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See the bonus cars of The Crew Season Pass in new trailer
This trailer for The Crew shows off the game's season pass content, including the exclusive Ferrari 458 Speciale and McLaren 12C cars. The Crew will launch on December 2 for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. The first DLC pack for the game arrives in January.
Lords of the Fallen heads to the library in winter DLC pack
The first expansion to Lords of the Fallen will arrive this winter, developer CI Games announced. Going by the name Ancient Labyrinth, the downloadable content will focus on puzzle-solving in a new location known as The Library, which includes the history of the hero Harkyn's world as well as a magical power-shifting Lord to battle. Without getting into specifics, CI Games also revealed that Ancient Labyrinth will feature new NPCs to interact with, side-quests to complete and gear to equip. Since its late October launch, Lords of the Fallen sold over 200,000 and shipped 700,000 copies to retailers, executive producer Tomasz Gop told Eurogamer. The developer also noted that it needed to ship half a million copies in order to break even on its 42m Polish zloty ($12.3 million) development costs. Our review of the Dark Souls-like game did find the game tedious after some time, though there was "definitely satisfaction to be had" with the game. [Image: CI Games]
LittleBigPlanet 3 will support past DLC, collections
The LittleBigPlanet series has an expansive DLC wardrobe, including level packs and themed costumes, but it seems like none of it will ever go out of style - all free and purchased content released for LittleBigPlanet and LittleBigPlanet 2 will carry over to the PS3 and PS4's LittleBigPlanet 3, a PlayStation Blog post has revealed. Past content can be transferred via a "simple re-download from LBP3's in-game store," which packs it all back into the PopIt menu that hovers beside your character. Progress made in yesteryear isn't forgotten, either - "every single Costume Piece, Material, Object, Music Track and any other creative goodies that you have collected in your previous adventures" can also be brought into LBP3. As a refresher, any meticulously-crafted levels you made in previous LBP games can be found in the continuation of LittleBigPlanet Earth, which will let you "pick up exactly where you left off with your published creations." Custom-created content can also be transferred to a PS4 by publishing levels littered with related Prize Bubbles, then returning in LBP3 to pick up those materials. Whichever console you choose, you can reunite with Sackboy on November 18 (or November 26 in Europe). If you already know you're interested, mind the PlayStation-themed pre-order costumes before you make your purchase. [Image: Media Molecule]
The Dark Below expands Destiny on December 9
The first expansion to Destiny, The Dark Below, will launch on December 9, Activision revealed today. The Dark Below takes players below the surface of the moon to compete in new missions and blast through story quests that reveal The Hive's sinister plans to summon a god known as Crota. Which sounds a little too similar to "crouton" for us to be too worried about its desire to destroy Earth. The Dark Below will cost $20 on its own or can be obtained by purchasing Destiny's Expansion Pass, a $35 ticket to both The Dark Below and an upcoming expansion. The Dark Below raises the game's level cap to 32 and adds five bounty slots as well as new weapons and gear, including legendary and exotic items. It also features three competitive arenas – Pantheon, Skyshock and The Cauldron – as well as the cooperative strike mission The Will of Crota and the six-player raid mission Crota's End. PS4 and PS3 players will have access to The Undying Mind, a strike mission that will be exclusive to PlayStation platforms until "at least fall 2015." The expansion was announced during Sony's Gamescom press conference in August. Descriptions of the expansion's content, though determined to not be final at the time, were leaked in September. [Images: Activision]
Race around Yoshi's Circuit in Mario Kart 8 DLC video
Mario Kart 8's first paid DLC pack will feature the return of a track from previous Kart games, Yoshi's Circuit. Racers can catch a glimpse of the Double Dash and Mario Kart DS track in the video provided by Nintendo of Japan after the break. The trailer also shows off some of the additional goodies players will receive when they pick up the add-on content pack, such as the Cat Peach, Tanooki Mario and Link racers. It also features the multi-colored Yoshis available to those that buy both the first and second DLC pack. The DLC packs are $8 individually and $12 when purchased together. The first pack will also include F-Zero's Blue Falcon vehicle, Mario's B-Dasher kart and a special Master Cycle based on The Legend of Zelda series. The DLC will launch next month, followed by the second, Animal Crossing-themed pack in May 2015. [Image: Nintendo]
No one man should have all that Power of Shadow Middle-earth DLC
