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EA is reportedly developing a 'Dead Space' remake
After more than eight years of the franchise collecting dust, VentureBeat reports EA has tasked its Motive studio to develop a Resident Evil 2-style remake of the first Dead Space game.
‘Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order' broke multiple sales records for EA
Less than a month after release, EA has declared Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order a success. While the publisher didn't break out any numbers, it did say that the title has sold more digital downloads than any other Star Wars game to date in its first two weeks of availability. EA also said that Fallen Order had the best PC launch of any of its Star Wars games.
Battlefield Hardline beta test arrives February 3
Hoping to both stress test its servers and drum up an extra bit of pre-release hype, publisher EA has announced plans for a five-day beta test of its imminent cops versus robbers shooter Battlefield Hardline scheduled to begin on February 3. "There's nothing more valuable to our team than the relationship we have with our community. Their passion feeds our passion and their feedback has definitely helped make Hardline a better game," said Battlefield Hardline executive producer Steve Papoutsis. "We want them to play the hell out of the beta next week and trust that they'll keep that feedback coming so we can continue to fine tune the game." The beta test will be available on PlayStation 3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and on PC via the Origin digital distribution platform. No purchase is necessary to join the beta, but the file is likely to be a big download, so hopefully you have bandwidth to spare. [Image: EA]
Dawngate shutting down in 90 days
We hope you haven't pinned your future MOBA hopes on Dawngate, as EA has decided to take this title out of the running completely. Dawngate, which has been in beta most of this year, said today that it will be shutting down service in 90 days and is refunding testers any money they have spent thus far. "Today, I have the unenviable task of announcing that we've decided to stop development of Dawngate," Group General Manager Matt Bromberg posted. "Dawngate has been in beta for almost 18 months, including a full open beta for the past six months. Through that time, we've taken a lot of feedback from players and delivered lots of new features and innovations. And although the game has grown, we're not seeing the progress we'd hoped for." You can read Massively's hands-on experience with Dawngate as well as our interview with Composer Jeff Broadbent.
Battlefield Hardline delayed to deepen cops vs. robbers fantasy
Battlefield Hardline is due out in March 2015, following a delay announced in July this year. During EA's financial call today, CEO Andrew Wilson explained that feedback from beta tests and trade shows drove the decision to give developer Visceral Games more time. "The cops and criminals fantasy – this is kind of the foundation for the game – resonated very, very strongly not just with existing fans, but with new players to the Battlefield franchise," Wilson said. "But the feedback was also universal that we should go deeper with that fantasy and really deliver against that to a greater degree. What we've done is given the development team that time to go back in and really look at how to truly deliver on that cops and criminals kind of gameplay as it exists in a Battlefield world." Battlefield Hardline pits players against both police officers and well-supplied criminals in large cities, rather than taking place in the traditional military FPS landscape of a warzone. When Battlefield Hardline was delayed, Visceral said it wanted to flesh out the game's multiplayer experience, single-player story depth and its overall stability. Pre-delay, Beta testing spawned a list of the "Community's Most Wanted" tweaks to the game. [Image: EA]
DICE producer admits Battlefield 4 woes damaged fan trust
Almost a full year after its launch, DICE LA producer David Sirland has admitted that the glitches that long plagued Battlefield 4 damaged the public's perception of what was once a highlight of the first-person shooter genre. "I can absolutely say that we lost [player] trust in the game's launch and the early parts of the year," Sirland told Gamespot. "We still probably have a lot of players who won't trust us to deliver a stable launch or a stable game." Like EA CEO Andrew Wilson, Sirland is quick to offer assurances that Battlefield 4's woes were an isolated issue that will not be repeated: "I am certain that [Battlefield 4's problematic debut] won't be repeated because we've changed the way we work." Sirland offers few specifics, but key to this shift is a new transparency in the Battlefield development process while more attention is being paid to fan input. Whether that holds true or not remains to be seen. Specifically, it remains to be seen once EA launches Battlefield: Hardline, an open-world cops and robbers shooter now slated to appear at some point in 2015. According to Ian Milham, creative director at developer Visceral Games, unlike Battlefield 4, this one will actually work. [Image: EA]
Rejoice! Visceral says Battlefield Hardline 'will work' at launch
Battlefield Hardline will operate as expected at launch, according to Ian Milham, creative director at Visceral Games. "What you're basically asking is, 'Is your game going to work?' And the answer is yes, it's gonna work," Milham told Game Revolution. The statement follows a rough launch for the last game game in the series, DICE's Battlefield 4, which suffered months of connectivity issues after its October 2013 arrival. That led to multiple law firms alleging that publisher EA issued "materially false and misleading statements" regarding Battlefield 4's playability. When a CEO like EA's Andrew Wilson publicly deems a game's launch as "unacceptable," questions about the next game's stability will certainly come up.
