The Until Dawn movie adaptation is a clear case of PlayStation Studios and Screen Gems fulfilling an obligation they probably had no way out of. If they could, they likely would have cut their losses and killed the project.
In fact, the movie is a strong reason for players to revisit the 2015 PlayStation 4 classic — an interactive horror experience with third-person action-adventure mechanics and a clear focus on what it wants to be. Featuring strong performances from Hayden Panettiere and Rami Malek, it’s essentially a cinematic experience that still holds up today, with no remastering or remake required.
PlayStation’s games-to-live adaptations have certainly gone through a rollercoaster, from The Last of Us series on HBO to Twisted Metal on Peacock. While their experiments have been decent, a stinker or two is inevitable. Still, the money to be made from video game adaptations means these efforts won’t be stopping anytime soon.
Short Beats
Looter shooter Borderlands 4 is releasing a few weeks earlier than its original Sept 23 launch. The game now drops on Sept 12.
Respawn’s Titanfall/Apex Legends spin-off has been cancelled. Parent company EA has laid off 400 staff.
China-made action RPG Lost Soul Aside has been postponed to Aug 29 to allow for more polish and fixes.
Blizzard is reportedly working on an Overwatch mobile port, dubbed Overwatch 3. It’s also developing a new StarCraft title, though the genre remains unconfirmed.
Microsoft is raising Xbox console prices, with new titles expected to retail at USD80.
Taura Takahisa, game director at PlatinumGames and lead designer of Nier Automata and Astral Chain, has left the company. He is launching his own outfit — Eel Game Studio.
Op-Eds
Here’s a breakdown of what we know about the upcoming looter shooter sequel Borderlands 4.
Games Out This Week
Shotgun Cop Man is a precision platformer where you fly and shoot your way through tight levels using buckshot blasters.
Moroi is a bizarre top-down action-adventure based on Romanian folklore. Escape a mad labyrinth, endure weird science experiments, and face eerie visuals.
La Quimera is a story-driven first-person shooter set in a dystopian future Latin America. Available now on PC via Steam.
Forza Horizon 5 is now available on PlayStation 5, bringing its expansive open-world Mexico setting, tons of races, and car collecting fun to a new audience.
Days Gone Remastered lands on PlayStation 5. The upgraded version follows ex-outlaw biker Deacon St. John on a brutal survival journey across the Broken Road.
Kiborg is a rogue-lite beat-em-up where each run lets you enhance your body with cybernetic implants for brutal, fast-paced combat.
Recommended Viewing
Fighting game content creator Maximillian explains why Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands out, despite being made by a small team. Watch the clip for insight into indie success in modern game development.
