During Capcom's special Tokyo Game Show 2020 live stream presentation, members of the development team shared their perspective on the two main characters of the upcoming horror game Resident Evil Village: Ethan Winters, and the eponymous Village itself, and saying that the game will have more of a focus on exploration than Resident Evil 7. Resident Evil Village takes place in an as-yet-unnamed location, one that the presentation described as "the other protagonist" of the game. Director Morimasa Sato said, "When you take the word ‘village’, people picture a small place. But when you look at Village, it has a colossal, distant feel to it." He emphasized the importance of making a place players could explore. "You have a lot more freedom [in Village] than in Resident Evil VII," Sato said. "We want players to experiment, to figure out what works for them." He described the upcoming game as "a horror movie you can play." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/25/capcom-special-program-livestream-tgs-2020"] In describing the scale of Resident Evil Village, art director Tomonori Tanako said they put a storybook (seen in the most recent trailer) into the game because "there was such variety in the game… it would be hard to summarize all that, and players might get confused." Asked to summarize Village, director Sato took a long pause and said it is "the story of one man named Ethan… the entirety of who he is." Resident Evil Village takes place years after the events of Resident Evil VII, the previous main entry in the series which was released in 2017 and the first with a dedicated first-person perspective. During the TGS broadcast, Village director Morimasa Sato said. "When we were making Resident Evil VII, we thought of Ethan just as a camera for the player," even describing him as "transparent." As production moved on, though, the team ”grew attached” to Ethan, and ultimately wondered "what happened to him" after the story was finished. This secured his position as the star of the next game in their minds. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=resident-evil-village-playstation-5-showcase-screenshots&captions=true"] Before wrapping up the Resident Evil portion of Capcom’s TGS stream, a logo for the series' 25th anniversary was unveiled along with artwork that featured an assortment of heroes and villains from past games. The original game debuted on the PlayStation on March 22, 1996 in Japan, so an anniversary campaign will kick off on March 22, 2021. We also learned that Capcom is considering releasing the game on PS4 and Xbox One, but "can't make any promises". [poilib element="accentDivider"]

A Sony patent has been found suggesting that the next iteration of PlayStation VR will feature inside-out tracking and new finger-freeing controllers (not unlike controllers used for Oculus devices). The patent documentation was found by LetsGoDigital and can be read in full here. The images supplied suggest that this new headset will feature inside-out tracking, meaning there will be no need for an external camera to track your hand movements - it will all be taken care of by the headset and a sensor within the controllers. [caption id="attachment_2412359" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Images of the patented Sony controller designs.[/caption] This is the approach used by many popular VR headsets such as the Oculus Quest and the Oculus Rift S. The controllers seen in the patent also differ drastically from the PlayStation Move wands currently used with PSVR. Instead, they bear resemblance to Valve's groundbreaking 'Knuckles' controllers, which free up the user's hands and allow for individual finger-tracking. Instead of clutching on to a wand, you'll be gripping a module with your fingers free. Also, on the face of the controllers, we see typical PlayStation buttons, including an analogue stick on both hands, a feature famously missing from the Move controllers. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/23/the-10-best-psvr-games"] This is just a patent for now so it doesn't confirm anything about the next iteration of PSVR. There's also the chance that these are to be used in conjunction with the "next generation" VR headset Sony is working on, which may itself be entirely separate from PSVR. To get yourself wondering about what could be, check out our article covering all of the best PSVR games. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

A Sony patent has been found suggesting that the next iteration of PlayStation VR will feature inside-out tracking and new finger-freeing controllers (not unlike controllers used for Oculus devices). The patent documentation was found by LetsGoDigital and can be read in full here. The images supplied suggest that this new headset will feature inside-out tracking, meaning there will be no need for an external camera to track your hand movements - it will all be taken care of by the headset and a sensor within the controllers. [caption id="attachment_2412359" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Images of the patented Sony controller designs.[/caption] This is the approach used by many popular VR headsets such as the Oculus Quest and the Oculus Rift S. The controllers seen in the patent also differ drastically from the PlayStation Move wands currently used with PSVR. Instead, they bear resemblance to Valve's groundbreaking 'Knuckles' controllers, which free up the user's hands and allow for individual finger-tracking. Instead of clutching on to a wand, you'll be gripping a module with your fingers free. Also, on the face of the controllers, we see typical PlayStation buttons, including an analogue stick on both hands, a feature famously missing from the Move controllers. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/23/the-10-best-psvr-games"] This is just a patent for now so it doesn't confirm anything about the next iteration of PSVR. There's also the chance that these are to be used in conjunction with the "next generation" VR headset Sony is working on, which may itself be entirely separate from PSVR. To get yourself wondering about what could be, check out our article covering all of the best PSVR games. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Nintendo has detailed the Autumn update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which will include Halloween-themed costumes, character customization options, DIY projects, reactions and festivities. The free update will land on September 30 and include a whole host of new items and features. On October 31, a character known as Jack the Halloween Czar will arrive in-game, and players can earn "spooky in-game rewards" by gifting them lollipops and candy. Festivities will be held in the plaza, with Halloween decorations and pranks abound. Players can gift their fellow islanders candy to avoid potential pranks. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/25/animal-crossing-new-horizons-fall-update-trailer"] Throughout October players will be able to pick up new costumes such as a "mummy outfit" from Able Sisters, as well as coloured eye contacts and body paint so you can really get into the theatrics of Halloween. You'll also be able to grow pumpkins by picking up a kit from Leif the sloth. Once harvested, pumpkins can then be put to use in special themed DIY projects. Beyond the Halloween festivities, the Autumn update will also introduce a Dreaming Favourite List so players can pin down their favourite islands to visit when they head for a snooze. The NookLink service within the Nintendo Switch Online app will be updated so that players can perform in-game reactions from the comfort of their phone. For more on Animal Crossing: New Horizons, check out this guide which will show you how to find all of the bugs, fish and sea creatures for September. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.  

