of it for a little while."

In so many words, that statement seems to address the growing speculation that Anthem is not a "BioWare game" and rather a directive from EA (whom we assume are twirling their brandy in front of a fireplace and bearskin rug as we speak). Despite comments from current and former BioWare employees who insist that Anthem is very much a game the studio is interested in making right now, there is no shortage of BioWare fans who would rather see a more traditional RPG from the studio. 

So far as that goes, we're not entirely sure what to expect from this next Dragon Age game. BioWare has previously noted that fans shouldn't expect all of their future games to be like Anthem. That, combined with comments from people close to the Dragon Age series, suggest that the next Dragon Age game will be a "proper"Dragon Age game (that we'll currently refer to as Dragon Age 4). However, the fact that some people closely associated with the Dragon Age franchise (and classic BioWare games in general) have left the company in recent years casts some doubt as to what form this next Dragon Agegame will take. 

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

Activision has confirmed the release of a remake of CTR: Crash Team Racing called Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled. As previously suspected, this remake will take just about everything about the original CTR and upgrade it for the modern age. That means enhanced visuals, improved sound, and even the very welcome addition of online multiplayer action. Along with the new online mode, you will be able to participate in the classic adventure mode, time trials, cup race, battle mode, and single race. 

This new addition to the game also features the ability to play as CTR bad guy, Nitros Oxide (hence the new name). Those who purchase the special edition of the game will be able to access Nitros Oxide right away. Everyone else needs to earn him via a series of in-game challenges. 

In this case, though, the most exciting thing about this project isn't necessarily what it changes but what it retains. Aside from the enhancements listed above and a few other improvements, Nitro-Fueled is pretty much the CTR you remember. That means all those crazy corses, all those great characters, the game's fantastic weapons system, and some truly fantastic controls that helped elevate CTR above its notable genre contenders. 

Indeed, the best part about this release may be that a potential remake of CTR will revive the classic Mario Kart or CTR debate that was quite prevalent for an admittedly brief period of time. While many seem to side with Mario Kart (it's certainly the stronger franchise), the original CTR offered enough innovations to satisfy those who were otherwise unable to play the N64 version of Nintendo's revolutionary racing spin-off.

Here's everything else you need to know about the game:

Crash Team Racing Release Date

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is scheduled to release on June 21, 2019.

Crash Team Racing Trailer

Here's the trailer that debuted during the 2018 Game Awards:

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

Diablo is going mobile with Diablo Immortal. Described as a “full-fledged action RPG,"Diablo Immortal will serve as direct follow-up to Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. That means that it will complete the stories of certain characters that appeared in that game as well as continue some of the storylines that weren't necessarily addressed in Diablo III. However, it feels like more of a spin-off than a direct sequel (hence the name). 

So far as that goes, Diablo Immortal does look like a Diablo game in all the ways you'd expect a Diablo title to carry on the legacy of its predecessors. There's hacking, slashing, looting, various character classes to choose from, and a variety of in-game abilities. It's pretty clear that Immortal will utilize the base gameplay that has made Diablo the legendary franchise it is. 

However, it's equally clear that this game will alter the franchise formula in some notable ways. First off, it's described as a massively multiplayer game that allows players to drop in and out of gameplay sessions as well as participate in certain scheduled events. Second, we can see from a few of the sequences in the trailer (including one that shows the player climbing down a pit) that this mobile title will feature a greater variety of gameplay scenarios. You could almost say that it looks a little more "arcade-like' than previous Diablo games. 

Further Reading: The Real Mythology of Diablo's Great Evils

We imagine that possibility will raise concerns regarding Immortal's depth and its use of less-than-popular mobile microtransaction systems. At this time, it's not clear how "mobile" this Diablo mobile game will be. Blizzard made no reference to any microtransactions during the game's reveal, and the gameplay was limited to a heavily edited trailer. That said, we imagine that this game will take full advantage of the mobile market (if you know what we mean). 

Diablo Immortal Release Date

Diablo Immortal doesn't have a confirmed release date (it will most likely be released in 2019), but you can pre-register for the iOS and Android versions via this website.

