In more great news from Microsoft, 16 original Xbox games are being added to the Xbox One’s Backwards Compatibility list. All of the titles either need to be purchased and downloaded through the Xbox Marketplace or played with a physical copy in the Xbox One. The first batch of 8 games is set to arrive on April 17th and the later 8 on April 26th. While a number of the games feature some sort of multiplayer, it’s the April 26th release of Star Wars Battlefront (2004) and Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2005) that feature the Co-Op we’re most excited about.

The 2014 release of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for iOS did the nigh impossible when it adapted precision-based gameplay for greasy touch screens. It wasn't perfect, but hey, it was fantastic. The release of iOS 9 about a year later made Freedom Unite unplayable, so Capcom pulled it from the store. Sad face. It took some time, but the game has finally returned, just in time to compete with Monster Hunter Generations!

The May 31st killswitch deadline is rapidly approaching for GameSpy. While many companies are hoping to salvage their online services by switching gears before GameSpy bites down on its cyanide pill, Star Wars Battlefront II was to be abandoned at the wayside. 

Hitting up some of the news less traveled this week, Beyond Co-Op is here to give you a taste of the single player world. Nintendo has announced another lucrative price drop, and Valve rolls out another trading feature to help you trim your Steam inventory. A couple of rather nice games have appeared on Kickstarter lately, and even though we're shy about touching the crowdfunding world, these are too tempting to resist.

Everyone's favorite car racers with a sordid past will return to the PSN with today's update. The original Twisted Metal will be arriving on the PSN as a part of the PSOne classics, meaning you can grab it on the PS3 or the PSP (and consequently the Vita). Released on November 5, 1995, Twisted Metal was a unique and one of a kind experience. It took the chassis of a racing game, added the items that popularized the Mario Kart series, and minced it with a ruthless cast of characters themed for a mature audience. Rife with a motley assortment of deadly characters, each racer had a uniquely disturbing back story and vehicle. To this day, Sweet Tooth remains one of Sony's most iconic villains.

Poor Billy. Poor, sad, Billy. Poor, sad, lonely, Billy.  Poor, sad, lonely, depressed, Billy.  Poor, sad, - okay I think you got it.  I regret to inform you, dear reader, that there appears to be a shortage of co-op game releases this week.  And by shortage, I mean none.  Even the XBLA and PSN have let us down.  So what's a gamer to do?

Still looking for a little something for the kids this holiday season?  Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is a good choice.  It brings what has become classic Lego game humor to the darker books in the Harry Potter series.  It's amazing that the block-born characters can tell such great stories with little more than exaggerated movements and comical grunts.  Check out the two videos below.  One features locations, locations, locations, and the other displays some of the button mashing combat that you and a friend will enjoy.

This is it folks. The last big week for co-op releases.  There are still a few games coming out this year, but tomorrow marks the last day of the season with multiple retail co-op launches.  I hope your wallets are intact.

Everyone has their own unique game face, mine is one of sheer concentration; a cross between a man sucking on a lemon and trying to lick treacle off his nose.  As you must be imagining, it is a beautiful sight.  Even Lord Voldemort has to work on his game face once in a while, and he does so in this new trailer.  He who shall not be named (Voldemort is anyone is confused) has to be as scary as possible for the upcoming LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7.

You wouldn't have to gaze into a crystal ball or read tea leaves to see this one coming.  Another LEGO Harry Potter game is coming this holiday season.  Imaginatively titled LEGO Harry Potter Years 5-7, the game will chronicle the last three books (or four movies) in building block form.  It's being released for pretty much every system known to Muggles: Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, Wii, DS, 3DS, PC, and even for the NGP.  

Yup. That's what I'm talking about.

We brought you news of Naruto Shippuden: Kizuna Drive for PSP a few months ago.  The Playstation Portable title was released late last month.  In addition to a story mode consisting of more than a dozen missions, the team-based action/fighter lets you and three friends partner up via Ad Hoc co-op in Free Mission Mode.  Special combo moves that require more than one player to activate are included, as well as bonus missions for die-hard fans to unlock cool stuff from the show.  We've got a gameplay video for you showing off Naruto's moves as he and his buddies team up to take down a boss.