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor received a free DLC pack today that adds three new runes and a playable character skin to the game. The Power of Shadow add-on introduces the Black Hand of Sauron skin for protagonist Talion. Players can also toy with the One with Nature, Ascendant and Elven Grace runes. One with Nature grants players immunity to poison attacks from Uruk captains and Ghuls. Likewise, players get double focus time for ranged combat with the Ascendant rune. Finally, Elven Grace increases players' defense, cutting the damage taken by enemy strikes in half. Monolith recently introduced a new photo mode to the game via an update. Shadow of Mordor will get a few other content packs as part of its season pass program that add new story missions. [Image: WBIE]
Link's Master Cycle makes spirit tracks in Mario Kart 8 DLC
The first downloadable content pack for Mario Kart 8 will include a special motorcycle inspired by the Legend of Zelda series, Nintendo revealed on Twitter. The Master Cycle features Link's iconic Hylian Shield on the side and a body shape that vaguely resembles a horse. Seen in the concept art above, the cycle also sports a blue and gold paint job and a Triforce on the front wheel. The Master Cycle is one of four new vehicles arriving in the November DLC pack, another being Mario's B Dasher kart from Mario Kart DS. The pack will also include three new playable racers, Link, Tanooki Mario and Cat Peach, as well as eight race tracks. Mario Kart 8's first piece of DLC will cost $8 on its own, though players will be able to pick it and another pack up in a two-for-one bundle for $12. The second DLC pack is Animal Crossing-themed and will arrive in May 2015. [Image: Nintendo]
WWE 2K15 season pass includes three new rivarlies
2K Sports detailed its downloadable content plans for WWE 2K15 today, divulging information on the game's season pass program as well. The wrestling game will receive three additional 2K Showcase stories, two character packs and one moves pack. The game's 2K Showcase mode features two historical rivalries, John Cena versus CM Punk as well as Triple H versus Shawn Michaels, as Yuke's and Visual Concepts' major single-player feature. The three additional rivalries are One More Match (2011's Randy Orton versus Christian rivalry), Hall of Pain (the top matches of Mark Henry) and Path of the Warrior (the career of Ultimate Warrior) for $10 each. Those 2K Showcase bonuses as well as the WWE Diva Paige and the game's "accelerator" on-disc content unlock tool will all be part of the $25 season pass. The other three pieces of DLC, which are not included in WWE 2K15's season pass, add over 30 new moves ($4), WCW superstars like Diamond Dallas Page and Lex Luger ($8) and NXT wrestlers such as JBL, Adam Rose and Emma ($7) to the game. WWE 2K15 will launch on October 28 for PS3 and Xbox 360, then on November 18 for PS4 and Xbox One. Those that pre-order the game will receive two playable versions of WCW icon Sting as well. [Image: 2K Sports]
No 'Bad Blood' DLC for Watch Dogs on Wii U
The Wii U version of Watch Dogs won't receive the game's Bad Blood downloadable content, Ubisoft confirmed via Twitter. It's unclear if the console will be without the add-on entirely or only at launch or whether Ubisoft's tweet refers to all future downloadable content, as the publisher said on the social media channel, "No, the Wii U version will not have the DLC." We reached out to Ubisoft for clarification on the matter and will update as we learn more. Watch Dogs was given a Wii U release date earlier this month; it will launch on November 18 in North America and November 21 in Europe. The game arrived on PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in May. The Bad Blood DLC launched yesterday for those systems, though Ubisoft is still working to get the add-on in the hands of Xbox 360 owners "in the upcoming days." [Image: Ubisoft]
Third Trials Fusion DLC plunges into the Abyss on October 7
The third piece of downloadable content for Trials Fusion will launch on October 7, Ubisoft announed today. Invitingly called "Welcome to the Abyss," the pack adds 10 tracks and 24 challenges to the motorcycle-flipping game, as well as five new achievements. The pack is part of Trials Fusion's season pass, though players can pick it up alone for $4.99. Welcome to the Abyss is set in "mysterious underground ruins" with ancient machines "powered by strange relics." The DLC includes over 100 new objects for use in the game's track editor as well. Trials Fusion launched in April for PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC, reaching one million copies sold in July. Ubisoft expects every piece of DLC for the game to be available by May 2015. [Image: Ubisoft]
Assassin's Creed Unity's season pass includes game set in China
