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Definitive Edition trailer shows Sleeping Dogs' new tricks
The old Sleeping Dogs - okay, maybe "old" is a bit strong of a word for a game that was originally released in 2012 - is coming to Xbox One, PS4 and PC with few new tricks up its sleeve, and publisher Square Enix is eager to show them to you. Thankfully, there's a trailer waiting for you after the break. Announced at the beginning of August, Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition boasts a number of improvements, from increasing the number of Ps in the game (up to 1080p now) to reworked models and textures. The re-release will also include all the DLC for the game, including the Zodiac Tournament, Nightmare in North Point, Year of the Snake and Dragon Master Pack expansions. It will be available to purchase starting October 14.
Be a Hong Kong gangster in the upcoming Triad Wars
Are you a fan of Sleeping Dogs who looked at the game and really wanted to start mixing up your other activities with player feuds? That's the idea at the heart of Triad Wars, a new game coming from United Front Games that is and isn't a sequel to the aforementioned game. It's a direct descendant of the mechanics of Sleeping Dogs, but the focus is on taking the role of a leader within the Hong Kong Triads, claiming territory and taking down rivals. The game is set for a PC-exclusive release sometime next year and retains most of the gameplay elements from Sleeping Dogs, from the combat to the driving. As an online game, it's explicitly a game that can change from year to year, with the stated purpose being that nothing is necessarily the same over time. So if you want to drive a car through Hong Kong before setting up an underground gambling ring, keep a close eye on the development here. [Thanks to Celestial for the tip!]
Triad Wars is online PC game in Sleeping Dogs universe
United Front Games has begun detailing Triad Wars, the studio's follow-up to Sleeping Dogs and set in the same world, which was revealed by trademark filing last year. Using Sleeping Dogs as a foundation, Triad Wars is an online open-world action game. "Your goal is to rise to power as a criminal kingpin of the Triad underworld. As an Enforcer and mastermind of your criminal enterprise, it's up to you to construct an empire the likes of which your enemies would never dare to mess with," United Front Community Manager James Baldwin describes on the game's site.
Square Enix will let Sleeping Dogs lie definitively on PC too
Following an early reveal of Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition for Xbox One and PS4, Square Enix has announced that detective Wei Shen's remastered mission to take down the Triads will be coming to PC as well. Like its console-bound counterparts, Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition on PC will include 24 pieces of DLC, including story-continuation Year of the Snake and horror-themed Nightmare In North Point. Unfortunately, right now the Amazon page that lists the Definitive Edition does not mark PC as a platform option, so it's unclear when and if those who pre-order the game for PC via the online retailer will also receive a limited edition art book like those who pre-order for Xbox One or PS4 will. Still, it's nice to have official word that the game will make its way to the distant lands of the personal computer, even if it's not much of a surprise. Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition is slated for an October 14 release date. [Image: Square Enix]
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition confirmed for Xbox One, PS4
Amazon is now accepting pre-orders for Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition, an upgraded PlayStation 4 and Xbox One port of Square Enix's 2012 open-world action game. According to the Amazon listing, Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition bundles a copy of the game with over $85 worth of previously released DLC, similar to the release strategy adopted by this year's Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition pre-order customers will also receive a limited edition art book alongside a boxed retail copy. Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition will launch on October 14. [Image: Square Enix / Amazon]
Nexon working with Sleeping Dogs dev on free game
Nexon America is partnering with Sleeping Dogs developer United Front Games to publish a free-to-play game, the publisher announced this week. No details on the game are yet known, though it is expected to arrive in 2015. This isn't the only project in progress at the studio, as United Front Games revealed in October that it is working on another game set in the same universe as Sleeping Dogs, which will be published by Square Enix. As for Nexon America, it is publishing Dirty Bomb, an Unreal Engine-based shooter from Brink developer Splash Damage. The game was momentarily known as Extraction before Splash Damage changed the name back to Dirty Bomb in May. [Image: Square Enix]
Next-gen Tomb Raider framerate differs, Microsoft defends Xbox One
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition has gone digging in the not-so-ancient ruins of next-gen gaming consoles and come back with a shiny debate over framerate differences. While the PlayStation 4 version of the game has been confirmed to run at 60 frames per second, the Xbox One version's framerate is, as of writing, unconfirmed. A Square Enix rep weighed in on the issue to VideoGamer.com, stating that, "Delivering the core Tomb Raider gameplay at native 1080p and running at 30fps was always our primary goal given the type of experience Tomb Raider is and the exploration we want players to do. Anything beyond 30fps for this version is gravy." Microsoft Senior Director of Product Management Albert Penello told Gamertag Radio that the differences between the two versions were minor, and defended the Xbox One version by reminding listeners that we've only just begun the new generation of consoles. "Everybody wants to focus on, you know, there's a framerate thing going on in Tomb Raider, there is a resolution thing going on and okay, there's a lot of reasons why that could be true, but we're weeks in. We just shipped, it's a long generation."
