PixelByte melds two collector worlds

Who doesn’t know what a blind box is? Well, if you’re one of the few who’ve yet to encounter the theme, it’s pretty simple. Namely, blind boxes are toy or collectibles which feature packaging that consumers can’t see into, and with general imagery on them.

The idea, of course, is that fans don’t know what they’re going to find included in said boxes, so it’s a surprise. Over recent years, more than a few companies have made use of the gimmick, and seemingly to great effect since the trend is a fairly solid mainstay on retail shelves.

What we haven’t seen yet, are blind boxes making their way into the gaming space. Hang on though, because that’s just what Hyperkin‘s Drakong brand is cooking up. And that little fact brings us to the debut of the PixelByte Controller.

PixelByte Controllers are indeed blind boxed, serving up “a new range of highly collectible, fully-functional controllers”. They’re small form-factor units, designed to look like pixelated, 16bit-style pads, emblazoned with imagery pulled from pop cultural touchstones.

Pixelbyte‘s Attack on Titan series has so far been revealed, which you can check out in the video below.

Tiny in size, huge on fun, the PixelByte Controller range offers a fully-functional gamepad that’s small enough to go where you go, and thanks to its integrated key-chain, the PixelByte can attach to your belt loop, bag, purse, or practically anything, ideal for travel or for fans who thrive on Blindbox collecting. Impossibly small and equally as adorable, the PixelByte range will be available in multiple series of collectible designs (coming soon), featuring some of the world’s best-loved licenses, themes and IP’s.

From anime, to snacks, games to TV shows, fans will never know what’s next with this landmark range of collectible hardware from Drakong.

The first series of PixelByte Controllers launches with the incredible Attack on Titan range, and with pre-orders starting today, you won’t have long to wait! A series of seven fully licensed designs, based on the fan-favorite anime, lovers of the show will want to collect them all!

Drakong press release

Fully-functional

PixelByte Controllers feature Bluetooth functionality and are compatible with iOS, Android, Linux, and PC platforms, plus the Nintendo Switch 1 and 2 “and more”. And while these guys might be small, they’re anything but limited.

According to Drakong, the pads feature a turbo mode, as well as changeable orientation on their face, bumper, and trigger buttons. On top of that, users can also switch up the d-pad to replicate a left thumb stick. We’re not sure how that might work, but it sounds pretty cool.

Then there’s the alt-mode, where owners can flip into Productivity Mode. Once swapped, the PixelByte Controllers can be used as “a hybrid mouse/keyboard controller”. Yes, really. Drakong says that the tiny pads can “scroll through presentation slides, take a photo remotely on your phone, access hot keys on your PC, the list of possibilities is as endless as your imagination.”

“The PixelByte Controller is a new concept in collectible hardware from Drakong, the first in the world to be sold under a traditional Blindbox format. Designed for collectors, gamers and everyone who values instant gaming on the go, the PixelByte packs a serious punch into an impressively small size. Working with some of the most beloved franchises and IP’s in the world, we can’t wait to show gamers what’s in store for the range, with every design featuring exciting looks, quality hardware, and genuine fun.”

Slade Dude Suzuki, Lead Product Developer for Drakong

Pre-orders are open now for the Attack on Titan range of PixelByte Controllers, via both Hyperkin’s online shop and Amazon. They’re priced in at $24.99 USD each.

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Have phone, will play PC games

High-end peripheral and hardware company Razer is seeking to take the trial and error out of playing on the go. That’d be by way of the new Razer PC Remote Play platform, of course, which allows Android and iOS users to stream their games from PC to mobile.

Razer says that the just-launched system will deliver “ultra-smooth, high-fidelity gameplay” to both smartphones and tablets, working off of a redesigned Razer Cortex interface for the PC. That fresh software brings compatibility with controllers meant to work with both of the big mobile OS’, as well as the AV1 video codec, which Razer adds should serve up “improved quality and lower latency, and software updates”.

Setup sounds easy enough, and mainly involves downloading/setting up Razer Nexus and Razer PC Remote Play on your mobile, and activating Remote Play in Razer Cortex on your PC. Once done, users sign in with their Razer ID’s on both ends, and the software should pair up. From there, the company says that players can add their “Razer Kishi or other iOS or Android compatible controller to play controller-supported games”, and should be good to go.

