With $11 billion in total lifetime revenue, the Call of Duty franchise is one of the biggest in all of gaming. But how many copies of the series have been sold to date? Activision clued us in today, announcing via a new infographic that, since the series debuted over a decade ago, it has sold 175 million Call of Duty games.
That comes out to around one copy sold every two minutes, Activision said.
Going back to the Call of Duty infographic, over 100 billion multiplayer matches have been played so far, while players have chucked more than 300 billion grenades. On top of that, players have earned 579 billion in-game awards, which is more than five times the number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy.
The next Call of Duty game, in development at Black Ops creator Treyarch, will be released later this year. Activision announced the title during an earnings call earlier this year. Little is known about the game, but Activision historically blows the lid off new Call of Duty games in May, so gamers may not have to wait much longer to learn more about it.
Following yesterday's surprise announcement, the first trailer for free-to-play PC Halo game Halo Online has now surfaced. In it, we get a look at the game's graphics, gameplay, and weapons, as well as its extensive customization and monetization systems.
Halo Online runs on a "highly modified" version of Halo 3's engine and has been optimized to run well even on lower-end machines. The game looks pretty great in the trailer above, but of course, we don't know the specs for the PC rig it's running on.
After taking a look at the game, what do you think? Would you be interested in playing it if it were released in the United States? For me, it would come down to the pricing model. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Microsoft also announced that, since it launched the Games With Gold promotion, gamers have downloaded more than 100 million free games and achieved over 5 billion Gamerscore.
Square Enix recently released a demo for Final Fantasy XV titled Episode Duscae, for fans who pre-ordered Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, a high-definition remake of 2011's Final Fantasy spin-off game. Both games are directed by Hajime Tabata, who also led development on Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII.
GameSpot sat down with Tabata to discuss why he wanted to feature an all-male party in Final Fantasy XV, the three pillars that comprise the game, and why Square Enix finally decided to give Final Fantasy Type-0 a Western release.
Lifting The Curtain on Manly Times
Like Type-0, Final Fantasy XV is thematically centred on war and a part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis series. However, the similarities end there. For starters, Final Fantasy XV's playable cast is much smaller. Main character Noctis is flanked by companions Gladiolus, Ignis, and Prompto to form an all-male party which Tabata felt was key to making it feel more accessible.
"Speaking honestly, an all-male party feels almost more approachable for players. Even the presence of one female in the group will change their behaviour, so that they'll act differently. So to give the most natural feeling, to make them feel sincere and honest, having them all the same gender made sense in that way," Tabata said. The game certainly doesn't shy away from the theme of male intimacy, with the party sharing a tent, protecting each other in battles, and holding no qualms about showing open concern for one another.
For Tabata, the journey will have the cast adopting what he dubs a "boys will be boys" type demeanor. "It was the story we wanted to tell and what we wanted to show players," he explained.
"The world might be ready to see the curtain lifted on what boys do when girls aren't around, when they come out of the tent all prim and proper. That's kind of the idea behind it… we think, male or female player, that everyone will feel a certain connection and bond with the four characters."
Hajime Tabata
The Three Pillars of Final Fantasy XV
Back in February, Tabata revealed that development on Final Fantasy XV was 60 percent complete. He followed this up by saying it would not take long to reach 80 percent completion, and that the last 20 percent of the project would "fall into place in a relatively smooth and timely fashion."
While the game is probably closer to 80% completion, the Episode Duscae demo represents the previous, 60% done version.
"To clarify on that 60 percent figure, it's the playable demo that represents the 60 percent, which is what [I] was referring to in February. The main challenge right now is taking all the lessons we learned from making the demo and turning them into something positive to bring to the full game," he said. For Tabata, there are three pillars to Final Fantasy XV which he had in mind.
"In the demo, we were able to focus on one of those pillars and really bring that across to players--you'll be able to see it. But there still remain two pillars that players may not fully appreciate from the demo. As we head towards release of the full game, promotion wise, how we can show this to users what's coming up, and conveying that to our fans, is one of the challenges," he said.
Framing a game based on three pillars is nothing new to Square Enix, as the method was also mentioned by Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn director Naoki Yoshida in an interview. Yoshida listed them as "the great story, the great graphics, and a great game experience."
Still, Tabata remains positive about launching a new journey in the Final Fantasy series. He is confident that bringing the game to the PS4 and Xbox One offers new opportunities to create an immersive experience. "We really think that the feeling of the journey, adventure, and bonding that no other Final Fantasy has been able to do before, we'll be able to achieve that in Final Fantasy XV."
