News - 2013, Week 03
Sunday20th Jan 2013
News You'll Be Able to Purchase Ni No Kuni from the PlayStation Store
Digital adventure
You won’t even need to venture outside to snap up the gorgeous Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch next week, as publisher Namco Bandai has confirmed that the lovely Level-5 developed RPG will also be available as a digital download from the North American PlayStation Store. There’s no word on a price for the online version,...
News PayPal Added As PSN Payment Option in North America
The easy way
Those of you in North America will now be able to use PayPal to add funds to your PlayStation Network account. To take advantage of the functionality – which launched in Europe late last year – all you need to do is login to the Sony Entertainment Network website, select ‘Add Funds to Wallet’, and click on the conspicuous PayPal...
News Prove Your Worth as a Warrior in God of War: Ascension's Beta
Open to everyone
Sony is rounding out God of War: Ascension’s multiplayer beta with an open invitation to all PlayStation Network users. Throughout the course of the holiday weekend, those of you in North America will be able to partake in the goriest battle since the start of Gangs of New York. There’s no need for a PlayStation Plus...
Saturday19th Jan 2013
News No, Monster Hunter 4 Is Not Coming to the PlayStation Vita
Don't shoot the messenger
Like a high school heartbreaker, Capcom has crushed our hopes and dreams. Yesterday we reported that there was a slim chance of Monster Hunter 4 stomping its way onto the PlayStation Vita – but, writing on the company’s official forums
News Mad Dog McCree Moves onto PlayStation 3 Next Week
Yeehaw
Whip out your cowboy hat and spurred boots, because Mad Dog McCree is moseying its way onto the North American PlayStation Network next week. The iffy FMV sharpshooter will join the previously released Fast Draw Showdown on 22nd January, and will boast full PlayStation Move compatibility, in addition to an “all-new scoring system” and...
News No Prizes for Guessing What DmC's First Expansion Features
In a lather
It was inevitable, wasn’t it? Capcom has revealed DmC: Devil May Cry’s first costume pack on its Japanese website, and it includes a skin that brings back protagonist Dante’s less controversial looks. For the grand sum of ¥400, you’ll be able to reunite the potty-mouthed hero with his signature red jacket and silky silver locks...
News God of War: Ascension's Single-Player Demo Rages in February
Off the chain
With the excellent multiplayer beta racing to a brutal climax, Sony is finally starting to focus its attention on God of War: Ascension’s hotly anticipated solo campaign. But while yesterday’s brief teaser trailer provided us with our very first taste of some of the title’s set-pieces, the publisher is promising that there’s...
News Latest Metal Gear Rising Trailer Cuts Bosses Down to Size
Sharper than a razor cut
The antagonists of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance certainly seem to talk a good fight, but are they a match for Jack the Ripper in the ring? This brand new Japanese trailer focuses on four of the boss battles from the upcoming Platinum Games developed brawler, and it certainly lives up to its tagline, ‘Lightning Bolt...
News Killer Is Dead's First Trailer Comes Out Swinging
Love and execution
The first trailer for Suda51’s upcoming PlayStation 3 action title Killer Is Dead includes everything that you’d expect it to: blood, beautiful women, and more blood. The title was officially revealed earlier this week after an eight month silence from developer Grasshopper Manufacture. Needless to say, it’s shot straight to...
Friday18th Jan 2013
News Scheduled PlayStation Network Maintenance Extended
Don't panic
You’ll have ample opportunity to build a snowman, learn to juggle, and trim your toenails today, as Sony has announced that it's extending the PlayStation Network's scheduled maintenance for a few more hours. The period – which had been set to run from 16:00PM to 04:00AM GMT in Europe, and from 08:00AM to 20:00PM PT in North America...
Review Uncharted: Fight for Fortune (PlayStation Vita)
Poker face
Uncharted: Fight for Fortune was always going to feel like a letdown compared to the epic adventure of Uncharted: Golden Abyss. Billed as a classic card game, the title lacks the explosive attraction of its parent franchise. But can the cheap and cheerful digital title succeed on its own merits, irrespective of the property that it's...
News Scheduled PlayStation Network Maintenance to Persist Overnight
Boo
There’s never been a better time for you to take the shrink wrap off that copy of Wuthering Heights and lose yourself in the (occasionally uncomfortable) love story of Heathcliff and Catherine. Sony has announced that the PlayStation Network’s pre-arranged maintenance period is set to run until the early hours of Saturday morning in Europe...
