As the holidays come closer and closer, we are reaching the most anticipated time of 2020. For hardcore gamers and casual players alike, the new Sony and Microsoft consoles will battle it out for your wallet. Armed to the teeth, with remarkable top of the line hardware and first-class videogames, each of these two giants will try and convince you that their bargain is the better deal. Today, we will look at some of their weapons, whether you are a PlayStation or an Xbox fan.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Platform(s): PS4 and PS5
Developer(s): Insomniac Games
Release Date(s): PS4 (November 12, 2020) / PS5 (NA and OC – November 12, 2020; WW – November 19, 2020)
After the unquestionable success of Marvel’s Spider-Man, it was only a matter of time until the next installment arrived. Following the events of the first game, that left many questions to be answered, Miles Morales will now take on the mantle of Spider-Man. This new videogame, however, will be a smaller sized standalone experience than Spider-Man, working as “an expansion and an enhancement to the previous game”, as stated by Sony’s Vice President Simon Rutter.
After being trained by Peter Parker for one year, Miles now must face a new threat to the city. Although not as experienced as Parker, Miles must balance his personal life with the crime-fighting vigilante life, when a gang war between the Roxxon Energy Corporation and a high-tech criminal army called the Underground erupts in New York City.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Platform(s): Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Developer(s): Ubisoft Montréal
Release Date(s): Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X (November 12, 2020) / PS5 (NA and OC – November 12, 2020; EU – November 19, 2020)
This year, the well-known franchise presents us with another mix between history and fantasy. The new entry in the AC universe takes us back to the Viking invasion of Britain (873 AD), where we play as Eivor, a male or female character, depending on the player’s choice. During this invasion, Eivor gets caught up in the war between the Brotherhood of Assassins and the Templar Order.
In the game, the player will be able to explore many cities, like London and Winchester. One of the important aspects that contrasts this entry from the others is the special focus on the skill tree. Players level up their character by selecting certain skill trees, and not by a traditional leveling system.
Halo Infinite
Platform(s): Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Developer(s): 343 Industries
Release Date(s): 2021
Scheduled to launch with the next-gen Xbox consoles, the sixth installment in the Halo franchise was delayed to 2021. This can be interpreted as a big hit to the success of the Xbox launch because fans had been expecting this new videogame for a long time. Nevertheless, the game will follow the story of Master Chief in a much more central role, when comparing to the previous installment.
The plot will be set on a damaged Halo ring, with the Banished revealed to be enemies. The biggest change to the franchise is that Halo Infinite will be an open-world game, with the addition of full night and day cycles in the ring.
Watch Dogs: Legion
Platform(s): Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Developer(s): Ubisoft Toronto
Release Date(s): Windows, PS4, Xbox One (October 29, 2020) / Xbox Series X and S (November 10, 2020) / PS5 (November 12, 2020)
Following some of the same story points as its predecessors, Watch Dogs: Legion is set in an open-world city of London. This time, the hacker group DedSec has to go up against a two-faced threat. After being framed by a rival group called “Zero Day” for the explosion of several bombs throughout London, DedSec has to go underground.
Amidst this destruction, the British government hires a private military company named Albion, to bring calm to the city and hunt DedSec. This company is given full access to the city’s ctOS, which quickly turns London into an authoritarian state. To restore London, DedSec has to re-emerge, recruiting new members to their resistance, to fight back their persecutors.
One of the most interesting features of this videogame is the ability to play as everyone you come across. Yes, everyone. Even an old grandma with a silenced pistol. Each character has a unique set of skills you can use to your advantage. For example, a magician, that can hypnotize his enemies and make them blackout. On another note, the protagonist of Watch Dogs, Aiden Pearce, will also be a playable character, as a part of a post-launch DLC story pack called Bloodlines.
Hitman 3
Platform(s): Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Developer(s): IO Interactive
Release Date(s): January 20, 2021
Agent 47 is back for another run. This third and last installment in the World of Assassination trilogy will put Agent 47 and his colleagues in a quest to eliminate every Providence partner alive. The game follows the same format as the older entries, making Agent 47 travel around the world, visiting new locations like Dubai and Dartmoor, England.
Despite the resemblances, “Hitman 3 has a much darker tone than the previous games (…) we are mixing in some surprise elements, an evocative atmosphere and a very real sense of closure.” states Mattias Engström, Game Director.
Hitman 3 will also serve as a platform for the whole trilogy, allowing players to import all previously owned locations from the Hitman trilogy. This entry will be compatible with PlayStation VR, both on PS4 and PS5, which adds an exciting way of experiencing the game.
There is no doubt that, with all of these juggernauts, Sony’s and Microsoft’s pockets will be full to bursting, even more than they already are. Now we want to hear from you. With all the exciting announcements, what are the ones you are most hyped about?
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