The Shenmue III announcement was one of the big surprises of E3 2015, leading to an initial clamor of support which saw its Kickstarter campaign well over $2m within hours of launch.

Shenmue III's $6.3m total eclipsed the previous record holder, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, which raised $5.5m. It's undoubtedly good news for fans of the earlier Shenmue games, and a sign of how much demand there is for a sequel among the sandbox series' cult following. But it's also some distance from the (perhaps over-ambitious) target Suzuki once set. He recently said he needed to raise $10m to make Shenmue III "a much larger, completely open world" video game.

You may recall that the first Shenmue, first released in Japan in 1999, cost a reported $70m - a staggering sum for the time, and still a significant budget for a piece of entertainment even in 2015. Shenmue III will, barring some hefty private investment added at a later date, have less than 10 percent of that budget to play with - though its designers at Ys Net will at least be able to save money by using an off-the-peg engine (Unreal Engine 4) and recycled assets from earlier entries in the series.

At any rate, the success of the Kickstarter campaign means that the once-dormant Shenmue franchise has a new lease on life. We'll just have to wait and see how Suzuki can reintroduce the series to a new generation of consoles and potential fans.

Here's everything else we know about the game:

Shenmue 3 Release Date

Shenmue III will arrive on Aug. 27, 2019. The game is coming to PS4 and PC.

Shenmue 3 Trailer

Here's the brand new Gamescom trailer!

This next trailer is a refresher course on the characters of the saga:

Here are the other trailers released thus far:

Further Reading: 25 Underrated Video Game Soundtracks

Shenmue 3 Screenshots

Check out the screenshots released so far:

Now that the Dark Souls series is officially done, Bandai Namco has a hole in their lineup that was previously occupied by a hardcore RPG series with a moody atmosphere and strong action elements. 

While it's going to be hard for any game to ever completely fill that void, we must say that Bandai Namco's upcoming action RPG Code Vein looks like it has a chance to fulfill the desires of Dark Souls fans everywhere. 

Here's everything we know about Code Vein:

Code Vein Release Date

Code Vein has been delayed to 2019 from its original Sept. 28, 2018 release date. The game is coming to PS4, XBO, and PC. 

Further Reading: Ranking the Dark Souls and Bloodbourne Bosses

Code Vein Trailer

Here's a new, six-minute trailer:

Code Vein's third trailer finally gives us a little better look at the game's world and the characters who call it home. What it really does, though, is double-down on the game's anime style. Vampires battling each other with blood-based superpowers while rock music blares in the background? Yeah, we're kind of ready to play this one. 

This next teaser does a nice job of emphasizing the game's anime inspirations and generally cool vibe. It certainly offers more than enough reasons to keep your eyes on this game in the future. 

Further Reading: 25 Brutally Difficult Video Games

Code Vein's E3 2017 trailer showcases that blend of familiar Dark Souls gameplay and anime visuals that previous previews had hinted at. We look forward to seeing more from this promising adventure title. 

While the teaser for Code Vein suggested that it might be a hand-drawn, Dark Souls-esque action RPG starring vampires, the official reveal trailer for Code Veinshows off a slightly different experience. Code Vein still borrows aspects of Dark Souls' combat system and RPG elements, but the game's art style borrows more from the God Hand series with its anime flourishes. 

Code Vein Story

Here's the official synopsis for the game:

"In the not too distant future, a mysterious disaster has brought collapse to the world as we know it. Towering skyscrapers, once symbols of prosperity, are now lifeless graves of humanity’s past pierced by the Thorns of Judgment. At the center of the destruction lies a hidden society of Revenants called Vein. This final stronghold is where the remaining few fight to survive, blessed with Gifts of power in exchange for their memories and a thirst for blood. Give into the bloodlust fully and risk becoming one of the Lost, fiendish ghouls devoid of any remaining humanity."

Code Vein follows the adventures of vampiric entities collectively referred to as The Revenant who have formed an underground post-apocalyptic society. These creatures rely on blood in order to avoid becoming absolute monsters.  

Further Reading: How Dark Souls Became Its Own Genre

Code Vein Details

According to an interview in the Japanese magazine Famitsu (translated here by Gematsu), Code Vein is being developed by the same team behind the cult classic God Eater series. Despite the game's pedigree, producer Keita Iizuka claims that Code Vein is not related to the God Eater series in any direct fashion. 

Instead, Code Vein is described as a "dramatic exploration action RPG." What that means is that it's a dungeon crawler action RPG that will emphasize the exploration of connected environments. 

If that sounds like Dark Souls to you, then you'll be happy to know you're not being paranoid. The game's trailer even playfully uses "Prepare to Dine" as a tagline and seemingly respectful nod to that legendary franchise. 

Further Reading: Dark Souls Has One of Gaming's Greatest Levels

However, Code Vein does distinguish itself in several interesting ways. Namely, Code Veinwill emphasize a "Buddy" system that allows you to take a companion into new areas and develop them alongside your main hero. It also sounds like the game will primarily focus on melee combat, though we will be surprised if there isn't some magic and ranged combat to be found.

There's still much we don't know about Code Vein- including whether it will resemble the style shown in that teaser trailer and which systems it will be released on - but everything revealed thus far suggests it could Bandai Namco's next great hardcore RPG.

Nintendo's legendary game developer Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed that Pikmin 4 was in development back in 2015, but we've not yet seen much of the game or know when it's coming out.

"I've been told not to share anything about this from PR," Miyamoto told Eurogamer at E3 2017 regarding the status of Pikmin 4, "but I can tell you it is progressing."

Miyamoto appeased the PR gods by limiting the specifics of the game's development to his assurance that the game is "actually very close to completion" and that "Pikmin teams are always working on the next one." 

Further Reading: 25 Best Japanese Games Not Available in the U.S.

Nintendo confirmed Miyamoto's assertions in a separate statement by claiming that "Pikmin 4 is in development but that is all we can confirm at present." 

It's been a few years since Pikmin 3 released for Wii U in 2013. The game received overwhelmingly positive reviews for its innovative use of the Wii U tablet and general advancement of the Pikmin mechanics. By all accounts, Pikmin 3 also sold extremely well with some reports suggesting that it sold over 200,000 units before the end of 2013. 

The lack of a Pikmin sequel in all that time seems to speak more to Nintendo's unique release strategy than it does their faith in the franchise as a whole. Now that the Nintendo Switch is selling extremely well, it seems that Nintendo is a touch more eager to bring back some of their most popular series as well as re-introduce some of the Wii U's best games to the Switch audience.  

Here's everything else we know:

Pikmin 4 Release Date

Pikmin 4 doesn't have a release date as of yet. The game is coming to the Nintendo Switch.

Further Reading: 25 Best GameCube Games

Pikmin 4 Details

Some suspected that Shigeru Miyamoto had finally lost his mind when he announced that he was working on a strategy game based on his gardening experiences, but it wasn't long before the quirky little title known as Pikmin became a beloved Nintendo franchise. As popular as the franchise is, though, it has remained suspiciously off the radar since Pikmin 3 released to wide acclaim in 2013. Aside from Miyamoto mentioning that Pikmin 4was nearing completion in 2015, fans have been left to speculate when, exactly, they will be able to get their hands on this anticipated sequel. 

Sadly, Miyamoto's latest update doesn't offer much hope that they can expect that day to come anytime soon. In an interview with Game Rant, Miyamoto had this to say on the subject of Pikmin 4:

Further Reading: Super Mario's 20 Platformers Ranked

"We're working on (Pikmin 4). So, you know, when we’re in development we have to create a list of priorities and it has been hard to kind of fit that into that list, but we’re hopefully starting to see that on the list now.”

While Miyamoto does not explicitly say so during the course of the interview, given that he had previously suggested that the game was nearing completion in 2015, it certainly does sound like Pikmin 4 has been delayed. Though this may be due to the usual complications that can arise during the development process, the popular theory at the moment is that Pikmin 4 has been shuffled to the side while Nintendo focuses on a few other projects for the Switch. 

We'll keep you updated as we learn more!

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

One of the most beloved entries in the Final Fantasy series is being remade from the ground up for a new generation of consoles and fans. Final Fantasy VII boasts all new visuals while delivering the same memorable story. 

Here's everything we know about this highly anticipated remake:

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Release Date

Final Fantasy VII Remake doesn't have a release date as of yet. It is coming to the PlayStation 4.

Further Reading: 25 Best Moments in the Final Fantasy Series

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Trailer

Final Fantasy VII Remake is perhaps the most highly-anticipated video game remake of all-time, built from the ground up for the PlayStation 4. This JRPG classic gets new life with all-new graphics. Basically, it's the same game you love, but it looks better than it ever has before. 

Here's a new trailer:

We'd even stopped begging at this point. The fact that we even had to keep asking Square Enix to release an HD remake in this day and age is pretty ridiculous. But all our prayers were answered at E3 2015 when Final Fantasy VII Remake was officially confirmed.

Here's the announcement trailer:

Further Reading: Ranking the Final Fantasy Games

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Screenshots

Final Fantasy VII Remake's director, Tetsuya Nomura, revealed two new screenshots from the long-gestating project at Magic Monaco 2017. The screenshots are from an early boss fight and show the game's hud. It's also a new glimpse at Cloud and Barret in the remake. Check the pictures out below:

Further Reading: 60 Underrated PlayStation Games

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Details

Square Enix has decided to transfer development of the Final Fantasy VII remake from developer CyberConnect2 to an in-house development team. 

This report comes from a Square Enix livestream (translated here by Kotaku) during which Square Enix project leader Naoki Hamaguchi referred to the decision as a "sensitive subject."

However, Hamaguchi did confirm that he has taken over development of the Final Fantasy VII remake in order to keep "production and quality in mind."

"This company decision was made wanting to control quality as well as keeping the schedule stable," said Hamaguchi.

At this time, it's not clear if this decision represents some kind of falling out with developer CyberConnect2 or if Square Enix simply decided to take the reigns on this major project in order to ensure it meets all production expectations. 

Further Reading: 50 Underrated PlayStation 2 Games

An issue Famitsu Weekly (as reported here by Gematsu) featured some quotes from Tetsuya Nomura who elaborated on how Final Fantasy VII Remake's combat system will work.

“Battles are not command-based, they’re action-based," said Nomura. "Regarding cover actions, there are places where they can be done on the map, but they are not required. Because it’s seamless, I showed that there can be actions in response to various scenes."

Nomura goes on to specifically cite the Guard Scorpion battle as a boss encounter that has been noticeably altered from its original version. He says that particular fight will have "map destruction and a great number of attacks that weren’t in the original" which will result in a "significantly flashy battle."

While it will be nice to see the combat system in action, this latest update does seem to place the remake's battle system closer to Final Fantasy XV's than Final Fantasy VII's.

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

Dying Light 2, the sequel to the beloved zombie parkour open-world RPG, has been announced by Techland. During E3 2018, it was also revealed that RPG legend Chris Avellone, who previously worked on Fallout: New Vegas and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, is working on Dying Light 2. Unsurprisingly, this sequel will have a bigger emphasis on decision-making, as you embark on missions for different factions. How you decide to handle certain situations will have huge consequences as you progress. 

