Microsoft has revealed the next wave of titles coming to Xbox Game Pass for May with SnowRunner being out today for consoles, PC and the cloud. May 20th sees Peggle 2, EA’s colorful puzzle game, and Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville available for the cloud. Both titles require EA Play (available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate) to play.

Secret Neighbor is out on the same but there’s also The Wild at Heart, an action adventure which sees two kids venturing into the Deep Woods, gathering Spritelings, and taking on twisted foes. The latter will be available for console and PC subscribers. On May 21st, EA’s Knockout City will be available on Xbox Game Pass for PC and EA Play.

May 25th sees the release of Maneater for console, cloud and PC subscribers while Conan Exiles arrives for consoles and the cloud on May 27th. Fuzion Frenzy, Joy Ride Turbo and MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries are all out for consoles on the same day. Meanwhile, PC subscribers get Slime Rancher and Solasta: Crown of the Magister, the latter being an RPG in the vein of old-school, tabletop titles. SpellForce 3: Soul Harvest rounds out the selection of titles for May.

The following titles will also be leaving Xbox Game Pass on May 31st:

• Assetto Corsa (Cloud and Console)
• Broforce (PC)
• Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 Remix (Console)
• Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue (Console)
• Surviving Mars (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Void Bastards (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Owing to its very nature, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is a game that seems perfectly suited to the Switch, which is why it’s been baffling that even over a year on from its launch, it still isn’t available on Nintendo’s hybrid console. Well, that’s going to be rectified soon. As the rumours would have had you believe, the multiplayer shooter is headed to the Switch soon.

Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville – Complete Edition will launch for the Switch in March, and as its name suggests, it will include the base game, as well as all post-launch content that has been released for it, and retail for a price of $39.99. The game also adds support for gyro controls on the Switch.

“We are excited to bring everyone’s favorite Plants vs. Zombies characters to Nintendo Switch for the first time, giving players the ability to play in their homes or on the go, however they choose,” producer Melvin Teo said in a press release. “The Switch’s motion controls allow us to try a fresh new take on Neighborville, and with its docked and portable play, we have the ability to bring the game and its characters to life in ways that weren’t possible before.”

Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is currently available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and launches for the Switch on March 19. You can read our review of the game through here.

https://youtu.be/YBYW0p6jGZY

EA seem to have taken notice of the Switch’s large install base, and it looks like their support for the system will be improving significantly in the coming months. At their recent EA Play show, they confirmed that they had seven Switch releases planned for the coming 12 months. Of those seven, four have been revealed, those being the recently released Burnout Paradise Remastered, the recently announced Switch port of Apex Legends, the EA Originals title Lost in Random, and FIFA 21 (or a Legacy Edition, at any rate).

Now, a report by GamesBeat’s Jeff Grubb has possibly lifted the lid on the three remaining EA titles releasing on the Switch in the coming months. As per the report, Lost in Random isn’t the only EA Originals title that will be coming to the Switch, with another unannounced title developed by Velan Studios – an indie team founded by former Vicarious Visions staff – also coming to the platform.

Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville – which came out for PS4, Xbox One, and PC late last year is also reportedly headed to Nintendo’s hybrid. Finally, a remaster of the 2010 Criterion-developed Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit will also be launching on the Switch. You can read more on that through here.

Until such time EA makes any official announcements, it’s best not to take this as confirmation, but given Grubb’s track record with leaks, there’s plenty of credibility to this report. Either way, we’ll keep you updated as this story develops, so stay tuned.

Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville isn’t just about PvP – there are a secrets to uncover and objectives to complete in the open world. To that end, it’s possible to farm up huge amounts of XP, coins and Tacos through the PvE component. It requires a second player or at the very least, another account via split-screen.

First, both players need to level up and visit the Town Center to see Air Ron. He’ll give you a Hunting License and then it’s off to the Bounty Hunt. The first players takes up a PvE fight while the second heads to the Mindblower spawner. The objective is for the second player to bring the Mindblower over to the Bounty Hunt panel in the far West part of the neighborhood and detonate it to kill the targets immediately. This can be done just as they spawn.

