Xbox One pulls off an unlikely sales victory over the PS4
Well, this is kind of surprising: the Xbox One lead console sales last month. I say it’s surprising because there wasn’t an exclusive game that launched for the system, nor was their a new bundle deal going at the time, either. Regardless, it’s good news and something that Redmond hasn’t seen in an awfully long time. The company says that domestic sales of the console increased some 63 percent compared to last April while active Xbox Live users on a global scale grew by 24 percent in the same window. Of course, we still don’t have hard numbers in terms of sales about the Xbox One, and until the console breaks 20 million sold you can bet that we almost assuredly won’t.
What’s Sony have to say about it all? That it led software sales for the month (Mortal Kombat X was the top selling game overall) and that it remains the cumulative sales leader in the United States. So there’s that.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Sony, Microsoft
Candy Crush Saga to jeopardize productivity of Windows 10 users
Know what game’s coming to all versions of Windows 10 aside from the usual ones like Solitaire and Minesweeper? Candy Crush. Yes, the same sugar-filled time-sink that’s already taken over a lot of people’s souls through iOS, Android and Windows Phone. The game’s coming later this year, presumably around the same time the new OS arrives. It will even come pre-installed with the platform for anyone who upgrades for a limited time following its launch. According to Microsoft, the game will feature cross-play options for Android and iOS devices, ensuring that you can’t escape from its sticky, sweet grasp wherever you go.
Filed under: Gaming, Mobile, Microsoft
Source: Xbox Wire
Microsoft ban for ‘Gears of Wars’ leakers only knocks them offline
Remember that Xbox One Gears of War remaster leak from a few weeks back? Well, the folks who gave word about it and then proceeded to upload video of the game in action have apparently had their Xbox Live accounts “permanently disabled” and supposedly “all of their Xbox One privileges” have been blocked according to an email from the game’s testing agency that was obtained by Kotaku. As Microsoft tells us, that isn’t quite the case; it’s more of a soft ban that means the affected accounts can’t go online:
“To be clear, if a console is suspended from Xbox Live for a violation of the Terms of Use, it can still be used offline. Microsoft enforcement action does not result in a console becoming unusable. Suspensions for both consoles and accounts are determined by looking at a number of factors. To avoid enforcement action including suspension from the service, users should follow the Xbox Live Terms of Use and Code of Conduct.”
So, the affected game testers (who almost assuredly signed nondisclosure agreements that are supposed to ensure these types of leaks don’t happen) can still use their retail Xbox One consoles, but can’t go online with them. It isn’t effectively bricking, it’s just removing any type of connected functionality from them. Which, admittedly is a lot, but they should still be able to play games or watch a Blu-ray. We’ve reached out for further clarification and will update this post when we have it.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Source: Kotaku
‘Rainbow Six Siege’ raids PC, PS4 and Xbox One on October 13th
While The Division might not be launching in 2015 (it was pushed back to early 2016), you’ll have at least one way to get your Tom Clancy gaming fix this year. Ubisoft has announced that Rainbow Six Siege will ship worldwide on October 13th. The counter-terrorist raid shooter will be available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One, and players who pre-order will have guaranteed access to a closed beta test. It’s hard to say if this title will do justice to the original Rainbow Six games it’s trying to follow, but you’ll know for sure in about five months.
Filed under: Gaming
Source: Ubisoft (YouTube)
JXE Streams: Roll7 explains the guns and bunnies in ‘Not a Hero’
Just over a month ago, Roll7 stopped by JXE Streams to laugh at us as we repeatedly wiped out grinding rails in skateboarding game OlliOlli 2. Now the studio is coming back on the show to mock us for lacking an entirely different set of skills. We’re just not that good at jumping through windows and shooting thugs under the orders of a maniacal bunny man from the future who happens to be running for mayor. Yes, that is really what Not a Hero is about and we’ll be playing it with the game’s creators starting at 3:30PM ET.