Diablo Immortal Trailer

Here's the announcement trailer:

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

Hideo Kojima, the famed creator of the Metal Gear series, returns from a brief hiatus after his highly publicized exit from Konami with his strangest concept yet: Death Stranding, a game that's all about connections, according to the developer. Kojima's goal is to create a game where players interact with each other beyond just trying to kill each other. 

The game stars Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen. It also features some collaboration with beloved director Guillermo del Toro, who previously worked with Kojima on the ill-fated Silent Hills project.

Here's everything else we know:

Death Stranding Release Date

Death Stranding doesn't have a release date at the moment. The game will arrive exclusively to PS4.

Further Reading: Exploring Metal Gear Solid's Hidden Horror

Death Stranding Trailer

A new Death Stranding trailer revealed at TGS 2018 confirms that Troy Baker is playing a villain in the game. Check it out below:

E3 2018 featured the debut of Death Stranding's gameplay a few more details about its story. It's a long look at the game, but you've got to see it. 

Another Death Stranding trailer premiered at The Game Awards 2017 and it's our best look at this haunting game yet! Check out the trailer below:

The second trailer for Hideo Kojima's next game was revealed at the 2016 Game Awards. The big story here is the appearance of everyone's (at least second) favorite Hannibal Lecter, Mads Mikkelsen. Check it out:

Here's the very first trailer for the game:

Further Reading: Why 1987's Metal Gear Is Still Important

Death Stranding Cast

Norman Reedus will star in the game and he will be joined by Mads Mikkelsen, who appears to play one of the antagonists. Guillermo del Toro will also appear in the game as revealed by the game's second trailer. 

Emily O'Brien posted a picture on her Instagram account that confirmed that she and Troy Baker have joined the Death Stranding cast.

Lea Seydoux (Spectre) has also been cast in the game.

Death Stranding Gameplay

Hideo Kojima continues to leak out Death Stranding information a trickle at a time. The game auteur took the stage at a Tokyo game conference today and provided the briefest of glimpses regarding Death Stranding's design intent.

Death Stranding will be an action game with open world elements, but, according to Kojima, it will be a different kind of action game that emphasizes player interactions beyond just trying to kill each other. While players will fight both computer and human-controlled enemies via the game's single-player and online modes, Kojima is also working on ways in which they can experience the game together that emphasizes non-action based cooperation. 

Kojima didn't go into further details regarding how, exactly, this will work, but there were trace elements of the Dark Souls' school of multiplayer design in his speech. 

Speaking at the Develop: Brighton conference, Hideo Kojima expressed his belief that Death Stranding represents his greatest work. 

Further Reading: The Worst Metal Gear Book Ever Written Predicted the Future of the Franchise

"I'm very confident that we're working towards something completely new and that no-one has seen so far,” said Kojima. “This will be my best work so far, I'm very confident about that." 

At this same event, Kojima also spoke of how excited he is about the ability of virtual reality to convey a new range of human emotions in video games. At this time, however, there is no word on whether or not Death Stranding will have VR features. Kojima also noted that he could never stop making video games because, as technology progresses, he comes closer to being able to make the type of games he dreams of. 

In a YouTube upload by Hideo Kojima, the legendary developer also shared some information regarding the secrecy that surrounded Death Stranding's unveiling. According to Kojima, only about five people knew that the game was going to be revealed at E3 2016. In order to avoid any potential leaks, Kojima himself also avoided social media, refrained from taking photos and even stayed at an out of the way hotel during E3 just to avoid being spotted. 

Death Stranding Story

Mads Mikkelsen recently caught up with Birth.Movies.Death. to talk about Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding and what exactly the actor is doing in the game's second trailer. It seems that Mikkelsen, who plays the game's villain, is as confused as the rest of us are, even though he's sat down to talk about the enigmatic game with the auteur. 

While he can't talk about the plot of Death Stranding, Mikkelsen did say that "it's very intricate. I mean, you know [Kojima]. He's a very brilliant man. I mean, the stuff he told me? I only understood some of it. There was a lot of, 'What?' I have to see it before I understand. Because with Death Stranding, he's creating something completely new." 

