Welcome to GameSpot Q&A, a recurring feature where we ask our staff and readers an interesting discussion question about video games. Look at this as a forum where you and others can discuss and compare your opinions of this beloved hobby of ours. Let us know what your answer is to this week's question in the comments below!
What Will Project Scorpio Be Called?
Egg Box
Dan Crowd | Video Producer
As all life begins with an egg, so to does the future of your gaming life. The Egg Box will finally answer the age old question: which came first: the chicken who rage quit or the Egg Box Entertainment Unit from Microsoft Corporation. Namaste.
Xbox
Alex Newhouse | News Reporter
I'm guessing that Microsoft will pull an Apple and call Scorpio simply "Xbox." Microsoft's naming conventions already make no sense--I still don't know why the third Xbox system is called Xbox One--and the company clearly does not concern itself with correct numbering. It jumped from Windows 8 to Windows 10, after all. With all the talk of the "end of console generations" and the beginning of more iterative hardware releases, I think that the most likely name for Scorpio is something straightforward, that gets back to its roots, and that illustrates the idea that there won't be huge breaks between console releases anymore.
New Xbox One
Eddie Makuch | Associate Editor, Australia
Microsoft is positioning Project Scorpio as a high-end option inside the Xbox ecosystem system of hardware. Its price point will be higher than that of the Xbox One S. So it was no surprise when Phil Spencer said he believes Xbox One will always be Microsoft's best-selling console this generation, outpacing Scorpio (Microsoft says there aren't really "generations" of consoles any more per se). So I don't think the Xbox One name can really go away if that is to be true. Taking a page out of Nintendo's playbook, maybe we will see Microsoft retain the Xbox One name but add something to it: New Xbox One.
Xbox One
Edmond Tran | Australian Editor / Senior Video Producer
I think Scorpio is basically going to mark a relaunch of the Xbox One, with some realigning of the hardware family in the process. Sony's marketing of the PS4 Pro seemed a bit hesitant--I guess they didn't want to detract attention from the already strong regular PS4 sales. Microsoft don't have as much to lose. I wouldn't be surprised if Scorpio, with all its beefy-as-hell hardware becomes the new flagship 'Xbox One', while the perception of the Xbox One S gets spun down into an affordable entry-level model. This way, Microsoft could potentially yell "Xbox One is way more powerful than PS4!" from rooftops, and technically, they'd be right.
Xbox 720
Oscar Dayus | UK Staff Writer
If you think this name sounds dumb, please remember Microsoft named its third Xbox the "Xbox One." This will of course be widely ridiculed when Phil Spencer announces it at E3, but when all those 360 owners are reminded what a great time they had playing Gears of War and Fable 2 and Halo 3, they'll flock back to the green side of the Force quicker than you can say "gaming-T-shirt-and-jacket-combo."
Xbox One Elite
Chris Pereira | News Editor
The Elite name is one that Microsoft used for a particular iteration of the Xbox 360, but I think it's been long enough that it's ready to be used again. It seems unlikely to me that Microsoft abandons the Xbox One name, given that it won't want to confuse people about what games the system plays--or anger existing Xbox One owners who might feel like their system has been phased out if the "Xbox 4" is announced. Similarly, anything involving 4K could immediately turn off non-4K display owners, Sony claimed the term Pro, and "Xbox Is More Powerful Than PS4 Pro Please Buy It" feels slightly unwieldy. Xbox One Elite it is.
Xbox 4K
Jimmy Thang | Technology Editor
Microsoft is heavily pushing its next system as a 4K-capable console. A simple and effective way of conveying that, if it truly can push 2160p, is to just have 4K in the title. Conveniently, it's also Microsoft's fourth major console release, if you don't count simple chassis refreshes like the S and the Elite.
Microsoft has tweaked the Project Scorpio console to give developers more RAM. Xbox engineering lead Mike Ybarra said on Twitter today that developers now have 9 GB of GDDR5 RAM to work with. The system itself has 12 GB of RAM in total.
In his tweet, Ybarra said, "We'll keep tuning Scorpio to empower creators to share the best versions of their games."
We’ll keep tuning Scorpio to empower creators to share the best versions of their games. Unlocked extra GB of RAM for them, now 9GB of GDDR5
In other news, Microsoft recently trademarked a new "S" logo with a break in the middle, which may or may not be connected to Scorpio--you can see that logo here.
Microsoft's E3 2017 briefing takes place at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET. The company is expected to formally announce Scorpio's name, price, and release date during the event.
In other Scorpio news, Microsoft has released new E3 teasers that invite fans to "feel true power."