Battlefield Hardline delayed, now arriving in 2015
Despite earlier claims that EA's cops versus robbers shooter Battlefield Hardline would debut in October of this year, the publisher has now officially delayed the game to 2015. According to a new entry on the Battlefield blog, Battlefield Hardline has been delayed to give developer Visceral Games more time to ensure that Hardline is "the best, most innovative Battlefield experience we can give to you, our fans." Full details on how Visceral plans to accomplish that feat are lacking, but the developer claims the delay should allow it to improve the game's single-player story depth, add more innovative multiplayer features and enhance the shooter's online stability. Battlefield Hardline is not the only game delayed by EA today, as Dragon Age: Inquisition has also been pushed back to November 21. [Image: EA]
Battlefield Hardline's next beta hits all platforms this fall
The Battlefield Hardline beta is dead, long live the new Battlefield Hardline beta. As the first test run on PlayStation 4 and PC came to an end, Visceral Games' Steve Papoutsis revealed players can have another go this fall, and this time on "all announced platforms," i.e. PS4, Xbox One, PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. The news comes shortly after EA CEO Andrew Wilson admitted the haphazard launch of Battlefield 4 was "unacceptable," although he stopped short of saying similar issues will never happen again. With two public betas, there will be pressure on Battlefield Hardline to deliver a smoother ride when it launches on October 21. For Joystiq's early thoughts on Hardline watch our video preview, in which Ludwig ponders if Visceral can deliver the series its first really solid single-player campaign. [Image: EA]
YouTube to introduce support for 60 frames per second
YouTube videos rendered in 48 and 60 frames per second are to finally become a reality in the coming months. Following a year in which 1080p and 60fps have become increasingly familiar bedfellows for the video game industry, YouTube promoted its higher framerates with new videos of Battlefield: Hardline and Titanfall. Among other features coming to the video site including fan-submitted translations and tagged shout-outs to collaborators, the one to keep an eye on is Fan Funding. Essentially an online tip jar, this allows viewers to donate to content creators direct through YouTube. For now, only "a handful of creators" are testing the feature out. Head below the break for the Battlefield: Hardline and Titanfall vids in full 60fps glory.
Battlefield: Hardline does not point to annualized franchise, EA says
Last October, EA and DICE released Battlefield 4. This October, EA and Visceral Games are bringing the cops-and-robbers action of Battlefield Hardline. It's a move that brings to mind the way Activision handles its annual Call of Duty games, shifting developers year-to-year. So does that mean the Battlefield franchise will go the way of its biggest competition and become annualized? EA Studios executive vice president Patrick Soderlund told Polygon that's not necessarily the plan. "It doesn't necessarily mean that we need to annualize Battlefield and that's the way it's going to be forever and ever," Soderlund said, explaining that Hardline exists because the heads of DICE and Visceral wanted to make it, not because they were pushed to. "The EA that I'm trying to help build isn't an EA that needs to annualize everything," Soderlund said. This isn't the first time the topic has come up; shortly before Battlefield 3 made landing in 2011, executive producer Patrick Bach expressed his doubts that the series would become a yearly release. "I think that would dilute the vision of the franchise," he told GameSpot. "You will eventually kill the franchise by doing that." [Image: EA]
Battlefield Hardline's PC beta now available 'instantly'
PC owners are now able to gain "instant access" to the beta version of Battlefield Hardline just by signing up on the game's official site. The beta phase arrived earlier this month on PC and PS4, but sign-ups were previously on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those that were previously on the outside of the "Police Line, Do Not Cross" tape now have free reign to live out their policing fantasies in the early version of the game on PC. Signing up for the beta also grants players a few free perks when the game launches in full on October 21. Those include a weapon camo/skin, weapon sight, dog tag for Battlefield 4 (available next month) and as-yet-unknown "additional Battlefield Hardline content." Additionally, both PC and PS4 players that reach rank 10 will receive a special Battlepack at the game's launch as well as $1,000 of in-game cash by enabling Facebook sharing. For those still on the fence about Hardline, be sure to check out our video preview of the game. [Image: EA]
Playdate: Engadget plays the 'Battlefield: Hardline' beta on PS4! (update: game over!)
Welcome, ladygeeks and gentlenerds, to the new era of gaming. The one where you get to watch, and comment, as other people livestream gameplay from next-gen consoles. Because games! They're fun!
