News

While many of us were expecting to learn more about Metroid Prime 4 during Nintendo’s E3 2021 Direct presentation, we were more than happy to see Nintendo instead reveal Metroid Dread: a 2D Metroid title from the same studio that brought us Metroid: Samus Returns for Nintendo 3Ds.

The reveal of Metroid Dread stunned many fans who were prepared for just about every announcement besides this one, but the news has come as less of a shock to those who have been following Metroid Dread‘s development for over 15 years.

Yes, Metroid Dread is the resurrected version of a previously canceled Metroid project, and the story of how it got from there to Nintendo’s E3 2021 showcase is absolutely fascinating.

Metroid Dread reports first began to spread in 2005 when the title was briefly mentioned in Game Informer magazine and appeared on a leaked list of upcoming Nintendo releases. At that time,...

You might not think of it as such, but ReCore is part of an important phase in the ongoing curation of the Xbox One’s library. Over the years, Microsoft has traditionally relied on a few big-name franchises to bolster their first party lineup, with series like Halo, Gears of War, and Forza leading the pack. This lineup has worked in the past, but in recent years, gamers have tired of the same old franchises, as evidenced by (relatively) low sales figures for both Halo 5 and Gears of War: Judgment.

Still, I have to commend Microsoft on their attempts to turn things around. During their last few E3 conferences, they’ve paid equal attention to both the triple-a and indie space , and have started to expand their portfolio of published games, with more experimental titles such as Sea of Thieves, Scalebound, and of course, ReCore. Taking a risk on a new IP is one thing,...

ReCore Gallery 1 of 6

Click to skip

Announced last year during E3 2015, ReCore is one of the more interesting titles coming to the Xbox platform this year. The product of a partnership between Microsoft Studios, Armature Studio (with studio head Mark Pacini directing the game), and Keiji Inafune’s studio Comcept, ReCore stands as one of the higher profile games on display this year at E3, and certainly the most interesting collaboration between Japanese and American studios.

But the humble beginnings of ReCore begin before Microsoft was introduced to the project. Having struck up a working relationship years ago, the idea for ReCore surfaced after the formation of Inafune’s Comcept, a development house based out of both Tokyo and Osaka, which is primarily known for its work on Mighty No. 9 and the Soul Sacrifice series. With Comcept (through Inafune) bringing years of platforming experience, and the flash and solid combat from Pacini and Armature,...