News - 2013, Week 31
Sunday4th Aug 2013
News Ubisoft Would Like to Remind You That Watch Dogs Looks Great
Quashing concerns
The timing of this new Watch Dogs trailer is no coincidence. Following the erroneous release of this week’s ugly Aisha Tyler footage, the French publisher has deployed a brand new video designed to allay fears regarding its impending open world game. It’s not exactly brimming with new content, but at least that next generation...
News DC Universe Online's Team May Be More Excited for PS4 Than You
Sony Online Entertainment can't wait for new system
The studio behind DC Universe Online can’t wait for the PlayStation 4 to arrive – because it means that it’s finally going to have some more memory to play with. The superhero MMO proved incredibly popular on the PlayStation 3, and that’s forced Sony Online Entertainment to squeeze every...
News Lose Yourself in the Cold, Harsh Downpour of Rain
Thunder only happens when it's raining
Ever since we infiltrated the tanker in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, we’ve loved it when it rains in games. Be it a sudden sprinkling in Hot Shots Golf, or a torrential downpour in MotorStorm: Apocalypse, few atmospheric events can send a shiver down your spine better than a good tropical storm...
Saturday3rd Aug 2013
Talking Point Do You Intend to Buy the PS4's Camera?
Watch dogs
Whether or not you believe that Sony planned to bundle the new PlayStation Eye with every PlayStation 4 console, the platform holder hasn’t done a particularly good job of making a compelling argument for the peripheral. You’ll be able to pick up one of the dual-lens units at launch, but while there’s no doubt that the optical extra...
Rumour Is Sony's Spooky Siren Series Set to Scare PS4?
See the Shibito
Few franchises are more consistently frightening than Keiichirō Toyama’s dark Siren series. The inaugural entry in the first-party horror brand deployed approximately 10 years ago in Japan, and the Silent Hill creator is celebrating the anniversary by posting old pictures of the game’s Tokyo Game Show presence on Twitter. Most...
News SOE Not Thinking About PS4 Version of EverQuest Next Just Yet
Online giant focusing on the PC first
If you’re the type of person to plug your ears whenever the words ‘free-to-play’ and ‘massively multiplayer online’ are mentioned, you may want to clear your hearing for just a moment. Sony Online Entertainment announced EverQuest Next – and its ambitious Minecraft-esque extension, EverQuest Next...
News Not in the Killzone: Mercenary Beta? Watch These Videos
Helghast hath no fury
Publishers are usually eager to clamp down on errant beta footage, but Sony seems more than happy to let these Killzone: Mercenary videos do the rounds. The chunky clips – captured by Rajman Gaming – show off various matches of Warzone in the upcoming handheld shooter. But does the game still look the business in...
News Aveline Will Be 'Older' in Exclusive Assassin's Creed IV Missions
Growing pains
You know that you’ve got a problem when the protagonist of your spin-off game is more interesting than the hero in your main release. That was certainly the case for Assassin’s Creed III, as PlayStation Vita star Aveline de Grandpré was infinitely more engaging than dreary Connor. Fortunately, publisher Ubisoft’s set to wrap up...
News A Whopping 1.3 Million Players Floored Gran Turismo 6's Demo
Racing in circles
An incredible 1.3 million players strapped themselves into Gran Turismo 6’s recent demo, which also doubled as part of the qualifying process for this year’s GT Academy competition. With the time trials all wrapped up, those budding speedsters that topped the leaderboards will now be drifting into the regional finals, where...
Friday2nd Aug 2013
FAQ What Are the Differences Between the PS4 and Xbox One?
For and against
Console clashes don’t get much more competitive than the upcoming conflict between the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Not since the days of derogatory SEGA commercials has a system showdown promised so much drama. But with two formats vying for your finances this fall, which device is the best choice for you? The following text...
News It's Free Flights for Everyone in Ace Combat: Infinity on PS3
Without wings
You’ll be flying shotgun for free in Ace Combat: Infinity later this year, as publisher Namco Bandai has confirmed that the upcoming flight-combat title won’t cost you a penny to download on the PlayStation 3. The game is supposedly set in the near future, and will include a brand new story campaign. There’s no word on how the...
