Nvidia curiously chose this week, of all weeks, to quietly unveil their new GPU, the GTX 780. Fitting comfortably in the high-end tier of pc gaming hardware, the GTX 780 isn’t the most powerful card the company has put out, especially when put up next to the recently released Titan, but what it does offer is near identical performance for a fraction of the cost.

PC gamers choked when Nvidia announced that their flagship Titan GPU would retail for close to $999 (that means that it’ll sell for more than R10 000 locally), and I don’t know many who were willing to fork out for the obscenely priced but extremely powerful GTX 690 (going for close to R 14 000 locally). The GTC 780 seems to compromise a little on the performance side, but a lot on the price side too. Coming in at around $650 (obviously a bit more inflated for local shores), the GTX 780 seems like the perfect upgrade for those on older 500 series cards or older.

Thing is, just how big a hit did performance take? Well the GeForce GTX 780 has a Kepler GPU with 2,304 cores and 3GB of GDDR5 memory. Nvidia states that this single card is around roughly 50% more powerful than it’s predecessor, which is a rather bold statement considering just how powerful the GTX 680 still is. Early benchmarks and reviews suggest that the cards runs incredibly well with resolutions higher than 1920×1080, sometimes outpacing the $350 more Titan on current titles. That’s a rather big kick in the teeth to those who took the plunge just three months ago.

The benchmarks below come from Gamespot’s testing of the card, which ran all the titles featured at maximum and at 2560×1600.

Battlefield 3

BioShock: Infinite

Batman: Arkham City

Metro: Last Light

Tomb Raider

Of course this is due to higher factory clock speeds, so an overclocked Titan would surely outpace the GTX 780 but it’s interesting to see what this card can do out of the box. On top of that, the card integrates completely with Nvidia’s GeForce Experience software, which allows you to optimise setting for games and stay up-to-date with recent driver releases.

However, it’s a new feature, named ShadowPlay, that’s got everyone talking. ShadowPlay is basically Nvidia’s answer to FRAPS, allowing efficient and lag-free recording with minimal power draw. According to those who have already used it with the GTX 780, Nvidia’s ShadowPlay not only outperforms FRAPS, it kills it, which is not surprising considering FRAPS is a third-party program.

All in all, it’s seems like the GTX 780 is set to be another fine release from Nvidia, who are quickly becoming somewhat of a monopoly in the PC gaming market. AMD are so far behind it’s not even funny anymore.

We’ve been forced to hear only rumours about a possible Mirror’s Edge sequel, something that fans of the first game have been screaming for since its release. A while ago there were rumours of the game running on the Frostbite 2 Engine that EA had cooked up, but a recent listing on Amazon Germany suggests that its announcement is far closer than we think.

The online retailer updated listings yesterday, adding Mirror’s Edge to it’s pre-order section. Curiously, the featured boxart mimicked what we’ve seen for the Xbox One, but the listing itself states that the game is coming to Xbox 360. The listing also features a placeholder price and no indication of a release date, so there’s not much to go on here.

EA were quick to respond though, calling the listing fake in this statement made to IGN:

“We appreciate fan enthusiasm for Mirror’s Edge, especially fans throughout the retail channel. This is not official EA material. We have nothing to announce at this time.”

It’s been a really long time since we’ve heard anything from EA concerning the Mirror’s Edge franchise, but last year DICE executive producer, Patrick Bach, stated that the franchise was simply too good to kill.

And with E3 around the corner, it’s hard not to stay just a little bit curious about a possible reveal during EA’s conference.

Remember Ryse? Crytek revealed their first-person medieval title at E3 2011 as a Kinect exclusive experience, shortly after which the game fell off the map completely. For most, it wasn’t entirely a bad thing considering how terrible the first iteration of the Kinect was, but after the vast improvements to the motion controller were revealed during the Xbox One event, Crytek has confirmed that Ryse is now a next-gen title exclusive to the One. However, it’s not Kinect exclusive anymore.

Ryse has been somewhat transformed, moving from a Kinect-only title to a Kinect “enhanced” title, which will allow gamers to use their controller and the Kinect together during gameplay. Although Crytek refused to go into detail just yet, a countdown in Roman Numerals on the game’s official site suggests that we’ll be hearing, and hopefully seeing, moire of Ryse soon, and how Kinect has taken on a more backseat role.

Sure, it’s not the game everyone is falling head over heels for, but it could be one of the first titles to restore some faith in Kinect 2,0 and hopefully demonstrate how it can be used in conjunction with traditional controller use. There’s a lot riding on this, so I for one hope for Crytek to seriously blow us away with what they have.

Expect more and more talk concerning some of the 15 exclusives (8 of which are new IP’s) that Microsoft promised for the Xbox One in it’s first year, as we edge closer and closer to E3.

It’s only been a week since the release of Metro: Last Light, but that hasn’t stopped publisher Deep Silver from detailing not one, but four single-player DLC packages that will soon release for the post-apocalyptic horror shooter. A Season Pass has already been made available for purchase, allowing fans to pick up all four pieces of DLC for a low price of $15.

But what exactly will that get you? Well, starting next month, A4 and Deep Silver will roll out DLC packages monthly it seems, with the first piece named the Faction Pack. This will introduced players to a new original single-player campaign that expands on the universe of Metro. Following that there will be another story-focused pack named Chronicles, followed by the Tower pack, which is described as being a new challenge for Metro veterans. Finally, the Metro Developer Pack will grants access to new weapons and tools with which to explore the Metro with.

4A Games creative director Andrew Prokhorov spoke about the DLC in a public statement.

“Artyom’s story may have been concluded in Metro: Last Light, but there are other characters with stories to tell, some familiar locations that fans of the Metro series wanted to revisit, and some new challenges that 4A wanted to explore. Since completing the game we have been working on these new stories and hope to release them throughout the summer.”

Players who purchase the rather cheap Season Pass will also receive a new automatic shotgun, named Abzats, to use throughout the campaign. It’s almost a steal when you consider how much content you could potentially get for $15, which almost makes up for the fact that Ranger Mode was made available for purchase despite being a difficulty setting.

Will this curb those that have already shunned the game for that. Probably not, but that’s their loss considering just how incredible this title really is.

Wasn’t that a little sigh of relief during the reveal last night? Not a single word about the Xbox One always having to be online, that’s at least one thing people wanted to see. However, it’s not entirely an offline console either. Coming from the increasingly useful Q&A session held after the event, Microsoft hinted at the possibility that the Xbox One would need an internet connection every now and then.

Kotaku boss Stephen Totilo asked Phil Harrison for some clarification regarding the Xbox One and an internet connection, and the answer provided my be good or bad, depending on where you aim to play your Xbox.

“There are many devices in your life that require the Internet to function. Xbox One is no different in that it requires, at some point in the beginning and at various times through its on state, to connect to our cloud and to our Internet. That is to deliver Xbox Live functionality, that is to deliver download content to you, that is to deliver some of the innovations around TV and entertainment that we showed today. But it doesn’t require it to be online all the time.”

The real kicker came when Harrison was directly asked whether or not the One would need to be connected to the internet before games could be played, which prompted a rather interesting response.

Kotaku: If I’m playing a single player game, do I have to be online at least once per hour or something like that? Or can I go weeks and weeks?

Harrison: I believe it’s 24 hours.

Kotaku: I’d have to connect online once every day.

Harrison: Correct.

So not exactly always-online, but not completely offline either. Every 24 hours doesn’t sound like much of an issue to most of us, but it has the potential to cause problems for some. This system is most probably in place to ensure that the game you’re playing is linked to your Xbox LIVE account, as Microsoft aim to kill the middle man in the second-hand games market.

Thing is, just a few minutes later, another Microsoft representative told press that the scenario described by Harrison was a “potential” one, and that the details regarding the Xbox One and required internet connections has yet to be confirmed.

“While Phil [Harrison] discussed many potential scenarios around games on Xbox One, today we have only confirmed that we designed Xbox One to enable our customers to trade in and resell games at retail. There have been reports of a specific time period — those were discussions of potential scenarios, but we have not confirmed any details today, nor will we be.”

So again we’re left to wait and wonder.

Oh Microsoft, you nearly had me. I was ecstatic after the Xbox One reveal last night, a reveal that started receiving a lot of negative feedback very quickly after it ended. Thing is, it was fine that hardly no games were actually shown off, what with E3 being right around the corner and all. But this is something Microsoft chose to leave out of the reveal event, and I’m sure I know why.

In the mess of confusion that followed in a Q&A after the event, we finally got a solid answer as to whether or not the Xbox One would block used titles. Short answer, no it won’t, but the reality is a lot more frightening. A rumour last night suggested that games would be linked to one account and one only, meaning that gamers with multiple accounts on their Xbox for siblings would have to re-purchase the game just to activate it on that separate account. That’s been revealed as wrong, but it’s not that far off either.

Yes, games will be linked to Xbox LIVE accounts, but through the use of parent controls users with more than one account on a single console will be able to activate the game for other profiles. Good, because that was sounding ridiculous for moment there.

Microsoft also mentioned plans in place to allow gamers to sell and trade games online via the Xbox One, which sounds like a really awesome idea at first. However, Microsoft then also confirmed that they will charge a fee on games used on other accounts not linked to it, meaning that second-hand games will now come with a tax. And not just a small online fee type tax either,. Reports suggest that Microsoft could charge the full retail price for you to use the game on another account, effectively making second-hand sales outside of their planned trading system useless.

