Welcome to TAG Roundup!
Ever wonder what you missed in the world of gaming last week? No worries – we’ve got you covered!
We read a ton of video game articles each week and wanted to share some of our favorites with the Average Gamer community. We’ll feature everything from previews to reviews and everything in between.
The articles we share will be from a combination of well-known sources (like IGN) and more niche blogs that you may not have heard of. In the previous TAG Roundup post, we talked about Pokemon Snap, Madden 21, CrisTales and more!
At the top of the hour, we’ve got a shocking announcement about Microsoft’s streaming service, Mixer. Check out what this means for the future of streaming and content creation!
Mixer is Shutting Down – Kotaku
Microsoft acquired Mixer in August 2016, trying to carve out a space for themselves in the streaming industry. Unfortunately, at the beginning of last week Mixer announced that the platform would be shutting down.
This news arrives less than a year after big names like Ninja signed exclusive contracts with Mixer. Mixer Partners will obtain immediate partner status with Facebook Gaming but it’s tough to say what perks will carry over.
Mixer’s shutdown is happening at a time when the video game industry is booming. More specifically, more people are both playing AND watching other people play video games.
Twitch and Facebook Gaming had excellent growth last year and their numbers have continued to improve during the quarantine. From Mixer’s blog post about the shutdown, they just couldn’t get to the platform to a scale that would be beneficial for the community.
This leaves many streamers in a situation where they have to rebuild their following on a new platform. In an already-crowded space, growth will likely be slow for the majority of ex-Mixer content creators.
Mixer will continue to operate until July 22, at which point we’ll be left with the behemoth that is Twitch and the high-potential Facebook Gaming platform. The gaming world will likely watch to see what the bigger streamers do in response to the change and I’ll make sure to bring you the latest updates!
Intense Monster Hunting – Gamespot
There are so many things happening in the Biomutant trailer. I’m getting traces of Kung Fu Panda, Dauntless, Breath of the Wild. Ratchet and Clank, Borderlands and Shadow of the Colossus. It also feels heavily influenced by Rocket Raccoon from Guardians of the Galaxy.
We see plenty of big boss battles as well as smaller minions. This trailer doesn’t give too much content, but the battles look epic, beautiful and challenging!
VR Treadmill Gaming – Geeky Gadgets
Ever since Ready, Player One came out (both the book and the movie), it’s seemed like immersive gaming was much closer than ever. KAT Walk C is moving us a step closer with their Omni-Directional Treadmill:
A new generation mechanical device that allows for 360 degrees of human motion, creating infinite movement area in VR on minimum physical space in reality. Our new device is the most innovative VR walking solution suitable for home use and affordable for individuals – Your personal gate into the virtual dimension!
You can get in on the Kickstarter now with estimated delivery of October 2020!
Gothic Zelda – Nintendo Enthusiast
This week’s creator spotlight puts some dark skins on the Ocarina of Time. Things look pretty bleak in this fantasy world with deep purples and blues covering the landscape.
Both enemies and Link look completely different, with a more horrifying take on a beloved title. The video shows a demo of the gameplay and the developer adds new puzzles in addition to the standard fighting mechanics.
Be on the lookout for news about a full release in the feature!
More Animal Crossing News – Polygon
Is it even possible to get enough Animal Crossing news? Most people don’t seem to mind.
In the upcoming free update, the game gives access to swimming, diving, new creatures, furniture additions, and even a museum to explore! This DLC hits on July 3rd, and Nintendo said we’ll see another free update in early August.
New Harvest Moon Game – Nintendo Everything
Harvest Moon was Stardew Valley before Stardew Valley. It introduced casual farming to gamers back in the N64 days and we’ve now got an upcoming sequel on the Switch!
Harvest Moon: One World brings new environments, from a vast beach to a snowy mountain. It will feature an all-new engine and graphics and hopefully take advantage of the Switch’s touchscreen controls.
Pick up One World in Fall 2020 to feed your farming addiction!
Avengers War Table Gameplay – Gamespot
Even though the heroes in the upcoming Avengers game look nothing like the movie counterparts that we’ve grown used to, the latest trailer somewhat makes up for this discrepancy. Last week, we saw more than 20 minutes of War Table gameplay, giving us a glimpse into customization and game mechanics.
The devs also shared more about the story and missions. Co-op looks pretty good so I’ll be keeping an eye out for more War Zone trailers leading up to the September 4 release.
Pokemon Cafe Mix Launches – Nintendo Life
It’s exactly what it sounds like. Pokemon Cafe Mix puts you in charge of a cafe where you complete puzzles to complete orders.
The graphics are painfully cute and remind me of Tsum Tsum. There’s an element of building relationships with Pokemon to help you as you expand your cafe. It’s available now on the Nintendo eShop!
All the Confirmed PS5 Games – BGR
So far, we’ve got 71 games officially confirmed for Sony’s upcoming console. The folks at BGR compiled a list that includes exclusives, backward compatible titles, and third-party releases.
I’m most excited about Godfall, but you should check out the article to see the other 70 titles!
That’s All For Now
There were plenty of other highlights from last week but these ones really stood out. Be sure to check in next time to read about video game current events.
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What were some of the most interesting things you read last week? Leave us a message in the comments so we can check it out!
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Also, we just started a new podcast! Check out episode one here, where we talk about the free-to-play gaming model!
