GameNama Weekly #31 (April 17-23, 2023)

Ali Hasan April 21, 2023

Welcome to this week’s edition of GameNama Weekly! This weekly news roundup from Gameutha.com brings you the most recent and exciting news from the gaming world every single week! First up, Niantic, the developer of the hugely popular Pokémon GO, has revealed their next project, a new monster hunter game. Additionally, we’ll be discussing the future of the Division franchise and the recent announcement of the highly-anticipated sequel to Blasphemous. To stay up to date with these stories and more, keep reading!

New Monster Hunter Title Announced by Niantic

Back in the summer of 2016, Pokémon GO revolutionized the gaming industry by introducing a one-of-a-kind experience that combined the thrill of catching your own Pokémon with the marvels of augmented reality technology. Fast forward to today, Niantic, the mastermind behind this global sensation, has announced that they are working on a new mobile game called Monster Hunter Now, which will follow a similar blueprint as Pokémon GO by integrating the beloved Monster Hunter franchise with cutting-edge AR technology.

“Monster Hunter Now is a new and unprecedented Monster Hunter game that entices players to go out with their Palico and encounter incredible monsters in the real world,” said Ryozo Tsujimoto, Producer of the Monster Hunter series. Monster Hunter Now will bring the magic of the long-running series into the palm of your hands and will be more accessible than ever, allowing you to go at it alone or with your friends. Registrations for the closed beta are now open with a full game scheduled for September 2023.

The Future of the Division Franchise Has Been Detailed

The Division franchise received a dedicated stream from Ubisoft, where fans were given updates not only for the upcoming free-to-play Division: Heartlands but also for The Division 2, which just celebrated its fourth anniversary. The Division: Heartland was given two brand-new trailers. A developer deep dive, detailing the game’s story, loot structure, mission types and classes, and a cinematic story trailer.

The Division 2 on the other hand is set to receive a brand-new rogue-lite mode titled “Descent”. This new game offers a “hassle-free” way to jump into the action of The Division 2. The mode, which was originally intended to be a survival mode, will allow players to take down hoards of enemies in an attempt to top the leaderboard and fine-tune their builds. The Descent mode is set to launch with the Year 5 content update.

Blasphemous 2 Has Been Announced

Blasphemous, a Metroidvania game was highly regarded for its masterful fusion of a gothic-inspired art style and demanding combat mechanics. As a result, it was recognized as one of the best games in its genre, prompting players to eagerly anticipate a sequel. Finally, during Nintendo’s recent Indie World Showcase, the long-awaited Blasphemous 2 was officially announced. The reveal trailer gave us our first look at the game, including the combat and new environments. Blasphemous 2 is currently set for a summer 2023 release on PS5, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Sony Acquires Firewalk Studios

As more and more developers continue to get consolidated, Sony has added a new developer to its already sizeable roster; Firewalk Studios. Firewalk is a fairly new team, with no games as yet to its name. It consists of veterans from several notable live-action game studios including Bungie. Firewalk Studios was developing a AAA multiplayer game exclusively for PS5 before being acquired by the Japanese video game conglomerate early last week.

“We continue to be impressed by the team’s ambitions to build a modern multiplayer game that connects players in new and innovative ways. I think fans will be very pleased when they see what Firewalk has in store for them.” Said Hermen Hulst, president of PlayStation Studios. Sony plans to release 10 live service games before 2026, and if this acquisition is any indicator it seems like they’re sticking to their word.  

Sega Acquires Rovio Entertainment

In addition to its recent acquisition of Firewalk Studios by Sony, the renowned video game company Sega has also acquired a studio; Rovio Entertainment, the studio behind the popular Angry Birds franchise. Until now, Rovio has focused exclusively on mobile game development. However, with Sega’s backing, Rovio will have the opportunity to expand their games to other platforms, while also enabling Sega to tap into the rapidly expanding mobile game market. The deal is rumored to be worth a staggering $775 million, indicating Sega’s strong commitment to expanding its presence in the mobile gaming industry.

That concludes this week’s GameNama! Don’t forget to visit gameutha.com next week for the latest updates and news from the gaming world. Stay tuned to stay informed!

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