[05.02.16] Activision reveals ‘Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare,‘ 'Modern Warfare Remasted'

Houston, we have a problem – it is still t-minus six months until the launch of the newly announced “Call of Duty” title, one that finally brings what fans have been screaming for. No, it is not the fact that it will take the franchise into space for the first time. It also isn’t that the game claims to “return to its roots” with a classic war story worthy of the original titles. What really has the fans hyped is the announcement that the “Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Legacy Edition” will include a fully remastered version of “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.”

It comes as no surprise that a new “Call of Duty” title was announced for this year, as it has long-since been established as an annual title. Considering the ups and downs the series has faced in recent years, it probably also wasn’t too shocking that the franchise is making the move to space – you know, the place where movie sequels supposedly go to die? If we are going to be completely honest with ourselves, it also seemed fairly obvious that the announcement for “Modern Warfare Remastered” was coming.

The first tip came in the rotation of studios which finds the “Call of Duty” franchise landing, one again, in the hands of Infinity Ward for this year’s title. Combine that with the onslaught of remastered titles, like the “Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection” or “Gears of War: Ultimate Edition,” and the outcry of fans who miss the nearly 9-year-old title. Then there is also the fact that rumors have been swirly about for weeks. Put it all together and “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered” seemed… written in the stars?

Hold your horses, though, because you are going to have to shell out $80 to get your hands on it. The Legacy Edition of “Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare” will include the full campaign and ten multiplayer maps from the original “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare,” re-released in brilliant high definition. Given “Call of Duty’s” track record, it also seems highly likely that this bundle will score you some additional digital goodies to go with you remastered title.

While Infinity Ward focuses on their new title, they have put the “Modern Warfare Remastered” in the hands of Raven, a studio who has shown time and time again that they know how to make a game pretty. Raven will bring the visuals up to current generation standards, with improved texture resolutions, high-dynamic range lighting effects, lit and shadowing VFX particles, overhauled animations, and remastered audio.

“The original Modern Warfare raised the bar on video games and forever will be remembered as one of the best. It is an honour to be developing the remaster and we are committed to faithfully remastering this classic for Call of Duty fans,” stated Brian Raffel, studio head of Raven Software.

As for “Infinite Warfare” itself? Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, has promised to “[honor] the heritage of ‘Call of Duty’ while taking players to incredible new heights.” Infinity Ward Studio Head Dave Stohl echoed his sentiments about the new campaign:

“On one hand, this game is the kind of gritty, boots on the ground, visceral war story that ‘Call of Duty’ is known for. On the other, its future setting takes players on a journey of epic scale and proportions, providing incredible gameplay innovations and new experiences for our fans. This is a grand scale, old-school, all-out war in an epic new-school setting. And it’s going to be a hell of a lot of fun.”

“Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare” will featuring a rich, immersive narrative that will allow players to take on all kinds of roles through the course of the campaign. From boots-on-the-ground combat to piloting high-speed space-fighters, the near seamless experience will challenge and entertain even the most experienced soldiers.

The upcoming title will launch in four separate editions. First is the regular $60 copy that will just get you “Infinite Warfare.” For an extra $20, you can get the Legacy Edition (and Digital Legacy Edition) that will include “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered.” The next tier is the “Digital Deluxe Edition” which includes “Infinite Warfare,” “Modern Warfare Remastered,” and the season pass. For the most dedicated fans, and an unspecified amount will get you the “Legacy Pro Edition” which includes everything from the “Digital Deluxe Edition” as well as a collectible Steelbook, official game soundtrack, and unannounced additional digital items.

“Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare” will release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on November 4, 2016.

[03.09.16] ‘Sniper Elite 4’ coming in 2016

Rebellion Developments Ltd.

Appearing seemingly out of nowhere, UK developers Rebellion had a big surprise this past Monday for fans of their most popular series. After launching “Sniper Elite” back in 2005 as a very successful cult hit, Rebellion decided to do a reimagining of the game seven years later with the release of “Sniper Elite V2” on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Following that major accomplishment, a highly anticipated follow-up and true sequel, “Sniper Elite III,” made its way onto the brand new generation of consoles. Fast forward to March 7, 2016 and Rebellion quietly drops an unexpected – albeit, well deserved – teaser that no one saw coming which proudly announced the return of the series and a confirmed release of this year for “Sniper Elite 4.”

While the teaser and accompanying press release were thin on the details, the small glimpses into “Sniper Elite 4” are very exciting. The teaser trailer opens on a picturesque villa with the words “Italy 1943” emblazoned across the screen. The graphics are crisp, bright, bold, and could have easily been mistaken as a town ripped right from “Just Cause 3,” if it was not for the known geography. Fortunately, the ambient music, an endless parade of troops, and lack of bold red objects to blow up, set the tone for something a little more serious coming. All that we see in the video are the gorgeous landscapes, but it closes with a familiar reload and breathing sound accented by the “Sniper Elite 4” logo and a promise of 2016.

See the review for “Sniper Elite V2” here!

Here’s what we do know about the story. “Sniper Elite 4” will be set in the immediate aftermath of the events of “Sniper Elite III.” It stays faithful to the World War II heritage of the series by taking players to yet another unique environment during the war. The legendary Karl Fairburne has come from his adventures in North Africa to fight alongside the Italian Resistance to help free the country from Fascism. His success is the key to leading to Operation Overlord, D-Day, and victory in Europe. Then again, the man has single-handedly killed Hitler twice, so it is safe to say the mission is in good hands.