GameSpot will bring you all the news and more from the event as it happens. For more, check out GameSpot's E3 2017 hub.
The first trailer for the Nintendo area of the Universal Studios theme park in Japan has been released--and it looks pretty cool.
The concept video for Super Nintendo World, as it's being called of course, starts by showing Mario entering the park through a green warp pipe. Hopefully this is how park guests will enter the actual theme park, because that would be pretty cool.
Also on display in the video are well-known Mushroom Kingdom areas such as Princess Peach's Castle and Bowser's Castle. Presumably there will be themed rides and attractions in these areas and throughout the entirety of Super Nintendo World.
The concept video does not show off any actual rides or attractions, but a listing has suggested that there will be some form of real-world Mario Kart.
There will be Super Nintendo Worlds at Universal's parks in Osaka, Japan and Orlando, Florida. No announcements have been made about when the parks will open.
Project Cars 2 officially has a worldwide release date this fall. Bandai Namco is also sharing more details about the racing sequel, including its sandbox-style career mode, multi-class gameplay, and improved handling.
The game comes out globally on September 22 and will be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (its developer has previously said it won't be coming to Nintendo Switch anytime soon). Also out today is a new trailer, which shows off some of the unique driving modes (rallycross, road racing, and multi-class racing) and revamped controls. Check it out below.
The trailer promises to be just a slice of what will be on display at E3, when attendees will get to try the first public demo themselves. At its heart will be Project Cars 2's career mode, which will give players an open path to go from racing karts to the world's top sports cars. Players will be able to specialize in one motorsport discipline or try their hand at multiple ones.
Bandai Namco says "fan-requested" multi-class racing will be part of the game, allowing players to choose any car and track from multiple car classes and jump right into competiting "in any car, anytime, anywhere, off- and-online, against both in-class competitors and other classes too." The game will have a full 24-hour weather cycle and dynamically varying track conditions, and will also support virtual reality headsets on PC.
If you preorder or buy Project Cars 2 on its release day, you'll get some extra goodies. Developer Slightly Mad Studios is including a Japanese DLC pack with four additional cars from Honda and Nissan. Get full details on the bonus cars here and follow GameSpot's coverage from E3 for more details on Project Cars 2.
Pokemon Go is approaching its first anniversary, and developer Niantic has announced a host of live and in-game events to commemorate the occasion.
On June 13, the developer is kicking off the Solstice in-game event, which makes Ice- and Fire-type Pokemon such as Charmander, Cyndaquil, Houndour, Lapras, Sneasel, and others easier to encounter. Additionally, players will earn extra XP for performing certain actions like throwing Poke Balls accurately, and Lucky Eggs will be available for 50% off from the in-game shop. The event runs for one week and concludes on June 20.
The following month, Niantic will host the first official live event called Pokemon Go Fest. The event takes place in Chicago's Grant Park on July 22 and will let players participate in a "variety of activities," though Niantic hasn't announced further details. Tickets for the event go on sale on June 19 and can be purchased from the official event site.
Niantic has also announced a number of smaller festivities for Europe. From June through September, Pokemon Go events will be held across the continent at Unibail-Rodamco shopping centers. Japan will also have its own Pokemon Go event in August called "Pikachu Outbreak," which will be held in Yokohama. Niantic will also continue its partnership with the Knight Foundation to host other events at "several cities across North America."
Looking for something new to play this weekend? Ubisoft has announced a pre-E3 promotion where you can download and play three of its PC games for free this coming weekend for a limited time.
The three free games include the third-person shooter The Division, extreme sports game Steep, and platforming/racing game Trials Fusion.
In addition to the freebies, Ubisoft has announced what it's calling a Crazy E3 Sale. Launched today, this sale includes discounts on For Honor ($40), Ghost Recon: Wildlands ($40), Steep ($30), and Far Cry 4 ($15), among others. You can see all the offers here. The promotion ends on Sunday, June 18.
Warner Bros. has released a new story trailer for the recently delayed Lord of Rings game Middle-earth: Shadow of War. This newest video shows off main characters Talion and Celebrimbor, who use the powerful New Ring to lead an army against Sauron.
In addition to Talion and Celebrimbor, the trailer spotlights some of the areas throughout Middle-earth that players can explore, as well as side characters and lots of evil orcs.
Shadow of War was originally scheduled to launch in August but is now coming in October for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. A sequel to GameSpot's 2014 Game of the Year, the developers at Monolith Productions say the game has a much larger scale in combat and exploration, an expanded loot system, and new elements for the Nemesis System.
