InZoi, Upcoming The Sims Competitor, Shares Dev Roadmap And Stunning Character Creator
Krafton, the studio behind PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, has revealed a development roadmap and several key features for its upcoming life simulation game InZoi. Though the roadmap does not state when InZoi is scheduled to launch, it does offer a closer look at all the next-level features the The Sims competitor is bringing to the table.
Among the key features shared in the roadmap are cars, group activities, a Karma system, a City Edit mode, and the Studio. According to the video’s accompanying press release, Zois–the name for the game’s human-like characters–will be able to both drive and ride in cars, with both first- and third-person camera angles available. The video featured a look at some of the flashy vehicles Zois will be able to purchase, as well as what happens when a Zoi decides to run in front of one.
Moving on to something a bit more light-hearted, the developers offered a bit more insight into the game’s group activities and relationship mechanics. Based on the video, it seems as if relationships will play out quite similarly to The Sims, with characters able to become friends, love interests, and enemies of other Zois. However, InZoi does implement a unique mechanic with its Karma system, in which a Zoi’s past actions influence how their futures pans out and how other Zois treat them.
The video then shared a look at the game’s City Edit more, which allows players to adjust the city’s billboards, weather, cleanliness, and more, as well as the game’s Zoi sharing service, which appears to work similarly to the The Sims 4’s Gallery. A Studio mode will allow players to “create and reimagine specific scenarios,” according to the press release, and a high-resolution photo mode will make for quick (and gorgeous) photo sharing.
Hyungjun Kim, the producer and director of InZoi, also took time to urge fans to “continue to provide us with honest and diverse feedback” through the game’s Discord and social media channels. The next roadmap video is scheduled to release in May, and will feature answers to fan questions that the team will compile from Discord.
InZoi is not the only The Sims competitor headed our way, even if it is among the most visually remarkable. In addition to InZoi, Paralives and Life By You are some of the most watched up-and-coming life sims. Paralives is scheduled to go into early access next year, while Life By You hits early access June 4, 2024, according to its Steam page.
Bandai Namco Revives Popular Tamagotchi Connection Virtual Pets For 20th Anniversary
Though Bandai Namco releases new Tamagotchi devices fairly regularly these days, its next major release is a blast from the past. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Tamagotchi Connection, a refreshed set of the multiplayer-focused virtual pets is set to release on July 9. Not only will you be able to raise you pixelated pet, but they will be able venture out into the world to mingle with other little aliens who also happen to be trapped inside keychain devices. Four different color variants are available to preorder now for $30 each. Alternatively, you can preorder a two-pack for $58 to ensure your little guy makes friends and maybe even finds love. Just please don’t forget to feed your digital pet this time.
Tamagotchi Connection – $30 each
While you might be familiar with the original Tamagotchi released in 1997 in the US, the Tamagotchi Connection was a serious upgrade in comparison to when they debuted in 2004. Along with brand-new designs for the digital critters, the big draw here was the infrared “connection” that could be used to link up with friends. Once a connection was established, you could play games, exchange gifts, and even breed your Tamagotchi after they became married to each other. What a wild time, the early 2000s were.
All of those original features have been retained for this new line of Tamagotchi Connection toys, and these eggs also allow you to meet more than 50 characters, play more games, and earn Gotchi Points to spend on food and other items, as part of the new extras being introduced here. You can even find passwords to unlock special items.
If that’s not enough Tamagotchi for you, then check out this new line of Hello Kitty Tamagotchis.
Available for $20 on July 9 in red and blue shell designs, these cute accessories come with a clasping carrying chain and batteries.
There are plenty of other themed Tamagotchis you can buy, and many of them are discounted at Amazon.
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Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Ditching An Iconic Franchise Feature
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, one of the franchise’s most iconic features–synchronization points–will work a little differently than before.
Following a cinematic reveal trailer, Ubisoft has revealed all kinds of details about the latest entry in the long-running series to IGN. The game will put players into the shoes of both a shinobi and a samurai in feudal Japan. While much of Assassin’s Creed Shadows will sound familiar to fans–parkour, a large open world to explore, stealth assassinations, melee combat–there are some notable changes, particularly when it comes to filling out the game’s map.
In the past, these have been done via synchronization points. These points are usually atop tall buildings or towers. Traditionally, synchronizing sees the camera slowly rotate in a panoramic view of the surrounding area, before marking all nearby points of interest on the in-game map.
That won’t be the case in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. There will be no spinning panoramic views in the upcoming title when synchronizing, nor will synchronizing automatically reveal nearby points of interest. Instead, players will need to survey the area and manually highlight areas of potential interest before investigating them further once back on the ground. Synchronization points will, however, still allow for players to fast travel between them.
It’s a small, but significant change, as synchronization points, including their stylish, slow camera pan of the surrounding area, have largely worked the same for much of the franchise’s long history. Other changes in Assassin’s Creed Shadows include the lack of a bird that can be used to mark enemies, though players will still have access to Eagle Vision to track nearby foes. Light sources, shadows, and the weather will also play an important role in gameplay. For the first time in the franchise’s history, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will star a real historical figure as one of its dual protagonists: the African samurai, Yasuke.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be similar in size to 2017’s Assassin’s Creed Origins, Ubisoft has said, which means there should be plenty of Japan to explore. It will feature a non-linear campaign story revolving around tracking down and eliminating specific targets, according to Ubisoft, and it’s one that will also see players building out a spy network to gather intel on targets in a system that sounds similar to one seen in Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on November 15. A collector’s edition exclusive to GameStop is available for preorder now.