Talking Point Is It Time to Say Goodbye to the DualShock?
Changes are taking place
Sony is supposedly planning to ditch the DualShock controller with the release of its impending next generation console, the PlayStation 4. The iconic input device, with its pointed handles and symmetrical analogue sticks, has been a pivotal part of Sony’s gaming ecosystem since its original release in 1997. But is it time...
Rumour Sony Ditching the DualShock for PlayStation 4
Shock horror
Sony is poised to ditch its iconic DualShock controller with the release of the PlayStation 4, according to a report on CVG. The website – citing a senior games studio source working on an upcoming exclusive title – understands that the next generation controller has gone through a number of revisions behind the scenes, none of...
Rumour Monster Hunter 4 Is Clawing Its Way onto PS Vita
Roarsome
Monster Hunter 4 could be stomping onto the PlayStation Vita, if a rumour in Japanese magazine Game Lab is to be believed. The publication claims that the Nintendo 3DS exclusive was not recently delayed due to quality purposes, but to ensure a simultaneous release alongside Sony’s slick system. If true, th
News Sony Selling Its New York Headquarters for $1.1 Billion
Chunk of change
In a move that has seen the company’s share prices surge by a whopping 12 per cent, Sony has announced that it has agreed to sell its New York headquarters to the Chetrit Group for a whopping $1.1 billion. The electronics manufacturer will continue to operate out of the 37-story building for the next three years, after which it...
News Feast Your Eyes on God of War: Ascension's Solo Campaign
By the beard of Zeus
Stick some matchsticks under your eyelids, because Sony has released a whopping 30 seconds of God of War: Ascension’s single-player campaign. The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it short shows Kratos kissing his daughter, jumping off a mountain, and punching a sea monster in the face. Did we mention that it looks absolutely awesome?...
News The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim DLC Travels to PS3 in February
Sound the trumpets
It’s been a long, laborious journey, but The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’s DLC will finally arrive on PlayStation 3 in February. Bethesda confirmed the glad tidings in a PlayStation Blog post, noting that Dragonborn, Hearthfire, and Dawnguard will all launch within the window, and will be accompanied by a 50 per cent discount to...
News Urban Trial Freestyle Revs Up on PS3 and Vita This Year
Feather the accelerator
Seeing as there’s still no port of Trials Evolution on the PlayStation 3, we suspect that you’re going to snap up Urban Trial Freestyle out of necessity. The Tate Interactive developed PS3 and Vita title is due out later this year, and promises a deep arcade motorcycle experience with bombastic visuals and an addictive...
Thursday17th Jan 2013
Review Panic! (PlayStation Mobile)
Ooze cruise
Panic! is a birds-eye 'stop-the-slime-from-consuming-the-townsfolk' puzzle game. As part of Sony's recently released PlayStation Mobile initiative, it is compatible with both the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation-certified mobile phones. The narrative relays that a deadly alien slime has attacked the Earth, and you, in your assumed...
News So, There's a Bunch of PS4 Rumours Doing the Rounds
Deep breath
We’ve officially reached crazy town – but don’t worry, you won’t be forced to listen to Butterfly during your stay. VG247 is reporting that the PlayStation 4 will boast 1.84 teraflops of computational power, giving it a slight advantage over the next Xbox’s rumoured 1.23 teraflops. It’s perhaps worth noting that, in...
News Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Strikes This Fall
Lace and paper flowers
The countdown to the end of the world will begin this fall, when Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII thunders onto store shelves. The ambiguous release window was revealed by publisher Square Enix earlier today, alongside an extended trailer which features Final Fantasy XIII-2 hero Noel. Despite the impending apocalypse,...
News Killer Is Dead Stars an Assassin with an Outrageous Arm
Packing heat
It's been a long time since we learned anything about Grasshopper Manufacture's upcoming PlayStation 3 action title, Killer Is Dead. The game was announced in April last year, but has been kept under wraps for the past eight months. Thankfully, that's changed this week, courtesy of a Famitsu magazine exposé. The report, translated by
News Classic White PS3 Coming to North America on 27th January
Nicely iced
To complement the dusting of snow on our windowsill right now (no, really), Sony has announced that it’s bringing the classic white PlayStation 3 Super Slim to North America later this month. As with Canada, the wintery system will arrive on 27th January, and will come with a year’s subscription to PlayStation Plus and a 500GB...