“Sniper Elite 4” will take full advantage of the power of Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The game will be running in native 1080p and will be the first game in the series built without the constraints of previous generation’s hardware. The environments, which we already know to be breathtaking from the trailer, will feature intense stealth action and promise to deliver unrivaled sniping freedom on maps many times the size of those seen in its predecessors. “Sniper Elite 4” will feature a full-fledged single-player campaign alongside both co-op and adversarial multiplayer modes. It is being independently developed and published by Rebellion. It will be available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Steam; and can be expected to launch sometime in 2016.

For more information on the game – and a chance to win a free copy – you can check out their website, www.sniperelite4.com.

[01.08.16] ‘Plants Vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2’ beta dates revealed

Electronic Arts

“Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare,” the tower-defense turned third-person shooter that came out of 2014, was a non-stop surprise. The original announcement was unusual and unexpected, the critical reception was pleasantly positive, and the success in sales were shocking. The only thing that did not leave anyone feeling bewildered was the obligatory sequel announced during E3 last year. The only question left unanswered was “when can I get my hands on it?” Fortunately, EA answered that question with a press release on their website from January 7 which revealed the upcoming beta.

As it turns out, the answer is “not long!” PopCap Vancouver, the subsidiary of EA behind the “Plants Vs Zombies: Garden Warfare” franchise, announced the upcoming beta will be open to the public. It will only be available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and participation will grant you an all-access pass to everything that has been in the works.

The highlight is the all-new Backyard Battleground mode which features a dynamic environment connecting every map and game mode. This includes the new game mode “Flag of Power” which combines king of the hill with horde mode. After your team successfully captures a designated area long enough to raise a flag, you will have to defend it against wave after wave of escalating enemies.

To help you out, six new character classes are debuting. Rose, Citron, and Kernel Corn join the plants while Imp, Super Brainz, and Captain Deadbeard fight alongside the zombies. There is also going to be a special appearance by the Grass Effect Z7-Mech for a limited time.

All of the classic game modes will return along with some other variants, all of which feature 24-person multiplayer battles. Garden and Graveyards will be there alongside the new Herbal Assault, which features the plants in a role-reversal on the offensive side. These game modes will span out across four new immersive and dynamic maps, including Moon Base Z – which features unique low-gravity physics – and a snowy map titled Frosty Creek.

So when can you play and how? It’s easy! Starting January 14, simply find the “Plants Vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2” beta on the Xbox Live Marketplace or PlayStation Network Store. After you download it, just log in and play as much as you can until the final day, January 18. For more information, check out the “Plants Vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 Multiplayer” beta page.

[10.13.15] ‘Secret Ponchos: Most Wanted’ officially launches on Steam

Switchblade Monkeys Entertainment

After a successful Steam Early Access run, “Secret Ponchos: Most Wanted” came out guns-blazing as it rode off into its official release today, Oct 13, 2015. Following a strong opening on PlayStation 4, Switchblade Monkeys Entertainment made the decision to bring the competitive isometric shooter to PC in a whole new way. Over ten months, the developers put together an action-packed expansion loaded with new game modes, improved gameplay mechanics, new maps, and more than double the original roster of colorful characters.

“Secret Ponchos: Most Wanted” is a wild 3v3 multiplayer experience that combines precision combat and strategic team-oriented gameplay with a breath-taking, hand-drawn, spaghetti western ambiance. The twin-stick shooter also draws inspiration from the ever-popular MOBA genre. Every shot requires a precise hand as there is no target lock or auto-aiming in sight. Instead, players will have to shoot from the hip while keeping an eye on their stamina and ammo supply during every firefight.

Switchblade Monkeys Entertainment is devoted to creating one-of-a-kind, artistic experiences and it shines through in this game. The ragtag cast of characters features ten different outlaws with unique motives, movements, and powers. Every character has an exclusive set of animations suited to their style. The Matador dances about fluidly with flair, the Wolf swiftly pounces around like a true predator, and Gordo… well, he moves about exactly how you would expect a man of his size and stature to move.

“We never imagined our game would reach this many people – we’re a studio founded by artists and musicians, working out of our kitchens and our bedrooms on the ultimate six-year passion project,” said Switchblade Monkeys’ Creative Director, Yousuf Mapara. “But with the help of countless hours of playtesting by our amazing community, we’ve managed to build something entirely unique, a game with both brains and brawn: mechanically precise, meticulously balanced, lovingly hand-drawn, savagely competitive, and (we think!) incredibly fun.”

To celebrate the launch, Switchblade Monkeys Entertainment unveiled an all-new launch trailer to help you become acquainted with the bandits. The trailer may look gorgeous, but don’t cozy up too close to anyone. These guys and gals are ruthless, and it shows in the cut-throat style of multiplayer.

“Secret Ponchos: Most Wanted” is available immediately on Steam for $14.99. Like a true outlaw, you can get it for a real steal at 25% off, but only during launch week!

[07.28.15] ‘Mafia III’ confirmed, official reveal teased

2K Czech

When a Facebook page hasn’t made a post in over four years, it would seem as if the page (and related product) could be considered dead. You know, like swimming with the fishes, wearing cement shoes, pushing up daisies… you get the point. Anyway, 2K Czech surprised fans with an early morning post around 7:00am CDT on July 28, 2015, on the official Facebook page of the “Mafia” series. The profile picture and cover photo were both updated to tease the worldwide reveal for “Mafia III.”

Prior to that, the most recent post dates all the way back to May 10, 2011, where an avatar item was featured in the Xbox “Deal of the Week.” That means there was a gap of exactly four years, two months, and 18 days between updates. Not only that, but it has been nearly five years since the release of “Mafia II” and 13 years since the release of the original “Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven.”

