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Nintendo makes SNES games exclusive to 'New' Nintendo 3DS
Want to play classic, Super Nintendo games on the go? Hope you updated to Nintendo's vaguely named "New" Nintendo 3DS last year, then -- the company just announced that the latest additions to its virtual console library are exclusive to the revised handheld. Starting later today, NN3DS owners will be able to download Super Mario World, F-Zero and Pilotwings from the Nintendo E-Shop.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is the first Nintendo cross-buy game
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars is Nintendo's first cross-buy game, meaning anyone who buys it on 3DS gets the Wii U version as well, and those who buy it for Wii U get the 3DS version. Tipping Stars is due out on March 5. The 3DS is consistently Nintendo's best-selling console, while the Wii U is historically slower to sell, though a rush of acclaimed games near the end of 2014 did boost sales. Nintendo announced Tipping Stars and its cross-buy nature during today's Nintendo Direct, which included the announcement of a new 3DS, a new Fire Emblem game, Wii games on Wii U and much more. [Image: Nintendo]
Resident Evil HD pre-orders are cross-buy on PS4, PS3
In holiday spirit news, PlayStation pre-orders of the HD-ified Resident Evil will unlock the game on both PS4 and PS3. Capcom revealed North American users can pre-purchase the upcoming remaster on PSN now, and by doing so they'll get both the PS4 and PS3 versions. The publisher's confirmed to Polygon the cross-buy offer is only available for pre-orders. If you're almost peckish for a remastered sandwich, you don't have much longer to wait. The $20 "definitive version" of Resi's 2002 remake hits PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on January 20, 2015, bringing back crazed canines, creaking doors and Barry Burtonisms in 1080p. If you fancy a bit of before-and-after, check out Capcom's comparison shots. [Image: Capcom]
Retro City Rampage DX hits digital platforms next week
An upgraded version of VBlank Entertainment's 8-bit styled sandbox action game Retro City Rampage debuts for the PlayStation 4, PS3, PS Vita, Xbox 360, WiiWare, PC, and Mac platforms next week, developer Brian Provinciano announced. Retro City Rampage DX boasts a number of improvements over the original 2012 game, including a new HUD, an overhauled weapon-selection system, zoom options, tighter controls, and new graphics modes. The PlayStation Store release supports Cross-Save functionality across all three platforms, and includes a new trophy set as an upgrade incentive. "For DX, every single mission's been re-tuned," developer Provinciano adds. "Vehicles. Weapons. Challenges. Visual Effects. Visual Enhancements. Checkpoints. Difficulty. Challenges. From the game's core to sprinkles on top, such as parking garages and waypoints, it's more than just a new coat of paint." While Retro City Rampage will be delisted from digital services following next week's launch, the original version of the game will be included as a bonus extra in DX. Retro City Rampage DX will debut first on PlayStation consoles on November 11 for $9.99, and all other platforms will follow in the days afterward. [Image: VBlank Entertainment]
The Unfinished Swan painting PS4, Vita next week
Giant Sparrow's surreal exploration game The Unfinished Swan will arrive next week on PS4 and Vita, just over two years after it first launched on PS3. The game will launch on Tuesday, October 28 in North America and the following day in Europe for $14.99 (€12.99/£9.99). The Unfinished Swan will also be Cross-Buy enabled, so those that own any version of the game will be able to download it on the other two systems. Our review of the PS3 game noted that The Unfinished Swan's power "lies in its engagement with our imagination, in its ability to remind us of that capacity for whimsy and fantasy." It's the first game from the Santa Monica-based developer, which is currently working on an as-yet-unannounced game that is not a sequel to The Unfinished Swan, but is "not a million miles away either." [Image: Giant Sparrow]
Minecraft Vita also coming to North America next week
Lagging behind its European branch's announcement earlier in the week, Sony America has revealed an October 14 release date for Minecraft on Vita. The irony is, as ever, the $20 game will hit PSN stateside a day before it hits Europe. PSN traditions are odd traditions. Anyway, Sony did clarify one thing in today's announcement; anyone who owns a copy of Mojang's sand-blocks on PS3 can get a Vita copy free, and that includes disc owners as well as PSN buyers. The same applies in reverse, including retail copies of the Vita version which are due to hit shelves on November 11. Remember: the cross-buy offer only applies across PS3 and Vita - no PS4-sies, but you can upgrade to PS4 for $5. Also, saves do transfer between PS3 and Vita, and DLC purchases work across both versions too. [Image: Sony]
Thomas Was Alone making the leap to PS4 this year
