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Um, Cloud from 'Final Fantasy VII' is heading to Smash Bros.
You haven't accidentally stumbled into an alternate reality where Final Fantasy VII was developed by Nintendo. But, the following is still true: Cloud from Final Fantasy VII will be a playable character in Super Smash Bros. This is what we get for living in a world where the Nintendo PlayStation actually exists. Nintendo dropped the announcement right at the end of its Nintendo Direct livestream today.
'Star Fox Zero' lands on Wii U in April
Star Fox Zero makes its way to Wii U on April 22nd, 2016, barrel rolls and all. The game was originally due on November 20th, but in September, Nintendo announced its delay into 2016. "We will need a little more time to work on areas such as the unprecedented discovery that we want players to experience in the game by using two screens, and further polishing the level designs and perfecting the tone of the cut scenes," Nintendo said at the time. The company announced the new release date during its Nintendo Direct livestream.
'The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD' hits Wii U in 2016
It's official: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD exists and it's heading to Wii U on March 4th, 2016. Twilight Princess HD introduces a new Wolf Link amiibo, which is included in a special game bundle. The game shares some data with the new Legend of Zelda game heading to Wii U in 2016 as well. Rumors of Twilight Princess HD's existence first hit the 'net in October. Nintendo made the official announcement today during its Nintendo Direct livestream.
Watch today's Nintendo Direct right here
Nintendo Direct is back and ready to deliver some serious 3DS and Wii U news. Today's live stream starts at 2PM PT (5PM ET/10PM GMT), and the US version is viewable at the bottom of this post (or see region-specific streams here). Don't expect any details about the NX or Nintendo's mobile games -- today is poised to be all about the Wii U and 3DS only. This is the first Nintendo Direct since President Satoru Iwata's death in July; former Nintendo of America and Pokémon USA President Tatsumi Kimishima is now the head of the company. So, grab a banana, pull up a chair and prepare for a brand new Nintendo Direct.
Hulu reportedly wants to sell part of itself to Time Warner
Time Warner might soon be joining NBCUniversal (Comcast), Fox and Disney as a co-owner of Hulu, the Wall Street Journal reports. The streaming site is said to be in discussions to sell Time Warner a stake of itself, a deal that would value it upwards of $5 billion. While talks aren't final yet, sources say the deal would likely involve Hulu's existing co-owners reducing their stakes in the site for an equal 25 percent split, down from 33 percent each. Having another media parent could give Hulu the muscle to better compete with Netflix. If it goes through, Time Warner will invest cash and give Hulu access to more of its content library. The news isn't too surprising -- we've been hearing since 2013 that Time Warner was interested in Hulu. And it simply makes sense, given that it has the backing of America's other cable giants.
Control the weather via Twitch and torture these poor souls in London
You read that correctly. It's called Survival Billboard, and to be clear, it's a marketing campaign for Rise of the Tomb Raider's launch in the UK -- but it's so strange (and slightly sadistic) that it's worth a mention. Eight people volunteered to stand on a billboard in London and be subjected to a series of extreme weather conditions, as chosen by people voting online. So far, the contestants have endured snow, wind, rain and heat, and they've been up there for just a few hours. One contestant has already been eliminated, meaning seven remain at time of publication. The last person standing wins a trip to exotic locations around the world. If you tune in (and vote to torture these people, you monster), be warned that the ad breaks (aside from the giant billboard) are lengthy and full of Tomb Raider cutscenes. That may be a small price to pay to be a digital weather god for a little while.
Comcast's $15 Stream TV service launches in the Boston area
On the heels of Time Warner Cable's streaming test for its internet customers, Comcast's Stream TV is live in the Boston area. That's if you're paying for Xfinity internet service, of course. Announced back in July, the service gives cord cutters who still use Comcast for web access the ability to stream all of the live television from major networks, HBO and a library of on-demand options for $15 a month. Sorry sports fans, it doesn't include ESPN, and you can only watch live broadcasts from the comforts of home. However, the on-demand movies and TV shows can be streamed while you're on the go.
