Final Fantasy XIV will not be playable on PS3 for much longer. In the lead up to its server shutdown, Square Enix will make the game playable for free on the last-gen console.
When upcoming expansion pack Stormblood was announced last year, Square Enix revealed that it would phase out the PS3 version to focus on PS4 and PC. That end date is rapidly approaching, with the PS3 game set to cease operations on June 16, when Stormblood's early access period begins.
Starting this coming Monday, May 1, Square Enix will remove the subscription requirement from the PS3 version. This will allow subscribers on the platform to play for free until the shutdown.
If you have an account that spans multiple platforms, you won't gain subscription free access on PS4 or PC just because you own the game on PS3. The "free login campaign" only provides subscription-free access on PS3. You can read more about the rules here.
PS3 players interested in moving to the PS4 version can take advantage of an ongoing upgrade campaign. Running through the end of the year, PS3 players can pick up a free digital copy of the game for PS4. If your subscription has lapsed, you'll also receive 14 days of game time. Details on how to get your freebie are available on Square Enix's website.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Lucasfilm has confirmed the release dates for two of its upcoming--but still far-off--projects.
Star Wars: Episode IX will not occupy the same December period that the last several Star Wars movies have. Instead, it'll be released on May 24, 2019. The Colin Trevorrow-directed film does not yet have a title, and Lucasfilm simply described it as "clos[ing] out the third Star Wars trilogy."
Lucasfilm's other bit of news concerns Indiana Jones. The fifth film in the series launches on July 10, 2020, and will see the return of both star Harrison Ford and director Steven Spielberg. No further details were shared.
We'll have more on these movies as it's announced.
Lucasfilm isn't resting on its laurels in the meantime. This December marks the release of the next Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi (watch the recent trailer above), with a young Han Solo movie set to follow in May 2018.
In news that seems well-suited to April 1, Doritos and Marvel have announced a partnership that will see the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2-branded bags of Doritos that come equipped with a cassette-style music player.
Yeah.
As reported by Billboard, this is only meant to resemble a cassette player, though it does really play music. By plugging in headphones, you can listen to the movie's full soundtrack, with songs from Fleetwood Mac and George Harrison, among others. David Hasselhoff has a song on there as well, which somehow feels appropriate.
Based on the image above from Billboard, the bag will be available in at least the standard Nacho Cheese flavor, as Doritos has seemingly decided to forgo the superiority of Spicy Nacho.
These special bags won't be available in stores, instead being sold on Amazon while supplies last. A price was not shared, but you'll be glad to hear the bag can be recharged so that you aren't limited to a single battery's worth of listening sessions.
The bags go on sale here this Friday, April 28. On May 5, Doritos will host events in New York and Los Angeles where fans can win one of these bags.
[Updated April 25 with TimeShift, Assault Heroes 2, and Commanders: Attack of the Genos]
The Xbox One's backwards compatibility feature, introduced in November 2015, lets you play Xbox 360 games on the new console. But what games are available? We've now rounded them all up--and we'll continue to update this post as new games are made available.
Because every detail of this year's Call of Duty apparently has to be leaked before it's officially announced, we've now learned the reported details of Call of Duty: WWII's special edition.
It's dubbed the Pro Edition, according to marketing materials from GameStop shared on Twitter by user Bernie Highroller (via Charlie Intel). The image shows that this version comes with the game itself, a steelbook case, and a season pass--our first confirmation that WWII will have one, as expected.
The three games are now playable on Xbox One. If you own digital copies of any of the three, you'll find them in your Ready to Download list or you can simply pop the disc in to play TimeShift.
Alternatively, you can buy them new on Xbox.com or through the console itself. Assault Heroes 2 and Commanders: Attack each cost US $5 / £3.39 / AU $5, while TimeShift will set you back US $30 / £20 / AU $30.
During an interview to promote Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Saldana said that she had finished her scenes for Infinity War, and would return to shoot something she referred to as Gauntlet later in the year. Check out the video below:
The Infinity Gauntlet was the title of a Marvel comic book crossover event that ran in 1991. It saw the evil Thanos battle many of Marvel's greatest heroes using the power of the Infinity Stones embedded in the ornate glove of the title.
Feige recently suggested that the Marvel Cinematic Universe might go through some big changes after Avengers 4. "As we get to Infinity War there will be a sense of a climax," he said. "By the time we're at the untitled Avengers 4, 22 movies will have encompassed the first three phases of the MCU. And what happens after that will be very different. I don't know if it's Phase 4, it might be a new thing."
Avengers: Infinity War hits theaters on May 4, 2018, while Avengers 4 is due on May 3, 2019. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 arrives next week.