"The bold sequel to the open-world phenomenon, Dying Light 2 brings to life a unique post-apocalyptic vision of the Modern Dark Ages - a brutal, bleak and unforgiving reality where you are as likely to perish at the hand of a human as you are by the infected," said Techland in a press release. "In this exhausted world, your quick thinking, exceptional parkour abilities, and brutal combat skills are the only things that let you dive into darkness and emerge alive. Make morally grey decisions and witness how they impact the world at multiple levels, shape the transformation of the City, and ultimately decide its fate." 

The game is powered by the C-Engine, a new generation of Techland’s in-house technology dedicated to open-world action-adventure and action-RPG games.

"Dying Light 2 will be a truly bold sequel, combining the much loved Dying Light DNA with completely new ways to play," said Pawel Marchewka, Techland CEO. "For the first time in the franchise, players will have the power to decide the fate of a decaying metropolis with their own choices and actions. Across the story, the melee combat, the parkour movement, and other aspects of the game, we’re giving players a completely new level of freedom."

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

Dying Light 2 Release Date

No release date has been set for Dying Light 2. The game is coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. 

Dying Light 2 Trailer

Here's the announcement trailer:

Check out some gameplay as well:

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

The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman has stepped forward to rescue Telltale's The Walking Dead: The Final Season. The game's fourth season was set to bring a fitting conclusion to the company's epic tale of survival in a world ruled by the undead. But then mass layoffs at the company in September put the conclusion of Clementine's story in jeopardy. Telltale eventually had to place a hold on all ongoing projects and has formally shut down.

Now Kirkman's Skybound Entertainment will be taking ownership of The Walking Dead: The Final Season and ensuring that the project is completed. Skybound had just commenced work on the final episodes, according to a recent statement. Skybound had some more good news, too: "We’re excited to let you know that many of the talented, passionate team members who originally worked on the game are resuming development efforts today!"

The company also revealed that people who already purchased season 4 won't have to pay again for the new episodes now that they're coming from Skybound: "If you already purchased Season Four, you will NOT have to pay again; future episodes will be available to download as soon as they are released via your original point of purchase."

All good news. Now we're just left to wait to reunite with Clementine. Here's everything else we know about the game:

Telltale's The Walking Dead Season 4 Release Date

Telltale's The Walking Dead: The Final Season will return with episode 3, which is titled "Broken Toys," on Jan. 15.

The first two episodes are out now on XBO, PS4, and PC. The last episode is titled "Take Us Back."

Related Article: What Telltale's Stranger Things Game Would Have Looked Like

Telltale's The Walking Dead Season 4 Trailer

Here's the trailer for episode 3!

Telltale's The Walking Dead Season 4 Story

Here's the official synopsis from Telltale:

Clementine, now a fierce and capable survivor, has reached the final chapter in her journey. After years on the road facing threats both living and dead, a secluded school might finally be her chance for a home. But protecting it will mean sacrifice. Clem must build a life and become a leader while still watching over AJ, an orphaned boy and the closest thing to family she has left. In this gripping, emotional final season, you will define your relationships, fight the undead, and determine how Clementine's story ends.

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

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.

Those fans hoping that Bethesda Game Studios would one day go to space are finally getting their wish. The developer announced at E3 2018 that it's working on a next-gen space RPG called Starfield. The game explores a whole new setting for Bethesda, which is best known for its postapocalyptic and fantasy settings. 

Starfield is the first new IP from Bethesda in 25 years. The game has been the talk of the internet for the last few years. Ever since banners for the RPG leaked on the internet, Bethesda fans have speculated about the game's existence. It's no secret that Bethesda Game Studios hasn't explored an RPG outside of its comfort zone for quite some time. To bring its classic RPG gameplay to space is for Bethesda to explore where it hasn't gone before. 

Further Reading: Fallout 3 Is Bethesda's Scariest RPG

What exactly does next-generation mean for Starfield? 

"That to us means two things," Bethesda Game Studios head Todd Howard told Eurogamer. "It does mean hardware and it does mean software on our side, and it also means gameplay - what does the next generation of epic single-player RPGs feel like to us?

"What systems we put it out on - what's the hardware requirements - is still to be determined. We're pushing it; we're thinking very, very far in future so we're building something that will handle next-generation hardware. That's what we're building on right now, that's where our mind is, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't exist on the current systems as well."

While details are pretty scarce at the moment, here's everything else we know about the game so far:

Starfield Release Date

No release date has been set for Starfield. 

Further Reading: 25 Best Elder Scrolls Quests

Starfield Trailer

Here's the debut trailer:

We'll keep you updated as we learn more about Starfield!

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

Get ready, because 2019 is shaping up to be a special year for video games. While it's always possible for a year to take us by surprise in regards to how great it is for gaming or how bad it ends up being, you can generally tell when you're going to have a marquee year.

In the case of the formidable 2019, we get the feeling that it might be the last full year of the current console generation. Considering that the final years of consoles are often their best, there's plenty of reason to believe that 2019 is going to be the final, victorious bow for this generation's best developers. 

Besides, a quick look at the best video games coming out in 2019 reveals a variety of titles that rank near the top of our most-anticipated games. From beloved RPG developers branching out into online shooters to the return of one of the greatest horror games ever made, 2019 is loaded with the kind of games that make you grateful to be a gamer. 

First, though, we must share a brief explanation of our choices. While we're just as excited as you are about games like Ghost of Tsushima, Cyberpunk 2077, Halo Infinite, and The Last of Us Part II -- and fully believe that they will rank amongst the year's best video games -- there is currently no confirmation that those games will be released in 2019. As such, we are limiting this list to games that are currently scheduled for a 2019 release date. 

With that out of the way, let's take a look at the best video games of 2019:

Anthem

February 22 | BioWare | PS4, XBO, PC

BioWare’s Anthem is the studio’s most talked about game in years, even if it’s not always being talked about for the reasons that BioWare and EA would like. Questions of microtransactions and originality still surround this title a year after it was first announced. 

Yes,Anthem is certainly a departure for the house that RPGs built, but everything that developer BioWare has shown of this Destiny-like online experience suggests that this online multiplayer experience is exactly what they needed to get back on track. Can this online shooter learn from the mistakes of its predecessors and deliver the ultimate sci-fi shared world experience?

Buy Anthem

Battletoads

TBA | Rare | XBO

We were starting to think that we’d never get another Battletoads game given that it’s been over 20 years since we’ve last received a new installment, but Rare is returning to the franchise that most people remember as one of the hardest games on the NES. This new Battletoads might feature a slightly different art style and other modern improvements, but we fully expect it to be largely familiar to fans who have been waiting years for another co-op brawler from this beloved, and undeniably bizarre, series.

Buy Battletoads

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

TBA | ArtPlay & DICO | PS4, XBO, Switch, PC

Since its Kickstarter debut, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night's name has come second to that of its creator, Koji Igarashi. Many of you may remember Igarashi as the director of the revolutionary Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and his return with a game that is very much in the spirit of his classic Castlevania tiles has been anticipated by genre fans for many years. 

While we have some concerns regarding the possibility that Ritual of the Night ends up being the next Mighty No. 9, the quality of this team's side project - the 2D action/adventure title Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon - leads us to believe that these guys know what makes this genre tick and may be prepared to deliver something special. 

Buy Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Crackdown 3

February 15 | Reagent Games, Sumo Digital, Ruffian Games, Cloudgine | XBO, PC

It's been almost eight years since we last heard from the Crackdown series. There was a time when Microsoft's hidden gem open-world title provided a breath of fresh air to the subgenre. Its outlandish, superhero-like gameplay afforded players the chance to just go wild in a metro setting. The open-world genre -- and the world at large -- has changed quite a bit, though.

In order for Crackdown 3 to make the same impact that Crackdown protagonists make when they jump off the city's highest buildings and crash onto the streets below, it's going to have to invoke the casual gameplay of the first two games while finding a way to advance the game's style just enough to make us feel that old joy of galivanting around a superhero sandbox.

Buy Crackdown 3

Code Vein

TBA | Bandai Namco | PS4, XBO

In a world without Dark Souls and Bloodborne (at least for the foreseeable future), the time is now for an outsider to ascend the throne and rule the kingdom that FromSoftware's titles helped establish. To that end, it's entirely possible that Code Vein may just become the next big game in this genre.

Code Vein is easily described as "anime Dark Souls." It's an over-the-top action-RPG that emphasizes an intricate combat system, character builds, and a sometimes punishing level of difficulty. It also adds a sometimes over-the-top style that is a far cry from Dark Souls' muted tones and grim atmosphere but just might be enough to help put this game over-the-top. 

Buy Code Vein

Control

TBA | Remedy Entertainment | PS4, XBO, PC

Developer Remedy Entertainment remains one of the most exciting developers in gaming. What separates Remedy is the personality it infuses into its projects. There's never been a pedestrian Remedy game, even if some of those games missed the mark in terms of their overall execution. 

From what we've seen of Control, we have no doubts that it will be full of Remedy's trademark personality. It's a bizarre psychological action title with supernatural elements that looks wonderfully eerie and exciting. Even better, Remedy has promised that this game will be slightly more open than its previous, very linear titles. We'll see whether or not that allows the studio to expand its creative borders. 

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled

June 21 | Beenox | PS4, XBO, Switch

This remake of the original Crash Team Racing has a daunting task ahead of it. Somehow, it must please fans of the original surprise hit while winning over a generation that recently experienced the brilliant Mario Kart 8. We don't envy the task ahead of developer Beenox. 

Yet, we're optimistic the studio can pull it off. CTR has retained its popularity over the years because it's a genuinely great racing game. Its fantastic modes and fascinating new mechanics help the game stand out among some considerable competition, and this remake seems to feature just enough new content to justify another lap no matter how familiar you may be with the original. 

Buy Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled

Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course

February | Studio MDHR | XBO, PC

We’d have a hard time arguing with anyone who calls Cuphead the Xbox One’s best exclusive title. Studio MDHR may have had to delay the game a few times, but the final product proved to be a gorgeous nod to both the era of 2D action titles and those classic animated adventures of the ‘30s and ‘40s.

We won’t have to wait nearly as long for our next taste of Cuphead. The Delicious Last Course may end up being the only Cuphead DLC release, but this massive second helping of Cuphead action should be enough to satisfy fans of the base game. With an entirely new island to explore and more incredible bosses to fight, The Delicious Last Course should prove to be a must-have.

Buy Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course

Days Gone

April 26 | SIE Bend Studio | PS4

Days Gone remains the anomaly of what could be the PlayStation’s 4 final lineup of exclusive games. This post-apocalyptic open-world game has been shown at several Sony events in the past, but delays have pushed the game into the realm of doubt in the minds of some Sony fans.