News You'll Never Walk Alone in FIFA 14, as Liverpool Teams Up with EA
Red army
Liverpool FC fans will be happy to know that their beloved team will be getting special treatment in FIFA 14. The Merseyside squad have had their likenesses scanned into EA's upcoming release, so you won't have to worry about one of those weird custom-made faces popping up on the team sheet. The reason for the reported three-year...
News Carmack: Sony Has Made Large Strides with the PS4
Legendary programmer fond of next generation system
John Carmack, id Software’s veteran co-founder, has admitted that he’s pretty impressed with the PlayStation 4. Speaking as part of another enormous three-hour keynote at QuakeCon, the Wolfenstein 3D programmer praised the impending console – and suggested that the Japanese giant has done a...
News Capcom's Panta Rhei Engine Will Sure Heat Up the PS4
Hot in here
Deep Down may not be the game that many of us envisioned when it was first revealed in February, but it’s sure got some hot technology powering it. The title – which is being touted as some kind of online game – will take advantage of Capcom’s sizzling new Panta Rhei engine, which is capable of some incredible fire effects...
News Here's Your First Look at Whore of the Orient, the Next Game by Team Bondi
Paris of the East
Team Bondi doesn’t do straight-forward. The Australian developer behind detective title L.A. Noire was unceremoniously dumped by Rockstar upon completion of the PlayStation 3 game. It was then supposedly snapped up by Sydney-based production house KMM, where it started work on a PlayStation 4 project named Whore of the Orient...
News Rainbow Skies Will Brighten Up PS3 and Vita in 2014
Skiesrim
If you thought that last year's loot-filled, massive RPG Rainbow Moon took up far too much of your free time, then you may want to sit down before reading all about the game's indirect sequel, Rainbow Skies. Developer SideQuest Studios is looking to bring the franchise's second instalment to the PlayStation 3 and Vita at some point in 2014,...
News Duh, Of Course Juliet Starling Is Going to Be in Killer Is Dead
Girl power
Killer Is Dead hero Mondo Zappa will have yet another reason to pull out his controversial gigolo glasses this year, as Lollipop Chainsaw protagonist Juliet Starling is set to make an appearance in the game. The bright-eyed cheerleader will flash her pom-poms at some point during the title’s over-the-top campaign, but it’s not yet...
Thursday1st Aug 2013
News Looks Like It Really Is Last Chance Saloon for PS4 Pre-Orders
UK retailer shutting the batwing doors
You really are running out of time to pull the trigger on your PlayStation 4 pre-order in the UK. Yesterday, a CVG report claimed that Sony was set to introduce a deadline on next generation system sales, and online outlet Simply Games has reinforced that by sending out email reminders like the one embedded to...
First Impressions An Audience with Puppeteer, the PS3 Panto Deserving of a Standing Ovation
Pure theatre
Games like Puppeteer don’t deserve to be sitting out in the wings. You’re more likely to find Japan Studio’s side-scroller nursing a cold cup of coffee and pushing about props than strutting its stuff on centre stage. In an industry increasingly obsessed with leading lights like Call of Duty and Battlefield, there’s becoming...
News Oh, There's a New Tomb Raider Title in Production for PS4
Are you feeling protective?
Poor old Lara Croft can’t seem to catch a break. Aside from having her forename frequently mispronounced, the budding archaeologist always seems to find herself in a scrape. And she’s not set to break that spate of bad luck on the PlayStation 4, as publisher Square Enix has revealed that it’s working on a new Tomb...
News You'll Learn About The Last of Us' First DLC Pack This Month
Running into sight
As if the imminent onslaught of software wasn’t enough, Naughty Dog has hinted that we’ll get our first glimpse at The Last of Us’ inaugural add-on pack at some point later this month. Speaking as part of a Reddit question and answer session, creative director Neil Druckmann hinted that news is right around the corner...
News Deep Down Raises Its Flame Shield, Is an Online Game for PS4
Online group developing mysterious title
There are more than a couple of ghouls ‘n’ ghosts in this brand new trailer for Deep Down. You may remember the title being announced during Sony’s bumper PlayStation Meeting earlier in the year. Now publisher Capcom has followed up with confirmation that the PlayStation 4 title is being developed by...