Another Sleeping Dogs game is on the way
Sleeping Dogs developer United Front Games announced revealed that its recent trademark for "Triad Wars" is in fact another Sleeping Dogs game, and is "something we've wanted to do for ages." The next game will be based in the same universe as Sleeping Dogs, and United Front will continue working with publisher Square Enix. The first game in the series was an action-packed romp through Hong Kong as undercover officer Wei Shen. Our review for the game found its major components to be largely unoriginal, as if they were "sliced out of other media." United Front Games said it isn't planning on giving any more details on the next Sleeping Dogs game until 2014, which is a really long time in dog years.
Sleeping Dogs and related DLC 75 percent off this weekend on Steam
Square Enix's Sleeping Dogs is 75 percent off on Steam this weekend, knocking its price down to $6.24. The game's entire DLC collection is also 75 percent off, discounted to $13.74, which doesn't include the game itself. If you don't want every piece of Sleeping Dogs DLC, you can purchase individual packs for, you guessed it, 75 percent off each listed price. Alternatively, the game's Dragon Master Pack, which includes five pieces of add-on content, is on sale for $1.99. These sales end on Monday, August 5.
Sleeping Dogs yips onto PlayStation Plus May 7
PlayStation Plus breaches the Eastern crime zone of Sleeping Dogs in North America on May 7. As revealed on this week's PlayStation Blogcast, PS Plus subscribers get express tickets for some murder on the Orient in next week's store update. Also joining the Instant Game Collection in May are Pinball Arcade on the PS3, which comes with the Tales of the Arabian Nights, Ripley's Believe It or Not, Black Hole, and Theater of Magic tables, as well as subterranean side-scroller Knytt Underground and enhanced fighter BlazBlue: Contiuum Shift Extend.
Sleeping Dogs 'Year of the Snake' DLC cops out today
Sleeping Dogs' Year of the Snake DLC is out today, complete with a brand new trailer to replace the one that leaked back in January. Year of the Snake throws protagonist Wei Shen onto the Hong Kong police force to dismantle the Cult of the Snake. With police batons. And guns. And physics-defying leaps between moving vehicles, as the trailer demonstrates.Year of the Snake includes three new outfits, two new weapons and two new abilities. Also out today is the Law Enforcer pack, which features police attire, vehicles and weapons. The Wheels of Fury DLC pack is also due out in Q1, but there's no sign of it launching today.%Gallery-181365%
LBP Karting gets costume cross-compatibility DLC today
Got a lot of costumes for LittleBigPlanet games? Good news then, as LittleBigPlanet Karting is getting some free cross-compatibility DLC. The content, which is already available, will allow you to outfit your little karters with costumes from other titles in the LittleBigPlanet universe. Furthermore, as promised many cardboard moons ago, costume purchases made in any LittleBigPlanet game will automatically unlock across all other LittleBigPlanet games (even on LittleBigPlanet Vita). If only dress-up in real life was this easy.
Sleeping Dogs 'Year of the Snake' DLC confirmed for Q1
The DLC train for Sleeping Dogs chugs on with Year of the Snake, a story expansion due sometime in February or March. Publisher Square Enix outlined the DLC, which had a trailer leaked earlier this week, and as suggested it sees Wei Shen hook up with the Hong Kong police to take down the Cult of the Snake. The DLC features new abilities, outfits, and weapons, including tear-gas guns and electroshock pistols.Square Enix also confirmed two more upcoming DLC packs for its Far Eastern felony-fest, also due in Q1. The Law Enforcer pack features crime-fighting outfits, weaponry, and vehicles, while the Wheels of Fury pack features the "weaponized supercar" DZS-90. Meanwhile, this week saw the releases of the Monkey King and Movie Masters packs. If you can only say one thing for Sleeping Dogs, it's that Square Enix has absolutely kept to its promise of six months of DLC. %Gallery-177820%
Sleeping Dogs 'Year of the Snake' DLC trailer and trophies leaked
What looks like a teaser trailer for 'Year of the Snake' DLC for Sleeping Dogs emerged online, along with a list of trophies. The trailer, which its poster says was plucked from the game's directory, doesn't show much that couldn't be ascertained from the name, but the trophy list does offer a bit more info.The Chinese crime cabaret involves a bomb squad you'll presumably join, and a bunch of cultists you'll definitely take down. There are also Evidence Collectibles to collect and give pride of place to in your Evidence Collection.When approached about the DLC, a Square Enix representative told us, "No comment."
Sleeping Dogs: Zodiac Tournament add-on is skill of mortal combat, available now
Sleeping Dogs' "Zodiac Tournament" downloadable content is available today for $5 (400 MSP) on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. The DLC finds protagonist Wei Shen entering the dragon of an exclusive combat tournament on the hidden Zodiac Island outside Hong Kong.
