Just as an object lesson in believing rumors, I’d like to point out one I included in Friday’s edition of VGQH was bunked about the same time I reported it. In Friday’s column I mentioned inFamous Second Son had been given a February release date on a European website. Turns out Sony actually confirmed it for March 21, 2014.
I should also point out a mistake I made last week. I had mentioned a delay for LEGO Marvel Super Heroes on XBox One. Further investigation shows it was actually only delayed in Europe. The North American version will launch with the console this Friday. Europe will be waiting one more week, seeing it release on Novebmer 29, also known as Black Friday in the States.
Electronic Arts has stamped the official release date of March 11, 2014 on Titanfall. They also revealed the $250 Collector’s Edition. This edition will include the game and the standard art book. It will also include a full-size schematic poster of the Titan Atlas. What really boosts the MSRP though is the “Exclusive collectible 18” Titan statue, handcrafted from over 300 individual parts and featuring battery-powered LED lighting.” That thing is pretty great. Is it $190 great? Certainly not my $190, but maybe yours?
Microsoft’s Major Nelson announced late last week via Twitter “Access to free games each month is coming for Xbox Live Gold members on #XboxOne– Details coming later in 2014.” This is referring, of course, to the popular program of providing two free games per month to Gold members (the current free title is Iron Brigade). Sony’s Instant Game Collection on PS+ also extended to the new generation with two free titles at launch. While it does not appear Microsoft will have a couple of day one titles for its XBox One this Friday, at least the program isn’t ending in December as was originally announced.
Two more games are incoming today for Sony’s Instant Game Collection via PS Plus. Binary Domain is a third-person action shooter from SEGA for PS3, originally released in February 2012. For the Vita handheld, the new addition is Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath. The Vita’s Sine Mora is in last chance mode, leaving next Tuesday.
Despite my earlier statement about rumors, I’m passing on another one. First, turn up your volume and check out this site. The countdown timer is ticking down to December 11, 2013. The Morse Code you’re hearing is also indicating the same date, which coincides with the VGAs on Spike. The site is registered to Zenimax Inc, parent company of Bethesda. Considering the same group trademarked Fallout 4 last week, expectation is that it will be officially revealed at the awards show. For what it’s worth, Fallout 3 and New Vegas nearly made my top ten games of the generation list, but just couldn’t cut it because of how poorly they ran on the PS3. With PS4’s new dev-friendly architecture, I have high hopes that it will perform better this time around.
That’s it for this week’s early edition. This Friday sees the launch Microsoft’s XBox One. Which, following last week’s PlayStation 4 from Sony, means we are truly into the next-gen. The console wars have reignited. Let the flames BEGIN!