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Assassin's Creed prices cut during Xbox Live sale
Microsoft's "Countdown to 2015" sale continued today with deals on two games in Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series. Xbox One players can pick up Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, last year's pirate-themed entry in the series, at half off ($25). As for Xbox 360 owners, the Xbox Live Arcade version of Assassin's Creed Liberation HD is 75 percent off today ($5). The publisher's Countdown to 2015 sale began earlier this month and features a mess of other discounts. For instance, players can pick up episodes in Telltale's The Walking Dead series for $2.49 each, L.A. Noire for $7.49 and Fable 3 for $6.59 on Xbox 360. Alien: Isolation is down to $30 on Xbox One, alongside Destiny ($45), Diabo 3 ($40.19) and Sleeping Dogs' Definitive Edition ($30). Head over to the sale's site for a look at the full list of deals. [Image: Ubisoft]
PSN Store Update: Alien Isolation, Diablo 3, more
In a last-ditch effort to get in your wallet before the end of the year, the PlayStation Store has a number of good deals on games this week. Among the many deals for PS4 players at the moment, Alien: Isolation is $35.99 ($29.99 for PS Plus members), while the game's season pass is down to $14.99. Additionally, Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition is $39.59 ($35.99 on PS Plus), Escape Goat 2 is half-price ($5, $4 on PS Plus), Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes is just $6.80 and Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag is $25 ($20 on PS Plus). As for Vita, players can download Danganronpa 2 for $27.99 ($23.99 on PS Plus), Nidhogg for $10.49 ($8.99 through PS Plus), Thomas Was Alone and Stealth Inc. for $3.99 each as well as Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut for $5 ($4 via PS Plus). A number of games, such as Nidhogg and Thomas Was Alone, are Cross-Buy compatible, so those with multiple systems only need to pay once to access each version. That includes Flippfly's Race the Sun, which is down to $6.99 at the moment across all three PlayStation platforms ($5.99 on PS Plus). Head over to PlayStation Blog for a full list of the current deals. [Image: Sega]
PSA: Xbox One is now $50 cheaper until January 3
The previously-announced holiday promotion that shaves $50 off the standalone Xbox One and all Xbox One bundles is now live, Xbox spokesman Larry Hryb (aka "Major Nelson") announced on his blog. The limited-time sale will last until January 3, and only applies to systems and bundles sold in the US. On a related note, the Xbox One Assassin's Creed bundle, which combines a 500GB Xbox One with digital copies of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and Assassin's Creed: Unity, is on store shelves starting today as well. The 1TB, Kinect-less Xbox One bundled with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare will be out tomorrow. [Image: Microsoft]
Assassin's Creed Unity Xbox One bundles include AC4: Black Flag
Dear Templar Order, Today our brothers at Microsoft have shown their allegiance to the assassins. They will release two bundles of their Xbox One console featuring the exploits of our ancient enemies. Both versions contain Assassin's Creed Unity and Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, with the standard version priced at $399 and another including Kinect at $499. It will be available at retailers on November 2. This is not just impacting our North American operations, as Europe is also not safe from those who believe "nothing is true, everything is permitted." The bundles will arrive there on November 4. Both games will be included in the box as codes, but Unity won't be available to pre-download or access until the game launches on November 11.