Ubisoft unveiled a season pass for Assassin's Creed Unity today, and it includes a full standalone game. The pass costs players $30 and "opens up every piece of DLC" for the game, including Dead Kings, a story campaign set after Assassin's Creed Unity. The full game available to Unity's season pass holders is Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China, which has players hopping and skipping along the Great Wall of China. Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China is set in the 16th century Middle Kingdom and stars Shao Jun, a female assassin that trained under Ezio Auditore, star of Assassin's Creed 2. Shao Jun previously appeared in the 2011 animated short Assassin's Creed: Embers as well as the Assassin's Creed Revelations novel by Oliver Bowden. It's noteworthy that Ubisoft is opting for a female lead with the 2.5D side-scrolling platformer, as it suffered criticism for its growing lack of diversity in the past with Unity's co-op multiplayer mode prior to its introduction of Elise, a Templar in the game. Assassin's Creed Unity's season pass will also give players "over 30 new weapons, equipment and outfits" on launch day. The game will arrive on November 11 for PS4, Xbox One and PC, and the season pass content will all be released by early 2015. [Image: Ubisoft]
Need for Speed Rivals 'Complete Edition' revs up for October
The "Complete Edition" of Need for Speed Rivals will launch on October 21. The special edition package includes all of the game's previously-issued DLC, six packs in total. NFS Rivals' Complete Edition will arrive on PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, and will launch three days afterwards in Europe on October 24. The Complete Edition does not appear to include the game's Ultimate Racer Pack, which is only available on PC and Xbox platforms, the game's official site noted. The standard version of NFS Rivals launched in November alongside the latest home consoles from Sony and Microsoft. The racing game was added to the EA Access vault earlier this month, allowing subscribers to play the full game at will. EA did not list a price for the Complete Edition, though pre-orders are expected to be available shortly. The game-and-DLC bundle will replace a new entry in the series this year, the first time in 13 years that EA has gone without a brand new Need for Speed game. The next entry will arrive in 2015. [Image: EA]
Payday 2's Hotline Miami DLC sounds terrifying
Payday 2 will receive a special piece of Hotline Miami-themed DLC on September 30, Overkill Software announced in a Steam community update. The collaboration between the developer and Hotline Miami creator Dennaton Games will feature at least one heist mission, though Overkill has not spelled out what other gruesome events will take place in the DLC, nor has it mentioned a price for the pack. The developer did offer a rather terrifying live-action trailer to announce the downloadable cross-over, found after the break. The sequel to Dennaton's graphic top-down shooter, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, will launch later this year. [Image: Overkill]
Lego Batman 3 goes beyond Gotham with DLC, season pass
When Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham launches in November, players will have three pieces of DLC to pick up, each part of a season pass for the game. The season pass costs $14.99 and promises access to six add-ons in total, three of which will be announced at a later time. It will be available to PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC owners, but not Wii U, 3DS and Vita. The DLC packs set to arrive alongside the game are The Dark Knight Pack, the Man of Steel Pack and the Batman 75th Pack, each with themed missions with story elements and free play modes. The latter has players following the exploits of the Joker and Harley Quinn as they set up "a variety of celebration set pieces," then play as the varying Batmans (Batmen?) through the hero's many years of existence. Future packs will include new playable characters, vehicles and levels. Each piece of DLC can be purchased individually for $2.99. Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham will launch November 11 for PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Vita, Wii U and 3DS. The game will also be featured in a PS3 bundle, slated to launch with the game. [Image: WBIE]
Second Trials Fusion DLC takes to the skies
Trials Fusion received a new DLC pack today titled Empire of the Sky, which adds nine tracks to the game: six classic trials tracks, one Supercross multiplayer track, the "Freefall" skill game and the "High Society" FMX track. Empire of the Sky also includes 18 track challenges and dozens of new track editor objects, such as anti-gravity technology and resort homes. Empire of the Sky is the second of six DLC packs that will launch in Trials Fusion's "first season," the first being July's Riders of the Rustlands. The latest pack follows the same pricing model as the first: $4.99 (£3.99 / €4.99) as a stand-alone download or free for the $20 season pass holders. Those with the season pass will receive all six DLC packs, which are all expected to launch by May 2015. Trials Fusion reached the one million mark in sales across all platforms (Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360 and PC) as of late July. [Image: Ubisoft]
DC Universe Online unleashes the Halls of Power
