Stunning Video and Images of the Amazing PS4 Exclusive 'Deep Down'.

Capcom Online and Japan Studio have been hard at work developing what appears to be one of this generation's premiere titles: Deep Down. The Playstation 4 exclusive was shown at the CEDEC developer sessions in Tokyo recently and needless to say, the game blew some hair back.

First up are the photos, which really seem to try and place a focus on the game's lighting. Too often in these dungeon crawl types of games, the player is left in a blanket of darkness that feels suffocating not because of good game design, but because the technology is not up to par. Hopefully, Deep Down can be the start of some really awesome change in the industry.

Now, I am sure we have all seen amazing screenshots before and thought, "That's great, but there is no way the game is actually going to look that good." Well, normally I would be hard-pressed to disagree with you. This time, though, I think I would have to make an argument in the game's favor. These videos of Deep Down are absolutely stunning, and while they may just be technology demos, my hopes for the game are very high. If Dark Souls and From Software are not careful, they may have a real contender on their hands.

Source: gameranx.com

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Singstar: the Party Starts October 28 on PS4.

PlayStation 4 owners in North America will be able to get their karaoke on in SingStar on Oct. 28.The SingStar app is free, and most users will have to buy music they want to sing.

SingStar will be available as a free download from the PlayStation Store in the U.S., as well as in Brazil, Canada and Mexico; this new version will be released the same day on PlayStation 3. Customers will be able to fill out their song library by purchasing individual tracks for $1.99 each, with five-packs selling for $5.99.

The game will be released Oct. 24 in Europe, where it is known as SingStar: Ultimate Party. That title will be a disc-based retail release, and it will cost £23.99 in the U.K. and €29.99 in Europe. Ultimate Party comes with 30 songs including Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe," Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head" and TLC's "No Scrubs"; you can see the full list on the European PlayStation Blog.

Any music purchased for the PS3 version of SingStar will carry over to PS4. Players can download the tracks on PS4 for no additional charge as long as they're logged in to the same PlayStation Network account with which they originally bought the songs.

The updated SingStar is compatible with microphones for the PS3 version of the game. An alternative solution is to use the mobile app SingStar Mic, which will be available on launch day on Android, iPhone and iPod touch. The companion app allows players to use their mobile device as a microphone.

Source: polygon.com

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Massive Patch for Battlefield 4.

Battlefield 4's huge Fall update, which brings with it a raft of tweaks and changes for the popular military shooter, is rolling out today across all platforms. The game was criticized at launch for its many bugs and issues, and today's patch--which comes 11 months to the day after the game was released--is just the latest in DICE's continued quest to stabalize and improve the game

The Fall update for Battlefield 4 includes what could be considered standard improvements and tweaks like weapon balancing and various bug fixes. It also includes bigger changes like improved "netcode," which should result in players noticing fewer instances of "unfair" kills; i.e, when you thought you made it behind cover or when you trade kills.

Among the list of other big changes coming to Battlefield 4 is the introduction of a Teamplay Initiative. This tweaks a handful of things about the game so that players are encouraged to seek out objectives instead of playing as a lone wolf, looking only to boost kill counts. Another big change players will find is in the area of player movements. After the patch is applied, you'll find that player movement is "almost identical" to that of Battlefield 3.

You can see the full Battlefield 4 September 30 patch notes on the game's website. The update is rolling out for all platforms: PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4.

Battlefield 4 may have endured serious launch woes, leaving the game unplayable for some, but publisher Electronic Arts maintains that the game is a critical and commercial success and that the series has not been negatively impacted by Battlefield 4's rocky launch.

DICE continues to support the game not only with patches like this one, but also new content. The fifth and final expansion for Battlefield 4, Final Stand, is expected to launch before the end of the year. As for the next entry in the mainline series, Battlefield Hardline launches in early 2015, and its developer is confident the game will hit the ground running with a smooth launch.

Source: gamespot.com

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Viking Squad Coming Next Year on PS4.

Viking Squad, a side-scrolling, co-operative brawler (think Castle Crashers, with some variances) is coming to PlayStation 4 next year from Slick Entertainment, which developed the port of N+ for Xbox 360 in 2008.

The trailer that accompanied the game's announcement Friday on PlayStation Blog gives a taste of its visual style and gameplay, and hints players will be fighting to take down a bad mutha undead Viking lord of some sorts at the end.

Designer Caley Charchuk says Viking Squad will feature four different vikings with different move sets, and they also will be able to equip different gear to boost their combat effectiveness and durability.

