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You can't join 11-vs-11 Pro Clubs in last-gen FIFA 15
FIFA 15 won't include the Pro Clubs mode on PS3 and Xbox 360, EA Sports announced. The mode allows players to create and join teams for 11-versus-11 online matches, which the last-gen versions of FIFA 14 included. "We're very confident in the amount of innovation and depth we're delivering for FIFA 15 on PS3 and Xbox 360 but there are some things we couldn't do for FIFA 15 on PS3 and Xbox 360, either based on the limitations of these consoles, or our time and resources," EA Sports wrote in an update on the FIFA site. The previous generation of systems will still enjoy a number of changes in this year's game, such as improved teammate intelligence and player control. It will also feature Chelsea's Eden Hazard alongside Lionel Messi on some European covers and Clint Dempsey in North America, who will wear his Xbox-branded Seattle Sounders jersey on the Microsoft boxes. FIFA 15 will launch on September 23 in North America for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. It will arrive on September 25 in Europe and one day later in the UK. [Image: EA Sports]
Next-gen upgrades won't include single-player saves
With the variety of upgrade programs offered for players to switch from current-generation to next-gen systems in the coming months, one thing they won't be able to bring to their new Xbox One or PS4 systems is their single-player save files. Representatives for EA, Ubisoft and Activision confirmed to Kotaku that each respective publisher does not have a method for porting single-player campaign save files for Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, Battlefield 4 and Call of Duty: Ghosts to PS4 and Xbox One. In the case of Battlefield 4 and Call of Duty: Ghosts, both games will see multiplayer progress carried over to next-gen systems. EA also announced an upgrade program for Madden NFL 25 in July that not only ports your Madden Ultimate Team cards to next-gen systems, but also offers six free card packs to Anniversary Edition owners. Best Buy, Amazon, GameStop and Sony have their own $10 game upgrade programs, but none seem to save your single-player campaigns for you. Whether that impacts upgrade or current-gen purchasing plans for players remains to be seen.
Ubisoft: Next-gen pre-orders of Watch Dogs, Assassin's Creed 4 beating current-gen
Pre-orders for next-gen versions of Watch Dogs and Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag are higher than current generation versions, Ubisoft's European chief Alain Corre told MCV. "The fans are really excited to get their hands on the new technology," Corre said. "It has been eight years without a home console from Sony or Microsoft so we feel a lot of excitement from our fans for Watch Dogs or Assassin's Creed 4. The pre-orders we are getting are much bigger on our next-gen games." This comes nearly a month after EA's Peter Moore noted that pre-orders on current-generation sports games for the publisher were notably soft. "So we feel that the transition might be quicker," Corre added. "There is a real appetite for change." We'll have a better idea of just how hungry players are for new consoles when the Xbox One and PS4 launch this holiday season.
EA offering Ultimate Team incentives for next-gen Madden 25 upgrades
Those looking to play Madden NFL 25 will likely pick the game up for either Xbox 360 or PS3 when it launches on August 27. Though some may opt to wait a few months for the PS4 and Xbox One versions, those that plan to own both current and next-gen versions are entitled to a few perks in the form of bonuses for Madden Ultimate Team. Players will be able to perform a one-time transfer of up to 1,100 items in Madden Ultimate Team (45 players, 55 items from the active roster and up to 1,000 reserves) from either Xbox 360 or PS3 to either Xbox One or PS4. Ultimate Team fans can still use the items in their current-gen copies of the game, but MUT cards cannot be auctioned or traded after being transferred. Additionally, Anniversary Edition owners will receive an extra six All Pro card packs once they create their team in the mode in a next-gen version of the game, which will be helpful for those looking to create teams with high chemistry in this year's Ultimate Team mode.
Thief confirmed for PS3, Xbox 360 on top of next-gen launch
Thief is infiltrating current-generation consoles alongside its launch on PS4, Xbox One and PC, Senior Producer Stéphane Roy announced in an Eidos Montreal video. It will launch on Xbox 360, PS3, PS4, Xbox One and PC simultaneously, and all versions are under development from the same team. The core gameplay of Thief on current-gen and next-gen consoles will be the same, but the two versions will have slight differences. "No doubt we have to change it a little bit – the next-gen is just so powerful – so we have to adapt our strategy of how to make it happen on current-gen," Roy said. Thief is due out across all platforms in 2014.
