It's just a few short days until August, so New Releases is taking a look at some of the heavy hitters launching in the new month. If you're aiming to game on the go, WarioWare Gold has you covered with its huge collection of microgames, but if you'd rather stay home and spend hours in an MMO, then you can check out World of Warcraft's latest expansion, Battle for Azeroth. Japanophiles can enjoy re-releases of cult classics Shenmue 1 and 2 and the stylish open-world of Yakuza Kiwami 2. And for the sports fans, Madden NFL 19 will help you get hyped for the preseason.
WarioWare Gold -- August 3
Available on: 3DS
The latest entry in the WarioWare series brings together microgames from the entire run, for a total of 300 crazy quickfire games. It's also the first one to feature full voice acting, just in case you wanted Wario's voice to haunt your dreams. If you've never played a WarioWare game, or if you want to give it a try right now, you can grab the demo on the 3DS Eshop.
Further Reading:
Madden NFL 19 -- August 10
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Another year, another Madden. The newest game sports "real player motion," which will help your players maneuver much more realistically across the field. It's also the first one to feature touchdown dances in some time, as the practice was only recently made legal in the NFL again. Longshot story mode is back, and Ultimate Team is getting new 3-on-3 matches and a leaderboard with rewards.
Further Reading:
- Madden 19 Release Date And Pre-Order Guide (Xbox One/PS4) In The US
Bill Belichick Won't Be In Madden 19, And That's No Surprise At All
World of Warcraft - Battle for Azeroth -- August 14
Available on: PC
As you'd expect, WoW's latest expansion is a big one. Battle for Azeroth adds two whole continents and more uncharted islands to explore, along with plenty of new new quests, raids, and dungeons. The Horde and the Alliance each get four new playable races, and you'll be able to take those characters to a new level cap of 120. The questline has already kicked off in the base game if you want to get a head start.
Further Reading:
- World Of Warcraft Battle For Azeroth Questline Begins
WoW Pre-Expansion Patch Now Available Ahead Of Battle For Azeroth
Shenmue 1 & 2 -- August 21
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
The Sega Dreamcast classics are coming back. Even though these aren't remasters or HD remakes, they do come with a slew of new features: modern and classic controls, an updated UI, scalable resolution, and both English and Japanese voiceovers. This double pack should make for a great appetizer before Shenmue 3 arrives next year.
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Yakuza Kiwami 2 -- August 28
Available on: PS4
Speaking of re-releases, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a full-on remake of the original Yakuza 2, but with new gameplay enhancements and cutscenes that iron out the wrinkly parts of the story. There's even a whole new scenario starring secondary protagonist Goro Majima. If you can't wait until the end of the month to dive into the criminal underworld, you can also look into the PC port of Yakuza 0, coming August 1.
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Next week, New Releases will return with a more focused episode, featuring the tough-but-fair Dead Cells and the multiplayer chaos of Overcooked 2. Later in the month, we'll take a look at Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate too.