Sniper Ghost Warrior 3, the latest in CI Games' shooter franchise, attempts to drive the series forward with the addition of an open world as well as a graphical boost provided by a generational jump over its PS3/Xbox 360 predecessors.
The game has also come under scrutiny for its lengthy loading times, which can reach up to five minutes on PlayStation 4 and have not been improved by the game's day one patch. Our critic, Richard Wakeling, experienced similar load times while playing the game for review, in which he awarded the game a 5/10.
He said the title has a "plethora of nagging glitches and technical problems" and stated they "make Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 difficult to recommend."
You can read more in our full Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 review or take a look at a selection of other verdicts below. Alternatively, you can check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Game: Sniper Ghost Warrior 3
Developer: CI Games
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release: Out now
Price: US $60 / £50 / AU $100
GameSpot -- 5/10
"Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 feels like a B-tier, budget-priced game. Even the predictable, profanity-laden story is reminiscent of the type of gritty B-movies Steven Seagal is known for. There's certainly merit to its accomplished sniping mechanics, especially when missions hone in on the planning and precise execution that makes playing as a sharpshooter so thrilling. Yet it falters whenever it veers away from its strengths, and the plethora of nagging glitches and technical problems are a persistent nuisance that make Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 difficult to recommend." -- Richard Wakeling [Full review]
Eurogamer -- No score
"Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 places care and attention into its gorgeous locations and robust missions and, most importantly, into the minutiae of the sniping experience. Unfortunately, it never quite delivers on its premise, and the pieces never come together as a cohesive whole. There's a lot to recommend here, but glitches, poorly polished areas and atrocious writing ensure this one shoots well wide of its mark." -- Jake Tucker [Full review]
Trusted Reviews -- 2/5
"Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 offers some of the most satisfying sniping you can imagine, but everything outside of that just feels too drab and lacklustre to truly make it standout." -- Simon Miller [Full review]
The Sixth Axis -- 6/10
"The relatively unique Georgian setting and the brewing civil war are all but set aside for a by the numbers story of revenge and betrayal, while Jon isn't a very likeable protagonist. The various bugs and crashes also need to be addressed in future patches, as they can ruin the experience. Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 has the sniping down to a tee, which should be expected with the number of years CI has been working on the series, but the surrounding package could be better." -- Aran Suddi [Full review]
Following closed alpha and beta tests, an open beta is now underway for Games of Glory, letting players on both PC and PS4 give the game a try.
Games of Glory is a sort of MOBA/shooter hybrid that is played from an isometric perspective with free-aiming--you won't be relying on any auto-aim. Notably, it features cross-play, allowing those on both platforms to play with and against each other.
We don't know how long it will be in beta, but don't expect to pay for Games of Glory once it's officially released, as it's a free-to-play game. It's supported through microtransactions that unlock playable characters and cosmetic items. These characters are spread across five classes; you can see some of them in the gallery above.
Grand Theft Auto V's latest update has arrived, bringing the new Tiny Racers mode to GTA Online.
First announced last week, Tiny Racers is a modified version of stunt races that places the camera overhead in the style of the earlier GTA games. Races are limited to four players, and those who fall too far behind are blown up. There are also power-ups scattered along the track, ranging from rockets to special vehicles.
Tiny Racers serves as this week's bonus event, handing out double RP and GTA$ for a limited time.
An alternative way to rack up the in-game cash right now is to simply log in to GTA Online between today and Sunday, May 1. Players on PS4, Xbox One, and PC will receive what Rockstar calls a "tax rebate." This will come in the form of a $425,000 deposit that will be made to your Maze Bank account at some point in May.
Capcom has announced Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite will launch on September 19 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The release date was confirmed alongside the debut of eight new characters and a story trailer unmasking the big bad villain the heroes will battle against.
Joining the game from the Marvel side are Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye, and Rocket Raccoon. From Capcom's roster of iconic characters, it's Chun-Li, Strider Hiryu, and Chris Redfield stepping into the fray. These characters unite to bring down Marvel villain Ultron, who is also a playable character.
Click image to view in full screen gallery
As depicted in the trailer above, Ultron has aligned himself with Sigma from the Mega Man X series. Together, the duo have combined and brought together the Capcom and Marvel universes to unleash a cybernetic virus that will allow them to seize control of both. The inter-universe battle between good and evil will be explored in a new cinematic story mode.
"For the first time in franchise history, the Marvel and Capcom universes collide in a visually stunning and immersive cinematic Story Mode, as heroes and villains battle together to save their merged worlds from a sinister new threat, Ultron Sigma," Capcom explains in a press release.
