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Mad Catz's Force Feedback Racing Wheel for Xbox One: only straight ridahs need apply
With the next-generation Xbox and PlayStation nearing their release dates, third-party peripheral makers are now working full force to launch gaming products that can be used alongside the new consoles. Mad Catz, for one, has already shown us its Arcade Fightstick, and now we can add the Force Feedback Racing Wheel to the company's lineup of Xbox One add-ons. The newly announced driving rig comes with twin Force Feedback motors, a replaceable wheel face and an adjustable pedal set, making it easy for gamers to fine-tune it to make it as comfortable as possible -- because you need to feel extra cozy during Forza Motorsport 5 time. Pricing and availability for the Force Feedback Racing Wheel are still unknown, but surely we'll find out those details as we get closer to the holiday season.
Call of Duty: Ghosts PS4 upgrades will run $10, says Activision
During its Gamescon 2013 event, Sony said that upgrades for Playstation 4 games would come at a "significantly discounted price," though it didn't offer any details or actual numbers. Now, Activision has said that Call of Duty: Ghosts will cost $10 to upgrade from the PS3 to the PS4, mirroring a similar deal from retailer GameStop for the Xbox One. Based on Sony's statement, such discounts might be coming for other lynchpin titles for the new console for a limited time period, as well. Meanwhile, if you can't wait the ten days between the game's November 5th PS3 launch and the Playstation 4's November 15th US release, hit the PR after the break.
Minecraft coming to PS4 (update: PS3 and PS Vita, too)
Talk about cryptic teasers: Sony has just announced that Minecraft is coming to the PS4 at launch. And... that's about it. There's no other details. Still, those who want to build blocky worlds on next-gen consoles won't be limited to the Xbox One. Update: Notch has chimed in after Sony's event with word that Minecraft will also reach the PS3 and PS Vita.
PlayStation 4 hitting shelves on November 15th in the US for $399, November 29th in Europe and Latin America
There isn't much we don't know about the PlayStation 4 at this point. Sony has let the details slip out in drips and drabs, dragging out the mystery as long as possible. But now, the last remaining blank spot in our dossier -- the release date -- has been filled. At today's Gamescom 2013 press event, the electronics giant revealed that the PS4 will hit shelves on November 15th in the US. On that day you'll be able to run out and grab one for $399 and immediately start waving your yellow tentacles in Octodad or slaughter rooms full of people in Hotline Miami. Europe will follow shortly afterwards (with a €399 or £349 price point) on November 29th. In total Sony expects to launch the PS4 in 32 countries before the end of the holiday season. That's pretty ambitious, but with 1,000,000 preorders already in the bank, we'd say the company has plenty of reason to be optimistic. Microsoft is already losing the pricing war... now we just have to wait and see if it can get the Xbox One out the door before Sony gets a head start with early adopters. Update: Our colleagues over at Engadget Spanish have found that Latin America will see the console on November 29th as well. Update 2: If you're looking for a few more details about where exactly the PS4 will be launching, Sony has announced that the next-gen console will debut in Canada on November 15th alongside the US. On the 29th, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Peru will join the party. We've added the complete PR after the break.
Sony Music Unlimited gets quick controls and in-game playback on PS4
We knew that Sony's Music Unlimited would be available on the PlayStation 4 on day one. What we didn't know, was that the company would be bringing a number of much-requested features to the streaming music app on its next-gen console. For one, you'll finally be able to listen to music while you play games -- a feature that was not only much-requested, but its absence was something of a head-scratcher. There are also new quick controls, which you can bring up by hitting the PS Home button, no matter where you are in the UI. So, even if you're not actually in the Music Unlimited app, you'll still be able to skip and pause tracks with just a couple of quick button presses.
Sony strikes broadband deals for PS4: Orange, T-Mobile, Virgin Media and more (updated)
Sony knows that high-speed internet access is vital to the PS4's success, but that level of service isn't always guaranteed in Europe. To solve this problem, the company is striking deals for PS4-friendly internet access with a slew of European providers. Ono, Orange, T-Mobile and Virgin Media are some of the first confirmed partners. Details of the partnerships are scarce at present, although the companies involved suggest that Sony's ISP agreements will at least cover bigger European countries like France, Germany, Spain and the UK. Update: Virgin Media adds that it's the only UK partner.
Sony lands key deals for PS4 and PS Vita indie games: Rogue Legacy, Hotline Miami 2 and more
Sony has long argued that the PS4 and PS Vita are indie-friendly consoles, and it's backing up words with deeds at Gamescom. The company has landed a PS4 exclusive for the console version of Rogue Legacy. Both the PS4 and Vita are also getting a new version of The Binding of Isaac (called Rebirth), while a new N+ (N++) game is coming to PlayStation hardware. In a few cases, Sony will get first crack at some anticipated games -- a Hotline Miami sequel and Guns of Icarus Online will make their console debuts on the PS4 and PS Vita. If your tastes in games venture beyond the mainstream, Sony may have you covered for the foreseeable future.
