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Adrian Peterson gracing the cover of next-gen Madden 25
While legendary Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders is the cover athlete of current-gen versions of Madden 25, current Minnesota Vikings superstar Adrian Peterson was announced as the cover athlete for the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game at EA's E3 press conference today. Along with that announcement came a new trailer for the game, which highlights just how gritty the sport can be.
The Daily Roundup for 06.10.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Ubisoft reveals Trials Fusion and Trials Frontier [update: Trailer and details]
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-438519{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-438519, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-438519{width:530;height:382px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-438519").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Ubisoft revealed a pair of new Trials games during its E3 conference. First is Trials Fusion, a new game in the motocross racing/crashing series for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360 and PC. Meanwhile, Trials Frontier is for mobile devices. Each version will interact with one another in some way. Both games are due in 2014. Update: Ubisoft has provided a few more details. Fusion will be "tet in a shining vision of what our future could be, where technology and nature co-exist." It also promises "social and visual breakthroughs." Frontier, meanwhile, sounds like the Trials formula adapted for touchscreen platforms, though Ubisoft does call it a "a unique social racing game."
Just Dance 2014 will have you moving and shaking this October
Ubisoft has announced Just Dance 2014, previously revealed through the Xbox Live Marketplace. The game will include six-player dances, DJ functions (where you can wave a hand around to move through songs), and a special "Party Master" mode coming to the Wii U. The tunes will be provided by pop artists as usual, including Pitbull and others. Just Dance 2014 will be available on all next-gen consoles this October. Ubisoft tells us the game will be available in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa on October 1, October 4 in the UK, and then October 8 in the US.
Ubisoft E3 2013 Liveblog on Joystiq
Update: We're rolling! Click here to get into the liveblog. Ubisoft's E3 2013 media briefing kicks off in the Los Angeles Theater at 6:00PM EDT (3PM Pacific, 11PM UK). Hosting duties will once again be commandeered by the frequently animated Aisha Tyler, who will share a stage with the games we expect – such as Rayman Legends, Assassin's Creed 4, Watch Dogs – and perhaps a few surprises. Once the liveblog activates, you'll be plunged deep into the third of four press conferences for the day. Now that's the definition of insanity.
Rocksmith 2014 announced [Update: Now with trailer]
Ubisoft has just announced Rocksmith 2014 during its pre-E3 press conference in Los Angeles, a follow-up to 2011's rhythm game/educational suite Rocksmith. The game was introduced by Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell, who demonstrated the game's Session Mode, wherein he used voice commands to alter the song's tempo as he played along. The game is expected in October. %Gallery-190965%
Need for Speed Rivals E3 trailer is your target
With a dose of Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul, who stars in the game, EA showcased a new trailer for Ghost Games' Need for Speed Rivals. The competitive racer is bracing itself for impact with the Xbox One, PS4, PC, Xbox 360, and PS3, with November 19 pinned for the current-gen editions. %Gallery-190956%
Microsoft lists new Play and Charge Kit, Chat Headset for Xbox One (update)
Once you've purchased that hot new Xbox One, you've got to have a couple of accessories to go along with it. Naturally Microsoft has thought of that, as it just announced a new version of its Play and Charge Kit plus a refreshed Chat Headset to accompany the next-gen console. As with the previous iteration, the Kit bundles in a controller-compatible lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack plus a cable that'll charge the gamepad when connected to the console. Microsoft claims it can juice up twice as fast as its predecessor and is able to keep charging during gameplay or standby. You can either get the Kit by itself or as part of a controller bundle. The Chat Headset appears to be the same as it was before; it's a wired mono headset with wideband digital audio and a unidirectional microphone. We're still looking for details on pricing and availability (plus a picture or two), but we'll let you know more details as soon we do. Update: We've added a source link to the Xbox One accessories page plus a picture of both the Play and Charge Kit and the Chat Headset.