News Kevin Butler Actor Agrees Not to Promote Games for Two Years
It only does settlements
Remember the hullabaloo surrounding Kevin Butler late last year? It emerged that Sony was suing the character’s actor Jerry Lambert after he appeared in a Bridgestone commercial playing on a Nintendo Wii. At the time, the platform holder claimed that the advertisement caused “confusion in the market and damage to...
News Kat and Emmett Pick a Fight with PlayStation All-Stars Next Month
New challengers
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale’s latest combatants will enter the ring on 12th February in North America and 13th February in Europe, developer SuperBot Entertainment has announced. As previously revealed, both Kat and Emmett Graves will be available for free for a limited period of two weeks, after which th
News Epic Mickey 2's Sales Were Less Than Stellar in North America
Oh dear
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit must be seriously losing his charm. According to the LA Times, the poorly received Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two managed to shift just 270,000 units in North America during its first month or so on sale. That's roughly a million less than its Nintendo Wii exclusive predecessor achieved in a similar timeframe...
News Unreleased Tracks Spotted in New Gran Turismo 5 Trailers
Road trip
The keen eyed folks over at GT Planet have spent the past couple of days analysing the latest batch of Gran Turismo 5 trailers – and have discovered a handful of unreleased tracks in the process. According to the site, the recently released footage of the 2014 Corvette Stingray includes a sneak peak at
News Max Payne 3 Swallows Its Final Dose of DLC Next Week
Deathmatch made in heaven
The final jolt of Max Payne 3 content will be injected into the North American PlayStation Network next week, publisher Rockstar Games has announced. European players will need to go cold turkey until 30th January, when the expansion is due to arrive overseas. It will set you back £7.99/$9.99, or will be free if you own a...
Wednesday16th Jan 2013
Review Fuel Tiracas (PlayStation Mobile)
Twitchy thumb syndrome
Fuel Tiracas is wonderfully compelling. You'll approach it with the intent of a quick five minute session, but will no doubt end up pouring the best part of an hour into it. And it's all because of the game's pesky leaderboards. You'll want, no, need to shave a few seconds off your personal best in order to climb the high...
News Your Bikinis Will Be Compatible with Dead or Alive 5 Plus
Fill your boots
If you’ve already acquired a healthy wardrobe of skimpy Dead or Alive 5 costumes, then you may be delighted to learn that they’ll all be compatible with the fighter’s upcoming PlayStation Vita port, Dead or Alive 5 Plus. That brand new first-person mode may have a purpose after all. In addition, according to
News Milestone Wheeling Out MotoGP 13 for PS3 and Vita
Kick starter
Following the closure of previous developer Monumental Games, Milestone has announced that it’s taken the handlebars of the official MotoGP license, announcing MotoGP 13 for PlayStation 3 and Vita. The title's set to release at some point in June. The Italian outfit promises to have “re-invented” the franchise, with new physics...
News Bungie Sets a Date with Destiny at GDC 2013
Out of this world
Bungie, the developer best known for creating the Halo franchise, will disclose the very first official information about its brand new intellectual property at the Game Developers Conference in March. According to the convention’s schedule, the studio will host an hour-long presentation dubbed ‘Brave New World: New Bungie...
News Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel Trailer Works Up an Appetite
Should've had a bigger breakfast
The worst part about fighting wars for a living is that there’s rarely time for a mid-morning snack. Take the masked protagonists of upcoming PlayStation 3 shooter Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel – they're too busy dodging bullets and half-volleyed frag grenades to scoff a custard cream or three. No wonder they...
News Sony Dishing Out Free PS Mobile Titles for Six Weeks in Europe
Won't cost a penny
In order to remind you that, hey, PlayStation Mobile actually launched, Sony has concocted a promotion that will see a handful of games given away over the next six weeks. All you need to do to claim the goodies is own a compatible device and hit the download button on the PlayStation Store. The first freebie is Beatnik Games’...
Store Update 15th January 2013 (North America)
Arm the clocks
As the North American PlayStation Store goes through the gears in 2013, there’s one title that’s unmissable this week: Wake-Up Club. The hotly anticipated PlayStation Vita alarm clock is available for the grand sum of nothing, and boasts Trophies in addition to mini-games that somehow involve your PSN friends. Other highlights...