Steam sales arrrrr pirate-themed today
Ahoy, ye scurvy dogs! In honor of National Talk Like A Pirate Day, the landlubbers over at Valve have instituted a sale on pirate-themed games via Steam. Monkey Island, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, the Risen series and more all get their chance to come aboard your Internet-sailing vessel. Even space pirates - distant cousins though they may be - have slashed their prices with the buccaneer blade of savings. Aye, tis a good thing. Ye'll have to be quick to snag these beasties though, me lads and lasses; at the time of this decree, there be just more than a day's worth of hours left on these sales. Avast and draw the main sail; set course for Steam! [Image: Ubisoft]
Assassin's Creed bundles up its American saga for October
Ubisoft will bundle up three games in the Assassin's Creed series for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC for October. Dubbed Assassin's Creed: The Americas Collection in North America and Assassin's Creed Birth of a New World - The American Saga in Europe, the bundle combines three games that are set in the western world: Assassin's Creed 3, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and Assassin's Creed Liberation HD. The bundle will launch on October 3 in Europe and October 28 in North America. Two more games in the series will arrive just weeks later on November 11, as well. Assassin's Creed Rogue will arrive at that time for Xbox 360 and PS3 and Assassin's Creed Unity will launch for PS4, Xbox One and PC. The Americas Collection makes for a nice setup to Rogue, which Ubisoft said will bridge the gap between Assassin's Creed 3 and 4, explaining the game's lack of availability on next-gen consoles. Ubisoft did not provide a price for the bundle. [Image: Ubisoft]
Xbox Live discounts Child of Light, Thief this week
Microsoft's Deals with Gold discounts Thief by 40 percent ($35.99) on Xbox One this week. Additionally, both Xbox Live Gold and Silver members can enjoy discounts on Assassin's Creed 4 add-ons on both Xbox One and Xbox 360, getting the game's season pass, Blackbeard's Wrath, Guild of Rogues, Freedom Cry and Illustrious Pirates DLC for 30 percent off each. As for the Xbox 360-specific deals, Gold subscribers can pick up Child of Light at 33 percent off this week ($10.04) as well as Flashback and Cloudberry Kingdom for 67 percent off ($3.29 each). Four games are slashed by 75 percent this week: I Am Alive, From Dust and Call of Juarez: Gunslinger are $3.74 each while Freefall Racers is $2.49. Lastly, both Gold and Silver subscribers can pick up Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 at 67 percent off ($19.79) as well as its World Challenge DLC at half-off ($2.49). All deals are good through next Monday, July 7. [Image: Square Enix]
Assassin's Creed 4 ships 11 million copies
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag shipped 11 million copies to date, including digital sales, Ubisoft revealed in its full-year 2013-2014 earnings report. That's one million more units than Ubisoft sent to retail as of February. It's the latest in the publisher's successful series, which achieved 73 million in sales as of last month. Ubisoft's next rooftop-running, throat-slitting game is Assassin's Creed: Unity, which was announced in March. The game takes place in Paris during the French Revolution of the 18th century, as was seemingly foretold through a scene in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. "We are extremely pleased that Assassin's Creed has become the fourth-biggest franchise in the industry," Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said during the publisher's earnings call today, adding that the Assassin's Creed development team has been progressively growing the brand "into a regular 10 million-plus elite franchise." [Image: Ubisoft]
Assassin's Creed series tops 73 million in sales
Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series reached a total of 73 million in sales according to the publisher's corporate website, which lists its "worldwide best-selling franchises." Assassin's Creed, which has featured six releases in the main series since its 2007 debut and eight additional games on browser and portable platforms, leads Ubisoft's second-best-selling property Just Dance (48 million) by 25 million units. Assassin's Creed will likely continue to sell by the millions given that the next game, Assassin's Creed: Unity, will arrive on PS4, Xbox One and PC this holiday season. Unity was just announced in March and takes place in Paris during the French Revolution of the 18th century, a setting that was vaguely foretold at the end of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. The next three series in the publisher's top five in sales bear the late Tom Clancy's name: Splinter Cell (30 million), Rainbow Six (26 million) and Ghost Recon (25 million). Head past the break to see the rest of Ubisoft's sales list.
Ubisoft discounts 3DS, Wii U eShop games by up to 50 percent
Ubisoft has launched a catalog-spanning sale on its Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShop content, dropping the prices of featured games like ZombiU and Ghost Recon Shadow Wars by up to 50 percent. Starting this week, eShop customers can pick up the digital version of Ubisoft Montpellier's early Wii U standout ZombiU for $29.99. The Wii U version of Rayman Legends is currently priced at $27.99, while Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag is on sale for $41.99. Over on the 3DS side of the eShop, Rayman Origins, Rayman 3D, Rabbids: Travel in Time, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Shadow Wars, and Splinter Cell 3D are available for $14.99 each. Ubisoft's sale continues through March 31. [Image: Ubisoft]
Watch Dogs boasts four extra missions on Sony consoles
Continuing a trend begun by Assassin's Creed 4, Ubisoft has announced exclusive content earmarked specifically for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 incarnations of its upcoming technofetishistic adventure, Watch Dogs. According to Ubisoft, the Sony-bound versions of the game will feature four missions not found in their Xbox counterparts. Completing these missions will award players a unique outfit, a special Hacking Boost and a "deeper knowledge of DedSec, a key and powerful faction in the Watch Dogs universe." Ubisoft estimates the missions will roughly translate to an hour of play time. This additional content will be available to PlayStation owners free of charge and is slated to launch alongside Watch Dogs on May 27. [Image: Ubisoft]
The Daily Grind: How would an Assassin's Creed MMO work?
