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Firaxis details the arduous process of bringing Civilization VII to Switch
Rome wasn't built in a day
Civilization VI coming to the Switch with feature parity for other platforms was a real shocker, but developer Firaxis thought there’s be an audience for the game on Nintendo’s platform. Turns out they were right, and to a degree they weren’t even expecting.
In an interview with Games Industry, producer Dennis Shirk reveals that the team “hadn’t expected Switch to be a huge thing…but suddenly, it became a really huge thing.” That success convinced the devs that Civilization VII on Switch was a must-have, even if it brought some serious challenge with it.
Shirk says that Firaxis partnered with Behaviour Interactive to get the job done, but Firaxis is still very much involved with the project. This isn’t a hands-off port, and as a matter of fact, it seems Firaxis is more deeply involved than ever. You can see just how much Firaxis has their hands on the Switch version of Civ VII in the snippet below.
“We have a whole new way that we’re working,” Shirk explains. “The porting model… we’re not comfortable with that. We wanted to stay in control. We did all the renders in-house, the whole nine yards. [Behaviour is] connected with the development environment and working closely with the teams.”
“We have a whole new way that we’re working. The porting model… we’re not comfortable with that. We wanted to stay in control. We did all the renders in-house, the whole nine yards. [Behaviour is] connected with the development environment and working closely with the teams.
Do you know what LOD is? Level of detail [where the game adjusts how complex the 3D models look based on their distance from the camera]. In the past, the Civ team has never had to make an LOD, because we just released on Steam. If we did console versions later, we would worry about that then.
For the first time, every single asset, we’ve been creating LODs by the shovelful. Because we need multiple levels of LODs for something like that to work on Switch. And we have to down res a lot of stuff to work on consoles.
We have a team that is hungry to do it. We have a custom engine, so they could make renders that are specifically tailored for each console… and they loved it. When you’re building just for Steam, for example, there are no limits. You can just fly and go. This has limits, and our graphics team in particular took it as a challenge to create this engine that had previously only had to exist on Steam and PC, and to make it work on the lowest common denominator. It’s been interesting.”
Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Collector's Edition getting physical Switch release (UPDATE)
Wiggling into retail
Team17 Digital and Digital Eclipse recently revealed Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition, which is coming to the Switch eShop on September 26th, 2024. Turns out physical fans are in luck as well, as a boxed version of Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition is on the way too.
The Worms Armageddon Anniversary Collector’s Edition has just been revealed, and it’s quite the physical release. This package, which is set to launch on Dec. 3rd, 2024, includes the following goodies:
- Worms Armageddon Anniversary Edition game
- double-sided collectable anniversary coin
- Worms stickers
- Weapons & Utilities Guide booklet
- double-sided poster
- three exclusive pins
The developers of Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition have poured a lot of love into the enhancements, with many quality-of-life improvements and a completely redesigned UI across all platform versions. Additional features in both the digital and physical versions include:
- Optimized controller support for all consoles.
- New display features such as modern aspect ratios, custom screen filters, enhanced HD and graphics options.
- Fully playable Game Boy Color version of Worms Armageddon
- An interactive museum that charts the history of the entire series. Featuring never-before-seen interviews with developers of the original and current games.
- New save system
- Online support, allowing up to six players to team-up or compete
UPDATE: Team17 has announced a slight delay for the Worms Armageddon Anniversary Edition Collector’s Edition due to an unforeseen distribution issue. The physical package will now arrive Dec. 12th in Europe and Dec. 17th in the U.S..
Time for a little something old-school, Brawlhalla fans. The Brawlhalla Battle Pass Classic Season 5: Galactic War launches on Dec. 4th, 2024 and you can check it out in action above.
Brawlhalla, the free-to-play cross-platform fighter, is bringing back the Season 5 Battle Pass. This commemorates the war between Artemis and Orion – both of whom have new premium skins this season – and includes 85 tiers of unlockable rewards, including Legend Skins, a KO Effect, a Progression Podium, Weapon Skins, Emotes, Sidekicks, and so much more.
Unlocking the Gold Battle Pass will automatically earn players a bunch of items including the Artemis Progression Skin, while those who reach the final level of the Gold Battle Pass will be rewarded with the Orion animated Epic Skin.
