First ‘Titanfall 2’ DLC includes a no-nonsense skins store
Respawn made it a point with Titanfall 2 to ditch some of the more annoying business models of modern games (such as charging for important add-ons), and you’re about to find out how well that works in practice. The studio has revealed that its first downloadable content pack, Angel City’s Most Wanted, will arrive on November 30th… and this is not the usual case of charging a small fortune for a handful of extra gameplay. The extension not only gives you a ‘new’ map (surprise: the original game’s Angel City), a new pistol and several titan kits completely free of charge, but introduces an in-game skins store that is the opposite of what you frequently see in other blockbuster titles.
As Respawn notes, the store simply involves buying what you like with cold, card cash, and it’s strictly cosmetic items like Prime Titans (robots with different looks and assassinations) and camouflage. There are no arbitrary in-game currencies or loot boxes, and nothing you buy is a shortcut to victory. To put it another way: you shouldn’t have to grind for days just to get something for free.
The company is also promising a few treats in what’s left of 2016. In keeping with the young company’s traditions, you’ll see “twists” periodically show up in certain game modes. There will also be double-experience weekends and public recognition for top teams. You’ll have to wait until 2017 for more DLC, but this and Angel City at least show that Respawn is determined to avoid the drop in players that affected the first Titanfall (where paid DLC was the rule). This promises to be a constantly evolving game, and you won’t have to keep shelling out money to get the full experience.
Via: GamesRadar
Source: Titanfall
‘Watch Dogs 2’ finally has all the features Ubisoft promised
People who bought Watch Dogs 2 under the promise of a seamless blend between a solo campaign and multiplayer are finally going to get the game they paid for. Yesterday, developer/publisher Ubisoft turned on what it’s calling the “second phase” of the feature to both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners. From the company statement:
“Players will now be able to experience the full seamless multiplayer features: Nearby bounty targets and Prime_Eight rivals will join the player’s world for them to hunt down and hack without going through the Multiplayer App in the smartphone. Players will also encounter friendly Dedsec hackers who can help them complete different Dedsec events throughout San Francisco. Players can also invite those Dedsec hackers to form a co-op team and complete co-op missions.”
During the pre-launch period when press had advance access to the game, Ubisoft discovered that the drop-in multiplayer was wreaking havoc on Watch Dogs 2’s frame rate and general stability. While certain multiplayer modes were available before this patch, as the statement says, you had to set them up for yourself rather than randomly happening upon another player in your own world — a step back from how the first game worked.
Watch Dogs 2 was released on November 15th, so if you’re keeping track at home, it took just over a week for the patch to make it through Microsoft’s and Sony’s respective quality certification programs.
Ocean adventure ‘Abzû’ gets a glow-in-the-dark vinyl soundtrack
After the recent announcement that soothing underwater adventure Abzû will be heading to Xbox One, fans will soon be able to own its soundtrack too. Composed by Austin Wintory, the man who wrote the music for Journey and The Banner Saga, Abzû’s entrancing score will be available to order as a double LP, exclusively through iam8bit.
The soundtrack features original art by Nimit Malavia, the cover artist for DC’s comic series Fables, who did something extra-special for this release. Turning off the lights will reveal the vinyl’s bioluminescent, glow-in-the-dark jacket, thanks to a layer of screen-printed ink adorning Nimit’s artwork.
Pre-orders start Friday at $35 and ship worldwide, with the glow-in-the-dark covering limited to those who order between November 25th and 28th.
Source: iam8bit
The biggest ‘Minecraft’ console update of 2016 lands in December
The final Minecraft: Console Edition update of the year is also its largest. The Holiday Update will land in late December, bringing the Elytra (wings that allow players to glide), Amplified Terrain, End Cities, the Dragon’s Breath potion ingredient and more features to PlayStation 4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Vita and Wii U. This means that the console versions will be nearly on par with the PC edition, Microsoft promises.
The Holiday Update polishes the UI and includes new mobs, items, blocks and status effects. Players will find the Elytra in The End, Minecraft’s third and final dimension. The End itself will be updated with End Cities, End Ships, Chorus Plants, Chorus Flowers and Purpur blocks, among other features. There are also new enemies, including Shulkers, which hide near Purpur blocks and fire homing missiles at encroaching players. The Dragon’s Breath ingredient allows players to create Lingering Potions — just throw one of these suckers on the ground to leave some status effects behind for enemies or friends to find.
Developer Mojang is giving players a sneak peak at the update today, meaning there will be more surprise features when it actually goes live in late December. The Holiday Update is free for anyone who owns Minecraft: Console Edition. The Windows 10 and Pocket editions of Minecraft recently saw updates that brought those versions nearly on par with the original Java version as well. Plus, Minecraft is scheduled to hit Apple TV before the end of the year. Happy holidays, indeed.
Source: Mojang
‘Resident Evil 7’ $180 edition comes with a tiny haunted house
After scaring our socks off at Gamescom, Capcom has now revealed Resident Evil 7’s collector’s edition — and it’s not for the faint hearted… or the financially minded.
Costing a wallet-worrying $180, this special collector’s edition will net you six unique items, including your very own mansion. An ornately detailed eight-inch model, this replica of the game’s plantation mansion has its own speakers and LEDs, doubling as an incredibly creepy music box.
It may only be eight inches, but in this economy $180 for a mansion is nothing to be sniffed at.
This special edition will also include an exclusive metal case, a suitably grimy-looking VHS box, a bloody finger-shaped USB stick, an exclusive lithograph and lastly a creepy note. Well, they can’t all be winners, can they?
While Resident Evil 7 will be heading to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on January 24th, this collector’s edition will only be available on consoles.