Completing the Bounty Hunt will reward XP, ten Tacos and 2,000 Coins and can be done repeatedly. It’s highly efficient and a great way to just rack up the currency.

Golden Gnome Locations

Along with Diamond Gnomes and Golden Invoices, players also have the option to collect Golden Gnomes in Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville. They’re scattered all throughout the world so it’s best to check out the video guide below to see their exact positions. There are 24 Golden Gnomes in total and some require solving puzzles in order to unlock them so get cracking.

You can’t just buy the cosmetics you want with in-game currency, no, no, no. That would be too easy, and so is reserved for the game’s microtransactions. Microtransactions aren’t in the game yet, but they will be soon, allowing players to visit Rux’s Emporium and purchase the pieces they want, no slot machine required. It seems EA has figured out how to get people to open their wallets: deny them the ability to get what they want unless they pony up for it. This is character customization in the modern video game: if you want something, you’ll have to pay extra for it, or hope you get lucky. The fact that this system was employed in a game marketed primarily to children is particularly troubling.

"Battle for Neighborville introduces PVE content into what has been a series built on PVP."

I could go on and on about the evils of microtransactions, but unfortunately that is simply the reality of the industry. As long as putting systems like these into games continues to make publishers hundreds of millions of dollars (see: FIFA Ultimate Team), they will continue to do it. It’s possible to play and enjoy Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville despite this, but the game’s goal is obvious from the jump: to part you from your money for a cool hat. Or several.

This is a shame, because the core of Battle for Neighborville is a solid game. It’s essentially Garden Warfare 3, though why EA decided to drop that subtitle for one that is far, far worse is a mystery that will remain locked in their marketing department. The major difference here is that Battle for Neighborville introduces PVE content into what has been a series built on PVP. Both Team Plants and Team Zombies have their own separate hub areas where you can customize your character, acquire upgrades, hang out with other players, and even play a couple mini-games. There’s even an amusement park sandwiched between them, so you can hang out with members of the other team and practice your combat skills in a stress-free environment. The team hubs also your gateway to the game’s other modes. They’re pretty dense areas that can be confusing to navigate at first, but once you get used to them, the way they’re set up makes sense. They’re also quite charming. You also don’t have to use them for them. Things like switching teams and character customization can be accessed by pressing start.

After your finish the eight introductory quests, which will teach you how to navigate the hubs, use emotes, play mini-games, character characters, and gamble your money away in the aforementioned slot machine for items you may or may not want, you can jump into the game’s other modes. There are three PVE modes in all: Mount Steep (plants), Weirding Woods (zombies), and Town Center (both). Each has quests to do, areas to explore, and bosses to fight. There are even small storylines to complete. These areas can be done with any available character, and can be played solo or with friends.

"The big issue is the quests themselves, which are so bog standard it’s hard to have any investment in them. When one of your opening quests is an escort mission (and the thing you escort is a lawnmower), you know you’re not dealing with inspired quest design."

While it’s nice that this game includes all this stuff, I didn’t find any of it particularly impressive. The zones themselves are cool and pretty big, and the writing is meant to be silly (though your mileage will vary. I was mostly annoyed). Even the boss fights are pretty good. The big issue is the quests themselves, which are so bog standard it’s hard to have any investment in them. When one of your opening quests is an escort mission (and the thing you escort is a lawnmower), you know you’re not dealing with inspired quest design. This is made worse by the fact that your standard NPC enemies just aren’t very fun to fight. The upgraded enemies can be, but when much of your opposition is canon fodder, it just isn’t very interesting. I’m not saying that there’s nothing of value here, but I have a hard time believing most players will be into Battle for Neighborville for its PVE long term.

