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Archived News:
Activision Blizzard's Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Financial Results
are now public, reporting record digital revenue and saying that upon the
completion of the King Acquisition, they will boast a half-billion users. This
seems to also contain a new game announcement, as they say: "In Q4 2016,
Activision Publishing plans to release an innovative new Call of Duty
game from its studio, Infinity Ward, the makers of the Modern Warfare series."
Here's word on all the money they made: For calendar year 2015,
Activision Blizzard delivered GAAP net revenues of $4.66 billion, as compared
with $4.41 billion for 2014. GAAP net revenues from digital channels were $2.50
billion and represented a record 54% of the company’s total net revenues. The
company delivered record GAAP earnings per diluted share of $1.19, as compared
with $1.13 per diluted share for 2014.
On a non-GAAP basis, for the calendar year 2015, the company delivered net
revenues of $4.62 billion, as compared with $4.81 billion for 2014. Non-GAAP net
revenues from digital channels were a record $2.63 billion and represented a
record 57% of the company’s total non-GAAP net revenues. Non-GAAP earnings per
share were $1.32, as compared with $1.42 per diluted share for 2014.
EA announces the new Need for Speed game will arrive on Windows PCs on March
17th or March 15th, depending on which part of the announcement you read, adding
that Origin Access members will get access beginning on March 10th. They
celebrate the news with a
new trailer, and here's word: The wait is over, Need for Speed is
coming to PC on March 17th!
We’re incredibly proud of how good Need for Speed looks visually, a sentiment we
know many of you share, and we’re excited to show you the game running at a
higher frame rate. Seeing is believing so we’re hoping when you see and play
Need for Speed running with an unlocked framerate and at a 4k resolution you’ll
be just as excited as we are.
The extra development time has allowed us to create the definitive NFS PC
experience. One of the burning topics of discussion amongst our Community has
been the inclusion of Manual Transmission - we can now confirm this will be in
the game when Need for Speed launches on PC.
With the release on PC we're also adding steering wheel support for a selection
of wheels from Logitech, Thrustmaster and Fanatec. As with Manual Transmission
this is a decision taken based purely on Community feedback. We’re dedicated to
bringing you the best Need for Speed experience possible and your feedback has
been playing a huge role in that.
When Need for Speed launches on PC it will also contain all the improvements and
tweaks we’ve made up to now, including both the Icons and Legends updates from
day one. The Showcase update is currently scheduled to arrive on PC shortly
after launch.
The PC version of Need For Speed will be releasing on March 15th. If you’re
an Origin Access member, you can play the game early for a limited time,
starting March 10. Not a member?
Join today.
Continue here to read the full story.
Just days after
releasing Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia,
Ubisoft
announces they will not be releasing an Assassin's Creed game this year,
obviously referring to a full AAA release, rather than a smaller project like
Chronicles. Here's word: This year, we also are stepping back and
re-examining the Assassin’s Creed franchise. As a result, we’ve decided that
there will not be a new Assassin’s Creed game in 2016. Since the release of
Assassin’s Creed Unity, we’ve learned a lot based on your feedback. We’ve also
updated our development processes and recommitted to making Assassin’s Creed a
premier open-world franchise. We’re taking this year to evolve the game
mechanics and to make sure we’re delivering on the promise of Assassin’s Creed
offering unique and memorable gameplay experiences that make history everyone’s
playground.
We’ll have more to share on all of the above soon. In the meantime, we want to
say thank you to our millions of fans around the world for your continued
support.
Wargaming announces plans to add a new seven-on-seven Team Battles mode to
World of Warships, their MMO naval
combat game. This will come in an upcoming version 0.5.3 patch for the game, and
will be available to all players at level 12 or higher.
This trailer
introduces how this looks, and here's a bit: Wargaming today announced the new battle type “Team Battles” for World of
Warships will set sail in Update 0.5.3. This new battle type, which unlocks at
account level 12, lets captains create an elite squadron of players, work with
them to sharpen their skills, and then set out to decimate their opponents and
rule the waves.
Taking the prestige of World of Warship’s naval combat to a new level, Team
Battles are the domain of certain tier vessels, consisting of 7-vs-7 skirmishes.
