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Blimey, would you Adam and Eve it? Yep, that’s another week done and dusted, and with it a whole bunch of (hopefully) exciting video game news to digest. Being an EastEnders fan, I know how important catching up on stuff is, so that’s why I’m here to guide you through the biggest gaming stories of the past week before you bugger off down the pub, play some Fortnite, fire up Netflix, or do whatever it is you do on a Friday night. But first, I’ll get the important stuff out of the way…
Phil Collins is extending his US tour later this year. Yep, Big Phil’s back by popular demand, and he’s called his latest jaunt Still Not Dead Yet, Live! – a play on his autobiography, Not Dead Yet. There’s no word on any UK shows at the moment, but as I failed to grab tickets to his Royal Albert Hall gig back in summer 2017, I’m hoping Phil will find his way back here at some point. That, or perhaps reform Genesis again.
Over in Albert Square, EastEnders has released its Spring 2019 trailer, and things are seriously heating up. You’ve got Ben and Lola returning for one thing, while Sean Slater is also rocking up to help out his troubled mum, Jean. Meanwhile, fog horn-mouthed Haley Slater has bowed out of the Walford soap, although to be honest her departure probably came as a relief to most – it sure did as far as I’m concerned. Loathsome character.
Finally, Danny ‘I’m fxxxing Danny Dyer’ Dyer’s daughter, Dani, has revealed that she’s not actually named after the cockney hard man. Instead, her mum wanted to ensure she was the first to name Danny’s daughter as Dani, just in case he got someone else pregnant. Right. Not a dull moment with the Dyer’s, eh?
Nintendo is reportedly launching two new Switch models this year
We’ve already heard murmurs about a new Switch model coming this year, but The Wall Street Journal has this week indicated Ninty will be releasing two new versions of its flagship console. One is apparently aimed at hardcore gamers, while the other is a cheaper option targeting the casual crowd. An announcement is pegged for E3, and they will supposedly launch soon after.
Apple Arcade announced, coming this autumn with 100 games
Apple’s newly-unveiled subscription service will launch later this year, boasting over 100 games. Furthermore, Apple has confirmed a number of key developers are on board, with the service bagging its fair share of exclusive titles. No pricing has been confirmed yet, however.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum coming in 2021
Now this I can get behind. I’ve a massive Lord of the Rings fan (or nerd, as my mates like to call me), and the prospect of a game chronicling Gollum’s exploits sounds intriguing. There’s a lot we don’t know about what the ex-Hobbit got up to in the hundreds of years he had the One Ring in his possession, so it should make for an interesting story. The game isn’t out until 2021, at which point next-gen should be a thing, so there’s every chance it’ll also come out on PS5 and the NextBox. Right now, I’m interested in finding out how it’ll actually play: will it be an open-world affair, or a linear experience? Hopefully they won’t muck it up, as this beast has potential.
Wolfenstein: Youngblood release date announced
Much like Doom, Wolfenstein is another classic franchise that has enjoyed a new lease of life in the past few years. The last outing was brilliant, and Youngblood, which is one of Bethesda’s biggest releases this year, doesn’t look set to disappoint. It’s coming out in July, and is shaping up nicely. Yes, it pretty much does what it says on the tin – you kill a bunch of Nazis as BJ’s twin daughters, but with the action shifting to Europe – but that’s what you want from a new Wolfenstein, right?
Borderlands PAX East roundup
Gearbox’s PAX East panel was pretty much as expected. Randy Pitchford took to the stage to announce the long-awaited Borderlands 3, which still doesn’t have a release date or platforms attached to it yet. Still, it’s looking brilliant. Elsewhere, the much-leaked Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition was officially announced for modern platforms, while Bulletstorm: Duke of Switch Edition is also on its way for Ninty’s hybrid console, featuring all the Duke Nukem DLC bundled in for good measure. If that wasn’t enough, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is getting a free update early next month.
Monolith hiring for new Legend of Zelda game
I had no idea that Monolith helped develop The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but yeah, they did. Apparently, they’re not stopping with Link’s acclaimed open-world behemoth, though. According to a job listing on their Japanese website, the studio is hiring for a new Zelda project, but that’s about all we know at this point. A Breath of the Wild sequel would be brilliant, but it could be a spinoff title, too. Either way, the fact a new Zelda is in the works is enough to break out the party hats, right?