The game will be at E3 2017 next week, and you can read GameSpot's feature below to learn more about what we're expecting to see from it at the show.
The acclaimed Metroidvania title Axiom Verge is coming to Nintendo Switch, publisher BadLand Games announced today. The game is scheduled to launch this August.
Originally released in 2015 for PS4 (and subsequently ported to PC, PS Vita, Xbox One, and Wii U), Axiom Verge is a side-scrolling action-adventure game in the vein of the original Metroid. Players explore a labyrithine alien world, using the power-ups you gradually acquire to battle bosses and delve deeper into the planet.
The game was previously only available as a digital title, but the upcoming Switch release will be the physical Multiverse Edition, which is also coming to PS4, Vita, and Wii U. Along with a copy of the game, the Multiverse Edition includes a booklet with art and commentary, a double-sided poster of the game's world map and items, and a documentary about the game's creation by 2 Player Productions.
Axiom Verge: Multiverse Edition retails for €30/$30, though as was the case with Rime, the Switch version will be slightly more expensive at €40/$40. To offset the price difference, the Switch release also includes a soundtrack CD, which is available as a preorder incentive for the other versions. We called Axiom Verge "an excellent example of inspired game design" in our review and awarded it 8/10.
Documents related to the development of Cyberpunk 2077, the upcoming game from The Witcher developer CD Projekt Red, have somehow found their way out of the studio. Now, they're being held for ransom, with someone (or some group) threatening to release them if CD Projekt doesn't pay up.
The developer revealed this news in a message posted on Twitter today. It describes the documents as "a few internal files belonging to CD Projekt Red. Among them are documents connected to early designs for the upcoming game, Cyberpunk 2077."
"A demand for ransom has been made, saying that should we not comply, the files will be released to the general public," CD Projekt's message continued. It said it has contacted the authorities and does not intend to pay the ransom, which it acknowledges might result in the files making their way online. It did not say what the ransom entails.
"The documents are old and largely unrepresentative of the current vision of the game," it said. "Still, if you're looking forward to playing Cyberpunk 2077, it would be best for you to avoid any information not coming directly from CD Projekt Red."
It's a somewhat bizarre situation, as it's not often that leaks manifest themselves in this way. One of the more famous leaks in the industry involves Half-Life 2, which saw its source code leaked following a Steam hack prior to the game's release. This also led to the public release of a playable version of the game. Valve would later attempt to lure the hacker into being arrested by the FBI under the guise of a job interview, though he was first arrested in Germany.
Little has been shared about Cyberpunk 2077 since its announcement; you can see a 2013 teaser trailer above. The RPG is slated for release on PC, PS4, and Xbox One at some point in the future. CD Projekt Red's message concludes, "When the time is right, you will hear about Cyberpunk 2077 from us--officially."
Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite was announced in January and since then we've had a drip feed of new details. The game debuted with Ryu, Mega Man, Captain Marvel, and Iron Man announced as playable characters. However, since then, Captain America, Morrigan, Chun-Li, Strider, Chris Redfield, Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye, and Rocket Raccoon have entered the fray.
These characters are being pulled together by Ultron and Sigma, villains from the Marvel and Mega Man universes respectively. And in unifying the two universes, the all-powerful Infinity Stones have also become available to the various heroes and villains for use in battle. So far we've seen three of them: Power, Time, and Space. We also learned that Capcom is introducing them as abilities that can subvert the fundamentals of a fighting game in interesting ways, giving players a degree of freedom to get creative with combos and the opportunities to implement unique strategies.
You can read our full thoughts on what we know about Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite so far and see the officially announced characters through the links below.
As of yet Capcom has not outright confirmed that Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite will be at E3, however we expect it will show up in some fashion. At the very least we reckon a new trailer will be released, but there's also a good chance that the game will be featured in a press conference. Given the close relationship Capcom and Sony have developed through its Street Fighter V partnership, the PlayStation conference seems like the most likely place for the game to show up.
We'd really like to see more of the story mode. Capcom has promised it will take all the iconic characters at its disposal and bring them together in a story that makes the most of them. It's going to be difficult following up Injustice 2, which had a superb single-player campaign, but with any luck someone from the Marvel side will be lending their talents to creating a narrative for Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite.
Beyond that, we just need more: more characters, more stages, more Infinity Stones. It'd be pretty great if Capcom was able to prove that leak false and show that, actually, X-Men characters are in the game, but we're not holding our breaths for that one.