PVP fares better. It’s still a class-based shooter in the vein of Team Fortress 2 or Overwatch, though the variants system from the previous game has been abandoned. There are 20 characters total, divided into attack, defense, and support, and each side has three new additions. The zombies have the Electric Slide, a roller skating, lighting gun wielding maniac, the bow wielding, heavy damage 80s Action Hero, and the Space Cadet, who can transform their small vehicle into a larger one and combine into a larger unit with other Space Cadets. The plants, meanwhile, gain the ninja-esque Night Cap, the fire-breathing, up close and personal Snapdragon, and the Acorn, who can transform into the mighty Oak, and have three Acorns ride along with him. All characters have also gained the ability to sprint, making them more elusive.

Characters can also spend a set amount of points to equip upgrades, all of which do different things, and have different point costs depending on what they do. It’s a neat little tweak that allows you to tailor your picks to your playstyle. More are available as you level up, but you’ve got a good smattering from the jump. Character balance is elusive at this point, as is hit detection, which doesn’t feel 100% right. The addition of sprint is nice, but running speed also feels a bit off, too. I could never quite tell how fast I was going to get somewhere, and the animations often oversold a speed the characters didn’t possess. I imagine a lot of this will be worked out as time goes on, but the game doesn’t feel as good as it probably should yet.

"One cool variation is Battle Arena, which is a series of 4v4 rounds. You can’t respawn once killed, and once you’ve picked a character, you can’t use them again for the duration of the match. It makes from some cool, tense moments similar to execution in Gears of War, and it forces you to use multiple characters."

The modes fare better, even if many of them are similar to modes in other games. There’s a tower defense mode, a couple of objective modes, and basic deathmatch. One cool variation is Battle Arena, which is a series of 4v4 rounds. You can’t respawn once killed, and once you’ve picked a character, you can’t use them again for the duration of the match. It makes from some cool, tense moments similar to execution in Gears of War, and it forces you to use multiple characters. Turf Takeover is another winner; it’s a 12v12 mode on huge maps that feature multiple modes. You’ll have to push payloads, capture points, and complete often absurd final objectives, like delivering bombs to the enemy base while dodging falling marshmallows. It reminds me of Overwatch or Star Wars: Battlefront, and I had a lot of fun playing it.

And of course, the game has charm. Whether it’s the individual animations, absurd character designs, or the environments, Battle for Neighborville delivers a unique and fun visual style. The real issue is that, as fun and silly as any of this is, none of it is memorable, or particularly stands out. If you’ve played a Plants vs. Zombies game up until this point, or a team-based, objective shooter like Overwatch, all of this is going to feel very, very familiar. None of it is bad, per se, but none of it is particularly good, either. It just kind of is. Battle for Neighborville is kind of like junk food. It’s fun enough while you’re playing it, and the instant you stop, it vanishes from your mind. Still, it’s just good enough to keep eating. I don’t think Battle for Neighborville is good enough to win over a lot of new fans. The PVE additions aren’t good enough to attract new fans, and the PVP, a few new characters aside, is more or less the same. If EA wants to get people to spend money on their microtransactions, they should probably provide something a little more filling.

This game was reviewed on the PC.

Though available in early access for founders, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville officially launched on October 18^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. While there’s plenty of hijinks to be had in mutliplayer, you can find plenty of secrets by exploring your surroundings. These secrets include the Diamond Gnomes and Golden Invoices.

Diamond Gnome Locations

The first Diamond Gnome can be found in Pressure Pier. There will be a rundown ship on the beach – move past that and find a cliff with a cave entrance on the left side. Once inside, you should find the Diamond Gnome surrounded by water. Use the different platforms and pillars to reach it.

The second Diamond Gnome is in Up-Down-Uptown – equip the Mindblower before heading there. Get to the Museum and check the left side for stairs which lead to a tunnel. There’s a Zombie Guard present but the Mindblower will take it down.

Next up is an Unyielding Gnight with some additional goons. In order to damage the Gnight, you need to take down the guards with the Mindblower and activate the blue circles. Once a circle is activated, you can deal damage to the Gnight. After the Gnight is dead, you can claim the second Diamond Gnome.

