[06.14.16 2016] Xbox E3 Briefing - everything you need to know

Microsoft

With the 2016 Electronic Entertainment Expo well underway, it can be overwhelming to keep up with all the news pouring out of the conferences. In case you do not have the time or opportunity to watch it yourself, here is a recap of everything you need to know from the Xbox Media Briefing on June 13, 2016.

Phil Spencer started out with a nice, brief message and moment of silence for those affected by the tragedy in Orlando.

The show opens with a video officially announcing the new Xbox One S. It is 40% smaller, has a 2TB internal HDD, integrated power supply, HDR Gaming, 4K Ultra HD video, and Blu-Ray. It also comes with a new, redesigned Xbox One controller featuring increased range and new grips. The whole package comes in white for $299 starting this August.

Phil Spencer invites Rod Fergusson, The Coalition’s Studio Head and Gears Co-Creator, takes the stage to announce that “Gears of War 4” will be one of the first in the Xbox Play Anywhere program – where an Xbox game gets you a Windows 10 PC version that syncs progress and achievements. It will also support cross-play in every game mode! Laura Bailey, the voice of Kait, shows off some gameplay. The game looks great. There are some noticeable visual upgrades since the beta. New weapons and enemies are shown off. Gears is Gears- and that is not a bad thing. An October 11th, 2016 release date confirmed, followed by a video teasing a Gears version of the Elite controller that will be available for pre-order.

“Killer Instinct” community manager, Rukari Austin takes over. He thanks the community and totes some of the accomplishments of the games. After reviewing some of the awesome characters that have joined the roster, he reveals the next guest character. General Raam, from the “Gears of War” series, is coming to “Killer Instinct,” and he is available free to play this week.

Next is a video teasing a new Forza game, “Forza Horizon 3.” Ralph Fulton, from Playground Games creative director, makes the official announcement and shows off the gameplay. As is to be expected from any Forza title, the game looks phenomenal. It also boasts the largest open world they have ever created and the most extensive car roster (in the Horizon series). The game will feature a 4-player co-op campaign for the first time. It releases September 27, 2016.

A new video for the Microsoft exclusive “ReCore” shows off gameplay for the first time. It also introduced the cast of characters. The visuals seem to have taken a small hit from their cinematic reveal trailer – but then again, what cinematic reveal trailer has not made promises it could not keep? It is also, presumably, still a work in progress as the game does not launch September 13, 2016.

Hajime Tabata, Director of Square Enix, shows of “Final Fantasy XV” via a game demo. Much like Gears is Gears; Final Fantasy is Final Fantasy. Mathew Kishimoto, the Senior Product Marketing Manager, plays the demo after providing a small backstory. The game looks great, and the demo shows off a three-way battle with a massive Titan and an opposing army. Kishimoto boasts the “fast and fluid battle system which has never been achieved in any of our past titles.” After the demo wraps up, a September 30, 2016 release date is revealed.

Ubisoft shows off new content for “Tom Clancy’s The Division,” dubbed the “Underground Expansion.” It has randomly generated missions, more urban combat, and lots of neon lights. It is coming first to Xbox starting June 28.

Patrick Bach, General Manager of DICE, shows off “Battlefield 1.” He expressed the team's desire to bring a unique experience from World War I. The game will feature destructible environments, a wide variety of vehicles and weapons, and dynamic weather to ensure no battle is the same. Bach says the Battlefield series will be “more immersive than ever before.” He then announces an October 21, 2016 release date, with an early release on October 13, 2016 for Xbox One members with EA access. The trailer looks stunning and shows off a variety of gameplay and huge set pieces. Oh, also some explosions, explosions, and explosions.

Mike Ybarra, head of platform engineering takes the stage. He discusses the growth of Xbox Live and promises ever-growing expansion, including more live servers closer to where gamers are, resulting in a faster, more reliable network. There are also new features coming this summer, such as Background Music, Cortana, and Language Region Independence, which allows you to choose a preferred language regardless of where you live. Xbox Live is going to be on all devices – Xbox, Windows PC, Android, or iOS. Ybarra then announces three highly demanded features are coming soon. The first is “Clubs on Xbox Live” – communities you can go back to (like groups on Facebook). With this comes “Looking for Group on Xbox Live” – it helps you find people for specific games and specific goals. Last, competitive gaming gets a nod with “Arena on Xbox Live” – a new tournament platform that allows you to discover, register, and compete all in one place. He also promises that EA is bringing their biggest games to Arena… “in the coming years.”