With E3 2017 right around the corner, there's a number of possibilities for what the creators of the PlayStation brand can do to succeed at the show. After the positive buzz from their reveals of Death Stranding, God of War, and Insomniac Games' Spider-Man, it has clearly shown that their first party support for PS4 is solid. Though despite the solid momentum Sony has generated after two successful conferences, there's still plenty of room for improvement in how they can still remain on top of their E3 game. With their main competitor in Microsoft ready to show off their new hardware, the Playstation brand will need some significant groundswell in order to stay ahead of the pack. Just prior to E3 2017, our editors discussed what Sony needs to show off at E3 in order to keep their momentum going in the face of some stiff competition.
Do you have your own thoughts and opinions about Sony's chances at winning E3 2017? Be sure to comment below and keep an eye out for our next articles on Microsoft and Nintendo.
Continue With The Unexpected Reveals | Tamoor Hussain, UK Editor
Two of the most memorable E3 moments in recent history were the announcement of Shenmue 3 and the Final Fantasy VII remake. For better or worse, this is the bar Sony has set for itself and what everyone will be expecting it to meet. Fans will want to see a long sought-after sequel given the green light or a dormant franchise make a triumphant return, but equally important is showing that these projects aren't just flights of fancy. Since their announcements, we've seen barely anything from both Shenmue 3 and the Final Fantasy VII remake, and while it has been confirmed that the former won't be at E3, showing off something substantial from the latter would win Sony some major points. For anything new and exciting, there needs to be something other than a logo on a giant screen, because that doesn't fly anymore.
Make A Next-Gen PlayStation Announcement | Eddie Makuch, Associate Editor
Sony could bring the house down at E3 this year by officially announcing the next-generation PlayStation that is rumored to launch in 2018. Microsoft has time and again positioned Scorpio as the most powerful console ever made, so it would be particularly dramatic and impactful if Sony could trump Microsoft's move with a console even more powerful. Interestingly, Sony has said it expects PS4 sales to fall this year for the first time in the console's life, so that might suggest an announcement about what's coming next is on tap.
Don't Leave PSVR Behind | Tony Wilson, Video Producer
Four letters: PSVR. Games like Resident Evil 7 have proven that virtual reality is a viable way to play full-length major releases, not just short cinematic experiences. There hasn't necessarily been a shortage of exclusive PSVR titles since launch -- Until Dawn: Rush of Blood and Farpoint come to mind -- but the headset hasn't been in the spotlight since its initial reveal. Microsoft and Nintendo have no first-party equivalent to PSVR, so if Sony doubles down on games you truly cannot play anywhere else, it will go a long way to justify (and convince others to get on board with) the $400 purchase.
Introduce Backwards Compatibility | Chris Pereira, News Editor
With Xbox One trailing behind PS4 since the start of this generation, it's been Microsoft that has rolled out some fan-favorite features. Alongside the recently launched Xbox Game Pass, backwards compatibility has been a major hit. Meanwhile, Sony has relied on its PlayStation Now streaming service and PS2-on-PS4 Classics line as a means for offering the ability to play older games on PS4. While the latter introduces Trophies to games that did not previously have them, the accompanying cost--compared with Xbox One's backwards compatibility being free if you already own a supported game--makes it less than ideal. There's clearly room for improvement on this front for Sony.
While Microsoft will heavily tout having the most powerful system at E3, Sony has an opportunity to close the gap on the backwards compatibility front, which may matter to more people. PS1 Classic support on PS4 would be a great start--it lets Sony continue to sell classic games (including to a new group of PS4 owners who may not have owned a PS3, Vita, or PSP) and gives dedicated fans who have already bought these titles the freedom to play them on their current-gen system. Combine this with a way to play PS3 games you already own -- and without needing to stream them -- and Sony would make a strong demonstration that it's listening to fans.
Keep The Exclusives Coming | Justin Haywald, Managing Editor
Sony has done an amazing job of delivering great exclusives; just this year, we've already had Horizon Zero Dawn, Gravity Rush 2, Yakuza 0 and Persona 5. Even more have already been revealed, but in the same way that Sony has set a precedent for E3 as the place for unexpected reveals, it also has to keep bringing out new exclusives to one-up the previous year's show. We'll definitely see more of the games we already know are on the way: God of War, The Last of Us 2, and Days Gone. But could this also be the show where we see a new Bloodborne, the next project from Guerrilla Games, or some other new, surprising IP? Probably.