“Mafia II” was one of the more beautiful games from its generation, which makes it exciting to consider what the team will be capable of creating with the power of the current collection on consoles. The gameplay was an amazing update to its predecessor, pushing the series from the 1930s into the 1940s and early 1950s. It seems safe to assume that the threequel will continue advancing in time, possibly taking place in the 1960s and maybe even 1970s. The “Mafia” series is also known for its dedication to authenticity and attention to detail, with everything from recreations of real-world cars to authentic Playboy magazines as collectibles. Look for this trend to continue, and hopefully be expanded upon, with “Mafia III” as well.

All of this is, of course, pure speculation and no one will actually know any details until the game’s reveal trailer releases on Facebook at the same time as the initial tease on August 5.

[04.14.15] Activision unveils 'Guitar Hero Live'

Activision

It’s time to get real. Real different, anyway. That’s because Activision announced this morning, April 14, that the beloved blockbuster franchise “Guitar Hero” is making its return later this year with “Guitar Hero Live” and with it comes an entirely new experience. “Guitar Hero Live” will feature changes on both the physical and digital sides of the game, and it’s unlike anything that has launched before.

Everything about “Guitar Hero Live” is about creating a more real, live experience. The game puts you in the first-person perspective up on stage with real, live band mates and a real, live audience that dynamically reacts, in real time, to everything you do. The better you play, the happier everyone is. If you start to stink it up, well… be ready for their wrath. As the lead guitarist, it all falls on you, from the smallest bar venues to the largest stadium rock concert. Can you handle the pressure of a real stage environment?

If not, maybe the second offering of “Guitar Hero Live,” known as “Guitar Hero TV,” is more your style. GHTV is the first-of-its-kind playable music video network. If you’re familiar with the Xbox exclusive karaoke game “Lips,” it’s just like that, only with a guitar. The platform will be constantly evolving and will feature multiple channels and themed shows as well as the ability to play songs on-demand. Players can take on their friends in the same room or attempt to climb the online leaderboards from around the world. GHTV will elevate the unmatched party atmosphere and encourage music discovery.

A major physical change comes to “Guitar Hero Live” with a completely redesigned controller that marries the feel of the vintage axe with the new in-game experience. Much like how the live experience emulates realism, the new 3x2 layout of the controller is supposed to make playing “Guitar Hero Live” feel more like a real guitar. It provides gameplay that is easy to learn but difficult to master. On expert mode, the unique button layout will create an experience closer to playing chords and playing multiple strings than has ever been done in “Guitar Hero” before.

“Guitar Hero Live” offers you the opportunity to play your way with multiple game modes and a release that spans consoles, tablets, and mobile phones. It will release this Fall on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and the Wii U. Select mobile devices will be announced soon.

[03.16.15] EA drops Tiger Woods, announces new generation game

Electronic Arts

Over the last few years, Electronic Arts has been hesitant about headlining their cover athlete for their annual golf game, “Tiger Woods PGA Tour.” After dancing around it by trying to highlight other aspects, such as the inclusion of a laser-scanned Augusta course, it seems EA has finally called it quits. Today, Mar 16, EA announced the next rendition as “Rory McIlroy PGA Tour.”

With a press release and a stunningly-beautiful teaser trailer, EA has officially re-branded and named a new cover athlete and namesake for their prized golf simulator franchise. Rory Mcllroy, a 4-time Major Champion, grabs the honor of launching the new wave of games on a new console.

“I’m very proud and humbled to see my face and name on EA SPORTS Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR. This is a great honor, and something I couldn't even dream of growing up playing the sport. I really hope people enjoy the game and I’m very glad I can be a part of it.”

Along with a name change, this game also marks the dawn of a new engine. “Rory McIlroy PGA Tour” will take full advantage of the Frostbite engine. The "gameplay" trailer really didn't offer much in the way of actual gameplay, however it did show off the incredible capabilities of the engine and gave us a glimpse at the quality of visuals we can expect. Other than just incredible looking environments, this also means fully render golf courses in one go. Now players won’t have to wait for load times between holes and players should also be able to play a shot from virtually any lie. There will be new game modes and features, although nothing has been announced yet.

Further details are planned to be announced this spring while the game is set for a June 2015 launch.

[02.13.15] First ‘Just Cause 3’ trailer released

Avalanche Studios / Square Enix

It’s been roughly half a decade since we have had the opportunity to hang out with Rico Rodriguez, but he’s finally making another appearance. Today, Feb 13, Avalanche Studios and Square Enix released the first trailer for “Jut Cause 3” as well as a handful of screenshots. The trailer is really just a teaser and doesn't offer much in the way of gameplay, but it certainly goes a long way creating excitement and anticipation for the game. What it does do well is re-hype the sandbox nature that allowed for endless hours of entertainment in the previous games.

The trailer opens with, what appears to be, a small explosion. As the explosion expands, you then realize the actual size as you start to see all-to-familiar structures, such as antennae and satellite dishes, being torn to pieces. Headlights appear and a car come bursting through the billowing smoke. As it flies through the air, explosion continue to destroy the military-esque complex around it. The car then crashes into a pillar and explodes, bringing an entire bridge down with it. Images of military banners burning and military statues crumbling become mere reflections in the eyes of Rico as he’s now revealed, plummeting towards the earth in free fall. After a log flash and right when you expect Rico to pull his ripcord and release his signature parachute, he instead reveals his brand new wingsuit, giving him control of his flight and springing himself right into the camera to end the trailer.

The combination of the exhilarating trailer and beautiful screenshots promise an exciting game on the horizon. It appears to be everything fans could ask for in a next generation “Just Cause” game. The most important part is that the game clearly made no attempts to reinvent itself with a more serious nature (thank goodness, as we have the “Far Cry” series for that!). Instead, the over-the-top physics and gameplay will continue, creating what will likely be the epitome of sandbox games. The trademark parachute and grappling hook have already been promised to make a return with improvements, which means the island of Medici will truly be your sandbox.