It's been years since DC Universe Online launched, and yet players have spent all of that time without nearly enough material on the New Gods. But that's changing now; the Halls of Power part I DLC has just been released, and that includes exactly what you'd expect if you know who the New Gods are. Darkseid's son Kalibak and the villainous Mantis are seeking out relics beneath the surface of Apokolips and New Genesis, leading Mister Miracle and Big Barda to recruit heroic forces to stop their malevolent designs. The DLC contains two new Raids and one new Operation for eight players, along with an Alert and an Operation for four players. It also offers six new Skill Points, new styles and gear, new feats, and all of the other widgets like base items that you'd expect. This content is available now for players on both consoles and PCs, so even if you're not versed enough in DC lore to understand what's going on, you can still take part and start smashing (or helping) the villains. [Source: Sony Online Entertainment press release]
Hyrule Warriors in the club get two legendary Ganondorf outfits
Nintendo introduced Ganondorf as a playable character for Hyrule Warriors during last night's Nintendo Direct livestream dedicated to the game. As it turns out, Club Nintendo members will have access to two special outfits for Ganondorf in the game as well. Those that buy Hyrule Warriors and register the game with Nintendo's loyalty program between September 26 and October 23 will receive a download code for the DLC, which features costumes inspired by Ganondorf's appearances in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. As the primary villain of the Legend of Zelda series, "The Demon King" Ganondorf will annihilate hordes of enemies with dark magic-like moves and his great sword. Hyrule Warriors will launch on September 26 for Wii U and will feature local cooperative multiplayer and some form of online play, though it won't have an online campaign. [Image: Nintendo]
Muramasa Rebirth cursed with third DLC chapter, is pretty sickle of it
The third piece of story DLC for Muramasa Rebirth is now available to download for $4.99. Titled "A Spirited Seven Nights' Haunting," the chapter stars the ninja Arashimaru, who is on a quest to survive after receiving a curse that limits his life to seven days. Armed with a sickle and kunai, players can tackle both new and old enemies as Arashimaru and also summon the snake-like spirit threatening to kill him in order to overwhelm enemies. The Genroku Legends series of four downloadable episodes for Muramasa Rebirth was announced in November and features new characters and stories with each entry. The first chapter, "Fishy Tales of the Nekomata" arrived in January followed by the second episode, "A Cause to Daikon For," in February. Muramasa Rebirth launched in June 2013 as the Vita port of Vanillaware's original Wii game, Muramasa: The Demon Blade. The game is free for PlayStation Plus subscribers to download this month. [Image: Aksys Games]
Ubisoft's digital sales jump 32% in fiscal 2014
Ubisoft reported digital sales of 195 million euros ($266.6 million) for the financial year ending March 31, 2014. That represents a 32 percent increase over last year's 148 million euros ($202.3 million) in sales for the segment, which includes digitally-distributed games as well as downloadable add-ons and items. Ubisoft specifically called out South Park: The Stick of Truth in its report, which showed "higher-than-expected digital distribution levels." The publisher said the digital segment was a "substantial contributor to our business," and accounted for 19 percent of the company's total sales for the year. Sales for 2014 were down 17 percent year-over-year to 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion). Ubisoft projects "strong digital growth" for fiscal 2015, expecting the digital segment to amount to 25 percent of the group's total revenues, including its free-to-play efforts for the year, according to the publisher's earnings presentation. [Image: Ubisoft]
MGS: Ground Zeroes learns to share DLC across all platforms today
When Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes launched in March, it featured additional content exclusive to both the PlayStation and Xbox platforms. As was announced last week, those add-on missions are now available across all platforms for free starting today, following updates on the respective consoles, because sharing is caring. Specifically, the previously PlayStation-exclusive Classic Snake skin and Deja Vu mission is now available to Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners. As for PS4 and PS3 players, the formerly Xbox-only Jamais Vu mission is now free to download, and features Metal Gear Solid: Revengeance star Raiden kicking the crap out of "body snatchers" that have taken over a U.S. Naval facility in Cuba. Konami revealed that it shipped over one million copies of Ground Zeroes globally as of this week. As the prelude to Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, Ground Zeroes is "too good to be a cash-in, too calculated to be satisfying and too intriguing to spurn," according to our review. [Image: Konami]