Better Support For PS4 Pro Users | Michael Higham, Associate Editor
Sony boasts the PS4 Pro as a 4K gaming machine with significantly more processing power than the standard PS4. It's nice that we have the option for a faster console if we're willing to spend a little bit for it, but the implementation of enhancements in games has been spotty since the Pro's release. While the onus is on developers to take advantage of the stronger hardware, we've had inconsistent experiences. For example, Horizon Zero Dawn looks and runs amazingly with HDR and checkerboard 4K, and we also have the option for 1080p with higher frame rates. But Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and Watch Dogs 2 performed worse than they do on the standard PS4 in exchange for a higher resolution, which is disappointing for a premium console.
Sony could lay out a more focused plan of what Pro users will get from games in the future to help manage expectations, and possibly get more people on board with the Pro. This would mean holding developers to a certain standard for Pro enhancements. There could also be a push for more (if not all) games to come with detailed notes on what exactly Pro enhancements offer.
Focus On The Games | Miguel Concepcion, Editor
Sony's goal--particularly during the press conferences--should be to not mess with a good thing, namely by prioritizing games, which is how it won the last two E3s. The conference planners have displayed an understanding of how to pace a presser. That includes starting and ending strong and mixing the reveals with big-name properties, franchises with cult followings, and left-field curiosities. Recalling the wholly positive reception of God of War last year, many of the reveals from big-budget productions (e.g. The Last of Us 2, Spider-Man) should benefit from letting the gameplay speak for itself with minimal setup from the presenters.
The release of Shenmue 3 has been delayed into the second half of 2018, director Yu Suzuki has revealed. The game previously had a tentative December 2017 release window, but in an update to Kickstarter backers, Suzuki said more time is needed to fully realise his vision.
"By utilizing new technologies we have been able to discover new possibilities and expressions," he explained. "In many ways the game has become bigger and more beautiful than I initially expected. We do, however, need more time to deliver the game to you.
"In order to achieve the game concept you supported, and my sixteen-year long personal dream, we have revised the development schedule. We are moving ahead with a plan to release the game in the second half of 2018."
On May 28, developer Ys Net confirmed Shenmue 3 would not appear at E3 this year. However, a new character was revealed for the game.
Fortnite, a tower-defense game that Epic has been working on for several years, finally has a release date. Due out for PC, Mac, Xbox One, and PS4, this squad-based build-and-defend third-person shooter will be available for paid early access on July 25, 2017. If you purchase the Founder's Pack, you'll be able to play starting July 21. Epic has also revealed that it will go free-to-play in 2018.
Early access packs will start at $40. Deluxe ($60), Super Deluxe ($90) and Limited Edition ($150) bundles are also available, each with their own bundles of add-ons like Heroes, loot, weapons, and in-game boosts.
With E3 right around the corner, we're putting together lists of all the games you can expect to see at the big-time gaming show. This list is for all Bethesda's confirmed titles.
E3 2017 runs June 13-15, with briefings from Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft planned for the days before the show kicks off.
With E3 right around the corner, we're putting together lists of all the games you can expect to see at the big-time gaming show. This list is for all the Ubisoft games, including mutiplatform releases and titles that are rumored but not yet announced.
We will continue to update this story as more titles are revealed.
E3 2017 runs June 13-15, with briefings from Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft planned for the days before the show kicks off.
With E3 right around the corner, we're putting together lists of all the games you can expect to see at the big-time gaming show. This list is for all the Xbox One games, including mutiplatform releases and titles that are rumored but not yet announced.
We will continue to update this story as more titles are revealed.
E3 2017 runs June 13-15, with briefings from Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft planned for the days before the show kicks off.
All The Xbox One Games Confirmed For E3 2017 So Far
With E3 right around the corner, we're putting together lists of all the games you can expect to see at the big-time gaming show. This list is for all the PlayStation games, including mutiplatform releases and titles that are rumored but not yet announced.
We will continue to update this story as more titles are revealed.
E3 2017 runs June 13-15, with briefings from Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft planned for the days before the show kicks off.
All The PlayStation Games Confirmed For E3 2017 So Far
In GameSpot's final Arms review, critic Kallie Plagge called the exclusive title a "strong, substantial fighting game that takes a while to really hit its stride."
"Its barrier to entry is unlike anything else in the genre," she continued, "but it's one worth tackling in order to get at the game's fascinating take on fighting. It may not have the same skill requirement as other fighting games, but the flexibility and fast thinking it requires secures it as one that works on its own terms and opens the genre up to a wider audience."
For more, check out our full Arms review. Alternatively, check out our roundup below, or for a wider critical view, take a look at our sister site Metacritic.