If it looks like these characters are running along a straight line path, they are. "We also place a higher importance on player skill and precision instead of random dice rolls. Players are snapped to lanes to reduce confusion on whether your attack will connect with an enemy or not," Charchuk wrote. "Critical hits are not randomly rolled, players need to be well timed in order to land a critical hit, holding their heavy attacks until just the right window to deal the greatest damage!"

Slick Entertainment is partnering with Power Up Audio for the audio portions of the game, and are aiming for a release next year. In the comments beneath the announcement, Charchuk said a future PS Vita release is not yet planned but "definitely on our radar."

Source: polygon.com

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PS4 > Xbox One on FIFA 15 Sales.

This week’s new UK number one is no surprise, but the fact that almost a third of FIFA 15’s sales were on the PS4 certainly is.

According to Chart-Track first week sales for FIFA 15 are up by 15 per cent on last year’s game, despite it receiving the most mixed reviews for the series in several years.

A direct comparison is probably not that useful though as last year the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions came out after the others, and this year there is no PlayStation 2 or PSP version. As a result Chart-Track estimate unit sales are actually about the same, if you compensate for the differences.

FIFA 15 accounted for 80 per cent of all video game sales last week (and 87 per cent of all revenues), with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 making up 54 per cent of the game’s total sales.

That’s an impressively high figure given how many casual players FIFA attracts, who wouldn’t necessarily be the first to buy a new console (which is why there was still a PlayStation 2 version last year and a Wii one this year).

Sales broken down by console show that the PlayStation 4 led the pack with a commanding 32 per cent. The Xbox 360 was next on 30 per cent, the Xbox One in third on 22 per cent, and the PlayStation 3 fourth with 15 per cent.

Chart-Track doesn’t reveal actual sales figures, since companies have to pay to access that information and aren’t supposed to make it public. But an insider tells us that the PlayStation 4 version was ahead of the Xbox One by 100,000 units.

That’s an awful lot considering how much effort Microsoft put in with co-promoting the game with EA, including the Xbox exclusive Ultimate Team Legends mode.

As you can imagine there wasn’t much else movement in the charts, in fact thanks to Destiny the individual formats top 10 only had five different games in it.

One of these though was Level-5’s 3DS role-player Fantasy Life, which did surprisingly well by getting to number 10 – and number eight in the all formats charts.

The game’s success suggests that Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo 3DS should do even better when it’s released this Friday. Although whether any game can knock FIFA 15 from the top spot seems unlikely.

It is a busy week though and Forza Horizon 2 (XO) and Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor (the next gen and PC versions only – the last gen versions are released on November 21) should also do well, regardless of their actual chart position.

UK individual formats chart – 27 September

1 (-) FIFA 15 (PS4)
2 (-) FIFA 15 (360)
3 (-) FIFA 15 (XO)
4 (-) FIFA 15 (PS3)
5 (1) Destiny (PS4)
6 (2) Destiny (XO)
7 (3) Destiny (360)
8 (8) Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition (360)
9 (6) The Sims 4 (PC)
10(-)Fantasy Life (3DS)

UK all formats chart – 27 September

1 (-) FIFA 15 (Wii/360/PS3/XO/PS4/PC/3DS/PSV)
2 (1) Destiny (360/PS3/XO/PS4)
3 (2) Disney Infinity 2.0 (360/PS3/Wii U/XO/PS4)
4 (6) Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition (360)
5 (7) Call Of Duty: Ghosts (360/PS3/Wii U/XO/PS4/PC)
6 (4) Watch Dogs (360/PS3/XO/PS4/PC)
7 (5) The Sims 4 (PC)
8 (-) Fantasy Life (3DS)
9 (8) Minecraft: PlayStation 3 Edition (360)
10(10)Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (360/PS3/XO/PS4)

Source: metro.co.uk

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Xbox One Just Launched in China and Is Expensive as F*ck.

The first foreign game console has officially landed in China, after a nearly decade-and-a-half ban.

The Xbox One launched in China today, September 29. It’s a vaguely historic moment, as it’s the first foreign games console to be officially allowed in the country in 14 years. This, after a six-day delay for unknown reasons.

People actually lined up for the box, says Kotaku. That’s despite the price tag of 3,699 yuan, or about $600 — and that’s without Kinect, mind you. The Kinect-less version of the system in the U.S. goes for $399, same as Sony’s PlayStation 4. The Chinese are paying 50% more, in other words.

When the Wall Street Journal wrote about that jacked-up price this summer, it noted the obvious: things like tariffs and exchange rates play a role, so that’s part of it. China’s version of the Xbox One comes with a two-year warranty (we get just one here), six months of Xbox Live Gold (as opposed to 30 days here, and membership is $60 a year), plus a few free games (Powerstar Golf, Neverwinter Online) and discounts on others.