“Just Cause 3” has no hard release date yet, but is slated for a “Holiday 2015” release window. It is expected to launch on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam.

[02.11.15] 'The Jackbox Party Pack' makes the jump to OUYA

Jackbox Games

Yesterday, Jackbox Games and OUYA announced the exciting release of “The Jackbox Party Pack” on OUYA. The buffet of entertainment packs in five hilarious party games that will provide endless hours of entertainment for a gathering of any size, from one to 100. It’s also on sale for a limited time. The best part? It's available now, after launching on Feb 10, for the special price of $19.99 – or just $4 per game.

“The Jackbox Party Pack” includes:

- “You Don’t Know Jack 2015”: The classic that started it all has been revamped and updated with the latest in pop-culture trivia. (1-4 players)

- “Fibbage XL”: It’s OK to lie in this game; in fact, it’s encouraged! Get ready to put your lying and lie-detecting skills to the test, now with even more questions than the original hit. (2-8 players)

- “Drawful”: The best drawing game that benefits creativity in the form of art skills and lies. You even get to draw your own little character. (3-8 players)

- “Word Spud”: A complete-the-phrase word game that can be as family friendly or family unfriendly as you want. Compete to create a novel or just throw in silly phrases to get the most votes. (2-8 players)

- “Lie Swatter”: The wacky, fast-paced trivia game that is as simple as true or false. Best of all, it can accommodate the most rambunctious of parties. (1-100 players)

The secret is in the unique user interface that utilizes a web browser, allowing any internet-connected phone, tablet, or computer to be the controller. After the game is launched using the system, everyone connects with the device of their choice via jackbox.tv and a unique room code. Just be warned, once you start, you probably won’t be able to stop until your face hurts from laughing… you may not even be able to stop then. Make sure you grab this now while it’s on sale. Next week, it will be returning to its regular price of $24.99. If you don’t have an OUYA, it’s also available on Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Steam, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and the Mac App Store at the regular price. Even then, it’s absolutely worth the money.

[09.22.14] ‘GTA V’ rumored to receive first-person mode

hoto by Mario Tama/Getty Images

According to a report from Electronic Gaming Monthly early this morning, a thread was started on Reddit on Sept 21 claiming that developer Rockstar Games erroneously posted an update to their website describing many upgrades for "Grand Theft Auto V" that was subsequently taken down later. In the thread, user DrOversight lists the original post in its entirety and a link to the google cache, which has since mysteriously disappeared as well. The most unusual claim from the post is that "GTA V" will be receiving an all-new first-person mode for upcoming launch on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

The supposed list of changes appears to only be for the GTA Online mode and not for the single play story, however it’s still an impressive list of upgrades. According to Rockstar, "GTA V" will “take full advantage of the power” of the new systems leading to unprecedented level of detail and will include a plethora of extra content, including new jobs, weapons, vehicles, and even new player customization options. The game will also reportedly add a video editor, playing off the popularity of theater modes in games like “Halo” or “Call of Duty.” In addition to all of this, a more detailed list of extra features was posted:

• A brand new first person mode for vehicles that shows the interior of the vehicle, including working speedometers, tachometers, dash lights, and more

• A brand new first person mode while on foot

• A wealth of new Easter eggs and random events for Story Mode

• New animals roaming Los Santos

• Animals in GTA Online?

• Players that transfer characters from Xbox 360 or PS3 will receive free new weapons and a free garage in GTA Online.

• Newly overhauled character selection screen

This list seems extremely plausible, especially because many of these features have been requested by fans. The first person mode has never been a part of a Grand Theft Auto game, which started its roots in a top down view and eventually moved to third person beginning with the highly acclaimed “Grand Theft Auto III” and never looked back. Still, a first person option has always been absent from the retail release despite many mods for the PC version allowing the view from a different perspective. The theater mode has been in high demand, especially during “Grand Theft Auto IV” because of exploits like the swing set glitch creating crazy antics.

Remember to take all of this with a grain of salt. None of it can currently be verified beyond word-of-mouth and the fact that Rockstar pulled it from their website tells us… well, nothing. Maybe the information wasn’t supposed to be out yet, so they pulled it. Maybe the information was entirely wrong and placed online by a disgruntled Rockstar employee wanting to create false hope. Unfortunately, there’s no way of knowing until Rockstar officially confirms it or the game launches coming Nov 18. It still doesn’t hurt to hope, though.

[03.06.14] ‘Watch Dogs’ new release date confirmed

Ubisoft

Today, Ubisoft published a brand new trailer for the previously delayed “Watch Dogs” which seems to have confirmed the official release date. At the end of the trailer, the date 27.05.14 is displayed indicating that May 27th will be the official world-wide release date for this highly anticipated title which came out as a tremendous surprise from E3 a couple years back.

In addition to the release date came confirmation that PlayStation will be receiving some exclusive content. Players who purchase either the PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 versions of “Watch Dogs” will be treated to an additional 60 minutes of exclusive in-game content which can be downloaded at a later date via the PlayStation Network.

“Watch Dogs” will release on May 27th for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC internationally, however those with a Wii U will have to wait longer. It is planned for development, however the decision to pick up a Wii U version was decided much later in the developmental cycle cause additional delays to the platform. Ubisoft has yet to confirm an official release date for the Wii U version.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com and as one half of Grinning Moth Productions. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[11.14.13] Sony releases PlayStation 4 update

Sony

With less than 12 hours remaining before the PlayStation 4 hits shelves, Sony wants to make sure that you’ll be able to take it out of the box and play it immediately – well, almost immediately. As previously expected, there is going to be a required day one system update to the consoles. Fortunately, Sony released it to the public yesterday and it can now be downloaded onto a USB drive so that it’s ready to go when you are.

