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Off the Grid: XCOM - The Board Game
You may not be aware, but a new XCOM is on the way to stores later this month! No, don't bother firing up those spiffy new consoles, this XCOM experience is for your tabletop. Board and card game publisher Fantasy Flight Games has teamed up with 2K to bring you XCOM: The Board Game, and Joystiq has survived the alien invasion. While you may expect a board game based on the XCOM strategy video game franchise would resemble more of a dungeon crawler, where you hunt and kill aliens, XCOM: The Board Game attempts something unique. Utilizing an app, XCOM: The Board Game randomizes alien movement, in-game events and keeps up to four players on their toes with strictly timed and very tense situations. In this episode of Off the Grid, Xav is joined by Jeff Cannata and Christian Spicer from the DLC Podcast, to play XCOM: The Board Game and discuss the pre-release copy of the game, the app functionality and what it's like to be in charge of the budget to save the human race. XCOM: The Board Game is expected to launch later this month from Fantasy Flight Games and designer Eric M. Lang (Marvel Dice Masters, Arcadia Quest). [Image: 2K, Fantasy Flight]
Civ: Beyond Earth, Saints Row series free to play on Steam this weekend
Space may be the final frontier, but we're still searching the mean streets of Steelport for an auto-tuned best buddy of our own. On Steam this weekend, why not have both for free? Civilization: Beyond Earth and the complete Saints Row franchise is free-to-play, giving you a chance to explore the darkest reaches of the universe and some depraved humor. Free play periods for both will end on Sunday at 4pm Eastern (1pm Pacific). To access the game, install them from your Steam client library. As part of the promotion Civilization: Beyond Earth will be available for sale at a discounted 40 percent off its regular price – down to $29.99. The complete Saints Row franchise is on sale for up to 80 percent off, available for $10.99. Sale prices end Monday at 1pm Eastern (10am Pacific). [Image: 2K Games]
Fourth Evolve monster granted with pre-orders or separate purchase
Turtle Rock Studios' four-versus-one multiplayer shooter Evolve will receive a number of add-ons following the game's launch in February. For $25, the game's Hunting Season Pass will introduce four new playable hunters this spring, one for each class in the game. Each hunter will also be available for purchase for $7.49 each. Season pass holders will also get exclusive access to three monster skins at Evolve's launch: Magma Goliath, Magma Kraken and Magma Wraith. Turtle Rock Studios also revealed the Behemoth, a fourth playable "tank of a monster" that transforms into a rolling boulder, available this spring for $15. The Behemoth will also be part of the Monster Expansion Pack, a bonus for those that pre-order or pre-purchase Evolve. That expansion pack itself features a free Savage Goliath skin at the game's launch. Additionally, the developer revealed two special edition versions of the game today, each available for pre-purchase. Evolve's Digital Deluxe Edition features the monster-slaying game, its season pass and the Monster Expansion Pack for $80, available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. PC players get a special collector's edition to themselves as well: Evolve's $100 PC Monster Race Edition features the same goodies as the Digital Deluxe Edition as well as a fifth monster, two hunters and four monster skins that will be exclusive to PC Monster Race Edition players for 30 days. Evolve will launch on February 10 and is available to pre-download starting today on Xbox One. While you can find a new trailer for the game to showcase the Behemoth after the break, stay tuned to Joystiq Streams at 4:00 p.m. ET today for a livestream of Evolve in action. [Image: 2K Games]
Pre-purchase Evolve on Xbox One, unlock characters early
Xbox Live Gold users can hunt some unorthodox, fire-breathing game once Evolve's open beta launches later this week. The beta will offer two monster types and eight hunter characters across 12 maps, but those willing to pre-purchase Evolve on their consoles (once the option to do so is available) will be able to deploy hunters Abe, Parnell, Caira and Cabot as well as the Wraith monster during the beta, 2K Games recently announced. What's more, the four extra hunters and the Wraith will remain unlocked from the get-go in the launch version of Evolve, giving those that pre-purchase a decent headstart with earning access to the game's roster. There's still future DLC additions to factor in of course, but if you decide the disc's cast is sizeable enough, you'll still be able to play matches with those that have splurged on roster additions. For the sake of clarity, this pre-purchase bonus will be available only for those that buy Evolve straight from the Xbox One Store. Pre-orders placed for retail copies will not earn the same shortcut for unlocking extra characters when Evolve launches on February 10. [Image: 2K Games]
Evolve goes gold, spawns lengthy intro cinematic
Left 4 Dead creator Turtle Rock Studios has completed development on its upcoming team-based monster shooter Evolve, and to celebrate publisher 2K Games has issued the above footage, a nearly three-minute-long intro cinematic pulled straight from the game. [Image: 2K Games]
2K discounts iOS XCOM: Enemy Within, BioShock, Civ Rev 2
Warm yourself by the holiday fire with a blanket, a warm cup of cocoa and a good discounted mobile app. Publisher 2K games is offering its biggest apps for discounted prices beginning today, including savings on Civilization Revolution 2 for $7.99 (down from $14.99), BioShock for $4.99 (down from $10.99) and XCOM: Enemy Within for $6.99 (down from $12.99). The iOS App Store sale ends January 5 and also includes NHL 2K and NBA 2K15 each available for $3.99, originally priced at $7.99. [Image: 2K]
Evolve's Wraith monster steals the show
Fear is meant to follow in the wake of most monsters, but I've never found Evolve to be scary. It's a hunting game that puts you on edge, though leaning forward – as if to stick your head through the foliage just to glimpse the cloaked creature – is an act of determination, not angst. When you're a glorified exterminator with a big gun, joined by three others playing to win, you get camaraderie, strategy and failure divided equally. The monster (and the fifth player) is nothing to be scared of.