Brave rectangle Thomas and his geometric pals will soon journey to the PlayStation 4, publisher Curve Studios announced at Sony's PlayStation Blog today. Thomas Was Alone is a minimalist platformer starring a gang of four-sided heroes that all boast their own unique traversal abilities. After launching for PC platforms, Thomas Was Alone premiered for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita, and was later featured as a free PlayStation Plus title. Players who own the PS3 or Vita versions of Thomas Was Alone will get the PlayStation 4 edition for free when it premieres later this year. Creator Mike Bithell revealed that the "Benjamin's Flight" DLC will also transfer across all Sony platforms with a single purchase. [Image: Curve Studios]
Ray's the Dead heading to Vita with Cross-Buy support
Ray's The Dead will seek new brains to eat on PlayStation Vita, Ragtag Studio announced via PlayStation Blog today. The game will be Cross-Buy compatible, so those already planning on picking up the PS4 version will also have access to the game on Vita. The developer said it plans to "fully support for the upcoming PlayStation TV" as well. Ragtag Studio's "action-stealth-puzzle" game will debut as a PS4 console exclusive, as revealed during Sony's E3 2013 press conference last year. The developer's first Kickstarter project was canceled prior to the news, and is currently live again and reaching stretch goals with its second project. The crowdfunding campaign for Ray's The Dead will end on September 21. Reward tiers that promise a copy of the game start at $15. [Image: Ragtag Studio]
Journey, The Unfinished Swan to launch as Cross-Buy games on PS4
We already knew that the PlayStation 4 would be getting updated versions of two of the PS3's most visually striking games when Sony confirmed Journey and The Unfinished Swan were headed for Sony's new console. However, according to comments left by Sony Santa Monica Community Strategist Aaron Kaufman on a PlayStation Blog post announcing the ports, not only are the games making the trip from previous to current-generation consoles, but they will be Cross-Buy compatible. "Once Journey is downloaded you will be able to download it for free on any other platform available through the PlayStation Network, much like how fl0w and Flower were launched for PS4," Kaufman wrote before adding, "And The Unfinished Swan as well!" In other words, if you already own either game on PS3, you'll be able to enjoy them on PS4 at no additional cost. Unfortunately, a PS4 release date was not given for either game. [Image: Thatgamecompany/Giant Sparrow]
Entwined tunnels to PS3 and Vita today
Entwined is now available on PS3 and Vita in North America, and will float to Europe tomorrow. The game launched on PS4 in June on the same day it was announced during Sony's E3 2014 press conference. Developed by a group of Carnegie Mellon University graduates, Entwined has players controlling two characters at once - a fish and a bird - flying through a colorful tunnel and collecting memories. The brief getaway elicits "a sense of serenity and peace," according to our review, and is also easy on the checkbook: The $10 game is Cross-Buy compatible, so those that own the game on PS4 can download it for free on PS3 and Vita. It's also Cross-Save capable, so Entwined veterans will be able to carry their progress across the three consoles. [Image: Sony]
Rogue Legacy inherits PlayStation systems this month
Cellar Door Games' 2D descendant-dependent game Rogue Legacy will arrive later this month for PS4, PS3 and Vita. The game is scheduled to arrive in North America on July 29 and one day later in Europe. The game reached PC just over one year ago, followed by Mac and Linux in October. The PlayStation versions of the game, most of which is courtesy of Abstraction Games, were revealed during Sony's Gamescom press conference in August. Rogue Legacy is described as a "rogue-lite," as players battle through a constantly-changing magic castle at the risk of losing their progress at the drop of a blade. Upon dying, the child of the fallen hero/heroine rises in succession, each time carrying a genetic trait (and their parent's money) that makes the next attempt unique. The PS4, PS3 and Vita versions will be Cross-Save enabled, so players can carry their progress across each platform. They will also be Cross-Buy-capable, putting one price to all three versions, which has not yet been revealed. [Image: Cellar Door Games]
Nintendo wants a future where consoles and handhelds run the same games
Nintendo's financial struggles are well noted, but a new interview with the gaming giant's Shigeru Miyamoto reveals that its experiencing some creative hardships too. For example, the differences in architecture between the Wii U and the 3DS handheld have made developing games that are playable on both systems (a la what Sony has been doing with certain PlayStation 3/4 and Vita titles for the past few years) a pain for the company, according to Kotaku. Miyamoto says that moving forward, Nintendo is looking at what it can do to bring the two development environments together -- something that could open the door to buying a game once and playing it on either a home console or a handheld. If you have a more unified development environment and you're able to make one game that runs on both systems instead of having to make a game for each system, that's an area of opportunity for us.