Battlefield 4 beta launching in early October
Battlefield 4 has already gotten a bit of love at this year's Gamescom, being named as one of 23 Xbox One launch titles, but the shooter had even more time to shine as one of the titles that took center stage at EA's press event. At the top of the list of announcements for the FPS was a bit more specificity around when we're actually going to see the beta. The fall date that we got back in March has been narrowed down to early October, which should give you just about enough time to perfect your aim.
Start a FIFA 14 season on current-gen consoles and continue it easily on next-gen systems
During EA's press event at Gamescom 2013 in Cologne, the outfit revealed that FIFA 14 seasons that start on current-gen systems will easily be transported over to next-gen consoles when they arrive this fall. Saved seasons, FIFA Ultimate Teams, Virtual Pro and EA Sports Football Club info can all be carried to the shiny new Xbox One and PS4 as soon as that pre-order arrives or you'll able to nab one off the shelves. You'll be able to step foot on the pitch soon as the title launches around the globe next month.
EA launches Boss Mode for 'Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare' on Xbox One (video)
On top of showing off the new graphics for the upcoming Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare blockbuster, EA has announced a Boss Mode at its Gamescon 2013 liveblog, exclusively for the Xbox One. A trailer for the new feature showed a Svengali-like being controlling his zombie hordes while discussing plans for world domination, all with stunning in-engine graphics (see the video after the break). EA said you'll be able be able to use Boss Mode with SmartGlass and Kinect for the Xbox One when it arrives, mirroring an earlier Fighter Within announcement. Meanwhile, Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare will debut on the Xbox One and Xbox 360 first, and pre-orders are now live for $30 on Origin, at the source.
EA Gamescom 2013 liveblog!
As one of the big three third-party publishers working on next-gen games, Electronic Arts is understandably making a big push at its annual Gamescom press event. Per usual, we'll be on the ground bringing you an enthralling liveblog straight from Cologne, Germany. Keep your eyes locked to this post and your browser refreshing feverishly, as the goings get going at 10AM EST.
EA's Origin store now allows downloaded games to be returned within a week
Gamers have been choking lately on some of the restrictive DRM for upcoming consoles and titles, but at least EA is offering some relief. It just announced that its Origin store now features the "great game guarantee," letting you return downloaded games after purchasing. You'll have 24 hours to send it back, digitally speaking, after you first launch the game, or seven days from the date of purchase (or release date for pre-orders). By contrast, Steam offers no refunds or exchanges on any of its games. Origin's new policy is now available in 20 countries, but only applies to EA-published games and not downloadable content. There's also a clause for any "abuse of the refund process," so if you're looking to see how many games you can beat in a day, you may wanna rethink that.
Get your Electronic Arts and Sony PlayStation liveblogs here today, live from Germany
Haven't got your fill of all things next generation? Well, stay tuned because Gamescom 2013 promises to shed a little more light on the coming console war and we're bringing the news to you live. While Microsoft's shied away from throwing a full blown presser here in Cologne, Germany, rival Sony's still got some PlayStation 4 (and Vita) secrets to share with the world at 10AM PST / 1PM EST today. But let's not get ahead of ourselves: Electronic Arts is also doing it up properly for this Euro-centric industry tradeshow, hosting its own live event at 7AM PST / 10AM EST. You can catch all the news as it happens at the times below. 1PM EST to 2PM EST: Sony press briefing liveblog 10AM EST to 11AM EST: EA press briefing liveblog
Microsoft shows off next-gen Kinect motion and voice capture in Xbox One's Project Spark
Microsoft just flaunted some of Project Spark's gaming powers at Gamescom 2013 in Cologne: motion and voice capture. If you'll recall, the platform enables gamers to create their own digital spaces for games using the Xbox One's integrated Kinect sensor and the upcoming SmartGlass. Microsoft's Team Dakota group showed how to use facial capture, body motion capture and voice and sound to create animations, dialogue, cut scenes and more. You'll be able to try it yourself on Windows 8 at the end of October 2013, or by January 2014 for the Xbox One. Check the video after the jump to see the fruits of their labor, but maybe turn the volume down a hair. Just sayin'.
Xbox One bundles in Europe include 'Call of Duty: Ghosts', free copy of 'FIFA 14'
If you're in one of the European Xbox One launch countries, Microsoft has just announced a couple of enticing bundles at GDC 2013. First off, Xbox and Activition/Infinity Ward are tag-teaming for a Call of Duty:Ghosts bundle for the new console that'll include exclusive "special bonus content" (no pricing is available yet). Another bundle includes FIFA 14, which will be given to pre-order customers for free, including those who've pre-paid "until now and from today." Redmond added that it'll keep the latter offer "while stocks last," but also mentioned that it would be a digital version. So, we hope they don't run out of... electrons, or something.