The “Minecraft” team takes the stage as Saxs Persson and Lydia Winters discuss cross-play across devices (including iOS) via “The Friendliest Update.” It will feature dedicated servers, known as “Realms,” so friends can play in your world even when you are not online. John Carmack from Oculus shows off the Oculus VR version of “Minecraft,” which is… exactly what you would expect it to be. Also, texture packs are immediately available on Pocket Edition and Windows 10 edition, with add-ons – essentially regulated mods for animals and mobs – coming this Fall. Reams can be tried for free with an Xbox account on a phone, tablet, or Windows 10 PC.

Next up, a video shows off customizable and personalized Xbox One controllers, promising “8 million ways to make it yours.” The Xbox Design Lab is online now at Xbox.com/XboxDesignLab and is taking pre-orders now.

An ominous trailer teases a new game from Playdead, the makers of Limbo. Much like its predecessor, it has a unique style, but it is difficult to say what the game is really about. “Inside” is launching June 29. Chris Charla, Director of ID@Xbox, takes the stage and announces that Limbo will be free to all today as a celebration of Playdead’s announcement. Then a video rolls showing a variety of ID@Xbox titles coming soon – including the highly anticipated “Cuphead,” “Slime Rancher,” “The Culling,” and many other titles. Charla notes the massive accomplishments of ID@Xbox program, specifically with “Ark: Survival Evolved.” Anyone who purchased it on Xbox One will get it free on PC this fall (as part of Xbox Play Anywhere). Charla finished by announcing “Slime Rancher,” “The Culling,” “Everspace,” and “Day-Z” specifically as titles coming to Game Preview soon.

A new game shown off by Guillaume Provost, the Creative Director & Founder of Compulsion Games. “We Happy Few” has a Bioshock vibe and looks equal parts creepy and awesome. It is set in a dystopian, alternate-universe 1960s where everyone in a small British town takes drugs to make them forget terrible things that happened during the war. The main character refuses to take his pills and suffers from horrible flashbacks, causing him to black out. You then find out that the townspeople apparently don’t like it when you do not take your drugs. After an all-too-short gameplay demo, it announces that “We Happy Few” is coming to Games Preview on July 26, 2016.

CD Projekt Red Lead Designer, Damien Monnier, announces “Gwent – The Witcher Card Game” as a stand-alone title with cross-platform multiplayer and a full single-player campaign mode. It will feature skill-based gameplay centered around the same core mechanics and a nice visual upgrade with a wide variety of cards to acquire. The better you play, the better your rewards. “Gwent” will have a closed beta coming September 2016 – exclusive to Xbox One and PC. You can register at PlayGwent.com.

Bandai Namco Entertainment teases a new fighting game that flows right into gameplay demo. “Tekken 7” includes an all-new story mode that, much like this demo, seamlessly transitions from cutscenes to gameplay. Look for it to ship in early 2017. To celebrate, “Tekken Tag Tournament 2” is available via backward compatibility and will be completely free for Xbox Live users this week only.

Christmas in July - er, June? Actually, it is a teaser – complete with snowfall in the auditorium – for “Deadrising 4,” which has Holiday 2016 release window. It looks pretty goofy, entertaining, and bloody. Basically, “Deadrising 4” is all the absurdity you could hope for from a Deadrising title backed by the power of the Xbox One.

“Scalebound” gameplay is shown off by Hideki Kamiya, Creative Director at PlatinumGames. It is the biggest boss-fight PlatinumGames has ever made. “Scalebound” is an impressive looking game – very colorful, very smooth. Great, natural-sounding banter from the character adds to the authenticity. The demo shows off the game’s co-op battle mechanics and looks like a blast. What’s not fun about fighting with Dragons? It will be part of Xbox Play Anywhere sometime in 2017.