“But what if you want to bring a game disc to a friend’s house and play there? You’ll have to pay a fee—and not just some sort of activation fee, but the actual price of that game—in order to use a game’s code on a friend’s account. Think of it like a new game.”

“The bits that are on that disc, you can give it to your friend and they can install it on an Xbox One. They would then have to purchase the right to play that game through Xbox Live.”

It’s something all of us have been dreading for a long time now, and if completely true this could end up being more detrimental for Microsoft than the second-hand industry. Also say goodbye to a world where you could borrow games too. Microsoft has yet to details their system for trading and selling games online, so not all hope is lost…yet.

What’s a reveal event without a little controversy. Although nothing was mentioned regarding used games during the Xbox One reveal itself, rumours and somewhat of a confirmation by Microsoft after the event seems to indicate that the Xbox One is being designed to effectively “cut out the middle man”.

Microsoft answered in official Q&A after the event:

“We are designing Xbox One to enable customers to trade in and resell games. We’ll have more details to share later.”

Now at first that sounds like a rather awesome idea. Being able to sell your titles digitally and still play games for a fraction of the cost is a rather enticing prospect. But sadly, that’s possibly only one side of the coin. And the other side doesn’t look as good.

With this type of design, the Xbox One could possibly restrict used games not purchased through this new system. In fact, according to a report made by Wired, the Xbox One might restrict and link games to a single Xbox LIVE account, making it a bit of a problem for anyone with a sibling who shares their console.

What follows naturally from this is that each disc would have to be tied to a unique Xbox Live account, else you could take a single disc and pass it between everyone you know and copy the game over and over. Since this is clearly not going to happen, each disc must then only install for a single owner.

Microsoft did say that if a disc was used with a second account, that owner would be given the option to pay a fee and install the game from the disc, which would then mean that the new account would also own the game and could play it without the disc.

But what if a second person simply wanted to put the disc in and play the game without installing – and without paying extra? In other words, what happens to our traditional concept of a “used game”? This is a question for which Microsoft did not yet have an answer, and is surely something that game buyers (as well as renters and lenders) will want to know.

Now that’s a bit of a scary prospect, but for now it’s just a rumour. However, Microsoft’s answer in the Q&A doesn’t exactly reassure me. Take it with a pinch of salt for now, but rest assured that we’ll be keeping a very close eye on this.

Probably one of the most exciting features announced during the Xbox One reveal this evening was made right at the beginning. While breaking down the Xbox One in terms of specifications, it was revealed that the new console would feature three operating systems, which go a long way to ensuring that the One will be far more than your average console.

On top of the required Xbox OS, the One will include a kernel of Windows, which is the backbone of the consoles multi-tasking functionality. This was one of the more impressive features announced tonight, basically allowing Xbox One users to multitask in various ways while not interrupting their gaming, movies or music. With simple voice commands via the Kinect, users can bring up Internet Explorer on the side of the screen, start music in the background or switch between TV, Game or Movies in mere seconds. It makes perfect sense for a company that distributes the world’s most popular OS, and it’s certainly something over Sony at this point.

This Windows Kernel will also allow various Windows applications to work on the console, such as Skype. This has an interesting number of possibilities fir the future, as Microsoft can now centralize development on apps instead of having to split the company down the middle in order to cater for two operating systems.

The third OS allows the Windows kernel and Xbox OS to communicate with each other, as the kernel will be run virtually and simultaneously with the Xbox OS.

It’s a logical and really, really smart move on Microsoft’s part. I’m just interested to see how the Xbox One will interact with Windows based PC’s.

Unlike the fake video released last week, the teaser that appeared online for the PS4 last night is as real as it gets. Thing is, it doesn’t really show us anything besides some blurry images and small sections of the new console, which makes for a very teasing…tease. It’s early, don’t mock me.

The video above has short glimpses of Sony’s console, with a full reveal coming during their conference at E3 (Who would’ve guessed). It’s curious that Sony decided to release the teaser a good 24 hours before the Xbox reveal though, almost as if scared as to what Microsoft has up their sleeves. Or maybe they just want to remind people that their reveal was a good few months ago already.

Either way, it’s not much to go on, but one Reddit user managed to piece the images together and create what he thinks is the PS4 console design. It’s rather incredible when you consider what he had to work with, but bear in mind that a lot of assumptions had to be made in order to complete the design.

Is this what the PS4 looks like? Only those at Sony really know, but we won’t have to wait long to find out.

We’re just a few hours away from the big event, taking place in Redmond today. Microsoft is putting the final touches on what should be an interesting console reveal, as the PS4′s main competition takes centre stage. The question on everyone’s mind though; what will Microsoft be focusing on?

Kinect would be a good guess, but not the answer most people are hoping for. What about IllumiRoom though, the Kinect-enabled project that has the ability to alter your room and project the game around you. The proof of concept video released a few months back piqued a lot of people’s interest, mainly because it actually has some practical uses for serious gaming. According to Windows blogger Paul Thurrott, who is known for his accuracy, Microsoft are prepared to show off this tech at tonight’s reveal.

He also goes on to say something about a subsidized next-gen Xbox being scrapped. So much for that then.

On top of this, McLaren made a surprise announcement and advised everyone to tune into Microsoft’s stream tonight. Out of the kindness of their own hears? I think not. McLaren most probably has something to do with the reveal themselves, which lead many to believe that Forza 5 would be announced as a next-gen exclusive. These rumours were nearly turned into fact when Microsoft filed for the trademark of the name Forzavista. Then again, it would be crazy to think that a new Forza title wasn’t on the way to the next Xbox.

Like I said, we’re only a few hours away now. Keep it locked on eGamer tonight, as we’ll be bringing you all the news from the reveal straight after the stream has ended.

Presumably following on from the news that EA has ceased development on Wii U titles entirely, one of it’s senior software engineers has made his thoughts on Nintendo’s struggling console abundantly clear. Through a series of now removed tweets, EA senior software engineer and architect Bob Summerwill came out guns blazing, taking all sorts of nasty shots at the console.

“The Wii U is crap. Less powerful than an Xbox 360. Poor online/store. Weird tablet. Nintendo are walking dead at this point.”

“Sony, MS, Apple, Google all following the same playbook,” he added. “Standard, powerful, hardware, with focus on software and services.”

According to Summerwill, Nintendo’s best strategy would have been to exit the console race altogether, sand rather focus on making money through exclusive licenses for Zelda and Mario, shipping these names to more successful consoles such as the Xbox or PlayStation.

“Nintendo are still operating like it’s 1990. They should have ‘done a Sega’ and offered Mario/Zelda as PS4/Durango exclusives. Instead they make this awful console. Just stop it! Just make great games!”

So, in an instant flash of comical rage, the internet forgot about Microsoft’s Adam Orth. Will EA take action, or has Summerwill eloquently summed up their feelings as a whole as well.

I bet you didn’t know that a prominent artist living in South Africa has worked on Uncharted 1 and 2, and is now doing some fantastic character modelling for Naughty Dog’s latest title, The Last of Us. Judd Simantov left Naughty Dog after Uncharted 2, but has since begun freelancing for several studios such as Blizzard.

Recently he released the video above, which details his character rigging and modelling for none other than Joel and Ellie in The Last of Us. It’s some truly spectacular work, but there’s something about the fact that this comes from South Africa that makes it all the more special.

I’ve had the chance to meet Judd in person, and I have to just re-emphasise what an amazing artist he is. Really, go look up some of his previous artworks. They’re rather awesome.

So when you’re playing The Last of Us in little under a month’s time, just keep in mind that some of that fantastic looking charter modelling comes from right here. Kudos Judd.

Rainbow 6: Patriots has been gone for a long, long time, which is never a good sign for upcoming title. Many believed that Ubisoft were simply waiting for next-gen console reveals, probably revealing the game again at E3 this year. Sadly, a recent Gamestop database update suggests a fate far worse than a place on Ubisoft’s E3 conference.

The massive US retailer has removed the title from it’s database and “stopped taking reservations as we wait to hear further from Ubisoft on an official release date for Rainbow 6: Patriots.” A source within the retailer has stated that the company has actively “flipped the switch” on Rainbow 6, which isn’t a particularly good sign.

The source continued by saying that large retailers such as Gamestop rarely remove titles from their database unless they have been cancelled, suggesting that this is exactly what has happened to Rainbow 6: Patriots. Considering the complete blackout the title has experienced, there isn’t much evidence saying otherwise.

A Ubisoft representative was approached for a comment, replying “we have nothing further to share about Rainbow 6: Patriots at this time.”

As much as it pains me to say it, being a massive fan of the franchise, things really aren’t really looking good for Patriots.

Sony might want to steal some of Microsoft’s thunder come the 21st of May. Sony Japan has revealed a new IP, Panopticon, via a rather lengthy teaser trailer. The official website contains a countdown which will end on the day of the next Xbox reveal. Coincidence?

Yeah probably, but it’s not like Sony don’t know what’s happening on that day either. Panopticon looks like a new sci-fi adventure title, but it’s hard to guess what type of game it will be from the trailer alone. But hell, I’m not a massive Japanese games fan, but the trailer above is rather spectacular.