Despite those delays, Days Gone remains a promising experience. The star of this game seems to be its truly hostile open-world, which features all manner of monsters and men trying to end your already troubled existence. Days Gone may have slipped from the 2018 release schedule, but don’t let it fall off your radar.

Buy Days Gone

Dead or Alive 6

February 15 | Team Ninja | PS4, XBO, PC

The Dead or Alive series has long existed in this strange plane of popularity and respect. Dating back to the brilliant Dead or Alive 2, the franchise has been seen as an often fun, sometimes excellent, sometimes sloppy, and usually beautiful experience. Yet, it's never really received the respect that series like Street Fighter and Tekken typically garner. 

By slightly maturing the series' gameplay and themes, Dead or Alive 6 is hoping to elevate the franchise to that level. Dead or Alive 6 is a little more grown-up and slightly more complicated, but it still retains many of the key elements that have kept fans devoted to the Dead or Alive series for all these years.

Buy Dead or Alive 6

Devil May Cry 5

March 8 | Capcom | PS4, XBO, PC

The Devil May Cry series is generally regarded as one of the godfathers of the 3D action genre, but it’s been quite some time since we’ve gotten a new game from the franchise. Even Ninja Theory’s brilliant re-imagining of the Devil May Cry concept wasn’t enough to satisfy the series’ hardcore fans.

Devil May Cry 5 marks the franchise’s return to Capcom and, hopefully, a return to form for a series that was once known for its brutal difficulty and absurd cinematic set pieces. The action genre has evolved quite a bit since Capcom last delivered a proper Devil May Crygame, but we have the feeling this franchise is ready to reclaim the genre throne.

Buy Devil May Cry 5

Far Cry: New Dawn

February 15 | Ubisoft Montreal | PS4, XBO, PC

The Far Cryseries has taken us to exotic jungles, war-torn nations, and rural America, but Far Cry: New Dawn moves the series in a completely different direction by giving us a view of what the end of the Far Cry world looks like. In New Dawn, you must navigate what remains of Far Cry 5's world following a nuclear event.

While all signs indicate that New Dawn will feature the familiar suite of Far Cry gameplay, the hook here is the game's fascinating premise and the way it has affected so many things in this world. New Dawn looks like a cruel and formidable Far Cry game that we're very much looking forward to. 

Buy Far Cry New Dawn

Gears 5

TBA | Coalition | XBO, PC

Gears of War 4 was a fascinating turning point for the Xbox exclusive franchise. While the game retread the same pure shooter grounds that its predecessors once walked, it also planted seeds for a deeper, more personal story than we’re used to seeing from Gears of War games.

Gears 5 looks to continue the advancements of the previous title by focusing on a much more intimate story about a band of soldiers trying to complete a mission of revenge and redemption. This game will likely be one of the Xbox One’s final major exclusives, and it could embody the same hope for the future that Microsoft and the Xbox brand have.

Buy Gears 5

Kingdom Hearts III

January 25 | Square Enix Co., Ltd. | PS4

It hasn't exactly been a long time since we last played a new Kingdom Hearts game -- the series is kind of infamous for its oddly named sequels, prequels spin-offs, and re-releases -- but it has been about 13 years since the release of Kingdom Hearts II. Suffice it to say, that time has only made the game's passionate fanbase even more rabid.

Fortunately, Kingdom Hearts III is shaping up to be the Kingdom Hearts game that we've all been waiting for. This strikingly beautiful title will not only finally bring classic Disney classics like Toy Storyinto the fold, but it figures to improve the franchise's already great gameplay through the implementation of a better camera and a refined combat system. Dare we say that this game might just live up to the hype?

Buy Kingdom Hearts III

Luigi's Mansion 3

TBA | Next Level Games | Switch

Truth be told, the Luigi's Mansion franchise has never been perfect. You could argue it's never even really been truly great. Yet, as a GameCube launch title, the original Luigi's Mansion captured that whimsical spirit of fun and creativity that has always separated Nintendo games from just about everything else on the market.

What's going to be interesting to see in the case of Luigi's Mansion 3 is whether or not Nintendo has found a way to filter that creativity and fun through a series of equally clever and much-improved gameplay mechanics that allow this title to exist as something more than a generally beloved curiosity. Considering Nintendo's recent success, we're going to guess it'll hit that mark. 

Man of Medan

TBA | Supermassive Games | PS4, XBO, PC

The PS4 has no shortage of incredible exclusives, but Until Dawn might just be among the console's very best. As a highly-cinematic horror title, Until Dawn took the gameplay and presentation we saw from titles like Heavy Rain and used them to tell a horror story that felt like both a tribute to the genre's '80s glory days and a declaration of how games are capable of scaring us. 

With The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan, the Until Dawn team returns to tell another (likely very frightening) horror story. This time, though, the story will be presented in an anthology format. We certainly love a good horror anthology film or television show, and we're interested in seeing whether that format helps alleviate some of the final act plot problems that dragged Until Dawn down just slightly. 

Buy Man of Medan

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order

TBA | Team Ninja | Switch

Well, this is certainly a surprise. The original Marvel Ultimate Alliancegames were a dream come true for Marvel fans. They were action-RPG titles that allowed gamers to build superhero dream teams and beat up just about every villain imaginable. As fun as they were, the state of the Marvel property made it unlikely we'd see another game of its kind. 

Yet, here we are. Not only are we getting a third Ultimate Alliance game, but it's being developed by the legendary Team Ninja and will be a Nintendo Switch exclusive. Outside of those curveballs, this looks like the same old great Ultimate Alliance experience that we know and love. At a time when the world needs more good Marvel games, this looks like a potentially great one. 

Buy Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order

Metro Exodus

February 22 | 4A Games | PS4, XBO, PC

Those who have played the Metroseries know that it is one of the most atmospheric and clever first-person shooter franchises of the modern era. The problem is that it always feels like not enough people have actually played these incredible games.

Metro Exodus wants to expand the notoriety of these cult classic games by expanding the Metro world itself. While Metro Exodus isn’t exactly an open-world game, this upcoming shooter will expand the scope of the Metro concept by delivering the largest and most intriguing take on the series' fascinating look at the end of the world.

Buy Metro Exodus

Mortal Kombat 11

April 23 | NetherRealm Studios | PS4, XBO, PC, Switch

While there have been many rumors of a new Mortal Kombat project in recent months, we weren't expecting the game to make its gory debut at the 2018 Game Awards. Yet, there are few who deny that Mortal Kombat effectively stole that show. 

What intrigues us most about Mortal Kombat is how little it appears to have changed over the years. This is still a hyper-violent, over-the-top, hard-hitting fighting game franchise featuring a roster full of familiar faces. There's something comforting about what Mortal Kombat 11 looks to offer, and it might just live up to the standards of recent great fighting games. 

Buy Mortal Kombat 11

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

January 11 | Nintendo | Switch

We don't blame you if you call the Nintendo Switch the Nintendo Wii 2.0, but don't assume that is a bad thing. Indeed, one of the Switch's best features is the way in which it has resurrected some of those incredible Wii U titles that were burdened with the problems of the console itself. 

While Super Mario 3D World might be the Wii U's best Mario title, it's hard to deny that New Super Mario Bros. U is a definitive franchise experience. This deluxe version of the game will take everything that made the original great, add in a few new features, and bundle it all together in a new package designed for the incredible Nintendo Switch. It's hard to see how this game is anything less than great. 

Buy New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Nioh 2

TBA | Team Ninja | PS4

Nioh proved to be one of the most surprising games of 2017. Many worried that the beleaguered Team Ninja was foolishly trying to capitalize on the popularity of Dark Souls and would end up delivering a copycat that took years to make. What we got instead was a confident action-adventure RPG that stood tall on its own merits.

While we doubt that Nioh 2 will try to reinvent the original, we’ll gladly settle for more of the game’s compelling mythical world, fluid action, and fascinating weapons system. Nioh 2 may not surprise as many people as the original, but it should be just as great as the 2017 sleeper hit.

Buy Nioh 2

Rage 2

June | Avalanche Studios, id Software | PS4, XBO, PC

We’d be lying if we told you that we spent sleepless hours hoping for the announcement of a new Rage game. The original Rage was a largely forgettable game that capitalized on a largely forgettable era of shooters. It wasn’t the kind of game that people build fan conventions around.

Rage 2, though, is shaping up to be one of the most surprising sequels in recent memory. Granted, that’s because its mere existence is somewhat surprising, but everything we’ve seen of the game thus far suggests that Rage 2 will combine the best of several popular action games to produce something that’s ultimately kind of special.

Buy Rage 2

Resident Evil 2

January 25 | Capcom | PS4, XBO, PC

Rumors of a remake of Resident Evil 2 date back to the release of the Resident Evil remake for GameCube. In fact, we’ve heard about this game for so long without actually seeing it that we forgive anyone who started to feel like there was no chance this remake would ever actually be released.

Against all odds, though, Resident Evil 2’s official debut at E3 2018 managed to meet just about every expectation that we’ve assigned to the project over the years. This 2019 title is a true love letter to the horror classic.

Buy Resident 2 Remake

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

March 22 | FromSoftware | PS4, XBO, PC

When FromSoftware suggested that Sekiro would not be like Dark Souls, many fans were skeptical. It looked like Dark Souls, it appeared to be as challenging as Dark Souls, and it was even presented in a very Dark Souls-like way. 

Yet, there are times when something may walk and quack like a duck but isn't a duck. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice borrows some elements from Dark Souls, but is an entirely new samurai adventure that features a brilliant weapon system as well as an increased emphasis on giving the player a second chance to recover after they have died. Keep an eye on this one if you loved Dark Souls, but don't discount it if you didn't. 

Buy Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Session

TBA | Crea-ture Studios | XBO, PC

Fans of skateboarding games -- or extreme sports games in general -- haven’t exactly had a lot to be thankful for in recent years. The decline of the mainstream appeal of extreme sports has also led to a decline in the amount of quality extreme sports games on the market.

That’s a big part of the reason why Session has captured the imagination of many. This modern-day skateboarding game seeks to revive the dual-analog controls of the Skate series while introducing an expanded video capture system that encourages you to raise your notoriety by sharing your best moves with the world.

Shenmue III

August 27 | YS Net, Neilo | PS4, PC

When we first heard that Shenmue was finally receiving the third installment that most gamers thought would never happen...well, there may have been some entirely unprofessional giddy cheers. In the years that have followed that reveal, we've unfortunately not been treated to many updates regarding the game's story, gameplay features, or final visual style.

Still, we're talking about a sequel to a franchise that was not only revolutionary but has remained in the hearts of many gamers. With any luck, Shenmue III will be the epic tale of kung-fu revenge and bizarre minigames that we've been waiting for.

Skull and Bones

TBA | Blue Byte, Ubisoft Chengdu, Ubisoft Singapore | PS4, XBO, PC

Sea of Thieves gave us a taste of sharing the pirate life with our friends, but it ultimately left us feeling like there were better adventures somewhere out on the high seas. Ubisoft’s Skull and Bones offers an interesting alternative to Rare’s playful pirate adventure.

