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The Evil Within also within Europe on October 14
While the big hitters sometimes arrive on the same day worldwide, typically a game's release schedule sees it launch first in North America on Tuesday, then Europe and other PAL regions two or three days later. That was the case with Mikami horror The Evil Within, which was due to launch in Europe on October 16. For whatever reason - maybe the kindness of its heart, a lost bet, or a throw of the die on the craps table of marketing - Bethesda's decided to bump that up to October 14, matching the release date stateside. The new date applies to Europe, the Middle East, India and South Africa, as well as both physical and downloadable copies across PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Bethesda also points out the game's still coming to Australia and New Zealand on October 16 and Japan on October 23.
Build that city in Minecraft PS4, launching today
The ever-growing, seemingly insatiable Minecraft family welcomes PlayStation 4 today, with a stateside PSN launch locked in for "before 12PM PT" (3PM ET.) Mojang's blocky world of creativity and creepers is already out on PS4 in Europe, as of late last night. As we reported yesterday, the Xbox One launch is confirmed for tomorrow, September 5. Both the PS4 and Xbox One ports are features-wise on par with PS3/Xbox 360 editions, but the new hardware allows for worlds up to 36 times larger and greater draw distances.
Try not to kill sheep in Flockers on PS4, Xbox One, PC
Flockers, the new sheep-herding puzzle game from Worms developer Team17, is due out on PC and Xbox One on September 19, and on PS4 on September 23 in the US. In Europe, Flockers hits PC, Xbox One and PS4 on September 19. Flockers is currently on Steam Early Access, running $15. The game combines dark humor, puzzles and platforming as players attempt to guide sheep to freedom around all manner of deadly traps. Team17 describes the game as a "twisted blend of Lemmings' inspired gameplay and Tim Burton style macabre, all topped off with a dose of that classic Worms humor." [Images: Team17]
PS4 remote play comes to new Xperia Z3 tablets
The Xperia Z3 compact tablet line will feature remote play with the PS4, Sony announced today. The Z3 is the only tablet to have remote play with PS4, though the Vita allows these functions, too (and it comes with a controller already attached). Connect the Z3 to a PS4 over Wi-Fi and users are able to play PS4 games, with a PS4 controller, on the tablet. Players can control the PS4, watch games remotely and interact with PS4 friends on the Z3. Sony also announced a new Game Control Mount that hooks onto the PS4 controller and holds the Z3 in place. [Image: Sony]
The Evil Within launching October 16 in Europe
Good news, survival horror fanatics of Europe: You won't have a long wait before The Evil Within scares the sweet bejeezus out of you. Bethesda announced today that Tango Gameworks' brain-bending gorefest will hit Europe, South Africa, India and the Middle East on October 14, arriving the same day as its scheduled North American release. Directed by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, The Evil Within traps players at the scene of a grisly mass murder, where they must carefully ration limited supplies in order to survive. Bethesda recently released an hour's worth of streamed gameplay footage if you want to mentally prepare yourself for what horrors await in the full retail version. The Evil Within will launch on October 16 in Australia, October 17 in New Zealand, and October 23 in Japan. [Image: Bethesda]
To the Moon! Joystiq is giving away free copies of Destiny
One simple question: Where did that wizard come from? Just kidding. We all know about that wizard's lunar origins. Now we just need to figure out what to do with him. Best bet is to form a three-person fire team, call up your personal Ghost, and show that fool how we do things downtown in Bungie's Destiny. With Destiny just a few days away from release, Joystiq is so pumped that it can't contain its enthusiasm for questing and wants its fans to join in the fun. To that end, Joystiq and Activision are giving away a whole mess of copies of Destiny. That's right. Free Destiny on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. We have three copies for each platform to hand out as well as one grand prize: one Destiny Limited Edition for PS4. How do you get the goods? First, you must be an American or Canadian citizen over the age of 13. Second, just "Like" Joystiq on Facebook using the Rafflecopter widget here between September 3 and September 17. Want an extra shot at a copy? You can follow us on Twitter through the widget as well. Full prize list and giveaway rules after the break. Joystiq Giveaway: 13 free copies of Destiny! [Images: Activision]
Minecraft on Xbox One this week, PS4 'soon, maybe sooner' [update]
