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BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea Episode 2 trailer sits down for a chat
No surprises here: Spoilers Ahoy in this trailer for the third piece of DLC for BioShock Infinite, Burial at Sea Episode 2. Sadly, no spoilers on its release date, simply listed as "coming soon" in the video. The DLC follows on from the sea-bound episode released back in October. The second episode is expected to be priced $15 like the first, which owners of the $20 season pass don't have to pay.
BioShock Infinite on sale for $10 on PC and Mac, $20 on PS3 through Amazon
The PC and Mac versions of BioShock Infinite are currently discounted to $10 on Amazon, $20 off the game's list price. The sale price applies to both digital and boxed versions of the game. Additionally, players can pick up the PS3 version for $20 on the retailer's site. Of course, BioShock Infinite is free for PlayStation Plus members on PS3 this month, so those looking to check the game out at a discount may be better off picking up a three-month subscription at the standard rate of $17.99.
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Rumor: Vita to shoot and loot Borderlands 2 in March [Update: 2K says Nope]
The long-discussed Vita port of Borderlands 2 may be due on March 18, at least according to a now deleted tweet by publisher 2K Games, which we've screen-capped above. It was posted by the @2KInternational account this morning and then deleted shortly after. It's worth noting 2K International covers the publisher's activity outside of the US, so even if the tweet is accurate, it might not reflect the release date in the States. As PlayStation Lifestyle reported in December, it's a date that's popped up before, that time on a NewEgg listing - that said, NewEgg lists the game currently for April 15. We've reached out to 2K Games for comment. Looking back, it feels like the Vita port was as much in the limelight as the action-RPG shooter itself, after Gearbox received countless questions about the handheld venture it seemed so keen on. Thankfully, 2K Games and Sony put an end to the seemingly endless discussion by announcing it at Sony's Gamescom conference, and unveiling Divekick studio Iron Galaxy as its developer. Update: Via the @2KInternational account, 2K Games said the March 18 date is incorrect. "We apologize for a tweet about a release date for Borderlands 2 on Vita which was posted in error. The release date mentioned is incorrect," reads the 2K tweet.
Bethesda, 2K Games $30 bundles: Skyrim & BioShock Infinite, Dishonored & Borderlands 2
Bethesda is palling up with 2K Games on an Elder Scrolls/BioShock bundle again, this time for BioShock Infinite and Skyrim. It's not the only cross-pub bundle on the way; there's also one for Dishonored and Borderlands 2. Both bundles are priced $30 and are due to arrive on February 11. It may seem a bit of an unusual union, but there's precedent: The two publishers teamed up on an "Award Winning Combo" bundle for Oblivion and the original BioShock back in 2009. We've reached out to Bethesda to find out more details, including which editions of the various games are being included. Update: A Bethesda spokesperson told Joystiq each game is the base edition, with no DLC bundled in. Also, the bundles are on PS3 and Xbox 360, and for North America only.
Classic legends of the ring join WWE 2K14 in today's DLC
The third installment in the WWE 2K14 downloadable content roadmap arrives today, bringing with it a handful of famed old school wrestlers and new character creation items. For a purchase price of $9, the aptly titled "WWE Legends and Creations Pack" offers players a chance to step into the squared circle as "Ravishing" Rick Rude, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, Bruno Sammartino or Jake "The Snake" Roberts (pictured above, mid-DDT). Virgil is also included in the DLC pack, though fans with fond memories of his time working as Ted DiBiase's valet will be happy to hear that 2K plans to also release the virtual Virgil as a free taste of today's DLC additions. Finally, the WWE Legends and Creations Pack adds 14 new character heads to the host of items already included in the game's wrestler creation suite. Those who purchased the WWE 2K14 Season Pass will receive this DLC for free, though keep in mind that this is the last addition the game will receive. We checked with 2K this morning to see if the publisher had any future plans for WWE 2K14 DLC, but were told that "today's release is the last one currently scheduled for WWE 2K14."