Bringing Type-0 To The West At Last
It's been four years since Final Fantasy Type-0 first launched for the PlayStation Portable in Japan, so why bring the game to the Western market now? According to Tabata, a number of pieces fell into place that made the launch of a remastered version possible.
"Soon after the Japanese version was completed the market for the PSP kind of switched over. We did want to bring it over but it wasn't an option at that point," Tabata said. The market change he referred to was likely the Japanese launch of the PlayStation Vita in 2011, the same year Type-0 was released in the country. In response to the lack of a Western release, fans in the West formed "a large movement" in the hopes of seeing a launch of the game, but Tabata said the idea of a remake only really took hold while the team was making Final Fantasy XV.
"We were underway with FFXV development and got some knowledge of the [PS4 and Xbox One] hardware and realised it was our chance to release Type-0 with a HD remaster," he said.
Making a More Mature Final Fantasy
Type-0 adopts a different, grittier tone than other Final Fantasy games as of late, telling the story of a class of students forced to experience the horrors of war. The opening scene in Type-0 features a lot of blood and death, setting a darker tone than what is usually expected from games in the Final Fantasy series.
"It's definitely a more mature experience than the Final Fantasy games that you see now," Tabata explained, and added that he was "curious how it'll be received by the fans." For him, the theme spawned from the idea that the player would fight beside characters who were born into "a cruel world" that was torn by conflict.
"That was kind of the departure point for the project, and it demanded a more mature treatment. We didn't want it to feel as though there was a wall on the screen and the player was just controlling the characters in the world, but that the player was in the world. To achieve that immersion, it had to take on a more mature tone," Tabata said.
The playable cast spans fourteen characters, a number that had originally been thirteen when the game was still titled Agito-13. According to Tabata, the inspiration for such a large cast came from the traditional Japanese war dramas that were popular and featured several characters.
"The idea was that if you had thirteen characters, each one capable of being the lead, that you would have made a game filled with personality by having that many lead characters present," he explained. Having more characters makes them no less important, though, with Tabata insistent that the game's story was themed around the "fragility of life."
"I'm wondering how the [players] will receive it," he said. Regardless, the Tabata was happy to be able to bring the game to the Western audience at last. "It's really fulfilling to meet the fan wishes," he said.
Warner Bros. and Maxim Russia have teamed up for the latest Mortal Kombat X trailer. Released today, the video offers a new look at the fighting game, and confirms that Liu Kang will return as a playable fighter.
The trailer also spotlights Kung Lao and Kung Jin. In addition, it offers some new details about Mortal Kombat X's story.
According to the description, it reveals that "Raiden's champions of Earthrealm from the past have risen from the dead, under the control of the sinister former Elder God, Shinnok."
Check out GameSpot's roundup here for a full list of Mortal Kombat X's confirmed (and rumored) characters. For a closer look at the game's roster, check out the image gallery below.
Language learning software company Rosetta Stone has launched its latest product, but it might not be what you expect. The company has released a free Rosetta Stone Xbox One app called "Discover Languages" that aims to help people learn English or Spanish from the comfort of their couch.
"Playing video games is great cognitive exercise; it helps improve your focus, memory, and ability to multitask," the company said on its blog.
How does it work? The app leverages what Rosetta Stone calls "immersive simulation." Basically, you'll virtually travel to a variety of locations and talk with the characters you find there. This gives you the feeling of real-world interaction, but in a venue where you probably won't be embarrassed if you screw up.
The Xbox One Rosetta Stone app also comes with study recommendations, cultural tips, phrase books, and games to help you hone your skills.
Would you be interested in trying something like this out? Let us know in the comments below!
Codemasters is working on a new Formula One game for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, the UK-based developer announced today. F1 2015 will launch for those platforms in June. It's being developed on an "all new version" of the EGO engine and aims to devlier the "ultimate Formula One video game experience."
In terms of graphics and presentation, Codemasters says F1 2015 will "act as a significant step forward in the game's visuals and physics-based handling model." Codemasters is making enhancements and additions in more than 20 areas, including engine and transmission, aerodynamics, fuel tank, force feedback, and suspension. The studio has also built a new tire physics model.
This also combines to deliver a "truly breathtaking and realistic representation of how these cars handle on the track," Codemasters said.
F1 2015 also boasts a new "broadcast-style" presentation that aims to authentically capture the race-day atmosphere. It also has an updated Championship Season mode and a new Pro Season mode that Codemasters says will be "very challenging." In addition, Quick Race and Multiplayer return.