Game: Arms
Developer: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release: June 16
Price: US $60 / £40 / AU $80
GameSpot -- 7/10
"Arms is a strong, substantial fighting game that takes a while to really hit its stride. Its barrier to entry is unlike anything else in the genre, but it's one worth tackling in order to get at the game's fascinating take on fighting. It may not have the same skill requirement as other fighting games, but the flexibility and fast thinking it requires secures it as one that works on its own terms and opens the genre up to a wider audience." -- Kallie Plagge [Full review]
IGN -- 8.0/10
"Arms' clever take on boxing provides a simple premise with a startling amount of depth for those who would seek to master the stretching appendages. Its rapidly evolving lobby system had me sticking around for 'just one more match.' There may not be a lot worth unlocking right now, but planned free updates may just give Arms some additional legs." -- Brendan Graeber [Full review]
Polygon -- 8/10
"Arms exudes a level of creativity and mechanical sophistication that feels uniquely Nintendo. It evokes memories of classic Nintendo games like Punch-Out!!, while also feeling equally fashionable and modern--and set next to Splatoon, suggests the publisher is already charting a path toward the future. With a stylish, memorable cast of characters, inventive gameplay mechanics and smart use of the Switch hardware, Arms already feels like Nintendo's next great new franchise." -- Michael McWhertor [Full review]
GamesRadar -- 4.5/5
"You could quibble over the odd character mismatch, the occasional cheap tactic, the lacklustre training mode. Otherwise, what's not to love? While Arms' offbeat rhythms won't necessarily suit all palates, this hectic and thrillingly distinctive fusion of brawler and shooter is a taste worth acquiring. It's conflict, and it's compromise, and it's very, very exciting." -- Chris Schilling [Full review]
VideoGamer -- 5/10
"Arms isn't really a fighting game, but the aim is to pummel your adversary in a best-of-three match-up. It can serve up methodically paced clashes between two competitors, and absolute car crashes when you introduce a third person into the mix. Using the motion controls allows you to finesse your jab, yet swinging your Joy-Con around the front room is more trouble than it's worth. Arms can dole out a battle of wits one minute, and a frustrating button masher the next. Yeah, Arms is a strange beast." -- Colm Ahern [Full review]
Microsoft has filed a new trademark application for a mysterious "S" logo, just days before the company is expected to formally announce Project Scorpio and more at E3 2017.
Spotted by The Verge, the trademark application is for an S with a break in the middle (see it below). The application covers "video game consoles for use with an external display screen or monitor; video game interactive remote control units," which could be a reference to a new or updated console.
The trademark application was filed on June 6. It follows the Microsoft trademark for Direct Reality, which was filed on June 2 and may be connected to gaming.
No further details on the trademark application were made available in the filing. We have followed up with Microsoft in an attempt to get more details.
Microsoft's E3 2017 briefing takes place at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET. The company is expected to formally announce Scorpio's name, price, and release date during the event.
In other Scorpio news, Microsoft has released new E3 teasers that invite fans to "feel true power."
GameSpot will bring you all the news and more from the event as it happens. For more, check out GameSpot's E3 2017 hub.
After weeks of teases, NetherRealm announced today that Red Hood is coming to superhero fighting game Injustice 2 next week.
During its Watchtower stream, the developer revealed that Red Hood is arriving on Tuesday, June 13, but only for players who have purchased either the Deluxe Edition of the game or the Fighter Pack 1 DLC. The gun-toting fighter will be available for everyone else to buy the following week.
The Fighter Pack 1 DLC retails for $20 and also includes Starfire and Mortal Kombat's Sub-Zero, though NetherRealm has still not confirmed when they will arrive. Players who purchased the Deluxe Edition will get all three fighters as they are released, while those who purchased the $100 Ultimate Edition will receive all nine of the planned DLC characters.
Injustice 2 released for PS4 and Xbox One to critical acclaim. We gave the game 9/10 in our review and called it "a fighting game that can be enjoyed by new players and pros alike."
Although we don't know a lot about Call of Duty: WWII's multiplayer yet, Activision today shared a few more details about what we can expect. Specifically, it officially revealed that the game won't have a create-a-class system in the form that appeared in most recent Call of Duty releases. Rather, the Divisions system will take its place.
In a PlayStation Blog post, Sledgehammer Games head Glen Schofield explained that the Divisions system is a significant overhaul of player customization. Rather than just customizing your weapons loadout and player appearance, you select one of five different "iconic" WWII Divisions that each have different "combat training, division training, and weapons skills."
"Divisions fundamentally redefines how players invest in their multiplayer soldier career," Schofield explained.