I've finally gotten around to playing some Black Flag in recent days, and while I'm not sure how I feel about the annualization of Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series, I'm having a rowdy good time in number IV. As with most of the single-player games I sample in between MMOs, I end up thinking about how they'd work as MMOs, and it seems to me that AC's lore, sci-fi stylings, and various historical settings would translate easily. I'm not sure about all of the mechanics, though. And that's where today's Daily Grind comes in! Do you think an Assassin's Creed MMO would work? Why or why not? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Ubisoft reveals Assassin's Creed 4: Jackdaw Edition retail bundle
Ubisoft announced that a new DLC-bundled retail version of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag is due to hit store shelves in Europe later this month. Assassin's Creed 4: Jackdaw Edition includes the full version of Black Flag and seven previously released Season Pass DLC packs. The bundle collects the standalone "Freedom Cry" single-player mission pack alongside the multiplayer-focused Death Vessel Pack, Kraken Ship Pack, Crusader & Florentine Pack, Illustrious Pirates Pack, Blackbeard's Wrath Pack, and the Guild of Rogues Pack. Assassin's Creed 4: Jackdaw Edition will launch in Europe on March 28 for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC platforms. Joystiq has contacted Ubisoft for details regarding a North American release, and will update once we receive a response. [Update: An Ubisoft representative notes that Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Jackdaw Edition is only scheduled for release in the UK.] [Image: Ubisoft]
Xbox Live weekly deals include Call of Duty: Ghosts, Assassin's Creed 4
This week's deals on Xbox Live include one game on Xbox One and eight on Xbox 360 for Gold subscribers. The lone discounted game on the Xbox Games Store through March 10 is Call of Duty: Ghosts, as the standard version is 33 percent off ($39.99/£36.79/46.99 euros) and the Hardened Edition is 10 percent off ($89.99/£80.99/107.99 euros). Call of Duty: Ghosts is also 33 percent off ($40.19/£33.49/46.89 euros) for Xbox 360 owners this week, and is joined by Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag on the Games on Demand channel, one-third its usual price as well ($40.19/£36.84/46.89 euros). Three more games are 75 percent off on Xbox 360: I Am Alive ($3.74/£2.49/3.59 euros), Scott Pilgrim vs The World ($2.49/£1.68/2.37 euros) and Call of Juarez: Gunslinger ($3.74/£2.49/3.59 euros). Two more are 67 percent off this week, Galaga Legions DX and Bang Bang Racing ($3.29/£2.22/3.13 euros each). Lastly, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate is half-off ($7.49/£4.99/7.19 euros) on XBLA. [Image: Activision]
Assassin's Creed 4 'Freedom Cry' standalone sets sail on PS3, PS4 today
Today marks the standalone debut of Freedom Cry, a tale set adjacent to the events of Assassin's Creed 4, and starring Edward Kenway's first mate, Adewale. Freedom Cry sees Adewale shipwrecked on Haiti, without supplies or a ship full of surly pirates backing his every murderous action. Instead, Adewale must form his own crew while aiding the local slave population in their fight against oppression at the hands of wealthy European landowners. As you'd expect from an Assassin's Creed entry, Adewale spends most of Freedom Cry avoiding a civilized discussion of human rights in the colonial era in favor of acrobatic assassinations and periodic brutal machete killings. While the original incarnation of Freedom Cry required players to own a copy of Assassin's Creed 4, this new version does not. Simply visit the PlayStation Network Store, hand over $15 and Adewale's quest is yours. A PC version of Freedom Cry will feature the same price tag, though that game won't debut until February 25. [Image: Ubisoft]
Assassin's Creed Mega Bloks will let you build the perfect killing machine
Mega Brands and Ubisoft will release Assassin's Creed branded Mega Bloks building sets later this year, the companies have revealed. The announcement offers no details about the sets though Ubisoft SVP of marketing and sales, Tony Key notes, "This collection captures the spirit of Assassin's Creed bringing to life the characters and rich historical settings in a fun way." It might seem strange to couple a murderous, traditionally M-rated series with a children's toy designed for tykes 8 and up, but it's not uncommon. Halo, another M-rated series known for violent gameplay, also has a line of Mega Bloks toys. If the Halo figures are anything to go by, the upcoming Mega Blok assassins should look just adorable while stabbing victims in the neck.