Nintendo has detailed the Autumn update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which will include Halloween-themed costumes, character customization options, DIY projects, reactions and festivities. The free update will land on September 30 and include a whole host of new items and features. On October 31, a character known as Jack the Halloween Czar will arrive in-game, and players can earn "spooky in-game rewards" by gifting them lollipops and candy. Festivities will be held in the plaza, with Halloween decorations and pranks abound. Players can gift their fellow islanders candy to avoid potential pranks. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/25/animal-crossing-new-horizons-fall-update-trailer"] Throughout October players will be able to pick up new costumes such as a "mummy outfit" from Able Sisters, as well as coloured eye contacts and body paint so you can really get into the theatrics of Halloween. You'll also be able to grow pumpkins by picking up a kit from Leif the sloth. Once harvested, pumpkins can then be put to use in special themed DIY projects. Beyond the Halloween festivities, the Autumn update will also introduce a Dreaming Favourite List so players can pin down their favourite islands to visit when they head for a snooze. The NookLink service within the Nintendo Switch Online app will be updated so that players can perform in-game reactions from the comfort of their phone. For more on Animal Crossing: New Horizons, check out this guide which will show you how to find all of the bugs, fish and sea creatures for September. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.  

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory will be getting a playable demo in mid-October, producer Ichiro Hazama announced during a live show at the 2020 Tokyo Game Show on Friday. More details, such as the exact date, and a potential western release, will be released later. Some gameplay was also shown off, with Hazama and special guest Kasumi Ashizawa, a member of e-Sports team G-Star Gaming, playing through the game’s co-op mode. Ashizawa also took a spin through one level of the World Trip single player mode. The game will also feature online versus play. The title is a departure for the series, swapping out the usual RPG trappings for a rhythm action game in the vein of the Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and Theatrhythm Dragon Quest games that were released for Nintendo 3DS in 2012 and 2015. Hazama and co-director Masanobu Suzui worked on those two titles. Tetsuya Nomura is also a director and participated in Friday’s panel as a voiceover. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/22/kingdom-hearts-melody-of-memory-announcement-trailer"] Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a recounting of the famously complex Kingdom Hearts series set against the backdrop of over 140 songs from across the various Kingdom Hearts games. Players will control teams of three characters as they traverse through each world by pressing the correct button in rhythm to the music. “The controls weren’t really that different from a normal game in the Kingdom Hearts series,” Ashizawa said. “Jump is jump and attack is attack.” Of course, the most important part of a rhythm game is the music itself, and the work of famed series composer Yoko Shimomura gives the game a solid foundation to work from. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=kingdom-hearts-melody-of-memory-screenshots&captions=true"] Shimomura was also part of Friday’s show and said the game was a new experience for her. She’s used to having her melodies work their magic in the background of scenes. This time, a lot of her music is serving as an integral part of the gameplay itself. “I always felt that music was supposed to be in the background but also help set the scene without standing out too much,” Shimomura said. “But this time my music is at the front, so it’s surprising. “When I was able to see the game played a little while ago, the music was really front and center all the way through. I actually felt a little embarrassed,” she added with a laugh. Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory releases on November 13 for PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory will be getting a playable demo in mid-October, producer Ichiro Hazama announced during a live show at the 2020 Tokyo Game Show on Friday. More details, such as the exact date, and a potential western release, will be released later. Some gameplay was also shown off, with Hazama and special guest Kasumi Ashizawa, a member of e-Sports team G-Star Gaming, playing through the game’s co-op mode. Ashizawa also took a spin through one level of the World Trip single player mode. The game will also feature online versus play. The title is a departure for the series, swapping out the usual RPG trappings for a rhythm action game in the vein of the Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and Theatrhythm Dragon Quest games that were released for Nintendo 3DS in 2012 and 2015. Hazama and co-director Masanobu Suzui worked on those two titles. Tetsuya Nomura is also a director and participated in Friday’s panel as a voiceover. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/22/kingdom-hearts-melody-of-memory-announcement-trailer"] Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a recounting of the famously complex Kingdom Hearts series set against the backdrop of over 140 songs from across the various Kingdom Hearts games. Players will control teams of three characters as they traverse through each world by pressing the correct button in rhythm to the music. “The controls weren’t really that different from a normal game in the Kingdom Hearts series,” Ashizawa said. “Jump is jump and attack is attack.” Of course, the most important part of a rhythm game is the music itself, and the work of famed series composer Yoko Shimomura gives the game a solid foundation to work from. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=kingdom-hearts-melody-of-memory-screenshots&captions=true"] Shimomura was also part of Friday’s show and said the game was a new experience for her. She’s used to having her melodies work their magic in the background of scenes. This time, a lot of her music is serving as an integral part of the gameplay itself. “I always felt that music was supposed to be in the background but also help set the scene without standing out too much,” Shimomura said. “But this time my music is at the front, so it’s surprising. “When I was able to see the game played a little while ago, the music was really front and center all the way through. I actually felt a little embarrassed,” she added with a laugh. Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory releases on November 13 for PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Capcom is "looking into" releasing Resident Evil Village on Xbox One and PS4, but "can't make any promises". During a Tokyo Game Show showcase, producer Tsuyoshi Kanda explained that, "While Resident Evil Village is being developed specifically for next-generation consoles and PC, we're looking into delivering the experience on Xbox One and PS4 as well. We're looking into it, but we can't make any promises. However, we will do our best in creating a top-tier survival horror experience on current generation consoles." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/16/resident-evil-8-village-gameplay-trailer"] While announced specifically for PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5, it seems Capcom doesn't want to leave behind the huge current-gen player base – but development work will seemingly be to scale down the new game for lower-powered hardware. The eighth mainline Resident Evil game is set a few years after Resident Evil 7, and takes us on a first-person adventure through a monster-infested village, using returning hero Ethan. Series mainstay Chris Redfield will also make a prominent appearance. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=resident-evil-village-playstation-5-showcase-screenshots&captions=true"] The village itself is designed to be a more open area than RE7's Baker house, perhaps returning to a more action-oriented game. It will also feature a revamped inventory that looks to be closer to Resident Evil 4's briefcase design. The series has seen a number of major new and remade releases recently, including RE7, which shifted the perspective of mainline entries, followed by the acclaimed Resident Evil 2 remake in 2019, as well as the Resident Evil 3 Remake this year, which IGN praised as "a wonderful continuation of Capcom’s latest remake efforts." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Capcom is "looking into" releasing Resident Evil Village on Xbox One and PS4, but "can't make any promises". During a Tokyo Game Show showcase, producer Tsuyoshi Kanda explained that, "While Resident Evil Village is being developed specifically for next-generation consoles and PC, we're looking into delivering the experience on Xbox One and PS4 as well. We're looking into it, but we can't make any promises. However, we will do our best in creating a top-tier survival horror experience on current generation consoles." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/16/resident-evil-8-village-gameplay-trailer"] While announced specifically for PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5, it seems Capcom doesn't want to leave behind the huge current-gen player base – but development work will seemingly be to scale down the new game for lower-powered hardware. The eighth mainline Resident Evil game is set a few years after Resident Evil 7, and takes us on a first-person adventure through a monster-infested village, using returning hero Ethan. Series mainstay Chris Redfield will also make a prominent appearance. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=resident-evil-village-playstation-5-showcase-screenshots&captions=true"] The village itself is designed to be a more open area than RE7's Baker house, perhaps returning to a more action-oriented game. It will also feature a revamped inventory that looks to be closer to Resident Evil 4's briefcase design. The series has seen a number of major new and remade releases recently, including RE7, which shifted the perspective of mainline entries, followed by the acclaimed Resident Evil 2 remake in 2019, as well as the Resident Evil 3 Remake this year, which IGN praised as "a wonderful continuation of Capcom’s latest remake efforts." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Konami has announced and released a slew of PC ports for some of its classic games, including the Metal Gear, Castlevania, and Contra franchises. Starting today, the original 1987 Metal Gear, Metal Gear Solid, and Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, are all available on GoG.com. All can be purchased separately, while additionally Konami has released the Konami Collector's Series: Castlevania & Contra, which includes: Castlevania, Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, Contra, and Super C. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=metal-gear-mgs-mgs-2-pc-screenshots&captions=true"] Word of these ports broke via ratings board classifications earlier this week, but the games are now finally available for purchase. This release marks MGS' first PC availability since 2000, while MGS 2 hit PC in 2003. Substance is the expanded version of the original MGS 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami has recently been reviving its classic games, including both the Castlevania Anniversary Collection and the Contra Anniversary Collection. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/05/16/castlevania-anniversary-collection-launch-trailer"] For other Metal Gear Solid news, check out this interview with voice actor David Hayter as he reflects on the legacy of Solid Snake. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=konami-collection-pc-screenshots&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"]