Tuesday’s edition had the Microsoft highlights from Gamescom in Germany. Today is Sony’s turn:
Gran Turismo 6 has been confirmed for release in December.
The LittleBigPlanet Hub will launch for free on PS3 later this year. This is basically a place for LBP creators to congregate, collaborate, and challenge somewhat independent of the LBP games.
Borderlands 2 is coming to Vita. No word yet on the date. Speaking of the Vita, it’s dropping to $199. A “significant” price drop on memory cards is also coming.
Sony is not letting up on their push for Indie Games. Here’s a list of what you can expect coming soon to your Sony devices:
- The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth – PS4, Vita – early 2014
- Fez – PS3, PS4, Vita
- Volume – PS4, Vita
- Rogue Legacy – PS4, Vita – “console exclusive debut” in 2014
- Wasteland Kings – Vita, PS4 – 2014
- Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture – PS4
- Rime – PS4
- Helldivers – PS3, PS4, Vita – crossplay
- Resogun – PS4 and Vita
- Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number – PS4, Vita – timed console exclusive
- Minecraft – PS4, PS3, Vita – PS4 at launch, later for the others
- N++ – PS4
- Murasaki Baby – Vita
PlayStation 4 releases in the US on Friday, November 15th, 2013. Europe will be waiting until November 29th. The console will come with a 14 day free trial for PS+. That means everyone will get the PS+ version (whatever that means) of Evolution Studios’ Drive Club at launch.
So what games are you getting when the PS4 launches? We don’t have exact dates on everything yet, but here are 33 PS4 Games launching by the end of 2013:
- Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag (Blu-ray/digital)
- Basement Crawl (digital)
- Battlefield 4 (Blu-ray/digital)
- Blacklight (digital)
- Call of Duty: Ghosts (Blu-ray/digital)
- Contrast (digital)
- DC Universe Online (digital)
- Doki-Doki Universe (digital)
- Drive Club (Blu-ray/digital)
- FIFA 14 (Blu-ray/digital)
- Flower (digital)
- Hohokum (digital)
- Just Dance 2014 (Blu-ray/digital)
- Killzone: Shadow Fall (Blu-ray/digital)
- Knack (Blu-ray/digital)
- Lego Marvel Superheroes (Blu-ray/digital)
- Madden NFL 25 (Blu-ray/digital)
- Minecraft (digital)
- N++ (digital)
- NBA Live (Blu-ray/digital)
- NBA 2K14 (Blu-ray/digital)
- Need for Speed: Rivals (Blu-ray/digital)
- Pinball Arcade (digital)
- Planetside 2 (digital)
- Pool Nation Extreme (digital)
- ResoGun (digital)
- Skylanders: Swap Force (Blu-ray/digital)
- Super Motherload (digital)
- The Playroom (preinstalled)
- Tiny Brains (digital)
- Warframe (digital)
- War Thunder (digital)
- Watch Dogs (Blu-ray/digital)
You’ll note that inFamous: Second Son, one of Ps4’s most anticipated titles, is conspicuously absent from that list. Launch window is generally considered to be within three months of a console’s launch, so Sucker Punch’s February 2014 announcement just makes the cut.
Also coming at launch are two colored versions of the DualShock 4, Magma Red and Wave Blue. I’ve got one extra controller on order, and I think I might make it the Magma (Utes) Red just for fun. They look a little weird, but I like weird.
That was a lot of Sony heavy stuff, but don’t let a few paragraphs fool you. Microsoft is still strong and looks to be getting stronger. Phil Harrison told XBox News Wire that there are more XB1 exclusives on the way:
I left our showcase event with same thought I always have: what next? We haven’t even launched yet but rest assured we’re already planning more great stuff to ensure that Xbox continues to raise the bar.
So expect more mega franchises like FIFA, with Xbox exclusive content. Expect more exclusives titles like “Titanfall.” Expect more epics like “Halo” and “Call of Duty.” Expect more games reimagined for Xbox One such as “Fable Legends”. And expect the most immersive, new generation gameplay with multiplayer and innovations like Kinect and SmartGlass which make your experience way more fun and authentic than it could have been before.
Tactical games were a genre that passed me by when the original XCOM was entertaining the PC crowd. So I didn’t think much of XCOM: Enemy Unknown until the reviews started raving. I played it when it became free for PS+ back in June. For me, this was a surprise hit from last year and I loved it. So I’m excited for the upcoming “Enemy Within” DLC coming November 12, 2013. 2K Games has revealed what we can expect with that expansion: New Soldier Abilities (Gene Mods, Mechanized Exoskeletal Cybersuit (MEC)), New Weapons, New Equipment, Two New Alien Classes (including the Mechtoid), New Strategic Resource (MELD allows new research and upgrades), New Tactical Challenges, and 47 New Maps. And that’s just the single player stuff. Multiplayer is also getting new maps, units, and abilities. The only drawback I see to this add-on is that it’s coming three days before I get my PlayStation 4.