NBA 2K14 server issues persist, affecting current and next-gen
Despite issuing a hefty patch for next-gen recently, 2K Games reports some players are being locked out of NBA 2K14 content due to server connection issues. A server connection, while not required to access all of the game's content, is necessary for handling virtual currency – which players use to purchase goods and attributes for their custom players – as well as certain modes such as MyTeam and NBA Today. When the game fails to connect to the 2K servers, it locks players out of this content. An update, issued for the game last night, seems to have resolved a majority of the connection issues, though there are still problems with MyTeam and private TeamUp matches. 2K Games' Ronnie Singh has been active on Twitter today, providing status updates as the developers attempt to quell the server issues. Current-generation versions of the game seem to be good to go, while next-gen versions should have MyTeam working again in the "next few hours."
2K drops huge NBA 2K14 patch on Xbox One, PS4
A new patch has been issued for NBA 2K14 on Xbox One and PS4. This third patch, which aims to improve gameplay features and squash some of the more pernicious bugs, is available for download on both consoles right now. In the patch notes, 2K Games promises fewer sudden disconnects when playing against others online as well as a resolution to the lengthy blank loading screen that would sometimes hit players when they booted up the game. 2K has also fixed a nasty bug that would prevent players from proceeding past the All-Star break after playing through multiple seasons in MyCareer mode. Some issues are specific to the Xbox One, – such as game invites failing to go through or players entering an uncontrollable state when a secondary profile would sign in then out. Both have been taken care of, along with a bug where blocked players could still find each other in online matches. Now when you block them, they can't find you on Xbox Live. Other minor improvements include resolving a camera glitch and adding an entirely new camera angle option, tweaking dribble animations for some players in order to be smoother and changing certain situational AI behavior. The patch changes quite a lot, so head on over to this 2K blog post for the full game tape.
NPD: NBA 2K14 is top-selling sports game on PS4, Xbox One
Last night, the NPD released video game sales data for November and NBA 2K14 debuted at the sixth spot on the list. Today, 2K Games has shared some additional stats on the next-gen version of the game, which was made available alongside the respective launches for the PS4 on November 15 and Xbox One on November 22. NBA 2K14 was the fourth-best selling game on next-generation platforms, NPD analyst Liam Callahan said, and is the top-selling sports game overall on Xbox One and PS4. NBA 2K14 managed to beat out Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14 and NBA Live 14 , and is the first NBA game to achieve top-selling sports game at the start of a new console generation. In our review of NBA 2K14 next-gen, we enjoyed the lifelike graphics and additional polish that went into the MyCareer mode, though we lamented the omission of modes found in the current-generation version of the game.
Borderlands 2 delivers Christmas cheer in next Headhunter chapter, due Dec. 17
Borderlands 2's third Headhunter series add-on, titled "How Marcus Saved Mercenary Day," will hit Xbox Live, the PlayStation Network and PC and Mac platforms via Steam on December 17, publisher 2K announced this week. How Marcus Saved Mercenary Day is a Christmas-themed expansion that takes the vault hunters to the wintry village of Gingerton in search of a missing weapons cache. Battling freezing temperatures and obnoxious holiday cheer, the hunters fight toward a climactic battle with the Abominable Mister Tinder Snowflake, a killer snowman with a posse. Upon completing the mission, players will receive an equippable snowman head for their vault hunter, along with a number of unlockable expressions and character skins. Gearbox's latest add-on is the third in a string of holiday-themed releases for Borderlands 2, following up on recent expansions celebrating Thanksgiving and Halloween. How Marcus Saved Mercenary Day will be priced at $2.99 when it launches next week.
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified out now on Mac
Mac owners can unearth the secrets of The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, with the game now available to the public via the App Store, priced $35. If you'd rather scrutinize the third-person shooter under the cover of Steam, the good news is TransGaming is bringing it there "soon." We were taken in by the The Bureau earlier this year - not in the for-questioning sense, but in a four-stars-out-of-five-glowing-review way. As the always sharp-suited Ludwig put it, "The Bureau: XCOM Declassified feels immediate and inclusive as a strategy game, relying more closely on your rapid-fire commands than the bursts of your rifle. The odd hybrid is far from being fully evolved, but it's well suited to further study."
XCOM: Enemy Unknown among 2K games discounted on iOS this week
2K is discounting a number of its mobile games this week, the publisher announced. The Mobile Fall Sale runs from November 27 through December 2 and applies to six iOS games. Among the 2K-published games on sale this week are NHL 2K11, Civilization Revolution and Sid Meier's Pirates, each discounted to 99 cents. Lucid Games' racer 2K Drive, which launched in September for $7, will be $1.99 on iOS as of Wednesday. Lastly, NBA 2K14 will drop down to $2.99 while XCOM: Enemy Unknown will be $9.99.
