For PS4, From Software's new IP Bloodborne beat out Battlefield Hardline to take the top spot. Although Bloodborne had the weight of Sony marketing behind it, the fact that it outsold Hardline--which was released a week earlier and is based on a famous franchise--is quite impressive.
Something else that stands out here is that, on PS3, Hardline does not even make the top 20 chart.
Of course, this chart counts digital sales only. In terms of physical units sold, Hardline has beaten Bloodborne every week since release, at least in the UK. And we'll know how well the two games sold in the US soon, as the NPD Group will release physical game sales for March this coming Thursday, April 16.
You can see the top-selling PS4, PS3, and PS Vita charts below. Head to the PlayStation Blog to see even more charts for DLC and PlayStation Classics.
Last month we reported on a new TV docudrama from The BBC about the making of Rockstar's popular open world series Grand Theft Auto. It seems that some of the key players behind the original aren't too keen on the production, however.
Before it was the flagship franchise of the Rockstar North studio, GTA was the product of a smaller group called DMA Design. Steve Hammond, a writer for DMA who worked on the first GTA, told Gamesradar that he found it odd that none of his coworkers knew anything about the film.
"Some of the DMA people had a large Facebook chat about it," he said. "My favorite quote was 'Well, they got the fact of GTA's existence correct.'"
The main focus of the documentary seems to be taken from the book Jacked: The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto. Author David Kushner spent over ten year's researching for it, interviewing many of the folks from Rockstar about their roles, but Hammond suggests that the book might be a bit overblown.
"My prediction is that the DMA Design part of the story will be an opening text crawl before the main credits, then skipping directly to GTA III. Otherwise, I wonder if the GTA team will be portrayed as badasses and bad boys compared to the other teams, as per Kushner's book? In reality, no more or less bad/weird/outsider than any other team… The true experience is a great deal of hard slog, fixing bugs, which doesn't exactly make dramatic television."
Fellow GTA writer Brian Baglow shared similar sentiments. "I'm assuming it may well be based on a grab bag of archive materials," he said. "Old interviews, maybe David Kushner's exciting novelization and the screenwriters' ideas of what it's like to work in the white heat of cutting edge game development. It's fair to say we're all fairly nervous about that..."
BBC Two will run the drama some time later this year, with filming set to start April 20. Former GameSpot editor Guy Cocker is working on the show, and says that Rockstar is not involved. Daniel Radcliffe, the star of the Harry Potter films is also rumored to be playing Sam Houser, the co-founder of Rockstar Games.
The show will be part of a UK-wide initiative called "Make It Digital" which is intended to "inspire a new generation to get creative with coding, programming, and digital technology."
[UPDATE] Activision has now formally announced that House of Wolves will launch May 19 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4. You can watch a trailer for the DLC above.
The original story is below.
Destiny's second expansion, House of Wolves, will launch on May 19. Publisher Activision announced the news on Monday, according to Kotaku. A trailer for the expansion (below) was also released, but it won't go live until 10 AM PDT / 1 PM EDT.
Earlier this year, a ton of House of Wolves images leaked, revealing that the content will include what is listed below. Bungie has not formally confirmed the information below, but we'll have full details on House of Wolves as they become available.
According to the leak, House of Wolves includes:
A new Awoken storyline plus an exclusive Raid
3 new Crucible maps and a new Fallen Strike
Hundreds of new weapons, armor, and gear
The Dark Below and House of Wolves are included with Destiny's $35 Expansion Pass. Alternatively, each is available to buy individually for $20.
Bandai Namco on Monday announced that strategy RPG mashup game Project X Zone 2, a sequel to the 2013 original, will launch this fall in the west exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS.
The game brings together characters from the rosters of three Japanese gaming giants: Bandai Namco, Capcom, and Sega. Characters from the franchises listed below make up some of the game's roster; others will be announced later. Watch the trailer above to see all characters confirmed so far.
Bandai Namco -- Tekken, Tales of Vesperia, .hack
Capcom -- Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Mega Man
Sega -- Yakuza, Sakura Wars, Virtua Fighter
In Project X Zone 2, players will create teams using characters from these franchises and take part in turn-based battles. The game is in development at Monolith Software, a Japanese studio that's also working on Xenoblade Chronicles X for Wii U.
