This Week in RPGs – May 21st, 2023

Happy weekend from Fextralife! If you’ve been too busy to keep up on the latest in the games we cover or are looking for a refresher we’ve got you covered! Here’s a bite-sized version of the Top RPG news of the week. Taste all the latest news across the Fextralife Wiki Network.

Check out the video above and read on for the text!

Hogwarts Legacy

Not so good news for Switch fans as the Hogwarts Legacy Switch port has been delayed. Does this spell doom for the Nintendo Switch?

While a major first-party title Zelda Tears of the Kingdom launched just last week, already gaining 10 million copies sold in just three days, the major Switch port just got pushed. Hogwarts Legacy quite a demanding game graphics-wise, was supposed to launch on the Switch this July.

However, Warner Bros. announced that the open world Action-RPG won’t be arriving until November 14th. The news comes with the unsurprising reason that the port needs more time according to the developer to provide the “best possible experience” for players. Both Xbox One and Playstation 4 also faced similar delays previously, but those versions have been released this month.

The Switch is definitely facing its age as its hardware will need to accommodate more intensive titles. How the portable version of Hogwarts Legacy will run is curious, especially on the now 6-year-old device. But those looking for a portable version can still find one if they own the Steam Deck, which now has now been verified on the platform.

What do you think of this news? Let us know in the comments below. As with all news mentioned in this video you can find the link in the description below.

For more on this RPG news find it here in Hogwarts Legacy Switch Port Pushed to November Release.

Hogwarts Legacy Switch version is now delayed to November 14th.

Lord of the Rings MMO

Amazon forays into Middle-earth…once again. You might be getting a sense of deja vu. Didn’t we hear about Amazon making an MMO based on The Lord of the Rings previously? That is correct but this time around Amazon is both developing and publishing the game itself.

However, it’s not alone in this new endeavour as the title is a collaboration with Middle-earth-Enterprises, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Embracer Group AB.

The game is described as an MMO able to capture the immersive and captivating realm of Middle-earth in an open-world game. Based on the works of author J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic fantasy world, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Currently, in the early stages of development, the project will be led by the team at Amazon Games Orange County studio. Upon completion, the game will be available worldwide for both PC and consoles.

Previously Amazon Games had plans for an MMO based on LOTR, however it was reported plans fell through in 2021 ultimately leading to the cancellation of development. The MMORPG was in partnership with Leyou Technologies which was bought by Tencent.

According to the VP at Amazon Games Christoph Hartmann the game will be a “fresh take” on The Lord of the Rings. According to IGN, Hartmann confirmed this is a completely new project, and won’t be using any materials from the previous one.

But this isn’t Amazon’s first venture into multiplayer games. Amazon’s own homegrown New World was launched in September 2021. Amazon has also brought the extremely popular online Action-RPG Lost Ark developed by Korean studio Smilegate RPG west. They have plans to bring the MMORPG Thorne and Liberty also west as cross-platform title in the second half of 2023. Then there is Blue Protocol with Bandai Namco.

What are your expectations for an MMO based on The Lord of the Rings? Let us know in the comments below.

For more on this RPG news find it here in Amazon Announces Lord of the Rings Open World MMO.

Amazon is working on an MMO based on the fantasy world of Lord of the Rings.

Diablo 4

Developer Blizzard expects smooth sailing for Diablo 4’s launch but will history repeat itself when it comes to Blizzard launches? Fresh off the heels of the Diablo 4 Server Slam, the development team are looking fairly confident with the upcoming full release of Diablo 4.

Associate game director Joe Piepiora spoke out about the previous betas and how each of these phases has helped in getting the game ready for June. The betas have given Blizzard data needed to ensure that the launch goes off without a hitch and they have learnt a tonne from the Server Slam. Piepiora explained while they still found “things happening in the back end that if left unresolved, would have resulted in some issues during the launch experience”. The extra beta has helped to catch these issues in time for the release next month.

If you’re curious about our experience during the last beta and some of our concerns for upcoming launch of the game be sure to check out our Diablo 4 Final Preview. We go over performance, class balancing, legendary drop rates and more.

We’re in for a pretty dark story this time around. The developer also shared recently the game will be the “darkest story” they’ve ever told according to a recent behind the scenes “inside the game video”. Not only will Diablo 4 expand the world of Sanctuary but the lore of the Diablo series. They also tease it will be a narrative “like never before”.

Diablo 4 is all set to be unleashed on June 6th for PC, PS5, Xbox Series, Xbox One and PS4. Those who purchase the Deluxe or Ultimate versions of the game will have early access starting June 1st.

For more on this RPG news find it here in Diablo 4 Launch Expected to Be Smooth According to Developer.

Diablo 4 devs seem quite confident in the smooth launch for the upcoming ARPG.

PC Gaming Show/Summer Game Fest

Expect lots of announcements for the PC Gaming Show as we head into one of the busiest times of year for gaming news with Summer Game Fest happening. The upcoming PC Gaming Show 2023 next month will be featuring a number of games including over 15 game announcements during the showcase. In total, there will be 55 games being highlighted during the event.

So far confirmed games are Baldur’s Gate III by Larian Studios, Dune: Awakening by Funcom, Frostpunk 2 by 11 bit studios, Pax Dei by Mainframe Industries and a brand new title from Klei Entertainment.

Global editor-in-chief of PC Gamer Evan Lahti shared that there are plenty of games to look forward to for PC players as it “overflows with interesting games”.

One of those games being showcased is Baldur’s Gate 3 which was announced earlier this year, to be leaving early access on August 31st. As we get closer to version 1.0 we should be seeing more details of what will be available and the PC Gaming Show seems like a perfect time to unveil more.