"A combination of the robotic foes known as Ultron from the Marvel Universe and Sigma from the Capcom Universe, this psychotic villain is obsessed with infecting all organic life with a cybernetic virus. History's greatest gathering of warriors must now unite to fight back against Ultron Sigma and save their newly formed world."
Two new stages have also been announced: Avengers Tower and Throne Room. You can get glimpses at them in the screenshots below.
Click image to view in full screen gallery
Capcom has also detailed a number of different versions of Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite that will be available when the game launches in September. Along with the Standard Edition is the $90 Deluxe Edition, which includes "the main game and 2017 Character Pass, featuring all six additional post launch characters including Sigma, the main antagonist from the Mega Man X series."
The Collector's Edition, meanwhile, will be available for the PS4 and Xbox One versions and features "four premium character dioramas of Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Mega Man X, and Chun-Li, a case filled with six Infinity Stone replicas, as well as SteelBook packaging that contains the Deluxe Edition of the game." It will retail for $199.99.
In North America, those that preorder any version of the game will get the Warrior Thor and Evil Ryu costumes. Preorders for the Deluxe Edition in North America will get those two costumes, in addition to Gladiator Hulk and Command Mission X outfits. No information on preorder bonuses in other regions has been revealed.
Ever since Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, there has been much speculation that the studio might restore the original theatrical versions of the original Star Wars trilogy, as it was seen before George Lucas made various digital alterations to them. Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy has now spoken about the possibility of this happening--and the news isn't good.
In a recent interview with the Steelewars podcast, Kennedy was asked if fans would ever see the original versions of the movies. "I wouldn't touch those, are you kidding me?" she said, via Movieweb. "Those will always remain [Lucas's]." Kennedy also states that there is nothing legally stopping Disney from releasing them, but it sounds very unlikely to happen.
Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi have been seen in various versions over the years. The first reworked editions were released theatrically in 1997, and since then, almost every home video release has undergone further alteration. These range from cleaning up VFX to adding characters from the prequel trilogy or inserting entirely new scenes. Among the most controversial changes were the decision to make Greedo shoot Han first, and the new song "Jedi Rocks" performed in Jabba's Palace.
Lucas has always insisted that these are now the definitive versions of the films. To date, the last time they were available were as bonus features on the 2006 DVD release, sourced from the 1993 laser disc and of a far inferior quality to the altered versions.
In 2012, Lucas sold his company to Disney and is no longer involved with the development of the Star Wars franchise.
In related news, Kennedy also recently stated that the next Star Wars spinoff movie is likely to be revealed soon. "My hope would be sometime around the summer," she said. "I never want to predict the creative process because it is its own thing, so we're in the midst of those discussions right now."
Before that currently unknown spinoff, a standalone Han Solo film will arrive in 2018. Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters in December--check out the trailer here.
The latest round of deals have gone live on the Xbox Store, bringing discounts on Xbox One and Xbox 360 games for Xbox Live Gold subscribers.
Xbox One's deals for Gold members include Axiom Verge for $10 (£8), Sniper Elite 4 (just released in February) for $45 (£37.49), Super Mega Baseball for $6.60 (£5), and a bundle with Forza Horizon 2 and Forza Motorsport 6 for $36 (£30). If you don't have Gold, your only discounted game this week is Madden 17 and its various editions, the cheapest of which can be had for $20 (£18).
Sniper Ghost Warrior 3's multiplayer mode, which until now was widely believed to be included at launch, has been delayed. Developer CI Games said this was so as "not to dilute any potential from the single-player experience."
The title has already come under scrutiny for its lengthy loading times, which can reach up to five minutes on PlayStation 4 and have not been improved by the game's day one patch. Only now--on launch day, the same day reviews were embargoed until--has CI Games revealed that the multiplayer mode is omitted.
The company released a statement explaining the news, and confirmed the mode would arrive in a free update in Q3 2017. Take a look at the full statement below.
"Throughout our development of Sniper Ghost Warrior 3, we have had two focus [sic]: The first is to provide the best possible single-player experience in our most ambitious game in the Sniper Ghost Warrior series to date. This has always been our goal and we are extremely proud of all the work we have done, and that we share with you. The second emphasis from us is to provide regular content updates post launch, focusing on content that enhances the gaming experience.
"Therefore, we have chosen to release the multiplayer update (that will be free for our players) after launch (the third quarter of 2017) for precisely the above reasons, that is not to dilute any potential from the single-player experience."
"Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 feels like a B-tier, budget-priced game," said critic Richard Wakeling. "Even the predictable, profanity-laden story is reminiscent of the type of gritty B-movies Steven Seagal is known for. There's certainly merit to its accomplished sniping mechanics, especially when missions hone in on the planning and precise execution that makes playing as a sharpshooter so thrilling. Yet it falters whenever it veers away from its strengths, and the plethora of nagging glitches and technical problems are a persistent nuisance that make Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 difficult to recommend."
The original Outlast became somewhat of a cult hit when it was released in 2013. Launching first on PC before later coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, Outlast earned a 7/10 in our review, with critic Leif Johnson saying "you'll be frequently driven to turn the lights on and calm your fears."
But does the sequel live up to the expectation set by that promising first title? We were already scared by the Outlast 2 demo, and now critic Scott Butterworth has played the full game. He says "the campaign is scary from start to finish," with "expertly crafted" atmosphere and sound design, although the "gameplay starts to wear thin" towards the end. Read more in our full Outlast 2 review.
For a selection of other critics' opinions on Outlast 2, meanwhile, check out the roundup below--or for a wider view on critical opinion, you can take a look at GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Game: Outlast 2
Developer: Red Barrels
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release: Out now
Price: US $30 / £24 / AU $40
GameSpot -- 7/10
"In truth, Outlast's 'no weapons' formula worked better as a shorter experience. Stretched over twice the length of the original game, Outlast 2's gameplay starts to wear thin, especially since too many of its scripted chases funnel you down preset paths. At the same time, however, I admire its purity, and to an extent, I'm willing to accept its shortcomings for the sake of true survival horror. The campaign is scary from start to finish and delivers on its promise of unrelenting terror in part because it never allows you to fight back. The atmosphere and sound design are expertly crafted, and Blake's hallucinations elevate the game's story above that of the first. It doesn't do much to build on the original formula, but it unquestionably provides a more polished version of the same idea.
"Think of it as a ride through a really amazing haunted house: you don't have a ton of control and sometimes the ride breaks down for a moment or two, but it's basically guaranteed to leave you scared out of your mind." -- Scott Butterworth [Full review]
IGN -- 8.3/10
"Outlast 2 is a terrifying sequel that builds upon the scares of the 2013 original. Even if its ambitious themes don't always land and navigating through its world can be frustratingly inconsistent, there's more wicked creativity at play here than I've seen in a horror game in a long time. Play it loud, in the dark." -- Lucy O'Brien [Full review]
Game Informer -- 7.75/10
"Although Outlast 2's scares are phenomenal, its narrative struggles to remain cohesive and wraps up hastily. This affected my investment into the story, where my connection to the characters waned frequently. It has clever tricks up its sleeve, and while scary in the moment, their effectiveness suffers in the long run, especially when connecting various story points is difficult. Shock value is relied on constantly, with overt religious themes portrayed in ways some could find carelessly offensive. Even if that doesn't bother you, these topics are often handled without nuance.
"Outlast 2 asks more questions than it answers, and too much is left to your interpretation. This ambiguity might have worked, but it makes the conclusion unsatisfying. Even with its hiccups, it is nonetheless an intense ride that makes you question your sanity. If gory thrills are something you seek, Outlast 2 provides plenty to keep you on the edge of your seat as long as you can look past the clumsy storytelling." -- Elise Favis [Full review]
PC Gamer -- 85/100
"What I like most about Outlast 2 is that it doesn't just use its themes as set-dressing. The first Outlast had the same intense stealth sequences and chase scenes, but in the spooky asylum every Early Access game goes for. Outlast 2 takes you through dilapidating farms and flooded mines and old townships that all say something about the history of the people who lived there. It rains blood and spews locusts and sends twisted cultists after you through it all, just regular people wearing overalls and carrying bloody steak knives, moaning in apocalyptic overtones. There are monsters, sure, but Outlast 2's scariest moments come from its most familiar faces." -- James Davenport [Full review]
GamesRadar -- 2.5/5
"Violence is dealt with deftly, disturbing where it needs to be and even darkly comic when it's allowed. It's a pity, then, that the game is so inherently flawed. Horror games have to walk a line between joy and nastiness. You have to want to be afraid, yet still compelled to keep going into the darkness. Unfortunately, in Outlast 2, all I wanted to do was put down the controller." -- Louise Blain [Full review]
Capcom has announced that Resident Evil 7's Not a Hero expansion, which stars a fan favorite character, has been delayed. The DLC was originally meant to launch this "spring," but will now come at a later, unconfirmed date.
In an official video, game director Koshi Nakanishi explained that the reason for the delay is so the team can improve the free add-on to live up to the positive reception the base game received.
"In light of the incredible reception of Resident Evil 7, we concluded that this DLC was not good enough to meet those high expectations," he said.