Cue the trailer with a dreary sea chantey and smoke machines. It is Rare onstage with “Sea Of Thieves.” Studio Head Craig Duncan talks about Rare’s “most ambitious game yet” and it is a rich, open-world experience. A world premiere of gameplay is shown off, composited from the experiences of a few fans who got to play the game first. They were grouped up, then set off into the world with no tutorials or explanation. As expected, they had some issues, and one group failed their first battle, but they all had a blast exploring the world and just doing pirate things. “Sea Of Thieves” was confirmed to be a part of Xbox Play Anywhere, but no release date has been announced despite being expected to arrive sometime this year.

A trailer for another Xbox One/Windows 10 exclusive rolls, showing a few people mowing down zombies in an old T-bird before getting out to take on the horde. It is “State of Decay 2.” The game certainly looks good, but probably suffered from debuting so close to “Deadrising 4.” However, those looking for a more survival-oriented experience in this genre will certainly be happy.

Next comes a cinematic trailer with all-to-familiar game assets. It is “Halo Wars 2” with a breathtaking trailer, reminiscent of the highly acclaimed “Halo 3 Believe” ad campaign. No real gameplay is shown off, but the experience is magnificent. Dan Ayoub, studio head of Strategy Games at 343 Industries takes the stage to discuss the new title. The game launches February 21, 2017 as an Xbox Play Anywhere title. Better yet, the week-long beta launches NOW! Now a glimpse of the gameplay is shown off in a second smaller trailer.

Phil Spencer returns to the stage and recaps the conference. He discusses the launch of Xbox 15 years ago and teases “exciting, new opportunities on the horizon.” He states that the next step is to support true 4K gaming and high-fidelity VR. A video plays toting a new console that “the developers asked us to make.” The powerhouse features eight CPU cores, 320 GB/S Memory Bandwidth, and six teraflops of GPU power for true 4K gaming resolution. Project Scorpio is the next edition coming to the Xbox Family during Holiday 2017. All games and accessories will work across every Xbox One, Xbox S, and Project Scorpio console, so “no one will be left behind.” Phil Spencer then goes on to say that they believe it will be the most powerful console ever to be released.

The conference closes out with a montage trailer recapping all of the amazing games shown off during the event, and the 2016 E3 Xbox Media Briefing is over.

[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.

[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.

[06.09.15] Microsoft unveils new console, controller, and wireless adapter

Microsoft

The Electronic Entertainment Expo is still roughly a week away, but that hasn’t stopped the countless stream of exciting reveals. From “Fallout 4” to “Lego Worlds,” it begs the question, “What exactly is left to reveal at E3 this year?” Well, that question just became even more difficult to answer. Early this morning, on June 9, Major Nelson revealed that Microsoft has a new console, new controller, and new wireless adapter coming later this year.

First off is the new console. With fans begging for more storage space to be included inside the Xbox One, Microsoft finally listened. Coming June 16, the Xbox One will begin shipping to retailers with a 1TB internal hard drive. This edition of the Xbox One has a new matte finish for the console and will include “The Master Chief Collection” for a limited time. Beginning immediately, all 500GB models will receive a permanent price drop to $349 in preparation for the 1TB model to launch at a $399 price point. That means, for only $50 more, you can get twice the storage space, a $60 game, a unique console, and the brand new Xbox One controller as well.

While the new controller looks almost identical to the original incarnation, it actually has a slew of updates coming. The only visible one comes in the form of a 3.5mm stereo jack. This will allow users to directly plug headsets into the controller. It will also allow users to custom mix the headset volume, mic monitoring, and voice and game audio balance through the Xbox One settings menu. From a gaming standpoint, the bumpers on the controller have been fine-tuned. Most exciting of all, the new controllers will be able to wirelessly receive firmware updates, eliminating the painstaking process of manually connecting each controller via USB cable to receive an update. The new controller will be available for $64.99 in traditional black and a silver and black version of the Xbox One Special Edition Covert Forces wireless controller.

For those who enjoy the Xbox One controller but want to migrate some of their gaming experience to the PC, Microsoft has news for you too. Beginning this Fall, the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows will launch, allowing users to wirelessly connect their Xbox One Controller to any Windows 10 PC, laptop, or tablet. While this may sound limiting, keep in mind everyone with a copy of Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 will be receiving a free upgrade to Windows 10 when it launches July 29 (even those with unlicensed copies!). The Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows will launch at a standalone $24.99 price point and will be bundled with an Xbox One Wireless Controller for $79.95, saving you about $10 if you purchase them together.