Players can now purchase the Battle Pass directly from first-party stores to get started unlocking a host of outer space-themed goodies. Completing General, Daily, and Weekly missions will let you efficiently progress through the Battle Pass, earning Gems that in turn unlock new levels. While Daily missions refresh every day, Weekly missions never expire during the Battle Pass Season, so you’ll have the entire 12 weeksto complete them. You can also spend 35 Mammoth Coins to immediately unlock one tier of the Gold Battle Pass. All players will also have access to the free track of the Battle Pass, which offers unlockable Avatars, Color Schemes, Weapon Skins, Emotes, and Sidekicks.
It Takes Two has been an absolutely incredible success since it first launched in March 2021 for multiple platforms. Switch owners had to wait a bit longer to get their hands on this award-winning title, but it eventually came our way November 2022.
With 3+ years under its belt and plenty of accolades as well, It Takes Two achieved a major milestone. Hazelight Studios, the developer behind the game, announced back in October that It Takes Two reached 20 million units sold worldwide across all platforms. The last sales check-in was back in March of this year, when it was announced the game reached 16 million units sold.
Wondering how this 2021 title continues to sell incredibly well? Polygon spoke to the Hazelight team for some insight, and they had a multitude of reasons as to why the game just won’t slow down.
First up, the team said these sales continue to pour in without any marketing support, as the budget for spreading the word was low. As a matter of fact, one of the devs says there’s been “no meaningful marketing spend” on the game in quite some time. That makes the 20+ million figure that much more impressive, especially when you consider that number doesn’t include players on subscription services like Game Pass and EA Play.
The devs also say that It Takes Two’s Game Awards win helped boost the game in a big way, and on a worldwide scale. This win spread the word on the game, and also convinced more streamers to hop on the title and give it a go with their audiences. In particular, the team mentions that It Takes Two has been welcomed in a big way in both the Western markets and Asia.
Last but not least, Hazelight thinks the game’s co-op focus has helped to woo gamers, as it gives them a chance to experience a title alongside friends and loved ones, and in a genre we don’t often see explored nowadays.
The Pokémon TV app and website will sunset and the service will end on March 28, 2024. Beginning on January 8, 2024, fans will no longer be able to download the Pokémon TV app from the App Store, Google Play, Roku Channel Store, Amazon Appstore, Nintendo eShop, and Pokemon.com.
However, those who already had the app downloaded on their devices prior to January 8, 2024, will still be able to watch available content until the app fully sunsets on March 28, 2024.
Pokémon Co. has gathered a list of places where you can enjoy the Pokémon animated series and other Pokémon content. If you’d like to see that list of options, you can find it here.
UPDATE: When one door closes another opens. After the end of Pokémon TV as we know it, Pokémon Co. has now revealed that Pokémon TV is set to return as YouTube channel. The channel will kick off Dec. 6th, 2024 and will feature full episodes of the Pokémon anime.
G-MODE Archives+: Spica Adventure announced for Switch
Another game saved from smartphone obscurity
The next G-MODE Archives+ title for Switch has been revealed. G-MODE Archives+: Spica Adventure is heading to the Switch in Japan. There’s no word on release date or pricing just yet, but you can enjoy the debut trailer above. “Spica Adventure” was released by Taito Corporation for phones in 2003, and was also ported to arcades in 2005.
Nico, a girl adventuring in space, is suddenly covered in a large number of flyers and crashes into the tin planet “Spica”. With the legendary umbrella in hand, Nico embarks on a great adventure, approaching the mystery of the sinking planet while defeating the fancy residents of Spica!
The game is simple to operate with only the directional keys and the decision button, but by picking up “scrolls” scattered on the stage, you can glide with the umbrella or use the umbrella as a boat to cross the sea, allowing you to perform a variety of actions. Run through all 32 stages while searching for hidden items and bonuses on the stage!
First 4 Figures opens pre-orders for their Banjo-Kazooie "Washer Banjo" statue
What a bunch of mumbo jumbo
First 4 Figures is back at work with another statue based on a version of Banjo from the Banjo-Kazooie games. Today brings us yet another video, alongside the kickoff for pre-orders.
One of the many transformations Banjo and Kazooie undergo in the original game is turning into a washing machine as a joke. The Washer Banjo transformation is a comedic moment during Mumbo Jumbo’s spell, turning the duo into a washing machine with a playful request to clean his loincloth, swiftly followed by the correct transformation. However, completing all of Bottles’ Bonus Challenges unlocks a cheat code, allowing gameplay as Washer Banjo.
