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.
By Anonymous on Jun 08, 2017 10:30 pm The opening sequence of American Gods is a lot like the show. It's beautiful, features gods and is slightly confusing.
With E3 2017 just right around the corner, there's a lot to anticipate from Microsoft's unveiling of the Scorpio. As Xbox One is in need of some top exclusives, this is Microsoft's moment to show off just what it has in store for its platform, but also for the future with Scorpio. While we're still unclear just what it has waiting, here's what we think Microsoft will definitely show off at E3 2017.
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. You can find a full schedule in our feature on the publisher press conferences times.
Assassin's Creed: Origins
A new Assassin's Creed has been confirmed after the series took a year off, but nothing has been shared officially beyond that. Ubisoft has teased that with this new game, "a new era begins." Previous reports and leaks have suggested the game will be set in Egypt and carry the name Assassin's Creed: Origins.
Agents of Mayhem
On the surface, Volition Entertainment's next open-world action game looks like a major departure from its past work on Saints Row; but at its heart, it's still all about causing as much chaos as possible with a colorful group of characters. With its release coming August 15, there's still much to learn about Agents of Mayhem's bombastic and goofy take on super-secret agencies battling evil organizations.
New Bioware IP
After the underwhelming Mass Effect: Andromeda, BioWare looks to rebound with what sounds like an ambitious project set in an all-new universe. Fans can expect the game to have "new concepts, new gameplay mechanics, and new stories set in a unique universe." Made by the same team that created Knights of the Old Republic, the new IP is probably still a ways off from release, but EA could show at least a teaser at E3.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Koji "IGA" Igarashi, best known as the mind behind Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, returns with what's essentially a spiritual successor to that game. In other words, it's a new Metroidvania from one of the key people who established the pillars of that genre in the first place.
Call of Duty: WWII
The Call of Duty series goes back to its roots this year with the Sledgehammer Games-developed shooter that seems to draw influence from the Band of Brothers mini-series.. We expect to see more of the multiplayer at E3, and it's exciting to think about a stripped-down experience after the latest games were set in the future with all manner of super-abilities and equipment.
Crackdown 3
Official details on Crackdown 3 have been few and far between of late, but that should change at E3 if Microsoft talks more about the sandbox, destruction-themed Xbox One and PC game. It would be especially cool if we see it running on Project Scorpio, considering the power of the console could allow for some epic destruction.
The Crew 2
The Crew 2 is the follow-up to Ubisoft's 2014 open-world racer, which let players speed across a scaled version of the entire United States. Currently, we don't know much about the sequel, though the game's official forum features a logo along with the tag line "Beyond the road." The Crew 2 is due before the end of March 2018.
Cuphead
Seemingly an E3 fixture for ages, but really since 2014, Cuphead is a retro jaunt that has one of the most eye-catching and nostalgia inducing art-styles in recent memory. A strange, yet exciting mix between boss rush and old-school action platformer gameplay, we're definitely hoping this one will finally be set for release sometime soon.
Destiny 2
There's still much to learn about the sequel to Bungie's shared world shooter. While the massive reveal from last month gave us a lot to anticipate, we're still looking forward to E3 clearing up more of the specifics regarding the changes to the core gameplay loop, and just how our guardians will fit into the altered landscape post-Destiny 1.
Fable Fortune
With the success of Hearthstone looming large and card games based on The Elder Scrolls and The Witcher franchises launching soon, it only makes sense that the Fable series would explore the genre as well. Expanding on the lore and characters of the quirky RPG series, Fable Fortune looks like it will have a very different visual take on card-battling.
Far Cry 5
Moving away from the tropical and exotic locales of series past, Far Cry 5 brings the action to big sky country Montana, USA. After a lot of noise came out from the reveal of the game's setting and evocative cover art, there's much anticipation in seeing how far Ubisoft will go with this next entry in the series. While Far Cry 5's action and over-the-top theatrics will take center stage, the drastic change in scenery should spice things up considerably.