What we can gather from it is that society has no marked citizens with barcodes that seem to float above their heads. It looks like a rather dystopian glimpse of the future, in England no less, excluding the massive beasts that destroy cities of course.

Curiously, no platforms or release dates were shown in the trailer, but the countdown suggests that we’ll have a lot more information regarding this title rather soon.

Until then, just drool over the gorgeous cel-shaded visuals. They’re rather amazing if you ask me.

I’ve joked many times about what a failure the Wii U has been, and how I feel for anyone who bought the console that was clearly a weak attempt by Nintendo, at least for the more core gamers. But news that EA has literally no games scheduled for the console this year is a major blow.

EA spokesperson Jeff Brown confirmed “we have no games in development for the Wii U currently.” This confirms rumours that suggested the popular American Football series, Madden, would not appear on the Wii U this year, as well as rumours that Battlefield’s Frostbite 3 engine would not be supported either.

But no games? No games at all? From one of the biggest publisher we have, that’s a rather big deal. If EA isn’t willing to develop for the Wii U, how long before other publishers follow suit? They’re just not making enough money on the platform to warrant development costs, which is a major factor to deal with in the current economic slump.

EA promised an “unprecedented partnership” with Nintendo and Wii U, but Kotaku reports that Brown says the “early run of EA games on Wii U represented EA delivering on its E3 2011 partnership.”

It may not be the end of EA on the Wii U, but it will be a long and bumpy road ahead for the console during the rest of this year. Is it dead already?

Is it just me, or has no one noticed how weird the name “Gran Turismo” is up until now? Like think about it; do you actually know what it means? I’m far too lazy to Google that shit, so let’s just roll with it until the next instalment.

Yesterday Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi revealed the next instalment in the long running racing simulation franchise, Gran Turismo 6. The reveal took place at the Silverstone Track in the UK, at an event celebrating the 15 year anniversary of the franchise. Many questioned why GT6 would only appear on the PS3, especially considering the PS4′s release being right around the corner, but it seems like the PlayStation racing exclusive might make the jump sooner than we thought.

When questioned about GT6 on the PS4, Yamauchi was quoted as saying:

“We actually do have a PlayStation 4 version in mind, but for this holiday season, we thought it would be best for users to release on PS3 for now.”

“I thought the best scenario would be to have the game come out, then to have new scenarios, new DLC and other updates. Once the players have thoroughly played out the system, if the PlayStation 4 version came out naturally, as part of that process, I think that would be the best scenario.”

So, not exactly a top priority then? If this really is the plan for the Gran Turismo series, then wouldn’t it be a better idea to release an all new entry on Sony’s next console, rather than eventually porting this instalment a year or so after release? Seems like an odd decision to me.

Regardless, Gran Turismo 6 will release exclusively on the PS3 at the end of this year.

The middle of the year is always the worst time for most gamers. Well, gamers who live on new releases at least. Most new and exciting titles are released in the first or last quarters of the year, making winter just that little bit worse. Thankfully, this year is somewhat different with a few awesome titles releasing this month, but more importantly next month.

Specifically, I’m talking about Naughty Dog’s new IP, The Last of Us, which has now apparently been finished and is ready for manufacture. A picture tweeted Naughty Dog Co-President Christophe Balestra suggests that the studios has wrapped up development, a good three weeks ahead of its scheduled release.

Some people are wondering why Naughty Dog doesn’t just push up the release date if production has wrapped up already, and those people clearly don’t know how the world works. Here’s a quick breakdown; studios finishes development, studio sends game to manufacturers, manufacturers produce millions and millions of disc, millions and millions of discs are sent around the world and made ready for release.

So yeah, three weeks people. Not that far away now. The Last of Us will release on PS3 on June 14th.

The rumours were true (then again, when aren’t they recently?). Gran Turismo 6 has been officially unveiled and is currently in development for the PlayStation 3. The prestigious racing title will release in the holiday season this year, with a demo releasing in July.

President of Polphony Digital and creator of the Gran Turismo franchise, Kazunori Yamauchi, officially announced the sequel at an event in Silverstone today, which played host to a celebration of 15 years of Gran Turismo. Yes, it’s been that long already, we’re all getting old.

Yamauchi had this to say about Gran Turismo 6 during the announcement.

“I’d like to announce today that we are developing GT 6 for the holiday season this year on the PlayStation 3. The game engine will be renewed for GT6, we’ll be cleaning it up, making it smoother for the future.

“The rendering engine will be completely renewed for GT 6, there will be a revamped Physics Engine, new suspension, tyre and aerodynamics modelling. We’ll have 200 more cars than Gran Turismo 5, with 1200 available at release. More cars will be released after launch, too.”

It was also revealed that all the cars and tracks in the previous installment will be preserved and carried over to this sequel. On top of that you can expect even more car models and tracks, with the inclusion of a course creator now encouraging players to form their own championships and leagues around the world. The emphasis is on sociability here it seems, which just makes the elephant in the room even more obvious; Why is this not a PlayStation 4 launch title?

With the console already announced, you’d expect Polphony to reveal whether or not Gran Turismo would make it’s next-gen debut come the end of the year. It’s a bit surprising to see them not take the leap so soon, but it could be that they’re trying to squeeze every last drop out of the PS3 before letting go.

Either way, PlayStation racing simulation fans can now rejoice.

Deadpool isn’t the type of hero you’d think could star in his own video game. In fact, Deadpool isn’t exactly the hero you’d expect to star anywhere. Why? Well Deadpool isn’t a hero. This crazed mercenary usually rents his skills to the highest bidder and rarely has any moral compass to follow. On top of that, he’s got voices in his head, he’s obscenely offensive and he really doesn’t care who the hell he pisses off. Come to think of it, he sounds like the perfect character to headline a hack and slash game.

Name: Deadpool
Genre: Hack and Slash
Players: 1
Multiplayer: N/A
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Developers: High Moon Studios
Publishers: Activision
Release Date: 25 June 2013
Price: R559 (PS3, Xbox 360), R379 (PC)

Deadpool, or Wade Wilson under the mask, isn’t the type of person you usually find yourself controlling. He’s reckless, over the top and loud. He’s crude, selfish and devoid of morals. He also happens be be a kick-ass character that never fails to disappointment, no matter how crazy the writers make him. In case you’re a bit behind your comic lore or if the only Deadpool you know is that really shit attempt by Ryan Reynolds, then here’s a quick catch-up. Wade Wilson is a disfigured and mentally fractured mercenary with an insane healing factor. Think Wolverine but without the claws and cigars. Deadpool commonly treads the line between hero and villain, but more often than not he’s too busy breaking the fourth wall to care about being either. He’s commonly plagued by voices in his head telling what to do, but that’s just one of his traits that add to his comical nature, often becoming a parody of itself.

And if you really think about it, what better way to showcase this bizarre behavior than a video game. Deadpool will often “break the fourth wall” and talk directly to the player during the title, advising them in menu screens and passing off comments during cutscenes. In fact, Deadpool has even broken the fourth wall in terms of the game’s development, forcing High Moon Studios to make a game about him or suffer death by his hands. Seriously, this is how Deadpool rolls. Players will often get a front row seat to the inner workings of Deadpool‘s mind as he struggle (or revels) in his insanity. One particular scene actually depicts Deadpool committing suicide after being advised to do so by the voice in his head. It’s okay though, he’s immortal remember.

But Deadpool‘s persona can only carry a game so far, which is probably the biggest worry when it comes to this title. When you take into consideration Deadpool‘s arsenal, mainly consisting of samurai swords, knives and dual pistols, it’s almost impossible to imagine a title like this not being hack and slash. As Deadpool, you’ll slice your way though waves and waves of enemies in gloriously violent and crude fashion, with a multitude of nut shots and corny dark humours jokes peppering the action constantly. As you’d expect, Deadpool will eventually gain access to even more absurd weapons as the game progress, including laser rifles, massive hammers and more. Think more about fun than practicality. You’ll be able to dismember enemies and grab their lost limbs, sometimes allowing Deadpool to say things like “No guts, no glory” while holding the recently removed intestines of a nearby enemy. Like I said, think fun.

Aside from the constant combat, Deadpool will also feature some slower stealth areas which will allow you to blow your enemy’s brains out in complete silence. Or not, it’s really your choice. Considering Deadpool contains a healing factor that Wolverine is sometimes jealous of, it’s a bit hard to think that the Merc with the Mouth will be afraid of any number of enemies. That said, you’re not going to be invincible in Deadpool, but the developers have had a little bit of fun with this aspect as well. Instead of letting a heath bar slowly lose weight when you take damage, Deadpool will lose limbs as he takes damage, hampering your attacks and abilities. Players will the have the option to run around the battlefield, pick up the rogue limbs and reattach them, or simply wait for them to grow back. Deadpool will also allow you to level up and upgrade, well upgrade Deadpool himself. This includes assigning new moves to his repertoire, adding more damage and flair to existing move and unlocking new tools of destruction to play with.

As he’s done in previous Deadpool outings, our good friend Nolan North (Uncharted, Batman: Arkham City) will return to voice the Merc with a Mouth, previously voicing the mercenary in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. Thankfully, Deadpool won’t be the only Marvel character making a noticeable appearance in his latest title, with Deadpool frenemy Cable taking on a pseudo co-star role. In addition to that, Deadpool will feature cameos from Domino, Mister Sinister, Psylocke and more. And in case you don’t know who any of those characters are, don’t worry, neither do I. Domino does look rather awesome though.