NBA 2K14 Xbox One review: Swear fealty to the prince
If NBA 2K14 on current-gen systems is the king, then the next-gen version is the prince. While it features the same unparalleled gameplay and control of its current-gen cousin, NBA 2K14 on Xbox One ends up feeling like less of a fully-realized product – a younger, prettier facsimile of what has been the best, and only, basketball sim on the market for the last few years. The next-gen version of NBA 2K14 One lacks some of the substance seen on Xbox 360 and PS3, though it benefits from being one of the most realistic-looking video games I've ever played.
Borderlands 2 gets Wattle Gobbler next week, third Headhunter DLC next month
Borderlands 2 players can get their collective teeth into a second Headhunter pack next week, when The Horrible Hunger of the Ravenous Wattle Gobbler launches on November 26. Gearbox is serving it up on Steam, Xbox 360, and PS3 at the digestible price of $3. The third Headhunter DLC, titled How Marcus Saved Mercenary Day, is due in December. As the name suggests there's a Thanksgiving air to the Wattle Gobbler DLC, with the head you're hunting this time belonging to a giant turkey. Should you succeed, you'll earn new character heads and skins as gaudy emblems of your seasonal success, you monster, you.
Become a Beach Bum in Grand Theft Auto Online today
Grand Theft Auto 5 receives the free Beach Bum update for GTA Online today, and like a beach bum it's already getting comfy on Xbox 360 and PS3. The update's beached on the Xbox Games Store right now, while the PS3 version is accessible through a new title update that has started rolling out on both consoles, according to Rockstar. Beach Bum brings new vehicles in the form of dune buggies, camper vans, and off-road trucks, while new jobs include beach-based Races, Parachutes, Last Team Standings, Deathmatches, Survivals, and Gang Attacks. The update also brings new weapons with it and some more character customization options, allowing avant-garde citizens to mix up neon surfer ware with tribal tattoos - just go wild, man.
PSN Tuesday: XCOM: Enemy Within, Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus
It's a big week for PS3 content on the PlayStation Store. XCOM: Enemy Within makes its debut on PS3 today, as does the latest entry in the Ratchet & Clank series, Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus, from Insomniac Games. Two new Wonderbook adventures, Diggs Nightcrawler and Walking With Dinosaurs, are also available today, as is Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition and a special everything-but-the-kitchen-sink version of Grid 2. The first episode of BioShock Infinite's Burial at Sea DLC is also up for grabs. Ibb and Obb is free on PS3 for PS Plus members, who will find a new plethora of deals to sift through on PSN this week. Highlights include cheap fighters like Divekick and Street Fighter X Tekken, plus Ubisoft franchises such as Scott Pilgrim, Beyond Good & Evil HD and From Dust.
Kindly watch this BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea Part 1 trailer
Take heed, citizen: There are spoilers lurking in this launch trailer for the first part of BioShock Infinite's Burial At Sea DLC, as there are in our review of it. To give you the lowdown, Richard thought it was "aggressive, salty and often clumsy" and "all too brief." You can try it out for yourself starting today on the Xbox Games Store, PlayStation Network, and Windows PCs, where it's priced at $15. It's also available via the $20 Season Pass, which includes access to the already released Clash in the Clouds arena pack, the Early Bird Special Pack, and the upcoming second Burial at Sea episode.
XCOM: Enemy Within Review: Of MECs and Men
Firaxis has elevated XCOM: Enemy Unknown's intensity through the bulkier risk-reward strategy system in its expansion, XCOM: Enemy Within. The expansion's potency is at worst intriguing and at best traumatic. Its net effect is as captivating as its launch pad with new items, juiced-up soldiers, alien mechs, a new branching series of side quests, and 47 fresh battlegrounds ripe with opportunities for tactical excision. Enemy Within's single-player campaign starts the same way as Enemy Unknown -- bunkered in an underground military base at the brink of the end of the world, following the escalating war with the aliens to its climax. Think of the expansion as a lateral addition to a core game and mission list that remains unchanged. It's possible to play Enemy Within almost exactly like Enemy Unknown, but Enemy Within adds an optional quest line early on: Defend the XCOM nations and XCOM itself from a transhuman threat... an organization called Exalt. To further humanity's evolution, Exalt attempts to disrupt XCOM operations and promote the assimilation of alien technology into human biology. Thick with narrative irony, XCOM simultaneously develops two tracks of transhuman upgrades, the exact kind of alien-human integration that Exalt wants: MECs and gene mods. Each unlocks after the construction of cybernetics or genetics labs, respectively, enabling the manufacture of XCOM super soldiers to combat both Exalt and the Sectoids' breed of elite soldiers.