Will all of this being announced now, this should hopefully mean Microsoft has something very exciting up their sleeves for E3 next week.

Via Xbox Wire

[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.

[02.27.15] Xbox One gets exclusive ‘Fruit Ninja’ sequel

Following the success of the incredible “Fruit Ninja Kinect,” original developers, Halfbrick Studios, have announced today, Feb 27, that an all-new sequel is coming exclusively to Xbox One. “Fruit Ninja Kinect 2” will not be a simple visual upgrade, re-mastered for Xbox One. Instead, it is being rebuilt entirely from the ground up by Hibernum Creations out of Montreal, Canada. The sequel will feature five new game modes, four-way multiplayer, a new progression system, and new characters.

The new single-player game modes take place during the Blueberry Moon Festival and will utilize the new “Fruit Ninja” team members. During the events, players will attempt to dodge shurikens, chop through bamboo, and dance around spotlights in the ultimate test of stealth. The new progression system will also allow players to unlock additional blades, dojos, or belts as they complete challenges throughout the game. The four-person multiplayer will be available in both battle and party modes, welcoming brand new players easily while still testing the skills of the most seasoned veterans.

"This is the most satisfying, complete, and accessible party game ever created," said Shainiel Deo, chief executive at Halfbrick Studios. "The new Kinect sensor makes a world of difference, and Fruit Ninja Kinect 2 has been built from the ground up to take full advantage of the latest hardware. Fruit Ninja is our baby – it's what got us here today and we continue to maintain an incredibly high quality bar."

“Fruit Ninja Kinect 2” has big shoes to fill, as its predecessor won the award for “Best Casual Game” during the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. This is Hibernum’s first real venture into the console market, but Deo has complete faith in them. "Hibernum have exceeded our expectations every step of the way, and we think fans will get a huge kick out of the finished product."

“Fruit Ninja Kinect 2” received an “E for Everyone” rating by the ESRB and will launch at a price of $14.99 exclusively in the Xbox Games Store on March 18, 2015.

[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.

[06.03.14] Xbox exclusive ‘Forza Horizon 2’ announced

Turn 10 Studios

Yet another announcement rolls out from Microsoft prior to the Electronic Entertainment Expo, this time concerning one of their flagship titles, “Forza”. On Monday, June 1, Turn 10 and Playground Games revealed that “Forza Horizon 2” is coming exclusively to Xbox One and Xbox 360.

“Forza Horizon” is a spin-off of the extremely popular driving simulator “Forza Motorsport” series. “Horizon” focuses on street racing as opposed to the on-track racing, but still features the customization and ultra-realistic simulation the main series is known for. “Forza Horizon 2” is going to be developed by two separate studios with Playground Games taking responsibility for the Xbox One version in collaboration with Turn 10 Studios and being built with the graphics engine of “Forza Motorsport 5” as a basis. The Xbox 360 version will be developed by Sumo Digital and will compliment the graphics engine of the first “Forza Horizon.”

The Xbox One version will feature an all new weather system and the return of the “Drivatar” system from “Forza 5.” It will also include hundreds of cars, headlined by the 2015 Lamborghini Huracán. “Forza Horizon 2” is set in Southern Europe, including the South of France and Northern Italy, and centers around a music festival. The visuals are being cranked up several notches too. In an interview with IGN, Creative Director Ralph Fulton stated, “We’ve believe next gen beauty isn’t about poly counts. It’s not about texture resolution. Those are last-gen concepts. Next-gen beauty is about light and how it plays on every surface in the world.” He goes on to further explain that the team has essentially developed a particle system to replicate the atmosphere, the way the light interacts with it, and the way light interacts with everything around because of it.

Another large improvement for “Forza Horizon 2” comes in the freedom granted to players. “Freedom’s probably the word which people use most often to talk about Horizon,” Fulton says. Playground Games felt as if the series could do more to live up to that reputation though, so the team has decided to remove the barriers that populated the track during races in the original “Forza Horizon.” According to Fulton, “We’ve taken the view that, if there isn’t a barrier in the real-world, if there isn’t a wall, there shouldn’t be one in our game. We want the player to be able to drive wherever he can in the real world.” Now, if you want to, you can veer of the road at any point and plow through a fence, launch off a hill, or strategically weave through the forest to, hopefully, shave seconds off your time.