The 308MB mandatory update will upgrade consoles to software version 1.50 which adds “additional features and security enhancements”. To download it to a flash drive, head over Sony’s website, grab a flash drive with at least 400MB of space, and save the file to your computer as “PS4UPDATE.PUP”. On your flash drive, create a folder called “PS4” and, inside of that folder, create another folder titled “UPDATE”. Now copy the file into the folder and you’ll be ready to go. When your PS4 is set up and ready to go tomorrow, insert the flash drive, then hold the power button for approximately seven seconds. This will boot the PS4 into safe mode. Then, select system update and the update will install itself.

Of course, you can always use the PlayStation Network to update your system tomorrow, but it’s likely the servers will be overloaded by the massive number of people attempting to update their systems all at the same time. If you really want to play as soon as possible, it’s best to go with the flash drive method.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[09.04.13] Xbox One receives release date

Microsoft

You can finally mark the date on your calendar. Today, Microsoft announced the Xbox One will be launching in 13 territories on November 22, 2013. This makes it exactly one week before the launch of the PlayStation 4 and the 8-year anniversary of the launch of the Xbox 360. To add incentive for preorders, Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi also announced that they will be producing more “Day One” Editions to meet the high demand. You can read his full announcement below:

We are humbled and gratified by the tremendous interest in Xbox One from game fans everywhere. We sold out of our pre-order supply faster than at any other time in our history and we are on path to have the biggest launch of an Xbox ever. We look forward to celebrating with millions and millions of gamers this holiday.

As a result of this incredible consumer demand and the development progress on Xbox One, I am thrilled to share that today we are making available a limited number of additional Xbox One Day One consoles for pre-order. We have coordinated with our retail partners to make it easy for you to reserve your Xbox One today.

Finally, in the spirit of continuing to bring new value and excitement to Xbox, I am also pleased to confirm that the development team has increased the CPU from 1.6GHz to 1.75GHz, roughly a 10% increase in CPU performance. This is on top of the 6% increase we previously announced for the GPU. What does this mean to you the gamer? It means that the Xbox One will have that much more power for developers to make their games and entertainment really shine. We’re going to keep bringing more value to the Xbox One as we head towards launch building on some of the advancements we have already shared such as the 40-plus improvements to the Xbox One controller, advancements to help you find the perfect opponent and make the most of our online community, to the power of the cloud.

And I have to mention the games – Xbox One is proving to be the best place for games, with our exclusive games winning over 100 awards at E3, driving pre-order increases of 200% in European markets after gamers first played our blockbuster line-up at gamescom, and blowing away thousands of fans at PAX Prime this weekend. Only on Xbox One will you find exclusive blockbusters like Halo, Dead Rising 3, Ryse: Son of Rome and Forza Motorsport 5; new digital content from titles like coming Call of Duty: Ghosts and Battlefield 4 coming to Xbox One first; and the FIFA 14 Ultimate Team experience you won’t find anywhere else.

November 22 is a special day in Xbox history – on this day, we first launched Xbox 360 [in the US] in 2005. Our next chapter begins in 79 days, when Xbox One becomes available. We built Xbox One to bring you the best games, unrivalled multiplayer and more entertainment than ever before. It’s nearly time to say “Xbox On” and open a new world of games and entertainment.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[05.31.13] PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One: Who had the better reveal

Microsoft, Sony

Now that both Sony and Microsoft have made their big reveals, it’s time to fanboy up and pick your sides! Sony beat Microsoft out of the gun by a couple months, but was the early reveal worth it? We’ll take a look strictly at the facts revealed in the conference, or perhaps what wasn’t revealed in the conference, and decide who did a better job making their announcement. Systems are bigger, stronger, and faster, accessories have been redesigned and improved, and games have been announced. But what does this information even mean and where should you put your money? Robert “RedgoateeRob” Nielsen and I will break down the conferences and give you the details you need to know, then deliver the final verdict on who was victorious.

Microsoft, Sony

The Game Consoles: Tony’s Take

Obviously both companies came out to announce their brand new systems. Each boast significantly more power, exceptional graphics, and state of the art technology to accompany it. The Xbox One looks amazing. Its shape has been streamlined and it has a bit of a retro throwback with its two-tone color scheme and very boxy, minimalistic design. The redesigned Kinect fits perfectly with the style of the new system, and the controller has been ever-so-slightly tweaked to match up as well.

As for the PlayStation 4, well… the controller looks… similar. It has also been streamlined, with the addition of a touchpad, it sports a more futuristic look, but that’s about all of the information we have. This raises the question, why would you have a conference about a console, and not actually bring your console? It was no surprise to anyone that it was coming, so Sony would have been much better off had they come prepared with something to show.

Winner: Xbox One

Microsoft, Sony

The Game Consoles: Rob’s Take

Sony caught some heat for not showing off their actual box during the conference; in fact, some gamers might have felt like showing off the controller alone was nothing more than a tease. But looking at it from Sony's perspective, you get a sense that they might be thinking in terms of the long game rather than an instant payoff. This isn't Sony's first rodeo; back during the PlayStation One era they faced off with Nintendo and Sega, who are by no means pushovers, and I can't help but think Sony wouldn't still be standing if they didn't have a firm grasp of how to build anticipation for their next product. Showing off the Dualshock 4 alone allowed gamers to get a sense of the physicality of the new console, while still allowing Sony to have an ace-in-the-hole for E3: the console itself. Plus, holding off on a reveal of the console allowed Sony to get a picture of what Microsoft had up their sleeve before they show off their own box. Overall, even if not having the console in the spotlight might have frustrated a few fans, I think it was a smart play in the long run.