Razer PC Remote Play supports “Steam, Epic Games, PC Game Pass, and more”. We’re hoping that “and more” includes GOG, but we’ll see. As for operating systems, that’s where things get a little more particular. You’ll need to have iOS 18 or Android 14+, depending on which mobile or tablet you have, and you’ll also have to be running Windows 11 on your PC.

Highlights of the new system include:

• Expansive controller compatibility: Full support for Razer Kishi and all iOS and Android compatible controllers for uncompromised console-class mobile experience with the power of your gaming PC.
  • Unlock more play styles on the iPad, with full compatibility with keyboard, mouse, and trackpad. 
• All your PC games within Razer Nexus: Browse, configure, and launch PC games directly from your mobile device. Instantly launch your PC games, customize your controls, record and share gameplay, and keep your controller updated- all with one app.
• Automatic optimization that takes full advantage of your device’s powerful display: Enjoy incredibly sharp, smooth visuals on your device. Razer PC Remote Play automatically optimizes for the device’s maximum resolution and refresh rate, without locking gameplay to fixed aspect ratios.
• Immersive play with Razer Sensa HD Haptics: Experience realistic tactile sensations that sync with in-game actions—from explosive gunfire to rumbling vehicle engines—when pairing Razer Kishi Ultra controllers with Android devices.

Razer press release

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STARSsssssss

While it wasn’t as lauded as the Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil 4 remakes, Capcom’s modern re-creation of 1999’s Resident Evil 3 was still pretty impressive. The title took the original and, much like the other games we just mentioned, juiced it up with all new graphics and controls, plus some additional new elements here and there. If you missed it when it first launched in 2020, or you’d just like to play it again on a brand new device, then you might be interested in the fresh edition that dropped today.

That would be the Apple version of the game, which is now arriving for iPhone, iPad, and Macs, though there are a few caveats you should know about. If you’re down for a handset version, for instance, then you’ll need to have an iPhone 16 or iPhone 15 Pro model. Prefer to play on your iPad or Mac? Make sure you have one with an “M1 chip or later”, according to Capcom.

Resident Evil 3 follows S.T.A.R.S. officer Jill Valentine in her desperate journey to escape the viral outbreak spreading through Raccoon City. The game delivers a unique strain of survival horror based on the fear of being pursued by a relentless force, the Bio Organic Weapon known as Nemesis. Powered by Capcom’s RE ENGINE, this vivid reimagining of the original game delivers action-packed gameplay and bone-chilling visuals with detail and fidelity that can only be realized by today’s current technology.

Capcom press release

As you might imagine, there are a few features available via Apple’s devices that you won’t really get anywhere else. For one thing, Resident Evil 3 features cross-saves between Apple devices, meaning save data can be transferred between the iPhone and Mac versions (for example). Touch controls are customizable on both iPhone and iPad, with an option for traditional controllers, and the title even includes an option for auto-fire. If you make use of that, you’ll be able to fire on approaching enemies (for a short time) just by aiming at them.

Resident Evil 3 joins the likes of parts two, four, seven, and Resident Evil Village, on Apple’s App Store now. Like those games, this latest release has what’s basically a demo version too, so you can try it out before you buy in.

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Up in Smoke

So yeah, Season 3 is going to get all kinds of weird for Call of Duty players. The full swath of games will be getting new content, which is not in and of itself all that strange. Activision does this several times in a CoD title’s lifecycle after all, and as of late there’ve been some oddball crossover characters from pop culture included. But this round might be the strangest yet in that arena, as Snoop Dog (though we’ve seen him before), Godzilla x Kong: New Empire, and Cheech and freaking Chong all are about to get in on the FPS action.

