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Happy New Year! Before we get into this month's video game news, I hope you all managed to get some quality time with loved ones over Christmas. Or if you’re more of an introvert, I hope you were left alone to enjoy your own company. I ended up staying at my fiancée’s parents’ house overnight on Christmas Day so didn’t get a chance to play any videogames. Even though I received the perfect party game - Mario Party Superstars - I mean, the word ‘party’ is even in the title! Anyway, it wasn’t all bad, I did get to play some board games. Blockbusters, Top of the Pops and Obama Llama 2 all by Big Potato were big hits, especially once the in-laws broke out the Port.
New Year was a quiet one, I’m not one for paying more than double to go a club and spend the next hour trying to get an overpriced drink. No, I stayed at home, in a onesie, under blanket with a chicken madras from my favourite Indian restaurant. I watched YouTube videos on movie special effect breakdown and “stuntmen react to good and bad scenes”. It’s arguably one of the best ways to see in the new year. I also didn’t make any resolutions because that requires effort. Anyway, let’s crack on with the first videogame news round-up of 2022, shall we?!
I’m currently playing: Aliens: Fireteam Elite on PlayStation 4, Halo Infinite on Xbox and on Switch I’m playing WarioWare: Get It Together.
I’m currently hyped for: Elden Ring on PlayStation, Advance Wars 1+2 Reboot Camp on Switch.
New Games
December kept us busy right up until the big day itself. Treasures of Aegean was released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. Danganronpa Decadence 4 hit the Switch. Grand Theft Auto Trilogy Definitive Edition on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
January, on the other hand, is slim pickings. Like most of the world, the gaming industry is just trying to get through the first month of the year. That said the 28th will see the release of Pokemon Legends: Acreus for Nintendo Switch and Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection for PlayStation 5. On the bright side, both Elden Ring and Horizon Forbidden West are out in February so my bank account will be grateful for the January break. Get ready for THAT instalment of video game news.
Announcements
Gran Turismo 7 Update
A leaflet at a Japanese retail store has revealed more details about the upcoming racer, Gran Turismo 7. It included news the game will include 420 different car models and over 90 racing tracks “with realistic weather and scenery”. Gran Turismo 7 is set to deliver a classic Gran Turismo experience. It’ll move away from the multiplayer-focused gameplay of Gran Turismo Sport. It’ll mark the return of a fully-fledged career mode and customisable and upgradeable cars. It’s due out for both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on 4th March 2022.
Ubisoft Announces Splinter Cell Remake
Ubisoft has announced it’s working on a Splinter Cell remake. It’s being developed by Far Cry 6 lead studio Ubisoft Toronto, and is being built on Ubisoft’s Snowdrop engine. Ubisoft said to expect “new-generation visuals and gameplay, and the dynamic lighting and shadows the series is known for”.
It’s been 19 years since the first Splinter Cell game came out, and eight years since the release of the last mainline Splinter Cell game, - Blacklist. Rumours of the series’ return have rumbled since then and now it’s finally happening.
Sniper Elite 5 Gets First trailer and is Launching Next Year
Following its debut at the 2021 Game Awards, developer Rebellion has officially revealed Sniper Elite 5. It’ll be making its way to Xbox, PlayStation, and PC sometime this year.
As you’d expect, Sniper Elite 5 will deliver more of the series’ iconic tactical sniping. It’ll also have an enhanced version of the kill cam, said to be “more realistic and grisly than ever”. All that comes with a shift in location, with Sniper Elite 5’s WW2 yarn taking the series away from Italy circa 1943, to the France of 1944.
There’s no release date for Sniper Elite 5 just yet, but it’ll be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC - when it launches.
Ghost of Tsushima Sales Top 8m
Sony’s open-world samurai exclusive has proven exceptionally popular and has now sold over 8million copies. Last year saw the release of the Director’s Cut edition across PS4 and PS5, contributing to the new total. The sales of Ghost of Tsushima are an impressive feat for a new IP, Sucker Punch’s first since the Infamous games.
And That’s That!
So there you have it, the first video game news round-up of 2022 is all done and dusted. Let us know on the Zatu social media pages which games you’re most looking forward to this year... and if you think they’ll get delayed. Until next time, take care of yourselves.