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty will be $30, supports Cross-Buy on PlayStation
Developer Just Add Water nailed down release specifics for its upcoming remake of the PSOne-era puzzle-platformer Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee, revealing its launch price and other key details. Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty will hit the PlayStation 4, PS3, and PS Vita later this year for $29.99 in North America, €24.99 in Europe, and £19.99 in the UK. The game will launch on the PlayStation Network as a Cross-Buy title, giving buyers access to all three versions with a single purchase. New 'n' Tasty also boasts Cross-Save functionality, allowing players to transfer their progress across all PlayStation-branded platforms. Ports for the Wii U, Xbox 360, and PC platforms are also in the works. A launch date was not announced, but Just Add Water will begin accepting pre-release purchases on June 9. [Image: Just Add Water]
Hotline Miami is bringing the heat to PS4 with Cross-Buy support
Publisher Devolver Digital revealed it's releasing the first Hotline Miami on PS4, and the good news is fans who bought the original game on PS3 and Vita won't have to pay to get the new version. Speaking to Destructoid at GDC, Devolver's Nigel Lowrie confirmed the 2D top-down murder-fest is retaining its Cross-Buy support on PS4. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is also in line for PS4, as well as Vita, Windows PC, Mac, and Linux. Wrong Number switches out the first game's 80s vibe for a darker 90s aesthetic, and while the sequel retains that ultra-violent core, Lowrie said Devolver plans to showcase more of what's new about it at next month's PAX East conference in Boston. "So far all [we've shown developer Dennaton] is doing is really more or less similar to Hotline Miami 1, what we've shown." Lowrie told Destructoid. "What we're gonna show at PAX East and in a trailer before PAX East is the new hotness, and really things are going to change up the game quite a bit." [Image: Devolver Digital]
Race the Sun rockets to PlayStation 4, PS3, Vita this year
Low-altitude indie action game Race the Sun is due to hit the PlayStation console family this year, developer Flippfly announced today. Race the Sun is a high-speed racing game in which players skim a minimalist landscape in pursuit of a sinking sun, which powers their craft with its rays. The game's landscape regenerates daily, giving players new challenges and new leaderboard rankings to climb every 24 hours. The PlayStation Network version also introduces new landscape types not found in the game's original PC release. Race the Sun will be released as a Cross-Buy title for the PlayStation 4, PS3, and PS Vita this summer. [Image: Flippfly]
Foul Play to enter stage left on PS4, Vita
Mediatonic's theatrical side-scrolling brawler Foul Play is heading to PS4 and Vita, the developer announced in a recent post on PlayStation Blog. Players take on the role of Baron Dashforth, a mustachioed demon hunter who retells his tales in front of a live audience, defeating waves of extras in the one-night-only performance. The co-op enabled beat-em-up doesn't feature a traditional health bar, but rather gauges the audience's interest with each passing moment, and closes the curtains for boring actors that take too many hits from the combat-trained extras. Foul Play launched on PC and Xbox 360 in September 2013 before arriving on Mac and Linux in October. Our four-star review of the game deemed the story as "superb" and the fights "frantic and fast." Mediatonic did not offer a release date for the PS4 and Vita versions as of yet, but it will be Cross-Buy compatible, so owners of both platforms need only buy it once. [Image: Mediatonic]
Curve Studios leads a Titan Invasion on Sony systems this summer