Assassin's Creed 4 Guild of Rogues multiplayer DLC now available
Ubisoft has released its second batch of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag multiplayer DLC for the Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC platforms, expanding the game's online competitive component with a collection of three new characters. The "Guild of Rogues" pack adds the Siren, Stowaway, and Shaman characters to Black Flag's playable roster, each boasting their own unique skills and abilities. The new content is available as a free download for Season Pass buyers, and is set to hit the PlayStation 3 and PS4 via the PlayStation Network tomorrow. Ubisoft will follow up today's release with a pair of new multiplayer maps next week, introducing a Kingston-themed level alongside an upgraded version of the classic Assassin's Creed 3 Charleston map. Both new maps will be free to download for all players on February 17. [Image: Ubisoft]
Assassin's Creed 4 ships 10 million, Rocksmith 2014 hits a low note
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag has shipped 10 million units to the high seas, Ubisoft announced in its third quarter 2013 - 2014 report. The Just Dance franchise shipped 6 million units during the third quarter, "positioning it once again as the leading casual game brand for consoles," while Rocksmith had "lower-than-expected sales," with 1 million copies shipped. Ubisoft's fourth quarter includes the launch of South Park: The Stick of Truth for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3; Rayman Legends on PS4 and Xbox One; and open PC betas for The Mighty Quest For Epic Loot and Might and Magic Heroes Online. Watch Dogs, originally pitched as a next-gen launch game, is due out in spring 2014 (though the Wii U version has been delayed).
Assassin's Creed 4, Puppeteer among nominees for music awards
The International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) announced the nominees for composers demonstrating "excellence in musical scoring" in 2013. The annual awards ceremony includes a gaming category, Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media, in which five games and their respective composers are nominated this year: Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag by Ubisoft, music by Brian Tyler Beyond: Two Souls by Quantic Dream, music by Lorne Balfe Company of Heroes 2 by Relic Entertainment, music by Cris Velasco Puppeteer by SCE Japan Studio, music by Patrick Doyle Remember Me by Dontnod, music by Olivier Deriviere Assassin's Creed 4 composer Brian Tyler is also among four others nominated for the Composer of the Year award, in addition to a nomination for Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure/Thriller Film for his work on Iron Man 3. Tyler also composed the soundtrack for Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel. Previous winners of the Best Original Score for a Video Game award include Austin Wintory's music for Journey (2012), Joe Hisaishi's composition for Ni No Kuni (2011) and the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow music composed by Oscar Araujo (2010). The IFMCA will announce this year's winners on February 20. [Image: Ubisoft]
Assassin's Creed 4 'Freedom Cry' DLC earns standalone release
Having proven itself as a downloadable addition to Assassin's Creed 4, the game's Freedom Cry DLC will see a standalone release - though only on Sony's consoles and PC. The standalone Freedom Cry will be released exclusively as a downloadable title on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PC. The former two versions of the game are slated to appear on February 18 while the PC incarnation of Freedom Cry will debut on February 25. Each version will feature a $15 price tag and will not require that players already own Assassin's Creed 4. Freedom Cry stars Adewale, a former slave turned pirate turned assassin, who finds himself shipwrecked on Haiti. As he gathers a ship and crew to return to the sea, Adewale assists the locals in their attempts to escape slavery. Beyond the novel (if short) storyline, Freedom Cry is typical Assassin's Creed fare, full of acrobatic parkour and spectacular instances of stabbing people in the skull. [Image: Ubisoft]