Suspected Selling Points

• Deadpool in all his comic glory is sure to please fans everywhere.
• High Moon Studios has taken great care in crafting Deadpool and his insane persona.
• While not revolutionary, the gameplay sounds entertaining and has the potential to be tactically deep.
• Breaking the fucking Fourth Wall.

Potential Pitfalls

• Gameplay doesn’t sound all that innovative.
• Could become too self-indulgent in it’s main character.
• Comic to video game adaptations. The history speaks for itself.

Sadly, that’s most of what we know about Deadpool, a title that is set to release in just over a month. It’s a bit worrying that there doesn’t seem to be a lot of innovation on the gameplay side of things, but seeing such attention to detail when it comes to Deadpool himself could possibly make this game rather great. Well, better than any X-Men game ever released at least. Suck it Wolverine.

In case you’re wondering how many times the word Deadpool gets mentioned in this preview, the answer is 30. Deadpool gets said 30 times. Probably, our maths isn’t too great.

Nvidia had somewhat of an uphill battle ahead of them when the revealed the Shield. The small device that is essentially a controller with a screen debuted at CES this year, with the company boasting about its ability to play Android titles. Ok, and?

The main feature that many have been looking forward to concerning the Shield is its ability to stream PC titles onto its screen, effectively allowing you to play your PC titles on a smaller screen, using a controller. Genius, right? Regardless, it’s somewhat impressive, if not gimmicky, technology, but with the announcement of the Shield’s price it’s just turned into ridiculous.

Nvidia is currently accepting pre-orders for the device, which officially goes on sale next month for the not so cheap price of $349 (around R3200). The Shield will ship with a Tegra 4 mobile processor, a pretty powerful piece of hardware in the Android market. The Shield will feature a screen that is capable of displaying images in 720p, as well as being multitouch. However, are you prepared to pay anything close to that for the Shield?

Let me put it into a little bit of perspective; first up, no one would ever pay that for Android titles. Ever. Next, PC streaming is still a bit too gimmicky to justify that price. On top of that, streaming will only work with GPU’s in Nvidia’s 600 series, meaning that you’ll need to fork out a pretty penny for a GPU in the first place. Then again, why not just use the money you’d spend on this and put it towards a new GPU or a second one to SLI, if you have a few notes burning holes in your jeans.

What exactly am I trying to say. Don’t buy this; don’t even look in its general direction. Seriously, this is not something you should be spending money on. Much like the Wii U and PlayStation Vita. Do you want to wake up sad every morning like owners of these gaming platforms?

Sony hasn’t been sailing in easy waters lately. The company has desperately struggled to post a profit, which finally occurred this fiscal year. The last time Sony managed to post a profit was all the way back in 2008, forcing the massive electronics and entertainment house to lay off staff and sell prime office real estate. And this is why one of its major stockholders wants the company to split up.

Daniel S. Loeb, a hedge fund manager who owns 6.5% of Sony, has suggested that Sony be split in the middle, separating the Entertainment and Electronic practices of the company. This suggestion was made to Sony CEO Kaz Hirai in person, after Loeb visited Tokyo and delivered a letter to the Sony boss.

Loeb currently owns shares worth $1.1 billion in Sony, making his opinions a little more than…well just an opinion. His plan would essentially have Sony “spin off part of its entertainment arm,” according to the article, which is comprised of three major pieces: Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

According to The Times, this is what Mr. Loeb had to say about his plan.

“Mr. Loeb said he believed that spinning off a portion of the entertainment business to Sony shareholders could sharpen the company’s focus and lead to higher profit margins, while helping to revive the core electronics business. He has also contemplated a spinoff or sale of other operations, including Sony’s insurance division, which accounted for much of the company’s profit last quarter.”

Listen, I’m no business guru, but this doesn’t sound like a bad idea to me. It’s been known for a while now that the majority of Sony’s profits come from its electronics sector, and when you’re facing financial difficulty it just makes it easier to cu the strings that weigh you down.

But then again, I could be completely wrong and not know it. What are your opinions on a possible Sony splitting?

Can you feel it? We’re just one week away from seeing what Microsoft has had up their next-gen sleeves all this time, and I for one can’t wait. And it seems like Microsoft can’t either, as the company has already begun construction on the temporary building that will host the exclusive console reveal.

Microsoft began construction on “the house that Xbox built” yesterday, located in Redmond, Washington campus. Xbox Live’s Major Nelson and Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business chief of staff Aaron Greenberg posted some early pictures of the structure on Twitter.

The next Xbox reveal is set for next week Tuesday at 7:00 pm local time, so no need to stock up on ridiculous amounts of energy drinks to stay up and watch it. As with the PS4 reveal, we’ll be bringing you all the news as it happens, in case you can’t get a good stream or simply want to wait for all the important bits.

But for now, what do you want to see from the reveal in seven days time? What don’t you want to see (I think I know the unanimous answer to that) and what launch titles do you think Microsoft has prepped? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

That’s according to the CEO of publisher Take-Two, who are set to release Grand Theft Auto V later this year. CEO Strauss Zelnick believes that creating compelling titles for next-generation consoles will be a costly affair, but says that his company are up to the task at hand.

Zelnick credits being financially responsible with titles and always having cash in hand plays a big role in producing next-gen titles of the highest quality.

“There’s nothing straightforward about making what we hope will be the standard bearers of the industry. And there’s no question that developing for what will be next-gen will be complicated and for the type of titles we do, will be costly.”

“That said, we have a very strong balance sheet and we align our business with our costs; and one of our three strategic objectives is to be the most efficient company in the business.”

This seems somewhat odd when the same company stated in November last year that next-gen titles would in fact be easier to produce, significantly lowering production costs. Zelnick is quoted as saying this a few months ago.

“We don’t have a ramp up of operating expenses for next-generation. Do we believe the titles to be a whole lot more expensive to make for next-gen? And the answer is we do not. In many instances we believe that it may be somewhat easier to make titles for next-gen, depending on how the technology comes together.”

So what’s the deal? Will next-gen titles be easier or harder to produce? Will production costs rise or fall, and what will this mean for us, the consumers?

Metro: Last Light will finally see dawn this week after some turmoil over at THQ delayed the sequels release. A lot of people are eager to dive into post-apocalyptic Russia once more, but a few are asking a rather important question: Why’s is the title’s “Ranger Mode” a pre-order exclusive and not in the game in the first place.

Ranger Mode was a feature released for free for the first Metro title, 2033, after the hardcore gaming community demanded it. It removes the HUD, makes enemies for powerful and decreases the amount of bullets you find, which is rather extreme in a game where bullets serve as currency as well. It was a treat for those who enjoy punishment, but now it’s being offered as DLC for the sequel, and fans aren’t happy.

Huw Beynon, global brand manager at Metro: Last Light’s publisher, Koch Media, explained why the mode was turned into a separate pre-order and DLC bonus.

“Game makers and publishers now live in a world where offering game content as a pre-order exclusive is a requirement by retail, and Ranger Mode seemed like the best choice since it was a mode for hardcore fans who would most likely pre-order the game, or purchase it at launch in any case. We rejected requests to make story content or additional missions exclusive. We also rejected requests to make this a timed exclusive.”

You know what, that actually makes sense. Because of the gaming market today, Koch Media have been forced to offer some form of pre-order bonus, but instead of taking out a chunk of the game that everyone should enjoy, they’ve taken out a feature that only the most hardcore fans of Metro will enjoy. And essentially, they are the people most likely to pre-order in the first place.

“We do not recommend Ranger Mode for a first playthrough, and this is made very clear both in-game. We expect Metro fans will want to try Ranger Mode for a subsequent playthrough, and we think that for this hardcore player, Ranger Mode offers a richer experience – but only once you’ve clocked the game at least once.”

“We took all the steps we could to ensure that, while still offering retailers a pre-order incentive that met their needs, we did not force players to pre-order, or make them wait to get this content.”

I think it’s a fair move considering some of the anxiety around the title, taking into consideration the trouble it had to endure during a publisher change near the end of the development cycle. So if you’re a hardcore Metro fan (like me) you’ve probably already pre-ordered the title. And if you’re not sure yet, the pre-order incentive isn’t exactly forcing you to make a decision, as Ranger Mode will be made available as a separate purchase after release. Kock Media explains that the mode will cost $5, as this is the lowest price they are permitted to charge.

And trust me; Ranger Mode really isn’t for everyone. Metro: Last light releases this Friday on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Still have your PlayStation Vita? Still haven’t sold it despite the utter resentment you feel every day for buying it in the first place? Me too! But wait, it seems like Sony might actually love us again, and could actually be releasing a title that hasn’t already appeared on other platforms months ago.

Sony’s big scheme of releasing a large number of games for the Vita fell flat when it was revealed that a large number of these titles would be indie games already released on PC and consoles. That’s not exactly the ground-breaking news you want to give to consumers who have lost faith in your product months ago. However, according to the Senior Business Development Manager for Sony Computer Entertainment’s European division, we might have a new reason to have a Vita soon.

