games news

• EA gives up on trademarking “Ghost” video game

  01-03-2016 23:56 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Electronic Arts has withdrawn a trademark application it filed for an unannounced property called “Ghost” last week, possibly to avoid a legal dispute with Ubisoft, which claimed the filing would infringe on a copyright of its own. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Electronic Arts relinquished its claim on the trademark, which would have covered an “on-line computer game.” Ubisoft filed a request in January asking the office to deny&nb
  
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• Trailer For New Sherlock Homes Game Introduces The Devil's Daughter

  01-03-2016 23:01
  Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter is the eighth installment in Frogwares' video game series focused on the Great Detective. Frogwares and publisher Bigben Interactive today released a cinematic trailer for the forthcoming game that shows Holmes meeting the "Devil's Daughter" for the first time. Chaos ensues.
  The Devil's Daughter is slated to release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on May 27. In addition to the beautiful trailer, a synopsis for the game teases a much different tale for Ho
  
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• Microsoft’s plan to unify the Xbox and PC is doomed

  01-03-2016 22:53 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Microsoft released a flurry of gaming announcements on March 1, so many it’s hard to keep them straight. In addition to an extensive game preview, the company revealed it’s working to unify the Universal Windows Application platform between PCs and its consoles, and hinted it may adopt a new strategy of incremental console upgrades that mimics a computer’s expandability. These efforts sound great, at least on paper. While some entitled Xbox One owners have whined about the loss
  
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• Microsoft’s effort to unify the Xbox and PC may be dead on arrival

  01-03-2016 22:53 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Microsoft released a flurry of gaming announcements on March 1, so many it’s hard to keep them straight. In addition to an extensive game preview, the company revealed it’s working to unify the Universal Windows Application platform between PCs and its consoles, and hinted it may adopt a new strategy of incremental console upgrades that mimics a computer’s expandability. These efforts sound great, at least on paper. While some entitled Xbox One owners have whined about the loss
  
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• Capcom Details New Multi-Mission Mode

  01-03-2016 21:44
  The announcement of a team-based multiplayer shooter set in the Resident Evil universe caught many off-guard last year. To this point, Capcom has only shown off its One Life Match mode, where players go in together and try to be the last with a surviving member. Putting a uniquely Resident Evil spin on the genre, players have to not only worry about opposing human players, but also A.I. zombies that are scattered throughout the maps. Today, Capcom announced a new mode called Multi-Mission mode
  
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• Shrapnel Flies In Launch Trailer

  01-03-2016 21:38
  Ubisoft’s online third-person shooter The Division takes place in the throes of complete social upheaval. Basic services collapse after a viral epidemic shuts down American society. Watch criminal groups run rampant in The Division’s launch trailer.(Please visit the site to view this media)
  Triumphant horns blare throughout the clip as it sets up the narrative of the game. The recent humanitarian crisis has halted all major cities, creating a fertile playground for bad guys to do ba
  
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• Xbox One March update adds backward-compatible game purchases, 16-player party chat

  01-03-2016 20:15 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Microsoft will roll out a new wave of features to the Xbox One preview community Tuesday, according to company evangelist Major Nelson. The March system update for Xbox One will focus on expanding party chat and the console’s compatibility with Xbox 360 software. The Xbox smartphone app will also receive a beta tester update, which will push to preview users Wednesday, March 2. The largest and widest range of new features affect the console’s party chat feature. Party chat,
  
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• IO Interactive Wants You To Hide In Plain Sight

  01-03-2016 20:11
  The sneaking in the Hitman series is all about blending into a crowd. The developers at IO Interactive call this unique mechanic Social Stealth, and it’s the subject of the latest episode of Talking Hitman.  
  Creative director Christian Elverdam is joined by principal level lesigner Jacob Mikkelsen and senior game designer Jesper Hylling to discuss how Agent 47 masters the art of blending in. The video is split into two parts, each roughly seven minutes in length. 
  (Please visit
  
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• Disney Infinity 3.0 Gets Long-Term Support in Place of a 4.0

  01-03-2016 19:59
  
  Disney Infinity is taking a new approach for its fourth year on store shelves.
  The original Disney Infinity was followed by versions 2.0 and 3.0, which introduced new starters, as well as Marvel superheroes and Star Wars characters respectively. Game Informer reports this year there will be no Disney Infinity 4.0 to follow up.
  Vice President of Disney Infinity production John Vignocchi states Disney has already "introduced the four core franchises" to Disney Infinity. Instead of iterat
  