BioShock Infinite: 'Burial at Sea Part One' review: That sinking feeling
This is a review of downloadable content for BioShock Infinite. As such, it may contain spoilers for the main campaign. Ham-fisted is one of my favorite expressions. As a term meaning awkward or graceless, it's wonderfully evocative. You can easily imagine someone desperately trying to shove a ham somewhere it was never meant to go, perhaps into a Volkswagen's gas tank. Or you might picture a fist literally made of ham: two indelicate things, indelicately smashed together It's also a good fit for the first episode of BioShock Infinite's 'Burial at Sea' DLC, which is aggressive, salty and often clumsy.
NBA 2K14's MyGM mode on Xbox One, PS4 gives players franchise control
NBA 2K14 on Xbox One and PS4 will feature a new franchise management mode called MyGM. In MyGM, players assume the role of General Manager - the guy in charge of everything from player contract negotiations to how much it'll cost for hot dogs at the stadium on game day. The backbone of MyGM is a new conversation system. As GMs converse with the owner, players and the press, they'll build a rapport: make decisions that benefit the franchise and you'll gain trust from the organization; lie to the press and you'll incite their ire. Make enough mistakes and you'll get canned. NBA 2K14 Producer Eric Boenisch is quite proud of the evolved franchise mode. "Franchise modes are a passion of mine. They're my go-to modes in sports game," Boenisch prefaced during a conference call overview of the new mode earlier today. "I appreciate the level of shrewdness that goes into building a roster, whether that be trying to beat other GMs to trades or making very opportunistic free agent signings. It's a mind game and one that I enjoy and tried to piece together for fans of our games." The mode is very much individualized to your GM. Players will upgrade their attributes, which will include things like being more persuasive in trade and salary negotiations or unlocking the ability to sell more things in your stadium. MyGM is not only about nurturing the growth of your organization, but also growing your character's skill set. MyGM is exclusive to NBA 2K14 on Xbox One and PS4. When asked why the mode isn't available on Xbox 360 and PS3, Boenisch said, "I don't know if we could've done this in a single full development cycle." He elaborated that the mode is something the team has been working on "for a good while" now, implying that it's been in development for more than a year. "Then obviously delivering it convincingly, visually, requires the next-gen consoles. When you're having these conversations with ridiculously high-res people at the tables talking to you, the owner - you've all seen the trailers, you know what our graphics look like - that experience carries over into this mode. And MyGM as a whole is a completely new experience. Getting it done in a year was something that's very difficult to do." NBA 2K14 will be available alongside the PS4 launch on November 15, as well as alongside the Xbox One launch on November 22.
2K offering three-game Holiday Bundles for $30 each
If you want to surprise your loved ones with a generous and value-conscious bouquet of shooters and strategy games on Christmas morning, 2K Games has you covered with its newly announced lineup of $29.99 Holiday Bundles for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Players who missed out on some of this generation's best first-person shooters (and who aren't averse to the occasional tactical strategy game) may enjoy 2K's Essentials Collection, which includes the original BioShock, Borderlands, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The Rogues and Outlaws Collection is an obvious choice for any rogues and outlaws in your immediate family, serving up copies of Borderlands 2, Spec Ops: The Line and Mafia 2. Finally, those who enjoy games with the number "2" in the title will love the 2K Power Pack, which offers BioShock 2, Mafia 2, and The Darkness 2. 2K is also offering a Definitive Strategy Collection, which includes the PC versions of XCOM: Enemy Unknown and Sid Meier's Civilization V. All bundles (except for the Rogues and Outlaws Collection, which is a Walmart exclusive) are available at Amazon, GameStop, Walmart, and Best Buy.