Shahid Kamal Ahmad has teased a brand new Vita title via Twitter, saying that gamers can expect to be hooked for “hours a day”. Although that was the only real bit of information he released, he also stated that this new title was definitely “not indie”, meaning we could actually finally be getting a new massive title for the Vita that isn’t already released somewhere else.

I’m guessing we’ll have to wait until E3 to hear more about it, but Sony better make a strong case for the Vita at the conference for all those Vita owners (me included) who will never trust a Sony handheld again.

Destiny is still a bit of an enigma when you think about it. Bungie has promised this brand new gaming experience that blends single-player and MMO experiences together, but that’s all talk about a substance that we have yet to see in action. While E3 should serve as a good platform for this first gameplay reveal, Bungie have shed some light on some of the inner workings of Destiny.

Via the game’s official website, Bungie have revealed some details about Destiny’s classes, plot and setting. The most intriguing details concern the game’s Guardians that players will take control of, and the differences between each class. Players will have a choice between a Titan, Warlock or a Hunter, and each class seems to have interesting differences.

Speaking about the Warlock, Bungie explains:

“Warlocks have long studied the Traveler, mastering some of its arcane energies. Its true purpose still remains a great mystery, but discovering truth has always driven you into the unknown. Now, our enemies are the only thing that stands between you and the lost wonders of our Golden Age.”

Titans, as you’d expect, have a far greater focus on physical attributes:

“The first Titans built the Wall, and gave their lives to defend it. Now, you stand in the same high place, steadfast and sure, protecting all who shelter in your shadow. You hail from a long line of heroes, forged from strength and sacrifice. Our enemies may be deadly and merciless, but so are you.”

Lastly, Hunters will cater for more stealth loving players like myself, with many similarities to common rogue classes:

“Hunters once prowled the wilderness and wastelands, taking big risks for even bigger rewards. You’re no outlaw—at least, not anymore—but making your own luck has always meant bending the rules. Your unique brand of daring and ingenuity is needed now more than ever.”

The website update also revealed some more details on Abandoned Earth and the Moon settings, with blank teaser pages still present for Mars and Venus. You can check them out in the link below, as well as leave your thoughts on Destiny in the comments section.

I for one am extremely excited to finally see this in action come E3.

We’ve heard lots and lots of rumours about what Microsoft’s next Xbox will be called. From the awful jump from Xbox 360 to Xbox 720, as well as the equally awful Xbox Durango, nothing really seems to catch the attention of hopeful next-generation Xbox owners. And to be honest, that hasn’t really changed this new rumoured title.

According to the International Business Times in the UK, the next Xbox will apparently be called Infinity. Yes, Xbox Infinity, like that chewing gum that lies to its consumers. These reports are somewhat backed up by an image that leaked on Reddit a few days ago, which also suggested that the new Xbox would carry the title of Infinity.

Now, it’s far better than 720 or Durango in my opinion, but here’s why it’s still not hitting the mark. Firstly, the suggested slogan in the picture immediately makes too many promises. Infinite Possibilities, let’s be real Microsoft, we’re not all stupid you know. That’s not exactly my biggest concern though. The real reason behind my hatred for the name is its length. I don’t want to have to be typing out Infinity every time I talk about the new Xbox for the foreseeable future. Don’t you care about the little guys Microsoft?

But seriously, what’s wrong with simplicity. Sony has been getting away with it for years, and it works perfectly. A name should be short and concise enough to bring up easily in conversation without people looking at you funny when they don’t know what they hell you’re talking about. If you say “PS4″, people immediately know what you’re talking about, as opposed to “Oh, Xbox Infinity”. Even I would stare at you.

Keep it simple, stupid. Heard of that principle Microsoft?

Well, it’s not at all surprising when you consider just how bad Aliens: Colonial Marines really was. Co-developer (or whole developer according to some theories) TimeGate has apparently fired all of it’s staff and closed shop for good, just a week after filing for bankruptcy.

Two sources close to Kotaku confirmed the closure. Any calls made to the studio were immediately forwarded to voicemail, suggesting that the reports really are true. TimeGate previously let go of a large number of employees in March after the extremely poor reception of Colonial Marines, but this seems to be the final nail in the coffin.

The studio was currently working on a free-to-play shooter named Minimum, and it is unclear whether or not this project will still see a future or not. Considering this is the first I’ve heard of it, it seems likely that it will fall into the growing pit of cancelled games this year.

Before the terrible Aliens: Colonial Marines, TimeGate was known for working on expansions to the original F.E.A.R, as well as the rather great multiplayer shooter Section 8. The studio came under fire after it was discovered that they had in fact developed Colonial Marines, despite Gearbox Software claiming that they were “co-developers”.

Good luck to all those affected by the studios’ closure.

Yesterday Ubisoft announced that famed Assassin’s Creed developer and creator, Patrice Desilets, had left the studio after conflicting visions when it came to the franchise’s future. Later it was revealed that Desilets had in fact been fired and was escorted out of the building without getting a chance to say goodbye to his team. Now it’s been revealed that he wasn’t the only one fired yesterday.

Assassin’s Creed developer and also former THQ Montreal employee Jean-François Boivin was also dismissed by Ubisoft yesterday in similar fashion, with Desilets wishing him well over Twitter.

“Thinking of my good friend and producer @JFBoivin who also got fired yesterday. I’m sharing your support with him.”

Boivin previously worked at THQ Montreal with Desilets before Ubisfot acquired the studio when THQ went under. It was surprising to see both developers return afterwards, as many suspected they would leave for other studios rather than returning to Ubisoft.

Seems like the only reason Ubisoft wanted to re-hire them was so that they could fire each developer themselves. That’s an evil way of looking at it.

So we all know Wolfenstein is (hopefully) a grand return for the classic shooter franchise after the 2009 reboot failed to capture the hearts and minds of gamers (there’s a joke in there somewhere). While the full CGI trailer certainly caught my attention, we have yet to see any new gameplay for the new Bethesda published title, but don’t expect to see any player on player action.

MachineGames’, the developers behind The New Order, have revealed that Wolfenstein will not include any multiplayer component and will be a single-player focused experience. This somewhat breaks the common pattern of game, mostly first person shooters, having a multiplayer component, sometimes just for the sake of it (Tomb Raider, I’m glaring at you).

It’s great to see that MachineGames’ aren’t afraid to take this route, especially since multiplayer components are almost demanded by most publishers when developing a title. If Bethesda has afforded them this little bit a of freedom, then I’m excited to see what else has been experimented with.

Wolfenstein: The New Order will release on Xbox 360, PS3, PC and next-generation consoles later this year.

Despite the rather exciting (or dreadful) news of EA acquiring exclusive rights to publish future Star Wars titles yesterday, the publisher has announced it’s titles for this fiscal year, and not one Star Wars title is on that list. EA executive chairman Larry Probst confirmed this in an earnings call yesterday.

Probst, stepping in until EA finds a new CEO, confirmed that none of the publisher’s EA titles are releasing during this fiscal year, which ends in March next year. This means that the earliest date for a new Star Wars title is little under a year away, sitting in April 2014.

It was confirmed yesterday that at least three EA studios are busy on three different Star Wars titles. Although none of the games have been revealed, the developers behind them have, with DICE, BioWare and Visceral Games all working on their own Star Wars project.

These titles will most probably be revealed during the publishers E3 conference, so start getting excited.

Patrice Désilets is somewhat of a gaming martyr. He was one of the minds behind the Assassin’s Creed franchise when it was still good, working on the original title and the subsequent Assassin’s Creed II. After that, Désilets left Ubisoft for THQ Montreal, and the Assassin’s Creed franchise took a massive nosedive. It shouldn’t come as a surprise then to find out that Désilets left over creative differences concerning the future of the franchise.

A few months ago, when THQ took a nosedive of their own and shut down, Ubisoft bought some of the development studios, most notably rehiring Désilets after acquiring THQ Montreal. People anxious waited to see if he would in fact stay at Ubisoft and hopefully restore the Assassin’s Creed franchise to its former glory. That dream has only lasted a few months though, as Ubisoft have now fired Désilets.

Initial reports suggested that Patrice left the publisher on his own terms, but shortly afterwards he took to social media to address how Ubisoft fired him with immediate effect, with their reasons apparently “baseless and without merit.”

“Contrary to any statements made earlier today, this morning I was terminated by Ubisoft. I was notified of this termination in person, handed a termination notice, and was unceremoniously escorted out of the building by two guards without being able to say goodbye to my team or collect my personal belongings.”

“This was not my decision. Ubisoft’s actions are baseless and without merit. I intend to fight Ubisoft vigorously for my rights, for my team and for my game.”

Previous reports from Ubisoft suggested that the publisher and Désilets had fallout over visions for future titles once again. It would be interesting to hear exactly what ideas Désilets has that Ubisoft simply refuses to use, but hopefully he finds a home at a new studio with a bit more creative freedom.

Or maybe Ubisoft will try hire him again in the next year or so, who the hell knows what they’re up to.

So, among other announcements made by EA yesterday, The Sims 4 managed to worm it’s way into the party and make itself known to the world. Yes, it’s another Sims title, what di you expect. The series has done well for EA in the past with a focus on more causal gamers, but that’s not what has caught everyone’s attention.

During the announcement, EA stated clearly that The Sims 4 would not require a constant Internet connection on order to play. In a statement made by EA, the publisher says that The Sims 4 is a celebration of the “heart and soul of the Sims themselves”.