EA E3 2013 Liveblog on Joystiq
Update: Liveblog, activate! It's almost time for today's second E3 2013 media briefing, coming from EA at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. The event gets underway at 4:00PM EDT (1PM PDT, 9PM GMT). Once the liveblog kicks in, we'll do our best to keep you on top of the realistic Battlefield 4 debris, the latest Peter Moore tattoos, and the ... err, Frostbite-powered dialogue forests of Dragon Age 3: Inquisition?
Battlefield 4 will feature Commander Mode [Update: First multiplayer footage]
Battlefield 4's multiplayer will feature a Commander Mode, EA has announced at E3, similar to the one seen back in Battlefield 2142. The mode will allow players to send commands out or deliver intel or artillery fire to five-man squads from tablets and other devices across Battlelog, in maps that will support up to 64 players at a time. EA showed off a demo of the mode on a map called the Siege of Shanghai map, and will have gameplay streaming live from the show on Battlefield.com all this week. %Gallery-190958%
Xbox One now available for pre-order through multiple retail outlets
November is still several months away, of course, but that doesn't mean you have to start camping out at your nearest electronics outlet just to get your hands on an Xbox One before the holiday season. Fortunately, a large number of online retailers are already offering the ability to pre-order the $499 console -- a Day One Edition, no less. We received an email from Microsoft pointing us to the page on its own online Store, but companies like Amazon, ShopTo, GameStop, GAME and Best Buy are following suit. So if you know for sure that you're ready to make the commitment, head to one of the above outlets to make your claim. Update: If you're a Wally World patron, you'll be glad to know that Walmart is now accepting pre-orders as well.
NBA Live 14 includes BounceTek for dribbling, live roster updates
Adding to the list of jargon terms applied to the tech in EA Sports games, NBA Live 14 includes "BounceTek" physics for dribbling, which apparently improves ball physics, instead of merely expressing them as part of the player character's hand motions. More immediately understandable is the way the basketball game handles roster updates. In-game stats will be tweaked in near real time, "an hour after it happens" according to EA's E3 presentation. From indefinite delays to instant updates! That's a big promise for NBA Live.
EA reveals Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare [Update: Now with trailer!]
At its E3 conference today, Electronic Arts announced Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, a Frostbite-powered third-person action game inspired by PopCap's "flower defense" strategy game Plants vs. Zombies. In Garden Warfare, players control a squadron of heavily armed plant life, who must collectively fight off invading zombie hordes using organic weaponry. Gameplay is multiplayer and team-based, and each unit type boasts its own unique arsenal. Garden Warfare is coming to the Xbox One first, and an Xbox 360 port will launch afterward. Release dates for either version have not been announced.
Insomniac on working with Microsoft Studios for Xbox One exclusive, Sunset Overdrive
Insomniac Games' new open-world shooter, Sunset Overdrive, is exclusive to Xbox One and published by Microsoft Studios – and this partnership may require some explaining for "longtime fans," Insomniac CEO Ted Price writes. "When we first began discussing this idea with Microsoft, we were initially hesitant to shift back into an exclusive arrangement," Price writes in an Insomniac blog post. "But as the Microsoft team began introducing us to the abilities and philosophies driving the development of Xbox One, we knew that Sunset Overdrive was a perfect fit. The Xbox One and Xbox Live will support our ambitions to create an ongoing two-way dialogue with our community. It will also allow us to have quicker production cycles, enabling timely content updates for new weapons, characters, storylines and even pop culture-relevant content like memes based on social commentary." Independent studios aren't allowed to self-publish on the Xbox One, and Insomniac is definitely independent, Price says. This means the studio doesn't have to abandon its PlayStation roots or classic franchises such as Ratchet and Clank. "Insomniac has been, is, and will continue to be 100 percent independent. We have treasured that independence for the last 19 years. It now allows us to own and control our IP, and find the most suitable partners to make those IP a reality. While we are excited about partnering with Microsoft on Sunset Overdrive, that doesn't mean we can't or wouldn't make games with our longtime friends at Sony." Sunset Overdrive has an official site, and the trailer from Microsoft's E3 show is now viewable in our announcement post.