The base of Washer Banjo replicates the skull plinth that Banjo steps on for Mumbo to perform his transformation magic on the duo.
Banjo-Kazooie™ - Washer Banjo includes:
- High-quality resin statue of Banjo in Washer form
- Swirling blue and yellow Mumbo magic
- Skull plinth replica base
- Limited edition numbering
- Authentication card
The F4F Banjo-Kazooie Washer Banjo statue is priced at $275 and you can pre-order through this link.
Nintendo UK eShop highlights for Nov. 2024
So many can't-miss titles
Somehow, November 2024 has come and gone, and we’re already into the start of the next month. November went by so quickly it’s enough to make your head spin, and there’s no doubt you missed a few of the great releases that came to Switch. Thankfully, Nintendo UK is here to remind you of what’s now available!
It’s all hands on deck with Mario & Luigi: Brothership, see the rebirth of a legacy in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, make new friends with MySims: Cozy Bundle, and more! Here’s a look at just some of the games that launched on Nintendo eShop in November.
As always, there are plenty of other games that came to Switch last month. This is just meant to be a look at some of the bigger-name games, but do yourself a favor and dive into the eShop to dig up some of last month’s hidden gems!
Fortnite OG: Chapter 1 - Season 1 goes live Dec. 6th, 2024
Back before sweaties were even a thing
Is modern-day Fortnite too much for you to keep up with? Too many updates, tweaks, mechanics, features and more? Well no worries, Epic has something for you, and it’s coming before the week closes out.
Go all the way back to day one of Season 1 for the classic Fortnite experience! Relive the origins of Fortnite Battle Royale, complete with OG loot, OG locations, and OG gameplay in Fortnite OG Chapter 1 - Season 1!
Fortnite OG: Chapter 1 - Season 1 launches on Dec. 6th, 2024. In just a few days, it’ll be time to knock off the rust and see if you still have what it takes to build to a Victory Royale!
Minecraft's "Pale Garden" biome now available
Might want to get some sun...
Are you ready to uncover the secrets of the pale garden? The next Minecraft drop, The Garden Awakens, is live right now, bringing with it an eerie biome, a watchful mob, pale blocks, and more new features!
Venture into the pale garden during the day and you’ll find it surprisingly quiet. Mobs don’t spawn here, leaving you to mine for pale oak logs, pale hanging moss, and pale moss carpets in peace. But stick around after night falls and you’ll see the pale garden awaken – with glowing eyeblossoms blooming and orange eyes looming!
The pale garden is home to the creaking – an unsettling type of mob that’ll freeze in place when you look at it and follow at terrifying speed when you look away. This mob also harbors a secret – because you can’t defeat it just by attacking it. Instead, you’ll need to hunt down its creaking heart – hidden somewhere between the boughs of pale oak trees.
Are you ready to expect the unexpected?
Tales of Graces f Remastered "Sophie" Trailer
Sophie's choice
Back in August, Tales of Graces f Remastered was announced for Switch. This remaster of the JRPG from Namco Bandai, first released in 2009 for the Nintendo Wii, launches for Switch on January 17th, 2025. As we inch closer to launch, a character trailer for Sophie has been shared, and you can check it out above.
Tales of Graces f is back with a beautiful and easier-to-play version! The game also includes Lineage and Legacies, an after-story to the main scenario! Tales of Graces f is an action RPG all about adventure in fantasy worlds and overcoming obstacles through friendship and determination.
On a lush green planet called Ephinea, three young children make a promise to each other that could save the future. Asbel, heir to a local lord, Richard, prince of the Windor kingdom, and Sophie, a strange girl with no known past, all swear a special friendship oath after helping each other survive a dangerous attempt on Richard’s life in the land of Lhant.
Years later, the world has changed. Asbel and his friends must face grave danger when Lhant becomes the battleground for a power grab among the three great nations of Ephinea. It is at this moment when an even greater threat is revealed and the bonds between the young heroes are put to the test with everything at stake.
Wargroove 2 is Europe's latest Switch Online Free Game Trial
Getting groovy
From Dec. 5th to Dec. 11th, 2024, Nintendo Switch Online members in Europe can download and try the full version of Wargroove 2 at no additional cost.
Trouble stirs on the shores of Aurania. An ambitious new faction has unearthed forbidden relics capable of catastrophic consequences. But how far will they go to achieve glory? Take to the battlefield, sea, and sky with a cast of new Commanders, using your wits to wage turn-based war!