“The Sims 4 encourages players to personalize their world with new and intuitive tools while offering them the ability to effortlessly share their creativity with friends and fans.”

If you have semi-decent memory you’ll recall that EA came under immense fire recent about always-online titles, with SimCity facing on of the worst launches to date. Because of the game’s requirement to connect to servers that were not ready on the day of launch, many players were unable to play their game for weeks after release day, forcing EA to do some major damage control and had out free games.

Seems like the publisher is keen on dodging that bullet the second time around. I mean hell, have you seen Sim’s players when they get angry? Od course not, they’re to busy playing The Sims anyway.

The Sims 4 will release for PC and Mac in 2014.

I’ve hated on Disney a lot lately, mainly because of they way they’re seemingly butchering the Star Wars franchise. Not only do we have new movies that no one is exactly sure about, Disney also decided to shut down LucusArts recently, and cancel all the projects they’ve been working on. My rage was further fuelled yesterday by news that Disney had made a deal with EA to publish core Star Wars titles in the near future.

I was angry, because you know EA is the devil and all that jazz. But that was before I realized one important fact about this deal; BioWare now had the chance to work on a Star Wars title again. My anger then turned to joy when it was announced that BioWare is actually busy developing a Star Wars title for release soon.

During the reveal of the publishing deal, EA also announced three studios who are already working on three separate Star Wars titles. EA Labels president Frank Gibeau revealed each of the studios, and commented on the vision they each had for their games.

“Every developer dreams of creating games for the Star Wars universe. Three of our top studios will fulfill that dream, crafting epic adventures for Star Wars fans. DICE and Visceral will produce new games, joining the BioWare team which continues to develop for the Star Wars franchise. The new experiences we create may borrow from films, but the games will be entirely original with all new stories and gameplay.”

In a separate post, Gibeau also confirmed that these three new titles would be running on the new Frostbite 3 engine, meaning we can probably look forward to some visually stunning Star Wars games.

What does this mean for fans? Well when you look at developers DICE and Visceral it’s a bit hard to imagine what types of Star Wars titles they have in mind, with both developers only really having good experience with first and third person shooters (Dead Space is a fucking shooter, deal with it). However, BioWare is certainly the more interesting developer choice, and one that fans will be looking to for some incredible titles. BioWare may be credited with creating the rather bland Star Wars MMO, The Old Republic, but they also created the stellar Knights of the Old Republic franchise nearly over a decade ago.

So, basically what I’m trying to say is, we want Knights of the Old Republic III Now BioWare.

If you’re a fan of Hideo Kojima’s mech-fighting franchise, Zone of the Enders, and you were a bit underwhelmed with the recent HD re-release of the previous titles, you can either take a sigh of relief or prepare yourself for a shock with what I’m about to say next. According to Kojima himself, all the work on a Zone of the Enders sequel has ceased and the teams behind the title disbanded.

Why? Speaking on a late night radio show, Kojima explained that after the sales figures for the HD release failed to reach any significant number, the team had a huge discussion regarding the sequel that has been in the works since it’s announcement in May of last year. The reveal teased a new setting, but now fans will never get to experience the first new title for this franchise since 2003.

The Zone of the Enders HD Collection was marred but bugs and weird transitions from 30 FPS to 60 FPS, which essentially the smooth combat of the original titles. Kojima has stated that the team behind the collection is currently working on a patch for the PS3 version, but no such attention is being given to the Xbox 360 collection.

While not his most popular series, especially locally, Zone of the Enders was rather huge for the niche market that hi mech-combat. Whether this franchise is well and truly dead is yet to be seen, but with all this work happening on Metal Gear Solid at the moment, it’s almost certain we won’t be hearing about another possible sequel for a long time.

When developers set out to create a game, they’re wanting their final product to sell. Most of the time they have estimates on how well it’s going to be received, but most of the time these estimations fall rather sort, especially if you’re at Sqaure Enix. However, sometimes they do the exact opposite, just look at Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon for instance.

The standalone DLC went on sale last week Wednesday and has received a fair amount of praise from critics, myself included. It’s a fun game, and people around the world are realizing that really quickly. The success of the title has been so good that Creative director Dean Evans already has a sequel in mind. Colt’s voice actor, ’80s action legend Michael Biehn spoke about a call he received from Evans last night, with the director apparently pretty excited about more Blood Dragon work.

“[Creative director Dean Evans] was with me on the phone last night. He was pretty jacked up. He was going into a meeting today to, you know, I think he wants to turn it into some sort of franchise. He’s got a sequel in mind.”

Now there’s a bit of bad and good that can happen with Blood Dragon becoming it’s own franchise. Sure, it won’t be limited in terms of size, so the developers could go crazy with a new setting and some more gameplay ideas. I just don’t know if players are willing to sit through a tongue-in-cheek story for more than the length of a decent DLC. Blood Dragon’s dialogue is fantastic, but it really wears thin if you play the game for more that 10 hours or so. But, then again, I wouldn’t discredit a team who produced this fantastic expansion in the first place.

During the interview, Biehn also spoke about how much popularity the game had brought him personally, with many people approaching him and asking about his work.

“I did an Aliens game last year that just, kind of, nobody really talked about it very much and I never really heard too much about it. I heard when it came out. Nobody ever came up to me afterwards and said, ‘Oh, that Aliens game was really good’ or whatever.”

“I’m telling you, I have more people approaching me now on the streets about this video game. Way more than they do now about, like, ‘Oh, weren’t you the guy that was in The Terminator?’ Or ‘Weren’t you the guy that was in The Victim?’ Or ‘Weren’t you the guy that was in Tombstone?’”

Three guesses why no one approached him for that “Alien” game him took part it.

Following a leak earlier yesterday that lasted the sum total of one hour, Gearbox have officially revealed the next DLC expansion for Borderlands 2, and it involves probably my favourite Borderlands character, Tiny Tina. The official title is Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, and it looks to be the biggest expansion for Borderlands 2 yet.

So we all know about Dungeons and Dragons right? Well, Pandora has a bit of a different version (would you expect any less?), named Bunkers & Badasses, with the “dungeon Master’ being none other than everyone’s favourite thirteen-year old explosive expert, Tiny Tina. Original Vault Hunters Brick, Mordecai and Lilith are all engaging in a friendly game with Tiny, and you get to be one of the characters in the game. This opens up some interesting features for the expansion, as you are now literally trapped in a game that Tina controls, allowing her to change enemy attributes, boss positions and loot on the fly, all while she narrates the action in a Morgan Freeman styled voice-over.

Gearbox have promised more details about the gameplay soon, with many other media sites reporting that they’ve had a chance to sample the DLC already but are barred by an embargo to talk about it just yet.

Regardless, it sounds like a really awesome end to the Season Pass, especially after the disappointment that was Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt. Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep will launch on June 25th on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. It will be the final DLC package free for Season Pass holders, and will cost $9,99 for those buying it separately.

Don’t worry, we aren’t going to be spoiling any endings of character developments that take place during The Last of Us’ campaign, but the rest of the Internet surely is. Details about the PS3 exclusive have managed to be leaked online, including details about the ending and the fates of key charters.

How? Well some diligent people digging around the code of the demo released with God of War: Ascension managed to pull up a number of names for some of the game’s later cutscenes. Just from this information alone a lot was pieced together, and now their are all sorts of posts popping up everywhere spoiling the ending for those who want to keep it a surprise (so, most of us then). Also uncovered in the code were details about which weapons would feature in the title and some small details regarding the game’s multiplayer mode.

As you can expect, threads on 4Chan, Reddit and even comments sections on most gaming website are rife with spoilers, so tread with care when reading anything related to The Last of Us. In fact, be careful everywhere, people seem to take pleasure in spoiling the endings for games with as many people as they can, so don’t count out spoilers in comments sections not even remotely related to the Naughty Dog title.

Also, if you somehow managed to come across them already through some misfortune and now intend to spread them, just read this before you do:

“I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. I will look for you, I will find you and I will kill you.”

That’s right, I’ll set Liam Neeson on your ass. You have been warned.

There are only so many military shooters you can stomach before something like Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon happens. In this rather lengthy and extremely enjoyable DLC, Ubisoft has accomplished a couple of things in an absolutely ridiculous fashion. With a focus on the outrageous, Blood Dragon manages to create and exciting and explosion filled alternate world to the tropical Rook islands, bringing along everything that was bad about the 80′s with it. And fret not,, even if you weren’t alive way back then you’ll definitely enjoy Blood Dragon’s ambiguous (and sometimes blatantly obvious) references to the era’s action films, music and vision of a dystopian future.

We’ve all seen those really old, really corny films from the 80′s that make predictions about the future in the year 2000. Not only is it hilarious to witness, it’s essentially the DNA behind Blood Dragon. The year is 2007, and the world has been ravaged by nuclear war. America is nothing more than a massive wasteland, with governments striving to find new avenues for peace. Through all this turmoil something was born, a new breed of super soldier. Part man, part machines, these ‘Mark IV Cyber Commandos’ are at the forefront of national security, and you, Rex “Power” Colt is the most badass of them all. Sounds like a thirteen year olds power hungry wet dream put onto a script right?