But what of Microsoft? Despite their claims of looking forward to the future, the design of the Xbox One seems to indicate a focus toward the criticisms of the past. Just as the Xbox 360, with it's clean, concave surfaces, seemed designed to quiet gamers' criticism of the size of the original Xbox, the large rectangular footprint of the Xbox One seems intentionally designed to quell gamers' fears of the heating issues related to the design of the 360. Though it seems almost certain that Microsoft will install plenty of cooling under the Xbox One's huge hood, it doesn't change the fact that the boxy design of the system is most reminiscent of the Philips CDI- probably not what Microsoft wants gamers thinking of when they look at their new console.

Winner: Playstation 4

Microsoft, Sony

The Peripherals: Tony’s Take

Since the days of “Duck Hunt”, peripherals have been an integral part of any successful console. They’ve come a long way from the plastic guns and even the more recent pretend instruments. Now, consoles have the ability to see you, hear you, and actually track your body’s movements. Then, of course, there’s the controller – the most important asset, and the most important asset to get right. The majority of the time you’re gaming, you’re going to have the controller in your hand, so it needs to be comfortable.

Sony’s big reveal for its conference was the controller. That was actually all they had to show for the system. It looks very much like its PS3 counterpart, with a few minor upgrades. The touchpad will definitely give it a unique spin, and the idea of adding the PlayStation Move tracking light to it complements the six-axis design its predecessor had. They also briefly mentioned the PlayStation Move will be making a return, but didn’t go into any details as to how or if any improvements were to be made.

Microsoft’s controller has also been just slightly tweaked, and we’ll take their word on it that it really is more ergonomic. Their shining star, however, wasn’t the controller, but rather the upgraded Kinect. It’s become so much more accurate, and is directly integrated into the Xbox One’s design. Perhaps the most exciting part is the technology behind it and the vast improvements made there. Now, the Kinect instantly recognizes you, signs you in, and brings up your personalized home screen. Not only that, but it can all be done simply by saying “Xbox On” – the one thing that gamers had asked for out of the Kinect since its arrival. The usefulness of these voice commands goes leaps and bounds beyond anything motion, which anyone who has ever watched Netflix with friends knows to be true. There’s always that person who wants needs to take a bathroom break in the middle of the group movie, so being able to simply say “Xbox Pause” is a breath of fresh air, compared to digging around in the dark for a controller, waiting for it to power back on and connect before finally pressing the pause button.

Winner: Xbox One

Microsoft, Sony

The Peripherals: Rob’s Take

If there's one impression the conferences left, it's that user interaction with these consoles will be very different than their interaction with the 360 and PS3. From voice commands to motion tracking to facial recognition, Microsoft and Sony are discovering how to let gamers interface with their platform of choice in ways that would have seemed like science fiction even just a decade ago. It's difficult to imagine how these systems will be implemented across software titles, and it's even more difficult to assume with any certainty that their implementation will serve to enhance the software on the systems represented rather than get in the way of gameplay. Gamers have been getting burned by supposed innovations in control that proved intrusive and unwieldy for decades, even back to the days of the Power Glove and the Rolling Rocker. Though it's certain that the Kinect and the EyeToy will be better integrated into their respective consoles than those old control gimmicks were, they still could end up being showpieces that shovelware games are designed to promote rather than simple control methods that serve to enhance quality games. At this point, it's simply too soon to know.

Winner: Too early to call.

Netflix

Multimedia: Tony’s Take

When it first came onto the scene, the PlayStation 3 boasted the ability to be the heart of your home entertainment center. The Xbox 360, on the other hand, was primarily a game system. As the Xbox 360 developed over its lifespan, it changed into your all-in-one entertainment box, paving the way for the Xbox One. The PlayStation 3, however, focused primarily on games and everything related.

The PlayStation 4 will have all of the same multimedia capabilities as its predecessor, and adds in a very large social component which focuses on sharing content. The controller has a “share” button on it, allowing you to instantly stream gameplay or easily create clips. Beyond that, Sony didn’t really even touch on the movies or music throughout their conference.

On the contrary, Microsoft spent almost all of their time gloating about the new capabilities the Xbox One will have. It will now be a Blu-Ray Player, Roku Box, Cable Box, and Game Console all rolled into one. The ability to quickly switch between every source is nice… but is it really necessary? Quite honestly, the inclusion of “live TV” really left everyone scratching their heads. Fortunately, the multimedia component didn’t stop there. The updated ESPN app has had a major overhaul, fully integrating fantasy sports directly into the broadcasts. As your players score points, you’ll receive pop-up notifications which will allow you to instantly jump to the leaderboards and check out how your team is doing. Fantasy sports have exploded in popularity, and this will definitely be something couch-athletes will take advantage of.

There was also the exhilarating announcement of the Halo TV series. Gamers have been begging for a Halo movie for years, and their appetite was teased with a surprisingly good web series, “Forward Unto Dawn”, which showed the possibilities and potential success of an actual TV series. Microsoft has backed it full force, and put up enough of a budget to have legendary director Steven Spielberg directing. There’s hardly anything that could go wrong here.

Winner: Xbox One

Netflix

Multimedia: Rob’s Take

Fantasy football, cable tv, and ESPN; Microsoft seems to have an eye toward a very particular customer. The question becomes less one of utility and more one of appeal; if you dig fantasy football and the thought of controlling what shows you watch via your game console, Microsoft has you covered. Will the average gamer be interested in these services? Will the ability to watch ‘live TV’ when you already have a TV that plays TV live compel gamers to pick up the new Xbox? These things remain to be seen.