This freedom has led to Playground Games being able to cram even more content into the game, including a multitude of collectibles, secrets and barn finds, and over 700 events. This includes a brand new “cross country” race event in which up to 12 vehicles can tear up the countryside. Fulton says this feature developed organically from the removal of barriers, as racers would go off-roading to save time and then exclaim how “You’ve gotta include this in the game.” From this same notion spawned an all new series of challenges titled “The Bucket List.” As these dares became more and more ridiculous, they started compiling them and including them in the game. Players will find cars staged throughout the map and will receive challenges upon approaching them. At the time of release, there are already going to be two full bucket lists available to take on, and more will be made available free post launch.

To continue to encourage you to find different ways to drive, “Forza Horizon 2” will now account for driving with style alongside driving with skill. It’s not all about technical racing, sometimes it’s about looking cool too. This means even if you come in last place but still drive a very stylish race, you can earn substantial XP for your efforts. Now, chaining together a set of skills not only earns you XP, but also helps you gain perks for driving, giving you unique advantages and enhancing the gameplay.

Of course, thanks to the Drivatars, this will continue to become more difficult as you now have to outdrive your friends, whether online or off, as opposed to just outsmarting driving AI. This transition between online and offline has become exceptionally smoother too. Much like they removed the barriers from the road, Playground Games wanted to remove the barriers between solo and online modes and seamlessly integrate them together. Now, if you’re smack in the middle of a challenge fighting through traffic and taking on a drivatar, with the press of a button you can transition right into an online world full of live interactions without dropping what you’re doing. In a matter of seconds, the camera pans around the car while its barreling down the road and everything updates to a brand new environment on a dedicated server with other players who are also already in action. The goal is for the game to have one “unified structure,” whether it be offline with drivatars or online with friends. According to Dan Greenwalt, creative director at Turn 10, “The thing we’re really trying to do as a studio is to create a home for all racers on Xbox One.

[05.17.14] Microsoft unveils ‘Halo 5’ and more

This has been an insanely busy week for Microsoft, which most recently peaked with today’s reveal of the next game in the long-standing Halo series. In addition to that, there was more exciting news for everyone, Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners alike, with or without a Gold subscription. June marks the start of some monumental changes regarding Games with Gold, Deals of the Week, and entertainment on Xbox One and Xbox 360. There’s even something out there for those who haven’t quite made the jump to Xbox One.

Xbox One without Kinect

Microsoft

Beginning June 9th, a $399 version of the Xbox One will be available without the Kinect in all areas the Xbox One is already available. Outside of games that require the Kinect, the console will still have the same access to all other titles, entertainment apps, and features such as Live TV. Users will, however, lose access to anything tied to the Kinect, such as biometric sign in, voice commands, motion commands, and other small “features” such as getting a technical in NBA 2K14 when you’re swearing at your TV. Picking this Xbox is really a full commitment right now, as the Kinect is not currently available as a standalone unit. It can only be speculated that it will launch with a price around $150 much like its predecessor did. As of right now, the only thing confirmed is the standalone Kinect will launch sometime this fall.

Changes to Gold

Microsoft

Also starting in June, lots of changes are coming to those with an Xbox Live Gold membership. Taking a nod from PlayStation Plus, Microsoft will offer subscription-based access to titles ranging from the latest blockbusters to indie hits. The first month will kick off with “Max: The Curse of Brotherhood” and “Halo: Spartan Assault.” Included with this is also the free games for the Xbox 360 as well, which is offering up a bonus title to celebrate the one-year anniversary. “Dark Souls,” “Charlie Murder,” and “Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition” will all be available free during the month of June.

Deals with Gold will also launch for Xbox One, starting in June, and is set to include “Forza Motorsport 5,” “Ryse: Son of Rome,” and “a few other surprises.” Microsoft also teased savings “up to 50 – 75 percent off certain titles.” Much like Games with Gold, Deals with Gold on Xbox One will be a supplement to the continuing Xbox 360 deals. The Xbox One will launch a “virtual VIP room” exclusive to those with a Gold Subscription which will feature “free games, monthly deals, and other great benefits” although there is no explicit detail on what exactly this all entails.