Store Update 16th January 2013 (Europe)
Retro renaissance
Retro City Rampage makes its long awaited arrival on the European PlayStation Store today. The throwback adventure is joined by a handful of hot titles, including Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable, Orgarhythm, and Sumioni: Demon Arts. Just a quick note for PlayStation Plus subscribers: you’ll be able to a download complimentar
News Splinter Cell: Blacklist Goes Dark Until 20th August
Under the radar
There’s life beyond the summer after all. Despite the majority of new video game releases being crammed into the opening six months of the year, Ubisoft has revealed that Splinter Cell: Blacklist will don its night vision goggles on 20th August in North America. That’s mere months before the PlayStation 4 is rumoured to...
News Discover Your Desires in The Cave from 22nd January
Going underground
Double Fine’s intriguing PlayStation Network adventure game The Cave will open for exploration on 22nd January in North America, publisher SEGA has announced. European gamers will have to wait an additional 24 hours to uncover their inner fantasies, when the mysterious title arrives on 23rd January overseas. Admission will set...
News escapeVektor Cuts a Path onto North American Vitas Next Week
Head on collision
After launching in Europe late last year, Australian indie developer Nnooo [sigh – Ed] has attached a 22nd January North American release date to its PlayStation Vita puzzler escapeVektor. The title will set you back $9.99, a fair price for an adventure with no less than 150 levels. Blimey. The game itself is an ambitious mix of...
Tuesday15th Jan 2013
Talking Point Are Collector's Editions a Waste of Money?
Bobby dazzlers
Collector’s editions are a relatively new phenomenon. They only came into fashion about ten years ago, rewarding franchise fans with steelbook cases and behind the scenes footage of their favourite games. Since their humble origins, package sizes and price tags have increased, as publishers go in pursuit of additional profits from...
News Dead Island: Riptide's Busty Collector's Edition Is Hideous
Put it away
Of all the collector’s editions that we’ve had the misfortune of posting about, this is probably the worst. Deep Silver has announced the UK premium bundle for Dead Island: Riptide – and it includes a bleeding pair of knockers. The publisher claims that the grotesque, er, bust is the title’s own “take on an iconic Roman marble...
Review Samurai Beatdown (PlayStation Mobile)
Sword dance
A samurai swiping down monsters in time to a beat – why, it sounds just like a mini-game in Nintendo's Rhythm Heaven series. Samurai Beatdown's endless runner-style approach differs, however, as your noble warrior dashes through brightly coloured, detailed environments that benefit immensely from the PlayStation Vita's screen. Both...
News Deep Silver Issues Apology Over Dead Island: Riptide Bust
Company made a huge boob
In what’s looking more and more like a publicity stunt, publisher Deep Silver has issued an apology over its controversial Dead Island: Riptide collector’s edition. For those who haven’t been keeping abreast of the situation, the company announced the grotesque premium bundle earlier today, which includes a statue of a...
News Hideki Kamiya Doesn't Hate Ninja Theory's Devil May Cry Reboot
He's a fan
Considering former Capcom employee Hideki Kamiya’s, er, outspoken nature, we expected the original Devil May Cry director to have a few choice words for Ninja Theory’s reboot – but he’s actually rather fond of it. "I've been getting a lot of DmC: Devil May Cry tweets lately,” the Bayonetta creator revealed on
News Disney Infinity Goes Above and Beyond Skylanders This Year
Deep pockets
It was inevitable, wasn’t it? After muted rumours, Disney Interactive has announced Disney Infinity, a brand new PlayStation 3 sandbox title powered by toys based on characters from the illustrious filmmaker’s storied history. The title’s set to launch this June, which is sure to have Skylanders publisher Activision quaking in its...
News Injustice: Gods Among Us Punches PS3 on 16th April
Immortal combat
NetherRealm Studios’ superhero showdown Injustice: Gods Among Us will pick a fight with the PlayStation 3 on 16th April in North America and 19th April in Europe, publisher Warner Bros has announced. You’ll be able to purchase the fighter in a variety of guises, including as part of the beefy Battle Edition, which includes an...
News Canada Paints the PlayStation 3 White on 27th January
Cold as ice
Clearly inspired by the winter months, Sony’s Canadian department has committed to bringing the white PlayStation 3 Super Slim overseas. Gamers in the maple syrup loving nation will be able to purchase the cool console from 27th January, according to a Best Buy listing. The system will ship with a year’s subscription to PlayStation...
News Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time to Be a Real Steal at $39.99
Cheap and cheerful
Just in case you missed the memo, Sony has announced that Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time will sneak into stores well below the usual retail price for PlayStation 3 games. The first-party platformer will set you back just $39.99 for both the PS3 and Vita versions. You may as well scrap your elaborate bank robbery plans now, as...