Producer Masachika Kawata added: "Our aim is for this content to match the high quality of the main game, so we need more development time in order to achieve that goal."
Capcom goes on to reassure fans that Not a Hero will still be released for free, as previously promised, while also teasing a "further piece of DLC" that is currently in the works.
You can take a look at the video--which is in Japanese but contains English subtitles if you click the closed captions icon--below. Note: spoilers for the ending of Resident Evil 7 follow beneath the video.
The first trailer for Kingsman: The Golden Circle is here. The sequel to the 2014 action comedy is released in September, and this first trailer showcases some spectacular action set to the sounds of Frank Sinatra's 'My Way.' Check it out here:
Kingsman: The Golden Circle is directed by Matthew Vaughn, and stars Taron Egerton as young spy Gary "Eggsy" Unwin once more. The cast also includes Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, Jeff Bridges, and Julianne Moore.
In a recent interview with Collider, Egerton hinted at what fans could expect from the new movie. "It's f***ing mental," he said. "But it's what people like and it's what Matthew is good at. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's awesome. It's bigger and it feels more ambitious, really.
"There are more characters, the world is explored in more detail. This weird version of reality where these spies exist is kind of explored more. We discover a sister organization based in America called the Statesman... they're richer than us, they've got cool s**t."
Square Enix has still yet to provide a release date for Kingdom Hearts III or Final Fantasy VII Remake, but if you were holding out hope that either one would launch this year, things aren't looking good.
A recent investors document the company shared (via NeoGAF) highlights many of the company's recent major releases, as well as those expected in fiscal year 2018 (which began at the start of April) and beyond. Whereas several of these future games, including Dragon Quest XI, have at least vague "2017" dates listed, Kingdom Hearts III, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and the upcoming Marvel games have nothing at all.
While this is not a formal announcement that none of these will release this year, it seems incredibly unlikely that we see any of them before 2018 at the earliest.
"While I can't make a sweeping statement because the development process is different from what we've done so far, there are still worlds untouched," he said of Kingdom Hearts III at the time. "Production is progressing on unannounced worlds, in a state that we cannot show them off. In terms of the state of development, there is still some way to go."
Despite that, he did express interest in at least sharing something from the two games at some point in 2017.
"Last year, I didn't put out much information on either title, but this year I want to show our progress at an event somewhere," he said. "The release of the titles themselves have still have a way to go. But there are many titles releasing this year, if you can wait for any 'surprises.'"
After his story in Injustice 2 was set up last week, we've now gotten a better look at Brainiac in the upcoming fighting game.
NetherRealm today released a new gameplay video (above) centered around the villain. It opens up with Superman getting sassy with his nemesis, only for Braniac to pummel the Man of Steel (and other characters).
Like last week's brief glimpse, a lot of what he can do centers around robotic arms that extend from his back, which are used both to attack and move him around the stage. We also get a look at a cool Super move that devastates Superman near the end.
Today, HyperX released the Pulsefire FPS, the company's first gaming mouse. It's touted as a professional-level peripheral, equipped with a PixArt 3310 optical sensor and Omron switches that can sustain up to 20 million clicks. This mouse is priced at $50, making it competitively priced among other gaming mice.
The following is a list of other specifications and features for the Pulsefire FPS:
Right-handed fit
Two additional side buttons
Sequential DPI switch with four settings (400, 800, 1600, and 3200 DPI)
HyperX is the gaming-focused division of Kingston. HyperX currently has three lines of headsets: the Cloud Stinger, Cloud, and Cloud Revolver, with the latter being the high-end offering. It also offers a mechanical keyboard, the Alloy FPS, that is available now and comes with either Cherry MX Blue, Brown, or Red switches.
For more information and analysis on gaming mice, check out our review roundup.
The game, Zelda: Breath of the NES, is described as a "new adventure in the classic Zelda style, but with smooth animations and a more interactive world." The demo lets you move around in an overworld, testing out various mechanics and items.
The trailer above shows off some of the improvements that have already been made since the release of an earlier version. Update notes for v1.3 mention the ability to now deflect projectiles with the Korok Leaf and a fix for a problem where burning an apple tree didn't cause baked apples to drop.
Breath of the NES developer WinterDrake is actively recruiting more people to assist with its development, including artists and composers.
The project page on itch.io notes the game is free, as this is an unlicensed project. As such, it's possible Nintendo and its lawyers may force it offline, similar to what happened with some Pokemon fan games last year. If you're interested, you may want to download the current version while you still can. You can grab it here.
As for the prototype that inspired this game, Nintendo shared some details about its during this year's GDC. You can watch the panel where it was discussed here (around the 47-minute mark).
No comments:
Post a Comment