News Basement Crawl May Be the Battiest Title on PS4 Yet
Bloober Team's multiplayer title looks utterly bonkers
If there’s been any criticism of the PlayStation 4, it’s that its launch lineup is a little bit familiar. Games like Killzone: Shadow Fall and inFAMOUS: Second Son may look great, but they’re not necessarily doing anything different – other than pushing unimaginable numbers of polygons,...
News inFAMOUS: Second Son Brings Car Crash Entertainment to PS4
Smoke and mirrors
How will you recharge your smoke powers in inFAMOUS: Second Son? Well, much like in the previous entries of Sucker Punch’s superhero series, you’ll need to absorb as much of the smoggy property as possible. But what’s the best way to do that? Er, blowing up dozens of parked cars, of course. As discussed in this brand new...
News Sony Remains Profitable in Q1 2013, PlayStation Sales Slide
Platform holder keeping PS4 expectations quiet
New gaffer Kaz Hirai has kept Sony’s head above water for yet another earnings report, with the company posting a ¥3.5 billion ($35 million) profit for the first quarter of 2013. The teensy return was propelled by a 13 per cent increase in revenue, which was fuelled by stronger than expected...
News Get Your Grubby Mitts on the PS4 at This Year's Eurogamer Expo
Meet the Push Square crew, too
As the summer heat wave edges closer to the long winter slog, our bosom buddies over at Eurogamer.net have news that should warm your cockles in preparation for the dreary autumnal months. The publication’s confirmed that the Eurogamer Expo – which is set to take place in London next month – will augment you with...
News Wolfenstein: The New Order Fired into Next Year
Back in the barrel
Wolfenstein: The New Order, the brash first-person reboot by MachineGames, has been delayed until 2014, Bethesda executive Pete Hines has told Polygon. The title had previously targeted a release on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 this year, but the developer is supposedly struggling with cross-generation development...
Store Update 31st July 2013 (Europe)
Kingdom come
Much like its North American counterpart, the latest European PlayStation Store update is brimming with noteworthy additions. Content includes Cloudberry Kingdom, PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD, and BioShock Infinite’s first
Wednesday31st Jul 2013
News Check Your Inboxes, Killzone: Mercenary Beta Codes Are Go
Keep calm and slaughter some Higs
If you’re reading this, you’re doing it wrong. We’re all for decreasing so-called bounce rates and increasing reader retention (those of you in the business will understand), but right now the only thing on your screen should be your email inbox. Sony has confirmed that it’s currently deploying Killzone:...
News Capcom's Not Totally Against the Idea of Monster Hunter on Sony Systems
Giant killer
For many people, Monster Hunter is the series that Sony needs to save the PlayStation Vita. Despite finding success on the PlayStation Portable, publisher Capcom has been reluctant to shift the franchise to the Japanese giant’s next generation handheld, opting to back the Nintendo 3DS instead. That said, the publisher is clearly not...
Rumour If You Don't Pre-Order Your PS4 Soon, You May Miss Out
Sony to introduce deadline in the UK
Sony is set to introduce a pre-order deadline for the PlayStation 4 in the UK, according to retail sources speaking with CVG. The site reports that any purchases placed beyond 5th August may not secure you a system at launch. If accurate, it means that you’ve got less than a week to put a deposit down on your...
Talking Point Do Single Player Focused Games Really Need Multiplayer?
Connected components
Publishers don’t want you to sell your games, and they’ll do almost anything to stop you. For primarily single player focused releases like God of War: Ascension and Tomb Raider, that means implementing online multiplayer in the hope of extending the title’s lifespan beyond its comparatively slender single player campaign...
News Watch Dogs Looks a Bit Woof in Aisha Tyler Trailer
You may want to secure that PS4 pre-order after all
How do you shed your status as one of the most visually impressive titles in production? Ask French publisher Ubisoft, who deployed this disastrous Watch Dogs footage overnight. The short snippet – presumably produced as a bit fun to show off actress Aisha Tyler’s inclusion in the game –...