News Darksiders Brays onto North American PlayStation Plus
Apocalyptic addition
THQ may be on the cusp of commercial collapse, but that’s not stopping the publisher from giving away complimentary copies of the original Darksiders to North American PlayStation Plus subscribers. Assuming you’re a member, you’ll be able to grab the title for free from later today. Other goodies include a 50 per cent...
News Metal Gear Rising Demo Serves Sweet Revengeance Next Week
A cut above
The long awaited demo for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance will finally chop the PlayStation Network into tiny little pieces on 22nd January, developer Platinum Games has announced. It’s the same gameplay teaser that was originally included with copies of the Zone of the Enders HD Collection last year. You can read our thoughts on the...
Monday14th Jan 2013
Review DmC: Devil May Cry (PlayStation 3)
Devil may care
You've got to feel for DmC: Devil May Cry developer Ninja Theory. Tasked with the challenge of rebooting Capcom's classic combat series, the Cambridge-based developer has come under fire from franchise fans for its urban redressing of protagonist Dante. Armed with a top of the range faux hawk and a figure hugging sleeveless shirt, the...
Rumour Sony Struggling with Early PS4 Production Issues
Plus, analyst predicts the price
The next generation rumours are inescapable today. Following this morning’s report regarding the imminent announcement of the PlayStation 4, research firm Baird Equity has suggested that the console could launch as soon as October, with a reveal almost guaranteed to take place prior to E3 in June. In a note to...
News Sony Executive Teases Incoming PlayStation 4 Announcement
Brace yourself
We all know that the PlayStation 4 is almost certainly on its way – it’s just a matter of when at this stage. Well, chatting with Chilean news website El Mercurio Online (great name, by the way), Sony’s vice president of home entertainment Hiroshi Sakamoto has hinted that a reveal could come as soon as May. That’s in less than...
News Test Drive the 2014 Corvette Stingray in Gran Turismo 5
Free content coming tomorrow
Gran Turismo 5 players will be amongst the first to get behind the wheel of the newly announced 2014 Corvette Stingray this week, when the vehicle is added to the simulation racer for free. Just one day after its debut at the North American International Auto Show, the luxury supercar will be added to the PlayStation...
News UK Sales Charts: FIFA 13 Clings on Through Stoppage Time
Closes out the three points
FIFA 13 battled through another set of challenging fixtures to hold onto the summit of the UK sales charts for a sixth time this week. The soccer sim locked Ubisoft’s excellent tropical shooter Far Cry 3 in second, while Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 settled for third. Hitman: Absolution and
News PlayStation Store Patch Makes Browsing Snappier
Well, sort of
You’ll be able to reinvest your hard earned cash into the PlayStation Store a little bit quicker from now on, as Sony has released a patch for the overhauled online plaza that makes browsing through its menus somewhat swifter. Sadly, the update doesn’t fix the outrageous start up time, leaving you with plenty of opportunity to...
News Zombies Infiltrate Nuketown in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
They're looking for brains
All of that radiation has clearly played havoc with the once neighbourly population of Nuketown. Activision has announced that from 17th January, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 season pass holders will be able to embark in a spot of undead shenanigans on the popular map. If you’re planning on joining the fun, we seriously...
News CCP Games Deploys DUST 514 Open Beta on 22nd January
Just the beginning
CCP Games’ ambitious free-to-play first-person shooter DUST 514 will fire into open beta on 22nd January, the developer has announced. The news comes just weeks after the PlayStation 3 exclusive merged servers with its companion PC MMO, Eve Online. It’s all rather exciting stuff. "The launch of the Dust 514 open beta is...
News Ubisoft Resurrects Trademark for Killing Day
Back from the dead
Ubisoft has submitted a new trademark for its forgotten PlayStation 3 first-person shooter Killing Day. Those of you with sharp memories will recall the title originally being announced during Sony’s legendary 2005 E3 press conference, only to get totally upstaged by a certain Killzone 2 target render. Despite
News Journey Strolls Away with Eleven DICE Award Nominations
In need of a bigger cabinet
Journey has already won the most coveted gong going, but that’s not stopped it from scooping up an armful of nominations in the 16th annual DICE awards too. The innovative PlayStation Network exclusive received an impressive eleven nods in various categories, including game of the year. The title will duke it out...