Evolve tests creature features in open beta on Jan. 15
Evolve is doing another round of online testing to ensure a roaring launch in February, with 2K Games announcing an open beta to run January 15-19. The beta will test Evolve's giant goals on Xbox One with a curtailed selection of monsters – the "Goliath" and "Kraken" – along with 8 hunters and 12 different maps. (And as with all monster products, there's a premium: you must be an Xbox Live Gold subscriber to gain access.) Ferocious opposition and considered team play are both valued in Evolve, which pits one beastly player against 4 human-controlled hunters on a wild planet. Though the game hinges on the different permutations of Muldoons and monsters, it does have a campaign variant (playable offline and solo in the full game) called "Evacuation," which will enter the Xbox One beta test on January 17th. "Evacuation" offers a skeleton of a story, with sequential mission outcomes affecting the conditions of the next until the planet of Shear is evacuated. If you win consecutive rounds as the monster, for instance, few people escape and the hunters get thrashed. Unlocks in the Xbox One beta will carry over to the final game. 2K Games says "closed technical tests" for Evolve will also be conducted on other platforms, though not to the extent of the Xbox One beta (so, no "Evacuation" there). PC players can encroach upon the poaching as of January 16, provided they have invites to the "Big Alpha," or have Left 4 Dead or BioShock Infinite in their Steam libraries. PlayStation 4 owners, meanwhile, can start on January 17th with a Big Alpha invite and PS Plus subscription in hand.
Borderlands Online will use heavy instancing
So, Borderlands Online. You know, that popular game-turned-MMO conversion that we'll probably never get to see in the West? At least we have a few new details that will taunt us forever with our lack of this sci-fi western title. The title looks to be a more instance-heavy MMO, akin to Dragon Nest or the original Guild Wars, with co-op adventure zones but no mass shared open world zone. Instanced MMO gaming isn't everyone's cup of tea, of course, but it doesn't automatically mean it will be horrible, just different. Other details that Chinese game site Sina discovered is that there will be over 20 million guns, plenty of hidden secrets, and some form of PvP.
Borderlands Remastered Edition listed by Australian ratings board
Borderlands may be the series to finally fill the void of cross-generation remasters, going by a new listing published by the Australian Classification Board. The MA15+ multiplatform rating for "Borderlands Remastered Edition" notes Gearbox Software and 2K Australia as the authors and 2K as the publisher. All that's missing is the official confirm from 2K [Update: When approached, a 2K spokesperson told Joystiq, "We have made no announcements and have nothing to state at this time.] From here on in we've firmly got our speculating psycho mask on. So, the three Borderlands - 1, 2 and The Pre-Sequel - came to the last generation of systems. So it would make sense for a remastered re-release to bundle the trilogy for PS4, Xbox One and PC. Throw in all the DLC (why not?) and a friendly price tag and you, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.
Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode coming to Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel this week
An update for Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel rolling out this week will add a new difficulty mode aimed at veteran players, developer Gearbox Software announced. Originally introduced in Borderlands 2, the now series-standard Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode resets story progress and starts players out on a more difficult journey that features tougher enemies and better-quality loot. The Pre-Sequel requires players to complete True Vault Hunter Mode and reach level 50 before granting access to Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel's True Vault Hunter Mode will launch via an Xbox 360 title update on December 11, and a patch for the PlayStation 3 and Steam versions will arrive on December 16. A difficulty-specific add-on, The Holodome Onslaught, will premiere on December 16 across all available platforms. [Image: Gearbox Software]
Borderlands Online confirmed for a Chinese release
Remember that crazy rumor from last week that Borderlands was going to be an MMO? It was so crazy and unbelievable you just had to laugh. It was also completely true, and it's now confirmed that Borderlands Online will be coming to China, published by Shanda Games and developed by Gearbox. There are no apparent plans to bring the game to the US. Four classes will be available in Borderlands Online: Warrior, Ranger, Wizard, and Berserker. The game is planned for a release in 2015; a mobile title is also in development, although it's unclear whether it will be a tie-in to the online game or a port of an existing title. So, yes, that crazy rumor was apparently right on the money.
Blackman to head 2K's Hangar 13 studio
Former LucasArts staple Haden Blackman will head a new studio for publisher 2K. Designated Hangar 13, the Novato, California studio is working on an unannounced next-gen title. Blackman was senior executive producer for the Star Wars games at LucasArts, working on Knights of the Old Republic and The Force Unleashed. After that, he founded and sold off Fearless Studios.