The VHS ear in the 80′s was fully of action flicks and sci-fi pictures that all held these plot points to heart, and it’s what Blood Dragon draws direct inspiration from. The over the top and intentionally stupid story is told through a series of 8-bit styled cutscenes, with muddy colours littering your screens. When the cutscenes fade away, you soon realise that this visual style had made a nice transition into the gameplay, with bright neon colours set across and ever-stormy sky. This is what the Rook Islands have been transformed into, and while visually appealing at first the style does wear thin after a few hours, and you’ll find yourself craving a simple day/ night cycle. Not only that, but the bright flashes of neon light combined with the rapid speed at which Rex moves sometimes makes for a headache inducing experience.

Speaking of Rex, Blood Dragon’s protagonist is probably one of the best parts of the standalone add-on. Voiced by Michael Biehn, commonly know for his roles in Aliens and Terminator, this “more machine than man” soldier embodies all the testosterone you could possibly wish for in a protagonist. He’s the stereotypical hero of an older age of action roles, seamlessly transitioning from a ruthless killer, which takes pride in his day job, to a poster boy against the use of drugs. Every line of dialogue may (or may not) feature a sexual undertone, but all this ridiculous writing fits in perfectly with the other characters and plot around you. It’s not meant to be taken seriously, but rather more comically, and it certainly delivers on that front.

In fact it’s through dialogue that Blood Dragon makes some rather comical statements about the state of the gaming industry at the moment. In a specific piece of dialogue, Doctor Elizabeth Darling, your main companion throughout the campaign, takes part in a particularly hilarious piece of dialogue, stating that games are “a proven coping mechanism” and that “anyone who thinks games are bad for you is a F.U.C.K.ing idiot”, with F.U.C.K. standing for “failing to understand our capacity for kindness”, of course. Combine this with running references to famous movie scenes and pop icons of the VHS era, and you’ve got a nicely bundled package that indulges in itself far too often but manages to stay entertaining rather than being straight up cheesy.

But none of this would be possible without a solid formula of gameplay supporting it, and Blood Dragon certainly delivers on this front as well. Gameplay is traditionally unchanged from Far Cry 3, with Rex still being able to sneak up and takedown enemies, race down ziplines and command forces of massive laser shooting lizards. Well, maybe that last part isn’t exactly something you remember from your first trip to the Rook Islands, but the inclusion of the massive lizards known as Blood Dragons is probably the biggest change to the gameplay formula. Ripping out cyber hearts from fallen enemies allows you to bait these large beasts into doing your dirty work for you, allowing you to twist them to your preferred play style. Want to run in guns blazing with a massive dragon by your side? You can do that. Want to use a Dragon to occupy forces at the front of a outpost while you sneak around infiltrate the compound from the rear? You can do that too. Using Blood Dragons is extremely entertaining and satisfying, but some of Blood Dragon’s finest moments come when you’re pitted up against one, or sometimes several, of these hulking lizards. Laser beams shooting from their eyes and their massive changes will rapidly delete your health, making them far more formidable foes than the rest of the cyber soldier cannon fodder that litters the island.

You’d expect the cyber soldiers of 2007 to put up at least a decent fight, but one of Blood Dragon’s most glaring problems is the exact opposite. Besides the fact that you only really fight three type of enemies, these helmet wearing baddies are sometimes so stupid that you actually feel bad for dispatching them so easily. While it makes the game considerably easier on lower difficulties, it also gives players a bit more freedom in the more cramped levels during the campaign, so in a way it’s not a complete deal breaking. However, it is a shame that a lot of the main campaign mission usually take you to a underground base, stripping away chances for stealth playthroughs and forcing you to come out guns blazing more often than not.

Thankfully Blood Dragon has you fully equipped to deal with the multitude of enemies thrown at you. Unlike Far Cry 3, Rex starts out pretty juiced up, with most takedown abilities unlocked from the get go. This somewhat makes gameplay feel more exciting from the beginning, rather than forcing players to grow a tattoo in order to enhance their skills. There’s still a persistent levelling system on offer, but this linear progression give you no choice as to what your next ability will be. Thankfully is constructed quite nicely, so you’ll never feel hard don by the lack of choice.

Apart from the levelling system, a few other features have been stripped from Blood Dragon, for better or worse. The entire crafting system has been booted, which is again somewhat a welcome change. You wouldn’t want to have to go hunting down cyber animal pelts just to carry two weapons again now would you? You’re a damn Cyber Commando; you’d expect Rex to be able to handle these types of things right from the beginning. Side-quests are still made available once you liberated much larger and more interesting outposts, again forcing you to kill everyone inside in order to liberate it. Side quests are largely the same as Far Cry with, aside from one change forcing you to kill a group of enemies while remaining hidden. Side quests unlock attachments for you weapons and reward you with cash money, which is a rather scarce resource if you don’t grind some animal hunting. On top of that there are collectible VHS tapes and television sets scattered around the island in order to keep you going well after the credits have rolled.

But the real star of this Blood Dragon show is undoubtedly the incredible soundtrack that is available as a separate download for retro fans. From the completely retro synth chords combined with loud drum machines, Blood Dragon’s soundtrack gives the entire package an accurate 80′s feels, and you’ll find it hard not to have a smile across your face when you hear a cheesy guitar riff combined with equally retro synth chord become the backdrop to your patriotic actions.

All in all, there really is no reason you shouldn’t be picking up Blood Dragon. Whether you’re itching for more Far Cry action or just have $15 needing a home, you can’t really go wrong here. The main campaign can be rushed through in under 4 hours, but you’ll most probably be spending a good 10 hours in Blood Dragons world, reclaiming outputs, killing robotic sharks and just being a complete badass. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon isn’t serious, nor should it be seen as such. It’s a videogame built for pure enjoyment, and it rarely misses a beat.

Following a tone of speculation and leaks, Activision have finally revealed the developers and title for the next annual Call of Duty Release. Taking over the reigns this year, as expected, is Infinity Ward, who is hard at work on “the next generation” of Call of Duty.

About nearly next to nothing has been released about Call of Duty: Ghosts besides the fact that the title will be released on both generations of consoles while Sony and Microsoft slowly phase in their new hardware later this year. Mark Rubin, the studio’s executive producer, stated that Ghosts will feature more than a new story.

“Everyone was expecting us to make Modern Warfare 4, which would have been the safe thing to do. We saw the console transition as the perfect opportunity to start a new chapter for Call of Duty. So we’re building a new sub-brand, a new engine, and a lot of new ideas and experiences for our players.”

The first look at Ghosts will apparently come during the Xbox 720 reveal on the 21st of this month, meaning that more timed exclusive DLC can probably be expected on Microsoft’s new platform.

Call of Duty: Ghosts will launch on the 5th of November on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, as well as the PS4 and “other next-generation consoles”.

When you think of titles such as Heavy Rain and the soon to be released Beyond: Two Souls, you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking that the lack of gameplay mechanics would translate into a longer narrative. What you may not take into account is the amount of work that is required to keep you entertained the entire time, since you’re all you’re inputting is button prompts here and there.

We’ve already seen just how massive the script is for Beyond: Two Souls, but now David Cage has confirmed just how long gamers can expect the story to last. According to the head of Quantic Dream, Two Souls will clock in at around 10 hours, with the entire experience being narrative-based.

Now that may sound quite short, again for a title that features little in terms of actual gameplay mechanics, but it makes sense when you think about. Essentially you’re being treated to a 10 hours plus film that you are able to interact with. And be serious, would you really sit through a title like this for more than 15 hours?

Personally, I think this completion time has been carefully considered and constructed around the title’s narrative and the assumption that most gamers won’t be too satisfied with a narrative-based title that requires more than 15 hours to see through.

Beyond: Two Souls, starring Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe, releases exclusively on PS3 later this year.

Kevin Conroy has been voicing the Dark Knight is all sorts of medium throughout the years from animated series to videogames, Kevin Conroy has served the cowl well, with his most recent performance in Arkham Asylum and Arkham City being nothing sort of spectacular. So it’s a bit sad to hear that he won’t be returning for the origins story, Arkham Origins.

Unlike the debacle with David Hayter and Solid Snake, the tale behind Kevin Conroy’s absence makes a little bit of sense. Batman: Arkham Origins is of course an origins tale, meaning that the Dark Knight is still in his younger years. Have a deep and aged voice for the Dark Knight will therefore not make too much sense, which explains wht Warner Bros have opted to go for a younger voice actor.

It’s even more a shame when you take into account that Mark Hamill will also not reprise his role as The Joker, stating long ago that Arkham City would be his final outing as the Clown Prince of Crime. So we might be getting a new Batman title, but it’s going to be missing two rather essential elements.

But again, it’s expected, and I can’t wait to see who Warner Bros picks to fill these enormously large shoes.

It’s been a rumour for quite sometime now, but now Bethesda have confirmed that Skyrim will be receiving a GOTY Edition in the form of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Legendary Edition. How’s that for an absolute mouthful.

The Skyrim Legendary Edition will only release on June 9th however, meaning it’s a rather long wait for those who have not yet taken down their first dragon. Then again, it’s not as exciting as it sounds. The Legendary Edition will include all three released expansions, namely the vampire-themed Dawnguard, the Sims inspired Heathfire and Dragonborn, which is pretty self-explanatory. In addition to that, the game will come with the latest 1.9 patch pre-installed.