If you blend the online elements of Destiny with the pirate lifestyle seen in Black Flag, you’ll get a taste of what Skull and Bones aims to offer. Can it live up to the promise of its pedigree or will this be another pirate video game that walks the plank after just a few weeks?

Buy Skull and Bones

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

TBA | Respawn | PS4, XBO, PC

Here’s what we know about Jedi: Fallen Order. It’s being developed by Respawn (the fine folks responsible for the Titanfallseries), it will take place between Star Wars Episode III and IV, and it is currently set to be released in 2019.

You might say that’s not enough information to form any kind of opinion on this project, but in a world that is maddeningly devoid of quality Star Wars games, Jedi: Fallen Order has enough going for it to give us hope that this game might actually deliver the kind of Star Wars experience we so desperately crave.

Buy Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Team Sonic Racing

May 21 | Sumo Digital | PS4, XBO, PC

We get it: Sonic Racing games aren't Mario Kart. There are few times when you're playing them as a Mario substitute that you feel like you're getting something that is just as great. However, recent Sonic Racing titles have been closing that gap a bit, not by replicating Mario Kart but by emphasizing elements that may not be present in the Mario Kart series. 

Team Sonic Racing looks to build on all the ways in which this series has evolved. This titles new mechanics, multiplayer modes, team ultimate abilities, and rival feature might just help turn it into something more than the other racing game on the block. 

Buy Team Sonic Racing

The Division 2

March 15 | Massive Entertainment, Red Storm Entertainment, MORE | PS4, XBO, PC

The original Divisionwas a fascinating game that briefly captured online shooter fans before being buried under some bad design choices and a frustrating lack of updates. The team behind The Division 2 is well-aware of the original game’s shortcomings. As such, the developers have set out to ensure that this sequel will be bigger, more story-driven, and more accommodating to groups of players. Will those changes be enough for The Division 2 to fulfill the original's full potential?

Buy Tom Clancy's The Division 2

The Outer Worlds

TBA | Obsidian Entertainment | PS4, XBO, PC

2019 may be one of the most promising years in recent memory, but in the minds of many, The Outer Worlds may be the only game they really need. The Outer Worlds is basically the Obsidian-developed Fallout sequel that fans have been waiting for since New Vegas. This open-world RPG features all of the clever writing, the variety of choices, and true role-playing options that we've come to expect from one of the best RPG studios in the world. One part Fallout, one part Mass Effect, and more than a few dashes of new concepts, The Outer Worlds may just prove to be the best game of 2019. 

The Sinking City

March 21 | Frogwares | PS4, XBO, PC

While we love a good Lovecraftian story as much as the next person, the fact of the matter is that there are too many Lovecraftian stories in gaming that either miss the mark, feel generic, or are burdened with gameplay that doesn't quite equal the brilliance of the game's atmosphere and plot.

The Sinking City feels like it could be different. Best described as a version of L.A. Noire that takes place in a Lovecraftian world, The Sinking City sees you play as a private investigator in the flooded city of Oakmont who is tasked with discovering the truth behind mysteries great and small. That emphasis on investigation gameplay (combined with the game's fascinating premise and setting) leads us to believe this could be a Lovecraftian game that gets it right. 

Trials Rising

February 12 | Ubisoft, RedLynx | PS4, XBO, PC, Switch

The Trials franchise is one of those strange series that either leaves no impression on those who play it or instantly converts them into diehard fans. There’s very little middle-ground for this trial-and-error franchise.

Trials Rising is shaping up to be the first Trials game that openly recognizes that divide. For those who did not fall in love with previous Trials games, Rising offers a tutorial system designed to help you understand how this intentionally frustrating game works. Meanwhile, long-time fans will benefit from the input that some of Trials’ most diehard players shared with the developers when they were designing the game’s courses.

Buy Trials Rising

Wolfenstein: Youngblood

TBA | MachineGames | PS4, XBO, PC

Wolfenstein II was one of those games that we couldn’t help but fall in love with. Despite its flaws, the game’s story, characters, and outlandish scenarios elevated it to a level of quality that many FPS games can only hope to reach.

While Youngblood isn’t the direct sequel to Wolfenstein II that we were waiting for, it is an interesting spin-off that adds co-op action to the incredible alternate history universe of the rebooted Wolfenstein series. We’ll gladly bring a friend along for another trip through developer MachineGames’ epic series.

Buy Wolfenstein: Youngblood

Yoshi's Crafted World

TBA | Good-Feel | Switch

The list of things we don’t know about Yoshi's Crafted World is slightly longer than what we do know about the game. What we can tell you, though, is that Yoshi’s Woolly World was one of the Wii U’s most underrated titles and one of Yoshi’s greatest adventures. The reason that matters is that this upcoming Yoshi title intends to replicate many of the qualities that made Woolly World as great as it was.

This time around, however, the Woolly World formula is bolstered by the introduction of a new mechanic that allows players to “flip” a stage and open up new paths. It sounds simple, but if the game’s first trailer is any indication, this mechanic will force players to completely reconsider the way that they view the typical 2D platformer level. For those who lament how far Mario has walked away from his platformer roots, Yoshi's Crafted World may just be the classic Nintendo experience you’re looking for.

Buy Yoshi's Crafted World

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.

In the years since Den of Geek first sprung into existence, we’ve consistently kept an eye on the video games that have been touted for the big screen treatment. We’ve tried to list them all in a big article a few times before, and it feels like the time has come to pull a new version together.

Out of the hundreds of thousands of films in the world currently in development, a large number of them serve as adaptations for (mostly) successful video games and video game franchises. Some have been seen on our screens before either via a previous adaptation or television series, while some are just getting their first shot on the big screen.

Whichever category they fall into, they still have to navigate their way through the difficult world of filmmaking, with many of them inevitably forever damned to development hell. The following are just a few of these adaptations hoping to someday become a success.

RELEASE DATE CONFIRMED

Angry Birds 2 - September 20, 2019

Despite the fact that it's an Angry Birds movie, the first movie made back its $73 million production budget and then some, with a $346.9 million take globally. Which means that Roxio Entertainment has greenlit a sequel. God help us.

Further Reading: How the World Became Obsessed with Pokemon

Detective Pikachu - May 10, 2019

The Detective Pikachu movie will not only see the most famous fictional rodent since Mickey Mouse star in his own feature film (voiced by Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds), but will also serve as a live-action debut for the Pokémon franchise overall!

Justice Smith (Get Down) co-stars as a kid who needs to find his missing father, and Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies), who is described as a "sassy journalist" who helps Smith's character and Detective Pikachu on the case.

Detective Pikachu is being helmed by Rob Letterman, who is best known for adapting R.L. Stine's '90s kid nostalgia pic, Goosebumps, for Sony. Turning that into an all-ages comedy did wonders for the studio, and a sequel is expected to be on the way. Alex Hirsch and Nicole Perlman penned the script for Detective Pikachu.

Sonic the Hedgehog - Nov. 15, 2019

What took them so long? Sonic the Hedgehog, veteran of countless video games, an animated series, and a long-running comic book series from Archie Comics is coming to the big screen.

Tim Miller, who has a little time on his hands after leaving the director's chair on Deadpool 2, is going to serve as executive producer on the film along with Jeff Fowler, who will also direct. Neal H. Moritz of the Fast & Furious movies is producing with Takeshi Ito and Mie Onishi. Patrick Casey and Josh Miller (Golan the Insatiable) are writing the script.

James Marsden (Westworld) is set to star. Jim Carrey will play the villainous Dr. Robotnik while Ben Schwartz (Parks & Recreation) will voice Sonic. 

Further Reading: 50 Underrated PlayStation 2 Games

IN DEVELOPMENT

Altered Beast - TBA

Back in 2016, Stories International (Sega’s production arm) and studio Circle of Confusion announced that they would collaboratively adapt the fantasy arcade action game Altered Beast.

Borderlands - TBA

A movie based on Gearbox and Take-Two’s immensely popular sci-fi game went into development back in 2015. Lionsgate will be the studio taking us to the abandoned-by-the-big-wigs frontier planet of Pandora.

They’ve recruited producers Avi Arad and his son Ari Arad, both of whom were involved in initially bringing Iron Man, Spider-Man, and the X-Men to the big screen. We’ve got high hopes.

Further Reading: 50 Underrated Multiplayer Games

Call of Duty Movie - TBA

Yes, the Call of Duty movie is happening! Stefano Sollima, director of Sicario 2: Solado, is in talks to direct the planned film adaptation of the Call of Duty franchise. 

Activision Blizzard Studios - the film and television division of Activision Blizzard - is currently negotiating with Sollima in the hopes that he will sign-on to the project. However, no representative from Activision Blizzard Studios will confirm that the studio is in negotiations with the director at this time. 

Details regarding the film itself are unfortunately few and far between at the moment. Vague reports indicate that Activision Blizzard has an interest in potentially developing a film universe designed around the Call of Duty franchise. Much like how the Call of Duty franchise explores various eras of combat and occasionally uses familiar faces, it seems that some within the company hope that films based on the franchise can lead to a similar expanded universe.

Carmen Sandiego - TBA

Carmen Sandiego will soon become easy to find on Netflix. In addition to the forthcoming animated TV series picked up by Netflix, the streamer is doubling down by greenlighting a live-action film. Gina Rodriguez is set to star in the live-action adaptation, taking on the role of the titular ‘90s multimedia character.

Don’t worry, gumshoes, Netflix plans to keep the Carmen continuity intact as Rodriguez will also voice the character in the animated series.

Mark Perez has been tasked to pen an adaptation script for the circuitously mysterious franchise. Perez is a screenwriter with comedy leanings, whose work was recently seen in this past February’s Game Night, which was his first theatrical effort after a long layoff from a string of films that included 2006’s Accepted, 2005’s Herbie: Fully Loaded, and 2002’s The Country Bears. The search for a director, however, is still ongoing.

Further Reading: Why Arcades Are Making a Comeback

Centipede - TBA

That’s right, Centipede and Missile Command, the Atari ‘80s arcade shooter games, are getting adapted into feature films. Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films has made a deal with Atari to produce and finance the adaptations.

In a statement about the projects, Atari CEO Fred Chesnais said he was “thrilled to partner with Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films to develop feature films based on two of our most beloved titles. Centipede and Missile Command are part of Atari’s unparalleled and rich library of popular games and we cannot wait to see the movies come to life.”

The movies will be produced by Randall Emmett and George Furla (Lone Survivor). Emmett described the properties as “immensely popular titles have been enjoyed by generations of gamers worldwide. We look forward to a very successful partnership Command and to bringing Centipede and Missile Command to the big screen.”

Atari, Stephen Belafonte, Wayne Marc Godfrey and Robert Jones will executive produce the films, but there is currently no word on directors or writers for the projects.