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• U.S. Army Aims to Arm Soldiers With Lasers in 2023

  01-03-2016 19:30
  
  The U.S. Army wants to arm its soldiers with lasers by 2023.
  According to The Telegraph Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology Mary J. Miller cited using laser weapons to combat incoming missiles, mortars, drones, and more.
  Miller said the Army's main concern is making sure a soldier "understand its capabilities" before being equipped with a laser.
  To that end extensive tests are being conducted now to gauge the capability of directed-energy weapons. When a House subc
  
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• Hand-Drawn Action Game Jotun Coming to Consoles

  01-03-2016 19:00
  
  Jotun, the hand-drawn exploration game based in a world of Norse mythology, is coming to consoles this summer.
  The console edition is called Jotun: Valhalla Edition and includes a "boss rush mode with even fiercer versions of the already challenging jotun," or "Norse elementals."
  In the new Valhalla Mode, the jotun are fiercer, and therefore more difficult, than in the regular version of the game.
  "In Jotun,you play Thora, a Viking warrior who died an inglorious death." In order to enter Va
  
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• Forza Motorsport 6: Apex Announced, Free-to-Play on PC

  01-03-2016 18:55
  
  Forza Motorsport 6: Apex is coming to PC, and the Turn 10-developed, Windows 10-exclusive racing game will be free-to-play. Optional mictotransactions will allow players to purchase vehicles, or they can be earned by winning events.
  Apex is not a straight port of Forza 6. At launch, Apex features 12 themed racing events, more than 60 cars, and a new objective system, which challenges players to complete specific, skill-based tasks for additional in-game currency.
  "Drivatars" from Forza 6 on Xbox
  
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• Xbox’s Phil Spencer on E3, JRPGs, and the Future of Xbox

  01-03-2016 18:54
  
  As Head of Xbox Phil Spencer talks more about unifying Windows 10 and Xbox gaming, Microsoft’s goals for players have to adapt. While Microsoft’s plans for E3 remain focused on games, Spencer has greater goals than getting more games on Microsoft’s platforms.
  “I think we’ll stay focused on the content,” Spencer told IGN of Microsoft’s E3 plans. “To me, E3 is a gaming show. I’ve made the somewhat trite comment before that people buy gaming con
  
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• 55 Minutes of Quantum Break Gameplay

  01-03-2016 18:54
  
  During the Microsoft Spring Showcase we were treated to Quantum Break. This new game from Remedy gives you the ability to manipulate time to solve puzzles, stop bullets, and stop your foes. Because we had an embargo that made us separate the gameplay into 20 minute chunks we wanted to put it all in one place so you could get an idea of what you can expect from this time bending shooter. Below you can find our three part walkthrough of the games first act, and beginning of the second act. We begi
  
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• Xbox may be heading toward PC-style upgrades

  01-03-2016 18:53 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Microsoft Vice President and head of Xbox Phil Spencer said he believes the game consoles of the future will move away from the traditional console cycle towards an upgradable PC-style track. Speaking at the keynote for Xbox’ Spring Showcase in San Francisco last week, Spencer said he felt the future of console gaming and, by default, the Xbox, featured “a continuous innovation that you rarely see on console,” according to Polygon. “Consoles lock the hardware and the soft
  
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• Microsoft Has ‘a Lot to Prove’ With PC Gaming

  01-03-2016 18:53
  
  As Microsoft moves to unify Xbox and PC, the failure of Games for Windows Live still haunts Phil Spencer.
  “The amount I see Games for Windows Live come up in my Twitter feed when we talk about PC gaming, it’s staggering,” Spencer, Head of Xbox, said. “We are committed to this space…. We know we have a lot to prove.”
  It's true. Microsoft has its heart in the right place, its 2016 goals look strong, and it's making huge, important moves, but it's still repeatin
  
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• Forza: Future Xbox, PC Games ‘Absolutely’ Developing Concurrently

  01-03-2016 18:53
  
  Future Forza games will “absolutely” be developed concurrently for Xbox and PC, according to Turn 10 Design Director Andy Beaudoin, who noted that the recently announced Forza Motorsport 6: Apex is “the first step in an ongoing commitment for Turn 10 and PC”
  Beaudoin told IGN, “This is just the first step and this is why we can do it for free. The best way to learn to make a game on a platform is to ship a game on it…. It’s a great way for us to flex ou
  