The third Diamond Gnome requires some puzzle-solving. Head to the spawn at the Town Center. Go right until you eventually reach a cliff. To the right should be a tunnel entrance – take down the Zombie Guard first with the Mindblower and go inside. Once there, you’ll find four shapes – a flamingo, some gears, an hourglass, and the gnome’s face – which are manipulated with different buttons.

For the flamingo, press the first button twice. Then press the second button once followed by pressing the third and fourth buttons twice each. For the gears, hit the first button three times, then the second button twice and the third button once. Finish off by pressing the fourth button once.

With the hourglass, you need to press the first button three times, the second button twice, and the third button twice. Head to the fourth button and press it three times. Do the same for the fifth and sixth buttons. Finally, hit the seventh and eighth buttons once apiece.

For the gnome’s face, you need to press the first button three times, the second, third and fourth buttons twice apiece, and the fifth button three times. Press the sixth, seventh and eighth buttons once apiece and huzzah, you get the third Diamond Gnome.

Golden Invoice Locations

There are six Golden Invoices to find which can provide coins and items for equipping. You’ll need to locate telescopes which point to each Invoice first. These will mark the spots containing the actual Invoices.

For the first Invoice, go to Up-Down-Uptown. Look for a pier near a waterfall – a telescope will be at the top. Once you look through it, there should be an Invoice at the marked spot. Head there and dig it up.

The second Invoice is close to Sundrop Hill. Head to the town close by and find a home with a platform. Head to the top, locate the telescope, find the spot and dig up the Invoice.

The third Invoice can be found in Up-Down-Uptown. Go to the suburbs and look for a race track. You’ll find some red and green train carts – the telescope should be on the red cart. Look through it for the spot and subsequent Invoice.

But wait, you’re not done with Up-Down-Uptown yet. Go to the north part of town and look for a taco sign that’s spinning. See the building next to it? Head to the roof for the telescope and find the fourth Invoice.

The fifth Invoice is located by heading east where the lighthouse is located. You’ll also see some shacks nearby but what you’re actually looking for is a platform by the beach. There’s a telescope on it which will lead to the next Invoice.

The sixth and final Invoice is located in the city’s eastern-most part. Look for the old ruins and locate the caves nearby. A telescope is present right next to the entrance and will lead to the last Invoice.

It was an eventful week in the UK as far as boxed video game sales as are concerned. As per the data provided by UKIE / Gfk Chart-Track (via GamesIndustry), while the top of the table remains unshaken, with FIFA 20 retaining its lead for the fifth consecutive week, there’s plenty of other interesting stuff going on elsewhere.

The biggest news here is the re-entry of The Witcher 3 on the charts. On the back of the game’s recent Switch launch, the CD Projekt RED open world RPG re-entered the charts at No. 4. In fact, it saw a massive 999 per cent week-on-week increase in sales, with 96 per cent of its sales for the week coming on the Switch.

Fellow recently released Switch port Overwatch failed to break into the top 10, debuting instead at No. 11- however, the somewhat weird and limited physical launch of the game on the Switch may have had something to do with that. A new entry in this week’s charts is Nintendo’s new fitness-based action-RPG, Ring Fit Adventure, coming in at fifth place. Meanwhile, EA’s Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville debuts at No. 7.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was the highest selling Switch game of the week, climbing from No. 3 – where it was last week – to No. 2, while Ghost Recon Breakpoint traded places with it to land at third place.

You can check out the full top 10 for the week ending October 19 below.

1. FIFA 20
2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
3. Ghost Recon Breakpoint
4. The Witcher 3
5. Rig Fit Adventure
6. Minecraft (Switch Edition)
7. Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
8. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
9. Grand Theft Auto 5
10. Borderlands 3

PopCap’s Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is now available worldwide. That is, unless you purchased the game in September and became a Founder. Then it’s just business as usual with all the Zombies and Plants having their war. Check out the launch trailer below.

Retailing for $40, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville received content each week while in early access. Now that it’s out, you can look forward to playing modes like Turf Takeover, Team Vanquish, Garden and Graveyard Ops and The Battle Arena among others. New maps and events have been added in that time as well.

