WWE Network wrestling is now streaming on virtually every device you own
WWE promised that Americans would be watching body slams and piledrivers on a myriad of devices toward the end of this month, and that moment is finally at hand. WWE Network apps are now available in the US for almost every major platform under the sun, including Android, Apple TV, iOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Roku players, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. In all cases, you’ll pay $10 per month to stream live wrestling events as well as beyond-the-ring content like documentaries and classic matches. The app also serves as a second screen companion when you’re watching live TV shows. International grappling fans will have to remain patient, however — WWE Network won’t reach other countries until late 2014 or early 2015.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD
Source: WWE, PlayStation Blog, Roku
4 Second Screen Apps Expanding the Video Game World
Second screen usage occurs when you use a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet, alongside another activity. Nielsen reports that 43 percent of tablet owners and 46 percent of smartphone owners put their devices to work as second screen providers. Video game companies are taking the leap into second screen companion applications for their games, from Battlefield 4′s Battlescreen to Xbox One’s Smartglass experience.
Battlefield 4
Battlefield’s first person shooter experience, available on Origin.com, has long set itself apart from other franchises through the use of a Battlefield map for the commander’s use. You call in artillery strikes, help coordinate squads, and drop supplies to soldiers. In older versions of the game, you switched to a separate screen on your television or computer monitor to access this mode. With Battlefield 4‘s Battlescreen app, you use an app on your tablet or smartphone to give you access to commander mode, as well as squad and loadout management. This prevents you from getting killed because you’re stuck in the commander screen, and you don’t see what’s going on in your general proximity.
Xbox One Smartglass
Xbox One has split its focus between performing as a video game console and setting itself up as a media powerhouse in your living room. One step Microsoft took in this direction is the Smartglass companion app. This app gives you an additional way to control the Xbox One dashboard, look up information on the game you’re playing or the shows you watch, and provides additional content from the developer for games that provide second screen support.
Playstation 4 Companion App
The Playstation 4 app isn’t as media focused as the Xbox One, but one feature that is particularly useful is the ability to purchase and start game downloads directly from the app. It starts the download on your PS4, as well as downloading any needed updates, so you aren’t waiting an hour for a download when you get home to try a new game. It also provides you with an easier interface for instant messaging with your PS4 friends, as you aren’t limited by the on-screen keyboard or voice chat through your console.
Assassin’s Creed
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag shipped with a companion app that exists to supplement the main experience and contribute to immersion. Many handy resources such as the world map were shifted to the companion app, so you don’t have to leave the main screen to check your location. In addition, you have access to the lore and story database to get more involved with the game even when you’re not playing. Finally, this app offers fleet management so you send your ships off for trades and treasure while you’re away from the console.
Dead Rising 3
Dead Rising 3 has a Smartglass compatible app that is actually integrated into the game world itself. Since your character uses a phone, you essentially use the phone that they are toting around ingame. NPCs give you missions by calling you up, and you also have maps and hints to help out.
Compare two generations of gaming across four platforms with Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Like so many games launching at the end of 2013 and throughout 2014, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes straddles both last generation (Xbox 360/PlayStation 3) and the current one we’ve just entered (Xbox One/PlayStation 4). Given Metal Gear‘s history of gorgeous visuals, the question asked itself: what will Ground Zeroes look like on aging game consoles compared to the new shiny ones? It turns out that Kojima Products, the studio behind Ground Zeroes, has exactly the answer we were looking for in the form of a brand new comparison video.
If anything, we’re most shocked by how great it still looks on the older consoles! Of course, for those of you still fighting the console wars, there’s the (negligible) difference between Xbox One and PlayStation 4 to analyze. Head below to take a look for yourself.
Sony’s sold 5.3 million PS4s already, hits sales target with three weeks to spare
Sony’s prediction that it would move 5 million PlayStation 4s before the end of the fiscal year turned out to be on target. It just announced 5.3 million of the next-gen consoles sold worldwide as of February 8th, all before the PS4 launches in Japan on the 22nd. The PS4 has held the overall next-gen hardware sales lead since it launched in November, and appears to be extending the gap on the Xbox One during these early stages of the war. We haven’t received exact US sales figures yet, but the PS4 sold the most units in January, and worldwide had 4.2 million sold at the end of 2013. Pushing over a million more new systems in just over a month is no small feat, and Sony’s upcoming launch in its home country is sure to expand that total. Once we have the system in our home however, it’s software and services that will be most important in getting use out of those boxes. Right now Microsoft is putting its next-gen eggs in the Titanfall basket, but Sony is pushing PlayStation Plus with its first-ever commercial for the service (embedded after the break), plus exclusive games on the way including Driveclub and Infamous: Second Son.
Source: PRNewswire
Daily Roundup: Harmonix’s musical first-person shooter, limited edition PS4 and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
The first PlayStation 4 LE
Sony and Kojima Productions collaborated on the first limited edition PS4 console, which will arrive exclusively for Japan on March 20th to celebrate the launch of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. Click the link for more.
Chroma: a rhythm-based FPS
Harmonix, the studio behind Guitar Hero and Rock Band, hopes to chart new territory with its new rhythm-based, first-person shooter called Chroma. And if you’re scratching your head as to what that means, you’re not alone! Click on through for more on the ins and outs of this experimental game.
