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Get double the Sting for pre-ordering WWE 2K15
Iconic WCW wrestler Sting was revealed as a pre-order bonus for WWE 2K15 during last night's episode of Monday Night Raw. Both Sting's blonde-haired "surfer" gimmick from the late 1980s and early 1990s as well as his black and white-painted "crow" outfit will be available to play in the game by pre-order customers. WWE 2K15 will launch October 28 in North America and October 31 internationally for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360 and PS3. It's the first WWE game to debut on the next-generation systems, and also the first to be co-developed by series veterans Yukes and Visual Concepts, developer of the NBA 2K basketball series. The game's cover will feature John Cena, though it's unknown if 2K Sports will wise up and put Sting on the cover for pre-order buyers. [Image: 2K Sports]
John Cena sucks up the spotlight on WWE 2K15's cover
2K Sports revealed the cover art for WWE 2K15 this week, the second game in the series from the publisher. The cover art features the face of the WWE and current champion John Cena, posing in a way that indicates he's contemplating his unwavering commitment to his unchanging "never give up" persona. Fans will have the chance to make Cena give up via submission when WWE 2K15 launches on October 28 in North America and October 31 internationally. The game is in development by Yukes and Visual Concepts for PS4, Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360, and will be the first WWE game to step into the next generation's squared circle. [Image: 2K Sports]
NBA 2K15 nets MVP cover athlete Kevin Durant
2K Sports announced its cover athlete for NBA 2K15 today, and it's none other than Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant. Durant was recently crowned the NBA's most valuable player, so there really is no better basketball player to have on the game's cover. NBA 2K15 will launch October 7 in North America and October 10 internationally. The basketball sim is in development by Visual Concepts for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. The last entry in the series, NBA 2K14, was the first to arrive on Xbox One and PS4 at each console's launch following its current-gen and PC release in early October 2013. The game suffered major server issues, which locked players out of MyTeam and NBA Today content entirely, even after the next-gen versions received a sizable patch. As of February, Take-Two had shipped more than five million copies of the game. [Image: 2K Sports]
Space Jam comes back to life with NBA 2K14 mod
A new NBA Jam may not be in the cards, but that's okay; a different kind of jam is here. A Space Jam. NBA 2K series modder MGX has released a set of files that transform NBA 2K14 into an adaptation of the 1996 classic film, with the Looney Tunes and Michael Jordan on one side and the Monstars on the other. Transforming a 2D anthropomorphic animal or space monster into a 3D model is no easy feat. Combine this with the fact that the 3D model versions of the Looney Tunes crew are basically human bodies with animal heads attached and you have a recipe for some serious nightmare fuel uh ... '90s nostalgia. If you want to get in on this mod or others, check out MGX's Facebook page. Now's your chance. Do your dance. At the Space Jam. [Image: 2K Sports/MGX]
NBA 2K14 shipments eclipse 5 million
NBA 2K14 is Take-Two's most successful basketball game yet. The latest entry in Visual Concepts basketball sim series has sold-in (see: shipped) over five million copies, Take-Two announced today. Take-Two has shipped over 35 million NBA 2K games to date. NBA 2K14 first launched on PS3 and Xbox 360 on October 1. Next-generation versions followed in November to correspond with the launch of the Xbox One and PS4. According to data provided by the NPD, NBA 2K14 was the top-selling sports game on both next-generation platforms in November. [Image: Take-Two]
MLB 2K baseball series canceled
2K Sports has officially canceled its MLB 2K baseball game series. A 2K representative told Joystiq today that it has "decided not to renew our MLB 2K series for 2014. We are very proud of the achievements made by the MLB 2K team and look forward to their contributions to our future titles, including NBA 2K - our industry's #1 rated and #1 selling basketball franchise." The final game in the series was MLB 2K13, a game that was panned critically for its stark similarities to its predecessor, MLB 2K12. The confirmation of the series' closure comes after the publisher took steps to remove the brand from its various pages – an indicator that it no longer has the appropriate licensing obligations to fulfill. As pointed out by Pastapadre, 2K Sports recently took down its Facebook page for the series, videos from its YouTube page and forwarded each landing page for games in the series to its global 2K website. Of the few MLB-branded pages that remain are a few of the game's online manuals, though it's uncertain how long those will be available to view. Being that 2K Sports was the only company delivering a simulation baseball game for Microsoft's Xbox 360, thanks to an exclusive third-party licensing agreement it signed with the MLB, the Xbox One will be without a Major League Baseball game for the time being. The MLB: The Show series is developed by Sony's San Diego studio, which will launch MLB 14: The Show this spring on PS3, PS4 and Vita.