Contra - TBA

Thirty years after its initial release, Konami's classic is set to stage a comeback from an unexpected angle: a Chinese production company has announced that it's making a movie adaptation. Aside from a slight change in location, the plot sounds broadly the same as the original game's back-story. Here's the official synopsis:

"In 1988, a huge meteorite lands on an uninhabited island in the South China Sea. Chen Qiang and Li Zhiyong investigate but come up empty handed. 29 years later, Chen sends commandos Bill and Lance into a combat mission there to neutralize the villainous Red Falcon Organization, but end up facing a different enemy altogether."

We love that the movie retains the names of the characters from the Contra arcade machine. Like the rest of the game, Contra's steeped in 80s history and pop culture. Bill and Lance's full names are Bill Rizer and Lance Bean - a mash-up of actors' names from James Cameron's Aliens (Paul Reiser, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, and Michael Biehn) - while their likenesses are evidently based on Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.

No release date, cast, or director announced as of yet.

Further Reading: 25 Most Brutal Bosses in Video Games

Dante's Inferno - TBA

Way back in 2013, it was announced that Fede Alvarez (director of the Evil Dead remake) would be helping to bring EA's 2010 action adventure game Dante's Inferno to the big screen. Since then, news about the project has stopped almost completely leaving many to speculate that it may have been quietly canceled. 

According to Alvarez, however, that is not the case. 

Alvarez confirmed in 2016 that the Dante's Inferno film adaptation is still in development. He also noted that rather than having the film be based solely off of the game, he intends to draw more inspiration for the original epic poem.

The Division - TBA

Jake Gyllenhaal has signed up to star in the adaptation and will also produce, which makes it the actor's second game-to-film project to date -- he previously starred in Disney's tepid Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time in 2010. Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) has also been cast to star alongside Gyllenhaal.  

The game's premise is a solid basis for an action thriller: set in a wintry Manhattan beset by a deadly pandemic, it's about a small group of agents whose job is to restore order and seek out the cause of the outbreak. The dark and violent concept could be really effective in the hands of the right filmmakers.

Duke Nukem - TBA

It’s taken a long time, but there may be solid progress on bringing the video game character Duke Nukem to the big screen. Former wrestler John Cena - who was recently seen in Daddy's Home 2 and lent his voice to the recent animated movie Ferdinand - is in talks to take on the role. 

It’s early stages for the project, with neither a writer nor a director in place yet. But the plan is to make this is a starring vehicle for Cena, presumably with a view toward a franchise. There’s no way that this won’t get an R rating, either.

Further Reading: 25 Best Japanese Games Not Available in the U.S.

Firewatch - TBA

Firewatch, 2016's biggest entry into the "Walking Simulator" genre, is now set to be adapted into a major motion picture. 

This project is part of a deal between film production company Good Universe and Firewatch's developer Campo Santo who are joining forces in order to create a subsidiary intended to connect filmmakers and game developers. The full extent of this collaboration is unknown, but Campo Santo founder Sean Vanaman did have this to say regarding the agreement. 

The first thing the two parties plan to make is an adaptation of 2016's Firewatch which has, thus far, been one of the most surprising video game hits of 2016. Firewatch follows a man named Henry who has decided to work as a fire lookout in Wyoming. When a mysterious occurrence attracts Henry's attention and compels him to wander into the wilderness, he is soon drawn into an intriguing web of moral conflicts that must be navigated with the help of a supervisor he retains contact with through the use of a handheld radio. 

Five Nights at Freddy's - TBA

Five Nights at Freddy's movie plans are moving forward with revitalized momentum. The popular point-and-click horror-adventure video game series, which has become a staple on iOS and Android devices, had film adaptation plans gestating for about three years; plans that are now strapped to a proverbial rocket pack, with the selection of a proven visionary in Chris Columbus, and a genre-appropriate studio in Blumhouse.

Chris Columbus will write and direct a Five Nights at Freddy’s film for Blumhouse Productions. The latest movement on the project came about after it was put into turnaround by Warner Bros./New Line back in March 2017, which landed it at Blumhouse, the upstart horror-film-friendly studio of Jason Blum, built by the likes of film franchises such as Paranormal Activity, Insidious, Sinister, and The Purge.

Five Nights at Freddy’s has yet to signal any production or release dates, but we will keep you apprised of the project’s major developments as they occur.

Further Reading: 20 Video Games to Play in 2019

Fruit Ninja - TBA

Fruit Ninja is coming to the big screen. Now you can watch as someone wildly makes a fruit salad out of miles of digital celluloid. In anticipation of the all popcorn crumbs Angry Birds will be leaving in the aisles, Tripp Vinson announced it will produce a feature film treatment of the mobile app Fruit Ninja.

The addictive game already spawned a live action version from a YouTuber named ScottDW but this one will drop from Vinson Films. The screenplay is being typed right now by JP Lavin and Chad Damiani, who adapted the book How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack.

Fruit Ninja is the second top-selling iOS game ever. It has had over one billion downloads since it was introduced in 2010 and is now ready to be made as a live-action comedy the whole family can enjoy. Oh, they’re keeping details on the plot very secret. There are so many things you can do with apples and oranges, swords and bombs.

The movie will be executive produced by Sam White and Tara Farney.

Gears of War - TBA

A feature film adaptation of the video game Gears of War, long in development but recently on the back burner, is being actively developed by producers Dylan Clark (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) and Scott Stuber (Central Intelligence), the latter of whom has been working on the project for three years.

The news was announced by Microsoft during a live stream for the upcoming release of Gears of War 4, with the company revealing that the project has found a home at Universal Pictures (who apparently did not feel sufficiently burned by the box office flameout of its Warcraft adaptation).

Screenwriter Shane Salerno has been hired to pen the movie. Salerno has busied himself recently by working on the four upcoming Avatar sequels with James Cameron, as well as an adaptation of Don Winslow’s book The Cartel that Ridley Scott intends to direct. And speaking of directors, Gears Of War needs one too.

Gears of War is a third person shooter game that follows the members of Delta Squad, a team of soldiers tasked with saving the human inhabitants of a planet called Sera from an alien force known as the Locust Horde (among other creatures). 

The idea is to not base the movie directly on any particular Gears of War game but to create a new story set in the Gears of War universe.

Further Reading: 25 Underrated Video Game Soundtracks

Half-Life - TBA

While promoting, 10 Cloverfield Lane back in 2016, J.J. Abrams gave an update about Bad Robot's upcoming Half-Life movie. It's not much to go on and even Abrams says so.

"We've got writers, and we're working on both those stories. But nothing that would be an exciting update," says Abrams, who's set to produce both films. He didn't reveal who the writers were, though.  

Meanwhile, the Half-Life movie, which was first announced by Valve head Gabe Newell at DICE 2013, has proved to be as elusive as the games themselves. Since the film's announcement, there hadn't been any additional information until now. We assumed it was burning in development hell. Glad to see that's not the case. 

Just Cause - TBA

In 2017, it was reported that Jason Momoa - he of Game of Thrones and Aquaman fame - has signed on to star in the Just Cause film project. Momoa is set to play series protagonist Rico Rodriguez; a highly-skilled operative who completes various assignments for the mysterious organization known simply as the Agency. Presumably, said assignments will be completed within the confines of some exotic tropical locale, but that particular detail - along with many other aspects of the plot - is unconfirmed at this time. 

Meanwhile, Brad Peyton (San Andreas) has been confirmed as the film's director. Interestingly, Peyton is also working on a film version of the popular arcade game Rampage which stars none other than San Andreas lead, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. We'll let you decide whether the producers that apparently looked at San Andreas and thought, "Now that's what a video game movie should look like," are in the right or not. 

Speaking of producers, Peyton and Jeff Fierson will be handling the production of the Just Cause film via their ASAP Entertainment production company. Additional producers include Roy Lee (Vertigo Entertainment), Adrian Askarieh (Prime Universe Films), Eva Cao (Supernova Entertainment), as well as Mason Xu and Fan Dong of DNA Co. Ltd. It's worth noting that the China-based studio DNA is handling the film's financing. It seems that China's fascination with funding blockbuster action films continues to grow stronger and stronger.  

There's no word yet on when Just Cause will start shooting or if it will include scenes featuring Rodriguez tying cows to the blades of helicopters and then tying civilians to the cows. If it's attempting to replicate the best parts of the Just Cause games, however, it most certainly should. 

Further Reading: 25 Best Game Boy Advance Games

The Last of Us - TBA

Although some would argue that the game is cinematic enough in of itself, Sony subsidiary Screen Gems (the company behind the Resident Evil film franchise) are currently working hard on bringing Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us to the big screen.

Sam Raimi is on board as a producer, while the game’s writer, Neil Druckmann, is working on the screenplay. (Druckmann also penned the Uncharted series). Druckmann gave an update in January 2015, insisting that his screenplay would be "pretty faithful" to his original game script, despite a few "big changes."

In March 2016, Druckmann admitted that the film is in development hell until further notice. Raimi also confirmed as much recently, citing creative differences between Druckmann and Sony in terms of the direction of the film. 

Maisie Williams has apparently had meetings about playing the lead character, Ellie, but for now the movie doesn't seem to be moving anywhere fast. 

Mega Man - TBA

Mega Man is getting a live-action movie from 20th Century Fox, Capcom announced in Oct. 2018. The movie, which is tentatively titled MEGA MAN, will be written and directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, the team that previously brought you sci-fi horror film Viral and Paranormal Activity 3 and 4. They also directed the hit online dating documentary, Catfish. No release date has been set for their first foray into video game adaptations.

Further Reading: 25 Best Mega Man Games

Metal Gear Solid - TBA

Jordan Vogt-Roberts is continuing to develop his planned movie take on the video game Metal Gear Solid, that Sony Pictures is backing. The film has been in gestation for some time, but it’s now getting a further helping hand from Derek Connolly.

Connolly has been hired to work on the latest draft of the screenplay, having worked with Vogt-Roberts on the recent Kong: Skull Island. He’s also co-written Jurassic World and the upcoming Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

There’s still no known timeframe for Metal Gear Solid on the big screen just yet, but we suspect over the next year or so, we’ll see Sony trying to push the proverbial accelerator down on the project a little. As we hear more, we’ll let you know…

Further Reading: 25 Underrated Game Boy Games

Minecraft - TBA

A movie adaptation of Mojang’s massive building game Minecraft has been touted for some time. Night at the Museum director Shawn Levy was linked for a while, with unconfirmed talk suggesting that the movie might be a live-action adventure, rather than an animation.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s co-creator Rob McElhenney took Levy’s place in 2015, but now he's dropped out too. McElhenney informed TheWrap that the film "is not happening" with him as director. Neither McElhenney or Warner Bros. have elaborated on the matter further, but all evidence suggests that the movie will miss its May 24, 2019 release date. At the moment, it sounds like the studio is in the midst of what some have described as a major overhaul of the planned project. 

There's no word on who will helm the film now that McElhenney is out, but it seems that Warner Bros. has approached Aaron and Adam Nee (The Last Romantic, Band of Robbers) to pen a new script for Minecraft. The previous version of the script was written by Wonder Womanscreenwriter Jason Fuchs. 