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• Forza 6 Apex on PC Is Not ‘a Microtransaction-Driven Game’

  01-03-2016 18:53
  
  Forza Motorsport 6: Apex on Windows 10 is free-to-play with optional microtransactions, but Design Director Andy Beaudoin told IGN that it’s “been built from the beginning, all the way to the end, not to be a microtransaction driven game.”
  Beaudoin explained, “We know that over time, we’ve looked at previous Forza games, and some people have liked to shortchange the progression system through other systems. So we’ll give players the opportunity to do that with
  
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• Assassin's Creed Syndicate: Jacob Frye Statue Revealed

  01-03-2016 18:16
  
  A new statue detailing Jacob Frye from last year's Assassin's Creed Syndicate is currently available for pre-order.
  The TriForce statue shows Frye with his Assassin's cowl pulled up, sitting on a chair backwards, equipped with extremely detailed Assassin gear. Check it out below.
  The statue can be pre-ordered for a deposit of $162.50 USD, with the statue costing $650 USD total.
  TriForce has created several high-quality gaming collectibles in the past, including a full-scale plasma rifle replica
  
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• Killer Instinct: Season 3 Release Date Revealed

  01-03-2016 18:05
  
  Killer Instinct: Season 3 has a release date for Xbox One and PC.
  After teasing a March release window for some time now, Microsoft revealed the third season will launch on March 29. This marks the first time Killer Instinct is being released on PC and it will feature cross-platform play between Xbox One and PC.
  In addition to all of the characters from Seasons 1 and 2, Killer Instinct: Season 3 will include Battletoads’ Rash, Killer Instinct series veterans Kim Wu and Tusk, and the A
  
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• Is Ex-Halo Devs’ Golem PlayStation VR’s Killer App?

  01-03-2016 18:00
  
  Above: Click and drag your mouse around this 360-degree "scene-shot" in order to simulate being inside of this PlayStation VR exclusive from a team of ex-Halo and ex-Infamous developers.
  A promising vision of the future of VR gaming for hardcore gamers hides in a small, quaint, quiet studio in Old Seattle – a 3.5” floppy disk’s throw from where Seattle’s best professional athletes now compete at neighboring CenturyLink Field and Safeco Field. Walk into Highwire Games
  
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• Ex-Halo Devs' Golem: Everything We Know So Far

  01-03-2016 18:00
  
  The PlayStation VR-exclusive Golem is among the most intriguing game for VR we've seen yet. Part of the reason for that is that it's being made by a team of highly decorated veteran developers; a crew composed of roughly half ex-Bungie (Halo, Destiny) staff, and half Sucker Punch (Infamous series). Their collective pedigree leaves us plenty optimistic – and what we've just seen and played of Golem certainly didn't hurt either. We'll have gameplay video, interviews, behind-the-scenes featur
  
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• Xbox One preview update rolling out

  01-03-2016 17:57 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The new Xbox One update is now available to preview members.
  
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• Beta for PlayStation 4's latest update coming March 2

  01-03-2016 16:37 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The Beta program for PlayStation 4's next major software update (version 3.50) launches March 2.
  
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• The next PlayStation 4 update brings Remote Play streaming to Windows and Mac

  01-03-2016 15:30 via news.yahoo.com
  
  A new beta is headed to the PlayStation 4, and it’s bringing a batch of new features with it. The beta kicks off tomorrow, Sony writes in the PlayStation Blog, and will allow those in the program to try out the latest version of the PS4 firmware, version 3.50, code-named Musashi.
  
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• Playing Through The Entire First Act

  01-03-2016 15:05
  We play through the first act of the now-completed time-bending shooter....(read more)
  
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• 19 Details Fans Will Want to Know about Dark Souls 3

  01-03-2016 15:02
  
  Spoiler Alert: Below are details I found in the first four hours of Dark Souls 3. I also discuss some elements from previous games in the series.
  Dark Souls 3 comes out in just a few weeks in Japan, before heading West in April. I played for around 4 hours or so, and it feels a lot like Dark Souls, unsurprisingly. It was demanding, surprising, and full of fantastic environmental and creature design.
  But instead of talking about such boring things as its difficulty, I thought I'd focus on th
  
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• Expert Observations From The First Hours Of Dark Souls III

  01-03-2016 15:00
  It’s been some time since our big Dark Souls III cover story, but we recently played a significant chunk of the opening portion of the game. Our experience gave us concrete answers to many of the questions that have been lingering in the back of our minds for some time. Before we go any further: Massive spoilers lie ahead, both in terms of lore and mechanics. If you’re ready to find out more about the next game in the epic dark fantasy franchise, read on.
  We played through what we b
  