But that still doesn’t explain the 50% hike, even when you take into account disparities between the U.S. and China in household incomes, the level of debt to average income, the number of homeowners with mortgages and so forth. The in-betweeners must be taking a generous slice.

The Xbox One was supposed to go live in China six days ago, September 23. Why Microsoft delayed is anyone’s guess (not to rethink launch pricing, apparently). The challenge Microsoft faces from here is competing with the black market, where foreign-wrought game consoles have been on sale throughout the ban for considerably less moola.

Side musing: I’ve never understood why there’s so much English on the packaging of products sold in countries where English is spoken by a fraction of the populace (less than 1% in China). English is the third most populous language in the world, not the first. But still: “Limited Edition,” in great big West Germanic letters (instead of the Chinese equivalent, which Google Translate tells me should be something like “限量版“) on the side of that Limited Edition Xbox One in the shot above.

Source: time.com

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PS4 and Xbox One Project Cars Running at 1080p/60fps ?!?

Project Cars developer Slightly Mad Studios is aiming for the ambitious racing game to run at 1080p/60fps across both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the title. Creative director Andy Tudor revealed the target resolution and frame rate, explaining in a new interview, however, that the developer is having a tougher time getting to Xbox One version up to 1080p right now.

"On Xbox One it's not quite 1080p at the moment," Tudor told Eurogamer. "But it's not representative of the final quality. We're still aiming to get there. Towards the end of the game you're always optimizing, and during development it's a roller coaster. Sometimes you look at the game and think oh god, that's not working, that's not working. But other days you hit 60fps, and it's awesome."

Tudor went on to say that for racing games, hitting 60fps is "hugely important."

"What people don't know is that the physics underneath runs at 600 times a second," he added. "We measure the input you're doing on the controller 250 times per second. Project Cars does that way more than any other game--they're all doing that significantly lower. The screen refreshes 60 times per second--we're measuring the tires, the physics, the suspension, all that stuff, 600 times."

Project Cars races to market alongside competitors like Microsoft's Forza Horizon 2 and Sony's Driveclub. Both games run at 1080p/30fps, and the developers behind each title have explained why they think that was the right call.

Project Cars launches November 18 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. A Wii U version is also in the works, and is scheduled to launch in 2015. This version is not likely to run at 1080p/60fps, but Tudor said Slightly Mad is happy with the progress it's making on the Nintendo version of the game.

"There are significant hurdles that we've had to get over, and that's kind of expected," he said. "But the fact we can have weather, time of day, a significant number of cars on screen, it's actually really promising."

Publisher Namco Bandai describes Project Cars as "the most authentic, beautiful, intense, and technically advanced racing game on the planet."

Source: gamespot.com

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Why Is Bloodborne Only a PS4 Exclusive?

Bloodborne is coming out exclusively for the PlayStation 4, but many fans of developer from Software's previous games, Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2, were able to play them on PC and Xbox 360 in addition to the PlayStation 3.

According to the game's director Hidetaka Miyazaki, Bloodborne couldn't have come out on previous consoles. "I always wanted to make a game set in the Victorian era, but to make it look good—with all the clothing and the architecture and things—required a console more powerful than the ones that were around. the arrival of the PS4 finally gave us that," Miyazaki said in an interview with PlayStation LifeStyle when asked why the game was a PS4-exclusive. "Bloodborne isn’t a game that could have been cross-generation, it was only possible on PS4."

Of course, that doesn't really explain why it's not coming out on Xbox One or PC, but that probably has more to do with Sony's negotiating skills than technological limitations.

Bloodborne will be released on February 6 in North America and Europe, a day after it's release in Japan.

Source: gamespot.com

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Xbox One/PS4 Closed Beta for 'The Crew'.

The upcoming Xbox One and PlayStation 4 closed beta for Ubisoft's ambitious open-world racing game,The Crew, will begin on September 30, Ubisoft has announced. It's unclear how Ubisoft will select participants for the beta, but you can sign up at the game's website today for a shot.

The beta, which was already held on PC (read our impressions here), sounds quite extensive. In the beta you can explore the entire United States (with no loading screens) and participate in various missions and skill challenges, as well as free roam. Beta players will also have access to two PvP lobbies where they can compete against other players on courses in the US Midwest and East Coast.

Ubisoft reminds gamers that what you'll see in the beta for The Crew is not representative of the final game. "Many" changes will be applied before the game launches on November 11. In addition, you need a Uplay account to sign up for the game's closed beta.

The Crew is also coming to Xbox 360, though Ubisoft has not announced if a beta for the game on that platform is in the works.