News Bully Trademark Renews Hope for Sordid PS4 Sequel
Avoiding the sophomore slump
Few games surpass Grand Theft Auto’s quick-witted brilliance, but Bully is one of them. Rockstar Vancouver’s brilliant high school-‘em-up was a tapestry of cliques, clichés, and chemistry classes. And the cult classic could be about to make a comeback, if a trademark filed by laidback parent company Take-Two
News Batman: Arkham Origins Takes the Battle for Gotham Online
Splash Damage steps out of the shadows
Batman may be a loner at the best of times, but even he’s willing to prove that life is a lot more fun with friends. Warner Bros has unmasked an unexpected multiplayer component for Batman: Arkham Origins, which will see you duking it out on the streets of Gotham in eight-player deathmatches. But there’s a...
Weirdness Dark Souls Looks Even Harder in First-Person
Are you crying yet?
We’ve already established that only masochists enjoy From Software’s rage inducing Dark Souls series – but this first-person mod is custom created for the type of people that enjoy putting pegs on their face. The footage – captured by Soul Slasher – shows the opening moments of the critically acclaimed campaign, but...
Store Update 30th July 2013 (North America)
Dance with death
Sony’s hoping to brighten up your week with a couple of doozies as part of the latest North American PlayStation Store refresh. Cloudberry Kingdom and PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate HD both scored highly in our reviews, meaning that there’s no excuse for not adding the titles to your PSN basket as we type. It’s also worth noting...
Tuesday30th Jul 2013
Review Cloudberry Kingdom (PlayStation 3)
Hop, skip, and jetpack
Cloudberry Kingdom sounds a bit like one of those free-to-play cutesy-looking titles that you’d usually find on Facebook – probably having something to do with trading fruit to friends while maintaining a happy little kingdom full of poorly illustrated, smiling animals. Thankfully, hidden under the game’s somewhat...
Opinion Sony Must Refresh the PS4's Momentum at GamesCom
Scrapping for the spotlight
Ever since Jack Tretton and company dropped the microphone at E3 2013, quite a lot has changed about the impending next generation arms race. The advantages that the platform holder engineered for the PlayStation 4 –
News Killzone: Shadow Fall Pre-Orders Strong, Knack Stomping Beyond: Two Souls
PlayStation 4 exclusives performing well post E3
Killzone: Shadow Fall is the most pre-ordered PlayStation 4 exclusive, according to retail research by analysts Cowen and Co. The firm – which compiles data based on NPD sales statistics and Amazon.com bestseller information – found Guerrilla Games’ first-person shooter to be the fifth most...
News Sony Wants You to Be Able to Store 300GB of Data on a Disc
Lots of spin
Blu-ray is officially old news, as Sony has announced plans to introduce a higher-capacity physical storage format by the end of 2015. According to the BBC, the Japanese giant has teamed up with Panasonic to produce a new breed of optical discs that could store up to 300GB of data. For comparative purposes, existing double-layer...
News Real Boxing Steps into the PS Vita Arena on 27th August
Let the bodies hit the floor
Bloodied noses and bruised cheekbones will occupy your PlayStation Vita’s delicious OLED screen from 27th August in North America, as Vivid Games has confirmed that Real Boxing is mere weeks away from release. European fighters will have to wait an extra day to step into the ring, as the simulation is set to hold back...
News BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea Returns to the Watery Grave of Rapture
Beneath the ocean
BioShock Infinite’s first proper DLC pack – dubbed Clash in the Clouds, if you’re curious – may be a disappointing arena-based combat affair, but publisher 2K Games has softened the blow by revealing the title’s two-part story expansion Burial at Sea, which will take you back to the depths of Rapture later this year. The...
News BioShock Infinite Picks a Fight in the Sky in Clash in the Clouds
Arena add-on out today
The combat sections may have been the weakest part of BioShock Infinite, but Clash in the Clouds hopes to keep you high on Irrational Games’ adventure until proper expansion Burial at Sea sinks to new depths later this year. The combat-focused content sees you taking on a wealth of foes from the main campaign in waves of...