The 1.9 patch added a Legendary difficulty mode as well as the ability to level-up indefinitely. It’s yet unclear whether or not the DLC will be included as vouchers or on the disc, which could be a make or break deal for you when you consider your internet cap.

If you’re like me, and you can’t stand Skyrim, then go about your daily business. For those of you still clinging on to a RPG that does more wrong than right, this is for you. Also, how bad is that boxart?

EA is not sailing in friendly waters at the moment. Not long ago the company was forced to lay off a small number of staff, calling it a “restructuring” ahead of the release of next-gen consoles. Yesterday EA was forced to layoff even more staff, siting it as an “organizational update”.

EA posted a statement on their official website regarding the layoffs.

“In recent weeks, EA has aligned all elements of its organizational structure behind priorities in new technologies and mobile. This has led to some difficult decisions to reduce the workforce in some locations. We are extremely grateful for the contributions made by each of our employees – those that are leaving EA will be missed by their colleagues and friends.

These are hard but essential changes as we focus on delivering great games and showing players around the world why to spend their time with us.”

According to some media sources the layoffs number in the hundreds at the moment, resulting in the closure of some smaller EA owned studios. PopCap Vancouver and Quicklime Studios have apparently closed their doors, and it is believed that the layoffs we’re partly responsible for the closure of EA’s Partner label.

It easy to say EA is going through a much needed restructure, but these constant layoffs are certainly worrying, especially since they’re taking place at on of the biggest publishers in the world. It’s also really sad to see people lose their jobs, so we wish the best to those hundreds affected.

What did I tell you? Didn’t I warn you about buying a Wii U? It’s no secret that Nintendo’s recent console launch has been far from successful, with a really small number of new third party titles making it to the console. Not only that, but even Nintendo seems to be slacking with exclusives, with only a handful of them really justifying a purchase.

But just when it looked like Nintendo was set to please their fans, especially after the reveal of a ton of 3DS titles, the company goes and announces that they will not be hosting a large E3 press conference this year. Every year E3 is headlined by conferences by the three main console companies, namely Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. Seems like we’re only having two this year.

Company president Satoru Iwata made the announcement yesterday, explaining that Nintendo would now host smaller, more focused events throughout the year. Nintendo won’t skip E3 altogether this year, instead hosting a smaller closed-door conference for western-distributors and media. Iwata explained that the company was looking into new ways to announce information about new games.

“During the E3 period, we will utilize our direct communication tools, such as Nintendo Direct, to deliver information to our Japanese audience … and we will take the same approach outside Japan for the overseas fans as well.”

It’s not a great sign for the company as a whole, but it could be a good move as now the spotlight won’t be shining on them for a good hour and a half while they show off another shitty Wii fitness or music title. You laugh, we had to sit through that crap last year.

After month and months of speculation, Microsoft have finally confirmed that on the 21st of May the next-generation Xbox will be revealed during a special event being held at the company’s Redmond, Washington campus. On top of that, Microsoft is actually holding the event at a reasonable time, meaning you won’t have to stay up until two in the morning to feast your eyes on what they have to offer.

In an official blog post Microsoft spokesman Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb shared more about the reveal and what gamers should expect during the event.

On Tuesday May 21st, we’ll mark the beginning of a new generation of games, TV and entertainment. On that day, we’ll be holding a special press event on the Xbox campus and we invite you to join us via the live global stream that will be available on Xbox.com, Xbox LIVE and broadcast on Spike TV if you are in the US or Canada.

On that day, we’ll share our vision for Xbox, and give you a real taste of the future. Then, 19-days later at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, we’ll continue the conversation and showcase our full lineup of blockbuster games.

We are thrilled to pull back the curtain and reveal what we’ve been working on.

So there you have it, don’t expect a large showing of games during the Xbox reveal. In a way, it’s a rather smart move on Microsoft’s part, as they’ll basically be giving gamers a taste of what’s to come, with the main meal not trailing too far behind. It’s similar to what Sony did during their reveal too, showcasing a small amount of titles, rather focusing on the hardware during the reveal.

We’ve heard a lot of rumours about what the new Xbox will bring to the table, with the controversial “always-online” feature being one of the most popular topics in recent months. While we certainly don’t want that to become a reality, there’s a lot of other NextBox rumours that sounded like rather novel ideas, so let us know what you think the next Xbox should have in the comments below.

Just like the PS4 reveal, we’ll be ready and waiting to bring you the exciting news as it happens on the night, just in case you can’t get a decent live stream going.

Yesterday the whole THQ fiasco came to an end with the remaining IP’s being sold to various companies in an auction. The nearly unknown Nordic Games, who picked up Darksiders, Red Faction and more, made most of the most notable purchases. However, this doesn’t mean we’re going to see new titles anytime soon.

Speaking to Game Informer, Nordic Games CEO Lars Wingefors explained that the publisher is looking for reliable partners to pair up with in order to create the Darksiders sequel fans deserve.

“Officially, we haven’t talked to any partners. My colleagues in Austria are handling the business development and are handling all those contacts. We’ll be sitting down, I think, in the next week to discuss all those options. It takes a very long time to make games. You won’t see a new Darksiders this year. I don’t believe in bringing out a s***** sequel.”

Previously, Platinum Games and Crytek USA (which is comprised of a large number of former Vigil Games developers) have expressed interest in continuing the series. Apparently Nordic Games already received calls from interested parties yesterday after the auction details were released, but Wingefors reiterated that the publisher wasn’t going to hastily make a decision.

“We have to be very honest. I am a business man within the games industry. We are not the creative, talented developer that brings out new versions in house. I understand the potential of the IPs. I respect the original creators and the creative people who are able to create sequels. In the past 24 hours, we have been contacted and there have been a few discussions (but I can’t confirm names).”

It’s great to see Nordic Games taking this approach with one of the franchises they managed to acquire yesterday. Who knows, this could be the start of something truly glorious for Darksiders, Red Faction and more.

When a rumour is being reported by one reliable source” we take notice, but don’t really focus on it too much. When a rumour is being reported and confirmed by multiple sources, you can’t help but wonder if it’s true or not. That’s what is happening right now with a rumour concerning the latest Batman Arkham entry, which could include a multiplayer component for the first time.

According to multiple sources speaking with Kotaku, Arkham Origins will feature a multiplayer component that puts players wither on Team Joker or Team Bane. Player will be tasked with taking down the Dark Knight and his trusty partner Robin, although there were no details as to how multiplayer could work.

Some of the villains reportedly featured in the multiplayer mode include Deadshot, Deathstroke, Killer Croc, Firefly, Black Mask and more. Considering a lot of these were featured on a promotional poster for the title, it could mean that not all of them appear in the single-player portion of the title. We already know that Black Mask and Deathstroke will feature, but the inclusion of everyone else has now been thrown into the air.

This is the first time multiplayer would feature in the Arkham series, however it’s not the first time Warner Bros. have dived into competitive play with the Batman universe. In 2011 the publisher released Gotham City Imposters, a Call of Duty inspired competitive shooter which played on the lore of ordinary citizens taking up arms while dressing up as their favourite Caped Crusader or Crazed Clown.

I’m not entirely sure that multiplayer is a good idea for a series that has thrived with a strong single-player component, but I’m not ready to chalk it up as a failure just yet. Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Bethesda promised last week that they would be making more of an impact this year. They somewhat delivered already with the reveal of The Evil Within, a new horror title from famed game designer Shinji Mikami. However, a recent posting on the Australian Classification Board could have just revealed yet another title coming from the publisher.

The classification board rated a game titled “Endless Summer” yesterday, listing Bethesda as the publisher. The game managed to pick up a rating of MA15+, with a description listing themes of “strong horror violence”. The rating also noted that the game featured strong impact violence and themes, mild impact language and sex, very mild impact nudity and zero drug use.

No this sounds oddly familiar to The Evil Within, which was announced last week, so it is very possible that “Endless Summer” is simply a placeholder name until all the documentation gets sorted out. Bethesda publishing to titles with extremely familiar themes seems unlikely, but not entire impossible either.

Take it with a pinch of salt for now.

Yesterday finally marked the end of the entire THQ shut down with the last licenses being sold off to three bidders for a rather low sum of $6.55 million. Some prominent franchises finally found new homes, most notably Darksiders, Red Faction and MX vs. ATV, but where they ended up might be a little surprising to most.

Nordic Games (don’t ask, I hadn’t heard of them either) managed to pick up Darksiders, Red Faction, MX vs. ATV and Destroy All Humans! in the finally bid, as well as a number of other THQ owned and licensed software. Nordic Games weren’t the only ones who managed to pick up something, with Gearbox Software acquiring the rights to the Homeworld franchise for $1.35 million. This seems like an odd move considering the publishers previous titles, but Gearbox have promised to keep the franchise in it’s “purest form” with upcoming titles.

But if you’re wondering who the hell Nordic Games are, you aren’t the only one. Nordic Games has yet to develop or release anything really notable, but the studio was involved in helping Remedy Entertainment bring Alan Wake to PC last year. Additionally, the publisher was also responsible for publishing the Painkiller: Hell & Damnation remake.

But that’s really all you can find about Nordic Games. Whether this means Darksiders and Red Faction will receive fresh starts has yet to be seen, but I wouldn’t exactly feel as though they’ve gone to good homes. Then again, I could be completely wrong.