Missile Command - TBA

That’s right, Centipede and Missile Command, the Atari ‘80s arcade shooter games, are getting adapted into feature films. Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films has made a deal with Atari to produce and finance the adaptations.

In a statement about the projects, Atari CEO Fred Chesnais said he was “thrilled to partner with Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films to develop feature films based on two of our most beloved titles. Centipede and Missile Command are part of Atari’s unparalleled and rich library of popular games and we cannot wait to see the movies come to life.”

The movies will be produced by Randall Emmett and George Furla (Lone Survivor). Emmett described the properties as “immensely popular titles have been enjoyed by generations of gamers worldwide. We look forward to a very successful partnership Command and to bringing Centipede and Missile Command to the big screen.”

Atari, Stephen Belafonte, Wayne Marc Godfrey, and Robert Jones will executive produce the films, but there is currently no word on directors or writers for the projects.

Further Reading: 50 Underrated Xbox Games

Monster Hunter - TBA

British director Paul WS Anderson turned the hit video game franchise Resident Evil into a long-running film series in the early 2000s, and he's set to do the same thing again with another property owned by Japanese publisher Capcom.

The Monster Hunter movie "tells the story of two heroes who come from different worlds to defeat a shared danger, the powerful, deadly and magnificent monsters that inhabit the land. Along the way, viewers will make new discoveries and encounter familiar faces and beloved characters from the games like the Admiral," according to the official synopsis from the publisher.

Diego Boneta (Before I Fall) and Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil) star in the movie. No release date has been set. 

Monument Valley - TBA

Monument Valley, the critically acclaimed mobile puzzle game from Ustwo, is being adapted by Paramount Pictures. Patrick Osborne (Ralph Breaks the Internet) has been tapped to direct the film. No release date has been set. 

Further Reading: 25 Best Free-to-Play Mobile Games

Mortal Kombat - TBA

The Mortal Kombat reboot is one step closer to reality, with Simon McQuoid signing on as director. Greg Russo recently completed a draft of the screenplay, and it's not clear if anything remains of the work done by Oren Uziel (who wrote the well-received Mortal Kombat: Legacyweb series) and Dave Callahan (The Expendables). 

Christopher Lambert (Raiden) is set to be back for this one. He’s not giving too much away at this stage, but he revealed to Loaded that “They have a great idea for the third one,” adding that “it will be very different.”

In fact, it looks as if the new movie will have a time travel element. “We are going to be traveling through time, but in a very special way. So imagine characters having a battle in the middle of London and then whoosh, you smash through a window and find yourself on the hood of a New York cab,” Lambert teased.

Portal - TBA

At the Westworld red carpet back in September 2016, director/producer J.J. Abrams gave an update on the upcoming Portal and Half-Life movies. While Abrams didn't go into too much detail, he did reveal that he had a meeting coming up the following week with Valve, the studio that created both games in question. And it seems like both Bad Robot and Valve are focusing on the Portal movie first. 

"We have a meeting coming up next week with Valve, we’re very active, I’m hoping that there will be a Portal announcement fairly soon," said Abrams.

The announcement could involve a reveal of who is writing the script for the film, as Abrams teased that he's had talked with writers about both games:

"We are having some really interesting discussions with writers, many of whom...once you said you’re doing a movie or show about a specific thing that is a known quantity you start to find people who are rabid about these things. As someone who loves playing Half-Life and Portal, what’s the movie of this, it’s incredible when you talk to someone who just ‘gets’ it, it’s like, oh my god, it’s really the seed for this incredible tree you’re growing."

Abrams was careful not to talk about Portal's story and didn't say if the film would follow the game's storyline, which involves a facility full of platforming puzzles, inter-spatial portals, and a mad AI who loves cake. Not too much to chew on exactly, but perhaps we should prepare ourselves for a Portal announcement.

Further Reading: What Half-Life 3 Would Have Been About

Rainbow Six - TBA

Rainbow Six may have become a series of best-selling and popular video games, thanks to UbiSoft, but its core still lies in a novel by the late Tom Clancy. The sizeable book focuses on the character of John Clark, who was introduced in Clancy’s Jack Ryan novels (and we saw played on screen by Willem Dafoe in Clear And Present Danger and Liev Schreiber in The Sum Of All Fears).

A movie adaptation of Rainbow Six is now in the works, and it’s being overseen by Akiva Goldsman. Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec have been hired to try and fit the book into a two hours-or-so movie, and Paramount – which is backing the project – would subsequently look for more John Clark movies.

Ryan Reynolds was approached to star as Clark in Rainbow Six, although there’s nothing formal that we know of yet. Nor is there word of a director.

We will, of course, keep you posted…

Raving Rabbids - TBA

Rayman spin-off Raving Rabbids has carved out quite a name for itself. So much so, in fact, that Ubisoft has teamed up with Sony to bring the troublemaking rabbits to the big screen.

This one will be a for a live-action/stop-motion animation hybrid. Robot Chicken writers Matthew Senreich, Tom Sheppard, and Zeb Wells are working on the script as we speak.

Further Reading: 50 Underrated DOS Games

Rent a Hero - TBA

Gamers and otaku rejoice: Japanese action RPG video game Rent A Hero is making a heroic leap from your computer screen to the big screen. 

Tokyo video game powerhouse Sega has already rented the superpowers of Tomoya Suzuki, president and CEO of its production arm Stories International. Stories International’s Even J. Cholfin will be executive producing with Suzuki and Hakuhodo DY Group co-producing, and will level up with filmmakers Steve Pink (Hot Tub Time Machine, High Fidelity, Grosse Pointe Blank) and Jeff Morris (The True Memoirs of an International Assassin) to upgrade the futuristic game to larger-than-life proportions.

While cast and release details didn't arrive with the superpowered suit, we now really, really wish the hero-for-rent service was a thing. 

Resident Evil Reboot - TBA

If you actually thought the last Resident Evil film was going to be the last Resident Evil film, then you may want to brace yourself. Yes, the Resident Evil film franchise is going to be rebooted. 

James Wan (Saw, The Conjuring 2) has signed on to produce the reboot and Greg Russo (Mortal Kombat) will be handling screenplay duties. According to this same report, this reboot will feature an entirely new cast. At present, Russo and Wan are only expected to helm the first of six planned new Resident Evil films. 

Further Reading: The George Romero Resident Evil Movie You Never Saw

Shinobi - TBA

Sega’s once-popular, currently dormant series Shinobi is another classic cartridge-centric video game franchise that will be getting the movie treatment. Marc Platt Productions, a company involved with hits like Wanted (and its planned sequel), Bridge of Spies, Drive, and the Legally Blonde films will reportedly develop a Shinobifilm adaptation in a co-production with Sega’s company Stories International Inc. According to Platt in a statement:

“We love the Shinobi games and believe that the world of ninjas has never been properly explored onscreen. We now have the opportunity to do just that. With Shinobi, we hope to make a film that honors the essence of the games and brings this fascinating world to life for moviegoing audiences."

It’s still too early know when Shinobi plans to sneak its way to theaters, but we will certainly keep you apprised of updates.

Sleeping Dogs - TBA

The chances of getting a sequel to the 2012 cult classic open-world crime game Sleeping Dogs just get slimmer with each passing year. While that realization is usually enough to send us running to the bottle...umm...of Yoo-hoo or something, the pain got a little more manageable today with the announcement that Donnie Yen is going to be starring in a film adaptation of Sleeping Dogs.

Producer Neal Moritz (of the Fast and the Furious franchise and 21 Jump Street fame) is putting together a film adaptation of Square Enix's beloved game. Donnie Yen, of course, is the movie martial arts master you will most recently remember from his work in Rogue One. 

Yen's cinematic martial arts skills are sure to come into play at some point in the Sleeping Dogs film. While there are no concrete details concerning the movie's plot, including whether or not it will be a strict adaptation or a spiritual follow-up, you can rest assured that the game will borrow certain elements from the games. That means plenty of Yakuza, lots of car chases, a few gunfights, and some martial arts sequences that further the - admittedly awesome - stereotype that Japan is really just a collection of martial arts fights that see lots of fruit stands get demolished. 

Original Film will be handling the distribution of Sleeping Dogs alongside DJ2 Entertainment. Joining Moritz on the production side of things is Dmitri Johnson, and Dan Jevons, while Toby Ascher and Stephan Bugaj will be handling executive production duties.

Unfortunately, Sleeping Dogs' developer, United Front Games, shut down in 2016, so it's not likely they'll have much creative input in the process. As to whether or not this adaptation will spur Square Enix to publish another Sleeping Dogs title, we can only hope that it will while we also hold on to some hope this movie does justice to the incredible game that inspired it.

Further Reading: 50 Underrated Sega Genesis Games

Splinter Cell - TBA

Ubisoft’s film studio is working with New Regency Productions on a film version of the black ops stealth game Splinter Cell, with Tom Hardy attached to portray the games series’ protagonist Sam Fisher. For a while, Doug Liman of Edge of Tomorrow and The Bourne Identity was attached to direct.

He departed the project in April 2015, though. Ubisoft is searching for a new director, while Frank John Hughes – of Dark Tourist and Leave – works on the script. Previous writers include X-Men: First Class’ Sheldon Turner.

Joseph Kahn – director of countless music videos, as well as that Power/Rangers fan film – has been linked to the director’s chair.

Further Reading: 25 Underrated NES Games

Spy Hunter - TBA

The classic '80s arcade game Spy Hunter has been in development as a movie since Universal bought the rights in 2003. At one stage, Dwayne Johnson was involved, but it’s unclear if he still is. Last we heard, Zombieland’s Ruben Flesicher was onboard to direct.

In November 2015, a pair of writers were hired to resurrect the project– Nelson Greaves and Sam Chalsen, both of whom are known for their work on the Sleepy Hollow TV series. It’s unclear if Fleischer remains involved.

Streets of Rage - TBA

Back in 2016, Stories International (Sega’s production arm) and studio Circle of Confusion announced that they will collaboratively adapt urban-set side-scrolling beat ‘em up series Streets of Rage.

Further Reading: 25 Underrated SNES Games

Super Mario Bros. - TBA

It's official! Nintendo and Universal Studios are working to create a Super Mario Bros. animated movie. Illumination Entertainment - the studio behind Minions and Shrek - will handle the actual production of the Super Mario Bros. animated movie. Shigeru Miyamoto and Chris Meledandri will produce.

We're willing to bet that this animated project will likely be much closer in spirit to the Super Mario Bros. games than the live-action movie was. Super Mario Odyssey has certainly proved that Mario can survive the transition into some pretty bizarre universes. While we can't quite fathom what the film's plot will be about, we're going to bet that this movie will at least be visually pleasing. 

There's still no solid release date available for the Super Mario Bros. animated movie, but the plan is to have it in theaters sometime in 2022. 

Tetris - TBA

The long-discussed prospects of a Tetris movie adaptation are close to becoming reality with a new international coalition of media moguls looking to co-produce the project. China-based producer Bruno Wu will join U.S.-based producer Lawrence Kasanoff (Mortal Kombat, True Lies), which will see Wu’s Seven Star Works and Kasanoff’s Threshold Entertainment Group operate under the joint name Threshold Global Studios. 