Of course, the announcement of a new, Xbox-exclusive, Halo TV series directed by film industry legend Steven Spielberg was the highlight of Microsoft's TV plans, and the new series will undoubtedly be welcomed by Halo fans with open arms. It might have been nice to have seen something of the upcoming series, though, even if it were just a scrolling shot of some storyboard sequences. During the presentation, both AMC’s “Breaking Bad” and HBO’s “Game of Thrones” were mentioned as benchmarks for the sort of quality the Halo TV show project is aiming to match; if it can live up to a fraction of the quality standards set by those programs, it will be a powerful force in Microsoft’s next-generation arsenal of reasons to pick up an Xbox One.

Sony, for its part, showed off a share button on the Dualshock 4 to allow gamers to upload footage of their gameplay to 'social networks'. The advertising benefits to Sony here are obvious, but it's unclear whether all gamers will be interested in sharing footage of themselves, and it's easy to see how the plan could backfire if a flood of mostly unremarkable amateur gameplay videos uploaded to social networks starts to annoy friends and family members browsing their newsfeeds for pictures of smiling grandchildren and cantankerous felines.

Winner: Steven Spielberg (and, by association, Xbox One).

Activision

Games: Tony’s Take

Despite not having an actual game console to show, Sony at least displayed the understanding of what a “game console” is. They spent roughly half their conference showcasing upcoming titles for their system. Most of the titles were expected, such as upcoming sequels “Killzone Shadowfall” and inFamous Second Son”; however, there were a couple of surprise titles as well. While “Driveclub” isn’t the most original of ideas, it looks like a solid title and you can tell the developers put a lot of heart into it. “The Witness”, the new title from the creators of “Braid”, looks interesting and extremely promising. The part everyone was waiting for, although they didn’t know it was the update, was the look at “Watchdogs”. This brand new IP thrilled gamers with its surprise announcement at E3 last year because it managed to blindside all of us, despite the fact that leaks are almost expected in this day and age.

Microsoft seemed to forget their roots with their conference, leaving many to question if the Xbox One was a game system that can do other things, or a multimedia box that can also play games. While a few developers did showcase their new engines, EA Sports brushed over 4 titles with very little detail. There was a new trailer for “Call of Duty: Ghosts” which also sports a new engine and is being redesigned from the ground up, but to no surprise, it was also leaked early in the year which made the reveal a lot less exciting, not to mention this whole “timed exclusive” thing is just getting annoying - it’s bad for the industry. The only glimmer of hope was Phil Spencer who promised 15 exclusive titles within the launch year, eight of which will be brand new franchises! Those numbers are astounding, and very promising, however there’s no idea what they may be, or if they’ll even be any good. We can only hope so.

Winner: Hands down, PlayStation 4

Activision

Games: Rob’s Take

Of course, since the early days of home game consoles, only one factor determines the winner of a particular console generation: which console has the best games? Sony showed off a flood of software in their press conference, from new iterations of first-party titles Infamous and Killzone, to Capcom's dungeon-crawler Deep Down, to a version of Bungie's new RPG shooter Destiny, and finally to the reveal of a seemingly-exclusive console version of Blizzard's Diablo 3. In a classy nod to their current customers, Sony also announced that both Destiny and Diablo 3 would be available for the Playstation 3 as well as the upcoming Playstation 4.

Xbox seemed, by comparison, to not have a great deal to offer. They showed off a new entry in the venerable Call of Duty franchise, and promised 15 more games would be revealed at their E3 conference, but one wonders what they expected gamers to discuss in the interim. Considering the confirmation that “Call of Duty: Ghosts” will not be exclusive to the Xbox One but will also be appearing on consoles by Sony and Nintendo as well as on PC, Microsoft's decision to showcase the title at their conference instead of a first-party exclusive game seems even more odd. Even a handful of titles for original IP’s announced in the abstract would have fueled fan speculation regarding their nature and could have built buzz for Microsoft to ride into their E3 press conference. As it stands, though, Xbox fans will just have to live with their curiosity regarding the nature of those 15 unannounced titles until E3 rolls around.

Winner: Playstation 4

Microsoft

Tony’s Wrap-Up Verdict:

It was a very close vote, and honestly, it’s not because both were so mind-blowing, but rather disappointing. Sony forgot to bring their console, and Microsoft forgot to bring their games. If you were to put them together, they would have had one solid conference. Unfortunately, this potential super-console doesn’t exist, and we’re left with two incomplete experiences. This was probably done to save content for E3 which is just around the corner, but nonetheless, it was still a little underwhelming. With a vote of 4-3-1, the Xbox One just barely edges out the competition and takes the crown. There’s still a lot to be learned about these consoles, and things could change. For the time being, the future is looking a little bleak for gamers. It might be the time to just hold on to what you’ve got and experience it to the fullest - that is, if you’re not ready for the always online, anti-used game, jack of all trades video game consoles we seem to be getting.

Also, be sure to check out RedgoateeRob's rant on everything that wasn't touched on during the conferences! It's up now!

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[02.20.13] Sony officially announces PlayStation 4

Sony

There was something interesting about today. It was supposed to be a day of excitement and surprises, but somehow, it wasn’t. Today, Sony had a press conference that was rumored to reveal the PlayStation 4, and sure enough it did, but it was lacking something very important: The PlayStation 4. What we instead got was a two-hour tease in which lots of information was revealed, and yet lots of information wasn’t.

The event started off with a lot of technical mumbo-jumbo about the raw power of the PlayStation 4. The PlayStation 4 will have 8GB of memory, a new CPU, new GPU, and a whole other slew of technical upgrades that, when referred to by their names, probably make no sense and mean absolutely nothing to the majority of us. All we really need to know is that it will, in fact, be far superior to the PlayStation 3 in every way, shape, and form.