Monday29th Jul 2013
Weirdness Soul Sacrifice Creator Keiji Inafune Stars in PSP Dating Game
Mega man
Japanese games can be strange at the best of times, but Aksys’ upcoming dating title Sweet Fuse: At Your Side really takes the cookie. The release – which is due out on the PlayStation Portable next month – sees you assume the role of legendary developer Keiji Inafune’s niece. Having got out of the video game business, the Mega Man...
Talking Point Should All PSN Games Include a Platinum Trophy?
Bright pots
“Does it have a Platinum Trophy?” is probably the most asked question on the PlayStation Blog. Studios taking to the official publication to promote their wares are frequently forced to field the asinine query, which perhaps detracts from the content in question. We’re sure that developers would rather discuss the mechanics behind...
News PS4 Will Let You Add an Enormous 2,000 Friends
People person
You’ll be able to befriend an incredible 2,000 people on the PlayStation 4. Sony confirmed the snippet at part of a PlayStation Access video published earlier this afternoon, which also detailed other topics such as party chat, 3D, and more. You can watch the full Q&A in the space below. Currently, the PlayStation 3 allows you...
DLC Review Feeling the Heat of El Diablo's Domain in Guacamelee!
Deliciously painful
So, you've conquered the great evil. You've bested the best of the best demonic fighters, and defeated all of the gruelling physical trials that the big, bad boss managed to throw at you. Well, it's time to put down that afternoon tequila, slip into your wrestling pants, dust off your magical mask, and jump into the ultimate test...
News PS4 to Take Centre Stage During Sony's GamesCom Showcase
On the red carpet
In news one notch less predictable than water being wet, Sony has hinted that it will make the poor PlayStation 4 squint by shining a spotlight on the system during its imminent GamesCom press conference. Writing on the firm’s official Facebook page, an eager corporate scribe noted that the next generation console and its games...
Tuesday30th Jul 2013
News Party Chat Won't Cost You a Penny on PlayStation 4
Gift of the gab
If you absolutely must update your friends on your non-existent social life while you’re beavering away in Watch Dogs, platform holder Sony has confirmed that Party Chat will be available for free on the PlayStation 4. The snippet was confirmed as part of a PlayStation Access video, which also revealed the system’s gigantic...
Monday29th Jul 2013
News UK Sales Charts: Minecraft Chucks a Brick at The Last of Us
Stairway to seven smashed
After an impressive six weeks at the top of the charts, The Last of Us has finally been stopped in its tracks by, er, Minecraft. The boxed version of Mojang’s indie hit did its best Clicker impression, and shuffled straight to the summit of the best-sellers list. New release
News Ashes Cricket 2013 Rained Off Until November Due to Quality Issues
Game was not good enough
Much like the sport that it’s based upon, Ashes Cricket 2013 will be standing around in its whites for a few more months. 505 Games has decided to hold back the sleepy simulator until November, due to the title not meeting quality expectations. It will now deploy alongside the second Ashes series, which is set to be played...
News New Screens Show Grand Theft Auto 5 Living Life in the Fast Lane
The three stooges
Rockstar Games’ bandwidth busting ways hit a climax today, as the firm decided to deploy an avalanche of Grand Theft Auto 5 screenshots. The images show everything from sun loungers and shades, to Love Fist shirts and quad bikes. There are also pictures of a couple of strippers, military helicopters, and sick (probably stolen)...
News Tearaway Ripped Off the Release Schedule Until 22nd November
Doesn't matter one Iota
Media Molecule has screwed up Tearaway’s original 22nd October release date, and tossed it in the trash bin. As part of a candid post on the PlayStation Blog, creative lead Rex Crowle revealed that the developer’s keeping the game folded up for an extra month, while it pulls out the glitter pen and polishes the platformer...
Most Read
News It's Free Flights for Everyone in Ace Combat: Infinity on PS3
News You'll Never Walk Alone in FIFA 14, as Liverpool Teams Up with EA
Weirdness Soul Sacrifice Creator Keiji Inafune Stars in PSP Dating Game
News Looks Like It Really Is Last Chance Saloon for PS4 Pre-Orders
Talking Point Should All PSN Games Include a Platinum Trophy?
News Ubisoft Would Like to Remind You That Watch Dogs Looks Great