Microsoft shrugs off PlayStation 2 price cut
If you were holding your breath for Microsoft's response to the PlayStation 2's recently announced $99 price point, it's now safe to exhale -- Microsoft vice-president of interactive entertainment business Chris Lewis recently issued a calm, cool and collected statement regarding the discount, stating, "The future lies in the growth of current generation consoles," a future in which he's confident the Xbox 360 will continue to trump the PS3.Considering the original Xbox has been discontinued for nearly three years, Microsoft hasn't had a horse in the sixth-generation race for quite some time now. Still, it'll be interesting to see if the bargain-priced PS2 can take a bigger chunk out of current-gen console sales in light of the not-so-awesome state of the economy.
Nielsen: PS2 is still the top-played system
While the game press and developers have largely moved on to the latest and greatest, the game players are apparently still stuck in the past to a large extent. Nielsen Media Research's recently released lists of 2007 consumer trends (PDF link) shows that 42.2 percent of console gaming minutes nationwide are spent on the PlayStation 2. In fact, more than twice as many minutes are spent playing the PS2 as are spent on all the current-generation systems combined. It's not just Sony's super-ubiquitous system that's still has legs, either -- the lowly Xbox and GameCube still combine for 21 percent of the country's gameplay minutes.Perhaps this isn't that surprising, given the relatively large installed bases and libraries the older systems enjoy over their current-gen brethren. What's more surprising, though, is the 17.1 percent of console time spent on "other" consoles that pre-date the PS2. What's causing this relative popularity of retro gaming ? Are frat house's still having nightly Goldeneye tournaments? Are speed-running Super Mario Bros. players more prevalent than we thought? Do today's kids enjoy marathon sessions of Parappa the Rapper? Without more detailed data, it's impossible to know, but it sure is fun to guess, isn't it?[Via Gamasutra]PDF - Nielsen's 2007 Top Ten Lists
Call of Duty 3 announced; leak confirmed [update 1]
Call of Duty 3's just been confirmed, and it looks like we were right on the money with our early leak of the WWII-related game.Back in early March, we printed the following information (and a whole lot more) on the focus of an upcoming sequel: "'CoD 3' ... is being produced by Big Red One dev Treyarch. ... The next Call of Duty World War II-based title will return gamers to the battlefields of Normandy as the Allies take on Nazi Germany to drive them out of France once and for all. This time around, American and British forces are joined by Canadian troops, Polish tanks, and French freedom fighters in a reenactment of the bloody Normandy Breakout campaign spearheaded during the summer of 1944. In the push to Paris, you'll get to choose how you approach each mission, free of menu screens and jarring non-interactive cut-scenes."Here's what IGN quoted from Activision for the announcement yesterday: "Through the eyes of four Allied soldiers, Call of Duty 3 brings players closer to the fury of combat as they fight through the Normandy Breakout, the harrowing offensive that liberated Paris and changed the fate of the world. Developed by Treyarch, Call of Duty 3 is the follow up to the #1 next-generation game and is scheduled for a 2006 release." Fingering the developer and the setting? Not too shabby -- while Joystiq pats itself on the back.Check out the IGN trailer below for a first-person look somewhat reminiscent of the FPS sequence in the Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer from TGS. At the end of the "official E3 teaser" trailer, a number of platforms are listed, with the major manufacturers (including a small "Nintendo Revolution" in text) and publisher/developer combo listed. We suspect that versions for the PC and possibly the current-gen consoles will be covered with ports as well. Now all we have to do is wait for the word on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. (Infinity Ward, we're looking at you!) More info obviously hitting at E3.[Thanks, icemorebutts, jason, & Hiro Protagonist][Update 1: Had to fix a verb. Thanks, Hiro Protagonist, John Q, & Jiiiiihad!]See also: Official E3 teaser trailer for Call of Duty 3 Next Call of Duty leaked: Modern Warfare tackles terrorists Rumor: Call of Duty joining the Revolution Kojima interacts in real-time with MGS4 trailer at TGS