Bandai Namco isn't providing much in the way of gameplay details for Project X Zone 2 right now, saying only that the game will feature "refined gameplay" that creates an "even deeper and engaging experience."
You can watch the first trailer for Project X Zone above.
Ahead of the game's release in just over a month, Polish developer CD Projekt Red on Monday released four new images of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in 4K resolution on PC. They are stunning, just like the first 4K image we saw last month.
See all four images in the gallery below or in full high-resolution here, here, here, and here.
Writing on the PlayStation Blog, Sony said a Photo Mode was a much-requested feature for The Order.
"Fans expressed an overwhelming desire to see and share the realism, beauty, and detail of our Neo-Victorian world," the company said. "With Photo Mode, you'll be able to compose, capture, and share stunning images of your favorite moments, characters, and environments."
One thing to note, however, is that enabling Photo Mode in The Order will disable the game's Camera Bias option for players who have that turned on. This Camera Bias option allows players to change which shoulder the camera hovers over.
The Order's Photo Mode features an untethered camera, while users can choose from a variety of color grading options (with intensity sliders), including high-contrast, gritty, and black and white. You can also remove all characters from the scene if you're looking to focus on the environment instead of the action.
When you're satisfied with your shot, you can share it with the world by way of the PS4's Share functionality. For a closer look at The Order's new Photo Mode, check out the video above.
The Rockstar Editor allows players to record, edit, and share videos from Grand Theft Auto V and the game's multiplayer mode, Grand Theft Auto Online.
Players can utilize numerous camera angles and filters, and can also select a backing music track and make audio mix adjustments. The Rockstar Editor also lets players apply text slides to their videos and more.
In addition, the Rockstar Editor comes with a Director Mode that, as its name suggests, allows users to direct their own scenes. Players can choose a human character (or a animal) and create whatever scene they can think up--even using elements such as "explosive punches" and low gravity.
When you're done making a video, you can export it to the Rockstar Games Social Club or YouTube from within the Rockstar Editor.
It all looks very impressive. More details about the Rockstar Editor are available through this special online guide. For more on the Rockstar Editor, check out the image gallery below.
The full, final version of Surgeon Simulator developer Bossa Studios' wacky physics-based PC game I am Bread, which allows players to become a piece of bread, is now available on Steam. This version of the wacky game replaces the non-final Steam Early Access edition that was released earlier this year.
I am Bread tells the "beautiful story of one slice of bread's epic and emotional journey as it embarks on a quest to become toasted." Check out the launch trailer above to see what the game is all about.
Bossa Studios is offering a nice launch-week discount for I am Bread, allowing anyone to buy it for $9.74 instead of its normal $13 price. This promotional price ends on April 16.
The final version of I am Bread includes lots more content than the Early Access edition. You can see everything that's included with the new version below, courtesy of Bossa Studios.
Looking for even more I am Bread content? Watch this video to hear acclaimed voice actor Troy Baker do voiceover for the game. I am Bread will be released later this year for iOS.
I am Bread Final Version Includes:
New environment - Cell (Tutorial)
All the basics you'll need to get your bread navigating the environments.
New environment - Petrol Station
Bread is out into the big wild world! Now, how to toast yourself in a petrol station? Any ideas? Can you guess….?
New environment - Car (epilogue)
The final chapter to our story mode, is it the end, or the beginning?
Magic Marmalade!
Like regular marmalade but magic! Also, disables edibility and the grip limit so can progress through the game and not get super-frustrated and rage quit if you fail a few times and get stuck on a level.
Revamped Rampage mode
153% better than the original Rampage mode, this revamp is smashtastic!
There's a new layout, and more stuff to smash.
Achievements
Think the main game was hard? Wrong, the achievements are hard!
Trading cards
Cards you can trade, yeh!
Balancing
Major rebalancing to make the game (even more) more awesome, and to make you laugh more, and cry less. Includes keyboard/joypad balancing -there's much more grip on the keyboard now to bring it more in line with joypad play. Some modes unlock in a different order to reflect how difficult they are, so you don't have to learn to run before you can walk.