There’s a lot to this update, so we won’t waste too much time on the intro, just make with the scrolling to hit all the high points. And if you want way more info on what’s on the way, click here to check out the official Activision CoD blog.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III:

• Sledgehammer Games is cooking: Six Core 6v6 Maps are coming to Season 3, including three that are brand-new, one that’s remastered, and two repurposed from Vondel and Rebirth Island points of interest.
• Four game modes . . . that we know of: Capture the Flag Multiplayer Mode leads the charge at the start of Season 3. Watch your step in the all-new Minefield mode and bring a knife to a gunfight in One in the Chamber, and look for Escort and off-world Vortex Playlists later in season.
• Season 3 Ranked Play: Treyarch is putting the finishing touches on the next full season, with all-new rewards to earn and Season 2 content to claim on April 3.
• Perk up: Sledgehammer is about to change up how you play Multiplayer with the addition of three new Perk Vests, new Boots, and new Gear. Plus, a new Tactical EMD Mine and Enhanced Vision Goggles are coming during the season.

Modern Warfare Zombies

• The Dark Aether Story Continues: Take a chance on Jansen as a full-scale rescue mission is launched after the doctor enters a new and terrifying region of the Dark Aether.
• Take on the Third Rift: An ethereal voidscape houses insanity-inducing horrors within, including a new and diabolic Disciple variant. Provide fire support for Ravenov, and find Dr. Jansen before she’s consumed by darkness. 
• Season 3 Challenges and Schematics: Unlock Prestige levels to acquire Zombies Challenges, and gather three new Schematics to aid your progress, including a way to disguise yourself among Mercenaries, Dead Wire your explosive weaponry, and outlast the gas.
• Warlord Rainmaker: Holed up on Rahaa Island, this heavily armored psychopath makes it rain artillery fire and has little regard for his own forces. 

Call of Duty: Warzone:

• #RebirthDay is Coming! Welcome back to Rebirth Island! The weather is clear, the visibility across the island is excellent, and the action is about to heat up. What surprises are in store? Players can also drop into Rebirth Island throughout a new Ranked Resurgence season.
• New Modes and Gameplay Features: Resurgence modes and variants. Biometric Scanners. Smart Displays. Weapon Trade Stations. A new Resurgence Champion’s Quest in Rebirth Island. Variable time of day conditions that change the atmospheric mood but not the visibility of the action. Infil Strikes where the Water Tower, Lighthouse, and even the Prison roof is destroyed as your infil begins. And a host of secrets to discover. Optimized combat for Rebirth Island arrives in Season 3.
• Call of Duty: Warzone Ranked Play – Resurgence on Rebirth: Ranked Play continues with a new map to master. Use the same Resurgence rules and innovations, claim the stack of impressive rewards for your grind, and drop into Rebirth Island throughout the new season.

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile:

• Launch and Content Recap: After a monumental launch only six days ago, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is delivering big-map gameplay on the go via drops into both Verdansk and Rebirth Island, available right now, along with Multiplayer maps and Playlists. Link your account to ensure your connected content levels up and unlocks with you, no matter which platform you play on.
• Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile’s New Season Launch: At launch, the first unified season of Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is connected with Season 3 of Call of Duty: Warzone and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.
• Season 3 Connected Content: Claim new free Base Weapons and eight new Aftermarket Parts, unlock new Operators, and earn over 100 pieces of content with the BlackCell and Battle Pass.
• Rust Arrives, Plunder Drops: The fan-favorite map Rust is added to the map pool, along with two new Battle Royale Modes — Plunder and Buy Back! Plus, UAV Towers are ready to reveal enemy locations across Rebirth Island.
• Events and The Keep: Assemble the perfect squad by playing each of the weekly events and obtaining Operator Skins and Weapon Blueprints in The Keep!

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SEGA!

If you’re a Sonic the Hedgehog fan, then you have to be pretty happy with what this year has brought. Not only do console players have a new, classically-styled Sonic adventure to play with Sonic Superstars, but there’s also a new 3D title coming up. And while it might not be console-bound, it’s looking pretty slick.

In stark contrast to Superstars, Sonic Dream Team sends a more modern Sonic and friends back into the third dimension. This time though, it’s not for something as different as 2022’s Frontiers, but a much more familiar style of action-platforming mission.

But while the gameplay might remind players of Sonic’s past games, the platform is something new. That would be Apple’s iOS, as the new game will be a part of the hardware and software giant’s fresh gaming push.

