Gamasutra's regular round-up of worldwide video game releases, "Release This!", takes a look at every game title we know to be shipping to stores this week, in a custom compiled list.
This week brings Ron Gilbert's
The Cave and Namco Bandai's
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch to North America., while Japan gets
Hitman: Absolution and
Demon Gaze.
The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending January 26th, 2013.
Games Released in the United States:
Namco Bandai,
Professor Layton series developer Level 5, and Japanese animation film company Studio Ghibli team up to launch the console-styled RPG
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch this week in North America for the PlayStation 3. Boasting lush animated sequences and a soundtrack scored by Studio Ghibli musician Joe Hisaishi,
Ni no Kuni features a story in which a young orphan boy stumbles upon a parallel world filled with magical creatures.
Other games premiering this week include indie studio Nnooo's PS Vita action title
escapeVektor and
The Cave, a multiplatform action-puzzler from Double Fine Productions and
The Secret of Monkey Island creator Ron Gilbert.
Nintendo Wii U:
- The Cave (eShop)
Xbox 360:
- The Cave (Xbox Live Arcade)
- Naughty Bear: Double Trouble!
PlayStation 3:
- The Cave (PlayStation Network)
- Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
PlayStation Vita:
- escapeVektor (PlayStation Network)
- Gun Commando (PlayStation Network)
PC:
- The Cave
- Croixleur
- Dawnstar
- DmC: Devil May Cry
- ShootMania Storm
- The Sims 3: 70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff Pack
- Strike Suit Zero
Games Released in Europe:
A decade-themed expansion for EA's
The Sims 3 is the only title listed as releasing in Europe this week at online retailer DVD.co.uk.
PC:
- The Sims 3: 70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff Pack
Games Released in Japan:
A localized version of Io Interactive's multiplatform stealth-action title
Hitman: Absolution ships in Japan this week, arriving alongside console releases like Teyon's
Heavy Fire: Shattered Spear and Nippon Ichi's PS3 strategy game
Kamisama to Unmei Kakumei no Paradox.
Portable console highlights debuting in Japan this week include Kadokawa Shoten's PS Vita RPG
Demon Gaze and Namco Bandai's manga-based PSP board game
Gintama no Sugoroku.
Xbox 360:
- Hitman: Absolution
PlayStation 3:
- Heavy Fire: Shattered Spear
- Hitman: Absolution
- Kamisama to Unmeikakumei no Paradox
- Nobunaga no Yabou Online 10th Anniversary Box
PlayStation Vita:
- Demon Gaze
- Genkai Totsuki Monster Monpiece
- NextRev: Chuushoukigyou Shindanshi Shiken 1
- NextRev: Chuushoukigyou Shindanshi Shiken 2
- Sakura-Sou no Pet na Kanojo
PlayStation Portable:
- Gintama no Sugoroku
- Grisaia no Kajitsu: Le Fruit De La Grisaia
- Issho Ni Gohan Portable: Apartment Dinner Show
- Pachipara Slot + Pachi-Slot Daiku no Gen-San: Ikuze! Honoo no Gen-Matsuri-Hen
- Sakura-Sou no Pet na Kanojo
- Tokyo Yamanote Boys Portable: Dark Cherry Disc
- Tokyo Yamanote Boys Portable: Super Mint Disc