Wargroove is back! Embark on an all-new adventure, filled with unlikely friendships, unknown adversaries, and ugly revenge plots. Wage war against your foes with a cast of new Commanders and utilise their new tiered ‘groove’ ability system to sway the fight in your favour. Design and share maps, cutscenes, and campaigns with easy-to-use editors and in-depth customization tools.
Adventure game "Universe for Sale" heads to Switch Dec. 19th, 2024
Can I get a discount?
Publisher Akapura Games and developer Tmesis Studio have announced that they’re bringing Universe for Sale to the Switch on Dec. 19th, 2024. You can check out the Switch announcement trailer above.
A space station nestled in the clouds of Jupiter. A bizarre bazaar where a young, worried woman crafts entire universes in the palm of her hand. A mysterious cultist who’s stripped the flesh from his bones in order to reach enlightenment. Here, there’s a universe for sale. You buying? In a bizarre bazaar, there’s a worried woman crafting entire universes in the palm of her hand.
Universe for Sale is a hand-drawn adventure game set in the dense clouds of Jupiter, where sapient orangutans work as dockhands and mysterious cultists strip the flesh from their bones in order to reach enlightenment.
Explore all the nooks and crannies of a ramshackle colony on Jupiter. Rickety tea houses, strange oddity shops, and overworked mechanics garages abound in the picturesque and infamous shantytown that’s cropped up around the abandoned mine. Every new face, whether human, simian, skeletal or robotic, has a unique story to tell as they do their best to survive the acid rain pouring down.
The nameless master, intrigued by stories of Lila’s ability to create universes, finds her on a rainy night to discuss the unique power that she has. For something so awe-inspiring, she explains it like she’d explain how to brew coffee. But it isn’t just the master who wants to know more about Lila, who threatens to unravel the mystery at the heart of Universe for Sale.
So, choose a cup, find some ingredients and Lila will craft a universe down to your particular specifications. Only question is: You buying?
Kingdom Two Crowns "ambient audio" video released
It's good to be the king
Publisher Raw Fury has released one hour of relaxing pixel perfect fireplace ambience from Kingdom Two Crowns: Call of Olympus to celebrate the season. Tune in, turn on, and take it easy.
Atmospheric sounds for stress relief and relaxation with some light bells - a perfect escape from a hectic everyday filled with preparations for the holiday season. Sit back, relax and enjoy an hour of soothing crackling sounds, gentle holiday bells and the satisfying pling of coins dropped and picked up.
In faraway lands, Mount Olympus stands tall among the islands, casting an eerie shadow of unease. A sinister force has seized the divine realm and as a Monarch, you are setting out on a journey to stop it from consuming the world. Mediterranean warmth touches your skin as you slowly ride through dark woods and along beaches with glittering turquoise waters. Your quest is clear and the gods’ presence is palpable, but will they aid you against the Greed attacking at night? Kingdom Two Crowns: Call of Olympus is a major expansion for Kingdom Two Crowns. Set out and build your Kingdom, alone or in co-op with a friend, in a completely new setting featuring legends and mythos inspired by ancient Greece.
Umurangi Generation getting physical Switch release (UPDATE)
Boxed copies incoming
Umurangi Generation made its way to the Switch eShop back in June of 2021, giving digital gamers a chance to snag the title. What about our friends who prefer to pick up games physically? Well, it looks like you’re about to have your wish granted.
An ESRB rating for Umurangi Generation just popped up, and it has Serenity Forge listed as the publisher. This only happens when a retail release is on the way, so expect to see some news on that in the very near future. We’ll bring you the official details once they’re shared.
Umurangi Generation is a first person photography game in the retro future. Set in Tauranga Aotearoa off the back of an impending crisis you are a courier for the Tauranga Express. Throughout the game you will unlock a variety of lenses and equipment. Each photo you take is judged on its color, content and composition. Taking a photo will net you a cash score which will go towards your final payout.
UPDATE: The physical version of Umurangi Generation has been revealed. The above Deluxe Kit is priced at $70 and includes the following:
- Physical copy of the game on Nintendo Switch
- Camera Strap
- Clear Character Cards
- Acrylic Standee
- Microfiber Cloth
- Paper Photo Bounty
Pre-orders are not expected to ship until May 30th, 2025, and you can place your order through this link.
