It feels like not that long ago that we learned that the seemingly quick-time frenzy that is Ryse: Son of Rome would include a co-op mode where players can team up in arena combat situations. While this particular mode wasn't on display when announced, it's gotten demoed a bit more recently at various events and there's an interesting bit of news regarding this co-op mode. Specifically, it will feature everybody's favorite: microtransactions! Yay!

A figure emerges from the shadows, all you can see of them is three glowing lights emitting from their goggles.  You raise your AK-47 with murderous intent, but what is that noise?  The figure was a distraction all along and the true threat is behind you.  As you lapse into unconsciousness, you cannot help but utter the words, C...

Revealed just last week from SEGA, Sonic Lost World will receive its own special edition, featuring a new level when you pre-order the game on Wii U.

The long, hot summer is coming to a close. A new console generation is on the horizon. Time to get the most out of your current consoles before they make their way to those lonely guest bedrooms in the sky. 

The upcoming generation of consoles, the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 specifically, feel a bit like an old school console war. The mud slinging, slight of hand, and jabs between Sony and Microsoft remind us of Nintendo and Sega from the Genesis and SNES era. But are fans sticking in the corner of their favorite console manufacturer?

As a fan of top-town, twin-stick shooters, it often makes me sad to see the genre not get the respect it deserves. The likes of the genre saw a resurgence thanks to the explosion of download services like Xbox Live Arcade, PSN, and of course Steam. Still, sometimes it's hard to find a solid co-op, twin-stick experience. The debut title from developer DreamWorlds is called Splatter - Just Harder Times, and like the genre the game is set in, this is a twin-stick top down AND a zombie game.

A few months after the browser version received the update, developer Ninja Kiwi has added 2 player co-op play to the iPhone and iPad versions of Bloons TD 5. Monkeys, balloons, darts, lots of pretty colors, and less embarrassment because you're playing it with a friend!

Welcome to Beyond Co-Op, a weekly review of general gaming news. Here, we take a look at non-co-op news we typically don't cover here at Co-Optimus. This past week was full of news of all sorts, from video games at Gamescom to board and card game news from Gen Con.

Last week at Gamescom 2013, David Cage (the creator of Beyond: Two Souls) announced that the game will have 2-player co-op via a special system dubbed "Dual Mode."

Recently, the developers of The Wonderful 101 stated that their game was originally going to feature many of Nintendo’s most famous icons instead of the colorful Wonder Ones we see now. Just think: the Super Smash Bros. series might not have been the only other Nintendo game one with an all-star cast of characters.

It seems a certain non co-op game has piqued the staff's interest. Shadowrun Returns brings the classic franchise back to the modern age with a turn based tactical RPG. Free to play games also join the fray, which coincidentally, we'll be covering all next week in our Free to Play Co-Op Special.

The makers of Magicka have some more tricks up their sleeves. Arrowhead Game Studios have set their sites on an distant future, one full of elite space soldiers, vicious aliens, and accidental discharges.