NBA 2K14 server issues persist, affecting current and next-gen
Despite issuing a hefty patch for next-gen recently, 2K Games reports some players are being locked out of NBA 2K14 content due to server connection issues. A server connection, while not required to access all of the game's content, is necessary for handling virtual currency – which players use to purchase goods and attributes for their custom players – as well as certain modes such as MyTeam and NBA Today. When the game fails to connect to the 2K servers, it locks players out of this content. An update, issued for the game last night, seems to have resolved a majority of the connection issues, though there are still problems with MyTeam and private TeamUp matches. 2K Games' Ronnie Singh has been active on Twitter today, providing status updates as the developers attempt to quell the server issues. Current-generation versions of the game seem to be good to go, while next-gen versions should have MyTeam working again in the "next few hours."
2K drops huge NBA 2K14 patch on Xbox One, PS4
A new patch has been issued for NBA 2K14 on Xbox One and PS4. This third patch, which aims to improve gameplay features and squash some of the more pernicious bugs, is available for download on both consoles right now. In the patch notes, 2K Games promises fewer sudden disconnects when playing against others online as well as a resolution to the lengthy blank loading screen that would sometimes hit players when they booted up the game. 2K has also fixed a nasty bug that would prevent players from proceeding past the All-Star break after playing through multiple seasons in MyCareer mode. Some issues are specific to the Xbox One, – such as game invites failing to go through or players entering an uncontrollable state when a secondary profile would sign in then out. Both have been taken care of, along with a bug where blocked players could still find each other in online matches. Now when you block them, they can't find you on Xbox Live. Other minor improvements include resolving a camera glitch and adding an entirely new camera angle option, tweaking dribble animations for some players in order to be smoother and changing certain situational AI behavior. The patch changes quite a lot, so head on over to this 2K blog post for the full game tape.
NBA 2K14 Xbox One review: Swear fealty to the prince
If NBA 2K14 on current-gen systems is the king, then the next-gen version is the prince. While it features the same unparalleled gameplay and control of its current-gen cousin, NBA 2K14 on Xbox One ends up feeling like less of a fully-realized product – a younger, prettier facsimile of what has been the best, and only, basketball sim on the market for the last few years. The next-gen version of NBA 2K14 One lacks some of the substance seen on Xbox 360 and PS3, though it benefits from being one of the most realistic-looking video games I've ever played.
NBA 2K14 arriving on November 19 for Xbox One, features detailed in 'uber trailer'
NBA 2K14 will launch on Xbox One on November 19. The basketball sim launched on PS4 this week, joining its Xbox 360, PS3 and PC counterparts. The Xbox One version's launch is just three days ahead of the launch event for the console itself, which Microsoft will broadcast on Spike TV and Xbox channels. 2K Sports also unveiled an "uber trailer" for NBA 2K14 that clocks in at just under five minutes long. The trailer dives into the game's features, from the way developer Visual Concepts implemented its Eco-Motion system to provide more realistic and unique animations to the addition of a conversation system to the game's MyGM franchise mode. 2K Sports' lengthy trailer also touches on the improvements to MyTeam mode on next-gen consoles.