Tetris will be the kickoff project for this new venture with an $80 million production budget reportedly committed to line up four proverbial rows of blocks at the box-office.

Certainly, the idea of a U.S./China coalition throwing $80 million at a thus-far shapeless Tetris movie is something that we’ll look forward to updating in the coming months.

Further Reading: The Incredibly Weird Story Behind Tetris

Thief - TBA

Unsurprisingly, there's a Thiefmovie on the way. The pacing of the Thief games lends itself perfectly to a big screen adventure, after all. The series mixes stealth, combat, and treasure hunting in a world of magic and even horror. Zombies and other monsters are part of the fun of the first game. The 2014 Thief video game reboot was poorly received, though, so it might be a good idea to focus on one of the earlier games for the movie instead.

Adam Mason and Simon Boyes are penning a screenplay for the Thief movie that’s being put together by Straight Up Films. Roy Lee, Marisa Polvino, Kate Cohen and Adrian Askarieh, who produced the Hitman films, will produce this one. 

It’s very early stages, of course, so we don’t know yet of a director or a release date. Our ear will be to the ground.

Uncharted - TBA

It's been a while since anything of substance surfaced about the Uncharted movie. All we know for sure at the moment is that Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming) is set to star as Nathan Drake.

However, prolific producer Charles Roven (Justice League, Wonder Woman, The Dark Knight Trilogy), who is attached to the project, dropped some new details at a Producers Guild of America gathering at which he received a lifetime achievement award.

Roven explains the film's chronologically ambiguous connection to the video game mythology, stating:

“We’ve come up with a wonderful origin story but it’s still based on the Uncharted video game. It doesn’t take place during any of the time period of any of the Uncharted video games. It actually takes place when Nathan Drake (who’s the lead of that game) and Sully, I guess you’d call him his surrogate father, were much younger. It’s an origin story that evolves out of the game but is not from the game.”

In a more substantive addendum, Roven also reveals that the Uncharted movie script – last drafted by Joe Carnahan after tenures by David Guggenheim and Eric Warren Singer – has passed into the hands of yet another screenwriter in Rafe Judkins, who is primarily known for television work in episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Hemlock Grove, Chuck, and My Own Worst Enemy.

Further Reading: 60 Underrated PlayStation Games

Werewolves Within - TBA

Ubisoft has announced a live-action adaptation of Werewolves Within, the 2016 VR game from Red Storm Entertainment. Mishna Wolff is set to pen the script. No release date has been set for the film. 

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

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. 

Resident Evil 2, one of the most beloved horror games ever made, is finally receiving the modern-day remake that fans have been clamoring for ever since Capcom's exceptional remake of the original Resident Evil. 

Of course, much has changed since Resident Evil 2 made its PlayStation debut, and the remake of Resident Evil 2 reflects many of those changes. Gone are the game's static camera angles and tank controls, in is an over-the-shoulder playstyle that resembles the one seen in Resident Evil 4. The game's visuals have also been updated to reflect the best technology of the modern era. 

What hasn't changed is the original version of Resident Evil 2's brilliant horror atmosphere. Resident Evil 2 Remake retains that game's ability to scare you at will. Resident Evil 2's obscure puzzles, surprisingly deep story, and use of multiple characters also appear to have returned. What we're saying is that this looks like the modernized version of an all-time classic horror game that we've been hoping Resident Evil 2 Remake would end up being from the moment Capcom first teased it. 

Here is everything else we know about Resident Evil 2 Remake:

Resident Evil 2 Remake Release Date

Resident Evil 2 Remake is set to launch on January 25, 2019. It will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. 

Further Reading: Video Game Movies Currently in Development

Resident Evil 2 Remake Trailer

A new story trailer has premiered! Check it out below:

Gamespot has uploaded a nearly 20-minute, uncut gameplay video for Resident Evil 2 that gives us a much better idea of what kind of gameplay to expect from this remake. Spoiler: the game still looks incredibly scary and has clearly benefited from the changes that Capcom has made to its controls and visuals. Take a look:

Further Reading: How Aliens Inspired Resident Evil 2

The first trailer for Resident Evil 2 Remake serves as an effective teaser for a game many people thought they'd never actually see. 

The next trailer is a bit more involved and sheds a little light on the remake's story, characters, gameplay, and how it will alter the formula of the original title. 

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.

Microsoft is reportedly working on 4K webcams that may be compatible with the Xbox.

Tech website Thurrott suggests that Microsoft is working on several such webcams that will reportedly utilize the Windows Hello feature. For those who don't know, Windows Hello offers multiple ways to sign in to your Windows devices such as fingerprint recognition or a facial scan. Previously, the feature was only available directly through a Microsoft device and not through a peripheral. 

What's really interesting about these rumored cameras, though, is their reported 4K functionality and the idea that at least one of these cameras will be Xbox (supposedly Xbox One) compatible. If these cameras are in production and are Xbox compatible, then that would mean that they might offer a new way for gamers to use voice and facial recognition now that the Xbox Kinect is no more. 

While it's highly doubtful that these webcams will serve as a replacement for the Kinect, the idea that there is one being created specifically catered to the Xbox does open up some interesting possibilities. The most obvious of these would be the option of using facial recognition to lock and unlock your Xbox One using your face or some other form of physical recognition. That almost feels like a given if this camera is indeed real. 

However, it's the idea of a 4K webcam specifically designed for the Xbox that really has us intrigued. With Microsoft leaning more on in-game streaming and capture options (particularly through their Mixer service), it makes some sense that they'd want to offer better quality webcam options related to Microsoft/the Xbox brand. It's also possible that they might expand the functionality of an Xbox-specific webcam beyond what they would offer to PC users. The Xbox game division is certainly doing well enough to justify it. 

The most important question of all might be whether or not these plans have anything to do with Microsoft's development of new Xbox consoles. We've already heard that the next Xbox consoles have codenames (Lockhart and Anaconda), so it's not impossible that these webcams could be designed with those devices in mind. 

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. 

Nobody was quite sure what to make of the reports that a sequel to Rage was in the works. While Rage was a fairly well-received shooter, it didn't set the world on fire or establish much of a fanbase for the franchise. 

Nevertheless, Rage 2 is now official, and we're honestly incredibly intrigued by what we've seen of it. Developed by id Software and Mad Max developer Avalanche Studios, the next Rage game looks to combine open-world wasteland exploration with the trademark quality action that we've come to expect from id Software games. On top of that is a bizarre vision of the end of the world that includes a large number of themed gangs doing battle over what precious resources remain. 

In other words, it sounds like we're going to be getting the unofficial Mad Max game adaptation that we've been dreaming of for years. 

Here's everything that we know about Rage 2: 

Rage 2 Release Date

Rage 2 is out on May 14, 2019. The game is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Rage 2 Trailer

A new trailer arrived during The Game Awards and it's the most insane one yet!

Next up is the QuakeCon trailer:

E3 2018 brought us our first look at Rage 2's gameplay. This exciting upcoming game looks to combine the shooting of Doom and the open-world brilliance of Mad Max. Take a look:

Here are the first two trailers:

Rage 2 Multiplayer

New information reveals that Rage 2 will feature multiplayer but won't include heavy social elements. 

In an interview with Eurogamer, id Software studio director Tim Willits said that Rage 2 won't feature "typical multiplayer" in terms of its social aspects. While he doesn't share the full details of Rage 2's multiplayer, he does note that you won't just be "running around together with your friends" in the game. We tend to think that suggests a more "classic" deathmatch multiplayer mode (or at least the option to play such a mode). 

Willits also stops short of revealing how Rage 2's DLC and live service elements will work, but he does suggest that it will include a mix of free updates and premium content. Unfortunately, he could not say for sure whether Rage 2 would feature loot boxes or other microtransactions. 

Rage 2 Microtransactions

Id Software boss Tim Willits informed GameStar that Rage 2 will not feature loot boxes or live service elements. 

Actually, Willits joked about the game's novel approach to revenue by stating that players will be able to buy the game and just play it. Bethesda later confirmed to USGamer that the game will not feature loot boxes or live service elements, but there's no word on whether or not the game will feature any post-release DLC content (whether it be free or premium).

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. 

PlayStation Plus is Sony's membership club for those of us who use the PS4, PS3, and/or PS Vita consoles. Sony's current pricing structure offers 1-month membership at $9.99, 3-month membership at $24.99, and 12-month membership at $59.99. You can also buy PS Plus memberships through places like Amazon.

And what do you get for your money? Well, one of the main draws of PS Plus is that it connects you with a handful of free games every month. Also, certain games only allow members of PS Plus to access online multiplayer modes. There are loads of other perks, as well, including discounts on games and early access to things like betas and demos.

In this article, we're going to focus on the free games you can get with PlayStation Plus each month. For January 2019, Sony has announced these freebie offerings for PS Plus members... 

Steep - PS4

This snow-covered extreme sports game from Ubisoft allows you to don your skis, snowboard, wingsuit, or paraglider in an impressive open world. It's a prime place to try out epic tricks and attempt to avoid brutal wipeouts. 

Further Reading: Sony Preparing for PlayStation 5

It would currently cost you $25 to buy this game from Amazon, making its inclusion in PS Plus a decent little saving.

Portal Knights - PS4

Portal Knights is an adorable indie RPG which comes to us from the developers at Keen Games and the publishers at 505 Games. In a multiplayer sandbox environment, you can explore and build as well as take part in RPG action and craft items to your heart's content. 

And if you're wondering, Portal Knights is currently priced at $15 on Amazon.

Zone of the Enders HD Collection - PS3

Boasting both Zone of the Enders and its sequel The 2nd Runner, this package collects two mech-fighting shoot-em-ups from Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima. The equivalent purchase on Amazon costs a little over $7.

Amplitude - PS3

A music-based game from Harmonix Music Systems Inc, Amplitude has a 15-song single player mode as well as multiplayer tracks for up to four players. Buying it from the PlayStation Store without a PS Plus membership would set you back $19.99.

Further Reading: 60 Underrated PlayStation Games

Fallen Legion: Flames of Rebellion - PS Vita

This intense action role-playing game tasks you with reclaiming an empire in a ravished continent awash with tough choices. If you prefer a hard copy, you can pick up this limited run of physical copies for $68 on Amazon.

Super Mutant Alien Assault - PS Vita

Usually priced at $9.99, this PSN game is an arcade-style platformer following three fleets of spaceships that have fled a doomed Earth. There are loads of weapons to unlock and master, and a fun retro visual style to enjoy.

We'll keep this article updated as Sony announces more games for PlayStation Plus members...

Developer Infinity Ward may be teasing the next Call of Duty game. 

Speculation surrounding the next Call of Duty game began when Infinity Ward member Ashton Williams began posting horror-related gifs since the end of last November. The first of these gifs has since been pinned to the top of her Twitter account. 