Beyond: Two Souls had me hooked as soon as Quantic Dream announced. That studio is excellent at pushing the medium. David Cage made a few reveals at Gamescom that make me even more interested. First, Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe are scoring the game. Which is great, but what about the gameplay? There will be a free iOS and Android app at launch that will let you use your mobile device as a controller for the game. I don’t really know how this one’s going to work, but I can’t wait for details. But what if you just want to sit on your couch and use a controller? And what if have a friend that wants to help? They’ve got that too. I still need more details, but a second player will be able to control Jodie’s spirit friend. Aiden will be tethered to Jodie, but he can pass through walls and fire energy blasts. October 8th on this one and that can’t come soon enough.
It’s clearly no shock to anyone that Grand Theft Auto V has received an “M for Mature” rating. But are you curious what earns it that stamp? The ESRB’s detailed evaluation explains about the smoking of a bong, exposed genitalia, and necrophilia(?!?!?):
In this open-world action game, players assume the role of three criminals whose storylines intersect within the fictional city of Los Santos. Players can switch between each character to follow his storyline, completing missions which often include criminal activities (e.g., stealing cars, executing heists, assassinating targets). Players use pistols, machine guns, sniper rifles, and explosives to kill various enemies (e.g., rival gang members); players also have the ability to shoot non-adversary civilians, though this may negatively affect players’ progress as a penalty system triggers a broad police search. Blood-splatter effects occur frequently, and the game contains rare depictions of dismemberment. In one sequence, players are directed to use various instruments and means to extract information from a character; the sequence is intense and prolonged, and it involves some player interaction (i.e., responding to on-screen prompts).
The game includes depictions of sexual material/activity: implied fellatio and masturbation; various sex acts that the player’s character procures from a prostitute-while no nudity is depicted in these sequences, various sexual moaning sounds can be heard. Nudity is present, however, primarily in two settings: a topless lap dance in a strip club and a location that includes male cult members with exposed genitalia in a non-sexual context.
Within the game, TV programs and radio ads contain instances of mature humor: myriad sex jokes; depictions of raw sewage and feces on a worker’s body; a brief instance of necrophilia (no nudity is depicted).
Some sequences within the larger game allow players to use narcotics (e.g., smoking from a bong, lighting a marijuana joint); cocaine use is also depicted. Players’ character can, at various times, consume alcohol and drive while under the influence. The words “f**k,” “c*nt,” and “n**ger” can be heard in the dialogue.
Konami has confirmed the release date for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, February 25, 2013. This will conclude MercurySteam’s run as developer on the franchise. If you missed the first game you’ll have a chance to catch up on the same day. That’s when the Lords of Shadow Collection releases as well. This bundle will include the first game, the “Reverie” and “Resurrection” DLCs, and the HD version of Mirror of Fate.
Zenimax Online has finally revealed the business model for the upcoming The Elder Scrolls Online. There was plenty of reason to believe this would be a free to play model, but that is not the case. The game will require $15 monthly subscription fee. This may disappoint some fans, but I think Director Matt Firor makes a good case for the model: “The Elder Scrolls games are all about allowing the player to go where they want, be who they want, and do what they want. Just having one small monthly fee for 100% access to the game fits the IP and the game much better than a system where you have to pay for features and access as you play.” Firor also said that “putting pay gates between the player and content at any point in game ruins that feeling of freedom.” He has a valid point, but it’s undermined by the fact that the game will also have microtransactions. You will be able to purchase items, name changes, and other peripheral stuff with real money. Firor did specify that “The items are not necessary in order to play the game and experience points will not be sold.” Your initial purchase of the game will give you an unlimited 30 day trial; playing beyond the trial will require a subscription; microstransactions are available but not required. I’m not sure the modern MMO economy will accept the model. We’ll find out when the game hits PS4 and XB1 in 2014.
I’m still waiting for more details on how exactly the XBox One’s Project Spark is going to work, but if you’re an amateur game creator you’ll want to keep a close eye on it. The “game” will allow you to create your own games, including cut scenes, by utilizing the next-gen Kinect for motion capture (including face and body) and voice recording.It will also utilize SmartGlass in some way. I’m looking forward to more information on this one, as it could drastically change the field of user-generated content and independent development. I also assume it will be used for porn.
That’s all for this week’s Friday edition. There may be a few more announcements coming from Gamescom today. You’ll see that in next week’s Tuesday edition. Otherwise, next week will likely be slow, as post event weeks tend to be.