As Kojima described to Red Bull, Death Stranding's story "is all about connections, that are called 'strands' in psychology." That's not much to go on at all, but then again, Kojima likes to keep story details very close to the chest. Kojima continued, "It's too early to talk about the broader details of the story or to reveal the female lead, but we have a core structure already."

With the likes of director Guillermo del Toro and actors Mikkelsen and Norman Reedus joining Kojima on this project, we're sure to be in for something very special - if only slightly confusing as well.

Further Reading: Silent Hill, BioShock, and the Art of Scary Games

Death Stranding Details

In a new interview with Glixel, video game auteur Hideo Kojima confirmed that his latest helping of interactive weird, Death Stranding, "is not a horror game." Despite the dark tone of the first two trailers and his recent work on P.T., Death Stranding will not be the creator's first full foray into horror after all. 

"I don’t have a dark mindset in particular," Kojima told Glixel. "Death Stranding is not a horror game. I just wanted to make something that looks very unique, something you haven’t seen before, something with a more artistic slant to it. I’m not pursuing a dark aspect to the game."

It definitely looks unique, especially in the "using creepy babies to promote your game" department. Kojima also reassured fans that the game will still have a sense of humor - a staple of his past games, which have included running gags and breaking the fourth wall.

"Humor is a very important aspect for games. You play a game for a very long time – Death Stranding is a big game, too – and you put stress on the player and you lead them through peaks and valleys. Humor is an important aspect to make sure the player can enjoy playing across these peaks and valleys. So we’ll have humor in this game too, but to a degree that it doesn't ruin the world setting. It will be at an appropriate level."

Kojima also caught up with the BBC to talk about Death Stranding and how it's unlike anything he's created before. 

"We want this game to be something that people can get into easily but after an hour or two they'll start to notice something a little different," Kojima said. "It's not like anything they've played before."

Further Reading: Why Silent Hill 2 Is Gaming's Most Intelligent Horror Story

Kojima, who's never been shy about introducing very weird new elements to his games, says he's not too worried about how the risks he's taking with Death Stranding might drive some players away.

"Bands that everyone remembers take risks," he said. "They constantly change their music from previous albums, adapting and evolving through the ages. ... They might lose some fans along the way, but they bring in new ones. That's the kind of approach I want to take with my new game."

Kojima fans are undoubtedly expecting something new and strange from Death Stranding. So far, the trailers indicate that Kojima will indeed deliver the goods.

In other news, director Guillermo del Toro, who appeared in the second trailer for the game, has confirmed that he's not involved with Death Stranding in a creative role. He's simply an actor in the game, according to an interview with IGN.

"I’m involved as a character. Kojima-san called me and said, 'I want you to be a character in the game,' and I said, 'Gladly.' He’s discussed his ideas so I could understand the character, but other than that I’m not involved, creatively, at all."

Del Toro continued, "This is entirely Kojima-san’s game. I think it’s gonna be a fantastic game, 100%. But this is him and his ideas. I’m just a puppet in his hands. My contribution is limited to being a cheerleader for his ideas and being scanned for long hours at a time. That’s about it."

Death Stranding Poster

Kojima tweeted this promotional image for Death Stranding around the time of E3 2017. The image's use of the word "Bridges" is particularly interesting because, as IGN points out, that word was also seen in the game's second trailer.

John Saavedra is Games Editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

Nintendo may have closed the shutters on its first ever mobile experiment, Miitomo, but that doesn't mean its plans for the smartphone arena are going to change any time soon. 

The company has announced via Twitter that another of its recognizable properties is going mobile. "The checkered flag has been raised and the finish line is near," the firm wrote. "A new mobile application is now in development: Mario Kart Tour!"

Mario Kart Tour continues Nintendo's theme of releasing some of its best-known properties on mobile - albeit in modified form. Mario emerged as the paid-for infinite runner, Super Mario Run, while Fire Emblem Heroes and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp offer free-to-play experiences for touch-enabled devices.

It'll be fascinating to see how Nintendo can offer a satisfying racing experience on a smartphone without cannibalizing sales on one of its most successful console titles.