It doesn't sound like much, but there are a few things about these posts that fans can't help but notice. First off, she started posting these gifs well after Halloween, so it's not like she was riding the Halloween bandwagon. Second, Williams is the Communications Manager for Infinity Ward, so it wouldn't be unheard of for her to use her social media accounts to hype some kind of announcement. Third, Williams doesn't appear to have really done anything like this before, or at least not for this amount of time. 

Lastly, Infinity Ward happens to have been the studio that developed Call of Duty: Ghosts. This had led some fans to suggest that the studio is teasing the reveal of a new Ghost game via these seemingly mysterious - and admirably spooky - Twitter posts. 

However, there are a few things working against that theory. First off, Call of Duty: Ghosts was not a particularly well-received Call of Duty game. Its sales were disappointing by franchise standards, and reviews of the game often referred to it as generic and incomplete. There's also the matter of a ResetEra post from Kotaku's Jason Schreier in which he states that Infinity Ward's next Call of Duty game isn't going to be a sequel to Ghosts. 

So while there's quite a bit working against a Ghosts sequel at the moment, there's always a possibility that these posts are referring to some kind of upcoming content related to an Infinity War project. It's also entirely possible that Williams is just really, really into spooky things. So far as that goes, we certainly can't blame her. 

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. 

From Software, the developers behind the Dark Souls franchise, have stated they are working on two previously unannounced projects. 

In an interview with 4Gamer (translated here by Gematsu), From Software president, Hidetaka Miyazaki noted that these projects are both "[From Software]-esque games" and that they will tell everyone more about them once they begin to "take shape." Granted, that's not much to go on at the moment, but Miyazaki's reference to these games being "From Software-esque" does indicate a few things. 

First off, that statement seems to suggest that these games will be in the Dark Souls/Bloodborne mold. What that means is open to some interpretation, but we've already seen that the upcoming Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will utilize elements of the Dark Souls series while also implementing some new gameplay features. It's not out of the question that these projects might do something similar. 

As for whether or not that means either of these projects is the long-awaited (but never confirmed) sequel to Bloodborne...well, there's nothing that indicates that is the case. Bloodborne sold incredibly well and was pretty much universally beloved by fans and critics (we also think it's one of the best gothic horror stories you'll ever experience), but From Software hasn't indicated that they're interested in making more Bloodborne titles in the near future outside of reminding everyone that they loved that game just as much as the rest of us did. 

If you believe that Miyazaki's statements relate to the likelihood that these upcoming projects are somehow Souls-like in their nature, that also means that there's a slim chance either of them are the previously teased Armored Core sequel. Of course, that phrase could be interpreted to mean that they are working on a From Software franchise, which Armored Core most certainly is. 

In any case, expect to hear more information about these projects as we near some of the year's biggest gaming shows. 

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 original Pokemonmovie is seemingly getting a CGI remake. 

Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution is the title of a Pokemonmovie that's been floating around for some time, but a recently released trailer seemingly confirms that this film will be a remake of the first Pokemon movie (known as Pokémon: The First Movie or Pokémon The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back) made entirely with CGI. At the very least, we see a CGI version of Mewtwo and Mew flying through the sky. 

That lone detail doesn't confirm that this will be a full CGI remake, but there's other information surrounding this project that suggests that is indeed the case. First off, Takeshi Shudo credited as the film's writer. Shudo did write the original Pokemon film but sadly passed away in 2010. His credit on this film seemingly indicates that this remake will follow the script of the original film very closely despite the apparent upgrade in animation technology. 

Besides, the movie's tagline ("The Legend Is Back"), poster (which certainly looks like a tribute to the original Pokemon movie poster), and even its name all seemingly indicate that this will not be an entirely original film. 

While it's certainly possible that this movie will feature some alterations to the original version of the film, the smart money is on the film's producers and creative team not rocking the boat too much by trying to add even more wrinkles to the increasingly complex Pokemon mythology. Truth be told, we're still combing over the original games to try to make sense of all the game's many urban legends. 

Of course, this won't be the only Pokemon movie coming out in 2019. We're also due to receive the previously revealed Detective Pikachu film, which looks significantly more interesting than it has any right to be. 

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. 

As well as offering exclusive discounts and gifting access to multiplayer mayhem, Microsoft's Xbox Live Gold membership club also gives its members a selection of free games every month for the Xbox One and Xbox 360.

An Xbox Live membership won't you back too much money, either: at the moment, the official Microsoft website will sell you a 1-month membership for $9.99, a 3-month membership for $24.99, or a 12-month membership for $59.99. You can also buy a membership through Amazon, where the prices are sometimes a bit cheaper. 

In this article, we'll keep you updated about all the free games that Microsoft is giving to Xbox Live Gold members. Here's the rundown for January 2019...

Never Alone - Xbox One

Also known as Kisima Ingitchuna, this indie puzzle platformer is a beautiful rendering of traditional Alaskan folklore. You'll play as a young girl and her Arctic fox companion, exploring your way through a series of gorgeous landscapes to the sound of a chilling score.

Further Reading: 35 Games You Need to Play in 2019

To give you an idea of how much money you'd be saving through Xbox Live Gold, it's worth noting that the Microsoft Store is currently selling this game on its own at a price of $14.99. It's available for Xbox Live Gold members until January 15th.

Celeste - Xbox One

Between now and January 31st, Xbox Live Gold members can also get their hands on another warmly-received platformer. Celeste, from the creators of TowerFall, invites players to help a girl named Madeline to battle her inner demons and climb a whopping great mountain. 

This visually arresting game would ordinarily cost you $19.99 from the Microsoft Store.

WRC 6 FIA World Rally Championship - Xbox One

From January 16th to February 15th, you can also get access to WRC 6 through an Xbox Live Gold membership. This rally driving sequel boasts 11 special stages, local split-screen multiplayer, and plenty of online challenges.  

On Amazon, it would set you back about $15.

Further Reading: 50 Underrated Xbox Games

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light - Xbox 360

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is normally priced at 11.99 via the Microsoft Store. Until January 15th, Xbox Live Gold members who are still using their Xbox 360s can tackle its many puzzles for free. Note that the game is also backward compatible with the Xbox One.

Far Cry 2 - Xbox 360

From January 16th until the end of the month, Xbox Live Gold members with access to an Xbox 360 can also play the second installment of the Far Cry series. This would usually cost you $47 on Amazon. This game is also backward compatible with the Xbox One!

We'll keep this list updated as Microsoft unveils more Games with Gold for Xbox Live...

It looks like Marvel is readying a major new video game project and has enlisted a pretty impressive group of developers to develop it. The company is working with Ben Brode, who previously worked at Blizzard Entertainment and served as director on the free-to-play card-collecting mobile game Hearthstone until his departure from the company in 2018. 

Brode went on to set up a new indie studio called Second Dinner, along with Hearthstone executive producer Hamilton Chu and some other Blizzard alumni and this is the team that will now be working on a Marvel title.

Chinese tech company NetEase has invested $30 million into Second Dinner, with the studio announcing that its first game will be set in the Marvel universe. The team revealed the news in a video. Check it out below:

The game already exists in prototype form and play-testing has begun, and Second Dinner has plans to recruit new staff to push the project forward. The rather excitable current team describes the game as "sick" and "exciting." Art Director Jomaro Kindred offered this little statement:

"We are super excited to be working on a Marvel game. We've all loved this universe since we were little kids, we read the comics, we grew up with it. So if you want to be part of this experience with us at Second Dinner, let's put our twist on it and bring it to the world."

At this stage, details regarding the game itself are rather thin on the ground. It seems incredibly likely that it will be a mobile title, given that Second Dinner’s official website cites "deep, satisfying games that are optimized for mobile" as the company’s core focus. Marvel already has a card-collecting mobile game, though (Marvel: Battle Lines), so it’ll be interesting to see what Second Dinner is cooking up.

As more news on this project comes to light, we’ll be sure to let you know. In the meantime, check out all the details on the upcoming Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 as well as everything you need to know about Avengers: Endgame.

Erik Wolpaw (writer of Half-Life 2: Episodes One and Two, Portal, and Portal 2), has seemingly returned to Valve after apparently having left the company in 2017 to work on Psychonauts 2. 

The discussion surrounding Wolpaw's return began when Reddit user Trenchman noticed that Wolpaw's name appears in the credits for Artifact (Valve's recently released CCG title based on DOTA 2). Given that there had been no formal announcement of Wolpaw's return to the company at that point, or even vague hints, his inclusion in the game's credits struck many as being odd. 

At the time, there was some discussion regarding whether or not Wolpaw had perhaps worked on Artifact in some capacity during his time with Valve. However, Reddit user Trenchman actually reached out to Gabe Newell's Valve email address and was informed that Wolpaw had indeed returned to Valve. Trenchman has posted screens of the email and seems to have confirmed it is real, but this information is still being verified at this time. 

Considering that Valve and Wolpaw haven't denied the writer's return to the company, though, we're left to believe that he has indeed returned to Valve. The question now is: "What is he doing there?"

While it used to not be a big deal to hear that Valve has hired some writers, the fact that the company hasn't made any narrative-based games (which used to be one of their trademarks) in some time now means that the apparent re-hiring of a name as big as Wolpaw is quite the big deal. Valve representatives (which include Newell himself) have stated that they are interested in making games again, so it's highly likely that hires such as this might become more common as they seemingly put those plans into action. 

Having said all of that, don't expect Wolpaw to start work on Half-Life 3as that project is pretty much confirmed to be dead at this point. However, there have been rumors of a Half-Life VR project, and we certainly wouldn't discount the possibility that Valve could create another Portal or Left 4 Dead title (which Wolpaw also worked on). 

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. 

A YouTuber named SKELUX has discovered a hidden "minus world" in The Legend of Zelda for the NES. 

For those who are unfamiliar with the term, the concept of a minus world was popularized by the original Super Mario Bros. which allowed players to easily access an area named World -1. That minus world was actually just a by-product of the way that games were made back then (it was basically a data scrapyard), but the fact it was playable and hidden made it one of the more compelling parts of the Super Mario Bros.legacy. 

The minus world discovered in The Legend of Zelda is a little different. In order to access it, SKELUX had to re-write the game's code so that he was able to travel to an out-of-bounds area of the game's map. Interestingly, the game's code acknowledges this area by referencing it with negative integers. That seemingly backs up the common belief that many classic NES games have a minus world of their own. 

Once SKELUX actually entered Zelda's minus world, things got weird. It appears that Zelda's minus world is more of a legitimate data dump than the one found in Super Mario Bros. It features a seemingly random scattering of enemies and other environmental objects as well as some truly bizarre design concepts that were either cut from the game or are a result of the way that this area processes the code it harbors. 

Still, the fact that this world is clearly not accessible via traditional gameplay and the fact that it's not really even a playable area even if you bother to alter the game's code in a way that allows you to access it means that Zelda's minus world isn't really as compelling Mario's. It's a neat little piece of design history, but we're willing to bet that the vast majority of games from many eras contains something similar. 

Having said that, we're interested to see what else SKELUX discovers in other games. 

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.