Not satisfied with mere bajillions, Minecraft starts racking up more sales this week when it launches as a downloadable on Xbox One - and perhaps PS4 too. The Xbox One release date is locked in for Friday, September 5, when 360 owners of Mojang's sandbox game will be be able to upgrade for $5/£4 - Microsoft notes the upgrade applies whether you own a disc or download copy. Otherwise, the full price version is $20/£16. While the PS4 date is unknown, Mojang's Daniel Kaplan tweeted that "Sony friends" can expect a "Minecraft surprise soon... or maybe sooner?!" That tease followed a PlayStation France tweet that claimed the PS4 version will release today, though as yet no other Sony channels have confirmed that. As soon as someone digs up a concrete release date for the PS4 version, we'll let you know. Update: The PlayStation 4 version of Minecraft appears to have launched in the EU. There's still no word on when the game will reach North America or other territories. [Image: 4J Studios]
Japan sees PS4's Tomorrow Children closed alpha test next month
The Tomorrow Children, Q-Games' adorably glossy mashup of slanted Marxist philosophy and real-time strategy game tropes, will enter alpha testing on PlayStation 4 next month. Sony will host the test, and it will be available exclusively to PlayStation Plus subscribers. We've attempted to reach both Sony and Q-Games for information on a possible English-language alpha test (or even word on when The Tomorrow Children is expected to make its official debut), but neither company had anything to tell us. However, we were told that more information will be coming soon. [Image: Q Games]
New Flight School jobs propel GTA 5 into the danger zone
The latest round of jobs added to the open-world crime sandbox that is Grand Theft Auto Online will feed your need for speed, assuming you're old enough to understand that as a Top Gun reference and not a nod to EA's racing games. Building on the recent, fan-favorite Flight School Update, Grand Theft Auto Online now features two new contact missions. The first, "Chop Chop," sees players hijacking helicopters from Merryweather Security before turning their airborne ordinance back on the the PMC's goons. In the second contact mission, "Effin' Lazers," players will fly the titular fighter jets on a mission to destroy similar jets owned by rival drug dealers. Obligatory Kenny Loggins anthem not included. The remaining missions are a mixed bag of races, parachute jumps and a capture maps. Highlights include "Flying Colors," where players race jets mere feet above the scrub brush of East Blaine County, and the "Under The Bridge" event where brave souls leap from a helicopter 4,000 feet in the air before using their parachute skills to float to relative safety beneath a bridge. For full details on all of the new missions joining Grand Theft Auto Online visit the Rockstar Games blog. [Image: Rockstar Games]
PSN Tuesday: Don't Starve, Velocity 2X
If Wednesday is Whacky and Thursday is Thirsty, what's left for poor old Tuesday? It's not alliteration, but we like to think of Tuesday as PSN Update Day: This week, grab Velocity 2X as a Cross-Buy on PS4 and Vita for $20 (free for Plus members), and Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate on PS4 for $60. Vita gets Don't Starve: Giant Edition for $15, Joe Danger for $11 (free for Plus members), Danganronpa 2 for $40 and Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate for $40. On PS3, grab Mega Man X4 for $6 and Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate for $50. Games discounted through September 9 include Alice: Madness Returns Ultimate Edition for $7, Battlefield Bad Company 2 for $7, the Mass Effect trilogy for $20 and Mirror's Edge for $7. [Image: Klei]
New Assassin's Creed screens set sail for neck stabbin'
Through two galleries of upcoming Assassin's Creed entries - the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3-bound Assassin's Creed: Rogue, and the new-generation Assassin's Creed: Unity - two things remain constant: Everyone is unrealistically attractive given the hygiene standards of the period, and somebody wearing an unruly number of belt buckles is going to stab somebody else in the neck. [Image: Ubisoft]
Costume Quest 2 goes trick-or-treating with bigger worlds, goofier costumes
Double Fine's catalog is defined by eclectic variety, with its previous efforts ranging from alternate-history tower defense games to RTS-infused brawlers. To date, however, none of the studio's games has seen a sequel. What, then, made the Halloween-themed RPG Costume Quest a standout candidate for a follow-up?
Report: Disgaea 5 'could only be done' on Playstation 4
Following this weekend's reveal, publisher Nippon Ichi Software has spilled a few more details on the upcoming Disgaea 5, a game it claims will feature more content than any prior entry in the series. According to the latest issue of Dengeki PlayStation magazine (helpfully translated by Gematsu), Disgaea 5 stars a young demon boy named Kiria who is seeking revenge against Demon Emperor Void Dark. Kiria is joined on his quest by Seraphine, the princess of the Gorgeous Underworld, and Usaria, the unstable queen of "Rabbit Rabbit World" who goes "berserk if she does not eat curry."