Bug fixes
Numerous bug fixes. Nothing notable, just a few little things here and there that you reported to us.
The video features commentary from Epic community managers and insight from senior systems designer Cameron Winston. He talks in depth about the process of creating weapons and traps, among other things.
It's a deep, deep dive into Fornite--well worth a watch for people looking for more details about the game. One thing to note, though, is that what you're seeing is a developer version of the game, which might not be necessarily representative of the final game.
GameSpot got to play Fortnite last summer; you can read our impressions here.
Fortnite has been in a closed alpha state for months now, but no official release date has been announced. For a closer look at the game, check out the image gallery below.
The next episode in the "Hunt the Truth" podcast series, a teaser campaign for the upcoming shooter Halo 5: Guardians, has now been posted, diving deeper into the mysteries behind the upcoming Xbox One game. Ultimately, the series aims to answer the question: Who is the real Master Chief?
The new episode, "Critical Condition," is the third in the series (listen to the first two here). In it, fictional investigative reporter Ben Giraud (voiced by actor Keegan-Micahel Key) speaks with a retired military officer living now on Castallaneta, a beach resort on one of Saturn's rings.
There are also interviews with other people who knew the Master Chief/John-117, each offering conflicting reports about his upbringing. Here's the synopsis for the episode:
"Conversations with retired military paint very different pictures of John. More questions arise about John's home planet and his involvement in a violent training incident. The cracks in the official account widen, and Benjamin is drawn in."
You can listen to the episode via the SoundCloud embed below. The series is also available on iTunes.
Veteran Street Fighter designer Yoshinori Ono did not hold back when boasting about the upcoming PlayStation 4 and PC fighting game Street Fighter V recently. Speaking with Edge magazine, as reported by GamesRadar, Ono said Street Fighter V is a game that "encompasses all that Street Fighter has become" and one that will deliver "something that nobody is expecting."
"We've been working on Street Fighter IV for the past seven years now. There's been a lot of rebalancing and so on, but the game is still going strong, even today," Ono said. "All this means that, with Street Fighter V, we have a fantastic opportunity to create something with a larger scope, a game that encompasses all that Street Fighter has become in the last few years, but which also expands on that to become something it has never been before as well."
"So now we want to create something that nobody is expecting."
Ono also stressed that Street Fighter V will "cater to fans" of the famous fighting series. But at the same time, Ono said he hopes the game will bring new players into the fold and build off the success of the last game in the series. "Street Fighter IV was about reviving a passion. Street Fighter V is about growing that passion," he said.
The full interview also touches on Ono's transition "from student to mentor" in the Capcom development structure, the greenlight process for Street Fighter V, meeting fan expectations for the game and more. You can buy the latest issue of Edge online right here.
Street Fighter V was announced in December as a PS4 and PC exclusive. Recently, Capcom announced that it plans to run a public beta test that it claims will be the "largest and most ambitious online beta program in franchise history." A date for when it will begin hasn't been shared, but we do know you can guarantee yourself access by preordering the game.
In March, a spring 2016 release window for Street Fighter V was revealed on Capcom's own website. However, the publisher has since clarified that this was "just a tentative release time and no official announcements have been made regarding the release of Street Fighter V."
"4K is an eye-opener when you see if for the first time," the studio told PC Gamer. "It really does make you look at the world differently and in greater detail as you would expect."
"That said, you could probably say the same thing about a lot of the other high-end graphical options and ultimately it will be personal preference which particular resolution and graphical settings that each player decides to settle on."
Rockstar also outlined the PC specs players will need to run GTA 5 in 4K at 30fps and 60fps.
"To run the game on a 4K display at 30fps, you'll need at minimum an AMD HD 7870 or NVidia GTX 760 with 2GB of VRAM," the studio explained. "To be able to run the game at 4K resolution at 60fps you'll need a high-end SLI or Crossfire setup."
Addressing GTA V's graphics for the PC version generally, Rockstar said it of course cannot promise locked 60fps for everyone. The beauty of the PC as a platform, the studio explained, is that players have the freedom to emphasize graphics over frame rate or the other way around.