Storytelling in video games doesn't have to be scary
Benjamin Rivers believes in the dramatic, emotional appeal of the video game industry. He's the man behind Home, a surprisingly complex, pixelated horror game that found great success once it debuted in 2012. It's praised for impressive narrative arcs that branch in twisted, unique ways depending on the decisions of each player, and this is precisely the type of story-centric design that delights Rivers. He sees video games' potential to convey convoluted human experiences through strong narrative design, and he's bringing these sensibilities to Alone with You, a science-fiction adventure due to hit PlayStation 4 and PS Vita in the spring. Alone with You stars a lonely survivor on a planet due for implosion in a few weeks; players have to escape with help from the colony's AI system, which eventually takes on the personalities of dead crew members. And, it's a romance. A futuristic, interstellar romance starring just one actual human -- because that's the kind of storyteller Rivers is.
Runtastic Results wants to be the P90X of mobile apps
There are currently a total of 15 Runtastic apps available across iOS, Android and Windows Phone. But the Austrian startup, recently acquired by sportswear giant Adidas, doesn't want to stop there. Today, it is introducing Results, an application that focuses solely on body training. This is Runtastic's version of the popular P90X fitness program, designed for the mobile era and to complement its other fitness-friendly software. Even though the app's available at no cost on iOS and Android, a premium, $50-per-year membership is going to unlock a dynamic 12-week workout plan. Here, you will get support from the Runtastic community, a personal nutrition guide and more than 120 exercise videos -- those, by the way, have been shot at 6K resolution, making them easier on the eye.
Xbox One Windows 10 update begins rolling out
After months of teasing, beta testing and announcements, the Xbox One's big update for Windows 10, an all-new UI and backwards compatibility with some Xbox 360 games will arrive tomorrow. According to Major Nelson, the new software will start rolling out at 3AM ET, although we wouldn't advise waiting up for it for a couple of reasons. First, it's a staged rollout, so you may not get it right away. Second, the ability to play Xbox 360 games (here's the list) won't switch on until 3PM ET, so you've got some time to get ready. Finally, assuming your Xbox is setup for "Instant-on" it should automatically grab the update and install it without you needing to do anything at all. The new Xbox One dashboard has a completely refreshed layout, but there's a lot of info available to help you get used to it.
Razer's Android TV box quietly leaves Google's store
You may have thought that Razer's Forge TV was hot stuff back at CES, but it's not clear that the buying public felt the same way. Google has quietly stopped selling the Android TV set-top on its official store -- swing by its product page and you'll find that it's "no longer available for purchase." It's not certain that Razer has discontinued the media hub altogether, but things don't look good when its own store only lets you sign-up for in-stock alerts. We've reached out to Razer to get the full scoop on this disappearance.
Virtual pop star Hatsune Miku will tour North America in 2016
Hatsune Miku may have started out as the humble Mascot for a music production software suite, but today she's a bonafide pop star -- and she's about to embark on her first multi-state US tour. Yes, it's a little weird if you think about it too much, but it's happening: starting in April, Miku Expo will be touring Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Toronto and New York, with other possible cities to be revealed later.
Roku's new media player will cost you just $25 on Black Friday
Roku may have poured a lot of energy into its spiffy new 4K player, but it's not forgetting the budget crowd. The company has unveiled the Roku SE, a TV streaming box aimed at those who only want the basics. It's not that much different than the Roku 1 aside from shipping with OS 7 from the start, and it supports the same 1080p playback, video output (HDMI and analog) and media casting features. No Ethernet or sophisticated remote here, folks. However, you might not mind any omissions when you see the price. The SE will officially sell for the same $50 as the Roku 1, but it'll be available for just $25 on Black Friday, November 27th -- that's less than a Chromecast. If you're determined to put Netflix on that old TV in the basement, this may be the cheapest way to do it.
This week's Xbox One update deletes dashboard Kinect gestures
When the New Xbox One Experience hits consoles on November 12th, it will remove Kinect gestures from the dashboard entirely, platform head Mike Ybarra confirmed to Windows Central. The update is poised to be massive, overhauling most of the Xbox One interface in part to work better with Windows 10. Kinect isn't mentioned at all on the Xbox One update page, though voice controls get one shoutout. "With gestures, the reality was the usage was very, very low," Ybarra told the site. "So for now, we've cut that from the New Xbox One Experience."