Players can have up to 10 people in their team (with three in reserve). They can
also be recruited for up to three teams simultaneously, so there is always a new
Team Battle waiting on the horizon. Team Battles will only be available during
"prime time," a necessary restriction to ensure a competitive number of players
are all in the queue.
“The fans have been asking for more forms of team interaction since we started
developing World of Warships,” said Danny Volkov, World of Warships Development
Director, Wargaming. “With Team Battles, we’ve listened to their feedback and
created an arena where they can meet teammates, forge their perfect squad and
take on intense battles with top players in their region.”
On a team’s journey to become the dominating force of the seas, they will
advance through a number of leagues, battling towards a common objective, to
improve their ranking. Through Team Battles, captains get their fill of
high-level skirmishes and truly take their skills to the next level.
To learn more about Team Battles, please watch the video:
Continue here to read the full story.
There's another opportunity to get a free copy of
CONSORTIUM: The
Master Edition through GOG.com as developer Interdimensional Games is
giving the game way to inspire support for their
CONSORTIUM: The Tower Kickstarter to fund a sequel. The game is free for
the next 48 hours, and those who already own the game there can receive a code
to give it to a friend as a gift. Here's the plan: Did you feel that? The
iDGi-1 satellite has just opened another rift in time and space. And during this
fortunate disturbance, GOG.com and Interdimensional Games Inc. joined forces and
managed to secure a 48-hour time-pocket within which we can distribute as many
FREE CONSORTIUM: The Master Edition copies as we like all over Earth! But this
disturbance was triggered by another, equally interesting event: CONSORTIUM: The
Tower, the sequel to the choice-driven sci-fi simulation, is on Kickstarter and
you can help it become a reality with your support! So grab your free GOG copy
before February 13, 1:59 PM GMT and then go for a tour through CONSORTIUM: The
Tower. Or go at it the other way around. As within the games, the choice is
entirely up to you.
The original CONSORTIUM was an innovative exercise in player agency through a
procedurally-unfolding story. The experiment was a success and now
Interdimensional Games Inc. hope to take it to the next level with CONSORTIUM:
The Tower. This time, global peacekeeper Bishop Six finds himself in London,
2042, where a massive skyscraper has been taken over by terrorists while a
snowstorm rages outside. Your job is to infiltrate the building, neutralize the
perpetrators, and rescue the hostages in any way you see fit. Direct action,
stealth, negotiation, sabotage - they are all viable options as the story will
constantly change and adapt to your playstyle. The developers describe the
experience as a blend between the original Deus-Ex and Die Hard. We'll hold them
hostage to that promise!
EA announces
the launch of a new expansion for Star Wars: The Old Republic called Star Wars:
The Old Republic - Knights of the Fallen Empire, Anarchy in Paradise, an
interesting title for a series that's more lacking in utopias than authority
figures. This includes the ability to start a new character at level 60, a new
ally mercenary, and a new
subscriber rewards system with monthly
perks.
This launch trailer
shows off some the new content this adds, and here's an explanation: BioWare
and Lucasfilm today announced the release of the next chapter in the episodic
expansion story, Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ - Knights of the Fallen Empire.
This chapter, Anarchy in Paradise, will be available February 11, 2016 and is
the first in a series of seven new chapters that build on the personal story of
the Outlander. Best of all, Subscribers of Star Wars: The Old Republic, receive
all existing and future chapters of Knights of the Fallen Empire for free* for
the duration of their subscription. New players can jump immediately into the
evolving story of Knights of the Fallen Empire at Level 60 and experience
BioWare storytelling in the rich Star Wars™ universe.
Anarchy in Paradise introduces a new ally, an infamous mercenary known as
Firebrand. Her mission is to destroy the Eternal Empire by attacking Zakuul and
crushing the seat of power, the Eternal Throne, by any means necessary. It will
be up to the Outlander to decide just how far he or she is willing to go to beat
the Eternal Emperor. Players will experience the grim consequences of their past
decisions and feel the grip of the hand of fate on their dangerous journey.
