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Gamescom 2014: SMITE heading for the Xbox One
Has your purchase of a next-gen console been reliant on finding out which one of them will get a MOBA on it? Your wait is now over. SMITE is set to launch on the Xbox One via the platform's ID@Xbox program at some point in 2015, as announced today during the Xbox Gamescom event. No specific dates have yet been announced for the port. COO Todd Harris stated that the game's third-person viewpoint makes it a natural fit to control with a console gamepad rather than a mouse and keyboard, leading to an easy conversion. Details of how the program will work with online connectivity and the possibility of requiring an Xbox Live subscription have not yet been revealed (unsurprisingly, since the program was only just announced). Keep your eyes peeled for more information through the tail end of the year, since the launch won't be happening until 2015. [Thanks to Sorenthaz for the tip!]
Development to begin on PS4 version of Timesplitters Rewind, just in case
The ragtag team of fans constructing Timesplitters Rewind is poised to start development on a PlayStation 4 version of the game, project lead Michael Hubicka told Gaming Blend. The move is preemptive, as Crytek has yet to approve the port: "We're actually going to go ahead and start development [of Timesplitters Rewind] on PlayStation 4," Hubicka said. "We're pretty confident Crytek's going to say go ahead and do it. But we don't want them saying go ahead and do it when we're caught with our pants down and we're like halfway through development, and [then] start something for the PlayStation 4." Crytek has approved the game's PC incarnation, which was announced back in March. Alpha testing for the PC version is slated to begin sometime between the end of this year and late 2014, according to a post on the game's official blog. The development team is also investigating the possibility of cross-platform play between PC and PS4 versions, should Crytek's legal department sign off on the console port.
Diablo III launches on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
With the game's first expansion already announced, you might be looking for a chance to play Diablo III in a different way. Does sitting around a television with your friends count? Because you can do that starting today, as the console version launches today on the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. (It probably wouldn't fit well with the Wii U's catalogue anyway.) Now you can slay demons right alongside your friends in both body and spirit. Of course you can also play online, as with the PC version, or just go it alone as you rip through demon hordes. The game boasts a redesigned interface meant to take full advantage of the controller setup while still boasting all of the same content. So it might not tide you over if you've played through Diablo III multiple times, but if you'd like a refresher before the first expansion or just prefer the idea of a console experience, you can have that now.
Achievements suggest 'Resident Evil: Revelations Unveiled Edition' for 360
Back in November, Korean ratings board GRB posted listings for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Resident Evil: Revelations; a port that Capcom has yet to officially announce in any capacity. Now, purported achievements for the 360 version have surfaced, listing the game's full title as Resident Evil: Revelations Unveiled Edition.The achievements themselves reveal little, beyond the fact that both Campaign and Raid modes will make the jump from handheld to console, should this all shake out. As intrigued as we are, the idea of a 3DS to console port brings up many questions, though the fact that the word "revelations" is spelled correctly is promising. We've reached out to Capcom for comment.
The Secret World readying seven years of content, new trailer released
Someone -- or something -- opened the news floodgates at The Secret World offices today, and apparently the stream was diverted directly to Eurogamer (with a tributary reaching IGN as well). There are several noteworthy pieces of info to pass along regarding Funcom's conspiracy-horror epic, starting with the fact that the Norwegian developer has already laid out seven years' worth of post-launch content updates. "We have actually begun not only design work but art work on content that's due after launch that has been planned from the get-go," game director Ragnar Tornquist tells Eurogamer. Despite assuring GDC audiences that The Secret World "is not a console game, it's not a game that tries to be anything like that," Tornquist acknowledged that Funcom is considering options beyond the PC. While the PC version is still the current focus, he leaves open the possibility of a console port if TSW turns out to be a big success. "You really need to make a different game [for consoles]. How different that will be, it's hard to say," Tornquist explains. Finally, IGN has gotten its hands on the newest trailer for The Secret World, and though the clip (titled Everything is True) manages to avoid showing much gameplay footage during its three-minute running time, it nonetheless delivers a considerable amount of atmosphere due a combination of effective editing, music, and titles. See for yourself after the cut.
CD Projekt exercising caution before bringing Witcher 2 to consoles
During a recent press conference, Polish video game developer CD Projekt discussed the possibility of its upcoming RPG sequel, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, getting a console port. Speaking to Eurogamer, CD Projekt CEO Marcin Iwiński said that while the game's technology does support multiple platforms, it'll be a matter of "we'll see" in the months following the May PC launch. "We know how many players, especially in the UK as well as in the US, play on Xbox 360," he said. "We are pretty good at maths. That's all I can say for now." The Witcher 2 senior producer Tomasz Gop, also likely to be a math pro, explained that the porting process isn't a last-minute consideration. "We're doing a reality check every half a year or so. We take a level from the game and we try to put it inside our engine, because it's console capable on Xbox 360 and PS3," he said. "It's doable." Gop noted that developing for consoles alongside the PC version hasn't been an option, prompting the team to exercise caution first. "Three reasons: time, people and money. We have not released any console games yet. That's why we're approaching this topic with even more caution."
APB needs partner to make console version, but willing
The idea of console MMOs is nothing new. After all, EverQuest Online Adventures, Final Fantasy XI, and the Phantasy Star titles have managed to successfully publish on consoles. With that said, it seems as if there's been a trend with recent MMOs to say they were going to console like Age of Conan and Champions Online, only to change their minds later. That's why we weren't surprised to see that David Jones, Creative Director of Realtime Worlds, sat down with Eurogamer and discussed the potential of a console port for his company's recent release, All Points Bulletin. What we did find interesting was that, despite knowledge of consoles from working on the first two Grand Theft Auto titles and Realtime Worlds being partnered with EA for distribution, there has been no discussion between the two companies regarding porting All Points Bulletin to consoles. Jones notes that the team at Realtime Worlds will remain focused on working on the PC version, as opposed to shifting into trying to build a console version, or trying to "shop around" for a partner. That said, he certainly sounds willing to discuss a deal if the right distribution partner for consoles were willing to contact them. Be sure to pop over to Eurogamer if you're wondering what else Jones may have in mind for All Points Bulletin.
Cryptic's Jack Emmert: No Plans For Consoles, STO over 100K subscribers
"100% of our focus is on making the current PC product the best it can be. There are no current plans for a console version of Champions." Thus sayeth Cryptic Studio's Jack Emmert on the official Champions Online forums, ending speculation when or if this event would happen. Over the past couple years, it looked as though Cryptic had console ports in its plans, from bringing on board console engine programmers to public plans of expanding their subscriber base into the console market. However, when the date for the supposed console release kept getting pushed back, players grew worried, and now it seems that the concern was justified. This might have been compounded by the fact that recently Champions Online experienced a major transition as executive producer Bill Roper stepped down and Shannon "Poz" Posniewski took over. The folks over at The Big Freaking Podcast grabbed a bit of face time with Jack Emmert, Cryptic's Chief Operating Officer, to expand on this news as well as the future for Champions and Star Trek Online. Read on for the highlights of this interview!