Philips connected retail lighting
Philips’ new connected retail lighting might make it easier for customers to navigate stores, using light-based communication to pinpoint those hard-to-find ingredients. Follow the link for more information.
Samsung Chinese mobile market
Samsung’s faring well in Greater China it seems. According to the latest numbers from IDC, the company took 19 percent of the mobile market share. Read on for more.
Filed under: Misc
The first limited edition PS4 is a regular PS4 with a gold sticker
Despite Japan’s rich gaming culture, the new consoles that’ve taken pride of place in your living room are still considered next-gen in the Land of the Rising Sun. While Microsoft still hasn’t offered a firm date for the Xbox One‘s arrival, Sony’s PlayStation 4 makes its Japanese debut this coming weekend. Now, as reparations for the three-month delay, Sony and the snake-charmers (read: game devs) at Kojima Productions have partnered on the first limited edition PS4 console that’ll launch exclusively in Japan on March 20th. This “Fox Edition” PS4 has been crafted to celebrate the launch of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, a copy of which’ll be bundled with the console for 46,980 yen (around $462) — the regular console will retail for 41,979 yen (around $413) sans game, since you asked. Unfortunately, this first limited run PS4 is less impressive re-skinning effort, and more, well, boring sticker.
Via: Kotaku
Source: Kojima Productions (Twitter), Sony
PlayStation 4 tops next-generation console sales in the US for January
As it turns out, Microsoft’s lead in US next-generation console sales was short-lived. The NPD has just released estimates which show that the PlayStation 4 outsold the Xbox One during January. Neither the NPD nor Sony is providing exact numbers, although Sony Senior VP Guy Longworth states that PS4 sales were almost twice as high as Microsoft’s. The system was certainly alluring enough to drive game sales during the quarter — the PS4 was the platform of choice for five of the top 10 games, while the Xbox One was never higher than second.
Microsoft also isn’t divulging Xbox One figures, although the NPD tells us that the system was the runner-up in hardware sales. The company can trumpet the strength of the overall Xbox brand, though. Together, the Xbox 360 and Xbox One represented 47 percent of game sales; the Xbox 360 was also the most popular system for five of the top 10 software releases. Nintendo has a silver lining on its dark cloud, too. Game sales for the 3DS and Wii U respectively increased by six and 26 percent year-over-year. That’s no mean feat when overall spending was down by a quarter. Whichever platform you prefer, we wouldn’t declare the console wars over — not when expected system sellers like Titanfall could easily shift the balance of power.
This just in: PS4 the #1 selling game console in the US in January, still #1 worldwide. Thanks, guys! pic.twitter.com/1vOFmtUukX
– PlayStation (@PlayStation) February 13, 2014
per @LuckyLongworth: PS4 was #1 in sales for next gen consoles in January, nearly doubling the nearest next gen competitor.
– Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) February 13, 2014
Filed under: Gaming, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo
Source: PlayStation (Twitter), Xbox Wire, Geoff Keighley (Twitter)
Over one million people are streaming gameplay on Twitch every month
With the inclusion of Twitch streaming functionality in the PlayStation 4 (and soon in the Xbox One), it’s no surprise that the service is now achieving over one million “monthly active broadcasters.” What that means in human speak is over one million people are streaming out gameplay via Twitch every month — that’s a ton of opportunity for both informative broadcasts and rampant nudity!
Should there be any doubt that the new game consoles are goosing the numbers, Twitch already confirmed that PS4 activations account for at least 100,000 new accounts thus far. With Xbox One support coming in the not-so-distant future, we only expect that broadcaster number to grow ever higher. Perhaps two million by summer? At the rate these consoles are selling, it’s not hard to imagine.
Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Software, HD, Sony, Microsoft
Source: Twitch
Daily Roundup: Google’s Chromecast SDK, Facebook Paper hands-on and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
GTA 5 is best selling game of 2013
Grand Theft Auto 5 was the best-selling game of 2013, but that should come as no surprise since the title pulled in $1 billion at its debut. Click on through for more information.
Facebook Paper hands-on
Facebook’s new app, named Paper, hopes to become your go-to new source, but does it really offer any advantages over the plethora of other aggregators out there? Follow the link to our hands on and find out.
Google unveils Chromecast SDK
If you’re a developer who’s been waiting to take advantage of Mountain View’s $35 dongle, you’re in luck. Earlier today, Google released the Chromecast SDK and invited coders to get hackin’. Click through for details.
PS4 update brings Pulse headset support
PS4 owners with a Pulse headset will soon be able to take advantage of Sony’s version 1.6 update. Set to arrive late tonight, the update will bring PlayStation 4 support for both the regular Pulse and Elite editions. Click the link for more.
PlayStation 4 update supports Sony’s pricey headsets, including a new model
PlayStation 3 owners who quickly moved to the PS4 couldn’t take their expensive Pulse headsets with them, but that won’t be a problem for long. A version 1.6 update reaching the newer console late this evening will bring full support for both the regular Pulse and its Elite Edition, giving players 7.1-channel virtual surround sound and voice chat through Sony’s official hardware. Elite Edition owners will also get to use a Headset Companion App (due later this month) that sets custom audio profiles. To mark the occasion, Sony is launching some new audio gear: the Gold Wireless Headset offers 7.1-channel audio, voice and game profiles in a travel-ready, foldable design. It should sell for $100 when it hits store shelves early this month.
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, Sony
Source: PlayStation Blog
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