video game

Publisher 110 Industries and Soleil, a game development studio comprised of Team Ninja veterans who worked on both the Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive franchises, has announced Wanted: Dead, a new third-person fast-action game for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC set in a low-tech sci-fi version of Hong Kong that will allow you to master combat with both guns and melee weapons. The team cites Bayonetta and Devil May Cry as inspirations. Wanted: Dead also includes “an in-depth investigative side where players must analyze evidence and dive into real police work.”

Key members of the team include former Team Ninja employees that left Tecmo with Team Ninja boss Tomonobu Itagaki in 2008. All senior developers that worked on Ninja Gaiden and Ninja Gaiden II, DOA, DOA2 and Xtreme Beach Volleyball including producer Yoshifuru Okamoto, director Hiroaki Matsui, and lead planner Natsuki Tsurugai. See the uncensored Wanted: Dead announcement trailer above and the first several screenshots below.

As Lt. Hannah Stone, head of the “Zombie Squad” that operates outside of the normal purview of the police, players will have the choice of whether to engage enemies up close with melee attacks (including “a limb-severing mechanic that changes enemy attack patterns”) or bring them down from afar with guns. As you can see in the uncensored trailer above, Wanted: Dead definitely shows its Ninja Gaiden roots in addition to its Bayonetta and Devil May Cry influences.

There is no release date as of yet as from simply “2022,” but stay tuned to IGN for much more on Wanted: Dead in the coming months.

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive editor of previews and host of both IGN’s weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.

Myth of Empires is an upcoming multiplayer sandbox game that puts players in the middle of a world devastated by war. Not only will players need to build massive fortresses, siege enemy cities, and lead their armies into battle, but there is a strong survival element that will require strategic thinking to prevent hunger, weather, and more from meaning the difference between victory and defeat.

While there is still no release date for Myth of Empires, developer Angela Game has announced a global closed beta test from October 2 – October 10, 2021. Those interested can register now via Steam’s Playtest function for a chance to participate, and this marks the first global beta test following the game’s closed alpha and localization alpha tests earlier this year.

In Myth of Empires, players will have to “survive and earn their place in a world torn apart by war, build fortresses, lead armies in massive battles, siege enemy cities, and establish their own empires!” Despite Myth of Empires entering the crowded survival sandbox genre as a relatively unknown contender, it offers a realistic style, a wide range of content, and a challenging and thrilling gameplay style that could make it the next dark horse hit like Valheim or another of the like.

“This beta test brings us one step closer to the Myth of Empires experience we’ve long envisioned,” says Meng Liang, Producer at Angela Game and Project Director at Angela Game’s T’ien-Kung Studio. “It’s our first global beta and the biggest test yet, in terms of both content and scale. We can’t wait to see how players respond to all of the new gameplay and improvements we’ve put in the game.”

In the beta, players will get to try out Myth of Empires’ tactical combat, its crafting system that allows for the creation of dozens of weapon and armor types, the guild system that will allow players to team up with friends, PvE and PvP servers in certain regions, and much more.

There will also be a chance to build customized structures in your quest to take over enemy fortresses alongside siege weapons like ballistas, catapults, trebuchets, and siege ladders. You’ll also be able to recruit NPCs by “peaceful means or by force,” and you can have them collect resources, craft items, hunt, or fight with you in battle.

Animals play a big role in Myth of Empires, and horses can be tamed to be ridden in battle or bred to make new steeds that suit your playstyle. Elephants, rhinos, crocodiles, butterflies, fish, and many other animals will also be scattered around the game’s map.

Remember, all you have to do is head to Myth of Empire’s Steam page and Request Access to have a chance to join the closed beta that is set to run from October 2 – 10 and will give fans their first chance to make a name for themselves in this war-torn world and see if Myth of Empire can compete with such juggernauts as New World as one of 2021’s best new games.