NBA 2K14's next-gen 'Eco-Motion' explained in video form
NBA 2K14 will feature an "Eco-Motion" engine on PS4 and Xbox One that provides more unique animations and facial expressions for basketball stars like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. While it's already available on current-gen systems, the game will launch with the next-gen systems this month.
NBA 2K14's MyTeam mode improved for next-gen consoles
NBA 2K14 will see an improved MyTeam mode on Xbox One and PS4, 2K Sports announced. MyTeam is the fantasy team mode similar to EA's Ultimate Team modes being offered in its sports games, including NBA Live 14. Among the features players will find on Xbox One and PS4 is "Domination mode," which has players going up against "actual NBA teams." Next-gen players will also have access to new card colors with different levels of rarity: emerald, sapphire and ruby. Lastly, if our gallery of next-generation MyTeam screens are any indicator, the developer has moved away from the mode's traditional "VC" in-game currency. 2K Sports has not specified whether current-gen players can transfer their My Team cards to their next-gen system of choice. NBA 2K14 will launch alongside the Xbox One and PS4 this month.
NBA 2K14 review: Swear fealty to King James
For the last few years, the NBA 2K series has taken great care to show reverence and respect for the sport's past, highlighting the greatest accomplishments and players to set foot on the hardwood. It began with NBA 2K11, which brought Michael Jordan to the forefront. Then NBA 2K12 gave us legendary match-ups to play, replete with historical presentation cues and visual fidelity. Then NBA 2K13 gave us ... Jay-Z. This year, NBA 2K14 tries something a little different. By attaching LeBron James, NBA 2K14 attempts to look forward and provide fans with an outlet to predict the future of today's greatest basketball player.
Here's the full roster for WWE 2K14's '30 Years of WrestleMania' mode
The complete roster for WWE 2K14's 30 Years of WrestleMania mode was announced earlier today by legendary WWE commentators Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler, during an appropriately dramatic and (Ric) flair-filled press event held at this weekend's WWE SummerSlam AXXESS event in Los Angeles. The roster, listed in its entirety after the break, is made up of 33 wrestlers, 10 of which have "Retro" variants, bringing the entire cast of characters up to 43 unbelievably giant, sweaty men. Highlights of the list include relatively recent personalities such as The Rock, CM Punk and John Cena, as well as classic competitors such as Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Mick Foley, Ric Flair and Goldberg. It's worth noting that these wrestlers have been announced specifically for the 30 Years of WrestleMania mode, and that 2K Sports has yet to divulge which will also be available for use in the game's other modes.
MLB 2K13 review: Shameless
"Milwaukee Brewers closer John Axford has a sweet mustache. The commentary team in Major League Baseball 2K12, Steve Phillips, Gary Thorne, and John Kruk even spend time talking about it when he's on the mound, throwing strikes. Yes, dialogue was recorded specifically to discuss the pitcher's facial hair – and yet Axford's player model is clean-shaven with some average-joe sideburns."So began my review of MLB 2K12 a year ago, though it could just as easily serve as a fitting introduction for a review of MLB 2K13. Axford's facial hair hasn't changed in MLB 2K13 – and neither has the game. I take that back: The Online Leagues feature has been removed, the Houston Astros are now in the AL and Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price is on the cover. There, I think we're pretty much all caught up.