The plague surges onward in Defiance
It's been one week since Defiance came down with a nasty cold, which means there's (theoretically) only one week remaining to jump in on some of the game's contagious festivities. Trion Worlds reminded players today that beginning at 3 p.m. EDT (12 p.m. PDT), the second week of Defiance's The Plague event will be live. Players of Defiance will find a new mission, new siege events, a new pursuit, and a bunch of emergencies to handle as they wander through the bombed-out ruins of the Bay. There are also data recorders to collect and special rewards for players who complete plague-related challenges. No specific end date has been offered, but the Defiance television show will address The Plague event on June 17th. If you play Defiance and haven't had a chance to check out The Plague, it's probably best to get in soon, just in case.
New Xbox 360 costs $200 for 4GB, $300 for 250GB
The redesigned Xbox 360 costs the same price as the existing Xbox 360 models: $200 for a 4GB model, $300 for 250GB, and $300 for a 4GB bundle with Kinect, Xbox Wire says. The new design is shipping to the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland today, with more regions scheduled in the coming months. Microsoft announced the new Xbox 360 at its E3 press conference today in Los Angeles. Along with the redesign, Xbox Live Gold members will get two free games per month until the Xbox One launches in November, and first up on July 1 is Halo 3 and Assassin's Creed 2. In June, Gold members can snag Fable 3 for free.
Microsoft E3 2013 roundup: Xbox One release details, next-gen Halo and more
You got the basic info about Xbox One a few weeks ago, but it's safe to say that was only touching the surface. Today at its E3 event, Microsoft revealed even juicier details about the software, hardware and games that'll fuel its next-gen experience. All that, and a redesigned Xbox 360 before Sony's even gotten the chance to show off the PS4's actual enclosure. Whether you want to relive the Xbox showcase or catch up on what you might've missed, you'll find our full roundup past the break.
Xbox One games roundup from Microsoft's E3 keynote
When we were first introduced to the Xbox One, we heard about the hardware. Today, at Microsoft's E3 keynote, it was all about the games. We had a look at Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, a One-exclusive Killer Instinct reboot and Ryse: Son of Rome (both an exclusive and a launch title). We also learned that Minecraft would be getting some expanded multiplayer options when it hits the new console, and checked out the "open-world shooter" Sunset Overdrive. That wasn't all: we caught some stunning footage of Forza Motorsport 5, as well as Quantum Break (exclusive), Crimson Dragon, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and zombie survival game Dead Rising 3 (arriving "this holiday" as a One exclusive). We saw some hectic action in Battlefield 4, which will have a "Second Assault" DLC available to Xbox One users first, and spied Titanfall, another exclusive landing "spring 2014." You can also make your own games in Project Spark, and there are a bunch of trailers for the titles mentioned above available now at the YouTube source link, including some for games that weren't featured on-stage. Oh, we almost forgot to mention. New Halo. Follow all of our E3 2013 coverage at our event hub.
Microsoft announces Summer of Arcade lineup, beginning August 7
Microsoft announced this year's Summer of Arcade lineup for the Xbox 360, set to launch in August. Featured Xbox Live Arcade games include Activision's brawler TMNT: Out of the Shadows, an Ubisoft-published remake of Delphine Software's side-scrolling thriller Flashback, 505 Games' character-driven adventure game Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, and Ska Studios' punk-themed multiplayer beat-'em-up Charlie Murder. Specific release dates have not been announced. The Summer of Arcade campaign will kick off on August 7.
Microsoft E3 wrap-up, live with Joystiq and Engadget [Update: It's over!]
Update: Our post-show wrap-up is over, but the day is just beginning. We'll be live from EA's, Ubisoft's and Sony's press conferences later today. Next up is EA at 1PM PT, 4PM ET. Original story: Microsoft's E3 conference is over, and there's plenty to talk about. Joystiq Editor-in-Chief Ludwig Kietzmann and Engadget Senior Associate Editor Ben Gilbert were there, under the green lights, and now they're here to discuss the (audio) ins and outs of Microsoft's E3 showing. Watch the video, live, after the break (it auto-plays):

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