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ESRB ratings changes could hurt indie games in the PSN Store
It sounds like the ESRB could make it harder for indie game developers to sell their games. Recently, the Entertainment Software Ratings Board announced that it will be eliminating free, short-form ratings for digital games according to Gamasutra. While there aren't any laws mandating a rating, if a game isn't rated by the ESRB (or PEGI internationally) good luck purchasing it at a brick and mortar store, or on a console's digital marketplace.
Troubled game reseller forces users to identify themselves
Online game key marketplace G2A is taking another stab at making its site more secure for developers by implementing changes that will impact both resellers and customers. The company announced on Thursday that key sellers on its site will be required to reveal their name and address, having previously been allowed to operate anonymously.
Your digital game library will be accessible from any PlayStation 4, says Sony
The digital games you buy on your PlayStation 4 will apparently travel with you, virtually, when you move from console to console. Sony R&D senior team leader Neil Brown detailed as much at Develop today. "You can visit your friend's house you can log into your account and play any game from your digital library," he said. Paired with the console's "Play As You Download" functionality, Brown promised that users will be able to instantly jump into their full library of digital games from any PS4 after signing in with their PSN ID. "This makes a digital library a practical option in the real world," he added. PlayStation 4 games are planned for digital launch alongside physical, thus making an all-digital game library a more possible goal. Should you purchase a physical copy, you can take the Blu-ray with you from console to console; the game will automatically install on the console's HDD, though you'll still need its disc in the tray for the game to play.
Nintendo to release its first free-to-play game by March 2014
Along with announcing a fresh Wii U lineup at E3 this week, Nintendo shared that it will launch its first free-to-play title during this fiscal year -- that is, by the end of March 2014. Industry analyst David Gibson tweeted the news live from the press event, adding that the move is intended to "boost digital sales," and confirming that the game won't fall under the Mario or Pokemon franchises. Nintendo isn't saying which platform its first free-to-play offering is destined for, but in any case this announcement is a good sign that the company is getting serious about downloadable content.