Although specifics haven't been shared yet, it sounds like each Division will be better at certain actions than others--maybe with something like a specialized, sniper Division, although that's speculation at this point.
In addition, Schofield talked more about Call of Duty: WWII's War Mode. The new multiplayer mode is a narrative-driven, asymmetric battle between opposing players. "Allied and Axis soldiers clash in team-driven assault-and-defend gameplay in the fight for strategic objectives," he stated. "We partnered with Raven Software for development on War Mode."
Call of Duty: WWII launches on November 3 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. You can read more about its multiplayer here and its single-player here. Activision and Sledgehammer will show off more of the game next week at E3 2017; keep an eye on GameSpot for news and impressions.
Earlier this week, a report claimed that Xbox One owners "largely ignore" the console's backwards compatibility functionality. Now, Microsoft has responded.
A sample of almost 1 million active Xbox One accounts obtained by Ars Technica showed that only 1.5 percent of the more than 1.65 billion minutes of Xbox One usage time was spent using backwards compatibility.
Assuming these figures are correct, it seems clear that backwards compatibility is not as widely used as other features, but playtime is not the only element to consider. Knowing that older games can be played on Xbox One might be a key element in helping someone decide to upgrade to the new console.
In other backwards compatibility news, PlayStation executive Jim Ryan said this week that PlayStation fans shouldn't expect the feature anytime soon. "I can say it is one of those features that is much requested, but not actually used much," he said.
Seemingly for the first time, a video game is eligible for an Academy Award. Everything, the relaxing PS4/PC game in which you can control anything in the world, won a jury award at the 2017 Vienna Shorts Festival, qualifying it for the Oscars.
On Twitter, Everything's creator David OReilly announced the news, saying that it's "the first time this has happened to a game/interactive project." It won the Jury Prize in Animation, which makes it eligible for the Animated Short Film Oscar.
According to a statement published on VIS's website, "The Jury Prize--Animation goes to a film which, beyond being entertaining, has a strong poetic and philosophical theme. It serves a highly educational purpose, including an important political statement, that encourages to let our egos dissolve and gain a new perspective on the world."
If it sounds unusual that this game could qualify for an Oscar considering that it wasn't shown in theaters and isn't actually a film, a special rule for the Short Film category allows Everything to be eligible. Whereas feature films must be shown in theaters, an exception allows Short Films to qualify if they have won certain awards.
In addition, Everything can play itself. A special mode that you can enable makes Everything cycle through different objects and animals on its own. It lets the game act as a great screensaver, and also means that it's essentially an animated film when that mode is on.
Everything is available on PS4 and PC for $15/£12. It was released back in March, and you can read our review here.
It looks like one of Microsoft's E3 2017 surprises might have been revealed early. The company filed a trademark application for something called "Direct Reality"--and it's related to gaming.
The trademark covers "computer game software," and more interestingly, "computer software for holographic applications." Additionally, it covers "online computer game software," including holographic applications. The application was filed just days ago, on June 2.
There is nothing more to go on regarding Direct Reality, though its name and how it's connected to holographic applications suggests it may be related to Microsoft's HoloLens technology.
We have contacted Microsoft in an attempt to get more details and will update this story with anything we hear back.
Microsoft's Project Scorpio console will support virtual reality, but it remains to be seen how that will happen or if the console will work with HoloLens.
Microsoft E3 2017 briefing takes place on Sunday, June 11, starting at 2 PM PT. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.
The Steam summer sale might still be a weeks out, but there's still a ton of discounts on another digital storefront. GOG's summer sale is going on now, and it features reduced prices on around 1,500 games. In addition, your first purchase during the sale will come with a free copy of Rebel Galaxy.
Some of the highlights of the sale include low prices for many RPGs and action games. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year Edition is $25 (down from $50), Wasteland 2 Digital Classic Edition is $20 (down from $40), Saints Row IV Game of the Century Edition is $5 (down from $20), and Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition is $20 (down from $40).
There are a lot of other deals, too. You can see all of them over at the GOG website.
If you pick up anything while the sale is on, you'll get Rebel Galaxy for free. Rebel Galaxy is a space adventure game that focuses on exploration, trade, and negotiation. You can check out gameplay of it in the video at the top of this article.
You can take advantage of these discounts until June 20.
The creator of Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Isaac, Edmund McMillen, has revealed his newest project, and it's coming sooner than you might expect.
Titled The End Is Nigh, the game is an adventure platformer set after the "end of the world." Players control Ash, one of the few "things" to survive the apparent apocalypse. You must guide Ash through nightmarish levels filled with "decaying" mutant creatures, collecting video game cartridges and tumors along the way.