As a successor to the Garden Warfare series, it’s not half-bad. Anyone looking for a more traditional Plants vs. Zombies experience can an eye out for Plants vs. Zombies 3 on mobile. It’s currently in pre-alpha for Android with no release date confirmed just yet. Stay tuned for more details along with further updates to Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is more or less the biggest game of the month. Though more of a reboot than a straight sequel, we see the return of Captain Price. New characters like Farah, a rebel leader; CIA officer Alex; and police sergeant Kyle Garrick also figure in the story. With Spec Ops missions, larger multiplayer battles in Ground War, no “traditional” season pass and cross-platform multiplayer, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare looks to be yet another hit in the franchise when it releases on October 25^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Of course, time will tell how the post-launch support pans out.

GRID

Another reboot coming later this month is GRID from Codemasters. As a return to roots for the franchise, GRID will once again see players racing across different disciplines and events to quality for the GRID World Series (thankfully, you don’t have to win every single event to qualify). New additions include 400 AI drivers, each with their own driving styles which can lead to rivalries and the creation of Nemeses. You even face off against Fernando Alonso, two time Formula One World Champion, in Career Mode. GRID is out on October 11^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Destiny 2: Shadowkeep

The next paradigm shift for Bungie’s shared world shooter franchise, Destiny 2: Shadowkeep returns to the Moon for battles against the Hive and an army of Nightmares. While it seems the Darkness is closer than ever, Shadowkeep will keep players occupied with a number of other changes. Armor 2.0 will lets you choose your own perks on gear; Seasonal Ranks provide a tiered battle pass-like system for earning cosmetics and other rewards; and a new raid will be going live on October 5^th. Destiny 2: Shadowkeep is out on October 1^st for Xbox One, PS4 and PC along with its free-to-play version Destiny 2: New Light.

Ghost Recon Breakpoint

The follow-up to Wildlands, Ghost Recon Breakpoint sees Nomad and the Ghosts investigating the Auroa archipelago after drone manufacturer SkellTech goes dark. When their helicopters are shot down, it’s Nomad versus the Wolves led by Cole Walker, a former Ghost. Part looter shooter, part tactical stealth, part shared world live service title…Ubisoft is stacking a number of hats on Ghost Recon Breakpoint. Hopefully, it all coalesces into a polished open world experience when it launches on October 4^th worldwide for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

The Outer Worlds

Obsidian Entertainment is finally back in the FPS/RPG driver’s seat with The Outer Worlds. You awaken as a passenger on a colony ship with most of your brethren in hibernation. Megacorporations have colonized the Halcyon Cluster and it’s up to you to investigate what they’re really after. You’re essentially a blank slate who can interact with different factions, meet and fight alongside companions, arm yourself with a variety of weapons and decide what direction the story goes in. Those hungry for a new Fallout title that fulfills these promises, complete with Obsidian’s signature writing, should check out The Outer Worlds – it arrives on October 25^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville

Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville follows EA’s new strategy of sudden releases which started with Apex Legends. However, it’s actually available in paid early access with new content added each week. For those who don’t buy it, October 18^th marks the day of the game’s launch. Either way, if you’ve played Garden Warfare, then Battle for Neighborville offers more of the same. Choose from 20 classes, six being brand new, and partake in Team Deathmatch or fulfill objectives in Turf War. Perhaps the coolest new addition is the ability for several players of the same class to combine together, Voltron-style. Hopefully that and other weirdness will carry the game past its first month of launch.

WWE 2K20

So it’s a new WWE 2K title. If you’ve played one of the virtual fake fighting titles, you’ve played them all, right? Except WWE 2K20 isn’t co-developed by Yuke’s – instead, Visual Concepts is fully in charge this time. How this will affect the overall gameplay remains to be seen but there’s a new Showcase mode revolving around the Four Horsewomen, a female MyCareer story and the return of 2K Towers. Hurray? WWE 2K20 arrives on October 22^nd for PC, Xbox One and PS4.