Curve Studios will bring a game bundle called Titan Invasion to PS3, PS4 and Vita early this summer. The pack includes two arcade-style games from UK developer Puppygames, Titan Attacks and Revenge of the Titans. Titan Attacks is an arcade shooter in the same vein as Galaga and Space Invaders, though Curve Studios says it includes "modern features, new strategies" as well as online leaderboards and an upgrade system. The game features over 100 levels, spanning five worlds. Puppygames' other creation, Revenge of the Titans, is deemed a thematic sequel that mixes real-time strategy and tower defense elements together. Both Titan Attacks and Revenge of the Titans are available for $9.99 on Steam for PC, Mac and Linux. The Titan Invasion bundle will be Cross-Buy compatible on all three Sony systems. [Image: Curve Studios]
Mutant Mudds Deluxe hitting PSN December 17, sequel on hold
Renegade Kid's plane-hopping platformer Mutant Mudds Deluxe will debut for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita on December 17 as a Cross-Buy release, studio co-founder Jools Watsham announced. The PSN version of Mutant Mudds Deluxe will be priced at $9.99, and includes Cross-Save functionality across both platforms. Players in Europe will need to wait a little longer before joining the fight against the Mudds, however, as Watsham notes that "the cost and logistical hassle" of age-rating submissions has delayed the game's European launch on PSN and the Wii U eShop. Watsham additionally revealed that work on the upcoming sequel Mutant Mudds 2 has been put on hold while the team finishes up work on its current project, Treasurenauts. "We feel that it is healthier/better for us to develop a new 2D platform game in between Mutant Mudds and Mutant Mudds 2 to maintain perspective on what Mutant Mudds 2 needs to be," he explained. Treasurenauts has been delayed to next year, and a release date for Mutant Mudds 2 has not been announced. Series fans have a new batch of content to look forward to, however, as Watsham revealed that the original Nintendo 3DS version of Mutant Mudds will receive a free update "sometime in 2014."
Rainbow Moon out now on Vita, includes add-on Cross-Buy support
SideQuest Studios' tactical RPG Rainbow Moon is now available for the PlayStation Vita, introducing newcomers to its dungeon-crawling, loot-based approach to the genre while wooing veterans with DLC import options. Released for the PlayStation 3 in 2012, Rainbow Moon focuses on character growth and customization, allowing players to outfit their party members with new abilities via add-on content. The game features Cross-Save functionality, and previous purchases carry over into the newly launched PS Vita version, giving fans the option of either resuming their quest or starting a new game with bonuses intact. Players who purchased the PS3 version of Rainbow Moon can pick up the PS Vita port for 50 percent off of its launch price this week, and PlayStation Plus members receive an additional discount. A free 90-minute demo is also available, allowing players to resume their progress in the full version upon purchase.
Mutant Mudds Deluxe aiming for Cross-Buy PSN launch near the holidays
Renegade Kid is "aiming for Christmas" to launch Mutant Mudds Deluxe on PS3 and Vita, co-founder Jools Watsham recently tweeted. The platformer will be Cross-Buy and Cross-Save compatible, so those that own both systems will only need to purchase one copy of the game to both access it and transfer their save files to the other console. Mutant Mudds first launched on the 3DS eShop in January 2012, and has players blasting muddy monsters as a boy named Max, a kid armed with a water gun and a jetpack. Watsham also noted that he is currently designing a "secret project" codenamed CGC alongside his work on the Mutant Mudds ports and Renegade Kid's Treasurenauts, another platformer that's slated to arrive on the 3DS eShop in December.