On top of that, F1 2015 supports voice commands on Xbox One and PS4, through Kinect and the PlayStation Camera. Here's how it works: "You can ask for race info, updates on the weather, tire status, request tires, and even front wing changes," Codemasters says.
What's more, F1 2015 will include officially licensed cars, drivers, and tracks from the 2014 Formula One World Championship season as bonus content. This content has been "built from the ground up" to make use of F1 2015's new handling features and more, the developer said.
Finally, Codemasters released a statement from F1 2015 game director Paul Jeal. His full comments are available below.
"F1 2015 marks an exciting new chapter for Codemasters and FORMULA ONE; it's a shift in direction for the game series, on new formats and our brand new game engine, with the game set to be released earlier in the season, launching this June.
The handling is a vast improvement from our previous games. In particular our new tire model is a superb step forward towards realism, letting you explore where the limit is and allowing you to instantly feel much more connected with the car. You can now experience the changes in grip caused by temperature changes, wear, car set-up, debris, and weather conditions.
Our improved vehicle dynamics much more accurately convey the difference in performance and the feel between mechanical and aerodynamic grip. The new Force Feedback system adds to the feeling of connection with the car and track surface. The more natural and realistic nature of the game physics also serves to ensure that the racing experience is more accessible, enjoyable and rewarding for players of all skill levels.
With the second race of the 2015 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP this weekend in Malaysia, the team is busy modelling the new 2015 cars and drivers in readiness for the game's summer launch. You can see a tease of our first signed off 2015 content in our debut screenshots, as well as an early glimpse of the Mexican circuit. In addition to the 2015 season, we are also delighted to be able to offer the 2014 season as a bonus selectable season. Even this far out from our game's release they truly show the power of our new game engine."
RBI Baseball 15, this year's "easy-to-play" professional baseball game developed by Major League Baseball itself, will launch March 31 across Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The game will cost $20 at launch.
RBI Baseball 15 is also in development for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android, but release dates for those versions remain unconfirmed, according to a report from Polygon.
Responding to criticisms of RBI Baseball 14, the first new entry in the series in two decades, Major League Baseball's Advanced Media division promises a better game this year. New features for RBI Baseball 15 include better graphics, 40-man rosters for every MLB team, online multiplayer, stat tracking, and more.
"Mojang is running Minecon 2015 in the same manner as their past events," a Microsoft spokesperson told GamesBeat, adding that it never hesitated one bit to allow the show to go on. "We're playing a supporting role; we want to listen, learn, and be inspired by the community that has made Minecraft great."
Programming information for this year's Minecon has not been published yet, but Microsoft says some "high-profile YouTubers as well as your favorite Mojangstas" will be in attendance. Mojang is also planning "some new surprises," the Microsoft representative teased.
"We're extremely thankful for our passionate community of players, builders, and content creators who have made Minecraft the global phenomenon it is today," the Microsoft spokesperson continued. "It was important to us to help where needed but let Mojang carry on the tradition of Minecon as a meaningful celebration of the Minecraft community."
In the wake of Microsoft's Minecraft buyout, some also worried that the PlayStation versions of the game might be removed or negatively impacted in some way. But this hasn't really proven to be the case. Though some content is released first on Xbox platforms (The Simpsons texture pack is one example), it appears Microsoft isn't giving preferential treatment to its own platforms in every case. This week's latest texture pack was released simultaneously for Xbox and PlayStation platforms.
The latest downloadable content for simulation game Tropico 5 has an evil twist. The "Supervillain" DLC, out now on PC, is all about El Presidente's new goal of becoming the "most famous supervillain in the whole of the Caribbean."
Your job? Help El Presidente "bathe in the glory of evil madness and destroy mankind as we know it."
You'll do this by building a massive laser hidden inside a secret lair. Once constructed, use it to "fire at those pesky rebels," publisher Kalypso says in the DLC's announcement.
Here's a breakdown, courtesy of Kalypso, of everything included with the DLC.
New standalone scenario: "Supervillain": Prepare to conquer the world from your top secret hideout
New building: Giant Laser: The ultimate tool of destruction. Let them come!
New dynasty avatar accessory: A villainous moustache
New sandbox map: Isla del Pescado
New music track and additional voice recordings
Tropico 5's Supervillain DLC is available now through Steam for PC, Mac, and SteamOS for £2.49/€2.99/$3.99. You can also buy the DLC directly from Kalypso via the Kalypso Launcher. For a closer look at the expansion, check out the images in the gallery below.