BioWare also announced a new Subscriber Rewards program offering players a
series of unique monthly in-game reward items themed to the HK-55 Assassin
Droid:
Continue here to read the full story.
EA offers new details on Battlefield Hardline: Betrayal, one of the
digital expansions first
revealed as being part of the Premium season pass for the law enforcement
shooter. This will bring new maps, weapons, and vehicles when it is released
next month.
This post has info and screenshots on the expansion as well as word on an
accompanying patch that will bring some new content to the base game as well.
Here are some details: Here’s what’s on deck for owners of Battlefield™ Hardline: Betrayal…
- Four intricate maps: Alcatraz, Cemetery, Chinatown, and Thin Ice
- 7 new weapons
- 2 new vehicles
- Customize primary weapons and uniforms with the Gun Bench Super Feature,
and test them at the Gun Range
- New Assignments and Legendary weapon camos
In addition, all users will receive a base game update that includes 11 new
weapons and new server presets. After the update, every Gold Battlepack you open
may also contain a weapon license voucher – a Distinguished class item that
unlocks an entire weapon license. Check the forums when the update is released
for our official patch notes to learn all about the stability and usability
improvements that will be included in this upcoming release.
Link of the Day:
Upgraded LIGO detectors spot gravitational waves. Apparently Einstein was
smart.
A new walkthrough video
from Total War: WARHAMMER includes gameplay footage of the empire campaign in
the upcoming Warhammer installment in the strategy series. Here's word:
"Following the Greenskins Campaign Gameplay Video ( https://youtu.be/vJUWImJUZrU)
released last year, this new video provides a brief, work in progress snapshot
of a campaign played as The Empire and an early look at some key gameplay
mechanics such as character skill trees, The Empire ‘Offices’ panel, building &
technology trees, character customization and a look at the forested hills of
Reikland." Continue here to read the full story.
NCSOFT now offers a new Rising Waters update for Blade & Soul that adds new
content to their recently launched martial arts MMORPG. They also take the
occasion to inform us that the game has attracted more than two million players
since its launch a few weeks ago.
This previous announcement outlines the new endgame content in the Rising
Waters update, which also marks the launch of the PvP preseason. Here's an
overview of the news: NCSOFT West today released its first content update
for Blade & Soul, only weeks after its launch in North America and Europe.
Titled Rising Waters, the update features three new pieces of challenging
max-level PvE content that players can access after defeating Vice Admiral
Poharan herself.
New content in Rising Waters includes Bloodshade/Nightshade Harbor, Mushin’s
Tower - Floors 1-7, and five new Hongmoon Levels. Available as a 6 or 4 player
Heroic dungeon, Bloodshade Harbor and its 24-player version, Nightshade Harbor,
offers players new challenges against the evil Blackram pirates and Poharan’s
boss, Admiral Hae Mujin. Players can also ascend Mushin’s Tower – a single
player Heroic dungeon – for even more challenges and greater rewards on their
path towards revenge. And finally, the new Hongmoon Levels will allow players to
continue to gain experience beyond level 45, unlocking additional skill points
to increase your character’s strength in combat.
This update will also mark the start of the PvP preseason, with new in-game UI
to help players evaluate their skills and earn Zen Beans (the Blade & Soul PvP
currency) from competing against other players. More information will be
available in the future on the PvP aspects once Blade & Soul moves from
preseason to Season 1.
To learn more about Rising Waters, visit:
http://www.bladeandsoul.com/en/news/rising-waters-arrives-february-10/
Additionally, NCSOFT has confirmed that Blade & Soul has now surpassed 2 million
players in the US and Europe, only three weeks since its official
launch.
A
Steam Greenlight campaign for IS Defense seeks approval for a new
game from Destructive Creations (thanks
Eurogamer), the Polish developer behind Hatred, an isometric shooter
that drew fire from some quarters over perceived insensitivity. They are not
shying away from the potential for more flack, as you can see in the
description: The player takes the role of NATO’s stationary machine-gun
operator, deployed to defend the shores of Europe. His task is to blast as many
of the invaders as possible, until his glorious death. To do so, he has NATO
support forces, his Machinegun and Rocket Launcher at his disposal. During the
progress of this heroic defense, he gets the opportunities to upgrade his gear,
his body and army rank – which affects the efficiency of the called support.