Take-Two officially takes over WWE license, WWE 2K14 coming in fall
We knew this was coming last week, but now it's official: Take-Two is now the holder of the WWE license. The first game to come from the new WWE publisher is due this fall, titled WWE '14 – in line with 2K Sports' branding of sports games. [Update: The original ESPN source cited a name change, but Take-Two's press release confirms the new game will be called WWE '14.] Take-Two struck a five-year deal with WWE, WWE executive vice president of consumer products Casey Collins confirmed to ESPN. The previous WWE license holder was THQ, who has been pumping out wrasslin' games since 1999. THQ has since become no more, forced to sell off all its assets to the highest bidder – but before that silent auction, THQ and WWE got together to hold private bidding for the license. According to Collins, Take-Two was the right fit, a publisher he sees as "a leader going forward on these next-gen systems." Not only that, but Take-Two's success with the NBA 2K series also spurred interest, Collins said. "The work they do, and the quality of the games they put out and how they've been able to grow their franchise with not only the simulation aspect of the game, but also the entertainment aspect, we thought they'd be a perfect partner." WWE '14 will launch this fall, a joint collaboration between 2K Sports studio Visual Concepts and longtime WWE series developer Yukes, located in Japan. As part of this five-year deal, Take-Two has also hired on some designers from THQ to work with Visual Concepts. "What we're going to do moving forward is meld Yukes with the team at Visual Concepts, so we can have the best of both worlds," Collins said. "Having Yukes' experience and then getting the Visual Concepts guys on board with them, we think this is going to be a dynamic duo." Collins confirmed that folks from THQ's "Fight Team" were being hired at Take-Two to help Visual Concepts with the transition. "The THQ Fight Team is also being brought over, and they'll report directly to Visual Concepts. Their experience in the marketing, their experience in the development, their experience with our franchise for years ... we thought that it was very valuable to keep that continuity." [Note: Image taken from WWE '13, but you probably knew that because it says WWE '13 right on the image.
NBA 2K13 and MLB 2K13 bundle puts sports in your sports
2K Sports announced a special NBA 2K13 and MLB 2K13 bundle today for Xbox 360 and PS3, which will retail for $79.99 when MLB 2K13 launches on March 5. The bundle saves players a whopping $20, as a new copy of NBA 2K13 can be picked up on Amazon for $39.99.2K Sports bundled the two series together last year as well, packaging NBA 2K12 and MLB 2K12 up for $69.99. One of the differences this year revolved around the uncertainty of MLB 2K13 even existing until it was announced in January, as 2K Sports' licensing agreement with MLB was slated to expire last year. Click past the break to check out the 2K13 bundle cover, which features cover athletes David Price and Kevin Durant.
MLB 2K13 brings back the Perfect Game Challenge
2K Sports' controversial Perfect Game Challenge is back for MLB 2K13. The game will be available March 5, with the contest kicking off April 1, which we're told is the opening day of major league baseball. We'll take 2K at its word about opening day, but as denizens of the internet, we make it a general rule not to believe in anything that happens that day.As for the contest, during April players can compete for a prize pool of $750,000 across 30 MLB Team Leaderboards. The top four in the overall leaderboard will be invited to New York during the MLB All-Star Week in July to compete for a grand prize of $250,000.
MLB 2K13 hits March 5, Tampa Bay's David Price as cover star
2K Sports announced MLB 2K13 today, which is home running onto Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on March 5, just ahead of the new season of Major League Baseball. Gracing the cover this year is Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price, winner of the 2012 American League Cy Young award. Price pipped MLB 2K12 cover star Justin Verlander to the award by just four points, probably ensuring the latter's visage wouldn't be returning to game retailers' shelves. One thing that is returning, however, and despite past controversy, is the Perfect Game Challenge and its $1 million of prize money.The announcement of MLB 2K13 was more uncertain than you might think. 2K Sports' licensing agreement for MLB games was set to expire last year, and it was anything but definite that it would be renewed. Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take Two Interactive Software (of which 2K Sports is a subsidiary), said in 2010 the agreement was a "losing proposition," and that his company "didn't have any interest in pursuing losing propositions." Yet a new licensing agreement was made, and the MLB 2K series has life left in it, at least for now. "We'd like to thank our league partners for their support in helping us reach an agreement to bring back MLB 2K," said Jason Argent, VP of marketing for 2K Sports. "We know fans are extremely passionate about the MLB 2K series and the Perfect Game Challenge."
Wii U gamepad is a biometric scanner in NBA 2K13
NBA 2K13 developer Visual Concepts came up with a pretty ingenious use of the WiiPad – it's a biometric scanner. At any time, you can point the WiiPad at your TV to scan the court and see who's hot, cold or fatigued.