2K Games and Turtle Rock Studios on Thursday released a new gameplay trailer for Evolve that offers an in-depth look at the game's upcoming DLC. On display in the video is the game's fourth playable Monster, a golem-like creature called Behemoth, as well as the four new Hunter characters.
Behemoth is a new breed of Monster.
"It is the largest monster in Evolve. It is the largest monster there will ever be in Evolve," Turtle Rock says. "He was literally made as large as we could make him."
Due to his enormous size, Behemoth cannot jump or leap. Instead, he moves by "rolling across the landscape like a juggernaut." Check out the video above to see Behemoth in action.
For lots more on Behemoth, check out GameSpot's in-depth interview with Turtle Rock co-founder Chris Ashton about the creature.
Behemoth and the new Hunters will be available in Evolve across all platforms on March 31. Turtle Rock will also release new maps and more on that date; some of the content is coming first to Xbox One.
A breakdown of all the new content coming to Evolve next week is available below.
Available March 31:
Fourth playable Monster: Behemoth. Free for everyone who pre-ordered Evolve. Otherwise, players can buy the monster for $15 through the Monster Expansion Pack.
Four new playable Hunters: Included with the $25 Hunting Season Pass or $7.50 each.
Torvald -- A Cyborg Assault character with a mortar cannon for an arm
Crow -- A Trapper with a pet Batray for tracking Monsters
Slim -- A genetically modified combat Medic
Sunny -- A Support character equipped with a mini-nuke grenade launcher
Two free maps: The Broken Hill Mine and Broken Hill Foundry. These will launch first on Xbox One before they arrive on PC and PlayStation 4 on April 30.
Players who do not buy Behemoth or the new Hunters are still able to play against or alongside the new characters. 2K says this will add "depth and replayability for the entire Evolve community without dividing players based on what additional content they own."
A comprehensive fan-made update for Half-Life 2, which makes sweeping changes to the 11-year-old game's visuals, has gone live on Steam.
The 7 GB update adds in subtle visual effects that essentially restore the look of Valve's seminal first-person shooter. Known simply as Half-Life 2: Update, the remaster is the product of three years' development from a team of modders, with the project sanctioned and supported by Valve.
According to promotional materials, Half-Life 2: Update delivers "improvements to lighting, special effects, increased world detail, countless bug fixes, and an original Community Commentary mode." A new trailer can be found below, while a comparison video is embedded above.
Click on the thumbnails below for a closer look at the updated game's visuals
Project lead Filip Victor said the remaster brings Half-Life 2 to the same standards as its episodic sequels, Half-Life 2: Episode 1, and Half-Life 2: Episode 2, "and just a little bit beyond."
He said: "While developing the update, I needed to make sure that no matter what I did, I was improving Half-Life 2's world without changing its iconic style, tone, or gameplay."
"My goal is to create something that will draw new players to the Half-Life series, but not alienate long-time fans. Half-Life 2: Update shouldn't be seen as a mod, but as a true update to what is already there."
Along with major improvements to the visuals, Half-Life 2 adds an optional Community Commentary mode, which contains more than 100 in-game audio nodes that, when activated in-game, discuss the original Half-Life 2's development. These are voiced by some well-known YouTubers such as Caddicarus, Brutalmoose, Rice Pirate, ProJared, and Balrog the Master.
The Steam Store page for Half-Life 2: Update can be found here.
In the Gearbox Software forums, numerous players are reporting screen tearing and frame rate issues. The problems appear to be limited to The Pre-Sequel, though fans clearly aren't happy.
"One of the main reasons I bought The Handsome Collection was for the better performance," one player wrote. "So, it just feels wrong that half of the content included is hard to play due to eye strain."
Thankfully for fans, Gearbox Software has now responded. In this forum post, Gearbox Software community developer Joe King said the studio is looking into the issues, but asked fans to have patience.
"Just wanted to pop in and ease everyone's minds a bit. The team is certainly aware of both the screen tear and FPS lag issues and are currently investigating them," he said. "Needless to say, things are quite busy and we appreciate everyone's continued patience."
In GameSpot's review of The Handsome Collection, reviewer Cameron Woolsey also noted frame rate problems for The Pre-Sequel. He explained that players probably won't notice them when they're in smaller, enclosed spaces. But frame rate takes a big hit in other areas, he wrote.