Luigi’s Mansion 3

Nintendo has been on fire lately, releasing at least one high profile exclusive on the Switch each month. August had Astral Chain, September had Link’s Awakening and October has Luigi’s Mansion 3. Basically, Luigi, Mario, Peach and a bunch of Toads travel to the Last Resort hotel for a vacation. Unfortunately, King Boo traps Mario and the others, which means Luigi has to suit up for the rescue. Using the new Poltergust G-00, which allows for slamming ghosts and creating Gooigi to traverse through impassable objects, Luigi’s Mansion 3 looks to be an excellent action-adventure and worthy follow-up to the series. It’s out, conveniently enough, on October 31^st.

MediEvil

The PS4 may not have a ton of high-profile games out this year but it does have an eagerly anticipated remaster this month with MediEvil. Developed by Other Ocean Emeryville and releasing on October 25th, MediEvil once again puts players in the skeletal frame of Sir Dan as he seeks to save the kingdom from his nemesis Zarok. With completely revamped visuals and 4K resolution support on PS4 Pro, MediEvil looks to be another blast from the past that’s worth getting into.

Concrete Genie

The other PS4 exclusive releasing this month is Concrete Genie. Developed by PixelOpus, it focuses on Ash, a young artist in the downtrodden town of Denska. After bullies rip out the pages of his sketchbook, Ash embarks on a journey to retrieve them. He also finds a way to bring his creations to life, breathing new life into Denska. Avoiding the bullies and restoring any artwork they may ruin is also a key component of the story. Releasing on October 8^th, Concrete Genie isn’t a long game but should more than make up for that with its emotional impact and aesthetics.

Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince

After the ill-fated Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power and a bunch of other new IPs, Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince returns to the 2.5D platform puzzler format of legend. Terrible monsters are manifesting from Prince Selius’s nightmares so it’s up to our heroes – Amadeus the Wizard, Zoya the Thief and Pontius the Knight – to save the day. Explore ruins and tombs and play solo or in co-op with up to four players, combining different talents and skills to surpass obstacles. With a new combat system and challenges, Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince could resurrect the series. It’s out on October 8^th for Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition

No, you haven’t entered a time loop. CD Projekt RED is indeed releasing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition on October 15th but it’s for the Nintendo Switch. That means all of the base game’s content and updates along with Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine is included. It may not boast the sharpest resolution or visuals but as one of the best open world RPGs ever made, it’s a darn fine adventure to have on the go.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 3

Nihon Falcom’s The Legend of Heroes series is one of the more underrated RPGs out there, offering compelling stories to go with its excellent turn-based gameplay. There’s good news Trails of Cold Steel fans – Trails of Cold Steel 3 is out on October 22^nd for PS4. Localized by NISA, it sees Rean Schwarzer as a military professor eventually caught up in a conspiracy that could threaten the entire country. Concerns for the localization aside, every JRPG fan should look into the sequel and prep for the inevitable release of part four in the West.

SETTING

It’s really all in the name- moving on from the Garden Warfare susbseries, Plants vs Zombies is going bigger, and going from our backyard and out into the whole neighbourhood. Developers PopCap Games seem really committed to the idea. Everything from the PvE areas to the PvP maps it built on this neighbourhood theme- let’s take a look, one by one, at how that will translate to different modes.

FREE ROAM

Battle for Neighborville is going to take the PvE elements of Garden Warfare 2, but it looks like it’s going to be heavily expanded this time around. The game has three separate free roam sandbox sections that you can enter either alone, or with upto three more players, and each of them houses collectibles, quests, side quests, or just ample room for exploration. Each of these areas is also supposed to have their own narrative hooks, while the developers are also promising that collectively, they provide a good, meaty chunk of gameplay.

HUB

Beyond the three free roam sections, there’s also a hub area in Battle for Neighborville. The hub is essentially a free-for-all area and consists of bases for both the factions (the eponymous plants and zombies). In the hub, you can explore the aforementioned hubs you can mess about with other players, purchase random cosmetics with money earned in-game, head to PvP modes, head into one of the PvE areas, or customize and edit your characters.

