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Welcome to the Game Replay, the twice-weekly look at the wider world of gaming by the staff of MacNN and Electronista. As we head into E3 week, this edition is covering items happening before the show starts, including a remake of Dota 2, new additions to Super Smash Bros. Wii U, and the most-funded game in Kickstarter history.

For the next few days, we will also be posting extra Game Replay articles to cover the new announcements at E3. While any major stories will get their own standalone post, most main items will be bundled together for easier reading. Be sure to check back each day for more E3 news.

If a twice-weekly gaming column isn't enough for you, check out the Apple Game Roundup, a column devoted to gaming on OS X and iOS. In Friday's column, Epic revealed Fortnite is coming to the Mac, Transistor has reached iOS, and Threes! is now available with a freemium option.

Valve remaking Dota 2 in new engine, adds Reborn suffix

Valve has revealed a few of the changes it will be making in its revamp of MOBA game Dota 2, including the use of a new game engine. Dubbed Dota 2 Reborn, the game will have a graphical overhaul among other new features, with it also including a way to make it easier for new players to learn the rules.

The new version will include "guided bot matches," which will use Valve's AI Director to guide players through tutorial matches, reports Rock Paper Shotgun. The dashboard now uses a new UK framework, making the game more lightweight and improving how it handles friends and chat. The Watch area has been overhauled to make it easier to find and view live matches on DotaTV, which itself has been upgraded with an embedded data feed and rewinding of underway feeds.

The beta for Dota 2 Reborn will start rolling out next week, with a formal launch after the Invitational tournament in August. Valve hasn't said what engine it is using, but it is likely to be using Source 2, the game engine Valve revealed in March.

Nintendo adds Street Fighter's Ryu, Fire Emblem's Roy to Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS

Nintendo is increasing the roster of characters in Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS, among a number of other updates. The biggest additions are Roy from Fire Emblem, Mother 3's Lucas, and Ryu from Street Fighter, which are available to play now as paid characters. It is noted that Ryu benefits from having some of his original Street Fighter button combinations prompting stronger versions of his moves compared to the easier-to-perform normal Smash versions, and he is also the first character to have two different Final Smash finishing moves.

GameSpot notes that there are new Miiverse costumes arriving as well, including Megaman EXE, Zero, Isabelle, the Splatoon inklings, and Heihachi from Tekken. New levels on the way include the Nintendo 64 DreamLand map and Suzaku Castle from Street Fighter

It has also been announced that all 51 Smash Bros. characters will get their own Amiibo toys in the future, a new elimination tournament model is arriving to the game in August, and the Wii U will gain the ability to post replays directly to YouTube.

Bloodstained sets new record for highest amount raised in a Kickstarter campaign for a game

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has broken a record on Kickstarter for the most-funded game. Ending its campaign on $5.5 million, the game overtook Torment: Tides of Numenera's $4.2 million total, with close to 65,000 backers pledging significantly more than the $500,000 the developers were asking for.

The game is a side-scrolling platformer in a similar vein to Castlevania. The story centers around Miriam, a girl with crystals embedded in her skin, which provide her with powers but also draws enemies. Players must explore and fight through an expansive castle, leveling up their abilities and items as they go.

It is being developed by a team led by Koji Igarashi, said to be "one of the godfathers" of the genre and served as producer and scenario writer for a number of Castlevania titles. The Japanese development team, Inti Creates, previously worked on Mighty No. 9, another Kickstarter alum.

Driveclub for PlayStation Plus in 'final stages of development'

The PlayStation Plus version of Driveclub is edging closer to a release. Already out for PlayStation 4 users as a paid title, the free PlayStation Plus edition was delayed, caused by a large number of launch issues, with the game's developer claiming it is finally very close to launch.

According to Destructoid, game director Paul Rustchynsky told a fan on Twitter that Evolution Studios is "in the final stages of development" of the game. The report notes that the servers for the existing version of the racing title were scheduled to be replaced and upgraded earlier this month, in preparation for the PlayStation Plus edition.

There is no word on when exactly the game will be made available, but an announcement about it may be made at E3 this week.

Notable releases for the week of June 14
PayDay 2: Crimewave Edition (Xbox One, PlayStation 4) - June 16
Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition (PC) - June 16
Aion: Upheaval (PC) - June 17