For those without a Gold Subscription, any Xbox One or Xbox 360 with an internet connection will now have access to most of the entertainment apps on Xbox Live. This means users with a Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime can stream using the Xbox 360 or Xbox One without having to purchase a Gold Subscription. This has been a long-requested feature for many and it’s another great sign that Microsoft is really listening to what the consumer wants.

Halo 5

Microsoft

The pinnacle of Microsoft’s announcement spree came with the naming of the next gen Halo experience. “Halo 5: Guardians” will be the next title in the Reclaimer Saga and the first on Xbox One. 343 Industries has promised that this Halo will bigger and more powerful than the effort that was “Halo 4”. “Halo 5: Guardians” will feature a brand new engine and will be heavily influenced by user feedback and comments from previous titles. It’s currently slated for a “Fall 2015” release window, which will coincide with the “Halo” television series which is being produced by Steven Spielberg. The story will run independent from the game, however there may be the occasional tie-in. More details are to be released during the E3 2014 Media Briefing on June 9 on the “journey” that Halo will be taking. Microsoft has emphasized that this “journey” begins with a “giant leap, rather than one small step.”

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Microsoft

Perhaps this “giant leap” could be the recently rumored HD collection expected to be called “Halo: The Master Chief Collection.” Although nothing has been confirmed yet by Microsoft, Engadget made a bold claim today stating that they learned about a massive HD collection to be released on the Xbox One which will contain all four of the previous “Halo” titles staring The Master Chief himself. This means it won’t include “Halo Reach,” “Halo Wars,” or any of the other spin-off titles. It’s rumored to be developed by Saber Interactive, the same company that handled “Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary,” as they currently have an unannounced Halo project for Xbox One in the works. There’s no details on what exactly will be included as far as content goes, but it’s guaranteed that it will contain updated graphics for all of the campaigns, and we can only hope the same treatment will be done for multiplayer as well.

[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

[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

[05.22.13] Microsoft officially announces Xbox One

Microsoft

A few months back, Sony had a conference to reveal their upcoming console, the PlayStation 4. It was highly anticipated, thanks to the massive environment of leaks and rumors swirling around it. Well yesterday, the day had finally come for Microsoft to make their big reveal as well, the announcement of the Xbox One. As it turns out, the fate of their conference was relatively similar.

The conference started out with a video explaining that the whole point of the system was to integrate more of “you” into it; personalization to the point of where you have “a relationship with you TV”. Don Mattrick took the stage and begun the obligatory cheesy monologue, which turned out to be a clever bit of foreshadowing to the name. The mission: to design an all-in-one system which runs your entertainment center. Thus, the Xbox One. Yeah, that’s the name they went with. Taking a page out of Nintendo’s book, they’re only going to cause more confusion with this name.

Now, there was one very, very nice thing about this conference, something that Sony failed on. We actually got to see the console, in all of its shiny industrialized glory. Gone is the ‘futuristic’ curvature of the Xbox 360 in favor of a much more boxed out, traditional and simplistic look. It looks less like a game system than it does a computer, or dare I say, Blu-Ray player. We also got a nice look at the redesigned controller and Kinect – which will be bundled with every console.

Yusuf Mehdi took the stage to demo the new system. It all began with two simple words “Xbox On”. This ability to power on your system with voice recognition is something gamers have been asking for since the introduction of the Kinect years ago. What was more exciting, however, was the fact that the Xbox quickly recognized Yusuf and automatically logged him in, then took him straight to his personalized homescreen. The homescreen featured a familiar design with the addition of a larger “recently played” section that allows you to jump between everything you’ve recently accessed.

To no surprise, the addition of live TV was unveiled. The thought process is that everything is quicker now, because there is no need to switch inputs. To a degree, it is quicker. Mehdi displayed the new quick switch feature, which allows users to instantly switch between games, movies, TV, internet, music, and more. There’s also some nice new Kinect gestures, and a fully interactive guide to help out. Quick switching isn’t the end though, there’s also the ability to ‘snap’ two items side by side so you can multitask (Windows 7 users should be familiar with this feature). This means you can watch a quick video while you’re waiting for matchmaking or Skype with your friend halfway across the country while you watch your favorite sports team together.

