Is Minecraft Releasing a Sequel?

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Today’s Insights

• PlayStation platformer racks up the awards and knocks off current champ

• Buzz about a sequel to a massive mining hit

• Netflix’s latest collaboration has gamers seeing pink

• Hand-drawn masterpiece you need to keep your eyes on

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THIS WEEK IN GAMING

Most Awarded Platformer of all Time Snags Multiple Game of the Year Awards

The fifth installment from the Astro Bot series has been breaking records left and right. Released in September of 20204, Astro Bot has gone on to win over 100 game of the year awards, making it the most awarded platform game of all time. This game may be way behind such titles as Baldur’s Gate 3 (288 wins), The Last of Us Part 2 (326 wins), and Elden Ring (top of the rank overall at 435 wins) it’s still no small feat, considering it was crafted by a team of around 70 designers and developers.

A fun and simple game that makes use of the DualSense controller. Astro’s Playroom launched in 2020 on the PlayStation 5 console, to overall positive critical acclaim. It was one of the early PS5 games, and fully showcased the DualSense controller and what it could do. The touchpad and directional movements are instrumental in certain circumstances. For instance, when Astro Bot dons the ball suit, users need to swipe the touchpad to move the ball across the screen. There’s also a frog suit that relies on a certain tilt of the controller to perform a super jump. 

What makes the latest edition of Astro Bot so good? Fans loved previous Astro Bot titles. Apparently, Team Asobi listened to gamers when they developed the latest title, and they were rewarded with over 1.5 million copies sold in less than two months. Players control Astro Bot as they traverse dozens of levels to save other Bots while collecting parts to rebuild the mother ship. Astro Bot can jump, swim, punch, spin attack, hover, and more to clear each level and eventually face off against the space bully, Nebulax. 

Dethroning 2021’s most awarded platformer. The last game to hold the title for most awarded platformer ever was It Takes Two by Hazelight Studios. It held the title since 2021 and took home 88 Game of the Year Awards. Astro Bot isn’t finished yet as it’s still a relatively new title and may continue to win more awards. If you like cute, yet challenging platformers, you might want to give Astro Bot a try. 

DEVELOPER INSIGHTS

Could the World’s Most Popular Sandbox, Block Mining Game be Seeing a Sequel?

Tantalizing tweets about a new Minecraft? The quintessential block-mining, sandbox game Minecraft is back in the news. Starting from humble beginnings back in 2009, Minecraft has grown to a $3 billion dollar money farm. The game has sold over 300 million copies and spawned tons of merch from keychains to hoodies, to stuffed Creepers and foam swords. This game, despite its relatively simplistic playstyle, has some serious staying power. And recently, the original creator, Markus "Notch" Persson hinted at some major news to the latest Minecraft saga. 

Notch is not completely opposed to creating Minecraft 2, but… A few days ago, Notch Tweeted on X “...maybe there are people who like my work but might not share my taste in retro nostalgia and would prefer for me to make a spiritual successor thing to Minecraft, and I mean sure, I'd take that cash.” He then asked followers to vote on whether they’d prefer a new, completely non-Minecraft game, or basically what would amount to Minecraft 2. Voting is now closed but it certainly piqued the interest of the gaming world. 

…He says he’d rather work on something else. Later he added that he’d rather create a “roguelike, first-person dungeon crawler,” and asked his followers to please vote for that instead of Minecraft 2. Currently, Mojang and Minecraft are owned by Microsoft. Notch made major bank in the sale, but they don’t have the greatest relationship. If Notch does decide to make a second rendition of the beloved game, he’d have to work something out with them.

Wait. What did I hear about a Minecraft movie? While Notch tallies up votes and decides which way he will go, gamers can still play Minecraft here. And just in case you are looking for some blocky, retro, Minecraft live-action, come April of this year, Jack Black will play Steve in the new Minecraft movie. It features not only Jack Black but Jason Mamoa, who gets transported to the Minecraft world and has to save it from nefarious forces set on destroying it. 

TECH SPOTLIGHT

Call of Duty and Netflix’s Squid Game, a Collab We Didn’t Know We Needed, But We’re Sure Glad it Happened!

Have you finished binging Squid Game and need more? Squid Game season 2 has officially dropped after making us wait nearly 3 years. Unfortunately, some of us have already binged through the short (7-episode) season, and are eagerly awaiting the next installment. Well, if you loved watching Squid Game, and you’re jonesing for more, take a look at the latest collaboration with Call of Duty. Not only can you play games similar to the show—with a lot more shooting—but players can dress as their favorite characters. Even the ominous, pink-clad guards. 

Step into the Squid Game arena, Call of Duty style. Other activities include limited-time game modes, a Fortnite-inspired event pass, and Operator bundles. Some of the limited-time modes include: Red Light, Green Light, Pentathlon, Squid Game Mosh Pit, Dead Light, Green Light, and Squid Game, a COD Warzone. 

1, 2, 3, 4, Red Light! Red Light, Green Light is a multiplayer game similar to the show. When players are given the “Green light” they run to pick various weapons off the ground and start eliminating others, but be sure to keep an ear out for the ominous “Red light.” If you are caught moving, you get eliminated. 

More multiplayer modes. Pentathlon is another multiplayer mode where the Piggy Bank reward increases with each player that gets eliminated. The Mosh Pit adds a twist to the gameplay while adding scorestreaks related to the show. Dead Light, Green Light is similar to Red Light, only with zombies. And then there’s a huge boss that spawns at the end.  

Even more Squid Game fun for those with a sense of adventure. If all that doesn’t get you fired up to play the COD Squid Game collaboration, maybe some exciting, limited edition, Squid Game themed Xbox controllers will. In addition to that, Netflix wants you to try out their free Squid Game mobile game. Don’t worry if you don’t have Netflix downloaded, you can play it for free, without a subscription. 

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

A Gorgeous, Hand-Drawn, Metroidvania Game is in Development; Here’s a Quick Peek.

The hand-drawn graphics are “chef’s kiss.” One of the most intriguing aspects of Whalesong’s first venture into video game development is the artistry. Morning Star, the upcoming game, showcases characters and enemies that are hand-drawn and meticulously created backgrounds. This stylistic choice invokes vintage cartoons back before computers and AI took over. The sprites are fresh, engaging, odd-looking, and gorgeous all at the same time.

Even the background is immersive. Morning Star will feature real-time lighting in the background. Torches will flicker and cast shadows, your character, depending on where they are standing and what they do will cast shadows and shift the tone as they pass. Forests will feature sun-dappled paths, and moonlit mountains will provide plenty of eye-popping visuals. The early screenshots give Odin Sphere and Hollow Knight vibes, not only visually, but with gameplay potential. 

Morning Star isn’t just about the artistry. Backing away from the visuals, the game itself looks to be a fun and challenging action-adventure platformer. You will take on the role of a cloaked figure who has no recollection of their past. They have a powerful weapon, emerging skills, and little else to go on. The quest will contain plenty of environmental storytelling, focusing on finding out about the main character’s past, and their deeper purpose. We’re sure there will be plenty of challenging enemies and puzzles to solve while finding out who the protagonist really is.

Under development, but details are starting to emerge. The game is still being developed so there isn’t a lot of information available about other dynamics. While little has been released about the plot of the game, expect plenty of challenging enemies, puzzles to solve, and unlocking the main character’s past. Be sure to place Morning Star on your Steam wishlist.

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