Video preview: Crossing the thin blue line in Battlefield Hardline
Battlefield Hardline pulls players out of the military's theatre of war and puts them in the role as cops and robbers, vying for the biggest stack of cash. In Joystiq's latest video preview, Editor-in-Chief Ludwig Kietzmann battles for both sides: As an officer in the world's most brutal police force (yikes) and as a criminal on the hunt for his next big score. Developed by Visceral Games – makers of the Dead Space franchise – Battlefield Hardline is coming to the PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PS3 on October 21. EA surprised onlookers at its E3 media briefing, announcing and launching a beta for the game on PC and PS4.
E3 2014: See Dawngate's 'badass bookish nerds' honored in a new video
Dawngate is looking to bring a little something different to the MOBA field, as evidenced in its catchphrase, "break the meta." In a new video, Waystone Games devs list off several reasons why Dawngate isn't your average MMO. These include more of a focus on flexible team strategy, an epic storyline, and even the embrace of "badass bookish nerd" characters. Is this all just big bluster or shrewd design strategy? Check out the video after the jump and let us know what you think.
Battlefield Hardline beta launches today on PC and PS4
EA announced today that players can get an early look at its team-based FPS Battlefield Hardline via a public beta launching today on the PlayStation 4 and PC. Players who own the PlayStation 4 version of Battlefield 4 can download the beta via the PlayStation Store, and PC signups are available at EA's website on a first-come, first-serve basis. Battlefield Hardline was additionally confirmed for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and a beta will be available this fall for all platforms. Beta players will receive access to exclusive in-game items and other content in the full version of Battlefield Hardline, which premieres October 21.
Battlefield Hardline makes a break for it in October
A new Battlefield Hardline video unveils what's presumably an October 21 release date, given the game was already due in the fall. EA published the trailer this morning after - you guessed it - it leaked a little earlier. There are no official details yet regards platforms. The new Battlefield has been leakier than a vegetable trade fair, with trailers, assets and details all spilling ahead of next week's official unveiling. In terms of what's confirmed, Dead Space studio Visceral Games is developing Hardline with assistance from DICE, and the game will steer away from Battlefield's military roots to depict the more urban war between criminals and cops. We'll find out what EA has left up its sleeve for Hardline at the publisher's E3 conference on June 9. [Image: EA]
Rumor: Battlefield Hardline beta lined up for PS4
EA is bringing a beta of Battlefield Hardline to PS4, if an IGN report proves accurate. The site said it learned readers had received PS4 beta codes from Sony after they'd RSVP-ed attendance to one of the company's E3 screenings at cinemas. According to their reports, the beta grants access to two game modes and a map called "High Tension." Additionally, an unnamed IGN source said the beta is indeed coming to the Sony system. News of a possible console beta isn't surprising following yesterday's leaked video, the latest in what's been a Titanic old time for the EA shooter. The video, pulled by EA, showed alleged footage of a PC beta, and it followed last week's spring of assets and an internal, six-months-old trailer. It's now confirmed Visceral Games is leading Battlefield Hardline development on both single-player and multiplayer, with series studio DICE assisting. The crime-centric game launches this fall, while EA will finally showcase it officially at next week's E3 conference. [Image: EA]
Battlefield Hardline beta footage latest to leak online
A new video of what's claimed to be the Battlefield: Hardline beta has surfaced. Before EA steps in to block it, check out what appears to be the game's empty world, featuring the familiar Battlefield interface and player's inability to fly a helicopter. Seriously, the way you know this is Battlefield is because of perpetually crashing helicopters from pilot error. Publisher EA plans to reveal more about the game at next week's E3 spectacular. Update: Video pulled. [Image: EA]
'Major' update to Battlefield 4 netcode in the works
With a new Battlefield game on the horizon, series creator DICE has stepped out ahead of "too soon" backlash to say that support for Battlefield 4 will continue. "We've always dared to try new settings and experiences with Battlefield and seeing this new one take shape is a long lasting dream come true," writes DICE VP Karl Magnus Troedsson. "That said, I want to be sure you all understand that introducing Hardline in no way means we're done working on Battlefield 4." Given its notoriously botched launch, critics of Battlefield 4 might say that work never really finished. Battlefield: Hardline, which pits the police against crooks in urban shootouts, is not being developed by DICE but Visceral Games, best known for the Dead Space series. While EA's horror team tackles the new shooter, DICE will work on a "major" update to Battlefield 4's netcode, Troedsson says.
