News Roundup: DLCs Everywhere, Pokémon Everywhere

Gamers Try To Catch Em All Like It's 1996

This week we've been launched back into the 1990s due to the release of a Pokémon game with a futuristic edge. While Pokémon Go maybe pulling us outside to 'catch em all', Forza Motorsport 6 and Assetto Corsa are sure to bring us back to our man-caves with some new DLCs, and if that's not enough Need For Speed (2015) is released on EA's Origin Access.

Racing

This week Turn 10 release their Select Pack and roll out the July update. Included in the Turn 10 Select Pack is a massive Mercedes-Benz race-truck, BMW Isetta 300 'Bubble Car', the classic Fiat 124 Spider, and several other choices that are sure to be more fitting on the Nurburgring! July's content update finally addresses issues with track boundaries, so no more clean laps marked dirty. Check out our article for the full details.

Assetto Corsa welcomes v1.7 and a new DLC to enjoy, the 'Red Pack'. Included in the DLC is selection of Ferrari, Masserati, and a Lamborghi, such as the Ferrari 488 GT3 and Lamborghini Aventador SuperVeloce. On top of the latest batch of Italians is the Red Bull Ring of Spielberg, Austria, which for the first time ever in PC Racing has been digitally scanned with laser scanning technology.

The latest update, V1.7, introduces improvements to the current V7 tyre model. With V7, tyre temperatures reacting more sensitively to initial tyre pressures, as well as improvements in the realigning force. Some Red Pack cars include the latest V10 tyre model, which while it feels very similar to the current tyre model, is actually a complete rewrite and one step closer to realism. Tyre model V10 will be rolling out to the rest of the car list in the coming months. Also included in the update are changes the the hybrid/KERS simulation, multiplayer improvements that reduce bandwidth, and tweaks to the AI algorithm to make AI more variable in performance. Read the full Red Pack article here.

Bigben and Kylotonn Racing Games unveil the first trailer for WRC 6, due for release in October 2016 on PC, Xbox One, and Playstation 4. In response to community feedback, the latest installment of the WRC franchise will include narrower roads, longer special stages, and head-to-head super special stages. Featured in WRC 6 are all 14 rounds of the 2016 World Rally Championship season, which includes Rally China for the first time. WRC 6 will also include star WRC drivers and a selection of WRC 2 teams and competitors from the Junior WRC category.

Origin Access subscribers today welcome new addition, Need For Speed. Origin Access gives subscribers access to a collection of games, now including Need For Speed, for $4.99/month, with no limit on playtime. Origin Access players also receive 'Play First Trials' which give subscribers the opportunity to play new games before release. The rebooted Need For Speed was release on PC just March of this year to mixed reviews.

Mobile

Bethesda's highly popular mobile game, Fallout Shelter, receives its largest update yet, update 1.6. The new update introduces a new quest system with a new combat mechanic, as well as two new items: the Starter Pack which allows players to jump-start a new vault, and Nuka-Cola Quantum which speeds up dwellers returning from the wasteland and certain vault tasks. Fallout Shelter is now also available on PC, and can be downloaded from Bethesda's website.

Pokémon is back, with Pokémon Go, now available in the UK! Pokémon Go is an augmented reality (AR) game which allows players to search their own world for Pokémon and try to catch 'em all. Pokémon Go has encouraged millions across the world to go out, exercise, socialise in usually-forgotten parks, and visit local businesses. Download now for iPhone and Android. It's great fun. Really. Do it.

Other

"I wish there was an IMDb for games..." Well now there is! What's it called? You guessed it, the Internet Games Database or IGDB. While IGDB has actually been around since 2012, this is the first the website has become an 'IMDb for games'. The IGDB team developed their review aggregating feature from scratch in a mere 10 days, and with a massive 19,000+ games in their database it's quickly becoming a treasured resource for gamers. Check it out here.

Finally, in the UK game charts (week ending 09/07/16), Overwatch has moved up to #2, sitting behind Lego Star Wars, while Rocket League is actually moving up from #7 last week to #5. Unfortunately for Bethesda, Fallout 4 has dropped from #15 last week, to #20.