FIFA 18
The video game industry's biggest sports franchise, FIFA, returns in September with a new entry with Cristiano Ronaldo on the cover for the first time ever. The single-player story mode, The Journey, returns, while there will of course be the usual gameplay improvements. Expect FIFA 18 to feature in a big way at EA's briefing this year.
Kingdom Hearts III
After many spinoffs, prequels, and confusingly named tie-ins, a proper sequel to Kingdom Hearts 2 is on the way. Sora, Donald, and Goofy return to begin their search for the Key to Return Hearts, travelling through unforgettable Disney worlds and meeting iconic characters along the way.
Madden NFL 18
Last year's Madden game pushed the series forward with commentary updated on a weekly basis, and this year's game will do something new as well, it seems. A single-player mode similar to FIFA's The Journey has been teased, and you can expect to hear more about this and more during EA's briefing.
Marvel VS Capcom: Infinite
Making a surprise comeback, Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite makes big changes to the tried-and-tested formula of over the top 3-on-3 fighting by introducing the all powerful Infinity Stones and dropping the team number to 2-on-2.
In the follow up to GameSpot's 2014 Game of the Year, Shadow of War brings Talion and his wraith companion Celebrimbor back to the front lines in their fight against Sauron and his dark army. In a larger and more open world, including new loot and gear to uncover, the undead ranger will have to form his own army to engage in an epic standoff against The Dark Lord
NBA 2K18
While NBA Live 18 seeks to become a worthy contender, NBA 2K18 stands as the latest entry in the genre-dominating series. We don't yet know what to expect, but at the very least, you can expect the usual visual improvements and other refinements.
NBA Live 18
There have been few entries in the NBA Live series over the last decade, with NBA Live 18 representing the latest attempt of EA to become competitive in the basketball sim space. Virtually nothing is known about the game at this point, but you can likely expect EA to attempt to demonstrate that it has finally nailed the fundamentals of basketball.
Need For Speed: Payback
After a year away, the Need for Speed series returns with Payback. More than just the standard racing game you might expect, EA says you'll also engage in heists, car battles, and more while playing as three distinct characters.
Psychonauts 2
As the follow up to Double Fine Games' cult hit from 2005, Raz and the Psychonauts are caught up in another adventure where they'll have to use their psychic powers to traverse the environments and invade the minds of others to uncover the secrets behind the Psychonauts organization.
Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves, the first original, non-Kinect game out of beloved developer Rare in years, allows you to live out the life of a pirate with your friends. You'll be able to work together to navigate the sea by ship while hunting down treasure and fending off enemy players who are seeking the same thing.
Sonic Forces
Sonic Forces is the latest 3D Sonic game, starring not only modern Sonic and classic Sonic, but a completely new hero that you create and customize.
Sonic Mania
Sonic Mania returns to the gameplay and visual style of the original Sonic the Hedgehog games on Sega Genesis. It's being developed primarily by programmers Christian "Taxman" Whitehead and Simon "Stealth" Thomley, who are both known by fans as major contributors to the Sonic ROM hack community.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
Set the day after The Stick of Truth, the South Park kids are caught up in another game of make believe that quickly gets out of hand. Trading out swords and sorcery for capes and utility belts, the kids will explore the town, fight crime, and engage in turn-based battles to decide who gets to lead their new superhero franchise.
Star Wars: Battlefront II
2015's Star Wars: Battlefront was a fun game that let you live out your Star Wars fantasies. It shipped more than 14 million copies, making it one of the most commercially successful Star Wars games in history, but many remarked that it didn't offer enough depth. EA has acknowledged this feedback and has promised a bigger and better sequel that features characters and storylines from all eras of Star Wars. And there is a single-player mode this time.
State of Decay 2
The 2014 original State of Decay was a surprise hit, and with its permadeath element, it was a tense, white-knuckle affair with a lot of great action. The sequel has a larger map and co-op support, among other things.
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.
A burly ground operator takes on a dangerous night patrol in the latest build of Fortnite.
The opening sequence of American Gods is a lot like the show. It's beautiful, features gods and is slightly confusing.
With Microsoft's Project Scorpio taking center stage, will Microsoft be able to win big this E3?
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