Releases:
Trials Fusion Awesome Level Max Expansion Pack (Jul. 14): Xbox, PlayStation, PC
This DLC for racing game “Trials Fusion” by Ubisoft adds multiple news tracks and challenges. It is broken into two separate themed events. The first is “The Awesome Adventure” in which you play as a cat riding a unicorn. The second is “RedLynx vs All-Stars” is a collection of tracks which pit the game’s track creators against fan creators. The pack contains 40 new tracks, 30 new challenges, 5 new achievements and more.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (Jul. 15): PlayStation
This open horror game by indie developers The Astronauts, which was released to PC back in 2014, was ported to the PS4 this month through Unreal Engine 4. The game focuses on a paranormal investigator in search of a lost young boy and a malevolent spirit.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 4 (Jul. 23): PC, Android
This game has certainly kept us on our toes this month. First the game’s release date was pushed up from Oct. 31 to Aug. 8, in order to release on the one year anniversary of the franchise. But then, creator Scott Cawthorn surprised the world by silently releasing the game to Steam on Jul. 23. Yes, you read that right. Four games in under a year. The trailer for this game only came out on Jul. 13!
This point-and-click survival horror game is noticeably different from the previous titles in the “Five Nights” series in that it is set in a child’s bedroom, rather than a pizzeria and loses the familiar security camera game mechanic. It also features new antagonist animatronics and new mini-games.
Cawthorn has promised a release of DLC on the original release date of Halloween.
The Binding of Isaac Rebirth (Jul. 23): Xbox, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U
This popular PC title released to console this month. “The Binding of Isaac Rebirth” is a remake of the original “The Binding of Isaac,” an indie game in which you play as a young child attempting to escape his zealot of a mother who is welding a butcher knife. The game features dungeon style gameplay with boss fights and alternate endings.
News:
PlayStation Plus Vote to Play (Jul. 31):
This month PlayStation announced on their blog a new PlayStation Plus promotion titled “Vote to Play.” This will allow members of PlayStation Plus to vote on one game for the monthly “Instant Game Collection.” The winning game will be free to download and the runners up with be sold at a discounted price.
Summer Games Done Quick (Jul. 26 — Aug. 1):
Games Done Quick returned this month for their bi-annual speed running marathon event for charity. The event “Summer Games Done Quick” ran from Jul. 26 to Aug. 1 and featured over 150 individual runs. A Speed Run is a playthrough of a video game (or selected section of a game) from start to finish which is done as quickly as possible. Further restrictions may be placed for a different challenge, such as a 100% completion speed run or a run without the use of game glitches. All types of speed runs are welcome at SGDQ as they are entertaining and the event isn’t a competition, but a showcase designed to inspire viewers to donate to the charity of choice. The charity for this last month was “Doctors Without Borders” and this year they raised over $1,200, 000.