Sports are taking another stride forward with ESPN as well. Fantasy sports have exploded in the last decade, and now it’s integrated into the system. While watching sports, you’ll get live updates on your players, scores, and standings. Pop up notification will inform you of the changes, and give you the option to quickly snap the standings to the side if you wish.

Next came the technical mumbo-jumbo portion courtesy of Marc Whitten. What you need to know is it’s faster, more powerful, and finally features a Blu-Ray player. The Xbox One will utilize three separate operating systems, which will be part Xbox, part Windows, and part system management. Basically what this means is everything happens quickly and seamlessly. The Kinect is higher quality, much more accurate, and recognizes the controller now. The new controller is more ergonomic and features force-feedback in the triggers. Xbox Live is getting another upgrade too. If you’ve ever wondered where your Xbox Live Gold money goes, it’s into servers. Right now, it’s running on about 15,000 servers. The next generation of Xbox Live will run on 300,000 servers – more than the entire world’s computing power in 1999. Again, this is to make everything as instant and personalized as possible. It will also allow for much bigger matches and worlds online.

Finally, the conference shifted to games. Andrew Willson from EA Sports proudly unveiled a brand new engine which will be features in the next FIFA, Madden, NBA Live, and UFC. Entitled “Ignite”, the intent is to further blur the lines between game and reality. Dynamic worlds, significantly more intelligent AIs with instinct, and, of course, gorgeous graphics. Holy helmet reflections, does it look good… but that was only to be expected. Consoles are playing catch up with PC graphics again finally, but graphics are only a part of the story anyway. Games such as “Minecraft”, “Fez”, and Telltale’s “The Walking Dead” have proved that graphics aren’t everything. That’s why the engine allows for ten times more animation depth and detail. The new engine will feature 3D crowds, dynamic sidelines, and daily streams of updated data on Xbox Live. As a final side announcement, Willson also mentioned that Ultimate Team in FIFA 14 will also have exclusive content for the Xbox.

The exclusives don’t stop there, though. Phil Spencer came on stage to please the gamers with the announcement of 15 Xbox exclusive games throughout the launch year. This includes eight, count ‘em, eight brand new franchises. What are they? Well there was a part live-action, cryptic announcement teaser for the new Remedy title “Quantum Break”, but outside of that… nobody knows. Sure, this conference was supposed to be about the console, not the games, but this is supposed to be a “game console” after all. Fortunately, it sounds as if we’ll only have to wait until E3 to hear about some of these new titles.

Next came, arguably, the most exciting announcement from Nancy Tellem and Bonnie Ross. For years and years, Halo fans have been begging for a Halo movie. They got a taste of what was wanted with the incredibly successful web mini-series “Forward Unto Dawn”, and now it’s expanding, in the best way possible. A full blown live action TV series is on the way, with legendary director Steven Spielberg at the helm. Plenty will have their doubts, but “Forward Unto Dawn” proved the potential of a TV series, and with Spielberg directing it, it’s hard to imagine much could go wrong.

The conference came to a close with one last game announcement: “Call of Duty: Ghosts”. Although technically being a world premiere, it was leaked earlier in the month, so it didn’t come as much as a surprise. All content for it will be a timed exclusive again. However, what was a surprise was the details revealed. Much like EA, Activision had a new engine to unveil which will power “Ghosts”. It features an all new story with all new characters. Yes, another Call of Duty… but think carefully about this one. It’s really what people have been asking for, because this one is going to be insanely different, thanks to the new engine. So there’s no more complaining about the ‘rinse and repeat’ formula of the last set of titles, because things have become prettier, smoother, more customizable, and more unique. All-in-all, it served as a gorgeous tech-demo for Xbox One.

So the conference had a few peaks, but much like Sony’s conference, it left a lot of unanswered questions. We didn’t get a price, and Microsoft didn’t touch a lot of rumors, including the online-always requirement, lack of backward compatibility, or the lockout of used games. We also didn’t get a firm release date outside of “later this year” – basically meaning Q4 of 2013. Overall, the conference was OK, but it still really seemed to lack the “wow-factor” of systems past. Perhaps it’s just because of how technology has advanced over the years, or maybe this gamer is just getting old. All I know is that neither of these conferences have given me any reason to give up my current generation and buy either on day one. Hopefully for Sony and Microsoft, E3 will give them the opportunity to change that.

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