Now it’s not to say that there wasn’t anything positive to come out of the press conference today, there was actually a lot of that; however there just wasn’t anything mind-blowing. Still, there are plenty of new features to be happy about that were announced.

The one thing we did actually get to see was the new controller, the “DualShock 4”. It’s a more refined version of the DualShock 3 with a larger D-Pad, enhanced rumble capabilities, and reduction of input lag. It’s ergonomically designed to fit more comfortably in your hand, and it has the addition of a touch pad for more precise input. It will also have a new peripheral that looks a lot like Microsoft’s Kinect, but functions more like the PlayStation Move. In case you were wondering, the PlayStation Move will also be making a return to the PlayStation 4, although there’s not much information on how yet.

The controller will also have a new “share” button, which is crucial to a new feature: the implementation of an always-active “theater mode” video recording function. If you’ve played “Call of Duty” or “Halo”, you’re probably familiar with the popular “theater modes” which allow you to take clips of gameplay and share them with everyone. The PlayStation 4 will have this capability integrated directly into the console itself, allowing you to instantly create video clips or take screenshots at the press of a button.

The hardware itself isn’t the only thing getting an upgrade; it turns out the PlayStation Network is looking forward to a major overhaul too. Sony is making full use of its recent acquisition, cloud gaming service Gaikai, to create a PlayStation Network that is all about instant access and personalization. They’re looking to create a new social network that is specific to gaming. You’ll still have your usernames and gamer pictures, but if you want to keep closer contact with real-world friends, you have the option to make more accurate profiles, with a real picture of you and your real name, available to certain people. It’s likely this will be through integration with current existing social networks.

With this always-connected world, you’ll have the option to live-stream your gameplay in conjunction with the new theater mode, and have it available online courtesy of a partnership with UStream. You’ll also have the option to let friends leave live comments that will pop up on screen as you play. If you find yourself stuck, you can actually forfeit control and have a friend remotely connect and play for you to help you through a tough jam.

As far as the ‘instant’ part goes, it starts from the console and works its way up. There will be a new power-saving sleep mode which will allow you to instantly hop back into gameplay at any time. Just press the power button, and the console goes to sleep, remembering exactly where you’re at in your game. When you come back, hit power again and you’re right back in the action where you left off. No more waiting for the console or game to boot up. Gone, also, are the days of waiting for game demos to download. If you’re shopping the store and you find a game you want to try out, simply press a button, and you’re instantly streaming the demo straight to your console. If you decide you like the game, you can purchase it, and start playing it immediately while the rest of the game downloads in the background à la Steam.

Speaking of games, about half the conference was dedicated to the announcement of upcoming titles. Much like the system, it was severely lacking in the “surprise” department. A few sequels that were announced include “Killzone Shadowfall” and “inFamous Second Son”, two PlayStation exclusives that weren’t really expected to disappear anytime soon. Activision also briefly took the stage to announce that Bungie will be bringing its upcoming new IP, “Destiny”, to the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4; however, that was something Bungie had already touched upon a few days ago during their own official announcement. They did say that PlayStation exclusive playable content was planned, though.

The first original announcement was that of “Driveclub”, the product of Evolution Studios, which is 10 years in the making. It focuses on team-based racing through in-game auto clubs. You can join up with your friends and take on other auto clubs in challenges and races, all happening in real-time. The highlight of the game, however, is the car models. All of them are painstakingly recreated in excruciating detail inside and out. Think Forza’s AutoVista times infinity, and applied to every vehicle in the game.

Next was “The Witness”, a new title from the creators of “Braid”. It’s an open-world puzzle game that takes place in an extremely compact universe, in which you are always 20 seconds from a different area with a completely unique theme. The intension was to cut out any useless and repetitive gameplay while still creating a large amount of game time that is made up entirely of unique experiences. It will be exclusive to PlayStation Network.

Capcom unveiled their brand new engine they’re designing around the PlayStation 4’s capabilities, which is codenamed “Panta Rhei”. Alongside the development of that, they’re creating an original IP under the working title “Deep Down” which takes place in medieval times and focuses on dragons, knighthood, and the like.

Square Enix also took the stage to debut their “cinematic demo”. That’s right, not a game… just a pretty video of what they want their games to look like. Then, as a brief afterthought, they mentioned they’ll be announcing another Final Fantasy game at E3, right before walking off stage. Perhaps they’re as tired of the series as we are.

Ubisoft looked to steal the show with an update on their original IP, “Watchdogs”. After shocking and pleasantly surprising viewers of E3 last year with their completely out-of-the-blue announcement, Ubisoft looked to build upon the excitement with another gameplay demo. This is clearly a more refined version of the build we saw at back at E3, and the game just keeps looking better and better. Despite being short, it gave a closer look at the level of control you’ll have over the so-called futuristic “Smart City” in the game. It also gave a little more insight into the character you’ll be playing as who appears to be somewhat of a vigilante.

Now if anything from the press conference could be considered “surprising”, it would be the appearance of Blizzard Entertainment onstage. They announced a strategic partnership which will start with them bringing over “Diablo III” to both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. They will make their formal debut at PAX East in a couple of months.

All of this will be coming “Holiday 2013”. We still don’t know what it looks like, but it’s coming. All-in-all, Sony really dropped the ball on useful information this time around. There’s no formal announcement of price point, nor did they discuss any of people’s biggest concerns such as whether or not they’ll be able to play second-hand games (don’t worry, this was since confirmed as not true by a Sony Exec) or if they’re going to be required to have an ever-present online connection. Hopefully they’ll have a little more information come E3, but if one thing is for sure, they already missed their chance on the element of surprise.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you