Welcome to Digitally Downloaded’s regular catch-up news feature. With each issue we will bring you the best news that you may have missed. Grab the biggest mug you’ve got, fill it with your favourite brew, and catch up with us (and our favourite news anchor, Dee Dee)! This is an especially exciting catch-up, as it’s the first one on the snazzy new site.
Immortality launches Q3, will also launch for Xbox
The story of Marissa Marcel will be coming to Xbox Series as well as PC via Steam when Immortality launches later this year. The game is the next venture from Sam Barlow’s studio, Half Mermaid Productions; the company’s first release was the phenomenal Telling Lies. Years ago, with Her Story, Barlow established himself as King of Investigative FMV. Telling Lies followed, and Immortality (which is the first in a trilogy) will settle in nicely with its peers. A new trailer was revealed at an /twitchgaming ID@Xbox showcase last week, showing us more than what we learned during E3 last year.
Marissa Marcel made three movies that were ever released. In 1968 she starred as Matilda in Ambrosio (those following Barlow’s career will note this is where the working title, Project Ambrosio, came from), a novel based on a notorious Gothic novel. In 1970, she starred in Minsky, written with her in mind; the movie involves the death of a famous artist and Marcel was his muse who may also be the murderer. In 1999, following a long hiatus, she returns to cinema and reunites with the director of Minsky for The Two of Everything; it explores the duality between a pop star and her body double. So here’s the question: what happened to these films? More importantly, whatever happened to Marissa Marcel?
Developed and published by Half Mermaid, Immortality will be released for PC via Steam and Xbox Series sometime in the third quarter of this year. Additional platforms will be announced at a later date; I’d expect mobile and PlayStation 5 at the very least.
Teen horror game The Quarry coming this June
Sometimes referred to as a spiritual successor to Until Dawn, The Quarry is a teen horror narrative game that is all about choice. Well, that and pure fear. In a press release, developer Supermassive Games’ director Will Byles says, “The Quarry is breaking new ground across interactive storytelling and technology to create a truly visceral teen-horror experience.” The clichés are definitely there: summer camp, only teens, big party. I don’t mean this in a bad way, though. You can’t break the rules without there being rules to be break, if that makes sense.
While not an FMV game, it often seems like it as the developer uses motion capture to feature the actors. Speaking of, the cast is filled with familiar names from familiar films/shows: David Arquette (Scream), Ariel Winter (Modern Family), Justice Smith (Jurassic World), Brenda Song (Dollface), Lance Henriksen (Aliens), and Lin Shaye (A Nightmare on Elm Street). The teens’ party falls to pieces when they are hunted by blood-drenched locals and something somehow more sinister than that. Decisions become life-or-death, and relationships either flourish or break down. Players can play as each of the nine camp counselor, and every choice will help shape the story.
Developed by Supermassive Games and published by 2K, The Quarry will be released for PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, and Xbox One on June 10.
Meet the characters in Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers
Romance visual novel Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers is set in 20XX, in a future where arcades thrive. The player is able to design their own protagonist to take part in the Fist of Discomfort 2 Pro Tour. There will be competition. There will be relationships. And there will be a wild cast along for the ride. Players can date anyone regardless of pronouns, or date nobody and focus on building friendships. The latest trailers showcases six people that will be met along the way.
The above trailer features six characters: Domino, Grace, Jynx, Locksley, Rhapsody, and Zapper. Domino is shy and struggles to form real attachments, but once those attachments form he’ll do anything for his friends. Grace is a technology genius, but prefers to be known as an indie developer. Jynx is intimidating and pragmatic, fiercely loyal. Locksley is a thief, but with a heart of gold; think Robin Hood. Rhapsody knows everything about strategy and is a Fist of Discomfort expert. Zapper is passionate and competitive, always going at 100 miles an hour.
Developed by Fiction Factory Games and published by PQube, Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers will be released for PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, and Xbox One on May 27.
Chinatown Detective Agency launches next month
Set in a neon-lit near-future Singapore, Chinatown Detective Agency’s graphics are more from the past; it’s a really interesting juxtaposition. The whole world seems to be on edge (believable). Angry masses have scrawled graffiti over decaying cities, cities that the player will see as they travel in search of leads. It looks good, it sounds good, I’m ready for the game! And it will be available quite soon. Here’s the release date trailer:
The global economy is set to collapse. Singapore is one of the few cities still functioning, though still on the bring of chaos. The player becomes Amira Darma, a former INTERPOL officer who is now a private eye. And her first client is a doozy. Oh, and there’s a catch: the game requires real-world investigation. Some of what you need is legitimately not found in the game, you’ll have to Google it; these items include an airport code and a mysterious quote. So keep your phone or computer handy!
Developed by Singapore-based General Interactive Co. and published by Humble Games, Chinatown Detective Agency will be released for PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One on April 7.
The new site looks great, and I’m excited for Immortality!
It looks like the new site will no longer use Disqus?
Yes, for now, we’re avoiding Disqus. Disqus costs a fortune if you want an ad-free experience and at this point I want DDNet to be *completely* ad-free (aside for ads for our own stuff), so we’re trialling our own comments system. If necessary we can bring Disqus back down the track.