Alone in the Dark: Illumination aims for November on PC
Alone in the Dark: Illumination is shooting for a November release, Pure FPS producer Stephanie Marroquin tells Joystiq. Publisher Atari confirmed the launch window goal, but adds an exact release date for the PC title has not been solidified. Alone in the Dark: Illumination is an Unreal Engine 4-powered third-person, class-based shooter set within the universe of Atari's survival horror franchise. In a twist for the franchise, the latest game in the series focuses more on action that every before; taking its cues from horde-based survival shooters like Left 4 Dead.
Never Alone blends clever platforming with cultural insight
I like to think of Never Alone as a less depressing version of 2011's indie hit, Limbo. It features similar environment-based puzzle-platforming in an unforgiving world, but its buddy-system mechanics give an encouraging sense of optimism throughout. This isn't to say that you won't be challenged in Never Alone. You'll fail its platforming sequences frequently, and its puzzles are suitably vexing. It's a clever and solid entry in the genre, and its focus on Alaska Native culture gives it a weight and purpose beyond its inventive gameplay.
Globe-trotting with Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
It wouldn't be fair to Lucid Games to say that Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions is "just more Geometry Wars," and then leave one's impressions at that. Announced just a few weeks ago, the game literally takes the series where it has never been, primarily thanks to new three-dimensional visuals (with a pun-tastic title to match). In all honesty though, calling it "more Geometry Wars" serves as a reassurance to the twin-stick series' devotees that its fast-paced action hasn't gone anywhere. My time with Geometry Wars 3 at PAX Prime in Seattle demonstrated that the game fits perfectly with its 2D brethren. Piloting the iconic, angular cruiser through galactic grids felt as tight as ever, while slipping past threats and rapidly firing laser-like bullets at geometric baddies is as chaotic as ever. It took a few attempts to get acquainted with the game's latest twist, though the enemy and bullet behavior is just that, a "twisted" version of the previous games. The flat grid-like playing field fans are used to is now a sphere, tube, pill, peanut or one of numerous other shapes, depending on which of the single-player mode's 50 levels you jump into. Every element in play is stuck to the surface like Nintendo's iconic plumber in Super Mario Galaxy, but ultimately Geometry Wars 3 draws some appropriate comparisons to Super Stardust HD. Missiles rocketed past my ship and around the bend of some levels, but aiming for the more distant neon creatures never felt like a real shot in the dark, if I'm allowed to make my own puns here.
Sony's Metal Slime PlayStation 4 comes with a piece of gunk
We touched on it yesterday in the hubbub of Sony Japan & Asia's press conference, but here's a proper look at the Metal Slime PS4 that's coming to Japan. We're guessing your two immediate questions upon discovering this are 1. Why? 2. What's that thing? Well, the why is to commemorate the release of Dragon Quest Heroes, the new PS4 and PS3 Hyrule Warriors-like crossover that will combine the world of Square Enix's RPG series with action crafted by Dynasty Warriors devs. That's due in spring 2015. As for what that thing is - the happy little slimy dude - it's a removable USB cover rather than a permanent fixture. We're filing it under S for "Sure..." and Y for "Why not, I guess?"
Beyond: Two Souls PS4 trophies emerge, Director's Cut reported
We're going to level with you. If there is any PS3 game from the last two years or so that you've been waiting to buy, you should consider waiting a little longer – because someone is probably remastering it as we speak. The latest to join the ever-growing pile of prettified PS3 re-releases could be the super cinematic, often goofy Page/Cage joint, Beyond: Two Souls. A Director's Cut version of Beyond for PS4 was spotted on two German retail sites, according to IGN, though the listings have since been removed. Furthermore, online gaming activity site Exophase has posted trophies for the game, providing more evidence that our digital Willem Dafoe nightmares are far from over, and they're about to get an HD upgrade. [Image: Sony]
Sony Japan & Asia presser round-up: Fives alive on PS4
While some of you were snoozing, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan & Asia had a little shindig ahead of this month's Tokyo Game Show, and it was news-stuffed. If you want you can re-watch the whole shebang here, all two hours or so of it... on your precious day off. Just in case you'd rather not, we've compiled a list of the highlights below the break.
Disgaea 5 announced for PlayStation 4
Some three years after Disgaea 4 hit PS3 back in September 2011, Sony and Nippon Ichi Software announced its successor is coming to the PS4 with a 2015 release window in Japan. Disgaea 5 has long been in the shadows and while today's news makes the tactical RPG official, details remain limited for now. [Image: Sony]