Evolve's 'Evacuation' is a dynamic mini-campaign mode
Developer Turtle Rock Studios has shed some light on the "Evacuation" game type to be included in its upcoming cooperative team-based shooter Evolve. Designed for one to five players, Evacuation pits the game's heroes against one giant, ugly monster across a series of five rounds, each of which offers unique gameplay. The first round is always a Hunt. This is where the monster attempts to eat enough to evolve to its next, more powerful stage of life. From there, players can choose either a Nest or Rescue gametype for the next round. Nest sees the monster protecting its nest from players, while Rescue sees players attempting to save wounded humans from the ravenous monster. After a total of four rounds have passed, players will enter a final round of Defend, in which the monster leads waves of enemies against a heavily guarded human shelter. Though not a full-fledged campaign, actions performed in one round of Evacuation can carry over the next, creating a more dynamic multiplayer experience. "[A]s one example, the Dam is saved and the Hunters win for that day," Turtle Rock explains. "As a result, the workers are able to power up Perimeter Fences, which cut neighboring maps into half sized portions, creating an interesting advantage for the Hunters." Evolve is currently slated to reach the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC platforms on February 10, 2015. Beyond the break you'll find a trailer detailing the story attached to Evacuation. [Image: 2K Games]
Tales from the Borderlands rollin', rollin', rollin' out today
The first episode of Telltale's Tales from the Borderlands hits Steam across the globe later today, as well as PS4 and PS3 in North America. Next up are the Xbox One and Xbox 360, with worldwide releases due tomorrow, November 26, and December 3 respectively. Last but not least, PS owners in Europe also join the episodic party on December 3. As for prices, on PlayStations and Xboxen each individual episode is $5. On PSN there's the option to purchase all five episodes in a $20 season pass, while on Xbox Live you can get Episodes 2-5 in a $15 season pass upgrade. On Steam the asking price for the season is $25, which you can bring down to $22.49 with a pre-purchase. Finally, Telltale's previously said the first episode should hit iOS and Android before the end of the year. To see the launch trailer in action, move 'em on and head 'em out past the break. Also, that title is not referencing Limp Bizkit - you guys are just the Durst.
Evolve Medic Caira loves the smell of napalm and heals in the mornin'
Doctors in the real world may have goliath-sized tuition bills to pay off, but Medics in Evolve have it pretty rough too, what with the giant monsters and all. If you've wondered whether the Medic life is the life for you, here's a walk in the boots of Evolve's Caira. [Image: 2K Games]
Buy Evolve, scare up game on its DLC maps for free
Evolve's initial monster hunts will be followed by extra safaris on DLC maps, but all players will be able to explore the game's additional hunting grounds for free. Developer Turtle Rock Studios' Creative Director Phil Robb shared the good news with IGN, explaining that the team wanted to avoid making players sit matches out just because they haven't bought the right DLC. Furthermore, those who decline to buy extra hunters or monsters will still be able to partake in matches where other players are using them. Robb explained that beyond Evolve's base purchase, the team wanted to avoid making the community "feel like they have to buy anything in order to enjoy the game." Robb reminded us that in addition to the Savage Goliath skin for one of Evolve's launching beasts, pre-orders will result in capturing Evolve's first DLC monster for free. If you're the two-with-one-stone efficiency type, GameStop will also have exclusive pre-order bonuses in the form of weapon skins for the Exterminator class. [Image: 2K Games]
XCOM: Enemy Within now on mobile
Commander, XCOM: Enemy Within is now available for iOS and Android devices. Yup, it's the full game, which includes the addition of genetic manipulation and mechs to the turn-based strategy game of humans vs. aliens. Ironman is the only way to play! The game is compatible with iPad 3, iPad mini 2, iPhone 5 and up on iOS. It won't work with earlier devices, so don't even try (it can still be purchased, but won't work). Also, multiplayer won't be offered on Amazon devices. Be sure to check your mobile device's compatibility before purchase. XCOM: Enemy Within has replaced the mobile version of Enemy Unknown on the various digital storefronts and is available for $12.99.
Play as Handsome Jack's clone in new Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel DLC
Handsome Jack -- or at least a reasonable facsimile -- is now a playable character in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel with today's release of the Handsome Jack Doppelganger Pack. Available as a free download for Season Pass owners, the pack introduces a fifth playable character who wields unique combat abilities and controls an army of digital decoys on the battlefield. Three additional Season Pass content packs will launch in the coming months at $9.99 apiece. [Video: 2K]
BioShock Infinite: The Complete Edition available today
BioShock Infinite: The Complete Edition is available today on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms for $40. This version includes the core skyhook swinging adventure, along with all the game's add-on content. Yup, even the Burial at Sea adventures. Although publisher 2K previously mentioned a PC version, that does not seem to be the case anymore. No biggie, since the game and all of its content will be like $5 during the upcoming holiday Steam sale. We've listed all the content for BioShock Infinite: The Complete Edition after the break.