Source: gamespot.com

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Enter the Next Generation with PS4 + Far Cry 4.

On Friday, Sony of Europe announced a pair of new PlayStation hardware bundles centered around Ubisoft's upcoming open-world game Far Cry 4. Special-edition PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 bundles that come with free copies of the game will be available at launch in Europe when the game is released in November.

Not only have Ubisoft and Sony teamed up for these special-edition PlayStation consoles, but PlayStation fans are also getting an exclusive multiplayer sharing feature.

PS3 and PS4 Far Cry 4 players who have a PlayStation Plus subscription ($50/year) will be given ten invitations that they can send to PlayStation Network friends to play a free trial of the game's online co-op mode. No such feature has been announced for the Xbox 360 or Xbox One versions of the game.

Far Cry 4 launches November 18 for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC.

Source: gamespot.com

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Travelling in the Huge World of 'The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt'.

A new developer diary for CD Projekt Red's upcoming action role-playing title, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, explores how players can travel the game's vast world and hunt their foes.

The Witcher 3, which will conclude the story of Geralt of Rivia, follows his journey as he searches for a strange, deadly force known as the Wild Hunt. Along the way, Geralt will hunt down monsters using tracking skills and battle with the help of elixirs, bombs and more.

In the video above, developers such as senior level designer Peter Gelencser, senior gameplay designer Damien Monnier and quality assurance specialist Monika Gliniecka discuss traveling on foot, by horse, boat and more — and the dangers associated with each. The game's day and night system will also affect how players explore the game's world.

For more on The Witcher 3, check out our in-depth E3 2014 preview. The game launches for PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One Feb. 24, 2015.

Source: polygon.com

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First Look on Xbox One's Project Cars.

A further eight new tracks have been revealed for Project Cars, Slightly Mad Studios’ motorsport simulation game.

We’ve already been introduced to some stunning-looking European circuits, which are now joined by the Azure Coast of the French Riveira, Oulton Park in the U.K. and Glencairn in the Scottish uplands.

Further afield we now see the U.S. circuits of Watkins Glen and Road America, as well as California Highway, which takes players down the West Coast.

Project Cars launches on PS4, Xbox One and PC on November 18 in North America and November 21 in the U.K.

Source: psu.com

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The Free Xbox One and Xbox 360 Games for October.

Microsoft today announced the free games that Xbox Live Gold members will receive in October on Xbox One and Xbox 360.

Xbox One owners will be getting only one new free game next month. Chariot, a co-op action-platformer from independent developer Frima Studios, will be free when it launches on Xbox One. (It's also coming to PlayStation 4, Wii U, and PC.) It will take the place of Super Time Force, meaning you should be sure to add that game to your library before the end of the month.

With no other free Xbox One game announced, it sounds like Crimson Dragon will remain a Games With Gold title for the third month running.

On Xbox 360, two quality--if a bit older--games will be made free in October. Starting on October 1, you'll be able to pick up Battlefield: Bad Company 2, the replacement for Halo: Reach (which is still free right now). Taking Bad Company's place on October 16 will be Darksiders II, giving you a chance to see what that $50 million went towards making.

Source: gamespot.com

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The Final Battle Begins with 'Titanfall: IMC Rising'.

Titanfall's third expansion pack, IMC Rising, will arrive on Xbox One and PC on Thursday, September 25. The release date was revealed in a new trailer for the DLC that you can see above.

There is no word yet on when IMC Rising will be available for Xbox 360.

IMC Rising was announced at Gamescom in August. It includes three maps (Backwater, Zone 18, and Sandtrap), and follows previously released Titanfall expansions Frontier's Edge and Expedition.

IMC Rising is the third expansion included with the $25 Titanfall DLC pass. If you don't own the pass, you can buy expansions individually for $10. In addition to paid expansions, Respawn continues to support Titanfall with free stability/general improvement updates, while all non-map updates are also free.

Source: gamespot.com

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Power Changes Everything in 'Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare'.

A new trailer released today for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare focuses on the game's futuristic weapons in multiplayer settings.

Among the gadgets and modes on display is the 'Exo Survival Co-op Mode,' featuring up to four players.

Developed by Sledgehammer Games, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare will be released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Windows PC on Nov. 4.

Source: polygon.com

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GTA-Inspired PS4 ?!?

One Grand Theft Auto fan is passing the time until Grand Theft Auto V is released on PlayStation 4 by getting creative, putting together a super-slick, custom case design inspired by Rockstar Games and the GTA franchise.