Smart projector aims to bring the big screen home wirelessly
There's nothing better than a projector in your living room for movie fans. But for many people, setting one up isn't exactly easy (though it's doable if you put in the effort). There's complicated wiring to deal with, and they're also pretty bulky. French startup AV Concept Products is hoping to solve these issues with the All in One HC (AIO), its new Android-powered smart projector. It's fairly slim, it can spit out a decent 720p image (yes, a 1080p version is in the works) with 1,000 lumens in a brightly lit event space, and it supports AirHDMI, which lets you transmit video from any device with an HDMI port. The big problem? The company is currently targeting a $1,499 price for the AIO, though you can snag one via Indiegogo for $999 and $1,299 at the moment. Those are all pretty steep prices for a projector without 1080p, but AV Concept Products tells us it's also working on a subscription plan to ease the pain. It's hoping to raise $50,000 in its crowdfunding campaign over the next 35 days.
Twitch rewards you for watching 'Tomb Raider' on the Xbox One app
Live-streaming platform Twitch is handing out in-game points to people who watch Rise of the Tomb Raider via the Xbox One app. Plus, viewers on any platform have the ability to mess with their favorite Tomb Raider streams when the game is in Expedition Mode: Once prompted, people in chat can vote to activate one of two cards, which alter gameplay in specific ways. Some cards remove health regeneration, add armor to enemies, grant players more melee damage or enable "Big Head Mode," for example. Voting rounds appear every six minutes or so, and this only works if the streamer uses the Xbox One Twitch app to broadcast the game. Now, let's talk about those rewards.
Playdate: We're giving away the 'Fallout 4' Pip-Boy Edition!
The Fallout 4 Pip-Boy Edition proved insanely popular, so much so that developer/publisher Bethesda Softworks had to apologize when it couldn't meet demand for the plastic wrist-computer. You know who isn't saying sorry? Us at Engadget. That's because we're giving away the PlayStation 4 premium edition of this fall's most anticipated game during our Twitch broadcast today. All you need to do is hit the contest widget after the break. Join Sean Buckley and myself as we stream two hours of irradiated galavanting around the Boston Commonwealth starting at 6PM Eastern / 3PM Pacific. Sean's playing the PC version and you can watch us here on this very post, the Engadget Gaming homepage, or Twitch.tv/Joystiq if you'd like to participate in chat. How many hijinks will we get into? You'll just have to tune in and find out. So go grab a Nuka Cola Quantum and settle in. Oh, and good luck! Winner: Congratulations to Onelson G. of Brooklyn, NY!
Sony's first 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases will arrive early next year
If you were hoping Ultra HD Blu-ray discs would be here in time for the holidays, you're going to have to wait a bit longer. Well, as far as Sony Pictures content is concerned anyway. The company announced today that its 4K Ultra HD discs will go on sale "in early 2016," missing the end-of-the-year estimate the Blu-ray Disc Association revealed back in August. When Sony's catalog does arrive, you can expect The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Salt, Hancock, Chappie, Pineapple Express, and The Smurfs 2 to be included in the first wave of releases. Newer movies like Fury and Captain Philips are in the works as well, and after being restored from the original film, the likes of Ghostbusters and The Fifth Element will make the leap to 4K, too.
Watch T-Mobile's 'Uncarrier X' live stream here!
T-Mobile is holding another "Uncarrier" event this afternoon to announce, well, nobody quite knows for sure. Set to start at 2PM EST, the tagline for the invitation reads "we never hit pause," which kickstarted the rumor mill. A majority of speculators are saying that the wireless carrier will announce its customers will be allowed to use streaming sites like Netflix, HBO Go and Hulu without it counting towards their data cap. The wireless carrier already offers unfettered streaming of music sites like Spotify and Pandora, so the concept isn't entirely foreign. If these rumors are true, this could be an industry game-changer -- and get net neutrality advocates in a huff because of how unequally it treats data. Video streaming does use up a huge amount of cellular data, though, so this could definitely come in handy if you're looking to watch a TV episode during your lunch break at work. The only way to know for sure, of course, is to tune in.
'Twilight' author Stephenie Meyer is making a show for Hulu
You may still see Stephenie Meyer as synonymous with vampire books and movies, but she's determined to shake things up -- including where she puts her big-screen productions. The Twilight writer is working with Lionsgate on Rook, a TV show that's destined for both Hulu's streaming service as well as a currently unnamed UK TV provider. The studio isn't saying anything about what the show entails, although it's clearly betting that Meyer will help the show rise above the pack. Whether or not it does is still up in the air, mind you. While Twilight was a license to print money, Meyer's producer roles on Austenland and The Host didn't make those movies blockbuster hits. [Image credit: David Edwards/MediaPunch/IPX]