To get fans amped for the imminent mobile arrival of the Blue Blur, Sega has revealed the intro cinematic for the game. Not only does the title sport a deep cast of Sonic faves, but this animation hails from Powerhouse Animation, and was directed by Tyson Hesse, with tunes from Tee Lopes. So yeah, it’s looking and sounding sharp.

In Sonic Dream Team, Dr. Eggman is up to his usual tricks in his quest for world domination and discovers an ancient device – The Reverie – that can make dreams a reality. Join Sonic and friends as they dive deep into the bizarre world of Eggman’s dreams and attempt to stop them from coming true! 

Sega press release

Ready to head into Eggman’s noggin and start raising a ruckus? Sonic Dream Team is right around the corner, and will be arriving on December 5th, exclusively for Apple Arcade.

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A new age

Is Apple’s renewed focus on gaming going to upset the status quo? It’s hard to say right now, though the mobile landscape certainly hasn’t made much of a dent in the past. Still though, it’s eyebrow-raising to see companies like Capcom releasing Resident Evil titles for iPhone that have relative parity with consoles. Now you can raise that brow just a little further too, thanks to Sega.

The gaming giant has revealed that a new 3D Sonic the Hedgehog platformer has been in development, and it’s set to arrive exclusively for Apple Arcade. While it represents the latest in a line of releases for Sega, that’s included the likes of Samba de Amigo and Sonic Racing, it’s also pretty easily a marquee release. Sonic games are still Sonic games after all, and it’s been a little while since fans have been treated to something like Sonic Dream Team.

Take a look:

In this all-new Sonic adventure, the evil Dr. Eggman has discovered The Reverie – an ancient device with the power to manifest dreams in the real world. Navigate twisted dreamscapes, rescue your friends, and put a stop to Dr. Eggman’s nightmarish dreams of world domination! 

Sega press release

Fans will be able to pick from six different characters in Sonic Dream Team, including Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy Rose, Cream, and Rouge. That alone makes the new game notable since it’s one of the biggest assortment of playable characters ever in a Sonic title.

Each will play differently too, showcasing varied methods of traversal through Dream Team’s stages that’ll result in “unique exploration opportunities”. Just don’t expect those stages to be familiar. Sega says that Dream Team will feature all-new landscapes, spread out across its four worlds and 12 levels, and the company specifically notes that “We’re not in Green Hill anymore!”

Ready for Sonic to crash the Apple party? Sonic Dream Team will be available for play via Apple Arcade, for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, on December 5th.

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Don’t judge a book…

So first of all, we were under the impression that Phantom Blade: Executioners was a side-scrolling action game. And while it kind of is that, it’s also got some role-playing elements mixed in for good measure, plus it’s awash in an aesthetic that developer S-GAME calls “kung-fu punk”.

The game was first revealed at the PlayStation Showcase earlier this year, and if you’ve yet to see it in motion, it’s a stunner. Check out the brand new trailer below for a peek at what’s in store when you’ll be able to get your hands on Phantom Blade: Executioners later this year.

As a member of the Order, players must use their Wuxia-infused mastery of martial arts to annihilate human hosts transmogrified by forbidden Sha-Chi engineering techniques. Players must time moves perfectly to perform dynamic skill chain-based combos with a touch of a button. Earn Phantom bonuses throughout the course of the game and stack them on character skills to maximize damage and enhance martial art skills. When the battle is over, pick up valuable equipment to be used in the next fray. Mix and match gear however desired, then head to the procedurally-generated Purge Dungeons for a chance to earn highly coveted Sin Gears.

S-GAME press release

As you can see there, the free-to-play title launches on November 2nd, 2023, so it’s coming up pretty fast. You’ll be able to download a copy for PlayStation consoles, but also for the PC via the Epic Game Store, and mobile devices.

That’s right, taking another step into the console/PC realm, compatible iOS and Android handsets will get the game at launch.

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(mobile) Braaaaiiiiiins

It’s pretty plain that the biggest Call of Duty ‘zombies’ news this year is the mode’s debut in Modern Warfare. It’s set to make a splash, with Activision’s premier shooter even tying the mode into the MW universe in some pretty cool ways. But even so, it’s not going to be the only place to waste some zeds.