"In larger, detailed areas, as well as during intense battles, performance hits are common enough to become distracting, able to pull you out of the mood time and time again," Woolsey said. "The problem is exacerbated when running The Pre-Sequel in split-screen multiplayer, with slowdown occurring at nearly every interval."
In other recent Borderlands news, Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford said the original Borderlands--which is not included in The Handsome Collection--could come to current-generation consoles if fans demand it.
With under two days to go, the Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for a new Toejam and Earl game, appropriately titled Back in the Groove, has reached its $400,000 target. At press time, funding stands at $430,832. More than 7,600 people have contributed to the campaign so far. Funding closes March 27.
"Thanks to all of you, we have made it," developer Humanature Studios said in a statement. "Prepare for the FUNK!!!!"
The game's $425,000 stretch goal--an "old school skins" pack based on the early games--has now been unlocked. Should funding reach $450,000, Humanture will add the Hyperfunk Zone from Toejam and Earl 2.
Meanwhile, the game will come to consoles if even more money pours in: $600,000 (PlayStation 4), $700,000 (Xbox One), and $800,000 (Wii U). Currently, the game is confirmed for PC only.
In addition, Humanature teased that it has a "few more announcements" to make regarding Back in the Groove, though these are being saved for later.
Back in the Groove, built in the Unity engine, is being worked on by original designer Greg Johnson. The game is scheduled to launch in November 2015, though of course this could change. For lots more on the game, see the bullet-points below or check out GameSpot's in-depth previous coverage.
A "Travel-back-in-time" theme that will span new characters and old ones.
More meta-game features, including the chance to collect hats with special abilities.
New "flying-presents" items.
New co-op features including the ability to shout and lure Earthlings away from a friend and the option to open a present that gives your buddy more life.
Nintendo has published a new Xenoblade Chronicles 3D trailer ahead of its release in early April.
The trailer, which contains some spoilers, sets up the JRPG's story of revenge, while showcasing its diverse cast of characters and landscapes.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is a handheld port of Monolith Soft's breakthrough Wii game, and is only playable on the New Nintendo 3DS, not the older models, due to the demands it places on the system's improved processor.
It also takes advantage of the New 3DS's C-Stick, with the analogue nub used for camera control. However, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D's file size is too large for the 4GB memory cards that are bundled with each New Nintendo 3DS, meaning that players who want to download the digital version from the eShop will need to purchase a larger memory card.
GameSpot's Xenoblade Chronicles 3D review praised the epic scale of the handheld title. Games critic John Robertson wrote: "While it's an inferior proposition to its initial Wii release in 2011, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D remains superior to the majority of RPGs. The move to 3DS has harmed the act of playing, but if you can look past the clunky signage and questionable 3D then you'll find a game that remains an amazing high point for the genre, one that'll absorb you right up to its glorious finale."
The Xenoblade Chronicles 3D release date falls on April 2 in Europe and April 10 in the US.
On Wednesday, the platform holder detailed the key new features included in the PS4's 2.5 Yukimura update, including the long-awaited Suspend/Resume function and hard drive back-up options. The full list of additions can be found here.
Now, with the updates going live across Europe, the US, and Asia, PS Vita owners have begun listing the featured improvements that come with the handheld's 3.5 firmware. Chief among them is enhanced accessibility options such as button remapping, enlarged text, inverted colours, contrast adjustment, and zoom functionality.
Though these features have been designed for customers with impaired vision and limited manual dexterity in mind, the button remapping could be particularly useful for players who use the PS Vita's function as a spare PS4 controller, and for those who use Remote Play to stream PS4 games to their handheld. Due to the Vita's two fewer shoulder buttons than the DualShock 4 controller, remapping could give players options to build a button scheme around this problem.
Digital Spy has noted other changes on the updated Vita, such as the removal of the Maps application, along with various tweaks across the platform.
Good news - the PS Vita has also been updated with accessibility features, including button remapping: pic.twitter.com/VAT4F8SerZ
More details on the Harley Quinn downloadable content pack for Rocksteady's upcoming Batman: Arkham Knight have surfaced. As shown on the Batman: Arkham Knight Amazon page (via Cinemablend) the exclusive DLC will allow players who pre-order the game to assume the role of Harley Quinn and "wreak havoc inside the Blüdhaven Police Department."
The DLC pack's story will take place prior to the events of Arkham Knight, and tasks Quinn with the goal of infiltrating Blüdhaven in order to rescue Poison Ivy. The Harley Quinn DLC was first announced in July last year, and will include four challenge maps that will allow you to play as the jester and "utilize her unique weapons, gadgets, and abilities."
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