This game is our small side-project and is our personal veto against what is
happening in the Middle East nowadays. As well as an attempt at resurrecting a
pretty dead genre of games like „Operation Wolf” or „Beach Head” – in a state of
the art, modern adaptation.
There's a
Basic Tech Troubleshooting FAQ on the 2K Games website with tips on getting
better performance from XCOM 2, the recently released strategy sequel.
They cover workarounds for some of the issues people are encountering, and say
they are also working on fixes on their end. Word is: "We want everyone to have
the best experience possible, and will continue supporting the title with
upcoming patches." Thanks
VG247.
A new video developer
diary helps introduce CONAN EXILES, Funcom's recently announced
open-world survival game set in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age. In the video
the developer's offer a quick introduction to the game, which is good, because a
slow intro would cause them to perish in the frozen wilderness. The game is to
enter early access this summer, and the clip is accompanied by this outline of
the project: 'CONAN EXILES' is an open-world survival game set in the
brutal lands of Conan the Barbarian, the world's greatest fantasy hero. The game
can be played on private and public servers, either in multiplayer or local
single-player. You st! art out as an exile, one of thousands cast out to fend
for themselves in a barbaric wasteland, and from there you must hunt for food,
grow crops, gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build a shelter.
You can also band together with other players to build entire settlements and
fortified strongholds, and wage war against your enemies as you unleash your
fury in savage, fast-paced combat that will see limbs flying and heads rolling.
You can even align yourself with the Hyborian gods, building altars to their
glory and sacrificing the bloody hearts of enemy players upon them to shift the
balance of power in your favor. Players will also have to face the purge: a
special event where NPC armies from the neighboring kingdoms sweep in to destroy
the progress that the exiles have made. Will you stand together with your fellow
players against the purge, or will you use it to your advantage?
Continue here to read the full story.
The story from The Solus Project is on display in
a third video developer diary from this sci-fi survival game that's
launching into early access next week. There's more on
the official website, and the clip
comes with this word on the plan: The Solus Project takes place in a rich
sci-fi universe during the 22nd century. Our solar system was ripped apart by a
rogue star and humanity survives on a fleet of spaceships called the Prolus
colony. With little fuel left and starvation on the horizon, Prolus command
organizes a final desperate mission to find a new home for humanity.
The operation is called The Solus Project. Five small scouting ships are sent to
five solar systems that are suspected of having habitable planets. Your craft
has travelled for more than a decade and just as you arrive, disaster strikes.
Of the entire crew, only you survive. As the only one left, mankind’s survival
depends on you.
Is the planet habitable? Is it safe? You quickly discover more than you expected
– a legacy of an alien race. Their ancient structures and machinery. Why do
these aliens look almost like humans? And most importantly… why did they die?
The Solus Project is a narrative-driven survival experience. It tells a rich,
linear story, something rarely seen in survival games, while maintaining an open
sandbox gameplay and survival mechanics.
The Solus Project releases on Steam Early access on February 18th and on Xbox
Game Preview on February 26th.
Continue here to read the full story.
- Arctic Cooling Liquid Freezer 120 AIO CPU Cooler on
HARDOCP.
- CPU Cooler Roundup on
TechSpot.
- EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Hybrid Gaming Video Card on
Legit Reviews.
- G.Skill Ripjaws KM780 MX Keyboard on
Hardware Asylum.
- GIGABYTE GTX 980Ti G1 & XTREME GAMING on
Vortez.
- Phanteks Eclipse P400S Case on
Hardware Canucks.
- Samsung PM863 240 Gigabyte SSD on
ocaholic.
- Tt eSPORTS Poseidon Z RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard on
Nikk Tech.
As Gamers Age,
The Appeal of Competition Drops The Most. Strategy is The Most Age-Stable
Motivation is an interesting study on the topic (thanks
PC
Gamer). I don't think I'm a typical gamer in many ways, and to go along with
that, I still have a pretty strong competitive streak, though it is true that my
multiplayer gaming has included far more co-op in recent years, so maybe there's
something to this.
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