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• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD Review

  01-03-2016 14:58
  
  When I’m locked in an epic battle with Fyrus, a fiery boss that looks like a Balrog ripped out of Lord of the Rings, I can barely notice that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is a graphical update to a 10-year-old Gamecube game. This elegantly designed encounter takes place inside the Goron Mines, and you have to make smart use of arrows and the heft of Link’s metal boots to trip the creature up and put him away. It’s a great fight; one of many emotional high points in
  
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• Return to World War II Again in Days of War

  01-03-2016 14:33
  
  Bulkhead Interactive’s Battalion 1944 isn’t the only competitive shooter that wants to resurrect the spirit of classic World War II action games; it's now going to be sharing a foxhole with the newly-announced Days of War from Driven Arts. Days of War, like Battalion 1944, is multiplayer shooter aiming to “revive the style of classic WWII shooters from the 2000-2010 era.”
  Driven Arts founder George Rivara explains Days of War began development two years ago and it is
  
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• US Race Car Pack for Project CARS Available Today

  01-03-2016 14:12
  
  A new DLC pack of vehicles for Project CARS is available from today and features a quartet of US race cars.
  Leading the pack is the dominant Corvette C7.R GTE, which won both of its first two North American Endurance Cup races in 2015 (including the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring) and also brought home the chocolates in the GTE Pro class at last year’s Le Mans 24 Hours. Slightly Mad Studios enlisted the assistance of Corvette driver and two-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom
  
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• Battalion 1944's Kickstarter Stretch Goals Include Single-Player Campaign

  01-03-2016 14:09
  
  Developer Bulkhead Interactive has confirmed several stretch goals for its successful Kickstarter funding campaign for Battalion 1944.
  To date Battalion 1944 has secured more than double the amount Bulkhead was seeking but the studio has several ideas for additional content should funding continue to increase. These include the addition of British and Russian soldiers (including female Russian snipers), an offline ‘Behind Enemy Lines’ mode (where players can fight in the game’s
  
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• Metal Gear Online Introduces New Mode, Maps and Character

  01-03-2016 12:23
  
  Konami has announced that the new DLC for Metal Gear Online will be available from March 15, 2016.
  Cloaked in Silence will be a "dedicated, squad-based multi-player component" of the Metal Gear Online and includes three new maps - Coral Complex, Rust Palace, Azure Mountain - and features Quiet.
  From April 7, 2016 you'll also be able to play new mode Survival which pitches teams against each other to compete for the highest win streak.Three new maps are headed for Metal Gear Online later this mon
  
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• Launching a game direct vs. launching a game on Steam

  01-03-2016 10:01
  "We're no longer independent developers, we're Steam developers," says Tom Grochowiak, as he compares a game launch three years ago vs. one today. ...
  
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• Jake Solomon explains the careful use of randomness in Xcom 2

  01-03-2016 10:01
  
  "As a developer, you have to accept that when it comes to unpredictability, there's going to be an uneven experience. If you shave off the lows, a lot of the time you're shaving off the highs."...
  
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• Overwatch: The Shooter You’re Helping to Create

  01-03-2016 02:31
  
  Modern game development can be a very collaborative process. We now live in an age of open and closed betas, where gamers are regularly given the opportunity to play works in progress and help developers make the final product better. Blizzard has very much embraced this approach in recent years, and the development of its new shooter, Overwatch, is another good example.
  “I’d say one of the top things that we heard aboutwas the desire for a new game mode,” says game director Je
  
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• Hotline Miami devs greenlight fan-made spinoff Midnight Animal

  01-03-2016 01:06
  
  Since many developers got their start making mods for other games, it's nice to see Dennaton supporting fellow indie devs in its community -- though they're not allowing the game to turn a profit. ...
  
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• What Is #29DaysOfBlackCosplay?

  01-03-2016 00:30
  
  Alongside Black History Month, a community of cosplayers have created the hashtag #29DaysOfBlackCosplay to highlight cosplay diversity.
  Chaka Cumberbatch, a cosplayer and advocate for diversity in the geek community, told IGN, "This is about lifting each other up instead of waiting for anyone to do it for us. It's about giving light to black cosplayers of all ages, shapes, skill levels and sizes. It's about making this community a little more welcoming than it was when we came into it.
  
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