Fable Legends, Kinect game Fighter Within headed to Xbox One (video)
Microsoft is having its big Gamescom 2013 shindig at Cologne, and just announced some new Xbox One game titles. Fable Legends, which our sister site Joystiq espied earlier, will arrive exclusively to the new console, along with Fighter Within. The latter title (also previously rumored) takes advantage of the new Kinect sensor to allow total body "kicks, punches, throws" and more. Both are set to arrive for the holidays, likely around or just after the Xbox One itself launches (that date is still uncertain). Meanwhile, check the video trailer for Fable Legends or info about other games after the break. Update: Although many expected one, Microsoft did not give a precise date for the Xbox One retail launch at its event. Shucks!
Hands-on with the smaller, less expensive 7-inch Wikipad (video)
When the Wikipad went from 10.1-inches to just 7-inches earlier this year, subsequently cutting its price in half alongside the size reduction, the gaming-centric Android tablet went from riskily priced potential failure to affordable item of interest in one swift move. $500 for a 10.1-inch tablet with a proprietary gaming controller peripheral? With a Tegra 3, no less? That already sounds outdated, and at $500, it sounds outright crazy. Though Wikipad promises a 10.-1-inch version is still in the works, the 7-incher is headed for retail in the coming weeks, with the aforementioned Tegra 3 quad-core SoC, a 1,280 x 800 IPS screen, Jellybean 4.1, and that enormous detachable game controller (12 buttons in all!). At last week's Game Developers Conference, we had a chance to check out the latest version of the Wikipad just ahead of its retail launch -- for more on that meeting, join us beyond the break.
Graeme Devine takes off with Rocket Patrol
Graeme Devine is a veteran game developer (he created The 7th Guest and then worked on Quake 3 and Halo Wars) who's turned his attention to iOS recently, putting together touch-based games meant for gamers of all ages. His latest title, which I got to see at GDC 2013 last week, is a board/card game called Rocket Patrol that runs on Apple's touchscreens. The game involves two players (you can play against the computer or asynchronously online), and has you running a rocket ship across the galaxy, trying to complete your journey before your opponent does. During each turn of the game, you get access to a hand of cards that you can play one from. Distance cards are how you win the game: Each player has a little chart of cards with various distances on them that you need to fill up, so you need to play eight cards of five light years, four of 15 and so on. As you play those cards, the chart fills up, and the first person to fill up their chart sends a rocket all the way across the screen and wins the game. Just racing would be a bit too simple, so Rocket Patrol also has red and green cards of various types. Red cards attack the other player (perhaps by sending them through a warp hole or causing some engine trouble), and then they need to play a green card to fix whatever problem you've given them. Certain green cards match up with certain red cards, so if there's a problem card on your ship, you need exactly the right green card to fix it. That's how the game goes back and forth, with the two players trying to play distance cards in between attacking each other and solving problems they've been attacked with. Devine says he got the idea for a game from an old 1906 automobile board game called Touring, but of course he's translated it to a journey across the stars. Rocket Patrol seems like some good clean fun -- and it's due out sometime this month. It'll be free to play, with some freemium elements in there for in-app purchase. Devine is also working on his very popular Full Deck Solitaire game -- he says the title "by and large is our number one platform," and that the game has reached a whopping 750,000 daily active users so far (with about four million downloads total). He's working on an Android version, thinking about bringing the game to Kindle Fire, and says players have asked for a PC version as well. Devine originally built that game just for his own family to play, so it's fascinating to hear that it's grown so big since its release a while ago.
Path of Exile version 1.0 is six months away, one expansion per year after
The free-to-play action RPG Path of Exile went into open beta this past January, and the next step is putting together a version 1.0, Grinding Gear Games co-founder Chris Wilson told us this week at GDC 2013. Starting with about 250,000 registered players, the game has since grown up to around 2 million, with the devs fixing bugs and providing weekly patches since then.The weekly patches, which have been adding new skills and items to the game, will continue to roll out. But version 1.0 is going to be the game's full release, when the "open beta" tag comes off, and the game "will be reviewable," according to Wilson. The update will add a full story to the game's Act 3, including lots of new monsters and items, and "do the stuff we had to cut corners on" throughout the game's development, Wilson said.After that, "we intend to do expansions over the next five to ten years," Wilson told us. The team has no set plans for releases, and if they can put a major feature together in less time, then Wilson says they'll do it. The game already had a lot of success with "races," which are special events that challenge players to speedrun the game under special conditions. But in general, he said, given the current player base, "adding a new act to the game is probably a once a year thing."
Visualized: Unreal Engine 4 'Infiltrator' demo gives an impressive peek at next-gen gaming
Just in case you missed it last night buried in our interview with Epic Games VP Mark Rein, the company showed off a new real-time demo at GDC 2013 this week, titled "Infiltrator." The nearly four-minute clip, showcases a sci-fi shootout created with its Unreal Engine 4, and remarkably powered by a single GeForce GTX 680. Now that we've piqued your curiosity a bit, check out this gorgeous display of futuristic espionage after the break, plus a bonus clip of the "Elemental" UE4 demo running on a PlayStation 4 dev kit in real-time.