"The optimal way to run the game will depend on an individual's preference," Rockstar said. "Some people may want to dial the settings down to hit a really high frame rate, while others may appreciate a slower frame rate with the graphical settings dialed way up. Overall, with so many variables in various CPU/GPU configurations and depending on game settings, frame rates will vary widely."
GTA V's full PC specs, minimum and recommended, are available here.
PC Gamer's interview with Rockstar goes a lot deeper and is well worth a read for fans of the GTA franchise looking for more news about the PC edition. You can read the full interview here.
GameSpot has also spoken with Rockstar about the PC edition of GTA V. Check out our interview to learn more about topics such as modding, DLC timing between PC and console, and more.
The Pokemon franchise is growing further still with a brand new movie.
Announced Monday was Pokemon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, the latest animated feature film based on the uber-popular video game franchise.
The 70-minute film will follow Ash and Pikachu as they travel "to a desert city by the sea" and meet a new mythical Pokemon called Hoopa. This creature, using its "magic rings," can summon all manner of things, including people and other Pokemon.
Here's how The Pokemon Company sets up the story for Hoopa and the Clash of Ages:
"After a scary incident, they learn of a story about a brave hero who stopped the rampage of a terrifying Pokemon long ago. Now, the threat that has been bottled up for years is in danger of breaking loose again! Can Ash help his new friend overcome the darkness within…or will a dangerous secret erupt into a clash of legends?"
Hoopa and the Clash of Ages will debut sometime later this year on Cartoon Network, though an official premiere date was not announced. A trailer for the film is available above.
A variety of Pokemon movies are currently available on Netflix streaming, including Pokemon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened and Pokemon the Movie: Kyrum vs. The Sword of Justice, among others.
Microsoft has reduced the UK retail price of the Xbox One to £299.99, the corporation has confirmed, as part of a new sales promotion.
The discount is the latest development in a long-running series of revisions to the Xbox One's retail price, as part of a wider bid to remain competitive with the industry's current best-selling home console, the PlayStation 4.
Though it launched in November 2013 at £429, the Xbox One's price was cut to £400 just four months later. Then in May 2014, Microsoft scrapped Kinect as a mandatory accessory and began listing the console for £350. By September, that solus version was cut to £330 as part of a price promotion--which Microsoft said was temporary at first, but became standard over time.
The latest revision pulls the Xbox One price below the £300 mark for the first time. Microsoft has told MCV that it was UK retailers that have spurred the changes, though the corporation is advertising the deal on TV.
It is not clear whether retailers will revert the Xbox One price back to £330.
A Microsoft spokesperson said: "This is a UK-only retail promotion and offers great value for fans looking to buy an Xbox One ahead of the launch of 2015's highly-anticipated games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and Batman: Arkham Knight, along with Xbox exclusives such as Rise of the Tomb Raider, Forza Motorsport 6 and Halo 5: Guardians."
Microsoft has partnered with HBO to offer the first episode of Game of Thrones Season 5 for free on Xbox Live.
Between now and April 16, Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners can watch Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 1 online for free via a stream available through Xbox Live. It appears that the offer is only available to customers based in the US; GameSpot has contacted Microsoft to clarify. [Update: Microsoft has confirmed to GameSpot that the offer is not available in the UK].
Along with this, both Xbox systems will host additional content such as virtual on-set tours, trivia questions, and various video clips.
The entirety of the show's fifth season can be purchased through the Xbox HBO GO app, which is also available on a range of platforms including Apple TV and PlayStation 4.
The Game of Thrones season 5 premiere aired across North America on Sunday, and is set to air in the UK on Monday evening. To mark the occasion, Telltale Games, which is developing the episodic interactive series based on the show, is offering its first episode for free for Android devices.
Over the weekend, the first four episodes of the new series leaked online.
Battlefield Hardline, Electronic Arts' latest entry in its flagship shooter series, has held first place in the UK all-format games charts for the fourth week running.
This was achieved despite a 56 percent week-on-week decrease in sales, although all games featured in the top ten had performed worse than the week before it. The UK's lack of new releases will be to Warner Bros' advantage, as the publisher prepares for the release of Mortal Kombat X on Tuesday.
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