Here's everything we know about this upcoming mobile game:

Mario Kart Tour Release Date

Beyond the title, Nintendo hasn't given us much else - the app isn't due to launch until "the fiscal year ending in March 2019," which could mean it's over 12 months away. Nintendo is currently handling the development of the game while DeNA will manage the server, online infrastructure, and backend issues.

Mario Kart Tour Price

In a recent interview, DeNA exec Isao Moriyasu revealed that the game will be "free to start," which pretty much means that it'll be free to play like most of Nintendo's other mobile offerings thus far.

John Saavedra is Games Editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

Gears 5 is coming to Xbox One with its most intense story yet. The game centers on Kait Diaz, a supporting character in the last installment. She takes center stage as she embarks on a new adventure deep into Swarm territory. At her side is Del as well as series mainstay Marcus Fenix. 

The last game ended on a cliffhanger, leaving plenty of room for a sequel to continue to explore the adventures of J.D., Kait, Del, and Marcus. Interestingly enough, J.D. doesn't seem to have much of a role in the debut trailer. Instead, it appears to be Kait who will have the starring role this time around. Her arc was the more interesting one in Gears of War 4, after all.

If you're wondering why we're not calling the game Gears of War 5, it's because the "of War" has been officially dropped by The Coalition for this installment. It was confirmed by The Coalition head Rob Fergusson in a tweet, explaining that it made sense to shorten the title now that the Gears of War franchise has multiple products on the way, including the Gears Pop mobile game and Gears Tactics for PC. 

Here's everything else we know about the game:

Gears 5 Release Date

Gears of War 5 is coming in 2019. It's coming to Xbox One and PC.

Gears 5 Trailer

The first trailer for Gears 5 has arrived. Check out the trailer below:

Further Reading: 25 Underrated Xbox 360 Games

Gears 5 Story

Here's the official synopsis:

The world is crumbling. Humanity’s reliance on technology has become their downfall and enemies are uniting to wipe out all survivors. As Kait you must journey across the biggest, most beautiful Gears world to uncover the origins of the Locust, and fight with your squad to protect what’s left.

John Saavedra is Games Editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is famed Castlevania director Koji Igarashi's return to the Metroidvania genre after his departure from Konami. The game was first announced through a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 that met its $500,000 goal within four hours and raised over $1 million in its first day.

“I have been gone for too long, and it’s time for a resurrection!” Igarashi said in the video introducing the Kickstarter. “Publishers of the world told me that gamers no longer care for this style of game, but I know they’re wrong!”

By the end of the campaign, Bloodstained had raised over $5.5 million, proving that fans were still hungry for this type of experience. Two years later, Bloodstained is still in development but is inching closer to a 2018 release.

Further Reading: 10 Best Castlevania Games

The game tells the story of Miriam, an orphan who has been cursed by an alchemist and is slowly turning into crystal. The young woman must fight her way through a castle full of demons and other creatures of the night to find a cure. The plot and setting are as Gothic as it gets, and the presentation and gameplay—the side-scrolling combat, creepy monsters, and role-playing elements—all harken back to the golden age of Metroidvania.

Here's everything else we know about the game:

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Release Date

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has been delayed again to 2019. It was originally set for a 2017 release before it was delayed to 2018. The game is currently scheduled to appear on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC. Both the Wii U and PS Vita versions of the game have been canceled.

Further Reading: Castlevania - The Real History of Dracula

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Trailer

This gameplay trailer emphasizes the game's art style and combat techniques by showing off large portions of a cathedral stage and even offering us a glimpse of one of the game's boss fights:

Here's gameplay footage from the E3 2016 demo:

Further Reading: Castlevania Is a Dracula Masterpiece 90 Years in the Making

In the pitch video below - which is quite quaint, with its low-fi special effects - Igarashi talks enthusiastically about his project. On the Kickstarter page, you'll find more of the project's plans, including its addition of crafting to the platforming mix, and the now-confirmed presence of David Hayter as one of the main voice actors.

That Bloodstained has already enjoyed a storming amount of support pretty much guarantees that we'll be hearing more about it soon.

John Saavedra is Games Editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9.