PVP

PvP is always the meat and potatoes of Plants vs Zombies games- so what’s PvP going to have in store for us in Battle for Neighborville? There’s going to be a few modes at launch. There’s Team Vanquish, which is PvZ-speak for team deathmatch, as well as the objective-based 12v12 mode called Turf Takeover, which returns from Garden Warfare 2. 4v4 mode Battle Arena will also be included.

MAPS

PopCap Games haven’t yet spoken about how many maps the PvP component of Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is going to have when all is said and done, but they have given some interesting details nonetheless. For starters, it doesn’t look like any maps from previous games will be making a comeback (not at launch anyway). The developers instead want to make maps that stick to the neighbourhood theme that’s driving all components of the game, and PvP maps will be taking cues from the PvE areas in the game.

CLASSES

Battle for Neighborville is also adding several new classes into the mix. There are now a total of 20 character classes, with the plants and zombies both getting ten each. These twenty will all be customizable, and will fall under one of three categories- attackers, defenders, and support. Of these twenty, six are going to be completely new classes. Let’s take a look at what these are going to be.

NEW PLANT CLASSES

Let’s talk about the plants first. There are a total of three new classes here- there’s Night Cap, an attack class mushroom that excels at stealth and mobility, and attacks enemies with spores and kung fu (or as the game calls it, fung fu). Then there’s Snapdragon, another attack class, a plant that is great for close-range fire-based attacks. Finally, there’s Acorn, a fast-moving defend class that doesn’t do much damage, but can transform into a slow-moving Oak that can deal a lot of damage. Acorns can also jump on top of Oaks and act as mounted turrets.

NEW ZOMBIE CLASSES

Moving on to the zombies, there are three new classes here as well. There’s 80s Action Hero, an attack class specializing in explosive attacks, who can also ride rockets and has a special dodge move. There’s Electric Slide, another attack class specializing in crowd control with electricity-based attacks (as the name suggests). Finally, there’s Space Cadet, a defend class specializing in team ups and group attacks. Space Cadets can also turn into a Space Station armed with lasers, shield, and rockets.

SPLIT-SCREEN

We don’t get many games that support split-screen gameplay these days. Thankfully, Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville will be an outlier here. Local split-screen multiplayer will be available in PvE, as well as all the PvP modes that the game launches with (and receives as DLC post-launch).

FESTIVALS

Plants vs Zombies is going to be one of many, many games taking a leaf out of Fortnite’s book, and will be adopting the battle pass model. Called Festival Prize Maps here, these will be free for everyone, but players will be able to spend premium currency to speed up their progress.

FOUNDER’S EDITION

Plants vs Zombie: Battle for Neighborville’s full launch is on October 18, while EA Access and Origin Access subscribers get access to the game on October 15, but as you might know, the game is already available in early access for those who want to adopt it early. That’s possible via the Founder’s Edition. It doesn’t include all the content the launch version of the game will have, but it’s priced at $29, and PopCap Games are adding more content and cosmetics to it every week. On top of that, Founder’s Edition owners will also get exclusive cosmetic rewards when the full game launches.

PRICE

Here’s another reason to get the Founder’s Edition if you’re interested in the game- it’s cheaper than the full launch will be. Battle for Neighborville costs $29.99 in its current state, as we’ve mentioned, but when it launches in full, its price will go up to $39.99. Meanwhile, there will also be a Deluxe Edition, which will come with some exclusive cosmetic stuff, which will be priced at $49.99.

MONETIZATION

How a game is monetized is something we ask with trepidation with pretty much every game these days, and it’s a question that becomes doubly pertinent when the game in question is being published by EA. So what’s the deal with Battle for Neighborville? The game does have microtrasactions, to no one’s surprise. Players will be able to purchase premium currency, which can then be used to buy cosmetics. That said, there will be no loot boxes, which is good.