Rage, Sleeping Dogs DLC packs firing up on PSN Dec. 18 [Update: Rage DLC also on 360/PC, details confirmed]
Rage and Sleeping Dogs are getting new DLC expansions on PSN via next week's North American store update. As revealed by this week's PlayStation Blogcast, December 18 sees Rage receive the long-rumored "The Scorchers" content, while Sleeping Dogs receives its second gameplay-extending DLC with the "Zodiac Tournament Pack."Rage publisher Bethesda and developer id haven't disclosed any details on The Scorchers, although uncovered trophies suggest it brings a new job path and "Ultra Nightmare Difficulty" to the shooter. As for Zodiac Tournament Pack, publisher Square Enix revealed it introduces a new island area to Sleeping Dogs, along with two unlockable outfits and some extra fighting moves to unleash.The podcast also revealed Karateka makes the jump to PSN on December 18, along with PS3 digital downloads of Lego Lord of the Rings and Batman: Arkham Asylum.We've reached out to publishers Square Enix and Bethesda for more information on the Sleeping Dogs and Rage DLC packs respectively.Update: Bethesda has officially announced The Scorchers over on its official blog, confirming the addition of an "Ultra Nightmare" difficulty level, as well as six new areas, new mini-games and a new Nailgun weapon. The DLC pack will also arrive on Xbox 360 and PC this Tuesday.
Sleeping Dogs now snoozing on Xbox Live Games on Demand
In case you've not noticed it dozing on retail shelves, Sleeping Dogs is now grabbing 40 winks on Xbox Live's Games on Demand, and (Square Enix hopes) $44.99 from your wallet.Back when Xav dissected it in August, the action-adventure's seedy underbelly didn't exactly strike him as brimming with originality. He doled out three and a half stars in his review, saying that while it's a good game, "Sleeping Dogs mostly leaves you remembering the media that inspired it and probably won't remain in your thoughts over time."
Sleeping Dogs unearths some undead Halloween DLC
Finally acquiescing to Game Design Statute #71, Square Enix will be adding zombies to Sleeping Dogs in its upcoming Halloween DLC. The publisher promises these are no ordinary undead, however, but are instead inspired by Chinese mythology. Entitled "Nightmare in North Point," the DLC tells the story of gangster Big Scar Wu, who was so unruly that the Grand Dragon "set out to make an example of him and had him stabbed 42 times before feeding his bleeding corpse to the grinder at the Smiley Cat food plant."Wu hasn't taken the whole affair lying down, apparently, and "has risen from hell as Smiley Cat, bringing with him an army of Jiang Shi." So yeah, not exactly your typical zombie story. Nightmare in Northpoint is slated to arrive on Xbox, PS3 and Steam this Halloween.%Gallery-168773%
Sleeping Dogs dreams up a poll for fans to choose next DLC
Square Enix is letting Sleeping Dogs fans vote for what the game's next DLC pack will be, via a newly unveiled basset - sorry, ballot. As explained on the game's website, players can vote for one of two content packs, and then that pack gets created and released as the game's next DLC. Both packs include a new cosmetic add-on, buff, weapon, and vehicle.The first pack is inspired by Journey to the West, the same Chinese folk tale which Enslaved is based on. It includes a Sun WuKong Monkey skin along with a one-handed staff, melee buff, and a Monkey-themed vehicle. As for the second 'Fire Fighter' pack, it includes a firefighters' outfit, unbreakable fire axe, damage resistance buff, and a fire van. Square Enix says the last item is inspired by seeing players repeatedly hijack the game's fire truck, which can't fit in the garage. And yes, the trusty fire van is the little van that can.At the time of writing, the Sun WuKong pack has almost exactly four times as many votes as the Fire Fighter pack. There's still plenty of time to vote here and turn that around before the poll closes this Sunday, October 21. On a side note, there's been a lot of stuff recently about voting, hasn't there? There's the Pac-Man thing, then the poll for the new BioShock Infinite trailer, and now this. It's like there's some big election going on or something.[Thanks, Gregory]
Sleeping Dogs goes digital on PSN in Europe and Australasia
Sleeping Dogs is waking up and going for digital walkies on PlayStation Network in Europe and Australasia. Square Enix's action-adventure is now available to download from both continents' stores, and comes with three of the downloadable packs released to date.There's the Retro Triad Pack, which gives you some funky 80s garb and a kiler kung fu van to trawl the streets of Hong Kong with. Also included is the Red Envelope Pack, which dispenses 20 red envelopes (funnily enough) throughout the region, each one stuffed with $50,000 HK. Finally, there's also the Street Racer pack released yesterday, which is kind of self-descriptive. Except one of the three races included is water-based, so there's that.The digital edition is now available in Europe and Australasia, priced £47.99/€69.99/$89.95 AU. We've reached out to Square Enix to find out if we can expect something similar for the North American PlayStation Store too.