As you can see in the image above, shared by Rockstar on its website, the custom console skin features the yellow Rockstar Games logo and the classic black and white GTA logo. The developer writes, "Looks like he's ready to play GTA V in style."

GTA V launches for PS4 (and Xbox One) on November 18, while the PC version is scheduled to launch in late January 2015. This custom PS4 is totally unofficial, and Rockstar has not announced a partnership with Sony or Microsoft for a limited edition GTA V PS4 or Xbox One console.

The PS4, Xbox One, and PC versions of GTA V promise a raft of improvements over the existing Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, which have together shipped more than 34 million copies. The new versions of the game will feature better visuals, increased draw distances, denser traffic, and more wildlife, among other things. In addition, your existing Grand Theft Auto Online characters will carry forward to the new versions, whether you're staying in the same console family (e.g. PS3 to PS4) or not (PS3 to Xbox One).

Earlier this month, the president of Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive laid out the reasons why he thinks you'll buy another copy of GTA V.

Source: gamespot.com

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Rocksmith 2014 is Coming Nov. 4 to PS4 and Xbox One.

Ubisoft is bringing its instructional guitar title Rocksmith 2014 to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on Nov. 4, the company announced today.

These new generation versions of Rocksmith 2014 will integrate with the consoles' video capture and streaming tools and feature updated 1080p visuals. The game will come packaged with the Rocksmith Real Tone Cable, which was developed exclusively for use with Rocksmith and allows players to use Rocksmith through consoles, Mac and Windows PCs.

Rocksmith 2014 includes more than 50 tracks to learn along with, with 300 additional tracks available as paid DLC. Players who own the Xbox 360 version can transfer their track library to the Xbox One without having to repurchase songs, and those using the PlayStation 3 version can transfer libraries to the PS4.

The PS4 version of Rocksmith 2014 also supports Remote Play via the PlayStation Vita. In this manner, players can view songs for study with input and scoring not required.

Rocksmith 2014 initially launched in October 2013 for Mac, PS3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC.

Source: polygon.com

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'AC Chronicles China' and 'AC Unity Dead Kings' are Included in AC Unity's Season Pass.

Ubisoft is releasing downloadable content for Assassin's Creed Unity as part of a season pass. It contains some expected add-ons in the form of a new story campaign, additional weapons and more missions, but also features something unexpected: an entirely separate game called Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China.

Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China is a stand-alone downloadable title set in 16th century China that plays like a 2D side-scrolling game. Players will control Shao Jun, the last remaining assassin of the Chinese Brotherhood. She's appeared previously in Assassin's Creed lore as a student under Ezio Auditore in the Assassin's Creed Embers animated short and Assassin's Creed Revelations novel.

Developed by Climax Studios, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China is rendered in a style inspired by traditional brush paintings, Ubisoft says, and combines stealth, martial arts and all-new assassin gear.

Assassin's Creed Unity's season pass will also include a new campaign called Dead Kings. Set after the main Unity storyline, Dead Kings sees protagonist Arno travel to Saint Denis, which Ubisoft describes as "a troubled city with a mysterious and extensive underground that holds the crypts of deceased French kings." Dead Kings will feature a new weapon called the guillotine gun and come with new activities, new co-op missions and additional gear that can carry over to the main game.

Rounding out the season pass is more stuff for Unity itself: more missions, more than 30 new weapons and more customization options.

Ubisoft says all of Assassin's Creed Unity's season pass content will arrive by early 2015.

Assassin's Creed Unity comes to PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One on Nov. 11 in North America, Nov. 13 in Europe.

Source: polygon.com

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New WWE 2K15 Gameplay Trailer Review!

WWE 2K15 has debuted its first full gameplay trailer, seeing Daniel Bryan, Triple H, John Cena and more take to the ring on Xbox One and PS4 in their most realistic video game depictions yet.

The trailer opens with some of the ring entrances you can expect to see when the game arrives in October, before launching into a montage of ring action.

Bray Wyatt is in there, crab walking towards the camera, while Cesaro is seen delivering a flying uppercut and Roman Reigns dropkicks Kane at ringside.

The graphics for the cut scenes are particularly impressive (just look at Triple H!) while the gameplay looks to be the most immersive yet, with superstars seething and sweat flying.

Last month, CM Punk was confirmed to be in the game despite having departed the WWE, playing a major part in it 'Showcase' story mode in a feud with John Cena.

2K spent a lot of time getting the player likenesses as detailed as possible, with Shawn Michaels joking that in his 25 years of wrestling he had never had as many cameras on him as when he sat for the face capture.

WWE 2K15 has a release date of October 28th for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in the US, with an international launch including UK expected 31 October 31, 2014.

Source: independent.co.uk

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