That’s because it’s just been revealed that Call of Duty: Mobile will be getting its own ‘zombies’ mode, and it’s coming up before its console cousin’s. Fans will be able to kick off the Halloween season right, with the game’s Haunted Hacienda map, and a whole bunch of additional spooky content in Season 9: Graveyard Shift.

The season will include the new “Patrol” mode, plus two new zombies modes, fresh weapons and charms, new blueprints, and a host of new operator skins. Fans can take the field as “Witch Doctor – Lethal Cure, Demir – Lurking Dread, Portnova – Funny Bone, or Misty – In the Spirit”.

As for those new modes, they are:

• New Mode: Patrol – First featured in Call of Duty®: Vanguard, the Patrol MP Mode is a variant of Hardpoint where the capture point is continuously moving around the map. Players will need to keep up and move with it to score big for their team.
• Two Zombies Modes – For the first time ever in Call of Duty: Mobile, two Zombies modes will appear in Season 9 – complete with new updates. Classic round-based Zombies on the Shi No Numa map with the new addition of a Missile Tower class, plus the always-moving Undead Siege returns to Isolated with a new Camo award.

Activision press release

Look for Season 9 – Graveyard Shift to dawn for Call of Duty: Mobile on October 4th, for both the Android and iOS versions of the game.

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Scary powerful

We usually don’t cover mobile gaming, but this is just too cool not to talk about. Just revealed as a part of the newest iPhone launch event yesterday, Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil Village will be making the jump to Apple’s newest generation of handsets.

Before you ask, no these won’t be streaming or cloud-based anything. Both games will be made available natively as “apps” on Apple’s App Store, for download and play via iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max. This marks the first time that the titles will be making their way to handsets of any kind, and also the first time that there’s a real sense of parity between mobile phones and home consoles.

According to Capcom, the games will take advantage of Apple’s new Metal hardware acceleration, making use of “MetalFX Upscaling to deliver impressive performance and incredibly responsive gameplay across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.” Oh yeah, did we mention that the games are both coming to iPad too, and RE4 is hitting Mac? Yep, as long as your Apple device has got an M1 chip (or later), they should be supported.

Not only will they be available to play on the above platforms, but the games will also support a form of “cross-progression”. Capcom says that if you start your play-through of Resident Evil 4 on a Mac, you should be able to grab your iPhone 15 Pro and continue it on the road (or wherever). That’s one heck of an exciting prospect, and bodes very well indeed as to gaming in general on Apple’s hardware family.

Before you get too excited though and go buying a copy of Village (which is out now on Mac), just know that it’s going to be a little different for that specific game. The main sticking point there is that it’s already got that standalone Mac edition, so the upcoming iOS version of it will be its own thing. Why Capcom couldn’t just update the existing coy of Village or replace it we don’t know, but it’s not in the cards. So while you’ll be able to cross-play the as-yet unreleased Village App via the new iPads and iPhone 15 Pro, you can forget the Mac version.

As for the new stuff, all of the upcoming versions of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil Village should be out and in the App Store some time before the end of the year though.

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Steeeerike

Console players might be used to Sony’s big name baseball title, but if you’re willing to go mobile, it seems as though there might be some competition. That comes in the form of MLB Perfect Inning 23, the followup to last year’s 2022 edition and the game that’s taking over for Com2uS’ MLB Perfect Inning: Ultimate.

Along with that new designation, comes new cover star and NY Yankees star Gerrit Cole. While the trailer doesn’t seem to show much of the game’s acton, it touts not only Cole, but some pre-registration bonuses as well.

Officially licensed by the MLB and published by Com2uS Holdings, the leading global online game development and publishing company, MLB Perfect Inning 23 is both the follow-up to MLB Perfect Inning 22 and the new name for MLB Perfect Inning: Ultimate, which will sunset alongside this update. The new MLB Perfect Inning 23 will build upon Ultimate’s cutting-edge 3D visuals and animations with updated stadiums, uniforms, and players to mirror the real-world 2023 season. With added gameplay and UI/UX improvements, Perfect Inning 23 sets a new standard of excellence for baseball action on mobile devices.

Com2uS press release

MLB Perfect Inning 23 launches on Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store later this month.

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