Tune into Twitch.tv/Joystiq, Engadget.com/gaming or right here in this post at 3:30PM ET for a solid 90 minutes of Not a Hero‘s insane action. John Ribbins, Simon Bennet and Tom Hegarty of Roll7 will be joining us via Skype to talk about their new game and to guide us in the ways of its insane world.
Dig the stream? Follow us on Twitch and bookmark Engadget.com/gaming!
[We’re playing Not a Hero on PC streamed through OBS at 720p.]
Driveclub lets you race Rimac’s ultra-rare electric hypercar
For most of us, ultra-realistic racing games like Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport are as close as we’ll ever get to driving the world’s most luxurious motors. We’ve drooled over Rimac Automobili’s Concept_One electric hypercar for years, but given that only eight have ever been made, our chances of getting behind the wheel seem pretty slim. Now, the EV has been added to Driveclub, giving you the chance to thrash the high performance racer around Norway, Scotland, Chile and more. If you need a reminder, the $980,000 car boasts a carbon fibre body and 1088 horsepower, which can take you from 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds. Its green credentials might be irrelevant on a virtual racetrack, but hopefully you can appreciate them all the same in Evolution Studios’ (no longer broken) racer.
Filed under: Gaming
Via: Autoblog
Source: Rimac Automobili
Twitch’s live game video streaming arrives on Roku players
You now have an easy way to follow your favorite Twitch game streamers on a big screen without splurging on a console or Fire TV. The live video service has just launched a channel for Roku players, helping you keep up with tournaments and “let’s play” sessions on a cheap and cheerful media hub. The interface will seem familiar if you’ve used Twitch’s other apps, but that’s not exactly a major gripe. Give it a spin today if you’d rather watch a DOTA 2 match than Don Draper.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Amazon
Source: Roku Stream Blog
Microsoft’s E3 event gives you a chance to play upcoming games
It’s not unheard of for game console makers to invite fans to their media events — largely to get more cheering than they’d usually get — but Microsoft is upping the ante for its E3 gathering this year. It’s planning to offer 500 tickets that gets you into both the company’s June 15th press conference as well as a FanFest (June 14th through the 18th) that lets you play upcoming Xbox games months in advance. You’ll also have VIP access to an eSports event and a meet-and-greet with game industry bigwigs. Be prepared tot make a lot of sacrifices if you’re determined to get in, though. You’ll have to be in the Los Angeles area, of course, but you’ll also have to line up for those tickets on the 14th. Otherwise, you’ll just have to watch the blogs and live streams like everyone else.
Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft
Source: Major Nelson, Xbox.com
Silver Mario Amiibo will drive collectors insane this month
Nintendo has already released a gold version of its Mario Amiibo, so guess what’s coming next? A silver version, of course. We suspected as much after both figurines leaked back in February, but today the console maker has made it official. The special statue — which is identical to the Amiibo figure from Mario Party 10, albeit painted silver — will arrive in stores on May 29th for $12.99. When the gold version debuted, it was available exclusively in Walmart stores across the US. That made it something of a collector’s item, riling fans that were desperately trying to maintain a complete set. This time around, it seems Nintendo has opted for a more conventional release. The company is still struggling to keep up with the demand for Amiibos however, so if you’re interested, act fast on May 29th.
Via: Polygon
The ‘Ratchet & Clank’ Movie comes out April 29th, 2016
If you were wondering when Sony would pull its finger out and announce the release date for the Ratchet & Clank movie, then today is a good day for you. The company has revealed that the flick will arrive in theaters on April 29th, 2016, with the video game cast of James Arnold Taylor and David Kaye in the starring roles. For some reason, the studio felt compelled to upgrade the rest of the acting roster, so don’t be surprised when Paul Giamatti, Rosario Dawson, John Goodman and Sylvester Stallone pop up in the closing credits.
Unlike plenty of console-to-screen adaptations, the game’s creative team was consulted on the way the film should pan out. The studio says that it “collaborated extensively” with writer TJ Fixman, character designer Dave Guertin and production designer Greg Baldwin. At the same time, Insomniac Game is working on a remake of the original Ratchet & Clank game that’ll arrive around the same time as the movie that ties in with the film’s new origin story.
Source: Sony
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