‘Uncharted 4’ adds a survival mode with a few twists
Gears of War 4 won’t have a monopoly on co-op survival modes this holiday, apparently. Naughty Dog is introducing an Uncharted 4: Survival mode that will arrive in mid-December. As with its Xbox rival, Uncharted will have you facing 50 waves of AI enemies as you build up defenses, rank up your character and coordinate with teammates. Don’t call it an outright clone of Gears’ Horde mode, however, as it periodically throws a monkey wrench into the works.
Some waves will have objectives you need to complete, such as collecting treasures or defeating specific enemies. Also, you’ll occasionally run into modifiers that prevent you from relying on the same tactics every round. You may have to use only melee weapons, for example, or limit yourself to head shots. And while you will face the mercenaries that dominate the conventional story, Survival adds plenty of supernatural opponents.
This won’t be a radical break from the Co-Op Arena mode you saw in the second and third Uncharted games, but it should inject new life into a title that’s already on some critics’ short lists. It might impact Sony’s bottom line, too. If Uncharted 4 has an answer to one of GOW4’s best-known modes, you might be tempted to pick up a PS4 Slim bundle when you were otherwise set on an Xbox One S.
Source: PlayStation Blog
PSVR shooter ‘RIGS’ gets a new mech and arena next month
PSVR multiplayer mech-em-up RIGS is one of the platform’s most stunning launch titles, delivering enjoyable and fast-paced action — if your stomach can handle it. In a bid to keep players blasting each other over the holidays, developer Guerilla Cambridge has announced that the title’s first major update will arrive next month.
Offering gamers an agile new APX rig to pilot and introducing RIGS’ first European stage, the Zurich Arena, this free update will add some much-needed variety to the game’s limited multiplayer. As well as these two major additions, players will be able to compete in weekly trials, earning credits, fame and exclusive customization items. Rounding up the update is a wealth of new items to purchase from the in-game store.
Along with the patch, Guerilla Cambridge stressed the importance of post-launch support. But with no clear schedule beyond this release, it seems this may be the last major update for a while.
Source: PlayStation Blog
Fantasy game ‘Mages of Mystralia’ is coming to PS4
After announcing Mages of Mystralia for PC earlier this week, Borealys Games also revealed that its intriguing wizard-em-up will also be making its way to PS4. This colorful indie title takes inspiration from Harry Potter and Zelda: Ocarina of Time, putting players in the shoes of wizard-in-training Zia as she attempts to get to grips with her new abilities.
Developed by a team who have collectively worked on the likes of Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, Borealys Games’ debut title looks to offer a charming adventure and a unique spell building mechanic. With Ed Greenwood, creator of the Dungeons & Dragons narrative Forgotten Realms, penning the story, Mages of Mystralia promises a compelling tale alongside its intriguing premise.
Mages of Mystralia will be coming to PC and PS4 in Spring 2017. With gameplay details still in short supply, expect to learn more on December 3rd and 4th, as Borealys Games will be taking it to PlayStation Experience in Anaheim for its first public showing.
Source: PlayStation Blog
12 gifts for the gaming geek in your life
Whether they’ve got a fully tricked out PC gaming rig or just looking to get a little retro button mashing done on their new 4K TV, we’ve got the gift for the gamer in your life. Obviously, with some new consoles on the scene, there’s an obvious upgrade out there for the hardcore in the PS4 Pro and Xbox One S. But you don’t need to drop $300 – $400 to upgrade your favorite geek’s gaming experience. A high-end mouse, top notch controller or a new headset can make a world of difference for those glued to online battles. And, for those in your life that prefer their gaming be a little more… let’s say physical, you can’t go wrong with a board game like Mechs vs. Minions or King of Tokyo.
For our full list of recommendations in all categories, don’t forget to stop by our main Holiday Gift Guide hub.
Sony suspends player who found a sex organ in ‘Watch Dogs 2’
Ubisoft might pride itself on Watch Dogs 2’s plausible game world, but it looks like the open world title might be a little too realistic… and one player is paying the price for it. Sony suspended NeoGAF forum member Goron2000 from the Sony Entertainment Network (including PSN) after he discovered that at least one of the female character models in the game has a fully rendered vagina. It’s not exactly necessary in a hacking-themed action title where intentional nudity is very rare, is it?
Unlike the “Hot Coffee” scandal that surrounded Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas years ago, this gaffe isn’t inaccessible bits of code buried deep within the title’s back-end, it’s art assets within the final game that seemingly any player could happen upon. According to Sony, the player’s decision to share his discovery online (using the PS4’s built-in sharing and streaming features, no less) violated SEN guidelines forbidding players from sharing “adult or sexual” content.
Ubisoft has promised to patch the sex organ out of the game, and it’s important to note that the temporary ban will last until December 15th. However, the very fact that either happened has left Goron2000 and others scratching their heads. How did this make it past Ubisoft’s certification team? And is Sony right to boot a player who was sharing material the publisher/developer inadvertently approved, leaving a black mark on his account?
Sony hasn’t responded to our request for comment, but the player at the center of the ordeal tweeted that his PSN privileges have been reinstated as of 7:33pm Eastern.
Sony have undone the suspension. We won! I think? They never admitted fault of course. I want to thank everyone for their support today.
— Swizzasaur (@Swizzasaur) November 16, 2016
However, the incident highlights the problems with bending over backwards to include sharing features on consoles. If you’re going to make it easy to livestream or share photos on Twitter, you shouldn’t be surprised if users draw attention to the naughtier material.
Via: The Next Web, Polygon
Source: NeoGAF, Swizzasaur (Twitter)
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