The PC Gaming Show 2023 will be taking place on June 11th at 1:00 PM PT. It’s available to watch live on major streaming platforms including Twitch and Youtube.

For more on this RPG news find it here in PC Gaming Show 2023 Will Spotlight Over 15 New Game Announcements.

Expect over 15 new announcements and 55 games to be featured at the PC Gaming Show 2023.

Playstation Showcase

Kicking off the Summer Game Fest season, Playstation will be having showcase next week. Sony will be holding a Playstation Showcase on May 24th at 1PM PT. The showcase will last about roughly an hour and will be showing off PS5 and PSVR 2 games. A quick teaser trailer confirmed the news along with details we’ll be seeing games from “top studios from around the world”.

Playstation fans will get to see “several” first-party games from Playstation Studios. Also teased are “spellbinding games” from third-party developers and indie creators.

As for what we could be seeing during the showcase, maybe a visit from our friendly neighbourhood spider? Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has an upcoming fall 2023 release date but no exact launch date announced yet. Others in the mix could be Mortal Kombat.

Rumours are always swirling this time of year, especially just before major events such as these. So we’ll have to wait and watch what surprises may be in store.

For more on this RPG news find it here in Playstation Showcase Confirmed for May 2023.

The May Playstation Showcase will feature both PS5 and PSVR 2 games.

Genshin Impact

Free to play online Action-RPG Genshin Impact goes all in with TCG. In the next update version 3.7 Genshin players will be welcoming more card game activities in Genius Invokation.

The in-game mini game was added in version 3.3 allowing players to use collectible cards to play against their favourite characters and even other players. Four major events will be gracing Teyvat, which will reward players with various currencies that can be later on exchanged for rewards, including Primogems and other Ascension Materials.

One such event is called the “Zero Hour Invokation” which will have the traveler face off against a seasoned veteran of the card game. There will be three reward tiers in total for this, with objectives ranging from simply dueling him, to achieving victory on the “Serious Showdown” difficulty. Gamers will need to create their own decks with a limited pool of cards.

Other events in the Summoners’ Summit include the “Tour of Wonders”, “Evermotion Mechanical Painting: Invoker”, and “Heart of the Dice”. There will also be new character cards, monster cards, action cards and food cards coming to the game.

New strategies and deck types are sure to come out of the newly added cards. To try them out, Genshin Impact is introducing a new hardcore game type, the Arena of Champions. This PVP mode will have players create their own decks and duke it out with other Travelers.

While we may not be getting a new 5-Star character, we are getting a new 4-Star one instead. Introducing Kirara, a feline heroine wielding a sword and Dendro vision.

For more on this news find it here in Genshin Impact 3.7 Winds Down and Focuses on Events and the TCG.

Genshin Impact Update 3.7 Focuses on the Genius Invokation TCG

Wild Hearts

Wild Hearts has added a number of improvements for its endgame and a new Alpha Sapscourge for Kemono hunters.

The developers over at Omega Force have not slowed down with their regular updates for Wild Hearts. This month, we get to face off against the alpha version of the humble Sapscourge. As with other updates, we will also get new weapons, armor, quests, and limit break options. The game also gets some fixes and additions on the technical side as well.

The fictional land of Wild Hearts had us face off against a magical pink fox called the Murakamo last April. Now we will be fighting an even angrier version of the Sapscourge. The basic version of this monster creates sticky areas from its sap, causing havoc for hunters.

On the other hand, the Alpha variants are much angrier and meaner. Instead of simple sap, it looks like their arms and legs flow with even more celestial energy. Facing off against this alpha variant will require players to complete the prerequisite quest, “Alpha Amber Rogue”.

This Wild Hearts update also introduces a new activity type called “Trial Quests”. These endeavors will send hunters to seek out Kemono but will be equipped with predefined weapons, skills, and armor.

Weapons and armor can now be also upgraded even further using these Core Orbs in this update. The Wild Hearts May Update also adds a ton of technical improvements to the game including NVIDIA DLSS.

For more on this news find it here in Wild Hearts Update Adds New “Alpha Sapscourge” Kemono this May.

Wild Hearts May Update Adds Alpha Sapscourge and DLSS

Lords of the Fallen

The Action-RPG Lords of the Fallen finally nails down a release date, coming this October 13th. The gothic remake/reboot of Lords of the Fallen will be gracing PC, PS5 and Xbox Series this October. The game got a new gameplay trailer which announced the good news.

The trailer is narrated introducing the location of Mournstead. Its hallowing halls, towering buildings and gothic interior are gorgeously displayed. However, you won’t be just admiring the architecture as there are plenty of enemies and bosses to encounter.

One particular enemy that looks like it could be a boss in nature, sweeps at the player, as they duck and roll out of dodge. Flame circles brandish the ground as the knight quickly manoeuvres away from the giant swinging hands ready to take them out in one fell swoop.

If you’re eager to get your hands on Lords of the Fallen, the pre-orders are already available for the standard and deluxe versions of the game. If you order before launch you can net yourself some exclusive armor, XP, HP and MP items. The deluxe edition also comes with the Dark Crusader starting class.

Keep your eyes peeled for our Lords of the Fallen wiki, as we’ll be adding all the latest info on classes, armor, bosses and much more.

For more on this RPG news find it here in Lords of the Fallen Gets October Release Date.

Lords of the Fallen launches October 13th 2023.

Well, that’s it for the Week in Wikis. Please join us next week for yet another great week of gaming! Remember to check out our VIP program for some exclusive supporter benefits, and budding writers should take advantage of our Become an Author initiative! Thanks again for being a part of this great community. Keep checking in with us for news, reviews, YouTube streams and vids, and general wiki goodness!

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