McMillen says there are more than 600 levels and over 12 chapters in The End Is Nigh. There are also over 20 cartridges to collect, each of which is a self-contained mini-game with its own small set of achievements. You can watch the teaser trailer above.
The End Is Nigh is releasing on PC via Steam on July 12. The game is also coming to Nintendo Switch "and possibly more consoles" at a later point.
We'd already heard the map would be included in Battlefront II, but during the latest episode of The Star Wars Show, the teaser image below was shared. The map is called Assault on Theed (Theed is the capital of Naboo) and will be showcased during a livestream this Saturday, June 10, at 1 PM PT. This will consist of a live 20 vs. 20 match set on Assault on Theed.
We'll presumably be getting other new details about Battlefront II during EA's press conference, which takes place at 12 PM PT on Saturday. A giant poster for the game has already been unveiled in Los Angeles.
Ubisoft's new Assassin's Creed game has leaked again.
A pre-order card for the game's Gold Edition from retailer Target has emerged online, revealing that, as rumored, it will be called Assassin's Creed: Origins. The image also shows what appears to be the main character (whose name is rumored to be Ba Yek), walking up to a massive pyramid. This suggests the game is set in Egypt, a location that has been rumored for a long time now.
Assassin's Creed: Origins Gold Edition pre-order cards at Target
According to the pre-order card, the Assassin's Creed: Origins Gold Edition will come with the game, a Deluxe Pack, a Season Pass, and a steelbook case. There is no word yet on what kind of extra content fans can expect from the Deluxe Pack and Season Pass, but it looks like people who pre-order will get the Secrets of the First Pyramids mission, whatever that is.
Ubisoft is expected to formally announced Assassin's Creed: Origins at E3, during its briefing that takes place on the afternoon of June 12. Keep checking back for the latest.
Mass Effect: Andromeda was hotly anticipated, but it launched to middling reviews and with a number of technical and content issues. Today, a new report about the development of the game sheds light on a lot of the questions surrounding its release. Among other things, it explains that BioWare had planned to make a dramatically different game, one that looked and was designed more like No Man's Sky than what Andromeda eventually ended up being.
Kotaku published the report and cited several unnamed employees who worked on the game during its five-year development. According to the story, BioWare ran into numerous obstacles and problems during work on the game. Multiple ideas were scrapped, and eventually the studio was forced to put together most of the game in less than 18 months. The employees Kotaku spoke with generally corroborated this characterization, although one source disputed it.
The report also illustrates a game significantly different than the one that was released. Early on, BioWare wanted to fill Andromeda with procedurally generated planets, similar to No Man's Sky. BioWare started conceptualizing a procedurally generated universe before No Man's Sky was announced, and this plan apparently was received with enthusiasm from many employees. One told Kotaku, "The concept sounds awesome. No Man's Sky with BioWare graphics and story, that sounds amazing."
Unfortunately for the developer, technical hurdles prevented them from being able to execute on this vision. EA's Frostbite engine, which many of its studios use, is powerful but difficult to work with. Many of its most ambitious prototypes, like procedural generation, eventually had to be cut due to technical and budget restraints. Since these cuts happened deep into development, it caused even more issues.
"If there's one thing that should've happened in hindsight, the cuts that were made should have happened earlier, so there would've been less of them," one employee told Kotaku. "I think in general the team tried too hard to execute a game that was not doable."
Mass Effect: Andromeda released back in March for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. GameSpot gave it a 6/10; in his review, critic Scott Butterworth said, "In many ways, Andromeda feels like a vision half-fulfilled. It contains a dizzying amount of content, but the quality fluctuates wildly. Its worlds and combat shine, but its writing and missions falter--and the relative strength of the former is not enough to compensate for the inescapable weakness of the latter."
Telltale is teaming up with the Minecraft universe once again for Minecraft: Story Mode - Season Two, another narrative-driven take on the popular franchise.
Season Two will be a five-part episodic adventure that follows the story of Jesse and friends as they settle into their new responsibilities after defeating the Wither Storm. While your choices from the first season continue to have repercussions in Season Two, Telltale says the new episodes will be "accessible to both returning fans and newcomers alike."
The first episode of Season Two, dubbed Hero in Residence, is releasing digitally on July 11. In addition to solo play, the new season includes Telltale's "Crowd Play" multiplayer feature, which lets other players help make decisions and dictate the course of the story via their mobile device.
Minecraft: Story Mode - Season Two is coming to PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac, and mobile devices. A physical version will launch this fall.
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